A/n: Honestly I think I did a terrible job writing this chapter it's why it took so long to upload. Hope it's good enough for you readers. Check my profile it has the lists of other works I'm doing or hoping to do. Thanks for all the support! Enjoy-shyshi P.s this chapter was added last minute since I decided to try adding a song in. It's called Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls. Opinions please!
"It is never too late to give up our prejudices."-Henry David Thoreau
Wind brushed over the silence painting it rich, dark colors as it whispered over the streets, nudging trash over the sidewalks as it went. Slowly Emiko turned her eyes to the unconscious girl lying on the bench, streaks gleaming on her face like make up of agony. She'd been there the entire time, silently listening as she had swayed on the playground swing, dragging her feet over the soil in a manner reminiscent of the memories she kept locked in her mind.
"What are you doing here?" Sasuke finally spoke, his voice commanding her attention as she pried her eyes from Sakura's tear stained face.
"We were worried. We didn't know where you were." Emiko chose to respond, her eyes searching hollowly over the streets. Her fingers played with a thread of her shirt, grateful she was able to make it to her home in time to clean up and change.
"I'm not staying." At the words Emiko's eyes finally locked onto his face, memorizing each shadow and line as she stared at him.
"You're being an idiot, running off to join some criminal." Emiko replied, all her frustration biting through her words. 'Why can't he just stay?' she thought to herself as she watched him shift his pack.
"I didn't ask for your approval." Sasuke replied coldly, stepping forward, his eyes half closed as he ignored her. Emiko nodded silently, pushing strands of hair from her eyes as she tried to drive away the words, tried to ignore the way his voice stung.
"You're willing to sell your soul to get revenge?" Emiko questioned, still watching him steadily. No response came and she turned, watching him walk away before she reached out, grabbing his arm tightly to halt his steps.
And I'd give up forever to touch you,
Cause I know that you feel me some how.
"Damn it Sasuke I'm not asking you to stay and devote yourself to a relationship! I just want to know that I won't some day hear about you being wanted for murder!" Her voice strained towards a yell, her free hand shaking at her side as it curled into a fist.
He stayed calm, as the perfection of an onyx statue he always seemed to be. Gradually his head tilted until he met her gaze though not as cold as before, she realized with a small spark of hope as she clutched to the connection. Thoughts ran through her mind as she tried to break through, imagining what he could be thinking.
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be,
And I don't want to go home right now.
"Go home." Emiko frowned, glaring at him as she tightened her hold on his arm no longer concerned with his reaction as she jerked him into spinning to face her.
He didn't move, simply stared at her with a flicker of question. 'Does he even care?' Emiko thought to herself as she searched his face, prying for a hint that something would show. Doubt began to poke at her thoughts and she began to wonder if he'd ever felt anything besides the hatred now coating him like a fine gloss finish.
And all I can taste is this moment,
And all I can breathe is your life,
"Sasuke, do you even care?" The words stumbled out of her mouth, fearful of the answer as his features never changed. Would he even answer? Minutes passed with nothing but the sounds of the wind as company as they stood silently on the sidewalk waiting for a shred of answers to their never ending torture.
"I'm leaving." Sasuke finally replied, jerking his arm from her grasp and turning away from her. She glared at him, furious and hurt that it was all he had to say. Reaching forward she smacked him on the head, hard, as she vented her simple aggravation. Never missing a beat Sasuke continued down the sidewalk.
And sooner or later it's over,
I just don't want to miss you tonight.
'Oh no you don't.' The girl thought as she watched him step steadily away. Sprinting forward she reappeared before him, glowering at him as she barred his path.
"Who do you think you are! Just leaving like this without a word to anyone! There are people who care about you!" Emiko yelled angrily as she blocked him, her arms spread wide as she tried to thrust away the desperate sorrow biting at her. Her mind wretched under his stare, pangs of guilt and anger drowning her with a mighty lurch. "If you go everyone's going to miss you!"
"Everyone? Or you?" Sasuke challenged quietly, his voice barely above the noises of the trash dancing in the wind. Emiko blinked, unsure of what to say as her mind raced to find an answer. She would miss him but, her mind reeled to the words she'd heard, rocking in silence on the swing.
And I don't want the world to see me,
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand.
'He didn't care that Sakura said she loved him, would I be any different?' Doubt poked at her thoughts, snickering as it sawed away confidence and replaced it with a weak crutch. Undecided and confused she wanted to protect herself as she felt Sasuke step closer, the familiar feeling of his eyes on her both welcomed and unnerving.
When everything's made to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am.
"Everyone." She replied, dragging her thoughts back into reality as she watched him. He blinked and nodded before carelessly resting a hand on her shoulder. Confusion pricked before Emiko staggered and fell to one side, almost tripping over her feet as Sasuke pushed her away.
"What the hell?" She said sourly before she leapt forward, grasping his arm and yanking him back to face her. Once again she stopped him, glaring at him as she refused to let go. "What was that for!"
And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming,
Or the moment of truth in your lies.
"I don't care about everyone." Sasuke replied monotonously, the epitome of mystery resting in his eyes. Neither seemed able to speak beyond that, Emiko torn down the seams of herself as she tried to reconcile her thoughts. Part wished to simply let him go, to cut her losses while she could and save what shreds she could, the other seemed to dwell in the memories, the cutting board of her life plastered over the walls as images played through her mind. It remained the hopeful side, yelling at her to make him stay.
When everything feels like the movies,
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive.
"Why do you need revenge so badly?" Emiko murmured calmly, her hand dropping from his arm as though to show she trusted he wouldn't run from her. He didn't.
And I don't want the world to see me,
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand.
"He killed my family. I'm going to kill him." Insisted Sasuke, almost as a promise to her. Emiko forced herself to nod quietly, thinking over everything that had happened as she searched for comfort in the breeze.
'Say something!' She pleaded with herself, distinctly aware of how her mouth seemed to be filled with poisonous words she longed to release. Her lips stayed seal though as she brushed hair from her face.
When everything's made to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am.
"Everyone will miss you. They'll worry." The words choked in her throat as she felt pangs of guilt. 'Everyone' 'They'. Pathetic attempts to try and save herself from bearing her true thoughts and feelings.
"Hn." Emiko nodded quietly, watching him turn and walk down the sidewalk, a remorseful smile on her face. 'Say something!' Her hands rushed to her hand, fingers entwining in her hair as she tried to shake out the confusion almost pushed to tears by everything. The hiding, the fear, sorrow, confusion, anger and hope bubbling like a venomous mixture in her head.
A chill passed in a line over her face as she opened her eyes, withdrawing a hand and hesitantly touching her cheek. Pulling away her hand her fingertip glistened in the weak light and she sighed. Something sparked and her attention snapped to the sidewalk, following its path with her eyes until she found the dark figure in the distance.
And I don't want the whole world to see me,
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand.
Racing forward she felt a new determination and resolution like a welcomed warm blanket around her conscious. As she came closer she noticed him pause, his head slightly tilted as he had apparently heard her footsteps.
Stopping quickly, she steadied herself in a sudden gust of wind, her hair whipping in the wind. It didn't matter though as she stared at him the familiar comfort of his attention upon her.
When everything's made to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am.
"I'll miss you." She muttered, a spring of hope manifesting in the silence. What came next threw a shock to the mix as Sasuke replied, a sense of foreign softness in his voice.
"So, are you coming or not?"
I just want you to know who I am...