Standard disclaimer applied.
Forgive me, I'm trying to find
My calling, I'm calling at night
I don't mean to be a bother
But have you seen this girl?
She's been running through my dreams
And it's driving me crazy, it seems
"Has it woken up?"
"I'm afraid not."
"It's been four days. Wake it up."
"The drug does not work. Its system dissipates any foreign substance that enters its body. It is remarkable. I haven't seen anything quite like it."
"How long will it take it to regain consciousness?"
"Today or maybe tomorrow."
"Very well, I hope it is the one."
"My sentiments exactly."
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Four days?
I've been unconscious for four days?
Where am I?
Who am I?
Who is the one?
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"Have you seen her yet?"
"No. Not yet."
"Do you think they'll let us in? I mean, we're the ones who found her, right? It only makes sense if we're the first ones that see her."
"Hn."
Sasuke Uchiha looked out at the twilight sky. The last splashes of light shadowed his grim face perfectly, making the planes and angles of his face more prominent. His partner, Naruto Uzumaki, prattled on and on about how exciting their previous mission was and how amazing it was that they came back with the Dream Sage. He tuned him out. He needed to sort out his thoughts about the whole thing that just happened not long ago:
He just couldn't rule out the fact that the girl they found in that transparent egg, that the girl who had been in his dreams for the past three years was the Dream Sage. The pink tresses that floated along with her like a halo above her head was unmistakably the girl that had been seeking refuge in his dreams. If she really was the Dream Sage, did that mean that she was communicating to him when he was sound asleep?
He stepped closer to the egg that enclosed her. It was a peculiar contraption set in a peculiar room. A plain white room void of any furniture and windows besides a white opaque crystal-like rose whose petals exposed a transparent egg with a sleeping, naked human suspended in mid-air curled up in a fetal position like a baby in a mother's womb. He reached out to touch the egg, to feel any sort of life energy from the creature inside. To feel anything that the uphill struggle for the revered Dream Sage was not lost like the other chosen ones, dead on arrival. But in Sasuke's mind, a voice spoke up:
Hands bloodied with death are not worthy to touch something so pure.
Hesitation gripped him for a second, his hand hovering in the air. He shook it off while his palm and fingers flattened against the cold glass encasement. A shockwave of electricity flowed through Sasuke as if there was an unknown force pulling the blood in his veins with rapid speed. It was like the egg was seeping off his energy, his life force. It didn't hurt at all though. It was like a stinging sensation that was a bit pleasant rather than uncomfortable. There was a nagging at the back of his mind that he should let go but he couldn't bear to remove his hand when the egg was radiating with so much light that the person inside was no longer visible. His eyes were focusing in and out, trying to catch a glimpse of the Dream Sage that was formerly in deep slumber awhile ago.
And there it was. A hazy figure stood erect inside the egg. He was spellbound. The blurry outline reached forward her hand, to align it with his own. To make a connection even if the glass egg separated them.
But before the Dream Sage could, a sudden force knocked him sideways, breaking the trance.
"Teme! What were you thinking?! We had orders to wait for back-up and to stand by!"
Sasuke could barely hear Naruto as the sound of glass shattering echoed across the white room, deafening the ears of the units inside the area. His eyes instantly centered on the egg the Dream Sage was in. In the background, he could hear Naruto's distressed shouts for immediate back-up. He stood up and hurried to the frigid rose petals. Where the transparent egg previously rested, a delicate doll-like body lay covered with gleaming glass shards. Eyes still closed and, to everyone in the room's relief, breathing.
"Do you think she's really the Dream Sage?" whispered Naruto behind him.
Before he could answer, the ANBU research team burst in carrying their equipment. They were shuffled out the room to stand guard and he hadn't seen her since then.
"Uchiha-san, Uzumaki-san, Hokage-sama would like to see you in the laboratory." said a Jounin that just strode in the lobby and broke him from his thoughts.
"Hey, hey! We get to see the Dream Sage!" said Naruto and pounded his fist in the air. Sasuke dismissed the Jounin with a curt nod. They walked down the irritatingly sterilized hallways of the Konoha Research Facility where the Dream Sage was being held for recovery. "Do you think she's awake now, Teme?"
Sasuke shrugged in response. He looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows that covered the wall on his right. Twilight has ended and the night has begun. He had plenty of questions that he'd like to ask the Dream Sage. What was the meaning of the images she was sending him? Why did she pick him to send this? Will she be able to stop the impending Gales? Can she see the future? Will she be able to save us all?
"…listening to me?" Naruto asked anxiously.
"Hn." They were already standing in front of the double doors of the laboratory.
Naruto made a noise that was unfailingly similar to a snort and pushed open the doors.
They were greeted by people in lab coats as they passed through to reach the Hokage who was standing in front of a cryotank, thoughtfully examining it. Tsunade turned around and greeted them while the two ANBU nin bowed in response.
"And our heroes have arrived." said Tsunade, admiringly.
"Shucks, not really." blushed Naruto.
"You're right. Not really. I thought my orders were clear that you were to standby until the research team arrives." Tsunade said hotly. She crossed her arms and eyed the both of them with a sharp expression. Clearly, Tsunade was not the kind of woman who took disobedience kindly. Especially, when said disobedience came from one of the top ANBU members of her militia. When she dispatched several units of ANBUs to locate the site of the Dream Sage's dwelling, she assigned Sasuke Uchiha to lead Unit D while Naruto Uzumaki fronted Unit E. But somehow, traces and instincts led them to the same lair than the others.
"W-We did. It's just that—" Naruto stuttered.
"It was my fault. I touched it, it shattered." Sasuke confessed impassively.
"Ah. Did you do anything more than touch it, Uchiha?" she asked pointedly. "Research says that the shell fragments were able to withstand nature's wrath—earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes—but a mere mortal touched it and it blew apart?"
"Research says it wrong then." He said. "Has she showed signs of consciousness?"
"No, not yet." Tsunade noticed the deliberate change of subject but decided to drop it. Pushing Sasuke Uchiha in one of his moods is like pushing the walls of the Konoha border. Arduous, unmovable and immaculately stubborn. "But, hopefully, a shock of electricity will make her come around."
"What?!" Naruto exclaimed. "You can't do that! She'll get hurt! How would you like it if you were electrocuted in your sleep, old lady?"
"Old lady?! What? Look, she won't get electro—"
"Let Sasuke do something to her. I mean," Naruto stammered. "It reacted when Teme initiated physical contact with it. Maybe it'll respond again."
Tsunade contemplated this.
She will always have a soft spot for Naruto, Sasuke thought coolly. And Naruto will always be able to get under her skin without even knowing it. Perhaps, Sasuke could use a motherly figure like that in his life. Focusing on being a great ninja soldier, he barely acknowledged his family when he was young. His father being a constant pressure for him to gain his approval, he lacked affection for Fugaku Uchiha since his attention focused on the elder brother. His mother was always fussing about satisfying his father that it's like she forgot about having sons, having children to take care of. His brother was always busy being so great, so incredible, making him nothing but a shadow of his sibling.
Then his parents were murdered right before his eyes. He could remember it crystal clear. He thought he was strong enough to fend the murderer off but he ended up being frozen on his feet, unable to move and unable to pry his eyes off the slaughter of his mother and father. Recognition hit him like a freight train when the murderer turned and bore the face of his prodigy of a brother he looked up to. Sasuke wondered how he could do that, to be so callous as to take the own lives that had brought him into this world. When he had spared him, Sasuke didn't even think for once that it was mercy for him. The rage and betrayal that had festered on his heart took over the want of swift death to join his clan. He will no longer be that twelve year old boy, rooted from fear and choked with helplessness. He was Sasuke Uchiha, twenty four year old ANBU captain, driven for the sake of revenge and living for retribution.
"Very well. Go ahead, Uchiha. Have a go at it." Tsunade sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of her nose.
Walking up to the cryotank which was emitting a sickly blue glow—it was unlike the encasement she was in before which was pure and unsullied—contained a woman attached with multiple sensors to her body and a respirator on her mouth was resting undisturbed. She was still unclothed but the blurriness of the blue liquid clouded her figure. Bubbles appeared every time she breathed. Unlike last time, Sasuke didn't feel a sense of uncertainty. He carefully placed his hand at the cold glass and readied himself for the shock of electricity that was present earlier. But he didn't feel anything besides a slight rumble.
Then the slight rumble turned into a frantic shaking.
"Hokage-sama, the Dream Sage's temperature is intensifying!" exclaimed a researcher.
"Vital signs are showing erratic responses!"
"The tubes! The water is spilling out! The chamber can't hold that much internal pressure!"
Sasuke looked up. The tubes that were connected to the chamber were indeed overflowing with blue water. The rattling has increased to a frenzied clanging. He looked back to the figure inside the test tube.
Deep black clashed with vivid emerald.
She was staring back at him. Tsunade and Naruto rushed to his side.
"Are—are you the Dream Sage who'll prevent the Gales?" Tsunade asked, strangely out of breath.
You have defiled my home and disturbed my sleep. You will take responsibility.
The voice rung within Sasuke's mind, her lips unmoving the whole time she told these words and her eyes never broke contact with his. Surprised, he dropped his hand back to his side. At the same time, the chamber crumbled. Tiny cracks appeared and branched out like spider webs and eventually shattered, causing the water in it to pour out and the girl within it to collapse. Just like before, Sasuke thought, it's like the only energy she has is when a living entity touches her. But this time, she was fully conscious and trembling. Her waist-length hair spilled behind her back and in front of her face. Researchers rushed to her and covered her with a blanket. He scrutinized the Dream Sage at his feet. He crouched to be with her in eye level.
"Are you the Dream Sage who'll prevent the Gales?" Sasuke repeated Tsunade's question, blankly.
She slowly raised her head to meet his gaze. She reached out a thin hand to cup his cheek. You are him.
He looked up at Tsunade, ignoring the cold and smooth hand that was formerly pressed against his face. "I suppose you're not hearing what I'm hearing."
"What?" Tsunade looked at him oddly. "She's speaking? To you?"
"Can you speak?" Sasuke ignored Tsunade and directed the question at the Dream Sage.
No answer.
"Do you have a name?"
My name is… Sakura.
"Sakura. Like the cherry blossom trees."
Cherry blossom trees?
"Are you the Dream Sage who will save us, Sakura?"
No.
"What are you then?"
I am yours.
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Ma Cheríe
AeroCharm
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Chapter 1:
Discovery
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Getting dragged down to Ichiraku's early in the morning wasn't part of Sasuke's Plans for the Day. It mostly consisted of sleeping in, picking up laundry, and training, in that order. Eating at Ichiraku's wasn't at the top of his priority list. But, here he was, eating spicy hot ramen with Naruto. He was already on his second bowl while the Dobe was on his eighth. And they were only in Ichiraku's for approximately twenty five minutes. Sasuke, sometimes, couldn't believe how bottomless Naruto's stomach is. He, on the other hand, has lost his appetite since yesterday.
"Honestly, Teme, you have got to reconsider Tsunade-baachan's offer." said Naruto in between slurps of his ramen.
To be honest, he had reconsidered the Hokage's offer every waking minute. It has been a week since the Dream Sage—Sakura—has woken up. He reported back to the Hokage's office yesterday for her interesting proposal, to take care of Sakura.
Translation: babysitting.
"Think of it as a mission, Uchiha." said Tsunade, her chin resting at the back of her hands and a small mischievous glint in her eyes.
"No, thank you, Hokage-sama." replied Sasuke with his usual don't-know-don't-care tone. He settled comfortably at his chair, eyeing the disorganized desk of the Hokage with a disapproving glance.
"But you will be paid. It's a mission, Sasuke. The mission's payment is of the S-Rank category." pushed Tsunade. She was holding a folder, undoubtedly waiting to be stamped on 'ACCEPTED,' that contained the mission details if Sasuke chose to go through with it.
"Right. But, frankly, babysitting isn't a mission in my book." he stated. "And if you'll excuse me, I've got better things to do." He abruptly stood up and strode to the doors that led out the office.
"All right then. But if you change your mind, the assignment still stands." Tsunade called out as he exited her den.
And he has been thinking about it since then. Though, the more he thought about it, the more the mental images wouldn't come. He hasn't taken care of anyone besides himself over the years—excepting the fact of tending to the injuries of his fellow teammates in the field. He just couldn't picture himself taking care of anyone. Especially, a girl. Particularly, the Dream Sage Sakura. It would probably end up in a horrible mess. But, then again, what did she mean by 'I am yours?' The Dream Sage doesn't belong to anyone. It's—She's—an individual entity that is said to possess unparalleled level of powers to save the world when the Gales are coming. But she said she wasn't the Dream Sage—she said 'I am yours.' But she has got to be the Dream Sage; everything that led to the Dream Sage's dwelling was where she was found.
"Come to think of it, you have to accept the job. She hasn't been eating nor doing anything, to tell the truth." Naruto gave a sideways glance to Sasuke, as he inhaled his tenth bowl.
"Did the Hokage send you to bug me about it?" Sasuke asked directly while playing with the remaining ramen in his bowl.
"Yea—I mean, think of the privileges you'll be getting when you accept this task!" Naruto waved his hands up in the air for emphasis and started ticking off reasons finger by finger. "You'll have a pretty girl in your place to stare at, not that you'll be able to appreciate her beauty like I could since you're like basically asexual," he wiggles his eyebrows playfully at this. "And you'll be able to ask her anything about the past, present and future!"
Sasuke froze. You'll be able to ask her anything about the past, present and future. Naruto's words kept playing over and over again on his head. Anything. He could find out who his parent's murderers were. He could avenge his clan. Well, fine then, Sasuke thought, but first things first.
"Naruto?" Sasuke took a serious tone, turned around on his barstool and faced his best friend who was drinking from his ramen bowl.
"What?" Naruto, noticing the grim pitch in Sasuke's voice, set his ramen bowl down and looked at Sasuke curiously.
Sasuke's fist connected with Naruto's cheek which promptly knocked him out of his barstool.
"What the hell?" exclaimed Naruto, along with other colorful expletives from the floor. "What was that for?"
"For that asexual comment," said Sasuke as he rubbed his fist. "I'm going to the Hokage's about that assignment. You coming?"
Naruto made a sound of grunted approval and shuffled to his feet while he rubbed his jaw. He muttered something about being "sexually deprived" and "mood swings." Sasuke didn't have any clue where Naruto has gotten the idea that he was queer. He had dated plenty of women; granted that it was a get-them-to-bed-and-get-them-out-of-it scenario most of the time. Naruto just didn't know about it. Sasuke wasn't the type to kiss-and-tell; he's more of a kiss-and-never-speak. Oh, he respects women all right. He even tries to get to know them, to date them even; he doesn't have any trouble getting them into bed. His trouble is getting them out of his bed. It was all so tiresome.
Sasuke looked up at the blue and cloudy sky as he tried to rearrange his thoughts, to wipe away foolish concerns. It might rain today, he thought dismally. Naruto talked about how cool it was to be responsible for the Dream Sage that he felt like he was handling something fragile and precious like a museum piece and did he think she's old like a hundred centuries old. Sasuke ignored him; it was no use participating in a conversation when it was duly one-sided. Naruto was in his own little world, one that consisted of fairytales on crack and other verbs that made you high, and Sasuke was in his, one that consisted of bleak grayness and broody emo slash-my-wrist drama. Arriving at the Hokage's office, Sasuke could already imagine the smug look plastered on Tsunade's face and he couldn't help but shudder inwardly.
As Naruto was granted permission to enter, he opened the door and was greeted with the sight of an all-knowing expression from their esteemed Godaime Hokage.
"Well, well, well," greeted Tsunade. "What brings you two here today?"
Sasuke and Naruto bowed and made themselves comfortable at the two cushy chairs opposite Tsunade's work desk. "Sasuke-teme has something to say, Tsunade-baachan."
If she noticed Naruto's swollen cheek, she didn't mention it and letting his old lady remark slip by, Tsunade focused on Sasuke. "And what would that something be, Uchiha?"
Sasuke knew that the Hokage was notorious for being a cunning gambler—even if her pockets were empty—and he knew that she's using one of her techniques in drawing him out now. However, Sasuke didn't feel like beating around the bush today. "The task of being assigned to the Dream Sage Sakura, I've come to accept it."
"I see," she said with hint of victory. "Here you go then." She handed over the folder she was holding yesterday in his presence. He flipped it open and came face to face with a headshot of Sakura looking perplexed and at the same time impassive. He reviewed the vital information and other minor details of the task, signed it and returned it back to Tsunade. "Good work, Uzumaki." Praised Tsunade. Naruto gave her a thumbs-up in return.
"This is so cool, Teme!" gushed Naruto. "Looks like I'll be spending more time in your place now. I'm gonna have to tell Kiba that we have the Drea—"
"Hold it!" Tsunade brusquely stood up and slammed her hands on her desk which made a few papers fall away. "Nobody knows that we have the Dream Sage—save for a few people that I think are capable to keep this information in confidence—and I'd like to keep it that way. If word got out that we possess the Dream Sage, countries beyond Fire are going to infiltrate Konohagakure and rob her from us overnight. We wouldn't want that, would we?"
Both of the men in front of her shook their heads obediently.
"So, I suggest that the both of you better keep your traps shut regarding this matter, understood? Good. To not arouse suspicion too, introduce Sakura as your relative or something, Uchiha. And since she hasn't any last name, the researchers gave her 'Haruno' as her family name. We've also created a fake background story which you saw at the folder earlier," said Tsunade. "Now, Sasuke, I've specifically chosen you to take care of her—not only because you seemed to have woken her up and that you appear to be the only one she's mentally communicating with—but because of your superlative control over every aspect of your life… as well as your urges."
"Urges?" Naruto asked. He apparently did not get what Tsunade meant but to Sasuke it was perfectly clear as day.
"Yes. I'm sure you understand what I mean, Sasuke," she asked pointedly. "And I trust you'll be able restrain yourself when the need arises?"
Ignoring the fact that the Hokage is questioning his ability to not act on his sexual impulses, he gave her a quick nod. Naruto looked more confused by the minute, his head snapping back and forth from the Hokage and his best friend.
"All right then," she said particularly to no one. She sat back down on her seat and pressed a button on her landline and said: "Bring her in." A few minutes later, there was a knock on the Hokage's door. "Enter."
First, it was Shizune—Tsunade's right-hand woman—who came in and bowed, she was followed by a person cloaked from head to toe with a dark chestnut colored robe. Two heads turned to look at their room instantly filled with the scent of burning metal. The huge hood of the robe successfully covered the face of the person. The features under the hood were shadowed and undistinguishable. Shizune took hold of the brim of the hood and pushed it back, revealing pink locks and green eyes.
Naruto's hand flew to cover his mouth before a squeal of delight escaped his lips.
"Dream Sage Sakura," began Tsunade, standing up and walking over in front of Sakura. "This is Sasuke Uchiha. You will be under his care for the time being." She pointed at the raven-haired man who lounged in her office.
Sakura just stood in front of her unresponsively. Tsunade shot Sasuke a questioning look.
Did she communicate with you?, those eyes asked. He shook his head in return.
"Oh well. You should take her home now, Uchiha. With any luck, you'll be able to get through her." Tsunade returned behind her desk and motioned them to get out of her office. Though, he noticed that she was restraining something from him as if she had something else to say.
Naruto and Sasuke both stood up and departed the office with Shizune and Sakura in tow. "Please take good care of her." Shizune advised as she led them to the exit foyer of the Hokage Building. She pulled up Sakura's wide hood to conceal her face once again. "There are times when people would get close to the truth," she informed thoughtfully. "You should do your best to keep them at bay."
As they exited the building, Sasuke's expected rain has arrived. Konoha was desolate and gray when it was raining. The sidewalks were empty and quiet apart from the steady pitter patter of water falling from the sky. Naruto was cussing his luck but reprimanded himself for he was swearing in front of a lady and that he was a self-proclaimed gentleman and that gentlemen don't swear. Sasuke glanced at the cloaked figure walking along between Naruto and him. He knew better than to judge a book by its cover. Such a small form could possess an immense barrel of power; he shouldn't be deceived by it. He somehow remembered what his mother used to say when they were meeting new people at some opulent function: "Remember that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, boys, but sometimes the cover can tell you something about the book." He always thought it was contradictory and a bit superficial but as he grew up he gradually knew what his mother meant. And as he became part of ANBU, he believes that he has mastered reading the cover. He could catch fleeting facial expressions in guilty suspects, he could notice slight body movements, he could see the nervous gestures of a person when under stress or pressure that usually led to hidden deep dark secrets. He's a highly trained ANBU nin, it's expected. It's an occupational hazard.
Heaven is weeping.
Sasuke took a quick look at Sakura whose hood still obscured his view of her face. He found her voice in his head oddly disturbing and soothing at the same time. Disturbing because he felt that she was invading personal privacy and soothing because her voice—or what he assumes is her voice—was calming. It's like when one calls out at an empty hallway and the echoes answer back but with a lighter resonance and a peaceful quality. However when she speaks like that in his mind, he couldn't help but feel that his thoughts were unsafe from her, that she could read his mind, that she has the ability find out his secrets. He shuddered inwardly at the thought.
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki, by the way, the number one ninja in the universe!" introduced Naruto to a silent Sakura. "You have gotta taste ramen. It's like the best food in whole entire world. I'm dreaming about them all the time—but you probably knew that, don't you? I also dream about being the Hokage someday! But I won't be stuck in that office like Tsunade-baachan, I'll be on really high ranked missions. Anyway, did you know that ramen can act as a stimulan—"
"We're here." Sasuke interrupted. The three of them were standing at his Manor's vestibule, as Sasuke unlocked the door. The Uchiha Manor, the only home he ever knew. The Uchiha clan had various abodes across the world—and he had stayed in them for a month or two—but the Manor is where the heart is. It had five bedrooms and five bathrooms and other miscellaneous rooms such as a library. He didn't know why his parents created such an extravagant mansion when there were only four people living in it and three bedrooms in use. He didn't complain though, he enjoyed the colossal space of his house.
"Hey! Hey! You'll get a cold if you don't put your hood back up, Sakura-chan."
Sasuke looked at the pair behind him over his shoulder. Sakura's head was bent backward, hood pushed away from her head, and faced up at the gray and gloomy sky. Rain trickled on her pale face and something else unusual and then it was gone, hidden once again under that annoying hood that Naruto replaced. He pushed past Sasuke and shuffled Sakura inside. He and Sasuke shook off their coats and hung it on the coat stand.
Sasuke saw that Sakura was fiddling with the hem of her long coat sleeve. Her trembling hands pushed back the hood of her robe, undid the buttons and hung the robe at the coat rack. And there she was, clad in a flimsy white dress that hardly hid her mid-thighs. Sasuke immediately retrieved the robe and jacketed her with it. Surely the Hokage is capable of providing her with decent clothing, it's not like they were broke or anything, right? He glanced at Naruto who turned his back on them and was trying to hide his snickering.
"Yeah, I think I'll go get some girl clothes, I doubt you have some of those here. Be right back." Naruto gave them a sly grin as he walked out the manor.
Sasuke rolled his eyes inwardly, and led Sakura to sit at the couch at the living room. He noticed slight ripples going through Sakura's shoulders. Mid-October rains were the coldest, it's no surprise it was taking toll on the girl. "Stay here." He instructed. He went to the kitchen to boil some water.
A mute pair like themselves isn't actually making communicative progress, he thought, what could the Hokage be thinking? Of course, one of the reasons he was assigned to her was because it seems that he was the only one who could hear her—or was she only sharing her thoughts to him and no one else? Does she have a choice? Does the fact that she has been constantly haunting his dreams show any significance to their intellectual bond? Does his suspicion earlier about the Hokage's cautiousness have something to do with his restless instincts? Through all the mental questions running through his head there was one thing that was clear, the Hokage hasn't told him everything yet.
After pouring the hot water in the basin and returning to the living room, he found out that Sakura wasn't where he left her. Setting the hot basin down, he looked around his manor for her, occasionally calling out her name. Sure enough, he located her at a bathroom upstairs. He came across her in the process of curiously staring at the mirror, at her own reflection. Her hair was getting frizzed at the soaking she took from the rain earlier and was curling up around her face. She looked surprised when Sasuke barged in but after a split second she returned her attention to the mirror. She poked the reflective surface and contorted her face in what bordered on ridiculous. He bet that if he hadn't urged her to sit on the side bench, she wouldn't have stopped.
What an odd contraption. Sakura's eyes kept drifting on the mirror at the far side of the bathroom.
"I've prepared some hot water for you downstairs."
And what would this be? She was bent over to inspect the porcelain bathtub, poking and prodding it as it was with the mirror. She hitched up her robe, swung a leg over the edge of the bathtub and slid in. Is this my sleeping quarters? It is rather pleasant and snug. Sasuke stared at her with a raised brow. She was too small to fit the entire tub completely. Her toes barely reached the edge of it and she will most likely keep sliding in if it were to be filled by water.
"It's a bathtub. It's where you take a bath," he explained. And when she looked at him blankly, he added: "It's where you clean yourself. You don't sleep in it because water is going to fill it." He didn't bother to add that this bathroom was unused and that she could definitely sleep in it if she wanted to. "You can clean up downstairs if that's what you want."
I am in a 'bathtub' now. She imitated Sasuke's pronunciation. I would want to take a 'bath.'
It wouldn't hurt, he supposed, they were already here and, besides, she might get a cold if she doesn't get warm. "All right, wait outside."
As soon as she walked out of the bathroom, he let the warm water run at the tub. He searched around the cupboards beneath the sink and, eventually, he found what he was looking for. Shampoos, conditioners, body salts, scented foams, and body washes. He didn't normally go out to the grocery store to specifically buy this, heck; he didn't even know he had one of these. He gave the maids—that were around once a week—an allowance to stock up the house once a month with whatever they deemed necessary. And he guessed he wasn't that surprised when they stocked up with a variety of hibiscus scented soaps and lavender bath salts. Sasuke didn't go grocery shopping that was what the maids were there for. He reminded to thank them later.
He poured bath salts and foaming bubbles and minutes later, the tub was overflowing with foam. He called out to Sakura and she came in.
What is this? She asked as she scooped up a handful of foam. She tried to pluck it off her palm and failed. She tried again for a couple more times until Sasuke intervened.
"You can go in now."
Her eyes seemed to brighten up as she propped a leg in the tub, making the water slosh around a bit.
"You should remove your robe first."
Robe? She looked at him oddly, and then she got it. Oh, you mean this? She pointed to herself, cloaked with the robe. At his brief nod, she dropped her robe and placed her other leg in. She stood in the middle of the tub in her flimsy little white dress, and readied herself to settle in.
"And your dress." A perverse thought passed through Sasuke's mind when he said this. He wondered if this little girl is going to shy away at him. And this thought process surprised him, he wasn't usually like this.
As she carefully lifted the hem of her dress up to her inner thighs, he turned his back on the undressing girl. He was stunned; she had no ounce of reticence. It didn't matter if she was undressing in front of a boy—who is sexually active—she might as well had stripped in front of a crowd. Now he knew why Tsunade picked him for the job—telepathic abilities aside. Tsunade believed he was in control in such situations and that he'd be able to handle it. Personally, he felt a bit flattered, but he kind of felt insulted as well. It doesn't matter though. After what he deemed a sufficient amount of time, he turned back around to see that Sakura was leaning back on the tub—thankfully obscured with bubbles.
He crouched beside the tub and took out the shampoo and conditioner. "You clean this with your hair." He handed it to her and gestured to her hair that was plastered to her forehead and neck. She still smelled of the chemicals inside a cryotank, of burned metal but he didn't bother to mention that. "Do you understand?"
She gave him a nod in response, opened the shampoo bottle and smelled it. A strong, sweet vanilla scent wafted out of the hole of the shampoo bottle. It smells heavenly.
"Then, I'm going to leave you now," he stood up and gathered the discarded clothes. "Don't be too lon— Hey! This is not edible." He snatched away the shampoo from Sakura who was in the action of drinking it. "This is for washing your hair." He held up a lock of her hair in front of her.
But it smells delicious.
"And it will kill you if you consume it." Sasuke said, annoyed. He grabbed the side bench and placed it at the head of the tub. He gathered her hair—causing the back of his hand and fingers to brush her shoulders, he caught the slight shiver in her bones—and let it hung out the lip of tub. He took the shampoo in his hands and lathered it on her hair. This is certainly going to take some work.
You are the one.
"What?"
You are the one who awakened me from my slumber.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
You are. Your Light, I can feel it.
"Right, I suppose you've foreseen my destiny too."
Do you want me to?
"… does that mean you could also drive the Gales away like the Dream Sage?"
No.
"Then what are you?"
I told you, I am yours.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
You know what it means but you do not understand.
"That doesn't make sense, you know that right?"
It will, in time.
Sakura's head was wrapped in a foamy mess after Sasuke finished, just like the tub. He noticed that to an ordinary bystander that he might look a tad bit weird. He was talking to himself—or more accurately to the back of Sakura's head—and the girl was totally engrossed at the foam surrounding her. The conversation was entirely one-sided. He rinsed off the shampoo on her hair—ignoring the mess that had gathered on the bathroom floor and soaked the hem of his jeans—and began to apply the conditioner. He remained silent; he refused to open his mouth anymore. He hears voices in his head, that can't be good.
You have sad dreams, Sasuke.
His hand stopped momentarily, the statement stunned him, but he regained composure and continued. "Hn."
You live only for revenge.
"Don't you think you're invading personal privacy by prying into my head when I'm unconscious?" He began to rinse off the conditioner.
I do not pry, Sasuke, you brought me there.
"What? Why would I wan—"
He was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell ringing. He stood up by his perch and rinsed his own hands. "Wait here." He said and went downstairs to answer the door. Greeted by two loud blondes who kept complaining about the rain, he let them in. "What is she doing here?" he gritted.
"Oh, I saw Naruto at the Ladies' Wear section in K-Mart—what a surprise—and I asked him what he was doing lurking around there." Ino Yamanaka answered while she pulled her hair up into a tight bun and made herself comfortable in the living room couch. Naruto followed after her.
"You told her, didn't you?" Sasuke loomed over the pair that lounged on his sofa. His icy glare, pointed like daggers, focused on Naruto and emitted hostile auras. "You know what happens when classified information is leaked ou—"
"I—I didn't, exactly," exclaimed Naruto. "I told her you had your cousin over but she didn't bring any clothes and that I was buying some for her."
"Oh, relax! I already knew, Hokage-sama told me all about it, I just didn't know she was released today. So, I figured when there was a strange FEMALE LIVING IN SASUKE UCHIHA'S MANOR then that would be the Dream Sage Hokage-sama was talking about." Ino said smugly. "Where is she, anyway?" She looked behind her as if expecting to catch a glimpse of a ghost.
"Why would the Hokage tell you?" Sasuke asked suspiciously.
"Where is the trust?!" exclaimed Ino, her hands waving in the air and her head facing the heavens. "Hello, I'm a girl; I can take care of her feminine needs unlike you." She gestured all of Sasuke like it was a bad thing that he possesses the opposite chromosome. "Look, if you still don't believe me, hear me out: Her name's Sakura Haruno, her given age is eighteen, and she was sent here to you by a distant relative from God knows where because she wants to learn the Wise Ways of Ninjadom or whatever. See? I read the details too!" With that, she crossed her arms and settled back on the couch.
Sasuke was not impressed. He couldn't believe that Tsunade also assigned another ninja to his assignment. So much for trusted individuality. "She's upstairs, follow me."
As Sasuke guided them up the stairs, he listened to the conversation between the blonds.
"Are there other people involved in this operation?" asked Naruto seriously.
"You make it sound like its Mission Impossible. But, yeah, I think so, but she instructed them to not make their presence known so as to maintain its confidentiality. I don't know why though. I feel like she's being paranoid, like she's waiting for an invasion or something. Personally, I think it's hilarious."
"Jesus, the Dream Sage's like the President and we're like the Secret Service."
"Oh my God, so true."
And they continued to converse that way while Naruto hummed the Mission Impossible theme until they reached the bathroom. It was ridiculous. Naruto stayed outside to wait as he felt that it wasn't right to barge in a lady's bathing time. As Sasuke and Ino entered the room, he instantly felt that something was wrong. There was no pink head at the tub. He rushed directly to the tub and scooped out a limp and blue Sakura in his arm. Ino was beside him, wrapping her with a towel. He settled Sakura on the carpet on the floor of the bathroom.
"What happened?" asked Ino as she felt Sakura's neck for a pulse.
"She must've fallen asleep and slid underwater." replied Sasuke as he tried to do CPR.
"Yeah, but she should've woken up and screamed or something!" Ino's voice rose as she told him this and at the same time she slightly slapped Sakura's cheeks. Sasuke unthinkingly wished she wouldn't do that, wouldn't hurt her. At Ino's distressed tone, Naruto barged in and demanded what happened even though the scene was pretty self-explanatory.
"She can't speak yet." Sasuke said, dully. But she could've asked me telepathically, he thought. Does it only work when it's close range? He wondered.
"What?! Why can't she spe—" Ino was cut off by a gurgling and heavy coughing coming from the figure beneath them.
"Oh thank God." She exclaimed in relief.
Edited on April 6, 2013.
Author's Note: Hey! Lookit dat! A new story. You should be incredibly proud. This is the longest chapter I've ever typed.
I am an extremely inconsistent updater. I am the worst author ever. Anyway, I'll try to get my work done since it's already summer vacation. By the way, I finally graduated and finished high school! Yeah! College life here I come.
On the next few day, a surge of new stories will be uploaded. All chapter fics and none completed. So, please bare with me and review the stories so I can get my mojo on.