Winters Fire Summers Ice

by Dark Vampress

"There is light and there is darkness, there is fire and there is ice, there is summer and there is winter, there is yin and yang and then Sakura... there is you and me. " Fate had bound them together by the strings of their hearts and the cells of their flesh from the moment the cosmos erupted. Fate did not intend to let them go. Their love would draw blood and corrupt souls.

37. Chapter 37

WELCOME! Guy's I think this is the longest chapter in the history of long chapters. I thought about splitting it but it just wasn't one of those chapters I though should be split. Too many emotions and elements tangled in this one to make this into two chapters. You'll see just how many emotions our characters experience through their little 'road trip'. Remember, keep close eyes on the chapters to note if I'm losing track, I'm counting on you guys to keep me inline here.

READ AND ENJOY!

Title:Natsu no kōrino Fuyu Kasai (winter's fire summer's ice)

Standard Disclaimer Applied

I formally apologize for any grammatical errors. Being my own editor and writer among other things is hard.

[Chapter Thirty Seven]

Sasuke looked at Sakura like she had lost her mind. He looked at Naruto for some advice but all the idiot did was shrug and look around, refusing to get into their little quarrel. This wasn't something he wanted to discuss with her and she had told him weeks ago that she didn't even want to come. That she didn't think she was ready to take such a big step in her life yet and she was going to stay home. He had been counting on that.

He also hadn't forgotten the little stunt she had pulled. She went to the hospital the Saturday after the dance and they had her there for three days and they refused to allow him to see her. She herself wouldn't even talk to him about it no matter how hard he bothered her about it. The next Saturday came and she was there until Monday morning.

He was starting to think something was fishy but she'd gotten good at hiding the things she didn't want to him to find out about. He knew he would end up pressing her about it and that would irritate them both. This just wasn't a good idea. Not to mention the kinds of conditions they would be venturing off into. It wasn't safe for in those kinds of environments. He should have known she wouldn't want him to go without her. He was just…hoping.

"Sakura, I don't think you should come to any of these." He said again. "It is not a good idea."

She shook her head. "I think I should go. This is important and I want to go, come on Sasuke stop being that way." She pouted.

"I never said it wasn't important." He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, taking a seat on the side walk next to his car. "Why must you be so difficult?"

"I am not. Sasuke, you said it yourself that we have to do this. I won't come inside of course but I just want to be there. I think I need to face this even a little bit. Besides, I could be useful. I could confirm whatever that goes on." She insisted.

"Sasuke she's right. This involves her and it's her call." Shikamaru said in a tone mixed with annoyance and laziness. He wasn't looking forward to this, Sasuke knew this. "This is already very troublesome. Let's just go already."

"Yes, we need information and we need to get going. Besides, don't act like you don't want her around. This is going to be a long day, you could use your woman." Naruto teased.

Sakura smiled, slapping Naruto on the shoulder. "Exactly! See Naruto sees where I'm coming from! I can always count on him." she grinned. "So I'm coming?"

"You're coming." Neji said before Sasuke could open his mouth.

Sakura looked at Sasuke with a raised eyebrow and he sighed. "I've clearly been out voted so, just get into the car. You just love getting what you want."

She grinned. "Road trip! I've never been on before! How exciting! This is going to be so much fun." She yelled. "Let me get some stuff."

"You need to get stuff?" He inquired.

"Well of course I have to get stuff Sasuke. I can't go on a road trip without some stuff. So, the stuff I shall go and get."

"And you can't wear that." Sasuke said.

Sakura sputtered like a dying engine. "What? What'd you mean I can't wear this? What's wrong with what I have on?"

"Where we're headed after we go to visit your mother Sakura is very, very hot. You have on too much clothes,"

"Trying to get her naked I see," Shikamaru teased. "Very smart."

Naruto coughed audibly and hi-fived Shikamaru. "Well played Sasuke but I don't think now is the right time for this." he laughed.

Sakura flushed. "But I-"

"Bring shorts and a tank top or something. If you don't then Shikamaru is right, you might be walking in naked, I don't mind it gives me something to look at to take my mind off things. Or you can do what I tell you and not come with me."

Sakura glared playfully. "Nice try. You're not getting rid of me that easily. I'm coming." she said going into the house.

Sasuke shook his head sadly and tried to see how this day was going to unfold. Sasuke wanted to get this out of the way and so today they were going to visit Sakura's mother in the mental home in her old town and then they were going to go and visit the dreaded and sexual Kurenai. Truly, Sasuke wasn't looking forward to either of the encounters today. He didn't want to voice his thoughts but truly he was afraid of what he might learn. He was scared. From Shikamaru's entire theory, if was right, where would they go from here? He had no idea and as the leader, he wasn't allowed to be clueless for people looked to him for directions.

How would this change everything if there was yet another soul inside of Sakura? What could they do if it was the cause of all of this? How wasn't this killing her? To have his soul alone inside of her was enough to kill her as it was, with two souls inside of her plus her own, how was she surviving? Humans couldn't bare so much. He smiled internally. He had known Sakura was stronger than the rest from the day he spoke to her.

They had so much to do and he felt almost like there was not enough time. According to Hinata they would have to go to the Agape Forest and he knew that would drain everything out of them. He didn't even want to think about how worried Sakura would be when he was gone for so long on something so dangerous, not to mention how she would deal with school. Everyone had been treating her different, worse on the insides, faking and he knew it bothered her more than she let on. What would they even do when they find the God and set up the ceremony? How could they really fix this entire mess?

She came out, smile on her face with her Dora bag in her hand. He smirked. She was stronger than she knew; he just wondered how she didn't see it. She just lit up the room every time she came in with that smile that seemed to out shine a thousand suns despite all the pain she walked around with physical, emotional and mental. She paused, gripped her chest and coughed nastily. It was one of those hacky, pneumonia, humid kind of coughs. The kind of coughs she'd been having very, very often along with all those asthma attacks. She smacked her lips and wrinkled her face.

"I thought they looked at that." he said.

She smiled. "They say it's nothing. Just asthma." she assured him brushing him off as she usually did every time he tried to talk to her about that wet hacky cough she'd been having for weeks. "Are we ready?" she asked.

He nodded. "I suppose so. Do you have everything?"

She nodded and her smile widened. He'd never admired someone as much as he admired her. He couldn't come to terms with how her parents treated her this way. He knew there was so much more things they had done to her that she just hadn't told him, many things had happened that she would never disclose for now and he knew they were things he could hardly even think about. Even after what he'd heard they'd done to her already. Why? He just didn't get it.

Everyone got into their cars and they headed out to their first destination. The mental home.

The ride was very easy and light hearted. Conversation seemed to flow out of them like the constellations at night and the constant love of the moon and sun in their routine. He loved the tint of sexuality and the ease and comfort with which she found herself. He loved the warmth that seemed to coil in his heart like never before. She was like summer, breaking out to melt the snow that was his winter.

He did his best to get her to laugh which was fairly easy to do and she managed to edge smiles into his face with her ridiculously confessions. It was almost a two hour ride to the town and then another hour to the mental home. He worried how Sakura was going to react to all of this. That was one of the reasons he didn't want her to come, he didn't know how things would go down and frankly, he couldn't deal with anything over-stressing right now. Really he couldn't.

Sakura seemed to be engrossed in her town as Sasuke drove through the streets, thanking Kami for tinted windows so people couldn't know they were inside. She pointed out so many places, revealing the stories behind them that he enjoyed hearing, drowning in her memories –the good ones. It was nice to know there was actually such a thing in her life as good memories.

"Why don't we roll the windows down?" she asked.

Sasuke glanced at her. "You're joking right?"

"What?"

"Sakura, do you know why you're not all over the news and in the media when you're with me? Let me answer that. Tinted windows Sakura, tinted windows. One picture and you'll never have a private life every again. The fan girls would devour you. School protocol is the only thing keeping the girls at school behind the yellow line. No pictures and no autographs allowed." He said.

"Right, you're like, the want of the entire world." She teased.

"Pretty much."

"I tend to forget sometimes. How grand. It's amazing how you keep this entire secret." She said.

The streets were packed with cars and he felt like it would take forever before they got where they needed to go. Angrily Sasuke assaulted his horn as they moved at what felt to him like snail pace to their destination.

"This traffic is ridiculous." He said, slamming his hand on his horn and keeping it there.

"What are you nuts?" she yelled for other car horns were being honked in the process. "For an old man, you're pretty impatient."

"Old man? Excuse me; does this look like the face of an old man? I'm actually offended." He said hitting his horn with aggression.

After Sakura insisted that he not touch the horn of his car again or she was getting out, he decided to behave himself. However, the traffic was atrocious in the town that he could hardly believe it. It reminded him of Kanoha streets on Friday around ten in the morning. Finally they pulled into the small compound and parked to the side in the designated area out front of the home. Sasuke looked at her.

"Are you sure you want to come in?"

"I don't have to see her. I just… want to know that I can do it." she said reluctantly.

He nodded and they got out. Naruto bent touching his toes, stretching himself and managing effortlessly to look like a complete idiot. Sasuke shut off his phone as did everyone else and they made their way inside.

It looked exactly like how Sasuke had expected it to look. Boring. It was the kind of place that made you insane instead of curbing it. The walls were white, the colors cool colors, all boringly mixing and mingling into the furniture. It was so silent and bland it looked more like a retirement home than a mental home. He was already having a headache.

He watched the nurses in their light blue coats and white shoes shuffle about, glancing at them from the corner of their eyes. Of course they were known here. Fame tended to do that.

"Damn, where's the color in this place?" Naruto asked looking around.

"We believe that cool colors stimulate calmness and peace in our patients here at Yorokobi Institute." The woman at the desk smiled, her eyes glazed over as she stared with hearts in her eyes at Neji. "How may we help you?"

"Yes, we're here to visit someone." Shikamaru said.

He glanced at Sakura standing behind Sasuke's broad figure who took a deep breath. Sasuke could feel Sakura's delicate fingers holding on to his shirt behind him. He felt like he was protecting a small school girl. He stood there for it was her decision to step aside, not his. He couldn't decide if she was ready for this or not.

She moved around Sasuke to face the woman at the front desk whose eyes almost bulged out of her head. Sasuke could tell she hadn't said her mother's name in the longest of time and this was the second biggest feat for her. She placed a small smile on her face and placed her hand on the desk. She swallowed.

"We're here to visit Mebuki Haruno." She said.

The woman looked at Sakura like she was from another planet. She clutched her heart and Sakura just stood there, rocking back and forth on her heels waiting patiently. Sakura's expression was almost glazed over with glass as she stared almost bored, waiting for the dramatic reaction to be over. Neji looked at Sakura.

"You know her?"

"We've been acquainted." Sakura replied.

"Sweet mercy, I bear witness to this child's face again!" she exclaimed no longer with heart filled eyes but with eyes filled with tears.

Without warning she moved from around the desk and drew Sakura in a hug that seemed strong enough to crack ribs. Her sobs came from the inner tremors of her heart and Sakura hugged in return but to Sasuke's astonishment, she hugged with almost no compassion. The woman held Sakura at arm's length, looking at her from head to toe.

"I can't believe it's you! Sakura, I haven't see you since…" she trailed off. "You're even more beautiful than I remember!"

"Thank you Mataki." Sakura said politely.

She sighed and wiped her eyes. Her smile was serine and pained. "I never thought I'd see the day you walked back into this place, in this town." She said. She looked at everyone, seeing them all now as teenagers without fame attached to their name. They were no longer like Gods in her eyes. "If you're all here to see her, you all can't go in. Only three people at a time and visiting hours are almost over. Only two and a half more hours."

"I'll stay out here," Naruto said.

Sakura nodded. "I'll stay too."

Sasuke looked at her with a raised eye brow. "Is there anything you want me to say?"

"No, not if she doesn't have anything to say. If she has nothing to say then neither do I. Don't worry about it." she smiled patting his arm. "I have Naruto to keep me company."

"And really Sasuke I'm all she needs." Naruto gloated, dropping his hands around Sakura's shoulders. Sakura rolled her eyes playfully.

She was so small he realized as he looked down at her. He nodded, kissed her forehead ever so softly and made his way to the room Mataki had told them Mebuki was in. Down the end of the hall, turn left, then turn right and it was the third white door.

What had that encounter been about? He hated how much he still did not know and he feared what he was about to find out. He was the leader in all of this and he didn't know how to lead anymore. It was as if everything he had ever known, been trained to know and been born with in his blood was not enough to guide him through this. He tried very hard not to let Sakura feel his dread and anxiety; she didn't need that with how much of a worry head she was already.

Sasuke stood in front of the door with Shikamaru and Neji on either of his sides. He knocked with clarity and her voice rang out with a tenderness that he thought only Sakura's voice could possess.

"Please Sasuke, come in." she said warmly.

Slowly he gripped the knob and opened the door. She was sitting on the edge of her bed, her room painted in a light blue. It was bear and furnished at the same time. It contained only a simple bed, a small dresser, a night table, a chair and a small desk and an extra rocking chair. The room felt cold and lifeless as she sat there in all white, black hair caught in a pony tail with a bang that fell into her face. What caught Sasuke's attention was the piercing and fierceness in her green eyes.

"I was told that you would come concerning my daughter one day. I just didn't know when. I just felt that it would be today of all days." She said seriously assessing them. "This might take a while; I suggest you all take a seat." She said.

Neji pushed up the door until it closed but he realized it could not be locked. Sasuke looked back and shrugged. He had expected nothing different. He looked at the woman closely. He could hardly believe that he was staring right at Sakura's wretched and vile mother and not ripping her to shreds. How would this even go? He let his Knights sit in the chairs and he sat, legs crossed on the gray carpeted floor facing her.

"I'm assuming you know why we're here then." Sasuke said breaking the audible silence.

She stared at him, face and eyes hard. "Of course I do. Since time is of the essence boys, I will do most of the talking and you will listen. All your questions will be answered or most of them." She said. "Where indeed should I begin in this ridiculous story is the question though. What has she told you really? I've destroyed her life in your eyes, have I not Mr. Uchiha?" she asked rising from the bed and walking to her lone window that was protected by metal bars on the outside.

"My opinion doesn't really matter."

"But we're here to talk; we must disclose some opinions here. By not answering my own questions, by what right should I then answer yours?"

"None." Sasuke replied.

"Exactly. You remind me of myself, always so serious until I'm around my husband. He's always so light hearted, never takes things seriously. I imagine that's how you are with her; it's a beautiful thing to think about. Truly I am glad that she has you, she deserved you from a very long time ago. It's sad to save her you're going to have to break her heart and kill her. It's a shame this all started with me. However, you must be quite honored at the same time, correct?" she asked distantly.

"Honored?" Shikamaru asked looking at the woman from behind as he was crazy.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at his fellow friend as if to remind him that the woman was indeed crazy and they were in a mental institution that was created to keep them from society.

She nodded and turned to face them. "Of course. You should be honored that such art takes place in your life and that such endings depend only on you. I say, that art is very shallow and lacking these days, especially in a place like this but to know that to save the one you love you must lose them has the be one of the earliest kinds of art there is. It has existed from the moment man and beast has existed. It's art, she dies in your name, is possessed in your name and lives through your very soul. Art my dear boy, extends through you like a symphony that never stops playing. I very much admire that about you." She said.

"Can you just begin?" Sasuke asked not intrigued by her ramblings.

She smiled. "Sasuke, let us be friends not enemies. Enemies lie to each other, divulge false truths in their stories and never really get along. Do not hate me, even more so since Sakura doesn't hate me. Be kind and open, not closed and angry." She said. "I said time is of the essence yes, but we have just enough and if not, well, you come back another time."

"Mebuki Haruno, why are you in here?" Neji asked.

"Very good question, why am I in here? I really shouldn't be, as Rin shouldn't be caring for my daughter, as my husband should not be living in a separate house torment and haunted and in a heap of himself. I shouldn't be here as other things shouldn't be happening but I am in here and these things are happening." she replied. "That is why I am in here Neji."

"How do you know our names?"

"That is what you're concerned about?" she asked incredulously. "Fascinating."

"It's a start." Shikamaru said not the least bit offended.

"I can't tell you how I know such things just yet, it confuses the entire story or leaves it scattered and missing out things. You'll have to ask after the tale is finished." She said.

"And when do you intend to begin?" Sasuke asked irritated.

"Friends Sasuke, we are friends. We want the same thing. Be calm. I'll start very soon. I'm just waiting for you to answer my question is all. You're the one holding this up." she said matter-of-factly.

He sighed. "Yes, I do believe you have contributed destroying her. Also, if I did not need to hear what you have to say, you would have been dead before this door even open since we're all about divulging truths here." He replied.

She nodded. "I thought so. That's really all you had to say. Well, here goes my life story boys; I can tell you're good listeners. Interruptions will not be tolerated. If you interrupt, that's it, I say nothing more. Am I understood? And no, you can't torture it out of me my dearest friend." She said to Sasuke. "So, do we understand these terms?"

"We do and we agree to them completely." Neji spoke out.

Sasuke nodded compliantly and silently thanked the celestial realm that Naruto was outside with Sakura and not in here with them. He would have problems with these terms Sasuke knew. He wondered how Sakura was handling it outside. It didn't feel like anything was out of the ordinary but he knew she was good at hiding everything, even from herself most of the times. He knew things could still be wrong he just hoped it wasn't. He looked at Mebuki and waited patiently for her to start talking.

"Alright, well around seventeen years ago, give or take some weeks, I got pregnant with Sakura. Everything was fine, nothing out of the ordinary for any woman. My husband and I had been having troubles having a baby for around three years and I had gone through four miscarriages already so of course this was a blessing. We took every precaution when I got pregnant that you could possibly think of to prevent anything from happening. One night when I was around six months, I went to the bathroom after feeling those terrible pains. I knew what was happening but you know, after four times, the denial sets in. Naturally I refused to believe I was going to lose another baby. I was on the bathroom floor in a pool of my own blood with my husband when a woman came to us. She was unlike anything the mind could even create a concept of and we made a deal. She would save my child only if she too could use her as a vessel. It was a deal with the devil, my husband and I knew that but I wanted my child more than anything in the world so agreed. I had never seen darkness like that; toxic to every sense become matter and went inside of me. Three months later, Sakura Natsumi Haruno was born." She said.

Sasuke watched her intently just as she watched them closely, tracing her words on their faces. The dread that trembled in him was hot like lava. So it was true, there was another soul inside of her. How could Shikamaru be right? How could this be true and how could Sakura live and with stand so much pain? She should be dead the second she was born with three souls inside of her. She had her own; she had his and now, another Kavazwalian? This could not be real. It just couldn't be but he knew not to keep himself in denial.

She took a deep breath before continuing. "Everything was fine until she turned about one and six months. In the beginning, it was like we forgot the deal we had made and started searching for answers. The doctors told us she was schizophrenic. We believed them but at one year old, something like that seemed impossible. However, her erotic behavior could hardly be managed and as she grew older, the worse it became. One second she was the Sakura we knew then the next she was this angry monster. She was in so much pain I didn't know what to do. By the time she was three, everything was a full blown disaster in our house. She would become this devil that could do things. She would break things, we couldn't even touch her she was like poison and she would just vanish like magic. She would be gone for days and she would draw all sorts of disoriented symbols about her room. One night she was having one of those nights where she would fall in and out of personas and she grabbed my hand. A mother can never forget these things; I cannot forget when she said to me: 'I can't win, she wants to be me and I can't win'. That was when I really realized what was going on. Whatever was inside of her was fighting to take control and she was going through a battle worse than death that we could do absolutely nothing about." she said. "You would have thought I'd have known this from the beginning."

Sasuke watched as her serious features softened, her eyes seemed to well and she slumped. "We didn't know what to do. Every day it got worse, harder for her and I had no daughter. Some days, I had a demon. She would sit and scream for hours, rip her nails from her flesh- it was simply traumatic. People thought we were abusing her with how many times she broke limbs, ribs and snapped joints. To be that helpless, there has never been such a hell for me as a mother. Then I got fed up when she turned seven and it was like an exorcist happening every night upstairs. I was hell bent on fixing her, no matter the cost. Our house would literally shake and tremble, walls would crack, her back would break and some nights she was possessed. This woman found me, I was desperate. She said she would help me and I didn't even ask I let her into my own home. She met my husband and she took my child. I don't know what she did, she has never told me but when Sakura came back she was fine."

She rose and went into her draw. "I've questioned as to who this person is. However, I have no answer. This is the woman that lives inside of her. The demonic version of my child." She said handing a picture to Sasuke. "She's beautiful like sin itself isn't she?"

Sasuke stared at the picture for what felt an entire decade. Sakura's hair was such a dark and lighted pink, it was almost like viscous as if it could drip its color to form a thick sticky puddle. It was electric almost, sensual and almost like it was alive on its own atop her head. Her eyes were evil with a deep, rich fern green, the pupil a sickening pink. She was still extremely beautiful, so beautiful and she looked just like herself. A ribbon around her head, creating two gorgeous bangs at the front of her head. She wasn't smiling but her beauty even then could not be denied.

"They look almost exactly the same, do they not? You can hardly tell her and Sakura apart. She plays my daughter well."

Wordlessly Sasuke passed on the picture. He waited silently for her continue speaking because he knew there was more to this story and he dreaded every word that came out of her mouth.

"Everything was very normal after that for a time. But of course, life is very cynical in all its pawns and the woman who had helped me told me that the demon was still inside of my child and I would have to kill her. It took me years to muster the courage and to do something like that was a very selfless act that I was afraid of committing. However, not because I loved my daughter meant that for me she should suffer. So I tried to kill her. Twice. Both times I failed. My husband and I started bickering from the first time I tried to kill her, he was not as selfless as me to do what was best for her. He started drinking, I moved out, then there were court hearings, Sakura was already sick –she had been for years- and we weren't around. There were the fights for custody, then she was forced to tell the truth to police officers about my deed after I had moved back in and tried to kill her again. You can see the disaster? Her father by this time was a full blown alcoholic, I was taken away, he started abusing her, refusing to believe her and every truth she had told the authorities. I was taken here. She has never visited. I do not know how her life has been with my husband in my absence. That is the end." She said coldly.

Shikamaru handed her the picture. "And what now?"

"Now everyday she dies even more." She said. "Sakura and the demon are friends; they work together as I have been told. There are things I cannot tell you, as much as you would like to know and I am sorry about that. Sasuke, you're going to be forced to make some painful decisions. Take heed and leave Sakura before it gets too hard."

"I don't intend to abandon her." he said without batting an eyelash.

"But you must do it, do you not understand? You cannot step between Fate so boldly as you are about to. You don't know what you're up against. There are better ways to do this but in order to do such, you must leave her. If you stay here, it happens in a very bloody mess. A mess, she might not make it out of."

"I will not leave her." He repeated. "Regardless of what you tell me." he said.

She nodded. "Then you cannot say I did not warn you my dear friend. Now, ask your unanswered questions."

"What else do you know about this soul?"

"It is more powerful than all of you in here." she said. "It has a mind of its own and a will of its own. It is a part of Sakura and it speaks to her. They communicate on a daily basis; they are one and the same now."

"What?"

She smirked at Sasuke. "I see she hasn't told you that."

"How do you even know all of this about her?"

"She is my daughter and I have been with her many years. I knew all these things before I was brought here. She's told me. When she was around eight, she spoke to her aloud without even realizing it. She is kind to my daughter but she is still inhumane and if she was to gain full access to Sakura's body, she would cause complete havoc. Your very kind destroyed her homeland, the same homeland you all stem from." She replied putting back the picture into the drawer which she had taken it from.

"What do you know about the God?" Neji asked.

"Nothing I can tell you I'm afraid. I know what you desperately seek but I fear, you must learn on your own." She replied. "She is outside isn't she?" she asked then distantly.

"Could you focus please," Shikamaru said.

"What makes you think I am not focused? She is afraid to see me as I am in fear of seeing her too. I have never loved as much as I have loved her. All of me yet this is the life I have given her. I only sought to make things right, to prevent all these terrors from happening to her. Torment awaits her Sasuke, torment that will bring you to tears, bring your limbs to break under her weight and she will suffer endlessly for what feels like a life time. I know what awaits her and when you bare witness, you will have wished I had saved her from the very beginning. She is constantly suffering, not because you love her means she must live in sufferation. If you love her too, you goal is to take her from it. She must die if you want to save her Sasuke. She has to suffer even more than she already has. You do not know pain Sasuke. You don't know the taste of pain until you know Sakura's own burdens that even she herself cannot comprehend." She said wisely.

He didn't doubt her in what she had said. He knew Sakura had burdens that no one else but her could bare. He knew that and it pained him. He wanted to share her pain but even now, he knew truly he would never be able to handle it.

"You wanted to take her away from that." Neji said understandingly.

Her eyes softened. "Until you have a child of your own, none of you before me will ever understand. I have seen her go through unspeakable things. You might not understand my actions and that is perfectly fine. I don't expect you to. I never expect anyone to understand. Granted, where I failed in saving her Sasuke you will succeed and all I want now is to be reunited with her, as impossible and unrealistic to your ears as it might sound." She said warmly, her voice light like the moment he had first heard it.

"Do you know anything else?"

"I know many things Sasuke but none that I can tell you I'm afraid. Please, tell her to come in when you leave this room." She said.

"She won't come." He said.

"She will. Not by force but by choice. She will come; she wouldn't have driven here if she never thought she was ready to face me again. You should know that. Tell her that I have missed her. She will say nothing to me unless I say something to her first. I know her when it comes to this relationship of ours."

Really, what did he expect? Some good old folk story, with wonders captivated inside of them? Of course not, he had been taught to expect practically the worst but this…this changed everything so much it was painful to think about. She was in more danger than he even wanted to admit and he needed to step his game up. Of course, he had taken necessary precautions but now he realized just how valuable she was, not just to him but to his entire kind. Of course he had a few Black Blades watching her when they weren't dealing with the gritty things but now he realized that he had to have her watched at all times.

It didn't take a rocket scientist to know people were watching them like hawks, the Pentitantum down their back pressing down on them for the weekly reports and they had ANBU watching their every move and others trying to get their hands on any advantage they possibly could in order to step up against the Councils. Sasuke's soul would be perfect. He'd been trying very hard to keep this on the down low but he knew it wouldn't stay that way for very long. Soon this was going to get out and he was worried that something terrible could happen to her during that time. He wasn't leaving her, only Kami knew how vulnerable she would be worse with her friends gaining powers and all the changes happening.

He felt like he had the world on his shoulders. Any life but hers. He could care any life in his hands except hers. It made him too nervous and afraid. He wasn't used to these feelings and he hardly knew how to deal with them and keep them under control. Every day his attraction to her grew, everyday his soul and hers fused, every day he fell further down for her. Every day she meant more to him, every second his feelings seemed to open with new bloom. She was his everything; he had literally no meaning to life unless she was in it. She was the only thing he wanted and he knew that a part of him feeling that way was because of his soul but truly and really, he liked her with or without his soul.

"If you want to speak to her, she's right outside." He said numbly pushing himself gracefully to his feet. "If that's all you have to offer us Mebuki then we will be going." He said.

She nodded. "I suspected as much." She replied. "I've done what I can. I suppose I will never see you again then my friend."

"I would hope so. We meet again and I'll be the last face you ever see." He said pulling the door open.

He could give no definition to Mebuki and he could hardly post judgment on her actions. He was in no position to do so but to know that Sakura had gone through something as terrible as that with her memories wiped from the depths of her mind was sickening. He would never have guessed that Sakura had someone in her head talking to her without ever even mentioning it. How could she not feel insane? How she reacted to such a thing baffled him. It surprised him that she was capable of coming to school, talking and laughing with him simply and easy as any other teen with a demon raging havoc inside of her body and with voices constantly in her head. This made him wonder just how much about her life he did not know. Just how crazy she was because truly, he had to admit it, that's what she was. That unnerved him. She should tell him everything and she should trust him. He should know this. He had a right to know, it was crucial but he couldn't force it out of her.

"It was interesting meeting you Mebuki to say the least." Shikamaru said with the tiny hint of sleep in his voice.

"It was a pleasure as well." Neji said curtly.

She didn't smile but her voice was light as a cloud. "As to say it was a pleasure meeting you all as well, may fate turn in your favors." She said. "Tell Sakura what I said, to come in is her choice. I bid you all a pleasant day."

Sasuke nodded the trio walked out, closing the door silently behind them. Sasuke tucked his hands into his pockets and began walking down the hall to the lounge room where he knew Sakura was. Purposely they walked at a very slow place, the silence thick between them with words soon to be said.

Neji sighed. "This is even more complicated than we thought. Where we go from here is very much the unknown Sasuke, we're going in blind."

"Only a little bit," Shikamaru said, "we will figure this out like we always do. Obviously all we need right now is a solid base as to what's going on with her. Unfortunately it seems that our theory is proving to be very accurate so far." He looked at Sasuke with a raised eyebrow. "You suspected something was in her for a while now, haven't you?"

"I never wanted it to be true." He forced himself to admit. "Once when Krystal was healing her she had sensed another being inside of her. During that time, it all seemed so impossible; the idea simply ridiculous yet here we are." He rued.

Sasuke entered the lounge room colored in what seemed like peach. Sakura was sitting in front of a little boy holding his tiny hands and their laughter travelled beautifully to his ears. Naruto was laughing also, his blue eyes twinkling like the sky and the sea made love to each other in the hue of the sun. At least they were having a good time.

Her head turned to see him and she smiled as he neared. Sakura rubbed his head before pinching his cheeks. He slapped her hand away giggling and holding his head.

"Stop it Sakura-chan!" he laughed hysterical.

She smiled. "You need a hair cut Ruio," she said.

He shook his head, grabbing his shoulder length hair and pouting. "I do not." he said stubbornly. "Naruto tell her! I don't need a hair cut!"

Naruto held his hands up in surrender. "Whatever she says goes big man," he warned looking up at Sasuke, "How'd it go?" he asked.

Sakura's smile dimmed only a little as she stood. She folded her arms. "Yeah, how was it?" she asked curiously.

"It was alright," Sasuke said vaguely.

"And we need to get going. We have a very long drive and you know how Kurenai gets." Shikamaru grumbled.

"Say goodbye to your friend here and let's go." He said turning.

Sakura bent and scooped the little boy in her arms. "Tell all your little buddies that I'll come and get them if they mess with you again. Tell them Sakura Haruno said so. Tell The Voices that I say hello and 3:30 that it was nice meeting him."

He smiled brown eyes big enough to take in the whole world. He bobbed his head. "Will I ever see you guys again?" he asked sweetly looking at them. "Will 3:30 ever meet you guys again?"

Naruto rubbed his head. "Of course you will."

"Promise?"

"Promise." They said simultaneously.

They gave him one last hug and Sakura sighed, running her fingers over her hair that was caught in a lose pony tail. Silently they headed on their way out. Mataki smiled.

"Right on time, visiting hours are now over. Sakura, will you be leaving town again?"

Stiffly Sakura nodded. "Yes."

She frowned. "How sad. It was beautiful seeing you and I know you probably don't want to hear this but believe me, over the past recent weeks, your mother has been improving very much. Did you say hello to her?" she asked.

"No I did not. Mataki it was nice seeing you." Sakura said, stunning Sasuke with the edge of frigidness on her voice.

She waved. "Be safe and be good. Have fun now."

Sakura nodded and faked a smile. The edges of it were jagged almost. "Take care of yourself." She said and walked out, leaving every one behind her.

Sasuke watched her go, unable to really understand her attitude. Of course it wasn't easy for her to even come here. He knew that very well and he knew that this entire thing was greatly affecting her. For a split second he considered telling her that her mother had wanted to see her and all these things but he bit his tongue. He did not believe that he should tell Sakura anything, she wasn't even ready to face this woman yet. What did it matter if she had truly said anything? It didn't. He wasn't going to tell her, she didn't need that weighing down on her shoulders.

Pulling out his keys they made their way out front to the little parking lot. Sakura smiled and shifted on her feet a little as she stood between Sasuke's Audi and Naruto's Mercedes Benz SLR. Taking a deep breath she spoke quickly and clearly.

"He's schizophrenic." She said looking down.

He looked at her. "The little boy?" He asked.

She nodded, her hair falling around her face. "He's 12 and psychiatric wards are the only place he's ever known. He's so extensive that they had to transfer him here. He was admitted two weeks ago. Again. Same place just a different location. His best friend is a gorilla with the head of man called 3:30." She looked up and blinked away the tears. "I wish I didn't understand him as much as I did just then."

"There are things in life we have control over Sakura and then there are things far bigger than us that's out of our control. Unfortunately, that was one of them."

She nodded. "Did she say anything? Asked to see me? Anything, anything at all?" she asked, the rays of the sun beaming into her eyes giving them life like never before.

Sasuke sighed and shook his head minutely. "No, she didn't."

She slumped and nodded pressing her lips into a thin line. "Did she say much to you about anything then? Was this a wasted trip?"

He shrugged. "She said very little." He conceded.

She nodded almost disappointed, got in the car and buckled herself in.

Carefully they all came out of the small parking lot and went on their way. Sasuke sighed mentally as he leaned back, eyes focused on the road this time a little bothered by the silence. He didn't know what she was thinking and he didn't know what she was feeling. He wished that he did in this moment. He didn't know how much of the information Mebuki had told them was accurate and how much of it to disclose to Sakura so it was best to just say nothing. If all these things were true, he didn't want to frighten her and tell her. He kind of knew how her mind worked. She would over think everything and blame herself as usual for everything that was going on and this was by no means her fault.

If what Mebuki had told them was the truth and was correct then at least they had some answers which could possibly guide them in their next series of actions. At least now they had an explanation as to what was going on, the cause of it and therefore how to possibly approach it. He wanted to sit and think everything through but in that moment he could couldn't do it since there was more to come and with Kurenai no one knew what to expect.

He glanced at her form the corner of his eyes but she was just staring out the window at the town as they moved on their way out of it.

"Is it true that there is another person inside your mind?" he asked.

Her head snapped around to look at him as if he'd slapped her across her face. Her expression hardened almost slightly. "What?"

He tried not to roll his eyes at her. "I'm sure you know what I'm talking about."

"Did she tell you that?" she asked incredulously.

"That's not answering the question." Sasuke said.

Truth be told this pissed him off that he'd never known this. Something as important as that someone never forgot to mention. How could she not trust him enough to mention something like that even after realizing the problems they were all facing? This was important and he realized that Sakura knew more than she led on. Sakura had information too and all this time he had thought she really didn't. Now he knew, no one but Sakura could confirm what Mebuki had said. Why hadn't she said anything before?

"But I thought she didn't say anything to you." Sakura stated.

"Sakura, that's not the point."

"Then why did you lie?" She asked.

"I didn't lie."

"You're lying again right now. I don't like it. Did you know I don't like it?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm sure you know what I'm talking about." she mocked.

He glanced at her and gripped the staring wheel. "Sakura-" his voice was cold enough to freeze fire but she cut him off.

"Why should I say anything to you when you knew how much that meant to me? You're telling me that after we left! When it doesn't matter anymore because I can't do anything about it!" Her voice trembled.

He sighed. "Sakura, I don't think you understand."

"Then you don't understand how much that meant to me! That she even wanted to say something to me, even if I didn't say anything back. I wanted…that's not even a little lie. That's a big lie…and a big blow." She said staring out the window.

She pressed her lips into a thin line and he watched her closely from the corner of his onyx eyes. She seemed lost all of a sudden, as if she was walking down a road and she was blind. He wondered if that too was his fault. Suddenly he was realizing that he was probably causing Sakura a lot of harm. He hated to admit it but he looked at her and knew that if it wasn't for him, she would not be here right now and had gone through so much in such a short time. He however, refused to believe Sakura's mother. He wasn't leaving her, worse if it was his fault she was here in the first place. It was his duty to protect her, even as she pissed him off with her secrets right now.

He just didn't get it even after he caught her off guard with his question. Why hadn't she confided something like that in him? He knew he didn't have a right to be angry because he was sure she had her reasons. Of course she wouldn't walk around rambling on and on about the voice in her head. No one really would and of course she didn't want people to judge her. He just…he craved her trust so much that it burned him down to his stomach that he hadn't earned it yet. He wanted her trust as much as he wanted food. It meant so much to him. He knew it would take time but he wanted it so badly, for her to trust him with every dark secret in her heart.

He knew also that he was being a hypocrite. He had no right to want that from her if he couldn't give it back. He hated human qualities like this. Hated it.

"But I'm not mad. I can't be, so I'm not." she said with a small smile. "Yes. It is the truth." She replied in that barely audible voice of her after a couple minutes of silence.

He knew it took a lot out of her to answer him. He didn't want to put her on the spot but he needed to know these things.

She had changed so much since she first came here. She was so afraid to speak, so afraid to make eye contact and even though she didn't love doing those things she was more of herself. She spoke when she wanted to, most of the times her voice didn't hold a hundred percent of timidness. Yes it was still there, so was the innocence and purity but Sasuke knew this life he'd brought her was changing her. He knew that all the phases and the excruciating pain and agony she'd been through and the nightmares were changing her. He knew it was darkening and tainting her heart.

"Why didn't you tell me?" his voice was husky and he hated the small splinter of ache in his voice.

Her voice dropped even lower. "For many reasons. The same reason you don't tell me anything. The same reason why you don't trust me with certain things; the same reason you lied to me in the parking lot." She said with an aching smile.

His heart constricted. "Sakura I trust you." he said instantly.

She smiled her features soft like lilies. "But you still keep your secrets as secrets." She pointed out.

He knew that was the truth. It felt like she drove a dagger through his stomach. She must feel the same way as he. He craved her trust; of course she craved his in return. If he couldn't give it then why should she?

"What other reason?"

"I don't want to be the center of attention. People see me as an attention hogging person as it is…I don't want to…" she trailed off. "I didn't even think you would believe me, that you would think I was lying."

"Sakura-"

"You don't get it Sasuke." she cut him off. "And I know you want to but you don't. I'm the girl that holds her breath to faint, I'm the girl that coughs blood on purpose, I'm that girl that pretends to sick every second of every day of her life for fun, I'm that girl that vomits and starves herself for the pity and heartless sympathy of others. That is how they see me and I just don't want you to see me that way because it's not true."

"I don't."

"But you can." She insisted. "You can get tired of me being sick; you can get annoyed with hearing about it. You can become irritated with how I am and you can become cold like everyone else to me. It happens and that's not your fault. You can get tired of being with me because I'm not a normal person and we can't have normal dates and play in the snow and go swimming and on adventures. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to add something else to the list you have of things wrong with me."

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "And you're not ready to talk about it then?" he asked.

"I don't have anything to tell you, I don't have all the answers and I'm sorry. It's just another person in my head. She's not a part of me, she has her own mind, her own thoughts…her own everything. She's just one of those voices that I can talk to when I don't have anyone else." she said. "I know it sounds so…" she slumped. "It sounds even worse when I say it out loud, even more insane and not even comical."

I actually feel appreciated there Sakura, I must say but it's not as bad as you're making it seem. Don't be so sad about it…really.

I really don't think now is the time

Any time is as good as any don't you think, considering that all you've been doing lately is blowing me off. You didn't even want to talk to me anymore.

"Sakura nothing is wrong with you." he said softly. "This entire thing is 'messed' up, all of us in this aren't normal. What difference does it make now? You know me, I'm nowhere near normal. I eat souls, I can breathe fire…I have wings. This doesn't make you any different to me than I am any different to you. It doesn't get any more abnormal and unrealistic than me. It would be terrible up if you were normal." He soothed.

"You're just saying that."

"No I'm not. I am not judging you. What about that don't you get yet?" he asked.

"I don't want you to think I'm seeking attention. People don't believe things like that Sasuke and every time I say something…it's always a lie so why bother?"

"You do realize the situation that we're in and the danger you are in correct?"

She nodded. "I do."

"Then understand that some secrets you have are not yours alone anymore. Keeping your mouth shut does more harm than good at this point." He said. He bit the insides of his jaw. "I didn't mean it like that."

"I know, it's okay."

He was silent for a moment. "Sakura, I've taken care of you and tended to you. I know. Stop thinking that I don't and as unsympathetic as I am, it is impossible for me to be that way with you. I don't judge you now and I will not judge you. I have no right to do that."

"I just…there are some things you just never bring up unless someone asks. You've never asked." She said then.

Silence reigned then, becoming more saturated with every passing minute but neither of them said anything. Before either of them knew, three hours and two gas station stops later, even with the air conditioner on the place got dreadfully hot as they made their way on a dirt road.

Quickly Sasuke slipped out of his shirt and threw it on the back seat, sweat dabbing the back on his neck. There was another reason he didn't want Sakura to come on this trip and very soon it would become obvious.

He could feel Sakura's innocent eyes on him and he smirked inside at the feeling that she made wash over him. This was the first time she was ever seeing him without a shirt and she liked what she saw. He could tell by the way her heart raced and heat rushed to her face.

He glanced at her. "You can touch too if you'd like." He said his voice unintentionally humid. "I'm all yours."

She looked away and he shook his head. In times like this control was crucial. Control meant everything because even with how pure and innocent Sakura was, he knew she felt it. There was no way she didn't. She had to feel it, the desire to run her fingers down his chest…something, she had to feel something. She was a teen, she was a girl and she must want all those things other girls want. He knew Sakura was attracted to him and he knew that just like him, she got horny too. She was just so shy and curled inside herself sometimes; just trying something new might frighten her to death. And now with the issues she had sometimes when he touched her, ripping her hand or body away like he'd burnt her, trying to 'feel her up' wasn't a very good idea.

Truth be told, to even do that would be a huge step for him. Just thinking about touching Sakura sexually made him very, very… nervous. It was a big deal. This was the girl, the one and only girl. All the other girls were practice puppets, there was no room for error on her and all those other girls meant nothing, her reaction was what really counted. There was a whole lot of pressure then riding on that. She wasn't like any other girl, she'd been to hell and back and he knew zero about her sexual preferences. Now was probably a terrible time for him to be thinking about all these things of course but he couldn't stop his mind from straying and trying to take a break from the usual stress.

He glanced at her and she was sweating. A lot.

"You're going to have to get out of those clothes." He stated watching her as she quickly and expertly did up her hair in a messy bun.

She glanced at him. "I know." she said softly swallowing.

"Nervous about something?"

She laughed. "Only a little. There is a larger reason as to why I wasn't upset with you about what you did. I'm making very big steps today."

"I've noticed." He said coming to a halt behind Neji's Dodge Ram.

Leaning over to the back seat he passed Sakura her nap sack and rummaged for his messenger bag. Then a hand hot like a frying pan touched his arm and he stilled like never before in his entire life. Instinct, male instinct so raw gripped him by the throat he was so close to suffocating. Control. Was. Crucial. This was exactly why he never wanted her to come. He swallowed, her touch seeping into his skin into his veins. He'd never felt something so electric. The sweat on his neck in fright paused for if it ever moved, he'd snap Sakura's body in half with his very own. Mercy. His head turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow, face as much of a mask as he could make it. If she didn't let go, he'd step out of this car with a hardon and that would not look very good given the circumstances.

"Where do I change?" she asked.

"Here," He said.

She choked. "What?"

"Or you could do it outside but then we'd all be able to see you. The choice is yours."

"Bu…but-"

"Sakura, you're not wearing those thick clothes. You'll pass before we even get there. And if you change into anything besides shorts and a thin shirt, I will rip the sleeves off and tear your jeans and make them into shorts and shirt." he said grabbing up the bag, shrugging off her hand easily and exiting the car. "Change. Now." he said closing the door, throwing the bag across his shoulders and making his way over to his Knights.

"Will she be able to see the place or do well need a spell?" Naruto ask rummaging in his car for his bag.

"She should be able to see it. If she can see Hinata everything should be fine." Shikamaru said."I am not looking forward to this at all. This is very troublesome." He murmured.

"None of us are looking forward to this." Naruto said pulling his shirt over his head and pulling off his jeans, to reveal mermaid beach shorts. He flexed his back, making a cracking sound, all his muscles contracting. "It's already fucking hot. This is not going to be fun."

"Tell me about it." Neji said pulling his own shirt over his head and catching his hair in a low ponytail. "Is Sakura okay with four shirtless guys with Tattoos?" he asked.

"She won't die." He said as the car door opened and Sakura stepped out.

She was in ripped shorts that stopped mid thigh and a wife beater, hair caught in a messy bun and sneakers. She looked drop dead gorgeous but that was not what caught Sasuke's attention. He stood there looking at her creamy legs and arms laced with marks and scars. Not self harm scars…battle scars. She grabbed her Dora bag, closed the door and walked over to them.

"Hi." She said awkwardly, looking at her shoes instead of them standing like Gods before her.

"Sakura-"

Sasuke held up his hand silencing Naruto before he could say anything else. He turned his back to Sakura. "Let's get going." He said simply and started walking.

The day just kept on giving him surprises, so many of them he didn't know how to deal with them all. So that's why she wasn't mad, it would have been unfair. Sasuke noticed that now. Of course she had scars. How could she not with how sick she was and all that she had been through? Of course. The question was: how had he never seen them until this very moment? How? She just kept pissing him off, ruining his efforts not to be mad at her.

He didn't want to be angry with her, honestly he didn't but all she was doing was giving him more reasons to be. Look at this now, why hadn't he known this? When they were in the car couldn't she have said something? Look at the conversation they were having about her keeping secrets, hiding things from him. He knew it wasn't fair but it cut a wound in him somewhere and he was angry because he was slightly hurt, as much as he hated to admit it. This hurt him that she wasn't telling him anything at all and all she did was keep secrets. These were big things, not simple things and he had told her his secrets. She knew about all this, about him and he answered any questions she dared ask. Why wouldn't she trust him enough to reveal something like this to him? She didn't trust him at all did she?

He knew it seemed dramatic to say this but he really was feeling like he didn't know her very well. That is, truly what went on in her mind? He didn't know this. He'd never seen her scars, never even been told she had any. Why? She didn't think it was important or she didn't trust him enough to tell him?

He didn't listen to the conversation as Sakura and his Knights murmured together as they walked through the dense woods, the heat only intensifying, the sweat only increasing. They had a long walk ahead of them. He hoped she made it without something going wrong.

"Oi! Teme, she doesn't believe we can speak almost all languages." Naruto said.

Sasuke glanced back and his lips twitched in the nice way when he saw Naruto holding on to her hand. He nodded. "We can." (A/N I used Google translate for this [no duh] so I don't even know if everything is translated right. If it's not, don't blame me guys, blame Google -_- )

"Latin." Sakura said.

"Vere velim bamus invicem magis." Sasuke said.

Naruto frowned almost instantly. "Dudus, ut ne ad eam non opus est." He said.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. He knew he was trying; he respected Sakura trying but…still.

"Iustum non est motus."

Sakura's eyes widened. "Wow. Uh…what other language can I think of?" she asked herself. "Romanian." She said almost giddy.

"Să înțeleg că nu a știut niciodată despre cicatrici ei." Neji said, the Romanian accent almost too perfect.

Of course he didn't know about the scars. Did anyone know about them? He didn't want to talk about it and he knew his Knights wanted to know about it but he didn't know anything. She had many, and that explained the long sleeved shirts and jeans, the hoddies etc. why hadn't she told him? It seemed like all Sakura's secrets were far bigger than all of his combined and that frightened him. What else didn't he know?

"Desigur, nu am făcut-o." Sasuke said tightlipped. "You all entertain her. I rather not speak about these things." He said more to himself than to them.

"He's mad." She said her voice cracking.

He wished he hadn't heard her. If he hadn't he could still be mad at her but he couldn't be. When he heard her voice laced with the guilt it was as if it pulled the anger right out of his very veins. He was destroying her. He sighed and looked over his shoulder.

"Je ne suis pas. L'amour ne marche pas comme ça. Vous prenez la colère de ma part." He said. "I'm not angry." He said, pausing and waiting for them to catch up the him.

He couldn't be angry with her and if he was, he couldn't stay that way. They waded through the forest and after a while, Sakura was leaning on the bark of a tree, panting. She held her hand up, fanning them off and grasping Neji's arm for support. She sucked in a deep breath.

"This is some walk." She murmured, exhausted already. "Whew!"

"I can carry you." Neji offered.

She shook her head. "I can walk a little longer." She insisted, Neji walking at snail's pace with her without complaint.

Sasuke liked this in a way he could not describe. Would he have done the same thing for Tenten if it was her? He didn't think he would have but as he watched Neji, his arm supporting her and helping her as they waded uphill he knew he would. These were his friends. The people who would lay their lives down for him and anything that meant something to him. They would die for Sakura simply because he was willing to die for her. It was one of those rear moments of awe and appreciation. He smirked and eventually they were wall walking at the same pace with her.

He knew she felt terrible and that she didn't want to slow them down. She'd drunk three bottles of water until she plopped down at the root of a tree on the verge of an asthma attack. Another reason why he never wanted to carry her. Despite how inhuman she was, she was still human. She was sweating ridiculously, her wife beater sticking to her and he didn't want to think about it but he couldn't help but notice how delicious her breasts looked. She took her pump, coughed some wet sloppy coughs and wheezed. Sasuke knelt down before her and waved his hands, telling everyone to take a break. They had been walking for about an hour. She looked at him apologetically and he waved her off.

"It's fine."

She leaned her head back, trying to catch her breath, her chest rising and falling quickly as sweat ran down her thighs and legs. Control. Was. Crucial. The last time he'd seen her this sexy she was in his shirt and wet. Damn. He separated her legs and bit the insides of his jaw to not do what he wanted to do when he opened them and knelt between them. He handed her a container and she looked at it.

"Eat." he said.

Taking a deep breath and coughing she did as she was told. Silently she began to eat. He noticed that she refused to look at him. He sighed.

"Sakura, I'm not upset. I was before, yes, but I'm not anymore."

She looked up at him and flipped a lock of wet pink hair from her face. "I am. I was just…afraid to tell you." she murmured.

"How is it that I've never seen them before?" he asked softly, resting his head on hers when she placed the food next to her.

"Tsunade and Ino insisted I wear creams that were made to hide them but, I got tired of using them and I just started covering them up with the clothes you see me in. The weather was getting cooler, it's not so hot anymore so I knew it wouldn't look weird. I didn't want you to find out like this. I wanted to tell you in the car but I was so scared. I'm sorry."

"It's alright." He whispered, pulling away lightly pressing his lips against a thin pink scar on the rise of her left breast. Of course it was not sexually but every bone in his body wanted it to be. "I'm not mad. I swear." He said kissing her cheek.

"I just thought you'd hate me or think I'm ugly or not want anything to do with me and I know it sounds stupid. I know, you don't have to tell me." she said knotting her fingers.

"But it's happened to you before, people have thought that when you showed them, so what makes this so different right?" he asked dryly.

"That's what I had thought." She said honestly looking at him. "But I don't think that anymore. Honestly I don't. I've just been very afraid to believe you but I do now." she said touching his cheek, her hand flaming hot, burning through his skin. She rested her forehead on his. "I do now and I'm sorry. I'm sorry about what I said in the car. I know you understand more than most people and I don't give you credit and I didn't mean it. I just need some time, the same way you do."

Once upon a time, maybe a couple weeks ago, it would have taken a lot out him to say this to her. Now, it rolled of his tongue in truth, solid truth. He wasn't ashamed to admit it and his pride was different.

"I won't leave you." He said. "Granted, it seems unbelievable now but I will always feel this way. Literally."

She laughed. "Right," she smiled.

"Now that we're finished with that, did I tell you I like those shorts?" he cooed, biting his lips over hers.

"You do?" she stuttered.

His hands anchored her waist and their eyes locked. "Yes. The more skin the better."

Something like this has never happened to him before but inside her eyes betrayed her shyness in a way that stunned him. They were electric and he knew the heat the pulsed through his body that she was feeling it to. Of course she was. He watched the sweat trickle down her neck and her breathing steadied then slowed to that erotic rhythm he'd heard so many times from so many women but has never affected him until this point. Her mouth opened ever so slightly, her cheeks tomato red as he undressed her with his eyes. She watched him hypnotized as his eyes pulled her blouse over her head, sinking his hands down into her shorts. He felt the vibrations hit her throat before he heard her moan, her head falling back against the bark.

Control. Was. Crucial.

She sighed, her eyes fluttering for an instant before her soft hands rested on his on her hips.

"Do you feel that?" he asked in a hushed tone.

Timidly she nodded.

One taste. One bite. The voice slithered through his mind. He remembered when he first met her and the days that followed. He couldn't resist the scent of her soul or her blood. She had driven him to the brink of insanity so many times before. He could smell it, every time her heart beat, sending it rushing through her veins. Vampires weren't the only ones to drink blood. He remembered the days he fantasized about drinking her body dry. If he was careful, she would enjoy this. Any girl would. He shook his head. Of course he wouldn't do it. Even if he wanted to –which he did- he couldn't. He'd gone this far without tearing her to shreds; nothing was stopping him from resisting now.

Then she spoke, words that set Sasuke on fire. "You can leave your own scar if you want." She whispered meekly.

"I don't think you understand what you've just said." he said in a hushed tone.

She seemed transfixed. "But you do."

Sasuke swallowed, drowning her eyes. Control. He could do this. Just one supersonic moan he wanted to tear from her body. He'd dreamt about hearing it and here she was giving him a chance. This heat…he hadn't wanted to bring her here. Heat….heat evaporated control and rational thought. He moved his hands and rested them on her knees while resting on his own knees he slid closer between her legs. He rested his hands on the bark of the tree and looked down at her. She looked up in his face with the kind of innocence a man like him would have normally corrupted a long time ago. This wasn't the right time to do this. To feel this. He hadn't wanted her to come because heat…heat made everything hotter.

"Trust me?" he asked. She nodded. He dipped his head and ran his tongue down her neck. "You're going to want hold onto something. This is going to be intense." he warned, sinking his teeth into her.

Nothing in time, space and any other dimension to ever exist or coexist had ever felt and tasted so good. Ever. His fingers sank into the bark, ripping it as his body jolted with the feeling of a never ending, never fading and ever exploding orgasm. A feeling like rich silk with all the sins and pleasures of the world fell onto his lap. And hunger filled him down to depth of his body. That same hunger that no matter how many souls he'd had never went away. That hunger gripped him like death and his teeth sank even deeper into her flesh, her nails clawing at his back, pealing his skin. Yes. Intensity.

The cosmos collapsed all at once, blinding him to asunder, her moans climbing until it was a shrill of greatness, her nails piercing his skin. Her grip was fierce, a hand tangling in his hair as his mouth filled with the greatest sin he'd ever experienced. The groan came out of him strained as her body thrust closer to his, her breasts pressing against his chest as blood like fire filled his tongue. He had wanted this from the first time he'd encountered her.

Pleasure has never felt so good. The aching cry that ripped from her like child during birth ruptured him like never before. The sound sent him spiraling downwards into a hole of pure, unadulterated redness. Redness like never before. A redness Tami couldn't give him. A redness Minie couldn't give him. Her cry was a pleasure so carnal and raw, only she could give him. Her blood was thick, beautiful with all the art and mysteries in the world convoluted into it. All her pain, all her joy and love and ache morphed into her blood. Sasuke literally could not handle the feelings as his hand ripped the tree from the ground, pulling up its roots to prevent himself from hurting her. He threw it aside and pushed her down on the ground, sinking his nails into the dirt. Yes. Fuck. Yes. This was better than sex.

However, control. Control. Control. Control. Control. Control. Control. Was. Crucial. He had to stop. He had to stop. He was already taking too much blood. She loved it yes but she didn't realize he was hurting her at the same time. It took every ounce of strength to pull his teeth from her flesh. He was panting, their bodies glistening in sweat, blood leaking from the sides of his lips. He tilted his head back, flexing his back and groaned. He'd never felt so satisfied ever in his life. He could feel her blood running down his neck and it felt beautiful. His eyes blazed like crimson rings and normally he wouldn't want her to see it but he locked eyes with her.

"Are you afraid?" he asked his voice powerful and tangled in toxicness.

"No." she said whispered, lost in a sea of new euphoria.

She stared into them transfixed as he wiped her blood from his lips with his tongue. He grasped her hand and used her index finger to wipe the trickle that slid down his throat. Never letting his eyes leave hers, he licked her fingers. He closed his eyes.

"Bad idea." He said to himself.

He could feel her body shaking. With a lick he sealed the two piercings his teeth made in her neck. She trembled. Of all the places and times for him to give her such an experience and an orgasm he chose here. Bad idea. He'd just lost it for a minute.

He stood and looked down at her. He held out his hand and feebly she took it. He pulled her to her feet. Her eyes fluttered and he held onto her as her weight fell on top of him.

"I'm fine." She said. She looked at him. "What was that?"

He stifled a smirk. "That was you feeding your boyfriend. Very sexy."

Sasuke looked up and sure enough the sun was close to setting. Sasuke tangled his hands in hers and they made their way to where everyone else had been taking their break. Sakura avoided all eye contact and no one complained about moving once again.

They walked in silence but soon Sakura was on the verge of passing out. Sasuke understood he had some part to play in that. He wondered if the day could get any more unpredictable. He felt invincible however, he'd never felt this good and in such good spirits in a very long time.

Neji knelt down and Sakura warily climbed on his back. Her heart and joints couldn't handle the amount of walking. Neji didn't mind bringing her and he offered to bring her because he knew right and well that Sasuke carrying her wouldn't have been a good idea. Neji paused after an hour and pointed in front of them. Sakura paused mid sip of her water.

"That's where we're going." He said.

"I'm going to be ten pounds by the time we get there." she panted.

The heat was getting to her, she felt drained like never before. She was breathing heavily and she coughed a wet humid cough. Sasuke knew this would wear her out. Neji patted her leg that was wrapped around his toned body.

"You'll make it."

"If we could have driven we would have." Naruto said.

"And save us all this trouble." Shikamaru said.

They had to walk due to the way Kurenai had built her castle. When they reached Sasuke wiped sweat from his forehead. It was dark now and Sakura was sweating, her pink wife beater soaking wet, sticking to her like second skin and it was hard from him not to notice the beautiful roundness of her breasts again and the shape of her waist as the blouse clung to her flesh.

"This is beautiful." She gasped as sweat pelted her.

Naruto flexed his back and they continued walking. There was no gate or wall or fence surrounding the large mansion that was blazing hot, it felt like hot water on their flesh. The heat was almost unbearable. They wound around the way to the front and Sasuke gripped the knocker and knocked, the sound echoing throughout the hills.

"How has no one found this place?" Sakura asked, resting her head on Neji's back.

"It's hidden away." Shikamaru said. "We exist everywhere but out of sight. You should know this by now." he said.

Sasuke glanced at her. "Prepare yourself. There is a lot of flesh and very little clothing in this place." he warned as the door opened to reveal a exceptionally beautiful, well rounded woman with straight black hair and piercing gray eyes.

Her body seemed to glow and her skin moist. Her waist was small, her breasts perked and round. She was gorgeous. She stood there, as naked as the day she was born. She looked at them with interest.

"She's been waiting." She stepped aside. "Please, come in."

"Well damn," Shikamaru muttered stepping in. "Just how I like my women, ready and waiting for me."

Everyone followed her wordlessly and the large wooden doors banged shut. Black carpet led straight ahead to something steaming like a Jacuzzi all the way down from where they were. The heat was intense and the space so large it echoed. Palm trees dotted the place, some Japanese women clothed like the islands and others naked, their long hair brought over their shoulders hiding their nipples. They sauntered around and two angelic women stood at the top step before a person could step into the mass of water. They held palm for fans and next to them were women with towels and robes.

"Come." She said her voice beautiful and she led them down the carpet. "She must walk on her own." The woman said pausing to look at them with her penetrating violet eyes.

"She's weak." Sasuke said.

"She must walk on her own." The woman said coldly. "Kurenai wishes it to be so."

"No problem." Sakura coughed and slid off Neji's back. Sasuke made move to wrap his arms around her but she shook her head. "It's okay."

He smirked. "Are you scared?" he teased.

He ran his tongue over his teeth and she gapped at him and turned away from him instantly.

The woman nodded and continued down the carpet. They paused at the first step and the women watched them closely. They stood there and Sasuke knew this was going to get very graphic. Another reason he didn't want to bring Sakura here.

Soon the water sloshed and as if she was walking up steps to come out, a woman slowly started to emerge. She looked glorious with her black wet hair sticking to her flesh, her red eyes like gems with a body so curvaceous and sensual it could kill. The aura that blasted from her like a nuclear explosion was enough to knock some of the strongest men to their knees. She seemed so superb it was almost sexuality too intense to be anything besides darkness. She looked dangerous as she sauntered out, water dripping from every inch of her body. She closed her eyes and moaned as heat like waves rushed through the place. She looked at them and smiled, gloriously.

"I was expecting you." she beautifully said stepping down to them.

The women fluttered around her like flies. A jade hair girl offered a robe but Kurenai waved it off. Her body was flawless, her breasts round and beautiful, her peaks hard. Sasuke stuffed his hands into his pockets. He wasn't really attracted to many women that weren't Sakura lately. However, he did not deny her wonderful sensuality and the fact that she was beautiful.

"Kurenai." He said.

"Sasuke." she purred. "Ladies, please take care of these men." She instructed taking the robe and towel. "Katatsu, you will stay."

The violet eyed beauty nodded and unwillingly all Sasuke's Knights left his side. They all stood there in awkward silence as she stood naked in front of them and she laughed. Her laughter was that of a woman too free for them, a woman who saw them as children who were incapable of being as free as she was.

"We meet again Ms. Haruno. Finally," She purred sexually.

That was when it occurred to Sasuke to look at Sakura. She just stood there looking at the woman in mortification and disbelief. Sasuke looked at Kurenai. She answered his unasked question very easily, not that he wouldn't know all there is to know very soon.

"I know everyone." She replied holding out her arms to let Katatsu slip on her robe. She however, did not tie it, as water dripped from the ends of her hair that swung at her waist. "However, we've met before. Please, let's speak privately." She said turning and walking across the room to a large bolted door next to the spiraling staircase.

She looked back but Sasuke couldn't get Sakura to move on her own. He grasped her arm and forced her to move, her feet like bricks on their own. She was in shock but due to what? It couldn't be because these people were naked. That wasn't possible. Sakura must have seen nude people before so what did this even mean? He hadn't wanted to bring her for so many reasons it wasn't even funny. When they reached the door Kurenai pushed it open and stepped aside allowing them to enter.

The room had a roaring fire place in the heat and four chandeliers. It almost resembled the room they had just left, almost like a thorn room with a chair directly at the end of the room in front of the door. The floors were carpeted and candles also burnt. The heat was unbearable. Plants dotted the room, the colors in peaches and light pinks and whites. She took a seat, slung a leg over the arm of her hair, tucking her robe between her legs to prevent them from seeing what was between her legs. Her breasts still showed but she drew the robe just enough to cover her nipples.

Her smile was cynical. "What do I owe this pleasure?" she asked as Katatsu leaned over to kiss Kurenai on the lips. She mumbled something, she nodded and Katatsu charmingly after winking at Sasuke and left the room.

Sasuke leaned back and propped up his feet. Sakura was still in his system and he knew how important this is, he just couldn't be as serious as he was. He felt far too good but he did understand that he came here for business. He didn't smirk at her. They weren't friends like that. They had a not so gorgeous history.

"You know why we are here."

"True. I do know but do you know why you're here Sasuke? That is the question in truth." She stated.

"Listen," Sasuke said in a hard voice, "this is getting out of control and we need to fix this before it gets worse which I'm pretty sure it can. If you don't want to talk I will take my leave without hesitation."

"You were always the spoilt one ever since you were born. From the womb you were like this. I foresaw your arrival this day when Sakura's mother made the deal with the kavazwalian from Kivinochi." She said. "Sasuke, you know as much as I do that I know everything. I have all the answers to everything you could ever ask me. However, Fate determines what I can say. My mouth cannot speak what should not be known, that was my deal."

"What can you tell me?"

"I can tell you that she is weak." She said emotionlessly, her voice cutting like shards of glass. "Very weak and it's quite sad. You've spoken to her mother and she has told you about the past, correct?" she asked.

Sasuke bit the insides of his jaw. "Yes." He conceded.

He knew what Kurenai was doing. Of course she already knew that he had lied to Sakura when she had asked him. She wanted her to know what he lied about. He tried not to glare at her or show any emotion on his face when a pain sliced through all his veins so intense he felt like he would combust. It hurt her.

"I am that woman she found. Sasuke, I was given a choice. To help her when she was young and save her the torment or help her when she was this age. I have already done my part, I cannot do it again. If I never helped her before she would have been consumed and there would have been more chaos. Truly what lies ahead can be prevented but you won't leave her. Listen to me carefully. Both of you because your weakness irritates me darling, always have and tears are not allowed here so try not to shed any. If you don't leave her in two days Sasuke, then when everything happens, you must not abandon her. There are two outcomes to this. All choices do not go unchained. If you leave her at any time after these two days Sasuke, you're in for a very sticky ride."

He sighed and rolled his eyes. "I will not leave her Kurenai."

She smiled. "I have warned you." she said and rose. She stared walking about the room, her silk robe swaying with her. "Shikamaru is brilliant. He is also very much correct in his latest theory. That is precisely what is going on. Yes, the god is in the Agape forest. Now, I could tell you Sasuke and I would like to just to save you both the pain but I cannot. This God is being awakened and it is due to the amount of energy that has suddenly ruptured the one town, enough energy now to awaken him only a little. The Kavazwalian inside of Sakura is extraordinarily powerful; she alone in this town is enough to wake this God. To stop all that is going on, you will need these." She waved her hand in front of a wall and there formed a closet door.

She pulled it open to reveal about five dozen golden spears. She gripped one and pulled it out of its ringed holster. She held it up to them and then slammed the spear into the wall. It went right through forming a clean hole that caused the wall to continue to crumble. She pointed to the wall.

"These are the spears I was given before you were born. I was given these by Fate without Asanepha's knowledge before we were thrown here. These go into the ground of the Agape forest and it traps the God in a chamber where his power cannot escape. Without it being awake, it is unable to realize what its power is doing. With being on a subconscious level, it won't fight back not that it can either, just being here is dangerous." She informed them pulling the spear from the wall.

"Which God is it?"

"That's an exceptionally stupid question." She said blatantly. "You know the story and you've told your girlfriend." She said pulling out a bag and pushing all the spears into them. Holding the bag at either ends, she pushed the ends together until the bag shrank to almost the size of a button. She threw it at Sasuke who took it and stuffed it into his pocket.

"Asanepha and Rogoshi are here?" he asked.

"Of course. This is your duty Sasuke, to get them back to where they belong. Everything you do determines how they get there. Leaving or staying with Sakura, closing off the agape forest, telling the Pentitantum…everything. Believe it or not, you're not the one who runs the show. It's your girlfriend. She decides how things go, not you. She's the most important thing to ever exist in Kavazwalian history; everyone just doesn't know it yet. Sakura, you've been so quite all this time, have you nothing to say?" she asked casually going back to her seat.

Numbly Sakura shook her head. Sasuke let his mouth get the best of him. "What did you do?"

"You know what I did. The Kavazwalian in her was restless, it was rebellious and it was eating the poor girl away. I intervened and I tamed her, subduing to simply a subconscious level inside her head. It took hours and it is indeed one of the most painful things to ever go through. I told you dear that you would be seeing me once again. Here we meet. Speak."

Sasuke watched Sakura closely and the question she asked stunned him. "When am I going to die?" she asked.

She smiled. "You know the answer to that, so why ask me?" she said.

Sakura nodded numbly, her eyes glazed over with tears that would not fall. She seemed dazed, in a different world. Sakura nodded. "I remember what you did."

"Yes. I know." she said unsympathetically.

She looked down. "To what end do I owe this treacherous disaster?" she whispered.

Kurenai smiled and knelt before Sakura. She touched her cheek. "You are weak in body but powerful in soul. You will be repaid for all your sufferings in a way you can never imagine. Fate, will repay you being its vessel." She promised.

"There is only so much Fate can do." Sakura said. "In the midst of the storm, that is what you had said." Sakura rose. "I would like to wait outside of your home, if you do not mind." She said touching Sasuke's shoulder lovingly. "Continue without me."

There you have it guys! Did you like the bloodsucking scene? Could you understand Sasuke's desire and Sakura's lack of fear when it came on to him and that taking place? Could you understand her wanting to walk out –being overwhelmed with being in the presence and knowing that she's going to die soon? Was I smooth enough in jumping from one emotion to another and having Sasuke feel multiple emotions at once? Or was it rough around the edges? Don't be afraid to PM and whatnot. Reviews are welcomed. I mean, I just want to know you guys aren't confused and you're tying everything together the way it should be.

PS: HAPPY MOTHER FUCKING SUMMER GUYS! HOLY SHIT, SUMMER! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? THIS IS THE TIME WHERE MEMORIES GET MADE, LAUGHTER GETS LOUDER, THE NIGHTS GETS LONGER, THE ROMANCES GET HOTTER, THE HAPPINESS GETS HAPPIER AND THIS IS YOUR CHANCE RIGHT NOW TO MAKE LIFE GET BETTER!

Loving you guys more every day,

D.V