The Grim Reaper

A/N: Here we are, another chapter. I was going to make this longer but I decided it might be a bit too much all at once- so I split one really long chapter into two shorter but bite sized chunks. Let me know what you think!



Thank you to all the lovely people that reviewed. You guys are the reason I continued writing this, I didn't think it'd be anyones cup of tea and was prepared to stop writing it. But I couldn't let you guys down :)



Warnings: Language mainly, slight yaoiness.



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Sasuke Uchiha was fucked. Seriously fucked. He paced his study, long cloak billowing out behind him with each stride. He shot a glare at the hourglass sitting innocently on his desk, the hissing of the falling sand echoed around the large room. Sasuke ran a hand threw his now less than pristine hair before cupping his pale face into awaiting hands and slumping into the nearest chair, all Uchiha poise crumbling with it.



How had he gotten himself into this mess? A hundred years of service and not one mistake! He was a Uchiha, Uchiha’s didn’t make mistakes. The day of THE MISTAKE had started out so well, he’d woken up early morning, had a hearty breakfast and got plenty of him time. And then that stupid idiot Naruto Uzumaki had to go and die, sure at the time he’d been looking forward to meeting the man. He’d been curious, which in itself was completely out of character, in his line of work you couldn’t allow yourself to get attached. But he had, he could defiantly say he was attached.



The tumbling grains scraping the bottom of the hourglass was a constant reminder of how far up shit creak he really was. It wasn’t as if he’d planned it, he’d gone to the house scythe ready to slice a soul free. He’d enter the dark room to find the man sprawled across a small bed, muttering something in his sleep about his ‘Master Ramen‘- whoever that was. A quick wave of his hand and all was silent- that was the whole bothersome issue with time sorted. As much as living people didn’t see him, Sasuke didn’t like to take chances- some people were more observant than others.



He stepped away from the corner and reached for his scythe. That’s when Sasuke’s peaceful life turned complicated. The man sprang upwards in his bed and brilliant blue eyes, dancing in the light of the moon, pierced his. Something in his chest tightened and pounded- it couldn’t be his heart, did he even have a heart?- as he took in the other mans appearance. Messy blonde locks fell limply round his tanned face, those sapphire eyes never left Sasuke’s face. If he had a soul he was pretty sure Uzumaki was looking at it.



He stood there for what felt like an eternity, eyebrow raised in confusion. The boy blinked slowly as if afraid Sasuke would disappear, as long lashes touched tanned cheeks Sasuke walked right back through the wall he’d come through. That in itself wasn’t his best idea, just because he could walk through walls didn’t mean he could float on air. Sasuke’s backside and the ground met in a painful union.



What followed that however was quite possibly the worst idea of his life. As he stood, rubbing his behind- why did the floor have to be so hard?-the hourglass that had been stored safely in his cloak clattered on the ground. Sasuke frowned down at it, technically the boy upstairs was dead. Well his body was. Sasuke should have brought the scythe down upon him and released his soul.



Why was that thought so painful?



He didn’t know, didn’t care, at that moment all he could think about was saving the blonde man from whatever it was after death. That way, Sasuke reasoned, he’d have to visit him at least once more to finish him off for good. Thinking of seeing the man again led to Sasuke doing something very unUchiha like- smiling. With that he picked the hourglass up and turned it over, sand began falling again and Sasuke let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. He safely tucked the hourglass away and headed off back home, at that point not worrying about the consequences of such a impulsive decision.



He’d done his job hadn’t he? Technically the blue eyed man was dead.



Sasuke Uchiha however wasn’t so lucky- he’d have people to answer to. The thought of seeing The People He Had To Answer To was what set him about pacing again. He needed a plan, a fucking brilliant plan. This elusive plan however wasn’t making any appearances. In his panic. No! Concern (Uchiha’s don’t panic!) his stride increased, proving that walking quickly has no effect on plan formulating. He’d consider just going back and killing blonde haired guy, but each time he thought it blue eyes would swim around his mind and he got that strange pounding in his heart. So no he couldn’t kill him.



The answer had never came, but he knew just the people to beg-er-ask for help from. He’d made contact with them over an hour ago. Which is why the pacing was more frantic, proving that no matter how fast you pace time doesn’t rush to keep up. He couldn’t wait much longer, he’d already left it a whole week since THE MISTAKE and he soon he’d have to answer to THOSE people. Sasuke shudder and his pace faltered. He was not looking forward to that conversation.



Especially since he hadn’t been able to leave his mistake alone. Sasuke was familiar with the phrase ‘Death comes to everyone’ but he was pretty sure it didn’t mean repeatedly. He however Sasuke, Death, The Grim Reaper- whatever they wanted to call him-was stalking Naruto Uzumaki. His pride protested at the word Stalking- he wasn’t stalking- merely observing. Each day the past week he’d returned to the Earthly Realm and followed the blonde man. What grated on Sasuke was the fact that the boy was totally normal- he worked, had friends and went to university. So why the hell had he not killed him?! He wasn’t special- he sure as hell didn’t seem to merit the grand hourglass. How had someone so normal managed to change his world so much? How had he even ended up in the situation for someone who clearly had no special powers.



Except for one thing. His kindness. Whatever the blonde man was doing he was doing it for someone else. He was completely selfless and in a hundred years Sasuke had never seen that in any human. Dead or alive. His eyes were the most captivating thing about him- how they always seemed to shine with emotions. Love, happiness, devoition all portrayed in sparking blue orbs, yet Sasuke could see a hint of sadness.



A clock chimed, echoing around the quite study, dragging Sasuke’s thoughts away from the blonde man- for now anyway. He smirked at the clock as he realised it was time to greet his guests.



He briskly walked out of the study. It was time to find out his fate, but more importantly Naruto’s.



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He walked into the lounge to find three women sat comfortably in a large, navy sofa. The oldest of the women had long blonde hair fixed into loose pigtails. She sat photo album on lap and a cup of sake in her hand. To her left sat another blonde, although much younger. She had a phone pressed against her ear whilst she hurriedly talked into it- something about what he said, but she said. To the chatty blondes left sat a smaller woman with long black hair and pale eyes. She peered down into a book, the pages turning every now and then was the only sound she made.



Sasuke greeted each woman in turn first approaching the pigtailed woman.

“Tsunade of the Past. A pleasure to see you looking so well.” Hazel eyes glared up at him in response before snapping back down the photo album in her lap.



“Brat make yourself useful.” She retorted whilst shaking the empty sake cup in his direction. Sasuke filled the glass and moved to the next blonde.



“Ino of the Present. Thank you for joining me at such short notice.” She responded by simply waving a hand in his general direction too engrossed in the latest scandal she was hearing about. Sasuke knew a dismissal when he saw one so proceeded to the final female.



“Hinata of the Future. So glad to see you again.” He dipped his head as a show of respect whilst the young woman removed her eyes from the book to smile kindly up at him.



“Indeed, Sasuke-kun. Although I am rather surprised at your invitation, you sounded rather panicked when we spoke. Is something the matter?” She asked gently, her voice barely louder than a whisper.



Sasuke suppressed the snort at the word panicked. Uchiha’s don’t panic damnit! He had a hard time answering that question, was something the matter? Yes and no. Yes, he’d failed to perform his duty as a Reaper. No, no because he’d never felt so full of life before. Sasuke regarded the women before him, each of them looking at him with midly quizzical expressions. The Fates as they were known, together they were able to completely read a person’s life. Tsunade looked into the past, Ino observed the present and Hinata saw the future. If anyone could help him it would be these three before him.



He sighed before taking a seat in front of the women

“I need to call in a favour. I need you to read a fate-” Six eyebrows rose and six eyes widened, before Tsunade cut in “You know we can’t do that brat, it’s against the rules. We wont read yours or anyone else’s there’s nothing you can say or do that’ll convince us otherwise.” Three heads nodded in unision whilst Sasuke merely smirked back in response.

“Well the Tsunade. Maybe you should return those hourglasses I gave you. It’s against rules for me to give them away- they’re meant to be disposed of properly, just encase someone tries to bring someone back.” His smirk grew wider as her face paled and blonde eyebrows furrowed twisting her face into a scowl.



Several years ago he’d given the woman two hourglasses, one of her lover and one of her brother. Their sands had both ran out and she’d wanted them for sentimental reasons- unable to let go of the past really. So he had given her them, in exchange for one day returning the favour. He knew her power was special, and one never knew when it could come in handy.



And it seemed today was the day she’d be repaying her debt.



Panicked hazel eyes darted towards the other two females. Ino let out a dramatic sigh and snapped her phone close.

“Okay Uchiha- what do you want?” Tsunade let out a sigh of relief, whilst Hinata smiled at her. Clearly they’d made a decision. He’d be getting helped.

“I need you to read the fate of a man named Naruto Uzumaki.”



Ino whipped out a notepad and a pencil before looking back at him .

“Right we need a description. Is he from the past, the present or future?” She questioned cheerily.



“Well I met him a week ago. So present.” Ino nodded enthusiastically, pencil poised above the paper.

“Well describe him then. A detailed description, we’re going to need it to picture him and find him amongst the many faces.”

“Ok.” Sasuke closed his eyes, forcing the mans face into his mind. “Blonde, spiky hair. Blue eyes. Bright blue eyes. Six scars, three along each cheek. Tanned. Around 6 foot 2ish. Muscular. Wears a lot of orange.”

“Got it!”

Sasuke opened his eyes to be presented with a lifelike sketch of Naruto.

“Is that him?” Ino asked excitedly. Sasuke nodded, the picture was perfect. Messy hair hung at odd angles, framing his strong jaw line. He wiped the edge of his mouth just to check he wasn’t drooling.



“Right, so what do you want to know?”



“Everything.” Sasuke’s voice echoed around the silent room.



“Everything!?” The three women cried in unison. “His past, present and future!”

Sasuke nodded. Tsunade rubbed the bridge of her nose in exasperated gesture, Ino stared at the man as if he’d sprang another head and Hinata was sat, staring at her lap, a thoughtful expression on her pale face.



“No.” Tsunade’s sharp voice cut through the silence like a knife. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her. “You can have the hourglasses back.”



It was a good thing he was a Uchia- and also the Grim Reaper- if he had been anything less his face may have betrayed his shock at the woman’s words. She wouldn’t do it!? Why? She had too much to loose, she was Tsunade of the Past for heaven’s sake- she could hardly just give up a piece of her own painful past.



Ino started to rant incoherently, things about unsafe, not right and an unbreakable rule. Sasuke could feel himself starting to lose it. What was the problem exactly? Why was it wrong? They were the only people that could help him damnit! Why where they begin so damn uncooperative!



Hinata’s whispered words silenced Ino’s babbling and Tsuande’s angry lecture and mumblings about ‘should have drank more‘.



“We’ll do it.”



Sasuke wasn’t into displays of affection but if he was he may have hugged the fragile woman. Instead he allowed her to see one of his genuine smiles and hear a thank you pour from his lips. The other two Fates stared at the woman silently before nodding in unison, clearly seeing something in Hinata Sasuke couldn’t.



“Before we begin Sasuke I must warn you. The past and the present are already determined, but the future- the future is always hazy. People change and make different choices, leading them to different paths. I can’t be a hundred percent certain I’m right.” Hinata stated calmly. He’d already thought of that, he was a genius after all.

“Can you try and see as many futures as possible please?” He asked and responded with a nod.



They lifted themselves off the sofa and stood in the centre of the lounge. Tsunade discarded her photo album, Ino her phone and Hinata her book. The each looked at each other and formed a small circle, the picture of Naruto in the centre. They linked hands, completing the circle.



Tsunade slurred “Past.”

Ino responded with “Present.”

Hinata murmured “Future.”



And it began.



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I decided to use the idea as Fates for this one, I thought if I’m playing around with mythical beings might as well throw in some Greek, however loosely related, mythology in. I’m sorry if anyone didn’t like this, but I honestly couldn’t think of anything else.



Don’t hate me too much for totally messing up the idea of The Fates.



Aside from that what’cha think?

Critique and compliments always greatly appriciated.