As promised, I will put up my chapter faster. I wanna thank you guys for reviewing!!! And reading this story, of course. I forgot to do that last chappie and I feel so horrible!!

In case you're wondering, the message Sasuke sent and Naruto read is meant to be missing…instead, like last chappie – where Naruto got his major thought chappie – this chappie's gonna be of Sasuke's thoughts…by the way; in space, time somehow goes by much, much slower…

I still have yet to make serious sense of this. By far, I figured it has something to do with those in space traveling in light speeds and the rate of messaging being slow to the point that even a snail could beat it in a race.

Disclaimers apply.

Dozo.


Voices of a Distant Star

"Naruto, hold on!"

The blonde's blank face turned to his surrogate guardian – an infamous porn writer who goes by the pen name of Sennin(1) – with the barest puzzlement.

"You forgot your mobile."

The youth's gaze turned the moment his eyes fell upon the familiar device. His voice was eerily empty as he told the white-haired man to leave his phone in his room. A confused frown was the man's instant response when he saw his 'ward' cycle away without much of a 'goodbye'. He scratched his head openly and stared at the innocent orange in his hand.

"Huh? Until a while ago, the kid wouldn't let his phone outta sight…" – a tired sigh left his lips and he turned back to the open door – "Kid's probably tired of it."

The door closed with him muttering about youths those days.

-line-

CHAPTER 5

Sasuke's messages stopped coming.

Day after day, week after week, month after month…I'd kept on waiting, hoping…

-line-

But now I just want to start forgetting.

-line-

It was quite the rare sight to see an Uchiha openly showing their feelings. Hyuuga Neji just happened to be lucky enough to bear sight to it. He couldn't help but be infected with the open excitement.

"Look at this, Neji…it's lovely…"

A small blush crept up the other brunette's face when the raven turned to him with a small smile, looking strangely sweet and as lovely as the open space that was being praised. Neji swallowed thickly and smiled back. His voice sounded almost breathless in answer.

"Yeah, it sure takes one's breath away…"

Sasuke merely kept his smile as he turned to the cool window again. His reflection was like a ghostly apparition against the darkness. He never noticed the shy glances his friend was giving him. The sudden sharply mocking voices felt like a rude shock to them.

"Look at those rookies…"

"You think you're on a sightseeing trip, huh?"

The indignant cry that wanted to make itself known died in Neji's throat when he heard a quiet apology from the younger teen. Guilt instantly welled up inside him and he bowed apologetically as well. The scolding was far from over, though. After all, the very same officer that had been briefing the other mecha pilots had caught them. They probably deserved the scolding.

"Fancy skipping the briefing on the very first day…talk about a serious attitude problem!"

The two teens' hanging heads lifted heavily as a more familiar voice interrupted the woman's rant.

"Maa, maa…chill, Anko. I don't see anything wrong with taking a breather every now and then."

The woman – Anko – glared darkly at the smiling man. "You words are inappropriate, Kakashi."

It was chilling how the dark gray eyes could stare so levelly at the feisty woman. It wasn't surprising that Anko turned away in the end. A small angry flush still stayed high on her cheeks.

"Right…they're from your team. Explains their behaviour…"

Trying to lift the mood in the room, Kakashi took a random shot in the dark. His smile was back on his handsome face as though it had never left.

"To date, we have very little intelligence on the Tharsians. It's best to let them consider all the options, ne?"

Anko frowned. "Don't talk to me like I'm an idiot. I know what's appropriate and what's not…they should too."

The smile was gone again in a flash. "You don't understand. Our strategy is built on nothing more than theory and speculation. How effective it will be, nobody knows. Keep this in mind, Anko…

"You and I are just one of mankind's many options."

-line-

Their footsteps made a hollow echo in the metal halls. It filled the silence that followed the three pilots heavily. Commander Hatake abruptly stopped and turned to look at the quiet teens following him.

"Well, we're going on standby. I know it's a drag, but get ready…"

"Commander…"

The soft voice was so unlike the one filled with the pride of a Hyuuga that the gray-haired man looked startled. It was even more so when the Uchiha piped in quite sincerely. "Sorry."

Kakashi blinked. "Huh? Oh, that. Ease up, guys. This ship isn't exactly small, you know." – he couldn't resist adding a fond ruffle to Sasuke's hair despite the teen's silent protests – "You meet all kinds of people here…"

His deep gray eyes softened greatly at the anxious faces. He couldn't find in his heart to pull his hand away yet. "The ones who stick strictly to the book will be the first to crumble in a dire situation…I'd rather you just follow your heart."

With a last pat on the raven head, he turned away.

-line-

Hey dobe. How are you?

The hangar was busier than ever with the upcoming mission. There was no one there who didn't have at least something to do.

I am now on Pluto, at the edge of the Solar System.

Higher up, two teens parted easily from the metal pathway leading to their designated mecha. The elder lifted an amiable hand. "Later, Sasuke…"

It's crowded here, what with the Kuiper Belt objects all clustered together…

The younger only nodded back. A small smile lifted the corners of his lips – but just barely.

It's so different from Earth.

In the comfortable warmth of the mecha, the same younger teen held his dark mobile in the sanctity of the quiet.

But being near the stars gives me a kind of comforting feeling…

Somehow, unlike other times, the raven couldn't find it in himself to start moving his fingers to type.

This message will take half a year to reach Earth.

A slight weariness came over him and his hand fell back to his side.

I thought we had traveled far enough already…

And as he leaned his chin against his one pulled up knee, a small, sad look passed over his pale features.

But the Lysithea is headed even further…

A sudden flash of the screens and warning beep from inside the mecha startled the teen from his thoughts. He spun in his seat to look at the light. "What's going on…?"

His inquiry was answered instantly.

"Tharsians detected at twelve o'clock. 20,000 metres(2) away from contact. There are twelve of those bandits. Mecha units one to four, prepare to scramble."

The loud and busy crashes of metal now took over as his mecha readied to be launched. The raven teen clenched his fists unconsciously in his metal sheath of controls. This would be the first time he would be actively engaged – and he was nervous.

"The enemy? Really?"

Hidden from the public – and the outside world in general – he easily allowed his emotions to run open. At the moment, an anxious frown was plastered on his face. Doubt plagued his mind. He was still a Junior High student!

"I have to sortie too?"

I'm aware that…

There was no more room for thought as his mecha launched readily from the ship.

like what people on Earth are hoping…

Most of the crew…

He was immediately overwhelmed with the sights of strange, large creatures that looked like they were misshapen boulders of odd colours, racing through space.

see the pursuit of the Tharsians as the ultimate goal.

The teen brought his mecha a little away from the battle to watch uncertainly. Should he just rush in…?

Every new thing we learn will make up for the sacrifices we make…

A sudden quick movement flashed in his peripheral vision.

That is what they believe.

His eyes widened in shock and his sights were abruptly filled with the odd coloured, rough skin that was a little too familiar.

"What on Earth—!"

His exclamation died on his lips when he realized that a slit of black could be seen on the skin.

So this…

The slit opened with a sickening 'pop' to fully reveal the terrifying sight of a single, clear eyeball.

is a Tharsian…

Dark, wide eyes widened even more. Instincts and months of training finally took over and he swung his mecha to a more advantageous position. His eyes were squeezed shut in mind-numbed panic.

It's horrible!

With a loud bang, he fired his mecha's in-built guns. Spurts of a dark liquid shot out the Tharsian as the lasers hit and it drifted limply from him.

But Naruto…

The teen panted heavily in his seat and fought not to cry. It was unbecoming for a grown boy like him! Still, the heavy tears pricked dangerously at the corners of his eyes.

I'm…

"More boogies detected at 120,000 metres(2). Estimated 20,000 of them." – the warning system was causing wild beeps in the mecha's cockpit and it seemed almost chaotic – "All ships, prepare to jump one light year ahead. Repeat…"

A breathless cry of protest was uttered from his lips. "No…"

If this happens…

"I'll be one year further from Naruto!"

Dark eyes roved desperately to the small device. He reached out for it but it floated too far from him. Only one thought ran itself through his mind.

"I have to send a message to him now!"

"All mecha units, return to the ships."

Just a little more—

If only…

"Return to the ships!"

A burst of crackling energy hit him hard from the side. The loud explosion of the mecha's shields doing its job deafened him uncomfortably and he gritted his teeth as a sharp flash of pain raced through his body from the electrical backlash.

we didn't find anything…

Instinct and training took over again and he fired a volley of shots at the next crackle. The large explosion rocked him as the two met. An urgent voice finally got through his buzzing communicator.

"Craft two, return to your ship immediately!"

Then we could all go back home…

The raven took a last glance at the hovering mobile.

That's all I want…

Maybe he could make a grab—

"Craft two!!"

He flinched visibly from the reprimand and turned his mecha to the Lysithea. A short moment later, the ship vanished in a burst of light. No one took notice of the small figure huddled up in the closed quarters of a mecha's cockpit, his pale hands raised to cover an equally pale face, and his slim body trembling uncontrollably.

His tears fell like cold drops of desolate rain.

-line-

The only thing I wished for…

-line-

"I'm home…"

Jiraiya looked in surprise at the blonde teen currently taking off his shoes calmly at the door. He blinked in confusion again. According to the normal events of the day, the teen was not supposed to be back until quite late. He made his thoughts known easily. Receiving no reply, though, he added the other lingering thought in his mind.

"Don't you have Kendo…?"

A very pregnant pause. "I'm thinking of quitting."

The reply startled the white-haired writer. Throughout his life, his 'ward' had been so passionate about the sport. There had also been a dream of being a champion in it one day. To be told abruptly of even thinking of quitting the club—

Jiraiya spun around on his heels when he realized that the blonde was already going up the stairs. "Quit? Why?"

His questions came to naught, however, as the blonde closed the door to his room with an uncharacteristically inaudible 'click'.

-line-

"Wait! Naruto?"

Naruto ignored the call and shut his door to it. He stood before it for a long moment, thinking; always thinking. He finally looked at his study desk – and his blue eyes fell on the small mobile.

Sasuke must be…

In a few long strides, he had it cradled in his hands.

settling into his new life.

Once again, his fingers had done its almost ritualistic pressing of the buttons and the small screen now showed the mobile loading its familiar program.

Very likely, he has too much on his hands…

Only barely glimpsing at the blank result Naruto could tell what it was. Frustration unexpectedly welled up from deep inside him and he banged a fist hard onto his room's wall. The loud thump followed a heavy silence.

to think of me.

His breath was as heavy for a moment.

It's time.

His eyes grew empty again. In his tanned grasp, the orange mobile was clutched tight.

I have to move on.

-line-

Deep in space, a bright flash pushed away the darkness momentarily. In its coming appeared a fleet of ships worn from a recent battle. A veteran voice reported their status.

"No sign of Tharsian activity. Jump successful."

Inside the ships, the chaos of the post-battle took reign. Beeps of spoilt warning systems in mechas and the technicians' computers filled the already bustling hangars like a broken record. The same voice went on to announce calmly through the speakers, "We are now checking for mecha pilot casualties."

The crew rushed about their ships, already in frenzy since their pilots' return. Frantic calls for help now added to the chaos. More beeps from simple medical equipment brought out to assist the injured piled on to the noise.

"Medic! Where's the medic?!"

"We need some help over here!"

Amidst the battering wave of people, a lone teenager stood out like a sore thumb in his Junior High uniform, and looking more than a little lost. In his pale hands was a tightly clutched mobile. His young face was clearly worn and dampened with sweat. His dark eyes were glazed over with exhaustion. From his lips, spilled absent words of concern.

"Wonder if Neji's okay…"

Without much thought after, he began to make his way to the more familiar hangar, the spilt words finally giving some form of direction to him.

Each new day had its little disappointments…

A dark wave of dread washed over his heart when he realized that his one friend's mecha was not in its usual place. In fact, it was missing. Alarmed, he rushed to the nearest mechanic. "Excuse me, but where's craft six?"

The man shrugged. "Ain't back yet…" – he further darkened the news by continuing almost carelessly – "A couple o' our boys were shot down…we're trying to identify them. Now if you'll step aside…"

The news was a definite hard blow. It left the teen stunned to muteness from it.

But I never wanted things to change.

He sat hidden on the back stairways later, his knees pulled up protectively over himself. His hands still clutched the small mobile – though now, it showed a message being sent on its screen. The loading message on it, however, was almost petrifying.

Estimated Delivery Time:

1 Year 46 Days 12 Hrs 50 Sec

The boy huddled tighter into himself. He was forcing his tears not to spill again. He had cried once that day; it was enough to him. He was used to his closest people being taken abruptly from him, anyway. His parents, his brother, and now Neji…they had all left him in the same abrupt way. It tore a part of his heart but maybe he was meant to be alone. Unconsciously, he called to his only source of comfort; the only one that could quell the overwhelming fear in his heart.

"Naruto…"

He tucked himself tighter still and trembled with an unseen cold.

"Naruto…"

He felt so alone – and he was terrified.

"Naruto…"

And just like that, the tough wall of bravery that he had built up for so long came crashing down. Tears slid down the porcelain cheeks, unabashed. He was so scared

"Naruto…"

-line-

I decided to stop waiting for Sasuke's messages.

...to be continued...


(1) sennin means hermit…in case you wanna know.

(2) it's not a spelling error. Where I am, that's how you spell the word.

BLEARGH.

Waaaah. This chappie was kinda shitty at the start and later, it got emotional… I hope I convey the feelings properly across…and Neji's M.I.A.??!

Well, see you next time on…

Voices of a Distant Star…!

Hehe. Always wanted to do that. Hope it's long enough to make up for the lack of 'activity' for the past month...

:watcheva: