Title; Seraphim
Disclaimer; Nope I don't own any of the Naruto characters.
Chapter Ten;
I awoke to find myself standing in a large dirty and dank room.
"I'm disappointed Sasuke...I thought you'd manage to run much longer than this." Sung a tall pink haired woman her face somehow unrecognisable to me as she meandered her away slowly over towards a fallen man crumbled against a nearby wall, two dozen men flanked each of her sides.
The dark haired man looked up and I was surprised to see Sasuke's face stare up at the people surrounding him, a shallow cut decorated his cheek leaking blood to drip down his face, naked terror danced in his eyes. I was shocked to see the man I thought I knew so well cowering and frantically searching for a way to escape.
How was this possibly Sasuke's cruelty.
"T-that's not my name!" Sasuke bit out his voice cracking in fear.
The woman moved very quickly.
She had Sasuke pinned against the wall with only one arm, his legs dangled uselessly above the ground while his arms tried to break her grip on his neck with no success, she tightened her grip and glared sinisterly at her captive.
"You are Sasuke. And you are mine." Growled out the woman harshly before crashing her lips against Sasuke's as he trashed desperately in vain, when the woman pulled away fresh blood coursed down the Uchiha's chin from his bruised and cut lips.
Terror reigned upon his face for several slow moments where I felt myself quake in the horror of the situation as Sasuke struggled, I was at a loss for why I was being shown this vision; it was a horror that I didn't want to see, I didn't want to see Sasuke like this it seemed somehow like an evasion of privacy.
Suddenly Sasuke stopped moving, his face went slack. Angrily the woman slammed the man back into the wall harshly causing the wall to crack under the pressure, she seemed upset at being ignored by Sasuke, his eyes had shut.
I saw a familiar carefully neutral expression decorate Sasuke's face as he opened his eyes, instead of the ordinary dark orbs a scarlet pair stared unfocused at his attackers.
His left hand darted up and caught the pink haired woman's wrist. A bolt of snake like lightning raced up his forearm and onto the woman's searing and cutting open the skin as it went and forced the woman to jump away from Sasuke.
Half of the men dashed forward to attack the Uchiha despite the woman's shouts to stop.
As the first man got in arms reach I expected Sasuke to simple bat him away or knock him out, maybe even kill him...but I never expected the way he did react.
Faster than the woman had moved Sasuke struck out and grabbed the man by the throat with his right arm and as quickly as one would strike a match the man's body burst into flames, his dying scream's struck me to the core.
His left hand shot out toward the second man his index and middle finger extended; a flash of light later and a solid bolt of lightning stretched from Sasuke's finger tips and cut through the man's throat, cruelly he tore his lightning blade from the man and cut two more in two with it.
A fifth man approaching Sasuke from behind had his head crushed by a spinning elbow, a straight punch and a flash of lightning pierced a sixth man's torso.
Despite all of this carnage wreaked by one man in a manner of seconds another of the men still dashed forward a baton in his hand, like a ghost Sasuke moved forward knocking the baton from the man's hand, his other hand moved to the man's chest.
I smelled the scent of burned flesh and knew Sasuke had just burned a rune into the man's chest, his scream's rang dully in my ears as Sasuke's palm hit the man's chest knocking him several feet back into the other men and the woman, only the woman had the sense to move putting as much distance between herself and the rune marked man as possible.
The Uchiha clicked his fingers and the Rune Lord technique I recognised, how I don't know, as the Uchiha's Fire Storm ignited.
The man who had been decorated with the Rune exploded into a ball of flames that roasted him and his comrades, their agonising screams bursting over the sounds of the flames.
I didn't notice them, I was too numb to as I took in the sight of the last two still living beings in the room.
The pink haired woman sat crouched where she had landed after jumping away from the flames, Sasuke stood across from her, lightning blazing along one arm and flames dancing on the other.
"Sasuke...that was magnificent." Purred the woman standing and slowly making her way toward Sasuke, she swayed her hips invitingly and ran her hands down her body from the tops of her modest breasts to her mid-thigh; she let out a shaky breath of excitement as she stared at Sasuke the expression on her face akin to hunger.
"Why...did you attack me?" he asked slowly a cruel glare still etched on his face, the last of the screams from the fire died at last.
"He was trying to take you from us, but now you're you again at last Sasuke." Laughed the woman now within reach of Sasuke's dangerous hands, something deep inside me begged for him to kill her too.
"He?" questioned Sasuke harshly reaching forward and grabbing the woman's arm threateningly, the lightning and flames had subsided but I still smelled a faint burning that told me his powers were brimming just beneath the surface.
Instead of scream in pain and trash the woman moaned in satisfaction actually pulling and moving the Uchiha's hand up against her body instead, I smelled more faint burning as his hand connected with her lean stomach; Sasuke seemed as bewildered if not more so than myself.
"That's not so important now love, I've got you back that's all that matters." Whispered the pinkette lazily raising her bloodied arm and languish licking the blood from her index finger with a moan of satisfaction.
The flames behind them died at last leaving only charred corpses and the lingering smell of a painful death.
"Nobody makes me bleed as good as you Sa-su-ke." Breathed the girl trailing her 'cleaned' index finger over the back of the Uchiha's hand in a simple pattern, there was more sizzling.
Sasuke looked quite taken aback at the woman's behaviour but suddenly stilled unnaturally at the girls ministrations, to my horror I realised that the woman had bound him.
The moment didn't last long as Sasuke seemed to simply shrug off the Rune's effect.
"Pathetic." Growled the Uchiha darkly as the girl seemed only more delighted at Sasuke's abilities.
They moved almost in synch the woman's hands darting to the top of her vest, the sudden movement triggered Sasuke's own movement as he seemed to reach out and summon one of the fallen men's guns to his hand deftly catching it and levelling it at the pink haired woman.
Magnetism.
The woman didn't draw any weapon however, just slowly lowered the zip of her top her breasts popping out from the tight material before she removed it completely; one hand trailed its way up to grasp one of her breasts while the other took hold of the hem of her shorts.
"Come on Sasuke, let's...celebrate." purred the girl licking her lips as she pushed herself up against the dark haired man, Sasuke himself still looked surprised at the girl.
I was back in the seers cabin.
"Why..." I croaked, breathless and flushed at the experience I'd just had I wanted nothing more than to regain my breath and murder this foul woman.
"Why what darling?" asked Anneil in a sickly sweet voice.
"Why did you show me that?" I asked managing to get enough breath into my lugs to speak clearly.
"Isn't it obvious?" asked the ancient in her pseudo-sweet tone.
"You want me to leave Sasuke." I stated with a harsh conviction glaring at the woman, I wanted my damn gun.
"Well yes, that certainly would be pleasant. But I doubt such a thing is going to happen anytime soon." Stated the woman casually, I actually heard myself growl lowly in my throat as my anger bubbled.
"But beyond that with what you've seen perhaps you will now trust the brat to handle fighting the dangerous enemies, if you get involved in fighting the monsters chasing him it will be the death of you." Spoke Anneil coldly, I however didn't believe her.
"Bullshit!" I exclaimed loudly, and I was certain that where ever she was Tenten would be proud; I couldn't help myself something within me was reacting strongly and violently to the threat on Sasuke.
Maybe it was the bond.
"Excuse me!" snarled Anneil visibly upset.
"You heard me, you just want me to abandon Sasuke when he needs me the most." I returned heatedly the fire pooled in my belly refusing to cool.
"You forget yourself you insolent girl, I tell no lies and see only the truth of things. Ignorance will not protect you from my wrath fool!" exclaimed the woman raising to her full height and glaring down on me.
Behind me I heard the door swing open seemingly on its own.
"Leave me now." Commanded the woman retaking her seat and closing her eyes apparently refusing to acknowledge me, I turned on my heel to leave without another word.
"Return to me, when you remember the truth of things." Spoke the woman solemnly, I didn't pause in my stride.
I found Sasuke leaning against the car waiting for me, the sunlight was fading over the horizon painting the scene in warm hues of orange and gold.
"How long was I in there?" I asked feeling my anger ebb away now that I was out of that woman's presence.
"Not too long." Answered Sasuke opening the door for me to get in, he smiled gently at me for a moment.
I decided then that even if Anneil was telling the truth I wouldn't take the risk, maybe it was the bond we shared but I couldn't stand the idea of any harm coming to Sasuke.
He pulled out of the dirt road leading to Anneil's cabin and it was several minutes before I realised he was either taking the long way to the motel or else he had another destination in mind first.
I decided I'd make use of the time with a couple of question's for my companion.
"D-did you ever know a woman with pink hair?" I asked, this might test the honesty of Anneil's vision.
"Yes, we were quiet good friend's at one point too." He answered simply, you wouldn't have noticed the reaction unless you were watching for it and knew Sasuke subtlety well enough to interpret.
His jaw clenching by a miniscule amount, the wooden steering wheel giving a quiet squeak of protest as he tightened his grip.
"W-were you intimate?" I asked feeling a bright blush spread its way across my features, I hoped silently that it wasn't too noticeable but also realised it was pointless, Sasuke noticed everything.
"Not that I can recall, I think we were married at one point but it wasn't really a big deal...or legal within the order I think." He returned and it was all I could do to stare at him incredulously, who didn't consider a marriage of any sort as not a big deal.
"What happened, you said you 'were' friends?" I enquired hoping that I wasn't prying to deeply.
"I left the order, and that made her my enemy; she made that clear to me. She had also become demented, which I was told was my fault actually." He responded again in his detached emotionless tone, I wondered not for the first time if he's wasn't in some way mentally damaged
"What are the Orders actually Sasuke, you never really explained it?" I asked hoping to change the topic to an easier subject for the Uchiha, beside's I was still kinda curious about these Orders.
"Well I can only say for sure how the Konoha Order works; it's not really like a business partnership or a social club though element's of both certainly come into play. More so the Order in like a religion, they all believe that they were put on this Earth to serve God, the Hokage is the head in this department, they believe the Hokage is God's representative their commandeer if you will, and the Hokage is given what's best described as an A+ Rank seal, but in the end the Hokage is for the most part a figure head." Answered the Uchiha and I tried my best to get my head around the information.
"So who actually runs the order?" I asked, if the Hokage was a figurehead someone else would have to decide the law's and handle the running of the order.
"The Order is actually run by the council and the Minister, there are twenty seats on the council divided between the most influential clans, the Uchiha and Hyuuga both have a seat each; the Minister is elected by the clanless within the order and has the ability to nominate any law he or she feels is bias to a public vote." Lectured Sasuke pulling to a stop at a set of traffic lights, he racked his left hand through his hair carefully; a sign I recognised to mean he was tense, I wondered if it had anything to do with the premonition from Anneil.
"Then there are the warriors, Genin have one seal; Chunin have two seals C rank or below, usually a lesser clan seal and an order Seal two C's or an order Seal and a lesser Order seal a C and a D; Jonin have two seals with one B Rank or above, usually one nobility seal and one commoner Seal a B and a C; Anbu are the elite and are given an A rank seal by the Hokage themselves, as they were formally Jonin this usually gives them an A, a B and a C seal. They're incredibly dangerous." Explained Sasuke and I had to get him to repeat himself before I remembered all the letters in the correct sequence, I didn't know how useful the information may be but I reasoned that it couldn't hard and focused on committing it to memory.
A couple of more minutes passed by uneventfully.
"Did you enjoy it their?" I was back to the personal questions, but it didn't seem fair to just grill him endlessly for information.
"At first, my precious people were part of the Order." He answered with a practised ease, I wondered if he hadn't been anticipating the question for some time now.
"What happened?" I asked after a moment's hesitation, Sasuke didn't seem to tense so I reasoned I didn't need to be too careful with what I said.
"Some of those people died and the Order became a threat to the ones I had left." Those words spoken so calmly sent a shiver up my spine that I forced myself to ignore.
"We're not going to the motel are we Sasuke?" I asked even though I knew the answer.
"I've got a bad feeling and I want to return to the cabin." He answered refusing to elaborate beyond that; I wondered if it had not do with the fact that the first day of spring was only two days away.
"Don't walk away from me Hinata!" I heard him growl lowly in his throat, had we been anywhere else I wouldn't have heard him, I would have an excuse; but here we were in this lonely silent village in the middle of the night.
I heard his words crystal clear.
I didn't break my stride just kept my hasty pace away from him.
"Hinata, look at me please." I felt his hand wrap tightly around my bicep, he always was faster, I felt the contact of his skin on mine and tried not to lean into his touch; I expected him to spin me around, confront me directly, he didn't; we just stood there for a moment silently the wind playing gently with my hair, I could feel his energies mingle and mix with mine.
I waited another minute before I decided to take the initiative if he wouldn't, I slapped his hand from my arm harshly and spun to face him a scalding remark on the tip of my tongue.
Then I felt his lips gently brush against my own in a soft kiss.
I pushed him away lashing out with a punch that connected solidly with his chest, I took a dark pleasure to hear him exhale sharply in pain.
"Leave me alone Sasuke!" I called my mind still reeling from the soft kiss; I had forgotten my scalding remark; my voice had grown louder than I had wanted it too; and I had used his name, I didn't want to do that, it felt too good when I was supposed to hate him.
"So you're just going to forget that kiss too." He returned and I felt my breath catch in my throat; I had been sure he was asleep, it was just a meaningless kiss, a flight of fancy on an exhausted whim.
But he wouldn't believe me...I didn't even believe me.
"And what about Hanabi huh? Have you forgotten her Sasuke?" I screeched unable to contain myself; I had used his name again and I wasn't supposed to feel this way for him, he was my sisters murderer.
Sasuke's reaction was immediate, Hanabi seemed to be the only thing that really got any reaction out of him, for a moment I regretted my words. His eyes widened slightly and his breath took a sharp hitch, for any other man it wouldn't have been a reaction but for Sasuke it was a scream of agony.
I wondered had he really not expected me to bring her up, no he was far to intelligent for that; maybe it was the anger in my tone he hadn't quite expected, he'd only ever seen me angry once before this; maybe it was the accusation that he's forgotten about her; or just maybe he had expected all that and then some and in the end there are simply some wounds that we can't prepare or brace ourselves for.
"That's not fair." He whispered his eyes narrowing dangerously.
I didn't care.
"Well if that's not it then maybe I get to just fill in, we're sisters after all; a little imagination and you can probably forget it's me and not her your with!" I accused him furiously, it was all coming out now, a bottle had been opened and I couldn't close it.
"Hinata..." he began voice low, ready to convince me that I was wrong; that he hadn't forgotten my sister; or that he wasn't using me as a substitute.
"Well Sasuke let's here the excuse. Was six months not enough time to fall in love after all, and you realise that after falling for me; did guilt and grief fool your heart into believing you loved the woman who sacrificed herself for you? Well what is it? Convince me Sasuke!" I don't know when the tears began to fall; I was losing track of how often I spoke his name, and that I was supposed to feel bad about it; I don't know when me insult became an honest request for to convince me.
I wanted him to convince me that it was alright.
I wanted it to be alright.
He stepped forward and pulled me into his warm embrace, I didn't struggle as I felt his arms surround me and his chin rest lightly atop my head.
"Hinata I did love Hanabi..." I felt my heart constrict in my chest, his guilt had caught up with him and he'd only been using me as a replacement; same eyes, nose and lips; a rounder jaw line, fractionally darker hair and an unfortunately slightly pudgier body.
It was close enough I guess.
"It was like a firework, instantaneous. I love you though Hinata, and it's different. Like a slow cloudy sunrise the more I watched you the more of your light I saw shine through the clouds." He continued, rocking me reassuringly in his arms.
"I've lived a dozen lifetimes Hinata, isn't it possible I found love twice?" he asked and it sounded fair, Hanabi had been the love of his life but he had died since, isn't it possible for him to find another love of his life, this life he's living now.
I stifled my tears and pushed away from him.
"That's not good enough Uchiha." I spoke resolutely, I had to end it now; Sasuke and I couldn't he together it wasn't fair to Hanabi; and it wasn't fair to me I knew despite his sweet words he'd see her in me, that would be all he'd really see.
And yet there was no reaction, no change to his blank expression; I suddenly hated that, I could still remember the tears from the day we met, the tears for Hanabi; and I could barely get a blink out of the man.
It was infuriating.
He deserved to feel pain.
He opened his mouth to speak but I beat him to it, ready to drive the final nail into the coffin.
"I've lived just as long as you, and I have only one love. The love of my existence and it isn't you Sasuke! You disgust me." I spat regretting every word I spoke more, this wasn't like all the time's I half heartedly told him I hated him on principle; there was no shortage of venom in my words, not an ounce of suppressed rage or concealed anger.
For the first time since we'd met Sasuke was the one to turn and walk away from me; I should have felt relieved, I would be at peace again and I wouldn't have him shadowing every step I took.
So why did I feel to hollow.
"I...I...I." I called to his back, my emotion's turbulent as I couldn't figure out exactly what I felt for this man, what I wanted to tell him.
I'm sorry,
I'm afraid, no,
I'm terrified, and
I'm pushing you away.
I want you to stay.
I think I've fallen in love a second time too.
I need you.
I love you.
Don't go.
"I...I hate you." There was only the sound of the wind for a moment, the whistle of it racing through the tree branches and the rustling of the leafs; it was several seconds before I realised just what I had said.
Sasuke still stood there, silently.
"I know." He whispered quietly, so quietly I wasn't sure I even heard him correctly.
And then he was gone and I was alone.
Okay folks that's it for this chapter, funny story it actually got deleted off my computer and I had to rewrite it from memory, so sadly I have not bothered to proof read the damn thing, I apologise for that but I just don't have the energy.
Please leave me a nice big review, me love you long time if ya do and all that jazz.
R&R