Title: Lucifer's Wings

Author: kaorulovesyou

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. –sniffs- But I so want you Itachiiiiii! -fangirling-

Pairing: Itachi and Sakura

A/N : Hello. The third chaptie is here, for those who are wondering, and even to those who don't –laughs- Itachi will appear soon, patience puh-lease. To tell you, writing this fic is not easy since I'm not THAT good with English so yeah, kinda tough. I want this to be a memorable and nice fanfic so hopefully I can find someone to improve this. I wonder what a "beta" is but someone told me they can help, anyway I won't waste your time, go ahead and have a wonderful time. Chachaaan~!

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"If all else perished, and ye remained, you should still stand and carry on.

Do not grieve. A person, who has nothing to lose, has nothing to fear."


Chapter 3: Crimson Eyes

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Little Sakura is playing with her friend Ino Yamanaka. They are sitting underneath the shade of a big cherry tree near the fountain of the Haruno manor. They are making wreath out of poppies, daisies, and other flowers they can find in the garden without a care even if the gardener is sulking in the corner about his precious flowers.

Its midday and everything is just serene and peaceful.

The sun is bathing the children's skin with warmth. Sakura and Ino are sitting on the lush grass, not caring if their pretty dresses are covered with leaves and filth. Blue and purple bonnet are dangling on a nearby branch with a yellow butterfly resting on it.

All in all, it's a nice day to laze around and play. Proof is the cheerful laughter that can be heard from meters are currently immersed in their own little world. Sakura and Ino are giggling as they exchange wreaths while pretending they are princesses from a fairy kingdom.

"'Chu look sooo pwetty Ino." Sakura said with a smile as her pudgy fingers caress the golden strands of the Yamanaka's hair. She likes Ino's hair a lot. It sparkles under the sun. She stared at Ino's cerulean orbs and smiled wider. Ino's hair resembles the sun and her eyes bear a resemblance to the sky.

Ino smiled sheepishly as she pinches Sakura's rosy cheeks making the young Haruno squeak.

"Nu-uh. You're the pretty one Sakura." Ino then put the wreath she made on Sakura's head. She stares for a moment then nods. "The white daisies suit you a lot." Both of them let out a hearty laugh when they saw the gardener's crest-fallen features.

Ino is the daughter of a famed florist in the village and Sakura loves spending time with her. Ino is Sakura's most treasured friend. Their first meeting may not be that pleasant since it started with a snide comment about Sakura's forehead but now she is one of Sakura's treasured person. The blonde girl feels the shares the same feeling too.

They're about to have their tea party when Ino's mother said it's time to go. The two children hug each other then bidding their farewells with promises to get together some other time. While watching the fading carriage of her departing friend a black cat suddenly appears.

A crimson-eyed black cat.

Sakura tilts her head on one side curiously making Ino's wreath fall from her head, her emerald eyes against the cat's crimson ones. Sakura takes a careful step closer not wanting to frighten the creature. It's really a cat.

Sakura is in awe.

It's her first time seeing a cat in flesh.

She'd seen sheep, cows, horses, and birds but she'd never seen a real cat. Glad there's books to lessen her ignorance. Sakura tiptoes then poke the cat's tail with a stick.

It twitched.

The cat just stared at her with its crimson eyes not bothering to get away or distance itself instead it sat comfortably on the flower beds squishing the petunias.

Sakura loves animals but she is not fond of cats.

Why?

Maybe it's because of the books she read last summer.

Cats are like vicious tigers but smaller.

And she doesn't like tigers.

Sakura also dislikes that people of Ancient Egypt considered them as gods hence the cat's proud nature. Rumor also has it that they serve witches and no one likes witches.

Witches are the enemy of princesses.

Cats are selfish creatures.

They tend to hunt alone and be alone with no loyalty to its master at all. She hates how they can be cold and calculating. Sakura thinks their sly and oblivious, and so bloody proud. Acting high and mighty …

Do they even know they're just cats?

Judging from the crimson-eyed cat's indifferent expression, it's a no.

The black cat appears to be injured and it's very scrawny as if it's been starved for months.

Sakura stares at the cat for a few moments before deciding to aid it. The cat doesn't seem to mind her touch. While looking apathetic it even manages to yawn without establishing eye contact.

Sakura pulls something out of her pocket.

A red ribbon…

She'll use the ribbon Ino gave her for her 5th birthday to cover the gash from the cat's bleeding leg. Sakura has no idea what the cat's gender is but decides to conclude its male since its black. After binding the ribbon and feeding it with some biscuits she managed to sneak after breakfast she then proceeds to walk away.

Sakura walks slowly when she's almost at the main door she glances behind her.

The cat is following her which annoyed Sakura greatly. She starts trotting then running but cat is still hot on her trail, following her.

"Go 'way. Shoo! I can't take 'chu wit me. Go." Little Sakura said with a huff as she stomps her feet while waving her blue bonnet to scare the feline away. The cat just ignored her and settles on licking its paw.

Great.

Leave everything to this crimson-eyed cat to annoy her without doing anything.

Cats.

The cat seems really weak it doesn't take a genius to say that the black cat doesn't have much time to live. Maybe she can take it with her? Then maybe not…

Her father, Sir Kazuru is allergic to cats so she can't bring it with her. After a few moments of contemplating little Sakura finally decides to just ignore the situation.

What can she do?

She's young, weak and powerless; she's not ready to take care of a life even if it's a cat.

The cat continues to follow Sakura even on its weakened state. The urge to pick it up is strong but Sakura just can't take care of it. She wished she's older so she can be of help. The low meow of the cat crumbled Sakura's defenses.

Maybe she can sneak it in and find someone to take care of it. With her balled fist Sakura turned around just in time to see a big hawk snatch the black cat from the ground. Sakura is sure she heard the sound of claws digging its way in the cat's flesh.

A few drops of blood is sprayed on her cheek.

Crimson eyes against her emerald orbs…

Little Sakura is speechless, she can only feel.

The blood trickling on her cheek is warm on her cold skin. The nice weather is not so pleasant anymore. She's petrified and it her fault? It must be. Her mind is full of 'what if's'. What it she tried her best to help? What if she protected it sooner? What if's.

If she knew this would've happen, she would've been kinder.

Guilt filled her innocent heart.

Regrets.

Those crimson-eyes will haunt her for the rest of her life.

Why?

Why?

Why does she hate those creatures so much?

Sakura stared at the darkening sky as the red ribbon stained with blood fell down from the sky landing near her feet. She hoping the cat got away but she knows it's impossible.

Why does she hate them?

She's twiddling her thumb.

Ah, she knows why.

Maybe she's like a cat herself and that she hates that she sees herself in them.

She can be proud even if she's just a child. And she prefers to be alone at times too. She wants to mourn but she promised Ino she won't cry and be weak.

Little Sakura just sighed as she clutches the ribbon close to her heart.

"What a pity, E'm supposed to nwem it Itachi."


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Sakura is running as fast as she could. Her once stunning blue gown is now disheveled with mud and dead leaves hanging on the hem. Lightning criss-crosses in a flash of purple in the distance, it's followed closely by a deafening clap of thunder which made Sakura reflexively jump. Heavy rain starts pouring as she crosses the wooden bridge.

'Almost there.'

Her heart is beating feverishly as she eyed the manor from afar. There's smoke coming from the manor and her supposition is killing her. It seems the manor is under attack! Tearing the hem of her skirt, she runs faster not caring whether she look like a mad woman at the moment. Her long pink hair that was tied in a ponytail is now freely spread for the rain and wind to caress.

She's shaking and her throat feels dry.

She's scared…

Not for herself but for them.

The wind is blowing the oak trees around her almost breaking their branches. Sakura feeling the danger decides to take the route that leads to the servant quarters. As she edged closer her suspicion is confirmed. She's right, some parts of the manor is burning.

It's chaotic.

Workers from the stables are running away, as if their life depends on it. There's shouting and crying and even bodies on the ground. Everyone is so shaken to even stop and recognize her. As she gets closer to the manor she bumps to a very hysterical woman… its Shizune, one of the maids.

She's a mess. Her tear-stained face reflects terror. Sakura seize Shizune's arm before she can run away.

"Shizune! What's happening?!" Shizune stared at her for a moment with tears in her eyes.

"L-Lady Sakura! You're okay!" Shizune is pulling her along with the crowd of people escaping. It took Shizune a few seconds to speak, with Sakura on her grip. "Bandits! T-They've invaded the manor. We have to escape-"

Shizune's words are swallowed by screams and noises but Sakura heard enough. She pulls her hand from Shizune's shaking hand with an unreadable look on her face.

"Where's Touya? Father! Where's my father?!" Sakura yells.

She needs to find them, make sure they're okay.

Sakura is now catching her breath, she's panicking. Her father and brother may be good at swordsmanship but they won't stand a chance against rifles and pistols. She's doing her best to be calm but the commotion around her is not helping.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Stay calm.

Crying won't help nor will it change the situation. She needs to be calm; fear will only obscure her rational thinking. She'll save her tears for later.

"They're defending the manor with the guards, my lady. They're greatly outnumbered, I-I—" Shizune choke back the sob. "I don't know if they'll ever make it."

Sakura is now clutching her chest. It's getting harder to breath. She can feel her strength fading fast as her knees buckled.

No, it can't be.

Images of Touya and her father bloody and lifeless invades her mind, just thinking about it makes her sick and want to throw up. She can feel her strength fading fast as her knees buckled.

"Lady Sakura!" Shizune manage to pull her up before her knees touch the muddy earth. "We have to go, now." Shizune and a maid named Tara lend a hand to help Sakura get up. They start leading her away when her eyes caught a sword from a dying bandit.

"I'm staying." Sakura muttered in a hollow voice.

"My lady, I promised your father to keep you safe. We ought to go he even give me this lett—" Sakura cut her off by pushing her away. She then pick the sword, examined it and eyed the bandit.

"Why are you here? Why attack this manor?!" Sakura yelled. The tip of the sword is tracing the dying bandit's neck. Sakura's eyes are looks jaded yet the bloodlust is there. The dying bandit just laughs at her hysterically.

"Foolish nobles. You. Will. Die!" he then spit on the ground.

Knowing the man won't reveal anything Sakura buried the sword to the bandit's neck creating a crunching sound as the blood oozes from the wound. The bandit ceased breathing as Sakura wipe the bloody sword with the fabric of her gown.

Tara whimpered as she stared at the bandit's dead body.

"I'm going back." Shizune stares at her as if she just said something foolish. Shizune opens her mouth to say something. "Young lady, everything in there is lost. Save yourself. I'll take care of you." In her eyes is the worry for the child who uses to be so innocent and kind. In front of her is a girl, almost a woman in the brink of losing everything. How terrible must be her young lady feels at this moment.

"Thank you for everything till now Shizune." Sakura flash a smile she uses to give her when she was younger.

A smile that assures her she'll be fine, a bit forced but the child she once adore is reflected in that pained smile. It made Shizune sob even louder. "The captain should sink with his ship." Sakura kisses Shizune's forehead then turns her back towards the burning manor with an unwavering courage; she then marches in the direction of the pandemonium with nothing but a sword and her head held high.

"My lady! My lady?!" Shizune cried out. She stretched her hand towards her precious lady's silhouette as it melts with the shadows.

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End of Chapter 3


A/N:

Yeah, that's it for now. I'll be updating on Friday and I promise, it'll be longer this time and hopefully Itachi will finally have his entrance. For those cat lovers who are offended, I'm so sorry. QwQ I just murdered a cat here, guilty as charged. A trivia about this fanfiction: This fic is born while I'm listening to Katy Perry's Dark Horse and Breaking Benjamin's Dance with the Devil. Awesome song. ( * w * ) Mehehe ~!

Thanks to those who followed this story:

4Eva Dreaming, BleachNaruto2712, Cyndal91, Held Together With Tape, Kosmas, LoUiiSe972, Nadeshiko Maihime, Pikku-Prinsessa, YoloLazyGamer and miss147peach12.

Remember, Kaoru loves you. :D Mehee ~

I'm starting to get attached with Rach-chan and onyxblossom. Thank you for the inspiring reviews, I'll do my best. That would be all, and have a greeeat day everyone!