Author’s Note: Okay originally I was going to make this a multi-chapter fic, but after giving it a lot of thought, I've decided to make this the second part, in a three part story. You can find Flutter (Part 1) under my profile here on AFF.
PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST READ FLUTTER TO UNDERSTAND THE EVENTS IN THIS STORY. Disclaimer: I don’t own Naruto. I make no money from writing this.
Text Key Reflective dialogue – refers to Sasuke only ‘Personal thoughts’ – refers to Naruto only Regular text – “Speaking”
Emphasis "Past Dialogue" …… – Breaks
'The darkness envelops me.' All around the threads of death pull at my soul; taking me into the wondrous depths that my heart so desires. I want to die. And yet there, amid the never ending abyss of eternal silence, there’s a single voice calling me back. I can’t help but wonder, should I answer? And if I don’t, will it become something that I forever regret?' “Dobe…”
Until We Meet Again
Sequel to: Flutter
Written By: Crimson2006
BETA: Effervescent-Kei-Chan
Sasuke looked in the mirror and adjusted the collar of his white dress shirt, making sure that everything was neat and tidy before slinging his jacket over his shoulders and slipping his arms in through the sleeves. He really didn’t want to do this—didn’t want to acknowledge the act for what it was, nor did he want to comprehend the underlining symbolism of what putting that suit on really stood for. Still there he was, going through the motions. His heart accepting this fate as if it were normal; some part of his subconscious already willing to admit that things had come this far.
In retrospective the outcome certainly wasn’t fair, but perhaps that’s what made it feel so real. Life was all about living and dying. The order of which you couldn’t control, the value in which –at least for Sasuke– had been habitually ignored. Yes, despite all that had transpired things had not played out the way that he’d hoped, and now there was only regret left to linger on his part. It flowed with the remnants of something forsaken – a heavy weight that he longed to remove, though he did not own the capability in doing so.
Regardless, regret and self-pity were a fool’s commitment to death, and compunction towards the past would get him nowhere. Life was cruel and unnecessarily bitter in that way—always taking away what he needed… giving him things that he didn’t want. He was still here though, struggling to live on. Trying his best to live out the dream that his dobe had wanted him to have, even if it hurt to do so…
For you and only for you… because everyone else is obsolete… Placing his hand over the small black patch concealing his right eye, Sasuke thought back to how this outcome had occurred, his own resentment magnifying a hundred fold from within the layers of his beating heart. Could he forgive the sins of the past? Could he move on past that image? In regards to Naruto—the answer was yes. He had never hated the blonde for the desperation that had led to the permanent loss of his right eye, and maybe that was simply because he could never hate Naruto. It was true that he had been angry that day, that he’d said things he regretted and even worse—didn’t say the things that were most important. But that hadn’t stopped the blonde from understanding. Yes, perhaps it was Naruto who had understood too well. Those blue eyes having seen through his tears and past the pitiful words that he himself had so badly wanted to believe. In that hour he had spewed his most regrettable lies, even if at the time he believed them to be the truth.
Of course Sasuke knew the difference now, though maybe he had known it back then as well—an image so thick that he had tried to distort it; keeping the truth from himself because the realization of what lied beneath was too hard to swallow. He really was a contemptuous fool in that sense –ignorant, if not arrogant– and yet his dobe had sacrificed so much for him. The greatest of all acts, for the most selfless of reasons; to save the person he loved. But Sasuke knew that he wasn’t worthy of that salvation. That he never had been and never would be. Only someone as sweet and kind as Naruto would have been able to look underneath all his hate and wrong doings and see the person that lingered—the real Sasuke Uchiha who was scared and lonely. Sasuke had not wanted the blonde to see that. But again, Naruto had read him too well and that was why Sasuke understood. Why he was able to rationalize his lover’s actions and the course of there début without holding a grudge. No. unlike Tsunade, Sakura and Kakashi –all who had wanted him to believe that remorse had lead Naruto to jump– Sasuke knew that the situation was drawn from much deeper undertones. In fact, he more than anyone, understood that Naruto hadn’t jumped out of guilt but out of desperation and love. The blonde had truly believed that by dying he could save Sasuke. And the reality of it was –the horrible, vile and sickening truth; the one that made Sasuke’s heart constrict with regret, the one that he would do almost anything not to admit, and yet he lived with that pain everyday– was that Naruto had been right. It had taken the sight of his most beloved person hanging on for dear life; hooked up to machines with no will to live, to change Sasuke enough that he could honestly cast his revenge aside—that he could strive to fill his life with something other than hate and darkness.
That day so long ago, when I heard your heart flutter, I honestly thought that you were going to open your eyes. But I was a fool to believe something so childish… that you would just come back to me via the course of a few forsaken tears and my desperate, frail words… “I need you...” Sasuke whispered, his pale hand rising up to touch the cool glass surface of the mirror, the long digits trailing down the reflective image, leaving streaks behind—memories, fragments, a piece of something that was no longer complete. All he could think about was Naruto; about the boy’s face, lips and warmth—how he wished that the blonde could be there with him now.
Sasuke felt his heart break at the thought of Naruto’s smile and the memory of hearing the younger man laugh. It had been too long; a little over six years since he’d been privileged enough to see or hear either of those things, and from that aspect, his body ached with something deeper then just a physical sense of longing. The emptiness in his soul was far greater than the day that Itachi had killed their family or all the nights that he’d spent alone under Orochimaru’s guidance, combined. In many ways, it was like that breaking moment in the Valley of the End. The very first time Sasuke had realized that he cared for Naruto—the very first time that those feelings became notably worthless against his revenge. But right now that pain was
so much worse.
It was those thoughts and dozens just like them that lingered in his mind, collapsing time, until the sound of someone knocking on the bedroom door released him from his psychologically spun prison. Sasuke didn’t need to inquire who was standing outside the door –he’d sensed her presence the second she’d stepped foot inside the apartment– regardless, his eye shifted upward to the corner of the mirror, watching her reflection as Sakura entered his room.
On any other day he wouldn’t have tolerated her lack of respect –he hadn’t given her permission to enter and yet there she stood only a few feet away– but he was quite sure that Sakura understood that he wouldn’t have answered, no matter how many times she knocked or called out to him. He would have simply let her remain outside.
“What do you want?” he whispered, though the words came out harsh. He knew why she was there, but he felt obligated to ask—to really make sure that this wasn’t a sick dream, and that there was no going back to the way things had been. His words were the sentiment of denial, of hope and maybe even insanity. Sasuke had been there when it had happened—the enactment done by his own hands… yet he wanted to deny it now. It was a notion that made him sick. That in some sense, he was yet again living his life in the past; dwelling on things that were over and done with.
I’m so sorry dobe…that it had to be this way. A strong tremor crawled up his spine and Sasuke forced his mind not to think about what had taken place three days ago. Instead, he chose to focus on Sakura’s reflection, taking in her attire with a terrible sense of disdain. In place of her normal pink ensemble there was the making of a simple black dress. The expensive silk hanging off her shoulders as it was draped loosely around her body. In complement, the shade reflected back in a glossy sophisticated manner; the long, airy material flaring out slightly at the waist before dancing from her hips down to her knees in a weightless fashion that executed perfection. Although the color didn’t suit her complexion –black was too morbid for the Kunoichi–
it was fitting for such a mournful day. A factor that was supported –and one that Sasuke couldn’t help but mull over– via the way that the dark threads made her slightly swollen eyes seem even more prominent; the sight clearly a testimony to the lack of sleep that she’d recently been suffering from, and a premonition of all those that had yet to come.
Even if his eyes were only half-usable at best, Sasuke could see that Sakura was trying to keep her real feelings hidden—well, as best that she could. The enactment might have been flawlessly presented in regards to other people, but Sasuke understood better then most. He saw all the dark little secrets that she was trying to keep hidden, the questions and feelings and the excuse of ‘it wasn’t your fault’ shadowed behind her silence.
He knew that it was those four words that she wanted to say the most. Though, he also knew that she wouldn’t dare.
Absentmindedly Sasuke wondered if he’d looked the same way to Naruto—if his dobe had heard the unspoken plea that Sasuke had whispered endlessly in his heart? The answer to that came rather quickly though. Of course he had. If he hadn’t, then Naruto wouldn’t have jumped.
I did this to us. I hurt us. I broke us and yet I continue to breathe despite the pain flowing endlessly through my lungs. It’s not fair Naruto, the way you still devour me whole. The way I want to sink inside of you, letting our souls become one…Was I ever even real without you by my side? Am I just a fragment of life slipping away now? Clearing her throat, Sakura flexed her hands nervously and looked up to the boy that she had loved for so long—that she still loved, but only as a friend. With all honestly she was worried about him and how he was really handling the situation. He wouldn’t talk to her though, and she had enough respect not to ask. “I’m sorry for not waiting outside… it’s just…” The girl’s voice cracked and Sakura grew silent once more. Afraid to say those delicate words that were more breakable then a sheet of freshly blown glass… afraid that if she were to voice herself clearly, that she might shatter the pale image before her. Sasuke was hurting more than he let on; even if it didn’t show—that only meant that he was hurting that much
more.
“I’m sorry,” she repeated, maybe not so much for coming in uninvited, but for something much deeper, for the reason that they were all gathering together that day.
“Hn,” was the only sound to pass his lips, his idiosyncrasy glare coming into play. He didn’t have to say anything else because he knew that she’d understand.
Sasuke was reluctant to admit it out loud, but Sakura really was a nice girl. Over the last six years, she’d come to understand him in ways that other people couldn’t and even more surprisingly, she’d stopped chasing him like a love sick puppy. Still, their level of friendship was insignificant when waged against the bigger picture. Naruto was the only one that really mattered; everyone else could just cease to exist.
Sasuke’s eye shifted back to look at his own reflection. Smoothing out the creases in his suit, he wondered why he couldn’t be happy. Naruto had given away his life for him, but Sasuke didn’t understand how he was supposed to go on without the other. In matters of pride, he would have gotten on his hands and knees and begged for a different outcome, anything so that he didn’t have to break his promise…
I promised with all my heart that I’d never give up on you… I promised forever, that what you gave me would not be in vain. And then, from the depths of my heart, I made another vow, and this time I was sure that my words would not break. They were the REAL words that I know you wanted to hear, the ones that you jumped for... because that day, six years ago, I hadn’t been honest— not with you, or myself. I’m sorry Dobe, for being so unreasonably unfair. Sasuke played with the wedding band that he had on his ring finger. It wasn’t something official, but who needed a piece of paper to explain the way he felt. In the place of an ‘I do’ he had spoken the words from his heart to his sleeping lover. He had committed himself to loving only the blonde—knowing that he would never care for anyone as much as he did for Naruto. That what they had was an all or nothing deal. And yet, he had still ended up breaking that promise…he could only hope that Naruto would understand…
Fiddling with the lace that trimmed the collar of her black gloves, Sakura watched her friend and sucked in a deep breath; her words carefully drawn as she knew the inevitable had to take place. “Sasuke…it’s time. We don’t want to keep the other’s waiting.”
One dark eye shifted upward, away from his reflection and the third button on his jacket –the one that at some point he’d absentmindedly started staring at– up to the corner where he could again see Sakura’s image standing by the door. “Let them wait. I don’t care.”
How long did I wait—and yet you still leave me waiting. I need you here with me dobe…I need your arms wrapped around me and your voice to comfort me. I can’t do this on my own. And yet I have to, don’t I? “You’re not alone in this…”
“Shut-up Sakura, I don’t need to hear your bullshit. You aren’t fooling me, so it’s best that you keep your fucking mouth shut…”
The Kunoichi flinched, but said nothing more. Over the years Sasuke had changed. He’d always been a bastard, but that term seemed lenient amid these darkening days. Naruto’s desire for Sasuke to forget about Itachi and find a new reason to live, may have worked, but it was a statement that could only be expressed so far. In countless ways, Sasuke had continued to let himself fade. The years spent by Naruto’s slumbering form having taken a toll on his mentality, just as the weight of his own enactments were now pushing him to the edge.
In earnest, Sakura could tell Sasuke wasn’t sleeping. That he hadn’t eaten or even left his house in days. Still, she did nothing to sate that spiraling confliction that would eventually offer the raven death. Not out of spite or regret for Sasuke’s past sins. But because, she wasn’t the one that Sasuke loved—she wasn’t Naruto. And she couldn’t save him no matter how hard she wanted to.
Figuring that it was best to give the Uchiha heir a few more minutes to cope, Sakura simply turned around and opened up the door. “I’ll be waiting outside for you. Please don’t take too much longer. Tsunade doesn’t want to start the funeral without you.”
With that, Sakura slipped out of the room, leaving a tearful Sasuke hunched over on the floor; his mind spinning within a calamity of pain.
Dobe… …... Boots clacked down the long hallway of the apartment complex. The figure, who was dressed in a lavender tank top and light blue jeans, having slipped in through the back door so as not to be hindered by the pink-haired Kunoichi. He wasn’t there to hear or to see that bitch after all. He’d only come for Sasuke. To comfort his friend and perhaps ease the pain in the raven’s heart. It was true that he and Sasuke hadn’t spoken for almost four years. But that void did not disrupt the bond that they had forged so long ago; ties that could not so easily be cast aside, even if it was better to do so.
Suigetsu paused as he passed though one door and approached another that coveted a familiar Chakra behind its rusty hinges. Without a doubt, he knew that his former captain and alley lay beyond that threshold; weeping for the mistakes of his past and the enviable outcome that had so viscously befell them three days ago.
Not bothering to knock, the silver-haired man turned the old brass knob and entered the room. Sympathetic eyes drifting to the trembling figure sprawled out on the floor. “Sasuke…?”
A puffy red orb threaded with wisps of black glanced upward, taking in the figure who was lingering above him. Through the patches of obstructing tears, he was able to put a name to the voice, but cared little to express it formally. Sasuke didn’t want to see Suigetsu, because he was just another reminder of Orochimaru and Itachi—his wasted years, time that would have been better spent with his dobe. “Get out…” he ordered.
“I heard about what happened—“
“I said, go away!” Sasuke repeated; his voice cold and calculated. He didn’t have the energy to fight the other man. He simply wanted to be left alone in his misery and tears.
If Suigetsu held any indication of this shared knowledge –what might be considered an obvious hint by the angry voice and the other’s composure– then he certainly didn’t heed it. Instead, he opted to press on; stepping into the room and shutting the door. It was a simple indication to the raven that he would not just go away—that he would [i]not[/i] abandon Sasuke the way that Naruto had.
Suigetsu would not lie to himself, he had always been jealous of the friendship between Sasuke and the blonde. Even when the two had been on opposing teams, he had seen that the Hebi leader cared about the loud mouth annoyance—even going as far as to inform
the team that they were never to seriously harm the boy, no matter what the circumstances. Countless times, the silver-haired man had asked himself why it was that Sasuke never recruited Naruto to go against Itachi, but he could never figure it out. Surely the blonde would have done so, if only the Uchiha would have asked… and then, maybe things would have turned out differently. Because in the end it had been Naruto who had handed all of them their asses; who’d broken past Karin, Juugo and then finally Suigetsu in order to fight Sasuke—and he had defeated the raven teen with impeccable ease.
And Sasuke had simply accepted it.
Uchiha, Sasuke who never accepted anything—had simply allowed for Naruto to take him back.
It was something that the silver-haired man didn’t understand. But what confused him even more, was that once Sasuke had come home –back to Konoha, the place that he hated so much– he’d opted to stay. The raven had willing served out his sentence and then worked his way back up in Rank. He had become a member of ANBU and acquired even more strength. He had continued to pledge his hate for Itachi, and yet… Sasuke didn’t pursue that dream. Suigetsu had never understood that either, but he had a good reason to believe that Naruto had. It was just one more thing to add to the very long list of reasons of why Suigetsu hated the blonde.
Naruto had held Sasuke back, he’d made him weak. He’d broken him in ways that went far beyond pride and honor. Naruto had loved Sasuke, saved Sasuke, damned Sasuke and even now, when that [i]bastard[/i] was dead, the raven couldn’t be happy. Naruto’s love had made sure of that.
Sasuke watched with annoyance as Suigetsu just stood there. The man’s green eyes lost to another world before he suddenly came to, and with a sad smile, walked over and knelt beside the raven.
“I thought I told you to get lost!” the younger of the two hissed.
Suigetsu simply smirked and looked into the single, dark eye that had once sent the strongest of warrior’s running away with fear. Right now, there wasn’t anything remotely intimidating about it. Rather opposite to that; there lingered a sense of dread and traces of a withering resolve. “It’s not the end of the world, you know?”
Reaching out Suigetsu cupped the man’s pale cheek with his hand, brushing the tears away with the edge of his thumb. Even when frail and broken, Sasuke’s beauty never ceased to amaze him. The Uchiha was like a divine god that one read about in the pages of a mythology book. A forbidden image that had been cast down to the mortal plain because he was too beautiful to be in heaven and much too wicked to exist in hell. He was something exotic and tempting, and Suigetsu envied the blonde for being the only one to have ever touched the Uchiha heir in such an intimate way. “Let me make you feel good Sasuke-kun.” The silver-haired man whispered, pressing his lips softly against the other man’s.
The raven didn’t move; he simply sat there and let the other man give him a soft kiss. Was he supposed to care? Was he supposed to feel something special? Sasuke doubted it, because Naruto was the only one who could love him that way. But in times like these, maybe that didn’t matter…
Moving to press a set of tender kisses against the boy’s jaw bone, Suigetsu continued to speak. “Let me warm your soul. Let me take away your pain.”
Sasuke could feel his former teammate pushing him back, the hard ground lingering uncomfortably beneath him, and yet he didn’t stop Suigetsu’s advances. Instead, the raven simply looked up to the ceiling; his one eye blinking every so often, trying to adjust to the surreal feeling that was smothering him.
“Let me comfort you…”
Suigetsu was straddling him now. The man’s hands working at the black dress coat, skillfully undoing the buttons, one at a time. Soon, those same well-skilled hands were unfolding the flaps of the jacket, beginning the long process of unbuttoning the stark white shirt that sheathed Sasuke’s torso.
“Let me save you…” Came the soft promise, words that Suigetsu whispered lustfully, before leaning down to kiss the raven; working his tongue into the other’s mouth.
Suigetsu drew the kiss like magic, not in the least bit discouraged that Sasuke was not responding. After all, it wasn’t like the raven was pushing him away, which meant some part of the broken man beneath him still wanted to be saved. Except this time, Naruto wasn’t there to do. This time, the blonde couldn’t hold or kiss Sasuke in the way that he needed to be loved and Suigetsu would make no complaints if he was allowed to fill that empty space.
Parting for air, the younger man worked his mouth down Sasuke’s chest, stopping to suck and play with the raven’s perky nipples. The fact that they were erect –as was the lower half of Sasuke’s body– was a good indication that he was at least making some progress in getting the other aroused. Taking the chance, Suigetsu continued to venture lower, drawling lazy circles across the pale taut abs, dipping his wickedly long tongue into the navel, while at the same time, working his hands to remove Sasuke’s pants.
Suddenly, a firm grip enclosed his wrist and he looked up to see one dark eye, glaring coldly at him. “I won’t disgrace Naruto like
that. Get off me and get the fuck out of here.”
“Why should I? Naruto’s not here. And you
need this Sasuke. That little shit-head punk may have had the balls to jump off that ledge to save your sorry ass; but that was just the first step! He ain’t here to help you with the rest. Uzumaki couldn’t save you and be your happiness at the same time—so why do you keep expecting it? Why not try and let someone else make you happy, you selfish bastard!”
“You wanna help me, is that it, Suigetsu?” Sasuke questioned his voice void of all emotion as he released his painful grip on the man’s wrist. Tenderly, that same extremity worked its way over the bulge in Suigetsu’s pants, kneading the erection before moving up to graze over the man’s stomach and then his shoulder. “You wanna make me feel better…? Help me forget about Naruto?”
“Yeah, I do.” He replied, only to wince at the pressure summoned from the palm lying flat against his shoulder. Sasuke had pooled his chakra there; a flow of raw, yet strangely balanced energy swallowing up the left side of his chest with a heated burn. Suddenly that pinch of discomfort rose to an unbearable level and a sharp pain cut through his skin. The layers severing like harshly plucked strings. The searing power was nearly enough to take his arm off if not for the fact that his body was the constitution of water. It took a few seconds, but Suigetsu quickly realized that Sasuke had just used the Chidori on him.
Feeling the full weight of the attack hit him, the silver-haired man slipped off of Sasuke’s body, the liquid flesh becoming solid once again. He had gravely misjudged his former comrade. Sasuke was not weak. He was not as brittle or as withered as he led others to believe. No. In fact the Uchiha had probably never been stronger as he was in that moment. Suddenly, Suigetsu knew that his presence was no longer wanted.
“He still gives you strength, doesn’t he? Even in times like these…”
The Uchiha said nothing as he pulled himself off the floor; taking the time to fix his shirt and jacket before wandering over to the dresser to grab a solid black tie. Working the knot he let his eye drift down to his former teammate before finally responding.
“Naruto is the only one that will ever have what I need. He is the only person I will ever want, and I will never forget about him. Nothing you, or anyone else can offer, will ever replace him in my heart." Sasuke swiftly walked over to the door; tipping his head slightly to the left as he gave a short pause. “I expect you to be gone when I get back. I no longer have any need to associate myself with you. If you ever show up here again, I
will kill you.”
Then just like that, Sasuke was gone.
…... The funeral was nothing extravagant; those who had held former ties with the deceased had gathered together, expressed a few words and left quietly. It had not rained like Sasuke had thought, though in many ways, he believed that it should have. Tsunade had been kind enough to make the opening speech, and Sasuke was genuinely thankful. The raven was quite sure that his voice would have betrayed him, and he hadn’t been up to showing his real emotions in front of a group of people. In equal appreciation, Kakashi closed the service with a kind word. They’d then tossed their carnations over the casket and wandered off, leaving the raven in peace.
As the sunset lingered in the skies above –a full four hours after the deceased had been put to rest in the ground– Sasuke was still standing there, looking at the grave; contemplating the fact that he had broken his promise. It was getting late and he knew that he should really get back, but he couldn’t find in within himself to move. His dark eye just kept reading the words engraved on the headstone, wondering if it was really true. Was he really gone? Everyone told Sasuke that he should have been relieved—but he couldn’t bring himself to think that way. He had done something terrible and now he didn’t know if he could ever live with the results. Naruto was his life, his world. Sasuke had fallen so low that he’d been destroying himself—and yet Naruto had given him the most precious gift. But it all felt wasted. He had never been worthy. He had never deserved that form of love. He had turned his back on the blonde and sought power with Orochimaru; he had almost killed his best friend on multiple occasions. Sasuke had even recruited a team to oppose Itachi, and Naruto hadn’t been among them. As for the reason why… that seemed so simple. It had never felt right to ask Naruto. It was a decision that he was reassured of, when on that fateful day all those years ago, the dobe had heedlessly taken down team Hebi. During that battle, Sasuke had looked into blue eyes not red. Naruto hadn’t evoked Kyuubi’s power –not even for a second as they fought– and yet the blonde had beaten him. His dobe had become stronger—so strong that he could have probably killed Itachi with little strain. All it would have taken was for Sasuke to ask… but he hadn’t. His pride wouldn’t allow it. His hate wouldn’t allow it. Sasuke had been determined to gain that strength on his own, but each day that he lived with Naruto he was reminded that the other boy was stronger, each time he saw the blonde, the Uchiha heir had known that he was weak in comparison.
And so eventually, some part of Sasuke had stopped trying. He trained, but not nearly as hard as he should have. He ate, but only enough so that he could barely function. He started activating his Sharingan more and more, damaging his eyes. He’d been destroying himself without wanting to or meaning to, and yet some part of him had known. A tiny, small part that he’d refused to listen to, a slice of his conscious that had wanted Naruto to save him from himself, although Sasuke had no idea what form of salvation it would take. He had brought this fate upon them. Naruto had seen past his mask, and on that day, in their apartment, his beloved dobe had asked the one question that sealed their fate.
“You’ll never live here with me in the present will you, Sasuke? Not when Itachi is haunting your past.” It was true; they had both known it was. And when Sasuke hadn’t answered with words, but rather tears, he was sure that the blonde had come to the decision to kill himself then. Because wasn’t the old saying true—actions speak louder than words? And didn’t his silence –hadn’t his tears– answered the question in a much louder voice then if he had actually articulated them?
Looking over the grave for what felt like the millionth time, the raven shook his head. It shouldn’t have come to this. It should have never come this far… His hate for Itachi, his hate against himself…his love for the Dobe, the crumbling foundation of his broken promise…
Finally feeling the full blow of those emotions, Sasuke collapsed to his knees, tears dripping from his pained visage as the feelings churning inside of him devoured him whole. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his right hand reaching into the inner liner of his jacket, pulling out a small sharp Kunai. In truth, he had been contemplating suicide for the last three days. He knew that death wasn’t the right answer in regards to what Naruto had given him, but his guilt was heavy—even heavier now as he read the name engraved on the stone.
Uchiha Itachi… Yes. It was his brother who was buried six feet beneath him. Because Itachi had come for Naruto countless times, and this last time death for the elder had been unavoidable.
Sasuke sighed and gripped the kunai in his hand tighter, raising it to his chest like something dear. Albeit to the heroic measure, was the irony to the notion. He’d finally been able to let go of his hate—only to turn around and break that resolve by betraying Naruto’s gift. He wasn’t worthy of this life. He wasn’t worthy to be there when –and if– the blonde ever woke up. “I’m so sorry…” he repeated, his eyes glancing from the grave down to the kunai. Was it Itachi or Naruto he was speaking to… he wasn’t sure. Perhaps though –as he placed the blade against his wrist; momentum pressing it deep– he was asking for forgiveness from them both.
“Thank you. Thank you for believing in me when no one else did…for standing by me and loving me so selflessly for so long. I never deserved any of the kind things you did for me, but in your heart, you still gave me all that you had. Forgive me, Naruto, for being weak…for not seeing what I had in front of me until it was too late. I will always love you.” Author’s Note: I will finish this trilogy up and post the final part soon. I already have it started. I hope you all enjoyed the story as sad as it was. Thoughts/comments and feedback about this chapter would be [u]extremely[/u] loved. Thank you for reading
