The End of Spring

A/N: My first Songfic and my first that’s-so-bloody-sad! fic. It’s more like a one-shot, though. This is Coldplay’s “the Scientist.” I just love this song.Try to download and listen to the song while you read. It's really nice.

Disclaimer 1: Naruto’s not mine, yada yada.

Disclaimer 2: “The Scientist” music and lyrics belong to Coldplay.

____________________________________

End of Spring
(music by: THE SCIENTIST / Coldplay)
____________________________________

“Sakura…”

Come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry
You don't know how lovely you are

The agony seemed to strangle his voice so much that it was too small for her to hear. Or perhaps it was because her pounding heart had drowned every other sound around them as it struggled desperately to pump what’s left of her blood through her tattered body. She lay awkwardly in front of him, like an old rag doll on the muddy ground, almost perfectly still except for the incessant trembling of her shoulders. Her skin was bone-white, her light-cherry hair disheveled and dirty and spattered untidily across the short grass, her once brilliant green eyes now glazed over and unfocused. It was an image so mortifying that it rooted Sasuke on the spot; he couldn’t tear his eyes away from her, as much as his inner voice implored him.

"Sakura..." His voice broke quietly, chocking back an angry sob.

Her heart continued to drum in her head, rushing, pounding madly. She could hardly hear anything now, but Sakura knew he was calling her; she could still read Sasuke’s lips, though they quivered uncontrollably. He was approaching her, repeating her name in a manner she had never heard before…so eerily tender.

Why now, now that he was finally saying her name like this, that her ears would betray her, she wondered.

Somehow, his feet allowed him to move a few steps closer. His sandals touched bloodstained grass surrounding her, and he swallowed dryly as he stooped over her maimed body. Crouching next to her, Sasuke gathered Sakura gently. His face tightened when she stifled a whimper at the ache of her being moved. It was as if she was being torn apart.

“Shhh…it’s going to be…alright,” he hushed her softly, kneeling and cradling the limp figure in his arms. There was not even a glimmer of hopefulness in his words, and she could tell, despite the overwhelming throbbing in her chest. He was lying to her, they both knew all too well…

She was going to die.

But just listening to her torment was already too big a burden for him to bear. He wasn't just lying, but in truth he was begging her not to let him hear that cry once more.

He wasn’t unemotional or heartless—just good at holding himself back. Isn’t that what shinobis are supposed to do? But at this instant, this woman that lay in his arms had broken him, rendered him incapable of that perfect dispassionate façade.

And Sakura understood his feelings, like she always did, regardless of their long years of separation. And so, for a fleeting moment, life found its way to her pale face. Sakura smiled at Sasuke.

A gentle smile. A brave smile. A sad smile. It was…the most beautiful smile he had ever known. At that point, he lost all control. Sasuke began to cry.

____________________________________

I had to find you
Tell you I need you
Tell you I set you apart

“S…Sasuke-kun,” She worried, seeing the tears streaming freely from his onyx gaze. But it was all she could manage to say before blood from her punctured lungs rushed to her mouth, and she coughed weakly, gasping for air.

Her breaths were shallow now, her chest rising and collapsing in a slow, painful rhythm. She felt as though she was drowning, and the water tasted like rust in her mouth. Her blue lips were tainted crimson.

Her vision was blurred for a while. She blinked slowly once, and twice, until finally she found his face again. With all her might, she brushed away the ebony hair that covered his swollen eyes.

“I found you at last…” She said cheerfully, masking the strain in her almost lifeless voice. She was good at pretense too, you know, though she can’t remember when she had learned to hide her misery so skillfully.

Sasuke sat there mute, unable to respond to her as he watched her closely.

____________________________________

Tell me your secrets
And ask me your questions
Oh let's go back to the start

They stayed there like that, with Sakura wilting in Sasuke’s arms, neither saying anything.

He would never admit it out loud, even at this crucial instant, but he was fearful — afraid she would give way at any moment. He had always, always taken her for granted. He brushed her off whenever she opened up to him, making her think she was nothing more than a burden to him, a hindrance to his ambition. But deep inside, it was him who held on to her, only too arrogant, and now too late, to tell her how he really felt.

Sakura was truly the only constant in his life: like a flower in spring, that must fade away at the first snows of winter, only to bloom again, in time, when the warm season returned. His coldness always kept her away, but she always came back. He thought she would always be there for him, although they were never side by side. And he preferred it that way. So near, and yet so far.

That was right, he was the cruel winter that killed the flower of spring. And because seasons are a cycle, he never imagined that this day would come, didn’t expect that it would be like this.

Moments from now, there would be no more springs for Sasuke to look forward to.

Haruno will disappear forever.

____________________________________

Running in circles
Coming up tails
Heads on a silence apart

His brother was right—he was a fool—he realized. He had allowed his eyes to be blinded by power, his mind clouded by revenge, his heart plagued by hatred. He had become...everything he didn't want to be.

Still, Sakura was still there for him. Maybe in these few moments they have left, he would be able to return the favor.

____________________________________

Nobody said it was easy
It's such a shame for us to part

Unconsciously, his bruised hand reached for hers, intertwining their fingers. Her palms were cold and clammy. He held her hand to his face, wanting to share his warmth.

There is nothing more he can do.

She struggled again, sucking the air tightfistedly, and moments after a red line trailed down from her lips as she spoke, “…I…I..." "...I love you, Sasuke-kun.”

____________________________________

Nobody said it was easy

"...I love you, Sasuke-kun!”

Sasuke recalled that night she bravely imparted those same words to him. The memory hit him like a blow to the chest, and for an instant, he was unable to breathe. Guilt washed over him as the cold drops of rain that started to pelt over their heads.

She loved him so. He wasn't perfect; she knew that fact many years ago. But she loved him regardless, because he needed someone, and she resolved to be that person.

It was true love, she realized back then, because it wasn't driven by emotion, not by sentiments, not by the fluttering butterflies at the pit of your stomach, though that was how she felt for him when they were much younger. As she grew up—even after discouragements from her mentors and teammates, following her successful career as a medic-nin, when countless suitors pined for her—Sakura's feelings for Uchiha Sasuke lingered. He was no longer the prince charming that she often fantasized about. But he was Uchiha Sasuke, the man whom Haruno Sakura loved and protected.

And always will.

But it looks like true love will not conquer all, she thought regretfully.

No, not in this fairy tale.

____________________________________

No one ever said it would be this hard

Sasuke sobbed violently, not wanting to fight back the tears at all.

He beat the grass with his fist, over and over, tears still welling up in his eyes. His grip around her tightened as he shook, and Sakura turned her head, gazing up to his handsome face.

"...S-Sakura...hang on," he pleaded as he closed his eyes, holding her close to his chest, rocking her delicately like a baby. “God…This can’t be happening…please,” he cried.

You look so beautiful when you cry, Sasuke-kun. Your heart, is so very beautiful.

Too many things they wanted to say; but now there would be no more time for those confessions and revelations, no more lazy afternoons to share, no future to dream about.

If only there were some way...

Oh take me back to the start

____________________________________

I was just guessing
At numbers and figures
Pulling your puzzles apart

The sound of a thousand birds chirping madly filled the desolate forest.

Naruto hurtled into a few trees before his body skidded across the ground and stopped. Clouds of dark smoke and shards of wood rose up and swallowed him. She watched in horror. Cold sweat dripped down her temples.

“What have you done?” she screamed at him, her hands balled into fists.

He shrugged.

She rushed past him and made her way towards their blond teammate. She turned his body over, and gasped at the enormous wound on his shoulder. She planted her hand firmly over the injury. Shortly after she had started to heal Naruto, the light faded from her hands.

“What’s the matter? No more chakra?” he mocked condescendingly, laughing. “That’s too bad. That means that other guy will be dying too.” Setting Naruto down again, Sakura lowered her head. From the corner of her eye, she could see their juunin instructor’s unmoving body slumped back on a partly shattered tree. His blood was spattered on its trunk. “Kakashi-sensei and Naruto will not die so easily.”

“But…how could you…how could you do this?” she asked, shaking, her back turned towards him. She stood up and turned. “Why!”

“One left.”

She looked at him, the shock slowly fading from her expression, giving way to anger and sorrow. “No. You are not Sasuke-kun!”

The enemy ran his sharp nails through his long, dark hair. His hand-like wings made atrocious crackling sounds as they flapped and twitched. “Hn.”

He gazed at her intently. “ And what do these eyes tell you then?” He retorted maliciously. The three dots in his red orbs swirled quickly, making her hair stand on end.

“I know him, he would rather die than see his comrades slain.” She said contemptuously. “You may have his body, but you do not have his heart. You are not that person.” Sasuke laughed madly.

“You’re talking nonsense, Sakura.”

“You’ve lost yourself because of that cursed seal, Sasuke-kun,” She reasoned, although it seemed like she was just talking to herself now.

“I have lost nothing,” he spat coldly. He raised his left hand, revealing a blue ball of light emanating from his palm. “But I have gained all the power that I need.”

Sasuke took a step towards her. “Let’s finish this.”

“I agree.” She answered, shifting into a ready stance. “I don’t have much time until the curse takes over you completely. I don’t know how,” she reached for the kunai in her holster. “but I…I will find you, Sasuke-kun. I’ll break through and get you back. I promise.”

____________________________________

Questions of science
Science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart

They ran towards each other, and they meet.

Her kunai dropped to the ground.

The beast’s eyes widened in shock.

As the chidori dug into her body, Sakura’s arms stayed wrapped around him.

Red liquid sprayed over his clothes, his face bore an unreadable expression.

Moments later, her body flew back at the force of impact, and she skidded into the grass, lying on her side.

Sasuke just stared.

Confusion.

When an animal is forced into a corner, will it not fight back? But she had no intention of fighting back at all, did she?

Why is that? After he tried to destroy his own teammates and threaten her life, that she would throw it all away in the end? She was smart, wasn’t she? Why did she let him kill her?

He just killed Sakura...What the hell had he just done?

Pangs of pain surged into his head. He fell to the ground, writhing and gnashing. His wings inched back into his spine, and his ink-tainted skin faded and disappeared.

“I love you, Sasuke-kun.”

She whispered those words into his ears before he thrust the blue orb into her delicate body. Pieces of memory—and his forgotten humanity, perhaps— penetrated his hazy mind.

Sasuke screamed.

____________________________________

Tell me you love me
Come back and haunt me
Oh and I rush to the start

Droplets of water had formed on his hair, trickling down her face. “I did this to you, Sakura…” his voice died. Moments later, the words just tumbled out of his lips, “…I’m sorry.”

“No, that wasn’t you. It’s…okay. You’re Sasuke-kun again, that’s what…matters.” She placed a weak hand on her chest, trying vainly to cover the large hole in her body. The rain had washed away the stains in her clothes, and it revealed the appalling injury. She didn’t want him to see her in anymore pain than she was in. This would be her last act of bravery.

“I love you, Sasuke-kun. You, Naruto, and Kakashi-sensei.” There was pride lining her small declaration when she looked straight into his eyes, “But I love you the most.”

“Then please don’t leave me!” he cried. He pressed his face into the hollow of her neck, sobbing.

“I don’t…want to…leave you.” Tears started to pool under her eyes. “I want to stay…with you…but…I can’t promise that…” She kissed the side of his head softly before adding regretfully, ”I’m sorry.”

Running in circles
Chasing our tails
Coming back as we are

____________________________________

He ran. Carrying her in his arms, through the rain. Going nowhere.

He had always able to save her before. He was much stronger back then, he realized.

Just one more time…God help me save her. She can’t die here! I love her!

____________________________________

Nobody said it was easy
Oh it's such a shame for us to part

“Stop here, Sasuke-kun.”

“No!” He protested, “I have to get you help!” He was panting and his knees were shaky. Sasuke had covered miles, yet they were still in the middle of the forest.

“Please,” she said quietly. She could barely speak now. “Can you…just hold me like this?” Her hands clutched at the hem of his sleeve. “I’m cold.”

Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard

He sat under a pine tree, taking cover from the cold rain. He wrapped his arms around her, Sakura’s face resting on his chest.

“Thank you…” she mouthed, her eyes slowly losing focus. Sasuke grabbed her wrist and placed it on his face. He shivered at the coldness of her palm.

He pressed his lips against hers; he could feel his sobs ready to burst from the bottom of his dry throat. Her hand tightened on his cheek, urging him to kiss deeper.

The angry rain poured hard, and then all of a sudden, it just hushed. The last few droplets fell from Sasuke's charcoal eyes.

He thumbed his fallen tears from her cheek, tasting her blood, her tears. He caressed Sakura's face, and then ran his fingers down her partly open eyes, closing them forever.

Once more, he carried her, and they disappeared into the darkness.

I’m going back to the start

____________________________________

END