DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN NARUTO.
...
-&-
Destroy me.
-&-
...
...
(thump. thump. thump.)
...
...
Touch my hand,
Place it against my throat.
Close your eyes,
And never let go.
...
I want the last thing I see,
That last thing I touch,
I want the last thing that I taste.
I want it all to end with you.
...
...
I'll take you. I'll steal you. I'll destroy you.
For you. For you.—
...
—For me.
...
...
Breath. Breath. BREATH!
...
I need more than you.
...
...
(more. more. more.)
...
&destroy ourselves;
...
(drip. drip. drip.)
...
Her fingers are tapping an unsystematic rhythm against the mahogany desk, her lips are fumbling gracelessly while she thinks of a reply, and her dilated eyes are continuing to dart back and forth, back and forth.
...
-&-
...
"Happily ever after?"
BRAVE
.&.
N
E
W
.&.
WORLD
Sasuke sat there with his hand reluctantly weaved through the girl's cotton-candy pink hair. "Will you calm down?" He asked, highly annoyed. His eyes followed Naruto's obnoxious habit—walking around and worrying.
"How is she?" The tone was filled to the brim with worriment. Naruto ran his fingers roughly through his blond locks and continued to pace back and forth in front of the two. "Sasuke—damnit! How is she?!"
Sasuke, who was at the moment blatantly staring at the sleeping girl, reverted his gaze back to Naruto. "She'll be fine. She's sleeping, idiot."
"Fuck!" Naruto screamed in agony, tearing at his hair. "Are you sure?"
"She looks fine." Sasuke reiterated, but suddenly a question arose. "What the hell are you so worried about?"
"Itachi." Naruto muttered, his eyes scrunching, closing, then slowly opening once again. "Fuck!"
Sasuke glanced both directions and yelled "Shut up, you'll give away our position if there are any guards—!"
"Fuck this!" Naruto screamed, throwing his arms quickly into the air. The boy's pupils were dilating, narrowing into a thin line in the center of his cerulean pools. "He got me!" Naruto growled. "He got me with the fucking serum."
...
...
...
She lies on the table, unable to move. She can only lie there and watch as the man comes closer and closer—with that long needle.
She hears a scream: "NO!"
A chuckle escapes the man's mouth—the man which is inserting the needle into her arm.
The black haired boy screws his pride and begs, "Kill me instead."
And that is when the tears begin to flow freely from her eyes, when the man actually listened—
"How about: I kill you both."
...
...
16.
Sasuke's eyes slanted. "What?"
"That's why I'm like this!" Naruto huffed with a frustrated scowl plastered on his face. "It's an addicting drug, Orpheum...or something. I don't know! But, fuck it's so goddamn addicting." Naruto's hands were tugging harder on his hair, a few strands flew against the crisp breeze.
Unaware, Sasuke's hands tightened the slightest over Sakura's waist.
"He got her with it too." Naruto breathed. "He fucking got her too!"
"Are you sure?"
"UGH!" Naruto screamed. "He fucking raped her! God dammit!"
Sasuke bit back the urge to throw Naruto against a tree and bash his skull in.
(he has to be lying.)
Sasuke held his composure and glared at Naruto, "Don't lie to me with this bullshit—!"
"BASTARD!" Naruto screamed. "STOP BEING IN GODDAMN DENIAL!"
Sasuke shook the girl off of him with ease and in lightning speed, Naruto was thrown against the closest tree. "Don't fucking lie to me about shit like this, moron!" Sasuke sneered with pure disgust. "Say it one more time, do it!"
Naruto paused, determining whether or not he should.
"Say it again. Do it!" Sasuke demanded, his hand creeping to the blond boy's neck adding more and more pressure. "I'll snap you're fucking neck and feed you to the vultures if you dare lie like that."
Naruto then suddenly burst out it laughter. "Haha—You call me a fucking idiot. Why the hell would I lie to you, bastard? You're my brother."
Sasuke's onyx eyes widened to the slightest degree. Realization—truth—was beginning to sink in.
"S-Sakura..?" Sasuke muttered. "Are you...sure?"
Sasuke's hand that remained set on Naruto's throat loosened half-heartedly and Naruto swiftly pushed it away. Letting his lungs catch up with the breaths he missed, Naruto was silent.
"As sure as I can be." Naruto nodded solemnly, "The only way to know for a fact—is to ask Sakura. But, I don't think that..."
They were interrupted.
"Ask me...?" It was a whisper, a breath. "Ask me what?"
Sasuke gave her a cold-shoulder and began walking the other way. He needed to cool off, anger and frustration and confusion and disgust and—everything. Emotions weren't going to help him save her.
Emotions weren't going to help him in any way, shape, or form.
"Go back to sleep." He commanded curtly and spontaneously his figure disappeared with a 'POOF!'
...
...
...
He stands in front of her and looks at her, a determined expression remains on his worn face.
"No matter what happens—"
It hurts too, because she's already shaking and crying, breaking and dying.
"—we will always be together, all three of us."
She smiles and hugs him like she knows tomorrow was non-existent.
"Because that's what love is."
...
...
17.
Her emerald eyes met up with Naruto's cerulean ones, she then gave the boy a questioning look. Naruto softly sighed and walked up to the confused girl, "I've missed you—both—so much, Sakura." He mumbled, wrapping his arms around her neck.
He then embraces her in a hug—like it was the last time he would ever have the chance.
"He just needs to sort out his emotions." He said, hoping to soothe any possible distraught feelings she might have. "You did nothing wrong."
"We'll travel down this road for about another 1300 feet," Sasuke instructed, "then we'll take a right into the town that comes up." His eyes bled red and he examined every surrounding detail in front of him. Sasuke took a moment to glance at Sakura to make sure she was staying out of trouble—she was trying to catch a butterfly—Tch.
Naruto's face was apparent with confusion and his brows knit in concentration. "Why wouldn't we just head straight to baa-chan?"
"Idiot! Don't refer to her as baa-chan, she'll probably get drunk and refuse to help then." Sasuke growled, giving a light punch to Naruto's shoulder.
Naruto beamed. "Baa-chan wouldn't deny helping Sakura,—"
Sakura's eyes shot over to the two boy and her ears perked at the voicing of her name. When neither of the boys looked back at her, she shrugged it off, resuming her chase after that enticing, crimson butterfly.
"—she's like her daughter."
"Che. Whatever." Sasuke retorted in annoyance. "But, remember this," Sasuke warned, "I'll kill you if you mess anything up."
"Bastard!" Naruto barked. "Like you could!"
The Uchiha raised a brow and scoffed. "In a heartbeat."
"You're ego's gotten even further up your ass than the last time." Naruto muttered under his breath, "You seriously need to get laid."
"Shut up, moron." Sasuke hissed, acid underlying every syllable.
"Sasuke-kun!"
The Uchiha spun on his right heel at the first cry of his name and his heart raced. In mere seconds, he had flashed before Sakura with his eyes narrowed. "Are you alright?"
She nodded, a beautiful smile was gracing her small face.
His onyx eyes narrowed further, suspicious growing with every second. "Why are you smiling like that?"
"Look!" Her pointer finger rose a foot or two, pointing to a small pug which was eagerly digging at the roots of a nearby tree. The dog neither noticed nor cared about the bystanders that surrounded him. "Isn't he cute!"
(it was supposed to be a question, but it turned into, moreover, a statement.)
Sasuke scoffed, "Cute?"
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto waved, finally making his way up to the two. "Whatcha got th—?" Naruto stopped mid-speech and tugged on Sasuke's sleeve.
...
...
...
She can feel his heartbeats slowly dying off into a different world—the one he said that didn't even existent.
"I l-love you...I love you so much!" She cries into his bloody shirt. "I love you with all my heart!"
He gives her a crooked, yet sincere smile.
(something she's never seen before.)
"You've already given me too much—more than everything."
It's the moan in their last kiss.
"Thank you."
...
...
18.
"Isn't that—"
"Hn." Sasuke nodded, "He's been waiting for the past half-hour behind the tree's over there." He then tilted his head in the said direction and gave a soft sigh, "I just haven't decided whether or not to visit."
"He'll want to hear her voice again...—at the least, let him die a happy man." Naruto choked.
After a moment of thought and hesitation, glancing at Sakura, then Naruto, then reverting back to Sakura once more, he finally agreed.
"Aa."
Several knocks on the bark of the tree permeated the forest. Naruto's fist met the tree's wood for the fourth time, hoping that this would get the man's attention. He looked at Sasuke and Sakura, sighed, and shrugged. "Maybe he doesn't even know we're—"
POOF!
"Yo!" A voice cut through and the man gave a wave.
Naruto grinned, "Kakashi-sensei!"
The man never once turned towards a specific direction; but, the smallest smile could be seen forming under his navy mask. "Naruto..." He mumbled, running his forefingers over his temple. "...I never thought I'd hear your voice again."
"I know, took the bastard long enough." Naruto commented with a snort.
"Sasuke's here too?"
A long pause greeted everyone.
"Aa..." Sasuke's onyx eyes darted towards Sakura and sighed, "...and Sakura."
Sakura tilted her head and gave a confused look when she saw how the older man was trembling. "A-Are you alright?"
"I'm...glad." Kakashi whispered, snapping his fingers.
The small dog from before ran swiftly to the silver-haired man. "Yeah?" The dog spoke.
"That dog SPEAKS?!" Sakura shouted, completely astound.
The dog turned towards her and gave her a quick up and down. "Most summons do."
Kakashi's head finally hung down to where the dog was sitting patiently waiting his next command. Letting out a small breath, one which resembled relief and exasperation, Kakashi finally waved his hand at the pug. "Your job is done, Pakkun..." The smile was obvious on his mask and there was the smallest glaze was forming over his visible, lazy eye. "...I've found what I was looking for."
"Kakashi-sensei, there's something I have to warn you about—" Naruto began, there was no need of getting his (former) teacher's hopes up.
"She doesn't remember." Kakashi stated with a sad and knowing voice. "That's what happens when you're captured."
"Kakashi-sensei...—"
Kakashi shook his head, "No need to call me that Naruto. I'm not your teacher anymore—it makes me sound old too."
"But, you look old!" Sakura interjected, a small giggle following after.
The man rose a brow and frowned. "Sakura, I'm offended. You used to have a gigantic crush on me—courtesy of my undeniably good looks."
"Crush?"
Kakashi nodded, "I guess everything has changed though."
"Have I changed?" Sakura asked, looking down at her body and slowly twirling around once.
...
...
...
He places his trembling fingers over the picture frame, tracing each one of his students with quick and excellent precision.
"Take a good look..." The voice demands behind him, patting him on the shoulder.
And, he does. He memorizes every waking detail of each student, because he doesn't want to forget.
He won't forget.
"...for that's the last time you'll ever be able to see them."
He thanks whatever he can for this picture.
Because this is the only family he has.
...
...
19.
A long sigh escaped from Kakashi's mouth, while a deep frown came as well.
Slowly raising his head back up to face Sakura's twirling body and radiant smile, he spoke with sadness and regret. "I can't tell you, Sakura."
"Why not?" Sakura pouted, curiosity engraved on her expression. She then placed her hands on her hips as she waited for the man to reply. Kakashi could only thank himself for wearing a mask that covered his lips; else wise, they would have been able to see how his lips were fumbling violently along with the small, choked gasp for air.
"I..." Kakashi's teeth sunk deeply into his lip.
Naruto and Sasuke bit back a quick explanation, it was something Kakashi himself had to say.
"...I'm blind."
Kakashi gave a curt nod to his former students. "Tsunade has been hiding recently." He said. "I can't tell you whether or not she is using one of her age jutsus, so I can't give you a description." He lets his head lull onto the tree bark bringing him to face the darkening sky. "Kindle the fire more, Sakura."
"O-OK." Sakura nodded, coming to a quick stand, she walked over to the small bonfire that was set-up and began poking at it with a stick.
After a moment of examining her inadequate job, Sasuke followed behind her, shaking his head. He muttered under his breath in a dark tone, "Idiot, can't even handle a fire."
"Hey!" Sakura beamed, pouting at the Uchiha's snide remark. "I can too!"
"Yo, no lover spats right now children—I'm trying to help you." Kakashi waved towards the two, beckoning them to stop their bickering. "Anyways—" He nodded, "Yeah. Be a good girl and sit there Sakura." He paused when he sensed a flare up of chakra. "No need to get over-protective at the moment, Sasuke. I'm not going to rape her."
"Bastard, Kakashi-sensei knows what he's doing."
"Naruto, I'm not your teacher anymore!" Kakashi glowered, his head turning towards the flushed blond.
The boy stared blankly at the flickering fire, his sapphire orbs half-lidded. "I know..."
"Now, Sakura—" Focusing his mind on all chakra signals that surrounded him, he could make out vague silhouettes of each character. Kakashi rose his forefingers towards Sakura's temple and soon enough placed them on her burning skin.
He frowned. "She feels like she has a flu."
"Orpheum does that." Naruto interjected. "The drug they use on us."
Kakashi was silent for awhile, processing all the information he had received. Finally, with a long, exasperated sigh, he demanded, "When you reach Tsunade, make her take a sample of Sakura's blood...—"
"Tch. Why the hell should I allow that?" Sasuke questioned. His eyes were narrowed to slits while he made his snide remark, "I don't want to take a chance of malpractice with her equipment, they're most likely going to be unsanitary."
"You'll have to take that chance then, Sasuke." Kakashi stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "We have to know the effects that the drug has inside the body. I surely doubt that Tsunade would even dare think about reusing any scalpel or syringe or whatnot on Sakura."
"Maybe they had gotten her to." Sasuke said, "What then—she could just give them our location. Screw us all over. They'll steal my eyes and then kill me, test Naruto, test and use Sakura, they'll most likely kill you—"
"I'm going to be involved in this?" Kakashi questioned in a surprised tone.
Naruto grinned, "You're our teacher...—"
"—I'm blind though."
"Being blind doesn't make you completely useless like the girl." Sasuke shrugged and tilted his head in direction of Sakura—who was now tracing her finger in the dirt, forming a flower, then a smile, then a circle, then a triangle, then a...
Kakashi sighed, "I'm glad to know you still value my abilities, but I still think Sakura will be of more use."
"Maybe..." Sasuke breathed, his tone wandered to an unknown territory, "...Maybe."
Sakura looked up from her drawing and smiled.
"Sasuke-kun—"
...
...
...
It is the first gift he has ever received.
A painting.
"You saved me..." He says in an unbelieving tone.
One of blood.
His lips tremble and he doesn't know whether or not he should cherish it. But, after a few moments of silence, he lets out a heavy breath and he hugs her limp body. His hopes high on this all being just some silly, ridiculous dream.
"I don't like red on you."
...
...
20.
She looked at him with her bright emerald eyes and her hand shot up waiting for him to come grab it. When her smile faded and the boy had finally made his way to her with a blatant scowl present on his face, she asked:
"Who was I...—"
He paused, looked at her, then at the heart she had drawn on the ground, and with a hardened glare, he walked away. "Don't ask stupid questions."
"—...to you..?"
A/N: Most definitely: Epic. C:
Reviews make me write. (:
EWHH its Kenna