Sakura flinched when his fist connected with the wall behind her, leaving a huge indent. His outburst confused her, his anger stunned her, but what he said nearly made her knees buckle. She was supposed to be…dead? What did he mean? Why would he say something like that?
"S…Sasuke?" She wanted him to say something, anything. They way his eyes looked over her unsettled her. They were scanning her from head to toe and, as if he still couldn't believe what he was seeing, the Uchiha brought his hand to her cheek, where it rested lightly. His pad of his calloused thumb stroked her skin while his eyes darted around.
"You…you're alive…"
Sakura nodded to him, reassuring him that his sight and touch weren't deceiving him. His hand moved to the blood trickling out of the side of her mouth and wiped at it gently with his curled index finger. After gazing at the red substance for an instant, his eyes shot back to hers, and she suddenly found herself in his embrace, swallowed by his arms.
She gasped, her eyes opening wide. He was hugging her? When she was younger, she wished for this so often, but as the years passed, she put her old feelings for this dark-haired boy behind her. At least, she thought she did. But as he held her, a familiar batch of butterflies erupted in her stomach and warmth shuddered through her body. She was suddenly nervous; her voice was caught in her throat. She couldn't even hug him back.
Then, in an instant, his warmth was gone. She almost fell over, but the high-pitched sound of Naruto's voice echoed in her ears and kept her upright. Her emerald eyes found Sasuke on the other side of the room. He was watching her.
"Sasuke! Stop! Don't attack!" The blonde said as he came barreling through the door. "It's Sak-" His eyes landed on her, stopping him mid-sentence. His mouth fell open and his eyes blinked a couple times. Suddenly, his mouth parted in a wide grin and he hurried over to her. He picked her up in a tight hug and swung her around in circles. "Sakura! You're alive!"
Sakura nodded, but was frowning. Why were they saying that? Why did they think she was dead? She waited for Naruto to put her down before casting a short glance between her two friends. "Why did you think I was dead?"
Naruto crossed his arms behind his head and titled his head back. "That's just what everyone was saying after Konoha was attacked three years ago. Your house was destroyed and your parents were found…" He stopped, studying her. "…dead…but your body was never found." He sighed. "I couldn't believe it. I would say, 'Not Sakura! Sakura wouldn't die so easily!' But there was no word from you when Sasuke and I left. In fact, no one has heard from you in the past three years."
As she watched his expression, Sakura saw his face sadden when he thought she was dead and a pang of guilt coursed through her. She sat down at the table, her back to them. She couldn't face them. "I'm…sorry…"
She felt a hand on her shoulder. "What happened?" Naruto asked. "How did you survive and why didn't you say anything to anyone?"
Could she really talk about this? It was the hardest thing for her to remember while trying to keep her emotionless façade up. But Naruto and Sasuke were her friends and they deserved the truth. They worried about her and she sort of…owed them an explanation.
With a deep breath, the pink-haired kunoichi began. "Three years ago, when the rouge ninja attacked Konoha, one of them broke into my home, knowing exactly who I was and that I lived there. Before I could react, he killed my father and was coming for my mother, who was protecting me with her body. I couldn't move, couldn't think. I was paralyzed with fear and I forgot all of my training…not that it would have helped." She sighed. "My mother pushed me away, telling me to run…and…and…I did." Sakura fisted her hands on the table. "I ran away and let that ninja kill her too because I was scared and weak."
She covered her eye with her hands, but did not cry. She was just developing a headache due to her fury. "So, I hid. I hid until the smoke cleared and the dust settled. I hid until he was gone. Even when the battle was over, and Konoha won, I stayed hidden. I lived off the land for a whole year, never really going too far from Konoha. I trained, and trained, and trained. I used it to distract myself from what happened.
"After that year, I returned to find both of you gone and many of our old friends as well. All of you had moved on while I remained in one place. I went to the Hokage, who was also surprised by my being alive, and demonstrated what my year away had done; how I had improved my skills. Unbeknownst to me, Kakashi was watching and he pretty much made the Hokage pair us up. So, I fought beside our old sensei, all in pursuit of my parent's murderer." She sighed. "We didn't get any closer to finding him.
"This is what I've been doing for the past two years now; training and fighting. I chose this year's Kunoichi Tournament to compete in because I needed to draw that rouge ninja to me. I know that my new strength will do just that. I will get my revenge," she finished, intensely.
Their eyes widened a bit, stunned by her new fierceness. They had never seen her so determined, so angry. "But Sakura," Naruto began first. "Our enemy, Itachi, he's too strong for you!"
Sakura looked up at them, her eyes straying on Sasuke. "Oh, really? I don't think so."
Naruto shook his head. "Sasuke and I have been tracking down some of his associates on and off. They all have been trained by him and they are really powerful. I can only imagine how much stronger Itachi is."
A frown crossed her lips. She shrugged and that was it. Her mind was already made up. Itachi Uchiha killed her parents and she would have her revenge. Even if it cost her, her life, Sakura was determined to fight Itachi, if only to show him that he made a mistake in letting her escape.
They weren't having it.
"What the hell, Sakura?" Naruto yelled. "You can't be serious!"
The pink-haired girl looked up at the boy and sighed. "Don't say my name so loud. I don't want any one else finding out who I am."
"Why is that?" Sasuke asked, out of pure curiosity. "Why is it so important to you to hide your identity?"
She stood and turned away from them, only allowing them her back. "I don't want their pity for my parent's death and I don't want them going easy on me. I need to show my true power, but if they go easy on me, I can't fight at full strength." She looked over her shoulder. "I was holding back against you, Sasuke. Naruto." She acknowledged them both. "You two know my chakra like the back of your hands. I tried not to use any of it. That wasn't even a fraction of my strength."
Sasuke turned a hard gaze on her, disbelieving of her words. But it was Naruto who got the first word in. "Are you really as strong as you claim?" He thought about his question for a moment, answering it himself. "You do fight with Kakashi sensei…and you haven't failed a mission…"
"Then fight us again," Sasuke challenged. "If you are so strong, prove it. We are here to take your key anyway."
That took her by surprise. She looked away, folding her trembling arms across her chest. She was strong, that much she was confident about, but she wouldn't be able to hold her own against them and not just because they were old teammates. They were strong…really strong. Maybe, if she was fighting each one on one, she may have a chance, but together, they were insurmountable.
"No way, Sasuke," Naruto said. "I'm not fighting Sakura! I don't care what we were told to do!"
Finding her voice and pushing aside the challenge, Sakura changed the topic. "Why are you here anyway? Why is the Kunoichi Tournament so different this year? Why are they risking our lives?"
Naruto glanced at Sasuke, who folded his arms over his chest. The blonde crossed his arms behind his head. "Well…we can't really tell you that…"
Sakura frowned at them. "Why not? I am part of this competition. Why shouldn't I know why they are putting my life on the line?" When they didn't answer, she scowled at them. She felt a little betrayed that they couldn't even tell her; their old teammate and longtime friend. "It doesn't matter anyway. I'm sure I'll find out in twelve days because I will be one of the finalists." She crossed the room, passing them, and held open her door. "You shouldn't be here."
Sasuke smirked. "Oh? I think we should. You still have a key and unfortunately, we need to take it." He looked at Naruto who nodded.
"Sorry, Sakura," the blonde started, "But we can't let you make it to the finals." His tone was more protective than dangerous. "My conscious wouldn't allow it."
Sakura's eyes turned to him, questioning him. "Your conscious?" Just what exactly is waiting for the kunoichi participants at the finals? If the only way she could find out was by defeating her friends, then she would give it everything she had.
Naruto didn't answer her question. Instead he ran at her. Sakura dodged to the side, barely avoiding his attack, but she soon found out that she fell into their ploy. Eyes wide, the pink-haired kunoichi struggled against Sasuke's embrace. He had her chest to back, his strong arms wrapped securely around her waist.
"I'm sorry about this, Sakura," Naruto said.
Her emerald eyes pierced through him, growling without sound. She was infuriated at him and his words. He probably didn't mean it. But, when she took a closer look at his drawn face, she sighed. His expression was somber. He hated fighting against her because they were such good friends. And she could never stay angry at him.
Naruto turned his back on them. "Sasuke…you take the key. I can't. I'll meet up with you later. I'm going to get Hinata's key." He paused at the door and glanced back at Sakura, apologies written all over his face. After a moment, he headed out to stop another kunoichi who was close to him from making it to the finals.
When he was gone, Sakura began her pleading. "Sasuke. Please! This is so important to me! The least you can do is fight fair. One on one. Just you and me."
His body vibrated against her. He was chuckling at her. "Sakura," he said, lowering his head to her ear. His hot breath tickled her cheek as he spoke. "Stop being so stubborn. You lost…again."
That last word hurt. "You…you never believed in me…and you still don't," she said, emotion clinging to her words. It was strange. This pang of sadness was a forgotten feeling; one that she suppressed for so long. But now, in his embrace, that emotion came back at full force.
She felt his arms tighten around her and she cocked her head to the side, looking at his glorious face. His dark hair was still spiky and his bangs reached just below his chin, some hanging in his obsidian eyes. His pale skin was an amazing contrast to his dark features and clothes. His shoulders were broad and strong, his body was lean and muscled. Suddenly, she felt her face heat up ever so slightly.
Oh no!
Sakura's chest felt like it twisted into a knot and was contracting. Her breathing thinned and her heart sped. "This feeling…No…Not again…I can't fall for him again!" She forced herself to look away, at the ceiling, the floor, anything. But they just found their way back to him. It was when his eyes landed on her, that she felt that mild heat explode onto her face and all throughout her body.
A sigh blew past her
ear. "Sakura," the Uchiha started, making a hand sign in front of
her abdomen. "I am not doing this because I don't believe in
you…"
Then, Sakura realized that he was planting a paralyzing
spell on her. Her entire body stilled. She couldn't even move her
mouth to speak. Her eyes watched him as he removed arms from around
her and walked in front of her. Her eyes looked away from his gaze,
but he put his index finger under her chin and forced her to face
him. She hoped she wasn't blushing and that her eyes were strong
and focused.
"I just…don't want to see you hurt," he said, his words serious to a fault.
Her eyes widened and she would have gasped, but her mouth was paralyzed shut. That heat rushed over her again, like a wave crashing onto a beach. It was powerful and would have knocked her legs out from beneath her if she wasn't tied up in his jutsu.
"Now," he said, putting a hand to her cheek. The jutsu dissipated from her face, allowing her to speak. "Where is the key?"
Her eyes shifted to his hand that still remained on the side of her heated face. Then, she looked up at his eyes again, finding a smirk. Sakura frowned and shook her head. "If you think I would tell you, you're crazy."
Sasuke's eyebrows came together. "Don't make this any harder than it already is."
"You say that like it's hard on you," she scowled. "I'm the one that loses here! I'm the one whose chances are severely lowered after you take it." She scoffed. "If you want it, you had better start looking because I'm not saying a word."
The Uchiha made a face of frustration. "Damn it, Sakura! Why do you-" He paused, a thought crossing his mind. "Fine…I'll look for it and I think I'll start…" His hand glided down her throat, barely stopping before the curve of her chest. "…Here."
The kunoichi's breathing became heavy as she searched his eyes. He wasn't joking. He would to any lengths to get her key and keep her away from the Tournament finals. She swallowed loudly, earning her a smug smile from Sasuke. But still, she stayed quiet.
"Would you look at that…It seems like you might still have some feelings for me, Sakura. Your face is red as a tomato and your heart is racing." He brought his head closer to hers until his breath was felt on her skin. His hand remained. "Tell me, Sakura," he purred. When she shook her head defiantly, he growled. "Fine. Have it your way then." Stepping back, he let his hands search her body, scanning every inch of her with his palms.
This was…unbearable. His words, she could bear. His touches, she could bear. His alluring presence, she could bear. It was the fact that he did this just to take a key that she couldn't bear. She couldn't stand that he would only touch her for his own advances. He only teased her earlier just to obtain an inanimate object. Maybe he really didn't care about her life. Maybe that was all a rouse too.
She shook when his large hands pulled her legs apart. They started from her thigh, at the bottom of her shorts, and moved up. She felt the hot friction of his hands and her clothes. She closed her eyes when his hands cupped her sex as he searched. It was an invasive and cruel tactic and it was done for that dumb key.
Sakura used to imagine the day he would hold her in his arms and promise her that he would always be there for her. She fantasized about kissing him as he embraced her protectively and lovingly. She dreamed about him touching her, like the way he was, but because he loved her. Not because he was seeking something that would obscure a path she had been desperately trying to find the end of. He was maliciously trying to halt her advance, instead of encouraging her to continue forward.
Sasuke lifted up each of her feet, sliding off her boots. Nothing. He removed her gloves and searched each finger of the material. Still nothing. There was only one place on her body that he hadn't looked. Grasping onto the front zipper of her jumpsuit, he started pulling it down, not even bothering to look at her pained eyes. He had searched her like she was just in his way.
As her cleavage began to show, she spoke, her voice cracking when she meant to be stern. "Stop it! It's not there." He met her gaze, a frown on his lips and a questioning look in his eyes. She couldn't take it anymore and answered. "My mask…" Her eyes glanced at it on the table.
Sasuke walked over to it and picked up the black material. On the inside, fastened to the back, was the key. He pulled it away and observed it briefly. Afterwards, he dropped it in his pocket. Finally, after a long moment of silence, he turned back to her, heading in her direction.
"Stop there, Sasuke," she warned, her eyes glazing over with a veil of water. "Don't come near me." She had tried to hold back the tears that stung at the corners of her eyes. When he was letting his hands glide freely over her body, holding no love in their touch, she somehow managed to keep them back. But she couldn't anymore and she let them rain down her face. If it wasn't her words that held him back, it was her sobs. Those saddened sounds echoed through the room, taking the Uchiha and even Sakura by surprise.
He couldn't look at her anymore and adverted his eyes. "Sakura…why is it so important that you show off your new strength? Why is it so important that you, alone, fight my brother?"
She sneered at him. "Because I'm tired of this," she said, almost yelled. "I'm tired of being treated like I can't handle things. I'm tired of being told what to do. My parents were killed by that bastard and I want my revenge! I want to show him, and everyone, that I'm not weak anymore! But you…you are getting in my way! You, Sasuke Uchiha, are just like your brother," she snipped.
Sasuke couldn't hold back his growl and it was a ferocious one. If there was one thing he hated, it was being compared to his older brother. "I am nothing like him," he snarled, approaching her again. His hand gripped her chin and his eyes stared into hers. She wasn't backing down. "I didn't attack Konoha and I didn't kill your parents! I never hurt you like he did!"
She winced at the grip around her chin, but didn't look away. "Maybe not," she started in a hoarse whisper, "But you always thought me weak, like he did. You may not have killed my parents or attacked Konoha, but you still hurt me, Sasuke. You left scars on me that will never heal, no matter how hard I try. You being here now makes me despise you like I do your brother."
Sasuke hauled back and punched her in the face. Sakura's head snapped to the side, while her body stayed cemented in place by his paralyzing spell. She gasped at the sudden attack and slowly turned back to him. Blood tricked down the side of her head and she could feel the hot rivulet run under her chin before it started dripping onto the floor. The sound of the liquid hitting the wood was so loud that it pounded in her head, making her ears ring.
Sakura, out of sheer spite, continued. "That's it? Well, you surely aren't as strong as Itachi. You will never be able to kill him because of how weak you are." She watched him battle his Sharingan back as his anger rose. "Why don't you kill me, Sasuke? That's what Itachi would do and you are so much like him."
"Sakura…" he growled through clenched teeth. "Stop pushing me. I might just take you up on that offer."
Any hate that she had for him was coming out now. Any suppressed anger for inflicting her with pain was pouring out of her in her words. "I want to see you try, Sasuke. I want to see if you would have the guts to do it. If you can't then you should just leave Itachi to someone else because you won't stand a chance."
Sasuke's hand gripped her throat and pushed her against the wall. That grip tightened until she choked for air. His eyes narrowed on her, boring into her resolve. She stayed as calm as she could, not only to retain air, but also to show him that she wasn't scared of him or death.
"You aren't the same, Sakura," he finally said. While keeping his hand on her throat, he stepped closer, towering over her and he just looked over her face for a long time. His anger had already calmed as his obsidian eyes examined her features. He sighed. "I take that back…You are the same as you were."
Sakura's eyebrows furrowed. "I am not," she combated. She was not weak. She was not as scared as she used to be. She was not the same!
"You are when it comes to me, Sakura," he clarified. His hand loosened on her throat and he scooped her up into his arms. "You still have feelings for me."
The pink-haired kunoichi gasped, heat rising into her cheeks again. She tried to deny it, but her voice was clogged in her throat. She couldn't speak. Her heart pounded in her chest as he cradled her in his arms. She didn't know what he was doing and even though she did like being in his embrace, she would have struggled to get away to protect herself from her feelings. But his damn paralyzing jutsu kept her there.
"You have tried to bury those feelings and maybe you had, but now they are back," he said as he carried her towards her shabby bed. "Everything you said was only said because you want to hate me. You want to despise me for touching you in places only a lover would. You hated that, that lover isn't me." He settled her down on her mattress and moved some of her hair out of her face, his fingers gliding gently across her face. "For that, I apologize."
On her back, hands at her side, Sakura looked up at him, her mouth parting to take in heavy breaths. His words were her direct thoughts. He still read her like a book and he saw through her guise. She could never hide herself from him and it used to infuriate her. Maybe it still did, but the water that stung her eyes diminished any anger. "I hate you, Sasuke," she tried to say with a firm voice. It cracked.
He shook his head. "No. No you don't."
"I do! I despise you with every fiber of my being!"
Sasuke leaned over her, lowering his head until his mouth was only an inch from hers. His eyes glanced at her quivering lips before looking back into her eyes. "I have my reasons for stopping you, Sakura," he said in a hushed voice. "I don't want to see you hurt."
Sakura was unsteady, her eyes were on the verge of spilling tears. He was so close that she could feel his breath heating her skin. But as she noticed is head lowering more, she stopped him. "Don't…" she said, making his lips pause only centimeters from hers. Though she always wanted him to kiss her, even dreamed about this moment, she couldn't let him. This wasn't how she wanted it to happen and she knew that his kiss would hurt her more than anything else in the world.
He moved away, exhaling. He turned his back on her and headed for the door, pausing when he reached it. "The jutsu will wear off in two hours, but it's affects should stop you for the rest of the Tournament." He looked over his shoulder. "I will be back to check on you when the competition is over." It took him a moment to turn away again and finally leave.
Sakura looked around the small apartment alone again and let her tears spill from her eyes as the pain in her heart grew to an unbearable size.
