AN: Yeah, I can’t help myself when it comes to angst. This chapter will be the direct continuation of the Bittersweet Ending, and it will be the last chapter which is connected to that AU.
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“Falling was just another way to fly, but what meaning does it have to a bird with clipped wings?”
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When they separated, and the silence set in, he could only describe his heartache as an insatiable fire that burnt all the oxygen in his body. It left him listless—empty. He’d describe himself as feeling hollow, like there was nothing that could fill in the hole left in his chest. He felt so raw—like there was no skin over his pain and the wind made it bleed.
He had survived so many fires, that he could no longer tell if he was alive or burning still.
And once the fire grew dim, a thin layer of ice settled in. It cooled his insides, as if it were a gentle reminder of the pain than came before and a warning not to stoke that fire again.
He couldn’t see himself ever putting his heart out there again.
There wouldn’t be a way for him to survive a second inferno.
_
On cold nights, the sky would be embraced by the fading radiance of an autumn sunset, so dark and dim in colour. The gentle breeze made the leaves rustle and break off the branches, so they could slowly fall before his feet. Autumn had arrived and the vibrancy of nature had died out, replaced by dying browns and rosewood reds.
The evenings were spent in silence, with the distant cicada’s singing their lonely song.
He’d climb the tallest building and sit on top, staying awake and awaiting the end of the sun. The wind would thread through his hair, sending pleasant chills down his spine. It was strongest at the top, and it turned into his preferred place to just… be at, with no need to think about anything other than how the wind was whispering sweet nothings throughout the night.
Silently, he’d watch how the sky got darker and darker, but, somehow, the sun wouldn’t go down, as if reluctant to give control to the night. Funny enough, he thought it to be a sign of some sorts—a sign which told him that the day was no over yet and that there were still some things needed to be done.
That was a silly thought.
His eyes slipped shut and he leaned back, lying atop the hard surface of the roof.
What else was there to do, except await the end of day?
For a moment there, the wind went ice cold and he momentarily froze, but he brushed the light dread aside, choosing to completely surrendered himself to the insistent sleepiness that had bugged him for the past few hours.
Not even ten minutes passed, before he realised that there was something wrong.
His eyes snapped open and he slid off the building. The moment his feet touched the ground, he lunged forward, reaching the forest in a moment’s time.
Is that…?! Kurama yelled inside his mind, his tone showing the disbelief in his voice.
He didn’t even answer, instead he focused on reaching the flickering chakra as soon as possible.
No. No. No. No. No.
What was happening?! Why was that happening?! Was there a mistake?! Did he make a mistake?!
He burst out through a thicket of leaves, body coming to a startling halt as he zeroed in on the person ahead, “Sasuke!” The man’s name slipped past his lips as panic overtook his mind.
Once again, there was an almost unnoticeable flicker of his chakra.
Akashi heard his heart in his ears and he forced his body back into motion as he raced towards the grounded man. He was there, on his hands and knees, visibly convulsing. Before Akashi even reached him, he watched as he coughed and a spray of crimson painted the vibrant grass beneath him. Dropping to his knees in front of him, he carefully took him by the shoulders, urging him to look up, “Sasuke?! What happened?!” He looked him over, finding him in a state of disarray. His clothes were all torn up, visible slash marks marring his skin. Blood slid down the side of his mouth, and Akashi noticed the dried stains of it beneath his eye.
Nothing but a pained breath left the man as he collapsed into his arms.
His heartbeat was weak, too weak. It was barely even there…
Damn it!
Quickly turning him over, he laid him on his back and checked him over, searching for anything that would indicate as to why he was in such a state. As soon as he laid eyes on his chest, he realised the problem.
There was a hole in it, with blood profusely sliding out of it and down his sides.
Immediately, Akashi reached his glowing hands over it, putting in as much chakra as he possibly could, but…
Nothing. His body didn’t react to the healing at all. He stared at the wound and felt like it stared right back at him, as if mocking him—his inabilities and incapability in doing one simple thing!
A sharp noise left Sasuke’s lips and Akashi looked at him. He looked at him and watched as his expression twisted into a painful one. He looked at him and cursed at his own weakness, “Hey? Hey, Sasuke, stay with me, okay?” He took him in his arms and pulled him closer, cradling him to his chest. Damn it… How did he get there? There was no way he could cross such a big distance in a single moment, it was impossible! And there were no other chakra signals for miles around them, not one, single human! What the hell happened?!
“Akashi…” The man in his arms whispered, his voice the weakest Akashi had ever heard it be, “Akashi…?” Slowly, one of his hands was raised and it neared him.
Damn it all to hell! “I’m here, I’m here…” Gently, Akashi took hold of it, and failed to stop the skipping of his heart at the contact, “What happened…? Sasuke, who did this to you…?”
Sasuke leaned closer into him, another weary breath leaving him, “It… doesn’t matter,” It was a miracle he could even speak at that point… “You’re here…” He peered up at Akashi, dual-coloured eyes staring straight at him.
“Of course I’m here… Where else would I be?” He forced down the shakiness of his voice.
Kurama?! I need… I need your help!
He didn’t answer for a few moments, but when he did… His chakra is far too depleted.
That… Kurama, there must be something I can do! I need to…!
Little one, he has lost too much blood, his body will reject everything we try!
That… No, no, no! That can’t be true!
And yet, Sasuke’s chakra just kept on getting weaker and weaker. With each flicker that it produced, Akashi feared it to be the last.
With nothing on his mind, Akashi spoke without thought, “How did you end up here…?” Ever so slightly, Sasuke’s hold on his hand weakened.
“I don’t… know,” Even his voice was weaker than before, “When I… looked up, you were in front of me,” That didn’t make any sense… That made absolutely no sense! “I though… I was seeing things,” Akashi dared not look away from him—away from his eyes, “But… somehow, I was here, where you were.”
How could he just… appear so close? It-!
It’s the Rinnegan. Kurama instantly confirmed his suspicion.
Still, how?
Unconsciously, perhaps. His last wish?
His… last wish? So he knew he was going to die? Then why…? Why didn’t he go back to his family?! Why choose Akashi?! Why waste his last moments… Damn it… “It’s still me? After all these years, it’s still me?” Involuntarily, his teeth pressed together, tightening the muscles in his jaw.
Sasuke’s other hand reached up and his bloodied fingers barely grazed his cheek, “Always… It’s always been you—only you.”
His throat felt raw all of a sudden and he leaned into his touch, closing his eyes. He said nothing as he pulled him closer, enough to press their chests together. Their hearts weren’t in sync, as Sasuke’s was slowly starting to slow down. His lips parted, words stuck on the tip of his tongue with no way for him to say them.
He just wanted to say them…
“It’s all right,” Sasuke whispered, using what remained of his strength to wrap his arms around him, “You… don’t have to say anything.”
He had to… It was his last chance, wasn’t it? When the day comes to a pass, no longer will the words count. He had to… “You’re asking too much of me. It won’t change anything even if I don’t say them.”
His feelings won’t just go away if he remained silent.
“You’re so… stubborn. Even after all these years… you haven’t changed.”
Of course he didn’t change… People don’t change. People never change, “I’m still the same old Akashi. I’m…” For a moment there, he hesitated, the words not coming out. If he doesn’t say them… “I’m still in love with you—I still love you.”
The wind blew and the rustling of leaves was heard.
In his mind, he begged and begged and begged for something—anything—to happen. He just wanted to hold onto him for a bit longer, to live out a bit of his life with him by his side.
In his mind, he regretted and regretted and regretted their years spent apart. If only he hadn’t been a coward, if only he had been strong enough to fight against those conflicting feelings, maybe… maybe Sasuke wouldn’t be in his arms, inches away from death. Maybe they would’ve made something together—something to call their own, a family? Anything… Anything. He would settle for anything, anything but this!
This. This. This. This. This.
But this was all they were left with.
There was nothing else left for them. Nothing else for them to change. Nothing else for them to do. This was the end of their time together, the time that hadn’t even run out. The time that they hadn’t even used. They did nothing, they achieved nothing…
They made nothing.
It hurt. It hurt. It fucking hurt! Everything hurt! His veins felt scalding hot, as if they were on fire, as if there was lava running through them instead of blood.
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Was this the end meant for them? The ending that they had hoped for?
Was this their fate? Something they couldn’t have changed? Was Akashi’s decision after the war something that he couldn’t have changed?
It wasn’t fair… It wasn’t fair…
“I connected to a part of you others never felt. I saw a part of your soul you never wanted to let out of the bag. I touched you and saw your reaction, so beautiful and raw. For those moments you were more real than the blood in my own veins, and I felt you like the beating of my own heart!” The tears slid down his burning skin, seeping into the bloodied collar of Sasuke’s shirt, “Stay! Please! Don’t leave me!” He sobbed out, further leaning into the man in his arms, desperate to hold on, desperate to not let go, “I’ll do anything! I’ll do… anything…” His voice died out as he shook, body uncontrollably trembling.
Once more, he felt the flicker of his chakra, “It’s all right… You’re going to be… all right.” There was comfort in his voice, a tone that promised him that things truly would be all right after everything was said and done—after he was no longer there.
“No… you don’t understand… I can’t-” his voice cracked, making him swallow, “I won’t be… You can’t go… You have to stay, please, you can’t…” He wasn’t making any sense with his words, barely even understanding what he was saying.
There never was a point in time where grief had struck him more than in this one, single moment.
“I just wanted… to look at you one last time, just to… know that I’ve died without any regrets.”
No… Please, no… He didn’t want this… He refused it… He refused to acknowledge any of it!
“For a long time…”
Please…
“I’ve wanted nothing more… than to be by your side…”
Stop…
“At least for these few moments… I can say what I’ve wanted to say…”
Don’t…
“My soul yearned for your own… but it wasn’t meant to be in this lifetime…”
It hurt…
“Maybe in the next… I can tell you this sooner…” As his weak arms pushed Akashi back, determined eyes met his own, “I love you—I am in love with you… It has always been you.”
His fingers lost their strength, and no longer was there any pressure on Akashi’s shoulders.
He watched, slowly, silently, unblinkingly as Sasuke leaned forward, the last sparks of life dwindling inside his eyes.
He felt it, the last press of skin against his own, and he felt it, as Sasuke fell limp against him.
His chakra extinguished after one last flicker.
And then, there was silence.
The sun went dark, falling into its slumber. He sat there, with the knowledge that the sun would rise when dawn came.
But, unlike the sun, the man in his arms would never rise again.
_
The Konoha Gates stood proudly before him, still the same as they were more than fifteen years ago. Not once did they crumble. Not once did they fall.
Two shinobi approached him, their voices sounding like static to his ears, and one of them tapped him on the shoulder, trying to get his attention. He didn’t acknowledge them, instead he walked by them.
But they just wouldn’t let it go.
_
The Hokage Tower was within his sight, and the Hiraishin was activated a second later.
It took the other occupant to notice his arrival a brief moment later. And then, there it was, the look of pure disbelief, as if he wasn’t expecting his arrival. Or was it because of how he looked?
The blade turned in his hand, the crimson liquid sliding off the tip and splatting against the floorboards.
“Aka…shi?” That was the first thing that left his dear little brother’s lips, “What…?” Slowly, his azure eyes traced over his appearance, before they zeroed in on the blade in his hand, “What did you…?”
Staring at him, Akashi gripped onto the blade, “Is that the first thing you ask me? After more than fifteen years?” He watched as Naruto flinched back at the sound of his voice, “How nice of you to care for your aniki,” For a moment, he noticed how Naruto glanced off to the side, “Your ANBU are dead, if that’s what you’re looking for.”
Naruto slowly stood up, his hands pressing against the desk, “Why?”
“Why…?” Akashi asked, looking away in thought, “You don’t even know, do you?” He peered back at him, eyes glazed over, “It’s been days, otouto, and you’re clueless?”
His questions just further seemed to confuse Naruto, “What are you talking about?” He was wary… Good, he should be.
Shifting on his feet, Akashi looked at the framed photo of their father on the wall, “You’re supposed to be the Hokage, but you know nothing about the states of your shinobi. Aren’t you supposed to take care of them?”
“Akashi!” Huh… That was an interesting turn of events. Naruto actually raised his voice at him, truly, “Just tell me, why?!”
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
The blade in his hand disappeared, receding back into his body, “I had to bury him,” Slowly, he turned back to him, “Did you know? No, what am I saying… Of course you didn’t,” Naruto was staring at him, confusion swimming in his ocean hues, “Tell me, when was the last time you heard from Sasuke?”
And just like that, realisation flooded through his brother, “What…?”
“You heard me, Hokage-sama,” he mocked, expression as blank as when he first arrived, “Sasuke is dead.”
He said those words for the first time out loud, and it did nothing but increase the restrained feelings within him, putting more and more pressure on his fragile chains.
“And where were you?” He stepped closer, mere feet away from the desk, “Where were you when he needed you most? Weren’t you his friend?”
With each question that left him, he watched as Naruto’s resolve crumbled bit by bit, revealing everything worth revealing, “I was…”
Reaching forward, Akashi slammed his hands atop the desk, “What?!” He demanded, “You were what?!” As he pressed against the desk, it cracked and cracked, but neither of them noticed, “Lollygagging in your office while he bled out in my arms?!” Gritting his teeth, he pulled away, fists clenched by his sides.
Not yet. It wasn’t the time yet.
Naruto didn’t reply.
That was the expected outcome.
“Would you like to see?” Akashi asked, “Would you like to see how he ended up?”
Naruto stared at him, wide-eyed and silent.
Of course he didn’t.
Kurama. With that single word, Akashi lunged forward and wrapped his hand around Naruto’s throat, forcing him back into the glass windows, “Let’s take a look, shall we?”
And then, he watched as Naruto’s eyes glazed over.
“No…” he whispered, not even struggling against his hold, “No…!” His complexion had grown paler since Akashi arrived, and his tanned skin was nothing but a sickly shade at that point.
Suffer. He wanted him to suffer through Sasuke’s last moments just as he did. Suffer. He wanted him to watch as Sasuke’s life faded away just as he did.
“I couldn’t help him. His wounds were too grave,” Slightly, he loosened his hold on Naruto, “His chakra was depleted to the point where I wondered how he was still alive,” He looked into his brother’s eyes, “He fought until the very end, alone.”
With those last words, he pulled away and there was nothing left to hold Naruto up. His knees buckled from underneath him and he collapsed, bones harshly clicking against the floor.
One by one, he felt the chains around his feelings give in. One by one, he felt them all crumble to dust.
“He is dead,” The blade formed in his palm, no longer golden but crimson in colour, “He will never come back,” And, as he felt the last restrains disappear, the corners of his lips tugged up, “I’m in hell and all will be.”
The room lit up in a bright flash of crimson and Akashi’s grin just widened.
_
He stood atop the Hokage Tower, on the stable part of it, that is.
Half of the tower was gone, destroyed.
His actions were sure to alert everyone and he was looking forward to it.
Only mere minutes later, a group of shinobi arrived, confusedly looking around, “What happened here?!” One of them yelled, trying to understand what was going on, “We’re under attack!” He yelled back, towards the streets.
Under attack? No… It was far from that.
Pulling his arm back, he whipped it forward and the blade sailed through the air. Before anyone even saw it coming, it embedded into the back of the shinobi’s head and he immediately slumped over, his body slipping off the edge and descending towards the streets below.
It only took a moment, before the screaming from down under began.
He didn’t give the remaining shinobi any time to react, and he was instantly on them. His chains pierced through their bodies and sent them flying away through the air.
“Akashi!” Ah, there he was! Naruto was behind him, his clothes fluttering in the strong breeze, “Please! Stop this madness!”
Oh? Madness? “If I am mad, it is mercy!” He yelled, bending his knees, “May you pity the man who can remain sane to the hideous end!” And he took off, his arm outstretched, blade already forming.
A metallic clank resounded and his blade was redirected to the side, missing Naruto by an inch, “Akashi?!”
More join the party!
“Kakashi-sensei!” Akashi looked at the man, “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, how many years has it been?”
The man stared at him, his dark eyes swimming with confusion, “Why are you here?! What are you even doing?!” Forcefully, Akashi was pushed away and he landed on his feet, lightly sliding across the ground.
“What a nice welcoming! I’ve come back to Konoha, isn’t it obvious?!” He raised his arms, as if exasperated at the man’s behaviour.
Kakashi was looking at him as if he were mad, “Come back?! For what?! To leave a mountain of corpses in your wake?!”
That, right there, was a good question, “A mountain of corpses couldn’t compare to his!” He exclaimed, grinning, sharp teeth on display, “Not even the whole world could compare!”
“Who?! What are you talking about?!” Still, he insisted.
From the corner of his eye, Akashi saw Naruto whisper something to the man, and then it was silence.
Pure, unadulterated silence.
A second later, Kakashi’s eyes were back on him. Sadness. That was all that Akashi could see and feel. Sadness. It was too late for that. Nothing could make things better.
Nothing.
“Do you understand now, Kakashi-sensei? Do you understand why I’m doing this?” He stepped forward, “This is it for me. I don’t have anything in my life anymore. What is there to live for? Loneliness? Solitude? Pain? Anger? Disappointment? Regret…?”
The man didn’t say anything, nor did Akashi expect an answer from him.
He knew everything already.
“This is the end.”
With no reluctance, he activated Tailed Beast State and watched as Naruto stood still. Raising his arm in the air, little red and blue orbs started accumulating, until they all came together into one, giant purple orb.
Kurama.
I know.
In a moment’s time, the giant orb doubled in size.
Raising his other hand, a small blade was formed and thrown high up in the air.
Casting one last look at Naruto and Kakashi, he activated Hiraishin.
The view from that high up was… liberating. The breeze was stronger than ever, and that was all he needed.
Without a second thought, he aimed the Bijuu Bomb at the village and released it. It descended upon everything, but before anything could happen, it was intercepted by another Bijuu Bomb.
So, Naruto chose to fight, after all.
The Bijuu Bombs collided and Akashi moved out of the way as his own was pushed away from Konoha and towards the sky.
Ehhh? So Naruto wasn’t holding back…
“Akashi!” Came the blond’s voice from below.
If he wanted to fight, then they shall fight!
Breaking off a part of his chain, Akashi threw it at Naruto and waited until it was close enough to him. Activating Hiraishin, he appeared besides the blond with his blade aimed straight at him. A chakra arm extended from Naruto and grabbed onto Akashi’s blade, successfully pushing it aside just enough for Naruto to land a hit on his chest.
The force of the impact sent Akashi flying away, but he quickly recovered.
“That’s right, otouto! Fight me! Kill me! Do the world a favour and get rid of me!” He announced, voice loud and clear.
“Please, Akashi!” Naruto still continued, “Stop this!”
There was no way he was going to do that.
Absolutely no way.
Without an answer, chains burst out of Akashi’s back, quickly followed by multiple chakra hands. They raced towards Naruto, mere inches away from him, and then a voice rang out.
“Mister!”
He froze up, body instantly locking up.
“Sarada, get back!” Naruto yelled, turning towards the young girl.
Akashi glanced at her and for a moment there, he watched as Sasuke stared back at him. Thirteen-year-old Sasuke stared back at him. The same expressionless face. The same onyx eyes. The same hairstyle.
How foolish they were back then—foolish and… without worry.
Slowly, he reached towards him, arm so close yet so far from the one thing he wanted to have in his life.
But then, the image melted away, and he was met with Sarada’s teary eyes and terrified expression. Her body trembled like it did the first time they met, just like a leaf in the wind.
So small, so delicate.
Pain exploded in his side and he whipped back around, only to be met with the sight of none other than Sakura, “Stay away from her!” She yelled, racing in their direction.
“Mama, don’t!” In a moment, Sarada was between the two of them, arms stretched wide as she… defended him.
“Sarada! Move aside!” Sakura demanded, worry lacing her aggressive tone.
Defiantly, Sarada shook her head, “No!”
“Dad!” From behind him, another voice rang out.
He turned around just in time to see Naruto pushing back a blond boy, one so similar to a young Naruto, “Boruto! Get back, it’s not safe!” The older blond barked, desperately pushing the younger one away.
Ah… So, everyone had moved on?
Everyone got a family of their own?
Everyone, except… him.
He was the only one left alone, but, there really wasn’t anyone he could blame other than himself.
His mind went blank when a smaller hand wrapped around his own, “Mister…?” Sarada whispered, tightly holding him.
For a brief moment, the briefest of moments, his mind calmed down. The urges stopped and there was only silence. Serenity became him and all was well.
“Your father is dead.” The words left him, willingly so, and the memories rushed in.
Serenity was no more.
He pulled his arm back and watched as fear flooded through the young girl before him, yet she did not let him go. No. Her small hand remained intertwined with his own.
A crackling noise, one akin to a thousand birds chirping filled his ears.
Was that what death sounded like?
Once more, pain exploded in his body and the chirping of birds had never been louder. A shaking hand stuck out of his chest, blood dripping down the convulsing fingers. From in front, he saw Sakura’s bubblegum pink hair flutter in the wind as her fist neared him. Sarada was ripped away, and the familiar presence of Naruto filled his space.
Closing his eyes, he let the chains loose.
“Mama!” He heard Sarada’s bloodcurdling scream.
The hand in his chest was ripped out and he felt the wound already start stitching itself back up.
Little one.
Kurama’s warning was ignored.
He opened his eyes, and Sakura stood mere feet in front of him, chains sticking through her shoulders. She was panting, beads of sweat dripping down her neck, “I won’t… let you hurt my daughter. No matter the reason.”
She really was a good mother.
He peered behind and saw a grounded Kakashi clutching onto his own, pierced shoulder.
The only one who was left was-
Chakra hands wrapped around him, keeping him in place, “What’s this?” He asked, trying to break free. It didn’t work, “Can’t kill me so you’re going to contain me?”
“No. I am going to kill you.”
His feet were kicked from under him, and more chakra hands pressed onto him, forcing him into the ground. He watched as the fabric over his stomach was ripped off.
And then, Akashi saw Naruto press his palm against it.
The all familiar feeling of a seal being placed was all that Akashi could think of.
A seal…?
I am sorry, little one.
Kurama’s apology rang clear through his mind, before he felt the gnarling pain of Kurama’s chakra leaving his body.
Kurama…?
I am sorry, little one. He repeated, sorrow lacing his tone.
Akashi threw his head back as the pain intensified, and then it was over. Blankly, he stared up at the sky as the Tailed Beast State that surrounded his body disappeared.
Kurama?
There was no answer.
His mind was empty.
Not for the first time, no, but he knew that it would stay that way.
Forever empty.
“You forced me to do this…” From above, he heard a faint voice.
Was this what it felt like to fall?
“I had no other choice.”
The sky was clear above him.
“You made me end the line, aniki.”
Slowly, he turned his head to the side, only to be met with Sarada’s teary expression. Sakura was besides her, gently cradling her daughter to her chest. She said nothing as she stared at him, the wounds on her shoulders already healed.
Looking back at Naruto, Akashi found himself asking, “Hey, otouto, what do I look like to you?”
Naruto’s azure eyes were clearer than the sky above them, “Like a grieving man.”
He couldn’t even laugh at that, “A loved ones death does that to a man.”
“Death?” That seemed to have caught Sakura’s attention, “Loved one? Who died…?” She trailed off, and then he heard it, the light gasp that left her. She was quick to catch on, “Sasuke…?”
He didn’t answer, instead he didn’t tear his eyes away from Naruto’s own, “Sasuke is dead and I am soon going to be.”
Gently, he was pulled into Naruto’s arms, the blond laying his head atop his lap, “I’m sorry.” He apologised, and for the first time ever, Akashi found himself believing his words.
“I know.”
Light footsteps approached him and Sakura appeared besides him. She took his hand in her own and he felt something metallic be placed in the middle of his palm, “It always belonged to you. He belonged with you. I’m giving back what has always been yours, but you were both too stubborn to face it.” She didn’t hold back with her words, although he could see the translucent trails that led down her cheeks.
A… ring.
He got… a ring.
“Mister?” Sarada’s soft voice pierced through the silence, “When you and Papa reunite, don’t turn away from each other. Don’t separate. Stay together.”
Stay… together?
They sure will.
Something wet landed on his cheek, and he looked up just to see another tear drip from his brother’s eyes, “You always were a crybaby.”
Naruto didn’t deny his words.
“Say hi to Kurama for me, will you?” He asked, receiving a light nod in return, “He’s a softy on the inside, I guess it’s the same with both parts of him…”
Naruto nodded again, stubbornly trying to hold back his tears, although it obviously failed.
“Was that your son I saw back there?” Another nod, “He’s just like you, running straight into danger like that…”
He was an uncle…
His breathing faltered and he made peace with his fate.
With the blue sky as the last thing he saw, everything went black.
_
The fall. That was the last thing he remembered.
And then, light, “You came too soon.”
He faltered, not knowing where the voice came from, “Were you waiting for me?”
For a moment, there was no answer and he feared for the worst, but then, a hand took his own and all he could see were those beautiful eyes of his, “I was, but an older you.”
An older him…?
“I did not tolerate a world emptied of you.”
Ever so slightly, the grip on his hand tightened and he almost cried tears of joy at the strength behind it. No longer was it so weak it couldn’t hold onto him. No longer was it struggling to hold on, “I would have waited.”
“I didn’t want you to wait for too long.”
Slowly, the look in his eyes softened, “Were you lonely?” He was asked.
Was he lonely? The images of the makeshift gravestone flashed before his eyes, and he remembered the days he spent sitting besides it, “Yes. I was lonely—too lonely,” The urge to touch him overcame him and he reached forward, fingers coming to brush down his pale cheeks, “I wanted you back.”
Sasuke shifted and pressed his lips against his fingertips, “You have me now, as you always will,” he peered at him, “We will always meet, in whatever lifetime awaits us. I will always go back to you.”
Always sounded perfect.
“And I will always search for you. Until the ends of the earth—I will go find you.” He vowed.
And then, a smile, a single smile lit up Sasuke’s features and Akashi could never be more in love than he was in that moment, “Once more, with feeling, say it to me—I love you.”
He will say it as many times as he could, “I love you.”
~ ¤ || ¤ || ¤ ~
As you look up at the sky, remember the lovers that had been torn by fate.
When the wind blows, relish and take comfort in it…
for they have finally been reunited in the afterlife.
In the next life, they will find each other again.
Then, the winds shall blow again.
~ ¤ || ¤ || ¤ ~
AN: I have no regrets.
Props to AniMagical Productions for giving me a few line ideas! ILY! ^-^
![[Mtl, Bl] Zombie King’s Guide To Pretending To Be Well-Behaved](https://i3.wp.com/readawrite.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/28508.jpg?resize=165,225 "[Mtl, Bl] Zombie King’s Guide To Pretending To Be Well-Behaved")
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