Not Much Longer, Now

Beginning of the End

The sunshine was as bright as ever. And not the ball of gas above us.

Naruto Uzumaki. Bright blond hair, bubbly personality, adorable whiskers. Nothing I would ever admit, of course.

He was my complete opposite. I was drab. Dull eyes, black hair. Souless. I was at the very bottom, frowned upon and hated with no excuse. He was loved by everyone. Even Gaara accepted him, just like everyone else.

Team 7 had always been as tight as glue. We never thought about when we would find our soulmates, or if we would end up leaving. It didn't matter to any of us.

But it mattered to me.

My mother always said I was special. I always remember her saying I had a small gift, one if the many unique things I could do.

"Sasuke, you're like no one else. Can you see the little red string? Can you point to Mommy's?" Small hands would reach out to stretch a finger towards the small red strand of thread wrapped around my mother's pinky. It always lead strait to my dad. Their string connected, in fact.

"One day, you'll find where yours leads. Follow it, Love, and you'll be happy forever."

I remember always seeing it lead into crowds, my fated partner blended into the scene before my eyes. I could never see them. I wanted to chase it, to find my happiness, like my mother had said so many years before. But I never did.

The academy wasn't difficult. I was popular, passing the classes easily, and it was actually kind of fun. I got to see where everyone's string lead. 

Shikamaru's lead out of the room, but I could tell his soulmate was someone in our village. Kiba's to Hinata, Sakura had two strings, in fact. One lead to Ino and the other lead out the door to someone far away.

Then there was mine.

The first day I finally got to feast my eyes on the one I was destined to be with, I was speechless to say the least.

He was an idiot! Why would the world pair me with someone like him?

But he was also sweet. He was determined, and though I made it seem like I hated him, he was everything I hoped for.

But he didn't want me.

I was the only one who could see the strings out of our academy. Kakashi Sensei told me he could, though.

"Sasuke," he called after training was over. "Can you stay behind? I need to talk to you." I nodded, honestly having no choice either way.

"You are aware who your soulmate is, correct?" I nodded, looking up lazilly into his eye.
"So you can see the strings?" Another nod. Kakashi dismissed me after that.

Kakashi didn't appear to have a string. It was just a small strand of thread tied to his pinky dangling by his side. But it's better not to ask about that sort of thing.

"SAASSSUUKKKKEEEE!!!!!!" Naruto roared at me, charging as fast as he could with four other shadow clones. A simple side-step got me out of their way, the bunch tumbling to the ground on top of each other.

"What is it, Dobe?" My hands still remained in my pockets, the small red string leading strait to the ecstatic blond.

"I have a favor, and you're going to do it, ok?" I sighed. He was always like this.

"Depends on what this favor is."

"I want you to break mine and Sakura's soulmate strings and tie them together!" He had stood up by then, the clones disappearing in a puff of smoke. My eyes widened. I knew you could do that, and it isn't that hard.

"Naruto, do you even know who your soulmate is?"

"No. But knowing my luck, it's someone like you. Bratty, weird. Someone I hate." Those words hit me harder than if he had punched me directly.

"So if I was your soulmate...?"

"I would kill myself. Get off this subject, just tie the stupid strings together!" He yelled, frowning. "It's not like you're my soulmate either way."

Words sting. They hurt. They drive people insane. These were no different.

"You're right... But I won't without Sakura's permission." With that lousy excuse standing in mid air, I began to walk off. Nothing would change. Not until the next day's lesson.

"Sakura, have you thought about your soulmates? You have two, you know," Kakashi looked over at the bubbly gum girl, her in return blushing. "Is... One of them Sasuke?"

"No. Sasuke's soulmate is Naruto." I stopped walking. I was frozen. I couldn't move. Naruto seemed to be in a similar state.

"WHAT!?" Naruto burst out, glaring at me with rage and growling. I instinctively flinched back. I refused to cry. I wouldn't cry. I was already crying.

Kakashi stared wide-eyed at the scene before him. "Please don't-" "I'm not a fag! I refuse to let him be my soulmate! Cut the string! CUT IT!!!" Naruto screamed, more salty tears sliding down my face.

Sakura looked shocked. "Naruto, don't yell at him!" Though she herself looked disgusted.

"ENOUGH!" Kakashi-Sensei called out, everyone shutting up. I was dizzy, too much in too little time. My legs gave out, leaving a sobbing boy on the ground. "That's enough, both of you." The silverette walked up to me, bending down and putting a hand on my back. All I did was snack it away.

"Sasuke..." I shook my head. The older man softly called Naruto over, thr blond strutting over while still glaring down at me. "Naruto, you don't understand the extent of this..."

"I understand plenty. The world thinks I'm gay, and my soulmate is that brat." This just made me sob harder.

"Naruto," Kakashi's stern voice made even Sakura flinch. "You've sent him into a panic attack. Be a little mature about this."

Naruto looked down at my sobbing form, seeming to finally register the tears. "Hey Sasuke..."

"Don't talk to me! You hate me, you don't want me, you-" Another sob cut me off, the blond staring wide eyed at me.

"Hey, I never said that." He frowned, Sakura coming up behind him and setting a hand on his shoulder. "Naruto... You did..."

"I'm taking him home. You're dismissed." Kakashi picked me up, despite my weak attempts to push him away.

This was the beginning of the end.