I'm not dead.

Disclaimer: I'm saving up, but as yet, I cannot afford the rights to Naruto.

A/N: This was just a one-shot that came to mind while listening to music; one of the greatest inspirations of all. I hope you like it.

And all of a sudden it felt like the biggest weight in the world had been lifted from his shoulders. He'd found a place. Not one that existed in the physical realm, rather in his mind. It was still quite messy, a lot of emotional junk floating around, but no more than the next person. There was now a definite 'lived in' look to the inside of his head. Before it had been rather vacant, as if the owner had been afraid to take up permanent residence and settle. Now the neurons were firing in most sections, in all lobes. It was functioning properly; again.

This feeling wasn't something one just stumbled on, like a stone in their path. It was definitely a gradual process, that he had been involved in, but not consciously. Sasuke was already in the middle, before he'd realised it'd even begun.

To name it was a difficult thing. He had to scoff, wasn't everything in his life? Who ever said life was simple, was a fucking moron. Who ever said to take it one step at a time and to never assume anything, obviously used that heavy grey thing in their head. Maybe an analogy would be better or some imagery? (Sakura was rubbing off way too much)

Simply put, it was like being trapped at the bottom of a dark, cold world. However if that dark, cold world is all you've known for such a long time, you begin to forget the existence of colour, light and warmth. Then a hand reaches out in the darkness. It's foreign to you. Why the fuck would someone do something stupid like that? You don't look out for others, you look out for yourself. One and only rule of survival: There is no attachment.

Yet here it was, outstretched and willing to take hold. Despite many, many attempts to swat it away and out of his world, it remained persistent. In fact, the hand grew in its numbers, and was joined by another. And like the first, it was reaching for him, open, as if in invitation.

Nothing he did worked. They remained steadfast. Eventually he tired of resistance and a slight curiosity peaked in the recesses of his mind. What would happen if he just grabbed hold for a moment? What would change? He could always let go. So why not chance it……

This interest was the catalyst, and made all the difference.

And so he took a risk, and placed a firm grip on one hand. Then feeling a sudden pulling sensation, quickly grasped the other for stability. He felt his entire body moving upwards. It was getting brighter, and the sudden contrast was sharp on his retina and forced him to shy away. It was too much, too soon. He tried to dig his feet into the stone walls of his well. But it didn't work; he was still being pulled up.

Some where along the way, Sasuke found he stopped resisting, and even began to help him-self in the steep climb to the top. He couldn't see the owners of the hands, only a light that was becoming more bearable.

Then there was no more pulling. No more black, but a world of brightness and colour, which seemed vaguely familiar; a memory of long ago. The brightness gradually became more distinct; forming shades of pink, yellow and silver.

And then he breathed, for what felt like the first time in an age.

I'm not dead, just floating.

I'm not scared, just changing.

Right behind the cigarette and the devilish smile,

You're my crack of sunlight.

- Pink, 'I'm not dead' lyrics, 2007.