A New Vessel
Regrets or Apologies?
Title: A New Vessel
Author: Dragon Dung
Beta: Riki
Title: A New Vessel
Author: Dragon Dung
Beta: Riki
Pairings: Naruto x Sasuke/Sasuke x Naruto
Warning: Alternate Universe, yaoi, general OOC…
Disclaimer: See first chapter.
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Chapter 5: Regrets or Apologies?
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"Is this real?"
"Does it matter? We're together, aren't we?"
The angel Naruto opened his eyes by a sliver. The cavern was still above him and all around him, so what he saw was a dream? And it felt so real. Or was this the dream? The blond couldn't figure it out. He carefully lifted himself into a sitting position, his skin feeling sore at the places where were bare where he laid across the rocks. One thing was missing, though...
"Sasuke?" Naruto's eyes widened a fraction more as they surveyed the area. Everything was still sealed off, so where had he gone?
::
"What is this place?" The angel Sasuke wondered aloud. He was cautiously flying through a tunnel. He could hardly believe what he was seeing. Web-like lines of opal-like light shimmered in between the crevices and within every indentation of the earth and rocks. He didn't know what he expected to find, but he was surprised at what he found regardless. The mouth of the tunnel opened up to a wide, empty area in the shape of an inverted globe. Floating in the middle of it was a round barrier that looked like it was made out of crystal. Inside the middle of the crystal-like barrier was the curled up form of a little girl. She seemed to be made out of the same opal-like light, waning from burgundy to green. She wore a tattered dress made of the same material and her thick, long, wavy hair that floated all around her. Sasuke's shoulder involuntarily twitched as the girl lifted her head to look at him with large, sad, silver eyes.
"I'm sorry," She whispered.
Sasuke finally realized where he was. He was in the center of Yainehm, where the spirit of the planet resided. The Anchor of the planet was chosen only by the spirit of the planet. The chosen angel's job was to help channel the spirit's power throughout the entire planet to keep it safe, to help it flourish, and to keep it intact. The Anchor was not merely a vessel of the spirit of the planet, but also a position that demanded the highest respect. But, everything that was told of the spirit of Yainehm declared that it was an energetic, happy, and powerful spirit. The image before Sasuke pointed to the complete opposite.
"You're right," She spoke weakly. "Everything that you're thinking about was once true. I am Yainehm. I was powerful and happy...and just what planet wouldn't be energetic and happy to have such resourceful and respectful creatures living on it?"
"What happened to you?" Sasuke asked tremulously.
"An Anchor managed to sweep up an immense amount of my power," she explained. "I should have foreseen it, but I had forgotten that even among angels, treachery exists. The Anchor took so much of my energy that I was left torn and unable to stop him from leaving. I thought that a very powerful Anchor could help fill out the imbalance of my strength, but he died just now."
Sasuke felt his face becoming pale. An Anchor had never died from his or her pact with the spirit of the planet. An even more horrible thought came to Sasuke, "Why did you bring me to you?"
Her face lowered once again. "I'm so sorry..."
::
The blond angel was desperately trying not to panic as he searched every inch of the blockage. He was convinced that he wasn't going crazy. He didn't dream up that Sasuke was with him because the raven-haired angel had been there. His lack of a few feathers proved that. Since he was with him at some point, just where was he now? Naruto didn't have to fret for much longer. Green and burgundy rays of light began to shoot up from the earth beneath him. With the rays materialized a very serious Sasuke.
"I know how to get out of here," He told Naruto, grabbing him by the hands. "Just trust me and don't let go."
Naruto obeyed, but couldn't help staring down frantically at the light that shot up around them. "Are you sure about this?" Naruto voiced his worry only to shut his eyes as the light became brighter. When he opened his eyes again, they were already above the ground. "Whoa..."
Sasuke let go of his friend's hands, immediately taking off in the direction of where the Advisors usually gathered. Naruto started following him, but Sasuke cut him off. "No. You report to Kakashi about what happened down there. I have something important to take care of."
Naruto gave him a weird look, but he did as Sasuke requested. Something in Sasuke's voice told him that he had to.
::::::::::::::::::::::::
The two men stared at each other for what felt like hours. Content and scared, warm and chilled. In their gazes, they apologized for so much time being lost, for not appreciating what they had before, and for not realizing how stupid they were. They were just starting to relax when Naruto seemed to snap out of the moment.
The blond shook his head, his smile disappearing and replaced with a frown. What the hell just happened? The last thing he remembered was being led to the art room in Sasuke's mansion and now he was suddenly on the floor? And only inches away from an intent-looking Sasuke. What happened? "Did I pass out or something?" Naruto asked, concerned. "The last thing I remember was walking through that door. Everything else is a complete blank." He scratched the back of his head as if, somehow, that would help his mind bridge the missing gap.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "You don't remember what just happened? Is this some kind of a joke?" But, even as he said that, Sasuke realized that Naruto spoke the truth. He could read it in his confused, blue eyes. A feeling of something that was almost rage grew from a small point in his heart and expanded so suddenly that Sasuke had to let it out that very instant. This resulted in his punching the wall behind Naruto and pulling the blond into a fierce kiss. He felt the man in front of him trying to pull away, but Sasuke managed to pin both of them to the wall without breaking the kiss. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry when Naruto actually kissed back this time. Half of him was thrilled but the other half, the half that was dominant right now, was very upset and confused. He pulled away, breaking the kiss and helping Naruto to his feet. "I'm...sorry."
Naruto's head was spinning. Was he already losing his memory at such a young age? Sasuke was clearly upset about something that happened that he couldn't for the life of him remember. "Sasuke, just what the hell happened? And I don't mean that stunt you pulled a second ago."
Now Sasuke was feeling sheepish. Honestly, it wasn't Naruto's fault that he couldn't remember. The least he owed him was some insight on what was happening to them both. "You might want to sit down for this."
-
Pairings: Naruto x Sasuke/Sasuke x Naruto
Warning: Alternate Universe, yaoi, general OOC…
Disclaimer: See first chapter.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Chapter 5: Regrets or Apologies?
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"Is this real?"
"Does it matter? We're together, aren't we?"
The angel Naruto opened his eyes by a sliver. The cavern was still above him and all around him, so what he saw was a dream? And it felt so real. Or was this the dream? The blond couldn't figure it out. He carefully lifted himself into a sitting position, his skin feeling sore at the places where were bare where he laid across the rocks. One thing was missing, though...
"Sasuke?" Naruto's eyes widened a fraction more as they surveyed the area. Everything was still sealed off, so where had he gone?
::
"What is this place?" The angel Sasuke wondered aloud. He was cautiously flying through a tunnel. He could hardly believe what he was seeing. Web-like lines of opal-like light shimmered in between the crevices and within every indentation of the earth and rocks. He didn't know what he expected to find, but he was surprised at what he found regardless. The mouth of the tunnel opened up to a wide, empty area in the shape of an inverted globe. Floating in the middle of it was a round barrier that looked like it was made out of crystal. Inside the middle of the crystal-like barrier was the curled up form of a little girl. She seemed to be made out of the same opal-like light, waning from burgundy to green. She wore a tattered dress made of the same material and her thick, long, wavy hair that floated all around her. Sasuke's shoulder involuntarily twitched as the girl lifted her head to look at him with large, sad, silver eyes.
"I'm sorry," She whispered.
Sasuke finally realized where he was. He was in the center of Yainehm, where the spirit of the planet resided. The Anchor of the planet was chosen only by the spirit of the planet. The chosen angel's job was to help channel the spirit's power throughout the entire planet to keep it safe, to help it flourish, and to keep it intact. The Anchor was not merely a vessel of the spirit of the planet, but also a position that demanded the highest respect. But, everything that was told of the spirit of Yainehm declared that it was an energetic, happy, and powerful spirit. The image before Sasuke pointed to the complete opposite.
"You're right," She spoke weakly. "Everything that you're thinking about was once true. I am Yainehm. I was powerful and happy...and just what planet wouldn't be energetic and happy to have such resourceful and respectful creatures living on it?"
"What happened to you?" Sasuke asked tremulously.
"An Anchor managed to sweep up an immense amount of my power," she explained. "I should have foreseen it, but I had forgotten that even among angels, treachery exists. The Anchor took so much of my energy that I was left torn and unable to stop him from leaving. I thought that a very powerful Anchor could help fill out the imbalance of my strength, but he died just now."
Sasuke felt his face becoming pale. An Anchor had never died from his or her pact with the spirit of the planet. An even more horrible thought came to Sasuke, "Why did you bring me to you?"
Her face lowered once again. "I'm so sorry..."
::
The blond angel was desperately trying not to panic as he searched every inch of the blockage. He was convinced that he wasn't going crazy. He didn't dream up that Sasuke was with him because the raven-haired angel had been there. His lack of a few feathers proved that. Since he was with him at some point, just where was he now? Naruto didn't have to fret for much longer. Green and burgundy rays of light began to shoot up from the earth beneath him. With the rays materialized a very serious Sasuke.
"I know how to get out of here," He told Naruto, grabbing him by the hands. "Just trust me and don't let go."
Naruto obeyed, but couldn't help staring down frantically at the light that shot up around them. "Are you sure about this?" Naruto voiced his worry only to shut his eyes as the light became brighter. When he opened his eyes again, they were already above the ground. "Whoa..."
Sasuke let go of his friend's hands, immediately taking off in the direction of where the Advisors usually gathered. Naruto started following him, but Sasuke cut him off. "No. You report to Kakashi about what happened down there. I have something important to take care of."
Naruto gave him a weird look, but he did as Sasuke requested. Something in Sasuke's voice told him that he had to.
::::::::::::::::::::::::
The two men stared at each other for what felt like hours. Content and scared, warm and chilled. In their gazes, they apologized for so much time being lost, for not appreciating what they had before, and for not realizing how stupid they were. They were just starting to relax when Naruto seemed to snap out of the moment.
The blond shook his head, his smile disappearing and replaced with a frown. What the hell just happened? The last thing he remembered was being led to the art room in Sasuke's mansion and now he was suddenly on the floor? And only inches away from an intent-looking Sasuke. What happened? "Did I pass out or something?" Naruto asked, concerned. "The last thing I remember was walking through that door. Everything else is a complete blank." He scratched the back of his head as if, somehow, that would help his mind bridge the missing gap.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "You don't remember what just happened? Is this some kind of a joke?" But, even as he said that, Sasuke realized that Naruto spoke the truth. He could read it in his confused, blue eyes. A feeling of something that was almost rage grew from a small point in his heart and expanded so suddenly that Sasuke had to let it out that very instant. This resulted in his punching the wall behind Naruto and pulling the blond into a fierce kiss. He felt the man in front of him trying to pull away, but Sasuke managed to pin both of them to the wall without breaking the kiss. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry when Naruto actually kissed back this time. Half of him was thrilled but the other half, the half that was dominant right now, was very upset and confused. He pulled away, breaking the kiss and helping Naruto to his feet. "I'm...sorry."
Naruto's head was spinning. Was he already losing his memory at such a young age? Sasuke was clearly upset about something that happened that he couldn't for the life of him remember. "Sasuke, just what the hell happened? And I don't mean that stunt you pulled a second ago."
Now Sasuke was feeling sheepish. Honestly, it wasn't Naruto's fault that he couldn't remember. The least he owed him was some insight on what was happening to them both. "You might want to sit down for this."
-
TBC