DISCLAIMER:

NARUTO © Masashi Kishimoto

BLEACH © Kubo Tite


Lost Symphony

Naruto/Bleach Cross Over

Sakura Haruno and Byakuya Kuchiki

Romance/Adventure/Humor/Drama

Rated M: for Language/Blood/Maybe Lemons?


Chapter 3: Calming Hearts


Author's note:

WARNING: Byakuya might be OOC in this chapter. Senbonzakura might be OOC too.

Sorry for the lateness, I suddenly had the chance to hold my Ds and once again got addicted to it. I was hooked playing Harvest moon: Grand Bazaar and though I already finished it, I made a new game. This time I choose being a boy. LOL. I'm regretting it now, but its fun…

Anyway, thanks for the reviews, faves and alerts. I owed you all big time.

So, here's chapter 3. I hope you all like it…


"Talking"

Sakura's thoughts/thoughts

Inner talking

Zanpakutō talking


Senbonzakura was right, he will indeed regret it. And yes, he was regretting it right now.

The woman, the pink haired woman can see him.

No, it's much worst– she can touch him. It was a surprise to him yet it was expected at the same time. And right now she's gripping his wrist as if it was her lifeline. She's not really gripping it; her fingers were probing until it settles on his pulse. The steady beat ease her based on her relax shoulders and her blissful sigh.

"Or maybe she's dying, Byakuya." Senbonzakura's words made him realize that she was mortally wounded. He swiftly tugged her hands away from his wrist, scooped her up and carried her bridal style. Though she's not really her responsibility – "Yes, she's not." his promised won over hisZanpakutō's hissing.

Because Kuchiki's never break their promises. That was what he wanted to believe. He already knew that he will regret everything sooner or later, but it won't matter to him.

'Being with you even only for a few weeks was a dream come true to me. Thank you.' To be honest, it was those words that maybe really made him do this. Those words were something he had never thought to be heard again. For him it was personal, for him it was his, for him only Hisana can say those words.

Looking at the woman in his arms, he notices that her facial expression hadn't change. Her face though pale, her relax expression change it all. It appears though that she was just sleeping, and having a sweet dream as she curled and lean in to his chest. He almost laughs at her, if it weren't the fact that he can feel the warm blood that trickles on his arms from her open wound.

He had to find shelter, and had to find one fast. Based on the shivers she had just made, her death is nearing. He can hear Senbonzakura saying to leave her alone, telling him that she's bound to die.

"Not if I let her die." His Zanpakutō grunts, not liking the idea of helping the woman. He's not that cold-blooded, yes, he wasn't. But she was clearly dying. Her life was supposed to end here. Her role was done, her duty was finished, and her life was slowly disappearing.

Snow started to fall, the sky slowly darkening and the winds changes it direction, harshly telling him to move away. There's a storm coming.

FAST

Casting one last glance at the sky and to the shivering woman he's carrying, silently praying she'll make it until he found shelter for both of them. The next village was 3 days away from here and he can't risk of her dying, a thought that he was sure never to find the reason. Holding the woman tighter, he shunpo-ed away from the place where he had remembered something, where 'Kaitou' died and where she desperately clings to her life.

"Don't let my effort goes to waste." He muttered before entering a cave, an hour and a half away from their previous location. He can't go any further. The snow already thickens and his patient – he almost chuckle at the thought – is bleeding.

He laid her down gently like a fragile doll she was. Kneeling beside her, he hold her wrist looking for a pulse, it was faint though it is still there. He heard her grunt, a good sign that she can still feel pain. He put down Senbonzakura, as he shrugged his captain's haori and his scarf.

He had to stop the bleeding first. He took off her grey armor first, next was her metal arm guards and her gloves. Then he slowly peeled of her black sleeveless shirt with the kunai he had found on her holster.

A large gash from her right hip to her belly greeted his eyes, the minute he had took off her shirt. It was bleeding profusely. He grimaced, it was worst that what he had thought. Grabbing his haori, he ripped the edge and uses it to carefully wipe the blood away from the wound. Its whiteness disappeared immediately the moment he dab it on her.

After that, he ripped her scarf to pieces, much to Senbonzakura's shock.

"Ginrei-sama will rip your head, Byakuya." He ignored it and continues to work. Right now, her wound and her life was more important rather than his scarf. He is certain that his grandfather will understand his actions when he explains it.

"Yes, if you can find a reason why you did such thing." Senbonzakura was not amused. Though his master's actions were admirable, he can't help but sigh at his stupidity. Clearly using a family heirloom as a bandage was not good. First it was an heirloom, only Kuchiki can have, second it was passed from generation to generation and third, it was important.

He knew right now Byakuya had no idea what to say to his grandfather. The man was acting based on his instinct and clearly not using his head. He shook his head in disappointment. Right now there is nothing he can do. For now, he'll watch him intently and stop him once he made another wrong decision.

Byakuya took note of his Zanpakutō's sudden silence. It was disturbing but at the same time he was glad he had stop nagging him. But he shrugged it off. He can deal with him later.

After covering her wound, he covered her with the remains of his haori. He stood up then looks outside. He had roughly 15 minutes left before the storm surge in. Giving one last glance to the pink haired woman, he leaves the cave in search for wood.

When he came back, she develops a fever. As he was creating fire, she started to whimper, her breathing became labored, and she started to talk— endlessly. Cursing— he raised his eyebrow at that, shouting someone's name or rather a man's name, which is clearly not the man she was holding a while ago and for some time her voice will call another name softly.

He was curious as to what the woman see in her sleep. The fever must have been giving her nightmares; yet, something in her voice tells him that he was wrong.

As the woman suffers – in Senbonzakura's words – he sighs and walk towards the woman's shivering form. He may never admit it to anyone – "I know" Senbonzakura exclaimed – he's worried about her. Crouching down, he sets his palm on her forehead to check her temperature.

She is hot.

Naturally, she had a fever.

That's not what I meant.

What are you talking about? He asked.

You're a genius right? Figure it out yourself.

Raising his hands away from her forehead, he ponders at what Senbonzakura meant. When the answer registered in his mind, he scoffs at his Zanpakutō's idea.

Ridiculous. He wondered why he said that. It seems Senbonzakura will not answer him, so stood up and move towards the wall and sat. He looks at his patient, exhales and closes his eyes. He had done everything he could to save her. It's now up to her.

Now, he waits.


Darkness

It is the only she can see.

Darkness surrounds her.

Darkness slowly swallowing her

Darkness slowly eating her

Pain

It is the only one she can feel.

Pain all over her body

Pain all over soul

Pain all over her sanity

She was scared.

Not in the dark, not because she's in pain. It was the loneliness, the feeling of being alone, and the feeling of being alive. She was dead, no, supposed to be dead.

A dead person can't feel anything right? There's no answer. She was expecting Inner to answer but it appears she had left too. She can feel pain that means she's still alive. She almost laughs at her stupidity, laugh at her situation.

In the end she let out a laugh. She was surprise that she can. She was supposed to be crying over the pain she's feeling, to the pain that was marking her own body, and soul, to the pain that was doubling in every second, every minute – Wait.

Since when she was here?

Since when she was suffering?

Since when she was crying?

Crying? Gingerly raising her hands, she put it over her cheek and touched it. It's wet. She's really crying, she was crying.

Why?

Was he crying because of pain?

Because of darkness?

Because…

'hahaha' A laugh…

"Kaitou" she stands up.

'You bastard!' A shout…

"Chouko?" she looks around.

'Ogre!' A taunt…

"Satorou?" she started to walk.

'…' Silence

"Seijaku?" She stops.

"Where are you?" she whispered. No one answered.

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. The air suddenly was clean. It was refreshing. The pain suddenly disappeared. The burning sensation in her body was replaced, like she was soaking, like she was wet, like she in the river. It was cold yet she welcomed it, she like it, no, she loved it.

When she opened her eyes, she can no longer see darkness. She was in a middle of a field. Flowers bloom all over her feet.

Red, blue, yellow and pink.

The trees sways as the wind blows softly, the grass dances as the winds hits them wildly. The sun shone beautifully and the clouds fluffier than they could ever be. The birds singing took her breath away, the soft pitter patter of a rabbit happily hopping to her, made her giggle, the …

"Wake up!"

"Huh?" She looks around but no one was there.

"Baka! Wake up! I don't want to die yet!"

"Inner?"

"Who else? Look wake up or we'll both die!"Inner shouted at her.

"Wake up? But I'm awake."

"I can't believe you are me! Just wake up! If you die right now, I'm going to kill you!"

Sakura's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "How will you do that if I'm dead?"

"Just wake up!"

Sakura snaps her eyes open. She was no longer in the field, no more trees, flowers, bird, rabbits – Shit. It hurts! Why does it have to hurt? Her whole body is aching. She was certain that her stomach was wet not with water but with blood.

Her blood. Oh the horror!

She slowly lifted her hand and touches her belly; to her surprise it was bandaged. Bandaged?

"I see you've awakened." She looked for the voice' source and found someone near the entrance. She still can't see his face, but in every step he takes, she can't help but to take air faster. The anticipation and excitement suddenly flowed through her veins.

Her breath hitched when she finally saw his face. One word. There's only one word that can describe him.

Handsome! Sakura groaned at Inner's shout.

"Feeling any better?" His voice rang though her ears. It was cold, yet warm at the same time. She had the urge to shake her head and tell him she's fine, but she can't help but to be wary at him. So, instead of answering, her eyes narrowed to him, slightly shocking herself, that she can do such thing.

He raises both of his hand, telling her that he's weaponless. He was glad that he had left Senbonzakura on the entrance of the cave. Though she was injured and weak, she always kept her guards up. It is quite amazing for such a young woman.

"No need to be hostile." Slowly kneeling to her side, he saw her flinched slightly. It was expected, seeing she had awoken with a strange and heavily injured at the same time. Shinobis doesn't trust easily.

"Who are you?" her voice sounded weird, maybe because her mouth is dry. Or maybe from all the shouting she had done. She inwardly sighs, her voice sounded wrong, or maybe it was just her imagination.

"Byakuya, Byakuya Kuchiki."

"Why?"

"I made a promise." He instantly replied.

A blue haired man flashed through her eyes. Kaitou

A single tear left her eye. She closed her eyes, silently wishing that everything was a dream. That everything was not real. That she had died along with her team. She can hear Inner cursing at her stupidity, that she should be grateful that she's alive, that she shouldn't waste what they had done for her.

She stifled a laugh, remembering her teammates, remembering their memories, relieving it like it was yesterday. Muttering 'how stupid Kaitou is', she didn't know that she was now crying. Her tears, flowing freely to her cheeks, glistening as each tear, drop to the ground.

She was startled when a warm finger wipes her tears. "Forget their sufferings, instead, remember their happiness."

She wanted a hug right now. So, she grabbed his hands and lean on it.

She wanted to cry to someone else's shoulder. So, she holds it and cried on it.

She wanted to bawl loud until her voice become hoarse. So she cried, her voice echoing the cave.

She wanted comfort.

She wanted assurance.

She wanted to feel safe.

And this man, she is sure can give it to her.


She was hungry. No, hungry was an understatement. She wanted to eat, she's thirsty too, not to mention she's half-naked and the ground was literally poking her back. It hurts; the rough ground was like sandpaper grinding at her back in every moment she moves.

She sighs, after the most embarrassing bawled she had done a while ago, everything felt silent. Though she didn't mind it, she can tell that Byakuya didn't mind it too. He's such a strange man. Not that it makes him bad or something, but there is something within him that she can't explain.

Like the fact that he's handsome?

No, not that Inner. She wanted to smack Inner for that.

Maybe, the fact that he doesn't have chakra?

Well, now that Inner mentioned it, she really can't feel his chakra. If he was cloaking it, then at least with their close proximity she can feel it, yet there's none. There's also that eerie presence that seems to be covering him, like it was a shield or something, but it's not chakra. All living things, even some non-living ones have chakra, but clearly, he doesn't have a tiny bit of it.

Trying to sit, she grips the haori right in front of her to prevent from falling – as she was naked – and successfully sit up. She was about to speak when her stomach growls. Shyly, she looks down to conceal the blush tainting her face.

She can't look. That was embarrassing.

She heard him chuckle, then a strange looking treat was shove on to her, not having much choice she look at Byakuya and raises her eyebrow, clearly asking.

"It's all that I have in me. I can't leave you alone, so I never had a chance to gather food." He shoved it to her again, and nods at her. She hesitantly reaches for it, and takes one. The brown colored treat that was shape as a – Well, what shape was this? – She stares at it.

Tree? Nope. Inner answered.

Ah, a flower. It has hands and feet, Outer. I don't think that's a flower.

Not that it matters, I'm hungry. Then she took a bite at the strange looking treat and hope it will not taste strange. Well, it tastes quite good. Nibbling on it, she looks at Byakuya, who seemed fascinated by her actions a while ago. A small smile was plastered on his face.

"Wakame."

"Hm?" Did she hear him right? Seaweed? But the treat doesn't taste like seaweed.

"Wakame Ambassador." He speaks again.

"Huh?" Clearly not understanding what he said.

"That treat is a Wakame Ambassador shape."

Ah, so he just answered her question on what shape it was.

Wait. Her brows furrowed in confusion.

Wakame Ambassador? Seaweed Ambassador? She chuckled at the thought. What kind of treat was that then? She laughs. Surprisingly, it wasn't hard to laugh. Her whole squad was killed and she can laugh right after it.

Tears forms in her eyes once again, the treat lays forgotten on the ground as she cry. Hugging her knees, she cried silently. Byakuya's eyes soften and gently pat her head, comforting her.

"Why?" He raises his eyebrow but he didn't speak. "Why did this happen?"

"That, I can't answer." He answered as he shook his head.

"It's unfair." She whispered.

"Life is."

She looks at him, tears still flowing. It was a sight that Byakuya never wish to see, a sight he never wanted to witness. It makes him remember.

The pain

The sufferings

The loss

Everything

He sighs. His thoughts were jumbled ever since that day. His Zanpakutō was not helping him at all. He was confused.

Before, it doesn't matter even if shinobis kill themselves right in front of him.

Their death held no significance to him.

Their death didn't matter.

But now, a single woman, a woman with pink hair, no less, made him confuse, made him lost his resolved, made him forgot his own law, made him do things he had not done before.

It was disturbing him. The thought, the deeds and the actions were slowly eating him along with the confusion in his heart. He hated it, he doesn't like one bit of it.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Calm your heart." he paused "Filter your thoughts." Her hiccups were replaced by sniffles. "And let your soul flow."

When he opened his eyes, her cries were already over; her eyes though red because of tears were still a gorgeous emerald shade.

He patted her head before standing up. He had totally forgotten Senbonzakura. Leaving him all alone on the cave entrance, the Zanpakutō must be angry. When he got there, and got the hold of Senbonzakura, his guess was right on the spot.

"You really had to leave me alone."

I apologize

"We're leaving, I assume?"

Not yet. Byakuya turn around. I needed something to do.

"Byakuya-sama, this is—"

I know. He interrupted; he knew what he's going to say.

"Very well. For now, I will observe but—" he trailed off looking at his master in the eye. "If something happened I will not hesitate to move with or without your permission."

I understand.


Chapter 3 done

About the scarf, I know some of you will say that 'ripping the scarf wasn't like Byakuya'. Yes, it wasn't like Byakuya, why? In this chapter I portrait him as a confused man, a man who had no idea what the hell he's been doing. Of course it was a major OOC but it is part of my story so I hope you wouldn't mind that.

Thanks

Read and Review

No flames please.

It's 11 pm now, and I need sleep.

Tell me what you think about it.

~2008roseelixir out