Ah damn 6,000 words. Couldn't help myself but I'm getting itchy to write some SasuNaru too... xD
For the meetings of Naruto and Sasuke, the prologue was when they met. :) And this is a SasuNaru fanfic, who could Sasuke be talking about? Hm. I wonderrrr....
YangFu: adoptive father
Fei Zi: Huang Tai Zi's wife
Font skills: Don't know any other way to translate it. Writing and art works are a very huge part of the royals' life. To be an virtuoso at writing fonts takes years of hard work and own style.
Huang Xiong: older brother's addressing between princes
Naruto don't remember when he reached home. He doesn't know why when Iruka tried to cheer him up with his favorite dish of fried pork stir fry the meal that he loved tasted tasteless and bland. He doesn't know how he can ignore all the worry glances Iruka shot him. He doesn't want to think, yet that truth is slapped in his face, and the aftereffect was just cold and numb.
Sakura is marrying Sasuke. And she is never going to look back.
It's knot in his throat. All of that emotion mixed together. Disappointment, anger, envy, lost, and most of all, sad.
Disappointed that he could not even have a chance to say what he wanted to say. Angry that it was taken away by the man he loathed more than anything right now, Uchia Sasuke. Envy of the fact she will indeed be his bride. Lost to not even know what could be done. Sorrow that the final thing he wanted to do and the woman he loved is solidly now, will never be his.
The moonlight was dim through his window. He had used all his strength from breaking down and cry in front of Iruka and Kakashi, and couldn't make a sound if a question is asked. He choked in his tears, stuff it inside himself. He cannot shout or cry or kick around like a child, cannot have comfort or show his anger. This was related to the Huang Tai Zi. The arrogant, repulsive Huang Tai Zi. Naruto shut his eyes, trying to push away all the thoughts, make him blank. No use.
He felt a sudden gentle tap on his shoulder. Kakashi was right by his bed while Iruka slept. The man was smiling.
"You okay squirt?" Kakashi asked.
Naruto couldn't find his voice, but he forced himself to make a sound. "Yes." He's surprised by how unfamiliar the voice was, cracked and rough and saddened.
Kakashi didn't say anything in response, but studied Naruto's face carefully, as if trying to search for something. In moments, he sighed and smiled, his shoulders slouched.
"You're not a squirt anymore, aren't you?" His grey eyes seemed a mixture of relief and bitterness.
Naruto shook his head, and felt a curve reach up his lips. He couldn't help it.
Kakashi reached out his hand and ruffled the blond boy's messy hair playfully. "You're grown, 16 and everything. Me and Iruka are not going to chase you around asking what's wrong like you're 3, but if you want to talk about something, we're always here." His voice was light. Naruto bit his lips and nodded.
"He might not look it, but he's really worried. Just didn't want to show it to make you feel that he's naggy, I guess." Kakashi's thumb pointed to Iruka's sleeping figure, who is slightly snoring. Naruto's eyes wandered to Iruka, and this time mouthed "Okay".
"And one last thing," Kakashi stood up. "Cry is not weak. It is one of the huge mistaken message humans made. Cry is merely show of emotion, like when you're mad you yell and scream. If you want to cry, always cry."
He turned. Naruto shuddered and try to even out his breathing but his nose is sour and he felt something running to his eyes. He pushed open the door and rushed outside, looking up to the sky and staring at the moonlight. The wind flickered the leaves ruffling noise, the cicadas sang, as if mocking him.
If a child were to fell and no one was around, he would take in his tears and stand up. If another one was to comfort him and ask what's wrong, he will break down and cry for the pain.
Naruto could not longer hold it in. The sorrow washed out like a broken dam. Kakashi said it was not weak, yet he felt smaller than everything in the world, crying for the second time in two days. He felt useless compared to the Huang Tai Zi. So pathetic, so cheap, so feeble, so ugly, so nothing. Again his only chance was thrown away. Again he could not even say what he wanted to say. Naruto doesn't even need his feelings to be returned anymore, for he know enough that it's impossible. All he needed was his feelings being said. Such a pitiful request. Yet he could not even have that. Yet that man had to take that away, too.
They all say the world is unfair. They all say we all live within it. Only now can the boy feel the truth of these words, and how much it stung, and tore pieces of him apart.
He cried. He cried with the deepest sorrow and wrath. He cried and screamed and his knees dropped to the hard mud. Everything hurts.
He could only hear his screams. Only see this darkness and felt his consciousness devoured. Every tear that came out of him apart of his heart is lost. Every scream that he yelled for a piece of his soul is torn. Only the dim moonlight and the emptiness of the night responded to him. His fingers dig into the hard mud, scorching with pain. Every second he is more determined. He needs to say it all, no matter if it costs his life or --
He felt his shoulder gripped. He turned around, his blue eyes filled with tears and all he sees is a blurred image of Iruka. The next second, he is thrown into a tight, warm hug.
"It will be alright." Iruka's voice was soft and gentle, like those blue feathers under Naruto's bed, his signs of happiness. The boy's screams and anger faded within the embrace and broke into sobs and whimpers. "Everything will be alright." Iruka's voice became more firm and strong with belief, so much so that Naruto almost believed him.
How he wanted to believe him.
His voice croaked and cracked. The warmth drove away those clouds and darkness in his head, and thus he felt like he can breath again. Feel like he's sane.
He dig his head into Iruka's shoulder, tears still dripping. Just flowing and flowing out of him. He remembers. He remembers Sakura's smile and her hands. He remembers her rare but special comforts and the usual pats on the head. He remembers her music and her drawings, her poems and her dreams. He remembers all to vividly, all the reasons he loved her, like scar burned onto his soul.
All of that becomes his tears and one thing he must do.
* * *
The next morning in the household of the Hyuuga's, an rather unpleasant news was bought to the common room where the Hyuugas gathered. And this news is especially ill to some individuals, like Neji.
"Outrageous!" The young man with long black hair slammed his hand on the table and it shook all the cups and tea. "The Huang Tai Zi must be out of his righteous mind!" Neji's voice roared through the gigantic room. Hinata bit her lips in union.
"Silence those words, Neji!" Hiashi Hyuuga, father of Hinata and currently the head of the Hyuugas, hushed Neji in a hurried manner. "Ears are listening everywhere. We must refrain from such comments."
"Yes, YangFu, I understand." Neji said. "But what a scandal! The second son of the royal family marrying a prostitute?! Disgraceful!" He could not help himself to speak such words, but did keep his voice lower as he said the last word.
"We're all just as shamed as you're, Neji." The Elder of the Hyuuga spoke with patience. "But such status of that lowly woman is updated. From the grapevine we have heard that she is adopted to the Haruno family."
A swirl of shock and chatters went across from the room. Men shook their head and the women hide their mouth with their gauze cloth(as an act of shock in the old times).
"The Harunos?" Hanabi, little sister of Hinata spoke up. "The one that lost their child at birth?"
"Yes. 17 years ago, to be precise, so the date does fit in. But details such as gender and date of birth could be easily changed." One of the men spoke up. "They only too eager, of course. Now they're closer to the royal family than ever, having a daughter marrying the Huang Tai Zi.... Lucked out, they did."
"The Emperor himself had really no choice but approve of this. He may not show it, but he does adore his sons..." The Elder spoke. "And of course, we would need to make extra good relations to the Harunos now. Hinata," The Elder appointed her name. Hinata sat up straighter in a startle. "We would need extra good relations to the Harunos now. Though, proudly said, the our family has never made an enemy yet. Considering that girl is around your age, befriend her and be on good terms of her." Hinata nodded docilely; the Elder seemed to approve. "But we should not linger on this marriage so much so as the idea of it, rather we could think and ponder on the idea of the adoption.... Such tactics, such skills to think of something so very flawless and beneficial... I do not doubt the intelligence of the Huang Tai Zi, but in no way he would know of the Haruno's history... Whomever advise him with this plan is the one we shall fear for."
Silence spread the room.
The Elder adjourned the family meeting on this note for all of them to consider on this and next time to give their thoughts. Neji and Hinata's gazes met. They nodded to each other, and left the room, knowing what to do next.
* * *
They reached the brothel quickly, and to no one's surprise they saw the giant red flower hanging from a window -- the sign of a proposed marriage. Neji shook his head disapprovingly, but more he is to worry about the ones that fancied that Sakura, Lee and Naruto.
Hinata eyes darted around, looking for the green skin tight clothes and the flashy teeth smile she knew so well, and that ray of sunshine to her own life. She blushed on the thought but continued to look around. She was forbidden to enter the brothel, Neji had insisted that. The air will taint her aura, he says.
"I will have to go inside and check." Neji told her with most grim expression. "Please guard yourself, Lady Hinata. Do not hesitate to fight if for protection."
Hinata nodded, "Yes, Neji gege."
Neji turned and stride inside the brothel walking tall and straight. Hinata watched his back and cracked a little smile. Always Lady Hinata, but since childhood she always called him "gege". He is probably to stubborn to change how to address her, after all, so she did not bring up such things.
Hinata ceased all the wrinkles on her pure white dress, sewed with the delicate patterns of chrysanthemum, bright yellow and orange. She picked a flower shaped clip on her hair today, and applied a little bit of blush and lip paint(there was no lipstick back then). She knew that Sakura used make up very often, and ever since she knew that she has been walking around trying to pick out something that will suit her. It was foolish and a feeble thought, but she wondered if Naruto would notice.
She felt her own heart quicken a beat.
Just as Naruto's childhood love has always been Sakura, her very own was him. Whether it was his blazing smile of cheerfulness or his sunshine of personality that attracted her, she didn't exactly know. All she's ever sure of is that the day he had gave out his hand to her, calling her name all those years ago, she knew her love was for this boy. An woman's instinct, perhaps. And she was right when she made the choice. Neji gege wasn't very pleased to hear that, after all, Naruto is but a peasant. In time though he had grow to accept the fact, and perhaps approve of it. Neji was the only other person then her father that Hinata would try hard for. Her revere for them was endless and since birth.
What had she felt when she heard the news of that marriage?
She chewed on her lip. Foremost was the draught and sadness for Lee and Naruto, though she knew that Lee would move on quite easier than Naruto. It was like a stone in her throat. She could imagine seeing him today, head down and gray with sad eyes. This will be huge burden on to him, after all those years of loving Sakura. But in her guilt and humiliation, she could not help but recognize that sprinkle of triumph filling up her heart.
What shame she felt! How could she feel happy at such a marriage when it hurts her friends and most of all her beloved one? Yet thinking about it, how Sakura will forever be out of sight now, maybe, just maybe, Naruto will look at her, not as a shy girl who stutters but someone beautiful, just like he views Sakura.
Hinata shook her head all in the while to shook off such thoughts and feeling. Foolish to think of such thing.
Just then from the side of her eyes some men staring at her, in an sickening way. Their chuckles and expression was filled with such disgusting lust. She held her sleeves tight, ready to punch them out if they approach any closer --
"Hinata!"
The same bright voice that can bring her happiness. She looked up and there Naruto was, running towards her, wearing a sun colored robe, matching to his hair. She couldn't help but smile, and happy that he did not look so sad, though the puffiness around his eyes could not be ignored.
"Good morning, Naruto-san." She said politely, bowing her head a little.
"Good morning!" His voice was booming, as usual. A good sign. "Where did Neji go?" Naruto looked around.
"He went to find Lee-san." Hinata's voice soft and studied Naruto's face. There were signs of tears, though he probably tried to wash it off, his eyes were still red.
"Hope Lee is going to be alright." Naruto heaved a sigh. Hinata nodded in agreement. "I guess we will just have to wait for them here."
Silence stretched. As usual when she talked to Naruto, there was just this awkward sort of space. Perhaps it's because she's so quiet, or Naruto just didn't know what to say. The boy scratched his head, trying to think of a conversation. His gaze went up to Hinata's flustered face, and his opened his mouth:
"Hinata, your make-up---"
He didn't get to finish his sentence. Neji was storming out the brothel with bunch of girls moaning behind him, came after was Lee trying not to laugh, though his mood didn't seem a lot better.
"Neji! Lee!" Naruto waved in delight.
"Get your dirty hands off of me--" Neji said with frustration, pushing off women's hands and arms, who were all whining and with overly thick makeup. Naruto couldn't help but start laughing. It was only sensible, though, to see all the women hanging on to Neji. He was one of the most richest and not to say respected family in the country Huo. Also he was known to be quite handsome, not untrue at all with his long and silky black hair, strong jaw set and pale skin.
"I need to be out of this damned place right now." Neji said in a rather strained voice, Naruto almost choked on the profane language from someone so rigid like Neji. Hinata blushed a deeper shade, and Lee merely sighed, meaning unknown.
"We can go to the new teahouse." Lee suggested with not much energy, but still at least a bit cheerier. "It's just around the corner, and I have gotten permission to leave."
"So Neji didn't just drag you out after all!" Naruto claimed. Neji shot a dirty look.
The groupie made their way to the teahouse without much talking, other then the grumblings of Naruto about wanting to eat some sweets. The new teahouse was a rather small place with few customers, but it was cozy and all the shades are up, making it bright and warm inside. The manager, an old man along with his wife, smiled welcomingly as they came in. Neji asked for a more private place, and the man urge them inside to the backyard of the teahouse.
They settle themselves down on the bamboo chairs set on the grass beneath a huge tree, and the old women bought them fresh picked green tea.
"Yi Ming, 谊茗." Neji spoke the teahouse's name. "Quite poetic."
"What does it even mean?" Naruto asked as he tried to sip some tea but burned his tongue, gagging.
"Ignorant on literature, aren't you?" Neji shook his head.
"Well what does it mean then? Huh?" Naruto pushed on with small impatience.
"Yi 谊, for relationship of friends. Ming 茗, for freshly brewed tea." Hinata gave herself the courage to speak up, if not quietly. "If put together, it means to connect with each other through this teahouse. It's quite a pretty name..." She finished to a silence, blushing more than ever. Neji had a strange expression of approval and annoyance.
"I didn't get half of that, but you're pretty smart Hinata." Naruto smiled. "And this tea is good."
"Quite agreed." Lee nodded along. All of them carefully chose their words, trying not to step on the bomb.
"Let's get to topic." Neji slammed his tea cup on to the bamboo table. "Uchia Sasuke and Sakura's marriage." He paused. Naruto winced at the name and Lee chewed on his lips "Sakura Haruno now." He added with dismay.
"Haruno?" Lee questioned, suddenly raising his head.. "Sakura never had a last name." And he was sure of it.
"She's now adopted into the household of Haruno, so that the Emperor will approve of the marriage." Neji put it simply and straightforward. "There is no stopping it now."
Hinata felt a lump in her throat as she watched Naruto's face turn dark. She looked down to her sweating hands, avoiding any eye contacts. How selfish she was to feel happy when others are in such pain. She can feel the tension spreading, the dreadful silence. The sun suddenly seemed not warm but burning on her skin. All the sounds was Lee's constants sniffles and sighs and the birds chirping of joy, as if mocking.
"Neji."
She looked up, and Naruto held his head high, looking straight into Neji's eyes.
"I need to go to the grand palace and talk to her."
Every word was spoken slowly and clearly, and Naruto's eyes have never shone more bright.
"If you value your life, shun that idea out of your head for the rest of your life." Neji said irritably, shutting his eyes.
"I know what the consequence will be. I understand what's at stake, Neji."
After a pause of dreadful silence, Neji spoke again, more carefully now.
"If it were just to sneak in to the palace, it wouldn't be that dangerous of a thing. But to talk to the to-be Tai Zi Fei? Especially with the type of relationship you had with her, and the connection you have with the Tai Zi..."
"He wouldn't bother to have pauper like me in his precious memories, and you know that too." Naruto said with such firm voice that it almost sounded sarcastic. Every word stung.
"You're insane." Neji concluded shortly with not much empathy. "You will regret it. The guards are heavy loaded in the palace, it's more than likely that you will get caught. You may even be crippled from the punishments they can give and regret it for the rest of your life." As for that Neji is saying the blatant truth. Whips and chains of beating was the most common for punishments everywhere, even for minor crimes.
"I am not a weakling. Physical pain means nothing to me. What I will regret forever and on when I die is if I never tell her my feelings." His voice shook just slightly. "I loved her all my life, Neji. I will never be able to look forward if I don't do what I need in the present sense." He paused. "It will be a burden to me all my life if I don't." This time his voice had became light and quiet, but he showed no sign of tears or change of spirit. Lee stared into Naruto's eyes, as if searching for something. That same longing.
Hinata is reminded again, then, why she had love him. Everything about Naruto was firm and strong and he always held on to his own thoughts and opinions. Everything about him inspired her, made her feel not feeble, but wanting to be better, to have the best qualities of herself achieved. Such a love not only nourish the heart, but the soul too, for your love ones with their actions independent from you can encourage you too. Watching him made her feel strong.
Even with that strung of pain in Hinata's heart when he said he loved Sakura, she smiled, with her whole heart.
"I see no point, still." Neji turned his face away, his voice still cold. "Your feelings... it won't be accepted anyways." He ended curtly, trying to dodge the words but couldn't. He sees from the side of his eyes that Naruto's gaze looked downwards, but his face remained stone, even if somewhat saddened.
"When you don't like something, say it, it will bring you relief." He said, quietly. "Sometimes with you're clearly told you're hated, that would bring some kind of relief, too."
Another silence crept in, this time more for thoughts than shock. All carried their own worries and burdens, what is unsaid perhaps is what should be listened to.
"Neji gege, Naruto has to go." Hinata spoke up. Neji looked at her with disbelief.
"Do not be ridiculous." Neji shook his head. "You're not in this."
"I have every right to be in this as you're. I am his friend, too." She held her head high and her voice steady. "A friend must have their honor to help, like our own family's honor." She can feel her palm sweating, talking back to Neji perhaps for the first time. Always the quiet and obedient one, always the one that went with everything.
He makes her strong.
Naruto looked to her grateful eyes. A surge of pride swarmed in her heart, making everything feel warm, even Neji's cold glances.
"Neji gege." Hinata urged on, this time pleading. "Please."
Neji opened his mouth as if to speak, but shut it tightly, his lips thin and pale.
"I will help you, Naruto." Lee nodded towards Naruto.
"You mustn't. Granny Tsunade will be upset, and I don't want anything happening to you." Naruto shook his head. Lee cracked a sad smile.
"I am no longer under the care of Lady Tsunade." His voice was dim. "I have moved to join the military as a soldier." Hinata's mouth opened in surprise, and even Neji looked up. "Tsunade wanted me to. Nowadays everything is at peace, the soldiers won't have very dangerous work and she said she welcomes me to visit anytime."
"Lee....." Naruto's eyes shimmered. "You..."
"I have no more reasons to stay there, if other than repay for Lady Tsunade's kindness. She said to go, though." Lee spoke. "Her old war veteran General Guy agrees to take me in. This way we can walk together outside the palace without much suspicions."
"Lee, thank you." Naruto said.
"Do not, since I ask for a favor too." Naruto sat up straight and listened. Lee smiled again, with more energy this time. "Please tell her my feelings, along with yours, too."
As if something fragile and important is passed into his hands, Naruto clamped them together and nodded sincerely.
"I will, with the stake of my life." He stood up now. "We will have to plan it a little, I can meet you tomorrow. I promised I will go back for lunch to Iruka-niang." He nodded to Lee and Hinata with a smile, looked to Neji one more time, shut his eyes, and walked on.
"....You have to do it tomorrow."
The voice almost made Naruto jump a little. He turned around just to make sure he heard the same cold tone from Neji.
"What?" He asked, dumbfolded.
"I said, you swine," Neji snorted irritably. "You might as do it tomorrow. On the way here I heard people gossiping, the wedding is in five days. The Harunos apparently wanted it done soon. Tomorrow they will be busy preparing with all the guards, so the defense will be weak." Naruto turned around all the way now, gripping to every single word Neji had just said. "The western wall is the place with usually few people. Better to go through there. Come to the teahouse early tomorrow morning and I will give you a map." He finished stiffly.
Hinata smiled widely and Lee too, nodding along. Naruto kept his head down, strode towards Neji, and gave him a headlock and a punch. Neji looked at him with the utter most disgust. Naruto cracked up.
"Ahahahahaha!" He laughed at Neji's shoulder, a tear escaping from his eyes. Not a tear of sadness but of joy. "You should really see your face right now, Neji." Lee started laughing too, Hinata gave a constant of giggles. Neji pushed Naruto off of him, flustered.
"Always the one that speaks last, you stubborn fool." Naruto's laugher rang on to a silence and sighed in relief, as if a knot is untied.
"Who are you calling a fool?" Neji wipes his robe and ceased the wrinkles, his voice with contempt, yet Naruto knows he means well.
"Thank you, Neji." Naruto sat on the floor, cross legged, and smiled the truest of smile, that usual warmth and sunshine, brightening up anyone's day.
And there he knows whatever happens, it will be alright.
* * *
Sasuke Uchia sat in his study room with the natural grace and elegance all aristocracies obtained in their lives. His brush gently whisked over the plain white paper, the dark ink making black prints of letterings. He is writing a documentary, for memories to keep and own entertainment along the side to work on his font skills. He moved his brush skillfully as he is very experienced, learning these arts from a young age. Sasuke's face remained still like untouched water, his delicate features made him impossibly beautiful and polished, like perfect ceramic dolls. Even the dullness under his eyes can only add to the mysterious qualities that attracts so many.
Itachi pushed open the door silently. Unlike last time he had found Sasuke, his little brother is in composure, and perhaps calmer and prepared for his questionings. The elder brother stood before the desk in which Sasuke worked, and lean forward to see what he has written.
"Ah, I see improvements, Sasuke." He spoke slowly and gently. Even from afar you can see how much the brothers resembled of each other, same silhouette and same type of body, slender but muscular. Yet how different the aura they gave off. Itachi was the one that seem to give a comforting aroma, and Sasuke gave chills to whom ever he looked to. Perhaps there should be many, many more woman would look toward Itachi, but the whole world knows how the older brother don't take interest in woman, or love in general.
"Coming from you I expect no lies, First Class Master." Sasuke voice was flat, his eyes still and continued writing briefly, the cloth of his sleeves making noises.
"Of course," Itachi nodded. "But rather than practicing your font skills, Sasuke, shouldn't you attend to your to-be Fei Zi?"
"She has enough events on her schedule, with the dress fitting and everything." Sasuke dipped for some more ink.
"Father approved." Itachi said simply, sitting himself down in a chair. "You should be joyed."
"I am." Sasuke said nonchalantly. Itachi stared at him long and hard.
"You have mastered the skills of fonts, yet you're only missing one thing to be come a First Class Master." Itachi said finally, with an unnaturally quiet voice.
"What would that be?" Sasuke said with a slight interest, yet still not looking up from his paper.
"You lack feelings in your work." Itachi said. "That lacking makes your writing of bore, though the font is skilled but it still looks trite."
"I don't need such foolish things." Sasuke said, his voice still flat. "If that's what is takes to be a First Class Master, I may forbid that chance just forever."
A silence stretched its way. Itachi seem to be staring at nothing, and Sasuke never stopped from writing feverishly through.
"You hurried the marriage. For what? To cover yourself up? To face nothing?" Itachi finally cut in with no reading between the lines.
"You speak nonsense." Sasuke put simply.
"Your actions are what's nonsense." Itachi snapped. "You go to the brothel ever since the first time you visited there, as so the reason is 'to see that girl' when you could have bought her whenever you wanted, perhaps the first time you laid your eyes on her. Everytime you go your attention is not on her, she doesn't notice, you don't care. All those years you went was not for her. You married her right now which is early for your age, when you could have simply bought from the brothel and wait for a while so father could be pleased and she could be too. You never wanted her. You wanted something else, that she is related to. You go the brothel not to see her. You married her only because you have given up hope on whatever you wanted, and just want to run away!"
His voice rose towards the end. Sasuke messed up on one of the strokes and made a smear; his eyebrows rose to a knot. He crumpled up the paper and shut his eyes.
"You make your own accusations. Fine with me. But what is done is already done." His voice was soft but firm.
"Then answer me like a man you say you're then. Do you love that woman?"
The question hung on to the air, and held in a breath for a reply.
Sasuke moved his lips.
"No."
"No. No." Itachi repeated the word as if it's something more than it is. "No. You say no. You marry a woman you don't love. I know I have promptly infuriate you last time on purpose, but nothing would change your mind unless you wanted to do by your own will. You didn't have to do this, Sasuke."
"What's done is done." Sasuke replied slowly. "Besides, I have already in a way proposed to her by life."
"What way would that be?" Itachi's eyebrows ran up his forehead.
"I left her my jade." Sasuke said matter-of-fact tone of voice, while his older brother's pupils grew smaller and stood up.
"You gave her your jade?" Itachi's voice was dangerously quiet. "Your affinity jade?"
"Correction, I left her my jade." Sasuke said. "Yes, my affinity jade."
"You're being outrageously pathetic." Itachi sat down again, sighing. "That jade is made for you at birth of the highest quality of work. It's meant for true love, not a woman you don't give a damn about." His tone was rather harsh. Sasuke simply snorted.
"Do you honestly believe in those useless things of fates and affinities?" Sasuke's smile was rather twisted. "Little children's game, Huang Xiong."
"No. You're simply blinded." Itachi shook his head with frustration. "Heaven will help that jade to find its way."
"I left it under her mattress. There's no other man visiting her. Who else could have take it? Heaven can't do nothing, fate is but a lie." Sasuke turned his head.
Itachi seems to be deep in thought and Sasuke merely looked outside the window, seemingly a bit bored. He sighed and tossed the bundle of paper around. Rays of sunlight shot into the room on to Sasuke's face, making him look divine beautiful with the shine. Yet at the same time it almost seemed out of place, like sunshine was never meant to be him, like darkness is what he long lived in and can only be that way.
"I don't even know anymore." Itachi heaved a sigh, as if fatigued. "Only you could answer the question. What can save you, Sasuke? What brings your happiness?"
Sasuke laughed cruelly again, icily cold, but insulting to Itachi but perhaps mocking himself.
"You want to hear it, Huang Xiong?" His voice trembled just slightly. Itachi stared at him.
"What can save me." Sasuke spoke. "Is something like the gold light of sun, warming and welcoming. Something that has the sky's vastness and clear blue, joy and wonderous. Something that can smile with real sincere and mean it with their whole heart. Something that would not see me for a damn title that I'm burned on with. Something that is untainted by vanity and mundane, pure and unclouded. Something so bright that it can lighten up even the dirtiest things like me, and would welcome me in their arms."
His eyes, though he didn't know it, looked to the things outside the window with a longing he had always wanted to kept to his own. Yet it seemed the only time it could be spilled. The only time before he close out everything, his only connection to the person will be demolished. He probably hates him now for taking Sakura away.
Sasuke's lips turned to a saddened and bittered smile. Itachi said no more. The elder brother stood and walked towards the entrance.
"Sounds like to me," He stopped by the door. "That you know perfectly well what you desire. What you say maybe impossible, but perhaps if something, or someone like that truly existed and you do care, why letting it go?"
And at that Itachi walked out and shut the door quietly, the wood creaked.
"I told you, didn't I." Sasuke's voice was like a whisper. "It's the end. And far too late."
Okay. Okay. Now all of that is out of the way, IT'S SOON. SASUNARU PART IS SOON.