The clear light of day had never been so bright. The light was hurting my eyes, stepping out of the darkness as I walked back to the village, returning to where I belonged.
Thoughts ran back and forth in my mind. People and places all racing through at break-neck speed, every bolt rumbling. I stopped for a moment to catch my breath. I looked up and saw three crows circling low in the sky, stretching their black wings out and swooping down amongst the branches. One of the crows looked down on me, maybe with pity, its gaze piercing into my soul. It knew something. It could see it in my heart. I wondered what had happened to my heart, it had been so long without any real human contact. I was dirty, I hadn't washed in days and I felt dirty too. I felt dirty on the inside. I felt blacker than the crow above me and I just wanted to wash away all my memories and start again. I didn't want to think anymore, I just wanted to live.
The crow took off, moving on to other things, rustling leaves which fell down on top of me. I held one in my hand. It was golden-brown. Autumn was here and I could feel a tear drip slowly down my face. Where did the time go?
The forest was awash with beautifully coloured leaves: reds and browns and yellows. It made me think of my childhood, of a time I remembered long ago. I remembered playing amongst the leaves with Naruto. They were almost waist-height back then. We buried ourselves in them and used to have little play fights with the glistening sun up above shining through the tree-tops, making everything look golden and beautiful.
Naruto always won, mind you. I don't know how, but he would always use some dirty trick and I would end up covered in mud and leaves. Mother was never pleased when I came home. Back when we were kids, Naruto and I used to do everything together but we grew apart. I don't know what happened. He didn't even seem so upset when I began to date Sasuke. He seemed happy for me.
He helped me out a lot but I suppose I never thanked him for it. He helped Sasuke and I get back together after I thought he was cheating on me with Ino. I'll never forget that. I remembered fighting with Naruto so vividly as I trudged through the leaves on the way back home. I tried to push him in but he was always too quick and grabbed me by the waist. He hoisted me up and tipped me in until I was swimming in an autumn-leaf sea.
I looked across, the forest seemed exactly the same as I remembered it, nothing had, changed, but I could still feel something missing. Everything I had seen experienced over the last week had changed me to such an extent I didn't feel like the same person anymore. Was I really Haruno Sakura? My heart felt empty like I was lost in a dark abyss with nowhere to go. I had to reclaim my heart. I had to make it back home.
I made it through the forest. My feet hurt, my heart hurt, but somehow, I made it through the forest. I could see the house just up ahead of me. I stumbled forward and banged on the door. I looked through the window. It didn't look like anyone was home. Sasuke was probably still out looking for me.
Then suddenly, the door opened and there in front of me was Sasuke. His thick, velvety black hair, his deep, sensitive eyes, it was really Sasuke, I couldn't believe it. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. We just stared at each other, I don't know why, but me body froze up. I just couldn't believe that I was really back. This couldn't be real. Could it?
Then suddenly I was swept up in a powerful embrace as Sasuke wrapped his arms around me. It was real. I was still alive. I found my heart. I then wrapped my arms around him and squeezed as tightly as I could, never wanting to let go. The tears streamed down as I buried my face into his chest.
I tried to speak, but I just choked up. I was trying to find the right words to say. I had thought about this moment all week but now it was real, nothing came to mind.
-Sasuke!
He shushed me. "Don't say a word."
I continued to cry into his chest.
-I missed you so much. I thought I was going to die, but thinking of you kept me going. You kept me strong.
"I love you, Sakura, I thought you were dead. I thought I was going to die. I couldn't go on living without you."
I coughed and spluttered as my knees buckled slightly. Sasuke wasted no time in scooping me up into arms. He carried me inside and up to the bedroom. Feeling the warmth of his arms was a feeling I had missed so much. Wrapped up warm, cradled in his arms, I felt like a little girl again, safe and protected. I looked into his eyes. He brought his lips down to mine and kissed me. His lips tasted so sweet, sweeter than I remembered.
Sasuke placed me down on the bed and climbed in on top of me. He stroked my hair as I began to feel sleepy and my eyelids started to drop. He kissed me lightly on the forehead before whispering "Goodnight". I felt at peace. I was so happy. I was back with Sasuke and with that thought I slowly drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep.
The next day, I woke up late, it was midday. I must have been really tired. When I went downstairs, Sasuke was there along with Naruto and Ino. They were all smiling. I smiled too, I was happy to see them all, even Ino. They all ran forward and hugged me.
"We're so glad you're safe, Sakura." Naruto said.
"Yeah," said Ino. "I was worried I was going to lose one of my best friends. Don't scare me like that again, Sakura!"
"We've haven't stopped looking for you all week." Sasuke said as we all sat down around a table and prepared to eat lunch.
-Sorry, everyone.
"Don't apologise," said Naruto. "What happened?"
I ate some rice out of my bowl and tipped my head forward in silence. It was too complicated to explain. I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to remember what happened and just cast those memories aside and move on with life.
I could feel Sasuke put his hand on my shoulder.
"It's ok; you don't have to answer if you don't want to. We understand that takes time."
My hands trembled as I brought the rice filled chopsticks up to my mouth. They trembled so much that I lost control of the chopsticks, my fingers slipped and the rice went everywhere.
I broke down and cried.
The next few days were really difficult. Ino seemed to resent the fact that I was back. I don't know, I thought we had put the past behind us, but obviously not. Whenever I was alone with Sasuke, she would always interrupt.
I didn't speak or eat much during those next few days. It was difficult for me to face everyone. Everyone was so relieved that I was back and safe but it didn't feel the same anymore. It felt so much more distant. I remembered hugging Kakashi and feeling so cold and sick to my stomach. He asked me what was wrong, but I couldn't answer him. I remained silent.
Everyone was getting worried, Naruto especially. But I just didn't feel like I was in people's lives anymore. They had all carried on without me and I was just somewhere in limbo.
Naruto sat me down and wanted a long chat. But I was so silent and so cold to him. I had been that way to him a lot. Perhaps I was afraid, I don't know. I couldn't face him and I got up and left.
I also got angry with Ino. She had been giving me all this attention and I just wanted to be left alone. She kept asking me questions about Sasuke and about how he must have felt through all of this. I snapped and slapped her across the face. She ran off in tears.
"What do you think you're doing, Sakura?" Naruto asked. I looked down at the floor but he grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. I could see the hurt in his eyes.
"Why did you hit Ino? You just can't go around doing things like that. Everyone's been so worried about you. I know whatever happened to you it was obviously stressful but you're not making the situation any easier. How are we supposed to know what happened and what's wrong if you don't talk to us?"
He then gripped me by the shoulders and shook me. I still couldn't answer, just cried.
I thought I had reclaimed my heart, but it seemed emptier than it was before.
I went out one day and breathed in the fresh air. It tasted so good. The cool breeze swept through my hair. It was felt good to be in clean clothes and eat good food. I really was grateful but I just couldn't express it. I saw Sasuke round the back collecting wood and putting it into a large bag.
I crept up slowly behind him but the he heard the sound of my footsteps as the leaves crunched beneath my feet. He turned and smiled.
"How are you feeling today?" he asked.
-Ok, I guess.
"That's good. Did you apologise to Ino?"
-Yeah, I did. Everything seems to be ok now.
"Glad to hear it."
-I'm sorry I've been mean to everyone lately. It's just a difficult time for me.
"We understand and just wait till you're ready. You don't have to rush anything."
-Thanks, Sasuke.
I gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"It's bad times at the moment, I'm afraid though. Apparently the Akatsuki has captured Sand Village. Temari has joined them, it's totally nuts, and she killed Kankuro with her bare hands. Sasori and Deidara have set up a huge fortress there and they're threatening more strikes on more villages."
-That is bad news.
"Yeah, it is. I'm not sure what we're going to do. Nobody knows what their true goal is, it's pretty scary."
-I will tell you the truth of what happened. The truth is I was kidnapped.
"Kidnapped? By who?"
-The Akatsuki. But really it was just Sasori. He kept me in his underground hideout deep beneath the forest. He wanted me to be his doll. He hypnotised me, he drugged me, he dressed me, undressed me, bathed me. I was just his little plaything to do whatever he pleased.
"The son of a bitch!"
-But it was strange, the more he hurt me, the more I felt pity for him.
"I'm gonna kill that bastard! How dare he treat you like that!"
-No don't, please.
"What are you talking about?"
-He's not evil.
"Not evil? The guy kidnapped, probably tried to rape you and you say he's not evil?"
-Just leave him alone, he knows what he did was wrong. He let me go.
"Oh, he let you go, did he? What a hero! I'm going to break his neck!"
-No, please, don't go!
I grabbed his arm and tried to pull him back but Sasuke just shook me off and I fell to the ground.
-Please, Sasuke!
I got up and hugged him round the waist. He was practically dragging me along the floor just by walking.
-I love you Sasuke!
"I love you too, Sakura, that's why I would kill anyone who tried to hurt you."
-But Sasori's different. He wasn't trying to hurt me. Let's just forget about the past and move on with our lives.
"Sorry, Sakura, I've too much pride for that. I must get revenge."
"Sasuke, no!"
Naruto came out of the house to see what all the noise about. I screamed and flailed, only to be restrained by Naruto. He held my arms back so I couldn't move.
"Sakura, what are you doing?" he asked.
-Sasuke, don't go!
"Sorry, Naruto, she's been hysterical, letting out all her emotions at once isn't good for her."
Sasuke then walked up to me, kissed me lightly on the cheek and then punched me in the gut. Everything went black and white, hazy and distant, all sounds distorted. As soon as his punch connected, I could feel my eyelids getting heavier.
"See that she gets a proper nights rest, Naruto, she'll feel much better in the morning."
"Where are you going Sasuke?"
"To take care of some business."
I could feel Naruto pick me up and I watched on, helpless as Sasuke walked further and further into the distance. I couldn't stop him. I hated being helpless but I was, all I could do was lay quietly in Naruto's arms as Sasuke disappeared from sight. Sasuke and Sasori were going to fight over me and I couldn't do anything to help, but I had to, I had to stop Sasuke. But why? I couldn't think straight, everything blurred. Naruto's calm voice soothed me as he gently carried me back. I fell asleep resting my head on his shoulder, thinking of my childhood.
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