Repercussion
Chapter 3
Return to Planet Earth
I felt like nothing mattered but you.
You were my world. My life.
With you gone, what world was here?
What life possible?
Then I remember your words,
your soul, opened to me.
Now i'll live, because I know, deep inside,
that if I did it would make you happy.
Sasuke was shaken from the encounter with Itachi and Kisame. He just couldn't get it out of his mind. They had Naruto. Or, they had him at one time.. and.. it was all his fault. The akatsuki were one step closer to their goal because of what he had done. How could he live with himself after he did something like that? Why couldn't he just die. Why didn't Sakura, and Kakashi, and all the rest of them just let him die? He didn't understand. and he figured that he never would. Not without Naruto standing beside him. How could he do anything without Naruto?
Sakura had taken to ignoring him. Sasuke didn't know why. Kakashi did. Sakura was tired of the new Sasuke. She wanted the old Sasuke, the determined, stuck up, cold shouldered, concieted Sasuke back. She hated this new, boring, dull, emo Sasuke. She knew Naruto would too. Sakura just didn't know how to tell Sasuke. How to tell him to stop being such a depressing asswhole... She sighed.
Kakashi shook his head and looked up at the sky. All those stars.. Stars that Naruto would never see again. Stars that Sasuke still had the chance to see. and, sooner or later, Kakashi would find a way to convince Sasuke to live the life that Naruto could no longer live. To look up at the stars, and see Naruto's soul in a shooting star. To see a meadow full of flowers, and hear Naruto's laugh in the wind. Naruto couldn't rest, unless Sasuke could live his life. Kakashi just wanted to be able to tell Sasuke that, but, like Sakura, he didn't know how...
-FF to the other Village-
Sasuke sat lifelessly on his bed. He was sharing a room with Neji, who seemed to enjoy glaring at him. Sasuke sighed. Normally, he would've challenged the hyuuga. But not now.. not now.. He was thinking that, when a book hit him in the head. For a second, a slight spark hit his eye and he glared at Neji. Then it dissappeared as he picked up the book. "Naruto gave it to me.. It was a little after the chunin exams.. He told me it would help me get over my 'issues'. he said that it helped him get over his... So now, it'll help you get over yours.. Don't ruin it.. It's all I have left to remember him.. " Neji said, a slight glare issuing from his eyes. He stepped out of the room, and left Sasuke alone with Naruto's book. Sasuke opened the front page, and found that it was a book of poems, and songs, and short stories. He lightly touched the first page. 'My Writings. By Uzumaki Naruto'
Sasuke kept his tears in as he carefully turned the page and started reading it. First one was a short poem about the rain. Sasuke stared at it for a little while. 'The rain falls upon every leaf, on every tree, in every place. The rain falls and gives life where there once was none. The rain heals, and cleanses all in it's path. The rain is merciful. Fear the flood, the cousin of rain, that enjoys to follow the rain, and cause pain and destruction. But do not fear the rain, for the rain, is love. Never renounce the rain, because it will never renounce you.' Sasuke dried his tears and sighed, pulling the pain that seemed to explode everywhere back. When he felt that he was ready, he continued reading the book, trying to memorize every word, each one a part or Naruto that he had put down on paper. Sometimes he had to stop, and put in the precious book down so he didnt get his tears on it.
It was the third time he had picked up the book, and he had begun to read again. He came across a poem that made him stop, and stare. He couldn't move. It felt like a good fifteen, twenty minutes before he could even open his mouth. He was staring at a poem called 'Don't let go.' He started reading it aloud quietly to himself. "Never let go of life. If you let go of life, you let go of love. Never let go of love. It's hard to survive when someone you love dissappears from your grasp, but Never let go. If you let go of life, then you're letting go of the one you love. Be strong, and be wise, and carry their memories so proudly on your shoulders. Don't let them fade away. Parade through the streets with their name on a banner. Shout out cheers for them at the top of your lungs in a crowded market. Never let go of their memory. Always remember them, always hold them close. Because if you hold their memory high, and never let them fade, then they've never actually died. Never let go of your love. Never let go of life.' Sasuke had to put the book down. He sobbed for hours. He fell to the ground and cried, whispering Naruto's name over and over and continuing to sob. When he was done, he dried his tears and picked the book back up. He gazed at the poem. "Naruto.. I'm sorry. I almost let you go. I did let you go. I let everything go. I'm so sorry. I'll change though. I'm sorry. I'll be everything that you can't be anymore. I'll live my life for you. I'm sorry." There was a slight shuffle at the door. Sasuke looked up. Neji was leaning against the door smirking.
"What are you smirking at, jackass." Sasuke snapped. Neji smiled.
"Welcome back to earth." He said, sitting down on his bed and leaning back. "You can keep the book if you want. I had it photocopied."
Sasuke held the book in his hands. "Thank you." He said quietly.
"No problem. Naruto would've done the same thing... Literally. I always figured he'd be the type to throw a book at someone's head." Neji said, staring at the ceiling. Sasuke felt a light chuckle escape him.
"I can imagine that..." He said, quietly.