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Wow! There are still people who read this fanfic! I'm so happy. Thank you to all the old readers of this fanfiction who read the latest chapter and/or reviewed! And thank you to all the new readers, too. I hope that I can finish this story as I planned when I first started, and that all goes well.
Love to yumi hasegawa, nhix, TeenageCrisis, 4theloveofholy, shadowriter318, les-liaisons-dangereuses, bebelurvsbishieness, and Uchida for reviewing. -group hug-
Here's the next chapter, much sooner than 9 months, and hope you guys all like it. :3
Sasuke is a silly, emo, loveable teenager. -
A Belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Broken Typography Readers!
Check my profile; there's a new Christmas graphic gift for you guys.
(I planned on updating yesterday but we went out for a movie, so I didn't have time. TT)
Music: Cupid's Chokehold - Gym Class Heroes.
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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 14 - Denunciation
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Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
No.
"SAKURA!"
Stop.
His eyes flew open in a panic as he sat up, grasping the sheets around him blindly.
Grasping…
Grasping…the…sheets…
Sheets?
Silence.
His breath was ragged, and he felt as though he had just run a hundred miles, as he looked around at his surroundings.
A brightly-lit room. Light shone through from an open window, dancing joyfully on the hospital beds.
Hospital beds…
What?
What had happened?
Hadn't…hadn't they been in the woods a while ago?
Hadn't…hadn't they come across that man?
Wasn't…wasn't he trapped in a genjustu of that man, watching her die over and over again?
And speaking of her…
Step.
Step.
Step.
He heard the door open, and looked around to see Shizune enter the room, looking rather worried. The nurse looked surprised at the sight of him sitting up.
"Oh, you're finally awake, Sasuke-san? I thought I heard you scream a few seconds ago…are you alright?"
He frowned slightly, not replying. However, a flash of pink caught in the corner of his eye, and he turned to his right, to see her…
Silence.
She was lying in the bed, sleeping soundly. Her soft eyelids were closed gently, her hair sprawled around her head on the pillow as her chest lifted up…then down…and up…and down…breathing slowly.
Her arms were bandaged, as was her forehead. But there wasn't a scratch on her neck.
Not in the place were that man had injured her.
Not…anywhere.
"Sasuke-san?"
He turned, and saw that Shizune had walked to his bedside, watching him and smiling.
"Sakura-san will be fine. Her minor injures are healed, but the deep bruises and scratches on her arms and legs will take a few days to recover. She also suffered a bit from a concussion, but otherwise, she'll be healthy in no time."
His heart lifted to hear that.
His eyes shifted back to her, sleeping soundly.
Sakura…
"Now, you, Sasuke-san…"
He looked back at the nurse's face. The voice was not pleased.
"Would you like to know how long of a coma you were in?"
He hesitated.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
He nodded.
Shizune smiled grimly.
"Eight days, Sasuke-san. Eight days. Even Sakura-san woke up before you did."
Eight days.
Eight days, he had been in that genjustu.
Watching her die…
Watching that man kill her…
Watching her suffer, over, and over, and over again.
He was silent.
The nurse sighed, and turned around.
"I'm going to go inform Tsunade-sama of your awakening. Then I'll bring both you and Sakura-san something to eat. Lay down, and get more rest. You're fine physically, but…"
Shizune trailed off, and left the room.
Eight days.
So, she...
She was alright.
She was not dead.
And that was all that mattered.
Silence.
"Ne…"
He stiffened at the sound of her sleepy, muffled voice.
"Sa-su-ke-kun…"
He turned his head slowly, to look at her sleeping form mumbling into her pillow.
"No…don't die on me…don't…"
His heart clenched.
"I love…I love…"
She turned slightly, and he could see her drowsy face, still unconscious, yet sad.
"…you."
And her eyes opened.
Those shining, bejeweled, viridian eyes.
Silence.
He watched her eyes widen in shock. Several emotions passed through her expression, from surprise, to confusion, to joy, to embarrassment.
"S-Sasuke-kun!"
Silence.
"…ohayo, Sakura."
He gazed down upon her, down upon her eyes…her sweet, innocent face, the picture of mortification. It was so red it looked rather like a tomato.
Mmm…tomatos…I like tomatos…
"Gomen Sasuke-kun…"
He wondered what she was apologizing for.
"I hope you're okay, Sasuke-kun…daijoubouu?"
He smiled slightly.
And watched her eyes widen in disbelief.
Yes.
He had smiled.
Even if it was a small one…
It was the most he could do for her. For her…
Sakura, who he had watched die…
The knife, plunging into her heart…
Her blood…glistening…glistening forever, on the ground…
Over.
And over.
And over again.
"Sasuke-kun, are you smiling?"
His smile turned into a smirk, although his heart felt heavy.
"Aa."
He saw her face break into a sunny smile.
"Ah ha, you smiled! Uchiha Sasuke-kun finally smiled!"
"You make it sound as though I never smile."
"You really do never smile!"
"Yes I do."
"No you don't!
"Yes I do."
"No you don't!"
"Yes."
"No!"
"Yes."
"No!"
"No."
"Yes!"
Silence.
He watched her face begin to redden, not with embarrassment this time…but with anger.
"Sa.Su. Ke. Kun."
His ears heard her beloved voice, her beloved voice, filled with menace.
At least…
She was alright.
He knew that. And more.
Thud.
"H-hey! Sasuke-kun…where are you going? What! Don't leave me! Hey, Sasuke-kuuuuuun!"
He ignored her, and left the room.
After all, the rumble that had come from her stomach made it apparent that she needed some food.
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Ne, Sasuke-kun…
I love you.
Don't ever forget that.
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The huge wall that he leaned against cast a dark shadow over him.
Obscuring the sun.
The brightness…
The happiness…
The disgusting delight of the world.
Silence.
He had disobeyed Shizune, and left the hospital.
He didn't really want to see her, any longer…
For, every time he saw her…
He would see her die.
Die, die, die.
Her blood…
Her tears…
Her heart.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
It wasn't fair.
Why…
Why couldn't he kill that man…?
Just exactly why was he so weak?
Maybe he should have gone off to the snake sannin.
Orochimaru…
Maybe, just maybe, he should have left Konohana…
And her.
After all, if she was not there…
That man would no longer be a threat to her.
That man only wanted to cause him pain.
Take everything that he loved away from him.
Make his life as miserable as possible.
If he continued to be with her, and that man knew…
She would die.
Die.
Just die.
And it would be all his fault.
Silence.
His right hand clenched.
As did his heart.
It was not fair.
If only he could be just like everyone else…
Even her, with her happy smiles, and carefree laughs…
She had nothing to worry about.
Unlike him.
He knew that she would not understand if he suddenly began ignoring her.
He knew that she would be hurt…as he had tried, before.
However…
His heart contracted.
He loved her so much.
He didn't want her to die…
He refused to let her die…
And since, he was so weak, the only way to protect her was to just…
I love you, Sakura.
Shun her.
Just, simply, shun her.
Perhaps, if he was cold enough, she would give up.
Perhaps, if he was cold enough, she would find someone else.
Perhaps, if he was cold enough…she would stop loving him.
No.
He didn't want her to stop loving him…
Because, he loved her so.
If only they could be together.
Silence.
Which was more important?
Her love…
Or her life?
Silence.
Without her love, he could still live.
But if she was dead…
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
He felt so tired…so, simply, tired…
And what about Kakashi and the dobe?
How much pain would they be in if she died?
Her family?
Her friends?
He couldn't be selfish.
She had to live.
Live, Sakura.
So, it had come to this.
I'm sorry, Sakura…
I'm so, so, sorry.
Gomen.
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Ne, Sasuke-kun…
You can't do this to me.
You just can't.
I'd rather die, than this…
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It had been three days.
Three whole days, since he saw her.
And how he wanted to.
His heart longed for her.
His eyes yearned to see her splendid sight, her angelic demeanor.
His ears desired to hear her sweet, melodic voice. Her ethereal voice…
His nose wanted so badly to smell her sweet, cherry scent.
And how his arms wanted to embrace her…
To hold her against his chest, cradle her, keep her close…
And safe.
His lips craved to say to her, to form the words…
I love you.
I love you.
I love you…Sakura.
Merely three days.
Simply three days, since he last saw her.
And yet, he was already going crazy.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
He would train…
Train…
Train.
Training would block her out.
He growled, and squinted at the block of wood in front of him.
His hands leapt and performed hand seals quickly, effortlessly.
That block of wood…oh, how he wished that it was Itachi.
"Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!"
And the wood…
Was decimated to bits.
Left sizzling, burning, blackened.
Dead.
Oh, how he wished that Itachi was dead.
Thud.
He straightened, but didn't turn around.
"Oi, Teme."
His face twisted into a scowl. How dare the dobe interrupt his training.
"What do you want?"
He heard the dobe approach him.
He felt the dobe's hand on his shoulder.
"Stop training and talk with me for a minute, Sasuke-teme."
Silence.
"I didn't know that you liked little talks, dobe."
He felt the dobe frown at his scathing, cynical tone.
"Shut up teme, I'm being serious. This is a man-to-man talk, ya hear? Everything I say is not a joke! So you'd better take me seriously, Sasuke."
And there it was.
His name, with no suffix.
As Naruto always said it when the blonde was being serious.
He turned around.
"This is about Sakura, isn't it?"
Even saying her name made his heart ache with pain.
He watched the dobe's face. The expression had became sad.
"You haven't stopped by to see her in a while, Sasuke. She's lonely."
He scoffed.
"She has you and Kakashi, not to mention her other friends."
He held the dobe's long, sorrowful gaze.
"Don't be stupid, Sasuke. You know exactly how she's feeling."
He looked away.
"…do I?"
He heard the dobe sigh.
"Ne, Sasuke, you know…no matter how much I don't want to admit this, Kakashi-sensei and I aren't enough to rid her of her loneliness. We never will be. We don't have that effect, that power, on Sakura-chan. But you know…you do know, Sasuke? You know how it is. You know what to do. Which is why I don't understand what you're doing, now."
Silence.
"Go away, Naruto. You said it yourself. You don't understand. You never will."
He felt the dobe grab his shoulder and spin him around. The dobe's eyes were angry.
"Listen to me, you teme! I don't want to see Sakura-chan hurt again! I don't care why you're doing what you're doing, and how you're feeling, but you'd better not make Sakura-chan sad! You got that?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"Scram, Naruto. I don't want to hear it."
He heard the low growl of frustration escape from the dobe.
"…she'll be let out tomorrow. If she goes looking for you, you'd better not do anything you'll regret. And if you don't regret it yourself, I'll make you regret it."
And with those words, he watched the dobe leave.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
It was too bad how the dobe had absolutely no idea how he was feeling.
Make Sakura sad…?
It was the second-to-last thing he'd ever want to do.
And what was the last thing?
Silence.
Let her die.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
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Gomen, Sakura.
Gomen.
Gomen.
Gomen.
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Seven days.
Seven days, it had been, since he last saw her.
A whole week.
Ne?
He knew that she hadn't gone looking for him.
But, did she know…?
Did she know exactly why he was…abandoning her?
Hey, Sakura…
He had promised to protect her.
Always.
Forever.
I'll protect forever, Sakura. Forever.
Would she really understand…?
This was his logic.
He would protect her.
Forever and always.
Silence.
By disassociating himself from her.
She doesn't need me.
He would protect her that way, right?
Right?
Right?
Forever, and always…
By having no contact with her…
No one would want to get to him through her.
Thus, the chances of her being in danger were lessened.
At least, endangered by him…
For he would never,
Ever
Forgive himself if she died by his hands.
Directly.
Or indirectly.
That man,
Or Orochimaru.
They were all the same.
He knew that she would be in terrible danger if he was to continue…
It was impossible.
Impossible.
Hey, Sakura…
Gomen.
Gomen.
Gomen.
Silence.
"Ne, Sasuke-kun…found you."
He felt himself go cold.
Not now.
Not after he had sustained for so long…
He would not let her break the barriers.
Never.
Ever.
Ever!
He felt her cold hand clamp around his wrist.
So tightly…
It was astonishing how strong she could be.
"Ne, Sasuke-kun…don't run away."
Silence.
He turned around slowly to face her.
He saw that she was gazing at him softly…sadly…understandingly.
"Stop it, Sasuke-kun."
He stared at her.
He stepped back slightly as she approached him.
"Sasuke-kun…please…stop it. It won't work."
Step.
Step.
Step.
"No matter how much you distance yourself from me, it'll all be the same."
Step.
"We're teammates, Sasuke-kun. Do you think that they don't know that already?"
Step.
"Even if we're no longer friends…you would still try to save a teammate, wouldn't you?"
Step.
"Naruto? Wouldn't you try to save him?"
Step.
"Don't do this, Sasuke-kun."
Step.
"Please, I'm begging you…don't ignore me. Don't leave me. It won't work. They'll still come. If you want to protect me…ne, Sasuke-kun, wouldn't it be better if you were there to protect me when they come? Instead of being alone, somewhere else, when they're here…"
Stop.
"Please don't forget, Sasuke-kun."
He stiffened as he felt her arms come around him.
Her breath on his neck.
Her soft hair against his face.
"I…"
Her body, pressed up against his.
"Love…"
Her tears, trickling down his cheek.
Thud.
"Ehh, sorry to interrupt…"
He heard her gasp, and let go of him.
His insides burned with anger at Kakashi for disturbing them.
"We know where he is. If you guys are all healed up from the last encounter, we can go at it again."
Silence.
"Aa."
He would kill that man.
After so many failed attempts…
How could he go wrong this time?
"But."
Silence.
He could feel their questioning eyes staring at him.
"…but what, Sasuke?"
He faced Kakashi.
He didn't look at her.
"Sakura can't go. I don't want what happened last time to happen again."
"Nani? No, Sasuke-kun! You can't stop me from going! That's not fair! I'm going too! Kakashi-sensei, you can't…!"
He watched Kakashi turn to her.
"He's right, Sakura. You stay in Konohana for this one. In fact, I think that Hyuuga Neji will be more suitable to come this time."
He felt her eyes burn with rage.
"KAKASHI-SENSEI! How can you? How can you make me stay back and wonder if everyone's alright…? If everyone's dying…? If anyone will even be alive?"
"Shut up."
He saw her stiffen in shock at his voice.
"You're not going."
He turned away from her.
"You won't go…even if I have to knock you unconscious and lock you up…"
He heard her slump down onto the ground.
He could imagine her tears slipping down her face, dripping onto the ground.
"Sasuke-kun…"
He ignored her wailing voice.
He felt Kakashi catch up with him.
"Sasuke-kun…!"
He was already far away from her. He could hardly hear her voice anymore.
Step.
Step.
Step.
"Sasuke-kuuuuuuuun…!"
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Gomen.
Gomen.
Gomen.
Gomen.
Gomen.
Gomen.
…gomen.
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Ni-paaaah! Watch Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, desu! It's great - absolutely fantastic, but only if you have the stomach for horrors in the beginning of the anime, nano desu!
Darn. I really really want to write a high school SasuSaku fanfiction. Even though there are so many, they're just awesome. However, I can't think of a good plot. -sigh- And if I have two fanfictions, I'll take a longer time to update. I also really just want to finish this fanfiction. Hmm, let's see…maybe about 10-12 chapters left? Yup, I'm combining some ideas and shortening it a bit to move the plot along. After all, I'm pretty sure that you guys can only take so much of Sasuke emo-angsting for so many chapters. Ni-pah!
Meh. I'll get that high school fic out someday soon. Perhaps. Btw, the 100th reviewer of this fanfiction will get a one-shot by me for any pairing/character/whatever for Naruto! Hm, assuming anyone actually wants me to write something for them, of course.
Review, onegai, nano desu!
