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Chapter 12 - Caged


Sakura Haruno

It was dark.

That was the first thing I noticed when I came back to consciousness. My body felt tired, drained almost. I tried to figure out what was wrong, pulling at my chakra to try and motivate my body. That was when I noticed that my chakra was practically nothing. I had a small, tiny bit that was so small that it was inaccessible. All I had left in my chakra was store was an unusable little piece that wouldn't do anything. My body wasn't used to the lack of strength, and everything felt tired.

I tried to move my hands, which were oddly resting above my head, only to feel the biting pull of cold metal against my wrists. I whimpered as a flash of pain spiked through my bones. I struggled desperately, a wave a panic washing over my like a tsunami. I pulled against my restraints with all of my weak strength, the light clanking of chains accompanying each movement and pull. With each pull, the more the metal dug into my skin. Tears began to well in my eyes, and I continued to try and escape the binds around my wrists.

The tears escaped when I felt blood trickle down both of my arms. I had pulled until my skin had went raw, and the metal had cut through the tender skin. Each bead of blood that slithered down my arm made me shiver in disgust, and I fought the urge to throw up. I was happy that I couldn't see the blood, because something told me that seeing myself bleeding at the wrists would bring back bad memories. Those memories were the last thing I needed to sink into at the time.

I stopped pulling after the pain became unbearable. I had hurt myself more then I had the chains, and my raw wounds were throbbing by the time my fit was over. I sat in the dark, the silence roaring in my ears overshadowing my soft sobbing. I tried desperately to wipe my face onto my shoulder, the tears making my face sticky and most likely red.

My body shivered violently when a drop of sticky red blood dripped from above, splashing onto my cheek. I cried, scared, and tried to wipe it away from my face.

I pursed my quivering lips harshly, and closed my eyes. I took in a few deep, heaving breaths. I continued to breath in and out until my mind cleared up, and I could think rationally again. I calmed myself, my sobbing leaving a dull ache in my stomach. Tears continued to stream down my face, but there wasn't anything I could do to stop them. At least, then, I was thinking more clearly.

My eyes opened, and I glanced around in the darkness around me. I couldn't see anything, it was much to dark. I shifted my body against the stone floor, uncurling my legs and resting my back against the wall. I had slept in a cramped position, leaving everything slightly sore. My arms, despite their bleeding, were almost completely numb from being chained above my head from so long.

Taking I deep breath, I closed my eyes slowly. I pulled some of my memories forth, trying to think of who might've taken me and why I was here. I remembered the golden eyes, and I remembered the fear I felt when I was loosing consciousness inside the inn room Kakuzu had rented. My heart ached at the thought of Kakuzu, which had led to thoughts of Hidan and the rest of the Akatsuki.

'Where were they?'

'Were they okay?'

'Were they looking for me?'

'Did they care that I was missing?'

These thoughts raced through my mind, but all they did was bring me hopelessness. The more I dwelled on the possibility that the Akatsuki may not be looking for me, or care that I had been kidnapped, the more I drained and sad I felt. I didn't want to be a damsel in distress, I told myself. I wanted to fight my way out of here, but I had absolutely no strength to draw from. No physical strength, and no mental strength. The Akatuski had prepared me for a lot in the ninja world, but this was the one thing they couldn't personally teach me: How to survive different scenarios of being kidnapped.

I heard a sudden, startlingly loud clank of metal come from the other side of the room. There was a loud, haunting creak as a door was opened. A bright, blinding light spilled into the room through the opened door. My eyes widened fearfully, watching as a dark silhouette appeared in the door frame.

Pein

I tapped my finger against my desk rapidly, before I caught myself in the action and sighed. I pulled my hands away from my paper work and ran my fingers through my hair. I stretched my back tiredly and then cracked my neck to relief some of the stress. I honestly didn't have much to sort through except for a few bill payments that I had to document and send to some neglectful residents of Amegakure. The little paperwork wasn't what had me stressed, however.

Placing a hand to my temple, I saw flashes of pink dance through my mind. My forehead creased, and I tried to rub the crease away along with the worry. For the past day a hollow feeling had settled into my stomach. Something felt wrong, and I felt angry that I didn't know what it was.

I was about to retreat into my room for a relaxing nap, when I felt two familiar, lightly strained chakra signatures approaching. My back straightened and my face wiped blank. I waited for them to make their way to the door, anticipation building up inside of me. I didn't give them a chance to answer before I called them in, my eyes trained on the door.

Hidan and Kakuzu filed into the room, and something was missing.

Kakuzu opened his mouth, but I cut in. "Where is she?"

They fell silent, and I felt myself grown tense. My eyes grew cold, and I stood up from my chair. I stalked around it, nearing them with a threatening intent.

"Where. Is. She?" I ground out lowly, controlling my voice to the best of my ability.

Kakuzu spoke first, his eyes darting towards the floor, "When we made to the village our first bounty was rumored to be near, I bought an inn room. She isn't used to traveling, so we offered her to stay in the inn room and take a nap while we went information searching. When we came back, she was gone. We searched everywhere around the hotel and the village, and we asked if anyone had seen her be taken. No one saw anything, and we do not know where she has gone."

With each word I grew more tense, and at the tend of his short story I found myself wanting to wring their necks.

"You will be punished, but first we must find Sakura," I growled, "Call the other Akatsuki to the meeting room. Tell them that if they aren't there I'll break every bone in their arms and leave them to heal naturally, akin to the punishment I'm going to give to you two for loosing her."

They nodded, and were gone from my sight in an instant. I couldn't believe the irresponsibility of my members. I couldn't believe that they let her out of there sight, and the fact that they could find no clue to her disappearance disgusted me on the inside. My arm shook, and I threw kicked out at my desk. It smashed into pieces, sending paper flying into the air.

Sakura Haruno

My heart was frozen inside my chest, and my lungs stopped functioning. I watched, eyes glittering, as the figure entered the room. Their shoes thudded against the stone ground, and my heart jump started when they shut the door behind them. I pressed myself against the wall in fear, eyes darting around wildly. I heard the feet approaching me slowly, tauntingly.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up as chills ran down my spine. That terrifying, organ freezing feeling that someone was in the room with you was pulsing through me. But, thinking that someone was in the room and knowing, were two totally different things. Thinking, frightened you. Knowing, terrified you to brink of hysterics.

A footstep founded right next to me, making me cry out. I swung out my leg in reflex, twisting my wrists painfully against my binds. The person gracefully dodged, and suddenly reached for me. Their hands picked me up by my middle and set me onto my unsteady feet, before slamming me against the wall. My head cracked against it painfully, and tears leaked from the corners of my eyes.

"Who are you?" A deep, velvety tone asked into my ear.

Fear rolled down my spine in violent waves. This tone held no emotion, no tone. It was nothing but the sound of pure, velvet ice. The tone hummed beautifully, but was completely tainted by an under-tone so cold that it could've solidly froze the strongest flame. It was almost like the coldness of his voice could've turned a volcano dormant.

I bit my tongue painfully, not willing to give in.

His hand gripped my arm, pulling the cuffs around my wrists, and squeezed painfully. I grit my teeth, holding back the sob that threatened to spill past my lips. Through my teeth, I seethed out, "Sakura Haruno."

The grip on my arm only loosened slightly, but that was enough relief for me.

"Where is the Akatsuki base?" He questioned next.

"Fuck you," I spat in response, feeling another tear roll down my cheek.

The person pulled away from me quickly. I had one second, one pure moment of relief, before my face suddenly felt as though it were on fire. My head slammed to the side, feeling his palm slap me across my cheek. The tears held up in my eyes fell down, leaving a stinging path down my injured cheek. The whole left side of my face felt like it was aflame, a painful stinging throbbing through my cheek.

I heard the person walk away a few feet, and there was a sudden 'whoosh' of a flame. The room was dimly lit by a candle, allowing me to see the person who had just slapped my.

Sasuke Uchiha stood next to a rickety wooden table, his crimson eyes trained on the flame dancing atop the stick of wax. He glanced at me, and his eyes seemed to flicker slightly as he took in my appearance. Slowly, he turned back towards me and began to stalk forward. I struggled against my bonds, feeling more blood trickle down my arms.

"Where is the Akatsuki base?" He questioned, coming closer once more.

"I don't know," I whispered truthfully, my voice cracking at the dry feeling in my throat.

Sasuke pulled his hand back, and I flinched violently as a familiar, abused feeling rose up in me. An image of my teacher's dead body flashed through my mind, along with all of the pain she inflicted upon me in her time of living. I knew, however, that Sasuke could do so much worse then Mrs. Kane. He had super strength, and with these binds and no chakra, I had no way of preventing him from striking me.

He hand stilled, and his eyes examined my reaction almost curiously.

I looked at him through my choppy bangs, my body shaking in fear.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at me slowly, before he reached into his open shirt. I flinched once more, but he didn't pause from retrieving a small item. He reached forward, and I awaited mistreatment. I was surprised to feel him fiddling with my cuffs. I couldn't stop the relief that filled me when I heard the click and I could let my hands fall to my side.

He took ahold of my arm and led me towards the table. He forced me into a seat and left the room. For a moment, I was filled with hope, but after a second of his retreat the lock on the door clicked tauntingly. I shivered to myself, feeling cold. For a few moments, I sat in silence. I hoped that maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't come back.

I had no such luck, and after a few minutes passed the door unlocked and opened once more. Sasuke walked in, a bowl carefully balanced in one hand. He moved towards the table and set the bowl onto the table, and I noticed a wet rag floating inside water. He pulled out a towel and roll of bandages. He didn't bother asking, but forcefully pulled my injured wrists toward him.

Sasuke pulled the rag from the water, rung it out carefully, and began to wipe away at the blood staining my arms, hands, and wrists. I watched him work with widened eyes.

I couldn't help but revel at the touch of the warm rag, the clean feeling it created on my skin refreshing and welcome.

"When Orochimaru told me that you were only a pet of the Akatsuki, I thought he was kidding," Sasuke said, scowling as he dabbed almost gently at my wrists.

Anger flashed though me, and I tried to pull myself away from his touch. He glared at me, holding onto my now clean hands harshly.

"Do you want these wounds treated? I could care less if the wounds got infected and you died," He said, his tone almost bored.

I let myself simmer slowly, staring straight into his eyes. I tried searching them, but could find nothing but crimson snow. Slowly, I let him take my hands once more. He began to clean once more, his eyes occasionally glancing up at me from his work. As I watched him work, I found myself growing homesick, but almost curious at the thought bouncing around inside my mind.

Am I just a pet to the Akatsuki?

Pein

I stared at them all, my eyes hard. I rose from my seat slowly, and saw their eyes follow me through the motion.

"Well?" I said coldly, "What are you waiting for? Go!"

They disappeared from their seats, leaving me alone in the room. I expanded my chakra, monitoring them from afar. I watched as they all paced around their room, packing. Occasionally they would appear in the kitchen to pack some of the few foods items we had, before team by team they left the base. I monitored them as far my chakra would stretch, and once they were all out of my range I moved to my room. I packed my own bag, and headed out. I went towards the village, ready to place a bounty poster out for our female member.

A part inside of me ached at the loss, and wanted to join the search in finding her. But, I couldn't. I needed to monitor the organization and make sure nothing went wrong.

Even though a rather large part of me was confident we would find her, that part was also feeling sick at the possibility of where we would find her.


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