Escape [Sasuke Uchiha]

Chapter 55: The Aftermath

My gaze landed in the middle of the flowery field - the spot where we had a picnic, the spot where we exchanged information about each other, the spot where we shared laughter, the spot where we literally talked like best friends.

Recalling these flashbacks cause my mind to visualize two figures on that spot with their backsides facing me. They were me and Sasuke, eating, talking, and laughing like we absolutely had no worries to think about. Those two were entirely clueless to what would happen next. One of them would defect to the enemy, and the other would choose to stay here. As I continued imagining the two of them, I couldn't help but wish I had the power to communicate with the me from the past - to tell her that Sasuke would succumb to his revenge and betray his village and to tell her to get her heart prepared.

I closed my eyes, the two imaginary figures of me and Sasuke vanished as well. I began to turn around, knowing that I ought to return back to the hospital. However, I halted abruptly when something caught my eye.

It was the tree where Sasuke and I had carved our chibi forms and teasing words on. Even with the great distance, I could still see the drawing of our two adorable avatars. I frowned when my mind automatically recollected those flashbacks once again. No, stop thinking about him already! He's gone now and is happy about being Orochimaru's new dog! He has left behind our memories, his friends, his comrades, his village, and me.

I whipped around and stormed off. I had the impulse to go there and check our chibi forms, but my heart wasn't ready at that time. I knew I would cry the moment I reach there. I refused to cry over one boy who chose power over me. I refused to cry over the boy who left me. I may be a woman, but I'm not that weak. I refuse to be that weak!

It took me more than fifteen seconds to exit floral yard and enter another area - the Uchiha compound. It all made sense. That day when Sasuke and I went on a 'date', he took me to that flowery field by using a long path and mentioned about the other short path. The reason why Sasuke declined to use the short path was that if we did, we had to go past the Uchiha compound, the place where the Uchiha massacre occurred. Of course, stepping into that place would trigger the appalling memory in his mind.

It turned out the Uchiha compound was just right beside the majestic floral land. Not wanting to provoke the bad memory of the massacre and ruining the 'date', he'd rather use the long route which avoided his compound.

The reason why I came here in the first place was that I wanted to check it out myself. I had looked at the entire map of the Leaf Village back in the hospital when I detected one gigantic space called the Uchiha compound. Scrutinizing the routes to the said compound, I realized I had used those paths before - that time when Sasuke and I were heading for the floral yard. I knew that something was fishy here and so I departed. And then I discovered that the flowery land was right behind the Uchiha compound.

I sighed as I ambled around the noiseless compound. So this is the place where everything happened, huh? Of course, entering this area make me think about ghost. But it is broad daylight right now so I'm not scared at all. However, when I imagined dead bodies here and there, I couldn't help but feel frightened immediately. I also felt like someone was watching me in the shadow.

A small, thumping noise suddenly echoed throughout the silent place and that alone caused me to shriek in terror. I spun my head to the right side with sharp and rough movement. Seeing nothing suspicious in my line of vision, I sent my gaze upward. I nearly jumped out of my skin upon seeing a figure with red hair standing on the rooftop, though it took me a split second to identify who it was.

"Gaara..." I murmured with wide eyes. The said boy gave me a vacant stare, seemingly awaiting my response. Fear seeped out of my body, making me loosen up in ease. But then I crinkled my forehead in anger, a furious vein popped out of my temple and I raised my voice, "Don't scare me like that! You should have just said "hi" or whatever, but don't appear out of nowhere like a ghost!"