Bits and Pieces of Abandoned Fanfics

Valley at the End (Sasunaru)

Summary: What if Sasuke accomplished what he wanted to the first time?

I stared at his whiskered cheeks, his wet hair, his tired eyes. His skin was tan once, most people in this part of the world couldn't dream to pull it off like he did, but now he was pale. He was pale, light burns in a few places and bad burns in his torso, he was barely breathing.

The reason I did it escaped me, all I could focus on was how wrong he looked when he wasn't cheerfully spouting nonsense or jumping around. I realised that Naruto was never still. Even in his sleep he rolled around frantically, like the world was trying to kill him. He wasn't ever this cold, this limp. I watched in a daze as rain consumed the rocky terrain around us, making his shaggy hair stick to his face as limp as the rest of him. A pain shot through my shoulder that made me fall to my knees, this was the price of Orochimaru's power.

I found myself leaning over Naruto on my hands and knees, I could feel tiny rocks bury themselves in my hands but I didn't care. I don't know how long I sat there before I saw Naruto's whole body flinch, snapping me out of my daze. I jumped to my feet and grabbed a kunai, somehow I had the huge upper hand and yet I felt that I would lose the fight. His eyes slowly opened, and they were paler than the circulene that I knew better than my own obsidian. 

He looked at me, his eyes unfocused and filled with pain. He slowly squinted and saw me, he smiled a little while a trickle of blood fell from his mouth. I was shocked at how calm he became when he saw me, as if I didn't almost kill him.

I couldn't have time to ponder when the blonde began coughing up blood, his face grew paler as I just watched in horror. He finally looked back up at me and chuckled.

"Didn't pull your punches, huh? He choked, laughing hollowly at the very unhumorous statement. I couldn't muster enough courage to say anything, all I could think of was the blood that pooled through his blonde hair and how sickeningly familiar it was. "Didn't expect you to, but I was hoping I wouldn't have to break my nindo." He said dryly, spitting up more blood than was healthy.

I had a lump forming in the back of my throat, I could barely breathe because he was still smiling at me. Still looking at me like I was the most amazing person, even with a giant lightning wound that no-doubt shredded his organs. "I promised I wouldn't let you be alone like you were, I challenged you every day to keep that promise." He said hoarsely, looking at me in a way that I'd never been seen. "But I guess it's okay now, you've got Kaka-sensei and Sakura-chan and the rest of the rookies with you. Now I just won't get to keep dog-breath off the seat." He said quietly, and I had to cover my mouth to hide the sob as I fell back on my knees.

"It'll be okay, everyone in konoha wants you back Sasuke. I'm sorry you'll have to go back alone, and I'm sorry I hurt you. I've never wanted to hurt you." He said solemnly, still smiling but I saw how it trembled. 

"W-Why did you-?" I cut myself off, something I couldn't identify was still glinting in his eyes. He chuckled a little, which turned into a fit of weak coughs. "You were always so much prettier than Sakura-chan up close like this."

That's when it clicked. Why I sacrificed myself in wave country, why Naruto always looked at me like I was a hundred times the man I am, why I never managed to get over that slip up in the academy. 

I loved Naruto, and he loved me too.

I was about to respond but when I refocused on Naruto…

He was still again.

His eyes were unfocused and pale just like the rest of him.

But he was still fucking smiling.

"Usura...tonkachi?" I asked, hoping beyond hope he would respond with a classic 'shut up, teme!'. But he didn't move, he didn't speak, he just lied there still.