A/N: This is a very graphic story (extremely twisted). If you don't like, don't read. Themes of rape, drugs, and violence will be present.
MadaSaku. AU/ Graphic content, Rated M for a reason. Don't like? Don't read.
Summary: Life plays a wicked game with people, and for some the loss is greater compared to the others. For Sakura Haruno, the game is just about to begin.
Ch2: Stagnant
After the graduation, my father and mother thought it would be a nice idea to make one big celebration since my birthday was close. Itachi and Sasuke we're free today so they decided to help them book a small restaurant for us to celebrate in. My friends would be there, and some of Itachi and Sasuke's cousins will be there. It was still a struggle for me to wrap my head around the fact that I'm an Uchiha now, almost a year has passed since my mother married Fugaku and surprisingly I've been welcomed so warmly.
"Stop getting dazed, you're starting to annoy me." Sasuke said, being the ass that he is. I jabbed him in his ribs "Hey! I'm driving. Do you want us to die?" I pouted at him. "You're so serious all the time; it makes me think being an Uchiha means having a stick up your ass 24/7." As soon as the words left my mouth Sasuke grabbed my cheek with his free hand pinching me as hard as he could. "Watch your mouth you stupid brat!" I grabbed his hand and tried to bite it. "Look who's talking? You're the brat around here! The last time I checked, I'm not the one who asked for a car just because Itachi got a new one!" Sasuke glowered at me and huffed. "Shut up" I put my tongue out at him and continued to pester him on the way to the restaurant.
When we got there we were led to a small function room, some of my guests already being there. "Congrats forehead! I knew you had something stored in that big head of yours!" Ino hugged me tightly. Naruto came into view soon enough, "Sakura -chan! I knew you got it in you!" His whiskers moved as he smiled brightly at me hugging me tightly. "Thanks, the both of you! I'm glad you guys made it." I saw Ino's parents along with Naruto's and mine. We all grew up in one neighborhood but we studied in different schools.
"What's this filthy inbred doing here Sakura?" Sasuke sneers at Naruto. For some reason both of them never got along ever since I invited him over to our house not so long ago. "Who you calling a filthy inbred you dick sucking bastard!" I tried to avoid a fight by kicking the both of them in the shins.
"I knew it Sakura got her foul language from you!" Sasuke pointed at him. I held his arm and led him to Ino's direction. To keep him busy, Ino hounds him pretty well, it also helps since she actually has a crush on him.
Itachi hugs me from behind and I saw a box right in front of me. I looked up and he gave me a small smile. I appreciate having brothers since I was an only child before, I just didn't expect it would be this nice. "Open it Sakura" I did as I was told and saw a tamagotchi 4u+. I looked at him, shocked. "HOW? And you got the color right too!". He looked at me plainly, "You sometimes talk in your sleep." I hugged him as tightly as I can. He kept his straight face and placed his hand on top of my head, patting me. "Congratulations Imouto". Itachi looked behind me and I saw Fugaku and my mom approaching. "Congratulations Sakura" He said in his stern voice, but I didn't fail to miss how his eyes softened when he looked at me. I gave him a light hug, which caught him off guard. It was obvious to me that he never gets this kind of affection from his sons. "Oh sweetie, I'm so proud of you!" My mother reaches for something and pulls out two envelopes.
Fugaku has his eyes closed and arms crossed; his cheeks had a light blush to it. "It's from the both of us, Sweetie. But it was really your fathers idea" my mother whispered to me. I looked at the both of them. Itachi's hand found my shoulder and nudged me, "Open the red one first".
I felt weak in the knees, I felt like I was going to faint from the butterflies fluttering in my stomach. "I got in" I whispered. This time Sasuke arrived beside us, "You got what?" he asked. "I got in to Konoha University!" Smiles erupted on their faces and my mother held me tightly. "Congrats Imuoto"
"Congrats ya brat". I hugged my brothers tightly this time.
"Come on Sweetie. Open the next one" my mother insisted. "I don't think I can anymore. I'm going to die from all the surprises I can't handle any more. I think the second envelope could wait later." I heard Fugaku clear his throat, his eyes still closed. It made me giggle, "Fine, I'll open it."
A small scream escaped my mouth and I couldn't help the laugh escaping my mouth next. Sasuke and Itachi huddled closer behind me to see what was written inside. "I love it Dad!", it was a gift card worth two thousand dollars for art supplies. I was really stoked. I had to admit I was absolutely elated to say the least. It was a different kind of high.
The guests arrived soon enough and I was seated closely with my friends. I met some of Itachi and Sasuke's cousins, Shisui and Obito were so fun to talk to. This night will surely be memorable. After Ino got me out of my toga, my dress has made me feel a little cold. It was a simple black dress, nothing too amazing about it; I just wished it had long sleeves instead of having none. I couldn't wait for the food, since Sasuke was the one who organized the menu. I heard the door open, but I was too busy playing with my Tamagotchi when I noticed how silent everything became all of a sudden. There were hushed tones, whispers and murmurs.
The hairs on my neck stood up in an instant when I heard the footsteps walking in my direction. A hand found my shoulder and Fugaku signaled me to stand up, when I finally looked behind me I knew why.
It was Madara.
He was clothed in a deep burgundy suit; he was a totally different person from when he was wearing his yukata. Now he was just plain frightening to the right eye who see's past his bullshit. The suit fits him well, and his wild hair flowing graciously behind him. The smug look on his face was impossible to miss as he stares into the people behind me.
He walked towards me in smooth strides, his assistant following him behind. I don't know where my voice went but it felt like it crawled up somewhere and died. A shiver went up my spine, I couldn't handle it. I looked around for Itachi and Sasuke, they we're approaching our side as soon as Madara stopped in front of us, a few feet away. I felt Fugaku hand on my back adding pressure to it telling me to bow with them. My hair framed my face and I didn't want to move. Sasuke moved a little closer to me, making me feel that he is there and that there's nothing to be scared of.
Madara reached out to shake hands with the men, and he greeted my mother with a peck on the cheek. It was revolting.
He finally paid attention to me, my throat drying in the process. "Ah, Sakura-chan. I believe a congratulations is in order" I hesitantly offered my hand for his to shake but he took it and kissed the back of it instead. His mouth on my skin makes me want to scrub the area raw. I knew that his face was covered to the others because of his hair when he kissed my hand, but I knew what I saw, I saw one of the most malicious grins ever "And of course how could I forget." He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small box. "Happy Birthday, Darling." I tried to smile, I really did. I managed to pull a small one and received his gift with both hands. I could smell his perfume.
His perfume and his smoke
I bowed again, a small one this time just so I could avoid his eyes. "Thank you, Madara-sama."
He smiles at me, his intent very clear. "Why don't you open it, dear?" His voice was nothing but rumbling thunder in my ears, something I hide from in the night when the storm rages on. I tried to avoid shaking; I opened the small box and knew that it could be jewelry. My breath was escaping me in short quiet bursts.
Inside were two small hair pins. It looked like rubies were decorating the small strip of the hair pins; it was simple but the quality of the craftsmanship spoke for itself. I think my heart was about to stop. "What do you think?" this time it was Fugaku who spoke. The silence was unnerving me and I knew I was the only one who could end it. "Thank you, Madara -sama" I looked up to him, a light blush crept up my cheeks as I saw how drastically his face could change. From one second ago he looked like the devil himself, but now his face held such a soft expression only he could pull. Without saying a word he took the pins from the box and placed them on my hair, tucking them effectively off of my face.
It felt like there was something wrong.
"Now you look even more beautiful." I heard my mother sigh dreamily, I looked at Fugaku with a proud air around him, but Sasuke and Itachi, and they were different. They both held a blank expression on their face, which finally set the alarms in my head once more.
"We have to do something" Itachi murmured to himself but Sasuke didn't fail to hear his words. The young Uchiha was puzzled himself as to the events that have been unraveling to his family as of late.
"Do you think its happening?" he asked.
The oldest could only stare at him in reply. Sasuke huffed in frustration. "If the rumors are as true as they say they are, Madara has found a suitable matriarch for the clan... but." Itachi stops, afraid to think of the worst. "She can't handle it. She's not ready, this isn't right. She's too young!" Itachi being the most composed of the two didn't respond.
"If it does happen we could not do anything about it. The best that we could do is watch, and hope for the best. Although it is unlikely that he will lose interest that quickly." Sasuke looked at him with wide eyes. "That's insane! Madara is turning twenty-nine soon! Do you think father will actually let this happen?"
They both knew what the answer would be. Fugaku branch of the family is the closest related to Madara, and as the two of them contemplate on this it would be a disaster if anyone of them voiced out their complaint. It would not end well for all of them. "Itachi, she won't be able to handle this. You know it."
Itachi was deep in thought but right before Sasuke left his room he said something "I can do something about it, but at best all I can do is distract him. Buy enough time, and until then you have to be the one to protect our little sister. You have to be the one to take action as to how she can avoid such a fate."
Sasuke was speechless.
I couldn't forget her, not even a single hair on her head could be erased off my memory. It was such a shame that I couldn't stay longer with her in her celebration. I knew that I chose the right gift for her, the moment the pins held her hair, her eyes shone brighter as the red pins complimented the greens of her eyes. Thick pink lashes fanned the top of her cheeks as she blinks. Those soft looking lips, poised ready to be kissed anytime.
Her small hands were just begging to be held by mine, such soft looking skin, and such an inviting color that could be turned into a bright pink in one strike. She deserves to be spoiled; wearing those rags never did her any justice. I could imagine her in every designer dress, but I bet she would look even more exquisite bare. I can imagine her right beneath me, in every way possible, although I'm not totally closed off from seeing her on top either.
A smile found Madara's lips as he replays the events of the night that just had happened recently. It was truly riveting the way she could affect him at such a close proximity, what more if he finally closes the gap. He can't deny that Fugaku has a lot of promise in his family, mainly Itachi being the prodigy that he is and Sasuke following after his brother's footsteps. Both are willing to serve the clan, and their loyalty will be tested to the maximum as he sees fit.
The game is starting, and it's his first turn to move the pieces.
"Imouto" Itachi opened the door to Sakura's room after a few minutes when Sasuke left his. He personally wanted to check how she was doing since it was obvious she was a little rattled from what has happened recently. He knew that it was late into the night when he and Sasuke finished talking, but that didn't stop him from checking on her.
He saw her fast asleep in her bed, the light from the window finding her small frame. Itachi couldn't help himself but stare at what he was seeing. She wore a loose white shirt, good enough to sleep in. With the way she was sprawled on the bed it was evident that she was too deep in her slumber. He walks towards her admiring the color of her hair and how it stood out from the white beddings. Her chest was slowly rising and falling at a steady pace, he didn't fail to notice how the shirt fell to the contours of her breasts. Her other leg wasn't covered by the blanket she was using, exposing her slender limb. For a moment he was tempted to see if she was wearing anything underneath as her loose shirt stopped in the middle of her thighs. She was beautiful.
From the very first moment he saw her, he knew already that something bloomed in him that urged him to protect her. Treat her like she was of the same blood; treat her like the lady she was meant to be. He knew the dangers of coming close to her, how she grew onto him in less than a year. He couldn't help himself know that she was within arm's reach living under the same roof.
He saw past through her, beyond the walls she unknowingly built. Sasuke, his own brother has yet to see it and he begs the unknown power from above that he never does. She could hold her own, even when she was insecure with the new living arrangements. She was shy, but fought back anytime someone tries to cross the line. She was still a girl though, in need of protecting even when she hides it. She was more vulnerable than she thinks, and because of her ignorance to this it just makes her more endearing in his eyes. She was only six years younger than him, but he knew it would be wrong to bring her into the world that he knew of. At the age of eighteen, she was still oblivious to the advances of men only to sneer at them and take it as an invitation to a fight. Luckily, through the months they have spent together he was able to correct this attitude, asking her to ignore such things instead.
She moved in her sleep "Don't-"she whimpers. Her hand moves to the side of her face, turning her head to feel its warmth. "ugly dress" she mutters. Itachi snapped out of his musings, and proceeded to fix her blanket to cover her fully. He wishes he could join her, even if it would be the last time it happened.
He found the chair in her room, sitting across the bed seeing that he just couldn't leave her room just yet. He tried to remember her face, how her thick lashes emphasizes her feminine features. Her nose was small and just right for her face. Her lips held a sinful kind of fullness to it, now a healthy shade of pink when she isn't flustered. He reaches out to her short hair brushing it backwards so it doesn't cover any part of her face. It was so wrong to be with her like the time when the both of them were all alone in the house.
It was the night his father and Sakura's mother was out of town, Sasuke was out with friends celebrating after a week of finals. He fondly remembers the night when it was raining, and the thunderstorm was just starting. It seemed to Itachi that her crying was too loud as it competed with the thunder. He knocked on her door only to see her covered in her thick sheets, shivering from another loud thunder. "Sakura, is there something wrong?" He calls out only to have a loud cry as a reply when one exceptionally loud thunder rang through the entire house. Itachi walks towards her bed, gently touching the lump of a human as to not overwhelm her. A hand shot out from underneath and grabs a hold of his pajama pants. He observes her next course of action, and he patiently waits. The thunder stopped for a moment and she was able to take a peek out of her thick sheets.
She looks up at Itachi, eyes red from crying out. He couldn't stop the breath that escaped his mouth at how fragile she looked. He noticed that she was schooling her face, trying not to make it obvious that her face was just twisted from crying too much. "I'm sorry Itachi, I didn't mean to bother you." Her voice tried to be strong, unwavering even but her lack of composure was evident. "Sakura, are you scared?" as soon as Itachi said these words her face tried so hard not to form into one of distaste at his statement. She didn't like appearing weak. Itachi held her hand that was still gripping his left leg and removed it but he does not let go of her. He kneels down to the level of her bed and slowly moves the sheet covering her head, but not too much as to expose her head fully. "Sasuke used to be scared of thunder when we were kids." He started slowly, and he noticed Sakura was giving him his full attention even when she flinches from the occasional thunder here and there. "He would sleep right beside me when there was a storm, and he would hold onto my clothing for as long as he could until he falls asleep."
He hears her sniff a little, finally removing the cloth that covered her short messy hair. She looks at him with understanding as she was finally figuring out that Itachi was just trying to comfort her. "Thank you" she sniffs again. Itachi was not moving, letting her decide what would happen next. A loud thunder shook the house and she pulls on Itachi's hand pressing it closer to her chest. She did not consider the fact how close it was to her breast, how it rested right in between. Itachi knew in that moment she was not wearing a bra, and was oblivious to the fact that he was still a man. He kept his composure, letting the silence make her frustrated huffs known. "Itachi?" he only stared. "Would it be too much if I asked you to stay?"
His heart skipped a beat. He was trying to understand, no, he was trying to believe that she must not be this naïve? Itachi remained kneeling aside her bed. She began to move to one side only to push down the covers. She was inviting him to lie beside her. Itachi stopped breathing for a moment, trying to keep his face as straight as ever. He saw a peek of her legs as she pulled the sheets for him to find his spot on the bed, her loose white shirt falling on her side exposing a fraction of her shoulder. He felt that his control was being tested to the maximum. Itachi snapped out of it eventually, not wasting her invitation. He settled right beside her, their hands in between them as they faced one another.
"I never had siblings. When there's a storm, I was always alone in my room… most of the time my mom wasn't at home. She works all night usually since it was just the two of us." He observed how her green eyes trailed off to their hands. Her eyes were captivating in the dark, feeling like it was glowing along with her hair. Just a scared fairy, hiding from the cruelty of nature
Before Itachi could stop himself, he found himself moving her head closer to his chest, his hand at the back of her head, playing with her soft hair wishing that it was longer. "Itachi?" Sakura voiced out, he closed his eyes, silently breathing in her scent and the fabric conditioner of her sheets. "You're my Imouto now, I will protect you just like I have protected Sasuke before. We may not be related by blood, but we are family now." He could only stare at the top of her head, waiting patiently. "Thank you, Aniki." Sakura breathed out. Another moment of silence passed by, the rain deafening now that no one was talking. Sakura's hand gripped Itachi's thumbs, making him realize how small her hands were. She was fast asleep this time, and for Itachi the night was a long one. His attention was devoted to her sleeping form. He disregarded the thought of such indecency as a fully grown man lies with a girl barely of age. He was captivated.
He knew this would only bring him suffering.
That very next day after that incident Sakura would talk to Itachi with a certain amount of excitement now that she gained a new sense of belonging in her new family. She did not hide her fondness towards her brothers, but she knew Itachi dotes on her more than Sasuke could. Itachi closes his eyes, trying to gather his thought for the sleeping girl in front of him. How he felt the dread fall on him like ice against his feverish skin. He was just worried how it would affect his family, most especially Sakura.
"Imouto, what should I do with you?"
The gears in Itachi's head was starting to move, anticipating Madara's next course of action. The pieces on the board started forming in his head, and he knew it was risky forming a strategy against a powerful opponent who's done this more than he should.