人探し
Searching for someone
Naruto slapped his hands on Tsunade's desk and yelled out in frustration. A cup rolled off her desk and bounced on the floor. "Why don't you get it?! We've got to go back there and search for her!"
"I'm telling you that we're in a state of crisis! While Suna is scrambling to appoint a new Kazekage, we're trying to understand what the hell happened over there. Kakashi's in the hospital and-"
"Kakashi-sensei isn't missing! That Sasori guy took Sakura and we have no idea where the hell they are! How can you act so calm right now when your own student was kidnapped?!"
Tsunade breathed in sharply while slumping in her chair against her desk. The scattered papers that were long overdue for her to sign and return blended together. Bundles of scrolls delivered day-after-day rested unopened that she needed to read. A half-empty bottle of sake hidden away in her desk was tempting her to chug it down. So many things were supposed to be done and she was already one month behind on everything.
One month.
One month ago when she heard the news that her student was missing. One month ago when she had Mebuki and Kizashi Haruno in her office asking desperately for any information. One month ago when that pile of paperwork was thrown off her desk in a disheveled heap as Tsunade cursed with tear-filled eyes, unable to control the heart-crumpling rage and regret she had.
"You have no idea," Tsunade muttered. "I'm just as broken up about it as you are."
Naruto backed off, his heart sagging in his chest. "What are we supposed to do?"
Shizune, huffing and holding a sealed scroll, burst through the door. "Lady Tsunade!"
Wiping quickly at her eyes, Tsunade stared stone-faced at her former student. "What is it, Shizune?"
"A scroll was delivered," she mumbled, handing it over. "The seal placed… it's-"
With her eyes widening, Tsunade held her breath as she read the wax seal. "Who brought this to you? Where did you get it?"
"One of our shinobi said a hooded figure dropped it off! I-I wasn't there, but they said he completely vanished."
Naruto crept past Tsunade's desk, peeking over her shoulder. "What is it?!"
After inspecting the scroll carefully for potential risks, Tsunade unraveled it. Her eyes darted across the words and her lips parted in astonishment. "It's information… about Orochimaru."
"What? Who sent it?! Who would know something about Orochimaru?" Naruto asked.
Tsunade rolled up the scroll, her fingers wrapped around it and gripping tightly. "This scroll… The seal inscribed on it is from the Akatsuki member Sasori."
His heart skipped a beat, almost as though it could stop on its own at any moment. He pushed his face into Tsunade's, yelling loudly into the woman's ear. "Sakura-chan had said that Orochimaru used to be a member of Akatsuki, Granny!"
"I know that," Tsunade muttered, tweaking at her ear. "It said that he was supposed to be meeting with a spy near the Tenchi Bridge that worked under Orochimaru in about six days' time at noon."
"Do you know what this means?! If that creepy snake asshole worked with Akatsuki, he might know something about Sasori!" Naruto shouted again.
Tsunade pushed him away. "And he'll possibly have information on Sasuke's location, too," she added.
Naruto nodded, his excitement growing. "We could find Sasuke and Sakura. Put me on this mission, Granny! Sakura-chan and Sasuke need to be found!"
"Naruto, don't get your hopes up. This could be a trap."
"If it's a trap, then I'll just fight back! I'll be careful, I promise! Let's get this going!"
"It won't be the same team since Kakashi's recovering like I said, but I'll organize-" Naruto cut her off as he quickly climbed through her window and jumped down to the first story.
"I'll put a team together! We'll find both of them!" His yells of determination could be heard as he raced down the streets.
Tsunade shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. "The fool didn't even let me finish..."
Shizune walked towards her desk, eyes filled with concern. "Lady Tsunade..."
"Don't start, Shizune," Tsunade growled, opening up the closest drawer and plucking out her prized drink.
Shizune bowed her head as Tsunade gulped down the last half of the bottle. "Drinking won't make you feel better," she whispered, meeting next to her chair and rubbing her teacher's arm tenderly.
Tsunade's bottom lip quivered. The heat of the alcohol rushed to her face and her eyelids drooped. "Of course it won't," she said harshly. "My student's probably dead somewhere."
"Don't say that," Shizune scolded.
Another wave of grief washed over the older woman. The powerful weight of her emotions left her collapsing back into her chair and crumpling over her desk. The bottle, once in her hand, dropped to the floor and shattered. "I couldn't protect Dan and Nawaki. Now, she's gone."
"Lady Tsunade..."
"And the bastard had the gall to send a scroll like that. I can't imagine what she went through." Her teeth clenched hard enough for her jaw to ache. "If I find him, I'll kill him myself!"
幻
vision; illusion; dream
Sasori wandered through the forest, a satchel bag strapped over his shoulder. His feet shuffled soundlessly as he gathered herbs and placed them into his bag. The air was clean and crisp, the morning fog slowly dissipating as the sun slowly crept overhead. Behind him, he heard the rustling of leaves through the brush. He reached for the kunai hidden underneath the long hooded tunic he wore with eyes scanning the forest floor. A young rabbit scurried in front of him, pawing at the ground with its ears perked up and nose twitching.
His kunai slipped from his fingers and impaled the creature, killing it quickly. Food was food he thought and, although he knew that Sakura wasn't a fan of the taste, she never outwardly complained about it the gamey taste of the wild animals he managed to find. They were quite the distance from any nearby markets, so there was no choice but to rely on the forest's resources.
As he gathered the rabbit by its ears and stashed his kunai away, he heard the soft sound of voices approaching. Cautiously, he crept forward with immeasurable silence. Shinobi were known to show up while traveling to Iron Country, but it was rare. And, although statistically impossible, there was still the possibility that a certain group of Konoha ninja could be out searching for any signs of their lost teammate.
Peeking through the brush, he exhaled a sigh of relief. Before him, a man and woman towing a cart of supplies walked down the grassy trail.
"I told you to read the map," the woman hissed.
The man turned the old, tattered paper around in his hands with a vexed expression. "I thought for sure we were supposed to cross that river."
She rolled her eyes, unimpressed. "How are we supposed to meet my parents if we don't even know where we are?"
They were utterly harmless, likely civilians on their way to a nearby town. Sasori was never a people person, but the tidy cart full of supplies enticed him to approach.
"Excuse me," Sasori voiced out, startling the pair. "I overheard the two of you as I was walking along. You're lost?"
The man nodded, bringing the map closer to his chest. "Y-Yes, we are… Do you hunt around here?" His eyes shifted to the dead rabbit and he brought a protective hand in front of the woman beside him.
Sasori feigned a friendly smile. "Oh, yes. I know this area very well. Where are you headed?"
"Ryoushimachi. Can you point us in the right direction? We just need a helping hand," the man asked.
Fingering the handle of his kunai, Sasori nodded his head. "The fishing village? It's unfortunate that I have to tell you, but you're walking the wrong way. It's south of here, just beyond the two rocky pillars."
The woman huffed up, her hands on her hips. "I told you!"
Tilting his head, Sasori's eyes drifted to the covered cart, wondering what the two could possibly have on them. "I'm a bit curious. What business do you have in Ryoushimachi?"
Sharing a loving gaze, the two moved closer to each other. The woman held the man's arm and smiled proudly back at Sasori. "We're newly married and moving closer to my family there. Everything from clothes to pots and pans is packed away in our cart. It's a new beginning for us!"
Simple, household items. And a new beginning? They definitely packed up the whole house, didn't they? It somehow reminded him of his new home with Sakura. Although they had enough supplies, more wouldn't hurt. Sasori could also trade any leftover items, if necessary.
"Congratulations," he responded. "If that's the case then let me offer you something, as well."
Sakura yawned, scratching at one of the numerous bug bites blemishing her skin. Even in a cold, musty place like this, insects had a way of finding her. The sound of footsteps outside her door raised her attention, but by now she didn't hold her hopes high. If it ever was Naruto and the others, they wouldn't walk at such a leisurely pace and unlock the door like they were just returning home from a quick grocery trip. No, instead, they'd kick it open, breaking it off its hinges, and shout out as loud as possible. Naruto would run to her and curse the bastard that locked her up and ask if she was okay with his hands fumbling over her bindings. Then, since he was Naruto, he'd bite his tongue, 'Of course, you're not okay. What am I thinking?' would babble out of his mouth a second later. They'd bring her home, her parents would hug her and everything would be fine again.
The door cracked open and Sasori walked in as Sakura lifted herself back up to eat. Along with the typical tray of food, he carried some folded fabric over his arm.
"You're in for something delicious today," he announced.
Sakura could smell it, the mouthwatering scent of spices and dried herbs. Her stomach growled ferociously, waiting impatiently to have that first bite. She licked her lips, the aroma causing her to drool a bit. It made her feel a little spoiled, but she hated eating such dry, flavorless food. Many others would point out that she had it better than most jailbirds ever would, but none of this was a competition. For now, she'd take advantage of some seasoned meat and pretend she was eating out in Otafuku Gai.
When Sasori presented it to her, Sakura grabbed the meat with her bound hands and bit into it immediately. The mild taste of chili pepper and onion sent her taste buds into a frenzy. It was mediocre but better than anything she'd had recently.
He sat down, bringing the cloth to his lap and watched in fascination as she sucked on her fingers for any leftover traces of flavor. Back when he needed food for his human body, he found himself to be a decent cook, but without a trader there just wasn't a way to liven up any of the meals he made now. They were many miles away from any nearby villages, even Ryoushimachi would take three days to travel to. Finding that couple in the forest was just luck. Who knew they were carrying so many great things? He'd have to keep an eye on the trail for others passing by.
"Did you enjoy your food?" he asked.
Sakura nodded, her taste buds fully satisfied. He shook his head to reply and gathered up the colorful fabric in his hands. Stretching it out, he revealed a yukata robe with an extravagant pattern of plum blossoms blooming throughout the entirety of the garment.
"I also brought you some new clothes. I'm sure you'd like something different to wear."
Her eyes trailed up and down the yukata. "Did you buy this?"
"That doesn't matter."
She didn't appreciate the ambiguity of his answer. The sleeves were creased as though brand new, the entire yukata folded carefully to prevent wrinkles. It was beautiful and she never expected him to just find it forgotten or left around wherever the hell they were staying. But it didn't matter. Sasori wouldn't listen if she pressed for answers.
"There's also something else I want to tell you," he began, gathering up her tray.
Her heart jumped into her throat, a bad feeling creeping up her spine. "What is it?"
"I sent a scroll to the Godaime of Konohagakure. I didn't go myself, but an old spy of mine owed me a favor."
Sakura crawled as far forward as her chains allowed. "What did it say? Are you trying to trick them or tell them I'm dead?"
"It has nothing to do with you. I sent them some information about Orochimaru that may help them find that old teammate of yours," he answered. "You missed the first meeting, but I had enough time to delay until now. Your friends are lucky that my spy was fairly understanding."
"What? Why would you do that?"
"Think of it as a reward. If that old hag Chiyo had been just a hair faster, I probably wouldn't be here. You wanted to bring your dear 'Sasuke' back to Konoha, didn't you? I'm giving you what you wanted." He frowned as she bent forward, her eyes hazy and lips tightly sealed shut. "Why are you acting so unhappy? Your friends will be reunited."
"You're so fucking messed up," she muttered. "You just sent them some intel about Sasuke-kun for no reason? You're attempting to ambush them, aren't you?"
"Sasuke-kun?" he marveled. "Were you two close?"
"Shut up," she snapped.
He smiled fiendishly, cocking his head to the side. "My, my. A touchy subject. I mean, I do find it a little strange that this guy holds any importance to you anyway."
Her face flushed with anger. "I told you to shut your mouth."
"He obviously didn't care for you if he just left without you. It must have been so lonely without your precious 'Sasuke-kun'," he mocked.
Sakura threw her hands up, catching the edge of the tray and flinging it out of his hands across the room. "I said shut up! You don't know anything, you psychopath! Shut up! Shut up! Shut the hell up! I can't stand it anymore!" Her chest heaved up and down. The muscles in her arms tensed as her hands twitched at the chance to knock his head off. "I hate you! I hate looking at you and hearing you talk!"
"Then do something about it, Sakura. Kill me," he shouted back.
"Get me out of these chains and I will!"
He laughed, "Even if you were freed, you couldn't beat me. You're too weak."
"You don't make any sense," she cried. "Why are you doing this to me?!"
He knelt down and cradled her face. Sakura squirmed and jerked, but his tight, forceful grip kept her in place. She could feel the textured grooves of his wooden palms against her skin. His touch was cold, lacking the enveloping warmth real human hands harbored.
Sakura pushed against him. "Let go of me."
"You're here with me. They won't find you – nobody will." He pulled her head closer. "And, in time, you'll find this to be the better option."
She grunted, breathing labored. "You're wrong. I'll never stop hating you." Suddenly, her stomach lurched, sending waves of nausea that constricted her throat. Her eyelids drooped and limbs fell limp. "What the..."
"Finally," he exhaled, releasing her. "It was a strong dose too. I'm shocked that you're just feeling the effects now."
Sliding down the wall, Sakura reached for her throat. "You poisoned me?" Her words slurred together. The overwhelming feeling of fatigue barely giving her enough strength to lift her head.
"Not poisoned," he corrected. "You're just going to sleep."
She coughed, sticking two fingers down her throat to gag herself. She knew it was too late. The drugs were hitting her hard. Of course, the food was too good to be true. She let her guard down.
He petted her head, smiling down at her. "Sleep well, girl. You'll wake up feeling much better."
–-
Sasori unclasped her wrists and feet, seeing the rubbed-raw skin underneath. She slept quietly, her limbs dangling as he scooped her body into his arms. He carried her through the hallway, past the kitchen, and turned the corner to the bathroom.
Gently setting her down against the wall, Sasori turned both faucets and let the water warm up. Soap and other scented oils lined the far side of the tub and a washcloth draped over the spout. Dropping to his knees, he began to undress her, grabbing hold of the zipper on her torn and dirty shirt. Midway down, he stopped, moving back reluctantly.
"Do it," he ordered himself.
He returned to her, completely removing the shirt and exposing the thin, mesh armor underneath. Struggling to pull it over her head, he opted to cut it apart with his kunai and throw it all away. His curious stare lingered on her bare chest, then to the bandaged and treated wound just above her hip. Pulling away at the gauze, he checked for inflammation and other signs of infection.
"Healing well. That's good."
His hands traveled to her waist, grabbing both her shorts and underwear together. This wasn't something new to him, just different circumstances. While she was unconscious and clinging to life, he washed and cleaned her constantly. His entire schedule centered around Sakura to keep her alive.
Now, from the countless hours of bedside care he exerted, she was alive and back to her usual self. As usual as one could be locked in a room, he supposed. Of course, he knew it was wrong and terrible, but what other choice did he have? Let her continue serving a corrupted country who viewed shinobi as expendable? No, he rejected that life for her. No-one would be taken from him again.
Ah, his mind was wandering. Focus. He needed to focus.
The drugs he gave her were strong but worked incredibly quick. Depending on how fast her system cleared, she could wake up sooner than he expected. Tsunade was her teacher, after all. Even his own grandmother couldn't compare to the Sannin's incredible medical ninjutsu.
With that in mind, Sasori searched the room for all the items he needed for her bath. He was on a tight timeframe. Sakura was different from any other captive he took in. She could try to fight him off. He wasn't worried that she'd kill him; he didn't fear death. Rather he'd love to have another chance of sparring with her.
What caused his uneasiness was the idea of her using up all of her chakra and killing herself in the process. And, knowing her, she was willing to die fighting than doing nothing.
Sasori admired her drive, but he also loathed it in a way. If she only wanted to stay with him. He wouldn't need the chakra chains or the tranquilizers. She was too headstrong for him to handle and he couldn't bear the thought of her gone. He did all of this because of her.
She had to stay. It wasn't her decision to make. He needed her there – with him – forever.
He stopped the water, testing the heat with a temperature gauge. The benefits of being half-puppet greatly outweighed the cons, but losing his sense of touch made even the simplest things a bigger deal when taking care of Sakura.
Satisfied with the reading, he picked up the young woman and brought her to the bath. With one hand, he dipped the washcloth into the water and wiped her face. It frustrated him that she refused his help so often while awake. At least now he could clean her up again just as he did the night they traveled through Suna.
Gently, so very gently, he lowered her head further, entranced as her hair fanned around her face like some rare, underwater flower blooming for the first time. He brushed her bangs back, cupping his hand into the water and wetting down her hairline. She looked so blissful in her sleep, so calm.
"You're a very beautiful girl," he whispered.
Lifting her upright, he made a quick lather with a flowery soap, his fingers scrubbing her scalp and sliding through to the tangled ends of her hair. It reminded him of the long hours isolated in his workshop at the Akatsuki, hunched over, dismantling and reconstructing his puppets. But Sakura was obviously different. He didn't need to supply her with chakra to keep her moving. Her joints didn't creak or crack. Her eyes carried through to her soul, radiating with life and emotion. She was really human.
And he used to be one, too. Before the Akatsuki, before he mutilated himself for the perfect body. A young boy with a family. He had friends, people that trusted him. Then, he was left with nothing. The system failed him, everyone. Nobody understood him. Akatsuki acknowledged his reasoning and promised for change, but it was a cruel act to further their own selfish goals – to create a 'better world'. Sasori thought it all ludicrous, but he had no choice other than to join them. Collecting the jinchuuriki to extract the tailed beasts – it bored him and gave him no purpose. And their pathetic goal was haphazardly thrown together. He knew at some point, their plans would self-destruct. It was only a matter of time, considering the ridiculous amounts of secrets they kept from their members.
But the moment came when he finally found 'it'. At first, he dismissed her, believing her to be just another disposable pawn for the shinobi system. It was just another job he had to finish.
He grinned, lifting and resting her up against the sloping back of the tub. Yes, the way Sakura fought was impressive, but most importantly… she didn't quite fit.
He remembered how hard she had punched him, cracking open his face, failing to register how irrelevant it was to him since he felt no pain.
'What do you think human life is? What's family to you?!' She had screamed it so loud, her voice carried through the broken stone into the sky. It echoed so long, he wondered if it would ever fade.
"Are those the words of a shinobi?" he repeated, playing the scene back for himself in vivid detail.
In passing, she probably didn't understand. Shinobi were tools; emotionless husks. And fighting against her, watching in awe as she threw herself in front of Chiyo to protect the old woman, risking her own life. He was left without words. Boggled and intrigued. Sakura wasn't a shinobi, not by his standards.
Unplugging the drain, Sasori threw a towel over his shoulder and gathered Sakura into his arms. He returned to his room and rested her on the bed. Covering her with the towel, he left to retrieve the yukata in her cell.
Alone, Sakura began to stir, the drugs clouding her mind. Half-asleep and understandably confused, she couldn't think coherently, her memory of where she was and what was happening temporarily blocked. The tranquilizers pervaded her dreams and warped her mind, sending her back to the days when Team Seven was still together. Sasuke and Naruto fighting constantly, Kakashi coming to their meet-up spot late, and Sakura playing out her romantic, Uchiha-filled fantasies in her head – so innocent and simple.
Peeking underneath her lashes, Sakura's dreams seeped through reality and painted the bedroom as Konoha's outer gates. The colors of evening dusk faded into darkness, but summer kept the night warm and she found herself sitting on a bench, waiting for someone. The tap of footsteps caught her ear and she leaned forward, kicking her legs in excitement.
Sasori re-entered the room, dusting off the yukata. Much to his disbelief, Sakura sat up, awake but sluggish at the edge of the bed. He sprinted to her, ready to drag her back to the cell and restrain her, but something wasn't right.
"Sakura." He checked her over after she didn't respond. Her eyes passed through him, dull and dazed.
He was growing concerned, a very foreign feeling to him. Could it be that he may have overdone the tranquilizers? No, his measurements were perfect. He snapped his fingers in front of her face and flicked her cheek.
"Hey, talk to me," he ordered. She blinked, slowly lifting and meeting gazes with him. Sasori exhaled a long, drawn-out sigh. "I told you to speak, but as long as you're responsive, I don't-"
"Sasuke-kun," she whispered, her hand sliding over his.
Sasori froze. She was hallucinating. Still, it relieved him to know that was the only thing she was experiencing. Taking the yukata, he wrapped it around her bare body. "Let's get you to bed." He didn't look forward to locking her up again, but it had to be done. Next time, he would use a different drug that lasted longer.
Sakura's eyes only saw a young Sasuke, his hand outstretched to her with a kind smile. She blushed, smiling up at him. It was every dream she had as a young girl coming true. Sasuke really did love her!
"I love you," she said. "I love you with all my heart." Her hand ran up Sasori's arm, reaching the curve of his cheek. "Sasuke-kun..."
Sasori frowned, his usual, passive appearance wavering just the slightest. His knowledge on this 'Sasuke' was scarce, but of the little he gathered, Sakura cared very deeply for him. Hell, she was confessing her love for the fool right in front of him. Perhaps it wasn't true and the tranquilizers were influencing her, but Sasori felt no need to make excuses. In fact, he found her girlish behavior quite amusing.
Amusing enough to play along.
"Sakura, I'm here," he answered.
Her eyes softened, overjoyed to hear him speak. "I'm glad you decided to stay here in the village. If you would have left, I don't think I could stop myself from leaving, too." She began petting Sasori's hair, her words still a jumbled mess.
Stay in the village? So it was just as he thought. He abandoned them for Orochimaru at some point and this was her way of coping. For all her incredible talent and strength, she still latched onto such trivial matters. He wasn't surprised. Women were sentimental creatures.
"Sasuke-kun?" Her other hand tugged at his sleeve, bringing him closer.
"What is it?"
She shrank back shyly, eyes tearing away from his. "Do you remember the day we became genin? You were so angry with me… But I understand it now. I understand you now."
Sasori tightened his jaw. "You… understand me? How so?"
"The loneliness," she explained, "How you were alone for so long. You didn't deserve to suffer like that."
His hand held hers against his face before he could stop himself. There was something about the tenderness in her voice that spoke to him, not the person he was pretending to be. He suffered for so long and nobody ever acknowledged it. He was alone with no resolve to his heartbreak. Nobody brought justice to the man who killed his parents. His own grandmother built up her own walls and left him to fend for himself. Sasori became a recluse and detached himself from the people around him. There was no-one.
And Sakura understood that. Him.
"Do you want to know why you're here? The reason?" he asked suddenly.
Confused, Sakura blinked, her sleepiness returning. "What...?"
"You don't fit in this world, Sakura. It's flawed. So terribly flawed." He took her hands and pressed them to his lips. "This life – a shinobi's life – it's completely irrelevant. The wars will never stop. I brought you here to protect you."
She tried to pull away, but Sasori held her tighter, squeezing her trapped fingers. "I don't… Sasuke-kun? What's happening?"
Sasuke's face contorted and twisted. His black, choppy hair bled red and his dark eyes lightened to a greyish-brown. Her head throbbed, trying its hardest to concentrate. Where was she? Sasuke's voice sounded different, but she couldn't pinpoint what exactly was going on.
Sasori continued, growing manic. "I'll take care of you here. I'll make it to where you never die."
She groaned, struggling to stay awake. "What… are you talking about?"
He broke into a fit of laughter. "You'll be immortalized, Sakura! Like a true goddess of strength and beauty." He couldn't contain his excitement at sharing his news. It was like the day he found her all over again. "And the best part is that you're all mine. We'll be together. Two bodies free of rot and pain. What could be better than an eternal life?"
Her head rocked, too heavy to keep up on her own. Fractions of Sasuke and Sasori mixed together to form a terrifying abstract portrait that sent waves of fear through her. His words floated by her. Everything was just moving too fast for her to process it all. Was Sasuke really who she was talking to?
"Sas..." She closed her eyes, unable to resist the heavy lull of sleep.
Once her body began to sway, Sasori steadied her, roping in his lost composure. The drugs really were effective – he'd definitely have to write down the dosage. However, there were things he needed to finish before he looked over his notes.
Laying her down on her back, he pulled her arms through the sleeves of the yukata. He folded the robes over her chest and tied the obi around her waist snugly. Turning her to her side, he fastened a tidy knot against her back. Satisfied, he stepped back for a better look.
Ah, she really did look like a little doll. And it was his responsibility keep his precious doll safe.
Sakura couldn't open her eyes, the light seeping from underneath the door too intense. She deemed the eye-bulging headache as her worst yet, even after considering her intense training with Lady Tsunade. Bile rose in her throat, but she willed herself to keep it down. Being in a cell by herself was one thing, but the putrid stench of vomit wouldn't enhance the experience and she doubted Sasori would bother cleaning it up. She rubbed her eyes, feeling the soft, silky fabric against her skin. What the hell was she wearing?
"Sasori," she yelled, leading to an awful fit of hoarse, chesty coughs. "Sasori!"
"Your next meal isn't for another few hours," he responded through the door. "Go back to sleep."
"What the hell did you do to me?" She banged her chains against the floor loudly to gain his attention. "Sasori! Come here!"
She heard a chair scoot against the stone floor. His quick steps reached the door and she shielded her eyes from the blinding light.
"Sakura," he began, "I'm very busy."
"Care to explain why I'm dressed this way? You drugged me! What did you do?" Nothing ached except her poor head, but she also wasn't aware of how long she was unconscious. Anything could have happened. Hopefully no organs were missing.
He crossed his arms. "I gave you a bath and dressed you. Any more questions?"
She snorted. "Let me go, stupid?"
"Is that how you would treat your precious Sasuke-kun?"
"You're not Sasuke-kun," she spat.
He looked at her thoughtfully, subsequently sitting down across from her on the floor. She swallowed hard as he reached for her chains. The smooth pads of his fingertips trailed up her palm, slowly moving between the gaps of her own hand and connecting the two. Sakura stared back, fully unnerved as his fingers curled over her knuckles. He manually closed her own fingers over his, the cold, unnatural touch of his wooden flesh making her shiver. A playful – almost baiting- look eased onto his face. Crawling closer, his smile only grew as Sakura reflexively moved back against the wall.
"I could be... if you wanted me to."
The inviting, shameless tone of his voice made Sakura's stomach churn. Her heart raced. The urgency that screamed within her begged for some retaliation, but Sakura contained it. Dread washed over her as she wondered what kind of game Sasori was trying to play.
He was curious about this Sasuke character and, honestly, a bit jealous. The fact that he knew she not only loved him but could easily forgive the bastard for his betrayal nipped at his ego. "The two of us aren't very different, are we? We're both rogues."
She didn't respond, closing her eyes to escape his gaze.
He looked her up and down, trying to find some way to goad a reaction from her. "If word reached him, do you think that boy would even care that you're missing?" Her head jerked back, eyes flashing dangerously. "You probably don't even matter to him. He wouldn't care if you lived or died."
"Sasuke-kun… Is a good person. You don't know him like I do."
"No, you only know the Sasuke that you want to see. He's just another pawn. All of them are the same and they're incapable of emotions."
"And you're any different?" she bit out.
Sasori nodded. "I can acknowledge how broken the world is. You've realized it for yourself, Sakura. This world is just filled with endless suffering."
"Team Seven had a bond that you could never understand! Naruto and I were going to find Sasuke and bring him back to the village together! The world isn't just suffering. There's love, too!"
"And you call me a psychopath… You only want to bring Sasuke back for yourself. It doesn't matter how he feels, does it? The purpose was for Sasuke to accept your love and that's it. Maybe if he took pity on you, he'd accept your feelings. Are you that desperate that you're willing to bear some one-sided love just to have him? We're more alike than you care to admit. The only difference is that I'm getting what I want and that's you."
Sakura's fist struck his chest. He fell backward, landing hard on the ground. The protective canister of his living core depressed inwardly, creating a small opening between the two welded sections. Blood leaked through the compartment and trickled down his chest and abdomen. Both looked at each other in sheer astonishment, minds blank and eyes wide.
Grinning, he pressed his hand against his core, smiling faintly. "You're much stronger than you look… even without your chakra." He coughed, spitting out blood. "You... always surprise me."
She blinked rapidly, breathing hard through her nose. His blood dripped onto her face and clothes as he stood above her. Sakura sat frozen. She hated how easily her anger slipped away from her grasp. But it was too late to feel regret, the deed was done.
Grabbing her face, he forced his lips against hers. Sakura shouted as their teeth clashed. She frantically squirmed underneath his weight. Panic set in and her breath grew shallow and rapid. Her hands pushed against his core and twisted, spilling more blood onto herself as a loud crack echoed from his chest. Sasori quickly moved back an arms-length away and defensively kicked her back against the wall. Drops of blood trailed behind him as he swiftly closed the door.
Sakura eyes filled with hot, angry tears. She screamed loudly, spreading blood over her face as her hands aggressively rubbed over her mouth, trying to rid herself of the feeling of his lips on hers. Her body shook, lungs burning as she continued to hyperventilate. Her fists pounded against the cell floor repeatedly in loud, violent bursts.
"What the hell do you want from me?!" With her voice breaking, she laid herself prostrate on the ground.
He kissed her. Hard enough for her lips to ache. Her face was numb. Sakura had never kissed anyone and to have Sasori do it felt vile. She hated him - absolutely revolted him.
She was nothing like Sasori.
愛
attachment; craving; desire
Sasori lumbered to his workshop desk on a clumsy, wide gait. His hands carefully inched the metal canister from his wooden body. Blood trapped behind the container flooded out onto the desk's surface, drenching any scrolls or supplies left on top of it. He didn't speak, not even a curse. His eyes studied the separation and went to work.
He had acted out on such human emotions. Anger, desperation, lust. As his hands surged with chakra and fumbled with his tools, he continued down the spiral of thoughts flooding his mind. He was no longer a human, but never could he be a puppet. She knew his weakness and went straight for it. Such a clever woman she was. He had let his guard down and the opportunity was served to her perfectly.
A smile spread across his lips and he chuckled to himself. If he was still inside his human body, his heart would be racing. His skin would feel hot to the touch and his lips would be tingling. As he worked, he continued to play it back for himself.
The way she looked, the intense, burning hatred radiating behind her green eyes. Her lips were stretched thin in a repulsed grimace. Every inch of her had retreated from his touch and fought against him. He liked that. Sasori didn't want it to be easy - otherwise, it would be boring. Sakura was not so easily swayed and the chase was entertaining. Women who submitted too quickly were irritating and dull in his eyes. Perhaps it contradicted with his usual, impatient self, but to finally have the person he wanted most made all the effort and time so satisfying.
Unfortunately, leaving the Akatsuki made acquiring tools difficult. He was no longer given the luxury of a large forge or high-quality metal. The canister appeared irreparable, but if he could weld the two pieces together with high enough heat... Well, it would at least be safe for him to use until he found something better. He'd just have to keep his teasing at a distance.
Hours ticked by. The lone window in his room threw shadows on the walls of the surrounding trees silhouetted by the setting sun. The chakra that kept his core attached to his puppet body waned and he could feel himself growing tired. For now, he had to focus on himself or there wouldn't be anyone to take care of her. If he died, that would ruin his plans. Obviously, he didn't want that. The fire in his hand-made forge wasn't nearly as hot as he anticipated and no matter how much kindling he used, nothing could help it. Still, he worked without a word. There was no point. He had to focus.
Knowing time was against him, he relented and slowly emptied the remnants of his human body out of the container and into a temporary fix, making sure to level his chakra to keep himself from an accidental death. It was hard, grueling task - even more so than capturing any of the bijuu. No risks. Not even a blink. If his chakra dipped or he was too quick, he'd surely die.
Taking every precaution, he safely finished the transfer and moved on to the next step. Taking some tongs, he dropped the damaged canister into the forge's heat and placed the top and bottom half together to weld the pieces into one again. While the fire crackled and spit, he began cleaning. Blood was everywhere and he wondered just how much he left behind in Sakura's room.
Poor girl. He'd have to make it up to her.
But for now...
Rest.