SasuSaku Month 2015
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Day 7- Mortality
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Title: My Eternal Brother
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Summary: Sasuke goes visit his parent’s graves and he tell her that there is one person missing.
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Notes: we all know Itachi is our eternal hero and Sasuke also knows that now… But, back in those days, he still didn’t so… Itachi lovers, try to understand. (I’m one of you too!) it’s probably a bit depressing and a bit weird but… The whole theme was ahaha hope you all like it!
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It was not everyday that you could see a young Uchiha Sasuke walking around the village with a bouquet of flowers in his hands. It was not everyday but, certainly, once a month. It was a rare scene to be seen by the villagers for the raven haired boy would make sure to be discreet every time that day came. That obscure day that would always bring him nightmares and in which his eyes wouldn’t be able to close. There was no peace on that day. No happiness. Just that mortuary and tragic feelings that came together with the memories of what happened that day years before. It was the anniversary of the Uchiha massacre. His family’s massacre. Another month had flown away from his lonely life. And, just like every month, Sasuke would be paying his parents a visit. But, unlikely all the other months, he wouldn’t be going alone. Her eyes had seen him. Her eyes had discovered him.
Enamored emerald eyes found his dull ones during that mission free day. The owner of such stunning orbs, when she first identified the boy her heart beats for, considered calling his attention and, maybe, sticking with him for the rest of the day for she had no better plans than spending some time with her beloved Sasuke-kun. She was going to call him. With that bright smile of hers, Sakura was really going to call his name. But, once she saw the bouquet in his hands, her voice simply disappeared. What on earth was that cold boy doing with such beautiful tulips? For what she knew, the Uchiha wasn’t a fan of flowers. He probably didn’t even know the meaning of tulips. Those flowers couldn’t be for himself. And that was when the conclusion finally hit that immature and pink head of hers: Sasuke had a girlfriend. And those flowers were for her.
Based on that premise, the Haruno girl fell in a hole of despair and delusion that was known as the reality. The reality in which he had a girlfriend and this girl wasn’t her. The cruel reality in which his heart had been stolen and, soon, an invitation for his marriage would arrive in the name of the whole team 7. Soon she would be forgotten by him and that was how she would die. Alone and without him. That image of the future, for her, would only be worse if the one who had stolen her spot was the Yamanaka girl. If that was the reality, then, Sakura would certainly leave the village forever, dye her hair and change her name. Such thing could not happen to her. The gods couldn’t be so against her love like that. And, indeed, there weren’t. But she wouldn’t discover that unless she decided to follow her beloved one in order to find out more about that mysterious new girlfriend or his. And you bet that was what she decided to do.
Putting aside every futile thing she had planned to do on that day, Sakura parted in an S ranked love mission where she expected to meet the heart thief. It was a solo mission in which her future would be at risk. She could not fail, she knew. But following the best ninja of their generation without being caught would be an impossible mission for her. Sasuke was an amazing shinobi and she, even if her abilities were quite impressive too, tended to become rather clumsy whenever the raven haired Uchiha was involved. Her disguise fell apart when they both reached a far away area of Konoha and when the dim light of the Autumn sun made his dark eyes shine like two dark pearls. That girl couldn’t really control herself near him. Sakura was annoying, indeed. Cute but, certainly, annoying.
“ why are you following me?”
“ following you? Don’t be stupid, Sasuke-kun… I’m not a stalker or anything like that… I’m just… Heading this way too.”
“ oh, really? And what exactly is in the end of this road?”
With eyes as sharps as a glare, the Uchiha kept looking at her as if waiting for the inevitable moment when her facade would break. Her green eyes wandered around and all she concluded from that quick scan was that she had no idea of where she was. There were tall trees surrounding them and, behind the trees of the right, an extensive wall with the old and outworn crest of his family. The fire red color of the fan hid a crack and the white of the wall was no longer uncorrupted. There were traces of the dirt that had been accumulated through the years and, just like the powerful Uchiha clan, was just there forgotten in the middle of the forest. Hidden by the leaves. It was certainly a deep image to be seen and, if not for the lonely wind that blew and disconnected her mind from the wondrous past, Sakura would have kept looking at that destroyed symbol for the eternity. She would have kept looking at its beauty and she would have thought that those walls deserved some attention and some repair. Yes, with just a bit of love, those walls would be good as new. They would not be broken anymore.
When she returned to herself, his eyes were still judging her. It didn’t matter how many times she had tried to look away, something would always attract her back to his deep eyes. Normally, Sakura wouldn’t complain about that, but, at that exact moment, the darkness of his eyes seemed to be taking all of her air away and burning all of her ideas. If she wanted to breath again, the truth had to be told. And, only when her lungs screamed in defeat, the pinkette admitted she had lost that battle. She gave up and her rendition came in a long sigh.
“ I can’t fool you, can I?”
“ hn. Why were you following me?”
A pout came to her lips and all she could see were those flowers. Those flowers full of love and good intentions and real feelings of that pure heart of his. Those tulips were mocking her, she knew. Barely she knew that the Uchiha preferred the cherry blossoms over them.
“ I was curious about your… Girlfriend.”
“ girlfriend?” His face showed confusion. “ what girlfriend?”
“ I already know it, Sasuke-kun… To whom would you give flowers if not for your girlfriend? I’m sorry if I am butting in too much in your private life but… I wanted to know who will be the mother of your kids…”
Sasuke’s whole facial expression went blank and he just couldn’t decided which of the parts of her speech had been the most absurd one. The part of the girlfriend? The part of becoming a father at the age of 12? Those were certainly good ones, but, after some seconds, the boy decided that the winner was what was implicit. Sakura was jealous. The girl he considered so shameless and confident in the matter of love; was jealous. If he had ever became mad at her for following him, her jealousy had just made him remember why he loved her. In his own way, he remembered why he loved her. And, with a smirk on his face and an internal laughter taking over his body, Sasuke made sure to turn that serious expression into a softer one. Only Haruno Sakura could make him smile on a day like that. Silly girl, he thought.
“ I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“ hn, exactly what you’ve heard.” He smirked more. “ I’m still single… So, if that was all, you can go home now.”
“ really?” She smiled briefly but then hid her contentment. “ b-but what about the tulips?”
He looked at her and realized she wouldn’t leave until she heard the truth. No excuse would be accepted by her. Nothing he said just to set himself free from her. So, once he realized that and looked deep into those pleading forest eyes of hers, the Uchiha decided to tell her the truth. It was not like it had to be a secret or anything…
“ the flowers are for my family…”
His expression softened and hers stiffened.
“ oh… Are you… Gonna visit them?”
“ yes. I do it every month… I come alone to put some flowers on their graves… I know my mother loved tulips.” A soft smile crossed his lips and, at that moment, Sasuke felt relaxed. Relaxed for talking about his mother. Relaxed for being there with Sakura.
“… You’ve chosen beautiful tulips, Sasuke-kun.” She smiled brightly and he felt his heart getting warmer. That was the effect she had on him. And, somehow, he wanted his family to see that. “ I’ll… I’ll be heading home then… Sorry for disturbing you and saying such stupid things… It’s none of my business anyways, right? Have a safe journey, Sasuke-kun.”
She bowed down in respect and, slowly, turned away to follow her merry way back home. Sakura was ashamed for having done such thing. For having gotten in the middle of his business. For bothering him about something she had nothing to do about. All she wanted to do at that moment was running back home and locking the doors until it was safe for her to leave. She just wanted to run away from him and get rid of herself for him. But that was not what he wanted. Not that he really knew about that.
In a reflexive move, Sasuke held her hand before the pinkette could take any step away from him. The Uchiha didn’t know exactly why he held her back but he just couldn’t let her go. He wanted her by his side. He wanted to enlighten their graves with her warm smile. He didn’t want to be alone anymore. He wanted someone to answer whenever he said anything. He wanted someone breathing next to him so he could see there was air around him. So he could see he was still alive. If there was something that he learned about visiting his family’s tombstones, was that, if you get too submerged in that whole feeling, you can also see your name written in those rocks. You can also feel empty. You feel like you can’t answer just like they can’t. And he didn’t want to feel like that anymore. He didn’t want to feel dead while his heart was still beating.
“ uh? What is it, Sasuke-kun? Do you want me to do something for you?”
“ yes…. Hn.” He took a deep breath. “ come with me… I-I know you probably won’t like to visit dead people but since you’ve come this far… Could you keep me company?”
The eyes of a child took over his cold ones and connected straightly to her heart. He needed company. He needed help. It was not like an invitation but more like an obligation. An obligation of a teammate. An obligation of the girl who loves him. An obligation she would happily accept. It was his family, after all.
A soft smile appeared in her lips and she answered the grip he had on her hand. Sakura was, certainly, an amazing girl.
“ of course I will… And they are not dead people, you silly… They are your family and… And …it would be an honor to meet them…”
“ I need to thank them for raising you so well and… I need to tell your mother that she doesn’t have to worry…”
“ because… I’ll take care of her son… I’ll promise her that.”
His eyes widened for a moment and his heart skipped a beat. That girl he had as a teammate was certainly one of a kind. She was simply stunning and comprehensive and he felt as if she could fill his existence with that simple smile of hers. His lonely existence that became a lot more pink with her. His mother would certainly feel relieved to have a girl like her taking care of her son. And she wouldn’t be the only one, for sure.
It took him some moments to finally let go of her hand. He blushed when he realized that and, in order to preserve his innocence, Sasuke handled her the bouquet of tulips before walking in front of her. From the corner of his eyes, the Uchiha certainly watched the stunning smile on her face. He wondered how she would react when he really bought a bouquet of daffodils for her. Ever since he saw those flowers at the hospital, he knew she had been the one who had brought them and he felt like he needed to thank her someway. Perhaps he should do it when his whole revenge was concluded and he could, once again live a normal life. When he could allow her to fully enter his heart. Yes, it would be a great idea for the future that awaited for the avenger.
The two genin followed that road for around 30 minutes more until they finally crossed a red portal. The Uchiha crest was decorating the entrance as well and, resting in front of those emerald eyes of hers, countless tombstones with only one name in common:
At that moment, Sakura had an idea of how much he had lost. There were many names and so many memories resting palms under the earth. All of them dead. All of them murdered by a cold blooded man that also carried the cursed name of the Uchihas. It was certainly a terrible vision to be seen and she really couldn’t see how Sasuke had been able to come alone during this whole time. Her teammate was a brave boy, for sure. But he wouldn’t have to be brave alone at that time for she was by his side. She would be brave too. She would be brave for him.
Still keeping a respectful silence, the girl with short pink locks placed a hand on the Uchiha’s shoulder and offered him a compassionate smile. Sasuke knew he could count on her that time. Even if there wasn’t anything she could do to change the image in front of them, Sakura, just for being herself, was helping him more than she could imagine. For she was there, the boy held back his tears and didn’t let his father see him crying like a weak child. For she was there, he showed his mother he wasn’t left completely alone in that cruel and vast world. For she was there, he was able to see hope for his clan. And that included himself.
“ my… My parents greaves are right there.”
The girl simply nodded and slowly followed him as he made his way around all of those names. Sakura did her best to read all of them for she knew that, even if there were too many Uchihas, all of them deserved to be remembered. All of them deserved to have their existence recognized. They were a brilliant clan and she could know that just by looking at the boy who was in front of her. He was strong and kind and he cared about the ones who were around him. He was a complete person because of his family. He was broken because of their death. He was determined because of his revenge. Even if she knew killing his brother wouldn’t make him happy, the girl had to admit his strong will. His devotion to his beloved family.
The girl almost didn’t notice when he stopped in front of her. Sakura observed as his eyes were looking at the two names that were placed in special spots and that had a symbolic mark for having died as the leaders of that clan. Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto. His father and his mother. It was an honor for her to be there.
The Haruno girl showed her total respect, gesturing with her hands in front of both of the names. Sasuke admired her while she did so and he waited to see what she would do. He needed to know her reaction. And, surprisingly, for him, she did the one thing he never thought she would.
“…” The girl, with the bouquet in her hands, kneeled in between the two graves and placed the flowers in front of the matriarch’s name. “ Thank you for having raised your son… He’s a really good boy and he has saved me many times… I own him my life.”
“ I’m sure you both are proud of him… I am and we are not even relatives… I’m happy to have met him and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world for having him by my side. Thank you for such an amazing son… And you don’t have to worry about anything…” Tears started to roll down her eyes and stain the graves. Sasuke remained in silence after seeing that.
“ I’ll take care of him… I’ll make sure he eats properly and that he.. He doesn’t feel cold during the winter. I’ll take care of him when he gets sick and I’ll make him happy, I promise… I will give your son everything he deserves. I will always be by his side until he meets the one… Actually, I’ll be by his side even after that…” She chuckled, wiping away her tears. “ I promise you… He won’t ever be alone.”
Sasuke knew that his mother would be crying if she was there. His eyes were almost dropping his tears after seeing his annoying teammate like that. He trusted all of her words and he knew she would keep that promise. He knew she would always be by his side and nothing would ever change that. Nothing and no one. She was THE one, he knew. It couldn’t be anyone else and he was more than just happy about it. About falling for the right girl. If only his brother could see that.
It was impossible for Sasuke, during familiar times like that, not remembering about Itachi. Not the brother who destroyed his life but the brother who gave him one. The one who would play with him and the one who became his inspiration. The one who carried him whenever he was feeling lazy and the one who would teach him the basics of being a ninja. That was the brother he missed and, unfortunately, he was the same brother he hated. The same one he was going to kill. And that simply broke his heart and stabbed his chest from inside. It made him bleed even without blood. It made him cry even without tears. It made him grief even without a death. The way Sasuke felt about Itachi was a lot more complicated than he could ever imagine. But, somehow, even without brother and even without having lost it all, Sakura understood one thing he didn’t. And that was the key for preserving his happy memories.
When the girl finally stood up and gave him a tender smile, the Uchiha finally let out the one wish he had kept inside ever since the day of the massacre.
“ I wish my brother’s body was also buried in here…”
It came out even before he could process it. It came out without a warning or even a moment of reflection. It simply came out due to the relaxed state he was in. And, in the end, he would be happy for it.
“ sorry I just… I was just thinking out loud.”
“ say it again, please… I didn’t hear it.”
“ hn.” He placed his hands in his pockets, sighing. Arguing with her would be useless. “ I said I wanted my brother to be here too… To be dead with the rest of my clan instead of being alive… He was supposed to be with us and not against us.”
“ but… What about after you finish your revenge?”
“ I don’t want that dirty body of his in here… He’s a traitor. He killed all of this people… I’ll make sure to throw his body in the most disgusting place on earth…”
“…. But then… How are you going to visit your brother?” She asked, looking down. He couldn’t believe she had just said that.
“ visit him? Are you insane, Sakura?”
“ why not? You two were brothers…. You had great memories together and-”
“ we had, exactly. But now he has destroyed them. I could never visit that bastard… Not even after his death.”
“ but your brother… He’s not a bastard.”
“ what!? How can you say that!?”
He glared at her. He just couldn’t accept her words and the calm way she was saying them. After all of the things she had told his family… What was wrong with her? He couldn’t understand her. But she would make him understand death.
“ Sasuke-kun… He’s not a bastard… Your brother… The one who gave you memories… The one who made you smile… The one you loved… He’s not a bastard.” She looked at him. Fire burning her emeralds.
“ he destroyed everything! He killed all of my feelings! He’s out there and he is playing against the village and against Naruto! He is-”
“ this is not your brother.”
“ this man you’re talking about… This man who killed your family… This man who is against us… He’s not your brother.”
“ of course he is, Sakura! And that’s why it hurts! Are you feeling okay?”
“ … You’re not understanding what I’m saying…” She held his hands. “ this man you hate… This man you’re going… You’re going to kill… He’s not the same person as the brother you loved and admired. That brother of yours…. He’s dead.”
His eyes widened, and a shock came to his face.
“He died with all of the other Uchihas… He died in the moment he did that to you. Even if they share the same body, your brother no longer lives in there… He’s here with your family… He’s here…”
She placed a hand over his heart.
“ he’s here with you…. You just need to give him a spot next to your parents because… He already lives only in your memories… It wouldn’t be fair dishonoring his memories like that because of a stupid body… It’s what he did with you that matters… It’s what he felt for you that died… That body means nothing when you still have all of that to remember and cherish… You still can burry what you have left of your brother together with your family. We are more than just bodies… Death is more than just not being alive.”
All of those words didn’t really make sense at first. It took him some time to finally understand what she meant but, when he did, he felt his heart filled with emotions and with love again. Love for the one who had inspired him and for the one who would poke his forehead. Love for his brother and, after so many years, it was really good to have this feeling again. It was good to be able to love Itachi again. And it was all thanks to that girl who, even without having lost any member of her family, seemed to know so much about death. Perhaps dying wasn’t something that complicated after all. It was painful, of course it was. It was desolating, of course it was. But, as she said, it’s not just not being alive. There are many ways of killing a person and his brother killed himself on that day. He died as a hero instead of living to become his villain. He died as Uchiha Itachi, his beloved brother. And knowing that certainly took a huge weight from his shoulders. That girl was, certainly, the one. Itachi would have loved to meet her, he knew. He would support them both, for sure. And, for knowing his brother so well, he wouldn’t have chosen any other girl to help his little brother burying what was left of him: Love.
“…. Thank you, Sakura… You… You’ve saved me.”
“ ah… Come on, Sasuke-kun I…” She blushed. “ I didn’t do anything… I was just trying to help.”
“ and you did… You did more than just helping… You… Hn, I own you my life.”
“ stop saying that I… I just wanted to see you and your brother getting along again… Now I think he deserves his name here too, don’t you think?”
“ yes… Could you… Help me?”
“ of course… I’ll do my best.”
“ thank you… For letting me love him again.”
With a blush decorating her features, the girl started with the preparations. She found a beautiful stone where his name could be craved and she waited as Sasuke arranged a place worth of his brother. Worth of the prodigy. Worth of the one who would save the Uchihas. Some words were craved with the kunai and, feeling as if the world wasn’t that horrible, the raven haired Uchiha returned home with his pink haired friend. He had just buried his brother and he couldn’t be more satisfied. It felt ironic, at first, but it also felt right. Itachi deserved to be treated as an Uchiha until the end. He deserved to be his brother until the end. And, thanks to Sakura, Sasuke could, once again, love his older brother.
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Here lies Uchiha Itachi.
Beloved son and brother.
Died as a victim in the Uchiha massacre.
Brother… I’ll see you next time.
