Authors Note:

We don't own Naruto...oh and thanks again to dark shadow400, who ever you are...Like we keep saying please review...Thanks. Enjoy! Pup.


It had been a week since Sakura had built up the courage to taunt and tease her once-kidnappers-now-friends. She was starting to build their trust and grew to know them as a big group of trouble makers. Once or twice a few of the males had come back injured and Sakura had made a fuss over their idiocy only to be held back by the others from throwing her temper on the wounded men. Poor Sai had learned the hard way not to call her something that she didn't want to be called. That is how they had proof to why she was her 'mother's daughter', when she got angry she let her fists do the talking. The bushrangers were more warm to her than anything, Sasuke being the only one still reluctant about giving up any information about his past life claiming that "you're our hostage, you don't need to know anything that doesn't concern you".


Everyone but Sakura and Ino had been left to look after the house as the others went and restocked their cupboards with weapons, food and clothes. Ino had taken the liberty of claiming the couch for some extra rest and with no one conscious or home Sakura was left to her own devices.

There was a knock at the door, Sakura walked carefully towards the metal barrier. She opened the door ajar and peered out only to have red cover her view.

"Karin?"

"SAKURA! I've missed you!" The door was flung open and Karin burst through the door, knocking the pink haired girl over.

"What are you doing here. You could be hurt or worse captured." Sakura whispered, glancing around to see if Ino was still snoring away on the couch.

"I came to get you back."

"Why?"

"Don't you care that your cousin came all this way to try and find you."

"I do care let's go. I do like the people here but I missed you and mother."

"Come on."

The two girls ran outside Karin's dress whipping behind her, which contrasted to Sakura's pants that clung to her. They had made it into the denser part of the forrest and decided to take a breather.

"That was close. Someone could have followed us...goodness knows who would be out there?" Karin said panting.

"I know." Sakura exclaimed, happy to be finally free. She embraced her cousin and Karin immediately responded by returning the hug.

"Well well well..." The girls pulled away from each other.

"Kabuto." Sakura hissed.

"Dear, little Sakura...I can not believe that you still remember me after five years away from that pathetic village of yours."

"What do you want." She said, stepping protectively in front of her cousin, shielding her from the man's taunting view.

"Sakura...We should go." Karin urged, placing a hand on the pinkette's shoulder.

"No. Why are you here?"

"Rouges can go anywhere. Be behind any bush, tree and perhaps pretend to be someone you know."

The hand on Sakura's shoulder tightened. She turned her head to face her now grinning cousin.

"Fooled you cousin. See you when you wake up." Sakura felt something hit the back of her neck and she descended into darkness.


"WE'RE BACK! HINATA, IT'S RAMEN TIME!"

"Shouldn't we check up on the two before digging into food." Kankuro suggested. He had grown fond of the pink haired girl ever since she had saved him from that almost fatal attack.

Temari made her way over to the sleeping girl on the couch.

"Psst. Ino...Wake up." She gently shook her friend's shoulders.

"huuuuu? What... Oh hey guys your already back...Forehead should be in her room."

"Ok thanks." Temari straightened her position and turned towards the direction of Sakura's room.

"MY YOUTHFUL CHERRY BLOSSOM IS NOT THERE!"

Lee came tearing down the hallway. Screeched to a stop at the entrance, puffing, ranting about how nothing was touched and how there was no sign of Sakura ever being in her room that day. The rest of the group turned to look at Ino, who in turn raised her hands in defense.

"Look I was asleep...you can't blame me."

"That is exactly why we are blaming you PIG!" Naruto retorted.

"Hey at least I did my job!"

"For all we know SHE COULD HAVE TAKEN OFF."

"Enough!" Kakashi yelled in exasperation.

"What the Hell are we going to DO!"

"Shut up..." Mumbled Sasuke, head down in concentration.

"She could have been Kidnapped..."

"IDIOT NO ONE WOULD KIDNAP THE KIDNAPPED!" Kankuro added, pouring more fuel to the fire.

"Shut up." Sasuke said more forcefully.

"WELL DUMB ASS...THE AKATSUKI COULD HAVE TAKEN HER!" Naruto yelled.

"THE Akatsuki aren't anywhere near here." Ino commented on the side.

"Stay out of this!"

Sasuke was getting more and more irritated by the second.

"What if..."

"SHUT UP!" Sasuke almost screamed. Every one became quiet as his rage was seen seeping out of his demeanor. This was quite out of character for him and everyone was shocked to see him become enraged over a person.

"Thank you!"

He sighed while walking over to the door. There was something wrong with what had happened...no signs if struggling, she must have gone willingly. The Akatsuki would have had nothing to do with this. As he was thinking, a tiger snake crossed his path. Sasuke removed his gun and shot the deadly creature with no remorse...but that triggered a thought...

"Shit!" Off he took. Grabbing his horses reigns and galloped off without looking back...This was bad if she was taken by those people.

"Hey! Where Are You Going!" Naruto called out after his friend...looking to where Sasuke had stood he spotted the dead reptile..."Oh no..."

"W-w-what's wrong" asked Hinata.

"Yeah, why is he behaving so strangely?" Inquired Anko.

"I think I have a feeling where Sakura is and if I am right, there is no telling what Sasuke will do." Naruto said as he walked outside and looked to where their leader had ran to.


Sakura's P.O.V

The first thing I saw when my eyelids fluttered open were... Dim lights. Not the kind that you see in those old outback houses... You know, the lights that need to be replaced soon. No. They were more like the kind that were dim like that on purpose. It was all intentional.

Just like what Karin just did to me.

She betrayed me. Intentionally. She literally handed her own blood over to a monster. The monster whose face I really didn't want to see again.

Oh look... Here he is now.

I forced myself to sit up, only the heavens knew where I was. And I stared him dead in the eyes. Those horrid snake-like eyes that sent cold hard shivers up and down my spine.

I'd prefer onyx over these any day. Definitely. Onyx is so much better. Warm and mysterious onyx. Those gorgeous pools of darkness that make me lost in them for days. Oh yeah, onyx is definitely my favored-

Wait! ... What?

Ugh! I must've meant pearl coloured eyes... Like Neji's... Oh... Neji.

"Daydreaming are we?" My thoughts were cut short when a serpent-like voice boomed throughout the room.

"Orochimaru," I hissed through tightly gritted teeth.

"My my my, you've grown into quite the woman, eh Sakura."

I winced at the way he said my name. It was absolutely disgusting. And completely laced with malice. The way Orochimaru talked... He actively wanted people to fear him. He wanted to be intimidating.

And it was working.

"So how's your mother? Tsunade... Ah! Brings back nice memories. Oh yes."

I shot a deathly glare at the man, I loathed the way he spoke. Like a snake approaching its prey. Deadly and discreet.

I would've already punched this slithering nightmare of a man, if my arms and legs weren't restricted by thick, tight ropes.

"Shut up." I growled.

"Oh, well, that's not very nice is it? Perhaps I should just kill you right now...?"

"SHUT UP!" I screamed and then gasped, doing a double take, suddenly noticing how fast Orochimaru had appeared before me. And I felt the unforgiving, icy feel of a knife blade press to my wrist. Immediately tensing, I realized that all the sadistic humor was gone in his voice. Orochimaru was a ball of rage.

"You sure like to talk don't you? Well maybe, after I'm done cutting up your wrists, I'll move onto your mouth. Trim the lips off first; top before bottom. And then, maybe I'll shred your skin... Maybe dice... Oh yes, dicing is very nice to watch. The way the tiny squares fall to the ground. Like flakes. What do you think of it, Sakura, dear?"

I bit my lip tightly. But when I felt the blade pierce through the soft flesh on my wrist, I couldn't help it. I screamed. I screamed out the very first name that came to mind. The very first name I think of whenever the word 'onyx' pops up. The only person who COULD save me right now, but probably wouldn't.

"SASUKE!"

No answer.

"Hehehe," Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "That Sasuke boy, you speak of, I remember him... Oh what a cute boy... He's a lot like his big brother, Itachi..."

I didn't hear much more than that because my ears were screaming, as was my whole body. I winced and bit my lip even tighter as the blade entered my flesh once again.

I screamed His name out again. And again. And again.

Slap.

My eyes abruptly averted to a more-than-furious Orochimaru. "Shut up, you stupid girl. Your pathetic boyfriend isn't coming to save you."

My eyes stung. And tears threatened dangerously, to fall. I finally let out a quiet whimper.

"Aww... You giving up already? I was just getting to the exciting part..."

My vision was blurring fast and my mind was becoming hazy. How much blood was I losing...? There's a certain amount of blood loss a person can take before they pass out. Mother told me that. Damn... Is this the end of the line for me...? Damn it.

"Stop..." I whispered. "Stop it... What do you want from me...?"

Orochimaru laughed. It was quite sadistic, really. I was too tired to scream anymore. Besides, it's not like anyone's coming to save me. It's not like the bushrangers were actually my friends... I was their 'pet'... Nothing more...

I bowed my head down as the tears came streaming down my face. I'm so stupid. So naive.

Damn it.

SLAM.

That's the door isn't it? It sounded like the door. I'm not sure... I was fighting the urge to fall unconscious.

"Oh my!" Orochimaru faked surprise at the new arrival. "How you've grown, Sasuke! I could hardly recognize you!"

Sasuke...

SASUKE!

My head shot up and ignoring the thumping of my head, I blinked several times to clear my vision, and stared into Sasuke's eyes. Jade clashed with onyx. He averted his gaze to Orochimaru, and those pools immediately hardened, overflowing with hatred.

"Well then remember this!" He yelled, throwing a solid punch, hitting Orochimaru square in the face. The man stumbled back, clutching his nose. Judging by the amount of force Sasuke applied in that hit, his nose was surely broken, in the least.

Sasuke quickly grabbed hold of my wrist, ready to pull me onto his horse when I yelped, wincing in pain. His gaze abruptly switched to my bloodied arms, and after one glimpse, I could already see him shaking with rage.

Orochimaru accurately tossed the blade in his hand, at Sasuke, angrily. Quickly lifting me by the waist, Sasuke threw me onto his stallion's back. Dodging the dagger expertly, he shot two bullets in Orochimaru's direction.

The door slammed open again and I could tell by the loud cries, that it was Naruto. But I was too tired. Leaning down on the horse's back, I struggled to keep awake.

"Dobe, take her and go." I heard Sasuke order.

"Aww! Sasukeeeee! I wanna piece of him, thoughhhh," The blonde whined.

"Fine. Get over here and make yourself useful. Idiot."

Naruto hooted, shooting at Orochimaru. The three males engaged in ruthless combat. Soon enough, the rest of the bushrangers came pouring in.

I had absolutely no idea what was going on in the fight, but I didn't think anybody was injured. 'That's good', I thought inwardly.

Temari rushed over to me and gasped. "She's losing blood! Fast!"

"N-N-Naruto, what should w-we d-d-do?" Hinata stammered, wide-eyed.

"Teme! Take Sakura and go back to base!"

Sasuke shot his best friend a look that read 'who do you think you are, to be ordering me around?!'

"She'll die if she doesn't get back to base immediately! And that would mean all our effort of coming here, goes to waste. And besides, your horse hates everyone but you!"

Sasuke's gaze switched between the fight and my extremely pale-looking body on his horse's back. He sighed inaudibly. "Hn."

Pulling himself up onto his stallion, careful not to injure me, further, Sasuke kicked it into gear and we were off.


I forced myself to sit up. And believe me, it took a whole lot out of me.

"You... You guys came to save me... Why?"

"Hn. Don't you shut up, even when you're on the verge of death?"

I afforded a quiet chuckle. "No... But, why?"

"Hn. You're our captive."

I nodded. That seemed a good enough reason. I mean, what was the point of letting me live this long, only to be kidnapped by someone else?

"... You're a nice person Sasuke. Thank you for saving me."

The raven haired man didn't say anything for quite sometime, as if he was contemplating something. His eyes looked indecisive.

He then, quietly, spoke up. "Hn... You wanted to know about my past?"

My head shot up. Really?

"Y-Yes. Of course."

"Hn..."