Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Help Me To Remember ❯ Retrogression ( Chapter 3 )

I own nothing.

 

Retrogression (v) the act of going back to a previous place or state; return or reversion

 

This one was different, as far as the setting went and time went, at least.

 

Sasuke flopped onto his side, the two cold pills in his system doing wonders in keeping him asleep.

 

The girl was now six, running through a snow covered field, her thick cloak trailing behind her and the hem of her deep blue dress getting ruined, but she didn't care. The wind whipped her hair—down to her middle back—around her face, but the smile never wavered on her lips.

 

She was laughing… unusual for someone of her coven… but she couldn't help it.

 

She stumbled and gathered up her cloak to keep it out of the way before scrambling into a hollowed out old tree. She giggled, pressing a hand over her mouth to stifle it.

 

She poked her head out of the tree, looking for him through the snow. It wasn't often that her brother agreed to play with her, so she was going to relish in it as long as she possibly could.

 

“Achoo!”

 

The girl lifted her head up, looking around. That was not her brother's voice. She warily stood, her eyes scanning the surrounding area.

 

“Achoo! Kyuu…?”

 

She trotted through a small grove of trees, finding a small boy with golden hair in a small ponytail at the nape of his neck—just her age—in the snow, his arms wrapped around him as he shivered uncontrollably.

 

“Kyuu?!” the boy called louder, and promptly sneezed again, making himself fall over backwards.

 

She stepped carefully over to the boy, who hadn't risen from the snow. “Are… are you hurt?” she leaned over him.

 

The boy opened his eyes, looking weakly up at her. The girl's eyes narrowed; the boy's lips were blue, and he was shaking so bad that he was sending up flurries of snow around him, he had practically frozen to death. She untied the thick, dark blue cloak from around her shoulders, draping it over him as she helped him up.

 

“I'm Sasuka.” She told him, forcing a smile. Needless to say she wasn't too happy about him interrupting her play with her older brother, but as the boy smiled back at her, trust filling his eyes, her smile turned genuine.

 

The scene blurred, and was almost instantly replaced by another one.

 

Sasuka looked about thirteen now, and she looked mad as she stormed the ancient house, hunting through every mouse hole for something.

 

“Where is he?!” she snapped to herself, flipping her summer shawl out of the way over her shoulders to check in another room.

 

“Sasuka, your guest is here.”

 

“I'm coming brother.” She leaned into another room, searching for that golden hair, and sighing in frustration when he wasn't there. “I'm coming.” She repeated in defeat, checking herself one last time in the mirror before starting down the stairs.

 

Her navy blue dress that was lined with pearls had been chosen for the occasion, and draped delicately across the floor around her feet, the neck line dipping dangerously low, giving a full view of her well-defined collar bones and porcelain skin. Her black summer shawl wrapped loosely around her neck, and was pushed back over her shoulders helped to give her the illusion of standing tall, so she didn't have to try as hard, and her long black hair—usually up in a bun or a braid—was loose on her back, cascading over her shoulder blades and curling slightly at her thighs. She had let it grow so long because her father—normally not interested in her—was always bragging about her silken ebony hair, which was as black as the night sky.

 

Sasuka let her fingertips lightly skim the railing and her other hand lifted one side of her skirts daintily. She hated seeing all of these suitors, because she only had eyes for him (she shot a murderous glare back up the stairs just incase he had decided to show himself), but again, it was for her father. Her father wanted her to be with the richest man, no matter how little he thought of her, and she was going to try her hardest to achieve that wish. But as for her wish, she wished that he would be the one her father would choose.

 

“My Lady Sasuka.” The boy bowed, Sasuka curtsied, recognizing her second cousin, and immediately relaxed.

 

“My Lord.” She returned, taking his arm as he held it out, and walked her into the garden, away from everyone.

 

“So, when do I get to meet him?” he smirked.

 

Sasuka kept her face composed, masking her shock perfectly. “I don't know what you're talking about.” She said curtly.

 

He released her with a quiet laugh. Sasuka sighed, she couldn't hide anything from him, he saw everything.

 

“What am I going to do?” she asked quietly, bringing her arm up to trace the stone statue in the garden with her fingertips. “Father hasn't even met him yet.”

 

“And you feel this strongly about him?” he asked.

 

“You should know.” She said bitterly, her hand clenching tightly around the statue's tail. He just laughed again.

 

“I do.” He replied. “I just want to hear you say it.”

 

“Not now.” She scolded.

 

“And when do I get to meet him?” he repeated, stepping up behind her.

 

“It was going to introduce you today.” Sasuke said tartly as her temper flared. “But he seems to have… disappeared.” She said after consideration of the right word.

 

“Why?”

 

Sasuka sighed, turning to face her second cousin. “Our older siblings haven't been on very good terms for a while, they don't even know we're friends. I don't know, I've only met his mother, and that was an accident. We were both at the market in town a few weeks ago, and he has her eyes, that's how I recognized her.”

 

“Well, you and your family are coming to the ball my family is hosting, right? Invite him and his family; it will be the sort of environment your father wouldn't tolerate an argument from anyone in his family in, and you can all meet on accepting terms.” he offered, his pearl, pupil-less eyes shimmering in the sun.

 

Sasuka smiled. “Thank you.”

 

This new scene was ballroom, not quite as big as Sasuka's family's, but pretty damn close.

 

She was wearing her best dress, the one that her father had brought home just that morning.

 

It was the same deep blue as her other clothes, with a tight bodice laced with silver string and sleeves that stretched all the way up to the last joint in her thumb, with silver and diamond hemming. The skirt of the dress was short enough to show the tips of her shoes when she walked, but long enough in the back so there was a small train. An elegant royal blue and silver cloak—even longer than her dress—had hid her gown until it was removed after she had been introduced, and right away, a hush ran through the crowd at her beauty.

 

It was clear, by the dress and how her father had asked her to leave her hair down and braid pearls into it, that he wanted her to choose someone tonight. She had recently turned 14, and now was the time to choose a husband.

 

Sasuka took her brother's arm as he led her down the stairs, her father doing the same with her mother. Sasuka's eyes flicked around the crowd of people in the ballroom, but nowhere did she see it… that citrine hair.

 

And then he was there, walking towards her and falling into a deep bow. Her brother was clearly shocked at how quickly he had approached them, but said nothing when Sasuka quickly dipped into a curtsy and took his hand, joining the rest of the dancers on the dance floor.

 

Naruto inched warily into Sasuke's room. He honestly didn't think that the Uchiha was able to take naps. Considering how far his head was up his ass, Naruto would've thought that Sasuke would've died before taking a nap. And honestly, he was really scared to try and wake the Uchiha after what had happened this morning, but Gaara was standing above Sasuke's head, and everyone else was at the door, ready to pounce if Sasuke attacked Naruto again.

 

Naruto gulped and bent down. “Sasuke.” He whispered, poking Sasuke's shoulder.

 

As they spun, Sasuka snuck glances at her parents, finding her father perplexed and her mother doing a cross between a few different smiles and a confused expression, but they seemed to not have anything against the courtship. She couldn't help but let a smile form at the corner of her lips. This boy was everything to her, she would die for him and without him, and it must have been in her eyes, because her father didn't even try and step in to take the first dance, as fathers were supposed to get.

 

“So far, so good.” He whispered. Sasuka nodded, looking to his family next. His sister—always sarcastic and never in the best of moods—had recognized Sasuka easily and looked pretty miffed now, but also accepting, as was her ways. Their father—oblivious as ever—hadn't even noticed, but their mother was grinning ear to ear. It was clear what her opinion was.

 

“So far, so good.” She agreed.

 

“You're a good dancer.” He complimented.

 

“We've danced before.” She pointed out.

 

He smiled sheepishly. “Well, yeah, but on your balcony in the middle of the night with no lights so we don't get caught doesn't really count.” He laughed.

 

Sasuka smiled lightly. She didn't know how they matched; he was the sun, always bright and full of warm energy, while in contrast, she was the moon. Not necessarily cold, but mysterious, hidden, not as open or bubbly, and yet they fit together like puzzle pieces. Like how the night and day were meant to fit side by side, so were they.

 

“Sasuke.” Naruto said louder, jabbing hard in the shoulder. Sasuke groaned and Naruto franticly scuttled backwards, peaking out from behind Kiba and rubbing his orange armband as if it was a protection charm.

 

“I think he's still asleep.” Kiba whispered.

 

“Well he moved, just whack him.” Sai said from the background, working on another painting in the kitchen. “That'll wake him up.”

 

“I'll try again.” Naruto gulped audibly and tiptoed forward, leaning over Sasuke and calling his name repeatedly, Gaara still standing protectively by him.

 

“Come on.” He took her hand and led her out onto the balcony; she lifted her skirts and followed eagerly.

 

From behind her, she heard their older siblings talking, exchanging `pleasantries', and then speaking of how they agreed that their siblings matched each other well. She couldn't help but let the smile widen, it was incredibly hard to let her feelings this out in the open, but she wanted to show how much it meant to her.

 

He leaned up against the railing, and she joined him, looking up at the stars.

 

Sasuka turned to him; they were behind one of the overgrown bushes on the balcony… so it would be ok… right?

 

She touched his shoulder lightly, and leaned up on her tiptoes as he looked over. Seeing what she was doing, he leaned down to meet her halfway.

 

Sasuke groaned again, but this time, Naruto forced himself to stand his ground. Sasuke wrenched his eyes open—ignoring how blurry they were—and looked up, the sight of golden hair—the color of citrine—catching his eyes.

 

Normally, if Sasuke hadn't been in such a daze from any extra cold medicine, he wouldn't have sat up, and he would not have slid his hand around Naruto's neck, and he would not, even if his life was being threatened, mistaken Naruto for the boy in the dream and pressed his lips to the stunned blonde's lips.

 

But, seeing as he was in a daze from taking two more pills than recommended, he did wrap his cold, pale hand around the back of Naruto's neck, using the other to keep himself up, and he did pull the blonde in closer to him, pressing his lips to Naruto's.

 

“…Whoa.” Kiba said finally, snapping Sasuke back into the real world. “Did anyone know that they were…?”

 

Everyone shook their heads in reply. Time had stopped. Naruto had been thrown into a catatonic state and Sasuke was desperately praying that this was still a dream, leaping back and spitting violently when it finally caught on with him that he was wide awake.

 

“So…” Kiba said suggestively, wrapping an arm around Sasuke's shoulder, “in the dream…” a feral smirk spread across his face as he turned slowly towards Sasuke, “who was the girl?”

 

Sasuke punched him, hard, and avoided Naruto—still frozen bent over his bed—as he stormed out.

 

“Wait, we needed to know if you could help with the dance!” Kiba shouted, running after him.

 

Sasuke slammed the bathroom door loudly in his face. “No!” he bellowed through the door.

 

“Please?!” Kiba banged loudly on the wood. “Everyone likes you, more people will come if you do!”

 

“I'm asexual!”

 

Kiba blinked. “Huh?”

 

Sasuke faltered as he realized what he had said. “I'm not helping!”

 

“Why not?!”

 

“NO!!”

 

Kiba backed away from the door. “Asexual huh?” he mumbled to himself, looking over at Naruto, who still hadn't even blinked, and shook his head doubtfully. “If you say so.” He muttered sarcastically.

 

Over the Next Week

 

Everyone was helping to ready for the dance. Including Sasuke, no matter how pissed off he seemed.

 

Certain people could only do certain things, namely: Naruto could only hang up non-breakable things, like garlands, and was only given a limited amount to hang. Kiba was also not allowed to bring in decorations, seeing as everything he owned had something related to dogs stamped on it. Sai was kept a minimum of ten feet away from anything related to painting, so he wouldn't `alter' anything, and Gaara wasn't helping. He stood in the corner, watching to make sure that Naruto didn't hurt himself and no one dared approach him to ask for help.

 

Everyone except Naruto, who Sasuke had quickly learned, wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.

 

“Gaara, could you help me hang these?” Naruto dumped a box of garlands into Gaara's hands and ran off. Gaara stared after him dubiously for a moment before just dropping the box and walking to another part of the room. Sasuke sighed and picked it up when Naruto didn't notice, and it was clear that Gaara wasn't coming back for them, being one of the most unsocial and distant people that Sasuke knew. For god's sake, the kid had carved the kanji for love into his forehead!

 

Sasuke balanced the box on his arm and started up the latter, still completely unsure to how he had been roped into doing this.

 

“Argh!” Womp

 

Sasuke turned to find Naruto, on his back, with garlands scattered around him when he'd fallen off the latter. Sasuke rolled his eyes and kept climbing, when it hit him over the head like a ton of bricks, causing his grip to slip.

 

A flash of metal, and blood spattered the length of her dress. The man fell to the ground dead in front of her. She gripped the stained-red dagger in her hands harder and raced forward, ignoring the strain it put on her eight-months-pregnant body. Her eyes flashed, a deep crimson color emerging from their black depths.

 

“Sasuke! Hey! You ok?!”

 

Sasuke forced his eyes to refocus away from that… that… thing. He didn't even know what it was.

 

And Naruto was hovering over him again, his hands on Sasuke's shoulders, like he'd been shaking him. In fact, everyone was hovering over him.

 

He shoved himself up, pushing Naruto roughly away. “I'm fine.” He snapped.

 

“Well, jeez, that'll be the last time I worry about you, bastard.” Naruto returned, sitting back and crossing his arms.

 

“Oh Sasuke!” Ino and Sakura blubbered simultaneously, latching onto him like leeches.

 

“Are you hurt?!” Sakura wailed.

 

“I was so worried!” Ino cried; Sasuke shoved them both off and stood, storming out of the dance hall, ignoring their yells for him to wait.

 

His vision was blurry, and twice he tripped as the scene he'd just seen continued to play itself over and over again in his mind. He staggered again, a found that his legs had deposited him on a log in the forest adjacent to the school where they held training exercises for gangs.

 

He growled and ran his hands through his hair. That wasn't like a dream, it was too… realistic, not to mention he'd been awake at the time, and even his palm hurt… like he'd been the one gripping the dagger as if his life depended on it.

 

“S-Sasuke?”

 

He looked up to find Hinata, Neji's cousin standing ten feet away from him, fidgeting like she always did. He didn't know the girl well, accept for the fact that she was the Hyuuga family heir, was an amazing cook, and wasn't the bravest thing under the sun.

 

“A-are you alright?” she asked quietly. “Y-your ankle…” she trailed off. “D-do you want m-me to l-look at it?”

 

Sasuke looked down to find a very bruised and swollen left ankle. He swore, he must have twisted it when he fell.

 

Hinata hesitantly inched forward and knelt in front of him, her pupil-less, pearl eye scanning his ankle as she pulled a strip of rolled up cloth from her jacket pocket, wrapping his ankle.

 

Sasuke's brow furrowed. Her eyes, they're so much like… his, from my dream.

 

“S-Sasuke?” Hinata stammered.

 

“Yes?” he answered curtly.

 

“We-we're having a meeting tonight, in the girl's dormitory, we planned it while you were sleeping. Are you going to come?”

 

“Maybe.” Probably.

 

“A-and, um… N-Naruto was… w-worried… a-about you.”

 

That made Sasuke's eyes snap back to her; she was looking up at him, and though she was stuttering more than usual, her eyes were strong and determined.

 

“Y-you should t-tell him… that y-you're not hurt.” She stood and walked away.

 

“Hinata!” he stood, ignoring the sharp pang in his left ankle.

 

She turned back, shaking slightly. “Y-yes?”

 

“What… did you mean?” Sasuke could tell how much this girl liked Naruto, every time he was anywhere near her line of vision, her stuttering tripled and her face looked like she'd spray-painted it red. His real question was “Why are you telling me this? Don't you like him?” but he wasn't about to ask her that.

 

“B-because he was.” she stepped backwards, her face giving off an aura of fear that she'd said too much.

 

Sasuke spared her heart the heart attack she was about to give herself and nodded, dropping the topic as he walked away.