Chapter 11: Enforced Retribution
Little Falcon: My busy days are officially over! *Stretches* finally, I'll be able to update again! Watch out! Here we go again! Read and review just like always, okay?
Standard Disclaimer: I only own the idea that's all. If I did own this series I'll be the happiest person on earth!!!
Filling her lungs with the fresh morning air, she closed her eyes slowly and welcomed the darkness. At first, there was nothing. With another full intake of air, her mind relaxed and began to shape her lightless world. Badump…badump…badump… she began to hear her heart beat lively in her chest. Barely audible at first then with every beat, it grew louder. Her ears began to hear the sound of the water flowing in the nearby stream, her skin felt the gentle breeze that passed, and her nose took in the scent of the early morning dew. Gradually with her eyes still sightless, the scenery made by her other senses created a prefect replica of the real world in front of her.
Her long pink hair swayed with the gust of wind that came from the north. In a flash, she withdrew her sword from her back and made several quick slashes that were invisible to a normal person's eye. Gracefully even before the cherry blossom petals hit the ground, the kunoichi sheathed her katana. With sound of the blade clicking into place, all the Sakura petals around her exploded into several pieces like fine confetti.
Its heavier today than yesterday. As her emerald eyes reflected the falling petals in the air, she gripped the katana's handle unconsciously. Ever since they returned three weeks ago, the kunoichi returned to her normal training routine. But nothing was the same since she got back. Although her techniques came near perfect, she was still left unsatisfied. Something about her was missing and no matter how hard or how many times she trained, it wasn't something she got back: that thought irritated her to no end.
Her eyes snapped open when her assassin instincts kicked in. Without difficulty, she somersaulted away from her position just in time to avoid the shurikens thrown directly at her. Upon landing, she immediately withdrew her blade to block the slash of the still, unseen opponent.
His feet crushed the petals on the ground as his onyx eyes focused on the lady ninja baring her blade- her long pink hair playing with the gentle wind, her smooth porcelain skin glowing under the morning sun and her emerald eyes watching his every move closely. With another powerful gust of wind, strands of his spiky raven black hair blocked his eyes for a moment but when his vision cleared, the kunoichi was no longer in sight.
A smirk appeared on his handsome face just before he turned around to block her surprise attack. "You're getting good. I have to keep my eye on you or else you might stab me while I'm asleep, Sakura," the Uchiha general said as he parried her attacks with great effort.
Sakura smiled at her superior's compliment as she blocked a great slash.
The sound of blades melded with the gentle flowing of the water and the falling of the cherry blossom. For a spectator, this scene would've been worth watching.
For a split-second, Sakura lost track of her opponent. That time was enough for Sasuke to strike her blade away from her hands and knock her body to the ground.
His sharp sword lay quietly on her throat as she tried her best to keep her breathing normal. Every resistance was rendered useless by her general. Defeat. A complete defeat. With a resigned sigh, the kunoichi relaxed and look straight at him.
The feel on her warm breath on his face made him realize how close he was to her. With his katana still on her skin, his eyes memorized every detail of her beautiful face. The pink tint of her cheeks, her thin eyebrows, her long eyelashes that surrounded her mesmerizing emerald eyes… her pink kissable lips. Without thinking, Sasuke closed the distance in between their lips.
Gaara… Even before the kiss could last for a second, Sakura had roughly pushed him away. Right after she did that, it was only then did she asked herself why. There was a sense of immediate disloyalty that began poisoning her veins. Disloyalty? To whom?
The blood that trickled down her neck was reflected in his crimson eyes. It was proof enough that she no longer completely belongs to him. Enraged with his discovery, Sasuke decided to walk away with his sword tainted with Sakura's blood.
Sabaku no Gaara… just what have you done to her?! His blood red eyes shook with anger as he gripped his sword painfully tight.
"It seems, I've come at a wrong time," an older man bearing almost the same features at the Uchiha general was leaning at the open main gate. His dark eyes taking notice of the Sharingan.
"Onii-san (big brother), why are you here?" Although, he had a pretty accurate guess of the reason for a higher government official to be in his estate, he still asked. His eyes immediately scanned the surroundings for the presence of other 'guests'.
Still casually standing before him, Uchiha Itachi crossed his arms in front of his chest. "It's useless to feign innocence, little brother. You're curious little 'pet' have wandered too far and made strange friends. We've come here to discipline her a bit for you," his voice was as calm as if he was talking about the weather.
"NANI?!" Sasuke raced back to the place he left her while unsheathing his katana, ready to kill. Sound of blade against blade welcomed him, followed by the body of a shinobi thrown to the ground, dead.
With all the blood around her, she still looked like she was dancing gracefully with her sword. There was not one wasted strike. Several shinobis surrounded her with their weapons pointed dangerously at her.
"Sasuke-sama!" an old authoritative voice called his attention and interrupted his attempt to join the battle. A few old people walked to the balcony and looked down at them. They were the elders. People that even the Uchiha general cannot disregard.
"The higher government has made its decision. Command your dog," one elder spat as he glared at the struggling kunoichi. It was clear that they held no favor for the lady shinobi.
No reason would get through them. That much the young general knew as he clenched his fists helplessly. The right thing to be done is plain and simple but why does he feel that he's doing something against his principle.
"Sasuke-sama!" the elder's voice emphasized his impatience.
"Sakura," he can't find the courage to even look at her in the eye. His chest felt so heavy and his mouth so dry as he said his next words "stand down," he spat the words as his crimson eyes watched Itachi walk to the elders' side.
With countless bloody ninjas at her feet, skillful blade at her hand, long pink hair tainted crimson and skin stained with blood; she looked like the angel of death in the flesh.
Upon hearing her general call her name, her sword stopped moving. "If that is what you wish. My life is yours to command," Sakura bowed her head as her hand let go of the blade.
Little Falcon: Read and review please…