Here is the next chapter. I haven't even got a single review! Come on guys, say something! If you are thinking that the customs I've wrote were false then I swear they are not. The custom of burning wives with their husband was prohibited in the middle of nineteenth century! Anyways, as promised this chapter is a Femsasu/naru. So Enjoy.
I'm sorry for the grammatical mistakes. Please excuse them.
Sasuke tried to open her eyes. The first thing she saw through her hazy vision was two pools of blue. Those blue eyes were staring back at her with worry.
"M-my daughter…p-please….sa-save….plea….." her eyes closed and her body went limp against two strong tan arms.
Naruto looked at the young woman in shock. 'What is she saying? Where is her daughter?'
Naruto turned around hearing the sound of crying and saw a small child lying under the banyan tree. He had completely missed the sound in the middle of the chaos. He slowly stood up, lifting Sasuke's small frame with ease and walked over to his horse.
Placing her over his horse carefully Naruto went towards the tree and took the small girl in his arms. The child was beautiful. Naruto stared at the small baby with a small smile as the child slowly stopped crying and yawned snuggling closer to him.
He patted her back lovingly. As the small child drifted off into sleep, Naruto climbed up on his horse and rode towards his house.
Sasuke felt sharp pain radiating from every part of her body as consciousness slowly came back to her. She felt silk sheets and soft cushions under her and frowned. She tried to remember what had happened. As the memory of the events came rushing back to her, the fire, the burning the pain, her pleas, she screamed.
Ignoring the pain she curled up in a ball and shivered. She closed her eyes tightly, wishing the images to go away but with no avail. Tears started to roll down her cheeks as she sobbed clutching a pillow tightly as if it was a life line.
She heard the door of the room burst open and someone hurried towards her. Sasuke tried to curl up more, making herself as small as possible as she felt someone standing beside the bed.
"Please don't hurt me….please…please…." She chanted those words like a mantra.
Sasuke felt two strong arms holding her shoulders trying to uncurl her. Her small body trembled in fear and she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Please don't please…." She murmured again.
Naruto frowned. The girl is frightened. He has expected that much. But it seems that the girl is also afraid of someone touching her.
Sighing Naruto took a deep breath. He needed to handle this with care. The girl is vulnerable at the moment.
He sat on the farthest side of the bed and looked at the trembling figure.
"I won't hurt you." He said softly. "The doctors has said that your burns are fatal but not life threatening if they are taken care of properly. Please don't hurt yourself more than you already are."
The trembling lessened but Naruto still could hear the sounds of sobs. He tried again,
"Please. You need to be strong. Your daughter needs you." He said carefully keeping his voice quiet.
The mention of her daughter brought Sasuke back from her state of breakdown. She straightened herself and looked at the man in front of her. The man was clearly a foreigner. His bright blond hair and blue eyes are the proof of that. 'He should be around the age of Itachi.' Sasuke thought.
"Where is she? Give her to me." She demanded.
"Calm down miss. Your daughter is safe and is sleeping on the couch." Naruto said.
"I want to see her. Please." Sasuke said.
Naruto nodded. He will not deny a mother. He exited the room and entered after a few moments with a small bundle in his arms.
Handling the baby to her mother Naruto sat on the chair beside the bed and looked with amused eyes as Sasuke kissed the child's forehead lovingly, whispering "I love you." over and over.
Placing her sleeping daughter on the bed Sasuke looked at Natuto. She is grateful that the man has saved them but Sasuke was not naïve anymore. She knew the man wants something weather that is her body or her service as a maid.
"Thank you for saving us." She finally said and then paused, "I know that you want something from me to repay your favor. But I have nothing I can offer you. So what do you want? The most I can give you is my body or I can work for you as a servant." She finished.
Naruto looked at her with wide eyes. For a moment he could not comprehend her words. But as the words sink in he felt anger rising inside him. The girl thinks that he had saved her so that he can use her?
Naruto glared at her. His eyes leaving its warmth as anger replaced it. But before he could utter a word he saw Sasuke curling up into herself again. Her eyes going wide with fear. Just then Naruto understood her reason behind those words.
Naruto's eyes softened. "Look at me." He ordered the girl. Sasuke complied.
"What is your name?"
"S-sasuke…" she replied, her voice is barely above whisper.
Naruto nodded and gave her a small smile. "Hello Sasuke. I'm Naruto Uzumaki. It's nice to meet you. I understand you have gone through a rough time and don't trust a foreigner. But…"
Naruto paused momentarily trying to find the most believable words. "I want nothing from you Sasuke. I didn't do this in hopes of getting anything. I just wanted you to live."
" I'm a merchant Sasuke I've moved here a few months ago. I've heard of the custom but when I saw them burning someone alive I could not think of anything besides saving the person."
"You can stay here until you recover fully. Then if you need I'll give you some money and you can leave this town with your child." Naruto finished and took a deep calming breath. He then looked up at Sasuke to see her expression.
Sasuke was looking at the man in front of her with wide eyes. Is the man saying the truth? He wants nothing? The logical part of Sasuke does not want to believe. But she could not deny the honesty she could see in those azure eyes.
Sasuke sighed and nodded her head, not believing her voice at that moment. She was feeling overwhelmed by the kindness of a stranger who is not even from her own country.
Naruto gave Sasuke his brightest grin and stood up from the chair.
"You need to eat Sasuke. I've made some soup. Wait hare." With that Naruto left the room.
Sasuke looked at his retreating back and then at the peaceful face of her sleeping daughter.
"Thank you….." She whispered.
The next few days were the best days Sasuke has seen in years. In spite of the pain she felt oddly contented in the presence of the blond. She knew it is a sin for married a women to live in the same house with another man but at that moment she could care less about that.
She would gladly accept hell if it means she could save her child. She knew if someone found them they will be dead and it will also bring Naruto's life in danger.
Naruto had told her that he was wearing an overcoat and a hat when those people, who were burning her, saw Naruto. So they were safe in his house. But Sasuke could not let her insecurity go away.
She was afraid. She knew Orochimaru's men would try to find her. She even proposed to leave, but Naruto being the stubborn guy he was has denied saying she was not fit enough.
In those few days Sasuke has come to understand one thing that Naruto was not lying to her when he had said he just wanted to help.
On the first day, when Sasuke was too weak to held a spoon by herself Naruto has fed her with utmost care. He behaved like Sasuke was made of glass and would break if Naruto made a mistake.
He has even bath her daughter, fed her and told her stories. Sasuke watched with awe as Naruto smiled at her daughter and pecked on her forehead as she drifted off into sleep. There was so much love in Naruto's eyes that Sasuke felt like she could drown in them.
Sasuke had never even seen her father look at her with so much raw emotion.
Naruto looked up and their eyes met. Obsidian eyes met sapphire. Sasuke's breath hitched as she looked at those beautiful and honest eyes, bluer than a cloud free summer sky.
Naruto was the one who broke the eye contact. Slowly pulling the blanket over the small child he walked towards Sasuke and handed her some medicines. Then he walked out of the room to sleep on the couch.
Sasuke once again looked at the blonde's back. She does not even know what those emotions were, but she just knows it felt right living here with Naruto like this is where she belongs.
Sasuke was looking at the book shelf beside the bed. There were so many books on it. Some were written in English and some were in another language that Sasuke does not know.
A book with a picture of a ship caught Sasuke's attention. Slowly climbing down the bed she walked over the shelf and picked up the book.
'I hope Naruto would not mind me touching his books.' thought Sasuke. She sat down on the table and opened the book. Scanning through the pages she frowned. She could not understand a single alphabet.
"Want me to read you the book?" a sudden voice asked from behind Sasuke.
She jumped from the table. She was so concentrated that she had not even noticed another presence in the room. She suddenly found Naruto looking at her intently, waiting for her reply.
"No." She replied. "I want to read it myself."
"Wanna learn my mother toungue?" Naruto smiled at her in amusement. Naruto had never thought Sasuke would be interested in studies. He had thought women in this country just learn household works.
Sasuke's eyes lit up in excitement. "You'll teach me?" she asked eagerly.
"Sure." Naruto replied, taking a notebook and paper from the desk he sat down on the chair beside Sasuke.
For two hours Naruto told Sasuke the basics of his mother tongue. Naruto noticed that Sasuke was catching up fast. 'She is brilliant.' He thought.
As he reached his hands to turn the page his hands brushed with Sasuke's. A wave of electricity passed through their body at the contact. Naruto looked at Sasuke whose cheeks were a shade of pink now. He retreated his hand quickly.
"I'm sorry." He said, getting up from the table.
Sasuke said nothing. She just stood up and walked over to the bed.
It was another chilly evening; Sasuke was sitting on the bed trying to read the book. She had learnt a lot about the language in last few days. Sara (Sasuke's daughter) was sleeping on her lap. She heard a knock on the door.
"Come in." she replied. Placing the child on the bed and closing the book. She knew this was Naruto. He knocks in the same manner every day.
After returning from his work and taking a shower Naruto would come to her room. A few words would be exchanged between them. He would tell her about his country or teach her their language a little. Afterwards Naruto would play with her daughter for a few hours. Then he would leave to cook dinner.
This was just like a routine to her. So when Naruto entered the room and sat on the edge of the bed Sasuke was not surprised.
Her eyes widened when Naruto pulled out two boxes from his pocket. Before Sasuke could ask anything Naruto silenced her. He opened the box, revealing two identical necklaces made of gold, shining in the dim moonlight coming from the window.
"This is for your and Sara. I have engraved both of your names on the back of the locket." He said. Naruto pulled a necklace out of the box and slipped it around Sara's neck.
Sasuke stared at him dumb forted. Her senses came back to her when Naruto thrust the other box in her hand. Sasuke shook her head, "I can't take it Naruto. You have done enough for us. More than anyone has ever done. I can't take this."
"Sasuke…please." Naruto said. "I know you wear a necklace which I think is precious to you. You don't need to wear this Sasuke just keep it as a reminder of this time."
"I don't need this to remember you Naruto." Sasuke said. "You are the only person who has ever cared for me without any condition."
"You once asked me what I want from you in return of saving your life Sasuke. I want you to keep this. These are the last things I have from my parents. I've the third necklace that they had given me when I was a child."
Opening the first button of his shirt Naruto showed Sasuke his necklace which was identical.
"I see Sara as my child Sasuke. I want her to have it. If you don't want to keep it just sell it. It will at least help you in one way." Naruto finished and tossed the box in Sasuke's lap. Getting up from the bed he quickly left the room before Sasuke could argue with him.
Sasuek stared at the box on her lap with teary eyes. Naruto's last words have made her realize just how selfish she was acting.
Naruto wanted to give her the last reminders of his family even if Sasuke sell it for money. Sasuke felt her throat constrict at the overwhelming emotion. She stared at the now closed door for a moment. Looking back at the small box she opened it and slipped the necklace around her neck. She would not hurt Naruto.
Naruto entered the room after half an hour with a tray of food in his hands. He placed it on the table and handed Sasuke a bowl. He slowly walked over to the sleeping Sara and kissed her template.
"It's only six in the evening Naruto." Sasuke said. They never eat their dinner before eight.
"I know. I was just hungry." Naruto replied.
"Eat it Sasuke before it gets cold." With that Naruto left the room again. Sasuke frowned. Naruto was not acting like himself.
In these few days Sasuke has come to understand Naruto's every expression without a problem. The blond is like an open book. Too easy to read. But today he was acting different and Sasuke could not quite place it.
She sighed. May be she had hurt him more than she thought. She would apologize to him tomorrow.
Naruto entered the room after fifteen minutes and found a half asleep Sasuke on the bed. Her eyes were half lidded.
Naruto bend over the small figure. 'She is so beautiful.' Naruto thought. He kissed her forehead softly.
Sasuke's mind was hazy but she felt the soft lips on her fore head. After a few moments the lips retreated and Naruto stood up.
"You and Sara are the best thing happened to me after my parents death." He said softly.
Before Sasuke's foggy mind could comprehend the words she felt a pair of soft lips pressing against hers. The kiss was passionate, loving and tender. Not like the ones Sasuke had shared with Orochimaru.
Naruto tried to pour his soul through the kiss. He broke the kiss and looked at Sasuke, whose eyes were closing slowly. The drugs he had mixed in her food were showing their effect.
"I love you….. I'm sorry Sasuke…I'm sorry. Please forgive me." Naruto whispered and ran his fingers through her soft hair.
"I love you forever….." Naruto murmured.
Before closing her eyes Sasuke felt a hot drop of water on her cheeks. 'Why is he crying?' her drug hazed mind thought before darkness took over her senses.
There was a knock on the window. Naruto opened the window and a figure clad in black clock entered the house.
The figure removed his hood. Lavender eyes looked at the bright blue.
"Neji!" Naruto said in a quiet voice. "You know what to do right?"
Neji nodded. He looked at Naruto, "Are you sure Naruto."
"Yes Neji. I am." He handed Neji an envelope and a letter. "Give this to her." He said.
"Naruto. Please come with us. I don't want to do this." Neji said, desperation evident in his voice.
"I can't Neji. You know I can't." Naruto sighed and looked up at his friend. "You don't have much time now go." He said leaving no place for argument.
Neji nodded again; covering his face with hood he lifted Sasuke. Naruto tied Sara to Neji's back carefully. "Good luck Neji. Be safe" He said softly.
Sasuke blinked her eyes as her conscious returned to her. She tried to sat up but felt a wave of nausea. She took a few deep calming breaths.
The room was dark. 'I feel like the room is moving. What had happened?' she thought.
Suddenly the memories of the evening returned to her. 'Naruto had drugged her.' She thought. 'I was feeling dizzy after eating the dinner.' The memory of two soft lips kissing her played in her mind. 'He has used me too.' Sasuke's heart clenched at the thought.
Naruto was the only person she had believed in a long time. He had promised her that he would never use her, and yet here she was sitting in a pitch black room.
'I love you forever….' She could hear Naruto's voice in the back of her mind.
"Lies! All Lies!" she cried in frustration. She tried to find her daughter but she was not in the bed.
Sasuke tore the necklace from her neck and threw it on the bed.
"Give me my daughter back Naruto!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.
"I told you I'll give you whatever you want. You never needed to earn my trust. GIVE ME MY CHILD. I HATE YOU."
The door of the room slammed opened allowing the daylight to enter the dark room. Sasuke looked at the man standing at the door. This was not Naruto but the man was holding her child.
Sasuke ran towards him and snatched her child from him. The small child started crying. She checked her for any injuries, finding nothing she looked at the man standing at the door.
"Oh! So he wanted to sell me as a slave." Sasuek said sarcastically. "I HATE YOU NARUTO. I FUKING HATE YOU MORE THAN ANY ONE I'VE EVER HATED." She shouted.
Neji had enough. He grabbed Sasuke's arm and dragged her out of her room. As she exited from the room she saw only water, deep blue water. Then she realized she was on a ship.
"Naruto is selling me in his country isn't he? That was why he wanted me to learn his language. He betrayed me. I trusted him and he betrayed me." She said.
"Shut up. Don't you dare say another bad word about Naruto." Neji said in a warning tone. He cannot believe what the woman was saying. He could feel the venom in her voice.
"Why should not I?" Sasuke asked. Looking into the lavender eyes directly.
"My daughter does not need this." She held the necklace on Sara's neck and tried to open it. A strong arm held onto her wrists, stopping her from removing the necklace.
"Don't you dare. After what he had done for you this is how you are repaying him?" Neji said. He is losing his patience.
Sasuke looked confused for a moment. "What do you mean?" She asked, "Who are you?"
"I'm Neji. Naruto's friend and a merchant like him." Neji said. Sasuke frowned. "So Naruto did not sell me to you?" she asked slowly.
"They found out about you. Naruto denied but he knew they would come to his house. They were pretty sure but never had any proof." Neji informed.
Sasuke's eyes widened at the sudden realization. "He drugged me….." she said softly.
"Yes he did. He returned home before the village heads could gather enough people. He knew they would need at least a few hours. He asked me to take you out of there before that." Neji said.
"Where is he now?" Sasuke asked. Suddenly she was feeling very empty.
Neji lowered his eyes and shook his head.
Sasuke felt her eyes burning from unshed tears. She put her hand on her neck but Naruto's necklace was not there. She remembered her previous outburst and turned towards the room. She ran placing her child on the bed she searched for her necklace furiously.
"I've got a pigeon from our friend Gaara. He said that the villagers broke into his house around nine o'clock he tried to stop them and in the midst of fight the guest room caught fire." Neji's voice flew throw the open window.
"Though we think that he had done that intentionally. He had probably spread oil all over the place so that the place could catch fire easily and they can't find a evidence of you being alive." Naji continued, "Many villagers had died on that fire Garra has dragged Naruto's half burnt body from the building but he was too late."
Sasuke was crying uncontrollably clutching the necklace tightly in her arms she cried. "I love you…." "I love you forever…" Naruto's last words ran through her mind over and over again.
Neji walked towards the young woman, "I'm taking you to his homeland. He has named you and Sara in his will." He thrust the letter in Sasuke's hand and left the room.
Sasuke opened the letter with trembling hands. It was written in Naruto's mother toungue. There were strains from tears on the letter. 'Naruto was crying…' Sasuke thought. She slowly started to read the letter,
"Sasuke,
I'm sorry….I'm so sorry for doing this without your permission. But this was the only way. I've told Neji to take you out of here. You can live in my house. My friends will help you out Sasuke. Don't be afraid.
I want something from you Sasuke. Consider it my last wish. I want Sara to have my last name. I think of her as my daughter. Please Sasuke. I've told Neji to introduce you as my wife. Things will be easy for you that way. You don't need to take my name if you don't want. My friends will understand. But give my identity to Sara I beg you.
I wanted to say this for a while now but never got the courage, I love you Sasuke. More than I've ever loved anyone. You don't need to return my feelings just don't forget me…
That was all I needed to say. Live Sasuke live like you have always wanted. I'll watch over you.
~Naruto Uzumaki."
"I loved you too Naruto. I loved you too." Sasuke sobbed. "I just never understood what those feelings were." Sasuke's tears strained the letter as she cried harder.
"You were too good for me Naruto. I don't deserve this I never deserved this."
It was two months since that day. Sasuke and Neji were standing in front of a cottage.
"This is Naruto's house Sasuke. Now it's all yours." Neji said softly. During the last two months they both had developed mutual respect for each other.
Sasuke nodded to him and walked over to the front door with Sara in her arms. She looked at the nameplate,
"Sasuke and Sara Uzumaki."
She sighed, "Naruto…"
Opening the door she entered the cottage. She first went to Naruto's room. Naruto's friends have cleaned the whole house but Sasuke requested them to leave Naruto's room.
Entering the room the first thing she noticed was the picture of a blond man and a red haired woman. They have the same necklaces that now belong to Sasuke and Sara.
Walking over the desk Sasuke found Naruto's diary. She did not dare to open it. But the words written over the diary were enough to make her cry. Naruto has poured his heart on those few words,
"I want to die for the person I love. I want to die knowing that I would be remembered by at least that one person forever…."
Soooooo finished. Please please Review. Pretty please….:D see you soon.