A/N: Thanks to DoubleBend for reviewing my first story and third story. It was very nice to know someone's really reading my fics… *crying* because I had a lack of review on my first (before you reviewed it) and my second fic. But it's okay, because I think this third one is better than the two. Yes, I also think that my English is not really good but sadly I don't have a proofreader, and I can't check it again if it has a grammar error or anything that error too. About the story, I felt sorry too for writing about Sasuke's dying, but somehow I felt excited… *lol* the moral story that I wanted to say is, people can only appreciate one's worth to another when it comes to their separation. I think that's another grammar error… Hehehe… But anyway, death is the only way for Yuki and Sasu to be separated from each other, don't you agree? Well, anyway pleaseeeee review it again. Thanks!

On with the story…

END OF FLASHBACK

"Yukimura, I'm sorry…"

"There he is! This way!" a troop was actually found him and without waiting any longer he called his friends, and there were five of them. The ninjas had also arrived on his position in a flash, waiting at the roof. There were about fifty ninjas and five ground troops that surrounded him, and there was no way he could escape even if he was the master of evasion. Then not long after the troops had approached his seat position.

"Got you, bastard! You must be with that trash Sanada, weren't you?" one of them was mocking Sanada name, which Sasuke hated it the most but he couldn't do anything on this kind of situation. So he just kept his mouth locked behind his scarf.

"Answer me, damn it! Are you muted or something?!" then he treaded the bear trap to stab it deeper into Sasuke's flesh. He yelped but then he remained silenced again. The troops were laughing at him. He swore that if he hadn't had this wound he would kill them all without mercy.

"So, you are not muted, are you?" the other troop knelt down and then removing his scarf to uncover his whole face. "Oh wow… We get a young ninja here, and he's somehow a cute one." Then he laughed out loudly and then the rest were also laughing maniacally. Sasuke glared to him with hatred and anger.

"Okay, cutie-ninja, are you with the Sanada?" Sasuke kept silence.

"Hello? Oh I get it now; if you wanted the harsh way that bad, now you get it. Lads, let's give him a nice show." the fourth troop grinned widely then stepped back. The first troop grinned too and then approached the poor Sasuke. He stooped a little, and then without warning he punched his left cheek. Still unsteady with that punch, the second wave already came to him. A kick was applied at his right cheek. Sasuke found it hurt but it did not matter. He wouldn't spill anything about Sanada to them whatever they might do, that was his promise when he had became the brave ten. He wiped away the blood that started to sip down from his mouth. The five troops were laughing maniacally again, and then the second one knelt down.

"So, do you want to talk now?" he grinned wickedly but he got no answer from the young ninja. Feeling irritated with Sasuke's behavior, he grabbed his collar and then shouted at him. "Hey, bastard! You better talk now or you'll die in a pathetic way!" Sasuke was still glaring at him and then out from his expectation, Sasuke spat the spit of blood right on his face. "Your breath stinks." Sasuke finally said something but those words were so unwise when he was on this position.

He was startled, but a second later anger was engulfing his mind. He released Sasuke's collar, wiped the spit, and then stood up. "I am at my limit now. I don't care anymore whether you want to spill it or not, but right now you must die a pitiful death. Lads, let's have fun with him." At first Sasuke did not catch his words, but he got it when the first one pulled out a little knife from his waist and said, "First are the eyes. I'd like to collect those golden eyes of him." The fear of pain was starting to crawl on his mind, but he tried his best not to plea or beg. But could he, when someone was about to pluck his eyes out?

The two of them stooped and then held his hand aside tightly preventing him to struggle or shield his face. One of them held up his chin and pulled his hair aback, making his face facing upward. "Don't be scared, it won't hurt." The last one grinned wickedly, and then his right hand was opening Sasuke's right eyelid widely. The small knife was getting closer to his eye. Sasuke wanted to cry, plea, or beg to just kill him without giving him such a torture but he could not, it was his prestige as a ninja that held him from doing so. But, he couldn't lie that he was very afraid. Not because of the death itself, but the pain. He had prepared himself to be ready when that moment came, but what he expected was a quick death, not a death like this! His body trembled; he was simply not prepared for this.

"St-Stop it…!" Sasuke mumbled slowly, his fear from the flesh had defeated his prestige.

"Mmm…? Were you saying something? Because I can not hear you, or rather, I don't want to." the troop that held his eyelid grinned wickedly and kept on moving his knife closer to his eyes. He did not intend to stop; maybe it was because Sasuke's spit on his face.

"If you want to kill me then just do it!" Sasuke aroused his tone slightly.

"I will kill you, obviously. But not that fast. You have offended me by spat on my face, and now you must pay for it with your own eyes." again the knife was drawing closer to his frightened eyes.

"St-stop it! I said stop it!" Sasuke's words were only heard as a buzz to him because he did not stop or even hesitate at all.

"Soldiers! What are you doing there?" a familiar voice was heard from the left side. The troops knew exactly that it was the sound of their current shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada. He was standing there with his father. Hidetada came half-running to approach their position while his father was just walking slowly, almost unexcited. From his position Sasuke could still took a peek to Hidetada, or actually, Benitora and his father Ieyasu. Benitora was a man who once his comrade and now his biggest enemy. Tora wasn't wearing his usual robe as a shogun. He wore a casual one, a yellow kimono and still with a bandana on his head. Sasuke also noticed that he was bringing his Hakurakushimon, the Muramasa spear. Sasuke wondered if Tora would be the one who executed him. If that's so, then it was a relief. Because he wouldn't need to feel his eyes being plucked out from his face before he died. Though he never admitted it, Sasuke knew that Tora was a very kind-hearted man, a contrary figure to his father. But if it was his father the one who executed him, then things could go even worse than just plucking his eyeball out. Sasuke felt his wounds were starting to numb and his vision was starting to blur. But he shook his head a little, did not want to faint away from this kind of situation.

When Tora arrived at his position, he was in an instant realized that it was his long-time-no-see friend Sarutobi Sasuke.

"Soldiers! What are you doing strangling him like that? Is he the intruder?" Tora played his role as a Hidetada.

"We… We're just trying to make him spill out any information that he knows about Sanada, Hidetada-sama…" the troop that were holding the small knife instantly stopped his activity and then knelt down. So did the remaining four of them, they let go of Sasuke's limbs and knelt down too. Sasuke faintly dropped his hand and head down. He was starting to feel dizzy and his sight was vanishing slightly. He knew he couldn't maintain his consciousness, he lost too much blood and it's only about time for him to pass away.

Tora ignored their words and his sight was nailed down at the figure behind them. Lying faintly and pale. He saw a lot of bloods were soaking on the grasses and the ground. He shifted his look to search the source of the blood then he found that it was his leg, with a bear trap still embedded on it. Fresh blood was still seeping away from that wound, it was severe Tora knew it exactly. But that wound wasn't just the only one, his left torso was also bleeding; it was from Ieyasu's kunai back then. He gasped. If he could, he wanted to reach Sasuke's body and then gave him an aid, but he simply couldn't. He had to maintain his role as a shogun to his subordinate and mostly, to his own father.

"Good, then. What information that you have retrieved?" Ieyasu grinned wickedly toward Sasuke though he couldn't see it.

"I'm sorry your highness, but he didn't want to say anything."

"Have you used the harsh way?"

"Yes, your highness."

"Then he won't make any use for us anymore. Finish him."

"As you wish, your highness."

Then one of them drew his sword and ready to behead him. Sasuke kept silence but somehow a curved was applied on his face. At least he would die a quick death. He closed his eyes slowly and breathed heavily. If there's one thing that he should regret this time, it was he wasn't death by Yukimura's side and how he had disappointed him on their very last meeting. Yukimura's face was appearing faintly on his subconscious mind. His silky hair, his emerald eyes with a seducing sight, his lean cheek and his smile. Many people said that Yukimura was famous with his sly but beautiful smile and Sasuke couldn't agree anymore. Further more, not only that beautiful smile that he adored the most, but also his voice and the taste of it. His soft voice, even though it was always smelled like sake that he hated the most, was always made his nape stood up when he heard it. His body reacted in a pleasurable way everytime Yukimura called his name, moreover when he did that very close to his ear. It was demanding and thrilling in such a weird way. And the taste, it was very soft and somehow ravishing. Sasuke always wanted to taste it more and more everytime their lips connected. But it was all over now. He couldn't even see him, hear him, touch him or even smell him at the end of his life. Not only that, but he had lied to him and betrayed his trust. Sad. It was simply sad when you're dead and you had hurt your beloved one without given a chance to say sorry.

The blade swung down and then…

"Stop it, soldier!"

"Huh?" the blade stopped right before it severed Sasuke's head from his neck. The executor was looking at Hidetada in confusion, the one who ordered him to stop. Sasuke startled and then with his remaining strength he opened his eyes and looked up at him.

"What are you doing, Hidetada?!" his father glared at him with anger.

"He is going to die anyway, thanks to those severe wounds. It's no use to finish someone who will die anyway. Let him enjoy his last as he wanted to."

"But, Hidetada-sama—"

"No more complains. Get away from here. You too Iga ninjas. Return to your patrolling position!" Tora glared at them seriously and actually it was scary. So they preferred to do it without any complains. The ninjas also disappeared into the darkness without any noise.

"Hidetada, you're not intended to release him, or are you?" his father kept his glaring locked to him and his hand reached his blade on his waist.

"No, I'm not father. I promise that by the name of my uncle, Torii."

"Hmph. What a stupid kid. Be careful with your choice. Because if you release him I swear on your grandfather's grave that I will kill you by my own hand." Ieyasu locked the blade but still glaring at him.

"Yes, I will, father. Now if you please, I'd like to accompany him when he breathed his last." Tora smiled gently while staring at Sasuke's faint eyes.

"Whatever, Hidetada. Whatever. Just remember my words." His tone was somehow threatening but Tora didn't care. Then Ieyasu turned his back and then in a flash he merged into the darkness. Afterall he was the great Hattori Hanzo.

Then Sasuke and Tora fell into a deep silent. Only a sound of the wind that shook the branches could be heard from that area. Insects were chirping somewhere and you could still hear the toad's noisy sound from far away. The cool breeze once again flown through the both of them but neither of them was saying something. They were only staring at each other. Sasuke from his seat position and panting a bit, trying his best not to pass away yet, meanwhile Tora was standing in the front of him.

"Yo, little midget. Long time no see." Tora broke away the iceberg between them.

"Bakatora… I'm already 23, and I'm not a midget anymore."

"Yes, yes, Sasuke… How are you? Doing well?"

"I'm about to die soon and you still asking me if I was doing well?"

"Don't say like that Sasuke… Well, anyway, I see that you've grown into such a man. I mean, look at your face. Damn, you have such a cute and adorable face! You could make every woman falling for you easily, don't you know?" Tora grinned to him mockingly. His carefree character hadn't wane even a bit though he had, or rather, must became a cold-blooded emperor.

"Sigh… Can't anyone stop calling me cute?" somehow he smiled noticing that Tora hadn't changed even a bit. Tora did not answer him, but instead he walked closer to him and then took a seat beside him.

"Sasuke…?"

"What…?"

"Yukimura… Was he the one who sent you here?"

"Yes… Why?"

"Why didn't you refuse him? You knew that the risk was too high, didn't you?"

"How could I? I'm one of the brave ten; I must do what Yukimura wanted me to do." Sasuke lied to him. It was obviously not Yukimura's will to send him alone, as we had already known.

"Including suicide?"

"What?! No, Yuki—" his words were stopped by his own cough. He covered his mouth with his palm then his body was falling faintly. Tora immediately held his body with his hand and braced him to his side. Tora knew that Sasuke didn't have much time left, and somehow he felt disgusted with himself. He couldn't do anything when his friend was dying like this. He wanted to help, released him, took him back to Yukimura, or at least took care of his wounds. But he couldn't, the stupid shogun position that he held had prevented him from doing so. He had chosen his way, and he couldn't step back or betray it. Because if he helped Sasuke, even for a bit, his father would consider him as a traitor and he would kill him with his own hand. But Tora wouldn't care about it if only he hadn't had his promise to bring peace upon this world as a shogun.

"To… Tora…" Sasuke spoke very slowly; his consciousness was starting to fade away.

"What, Sasuke…?" Tora could not hold his tears when it rolled down to his cheek. Sasuke was always his best friend, though he never admitted it yet, and he didn't want him to die. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. If he could, he wanted to brace them, Sasuke and Yukimura, in one so that a circumstance like this would never have to happen. But he couldn't, Yukimura did not want to reach a peace agreement whatever he had offered him in return. So this fate was inescapable for them all, including Sasuke.

"Promise me… Promise me that you won't kill Yukimura…" Tora startled and then after thought quickly he replied.

""I… I'm afraid I can't promise that, Sasuke…"

"Please, Tora… This is my last wish… You don't know how much I love him…"

"Sasuke…"

"Please…" his voice was starting to tremble and Tora couldn't stand it. He could not guarantee that he wouldn't kill Yukimura; afterall he was the major threat to his emperor and must be eliminated, no matter what. But at least, he could do something to somehow fulfill his wish.

"I can't promise you that my father, my man, or my servant won't kill Yukimura. But I promise you that I won't ever kill him by my own hand, even if I have defeated him and he asked for it by himself." Sasuke was a somehow felt a little relieved with that answer, though it wasn't exactly like the way he wanted to be. Yukimura's death was the last thing that he ever wanted to see, even beyond his own death.

"Thanks, Tora…" he smiled and then faintly he rested his head on Tora's shoulder.

"You're welcome…" Tora tighten his brace on Sasuke and his hand patted Sasuke's head. "You know, Sasuke… You'll always be my best friend…"

"Thanks… And you're also my best friend, though I never admitted it yet until now…" somehow Tora could still hear Sasuke's faint chuckle and it made him relieved. At least he would go with a smile on his face.

Then they both went into a deep silence, waiting for the death reaper to take Sasuke away from this world when his conciousness gone…

"Sasuke!" Sasuke startled and opened his eyes again. He knew this sound… But may be it was his silly imagination that made him hear that voice again, so he closed his eyes again.

"Yukimura…? How could you…? Ah, never mind…" hearing Tora's words, once again he opened his eyes. Yukimura… Yukimura was here…?