Perhaps it is my awe at the latest Naruto chapter. (*SpoilderAlertRIPNejiSpoilerA lert*) But either way, I suddenly had an urge to write. Or rather, not just write, but actually complete something.

I've had some ideas floating around for a while. This one seemed appropriate and flowed from the brain the most.

And so, enjoy!

***Image is from Sorceressmyr. It's called "Leaf's jounin" You can find it on Deviantart. Thank you so much for your permission :)***

"Because I Could Not Stop for Death"
.:Chapter 1 – Skyfall:.

Because I could not stop for death
He kindly stopped for me

Blue eyes burned. They burned because of the traitorous tears welling up. They burned because they were being used too much. But most of all, they burned because of a deep rage seething inside of him at the unfairness of it all. Those tired eyes skimmed over the papers again, weary gears in his head turned. Turning, creaking, struggling to get a grip….

-And suddenly the gears were clicking. Making some form connections that in turn made other gears move. The burning in his blue eyes was brushed aside for now. A finger floated over notes while the other hand furiously added to faded pen strokes. A smile stretched upon cracked lips. He would live.

[A Journal of sorts]

Some would say that I have a boring job. Others would find great pleasure in it. Generally, I can find something to keep my interest. Oh, it does get monotonous after a while, but I have learned to deal with it. People are funny creatures. I want to say that they are always predictable, but even after my many years of service; I find that I can still be surprised. It's not unusual for opinions, religions, or moods to change when the time comes – that isn't surprising. In fact it's very predictable and frankly quite disappointing when it happens.

However, what does always manage to surprise me is the sheer stubbornness and willpower. I can't say if I am impressed or simply floored by the inability to accept. Or, perhaps, they have accepted but are unwilling to allow it to take place. If the will is strong, sometimes it can even save a life for just long enough.

And sometimes, just sometimes, I truly do get bored. And then I get carried away when something amusing does come along. Perhaps it is a weakness of mine – if such a thing were to exist in me. People fascinate me – their strength, weaknesses, and personalities. Perhaps my real weakness is not being human enough.

BANG

Naruto sat up, blue eyes blinking rapidly, a hand automatically reaching for the kunai in his sleeve.

"You have something on your face."

Naruto stopped, his hand still groping around in his sleeve. He watched as Sakura grinned playfully while pointing at his face. After a moment of continued giggling, she dropped into the chair in front of his desk. Blue eyes blinked, confused for a moment. A hand slowly moved up and felt around. The hand met paper. Naruto's nose scrunched up while he ripped off the drool-covered item from his cheek. "What can I do for you, Sakura-chan?" He mumbled, attempting to straighten his desk (and hide all other evidence of his slacking and drooling).

"I just came to talk with my best friend."

A sly grin spread on Naruto's face and he stopped his cleaning. An elbow rested on his desk while the hand attached supported his face. His body leaned foreword in his pushed back chair, "Yeah? You want to help your best friend with paperwork?"

"Not on your life." The smile never left her face, and Naruto let himself sigh before resuming his cleaning.

"Some friend you are." He commented. He glanced up once at her grinning face. "So why are you so happy?"

"I told you, I came to talk to you."

"So talk. I could use the distraction anyway." Naruto leaned back, his arms folding behind his head and feet resting on the desk.

"Because you were very hard at work when I came in."

"Beside the point. Is there something else besides you not helping me with these lame-ass papers?"

"I suppose." Naruto really looked at Sakura now. She was at the edge of her seat with her arms on her knees and hands supporting a grinning face. She looked younger. And creepy. It was a little disconcerting.

"Sakura-chan-"

"I'm pregnant."

The grinning contented face of Naruto's best friend remained steadfast while Naruto blinked, digesting the new information. "You sure?"

"Yup!"

And then Naruto was up from his big chair. He leaped over the desk and tackled Sakura, gathering her into a tight bear hug. "I'm so happy for you! You'll name it Naruto, right?"

"Not likely."

"Aw, come on! Do I at least get to be the godfather?"

Sakura laughed as her arms encircled the blonde. "Wouldn't have it any other way." She buried her nose into his strong chest and clutched at his clothed back.

Naruto pulled away after a moment, but still kept his hands on her small shoulders. "The jerk knows too, right?"

She nodded. "I'm pretty sure he would kill me if you knew before him."

Something tugged at Naruto's memories. His eyes shifted slightly to the right. "That would explain why he was hesitant to take the mission I sent him on yesterday…" He stepped away from Sakura and rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry, Sakura-chan."

Sakura smiled softly while rubbing a hand on her still small stomach. "It's okay, Naruto. Sasuke will come home."

He came home. Or, rather, he almost did.

He stood at the bottom of the hill looking up towards the gates. A nearby tree supported his shaking frame. One hand covered the hole in his side. The other hand was clenched into a fist against the tree and above his head. A spasm hit him, and Sasuke bit the corner of his lip. Blood fell. Tired, weary eyes peered down at his bloody side. It wasn't the wound. Sasuke was strong enough to handle this type of thing.

It was what was in the wound that was the problem.

It was temping, so tempting, to close his eyes and rest. Yet, each time his eyes dared to close, it was not blissful quiet and blackness that greeted him, but a weeping pink-haired girl clutching her bulging stomach.

Pushing away from the tree, Sasuke stumbled slightly. His shirt was torn and currently pressed against his side in an effort to stem the bleeding. Blood dripped from his eye onto the dusty path below him.

Damn poison. He was forced to use his trump card to get out there quickly.

He blinked slightly when he realized that he had been transfixed onto the growing puddle under his feet. Again, he looked up at the daunting hill. One step. Another. Don't think about it, just keep moving. Another step. Sasuke concentrated on the pounding in his ears until it was deafening. The footsteps were automatic – the gate before him slowly getting closer. He just had to get to Sakura, and she would take care of him so that he could in turn take care of her and their future.

Their future.

He was still moving, taking steps when another noise began to penetrate the pounding in his ears. It was dull and muffled. Annoying. He would have voiced his displeasure at the new distractions from his goal, but that took too much effort.

The sounds were growing louder and Sasuke realized that he was no longer moving on his own. Someone's arms wrapped around his shoulders, supporting him. He growled a bit. He would make it on his own, damn it.

More arms surrounded him and he found the energy to growl louder. There were only a special number of people who were allowed to touch him.

"Sasuke."

Weary eyes peered up into a similar darkened eye. He said nothing, but ceased his growling.

"Sasuke," The voice tried again.

Sasuke stopped worrying about the hand around his shoulders, helping him past the gates. His eyes roamed the surrounding. People were watching, but not the one person he wanted to see.

He stumbled, but the steady hands caught him. Sasuke growled again. It was not directed at the helping hands.

"Sasuke." The voice was stern, urging, but very muffled. Sasuke's eyes wandered up again.

"Poison." He mustered out. The grey blob nodded and hurried there pace. More voices jumbled into one until there was a separate cry that stood out above all the others.

"Sasuke-kun!" Soft hands were on him immediately. "Get him into surgery now!" Something cold was on his back, but his attention was focused on the soft, warm hands.

"Sakura." His mouth was dry, his eyes at half-mast.

"Don't worry, Sasuke-kun. I'll make you better."

For a brief moment, there was an intense clarity that he hadn't felt for hours. He could see Sakura working over him. Her worried green eyes would not meet his, but he could sense the fear and determination radiating through her being. He wanted to comfort her, to put a hand on her head and let her know it would be okay. He wanted to say that he would be okay and that he had every faith in her abilities to heal him. Most of all, he wanted to apologize. Apologize for so many things. Instead, he could only keep his eyes on her as the brief moment of clarity quickly descended into black. His hearing lasted only a second longer – long enough that he could hear the screeching sound of his heart monitor and Sakura's pained shout before even that became nothing.

When Sasuke blinked again, it was no longer black, but white. A total blanket of white. He looked left, right, above, and below. There was nothing. – not a person, door, window, or even a crack. There was no source of light and therefore, no shadows. An absence of everything.

He felt as though he was standing and floating all at once. He was there, but not there. He raised his hand, staring, puzzling. The gears inside his head worked overtime. A brow furrowed. A heavy weight settled in his stomach.

"Hello."

Sasuke spun around. Six feet across from him stood a tall figure clothed in total darkness. A black that even he could not touch. A long scythe was clutched in bony appendages. The silent, steady presence spoke volumes.

Sasuke met Death.

Chapter End

If there was a song to play at the end of the chapter, I would say "Skyfall" by Adele. At least – that's what I was listening to while I was writing the last section (also hence the chapter title).

Please do note that this is certainly not the end for our dear Sasuke (*SpoilerAlertunlikeourdearNej i[tear]SpoilerAlert*) I mean really, Kishimoto…

Anyway, I apologize for the shortness, but it is a prologue of sorts – one to set up the rest of the story.

In an attempt to not spoil anything, I shall only say that I have received some inspiration from Terry Prachett and Markus Zusak.

Questions for you to answer:

What do you think of the journal?
Were the random POVs confusing or distracting?
Was Sasuke super out of character?
Also, what made you click and read this story?
And, of course, feel free to add any other comments and thoughts you may have.

Thank a bunches in advance.