Those torn apart by the Moon…
AN: No, sadly I don't own Naruto or anything else for that matter. Because if I did, a certain upcoming couple would already be together! Oh well, until then please enjoy this two-shot! Please review!
The moon. How many vague meanings and picture painting metaphors described its mysterious and magical wonders? How many ever changing fables and tales revolved around the lunar orb of light? The night light source was forever destined to be the antonym to its day time cousin. It was categorized as the guardian and eternal ruler over all of the creatures that emerged in the cool darkness. Many viewed the moon as a breathtaking vision of beauty ever changing in its daily journey across the sky with the stars accompanying it. The wiser few recognized the crescent and saw through the deception. Seemingly harmless, the moon could tear the lives of mere mortals apart: defenseless, innocent people who didn't deserve such condemnation. The moon kept its secrets well as well as the people it held power over. They had to. There was no other choice if one wanted to attain survival.
And for that very reason, Sasuke hated the moon. It had mercilessly destroyed any hope of happiness that he had struggled for so long to grasp. No, he should rephrase that. They had destroyed any sliver of bliss that he had wished for countless night, those creatures, self-centered heartless beasts.
They had ripped her away from him with snapping jaws. They had ruined the rest of her life. They had sentenced her to an eternity of isolation. Her dreams of finally achieved happiness had been shattered like glass on the barren concrete of circumstance. She was about to get her wish too. He was going to tell her. He was going to confess his feelings for her. It had taken him long enough after all. It had taken him three years since his departure from Konoha to kill the devious snake devil and his loathed elder sibling. He was finally allowed the luxury of showing the loyal girl of his dreams the feelings that he had squelched in order to reach his life goal as an avenger. But now, a truly unexpected and mountainous rift divided them. Until then, he was positive that nothing of that nature was even possible or existed. Ignorance was never rewarded…
Their world had coming crashing down that night when the luminous moon was full…Team seven had been assigned a simple "C" ranked mission of escorting a man of unknown origins or intentions safely back to his home in a neighboring country. If they had only known what dangers awaited them this time…
The young male's name was Raul. He was tall and had tawny blonde hair. His build was muscular and the ninjas wondered silently why someone of his strength had requested an escort. He was friendly enough but kept mostly to himself. There was also something about him that reeked of a terrible secret. It was reflected in the way he carried himself. Oh how right he had been in his assumptions. They were three nights in when the fateful ambush had been sprung upon them.
There had been five of them. At first glance, the impression had been less than threatening. Sure, they were lean with muscle just as Raul was, but hey, they themselves were trained and experienced ninja. Five ordinary adolescents were no match for them, right? Wrong. Naruto had actually been knocked out cold in the first five minutes. They were not as they appeared. These guys were equipped with alarming speed that took the sharingan to even keep up with their blurred movements. Monstrous strength acted as their offensive weapons so a single mistake was not allotted. Fifteen minutes later found Sasuke and Kakashi panting in exhaustion trying their bests just to stay on their feet. No amount of jutsus could even bring the slightest damage to these opponents. Sakura stood frightened yet determined behind the two males of her team acting as a last wall of defense for Raul. However, it could be noted that rage burned like an exploding fire in the eyes of the blonde and an animalistic growl constantly rumbled like soft thunder from his lips. Sakura anxiously wondered if maybe a little distance between them would be wise.
"Leave!" Raul roared and the ninja's eyes widened at the intense ferocity of it. But the five remained a smug smirk etched into every one of their faces. The tallest of the five stepped forward, silently demonstrating that he was the leader and head alpha.
He had messy red locks that blew about his face with the oncoming breeze. Hazy grey eyes locked on to the only female in the messy brawl and quickly glazed over with unrestrained lust. A singed jagged scar ran under the left eyelid in a vertical lightning shape. His body was lean with muscle, and he was obviously proud of it with his cocky stance. His voice was low and scratchy like he had had been yelling for long periods of time.
"I'm sorry old friend, but I simply can't oblige your request. But you should be glad. I've decided to let your precious sister off of the hook. I seem to have stumbled across a far more enticing candidate." His heated gaze had rested upon her and was unashamedly undressing her with his eyes.
"Such lovely hair. I don't think I've ever seen such a color before; and those eyes, they simply shine with such a fire. I can hardly wait to see what they look like after…" The monologue was cut short when a kunai from Sasuke whizzed through the air towards the red head. Arrogantly, the leader merely shifted his head to one side and watched as the knife embedded itself in a large oak.
"Shut. Up." Sasuke snarled. No one talked like that about Sakura and got away with it. He would not tolerate this creep's husky tone any longer. The leader simply smirked, though his subordinates let loose more of their strange animalistic growls.
"Who are you supposed to be, her mate?" The sudden declaration made Sasuke's eyes widen and in the back round Sakura blushed scarlet. His implication was a desired wish of hers, despite her knowledge that it would probably never become a truth. The red head caught sight of this and a similar growl erupted from his lips. Meanwhile, Raul looked over to Sakura in fear sensing what was about to come next.
"No!" he screamed his body seemingly immobile. Somehow, the distance had increased between him and the girl. Unknowingly, it was him who should have been protecting her from these enemies.
But it was too late; the leader had vanished from Kakashi's and Sasuke's sight only to reappear directly behind Sakura. Said girl trembled in shocked horror as his arms wound around her and crushed her to his chest effectively trapping her. She could feel his warm moist breath on her neck and she shivered terrified of what was in store for her. By now Sasuke and Kakashi had turned and watched with angry yet worried gazes.
"Sorry boys, but this one will be mine." In agonizing slow motion, Sasuke was forced to watch in estranged fascination as the lead male's canine teeth elongated into sharp fangs seconds before he actually sank them into the juncture of where the neck meets the shoulder.
Sakura's scream pierced the air like a kunai slices through flesh. The scream rang with saturated fear, despair pain and with the unknown loss of humanity. Sasuke remembered that night a little piece of his heart permanently broke. It broke for her and all of the things that she would have to endure because of one man's selfish nature. In that moment the Uchiha knew what true rage was as the girl immediately sank unconscious to the ground in a tousled heap.
"No!" Raul shout could barely be heard in the muted world of Sasuke's anger. He saw red and there was nothing going to hold him back from taking this man's life. In fact, he would relish the blood that he would soak his kunai in. The raven haired ninja charged the leader with reckless abandon. But suddenly, he was halted when the other four subordinates stood in front of him like a human wall. It was interesting to say the least that their canines were lengthened as well. Who and what were these people? Fingers deftly moved into the various hand signs that would produce a high level fire style jutsu but stopped when the human wall abruptly vanished from sight. Only the leader remained standing behind Sakura like a predator does its dead prey or prize. Sasuke glared and readied a weapon once more totally forgetting Kakashi and the others. This one was going to die. His time away from Konoha with Orochimaru hardened him so that he would have no qualms with ending this man's pitiful existence.
Despite the promised annihilation in his opponent's eyes, the leader merely smirked and began to step away.
"Take care of her for me Raul; I expect my alpha female to be in top condition when I return for her." Without another word, he was gone in a whirlwind of dust. Sasuke clenched his fists in his barely controlled fury. He was a jounin for goodness sake and those freaks had made him look like a novice. They would pay. Besides that, he had hurt her. He had marked Sakura like some kind of animal. Slowly, and guiltily, he made his way over to the unconscious female. He cradled her into his lap with the utmost of care and gentleness not caring ho he looked in front of either of the males. Upon inspection, sure enough two puncture wounds adorned Sakura's creamy white neck. Blood slowly trickled down like a river staining her clothes and skin. The raven haired ninja clutched her body close to his in a silent apology for being unable to save her from this pain. But now, from the look on Raul's downcast appearance he knew that this apology was not going to suffice.
"I'm sorry." The blonde had whispered over and over like a mantra. The two conscious team seven members wondered why this was. Sakura's injury wasn't life threatening.
"I've doomed her." This caught Sasuke's attention and sharingan orbs pinned him with a frigid stare.
"Why?" The sneer meant that a clear explanation was to be given immediately. Even Kakashi watched him with a cautious eye. Raul gazed at Sakura with sadness and brotherly compassion. He knew personally the road that she would now be forced to walk. So it was with a deep exhaling of breath that Raul began pointing to the marks on her neck.
"That…is no ordinary bite. She was bitten by a lycan and will now be cusrsed forever more to become as one." The Uchiha's brows knitted in frustrated confusion. But it was his sensei that voiced the actual question.
"Lycan? What exactly is that?" Raul suddenly looked very tired and forlorn. His whole body radiated regret and despair.
"I believe…that the common term that you would use would be werewolf…" All three males locked gazes for a moment before Sasuke snorted in annoyance.
"Don't spout that foolish crap. Werewolves don't exist." Even Kakashi looked a little perturbed at the seemingly ludicrous explanation. But Raul remained adamant. His look was bitter and knowing as though the secret had burdened him like a terrible weight for many years.
"You think I'm lying don't you, that I'm just making all of this up…" His spiteful tone did not deter the obvious facial expression of well duh or obviously. With an indignant sigh the blonde rose from their sides and walked off a few feet. Both males wondered what in the world he was doing but soon their questioning turned to entranced fascination.
Sasuke and Kakashi stared at Raul's visible trembling. His whole body heaved before startling changes were noticed. Raul's naturally slicked back hair seemed to blow in an unknown wind as it became messier and the strange thing was, shaggier. Steadily, more alarming things were taken notice. Raul's intense eyes glowed with an intense golden light. Pain or pleasure the two ninjas couldn't really tell but when his mouth opened in a silent gasp, the two watched as his canine teeth lengthen into the sharp fangs just as the leader's had right before he had bit Sakura. Human finger nails hardened and grew into razor sharp claws. Meanwhile, the visible hair on his arms and legs thickened into what looked like a light coat of fur. Ears stretched and became pointed at the tips like that of an elf. When it seemed like the transformation was complete Raul bent over pulling the back of his pants down just a little and right before the ninjas' eyes as the coccyx bone protruded down and outward bushy fur sprouted from it soon developing into a long wolf like tail. Raul let out a long sigh of relief before he locked gazes with the two konoha ninjas.
Both of their breaths had hitched and neither could find the strength to take that first gasp of much needed oxygen. It wasn't possible… It couldn't be possible. But there he was, Raul was standing there his new blonder highlights appearing in his blonde hair as he stepped toward them.
"Believe me now?" Sasuke was instantly defensive pulling Sakura protectively against him. Raul saw and ignored the pathetic attempts to protect the girl. There was nothing that they could do to protect her from him if he truly wanted to hurt her, not with being what he was. Still, Raul indulged the young male and gave words of comfort and reassurance to placate the male. Truly, if the raven haired ninja had been bitten then he would have been an alpha male for sure which would have been a good match for his girlfriend. That train of thought halted at that exact moment. It was heartbreaking really. Now, because of him, they would never be together.
"I'm…I'm sorry for what has happened, for…what has been done to her." The words felt like ton weights on Raul's tongue but the apology had to be given. It was his fault the girl had now lost what would have been a perfectly normal life. But now, she would have to carry the burden of keeping this terrible secret.
"Is there some kind of antidote?" Kakashi's weary tone was still heavily laden with fatherly concern. Raul couldn't meet their gaze. He could only shake his head.
"I'm sorry but…the curse is transferred upon contact. Look there where she was bitten, she already bears the mark." Everyone looked to Sakura's neck and through the dried and crusting blood a dark blue tattoo-like crescent moon was visible on her skin.
Sasuke wanted to wretch. It was too late. He was too late. He couldn't save her. How ironic. He had waited for so long just to kill Itachi so that afterwards he could finally be with Sakura the way she had dreamed. He had waited, hadn't shown her interest all of those years so that she wouldn't be harmed. But now, Itachi was dead and Sakura had been permanently damaged because he couldn't protect her. The feeling of self loathing and utter uselessness was threatening to overwhelm Sasuke. He was angry and bitter and steam needed to be blown with the giving of answers.
"Why?" His baritone voice was stricken with vulnerable grief over what he had realized he could possible lose. That he could very well lose her in this ordeal. He needed to know the reason why such an innocent creature had to suffer a monster's fate. It wasn't fair and he needed a reason that would justify this tragedy. Sasuke's coal black eyes beseeched him with a pleading so intense that the man had to look away.
"They…they were going n to take my sister and I…and I thought that you could help protect her from them. I had no idea how strong he was and I couldn't face them alone, for fear that if I fell to them in battle then no one would be able to protect her from them."
His sister... It all made sense now. Those five were going to forcibly take Raul's sister so that she would be the leader's mate. But…but he had seen Sakura and …and changed his mind.
Silence permeated the air and Sasuke felt his eyes slide shut unable to face reality. He wanted to slip away and bury himself in the warm comforting covers of blissful ignorance. But Kakashi's voice was like a striking bucket of cold water upon his skin.
"Come on, we need to get these two to some kind of shelter." Raul nodded and helped Kakashi with an unconscious Naruto. With the utmost care, Sasuke rose with Sakura in his arms, numb to everything else around him. It was almost like a comatose state a state in which he had only once visited previously, that day when he had lost all those precious to him. How many more of his important people would be sacrificed in one way or another? Were Kakashi and Nauto somehow doomed as well because of this? Was he the real curse underlying these warped events? He was beginning to seriously think so as he trudged towards Raul's house that night…
Naruto was never told. Sasuke had been vehemently against telling Naruto what had befallen Sakura. No one was ever going to know Sakura's secret except for himself, Kakashi, and Raul. It was not something that should be shared with anyone. Disclosing such information was a serious danger to Sakura's life, and Sasuke vowed to never put her in such a position again.
Sasuke was the one to do it. He was the one to lie bold faced and unapologetic to his best friend. He was the one who was going to deceive the innocent blonde. It was part of the burden that he would willingly carry since he had failed the love of his life. He would be the one to protect her and her secret from this day forward. He was the one to tell Naruto that it was a simple neck wound that she had received in the battle and that he shouldn't disturb her for the rest of the day. Naruto was wary at first with the explanation and had voiced that if indeed it was a simple neck wound then why it was that he couldn't go see her. But Sasuke had stoically replied that he was not allowed to see her either.
Another lie… That was the farthest thing from the truth. The truth of the matter was that he couldn't bear to be anywhere nears her room when that life shattering news was delivered. He could not bear to hear her sobs. They would only serve to remind him of his failure. But really, right then he was lying to his best friend. The one he considered a true brother. How had he managed to get so tangled: since his hatred for Itachi. But he would bear this and Naruto would never have to know. The loud mouth ninja had enough to worry about already. He didn't need to worry over Sakura now too.
Later in the day, Sasuke had gone out with Naruto to spar. Sasuke had claimed he needed to relieve some stress, but that was only a farce. In reality, Sakura had just woken from her unconsciousness and she was going to be told the truth. Sasuke needed to be away not only to keep Naruto busy but for his own heart's sake. He knew he would have nightmares for the rest of his life if he heard even the slightest bit of her scream that he knew was inevitable.
Just before sunset, the boys decided to return sweaty and worn from their sparring. Naruto had found that for some reason, Sasuke had seemed immensely distracted but when questioned about it, Sasuke always gave a scalding negative and then proceeded to fight on with enthused anger. That fight with Naruto was therapeutic. It gave the Uchiha the chance to fight out the emotions that he kept securely bottled up inside. Those negative emotions could be relieved with every punch and kick that he delivered. In the end, he was left with a dull aching pain.
But nothing prepared him for when he walked into the house. There, in the hallway stood a tearstained and frightened Sakura. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy from the abuse of her tears. Despite being unconscious for so long she looked like she hadn't slept in weeks. Upon eye contact with her, the girl bust into a new set of sobs dashing from the room in an instant. Sasuke felt his heart break a little more. She was ashamed of herself and the creature she had unwillingly become. She was ashamed of her tainted secret. It made Sasuke even bitterer with himself. What could he do? What could he possibly say? That he knew what it was like to be tainted? No way. There was no way he could possibly compare the situations. The wicked deeds that he had performed had been of his own voluntary volition. That he could understand because his family had been wiped out by a madman. Still, the circumstances were hardly comparable. She would have to keep this secret way of life hidden for the rest of her days because she had to. That night, as the sun sank beneath the horizon, Sasuke remembered hating the moon and all of the pain that it caused.
That night, when all was sure that Naruto and Kakashi was asleep, Raul led the petrified Sakura out of the house and into the shelter of the dense woods. Little did they know that the ever protective Uchiha was stealthily following behind them in the shadows. Despite the horrors that he thought he might face, he was prepared to sit through it all and make sure no matter what, Sakura would stay unharmed.
Sasuke sat up in one of the highest branches among one of the near by trees being sure to mask his chakra perfectly. Down below in the small clearing, Raul spoke with Sakura in brief hushed tones. Sasuke could tell from the way her lower lip was quivering that Sakura was trying her best not to burst out into tears. A hand on her shoulder was a reassuring comfort from Raul. At the sight, Sasuke felt a phantom growl rise in his own throat. He didn't want Raul touching his Sakura even if he was only helping her. It only burned Sasuke more that it was not him that was able to comfort her now.
An up surge of chakra alerted the raven haired sharingan user that something was about to happen. Raul had now stepped away a few feet away from Sakura as the unnatural wind picked up around him. Slowly, the same transformation from man to half beast took place causing Sakura to whimper in fear and despair. She knew very well that that was going to be her in a matter of minutes. Raul was careful and patient as he allowed Sakura to examine him from a distance with his eyes. A gulp was heard when she spotted the tawny blonde tail that trailed out behind him. The other features didn't seem to faze her much. Still there was the question…
"Is…Is that as far as the transformation goes?" Sakura's voice was weak and uncertain. Strikingly sharp and distinct eyes seemed to soften as he shook his head.
"I'm sorry but no, on nights of the full moon we are unable to deny the internal call and we shift into the complete form of the wolf. On any other night, the transformation is completely voluntary, however traits of what we truly are when strong emotions are experienced. Although, being a ninja, you must be able to control your emotions with ease so I doubt that will be a problem." Sakura was silent despite the curiosity that shone in her eyes at the explanation. Sakura saw Raul sniff at the air before nodding to himself.
"I see…" Sakura was perplexed as to what he was talking about when she saw Raul double over in what she thought was paining.
"Raul!" Sakura exclaimed rushing over to him to try to help him. But a low warning growl stopped her in her tracks. When he lifted his head, Sakura gasped at the sight eve as his body lowered to the ground because of his transformation. His head and now body had now shifted into that of a wolf. It was odd and slightly frightening that this seemingly wild animal was actually a man. Raul cocked his head and looked at her a bit before throwing his head back and letting loose a loud howl.
So…that is what she would become when the moon was full. Sakura felt her heart shatter as Raul transformed back into human form. All of her fantastical dreams of her and Sasuke living happily ever after together were demolished. There were no fairytales of the monster and the handsome prince settling down together. Now she would end up all alone, having to hide from any kind of romantic relationship for fear of someone finding out her secret. When she had awoken, Kakashi and Raul told her of her doomed fate, she felt as if she had been sent away into solitary isolation. But the more excruciating hurt was experienced when she found out that Sasuke knew what she was now. She could just envision his disgusted and repulsed facial features when he would look at her. There was no way he was going to accept a monster. It was just common fact. And for that, she hated the man that mercilessly did this to her. He had destroyed years of hopes and dreams, and there was nothing she could do to change it.
"Sakura." The calling of her name ripped Sakura from her thoughts.
"Oh, yes?" Rauls's look was uncomfortable yet steady.
"So, are you willing to…try…it?" Sakura paused for a moment. She knew the moment that she began her own change would officially mark the end of her pure humanity. She would have to let go of her dream of ever being with Sasuke and the near impossible love that he could have had for her. But now as she looked up at the ethereal looking moon she couldn't help but wonder if the moon was crying with her. Because maybe, the moon didn't want to tear people apart. But she couldn't think about that now, not when the creature inside of her longed to escape from this bodily prison…
REMEMBER THIS IS A TWO SHOT SO THE HAPPY CONCLUSION OF THIS STORY WILL BE UP SOON, PLEASE REVIEW!