"Are you waiting for someone, too?"
Did he second guess whose heart he'd wandered into, to find boy of small stature and youthful face staring up at him. Onyx eyes still shimmering with childish innocence, nothing like the jaded and heartless partner that Sasaki had been forced to fight alongside... could this... really have been Sasuke's heart?
Sasuke, this Sasuke, couldn't even scowl the way his older counterpart could. Falling to a pout as he looked over his shoulders, before stealing another uncertain gaze at the large and messy haired stranger. "My big brother said he'd meet me here, for training... but he's late."
Swinging his bookbag off his shoulder, the boy lowers to a squat to pry through his belongings. He pries free training weaponry, giving the kunai a testing swipe through the air. "I can start now." And shyly, with avoided eye contact, he adds, "If you want to... you can stay. We can spar..."
The seven year old is eager to display all that he has learned, thus far, in these years at the academy. He does not have nearly the grace or talent of his older form, nor the rage that steeped every blow Sasaki had initially been used to. This Sasuke is still so young. Still so inexperienced. Yet his attacks tell of an eagerness to please, the need for recognition.
But the person he wanted recognition from, the most, would soon interrupt him and the stranger, their voice calmly interrupting the sparring session.
"Sasuke, are you ready to go?"
The boy shoots up with startled excitement. "Niisan!"
The elder brother's face is hidden by the glow from a setting sun, but there is veritable warmth from the glimpses of their smile. It is unmistakable, the love that this heart holds for this person -- whoever they were.
The boy runs eagerly into that warmth, clinging to their shirt and not resisting the loving hand that falls upon their head. As the siblings walk away from the guest of this heart, the boy turns to look over his shoulder one more time at the stranger. His glance darts meekly about, before he finds the courage to say what he wants to.
"Next time, I'll be stronger. And I will win for sure." he declares with a smile that lacks any ill will.
[ Sasaki gets his revenge and looks into Sasuke's heart >:) ]
"We may profess to know the heart, but its essence is beyond our reach."
A foolish wise man had once uttered his truth just before his demise, and those words etched themselves into Sora's mind like an indelible mark. They echoed through his thoughts even now, resonating deeply within the heart of someone he had long considered irredeemable. As he reflected on this, doubts began to weave their way into the fabric of his own convictions, casting shadows over the certainty he once held. Sora grappled with the unsettling realization that even the most seemingly hopeless souls might harbor the potential for change, and this revelation stirred a tempest of uncertainty in his own heart.
"Are you waiting for someone, too?"
Sasaki stood frozen, engulfed in a thick haze of confusion, as he processed what was happening. The words spoken by the little boy danced in his mind, each syllable innocent with childish innocence and laden with a sense of curiosity. He blinked owlishly, as if trying to clear his mind, and tilted his head ever so slightly, examining the child from head to toe.
"My big brother said he'd meet me here, for training... but he's late."
The boy stood there, a small figure radiating naïveté yet holding a peculiar familiarity that tugged at the edges of Sasaki's memory. Was this really Sasuke? The image that came to mind was one of power and apathy, far from the childlike frame now before him. However, one unmistakable feature gave it away: the boy's distinctive duck-style hair. The Corrupted Light couldn't shake off the sense of disbelief. This wasn't what he had anticipated when he thought of the cold-hearted bastard of a partner—was this truly the embodiment of Sasuke in such a vulnerable form? The disparity was jarring, yet there was an undeniable bond between them, something deep within him that whispered of a shared past now desperate for understanding.
"If you want to... you can stay. We can spar..."
The first words spoken since his arrival carried an undeniable warmth, buoyed by that familiar boyish grin he was once known for. Igniting a flicker of light deep within his own heart, stirring a sense of sentimentality, awakening the cherished, playful desires that he had long buried beneath the weight of adulthood. Before he realized what was happening, the old wooden sword from his childhood—a toy from the Destiny Islands—materialized in his hand, evoking memories of carefree days spent in imaginative battles and adventures. The sword felt familiar, its smooth surface worn from countless playful skirmishes, reminding him of the innocent joy that once filled his life.
"Watch your stance, you'll lose balance like that."
Gentle guidance emanated effortlessly from the older male as he skillfully blocked Sasuke's weak strikes with his kunai. With each clash of their toy weapons, an unexpected transformation began to unfold: Sasaki appeared to grow younger. Now, he was a spirited fifteen-year-old boy, a mischievous glint igniting in his eyes as perspicuity mingled with youthful exuberance. As he pivoted gracefully around Sasuke, a wide grin spread across his face, and he exclaimed, "That's it! Now you're really starting to get the hang of it!"
The threads of destiny were beginning to intertwine, drawing their hearts closer. Sora, now fourteen, was getting into his rhythm when the unexpected happened. He left himself exposed, and Sasuke took the shot. Sora barely had time to react; the kunai struck him square on the chest, sending a shockwave of surprise through his body.
A moment of silence ensued, and then Sora's expression shifted to one of incredulity. He felt a familiar pout forming on his lips, his brows furrowing in mild annoyance as he processed the unexpected turn of events. "Lucky shot," he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with a mix of frustration and grudging admiration for his opponent’s skill. The competitive streak within him was ignited once more, the fire of determination roaring to life.
With his heart racing and a renewed sense of purpose, he straightened up, shaking off the surprise. The game was far from over, and now he couldn't let this setback dampen his spirit. He cast a determined glare at his opponent. Yet, when he returned the strike toward Sasuke, the force behind it was noticeably diminished. Instead of the typical precision and strength one would expect from a trained fighter, it came off as a bit awkward and clumsy. Standing before Sasuke was a four-year-old boy, full of youthful vibrancy, whose tiny sandals made a delightful clacking sound against the ground with each enthusiastic movement. In a moment of unintentional miscalculation, Sora lost his balance and fell over, landing with a soft thud on the grass.
However, the fall didn’t deter Sora's spirit. Instead of crying or getting frustrated, he burst into a fit of giggles, his laughter ringing out like sweet chimes in the air. As he looked up at Sasuke with wide, innocent eyes, it was clear he was unfazed by the mishap, his expression radiating pure joy and playfulness. He was indicating not to worry—he was just fine, ready to bounce back up and continue their playful sparring session. Before Sora could scramble to his feet-
"Sasuke, are you ready to go?"
An unusual sense of lightness enveloped the air as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue over them. It felt like a hidden happiness that had quietly been waiting to shine, finally breaking free from its confines. The sensation was precious—almost sacred—as if time itself had paused just for Sora, allowing him to revel in this intimate, secret corner of Sasuke's heart.
With large, expressive blue eyes, Sora watched the two figures walk away, their silhouettes slowly fading against the vibrant sky. As he rose to his feet, dusting off the remnants of dirt and grass clinging to his clothes, a bittersweet pang of sadness tugged at his heart at the sight of a friend departing. However, when Sasuke finally mustered the courage to glance back at his temporary guest, he was met with Sasaki standing proudly, transformed back into his adult self.
Their hearts had connected.
"Next time, I'll be stronger. And I will win for sure."
Oh, yeah, they never did figure out who won the fight, did they? Too much fun to even keep track of points. Sasaki's lips curled into a wide, silly grin, the kind that radiates unfiltered joy, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he offered the young Sasuke a playful thumbs-up. Sasaki winked one eye, a gesture filled with affection and assurance, as if to say See you next time.
"I'll be waiting," he whispered under his breath, the hushed tone almost swallowed by the evening breeze. Despite the jubilant facade he presented, a wild uproar brewed within him, an unsettling knot of anticipation twisting in his chest. The joyous flutter of hope was bittersweet, tinged with an undeniable awareness of the lurking shadows.
As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, its fading light elongated the three boys' figures, but Sasaki's shadow twisted gruesomely against the earth. The silhouette seemed to transform into something monstrous and twisted, a harbinger of the impending darkness looming over their destinies. It stretched ominously, contorted and disfigured, painting a disquieting metamorphosis.
Deep down, Sasaki understood: something far more sinister lay ahead, foreboding and uncompromising. With a sense of dread shrouding him, he couldn't shake the chilling realization that only one of them would emerge from this encounter alive…
Sasaki towered over the drug-induced Sasuke, whose soft murmurs and incoherent grumbles filled the heavy, oppressive silence of the dimly lit room. Shadows unfurled across the walls, their darkness punctuated only by the sickly glow of Sasaki's yellow pupils, which seemed to pierce through the gloom like twin lanterns in a night sky. Each flicker of light cast distorted shapes that danced around the edges of the room.
With a gentle hesitance, Sasaki loosened his grip around Sasuke’s neck, his fingers trembling slightly as they withdrew. The intensity of Heart Diving surged through him, sharp and exhausting. He had not intended to take such a deep dive into Sasuke's heart; it had happened instinctively, as if an unseen force had drawn him in. Perhaps it was the residual power of the Keyblade, a lingering trace of its magic urging him forward. Did it wish for him to bear witness to something buried within Sasuke's essence, something authentic and unadulterated?
A weary sigh escaped Sasaki's lips, filled with a mix of frustration and confliction, as he lowered his hands. The warmth of Sasuke’s skin still tingled against his fingertips. Shaking off the impulse to linger, he turned his attention to Sasuke's blanket, crumpled and disheveled from his restless state. Gently, Sasaki reached down, carefully dragging the fabric up to cocoon Sasuke in comfort, smoothing it tenderly over his form.
Stepping back into the shadows of the room, Sasaki took a moment to observe the sleeping Uchiha. The sight of Sasuke, peacefully unaware, tugged at his heart. There was an undeniable vulnerability in the way he lay there, yet something indefatigable radiated from him, a lingering spark of strength amidst the chaos. The darkness around them felt deep, yet the soft rise and fall of Sasuke's chest offered a glimmer of hope, a reminder that not all was lost. Right where that beating heart resided.
As he lingered in the doorway, Sasaki felt the weight of his own promises pressing against his heart, bittersweet and consuming. He couldn't help but lean against the door frame for an extra moment, drinking in the sight of Sasuke. That familiar furrow in his brow, even in drugged-induced sleep, echoed the countless battles they had faced together. The struggles that had shaped them into who they are… What would it have been like if they had found one another at a better time in their lives?
Finally, Sasaki quietly opened the door, the hinge creaking slightly, a mournful sound that seemed to echo through the stillness. He stepped out into the corridor, but not before casting one final glance over his shoulder at Sasuke, who remained blissfully unaware of the pledge being forged—an oath of hope and doom all in one.
Sasaki whispered into the stillness, his voice barely audible, yet tinged with a bittersweet resolve. With that, he gently closed the door behind him, the soft click resonating like a vow sealed in the depths of his heart.
