This isn't at all what I'd promised to write but to anyone who's reading my other stuff, this is kind of just a way for me to try get back into the swing of things...

Just to note, I guess, I see this taking place in a post-apocalyptic world where it's all just sand and despair and you know, the cliche thing?

This shouldn't be more than ... 3 chapters, maybe 4.

Please enjoy the first!


"Isn't this a funny turn of events?"

"Tch!"

Sakura spat at the ground, glaring up at the man leering over her.

Chief Sasuke of the Uchiha tribe. Cocky, smart, loaded - too sexy to walk the Earth. Sakura hated him. She hated him and his selfish, smug attitude. She hated the way he just stood there over her with a placid smirk. He was topless, because the insufferable man would never miss a chance to peacock. A belt of woven hawk feathers barely held his pants up. He'd gone commando today, her appraisal determined; she could see the well sculpted bones of his hips shaping the descent to his lower body, a thin layer of sweat glossing his skin.

"You do that again, I'll be forced to gag you," he smirked, tugging a bandana - one of hers - between his hands playfully.

"Well do me a favor and go ahead, because then I wouldn't have to talk to you."

"No, no Sakura-chan. We're not working on your terms, we're working on mine," he declared, kneeling down between her knees.

It'd been worth the struggle it'd taken to get her tied up like this, absolutely defenseless. Clipped wings of a bird. The reward for the efforts was beautiful. A beautiful killer. She sat with her ankles tied to her wrist behind her back and a leash made of rope fastened round her neck, which he currently had hold of.

He surveyed every inch of her. He hoped to any gods out there she wasn't wearing a bra underneath the poncho with the cut out shoulders and tassels at the hem. He fantasized that she was as commando as himself right now under those fur lined green shorts that barely covered her thighs. He could dream, he'd just never know. He wasn't going to check by force; despite the compromising position he had her in, he wasn't that savage.

He yanked the crude leash, bringing her collapsing forward into him against her will. she was powerless to stop the fall but made it clear she was disgusted to be in such a vulnerable position if the way she gnashed her teeth and growled said anything. Sakura loved to show off how strong she was and detested seeming weak. It was one of the more oddly alluring things about her.

He rested his head against the side of hers, breathing down heavily on her neck and shoulders, pleased to feel the shiver she let loose after a moment.

"I've got a new game," he said softly, brushing his lips over her shoulder. "I killed all those scumbags with a bounty on your head and made my own instead. And now, all those people I hired have been tipped off to your location and should be here very, very soon. I know you're a nifty little escapologist so I threw that in for the extra challenge. This said, if one of them doesn't get you - I'm coming to find you myself anything. If you don't get caught by then, you've won. If you get caught, I win. Simple as that, love."

"What's my reward for winning?" She asked, noticeably struggling less. Sakura loved a challenge.

"If... IF I'm feeling nice, it'll be something with a bang."

"That's a double entendre," she observed, her eyelids lowering. Sasuke reached behind him and pulled out a sleek silver gun adorned with black casing, and kissed it.

"You'll get both if you blow me away. Only one if I find your antics to be average."

"... Blackbird?!" she gasped, ignoring his sultry attitude and eyeing up one of Sasuke's most prized guns. "Y-you're putting Blackbird on the line?"

"She COULD be yours if you win. You won't know unless you comply."

"You must be bored, Uchiha," she smirked, raising her head up defiantly. He leaned in close, their breath a single concoction.

"So entertain me," he breathed, closing his eyes briefly. When Sakura followed suit, he stood up, smirking at her sour expression. "I'll see you in a fortnight," he declared, raising his hand up and making his way back to his loyal steed.

Sakura didn't speak. She just glared heatedly at him and his horse as both became a speck in the sunset of the dusty plains she had been forsaken in.

She probably didn't have long left before she was caught here.


Sasuke returns to where his tribe has settled for a while and is met with awe and praise. It strokes his ego. He could tell these people anything and they'd still fawn over him like he was god's gift to the world. He's thumped on the back and he shakes a few hands here and there. 'Well done, well done!' they praise. He's about to yawn falsely and dismiss himself when a door is burst open on one of the wagons.

He barely has time to think as the dazzling beautiful Hanako Uchiha sprints up to him and embraces him so tightly he might just choke. He stands at full height, cradling the back of her head and breathing in her presence, overcome by joy to be holding her in his arms. He spins her round, her back facing the wilderness behind her so that she feels less exposed and lonely. A kiss planted into her luster hair, she has his undivided attention now - screw all the thoughts of his run in with the Haruno before.

Hanako Uchiha deserves all the attention in the world.

"Princess," he mutters. "Did you miss me?"

She nods enthusiastically and his heart aches a little. He's rotten for leaving her to her own devices for so long. Time seems to stretch forever in the eyes of a child.

"Daddy won't be leaving for a while now," he promises, snuggling his pride into his broad chest.

"Don't worry. I know you're busy," she declares, assuming her father will be proud she's such a brave girl for being able to think so deeply. And he smiles just for her, so that she can believe that really is how he feels. But if he were a weaker man, he'd be crying because he should never be away from her long enough for her to have ever thought to say that.

But theirs is a rotten world, bursting at its seams with equally rotten people. And these are the people he needs to keep far far away from his princess.

Sasuke is playing with Hanako in a moment of rare luxury; a game with rules that are constantly changing but the basic premise is to win the race for the feather. She's told him the rules three times now because 'daddy, you're not listening!' but how could he? He's completely awestruck by the precious little angel, even when she's sulking with him.

His precious little angel with a BAD BAD Mother.

She's bad just like all the other bad people Sasuke spends his life chasing.

One day - Little Princess Hanako is going to be all the rage. Much like her mother but hopefully in a less infamous and bloody fashion. She's ever bit his daughter after all; gossamer black hair, gentle but proud features and effortless grace. She's cunning and vibrant. But she does have her mother's eyes... it'll be those eyes that capture all the attention of the lower tribes folk. And when they come, Sasuke is gonna shoot their balls off. Because no one should dare think about laying a hand on his sweet innocent baby girl.

Hanako observes his inner conflict, her apple hues pinning onto the endless depths of his own eyes. She reaches up her tiny hand and presses it to his cheek, concerned for her father who seems to be far, far away.

Sasuke wants the very best there is for Hanako. He truly does but it's hard not to demonize mommy. Mommy who shows up when she feels like it and leaves without goodbyes. Sasuke tries to ground her but he's running out of tactics. The woman's own flesh and blood isn't enough to get her to just slow down and so he's worried he's not very well equipped for the job either.

He tells Hanako that Mommy is so important she has to be other places all the time and he lies, lies lies that one day Mommy will stay and never leave again.

Hanako is only 5 but she's learned that seeing Mommy is a bittersweet experience. Daddy wishes Mommy paid enough attention to notice she's actually as bad, maybe worse, than her own Mommy and she's going to do a number on their daughter if she's not too carefully. He knows Mommy cares about Hanako just as much as he does but she's too high on her chaotic lifestyle to become the mother Hanako deserves.

There's so many fatherless children out there, it's not that surprising. In this barren, dead world, Men are pulling their weight for the Women, putting themselves in the line of fire whilst Women carry the next generation within them. Or some Men just don't care. But either way, he's daunted by the reversed state of Hanako's motherlessness.

Sasuke doesn't know how a mother can carry a child for all of that time and then walk away the way that Sakura does.

That's why he's made this little game.

He needs Sakura's life to flash before her eyes and realize how unsatisfying it really is. He needs Sakura to come stay at his side.

He sometimes wonders if it's the way that Hanako came to exist that puts Sakura off commitment. If his actions scarred her and she's just trying to bite her tongue and ignore what he did every time she sees him. He was sure she wasn't afraid of him - just wary of his intent ever since then.

He didn't really mean to get carried away the way he did. He was absolutely intoxicated by Sakura from day one. Bedding her was a thrill and he'd pushed and pushed and left her womb positively overflowing with his seed. He'd fully intended to impregnate Sakura.

It was a mutual gain. He needed an heir, and she needed to value her own life. He thought if she were to carry another one, she'd finally realize her own worth and stop putting herself on the line so much.

She had stayed put a while, once carrying a child was a burden to her lifestyle. She'd carried through with the pregnancy and fled as soon as she could walk straight.

There was something that struck him as odd though. He didn't really think about it at the time, he'd just become a father and his daughter was left defenseless. But once he'd caught up on sleep a little and had time to think about, he realized something that left him feeling deeply uncomfortable.

Hanako had never cried at her mother's absence.


"UNCLE 'TACHI!" chanted Hanako merrily, skipping over to the older man. Sasuke sneers in distaste at his big brother who smirks and scoops Hanako up.

"You're looking more beautiful than ever, Princess Hanako," he praised, twisting an ebony lock in his finger. Hanako beamed.

"What do you want?" asked Sasuke, displeasure laced into his tone. He and Itachi had a rocky relationship.

"A brother can't come and visit?" asked Itachi, smirking arrogantly. This was far more than a visit, and they both knew it. Sasuke grumbled and took Hanako from his arms, feeling smug when the girl latched onto his neck for dear life.

"Hanako, princess. Me and Itachi are going to talk, why don't you go play with your friend Akane for a bit?" he suggested, settling her down to her feet. She pouted up at her father but nodded, skipping off into the center of the tribe.

Sasuke stands up tall and proud, hoping to throw off his brother with a bold attitude. But this act was quickly thrown off when Itachi speaks.

"What's this bounty I hear of? On Chief Haruno's head."

"... It's exactly what it sounds like."

"She's picked off quite a few huntsmen already."

"So she's alive," sighed Sasuke, inwardly relieved. Good news didn't have a habit of following Itachi and so his presence was a little alarming to say the least.

Itachi sighs deeply and shoves his brother into one of the wagons so they can talk more privately. Inside, Sasuke fixes his older brother up a strong drink and sits opposite him, scowling.

"All it takes is one good hit, and she isn't alive anymore."

"I know that. But you are talking about Sakura."

"She's ruined your life."

"No... She's done a bit of damage, I admit that much. But without Sakura, I wouldn't have Hanako..."

"Someone else could've given Hanako to you."

"I think you're wrong."

"Sasuke," said Itachi, adopting his most serious tone. He threw his drink down his neck in one and placed the cup aside, as if this also cleared the metaphorical table between them. Sasuke shuffled nervously in his seat.

"I'll never know why you defend her until the day you die. You can see something in her that I, or anyone else for that matter, can see. But if you fail to get her to open her eyes this time, what are you going to do then? How extreme will things become before you give up?"

Sasuke just shrugged. He couldn't answer, he knew this was insane.

"What are you expecting this time?"

"I don't know... Just... something..."

"And if that something is death?"

"That's not going to happen!"

"Foolish little brother."

Sasuke locks eyes with his older, wiser brother.

"Even the best laid plans can go astray. This plan isn't laid at all, so what could you possibly hope for?"

Sasuke felt distressed. He was barely restraining the urge to hurl his glass at Itachi's concerned face.

"... Something."


Just to point out - Hanako... she's called Hanako because Flower Child is a nice name and because Salad is a really stupid name.