I know it's been a while since my last update, here's another chapter of Regret. I know it doesn't follow the manga from where it is at now. But I have every intention of finishing. So now it's officially an AU. I do plan to make another chapter after this, so I'm not going to end the story like this.
Thank you Uzunamikaze, Chelsea-chee and Greensapphire for you're beautiful reviews. It makes me feel wonderful to think something I've written, can stir such feelings in people.
Hope this chapter is ok, and I really appreciate any reviews whether their bad or not, as long as they are constructive in bettering my writing.
Thanks. Chichigal
Regrets
Chapter 3
There was nothing. Nothing but pain and the stuttering beating of my heart the only sound echoing the chamber of darkness I had been resigned to.
I could see to the distance a source of light, beckoning. Calling me to it. I neared and the pain seemed to slowly subside to almost nothing. A few more step would be an end to all my pain. Somehow I knew it.
"Sakura-chan! I'm here. Wake up! Please!"
Startled, I turned to look for the source of the echoed voice. But there was still nothing but darkness. Surrounding me, almost enveloping me. That voice... It sounded so familiar. The light was brighter still now, and my feet moved once more, to escape the dark.
"I promised… I promised to protect you… It was a promise of a lifetime…"
I stilled. That voice, it was... Naruto. It couldn't be... Why would he be here. I am alone. I should be alone. Never the matter, I needed to go, his life would be better without me here to darken it. The light beckons once more, the end is near.
"Sakura, please! You can't die! No…"
One more step.
"My dreams are empty without you..."
His voice, so agonised. The light offered relief from pain, an escape from darkness. But... I couldn't leave him. I couldn't make the last step. I would rather stay in the darkness and pain, then leave. I needed him. And it sounded like he needed me.
Naruto...!
*
***
*****
***
*
My eyes opened slowly, and were immediately blinked into closure. Light... there was nothing but light. So much my eyes grew sore from the glare. Was I dead. I moved timidly and winced as an agonising pain hit my chest. Was there pain in death. I doubted it. So I'm alive... but how?
"... Sakura-chan..."
I froze, at my name muttered by a familiar voice. A mumble all too familiar grumbled deeply from a male chest. My eyes snapped open, and the painful glare mattered not, as my green orbs searched for and hoped for the sight of...
"Naruto..."
My voice came out scratchy and grating, but I could care less as my eyes filled with tears at the sight of my beloved blonde team-mate. There sat in an obviously uncomfortable position next to what I gather is my hospital bed. His right hand clutching at my left. Our fingers laced together perfectly.
I couldn't help the happy tears. He was here and that's all that mattered. The pain. None of it.
Suddenly I felt tired. So tired. I kept my eyes on his sleeping form. I wanted him be the last thing etched into my memories before sleep claimed me. With the last of my energy, I clutched at his hand tightly, bringing it to my bandaged cheek. His skin felt so warm against mine, so soft, so... perfect.
I sighed and my eyes slowly closed into the semblance of sleep.
*
***
*****
***
*
Groggily I awoke to the world, everything bright once more against my closed eyelids and…
"Naruto! You can keep doing this to yourself, you need to rest..."
"... Baa-chan! Sakura-chan has to wake up soon. She has to be ok... I need to be here... "
"Naruto..." The distinct feminine growl echoed the room.
"Uhhh..."
The moan escaped before I could stop it. My eyes slowly opened and stilled on two figures, both blonde. One female and the other male. Tsunade-sama and… Naruto. A pair of voices echoed in response.
"Sakura-chan!"
All blonde and hyperactive. Uzumaki Naruto was at my side once more, just as earlier. Hands at my own grasping in hopeful pleasure. Looking so happy, I wanted to cry.
"Naruto..." I whispered, and winced at the sound that escaped my lips. Never the less I pressed onwards.
"I…"
But anything I was to say was never to be said. I was startled to find his weight on me, his arms wrapped around me tightly, but gently as not to wound me further. His head so close to mine, that the dirty blonde of his hair, tickled my nose. I was obviously turning red, I could feel the heat of my cheeks. I was ready to swim in embarrassment, till I felt a warm wetness at the junction of my neck, where his head lay. His whole body was trembling. Startled at the thought of his tears, any thought of embarrassment evaporated.
My own arms enveloped him, fingers lifted to comb his blonde locks in tenderness, and what I hoped came out as reassurance. I was startled slightly at the softness of the texture. It was so much softer, than I ever imagined.
The door swung open, startling me ever so slightly from my actions and thoughts. Shishou... She was watching silently with a small smile from near the door. I blushed slightly. But it didn't matter. I was too content holding the blonde shinobi close.
There were tears in her eyes and obvious relief. I smiled at her in thanks. Somehow I knew she had a hand in my been alive. She nodded in response and left me to myself with the blonde ninja, who was still unresistingly holding me close.
"Naruto…" Suddenly the blonde ninja was disappointedly out of my arms, and sat almost stiffly at the chair at my side. He quickly wiped his eyes clean of tears with the back of his sleeves. Eventually dry yet swollen blue eyes gazed at me shyly.
"Gomen… gomen… I didn't mean to…" He muttered, his hand nervously scratching the back of his head in his own cute way.
"It's ok." I interrupted trying to swallow my slight disappointment.
"I just, I thought… there was so much blood…" He gave a small tearful humourless laugh.
"You found me?" I muttered startled. Naruto nodded his head anxiously. Blue eyes attentively staring into my own. My heart sped ever so slightly.
"Hai! Hai! Baa-chan said you're were gone on a mission and that you hadn't come home yet. So I went to find you. I never thought…" He broke off, his beautiful blue eyes baring into mine intensively, looking so broken. His arms were around me once more. My own instinctively followed.
"I'm so glad! So glad, you're ok… you're still with me…"
"Naruto…" I cried weakly.
"I thought I'd lost you… I promised to protect you… It was a promise of a lifetime, and I nearly broke it."
Those words… I remember… almost like…
'I promised… I promised to protect you… It was a promise of a lifetime…'
'Sakura, please! You can't die! No…'
'My dreams are empty without you…'
I clutched at him closer, arms tightening as I buried my head into his chest. I gave a shuddering breath before…
"My dreams are empty without you too, Naruto."
I felt him stiffen.
"Sakura-chan…" He whispered bewildered.
I wanted to cry. For a moment painful doubt clouded my heart. Never the less whether what I heard in the darkness was real or wishful thinking on my behalf, I needed to press on.
"I made a promise to myself, if ever I had another chance, Naruto. I would be honest and truthful. I would tell my most precious person the truth of my feelings even if it wasn't reciprocated." I muttered, finishing with a tearful laugh. Green eyes suddenly found blue widened ones.
"I love you Uzumaki Naruto. You may not feel the same, but I want you… no I need you to know of my feelings for you, even if all you feel for me is at best considered only friendly. I just… god… I love you."
End of Chapter 3
Please Review!