Title: undercurrents
Summary: like a storm, he swept her off her feet.
Pairing: SasuSaku
Theme:
AU
Prompt: [sasusaku_month] "What are you so desperate for?"
Comments: For sasusaku_month. I wrote something similar to this in fracturedtales, but I wanted to continue the idea, so I guess this would be part 1 out of 7. Heheh. Also, please review!


It was pitch black.

In the distance, Sakura could see the flickering lights of the lanterns and hear the sound of heavy footsteps. Her heart started to pound—their pursuers were getting closer, and she was running out of energy. She could only drag Naruto so far.

The metallic smell of iron clogged up her nose and travelled into her lungs. Sakura's knee-jerk reaction was to puke, but it was Naruto's blood and he was bleeding—dying, dying, dying.

She could feel his blood caking under her nails, on her hands, her skin. She needed to save him. Fear spiked up within her, theyhadtogotheyneededtoflee, and she pulled his unconscious body towards her side and dragged his arm over her shoulder.

In the dark, she trudged forwards the harbor. Please, she prayed, please be there, Sasuke.

xxx

Under the glow of dimmed lamps, a crowd of men was loading large barrels of food supply and ammunition onto a large vessel. They worked silently and seamlessly, almost hurriedly. Aboard the ship, Sasuke eyed the surroundings, his eyes narrowing impatiently at the sight of flickering light in the midst of the thick forest.

From the canopy of trees, Suigetsu pushed a small figure forward roughly and stepped out into the clearing. Sakura tripped over the combined weight of Naruto slung over her and fell, Naruto toppling heavily over her. She hissed angrily, glaring sharply at the silver haired man as she struggled to sit upright.

"Sorry," he grinned cheekily, revealing a full set of pointed teeth.

It was only upon a closer observation of the vessel that Sakura began to feel anxious. Under the sparse moonlight, the whole ship was black, complete with black sails. The thought of meeting him again of all people sent her heart jerking painfully. For the past six years, the same recurring vision of his back had haunted her in her sleep. He never looked back.

"Oi Sasuke! She's probably the reason why so many guards are around today."

A redhead stepped out to look, squinting down and frowning at the fallen pair on the floor.

"Get rid of them already then, dumbass!"

"But I like her better than you!"

At the commotion, a number of crew members paused in their work, curiously sneaking a glance over.

Sasuke quickly intervened, "Keep quiet already." Turning to Juugo, he ordered, "Go and bring those two over here."

xxx

As Sakura stared into familiar dark eyes, she wondered if she were in the fringes between reality and a dream – was he real? – She had dreamt of him before, and it was always adreamdreamdream, she was alwaysdreamingdreamingdreaming, and he always walked away.

They were eyes she never thought she would see again.

A thick veil of silence washed across the two of them as Sasuke observed her, gaze darkening at her clammy skin and the pooling crimson blood on the floor.

"Juugo, get her to Ino immediately."

As the orange-haired man he called came forth to collect her, Sakura's mind cleared and she started to panic.

Falling to her knees, she pleaded, "I'm fine. Please Sasuke, save Naruto."

Growing furious, Sasuke stiffened. Dark eyes spun red as he directed his gaze back to viridian ones. As his gaze remained steely, her lips trembled.

"What are you so desperate for?"

xxx