Regression
noun. the act of going back to a previous place or state; return or reversion.

Maybe that was how time goes by.

Quickly, without a sound, until you notice it already disappearing into the distance, flying too fast and too far to grasp and reel back in, to reclaim and hold and to spin out again slowly. To live without losing yourself again.

Or perhaps it moves not at all. And it is you going backwards.

However time moves, you're already too late. His hand slips away. Or is it yours?

There are a million different ways you could have lived without looking back to the past. Or have you already seen the future? Is that why neither you nor time passes? Is that why he is looking at you like this? Is that why you can't see him?

Too late, too late. A voice whispers. It is lost.

Yes. Yes. Your conscience knows it now. His mouth opens. Your fingers reach up of their own accord and touch his lips. They close again, tentative. Something warm on the side of his mouth.

Blood, your fingers tell you.

His? No.

Yours.

Vaguely, you want to care, but you are now living in reverse. Everything you've learned over the years, all the skills and the knowledge, all gone. Gone. Gone.

Warm.

…Time goes by. Too late, too late. Beyond the horizon.

- o -

...I know I don't like doing Authors Notes, especially in the middle of a series like this, but in this case, I feel I have to. Um...hi there. xD It's been almost a year since I've updated, well, anything. I don't want this to become a sign that I'm going to start writing fanfiction again, because to be perfectly honest, I'm probably not, but I was looking through some of my old work and I was shocked to find out that I wrote and did not post this. I'm not surprised. It's really bad. But anyway, I thought I'd just get this up. It's extremely stilted and fragmented, because I imagine that when you're dying and in great pain, it's hard to think in complete statements. I may or may not continue writing from now on, but if I do, it probably won't be for Naruto. I'm so truly sorry, but my love for this fandom has recently subdued somewhat. I'll never stop loving it completely, but there are some other things that have been worming their way into my heart lately. I hope you understand, and I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Until next we meet Annay