#its sasuke’s route and this was bound to happen

[vinsanitae]

I am hurting

[sup-hoes-its-me]

Skinny Love II (Kakashi x Reader)

A/N: second part to skinny love. This is all angst. Very sad. I just watched the pain arc again and had to write something about Kakashi and what happens. Im guessing this could be tagged for spoilers but Naruto is old soooo. 

Word count: 5000

“I’m just saying, maybe the second novel is better than the first. You’re free to have your own opinion, that’s just what I think.”

“Well, you’re wrong.”

“Whatever you say,” Y/N laughed, rolling her eyes at the masked man sitting in front of her. She was sipping on a hot bowl of broth after coming home from her most recent mission. It was a nice day out, and she thought it would be a good idea to go out and get something to eat with her favorite shinobi. He was dangerously possessive over his romance novels, and felt immense embarrassment when Y/N decided to pick them up as well. 

For a week after finishing the series, she mocked him for liking the gushy, mushy romance that lied on the pages, not to mention the more inappropriate chapters that left nothing to the imagination. Master Jiraiya wasn’t kidding when he said he was doing “research” at the bath house.

“We should go out more often,” he commented, “It’s nice to relax with all this Akatsuki business going on.”

“Definitely. We used to go out like this all the time before you started training those kids,” she hummed. It was true. They had normal outings at that point in time, as the only thing they did was go on missions and then chill at home until the next outing. After Naruto and Sasuke revealed their unique personalities, and got themselves into some sticky situations, the times changed and they spent much more time apart than before. “Not to mention going out with you gives me an excuse to eat whatever I want.”

He nodded in reply, his eyes trailing down to his novel once again which he was skimming over. She didn’t mind him reading at the table. What was he supposed to do? Eat? There was no way he would take off the mask. He was content just giving her company. 

His reading gave Y/N an excuse to admire him. Her eyes would lift from the table every time he looked down at the pages, and she would take in all his features. She swore, he was one of the most handsome men she’d ever met, even with the mask. Without a mask, he probably resembled a god. It was nice to just watch as he relaxed into his novel, enjoying himself without any cares in the world. 

She liked to talk to him even more. He always knew the right thing to say to make her feel important and wanted, even on her worst of days, he was there to make it better. He was brave and strong, but kind and gentle when need be. His soft words in the late nights they hung out, or his concern when she injured herself, or the happiness the times she made him laugh. Each moment meant so much more to her than he realized. 

It was evident to everyone that she had an attachment to him. What kind exactly was the complicated part. While they had been friends for quite a long time, she felt like he was more than just a normal friend or even a best friend. He felt more like a partner than anything, whether it be partner-in-crime or partner-in-love. She loved him with every bone in her body, more than she loved her comrades or her friends, she cared for him like she would a lover.

Maybe it was because she was so shy that she couldn’t tell him how she felt after all this time. Maybe it was fear of rejection. Maybe it was fear of death. She wasn’t sure what held her back from confessing her love to him, spilling all those words she kept under lock and key. She wanted there to be something more, but he’d never let on that he cared for her that way, and surely he would have said something if he did feel that way. It just seemed impossible.

But not to the ordinary person. 

People had mentioned in passing to Kakashi that he acted like a lovesick teenager when he was around the woman. She was just so perfect, how could he do anything but adore her. To him, she was one of the only people that truly mattered as more than a fellow shinobi or comrade.

There was no reason to rush it though. If she truly wanted a relationship with him, she would tell him eventually. He wasn’t one to go around throwing out love confessions first. He would wait until she was comfortable and ready. Until then, he would admire her from a distance, through friendly touches and smiles, and dreamy looks when the other wasn’t watching. To him, that was enough. 

This lunch outing was the perfect time to waste some hours with her just talking and reading in the others company. The day almost felt too good to be true. 

And it was.

First there was the explosion, followed by the screams. Oh, those screams would haunt Y/N’s dreams. Villagers who she’d known growing up screaming in pain. Quickly, she jumped to her feet as did the copy nin.  Their eyes frantically looked through the doorway of the restaurant, but there wasn’t anything on their particular street, just dust from the explosion floating down in thick clouds. 

“Someone’s attacked the village. Shit,” he cursed under her breath. 

They would have to go out there and fight, they both knew that very well. Fight who, they didn’t know, but Y/N could sense that the same foreign chakra signature was coming at her from multiple directions in the village. That couldn’t be good. It was probably that Akatsuki member that everyone was talking about. Pain. Pain with the rinnegan. How could the leaf compete against something as strong as that dojutsu?

“Everybody out! You know the evacuation route,” Y/N called out to the civilians in the restaurant, as she swallowed her panic. She made a move to usher the people from the store so they could run in the direction of refuge.

This wasn’t a normal battle. These intruders were a completely different breed than the ones they were used to fighting. She could feel the impending doom start to blanket around her body, and she took a deep breath. How could this happen? Was Pain here to take Naruto? Naruto wasn’t even in the village, how could that be? Was it the Akatsuki making a big statement attacking one of the five great villages?

There was just something off. She could feel it. Today was going to be one of the worst days, worse than anything else they’d experienced.

“Y/N, let’s go.”

“Kakashi…” she trailed off, not taking a step forward just yet. Was there something she needed to get off her chest before they rushed into a battle with an outcome unknown? As she met his frantic, panicked eyes with her own, she wondered if she should just confess her feelings right then and there, just so he could know before they put their lives on the line. 

Never in her life did she think that her or Kakashi might die. It was never a thought that crossed her mind. She assumed she had all the time in the world to gather the courage to tell him. Now it felt like she had run out of time, and they might never get the chance to see each other again. The chakra signatures around them were just too strong to guarantee they would live against their blows. It felt like this was her final chance. 

She started again, “Kakashi, I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?” he asked, wanting to hurry this along. She could see plainly that this wasn’t the right time. He wasn���t in the right mind to hear her words, or comprehend the meaning behind them. Instead, she lowered her head and sighed. 

And so she kept that secret tightly bound deep in her heart. 

“Nevermind, it’s not important. Just be safe out there. Make it back to me in one piece, okay?”

“You know I can’t promise that,” he replied, and her heart sank in her chest. He was right. If he died, he died. If she died, she died. Nothing could stop fate from doing its dirty work.

“Just promise me. Give me some confidence before we jump into this mess. I-I can’t do this without you promising me you’ll live!” She cried, passion and fear dripping off her words. She had her eyes shut tightly at this point, just trying to keep herself from letting the potential tears gather in her eyes. Her fists clenched by her side as well. “Just say something!”

He nodded, thinking of the right words to say. “I promise I’ll make it back to you, Y/N. Now promise you’ll live. For me,” he demanded, lifting her head to face him. His fingers were strong against her cheek, firm when faced with danger. He wanted her to live, but knowing that Pain killed Jiraiya was enough to make him worry and plan for the worst. 

Why was he even asking? He knew that words meant nothing. That most promises were just bound to be empty. 

Just this one time, he prayed that she’d keep it.

“I promise.”

“Now let’s go. I’ll take this side, and you go that way. Sounds like explosions came from both directions.”

“Got it.”

There was no room for goodbyes.

After that, they went their separate ways. Y/N had to keep herself from losing control. Everything was going to be okay. She was worrying far too much. Kakashi was strong. Stronger than anyone else she knew really. He couldn’t be taken down by some terrorists. It wasn’t an option.

As long as she could sense his chakra lingering in the distance, she would know. 

__________

It was painful, the wound that tore through her thigh. Blood dripped thickly from the cut, but she continued to fight. In this situation, there was nothing else to do, nothing more to fight for than the safety of the village and the people within it. Y/N has never seen a villain this bad, someone so dead set on killing and tormenting that it brought the shinobi of the village to their knees. Yet, here he was, this orange haired creature who popped up at multiple points of their city, each with a different signature move yet a similar chakra pattern.

Y/N knew she couldn’t break down just yet, not after seeing comrade after comrade fall to the ground and lose their lives to the cause. She had to keep going for them. For her friends and her family who died. She was never the most talented at fighting, she was more of a sensory type, stay on the inside and study type of kunoichi. But not today. No one had that luxury today.

Constantly, she could feel the loss of the ninja alongside her, their chakra signatures melting into nothing as blasts continued to ravage their village. The fire within their bodies burned for the last time, disappearing into the ashes.

It wasn’t until she was on her knees, face buried in the dirt and rubble did she really feel the pain this man was so desperate to bestow upon the villagers. Kakashi’s chakra had burned out. It was as if her body gave up after that. She couldn’t move, her bones were broken and she couldn’t afford to stand and fall back down once again, believe it that she tried over and over again. Nothing mattered at this point. How could it? She couldn’t feel her best friend’s chakra signature any longer. He was dead.

Her crying into the dirt was the only thing that signalled another shinobi to come and help her to the infirmary. Someone she barely knew had picked her up by the arm and hoisted it over his shoulder, dragging her by his side to the hospital where the medical nin were no doubt working harder than ever. Her whole body felt like it was caked in bloody crimson mud, dust up her nose and muk between her teeth. 

Everything just made her cry harder and harder until she felt she was gasping to breathe. 

The harsh lights in the building did nothing but sting her eyes, and the dozens of medical nin rushing around those lying on the floor overwhelmed her. 

Sakura stood at the front of all the mess, and her eyes immediately caught onto Y/N and her rescuer. “Y/N-sensei, what happened to you?” she cried, rushing over with her frantic hands hovering over the state of the broken woman as she scanned for the wounds. This only caused more sobbing.

“One second she was fine, the next she was lying in the dirt screaming. I don’t know,” the man said, handing her off to the pink haired girl. “She’s got broken legs, I know that.”

“Thank you for bringing her,” she mumbled as she brought her sensei over to an empty cot, sitting her down on the cloth and beginning the healing process on the worst part of her leg where the bone was exposed. She was shaking so badly it was almost hard to concentrate on her work. She’d never seen Y/N so hopeless and lost. She was strong, she never faltered in the face of danger. It worried Sakura, no doubt.

“Sensei, what happened?”

“It’s Kakashi,” the woman croaked between her harsh breaths. “I-I can’t feel his chakra anymore.” Tears ran down her cheeks furiously, dripping from her chin into her lap. She felt the hopelessness overtake her entire person, the only thing left being complete and utter fear. Her chest heaved, desperate for the next gulp of air into her lungs. 

Sakura nearly faltered at the words. Kakashi sensei, dead? How could that be? He was one of the strongest shinobi they knew. He would never fall victim to a villain, would he? From the sounds of Y/N’s heartbroken cries, the medical nin knew that it was over. That another life had been stolen from them. 

Kakashi was Y/N’s heart and soul. She loved him for years and planned to love him for many more. Everyone knew that. Kakashi and her may have never acknowledged their feelings before his death, but the skinny love lingered in the air every time they were around each other. 

The longing looks when they passed each other in the street. The pain they felt when the other was hurt. The smiles they shared when something good happened in their no-good shinobi lives. They were more than willing to lay their lives on the line for the other, more than just a comrade, more than a friend. 

Her passion for Kakashi was the only good thing she had to come home to after missions. His face was the one thing she wanted to see after a bad day. His stupid face as he read his perverted novels, that grin that she positively adored.

All of that was gone, and her heart couldn’t take it. The pain from her injuries sat in the back of her mind, the only thing she could focus on was the loss. Knowing she would never see him again, never hear his voice. If only she could hear him laugh one more time. It was impossible, but she wished to the heavens above for mercy.

Sadly, no one was there to listen. 

“Y/N, I’m sorry,” Sakura whispered, not knowing what else to say. What could she say? 

“I need him. I can’t do this without him,” she sobbed, her hands shaking by her side, having to clench her fists just to stop the tremors. “Sakura, it’s been 15 years. I...I don’t know a life without him.”

Her heart broke at the words. It was true. She didn’t know life anymore without Kakashi. They’d been friends and comrades for so long that it seemed like that was all she knew. How can you come back from that? Sakura didn’t know. She might be able to heal the woman’s legs, but there was no way she could begin to heal such a broken heart. 

“It’s okay. You have plenty of others. You have Gai and Kurenai and-”

“Fuck everyone else. You know they can’t replace him,” she snapped. “No one can replace him.”

Sakura could only nod solemnly. They could lie all day and pretend that Gai would somehow swoop in and make up for that gaping hole in her heart. They could lie and say that Kurenai and her child would fill Y/N with a happiness she felt with Kakashi. Yes, they could certainly lie about it all. 

At the end of the day though, her pain would be unrivalled. Losing the one man you’ve loved from the moon and back. It would take an entire army and then some to combat such a struggle. 

When Sakura was done healing the woman, she handed her a roll of bandages from her pocket. “I’ve got to tend to others. Wrap this around your calf and then stay here to rest. Please, just rest yourself, sensei. You’ll heal faster that way.” Y/N took the bandages and nodded her head weakly, shaky hands going to wrap her bare and burned calf with the medical bandages.

Her mind still centered around Kakashi. She found herself curling up into a ball on the little bench she was sat at, hugging her knees close to her chest. She just cried. Right now, she couldn’t do anything else. 

Just cry.

________

The village was in complete and utter ruin. Y/N lay painfully utop a mountain of rubble, blood oozing from the back of her head and from her already injured leg. Pain’s final attack, one that completely demolished the village...it spared her life.

How could things get any fucking worse? 

She felt like the Gods were being especially cruel to her on this day. Especially cruel to every single person in the village, but they kept Y/N alive for their own personal amusement, laughing at her loss and her pain and her  frustration. 

Despite Lady Tsunade sending out Katsuyu to protect the villagers, Y/N only seemed to be in worse shape than before. She could feel the slug on her shoulder slowly healing her, but it wasn’t much compared to the pain and the numerous injuries.

Y/N rolled onto her side and groaned, pain shooting up her spine and giving her a brain-shattering headache. When she went to cough on something thick and slimy in her throat, what splattered on the ground was red. Maybe she was just meant to die slow and painfully. 

It was better this way, she decided. Nothing could make this day worth it. Nothing. The pain was unbearable.

“Y/N? Is that you?” a feminine voice called from a little while away, and the woman cursed, spitting up more blood as she did so. Sakura climbed through some of the rubble to approach her. Her hands hovered over the woman’s broken body, scanning over all her wounds. 

Naruto was down there fighting Pain. Everything was going to be okay as long as they had faith in the Uzumaki. Sakura could focus a bit of her energy on healing her sensei. There was nothing else to do except watch the fight below them, in the center of the wasteland that used to be the Hidden Leaf.

She began the healing process, medical chakra flowing into the woman’s chest wounds, the most critical of all. “Sakura…”

“What is it, Y/N?”

“What’s happening? Is everyone dead?”

“No, everyone is alive. Lady Tsunade sent out Katsuyu to protect everyone. It seems that you were injured before your healing slug could get to you. Thankfully, you have both of us to fix you up,” she muttered. Y/N would have been blind to not notice the way Sakura stared past her deeper into the wreckage as she spoke. 

“What do you see?” she asked quietly, as loud as her body could muster.

“It’s Naruto. He’s out there fighting Pain alone,” she said, “He-he’s gotten so much stronger.”

The older woman smiled through her pain, shutting her eyes and letting a soft sigh leave her lips. She hadn’t anticipated Naruto to come saving the day, in fact, it seemed more likely that Pain would kill everyone and leave the village in ruin. Fortunately, Kakashi’s student, the one that people had underestimated for so long, was out there doing what the rest of them couldn’t. 

A hero. No matter if he won or not, these are the actions of a hero.

“It’s his destiny: to save this village,” she whispered. “Jiraiya once said so.”

“Let’s hope he was right.”

Together they lay there in the middle of ruin while Naruto battled Pain. They watched as the two men launched themselves away from the village into the woods, the nine tailed fox coming to life far away from where they huddled together. The village was safe from direct harm at this point and the two women let down their guard just a little bit. Down in the middle of the pit some of the students started to gather, including a heavily injured Hinata.

“Help me down there, Sakura. I need to see Gai,” she said, louder than before. After all that time healing, she found herself strong enough to prop up on her elbows and gaze into the destruction. 

Once down there, Sakura was quick to start healing Hinata, fearing that the girl had taken too much damage to handle. After all, she charged against Pain, the supposedly leader of this terrorist attack. All of that to help out young Naruto. Y/N felt like she was staring at an image of herself for a moment. A young woman ready to sacrifice it all for the sake of the man she loved. 

As her eyes moved around the area, she caught onto the bright green outfit of her long time friend. His eyes caught hers for a moment and quickly, he rushed over to her side. She collapsed onto her knees, wincing at the pain that ran through her body as she did so. She found herself still a bit too weak to stand. 

“Y/N, you’re alive,” he gasped. He knelt on the ground beside her and placed a firm hand on her shoulder, steadying her shaky form. “Your injuries-”

“Forget about that, Gai,” she mumbled. “Something terrible has happened.” He couldn’t imagine what she had to say could be any worse than the destruction of the entire village. But he nodded and sat there listening as she spoke her words carefully, painfully with each syllable that left her lips. “Kakashi is dead.”

He felt his heart drop in his chest. As he looked at the woman before him, he knew that she wanted nothing more to cry, yet there were no tears. He assumed that she had already cried her fill earlier and could only mourn at this point. He didn’t ask before wrapping her smaller form up in his arms and tugging her to his chest, burying his nose in her hair. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face into his shoulder, dry sobs causing her entire form to quiver.

In a moment like this one, he just remained still for her. Sit there and be there through this pain. He felt crushed at the thought of his best friend dead, his eternal rival somewhere out there in all that rubble fatally injured. Gai had lost a brother that day, and Y/N had lost her one and only lover.

He listened as she hopelessly bawled in the comfort of his arms, feeling every bit of her pain sink into his form. They had gone through battles together before, they grew up teammates and friends, how could they not. They had seen death and pain all their lives. This was on another level, incomprehensible to either of them. 

Pure misery. Every emotion seemed to burn in her chest. She wanted to curl up and die herself.

________

It felt like hours went by before the lives were returned. She hadn’t thought much of it when the elderly Toad woke up from his eternal slumber. For a moment, she thought it was just a fluke. That he had never really died in the first place, they just thought he did. But then, she watched as people above the trench started to stand from their resting places on the ground and in the rubble. 

That is when she realized that somehow, someway, the lives lost during this terrible battle had been reclaimed. It was only a matter of time before she found out if Kakashi had come back to life as well. She sat there, focusing all her energy into sensing nearby chakra, sorting through hundreds of people for the one she wanted. 

Gai had left to help out some of the others, so she just sat there waiting. Waiting for Kakashi to come back to her. Just like he promised.

After all this chaos, she couldn’t imagine keeping her love a secret from him any longer. He needed to know. She wouldn’t let this opportunity go wasted. Y/N was given a second chance at finding love in her friend, and she would be damned if she let that go to waste. 

After a while, she began to feel his chakra. At first it was very faint, like he was a mile away hidden underneath rocks and everything else you could imagine. But then it got stronger. 

He was alive.

When she saw his form climb down into the pit with the rest of them, his mask torn and only the bottom layer of his clothes still intact, she nearly cried once again. For hours before this, she was prepared to never see him alive again, never see that masked face look down upon hers once more. She had mourned the loss of Kakashi Hatake, only for him to be returned. 

It was as if the God’s had listened to her prayers.

“Kakashi!” she exclaimed as she struggled to get herself up from the ground. She knelt on one knee, pushing herself up with the other, desperate to walk over to him. Her body failed her of course, and she fell back onto her butt. He noticed her though, her tiny figure in the crowd of hundreds. She was the one person he wanted to find all along. 

He fell onto his knees beside her, his hands coming up to grasp her cheeks with his dusty, calloused hands. She relaxed into his rough fingers, sinking into the warmth that he was sharing. His thumbs slid along her lips and chin, trying to rub away the dirt that was caked in some places. She was a mess, messier than he was. He could only imagine the suffering that she went through as well, to have survived all of that without death as a retreat in the middle.

“Y/N, what happened to you?”

“Pain’s final blow caused some pretty bad wounds, but it’s fine. Sakura healed me enough that I’ll make it through,” she told him. Softly, she lifted her hands to place them over top his, her fingers slowly wrapping around his. “Kakashi, you broke your promise to me.”

“I know.”

She found that the words came out faster than she anticipated. Emotions and feelings being laid out in the open for him to see/ “I-I completely lost myself when I couldn’t feel your chakra anymore. I thought I’d lost you. I couldn’t stop crying, and I was angry at you for breaking your promise to me,” she rambled, “I didn’t know what I was gonna do without you.”

“It’s alright. I’m here now. Whatever Naruto has done saved my life,” he soothed, letting their hands fall into her lap. She wouldn’t let go of his hands even if he wanted them to himself. She was afraid. Afraid that if she let him go once more that he would be gone forever. “And I’m sorry I lied to you. I really shouldn’t have died like that. So irresponsible of me.”

There he was cracking a fucking joke about his own death. She wanted to smack him for being so dimwitted in a moment of vulnerability. Just the thought of being with him again made tears spring up in her eyes, and she shut her eyes to keep them from falling. Happy tears or not, she wasn’t going to cry again.

 “I need to tell you what I was too afraid to say before. What I wanted to say before we went our separate ways,” she confessed, her breaths coming out harsh and rushed. Once again, she gripped his hands tighter in hers. 

After taking a couple breaths, she lifted her eyes to meet his, mouth just agape. He really was all she could ever need. This moment wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t ideal, but it was just right for what she needed to say. “I’ve always loved you, Kakashi.”

“Y/N-”

“Listen, I know it’s not exactly an appropriate time to be confessing my love to you and all, but I couldn’t risk another day going by without telling you.”

“I love you, too.”

And silence. 

There wasn’t anything else to say. The love was mutual, it had been all this time. They just took their time getting around to admitting it, to just hear those words leave the other’s lips for the first time. There were no butterflies in her stomach nor did her heart race in her chest at his confession. 

She could only feel comfort in the umbrella they’d created for themselves, the outside world lost to the both of them. 

In a flash, she lurched forward to wrap her arms tightly around his neck, burying her face deep into his neck. “Don’t die ever again, Hatake, or I’ll kick your ass,” she laughed, the sound of her laugh reaching his ear. He held her to his chest and sighed. 

“No promises.”

Despite what happened that day, he felt comfortable. For the first time, in a very long time, he felt relief wash over him. Everything was going to be okay.

“Kakashi!”

Requests Are Open!

[leexshin]

Strings of Fate

So, I’m playing Sasuke’s route on IkeSen and I just had a thought for the upcoming war that I may or may not have turned into a small fanfic-- And yes. I know this is impossible to happen but spare my imagination. Lol.

Enjoy~

___________________________________

“This has to stop!”

A loud, feminine voice echoed in the middle of the battlefield. The warlords near the vicinity halted their movements but their hold on their swords never wavered. The white-haired goddess’ green eyes foggy with tears as she absorbed the fire and blood surrounding them. It was pure chaos. Was this the only way to achieve peace?

Of course not.

This war had nothing to do with peace but to protect the honor and fragile ego of the leaders of the Oda and Uesugi-Takeda forces. However, the blood that had been shed in the past would never be taken back. The dead will not walk the earth once again no matter how many lives the warlords claim that night. Reiri knew that if she let them continue on, the violence will continue until none of them will make it out alive to rejoice their victory.

Motonari still had his knife pointed at the woman though Reiri was unfazed. She took a deep breath, looking at every worned-out friend of hers. “I am not from this point of time. I do not understand the meaning behind all this nor can I grasp the concept of utter violence for revenge. Hell, I can’t even comprehend your ability to take lives of each other and of innocent people like some sort of God. I’m a diplomat for Pete’s sake!”

Reiri let out a frustrated scream, sending a glare to a chuckling Motonari. Kennyo glanced warily at her but she didn’t meet his eyes. She can’t, not when the former monk was actually going with Moto’s plan of using her against the two forces. 

“I refuse to be a part of a battle I do not believe nor have faith in.” She paused, fire burning in her eyes as her gaze went back and forth between Nobunaga and Kenshin. Her next words were firm, the complete opposite of the woman they got to know. Reiri was a gentle being, kind, and soft-spoken that everyone was automatically drawn to her. But the white-haired woman kneeling in the middle of the battlefield was almost a stranger. “I want you all to take a good look at me. I want you to memorize each and every word that I will leave you. I want my image of tonight to haunt all of you if you so much decide to pick up a sword and point it against one another in the future.”

“Reiri?” Sasuke called out in a panic. He left his post, a perfect hideout by the fallen bodies because a bad feeling was clawing its way out of his throat. Something was bound to happen and the ninja didn’t like it at all. He walked towards the captured Reir, nervous beyond relief. “Whatever it is you’re planning, please stop.”

Masamune and Shingen who were face-to-face even stopped fighting. They turned to the voice of their respective ally and foe, and to the woman who was now smiling so brightly once again. The shaking of Sasuke’s voice, however, caught the attention of Ieyasu and Yukimura. The man was never nervous but his composure, as far as they can tell, was thrown out of the window.

“No, Sasuke,” Reiri replied, exhaustion reflected at her sigh. “You’re my best friend in a world I cannot understand but I don’t want to be like you. If you believe that you can’t do anything against fate, I, on the other hand, believe that it is fate that gave me the choice to do the right thing. Be it known to the world, to this past and to our future, that a Reiri Takeshima saved the lives of the innocent.” She turned to Kennyo, sending him a small grin. “And you. You need to stop from pushing away the love that you deserve.”

It must have been the shock that none of the veteran warriors were able to stop the small woman from picking up the sword by her side, and plunged it through her stomach until the pain in her heart faded every second that passed. Angry screams and grunts swallowed the cries of battle from the other warriors. Sasuke was instantly by her side but he knew he wasn’t quick enough to stop her from stabbing herself.

“Oh no. You’re not to do this to me, Reiri,” he said, his voice abandoned the monotone as he clasped her hands still around the handle of the sword. “We promised we’ll go back to our time together, remember?”

“Reiri?” Kennyo whispered, taking a step back before falling to his knees. What has he done? How rotten must he be to drive his angel into taking matters into her own hands? He must be insane to believe Motonari. 

Being the nearest, Nobunaga and Kenshin made it after Sasuke. The two removed her hands from the sword, almost slapping away the ninja’s hand on the process. Devastation was clear on their voices as they called out her name. 

The knife fell on the ground. Motonari didn’t think of this. It was not supposed to happen. Who in their right minds kill themselves just to try and stop the insane warlords from murdering each other? It wasn’t like they would actually stop-- but no. Motonari was wrong. The warlords did stop as they mourned the greatest loss for that night.

Reiri reached out, looking at her beloved. She moaned in pain when she moved but she was at peace. She smiled at them through half-lidded lids, taking rapid breaths. It wasn’t gonna be long now. “This war started with bloodshed and I shall end it with another. But please, let me be the last life that this violence would take away from you, and learn to start anew. Do not forget how much you all mean to me.” She paused, her body shutting down as darkness took over. “Sayonara, Japan.”

[draconivn]

C.003 | Daughter of the Takeda

Disclaimer: I don’t own Samurai Love Ballad: PARTY or its characters. Please note that this will not follow all of Saizo’s route, and the MC is an OC of mine.

Summary: You wanted to do more than just be in the kitchen like any woman would’ve known how to do. You want to explore. You want to become so much more. But when you live in a world of war, what you decide to do in your past ends up following you to your future, even though the battlefield is no place for a woman. Will you find love or will you only find blood? Saizo x OC MC

Masterpost: LINK

CHAPTER 3: Child of War

Trigger Warning: Blood, Death, Depression

My father was hesitant as he looked at me, his gaze following between Nagamasa and to myself as I looked at him. It was etched in stone, that my hands now had blood on them, whether I liked it or not, and I couldn’t turn back from it. I did it to save my father, and the Takeda army. I couldn’t tell if he was angry, or upset that I did it. I couldn’t tell if he was scared of me, but with trembling legs, he approached me and took me into his arms. “I-I was scared that I lost you…”

"I'm okay, Papa. It's not my blood, see?" I pulled back to show him my body and make sure there weren’t any wounds. “Now we can go home, Papa.”

"I'm so happy you're alive. I–"

Blood splattered over my smiling lips, but the happiness drained from my body as I watched my father fall sideways into the muddy grass. The sight made everything go silent, knocking out the commotion that followed. I barely noticed that Lord Shingen cradled me in his arms, until I realized I was getting further away from my father's body and I could only scream.

“Papa!”

This was never supposed to happen.

This is why I came! So he wouldn't have to die! Not because of me!

I could barely remember what happened after that. The journey home, the burial... Lord Shingen personally met with my mother to deliver the news and myself, even though only one of us made it home. I was like a body without a soul. The words of how I was a remarkable warrior at my age, skilled and the praises he sang for my father felt like nothing to me.

My champion. My family's hero.

...was gone.

I don't think my mother could ever look at me after that. I had taken away her husband before anything else, that I had been the one to come home by myself instead of with him as I had promised myself I would. She had to raise my little brother and I while running the restaurant by herself. I stayed in the kitchen most of the time, where she wouldn't have to look at me in the face and I wouldn't be able to crack under the pressure that my father served these customers with a smile. 

Mom always kicked me out when things got slow as if to say it was for me to take a break, but it happened only once in a while and chances were it was the mistakes I made in cooking that day.

I busied myself with cleaning up and throwing out the garbage, but every time I went out, I could remember my father being here, practicing for the battle.

"Man, was it just me or was the food just terrible today?"

"I don't think you're wrong there. My food was a bit too salty, but I didn't have the heart to tell her!"

"Her husband's death must've hit them really hard. At this rate, they won't be standing much longer."

After they had walked out of sight, I stepped out onto the street and looked at the restaurant. I was ruining it… I ruined what my father worked so hard to build. My heart felt heavy with sadness, and my feet took me away from there without a second thought. Tears streamed down my cheeks as my surroundings became more populated with trees and bushes, ignoring the scratches I was getting from the twigs as I ran. Even as Rai ran in the distance alongside me, I kept running until she cut across to catch me, my arms wrapping around her as she sat to let me cry into her fur until I could cry no more. 

After the funeral, I lost everything that made sense. My mother had to put up with me, and the only thing I could really do is try to make up for what I did to make her lose such an important person in our lives.

With quiet thanks to Rai for being with me as I cried, I returned to the restaurant and approached my mother with a soft voice, “Here, mom, let me do it.”

It was the first time I had spoken to her in a long time, but she eventually allowed me back in the kitchen. That night, no mistakes were made, and eventually, I started serving again. When I had free time, I trained in secret once again like I once did. Sasuke had come a few times to get a rise out of me so that I would learn much of what I hoped to be, so that I could not let my father's death be in vain, but I don’t think I could kill someone after that. 

But when I was 17, I could not kill the man who burglarized our home and instead, allowed him to become captive to the townspeople who passed their own judgment on him.

That was the day that I decided I was done. I was tired of killing and fighting. If I killed again, I would end up losing someone precious to me once again. It was that thought that made me push away all concerns of fighting on the battlefield, and made me fight for the restaurant instead, but the haunting nightmares of my father’s death as a result of my mistakes still haunted me on occasion.

My visits to Rai had diminished, though she had entrusted to me the only cub that survived of her latest litter, Sen. Sen stayed by my side when her mother passed away, looming in the shadows as she watched over me. She followed me everywhere I went, even as I went to a samurai castle when I turned 20, but I had told her to stay away from me. I know Rai told her the story of what happened that day. The day my father died and I lost that part of me. But I couldn’t run with the pack in the woods anymore. It was my mistakes that drove people to the doorsteps of Hell.

Instead, I kept my smile and smiled on as if nothing was wrong.

I smiled even though I had taken my brother’s place as a poison taster, my chest bound and dressed like a man. We had insulted the magistrate of the town after he tried to convince me to marry him, no matter how many times I refused. I could never think of love, or marriage when it meant marrying him.

Somehow, I didn’t end up too far. It was Tsutsujigasaki Castle, where I was appointed to be Lord Shingen’s poison taster. It had been so long that I didn't think he remembered me, even as I revealed to the clan my identity and the reason I had deceived all. Lord Shingen welcomed me with open arms and said he would have liked to accept me as his own daughter, especially since I had previously told him that I didn't have a father since he died in war when I was young.

Lord Yukimura stumbled quite a bit after reality hit him, but I remember a specific shinobi that had been wary of me from the very beginning.

I didn’t see Saizo that often since he was always at Ueda with Lord Yukimura, but in the days that they were there for meetings with Lord Shingen, I found him between breaks and lazy afternoons sleeping with one arm propped up on the veranda, up on the roof or in a tree somewhere. 

He had threatened me in the beginning, as if I was there to get Lord Yukimura, but I assured him I wasn’t.

My only way of gaining his trust was the offer of dango, since I couldn't pay him with any money. The conversations we had seemed one-sided but he seemed to have strong perceiving eyes either way. There were times that I acted like I didn't know how to do anything, like how to climb a tree or how to stay balanced on the rooftop. Probably because I knew that purposely dying wouldn't send me to my father, and I was willing to let fate do its work.

But each time, Saizo was right there to catch me.

"And just what were we trying to do?"

I couldn't help but wonder if he knew, because all shinobis just seemed to just... know. But I still fed him the obvious answer as I had been calling him moments before I found him on the rooftop. "S-Saizo!" Those crimson eyes of his captivated me as he held me up steady on the rooftop. I could hear my heartbeat thudding loudly in my ears, biting my lower lip before I looked away to try to remember the reason I came up on the roof. "L-Lord Yukimura was looking for you!"

That exasperated look was amusing each time, especially as we could hear Lord Yukimura calling out for him and his voice growing louder as he got closer to our location.

"That'll be ten skewers of dango, Little Lady."

My eyes widened. Ten? "F-For what!"

"For saving you."

I pouted and huffed. "Eight."

"...Nine."

"Seven."

"Eight."

I tried to reason how far this little game would go on until he had to leave. "Six."

He sighed. "Stubborn, are we?" He didn't respond to my barter, instead letting me go so he could hop down to land in front of Lord Yukimura.

Soon, I followed in my descent down the ladder to head to the kitchen, apologizing to the maids for being late, all while my heart continued to thud in anticipation of making Saizo’s dango.

What is this feeling…?

[ghostmartyr]

Pokémon Black 2 Randomized Nuzlocke Run [Part 9]

All eight badges earned, so what does that leave?

Pirates.

Team for the task?

Vertex (Luxray)

Caspet (Gengar)

Stormy (Metagross)

Photon (Rayquaza)

Nessy (Milotic)

Diego (Gardevoir)

...Those who did not participate in the last Gym, raise hands or whatever you have in place of hands for grinding.

#LET ME LEAVE THE GYM WITHOUT A CONVERSATION GEN 5 CHALLENGE.

Colress, I swear, if you pull a Euicine and make me fight you for the honor of not fighting the Terrakion...

He does not. He gives us a toy and basically says to check out the cave that I need Strength to go through more thoroughly. The Giant Chasm pirates are still blocking my way, so.

Siiiiiigh.

Box crew! What have you got for me!

I will take out Bessy, the level 33 Miltank, and teach her Strength.

Bessy is Modest and somewhat vain, but that doesn’t matter because she’s just here for HMs. She’s temporarily taking Vertex’s place, since Vertex isn’t in need of more experience.

Ah. Actually, Strength just lets you get Toxic. Which is fine, but sorry Vertex, guess I threw you out of the squad for nothing.

Hey we found the boat!

Marlon lets us aboard. Thought: I should go put Bessy back in the box and grab Vertex in case something goes wrong. Except that would take time.

...I am going to go put Bessy back in the box and grab Vertex.

After shifting a boulder on Route 22. And grinding for a bit.

Okay. A few hours later, I am more comfortable entering the pirate ship. Team levels are now 56-60. That is absolutely a balanced assessment of my current team. It is in no way misleading.

Me!

...This is the greatest grunt ever. He calls Marlon Smiley Swimsuit. Yes. You have perfectly boiled down his character essentials.

Oh wait, he has a Watchdog.

Sorry pirate friend. We can’t be friends.

Russell, my actual friend, is trying to go on his roaring rampage of revenge. Only as a responsible big brother, not a Sasuke.

I used to have a Sasuke. No more.

...I should have named Russell Itachi. If there’s ever a next time...

I continue to find it delightful that after N leaves, Team Plasma ditches their knight theme for a pirate one. I don’t even know why, I just love it. I love knight aesthetic, I love pirate aesthetic. My castle was right next to my pirate ship for most of my childhood, and it rocked.

Though my pirates wouldn’t steal people’s pets. A key difference. Pirate in name only. Well. And clothing. Pirate is just a more fun word than sailor, and pirates have looser fashion.

Mook time over?

Technically this one isn’t stealing.

Just animal abuse.

The villain of this game is just a salty old man who spent so much time in a refrigerator he decided the rest of the world should spend time in a refrigerator, too. Then he found out his region has a legendary Dragon/Ice type, and the rest is history.

Only history I have to repeat.

Because the villain of a Pokemon game decided his winning strategy would be shooting bolts of ice down at the world below.

Video games are the greatest.

...Wait. How did me and Russell get down here? Did Team Plasma just throw us off?

Also, yes Cheren. They use everything for evil. They’re the bad guys.

And then Cheren asks where the people Zekrom and Reshiram recognized are and. I wonder if he misses his friend. his best friend, [last game protagonist]. How much does it suck that he spent a full game with [person], and now they’ll never see each other again because [person] is bound to a different dimension. A world Cheren can’t touch.

Canon has, what. Red who comes back? Every other protagonist kind of just. vanishes as far as future references to that world are concerned. And Red spends quite some time up on a mountain. Alone.

These games are all about people who swoop in and birth legends, then vanish.

I made myself sad.

Anyway, to the Giant Chasm!

Totally bro.

Aw crud. Do I need Strength? I think I might need Strength. Can I mayhaps avoid that?

Oh. I could just go down the giant stairs.

Wow. Talk about your parties.

ONE MORE TIME ON THE BOAT.

I hate password games. At least the ship supplies a doctor early on. I wasn’t to the point of active concern, but I was feeling a bit itchy about using up healing items. I haven’t grown out of my usual standard in these games where I just let everything in my party die to avoid spending money.

Agreed, let’s roll you.

This guy just keeps throwing Cryogonal at me.

You know, I don’t have a lot to complain about regarding these games and their choices. I whine about everything, but all in all, I find all of them very solid and enjoyable. Even if gen 4 has too many HM requirements wtf just stop.

This isn’t really a complaint, but it is a confusion. Zinzolin is fought multiple times in a relatively small window, and his team never changes. We just keep beating him. I get the sense that they wanted a villain, but as a sequel game to a gen that went all out on that, they didn’t really have anything they were willing to turn into a threat.

Really, I feel like a better path to pick would have been giving one of the Plasma grunts a different hat and having them be the captain of a very confused and angry crew. But eh, whatever.

....Oh. You.

Why is the most anime hair dude in the game so gosh darn forgettable?

For the sake of my flawed memory, he wants to bring out the full potential of pokemon, and is willing to us whatever means are necessary. The only question is which approach actually yields results.

I like you, Colress. I am never going to remember you, but I like you.

Good grief his theme sounds like it came out of Phantasy Star.

First up is a level 50 Magneton. Caspet’s an okay choice, so I’ll just Shadow Ball it. Magneton Thunder Waves Caspet, then uses Volt Switch to swap in Beheeyem (also level 50), who takes a Shadow Ball and dies instantly.

Sorry, ‘faints.’

A level 50 Metang is switched in next. Out of twitchiness over Caspet’s paralyzed state, I put Nessy in and go with Surf. Metang uses Agility from the red. Colress uses a Full Restore. Metang hits a Zen Headbutt, but Nessy has the last laugh.

Ugh. Colress is going to send in a Magnezone. Stormy’s the best answer to that, I think. Stormy knows Hammer Arm. It hits, but like everything I hate, Magnezone has Sturdy. A Bullet Punch handles that.

A level 52 Klinklang is next. His only thing over 50. Stormy is paralyzed thanks to Magnezone, but a Hammer Arm that hits should end it, and I don’t think Klinklang knows anything that’s a threat.

Even if Stormy feels like being paralyzed.

Only once, though. Hammer Arm + Bullet Punch does the job, and we only have that pesky Magneton left.

Hammer Arm and we are done.

Please don’t make me fight another one of these clowns. I don’t wanna.

Aw heck, Russell’s having his moment with Purrloin drama. And I guess I’m not fighting robe dude. It’s all ninja for now. With my four pokemon who aren’t paralyzed. Maybe I should have fixed that.

:(

For real though, our rival’s plotline here is pretty dang sad. He wants his little sister’s pokemon back, and by the time he finds it, it isn’t hers anymore. It’s had an entirely different life without them, probably committing crime. Because it’s been told to.

This is why you get the pirate Plasmas and the knight Plasmas. It’s fantastic that you, the protagonist, has a crew of pokemon perfectly happy fighting and doing whatever you want. But living things being forced to do whatever you want them to because you happened to throw a ball at them is pretty screwed up.

There’s not really a satisfactory conclusion to all of this, since critique of a game mechanic that is never going to stop being a game mechanic doesn’t get to start dramatic revolutions regarding that mechanic, but it’s all very sad and sobering.

That pretty ice tho.

BUT WHERE IS THE PROTAGONIST FROM THE LAST GAME.

No, but thank you N. I was not ready to die at the hands of Kyurem. Your assistance is much appreciated, and pretty great in your sequel. Props.

Gee, that looks bad.

Cue dramatic anime battle sequence.

Followed by anime transformation sequence.

Welp. Time to kill you. Let’s just hope I can.

...Stormy. I think I might want you to tackle this. To the front you go.

But really.

So damn cool.

It’s dead now, but so. cool.

There are too many fights going on. I think I wouldn’t mind in a normaly playthrough, but for a Nuzlocke, this is needlessly stressful and I am not a fan also I beat Ghetsis in the last game and it wasn’t fun then, either.

He has six pokemon, and he opens with a level 50 Cofagrigus. That is not Stormy’s friend. Nessy, if you would. Hydro Pump hits. Toxic hits from the other side, and I will deal with that in a moment, after the Cofagrigus is gone.

Ghetsis, naturally, uses a Full Restore.

Nessy handles it in the end, but is down to 73 health. Eelektross is coming out next. Time to switch. To... uh. I’ll give Photon a whirl. Feeling lucky, I use Outrage, and Eelektross faints.

Ah. Hydreigon is out next.

That is a nasty type combo for my team to deal with. I think. Geez, mark this where I have all the regrets, but Photon’s staying in to murder the Hydreigon with Outrage. Ganbatte.

IT’S SUPER EFFECTIVE AND A CRITICAL HIT, GOOD JOB PHOTON.

Seismitoad is next. Diego, time for you and your Magical Leaf to shine. Shine they do, and we’re on to Drapion, which I will leave to Photon. Two Air Slashes make their mark, and all that’s left is Toxicroak, so in you stay Photon.

AND WE’RE DONE HERE, SCREW YOU GHETSIS!

But where is that certain Trainer, N????

Anyway, with that, it looks like the plot portion of this Nuzlocke is over. All that’s left is heading up to challenge the Elite Four.

I think a battle like that can have its own part.

[ikesenhell]

Death Walks

This is part eleven of To Honor And Protect. You can find all other IkeSen works of mine here. NOTE: Horror elements and serious harm appear in this chapter. Some people don’t fare well.

Winter was nearly upon them. He felt it in the sharp bite of morning air, in the way the ocean fog rolled in tight about their ankles and he nearly lost the princess in it. Over the water the City was still. Once he swore he heard the crack of a cannon, but there was no way to tell. 

“We have to hurry,” she urged, tense and certain. “They’re relying on us.”

Working with the staff came easier than he expected. It felt like an extension of him, a chisel to crack open the sky. No longer did he offer pricks of blood for flames. Now they came to him easily. 

“What do you think that means?” She peered over a book at him. “How does one make that sort of thing? Did he have to sacrifice something special for that purpose?”

“I don’t know.” Mitsunari admitted. “We don’t have the time to find out. I can only hope that knowledge isn’t lost.”

But he suspected she was right. It felt like part of a soul lodged inside the obsidian orb. He connected too fondly with an inanimate object not to render it the respect of its own autonomy. Absently he brushed a thumb over its smooth surface. “It likely is also because we’re on the edge of the sea. Water is a natural conduit for magic, I’ve read. I imagine this would be more difficult if we weren’t surrounded by it.” 

The Princess’ eyes glassed over. “There’s a thought.”

“What’s that?”

“Oh. Nothing.” She shook her head. “It’s half formed anyway. I’ll let you know when it becomes something.”

At noon they heard the second cannon. Lurched from their reading, they exchanged nervous looks. 

“That’s not encouraging,” she said, her voice stable and calm in ways her eyes weren’t. 

“No,” he agreed. “That isn’t.”

“What happens if we don’t find anything?” 

Mitsunari hadn’t considered that possibility. He paused, thumbing the page under his hand. “There’s always that chance, I suppose. Well, if that’s how it is, then I suppose we’ll have to make an effort anyway.”

“Even if it could wind up with us all dead?”

“I mean--” He paused. “I took this job expecting to die one day, as we all do, Princess. It’s simply a question of what way you leave this world. I can’t imagine many places would be safe if this isn’t stopped anyway.”

A soft smile graced her for only a moment, and then she dipped back into her book. 

The third shot fired only an hour later. 

“Alright.” The Princess flung her book onto the table, flipping it open. “Is it an executive choice on my part if I say we’re out of time?”

They didn’t have anything in the way of a plan--not a scrap. If the person the creatures were bound to came to the field, that was one thing. Mitsunari assumed that Kenshin, Nobunaga, and Masamune would gladly open a route for him to take it down. Maybe a simple dispel charm would work? It felt thin, and if their target didn’t show at all, then they looked at a much worse scenario. 

But she was right. They couldn’t sit on the island forever, and from the sounds of it, things were escalating. 

“Yes, my Princess,” he agreed, calculating their odds in his mind. Who knew what they were? Too many variables existed now. “But come here first.”

She obeyed, and he pulled her in by the waist and locked her there with the staff, planting a kiss on her lips. He could feel the sweep of her eyelashes against his cheek. He could hear the rustle of the tree-villager’s leaves outside the window. He could smell the twist of smoke rising through the library, and the sweetness of her hair, and feel the way her body curved to his and the cold metal gripped in his palms. Never before had he feared forgetting (mostly because he didn’t, nothing important, at least), but now? Now he etched her into his mind. Fear crept like ice through his veins, only cooled and never melted at her touch. 

“I love you,” he breathed. “Will you stay safe by me?”

“I’ll do my best.” Her eyes flitted over his, glossy and bright. “I’ll try. I promise.”

That was all he could ask for. Sweeping as many books as he guessed would help into his arms, they left the safety of the Town Hall and hitched the boat up between them, heading for the shore. 

The trip back to the city was easier for certain, but no less exhausting. Ice slushed around the edge of the boat. Laughing with nervous delight, the Princess shot fireballs from her palms to break them up, but she silenced the moment they grew close to the docks. Acrid smoke hung in the air. Eerie silence filtered down through the staircase, and he wasn’t heartened to see that no other ships had left. Just them. Only them. Motioning for their silence, he eased the boat alongside the dock as best as he could and took the leap over, helping her out after him. 

It wasn’t possible to hold her hand and hold his sword and staff, as much as he wanted to. Mitsunari scooted her behind him and they stole on cat-feet to the edge, staring up the obsidian stairs. Clear--for now. It didn’t soothe him. Step by single slick step, they crept upward. Once the Princess slipped and caught herself, but when she righted her hands were soaked in blood. He nearly panicked and realized all at once that it wasn’t hers. She just stared wide-eyed at them. Gently he reached out, tugging on her sleeve. She caught his meaning and wiped her hands on her shirt, staining the linen a sickening brown-pink, and they carried on. 

On the main path into the castle courtyard was when they first heard it. Snuffling. They halted on the edge of the steps, holding their breath. Again. Something dragged along the cobblestone paving, a ragged moan escaping tight lungs. 

And it stopped. 

Mitsunari knew it caught the scent even before it came barreling around the hedge, but he’d never physically encountered one before. He had three seconds to absorb the massive, twisting creature of flesh before it slammed into him, and then he saw sky before the ground crashed back into his sightline. The Princess screamed and it swung, but he scrabbled to his feet. 

“Hey!” Smashing the end of the staff into the ground, he pointed it at the creature and got a much better look. It was barely bipedal, a labrythine thing of twisted muscle and cording holding it together, the sagging skin of its face drooping over mismatched, salvaged eyes forced into sockets misaligned. Two slits made up a nose. That haunting stare bulged at him. For a half second he felt almost sorry for the misshapen creature. 

But his sympathy blew away on the wind the moment he saw the Princess’ terrified face. Instead he forced all of his will into the staff, and--

BAM. 

A flash of light blinded them both. The Princess screamed again and he staggered back from the force, and next thing he saw, the creature sailed through the air and over the cliff, landing with a splash in the frozen sea. Victory. He rushed to her side, dropping the staff to help her up. “Are you alright?”

“Yes--Yes.” She dry-heaved and recovered herself. “Yes, I think--”

They heard it at the same time: the wet, lumbering slap of loose skin against stone, a rush of slavering teeth and noses coming in their direction. She snatched up the staff and he grabbed her wrist, making a run for it. 

It was impossible to calculate how many there were on their tail. He couldn’t get a good enough look while running, but it sounded like a lot, at least twenty. Together they sprinted over the pathways toward the castle. If anywhere was safe, it had to be the castle. But then again, the castle was in danger when last he was there. Where could they have gone? 

“Hey!” 

Mitsunari had the good sense to keep going, but the shout caught his attention regardless. High up on the towers, Hideyoshi tore down the battlements, waving his arms. “Mitsunari! Get into the Princess’ tower!” 

She screamed behind him. On reflex he yanked her forward to him, swirling around and snatching the staff back, coming face to face with another of the creatures and slamming the head of the obsidian orb into its maw. Not its intended use, but it worked. It howled and granted a brief reprieve before its other brethren were on them, and then--

“Duck!” 

Mitsunari obeyed, a hail of arrows and spikes raining down around him. The creatures that didn’t drop staggered over the dangerous bits and shrieked with pain. As if on a wind, Sasuke dropped in beside him. 

“Shall we?” The man asked, calm as ever.

It was wonderful to have a familiar voice. Mitsunari grinned back and together, the three raced into the tower, slamming the door shut behind them and barring it once more. 

Relief at seeing his comrades safe faded quickly when Mitsunari counted. Four--only four were there, four crowded into the kitchen over a table littered with maps. As one, the King and Lord Kennyo shot to their feet, launching toward the Princess.

“My daughter--” The King caught her and kissed her head a thousand times, petting her hair and sobbing into the curls. “My daughter. My sunshine.”

“I’m here, Father,” she whispered, holding him. “I’m here. I’m safe.”

Kennyo just paused. At last, he added uncomfortably, “It is good to see you both back.”

Well, even in the worst of times they needed a little courtesy. Mitsunari gave him a smile and a bow. “My Lord. Not to be too informal, but--” And he scanned the other men assembled, absorbing their injuries with increasing worry.

“It’s been rough.” Hideyoshi looked alright, for the most part, just a split lip and some scrapes. “We’re down a lot of manpower.”

“The first night was the worst.” Nobunaga agreed with a hum, moving his sword-arm with deliberate, telling slowness. “Kenshin lost his mind. We’re having to keep him in a dark room with Shingen--and Shingen keeps coughing up blood.”

Yukimura paused, his spear braced between his knees. Mitsunari knew the two were close. “Yeah. I’m... we just gotta get this under control. They both need rest.” 

“And Masamune charged in, like an idiot,” Ieyasu huffed. “And then there was Mitsuhide--”

“Well well well. Look what the monsters dragged in?” 

They all turned to see Mitsuhide and Masamune leaning in the doorway, matching grins on their faces. Masamune brushed back his hair with a hand, the strands falling over--oh. Mitsunari counted the fingers twice. “What happened to your hand?” 

“Bah. They took some fingers.” He shook it out, the bandages stark on him. “Big deal. I’ve had worse.”

“And Masamune gets to teach me what to do with only one eye.” Mitsuhide laughed low, adjusting his eyepatch. “One of those things is running around out there wearing mine. Joke is on him: that was my bad eye anyway.”

“I’m sorry,” Mitsunari breathed. “I’m sorry. I should have been here.”

“Nonsense.” Nobunaga waved him away. “You were busy doing other things. Now--have you returned with information?”

“Of a sort.” And with that, Mitsunari produced the staff and laid it on the kitchen table. It sparked and flashed; all assembled save him and the Princess backed up.

“What in the Devil have you brought into this city?” Kennyo hissed.

The Princess wheeled on him. “The only answer we have.”

“This could make it worse--”

“Shut up.” She snapped, and her voice was bowstring tight. Everyone fell silent. “Shut up. I fail to see what could be made worse. The entire city that’s left fits inside my tower and our battlements. We have monsters that apparently rebuild themselves from the dead hunting down all left, and you fear that this could make it worse? Look outside, my Lord. The Devil is already here. We just brought the hellfire.”

Floundering for words, Kennyo fell silent. At last, he knelt before her. “Forgive me.”

“No.” She snapped back. “But once this is all over, I may consider it.”

“We uncovered a massive library on the Trinity Islands,” Mitsunari began. “And inside we located what the sign on the monsters is: A Binding Seal. Whoever created them literally bound themselves to these things, sacrificing all else to command an unending army.”

“So kill the creator, kill the creatures?” Nobunaga posited. 

“Possibly,” Mitsunari allowed cautiously. “That’s a theory we’re working on.”

Sasuke cut in. “Or you’re saying that you could possibly interrupt the spell the creator has worked in the monsters.”

“Now there’s a thought.” Mitsuhide tried to lean on a chair and missed, his depth perception suffering from the change. He staggered into the seat and laughed at himself before continuing. “Though the question stands that if the cord is cut, so to speak, do the monsters fall or frenzy?”

Mitsunari motioned in agreement. “And all that is secondary to the chief concern. The difficulty is knowing who the creator is.”

Masamune snorted at the same time as Ieyasu. 

“Nope,” Ieyasu snipped. 

“Nah,” Masamune agreed. “We know exactly who it is. Just couldn’t have put a thumb on it if you hadn’t told us that. He’s the guy who put Kenshin’s mind out of commission.”

Yuki sighed. “Not that it stops him from fighting, mind you, just... he can’t tell who a friend is anymore, except for Shingen and Sasuke.”

“The summoner is in the center of the mob,” Ieyasu motioned to the battlemap. “He has that seal on both of his palms. I think it’s carved in, if I’m honest. It seems to bleed. On his head he wears the skull of a deer, hiding his face, and he wields a staff very similar to the one you hold there.”

The Princess stared into the distance. “Mitsunari?”

“Yes, Princess?”

“I...” She trailed off. “Someone show me him.”

Sasuke led them to the top of the battlements. The City lay in fragments below, whole streets scorched and black, the parks torn to shreds and the markets ruined. Bodies lay torn apart in the streets. Monsters salvaged bits of corpses to add to themselves. And there, there in the center of the town strode the man in question, dipping slowly between alleys and walking fearlessly among the creatures. 

“What’s he doing?” The Princess whispered. “Couldn’t he just attack?”

“Fear,” Sasuke noted. “He’s spreading fear. That is the goal. Conquest, we think, comes secondary.”

The staff in Mitsunari’s hand wobbled and shook. He tightened his grasp on it and it surged frantically against his mind, pressing harder and harder until he allowed the memories to sweep in. 

A plague. A daughter dying in his arms, too weak to move. A love, lying in bed and ghostly. A son too precious to condemn to death. No escape in the wretched, hateful city to the south. No aid for the innocent. Sell your love to save your loves; sell your useless heart to burn the rest. 

Now he understood. And the Princess knew first, no doubt, she suspected it the moment she fit the pieces, but now they exchanged long stares. 

“That’s him,” she whispered. “That’s the mage who made the staff.”

[darkmindsthinktwistedthoughts]

A Different Time pt4

Warning: Scientific Nerdy Ninja, strong language

MasterList

---

Chapter 4 – More than rice

My voice escaped me before I clamped my hand over my own mouth, such a rookie error honestly. The room was a pretty empty space, in any other building it would be a spare room or storage. Here however there was heavy metal links on the walls and rope. Lots and lots of rope. At the end of each link there was at least one body. From the looks of them, females ranging in ages from early teens to mid-twenties.

The gagged faces looking at me, were all pleading and terrified. Where the hands were bound the skin was broken and bleeding, their ankles had suffered the same treatment. I feel sick. It’s not like I’ve never seen a movie where this happens or even read a manga with it, but something about first hand experience of it has my stomach in knots.

Whatever I had thought might be the reason to leave the window open to this room this certainly was not top of my list of reasons. I did a quick head count, there seemed to be at least ten girls in here. I can’t even cut them free with the guards around, they will just be rounded up in a matter of minutes and tied back up again. I need a plan ...

– Rattle, Click –

The shutter for the window moved and a delicate hand appeared followed by the rest of the female time traveller. She stood there blinking for a few seconds, taking in the room before approaching me.

“What the actual…” She managed to keep her voice lower than mine when I first saw the room but her face showing both shock and anger.

“My sentiments exactly.” My grip on the lamp got a little tighter as I battled with my own mind to avoid being sick.

“Damn I knew the guy was a jerk and sleezy, but what is with this?” Her eyes roamed over the room as mine had done before coming back to mine. The deep caramel brown colour of her eyes looked nearly black in the dim light. Beautiful. What? No, FOCUS!

“Well in this era it is documented that slave trade was prolific. Toyotomi Hideyoshi banned it later on. The new Portuguese traders that have been coming here from overseas used to buy or trade for Japanese to use in the slave trade. That isn’t to say it was supported by the more elite members of society, in fact they frowned upon it and…” Trying to recover from my wandering thoughts I reverted back to what I knew. What I could understand. I knew History of this time I was thankful for having such enthusiastic history buffs for parents.

“Mmm… I apricate the bitesize history lesson but I don’t think now is the time. What do you think will happen to the girls?” She was right of course although it was a relevant insight into the situation my impromptu lecture was badly timed.

“Slave trade typically I suppose what you are thinking as worst case scenario for them is likely to be correct.” I managed to keep my voice as calm and level as my face. Although I didn’t feel that way. I was looking at the eyes of women who were to be dragged away to suffer. I hated the idea of war, fighting, anyone suffering. Being in this time had provided me with the ability to not only protect myself but others too and I will be forever grateful for that. But something like this on this scale was not something I could handle alone and the feeling of being inadequate and helpless swirled inside me.

“Traded for use in the pleasure districts?” She had lowered he voice into barely a whisper. I don’t know if it was because she thought the women in the room might be more upset with that idea or if she was just talking aloud to herself trying to process it all. But there was no stopping my mouth from continuing with my previous lecture.

“More than likely either private or public but overseas so they will be looking at removing them from here to take them to transport soon.” Oh, in the name of… Sasuke shut up. My fellow time traveller looked into my face after I finished speaking.

Her eyes were searching me and I felt a little pin prick of pain over my skin as I realised there was a hurt and questioning look in those beautiful eyes that I might have been the cause of. I didn’t want to hurt you. Facts and information are what I deal with it doesn’t make it any easier to deal with I know and I am also aware that I do not always have the best people skills in the world but I do have empathy.

“You don’t seem very shocked by this.” She probed.

“On the contrary I believe I am so deep in shock that my body is in fact moving on an automatic instinct and I will more than likely eventually be violently and physically sick later.” My monotone reply seemed to have her think of something as I saw her eyes waver slightly.

“Well we should probably leave and get help before that happens then.” She attempted a smile and although it was broken with all the emotions she was undoubtably feeling right now I still was struck by its beauty.

“Agreed.”

– Mmm, Mmm –

One of the girls in the furthest corner that wasn’t completely in the light of the lamp was moving rapidly trying to get our attention. I held on to the lamp and moved closer while the woman who had been at my side until now suddenly lunged towards the girl.

“Ren?... Oh God, Ren it is you hold on.” She slipped her tanto blade out of her Kimono and held it against the fabric gag, cutting it free so that the girl could talk freely.

“[Name] I thought I recognized your voice but I … am I dreaming?” The captive girl’s voice was weak.

“No, you aren’t dreaming Ren, I’m right here …  it’s really me honestly. What the Hell happened to you? Why are you even here? You were back at the village last I heard.” The rapid-fire questioning from [Name] put a smile on Ren’s face. Clearly these two were good friends. All I could do was hold a light to illuminate this rather uncomfortable reunion.

“I came here looking for you. Dad sent me he said there was some people asking for you and he wanted you to be safe so he sent me to find you and pass on the message.” Ren attempted to adjust her body into a more comfortable one but after pulling a pained expression and wincing she slumped back into the wall.

“You came alone? For Heaven’s sake Ren do you know how dangerous that is?” [Name] sounded like a chastising big sister or even a mother.

“I didn’t come alone, Aito was with me but…” Ren burst out crying and in between sobs she told us how Aito had been killed defending her. [Name] held her friend in her arms until she had calmed down again stifling the cries in her shoulder so as to not attract unwanted attention from the noise.

The story of how they were ambushed on the road to town by bandits and taken to the Daimyo. The fact that Aito had tried to distract them to allow her to make a run for it and failed. The Daimyo saying, he had “no use for men only the woman would fetch a high enough price for my desires.” It made my blood boil and my knuckles holding the lamp were turning white. Why must it hurt so much to feel so helpless?

“Look Ren I’m not sure how yet but I’m going to get you out of here ok? I’ll get you all out.”

I was captivated by [Name]’s defiant words and attitude. The spark in her eyes was something I normally only saw in Lord Kenshin when he was talking about battle. Regardless of situation I knew we had to get these girls out and free and to do that we needed a plan and help. I thought back to my studies. What had I learnt? Knowledge becomes a powerful weapon in battle, sometimes the most powerful. You can save someone’s life if you have learnt to study and apply background support. But battle tactics… they were the key to bring it all together. Used right you could produce a reliable victory with minimal damage and sacrifice. Lucky for me I know a brilliant tactician… two of them really.

“Who’s he? Is he your boyfriend?” Ren’s innocent question resulted in me freezing in place. I was thankful for the lack of anything other than a dim light because I was fairly sure I might be suffering from idiopathic craniofacial erythema that might rival Yukimura.

“What? Don’t be silly, what would a great guy like that want with a castaway like me?” [Name] chuckled at the girl but I noticed she didn’t look in my direction.

“My Name is Sasuke Sarutobi I’m a friend.” I nodded my head in a very informal bow. [Name]’s words made my mind spin I had no idea how to process that kind of information on top of working on a battle strategy and possible hostage negations. But she said I was a great guy… oh come on Sasuke get a grip!

“No way… are you being serious I mean your name is…” [Name]’s eyes snapped up to mine a very charming inquisitive look on her face.

“My parents had a love of history and didn’t pass on the opportunity when it came to my name.” I shrugged. It had been something I was used to and also sometimes the start of some episodes in my life where I was teased for it. My name after all was effectively a fictitious ninja’s name.  

“I bet that was fun growing up with.”

“Well you could say that my speed and agility are a result of years avoiding stereotypical situations of being a nerd.”

The previous look on her face turned to amusement as she giggled at my explanation. Her friend sat in silence clearly confused. Now that was a look I was familiar with the expression Ren had reminded me of Yukimura.

I put the lamp down on the floor for a second and went up to check for loose ceiling tiles. If I could guarantee a second concealed route then it would add to an element of surprise. I managed to slide one up a little and hooked my fingers inside hanging there in mid-air until I found a ground spike from my tunic and placed it up there as a marker.

“Sasuke… What are you doing up there?”

“Umm, Ninja stuff.” I let go and dropped back to the ground.

“Ok Peter Parker we’ll talk about it later.” We both shared a smile. She was possibly the most interesting woman I had met before and not only was she a time traveller but she got my references. Hardly anyone even in modern-times got my references.

“Peter who? I thought he was called Sasuke.” Ren tilted her head in confusion.

“He is sorry it was a joke. Besides all that I’m sorry but I’ll have to leave you for a bit while I make some arrangements and I promise I’ll be back for you.” [Name] pulled her friend into a hug.

“I know I trust you. You saved me before remember?” Ren said as she gave a broken smile.

“Of course I do, I couldn’t forget that. But I’m going to have to tie a new gag on you before I go otherwise they’ll get suspicious. I won’t make it as tight though ok?”

As tightly as she dared [Name] attached the cut fabric back around Ren’s head and mouth before standing.

“We’d better go.” I snuffed the lamp placing it back where I found it by the door. Suddenly going back to darkness from the light meant that it took a fraction of time to readjust our eyes but we didn’t have time to hang around and wait we had to move.

Patrols were on the move again and by the time we got back to the compound wall the sky was starting to lighten again. I gave [Name] a boost at the compound wall before swinging off a tree to pull myself up. Together we hopped down into the buildings of the town and in what felt like a surreal moment out of a ninja film we were free running around the rooftops on our way back to the Inn and my room.

---

By the time the sun had risen we had already been in my room and had a pile of papers with scribbled and scratched out ideas scrawled on them. She had been watching the compound for longer than I had and was a fountain of knowledge. Between us we had a good idea of number of guards, patrol routes, how often members of staff left to go into town and the general daily running of the manor. Naturally all the information we could get was a bonus but it didn’t solve the main problem. We didn’t have the man power or ability to get the girls out and take down the Daimyo.

– Knock, Knock –

“Hey Sasuke you there?”

“Yes, Yukimura come in.”

The shoji door to my room slide open and Yukimura came in. after closing it he noticed [Name] sitting near the window to with a cup of tea in her hand and raised his eye brows before looking at me with a grin on his face. It’s not what you are thinking, whatever it is.

“I didn’t realise you had company last night.”

“He didn’t or not like you are implying anyway. I take it he is your friend?” [Name] was quick to set things straight and move on to business. We had spoken at length about who we could get to help us and the obvious choice was to ask Yukimura to take a message to Lord Kenshin to inform him that the situation was much worse than mere over taxation.

It took some time to explain last nights events to Yukimura who became more and more agitated the more he heard about it.

“Well I’ll try to get there and back again as fast as I can. If I change horses I won’t have to stop and I can ride through the night.” Yukimura took the message I had written for Lord Kenshin and slid it into his Kimono as he mounted his horse.

“Do… or do not. There is no try Yukimura.” I smiled at my friend who was straightening up his reins.

“You did not seriously just quote Yoda.” [Name] was stifling a laugh from her position leaning on the wall of the Inn near us.

“Yoda? Who is that?”

“The force is strong with this one.” Her comment made me break out in a broad grin. It was unbelievably enjoyable to use modern day references and quotes and not be the only one that got them. I was again hit with a wave of warmth for her in my chest. Perhaps I do really like her.

“It doesn’t matter. Safe travels Yukimura.”

“Yeah stay safe too Sasuke.” Yukimura leant down towards me and then whispered in my ear. “She’s kinda cute. Don’t be a dummy.” With a light pat on my shoulder he kicked his horse into motion.

“Well, shall we get something to eat?” Her voice from behind me suddenly made me feel really nervous. Dammit Yukimura why did you have to say that?

---

[theclosetpoet7]

Revolution

One 

Rating: MA/NSFW

Chapter Two

Begin

"The red balloon flew up and up into the air, with no particular destination in mind, it went on its own way. There was nothing more satisfying than flying because it was what it was meant to do"

It didn't start with her healing him when he was at the brink of death.

It also didn't start with a drunken one night stand.

And, it didn't start with a proclamation of love.

The way things started with them didn't involve the usual cliché things Sakura had pictured in her mind. Though she had oftentimes wondered how in the hell they ended up being intimate with each other. It still astonished her. Honestly, if someone asked her how she was able to share a bed with Uchiha Sasuke, though no one would ever be able to ask her about it, she would probably surprise that person.

Because it was so unlike her.

And it wasn't something you would expect from her.

What would they say if they knew what sweet, innocent, warm-hearted Haruno Sakura had done? Aside from the fact that when she had run into the enemy four years ago, valuable information which should have been reported to the hokage as soon as it happened, Konoha's most promising medic had continued to meet him in secret.

And since she had seen him for the first time after three years.

She had not asked him to come home.

Not once.

If she was asked about the beginning, all she could say was that it was random. So random that no one would probably believe that she didn't do what was typical of her. The first time they ran into each other, she couldn't even remember where, because they had not even acknowledged each other's presence. She had been so scared that all she wanted to do was run as far away as possible. Who wouldn't be?

She was his enemy right?

They had been walking in a sea of people going about their daily lives. The sun was at its highest peak and she had taken her cloak off because of the heat. When she had folded the cloth over her forearm, his black robes caught her eye. She looked up to see him headed in her direction. He looked the same as when she last saw him. Maybe a bit taller. She couldn't see his face clearly because unlike the people around them who found the weather to be too warm and had taken off their jackets and what-not, he had decided to keep his cloak on. But she knew it was him. And he was closing their distance.

In her mind, she had stopped when he reached her side. It all happened in slow motion, the slight swish of his robe on her lateral, the shift in the ground beside her own two feet and the subtle way his eyes almost met hers. She wanted to look at his face, felt the urge to say his name, but her body continued to move. And he went on his own way. They crossed paths, but they didn't even say anything. It was like they didn't even know each other.

They were strangers.

And she didn't know why she didn't do anything.

She should've run after him.

But she didn't.

The second time they saw each other was in a civilian village located along the route from Suna to Oto. That day, she just felt like having a strong drink. It was a random bar she picked because it was the first one she saw. She had been tired from her mission to the sand village that she didn't even notice him at first. But, in the same way one's eyes search for something interesting in a room, he captured her attention.

He was sitting at a booth with Uzumaki Karin by his side. They were drinking alcohol and as expected the red-head was stuck to him. Sakura had felt a bit jealous at that. But she refused to admit it, concluding that she should just ignore they were even in the same place.

She had left again without saying anything, but before she made her exit, their eyes met but as quickly as they were in each other's line of vision, both of them looked away without so much as a hello.

It was excruciating, seeing him but not talking to him.

A week later, she came to the same bar, wondering if he was there.

He was.

Still with Karin.

Sakura fought the urge to stomp out of the pub but decided not to. Their oculars met again but like before, they didn't linger on each other's presence. She had drunk two bottles of sake that night. When the bartender had woken her up the next day she was too groggy to even contemplate about the fact that the bastard had just left her alone without a care for her well-being.

Two weeks later, she went back.

He wasn't there this time.

And though she felt the disappointment inside, she sat in the same booth she saw him in, and ordered her drink, emerald eyes immediately scanning the room for the familiar chicken-butt hair, but never finding him.

She went there weekly after that.

Naruto had once asked her why she wanted to go to Suna. She said that she was just beginning to like the weather there. She used this as a lame excuse but she was lying because she never really went to where she said she would.

Instead, she went to that civilian village.

Hoping to see him.

She didn't even spot Sasuke again until about two months later. She had actually come back from Suna at the time and as usual, she wanted to see if he was there.

He was.

And he was sitting alone in the same booth.

As soon as she entered, their eyes met. Sakura tried to ignore the fact that her heart just skipped a beat when he didn't look away this time. The young medic attempted to hold his stare but found that she couldn't, so she turned away first.

She sat in her previous seat at the bar and ordered her usual sake. The young medic sipped on the liquid and allowed it to calm her nerves. She could feel someone looking at her but told herself that it wasn't him. She almost choked when his voice, deep and dangerous, reached her ears.

"Does he even know that you're here?"

He wasn't going to say his best friend's name.

"Nope."

She didn't bother facing him as she took another swig of her drink.

"More please."

She signaled to the bartender. She was then handed another drink in no time and she downed it all in one gulp.

On the outside, Haruno Sakura appeared calm and collected as the kage loomed behind her. However, on the inside, she was anything but. Her heart hammered in her chest and her back felt really hot at the proximity of his body at her posterior. She was afraid because after about six months of randomly running into each other and happening to be in the same bar but never speaking, acting like they were strangers, he had finally decided to acknowledge her presence.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

She gulped and thought hard. What was she doing here? It was far from Konoha and a long way from where she came from. Truthfully, she was beginning to question her saneness. Because who in their right mind would go to a bar just so that they could chance a glance at the enemy? She told herself that she was merely checking up on him. Maybe to get some information.

No, if she was being honest, she just really wanted to see him.

And she shouldn't.

"It's neutral territory." She starts.

Her heart stops when he takes the seat next to her.

"And?"

"I happen to like bars."

"There are a lot of bars in Konoha."

He was regarding her with a look of suspicion. Of course, he was questioning her intentions. But in her mind, she was also questioning his.

"There are also a lot of bars in Otogakure." She retorted.

"Hn."

This was true. It didn't make sense for him to come here, the same way it didn't make sense for her as well.

"How are you?"

She doesn't know why she asked this question. She had been wondering of course, though she never planned on asking him. She doesn't know what they're doing, casually talking as if they weren't on different sides.

He looked at her and she knew that he found her annoying in this moment. He has an eyebrow raised and is probably analyzing her motive.

"Hn."

He didn't even honor her with an answer. What a jerk. Although, she supposed that this was expected. He didn't need to tell her how he was, they weren't friends. They didn't even know each other. Still, her mouth moves on its own.

"I'm fine. These past three years have been great. I am so ecstatic that both my teammates are kages and even more so that they are doing whatever they can to achieve their dreams." She said it sarcastically.

She expected him to leave her alone then because she had gone too far. She mentally kicked herself for saying what she did.

He surprised her however by smirking.

"You're still annoying."

Her heart clenched at his usual reference to her. Sakura Haruno, Lady Tsunade's apprentice, beloved medic of Konoha, loved and admired by all but to Uchiha Sasuke, always an annoyance. She unconsciously grasped her chest to stop the hurt. He had told her that she was annoying too many times now, the last time was something she could never forget. It was a vivid memory, his hand inside her chest, crushing the life out of her. It had felt like she was being torn from the inside. And he had broken her heart into pieces, even if it was a genjutsu. She inwardly told herself to be strong. Instead of crying, she smiled at him and said.

"I know."

He turned to her with an expression of surprise and after a few seconds, smirked.

And that's how it all started.

They didn't talk about the war.

They didn't even talk about their homes.

They simply talked about random matters.

As if they were normal young adults who met at a bar. And they continued to exchange words, frequently meeting at that very spot. Though sometimes they ended up being alone in most days, the gods somehow wanted them to see each other because they had good timing.

Yes, they were doing something crazy by starting something. Neither of them knew where this was headed. It was bound to blow up in their faces at some point. But they were slowly pulled by each other's existence. It was a slow friendship that didn't make sense because when they left that small village, they went back to their normal lives, going on missions, making plans to kill the bijuus, trying to work their way into defeating each other's side. However, weeks, sometimes months would pass and the two ninjas would find themselves wondering then their bodies would bring them to that village to chance another meeting.

It confused them, worried them.

It didn't make sense at all.

______________

" when it finally reached the point where it could go no further, its insides started expanding and expanding at the heat, was that the sun? but it refused to give up, and it refused to feel anything other than its love for flying"

.

.

.

"Hey, Sasuke-kun. Have you ever done it?"

He tried to fight the urge to turn his head to her with wide eyes. She surprised him with her question. This topic was private right? He decided on not answering her. But, she was looking at him and she looked serious. It had been a year since they started seeing each other and Sasuke wondered why she even asked.

They had built an invisible wall in front of the other, never mentioning their lives at their villages. It was shocking how long they managed to keep whateverthis was going. But he found that with this woman, they could never run out of topics. Be it the weather, the alcohol they were trying or the regulars at the bar.

He realized that a lot had changed about her, she was tougher and more opinionated. Also, she was more knowledgeable about everything in general. At the same time though, she was essentially the same twelve year old girl. She took good care of her hair still, and she was a sweet and caring person. He noticed this in the way she was kind to the bartender or to someone she met twice.

After twelve months of getting to know Haruno Sakura all over again, the question she asked was something he did not expect to come from her mouth.

"It's none of your business." He mutters.

"I haven't."

"So?"

"I'm curious though."

He didn't say anything back because his mind is suddenly filled with the thought of Sakura naked and lying in bed.

Under him.

He blinks to erase the image.

"So, have you ever done it?" she asked again.

He knew she wouldn't leave him alone if he didn't answer her.

"Yes."

"With Karin?"

"Aa."

"How many times?"

He looked at her then, now he wasn't able to hide the look of disbelief on his face. Was she seriously asking him how many times?

"I don't know."

He noticed the bewilderment in her green eyes. She quickly hid the hurt by drinking her sake. They stay silent then. Sasuke starts to feel guilty, though he couldn't understand why.

Why should it bother him that he slept with another woman too many times to count?

And why should it bother him that Sakura had looked betrayed because of that?

He doesn't want to stay in her presence now, so he pushes his stool back and starts to get up. She surprises him again when she too stands from her seat. He continued to ignore her as they slowly exited the establishment. The streets are empty except for a couple of civilians drinking and laughing at the nearby stores.

He could hear her footsteps behind him. Cautious and slow. But she was still there. She was following him. He walks aimlessly because he doesn't know where he is supposed to go. Why was he in this village again?

Somehow, he couldn't remember because he was becoming too aware of the woman behind him.

And he found that, like her…

He was also curious.

Not about sex in general.

He had done it several times before. At the age of twenty, he was an experienced lover. There was nothing remotely new about having a woman's body. He had only one constant partner. Even if they weren't really "together", she was always present, and she had shown him techniques he didn't even know about.

It was a mutual thing, finding that physical release which could only be brought about by another person's body. And he found that it was a good way to let go of pent up emotions. He doesn't go looking for someone to sleep with, Karin just goes to him and he sometimes, though this was a rare occurrence, went to her if he felt the urge to do so. It was purely physical and he wasn't curious about finding out what it was like with another woman.

That's why he is on edge as of the moment.

Because Sakura had stirred something inside him…

And he wanted to know what it would be like.

What would it be like if he claimed this ex-teammate's innocence?

Her steps halted and he turned to see what made her stop.

His eyes widened as he saw her, standing there, her body slightly turned to a building. It was a love hotel. His heart pumps faster as he registers that face, contemplating on something, and he knew what she was thinking. He swallows as she turns to him then. Her eyes told him everything she was saying even if she didn't open her mouth to utter the words.

His control shattered.

He walks to her, grabs her wrist and takes her inside. He was probably going to regret it but he didn't care at this point. Why should he? She wanted him to show her what it was like right? A normal man wouldn't be able to say no to this pink-haired medic. She was attractive and she had a physique that promised any male that she would be good in bed. Sasuke knew that he wouldn't be able to say no. Especially if she looked at him with a face that said.

"Fuck me."

______________

It was a simple room with just one bed, a table and a lamp at its side. This room was made for one purpose and one purpose only. Sex. He allowed her to enter first. When she steps in, she anxiously sweeps her hair out of her face as she pretends to look interested in the furniture.

What the hell was she thinking?

Showing Sasuke that she wanted to try sex for the first time with him.

Her body shivered as she felt him come closer. His tall frame emanated a dangerous aura as he stood behind her fit body.

"Having second thoughts?"

Sakura could feel her goose bumps at the sound of his voice. There was just something about Sasuke's voice. It was dark and sexy. Finding that courage which got her into this situation in the first place, she turned to him and hesitantly reached out to his face.

Her soft hand caresses the side of his cheek as she looks up at him to make out the handsome structure of his face. The way he looked back at her had her whole body turn red because it simply told her that he knew how to make a woman scream his name. She sadly notes that Karin had probably received a look similar to this. Maybe something even more meaningful.

She bites her lip to stop herself from becoming bitter. Her hand almost falls back but he holds it to his cheek with his.

"Close your eyes."

Sakura follows his command and shuts her eyelids. That was the only warning she got before he crashed his lips to hers. They felt soft as they brushed on her pink ones ever so slowly, as if he was testing the waters, checking to see if he wanted to take a dip in it.

She moaned as she felt his tongue come out to ask for entry and she immediately opens her mouth to let him in. It was a battle of the appendages. He angled her head closer so he could dominate her and soon he does.

When they felt the need to come up for air they separated, a thin trail of saliva connecting both their mouths.

He pulls away.

She is almost disappointed but he steps back, and pulls the zipper of his high collared shirt down. After, he pulls the purple obi away from his form, leaving him in his dark pants that narrowed around his legs.

Her breath caught at the sight. He was too beautiful. White alabaster skin, muscles toned from years of hard physical training. Faint scars adorned his chest and she thought that they only served to add to his beauty. Her throat dries at the sight of his stomach. Her eyes go to his face again and she almost faints when she finds him staring at her.

"Sakura, take your clothes off."

It takes her a moment to understand his demand but when she does, she instantly blushes again. Dainty fingers come up to shakily pull her zipper down. She notes the massive difference in the way she removes her clothes in contrast to his confident stripping. She turns around to take off the sleeveless red blouse from her shoulder, leaving her in her white bra.

She turns slightly to regard him over her shoulder. When she finds him still staring at her she turns away and almost wraps her arms around herself when he grabs both her wrists and puts them to her side. His lips then go to her neck and he inhales deeply. She almost jumps at his display of affection.

When he senses her arms losing their tenseness, he grabs her waist and turns her to him again, immediately engaging her in another round of french kissing. She responds to him with more eagerness than before, fingers wounding through his dark tresses.

As he pushes her to the mattress, and places himself between her legs, he continues to skim his hands over her skin, soon, he unclasps her bra and wastes no time in grabbing her full breasts and sucking on one of them. She gasps his name at the contact. The sensation immediately radiates to her core and she finds herself in need of more of him.

Out of instinct, she started grounding her pelvis to his. He pulls slightly away to grit his teeth at the pleasure.

"Stop."

Her movements immediately halt, and she starts to feel the stinging slap of rejection. However, he pulls her closer to press his arousal to her. She gasps at the hardness of him.

"Let me do this first."

Sakura doesn't understand what he means and gasps when he grabs her shorts in his hands and pulls them down along with her panties. She almost shies away from the exposure but he holds her thighs firmly and spreads them apart.

"Sasuke-kun, please."

She pleads for him to let her go because she knows that she couldn't take it if he stares at her innocence.

And he does.

His dark coals gaze at her womanhood, and then they went to her eyes. They stay like that for a second before he lowers his head to taste her, tongue coming out to lap at her essence.

Sakura's hands immediately grab the sheets beside her and she arches her back to him. Her body heats up at the pleasure he invokes in her. Slowly and hesitantly her hips start to rock against his mouth and he lets out a growl of approval. His wet appendage moves higher and she suddenly couldn't help but scream his name in utter satisfaction as he stroked her nub. It was all going too fast, she wanted it to go on forever but at the same time she wanted to reach that absolute euphoria.

His name comes out in a strained gasp when she finally reaches her peak. Her body shakes at the intensity of the first climax Uchiha Sasuke has given her. But it was not the last. He doesn't give her a chance to recover because he swiftly takes off his pants, pulls his length out and thrusts into her.

"Ah!"

Her eyes widened at the painful feeling of him stretching her. Her teeth dig into her bottom lip as she tries to adjust to him.

"Relax."

"I, I'm sorry, it just took me by surprise." She says, slowly wrapping her arms around him and pulling him closer.

"Hn."

Sasuke settles into nuzzling her neck, tongue coming out to lick her skin. After a while, he feels her calm down. Then, he starts moving.

It was blinding sensation from then on out.

His thrusts, hard and fast, had Sakura gasping his name as she shuts her eyes and focuses on the man moving above her.

They were really doing it. Fucking each other. It was more than she could imagine. He was passionate and giving. She grabs his hair when he hits a spot inside of her that almost makes her come.

"Sasuke."

"Sasuke."

"Sasuke…"

His name is all that she could remember in this moment of unadulterated pleasure. And she is drowning in the overwhelming scent of his sweat mixed with his soap. She reaches a new high when he changes his angle and charges into her faster than before.

In a matter of minutes she comes again, biting into his shoulder. Her walls clamping hard on him seemed to have done the trick because so suddenly, he is emptying into her, thrusts becoming frantic.

He pulls out of her, spent and satisfied and goes to lie on his stomach next to her heated body.

The sight of him, exhausted and seemingly at peace makes her heart beat ten times faster and she finds herself unable to hold back any longer. The feelings she had for him, instead of disappearing, had only grown the past year. It was like they were given a second chance to be together when they went to that bar. Sakura hoped that was what it meant because she doesn't know if she is ever going to be happy without this man by her side. Before she could stop herself, she lets out those three words.

______________

"I love you."

Onyx eyes opened. His throat felt constricted upon hearing her. Really. She just had to say it didn't she? She was really too open and he suddenly felt the need to put distance between them. This woman was too annoying, she didn't even give him time to fully catch his breath. Sasuke feels the need to get away but finds himself unable to stand from the bed. Instead, he opted to just turning to his side, his back to her. He closed his eyes and listened. He was positive she had something else to say.

Sakura surprised him again by turning to him, wrapping an arm around his stomach, pressing her body close to his. He almost groans at the contact but stops himself. Already, he was regretting sleeping with her.

A few minutes passed by when the dark-haired nin finally decided that he couldn't take the silence any longer.

Did she expect him to say something back?

If she wanted him to tell her his feelings then she would be deeply disappointed because he knows that he doesn't even love her.

He finds the right words to tell her to stay away from him. That she should go home and forget this ever happened. Because this was all too much.

Her feelings.

She was suffocating him with her heartfelt confession. Deciding to break the quietude, he utters one simple word.

"Why?"

He had always wondered why she claims to love him. After her second love confession almost four years ago, he found himself pissed at her for professing her love for him when he was betraying the trust Naruto placed in him. What did she think it would get her? It puzzled him then, and it still puzzled him now. What did she see in him? Does she actually know who he is?

He stiffens when he hears her quiet laughter. Her hand comes up to stifle her girlish giggles but he could still feel it vibrate through his back. He glares at the table beside the bed.

This isn't exactly the right time to be laughing.

His glare bores through the furniture as he waits for her to answer his question.

"Orokana."

Her voice echoes into the room. He feels her shift her position on the bed as she pulls herself closer to him. He could feel her naked form against him now. Soft and smooth.

"You don't need a reason to love someone."

His breath hitches at the easiness of her answer.

"I mean, there are a lot of things I like about you Sasuke-kun, things that make me remember how happy my life was when you were in Konoha and things that make me believe that despite this charade of not caring and not letting anyone in, you do care."

This time, he turns to look at her. He expects her to look straight into his eyes but she doesn't. Instead, her hands go to his chest, slowly forming into small fists as she lowers her head to rest it against them. He feels her breathe deeply.

"At the same time, there are also things that I dislike. Like how easily you casted us, your comrades, aside, and how arrogant you are for starting a war against your best friend because you simply do not agree with him."

This was the first time she ever mentioned the war to him. He is curious if she is about to delve into it but is relieved when she pulls away and holds one of his hands, this time green eyes stared into his soul.

"But, it's all those things that make you. . .You. Just you. Uchiha Sasuke. . . You must think I'm crazy, but that's the truth. I simply love you."

It takes her a second to realize the passion in her words and she instantly turns red when he doesn't reply.

"Gomen, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable…"

He silences her with a kiss. A kiss projected with so much emotion that he couldn't help but deepen it. This was something he hasn't felt in a long time. The feeling of being accepted as who he was. The same way a family does. He didn't want her to take her words back.

He pushes her to the mattress again and touches her with the familiarity of a lover. Already she was responding to him.

When he enters her and feels her gasp at the pleasure he is giving her, he pulls her closer and tries to imagine that they aren't enemies.

He tries to forget about the fact that she chose Naruto over him.

And he tries to ignore the wild thumping of his heart as he feels something so foreign to him that he couldn't even give a name to it.

He just knows, as she comes from his hard thrusts, screaming his name, that after tonight…after she offered her heart to him again…

.

.

.

Things would never be the same.

.

.

.

"….it didn't care if it was putting its existence at risk, it kept on flying and flying…choosing to be free….it didn't care as long as it keeps on doing what it loves, higher and higher...

.

...until it finally bursts"

______________ To be continued

AN: Orokana - foolish / silly

I have no idea where this balloon thing came from. Lately, I've been searching for pictures of balloons in the great blue sky. Anyway, this is how things started with them. Actually, I was hoping to just focus on the romance between these two but a part of me wants to explore this little world that I created (ehem, based on Kishimoto's awesome manga). So maybe it will be longer than I intended? Maybe not.

Is anyone else feeling like the world is ending because Naruto is nearing its final chapter? Let's all raise our hands and cast our energy into Kishimoto-sama to just let Sasuke and Sakura be together. :D

It might take a while for me to update on both my stories so I hope this satisfies you for now.

[failureoftheyear-blog]

I will go down with this ship: Chapter 1

Title: I will go down with this ship Category: Anime/Manga » Naruto Author: Teme of the year Language: English, Rating: Rated: M Genre: Romance/Adventure Published: 05-01-16, Updated: 02-07-17 Chapters: 32, Words: 122,735

Ongoing.

Summary:  Born from noble blood, luxury is the only life Sasuke knows. Suddenly, his utopian life is transformed by the appearance of a Captain Naruto Uzumaki; an infamous pirate with his eyes on Sasuke. Together they chase after a lost, forgotten myth. Though nothing is so easy. Especially when you're your own worst enemy... Social contrasts? Yes. But lovers?... Pirate AU. Narusasu, boy love!

The scene is set at a mansion, oozing aristocracy and fortune. Konoha's light sun resting on the white palace; home to the rich and powerful Uchiha clan. The family to which has bred outstanding generals and leaders; a picture of pure perfection in the eyes of society. Inside one of the many room was a lithe form that sat in front of their light, blue vanity desk, gracefully perched on the accommodating seat. Said form was the family's youngest, Sasuke Uchiha. A young boy of sixteen; with eyes like shadowy diamonds, hair like a black wolf, and skin like pure, white silk. A picture of elegance and magnificence, adorned by many, held by none. Sasuke was absent-mindedly brushing his hair, his only use in the world being his beauty. Sasuke was fine with it, he had a great life.

"My lord, you're looking exquisite today, as usual" His lady in waiting, Karin, commented. Sasuke made a triumphant noise.

"Of course, am I anything else?" Sasuke replied, gazing happily in the mirror. Karin chuckled and nodded.

"Would my lord like to get dressed?" Karin asked, Sasuke nodded.

"Yes, I think I've dawdled in these clothes enough, time to refresh I believe" Sasuke answered, arising and going behind shoji screen and getting dressed. Thinking over today's routine, like he always did, with not but a care in the world.

First, breakfast with mother and father and nii-san, then I'll go and rendezvous with my fiancée, then I suppose I could lend my time to the other Ojos …I wonder if that ghastly pirate problem is resolved yet…Sasuke shook his head, No need to upset myself with such political nonsense, I am a Ojo after all…Sasuke concluded. Stepping out to reveal himself in his new attire. A white, sleeveless top that fit snugly around him. His close-fitting, black knee-length shorts. His expensive black and gold plimsolls. Finished off with gold bracelets and necklace, also sporting a transparent shawl. You would think he would wear more manly clothes, but Ojos's purpose is to look pretty. So Sasuke had to wear such tight clothing, not too much though, he was of a higher class.

"Beautiful, my lord, but perhaps another set of shoes?" Karin compliment, but Sasuke sent a disgusted glare her way.

"I don't need you to tell me that" Sasuke scoffed, Karin let her head bow in respect.

"My apologies, my lord, I spoke out of term, it will not happen again" Karin apologised, Sasuke gave an unimpressed stare at the girl.

"I should think not" Sasuke scolded, walking pass her with no regard for her feelings, "And clean this mess, your job is at stake with your discourteous manner already" Sasuke ordered as he walked out of the room, she scowled when he left.

"Brat…" She grumbled. Sasuke made his way to the feasting table, where his father sat at the very end in his prestigious blue uniform, showing that he was the General of Konoha. While his brother, who sat at the side of the long table, wore a light blue uniform to show he was the Lieutenant. He sat across from his brother who smiled at him.

"Good morning, Sasuke" Itachi greeted, Sasuke smiled his response.

"Good morning, nii-san" Sasuke replied, Sasuke did the same for his mother and father. His mother was across the long table from his father, she smiled beautifully towards her son.

"Good morning, my love" She spoke joyfully, but with grace; as expected. Sasuke adored his mother, she was beautiful as well, possibly in all the land. Her long, black hair that was styled to today's fashions and wearing a stunning blue dress that proved her wealth and place in society. "I hope you slept well?" She asked, Sasuke nodded, "Good" She smiled.

"Sasuke, I heard a small scuffle in you room, is everything at peace?" His father asked with a stoic face, Sasuke nodded.

"Yes, father, just my insubordinate lady in waiting, she was speaking out of term on my appearance" Sasuke answered, his mother's face screwing up.

"How dare she?! The audacity of some peasants, they need to be reminded of their place in life, Sasuke, do you wish for me to have a word with this labourer?" His mother spoke; though her appearance may be great, years of the aristocracy turned her inside foul. Sasuke shook his head.

"No need, do not waste your breath upon her, she merely stepped out of line" Sasuke replied, yet his father was displeased.

"This is all because of the damn Hitoshi party" He spat. To whom it may concern, the Hitoshi party was a political party that strived for equality and fairness amongst society. Claiming that the higher class had no right to treat the working class like they did. The opposing party was the Futo party; they were conservative and looked out for the interests of the ruling class, i.e. the Uchihas. "They give peasants that idea that they are the same, ha! I laugh in the face of their absolute foolhardiness" Father scoffed, "Not only the peasants, but just the other day in the Sabaku family, the Ojo, Temari, spoke out against her father's wishes, can you believe it? Saying that she should marry whomever she wanted?" Father explained.

"Disgusting" Sasuke remarked, gaining the attention of everyone in the room, "Refusing to obey her father, I never would have thought such a thing was possible, her purpose to is sit there and look unadulterated, not to express trivial opinions, as if they matter" Sasuke stated, even though he was an Ojo himself he believed that they should behave in such a way. Sasuke noticed the small, worried look on Itachi's face but dismissed it.

"Oh Sasuke, I'm so proud of you" His mother responded with immodesty, "I'm happy to see that you're growing up properly, you're going to be a divine wife for your fiancée" She added, making Sasuke smile delicately.

"Indeed" His father added, while Itachi remained silent. His mother shook her head.

"I would be mortified to be that girl's mother" She remarked, a sly smirk coming onto his father's face.

"Though I take a considerable of pleasure in seeing the Sabaku family disgraced in such a way, how excruciating" He remarked, his mother winded.

"Fugaku! You deviant" His mother gasped playfully, taking in the same sick satisfaction. His father smirked.

"Well, they are no match for us…" He chuckled, Sasuke and his mother chuckled with him while Itachi remained silent. His mother picked up on it and frowned.

"Itachi, you shouldn't reserve yourself to be so disquieted" She scolded.

"Leave the man be, he has more pressing matters to be tending to in his mind than the failure of others" His father defended.

"I apologise mother, I feel unobtrusive is all, no need to fret" Itachi spoke, relief within his mother satisfied her.

"See, he is well, no need to-argh!" His father called out, as a servant was pouring his water and had spilt some.

"M-My lord, I apolo-"

"Blast it! You utmost fool! Do you have onions for eyes or are you simply devoid of a functional head?!" His father screamed, Itachi watching with concern as Sasuke and his mother watched with disgust at the servant.

"I humbly-"

"I do not wish to hear it! Guards!" His father called, guards running in and holding the old servant, "Take this waste of air to the stocks, let him be mocked and scorned by his own filth, now get him out of my sight, he dost infect my eyes!" His father ordered, the old servant being dragged away with tears in his eyes. Itachi looked upon his tears with a sigh, not approving his father's actions, but held his tongue.

"Well, this croissant is magnificent" She remarked, unfazed with the events, as was Sasuke. Itachi sighed and arose from his seat.

"I am to take a walk in the gardens, Sasuke, would you care to accompany me?" Itachi requested, Sasuke nodded.

"Splendid, I'm glad to see you two share a bond" His mother spoke, Sasuke stood and walked with Itachi; entering the bountiful gardens filled with flowers, ponds and expensive beauties. The gardeners staining the view in Sasuke's eyes.

"Sasuke, what do you think of the Hitoshi party?" Itachi asked, receiving a strange look from Sasuke.

"It's none of my concern, political arguments are not within my bounds" Sasuke replied, Itachi sighed in disappointment. He saw so much in his brother, yet he was poisoned with his family's philosophies. Itachi decided to take another route and bent down on one knee, he lightly pushed back some of the brilliant flowers to reveal a weak, yellow flower.

"Sasuke, what do you see?" Itachi questioned, Sasuke gazed upon the flowers and spoke.

"Our garden, flowers" Sasuke answered, Itachi shook his head.

"No Sasuke, underneath" Itachi pointed out, Sasuke squinted to see the little weak flower and tutted.

"Yes, a weed, our staff is infeasibly incompetent" Sasuke remarked.

"Look again, Sasuke" Itachi ordered, Sasuke peered at it again before Itachi began to speak, "I see a potentially glorious flower, shadowed by the bigger, more powerful flowers; the flowers that take no regard for others and take all the sun and water"

"Survival of the fittest"

"Luxuries of the privileged" Itachi corrected, making Sasuke go silent. Itachi raised and looked at his younger brother, "If given the chance, it will blossom, be as worthy as the rest, or is it worthy already?"

"Of course not" Sasuke scoffed, "It has no use if it doesn't full-fill its purpose in this life" Sasuke explained, Itachi sighed.

"Do you not see the problem, Sasuke?" Itachi enquired desperately, Sasuke looked at Itachi and nodded.

"I do…" Sasuke answered, a relief flooded Itachi, but it became a drought when Sasuke whipped to the side, "You there! Peasant!" Sasuke called out to the nearest gardener, a middle-aged man who looked terrified by the only sixteen Sasuke, "I beckon you" Sasuke added, the man stumbled over, and gulped, "It has been brought to my attention that you have not been doing your job correctly, do you see that ugly display of weed?" Sasuke asked, the man looked at it with fondness and an edgy breath.

"Y-Yes, m'lord, you see, my daughter planted it there a-and it would mean a lot if it can stay there, you know, cuz it don't take up to much space" The man explained nervously, rubbing his hat in his hands. Sasuke didn't like the excuse.

"Well, remove it" Sasuke ordered, but the man hesitated.

"But m'lord, it's my daughter's-"

"It's an eyesore"

"I-I have to protest" The man stuttered, Sasuke froze and gave him a bewildered expression.

"Excuse me?" Sasuke whispered out in shock, "Did you just question me? My authority?!" Sasuke snapped, the man looked horrified and bowed.

"M'lord! I'm so sorry-"

"Not enough to know your place, perhaps a night in the dungeon will benefit you!"

"Sasuke!" Itachi snapped, unable to watch his brother anymore. Sasuke looked shocked towards his brother, Itachi bowed to the man and spoke, "On behalf of my brother I apologise, the flower will remain where it is, please relax, you can go" Itachi spoke softly, the man nodded shakily and quickly walked away. Sasuke was staring shocked at his brother.

"Did you just apologise to that…that peasant?!" Sasuke gasped, Itachi looked at Sasuke before stepping away from him and looking to the sky with his hands behind his back.

"Sasuke, I want to undo aristocracy's influence on you" Itachi admitted, making Sasuke puzzled, "Life is a beautiful thing, it isn't cruel like people so often claim, it's the people in it that make it harsh" Itachi spoke, "People like our parents Sasuke, they are the disease on this earth that cannot survive, for humanity they must die out" Itachi stated, Sasuke's eyes widened at his words, "Life favours no one, such as the tide stops for no man and the mountains stand against the wind, we are worth no more than the people who we enslave" Itachi continued, Sasuke in a trance by the words, "A great injustice in this world is discrimination, the bloodshed that stains the faces of the innocent, the people who suffer as a result of our supposedly 'superior' bloodline" Itachi voiced.

"I…" Sasuke trailed off, "I…don't understand" Sasuke admitted, Itachi looked towards him.

"The land we stand on is not ours, Sasuke"

"What are you talking about? This land is in the name of the Uchiha" Sasuke pointed out, completely missing Itachi's message.

"This land possesses no master, it was here before we were born and will be after we die, we are not immortal, in the game of chess the pawn and the king go back in the same box" Itachi lectured, looking at the ground before staring Sasuke dead in the eye with a terribly solemn expression, "We are on the wrong side of history, Sasuke"

…

Sasuke was looking out of the window, thinking over his brother's words; providing as an enigma for the young Uchiha.

We are on the wrong side of history, Sasuke…

Sasuke couldn't comprehend what he possibly meant, his gaze floated over to his silent lady in waiting. All of a sudden, he felt uncomfortable, as if something…dreadful was at the bottom of his stomach…culpable of or responsible for a specified wrongdoing. He couldn't pin it until his lady spoke.

"My lord, your fiancée is here" Karin spoke, Sasuke smiled instantly, he stood and brushed off anything posing a threat to his perfection. He walked along the hallway to see that at the bottom of the large stairwell was his fiancée.

"Oh, Neji, I've been ever lonesome without your company" Sasuke spoke as he made his way down the stairs, Neji greeted him with a small smile.

"Fear no more, I am here" Neji replied, kissing Sasuke's hand, "You're complete once again" Neji remarked, Sasuke let out a content sigh.

"I feel so, though I will feel more adjusted when we wed" Sasuke informed, Neji nodded.

"Patience my dove, we'll be united as will our families" Neji responded, "Stronger we'll become" Neji promised, what he was referring to was up for debate. Neji gave a quick glance to his lips and gave a smile, "May I be so bold as to imply a kiss?" Neji requested, Sasuke shook his head.

"How scandalous, you couldn't possibly ask for such a thing before we are married" Sasuke replied, Neji nodded.

"Of course, I just jester, I wouldn't compromise your honour in such a way" Neji promised, Sasuke chuckled at the inoffensive humour. "I'm afraid I'm not here for pleasure Sasuke, I must meet with your father to speak of business, I shall speak to you afterwards" Neji informed, Sasuke sighed and nodded.

"I will await for you until then" Sasuke responded, looking around, "I suppose your cousin, Hinata, is here?" Sasuke enquired, Neji nodded.

"In the drawing room, give my regards to the others?"

"Others?"

"Yes, I'm under the impression that Ojos Ino and Sai are there" Neji answered, Sasuke nodded and made his way to the room. He knew all of them from birth, most Ojos did. He knew Hinata as his fiancée's cousin and also his study partner sometimes. She was smart, but very quiet and shy, as a child she had a stutter, but her family spent thousands to get it beat of her. It worked, but on occasion she still stuttered.

He knew Ino as the most rumbustious of the friend group, too much for Sasuke's liking, often making some crude jokes. She was a fangirl if anything else, she was obsessed with pirates especially, cooing over how handsome and remarkable they were. He didn't approve of such things, but she was still a good friend, even though she had too many smutty books.

Sai was sometimes as bad, but he was more reserved and offered some solid advice when it came to Ojos problems. While Sasuke was good at saying what to do, Sai was good at saying how to cope with it. He was a very talented painter as well, Sasuke often enjoyed watching him paint for hours on end. A bit reluctant when it was paintings of him though. Sai often emphasised with Ino of Ojo struggles, but Sasuke thought it was a privilege to be in such a position, but Ino often complained about lack of freedom.

Sasuke entered the drawing room to see Sai painting with his supplies that he carried everywhere. Ino sitting bored on a love seat and Hinata reading a book. They gave Sasuke a composed greeting while Ino gave a grunt, Sasuke looked disapprovingly towards her.

"That's not how Ojos are supposed to act" Sasuke scolded, but Ino gave another ugly grunt.

"So? No one is around, speaking of which, we should do something fun" Ino prompted, Sasuke rolled his eyes as he sat.

"Your concept of 'fun' is hazardous, we should just discuss" Sasuke suggested, Hinata smiled.

"That sounds pleasant" Hinata complimented.

"Booooring" Ino whined, Sasuke sent her a warning glare, "Well, if we have to only talk, let us gossip" Ino smirked, Sasuke sighed.

"If it is the only activity that will quench your monotonous mind" Sasuke sighed, Ino smirked.

"Well, guess what I heard from some of my guards while I was eavesdropping…oh, don't look at me like that Sasuke! It was an accident, I swear! Anyway, apparently some fearsome pirates have managed to cross the borders, and the royal army is on guard for anything suspicious" Ino said excitedly, Sasuke frowned while Hinata felt flustered.

"Oh my, that's worrying" Hinata responded, Ino snapped her head towards Hinata with an opposing expression.

"Nu-uh! It's great!" Ino proclaimed, making Sasuke sigh, "Imagine it, pirates! They enter my room, they see how beautiful I am and take me to their captain, he falls in love with me instantly and we sail the seven seas!" Ino squealed, Sasuke gave her an annoyed look.

"You have a fiancée Ino, you should pay more respect to him" Sasuke pointed out.

"Oh please, it's a forced marriage, not like I'll say anything, but still" Ino shrugged, before smiling and her face going red, "I'd still prefer a strapping, rogue sailor to take me…it's the ultimate fantasy!" Ino giggled, Sasuke rolled his eyes at her childishness.

"That may be your fantasy, but it sure isn't mine" Sasuke responded, catching Ino's interest.

"Ohhh? So what is your fantasy, Sasuke?" Ino giggled, Sasuke's face went a light pink before making it go away.

"If you must know, all thoughts like that, which are very rare mind you, are concentrated on my fiancée" Sasuke answered.

"Booo! That's boring!" Ino whined, "I mean, there must have been one time that you thought about someone other than who you have to think about? Oh come on, please? I won't tell anyone!" Ino promised, Sasuke sighed and drank from his tea that was put out by his lady in waiting, who stood in the corner waiting for her orders.

"I assure you, I don't have anything of the sort, Ojos minds aren't supposed to be occupied by such things" Sasuke retorted, Ino merely blew a raspberry at Sasuke before her gaze fell on Sai.

"Oi, Sai, what about you?" Ino asked, without missing a beat and without turning from his paint his spoke.

"Pirate" Sai stated in a deadpan voice, surprising Sasuke, but making Ino grin.

"Thank you! Pirates are gorgeous" Ino proclaimed, Sasuke shook his head, Ino made Hinata her next victim, "C'mon Hinata, don't you think that pirates are dazzling!" Ino giggled, Hinata blushed and looked down, fiddling with her long peach gown.

"U-Um, well…t-they do seem to have a certain thing about t-them…" Hinata admitted, making Sasuke's eyes widen.

"Hinata!" Sasuke gasped, Hinata blushed more, but Ino had already moved on.

"Hey, Karin, what do you think?" Ino asked, making everyone in the room stop and look at the girl. Even Sai stopped painting to observe, Sasuke felt uncomfortable bringing his servant into the conversation, but decided to remain quiet. Karin looked completely off guard and looked at Sasuke for permission, but he avoided her eyes. Karin took his as a 'go ahead' and spoke.

"I feel like they have a charm to them, their ruggedness…roughness…even their rudeness is very enticing" Karin answered, leaving everyone silent but Ino.

"I like her" Ino smirked, looking at Sasuke who was about to scold Ino and his lady in waiting when the doors burst open, making everyone gasp.

"My lords and ladies, we're under attack!" The guard said, panicking everyone, Sasuke stood and spoke.

"By whom?"

"Pirates! They not be long till they get here, we need get you to safety" The guard stated, the Ojos hurriedly walked behind the guard, but Sasuke was stopped by Karin.

"My lord, the pirates will go after them, if you follow me to your room then I'll keep you safe" Karin promised, Sasuke was concerned for his safety and agreed. He and Karin sped rapidly to his room, he went inside and allowed a breath of air to help his lungs. He was about to actually thank Karin but heard a loud bang from outside. He gazed out his window to see pirates and army men fighting one another, he gasped and retracted from the window. He turned to Karin who seemed a little restless, but otherwise calm. But before he had time to question it, his heard his window smash. He gasped and turned to see a figure entering his room.

Sasuke's eyes widened at the figure that entered. He stood tall with golden hair. Eyes like the seas themselves. Sasuke shivered in fear at the marks on the man's face, terrified to know how he got them. He wasted no time on whipping around and heading for the door, but alas, he was stopped.

"Karin! What are you doing?!" Sasuke screamed, Karin merely smirked at him.

"Payback, bitch" Karin sneered with a twisted smirk, Sasuke gasped as he was thrown into the arms of the pirate that had broken into his room. Sasuke up in fear and alarm, frozen to the spot when a smirk met his horror.

"Ello' love" The man greeted sadistically.

I’ve already written 32 chapters. So enjoy that. Italics have been removed for some reason...