Chapter 12~
'Three days…Three months… There's a huge difference Saya…' Itachi thought darkly, but then shook his head. 'What kind of trouble did you run into this time?'
He could almost picture her smiling coyly at him…
He missed her. The pain in his chest was back once again and he knew of only one cure to make it stop. Too bad she was lost somewhere. Maybe injured…on the brick of death-
Itachi sighed aggregately. He wouldn't think about that.
Tomorrow, he's to leave with Kisame to search for their Kyuubi. Looks like he'd have to search for her too. But he knew, no matter what, he wasn't coming back without her.
"Shit. That hurts." Sasuke swallowed the lump in his throat as he helped her sit up. She let out a ragged breath, leaning against him as she fought back the pain.
With his arm around her waist, he waited patiently for her. "Okay," She said a few minutes later, "I'm ready."
He hoisted her up and allowed her to make the step. She wobbled a tiny bit, but held strong, walking on her own to the door with him just a step behind. They walked down the hallway and into the same foreboding room - just like every other day. With luck they would continue to do so until Sasuke could figure out his plan.
Saya glared at the man above her. She sat against the wall, completely exhausted and feeling like shit.
"Feeling tired?"
"Screw you."
Orochimaru just laughed as he kneeled down beside her and grabbed her chin in his fingers, a satisfied smirk on his lips.
She spat at him, right in his face. Next thing Saya knew, she was lying on the ground with a burning in her right cheek.
"Bitch." He hissed.
"That all you can say?" Saya taunted, pushing herself off the ground and back against the wall.
"You really irritate me."
"Ditto."
"Do you understand that I could end your life at this very moment?" Orochimaru looked at her, malice in his eyes.
"I hope you burn in hell."
"Oh, I can guarantee you will be wishing for that in the next few minutes." He started advancing on her.
"What the hell are you talking 'bout?"
His hand tangled in her hair, yanking her head back roughly. Pain flared at the side of her neck. At first, Saya thought he had just sliced her throat, but then it started burning. She screamed.
Sasuke stood frozen to the spot. Saya fell to the ground, her hands gripping the spot where Orochimaru bit her while she cursed a blue streak.
"Just leave her there to die." Orochimaru instructed him as he left the room, a satisfied smirk on his face.
Sasuke wanted to attack him, but instead rushed to Saya and gathered her in his arms. With some difficulty he was able to remove her hands from her neck. In turn they fisted in his shirt as she let out a scream against his chest.
A flower-like pattern was now burning into the skin at the crook of her neck.
"Saya!" Sasuke tried to call her, but to no avail.
Lifting her up, he teleported them outside the base and started running.
Sasuke sighed tiredly. He wasn't sure if this was going to work, but he had no other option. In his arms was an unconscious Saya. Her face was contorted in pain and he could feel her burning up in his arms.
Kneeling down he propped her against a tree before he jumped back in the trees and waited. Chatter from the distance warned they were close and he hid further into the camouflaged of the leaves.
"I can't wait to get a bowl of ramen!"
Sasuke sighed through his nose, but a small smile came to his lips.
He wouldn't have trusted anyone better.
"Is Naruto-kun always hungry?"
"Most of the time, yes." Sakura replied with a roll of her eyes.
"Everyone has to eat!" Naruto defended.
"It's tree meals a day, not every hour."
"Yeah well, at least I eat three meals a day unlike someone who diets all the time because she thinks she's fat!"
"What did you say?"
"I meant-!"
Yelling erupted.
"Excuse my interruption, but I believe there is an injured person up ahead." Sai said quietly.
Sakura stopped violently shaking Naruto and turned to look to where Sai was pointing. "Oh my," Releasing Naruto she ran to the unconscious woman.
"Is she alright?" Naruto asked curiously as he eyed the blood all over her clothes wearily.
"She's not bleeding, but she has a high fever."
"Let's take her back to Konoha." Yamato interrupted.
"There's something on her neck," Sai noted.
Sakura gasped, her hand covering her mouth, "It's a curse mark."
"Orochimaru." Naruto said darkly.
"We need to get her help." Yamato ordered.
"Put her on my back." Naruto said, kneeling down.
With both Sai and Sakura's help, they were able to wrap the woman's arms around Naruto's neck. He hocked his arms under her legs and hoisted her up.
"Let's go."
Saya awoke with a start, her eyes darting from left to right around the room. She knew almost immediately that she was in a hospital somewhere. Glancing to the side of the room, she could see blue skies outside the window. Curious, she threw the blankets over her to the side, only to notice an IV in her arm. Feeling lightheaded, she pulled it out of her arm and set it to the side gently. She slipped out of the bed to stand on her two feet and was surprised that there was no pain.
'Thank you, God...'
She walked to the window and looked out. She could see the gates of the village and at the far side of the area was a rock side with heads engraved in it.'The Leaf Village… How did I get here?'
Frowning, she turned around and gave the room a look-over again. On the table by the bed, she spotted some folded clothes and grabbed those before locating the bathroom. There she changed out of the hospital gown and into the plain shirt and shorts.
After using the toilet, she washed her hands before splashing water on her face. She caught her reflection in the mirror above and grimaced at herself. She ran her hands through her hair in an attempt to get all the tangles out. When she was satisfied with how she looked, she stepped out of the bathroom and walked back to the window. She stared idly at the village while she considered what to do next. She knew she was going to somehow leave before people started asking questions.
Saya heard the click of the door and panic washed over her. Almost instinctively she pushed the window open and jumped out.
She smiled as the wind rushed past her before she landed in a crouch position on the stone road. A lady's voice came from above, shouting for help, but Saya as already running. She ran via rooftops towards where the gates of the village were. From behind she heard the sound of footsteps and looked over her shoulder to see three shinobi following her.
"We just want to help you." A girl's voice called out.
"Thanks for all your help, but I need to go." Saya yelled back, sprinting off.
Two jounins awaited her at the front of the gates, prepared to stop her. But she jumped right over them and out of the village. "I'm really sorry." Saya shouted over her shoulder.
"Hey, Saya!"
She looked ahead of her at the woman standing with her hands on her hips. "Long time no see."
Saya almost fell on her face, but instead came to a stumbling stop in front of the Kunoichi.
"Sensei?"
"I knew you'd run off, but I thought you'd at least say 'hi' to your sensei." Anko tsked. "So what's it like traveling all over the world?"
Saya gaped. "You live in the Leaf Village now?"
Anko shrugged. "You're not the only one who wanted a change in scenery."
"Wait, you too know each other?" A voice came from behind and Saya turned to see the three people who were chasing her.
"Of course, she used to be a student of mine." She stated proudly as she threw her arm around Saya.
The pink-haired and blonde's jaws dropped.
"Now, we have a lot of catching up to do." Anko smiled down at Saya, leading her back to the village.
"So, this is a curse mark?" Saya asked as she probed the mark on the right side of her neck.
"Yep. You must've really pissed off the snake for him to try to kill you with it."
"I learned from the best." She grinned at her sensei.
Anko laughed. "Tell me, what have you been doing these past years?"
"Hm," Saya considered telling her about the Akatsuki, but immediately rejected the idea, "Just traveling around, moving from one village or town to another."
"Exciting." She smirked at her.
Saya shrugged, looking around her sensei's house, "When did you move into the Leaf Village?"
"Well, actually, I've been living since I was a child. I was at your village on a mission."
"Really?" She asked in surprise.
Anko nodded. "So, how long are you planning in staying?"
"Ah, well, I was hoping to be on my way soon." She answered nervously.
"Why don't you stay?" Her sensei invited, "At least for a week, until we know you can go out on your own without the curse mark affecting you in any way."
This made Saya rethink her plan. "Until I'm fully healed." She agreed.
Anko grinned at her. "I know a place where you can stay at in the mean time."
"Thanks for everything, Sensei."
"No problem," Anko waved her off with a smile, "Get a goodnights' rest and I'll take you to the hospital tomorrow."
Saya nodded.
"Night."
"Night, Sensei."
"Call me, Anko." She flashed her a smile over her shoulder before closing the door.
Saya had a smile of her own as she turned around and walked to the circle bed in the middle of the room. Placing her bags at the foot of the bed, she rummaged through the new clothes for the sleepwear her sensei bought her. She grabbed that and the toiletry items in another bag before heading into the bathroom…
Steam followed her out of the bathroom when she walked out, a towel over her head as she dried her damp hair. She couldn't remember the last time she had a nice, hot shower, but she knew she had needed it.
"It's good to see you're well."
Saya jumped when she heard the voice through the dark room, but she recognized who it belonged to.
"Sasuke," She pulled the towel off her head and glanced at the man standing by the window. "I'm guessing you dropped me off here after Orochimaru gave me this." She fingered the curse mark.
She couldn't see his face because of the moonlight shinning through the window behind him, but his voice was solemn, "I'm sorry."
Saya smiled softly. She took the few steps to reach Sasuke and threw her arms around him. "You saved me. And I'm eternally grateful."
He didn't say anything; instead he wrapped his arms around her, returning the hug.
"You want to stay the night?" She asked quietly.
"Thanks for the offer, but I have to get back to the base before Orochimaru finds out I'm gone." Sasuke said, gently pulling back. "I'll be back tomorrow night."
Saya nodded and gave him a smile. "I'll be right here."
The corner of his lips quirked up and he leaned down to kiss the top of her head. "Sleep well."
"You too."
Then he was gone, the window wide open.
Saya closed the windows. Carefully, she made her way through the dark to the bed. Sliding under the blankets, she smiled at the softness of the bed and sighed contently.
That night she got the best sleep she had ever had in a long time.
