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The chapter you've all been waiting for…dun dun dun duuuuuuuun. Thanks to nhix, yumi hasegawa, HPBabe91, Rostta, aziangurl723, dark dreamerx, lucy nguyen, runwithskizzers, Tears like Crystals, and mia14conchelez for reviewing! You guys are awesome. Thanks to all who wished me a happy birthday, too!

To nhix: How in Konohana did you know that I love Vincent Valentine? But anyway…yeah! Go Vincent!

Music: "Just About Enough" by Sarina Paris.

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B r o k e n T y p o g r a p h y

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Chapter 11 - Her Confession

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Silence.

He sat in the shade of a large oak tree, his knees up to his chin.

Silence.

He did not want to think about it.

Silence.

He did not want to think about it.

Silence.

He did not want to think about…her.

Silence.

"…I love you."

"…I love you."

"…I love you."

How…

Just how…

Could she say such a thing?

To say those words…

'He stood.

In shock.

All thoughts fled from his mind.

She…

She…

"…I love you."

He watched as her eyes flooded with tears.

"Sasuke-kun…"

He stared.

It seemed like an eternity.

They, standing there.

Staring at each other.

Under the moonlight, in Konohana.

In front of that bench that they used to sit on.

Silence.

His body was numb.

He could not feel his hands.

He could not move.

He could only stand there, staring…

At her.

Silence.

"Sasuke-kun…"

And then…

All at once, everything invaded his body.

Thoughts.

Emotions.

Realizations.

It all became too much for him to handle.

He had stood there, his fists clenching, his eyes shut tight.

And he had done the one thing that made sense.

The only thing that made sense.

Silence.

He had fled.'

This scene flashed, unbidden in his mind.

Last night…

Last night, she had…

Confessed.

To say those words…

To him.

She…

Pause.

He pushed his current thoughts into the back of his mind.

He did not want to think about her.

It was enough that he had not gone off to join the Sound shinobi, as he had planned, last night.

She was ruining everything.

To say that…

She…

She…l-

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

His heart beat particularly loudly against his chest.

This was getting out of control.

Since when…

Did he let her control what he did?

Since when did he let her influence his decisions?

Since when did he abandon a plan…just for her?

Since now.

I love her.

And she…

Silence.

He closed his eyes.

He was weary.

He had not gotten a bit of sleep last night.

No…

He had been awake for hours to end, not knowing what to do.

Not knowing where to go.

Not knowing what to think.

What had she done to him?

Surely…

Love did not go this far?

It was impossible.

"People would do anything for the one they love."

"Love is the most powerful weapon of all."

"Don't underestimate love…or you will sorely regret it."

"Maybe you should get a bit of love into your life, Sasuke. It could do you a whole world of good."

What…

What was love?

Why…

Why was it the most powerful weapon of all?

Why did Kakashi say that love could do him a "whole world of good"?

Just why, did it influence people so much?

Silence.

He had so many questions.

And he wanted answers.

But…

He knew, somewhere deep in his heart, that no one could answer.

They would just say,

"Once you experience love, you'll see."

"You'll understand one day."

"You're too young now. Wait until you're a bit older."

Pause.

Because of love…

Because of her.

He was here, in a small, protected clearing.

Contemplating the exact things that he did not want to contemplate.

Thinking about things that he wished to forget.

Feeling his heart pound restlessly in his chest, a constant reminder of what had happened…

Last night.

Silence.

He had not left Konohana.

He had stayed.

For her.

He cared more about her, than getting power.

He cared more about her, than…

Could it be?

Killing…that person?

When that had been…

The most important thing in his life.

He had lived to gain power.

He had thrived on the thought of killing that person.

His life after that incident was dedicated to getting revenge.

And yet…

She had come into the picture.

Standing there, with her pink hair blowing in the wind.

Her determined emerald eyes shining.

Her face set in a stubborn expression.

Making his heart ache.

Silence.

He had encased himself in a cold, iron shell after that incident.

And she was his first intruder.

She had made a crack in that shell…

And pushed her way into his empty dwelling.

Filling that freezing space with her warmth.

Silence.

I love her…

And she…

Did she love him?

Was she willing to die for him?

For that…

Had been his question.

And what was the answer?

"…I love you."

And she had answered…

Yes.

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A void surrounds me

Stretching on

In an endless eternity

No one hears my voice

As I shout

Into the blank air

Everyone is gone

All things, living and lifeless

I stand in the empty void

Thinking to myself

Wondering where everyone had gone

How I got here

Why this is.

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Step.

Step.

Step.

He walked along in silence, heading back to his apartment.

Silence.

He ignored the ignorant civilians all around him.

How blessed they were.

To have no problems…

To have no fears.

To have no complications that would befuddle their minds and cause them to become insane.

Silence.

He sighed.

Would he…

Go with the Sound Four?

Although he had not met with them last night…

He could still go.

He knew that the Sound village was in the Rice country.

Orochimaru was sure to find him if he wandered around in the Rice country.

He still had a chance to go to the snake sannin.

He still had a chance to gain power.

And to…

Leave her behind.

"…I love you."

He could forget about her…

He could cast a memory loss jutsu and forget about her.

He could do that…

"Teme, you coward! Running away from all your troubles, huh? You think that you can escape that way?"

"I'm disappointed in you, Sasuke. I always thought that you were strong. But…I suppose not. Perhaps you truly are weak, as your older brother said."

"Will you…really try and forget me, Sasuke-kun? After all that we've been through together? After my confession? Is it because of that? Will you really do that? Forget about me…Sasuke-kun?"

But they…would say that.

He was running from his problems.

And, no matter what he did…

He would have to face them sooner or later.

They would find him.

And once they did…

They would eat at him.

Devouring his thoughts.

Torturing his emotions.

They would grow stronger each day that he avoided them.

Was it really…possible?

To forget about everything?

To run away and restart his life?

No.

Silence.

Stop.

He looked up at the front door of his apartment.

Its familiar dark-blue door stared back at him.

Pause.

He reached out a hand to grab the doornob…

And hesitated.

What if…

What if there was someone in there?

What if someone was waiting for him?

An unbidden thought of her flashed through his mind.

What if she had told Kakashi?

Silence.

He needed to be alone.

He couldn't afford to have any other disturbances.

For if he did…

He might just explode.

Silence.

And boldly, he turned the knob, stepping into his threshold.

Silence rained down upon his ears.

There was no one there.

The apartment was exactly the way he had left it.

Sparkling clean, with everything in their exact positions.

As though no one had planned to leave it last night.

As though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

How ignorant, these things were.

Silence.

He shut the door behind him.

The noise reverberated loudly, bouncing from wall to wall.

Then, all was quiet.

Pause.

He managed to put down his pack…

Then, sat down slowly on the sofa.

What was he going to do?

Should he go to join Orochimaru, and gain power?

Immense…power?

Or…

Or.

Stay here.

For her.

Silence.

He tried to convince himself that power and revenge were the ultimate things on his list.

He lived for them.

He lived to extract revenge on that person.

He lived to kill that person…for stripping him of his family.

And yet…

Every time he tried to push these two items to the top of his agenda…

She would smile…

And push them right back down.

Her hair whipped backwards in his mind.

Entangling through all of his thoughts and memories.

Her smile lighted up everything, spreading warmth throughout his body.

Her eyes made his heart ache for her.

And, just as he had almost convinced himself to leave, she said…

"Ne, Sasuke-kun?

Do you love me?

Will you stay here with me?

Will you protect me?

You promised, Sasuke-kun.

I can't live without you.

I'd risk anything for you.

And if you're going, will you take me, Sasuke-kun?

I love you, Sasuke-kun.

Please remember that.

I love you."

Silence.

He clutched his heart in agony.

Why was she doing this to him?

A mere thought…

Affecting him this way?

No matter how hard he fought, he couldn't win.

Even when he tried to remember the Uchiha Massacre…

An image of her would suddenly appear.

Blocking out the whole memory.

Such a thing that had never happened before.

"Sasuke-kun, forget about him.

Revenge will never make you happy.

Stay here with me.

I will make you happy.

You'll never regret it.

Please, Sasuke-kun…

Your Sakura is here for you."

He growled and grabbed the first thing he could reach, sending it hurtling across the room.

The huge, stuffed tomato hit the wall opposite of him and slid to the floor.

It was deathly silent.

That tomato…

She had given it to him.

Last year, for his birthday.

"Ne, Sasuke-kun? Ano…happy birthday! I know that you like tomatoes, so I thought that you might like this…it's kind of kawaii, you know? So…do you like it?"

She had smiled so happily back then, waiting for his reply.

And he had wiped that smile off her face.

Of course…

He couldn't be caught liking something as silly as a stuffed tomato, out in the open.

But deep inside, he had been surprised.

And rather touched.

Silence.

He had kept it in his bedroom all these years, where no one could see it.

And now…

He couldn't remember how it got onto the sofa.

But now…

It was lying on the floor.

Abused by his own wrath.

Pause.

He got up slowly and walked over to the tomato, picking it up.

He patted all the dust off.

There.

It was as good as new.

Silence.

What was he doing?

"Sasuke-kun…I'm so happy that you're taking care of it."

That was what she would say, if she saw him.

Her smile would light up her whole face.

Leaving anyone in doubt that he had ever made her cry.

He carried the tomato back into his room and set it on his bed.

Pause.

Something caught his eye.

The framed photograph on the table.

Last night…

He had turned it face down.

Thinking that he'd never see it again.

Thinking that he'd never be with them again.

Silence.

He propped the photograph back up on the table.

Her face smiled up cheerfully at him.

The dobe was grinning like a maniac on his other side.

He closed his eyes and turned away.

Pause.

He gazed out the window, into the bright sunlight.

And suddenly, he wanted to go for another walk.

With that thought in mind, he exited his apartment and headed out of the vicinity, into the light that shined ironically down upon him.

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And I stare at the picture

Sitting in front of me

Mocking me

Falsely

With its lying image

Yet, inside

I know what is true

I know that

This is for real

That I am,

What it says

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He stopped and leaned against the cold, hard wall in the shadows.

It felt good against his sweaty back.

He sighed, staring up at the blue sky.

Why was the weather so nice,

When he was feeling so miserable?

He had never felt this way before.

Silence.

He wondered what she was doing.

Perhaps…

She was sitting in some place.

Crying.

With the dobe by her side, comforting her.

His heart panged at this thought.

Step.

Step.

Step.

He looked around warily, and froze.

This was how life was treating him.

Silence.

It was her.

Her head was bent, and she was trudging along, her whole body slumped.

He watched her stop, and look up gradually.

Her saw her dull eyes widen considerably, and something that looked much like panic entered her eyes, mixed with relief.

What a strange combination.

Pause.

He stared at her.

Unable to take his eyes away.

Unable to move his body, that had rebelled against him.

He noticed that her face was no longer tear-stained, although her eyes were slightly red.

Why was it…

That, when he didn't want to see her,

She just had to show up?

Silence.

"Sasuke-kun…"

Her voice was not the sweet, cheerful melody it usually was.

It was a ghost of her usual voice, cracked, and hoarse.

"Sa…su…ke…kun…"

He tensed as she stepped forwards slightly.

"You…you're here."

Pause.

"You…you didn't go."

He took a step back.

He did not want her hear her speak.

He did not want to see her.

He did not want to acknowledge her existence.

Silence.

He watched her move towards him.

"Get away from me!"

With those words, he turned on his heel and ran.

His feet were pounding against the ground as he ran, away from her.

He had to get away from her.

Pause.

He ran with all his might.

It occurred to him that she would be immensely hurt by his actions.

But he didn't care.

Silence.

He slowed down, turning down a wide alleyway, and slumped behind a dumpster.

He shut his eyes tightly, trying to block the image of her out of his mind.

Why was she torturing him this way?

Why did she have to inflict these pangs of agony upon him?

He felt something wet in his eyes.

Was it possible…

That he,

The last survivor of the Uchiha clan…

It couldn't be.

Was crying?

Was it possible…

That a thing he hadn't done since the massacre…

Silence.

He felt the wetness slowly disappear.

No.

He would never cry.

It was impossible.

No matter what it was,

No matter who it was…

Even her.

Nothing would ever make him cry.

Not ever again.

Pause.

He felt his breaths coming quickly and rapidly.

His chest heaving in and out like a pair of bellows.

His heart was racing frantically.

Making him choke.

It clenched.

He gasped and kneeled, trying to calm down.

Was she trying to kill him?

Surely, no one could be so stupid…

As to not know what she was inflicting upon him.

Silence.

"Sasuke…"

His head snapped up so quickly that he almost broke his neck.

How…

How in kami did she find him?

Just how, did she manage to follow him all the way to this dank, dark alley?

And, for once in his life, he was frightened.

Silence.

She was like a ghost.

Her skin was as pale as snow.

Her eyes were wide, dull, and empty.

Her hair was like a mop, falling uselessly around her shoulders.

She moved with the audacity of a puppet.

Her voice was as hollow as the wind.

Pause.

"You…"

He tried to stand up.

"You…"

He moved away from her.

"You…"

He watched her close her eyes, then open them.

"…Sasuke-k-k-kun…"

A smile curled her lips.

It was terrifying.

"You…hate me, don't you?"

He couldn't speak.

Where had the beautiful, energetic, spring cherry blossom had gone?

Why did she leave this ghost of a shell behind?

Silence.

He saw her step forwards again.

Her hand reached out, achingly slowly, stretching to him.

He couldn't move.

Pause.

And, to his horror, her fingertips touched him.

Those cold, clammy fingers…

"I said, get away from me!"

He struck her arm, causing her to cry out and step back with pain.

Her cry made him pause.

But not long enough to change his mind.

He pushed past her roughly, running as he had never ran before.

He was but a blur as he speeded past bewildered citizens of Konohanakagure.

He passed by something yellow and orange.

A distant voice followed him.

"Hey! Teme, what are you doing…?"

But he didn't care.

He had only one thought in mind.

Get away from her.

Get away from that demon that was haunting him.

That pale, pink-haired demon.

Silence.

Thud.

He crashed right into a large ash tree and fell onto the ground, his hands groping for a hold on something.

He finally managed to grab a large root that was protruding from the ground, and hauled himself upright, in a sitting position.

Silence.

He was back in that clearing.

He felt a throbbing pain in his forehead, but he ignored it with difficulty.

He attempted to calm down, and prevent himself from having a heart attack.

Silence.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

He groaned and struck the tree, only earning himself more smarting from his bruised hand.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

He lay limply against the tree, relaxing all his limbs.

Silence.

The peaceful atmosphere of the forest was helping to calm his nerves.

Silence.

After what seemed like a long time, he was able to gather himself and collect his thoughts.

But, an unbidden notion struck him.

Silence.

He had taken one last wild look at her, before he had ran away.

Her eyes…

Those empty eyes, filled with such hurt that it seemed impossible for a person to feel it.

Those emerald eyes, looking at him in despair, begging for forgiveness.

Her eyes…telling him a single message.

You're rejecting me, aren't you?

He felt shocked.

Just what…

Had he done?

Silence

She had handed her heart over to him…

And he had ripped it to shreds.

He had wondered if she knew what pain she was wreaking upon him.

But now…

It was him.

He was the one that was making her agonize.

He was the one that was causing her to feel so sorrowful.

He was the one that had made her into the way she currently was.

And he…

Was the one that had rejected her.

It was him.

She had agonized him…

But he was agonizing her more.

She had made him travel near the brink of insanity…

But he had pushed her over the edge.

She was always filling his thoughts, pushing herself to his priority…

But he was the one that made her live on him.

Silence.

He tore at the grass, panting, wild-eyed.

What had he done?

He…

He had hurt her.

She had cried out in pain because of him.

He had done the one thing that he thought he would never do…

For he had promised to protect her.

But what had he done?

Silence.

He had struck her.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

"Ne, Sasuke-kun, will you always be there to protect me?"

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Why am I painted alone?

In the picture

You have drawn

Is this what you think of me?

Timeless, ageless, friendless

In that painting,

Of it's cold blank emptiness

But of course,

That is what you imagine

This is how I am seen

By my loneliness

I am

Painted alone.

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So…will anyone give opinions on the new summary? Because no one replied last time…

Bleh, finals are coming up in two weeks, so I'm not sure if I'll have time to update after this. I can try, but I might not be able to update for the next two weeks. But maybe I'll manage to get the time and inspiration.

The lyrics in this chapter are from a song of mine called Painted Alone.

And yes, it's actually a song. Only the first verse, the pre-chorus, and the chorus were put into this chapter. I haven't actually finished writing the song yet, but I have sung the words and it has a tune, so it's a song.

Please review, once again! I was really happy with the last chapter's reviews, so thanks a lot! But please, do the same for this chapter! Tell me what you think. An author is very happy when he/she gets comments from readers…as all of you that write stories/fanfictions probably know!