DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN NARUTO.
Discuss me.
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-&-
...
...
(thump. thump. thump.)
...
...
I wonder why you worry—
Because,
I'm still here.
...
Why do you say:
I'm different?
I'm not refusing you,
I want you.
...
...
Let me want you. Let me help you.
...
Let me love you.
...
...
Breath. Breath. BREATH!
...
I need to love you, again.
...
...
(more. more. more.)
...
&help ourselves;
...
(drip. drip. drip.)
...
She delved into the pool of red water and smiled feverishly.
...
-&-
BRAVE NEW WORLD
...
"What we had was real to me."
"—or that time when you saved Jiraiya from being burned to a crisp, courtesy of Sasuke, because—unknown to you—pictures of you getting out of the hot springs were posted in Icha—"
Sasuke scowled. "That's enough." Sasuke snapped with a heated reply, sending a glare at Sakura and Kakashi.
Kakashi let out a throaty chuckle and waved his hand. "Sasuke, it's called being human. Ever heard of it..?" Kakashi waited a moment, almost as though he were expecting an answer. But, with a sigh of exhaustion he finally said, "You know, reminiscing and discussing events about our past."
His glare not once lightened, but he did flip his head back towards the road, continuing to glower, "Whatever. Just don't discuss that."
Naruto snorted at Sasuke. "You should be grateful, Kakashi-sensei's sparing the details."
Sasuke scowled.
He then let out muffled growled when he heard Sakura's and Kakashi's giggle. "Idiots."
"Hm... Oh!" Kakashi exclaimed, his tone giddy and filled with excitement—which worried Sasuke. "There was that time when you had to share a bed with Naruto for a mission, and during the middle of the night Sasuke just waltzed in—jeopardizing our mission and lives—and carried you to his bed—"
...
...
...
The boy is a joker—playing tricks on everyone, all the time.
But with every year, he becomes more and more mature, it's only natural with age.
So, when he's lying in that casket,
She waits—
for that fool to open his eyes and apologize to the king.
"Can't you hear your people cry?"
...
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21.
"Shut up." Sasuke hissed, shoving his hands in his pockets. "You're more goddamn annoying than the moron!"
Sakura shifted her position on Kakashi's back and sighed, "Sasuke-kun why are you so defensive about everything?"
"I'm not defensive."
Naruto stopped dead in his tracks and tilted his head towards the sky. Taking in a deep breath of the crisp air, a sheepish grin plastered onto his tan face. "I..." Naruto took another sniff of the air, just to make sure. "I smell RAMEN!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, bursting off to wherever his nose was leading him.
Sasuke sneered with disgust at the blond-haired boy. "Idiot! You could have gave away our position!"
"Sasuke, stop worrying." Kakashi cooed. "I would have sensed anyone following us."
Sasuke eyed his former teacher suspiciously, complete disbelief in his glare. "You're blind, I'm not going to trust you with Saku...—everyone's life."
"Being blind heightens my other senses, Sasuke." Kakashi furrowed his brow and frowned. "I'm at a higher level of skill, blind or not. Don't you dare act like I would even jeopardize any one of your lives."
"Tch. Whatever." Sasuke hissed. Taking a moment to look at Naruto, who hadn't even bothered to stop for them to catch up, Sasuke then walked up to Kakashi for a short moment. He paused, looking at the silver-haired man and the pink-haired girl. "I'll take Sakura from here, take a break."
"You have major trust issues." Kakashi deadpanned to the Uchiha, letting Sakura off of his back.
"Why should I—"
Kakashi then mused for a short moment, speaking aloud. "We should be the ones who don't trust you, especially with Sakura."
The raven-locked boy must have ignored his comment, because his attention was already on the girl. "Get on." Sasuke snapped with an annoyed tone. He reached out and grasped her forearm with a vice-like grip, then tugging, he pulled her to his body.
"Ow—Sa...Sasuke-kun! That hurts." Sakura's jaw twitched and she lightly tried freeing her arm. "Alright!"
She watched the boy sigh. He gave her a skeptical glare and finally dropped her arm. "I hate repeating myself." Sasuke hissed, spinning on his heel around.
Sakura gave a small huff of aggravation and climbed on his back—
"Hey!" Sasuke scowled, "Don't hold on too tight!"
Sakura laid her head in the nape of Sasuke's neck, her hot breath tickling his naked flesh. With neither a distant nor a warm voice, she finally asked, "Why? Can you feel my breasts?"
Sasuke dismissed her comment with an inward growl. After shuffling his feet for a few seconds, getting used to the weight difference, he began his sprint to Naruto, Kakashi by his side, chuckling.
A loud groan permeated the small town. "That hit the spot!"
"True." Kakashi grinned behind his mask, almost in a nostalgic way. Then after a hefty sigh, he patted his stomach in a light-manner and laughed. "I haven't had a good meal in years."
"It was...fine." Sasuke muttered before residing to the counter where Sakura was. "Stop wasting time, Sakura." Sasuke beckoned her over in a casual way while glaring at the restaurant worker.
Sakura looked at him innocently and smiled, before glancing back to the cashier. "That's Sasuke-kun." Sakura pointed at said boy. "I won't be surprised if he hates you..." Sakura sighed. When she saw the cashier's twitch, she panicked, "Oh no! Don't worry. He hates everything. Except that blond boy over there. That kid's Naruto—"
"Sakura!"
Sasuke had already stalked up to the poor girl and grabbed her harshly on the shoulder. Sakura winced at the contact and let out a small squeak, "Hey!" Before she could further protest, Sasuke had already jolted her to the side and brought her back to the rest of the group, sparing one last glare to the cashier. "Sasuke-kun!"
...
...
...
Today is memorable.
She's smiling because she is asked out on her first date, and mother is there to help her choose out her outfit and father is there to glare, and to pout and whine and curse and get out his heavy-duty artillery and threats.
She's grinning because she has just felt what everyone but her knew, her first kiss. It isn't really romantic, but it's still too beautiful for her to ever forget.
She's happy because now she knows what true love actually is.
And everyday, he curses at himself—
because it isn't him.
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22.
By the time they had reached a close to empty street, Sasuke finally let out his built up rage. "Naruto's idiocy must be fucking contagious." Sasuke growled under his breath, ignoring Naruto's protest and irritation. "I can't believe you!"
Sakura stopped her attempts to remove his grip on her shoulder and asked, completely dumbfounded, "Huh?"
"Bastard, stop abusing her!" Naruto growled, readying a punch to the raven-locked boy.
Sasuke didn't even bother to spare him a glance, before he had thrown Sakura against the brick building. Sakura gasped in pain and her head lulled down. Griping at the growing pangs she hesitantly returned her eyes to meet crimson ones. "I'm...sorry?"
Naruto growled and Kakashi could see the hysterics which were about to ensue. Before Naruto could even move an inch to charge at Sasuke, Kakashi had gripped his collar and paralyzed all movement. "What the hell, Kakashi?! He's hurting her!"
"No...—" Sasuke hissed in agitation, "Maybe the idiot will fall for that, even that old man, but not me." Sasuke's right hand flickered up and pinched her jawline, his grip on her shoulder tightening further.
"Just wait, Naruto." Kakashi muttered under his breath, hopefully calming down any unstable emotions the blond had. "I can stop this if it's necessary."
"But, Kakashi—!"
"Sa-Sasuke...k-kun!" Sakura choked out, tears streaming down her rosy cheeks. "Stop... Stop it, p-please."
"Listen to me," Sasuke spat with resentment, "Get wits..." He paused, thinking of his wording. "Stop tempting...fate. You're gambling our lives, you're life, the world, Sakura!" His grip strengthened and he narrowed his eyes, "Tell me, Sakura—why do you refuse to remember me?"
"I-I... Sasuke, stop—I don't refuse, I can't because I don't know how...—" She gasped, choking out another sob, "—My... My hand, it...it hurts."
Sasuke looked at her and suddenly—
"Kakashi!" Naruto groaned, "The bastard, he's gonna—!"
"Shut up...—" Kakashi furrowed his brows when he saw how the chakra silhouettes connected for the shortest second. "This wasn't...planned."
—fell.
I want you so much. Just—
(thump. thump. thump.)
He presses his head into the nape of her neck and breathes in her scent.
(breath. breath. BREATH!)
Just remember me...—please.
...
(THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!)
He doesn't raise his head back up, because the moment is ecstasy.
(BREATH!)
And he denies, those trickles—
(drop. drop. DROP!)
"Sa...Sakura."
(END OF TRANSMISSION)
—tears.
When Sasuke woke up, he was surprised to find himself in a house—a relatively homey type house to be more specific. His eyes were narrowed and he felt something akin to panic arise in the pit of his stomach—where is Saku...—his team?
Taking in a few breaths, not exactly sure whether to calm his nerve or steady his stature, he finally jumped off the bed. He swiftly let his hand wipe across his forehead and frowned when he saw the sweat. Was the room hot or was he sick? A growl inside his throat, he gripped his kunai, which was set on the table along with his other weapons, and steadily walked through the ajar door.
...
...
...
She doesn't even remember why she took in that child.
She was studious, yes.
But, she was annoying, and she was emotional and beautiful and too innocent to be a ninja.
She sometimes regrets it, having taken in such a loving girl.
Because the woman reminiscences—
maybe that's what broke her.
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...
23.
"You're already awake?"
Sasuke arched a brow at the woman sitting before him. She was merely staring at the blazing fire in the fireplace and sipping on a cup of tea—or sake, for all he knew. When he got a better look of his surroundings, Sasuke's nerves calmed and he automatically let his guard loosen the slightest degree.
Sasuke cleared his throat, looking at her with disbelief and slight curiosity, "Why am I here?"
"Thank your teammates." Her tone was low and Sasuke grimaced that he couldn't distinguish the emotion.
When Sasuke gave her a questioning look, the blond sighed. "You're team miraculously found me. Thank Naruto, that idiot, for his compassion and perseverance and Kakashi for his tracking skills."
"Tsunade, what happened?"
Tsunade laughed at the boy's indifference to his team, he was always looking for the girl's involvement. "Sakura, she damaged internal organs and caused some severe hemorrhaging. If it wasn't for Naruto's dominance over the Kyuubi's chakra, you would have been dead."
He wondered how, but didn't bother asking. Instead, Sasuke scowled. "Have you seen her?" He asked in a demanding tone.
"No matter how much you think she has forgotten, she remembers everything within time. When the situation requires her to, she will use her aggressive or defensive techniques for protection. Think of it as a...life-line, almost. If Naruto is in danger, the Kyuubi will end up protecting him for it's sake. When Sakura's in danger, her memories will race by—and if you're lucky, she'll grasp several of them."
"Hn." Sasuke grunted, partially understanding Tsunade's explanation. What didn't make sense was why he didn't sense it coming.
Tsunade leaned back in her maroon chair and stared blankly at the wooden ceiling. She blinked, her eyes filled with something relative to being proud. "Kakashi said she tried to run away after, back to where they first kept her—that testing area. But, she just stopped admist her run, almost as though she was thinking about morals."
He snorted at her story, "Morals?"
"When Naruto and Kakashi finally caught up to her, she was just there, smiling and crying, saying—"
"Where is she?" Sasuke was growing more impatient.
"—how she missed you."
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...
...
She lays on the wet grass and stares blankly at the endless starry night, searching for answers she knows she'll never get.
So when she sees that shooting star pass her by with such speed,
she prays to whatever is up there—
that his existence was never actually a lie, but a promise.
Because after it disappears, she once again, must return to her vanishing orchestra.
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24.
"You know..." Tsunade began, looking at the silver-haired man. "I'm still sorry."
"It was never your fault." Kakashi reassured, taking his spot next to the tired Uchiha. "Every body decays in the end." He took the cup that was sitting beside him and brought it to Tsunade. After she finished pouring herself a cup of tea, she nodded and lazily let the droplets of liquid fill his own cup.
"Will you fucking tell me where Sakura is?" Sasuke demanded once again, his patience completely lost.
"Sakura's in the far bedroom, resting." Tsunade snapped, glaring at the boy. "Don't speak to your elders like that either, boy."
Sasuke merely scoffed and began to stand up.
"Naruto's in there with her too, stay here right now. They need rest."
"What?" Sasuke sneered, "That idiot is in there with her?"
"Save it, Uchiha."
Sasuke screwed up his face in a strange manner, but returned to his seat. The last thing he needed was Kakashi to taunt him about something else. Glaring, he returned to the conversation and gave an irritated sigh, signaling for Tsunade to continue with her speech.
"You shouldn't let this get to you, you know. I'm sure it's only some preliminary adjustment." Tsunade sighed, "Sakura, I mean."
"What are you talking about?" Kakashi asked, "Naruto was under the same drugs and—"
"It's a different situation. Sakura doesn't have a demon inside her like Naruto does. The boy hadn't actually been through the multiple tests they use on the containers. He went through the beginning subjects thanks to him being the last demon—the nine-tails. Sakura, on the other hand, is completely human...—"
"Naruto's completely human." Sasuke remarked snidely.
Tsunade groaned in aggravation, "Just work with me here, OK? Kakashi will be sleeping with Sakura next if you don't shut up." She threatened, her eyebrows raised in amusement.
"Anyways, Sakura, has been forced through drug programs with the... What is it called—Ah, yes. Orpheum. Well, I'm sure she's been forced into having microchip implants and whatnot, as well.
"Why don't you just go in and see her?" Sasuke asked. "Just go and fix it."
"I've already seen her. Stop being an immature brat, I can't just go in and fix it." Tsunade snapped. "She's was already a complicated being to begin with, and now with her mind's instability, courtesy of the all of those tests, it is merely harder."
"Well, what did you see her for then?"
"She just wanted to talk."
"She's sleeping you said." Sasuke glowered in annoyance, "Where is the consistency, you hag?"
"No, you bastard, but it shouldn't be long."
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...
Sometimes, he sits there in that empty house—that house which is contaminated with blood, family, and tears—and he gives up on his composure.
Because, with no one around to see the facade fall,
it's his finale.
He finally understands that he is allowed to hope, wish, and dream.
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25.
Kakashi suggested, "Why don't you just turn her off?"
A long, dreaded silence greeted each one of them coldly.
A/N: BAMF story is BAMF.
Reviews make me write. (:
EWHH its Kenna