Title: A Different Person
Author: Faker of Innocence (miraraykai88 at yahoo dot com dot my)
Summary: Sasuke changed, and it did not go unnoticed by others.
A/N: Major of KyoSasu and a bit of YukiSasu. I love these pairings, so what? And unbeta-ed.
Warning: Shonen-ai, KyoSasu, YukiSasu. Bad grammatical errors. You have been warned!
Disclaimer: Even after the manga finished, I can never, ever own it.
Everyone, sorry for the very late update! Things happened, and I just lost all interest to update. I'm really, really sorry!!
Please, enjoy the second chapter!
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Chapter 2: Sasuke: Memories
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He walked alone along the sidewalk in the forest, his mind deep in thought. He knew he supposed to be at Kudoyama right now, along with the rest of the Jyuuyuushi, but he just can not face the others. He somehow realized that the others have noticed his abrupt changes towards them.
The silver-haired youth sighed. It was not their fault. Something happened, and that something was the reason he was behaving like this. Not that he wanted it, but somehow he just need some time to think alone.
But being the Jyuuyuushi, they will worry about him for no important reason at all. Then again, that is the Jyuuyuushi all about. They care about each other, or maybe too much care of each other.
Looking up, Sasuke realized he had been walking too far than he intended too. Moreover, as he was thinking and walking mindlessly, he had unconsciously walked to that place. A certain place in Aokigahara where he had been trying to avoid and forget, but his body seemed to agree otherwise. The place that he knew how hard he tries to forget, while always carved in his mind.
The place where he first met Onime no Kyo after four years.
He could not help but blush when he remembered that day, but quickly he shoved it to the corner of his mind. 'What's wrong with me? It's not like there was anything special meeting him here.'
"Nice to meet you. Or should I say… long time no see?"
He can still remember Kyo's voice and tone when he said those words. It seemed that the red-eyed man still remembered him although they have only met in one, uptight situation, that is during the Sekigahara war.
He was only eight years old that time, and that particular mission was one of his earliest and hardest missions with Yukimura yet. Their job was to help Kyoushiro with his own mission of killing Kyo. While Saizou's job was to cover them up with mist, his job was to protect them when the time comes or something unexpected ever came up.
He knew, on that day, that they were facing a very dangerous opponent. Onime no Kyo, the slaughterer who had killed thousands during the war. Somehow the idea of meeting that demon, and possibly fighting him did not terrify that young ninja, but excite him more. He voiced this out to Yukimura, who did not expect that from his youngest subordinate ever.
His master did not seem to mind though, although he did warn the young Sasuke not to tell his opinion to anyone, especially Saizou. It puzzled him, but he remained quiet. Only as he grew up, he found out the reason why Yukimura warned him.
His comrades feared him for who he was.
He once overheard how Saizou told one of their comrades that he felt that Sasuke has, somehow, creep him out. Not only that he came from the forest, where the inhuman creatures lived, but also the way his golden eyes sparkled at the mention of assassinating someone. Not to mention he was the youngest ninja chosen to be a Jyuuyuushi. The strongest one in fact.
Although he kept telling himself that he used to that kind of remark, Sasuke could not stop one single streak of tear running down his cheek.
He could not help himself but to put very little trust towards his comrades from that day on. And no pure excitement showed on his face after that very moment.
Saizou's taunt reminded him of that- in which his own emotions and excitement came last after all the responsibilities he held for the Sanada's family heir.
Even everything that symbolized that he was alive came much, much later.
When he met Onime no Kyo again after four years, he still remembered the same intense look in those crimson eyes. Intense, but somehow less fierce. But the tone of his voice, the arrogance, is still there. And it was directed to him.
Just that and it was enough to make him forget everything around him. Even the voice of Saizou taunting him, even the responsibilities he hold for the Sanada family.
The feeling of excitement from four years ago came back with a vengeance. And it doubled up as the person who was responsible of making him excited was just there in front of him.
And the need to see blood on his sword came tenfold. The blood of Onime no Kyo, the demon who slaughtered thousands.
Even after he lost to the very same man, he still can feel the excitement flowing inside him. Especially when the man made an arrogant remark, showing his confidence when he was fighting Oda Nobunaga.
He came to realize that just the mere existence of that man beside him was enough to make him feel alive. And he also came to realize that although that man would not probably even look at him, he still needed the red-eyed demon's presence around him.
Soon after that, he realized something so shocking that even he himself could not admit: he had fallen for Kyo.
It was five years ago, after a few weeks being in the same group with that man that Sasuke realized his true feelings towards that older guy. Sasuke was, and always will, loved Kyo.
He knew that Kyo would not look at him that way; he already has Yuuya by the way. So he was happy with the idea of being close with Kyo. Just that was fine with him. Being close to the man who gave him the reason to feel alive.
But the older man thought otherwise. The event that happened almost a month ago proved it.
Sasuke was so immersed in his thought that he did not realize there was someone behind him. A step on a dead branch awoke him from his stance. Cursing himself for being careless, he turned around; weapon was already in hand…
"What are you doing here, Sarutobi?"
"Kyo?"
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Read and review, please. Any constructive review is very well appreciated and will be used wisely in the future.
Thank you for reading.
Golden Neko aka F.o.I