Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does.
A/N: This is an idea I got out of nowhere, and I just had to write it down. I think I'll continue with it and see how it goes. Please review!
-crystal teardrops
Prologue
The field surrounding her was splattered in blood, as if a war had just taken place. The once pure soil was now mixed in blood, coloring the ground. The stench of dead bodies permeated the air, enough to suffocate any survivors. This gruesome sight was a tragedy to behold, but that was not what drew in Sakura's gaze. No, it was his eyes.
His eyes were filled with malice.
Those snake-eyes regarded her with hunger; he was starving, for what she did not know.
Red flashed, and soon she was looking into his flaming eyes, the tomoes spinning wildly.
He was insane, she was sure. No amount of insisting could make a starved animal see reason, and that was what he was.
And then he was advancing upon her, and she could feel her body shake, barely containing her fear, or was it rage?
She was unsure of what was happening, but found herself screaming out at him in anguish, uttering words of contempt. She chastised him, threatened him, insulted him, and pleaded him with words that were meaningless to his ears.
Still, he came forward, stopping only to avert his eyes slightly to glance at her lap, his eyes lighting up with satisfaction.
No . . . not her lap, something else.
She was reluctant to take her gaze from him, but she did feel something in her lap. Wary of him, she glanced down as well, finally acknowledging the pressure there. She froze.
It was a head, upturned and thankfully still attached to the body.
The occupant had blond hair.
She recognized those whiskers.
She knew those confident features that lit up with a smile, more masculine over the years.
She was familiar with the proud headband that adorned his forehead.
And suddenly she felt the urge to cry.
For his once bright blond hair was now stained with blood, his masculine features marred with wounds, the dark red blood running down his face and staining her skirt.
She gazed at him in shock.
His body was broken, his soul barely clinging to life. It was surreal to her, there was no way this was her best friend.
Her protector. Her brother.
But this was not the time to break. She would eventually, but now was not the time. For now she would continue to swim upstream, to avoid falling down the waterfall that was her grief.
She called on every ounce of her being; put forth all that she had left. She willed herself to come to the aide of her beloved friend, produce the green light that would save his life.
But something was wrong.
Instead of healing him, she held him close to her, sobbing uncontrollably. Her body disobeyed her, while her mind screamed to heal the body in her arms instead of weep uselessly.
Her time as it was felt short. She could hear her breath quickening and coming in gasps. She realized that she too was weary, almost at the hands of death herself. Her body was also broken, and she was faint from blood loss, but she would not allow herself to succumb to the darkness.
And yet her body still seemed to fail her as her vision blurred. Where was her spirit? The soul that kept her alive and fighting like a cornered animal until the very end? Was she so weak that she could not even save the ones closest to her?
When at last her efforts were exhausted, she broke, though her mind still urged her not to give up. What was wrong with her! She had to save Naruto!
But no, she found herself looking up to the dark figure looming above her. He was watching her with amusement, and she felt her rage come to her. Yet again though, she found her will contained by something.
"Sasuke! I know you're in there somewhere, please! Help him!" she pleaded, her eyes overflowing with tears.
Inside, she felt herself ready to burst. What the hell was she doing! All she wanted to do right now was kill the man in front of her! He was going to kill her and any of the life still remaining in Naruto, and she was pleading with him! She urged herself to get up and fight him- no matter if it was to the death- but to no avail.
"Sasuke, please, fight it Sasuke! Don't let him take over you!" she found herself yelling, hating how weak she sounded.
Sasuke was obviously not in his right state of mind. That was the only explanation for him killing Naruto. Though she hated Sasuke for his wrongs against her and Naruto, a part of her truly believed that he would never hurt his friends. He promised, didn't he, all those years ago?
Yes, that was it, he did not know her. His pain and Orochimaru's taint blinded him.
Even as she thought these thoughts though, she felt hopeless. She was at his mercy.
She couldn't save Naruto.
She can't save herself.
She was useless.
He crouched down to where she was on the ground and lifted her chin. He looked deep into her eyes, his crimson eyes searching her soul and bringing out all of her sorrow, so that she felt that death would be welcome. Then, slowly, he bent foreword until his lips brushed her ear, and added the final sorrow she would endure in this world.
"Arigatou, Sakura" he whispered in a velvety voice that gave her chills, licking the blood that was dripping from her head.
Her lips parted in a silent gasp.
He recognized her.
With a chocked gasp she shot up, shaking from her latest nightmare. Escaping from the sheets clinging to her, she rose, running a shaking hand through her damp hair. This was happening way too often for her liking.
She needed some air.
A/N: Okay, so this is the prologue, tell me what you think! R&R!