Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own Naruto cause if I did…heh believe me things would change! coughSasuSakucough Unfortunately it belongs to Masashi Kishimoto, blah, blah, blah, insert random legal document , etc.
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Chapter 17: Recap!
So the painful memories continued to be shared for about another six days. Much to Sasuke's hidden joy, and Naruto's open glee, Sakura did start to get better little by little. They said that even though there would always be a scar the wound on her stomach would heal with time. After a while though Sasuke was tired of waiting much longer. The only highlight of his day was the hour or so he spent with Sakura in the hospital.
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Chapter 18: Arms of Angels
Sasuke awoke to the cold emptiness of his room wondering for a moment how they had gotten back to Konoha. Rubbing the back of his head, he got out of bed and went to get dressed. Lying neatly folded on the bed were black clothes. Confused, he nonetheless put them on and went outside. Naruto greeted him at the door in the same black attire with a simple grunt that reminded Sasuke very much of himself.
"Kakashi's always late," Naruto said breaking the awkward silence as the young shinobi waited.
They looked down the street and finally saw their sensei walking towards them. Even Kakashi was dressed in black.
"Ready?" He asked, his voice filled with melancholy.
Naruto nodded, but Sasuke didn't.
"Where's Sakura? Usually she's the first one here," he stated looking around.
"Oh yeah, real mature Sasuke," Naruto blurted out in anger. "Like you don't know."
"Know what?" Sasuke asked thoroughly confused by now.
Kakashi placed his hand on Sasuke's shoulder and when Sasuke looked up, shook his head at him. For the rest of the walk, Naruto stayed at least seven paces ahead of them. Sasuke's confusion continued to deepen until he saw and heard something that tore his heart in two. Ino came up to him, for once not jumping on him, and held something out towards him.
"I know it's not that much, but…" she started, but trailed off as she began to sob violently. "They're pictures of us at the academy, some of you and her, and us goofing off as genin. I had a bunch of them that I'd kept and I thought you might want it."
With that Ino was gone. Sasuke opened the worn album still confused and looked at the pictures inside. They all had captions such as; "Us at the Ichiraku Ramen", "Graduation", "Harassing Kakashi-sensei", etc. They all looked so happy then, so free.
What Naruto had said earlier finally made sense to him. Sakura wasn't coming at all. They were going to a funeral, her funeral. Sasuke finally realized why everyone was wearing black and Naruto hadn't been himself at all. He had to stop walking for a moment as the sheer pain threatened to consume him. Kakashi stopped, walked back, and slipped his arm around Sasuke's shoulder, his right eye pooling with tears.
"I can't…remember…why?" Sasuke mumbled the words tripping over each other. "I thought you said she was getting better."
"When you went after Toshikai, you hit your head and they said you'd be disoriented for a while," Kakashi said.
"Sakura fought to the end, but…she didn't…couldn't," Naruto concluded trailing off though Sasuke knew what he meant.
They made it to where the service was being held and Sasuke found himself hardly able to stand. The coffin was draped with a black cloth and her picture was sitting on top. A song was being sung by a teary Ino, Tenten, and Hinata and Sasuke found himself listening only to the words of the song.
Spend
all your time waiting
For that second chance
For a break that
would make it okay
There's always one reason
To feel not good
enough
And it's hard at the end of the day
Sasuke was vaguely aware of the speakers getting up and down to talk about her, when finally someone asked him to place his flower first. As he walked forward, a hush fell over the crowd. Her picture smiled up at him and he fought back agonized tears in vain.
I need some distraction
Oh
beautiful release
Memory seeps from my veins
Let me be
empty
And weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight
"I'm so sorry, Sakura," he whispered. "So sorry…"
He kissed his white rose and placing it on top he turned to walk to the side, his entire body shaking. Another jonin stood there waiting and asked if he'd like to do the honors of carving her name onto the monument. Sasuke nodded not able to speak for fear he'd cry and not be able to go on.
In the arms of an angel
Fly
away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the
endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of
your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you
find some comfort there
After everyone had said goodbye, the procession went out to the area where the monument of shinobi who were killed in action rested. The same jonin handed Sasuke an engraving chisel and a hammer. As Sasuke knelt he noticed her name had already been outlined onto the marble sundial shaped stone. He placed the engraving chisel at the start of her name, but found his hand unable to move. He felt Naruto standing behind him and Kakashi's hand on his shoulder once more. Naruto knelt beside him tears pooling in his cerulean blue eyes.
So tired of the straight line
And
everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your
back
And the storm keeps on twisting
You keep on building the
lie
"I can't," Sasuke whispered feeling the tears forming in his own eyes.
He tried to hand Naruto the tools, but the young ninja refused pushing them back to Sasuke. Sasuke tried again, his hand shaking. Naruto reached his own hand out and steadied Sasuke's hand. By the time they were finished both Sasuke's, Naruto's, and Kakashi's tears spread across the monument's smooth face. As Sasuke rose, he felt the cool rain falling onto his face, as he looked skyward. Are you crying too, Sakura? He wondered sadly.
That you make up for all that you
lack
It don't make no difference
Escaping one last time
Its
easier to believe in this sweet madness oh
This glorious sadness
that brings me to my knees
"Sasuke?" Kakashi said.
"It's not fair," Sasuke muttered keeping his gaze down on the monument.
"No one should ever have to
bury a friend, a comrade, or someone you love," Kakashi said not
knowing what to say. "She didn't die in vain Sasuke, remember
that, and don't let her sacrifice be in vain. She wanted you to
live."
In the arms of
an angel
Fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
And
the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of
your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the
angel
May you find some comfort there
You're in the arms of
the angel
May you find some comfort here
Ino finished the song beautifully and Sasuke felt his heart shudder once more. What could he do now that she was gone? He didn't want to go on unless she was here with him. Silently he cursed himself for never telling her how he felt.
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Sasuke awoke from his dream in a cold sweat. It took him a few minutes to realize that was all it had been, a dream. It had seemed so real to him. He walked into the bathroom to wash his face with the cool release of the water and then looked at his reflection in the mirror.
I've waited long enough, he thought staring down his reflection. Toshikai will pay for what he's done. He grabbed his stuff and headed towards the gate. This time he was determined. This time Toshikai would taste his own blood.
"Where are you headed?'" Kakashi asked from behind.
"You can't stop me," Sasuke said. "He will die this time."
"I figured you'd say that and you'll be grateful to know that's not why I came," Kakashi sighed. "I only came to give you something and tell you not to throw your life away. Sakura gave it back to you for a reason. No one is immortal Sasuke so don't make her sacrifice have been in vain."
Kakashi extended his hand and Sasuke saw something glint in his hand as it caught the fleeting light, "You'll need this more then me."
Sasuke stepped forward and saw in Kakashi's hand Sakura's hitai-ate, her headband. It looked exactly the same and not even the blood had been wiped away. It was smeared across the leaf insignia and when Sasuke moved to take it he was careful not to smudge it. He grabbed it almost reverently in silence.
"It's yours until Sakura comes looking for it," Kakashi chuckled. "She might want it back."
"Yeah," Sasuke replied. "Just a little."
He gently removed his own hitai-ate and replaced it with hers. It felt odd seeing his own in his hand and another on him, but at the same time he instantly felt better.
"Nice," Kakashi said. "You look good in a bloodstained headband."
Sasuke smiled weakly turning to leave and began walking away raising his hand in a goodbye to Kakashi, who merely nodded after him with a sigh.
"Don't die or do anything stupid, Sasuke," Kakashi muttered then turned and walked back into the city. "I promise you'll regret it later."
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A/N: Awww! I love this chapter, although it depressed my friend… Still I think it's cute cause it just shows how darn much Sasuke really does care about Sakura! And as an added bonus, this chapter isn't as short as my last few! So yeah…keep up the reviews I love them all and tell me what you think about this chapter! I'd really like to know!
Depression is only anger without enthusiasm.
Miharu Uchiha