Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body. -Elizabeth Stone
Ch.6 Safety Blanket
Sakura chose the string very carefully
Each strand of yarn would need to be purified
With every minute that passed a blanket began to form
It held warmth
It possessed protection
Haruhi had seen Jane in a grave
Still young
Still pure
Sakura would do everything in her power to keep that from happening
*-*-*Abigail15Sage*-*-*
"She's the most beautiful girl in the world." Kakashi pulled up a chair and sat on it backwards so that his arms rested on the back of the chair. His baby had been born yesterday, and he was back with a new light in his eyes. But instead of handing out the test that was postponed yesterday, he had decided to brag about his new child for the day. I guess I couldn't blame him.
My eyes darted over to the pink haired girl who sat beside me. 'Most beautiful girl in the world' huh? Somehow I doubted that. Since the most beautiful girl ever to exist was just within my arms reach.
"The first thing she did was reach up and grab onto his finger." Sakura murmured. Somehow I knew she had only meant for me to hear. "She hasn't cried since. Her father makes her feel safe." She looked like she was fighting a smile, "Of course she'll grow out of that. But for now he'll be her main support."
I looked over at her in surprise. I guess I should have expected this. Sakura knew more about the baby then Kakashi himself. "What color eyes does she have?"
She looked back at me and tucked a stray strand of pink hair behind her ear. "Blue."
I nodded and raised my hand. If she got this right, then I'd have to start considering that what Sakura said earlier the day before was true…
"Everything will change from here on out."
It was the last thing she said to me before the bell rang. I had gone through the whole rest of the day making it my sole mission to stay far, far away from her.
"Yes Sasuke?" Kakashi flicked his bangs out from his eyes. He looked so young. Maybe because he wasn't wearing his usual coat and tie ensemble. Today he wore a loose dress shirt and jeans. As if Jane, his newborn baby girl, had swept all his pain away and made a new man out of him.
"What color?" I flicked my gaze to Sakura, then back again, "Her eyes I mean."
A dreamy smile came across his face, as if he were picturing Jane's eyes right then and there. "She's got her mother's eyes. The lightest shade of blue I've ever seen."
I stayed away from her, avoiding every chance I had to speak to her, because I needed time to think.
Well now I have. I thought about how she could have just guessed…every single time. I thought about how ridiculous that was. Then I thought about other possibilities. She could see into the future. That would explain how she got all the answers right on Kakashi's test before he even walked into the room. It made sense, since she had also known about Kakashi's unborn baby.
Maybe she was a witch. Or an earth women. That would explain her burning perfection. Maybe she used magic to fix any visible flaws and imperfections. Anything that made her normal.
She could be a time traveler.
She could be an alien.
Or maybe she was just crazy.
All of my theories seemed to fit in one way or another. But they also felt wrong, like I was off about something.. There was something I was missing. I just knew it.
It was driving me crazy! Like I had the answer, I just couldn't remember yet.
I couldn't ignore it anymore. Sakura looked familiar. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't resurface those memories. I sure as hell couldn't remember ever being friends with a pink haired girl before. I had tried to imagine her with blonde hair, red hair, brown hair, even black. But nothing rung a bell.
It was like I knew her, and my memories were fighting desperately to be recognized, but something was holding it back. Something was keeping them locked up.
But what? Or even more unsettling…who?
For all I knew, it could be Sakura herself. She unquestionably could see into the future. So who was to say that she couldn't reach into my mind and mess with things. Things like my memories.
These were all just theories. Most would put me into a mental home if I were ever to act on them. But I couldn't just sit around and watch her foresee the future any longer.
I wanted to know the truth…
Somewhere deep inside myself, I already knew that the truth, especially with a girl like Sakura, could be a very difficult thing to find.
*-*-*Abigail15Sage*-*-*
The bell rang for lunch and I jumped out from my seat with a wave of adrenaline. I had to hurry, or I might miss her!
Joining the mash of kids in the hall I maneuvered through the better portion of the teens and shoved passed the rest. No one had the nerve or the courage to complain. Not with me.
Most of the lower graders were already afraid of my demeaning demeanor, and the rest were just on edge. After all, the last person I had been alone with had been sent to the hospital with a head injury. Even though Ino had told her own version of what happened dozens of times, people weren't stupid. There would always be side glances and hushed whispers. There would always be fear from the people who didn't know me. Oddly, I was just fine with that.
In fact, I liked it.
I sharply turned a corner and rushed passed a group of freshman. They were giggling as they watched me pass by with a heavy red blush on each of their faces.
One of them had short blonde hair and lavender eyes. I recognized her. She was Ino's cousin, May. But she wasn't blushing, she was frowning. She probably didn't believe Ino's story at all. She probably thought their was something missing.
She would be right.
I ignored them and sighed in relief as I leaned my shoulder on the white wall across from Mr. Suoh's speech class. I was afraid I wouldn't make it in time. But by the looks of it, the class was still in session. Probably being held back until everyone was done with their oral presentations.
Sakura had this class. And from the small rectangular window on the door I could make out her pink hair and pale slender body standing up front.
I inched closer and watched through the window. She was standing up straight, with the same confidence that I recognized in Mr. Kakashi's math class. Like she owned the place. Her hair was thrown over to one side of her shoulder so that I could see her face clearly.
The room was pretty much sound proof, but I could just barely make out her muffled voice through the closed door. From the sounds of it, she was beginning to wrap up her presentation.
When I glanced over at the desk that Mr. Suoh sat upon, I was shocked to see him actually listening. I had never had his class before, but all the rumors say that he almost never pays any attention to his students. That he usually just sips his coffee and checks his email.
I glanced at the class of kids and had to stifle a laugh. Instead I settled for a smirk. They were all sitting there, with their mouths agape. Completely absorbed in what she had to say. Whatever Sakura was discussing, it obviously had their attention. I guess I should add public speaking to the many rare talents she possessed.
Sakura finished just a few minutes later and the class was released. I stepped back and let a group of girls and two upper classmen through before Sakura came out like a swan flying with a flock of ugly geese. I tried to blend in with the rest of the teens, and kept about five steps behind.
She wasn't going in the same direction as the rest of the teens heading for the cafeteria, instead she started for the math hall. She maneuvered through the crowds with ease and grace. Everyone seemed to step out of her way, some even looked unaware of it. Unlike with me, when everyone stepped out of the way and were definitely aware of it. Like I said…fear.
Finally we stepped outside of the flooding groups of teens. Where it was just us and a few stranded teens trying to catch up to the madness back in the other hall.
I kept a safe distance away, still not completely sure of what I would do once I did talk to her.
She slipped into Mr. Kakashi's class easily since the classroom door was propped open with a few books. I stayed just outside the door and listened intently.
What would Sakura do here? Now of all places?
"Oh Sakura! I wasn't expecting to see you back here until tomorrow." That was Kakashi.
Suddenly something clicked. Maybe this would answer a few of my questions. Maybe Kakashi really had given her the answers to before! I highly doubted it, but what other reason would she have coming back here?
"I saw this yesterday at a shop and immediately thought of Jane." I slyly snuck a peak through the door and caught a glimpse of Sakura pulling out something light green and folded over from her backpack.
"A blanket?" Kakashi took it from her and held it by it's top ends so that the rest of the blanket tumbled down and hung in the air. It was a small blanket, only a few feet long and wide. But there was just something about it that made me think safe.
I have no idea where it came from. Because what I should have been thinking was soft. Or cute. But no, the word I kept thinking over and over again was safe.
"Well this was very sweet of you, Sakura." He folded it back up. "But I'm afraid Jane's not much of a fan of blankets. She just keeps kicking them off every time."
Sakura didn't hesitate. "She'll love this though. Let her sleep in it tonight. Trust me."
There it was again! That shift in air. That sense of superiority. She had used it on Shikamaru. And even though I wasn't for certain, I think she used it on me too. Sometime yesterday…
"Pen or pencil? Guess." And I had guessed without a second thought.
"Now." And Shikamaru had followed her orders like a programmed robot.
"Sleep Sasuke..." I swung around and rested my head on the wall. I had almost remembered something. It had to of been important. But now it was gone. Just like that.
"Have a nice day Mr. Kakashi." Sakura called behind her shoulder before gracefully walking out from the room.
She only gave me a side glance before saying. "Follow."
And just like that, before I had to time protest, my feet trailed a few steps behind her. I knew I could stop if I wanted to. But at the same time I knew I wouldn't. Why would I want to disobey her? My thoughts felt clouded.
Never disobey.
"You've been following me." It wasn't a question, but a statement. She hair swung with her hips as she walked.
"Yeah."
She smiled over her shoulder. "I'm flattered."
Just like that it was broken. I could feel her letting go. Whatever she put on me, a spell maybe, she had released it. I could choose now, whether I wanted to follow her or not. It was like a weight being lifted off my shoulders. And I sucked in a breath of air that I hadn't known I was holding. Suddenly I could remember the answer to my question that was muffled before. I would disobey because people just don't follow orders anymore. People have free will.
Why couldn't I remember that earlier?
"I've got some questions for you." I looked around the hallway. We were alone. Everyone was either in class, or at lunch. Like we should be.
She continued to walk in the opposite direction of the cafeteria and it made me wonder just where she planned on going.
She laughed quietly to herself. "Of course you do. But what makes you think I have the answers?" She gave me a questioning look.
Now that I was released from her hold, I was able to not just follow, but lead. I took a few steps ahead and without looking at her I said confidently, "You have the answers."
"No." She shook her head. " I actually don't. Not for awhile that is."
"What is that supposed to mean?" I growled. "You keep talking in cryptic code."
She smirked, "Just feel lucky that I'mtalking to you in the first place."
That made me smile. "Your full of yourself aren't you."
She sped up so that we were walking together. Neither of us following. Neither of us leading. Just equals. Somehow I had a feeling that this was how it was meant to be.
"That blanket you gave to Kakashi, it was nice of you. Where'd you get it?" I looked down at her and she rolled her eyes. "What?"
"I didn't get it. I made it."
That caught me by surprise. "But you said…then why did you tell him that you got it at a store?"
She clasped her hands behind her back and shrugged, "I have my reasons."
"Alright." I mumbled and sighed. "So you didn't buy it."
"Of course not." Her tone surprised me. Like she was scolding me. "You can't buy that sort of protection!"
"Protection?" I watched her as she sighed like I was the slow one for not understanding all her mysterious sentences. For some reason I felt embarrassed.
"You remember what I told you today? About Jane?" She asked, and then it hit me…
"The first thing she did was reach up and grab onto his finger. She hasn't cried since. Her father makes her feel safe. Of course she'll grow out of that…But for now he'll be her main support."
Then I remembered what I had thought when my eyes landed on the soft green blanket.
Safe.
"What did you do to the blanket?" My voice almost sounded accusing. But Jane was only a day old. And Kakashi was crazy about her. If anything happened to her…it would ruin him.
"Nothing bad." She seemed to be ignoring the dangerous look I was giving her. "What Jane needs is a sense of safety. Once she hugs the blanket she'll have that safety."
"So it wont hurt her?"
"The worst thing that could happen is she may get to attached to it. And be one of those middle aged women who still sleep with their blanky."
The look she gave me told no lies, and I suddenly felt stupid.
"Any more questions?" She asked.
"Yes." I had a whole book full of them.
She nodded. "I'm sure that there wonderful questions." Her tone was mocking. "And I have no doubt your anxious for the answers. But I cant give them to you. Not now anyway."
She was right. Anyone could over hear us here. In an open hallway. Teachers, students.
"I know the perfect place. Someplace quiet" I took her hand in mine and led her toward the roof entrance, suddenly feeling excited. I may actually get some answers. Maybe everything will finally make some sense.
"Do you now?" I could hear the amusement in her voice.
"There's a flight of stairs that leads to the roof-" But before I could finish my sentence I was jerked to a stop. Looking surprisingly over my shoulder at the beautiful girl who's hand was in mine, I opened my mouth to urge her on. She had halted to a stop and braced her feet apart. She had stopped me with little effort. Somehow I knew, even if it tried, I wouldn't be able to get her to budge one step forward.
"The roof, Sasuke, is the last place I want to go." There was something in her tone that worried me. She glanced at the ceiling, and if I had blinked I would have missed it, but her lips moved in a silent curse. Her jaw tightened in aggravation.
"Then where-" She interrupted me with a look. It was really only a glance, but I could feel the urgency.
"Introduce me to your friends." All signs of worry had been smothered from her face, and was swiped clean with a dazzling smile. She squeezed my hand and tugged.
Taking a few steps back she smiled again with a strange gleam in her eyes. "Stay with me."
The world seemed to blur around the edges, and all I could see was Sakura. I had to stay by her side. No way would I ever leave her. That would be a crime.
I took the lead and headed for the cafeteria in a daze. "Most of my friends are at lunch."
*-*-*Abigail15Sage*-*-*
The miracle was in danger
She could feel it
A Calamity was on the roof
And he was urging the Miracle to go up there too
Sasuke doesn't know it yet, but he was being influenced
The best place to protect him would be in a crowded area
Lucifer isn't stupid, he would never attack them with human eyes as witnesses
The lunchroom would be perfect
"Introduce me to your friends." She tugged on his hand. The faster they left the better. Sakura wasn't used to being on edge, fear just doesn't come with the territory of being a Strange.
Sasuke's eyes averted down the hall behind him, he didn't have to say anything for her to know that he still wanted to go up to the roof. Seeing the Miracle like this bothered her, a wave of rage coursed through every Strange cell in her body.
It was her job to protect the Miracle. From the entities that wanted him for themselves, and from himself.
She'd be Damned before she ever let anyone touch her Miracle.
Lucifer was reaching for Sasuke's mind. Much like she does, except he was a snake. And once he touched a mind, he may never let go.
Whispers that only an angel's ears could pick up echoed in the halls.
Come up here
Leave the girl
Be with me
"Stay with me." Sakura caught his eyes, and Sasuke nodded solemnly.
He moved closer to her and she let him lead her towards the cafeteria, away from Lucifer.
All at once she could feel Lucifer's hold on Sasuke shatter. Which was a good sign.
Lucifer, when it came to the mind, was much stronger than her. Which only meant Sasuke obeyed her because he wanted to. He'd rather listen to her than the slithering voice from above.
Sakura's heart filled with a bright pride.
Sasuke truly did belong to her.