Title: Lucifer's Wings
Author: kaorulovesyou
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. -sigh- Dearest Kishimoto, I wish you'll let Sakura have a wonderful lovestory. I hope you noticed the possibility of ItaSaku but since you killed Itachi already then I'll take that as a no. -sobs-
Pairing: Itachi and Sakura
A/N : Oh! Hey! Here's a fanfic for you. I hope you'll enjoy reading it. Feel free to leave reviews on whatever I'll have to do to improve my writing. Have a nice day! It's kind of an AU since I don't want them to be a shinobi or a kunoichi, for a change. Tehee. I really love Itachi and Sakura, but it's impossible for them to be together anymore. -sigh- This is what fanfiction is for anyway, for the star-crossed lovers to have their moments. Wait? Are they even star-crossed lovers? Pssh. :D ItaSaku forevah!
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"An angel who broke his wings told me he can't find his way back to heaven. Powerless, I took his hand and starts leading him to a place I don't even know where. Little by little, his light and halo starts to grow fainter, but he keeps on walking with me, never letting go of my hand. As the crimson sunset stained his wings black, I'm also turning into something he is."
Chapter 1: The Girl Who Cried Wolf
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London, England 1866
Two hooded men appeared out of nowhere, in the narrow, moonlit street. For a jiffy they stood quite still, letting the foggy atmosphere cloak their presence. One of the hooded men removed the black hood that concealed his face. His jet-black eyes glimmered under the moonlight.
"Any news?" asked the other man who still have his hood on.
"Aye. I certainly do." replied the man with jet-black eyes.
The hooded man gestured the other to come closer. Before saying anything their eyes roamed around for any possible eavesdropper. Thick clouds covered the moon creating an eerie ambiance. The lane was bordered on the right by wild, low-growing brambles; on the left is a tall dead oak tree. The men's long black cloak flapped around their ankles as a chilly wind played with it.
"It's starting, Sir." said Kabuto, his blunt features sliding in and out of sight as the branches of overhanging tree broke the moonlight. "It was a lot sooner than expected but it's starting. The contenders are not assembled yet but they are on the move."
Orochimaru nodded eyes deep in thoughts. "May God watch over them." He muttered as he grip the crucifix hanging on his neck.
His eyes are on the serene moon.
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Lady Sakura of Haruno household watched the maids below from her perch on the old oak tree, her skinny legs swinging back and forth as she hugged the thick trunk for balance. Sakura is wearing a smile akin to a mischievous grin. The thick foliage hid her from the concerned maids.
Her long hair is swaying with the breeze. She is currently avoiding her lessons and she's happy to do so.
The giant tree grew several feet above the wall, giving her a perfect view of the training ground below. Two men, her father and older brother circled each other, swords in each hand. Gravel crackled beneath their feet as the older Haruno sped in the direction of her brother. Her brother swiftly blocked the assault as a piercing clang filled the air.
Both men are breathing hard, arms trembling from exertion while her brother's form held strong.
"It seems age is getting the best of you." The white haired lad spat playfully. Her father just furrowed his brow further, slightly infuriated.
Oh yes.
Sakura loves watching swordplay and duels.
A large audience had gathered in the training ground, the spectators shouting encouragements and cheering. The clanging sound of sword against sword is music to Sakura's ears. Sir Kazuru, Sakura's father was a fierce fighter. The best in their village and a recognized by all but it seems her brother will be taking it from him in next to no time.
Touya's sword is like an extension of his arm, smoothly meeting the swing of her father's blade. She could hear the giggling of several maids below, even her new governess is there to cheer for Touya.
Sakura chuckled.
'They're supposed to look for me, right?'
Touya is quite the charmer. Touya is tall and slightly muscular, really good-looking with silky white hair and a piercing emerald orbs. He's a spitting image of his father minus the wrinkles. The lightness whenever Touya moved and the gracefulness of his sword fighting reminded her of some exotic sword dance she saw on a circus when she was a child. Maybe that's the time Sakura starts having penchant for swords.
Refined yet deadly, it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
Speaking of sword fighting, Sakura frowned. She wants to learn sword fight so much but the Haruno patriarch is so against it that whenever she insist, the conversation ends up with him scaring his one and only daughter on one of the arrange marriage she loathe so much. With her charms, she managed to have secret lessons with Touya, saying women shouldn't be so dependent on men. She adores her brother because of that.
A moment later, it was over.
Sir Kazuru knelt on one knee, the tip of a sword against his throat. The crowd was hushed, stunned at the Haruno patriarch's defeat. Her brother's unruly white hair is swaying with the wind while grinning; he dropped his sword and helped his father up.
"Well fought my son," said the older Haruno in a sulking tone. "though you could've spared this old man his pride." Touya just gave a hearty laugh and vowed he'll never bring the "you're-too-old-for-this" subject ever again.
Sakura enjoyed the match that she clapped her hands.
Foolish move…
She just ended the hide-and-seek with her maids. The face of her governess is hilarious too, can't blame her. She has the ideal young lady in mind and Sakura is not so refined at the moment.
"I assume we have something to discuss, young lady."
Sir Kazuru spoke and is not amused.
Sakura just flashed him a sheepish smile.
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The Haruno household is one of the wealthy families in a small village at Abbotsbury. His father Sir Kazuru, used to be a high ranking knight at the kingdom thus his skills at sword fighting. He served the King and Queen himself. Today, his father is now a land owner, he's in trade industry too. Abbotsbury is a small yet a very productive land. A lot of merchants settled here and they can say it will be a city soon. A hundred miles from Abbotsbury is Norwood.
War is brewing at the kingdom of Norwood but their village is safe so far. Sakura has no idea what triggered the war, her father might know but whenever she's around they spoke in hushed tones. Her father irritates her sometimes, he can be too protective. Ever since her mother died ten years ago, her life was never the same.
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A six-year old Sakura tossed and turned on her bed that night. Her father is away with Touya and she misses her brother dearly. The good news is, they're on their way home. Whenever she's feeling scared or sad, Sakura sneak in Touya's bed for comfort. Touya's absence is greatly missed by Sakura. Clutching the small wooden sword her brother made for her, she let the darkness swallow her consciousness.
She's about to have a sweet dream when a foul smell awakens her from her slumber.
Sakura wrinkled her nose as she fought the urge to throw up. The sulfuric smell is too strong shaking off the remnants of her sleep.
"Mika?" Sakura called out to her maid but no one answered. Sakura pulled her blanket closer as if to comfort the growing unease in her mind.
"Mika?" she called out once again but silence is the only response she got.
Sighing, she slowly got up. She shivered once her left foot touches the chilly floor. She tries to call for Mika again when a drop of liquid hit her cheek, leaving behind a stinging sensation.
Sakura gaze up curiously at the ceiling.
'Is it raining?' she thought.
Sakura brushed the dampness aside with the back of her hand.
Another drop of liquid fell from above, landing on her forehead. Sakura yelped in surprise—it felt like someone had drenched her with boiling water but it's kind of sticky. A bit nervous, she rubbed her scorched temple, shuffling around in an attempt to light the candle by her bedside.
Once lit, the candle glowed with a soft luminescence, casting tall shadows across the room. She walked towards the other side of the room. She put the candle on top of the table to illuminate the wardrobe. She needs a towel to wipe her face and cool-off the acidic burn.
She's about to open her wardrobe when something moved quickly in her peripheral vision. Her grip tightened around her wooden sword. The sulfuric stench had worsened too. Sakura starts reciting "Our Father".
Her mother said it's effective in warding off evil. She blames Mika for this, for telling her scary bedtime stories about ghouls, spirits, and monsters.
Who would've expected the cheerful Mika to love those gloomy stories? Mika is the new maid in their household. A peasant girl from a nearby village looking for a job, Mika got lucky when she met the Haruno matriarch as she was offered a job to be Sakura's nanny.
Sakura likes Mika a lot, she can be weird at times but she still likes her. She's about to reminisce about her moments with her favorite maid Mika but was cut off when she hears something.
Sakura heard a low moan somewhere around the room.
Sakura turned her head to the left, and saw nothing.
'No more scary stories for me.' She thought laughing inaudibly at her own foolishness. After wiping her forehead and cheek, she flopped backward onto the large bed.
And stared.
Crimson eyes glowed in the dim light.
A being with a grotesque wolf-like figure except that it has eight legs and harp canine teeth with its mouth dribbling drool is staring at Sakura. The creature is hanging up-side down the ceiling with its hooked claws. Sakura never imagined such being to exist but one thing is for sure, it is evil.
She opened her mouth to scream for help, but no sound came out. Her hands are shaking and on her right hand is the wooden sword her dear brother gave her. Death is probably too much for a six-year old to comprehend but Sakura is not going to die.
She's too young to die. She rolled off the bed, backing slowly away from where the creature hung overhead.
The creature flung itself from the ceiling, flipping in midair to land in front of her. The thing bared its teeth and growled; approaching her with stealth like a predator would to its prey. It startled her that the candle tipped off the table swallowing the room in darkness.
It's dark…
Very dark that Sakura can't see even the silhouette of the invader. The feral growl of the creature AND Sakura's labored breathing is the only sound in the room. The creature is towering over the child's small figure, its face close enough that she could pass out from the putrid stench. Sakura lets out a sob—when the door to her bedroom burst open.
A long-sword sliced horizontally across the creatures back. Sakura swore she heard the crunch of bones.
"Stand back, Sakura!" a familiar baritone shouted, it's still dark and all but she's sure it's her father. She can't remember much after that but the creature is dead and she's still shaking and paralyzed. Touya arrived, a torch with him and some of the people in the village.
"Sakura!" her brother cried. She's still clutching the wooden sword when Touya hugged her.
Her father is still stabbing the creature like a madman screaming profanities with rage and madness. Her father is a calm man; anger can really morph us into something we're not supposed to be. As his body ached downwards, his sword arm out behind him, the blade whistling in the air as he hacked clean through the monster's flesh.
Sir Kazuru wiped the blood from his sword with his robe, and turned at last to face Sakura. "It's dead now." He smiled brokenly as his sword slipped from his hand.
A broken man replaced her proud father.
It's heart-wrenching to see a proud person kneeling on his knees because he is broken.
More torches are brought in the room as they tried to identify the attacker. Sir Kazuru inspects the mutilated corpse and was taken aback.
"Mika?!"
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That night, the Haruno lost its matriarch and seven of its loyal servants.
A few servants who survived that faithful night witnessed Mika going berserk, killing anyone on sight. Sakura told her father about Martha being a monster but no one believed her. They said she's too afraid and shaken that she things.
After the funeral, Sakura is the only one left standing by her mother's grave. Rain is falling on the trees, the grass, and the new tombstone added in their clan's mausoleum. The cold rain is merged with her warm tears.
Death is painful.
But Sakura is in more pain since no one believed her.
Is she afraid?
No, she was angry, angry that she was too weak to do anything.
She saw a spider with a butterfly trapped on its sticky web. No matter how much the butterfly struggles it can't escape.
What a weak being.
Just like her.
If her father did not come to her rescue, she would have been lying under the cold ground.
Death is easy to come but hard to accept. Their death is painful but to those who are left behind with regrets, it's unbearable.
No one believed her.
No one.
But she's sure she just saw evil and that evilness, is real.
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END OF CHAPTER 1
A/N: The next chapter will be released on the 1st week of August. How was it? I hope you enjoyed it. I promise to do my best to satisfy you folks. :D Have a nice day!