266Finally, after almost three years of publishing this story, the last chapter is here. Not a long chapter and not a necessary one either, but ever since we started writing, we knew that "This" was how it had to end.
We apologize in advance for any mistakes we might have made, as well as we apologize for the extensive author's notes this chapter contains. In our defense, we'll claim that author's notes are the only way to show our gratitude for all the support our wonderful readers have provided during the whole story.
I'll be shutting up now to let you read. Please review, that would be nice.
Warning: Author's are still hateful bitches, so happy endings are bitter-sweet at best.
Chapter Twenty-Six
"The Last Chapter"
"We're here!" The captain announced, as if I hadn't noticed that already.
I jumped off the ship, not wanting to spend a minute longer on board. I thought I would land on my feet but they sank in the soft snow, making me loose my balance.
Shit, I had forgotten that!
I heard the sailors laugh behind me as I shook the snow away from my clothes, my face burning in humiliation. They kept on laughing for a while longer but I paid them no mind, I had more important things to worry about.
One of them, was finding the "Kunoichi of Ice".
"So here I am again." I sighed, breath puffing up before me. "The Land of Snow."
Frozen hell. A place for pain and misery. Those were the only words that came to my mind, every time I thought of this place.
"No Sadako, don't do it! Don't do this to me!"
For years on end my dreams had brought me back here, condemning me to relive that dreaded day over and over, as if in a reminder that I could do nothing to save her.
Sadako… Sadako…
Countless nights I had repeated her name in my sleep, apologizing again and again for the fate I could not prevent.
The guilt faded over the years, dreams leaving with them as well. Still, I could not bring myself into forgetting her. Not entirely.
I had willed myself not to talk about her. Not to think about her. But she was always there in the back of my mind.
"Do you even know where you're going?" One of the sailors called after me when I was a good distance away from the ship.
"Sure." I point to a mountain on the distance, the only one I knew how to recognize.
And how could I not? It had been in my dreams more times than I care to count.
"The Cursed Mountain?" His eyes widened in fear. "No, you don't want to go there!"
"Said who?" I kept on walking.
"You don't understand!" He ran after me. "It has that name for a reason, there's even a legend about it. Perhaps you haven't heard of it, but they say that…"
"I know." I answered dryly. "That's why I'm here."
Ten years now. Ten years after I'd lost her.
And just when I had convinced myself that there was no hope, when I had almost managed to forget everything, that legend reached Konoha.
It told of a far away land covered in snow and a frozen mountain in which, they said, lived a young girl whose body was entirely made of ice. Many had climbed what was now known as the "Cursed Mountain" to find her, but there was said to be a beast guarding her day and night.
Those who did get to see her were supposedly turned into ice statues and placed at the mountain's foot as a warning for others.
As ridiculous as the legend was, it instantly caught my attention. The reason was obvious.
A far away land covered in snow had to be the Land of Snow and the so called "Cursed Mountain" no other than Dragon Pike Mountain. Those ice statues at the mountain's foot must be the Sound Ninja she defeated and I also had a good idea of who that beast was.
There was no doubt about it. The one they called the "Kunoichi of Ice" had to be her.
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Reaching the mountain's top took longer than I remembered, or it might have been my eagerness to get there as fast as possible.
At last I was close enough to see the dragon's head. Despite the numbness in my legs, I willed myself to run even faster.
Almost there. I was almost there.
Someone stood before the dragon's head. Someone with a body I could see right through.
It was her, no doubt.
Almost there, I had almost reached her… and then the beast blocked my path.
Its frighteningly sharp teeth were revealed as a deep roar erupted from its chest. The roar was so potent it almost knocked me off my feet.
"Back away." It growled threateningly. "Back away."
"Hello Yukiko." I said without moving "Remember me?"
"Don't know you." Was I just imagining it, or had it grown over the years? The look in its eyes as it stared at me was also different, angrier… "Never seen you."
"But you have!" Fear suddenly took over me. I had to make the tiger remember, or else my name would be written in today's menu. "I'm Uchiha Sasuke, we fought together against the Sound Ninja."
"Brother?" The look in its eyes changed from anger to recognition.
"Sadako's brother, yes." I sighed with relief.
"It's been years. What are you doing here?"
"I could ask the same think."
"They can't see her." Yukiko wrinkled its nose in anger. "They won't take her, not as long as I'm here. You won't take her either!"
Take her? Yukiko was protecting Sadako, it as afraid of someone taking her away but, why? Did that mean Sadako couldn't protect herself?
Something told me there was a great mistake in the legend I'd heard.
"I won't take her away." I promised. "I just want to see her."
The tiger frowned at me, then began passing back and forth, as if unsure of what to do.
"Don't bother my master, she sleeps." It finally said, reluctantly stepping aside.
The few hopes I had of speaking to her were blown away with the cold wind.
"Don't touch her." Yukiko warned as I made my way to Sadako's side. "She's fragile. She breaks."
The legend was but a lie, I knew it all along. Still, I couldn't hide my disappointment.
Why had I returned to that place? What was I expecting to find there? Why was I so stupid as to believe that she could still be there. Still alive.
But at least I got to see her one last time, so I guess it was worth it.
She looked exactly like the last time I'd seen her, despite all the years that had passed. It was a horrible sight, yet a beautiful one at the same time, because it was my sister standing before me, but it was also my sister's lifeless body that had turned to ice.
She stood there, one of her arms was outstretched and her eyes seemed to be fixed far into the distance, as if seeing something that I could not.
My heart ached as I noticed the frozen tears on her cheeks, yet no matter how bad I felt, I couldn't cry anymore.
It had been years since I ran out of tears.
I reached out my hand to touch hers but, remembering Yukiko's warning, decided not to.
"Hey Sadako." I said, as If she could hear me. "It's me, Onii-san." I had meant to say Sasuke, but the word "Onii-san" came out for some reason. "Mind if I sit there for a while? I had a rather long trip just to come visit you." I smiled at her, as if she could actually see me. "With all the technology they have these days, you'd think they would build faster ships but it still takes around ten months and a half to get here."
As I sat there talking like and idiot, I realized there were many things I wanted to tell her. Not the story of how I spent the last months in a stinking ship with greasy old sailors, not. I wanted to tell her about Konoha, of all that happened since she left.
Hopefully my words would reach her. Wherever she was.
"I can't believe it's been ten years." I began. "Did you know there's a legend about you? It's so famous it spreads all the way to Konoha, too bad it's all a lie. You're pretty famous in Konoha too because Tsunade ordered a ceremony in your honor and even had your name written in the memorial stone, when she was still the Hokage…"
"The new Hokage is…" I paused to laugh, I just couldn't help it. It was so stupid it still stroke me as a joke. "Naruto is the new Hokage, could you believe that? I still don't know how he did it, one instant he was shouting "I will become Hokage-dattebayo!" and the next thing I know, Konoha is under his command."
"Seeing the idiot he is, I always thought he would end up mopping the floors somewhere for a living, or choke on ramen and die, or simply fall into a pit and disappear. But to think he actually became Hokage is… well, it could be worse, thou I can't imagine how."
"Speaking of Naruto, I had almost forgotten." I dug into my backpack and pulled out a bag of cotton candy. "He sends you this, but it's probably stale by now."
I set the bag at her feet, still feeling like and idiot. But the thing was, I only had a day before having to go back to that filthy ship and I didn't want to spend it sitting there in silence. It also made me feel better somehow.
"Naruto got married about five years ago. That was before he became Hokage, so it would have been a simple wedding… were he not marrying the heir of one of Konoha's greatest clans. It wasn't an easy thing to do, thou. Sakura and I were dragged forth as witnesses the day he asked for her hand. Poor Naruto got kicked out that day and beaten up the days that followed. At last he challenged Hinata's father and somehow came out alive, earning the right to marry her."
"The Hyuugas took great pride in throwing an ostentatious celebration, I'm talking about chocolate fountains, crystal ornaments and expensive varieties of flowers everywhere. I guess it was a good thing they interfered. If it were left to Naruto to plan everything, they would have probably married outside Ichiraku Ramen with a piñata as the main diversion."
"I had been planning to skip on it, parties are not something I really enjoy. But then that idiot Naruto came to me one day and asked me to be his best man, just like that. Of course I refused, no way I was downgrading myself in such way. He then asked and begged and rolled on the floor and poked at my head and put up a dramatic scene until I agreed to do it if he could just shut the hell up!"
"Kiba was fuming because he wanted to be the best man himself and I could tell Shino was angry too, but it's not like it was my fault."
"They have children now. It's strange, but they had twins. Two girls. Barely three years old and yet annoying as hell. They're but mischievous little blue-eyed creatures with golden hair, definitely Naruto's offspring. They always cling to my legs and pierce my ears with their screechy laughter while calling me uncle Sasuke, I hate it when they call me that! Naruto still calls me Sasuke-teme and Hinata, well, she hasn't called me anything for a long time."
I coughed, deciding to skip that part. Hinata had a good reason for avoiding me, but Sadako didn't have to know that and I certainly didn't want to tell her. Good thing she never told Naruto about it.
"Anyways." Cough. "He's not the only one who has achieved a prestigious title. About a year after you left us, Gaara became the Kazekage of Suna. You probably didn't know this, but the former Kazekage was also Gaara's father, so I guess it was only logical that he was the best candidate."
"I've seen him a couple of times in Konoha, when he was things to discuss with Naruto, but we never talk to each other. I'm not sure if you'll be happy to hear this or not, but Gaara got married almost two years ago in a wedding beyond luxury, proper for a person of great importance such as the Kazekage. A wedding to which I, of course, was uninvited."
"But I've seen his wife once or twice and I still don't know if I should feel sorry of mad at him. If you could see her, you would understand what I'm talking about. Black hair, pale skin and dark, sad eyes. She has a great resemblance to you, I'm sure he's just trying to find you in her."
"But she's not you, and she never will. He's only lying to himself. He still carries your headband around, thou. I wonder if it doesn't bother her, or perhaps she doesn't even know what it means to him."
"I don't k now much about relationships, I only… (Cough) I dated Ino for a while… (Cough, cough) it didn't end up well." Another part in history that I wanted to skip. It was easier talking about other people's lives than my own. "But even I know they're not happy. She always walks a few steps behind him and he never talks to her. Come to think of it, he doesn't even look at her."
"It's obvious that he's just trying to fulfill his dead wish of marrying you, but it's not going well. Still, it's not like I should care about it, I only thought you would like to know since, well, you know…"
Silence fell, I had nothing more to say now. My life had been fairly normal these past years and the rest were just a bunch of no ones, nothing interesting there.
I looked up at the sky, the sun was already setting. Had I really talked for so long?
I didn't want to leave, no so soon. A little longer, even if my fingers froze. A little longer, please, even if my face was burnt by the cold.
Once again I felt the urge of clinging to her, of staying by her side even if it meant my life. But I was older, more rational, so this time I could understand that that was that.
The end of the day, time to head back home. I couldn't stay, this wasn't my place. I couldn't take Sadako with me, it was here that she belonged.
"I have to go now." I told her as I stood up. "It's okay now, don't be sad." I carefully ran my fingers down' her cheek, afraid that she might crumble under my touch. "Besides, you won't be alone. You have a great guardian here."
Yukiko was laying some meters away, its eyes were closed but the ears were alert. I didn't have to worry, the tiger's sense of loyalty was strong, even thou its master was long gone.
"I gave Gaara your message." I smiled at her. "He over reacted if you ask me. And as for Itachi… well, I haven't seen him yet. I'm still killing him some day anyway, hope you understand."
The sun finally set, a ghastly moon shone faintly over our heads. I had to go now, whether I liked it or not.
Yukiko shook the snow from its fur and looked at me nervously, perhaps wondering when the hell I was leaving.
"I love you Sadako." I whispered to her. "I really do."
Sighing resignedly, I turned around to leave.
"You're doing a great job Yukiko." I told the tiger as I walked it by. "If anyone dared come near her…"
"You don't have to say." It nodded. "I'll kill anyone who dares touch her. No one can take her away."
As I made my way down the mountain, I turned my head to look at her one last time. Yukiko's imposing body was curled up next to her, guarding her zealously.
I truly had nothing to worry about.
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Smoke filled the air as the old ship began moving. It sailed slowly over the chilly waters until the Land of Snow seemed to shrink into the distance.
Dragon Pike Mountain was out of sight now, but I didn't need to see it to know that she was still there. Still standing atop the mountain, just like she stands today.
Uchiha Sadako, the Kunoichi of Ice.
Gaara's Blind Justice.
My sweet little sister…
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Glacia: And that was it. We did say it wasn't a happy ending. It wasn't exactly a good one either.
Vianey: *crying* No, no, no. Why does it have to end?
Ten: Because if it didn't, it would end up looking like…
Chapter Three Hundred and Eighty-Four
"Won't This Ever End?"
Or something like that.
Vianey: You're right, *sniff* I'm happy to know that a story with a plot so simple and used like "Sasuke's Twin" was able to draw so much attention and make it into lots of "Favorite Story" lists. I'm even prouder to know that there's at least someone out there who actually likes our work.
Ten: And we got over 150 reviews with our first story ever, even thou the first chapters weren't exactly "Extraordinary". Still, I think we managed pretty well, although we did get a couple of bad comments.
Glacia: It can't be helped, but it's perfectly comprehensible. Not every one out there is going to like your story, just like not every single reader is going to praise your work. It's impossible.
Vianey: But we appreciate them taking the time to read and review our story.
Ten: Yeah. 'Cause flames also count as reviews, so there!
Vianey: Anyways. *Cough* We would now like to thank all the readers who ever sent a review. There's nothing in the world that makes me appreciate my own work better, than every time I find a new review.
To.- Ajanime, Hinata11235, Lloyd Neruameshi, A Hidden Saint and Sinner, cocogirl198, DemonTwins-Ichigo-Maruki, Lady Malignant, Twixdaman, justanothergaarafangurl,, Imaybesomeone, sakura300000, PokeMariah, imouto12345, Yoli16, Ninja99, xOxO Lost Angel OxOx, HEY YO-YO, anonymouscat, Girlnaruto99, LuLuSi227, Random Person, Len and fan , .Nicoleta, .Crystal, zfighter, Gaara1016, anonamous, and Random Person.
Thank you. Thank you so much.
Ten: And now, for the usual readers. The ones that are always there no matter what.
Vianey: Those for whom we try our best. Those who made our story change from a piece of crap into something fairly good. Without you, I'm sure, we would have stopped writing a long time ago.
Glacia: Names are listed in alphabetical order. (For no good reason)
Alita n' Emily, for reading and reviewing anything our sick mind writes. Also for being there exactly when we need her and putting up with us.
Vianey: No matter how clingy and annoying I might be.
Ten. Or how bitchy I get, she never seems to mind… or she does but doesn't say.
(or the grammar Nazi XD), for proving to be our most loyal reader ever. For helping us improve our grammar and pointing out the mistakes.
Ten: Makes me feel like shooting myself every time I see those stupid mistakes that I could have easily changed but just wasn't paying enough attention.
Glacia: Perhaps you should.
Ten: Yeah, I'll pay more attention next time.
Glacia: No, I meant shoot yourself. Just think about it, I would have more space to work, more air to breathe…
Ten: Air is what your head is full of! Come here so I can beat it out of you!
Vianey: Holly! Um… ah… thank you so much , without you we would be even more stupid.
Ten: Let go of my arm you bitch!
Glacia: Let go of my hair!
Vianey: Next reader, please!
FalLinG-wiTh-FAiT, for being a constant reader, yes. Also for being the only one who has ever mentioned living our Sadako and Gaara pairing.
Vianey: But mostly (And I'm saying it here so everyone knows :P) for making a fan art of Sasuke and Sadako! Made me feel so happy I actually cried, it was also really nostalgic. The nicest thing anyone has done for me.
Ten: *shaking dust off her clothes* I thought the nicest thing anyone had done for you was when your boy and his cute friend stuck nails to the mean Spanish teacher's tires just because she failed you, even thou you did pass the final exam.
Vianey: Yeah… but it's not really nice if you think about it. They could have gotten in trouble. Back to the fan art, thank you so, so, SO much FalLinG-wiTh-FAiT. We appreciate that to no end.
Glacia: *Fixing hair back in place* How about when you showed up to that final without even studying, failed it, and the teacher gave you a good note because she felt sorry for you?
Vianey: Fan art nicest thing. End of story!
Hey-Yo-Yo, usually here, usually cool.
Ten: Sorry if you didn't like Sadako's death, these two idiots like drama one bit too much.
LuLuSi227, for all the review love and support she sends. Also, your comments make us feel better.
Vianey: It's okay if you don't want to tell others that you like Naruto or fanfics, we all have secrets, right? I don't tell anyone we write fanfics either, because I just know they'll laugh.
Glacia: Your boyfriend did.
Vianey: Yes, and I cried. Then you slapped him so hard you made him cry.
Ten: Whatever! About your idea of us writing a book, well, we do have an original story named "Somebody Else", but it's nothing special. Second rate literature at best.
Vianey: I'm not sure everything we want to tell you fits here, how about you make an account? That way we can PM you. Oh and, our MSN is in our profile… if you're interested.
Redfox-akatsuki, for seeing happiness where the rest can only see pain.
Vianey: Also, I'm glad you understand.
Glacia: Understand?
Ten: Understand what?
Vianey: She knows…
Sasuke's Pal, fro not minding our annoying PMs.
Vianey: And for being my pal.
Ten: No, my pal.
Vianey: My pal, I said!
Glacia: Dream on, she's my pal.
Scentlesstsubaki, for liking the idea of Sasuke having a twin sister.
And last but not least, XTanshoku. For being our fist reader ever, for sticking up with us and not minding our stupidity.
Vianey: *Pant, pant* And that's it. Ow, my fingers are bleeding T_T
Ten: Thank God this story is over already. Too much tragedy and not enough fighting scenes disturb me.
Vianey: It might not be over yet, Ten. Seriously guys, about the deleted scenes, do you really want them or not? Because that was just a joke but it I get at least 3 positive answers, that chapter will be published.
Glacia: Also, please vote in our new poll "What should our next story be?". Give it up, you don't write is an option too.
Ten: That new story list is just a piece of shit, "Game of Fear" is not even in it.
Vianey: We already have "Best Friends" as a Naruto horror, we don't need another one.
Ten: You call that horror? There's not even blood in it! How can that be considered as horror?
Vianey: "Game of Fear" is not all that either. You basically want a sick, twisted version of "Saw" with the Naruto characters in it so you can kill them one by one in gory and rather improbable ways.
Ten: Well basically, yes. I was going to put all the names and causes of death in a box then randomly pull them out each week. Causes of death range from drowning and head cut off to excoriation and baked alive.
Glacia: º_º Definitely not interested in writing such things.
Ten: Let's leave it to the readers, then. If I get at least 3 persons saying they want it, I'm writing it with our without your help!
Vianey: Lets' make a deal. Get at least 5 and Glacia and I will help you. You're good with blood but not details.
Ten: Deal. Readers, please vote! It's not a poll option, so please send your answer along with your review.
But while that happens, we're leaving before your eyes explode. We did say the author's notes were long, didn't we?
The whole team bows before you, probably for the last time in this story.
YukiTenVianey Team, out…