Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Chapter V: Remember
"Here!"
She smiled at him, her jade eyes shining with glee. He raised an eyebrow as she dropped the gemstone into the palm of his hand.
"Why are you giving me something… pink?" He spat the word as though it was venomous, but she didn't even react.
"It's because I've heard that there're two sides of a coin," she responded brightly. c"Everything has its opposite."
"And…?" he urged her to go on, still giving her a look of doubt.
"There's darkness," she continued, making him slightly flinch at the remark, "but there's light. Even if it's a mere illusion, as you say, it's still there, right? The counterpart of the dark. But even if it's just an illusion…"
She tore her eyes from him and looked dreamily at the thin air. "Sometimes, humans need help. Even if it's just artificial, not there for real…" She winked. "It's still helping, you know? Imagining there's something like light, feeling that warm feeling."
He was speechless, but became even more so when she reached into her pocket and pulled out something.
It was another stone. A black one.
"An obsidian?" he questioned out aloud.
"Glad you could recognize it," she said cheerfully. "Because you know, if you have that –" She nodded in the direction of the pale pink that glimmered in his hand, " – you can be reminded there's light. And if I have this…" Her fingers closed around the object. "… I can be reminded there's darkness. That way, neither of us will be stupidly unaware of the other's existence."
Be reminded there's light…?
"I'm not doing it on behalf as a psychiatrist, though," she added. "I'm doing it as a… friend."
A friend? His frown became even more obvious as he glared at her. "What makes you think we're friends? We don't even know each other."
She shrugged. "I'm not saying we are. It merely feels as though we are. You know, it's this strange feeling I've been having lately – laugh if you want - that we know each other, from before. I can't quite recall where I've met you, though. But…" She inspected his face. "… it feels as though I know you."
"Che." He smirked. "You want to be friends with darkness?"
At this, her smile became secretive. Cryptic. "Darkness and light are counterparts. They're each other's exact opposites… but they're still of the same coin, right? So, Uchiha-san… if you're darkness, then I'll try to be your light."
"I'll be your light."
He widened his eyes as the voice replayed itself in his mind, mixing with another one, not even hearing Sakura's cheerful 'Well, I'm off. I'll see you tomorrow, Uchiha-san!'. Another voice that was too familiar…
"I'll be your light."
Friends with darkness itself…
"If you're the darkness –"
Even the darkness can't resist the light.
"- then I –"
Even if that's the sole purpose of the darkness. To resist light.
" – will be your light, -"
Even if being with the light would destroy the darkness…
" – Sasuke-kun!"
Even if darkness is forbidden to love the light.
"I love you."
"Let me be your light."
"I'll never forget you."
LIAR! LIAR! GET AWAY FROM ME! YOU LIED TO ME! YOU LIED! You broke it…
Pink like the cherry blossom that's blooming –
You broke your promise.
- green like the spring itself –
You broke your promise…
"Promise me that one day, you'll give your answer."
… and I broke mine…
"… Hn."
We're liars deep within, aren't we…
"Fine." Her eyes turned as big as saucers. His voice was impatient, irritated… "One day, I'll give you my answer."
… Sa –
He opened his lips to let out a pained, bloodcurdling scream.
"And then he just went, 'You don't know a shit!'" Tenten exhaled loudly as she furiously swung her bag across her shoulder in a very unladylike style. "Can you believe it, Sakura? I deal with psychos like Gaara and succeed, and then I meet this little kid who claim I don't know 'a shit'! Geez!"
But Sakura didn't seem to listen. Her gaze was elsewhere, and it was strangely uncharacteristic; the pink-head was usually relaxed, cheery and fun to be with, but she was bizarrely tense, silent… almost nervous.
"Sakura?" Tenten repeated, glancing at her curiously. Her friend failed to react. "Yo! Sakura!"
"W-what?" Sakura tore her gaze away from whatever she was looking at, and smiled anxiously. "Oh, sorry, Tenten. What did you say?"
Tenten stared. "… Nothing. Hey, are you okay? You were kind of spacing out there, you know. Has something happened?"
"Oh… well… no…"
Sakura forced herself to smile even wider. How come smiles felt so unnatural now? Usually they just came, even when she wanted them least to. But now she was forcing them to come; and yet, she knew it looked fake, and she knew Tenten could see it too.
But there was that sound… that unnerving sound… that unnerving feeling… it was like something horrific would happen any minute, any second even; she felt her entire body tense. It was familiar… so strangely familiar.
Blood –
- screams –
- fear…
He was frightened –
- and so was she –
- and they stared at the eyes in front of them –
- those piercing eyes…
… those piercing crimson eyes….
Sakura felt a bolt of pain, and winced. Tenten just continued to look at her, somewhat sternly, but with concern. "Sakura, tell me what's going on."
"Nothing, I'm telling you. It's true!" But there was still that sound…
Drip – drop – drip – drop – drip – drop –
The sound of dripping water…
Drip – drop – drip – drop –drip – drop –
The sound piercing through the tense silence like a sharp blade…
Drip – drop – drip – drop – drip – drop –
Or was it really water? She was sure it was…
Blood…
… those red eyes, just like the blood that dropped from the knife in his hand –
"Sakura!" Tenten's voice was sharp now, once again interrupting her.
"I'm fine, okay?" Sakura tried to sound as reassuring as possible. "Let's go have something to eat. I'm just hungry; that's why I keep spacing out."
Tenten looked at her with suspiciousness, but Sakura didn't care. She didn't want to trouble her friend with what she thought or felt, or more precisely… saw… and heard…
That voice… that icy voice…
'Kill…'
'Foolish little brother –'
' – someday I'll crush your little blossom too –'
' – you lack hatred –'
'Who are –'
Blood –
- red eyes –
- fear –
And those other voices…
'Onii-' Fear.
'No, Sas –' Worry.
And then there was the first one. The first one and the final one.
'Kill…'
Sakura shivered. Despite it being a quite sunny and warm day, she froze.
Drip – drop – drip – drop…
"Has it begun?"
His voice was grim. Bitter. Anxious. Hinata looked, concerned, at her husband; the fun-loving prankster she had fallen in love with as a young girl was standing in front of him, yet the Naruto she had grown to know and love was hidden deep inside him; his current self was filled with troubles they would never had anticipated back in their past.
"Yeah…" Her tone was different from his; sad, soft like a feather, trailing off slightly. "… Sakura-san is strong, I believe, but Sasuke-san…" She hesitated. "He…"
"He couldn't resist." Naruto smiled bitterly. "That bastard. Can never resist a challenge, can he? She was stronger than the others… so he wanted to use it to his full potential. Never any mercy… any kindness… any sympathy…" He paused. "… he isn't himself anymore…"
"He is," Hinata responded. "He is, he's just… temporarily hidden. Within his heart…"
"But why did he…" Naruto's voice trailed off, now filled with desperation. "… it was Sakura-chan… he knows how fragile she is… strong surface, fragile heart... the hypnosis…"
The two exchanged glances that definitely did not contain any happiness.
"… it's going to kill her for sure…"
Hmm... well, here's the supernatural part! I hope you liked the update. :D Thanks for all reviews and KEEP ON REVIEWING, PLEASE!
Reviews Corner
Claud-kun: Thanks:D Did I surprise you, now? ;) I wish the ending could've been better… but I've my hopes up to make a better sequel. For now, however, I'm concentrating on my fluff collection – it'll be the best fluff I've ever written:D
cherry blossom petals: Really? Thank you!
pinky101: Doooone:D What do you think?
purplecherry5: Okay, I'll read it as soon as possible :) Nope, I don't have Writer's Block… it's just that I want perfect concentration when I write this fic – besides, I'm mostly concentrating on my fluff oneshot collection, because so far, I'm having lots of fun toying around with the weird ideas. Yeah, I can help, but just so you know, I'm not good at handling C2s… but thanks, I'll accept :D
Crazy Gal42: deviantART, huh? Cool! Well, I'll check it out once I've got some time… damn, my job practice is over now and I'm drowning in more homework than before. Thanks, did you like the update? ;)
Aria-chan09: Thank you:D I'm glad that my descriptions are liked… normally, people accuse me of describing too much. ;) I love describing things.
honoring death: Thanks:D Yes… Sakura's amnesia is damn frustrating, isn't it? Lol. XD I'm currently working on the chapter where… mwahahah, I guess I'll just have to wait and let you see –smiles evilly-
paintupurple: Thanks:D Heheh… yes, now wouldn't it be nice if Sakura had been there and hugged him just like in the Forest of Death… -dreams-
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angel2559: Really? Thanks!
yourdarkdesire: Here's the update:D –does a ta-dah! pose-
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Sakura Uchhia: Don't worry, I will :)
Freedomstar999: Done! What do you think?
Mimi the Witch: Thanks:D Heheh, well, the life of a psychopath is hard, I guess… especially when the psychiatrist is somebody that reminds him of somebody else in his past. So I guess Sasuke has a good reason to freak out. Lawl. XD
MangaGirl427: You're welcome and thanks for reviewing ;D
ScarletNinja123: Glad that you like it ;) Thanks for reviewing!
warming Sunshine: Well, green isn't an unusual eye color, so I wanted to use pink instead to make sure that people get that the stones represent them XD And Sasuke's hair is black, too… but, well, I said 'the eyes of an obsidian' because it'd have sounded funny if he had said 'the hair of an obsidian'. Sakura, on the other hand, has a weird hair color and that everybody knows :) Hahah, nauw… well, it's a pity it's over now :( It's back to school again… and thanks for the review!
yukibozu: Hahahah, I didn't really think of that! I just thought it'd be weird if she really DID pay for it or something when she's totally spaced out, and then Ino dragged her out of there… thanks for the review:D
frienz4ever: Thanks:D