Chapter 28: Alive
SAKURA POV-
I woke up alone. Way to keep your promise, Sasuke. I thought with a little irritation but really, I didn't mind. I knew, just from looking outside that I had out for way longer than 8 hours, judging by the sunlight I was asleep for at least more than 14 hours. He had probably just left for a snack. What should I do now? Wait around for him to come back? I looked around the room, my mind abuzz with ideas. It was strange; my mind could now operate so much faster, concentrate on multiple things in a second. It was exhilarating being opened up to so many possibilities and I was hungry to see what I was capable of now.
"You're awake." Sasuke's voice came from nowhere and I turned to my side to see him there with a smug look on his face. He was smiling brilliantly but it couldn't hide the fact how haggard he looked. Dark bags hung under his eyes and his hair was mussed. Guilt filled me as I realized that he must have stayed up this entire time waiting for me.
"You left me." I blurted out accusingly with a smirk. "Shouldn't make promises you can't keep." I teased him playfully.
He didn't answer and only moved forward to sweep me up in a bone-crushing hug. I let out a laugh and embraced him tightly. "I told you you'd make it out alive." He whispered in my ear and I could just see him smirking over my shoulder.
I burrowed my face in his shoulder, tears threatening to fall; I don't think I had ever been so overcome with emotions. "Yeah, I'm alive." I whispered not quite believing it myself. I was alive and I was going to be alive forever with Sasuke, Hinata, Naruto, Ino, and Tenten…
He pulled back and gave me a quick kiss on my nose. "How do you feel?" he asked breathlessly.
"I feel strange." I answered honestly. "Physically, I'm excellent but my mind, it's just going on overdrive right now." I frowned, "Will I ever get used to it?"
Sasuke chuckled, "I'll be there to help you. Speaking of which, it's time to start your Supernatural 101 lessons with me as your teacher." He tried to put on a stern laugh but his face broke into another grin. I noticed he couldn't stop smiling and likewise, I grinned like a fool, life was good.
My eyes swept over him and I was startled to see something I had never seen as a mortal. The air was literally humming around him in a flurry of some kind of energy, radiating off his body. My eyes crossed in confusion and he noticed this with a smile.
"It's my chakra. Everybody's chakra is visible if you're an immortal. You'll get used to it." He reassured me. "Are you ready to do some training?" He held out his hand, expectantly.
I was hesitant seeing his current condition. "What about you? You look exhausted and we don't have to train now." I fretted. I didn't want him to collapse all of a sudden or faint randomly.
He rolled his eyes, "Are you chicken? C'mon!" he urged me pulling at my wrist. I opened my mouth to protest but then he grabbed me and slipped out of the open window. Wind whipped through my hair and our surroundings were a blur until Sasuke came to an abrupt stop and suddenly we were in the midst of a peaceful garden with trees with thick shady leaves and a waterfall was 20 meters away, partly hidden by the fruit trees that clustered around its edge.
"Where are we?" I asked in amazement. "Another garden of yours?" Curiosity got the better of me and I started wandering around.
Sasuke shook his head, "It's actually a training ground in the palace." He answered simply and started walking off towards the waterfall. I reluctantly stopped my exploring to follow his lead. I padded barefoot through the grassy landscape and when we came to the edge of the waterfall I dipped my foot in cautiously, it was bathwater warm.
"We usually use this area for newborn gods to test out their powers and such. It's a great place to test out powers because everything here regenerates quickly." He explained and I nodded. "Let's see if your supernatural powers still exist." He gestured towards the waterfall.
My mouth fell open, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Bubble-bending in front of the all-powerful master of water himself? If that wasn't pressure, I don't know what is. "O-okay, then…" I moved towards the water nervously and summoning all my mental strength I focused on the calm water. C'mon, move… But who was I kidding? The water barely moved, a little ripple effect came over the smooth surface and then it was calm again.
I let out a little huff, "Well that was exciting." I commented sarcastically. I glanced back at Sasuke.
His eyes were narrowed in concentration. "Try again." He instructed. "This time, don't tense up so much. This is water so you need to feel like you're 'going with the flow' so to speak."
I shrugged and turned my attention back to the water. "Yes sir." I mumbled under my breath. "Here we go." I mustered up my wits and tried to ease into a rhythm, breathing in and out evenly. Go with the flow, Sakura. My fingers began to tingle with energy and I stretched my fingertips out towards the water. Slowly, I saw the water began to shift and churn and slowly a little globe of water formed under my fingers, rising in the air to rest on my palm very gently.
In my excitement I turned around, "Sasuke! Look-oh…" in my break of concentration the bubble had burst, the water returning to the waterfall. Sasuke let out a loud laugh as he saw my disappointed look. "What are you laughing about?" I grumbled. "At least I made some progress."
"You made a bubble, Sakura. I can create Tsunami waves." He reminded me with a smirk. "You have a long way to go if you're going to be the bride to the water god."
I groaned and sprawled down on the river bank. "Revoke my title!" I moaned. "Tell them I can't be the bride to such a demanding monster!" I peeked up to see, with immense satisfaction, a frown upon his face.
"A taco or a demanding monster…I can't decide which is my favorite pet name." he shook his head. "Are you seriously going to just lie there?" he demanded.
I got up reluctantly and flounced over gracefully. It was amazing how much more fluid in movement I was as an immortal. "What are we learning first, O great teacher?" I leaned down to kiss him softly on the lips, almost melding into his touch-until he abruptly pulled away. "What?" I complained. "I've been under for 2 days, don't I get at least another kiss?" I pouted childishly.
Sasuke shook his head with a teasing grin, "There'll be none of that until you learn more than how to make a bubble." He spun me around by the shoulders so I was facing the waterfall again. He was such a killjoy.
"Oh fun, motivation."
And with that the lessons began. We had been at it for a couple of hours and so far, I could now create a water whip on cue, freeze water (when that would come in handy, I didn't know), and create a shield that made anything pass through it, turn into water. All in a day's work, I was physically and mentally exhausted.
Sasuke sat me down on the grass and placed a hand on my forehead, heat radiating off his skin. "How do you feel?" he questioned me. I felt his chakra flow out of his hand and into my forehead, spreading over my body in a warm heat, rejuvenating my stamina.
I gave him a grateful smile, "Okay, now, I guess. I think I'll have to build up my strength though, if I'm going to be able to be on par with you."
He snorted, "That's going to take a century at the least." He teased and let go of my forehead.
"Oh, shush." I reprimanded him and stopped suddenly, seeing a glint of gold in the air, descending down. What was that? Sasuke noticed my pause and turned to what I was looking at and grimaced.
"That was fast." He commented dryly and I frowned. What did that mean? The glint of gold came closer and closer until the glint of gold turned into wings and now I could make out the form of a small child with golden wings, flying towards us.
"What is that?" I breathed out in amazement. The child was probably the most beautiful thing I had ever seen with golden curls glowing luminously in the air. Her hazel eyes had flecks of gold and they warmed happily as she caught sight of me. She descended down upon the ground, her bare feet landing gracefully on the grass. The girl curtsied, lifting up her blue chiffon robes.
"Aisatsu, mizu no kami, kōei hanayome!" she greeted warmly. "It is such a pleasure to finally meet you O honored Miss Sakura Haruno! I have news from the palace."
Sasuke gave a small bow. "It's nice to see you again Chiri. I see you're doing well, I give my apologies-about your sister." His eyes flickered down with-was that shame?
The small child gave a tight-lipped smile, "My sister had it coming, consorting in the dark art of shifting. She didn't know how to properly use her rare talent." She turned to me with a small smile. "I believe you've had the pleasure of meeting my lovely sister, Momo."
My mouth dropped open, Momo? The shifter girl that had attempted to kill Sasuke and me? No wonder Sasuke looked so uncomfortable; killing Momo must've put the two of them in an awkward position. "O-oh yes." I stammered.
Chiri shrugged, "Do not feel so uneasy, Miss. My sister and I have not spoken in over 5 centuries." I nearly choked on my spit, 500 years? "Anyways, on to more pleasant business, I have a formal summoning from her highness, Queen Tsunade."
She pulled out a scroll and she threw it in the air. The paper unfurled itself and I heard Lady Tsunade's voice emanating from the paper.
"Greetings to the God of Water and the newly-turned, Miss Sakura Haruno! I give my warmest congratulations and hereby decree your title throughout the Supernatural Land from this moment be, Mizu no Megami, goddess of water. We summon Sasuke Uchiha and his bride to the palace for a formal greeting and initiation ceremony on the next morning. To accompany you should be Itachi Uchiha, God of Discipline, Mikoto Uchiha, goddess of death. Fugaku Uchiha will be present as well. Thank you."
The message ended and the paper immediately burst into angry flames. My throat swelled as I was reminded of the burning rage during my transformation. Chiri turned back to us, "I am to escort you to the palace tonight. If you could make the arrangements, we'll head out when you like Sasuke-san."
Sasuke sighed in exasperation. "Very well, please leave my bride and I. I have something to speak to her about." Chiri nodded and she disappeared in a light glow.
"Initiation ceremony?" I echoed in surprise. "Why do I not remember you talking about this?"
"Because I didn't." he stated flatly. "But it'll be fine." He rubbed my arm soothingly but my nerves were on edge again. "Is it some battle with an ogre? An endurance test? How many rolls of bread I can stick in my mouth? What if it's a food eating cont-"
"No! No! No!" Sasuke interrupted with a huge grin on his face. "It's nothing like that. Or at least, I hope it's nothing like that. I don't think I want to see your cheeks bloated with bread rolls." He made a mock face of horror.
I punched him in the arm. "I'm serious Sasuke!" And then another fear struck me! I let out a terrified squeak, "Sasuke! Your dad! What if he doesn't like me?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes, "Who does he like?" I glared at him again and he put his hand up in surrender. "Alright, alright! Trust me, Sakura. You endured two straight days of being burnt to a crisp, you endured a battle with a shifter, you endured being bonded to the most stuck-up jerk, what can't you do now?" he demanded.
Okay. That made me feel a teensy bit better. "You're right? If I lasted through the stuck-up jerk, nothing can hurt me now!" I exclaimed over-dramatically. Sasuke let out a chuckle and kissed me sweetly.
He withdrew but I noticed that a dark shadow came over his eyes. I prodded at his cheek playfully, "What's wrong? Do I have bad breath?" I exhaled on my hand and sniffed it cautiously. Smelled alright to me…
Sasuke gave a small smile, "No, your breath is fine." He reassured me. "I just remembered the end of the message." He lapsed into silence again and he seemed to be mulling over something.
What had been the last part? Fugaku Uchiha will be present as well. Oh. Father and son reunion, something I knew that Sasuke was NOT looking forward to. Hopefully, Itachi and Sasuke and managed to work something out. I let out a little sigh and gave him a quick peck on the cheek and squeezed his hand affectionately. "Remember, Sasuke. If you can survive being bonded to a pink-haired psycho, you can handle your father." I grinned and he gave a small smile in return.
He leaned forward to brush my ear with his lips, "I'm not so sure about that. I can handle Sakura Haruno, not a pink-haired psycho." He whispered.
"And besides, the only difference between a pink-haired psycho and my father is that one has pink hair and one doesn't."
A/N: The title is kind of an allusion to my favorite group's new album ALIVE by BIGBANG and I'm addicted to their new song BLUE! It is amazing, I highly recommend that you check it out! Tell me if you've heard it yet.
I felt compelled to bring back all the imperial palace members such as Shizune, Kakashi, and Yamato. And of course Jiraiya and Tsunade, 'cause I mean I brought them in for the banquet and then you guys never heard from them again, what is that? So they'll be making a reappearance, hope you're excited for that! Then we'll have some more Uchiha family drama and we'll have some baby drama and yeah, a lot to be anticipating.
Thank you for all the reviews, 800+ reviews! WOOT WOOT! SERIOUSLY, LOVE ALL OF Y'ALL.
KISSES,
WRITER4EVERR
