Voting!
Alright! Enough time has passed and this wouldn't move on if we don't start voting. For those who did not submit drabbles for last week, I'm sorry but you are disqualified for this round. For this challenge, only two are going to be eliminated since only ten people submitted drabbles D:
1.
Title:Knock Knock Who's There
Rating:PG
Warning/s:none
Word Count:484
There are worse things, probably, than being woken up like this. The banging of unreasonably strong teenage fists against his door reverberates along the long slats of his floor, up the legs of his bed and directly into his eardrums.
Bang, bang, bang goes the door. Thump, thump, thump goes his heart. Kakashi is in bed, and Kakashi is alive.
Kakashi is seven and he has no father. His sensei is a tall man with the bluest eyes he’s ever seen, and a laugh like flash flood. There are worse things, probably, than being an orphan and stuck in a team that is alternately loud and useless. The kid with the black hair won’t stop talking and the girl with the brown hair won’t stop almost talking and then looking at her hands and Minato Sensei won’t stop walking. The kunai twirling on his fingers goes swish, swish, swish.
Kakashi is thirteen and his best friend is dead. It’s funny, how he already misses Obito now more than he ever did when he was alive. His eye should hurt, but it doesn’t and he resents Rin for it, just a little. Maybe he’ll work up to hating her if he ever gets the energy back. Because he has to recover from this (from the hurt in his chest, not his eye socket), there has to be something worse than this moment. Obito’s blood leaks down Kakashi’s face, it goes drip, drip, drip.
Kakashi is nineteen and there is nothing inside him that can hurt this much, he’s sure of it. Obito is gone. Sensei is gone. Rin is……Oh, Rin. She’s dead, his best friend, his only friend left. She's dead. The sun beats down on Obito’s grave, and Kakashi’s heart beats in his chest like penance. There can’t be anything worse than this, this moment right here, right now. “Forgiveme, forgiveme, forgiveme”, goes Kakashi’s heart.
Kakashi is twenty-two and this is his life. He killed people today, lots and lots of them. He didn’t get to read at all. Flip, flip, flip go his fingers over the pages.
Kakashi is twenty-three and Gai will not leave him alone. Gai’s mouth goes “wonderfulgreenbeast, honorodutyteamwork, myeternalrival”. Kakshi is bored, but Kakashi is…curious. Their fists on the table go ”rock, paper, scissors.”
Kakashi is twenty-six and his team is loud and useless. ”Blah, blah, blah” goes Sakura. “BLAH, BLAH, BLAH” goes Naruto. “Revenge, revenge, revenge” goes Sasuke. There are worse things, he consoles himself, worse teams. Somewhere. Maybe. In hell. They squawk and they chatter and they are kind of terrible and they need him so, so much. No one has ever needed him before, it’s an odd sensation.
Thump, thump, thump.
Bang, bang, bang.
“Sensei, get out here, you’re four hours late!” goes Sakura.
Kakashi’s heart goes thump, thump, thump as he pushes himself out of bed, and there are worse things.
2.
Title: Untitled
Rating: PG
Warning/s: More subtle than show or tell, if that counts as a warning. Spoilers up to over a year ago in manga and a complete disregard for fillers.
Word Count: 451
She huddled under the desk, squeezing her knees together more tightly to stop her trembling. Keeping herself still was the hardest part, using soft water jutsu to cover her heat was easy compared to that, and there were henge up to make the desk seem empty underneath.
He didn't want her, but he needed her.
He needed her a lot more than he needed the other two.
He'd made her kill the other two.
She knew he'd get past the locks, but after that, she wasn't sure. She knew she was terrified, and she felt eight years old. She was seventeen. She was seventeen and a chuunin.
But it's not like she could be anything but afraid.
She stilled her breathing when the chambers in the doorlock started to shift.
He wasn't even considering her a threat, why bother wasting the chakra to do anything special and capture her? No, he could just pop open the door.
Let him. She had some traps up.
Hopefully, some of them would work.
Hopefully, one of them would actually be as lethal as it should be.
Hopefully, when the door finally opens, she wouldn't scream.
--
She woke up, strapped to a table and in severe pain down her left side, numb on her right.
“...Sensei?” she asked quietly.
“I'm here,” he replied. “You're doing very well, Anko. Soon, you'll be able to activate the seal.”
She screamed.
--
She didn't need to ask. She knew he was Juugo.
Eight years old. Shit. Eight years old and that powerful, that much a murderer.
He didn't look dangerous. He looked frightened.
He looked afraid of himself.
“You're the reason behind all this,” she spat. “If he hadn't found you, he wouldn't have gone insane. He wouldn't be trying to use you for more power. Or any of us.”
The boy didn't say anything. He just started trembling.
She felt justified. “I'll fight it. Whatever it was inside you that he put inside us, I'll fight it.”
Whatever made her teammates become demons, and made her sensei decide that since she could survive them she should be one, too, she'd fight it. Destroy it, if she could.
And she'd kill that boy, too.
Someone had to stop sensei.
She had to stop thinking of him as sensei.
The boy was picked up and carried out of the room, and she waited for the inevitable shift. Either she would die, or she would be fine, or she'd become a demon, too.
She had a feeling all three would happen, but not at the same time.
She felt eight years old.
She thought it was ironic that this was all because of the eight year old who didn't.
3.
Title: Open the Door
Rating: PG
Warning/s: None
Word Count: 499
For years Rin had waited for Hatake Kakashi to kiss her. In the darkness of her bedroom, when the crickets chirped loudly outside the window, she would imagine him slipping through the blowing curtains of her kitchen window with his fingers already sliding down his mask. He’d make his way down the hall and press an eager hand to her bedroom door.
She’d whisper to him from her bed, “Open the door.”
And without hesitation, he would.
Such a lovely image to fall asleep with - her dreams were always filled with him.
But romantic notions were childish things, she would think later as they aged, joined ANBU, and steadily watched their friends die. Of course, she still remained faithful to the idea that he would realize there was more between them than just two people who shared bad memories.
It had taken years for him to finally step up and press his mouth to hers, but it was not the thing she’d always dreamed it would be. As a starry-eyed pre-teen, she’d always expected a soft touch of his lips in an innocent proclamation of his undying love. As a sixteen year old, she’d imagined something more like an old movie with tight arms and more passion than her young body had ever felt. At eighteen, she believed that their time had passed and it might have been something he gave her on the cheek to say good-bye as he left her forever.
However, it was on her nineteenth birthday, after a little bit of indulgence in the pub, that Rin felt Kakashi’s warm fingertips squeezing her hips as he backed her up to the darkest corner. The loud pounding sound of her heart trying to escape her chest was only second to the sound of his breathing next to her ear. The mask was already down.
“Ka…kashi…” she strained, closing her eyes to immerse herself in the feel of his touch and the heat of his body pressed along the line of hers. “Why are you doing this now?” she ventured, finding the sake overcoming the unnatural sensation of being so close to him and being nervous.
“You’re lonely too, right Rin?” he slurred, and to Rin, it seemed a little too sad, too emotional for Kakashi. She didn’t like the sound of it.
Because their Sensei was dead, and because Obito’s eye was a constant reminder of that day, Rin knew he would kiss her because he needed something from her, not because he wanted to.
Gently, she touched his exposed jaw line, running over the smooth, hot skin that no other person still alive had seen but her. She leaned into him, brushing her lips over his until he slid a hand into her long hair and kissed her back.
And in the end, the innocent proclamation of love was hers, and her body rose to the passion he put forth, but something in her knew he was probably - in his way - really just saying goodbye.
4.
Title: What the World Was
Rating: G
Warning/s: None
Word Count: 498
Naruto was happy. He'd known Sakura would agree, as she always agreed to everything when it involved Sasuke. It still annoyed him, that she seemed to like him so much when he was always trying so hard to get her attention. But one day, he would. One day, she'd go on a date with him.
For now, they were both trying to get Sasuke to come out of his place and join them to eat some ramen at Ichiraku. They hadn't had any missions together in two or three days, and Naruto had been taking a walk when he'd noticed Sakura. She'd promptly refused to accompany him, but when he'd mentioned asking Sasuke, she'd brightened up and followed him to the boy's apartment.
They were still young; still happy, living in their 12 year old image of what the world was. Naruto gave Sasuke's door the first knock, waiting a few seconds for an answer. There wasn't any, so Naruto frowned and knocked again.
"Oi, bastard, open your door! We know you're here!"
He kicked the door, but Sakura glared at him and shoved him aside. She knocked on the door, more gently than Naruto had, her voice sickeningly sweet.
"Sasuke-kun! We wanted to know if you'd like to come out for ramen with us!"
Again, no answer. Naruto kicked the door, this time smirking. He knew what could prompt Sasuke to open the door.
"OI, BASTARD! IF YOU DON'T COME OUT, I'LL TELL EVERYONE HOW EASY IT WAS TO TIE YOU UP THAT TIME -- "
He didn't even have time to finish his sentence that the door slammed open, and Sasuke appeared in the doorway, glaring.
"What do you want, moron?" He asked, before his eyes slid to Sakura. "Hn, Sakura," he nodded, acknowledging her presence.
Sakura spoke for Naruto, stepping in front of him, her hands held behind her back. She gave him her brightest smile, her voice taking that sweet tone again.
"We wanted to go out for ramen, the three of us!"
Sasuke blinked, seemingly surprised, before a slow smirk came across his lips. He nodded, stepping outside and closing his door. "Alright, fine. But I'm not spending anything."
The banter as they'd made their way was the usual; Sakura fawning over Sasuke, Naruto getting annoyed at Sasuke, and Sasuke getting annoyed at Naruto, who was by then fawning over Sakura. But it was nice. Familiar. Safe. It was part of who they were, and how they worked. How they made each other strong, as a team.
A team that no longer existed.
Naruto stared down into his ramen bowl, having barely eaten a bite. He wasn't hungry. Not when he could do nothing but think back, think back to times he hoped they'd all get to live again. He glanced aside, his eyes saddening at the sight of the three empty seats. A couple of years ago, the three of them had sat right there, as a team. He closed his eyes and wished that one day, hopefully soon, they'd be able to sit there together again.
5.
Title: Tomorrow
Rating: PG-13 (T)
Warning/s: None.
Word Count: 223
“Open the door! Let me in! Let us help you!”
She probably should have kept her mouth shut (the less said, the better; a lesson learnt too late), she probably should have bitten back her tongue (like a good little medic nin) and walked away, leaving him to his own devices; but, God oh God, she didn’t, and now she regretted it.
It had been a mere two weeks since the incident (rocks fall, everyone dies; oh the irony), so of course it would be a tender subject (tender? Such an inaccurate word, taboo was much more like it; what with the way he reacted), but this was… This was…
Obito wouldn’t have wanted this, no.
She plasters a smile on her face (she had practiced so many times during her training -smile at the patient even in the face of death-, who knew she’d get to put that in practice now?) and calmly reaches for her cup -was that a crack on the side?-, the sound of porcelain against porcelain as Kushina washes the dishes serving as the background music for this moment; were they all that obviously miserable?
Minato doesn’t even make an effort to return her smile (or rather, he can’t) as he puts down the book at hand.
“…Tomorrow, we’ll definitely talk to him.”
They never do.
6.
Title: Exceptions
Rating: K+
Warning/s: Spoilers for Naruto's parents' identities, light swearing.
Word Count: 308
Kushina scowled at the two ANBU who barred her way her. "Do you mind? I'm here to see Mi- Hokage-sama."
"Hokage-sama has given strict orders that he is not to be disturbed."
The redhead's frown deepened as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I think he'll make an exception."
"Sorry, no exceptions."
Kushina forced an impatient huff through her teeth as she wondered if idiocy was a required character trait for black ops. "You sure about that?"
"Extremely."
Well, they'd asked for it.
Kushina drew in a deep breath, then bellowed, "Hey, Minato! Come out here and tell these bastards to let me in!"
The door behind the two shocked ANBU didn't open.
The kunoichi made an impatient noise. "Don't act like you can't hear me! I know you're in there sulking and I'm not leaving until you're over whatever the hell is the matter with you, so unless you want to see what a battle axe can do to two inches of pine, I suggest you open this damn door before I-"
The Yondaime Hokage snatched the door open, looking thoroughly put out. "Kushina! How many times have I told you, you can't-"
Kushina rolled her eyes as she stepped forward and shoved his chest, forcing him back into his office. "Undermining the hokage's authority is unprofessional, I shouldn't shout indoors, blah blah blah. You'll forgive me in time, I promise." She shot a cheery smile and a "thanks, boys!" over her shoulder to the two guards before slamming the door behind her.
After taking a few minutes to recover, one of the ANBU shook his head as he turned back toward the corridor. "Jiraiya-sama was right; Hokage-sama is in love with a madwoman."
7.
Title: Outside-In
Rating:PG
Warning/s: None
Word Count: 494
Knock, knock, knock.
Sakura had never been in his apartment before. All the years she had known him, and she had never stepped foot inside. She had been there over and over to pick him up, to walk with him to the training grounds, or to meet Kakashi for another mission. But she had never been in the apartment.
It wasn't like she was afraid to go in either! It was just...easier to knock. He would always answer if she knocked. So why would this time be any different?
And besides that, she didn't want to have to deal with his messy place! Yea...even though when she peaked in through the window, she could tell it wasn't any more dirty than her room at her parents. A few things lying about, but nothing completely disgusting.
He was running late. He normally had stepped out, a beaming grin on his face, and positive attitude. He was normally outside before the sun was up. Her lips curved down slightly, and her brow scrunched together. Today though....
She crossed her arms. Who was he to keep her waiting? It didn't matter what day it was. They were both going to be late if he waited any longer. Yamato wasn't quite as forgiving when it came to being late.
Five minutes. Ten minutes. Fifteen minutes.
The worry came back, tenfold. Naruto was never this late. He loved training, and even if he complained about the missions he got, he would be there on time, just so he could get a better one the next time. She knocked again. No answer. Her eyes traveled down to the handle. It would be easy to get in. With out realizing it, her fingers traced the grooves in the handle. Before she knew it, she was trying to twist it.
To her surprise, it was open. Had Naruto already left? He would have probably lock his door if that was the case. She pushed the door open, and walked inside.
Silence.
She crept inside, trying to avoid making any noise. The kitchen was dark. He hadn't even made breakfast yet? Her frown deepened as she moved to his room.
There he was, sitting on the edge of his bed, and clutched in his hands, was a picture frame.
Of course todays was different. It was his birthday.
She moved forward again, edging towards him. Blue eyes looked up to her, dark with emotions. He gave her a tired smile, “Mind telling Yamato that-”
Sakura's eyes narrowed, “You have to come train! There's no way you're getting him back moping around in here for his birthday.”
Naruto blinked. And then a grin. He set the frame on his bed before standing up, “I wanted you to let him know I'm going to be a little late.”
Sakura smiled and nodded. It didn't matter that it was his birthday anymore. They were going to do everything they could to get him back.
8.
Title: Desolation
Rating: PG-13
Warning/s: None.
Word Count: 294
Having wrecked its mayhem and retreated, the storm of that particular afternoon had left behind a sky shot through with bright stars. On nights like these, the usually dull darkness proved to be strangely tranquil and he’d enjoy the sheer calm that seemed to reign over the world as sounds slowly faded away until all he could hear was the chirping of crickets.
He was sitting on the edge of a cliff, watching over the lights that illuminated the small village ahead. Though it wasn’t often, from time to time, he was reminded of the warmth and the cosy atmosphere he had left behind in Konoha. And during those times, it felt as though the air around him heated up to the point that he couldn’t breathe without the air scorching his lungs.
“Let us in, Sasuke,” Sakura’s soft voice said. If he closed his eyes, Sasuke could still see her gentle smile. In his mind’s eye, Naruto joined her, stretching his hand towards him. And Sasuke was so tempted to leave. Just go and forget everything about Falcon and Itachi and what Konoha had done. So tempted to forget about the world and finally do whatever would make him happy.
But happiness isn’t part of an avenger’s destiny.
He had his chance to open the door and let both Naruto and Sakura in. But it closed and the doors were now sealed forever. There was no going back. Not after Itachi’s final smile and Madara’s words. No amount of friendship or love would ever undo that.
And so Uchiha Sasuke ignored the longing that seared through him and the temptation, banished them back to a far part of his mind and got up to go back to the other three members of Falcon.
9.
Title: Misunderstandings
Rating: G
Warning/s: None that I can see.
Word Count: 345
“I shouldn’t be here,” Sasuke says to himself, watching from a distance as Naruto entertains his fellow shinobi with some lame joke.
“Probably not,” Sakura agrees, and Sasuke most definitely does not jump as she leans against the tree next to him, crossing her arms. She’s grown over the years - more so than any of them, to the point where he barely recognises her as the same girl who begged to leave with him all that time ago. He’s not sure whether or not that’s a bad thing.
“Thanks,” he clips out, oddly hurt. Laughter echoes towards them from the group of friends eating lunch in the training ground, and Sasuke tells himself he’s not jealous.
He reckons that if he thinks it enough, he might start believing it.
Sakura glances sidelong at him, then sighs. “I find it hard to believe that someone who’s meant to be a genius does such a fantastic job of misunderstanding.” She uncrosses her arms and pokes him in the side. “I meant that you shouldn’t be over here, you should be over there. Idiot.”
Sasuke frowns, but doesn’t object to her manhandling of him, knowing he’d be punted through the tree without remorse if he did. “If they wanted me over there, they’d ask.”
Sakura rolls her eyes and grabs his hand, dragging him inexorably closer to the group. “Naruto--” she starts off, and he should have known she’d see through him. “--thinks that you don’t want to be anywhere near him.”
“Naruto should have asked,” Sasuke growls back, not feeling nervous in the slightest.
“Naruto has opened the door, you idiot,” Sakura shoots back, shoving him in front of her and Sasuke stops wondering about why they’re emphasising Naruto’s name so much when he’s faced with the real thing. Person. “It’s your job to go through it.”
“Eh?” Naruto’s bright blue eyes blink guilelessly up at him. The others eye him cautiously, but say nothing. “Teme! You’re going to have lunch with us?”
Sakura pokes him in the back.
“Che. No,” Sasuke replies, and sits down.
10.
Title: What I Didn't Ask For
Rating: M
Warning/s: Strong language, and a moment of gruesomeness.
Word Count: 499
"If I bled something besides blood," Hidan says to Kakuzu out of absolutely nowhere, "It would be begs."
"Begs," Kakuzu echoes. Not that he cares.
"Begs," Hidan repeats, confirmingly. He nods once, proud of his statement. Satisfied.
Kakuzu doesn't understand why the fuck they're even talking about this.
"Why begs." He humors him anyway.
"Because that's what my whole world is made of, besides Jashin," Hidan replies like this is the most obvious thing he would ever have to explain. It’s a tone he’s adapted to using twenty-four-seven, though he never really used to use it. "Begs. People begging me for their lives. Begging for me to spare other lives. Begging for me to end it quickly-"
"And you spend the other half of that time bitching for me to fight you and begging to die."
Hidan goes quiet, mostly because it's true. He begs more than his victims. When he lays down in his little black circle of hopes and dreams and decadence, he begs for Jashin to kill him already, because he's sick of killing for him. He honestly didn't ask for this - because he wanted to grow up into a great shinobi, maybe find a woman who could tolerate him and have a kid or something.
He didn't want to kill people. He didn't want to watch them beg. But Hidan is a creature of stubbornness when it comes to what he has to deal with, and killing people is something that is unfortunately one of them. And so he deals.
"Fuck you," he grumbles. Kakuzu does not intend to reply to that.
Hidan frowns.
Jashin must think he doesn't deserve to die. Maybe it’s his punishment. Hidan isn’t sure why.
(Killing beggars to live, Hidan thought, is my purpose. I live for Jashin now.)
Finding that he’s suddenly growing pissed off and sultry at the swamp he’s creating in his own mind, he casually asks to distract himself, "What about you, Kakuzu?"
The man snorts, and replies just to piss him off even more, "Blood. I bleed blood."
What a boring answer. What a simple answer that makes so much sense and is so fucking stupid and pointless that Hidan feels a calming sense of wanting to put all three blades of his scythe into Kakuzu's chest and tear them downwards. Watch the boring blood spill out like pointless, watery ketchup, on his muddy-coloured skin. Feel the snapping sensations through the weapon to his hands as it destroys almost all of his ribs and one of his millions of non-hearts.
Kakuzu was so fucking stupid, he decided, and his momma taught him fucking stupid people were... wait, what were they?
Hidan didn't remember.
He pushed away a crushing weight that was too much for his shoulders to carry (I don’t remember. I don’t remember.) He had enough on his plate already. He had to kill people. And live. He had to kill people to live.
"That's fucking retarded."
Kakuzu doesn't think that deserves a reply.
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1.
Title:Knock Knock Who's There
Rating:PG
Warning/s:none
Word Count:484
There are worse things, probably, than being woken up like this. The banging of unreasonably strong teenage fists against his door reverberates along the long slats of his floor, up the legs of his bed and directly into his eardrums.
Bang, bang, bang goes the door. Thump, thump, thump goes his heart. Kakashi is in bed, and Kakashi is alive.
Kakashi is seven and he has no father. His sensei is a tall man with the bluest eyes he’s ever seen, and a laugh like flash flood. There are worse things, probably, than being an orphan and stuck in a team that is alternately loud and useless. The kid with the black hair won’t stop talking and the girl with the brown hair won’t stop almost talking and then looking at her hands and Minato Sensei won’t stop walking. The kunai twirling on his fingers goes swish, swish, swish.
Kakashi is thirteen and his best friend is dead. It’s funny, how he already misses Obito now more than he ever did when he was alive. His eye should hurt, but it doesn’t and he resents Rin for it, just a little. Maybe he’ll work up to hating her if he ever gets the energy back. Because he has to recover from this (from the hurt in his chest, not his eye socket), there has to be something worse than this moment. Obito’s blood leaks down Kakashi’s face, it goes drip, drip, drip.
Kakashi is nineteen and there is nothing inside him that can hurt this much, he’s sure of it. Obito is gone. Sensei is gone. Rin is……Oh, Rin. She’s dead, his best friend, his only friend left. She's dead. The sun beats down on Obito’s grave, and Kakashi’s heart beats in his chest like penance. There can’t be anything worse than this, this moment right here, right now. “Forgiveme, forgiveme, forgiveme”, goes Kakashi’s heart.
Kakashi is twenty-two and this is his life. He killed people today, lots and lots of them. He didn’t get to read at all. Flip, flip, flip go his fingers over the pages.
Kakashi is twenty-three and Gai will not leave him alone. Gai’s mouth goes “wonderfulgreenbeast, honorodutyteamwork, myeternalrival”. Kakshi is bored, but Kakashi is…curious. Their fists on the table go ”rock, paper, scissors.”
Kakashi is twenty-six and his team is loud and useless. ”Blah, blah, blah” goes Sakura. “BLAH, BLAH, BLAH” goes Naruto. “Revenge, revenge, revenge” goes Sasuke. There are worse things, he consoles himself, worse teams. Somewhere. Maybe. In hell. They squawk and they chatter and they are kind of terrible and they need him so, so much. No one has ever needed him before, it’s an odd sensation.
Thump, thump, thump.
Bang, bang, bang.
“Sensei, get out here, you’re four hours late!” goes Sakura.
Kakashi’s heart goes thump, thump, thump as he pushes himself out of bed, and there are worse things.
2.
Title: Untitled
Rating: PG
Warning/s: More subtle than show or tell, if that counts as a warning. Spoilers up to over a year ago in manga and a complete disregard for fillers.
Word Count: 451
She huddled under the desk, squeezing her knees together more tightly to stop her trembling. Keeping herself still was the hardest part, using soft water jutsu to cover her heat was easy compared to that, and there were henge up to make the desk seem empty underneath.
He didn't want her, but he needed her.
He needed her a lot more than he needed the other two.
He'd made her kill the other two.
She knew he'd get past the locks, but after that, she wasn't sure. She knew she was terrified, and she felt eight years old. She was seventeen. She was seventeen and a chuunin.
But it's not like she could be anything but afraid.
She stilled her breathing when the chambers in the doorlock started to shift.
He wasn't even considering her a threat, why bother wasting the chakra to do anything special and capture her? No, he could just pop open the door.
Let him. She had some traps up.
Hopefully, some of them would work.
Hopefully, one of them would actually be as lethal as it should be.
Hopefully, when the door finally opens, she wouldn't scream.
--
She woke up, strapped to a table and in severe pain down her left side, numb on her right.
“...Sensei?” she asked quietly.
“I'm here,” he replied. “You're doing very well, Anko. Soon, you'll be able to activate the seal.”
She screamed.
--
She didn't need to ask. She knew he was Juugo.
Eight years old. Shit. Eight years old and that powerful, that much a murderer.
He didn't look dangerous. He looked frightened.
He looked afraid of himself.
“You're the reason behind all this,” she spat. “If he hadn't found you, he wouldn't have gone insane. He wouldn't be trying to use you for more power. Or any of us.”
The boy didn't say anything. He just started trembling.
She felt justified. “I'll fight it. Whatever it was inside you that he put inside us, I'll fight it.”
Whatever made her teammates become demons, and made her sensei decide that since she could survive them she should be one, too, she'd fight it. Destroy it, if she could.
And she'd kill that boy, too.
Someone had to stop sensei.
She had to stop thinking of him as sensei.
The boy was picked up and carried out of the room, and she waited for the inevitable shift. Either she would die, or she would be fine, or she'd become a demon, too.
She had a feeling all three would happen, but not at the same time.
She felt eight years old.
She thought it was ironic that this was all because of the eight year old who didn't.
3.
Title: Open the Door
Rating: PG
Warning/s: None
Word Count: 499
For years Rin had waited for Hatake Kakashi to kiss her. In the darkness of her bedroom, when the crickets chirped loudly outside the window, she would imagine him slipping through the blowing curtains of her kitchen window with his fingers already sliding down his mask. He’d make his way down the hall and press an eager hand to her bedroom door.
She’d whisper to him from her bed, “Open the door.”
And without hesitation, he would.
Such a lovely image to fall asleep with - her dreams were always filled with him.
But romantic notions were childish things, she would think later as they aged, joined ANBU, and steadily watched their friends die. Of course, she still remained faithful to the idea that he would realize there was more between them than just two people who shared bad memories.
It had taken years for him to finally step up and press his mouth to hers, but it was not the thing she’d always dreamed it would be. As a starry-eyed pre-teen, she’d always expected a soft touch of his lips in an innocent proclamation of his undying love. As a sixteen year old, she’d imagined something more like an old movie with tight arms and more passion than her young body had ever felt. At eighteen, she believed that their time had passed and it might have been something he gave her on the cheek to say good-bye as he left her forever.
However, it was on her nineteenth birthday, after a little bit of indulgence in the pub, that Rin felt Kakashi’s warm fingertips squeezing her hips as he backed her up to the darkest corner. The loud pounding sound of her heart trying to escape her chest was only second to the sound of his breathing next to her ear. The mask was already down.
“Ka…kashi…” she strained, closing her eyes to immerse herself in the feel of his touch and the heat of his body pressed along the line of hers. “Why are you doing this now?” she ventured, finding the sake overcoming the unnatural sensation of being so close to him and being nervous.
“You’re lonely too, right Rin?” he slurred, and to Rin, it seemed a little too sad, too emotional for Kakashi. She didn’t like the sound of it.
Because their Sensei was dead, and because Obito’s eye was a constant reminder of that day, Rin knew he would kiss her because he needed something from her, not because he wanted to.
Gently, she touched his exposed jaw line, running over the smooth, hot skin that no other person still alive had seen but her. She leaned into him, brushing her lips over his until he slid a hand into her long hair and kissed her back.
And in the end, the innocent proclamation of love was hers, and her body rose to the passion he put forth, but something in her knew he was probably - in his way - really just saying goodbye.
4.
Title: What the World Was
Rating: G
Warning/s: None
Word Count: 498
Naruto was happy. He'd known Sakura would agree, as she always agreed to everything when it involved Sasuke. It still annoyed him, that she seemed to like him so much when he was always trying so hard to get her attention. But one day, he would. One day, she'd go on a date with him.
For now, they were both trying to get Sasuke to come out of his place and join them to eat some ramen at Ichiraku. They hadn't had any missions together in two or three days, and Naruto had been taking a walk when he'd noticed Sakura. She'd promptly refused to accompany him, but when he'd mentioned asking Sasuke, she'd brightened up and followed him to the boy's apartment.
They were still young; still happy, living in their 12 year old image of what the world was. Naruto gave Sasuke's door the first knock, waiting a few seconds for an answer. There wasn't any, so Naruto frowned and knocked again.
"Oi, bastard, open your door! We know you're here!"
He kicked the door, but Sakura glared at him and shoved him aside. She knocked on the door, more gently than Naruto had, her voice sickeningly sweet.
"Sasuke-kun! We wanted to know if you'd like to come out for ramen with us!"
Again, no answer. Naruto kicked the door, this time smirking. He knew what could prompt Sasuke to open the door.
"OI, BASTARD! IF YOU DON'T COME OUT, I'LL TELL EVERYONE HOW EASY IT WAS TO TIE YOU UP THAT TIME -- "
He didn't even have time to finish his sentence that the door slammed open, and Sasuke appeared in the doorway, glaring.
"What do you want, moron?" He asked, before his eyes slid to Sakura. "Hn, Sakura," he nodded, acknowledging her presence.
Sakura spoke for Naruto, stepping in front of him, her hands held behind her back. She gave him her brightest smile, her voice taking that sweet tone again.
"We wanted to go out for ramen, the three of us!"
Sasuke blinked, seemingly surprised, before a slow smirk came across his lips. He nodded, stepping outside and closing his door. "Alright, fine. But I'm not spending anything."
The banter as they'd made their way was the usual; Sakura fawning over Sasuke, Naruto getting annoyed at Sasuke, and Sasuke getting annoyed at Naruto, who was by then fawning over Sakura. But it was nice. Familiar. Safe. It was part of who they were, and how they worked. How they made each other strong, as a team.
A team that no longer existed.
Naruto stared down into his ramen bowl, having barely eaten a bite. He wasn't hungry. Not when he could do nothing but think back, think back to times he hoped they'd all get to live again. He glanced aside, his eyes saddening at the sight of the three empty seats. A couple of years ago, the three of them had sat right there, as a team. He closed his eyes and wished that one day, hopefully soon, they'd be able to sit there together again.
5.
Title: Tomorrow
Rating: PG-13 (T)
Warning/s: None.
Word Count: 223
“Open the door! Let me in! Let us help you!”
She probably should have kept her mouth shut (the less said, the better; a lesson learnt too late), she probably should have bitten back her tongue (like a good little medic nin) and walked away, leaving him to his own devices; but, God oh God, she didn’t, and now she regretted it.
It had been a mere two weeks since the incident (rocks fall, everyone dies; oh the irony), so of course it would be a tender subject (tender? Such an inaccurate word, taboo was much more like it; what with the way he reacted), but this was… This was…
Obito wouldn’t have wanted this, no.
She plasters a smile on her face (she had practiced so many times during her training -smile at the patient even in the face of death-, who knew she’d get to put that in practice now?) and calmly reaches for her cup -was that a crack on the side?-, the sound of porcelain against porcelain as Kushina washes the dishes serving as the background music for this moment; were they all that obviously miserable?
Minato doesn’t even make an effort to return her smile (or rather, he can’t) as he puts down the book at hand.
“…Tomorrow, we’ll definitely talk to him.”
They never do.
6.
Title: Exceptions
Rating: K+
Warning/s: Spoilers for Naruto's parents' identities, light swearing.
Word Count: 308
Kushina scowled at the two ANBU who barred her way her. "Do you mind? I'm here to see Mi- Hokage-sama."
"Hokage-sama has given strict orders that he is not to be disturbed."
The redhead's frown deepened as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I think he'll make an exception."
"Sorry, no exceptions."
Kushina forced an impatient huff through her teeth as she wondered if idiocy was a required character trait for black ops. "You sure about that?"
"Extremely."
Well, they'd asked for it.
Kushina drew in a deep breath, then bellowed, "Hey, Minato! Come out here and tell these bastards to let me in!"
The door behind the two shocked ANBU didn't open.
The kunoichi made an impatient noise. "Don't act like you can't hear me! I know you're in there sulking and I'm not leaving until you're over whatever the hell is the matter with you, so unless you want to see what a battle axe can do to two inches of pine, I suggest you open this damn door before I-"
The Yondaime Hokage snatched the door open, looking thoroughly put out. "Kushina! How many times have I told you, you can't-"
Kushina rolled her eyes as she stepped forward and shoved his chest, forcing him back into his office. "Undermining the hokage's authority is unprofessional, I shouldn't shout indoors, blah blah blah. You'll forgive me in time, I promise." She shot a cheery smile and a "thanks, boys!" over her shoulder to the two guards before slamming the door behind her.
After taking a few minutes to recover, one of the ANBU shook his head as he turned back toward the corridor. "Jiraiya-sama was right; Hokage-sama is in love with a madwoman."
7.
Title: Outside-In
Rating:PG
Warning/s: None
Word Count: 494
Knock, knock, knock.
Sakura had never been in his apartment before. All the years she had known him, and she had never stepped foot inside. She had been there over and over to pick him up, to walk with him to the training grounds, or to meet Kakashi for another mission. But she had never been in the apartment.
It wasn't like she was afraid to go in either! It was just...easier to knock. He would always answer if she knocked. So why would this time be any different?
And besides that, she didn't want to have to deal with his messy place! Yea...even though when she peaked in through the window, she could tell it wasn't any more dirty than her room at her parents. A few things lying about, but nothing completely disgusting.
He was running late. He normally had stepped out, a beaming grin on his face, and positive attitude. He was normally outside before the sun was up. Her lips curved down slightly, and her brow scrunched together. Today though....
She crossed her arms. Who was he to keep her waiting? It didn't matter what day it was. They were both going to be late if he waited any longer. Yamato wasn't quite as forgiving when it came to being late.
Five minutes. Ten minutes. Fifteen minutes.
The worry came back, tenfold. Naruto was never this late. He loved training, and even if he complained about the missions he got, he would be there on time, just so he could get a better one the next time. She knocked again. No answer. Her eyes traveled down to the handle. It would be easy to get in. With out realizing it, her fingers traced the grooves in the handle. Before she knew it, she was trying to twist it.
To her surprise, it was open. Had Naruto already left? He would have probably lock his door if that was the case. She pushed the door open, and walked inside.
Silence.
She crept inside, trying to avoid making any noise. The kitchen was dark. He hadn't even made breakfast yet? Her frown deepened as she moved to his room.
There he was, sitting on the edge of his bed, and clutched in his hands, was a picture frame.
Of course todays was different. It was his birthday.
She moved forward again, edging towards him. Blue eyes looked up to her, dark with emotions. He gave her a tired smile, “Mind telling Yamato that-”
Sakura's eyes narrowed, “You have to come train! There's no way you're getting him back moping around in here for his birthday.”
Naruto blinked. And then a grin. He set the frame on his bed before standing up, “I wanted you to let him know I'm going to be a little late.”
Sakura smiled and nodded. It didn't matter that it was his birthday anymore. They were going to do everything they could to get him back.
8.
Title: Desolation
Rating: PG-13
Warning/s: None.
Word Count: 294
Having wrecked its mayhem and retreated, the storm of that particular afternoon had left behind a sky shot through with bright stars. On nights like these, the usually dull darkness proved to be strangely tranquil and he’d enjoy the sheer calm that seemed to reign over the world as sounds slowly faded away until all he could hear was the chirping of crickets.
He was sitting on the edge of a cliff, watching over the lights that illuminated the small village ahead. Though it wasn’t often, from time to time, he was reminded of the warmth and the cosy atmosphere he had left behind in Konoha. And during those times, it felt as though the air around him heated up to the point that he couldn’t breathe without the air scorching his lungs.
“Let us in, Sasuke,” Sakura’s soft voice said. If he closed his eyes, Sasuke could still see her gentle smile. In his mind’s eye, Naruto joined her, stretching his hand towards him. And Sasuke was so tempted to leave. Just go and forget everything about Falcon and Itachi and what Konoha had done. So tempted to forget about the world and finally do whatever would make him happy.
But happiness isn’t part of an avenger’s destiny.
He had his chance to open the door and let both Naruto and Sakura in. But it closed and the doors were now sealed forever. There was no going back. Not after Itachi’s final smile and Madara’s words. No amount of friendship or love would ever undo that.
And so Uchiha Sasuke ignored the longing that seared through him and the temptation, banished them back to a far part of his mind and got up to go back to the other three members of Falcon.
9.
Title: Misunderstandings
Rating: G
Warning/s: None that I can see.
Word Count: 345
“I shouldn’t be here,” Sasuke says to himself, watching from a distance as Naruto entertains his fellow shinobi with some lame joke.
“Probably not,” Sakura agrees, and Sasuke most definitely does not jump as she leans against the tree next to him, crossing her arms. She’s grown over the years - more so than any of them, to the point where he barely recognises her as the same girl who begged to leave with him all that time ago. He’s not sure whether or not that’s a bad thing.
“Thanks,” he clips out, oddly hurt. Laughter echoes towards them from the group of friends eating lunch in the training ground, and Sasuke tells himself he’s not jealous.
He reckons that if he thinks it enough, he might start believing it.
Sakura glances sidelong at him, then sighs. “I find it hard to believe that someone who’s meant to be a genius does such a fantastic job of misunderstanding.” She uncrosses her arms and pokes him in the side. “I meant that you shouldn’t be over here, you should be over there. Idiot.”
Sasuke frowns, but doesn’t object to her manhandling of him, knowing he’d be punted through the tree without remorse if he did. “If they wanted me over there, they’d ask.”
Sakura rolls her eyes and grabs his hand, dragging him inexorably closer to the group. “Naruto--” she starts off, and he should have known she’d see through him. “--thinks that you don’t want to be anywhere near him.”
“Naruto should have asked,” Sasuke growls back, not feeling nervous in the slightest.
“Naruto has opened the door, you idiot,” Sakura shoots back, shoving him in front of her and Sasuke stops wondering about why they’re emphasising Naruto’s name so much when he’s faced with the real thing. Person. “It’s your job to go through it.”
“Eh?” Naruto’s bright blue eyes blink guilelessly up at him. The others eye him cautiously, but say nothing. “Teme! You’re going to have lunch with us?”
Sakura pokes him in the back.
“Che. No,” Sasuke replies, and sits down.
10.
Title: What I Didn't Ask For
Rating: M
Warning/s: Strong language, and a moment of gruesomeness.
Word Count: 499
"If I bled something besides blood," Hidan says to Kakuzu out of absolutely nowhere, "It would be begs."
"Begs," Kakuzu echoes. Not that he cares.
"Begs," Hidan repeats, confirmingly. He nods once, proud of his statement. Satisfied.
Kakuzu doesn't understand why the fuck they're even talking about this.
"Why begs." He humors him anyway.
"Because that's what my whole world is made of, besides Jashin," Hidan replies like this is the most obvious thing he would ever have to explain. It’s a tone he’s adapted to using twenty-four-seven, though he never really used to use it. "Begs. People begging me for their lives. Begging for me to spare other lives. Begging for me to end it quickly-"
"And you spend the other half of that time bitching for me to fight you and begging to die."
Hidan goes quiet, mostly because it's true. He begs more than his victims. When he lays down in his little black circle of hopes and dreams and decadence, he begs for Jashin to kill him already, because he's sick of killing for him. He honestly didn't ask for this - because he wanted to grow up into a great shinobi, maybe find a woman who could tolerate him and have a kid or something.
He didn't want to kill people. He didn't want to watch them beg. But Hidan is a creature of stubbornness when it comes to what he has to deal with, and killing people is something that is unfortunately one of them. And so he deals.
"Fuck you," he grumbles. Kakuzu does not intend to reply to that.
Hidan frowns.
Jashin must think he doesn't deserve to die. Maybe it’s his punishment. Hidan isn’t sure why.
(Killing beggars to live, Hidan thought, is my purpose. I live for Jashin now.)
Finding that he’s suddenly growing pissed off and sultry at the swamp he’s creating in his own mind, he casually asks to distract himself, "What about you, Kakuzu?"
The man snorts, and replies just to piss him off even more, "Blood. I bleed blood."
What a boring answer. What a simple answer that makes so much sense and is so fucking stupid and pointless that Hidan feels a calming sense of wanting to put all three blades of his scythe into Kakuzu's chest and tear them downwards. Watch the boring blood spill out like pointless, watery ketchup, on his muddy-coloured skin. Feel the snapping sensations through the weapon to his hands as it destroys almost all of his ribs and one of his millions of non-hearts.
Kakuzu was so fucking stupid, he decided, and his momma taught him fucking stupid people were... wait, what were they?
Hidan didn't remember.
He pushed away a crushing weight that was too much for his shoulders to carry (I don’t remember. I don’t remember.) He had enough on his plate already. He had to kill people. And live. He had to kill people to live.
"That's fucking retarded."
Kakuzu doesn't think that deserves a reply.
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