Yeah, so shoot me, I left the last chapter on a bit of a cliffy…mwahahahaha…but yeah, here is where it concludes…
Sorry for the lack of updates, but exams are damned stressful!
Anyway, don't own, bleh…anyway, hope you enjoy and don't kill me!
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Chapter Six
It was seven o'clock.
She glanced down at the red numbers of the digital clock that was on the stove, and smirked a cat like smirk before her narrowed hazel eyes turned towards the hallway. From the kitchen the young woman looked up the stairs…waiting any minute now to hear the alarm clock going off. She'd rigged it the night before when the owner of the room had come trudging in at two o'clock in the morning…
She'd not been best pleased when she'd watched him attempt to sneak in through the back door. She'd actually watched him walk passed as she sat eating her early-morning-craving cream cheese and ice-cream sandwich. She'd been satisfying the 'baby's needs' (as she liked to call it) and as she watched him sneak by quietly - and she'd give him credit, if she hadn't have been sitting right there she wouldn't have noticed…but he hadn't noticed her - which was unusual for him…
So naturally she'd come to the conclusion that he was either drunk or stoned. Or both. Which one way or another, wouldn't be something that she couldn't handle.
So she'd set his alarm for 7 o'clock, see how he took it, and if he didn't get out of bed, then she would have to go and wake him up then wouldn't she?
She liked that idea better.
Somehow she knew that the alarm clock wouldn't wake him…her hazel eyes narrowed…his alarm clock sounded throughout the quiet house, the only other sound was the boiling over the stove…then it was suddenly dead…no, it sounded like it had choked to death…which meant one of two things…
Either he had woken up and broken it, once again…or…that he hadn't woken up and had broken it subconsciously…which was the more likely of the two…
She paused and contemplated…and steadily removed the apron and patted her swollen abdomen with a smirk… "Time to wake him up, aka-chan…" the devious smirk kept with her as she crept with spectacular stealth for a young woman carrying such a large weight…she made sure to step over all of the creaky floorboards on the upstairs landing…heading slowly and steadily towards the one closed door at the far end of the hallway.
She appeared ahead of the door within an instant…hazel eyes once again running over the 'Enter and you'll seriously wish you hadn't' sign and smirked…hand reaching out for the handle, ready to turn it to let her and aka-chan inside…
Blackness greeted her on the other side along with the faint scent of teenager…yes, according to her they had a scent, or at least this one did, and it wasn't too bad, she'd smelt worse…her narrowed eyes scanned the danger zone, and stepped in, standing over books and neglected school work…even though it was a new term, and summer had ended, she was surprised that he was yet to do his homework…yes, he did usually do his homework being the straight A student that he was…but she brushed it off…one way or another the homework would get done, even if she had to lock him in his room - again.
There was the bed, and smashed over the floor something that could barely be described as an alarm clock. She sighed…there's plenty more where that came from, right, aka-chan? He had the deep blue sheets over his head, curled in his usual ball and cutely hugging the pillow against his chest. Aw, how she loved that brat, no matter how annoying he could be or how much he whined or how much taller than her he got, he managed to be so damn cute that it would drive her insane. Yeah, she loved the kid, and she would prove that love by being a good friend and waking him up for school.
"Wouldn't want him to be late now, would we?" she whispered to herself…appearing at the side of his bed. Taking a deep breath able to hear his gentle breathing beneath the sheets, she readied herself.
"TIME FOR SCHOOL, SUKI-CHAN! Get up! Get up! Get up!"
Being as loud as she could have managed, she yanked back the sheets to revel him, still wearing his jeans from the night before.
Black eyes had opened as the sudden chill hit his white skin, and within an instant he was sitting up in bed, and cowering away from the sudden light that was flood into his room as an all too familiar figure practically tore open his curtains.
"…Hazuki-chan…" he moaned with a glare as he tugged the sheets back over his slightly muscled torso, curling his body back into a ball.
"Sasuke! Get that damn ass outta bed! Come on! Up! Up! Up!" she ripped the sheets away and threw them aside. The slightly dazed boy dropped his head back into the pillow and groaned in annoyance, feeling a finger as it prodded his shoulder.
"Go away…" he mumbled into the pillow.
"No, get outta bed! Come on! Your brother has already left, and so you have to walk to school! Now if ya don't get outta bed now, Suki-chan, then you'll be late for school!"
Hazuki made herself useful, humming as she went merrily around the posters-for-wallpaper room, and finding the handles of the closet, opened it, throwing random parts of his school uniform towards him.
Sasuke half raised his head from the pillow in a deadly glare before sitting back as a fresh shirt hit him in the face, he yelped, it was cold against his skin. "Hazuki-chan…what about my car?"
"What about it?" She questioned, closing the closet and heading towards a pile of clean socks and underwear that she had left on his desk chair for him to put away (although he clearly hadn't), and threw a pair of socks and fresh boxers his way.
"Well," Sasuke begun, putting his feet over the bed, feeling the affects of five hour sleep…complete with nightmares… "It's my car for a reason." He replied.
"Well I'm gonna use it today! Aka-chan and I are going to go shopping! Isn't that right, aka-chan?" she rubbed her swollen abdomen with pride, her face glowing so brightly that Sasuke felt the desperate need to go and hide in the corner.
"Now! No more of your complaining, Suki-chan!" She demanded in the nicest way possible, that almost creepy smile over her small heart-shaped face. A smile that told Sasuke…one foot out of line, and you'll regret it…he remained silent looking around him at the clothes that she had thrown in his direction.
"I expect you downstairs in 20 minutes! I'll have breakfast ready for you, then you can head off! Okay?" It wasn't a question.
"Hn," Sasuke grunted in response before fighting against a large yawn, finding himself stretching as he brought himself to his feet, towering a good several inches above Hazuki.
"Good! Now go get dressed!"
And she was gone.
Sasuke dropped his shoulders but yawned once more, tears collecting at the sides of his eyes. Running his fingers through his hair Sasuke decided on a speedy shower - which indeed was speedy - and set off to change into his school uniform…and sighed.
Since he's started at Konoha High things had been like that, except Hazuki had shown up three years ago, she hadn't been around for the first two years - well at least not like she was now - and things had been a little too strange…no, things were still far too strange…
He looked at his reflection in the mirror, filled with hatred for himself, and resentment whenever he glanced at his brother. What had happened had taken place five years ago…and things would never be the same…yet deep within himself Sasuke had always hoped that he would go back to that place and there he would be, waiting for him…
He held so much guilt and so much regret. He hated his brother for what he had done in tearing him away from the most important person in his world…and even after those five years, no matter how much life had become true life to him, Sasuke would never think of anyone else as the most important person to him.
Naruto remained there, always. That wide, fake grin that would make him feel better, those deep azure eyes and the warmth of his skin, the golden shades of his hair. No, Sasuke would never meet anyone better than Naruto, or anyone who would ever replace him.
He had been drowning his ocean of guilt for those years now. Naruto's face haunted him, and if there was one thing that Sasuke could never bring himself to do, and that was to forget him. It wasn't possible. It made his heart break whenever he thought of Naruto…whenever he thought of what could have happened to him, where The Snake could have moved him away too, it only made the gaping hole deeper…how Itachi could have done such a thing…he would have been happier to stay with Naruto, no matter what more he had to put up with.
His face held no sign of this. In fact his face nor his eyes, they held no trace of emotion, they hadn't for years…a rare smirk a favourable glare. That was all there was to Sasuke now, otherwise he would ignore the world as much as he could.
Hazuki was setting out the breakfast plates as Sasuke came down, dropping his school bag near the front door, he entered the kitchen as Hazuki was serving. She hummed her usual chirpy tune as Sasuke took his seat, blank eyes stared down at the breakfast ahead of him and once more he yawned. Hazuki took a glance at him and reached over with her free hand to ruffle up his hair. Sasuke attempted to shoo her away, but she seemed to make a task out of it, sticking out her bottom lip as she lowered the plates onto the table and stood behind him.
"When are you going to grow out your hair like your aniki's?" She questioned, messing it all up, noticing that his ebony tresses now reached his shoulders…she'd not seen it so long before.
"Never." Sasuke replied sternly, shooing her away again, though failing once more.
"I dunno, Suki-chan. I think it would suite you." She prompted. "You're already so pretty, imagine what long hair would do!" excitedly she grinned and kissed the top of his head gently.
A vein popped in Sasuke's forehead. "Pretty?" he muttered through gritted teeth.
"Of course pretty, silly! Not prettier than me of course, but that's fine!" she grinned broadly, looking over his hair once more. "You don't style it anymore either…hmmm…maybe you should get it cut then?"
"Hn," Sasuke finally managed to get her to back away and reached for the chopsticks that had been left out so that he could begin on the breakfast. Hazuki sat across from him, hazel eyes showing him that she was in deep contemplation. Sasuke glanced at her momentarily, though said nothing, and with his brows slightly furrowed, though more than hidden beneath his ebony bangs, he looked back to his food…her conversations are so unimportant…how does she do it? How can she make a conversation out of something like my hair…I could never do that…
"Come now, Suki-chan! You're gonna be an uncle soon; you might as well look the part! I want to you be the perfect uncle! You have to look prettier than you already do! Yes! Can't have my aka-chan growing up around a messy teenager!" her resolve truly was a solid one. Sasuke knew that he hadn't heard the last of it.
"I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from calling me pretty, Hazuki-chan…" Sasuke growled in the nicest way possible, eyes gently shut.
"What? Why?" she sounded completely mortified, holding her hands to her breast as she stared upon him teary eyed. "But…but, Suki-chan! The porcelain skin, the clear complexion, the toned body, the silky hair! You can't be anything aside from pretty! Maybe gorgeous, but that's more your aniki's territory right now…maybe when you're a little older…?"
"Aa…" Sasuke mumbled. "I'm going…thanks for breakfast." He had hardly touched his meal, but Hazuki had grown used to Sasuke's habits by then, even if they weren't so good for his health, she respected that he had been through something hard…as from what she'd heard from Itachi.
"Okie-dokie! Have a nice day, Suki-chan! Don't get into any trouble! And be happy! It's the first day of term! And that nice Sakura girl will be waiting to see you!" she waived him off as he put on his shoes and lifted his satchel strap over his shoulder.
"She had to mention Sakura…" he whispered to himself as he came out onto the street, leaving Hazuki waiving from the doorway. How she could be so bright and cheerful all the time, Sasuke could never put a finger on it…but he supposed that no matter how annoying or controlling she was, she was a nice person, and he liked her…even if she was making a huge mistake by marrying his brother…
…Well at least she knows how to keep aniki on a tight leash…
Nothing different about that day. It was all the same as it had been before the summer…slow mornings, slower days and even slower nights…Sasuke found that his existence truly didn't expand beyond a living-corpse…no matter how little he socialised or how much he socialised it brought him nowhere taught him nothing and didn't give him any sort of escape…the only hobby he had would be attempting to kick his brother's ass during his tai-jutsu lessons…that and going to gigs and drinking…yeah…he liked drinking…it numbed everything…
The train was full that morning…Sasuke stood near the window, looking over the head of a red-haired woman as she had her nose buried in a book, it was written in English, a book of collective short stories…he sighed and looked towards his feet…waiting for it.
The giggling girls didn't start up until the fourth stop that morning, which was better than usual or better than the previous years anyway. Tugging of sleeves and accidentally falling against him was next in line, the train was so crowded that they would most likely get away with it too…but Sasuke would ignore them, all of them, not even bothering to make eye-contact with such annoying creatures.
His stop would be soon anyway…or at least in five minutes he would get there, but that would seem like an age to him, certainly when he allowed his mind to wonder. And wonder it did, avoiding the larger concept of life that at times would seem unbearable…but he wouldn't give it up, not since Naruto was suffering…if only he could have found him…but all of times that he had searched behind his brother's back…it all lead to nothing. The house had been empty when he'd gotten there, locked up and no Naruto in sight…no word of Orochimaru for five whole years.
He was seventeen now. But did it really feel like five years ago that he had last set eyes upon Naruto? He could remember so clearly the last moments he had spent with him…what he should have said to him but for some reason didn't…he felt awful for not saying anything in return, at the time it had hurt, but then, after all that time, after what had happened, it hurt even more.
Naruto had never left his mind. He could never forget, and yet again that night he'd been plagued by it, haunted by those ghosts of the past, and he knew that he could never let it go. He really was drowning in it all…and no matter how many shrinks his brother had sent him too over the years, it had never released the burden that hung over him like a storm cloud…maybe it would have helped if he had spoken to someone about it…no…he knew it wouldn't have made any difference…the only reason he was living was for Naruto's sake…he wouldn't give up while Naruto had no means of escape…
The walk from the train station was like any other. Summer had been long and boring, although half the time he'd been drunk and couldn't care less where he slept for the night…but that was over now…back to the old routine…school, school, school and putting up with fan-girls…
"What an exciting concept…" Sasuke sighed, the gates off ahead, students gathering around and greeting friends they hadn't seen over the holiday… Sasuke passed by the group of boys he usually hid among and wondered closer to the school, hoping to avoid as much contact from other students as possible…but then again, there would always be at least one that would bother him…that morning it was none other than-,
"Sasuke-kun!" He rolled his eyes, recognising the voice at once as the bouncy, curvy figure appeared ahead of him from nowhere. "Ohayo, Sasuke-kun! Did you have a nice holiday? I missed seeing you."
Sasuke ignored her and continued onwards towards the main entrance, Ino suddenly getting lost in the crowd, calling his name. He would hide in the form-room for then…wait until everyone had finished their hello's and gather together in that room for registration to begin…then it would be classes, then lunch, then more classes and home…
Then he'd have to put up with Hazuki until Itachi got home from work…
He sighed, dropping his head down onto the desk and crossed his arms behind his head. At least he'd looked forward to spending time with Naruto before…even if they barely spoke…the silence, it had been so comfortable…he missed that as much as anything…
It was only ten minutes later that, that much loved or maybe hated silence was broken. The classroom door slid open and in entered a girl with delicate pink hair, natural or not it suited her fair skin and striking green eyes. She smiled as she saw Sasuke sat at the back of the classroom, and closed the door behind her.
Sasuke had heard her enter…he could head the 'CHA!' of her 'inner-voice' from where he sat. He grumbled and rolled his eyes, shuffling slightly closer to the window.
"Ohayo, Sasuke-kun," she said with a little bit more subtly than Ino had spoken. She sat at the desk that was ahead of his and put her backpack aside, turning to look towards him, a smile apparent upon her face. She hadn't expected him to reply. "I hope you had a good summer…I heard from Kiba a few minutes ago that you went to that gig last night…I hope you didn't stay too late…or else you'd be really tired…" her half-hearted smile was warming, but Sasuke seemed to be ignoring her, which wasn't entirely unusual for him.
"Ne, Sasuke-kun…you feeling okay?" she questioned, catching a glimpse of his so-much-paler-than-usual face…noticing a new piercing in his left ear, a little silver hoop half way up…she'd seen him two days ago and hadn't noticed it…she clicked back to the matter at hand, and calmly awaited a reply.
"Aa…" followed a few moments later. She smiled, a little satisfied, trying to find something else to say…try and get him in a conversation…not like that would ever happen, but it was at least worth the try.
Think, Sakura, think…AH! Got it!
"Ne, Sasuke-kun, I heard that there was a new kid starting today, transferring over from Suna High…remember the Suna? We kicked their buts in basketball last season? Yeah well, he's in our year…I haven't seen him yet, but he's supposedly foreign looking…"
"Hn…" Sasuke replied. Sakura continued.
"Ino - as you do when you're Ino - said that he's a bit miserable looking, a little blank…but that was Ino…so what would she know? Yeah…so…ne…Sasuke?" she continued a little nervously.
"Aa." Again was the response.
"Cheer up, okay…? I'm sure whatever you're worrying about…it isn't as bad as it seems…"
Sasuke gave a small, bitter laugh. "Speak for yourself." He answered shortly.
Sakura dropped her shoulders and turned ahead as the class began to fill with the other students. She watched the front of the class as Hyuuga, Hinata entered the class room, narrowly followed by her not-so-secret admirer Inuzuka, Kiba. The blushing girl went to greet Sakura but the class was cut off from most of its social activities as their form teacher entered, demanding that they all be seated and fall silent.
Sasuke paid no heed to the 'welcome-back' speech that had passed Iruka-sensei's lips, and the small giggles and laughs that had risen from the students around him didn't provoke his curiosity in the least. He simply listened to the sound of his heartbeat, able to hear it thudding away in his head…but then, just as he was about to turn to make himself more comfortable, he heard Iruka-sensei as he introduced the new student…
"Okay then, why don't you introduce yourself to the class?"
"My name is Uzumaki, Naruto."
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So, what did you people think?
I know that bit at the end was a little bit obvious but there was no other way that I could put it in there…that I could think of at least, I just wanted to get to the point so that the story could go on.
How do you people like Hazuki-chan? Itachi's fiancé? Ha! I figured that the only woman that would marry Itachi would be one that he would be too afraid to dump…so yeah, I love Hazuki, my own creation…I needed some niceness and I thought it would be funny, add a little fun to this so very depressing FanFic…
Tell me what you thought! And if I should cut Sasuke's hair or not…should I keep it long? I dunno, it just sounds hot…anyway, press that button!
You know the one…
That one in the downwards direction…yeah, the REVIEW button…press it, there's a good reader…click! Click! Click!