Title: Can't Become An Angel
Rating: T
Author: Slytherin Prince
Tick-tock.
Sakura could feel the pounding of her heart. She swore that even her opponent could hear it across the chess table. Goodness, it's been a long while since her last played chess had happened. It was a very fun game really. Chess, a game of skill and intelligence.
Logic.
It made her frown just to know that her opponent could play a game as vital as chess. By some means, Neji gained some of her respect.
"Checkmate." Sakura murmured, still focused on the game. She lifted her stare and locked eyes with Neji. She couldn't see any emotion, even a emotion flicker in the eyes. Really, what kind of people are these?
Stressing themselves just to show a little emotion as little as they could. Sakura sighed again; she even tried that one at her parents some time ago.
The emotionless thing and all. But that didn't work though, she still had a life. Might as well take pleasure in it while she was living, right? Oh, what experience could do to you.
Noticing that he still hold her gaze, she decided to make his clean nails as the most attractive thing now. She doesn't want to hear anything like her noticing them as good looking guys.
Gah, like it would ever happen. Mortification was not really her work of art.
Tick-tock.
She blinked as he moved his hand to make a move again. Great. She was now distracted. Oh, love. Why does it have to be her being the slave?
Sakura sighed again. She guessed this couldn't be helped. But now that she was here, a little fun game of chess couldn't be helped. At least, something soothing could happen to her once in a while, right?
It's a good thing that she was earning from this. That should be only right, because they didn't only steal her time for her family bonding but also stole her job. It's just nice to have an alternative thinking that these, her slave position, have something in return.
That simple thought can erase her troubles temporarily.
It's so quiet, and she didn't know how Hyuuga Neji managed to somewhat change their position. His queen was nearing on her king now.
Casting away her thoughts in a fast mood, she tried to concentrate. And concentrate she did. Ugh, she never thought that playing chess with a praiseworthy antagonist was like this. It's like a hard day work that was taking all her strength away, both physical and mental.
She moved now. Hoping against hope that he would not see her little flaw. Yeah, that turn was the most perfect turn right now. If only he would not notice. If he did, then she would be dead.
She sighed. Oh well, not that she cares anyway. It would not hurt her pride if she did lose on this match. She had lost many times, not only in chess but in many things, too. Like in their morning exercise, the taijutsu combat.
One look at her by her comrades, a thought will always be precise. And she doesn't want to think about what people thought about her right now. Because if she did, anxiety and loneliness would cast a fire inside her and she just know that it would tear her apart one by one. Slowly but unquestionably. Sakura just know it would happen. When? That she didn't know.
She shrugged again, trying her hard to concentrate. Ah, right. Her king was in danger. Right. With keen eyes, she tried to find a flaw on his move.
Wait.
Wait, her king was lost.
With a sudden realization, she gave the chess board a desperate gaze, somewhat hoping to find her king there.
Something chuckled.
Then, in peripheral vision, there she found her king. That Neji didn't even have the nerve to tell her that she lost already. Glaring really hard at him, Sakura stood up and, with quick strides, walked to the door with a furious face.
The least that he can do to her was to say that she lost already. Did he really want to remove that single stray of dignity left within her? The nerve of that man. There, Sakura looked stupid because she was looking for a king that was already eaten by the enemy. Another thing was, whatever she think about this so-called 'tragedy', she couldn't seem to cast the loneliness that was creeping into her veins slowly.
Hmph. Bunch of underestimating people.
Don't cry, Sakura dreadfully ordered into her mind as she abused her lower lip by biting it.
She finally reached the door with graceful strides. It looked gigantic at first, but now that she was depressed, it really didn't matter anymore. With a desperate tug at the knob, the door bulged immediately. Sakura was about to step out of the study room but she was stopped by unknown force.
Yeah, there was a shadow towering her, but she decided not to look up. Sakura doesn't want to see another ugly face; it will surely ruin her mood even more. Not really caring anymore, she passed the towering man with lean muscles. She even bumped his arm.
Not really by purpose.
"Where are you going?" She knew that voice. She could recognize it anywhere. So, she did the only logical thing to do, Sakura stopped. But she didn't turn back to look at him.
"What do you want?" Sakura said as she stared blankly at the empty hallway in front of her. The tone of her voice was controlled despite of the loneliness that she felt at the moment.
"My brother is here." His tone was serious. Not that 'I'm-so-calm' type. She struggled to stop the incoming shudder to be seen.
Really, what was with his brother, huh?
"Meaning?" Sakura retorted, still not looking back. She just wanted to sleep, so say something already! She doesn't really care about his brother. But there was something certain about this though, Sasuke's brother was handsome.
She didn't bother fighting with her mind now. Her mind was just stating a fact. Oh, well. No that she would ever say that absurd thought aloud.
"You need to join dinner." With that said, she turned back to look at him just to find him already gone.
How annoying. It made her head boil tenfold.
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She knocked at the wooden door. Yeah, she was at the dining room right now. And she was so totally pissed. Why can't a beautiful girl like her have a goodnight sleep at peace? She doesn't really want Sasuke pissed at her, really. She doesn't know what would happen then. He might even torture her. It seems that his brother means a lot to him, or maybe she's just wrong?
Sakura sighed as the door opened. The lights inside the dining room just make her eyes hurt. She already entered the room even before her eyes adjust to the lights. Sakura blinked three times then she saw them.
Her three dark men. It seems that they had joined forces once again with a special guest.
Sasuke's brother.
Sakura lifted her left eyebrow a little. That chakra seems familiar. Looking around, she tried to find where that chakra came from.
And Sakura frowned when she found none. There were just her, her three dark men, two maids, and Sasuke's sibling inside the huge dining room. Sakura couldn't make out the face of Sasuke's brother because his back faced her. Not that she cared anyway.
"You can take a seat now, Sakura." Sasuke said smoothly. He didn't even look at her. Grr, hate him. Sakura walked slowly, thus, while she was at it, casting the older Uchiha a stare all the same.
Wait, he looks familiar. So familiar...
She had been so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't noticed that she had stopped. Sasuke's brother looked up.
And his eyes started to spin.
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"Itachi!" Sasuke shouted. His face contorted anger. How dare he use their family technique just for nothing! And just for Sakura, nonetheless.
That piece of trash. Yeah, she was interesting.
But not that good enough! That costed him great waste of chakra, if you ask him.
The atmosphere at the dinning room was dehydrating. No one wants to talk, it seems. Sakura lie still on the ground, not moving. She looked so helpless lying there all alone. No one helped her though. Even the maids didn't make a move to help her cause no orders were thrown towards them.
And even if they wanted, Uchiha Sasuke might fire them. So the two maids just gave each other a guilty and helpless gaze.
"Why did you do that." Neji stated calmly, he almost didn't sound like asking a question.
Itachi might be a Uchiha, but no one should harm what was rightfully his! Even though Sakura was just like a brainful maid for him, he always take a good care of his things. Neji caught Itachi's eye and had a staring contest. Neji grumbled something under his breath.
Gaara was silent and did not interfear. Besides, it's a brotherly way of arguing. He looked so calm on the outside, like he normally do, but if someone would only look at his feet (hidden by the table) that someone would notice something so noticeable.
Sands are swirling wildly around his feet.
Itachi felt the killing aura from the boys. He even raised an elegant brow at them. They're acting weird.
Gaara, sensing that nothing would happen from the time being, stood up and left without saying a word. He doesn't want to destroy the Uchiha Mansion by fighting at Sasuke's older brother.
Neji calmed himself after seeing what Gaara had done. He knew that what he had done was the rightest thing to do right now. But the question that was playing in his head was that if Itachi and Sakura knew each other. He knew for a fact that Itachi wouldn't use his bloodline technique just for fooling around.
Neji knew much, Itachi couldn't fool him.
He just shrugged and casually stood. He picked up the forgotten Sakura and carried her in bridal style. Neji walked out of the dinning room without any sound. He shifted Sakura slightly so that her head was rested against his shoulder. Sakura groaned in her sleep.
Actually, he pitied the girl.
What do Itachi sees in her?
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Sasuke ordered the maid to get out of the room in a roughly manner, in which the two maids happily obliged.
He stared darkly at his brother and Itachi returned the stare with blank expression. With a might voice, Sasuke shouted, "Explain yourself now, brother."
Itachi stared at him for a second then gave him a meaningful smirk. After that Itachi carefully stood up and walked to the door, the one leading outside the dinning room. He was about to leave when he stopped just to stare back at Sasuke over his shoulder.
"Remember this little brother. I don't have to explain myself to anybody. Especially to someone foolish like you." With that, Itachi left. He didn't want his brother interfering with his plans, now that he saw that girl again. He didn't even regret using his bloodline limit to her. Just to refresh her memory, but of course she would be drained of chakra.
That's a for sure thing.
Itachi closed the door with a soft click. All left behind and alone, Sasuke frowned. It hurt. Why! That Itachi! He spotted a naturally glowing and happy looking flower vase with a equally radiating flower on it.
With a dark frown, Sasuke fished a coin from his pocket and threw it at the vase.
His upset mood wasn't even down yet. Maybe he could find someone that he could spar with.
Sasuke left the room angrily.
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Sakura opened her eyes and wished that she didn't. Millions of memories were now coming back at her and it gave her a headache. Sakura's head hurt so much that she wanted to cry at loud. She didn't even know where she was right now, but she could careless. Sakura couldn't breathe easily.
Sakura felt powerless. She couldn't move easily. But she was certain that this room was not hers. The cushions here were too comfortable to be hers. Sakura tried to sit up but failed miserably.
She heard Neji's voice saying don't move. She could sense pity on his voice. She hated being pitied, every single detail of it. But she complied nonetheless and rested.
Neji's eyebrow was raised. Pity. Pity.. That's all he could think off about this girl. At a young age, she already experienced the wrath of Itachi. It gained his respect for her. He needed to find out more about this girl.
Haruno Sakura.
Even in sleep, she still looked beautiful. Neji's eyes soften a little before turning cold again. He was becoming fond of her already. Neji needed to get away before she wakes. He doesn't want to put himself in an uncomfortable situation. Without a sound, he stood up and left.
Too bad Neji was already out of the room when Sakura softly whispered a single word in her sleep, or rather name.
Itachi.
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REVISED