Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Sacrifice ❯ Unrequited Love ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter Nine: Unrequited Love

 

Time stood still, unmoving, as Sasuke stared at Ikimono, eyes wide, mind racing, heart beating so fast, he wondered faintly if he was having a heart attack.

“You…” Sasuke's lips barely moved, face numb. “What are you talking about? I just met you!”

Ikimono's face turned livid, and her voice shook with badly concealed fury. “Just met me? Just met me? Take a good look at me, Sasuke, and tell me what you see!” Her eyes shone with freshly spilled tears, and not wanting to aggravate her further, he did his best to calm her down.

“Look, just calm down!”

“Tell me what you see!”

“Fine, I see a very pretty girl crying.”

She snorted, indignant but somewhat quieter. “Flattery will get you nowhere, Sasuke.” She grabbed his shoulders, and with surprise he realized that she had somehow grown five inches in the past half hour or so. She was now nearly eye-to-eye with him. Her green eyes glittered with some unknown emotion. “Look at me. No, Sasuke, I mean it. Really, really look at me.”

And so he looked her over again, doing his best to try and figure out what she was talking about. Her pale, glowing complexion, bright green eyes, full red lips, shining black hair, slightly tapered ears, long curved eyelashes, smooth, arched eyebrows, slightly upturned nose, delicate neck, sharp white teeth, thin but strong arms and legs, a figure most women dreamed of, and finally, her neatly manicured and glossy fingernails, narrowed to a point, digging into his skin. As he registered this last observation, something triggered his memories.

It had been one of his better memories, happening right before the murder of Kira's parents. As he was swept away into the sanctuary of his mind, he was once again eight, and Kira was with him. They were walking by the small stream by the meadow, and, according to Kira, they were searching for where the stream came from.

“See this stream, Sasuke?” Her voice was soft, melodious, her black hair gently ruffled by the summer wind.

“Yes, Kira. It's beautiful.” Like you, Sasuke thought, walking behind her, watching her silently.

“This stream comes from a big river, and that big river is sure to have lots of adventures!” Her voice was confident, unwavering. He greatly admired her pride and self-motivation.

“That will be fun.” Sasuke said, studying her neck, secretly thinking that it was like a swan, delicate but strong. A pang of heartache hit him as he realized that he had no chance of being with her. Even though he was tall for his age and he was almost as tall as she was and that he had skipped many grades, their ages kept them apart.

She turned around on him suddenly, studying him. “What's wrong with you, Sasuke? You usually talk and talk and talk. Why are you so quiet?”

Because I've finally realized I love you, thought Sasuke, but instead he answered, “I don't know. I don't feel very well.”

She leaned in close and touched foreheads with him. He flushed, much to his embarrassment. “Hmm, you're a bit hot, but you should be fine. Do you want to go home? We can do this another day.”

“No!” He was abashed by his own eagerness. “Lets…let's go.”

And she had smiled at him. She slowed down so he could catch up. They walked in silence for a while, each enjoying the other's company, and when she finally spoke, her expression was so mischievous that Sasuke momentarily wondered if she had stuck a lizard in his pack again. He snuck a peek into his pack. No lizard in sight.

“—you know?” With horror, Sasuke realized that he had missed everything she'd said.

“I…I…” Sasuke, mortified, stared at his feet, not knowing what to say.

Kira laughed. “You weren't listening, were you?”

Shame-faced, he shook his head.

“Alright, dummy, listen this time!”

He nodded, sneaking up a glance.

“I said, you know how our parents say that we're two years apart?”

He looked up, confused. “Yes…I'm eight, you're ten.”

She laughed again. “Turns out it's not that clear-cut! I found out a secret!” She put a conspiratorial finger on her blood red lips. “See—”

She hadn't gotten to finish her sentence. There was a yell behind them. It came from a young girl, also with black hair, but so far in the distance that Sasuke couldn't tell who it was. Kira rolled her eyes.

“Ugh, it's my sister. Whatever, I'd better go.” She turned to go, but he grabbed her arm.

“But, Kira, what did you find out?”

She looked him up and down. “I'll tell you next time I see you, Sasuke.” She said mysteriously. When she saw him pout, she laughed. “I've really got to go, Sasuke.”

“Fine. Bye.”

She smiled at him, then leaned in close. She took hold of his shoulders, leaned in closer, and kissed him on the cheek. Then she ran away, but turned back and waved. “Bye, Sasuke!”

And he had just stood there, shock-still.

As if on cue, sun came out from behind the clouds and shone so brightly, he almost had to squint. He still remembered her scent, lavender like the flower garden she so desperately took care of. He remembered how close she had been. He remembered the feel of her soft lips against his flushed skin. And he remembered her hands, her nails digging into his skin…just like Ikimono was doing now.

“Well?”

He returned to the present with an unpleasant jolt. He had relived that moment many times over in his head and would give anything to see Kira again. He never had found out what she'd meant to tell him. Her parents were murdered that night, and the next time he'd talked to her, it was the night that she left.

Ikimono was staring at him with such intensity that he squirmed under her gaze. “Well, do you know me now?”

“Of course I know you...”

But she gathered the worst from the look on his face. “Oh, geez, do I honestly have to tell it to your face?”

As she said that line, something hit Sasuke with the force of a giant hammer. It was realization. Time sped up again, but he felt like he was lagging. His limbs felt as heavy as giant boulders, and his lips were numb and pretty much useless. He fought to keep his emotions at bay. He mentally slapped himself for being so stupid and slow. Exhilaration and nostalgia flooded him, but there was still some disbelief. He had to make sure.

He leaned in close to her, startling her. Their foreheads touched. “Hmm, you're a bit hot, but I think you'll be fine.” She flushed, but before she could talk again, he went on. “You never did tell me what you found out.”

And before he could go on, she let out a little squeal, wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him.

 

 

Luckily, Sakura had found a sort of leather poncho in one of Kisame's pockets (along with some other things she felt were worth taking). However, the rain was still horridly unforgiving and the road horribly steep, so as Sakura trudged sullenly through the forest, clutching her pack, she tripped on a slimy root and fell promptly on her backside. She yelped as her clothes were thoroughly soaked with mud. She let loose a string of curses, for there was no one around to hear her gripe, and did her best to brush off leaves and random junk now plastered all over her clothes.

She stared at the sky angrily. “Why can't this all clear up?” The only response was a flash of lightening and the boom of thunder. Sakura scowled and moved on. After what seemed like an hour of endless walking (and thoughts of Sasuke), she finally saw a village up ahead. As she neared its borders, the sky immediately brightened and the sun came out again. As she stared at the sun in awe, someone tapped her on her thigh. Horrified, she was about to kick whoever had the nerve to do that, but as she looked down, she realized that it was actually a little girl who couldn't reach any higher.

“Who are you?” The girl was extremely cute, with large brown eyes and light brown, almost red hair pulled back in plaits. “Are you new here?”

“Oh, hello. I'm Sakura…umm…yes…I'm new. Where am I?”

“This is the Village Hidden in the Sky.”

“The sky? You can't possibly mean I'm in the sky.”

She looked at Sakura sourly. “You're not saying I'm lying, are you? I'm forbidden to lie…”

“Oh, no! No! Not at all…I'm sorry, I'm just a bit shaken, that's all…” Sakura was a little disgruntled, as the little girl stared into her eyes, as if searching for something.

But the girl refused to lower her gaze. “You came from down there.”

“From Hell?” Sakura tried to loosen the atmosphere, but the girl didn't laugh.

“It might as well be.” She said, looking down with a hint of a grimace, as though there were things down there she'd rather not talk about. Sakura knew better than to ask. This girl, though only maybe seven years old, was wiser than her, and with a shorter temper. She was better left alone.

But Sakura needed to talk to someone. “Is there an elder or someone I can talk to?”

The girl glared up at her. “What, you think that I'm just a little girl?” She leaned in closer. “What would you say if I said I was hundreds of years old?” She whispered conspiratorially, “What would you say then?”

Sakura frowned. “I'd say that was impossible.”

The girl grinned, shaking her head. “You're wrong.” She said, almost spitefully, “There's nothing that's impossible.” She doubled up and laughed raucously. When her head came back to view, it was changed. It was the face of an older woman. She smiled and laughed again at Sakura's shock, and a cloud of smoke erupted around her.

Sakura was swept off her feet and landed on her back. She inhaled smoke suddenly, and spat it out just as quickly. She sat back up warily. In front of her stood an old woman, a little shorter than Sakura, with dark brown hair dashed with silver tied back in a bun. Her back was straight and her eyes sharp like a falcon's, piercing right through Sakura. She was young looking for her age, and there were hardly any wrinkles on her face. Her face was lightly tanned and her lips thin and red. When she smiled again, her teeth were completely white and straight. In other words, she was a beautiful young angel, for one old enough to have great-great-great-great-grandchildren.

Sakura gaped at her. “You…you transformed!”

She smiled. “I don't think we've been properly introduced yet. My name is Toki.”

But Sakura would not be deterred. “Wait a moment. You can't be hundreds of years old. You look like…like someone who's thirty, or younger. And that transformation…the smoke shouldn't blow me back. Choke me; make me cough, maybe, but not blow me back a couple feet. That was no normal transformation. And I've never heard of such a transformation either...”

Toki laughed. “Good, good, I remember when I was that age. Very curious.” She leaned back against a wooden pole behind her and smiled. “Almost rebellious. Well, I was born with a gift to…almost…live forever. I can become whatever age I want. Very useful, actually. I can slip out of crimes I've committed since I can be years younger or older in seconds.” She grinned. “Yes, very useful…”

Sakura shook her head, confused. “Okay, okay. But what did you mean when you said I came from hell?”

“There used to be a village down there. It was simply beautiful, with waterfalls and everything. There were birdsongs to wake you every morning. The people that lived there were gorgeous, like gods and goddesses.” Her face clouded over. “Then Itachi came and ruined their paradise. He killed many of them and kept the rest of them as slaves. Then he took advantage of their land and built a fortress. Now barely anyone can get in.” She eyed Sakura suspiciously. “Or out, for that matter. How did you manage it?”

“I had the help of someone inside.” Sakura said, toying with her weapons pouch. “I wonder if he's alright now. If he's found out, he'll probably be killed.”

“Someone you love.”

“No! No, I hate him.”

“Then why would you care?”

“Because…he risked his life to save me, and I don't want him to die at my expense.” Under the woman's unwavering look, she hastily added, “And I want to know why he did what he did.”

“Sometimes there aren't reasons to why you do things. Sometimes they're just on an impulse.”

Sakura frowned. “It's unwise to follow impulses.”

“And you're telling me, little girl? First of all, I'm a wise woman. I'll decide whether or not something is wise. And second, the only reason you're here is because of an impulse.”

“Psychic as well.” Sakura muttered bitterly, glaring at the floor.

“I'll read your fortune, dear, in exchange for information on how you got out. I have a friend that they hold prisoner there.” Before Sakura could decline, Toki said, “You'd be surprised how realistic my fortune telling is, my dear.”

“Alright, fine…and maybe for some food too. I'm starving.”

Once inside the woman's hut, she took out a bag and poured out small, smooth white objects with runes on them.

“What are they?” wondered Sakura, touching one. It was cold, but they seemed to hold great power.

“They're bones, my dear, of the greatest wise woman that ever lived. My great-great-great-great-great—”

“I get it, I get it.”

“Then be quiet and don't scream when I do this.”

“Do what?”

Toki grabbed Sakura's wrist, and with a deft flick of a blade concealed in her fist, drew blood. Sakura felt sick as Toki put a drop of blood on each bone disk. When she was done, she healed it and let go. Sakura clutched her wrist balefully and looked at Toki suspiciously.

“Oh hush, girl, it couldn't have hurt that much.” Toki chided, using her chakra to lift the bones in the air. They spun round and round, faster and faster until all she could see was a white and red blur. Then, abruptly, Toki let them fall.

After pondering and studying them for a while, Toki looked up at Sakura, a newfound respect in her eyes.

“Your death is near, and it will be caused by the one you love most. The one you would die for is in deep trouble. He had fallen in love with someone that can only mean his suffering. That person is a spirit that inhabits another's body. Not an evil spirit, but one that will go as far as to kill in order to keep the one she loves with her. She wouldn't die for him, but she would kill for him. She has a love for him that runs so deep it's almost an obsession. The worst kind of love; the most dangerous.” Toki's eyes filled with tears. “You'll never know what it is like to be really, truly loved. You'll die before then. And the worst part of it is…it'll be a noble death, but that death is caused by love.”

“By…love?”

Toki didn't answer for a long time. Instead, she stared at the runes in front of her. “Love…it's the best and the worst part of us. If you don't want to die soon, then don't love. Give up on him, Sakura, because he can't ever love you back.”

“But…I have a chance, Toki, he's finally coming around…”

“This girl is obsessive, Sakura. He can't ever love you. He's loved her from the moment they met.”

“But he said…he's never been in love before.”

“He lied. His love is carved in his heart. They're meant to be together. Don't be foolish, Sakura. Are you really willing to die for something like this?”

Sakura looked at Toki. “Yes.” But her heart was aching with fresh wounds. Why, Sasuke…why?

 

<Ooohh Sasuke, you're in trouble!! x] Sorry for the long lapse in between chapters, packing for a cruise to the Caribbean next week for my 14th birthday!! =D Enjoy!!>