"This is pointless." Dosu grumbled angrily, kicking a stone across the ground. "If Zakuro hasn't been found yet, she's not going to be found." His words were loud and clear through the bandages that covered all of his face with the exception of his left eye.
"I agree." Zaku scowled. "It's been three days we've been dragging our feet through these woods. She's dead by now."
These two were part of Sasuke's search party. They had been sent ahead of the others to cover more ground. Walking deeper into the woods they were shocked to find a huge mansion perched within a clearing. "Whoa." Zaku breathed.
Dosu spotted a figure of a man standing on the bridge leading to the mansion. "Maybe Zakuro passed through here, I'll go ask that guy." He motioned with his head toward the man.
Zaku remembered all the warnings about the Demon of the woods and got a bad feeling in his gut. "I don't think that's a good idea Dosu." But Dosu was already on the bridge. "Dosu." He hissed through his teeth.
Dosu stopped a few feet from the man on the bridge. He cleared his throat. "Pardon me but I'm looking for a girl named Zakuro, blond, a little taller than me. She got lost a few days ago and I was wondering if she had passed by here." The man didn't aknowledge him, he was still as a statue. "Sir?"
The man was staring at the full moon, it was still light out but the moon had already risen. "When the full moon rises, its blood boils." His voice was whispy and strained.
"What?" Dosu's confusion was quickly replaced by terror. His eye widened as he watched the man's body convulse and finally change into a monsterous form. He felt his stomach lurch and he sputtered. "You… you're the Demon!"
Zaku watched in horror as the monster charged at his comrade and killed him instantly. He took in the sight of the mangled corpse that only seconds ago had been his friend. Forcing his fear paralyzed legs to move he took off back toward the village, careful not to be seen.
Inside the mansion Sakura was sobbing into Naruto's chest, the two having just witnessed that horrific sight from the window. Naruto rubbed Sakura's back, trying to calm her down but his hands trembled. The two froze as their master entered the mansion, slamming the door behind him he disappeared up the stairs. Seconds later they heard a crash upstairs and flinched.
"We've got to get Zakuro back here." Sakura's voice shook. "She's the only one who can stop this."
Naruto nodded. "You're right. But how do exactly do we find her?"
"She couldn't have gotten too far away. She lives just outside the forest remember?"
Another crash could be heard from the second floor. "Let's get moving then," Naruto took Sakura's hand and headed toward the door. "Before he decides to kill us too."
Zakuro could hear voices talking about her. They were familiar, voices that she had grown up with.
"Do you think she's ok?" She heard Choji ask. She could picture him clearly, his portly stature and pudgy face looking worried as he often was.
"We got her back quickly, so she should be fine." She heard Neji's voice answer, sounding as unconcered as ever. Zakuro could see him, arms crossed sternly over his chest, his face betraying no emotion.
"C'mon you guys this is Zakuro we're talking about, she's a fighter. She'd never be taken down that easily." Zakuro took in Shikamaru's words and smiled on the inside. He'd always known that Zakuro was tough, ever since she gave him a bloody nose when they were six. Shikamaru had been teasing her about her height so she jumped right up and punched him right in the face. After receiving a harsh scolding from their parents they'd apologized to each other and had been close ever since, Shikamaru having realized that Zakuro wasn't like other girls, that she cared more about what was in her heart than what she was wearing.
"Well, I don't know about that. However I do know she's gorgeous half-dead or not." Her internal smile turned into a scowl. Kiba had always had a nasty habit of hitting on her.
Zakuro had never appreciated it. "Do you ever think of anything else?" She muttered. She could feel their embarassment, they'd been talking about her thinking she couldn't hear them. Kiba was leaning over the back of the couch Zakuro was lying on, his chin resting in his hand. She reached up and knocked his arm out from under him. Kiba cried out, hit his face on the couch and losing his balance fell to the floor with a loud thud.
The guys all laughed. Shikamaru walked over and patted Zakuro's shoulder, smiling. "You're just fine."
Zakuro smiled up at him. "You had doubts?" She rasped, her throat was still sore. Taking a look around, she saw that she was in an all too familiar room, Sasuke's living room. She recalled the countless times she'd shared secrets as well as lunch in here with Sasuke as a child. His mother fawning over Zakuro, she'd always been the daughter his mother never had and his father watching over them. She was lying on the couch where she had so often talked with Sasuke about their future, wrapped in a heavy blanket embroidered with the Uchiha insignia, a red and white fan. Sasuke had once told her that he was going to marry her in this very room, she had giggled then, they'd only been children.
The guys all stood around the room just the way she'd pictured them. Neji was across the room, his arms folded over his chest with Choji next to him looking relieved now. Kiba stood and scowled at her, rubbing his jaw. Hearing a bark at her elbow Zakuro looked to see Akamaru with his front paws up against the couch. The little white dog's tail wagged back and forth, his pink tongue hanging out of his mouth, he barked again and jumped in the air. Smiling she reached down and petted his rough fur, he licked her hand and yipped again before running over to Kiba. Akamaru circled Kiba's ankles twice and after Kiba picked him up crawled inside Kiba's gray jacket taking his normal spot at Kiba's chest, his furry white face sticking out of the jacket.
Upon hearing the commotion Sasuke walked into the living room, seeing that Zakuro was awake he rushed over to her. Shikamaru walked over to stand with the other guys and talk amongst themselves, but Zakuro wasn't naïve, she knew that they were eavesdropping. Sasuke sat down on the couch beside her. "Hey, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine." She lied, her head pounded and she spoke softy but her voice was still raspy. She supressed a cough.
Sasuke gave her a look that told her that he didn't believe her. "What were you thinking, running off like that?"
"I'm sorry."
He shook his head irritatedly at her but then his face and voice softened. "Promise me you'll never scare me like that again. I don't want to lose you." His dark eyes bore into hers.
Zakuro bit her lip. "Sasuke-"
"Promise me." He squeezed her hand, his tone final.
"I promise." She said and had to break off into a coughing fit. Sasuke lifted her head and helped her drink from the cup he held in his hand, it was his mother's remedy for sore throats. Her throat was instantly soothed but the pain threatened to come back, only dulled for a while. "Thanks." He set the cup on the small table beside the couch, turning back to her he smiled. Zakuro then noticed that she was starting to sweat and threw off the blanket covering her.
Sasuke placed the back of his fingers to her cheek. "There's a good sign. Your fever's breaking."
"So Zakuro," Kiba said. "Don't just leave us wondering over here. What happened out there in the woods?"
Zakuro's stomach dropped, she was afraid someone would ask that. Sitting up she was prepared to tell them a hopefully convincing lie. Then suddenly Zaku came bursting through the door, he looked as if he'd fallen in the snow numerous times, his clothes were wet and clinging to him, his dark hair tousled and he was out of breath. He rested his hand on his knees and panted. "Guys," He broke off to a a pant. "You wou..ldn't believe..wh..what I just saw!"
After a moment of complete silence everyone turned skeptical. Zaku was notorious in the village for telling crazy stories. Over the years he'd even earned the nickname "the boy who cried wolf." (Which he had once.) Zakuro got a bad feeling from the terrified look on his face.
The guys laughed. "Sure, Zaku whatever you say." Choji rolled his eyes.
"Yeah right." Kiba grinned. "What did you see that we wouldn't believe?" He said mockingly.
"Dosu and I were in the woods walking, looking for her." Zaku pointed to Zakuro. "Glad you're okay by the way." He added and Zakuro nodded. "But then we walk into this clearing and there's this huge house out there. Dosu spotted a man outside the house and went to ask if Zakuro had been through there. The next thing I know that guy changed into a monster and killed Dosu on the spot. I swear if I live to be a hundred I'll never forget that face."
There was a short pause and then the guys were laughing twice as hard as before. Kiba looked like he was on the verge of tears, Choji and Neji were having trouble breathing. Shikamaru and Sasuke seemed to be the only ones taking this seriously.
Zakuro couldn't open her mouth for fear of being sick. Her stomach knotted in fear, she felt like the wind had been knocked out of her and she struggled to breathe. Gaara was the Demon and he'd killed Dosu. Something in her gut told her that he needed her now more than ever, Zakuro had to get some answers, she had to get back to the mansion.
Sasuke pondered this for a minute, carefully studying Zaku. No doubt, this sounded like the Demon's handiwork. Turning back to Zakuro he saw that she had gone as white as the dress she was wearing. "Wait," Sasuke realized something. "Weren't you wearing a red dress the night you left? And your cloak is gone too."
Zakuro nearly bit right through her lip.
"Yeah," Shikamaru piped up. "And what about my lantern that you took?"
"I was wearing this when I left Sasuke. Your memory must be going." She teased as sweetly as she could, hoping that he would believe her lie. "I lost my cloak and your lantern too Shikamaru." She turned to him. "Sorry. I'll make it up to you."
Shikamaru waved it away. "That's ok. I'll just have hell to pay from my Dad." He grinned. "As if I'm not used to that by now." Shikamaru was constantly being scolded by his father.
Sasuke's face told her that he didn't believe her. He turned to Zaku. "Are you telling the truth?"
"Yes!" Zaku cried. "I wouldn't lie about my best friend being murdered in cold blood! Dosu was left a bloody mess back there! It was the Demon!"
Sasuke's ebony eyes flashed with vengance. "Where did you see this place?"
"Way out in the middle of the woods."
"Could you lead us there?"
Zaku nodded. "I think so."
Zakuro laid a hand on Sasuke's arm. "Sasuke you can't really believe this. Zaku's just telling stories again."
"I'm not! I swear!" Zaku insisted.
Zakuro sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Sasuke grabbed her wrist and she realized her mistake. He stared at the ring on her finger with narrowed eyes. "Where did you get this?" He said angrily.
"Sasuke," She tried to pull away but he held her wrist firmly. "Let me go."
"You didn't have an engagement ring before you left." His tone held an ominous edge.
"Sasuke-"
"He gave it to you, didn't he?"
"Who?"
"The Demon!" Sasuke pulled the ring from her finger and stood. The other guys all stared at her.
Zakuro stood and looked up at him. (Sasuke stood several inches taller than her.) "What are you talking about?!"
"I think you know very well what I'm talking about!" He shouted at her. He glared down at her for a moment before he turned his back and walked away.
Zakuro followed him a few steps. "Sasuke give me my ring back." He didn't stop. "Sasuke give it back!"
He whirled around to face her. "Why is so important to you?! Is the Demon who had the nerve to put a ring on your finger waiting for you to come running back to him?!"
Zakuro stepped back and couldn't stop the tears pressing into her eyes. "Sasuke you don't understand."
"Oh I understand perfectly." He turned to face the guys. "Now that we know where he's hiding what do you guys say to paying him a visit?" The guys stood in silence. "For too long our home has been haunted by that Demon. We've lost countless members of the village to him, strong men, young women, friends, and family!" Sasuke's hands clenched into fists. (Thinking of his brother, no doubt.) "Let's make sure they don't die in vain, let's take him down before he takes anyone else from us!" The guys nodded in agreement. "We'll be heroes, stories will be told about us for years to come! Now who's with me!" The guys cheered, throwing their fists into the air as Zakuro watched in horror.
"Sasuke you can't do this." She grasped his hands. Her eyes pleaded with him hoping he would understand the cause of her alarm.
But Sasuke pulled her to him and pressed his lips to hers. It wasn't like Gaara's kiss, his was cold and sent adrenaline pulsing through her blood. Sasuke's however was warm and bubbly, she was immediately filled with the old memories she had long forgotten and that little gril she'd once been resurfaced for a moment. Drawing away Zakuro could see the little boy she'd fallen for all those years ago hidden deep in Sasuke's eyes. He held her hands close to his chest. "I promise I'll break whatever hold that Demon has on you and then nothing will keep us apart." He whispered, mistaking her alarm for concern for him.
Zakuro's tears spilled down her cheeks. "Sasuke-"
He put a finger to her lips, silencing her. "I won't be long." He said. "Wait here where it's safe." Sasuke motioned for the pthers to follow him and headed for the door.
"Wait!" Zakuro cried, running to the door she stood with her back against it. "I…I can't let you do this." The guys just looked at her. "It's too dangerous, you won't come back." Zakuro tried to think of an excuse to get them to stay, but she had no other option. "Let… let me go instead." Sasuke blinked in surprise. "Just let me go and calm him down, he won't hurt me." Zakuro could see Sasuke's face turn cold. "Please, he needs me." She started sobbing.
Sasuke's eyes had turned as cold as stone. "Whatever power he has over you, I'll make sure it's severed."
Zakuro looked at the floor and shook her head sadly. "You don't understand." She whispered.
"You love him." It was a statement not a question and Sasuke spat it through clenched teeth.
Zakuro's head shot up and her stunned silence gave her away. But more painfully was the icy expression on Sasuke's face. "Just let me go and see him." She pleaded.
"I can't do that Zakuro. Now move." Sasuke demanded.
"No! If you want to get to him you have to go through me first!" Quick as a flash Sasuke's hand shot out and he slapped her hard across her face. Zakuro cried out and stumbled away from the door, giving Sasuke a chance to escape outside. The guys looked from Sasuke to Zakuro, sure Sasuke had a temper but they never thought that he would hurt Zakuro. She held her bruised cheek in disbelief. Then her face contorted in fury. "That tears it." She hissed under her breath. Running after him she grabbed Sasuke's shoulder, spinning him around she gave him a firm right hook. He stumbled back and swiped at the blood on his lip. "Will you listen to me for once! It's the likes of you that make him the way he is!" She screamed. "He just wants to be left alone and I won't let you hurt him!"
Sasuke glared at her as she stood sobbing, but remaining defiant. "I'm disappointed in you Zakuro. You've underestimated me. I thought you knew me better than that."
Zakuro gasped when she heard Sasuke's voice behind her. The Sasuke in front of her hadn't spoken, but simply took the punch for him and now vanished in a puff of smoke. A clone. She felt another sharp pain strike her head and slumped to the ground unconcious.
Sasuke slowly lowered his arm. "I'm sorry Zakuro, but no one, not even you is going to get in my way tonight." He looked back at the others, who stood motionless on the street. "Well, are you coming or not?" He snapped, making some of them flinch at his tone but followed him none the less.
"Count me out." Sasuke turned to see Shikamaru kneeling on the ground with Zakuro's unconcious form in his arms. He scowled at Sasuke. "You went oo far Sasuke."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Fine," He barked. "If you're not with us you're against us. Go ahead and be a coward. C'mon guys." He walked away onto the street toward the woods. The guys all followed except Choji who lingered for a moment. He looked from Shikamaru to Sasuke and back before leaving his bestfriend behind. Shikamaru glared after them.
Just outside the village Naruto rested his hands on his knees and panted. He and Sakura had just run all the way through the woods. Sakura pulled on his arm. "C'mon we've still got to find Zakuro."
"And how exactly do we find her? This place is huge." He panted.
"Well we're obviously not going to find her just standing here." Sakura dragged Naruto a few feet before they took off running again.
A short way down the street they could see a group of people. (Sasuke's group had gained others as they marched through the village and had now become a mob, loudly jeering and shouting.) Leading the group was a tall man with jet black hair that hung in his eyes and the expression he held made him look very dangerous. As Naruto ran past him his blue eyes met those of the leader, they were black as pitch and just as cold. Naruto got a chill down his back and he stopped running to watch the crowd continue on. Sakura stepped beside him. "I don't like the look of that mob." He said.
Sakura shuddered. "Niether do I and look where they're headed." She pointed to the forest's edge.
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
"Me too."
"C'mon." Naruto took Sakura's hand and they started running toward the village square.
Outside Sasuke's house Shikamaru was softly patting Zakuro's cheek. "Zakuro, hey wake up." He said.
Zakuro grumbled and pushed his hand away. She sat up and put a hand to the back of her head, where Sasuke had hit her. "Ow." She mumbled, then remembering everything she sat straight up and looked around. "Sasuke?!"
"He's gone." Shikamaru said sadly. "They're all gone."
Zakuro looked back at him. "Except you?"
Shikamaru smiled. "Except me."
"Thanks Shikamaru." She smiled back at him.
"No problem Z." He gave her his old nickname for her and helped her stand. "How's your head?"
Zakuro brushed at the back of her head again. "That's not what hurts." She whispered as tears started stinging her eyes. "What's happened to Sasuke? Where did my friend go?"
Shikamaru put an arm around her shoulders. Zakuro leaned against him and fought back the need to cry. He gave her a tight hug, rubbing her back soothingly. Then she heard someone call her name. Looking to the intersection up the street she saw the all too familiar faces of two of the three people that she had come to love over the past days. "Zakuro!" They called. "Zakuro Fujiwara!"
Sniffling she pulled away from Shikamaru's embrace. "Naruto? Sakura?"
The two heard her and looking down the road to her, smiled widely. Smiling back she met them halfway down the road and embraced the two of them. "I thought I'd never see you two again."
"We were thinking the same thing." Naruto grinned.
Sakura grabbed her hands. "Zakuro you have to come back to the mansion."
Zakuro was startled by the urgency in her tone. "What? Why?"
"Gaara's gone crazy without you." Naruto said matching Saskura's tone. "You have to come back."
Zakuro shook her head. "He doesn't want me around he said so himself."
"Zakuro don't you get it," Sakura said. "He was trying to protect you."
Naruto answered her confused face. "When he gets like this he's unpredictable and unstable. He could kill you if he lost control, so he had to send you away. Do you see now, he doesn't want to hurt you. He loves you."
Zakuro fell silent and chewed on her lip. She thought of Gaara, his mouth upturned in that half-smile, his hypnotic slate blue eyes, that soft chuckle when she'd tease him, the blush on his face before he had kissed her. He'd written such beautiful music because of her. She remembered his coldness before and how he'd slowly warmed up, treating her so gently. Suddenly she was aware of her increased heartbeat and the warmth on her cheeks.
"Please come back with us." Sakura pleaded.
Smiling Zakuro nodded. "Let's go." Naruto and Sakura grinned at her. "Oh wait Sasuke and the other guys." She added. "I almost forgot."
"Do you mean that mob headed toward the woods?" Naruto gestured over his shoulder.
"Oh no," Zakuro drew blood from chewing her lip too hard. The bitter taste was like an omen of what was surely going to happen if Sasuke found Gaara. "We don't have time to waste then, they're going after Gaara."
She saw shock on their faces. "What?" Sakura cried. "They'll be killed."
"They all will." Naruto added.
"I've got to get to Gaara and talk some sense into him. If that's even possible." Zakuro said.
"It is." Sakura said. "You're the only one who can stop this."
"Hey," Zakuro had nearly forgotten about Shikamaru. She looked back at his determined face. "Whatever you guys are up to, I'm in." He said. "Sasuke has gone way too far and you're gonna need all the help you can get to stop all those guys."
Zakuro smiled at him. "I'll explain everything on the way. Thank you Shikamaru."
The four then took off, running through the streets toward the woods. Zakuro cursed the length of her dress and after tripping twice she sighed angrily and lifted the skiet high so she could run. Sakura quickly followed suit. Naruto and Shikamaru glanced at the girls and then at each other. People on the street blushed at the gilrs immodesty, Zakuro could see them whispering behind their hands but she didn't care. Gaara needed her and that was the only thing that mattered to her now. She had to tell him that she loved him and prayed that she would reach him before it was too late.
Authors Note- wipes brow Jeez have I ever mentioned I hate typing. I only just got to typing again and I'm sorry I'm so slow.
The title might seem kinda insignificant right now but it is important. And I couldn't change it when I thought of it you know?Anyway a little more insight into Zakuro's past back in the village. I told you Shikamaru would come in more later. I love Shikamaru dispite his lazy attitude. And I thought I'd keep with Dosu's death. (good idea to kill that one Kishimoto.) And I seriously must've screwed up Zakuro and Zaku at least 10 times. (which adds to the slowness of my typing.)
And HELLO Sasuke's snappped, which I believe really happened. Just because his ego was threatened by Naruto he has to go all evil on everyone. Whatever. (I don't like Sasuke. Pure opinion)
And please don't think I'm making Zakuro out to be you a two timer or anything. I got that fear when I was writing it. I'll give more insight into Zakuro and Sasuke's relationship later. I'll try to be faster with the next part.
