The seconds Sakura opened her eyes, she nearly screamed by the sight of Haku's angelic face.
"What the hell- Fuck…" She gasped, clutching the blanket tight to her chest and bid out a groans as waves of pain hit her spine.
"Very delicate, you." Haku remarked dryly, though he still had his face on top of her.
"Put your face away." Sakura snapped. "I don't want to see it the first thing in the morning."
Haku pushed himself back and smiled with ice. "Well, I was just admired your peculiar face and changed. Kabuto is waiting for us."
There are many things Sakura Haruno should worry about. None of them, however, had anything to do with cross-dressing and prancing around with high collared suit and the most hideously shaving head.
"You may not having any problem dressing as a boy, madam," Sakura grit resentfully at Haku, "but I do. I really do."
"You don't suit being a boy," Haku agreed with a thoughtful smile, "but you aren't a pretty girl either. I think you would die a lonely death as a bitter old bat either way. Why bother?"
Kabuto certainly didn't bother to hide his insulting chuckles. Sakura hated them all.
"I'm a patient." Sakura declared. "If you exert me, especially on my mental health, which you are all doing," she narrowed her eyes at the small camera Kabuto thought she hadn't figured out for the last two weeks, "I might have trauma."
"All of our doctors believe you can function normally now." Kabuto chimed in her rant with a pleased smile. "After all, what happen to your body is a change in homeostatic system, or hormones, and chemical changes don't usually take long for the body to adapt. You're doing fine."
"My face is not fine." Sakura pointed out resentfully, resisting the urge to touch the sudden bust of invading pimples on her face since the other day. She always knew she wasn't good looking, but Sakura had never been more thankful that she hadn't had any pimples before.
But, now, she did and Sakura wasn't impressed by both the oiliness and the itchiness these hormonal changes, which supposed to make her desirable, had done to her skin.
"Yeah." Haku agreed sympathetically. "You look absolutely unique. I'm just not sure which way people take it as."
"Have anyone said you are a charming conversationalist?" Sakura wanted to strangle the little brat.
"And owning a silver tongue as well. I'm a charmer." Haku curled the corner of his mouth so his face narrowed in a way that Sakura couldn't reason how no one had thought he might be an evil transgender before.
"Well, they are all damned blinded." Sakura insisted, turning to watch the moving street as Kabuto cleared his throat and started to going on about manners and what lady should do.
Sakura didn't think it was exactly the right things to lecture both of them because the next ten minutes, Sakura was keenly aware of how a Fat burger would feel before it was promptly scoffed down by Naruto, providing it's dressed in an oversized, itching suit, uncomfortable chest binding and head bared without its usual hair to hide its neighbor's – the deformed face - emotions.
"I wasn't aware that we have an audition." Sakura muttered to Haku, because he was the only familiar face and the rest of the room was fill by of extraordinary good-looking boys and Sakura had always felt the need to hear her stupid voice when she's anxious.
"They are the best entertainment company in the Land of Fire, perhaps even the Five Kingdoms." Haku breathed back, face smooth and composed. Sakura supposed that when you had a beautiful face, you had nothing to fear.
Sakura always was ridiculously nervous when exams involved so as a huge guy strode in the room, she had her back straight and already rehearsed dozens of possible answers for dozens of imaginary job-interviewing questions, some of which involving: 'Could you dance if the company requested you to?", in which she answered that she could wiggle.
The man gestured for all of them to follow him and soon, Sakura swallowed with fright at the sight of many men in various position scattering around the square room. The fact that she and the rest of the boys were stood in the middle of the room, like a bands of thieves being judged by a hordes of angry farmers didn't really help her tender nerve.
Sakura had never been more aware of her face and the size of her naked forehead.
"At this rate," A man muttered indiscreetly to his friend, "this company is gonna go bankrupt soon, yeah. I know we aren't serious about this stuff but look at these ugly lots! No, look at that one! God!"
"I'll pass." His friend grumbled with his head bowed to the floor. "My eyes will perish."
Sakura knew just exactly where the sore gaze of the first man, who was dressed in a scandalous low jean and shocking tight tee, was directed. She resented the stupid designer of this building for not thinking ahead and carelessly failing to equip this huge, luxurious room with a dog hole so she could crawl down and died there.
"Are you okay?" Haku tugged on her fingers and sent her what normal people would call a reassuring smile, full of sympathy and understanding, but Sakura knew better than those idiots. This was Haku!
Sakura blurted with a scowl and an irrational flood of hot flame to her cheeks. "I'm fine! Of course, I am! I always am! Never better!"
"It's astonished me how ignorant people are of their face. Perhaps that's why most of the populations are still alive. They just don't use mirror that much." The first man spoke up louder, face twisting with fraud pity at her. "It makes me so sad, yeah."
Sakura bit her lips and glared at the sharp, leather boots of the man. Kabuto had said clearly that if she messed this opportunity off, Dr. Orochimaru would prove to her that the rumor of him being a ruthless man was indeed very true.
"The fuck with these assholes?" The door suddenly slammed wide opened and one of the new arrivers growled loudly. "I'm in the middle of an important ritual and you fuckers drag me here for this shit? The fuck is with your heads?"
"Boss's order." A large man with a face of a shark told the new comer while dispersing sympathized sighs. "Just get to your seat and be done with these lots."
The newest comer swept a chilling glare over them all and spat. "Bullshits! Boss could eat shits and die for all Jashin's sake! The fuck is with those jackasses? They all look like cock suckers and we already got Deidara for that position! Is this place transforming into a flaming homo lair now?"
Sakura was so viciously pleased to see the man I-am-not-gay-in-closet-Deidara - flushed pure red with hot rage and seeming on the verge of hyperventilation that she didn't care whether the swearer had shown a disturbing amount of foul language in his speech or he had a face of a blood-craved rapist.
Sakura liked the man right on the first sight. In fact, if you didn't notice his savage mouth, savage scowl and an unsettling habit of a homophobic, the man could pass as extraordinary handsome.
Sakura supposed that the theory that all hot guys are either gays or psychopaths did have some merits.
"I mean- what the fuck!" The nice man with his pure holy glow shot her a glance and reeled backward with rapid speed. "Lord Jashin!" He yelled with perfectly scandalized voice. "Please, shine your light upon me and allow us mortal to sacrifice this worthless shit to you! How dare you eye-rape me, you Voldermort clone!"
All eyes were shone on Sakura like moths to fire and she tried not to wilt in utter humiliation.
"Sir." Her voice was miraculously steady despite the screaming terror of the situation. "Frankly, how you image I could possibly choose you to be my one hundred and thirteen victim is beyond me. Though," she checked him out coyly, because once, there was rage in Sakura's nervous system, all her rational senses fled in a mad rush and she heard them scream helplessly as she sneered. "Believe me, sir. Lame loser never makes it to my leap-and-ravish list."
The sight on Lord-Jashin-is-my-everything-man's face soothed Sakura's inner demon with a flush of pride, but logic soon dejectedly found its home and Sakura was left with a foreboding sense of doom as she glanced at her manager from the corner of her eyes.
Kabuto's face was woe itself.
Sakura was rather thankful that Naruto's fake ID had finished and the money had left her banker forever. Now, she would have to consider ways to pay her enormous debt aside from selling her organs or becoming a drug dealer by next month.
So, while her thoughts were swarming with slaving jobs for the next thirty years, Sakura didn't think much of what she said as the interview started. Why should she care? It's over for her now. She had made two men out of seven her enemies and the rest either had stony faces or crazy eyes.
When Sakura heard a man with glaring green hairs and downright derange grin asked Haku how long he would prefer humane coprse to rot before he theoretically devour it, she had a world of sympathy for a stuttering Haku, despite him being, well, Haku.
"You have a face of a chick." The man whose face resembled a marine species shot at her.
Sakura replied distractedly. "I wouldn't comment on anyone's face if I was you, sir."
Shockingly enough, Gay-in-denial-phase Deidara barked a loud laugh with the rest of the men. Even Shark-face allowed a forced good-humored grin.
Sakura wasn't impressed by the obvious tendency of S and M fetishes.
She wasn't impressed either when Kabuto looked relief enough to kiss her in the mouth as the result came out that both Haku and her passed the test.
By the look on the Dawn men, her life was more or less what she would live as, if Dr. Orochimaru decided to sue her jobless ass.
Jashin-is-the-love-of-my-life man grinned sharply at her from across the room, suddenly looked towering and huger than life. "Welcome to hell, Sa Haruno."
.
.
.
Sakura thought it should be obvious that Haku and her must stick together as partner in crime, or in cross-dressing department, yet, her seniors had quite different idea.
"You two don't complement each others." Zetsu the tree-man explained at Sakura's indignant. "To attract people's attention, you need something special to stand out. Both of you should be different but not outshone each other."
Sakura scowled. She knew just what he was talking about, though Haku looked clueless, which was just plainly annoying. "Fine. Whatever."
So, Sakura ended up with a tall guy wearing a flamboyant ginger mask, who also showed disturbing evidences of being able to be high all the time.
.
.
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Naruto might have touched her heart and Sasuke Uchiha could have been the key to open it but Ino Yamanaka had been the first one to enter.
Ino was the kind of girl every girl wanted to be and until now, Sakura still had no idea how they had been friends.
She had been nobody, living in a shadow, in a resentful darkness of envy and guilt and constant self-hatred. Those days of loneliness and being lost in life had been the nightmares Sakura visited constantly during nights so cold, so black that even though Naruto was a heart beat away, she still felt gripped by fear.
It had been the lowest period of life Sakura had been through.
And then, magically, the sun had reached out and light discovered Sakura.
"My name is Ino Yamanaka." Ino had introduced her self, face bright with an assured happiness Sakura had never been able to obtain. "Let's be friends."
And friends they were.
"Sakura, do this homework for me! It's totally bullshits! Why should we be in school again?"
"Sakura, my hair will be an absolute disaster! I can't do PE! In fact, I refuse to because I have been incurred by a fatal illness! Write me a letter to Mr. Gai, please!"
"Sakura, what the hell is with those clothes? Did someone from World War 1 donate them to you? I'm positively appalled as your best friend and I won't hand out with you if you don't burn them now! Burn them! Now!"
Ino had been an annoying nuisance back then. She was the girl who always copied Sakura's work. She was the girl who was no better than the mean bullies in her class with her demanding big mouth and swaggering self-center attitude. She was the girl who always flirted, absolutely comfortable in her own body and its curves whereas other girls her ages might have been embarrassed by it.
She was loud. She was obnoxious. She burnt Sakura's sweaters and forced her to spend ridiculous moneys on ridiculous expensive clothes. She never considered that Sakura might hate her new hair or her new clothes and she was a total bitch.
But even when Ino was a bitch, Sakura didn't need her any less.
"Oh, hush! Stop crying! Why are you crying? You're pretty enough! Why do you listen to other people? Don't you know that crying make your eyes swollen? Don't cry, you stupid girl!" Ino had snapped one day, face red and hands tightly clutched the hankerchief she had used to wipe Sakura's wet face after a particular nasty fake picture of her with the forehead swallowing her face.
Ino had always hated tears and she had reasons to do so. She was so clumsy and awkward and she had never known what to say.
Ino once said that at the sight of tears, her brain shut itself down and the lobe that was responsible for words flung itself out of the window but Sakura didn't think she would have traded Ino for anyone.
You're pretty enough.
Sakura had never clarify what she heard amongst the rushed words that day because she was afraid that she had misheard Ino and the bust of happiness had been nothing but a silly delusion.
Ino had looked gratified by her silence and went on with a smoother voice, if not anxiously fast. "Those assholes are stupid. They just want your attentions and have no idea how to get it. They still tried, the stupid lots and obviously, always end up saying the wrong things." Ino sent her incredulous face a pitied look. "They mess everything up and I think that's why they resent you. For making them the bad guys."
Ino made her showing her forehead and smiled at the bullies, despite her growing hatred for them. They had blushed at the first time and Sakura was left alone shortly after that.
Ino was always good with observation, Sakura had always known. She knew everyone's secrets and their feelings. She was born with the capability to deal successfully with people and never had to worry about what she would say wrong.
Unlike Sakura who wasn't born with silver tongue and always blurted out the words she would regret later.
"Don't you call Chouji fat! You don't know how hurt he is by his body!" Ino had snapped at her one day, while they were hanging out at Ino's house and Sakura had careless made a joke about Ino's other friend's size.
It was a careless mistake but perhaps, also from the suppressed jealousy Sakura had always nursed.
"I'm sorry. He's just big bone." Sakura had amended quickly because in those days, Ino was everything she had.
Ino had turned away and Sakura was convinced that Ino must have seen it, that Sakura hadn't meant her apology and there would always be darkness in her that Ino could not erase, could not burn or casted away like she had done with Sakura's old clothes.
Ino must have seen the ugliness that dwelled deep in Sakura's heart. Twisted and hideous.
It was all a bloody mess, with Sakura hating herself and unable to read Ino, to be assured that even if Sakura was evil and unforgivable, Ino would not leave her behind, wouldn't abandon her to the darkness she seemed to nuture from her childhood. Sakura was happy with Ino but she was scared all the time.
What if…? What if...? What if I am never good enough?
But Ino had remained her only friend back then and Sakura had always been glad. Absurdly glad.
"That's Sasuke Uchiha." Ino had whispered to her one day, face embarrassingly smitten and Sakura had trailed her best friend's admiring gaze to reach a boy with narrowed face and withdrawal eyes. Even his chilled smile seemed twisted with bitterness.
"He's in my science class." Sakura had told Ino and listening with amusement as Ino made a silly fool out of herself, gushing over Sasuke and his handsome face and his imaginary six abs.
Sakura knew too well Ino's guilty secret of loving beautiful things and at that time, Sasuke Uchiha was just another hot guy Ino had a crush on. Sakura had nothing to be worried about.
That's what she told herself but as time went on, unlike the other crushes in Ino's life, Sasuke Uchiha stayed.
Ino grew obsessed with him, with his wild hair and his deep eyes and everything about him.
"He's very rich." Sakura commented one day, as Ino started on another shameful discussion of why Sasuke Uchiha should rule the Seven Seas.
"Hello? Which rock did you just crawl out under? Of course, girl! Uchiha clan is like, even more powerful than the Huyga clan. Most of the politicians and government officers in Leaf are Uchiha men. They also make up the police force- Oh My God! I just had this awesome image of Sasuke in a police uniform! Oh my God! He's so hoootttt!"
Sakura slowly tore the pages of her notebook off. "Yeah, he is." She agreed cheerfully, because it would be strange to be the only girl in her grade, perhaps, even her school, who didn't fall heads over heels for an Uchiha.
Sakura had never considered herself normal though.
And that was proven when Sakura got team up in Science class with Naruto Umazaki and Sasuke Uchiha, the special place that hundreds of teenager girls in their school would have killed for.
"So Unfair! How comes you got two hot guys and I stuck with stupid Shikimaru and stupid Chouji?" Ino had whined loudly, face dejected as she got lumped with her other best friends from kindergarten.
Ino had endured Science solely for Uchiha, for the dream that she would be chosen to be on his team and now, Sakura was the chosen one.
Sakura thought that she wouldn't mind being with comfortingly familiar faces. She barely spoke more than a few words to both Umazaki and Uchiha before and she had never worked well with strangers but Sakura still grinned and did a victory dance in front of her sullen best friend.
There were not many things Sakura could surpass Ino. She had reasons to relish the joy of being the winner once in a while.
But the adrenaline of being the top, of showing that she was better than them all, that she could even surpass Ino, surpass the only girl she respected in the world became addicted and Sakura had all the reasons to loose Ino.
She just couldn't seem to accept the fact, though.
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Sai texted her that night, despite the fact that he never enjoyed sending written messages to anyone.
Sakura noticed 5 missed calls before reading the text.
"Call me ASAP." Sai wrote. "Ino Yamanaka was kidnapped."
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1 of the 5 missed calls showed Zabuza's number.
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A/N: Hello! Long time no see! My muse is back! Well, for now only but I'm glad I finished this chapter. Hopefully you all liked it. And about the transformation, er, I hate to disappoint people but Sakura won't be beautiful over night. It's impossible for me to write her as a sudden beauty and had everyone fainting on top of each other for her to step over. I did try and the result was terrible so here it is, the next chapter of slow, boring Pheromone…
La canella – Thank you for reading and reviewing. I'm glad you love it and yeah, I don't think they have a choice to not go after her. Though, it would be challenging for them since they do not know Sakura is just right under their nose.
Andelevion – Gosh! Where have you been! I love you! Finally! Someone who understood my characterization! Hope you will like this chapter too, friend!
RawrGoesDaDino – So Looong! Your review never fail to make my day. I'm glad you like the last chapter. Hopefully, you like this chapter too. Yeah, I know. I have that tendency to stop at cliffhangers… It's a curse, may be?
Don't wait up for me – Yes, it's starting but not finished yet… Hope you like it!
Ilovetimbits – Enjoys
Kerail – I'm happy that you find my stories refreshing. I do like to have original as a word to describe my fic. Actually, I love it! Thanks and enjoys the chapter.
Anon – Thanks, friend.
Sappheiros – I know you might not like this chapter but please, give it a try! I'm very happy to have some one as considerate as you to be a reader and a reviewer of Pheromone.
All in all, than you for reading and take time to review my work. You words inspired me to work harder and produce more chapters. Thank you again!
See you in the next chapter.
