I just wanna be loved

Untitled Part 12

 Across from us, standing DIRECTLY on our branch was Zabuza. Kakashi was nowhere in sight, and Sakura was screaming. But to me, the world consisted of just me, Naruto and Zabuza.

I clutched the blonde. MY blonde-closer to me. His blood soiling my hands. A lifetime ago, I would have been disgusted. But now, all I wanted to do was help out my fellow teammate. 

He coughed. Once. But that was all it took for me to gather my nerves. I stared down at Zabuza. Wishing for every molecule in him to drop dead. 

Shatter as the life was pulled out of them.

 Disintegrate with the power left in them. 

But as much as I wanted that for him. I wanted it for me too. I deserved to go through that pain. I left Naruto alone. Defenceless. I bullied him. Tormenting him for years. Why didn't I see before that he mattered? Why was I so useless?  Why do I let the people I love go through such pain and horror? Why am I like this?

I glared at my hands. Covered in blood. His blood. 

~Flashback~

I stared at my hands. They were covered in shiny crimson liquid. Although, it wasn't mine. The owner of the blood was hunched against a wall, breathing heavily. 

His blue eyes darted in and out of focus. His blond hair -matted with blood- swayed softly in the breeze. Somebody behind me chuckled. A deep raspy sound that carried across the wind.

 Reaching the ears of the tan skinned boy, leaning against the wall. He flinched, crying out in pure pain, as he clutched his shoulder. 

I laughed. A deep eerie sound. It haunted me now, as how inhumane I sounded. The boy seated not far away from me crawled back the few inches he could. 

Struggling, trying to get away from something......

Away from ME! 

Sasuke POV:

I shook my head vigourously. Desperately trying to get my nightmare like actions out of my head. What I had done that night was an awful, awful thing. I had hurt Naruto so badly. Almost killing him......Almost killing him.........Almost killing him....And that was exactly what was going to happen if I let this Zabuza man any closer. 

"Back. OFF" I cried. my voice was hoarse. I barely whispered the words, but they carried around echoing inside my brain. Back OFF...Back OFF......BACK OFF. I growled, not even fully aware of what I was doing. Something neared me, grabbing my forearm. 

But I couldn't register it. I was lost. I was lost to the world. Sinking in a black pool, I cried out for help but the murky liquid filled my throat. My lungs screamed for air. I thrashed, knocking Naruto out of my lap. I fell further.

 The darkness swallowing me whole....Until, there was no more dark. 

The darkness rose to bring the light, and I was left alone. Standing in a moonlit clearing. The light bounced off of the trees, tracing awkward shadows into the ground. I shivered, the clearing was impossibly cold...Frigid. My breath was visible in the frosty air. I lifted my fingers to brush against my face....At least, I thought I did. I couldn't feel anything, the world around me was gone. My fingers danced in front of my eyes. I could see them. I knew they were there....I fell to my knees, hugging the worn fabric of my T-shirt to my chest. 

My breathing came heavier. More raged. I panted. Willing the oxygen to get into my lungs, but it never came. Spots danced in my vision. The as thing I remembered was the crunch of me landing on the snow, which was waiting eagerly to consume me. 

Zabuza POV:

I land on the branch beside them. Sweat glistened on my brow as I stepped towards the two teens. My intention was not to harm them. It was simply to grab my sword and leave...I am not that crue. I would never kill children simply for the fun of it. I made a grab or the sword but stopped when a low voice cut m off. I glanced around. 

Then realized it was coming from the raven-haired teen, without thinking I reached out to grasp the handle of my sword. Missing it by a few inches and instead, grabbing the raven's forearm, and almost as if there was a lighting connection passed between us, the child's head hung down limply. I backed away. 

Not sure of what happened or who was in danger at this moment. I turned away, this time to take my sword and go. I needed to find Kakashi. The old fool disappeared. Leaving his tea behind. I glanced over at the pinkette standing on the branch across form us. 

She was frozen rooted in place, a gasp left my mouth. What was going on here? There were more forces at play than just me and Kakashi. 

Something hit my ankle, I tripped, nearly losing balance and plummeting over to side of the branch.  I steadied myself. 

Forcing chakra to the soles of my feet, turning backwards, I saw what had hit me. It was the blonde from earlier. 

The one who dirtied my blade with his blood.A flail caught my attention and I swivelled to look at the raven haired teen. Something was clearly wrong. I needed to figure out what. 

The ravenette was thrashing, his tears streaking down his face. He gasped as if there was no oxygen on the world. My heart sank....I knew what was happening. I just had to stop it before things escalated.

The 13 year old kid sitting before me was having a Panic Attack. And by the looks of it, blondie wasn't going to be able to hang on much longer. This is all my fault.... I crunched to the raven's level, grabbing his shoulders, my fingers digging into his skin. 

WHERE IS KAKASHI? my brain screamed.

 I hugged the raven closer to me. He was shivering badly, I shared whatever warmth I could with him, hoping he would get better soon. 

I scanned the area, WHERE ARE YOU KAKASHI? 

My gaze fell upon the younger blonde. He struggled to get up, panting with every effort. His hand was catching his chest, and blood was streaming all around him. Blood from the wound I created.......

He's never going to make it back by himself.....The realization dawned upon me, and I set my jaw. I had a new mission. Getting these three back to their Sensei. 

And if I couldn't find Kakashi, then someone else who could help them. I picked up the blonde, cradling him and Sasuke in my arms. I nodded towards pinky. 

She seemed to understand the gesture, as she gathered the kunai's scattered around them, shoving them into her tool bag. 

She leaned down and whispered something into someone else's ear. Tazuna. I realized. The one person my mission had really been about....But, that was all forgotten now. A dusty truth in a pile of diamonds.