Authoress Note: I'm sorry… I've gotten over my depression and enjoyment of cutting myself. Though, I would like to thank so many people who care about me and made me realize that my existence is important. I would like to thank Victoria O., Selena, Rosaura, Kimberley, Kristyn, Tiffany, Jordan, Erin, Desiree, Ryan, Hailey, Jessica, Jaclyn, Timothy (human punching bag), Vanessa, Kiana, Victoria K., Noah, and Austin for making me feel better… I'm very grateful that I have so many friends that I don't deserve… -sniff- TT
Dattebayo! – Normal
Dattebayo! – Flashback or Dream (in Italics)
Shannaro! – Inner Sakura
Dattebayo! – Pein/any member communicating
Dattebayo! – Sign Language
Definition
Chapter 11 – The Winner and the Loser
Recap:
The Preliminaries
The weeks passed by pretty quickly for the cherry blossom's liking. The pinkette now stood in between Deidara and Sasori. She hasn't spoken to Deidara, Itachi or Sasori for the passed days. She's been avoiding them and they have been avoiding her. Sakura never asked for his to happen, she caused this to happen. They were giving her the "silent treatment," in hopes she has learned her lesson. Her heart has become smaller and colder each passing day for her… The cherry blossom was going to take her anger out on her next opponent…
"Last round… Kumikoshi Sakura and… Kumikoshi Sasori." Mostly everyone's eyes widened from shock. Whoever chose the matches must want an interesting battle… Though, in Sasori's eyes… Sakura could sense pure anger and… bloodlust?
End Recap…
Sakura was going through Hell like a maze with many closed areas and dangers that are confronting her right in the face. 'Something is not right…' Sakura thought cautiously. She knew that Pein could not be able to contact her; otherwise she would ask him what was wrong with Sasori. On every Saturday he was always busy like a chicken with its head cut off. Of course, the blossom could beat the puppet master within minutes, but she refused to land a single scratch on him. Sakura would only dodge, and whenever she would attack, she would purposely miss.
"Sasori!" Sakura yelled out. Her glistening tea-green eyes were growing tired of dodging all of Sasori's newly made puppets. Though, the redhead would only have to move his arms and fingers to control them without moving anywhere. "Chotto matte! This isn't like you!" soon, Sakura felt something wet near her eyes that soon rolled down her cheeks. Teardrops… She ignored them and continued dodging and speaking, "Onegai, I know what I have done has harmed you… Demo, could you see through me and actually tell that I am begging for Itachi's, Deidara's, and your forgiveness? Otherwise, I don't know what to do with my life…" Sasori glared harder and sent another puppet out after her.
The crowd soon grew interested in the conversation between the two 'siblings.' Sasori yelled back, "How do we know that you won't just abandon us just like that? Love is important Sakura… Demo, what about friendship? Isn't that what they taught us?! Huh?! Do you truly still care about us Sakura…? Or, do you just care for yourself and the organization?!" Little did Sasori knew, that he nearly gave out too much information. Though, the Hokage decided to give some close inspection on what he just said.
Sakura's tears spilled even more as some landed in the dirt, "No… I still love you all… I know what I did was wrong… I just… I cannot say…" Sakura quickly wiped away her tears and started becoming more serious. Soon, she started pumping some of her chakra into her fist and ran towards the shocked Sasori with terrifying speed. "After all we did together… You still won't forgive me!"
Sasori dodged just on time to see her fist land on the dirt ground; creating a large crater, "Forgive you? Why should we forgive you? You promised us that you would tell us anything important! Remember the first day we met?! You promised all three of us!!" Sasori's usual soft hazel eyes seemed to turn into a hard dirt rock. The audience could sense his desperation for her to understand. His rage was extremely powerful, every word that was spat out could make you flinch and shed tears. The calm Akasuna no Sasori Sakura knew has disappeared… It was now her job to try and find it.
Sakura's eyes widened as memories started flooding back to her thoughts… It went by too fast, though she could make out the pictures and the words they spoke…
Flashback…
Sakura now sat in between two teenage boys while one sat across from her with a wide smile that scared her in a way. Pein just left for them to introduce themselves to her, so she was nervous. You could obviously tell that her social skills weren't very high.
"Sakura-san, if you still refuse to talk to the other two, then this introduction will be useless." Itachi pointed out. Sakura flinched, but still refused to speak.
The blonde haired boy started speaking out of impatience, "Boku wa Deidara of Iwagakure!" he gave a small smile and held out his hand for a shake, but all he received was a flinch at the sudden motion he made.
The redhead started growing annoyed, "If you will not speak, I refuse to cooperate with you. I know that will not force you to speak, but… Treat us as if it were your friends. Like how you treat Pein… If not, then at least tell us your name." Sakura shook her head in refusal.
Unexpectedly, Sakura's eyes widened as a hard punch landed on Sakura's cheek. She sprang back and hit the wall hard. Lifting up her pale and slim hands, she felt her cheek that has been punched. "When will you learn? We could die any day any where, why not try and make as many friends as possible…?" Sasori growled.
Deidara started hopping into the conversation, "Hai! Please, we are literally offering you a hand when you have fallen." Sasori held out a hand for her to get up, and a promise to be not so secretive and to tell them anything. Sakura hesitated before finally grabbing his warm hands.
Sakura shyly spoke, "Watashi wa Haruno Sakura… Pein-kun's partner." Sakura started looking up to see Sasori smirk, Deidara smile widely, and Itachi give a small smile.
Deidara soon realized something, "Eh?! If you're his partner, how come you didn't dodge or at least block Sasori-danna's punch?! Some partner you are!" he pouted.
Sakura smiled slightly, feeling more comfortable around them, "Because… I didn't feel like it." With that, she disappeared into her room.
End Flashback…
Sakura's eyes were still wide as she saw a katana coming straight towards her. The entire crowd gasped and thought of the same question as they stood up, 'Will he really kill his own sister?!' It was like a drama show to them, but Sakura finally realized her mistake. She broke a very important promise…
"It's because…" Sakura calmly closed her eyes. 'If you wish for me to be dead, just for you to be happy… Than,' she thought to herself. "I… love him." 'So be it. Send me down to Hell for all the innocent souls I have murdered.' She thought to herself as she collapsed. Sakura didn't know why her body refused to be knocked out; maybe some of her pride and dignity is still dwelling within her and refuses to die with the hands of Sasori.
Everyone gasped at what she just said. Sasori's eyes widened and lowered his head to look at his blood stained hands… "What have I done…?" Deidara and Itachi both jumped down from the audience in shock. They didn't care if they got disqualified for interfering; this was their little sister and they would save her no matter what!
"Sakura!" Deidara's large teardrops ran down and dripped on her pale cheek while Itachi frowned and showed sadness in his eyes, though refused to cry in front of his little sister. "Nande…?" Deidara whispered. The crowd was still in shock as they paid close attention to their actions. "Why do you have to be so stubborn?!" More tears ran down his cheeks as he turned away.
Sasori looked at her with sad eyes that nearly looked as if they were going to cry, "What have I done…? You fool, I cannot believe you are dying here in my arms…" Sasori didn't care anymore… he let a single tear flow down his cheek and drop onto Sakura's dirty pink hair.
Sakura coughed out blood as she struggled to exclaim, "I-I only have one d-dying wish… Bring me to him… B-Before I take my final breath…"
Itachi glared at her and spoke with sadness and rage, "Don't think that Sakura! You won't die! I won't accept it! If you die, I die as well!" Sakura shook her head slowly telling him to not make such a pitiful attempt for suicide. Itachi growled and grabbed her from Sasori and quickly disappeared as well as the two bickering teammates. They were quickly headed towards the Akatsuki head quarters with hiding their chakra perfectly like how Sakura taught them in the past.
Sakura soon lost conscious and the trio started running faster every passing minute. The cold wind hitting Itachi's skin never told him how pale she had become…
Akatsuki Head Quarters…
Itachi stopped panting heavily as Deidara swiftly made the hand seals to remove the rock boulder that blocked the entrance. His moves were not very elegant and graceful, though filled with force and powerful. 'Pein-sama!' Sasori called to himself. Though, all he received was the buzzing as a response to Pein's absence. The boulder slowly moved apart as they didn't even wait for it to completely move itself to the side. They soon ran down the many dark halls of the Akatsuki head quarters.
They soon regretted creating so many trapped rooms and dead ends, they even forgot the correct way.
With Pein…
"Something is wrong…" Pein narrowed his Rinnegan eyes. 'I feel three chakra here, Itachi's, Deidara's, Sasori's… Shika shi (but) I also sense an extremely weak chakra…' he thought to himself. His eyes widened at the very familiar chakra… "Sakura!!"
Pein soon disappeared in a puff of smoke and reappeared in front of an exhausted group. He looked around as if asking for an explanation.
"Sakura… Got stabbed…" Sasori panted as he leaned against the wall.
Itachi gently gave Pein Sakura's weak and frail body. Her eyelids were closed halfway, showing her bright green eyes that flickered of life and death. "Pein-kun…" Tears ran down his normal onyx eyes…
"Sakura…" his voice was quivering and shaking with despair and suffer. "After all the times we've been through… the Gods still think that your life shall be destined to be kept short… Please, if you are to die right now… Tell me anything you want, tell me everything… Because," he cried. "I'm always here… Even if you are dead, I-I'm still here… Please, don't leave me… My life will never be complete without you Sakura-chan…"
Her skin paled as death wrapped its fingers around her throat and swallowed her towards Hell. 'She never got to tell her love to Pein-sama…' Itachi would never cry, though, this was an acceptation for today… The day a very valuable cherry blossom of the Akatsuki has… died. Her chakra flickered out, her weight became light as a feather, and her heart stopped beating, her entire body just shut off…
Pein kneeled down with Sakura in his arms, "W-We never got to accomplish our dreams," he cried. "Please don't forget me… B-Because… I-I love you just as much as you will never know… I love y-y-you H-Haruno S-Sakura…" today was the dreadful day, Pein has became an emotionless killer and leader of Akatsuki after the loss of a precious cherry blossom.
To Be Continued…
Authoress Note: I put all my heart into the words near the end of the story. I literally poured my heart out, though I thought I could do better. Though, this is not the end! That's for sure… Just because Sakura is 'dead' doesn't mean that you stop reading okay?! Cause guess what…?
Audience: What…? –looks up with hope in eyes-
Authoress Note: I really don't know… -.-'
