A/N: Well I'm back again after another long stint. Sorry for the delay. I am lazy when I know I need to update. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and please leave a comment. All feedback is welcome!
Warning: Aside from the obvious cough yaoicough beware of EXTREME ooc characterness from everyone…sorry, guys; I only have a rudimentary knowledge of the manga. This is also an AU fic so I hope you can excuse me for the differences in characterization from the manga.
I don't know if they're still reading this, but I honored "Dark Toy" who asked for Sasuke to call Naruto 'dobe'. I managed to work it in. Thanks to "Katariun" for the wonderful, constructive criticism!
The following is my way of showing scene changes and/or time skips:
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The Sound of Silence
Chapter Three: Going Back
"So how did it go Naruto?" Sakura asked. She raised her eyebrow questioningly when Naruto groaned and shook his head. "It couldn't have been that bad, right?"
"Well he didn't say anything, Sakura and he's kind insulting…" Sakura laughed and Naruto glared at her. "That's not helping and you know it."
Sakura's body shook with the force of her suppressed amusement. "How can someone who doesn't speak be insulting? That seems impossible, Naruto." She smiled her thanks when Naruto held the door to their science class open for her.
Naruto sighed as he followed Sakura to their lab table. "He was rolling his eyes at me and I even got punched!" He glared when Sakura snorted at him. Sometimes Naruto wondered why he still talked to Sakura. And he knew why.
She had stuck by him for so long, and helped him through his darkest days. She spent hours sitting beside Naruto as he held his grandfather's hand, not speaking, simply lending her silent support. She talked to Naruto when no one else would, not because Naruto was unpopular or hated but rather because Naruto was afraid to make friends fearing they wouldn't understand the tragedy waiting to happen.
"Well what am I supposed do, Sakura? If this guy won't speak and also refuses to write what happened to him, how am I supposed to get enough material for an essay?"
Sakura bit her lip as she sat down, contemplating. "It's for Psychology, right, Naruto? Maybe you're supposed to observe Sasuke, you know? Interpret his thoughts and his body language? Maybe even try and read between the lines?"
Naruto hugged Sakura, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. "I understand! You're brilliant! I'm supposed to try and figure out what's wrong just by watching him!"
"You'll do fine, Naruto. I have faith in you."
()&)&))
"I met that guy I'm supposed to do a report on, Grandpa." Naruto whispered, stroking his sick relative's clammy hand. "I have to go and see him again right after I leave. I hope you'll wake up in the next couple of minutes, but I doubt it. I just want to let you know, Gramps, that I love you."
Naruto kissed his Grandfather's forehead as he climbed to his feet, biting back tears. Despite his best efforts they slid down his cheeks. His Grandfather was on medication to dull the constant pain cancer caused and it seemed that the doses of the medication climbed higher every month. And as the amount his Grandfather took increased, the time he stayed awake decreased.
A sense of dread filled Naruto. Though he wanted to be optimistic, Naruto knew he couldn't delude himself. His Grandfather's death was drawing closer, like a shadow blotting out the sun's rays.
&(((&(&(&
"It's good to see you again, Naruto!" Kristen said cheerfully, her gray eyes dancing. "It's so boring here without you. It makes me sad, but these poor people hardly, if ever, get visitors. I spend most of my shift sitting here."
Naruto looked at her curiously. "What are you supposed to be doing?"
Kristen laughed as she motioned for the blond teenager to follow. "I was hired to be a secretary, but the phone almost never rings. I do paper work, but only once a week, on Fridays. Until it's time for the patients to eat, I just read. It gets boring. Aside from Doctor Forster and a few orderlies, there's no one to talk to."
Naruto's stomach fluttered nervously when Sasuke's door came into view. He inhaled sharply and held his breath hoping to quell the nervous fluttering. Seeing his apprehension, Kristen patted his shoulder comfortingly as she opened the door. Knowing he couldn't delay the inevitable, he stepped inside.
The room was dimly lit and Sasuke sat huddled in blankets, his lithe form shuddering. Even though he had just met the teen, Naruto felt apprehension at Sasuke's shaking. Kristen frowned, concerned, and peered at Sasuke.
"This isn't good," She mumbled, trying to smile reassuringly at Naruto. "I'll go and get Doctor Forster. It may take a little while, so try and comfort him, okay?" Kristen didn't wait for Naruto's reply, shutting the door before the teen could ask her how he was supposed to calm Sasuke down.
"Hey, are you all right?" Naruto asked hesitantly, kneeling down beside the shuddering teen. Sasuke flinched when Naruto tried to touch his shoulder. Naruto withdrew his hand quickly and settled down beside Sasuke, patting the blanket near Sasuke's foot.
"I guess you're having a bad day, huh? Kristen's going to go and get your doctor, so I'm with you until then." Sasuke didn't respond, but than, Naruto hadn't really expected him to. "I bet you're lonely, huh? Everyone needs someone, right?"
He sighed and rested his head against the wall. Sasuke was still trembling but his black eyes were peering at Naruto, his gaze curious. Encouraged by Sasuke's response, as small as it was, he continued speaking. He didn't know what to say, so he rambled, but Naruto figured his rambling couldn't harm Sasuke.
"I have my Grandfather, but he's dying," Naruto's breath hitched and a sob tore at his throat. "He's my only living relative. My parents died in a car crash when I was young, and I barely even remember them. It hurts sometimes, because I try and picture their faces, and I can't. I remember my Mom's eyes, they were so blue and pure, and I guess I inherited them from her. All I can recall about my dad is his deep laugh. I used to imagine that's how a gnome or some small creature would chuckle."
Sasuke snorted and Naruto smiled at him, his eyes sparkling. Naruto didn't notice Sasuke had stopped shaking and his full attention was focused on Naruto.
"After they died my Grandfather took me in. He's kind. He rocked me when I woke up screaming for my Mom and Dad. Gramps took me to movies and helped me with homework, even took me for walks. He's like my second dad, and I love him.
"I found out three years ago he has lung cancer. I don't know how he hid it from me for so long. He went through chemo, you know? And it seemed like it was helping. His hair was growing back, and color was returning to his face.
"And then he went into remission. When I look at him I see death. It's like daggers through my heart every time I sit near his bed and he struggles to speak, gasping for breath. And the past couple of months, he's been sleeping, so doped up on medicine to numb the pain he doesn't even know I'm there. And soon…he's going to die, and there's nothing I can do…"
Naruto broke off, sobbing, tears dripping down his face. Sasuke stared at Naruto before reaching over hesitantly, his hand shaking. Naruto stiffened at the feeling of a hand on his shoulder, but than he relaxed and placed his own on top of Sasuke's.
Naruto relaxed as he felt warm breath caressing his skin, and against his will he turned and faced Sasuke. The teen's skin gleamed in the pale light and his eyes were as black as coal. Naruto's eyes were riveted and he felt as if he were sinking into their bottomless depths.
"Thank you," Naruto whispered. Sasuke quirked his eyebrows in what Naruto guessed was confusion. "I know you don't know me, or, well, even like me, but you still took the time to comfort me. That means a lot, you know?"
Sasuke ripped his hand away from Naruto's shoulder as if burned. The teen's face was flushed and his eyes were shooting sparks. If looks could kill Naruto knew he would be dead. He needed to make a mental note: Sasuke was extremely touchy.
The door flew open and Kristen rushed in, a chubby man with a piggy nose and cruel eyes close behind. Sasuke seemed to withdraw inside himself the moment he caught sight of the doctor. Naruto was shocked at Sasuke's rapid withdrawl.
"He, um, seems better," Naruto said uncertainly.
"Who are you? Only authorized personnel and family can visit patients."
"Doctor Forster, I told you, Naruto Uzumaki has permission to visit Mr. Uchiha." Doctor Forster glared at Kristen and she flushed under his stare.
"Regardless," the doctor said, looking down at Naruto, who bristled under the doctor's dismissive stare, "you need to leave. Mr. Uchiha is in no condition to be seeing…friends."
Naruto opened his mouth to protest but Kristen shook her head 'no' behind the doctor's back. He sighed and stood reluctantly, trying to catch Sasuke's eye, but the teen pointedly ignored him.
Kristen shut the door behind Naruto, smiling apologetically. "You did a good job calming Sasuke down, Naruto."
"I don't understand why Doctor Forster wouldn't let me stay. Sasuke doesn't seem to like the doctor."
Kristen laughed. "He doesn't like anyone. He tolerates people."
Naruto disagreed but he left. There was nothing else he could do. He wondered why he felt as if he'd let Sasuke down.
()))&)))
The blonde teen left the room and Sasuke wanted to call "Don't go! Don't leave me alone with this man!" Despite his resolve the words refused to come. He was as mute as a mouse, and was unlikely to speak again.
He had only seen the idiotic blond one other time but already Sasuke felt a sort of camaraderie with the teen. Granted he was annoying as hell and he pissed Sasuke off but…if only he could form words! There was so much Sasuke felt like he would say if given the chance.
Yet Naruto had left Sasuke alone with the doctor. How he hated the man! He was a pompous monkey faking concern for the teen and pretending he gave a damn about Sasuke's well being when all he wanted was the fame and recognition he would gain if Sasuke was 'cured'.
The first person Sasuke had begun to feel close to-against his will, of course-had turned tail and fled from the room, leaving Sasuke alone. Why was he always by himself? Did the world truly hate Sasuke that much? Yet here he was, in a cold, dank room, with no one but the idiotic doctor for company.
And if he could have Sasuke would have screamed with all the misery and pain consuming him.
()()&))&()&)))
He couldn't get the silent teen out of his mind. And the feeling that he had failed Sasuke wouldn't leave Naruto, either. If he had had the choice there was no doubt in Naruto's mind, he wouldn't have left Sasuke alone with Doctor Forster. Given the chance he would have stayed and held Sasuke's hand.
Okay, maybe not hold his hand, Sasuke wasn't a child. Naruto was one hundred percent positive if he even tried to hold Sasuke's hand he would be punched. After all, hadn't Sasuke clobbered him the first time they met?
Regardless of how frustrating Sasuke was, he did have a job to do. If Naruto wanted to pass Psychology than he was going to have to learn to read between the lines, as Sakura had suggested. And in order to do that he needed to become familiar with Sasuke's facial expressions, as well as his mannerisms.
The downside to his plan was that learning so much about someone took a lot of time, which was the one thing Naruto didn't have. He was going to have to visit Sasuke more and spend all of the time they had studying Sasuke. Hopefully that would work and within a couple of weeks he would be able to read Sasuke like a book.
Or so Naruto hoped. So much depended on his success. If he wanted to keep visiting his Grandfather without fear of failing classes and staying back, than Naruto needed to get a good grade on his extra credit project. So Sasuke had better cooperate, or else Naruto didn't know what would happen.
Naruto sighed and punched his pillow half-heartedly. It was late; well after midnight, and light from streetlamps bathed his room in golden light. Physically Naruto was exhausted, yet mentally his mind wouldn't quit, running around like a hamster on wheel.
Naruto wasn't certain how long he tossed and turned, thoughts flooding his mind. Emotions tormented him. He felt sad for his Grandfather, rage at Sasuke's stubbornness, love for his Grandfather and Sakura, envy at his classmates and the normalcy of their lives; and finally regret for the lost childhood he could have had if his parents were still alive.
Naruto was grateful when sleep finally claimed him and he was immediately seized by a dream.
"Let's go!" Sasuke said, or at least that's what Naruto thought Sasuke said. His lips moved but no sound emerged. Sasuke was as quiet and voiceless as he was in real life, but somehow, in this dream world, Naruto knew instinctively what the other teen was saying.
He followed Sasuke, captivated by the lithe body walking ahead of him, his steps long and sure. Sasuke's short black hair shone like a Raven's wing in the morning light, his skin milky white. He looked like an ethereal being and Naruto couldn't have looked away if his life had depended on it.
"Where are we going?" Naruto called. Sasuke didn't respond and Naruto kept following. They stopped in a clearing and sank down into the soft, green grass. Sasuke rested his hands on top of his head, his black eyes peering at Naruto almost curiously. And while he didn't do anything to indicate it, Naruto felt depression emanating from the teen.
"You're lucky, you know," Sasuke mouthed. It was eerie seeing Sasuke mouth words and hearing nothing, yet knowing what Sasuke would have said. "You have a life, friends. I am trapped here." The teen pointed at his head. He let out a throaty laugh at the blank look on Naruto's face.
Naruto's stomach clenched and heat flooded his body. A wave of something like desire flooded Naruto's body leaving him confused and weak. He wanted to run, flee from Sasuke's quiet sadness, and yet, at the same time, Naruto wanted to stay.
"I'm trapped inside my mind, dobe," He smirked when Naruto sputtered angrily. "I cannot speak and those around do not understand what I want. I am a prisoner."
"How can I help?" Naruto asked, surprising himself with the urgency in his voice. It didn't make sense; he knew this was a dream, that this encounter wasn't happening, and yet, he felt compelled to help. He had to.
"Set me free, Naruto. The door to my mind is locked, but you have a key. I've only met you a couple of times, and yet you've already gotten more of a reaction out of me then the doctor," Sasuke spat the word 'doctor' like it was something disgusting. "I want to be free, Naruto. I want to join you in the real world."
Naruto leaned towards Sasuke, his eyes peering into bottomless black depths, and he felt dizzy and almost disoriented by the fierce emotion burning in those orbs. "I'll help you, I promise."
The smile that spread across Sasuke's face made the teen fairly glow. Naruto's breath caught in his lungs. Naruto felt his cheeks heat. The fluttering in his stomach grew in intensity.
"Save me, Naruto…"
&)))&))
Naruto awoke with tears wetting his cheeks and stinging his eyes. He felt restless and tired his arms and legs like lead. He brushed away the tears angrily and sat up, running a shaking hand through his blonde hair.
As he dressed for school the dream kept replaying through his mind. He wondered if he could keep his promise, or would he fail? Naruto wasn't sure; he knew, however, he would try his hardest.
"Save me, Naruto…"
End of Chapter
Author's note: One note about the dream: Sasuke wasn't speaking. Naruto "heard" the words in his mind, almost like they were talking telepathically. Sorry about any confusion.
Next update is whenever I get around to it. I will try not to take too long, though. But I can't make any promises.
Oh, and please review. I want to know if people actually want me to continue. Because if you don't, than I don't have to spend so much time writing something no one is interested in.