Chapter 11~
Saya groaned out to the darkness surrounding her. She had a splitting headache that felt like the inside of her skull was being pounded at nonstop. She was sprawled on her stomach, her cheek resting against an ice-cold surface. Her limbs felt like stone, and as hard as she tried - she couldn't move. She squeezed her eyes tight; trying to recall what got her in this position. She remembered going after a Sound-Nin with white hair and glasses…
She ended up cashing him for the scroll he possessed…
She cornered him to the mountain side…
He had looked over at her and smirked… but not at her…
She tried to turn around… and received a blow to her head…
'Ah…I'm such an idiot…'
Was she dead? She didn't recall Heaven being anything like this…
'Lord, where am I?'
There was a sound of a door opening to her right and a ray of light hit her face like a well-aimed punch. She whined softly, closing her eyes from the sudden light and willing the white dots in her vision to go away. The door closed, cutting off the light from outside. Saya heard footsteps approach where she laid, but she remained still.
"I know you're awake."
She opened her eyes. Above her, the white-haired Sound-Nin stood. A torch had been lit by the door, displaying shadows across his face. She glared at him, unable to do anything else. "Why am I here?"
"You work for the Akatsuki."
"Really?" She responded sarcastically.
A tick in his jaw worked. "Master Orochimaru believes you will be of value to us."
"Orochimaru…" She repeated, recalling what Sasuke had said a while back. "What does he want from me?"
"Information on the Akatsuki."
"And if I don't cooperate?"
"You will be severely punished." A new voice joined in from behind the white-haired man. "You may leave now, Kabuto."
"Yes, Master." He turned and walked out the door. Only to be replaced with a tall, pale man with narrow yellow eyes.
"I'm guessing you're Orochimaru." Saya said dully.
"You are correct." He gave her a smile that chilled her bones. "And you would be smart to answer all my questions."
"Just so you can kill me when you're done," She sneered, "I don't think so."
His smile never wavered, "It would be less painful, I assure you."
She reframed from rolling her eyes, "Spare me."
"You doubt me," His eyes darkened, and she saw the glint of his fangs as he grinned at her. "I suggest you don't underestimate what I will do to you."
Saya gulped as his hand reached for her.
He stared down at her bloody form by where Kabuto was kneeled. the medic's hands glowed green as he continued to heal the wounds Orochimaru had inflicted on her hours ago. Sasuke could barely see past the blood covering her face and soaked in her clothes. He turned his head away from the sight, his eyes clenching shut.
"She should've just answered Master Orochimaru's questions," Kabuto murmured as his hands traveled to the stab through her stomach, "She might be dead already if she did."
Sasuke knew as well as anyone that Saya would never surrender, no matter the pain inflected on her. Even if it meant excruciating torture. And that's what Sasuke feared the most. He knew from experience that Orochimaru got what he wanted. And he enjoyed all the torture he had to use.
His eyes moved back to the unconscious woman on the ground. She had fainted shortly after the stab to her stomach, the most serious injury she had received. So far. Orochimaru had called them in as soon as she had fallen, instructing for Kabuto to heal her and inform him when she woke up. Then it would start all over again…
Sasuke wondered how long Saya would last-
He shook his head violently. Even if she was his brother's lover, even if she had betrayed him on some level, she was still one of the closet people to him. And she didn't deserve this.
Kabuto stood up, fixing his glasses as he did so. "I'm done. It's up to you whether or not you want to take her to a room. She's going to be here for a while. Just find me when she's up."
Sasuke didn't reply back as the man left. Now alone in the room, he pushed of the wall to knee beside the half-dead Kunoichi. Slipping his arms under her legs and back, he lifted her into his arms and stood. Balancing her in his arms, he walked out the door and left down the hallway.
The woman in his arms made a small noise as her head fell against his shoulder, but showed no signs that she had woken. He passed a number of closed doors before he reached the door to his very own room. Skipping that, he went for the room next to his, opened the door and walked into the dark room. The door closed behind him, enveloping him in complete darkness.
In the furthest corner of the room, Sasuke knew was where the bed was and headed in that direction as if he could see through the pitch black. Leaning down, he placed Saya on the bed before lighting the candle on the stand with a flick of his finger. He took a seat beside her still form, his back hunched with his elbows on his knees and head in his hands.
This was bad.
Sasuke glanced at Saya from the corner of his eyes. Shadows danced across her face, making her look deathly pale. Somewhere in his mind, he knew that Saya was going to die if this kept up. And even if she did answer Orochimaru's questions, which he doubted, she would still be a goner. It was a lose-lose situation.
A glimmer caught his attention. His eyes zeroed in on the sliver object around her neck. He reached for it without thinking, his hand stretching out to it. His fingertips brushed the cross…
Blue eyes snapped open and the once unconscious woman sat up with a start. Immediately, she let out a painful groaned and fell back to the bed, curling up in a ball on her side, her back to him. Gasps and whimpers escaped her and Sasuke could only place his hand on her shoulder till she stopped. When she did, Saya looked over her shoulder at him, tears in her eyes. "Sasuke?"
He nodded. "Lay on your back," He instructed gently. Slowly, and with his help, she did as he said. With her body stretched out like this, the pain came back tenfold, causing her to gasp and shut her eyes.
"Relax," Saya heard Sasuke say as his hand started rubbing up and down her arm comfortingly. "Where does it hurt?"
"That's such a stupid question." She smiled faintly, her eyes cracking open to stare at him.
Sasuke smirked lightly. "I'm trying to help you."
With her hand, she directed to her stomach.
"Just relax." He said, his hand moving under her shirt. She nodded, closing her eyes and taking even breaths in-and-out. His hands glowed greened in the dark as he did his best to rid her of pain. The tension drained from her body, and he knew it was working.
Silence passed, seeming eternal and albeit a bit nerve wrecking with their current dilemma.
"I'm sorry." Saya said quietly.
It took Sasuke a moment to fully understand what she was apologizing for and even then he could only shake his head. "Not as sorry as I am."
She seemed to be thinking her words over. "I wish it could have been different."
"Things happen." Sasuke murmured.
"Yeah," She agreed half-heartedly, "Speaking about 'things', what are we going to do about our situation?"
He didn't know. "You know what Orochimaru has planned, right?"
"I'm not going down without a fight."
"Just don't get yourself killed." Sasuke wished he wasn't so worried. Especially when Saya didn't reply.
"Where is the base?"
"Screw you." Saya gasped as she was held by her neck in the air. Orochimaru tsked before dropping her. "I should just get it over with and kill you."
She fell to her knees. "Whatever you say, asshole." She was rewarded with a slap, sending her sprawling to the ground.
"It would be wise to keep that mouth of yours shut."
"Like I give damn about your opinions." A kick to her side. Saya coughed up blood once again. This time purposely sending red droplets to the snake's feet. She grinned at him, a nasty image with the blood covering her mouth.
Orochimaru sneered at her. He leaned down to whisper darkly into her ear, "I'm getting tired of your pathetic games. This is your last chance to save your worthless life."
"That's what you've said every single time." Saya laughed cynically before spitting blood in his face.
Orochimaru gave her a look of pure disgust as he wiped the blood away before turning around and walking to the door.
"Is that it?" She asked dramatically, "Is that all you got?"
He looked over his shoulder at her, his eyes piercing, "You're starting to bore me. Be prepared to see the afterlife." He turned to the door. "You know what to do, Sasuke."
"Save me the drama." Saya yelled back. She sighed painfully when Orochimaru left and Sasuke stepped in form the sidelines.
"You're only killing yourself."
"If I'm going to die – I might as well go out with a bang."
Sasuke stared at her as he kneeled beside her form.
"Don't give me that look," Saya said quietly.
He gathered her into his arms as gently as he could and started for her room. "You're here with me, that's all I could ask for." She whispered by his ear.
Lying her down on the bed, he grabbed the wash towel placed inside the large bowl of water on the side and started wiping the blood away. "Thanks." Sasuke couldn't say anything as he continued cleaning her till the water turned red. Setting the bowl aside, he examined and healed her injuries. She had scratches and bruises all over her legs and arms, far too many to count. She was in pain; she had to be, even though she hid it.
He couldn't stand seeing her like this, beaten every single day, yet unwilling to give up. He just stood on the side, watching but not doing anything to stop it as her blood was shed. It made him feel ill.
"Sasuke, it's okay."
His throat constricted. He felt his emotional walls crack at her words of resignation. She talked as if everything was perfect, as if she wasn't about to die. Like the nightmare would end tomorrow. Falling to his knees beside the bed, he grasped her hand in his and held it to his chest, his head bowed in defeat. He felt her other hand run through his hair comfortingly.
"Everything will be alright. The Lord has prepared a room for me in His kingdom. And I will be welcomed with opened arms." Saya recited out loud, a sad smile gracing her lips.
She felt a tear leave her. 'I'm sorry, Itachi…'
