Konnichi wa!
YAHOO! You guys like this story!
I know it's a bit confusing, and this chapter doesn't help, but please read anyway.
I already have a few ideas on where this story is going to go.
Heehee – it'll be great!
Please enjoy!
Wingless Flight
Chapter Two – Endless Memories
"Sasuke!"
The Uchiha turned slightly to look over his shoulder, and he gave a small smile.
"Hello dobe."
Naruto collided with him, wrapping Sasuke's slender waist in a powerful hug as Neji stood to the side, already greeted.
The Uchiha said nothing in protest – he was silence, smiling softly at Naruto with gentle, protective glittering in his eyes.
Naruto released him, grinning from ear to ear.
"So how's life with the Hyuugas, teme?" Sasuke smirked softly.
"Bearable," he replied, his voice soft and playful as he slyly glanced Neji's way. The Hyuuga glared at him.
Stupid Uchiha.
"Where is Sakura?" Sasuke asked Naruto gently, his gaze smoothly shifting from Neji to the blonde.
"Training with Lee to help her with her Tai Jutsu," Naruto replied. "Lee's rubbing off on her – she's become really determined!" Sasuke smiled softly.
"Hah – I can imagine," he replied, his lips barely moving but every syllable crystal clear.
For a moment, Neji could only stare at those lips, but then he yanked his gaze away and took a deep breath. He pushed himself from the tree.
"C'mon Uchiha – let's go. Good to see you Naruto." He nodded to the blonde, who grinned.
"Nice to see you too Neji! Take care Sasuke!"
The Uchiha gracefully nodded to Naruto before smoothly turning and walking behind Neji, following him back to the Hyuuga estate. Neji surveyed Sasuke angrily.
Damn Uchiha. Why did he even betray the village anyway? I get sick just by LOOKING at him. I'm sure what happened the day of the massacre couldn't have been THAT bad. I mean, it's not like he LIKED his family or anything. He said that himself. His mother ignored him, his father hated him…Why did he even do it? Threw everything away just for revenge? That's so stupid. Nothing couldn't have been so bad to make him do THAT.
Tsk. The Uchiha is just weak-hearted.
…
But then again…If he WAS weak-hearted…I suppose he would have broken a long time ago.
But perhaps he already broke...
When they got to the crossroad, Sasuke stopped.
"Neji."
The Hyuuga turned to him, the hatred and anger at the unfairness of it all still flaring in his stomach.
"What, Uchiha?" He replied sharply – harshly. Sasuke didn't look at him for a moment.
"Have you ever… been to the Uchiha compound?" He asked slowly, locking his coal eyes – unblinking and seemingly piercing into the Hyuuga's soul – onto Neji's white ones. Neji raised an eyebrow.
"No – why do you ask?" Sasuke merely looked at him for a moment, and without replying, he turned and began up the right side of the fork, where Neji had already begun walking on the left. Neji bolted after him. Damn it – NOW what is he planning? "Uchiha!"
Silently grumbling, Neji followed Sasuke up the slope, watching the Uchiha's long hair sway. Since Sasuke had been banned from doing any act of shinobi for at least a year, the Uchiha found no need to put it in a braid, like he usually did. Neji angrily crossed his arms, silently growling.
Argh – why are we coming up here? What's the point? The entire place is abandoned and useless and it needs to be ripped apart – why is he going back? Didn't his entire clan DIE there? The Hyuuga let out a displeased snort. Stupid Uchiha. We're going to be late getting back now, because of him.
"Come Neji – we're not expected back at the estate for another hour – we have time." Neji looked up at Sasuke's silky voice, and found that the Uchiha hadn't even turned his head. For a moment, the Hyuuga merely looked at the long, cascading waterfall of black, reaching down to the Uchiha's upper thighs. Neji could only see Sasuke's shoulders and part of his shoulder blades – the entire width of his back was covered with the silken blackness.
Amazing. Hiashi-sama NEVER let me grow my hair that long.
…
But that must be a bitch to clean.
It was another five minutes before they arrived at the rusty, forlorn gate, the black paint that once shone long dull and chipped away. The lock was still there – but brittle and pathetic.
For a moment, Sasuke merely looked at the lock, Neji not a foot behind him. The Hyuuga blinked and craned his head slightly to see Sasuke's eyes.
The black orbs were half-closed and glazed. He was remembering.
Remembering a sad memory, I bet you anything in the world. God, Uchihas are so angsty. Neji then blinked, looking slightly deeper into the dark eyes – where shadows swirled and secrets thrived.
Oh God – he's really hurting.
Uchiha…
Sasuke suddenly shifted, raising a hand and setting it on the lock's bar.
With a simple twist, the old, worn iron broke in two halves with a small snap, the metal underneath Sasuke's fingers turning into dust under his fingers. Sasuke gently pushed the right part of the gate – barely a feather's touch.
With a screech of metal, the gate swung shakily inward, the sound of old hinges grinding against each other screaming daggers into the still spring air.
Neji nearly winced at the sound – nearly.
God, why do I get the feeling that this isn't going to be good?
Sasuke didn't twitch as the gate bared the way to the huge compound; his arms were limp at his sides.
Without a word, he walked in.
Neji had no choice – he followed, eyeing the decrepit, dilapidated buildings curiously.
Was there a fire here? Strange, I don't remember one. And the Hyuuga estate is very close to here as well…
Silently they walked, touching the earth with light, gentle steps as if too hard of a touch could send everything inside the gates shattering like the bristliest of glass.
The Hyuuga became more uneasy with each passing moment.
Why are we even here? I'm getting chills.
Uchiha, what're you planning?
We really should go back.
Suddenly, in the middle of the main street, Sasuke stopped, staring straight ahead. Neji blinked.
"Uchiha?"
Sasuke didn't answer, still gazing straight ahead. Neji walked up so he was standing at the Uchiha's shoulder. His eyes widened.
There, a boy – no older than eight – was in the street in front of them, next to another, older boy – around thirteen years old – who was identical to the smaller, except his hair was more of a deep gray instead of bluish black.
Neji's breath caught in his throat.
Oh my God – what IS this? Is that… His eyes bolted to Sasuke's emotionless face, which was staring at the scene before them with blank eyes. Him and his brother?
"Nii-san!" The little one cooed, grasping the older one's hand. "Nii-san – can we play together? Please?"
The other smiled down softly at the littler one.
"I'm sorry otouto – but I can't. Father wants me to go see the Hokage today." The smaller one pouted.
"But nii-san! You promised! You promised you would play with me today and teach me how to throw Shuriken!" The older boy's eyes were sad.
"Yes – I did, but little brother – I cannot. I promised Father."
"But you promised me too!" The older one's smile broadened ever so slightly, and he leaned down to ruffle the boy's hair.
"Okay – how about this? I'll play with you twice as much tomorrow, and I'll teach you to throw Shuriken twice as long, okay?"
The little one's entire aura brightened and he giggled, bolting forward to wrap his arms around the other's waist.
"Okay! I love you nii-san!" The elder smiled grimly, and he pulled the little boy away gently, leaning over to tower over the other. Still holding that smile, he flicked the smaller boy's forehead with his index finger gently.
"Foolish little brother."
Holding their stances like statues, they vanished in a spray of flame.
Neji jumped slightly, and unconsciously drew closer to Sasuke as roaring flames suddenly leaped into life all around them, burning apart every single building that they came in contact with. The Hyuuga's head snapped back and forth, swiftly taking in every detail of the blaze. It was all around them – every building Neji saw was swallowed in heat and fire as the night sky outlined the brightness. Soot filled the air, and it filled Neji's lungs; he began to cough raggedly, his eyes burning with the smoke and flame.
What on earth is going on?! His eyes darted back and forth. Wait – I remember now! There WAS a fire! On the night of the massacre!
Oh my God.
"Nii-san!" Neji whirled behind to see behind him, and he strained to see through the blackness of both night and ash. "Nii-san!"
The same boy they had seen earlier appeared in the heart of the blaze, and he ran passed Neji and Sasuke – who didn't even shift his eyes to glance at the boy – eyes red not with smoke –
But with tears. Neji's eyes widened.
Tears?
"Nii-san!" The child called raggedly. "NII-SAN!"
Neji's sharp eyes caught the outline of a figure in the mists of the fiery rage, and his eyes widened even more.
No way –
"Nii-san!" The child cried again. "Mother… Father… why did you do it?"
The outline shifted to face the child.
"I did it to protect you, little brother – to protect you from a family that would have eventually destroyed you. Think about it – our father never loved you, Mother always ignored you – you never would have achieved something great that way. At least now – your own mind can protect you – you can become something great. But, now – you must protect me from myself. Always hate me, little brother. Always hate me – and always strive to kill me – to grow stronger. You do that, and you will leave all of this behind."
"Nii-san!" The boy called again. It seemed like that was the only word he could say.
"Remember, little brother," the older said again. "I killed our entire family – therefore – you must kill me. It is the only way you will EVER find peace."
"No… nii-san…" The boy was on his knees now, sobbing raggedly.
"Never forget, foolish little brother. Never forget…"
The transition was slow. The fire slowly faded away like it had been a ghost, and the dark, moonless night sky brightened into the spring day.
Neji blinked.
Everything was how it was when they had entered.
What was that? A mirage?
He turned to Sasuke, who hadn't moved a single muscle since – whatever it had been – began, his head inclined, his eyes downcast and hidden in shadow.
"U…chiha?"
"He said…" Neji eyes widened at the broken voice he now heard.
Uchiha! This is what really happened?
"He said that… if I got the power to defeat him – to kill him… I would be able to leave all of this behind. But now that I finally did kill him…" he raised his head slightly. "Look at it. It's still here – it hasn't vanished, it hasn't faded away. It's still as clear to me as the day it happened."
Sasuke had straightened now, his eyes half-closed and blank, his arms limp at his sides. Neji's eyes narrowed.
All this time I never truly realized what Uchiha was going through…
"It will never fade. None of it ever will." Neji blinked as Sasuke began to speak again. "I realize that now. It's an endless circle – full of both love and hurt, of both joy and pain. They're endless…" Sasuke raised his head to look up at the sky. Neji – after a moment – did the same. "They will always be endless."
Uchiha –
"Endless memories."
I understand now.
End of Chapter Two – Endless Memories
Well, what they saw was Sasuke's memories – one of where he tells his brother that he loved him (awe! So sweet! XD) And the next one being the massacre.
I'm sorry if it's a bit confusing.
Writing this made me sniffle. –sniffle-
Well, I hoped you enjoyed it! Any questions, please feel free to ask! As long as you're nice about it!
Please review!
Ja ne!
DDB