You're No Exception
Hey guys! School is back in session here, so I've been extremely busy with trying to keep up with all my schoolwork. Being off for 2 weeks made me pretty lazy…
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"S-Sakura…your eyes are red…"
A thick silence filled the air with the Hyuuga heiress's words. A silence so thick, the walls of my throat tightened around me.
How could I explain this to her? Would it be possible to explain that the Uchiha curse, a kekkei genkai, had just damned one of her closest friends because of her love for me- a monster- and the child now growing inside of her?
(My child?)
Perhaps, because the curse had been lifted from me, I could elaborate the sudden change in Sakura's eye color?
But when attempting to open my mouth to speak, to explain, my vocal cords had betrayed me. Though the curse no longer clouded my vision, the curse recognized me (and my restrictions of sharing Sakura's ill will with the world) because I was an Uchiha- the original carrier of the kekkei genkai.
I turned to Sakura's horror filled expression as if to find the solution. But the action was in vain.
There was no simple elaboration for Sakura's now crimson eyes; something that could be whisked off or ignored altogether. Her recent eye color change was noticeable; magnified by her pink hair.
Hinata turned her attention back to my face slowly and examined them. "S-Sasuke-kun, your eyes look different too." She said quietly as her violet eyes poured into mine piercing them with her quick wit and analytical skills.
Damn. Did my contacts still exist, or had they burned into my irises permanently as the crimson color had done to Sakura's emerald eyes? Was the change truly that noticeable?
No, it couldn't have been. Though Naruto was naïve and dense, Sakura was someone close to him, since childhood. Crimson eyes would not go unnoticed by his cerulean ones. It was simply the Hyuuga girl's quick analytical skills.
I suddenly wished, however, that Naruto had never met her. If she were not present for the remainder of his visit, I would've been given the time needed to create an excuse for her. To perhaps save the ties Sakura had with this world.
To save her from the isolation this life with me would later bring her.
But once again, Kami had the odds against me. And to worsen the situation, I had brought on Kami's wrath on Sakura as well. Yet, when I turned to re-meet her eyes, the pink haired angel sitting beside me gave me a confident, reassuring smile.
She was willingly to tell them everything- if it were possible. She was willing to accept being feared and spit upon because of the curse she had inherited…for me.
"You see, I-"she began, until Naruto interrupted with a puzzled expression. And expression that sparked curiosity within me.
Confusion, not fear.
"Aka me?" Naruto asked as he scratched his head. I studied his expression a little closer as he continued to speak. "Sakura-chan's eyes are green, not red, Hinata-chan!" he explained as he turned to grin at his dark haired love interest.
My new obsidian eyes widened in astonishment as I returned my attention back to Sakura. To me, her emerald eyes had been stained with the crimson of my curse, as did Hinata who had noticed it almost immediately.
But to Naruto…her eyes were the same, unchanging emerald color she had been born with. Something incomprehensible.
However, something had suddenly occurred to me:
Because I could clearly see my copper eyes grower into a darker crimson, I had assumed the rest of the world did as well. Which compelled me to wear obsidian contacts. But… perhaps…only select people could see the curse?
I studied the Hyuuga more closely. Heiress of the violet/pearl eyed clan. A clan much older than the Uchiha, as they had descended and branched off from the rival/neighboring family.
A clan that had- without a doubt- a kekkei genkai as well.
I closed my obsidian eyes as if to soak in the information I had just discovered. The Hyuugas' eyes, that were similar to the Uchihas', were able to see the kekkei genkai; the Shinigami no me. However, ordinary people such as Naruto could not.
"G-Gomen na sai, Naruto-kun, Sakura-chan. I must be seeing things…" Hinata replied as she forced a smile. Naruto shrugged it off as he hurried beside me to ramble on about the minor events that had happened while I had gone comatose. But the Hyuuga remained planted in her spot as she looked at me with questioning eyes.
I had underestimated the very heiress herself. Because the emotion withheld in her violet eyes spoke for her, I was automatically informed that Hinata was worried immensely and would demand immediate clarification soon. I was also informed that she was aware of and had her suspicions about my role in Sakura's sudden change.
Perhaps…she was also aware that the crimson were really Shinigami no me. But with her analytical skills, Hinata possessed tact. Within less than a second, the worry and fear were suppressed as she walked towards Sakura and handed her the cup of ramen.
But instead of setting the cup of tea on the bed side table, the dark haired woman handed me the cup with a light smile. I stared at her in disbelief. She was aware that I had done something irreversible to one of her closest companions, but remained kind and polite to me.
"You have to be a tiny bit thirsty, Sasuke-k-kun." She told me softly. Though the words were not forced out, as I removed the warm cup from her hands, I sensed her curiosity.
I would have to tell her. And soon.
But the question was…how?
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Three days after awakening from my comatose state, I was released from the hospital; Sakura never farther than arm's length apart. She had remained faithfully beside me- I had discovered- since the day I had been injured saving her.
I frowned upon this. Without her persistence to save me, she would not be in this predicament. If she had let me die…she would've been able to live a full and happy life. Naruto would take care of her; she would never be lonely.
But as I explained this to her, Sakura grew angry.
"You stubborn Uchiha!" she yelled as threw the utensils she had been washing into the sink with a loud clank. Enraged crimson eyes stared at me menacingly; nearly piercing my soul. "How many times will I have to tell you 'I don't want anything else' before you finally give in?!" she demanded.
I scowled at her. "Not possible." I replied.
She growled in response. "You and your stupid pride!" Sakura screamed at me as she moved to the table to clear the rest of the dishes. I had noticed immediately, that she cleaned when she was angry.
"Why can't you just accept my decision to be with you and to keep our child? Why can't you ju-"
"Because I want you to live." I snarled as I grabbed her arm tightly. The pink haired woman beside me winced from the strength of my grip and the tone of my voice. "Every moment you spend with me is one step closer to hell. Hell, Sakura."
Hurt filled her crimson eyes as she took a step closer to me. "And I've told you before…" she explained in a softer tone. "…That every second I spend without you is hell, Sasuke-kun. I've chosen you."
I growled as I released her and turned away from her softened expression. But Sakura was persistent, something that would be annoy me for the rest of my days. "The numbers you see above my head is my lifeline. For the rest of your life you will see nothing but death. That isthe power of the Shinigami eyes."
Sakura wrapped her tiny arms around my torso as she rested her cheek against my back. "Arigato. For caring about me, Sasuke-kun. But I know what I want. And what I want is to be with you forever. No matter what the cost."
Though I would not give up my attempts to push her away to save her, I decided to be compliant to her wishes. For now.
I cupped her chin with my hand as I turned around to meet her tired, love-filled crimson eyes. "You need sleep, Sakura." I told her in a low tone as she unconsciously moved closer to me. The woman's tiny hands curled around my wrist as she smiled and shook her pink locks. "Iie. No."
"Usotsuki." I grunted as I frowned at her. Sakura had not slept right in days because of me. It was surprise she was still able to stand and think clearly. "Bed. Now." And without waiting for her to respond I lifted her into my arms and carried her off to my bed.
Despite her protests, when I reached the doorway of my bedroom, her struggles ceased. Struggling had sapped the remainder of her strength. As I set her onto the bed, the sleeping Sakura's arms slowly wrapped around my neck.
Being careful not to wake her, I unlinked her arms from around my neck and tucked her in. "Sasuke-kun…" she mewed, making my eyes soften unconsciously. I snorted under my breath as I removed a lock of pink hair from her tired face. 'Am I even with you in your dreams, Sakura? …Annoying.' I thought before kissing her forehead softly.
But as if on cue, my phone vibrated softly in my pocket. Without checking the caller ID, I soundlessly left the room and shut the door behind me. When I was far enough from the door, I removed the phone from my pocket and flipped it open.
"It's late." I hissed in a low tone as the woman spoke to me. "G-Gomen na sai, Sasuke-kun. Is Sakura asleep?" the timid woman on the other line asked politely.
"Aah."
"Then I must ask you to meet me in the training grounds in 5 minutes. You have to clarify what's happened to her." She pressed.
"I'm not obligated to tell you anything, Hyuuga." I told her coldly. I could almost hear her hiss in frustration. "Sasuke-kun with all due respect, I have every right to know what you've done to my best friend. Otherwise I'll find out myself."
I frowned at her sudden burst of confidence. The timid, stalker-like heiress Sakura had befriended years ago no longer stammered as much, and spoke with more buoyancy. It was almost annoying.
"Fine. 5 minutes." I snapped icily before shutting the phone. After slipping my shoes and coat on I headed soundlessly out the door.
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I had arrived at the training grounds no more than a minute after stepping out of my door, as did the Hyuuga who had arrived 10 seconds after me; signaling that she was serious and would be dropping formalities.
Because, as expected of Naruto's significant other, she would do "anything for those she cared about".
"Sasuke-kun." She said as she approached me slowly, cautiously. Emotionlessly I replied with a simple hn. "Thank you for coming to speak with me. I'm glad you understand the severity of the situation and that you're taking me seriously."
Again, I hned.
Violet eyes gazed at me before continuing to speak. "The kekkei genkai your family inherited has taken over Sakura, no?" she asked me. My obsidian eyes widened in surprise. I had underestimated the Hyuuga again. She had been aware of the kekkei genkai all along.
However, as before, my throat clenched around me, restricting me from elaborating. Hinata gasped quietly as if remembering something crucial. I eyed her suspiciously as she raised her hand to her lips. "Oh! Gomen na sai, Sasuke-kun. It's been years since I've had to talk with someone about this," she explained. "Please repeat after me."
My eyes widened slightly as she bit her thumb to draw blood; a daring action done by the timid woman. With her right hand she wrote the character "yurusu" or "permit" on her palm and held it out. Despite my suspicions, I complied and shook her hand.
Suddenly, a serious of blood-kanji began to spiral up our wrists and arms, covering our bodies and darkening. When Hinata withdrew her hand, I stared at my skin in alarm. "What…is this?" I demanded. However, the dark haired Hyuuga remained composed.
"This is a blood-pact. Our ancestors used this to share secrets about one another's kekkei genkai to form alliances." Hinata explained. "Now you can explain yours to me without the restrictions."
I took a deep breath as images of the now crimson eyed Sakura flashed through my mind. "They're called Shinigami no me." I replied. The woman gasped in surprise. "S-Shingami eyes?-"
"Aah. Passed down to every first born son."
"But- isn't Itachi-san the first born?"
"Complications." I replied as I clenched my fists. The images of my brother sneering at Sakura's predicament burned holes in my skull. Hinata nodded, as if understanding my less-elaborate reply. "Because of complications, it was given to you. So…how did Sakura get it? How did the curse take over if she has no Uchiha blood in her veins?"
I remained silent. As expected from the Hyuuga, she understood immediately. "Y-You mean S-S-Sakura i-i-is-?!"
"Aah." I replied. "It was unexpected."
Hinata clenched her fists as she looked away from me. "I-I see…" she answered. My eyebrows furrowed as I examined her closely. I was unsure if the timid Hyuuga girl was more enraged by impregnating her best friend out of wedlock (or even at all for that matter…) or the fact that I had condemned her with a curse no man should've wielded.
"Is there any way to…lift the curse?" Hinata asked after a long period of silence. I shook my head. "None Sakura is willing to comply with."
Understanding immediately, dark eyebrows furrowed with frustration and worry as she held her chin thoughtfully. "So…she's stuck with the curse until the new heir is born? There's no other way than the original ultimatum?" Hinata asked quietly.
"No." I answered. There were no alternatives to a curse. This was no blessing; something willingly given or taken away. A curse was a curse; something that would plague my family for the rest of my days.
"I see…I'm sorry this happened to you both, Sasuke-kun." Hinata told me politely. "Don't apologize to me." I replied. She had done nothing wrong, after all.
However, she smiled at me. "But knowing Sakura, no matter what happened to her she'd do it if it meant being with you. Even inheriting a terrible curse like the Shingami eyes."
My coal-dark eyes widened at her words.
I would rather die, than be without you Sasuke-kun.
I closed my eyes slowly for a moment before reopening them again. "Aah."
After removing the seals with a series of hand signs, she smiled at me again. "I'll contact you again if I find anything out. Please take care of her Sasuke-kun. Because to her, there's only you."
With another one worded reply, we went our separate ways; dissipating into the night.
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A month and a half had passed without my knowledge before I had realized time would have to become valuable to me again.
Sakura was beginning to show signs of her pregnancy; morning sickness had become a routine for her. And she could no longer stomach anything sweet. It had also become routine for me to nurture her; an obligation I was willing to comply to.
I was, after all, the cause of her pain and sickness.
"Sasuke-kun…" she croaked to me as I sat beside her. Her weakened, pale hand reached out to touch my face as I looked up to meet her eyes. "What's wrong?"
I almost snorted at this question. She was the one who was suffering, and yet she still asked if I was alright. The monster who the cause of her suffering.
Unconsciously I leaned into her touch. "I did this to you." I told her quietly as I scowled. Weakly, Sakura frowned back. "Stop blaming yourself. This is normal."
"If I had been careful you-"
"If we had been careful." She corrected with a tiny smile. As if she did not regret the intimate moments we had shared.
As if she were grateful.
"I'm alright. By the next couple of weeks, I should be back to normal. I'm not as helpless as you think I am, Sasuke-kun."
"Hn." I replied to my fallen angel. It was almost ironic. The demon caring for the angel. Wanting and doing good.
"Sleep." I commanded as I removed her hand from my cheek and lifted the covers over her shoulders. Crimson eyes stared at me with amusement, making me frown. "What?" I demanded when she spoke not a word.
With a giggle, Sakura smiled at me. "You'd make a good nurse, Sasuke-kun."
After clicking my tongue at her ridiculous comment, I tucked her in a little more roughly. "Sleep." I told her again before she closed her eyes. And within a few minutes Sakura began to mumble incoherent words; signaling that she was asleep.
Kissing her forehead gently, I left the room. Feeling more content; filled. With Sakura by my side.
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Months passed as quickly as Sakura's first month of her pregnancy. However, time still did not appeal to me. The attention had undoubtedly centered upon the bubbly and pregnant pink haired woman.
"Sasuke-kun, do you think this shirt makes me look fat?" a very pregnant Sakura asked me one day as she emerged from the bathroom with dripping hair, her figure had lost itself in one of my T-shirts. I snorted at her comment as I appeared in front of her to squeeze the water from one of her pink locks.
"No." I replied as she pouted (irresistibly) at me. "Usotsuki." Sakura accused as she crossed her arms childishly at me. Effortlessly I pried her arms apart and pushed her into my chest. "I'm not lying." I answered. Within her crimson pools I found my coal eyes gleaming mischievously.
My hands trailed down her sides slowly as I captured her lips hungrily. But when they reached her hips, a giggle escaped her lips as she caught my wrists. "No Sasuke-kun. I just showered."
But I stayed persistent as I trailed down her collarbone, earning a few mews in response. "Take another one." I growled at her. "No Sasuke-kun. We might have twins if you don't stop." Sakura scolded me as her lips curled into a smile.
I smirked against her collarbone. "So be it." I replied as I began to reach for the hem of the shirt.
But as the shirt was skirted to her waist, my phone began to vibrate noisily on the bed-side table. I growled in annoyance at the disturbance, but the pink haired woman simply smiled as she took waddled towards the phone and flipped it open in one swift motion.
"Hello- oh Itachi-san!" Sakura exclaimed as her crimson eyes lit up. I growled at the name as she approached me again. Yet even then I could not make out the words spoken by my brother who had become suspiciously supportive of Sakura's decision to keep the child a few months ago.
"Of course I am. You forget I'm a certified doctor just because I'm eight months pregnant!" she laughed as she twirled one of her dripping locks with her index finger. "Oh- Sasuke-kun? Aah, he's here. Of course. I'll talk to you soon." The woman paused to gaze at me. "Sasuke-kun, Itachi-san wants to speak to you."
I scowled at the phone as another growl escaped my lips. I had no intentions of talking with my brother. He was the last person I wanted to talk with at the moment. Especially after interrupting my time with Sakura.
"Behave!" she scolded before I released the phone from her hand and held it up to my ear reluctantly. "What do you want." I snapped. "You're needed at the office." The man told me, voice void of all emotion.
"The reason?" I demanded as I gripped the phone tightly. Was there ever a peaceful moment in my life?
"Whatever plans you had had for today are of lesser importance than being here." Itachi replied cryptically. But as I was about to retort, Sakura wrapped her arms around my torso to calm me.
"Sasuke-kun, if you need to go it's alright. I'll be fine here by yourself." The woman told me reassuringly. However, I could not suppress the scowl that appeared on my face at the images appearing in my mind. The thought of leaving a very pregnant Sakura alone was not comforting.
Yet, the woman seemed to find my horror amusing as she smiled. "The baby isn't due for another month, Sasuke-kun. Besides, if your brother and company needs you, you can't refuse. It's an obligation." She reminded me.
After hearing the words of the optimistic pink haired woman, Itachi spoke. "You have 15 minutes then. Top floor. Tardiness won't be tolerated, otouto." He mocked before the line went dead.
I snapped the phone shut as Sakura adjusted my tie. "Maybe if you're nice Itachi-san will let you come home early?" Sakura asked hopefully. I snorted in response. He was a cold, heartless, soulless bastard. The answer would always be no unless it benefitted him in some way.
"Sasuke-kun, you two are always so hostile towards each other. Be nice for a change and behave and…" her voice trailed off as she leaned upward to snake her arms around my neck seductively. "…if you're good when you come home we can finish what we started later."
I snorted as my arms found the pink haired woman's waist to pull her aggressively towards me. "You'll stick to your word?" I asked her in a husky tone as she began to nibble on my collarbone. "Why wouldn't Ido such a thing?" she teased before leaving a kiss lingering with heavy implications of later activities before disappearing from the room, swaying her hips in a tantalizing motion.
I shook my head at her.
Only Sakura.
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When I reached the office (7 minutes later) I was greeting by Itachi's annoying redheaded secretary Karin who had replaced the quieter one, Konan, who had become obsessed with origami and had gone to elope with one of the workers; a crazy man who believed he were Kami himself. A man that would only be addressed as "Pein".
When I came into view Karin leaped up to greet me. "Good morning Sasuke-san! It's so nice to see you again- I wasn't expecting to see you back until next week!" she rambled.
"Itachi." I replied without stopping.
As she struggled to keep a walking pace with me, she followed me done a series of sharp turns and long hallways. "Oh I see! Well I must thank Itachi-san for bringing you back here so soon. If it was up to me I'd keep you locked up here all day!" she laughed. However I could sense truth behind her words.
"Hn." I responded in annoyance. The sooner I could get out of this hell hole, the sooner I could get home.
(To Sakura.)
Karin stalked me until she could no longer; which was to the executive elevator designed to reach the 86th floor; our office.
"Have a nice day Sasuke-san!" she called after me as the elevator shut. With gratitude I sighed. I would have to find a way to have her transferred a few floors down and soon…Karin was simply unbearable.
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Upon reaching the 86th floor I realized that the large office was empty, dark, and silent. Itachi was not here. Just what game was Itachi was trying to play?
But as if on cue, my phone began to vibrate wildly. I snatched it from my pocket and snapped it open. "This better be good." I told the person icily. I was in no mood to talk to anyone.
"S-S-Sasuke-kun!!" Stammered the woman I immediately recognized as Hinata. She sounded frantic and out of breath. As if she were running.
"Hinata?" I asked, sounding more surprised than I had expected. "S-Sa…S-Sasuke-kun- is your brother Itachi with you?!"
"No. His office is vacant." I answered as I made my way back to the elevator. "I…I think that Itachi's trying to lift the curse off Sakura!" Hinata replied, breathing heavily. My assumptions were correct as my thoughts began to run wild. She was running. But why?
"Explain. Now." I commanded as I gripped the phone near breaking point. "I-I don't know the details, but there's a way of lifting the curse with the possible chance of both Sakura and your child living- however …the fatality rate is high…the chances of survival are less than 56%-but only because Sakura's more than half way through her pregnancy-"
".it. What is Itachi planning to do to Sakura?!" I snarled as I headed back to the elevator. But I nearly dropped the phone as the woman explained the conditions to me.
"You have to stab the mother's heart 35 centimeters in!!"
I was about to deny her answer; to demand a better fitting answer until something terrible had occurred to me.
"Sasuke-kun…something tells me that I'm meant to have this child. To keep it inside me…"
"Sasuke-kun, I talked to Itachi-san the other night- he's being so supportive of my decision to keep our child!"
It all seemed to click together.
"It's been 5 months already…I'm already half way through!"
I had been set up.
"Sasuke-kun, the baby isn't due yet. One more month."
It had been Itachi's plan all along to get me away from Sakura. His plan all along.
"You have 15 minutes. Top floor. Tardiness will not be tolerated, otouto."
To destroy the curse no matter what the cost.
But the cost was greater than any curse I would've endured in my lifetime.
This was Sakura's life.
Soon to become an Uchiha matriarch.
However, there was a loud thump on the other line and a horrified gasp which immediately interrupted my thoughts.
"S-SAKURA!!!!!!!"
I yelled, snarled, commanded Hinata to speak and explain what had possessed her to give such a blood-curdling scream until I realized that maybe…just maybe…
I was too late.
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Earlier…
The sound of the front door knocking caught Sakura's attention at once. Thoughtfully, she wondered who would be visiting her mid-afternoon. Ino had gone off with Shikamaru on a romantic getaway, Naruto was busying working and Hinata had to take care of her sick father since her sister Hanabi was away. And she had not heard from Tenten after she had married Neji 4 months into her pregnancy.
A smile formed at her lips when she decided it was none other than Sasuke. Perhaps he had been so heated about going to work on his week of vacation that he had forgotten his key?
Or…it was the opportunity to pounce on her the moment she opened the door. A game he loved to play.
But as she approached the door slowly and opened it at an equal pace, her cheeks turned red when realizing that it wasn't Sasuke, but Itachi.
"I-Itachi-san? Aren't you supposed to be at the offi-"but her voice trailed off when a sudden pain struck her chest. When her crimson eyes flashed downward, her eyes met a silver dagger bearing the Uchiha crest piercing her skin.
"It…Ita…ch…i…sa…n…? Wh…y…?" she breathed as he ripped the dagger from her chest and watched her fall to the ground, blood spilling from the wound he had created. Obsidian eyes watched the thick crimson liquid run towards his feet.
"Let's see if you're strong enough to survive, Haruno Sakura." He sneered before walking out and shutting the door behind him. Only to have Hinata find a bloody, lifeless Sakura at her feet the moment she barged into the Uchiha mansion.
A horrified gasp escaped her lips before the phone was released from her grip as a blood-curdling scream filled the air.
"S…SAKURA!!!!!"
TBC…
I decided that because of my absence I'd leave you guys a nice, lengthy chapter filled with suspense and terror ^^.
The next chapter will be the last. And depending how I end it, there might be a sequel.
Also;
Usotsuki- liar
Aka me- red eyes
Shinigami no me- Shinigami eyes
Kekkei genkai- bloodline limit
Because she was no exception…
xxasukachanxx