They were leaving the next day, and again – Sakura couldn't sleep. She found herself sitting on a bench outside the Kazekage's house. Naruto saw reason and when she had discussed leaving with him – he seemed resigned. Sasuke had left right after dinner to check the perimeter and make sure things were safe for their departure. He hadn't returned yet. A chilly breeze ruffled Sakura's hair and she shivered slightly. She wasn't looking forward to going back on the road. Maybe she'd gotten used to a bed and a hot shower and a proper meal too quickly. She'd become too comfortable.
"It's a chilly night. You should have brought a blanket."
Sakura looked up to see Gaara, leaning against the wall, watching her. Had she been so distracted that she hadn't noticed him? Thank Kami Sasuke wasn't here to see that.
"It's not that bad." Sakura said offering him a small smile and hoping he couldn't see the goosebumps on her flesh. Gaara came closer, taking the seat next to her – close enough that she could feel his heat, but far enough that they weren't touching.
"It's for the best." Gaara began.
"Leaving?"
"Yes." He paused. "But I wish that you wouldn't have to go."
Sakura nodded. "I know that Naruto wants to stay, we all do, but realistically…" she turned her head to look up at him. He was looking down at her with a tender expression that she couldn't quite decipher.
"I want to ask you to stay here…with me. Where you'll be safe."
Sakura's eyes widened and she swallowed but Gaara didn't give her a chance to answer. His face turned away but she could see a sad smile there. "But I know what your answer will be."
"Gaara-"
Gaara looked up at that moment and Sakura followed his gaze to see Sasuke, his expression was unreadable, his arms folded across his chest. The Kazekage gave him a nod and stood, to Sakura he said, "I will see you in the morning. Have a good night." And then he returned to the house and Sasuke just stood there, unmoving, like a statue. He didn't speak until Gaara was out of earshot, long after the door had shut.
"You aren't staying." Not a question – an order.
Sakura stood and approached him, stopping right in front of him. "Why not?" she wasn't planning to, but she wanted to know what made him think he could order her around and her tone said as much.
"You aren't staying." He said again as if that was the end of it, he made to turn away but Sakura reached out boldly, and all she needed to do was brush her fingertips along the naked skin of his arm for him to tense and stop. "Why not?" she pressed and slowly his eyes turned to her and narrowed. "For the same reason Gaara knew that you wouldn't stay."
Sakura looked away abruptly, pulling her hand away from him. "Really?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"It's not because of…that." Sakura denied passionately. It wasn't because she loved him…not totally.
Sasuke simply lifted an eyebrow but he didn't offer her an answer.
"It isn't." she said before walking away from him, feeling his eyes on her all the way until she was inside.
One Step Closer
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Chapter 10 – Lying From You
"This isn't what I wanted to be,
I never thought that what I said would have you running from me."
Orochimaru set the mask on his face and Sakura lunged forward before she could stop herself, but Sasuke was too quick. He yanked her back and Sakura looked up at him desperately, begging him to let her go. To let her do this. Orochimaru began groaning painfully but Sakura paid him no mind. She kept staring up at Sasuke. Feeling his arms around her.
Sasuke didn't react at first, but slowly, and reluctantly his lips moved. No sound escaping them. He mouthed two words that Sakura had no idea would result in utter chaos in less than two minutes. 'Not yet.'
The ritual began and Sasuke bent down, his lips next to her ear. "I assume you know the basics of the jutsu since you were about to use it back in the cave,"
Sakura nodded wordlessly, her eyes not moving from Orochimaru's masked face and desperately trying to ignore the way his lips brushed against her ear and how hot his breath felt against her skin. "He'll sacrifice his own life to let the Death God possess him and then-" blood splattered from Orochimaru's stomach. "He'll cut the Death God's stomach and the seal will be undone."
Sakura knew the moment Orochimaru got his arms back, a blue chakra enveloped them and she sagged a little against Sasuke's hold. Getting rid of him would now be a lot harder than she first anticipated.
"Now he can perform the Edo Tensei jutsu."
"Juugo, Sasuke, Suigetsu! Get ready!" Orochimaru rasped, not even noticing the position Sasuke and Sakura were in.
Sasuke shoved Sakura away and she stumbled forward, spinning around to see several white Zetsu emerging from his body.
"What the…" she breathed in disbelief.
"Damn it!" the Zetsu yelled, "How did you-?"
"I know Hashirama's cells inside and out from my experiments." Orochimaru said, arm grasping his bleeding abdomen. "Including how to detect you, of course." He paused and Sakura could see something happening to him. "Six of you, huh? Tobi sure wasn't taking any chances."
Snakes escaped from his pants and slithered across the floor to the Zetsu, taking a hold of them while Juugo and Suigetsu jumped in to grab the remaining two. Sakura eyed Orochimaru in his weak state. Even with his arms – she could probably take him now. As if he could read her mind, Sasuke grabbed her wrist. She threw him a hostile glare, trying to rip her arm free but he yanked her back roughly, pinning her with another stare.
"Suigetsu, Juugo, take care of the remaining two!" Orochimaru ordered.
"Ok, Orochimaru-sama."
Sakura turned to see Suigetsu ripping the Zetsu's jaw open and she shivered in disgust.
"Edo Tensei no Jutsu!" Orochimaru's palm slammed down onto the floor and the Zetsu bodies began to respond.
"Now, here I come." Orochimaru's jaw cracked open and a snake emerged from his body.
"Now." Sasuke hissed, releasing her and Sakura kicked Suigetsu away from the Zetsu. He flew back, through the wall, while the Zetsu slumped to the floor. Orochimaru let out an angered scream and Sakura spun around to see him coming straight at her, for a moment she froze…did he intend to…take her body?!
She tried to call the Kusanagi blade but she froze, seeing those snake-like eyes lock on to her. A scream built up in her throat and she tried to push it away, not wanting to seem weak in front of Sasuke but suddenly – he was there, slashing through the snake with a clean cut – severing the head from the body inches from her face. Sakura stood dead still as the snake head fell to the ground with a sickening thud.
From the hole in the wall, Suigetsu let out a groan, crawling back to them. The Zetsu had since disappeared, having ran away and Sakura turned to look at Sasuke in shock. He simply shook his blade clean and returned it to its holster.
"Come with me." He said emotionlessly. Walking out of the room and up the stairs again and after a beat, Sakura followed him and it was only when they were outside and around the building that Sasuke shoved her against one of the walls and stared her down and simply said one word: "Talk."
x-x-x-x-
GAH THAT LAST NARUTO CHAPTER! THAT *LOOK* WAS SO POWERFUL! KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
*ahem*
Just read today's chapter and…I'm just sad. No spoilers though.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SASUKE-KUUUN!
Anyways, just another thanks to all my reviewers!
Zana-Lee
xoxo