Naruto characters belong to: Masashi Kishimoto

Wilted Beauty

There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the years course.
Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word 'happy' would lose its meaning
if it were not balanced by sadness.
- Carl Jung

"Let's play a game."

Oh God, please no. Sakura swallowed thickly. "What kind of game?"

He stepped forward smoothly, his black cloak sweeping the floor. Eyes filled with the spilt blood of countless victims drilled into her frozen form; Eyes that she had to avoid.

Sakura looked around, panic plastered into her features. He stopped a foot away; towering over her. She had since lowered her self to a crouching position.

"Look at me," softly, almost gentle.

"…no."

"Look at me." Patience was apparent in his voice. Sakura knew that no matter how hard she fought, how long she waited, he would always fight harder and could wait longer. Her gaze quickly returned to his feet.

"No," Stronger now, more volume, "No!"

She lunged forward, ready to knock him off his feet. He side-stepped and turned to face her. Just as she hit the ground she leaped back towards his throat. Kunai's clashed. She flew off her feet and smashed into the wall twenty feet away- something snapped. Sakura gasped in surprise.

Fast. She hadn't been able to even anticipate his next move! There wasn't anyway she could win.

Slow, steady footsteps were coming in her direction. Something warm and sticky slid down the side of her face and onto the floor. This wouldn't last long- She wouldn't last long.

"Look at me," a whisper now.

Sakura slammed her eyes shut and shook her head slowly. Tears streamed down her cheeks, she sniffed and brought her hand up to rub her nose. Why was this happening to her? Why did everything happen to her? She could feel his eyes stabbing through her.

A sudden pressure on her abdomen forced her to gasp and her eyes open. She bit back a moan of pain and glanced up.

"Ita-" Emeralds met rubies, their eyes met.

"Let's play a game."

Mangekyou Sharingan

"You're everything to me!"

"-avenger."

"Promise me…promise me you'll bring him back."

"Sakura…"

"I promise."

"You are…annoying"

"-protect those who are important to me! That is my ninja way!"

"I love you!"

"…thank you"

Sakura woke up three days later- chained, beaten, and chakra drained.

"…nothing special."

"-keep her?"

"…brother."

A murmur of voices woke Sakura. She was trying not to move, trying not to call attention to herself. Her wrists were chained high above her head, leaving her body to dangle below. A sort of collar was clamped around her neck, ensuring she wouldn't be able to look anywhere but straight ahead. Her ankles too where chained to the wall.

Sakura looked around the best she could. No windows, a door, and a table and chair. Homey.

It was damp, sticky to the point that her clothes clung to her. Quiet footsteps became louder in no time and the door opened. The light blinded her for a minute, and the door closed again.

A dark figure stood in front of it, watching her over the tall, black collar. Red eyes gleamed dangerously- Sharingan. Sakura felt the breath whoosh out of her. He walked towards her, red clouds over black dancing across his body. He stopped a close distance from her- too close. Uncomfortably close.

Sakura shifted a bit, trying to look past him.

"Have you come to a decision?" His deep voice vibrated throughout the room.

"You already know the answer." Stubborn. Strong. Stay strong.

"Then there's no choice."

Sakura's eyes traveled over his face and rested on his own. Strong. Stay strong. "There's always a choice."

Mangekyou Sharingan

Why did you leave me…

Why haven't you come back…

Sasuke…

Please.

Sakura cracked her eyes open, He was still there; sitting at the table staring into her face. Sakura turned the best she could to face him. Show no fear. Rule number one when dealing with a wild animal. And that's what he was, an animal. He knew no mercy, and killed to gain. Everything to gain. He stayed with the Uchiha clan to learn the secret jutsu's they held, and then he killed them, to gain more power. He was the one who turned Sasuke into a…a… an animal. In a way, they are, and always had been the same. Everything to gain. Anything for power.

"You can't beat him."

His eyes flashed, but he stayed where he was.

Sakura took a breath. "Can you let me down? My arms have lost circulation."

"Have you accepted my proposition?"

Her own eyes flared with anger. "He will kill you." She whispered.

Mangekyou Sharingan

"Ino-chan?"

"Ya, what is it?"

"…I heard you like Sasuke-kun too…"

"Ya, what of it?"

"Then from now on……we're rivals."

"This is getting old," she managed to bite out.

"It's up to you."

Insufferable! He was leaning against the far wall. His cloak was gone, draped neatly over the chair.

"You Akatsuki have a nasty habit of kicking us little people when we're down."

He watched her, probably thinking of some sort of way to torture her into talking. Then, almost shrugging he pushed away from the wall and walked towards the door. It was open half way when he stopped, and glanced back at her.

"How long do you think you can wait?" he asked very nonchalantly.

"I've spent my life waiting. Don't think you can change that." She spat.

"Hn."

Mangekyou Sharingan

Hey everyone. This is the first chappy of Wilted Beauty. Hope you all enjoyed. Flames are welcome, as are any requests. I'll try my best to fit them all in, but remember this is just the first chapter. Things are gonna get very angsty and depressing before it clears up. Read and Review Please.