Blood.
The scent hung heavy in the air, the sweet, coppery smell making the group of shinobi gag. They approached the door where their tracker had told them the scent was heaviest, before he'd promptly passed out, overpowered by the stench.
As they drew closer to the door, they heard someone singing a lullaby.
A girl, if the voice was anything to go by.
There was the sound of shuffling, and then a soft gurgle.
" Are you asleep yet, Sasuke-kun? " The presumed-girl asked, her voice unrecognisable due to the muffling effect of the door. Another soft gurgle answered her.
" No? Well then, I shall have to try again. "
There was silence until the team of shinobi heard a sickening, fleshy thud.
They broke down the door to see Sakura cradling Sasuke's raven-haired head on her lap, gently stroking the side of his face. Her own face couldn't be seen because her hair had fallen over her face.
Both Sasuke, Sakura and the entire room were covered in blood. Splashes decorated the walls, stains grew along Sasuke's clothes, and Sakura smeared his face with her own, crimson-coated hands.
The other members of the Konoha rookie nine stepped forward to remove Sasuke from her grip, when her hands stopped moving and her head jerked up.
A smile graced her blood-spattered face, her eyes wide and barely focused.
" Are you asleep yet, Sasuke-kun? " Silence. Not even the other shinobi dare breathe. Sakura was not safe to be near.
Sasuke's chest wasn't moving, his eyes unseeing.
" He's gone. Gone, at last! "
Sakura began to laugh. It started quietly, gradually building as her grip on Sasuke grew lax.
It continued, even as Sasuke's corpse was taken away, as her comrades watched her with heavy hearts, even as Tsunade came and had Sakura taken to the asylum.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sakura sat in the middle of a cold, clinical room, cradling a large doll's head in her lap. She sang lullabies from time to time, occaisionally stopping to ask it the same question. Are you asleep yet?
The corners of the room grew dark as the day passed by, and still the pink-haired girl continued to cradle and sing to the doll.
Are you asleep yet?
The shadows boiled, twisting and writhing until a figure stepped out from them. Sakura ceased to cradle the doll and looked up at the shadowed figure, not flinching at the turmoiled shadows. IT had come again, as it always did every night she had been locked away here.
Green eyes widened as she smiled.
" Are you asleep yet...Sasuke-kun? "
Features came to light. Angular features, handsome eyes, dark hair that framed his face.
" Iie. "
Dark eyes flashed red as the beautiful face contorted in fury. Mishappen black wings burst from the figure's back, and his skin blackened.
Sasuke was a vengeful spirit.
The creature circled the frightened girl, screaming and shrieking at her, naming her wrongs, telling her how he would not leave until he truly was at rest.
And Sakura cradled the doll, singing a lullaby fervently.
The same question haunted her; Are you asleep yet, Sasuke-kun?
The same answer greeted her; Iie.