Road to Redemption
by Ave Jane
I do not own, in part or as a whole, Naruto. All standard disclaimers apply.
Part Seven: Impropriety
Kami-sama she loved him, but he could be so impossible sometimes.
Sakura hugged her jacket closer to her trembling form. Winter was overtaking fall and the days were growing shorter. It was already dark when she left the apartment. She needed air and time. She wasn't sure why she was so angry, but she was certain that if she didn't get away and get calm she would say something she would regret. Say something she didn't mean.
What was wrong with her? She should be happy. Her wedding was less than three months away. She was marrying a wonderful man who loved her. Even Ino was onboard, happily helping her with the flower arrangements for the ceremony. So why then did it seem the closer her wedding day came the more irritable she felt? Her blonde haired best friend told her it was nerves. All brides-to-be got pre-wedding jitters.
But that wasn't it. Sakura knew that was not what was wrong with her. Thinking about Naruto and the day that they would join their lives together as one only inspired good feelings in her like fizzy champagne bubbles bursting pleasantly in her chest, not the gnawing twisting sensation that seemed to lie in the pit of her stomach like a nest of squirming snakes. It was that unrelenting sensation that made her tense, ready to spring on anything Naruto said.
Sakura felt a hard lump form in her throat. He was so patient and he put up with so much. Looking back on all the fights she had picked with him the last few weeks, Sakura couldn't understand why he stayed. It would be her worst nightmares come true, to one day wake up and find his side of the futon empty and cold. But if he did leave for that nomadic life he had become accustomed to she wouldn't blame him. Anyone could tell that she was the difficult one.
Still, she was sure she wouldn't survive his leaving. A life without him had become incomprehensible to her. When he was on missions and she was left at home, her life was cast into perpetual night. There was no laughter, no joy, no nothing, just a constant game of keeping her mind and hands busy before she lost herself to insanity. She had truly become dependent on him and his light.
Sitting down on a familiar park bench, Sakura held her face in her hands and cried.
Sasuke stares at a particular spot in the monotonous wall. She should be coming soon, like she did every day since forever. Or at least he thinks it has been forever. He can't remember anything else.
His little universe consists of a little black box, ten paces wide and ten paces long. It had no door and no windows. It has no sound or smell. There is no day or night, no sun or moon. No light of any kind.
Well no light of any kind, until she comes. She is a deity in his unique little reality. She provides light and substance and relieves pain.
That is what a God does, right? He cannot quite recall.
When she is here with him he is never in pain, when she leaves it pressed on him with the force of a planet's gravity after being in space's blissful weightlessness. He thinks he loves her, because the moment she materializes through the wall his heart pounds with such fury it threatens to explode from his chest.
The lamp she carries gives a soft glow behind her cupped hand and grows brighter as she slowly uncovered it allowing their eyes to adjust. His dark eyes focused on her. She was a picture, a vision. She was absolute perfection in the candle light. The fragrance of home cooked food, mixed with her essence is more than enough to make his mouth water. Her eyes had yet to fall on him. She moves closer, unaware of the affect she has on him.
She moves gracefully, but too tediously for his liking. She went through the same routine of checking his eyes and ears before measuring his blood pressure, blood sugar, and his resting heart rate. The last three were always curiously raised and made her frown. Next she wordlessly activated her bloodline limit and inspected his chakra system. He knew what she would see, the flow of his life energy coursing poorly through his system before filtering through a seal that rendered him incapable of anything. It was a non-lethal procedure, but a devastating one to a warrior. Finally, she reached his favorite stage of her visit. She carefully removed his haori and unwound the bandage wrapped around his torso.
His eyelids slipped shut as she addressed his wound. He focused hard on the slight warmth of her hands through the troublesome latex gloves and the cool cleaning salve. Then it came, the tingling sensation that sent pleasurable shocks of lightening through every nerve ending in his numb body. It was some sort of healing jutsu that had been infused with her element, water. Her now exposed hands were coated in a thin layer of water sustained by tight chakra control hovering over his bare chest. When she closed her eyes and activated the maneuver it shone bright white like the points of a star in the night sky. The result was a fast paced healing art that made the dead receptors in his skin buzz with life, her life. With his eyes closed he could almost feel her life mingling with his own during the experience and it enthralled him.
It also drove him crazy because he couldn't make actual contact with her. As always she remained within his sights but out of his reach. He could see her, smell her, but it wasn't enough. He desperately wanted to hear her, touch her, taste her.
To his great disappointment he couldn't move. The cot he remained stiffly bonded to prevent his every temptation with agonizing efficiency. And she never came to him, never spoke to him, never allowed him the favor of her smooth skin. There was always something in between them, preventing him from overcoming that small remaining gap as he reached for her with all his might. It drove him mad with desire, though he kept it from his ghoulishly eyes. The only feature that remained unhindered by his prison. They were the only things that were still solely under his control.
Soon she too would be under his control, his delightful little apparition would. He had been waiting and biding his time. Soon she would be his and he would be able to revel in the touch she had denied him for so long.
Soon, he thought as he watched her disappear into that particular spot in the wall.
Sakura's body jolted from the bench just as an ANBU member collided with it, causing the wood and concrete to explode. Forgetting about the stinging in her scraped knees, she leapt out of the way as more ANBU Black Ops materialized on the deserted street. One rushed a humanoid shadow in the direction from which the incapacitated member had been thrown. Two more flanked either side. Assessing the battle as carefully and full as she could with her scattered wits, Sakura rushed the tree the assailant was perched in, hoping to topple them from their stance and give the Black Ops the upper hand.
Her fist didn't even connect with the thick trunk of the oak when hot blood rained from the sky. Unwilling to pull her attack, Sakura rammed her fist into the bark that splintered and flayed under her chakra infused strength. The great tree tumbled hard and shook the ground with its impact, but the assailant had abandoned his position before taking damage.
Now he stood in the center of the street facing the Village gate and Sakura knew exactly who he was. His regal features were drawn and his inky black hair overgrown and falling wildly across his face. He'd changed drastically since their last encounter, but she would know him anywhere. After all Uchiha, Sasuke was her first love. He stood there unmoved by her shock, a stolen ANBU naginata slung uncaringly over his shoulder.
Once again she was the only thing standing between him and his way out and this time she wouldn't let him go without a fight.
Sakura forced her remaining strength into her hand. If her grip weakened he would escape. She couldn't let that happen again, but she could feel him slipping from her hold.
No!
She wished that she could open her eyes, but the blood seeping into her vision prevented it. Her body wouldn't move anymore. He'd done something to her, but she refused to let go. The last of her strength faded and she felt him tug his hand away with the same force of a snapping cord. Her body slumped then.
Just before she succumbed to darkness she caught a flash of silver and the sound of a willowy voice seething.
You never should have ordered his transfer.
Then everything went black.
Everyone who reviewed, you rock. Everyone who read, you're cool too. Now for the Q & A (A.K.A. the author defends her P.O.V.).
RH as always you really know your stuff, but I also did a little research on the characters. I know Naruto doesn't say "Believe it!" it just fit when the anime was converted to English. What he says is "dattebayo" or he ends his sentences with "-ttebayo" which is like ending a sentence with "ya know?" Masashi Kishimoto wanted Naruto's character to be "simple and stupid" kinda like Son Goku and continually childlike in his innocence, despite having a harsh past. Since being childlike is a primary component of Naruto's character I didn't feel like I could just ex his catchphrase, ya know? :)
MistressWinowy11 thank you for your reviews. This is, indeed, a NaruHin story. Please don't worry. As for who Hinata is marrying, it isn't very important at this particular moment. It will be revealed though. As for forcing a Naru/Hina, I wouldn't dream of doing so. This story will NOT have a "lust/love at first sighting moment that leads to obsessive romantic mush that disregards all other responsibilities". In chapter six, Naruto and Hinata are just friends who happen to meet. There argument is more of a discussion really. They both have opposing views and they are just kind of hashing it out since they both have doubts. I'm sure you've done the same with your friends about books, or politics, or art and the like, right? Plus the meeting alone and looking into one another's eyes in not a new thing for Naru/Hina. It happened before the chunnin exams in the series and in chapter four of this story.
DragonBard I am sorry if I offended you. I realize that Jounin is an impressive rank. It's why I decided to make Hinata a Jounin. You have to realize that the person saying 'only' is Hatake Kakashi. He is the Hokage in this story. In the anime his father was a revered ninja and Kakashi himself is quite legendary. He graduated the Academy at an extremely young age and became an ANBU Black Ops. Plus Kakashi is known for being hard to impress. If I remember correctly, when he became a Jounin instructor he failed every genin team but one. As for the Wind ninja in chapter six, I have no idea where they came from, but they aren't from Suna that's why I didn't call them Sand Nin. I simply made the assumption that there were other Ninja villages besides Suna in the Wind County. I did not think that the term "Wind Country" applied explicitly to the Village Hidden in the Sand. I said "Wind Nin" because I imagined the fight scene in a desert area and it fit the bill. I just needed a way to destroy the engagement ring and what better way than on a mission.
Hatake Tsughi you are making me blush. I am greatly obliged by your praise. I promise that Hinata's suitor will be revealed in the future. I know people will be angry with me, but I'll fight that battle when it comes.
Si, Jam Bread, Hinata is engaged. She's got a ring and everything. Thanks for the review!
Naruto's Vixen this is a Naruto Hinata story. Trust the community setting. It does not lie, I promise. Many thanks for the concern though.
If you have anymore questions or improvements please feel free to send me a review!
