DISCLAIMER: I own NONE of the original characters of the Manga/Anime series Naruto – they belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I only hold ownership of this plot and characters unfamiliar to the original Naruto series.
Summary: Long ago, humans had to be cautious of their own being, but now, not only would they have to beware of their own, but the other forms lurking in the dark and even walking amongst us. Fighting against these supernatural beings are the members of the Dark Coven. What will happen when Sakura Haruno, one who greatly despises the supernatural, encounters Sasuke Uchiha, one of the Blood Demons? Pairings: Sasuke/Sakura with an equal amount of Neji/Tenten. Other pairings are included. Enjoy!
WARNING: Vampire Fiction! Please discontinue reading if mild violence, sexual content and aggressive language seem inappropriate to you or is not to your liking!
NOTE: 'Inner Sakura'
'Thoughts' Flashbacks
Narrator's POV
~ The Dark Coven ~
Chapter Five: The Prophecy – Death and Rebirth
Sakura felt clueless as Sasuke guided her through what seemed to be a hallway. The place was quiet but there was a strange aura that bounced off the corridors' walls. She could not quite put her finger on it since it seemed so unfamiliar to her. She continued to focus on keeping up with Sasuke's ridiculously fast pace so that she would not stumble. She cringed slightly at his tight grip on her arm.
"Where are we?" she inquired as they walked.
"Thorns Asylum, Central Seattle," Sasuke answered still pulling her as they rushed down the hall.
"An asylum – why did you bring me to an asylum?" she demanded to know, but Sasuke did not respond. Then forcefully, she wringed her hand, free from his grasp and took two steps, backing away from him.
"Answer me," she commanded.
They both stood still, in silence. Sakura could feel him glaring hard at her.
"You wanted answers, didn't you?" he finally said and Sakura did not respond. Then there were footsteps, very faint but audible. He was walking towards her. But for some reason, she remained rooted to the ground. Her mind longed to move, but her body did not obey. It was as if she was trapped in an illusion, but at the same time it was not; because in reality, she wanted him to approach her. It was a queer feeling, but at the back of her mind, she knew it was dangerous.
"In this asylum resides the only person who can make you understand the answers to your questions," Sasuke explained and took hold of her hand once again, "I will say nothing more."
And then, they continued down the hall in quietness.
"He what?"
Tsunade slammed her fist on her desk, nearly smashing the beautifully polished wooden surface. Her brows were knitted together to form an angry frown. Her amber eyes almost looked red, burning with rage.
"She's very much ready to know the truth, Tsunade," Itachi said to the woman as he took a seat opposite her. He continued to speak when he was comfortable. "We couldn't wait any longer. Should the chartered events occur earlier than predicted, we'll be more than prepared to face them."
He did not look at her, on feeling a tad bit of guilt for breaking his promise to follow Tsunade's orders and work as she planned. Instead, he calmly kept his eyes closed.
Tsunade found her voice once again.
"But that's all you think about!" she spat, "You care nothing for her well being. What if she can't emotionally handle what she's about to hear? What if she's not ready?"
He opened his eyes; his onyx ones met her fiery amber orbs.
"She is ready," Itachi said with much confidence; his tone at a normal level.
"And how are you so sure, Uchiha? Because if I recall correctly, you have no power of telepathy," Tsunade inquired bitterly.
"Hn," Itachi smirked, "Because Azami is ready…"
Kakashi scoured the rooms a second time in disbelief. He had been dispatched to investigate the vast depopulation of humans in a fairly large town called Costin Town in Kennewick, Washington. Two days later – after the report of the missing humans was made – Field Agents from DCHQ who had been keeping lookout at the location stated that they had seen many people; continuing their daily routines as if nothing had happened.
But now – as he busted the doors to homes and searched through every closet; every cupboard and every room – he wondered if it was possible that he and his team were led into a trap.
At the moment, in the town called Costin Town, there was not a soul or fly to be found.
Kakashi felt uneasy. Had he fallen for a trap? No, he would have sensed something earlier. What if it was made so that he could not? Then, the mastermind behind it all was no mere Level D-A vampire. No, this would only mean that the chess master was a Pureblood.
Kakashi spoke into his radio. "This is Kakashi. I want every member of the team to retreat slowly. Don't make it seem like it, though. And keep all senses open – this may be a trap."
With that said, he placed the device into its respective holder on his belt and then bee-lined for the town's exit.
Sasuke came to an abrupt halt and felt Sakura bump into him. Ignoring that, he turned to the guard who was assigned to keep the enemy from stopping the Prophecy from being unfolded. The grinning man before him was a familiar face – one he tried to avoid very much because of his…stench.
"Kiba," Sasuke acknowledged.
Yes, Kiba's scent was not exactly appealing to a vampire's nose. No werewolf was.
"I see you're keeping a shift at this time," Sasuke continued.
"And I see you've brought the queen to get business started, Uchiha," Kiba responded.
Even though they were supposed to be students, Tsunade preferred that the strongest of the group of vampire hunters guard the doors to the Oracle's lair. If the Oracle was to fall into the wrong hands or be killed, tragedy would befall them all and the world would be led into chaos and decadence.
Sasuke noticed Sakura's silence and remembered her disorder. On that thought, he nodded to Kiba and gestured for him to open the door by glancing at the door.
Nodding once Kiba complied and Sasuke took Sakura by her wrist and they both entered the room.
The room was they way he remembered from his last visit centuries ago – walls all white; it was large enough to contain a kitchen, a cubicle for a bathroom and another for a toilet and a bed near the corner of the room, beside a nightstand.
Once they had entered, Kiba shut the door. At a desk about two meters away from the bed, sat a woman who looked near the age of twenty. However, looks can be deceiving. Yumi Komagata was no where near the age of twenty. Dressed in a traditional black satin kimono, with golden cherry blossom patterns, the geisha-like woman never aged since her twentieth birthday. She had been living since before Sasuke's birth in the fourteenth century.
In those centuries, Yumi was called the Night Witch by the people of the village she had belonged to because she never aged. But no one ever learned the truth about her or why a community of people protected her so highly.
"So we meet again, Uchiha," she said, not taking her eyes off whatever was on the table before her.
"I've brought Sakura. She's ready to hear the Prophecy," Sasuke responded and gently pushed Sakura forward...
Sakura's mind was overpopulated with questions since she stepped foot onto the Asylum. But now…now she felt as if her head would explode. This Prophecy Sasuke spoke off – Tsunade never mentioned a word about it; or Azami…
The woman they came to visit spoke to Sasuke once again.
"I don't…feel as if she's ready to know, young Uchiha."
'Who is this woman?' Sakura thought.
"She is. If she doesn't hear the Prophecy now, her nightmares will drive her insane. We wouldn't want that, now would we?" Sasuke spoke again and Sakura wondered how he came to know of her nightmare. Shrugging the thought off, she spoke up, "I haven't the slightest clue to what you two are discussing. I came here for answers…and I want them now."
"It's a pity that you don't even know who you are, Ms. Haruno," the woman finally spoke to Sakura, "The young vampire here told me that you been having nightmares, correct?"
"Yes."
"How long ago have they started?"
"Since last night," Sakura answered, feeling as if this was some therapy session.
"Please have a seat," the woman said.
Sasuke directed her to the chair and Sakura flopped down, crossing her right leg over the other.
"So you're blind," the woman noted bluntly. Sakura had no comment, though. She was used to people commenting about her disability or pointing it out in disbelief when they realized it. She brought herself to understand years ago that this was the way she was born and there was nothing she could do to change that; nothing she could afford, that is.
"Sakura Haruno," she continued, "there is no better way to give you the answers that you seek than to show you everything…"
"How can you show me? I cannot see, remember?" Sakura said.
"Foolish girl…do you have any idea who I am? No, you don't, so don't question my abilities," the woman said, annoyed. She continued but this time, she got out of her seat and began pacing.
"My name is Yumi Komagata – better known today by the few who know me as the Oracle. My mother, Yume Shiba had a gift to see the future. She was a regular human and her parents kept her skill hidden to anyone in the village. At that time, the vampire community and the other supernatural communities had been underground, hidden from any human being. One day she saw something that would change the course of the world. Her vision was clear enough – she'd seen faces and places – so, after a few years, she set out to find the people in her premonition. When she found them, she learnt of beings such as vampires and werewolves. A Pureblood vampire by the name of Fugaku Uchiha married her off to a sorcerer by the name of Usui Kisuke. Months after her marriage she had yet another vision; one in which she had foreseen her child being the key to a great revolution in the world of humans and supernatural entities – I would one day become the Oracle. Soon after, Yume became pregnant and in due time, she gave birth to me. The minute I was born, my father cast a spell on me to ensure my longevity; and of course, I inherited my mother's gift. I cannot die unless I reveal the Prophecy to the Prophetic Child… "
"And what does this have to do with me?" Sakura asked, honestly having no clue.
No one answered. In fact, the silence itself, gave the answer.
"N-No…you're mistaken! I'm not the Prophetic Child!" Sakura protested.
"Then explain how you've come to know Azami, Sakura," Yumi said, "Because no one ever spoke of Azami since the day she died…"
"Now I see why they keep you in an Asylum," Sakura said to the woman. She got up from her seat. After calculating where the exit should be, she made a move to head for it, but was immediately stopped by Sasuke.
"You said you wanted answers. I brought you here for the sole purpose of getting them…so, do not tell me that I've wasted my time," Sasuke said angrily, though not raising his voice.
Sakura stopped moving on hearing the anger in Sasuke's words.
"Why does this matter to you so much, besides the fact that it concerns the vampire community?" she asked him, "Why do you need me to hear this Prophecy so badly?"
Sasuke did not answer her. To Sakura, it appeared that he was ignoring her. Honestly she felt a bit stupid. Did she really expect him to answer her question? 'What an egoistical bastard,' she thought, 'it wouldn't be surprising if he felt too superior to answer to humans…'
"Why don't you have a seat, Sakura," Yumi suggested politely. Sakura did not protest and seated herself after hesitating for a bit.
"I understand that you are confused. But…have you ever wondered why Sasuke and the other few Purebloods are fighting against their own kind?"
Tenten let her gaze wander as she sat in the waiting room of Dr. Tsunade Senju's office. After searching directories and talking to people who were aware of the supernatural communities in this world, she found that very few hunter organizations existed. And all fingers pointed that the best was the Dark Coven. Sasuke had been right – she needed to be a registered vampire hunter if she wanted to survive.
Not long after, the door clicked open, revealing a tall, busty blonde whose hair was in a pair of low, long pigtails.
"You must be Tenten, am I correct?" Tsunade said as she entered, then walked over to her desk and sat opposite the female vampire.
"Yes Ma'am…"
"Please, call me 'Tsunade'."
The blonde woman pulled out a few files from her cabinet in her desk and flipped through them. They seemed to be patient files. But then, when Tenten looked more closely, she saw familiar names – Uchiha Sasuke, Uchiha Itachi, Yamanaka Ino…
She realized that those were not patient records. No, they were DC hunter files.
Tsunade handed her a form.
"What's this?" Tenten asked before she could scan the document.
"It's an Information Form. All the information that paper requests of you is obligatory. Leave anything out at will and your request to join this organization will be permanently rejected," Tsunade explained.
The Information Form asked for things like her name; species; age; skills etc. When she was finished, Tenten handed over the form to Tsunade, who placed it into the file which contained the rest of the hunters' info.
Then she spoke to Tenten again.
"Now…let's discuss your…clan…"
"I know nearly nothing about my clan for they no longer exist," Tenten began and as she spoke, Tsunade made some notes on a clipboard, "I've only heard from people in my village eons ago that they were vampires with the special ability of manipulating the element, water. However, as the clan became extinct, the power to control water lessened by each generation…"
"Does that mean you have no power related to your ancestors?" Tsunade questioned.
"Not like theirs…but I can locate people and things through water," Tenten responded. Tsunade scribbled, taking note of her skill.
"But the person or object I wish to find must be near water, though," Tenten added.
"I see," Tsunade muttered, "What about your other abilities? Are you an attacker or defender?"
"With my speed and exceptional sight, I work very well with weapons. And I consider myself an attacker," she answered.
Tsunade loved what she was hearing from the female vampire. Her ability of locating things via water was unlike any other skill she encountered from a vampire. She looked down at her clipboard and re-read her notes, deciding. The Dark Coven already had a little over fifty members and Tsunade had already decided that sixty would be the maximum. She did not want the government to become aware of the organization as she did not know how it would affect the economy and society if werewolves, vampires and every other supernatural being in between became known to the humans.
A knock at her door broke Tsunade out of her thoughts.
"Come in," she ordered.
The person obeyed, closing the door behind him.
"I didn't expect you to be back so soon, Kakashi," Tsunade said to the man. If Tenten had not grunted impatiently, Tsunade would have completely forgotten that the girl was there.
"Oh…I'm sorry, Tenten. I would love to see your artillery skills with my very own eyes. However, I'll arrange another date for the event; there are some other matters I need to tend to right now. I'm very impressed with your ability, so I'll tell you this – I would definitely like to have you on my team. You are dismissed," Tsunade said to the vampire.
With a respectful bow, Tenten turned on her heels and made for the exit, greeting Kakashi on her way.
Kakashi waited for Tenten to shut the door before beginning…
"Forgive me, Lady Tsunade…I have never questioned your work or your actions and surely, I've never doubted your strategies, however it seems that today you dispatched my team to the wrong area…"
Tsunade glared at Kakashi and then said, "Why do you say so? What was the problem in Costin Town?"
"We went to the area with hopes of finding a large supernatural community; however, there was nothing; no one. The town was completely empty and it looked as though it had been that way for years…"
Tsunade blew out a sigh of frustration. Had it been that the information she had received was incorrect? Or was it that her source was trying to deceive her? Seeing as it was the first time a situation such as this occurred, Tsunade decided that it would be best to convince her that there was nothing strange since it was possible that her sources made a mistake. Though, she could not fight the urge to be sure of it…
"Alright Kakashi," she said, handing her agent a blank sheet of paper and a pen, "I want you to give me a detailed report on what you saw and felt. Be as descriptive as possible. After that, you may leave. Oh and Kakashi –"
Tsunade was about to tell Kakashi about how Sasuke took Sakura to the asylum without her permission, however the sudden beeping of pager changed her mind. "Never mind…I'm needed in the ER," Tsunade informed as she scurried out of her office.
After giving Yumi's question some thought, Sakura nodded in response. Yes, she had found it rather strange that Sasuke and his brother were fighting against their own race, but she never saw the importance of knowing why since she was too caught up in hating their kind.
"Okay…that's a start. Now I want you to listen to this verse that I wrote when the prophecy became known to me, and see what you can understand from it," Yumi said to Sakura.
"Like a phoenix, she will rise,
From the ashes of the fire.
With crimson hate and a strong desire,
She will avenge the betrayed empire.
And with her blood and the power of Kusanagi,
She will defeat the undead army – the duty of the Prophetic Child…"
"It's simple poetry…and quite easy to understand…however, it's hard to relate it to myself," Sakura explained.
"That is very understandable, Sakura. You see, my intention really was to merely awaken the questions from deep within you," Yumi replied and Sakura could hear the smile on her face as she spoke.
"I can tell that the first two lines of the verse mean 'reincarnation'. What does that have to do with me?" Sakura began to question.
"Surely, you have encountered the name called 'Azami', am I correct?" Yumi began and when Sakura nodded, she continued, "You see, you are somewhat the reincarnation of that woman, Sakura. There's no doubt about that…especially not when you look exactly like her."
"I believe that you are mistaken. I'm probably just someone who looks like her. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go," Sakura denied and left the room immediately, leaving Sasuke alone with the Oracle. He did not go after the stubborn human since he knew that it would be pointless.
"She'll be back…when she's ready, young Uchiha," Yumi said to him, "As I told you before, I don't feel as if she's ready to know who she really is or what her purpose on this earth is. However I don't think her visit today was pointless. As we speak, the child is in a state of denial – which is a good sign. It simply shows that a part of her has accepted the prophecy and she's now in shock…"
"Sasuke, there seems to be something bothering you. Is there something you wish to ask me?"
Sasuke looked at the woman, wearing a confused frown on his face. "You said 'and with her blood and the power of Kusanagi, she will defeat the undead army..' – that's probably a mistake," Sasuke replied in confusion, "Kusanagi is my sword – the sword that chooses its wielder. Sakura cannot use it unless I die –"
"I will not give you a vivid explanation since I fear that it would obliterate the prophecy," Yumi interposed, "however, I'll tell you this – the events will take place as they are meant to happen; all you need to do is trust your instincts and the prophecy will be fulfilled. And remember, in this case, you cannot change what is destined to be…"
When Sakura exited the asylum, she contacted Kakashi immediately. It did not take long for him to arrive at the place and as soon as she got into the car, he bombarded her with questions…
"Sakura, what on earth are you doing here?"
"Honestly, I don't know what possessed me to trust that stupid vampire!" she spat.
"Who? Sasuke brought you here?"
Sakura nodded.
"But Tsunade didn't mention anything –"
"Okay, I'm going to get straight to the point. It's either those people are fuckin' insane or you're hiding something from me, Kakashi," Sakura interrupted, angrily.
Kakashi gripped the staring wheel tighter at the sound of the swearing. Sakura hardly used such terms and whenever she did, it meant that she was extremely frustrated.
"I apologize, Sakura, but I was only following orders –"
"You knew that the Dark Coven wanted to use me all along, didn't you?"
"No…not until I met Itachi Uchiha years after I took you into my care," Kakashi answered, honestly.
"I want you to tell me everything…starting with the reason the Uchihas and other Purebloods are fighting against their race, and I want every single detail," Sakura demanded.
Kakashi sighed. It seemed that he had to do a lot of explaining today.
"Alright," he began, "Billions of years ago, back when the supernatural population was vast – yet hidden from most humans – vampires and werewolves were enemies. The leaders of the vampire race were the Purebloods and the leaders of the werewolves were the fifteen clan leaders. The leaders had no knowledge of the plot of treason that was being made by the low-leveled vampires – they planned to overthrow the Purebloods at the opportune moment and conquer the earth; to exterminate the werewolves themselves and make humans their slaves. And that moment happened to be on the day of the great battle between werewolves and vampires. Instead of charging toward the werewolves, the A-ranked vampires attacked most of the Purebloods of their kin. My father, Sakumo Hatake – leader of the Hatake Clan – noticed what was happening and convinced the werewolves to aid the Pureblooded Vampires. Many Purebloods were lost in that war including my father and Fugaku Uchiha – Sasuke's father. That battle of treachery was led by a Pureblood who still lives to this day. His name is Madara Uchiha. Due to his power and being the oldest Uchiha, he isn't easy to slay…and that's where the Prophecy comes into play…"
Kakashi paused for a moment before concluding.
"Since that, the Purebloods marked the low class vampires for their betrayal and agreed to living in peace with the werewolves…"
Sakura said nothing as she tried to process everything she was hearing. There was no conversation until she and Kakashi arrived home and it appeared that Sakura was trying to avoid one as much as possible since she ignored Kakashi's small talk and questions about trivial matters.
Sakura felt the need to be away for some time. She needed to clear her head. Everything had been happening too quickly and somehow she felt as if she did not know herself as well as she thought. Though, she could not deny that what she had learned earlier was intriguing.
She decided that it would be best to stay at home tomorrow since her desire for temporary isolation was great at the moment. She needed to be in a world where races such as vampires and werewolves did not exist…even if it were just for a moment.
Turning off the lights, Sakura got under the covers and tried to make sleep possible.
She bent over the pail, feeling the contents travel up her throat and in a flash, the liquefied form of her breakfast was in the bucket.
'I shall never get used to this morning sickness…' She thought as she threw up more of her breakfast. Whenever she did, she had to do it discreetly – she did not feel ready to tell her parents about her unexpected pregnancy. It was not the pregnancy that she feared, but the questions she knew would come after; especially those about the father her unborn child. As if on cue, said man appeared out of the shadows in silence and she only noticed his presence when he rubbed her back.
Startled, she jumped at his touch.
"Don't sneak up on me like that, Itachi!" she said and nudged him playfully earning a low chuckle from him in the process.
"How have you been?" he asked and added, "You look rather pale. Let's go for a stroll in the sunlight and we can talk a bit."
"Sure…but right after I clean up," she replied with a smile.
They walked along a path in the forest for some time until she became tired. They often took walks here because it was the only place she felt she could be free with her lover, without the worry of interruption or the cruelty of the world.
"Azami," Itachi began, "have you been eating well?"
The question made her frown. She looked at him. "Yes," she replied, "Why? Do I look fat?"
"No, it's quite the opposite, actually…you look frail," Itachi explained.
"Well...I guess that's expected..." she replied, placing her hand over her stomach. "Which reminds me…Itachi, there's something I would like to show you. Do you have a knife on you?"
The man nodded and handed her a knife from his pocket. But the moment he did so, he regretted it greatly. "Azami, what are you doing?"
But it was too late – she had already slit her hand. The cut was deep enough for blood to emerge from the broken skin. It did not take long for the burning sensation to take effect. She noticed Itachi's eyes turning crimson, as the blood made him high. Her scent was always appealing to him; however she knew he had enough control over himself.
"Look at this," she said after giving back the knife. Then, she placed her right palm over the wound on her left hand, only to let it hover; no physical contact. She left it there until a green, glowing light visibly emitted from her palm, and soon engulfed it. It felt like a vibrant force was being released from her right hand; one that needed a lot of concentration to keep it at a small level.
"Look at my wound," she pointed out to Itachi. In a short time, the injury had completely healed. Itachi stared in his form of awe since he rarely expressed emotions.
"Where did you learn that, Azami?" he asked, taking her hand to examine the place where the cut was.
"I don't know…it just …happened…"
Suddenly, there was a stabbing pain to her stomach. She winced and instinctively put her hand on the area. She felt her legs going numb…
When Sakura woke up, she found herself nearly close to tears and her hand was on her stomach, only to find that she was in her room, sweating profusely, and in absolutely no pain. She took several gasps to pull herself together.
'That woman again…' Sakura thought in annoyance, referring to Azami. 'And why was Itachi there? Or the better question is – why am I dreaming of him…with me? Am I really the reincarnation of Azami?'
She realized that the nightmares were becoming frequent, much to her dislike. Again, in the dream, she felt as if she was Azami and that she had been experience whatever happened.
Sakura place her head in her palms and let out a frustrated growl. "This is going to drive me fucking insane!"
She sighed. Curiosity never got the better of her, but it was safe to say that because of how irritating the dreams were, Sakura knew that she would be going back to the asylum. Or at least, she should before it ended up becoming her home instead…
The next morning, Sasuke was the first to notice Sakura's absence, especially since her scent seemed to be the most dominant one in the atmosphere ever since her arrival. He figured that she would be a 'no-show' today considering her reaction to her confrontation with the Oracle yesterday.
He walked up the stairs of the High School – where he most certainly did not belong – ignoring the shout-outs from the annoying sixteen year old girls.
"Good morning, Sasuke. You look annoyed," Sasuke heard a familiar voice behind him say. He did not reply, but instead smirked. His brother knew him all too well.
"Though, I think it's time enough you found a mate and settled down," Itachi suggested to his younger brother.
"I could say the same for you," Sasuke said, taking the risk. He knew his brother still felt for Azami and she was hardly ever a topic they discussed since they tried their best to avoid the remembrance of their past life and the people they lost. But Sasuke knew that for Itachi, that became impossible ever since Sakura arrived in Seattle and he hated to admit that he felt pity for him. Sasuke learnt from his brother's mistake – emotions such as love were strong enough to make the most powerful beings weak.
Then, breaking the awkward moment, Sasuke's phone rang…
"Is this Sasuke Uchiha?" he heard a familiar voice ask on the other line.
"Who is this?" he replied with a question.
"Sakura. I need you to take me to see Yumi Komagata…"
Sasuke found out the directions to her house and then disconnected the call…
When they reached their destination, Sakura did not wait for anyone to escort her to Yumi's room. On remembering where she was taken from the day before, Sakura was able to calculate the location of the room and found herself there before Sasuke.
Yumi greeted her as she entered the room. Sakura could not help but notice something odd about the Oracle's voice. Strangely, it seemed…older…
"I knew you'd return, however you did so sooner than I had anticipated," Yumi said to Sakura who was now sitting opposite the woman.
Of course Yumi was expecting her, she thought; after all, the woman could see the future. But something bothered Sakura deeply…
"You sound different, Ms. Komagata…" Sakura said, hoping that it was enough to insinuate that she wanted an explanation.
"As I said before, I cannot die a natural death until I reveal the Prophecy to you, dear Sakura; and so far I've told you piece of it, and so I've aged a bit, reminding me that my death is near," Yumi enlightened, most politely. Sakura had to admit, the new tone suited her – the way she talked as if she lived in medieval times.
They began with Sakura's explanation for returning. She explained the dream she had and inquired about Azami and Itachi.
"Lovely…I believe this will be a wonderful way to start," Yumi commented, "You ask about Azami and Itachi…well, let me show you…"
Just then the door opened and was shut with a soft 'click'; and from the footsteps, Sakura knew that Sasuke had just entered the room. But, as quick as her realization surfaced, it was dismissed as she continued to focus on the more fundamental matter.
Sakura was asked to move a little closer to Yumi, who had been sitting opposite her. Then she felt the woman's cold hands, one on each side of her head, causing Sakura to shiver slightly.
On feeling Sakura's body tense, Yumi said in a low voice, "Just relax, Sakura…and close your eyes."
And when Sakura complied, Yumi whispered, "Very good…now I want you to shut off everything that's bothering you; let your guard down – you're safe here, so there's nothing to worry about…just keep your mind clear, but open…"
And then, without any warning, an electrifying pain shot through Sakura's head and travelled throughout her entire body, making her become so numb that writhing was even impossible. Her screams bounced off the walls of the confinement. She tried to move her hands to stop Yumi who seemed to be inflicting the pain, but they did not budge. There was a 'ringing' sound as though someone was trying to drill a hole through her skull.
"STOP!" She managed to scream when she retrieved the ability to form words, but Yumi seemed to ignore her plea.
Strange images began to form in her mind, like she could actually see people. It was almost like one of her dreams with the exception that she was an onlooker…
The woman wearing the traditional Junihitoe which consisted of layers upon layers of silken cloth rose from her seat as the shoji door slid open. She beamed at the young man that entered the room, her black eyes looking welcoming. "Itachi, you've arrived. Welcome home, my son," Mikoto Uchiha greeted warmly. Her pale skin was notably contrasted to the dark colors of her attire as she moved toward the tall figure standing in the doorway.
His face was expressionless as he let his mother embrace him. He spoke before she could invite him in.
"There is someone I would like you to meet."
Mikoto blinked twice, curiosity evident on her beautifully pale face; but she said nothing as she patiently waited for her son to call in their guest.
A moment later Itachi returned, followed by a young woman with unusual light-pink hair that flowed in straight waves down to the middle of her back. She had mesmerizing jade eyes that went well with her light skin and hair – such odd physical features for a normal human girl: she had picked up the scent since the girl had entered.
Mikoto turned to her son. "Who is this gorgeous young lady, Itachi?"
"Her name is Azami and she is the mother of my unborn child," Itachi responded.
Mikoto was silent for a moment, but after taking a quick glance at Azami, she turned to her son and said, "But Itachi…she's merely a human girl –"
"Mikoto, I would like to have a look at this woman," said a voice. Then emerging from behind the Uchiha Matriarch was a tall woman who possessed a celestial face. Her voice was soft but held a tone of superiority. She walked past Mikoto and toward the pregnant woman.
"I've seen you before," Yumi Komagata said as she looked into Azami's sea of jade and gained a questioning look from her.
Yumi placed her left hand above Azami's stomach and closed her eyes, but in a flash they reopened in terror, accompanied by a gasp.
"Your daughter will be very powerful, Itachi," Yumi said, turning to face the soon-to-be father. However, the glint of sadness in her eyes did not go unnoticed by the heir to the Uchiha Empire. "Though even if fate isn't kind to her she will still play a very important role in the Prophecy," she continued, now speaking to both Itachi and Azami, "Your daughter will activate the rage – the foremost sentiment that would instigate the stimulation of the birth of the first chapter of the Prophecy."
"Bounded to the pyre,
By those of her own flesh and blood,
She will be devoured by a furious flame – a death perceived by the Traitor.
Then birthed will be the raged soul,
With a longing to silence her child's true slayer…"
Itachi merely glared at the Night Witch, his crimson Sharingan eyes slowly masking his onyx ones. "What is this Prophecy you speak of?" he asked, still angered by the prediction he heard.
Yumi said nothing; she simply looked at him as if she was amused by his question. Then, giving a small smile, she said, "When the time is right, Master Uchiha, you'll know. But for now, let's see which path destiny decides to take…"
The pain stopped abruptly and the scene grayed into darkness. Sakura panted heavily in attempt to recover her senses. She could not speak for her voice was course from the continuous screaming. And when should finally think straight, she tried to remember what she had just 'seen'.
"Don't get too relieved yet Sakura," Yumi spoke, her hands still on Sakura's head. "I've more to show you…"
And once again, the pain returned along with another vision…
Sasuke could only listen as the girl screamed her lungs out. For once her cursed his enhanced hearing ability, but fortunately the shrilly cries could do him no permanent damage.
"P-Please! STOP!" Sakura screamed out again.
Sasuke knew that this was to be expected, but there was something that made him feel the need to stop Yumi. For some reason, he could not bear to listen to Sakura's helpless pleas. Was he devastated by it?
He grunted. "Annoying…" he muttered to himself with the slight intention of convincing himself that the sound was indeed irritating. He merely turned away, and just as he did, he heard Sakura 'gag' and the screaming ceased. Sasuke turned to face Yumi and Sakura once again.
"We're finished," Yumi informed…
Yumi handed Sakura a glass of water, then returned to her seat. She watched as the girl sipped her water and breathed slowly. When she seemed to rekindle herself, Sakura spoke.
"Yesterday you told me that I'm somewhat the reincarnation of that woman…I don't understand –"
"If you were the complete reincarnation of Azami, you'd possess her personal qualities; however you're quite the opposite character. Azami was more warm and soft-spoken and very kind; you on the other hand, have a gruffer, tough and demanding personality. And there is one more thing…" Yumi said before pausing for a moment, "You don't seem to be attracted to Itachi Uchiha…"
That last statement surprised Sakura a bit, until she reminded herself that Azami and Itachi were possibly married in the past. "Then, what is your theory about this 'reincarnation'?" Sakura asked the woman. It appeared that this Prophecy was not as simple as Sakura thought. Still, she could not understand how Kakashi could have kept something as important as this, from her for so long? Was it because he truly did not want her to get involved, even if it meant that there would be no revolution? The fact that he kept her in the dark for so long made her wonder about the other things he was not telling her.
"I have two theories, actually," Yumi said as-a-matter-of-factly, "My first is that your body contains two souls – one you call Sakura and the other that belongs to Azami. That would explain your different personalities. The other theory is that your souls are split to form one. Either way would explain your differences in many things."
Sakura merely "'hm'ed'" at this, understanding that in due time, she would figure out which one of Yumi's theories were valid. But not wasting any more time on pondering, she decided what she would ask next.
"What is Kusanagi?" – was Sakura's next question.
"That is the name given to the sword Sasuke uses to slay vampires," Yumi replied, "Kusanagi is a Japanese blade that chooses its owner – in this case that person happens to be Sasuke – and no one else can touch it since it repels whoever does. Sasuke is a Lightening user, and therefore if a person touches it willfully or not, he or she will be electrocuted."
"Then why does the Prophecy state that I will avenge the Purebloods with it?"
"I'm afraid I do not have the answer to that. I believe that you must decipher that one on your own. Or perhaps, the sword has an exception?" Yumi suggested. "I think that pretty much covers everything. But I must warn you – Madara Uchiha is very strong and possesses power beyond your imagination, therefore it would be wise to always be alert and never wander without company. I wish to know if I have made myself clear, Sakura Haruno."
"Yes."
Yumi watched Sakura's back as she left her room, taking note of her confident stride, even after all the physical pain she underwent.
'The storm is coming, Uchiha Madara...and it's raging with so much hate and power that I'm most certain it'll put an end to your desperate dreams and aspirations…"
Sasuke slammed the door shut on his way out of Tsunade's office. He had explained several times before to the woman that it would be unwise to pair him with Sakura for any mission, but it was almost as if Tsunade tuned off every time he did. No matter, he merely considered it an opportunity to strengthen his weakness – he intended to become immune to the tempting and addictive sent of her blood which annoyed him to a level that was out of this world.
The mission did not directly require any form of violent activity unless a threat was encountered. He and Sakura had to simply monitor the area Kakashi was sent to without being noticed, and report any signs of inhabitance. Sasuke did not have a problem with that. However, he hated the fact that they were required to stay at their appointed location for an entire week!
Currently Sakura had been staying at DC's apartments since she apparently had a dispute with Kakashi. When he arrived at the residence, he notified Sakura about the mission.
"Pack your things," he instructed lastly, "Our destination is about two hours from here." And then, he retired to his room.
He needed to pack blood…lots of it…
And that concludes this chapter!
Q: Did you stop writing this story?
A: Nope. I've just been really busy and I apologize for not making frequent updates.
Q: Is Sakura going to be blind for the rest of the story?
A: That's a good one. Basically, I have the story planned out already, including the conclusion, but I can't give a definite answer to that question. The most concrete answers I can give are 'maybe' and 'probably not'? I'm still not sure
NEXT UPDATE: JUNE 7th 2011
40 + 10 = 50 reviews (are expected. I really appreciate feedback)
AND THANKS TO ALL MY REVIEWERS! I hope you liked this chapter…oh and please excuse the mistakes you may have encountered…I didn't get a chance to re-read properly…
-Iz.