hello all, firstly, im sorry bout the lateness... again lol... blame homework and general crappiness :D
secondly thanx to those who review, favourite and story alert this fic (im in a rush so im sorry i cant list them, i'll do it next chapter... sorry people)
thridly, this chapter is for daily and her group seven hehe, just because even when i absolutely hate this fic and my writing, she doesnt (or at least she doesnt tell me about it lol) and because you are all awesome and i hope you know it :) (and such a huge thankyou for all the support and help too, u really do rock :)
anyway, thx for reading and hope u like this chapter :)
Masked Happiness
Chapter 12: Painful Memories
Sakura rolled over and felt her legs bound together. Struggling for a second, the panic quickly rising in her chest, she squinted her eyes open, moaning against the intrusive rays of the bright morning sun, as she realised it was her blankets that had wrapped themselves around her legs throughout her tossing and turning in the night.
Sighing as she struggled to extricate her legs from the heap of tangled fabric, Sakura rolled off the bed and fell with a soft thump onto the floor. Moaning, she glanced at the calendar and remembered that it was Saturday and that she was meeting everyone for lunch, before she made her way to the bathroom and the sound of taps could be heard throughout the house.
Stepping out of the shower 30 minutes later, her long, pink hair dripping, she stood still for a second as she heard her phone ring. Quickly wrapping her towel around herself, she opened the bathroom door and, as she made her way to the phone she swore to beat the crap out of Naruto for not having fixed her door yet.
'I'll teach him… no privacy… half-naked!… little perv…'
Click
'Hello, Sakura speaking…'
'Hello, Sakura Haruno? Yes, this is Yura from the sunagakure ANBU squad, I am calling to inform you that we sighted Haruno-san on the outskirts of Suna last week and have deployed teams to ensure his immediate capture.'
'Haruno-san… my father?!'
'Yes that's right'
'I thought… I mean, I was told he was dead' Sakura stuttered, at a loss as to what to say or how to react and trying hard not to scream as she felt the panic constricting her throat like a giant hand.
'On the papers I have here, apparently no body was ever found… it was always a possibility no matter how small that he may have survived…… Miss Haruno?'
Sakura was finding it hard to breathe as the invisible hand on her throat tightened.
'Yes, yes I'm here…'
'Well, I just called to update you on the developments and inform you of the situation, we will let you know when he has been captured.'
'Wait! Um, why are you trying to capture him?' Sakura asked weakly.
'Well, when he disappeared a year ago it was because his team had been attacked by Akatsuki. We now suspect because of his survival that he may be a part of Akatsuki and is therefore being treated as a criminal wanted for questioning. At this point in time that is all I can tell you. Have a nice day.'
Click
The phone fell to the floor, thudding on the carpet as Sakura's fingers seemed unable to support the small amount of weight. Trembling slightly, she took a deep, shaky breathe and wrapped her arms around her toweled body, holding onto herself for dear life as the torrent of thoughts flooding her mind threatened to wash her away.
How can he be back…Akatsuki… what will mum say… what does he want… why's he back now… will he come here…?
Shuddering at the thought of seeing him again she walked absently to her bedroom and threw herself down on her bed, face upwards as she stared at the ceiling, not really seeing it. Will he come here? She asked herself again as she felt like there was a deep, black hole in her chest, sucking everything she was into it.
What he said… the last thing he told me… memories of her father standing over her, expressing his 'love' with his fist filled Sakura's head, rushing through her mind and making her feel dizzy.
He even said, just before he left that when he got back he wanted me to want to be with him… for me to try harder…
She didn't want to see him again.
There had been a time when she wasn't sure if she wanted to see him again or not, but she was sure now that part of that uncertainty would have been attributed to fear. Fear of him. Fear of that person, that one person who was always supposed to protect her. Who left frequently on missions to protect the rest of Konoha. But what that guy… what was his name… Yura… what he had said called her father's intentions into question too, maybe he wasn't protecting Konoha after all… not if he was working for the Akatsuki…
Pushing those thoughts from her mind for the moment, Sakura knew that no matter how hard life was at the moment, it was a lot worse when he had been a part of it. No matter how much she hurt herself, she knew it was nothing compared to what he had done… what he might do again.
Shuddering again, she closed her eyes trying to block out all of her thoughts and only seeing an imprint of his face on the backs of her closed eyelids. As the bright sunshine, unwavering despite her inner turmoil, brought with it a soft light breeze that blew through her open door, she was slowly enticed into sleep and ghostly dreams of him, and the fear he brought in his wake.
A resounding slap echoed around the house as hand landed across cheek, leaving a white handprint where it had made contact. Gasping I looked up at him towering before me. It was the first time he ever slapped me. Usually it was mum who bore the brunt of his rage as I huddled in the corner, my knees close to my chest, hands covering my head and my pink hair falling in my face, obscuring it from view... the ultimate sign of my weakness.
But this time it was different. This was the first time she had been on a mission and he hadn't. He came home and I could smell the alcohol as soon as he walked in the door. His eyes were unfocused and I wasn't sure if it was because he was too drunk or too angry to see straight. He walked right towards me.
'Where is she?' he had said, his voice dripping with derision and disgust at the sight of me. Knowing he meant mum but not knowing how to tell him she wasn't there, I stayed silent as I panicked.
'Where. Is. She.' He said slower, punctuating each point by taking a step forward, cornering me.
'I… she's… she's not… she's on a mission…' I wavered, knowing that however I said it he would disapprove. He would blame me.
I was right.
He snorted, the contempt etched in every line on his face.
'Well, you'll just have to do then, wont you?' he said as he brought his hand high. I watched the almost graceful arc his arm made as his hand grew closer to my face, as if in slow motion. I didn't hear the sound, or feel the pain until a few seconds afterwards. I was too shocked. He snorted his derision and kicked me forcefully in the stomach, winding me and sending me flying into the wall behind me with a thud, causing me to crumple in the darkened corner of the room.
Snorting again he walked right up to me while I lay there, feeling completely and utterly helpless. Looking down on me for a second he spat and muttered,
'Not as fun.' And walked away, heading to the lounge room where the murmur of the television grew louder and the sound of his form falling onto the sofa could be heard.
Lying in the near darkness, hurting all over, I promised myself I would never be this weak again.
That night repeated itself often over the next few months but I was slowly becoming stronger, able to lessen the effects of his blows… even if my mother didn't approve… I decided…I will get stronger… that's why I became a shinobi.
Sakura's body shook as she lay face up on her bed wearing nothing but a towel and crying softly in her sleep, her hands closed into fists around the blankets underneath her. She didn't hear her door creak open because, of course, she had no door. Soft foot steps fell as they approached her room and from the doorway, sympathetic blue eyes fell on the shivering, shaking form of his teammate.
Walking into her room as quietly as he could, Naruto took a blanket that had been strewn across the floor and draped it over her lightly. Sitting down in the chair that sat at her desk, he watched her for a moment as the blanket warmed her body and she began to relax a bit, her trembling lessening by the minute. Eventually, when she seemed calm enough to wake up without getting his head pounded in, Naruto moved to the side of her bed and lightly grasped her shoulder.
Her eyes burst open as she shrank away from his hand in fear, remnants of her nightmare mixing with reality. Seeing who it was, she relaxed visibly and let out a shaky breath.
'Are you ok? I just came by to see why you weren't at lunch and found you asleep, looked like you were having a bad dream.'
Sakura smiled unsteadily and said,
'Yeah, must've eaten chocolate before bed or something.'
Still uncertain and not believing her false bravado for a second, Naruto kept his hand on her shoulder and when Sakura looked up into his eyes she saw more kindness and worry there than she had ever seen from anyone. Extricating herself from her blankets for the second time that day, Sakura stood and hugged Naruto.
This both reassured and scared Naruto more than anything she had done up until now, as he hugged her back thinking how unlike Sakura this was. His small blush obscured by his fear at the state she was in and her behaviour, he could feel her still trembling in his arms. Breaking apart, Naruto looked at Sakura and saw that she looked, at least a little calmer and more relaxed than she had before. Happy that he had been able to help in some way, he smiled at her and she smiled back for a second too before her face fell with remarkable speed into a scowl and she began hitting him over the head.
'Ow… what was, ow! What was that for?!'
He sputtered as she chased him around her bedroom.
'You're in my bedroom AGAIN, and you still haven't fixed my freaking door!'
'I'm sorry, I'm sorry!' He yelled as he ran out her front door, knowing she couldn't follow because of her…attire.
Just beyond reach, Naruto's fit of laughter incensed Sakura as she waved her fist at him before stomping back to her bedroom, throwing her door shut with strength that threatened to tear that one off its hinges as well.
Quickly throwing on the first pieces of clothing she could find, she ran outside and up the road that Naruto had disappeared from seconds ago, to continue his beating.
okie dokey... chapter 12 done... really must make these chapters bigger... and now the storys getting interesting... sorta haha, what do you think people? please please please review, even just a word or two would be fine so that i have an idea of how many people care if i continue to write it or not
thankyou for reading :)
