A/n: Finally another chapter. This story is almost at its end. Makes me want to cry, because I really enjo writing it and such. Sighz.
I loved all you guys that review! Just know that, this story is for you! :D
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
The God's Were Real
"Dear God, please don't let my mother die…please don't let her be sick anymore…please let her be lively again…"
A 5 year old Sasuke prayed by his mother's bedside.
"Sasuke...Dad's here. Plus it's time for you eat something." Itachi called to the kneeling kid in the room.
"But…I'm praying." He complained as he opened his eyes. "Don't you see me praying Itachi?"
Itachi sighed and walked over to the kid and stood beside his mother's bed. He touched her cold still face, shifting her raven hair behind her ears. Her face was peaceful.
"Itachi, mom is resting…be careful, you might wake her."the younger Uchiha complained as he reached for his brother's hand. Itachi looked down at his brother pitifully. He couldn't bring himself to tell him what he heard the doctor tell their father earlier. Their mother wouldn't wake again. Not today…not ever.
"Sasuke , you've been praying all day." Itachi said as he pulled Sasuke to his feet. " Nothing's wrong with praying, but you haven't eaten a single thing." Itachi said worriedly as he ruffled the kid's hair and lifted him. "Come on…"
"NO! no!" The child screamed, stretching futilely towards his mother. "I don't want to leave! God hasn't answered as yet!Put me down!" he continued to scream. Naruto said that God was kind…that he'd give you things when you ask for it…B-but he hasn't answered yet….I don't wanna leave till he does!"
…
"Guys…we're moving again." Fugaku announced as he examined his sons sitting before him.
"What!" Sasuke erupted, slamming his small fist to the table. "No…I don't want to move again!"
"Sasuke…" Itachi rested his hand on the kid's shoulder in an attempt to calm him.
"No! Don't touch me !." He said, slapping Itachi's hand away from him and standing to his feet.. "I'm not moving. You guys are gonna have to leave me behind!"
"But Sasuke…" Itachi started again, but the kid wouldn't be soothed.
"SASUKE UCHIHA!" Fugaku's raised voice echoed throughout the kitchen and both sons were immediately silenced. It must have been the first time they have ever heard their father shout.
"Sasuke." Fugaku spoke with a calm but angry voice. " You will sit down when I'm speaking to you. Do you understand me?"
Sasuke looked terrified as he nodded.
"Good." The father said. "Now sit."
He immediately did as was told.
"Now, due to the spreading of the business and current operations, we have to change our location. You have no choice..." He said pointedly at Sasuke. "…."
Fugaku however didn't get to finish his sentence as the youngest Uchiha fled from the kitchen; slamming the door as he left.
"Sasuke!" Itachi called after the closed door.
Fugaku, however, just sighed and continued.
"We'll be moving to Konoha this time. It's a nice place. I've been there many times...you'll like it there."
Itachi stared blankly at his father.
"What's the matter Itachi?" he asked. "You know I can't help it."
Itachi folded his arms, but remained silent.
"I'm sorry…" Fugaku finally relented, looking sincerely apologetic.
"Don't apologize to me!" A 10 year old Itachi spat at his father. "Dad…it's been two months since mom died… Sasuke hasn't cried once…not even at the funeral…"
"And? He's a strong kid." Fugaku said standing. " He's an Uchiha."
"No Dad. He's 5!" Itachi said raising his voice. Of course, he wasn't going to buy that crap, because both he and his father had broken down in tears at the burial ground. "I think you should send him back to Uzushio…let him stay with Ms. Kushina and Minato sensei….their son…Naruto"
Fugaku just sat in silence as his 10 year old ranted.
"This environment is way too stressful for him…plus…" Itachi stuttered, as he suddenly remembered to whom he was talking. He lowered his voice as he continued. "Plus, with your absence all the…he's become harder to deal with…he needs someone to watch over him…"
"That's what the nanny is for."
"He needs you dad! Not some nanny!" his voice raised once more.
"Itachi, when you were growing, it was the same thing. I moved around a lot and you turned out just fine."
"But…mom was around then…Plus…plus not everyone's the same father!"
"Itachi." Fugaku spoke again. "Minato is also a very busy person you know…"
"Yes, but at least he doesn't move his operation from near his home. And Aunty Kushina is always at home and…and there's also Naruto…Sasuke needs children his age around him!" Itachi's voice was now breaking.
"Minato is my business part…"
"No! He's your friend father! You grew up with them. I…no, we had very fond memories with them. They are very kind people…I'm sure…they wouldn't have a problem with looking over Sasuke…It's just that you…Why can't you try to trust someone other than yourself for once!?
There was silence as Itachi tried to control his ragged breathing. Then suddenly, a smirked raised to Fugaku's lips. " Since when did you start talking back Itachi…"
" Ever since Sasuke has!" Itachi answered, also leaving their father alone in the kitchen.
…
Itachi found Sasuke in their mother's room staring blankly.
"Itachi…I don't want to leave…she's still sleeping in the earth…God didn't wake her." The child said sadly.
"No. He didn't."
"God isn't real. Naruto lied, didn't he?" Sasuke asked looking up to his elder brother for answers. "Tell me Itachi…is God real?!"
Itachi looked down on his brother; clueless. Because he honestly didn't know what to tell the child.
Despite the wise words of Itachi. Fugaku still had them move. And after many more moving, life finally settled down in Konoha. Though, they were never quite the same after that. Fugaku was still always absent and Sasuke grew up, blaming God for everything. Soon he stopped talking about Naruto….then it was their mother….then it was God.
….
Sasuke's P.O.V
"Boys. I'm back." Came the call from downstairs.
"Father." I sat up immediately and quickly threw on my turtle-neck as I ran through the door.
"Umm?"
I arched my brow at the blond that stood outside my door. Why was he even here?
"I can explain…" he says; hardly convincing.
"Father's here." Announced Itachi as he also left his room and stood in the hall. "What are you two doing?"
We all turned around and walked down in silence.
"Boy, it's been so hot out…" Father started and stopped mid sentence as I sat around the table. "Sasuke…aren't you hot in that thing?" he asked, pointing oddly at my turtle neck .
"Uh this…" I subconsciously reached for the neckline of the shirt. If father saw these marks on my neck , I'm sure he would want to meet the individual who placed them there. "I have a cold…" I answered, feigning a cough, so as to make the lie more believeable.
Dad narrowed his eyes at me. Guess he didn't believe. "You're sick!? Of course you'd be sick if your dressed in those clothes in this heat."
"Uh." I mumbled cluelessly. If I change into something else, he's definitely gonna see these marks. I looked around aimlessly. I could see Naruto looking around uneasily as well…. His eyes roamed from me , to father, then to Itachi. Itachi however didn't flinch.
"You look like your melting. Go take it off!" he ordered.
"No!"
It took me a second to realize that Naruto and Itachi had also spoken.
Father threw glances between all three of us. He was now utterly bewildered. And dad didn't like to be confused. He rarely ever was.
"What's going on here? What are you guys hiding…" He asked as he stood and walked around the table to where I sat… He rested his heavy hands on my shoulders. I gulped and a shiver went down my body.
"Sasuke you never get sick…" he said, looking down at me as he did. I wasn't sure if he was asking me or stating a fact. I was so scared, I couldn't even fake cough anymore.
"Uh…"My eyes averted quickly to Naruto, who opened his mouth to speak. "Hehe…" he laughed nervously. "Even Sasukeh has to get s-sick sometimes…I mean there's a first time for everything…right. Even Sasuke has to learn as well, right?" he didn't look so confident as he spoke. I'm sure dad sensed it as well.
Dad's hand moved to the neckline of the shirt. Ok. I'm done for. I thought as I closed my eyes, awaiting father's outburst.
"Dad…" Itachi's hand stilled father's hand by my neck with a touch. "I already had a look at him. He's fine." he continued. "There's nothing to worry about. Trust me?" He ended with a smile.
I felt father's hand loosen at the shirt and before I knew it, he was back at his seat. "Well, If Itachi says you're fine. I'm sure everything is okay."He ended, not before throwing strange glances at each of us and then he continued, without another word about the turtle neck.
….
Naruto's P.O.V
"Guys. Meet Saiyuri."
The members of the lunch group all turned their attention to Lee, who introduced a redhead with a smile on her face.
"She's my admirer." He flushed.
"Saiyuri!" Sakura exclaimed. "Who would have guessed!?"
Come to think of it. Saiyuri Gou was in our gym class and from the looks of it, she was also in their Japanese class as well. But she didn't struck me as a shy person though. From the notes, Lee's admirer was definitely a shy person. But Saiyuri however, was the exact opposite of that. She was a girly girl as Kiba predicted but, she was outspoken, confident when she spoke. She was definitely the type to just walk up to you and tell you her feelings. Why would a girl like her hide from Lee?
"You're Lee's admirer?" the other red head of our group asked, sounding a bit skeptical as he did.
"Yes." Saiyuri answered without much of a stutter. " I overheard Sakura and the others saying how much Lee wanted to finally meet his crush, so I just decided to just spare him the wait yah kno…" she ended with a peck on his cheek.
Lee just smiled weakly as he took out his phone and typed something and then putting it away again.
Everyone just kind of stared at Saiyuri. Kiba finally spoke up."I can't believe this is real…."
…
"So, how are your dreams holding up?" Neji asked me in Biology class.
I sighed in response to Neji's attempt to mock me. Honestly, I didn't find it amusing. Ok. So maybe it wasn't a dream. But why was I so willing to do that with him? What was it about this kid that made me feel so comfortable with him touching me; like I've known him for years.
I looked to the front of the room where he would usually sit. But he wasn't there. Itachi however didn't seem affected by that however, but he just continued to lecture. After the conversation we had with father last night, I couldn't help but feel extremely tense.I'm sure he would have interrogated the hell out of me had he seen the marks. And I'm also sure he would have liked to meet my non existing girlfriend, who put them there. Imagine his surprise if he had found that it was none other than his beloved guest.
I sighed once more; resting my head on the desk before me.
"Hey." Neji said; turning my head to face him. "What are you not telling me Sasuke?"
I looked at Neji. His lavender eyes…Long brunette hair, pale skin, strong body, genius. I quietly wondered why he didn't have these problems…oh yeah. His life was perfect.
"Sasuke." He repeated as he knocked me in the head. "Don't look at me like that."
"Ouch!" I sat up.
"Sasuke….tell me." He whispered.
"My dad came after you left." I started.
"Good thing I was outta there uh?"He mumbled. I looked at him more seriously.
"Yeah." I answered, remembering what dad did to Neji the last and first time they met. "Well, he saw me in the turtleneck shirt and told me to take it off. I told him I was sick…"
"Did you do it!Did he see them."
"Nah…Itachi stopped him before he could." I answered looking at the guy teaching at the front.
"Did you talk to N…"
"Class is dismissed." Itachi's voice interrupted the conversation.
Neji and I slowly got our things togethers as the others left the class.
"Sasuke." Itachi's hand reached for mine as I was about to leave the class. "I need to talk to you."
Neji stood by the door; waiting.
"Alone…please." Itachi said apologetically.
Neji nodded. "See you in math then."
"Sasuke…"
"I don't really want to talk to you right now." I said , looking away from his face. "You…and that kid…I just don't…"
"Listen I…"
"What!?" I turned to face him did you stop dad uh? Do you know what's on my neck Itachi? He told you, right?"
Itachi sighed. "Yes, I know. I also know that you and dad didn't really start off on the right foot…"
I hissed. "Tell me something I don't know."
"I know…But until you can tell dad about this… you need to talk to Naruto."
"Itachi, you have no idea…"
"Yes I do!" Itachi said adamantly. "You're the one with no idea! Talk to him…"
I hissed once more. 'About what?"
"Everything."
…
Since Lee found the identity of his crush, I couldn't help but notice that he didn't look quite as happy as before.
"So." Lee said as he closed his locker. "How did she do?"
What is going on here? I thought looking at the back of both my companions.
"Well, was she my admirer, Gaara?"
"Well." The red head gazed into his locker for a moment before finally closing it and turning around. "No. Saiyuri Gou isn't your admirer."
"Oh. I thought so." Lee said rather solemnly.
"What are you guys talking about…she just said it earlier…didn't she… Lee? Gaara?"
"Well, I've known Saiyuri for a while now." Gaara started. "And I know she's not the type of person to hide her feelings from anyone. She's pretty confident about herself. She's not shy at all."
"That's what I thought as well." Lee added. "That's why I brought her to meet you guys…so that Gaara could do his reading on her."
"But…." I interjected.
"Plus when I asked her to write down her contacts…the handwriting was nothing like those on the notes, plus the number was different from the one that texted me."
"Well…"
"I also texted the number on the same day I got the note, telling my crush to meet me on the same day….I didn't get a reply.
"And…"
"Plus….to top it all off, I sent a message to the number that texted me while we were sitting at the lunch table, just to make sure and Saiyuri made no attempt to reach for her phone.
Ok. Well it seems Lee have this all figured already.
"So Saiyuri doesn't actually like you?" I asked a bit confused.
"I don't really know." He answered, sounding disappointed.
" I guess she just overheard parts of the story from Sakura and the others, like she said she did, and just thought she'd just have a laugh." Gaara continued. "a prank."
"Figured as much." Lee said looking down.
"Look at the bright side." I said trying to cheer him up. "At least your real admirer is still out there."
"If she exists." Lee sighed. "When I call the number, I get no answer."
"Lee…" Gaara reached out to touch the kid but he walked off before he could get a hold of him.
"Why are you doing this?" he said as he walked off. "Who are you?"
…
Little after I departed from Gaara and Lee. I was sent to the office. Fugaku had come to pick me up. Said we were going to visit someone special.
We stood side by side as we looked down at the head stones.
"Minato…Kushina…" He mumbled.
I stood there in silence as I remembered the last time I was here. It was after Jiraiya had died…when I was told that Fugaku Uchiha,my new guardian had sent for me. I spent the whole day here, in this very spot, crying over mom and dad…telling them everything...how much I missed them…and how I was finally going to meet their friend…and I was finally going to meet Sasuke again…how I wasn't going to be alone anymore…because God had answered my prayers.
"I'm sorry I didn't keep in touch…" Fugaku spoke. I wasn't sure if he was referring to me or my parents.
"When Mikoto died…I just didn't know what to do with myself. I buried myself my business and before I knew it, I got so distant, Itachi became so indifferent and Sasuke became so rebellious. Before I met you guys all I thought about was work. But you guys showed me the importance of having family and f-friends around…." He paused. "I shouldn't have moved Minato…now I'm sure being around you and your lovely wife would have healed Mikoto back to health…."
He sighed heavily. His words filled with regret. Mom always told me that men should live life to the fullest and regret nothing, but right now, Fugaku had a lot of regrets. I was starting to think that maybe this visit wasn't for me in the first place.
"You know." Fugaku said, finally addressing me. " Before you were born, Kushina was pretty sure you were a girl. She and Mikoto use to joke about how you'd make a perfect girlfriend for our little Sasuke in the future. Imagine our surprise when you came out a boy.
He laughed sadly. My face flushed beside him.
"I really shouldn't have moved." He announced once more. I looked at Fugaku from the corner of my eyes and swore I saw something resembling tears in his eyes.
"Sasuke really changed after that…He got so angry." He looked to the sky. "And he use to be such a happy child."
…
"You again?" I asked as Naruto came into my room. Itachi told me to talk to him…about everything. But I honestly don't know what's that suppose to mean.
"Sasuke…" he raised his hand in peace. " I swear…I just want to talk."
I sat up in bed immediately as I saw him inching closer. I took a pillow and sailed it in his direction. "Don't come any closer." I ordered him. I honestly don't think I could manage one more of those dreams.
"Ok…Ok." He said as the pillow hit him in the stomach. "Just hear me out, would yah!"
"Only if you're going to explain why you molested me!"
"Shhhh. One. I didn't molest you. You were just as willing and two, you better keep your voice down. Your father is downstairs."
"Oh." I said a bit softer. "Itachi told me he came for you at school today…." I said, a small feeling of jealousy rose in my stomach. Dad never picked me up from school.
"Oh yeah. He did." I looked away as he answered. "We went to visit my parents..."
Oh. Queue the awkward silence.
"Sasuke…" he said, as he took a seat on the floor before me, hugging the pillow in his hands. "You know…when I was a kid… I had this friend…he loved my eyes. He always told everyone how pretty they were….his favourite colour was the blue of my eyes.
I arched my brow in confusion. I had no idea where this story was heading.
"So…what does that story have to do with anything.?" I asked very skeptical.
"Everything." He mumbled. I arched my brow even higher. What's up with Itachi and this kid. "I wish my friend would say those things again."
The more I listened to this kid. The more my brow arched to a greater angle.
"Do you believe in God?"
My brain suddenly felt muddled. Why was he asking me this….why did it sound so familiar? "Uh…what?"
"Why do you seem so confuse….you don't believe?" he asked, sounding a bit childish.
"No…it's just that….I remember being asked this question before…ah a long time ago…I think…" My answer also confused me. "Maybe I did believe…. But that was ages ago….at the moment…I don't quite believe in anything really…and if I were to believe in a thing like a god…it would be more than one….like gods. And I don't think they have control over anything really…to be honest. I think things are just kinda happening…I suppose." I mumbled on, getting a bit embarrassed.
The blond bit his lips for a moment before he began to speak again.
"Oh, that's sad….my friend didn't know God either…."
"So… what happened to him?" I asked , feeling awkward in the whole situation and not know what these gods had to do with anything?
"He had to go…but before we left we prayed this cute little prayer…although I prayed most of it…you want to hear it…" he looked up eagerly and before I could reject the offer he was already repeating this prayer in a rather childish tone.
"Dear God." Naruto's whispered voice echoed throughout my room. "Sas-kay and I love each other very, very much and even though he's going away, please don't let our love dis-e-appear and ...and..." Naruto paused and looked up at meet expectantly.
"And I want you to let us see each other again." I said, subconsciously; my lips finishing the prayer without me telling it to. How could I have known what to say? It must be a coincidence. In an instant, thoughts and feelings from many years came flooding my heart. And I suddenly became very sad , overwhelmed and confused all at once. Tears streamed down my face in vast amounts. I was crying; and it just wouldn't stop. Through my blurred vision I saw the blond walk over to me.
"Why so sad," Naruto asked as he looked down on me; holding my cheeks between his palms. "Sas-kay?"
My eyes widen in realization. Looking at his eyes, I remembered how happy I was as a child because of those beautiful orbs. They were blue. The prettiest blue one has ever seen. They were deep and unnatural. They seem to hold so many truths, stories, adventures, joy and happiness and feelings and emotions…out of the ordinary…not like dad's or Itachi's or my friends…his eyes were different… and I liked them. I liked his eyes. I remembered now the cerulean of his eyes, which was my favourite colour. And as I looked into his eyes I could only remember one thing…
"Naru-kun?" my lips voiced. And he smiled at me. And I soon found myself staring up…pass the ceiling…My prayers finally answered.
Well, what do you know? Maybe the the gods were real after all...
A/n: Breathes. I really hoped you guys liked this chapter. It was a bit complicated to write. Especially since I made a few changes to what it was before.
Tell me what you think.
Read & Review. Constructive Criticisms also welcomed.
~Angel-chan~