Shit! I forgot the disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
A little something I thought up and would greatly appreciate your critique. :3
The Darker Side of Evening
Chapter One
A dreamlike quiet pervades the night as Sasuke sits, calm and reticent, in the room of the tea house. He's waiting for his contact to arrive, and the way the air permeates with the rush of silence before the storms sends shivers down his spine. Sasuke loves storms, loves the way the lightning crackles and leaves jagged forks in the midnight sky. He knows part of it is his nature, and it's the same reason why Kakashi likes to race against the thunderous bolts. It brings out the animal in him, and it's a rare treat when he can rush up against the jaws of the storm and wallow in the sense of power it produces. But he would have to subdue himself, for he was here on business, not pleasure.
Uchiha Sasuke hadn't entered the Fire Country for three years, and he didn't make light of the fact he was situated in a place he'd rather avoid. He'd been careful, had picked a place out in the sticks where even the hunter-nin seldom visited. It had been three years since Naruto had beat him into submission, with his saccharine doctrine and stupid sentiments, but he'd got away, and travelled as far as possible in the wake of Madara's demise. Sasuke of course had wanted to end the other Uchiha himself, but he hadn't been able to, not in the sorry state he'd been in after his bout with Naruto.
Now, he evaded the shinobi world as much as possible, and worked for himself, moved from place to place without leaving a trace, like a ghost without a home to haunt. He was older, a man now, calmer but still set in his ways. He would never rejoin Konoha; never go back to happier days because those memories were long gone. He had no friends, no attachments, just the sordid business of being a sword to hire. He was someone few people knew how to get a hold of, and it was only the higher echelons of the underworld who couldn't call on the Villages who hired him.
A sudden flash illuminates the room, and Sasuke's looks out to the sky. The silence is deafening for a second, before the drum of thunder booms through the night. He turns his head and listens to the furore.
The screen door opens, and there are voices calling to each other beyond the thin walls.
"Lightning?" A voice as tentatively, as if Sasuke's mood would turn from professionalism to murderous intent in the blink of an eye.
He decides not to respond; he just turns his head towards the man and blinks.
"He's here sir," The same man steps back and instead a small, plump old brute brushes the taller man aside and fixes Sasuke with a curious stare. His eyes are bright, but hollow, and Sasuke immediately deduces him as scum.
"Ah, so you're the one they call Lightning, what apt weather," He said conversationally, and a flash of lightning briefly illumed the room before the crash of thunder caused Sasuke's tea cup to rattle.
"You're Nomura?" Sasuke asked, and remained impassive as the small man ran his eyes across his torso.
"You're not nearly as intimidating in person as your reputation would suggest,"
Sasuke scowled at his words and flared his chakra. He had nothing to prove, but he'd rather put Nomura in his place before they proceeded with the details.
Nomura felt the air around him thicken and grow heavy. He frowned as his body began to shake from the way Sasuke's chakra choked the air, how it seemed to squeeze the breath from him.
"Heh..." Nomura struggled to breathe but he seemed beyond amused at the young man's reaction. "It's true what they say about you,"
Sasuke would not be baited into a conversation with this man. They all seemed to enjoy taking their time with their requests, and he hadn't the patience to stomach this man's long winded monologue.
"I'm sure you don't need to be told how powerful you are, so I'll come straight to the point," Nomura said as Sasuke remained impassive.
"I would prefer that we stick strictly to business," Sasuke announced, using a slight threatening intonation to his voice, but Nomura simply smiled his wicked grin.
"There's someone I'd like you to get rid of for me," Nomura said, and his mouth seemed to curve in triumph as he continued to appraise Sasuke form. It appeared as if he already thought he'd won whatever his distasteful battle was, given Sasuke's favoured attributes.
Nomura licked his thin lips and gave a crooked smile.
"A kunoichi," He began, sneering as if the woman in question were nothing more than a gutter whore. "A damned annoying one at that, she works in a city on the coast as a doctor- my city- but she's been giving me trouble with my... endeavours. None of my men can seem to get close enough to get rid of her for good, but I think the tides will change now,"
"Supply her name and a photograph, and then we'll talk payment," Sasuke said, and watched as the shadows cast against the shouji screen moved and fidgeted.
"I'll give you her name only too readily," Nomura said, but his cadence altered to something less confident. "But you should be aware that she possesses such strength you wouldn't believe, and she can stop your nervous system from functioning with just the flick of her wrist,"
Sasuke highly doubted one kunoichi would be much to handle.
"But I'm pretty confident that she'll be no match for you," Nomura said a smiled a ghastly wide grin. He rustled into his pockets and quickly produced what looked like all the details Sasuke would need. He positioned them on the table and pushed them towards the Uchiha.
Sasuke took them and placed the documents into his bag for later.
"Aren't you going to see the data we've produced?"
"I'll look at it later, now I want to discuss payment," Sasuke said sharply. He doubted this mission would be anything special.
"I'll pay you fifty-thousand ryou," Nomura replied quickly. "That's far beyond her price in the bingo book, and I hear your prices are extortionate, but to have her out of the way means I could make double that,"
"In that case I'll take one-hundred-thousand ryou,"
"What?"
Sasuke brusquely got up to leave, and moved towards the door.
"Wait!"
The Uchiha craned his neck back over his shoulder and fixed his black eyes on Nomura.
"One-hundred-thousand ryou," He said with trepidation. "Just make sure she's well and truly dead,"
Sasuke only nodded, and made his way out the room. He passed Nomura's collection of thugs on the way out and barely gave them little notice as they stared him down with awed curiosity. He was well known in the underworld, and the other men had enough wits about them to be cautious. Sasuke made his quiet way to the reception desk and asked to be shown to his room.
The maid blushed as he locked eyes with her, but he was used to women fawning over his good looks. She led him upstairs and showed him his room, which was small but purposeful. He'd stayed in far worse places than this.
"Breakfast is served at half-past seven," The girl said, and left.
Sasuke gave long, tired exhale as he dropped his bag on the floor and removed his over-coat. His limbs were tired, even though the buzz in the air from the lightning storm pulled at his consciousness. Ever since he had learned of Kakashi cutting a lightning bolt with his Raikiri Sasuke had felt the urge to do the same, to rush out into the unknown and wrestle with the elements, but for now he would take a look at the unlucky person who would be his next hit.
He gathered the documents from his bag and released the seal with a swift cut of razor-sharp chakra. He sat down heavily on the bed, and the springs momentarily gave way under his weight until they levelled out again. He flipped open the page, but it took him a second before he could fully register what he saw there. His surprise was apparent.
It was a name he recognised all too well.
Haruno Sakura.
Sasuke only scowled, and put the file down.
So be it.
The hospital was easily the largest structure in the whole of the Kanagawa city, it rose up above the neighbouring buildings, and Sakura had grown used to the sight of it. Since leaving the confines of Konoha life, Sakura had decided she much rather be a doctor than a kunoichi, but sometimes the pull of her old life grew too much. She missed the adventure, and life here was somewhat boring, but the break from shinobi life was a welcome one, especially after the trauma of her last mission.
She settled in this town because of the beauty of its surroundings. The Kanagawa Harbour was stunning, the water pure and crystal in the crisp light of dawn, or fiery and smouldering in the dusk's profusion. The people were kind, but she had yet to really make any new friends. Her talents in the hospital were greatly appreciated, as was her bedside manner, but she had grown weary already. She wanted the rush and excitement of her old life, but at least this new one paid well.
However, she had made a name for herself not only by healing the sick. Much to Sakura's annoyance, she had become a part of the darker side of this city, had taken on the dredges of the underworld against her better judgement. Nomura and his thugs liked to think they ran this town, and she had healed too many of their victims to believe otherwise. She was surprised the council hadn't called upon shinobi might to quell his rampage, but then of course they were probably on his payroll too. He controlled every aspect of the criminal underworld in this town, from the illegal prostitution, to loan sharking. His grip was tight, but it was no doubt slipping, given her intervention.
Sakura was walking idly by as she saw some the familiar brutes seemingly coercing the owner of a bar into paying his debt. She stopped dead and placed down her bag, and stepped towards the ruffians.
"Pay us what you owe, or we'll cut your ear off," One of them snapped, just in Sakura's earshot. He pulled the man by the scruff of his neck and raised a dagger threateningly to the side of his face.
"I-I can't... business has been slow- please- I'll get you the money!" The man trembled in the large hands of the brute.
Sakura cracked her knuckles. She hated those who preyed on the weak, especially by these measly two.
"You'll give us what you have now!" The larger man of the two yobs growled. They barely had any time to notice what was happening before Sakura yanked them from behind and threw them across the street. They landed with an almighty crash as one gangster was lobbed against a bin. The rubbish was spilled across the pavement.
The small, skinny man spat on the floor and looked up, knowing all too well who he'd run into.
"You fucking bitch!" He seethed, but then cast a nasty, sleazy sneer. "You'll pay for this,"
"I'd like to see you try!" Sakura snapped and raised her fists. "Now get out of here before I tear your ugly head off,"
The two men looked to each other, and grinned. "Oh you'll be sorry, Sakura, you've not seen the last of us,"
"Gone on, just piss off will you," Sakura sighed and turned to the man who owned the bar. "Are you all right sir? They didn't injure you did they?"
"Thank you, Sakura-san," The gentleman said. Sakura was still only just becoming accustomed to being a near celebrity in these parts. "I am fine, only my pride was wounded,"
"It was no problem, if they cause trouble for you again you only have to find me at the hospital," Sakura smiled, and waved her hand in farewell. The barman only bowed and mumbled some words of thanks.
Sakura recollected her bag (which no one would dare to steal, lest they incur the wrath of a powerful kunoichi) and carried on her merry way. She was still becoming comfortable towards the way people stared at her in the street. Too long had the city been plagued by feckless tyrants like Nomura, and people had only just begun to feel safe under her careful watch. Many watched Sakura's powers in awe, as shinobi rarely visited this part of the Fire Country, so she was somewhat of a novelty. The other doctors in the hospital were especially fascinated by her talents.
As Sakura neared the hospital doors she cast a look over her shoulder. She wasn't sure why, but she had the feeling someone was watching her. She had grown used to people staring at her, but this was different. There was a strong malevolence, and something familiar. She surveyed her surroundings, but decided she was probably just being paranoid and turned away. The nurse at the front desk welcomed her, and they engaged in idle chit-chat, all the while someone was watching the back of her pretty pink head.
Sasuke watched her stop and stare in his direction.
Maybe her senses are more attuned than before?
Sasuke assessment of her character had begun from the very moment he began tailing her from her apartment, to the foot of the hospital. He'd been stalking her footsteps for days now, watching and wondering. He'd viewed her strength, the way she threw the two men as if they were as flimsy as cardboard. He would have to watch out for those fists, and her medical chakra, as he'd learned from numerous fights with Kabuto under Orochimaru's tutelage. Medic nin could sever chakra pathways in the blink of an eye if he wasn't careful.
But all in all, he wasn't particularly impressed. Of course, she had made some improvements, but no doubt Sakura was still too kind for her own good. Her good "deeds" were surely testament to her weakness of character as a ninja.
Her heart's still weak.
"It's okay, it's okay, you'll be fine..." Sakura attempted to placate the screaming child.
"But it hurts!" The little boy wailed, as his arm lay twisted and contorted.
"You'll be fine," Sakura said soothingly, and produced a lollipop. The little sniffed and took the sweetie. "Just let me look at that arm and we'll have you as good as new,"
Sakura let the green medical chakra seep from her fingers.
"Now this will hurt," Sakura told him as the boy sucked at the lollipop. "You'll have to be a brave young man just for a second,"
Sakura deftly took the tiny arm and snapped it back into place. The boy screamed, and the candy fell from his mouth. The medic-nin quickly made short work of fixing his arm back to its original state, and she knitted the bone back together in just a few short seconds. Immediately the boy fell limb, exhausted from the trauma of having his arm twisted back into place.
"There all better now, thank you for being such a brave young man,"
The boy wiped the tears from his eyes and he gazed at his arm as if he'd never seen it before.
"Say thank you, Shinji," The boy's mother urged and bowed to Sakura.
"Thanks," The little boy said, but he seemed a little too sleepy to really realise what was going on.
Sakura smiled at her handiwork and produced another lollipop. The boy, Shinji, took the lollipop and left, his mother once again thanking Sakura. A nurse replaced them as they exited through the surgery door.
"That's it for today, Haruno-sama," The nurse said, and Sakura stretched out her aching limbs. It had been a long day, but a fruitful one.
"Thank you, Megumi-san," She replied, and began gathering her things. She made her way into the hospital foyer, and waved goodbye to all those present. She emerged into the evening bustle, where the first signs of the night's revellers had appeared. She looked out to the water, where the most spectacular sunset sitting along the seam of the ocean's surface. It was truly a marvel to behold.
Sakura walked quickly to her apartment, where she went about checking the status of the traps. Given the fact that she'd made more enemies than friends she thought it best to keep her home as well guarded as possible, lest she come back to it trashed.
A small collection of mail is situated at the foot of the door and she scoops down to pick it. She whips through them, but when she finds nothing interesting beyond the odd bill and junk mail, she sets it down on the coffee table in the living room.
After dealing with the mail she sets about preparing dinner, but as she begins to toss the stir fry, her senses suddenly flared. Sakura's heart stopped for a second as the vegetables sizzled away. There was someone in her apartment... And they were standing in the kitchen doorway. Immediately she drove the chakra to her hands and spun, only to find the breath leave her lungs.
"Sakura," Uchiha Sasuke was standing in her kitchen, his pinwheel eyes spinning as he locked her into a genjutsu.
Sakura felt the world swirl for a moment, until she found herself in a black room with no windows, where they only light emitted came from Sasuke's form. She began to realign her chakra in an attempt to break the genjutsu.
"That won't work here," Sasuke stated, his face impassive as Sakura cast her eyes around, desperately looking for an escape. "I have improved my Tsukiyomi technique to Itachi's level, so even you can't break from this,"
"What are you doing here?" Sakura growled, and continued to amass her chakra. She was too resourceful to give up so easily.
"I've come to collect your head," Sasuke said, and he closed his eyes. "I'll make it as painless as possible,"
Sakura felt the black room fill with his chakra. He was going to kill her, but Sakura had a trump card of her own. When she felt her chakra steady, she unleashed her counter-genjutsuf.
"You shouldn't underestimate me, Sasuke," Sakura fixed her mouth in a grim line, and released her chakra. She suddenly grew to ten times her size and Sasuke watched as she brought her fist down hard against him. Sasuke dodged the blow with ease, until Sakura attempted to pummel him into the ground. He dodged again, and suddenly the world changed. They were in a small town, the streets deserted.
"So you know a little counter-genjutsu, even at this level," Sasuke noted, but still wasn't impressed. "The report I was given told me you used illusions,"
"Then you should know better," Sakura's voice boomed as she brought her fist down to the ground.
Sasuke leapt out the way, and then summoned a quick Raikiri. His hand glowed with the chirping chakra, and he swiftly avoided Sakura's blows as he jumped up and buried his fist straight through her heart. Sakura yelped, and burst into a cloud of smoke as she returned to her normal size. She fell through the air and crashed into a fruit stall. The oranges and apples flew in every direction, but she was quick to gather herself. As she began to regain her wits, she was quickly met with Sasuke's face looking down at her.
Sasuke watched her with his deadly Mangekyou Sharingan, his face smug, and almost daring her to move. The sky suddenly changed from blue to scarlet, and the world became cloaked in shadows. He was changing the genjutsu, and Sakura again began to realign her chakra again, in an effort to break free.
"This world we're in is mine, I control everything... even the air you breathe," Sasuke announced, and once again he changed the world. The air became thinner and thinner, until Sakura was choking on the floor, breathless. She keeled over, unable to rise as the air disappeared. Her only hope was to break from the illusion. Sakura looked up and fixed Sasuke a hateful stare, then smiled.
"Why are you smiling?" Sasuke asked, bemused.
"Look... behind you..." Sakura said, her breath coming in hard pants.
Sasuke merely frowned, then turned to look over his shoulder. His eyes widened as he came face-to-face with a Sakura much larger, and angrier than her previous incantation.
"Get out of my head!" The larger Sakura snarled. Sasuke's Tsukiyomi was suddenly engulfed by light, and the air regained its weight. The larger Sakura smashed him against a wall, and finally the world swirled back to the present.
Sakura breathed a grateful breath as Sasuke's world disappeared, and she was back in her kitchen. She didn't have time regain her faculties, she simply pushed all her chakra into her fists and raced towards Sasuke, who appeared to be recovering from the use of Tsukiyomi. He quickly dodged out the way, letting Sakura slam her fist into the wall, where it crumbled into dusty clusters of stone from the impact. Sakura turned, and wouldn't give up from the assault, even though the force of Sasuke's illusion was hindering her coordination.
Sasuke unsheathed his sword and raced towards Sakura. She didn't have time to block, when he suddenly stabbed her right through the stomach. She froze from the pain, and looked up at him with fierce eyes.
"Why...?" She breathed, but Sasuke didn't reply, he merely watched her questioning eyes. Sakura began to rally her healing chakra towards the wound.
"Just business..." He said, and roughly pulled the sword from her abdomen. Runnels of blood erupted from the gash, and Sakura fell to the floor. Her chakra imminently began to close the wound; Sasuke seemed to have missed her vital points but what reason she did not know. He towered over her while she lay hunched on the ground.
"I thought... you were going to make it quick?" Sakura panted through the pain. It wasn't the first time she'd been stabbed through the stomach, but the pain was always too much to handle.
"Perhaps I'm having second thoughts..." Sasuke said, and he wiped his sword clean with a cloth. He inspected the blade before he continued. "Breaking from Tsukiyomi is impressive,"
"Have I piqued your interest?" Sakura asked, though she could barely keep the sarcasm from her voice. "I never took you to be a curious person,"
"I am curious as to why you decided to leave Konoha," Sasuke sheathed his sword, and Sakura sat up, the hole in her stomach now fully healed. "And why you've made some dangerous enemies,"
"Nomura sent you? I expected as much, but I didn't think you'd ever lower yourself to do such dirty work," Sakura spat back, and began to stand up. "How much is he paying you?"
"Enough. But perhaps we can make a deal," Sasuke said, and extended his hand to allow her up. Sakura didn't take it.
"You've sunk even lower than I would have imagined, Sasuke," Sakura stood up, and could smell her cooking burning in the kitchen. "And look you've ruined my dinner,"
"I didn't take you for being rude either, Sakura,"
"You just put me under an illusion, stabbed me in the stomach and have come here with the intent to kill me, why should I be polite to you?"
"Because I've seen something admirable in you, and you possess skills that could be useful. Your chakra control for one is interesting, it would be a shame to waste such talents," Sasuke said, then paused for thought. "And you still love me,"
Sakura gave a harsh laugh. "You delude yourself, now either kill me or be on your way,"
Sasuke ignored her spite and simply carried on. "Why did you leave Knonha?"
"Why should I tell you?" Sakura asked, and proceeded to the kitchen where she removed the wok from the stove and switched the gas off.
"If you don't tell me, I'll slaughter you where you stand," Sasuke threatened, and Sakura knew too much to think it was a bluff. He could slice through her head in a second if he so wished, or engulf her with black flames.
"Why are you so interested, you've never been before so why start now, Sasuke?"
"You never had it in you to be shinobi, I'm guessing you had to do something you didn't want to, and left because of it," Sasuke stated, and when he saw her tense, he knew he'd hit a sensitive spot. "You don't want to be a simple commodity for hire anymore?"
"Isn't that what you are?"
"I make my decisions for myself, I'm not under anyone's thumb," Sasuke dug deeper, knowing he was close to the truth. "I admire the fact you finally got a backbone and left,"
"But don't you hate anything to do with Konoha, even an ex-kunoichi?" Sakura asked, and turned. She fixed her gaze straight to his ominous, spinning eyes.
"I still hate Konoha, and all it stands for, but if you left and became your own person, I have no reason left to hate you,"
"Who said I left them for good?"
"Don't lie, I can see it in your eyes," Sasuke snapped. "You have no intention of ever going back, even when that stupid nonce finally becomes Hokage,"
"Don't you dare put words in my mouth Uchiha Sasuke, and why would I listen to a proposition from you? You're half mad, and you have no scruples, why would I still listen to you?"
"Because you're jaded and lonely," Sasuke said. "I've watched you for days, observing, and you may be slightly happier here, with your tedious little life, but you've become an empty shell of your former self, your talents are slowly being wasted,"
Sakura's mind was abuzz, she couldn't believe the situation. Uchiha Sasuke was in her flat, hired by that snake Nomura with the distinct intent to kill her. Sakura may be more powerful, wiser and more skilled than before, but she had no chance in a straight fight against him. She may have been a threat, but there was no way she could win this fight. But the way he was quizzing her, his sudden interest had confounded her the most. Sasuke had never been interested in anyone beyond surpassing Naruto, and now he was willing to offer her a proposition. It was true the rudiments of daily life here weren't anything special, and the fact that she had left Konoha in bad blood had certainly piqued his curiosity.
And, although she never cared to admit it, she certainly did still have feelings for him, even if he had become a monster, she would never be over him. Perhaps this was the situation she had been waiting for, the chance to change her life for something different, whatever his proposition was, she would listen.
"What if I am interested in what you have to say?" She asked, and scraped the contents of the wok into the bin.
Sasuke smirked, he knew she would come round, and even despite her words, he knew she had feelings for him.
"You're disillusioned by the world we live in, you've seen the light, and with that comes disappointment and anger," Sasuke said, and he leaned against the wall. "Because of what you were ordered to do, you've isolated yourself and become a recluse. I always thought of you as fool, but maybe I've been doing you a disservice?"
"I am indeed disillusioned, but there are still people I care about in Konoha," Sakura said. "I would never do anything to betray them,"
"I'm not asking you to betray anyone, my grief with Konoha is something I have come to terms with on my own, all the people I wanted to kill for their actions against my family are dead," Sasuke explained. "That doesn't mean I will ever go back, my own thoughts on life in the shinobi world is one of disillusionment, like you,"
"So what's your proposition?" Sakura snapped, her patience wearing thin. "What do you want from me?"
"Come with me," Sasuke said, and the worlds hung in the air like a fog. "Your medic skills would be useful, and your genjutsu skills,"
Sakura turned around and set the wok back on the stove, she stared at Sasuke, her vivid green eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"And why would I want to?"
"Well perhaps you don't have a choice; the bounty on your head is enough for me still consider killing you,"
"What would I be?" Sakura scoffed. "Your convenient whore?"
"I have no intention of sleeping with you, but you've shown me enough to be interested in your skills, and as I say; perhaps I'm not giving you a choice,"
Sakura set her mouth in a grim line as Sasuke reached for his sword, showing her he meant what he said. This was last thing she'd expected was to be bullied into joining him on his escapades.
"You're bored... You're bored with this place, but you don't want to go back to Konoha, so come with me instead," Sasuke continued, and Sakura knew what he said was true. Life here was simple, but she missed the adventure, she longed for some excitement, to let the wind blow through her hair, to have the thrill of life ring through her once again.
"Why are you so interested in me?" Sakura asked, although she already knew she had made her choice, not because he'd threatened to kill if she declined, but because she couldn't contain her nature or her feelings anymore.
"If I had come back to Konoha, would you still be there I wonder?" Sasuke asked smugly, and his signature arrogant smirk lined his features once again. He knew the answer, and Sakura just scowled. She had dreamed over his return, but of course it never happened, and maybe she wouldn't have still left if he'd been there.
"What makes you think that?" She retorted, although she couldn't hide her feelings from him. The way he looked at her made her skin prickle with exhilaration. She couldn't deny her feelings, especially not the impulse which told her to say yes to this man.
"The way you're looking at me now," Sasuke said and folded his arms. "Anyway, we're running in circles, what's your answer, Sakura?"
"As you said, I don't have a choice..."
Nomura sat in his leather arm chair, musing on the image of that pink-haired witch being brutally murdered, again and again. He'd really hit the jack-pot with that Lightning fellow. He was said to be one of the best fighters in the world, the legendary Uchiha blood running thick in his veins. The thought of that girl being defeated was delicious, and he had to thank his compatriot, Kagura for suggesting his services.
But he was broken from his reverie by a knock at the door.
"Nomura-sama, Lightning is here to see you," One of his goons said, and Sasuke soon followed.
"Ah! Good to see you, I trust the deed is done?" Nomura said excitedly, though he didn't see the girl's head in a bag, as was customary.
"I've come to tell you our deal is off," Sasuke announced, and drew his sword. "But I've come to collect your money anyway,"
Nomura sat dumbfounded. His mouth moved to speak, but no words came out.
"What...?" He asked quietly, as Sasuke stared at him as if he were and idiot child. "What do you mean?"
"I'll make myself perfectly clear: Sakura is not dead, instead she has decided to come with me,"
"What, she's agreed to be your whore. I took you to be a greater man than that, Uchiha,"
"Not at all, she's useful to me, much more useful than your money, but I'll still be taking that off of you, so if you'd be so kind as to produce me fee," Sasuke stated and extended his hand, whilst Nomura threw a fit.
"How dare you, you insolent, back-stabbing runt," He snarled. "I'll give you nothing, you liar,"
"I haven't lied to you, I merely changed my mind, and you'll be giving me my fee for the time I've wasted or I'll remove your head instead,"
"That wasn't part of our deal," Nomura spat. "Now get out before I call my men,"
"You're men are being subdued as we speak, by Sakura," Sasuke said. "You have no choice in this matter, I want my money,"
"Fuck off you insolent bastard, I'll give you nothing,"
"Is that your final answer?" Sasuke asked, feeling his patience running low.
"Kill me if you want, I have nothing else to say to you,"
Sasuke frowned. "As you wish,"
Nomura took a couple of steps back as Sasuke's dark eyes bled to red. He didn't have time to avert his gaze as the Uchiha drew him into a mind-controlling genjutsu.
"Tell me what the combination to your safe is," Sasuke asked, and Nomura stood stunned into submission. His mouth moved as if by itself, and his mind screamed for him to stop, to deny this man everything, but his senses were not his own anymore. When he had finished, Sasuke drew his sword and before Nomura could recover from the genjutsu, his head was sliced clean off his shoulders. The blood oozed from the dismembered neck on the floor, seeping into the cracks of the stone floor. Sasuke stepped over his limp body, and began opening the safe.
He was half-way through when he felt a familiar presence step through the threshold.
"You killed him?" Sakura asked, her stomach twisting slightly from the gory sight. She was accustomed to blood and gore, but seeing a head struck from the body was still stomach-churning.
"I'm surprised at your shock," Sasuke mused, but Sakura didn't answer. "Weren't you supposed to take care of the others?"
"I have, but I've haven't killed them,"
"Life as a missing-nin will harden your foolish sentiments,"
"I'm not a missing-nin, and I won't do anything to harm Konoha, Sasuke, I thought I made that abundantly clear,"
"When word gets out, which undoubtedly it will, you'll change," Sasuke said, and the safe clicked open.
"I won't change for you, all I have to wait for is you to become tired of me, and then this will all be over," Sakura huffed, but Sasuke ignored her words.
"I won't change you, life on the road will do that just fine," Sasuke said and hauled all the money in the safe, along with a small pouch of diamonds into his bag. "We're finished here,"
"I need to run by the hospital before we leave," Sakura said, and Sasuke, rather reluctantly nodded in agreement. They swiftly made their way from Nomura's building, and made their way down the busy street to the hospital. The evening was growing into night as they sped through the bustling streets, the coastal sunset dancing on the water as the sun's embers turned the ocean a fiery vermillion.
Sasuke had told Sakura they would take a boat over to Nagi Island, where had a base of some sorts.
"You'll like it there, it's on the coast," Sasuke said, but Sakura didn't reply. She felt like she was being held captive to his whims already, but the elation of the thoughts of adventure were addictive. The whirlwind of their meeting was still fresh in her mind as she went into the hospital and announced her departure. The nurses at reception were shocked to say the least, and when they asked Sakura why she was leaving so suddenly, the kunoichi told them she couldn't say.
"Would you post this for me?" She asked, and handed them a letter. Sasuke had intently watched her as she wrote the letter to Naruto, just to make sure she wasn't telling him anything about him. All it said was that she was going away for a while, and wouldn't return to Konoha for some time.
"Can't I at least give him an address?" Sakura had snapped at Sasuke, but the Uchiha was adamant his dwelling would never be made public. "You're already making me feel like a caged bird, Sasuke,"
"It can't be helped," He had simply shrugged, and had let her carry on with the letter.
"We'll do that, Skaura-sama, just stay safe on your travels," The nurse said, and Sakura thanks her for her consideration. They both left the hospital, and made for the harbour.
"The boat won't arrive until midnight," Sasuke said. "I had planned to leave on it after I killed you,"
Sakura stayed reticent, and began to wonder why on earth she had got into such a position. Who knew what Sasuke was capable of? This after all wasn't the first time he'd tried to kill her, but at least she had earned some of his respect. For that, she was grateful, but still flabbergasted by the whole situation.
He was still ever so handsome, even more as now he had officially left boyhood. He kept his eyes intently on the sunset as Sakura watched his serious face, taking in the smaller details she had failed to see as they fought. A small scar was visible from his neck to his chin, and Sakura couldn't help herself as she rushed the medical chakra to her fingers.
Sasuke gave her a curious glance.
"What are doing?"
"Hold still for a second," Sakura said and extended her hand. She healed the scar and slowly it disappeared. "That was a poorly healed wound, no wonder you need a medic,"
"The medic I usually use isn't as skilled as you," Sasuke stated, and ran his hand along his neck to his chin.
Sakura smiled softly, and turned her gaze to the sunset too. They would wait for the boat, and despite feeling like a prisoner, Sakura couldn't help the rush of her anticipation as she began a new life, with someone she had hardly expected to see ever again.
So that's that. I would be grateful for your opinions, so tell me what you think. Thanks for reading. :3