Boom Boom Pow, 'dem chicks be jackin' mah style...-goes silent- Forget about me and get excited for Chapter Six of Tasting Flesh! I'm loving all the great feedback from everyone ;D You people are just amazing, and I wish I can give you all cupcakes or puddingcups made out of love (there is a ingredient called love somewhere, it's called sprinkles xD) I hope everyone is having a good time and will be enjoying this chapter with smiles. If you don't smile, then just enjoy yourselves!

For Sakura's musicbox song...I'm stuck between a lot of choices ;w; If you guys wants to help me out, that would be amazing! I would suggest you guys load up a tab of YouTube and gimme your opinion of which song would fit best that Sasuke-teme would make for his bride ;3 I have had a lot of people send me PM links and I appreciate with all their inspiring music; maybe I will put in more of their choices into later chapters for the sake of scenes that would have music. Thanks to the people who suggested as much music as possible. If the choices are not yours', I apologize but promise to make it up to you.

Choices-

1- Pan's Labyrinth- Lullaby (music box)

2- Suno No Oshiro- Music Box Version

3- First Love- Utada Hikaru (music box version)

These are my top three choices -not in order- that I think would do well with the story D: Reasons being that they're simple and sweet (not to mention that they're just plain awesome) and it sounds like you can play it in various instruments such as piano, violin, flute and blah~! I like variety in my choices of classical music, so yeah xD Please place it into your Review of which you like best and I shall tally them up for next time with the winner! You all are awesome uwu

REPLIES TO REVIEWS (that needs answers)-

joeykatoey- I'm more for Itachi then Sasuke .w. Speaking of Mr. Schmexii-pants~ he's in my closet, yet to know what I will do with his sexy self e3e WAIT FOR THE SUSPENSE!

Lady Rini- I would think some people would be angry about killing Kiba, like some would've wanted his character try to try and win Sakura's heart before Sasuke would do anything xD But that's my paranoia hitting me o-o...

12-SmileyRose- You know I screamed when I read Neji's...you know pwp I can't even say it! Meh! I'm just glad you're liking this story pwp

harusaki-tsukiko- Bahahaha xD Your Review made me giggle about Sasuke and Ino~! Thank you so much for making my day filled with laughs.

AntoSama- Yes, I know uwu' Character development can be slow and annoying but I promise you it will get more interesting in the present xD

Everyone knows about Kitty's homeland, right? It's still winter and snow just keeps on coming like no tomorrow. I love it but it gets a little bit too cold to be unable to bear with the possibility of the power shutting down (and that happens a few times); so Follow, Favorites, Reviews or doing nothing will make Kitty take the cold like a tough cookie! ;3 Thank you and enjoy the chapter!

=xxx=

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There are two kinds of stress that are either good or bad for you.

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The bad stress comes from negative activities and people who bother me to no end;

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Then there is the good stress that comes from one thing only...

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Realizing that you are so close and yet so far away, it's a beautiful pain.

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Let me hear your voice and I will let out the behavior that is sheltering my sanity.

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Tasting Flesh

Chapter Six

Hot water never felt so good to Sakura's skin as she slowly allowed her body to dip into the bath, sighing a groan as she rested her head back on the ledge and stared up to the ceiling that was open, looking at the clouds with wonder in her eye. She could hear the little birds singing on the trees and the sound of the wind hitting the side of the walls gently, not too annoying for a relaxing time, but it was a good soundtrack to Sakura. She slowly closed her eyes and nestled in the blanket of the water that was cocooning her naked flesh in ribbons; very slowly as she started to drift off to her imagination when-

"Whoa, baby! Doesn't this feel like heaven?" Ino's cheery voice pitched Sakura's little ears softly, having her feel the water ripple to an addition of the bath party against her.

Sakura didn't bother opening her eyes, but rather smile and make a noise of agreement. Her head was still a little sore from her headache earlier, but it has come a long way from a painful throbs to numbing patches around her head. Her hair was up in a messy bun as Ino was the same as they sat next to each other in the bath, their towels a few feet away and the bucket filled with shampoo bottles and scented soaps floated lazily around. Silence was wished by most people, but Sakura knew that quiet never stayed long with a certain someone around.

"So, what'cha wanna talk about, pretty lady?" Ino asked with a smile in her voice. She gently nudged her elbow to Sakura's bare ribs to have her open those sparkling emerald eyes. "Daddy says I can hang out here since school just went on spring break. Funny how I skipped school on your birthday and now I'm free for another two week! I win!"

"You must feel ontop of the world," Sakura grinned back before placing her head back. "Uhm, I dunno what I have going on lately, I'd have to ask Chiyo-baachan if I need to run errands this week. You can come with me to the hospital or something."

"Play with the little kiddies? Totally!" Ino purred. She loved having fun with children just as much Sakura did as well. "Hey, maybe we can sleepover at my place, you know? Since you're an adult and my daddy has a shotgun by his bedside incase anything happened. We can go shopping, too, I need to buy new panties and I need your opinion on them; I saw these nice lacy ones, or th-"

"Ino!" Sakura groaned. "You should keep it down a bit, someone else is here... Don't disturb their time, okay?"

"Blegh, what's wrong with having a little fun in the tub?" Ino did a cat-like smile as she got on her knees, which made the water drop to her hips as she waved to the vented wall at the top, bouncing in the water and splashed. "Hey there, mister man! Welcome to the Haruno Shrine, where the baths are always hot and the foods are always yummy for your tummy! If I catch you flirting with my girl here, I promise I'll show you Hell!" Ino pumped a fist when Sakura's back suddenly straightened. "Unless you're an old fart? Wrinkly and looks like a raisin? I don't care if you hit on Chiyo-sama, since she's like...against dating. She's a good girl to be around though, I promise!"

"Ino-chan!" Sakura shrieked in fright, grabbing Ino's shoulder and pulling her back and caused a wave of water hitting both of them; drenched from the steamy water, their hair all wet and messy, both girls emerged from the bubbles and looked at each other. Sakura's porcelain skin had pink hair sticking and Ino had her makeup from yesterday straining down her face like she has been crying. Mascara and blue eyeshadow dripped like tears, yet the blonde teenager had the biggest grin on her face while Sakura was scared sensless.

Sakura's cheeks puffed with air as her brow twitched in anger. "What the hell were you thinking, ne?" Sakura whispered harshly as she lightly smacked Ino's bare skin of her arms, shoulders, stomach and head. "You're setting a horrible example for my family's shrine!" Sakura combed her hands to push her bangs back as she stood up tall, hoping that her voice wasn't sounding so horrible in nervous wrecks. "I'm so sorry about her, sir! She's a little, uhm, hyper in the mornings; she doesn't live here!"

A long pause was set while Sakura waited for a response from the man on the other side. She held her hands together in prayer that she didn't disturbed the guest anymore, just wishing that Ino could have gone mute by talking way too much! She was about to give up on her hopes when she heard a sound of moving water, a body on the other side was either getting out of the water or adjusting their position.

A voice that was so smooth, it was almost matching the sound of a ribbon being undone from a bow. So deep and rich, it was like something sweet. "Hn... Whatever."

A short answer, but it didn't sound bothered or angry. On the contrary, Sakura thought the man's voice was rather polite and cool with her. She couldn't help but let a corner of her mouth twitch a little while dumping herself down and let the hot water do its magic on her. She swam back to Ino to silently scold again before her friend suggested to wash her hair in apology.

"Just...stay quiet, okay?" Sakura grumbled when Ino picked out a shampoo that smelled like vanilla and strawberries. Sakura allowed Ino to pull the hairtie out of her pink hair and squeeze a dab on her scalp.

"Yeah, yeah," Ino rolled her eyes. "Just relax and let me wash ya." Her fingers entangled in her hair and started to softly scrub the shampoo into a lathering coat, all bubbly and smelling perfectly good around the room; the addition of steam intensified the smell of the shampoo and soaps that they used. "So, what to talk about now?" Ino asked quietly, like a good girl she was suppose to be.

"Mn..." Sakura had her eyes closed again while Ino continued to wash her hair. She didn't have any clue to what they could discuss about on the top of her head that was fitting, personally. "I can't stop thinking about... Well, what I'm trying to say is-"

"Imaginary boyfriend?" Ino whispered into Sakura's ear in a teasing tone.

Sakura's cheeks reddened. "Do you...remember anything about him? Like, did I say what he looked like, or something?"

Ino signaled that she was done scrubbing her scalp, allowing Sakura to dip her head back to rinse while she thought it over carefully, wadding around the bath with an intense thinking face. "Hmm... I guess he was tall, handsome and stuff." Ino shrugged carelessly. "It was a long time ago, Sakura-chan. Why are you bringing it up now?"

"I'm just wondering, that's all," Sakura muttered quietly. She kept her eyes wandering around the bath as she crossed her arms, suddenly feeling like she was being watched. Not literally, but in her head she felt like she had no privacy; like she was caught in the middle of her own thoughts that was being read like an open book.

'Ask again...' a soft-spoken voice that didn't match anyone Sakura knew, causing her to snap her head around and finding no one else around them as Ino hummed to herself while looking through the different soaps.

"What he called me?" Sakura thought randomly outloud, hiding against the bath's wall.

"Oh! He would call you many things, I remember that," Ino responded and spun around, holding a pink bar of soap tightly in her hand. Her eyes were wide in surprise, yet it seemed to be hiding something when Sakura looked at her bewildered. "Ahem... He would call you 'Baby' or 'Darling', I think. There was also 'his special little girl', now that one was adorable!" Ino snorted a laugh and waved her free hand around. "I don't know where you came up with that stuff, but I liked that one!"

Sakura's cheeks felt a little warm, and it wasn't from the water. Ino smiled toothly as she swam closer. "And, you would tell me how he would hold your hand when you two would walk outside; getting you whatever you wanted from the high shelves, sitting on his lap whenever you were outside or on the couch. It was like he took care of you all the time."

Flushing harder, Sakura rolled her eyes. "Funny, Ino. I don't know how Chiyo-baachan could have dealt with her grandchild having an imaginary friend!"

"Hey, he was your imaginary boyfriend!" Ino corrected rudely, grabbing Sakura's shoulders in urgency. "He was your boyfriend, Saku-chan, don't forget about that."

Sakura's eyes were wide as she watched her friend scold her. "Uhm, Ino...it was a long time ago. I've grown up now!"

Only yesterday, Sakura claimed that she was faithful to her imaginary Prince Charming, that she wanted nothing more then to have those memories more clear so she can reconize his face again. She thought he was a handsome man who was perfect for her; ready to sacrifice everything for her to keep her happy, stay by her side too. Now, she was scared of something else out there. Maybe it was reality.

'Don't be scared...'

'Why shouldn't I be? Ino is acting like a maniac,' Sakura thought hurriedly when Ino's grip loosened and her blonde friend pushed herself away, a coat of shine in her pale eyes when she looked up at the sunlight streaming in. 'She knows something I don't.'

'It will be okay, Sakura... Just wait.'

"What am I waiting for..?" Sakura whispered under her breath, inaudible to Ino's ears as she moved along to wash her own back as her muffled sobs jerked.

'Just wait.'

=xxx=

Sasuke heard the whispers and mumbles on the other side of the wall, ignoring the meaning of the whole thing of their conversation and carelessly reached over for the sake bottle floating alongside with the bucket and Pakkun sat there dazed and allowed the steam to make him sweat; his tongue out and bouncing with no proper manners infront of the prince, taking his own time to relax alongside with Sasuke by the edge of the bath, laying on the cement and snorting. The Demon God unscrewed the cap of the sake bottle and took a big gulp, allowing the alcohol fill his mouth and slide down his throat. He figured that the drinks back home were way better, but this was something after a long time of waiting at that damn door.

'Taking too long to open,' Sasuke thought smugly, recapping the bottle and lazily dropped it into the water, where it simply rose up again and float onward. 'Wasting precious time like that...'

His thoughts were cut short when he heard more splashing and girly squeals from the other side of the wall, knowing just who exactly was on the other side and their hearts pounding. Yes, Uchiha Sasuke knew that his bride was on the other side; her scent overpowering his nose when the steam touched her skin as she entered the bath water, sending all his nerves into a frenzy and wishing to tear down the wall with his bare hands. Sasuke inhaled deeply and took in the sweet, intoxicating scent of sweet flowers and vanilla, her scent hasn't changed a bit since last time and it was perfect. He couldn't have asked for anything more right now, too tired to get up and try to embrace the girl who took his heart from the day her first heartbeats pumped so lullaby-like inside her mother's womb; he could just remember the feeling taking over him when he dared to touch the belly that separated him and the growing baby inside Mebuki, wondering what it would be like to hold this baby in his arms and watch her grow up to the mature age for him to take... Those feelings overwhelming him...

Need to touch. Need to protect. Need to...love.

Sensing the little body coming closer to the wall, he heard the voice of angels over the trickling water of the faucet. His chest clenched perfectly when he heard her voice. "Uhm...I'm sorry to bother you again, sir, but what is your name? I feel that it is my hospitality to properly apologize for my friend's actions to disturb you with the reminder of your name."

'Aa, she remembered her manners...' Sasuke smirked and cracked his eyes open. He saw Pakkun's ears perk and raise his head to look at him, worryness in his puppy-like eyes. Shifting in the water again, Sasuke squared his shoulders like a proud man, knowing exactly what Pakkun was worrying about. 'Like I am this foolish, you old dog...'

"My name is...Uchiha," Sasuke answered in his deep voice, looking up to the little vent that led to the other side of the bath, where the girls where. "Call me Uchiha."

He could hear her little happy gasp, being given the name and knowing that her guest was not angry at her. "Oh, arigato...Uchiha-san! My name is Haruno Sakura, Uchiha-san and I hope you will enjoy your stay." With her kind words, Sasuke heard her go back to paying attention to Ino, who was splashing water at Sakura's back while she was trying to speak to him, finally shutting up her high-pitched giggles by throwing a sponge at her. "Ino-chan! Stop it!"

Sasuke just had to roll his eyes at that. He remembered Ino very, very well from her childhood; being the one who would constantly try to kill Sasuke. Yeah, as it may be hard to believe, a little child who was born in the fall after Sakura's birth, has tried many times to kill the Prince whenever she finds him getting too comfortable with his bride (like cuddling her or making her giggle) with whatever she could do. He remembered when he would actually 'spar' with that kid until he carried her off to drop her on her home's doorstep. You can call this fighting for Sakura's affection, if you wish, since Ino would usually try to claim Sakura as hers and Sasuke was nothing but a pervert.

On another note, Sasuke could feel the thickness of the barriers within Sakura's mind. Unable to hold back the frown when he tried to prob the thoughts of Sakura's mind with his own, hearing the resisting shrieks going against his wishes. Sasuke glared at the wall before looking at Pakkun, who was getting up from his laying position and looking at Sasuke. His bath time was done and Chiyo was now home and it was time to properly announce his arrival.

With a simple sigh of annoyance, Sasuke stood up in the bath and reached for the fluffy towel that was set for him; all clean and handsome, he stepped out of the bath and dried himself off with slow strokes. He was still having that headache from traveling for so long, he honestly hoped to stay for another long hour or two in the bath and maybe listen to Ino and Sakura argue about what they shall do next after their little swim.

"Nooo!" Ino's pitched voice tore into Sasuke's still sensitive ears. "Sakura-chan, he's leaving! Come back, Uchiha!"

"Ino, leave him be!" Sakura cried out helplessly when the blonde girl started pounding on the wall. It was worthless when the blonde just cursed and hit the wall as Sasuke simply ignored her, strolling away with the towel around his waist into the showers and cubby-room.

He pulled out the cubby with his clean clothes inside: a simple black t-shirt and dark grey pants with a black belt to match. He agreed to Chiyo keeping his old clothes during his departure, but he knew no one -at his considered appearing age- wore pants with belts. He has seen teenage boys wearing their pants to their knees or ankles... Sasuke was not going to wear his pants like that. He dressed in his shirt and jeans, ignoring the given socks and shoes Pakkun picked out and simply left the bath house, following the small dog over to the building where he can still hear Sakura and Ino yelling at each other from the distance as he entered the shrine, finding Chiyo's back and looking into the guest book with a still form. Sasuke cleared his throat, startling the old woman and had her head spin to look up to the black eyes.

With the blank look Sasuke was giving, Chiyo simply growled. "God..."

"It's good to see you, too, Chiyo," Sasuke's brow twitched, his voice flat and refused to fight against Chiyo's challenge.

"Bleh, some sweet greeting," Chiyo rolled her eyes an waved her wrinkled hand. "As usual, you tend to save all your good energy for Sakura. By the way, I thought I smelled you inside the bathhouse; Ino and Sakura were in there, did they bother you?"

"Hn."

"As usual, you never have a lot of vocabulary," Chiyo rolled her eyes. "Really, Sasuke...what's gonna happen when your childrens' first words are 'Hn?' How will your dear bride deal with everyone going 'Hn, hn, hn' all the time? I know I wouldn't do anything well with it." Chiyo gruffed some curses to herself about chicken-butt babies as she strolled past the tall figure and short dog and towards the stairs, causing Sasuke's eyes to narrow.

"Oi," Sasuke blurted out. He crossed his arms and glared up to Chiyo's form halfway on the stairs; his stare deep and menacing, the only good thing coming out of it is that his Sharingan wasn't activated. "What am I suppose to be doing here, Chiyo?"

Chiyo looked back at the prince with a calm expression, not seeming totally disturbed by it at any means as it should be. Raising a simple brow, Chiyo only smiled down at him. Her wrinkled face was more calm then the day of spring, all peace and quiet with no troubles. "You want to do some chores?"

"That is not what I mean," Sasuke growled deeply. He was not in the mood for Chiyo's games, not that he even played along with her for any time. His brow twitching, Sasuke's temper was starting to skyrocket.

"It's not my choice, Sasuke. You're the freakin' adult here, so you deal with it," Chiyo's voice barked some sense into Sasuke, making him stiff his shoulders and Pakkun to actually hop on his feet and scramble out the door. "Look. I'm not in charge of Sakura's being anymore, Sasuke, I've dealt with it for about ten years. You do what you think is right and hope for the best, ne? Her barriers..."

"I'm aware of the barriers in Sakura's mind."

"I can't remove any more of the barriers," Chiyo sighed softly, looking at both of her hands. Her eyes went low and dull as she closed her fingers, her nails digging into her skin carefully as she let her now-dark eyes look at Sasuke, unwanting anymore responsibility for something she just can't take care for any longer; to a shock, Chiyo is getting old. Inside and out. "If you can take a little chunk off, I'm sure it would help; the rest will be saved for-"

"Yeah. I get it." Sasuke sniffed about Chiyo's weakening words, knowing fully well who she was talking about. He didn't like it one bit.

Taking one last look at Sasuke, Chiyo gave the only useful advice that she could give for her numbering days. "Whatever happens, it's meant to be fate."

Sasuke only grunted and left the building, Chiyo guessing to place his stress on a tree far away from human eyes.

=xxx=

Sakura laid under the cherry blossom tree with her hands behind her head, looking up to the clouds with Ino by her side as a loyal companion. Her emerald eyes glistened against the sunlight as she noticed a butterfly fly by her head and away from her; her face suddenly fell blank as she recalled her activities back in the bathhouse. Her head buzzed with any ideas of what it could have been -the voice in her head included- but nothing seemed to add up properly.

"Hey, Ino-chan," Sakura didn't look to her friend who instantly snapped up. Sakura did her very best to stay calm in her body language. "Can you tell me a story?"

"Ne? A story?" the blonde twirled a lock of her long hair with her pinky, her baby blue eyes scanning around the other cherry trees as she suddenly sensed a familiar anatomy a long distance away. She puckered her lips before nodding little. "Alright, I don't see why not. What kind of story does my Saku-chan want?" Ino cooed in a baby voice, causing Sakura to smile a little. "It's been too long for me telling you stories."

"Something good. I'm not being picky today..." Sakura cracked her eyes open to look at the sky, feeling her heart swell to an unfamiliar presence nearby and passing along without stopping. Sakura didn't bother sitting up to see what the thing could be, the idea of Ino being so...careful with her and being short with such things about Sakura's own opinions, Sakura was honestly uncomfortable around Ino right now.

"Mmm, alrighty," Ino puckered her lips and pressed her back against the dark bark of the cherry tree, looking deep in her thoughts for something perfect. "Once upon a time, there was a little girl with odd hair..."

Sakura smiled, closing her eyes and relaxing her thoughts thoroughly. Ino's voice was so soft and calm, it was making Sakura calm down about anything negative about her dear friend.

"She had the oddest hair you would ever see, really, but she was a complete sweetheart... Even though she had this big-ass forehead; her heart was pumping the blood of a pure saint."

'The blood of a saint...'

Sakura's eyes opened, yet her face was still calm-looking, not showing anything that would have disturbed Ino's story-telling. "One time, when this girl was a itty-bitty-cutie-pants, she was playing in the playground that was at the little school she went to with her dear friend, who happened to be the coolest girl ever in class. She was playing with her favorite bunny doll when a mean girl named Ami grabbed it out of her grasp...and threw it into the woods behind the playground..."

'Into the darkness...the scary place where children weren't allowed to go.'

"What did the girl do..?" Sakura asked in a whisper, her brows furrowing a bit. She allowed Ino's long, delicate-like fingers to weave into her pink hair and rub her scalp, massaging gently when her friend was coming up with a private plan of her own.

'She wasn't afraid of the darkness... Darkness never scared her.'

"She went into the woods, looking for her adorable bunny toy that her best friend gave her...made out of love in every stitch!" Ino cooed. "She went into the woods, but the bunny wasn't near the edge, so she went a little deeper into the woods; hoping to find her toy before the teachers became worried..." Rubbing her fingers across Sakura's forehead, Ino felt the cracks of the barriers above the brow of Sakura's mind; slowly crumbling under her gentle touches. "The further she went into the woods, the darker it got and scarier it became. But the good thing is, this little billboard-brow isn't scared of anything!

"So, she went deeper into the woods and finally sought out her bunny, sitting in the grass like it was waiting for her to come get it," Ino whispered, placing both hands on either side of Sakura's head, carefully rubbing her temples and cheekbones. She found Sakura's eyes close as she relaxed under the touch, slowly falling into a light rest. "She was about to venture closer to her bunny, until it was picked up by a very tall figure..."

"Oh no..." Sakura breathed in worry, sighing when Ino hushed her with her blonde hair tickling her cheeks as she bent closer.

"Sakura...this tall figure took her bunny and dust the dirt off the bunny's furr," Ino whispered, her face coming closer to her slumbering friend. 'It's cracking more... I'm doing it, Daddy! I can remove barriers!'

Sakura's eyes moved under her closed lids. 'This girl knew him... she wanted him close to her side, as he wished the same...'

"He gently held out the bunny to the girl and, with a child's curiosity, she plicked her toy from his hands," Ino glossed lips barely touched her forehead as she went further beyond the boundary line inside Sakura's body and soul. "She beckoned him to come down to her height and he complied; her eyes twinkled in the dark as she went up to her toes..."

'And placed a grateful kiss on the man's cheek, whispering an affectionate word of three into his ear of I lo-'

Sakura gasped in slight discomfort. "Who are you..?" Her unopened eyes flashed to the sides constantly, her fingers gripped the grass bedding her in a vice-grip; her breath suddenly became ragged as she whimpered out. "Ino... I hear a voice. Please, make it...stop!"

Ino looked down at her friend's pained expression, still holding her head gently as she fussed under the touch. Closing her eyes, she brushed stray hair out of Sakura's face, hushing her as best as she could when she felt stinging liquid touch her thumbs; tears dripping out as Sakura started to squirm, whining about a pain in her head that won't go away with the voice.

"Ino..." Sakura's right hand touched her wrist, searching for her friend.

"It's alright, Saku-chan, you're just having a headache." Ino held her friend's hand securingly, hoping that she can hear and feel her. Ino was not educated into the abnormalities of removing barriers, even if she can't remove the bigger ones. Ino only could pick and poke at the kind that were weak and unimportant before the seal: personality traits, slivers of memories and even a pinch of faces that were blurred into her dearest's head. Ino was not a strong Demon, nor was she a weak one...

The Yamanaka Clan was a breed of demons that reside all over the human world, being shut out from their old homeland centuries ago by one of the three Royals and forced to find sancturary from the war in their world; living alongside humans and separated from their mass family into little ones, spreading around the human world. Ino and her family are the only ones who live in Japan of her clan, popularity from their flower store in Konoha and were close friends with the previous owners of the Haruno Shrine, Kizashi and Mebuki, and had a daughter to grow up with their own to protect.

Ino was born in September, about six months after Sakura was born, and was given a purpose to be alive. Not that her parents didn't want her as a daughter -they practically adore Ino and spoil her- but the rightful place in Ino's rank of a demon is worth her life to give into Sakura's hands. Inoichi and Kizashi were friends with each other way before they knew that Kizashi and Mebuki were to give birth to the Forbidden Flower, and Inoichi gave the choice of giving his first born to protect Sakura since the human world didn't...have many loyal demons that humans could trust, if you understand. Ino was born and raised to know how to fight other demons -mostly the starving kind, like the one from last night's bonfire- and she had also learned some of the advanced moves to remove barriers within Sakura's mind.

The only problem is...Ino can only crack the barriers of the ones that are tearing down on their own already. Apparently, Sakura's inner thoughts have been rather irritated recently.

"Ino-chan..." Sakura groaned as her grip tightened on Ino's arm, her breathing changed into panting gasps. Tiny beads of sweat emerged from her skin of her face as she tried to open her own eyes. "In-Ino-chan..! I-I can't...breathe..!"

"What can I do, cutie?" Ino whispered gently, just doing what she can by holding onto her fragile head. "Tell me what you want..."

Sakura whimpered as her back arched. A silent gasp escaped her mouth when the voice returned, more intense, as if it was speaking directly into her ear. 'Say his name...'

"Aah... W-what..?" Sakura swallowed and coughed, her green eyes barely opening to look up at Ino's worried expression. Why hasn't she gone to get help?

'Say his name, Sakura.'

'I want you to say his name...'

"I-I..can't! I d-don-"

'SAY IT!'

A harsh pain shot up Sakura's spine and finished in the back of her neck, sending hot flashes through her body like wildfire as she cried out. "Sasuke!"

Ino's eyes widened as Sakura continued to cry out the name she was meant to forget. "Sasuke! I want Sasuke! Sasuke!" she shrieked out of her chapping mouth, the taste of blood in the back of her throat as the pain emerged again through her back and aimed at her ribs, causing the poor girl to jerk to the side. "Sasuke, please! I want Sasuke!"

"Sakura!" Ino called out to her in a dark voice, sending shivers up anyone's back if they heard. "Sakura! Where is Sasuke? Tell me where he is, Sakura-chan. Can you sense him close?"

Sakura could only shake her head as more hot tears spilled out. "I want...Sasuke..!" She was getting tired all of the sudden, black spots in her eyesight as her tongue began to feel like it was thickening

'Call for Sasuke. Call louder!'

The black spots emerged larger as a buzzing noise rang in her ears; the voice was becoming distinct, it was soft and sweet, like it wasn't trying to harm Sakura. But the pain in her back skyrocketed as she shrieked out in pain, calling Sasuke's name one more time before her throat closed up.

'I can't breathe...' Sakura screamed in her thoughts. Her vision on Ino's face blurred as a massive black form shoved her away. It looked like a person with dark hair. 'Please...I can't breathe!'

'Say his name.'

'Say it just one more time, Sakura...'

'...please.'

The voice was begging. Sakura's lids slowly dropped until her emerald eyes blocked off from the world; from the face of her best friend, the shining sun and the view of the forming clouds. She couldn't see the colors of spring, only parting her lips a little as she fell into the darkness. She wasn't afraid...

"Sasuke...-kun..."

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Why can't you pay attention?

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I'm trying so hard to help you!

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Just listen to me once, my dear child...

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Call his name whenever you are in pain

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Call and cry to the heavens, my darling...

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He's coming.

=xxx=

AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE-...I can't believe I did that ono' Ending it like THAT~ -slams into wall and falls- I am so sorry everyone, but I wanted to keep up with my updates so freakin' bad, it's not even funny! D: I've been stressed with classes and work, so that probably gave cooties to my chapter here... Exams and projects are just MAAAD.

No flames, please? Don't like it, I don't care. Not my job to listen to those who complain.

Everyone knows that I love them right? You guys know what to do? Review, Favorite, Follow or doing nothing will make a Kitty a little less stress (isn't that sweet?) and I know everyone is a boss! Thank you for reading and have a nice day.

P.S.- I PINKY SWEAR SASUKE AND SAKURA WILL TALK NEXT CHAPTER~ AND SOME GOOD STUFF, I SWEAR. KITTY IS JUST IN NEED FOR A BREAK. -goes to watch YouTube videos in darkness-