A/N: I didn't really get any activity from the first chapter, but I'm continuing on still! So, as promised, here is the actual story! As the first chapter was just the prologue. I hope you weren't confused at all, and if you were, feel free to message me or leave a review with whatever you have to say! In the meantime, please enjoy this story I made just for you ;D
Song: Fireflies - Owl City
As warm light spilled over the earth, the darkness of the world hid beneath the streets-and the scum that inhabited it went down with it. For the day, anyways. Ninja throughout Konoha were getting ready for their daily duties. A bird chirped in the distance. Sai shut his window and sighed. Everyone was working today. Due to some business that happened just a few weeks ago, the village was in chaos. Since Naruto... a new Hokage had not been chosen yet. Everyone was just getting over the loss. And... every single one of the ninja that had been asked to takeover the title declined. Jiraiya, Kakashi, Neji, and even Konohamaru - who was to upset to even talk about it. Sai had been on Hokage duty for every single one of them, along with Sakura. And he was tired as hell. Considering they had to travel faraway just to find Jiraiya, and when they told him... well, comforting someone was not something Sai was good at doing. Not to mention even telling people that Naruto had died. Almost everyone in Konoha loved the boy. Dealing with that sort of stuff was too much for Sai. And frankly, he just didn't like it- letting that many people down. Weren't ninja supposed to help people? He never really thought about that until now. However many times he played that question in his head, he never found the answer. Konoha was littered with mountains of scum. Some of them ninja, even. As long as that were so, such a question could never be answered.
It wasn't that he actually felt something for those people. Sai was sure he didn't. Not even the loss of Naruto affected him. Many times he'd try to feel that sadness. The funeral was one example; his face was blank throughout the entire thing. And when he was called to speak before the very large audience, not even a hint of emotion broke through that written speech. It just didn't fit. When he said he was, "deeply saddened," he was of course lying. And many people noticed this. Day after day villagers grew angry at the boy who couldn't even cry at his best friends funeral.
He just wanted a break. He walked out the doors of his apartment and made his way to the Hokage's office.
That's all he really wanted, just a break. Pshh, Like he would ever get one, he thought casually.
Sai never knew how wrong he was.
xxx
Sakura was already at the meeting when Sai got there. He greeted her and took a seat next to her, then looking to Kakashi sitting at Naruto's desk. They regarded each other, then Kakashi spoke. "They think it was Sasuke."
They had already talked about this.
Sakura fumed. "Still? Haven't we already provided enough evidence that it wasn't him?"
Sai looked out the window in boredom already. He was so tired of this. Sasuke this Sasuke that. That's all anyone could talk about now, besides Naruto. And the million dollar question of the day, "where was Sasuke?"
Kakashi sighed. He stressed his brow. "But the fact remains, Sakura. Sasuke left the crime scene. Everything points to that," he told her.
Sakura retaliated, "no! that's not true! Why would-how could..." she sat down, her fists clenched tightly. She didn't cry. She wasn't that weak girl she was then when Sasuke first left. This time, it didn't hurt as much. Maybe the next time she won't feel anything at all.
"Look, I know it's hard to believe. We all trusted him... but it's not the first time he's betrayed us, and the villagers know it. We don't have any other choice... we can't side with him, it wouldn't be good for our reputation."
Sakura smirked. "Hmmph, did the Elders tell you to say that?"
Sai listened in. He didn't agree with Sakura. He was sure Sasuke had killed Naruto. Everything led straight to that. (1) Naruto's body was bloodied to the point where he didn't look human, and his heart had been ripped out. He couldn't possible have done this himself. (2) Sasuke had been seen entering the house with Naruto the previous evening. And when Naruto's body was found, he had completely disappeared. (3) Sasuke Uchiha was a known threat to Konoha. He had betrayed the village once before, and was most likely to do it again. Therefore, the culprit was none other than Sasuke Uchiha.
Kakashi sighed. "Sakura..."
"He loved Naruto... there's no way it could have been him. They-he was happy, I know he was," her eyes were emotionless and dull. She stared at the ground.
Sai didn't feel like he deserved to be in this conversation. He didn't want to say anything that would upset Sakura.
"Sometimes... people act like they're happy, when they're really not, Sakura. They put up emotional barriers, and don't let people in. And throughout their entire life they only have that fake happiness they show to the world. When inside... they feel more alone than ever, they feel... lost, and depressed. And if they hold that inside them for too long, it's bound to get out one day, in many bad ways more than good." Kakashi looked at Sai then, who couldn't help but be intrigued by his sensei's words.
That was what Sakura had told him when he said he was trained to remove his emotions. She said they were still there, but he had put up a barrier so none could get out. He was shocked that the pink-haired ANBU had not recognized that in Sasuke... but had in Sai. This made Sai understand the Uchiha just a bit more.
Upon hearing Kakashi, Sakura felt like she had just failed her most important person. Sasuke Uchiha had been feeling like that, all along...? Despite having the one person he loved the most... despite gaining everyone's trust again... Her trust, and yet he still... It made her heart ache. After Sasuke had come back to Konoha, she had hoped that he would return her feelings, finally. But to hear that he loved Naruto... was a major blow to her. A man!? He loved a man more than her!? She was confused, shocked, and sad. She avoided Sasuke, though she knew that would do no good. But over time, she began to understand the couples feelings and they love they shared. And she appreciated it, she looked up to it. It was beautiful love. So her and Sasuke became friends. More than just that even. They became like brother and sister. But to hear this now... he had kept those feelings away from her for so long. It hurt. Had he not truly been happy all that time with Naruto?
"So what are we supposed to do, Kakashi-sensei?" Sai interjected. He didn't like seeing Sakura sad. Whenever she was, he got this strange instinct to make her... well, not be sad anymore. But he didn't know how.
Kakashi's one gray eye regarded the blank ninja. "We have to make it public."
Sakura suddenly shot up, her eyes widened. "No! He'll be-"
"Exiled," Sai finished. All of this was truly unexpected.
Kakashi explained, "We have to assure the village that they are safe in our hands, and in doing that, we must remove the threats. Sasuke... unfortunately, is a threat."
"Bullshit!" Sakura cried. She slammed her hands on the table. "Konoha isn't safe already- and that's because of those demented-"
"Sakura!"
"-foolish Elders! I'ts the truth and you know it! They're the ones making this village rot and suffer..." Sakura swallowed the lump in her throat. "And Naruto...Naruto was the only one who stood between the safety of Konoha... and the Council taking over."
"That's right. Naruto was our only hope. And now that he's gone, Konoha is even more likely to suffer. Don't you understand? Exiling Sasuke is our only hope now- if we do, there's a chance that the Council will take pity on us... for now."
"Pity... is that all we're worth?"
Sai couldn't let this go on. "Sakura-chan..." he reached out and touched her arm gently. "Kakashi-sensei is only thinking about the good of the village people. He doesn't want to do this any more than me or you." He had felt her chakra calm down at his cool fingertips. And he let go.
Sakura looked up at her sensei, and then her teammate. She had acted so foolish! Of course Kakashi was only thinking about the villagers. The look in his eyes showed how much pain he was going through... and it shocked her that she hadn't noticed it before. Oh why had she been so selfish!? They had to think about the sake of one person... or the well-being of the entire village. "I'm sorry, Sensei, Sai-kun." She failed at a weak smile as she said this, "I'll cooperate from now on, for the sake of the village."
Kakashi returned a small smile. "So you all know what we have to do... Tomorrow at noon, the Council will announce Naruto's murderer. After this is done, we will each go our separate ways to track down Sasuke..."
"Alive or...?" Sai asked.
Sakura just looked at him. Kakashi finished, "Our mission, is to kill Sasuke on sight."
Neither of the two ANBU could hold in their gasps.
xxx
"Sai- wait!" Sakura called as she ran after him. He had just left the Hokage building. He turned around, meeting her with a quizzical stare.
"Yes, Sakura-chan?"
The pink-haired ANBU stopped and gave him a pitiful look. "Are you really going to go through with this?"
Sai answered, "we have no other options."
"Yes- I know... but... he's still our friend." She suddenly had wet, unbreakable green eyes.
That statement sent shivers through Sai's cold bones. Friend? Sasuke? Those two words weren't meant to coexist with Sai in any way, shape or form. He looked at the ground, eyebrows furrowed. "And what do you expect me to do?"
"Nothing! Sai..." she watched him pitifully. After all these years, he still had not gained back what he lost. Sai had changed a lot indeed, but to an extent. "Do you really feel nothing about this sort of situation?"
After an awkward amount of silence, he said, "I can't honestly say I do."
Sakura's heart hurt. Not because of what he said, but because she really felt sad for what it truly meant. "Sai..."
Suddenly, the pale boy looked up at her. There was a different look in his eyes. "Sakura, despite this, you can confide in me all you want." It was a fierceness she hadn't seen in him before. Her own green orbs widened. Almost human... "I don't want to see you sad anymore..." That was possibly the sweetest thing she had heard in a long while. The kunoichi embraced his thin form almost instantly. And she needed it.
xxx
In bed that night, suddenly recalled a moment he had spent with the Uchiha. It was memorable to him, because he hadn't ever been around- no, bonded, with Sasuke other than that time. There was never any reason for them to spend time together.
It was night, black, desolate. The streets were infested with sewer scum. Day Ninja should not be walking around this late. The laws of Konoha didn't apply during the night. Yet Sai was out, calmly taking in the night. He couldn't explain it, but he suddenly felt... empty, you could say. It was a horrible thing, it hurt deep in his chest. He had tried eating, but this was no hungry appetite. The only thing he knew was that he didn't want to be alone in his house. So he went out. And when he did, he was reminded that it was Christmas. There were lights and bright decorations all around his neighborhood. He didn't want to see any of it anymore. Many people were at home now, spending romantic time with their lovers, or precious time with family. And Sai was alone. He was always alone.
Kakashi was celebrating with Kurenai, Sakura with her family, Naruto with Sasuke... So, there was no one else.
It didn't matter to Sai really, before anyways. He had never had a family, nor celebrated Christmas. So he didn't mind being alone. Until now. And it hurt, god did it hurt, more than any pain he had ever felt before.
He trudged along in the snow, pretty soon he had left the safety of his district. He was in the shittier part of Konoha. Just a dark shape walking along in the snow. Yet his heart was bleeding so.
Here he didn't see any pretty lights, or Christmas trees, or happy faces through windows. Everything was so ugly and abandoned.
He deserved to live here.
And he kept walking. Farther and farther. He didn't even know where he was going exactly. He just knew he didn't want this feeling. If this is what normal people feel, then I don't want to feel at all, he thought. Pretty soon he found himself at the lake. When did he go into the forest? He couldn't remember. He approached the water's edge. And he bent down and looked into it. His arms held his body. He looked into emotionless eyes, and didn't like what he saw. Pain. Pity for oneself.
Why was he feeling like this?
Was it ... emotions? Just as Sakura had said. "Sai, when you began to have emotions, you'll know because you'll feel sadness right away." She had said that a while ago... back when Sai had betrayed Team 7. She wasn't trying to make Sai feel pain, because she knew he couldn't feel anything. But that made him think. Of course he had no clue what she meant until now.
"Hmm... so that's what she meant..." his face was so blank, not even his infamous fake smile could pass through.
It was so cold...
He only wore a thin black sweatshirt, and knee length black pants.
Sai suddenly saw bright yellow lights flickering in the water. He leaned in closer..."huh...?" But they were not any sort of fish, or anything swimming in the water for that matter. "Oh!" he exclaimed glumly. He looked up, and saw fireflies all around him. Lovely glowing creatures, flying above the water, so very close to him. Making music with their astounding bodies. Sai was at a loss for words. They were so amazing. He extended his arm slowly, fingertips reaching out. A firefly floated over to the pale hand. Sai let it stay there in his palm, watching it intently. Such a small thing... Sai wondered how it survived. Then again, it did have it's family to watch over it.
Unlike Sai, he wasn't alone.
There was a rustling noise and loud footsteps- Sai pulled out his kunai - a person shoved through the bushes. The fireflies fluttered away from the sudden disturbance. Including the one in Sai's palm. His emotionless eyes scanned the intruder. Sasuke. He looked out of breath; his clothes disheveled, hair a mess. Had he just come from bedding Naruto? He certainly looked it. That thought made him sick.
"Oh, it's you." He was the first to speak. Sai lowered his weapon and put it away silently. He could sense something... some kind of rogue emotion. It was rough, and dark... and... angry. Sai looked at Sasuke. His eyes were red and narrowed slightly. Sai knew that scent, it was the instinct to kill. He could hear Sasuke's ragged breaths from where he stood, though they were several feet apart. Those demonic red eyes gazed across the way, right into the artists own dark orbs.
Sasuke said, "what are you doing here?"
"Isn't that my question?" Sai responded.
Sasuke didn't answer. He instead walked out of the bushes and brushed off his clothes. It seems he wasn't dressed for the weather either. Only in his ninja get-up... it gave the impression that he had just made a runaway from something.... or someone. He said, "shouldn't you be home celebrating the holiday?"
The artisan moved his attention to the lake, now dark without the light of the fireflies. Sai realized it was indeed much darker now. He once again bent down in front of the water. "And what about you... isn't Naruto waiting for you?"
For some reason, that comment stung Sasuke, or that's how Sai took it. The Uchiha flinched, his eyes dilated. And he seemed to grow more angry. "Don't say that name..." he growled. Sai looked up at him curiously.
Did they have a fight? he wondered. "Sasuke..." he felt like asking.
"Hnn?"
But was it his business? No. He was just Sai. He wasn't anyone important enough to have such a conversation. He and Sasuke didn't talk much, but when they did, they only fought. So why now would it be any different? "Nothing..." He looked away, his gaze back into the lake.
Sasuke's brows furrowed. "If it's about why I'm here... I'd rather not talk about it." Sai could see the fellow ANBU's eyes through the calm blue water. They were no longer his sharingan red, but his original blackness. Beautiful... and yet so melancholy. They made Sai suddenly feel more open. Just the other's presence was strangely comforting."So what about you? Did you finally get annoyed by everyone?"
Because Sasuke's voice did something to him, because it was strangely exciting, he answered back. Truthfully. "I came here... because I was lonely."
He didn't want to look up to see the shock written on the other's face. The pity.
"Hmmph, You came here to be alone in this abondoned lake, because you were lonely," Sasuke smirked. "The correct grammar is; because you are lonely." Sai looked up at that cruel... emotionless face. Those eyes... were staring straight into Sai's own. He felt a pang in his chest. "And maybe... maybe I am too," Sasuke told him. Without another word, Sasuke too sat down beside Sai at the river edge.
He had looked up at the moon that night, and Sai recalled him saying, "For such a sinful village, the moon is very beautiful tonight."
A/N: Well that ends the 2nd chapter of MADNESS. Here are some things to think about... Who are the Elders, and what exactly are they doing in the village of Konoha? Why are the streets unsafe? Will Sai ever get his emotions back? And where is Sasuke???Until next time, au revoir, arrivederci, adios, auf wiedersehen, sayonara, and goodbye!
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