Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, or any of its associated characters!
Summary: Sasuke has spent three years trying to figure out how to live on his own. Maybe it's time to try something different. WIP. Future SNS, updates once a month. Canonverse. Rating may change!
A/N: You're going to get a few today. Stay tuned...
Two is a Crowd
Chapter 10: if not a part of you (day three)
They both stalled, the next day. Dragged their steps to the water and the mist—Sasuke's flame burned hotter, and he grieved the absence of moisture for the brief, decadent time he was allowed it.
It had only just started to keep his mind from wandering.
When he opened his eyes, it was with a sigh. The other part of him was simply sitting there—on the rock where Sasuke had left him. As if he had never moved at all.
He didn't even turn to greet him.
"I don't deserve—" Sasuke started—
"He does," the other Sasuke replied, and Sasuke's mouth snapped shut.
"He deserves everything."
His other self didn't look back. He didn't give him the kindness. There was something easier about looking himself in the face—something human to pick at. Emotions. Flaws. But he spoke to the trees, instead, giving Sasuke only his words and the back of his head.
"And I think you know," he said, speaking again. "Somewhere. Outside of me. That you love him. I do, too. There's not a part of you that doesn't."
Sasuke looked down at the false, glistening water. It only showed him himself.
…
Those flaws were easy to find.
"And you know he loves you," that Sasuke said, and Sasuke distantly wondered what the point of himself was if he had the other part that had solved this all already. "Desperately. Which is why trying to punish yourself by leaving him is a stupid fucking thing to do. Who cares if you don't deserve it? It makes him happy. Let him leave you first. Let him decide you're no good for him. "
"He won't," Sasuke whispered, and that Sasuke smiled.
"No," he said. "No, he won't. We've already tried that."
…
"He did, too," Sasuke pointed out, and that Sasuke snorted.
"He did, didn't he?" he said, laughing. "Punishing himself. We're so similar."
He looked up at the sky with a sigh, and Sasuke…swallowed.
"It would be so easy," he said, and Sasuke stared at him. "Just us. Nothing else. Imagine it. Let yourself imagine it."
Sasuke didn't.
"Say I do," he said instead. "Say I accept it all."
That Sasuke looked back at him.
"What then?" Sasuke asked. "You disappear?"
"No," that Sasuke replied, with a laugh to his voice. If only he would. If only he would leave the walls of Sasuke's mind alone. "But I'll no longer be separate from you. I'm looking forward to it. It's strange, knowing you're incomplete."
He sighed and looked out at the trees. Sasuke almost paused to lament it. To consider the shade of himself that had lived here, waiting for him, looking at all the things that didn't exist.
"And there's enough of you I haven't accepted, is there?"
His own eyes looked back at him.
"Is there some that you have?"
…
Sasuke didn't reply.
But that Sasuke smiled at him. Smiled with that mocking, happy knowing—Sasuke felt the spike of annoyance dart down to his palms. He was a nightmare to deal with. He didn't know how Naruto had ever put up with this.
"Would you like to move on?" That Sasuke asked, and Sasuke breathed out. His anger drained.
He missed the wind that should have been blowing.
"No," he replied. "I…no. Just let me think."
"Sure," the other part of him said. "Take your time."
He looked up at the sky with a sigh and a smile.
"I have all night."
A/N: More in a second!
- Kinomi