Finally

Finally

I can't stand it- I'm suffocating! I pull myself away- but the beast pulls me back into its hold- refusing to let go. Relaxing my body- I try to go limp- maybe if I play dead… Crying out, it pulls me, if possible, even closer and I marvel at the idea of dieing like this- call it heroic. The beast cries out loudly, piercing my ears with it's sobbing and sniveling. Gathering some of my strength, I try again to push back- but it won't let me.

"Sasuke! I thought you were-" Sakura sobs and gasps for breath, leaking tears and sweat from worry. Disgusted, I look away from the soggy ninja as she hugs me against her- to die like this after all I've been through- how shameful. She stares down at my face, biting her lip with concern and pushes some of my hair away from my eyes, trembling. I watch her face as she calms down; she isn't the same. Uncertain coldness is behind her expressions and I watch as it shoves away her pain and tears: what is this? She squeezes my hand reassuringly and looks away, watching the other figure approach, covered in bruises and scratches that I helped cause.

His blue eyes shine in the dullness of the battlefield like a beacon against the dark and resentful red blemishes that covered the ground around us, and under me. The pain strikes again and I shudder in agony, straining my body to be still, but it twitches under the nerve damage. I cough, my throat allowing blood to escape onto the ground beside me. I tighten my hands into fists, struggling for my life, and realize that Sakura was still holding onto my hand. She rubs my back and tries to reassure me that everything will be fine; he arrives beside us, crouching down beside me and encouraging me to stay strong and alive.

Carcasses of comrades and enemies litter the ground like leaves in autumn, every five feet, it seems, a new one was laying. I try to turn my neck, and listen as the bones pop from stiffness; I clench my teeth and sit up, my entire body feeling raw. A sad smile plays in his eyes, and for the first time since this the fight had broken out, he talks to me.

"You did it," he said softly, looking towards the other end of the bloody field. I follow his eyes over to where he was looking and in the distance, a stream of black hair flows from the head of a mangled body. I want to see for myself. Shuddering in pain, I slowly stand up, my loose shirt almost completely falling off of me, revealing my scarred and bleeding torso. Red splotches are soaked into the fabric that haven't stopped growing yet, still getting larger with every shallow breath. Sakura tries to help me up, putting my good arm over her shoulder and helping me stay stable as I rise.

It's so nostalgic. Naruto walks beside us, watching the ground as we walk, and silent for what feels like the first time ever. He keeps his eyes away from Sakura as she explores the faces of the bodies, searching for any still living that she could save. In front of us, a hand writhes and moves, stretching out onto the earth, grasping it, then dragging back to its owner and repeating. Sakura sucks in her breath as we walk past the Akatsuki operative, hearing him gasping for breath- holding onto what life he had left, and we just walk by, not even turning- there's no need; it would be useless.

My past reflects in the fresh dew that glistens on the sparse green grass, begging for me to answer if what I chose for my life was right. My stomach clenches and lurches, sending me to the ground, hunched over and coughing violently. My entire body quivers and shakes in pain- I can't give up yet! I have to see for myself, or it's not worth it! I try to force myself up, but instead end up falling onto my side, I shudder in agony and Sakura leans down beside me, her face calm but worried.

"Don't push yourself," she says softly, tenderly brushing my hair away from my eyes again with her battle worn fingers. She never ceases to amaze me. After all that I've put her through, if I were her or Naruto, I'd hate me- but- I glance at them through eyes that were squinted in pain; they both are still by my side. Naruto looks at the ground beside me, never directly at my face, his blue eyes deep and reminiscent, a distant almost-smile sits on his lips, his mind on a distant day. My eyes force themselves closed against my will and my shallow breaths beg to slow down. For a moment, all is calm.

"No- I have to- I- have to-" I gasp, prying my eyes open and using every fiber of my being to will myself to sit up, crying out as my heart pounds heavily and strongly in my chest, more blood rises into my mouth and I spit it aside, my eyes forward- it's so near- all that I need. Sakura's vexed face shows fear for my pain and she tries to convince me to lay back down.

"Sasuke- don't be stupid!" she says angrily, words that she would ordinarily never use towards me. Her face flushes red with worry that she upset me and I ignore his, biting my tongue to keep myself awake.