Author's Notes: (gulps) it's been a long time, neh? I've been a baaad author. Ehehehe… I'm so sorry. I feel so ashamed of myself. One update per week indeed. Hahha. I swear I'm never going to blame another multi-chaptered author ever again for not finishing a fic. I finally understand the horrors of lack of inspiration. (sigh) Nonetheless, I'm determined to not let this die so I'll try to continue. I've found renewed hope in this fic due to… ermm.. a recent influx of mushy things in my life. Yes, I'm inspired again. So yeah, I'll be finishing this… I hope. Hehe.. So, uhm, please, I know I've sinned… but please leave a review… they mean a lot to me and they do encourage me to keep on writing. I love reading all your insights. Thank you and I hope you'll enjoy this long-overdue update. Thanks to Kei for pointing our a really stupid-sounding typo. lol. XD Teehee

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

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Learning to Breathe: Chapter 9

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The smooth stone walls were cold against his back and chills were running up his spine. He couldn't shake off a vague feeling of apprehension about his current mission. The gargantuan mansion was too quiet, too devoid of life. There weren't any guards patrolling the corridors and he had yet to see a single servant. He had yet to break anybody's neck. And yet, it was in the dossier – that his target was an eccentric recluse. An Akatsuki member who had a great distrust for people of all walks of life. It made sense that there wasn't a living soul in sight but still he was uneasy. The lack of resistance was making him paranoid. Things were going too smoothly. Something in his gut told him that there was something amiss.

Lithely and ever so cautiously, he crept along the corridor, his gun poised to shoot. If he had maneuvered through the halls right, then he should be close to the target's bedroom. And sure enough, the door was at the very end, a huge oak door, elaborately decorated with small carvings of what seemed like demons and suffering souls. Strangely enough, the design was yet to be finished, a small portion of the door was littered with incomplete sculptures, looking strangely deformed and even more eerie than the ones that had already been completed. The door was slightly ajar, just enough to let someone in. It was fishy – how everything seemed to be falling too easily into place. But Sasuke thought no more of it. He knew that he had done everything right and was yet to be detected. There was really no valid reason to fret.

He was sweating profusely – a rare occurrence – and his breath was coming in short and raspy puffs. He was anxious – his instinct, his very being was rebelling against the thought of entering the room But he knew that he had to – he would not chicken out now, not when he was finally getting some real leads.

Swallowing, he grasped his gun more firmly in his hand and entered the room. The lighting was dim inside the room, and he had to let his eyes adjust for a few seconds before he could make out some of the forms. Over in the right side of the room was a huge four-poster bed, in front of him was a huge window, the window from which some of the light was coming from; just adjacent to the window was a big closet and a bookshelf. And adjacent to the bookshelf was a table. He could make out the vague form of a man slumped on the table, seemingly engrossed in whatever it was that he was reading.

His target.

He inched closer to the man, his gun poised and his footsteps expertly undetectable. Once close enough he pointed the gun's barrel directly over the guy's neck… only to feel a surge of panic when the gun's end met with something hard and hollow, something that was not quite like skin – wood.

"Uchiha Sasuke"

Click.

It was simultaneous, the sound of the click of a gun's safety and the hard pressure of something cold and metallic pressed against his temples. It was all he could do to keep his knees from shaking.

--

"Sakura… really, please! Sasuke-san told me to escort you back to Konoha!"

Childishly sticking her tongue out at her new friend, Sakura tightened her hold on one of Oto's dilapidated posts. It was nearing dark, and she knew for a fact that the curfew was only up until six in the evening today due to the recent developments in the war. She also knew that nobody was to be allowed outside during these hours, only the authorized soldiers – and Juugom who was currently trying to pry her hands off of the post, was not one of these privileged men.

If she played her cards right, she would be allowed to stay in Oto for another night, at least. And if she was lucky, Sasuke would return to Oto by then. Juugo did mention that Sasuke's current job was a quick one and that he'd probably be back within a day. She felt a bit bad that she had to put Juugo through so much trouble – but she knew she had to do this.

"Please Juugo! I don't want to go home. Let me stay here and wait for Sasuke-kun! This is important!"

"I've no doubt that the matter you're talking about is important, miss. But my life is also important, and do not appreciate having it endangered, important reason or not. Sasuke-sama is not a good sight to behold when his orders are not met."

"Oh come now, Juugo, he can't hurt you. Look at you! You're bigger than he is!"

Shaking his head, Juugo tried to muster the most pleading look that he could.

"Please, Sakura, my life's at stake here. It's a grave mistake to underestimate Sasuke-sama."

The poor giant really did look miserable. Okay, so she really was being selfish by doing this. And maybe Sasuke would really make the boy suffer if his orders were not met.

Sighing, she loosened her hold on the post.

"Fine…"

"Ah, don't look so dejected, Sakura-san, you just saved a man's life."

Sakura had the urge to glare at Juugo, who, though quite soft-spoken, actually held a bit of wry humor in his speech.

"Attention citizens. Everyone is to retreat into their homes as of this moment and stay there until curfew is lifted. In five minutes, anyone caught outside shall be kept in custody for the next 48 hours. I repeat. Retreat into your homes this very moment. In five minutes, anyone caught outside shall be kept in custody for the next 48 hours."

If Juugo's drawn-out groan was any indication, she might have just won this battle even if she had given up on the last minute. It was true, they probably wouldn't reach the gates, much less make it out of the city, in five minutes now, what with the sudden influx of people rushing to get to their homes. Smiling cheekily, she turned to her companion and looked at him expectantly.

"Fine. We'll stay at Suigetsu's place since it's closer. Better if you stay there and get delayed for a day than get thrown into prison and get delayed for two."

"Thank you Juugo-san."

"Don't thank me. You're going to have to explain all of this to Sasuke if he gets wind of this. And you better tell him that it's not my fault."

With a skip in her step and victory apparent in her face, Sakura let her new friend lead the way. Apparently, Suigetsu's place was only three houses away from where they were staying. Juugo walked up to the door and knocked. Three times, Juugo knocked, but nobody seemed to hear. Just as he raised his hand to knock again, some scuffling could be heard inside. And sure enough, just a few minutes later, a disgruntled man with tousled light blue hair and an overly crumpled shirt opened the door.

"What?"

Juugo didn't answer and merely pointed towards Sakura.

"I thought you were supposed to escort her to Konoha."

"I'll explain later."

"Sasuke won't like this…"

At this, Juugo gave a long sigh. As it was, Suigetsu moved aside to let them pass. Sakura smiled shyly before giving a small bow and uttering a small thank you.

"Suigetsu! What's taking you too long? Who are those people—oh!"

Sakura turned her head to see a woman with long red hair and black-rimmed eyeglasses emerge from one of the rooms. Juugo, who was in low spirits before was obviously alert now, his countenance filled with barely-hidden amusement.

"Karin, what are you doing in Suigetsu's place?"

Flustered and blushing intensely, the woman started pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

"What's it to you, oaf?"

"Just asking. No need to get all defensive. By the way, Karin and Suigetsu, meet Sakura."

"Sakura? Ah you mean the one Kabuto said Sasuke-kun was making out with!"

Now, it was Sakura's turn to be flustered as she felt both Juugo and Suigetsu staring at her with obvious astonishment. It was going to be a long night.

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"Let's stop by the motel first. It's no use to insist on reaching Oto tonight."

"But, Sakura-chan is—"

"Naruto, Shikamaru's right."

Grudgingly, Naruto conceded. Shikamaru always gave sensible advice. And though he wanted nothing more than to make sure that Sakura was safe and back in Konoha's hands, he knew that it would be rather risky to continue their trek in the cover of night. A car trying to reach Oto in too much haste would arouse suspicion.

Getting out of the car, Naruto had to admit that it was a little comforting to stretch his muscles a bit. They were getting rather stiff from too many hours of just sitting down. He looked up at the night sky, a sort of melancholy washing over him. He always liked watching the stars... he just wished that his two best friends were here to watch the stars with him instead of his two surly companions. Sighing, he dug his hand into his pocket, perturbed that the cold weight of his gun was once again a constant companion.

--

He couldn't fail – not now. How did it happen anyway? He did everything correctly. His instincts – he should have followed them! This could not happen… not now. No matter, not all hope was lost, he had to keep his wits about him. Keep calm… keep calm. Keep cool, stay in control...

"Akasuna no Sasori..."

His voice was barely above a whisper, but the menace in it was unmistakable.

"Yes, a pleasure to meet you. I've always wanted to meet Itachi-san's little brother."

The lights in the room were opened abruptly and Sasuke's eyes fought to adjust to the sudden brightness. With the whole room illuminated, he could now see that the one he was aiming at was actually a wooden puppet – a very realistic one at that. Humiliated and slightly angry at himself for getting fooled, Sasuke lowered his gun and grit his teeth.

"Don't…"

"Don't what?", he ground out, trying to keep his temper in check.

"Don't be ashamed of yourself."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes and looked sideways at his 'target'. It was bad enough that he was in this situation – but to be read so easily by someone he was supposed to kill – it was torture.

"You did everything perfectly, Sasuke-kun. And by all rights, I should be dead by now. But things aren't what they seem and there's a lot that you have yet to understand."

"What are you talking about?"

"You'll see what I mean soon enough, Sasuke. For now, put down the gun."

He had to keep his target talking – anything to stall the inevitable. He had to think of something, a way to escape. The gun had to go – he had no choice. As of now, he'd have to go with whatever Sasori ordered him to do if he waned to survive. He was at a big disadvantage. Sasuke tried to ponder on those cryptic words that Sasori had said earlier. He made no mistake in his skirmish, and Sasori knew and acknowledged that. He also said that things aren't what they seem – what things? Unless…

Suddenly, behind him, he heard the very familiar chuckle of someone he loathed with all his guts.

"Good evening, Sasuke-kun."

"Traitor…"

The word came out as a sinister hiss, brimming with so much hatred and malice that the offender had to stop his advance and keep his distance.

"Go on, Kabuto, don't be afraid."

And in emphasis, Sasuke felt Sasori press the gun further into his temple, the pressure strong enough now to cause a bruise.

"Yes, Sasori-sama."

"Your hands, Sasuke, place them behind your back."

Left with no alternative, Sasuke did as his captor told him to do. And sure enough, he felt the cold hands of Kabuto tying up his wrists. Immobilized, he had naught to do but wait, completely at the mercy of his enemies.

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TBC.