Fallen
Chapter 25: Can You Please Tell Me?
Sakura's POV
It was quiet as I rode on top of the black-cloaked person. Although I soon realized that it looked like he'd changed while I'd been unconscious.
He was wearing a black cloak still, but it let me see his head, and this cloak had red clouds all over it.
It was hard to get a good look at him, though, due to the fact that the upper half of my body was hanging almost completely upside-down from the back of his shoulder. All I could really see of his head was his long, dark hair and his pale ears. Somehow, both features reminded me of Sasuke-kun.
I looked at Naruto's unconscious body, flopped limply over the guy's other shoulder.
Naruto....
Inner me: Stop being such a wimp!
But-
Inner me: How are you going to help Naruto by worrying if he's alright?! Why not actually do something about it?!
But what if-
Inner me: Sakura! Are you going to just give up on both Naruto's life and yours without a fight?! Are you going to abandon him?!
I'm not-
Inner me: Don't you dare even try to deny it Sakura, because that's what you're doing and you know it! So much for being friends! You disgust me!
Stop it.
Inner me: Stop what?! Telling the truth?!
Shut up….
Inner me: MAKE ME!
SHUT UP! I screamed so loud inside my head I felt dizzy. SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!
Inner me: No. Why should I?
Because I haven't given up yet! I'm not going to abandon Naruto!
Inner me: Why should I believe you?
Because you know
what I'm thinking! And Naruto's my friend…. Naruto, Sasuke-kun,
and everyone else are my friends! They're all I have. So I can't
just abandon them!
Inner me: That sounds so cliché.
I know, but it's the truth.
Inner me: Good girl.
I'm not a dog!
Inner me: Now let's come up with a plan to get out of here.
Yeah, I agreed.
I'll admit that it's kind of difficult to concentrate when you're upside down, but I didn't let that stop me. Inner me and I thought of a plan, considering what little things we knew about what was going on the whole time.
Even though we did that for hours, we didn't stop even when the daylight disappeared, and the sunny skies became dark.
Naruto didn't wake up for a while, but when he did I put my hand awkwardly over his mouth (it was awkward because it felt weird doing it upside-down) to keep him from talking. He nodded and was still.
I wanted to somehow convey the plans I'd come up with to him, but I couldn't. I didn't whisper them to him for fear of being overheard, and I couldn't think of any other available ways to do it. It was too complicated to use simple sign-language, and the guy might notice I was moving if I did anyways.
Then I had an idea.
"I have something to tell you," I mouthed slowly and silently.
Naruto seemed to understand (although I wasn't sure if he would because we were moving so much) because he mouthed back, "Okay."
"I have come up with some plans," I lipped.
Naruto's eyes brightened. "Tell me," was his silent reply.
I tried to think of a way to tell him in as few words as possible, because I knew that lip-reading could become harder when there were more words to read.
"Do you think we could cut off his head with a kunai like this?" I asked soundlessly.
"What?" he asked.
I repeated, slower.
"No," Naruto mouthed. "He'd notice before we did."
"Stab his back?"
"It wouldn't affect him."
"Tickle him?"
Naruto sweat dropped and shook his head.
"Then I'm out of ideas," I admitted silently.
I knew it was below my level, but it was all I could come up with in the present circumstances. But I wasn't going to give up.
Inner me: Good.
Naruto shrugged and smiled. I took that as an 'oh well, but thanks anyways, Saori-chan.'
I put a finger to my lips and then began to speak out loud.
"Excuse me," I said to my kidnapper. "Could you tell me who you are?" I asked him.
"Itachi," he said in a monotone. "Itachi Uchiha."
I gasped, recognizing the name. I couldn't help it. "You're Sasuke-kun's older brother!" I said. "He said you murdered his clan!"
"Yes," he said.
"You're an S-class criminal!" I said.
"Yes," Itachi replied.
"You're an Uchiha!" I gasped.
"I've noticed," he said.
"Why do you want us?" I asked him.
"That's none of your business," he said.
"It is," I disagreed. "Because Naruto's my friend," I continued. "And I'm…well, me."
"We're interested in you," was all he said.
"…'We'?" I repeated.
"The Akatsuki, Saori-chan," Naruto said. "They're a group of really strong outlaws that go after Jinchuuriki and steal their powers, killing the Jinchuuriki."
My eyes widened.
Does that mean they think you're a demon? I asked Inner me.
Inner me: HOW RUDE!
"But," continued Naruto. "I don't know why they're going after you since I'm pretty sure you aren't a Jinchuuriki."
"You're correct," Itachi said. "She isn't a Jinchuuriki. She does not have a demon sealed inside of her."
"Then why are you 'interested' in Saori-chan?" asked Naruto angrily.
"It does not concern you. You are going to die soon," Itachi replied in his monotone.
"Itachi…," I began slowly. "Please…can you please tell me what Inner me is? She won't tell me, because she's always saying 'I'm you'. But I don't think that's the truth."
Inner me: What the hell are you doing, Sakura?! He's the enemy!
"Saori-chan, what do you mean by 'Inner me'?" Naruto asked me, confused.
Itachi was silent.
"Please…?" I asked.
I knew who I was asking. I knew that this person was a murderer, who'd ruined the life of one of my closest friends. And I knew what I was asking. I knew it could and probably would change my whole life.
But I had to know.
A/N: Here's the end of Chapter…which one are we on now?
Inner Sakura: It's 25. And more importantly, SAKURA'S BETRAYED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm not sure if that's called 'betrayal' but-
Inner Sakura: IT IS!
Um…okay, then. Well, wait for the next chapter!
Inner Sakura: SAKURA!!!!!!!!!
You're not crying, are you?
Inner Sakura: N-NO!
Liar…anyways, please review!
Inner Sakura: WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!