Whatever It Takes
By Lost Ranger
Disclaimer- I do not own Naruto or the characters in it.
Whatever It Takes
His hard, onyx eyes gazed down upon her sleeping form with a tender softness that had never been known to them. He was in the open, next to her large, futon like bed. She did not stir; outside fear was left on her doorstep with a naive amount of confidence that she could never be harmed in her little apartment. She was wrong. He was standing above her.
His eyes traveled over her face then down her body until they rested on the slightest bulge that was her stomach. The result of their one night together.
He could close his eyes and remember the touch of her skin, the taste of her sweet lips, her hair soft and smelling like the cherry blossoms she was named for her.
He never knew it would be so hard to let go and run away again, leaving her here and alone again. He shouldn't have left that way, not after all she did for him.
He had been left for dead by his supposed comrades in the forest outside of Konaha, where anyone could have found him. He was drifting off into that darkness when she appeared over his head, inspecting his eyes with a tiny flashlight, without having seen his face yet. Then, a gasp escaped her lips as she brought the light up to get a better look.
After that, she had taken him to her home and healed him at nights after her work, until he was completely well. Then, the last night, after all the silence and the only short, direct answers to questions had she finally cracked. She was staring across at him at their evening meal that had become routine in the small dwellings, then all of the sudden she, in a very angry tone asked, "Why won't you tell me what happened! I mean I deserve that much after all I've done for you over the years! I deserve an explanation, Sasuke!"
Her eyes glowered into him as he shifted his food around with chopsticks, not answering.
"I suppose you couldn't even give me that much," her voice was softer now, sad."'You never were much of a talker, I guess. It's none of my business anyway. You can go if you want; you're all healed."
With that, she pulled herself up from the low table, trying not to let him see her face and how she was trying to hold her tears in, trying to deny herself emotions. She left the room, trying to hold it in until she got the living room door slid closed behind her.
He sighed, hearing her soft sobs and rose, his bare feet padding softly, unheard to the thin paper door. "Sakura…"
He heard her gasp from shock and sniffle then went silent. He slid the door open, to find her sitting on her lone cushion facing the small television, her back to him. Her knees were pulled up to her chest in a death grip.
"I don't know why, Sasuke, but I've always loved you. Ever since we were twelve. And my heart still skips a beat when you look at me," she said, a near whisper. "Even though you ignored me, hated me, and still think I'm annoying, but I don't care. I felt so empty till you came back and gave me a purpose again. I know people at the hospital need me, but they don't make me feel like I've accomplished anything. But….the only thing I've done is helped Orochimaru and his cause."
Orochimaru…the name was bitter on her tongue. She nearly spat it out. He wasn't too fond of it either anymore. After he had discovered that Orochimaru was only going to use him as a vessel he left. They found him and nearly killed him.
He could stay in Konoha, but he still had a mission. Itachi. He couldn't live without Itachi being dead. He looked over his shoulder at the door, then back to Sakura. Briefly he wondered if he could actually leave her again. He tried to deny his feelings. Tried to deny that there was anything in his heart but a need for revenge. He needed to avenge his clan. He couldn't do it with these feelings he was having for her right now.
If he had really sat down and reflected over the years, he would have found himself constantly thinking about Sakura and how she would've done so many things different from Karin and Tayuaya. How she would not put him down and would be a great help with her wits and developing skill. How she gave him some purpose, but he always kept hurting her. He hurt everyone.
He hadn't notice her get up and make her way towards him, wanting past him to go into the bedroom, but he refused to move, instead, taking her by the elbows and begging forgiveness in his eyes. But, she refused to look at him. A gentle pink flush spread up her pale cheeks.
He took her chin softly in one of his hands and pulled her face to look into his eyes. Then, with fiery passion that had been built up for years, he kissed her. He wouldn't doubt that her lips would be tender tomorrow. He thought her lips were like a drug that kept drawing him back ever time he broke for a breath.
They were moving motions swift as they blindly made their way to the softest surface in the house, him hooking her legs around his hips to make them move a little faster. Then finally, they had made their way into the bedroom, falling onto the bed in a tangle.
The next morning, before dawn, he had left. It was too dangerous for him to stay. Orochimaru would be looking for him and he didn't want Sakura dragged into the mess. So, he left, disappeared without a trace.
Words could not describe how disgusted with himself he was for leaving her like this. Sure, she had Naruto and Kakashi stopping in on her every day, but that still didn't help when they left. She worked as long as she could without hurting herself or the child-his child- and now she was barely permitted to leave the house, and when she did she was accompanied by someone.
They all knew it was his. They also knew that if Orochimaru found out that he would be upon the leaf village trying to find the child for his own use.
He had to protect Sakura and their unborn child. He couldn't be known though. The entire leaf village would be down upon him, locking him up or worse because he was a danger to them. Plus, he didn't know how to apologize to her after what he did.
Her soft stir, brought his attention back to her face, praying she wasn't awake. She wasn't. She was just restless over something. Her eyes squinted then relaxed, as if she was in pain, but it was only a dream, he imagined.
He retreated softly to his spot in her rather large closet to stow himself for the night. Though he wasn't able to fall asleep for a long while. There he only dreamed of her, and how different it would have been if Itachi hadn't done what he had. Maybe they would be in the same place, except that he would be on the bed next to her, arms wrapped protectively around her. Instead of dried tears staining her face, she would have a smile spread across her features.
But, that dream seemed far off and away, barely reachable. He would die soon, most likely and soon be forgotten by all, except her. She would always remember, but she would only have hurtful memories, especially when she looked upon the child.
He only wanted peace for her. That's why he never brought her with him. She would never make it under Orochimaru. She was to kind hearted and would easily be crushed by the people he was usually surrounded by.
He would've broken into tears if he had been alone, but he wasn't, so he only beat himself up about all of things he had done to her. Wallowing in his own self-pity and self-hatred seemed to be his favorite pastime.
Then with a sudden realization, he decided he was going to be the one to kill Orochimaru as well as Itachi. The two men that ruined his life would die a slow and painful death, suffering for every life they had taken and all the pain they had caused. He would start with the Sound Nin that would be arriving any day. Then Kabuto when he came to do the job himself. Then finally, Orochimaru.
After Orochimaru was dead; Itachi would be the next to arrive, wanting Naruto's power. He would wait for that day so he could finally be rid of the man that haunted him. Everyone would be avenged, and the Leaf Village would have peace. Then, after all that, he may get to die with his honor and friends back.
