AN:… Fuck. Sorry for sasusaku fans and for my potty mouth. ^^- This does have a tragic ending between the pairing. It's an Itasaku after all :/
It has hints of Sasusaku, but not in the way you think… Rated M for reasons of a lemon, lemons?...? who knows, this might be just a two shot. Depending on how this is received and well if you like it, sweet. R&R please and thank you. (I think I am going to have the disclaimer on my front of my page instead of every chapter I write… Can I do that? O-0) As always, happy reading! ;)
(I am editing Some grammar errors that I noticed and sorry, I have no beta... Also adding a cover art is by Angeljasiel: titled: you and me we're wrong. Check out her art! Its pretty awesome. :3)
Intro: When she thought there was hope, it was snuffed out before it could really start. Regretful sacrifices were made, she was lost to pick up the pieces left of her decisions. A new kind of broken that she wanted to drown it all and let go of everything, to lose herself in what booze can only promise. inhibitions are tested as two strangers find something within each other. Question is, will she or he let go and find solace within each other? Itasaku Rated M
A moment of solace
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Prolog
Steam of sweet hot sake swirled slowly in alcoholic poison, Her chosen poison. The third, sixth or so cup she had tonight. Her battle uniform raged, blood stains long washed from the rain and mud that cling to her body.
She didn't know how she got here or where here was. Her throat felt warm as she could feel the alcohol take its affects, making her mind sit in a haze.. The way she wanted it to be, she was just tired. Glad to have some sense of calm in her mind.
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She was running for so long, the sun setting wanting to keep going through out the night like the night before. Pass out, then keep going, until her legs gave out in exhaustion. Her bleary eyes focused and unfocused on the ground, her thick in mud hands, nails digging painfully through the earth, was the only thing that kept her up from keeling over completely.
This was stupid, beyond any misguided thing she had ever done.
She knew of the possibilities of being ambushed. By her reputation that she had gotten as Tsunade's apprentice over the years, had earned her a spot in the bingo books. An easy bounty no less in her current state. Her skills used by enemy nations for personal selfish needs or means to an end for bounty money, the possibilities were endless.
How many people can miss a girl with pink hair in a crowded or worst, alone in the forest?.. This was a dangerous situation to be in. Alone, tired, and having no idea where she was.
She just didn't care, her mind fuzzy from shock and didn't want to think, she wanted to forget-
She was thinking again.
Needed to move, keep moving not think. Anything but think. Not coming to grips what she had done.. With heavy shaky legs she got up from the mud and staggered in a direction.
A light rain started before coming to the small village. Walking through the semi busy streets, The first thing that came to her senses was the thick smell of lit cigarettes; hearing the gruff voices of men, the occasional giggling of flirting woman with less than innocent intentions. The slap of cards, passing of poker chips, and the clanking of empty beer bottles.
Stepping in the doorway and out of the rain. Seeing the bar and ignored the sudden hush around the room when she had entered. The curious gazes from on lookers that were heated, some sizing up if she was a threat of taking their clients for the night or even their clients insist for her to join, meaning more money for the uncomplaining and the some who just didn't like to share their pleasure with another woman or in this case, a girl with exotic looks that would turn any head.
No, no one knew her. She was a passerby and the blossom was content with that. With no questions whispering about of "'why the fifth's apprentice was doing in a place like this.'"
She didn't want to be bombarded by them at the moment. But it was still quiet and whispers grew of wonder of who she was, and what a girl of pink hair with such little dress- soaked to the bone; was doing in a place like this?
None seeing her Hitai-ate and undermined her as something lost, harmless. Looking like a frail girl that she knew she was not.
The first time she ordered her drink, the pugly man scoffed. Telling her to get out of his bar; for someone looking too young to drink anyway. It got a couple laughs from the onlookers, till she roughly undid the knot of her headband, and slammed it down on the bar island that seem to shake the floor with its force.
"…Hot. Sake. Please." she seethed quietly through her teeth, again.
He glared at the short girl, tisk, not believing that the metal plait was even hers, most likely stolen. He motioned to a couple of men that moved from the back and stood a couple feet behind her, one scrawny plain civilian, another breathing loudly that was no worse for looks than the man that stood in front of her. She noticed this of course keeping noted of their distance.
She might be tired and battered, but didn't make her less aware of her surroundings.
Followed by the next presence that had been there for god knows how long. They were in the room, their signature that was definitely not a civilian. They didn't seem threatening, docile.. But you could never be too careful. 'Damn, and damn.'
"I.D"
Her dreary eyes blinked, forgetting her semi predicament, now presented with a new one in front of her, trying to recall- Oh yes, her identification. Along with her wallet, medical supplies, extra clothes, cash, and her poncho. All of it in her bag, where she had left it all with her broken team….
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*Flash back*
They had ran for miles closing in on the strong chakra signature that laid ahead, Pakkun leading to where his scent was. They came to an opening, therein the fielded he stood alone, waiting for them to come to him. After receiving word that Sasuke had defeated Orochimaru, there team was sent out in hopes of finding him now that he was out of the clutches of the deceased cruel man. It would be cheer luck that they would have found him, and it seemed to be on their side. The stand off for what seemed like minutes, assessing that he was alone.
Naruto made a move, Kakashi arm stopped him from pursuing any further. The blond yelled loudly trying to push away from his teachers grasp, with no avail.
"SASUKE!"
"…"
With no one in sight she set down her traveling pack and moved slowly but steadily toward her ex-teammate. Kakashi, still having his hand over his other student who was ready to bolt the second he felt his teacher grip loosen.
The copy ninja scolding her to get back in line. Glancing over her shoulder, reassuring him that she would be careful and keep a safe distance. That if it were to go wrong she would retreat. Eying his ex student, reluctantly he let her go, judged the Uchiha unthreatening form; he gave her the okay, trusted his student that wouldn't do anything reckless.
As she got closer and analyzed his body, lax, aloof like he had always been. With no visible injuries or the ones that had been wrapped by gauze that poke out under his loose white blouse. He seemed to be in overall good health. Better than what her fears gnawed on her before arriving. Her body visibly relaxing.
Her steps came to a halt a few yards away from him. Onyx black bore into emerald neither saying a thing. The quiet was deafening and nature seemed too silent for her liking, it didn't help her nerves.
"Sasuke-kun..?" her voice came out small, a shy unsaid question if he was going with them or not. He knew why they were here; she didn't feel like a blabbering of words would make their point anymore convincing.
"I'm coming home."
She blinked; he seemed to be watching her with disinterest, like he had when they last saw him.
She should have figured that it was a lie then, a very convincing lie that she almost lost hope in him. When he said that he didn't care if he was giving up his soul to the snake rogue, that he didn't care about them. That indifference he had over his own well being was almost convincing. As long as he got his revenge that is. Only to see that it was a bluff and the rumors where true that he killed the legendary sannin, and was coming home.
But, what about his revenge?
She didn't care at the moment, he was finally coming home; what felt like it had been years she had thought she would never hear those words. The happy tears hidden by her smile, Letting go of the breath she held in relief and did something she hadn't done in years.
She braced him.
He stiffened, his tense body eventually relaxing and snaked his arm around her, holding her even closer to him. She gasped slightly. His heart thudded steadily against her body, Breath strong; Heat radiating off of him, Alive and here with her. She blushed at the closeness.
It all felt like this was a beautiful dream. A lie. The Sasuke she used to know would have never hugged her back, It was only in dreams did he ever return her touch or in dire situations when they were genin. This, his response though was unnecessary.. Did he have a change of heart? Was he finally returning her feelings? Was he just glad to see her just as much as she was to him?
Not having time to reflect on this, as their other teammate coming barreling towards them in a heap of orange, arms wide and reading for a sappy group hug. Only to have missed when sasuke slyly stepped aside with sakura still in his arms. Naruto huffed, voice blared close to them. " Bastard, what did you do that for!"
"hn."
tilting her head up to see him smirk, eyes looking far off… She had never seen this look on him, Other than the arrogant charm, it had something else she couldn't pin point. it unnerved her a bit and wondered how much he's changed over the years.
It would be like getting to know an entirely new person- no, she was going to treat him the same as before, sure that he wouldn't appreciate if she had treated him like a stranger. It would only make him uncomfortable and all she wanted to do was help him get back into some normalcy. Who knows what that maniac did to him over the years, and didn't know if it had any impression on his psyche. But change was unavoidable, they all had some changes including herself. Of course, she wouldn't act like the fangirl that she was before. She just wanted to make sure he would be comfortable with her in familiarity.
She truly cared for him, and maybe, just maybe there was hope for them.
His eyes shifted to hers that unchanging glint to his eye, " Lets go home, Sakura."
Her mind stilled.
A montage of flashbacks of how sasuke said her name time after time. She kept them all mesmerized in her mind. Even when they had saw him not to long ago.. It had never changed since they were a team.
"Sakura."
"Sakura!"
"…Sakura."
Her eyes unconsciously gravitated towards those lip as he spoke.. The way he had said her name was all wrong, faintly menacing, cold even. The S. slightly held longer than what was necessary. It strangely reminded her of a-
Her eyes widen, her body stiffening, horror stricken. He sensed her change, his arm only constricted. The sound of a sheath a sword drawing as she saw the glint of it reflecting off the sun.
A horrid realization that who she was holding was- but at the same time was not her Sasuke.
*End flashback*
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Unfocused eyes quickly refocused as she felt movement from behind, in turned grab the intrusion of an arm that was invading her space, quickly switch places with the big fellow and twisting his arm behind his back, as her fingertips pressed on the pressure point behind the neck. His body slumping against the island and dropping ungracefully to the ground, but before he could get a concussion from the fall, she pillowed the drop with her hands cradling his head to the ground.
His partner frozen as the bar people acknowledge of who she was as a panic inducing hushness in the moments that followed. Like paralyzed animals, no one moved. Some looking like they wanted to get out before more trouble would ensue, some even standing ready to bolt.
'Great. Just great.' She thought bitterly. The last thing she needed was drawing unwanted attention to herself. And these stairs… She didn't want people to be afraid, that was the last thing she wanted. That's why she was a medic-nin. Not some ruthless bully ninja. Biting her lip, Reminded herself that they were just civilians. Seeing as something dangerous, more afraid of her than most things in this world.
Because the name ninja came with a title of assassins. To snuff out life in a moments notice without thought, or compassion.
Oh how ironically wrong that was.
With somewhat shakiness she lifted the man enough to lay against the bar. Her hand glowed pressing it to his temple. The people took a breath in, waiting to see what the ninja girl was going to do. A grunted moan coming from the man who was coming too. Her hands inspecting if there was other injuries she might of cause. Ignoring the still anxious people around her.
Scrunching her eyebrows, her hand stop glowing. Her hands roamed from under the man's sleeves to the neckline of his shirt. The bartender snapped out of his stupor and all but had an aneurism. " Hey! What'ya think you're doing!" he yelled at the ninja, coming around the island through the employer makeshift door, not caring if this girl was dangerous.
She glared back, her emotions raging.
How dare he think that she was trying to steal from the man and an unconscious man at that! She was no petty thief, she was doing was quite the opposite of what he was obviously thinking ... her features softened slightly, grimacing that how so many people could assume the worst from strangers. She guessed it was a good thing that had its grievances, since she lived within the safe walls of her home.
She could trust people, neighbors, her colleagues and even help strangers. But she wasn't home. This was nothing like her home. It was bliss ignorance and she knew it, outside the walls was a plethora of unknown people with agendas to cause harm, or intentions they themselves would only know. Good or bad, it was always safer to assume the worst.
It just didn't sit well with her, she just couldn't help herself to the second nature of how she was taught. Risking it was a gamble, one she hadn't lost yet.
And some day could and most likely cost her.
Speaking low regarding the man carefully, " Are you his employer?" She asked. Resting her hands back on her lap.
He stopped his pacing shifted crossing his arms " A long time customer-a friend, what's it to you?"
Scrunching her eyebrows together she wondered if she should wait to disclose this kind of information to someone that wasn't the patent, but decided against it. Feeling like she wouldn't get a chance after what had happened.
She spoke softly, "Has he told you if he had any medical conditions? Or seen him where some kind of tag of mentioning of one? I am a medical ninja and it seems your buddy here has a something that needs to be checked as soon as possible. I recommend him going to the nearest hospital within the week and see a Cardiologist.. In the meantime his chest needs to be elevated when he sleeps." She finished while looking him in the eye. He narrowed his debating if she was lying, but had no reason to lie. Not only that she had this aura of complete professionalism that took him by surprise. Stepping back, he shook his head grabbing the back of his nape as he regarded her for a moment.
" Aghh.. Wha.. What happened Goro? " The other man spoke from the ground rubbing the sore spot where she had hit him.
"You got slugged by a pint size ninja, that's what." with that she stood up helping the man up on his feet, Slightly peeved at the comment. Kept it to herself for the time being.
The man stood shakily, Goro patting him on the back as he told the other friend or employee who looked more than happy to leave. Goro told him to take the other fellow home, and to follow the girls instructions about sleeping arrangements. She watched the man she knocked out was being helped out of the pub.
Her gaze shifted back to the island where she had set down her headband, tracing her village symbol with a soft cares. With a heavy sigh she collected the metal plate, tying it back in its rightful place.
With the atmosphere somewhat lax, people went about their business ignoring her. But still conscious, and not to mention uncomfortable with her lingering presence. Yes she was a kunoichi, one that didn't kill needlessly and for that she guest; she wouldn't be bothered anymore by these people.
Prepared to leave, she took a step towards the door until she heard a ceramic cup being placed down on island in front of her, followed by a familiar jug with hot sake steaming from the cup. She blinked and stared up at the man dumbfounded and about to protest.
He smiled, "look, If anyone can put Yuji out of commission, it's on him. Isn't that right!" The bar people cheered and laughed at the inside joke but seemed to be some kind of a bet that Yuji made. She shifted, smiling uncomfortably; now slightly aware how tired she was. It seemed the nit tight community sort of accepted her, especially the bartender who what she figured was for her strength and leaning more on how she helped his friend who would be seeing his death soon if he didn't do anything about his heart condition. Maybe she would take the man's offer to stay. It wasn't like she had plans to go anywhere else.
He continued what he was doing before the girl came in, wiping down the bar, and shot glasses.
As the pub took to the hum atmosphere it was before. She sat down eyeing her drink and took it reluctantly in her hands. It was warm in her chilled hands that oddly felt numb. " We don't see ninja in our town often, since our hotel is on the small size; but when we do, the hotel has its own bar, so I guess they don't look anywhere else for a drink. If you're looking for somewhere to stay, best bet for a hot bath and some sleep. No offence kid, you look like you been through hell. " Goro spoke off handedly, continuing his work on the other side receiving an order of more beer.
She focused her eyes on the steaming cup, feeling numbness fade as blood circulated through her hand. The beat of the blood pumping, suggesting that she was alive. Something she didn't quite feel at the moment. "Yeah, it feels like it." She spoke to her cup as she tipped it, and drank the first of many in one gulp.
Never noticing the masked anbu figure who had sat in the darker corner of the room, eyes a glowering red, narrowing at the girl who had supposedly took his brother's life and now drowning herself in senseless regret.
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An: Please don't kill me.. The ideas just keep flowing and I don't really want to stop because I am having a good time writing them. Though unhurried, please be patient. I realized that a hurried writing doesn't really turn out well and I have so little time already… This next part I already have half of it done and yes, steamy hot sex comes with solace. I mean, I can totally take out the lemon and just leave a lot of fluff, but why not both, eh? XD … Leave a review, it helps a lot.
:BATMAN!