Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Naruto except the original characters to this story.
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Reaper Like Me
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"One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure its worth watching."
- Anonymous
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Chapter one: Life's a bitch and then you die.
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It was raining that night, thunder crackling across the sky after the lightning flashed dangerously. A man in thick dark clothing was running faster than the eye could see through the streets of Suna, his eyes darting around wildly. Any movement made from the corner of his eyes caused the man to jerk and speed up. His mouth was dry and raw as the drumming of his heart pounded up to his throat. He never knew so much fear in his life.
He was in so much pain, his body screaming in agony as he continued to push it; continued to run for his life. He pushed on, through crowds of people till his eyes darted to the rooftop. He almost froze in fear when he saw the flash of dark figure leaping from one side of a building to another in an inhumane leap. His pulse quickened and he tried to take another route, trying to lose the thing that was seeking to catch him.
It would not matter where he was, be it an open area, a crowded scene or a panic room, it had got rid of his option to go home quite quickly. The thing that wanted him was never going to give up until it had him within its grasp. He trembled at the thought. He had been running for now hours, no breaks or breathers to even rest. This thing certainly did not rest.
So he continued to run, through the rain, the ear-splitting thunder and menacing lighting. He couldn't stop. He felt like the rabbit being pursued by the ravenous dog with the saliva dripping from its deadly jaws. He didn't know he was running across a bridge until he was half way over it, that was how frightened he was. But it did not matter.
A pain unlike any other tore through his body when he collided with the floor. His lip had split and bruises formed upon impact, yet it could not compare to the pain of the severed flesh from his back. He wanted to scream so badly but his raw throat would not comply with his wishes. He tried to get up and escape but the weight of whatever was above him held him down. It didn't stop him from struggling.
"Now, now, don't try and fight me. It'll only be more painful" a smooth voice said. Nothing with in that voice had given away who it was or that they were even remotely tired. The man, however, would not give into its demands and tried to move again, only find his face being slammed down into the wet concrete. "Naughty little bugger, aren't you?" the voice chuckled.
"They…will come…after…you." The man managed to gasp.
The man felt the thing shift its weight as it leaned down to his ear, his skin almost crawled off his flesh when he felt its breath against his neck. He wanted to lash out at the thing above him but he knew it was useless, especially when the thing spoke right against his ear.
"I'm counting on it."
The world turned white and there was nothing more.
When a lone pink haired woman woke that morning she didn't think she was going to have a very troubling day. She threw the covers off her and swung her feet over to the side of her bed before heading to her mirror. She wanted to cringe at the sight of her nest like hair and almost shivered at the thought of brushing it through.
Good lord, were you fighting in your sleep again?
"Oh be quiet" she muttered.
Ooooh sour cotton candy in morning! I love that! You think it'll be a hit at work?
"I said 'be quiet', you morning freak" she growled irritably.
What are you going to do Bubblegum? It's not like I can go anywhere.
She ignored it, knowing it never allowed her to have the last word. It was what Sakura Haruno got every morning since she could remember. The thing inside her was her opposite in everyway and preferred it at that. After all, it hated the fact that she was the one in control of the body and not it. It liked to call itself Hakumei. Sakura preferred to call it Naimenteki Oni on very bad days for obvious reasons. Of course it never liked to be ignored or shut up.
C'mon Bubblegum, work is awaiting and I can't wait to see what's in store.
"I prefer having conversations with Karin than hear you speak another word." Sakura said.
Oh that hurt Bubblegum
Sakura could feel Hakumei giving her a mocking pout inside her mind.
"Get gone." She said before she started to brush her hair. She could hear the thing inside her mutter a few chosen curse words before it went silent, something Sakura knew wouldn't last long.
When she finally sorted the mess she called hair she washed, put some light make up on and dressed in her uniform for work; black trousers, black boots, black blouse and pink sunglasses. Yes, that was her uniform and it included a long black coat, the pink sunglasses were just her added touch as sometimes she worked outside. She looked like she was going to funeral or something if it weren't for those sunglasses.
Once the ensemble was completed she headed off down town to a large skyscraper after grabbing a few krispy kreame doughnuts and coffee for breakfast along the way. She found that no matter what she ate she never gained a pound or even loose a pound whenever or whatever she chosen to eat. She was on her fifth doughnut when she entered the foyer of the building.
"You're late." A man behind the counter said as he was flicking through his newspaper.
"You're ugly" Sakura replied and grinned when the man looked up from his desk giving her a horrible look. He then proceeded to give her the finger before he returned to his newspaper. She couldn't care less, she did not like him and he certainly did not like her. Most of the employees did not like her and did not even pretend to nor did she. But for the sake of staying employed they did not hassle her and it was likewise with her.
When she reached the elevator she pressed the button on the side and the doors opened for her to step in immediately. She found another male employee in a white business suite and white hat standing while holding a black briefcase next to her when she entered the elevator. The air was uncomfortably hot but she tried to ignore it as best she could when she pressed the button to the top floor, knowing exactly where it just came from.
"Miss Haruno, your Father's been meaning to have a word with you." The man said.
Sakura frowned in annoyance. "Tell him I'm not interested."
"Don't you want to know what he wants to say to you?"
The pinkette looked at the man, her eyes darkening slightly. Yes, most of the employees did not like her for a very good reason and some employees wanted her to be on 'their' side in the job.
"I know what he'll say to me and quite frankly I couldn't give a flying monkey."
"It maybe different this time." The man said softly, as he leaned a little closer towards her.
To an observer, you couldn't help but notice the man suddenly becoming attractive and more alluring than it was thought possible. Sakura, however, looked at the man more annoyed that he was getting closer before her eyes flashed in anger as she gritted her teeth.
"So he sends an incubus. Lovely." Sakura growled then gestures to the space between them. "You mind? Your breath stinks."
The man looked surprised before distancing himself away from her. "You are an odd creature."
"You'll be a dead creature if you try that trick on me again." Sakura hissed. The elevator stopped at the top floor that moment before the doors opened to an endless bright white room. Employees from different backgrounds were working very hard behind their desks as Sakura briskly walked down the aisle, heading towards one counter in particular.
She could feel people's eyes on her as she strolled through the room, she could definetely sense the hostility and it wasn't even nine o'clock yet. However when she reached the counter she was heading for she was greeted with a smile by her oldest and dearest friend.
"Hey Ino-pig" Sakura grinned.
"Forehead you're late." Ino grinned back.
Ino was a 5ft 8 blonde and blue-eyed bombshell that loved the colour lilac and blue with yellow. She was also the loudest girl in the entire building and wasn't afraid of being outcast because she was friends with Sakura.
"Can't help it, I'm not a morning person." Sakura said with a shrug.
"Well your shift doesn't start till 8:45 today so you're lucky but you have to be here before 8. You know that." Ino sighed as she fished around beneath the counter in her filing draws. She straightened up in an instant and looked at her long time friend "Have you been smoking?"
"No, another employee of my father's that's been chatting to me in the elevator." Sakura said.
"Ah, we may need to get Tsunade-sama on this. She can't lose you as an employee here." Ino said.
"Nice to know I'm loved" Sakura dryly said.
Ino leaned over the counter looking a bit sombre at her friend. "You know you are loved, especially by me, but I'm serious about this. Some of the staff members are missing."
"Really? You don't think they may have moved on or something?"
"Not in this line of work, no one moves on here."
Sakura grunted and rubbed her forehead.
"What does your 'roommate' think" Ino quietly asked with a knowing look.
Would say 'I think maybe you should try to be a little less nosy' and such but that would only just kill you.
Sakura wanted to roll her eyes but controlled herself, she knew that if Hakumei knew anything she wouldn't be able to hide it from her or wouldn't be able to stop herself from bragging about what she knows. Afterall, the creature inside her head was prideful and would like to rub it in whenever it got the chance to. "She doesn't know" Sakura said.
"Hmm, is that the truth or is she hiding something?" Ino asked.
Stop being so damn irritating, I couldn't care less about the people here but I've no clue.
"She's telling the truth." Sakura sighed.
"Damn." Ino grunted before she pulled out a piece of paper from the filing cabinet and gave it to Sakura. While the pinkette was looking over the list the blonde began to talk again. "This is getting frustrating, no one upstairs or downstairs knows anything or willing to share anything. It's all hush-hush and Tsunade-sama is very worried."
"Trust me, the second I learn anything I will tell you after I tell Tsunade-sama" Sakura said.
"Before you go, you have to contact me every hour now." Ino said as she pulled a phone out from one the draws "If you don't then Tsunade-sama will have your ass on a platter."
Sakura glanced up from her list and at her friend "Ino, just who exactly is supposed to be missing?"
"Gigi, Chaun, Myoko, Zuko, Taruke and now Fortaro"
Sakura thought for a moment and shook her head. "Whoever it is seems to be going for staffs here that are 'wholesome'." Ino frowned at the term but kept quiet when her friend continued. "You work behind the counter anyway."
"You could be targeted too as you're out on the field." Ino pointed out.
Sakura gave Ino a meaningful look "You forget who my parents are."
"Yeah like that would matter" Ino muttered, forgetful that Sakura could hear her perfectly well.
Sakura sighed at her friend before thinking of something that would be better for the both of them. "My shift ends around three today, why don't we go shopping afterwards?" She almost regretted saying it when she saw Ino's eyes sparkle. When they decided where they wanted to meet and what place they wanted to visit first Sakura waved her friend goodbye and began her shift for the day.
Life was good for Sasuke Uchiha. He was handsome. He owned a multimillionaire company. He had an endless supply of female bed partners. Life was very good for Sasuke Uchiha but tonight he was celebrating his brother's engagement party.
Their parents had hired an ocean liner for his brother to celebrate this engagement. Sasuke really couldn't give a fuck though, he wanted to drink stupidly and get the hell away from here. He watched and listened as his father gave a speech for his brother, he gritted his teeth in irritation. He loved and hated his brother. His brother had always been good to him but as far as being in someone's shadow Itachi was the dark side of the moon to him. Anything he did his brother could do ten times better. So when the Uchiha cooperation was handed down to Itachi solely, Sasuke decided to create his own company with startling success. But did dear Dad or even Mum say anything? Nope.
Yep, drinking one self stupidly seemed the best plausible plan he ever thought of.
He raised his glass when his father finished and downed the champagne in one go before slipping away from the crowed. His mother had insisted he should make a speech for his brother. How could he, when he couldn't even fathom why his brother would want to settle down so quickly. Yes he was brought up to respect women but who would have one when many came banging at your door? None of his friends did, they and he were looking forward to a lifetime of being bachelors.
When the cool air hit his face as he left the room to go on deck, he began to contemplate of what he would do next. Nothing really much sprang to his mind other than to stay the hell away from the party. He really had no one to talk to and his friends were not invited as his mother felt it would lead to many problems, he couldn't blame her. The people he socialised were notoriously known to be playboys; he was mild compared to them as he preferred to keep his affairs private.
Speaking of affairs…
His nose almost flared at the strong perfume that whiffed its way to him. It wasn't cheap nor did he like the smell, something he found irritating with women wearing the stuff. The rocking of the liner did not help either, but a distraction was a distraction.
"Good evening Sasuke." Purred a female voice.
His eyes flicked over to the woman, a beautiful blonde with brilliant blue eyes and black skin tight dress, an old bed partner of his.
"Clarice" Sasuke acknowledged.
Happy that she held his attention she became bolder as she placed a hand on his shoulder and began to rub it leisurely.
"I noticed you left the party so soon." She said softly.
"Hn."
"I can understand that, gets too crowded and all."
Her hand trailed down his shoulder to his back and began caress just above his buttocks, trying to tempt him. He then shifts away from her, annoyed that she would pull that move on him. He was not stupid as she was an old bed partner for a very good reason.
"I think you should leave me be, Clarice" Sasuke warned.
"It never stopped you before" She cooed.
"You weren't married before."
Yes, he respected women but he also respected another man's wife. The only time he'd ever do that was if it was an enemy's wife and make sure she would be calling his name out whenever she did have sex again. Besides, why go for another man's wife when there were plenty of very willing women out there for him to have. Yet Clarice was undeterred, she moved closer to him with a seductive look on her face.
"C'mon Sasuke, I know you. You want a little fun and you know how much fun we would have whenever we got together."
The thought of what they used to get up to sent blood usually resided in his brain southwards. That coupled with the champagne in his system almost made Sasuke grin at the thought. Oh he definitely remembered all the things they used to get up to. Seeing that his eyes seemed to go into those bedroom eyes, Clarice took her chance and kissed him. Her kisses were the same hot, wet and fiery like he remembered. However, even if he enjoyed it and responded to it he knew he would be in a shit load of trouble if they got caught so close to the party.
But the next thing Sasuke knew was a sharp pain in his back. He tore away from the blonde and saw her husband holding a bloody cake slicer. His brother did say to him constantly his man-whore days would catch up with him.
It was near the end of Sakura's shift as she observed a handsome man running across the deck of an ocean liner, trying to get away from the husband that was trying to kill him. She watched tiredly, checking her wristwatch every so often. She could hear the frustrations of the husband trying to catch his target; the one running at an incredible pace despite being stabbed. She had to admit the victim was very good, setting off the alarm, throwing objects in the way of the husband. But eventually he would die and that's where she comes in.
Oh she doesn't finish the job or save him. She was here to collect his soul, the last one for the day. It was her job.
"Hurry up; I want to go shopping later." She muttered.
No one could see Sakura, as the mad husband and victim continued their cat and mouse game. Sighing she checked her wristwatch again and then pulled out her list, most of which had been crossed out till this one she was waiting for. She didn't like this job, most of the time it required patience and unfortunately hers were running thin at the moment. Muttering a few curse words she then appeared next to victim.
He was back peddling away from his attacker until his back hit the railing from the stern of the ship. He was exhausted and he would have kept on running if he wasn't trapped. A red scythe decorated in black and pink cherry blossoms appeared in Sakura's hand from a pile of red and black smoke. She twirls it around, waiting for the mad husband to take his aim. When he cocked his gun she raised her scythe up, ready to slam it into the victim. There was a sudden shout when the mad husband pulled the trigger; the bullet soared into shoulder instead of chest where he was aiming. The impact sent the victim overboard and the rosette girl sighed angrily.
"Thank you sooooooooo much in making my job easier." The girl sarcastically grunted unheard to the mad husband as he ran off.
She jumped over railing, following the victim to the watery depths. The pinkette found him easily, she always does with every assignment, and was incredibly surprised that he survived the two hundred metre drop and missed the propellers. She was stunned that he managed to also swim to the surface and started to shout for help.
"Damn, this guy is really stubborn." Sakura sighed.
She was standing on the water now, she knew the rules and she knew she couldn't act until the point of death. The man, this victim, just didn't want to quit life just yet. She glanced at her list again to check if she got the right person and then checked her wristwatch again. She then looked over to the ship that was sailing away as the man next to her was hopelessly trying to get someone's attention on board.
"Great, now I have to either wait for hypovolaemia or hypothermia to set in." She muttered.
So she waited, standing upon ocean as it rose and fell beneath her feet, keeping close to the man who seemed to never want to leave the living. As she waited she took her time to admire his facial features. Raven coloured hair, warm onyx eyes, cupid lips, soft aristocratic nose yet sharp striking features that would probably look like he was ethereal. It was a pity he would be dying young and so…beautiful. For a moment she froze in her place, this man was now staring right back at her.
Good lord, am I seeing things?
You're seeing what I'm seeing.
True, so how come he's seeing us?
Shouldn't you know that?
I may know many things but this is new.
Maybe his eyes are just looking our way.
"Am I…dying?" the man gasped.
Want to try that again?
Sakura was stunned, she wasn't too sure if it was the hypothermia or that he really was seeing her but she decided to humour herself and him.
"Afraid so" She said.
"I…I…don't…want…want to…die." He managed to say.
She was still for a moment and checked her wristwatch again. No it wasn't his time just yet. This almost scared the hell out of her; it wasn't in the job description for the living to stare back at a reaper. She was astonished that this was a first. No one was able to see her until they died when she was on the job. Not even those annoying psychics could. This was truly a first her account and probably the first in the job's history as Hakumei didn't know either.
"Nobody does, it's a process all mortals go through." Sakura said gently.
"It's…not…not…nice."
"No it's not."
"So…c-cold"
"I know."
Sakura smiled gently at him.
"Never t-thought…I'd…d-die…this way."
"What? Being caught by an angry husband who then proceeded to try and kill you? I admit this has been a very funny thing for me. You were stabbed, shot, fallen off an ocean liner that you broke a few bones from the impact, missed the propellers and now you've got hypothermia and suffering from hypovolaemia. You're also potentially going to drown" She said as she began to twirl her scythe again. "What exactly is going to kill you is beyond me."
She heard him chuckle weakly.
"I…w…wished…"
"Hmm?"
"…th-that…I…I…w…"
She watched as his struggles became less and less as his eyes seemed to have rolled at the back of their sockets. She felt for the first time some sympathy for a dying mortal. In all her life she knew death was her way of relieving the pain for these mortals but now faced with one she was sympathising with was very new to her.
"…was…wasn't at…at…the…t-the…"
"…"
"party…g-gue-ss…I…I…got…it…n…now"
"Well, it is true what they say. Life's a bitch and then you die."
He chuckled weakly again but this time it was almost breathless, almost…lifeless. All he had suffered through was basically at its final curtain. It was time.
Sakura smiled grimly before she looked back at her watch; double checking for the last time for the day. She then raised her scythe up, grasping the bottom as the blade was held up high above her head. She watched the moment his head went beneath the water to never return and brought the scythe down through the water upon him.
Hypovolaemia is severe blood loss if anyone is wondering.
Before everyone yells at me I haven't forgotten my other stories, I just need to get this one out of my head for the moment. In fact I have a few chapters already half way finished, so please no fretting.
Right you guys know the drill, leave a review if you like the story to continue and I'll write some more chapters. Please note I am at Uni so I may or may not be able to update as quick as I could.
Chow!
