Whispers in the Dark

Summary: Sakura wasn't really sure why or how it happened. One thing that she was absolute sure of was that she wasn't imagining it. How else could she explain the bite marks on her neck? Or his necklace on her hands…

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto!! Unfortunately… O.o

Author's Note: So here I am… writing yet another story. I was completely sure that I wouldn't launch myself on another adventure because I promised that I would focus on my other story but when your muse practically forces you to sit down and write… there is nothing that I can do but to obey. Here's the result of my new story.

I tried to put something original to the plot and here it is.

Hope everyone enjoys it. By the way, reviews make me happy. Constructive Criticism as well!

Thanks for reading!

Chapter One

The wind was gentle and comforting; it was like a soothing hand as it caressed her cheeks. It was as if the wind was whispering calm and wise words and she seemed to be enjoying, accepting every bit of it. She had her eyes closed tightly and a shy smile was adorning her pale features.

There was a cloudless dark sky and all the stars were shining brightly, the full moon was the prettiest she had ever seen. The colors of orange and red were a strange mix, creating a mysterious scenario in the dark sky; the full moon was almost stealing all the attention to itself, leaving the millions of stars forgotten.

Sakura Haruno stretched her arms in a lazy manner; her eyes opened automatically revealing bright green eyes. Her rosy lips formed a shy smile as she stared at her surroundings. A long sigh escaped her as she stared at the small tent and at the now extinguished fire.

Team Kakashi was on their way back to Konoha. They had failed to retrieve Sasuke and now they were also pondering on what was to come. Sasuke had succeeded in completing his revenge. That's what that weird looking Akatsuki member said in the first place. But, then why wasn't Sasuke returning? Now that he finally accomplished his goal…

Sighing, Sakura quietly turned around bumping against something solid.

"What are you doing, ugly?"

She raised her head and her emerald eyes flashed dangerously at the dark-haired boy in front of her. Sai, on the other hand, offered her one of his famous fake smiles.

"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be asleep?" Sakura questioned as she stepped back away from his firm chest.

Sai wore a bored expression as she questioned him, "I can't sleep," he simply said as he walked past Sakura and sat down on the grass. He supported his elbows on the grass and pulled his head back and stared at the dark sky, "Besides, it's a pleasant night…"

Sakura blinked stupidly while she stared at Sai. Was he actually trying to start a conversation with her? She looked closer and saw no book near him.

"Yeah…" Sakura whispered and sat next to him, "considering…" Sai eyes remained on the dark sky and he didn't need to ask anything further. He knew perfectly well what was on her mind.

"Hmm," it was his only reply as his dark eyes moved onto the strange beautiful moon.

"Sai?" Sakura questioned, turning her head to look at him.

"What is it, ugly?" he asked as he too turned his head to face her. His dark-eyes met her deep emerald ones and he quickly moved his gaze back to the dark sky.

"Why isn't he coming back?" Sakura voice came out croaky and sounded weird even for her ears.

"I don't know…" Sai answered quietly as he sensed that the pink-haired kunoichi shields were starting to crack. The last thing he wanted was a crying Sakura by his side. He preferred to be left alone with a group of enemy Shinobi than having to comfort someone, especially a heart-broken teenager.

"But why?" Sakura carried on as if Sai answer didn't reach her, "All he wanted was to get his revenge on his brother…" Sakura paused to look at Sai, "So why? Why isn't he coming back? We're his friends… hell we're probably the only ones…"

Sai looked back at the pink-haired kunoichi. He wanted to tell her to shut the hell up and go to sleep, because her problem was the lack of sleep. Then, he pressed his lips tightly in order not to cause a pandemonium. He could already imagine her screaming and her heavy fists trying to open a hole on him.

Then as he looked closer he noticed the purple rings around her eyes and her dry rosy lips. Her skin was paler than usual and her pink hair seemed lifeless. Sighing, he quickly tried to remember what was on his book about comforting a friend. Sadly, he could not remember anything that could help him right now.

"Well…" Sai started and Sakura sat promptly facing him, "Maybe…"

Okay… It's a start… of some sorts. I can do this... ehh, Sai thought.

"Maybe… Sasuke… is scared," Sai finished with a shrug of his shoulders. Sakura blinked and Sai knew that he would have to elaborate. The dark-haired boy fought the urge to roll his eyes, "Sasuke is probably scared that he won't be accepted with open arms,"

Sakura opened her mouth in surprise, and then she closed it and pondered on Sai words.

Sai stared at her and wondered if she would believe his words. It wasn't necessary to be a genius to realize that his words were just out of sympathy. Nevertheless, he welcomed the silent while she pondered on his opinion.

He was now able to return his attention to the sky and thought to himself if he should sketch it or not. Suddenly a soft thump on his shoulder startled him. His dark-eyes widened at the sight of a mass of pink-hair on his shoulder. Softly and completely unaware of his gesture, he gently pulled some of the hair away from her face and found himself smiling.

"Sasuke Uchiha is an idiot," he whispered, "It's his loss… if he's not coming back,"

It was dark and cold… so cold that she could feel her bones scream for something warm. Sakura embraced herself in a miserable attempt to keep herself warm. Her green orbs tried to see what was in front of her but she could not figure anything out due to the darkness around her. As she kept walking, she could feel her knees struggle against it. A cold feeling traveled down her spine and the hair of the back of her neck stood up. A scream… a loud scream echoed through the darkness freezing her heart and her blood all together.

Sakura steps faltered and she brought her trembling hands to her chest. Calm down Sakura… she quickly told herself as her hands could feel the quick pace of her heart.

"Hello?" she quietly asked ignoring her instincts to remain silent and quiet.

There was no response and yet that did not help her at all. The feeling that she was being watched was still present. It was slowly suffocating her. Gathering all of her courage, Sakura straightened herself and started to walk again. She needed to find a way out.

After what seemed to be hours, the pink-haired girl almost screamed in happiness as she a white light appeared ahead of her. Sakura hurried towards the light direction, her emerald eyes beaming with renewed hope. All the lonely and negative thoughts were quickly forgotten.

A few minutes later, Sakura stopped and stared at the white light with a frown. She had been walking for a few minutes and she wasn't any closer to the light.

"Come…"

Sakura tensed as a cold voice whispered in her left ear. She quickly turned her head to the left and saw no one. She stretched her arm and couldn't feel anyone.

"W-who's t-there?" she asked in what she hoped to be a brave tone of voice.

There was no response which only aggravated her. Her heart beat was threatening to stop at any moment. The voice… there was a voice right? Sakura shook her head slightly. Of course there was a voice. She's not insane.

Suddenly, Sakura's body shivered at the unexpected change of climate. The cold increased at an alarming rate that quickly made it hard for the pink-haired kunoichi to breathe normally. She opened her mouth and inhaled a big amount of air as if she was scared that the air would vanish.

"Come…"

That voice again…

"G-go where?" Sakura asked as she stepped towards the white light direction. Sakura's mind screamed for her to run. To run forward and don't look back. However, something… stopped her to do so. Perhaps it was her curious side, perhaps because she wanted to prove herself that she was not scared even though her abnormal heart rhythm clearly indicated the other way around.

"Come!" this time the voice sounded more commanding, more impatient.

Swallowing dry, Sakura turned her back on the white light and ran towards the darkness. The pink-haired girl ran with all she had. She never knew that she could be this fast. Her emerald eyes were wide and ready to spot anything suspicious.

"Yes… yes! Come!"

Sakura bit her lip as she sped towards the darkness, ignoring the inviting white light that was now forgotten in the distance. The voice sounded more clearly, louder and scarier than ever.

Then, without warning the darkness dissipated at once, leaving Sakura in what seemed to be in a complete destroyed area. Her eyes widened at the broken stones and at the burnt trees. She twisted her nose slightly as the smell of burnt and blood came to her scent. One of her hands covered her mouth in order to prevent her to throw up.

She stepped back, now completely regretting that she listened to the strange voice. Her feet stumbled into something and she ended up falling down on her butt. Her big eyes widened and a scream of horror escaped her dry lips as she noticed the thing she had stumbled on.

It was a body… a completely wounded body where several burns and cuts could be clearly seen. Even so, that was not what shocked her the most. As a medic-nin, Sakura was used to see bodies in this condition or worse.

What made her body tremble with fear and disgust, what made her heart almost stop, what made the air become so tick that it was hard for her to breathe, was the fact that the dead man, was no other than Uchiha Itachi.

Sakura quickly jumped on her feet and stepped back from the body as if it contained the deadliest disease.

"What's going on?" she whispered as she turned around at the sound of a strange noise.

"Who's there?" a deep strong voice spoke sending cold shivers down the pink-haired girl spine.

Panicking, Sakura looked around in order to find some place to hide but it was too late. She remained still, as if her body was frozen on the spot, hypnotized by the crimson eyes of the dark cloaked man in front of her.

It's needless to stay that the tall man was just as petrified as her. He was dead… he was sure of it… then again why was a pink-haired girl standing right in front of him.

"Uh?" Sakura questioned as she felt something pull her away. It looked as a strong wind was pushing her. She stretched her arm in order to grab onto something, her green orbs fixed on the Uchiha whose expression was a question mark.

Sakura opened her eyes slowly, her mouth was dry as if she hadn't drunk water for days and her heart was beating at an abnormal rate. A sharp pain quickly invaded the back of her head.

"Are you okay?"

Her eyes darted to the left and noticed the dark-haired boy sitting next to her. He had a smug smile glued on his face.

"Ow… my head!" Sakura complained as she sat up noticing the blinding light of the sun.

"Sorry about that ugly," Sai replied as he stood up, "It looked the best way to wake you up,"

"You little…" Sakura said as she chased Sai around the tent, earning a muffled complain from Naruto who was brutally awoken when the tent fell down on him with a heavy Sai on top, "I think I told you not to call me that!" the pink-haired girl complained with a sly smile on her face.

Sai massaged his stomach while he and Sakura looked at a crankily Naruto.

"What's going on here?" a loud voice questioned startling the three nins. Sai blinked stupidly at Kakashi-sensei who was now coming out from his tent. Sakura smiled innocently and pointed at Naruto who by his turn was completely awake, his mouth hanging open, shocked that Sakura and Sai would team up to turn on him.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto exclaimed, his big blue eyes widened, "It wasn't me! You gotta believe me!"