WITH KONAN:
Konan pulled away, wiping the sweat off her brow. The wound had more than enough damage done to kill Sakura, put it seemed the Copy-nin had purposefully missed all internal organs. Either that or he had really crappy aim. Konan sighed, going to pull out a clean sheet and comforter out of Sakura's closet only to find none. Sighing again, she walked to Itachi's room and knocked. The door opened and she spotted Kisame sitting in a chair, cleaning kunai. He looked up when she entered.
"Yes, Konan?"
"I'm sorry to bother you Itachi, but I was wondering if you had some clean sheets I could borrow?"
Itachi nodded and stood, going to his own closet and pulling out a black sheet and pillow cases. He handed them to Konan.
"I'm afraid I do not have a comforter."
Kisame looked up and stood.
"I have one. I'll be right back."
He left the room, his long legs carrying him out of the room in seconds. Itachi stood watching Konan, whose gaze was on the wall between Sakura's room and his own. Kisame came back in, holding a neatly folded dark blue and gray comforter.
"I'll carry it for you."
Konan nodded her head and turned on her heel. Kisame's brow furrowed when he realized that they were going to Sakura's room and not Konan's. Itachi opened the door for them, letting Konan in first.
"Itachi…"
Itachi nodded, picking Sakura's unconscious body up. Konan, with Kisame's help, quickly made the bed. Itachi placed Sakura back on it, pulling the comforter over her body gently. The three left the room, Konan carrying a basket of clothes and sheets covered in blood.
"Thank you."
"What happened?"
It was Kisame who asked. Konan sighed and motioned them to follow her. They began the trip down the hall to the laundry room, where Konan began to put the stained material into the washing machine.
"She got hit with a chidori by the Copy-nin when she was with Hidan and Kakuzu."
At this, Kisame clenched his fist. Dumbass, Kisame thought, he was supposed to protect her. Itachi shot him a warning glance. He himself was worried. He knew something was up with Sakura when it came to Kakashi.
"Zetsu brought her back. She'll be fine."
"Hm."
Itachi touched Kisame's shoulder, pulling away and walking from the room. Kisame followed. Konan watched the two leave, feeling slightly bad that she had not told them the whole truth.
WITH SAKURA:
In the dark room, a low groan echoed, coming from the bed. Sakura raised her head, cradling it gently in the palm of her glowing hand. She sighed, looking out the window to realize it was night, almost 1 AM. She stood from her bed, going to the pile of weapons and such that Konan had pulled from her person. Pulling out the green scroll, she unrolled it and summoned the item inside.
Asuma appeared, unconscious and barley alive. Sakura winced, placing her glowing hand over his largest wound, a bleeding kidney. She began her work, healing the failing organs, fixing bones, healing scrapes and bruises. Eventually all that was left was waking him from the sleep she had put him in when he entered the scroll. Raising both hands to his head, she sat on him, straddling his waist and using her legs to lock his legs in place. Placing both hands by his temples, she began to fiddle with the sedate she had placed in his brain. Pulling it out slowly, she let it fall to the ground.
"Done."
She sighed, rubbing her hand. Below her, she felt Asuma jerk awake and she grasped his wrists, holding them above his head in a vice grip. His eyes opened and narrowed when he realized who was sitting on him.
"Sakura."
"Hello Asuma. Can I let you go with you trying to kill me?"
His eyes narrowed. She shrugged.
"Figures."
"Why'd you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Leave Konoha. Kill the council and those children."
Sakura grinned, internally wincing at the onslaught of memories.
"Eh, a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do."
He glared. Sakura sighed and climbed off him, not even blinking when he stood behind her.
"What am I doing here?"
"Full of questions, aren't you? Well, have a seat."
She gestured to a chair next to the window, cleaning it off of the weapons and scrolls. He sat, looking suspiciously at her when she sat on a chair opposite of him.
"You thirsty?"
"No."
"Come on, I'm not going to poison you. You can pour and I'll drink first, okay?"
She stood, walking over to a mini-fridge Asuma hadn't noticed. Grabbing a bottle, she handed it to him and gave him two cups. Asuma opened the bottle, poured the sake into the cups, and handed her one. She threw it back and he followed her example. Pouring them both another cup, he sat back.
"Tell me."
"You are here because I am saving you. That's why you can't feel your chakra. I had to put a lid on it so that when I healed you, no one would know."
Asuma's brows furrowed.
"Why-"
"Am I saving you?"
He nodded.
"You are important. Besides, Kurenai is pregnant no? And Ino as well."
His eyes widened. Sakura chuckled nervously.
"You didn't know? Oops, maybe it was a secret. Either way, they both will need you, especially with Naruto as Ino's soon-to-be husband. He'll drive her bonkers."
Sakura smiled, taking the sake bottle and putting it to her mouth, taking a gulp. Asuma watched her curiously.
"Look, Asuma, we need to leave tonight. Hidan and Kakuzu will be back tomorrow. Which means he'll ask for your body so he can turn you in as a bounty."
"What will you tell him when you don't have me?"
"I don't know yet. I'm working on it. Come on."
Sakura handed him his weapon pouches and the katana she had pulled out of her stomach when Kakashi shoved it in during the battle. Apparently she sheathed his and stabbed him with hers. Sometimes even the best have moments of forgetfulness.
"If Kakashi asks, you found it near you and brought it back."
Asuma nodded. Sakura opened her window, motioning Asuma to climb out. When he looked back, she had made a bunshin and put it to sleep. Climbing out her window, she locked it behind her and motioned Asuma to follow her. They ran for awhile, until Asuma felt as though he would pass out. Running was a lot harder with no chakra to keep you sustained.
"Stop, I will give you your chakra back."
They stopped and Sakura went through some hand signs, hitting Asuma's stomach gently. His chakra came rushing back and he felt instantly revived. Sakura smiled and motioned to the tress.
"Come, we have only a few hours to get you to the Fire border. Once there, you can send a letter telling them you escaped our grasp and are headed to Konoha. You will make it there safely, I assure you."
Asuma nodded and they continued. Hours passed in silence in which Asuma couldn't stop thinking about why Sakura would save him. Even if Ino and Kurenai where pregnant, how would she know? And even if she did, why would she care? She had left them, left Konoha. It made no sense.
"Asuma."
He stopped, standing next to her. She smiled gently.
"We're here. Look, here's the story okay? We took you with us, when I awoke they had me heal you so we could torture you. You escaped, ran to the border, and sent the letter. Alright?"
"Yes."
"Good."
They stood in silence. Suddenly, Sakura turned to him.
"I'm sorry Asuma. But I can't have my secret getting out."
"What? Sakura?"
The last thing he saw was Sakura, handing glowing green, a smile on her face.
WITH SAKURA:
I sighed, climbing through the window and letting my bunshin go. She poofed out silently. Tearing off my clothes on my way to the shower, I climbed in. Turning it as hot as it would go, I left the lights off. Sighing, I scrubbed at the katana wound Konan had missed and let it heal completely. The skin cleared, the evidence of getting injured gone. Seeing Asuma…it was nice.
Though I wished it was Kakashi. I thought back to letting Asuma go and putting a memory lock on the night. I knew not even Ino's father would be able to get into his locked memories. I ran a hand through my hair, tensing when I felt everyone's chakra start to awake. I looked down at my stomach, seeing the spidery lines still healing from Kakashi's chidori. I felt my back, feeling matching marks there. I could heal them, I knew, but I did not want to. Like with the sword mark from my battle with Sasori, it would remind me of what I had lost.
Kakashi. I knew he aimed lower so that he would not kill me. I should have erased his memories of the minutes after the battle at the waterfall. He knew something was wrong when I did not kill him. I turned off the water, climbing out of the shower and drying myself off. Opening the door to my room, I wasn't surprised to see both Itachi and Kisame there. Itachi threw me some clothes and I slipped into the bathroom to change, coming out with a towel to dry my hair.
"Hey guys. The Zombies back yet?"
"No. How are you kitten? Hear you took a nasty hit."
I grinned and shook my head.
"Nasty yes, but it doesn't stop me."
I laughed with Kisame, who ruffled my hair.
"I'm going to get breakfast. Hurry down you two, I think Konan's cooking."
"Okay."
Kisame left, closing the door behind him. I finished drying my hair, pulling a comb through it. Itachi's fingers grasped my own and I let the brush go. He ran it through my hair gently, braiding it when he was done.
"You never told me where you learned to braid hair."
"I learned to braid rope. What's the difference?"
"Good point."
I flipped the braid over my shoulder, taking the brush from Itachi's hand and placing it on my dresser. I turned to leave the room, but Itachi's hand on my shoulder stopped me. I turned.
"What it is Itachi?"
"I heard from Konan that the Copy-nin was the one that wounded you."
I cringed. Itachi noticed and placed his hands on my shoulders.
"Tell me what's going on Sakura."
"Nothing, okay?"
I turned from him and then proceeded to wrench open my door and head down the hall. I heard Itachi follow after me. I couldn't tell him anything. If I did, everything might come out and it would threaten my mission. I sat at the table, taking the waffles Konan handed me with a smile. Looking up at Kisame, I began to talk with him, aware of Itachi's eyes on me the enter time.
WITH EVERYONE:
All of the Akatsuki's heads lifted when they felt the light shock, indicating Pein needed them. Sakura stood first, wrapping her arm in Konan's and walking down the hallway with her. Kisame and Itachi followed slowly.
"Itachi, did you find anything out?"
"Hn. Something is wrong, but she will not say."
"Hm, wonder what's up with her and the Copy-nin."
"Hn."
"Hatake was her sensei right?"
"Yes."
"Maybe she's just surprised he would attack her?"
"Perhaps."
The two quieted when they walked into the meeting room. Everyone was there, including Zetsu. Most were in their holographic form. The chatter immediately died down when Pein rose.
"I have a new order. As you all know, we have yet to gain the 9-tails. Uzumaki Naruto is the last jinchuuriki we need to capture."
Kisame and Itachi shared a look. It had been their job to capture Naruto, but he seemingly always managed to avoid capture. Sakura remained impassive, though on the inside she was trying to think of a way to get Sai a message of this new development.
"Hidan, Kakuzu. You are to go to Konoha and find more information of the target. Understood?"
"Hai."
"Do not engage and if you are caught, do not fight. Leave."
"Hai, Leader."
"Good. Go."
Hidan and Kakuzu's holographic forms blinked out of existence. Zetsu disappeared as well when he received a nod from Pein.
"Deidara."
The holograph turned to Pein.
"You are to come back to Ame. You will meet up with Tobi on your way back. Try not to kill him. Understood?"
"Hai."
The holograph blinked out, but not before they could hear Deidara complaining about stupid lollipops. Sakura couldn't stop her giggle. Pein turned to Kisame and Itachi.
"You two will stay here and train. Sakura, you as well."
"Hai."
"Good, dismissed."
Kisame and Itachi left. The latter shot her a look when she didn't follow, but she just waved him on. She turned to Pein and Konan.
"Pein?"
"Hm?"
"If we are going to attack Konoha, I need to start healing you every day."
Pein smirked.
"Who said we were attacking Konoha?"
"Come on, I'm not an idiot. Why else would you be bringing everyone back to Ame?"
Konan giggled while Pein chuckled.
"I knew there was a reason I brought you into our organization."
Sakura rolled her eyes but grinned.
"Very well. Though, not every day. I'm bringing everyone back to the base so I can send them to a training ground in the mountains."
"Am I going?"
"No. That is when I will be training you."
"What?"
"You will find out soon enough Sakura. Now go, I believe Itachi is waiting for you."
Sakura nodded and waved, leaving the room. Konan turned to Pein, rubbing his shoulders comfortingly.
"When will you tell her?"
"Soon."
He turned to look at the rain falling outside his window.
"Very soon."
END OF CHAPTER
Okay, so I'm leaving for Europe on Tuesday. I won't be back until July 8th. Seeing as I won't have any internet access this is the last chapter for about 3 weeks. Sorry guys. When I get back I promise to upload at least 2 chapters. This story should be done by the end of summmer. (Hopefully.)
Until then, please review!
Eris-R-Renee
