The Witch and the Warrior

Last damn chapter. I promise.

If I have to make this chapter thirty million pages long this will be the last chapter. XD

A big thank you to my beta Blackwidina.

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Sharp pain erupted through Naruto's abdomen; he jolted, staring down at the sword erupting out of his stomach. His breath was ragged, eyes meeting those of the man who had run him through, though he could hardly be called a man. The soldier looked hardly old enough to shave, let alone kill. Large green eyes reflected his own death back at him; the kid looked like he was going to be ill.

“I-I'm sorry.” The kid stuttered, moving to pull the sword back out of his stomach. The blonde felt himself letting go, his soul getting ready to leave his body. He fell to his knees, wishing for one last time that he could have seen-

Blue eyes opened blindly, tan limbs thrashed in the blankets trapping him. He gasped for breath that wouldn't come. Why did he have to dream of Sasuke's death in such clarity every time the brunette left him for the heat of battle?

Harsh sobs ripped from his throat. Why did this have to happen? He would have been fine simply offering up his body to the dark haired soldier, but somehow his heart had gotten caught up in the deal. He'd kept it chained up under lock and key, kept it away from everything that could have bruised it. A heart is a fragile thing.

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He'd been gone for months, fighting in a war that he had no faith in. Every morning waking up and wondering if he'd live to see Naruto's face again, live to see those beautiful blue eyes lighting up with love.

He'd been riding for ten days, needing to get back to the only place in the world that both his head and his heart recognized as home. The small cottage could be seen as he topped the next hill, smoke rising from the chimney and letting him know that the one person who mattered was home.

Sasuke let out a sigh of relief, sagging in the saddle. Orihime let out a whinny beneath him, as glad to be back as he was. Nudging her into a gallop he crossed the distance in what seemed like a heartbeat, needing only to be beside Naruto.

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Sasuke had stayed for three days, and on the third day he'd simply gathered his things and left. He'd cast a look at the blonde standing in the doorway, part of him wishing Naruto would say something, say anything to keep Sasuke close to him. But they both knew that no matter how much Naruto might have wanted him to stay, the blonde would never say what was truly in his heart.

It was the way he lived, the only way he managed to keep a hold on himself when Sasuke rode away from him. If he broke down even once and begged the brunette to stay beside him, it would hurt that much more.

The days were growing shorter, autumn just around the corner if the cold snap in the air was any indication. Sasuke was in the process of mounting his horse, dark eyes already gone cold, losing all emotion in order to be a better soldier.

“Before you go.” The brunette looked down, surprised to see Naruto standing beside his horse. Rather then speak, the blonde untied the semi-precious turquoise stone from around his neck and handed it up to Sasuke. They both knew what that stone meant to the blonde. It had been his mother's, given to him on a dying wish that he find the happiness life seemed to take from him.

The brunette took the time to tie the stone around his own neck, a flicker of emotion lighting up his endlessly dark eyes before it died out, leaving them cold and dark once again. Naruto gave a quiet smile before he turned to go back in his house. He would never watch Sasuke leave, just as he would never be waiting outside for his arrival.

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Months passed again. Naruto knelt in his garden, tugging up weeds and patting down the loose dirt. He had heard no word from Sasuke, didn't expect to. He wasn't the type of person to define his existence through another person. But that was fine for Naruto; the less he heard from Sasuke the better.

Some days were better than others, some days he missed the raven haired warrior so much it was like a piece of his soul had been ripped away, and others he was simply numb inside. Indifferent to everything.

But that was what happened when you loved someone.

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Naruto arched, his fingers digging into Sasuke's pale shoulders, breaths coming in harsh pants. Sasuke's arms were trembling beside his head, his dark eyes shut tight against the world, his face buried in the crook of Naruto's neck. This was why he kept coming back, every filthy mile he had to ride, every war he had to fight in. It was all worth it for this. It was the only heaven he'd ever get to see.

Naruto blinked, trying to keep the tears at bay even as his body tightened in climax, he knew. Even without his visions and other sight, he knew this would be the last time. Cursing the gods Naruto found Sasuke's mouth, wanting to distract himself if only for a moment.

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The moment the sun had broken over the horizon, Sasuke had climbed out of the warm bed, out of Naruto's warm arms. He'd spent a week here with the blonde, the longest stretch of time he'd ever allowed himself to be at peace. But he had to leave, Suigetsu was in the village, had come riding out the day before with a message that the army needed their General. The enemy had received reinforcements and they needed all the help they could get.

Naruto rose with the brunette, ignoring the look he received as he dressed, pulling odd things together for Sasuke's trip back to the castle. The ride into town was silent, Sasuke casting glances at Naruto every few moments. The blonde looked as if the world was on his shoulders and no one could ever understand his pain.

Suigetsu met the pair at the far end of town, ready to leave at a moment's notice from his General. The brunette motioned, nodding a brief goodbye to the blonde as they rode out. The two had gotten past the bend in the road before the sound of hooves on the road made Sasuke look back. He pulled Orihime to a halt as Naruto nearly leapt into his arms, fusing their mouths together.

He could feel Naruto's mouth move against his, sounding out the three words he would never speak aloud. One last kiss, arms banding tight around another body and Naruto slid to the ground, eyes screaming pain as Sasuke gripped the jeweled necklace and smirked. Then he was gone, kicking his horse into a gallop and the blonde turned back to his own mare, taking a single step before his knees gave out. He shuddered, furiously wiping away tears and trying to get back onto his feet. Grief ate at him, the sobs never dying as he finally managed to climb into the saddle.

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Blue eyes snapped open, agony curled in the lower-left corner of his rib cage. He curled into a ball, biting his hand until he was bleeding, his screams turning into sobs, his sobs into curses until finally the Gods took pity on him and he collapsed back into darkness.

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How could this have happened? He was a general, he was strong, the strongest of his men. And this boy, the fragile redhead had managed to take him down. Sasuke could feel the cold creeping in, his breath rattled in his lungs. Blackness creeped into the corners of his vision, he coughed, blood welling in his mouth. Lungs heaving in a futile attempt to get oxygen.

Suigetsu was beside him in an instant, crouched beside him. Steel blue eyes had already assessed the damage, knew instantly that it was a fatal wound.

“Give it back to him.”

“Give what back?” The blue haired soldier knelt closer to the man he called his superior and his friend. A small turquoise jewel was yanked from around Sasuke's neck and pressed into Suigetsu's gloved hand.

“Nar-Naru.” Sasuke began coughing in an attempt to say the name he needed to, at least once more.

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Blue eyes focused in on the rider, it was the blue-haired one that accompanied Sasuke to the village some visits. He stood from the small herb patch he'd been weeding.

“Naruto?” The man asked, his face blank, his eyes giving off sorrow that seemed to follow every soldier that Naruto had ever met.

“I know.” Naruto nodded, face as blank as Suigetsu's. When the soldier held out a hand that facade cracked only slightly, when the jewel was placed back in his hand the blonde was holding on by a ragged thread.

“Sasuke wanted me to tell you that even though he never said it, and even though you know, he loved you. He also said he'd be waiting for you on the other side.” With those words Suigetsu turned, planning on heading to the first tavern he could find and drinking himself under the table.

“Stupid bastard.” The jewel was biting into his skin, the pain went unnoticed, Naruto taking gulps of air to keep the tears at bay. He'd already spent half his life crying over what he knew was inevitable, why should he shed any more tears when it had happened?

He could still see Sasuke's face in his dreams, see that shocked face when he'd touched the potion and turned himself into a woman, and despite it all he chuckled. Staring up at the sky he slid the necklace back over his head, and for a moment he swore he could feel Sasuke's lips pressed to his. But then it was gone, and he was alone again, a blonde warlock living only for himself.

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Wow, that took a lot more writing then I thought it would to get everything together. Still sad as hell; I bawled as I wrote this, seriously bawled and ate all the ice cream I could shove in my mouth.

But it's done now, and I feel terrible for not giving Naruto a happy ending, but the legend this is based on ends pretty much the same way. Irish legends don't tend to have very many happy endings.

Review please. I need all the loving I can get after this. :D