askerian: Serious Karkat in a red long-sleeved shirt (Team7_ugly chibis)
askerian ([personal profile] askerian) wrote2005-04-08 01:16 am
Entry tags:

naruto - T7 ficlet.

Title: Waiting
Author: Asuka Kureru (askerian (at) hotmail.com)
Fandom: Naruto
Lead character(s): Sasuke
Pairing(s): No official pairing - Team 7 bond. In a way that's better than sex. yes, i know, can't believe i said that either.
Genre: Sasuke introspection, one-shot.
Notes: This was, of course, born from that short scene in the middle of ep 80 when they're going to the Third's burial, and just happen to take the same path.



There were a few inescapable truths in his world. Two only, in fact.

One was that his brother would die by his hand.

The other was that they would follow him.

They were truths he had refused at some point. Had denied. Had raged against. Had tried to twist, or ignore, or purposefully misunderstand.

He loved his brother. He hated his brother. He would kill him.

He was a part of them. They were a part of him. They would come.

The awareness of the first truth had been clear since day one, since the betrayal. The second had taken more time to bloom inside him. Time and time again he had tried to uproot it; but it wouldn't die, and even neglect didn't wither it. It kept growing back; her tenderness and his tenacity, making themselves at home in a corner of his soul.

He'd only acknowledged it once. Not in words. After that war, and so many deaths, after being forced to realize that she would die rather than step aside and abandon him defenseless, that he would keep fighting until no one could threaten them again. After being made to see that he would do the same, even if it meant dirtying himself with a power that took great delight in corrupting almost everything he was.

Almost. Because the truth inside his heart kept blooming back, again and again, and it was the only thing inside him that couldn't be tarnished.

And so he had told them; not in words. Words were meaningless. Clad in mourning back, he had told them that yeah, okay, he acknowledged it finally; they should be standing by his side. Because they would be there anyway, regardless.

See? I'm waiting for you.

He had denied it afterwards; thought that the first truth would consume anything in its path. He did not want to see them consumed with everything else, with him. He had hurt them to punish himself, to prove to himself that the second truth was a comforting lie, that he clung to because he was too weak for the first one.

But he was, or would be, strong enough to kill his brother, and they did belong with him.

And so, his hand on the hilt of a sword that had been planted through his snake of a master's heart, the mark dead on his neck, he walked toward his first truth, while waiting for his second truth to catch up. Because both were inescapable.

Two years, eight months. He'd cut it close, but it didn't matter. They wouldn't be long now.

There were two inescapable truths in his world.

One was that his brother would die by his hand.

The other was that they would follow him.

He could not stop them, and he could not discourage them -- and he did not want to. The safest place for them was at his side; it was where they belonged.

He could not stop them, and they would only need the barest encouragement -- not a word necessary, just a short pause in his steps -- and...

Two sets of footsteps. Memories of laughter. Warmth. Acceptance. Belonging.

He paused, head tilted, not turning back.

See? I'm waiting for you.

I'm waiting.

[identity profile] sarolynne.livejournal.com 2005-04-07 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Like I said before. That's why they work as an OT3.

[identity profile] joosetta.livejournal.com 2005-04-07 11:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Ive said this before, but this is /perfect/. I keep reading it again and again and its stuck in my head and it hurts my heart ;; I /love/.

[identity profile] miko-no-da.livejournal.com 2005-04-08 12:07 am (UTC)(link)
*purrs* So lovely. As usual. I love your Sasuke so much. As much as I love your Naruto, and (shockingly to me) as much as I love your Sakura. *nuzzles*

[identity profile] mojojessjo.livejournal.com 2005-04-08 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
This is the team 7 dynamics for me. This is why I love them as an 0T3. When one is missing they are not complete, no matter how much they may pretend to be better off without the other.

I...I have no more words for this other then it's wonderful and simple and beautiful all at the same time. Well done!

[identity profile] aconite.livejournal.com 2005-04-08 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
Oh. That was good. Just wow. *loves this so much*
ext_13601: (gunshot romance)

[identity profile] who-shot-kr.livejournal.com 2005-04-08 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
I hate you because you make me like Sasuke all the more. >__>

Though the bitch here acts like he's all seme over the other two. Fortunately, we know better. XD

[identity profile] karit.livejournal.com 2005-04-08 01:41 am (UTC)(link)
I love your Sasuke. LOVE him. Somehow, you managed to show that he belongs to them, that they belong to him, and he KNOWS it, without making him mushy or someone other than Sasuke. That's nearly impossible to do. *whimper* I LOVE your Sasuke.

Hee, icon from that scene. (At least, it is if it's the one I'm thinking it is, which it better be. Er. Right, anyway.)

[identity profile] rurounitriv.livejournal.com 2005-04-08 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
Love the repetition here, with Sasuke constantly reminding himself of his two truths. Great job. :D

[identity profile] mikkeneko.livejournal.com 2005-04-08 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
See? I'm waiting for you.

I'm waiting.


;_;

[identity profile] shadowzephyr.livejournal.com 2005-04-10 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
I love your take on Team 7 so much. You really understand the dynamic between them.
/stares at story
sooo preetttyyyyy...