Serene's POV:
I felt the syringe plunge into my skin and then everything went white. I opened my eyes again and realized that this was the test that was the hardest part of the implant. There was nothing at all. I looked down and at the yellowed grass, and then I looked back up. There was someone walking in front of me. I walked soundlessly behind him. It was definitely a boy, and then I froze when I realized who it was. It was Sasuke. There was no denying that it was Sasuke. The hair, the clothes, the sword, it all proved that it was Sasuke. I looked behind me and when I looked in front of me, Sasuke had disappeared.
In his place was a large forest. I looked around desperately until I found Sasuke. When I found him, my heart stopped. He was leaning against a tree… with Ikuzai pressed against his lips. I gasped. Then I put my hands over my own mouth, hoping they didn't here the gasp. I backed away from the scene. Then anger built up in me. I ran towards them, kunai in hand. But as soon as I reached them they jumped, and Ikuzai then used the Water Senbon and directed at me. I tried dodging as many as possible, but I few pierced my arm and legs. I tried to start Chidori Current, but then Sasuke was in front of me and he pierced me chest with Kusanagi. He missed my heart by mere centimeters, on purpose of course. Then I realized why. Ikuzai laughed and kissed Sasuke.
He was so emotionless when he stabbed me, that it hurt more than the stab itself. And the way that he kissed her, it made my heart hurt and ache. I tried to get up, but only ended coughing up blood instead. I tried again and succeeded. I took out Jotu and used it to support me. Sasuke broke off his kiss with Ikuzai and walked my way. He then grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him. "This is for betraying me," he whispered in my ear. Then he hit me with Chidori. Then when he dropped me to the ground, he resumed kissing Ikuzai.
"Stop! Please! Just stop it, I beg of you! I didn't betray you! Sasuke!" I screamed in agony. I would never be this weak, what was going on? This wasn't possible! I was being tortured by him and I was humiliating myself in front of Sasuke. This was ridiculous, this would never happen. It takes more than Sasuke and Ikuzai kissing to break me, yet here I was, screaming my lungs out. This was not happening! Then the world went dark.
"Serene, wake up, please." I heard Nagari's voice murmur somewhere near me. My eyes fluttered open. Then my memory rushed into my brain. It was only a dream; the torture was only a dream… I tried to get up and saw bruises on my wrists and ankles. I looked for Itachi. He wasn't there. I looked at Nagari, and without me saying a word, she said, "He left when you started to thrash around and scream." I nodded. That had to be torture for him, to see me in pain like that. That was in the past now. I tried to stand and waved Nagari away when she tried to help me. She bowed and took us all back to our own realm. Then she disappeared.
I was kneeling down and as I tried to get up, and a pulse of pain shot up my legs. I fell and before I hit the ground, strong arms wrapped themselves around me. I knew it was Itachi, so I smiled. "Are you okay?" He asked. I nodded. Then I got up, his arms still wrapped around me. "Let's see if what you were tortured for actually works." He said with slight amusement in his voice. I rolled my eyes and then concentrated on making wind appear. Nothing happened. Frustrated, I raised my hands while thinking of making a small breeze. Then it happened. I smiled.
"How's that?" I asked. He just grunted and walked towards our new destination. I wasn't quite satisfied with his answer so I tried something new. I looked at him and thought of wind and leaves surrounding him. Then I waved my hand towards him. Next thing that happened was actually kind of funny. Winds and leaves made their way noisily to him and surrounded him in a wild frenzy, surprised by this, he fell back. I closed my eyes and made the wind stop. The leaves slowly made their way to the ground. Itachi got up and looked at my crossly. I smiled and shrugged my shoulders. Then a small smile formed on his face too.
"Let's go. Kisame is not going to wait much longer, you know that." Itachi said while taking off some leaves from his Akatsuki robe.
"Yeah, I know. Hey, how long was I out?" I questioned him.
He cocked his head to the side, "About and hour, or so."
I shook my head, "Let's go then."
We walked together to the meeting point with Kisame. Every once in a while I would start a small breeze and smile. Ikuzai had only reached two Elements, because her body can only withstand so much pain. But I'm sure I can surpass her by a lot. Get ready Ikuzai, because I'm catching up, and when I do, you'll be sorry you ever crossed me.
Sasuke's POV:
I slowly opened my eyes. My chakra was finally restored. I was going to get for this. She was going to pay for doing this to me. Then I thought back on the kiss. It was real. At least it was at first, and then she changed. But I broke her, for a second, but I broke Serene Hatari. The shinobi that was emotionless, that was cold, that was like me. That also meant that she had broken me too. Damn it! I took that long way to the hideout so I could fix myself mentally, because I physically looked emotionless and cold, but I was a wreck on the inside. I felt like I was just punched in the gut when she kissed me, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I rested my back against a tree. Then I realized that I wasn't alone. I activated my sharingan and saw someone's chakra above me.
"Hey, there handsome," I heard Ikuzai's voice call from a tree branch above.
"Hello, Ikuzai. Why don't you come down so you can tell me why you were spying on me?" I responded with an even tone. My mind was finally balanced, now that there was a distraction at hand. She jumped down and landed gracefully next to me. She put her arm around my shoulder casually.
"Well, I was instructed by Orochimaru to find you after you didn't come back at the expected time. Then again, I was going to come and look for you anyways." She explained.
"That's awfully annoying of you," I muttered teasingly, "however I'm glad." Then she grabbed my face in her free hand and she pressed her lips on mine. My mind went on a frenzy and I thought of the kiss that Serene had given me. I pulled back and stepped back. Ikuzai creased her brows in frustration, and in understanding.
"How dare she! She can't kiss you, she doesn't even like you! She's just using you again Sasuke-kun!" she ranted angrily.
I held a hand up as a signal for her to stop. "I know that she was using me. She drained me of my chakra and left me there. I'm not stupid." I didn't remind her not to call me Sasuke-kun ever again, figuring that she would figure it out on her own. Nor, did I mention that I kissed Serene first.
"Let's go before I do something I'll regret." She mumbled angrily.
I nodded and we walked towards the hideout. On the way there she wouldn't even look at me, she was pissed off. I decided that she was being childish and so I said, "You know that she means nothing to me." or does she? "You are the one I love, now stop being childish." or do I? Why was I second guessing myself? This wasn't like me; this wasn't like me at all. She looked down at the ground, thinking, and then she looked up and smiled.
"You're right. I was being childish, will you forgive me?" she said in a small voice.
"There's nothing to forgive, it was my fault in the first place. Now can we get to the hideout by sundown?" I said in an even and cold voice.
She nodded and we took off. We jumped from tree to tree in a lightning pace. Every once in a while I would take a second to look at her and compare her to Serene. I don't even know why I was doing it, yet I was doing it anyway. Serene was much more mature than Ikuzai, but Ikuzai was stronger than Serene by a lot. Physically I found Serene more attractive than Ikuzai. She had a prettier face… I shook my head; I had to stop thinking of her.
By then we were at the entrance of the hideout. She teleported after placing a kiss on my cheek. I shook my head and then teleported in as well.
