"Purgatory" is going to be a long one, spanning possibly up to 10+ chapters. It will focus on Madara, Izuna, Kagome and Sasuke; however, it's nothing like a harem story if that's what you're expecting!

Disclaimer: I suppose since these are required, I must say, "I do not own anything of this fic but the idea!"

xl — purgatory

She laughed, the sound euphonious as it echoed in his keen ears. Her raven locks flew wildly behind her as she ran, her small hand firm around his as she led him along the roadless path. They were crossing an open field of sunflowers with impressive speed, the sun shining down on them in mellow grace. Billowing after her was the fabric of her opulent clothing, the delicate material fluttering in the air from her unreserved movements.

We're almost there, try not to fall behind now!

He nodded though she couldn't see, and a smile spread across his lips as he refrained from reminding her just which of them was the actual quick-footed shinobi here.

Never before in his lifetime could he recall a time when he had felt so elated and carefree as now. This woman, she was his everything, and he would doubtless give all of himself to her, and for her, as well. When they stopped at the middle of the field the two of them both bent over to catch their breaths. His mouth produced sentences on its own accord, and he found himself chiding this female on how whimsical of a woman she truly was, dragging him out for spontaneous sight-seeing in the middle of the afternoon. Yet, if possible, he did so with affection. In flippant response she waved him off with a hand, before tilting her head upward to stick her tongue out past her lips at him.

What's wrong with a little craziness now and then? I'm sick of always being stuck in that dark place, she whined, the gems that were her eyes gleaming with adamancy, challenging him to prove her wrong.

Instead of doing so he chuckled, and tackled her to the ground with his arms encasing her thin form. She shrieked and squealed, fighting against his steadfast hold as she wriggled under the shrouding leaves of sunflower stalks, eventually giving up and giggling with unfettered joy as he pampered her face with chaste kisses.

Their mouths soon met in a direct, passionate kiss. When she pulled away with her lashes lowered coyly over her eyes and an appealing pink hue tinting her cheeks, his breath hitched in his throat; just as it had many, many times before. Each and every time he saw her like this, she was even more beautiful than the last. Yes, she was his everything, nothing could go against that fact, nor would anything change it.

I love you, Izuna, she whispered as her hand gently caressed the side of his face. I will always, forever, through all of time.

Izuna? His name was not—

…

…

…

"Sasuke," followed by a single, sharp knock.

Said seventeen-year-old boy awoke in his bed with a start, his arm flying automatically to shield his eyes from the rays creeping in through an unobstructed window.

The incessant rapping on the other side of his bedroom door continued. "Sasuke, get up. Ojii-sama will be arriving from the airport soon. This is the last time I will—"

"I'm up, I'm up!" Sasuke snarled, irritated and groggy as he shot forward to an upright position on his mattress. "Stop with the knocking already, it's giving me a damn migraine!"

"Wash yourself, get dressed, and make sure to be present in the living room within the next fifteen minutes," responded the male coolly from the other side, unfazed by his aggressive tone. Sasuke then heard the placid steps of his older brother proceeding back down the hallway, thankfully leaving him alone.

He covered his face with his hands, already feeling the mounting influx of an oncoming headache. "I'll kill you one day, Itachi," he groaned. This was not the type of morning he needed after having experienced another one of those strange, insane dreams. They were peculiar in that they were recurrent; in fact, these past few days they had been badgering him in his slumber way more often than usual. The unnamed woman with long raven hair and uniquely colored eyes would constantly invade his actual legitimate dreams, skewing them to the point where she was leading him across that field of sunflowers and teasing him with her gaze and good-natured remarks—again.

Not that those dreams were horribly unpleasant while he dreamt them, though it weren't as if he had a choice in the matter. After all, it were as if he wasn't even himself, when in the lucid visions he was himself, and the himself that was not himself was always feeling so giddy and so damn happy to the point where he, Sasuke, got dream-butterflies in his stomach. Did that… make sense…?

"SASUKE!" This time it was his disciplinarian father, howling from the kitchen downstairs.

He swore under his breath, cursing the imaginary woman who kept infiltrating his dreams at night and making him restless.

Dreaming men are haunted men.

—Stephen Vincent Benet

Author's Note: This was actually supposed to be an independent drabble story before I even had Reverie up under my account. That's why it'll be a bit lengthy, with a decent plot. Yes, Sasuke and Itachi (and any other recognizable characters that are to appear) are living in the modern time. Yes, shinobi's exist—err, they did. You'll see as you read along.

7 Cardinal Sins Suggestions Corner:

1) Namikaze Minato (as requested by AnimeFreakAmanda)

2) Suigetsu (as requested by Thyme Spirit)

3) Kakashi (as requested by darksilvercloud & Speedykitten1643)

4) Itachi (as requested by an anonymous reader)

5-7) Open slots, feel free to request!