Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

When I'm Gone	By : tragic.violinist Category: Naruto AU/AR > Het - Male/Female Views: 2134 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: NARUTO and its respective characters were created and are owned by Masashi Kishimoto. No copyright infringement intended. I make no money from this story.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
Chapter 15. Fix you
   Hikari reclined in her window seat, looking up at the overcast sky. There was a big winter storm forecast for the next week but by the looks of things it might hit sooner than that. She glanced at Shikamaru who sat across from her, pondering his next move, she sighed.
   “What's wrong?” he asked her looking up from the board.
   “What do you mean?”
   “You never sigh this much, must've done it at least half a dozen times in the last twenty minutes, you're also distracted, I can tell from your game play.”
   “I just hope that Hinata and Hanabi make it to Suna before this storm strikes,” She told him.
   “The weather will hold, for another four maybe five days, besides they're with Gaara they'll be fine,” he assured her. She sighed again, “Is that all, or is there something else?”
   “I have a feeling you already know the answer to that.” She paused before speaking again, “I don't know, I just feel like something big is coming, and I'm not talking about the storm.”
   “That's just irrational thinking, keep that up and I might have to have you committed,” he joked.
   “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” she rolled her eyes at him. She knew she was being paranoid but she just couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Of course Shikamaru was right as long as the two Hyuuga girls were with the Kazekage they would be fine, and Neji was safe, sleeping upstairs. He had returned from a mission in the early hours of morning and had been exhausted, she would let him sleep. “Don't you ever get a gut feeling Shikamaru?”
   “Nope, just cold hard facts for me. Check mate.”
   “Fuck you,” her voice held no malice as she threw one of her pieces at him, he caught it expertly.
   “I knew you were going to do that.” he smirked at her, “I have to get going, Ino is dragging me to dinner with her parents tonight, troublesome.”
   “Have a good time with that,” she laughed, it sounded forced, she knew it did but she did it anyway.
   She watched Shikamaru leave before turning back to the window, just in time to see the first snowflakes fall.
   Two days later she was called to he aunt's office, along with Neji and Sasuke, they stood in front of her desk waiting for her to speak.
   “I have a mission for the three of you, you are the only ones I can trust to complete it. I need you to act as a team of ambassadors, you will be taking these scrolls to be signed and returned to the village.”
   “Why are we the only ones who can do this mission Tsunade-sama?” Sasuke asked her.
   “Because this mission will take you to the sound village, these scrolls are meant for Orochimaru.” She could see Hikari struggling to contain her excitement and she allowed herself a smile. “I need you guys to get ready to leave immediately.”
   “Yes Hokage-sama,” the three of them echoed each other before leaving the room.
   Tsunade sat back in her chair, it was done, they would all be out of the village for days. The coming storm would provide the perfect reason for them to stay away for awhile and hopefully it would also be of use when the time came for Danzo to die. She massaged her temples, hoping she was making the right decision.
   Sasuke stopped off at his home to pack his bag while Neji and Hikari did the same. “You seem happy,” Neji noticed.
   “I can't wait to get there, it's always nice to have a reason to see Uncle Orochi. You ready?”
   Neji nodded, “You're not taking Amaya with you?”
   “No she wouldn't be able to handle the cold. It's not like I need her with me, not when I have you.” She kissed him. That they would be together on this one, made the mission all that much better, “Come on, let's go before Sasuke gets all bitchy.” She grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the house.
   They made their way into the forest, going non-stop until sundown. While they made camp Sasuke gathered fire wood and assembled their tent, while Neji established a perimeter. Hikari wandered off to a brook a couple hundred yards away to fill their water bottles and collect water to use for cooking.
   The fast running water had prevented it from freezing over, it also masked the sound of approaching footsteps. As she stood a kunai came flying out at her, she dropped the pot of water she had been holding and reached for her weapons pouch. As she did this another kunai came out of no where striking her palm and pinning it to a tree, a man emerged from the shadows, he let out a low deep laugh, “Oh Hikari it's so nice to see you again,” he said, his voice dripped with malice as he grabbed her other hand and stabbed it with yet another kunai pinning it to the tree as well.
   She was frozen in terror at the sight of him, Aki. He barred his teeth at her in a sinister grin. “I see you still remember how to keep your pretty mouth shut. Tell me have you missed me, have you missed this,” he grabbed her breast roughly through her shirt, digging his fingers in deep enough to leave bruises. “My you certainly have filled out since the last time I saw you.” He removed a wicked looking kris from the holster at his waist. He jammed it into the top of her flak jacket tearing it open, she whimpered in fear. Next he used it to cut her pants away, the dagger digging into her legs as he went. He stepped back to admire her naked body, looking at it like it was blank canvas, trying to decide where to make the next stroke of color. He used the tip to draw beads of blood up to the surface, keeping it shallow, he wasn't ready to destroy her, yet. Taking his time, he licked some of the blood from her skin. The cuts got deeper, more painful as she slipped further away from reality. Then she felt it, excruciating pain from below as he slowly inserted the weapon into her, she let out an ear piercing scream, he back handed her across the face, “Shut up you little bitch,” he growled at her, she choked on a sob before going quiet again, lost within her own mind.
   Neji came bursting through the trees, followed closely by Sasuke. Neji saw red when he viewed the sight before him. He snapped, his Byakugan had already been activated when he heard the sound of her scream, he showed no mercy, using his gentle fist technique he delivered a series of fatal blows to the man in front of him, he was dead before he hit the ground. He rushed to Hikari freeing her hands, she would have fallen limp to the ground had he not caught her. “Sasuke, hurry give me a hand here.”
   Kabuto came crashing through the trees next, from the opposite direction, “Get out of the way,” he ordered Sasuke, he already knew the Hyuuga would not be relinquishing his hold on her. Sasuke stepped back, taken off guard by his sudden appearance. “I need to see her,” he said calmly to Neji, his instincts taking over, “I need bandages and a blanket to wrap her in afterwards,” he barked at Sasuke as he began to treat her most serious wounds. The worst was the one from the dagger that had been plunged into her, followed by the wounds which had pierced her hands. The others could wait, he wrapped them up quickly before leaving her in Neji's arms, swaddled in the thick sleeping bag Sasuke had brought them.
   “Follow me, we're closer to the sound village than the leaf. We can be there in a few hours.”
   They followed him in silence knowing the severity of the situation and that it was no time for questions. Not even bothering to collect the gear left behind at the camp site.
   They slowed for nothing and arrived in the sound village in under two hours, Sasuke's eyes darted around in a panic, searching for someone, anyone who could find his former master for them, they settled on a young woman seated on Orochimaru's steps, she looked at them in shock, “Where's Orochimaru?” Sasuke demanded, “He's needed urgently, tell him something happened to Hikari.”
   He watched as the girl retreated into the house, and they followed, Kabuto directed them to a small sitting area where Neji could lay her down. He placed her on a couch and knelt by her side.
   Her eyes were glazed over, not taking in anything around her. Her lips were tinged blue from the cold, one side of her face badly bruised.
   Orochimaru came storming into the room, “What happened?” he bellowed.
   Kabuto was at his side a moment later, speaking in rushed tones what he knew, “It was Aki, I don't know what he was doing there or how he found her but he did, she suffered some internal bleeding but I was able to heal it. She's been unresponsive this whole time, she didn't even make a sound while I was patching her up.”
   “That bastard, I'll kill him,” Orochimaru raged, “I warned him if he ever came near her again what I would do to him.”
   “The Hyuuga already took care of it, he was dead when I got there.”
   Orochimaru would have given the young man his approval were he not consumed by rage. “Get her to the infirmary, finish healing her, do what ever you can for her.” Orochimaru ordered Kabuto before turning his back and leaving the room. He had failed her, he had sworn she would be safe from him forever, now this.
   Neji followed behind Kabuto to the infirmary, once there he stayed back just far enough that he wasn't in the way. Why had he let her go off alone, he was supposed to protect her. When Kabuto had finished, he offered Neji a chair, he accepted it, sat beside her holding her hand in both of his as she stared off into space. Slowly her eyes closed as the sedative Kabuto had given her took effect. Neji sat alone by her side through the night, his mind and body wound tightly. She would be okay, she had to be, he didn't even register the presence of the girl from earlier when she brought him food, hours later it still remained untouched.
   Sasuke wandered around the house aimlessly, he had checked in on Neji and Hikari, when he saw she was sleeping he knew there would be no news on her condition tonight. He felt the need to get some air. He stepped outside to see a book laying on the ground, somewhere in his mind he recognized it as the one the woman from earlier had with her on the steps. He picked up and flipped it over in his hands, and almost dropped it back to the ground when he came face to face with a hand drawn portrait of his brother, Itachi. He flipped through the book it was filled with sketches of the bastard. He gripped the book in his hands before storming back inside, intent on finding the woman from earlier and demanding answers. At this time he would take anything to distract him from the events of the day.
   He found her in the library, “What is this?” he demanded, slamming the book down on the table in front of her.
   She looked up at him, not in fear but in sadness, “My book, I didn't realize I had dropped it,” she said quietly.
   “This man, how do you know him?” he yelled at her pointed at the portrait.
   “He is, was, my...companion, do you know him? You share the same eyes.”
   “Was your companion, what does that mean?” he ignored her question.
   “He had to go, he had something he needed to do, he left me here,” she finished sadly. “You do know him don't you?”
   “That bastard is my brother, what do you know of him?”
   Kira was shocked, this was Sasuke, the brother Itachi had spoken of, she dropped her gaze, “I'm sorry I can't say anymore I have to go.” She tried to stand up but Sasuke pushed her back into the chair.
   “You know all about it don't you? You will tell me.”
   “I promised, he didn't want you to know.”
   “What about what I want? I deserve to know what happened that night, and why he did it.”
   “I agree with you, but I promised him that I wouldn't.”
   “Why do you care, what does it matter, he left you here to do whatever it is he needed to do, he abandoned you, what good does it do to keep your word to a man who would just leave you behind?”
   She knew he was right, Itachi had no intention of returning alive from where he had gone, did it matter anymore if she told him the truth, she nodded hesitantly before telling Sasuke all she knew about why he had killed his family, save him, and how he had worked from the shadows ever since to keep the village safe from outside threats like the Akatsuki. She spoke of the regret and sadness she saw in his eyes, but would never put to words. By the end Sasuke didn't know whether to scream or cry, he was finding it hard to breathe, he clutched his chest.
   “Where did he go?” he forced the question out through gritted teeth.
   “He went back to Konoha, he's going to face Danzo,” she told him quietly. She watched as he stalked towards the door, “Wait, where are you going?” she followed him.
   “I'm going back, I won't let him face that alone.”
   “No you can't,” she grabbed his arm, refusing to let go when he tried to shake her off. “You were sent here for a reason, all of you, they don't want to risk your safety.”
   Sasuke sighed, “He'll come back, I know he will, and when he does I'll make him pay for what he has put me through all of these years. He'll come back because the fates can't deny me this.”
Kira shook her head sadly at him, "I really hope you're right about that."
Days passed and Hikari showed very little improvement, she would follow simple directions such as feeding herself when she was told to but beyond that there had been no change. She still wasn't registering her surroundings, at night she was plagued by night terrors waking up screaming at all hours of the night. Kabuto had tried giving her sleeping pills, but all they accomplished was keeping her trapped in her dreams, she would thrash and scream when the nightmares took hold, only stopping when the sedatives wore off and she was able to awaken once again.
Neji stayed by her side the whole time, leaving only when he absolutely had to, during that time Orochimaru or Kabuto were always there to take his place. He held her hand whispering words of comfort to her.
Sasuke had come to see them, he had told them what he had learned from the woman, Kira, about what was probably happening in Konoha as they spoke. It barely registered with Neji. Kabuto was at a loss of what to do, physically she was fine, she had recovered from all of her wounds, psychologically she was a wreck, Kabuto had deduced that she had retreated far into her mind where no one could reach her. They could only wait and hope she would come back to them.
It had been nearly two weeks since they had arrived in the sound village, but only a few days since the weather had cleared enough to make travel possible, still they had received no word from Konaha or Itachi. Sasuke had grown restless, he couldn't take not knowing any more. He entered the room which Hikari occupied.
"I'm going back," he told Neji, drawing his gaze away from Hikari, who sat staring out the window.
"Has there been news?"
"No, that's the problem, we should have heard something by now. Besides Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya should be told of what happened. Kabuto will accompany me as far as he can and I will continue on my own from there. Perhaps Tsunade-sama will have an idea that may help."
"One can only hope," Neji said as he stroked the back of her hand. "Watch yourself Sasuke, we don't need another loss right now," he nodded as he left them alone again.
"Please come back to me Hikari, I can't do this without you," he pleaded, though she showed no sign that she heard him, then he did something, he began to sing to her.
When you try your best, but you don't succeed

When you get what you want, but not what you need

When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep

Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face

When you lose something you can't replace

When you love someone, but it goes to waste

Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below

When you're too in love to let it go

But if you never try you'll never know

Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face

When you lose something you cannot replace

Tears stream down your face

And I...

Tears stream down your face

I promise you I will learn from my mistakes

Tears stream down your face

And I...

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you
He could feel the tears falling from his eyes striking the back of her hand. She squeezed his hand, his eyes darted up to meet hers, just for a moment they showed clarity before going blank again, her own face streaked with tears.
She was in there still, those tears, that gentle squeeze they spoke volumes, louder than any words possibly could. Neji leaned in to kiss the tears from her cheeks, she let out a soft sigh as her eyes fell closed, he kissed her eyelids too, "I'll wait as long as it takes for you to come back to me. I love you Hikari."
When Sasuke reached Konoha everything looked the same as it always had. He went straight for the tower and Tsunade's office, he didn't even bother to knock. He just walked straight inside interrupting the meeting she was in, someone was seated in the a high backed chair, he couldn't see who it was nor did he care.
"Sasuke, what are you doing back here?" Tsunade questioned, he should have still been in the sound village until she had sent word of their success.
Before he could answer the person in the chair stood to face him, "Hello little brother."
"Itachi," he glared at the man before him, "go to hell, I don't have time for your bullshit right now." He turned back to Tsunade, "something happened to Hikari."
   Tsunade stood so quickly she sent her chair crashing to the floor, “What happened?” she demanded.
   Sasuke launched into an explanation, detailing her attack, Aki's death and the last two weeks spent in the sound village. He explained Kabuto's conclusion that she was trapped within her own mind.
   Tsunade grasped her desk for support when she spoke her voice was heavy with sadness, “If that is true, I'm afraid there's nothing that can be done for her. All we can do is hope that she will come back to us.”
   “I may be able to help her, I make no guarantees but I can try,” Itachi spoke softly as both sets of eyes focused on him. “That is, if you think you can stand my presence for that long, little brother.”
   “Just drop the fucking act, I already know the truth you bastard.” he snapped at him.
   Itachi's eyes widened in shock, “Who?”
   “Does that really matter right now, there are more pressing matters at hand. Now if you're going to try and help her follow me, if not tell me now and I'll kick your ass all the way there if I need to.”
   Itachi got up and followed his brother out of the Hokage's office, she watched them go, hoping they wouldn't kill each other before reaching Hikari, the brothers might very well be her last hope.”
   They traveled in silence for the most part Itachi would occasionally ask a question pertaining to Hikari's condition. Sasuke kept his answered brief and to the point, not interested in being drawn into a conversation with him. If this worked there would be time for that afterwards.
   Itachi was torn between relief and regret, on one hand he was glad that Sasuke had come to know the truth despite what he had told Orochimaru. On the other hand he worried what this would mean for him, he had always planned to die at the hands of his brother, both putting an end to his guilt and allowing Sasuke to feel he had avenged their family. Now he no longer knew where he stood, what would happen after he finished trying to help this girl.
   “This Hikari, is she your girlfriend?”
   Sasuke gave him a disgusted look, “No, she's just a friend,” he spat. “Just move, I want this done and over with.” He flat out refused to answer any further questions, he had already told him all he knew.
   Kira was downstairs when they arrived. The tension filled the room, “'Tachi, you came back,” she ran to him.
   Itachi reached out to stroke her hair and kiss her forehead, “Kira, can you show me where this girl, Hikari, is? I need to see her.”
   Kira nodded and led the way, Sasuke trailing behind, “What do you intend to do anyway?” He asked his brother, “We've already tried everything.”
   “Not everything, if she is trapped in her mind the only way to reach her may be to meet her there.”
   “You're going to use the Mangekyo sharingan on her aren't you?”
   “That is the plan yes.”
   “I swear to god if you make things worse...”
   Itachi silenced him with a look, “From what you've told me it can't get much worse.” They reached the room, entered to find Hikari sitting in a chair near the window, surrounded by Neji, Orochimaru, and Kabuto. The three turned to look at the trio who had just joined them, Hikari showed no sign she noticed them.
   “What's going on?” Neji asked.
   Sasuke pointed as his brother, “He thinks he can help her.”
   Neji looked hesitant, not sure what to make of the appearance of the second sharingan user. Orochimaru placed a hand on his shoulder, “Let him try.” Neji nodded and released her hand, they stepped back to allow Itachi to approach her.
   Itachi pulled up a chair in front of her, “Hikari, I'm here to help you,” he said soothingly, as he placed a hand over her own.
   “It's useless she can't hear you,” Sasuke snapped but said no more when he found all of the other room's occupants glaring at him. “Hn, whatever.”
   Itachi focused on the girl in front of him, locking his eyes with hers as he delved into her mind.
   He found himself surrounded by darkness, unable to see anything, but he could hear the sound of someone singing.
Crawling in my skin

These wounds, they will not heal

Fear is how I fall

Confusing what is real
There's something inside me

That pulls beneath the surface

Consuming, confusing

This lack of self control I fear, is never ending
Controlling, I can't seem

To find myself again

My walls are closing in

(Without a sense of confidence

I'm convinced that it's just too much pressure to take)

I've felt this way before, so insecure
Crawling in my skin

These wounds, they will not heal

Fear is how I fall

Confusing what is real
Discomfort, endlessly has pulled itself upon me

Distracting, reacting

(Distracting)

Against my will
I stand beside my own reflection

(My own reflection)

It's haunting, how I can't seem

(Haunting)

To find myself again
My walls are closing in

(Without a sense of confidence

I'm convinced that it's just too much pressure to take)

I've felt this way before, so insecure
Crawling in my skin

These wounds, they will not heal

Fear is how I fall

Confusing what is real
Crawling in my skin

These wounds, they will not heal

Fear is how I fall

Confusing, confusing what is real
(There's something inside me

That pulls beneath the surface, consuming)

Confusing what is real

(This lack of self control I fear, is never ending, controlling)

Confusing what is real
   He followed the sound until he came upon a small figure laying on the ground, bruised and beaten, covered in blood, not a stitch of clothing covered her small frame. He removed the cloak he wore and covered the small shaking girl in front of him.
   “Sasu...No, Itachi?” He turned to the voice coming from behind him. “You're Itachi, right?” He nodded, “What are you doing here?”
   “You have a lot of people worried about you right now, they want to help you, I came to help you.”
   “No one can help me,” she said sadly staring at the younger version of herself that lay broken at his feet.
   “What makes you say that?”
   “Because I failed, time and again I failed. I'm a disgrace, not even able to help myself, I have no business trying to be something I'm not. I'm weak, pathetic, even after all my training I'm still unable to defend myself against him. I deserved everything I've received.” They heard footsteps approaching, “He's coming, he always comes, I can never make him go away.”
   A man appeared before them, descending on the child, brutalizing her, Hikari turned away, unable to watch she walked away, Itachi followed her. “You don't have to face this alone, you have friends, family, willing to stand by your side to help you through this.”
   Hikari laughed, a hard, cruel laugh, “What good will that do? The damage has already been done, it cannot be repaired. I can never be whole again.”
   “You can move past it, they will help you to do that.”
   “Look at that,” she said pointing at the beating still taking place behind them, “I can't even stop him here, in my own mind, he still holds power over me. He'll come back, he always comes back,” she said darkly.
   “Not this time,” Itachi assured her, “He's gone now, dead.”
   “Dead? How?”
   “That young man, the Hyuuga.” Itachi explained to her.
   “Neji.”
   “He's with you even now, just listen for him, you just have to let him in.”
   Hikari stopped to concentrate, she could hear Neji's voice, echoing in her mind, “Please come back to me Hikari...I'll wait as long as it takes...I love you Hikari.”
   Tears began to stream down her face, “I can't do it, I'm not strong enough,” she wailed.
   “You don't have to be, let them help you, let them lend you the strength you need.”
   “I can't do it.”
   “Yes you can,” he pressed a knife into her hand, “Let them all in, all those you care about and all those that care about you, take their strength and use it. You can do this, I will be right here by your side, we all will.”
   Hikari closed her eyes tightly, as she tried to do as he said. She felt a hand cover her own, followed by another, and another. She opened her eyes to see Neji standing there, found herself surrounded by all her friends, Uncle Orochi, Uncle Jiraiya, and Aunt Tsunade standing at her side looking at her with pride, “Do it,” Neji whispered to her, “We're right here with you, we'll help you, but you need to take the first step.”
   She took a step back towards Aki, they moved with her, she raised the knife above her head, Neji held it with her, “Get away from me!” She screamed, burying the knife in his back up to the hilt. Aki disappeared along with the darkness.
   Hikari blinked and looked to Neji, her eyes clear, filled with Love, “Neji,” his name fell from her lips before she fell into unconsciousness, it was over, she was back.
Like a breath of midnight air

Like a lighthouse, like a prayer

Like the flicker and the flare

The sky reveals
Like a walk along the shore

That you've walked a thousand times before

Like the oceans roar

Love heals
There are those who shield their hearts

Those who quit before they start

Who frozen up the part of them that feels

(Don't freeze your heart)
In the dark they've lost their sight

Like a ship without a star

In the night

But hold on tight
Love heals

(When you feel, like you can't go on)

Love heals

(Hold onto love, it'll keep you strong)

Love heals

(When you feel like, you can't go on)

Love heals

(Hold onto love and it'll bring you home)
Love heals when pain's too much to bear

When you reach out your hand

And only wind is there

When life's unfair when things like us are not to be
Love heals when you feel so small

Like a grain of sand, like nothing at all

When you look out at the sea, that's where love will be

That's where you'll find me, you'll find me
If you fear the storm ahead, as you lie awake, lie awake in bed

And there's no one, no one there to stroke your hand

And your mind, your mind reels

If your face is salty wet and you're drowning in regret, just
Don't forget, don't forget

Don't forget, don't forget

Don't forget, don't forget

Don't forget, don't forget
Love heals

(When you feel, like you can't go on)

Love heals

(Love, love is gonna carry you home)

Love heals

(When you feel like, when you feel like you can't go on)

Love heals

(Hold onto love and it will lead you home)

Love heals
Lyrics Featured:
Fix you by Coldplay
Crawling by Linkin Park
Love Heals from the RENT movie soundtrack
A/N: This is the Final Chapter for this part of the story, tomorrow I will begin posting the Itachi/Kira side fic/prequel (Entitled Trust You, Always), it’s considerably shorter than this one, and then I am working on a sequel to When I’m gone, called New Beginnings, it currently has 10 Chapters and I’m hoping to wrap it up in another 5-6 but it might run longer, So If you have enjoyed When I’m Gone keep an eye out for the next two XD
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When I'm Gone