___________An Account of Sin and Redemption

Author: Arcaia

Genre: Gothic Horror/Romance/Adventure/Other

Rated: MA/A++

Progress: INST. 2/15

Chapter Sum. : Guess who’s back from the grave? Elvis Presley? You wish. It’s Sasuke. He tells us a bit more of what happened on that night in 1756. (~.~)

WARNING Again with the OOC-ness. Also multiple referrals to religion, particularly Christianity. *gasp*

†---† - This here signifies a shift in a viewpoint, but at the moment it's not really working so...well you'll know when there's a shift in P.O.Vs. I'm sorry if it confuses you.

▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪


Darling, I forgive you after all
anything is better than to be alone
and in the end I guess I had to fall
always find my place among the ashes – Lithium, Evanescence

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

Chapter II ~ Thoughts Of You Plague My Mind

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤


‘Cold...why is it always so cold-?’

A hand – pale and thin, like skin on bone – shot out from the ground.

‘I hunger...’


The dirt shifted and another hand followed the first.

‘I crave – ’


The half broken stone lid of the grave was forcefully kicked aside and a dark silhouetted figure rose stiffly, almost robotically, to his feet.

‘Blood.’

Shaking the gravel and dirt from his body he took a few tentative steps forward, as if testing his limbs.
His advanced eyesight, clearly not that of a humes’, helped him analyze his surroundings.

‘What century? What year?’


Lightning flashed and thunder sounded. It started to rain, more heavily than a downpour less than five minutes ago.

‘This is not the land I know...how time changes familiarity...’


He jumped up into a dead tree to give him better access of a wider view of vision and in the distance; he started when he saw a blinking light.


Within seconds he was by a destitute road, eyeing the tall metal pole that stood there.
‘What sorcery be this?’
“You – be you creature or plain trickery – I demand you tell me what year this is.”


The traffic light stood still, blinking back at him.

He glared at the offending technology that seemed faulty at the moment.
“You dare ignore me? I shall move closer now – beware – and give you no more than a breath to answer me.”

It blinked yellow before switching to green.

“What is this strange language you speak? I cannot under– ”

Beep-Beep! Beeeeep!!

Out of instinct he jumped and back flipped onto the nearest stand...which so happened to be the truck that nearly run him over. The driver stepped hard on the break pedal and the vehicle halted to a stop.

“If you’re trying to commit suicide try the Hokage mountain – moron! Where’d he go? Tch, youths these days...” The driver stared bewilderingly out his opened window before pulling back and re-starting his truck, oblivious of the passenger he’d unknowingly took onboard his shabby ride.

‘Metal?!’
He looked up from the dent he’d created on the roof of the car upon landing.
‘Moving metal?? What is this place? ’


He grabbed onto the sides of the roof and lowered half his body down the left side.

“You – what year is this?” ...well that’s what he would have asked the bald fat driver busy scoffing down egg-mayo sandwiches if he hadn’t choked and lost control of the car. The next series of scenes that followed proved to be quite hectic.


After the, thankfully small, truck skidded dangerously to a halt on the side of the road and the driver had stopped choking and hyperventilating, he repeated his question calmly.


The driver looked up into red gleaming eyes and frowned, though a nagging feeling in the back of his mind warned him he should be afraid...very afraid.

“You again?! Look – do what you want with your life but whatever you do don’t involve me! ...and do it somewhere preferably where I can’t see! The hell do you think you are doing on my car anyway – huh?!”
His fat and triple-chin were shaking with rage but his eyes betrayed his emotions and shone with trepidation.
To say he’d been ‘knocked for six’ would have been an understatement...not to mention he’d very nearly had his third heart-attack that day. The third ones were always quite painful.


Suddenly the red eyes before him glowed eerily and his car door was ripped apart like cardboard paper from its position. It was then tossed in the woods behind them where it landed with a loud crash...most probably killing a squirrel or two.
Then he had the decency to choke on his swear words when his thick neck was seized and constricted by cold – positively freezing – hands.

There was a voice close to his ear, dangerous, low and imperious.
“I do not like to be kept waiting for an answer; I do not like to be shown the inappropriate level of mannerism or respect – but most importantly, I detest...being ignored. Now, what year is this?” he asked, flaring just one of his nostrils.


The man strangled out an answer – he could only go without oxygen for so long – this was breaking the limit! Though the words came out foreign, the ‘suicidal youth’ understood them quite well. It proved to, at least, calm him down a little.


He released the poor old man and jumped off the truck, bowing courteously as an apology.
“You must forgive me, I’m not...from around here,” He needn’t have told him that. Teenagers here would have sooner better acquainted you with their middle fingers than spared you a glance, much less apologise, “Do you know of the Uchiha Mansion?” he finished politely, a vast contrast to less than a minute ago when he was seen strangling the poor man.


The driver shook out of his stupor. His narrow-minded brain supplied him with an explanation:

‘Must be one of those bipolar emos...’

“Yes...” he replied hesitantly, “The ancient building on Shinto Hill? Been there since my father’s father and his father...and most probably his father before him – Still standing. I wouldn’t recommend it for a Halloween shindig, mind you, heard all sorts of disturbing things go on there. Besides, it’s not sturdy nor is it clean.”

The suicidal, bipolar emo looked mystified, “Halloween...shindig?”

“Ah-yes, I know you young’uns. Always up for something crazy to do. Some of you use it for Halloween parties, others just camp out there. I heard, though, that the council were going to transform it into a museum for the town. I wouldn’t be surprised – it’s been here since the early 19th century. They’ve barred the place off and are making plans to renovate it,” he paused, as if unsure whether to go on, “...what plans do you have there, my boy? You should know...or may I remind you that it’s a crime to trespass.”


“And you would call it ‘trespassing’ and consider it a crime if one were to walk on their land? Their very own property?” the young man asked incredulously, his eyes flashing dangerously.

The driver was at a loss for words. What in Lily-cress’-sandwiches name was this boy banging on about?
“Your land? Boy, no one has lived in that mansion for over two-hundred years at most. The Uchiha family all died out and there were no immediate relatives to claim the place.” He said slowly as if it was one of the well known facts that even a five year old would know about. Yet the history of the Uchihas was very well known as one of their ancestries helped found the town.


“I am an Uchiha. And if I’m the very last then I should be entitled to claim my own quarters!” he growled.

He was beginning to lose patience. He’d only asked one simple question and now they were talking about legal rights? Where from this? Okay...so maybe he may have asked two. But it was to the point.

“Take me there!” he ordered as if it was the man’s duty to do so.


“Are you saying...that you’re the last surviving Uchiha, boy?” he feigned interest and wonder, then suddenly burst out laughing, “Call the cops and the ‘Endangered family line’! We best be preserving you and making sure you get on the pro-creating wagon soon then, huh?”
He proceeded with his laughter and was stopped abruptly by those dangerous red eyes seriously close...too close to his own.
Lightning and thunder struck again and suddenly a feeling of dread and worry washed over him like a tide.


“Are you making a mockery of me?” he asked, again in that low voice, “I will kill you...and I am not your boy, I am Uchiha Sasuke and I shall claim my land,” he moved back slightly, still glaring down at him before he hopped off the side, “Time, it seems, has consumed man’s revere. It sickens me greatly to see.” He spoke with and possessed an air of authority that someone who looked trodden, soaked and wet-to-the-bone should not have and yet, he managed to pull it off.


“If I have offended y-you in any w-way – please – don’t take it to heart,” He said hastily, “Of course I believe you!” he was now very wary of the boy who was dripping wet and standing a few steps away.

He had ripped off his car door for goodness sake, don’t tell him that was normal…unless junkie-scientists had found a new way of enhancing steroids – And now he was threatening to kill him. Dear Lord! If he survived this in order to deliver his sandwiches he would be greatly thankful.


“Take me to the mansion.” His tone of voice left no questions. It was one of those that said ‘my-wish-is-your-command’ and ‘decline-at-your-peril’.


The driver swallowed the lump in his throat. Would he try to kill him if he said no? More importantly, what’s to say he won’t go into one of his ‘episodes’ and try to kill him even if he gave him a ride?


“I know of no stables nearby and have no coins about my person to hire a horse. It would be greatly appreciated if you take me there.”

Stables? Horses? ...coins ‘about his person’? Oh yes, this guy was indeed insane. What if he wasn’t a suicidal, bipolar, emo teenager...what if he was a homicidal, bipolar, emo serial-killer escaped from a metal institute??

“Of-f course...hop in...” the driver answered anyway

Then he’d just have to drive by the Hokage tower and pretend to be dropping off a delivery whiles calling the cops in on him.


Once he was seated he looked around the car, thankful for the ‘shield’ on his side that stopped anymore rain from coming in. The same could not be said for the driver...
“How many nights shall it take to get me to my destination in this...contraption?”


He blinked owlishly at him before answering cautiously, unsure whether he was playing at being funny but not taking a risk, “Fifteen minutes. There’s no traffic round these here parts bo-Sasuke.”


“Uchiha,” he corrected, “And that’s before dawn?”


“...yes?” he replied slowly. He was seriously beginning to doubt he would live to see another day. He cast a sorrowful glance at the suspicious looking...and oddly smelling boy, like wet mud and cement, then he said his last prayers.


Sasuke smiled to himself, uncaring of the cruel look it gave his countenance then braced himself for the journey...if journey it may be. It meant he would see no day.
‘Excellent...’


“Um...I just need to make a de-delivery near Hokage tower...i-if y-you don’t mind.” He swallowed the hard lump in his throat when those eyes turned to him sharply.

His fate was sealed.

Sasuke looked down at the lifeless body with a blank expression as he wiped the blood from his lips. This one was quite hard to kill, he had so much blood and just would not stop screaming – he’d have to gain some more knowledge on his mind-control abilities. It was certainly enough to satiate his hunger, most probably for days to come. So he felt no remorse…on the other hand this man had helped him, which is why he was repaying his debt by giving him a burial. The man’s face disappeared under a pile of dirt thrown into the ditch and as Sasuke made to cross him and wish him peace in his afterlife his arm froze. He could not complete the sign, too afraid to. He frowned and let his arm drop to his side.

“I forget I am cursed, he whispered, “I cannot even provide you with an adequate burial to which I owe the least. Is it not the thought that counts. He knows I mean you well…we shall leave it at that.”

He cast one last thoughtful glance at the truck, which lay on its side, and sent it ablaze before turning to face the ancient structure.

It looked horrible. The old-fashioned lattice windows were broken, crashed in, the panes dusty with cobwebs. The once shiny iron gates were now rusty with age and decay, the huge front garden overgrown with trees, thistles and other unnameable plants.
He flew swiftly over the entrance and entered the acre. He really did not think it would still be standing. Kicking down the rotten wooden door, he crossed the threshold, side-stepping the little bits of mud-plaster and marble that fell from the ceiling.


“How long has it been since I last stepped foot on this land?” Breathing in slowly he bowed and sat down on the ragged mats, “Mother…father, I am home.”

Without much wood he had to make do with quite a small fire but it was warm, he could tell by looking at it – though it was no use – when ones’ life was lived such as his was, one was always cold.
He longed for the good old days when he was surrounded by family, people, when he felt loved, but more than that he longed for his companion, for the love he gave so freely…

««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««

“Gaaaaa-ra!”

He shed tears…tears for that monster. It made me wonder if he’d ever shed tears the same way…had I been in his predicament. I was stunned, despairing, that not only did my love have that demon’s blood in his veins, that he’d allowed himself to be defiled by him – but that he also did not love me! How was I, a noble so high in order, outdone by a monster’s child?? The son of a racoon dog, a lowlife, a servant! I could not say I did not feel betrayed, envious even. Truthfully…I did not know what to feel – if I was even permitted to feel – if not anger, nor hate…nor solace…what else was there?

And I had to ask,

“What of me? Naruto, do you not love me?” I threw my sword to the ground and approached him but Itachi – the bastard – was already there.


“You still do not understand, Sasuke…I love you all like I should – ”

“Like you should?!”

Like he should?? What was this feeling, this feeling of utter desolation? I had heard of such a thing, was it my heart breaking? How else to explain the searing pain I have here, deep in my hollow chest? I did not understand, but my love was kind – he had not finished – ready to calm my anger and soothe my heart. I listened to him continue, listening for when he would take back his words and proclaim his inclination to me and no other man.


“I love Gaara more like a part of me because he is so much like me, because he is willing to leave this life and redeem himself.”


“Then you will love me more if I choose redemption?” I asked. He smiled that sad, little smile of his that said more than he would say with his tongue.

Our moment was over.


Itachi sighed from behind Naruto.

“This is all very moving, indeed, but why do you still stand, alive? Minato is very tired, are you not, my love? He would much rather we cease all this mindless chatter and are bound on our way,” he heaved Naruto – much to his mortification – onto his shoulder like a sack of potato and drew his sword, “ we could make this very simple, brother, as I am feeling much too kind today. It will be very much thoughtful of you if you would please run into my sword seven times and lay here till the sun rises.”


‘The sun! Of course! ” Naruto looked up from his position. God forgive him, this was most sinful of him – but he was doing it to save a life! He whispered a small prayer,

“Dear Father who art in heaven, you sent me an angel on that night I slumbered. He came to me like a new born lamb and it is in that form of heart and shape of mind I come to you now. Receive me, Lord, for I have begged forgiveness and that of my companions’ lives. I wish to return to you, receive me…”

In one breath he hefted himself backwards to land behind Itachi, relieved him of his heavy sword and plunged it right above his heart to slow him down. He watched him kneel to the ground in agony, his red eyes glaring accusingly at him which he returned with an apologetic smile.


“May your soul be pardoned, Itachi, and may your will be done, Lord.”


“Mi…na-to…”

Naruto took a few steps back, evading the Itachi’s outstretched hand. He turned from him and pointing a finger at the hill a few meters away he said to them both, “Watch me, and see how death is nothing to be afraid of. Indeed, it is much less frightening than this life.”

He’d realized too late. Before anyone could stop him, Naruto had leaped on top of the very high hill.


“I know I have caused much conflict in this world…I only wished I could have lived it better in another world far different from this…”


Itachi struggled to stay on his feet,

“Minato…come down from there.”


“Naruto…come down please!” he knew the sun would be up soon, he knew what Naruto was trying to do.


Naruto looked down as if confused,

“Sasuke, my closest earthly friend, will you come up?”

Maybe he’d answered a second too late or maybe it was the hesitation that showed clearly on his face. He did not know…was Naruto asking if he’d die with him?


“I am gone to see my saviour, Sasuke. He calls me to his kingdom. If you will not come up to me, I am not coming down to you. Is this how we say farewell? You disappoint me – ”

Sasuke’s eyes had widened then,

“No! Naruto, I will come. I will follow.” He rushed to the bottom of the hill –how Naruto had cleared this in one leap was beyond him. He had always been the stronger of the two…but now he felt weak, lost, hurt.

Above him Naruto’s voice was unrecognisable,

“As the Son of God had said on his crucifix…it is finished.”

The sun rose. That was his intention all along. The top of that hill, the highest in the valley, was a direct target. His mouth opened in a silent scream as the light pierced his back and burned his limbs.

‘How can something so beautiful…be so deadly.’ he thought solemnly as he turned around to behold the star.

Sasuke had seen his shadow, both he and Itachi were safe from the sun for they were still in the shade of the hill but he had seen Naruto’s form…

“Naruto!” and he had panicked and lost his footing. All his energy was gone, his sight was failing him – days gone by without the lives of mortals to fuel him. Something dark flew past his vision, leaping in twos and clinging to the side of the hill.


“Itachi! Itachi – save him!”


“Pitiful wretch – you claim to love him? The very sight of you sickens me.” He’d spared him a glance then, the look in his eyes so incredibly disgusted. He’d strategically placed his body in the shade of the hill, his arm and face the only pats of his body vulnerable – and they were rapidly burning away, the pain and stench unbearable. He held his arm out for Naruto to grab but he shook his head and moved away.

“Minato!”


“No! No! Let me die! Oh- even the sun is against me – see how it wills the clouds to shade me from its radiance?!” he cried. There was much truth in what he said, any other vampire would have been vaporised within seconds of seeing the sun.


Sasuke steeled himself. He begun to climb again, ignoring the pain in his limbs, ignoring the pain in his chest.


“Minato, Minato I forgive you for piercing me. I was at fault; I should never have wound you thus. Come, and I will heal you.” As he said this, half his face was gone, revealing the tissue beneath, his arm was alight and was nothing more than muscle, veins on bone.

“You come up here,” there was a pause, Itachi did not move, he dare not for he knew the consequence. He was not fully in the shaded sun and yet his energy was wasting – how was Naruto still standing?

“No? You will not come? You fear death? You are a coward, and you speak of forgiveness and healing? You denote your brother for being weak and it is you who are weak. Your words…they mean nothing,” he turned, dramatized, and whispered to the sky, “Oh Father, cast away the clouds, let your sun burn!”

Infuriated by Naruto’s words, Itachi threw caution to the wind and jumped. He chose the wrong moment to do so. He’d thought he could push Naruto over the other side, where they would be shaded from the sun – but it seemed Naruto’s prayers were answered. The second his body was subjected to the light of the sun, the last of the stubborn clouds shifted aside and they were both hit, this time with more intense heat than before. They were reduced to a pile of ashes, before Itachi could curse, before Naruto could than the Lord…before Sasuke could, at least, kiss his love goodbye.

He let his body grow limp and he fell to the ground, clutching hard at his heart…it had stopped beating, he knew, and god it hurt. Worse than getting scorched by the sun, worse than knowing he was now utterly and completely alone.


He screamed, and screamed…and screamed until he no longer could, until he no longer cared…

»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»

And he felt like screaming again till he could no longer feel this horrible pain, of self-loathing, of hopelessness.

He remembered, seeing him up there, like a vision. The sun had hit him and he could hear the skin burning off his bones but he still looked beautiful – always had, even in the moment of his very painful death…if ever he saw an angel he was sure Naruto had looked like one. And he’d smiled, with the light from the sun casting a halo on his precious head of golden hair.

‘How was it possible? What was his secret – if a secret there be…’

How was he able to smile so fearlessly in the face of death? When he knew he was going to burn in the eternal flames of hell and having to experience that feeling over and over again – only this time, there’d be no relief in the form of death, because you were there forever with the devil himself!

Sitting by the warming fire, he felt like weeping and the sudden thought that he’d have to find a new companion burned in his mind.
Then – he really did weep. The very thought of a new companion made him bitter. He would not enjoy the company of a complete stranger, with whom he did not love nor care for, for the rest of his hateful, unpleasant life until the morning star or judgement day claimed them. Just as well he ought to stand on this ancient roof and wait till the sun came out to tear the bones right off his skin, reduce him to a pile of smouldering ashes…

‘Just as he had done!’

It wasn’t tears he shed when he wept.

‘Naruto…my love…,’

It was crimson blood that rolled down his death pale cheeks.

‘ I would give every breath from my chest…’

He got up from the floor and walked stiffly to his window, casting one last forlorn look at his mess of a parlour, he leaped out into the wet, slightly foggy night…

‘Just to hold you in my arms again.’
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sorry for the delay. There's something wrong here, it won't let me upload the whole chapter, must be the symbols I put in. I'm not particularly happy with this chapter though. Anyway, please tell me what you think of it so far and thanks for reading. Leave me a note.

Got a question? Ask away.