PS I do not own "Naruto" it belongs to Masashi Kishimoto ©
Wear your memory like a stain,
can't erase or numb the pain,
here to stay with me forever...
"Ghost of you" by Selena Gomez
Sakura looked around the small room. The few burning candles in the corners and the one placed on what seemed like a wooden desk were bathing the place in orange-golden light, adding even more to the already depressing atmosphere. There were no windows, only a small fist-sized shaft high on the stone wall, probably for air changing. The kunoichi tilted her head to one side and narrowed her eyes, stepping further inside the room. She reached her hand and moved the heavy crimson curtain, hanging on the wall across the door. The veil revealed the rest of the room – a single bed with neatly folded blankets and sheets, placed on the chair next to it.
Her eyes lingered on it and she sighed, turning around to face the man standing at the doorstep, "Bathroom?"
The masked shinobi chuckled, sending chills down Sakura's spine, "I'm afraid the water-supply and sewerage aren't provided in many places in this residence. There is only one bathroom, next to the main hall and the kitchen."
The pink-haired girl sighed again, turning her back to the Akatsuki leader, "I guessed that much. After all I'm not on vacation in five-starred hot spring chateaux...", she dropped her rucksack on the dusty floor.
"It's great that you've brought along your sense of humour with you.", Tobi laughed but then suddenly his giggling hitched, and his voice hardened, "You'll be required to stay in the hideout. And you'll have to be always escorted with one of us, expect for the times when you are in your room. Concerning the bath-times: you'll be accompanied only to the door...of course,...unless you desire something different...", Sakura huffed ironically but he ignored it, "I'll call you when Sasuke's back. I bet you're dying to meet him after so many years…", his tone was back to the normal, careless and light one. The orange-masked man turned around and walked out of the room.
The girl bit her lip and lumped on the ground heavily. Her eyes welled up with tears. How long had it been since she left Kakashi and her home? Four hours? More? She couldn't tell. When she met Tobi in her apartment at midnight and told him her decision, he just grabbed her rucksack, which was standing on the sofa, and the next thing she saw were leafless trees. They were already out of Konoha. The distance was too big to be covered by a teleportation scroll or jutsu. Maybe he used his technique, which meant that he didn't dematerialize himself; he was sending part of his body and other objects into another dimension, which allowed him to travel through space faster.
How am I supposed to kill him then? Is it even possible? The thought that her sacrifice might end up in vain, obsessed her mind. Sakura hit her head with clenched fist. What am I going to do now? She punched herself desperately again. Idiot. Idiot. Tears finally flowed from her closed eyes and the kunoichi bit her tongue, suppressing the scream that bubbled in her lungs and heart. Her fingers gripped the pink locks and pulled them hysterically. Some hairs fell off, leaving dull pinching on her scalp but Sakura ignored it. The girl moaned, curling in a ball on the floor. Did I make a mistake?
No, she mustn't display any weaknesses, feelings – even less. "Rule 25. Shinobi mustn't show any emotions." The norm in the Codex emerged in her head and Sakura immediately sat up, straightening her back. She licked her dried lips, wiped off the tears and fixed her hair. "Rule 4. A shinobi must always put the mission first." That's right. In order to survive and execute her plan she needed to stay focused. The kunoichi stood up and grabbed her sack, pulling out her belongings. She was going to stick around for a while, so as well she might make herself comfortable.
Spreading the last piece of her clothes on the back of the chair, the pinkie wondered if her friends would look for her. Maybe she shouldn't have left that pathetic letter to Kakashi. But it felt so wrong to just leave him after everything. Her cheeks blushed heavily as she remembered some of the details from last night. Or was it tonight? She didn't know. The girl shook her head, chasing the embarrassing thoughts away. Now wasn't exactly the perfect time for that.
Her eyes lingered on the photo of Team 7 lying on the bottom of her rucksack. She cursed through her teeth and grabbed the bag, shoving it in the corner next to her bed. Fuck Sasuke. Fuck Tobi. Fuck Akatsuki. She was going to protect Naruto and everyone she held dear, even if it meant becoming a traitor and befriending an enemy.
Sakura went and sat on the mattress, slightly jogging herself to check the mildness. It was surprisingly soft and even a little plushy. It sank under the weight of her body and the kunoichi eased her back fully on it, staring at the ceiling. Only few hours ago she could feel the warmth of Kakashi's body next to hers. Now its absence set in a cold spell in the small room and the girl shivered, wrapping her arms around herself in attempt to ease the appeared goose bumps on her skin. The smell of him was still lingering on his T-shirt, filling her nostrils with his scent.
Sakura closed her eyes and let the images of the hour spent with the Copy nin flow into her mind, filling her with their distant warmth. Would he figure out what she meant with that letter? Would he try and stop the search for her? Probably not. She knew him better than that. In order to stop the search they needed a solid proof that she had left voluntarily and Kakashi would never show that letter. He considered that to be strictly personal. And the pink-haired kunoichi completely agreed with it.
Suddenly another thought passed through her mind. The tournament?! What would happen if she didn't show up? Would she be disqualified? Oh, God. Why didn't she think of that earlier?! Sakura face-palmed herself. Well, it was already too late for that. The girl shifted in the bed, turning to one side, bending her knees, lifting them on the bed as well. She put her arm under her head instead of the pillow lying next to her. Her eyes lingered on the stone wall. Where was she? Which country? It was colder here. The building itself wasn't exactly a building. It was more like a maze of caves, hollowed up in a mountain. The rooms were different in size and form: some were rectangular, some round, some were in an undefined shape. Actually it didn't matter where she was. She didn't care to be precise. The only thing that she wanted now was to forget everything and collect her thoughts. To push out from her mind the confusing feelings, which were swaying her, destroying her resolve. She needed to build up her defence barriers and protect what was left from her sanity. Yea, she must have been crazy to come here, trying to screw with the most dangerous criminal organization in their world. And what exactly she could do? Kill one of them? The so called plan that brought her in this condition was reaching only up to here. From now one she had to start thinking about its continuation.
Sakura felt exhausted. She needed to close her eyes only for a minute and relax. Or maybe five minutes. Yeah, five minutes sounded perfect. The kunoichi's eyelids got heavier and she let them slid over her green irises, slowly pulling her into a senseless slumber.
"I see that you've returned, Sasuke-kun.", Tobi said with even voice without turning around to face the newcomer, still reading a week-old newspaper.
The Uchiha successor huffed and dropped on the wooden table four rabbits, tied on a string for their pads, "I still can't understand why I needed to get the dinner. Usually you hunt it down. It's a lot faster.", the dark-haired boy sighed and lumped heavily on the nearest of the four chairs around the table, "I had to go down to the river. There were some hunt-nins sniffing around. "
The orange-masked shinobi chuckled and shook his head, "I had an appointment.", he stood up and grabbed the dead rabbits, heading to the door across the room, "I needed to get someone...", Tobi stopped and gave Sasuke amused one-eyed gaze above his shoulder, "I'm going to put them in the kitchen. When Zetsu comes back he'll prepare the lunch."
Sasuke narrowed his black eyes and just as the other man was closing the door behind him, Tobi shouted at the ex-leaf shinobi, "Maybe you should greet her..."
The Uchiha straightened his back immediately and jumped on his feet, "You brought Sakura?"
"She's in the room next to yours...", another yell was heard from the kitchen.
Sasuke grinned and hurried to the door, leading to the hall.
"Don't forget: be nice. She's your doctor now...", the young shinobi waved his hand in whatever sign and stomped his feet out of the room.
Walking down the hall, Sasuke wondered in what condition Sakura would be. Would she be angry? Sad? Depressed? He had no idea. If he relied on the things he knew about her, he'd probably be wrong. She was different now. He knew that much. She was stronger, or at least that were the rumours about her. The boy wondered if she still liked him. Most likely not. It's been six years since he left Konoha. Six years was a long period in shinobi world. Six years were almost a whole lifetime. She had more than enough time to get over her feelings for him. Probably they were even opposite to what she felt then. She might hate him. It wasn't like he gave her any reasons not to.
Sasuke sighed and made a step back as he realized that he passed by her room in his absent mind walking. The shinobi pressed the handle. The door cracked quietly and opened. He expected her...well he didn't know what he expected exactly. But definitely he didn't see that coming.
Some of the candles had died out, the rest were bumming low. The faint light was only giving away the outlines of her body. Sakura was curled in a ball, lying to her side with arm under her head, instead of the pillow which was next to her. The kunoichi was sleeping silently, not even stirring under the crack of the door opening. Was she feeling safe enough to fall asleep in an enemy hideout where she was held captive? Sasuke walked into the room and closed the door a little louder, trying to wake her up. The kunoichi only slightly mumbled something and her lips pouted, but she didn't open her eyes.
The Uchiha frowned and went to the bed; his eyes lingered on her hair. It grew longer, much longer than he remembered it. Some silky pink locks had escaped the plait that was keeping her hair tied and now they were scattered all over the sheets around her; few of them covering her face. The poor golden light coming from the candle in the corner next to the bed was reflecting in her hair, making it look almost peachy. It was a really delicious colour. Sasuke let his black eyes to travel over her body. A sudden blush spread all over the shinobi's face and he quickly averted his gaze. Sakura was wearing only a huge black tee and lacy white panties. The T-shirt had rolled up on her hips, revealing her legs and most of her bottom. The Uchiha turned around still blushing and covered his eyes with hand, walking towards the door. He shouldn't be here. He'd come back later.
The boy slowly and quietly closed the door. He sighed and placed his palm against the wooden frame. Why the hell did he blush? It wasn't his first time seeing a girl's bare legs and butt...or his first time seeing Sakura's body. When they were genin after missions they would go to the pool or river and play in the water. He had seen her in swimsuit thousand times which was way more revealing than this old huge T-shirt... In that line of thoughts...it didn't seem like it was her tee, it looked like the black shirt part of Konoha's jonin uniform...and the way her nose was buried in the neckline...was it possible that it was her boyfriend's?
Sasuke shook his head and bumped his palm against the doorframe, cursing. What the hell was wrong with him? It wasn't such big deal. Of course, she would look different. It's been six years. She wasn't the little girl he remembered. He just didn't expect her to look so...feminine?
The Uchiha recalled their chunin exam. Her short hair was kind of symbolic for her. Proving that she would become stronger, that she'd put training before her looks. Why did she grow it again?
"Did you say hello to your new doctor?", the smirking voice of Tobi echoed in the hall, startling the young rogue ninja.
"No, I'll come back later.", the Uchiha answered with fake indifference, covering his inner disturbances. The boy pushed out of the wall and passed the orange-masked man by, heading to his room. Chuckling echoed after him and Sasuke frowned before disappearing behind the door.
Kakashi dragged his feet to the ruins, the wind was dispersing the ashes, making them flow in the air like a miniature birds. The Copy nin made a step closer and stared at the big flat stone, fallen on the street, next to the many others. The broken window glass was still there on the ground. Some pieces were bigger than the others and the sun was reflecting on them, blinding the shinobi.
The voice of Tsunade was weak, trying to comfort the people in front of her. But the bitter notes were still making their way out. The Hokage was human as well. She felt the sadness and pain as much as the others, "We found several limbs scattered in the apartment...".
With every pronounced word, every whispered letter, the foolish thought that it was all a dream was slowly fading away from his mind.
"They were unrecognisably burnt. It wasn't possible to tell to whom they belonged..."
The silver haired jonin lifted his empty gaze and stared at the place where Sakura's window used to be, with Tsunade's words still in his head. Now the black hole in the wall was incurving its meaning in Kakashi's heart.
"But then we found the head and the torso. After the autopsy, both me and Shizune checked the body...", he saw Tsunade clenching her fist, "...the bones were suggesting that the body was female almost the same height and age as Sakura."
He saw Naruto, who was standing next to him, lumping on the chair behind him. Probably his legs sagged. His were shaking too but he needed to stand, to listen, to know.
The Hokage's eyes glistened and the blonde behind the desk merely whispered but the words echoed in the room, deafening him.
"She's dead."
Kakashi's legs trembled and he fell on the ground, supporting himself on his arms. His eye popped out and the pupil shrank, trembling chaotically. The tears poured out from his eye as the pain gripped his heart with the terrifying realization that was sinking in his brain. Images of what happened appeared before his eyes.
Sakura standing in the living room, packing her luggage to leave, after Ino left her apartment. Then everything around her exploding...
The fire and the blast must have ripped her to pieces... Kakashi bowed his head lower, uncovering his face from the mask, as he started throwing up. The image of the burnt, torn body of Sakura made him choke on his stomach juices. The Copy nin coughed and spat until a familiar pain gripped his abdomen and the only thing left for him to spit was his heartache.
His shoulders jerked as well as his whole body. She was dead. Sakura was dead. He couldn't protect her. He couldn't protect another one of his teammates; another one of his friends was dead because of his incompetence. Only if he had woken up before she left his apartment, everything would have been completely different. Only if...
A heartbreaking groan slipped through his lips. The jonin's legs doubled under him and he looked up at the sky. The sun was shining unreached by his sorrow; it was detached from the misery and loss that were escorting every living person. His arms were hanging lifelessly to the sides of his body. The rays of the burning sphere in the sky weren't warm anymore. They've lost their life-giving touch for Kakashi. The jonin closed tightly his eye, trying to stop the flow of his tears down his right cheek. But the small salty drops were gently caressing his skin, over and over again.
The Copy nin slowly lifted his hand and brushed the warm drops with his fingers, sliding them to his lips, tasting them. Suddenly Kakashi cried out in agony, punching the ground with his clenched fists. Why? Was he cursed? Did Kami hate him that much so she was willing to kill everyone around him only to punish him? Didn't he pay enough by losing his mother? Didn't he pay enough by losing his father? Didn't he pay enough by losing his best friend? Why was he even being punished?! He couldn't understand. He didn't know. But Sakura didn't deserve to die. She was so young, so innocent. The girl was good. She was shinobi yet she was good. She was like a rare bird in this world – beautiful and valuable to the people around her. She was loved and cherished. Why did she have to die?
Kakashi sobbed and sniffed alone on the street. Nobody dared to pass by the building, afraid that it might collapse. It was better that way. A sudden touch on his shoulder made him lift his head slowly. Big blue eyes, glistening with tears met his. Naruto's chin was trembling in attempts to hold his sobs. The boy gulped loudly and failed to hide his yelp. The silver-haired jonin immediately jumped on his feet and embraced the young Jinchuuriki, patting him on the head. He needed to be strong for him, for the sake of both of them.
"It's OK to cry. It's OK to...", the older jonin closed his eyes, hitching his words. He took deep breath, trying to regain his composure, "It's OK to be sad. I am too."
The boy in his hands jerked convulsively and grabbed the shirt of his ex-sensei, letting his tears pour out freely, "It hurts..."
"I know. Oh, believe me I know.", Kakashi whispered and tightened his embrace.
When she woke up the room was pitched black. The candles had died out and the kunoichi sat on the bed, her feet touching the stone floor. What time was it? How long had she slept? The girl stroked her hair in attempt to fix her fallen locks. She found her way to the desk and sighed. What do I do now? The pinkie found the chair and ran her fingers over her spread clothes on its back. Probably she should dress up. Tobi didn't give her time to change when he came to her apartment. She had only managed to put on her panties before the man appeared in her living room. Gropingly, he found her everyday clothes - simple red sleeveless top with deep V-neck and black shorts. The girl lifted her hand to retie her forehead protector when she realized that she hadn't brought it with her. A dull pain pierced her heart and she frowned.
Sakura felt familiar presence outside and her body stoned. When the door cracked open and tall strange man entered the room, the kunoichi instinctively made two steps back. The intimidating aura lingering around him, forced few sweat drops to appear on her forehead. The sound of lighting a match resounded in the silent room. The dim orange flame lightened up the walls and the pinkette recognized the white half of Zetsu. She held her breath, widening her eyes.
The freak only grinned and changed the candles one by one. When he reached the ones next to Sakura, Zetsu chuckled, closing his face to hers, "Why so scared?"
The kunoichi swallowed the lump in her throat, "What are you doing here?" something in this shinobi made her shiver. She knew this feeling, it reminded her of somebody else but now she couldn't clearly recall who.
"I just got back and a sudden rush of desire to see the cherry blossom exploded in my chest... ", his voice was deep and threatening.
Sakura stepped back again, putting some distance between them. The girl didn't dare to avert her gaze from his, afraid that he might attack her, "You saw me already. Leave..."
"Are, are. Why are you so scared of me, cherry?", the Akatsuki drew closer to her, viciously grinning. The kunoichi shook her head negatively – her voice betrayed her and she couldn't force it to come out, "Would you prefer this look?", he continued, openly laughing. His body jerked convulsively and wrinkled. Sakura looked disgustedly as his appearance changed. With every second, her eyes widened even more.
Before her was standing Chojuro. She covered her mouth gasping the look in his eyes, the clothes, the sword. Everything was the same. Even the chakra. "You've cloned him!", the realisation hit her and her mind went blank.
The fake mist participant stepped forward, returning to his original image, "Nice,ha?"
Sakura's shocked expression turned into furious one, "No wonder, he was such a lay figure.", her teeth clenched, "Who else? Who else did you clone?"
Zetsu laughed, "Let me taste you and maybe I'll consider telling you.", he reached his hands at the girl before him but she slapped them away with burning glare. His features hardened.
"Get your disgusting hands away from me, you freak!", the pink-haired kunoichi yelled with popped eyes, stepping back. She felt her back touching the wall next to her bed. She had nowhere to run.
The Akatsuki's face froze and he jumped at her without giving her any chance for escape. He was faster than Sakura and she didn't have the time to evade his rough grip. The huge white hands grabbed her forearms pinning them to the wall, immobilizing the girl. The former Leaf kunoichi tried to scream but her voice hitched as she felt a vine tying her ankles. Sakura lost balance and fell on the floor. Her eyes spotted the Black Zetsu, entering the room. His dark body, enveloped with Venus flytraps, drew closer to his half and merged with him. It was disgusting.
The Akatsuki member tied her wrists with another palp above her head on the ground. The kunoichi's green emeralds popped out in fear. Those vines reminded her very much of the tentacles she had seen in volume two of the manga that Ino had lent her few months ago. She recalled what happened to the heroine in the end and her body shrieked at the thought of him coercing her to do the same sick stuff with him. What was he going to do? She saw him licking his lips, slightly parting them, revealing small, pointy sharp teeth. No way... Sakura struggled to fight with him but his grip was tight and it got even stronger when she tried to escape. The kunoichi saw him open up the Venus flytraps that were enveloping his upper body. He freed his arms and a smug expression appeared on his face.
Chills ran Sakura's spine. She had to do something but even if she screamed who would save her. She was in the enemy base now. She was alone. The girl felt his hands lingering on her legs. The single thought of being touched by that monster was making her sick and the kunoichi suppressed the need to throw up. Only few hours ago those same legs were caressed by Kakashi's gentle fingers, only few hours ago she was moaning in rapture under his touch and kisses. And now what? She was being forced by that freak of nature...
Zetsu's mismatched hands gripped her knees, forcing her to spread them. Countless scenarios passed through Sakura's head. The vivid images of what could this spawn do to her transformed her frustration into strength. The kunoichi channelled her chakra in her fists and tried to break the vines but suddenly she felt exhausted and the chakra faded away. Her gaze unfocused. That bastard was draining her.
Something wet and hot licked her inner tight. Sakura quickly lifted her head as much as she could, considering that she was pinned to the floor. She saw Zetsu's tongue running on her skin. No, she mustn't accept that. She had to do something.
A sudden piercing pain ran through her tight and Sakura couldn't hold back her scream. Then another one, this time higher than the previous. Zetsu's hands were touching her body roughly and when the kunoichi managed to catch a glimpse of his head she noticed the blood trickles running down her marble skin. He had bitten her. That sick bastard sank his teeth into her tight again and again, leaving bleeding marks on her white smooth skin. The flesh on her inner tight was sensitive and his pointy sharp teeth were tearing it up mercilessly with sick excitement.
She felt his enormous body sliding up. His face aligned to hers and she closed her eyes in disgust and fear. Another stinging pain spread in her neck. He was licking and biting her as if she was a delicious meat served before him. She remembered Chojuro's words, "I'm certain that when he sees you, he will just want to eat you up. At least I do". He wasn't joking then. He had been completely serious. Sakura felt his hands pulling up her blouse. Her eyes snapped open as she felt his mouth on her breast. Something in her switched and she started screaming, crying in despair. She begged someone to come and save her. She didn't care who. Just someone. The kunoichi felt his tongue licking her nipple.
The last thread of the rope that was keeping her from falling into the abyss of the despair and insanity broke. Sakura took a deep breath and wailed as loud as she could. She could feel her vocal chords overstraining and ears ringing. The tears were flowing freely from her wide open eyes; her sobs were choking her. When she was out of breath and her scream hitched, Sakura jerked convulsively in desperation. She no longer felt the pain caused from his teeth tearing the flesh of her neck and chest. The kunoichi only lied on the dusty floor with wide open eyes, glaring at the ceiling. The image of Kakashi appeared before her. He was giving her an eye crease. His face was gentle, emanating warmth and kindness. If she could she would smile right now. She wanted to. But her expression remained blank, unreadable, detached.
Suddenly somebody pulled up Zetsu, sending him flying to the opposite wall. The racket of the two shinobi fighting echoed in the room and the kunoichi sobbed, still unable to move with widened unfocused green eyes. Her saviour chased Zetsu away with curses and closed the door. Sakura yelped as she felt a hand touching her for her shoulder. The girl twitched and she looked at the shinobi startled. Her eyes popped out even more as she recognised Sasuke. He was kneeling next to her with serious expression on his face.
"Stand up.", his voice was hurried and low. The Uchiha grabbed her for her waist and forced her to sit up.
Sakura slowly pulled down the hem of her blouse, covering her bare breasts. The cloth soaked immediately with the trickles of blood, flowing out of her wounds. Her face was still wet from the tears. The kunoichi looked at the young man, "Sasuke..." her voice hitched and she felt stinging in her throat. Most likely her vocal chords were damaged.
The shinobi frowned and gripped her chin with two fingers, examining her neck. His eyes travelled all over her body, looking for more serious injuries. When he made sure she was mostly OK the former Leaf nin grabbed her and carried her to the bed.
Sakura didn't avert her gaze from his face. He had changed so much since the last time she saw him. He had grown taller and his features roughened a lil bit. But after all he was still as handsome as ever. Was it an anger that she saw in his expression few moments ago? She wanted to say thank you but her voice just wouldn't come out.
"Bastard.", Sasuke murmured as he looked closely the bite marks on her inner tights with fingers softly touching the skin around them, "He's one sick bastard.", the Uchiha looked at his former teammate, "Are you OK?"
Sakura lifted her hand and placed it on her throat. A dim greenish glow surrounded her fingers as she healed her vocal chords. Her chakra levels were low but she somehow managed to give herself a first aid. When the glow faded away, the kunoichi sighed, whispering, "Yeah. I am.", after a few seconds of thinking she added, "Thank you."
"In future, try to avoid being alone with him. I won't save your ass second time.", Sasuke shot her the usual arrogant glare and stood up from the bed to walk away. On the doorstep he stopped and glanced over his shoulder at the kunoichi before disappearing from the door, "Heal those bite marks. I don't like how they look on you."
Sakura nodded and sniffed, letting her head to fall down.
The man on the doorstep shot her a strange discrepant from his outer indifference glance and sighed defeated, turning around, entering the room again, "Why didn't you fight back, idiot?", his voice was critical and the kunoichi lifted her gaze to meet his.
"He caught me by surprise – ", Sakura smiled under her breath whispering with cracked voice, "I wasn't expecting him to be so...obnoxious and repulsive in his actions."
Sasuke sat on the bed next to her, studying her profile. She looked broken, as if something in her had snapped, "Heal your injuries. I don't want to repeat myself.", he ignored her statement, knowing that probably it was for the best to change the subject.
"I can't.", the pinkette gave a faint smile, "He drained my chakra. It'd be risky to start healing now."
Sasuke frowned at the sound of her voice. It was hoarse and rough, it gave him the impression that it was hurting her with every sound that escaped her lips, "You need to rest then."
"I know.", Sakura lifted her feet on the bed and settled herself on the mattress with eyes nailed on the ceiling, "But I highly doubt that I would be able to."
"You afraid that he'd return?", the Uchiha whispered. Somehow it felt wrong to assume that she'd be scared. At the time when she was twelve – maybe, but now...she seemed different, stronger.
"Not only that...", she confessed, letting the breath to leave her lungs freely.
"What else?", the dark-haired boy narrowed his black eyes.
"Why do you care, Sasuke?", Sakura suddenly raised her voice and frown spread on her face from the pain in her throat, "It's not like you will chase away the bad thoughts in my head...", she was back to whispering but this time her eyes were closed, "...nobody can."
The Uchiha frowned and looked at the floor. For the first time in six years he felt the weight of his own actions. Once she was his teammate, risking her life for him; once she had tried to be his friend but he had pushed her away. Now he had taken away from her everything she cared about, dragging her into this dungeon, forcing her to commit a treason for his sake. And when she was no more useful, Tobi would have her killed. Just like that. Not that he cared about her, he just owed her. That's all.
"Move aside.", he ordered, helping her to make some room on the bed for him. The shinobi eased his body next to hers and folded his arms under his head, instead of the pillow that Sakura had pulled to her side, "I'll stay here. So, sleep."
The kunoichi widened her eyes unbelieving, staring at the boy's profile. Why would he do such thing? She was a hostage. He had tried to kill her before. Sakura examined his face in detail, looking for some sign that might give away his reasons for that. But all that she found out was a slight cut wound on his right cheek. The kunoichi smirked, placing her finger next to the bloody trickle, "I'll heal that tomorrow. I guess scars don't look good on you as well...", she whispered.
"Just sleep already.", the Uchiha frowned and turned his head to the opposite side, avoiding the touch of her finger.
"What date is it?", she smiled with close eyes, "I've lost track of time."
"The evening of 29th.", he answered annoyed.
"I see.", she murmured and sighed without uttering another word.
It's been twenty four hours since she had left Konoha. A day since she abandoned her life.
Kakashi stared at the small golden statuette in his hands.
As the other Kages were told about Sakura's sudden death they decided that no matter that she's gone now, her participation wouldn't be disqualified. The kunoichi had passed her challenges. Nothing depended on her anymore. The closing ceremony was held with two hours delay and the Mizukage and the Raikage opened it with formal declaration of their sincere deep condolences. The crowed was silent despite the importance of the event. There was no applause as the Mist leader announced the final position in the tournament. Team Konoha had won the last challenge. They had finished The Siege three minutes faster than Darui's team. The shinobi from the Lightning country didn't try to hide his discontent.
Tsunade had accepted the two trophies – one for the village and one for the participant. Both were the same with the slight difference that the personal one was much smaller than the village's one – a tilted round target with stabbed kunai in the bull's eye.
She had given the smaller one to Kakashi and had whispered sadly, "Keep it."
The Copy nin had nodded and walked out of the coliseum where a special performance was taking place. Shinobi from other hidden villages were showing off their skills in artistic spars.
Now he was sitting in front of the memorial stone with golden statuette in his hands and pain in his heart. Tomorrow was the funeral. The jonin found out from Tsunade that Sakura, or more like the remnants of her, would be buried next to the monuments of the deceased Hokages. She wasn't KIA, she was just merely murdered in her apartment, but her victory in the tournament, the sacrifice she had made for its sake were enough to receive the deserved respect. Tomorrow probably many people would come to pay last honours to Tsunade's apprentice. She was loved by all of them, she was their friend in need who never refused to give a shoulder to cry on, or just to mend some wounds.
Kakashi let out his held breath and sat on the grass, staring at the memorial stone. Obito, Rin, Sensei...I've failed again. He ran his fingers through his hair. I honestly thought that this time it would end differently. Without anyone dying. But as it appears, I bring only destruction and death to the people who I consider closest. The Copy nin averted his eye from the monument, putting down the statuette, and glared at his palms. They were trembling. I know that it's wrong to feel like this but I'm filled with so much hatred. . . I know it's not the way you thought me, Sensei, but I can't help it. And the worst part is that I don't know at whom I should channel that hate... It's welling up inside me and I'm afraid that it might explode at the wrong time...Kakashi rummaged in one of the pockets on his jonin vest and pulled out the shabby letter that Sakura wrote him. The last piece of her that was still living. His eyes scanned the words written in a hurry. He had read it like thousand times, he had remembered every dot, every comma, every pothook... She wants me to let go. She wants me to understand something that I don't even know. How is that even possible?
The Copy nin eased his back on the ground, feeling the tickling sensation of the grass blades on his neck. Today was sunny again with indecently clear sky. The world had moved on...No,..the world hadn't even stopped to begin with. He closed his black eye imagining Sakura's smile. There she was – with her usual smug expression, glittering eyes...full of life, breathing.
Suddenly a shadows crept over his face and the silver-haired jonin opened his eye slowly, "What are you doing here, Tenzo?"
The wood-user sat next to his senpai on the grass and stared at the statuette, "I never had the chance to tell her who my date was..." Kakashi looked at him confused, "...I never had the chance to tell her that I like her best friend. I never had the chance to actually thank her for everything she's done for me."
The Copy nin smiled under his mask, "Neither did I. And, hell, she did a lot."
"I know you loved her.", Tenzo returned the smile sadly.
"We are...were friends...", Kakashi sighed and sat up, tearing a blade of grass with his fingers.
The ANBU only widened his smile, "Senpai, do you actually believe it?"
"I have to believe it, Tenzo.", the silver-haired man sighed, "She's dead. She's gone forever. I've lost a dear friend, if I choose to believe that I really did love her I'd lose my last drop of sanity that's left in this fucking rotten pate that I have instead of head."
"But...no matter if you believe it or not, the pain that you're feeling right now can't get any worse, can it?", the brown-haired shinobi stood up and walked away, leaving the Copy nin staring in front of his with unfocused gaze.
Kakashi buried his face in palms and cursed.
The crunch of the mattress and the slight movement next to her pulled Sakura from her sleep. She sensed Sasuke standing up and dragging his feet to the door. He had stayed with her after all. The Uchiha walked out of the door and closed it quietly. The kunoichi stretched her arms and opened her eyes, adjusting them to the soft light in the room. Her body was sore and she felt her knees hurting again. Probably she had contused them when she fell on the ground as Zetsu tied her. The image of the Akatsuki member took over her mind and she shivered. She didn't know if she should thank the Devil or the God for what Sasuke had done for her.
She took a deep breath and stirred in the bed. The half where the Uchiha had lied was still warm. She remembered Kakashi's peaceful sleeping face. What was he doing now? What happened to the tournament? How was Naruto adjusting to her unexpected absence? The girl's lips curved in a faint smile. She would protect him, all of them. There wasn't a force in the whole world that could stop her from doing so. And if she failed, she'd make sure to pull down with her as many bastards as she could.
As soon as Sakura could move her legs she sat up in bed, looking around. Her head was spinning. The pink-haired kunoichi push out from the mattress an stood up. A pain pierced her knees and she crashed on the floor loudly, panting and grunting. In attempt to cover her face from the impact, Sakura had supported herself with her palm and now the smooth skin was torn and scratched from the stone floor. The girl moaned silently in pain and knitted her brows.
The door opened with a bang and Sasuke entered her room, with narrowed eyes. The kunoichi raised her head, still lying on the floor and blinked few times in surprise. The Uchiha stomped his feet in her direction and bowed over her petite body, without breaking the eye contact, "Did you forget how to walk, baka?", a mocking smirk appeared on his face.
Sakura averted her eyes, raising to her feet. The pain in her knees blinded her vision but the kunoichi stood proudly before her ex-teammate, "Did you go to take a dump, baka?"Sasuke's expression remained blank but something flinched in his eyes and the girl wondered if it was anger or something else.
"Do you really want to know what I did in the bathroom?", his voice was low, testing with a slight hint of amusement.
"Yeah. Please, do enlighten me.", the pinkette lifted her chin stubbornly.
"I was thinking of you...", a smug expression appeared on his face at her shocked features, "After all a young kunoichi was sleeping next to me...and I haven't had a woman for months so..."
Sakura's eyes narrowed in anger and disgust and she growled, "Pervert."
"Oh, please...", the Uchiha growled annoyed, dropping his act, "Did you actually believe it? I couldn't even get it up even if I wanted!", his voice was sneering and Sakura's eye flinched at the insult behind his words. Sasuke continued ignoring her rising anger, " When will you be able to start working on my eyes? That's why you're here, right?"
The kunoichi suppressed the desire to punch his arrogant face and mentally killed punched for actually believing that he was capable of doing something good. He was a ungrateful, selfish, bastard..."I'm here not to be your fucking personal medic, cur, I'm here because I love my friends too much and I care for them enough to sacrifice myself for even looking at your treacherous mug...", the words came out from her mouth before she could think if it was wisely to say them.
The dark-haired shinobi clenched his fist and punched the kunoichi in the stomach, "Watch your mouth, bitch!"
Sakura groaned in pain and stumbled backwards. The young man drew closer and shoved his knee in her abdomen, forcing her breath out. Her petite body jumped from the impact and the kunoichi spat her stomach juices that came out from his kick. Her knees sagged and she fell, hitting the back of her head in the bed behind her. Her vision blackened and she pressed her hand against her neck, feeling a trickle of blood flowing down to her back.
Sasuke widened his eyes in rage and stepped toward the fallen kunoichi. He grabbed her for her upper arms and forced her to stand on her feet, shaking her madly. The moment when she stood up, another pain rush blinded her sight and she crumbled on the ground again, groaning with a small trickle of blood flowing from the corner of her mouth.
Sasuke's eyes popped up, realizing that something was wrong with the kunoichi. The boy frowned and kneeled before her, roughly grabbing her chin, in attempt to force her to look into his eyes. Sakura obeyed, not having the strength to oppose him. There were tears welled up in her eyes and the Uchiha tch-ed annoyed.
"You're still one irritating crybaby.", the dark-haired shinobi gripped her upper arms a little bit more gently than before, realizing that this time he overreacted for no earthly reason. It wasn't like him to lose his coolness. He helped her stood up but this time he supported her instead of forcing her to use her feet.
With pained expression on her face, Sakura sat on the bed, letting out her breath. She didn't want to look him in the eyes, she felt ashamed of herself. Was that all of her strength? That wasn't the purpose of her sacrifice. She needed to gain their trust and have them a little more relaxed around her in order to execute her intentions, "I need just a minute and I'll work on your sharingan.", her voice was shaking and she wiped the blood from her mouth, spreading it all over her chin and cheek.
The ex-leaf shinobi sighed deeply and ran his fingers through his hair, "You're not cut out for this." Sakura lifted her emerald gaze puzzled and stared at her former teammate, "You're too soft for this kind of act."
"Do I have a choice?", the medical nin averted her sight, looking at the candles. Her ribs were hurting, most likely one or two of them were cracked. She clenched her teeth enduring the pain.
"If I was in your place – yes. But for you I guess things are different.", the Uchiha sat next to her on the bed, "I'm not sorry that I hit you. You deserved it."
"I'm not sorry, either. You really are a treacherous bastard.", Sakura murmured uneasily.
"I know.", Sasuke huffed and looked at her, nodding in direction to her legs, "How bad is it?"
Sakura wondered if it was wisely to tell him but then she smiled sadly. In order to get, she had to give..., "I got the tendons behind the knees torn during the second part of the last challenge. I had them fixed by Tsunade-shishou for the next part but an injury like this needs about an year to heal."
Sasuke smirked, "I heard that you were partnered with Kakashi in that one."
"Yeah.", the kunoichi frowned remembering what had happened to him.
"I'm surprised that he let you get hurt."
"He wasn't able to protect me. He was dying at that time...", the girl laughed sarcastically.
The Uchiha smirked, "I guess he's not becoming younger..."
"But he still can kick your ass...", Sakura's face curved in smug expression. Suddenly her vision blurred and her body tilted to one side, bumping in Sasuke's shoulder.
The shinobi glared at the kunoichi startled, not expecting the sudden physical contact. Her eyes were getting dimmed and unfocused and the missing-nin widened his gaze as he realized that there was a blood flowing from the wound on her head as well. He cursed and slowly adjusted her body to lay on one side. He yelled loudly, still supporting her head. The pink locks were soaked in the crimson fluid.
"Zetsu, come here."
Almost instantly the plant-man emerged from the floor, "Ah, ah...Boy, do you want to share her with me?"
"Stop the bleeding.", angrily, the former leaf shinobi growled under his breath and let the other Akatsuki to prickle the soft spot on the neck with his vein. The monstrous shinobi pulled back grinning and the Uchiha glared at him, "Don't you ever dare to approach her when she's alone."
"My, my. Aren't we overprotective?", he chuckled and sank in the floor, disappearing.
"Freak...", Sasuke murmured and checked the injury. The wound had stopped bleeding and the shinobi sighed relieved, studying the unconscious kunoichi.
He hadn't come to her room to ask her to work on his eyes. He had heard the noise and rushed inside afraid that Zetsu might attack her again. Sasuke didn't expect to find her fallen on the floor. It caught him by surprise and he did the only thing that came to his mind – mock her. Well, now when he found out the reason for her fall, he kind of felt guilty. Only a little bit. Just a little bit.
The Uchiha noticed the reddish traces on her arms and tights where her marble smooth skin was scratched. That freak had dragged her on the floor, literally. The bite marks were still unhealed and the blood had curdled over the wounds. He bit his lip and let his eyes linger on the pink locks. Despite the blood over them, they were still silky and glistening. Before his brain could detect the intention, his fingers were already caressing her hair. It was as soft as it looked like. A smirk appeared on his face. It was indeed a delicious colour. His finger moved to her mouth. Sasuke let it linger only millimetre above the skin, but still not touching it. He took a deep breath and held it as his fingertip wiped the blood from her face. He couldn't decide which felt better, the warmth of her skin or the sense of her hair, slipping through his hand. The shinobi reached and stroke the pink locks one more time, leaving his hand to rest on them.
She was bold, with bad temper, irrational and at the same time compassionate and loving to whom deserved it. Yes, indeed she had changed. Sakura had transformed from a simple annoying, irritating fly to a wild overprotective female cat. He could see the affection she kept in her heart for her friends that she had left behind in order to protect them. And probably one of them she held in a different part of her heart , somewhere with a lot of love and devotion.
She was his complete contrast. Before Sakura was admiring his very movement, his very breath and now she was looking at him with those cold emerald eyes, accusing, judging. But why was he hoping to see in them something different? Regret or just a simple hate. But no, there was no detest in those green lakes only sadness which troubled him the most. What was her reason to accept Tobi's proposal? Was she really that worried for Konoha, was she really that uncertain about her village's abilities and strengths? Or maybe there was a hidden motive in her coming? The leader was absolutely certain that she hadn't told anyone about their deal. The only person she contacted was Kakashi. Tobi and Zetsu knew the contents of the letter which meant that it wasn't anything connected to the proposal.
Why Kakashi? Why not Naruto? If she was saying her farewells why didn't she contacted her teammate? Sasuke frowned. It didn't make sense. Until he knew the content of the letter he couldn't shoot in the dark.
The kunoichi stirred and moaned. The Uchiha immediately removed his hand from her hair and observed the girl. Her eyelids trembled and Sasuke bowed his head to her face's level, gently putting his hand over her shoulder shaking it.
"Sakura?", he whispered afraid not to startle her.
She mumbled something and buried her face in the sheets. The Uchiha removed a fallen lock over her cheek, whispering her name again, "Sakura?"
The girl's lips curved in a slight smile at his touch, "Kakashi?" The shinobi raised an eyebrow annoyed. The kunoichi opened her eyes and as soon as she focused them on the man above her they widened, "Sasuke!"
"What's your relationship with Kakashi, Sakura?"
The girl blushed and sat up, supporting herself on her hands, feeling a slight pinching on her palms from the wounds, "We're friends and teammates. But you already know that."
"I see.", Sasuke stood up and headed to the door, "Heal your injuries. Tomorrow I want you to start working on my eyes."
The kunoichi murmured after him, "Can I use the bathroom?...I have blood in my hair and I haven't actually been to the restroom since Tobi brought me..."
The Uchiha nodded, "I'll get you there. Come."
"Thanks.", Sakura grabbed a towel and pair of panties from the chair and hurried after her former teammate as fast as he legs allowed her.
Tsunade put the cup of tea on her desk, easing her back fully on the chair. The Hokage span around and looked through the window, thinking. She sighed and rummage with her hand in one of her drawers in the desk behind her. A small package wrapped in a brown paper appeared in her hand. The blonde unpacked it, revealing a small metal plate, attached to a piece of black cloth. She slid her finger over its dirty scorched surface, cleaning it up. The afternoon sun that was coming through the glass reflected on the metal. A small cloud-like shape appeared on it.
The Hokage frowned, "This is bad.", she sighed, closing her eyes, "Really bad."
TBC
