Shakespeare is one of the greatest writers of the century, his plays passing through time with the same luster as they were when first written by the man himself. The essence of a Shakespearean tragedy are a few select major characteristics. Two, however stand out more then the rest...
First off, death is invevitable for the protagonist.
Secondly, the hero's downfall is caused by his own flaws or actions.
I sat absent mindedly in my Advanced Literature class, taking detailed notes on the lecture my sensei was giving. A movement outside the window caught my attention, making my dark eyes flash towards it, but I only saw the clouds.
"Hatake-san." My teacher's sharp voice ripped me from my nature watching.
"Hai, Takeo-sensei?" I asked timidly.
She glared at me over her glasses, the rim riding low on her nose. Takeo-sensei tapped her foot impatiently, the back of her high-heeled shoe clicking against the wooden floor.
"Can you tell me a theme to Shakespeare's play Macbeth?" She demanded.
My eyes automatically flicked away from her face, and I stared intently at my book. Sighing, I felt heat rush to my face, I was never good about being on the spot.
"Hai, Takeo-sensei." My voice was soft that I knew some of my peers had to strain to hear me.
With another sigh, I picked up my book and answered my teacher's question. However, my mind was on other things. It had been 6 years since he left Konoha to join Orochimaru, and reading Macbeth had caused the gears in my brain to start making conections.
Sasuke Uchiha, he was a living Shakespearean tragedy.
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players
- W.S
"You're thinking about him again, aren't you?" Kakashi asked, not bothering to look up from his book to see my reaction.
I bit down on my bottom lip, and turned away so that my face was covered by my black hair. Tears prickled behind my eyes, and I wished I wasn't so weak.
"No, uncle." I replied weakly, using my chopsticks to push my rice around my plate.
"Don't lie to me, Shiori." He warned gently, his visible eye rolling up to look at me.
I blushed, and mumbled something unintelligable. I hated that my uncle knew what I was thinking, it made me feel so revealed. To gain time to come up with an excuse, I put some chicken in my mouth. The cooked meat burned my mouth, but I chewed slowly.
After I swallowed, I forced a small smile. "I'm just really overwhelemed is all. I have midterms coming up and I have to memorize a monologue for class."
Kakashi quirked an eyebrow, his book slowly closing. I kept the my fake grin in place, praying that Kakashi would be fooled just this once.
"Don't push yourself too hard." He mumbled, and turned his attention to his dinner.
I watched my uncle eat with a solemn expression, he was going out tonight. Naruto was returning from his 2nd phase of training with Jiraya, and Kakashi was going with Sakura to meet up with his old student. Fate had decided to throw me a bone, because tonight would be easier of Kakashi wasn't here.
It was the first weekend of the month, and I knew he was coming. He always visted me at this time, but he never told me why he picked it. He told me once that the reason he came to see me was that he needed to heal, and that I was tender-hearted enough to accept him.
I couldn't help the bitter smile that stretched across my face, it seemed I was a greater deal bitter then I used to be.
Sasuke was coming to vist me tonight.
All that glisters is not gold.
- W.S
We were sitting on my houses roof, which was nice because it was summer time. The warm breeze lightly played with my hair, a few strands being pushed around in the air. Sasuke's hand shot out and grabbed a strand between his fingers, and squinted his eyes. I looked at him curiously, my self-concious light flashing.
"What?" I asked softly.
"I just never noticed that your hair has some red in it."
"Only in the right light." I replied, the heat in my face rising.
"Hmmm..."
We sat silently, he was lying on his back and I on my bottom. My knees were pulled against my chest, and I had my arms wrapped around them. I stole glances at him every few seconds, fascintated by everything he did.
"Um, so how are things?" I asked stupidly, just wanting him to speak.
He shrugged. "Nothing, really. It's all the same."
"O-Oh, cool."
Once again, silence blanketed us, and during that span of time I remembered what I had been thinking earlier that day. Sasuke was a Shakespearen tragedy within himself, a living testoment to the infamous writer's understanding of the world and it's inner working cogs.
Sasuke's downfall was caused by his own actions. His decadance is his own blindess to the world, and the people in it. I understood what no one else did about Sasuke, the issues I know he had when he thought about leaving.
It was difficult for him to leave, but then his self-loathing pysche assured him that no one would really care. He was wrong however, blind to the people in his life that held him dear.
I was one, the shy girl hopelessly fallen for the troubled hero. It's certain that we would never have met if he wasn't so close to my uncle as they were.
"Shiori." Sasuke's voice snapped me out of my thinking.
I jumped slightly, and turned to him. "Yes?"
"Let's go."
Obidently, I followed Sasuke to the edge of the roof. I'd done this many times before that it was almost second nature to me. Clumsily, I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist securly. With one graceful leap, we landed on the sill of my window, which I had left unlocked. In a matter of seconds I was standing on my carpet, my toes curling in the soft fabric. I looked up at him, and his eyes seemed to glow with an inner dark flame.
Like first weekend of the month, I slowly stripped off my shirt and let it slip out of my hands. It landed to the floor with a soft plop, and I looked down at my feet. His hand circled around my wrist and pulled me into his chest. I sighed, and wrapped my arms around his waist. I felt his lips place gentle kisses down my neck, and I allowed him to lead me to the bed.
And thus, the catalyst of my own downfall.
You fools of fortune. . . .
- W.S
I was glad that Kakashi had to leave early in the morning for a mission the next day, because I wouldn't want him to hear my sobbing. It was like this every morning I woke up after he vistited me, naked and alone. I knew I was being used, I'd come to the conclusion when I was 17. It reopened the freshly healed wound in my heart, and it was always harder and harder to repair. However, I was unsure if I could heal this time. The walls were closing in on my soul, and my happiness.
I was hopeless, I told myself that soon he'd come to the realization that he was in love with me and everything would get better. He had to have a special affection for me, right? I was the only one he bothered to come back to, right?
Through my tears, I looked up to see the framed picture of my mother smiling back at me. She was beautitful, like Kakashi was. I guess they should look similar, they were siblings after all. Her sweet smile made me cry harder, and I wished she was here to tell me what I was supposed to do.
I felt like a toy, Sasuke only took me out when he wanted to play with me. And then when he was done, he'd lock me away in the toy box.
It hurt like hell to know that the person you love and would die for uses you. It's an even worse feeling when you let them, and hurt yourself in the process. Despite all that, I was sure that soon he would tell me how special I was to him. Then, everything would go back to normal and everyone would be happy.
Another cry racked through my body, and I rocked myself back and forth on my disheleved bed.
What's gone and what's past help
Should be past grief
- W.S
It was winter now, and I could see the snow piling up on the sill on my window outside. I looked over to see him dozing next to me, the covers sliding off his chest. My eyes stayed glued to his peaceful face, and I took in a silent deep breath.
"Do you love me, Sasuke?" I asked in a shaky voice.
"What?" He opened one eye.
He wasn't even listening. I thought sadly.
"I asked if you love me."
His other eye opened, and I was faced with two onyx jems burning at me. I shrank back from the fierce look he was giving me, my hands holding the covers over my chest.
"Love?" He almost laughed. "You actually think I have time for that?!"
"Well, I-I, um..."
"What, Shiori? If you have something to say, spit it out!" He was shouting now, and I almost wished that Kakashi was at home.
"I-I j-just d-d-don't like y-y-you t-taking ad-advantage of m-me." I stuttered out.
Sasuke stared at me blankly for a moment, and then he did something he's never done.
He started laughing.
Not his normal snarky chuckle, this was full out laugh. The kind that strains your stomach and makes it sore to even breath afterward. I stared at him, I was flabbergasted. After a few moments, he stopped, and rubbed the length of his face with his hands.
"Ah, that's rich, Shiori!" He sighed.
The tears were streaming down my face, I could feel them even if I was silent. He was laughing at me! I was confessing my heart to him, and he mocked me!
"Th-that's m-m-mean." I said inbetween breaths.
Suddenly, his eyes darkened angrily and all humor drained from his face. With lightning speed, he reached out and grabbed a fistful of my hair and jerked my head painfully. I yelped, and tears sprung out of my eyes in a greater wave.
"I am mean, Shiori!" He roared. "I thought you would know that better then anyone else! God damn it, you're the one whose supposed to know me the best!"
He gave my head another painful jerk, and I fell off the bed with a hard thud. Sasuke followed me down like a hawk, and his hand was again fisted in my hair.
"Y-You're hurting me!" I cried.
"That's because that's what I do! I hurt people!" He shouted.
Sasuke was scaring me, I'd never seen him like this. The look in his eyes was frightening me, the madness that was swirling around in them. He looked crazed, his mouth twisted into a pyschotic sneer. His eyes were alight from within with a fury I'd never seen before, and I wondered if it was what I did.
I reached up gripped his wrist with both hands, trying the ease the burning sensation on my scalp.
"I-I'm sorry if what I said upset you." I pleaded. "Please, just let go!"
"I'm so god damn sick of all you people!" His voice was like a demons. "I thought you were the only one who understood me, but I guess I was wrong!"
"N-No, I'm sorry. Whatever I did, I'll promise never to do it again!" I pleaded, I just didn't want him to be mad at me.
I heard him scoff, and he released my hair roughly, and pushed me backwards at the same time. I landed partially on my side and caught myself on my elbows. I winced at the pain, and bit down on my bottom lip.
"I thought you were different, Shiori." His voice was dark. "I thought I never had to explain anything to you, I thought we completed eachother."
I stared up at him in terror and confusion. "W-What are you saying?"
Sasuke's eyes darkened and he turned away from me so I couldn't see his expression. I was very confused, was he saying that he did love me? Or...Was it something else?
"No, I don't love you."
I felt my heart shattered into a millio pieces, and fresh tears spilled out of my eyes. So, he was using me all this time. But, I suppose I realized it from the beginning. I was dropped back into reality when I heard the sound of metal being drawn. Looking up, I saw Sasuke standing over me, his sword clutched in one hand. My body went numb as I looked at how the invisibly tainted metal caught the light.
"S-Sasuke, w-what a-are y-you d-doing?"
He closed his eyes, like he was making his peace with something. "You've seen me too much, I can't allow you to live."
My eyes widened, and I pushed myself into a sitting postion. Using my arms, I pushed myself across the floor without getting up. In horror, I felt my back make contact with my wall. Slowly, I looked up to see him coming towards me, and he looked...regretful.
"Maybe if you had told me how you felt about me sooner..." His voice trailed off at the end. "Perhaps I would have stayed."
My heart sank, that feeling where you it literally feels like your heart dropped down into your stomach and gets eaten away by the acids. If only I wasn't a coward, maybe he would have stayed. All my dreams and hopes could have been real, if only...
If only...
If only...
If only...
A cold sweat broke out on my forehead as I felt the cool metal of the sword press against my neck. I was sobbing hard now, choking on my own tears. I looked up, pleading, and I could barely see through my tears.
"P-P-Please don't do this, Sasuke." I begged.
"This is just the way it has to be."
I saw everything in slow motion. Sasuke brought his arm back, his shoulder muscle's tensing as he readied himself for the fatal blow. It felt like an eternity to me, looking death in the face.
With a cold realization, I thought how pathetic my life was, and then I knew...
I was a Shakespearean tragedy.
My own downfall caused by my own actions. If I had told Sasuke before he left my feelings, I might have been able to stop him. I caused myself years of pyschological and emotional trama by letting him take advantage of me. And my own death by saying the wrong thing....
There is only one last characteristic to make me a Shakespearean tragedy...
The death of the protagonist.
I saw the line of light, the sword coming in for the final swing. I kept his eye contact the entire time, and saw a parade of emotions flicker through them.
Anger, regret, horror, and finally acceptance.
He knew what I wouldn't let myself think about. No matter how we felt, nothing could change. Sasuke was still a traitor and a Sound Nin, and I was a weak non-shinobi girl who majored in literature.
In a matter of seconds, I could feel the warm blood trickling down my neck it rivers. It soaked into the sheets that covered my naked body, and stained my clean skin. I looked back up at him, my eyes wide with betrayl. He stared back at me with an unfathomable expression, and leaned down closer to me. He brought his face closer to mine, to the point where I could feel his breath on my face.
Then I felt his lips against mine, but he tasted copperish because my blood was pouring out of my parted lips. I felt his tongue in my mouth, and I knew he was licking up the blood. He pulled away, and black dots were swimming infront of my eyes.
I tried to say something, but my throat hurt and I really wanted to go to sleep. The last thing I saw was Sasuke staring me dead in the eye with a remorseful expression and my blood smeared on hips lips.
"I was lying, because I wanted to protect you from myself." He was close to sobbing. "I do love you, Shiori."
I wanted to reply, but I couldn't speak. The darkness was closing in on me, and my eyes closed involuntarily. I could hear Sasuke sobbing in the background, and I wanted to comfort him, but the darkness was too thick.
I could only think about how Sasuke had thrown me away, even though it would hurt him because of his past actions. He would always be a Shakespearean tragedy.
Both of us Shakespearean tragedies. Huh, we're like Romeo and Juliet.
Finally the darkness was too powerful, like water over my head that I couldn't break through. I sunk into oblivion, and finally, all my pain bleed out of me.
The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils
- W.S
Fin.
