Fallen

Chapter 35: S and N.

Sasuke's POV

We managed to get in touch with both of the ANBU squads without any problems. After finding their general location (none of our three groups knew how to describe the exact location for anyone), Naruto sent out his clones.

After about an hour of waiting, both squads arrived safely.

"Those doors…," said an ANBU captain doubtfully, "They look strong."

"Don't worry about them," I told him. "All you have to do is focus on your parts. Ready?"

Everyone nodded.

"Go."

The dobe made a Shadow Clone and did his rasengan watchamacallit on the door. It flew off.

Alright.

Sakura's POV

You know, it's really weird to be helplessly strapped to a metal bored, watching some red-haired stranger run revolting experiments on your body. But you know what's even weirder? Having a thick metal door flying inches above your face while you're helplessly strapped to a metal bored, watching some red haired stranger run revolting experiments on your body.

Well, actually, Karin wasn't running experiments at the moment. She was too busy cursing at the metal door that had nearly ripped her head off.

"Stupid, mother fucking, son of a-"

She was interrupted by a hallucination. Or, so I thought. I mean, how could it be anything other than a hallucination? It definitely wasn't a dream; I could tell I was still conscious. But it wasn't real, either. So the hallucination theory was all I had for now.

"Sakura-chan!" said hallucination number N.

"Sakura!" said hallucination number S.

Hallucinations number S and N (wow. With one more line, it could turn into 'Hallucinations number S and M'.) rushed to my side.

"Sakura-chan, you look horrible," said N.

Gee, thanks.

"Are you alright?" S asked.

Of course. It's not like my insides are exposed to the world.

"Go away. I don't want to see you two," I told my hallucinations. If my mind subconsciously printed their images into my vision (I think the science-y room is getting to me), then I'd start thinking about the real ones. And I didn't want that.

There was a shocked silence.

"But…Sakura-chan…," said N.

I closed my eyes, frustrated. Why wouldn't these dumb figments of my damn imagination understand?!

"Look," I said, opening them again. "I'm sure you're happy to pretend you exist, but you two are nothing compared to the real things! Nothing! Go back to the back of my head, where you belong!"

"…Sasuke," N said. "I don't get it. Sakura-chan is saying weird things."

S looked down at me, looking a bit concerned. I was surprised. Why was my subconciousness showing hallucination number S with such an un-S-ish expression? Where was the normal cold glare?

"They must've drugged her with something to confuse her," S said concernedly. "We need to get back to Konoha to have her looked at immediately. Her chakra points are showing through her skin, too…it doesn't look good."

"But how are we supposed to take her back with…?" N gestured hopelessly at my stomach.

"HEY!" I shouted. Both of them looked at me. "You two aren't taking me anywhere, okay?! Neither of you exist! It's impossible for you to help me escape from this hell hole!"

I felt so furious!

S and N stared at me, looking dumbfounded.

"Sakura…-chan…?" Nar- I mean, N asked. He looked scared.

That's right! Be afraid! Be VERY afraid! Be so afraid, you disappear from sight, DAMMIT!

"Why did you have be here?!" I demanded, tears welling me eyes. "Why did you two have to suddenly pop into my vision, and make me remember them?! I don't want to remember them! If I remember those two…," I sobbed. I couldn't help it. The pain and loneliness of this God forsaken place was rushing through me. "If I remember them…I'll want to go back even more!"

"Sakura…," S said.

Then something in his non-existent mind seemed to click.

Sasuke's POV

I was bewildered at Sakura's reaction.

Has she lost it? Did they torture her to insanity?! Could they have drugged her? Yeah, that must be it. Sakura can't be crazy. It has to be some sort of drug they forced her to take. Yeah, that must be it.

"Sakura…," I said, completely worried.

Then I understood. This wasn't the effect of a drug; it was an effect of confusion. She was mistaking us for being figments of her imagination. She seemed to believe there was no way we could be here, in this room with her. To her, probably…the two of us didn't exist.

Wow, I thought. One day in this place and this is how a normal person reacts.

"Sakura," I said again. "Naruto and I are real. We're both really here."

Sakura shook her head. "No, you're not. You two are in Konoha, happily fighting over ramen. You're competing against each other, just like always. Sasuke-kun is calling Naruto a dobe, and Naruto's flaring up. You two are definitely not here!"

She started to cry.

"Sakura-chan…," said Naruto. He grabbed her hand (which was strapped down), and held it. "You can feel me, right?"

I did the same, catching on. "You can feel us. We're both here, Sakura."

She stopped crying. Her face had flushed from crying. But now, it was getting redder and redder.

Why…?

"Idiots…!" she said. "After all I went through to keep you two out of here! Geez!" She smiled. "Well, whatever. You're already here. Did you two come alone?"

"I guess she can't see them, Sasuke," Naruto said, nodding to the ANBU who were securing the red-head and fighting the Akatsuki guy.

Speaking of the Akatsuki guy....

"Come on, Naruto!" I said, letting go of Sakura's hand.

"Eh?" Sakura said. We ran over to join in the fighting.

Sakura's POV

Right when I'd found out that S and N-I mean, Sasuke-kun and Naruto were real, they left.

Why?

I heard lots of action going on to my left, though I couldn't see anything.

They must be fighting that Akatsuki guy….

"God!" I heard Naruto say. "Does this guy ever die?! And what's with his body?"

"Naruto, target the masks!" Sasuke-kun shouted.

It felt like I'd been sitting there forever when finally, Naruto shouted. "Alright!" and not long after that, "Ouch!"

"Naruto, are you alright?" asked Sasuke-kun.

"I'm fine," Naruto panted. "Get that red head to stitch Sakura-chan up. We can take her away after that…."

"I won't do it!" shrieked Karin. "Well…," her tone changed from bitchy to flirty. "If you give me some payment, maybe…."

Anger was pressing on my lungs. (A/N: And she doesn't even know who she's flirting with…. -.-')

"I won't pay you anything," Sasuke-kun snarled. "Stitch her up and we'll let you leave this place alive."

"Hmph!" Karin said.

I heard footsteps, and she walked over to my side.

"I've finished," said Karin after some time.

"Good," Naruto said. "Now, let her go."

Karin unstrapped me.

"Good," Naruto repeated. I heard a *thump!* and the sound of something heavy landing on the floor.

I tried to get up, but my body was too numb for such a big movement. "I can't move…," I said. "She gave me painkillers before experimenting…."

"'Painkillers'?" Sasuke-kun said.

"'Experimenting'!?" said Naruto.

Sasuke-kun picked me up, and we walked out of the room, fallowed by the ANBU squads.

I was worried.

"Naruto," I said. "Sasuke-kun…."

I had both of their attention.

"I'm sorry, about before…," I apologized. "The reason I made you two leave was because, actually…."

"What?!" Naruto exclaimed a few minutes later. "A barrier of chakra?! Then, why did it let us in?"

"To trap anyone who comes inside," I said darkly.

It was like a cat trapping a mouse in its own hole. The mouse thought it was safe, but in reality, the cat was the one with the advantage.

"Then, how did we get out in the first place?" asked Naruto.

"Because I forced the Akatsuki present to let you go," I answered.

"Well, then!" Naruto said, grinning like he normally did. "You can just do it again, can't you?"

I sighed. I really didn't want to disappoint him, but I couldn't let his hopes get up, either. "No," I replied. "I can't."

Even Sasuke-kun looked shocked.

"Why?" he asked.

"I…can't tell you the details," I told him in an apologetic tone. "But for now, I can't use my chakra."

"None of it?!" Naruto exclaimed.

I nodded.

"Damn," Sasuke-kun said. "Then what should we do?"

A/N: That's the end of Chapter 35!^^ Sasuke and Naruto have found and semi-rescued Sakura now, but can they get out? And also~, did you like it? If you did, I wanna know! Did you hate it? If you did, I still wanna know~!^^ So please review and tell me how you felt about this chapter, okay? See ya next time guys! XD