Rewind Rewind [Permanent Hiatus]

Ch09

"Mind you, Uchiha," Naruto spat as he massaged his aching head, "I'm a sensor"

"Kurama, how long was I out"

"A week"

Shit

There was silence, a foreboding irritating silence that grated on his nerves. Oh so help him, he'd strangle that sly arrogant prick of an ass! How dare he!

"Oh you just love to get on my nerves, do you," he said, "well? Do you have anything to say? Hmm? Or do you want me to get out there and oh so help me, I will kick your ass!"

On the other side of the door stood the mentioned Ichiha, his hand already at the door knob yet made no sign of moving. He could hear the blonde grumbling curses beyond the door and he couldn't blame him really. This had to be done so he can talk to the blonde without recurring casualties; like the earlier marathon when the blonde had gotten a panick attack and left him running to pursue the idiot.

He just wanted to talk -really- to at least understand what in the hell was happening, why Naruto of all people ran away from him, and why Sakura refused to look much less speak to him. A thousand possibilities flashed through his mind, internally grimacing at his own possible betrayal.

Surely it wasn't his death, was it? He couldn't even remember how he died. Sakura wouldn't say a word and everytime he tried to get her to talk, she'd flinch and back away.

His only chance was Naruto, who was currently throwing insults. Sighing deeply as he pinched away an upcoming headache, he firmly gripped the knob and urged his hand to move. It remained still.

Why was he hesitating? He did want answers, didn't he? He sighed.

◇Flashback◇

It was...blank, if he could even describe it from what little he could remember, just a dark blank void of numbing darkness that was -contrary to common belief- neither heavenly bliss nor scorching hellfire; like when you sleep deep enough to not notice you're actually unconscious and only realizing it after waking up, an eternal slumber untouched by the pleasures of dreams or the suffocation of nightmares. It had been pure awareness of nothing.

And then came a sensation, a feeling without him acknowledging, as he suddenly felt aware that he could open his eyes. When the oddly familiar blur of creme blue ceiling of what was once his room greeted his eyes did the realization dawn upon him with a sting.

He died.

He knew he did...or at least that was his last memory, merely aware of the fact and actually felt it for the first time.

Where am I?

The thought hit him rather hard. He truly wanted to get up and answer the internally stabbing question, he really did, but the soft comfort of the blanket and the mattress was something he strongly cannot deny himself. Shrugging at any threat possible, he let his tense muscles relax to the comforts of the bed; death be damned, this is heaven!

"Duckling--" the familiar voice grazed to a halt when Sasuke suddenly pounced off the bed and frantically searched the room like a mad cat. Itachi raised a brow, what the hell?

Sasuke stared at the latter, eyes wide with shock at the other standing by the door. Without thinking, he ran forward in a blur and desperately hugged the man like there was no tomorrow, tears unbothered to be stopped as he tightened his hold and nuzzled his head unto the others neck, at the brother he swore to hate.