“ako'y alipin mo kahit hindi batid
aaminin ko minsan ako'y manhid…”
it happened during the 4th great war.
the entire shinobi alliance stood in front of uchiha madara and uchiha obito—the strongest warriors they had ever fought. staring at them with apathetic expression as if they were mere ants and easy to be killed off.
staring at his ancestor, he didn’t know what to feel. but that was not his main focus.
something inside him was blaring alarms since the war had started. what was it? he already saw itachi. the hokages were helping them. his former and current team were gathered together.
he felt arms wrapped around his torso. he whipped his head around and saw you—a single black sword pierced through your body. like you were expendable. like you didn’t matter. your life was worthless.
but that worst thing was—
you gave him a soft smile. the one that always calmed him down. the one that made him feel lighter. sweet, carefree, and very you.
you coughed out blood as he quickly snaked his arms around your waist so you wouldn’t fall.
“sasuke, what was—“ naruto paused as he looked at him.
sasuke’s face was one of terror—wide eyes, mouth gaping, and trembling hands. he kneeled on the ground with you tucked in his arms.
“sasuke!” naruto shouted and everyone immediately looked at the said boy. the blonde boy ran towards you.
you were caressing his face. just this time. one last time.
“sixth life i have succeeded. you can live freely now, sasuke,” you whispered.
he repeatedly shook his head and tightened his grip on you. he pulled you closer to him as if you would vanish in a snap.
“no, no, no, no, [name], open your eyes, pleasepleasepleaseplease—“ he gasped.
someone tried to snatch you away from him and he gave that person a deadly glare. every single one of them was now watching you. wondering who you were to evoke vulnerable emotions from sasuke.
“it was nice meeting you over and over again. heh.” you tried to giggled. you were staring at the sky above with stars twinkling at you. you hoped you would shine like them so sasuke would know that he would never be alone.
he put your forehead against your head. he was murmuring some words. praying to gods which he never done before.
“sasuke-kun…” sakura muttered in despair.
it was the first time she had ever seen him like this—desperate, raw, and begging for mercy—to a girl they never knew. and it hurt. something was squeezing her heart from the act of him whispering words you could only hear.
you suddenly gasped. fuck. you’re running out of time. you had always been running of time. whether from the first life or third, time was and is your greatest enemy.
“sasuke, i love you so, so much it hurts sometimes,” you confessed. consciousness slowly fading away, heartbeat slowing down, eyes barely opened. you needed thirty seconds before death consumed your mind and soul.
his grip clawed onto your skin like a wild animal. trying to teether you into the world of living. never accepting to be left alone again. you were the only thing that made him sane and if you die right now—
“i just want you to know that i will always dedicate my heart to you.” you put your fist over his beating organ. the one that gave you life to move forward. the one that touched your heart in a sasuke way. the one that showed you what love was.
“my mother told me: ‘love is the most twisted curse of all. are you ready to get cursed when that time comes?’ and you know what i’ve said?”
salty crystals wet your hair like tasting the waterfall as he cried into you. trying to keep you by his side. forever. in every step of the way. in his every life.
“i said yes because i’m willing to be cursed as long as it’s you, sasuke.”
with your remaining energy, you placed your hands on his neck before guiding it towards you. you kissed his lips like a devotion and wish at the same time. you wished to have the sands of time be still even just for a moment. you wished to have the waves of memories crashed down into you like a violent earthquake. you wished to have a future consisted of you and him. and if you were selfish enough, you wished to ask him to run away with you so not even the death reaper could tear you two apart. you would rip your heart out before even loving someone else. you would always choose him every single time in this world, in this universe, in every lifetime.
your cold hands slowly fell down and your dull eyes stared at the void. your chest was not moving and your heart stopped beating.
you left a boy and millions of memories on his palms.
somewhere in an alternate universe—
you were busy reading shakespeare’s romeo and juliet when someone pulled the chair in fromt of you. you looked up and saw an intimidating boy with the most intense eyes you had even seen.
you raised an eyebrow. “yes?”
his eyes roamed across your face—as if memorizing every feature you had. from your hair down to your feet.
you gulped. something tugged on your pinky finger and pulled you in towards the boy.
his lips quirked up. “took you long enough to find, but it was worth it. you always have been.”
sa'yong yakap ako'y nasasabik…”