Chapter 11

Sakura's POV

It has been a month since Sasuke disappeared. I can barely stand it. As much as I hate to admit it, I fell for him…hard. Somehow, I feel as if it is my fault…like I drove him away. That also may be that he told me to leave before he ran out. I just don't understand.

I hear a knock on the door. "What?" I say in a shaky voice that is probably caused by my tears.

"Sakura let me in…"

"Neji go away."

"Sakura…"

"I said go away."

"I can't believe you let that bastard destroy you like this."

"Don't talk about him like that!"

"Sakura I have been a good friend of Sasuke for years but it's time to face the facts. He isn't coming back."

"Shut up…"

"He has been gone for a month after all. He has never been gone for this long… Face it Sakura, he ditched us…"

"I said shut up!"

"Neji go fuck yourself…"

"What's wrong with you Naruto?"

"She's hurting can't you tell that? Jeez…why Ten Ten is dating you continues to confuse me…you are not in tune to girls' feelings at all are you?" I hear their argument continue and I place my head on my knees until I hear Neji's voice fade away.

"Sakura? Can I please come in?"

"No…"

"Sakura…" I hear him sigh before continuing. "He did not leave because of anything you did…whenever he leaves, he always has his reasons. He's left before but he always comes back. He always comes back…" I get up from my position on the bed as he continues to comfort me. I open the door and run into him, embracing him and crying into his chest. "Oh Sakura…I'm so sorry…I wish there was something I could do." I look up at him.

"You've already done enough."

Sasuke's POV

I lie down on my back and close my eyes baking in the sunlight. I try to fall asleep…to get rid of these thoughts and feelings…this emptiness and regret…

The sun here feels different than in the city. It feels cleaner and warmer somehow. As I lay there, I finally begin to doze off for the first time in days. Then I am disturbed.

"You alwight mithter?" I open one eye and see a young girl, age 5 or 6 from the looks of it. Her brown hair is hanging on both sides of her face and she is staring down at me with an expression that lies somewhere between confused and concerned.

"Yea fine. A little suicidal maybe but fine…"

"What's thuithidal mean?"

"Nothing…"

"Oh okay…you wook hungwy."

"Not really." My stomach grumbles, giving me away.

"Sure…come with me mithter."

"Come where?"

"To my houthe of courthe."

"That really isn't necessary."

"Just come on." She grabs my hand and pulls me up with strength equal to that of a professional weight lifter. (That's really strong XD)

"Whoa…" She still does not let go of my hand as she pulls me out of the clearing and through the woods. We walk for several minutes before I see a small cottage. "This is your house?"

"Just wait until you thee the inside…" She leads me inside the house and I see nothing that would make her exited to show me. "LEADER!" I cover my ears from the suddenness of her scream. "He must be downstairs."

"Downstairs?" She pulls a book off of the one bookcase and just as I am about to sigh, the bookcase slides up and a staircase is revealed. Without letting go of my hand, she begins to lead me down the staircase we pass several figures and she stops to talk to one.

"Keiko…"

"What?"

"Leader isn't going to be very pleased…"

"He can get mad if he wants…"

"Alright but don't come crying to me when he yells. Good Luck…"

"Thanks!" The figure continues to walk up the staircase.

"This really isn't necessary. I don't want your leader to get upset with you…"

"It's okay mithter…just show him your mark…"

"Mark?"

"Yea the one on your neck."

"It's a tattoo."

"You don't have to wie to me mister." We reach the bottom of the staircase and she walks up to a tall man with dark hair. "Hi Leader!" He turns but his smile disappears as soon as he sees me.

"Keiko I thought we talked about this…"

"Yeth but he's different."

"How?"

"Well he's one of uth."

"How do you know?"

"Go ahead…Show him mithter." I sigh before pulling down the collar of my shirt to completely reveal the "mark". I hear gasps from all around although I do not know why.

"He is one of us…in fact he is the one."

"Huh?"

"We all knew you would come."

"Whoa…hold it…backtrack…or better yet start over."

"You don't know of the prophecy?"

"Prophecy?"

"I'll take that as a no. Follow me." I stuff my hands in my pockets and follow the man as he walks down a long corridor and down another winding staircase. Now I understand what Keiko meant by 'Wait until you see the inside.'