Writer's note: Meh, it seems like all my so-called "one-shots" are turning into two-parted fics or more than just two-parts! --;; How annoying… I can't seem to write one-shots anymore… help.
Pairing: Sasuke x Kagome
Rating: PG-13
Category: Crossover, AU, multi-part, drama, WaFF at the end
Fiction note: This is an AU-fic and my first Inuyasha x Naruto-crossover fic, so please gentle with it. When the centipede pulled Kagome into the well, she was actually from Naruto-universe.
"Lilies Instead of Sakuras
Part II
Written by M.K. a.k.a. Fall Angel © 2005
Sasuke tensed when she began to talk about his curse. Damn it, why does she bring that up? Besides, why did she want to talk about his curse? Most of the girls in the village like to talk with him. But not her, she's different from the fan girls that kept on stalking him still.
"What about my curse? Why do you need to talk about it?" Sasuke asked rudely.
Kagome took in his rude behaviour for her, and sighed. She walks to the bench under the sakura tree and sits down, looking at the dark haired young man before her.
"Uchiha-san," she began, "I know all about the curse you've been cursed with and the seal that should keep the curse in order. But I need to know one thing; has the curse given you any trouble lately?"
Sasuke sneered at her, disliking being called 'Uchiha-san' – it reminded him of his father. "Quit calling me with that!"
"Eh? With what?"
"'Uchiha-san'. Quit calling me with that!"
Kagome sighed again; this guy is intolerable. "Fine, Sasuke-san. I won't call you with that… but back to my question, which is very important for me to know, so please answer to it!"
"Why would that concern you? It's my business and none of yours!"
Kagome shook her head calmly at him, "I don't understand why the elders didn't come to the Higurashi shrine to ask for my help… Maybe that was because they weren't quite convinced of my grandfather's talents." Kagome leaned against the sakura tree trunk, looking up at the leaves. "I could have done something for you when you came back."
"Oh?" Sasuke doubted her words and he walked forward to her and stopped. "Like what? What could you have done to the curse, when even Kakashi's seal can barely keep the curse from activating?"
He is trying her patience now. "Don't you know the duties of the mikos' for the village and its people? It's the same as the Shinobis' but with a slight difference. While Shinobis protect the people with their own strength from enemies, we mikos protect people not only from human threats but also inhuman threats such as curses and demons."
Sasuke's fist clenched tightly. "Then you should protect them from me! I'm the one who's a demon now!"
That did it to her, she couldn't hold out anymore. "You are wrong about that!" Kagome jumps up, staring into Sasuke's coal black eyes. "You are not a demon! The man who cursed you, he was a demon! He was no human anymore, not while he's lusting for immortality and power! Like a youkai I notice had to face with years ago…"
'"Had to face with…?" What does she mean by that?' Sasuke raised his eyebrow at her.
"Is it hard for you to believe that I had fought youkais or demons if you would simply put it that way? Yes, couple of years ago, I fought against youkais of all kinds with my friends. Sure I was inexperienced back then, but I learned so much from that time."
'What the hell is she talking about? There are no demons around here or anywhere else… expect for the demons that had been sealed into Naruto and Gaara…' Sasuke frowned.
Kagome sits down again after calming down a bit, looking at her feet with her hands clasped together over her lap. "Sasuke-san, please, answer to my question… about your curse. I need to know for sure. I'm not doing this for the elders or for the Hokage herself. I'm doing this…" Kagome lifted her head up and looked into his eyes with her grey-blue eyes, requesting for answer from him. "For you and for your own safety…"
Sasuke let out a soft gasp the moment when he saw her eyes. As if they were looking deeply into his very soul and inner self, wanting to help him without asking any favour from him. Most of the girls he had to come across with, always asked from him in return like going out with them, but she… she's nothing like them.
And that scared him a bit.
"No. I don't want your pity… I don't need your help! I can control it fine by myself!"
Kagome let out an aggravated sigh and stood up from the bench. Calmly she walked by him, her left shoulder slightly touching his. Just when she was about to walk away from him, she stopped, with her back turned to his.
"Sasuke-san, eventually you will realize that you need my help with the curse. It's true that I may not be able to erase the curse completely from your neck… But that doesn't mean that I can't give you chance… to control it." With those words, Kagome left him be all by himself at his backyard.
IN
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Many missions had been given and completed. At the Higurashi shrine, Kagome continued with her daily works, taking care of the shrine, practicing her miko skills and collecting herbs for medical uses. But then suddenly, she heard someone approaching her from behind and she turned to look.
"Ara? Shizune-san?"
"Tsunade-sama needs your help. It's about Uchiha-san."
IN
Shizune leaded her to the hospital, into the room where she saw Tsunade standing next to bed. On it lied down Sasuke, writhing in agony. That wasn't what made Kagome gasp in startled. It was the markings of his curse that were over his neck and his face. And they seemed to continue on spreading all over his body. Something must be done, and fast.
Without any words, Kagome began her work and took out all the things she needed on this situation, enchantment scrolls and scented candles, which will calm him down.
"Tsunade-sama, I need to make an enchantment circle on the floor to seal off his curse! Once I've done that, we need to move him in the middle of the circle!"
"Are you planning to do the same one as Kakashi once did?"
"No! Not exactly! Unlike Kakashi-san, this seal will be more effective than his, and will be created from Sasuke-san's own aura!"
"Created from Uchiha's own aura? What do you mean by that?"
"I have noticed that Sasuke-san's own aura is strong enough to take over the dark aura, but he doesn't know how to use it correctly. By re-creating the seal from his real aura, may help him take control of the curse!"
"But, that's the way Kakashi did his seal on him! How can this one be more different from his?"
"Kakashi-san used his own chakra to create the seal, and not Sasuke-san's. You know do know that one way or another, the students will become stronger than their own senseis. Kakashi-san may not like it, but he's getting old and he didn't have enough chakra to overpower Orochimaru's."
"Forgive me for asking this, but why do you think that Uchiha's own aura can overpower Orochimaru's curse?"
Kagome smiled at her mysteriously, "Because not only will I use his aura to re-seal the curse, but also giving him a bit of mine…"
"But, you just said that—"
"I know what I said, but just in case, I will add some of my aura into his." Kagome managed to finish with her scrolls and enchantment writings, and then turned to the older woman near to her. "It's done now! Let's get him into the circle quickly!"
The ANBUs whom were with them, carried Sasuke and placed him into the circle. When everything was at their places, Kagome began with her counter-curse, hoping that it will work.
She had to battle with the curse itself when she began her counter-curse, calling out for her spiritual powers to aid her and to call out Sasuke's aura. Once she saw the marking withdrew from Sasuke's body and back to his neck, Kagome made her move.
After a lot of sweating and chanting the counter-curse, she managed pull it through; Orochimaru's curse, had been subdued.
Kagome smiled weakly and spent after finishing the spell, feeling too tired to stand up or talk anymore. She was feeling light-head and then finally she fainted from fatigue.
IN
First thing he saw was a white ceiling. And that his head was ringing. What had happened to him? Carefully Sasuke began to look around the room, noticing the room to be empty except for him. He groaned as he moved back to its place over the pillow. He shouldn't have started to look his surrounding with his head ringing.
At that moment, the door was open and a person stepped inside.
"Ah, you're awake, Sasuke-san." Gentle voice spoke to him; he remembered hearing the voice once before but from where? He tried to re-open his eyes, but a warm hand touched his forehead, smoothing him. "No, don't try to get up yet. You still need to rest. You've gone through a lot…"
"W-who… are you…?" He hated this feeling; being weak and unable to speak clearly.
A soft giggle was her answer for him. "Ah, you'll find out, soon enough. But now, sleep well."
"Don't… wanna… sleep anymore…" No matter how hard he tried to stay awake, in the end he surrendered and closed his eyes. Whoever she was, she had such a kind voice. His heart fluttered from her voice.
IN
By the end of the week, Sasuke woke up again, feeling refreshed and ready to leave the hospital. But the doctors and nurses forbid him and ordered him to stay put until the Hokage gave permission for him to leave.
That got him annoyed, but he remained in his room, waiting. His waiting didn't last for long when the door opened, Tsunade and Kagome entering into his room.
"You're awake," Tsunade stated out, to which Sasuke frowned at. 'Did you wish that I wouldn't wake up?'
"Well, then. Before we get some things started, you should thank Kagome-san for helping you out with the curse."
"Thank her?" Sasuke looked at the dark haired girl next to Hokage with his eyebrow up.
"Yes, she managed to re-seal the curse for you to take the full control of it."
"Nani? What do you mean by that?" Sasuke's eyes widened slightly. 'Take the full control of the curse…?'
"It's true, Sasuke-san. From this day onward, you've the full control of the curse. Orochimaru doesn't have a hold on you anymore." Kagome gives a gentle look at him, smiling.
Orochimaru no longer has a hold on him? Could it be the truth? It all seems like a dream to him, but even though he doesn't know her very well, he can see from her face that she is telling the truth.
"Now then, let's get on the business." Tsunade smiled mysteriously at the young man in the bed. He doesn't like the look on her face – at all. "According to what Kagome-san had told me days ago, you will need some training to control the curse for your own usage."
"Eh? Training? What kind of training? I know all about controlling chakras and jutsus!"
"Ah yes, but this training is very important, if you really want to control your curse. In which department, will Kagome-san step in. She will be the one to train you how to control it."
IN
When Hokage's have made up her mind, it stays. Sasuke didn't have much of the choice but to obey it. The next weeks Kagome came to his home and trained him.
Of course, when Sasuke's fan girls found out about it, they did their best to stop the Chuunin-miko from going to Sasuke's home – with no luck. Kagome knew how to handle them or more like how to avoid them.
Honestly, didn't they have anything else to do besides stalking Sasuke? She was starting to pity the last member of the Uchiha clan.
IN
"I think that you've gotten the hang of it now, Sasuke-san," Kagome told him as they were sitting at his backyard, under the sakura tree. "I mean controlling the curse instead letting it to control you. All you have to do is calm down and not let your own anger take a hold of you. It will be painless that way to use the curse's power for your own advantage."
"Hm. I wish that I didn't have the curse in the first place."
Kagome sighs. "That's true, but I can't take it off of you. You have had it for so long, so it will be part of you for the rest of your life. Good thing that I did manage to numb its effect on you."
Sasuke hummed, agreeing with her. Yes, whenever he used the curse's power, it was painless than it was before. Then again, before this, he was afraid of using it at all. But now he can use its power, only occasionally not so often yet – once and while was enough when the situation looked hopeless, but not often. He can always relay on his own strength and skills.
Something was leaning against his shoulder, which shook him from his thoughts. He saw locks of bluish-black hair over his shoulder from the corner of his eye, knowing that it was Kagome resting over his shoulder. He should push her away, but the strangest thing was… he didn't want to. He kind of liked having her next to him… unlike those fan girls who kept screaming after him whenever he passed by them.
She was different from them, she didn't scream for his attention nor did she cling onto his arm. Whenever she was close to him, his heart began to beat a bit faster than it normally did – like it did now. Sasuke leaned closer to her, taking a whiff of her hair – lilies. Her hair smelled like lilies.
Kagome sensed his presence and felt his body; it made her feel safe and warm. Just like she used to feel when Inuyasha hugged her – before he died fighting against Naraku. The loss of him still stung her, but not as much it did less than two years ago.
She was starting to let go of her past and live on with the future that was ahead of her.
IN
The villagers were talking about them – about Sasuke and Kagome, that is – how they walked together close to one and another, talking and telling about their pasts and families to each other. Could it be that the heir of the Uchiha clan had finally found a woman with whom he would share his life with? The heiress of Higurashi family? Now that they looked at them, they did make a good couple.
That just didn't fit for the Sasuke fan girls – not at all and especially Sakura, who was starting to feel jealous about the whole situation. She thought Kagome was a good friend of her, but now, she was having doubts of their so-called 'friendship'.
Right now, she was looking for the two of them from the streets. She just had to know it for sure about the two of them – were the rumours true or not? Hopefully not. Fortunately, she didn't have to look for them for long, she had spotted them by shop called "Kunai & Weapons", looking at the window and talking with each other.
"I have been looking all over for you two!" Sakura made her way to them, huffing and looking annoyed. Both Sasuke and Kagome turned to look at her, Sasuke looking expressionless and Kagome puzzled. "How could you, Kagome? How could you take Sasuke-kun from me!"
"Eh? What do you mean by that…?"
"Don't play innocent with me, Kagome! You seduced him, didn't you! I just know that you did! How could you! I thought you were my friend!"
Kagome frowned sorrowfully, "Sakura-chan…" But she was stopped by Sasuke's hand over her shoulder and pulling her closer to him.
"Sakura, stop your nonsense now. You're being ridiculous now, childish even. You never had me, only in your dreams and fantasies. I can make my own decisions with whom I will go out with," Sasuke told the pink-haired girl before them.
"G-go out…? You're… seeing each other…?" Sakura's trembling voice betrayed her feelings. When she thought about it, they did hang out with each other a lot after they finished Sasuke's training.
Kagome blushed, "N-no! I mean that… it's not like a real--!"
"Yes, we are… only that," Sasuke turned to look at Kagome, "I haven't actually asked her… Because… I never have asked anyone before…"
"Eh? S-Sasuke-san…?"
"Sasuke-kun, you can't be serious--!" Sakura was desperate now. This couldn't be!
"Kagome." ('He said my name for the first time!' Kagome thought.) "Will you… go out with me…?" Sasuke managed to ask her, finding it to be difficult in the first place. He had never asked any girls to go out with him, it had always been the opposite way – girls asked him to go out with them.
Kagome gasped in shock while Sakura was dumbstruck of this all, it's like part of her just "died" inside of her. (No, not her inner self, because inner-Sakura was hissing and showing her fists at the "traitor" Kagome.) 'This can't be,' she thought more desperately, 'I can't believe this… How could she do this to me…?'
If only Sakura could wake up from her dreams, she would have realized long time ago that Sasuke never did like her – or at least no more than a friend. The pink-haired Chuunin's fist trembled by the side of her, before she lounged at Kagome, tears of frustration and betrayal falling down from her cool emerald eyes.
At the nick of time, Sasuke stepped in her way and grabbed her fist, stopping her from hurting Kagome. Again, he moved on his own just like he did in his youth battling with Haku. This time though, he knew WHY he moved.
He wanted to protect someone who was close to him.
"Sakura! Stop this nonsense right now! You aren't going to solve ANYTHING this way!"
"B-but Sasuke-kun…" Sakura's voice trembled even more with her tears.
"No! You listen to me! I'm sick and tired of you hanging onto me! I've tried and tried – gods know how long – to get it into your head that I don't like you! At least not in that way! Yes, I've learned to care about you, as a teammate!"
The delicate hand in his was trembling, Sakura has been defeated emotionally and everyone on the street was watching them. Never in her life, have she felt so humiliated – never! Over Sasuke's shoulder, she saw Kagome looking at her as if she pitied her. No. No! She didn't want her pity! She didn't!
Sakura freed her hand from Sasuke's clutch and ran away from the both of them. Not bothering to look behind because if she did, she could see them – especially Kagome – pitying her.
Kagome did keep on looking after Sakura until the pink-haired girl vanished from her sight. What she was feeling now, wasn't the pity. She felt sorry for Sakura having her hopes crushed down. Oh, Kagome knew all about Sakura's hopes to be the future "Mrs. Uchiha" but now… all that was gone for her and Kagome couldn't help to feel that it was her fault.
A gentle touch on her cheek woke Kagome from her thoughts and made her look up. Sasuke. She almost had forgotten about him. "S-Sasuke-san…! Sakura-chan…"
Sasuke sighed quietly, "She will be over with it."
"But still! That wasn't nice to tell her in that way! She could've--!"
"No, she wouldn't. What I told her earlier, was true; no matter how often I've told her, she just couldn't take 'no' for answer. She has been like in our youth and apparently, she's like that now as well."
"I still think that you should've told her gently…" Kagome frowned at him.
"What' your answer then? Are you going to reject me because of Sakura?"
At the moment, she felt like being torn into two parts. True, her feelings still harboured for Inuyasha but also for Sasuke. From the time of Sasuke's trainings, she learned more about the Uchiha clan's only heir; his past, family and what he had been through during his time with Orochimaru. So much like Inuyasha, especially the sibling hate between the brothers. She had seen Sasuke's inner self as well, from his eyes whenever he was relaxed and was off-guarded. Seen what kind of a person he was once he opened up a bit.
"No matter how much I try to deny it, I can't lie to my own heart that… I do have feelings for you as well," she finally told him, after keeping him wait in silence. "You make me feel safe whenever you're close to me and I've seen from your eyes how you want to live as yourself – not as the only heir of the Uchiha clan or the traitor of Konohagakure."
A silent sigh escaped from his lips and he took her hand into his, leading her away from the watchful eyes of the passersby – to more private area for them. He could feel it now, a lot stronger than before. His heart beat a stronger beat in his chest – a sign of love blooming.
And he had missed feeling that.
IN
The news of them together spread out fast, to the every corner of the village. Some were amazed of such a couple, some feeling delighted that Uchiha have finally found someone, some were doubtful of their union, and some (the fan girls) were crushed and sad.
Hokage herself was doubtful about the two of them together, but still she knew Kagome being a good balance for Sasuke's life. Perhaps she can do something more for the Uchiha than just help him out with the curse.
Sakura still kept avoiding them. Though it had been three weeks the last time when she saw them, Sakura's heart was still crushed from the sight of them together. No matter how Naruto or Lee tried to cheer her up or tried to get her out of her home, she stubbornly remained at her home, in her room. The mere thought or sight of them, made her cry hard.
How could've this happen?
Two more weeks passed by, and the rumours eased down a bit – to which both Kagome and Sasuke were thankful for. They were getting tired of avoiding the questions and threats from both sides; it looked like that Kagome also had a fan club of her own. Now when did that happened?
Either way, they were on their way to the Higurashi shrine when they saw someone they didn't image to see. Sakura who was waiting for their return; of course she went to Sasuke's home first, but when she noticed there wasn't anyone home, she went to Kagome's.
"Sakura-chan…" Kagome began but was silenced by Sakura's hand in front of her face.
"Please, don't say a word until I've said things I need to say. After doing some thinking – a lot, may I add – I've come to a decision and to realization what Sasuke-san had told me all this time. I'm so sorry for not listening to you Sasuke-san. I'm sorry for causing you any trouble after all this time… I didn't realize that my crush for you had turned more into an obsession than into a love as I wished for. But…" she let few tears to drop from her eyes, "I couldn't help it… I've liked you very much since the day when I learned what love means. I didn't realize that…" she sobbed with her face down, not wanting them to see her cry again.
Kagome stepped forward, but Sasuke stopped her. "Sakura, I'm also sorry for the harsh words I said to you weeks ago. Kagome was right; I should've told you more… gently about my thoughts on you. But I lost my temper about it. Do understand that I didn't have any interests on you at all. I was so new to love and I hadn't felt the real love for so long time, not since my family died… until, I met Kagome."
"Sakura-chan," Kagome began, "I also wish to apologize for all what had happened between us. I feel like I've betrayed you, by falling in love with Sasuke-san. I tried to deny my feelings at the beginning, but the more I was with him, the more I fell in love. I couldn't stop it, it just happened."
Sakura wiped away the tears that still remained over her cheeks and then looked up at them, smiling weakly to the both of them. "I understand, Kagome-chan. I'm also sorry for my behaviour forwards you."
Kagome nodded, smiling back at her. Happy that they managed to solve their fight.
It had been four months since the day when they settled their matter with Sakura. Two and a half months since Sasuke finally asked Kagome's hand for marriage, to which she answered 'yes'. Their friends and Kagome's family were happy for them – even Sakura, who was now dating with Lee, finally giving the poor Taijutsu user a chance. The result was kind a hilarious, with Lee showering Sakura with his undying love for her. (It did make her think twice about her decision.)
Sasuke sighed and embraced his fiancée closer to him, who snuggled into his arms in her sleep, mumbling his name. They seemed to be perfect match for each other; she needed him to feel safe and loved, and he needed her to keep himself in check.
Above all that, he loved her, which was a real love. He loved her for her strength, courage, the way she smiled at him, everything about her, even the smell of her shampoo – the smell of lilies.
Translations:
1. –san a polite suffix for "Mr.", "Mrs." and "Miss".
2. sakura cherry blossoms.
3. miko a priestess.
4. youkai demon, monster and so on. However, it is actually a more general term used to describe a creature, which has magical and/or spiritual powers and tends to be evil.
5. ara? an expression of surprise; "huh?"; mostly used by women.
6. –sama a more respectful (even reverent) version of -san; means, "ma'am", "mistress", "lady", "lord" or "sir".
7. sensei a teacher / a master.
8. nani? what?
9. jutsu arts / techniques; this means for the way of ninja, martial arts or swordsmanship, not art-arts.
10. kunai a kind of basic dagger that all ninjas use. It is all-purpose and can be used as a throwing knife or to stab at your opponents. It is extremely vital for all Shinobi to have.
11. –kun a suffix used for people of equal / younger age and equal (social) standing.
12. –chan a suffix meaning cute or little, a common endearment; used to address children, (close) younger friends and relatives, mainly females.
13. Taijutsu the fist style fighting technique; pure art of strength and agility.
14. owari the end.
First draft: May 30, 2005 – June 07, 2005