Chapter Title: 'The Same Place Changes'
Belonging To: 'Conscious Dreaming'
Author: MissYamapiKara
Genre: Drama, Romance, Science Fiction
Warnings: None outstanding
Rating: T
Base: 'Naruto' by Masashi Kishimoto
Chapter Summary: Is this real? Is this the end? With all they've been through, known, and forgotten, where are they left? They know now, better than anything else, that nothing ever changes when everything becomes different.
Chapter Soundtrack: 'Between', 'Enough to Go By', 'Gravity' Vienna Teng

Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership over the manga, anime or other variations of what I know as 'Naruto'. I am gaining no profit from this piece.
I have no intimate connection to mentioned established institutes/universities/brands/other names that may be used in this story.
I do not claim ownership over the songs named above.
All material other than the above-mentioned is claimed as the sole property of myself.

Heads Up: If necessary, action will be taken to protect my own writing. It would be greatly appreciated if fellow avid writers, all readers or general persons would respect the content of this document and not copy it. If it is desired by anyone to use any part of the text on the page, I would bid him or her to contact me and it shall be discussed.

MissYamapiKara

Author's Note: This is the final chapter. And I couldn't be gladder of it. I hope for those who were enjoying the story, that this is a satisfying finish. Please, forgive my struggles – I give to you the end of 'Conscious Dreaming'.

This chapter is dedicated to everyone who made it possible for 'Between', 'Enough to Go By', and 'Gravity', performed by Vienna Teng, to reach my ears.

Proceeding...

Conscious Dreaming

-

: The Same Place Changes

-

It was like waking from a dream.

As if he wasn't standing on a stage in front of too many people to count, he shot forward and ran after the man who'd just fled through the hall doors. He knew, he felt it inching along under his skin, inside of him, that this man was important.

And he had to chase him.

The doors flew back on their hinges and smacked into the walls on either side. He could see the back of the man before he turned a corner in the hall.

He wouldn't let him get away.

'Not again.'

His mad dash led him to move blindly. He didn't know why he was running. Maybe he did. Maybe he'd forgotten somewhere in between the deafening beats of his heart. It was obvious, really.

He couldn't slow his thoughts down.

It wasn't right, it wasn't wrong, and everything was melting together but with big flashes and splashes like paint being thrown onto a brick wall.

Only one thing was clear: he wasn't ready to know what had happened - to know what he'd done.

'Just keep going.'

They're chasing, running, chasing.

The one behind can still see the one in front no matter which way he turns – he won't let him out of his sight.

Before he can think that he should try to get outside, the one in front is suddenly standing in the garden he was in the day before. He remembers the smell and it floods his senses so, that he's made to stop running, even though a part of him says it'll be a costly mistake.

But he doesn't want to run anymore.

He turns around, slowly, not lifting his head but instead watching the ground as if it might move out from under him at any moment. At the sound of rasping breath behind him, he takes in a deep breath. He realises he's really, really scared.

The other has caught up now and leans his palms on his knees so he can catch his breath. He's confused but bubbling inside like he does when he's happy beyond anything else.

Is this finally it?

He remembers seeing the same pale-skinned man, standing so straight and strong, in the AdvanceTechWorld lounge all those months ago. And the time in the children's playground, only the second time but it could have been the millionth.

He stands up, having caught his breath, and can't help himself but to go forward. The other looks up at the first step he takes.

Blue and black collide.

... You won't recognise me
For the light in my eyes is strange …

They stare.

They're sure of nothing.

'Does he know me?' He takes one more step forward.

'I don't want to remember.' He backs away an inch for every one the other gains on him.

… It was years ago, God knows,
When you strained to tell me your whole truth ...

The garden is still, it could be a cardboard cut-out. It doesn't feel dead but something has ceased and other things are starting to turn. They can both sense it.

He's reaching out his hand now instead of advancing any further, "Why are you running?" He whispers it almost too quiet to hear.

His eyes skirt away from the other's to watch the hand that's offered. He opens his mouth, not knowing what might come out. His voice is like a mere breath, "I don't know."

Gradually retracting his hand, he pushes his blond hair from his forehead so that it won't fall near his eyes. He has to ask, "You've been seeing the same things?"

It's all the other can do to nod.

"You remember?" Two words straining with hope against his throat.

The dark eyes meet with the other's once more and aren't cold or warm but almost seem to grow and take in everything around them. This one question will prove to him so much, too much, everything, "I didn't stay, did I?"

… That you were not mine to save
That you could not change …

His voice trips over his tongue and can't get past the teeth he's clenching together – tightly because otherwise his insides might jump out past the grief that's closing his throat. He chokes, "No." He swallows but the tightness doesn't lessen, "You didn't. And I couldn't make you."

… This is the same place
No not the same place
This is the same place, Love
No not the same place we've been before ...

Maybe, just maybe, he can stop losing now, "I wanted to," his name, he remembers the man's name, "Naruto."

The pain dissolves in a flood of relief. His eyes widen as he hears his name and he bites back sobs like bitter medicine. He responds in kind, "Sasuke."

Sasuke lets himself fall forward at the sound of his name coming from his old friend's lips and embraces Naruto more tightly than he ever thought he'd have the chance. He's not crying, but he can feel Naruto's tears like warm fingertips and the most precious thing he's ever known in himself when he presses their cheeks together.

… Something more alive than silence
swallows conversation.

Finally being able to talk to, to touch the man that's been haunting him, not being scared anymore, finally having returned to Naruto, it's like waking from a dream, it's like going home, "Is this real?"

Naruto pulls back only far enough to grin at Sasuke like he used to, with triumph and warmth and something golden, "Does it matter?" And he leans to meet their lips as they were supposed to years, lives, memories ago.

You reach the end of the story's pages and you feel and don't all at once.

Was this what you wanted? Was this what you expected? Are you happy? Are you sad?

You know the two are together, and that's all that really matters.

You think about the real and the false and wonder about it. Please, let me tell you to stop while you're not too far involved.

This story is one you picked up after a usual day, and it isn't something that will change your life. You'll have more usual days and you'll know more exciting things.

You'll forget all you've read in time.

But all the same, you're glad you were the one chosen to share in their last story.