Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews everyone! I absolutely loved reading them and will do my best to reply asap! Hope you all enjoyed the Festive break!
Please visit my profile for yet more artwork from the extremely talented aria, who has created a deviantart account. If you have one too, please consider leaving a comment for her and all the other wonderful artists who have contributed to this story thus far. Aria's latest works feature an absolutely gorgeous Sakura as a spring goddess, and Sakura's capture by Sasuke.
Marwayway has also drawn a beautiful piece featuring Sakura as a spring goddess again. It's absolutely lovely, please be sure to visit the link on my profile. A big thanks again to the talented artist!
Thank you to all who have added this story to their favourites and alerts; although I wish the silent ones would review once in a while ;-) To the rest of the regular crowd who review often, your support and encouragement mean a lot, so please accept my gratitude in the form of a New Year update!
Chapter X
Eyes that stab,
Through the dark,
Eyes that close,
To righteous light,
Will pierce and burn,
And leave their mark,
Upon an innocent,
Untainted mind,
And never again,
Will comfort, she find,
That imprint of crimson,
Singed into her skull.
Bronze, gold and silver crockery glinted beneath the inviting glow of candlelight. Sakura sat hunched in her chair, staring miserably at the food-laden dishes before her.
Sasuke hadn't been jesting, she'd soon realised, when he'd informed her that she couldn't leave the banqueting hall until she'd eaten. Sakura had desperately tried to prise open the door after her kidnapper had departed, but it hadn't budged even an inch. She'd pounded on it with angry fists and cried out for assistance, but her pleas had echoed fruitlessly against the cold, tapestry-strewn walls. And she had known, even as she'd been screaming her throat hoarse that nobody would hear her protests. Nobody would unlock the door for her. Sasuke's word was clearly law, and she had already witnessed how nervous and anxious the very mention of him made the attendants who served under his rule.
Lowering her head to rest in the cradle of her arms, Sakura squeezed her eyes shut and did her best to ignore the gruelling hunger pangs. But it was impossible. Her stomach ached and gnawed agonisingly at itself, pleading for sustenance. She knew the sensible thing to do would be to ingest some food. It would heighten her sense of alertness as well as replenish her energy and strength. And she'd require all the stamina she could muster if she wanted to stand any chance at all of escaping from the haunting, resplendent palace that served as her prison.
But if she did eat, she would be subserviently bowing to Sasuke's demands.
Sakura licked her parched lips, at war with her feistier, stubborn inner self. The reality was that Sasuke already had the upper hand. He had already won whatever sick, twisted game he'd set out to play. He'd chosen to kidnap her for reasons still unknown to Sakura, had successfully stolen her away from the people who loved and cared for her, and nobody had yet to find her. Sakura's heart sank as she wondered whether her mother or any of her friends would even be able to find the so-called Underworld beneath which she was now trapped.
How could they? What possible lead did they have? Sasuke didn't seem like the type to leave behind any incriminating evidence. They would find her bag in the field if she was lucky – but what would that prove?
She groaned in frustration. There had to be some way to send out a message to those who she knew were searching frantically for her - but how?
Eat a little. It'll help you to think. Or at least drink some water, an imploring voice in her head beseeched.
No! Another conflicting voice roared back. If you eat, you'll be giving in to that deranged psychopath. What would Ino say?
Tears stung at her eyes again. Ino had always ordered her to never, under any circumstances, submit to a guy, ever. She missed her best friend fiercely. If only Ino or one of the others were around, Sakura knew she'd feel so much braver, would be able to swallow back her fear and perhaps aggressively confront Sasuke. But she was utterly alone, and pathetic, and on the verge of giving into despair. If she ate, she would be relinquishing the only form of power she still possessed – control over her own appetite.
She knew she couldn't go on without nourishment for much longer. The dishes before her were undeniably appealing, but she didn't want to eat Sasuke's food. Yet his decision to lock her in the food hall suggested he was engaging in an open battle of wills, and one that he clearly expected to win.
Fury sparked within Sakura at the thought, the force and heat of which left her shaking. This time the tears that burned behind her eyes were tears of rage. What gave the arrogant jerk the right to dictate what she could and couldn't do? What gave him the right to ruin her life and to impose his commands upon her? Did he actually expect and believe that she would willingly comply, that she would just accept the situation he had enforced upon her and settle into a completely new existence? Sakura knew that Sasuke was taking full advantage of her fear and uncertainty, of her sense of displacement. What manner of sadistic criminal was he?
Fracturing the earth, living amongst dead spirits, being some kind of self-proclaimed ruler of the dead, switching places in the blink of an eye – surely it was all madness. He'd orchestrated it all, somehow, and was delighting in her terror. Sakura rose to her feet, anger fuelling the dangerously escalating concoction of recklessness brewing within her blood. She glared at the artistically-presented meals in frustration. She wouldn't eat a thing until he answered her. She'd show him what she thought of his food. If her captor believed that she was some docile little carpet he could walk all over, he was sorely mistaken. Politeness, her preferred method, clearly didn't work with Sasuke. Perhaps it was time for her to try and convey the message that she was not about to cooperate with a madman in another, less subtle manner.
Sakura swallowed, steeling her nerves. She couldn't be blamed for what she was about to do. It's his fault she told the nagging voice of conscience in her head that was warning her against doing something foolish. Sitting and sulking in a corner would wield her no results. She needed to do something drastic to provoke a reaction from Sasuke. Apprehension fluttered in the pits of her ravenous stomach as she realised there was no way of her actually knowing exactly how Sasuke would react to her actions. Despite having no idea of precisely how much time she had spent in his palace, she was certain that more than a couple of hours had passed at the very least, and that was nowhere near enough to form a conclusion about her kidnapper's character. He seemed aloof and reserved, domineering and chauvinistic, and an all-round jerk. If there was anything else to discover about his personality – and Sakura sincerely doubted it – she didn't want to find out. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. And if he couldn't understand that fact through normal communicative means, then he left her no other choice.
He'd claimed that he didn't wish to kill her; well, she had nothing to fear then, really.
Resolved, she stepped around the table and lifted the crystal jug of honey-coloured beverage. It shimmered hypnotically within, as if made of liquid gold. A sweet aroma drifted from it, a delicious smell that made Sakura's mouth salivate and her stomach rumble loudly, but she ignored it. With dreadful calmness, she tilted the jug over the steaming tray of rice and what she assumed was glazed duck. She dispersed the rest of the contents over a large bowl of fruit, the curious looking plaits of pastry, sushi, and salad, then over the luxurious table-cloth for decorative measure. The golden liquid sparkled off the surfaces of the dishes, and Sakura felt a twinge of genuine regret for wasting food when so many poor people in the world were going hungry. But she was sure that nobody in their right mind would want to eat Sasuke's food either. Apologising to any deity who cared to listen, Sakura set the jug back down and drew a deep breath, then proceeded to pick up the heavy, silver tray of rice-
-and let it fall with a satisfying, deafening clatter right onto the hard floor. She watched with wide, fascinated eyes as the plump rice grains splayed prettily everywhere, like a white starburst explosion. It was as though something snapped in her at that precise moment too. Perhaps it was internal anxiety at the knowledge that Sasuke was likely going to be extremely displeased when he inevitably found out that his captive had ruined his dining table deliberately, or maybe it was exhilaration at the liberating feelings of power and carelessness that were rushing through her veins. All at once Sakura couldn't stop herself. She reached out and artfully inched cutlery toward the table's edge, followed by sterling plates and pristine goblets.
"Oops, my hand slipped," she muttered. The sound of glass shattering and steel clanging was music to her ears. She found comfort in the discord.
Sasuke had turned her life to chaos. It was only fair she returned the favour, though on a much smaller scale. Wasn't it? That was what Sakura kept telling herself as she flooded another dish with ice-cold water. Her heart pounded in awareness of the fact that Sasuke could walk through the door at any moment. But she couldn't turn back now. Adrenaline was coursing through her and the deed had been done.
She blithely mixed different foods together and tipped drinks into neighbouring decanters, watching as the liquids merged to form unexpected colours. Soon she had transformed the elegant table beyond recognition. It looked like it had been hit by a force of nature. A grim smile graced Sakura's lips as she dumped plate over plate, strangely delighting in the childish mess she was making.
Next Sakura picked up a small, elegant, hand-crafted wooden container. She shook it, heard the gentle sound of small particles moving within. Her eyes brightened. She tipped it over and began to sprinkle salt over everything. The granules fell like finest snow, dusting everything they touched. She flung the container to the ground when she was done, and proceeded to pluck juicy red grapes from their stems, strewing them all over the table and plonking them into goblets.
Here's what I think of your food and your manners, you stuck up, crazy jerk! Her inner voice raged as she grabbed onto yet another plate. Smearing it with the splattered remains of a mixture of foods that were now unrecognisable, Sakura was just about to accidentally release it when her eyes suddenly drew to stop on the bowl of ripe, full pomegranates.
One of the skins was peeled, revealing plump, appetising seeds. Sakura slowly lowered the plate in her hand and reached out to grasp the fruit. Its interior gleamed lustrous ruby and the seeds once again seemed to beg for consumption. It seemed a shame to waste such a fine fruit, and Sakura had always had a weak spot for sweet, juicy pomegranates.
Maybe just a small mouthful, she reasoned, surprised by the sudden need to consume the food in her grasp. It glistened with moisture and she was so very thirsty… She lifted it to her lips, parted them to take a bite, when the sound of a lock unbolting caused Sakura to freeze in terror and drop the fruit in alarm. No! Sasuke had returned far too soon-!
Relief almost caused her legs to buckle beneath her when Ume's small form hurried through the open doorway.
"Mistress, we heard an awful din-" she began, and gasped, a pale hand flying to her soft pink lips in shock as she spied the mess around Sakura. Chizu stepped in after her, and her eyes widening almost comically in turn.
"Goodness gracious! What in the world has happened here?" the older woman exclaimed in dismay.
Sakura placed a palm over her thundering heart. What explanation could she possibly offer to them? Couldn't they understand why she had done it? Chizu swiftly closed the door and rushed forward, surveying the damage Sakura had caused. The look of abstract horror on her face was mirrored by Ume, who cried, "Oh, we cannot let the Master discover this, we cannot!"
Chizu was silent for a long moment. Then she reigned in her expression and said quietly, "We see that you have had an unfortunate accident, Mistress. Please allow us to clean this up. Ume, the bucket and broom, make haste! And plenty of wash cloths, child! Inform the kitchen maids and cook that they are to prepare a fresh table immediately; quickly, now!"
Sakura's eyes widened disbelievingly. It wasn't the response she had wanted! She hadn't made a mess for them to discover and clean up before Sasuke even had the chance to look upon it. She held out a halting hand as Ume took a step back toward the door.
"Leave it!"
Ume hesitated, casting an apprehensive look at her elder. Chizu clenched her jaw and said in a tight voice, "We beseech your ladyship to allow us to handle this. Our lord would be most displeased if he were to return to find his banqueting hall in such a-" she swallowed before finishing carefully, "-state. Ume-"
The fragile blonde maid began to scamper back again, but was once more interrupted by Sakura's angry exclamation.
"Stop!" What was the matter with these women? Why did they fear Sasuke so much? Yes, he was intimidating, but surely he wouldn't physically lay a hand on them? Her blood ran cold at the realisation that she couldn't assume anything. Sasuke had shown her no kindness. It seemed that he wasn't a merciful master either. She was momentarily stricken by guilt at the prospect that her attendants could very well be punished because of her actions, but quickly quelled it. Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she said in a more polite tone of voice, "Please. I made this mess; I'll clean it up. You don't have to worry about explaining this to-" she hesitated, before continuing stiffly, "-Sasuke." She felt strange speaking his name aloud; it was a final acknowledgement, somehow, that he truly existed, and the madness that she had fallen into was really transpiring.
Ume and Chizu exchanged anxious glances. They didn't look any more reassured, so Sakura ventured, "You won't tell me why I'm here. And he won't answer me. He kidnapped me! From my mother. My friends," she paused, feeling warmth pooling in the corner of her eyes. She didn't bother to hold the tears back this time. Maybe if the maids standing before her witnessed how genuinely upset and afraid she was, they'd take pity on her. "I'm alone in a strange place and he told me he rules over dead people. I mean," Sakura released a strained laugh, realised that she was bordering on hysteria again, "isn't that just crazy?"
Ume gasped again and Chizu inhaled sharply. "Mistress," she said in a voice that sent an unexpected jolt of fear down Sakura's spine, "I fear that you know not what you say-"
"Then tell me!" Sakura cried, flinging her arms out wildly. "Tell me who he is, and what he wants from me! Tell me why I'm here!"
Little Ume seemed tortured, on the verge of tears herself. Chizu looked afraid, and opened her mouth to respond – when the echoing sound of the door opening caused all their gazes to dart to the banqueting hall's entrance.
Sasuke stepped gracefully into the room.
"I'll search the west campus. You head east. Call me if you locate him. We'll meet back here if we're unsuccessful, and cover the north point together. And Naruto," Naruto turned his head to glance back at Shikamaru. The Nara sighed heavily, before finishing, "Try to be inconspicuous."
Naruto grinned, noting the resigned tone in his friend's voice. "I don't know what that means, but I'm sure this knuckle-head can figure it out," he joked, prompting Shikamaru to mutter 'Troublesome," beneath his breath. Then, without another word, they parted ways to hunt for their target.
Just over an hour earlier, Shikamaru had called him with the news that he'd stopped by at Ino's and discovered some new information that warranted investigation. On Festival night, Sakura had been found standing by a carousel ride that hadn't been in operation. That was directly where Sai had suggested to Ino they search first when he'd arrived at the park. But Sai hadn't left with Ino after they'd located Sakura. He had stayed behind. Naruto had known from his initial conversation with Sai that something didn't seem right. He knew, however, that Sai wasn't one to purposefully withhold information – not unless he had a really good reason to do so.
They had to find out what that reason was. Kakashi, Naruto was certain, as he stepped into the Academy's east campus, had already reached his destination and would be returning soon with his report. Naruto desperately hoped that he'd have nothing out of the ordinary to disclose.
He felt a stab of pain deep within his chest as a memory he'd never quite managed to suppress began to rear its ugly head once again. He could handle anybody being responsible. Anyone but him- the thought broke distractedly off as he peered through the rectangular window of the door leading into one of the college's large lecture theatres. It was empty. He turned away, and continued along the corridor.
Shikamaru had inquired after Sai's whereabouts at the administration office, employing the excuse that they needed to accompany their friend to an urgent medical appointment, only for the receptionist to inform them that Sai had a free slot. Which meant he could be anywhere on campus. They'd initially looked in the library, because they knew that Sai favoured quieter places – but he hadn't been there. So they'd decided to split up, to cover all areas of the Academy quicker.
"Searching like this'll take forever," Naruto muttered to himself as he followed the corridor down through a set of double-doors that led him toward the east campus's cafeteria. It was scattered with a few people ahead of lunch hour, but Naruto's eyes failed to spot a familiar ink-black head of hair. He did, however, notice Chouji sitting with Shino in one corner of the dining hall.
"Hey, losers!" Naruto greeted with a cheerfulness he didn't feel as he approached them.
"Oh," Chouji, who was munching on a bag of sweet snacks said between mouthfuls, "Hey Naruto."
"You were absent from morning class," Shino observed formally. "Why were you absent from morning class? You do not seem unwell to me."
"Oh, yeah, well, heh, I guess I feel kinda better now," Naruto said, and internally winced. So much for being subtle. Hastily changing the subject, he said "Uh, hey, have you guys seen Sai around by any chance?"
"Sai?" Chouji crunched thoughtfully. His face suddenly brightened, and Naruto's hopes lifted. "Oh, yeah! I saw him earlier. But he left right after first class."
"Left?" Naruto frowned, leaning forward eagerly. "Do you know where he went?"
"Nah," Chouji replied after a moment. "Sorry, Naruto."
Naruto's shoulders slumped. "Great," he huffed. Then, "Thanks. See you guys later."
He left the cafeteria, his frustration growing with every dead-end he encountered. Twenty minutes later he was on the verge of pulling his sunshine blond hair out when his cell phone suddenly rang. Naruto nearly dropped it in his eagerness to answer.
"Yeah!"
"I've found him. In the quad. Get over here now, Naruto."
Naruto was running before his friend had even finished his sentence.
He had entered the banqueting hall expecting to find Sakura either eating resentfully, or weeping pathetically. What he had most certainly not expected to discover was shattered crockery, dishes turned upside down – quite literally – and food and drink splattered everywhere.
And so it had taken some conscious effort on his part to keep the look of incredulity from openly registering upon his features.
A tense, heavy silence hung in the air, thick and smothering, charged with the same electrical current that Sasuke seemed to carry around with him. Sakura gulped, heart galloping uncontrollably inside her chest as his dark eyes trailed slowly over the mess she had created. Maybe acting so recklessly hadn't been such a wise idea. She had expected him to be irritated at the very least, but his infuriatingly handsome face remained perfectly composed and unaffected by the scene of utter ruin before him.
"M-m-master," Ume stammered violently. Sakura's eyes widened as she tore her gaze away from her silent captor and looked upon the young girl. Ume was trembling uncontrollably, seemed on the verge of hyperventilating from fear. Sakura felt an unpleasant twisting sensation in her gut, as though someone had plunged a dagger into her and was brutally jerking it around. She looked back to Sasuke. That he would invoke such a reaction…
Just how dangerous was he?
Chizu bravely took the burden of speaking. Her voice was stronger, more composed, but Sakura still detected the undertone of fear beneath it. "Lord; please allow us an opportunity to explain what you see before you, if you would permit us-"
"An accident!" Ume blurted out in fright. She seemed to physically shrink when Sasuke's fathomless gaze flicked briefly onto her. "I-i-it was an accident; w-we are m-most sorry for it, Master-"
"Yes indeed, we implore your forgiveness for our ineptness, Great Lord," Chizu curtsied low.
Sakura's lips parted in shock and she was struck with awful realisation. They were trying to cover up her actions. They were giving Sasuke the impression that they were accountable. Confusion made her mind whirl. Why would they do such a thing? It made no sense - unless they were somehow trying to protect her. But she wouldn't allow them to do so. If Sasuke wanted to punish anybody, then it would be her.
Swallowing back her own fear, she confessed, "I did it." Ume gasped and Chizu shot her a look of open dismay – before lowering her head respectfully again. Sakura braced herself as Sasuke's eyes slid onto her. He didn't seem surprised. In fact, she couldn't read any emotion on his face. Despair gnawed away at her, as strong as the hunger afflicting her belly. Her act of protest hadn't had the desired effect.
"Leave us," Sasuke instructed coldly to his servants. They bowed in obedience and immediately scuttled out of the hall. The resounding echoing of the door closing behind them sounded like a death bell to Sakura. The boldness she'd summoned when choosing to wreck the table had all but fizzled out, and she was left scared, uncertain, but ready to defend herself if necessary – though she knew she would stand a better chance at doing so verbally than physically.
Sasuke began walking slowly towards the table. She winced as the heels of his boots crunched over broken glass. He seemed to take another moment to examine the damage before speaking. His voice was as sharp and hard as the fragmented shards that littered the floor.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Sakura remained silent as he picked up a goblet, peered into it, before setting it down again in refined disgust. When she didn't reply, he prompted, "What purpose do your childish actions serve?"
She stiffened at the condescending tone in which the words were uttered. The angry fire that had been burning within her before roared back to life, causing her to snap back impertinently, "If I'm so childish, maybe I should be returned to my mother!"
His eyes flashed warningly at that and Sakura inwardly cursed herself. She'd planned to be confident and calm when confronting him. But it seemed that she couldn't be either of those things when conversing with Sasuke – if conversing was what they were even doing. It seemed to her more like she was locked in a losing battle every time they exchanged words. And that frustrated her to no end.
"Your mother," he spoke the word with plain distaste, as though it were not something uttered in polite society. He said nothing more, and Sakura blinked in confusion. She was thankful that the table formed a physical barrier between them, as it had when she'd first encountered him after waking. He made no other move toward her, simply rested his fingers lightly atop the table's surface and regarded her with probing eyes.
"She's looking for me," Sakura said, with more conviction than she felt beneath the devastating weight of his unnerving stare. "She'll find me."
Sasuke tilted his head back haughtily at that. "Only those I permit may pass through the gates."
He was speaking in that infuriatingly cryptic manner again. He knew perfectly well that she didn't know which 'gates' he was alluding to; he just wanted to unsettle her further. Sakura shook her head at him, her fear blotted out by mounting disbelief. "You just- saw me at the Festival and randomly decided to kidnap me? Is that it?"
What he calmly uttered next made her feel as though the ground had given way beneath her feet, as it had when he had first snatched her.
"Long before that, Sakura."
Sakura could feel her jaw sagging. Long before that? He'd known her before the Festival? A sudden, awful thought caused a sickening stillness to settle over her. Had Sasuke been watching her, somehow? Stalking her? But why would he do such a thing? What did he want from her? His disclosure was unexpected, and yet she knew from the look on his face that he was perfectly serious – either that or he was an incredible actor. Terror made her tremble all over again, as she choked out, "What? What do you mean, long before that?" Then she asked the same question she had posed to him before, "How do you know my name?" She swallowed back cresting panic and forced herself to add, "You- have you been watching me?"
His silence and the intensity with which he was regarding her were all the confirmation she needed. She gripped onto the table's edge and exhaled shakily. Horror was making it difficult to breathe, to think straight. He'd been watching her. The implications of that were too horrible for her to even bear contemplating.
"Why?" she managed dizzily. "Why would you- how long have you…? I don't-"
"You must take sustenance."
His abrupt change of subject made her head spin further. He was essentially communicating, Yeah, I've been watching you. So what? Now, eat. As if it wasn't a big deal at all. She blinked and frowned at him. "No. How long have you been-?"
"You will take sustenance," Sasuke interrupted once more, and her heart leapt into her throat when he began to circle around the length of the table.
He was issuing instructions to her again. Like she was one of his servants, but she wasn't. She shook her head resolutely, moving away from him in turn. "No! Not until you tell me-"
"Starve yourself. Protest all you wish. It will change nothing, Sakura," he stated flatly, his eyes never leaving her face. "You will remain here."
Sakura's temper flared. "You can't just keep me here against my will!"
"I can," he deadpanned darkly, stopping again.
Sakura's right hand had unconsciously closed around an object – one of the goblets she had spared from flooding with a blend of mixed up beverages. She was clutching the handle tight enough to turn her knuckles white. His arrogance and self-assurance were unbearable. Who in the world did Sasuke think he was – some kind of untouchable, undeniable god of sorts? She had a life back home! And he had no right to interrupt it, to steal it away.
Her heart was racing with fury and adrenaline and palpitating from hunger and thirst. She felt physically sick, but knew that she couldn't let him detect it. So she did the only thing cornered, vulnerable prey could do when confronted by a superior predator. She lashed out in a desperate attempt to ward the encroaching danger away.
"Why me?"
"Because," he responded curtly, "I wish it."
It was the same answer he had given her before, and the final push that sent all lingering remnants of Sakura's restraint spiralling out control. With a frustrated cry she hurtled the goblet at him, too upset, enraged and caught up in the heat of the moment to care for the consequences - only to watch, in wide-eyed horror, as the goblet froze, mid-air, in the space between them.
Sakura released a choked scream, on the verge of losing her strongest and only ally - her mind - as all manner of logic evaded her.
How was he doing that? He hadn't even lifted a finger. His eyes were still fixed onto her. As if to taunt her, the goblet hovered a little to the left. Sakura's gaze followed its movement incredulously. She was certain that she was on the brink of having a panic attack. How had things slipped so rapidly beyond her control again?
Just who, or what, was she dealing with?
Then, slowly, as if it possessed a will of its own, the goblet lowered to rest on the table once more. It sat there, staring innocently back at her, as if to say, what? Don't look at me. I didn't do anything.
Sakura's glazed gaze returned to Sasuke and she gaped at him. He was watching her intently, as if awaiting a particular reaction.
No. Don't freak out. Do not freak out, she frantically told herself. Licking her parched lips, she floundered, "You're not- you can't be normal…"
Sasuke's eyes lowered briefly. "Hn. You're right."
And then he disappeared. Just like that. One moment he was standing there, the next Sakura had blinked, and he had vanished from her sight. Her heart lurched violently and her eyes darted wildly around her, trying to anticipate where and when he'd reappear. She was certain that her body was ready to collapse from terror, when she sensed the slightest shift of air pressure behind her, followed by the smothering aura that encompassed Sasuke's form, and gasped, whirling around to find Sasuke towering over her, his charcoal gaze searing into her. With reflexes that were so much faster than her own sluggish responses, his hands seized her beneath her shoulders before she could attempt to dart away from him.
Pure pandemonium was running rampant within her. Sasuke's grip on her was like steel, and it seemed to Sakura that the harder she struggled the tighter it became. Oh, God, she thought hysterically, seeing a flicker of something in his eyes, something potent and frightening that didn't bode well for her, but she couldn't place it; her chaotic mind simply refused to acknowledge what it was. What was he going to do?
"Let go," she gasped, feeling as though the blood in her veins was ready to petrify from his overwhelming proximity. "Letmego-"
In response, Sasuke released one of her arms, but before she could draw it back in an attempt to shove him away, or strike him as Ino had once taught her to do with any guys who bothered her, he had wound his other arm around her waist and tugged her forward against him, trapping her free hand behind her back. Sakura felt the heat of his body, and was positive that her booming heart was ready to explode out of her chest. His arm was a vice around her; he was too strong. She couldn't get away, and Sasuke seemed to be completely oblivious to her distress. His eyes had closed, and she anxiously wondered what he was going to do next, when the lids suddenly lifted, causing her to freeze against him.
Deep, vivid crimson pinned her in place, its unearthly luminescence rendering her breathless. Within the bloody irises she glimpsed three black tomoes, spinning lazily, hypnotically, weaving a dizzying, disorientating spell over her senses. She watched in alarmed fascination as the tomoes merged to form an intricate pattern resembling an overlapping, six-pointed star. It was the most striking and frightening thing she had ever seen. Sakura was all at once captured, suffocated, smothered. The intense, dark kaleidoscope pierced through her skull, into her mind, mesmerising her, captivating her soul. A voice in her head was screaming distantly at her to turn her face and stop looking, but any effort to do so was prohibited by strong, cool fingers gripping her chin firmly in place.
"You will obey," an authoritative voice spoke to her, permeating through not only her ears and mind, but her entire body. Her limbs were beyond her control, but Sakura didn't have time to dwell on what was happening and how. A fleeting, sharp pain assaulted her senses, causing her lips to part in a soundless scream. She was at that moment lost in and consumed by a sea of blazing red. All other colours faded away into nothingness, and all she could see were his bottomless eyes. Sasuke's command then came to her, reverberating through her head like a maddening mantra, and one that she felt absolutely compelled to follow.
"You will take sustenance. Now."
Sakura's breath hitched, her eyes glazing over as she grew limp against him.
Sai looked up from the book he'd been studying as a shadow suddenly fell upon him. Two familiar pairs of eyes stared down at him – one grey-brown, the other bright blue. The young man sighed and pulled his headphones out of his ears to give the two individuals standing over him his undivided attention. He'd sought refuge during his free lesson to study in the quad, beneath the quiet shade of a tree, but if he'd known earlier that morning that he'd be accosted by Naruto and Shikamaru, he might have chosen to leave campus entirely.
He already knew what they had come to discuss. "Hello, Shikamaru, Naruto," he greeted politely, offering his characteristic, blank smile.
"We need to talk," Naruto pointed at him, prompting Shikamaru to shoot him a swift, disapproving look. He'd specifically instructed Naruto to allow him to do the talking, but Naruto had never been one to follow instructions well.
"Sai," the tall Nara sighed, casting a wary look around the quad. It was mostly empty, and he figured it was as good a place as any for them to ask their questions. "We wanted to ask you about-"
"Sakura," Sai sighed lightly in turn. The young men exchanged glances, but Shikamaru hastily spoke before Naruto could allow his emotions to get the better of him.
"Ino told me you found her next to a carousel on Festival night."
"That's right," Sai nodded.
"But it wasn't operating," Shikamaru followed.
Sai looked thoughtful. "Not that I recall."
"Do you have any idea what she was doing there?"
Sai slowly shook his head. "I didn't think to ask her," he said.
"Sai, try and remember!" Naruto urged. "This is Sakura-chan we're talking about!"
"Was she alone when you found her?" Shikamaru pressed.
Sai was silent for a moment, and Naruto's heart began to pick up pace. Something was wrong. He just knew that Sai wasn't telling them everything-
"Yes," Sai replied. "She was alone when we arrived." Then, after another pause, he added, "I've already told you everything I know. I apologise that I can't be of more assistance-"
Without warning, Naruto reached out and grabbed the sketch-pad that was placed next to Sai's backpack. Sai's hand automatically shot out to reclaim it, but Shikamaru intercepted, allowing Naruto to flick open the pages. His eyes frantically scanned over each side, and dismay overcame him when he found nothing extraordinary painted onto paper. He allowed the cover to close and turned his dejected gaze to Shikamaru. Then he handed the sketch-pad back to a silent Sai.
"Sai," Shikamaru began again after a tense pause, "Ino said you suggested looking in the place where you found Sakura. How did you know to look there?"
"Sakura likes carousels," Sai answered softly.
"But you went straight to that particular carousel," Shikamaru pointed out.
Sai's dark eyes met his briefly. Then he turned to his backpack, unzipped it, and lifted out a small scroll of paper. Wordlessly he held it out. Naruto had to restrain himself from snatching as he accepted it and rolled it out to find a hastily sketched ink drawing.
His eyebrows drew together in puzzlement. "Huh? What's this?"
Realisation struck him a few seconds later. He recognised the lines of horses attached to poles, the circular platform; the familiar structure of a carousel. Shikamaru peered over his shoulder and Naruto heard his sharp intake of breath. Then both young men directed suspicious gazes at Sai – Naruto's significantly more accusing.
"You knew?" Naruto demanded, anger blazing into his cobalt eyes. He held up the drawing and jabbed a finger aggressively at it. "Is this how you knew where to find Sakura-chan? And you didn't tell us?"
"Naruto," Shikamaru said quietly, casting a surreptitious glance around them. "Calm down-"
"No!" Naruto raged, flinging the paper disgustedly at an expressionless Sai. "I know this bastard's hiding something, damn it! Where is Sakura-chan?"
Sai's gaze lowered. "I do not know," he answered.
"You're lying!" Naruto snarled. "That drawing has to mean something! Shikamaru!" He turned wild eyes to his friend, who was examining Sai closely. "He drew a field, where we found Sakura-chan's bag, and now a carousel- it can't be a coincidence!"
"Sai," Shikamaru frowned, his tone significantly lower than Naruto's. "Your artwork has held meanings before. If you know something about Sakura's whereabouts, if you've seen anything in your dreams that could give us any clue at all about what might have happened to her…"
Sai gathered the paper and carefully deposited it back inside his bag along with the book he'd been reading. Rising to his feet, he hoisted his backpack over his shoulder, tucked the sketch-pad underneath his arm and looked Naruto straight in the eye.
"I don't. I'm sorry," he said quietly. Then he stepped around them and walked away.
"Hey!" Naruto began furiously, "I'm not done with you yet! Come back here-"
"Naruto!" Shikamaru's harsh voice and tight grip on his shoulder caused his eyes to snap away from Sai's retreating back. "Get a hold of yourself! Remember where we are. People are staring, you troublesome idiot!"
Naruto blinked and then released a slow, agitated breath. "He knows something. I know he does-"
"I know," Shikamaru said simply. Naruto faltered, his eyes widening.
"Huh? You agree with me?"
"It makes sense," Shikamaru relinquished his hold on his friend once he was absolutely certain that Naruto wasn't going to run after Sai and attempt to beat information out of him. "And I don't think it is a coincidence." His eyebrows drew together to form another scowl. "But it isn't like Sai to keep things from us. Not unless he has good reason."
A brief silence ensued, in which Naruto was sure he could see the cogs in Shikamaru's intelligent mind turning.
"So now what?" he asked at length, in a voice laden with frustration.
Shikamaru met his gaze evenly. "We wait for Kakashi."
"See to it that she is well-fed," Sasuke instructed the maids he'd commanded to return to the banqueting hall. "Then return her to her chamber. And," he added in a mutter, casting a displeased glance over the disorderly dining table, "clean this up."
"Yes, at once, Great Lord," Chizu curtsied low, with Ume following her lead.
Sasuke glanced at where Sakura sat, perfectly still in one of the chairs. She was staring unseeingly at the candles flickering before her, a sure sign that she was securely trapped in the state of hypnosis he had induced upon her. He turned abruptly away from his servants before they could witness the scowl that settled over his features. This hadn't been the way he'd wanted Sakura to eat, but the stubborn little mortal had left him no other choice. Her physical shell would waste away if she kept denying herself nourishment. And he certainly didn't have a penchant for skin and bone.
Sasuke left the room and stalked broodingly out of the palace. He was disturbed to find that he was more intrigued than angered by Sakura's actions. The foolish girl had been impudent enough to wreck his dining table and hurl a goblet at him – proof that beneath her polite, docile appearance, she harboured a measure of fire.
It was an unexpected yet exciting discovery.
Sakura was resisting, but he would eventually break her, in mind, body and spirit. He'd consume it all, every last part of her. She had no way of knowing that his days of indulging her childish temper tantrums were extremely numbered. Nobody had ever dared to raise their voice and throw things at him before – nobody who lived to tell the tale.
Except one, he recalled bitterly, and promptly severed the memory before it could resurface. Instead he turned his thoughts to a matter that required his urgent attention. He had to deal with it carefully and correctly, and after that, he would pay the messenger boy a visit. Then, once he was satisfied that all necessary precautions were in place, he could turn his full attention to studying Sakura, as he'd intended. Kakashi's visit had set matters swiftly in motion, and Sasuke knew that time was of the essence.
He blurred out of sight, reappearing by the river Acheron's bank, to find Juugo and Karin standing beside a tall, white-haired, sharp-toothed young man with eyes the colour of lavender. He sent a sharp, pointed look to his subjects, who quickly bowed their heads low and turned away to resume their duties.
"Heh, see ya," the white-haired young man waved genially after them. He was cloaked in purple and white, his favoured colours. He turned to Sasuke as the death deity approached him, his wide, unearthly eyes aglow with a smug, knowing light. Sasuke clenched his jaw. As he had suspected, the Sea God had likely already received information about Sakura's whereabouts.
"Suigetsu," he uttered nonchalantly.
"Sasuke," the water deity nodded. "How's life in this gloomy, depressing place?" Offering a deceptively bright smile, he cut straight to the chase. "A little bird tells me it's gotten a little more interesting around here for you." He paused, before his smile completely vanished. "Or should I say little sirens that are currently unaccounted for; you wouldn't happen to know anything about that now would you, hmm?"
Sasuke met his gaze squarely. If the fool thought that he had the upper hand, he was sorely mistaken. They both knew which of them was superior and more powerful.
"They disobeyed me," he answered the accusing question flatly.
Suigetsu flashed another toothy grin. "You're wrong there; you see, they were following my commands."
So he had sent them, just as Sasuke had thought. "They resided in my realm," the Death God pointed out.
Suigetsu sneered at him. "You can't twist your way out of this one, Sasuke. And you'd better watch that smart mouth of yours. You expect me to just accept the fact that you murdered seven of my subjects?"
Sasuke remained quiet, watching his visitor intently.
"Do you know who paid me a visit a couple of hours ago?" Suigetsu spoke on. "Someone by the name of Tsunade; that name ring a bell?"
The Underworld's ruler kept his rising anger in check beneath an exterior of perfect indifference as he allowed the mischief-loving deity before him to continue.
"Yeah. She looks pretty good for an older goddess," Suigetsu mused, before returning to the matter at hand. "Anyway, seems she's lost her daughter. Some hot chick called Sakura."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed marginally at the casual manner in which Suigetsu referred to the girl.
"And you know what's funny?" the water deity went on. "That's the exact same name my sirens relayed to me earlier. Of course, it could all just be a crazy coincidence-"
Sasuke's patience splintered cleanly in half. "Do not interfere," he hissed, his eyes flashing crimson warning.
But Suigetsu was unfazed. "Huh? You're threatening me? Really? Listen, pretty boy. Don't get any ideas. The only reason I haven't blown your cover is because I'm curious. What the hell- no pun intended- are you up to, huh? You know who Tsunade is. She isn't exactly someone you want to screw over. Oh," he rolled his eyes, as if censuring himself, "I forgot. You're the high and mighty Sasuke, and you make a habit of screwing everyone over, even your own broth-" he choked off as an iron-grip clamped around his throat, and crimson eyes pierced hatefully into lavender, positively daring Suigetsu to complete the sentence. The white-haired deity coughed awkwardly, and finished, "You aren't exactly charming me in your favour here."
"You will not speak a word," Sasuke commanded.
Suigetsu snorted, ignoring the way the fingers around his neck tightened in response to his open derision. "Yeah? What's in it for me, huh?"
A small, sinister smirk slowly curved Sasuke's lips. "You live," he said simply.
"Hah," Suigetsu scoffed. "You can't kill me. We're immortals, remember?"
"Tartarus does not discriminate," Sasuke stated meaningfully.
Suigetsu's eyes widened fractionally – and then he reached out, attempting to sever Sasuke's grip on him. Sasuke had anticipated this and instantly caught hold of his fist. Suigetsu kicked at him, striking with snake-fast reflexes. But Sasuke was even faster. He evaded the attack, pushing himself off the ground and using the momentum and his hold on the Sea God to propel himself fluidly into the air. He landed gracefully behind Suigetsu and delivered a rough kick straight into his back, sending the grunting water deity hurtling forward from its force. Suigetsu whirled, quickly recovering, a vicious, hostile grin plastered on his face. His eyes were alight with open challenge.
"So that's how it is. I can't wait to land your stuck-up ass in hot-water. It's high time someone taught you a lesson, Uchiha," he sneered.
Sasuke blinked once – and an iron cage abruptly erupted from the ground at his will, its thick bars crackling with blinding electricity. Suigetsu was boxed in before he could even think of teleporting away, and gawked at Sasuke incredulously. His eyes widened as he glimpsed pinwheels spinning menacingly within the bottomless depths of the death deity's crimson irises.
"What the fuck, Sasuke? Have you lost it?" Suigetsu demanded. He winced as a tendril of electricity snaked out toward him. The damned bastard was using his elemental weakness to full advantage. If there was one thing that could keep the Sea God grounded, one thing that bothered him more than anything else, it was the cursed strike of lightning. But his anger at the treatment he was being shown was momentarily dwarfed by a staggering sense of disbelief. He hadn't expected this from Sasuke, but then, the insolent brat had always been maddeningly unpredictable. Did the Underworld's king truly feel threatened enough to warrant imprisoning him? He was prepared to go to such outrageous lengths to keep his secret from spilling out - over a mere mortal girl? It made no sense – unless there was more to this 'Sakura' than what Tsunade had let on.
"You cannot be trusted," said Sasuke curtly.
"Asshole," Suigetsu spat. "You think I can't get out of here, just because you've cranked up the voltage?"
"If you'd prefer Tartarus, it can be arranged," Sasuke answered ominously. They both knew he was capable of flinging the water deity into the infernal pits before he could make an escape.
Suigetsu clenched his jaw, furious. "Do you realise what you're doing? Taking another god hostage? You've lost it. All these years in the dark have messed you up. I have seas and oceans to run, you bastard. The surface might flood-"
"I care not," Sasuke quipped. Suigetsu opened his mouth to fire a particularly colourful insult back at him, only to find that his prison had been removed to another location in the blink of an eye. Sasuke had transported them away from the river's edge – away from Suigetsu's element. The only electricity-charged iron bars that remained were before the Sea God – the remainder of the cage had become solid, impermeable rock face. Suigetsu peered out at his new settings, glimpsed nothing but endless cavern-structures all around him.
"You just wait until I get out of here, asshole," Suigetsu promised, casting a murderous glare at an unperturbed Sasuke.
"Hn," Sasuke retorted dismissively, a response that wordlessly conveyed the hidden message: if you make it out. Then, in a whisper, he had vanished, leaving the Sea God fuming in his cell.
Tsunade already knew who was on the other side of the door even before she opened it. Kakashi's familiar aura was steady, reliable. She threw the barrier between them open and stared at him, wide-eyed.
"Well?" she practically yelled, heart pounding in anticipation of his news. His lone-eye drooped slightly, which caused Tsunade's shoulders to drop in turn.
"He refused to see you."
Kakashi sighed lightly and invited himself in. Tsunade closed the door behind him, clenching her teeth tightly.
"I saw him alright," Kakashi replied after a moment. "She hasn't passed through the Underworld's gates, Tsunade."
Tsunade released a relieved breath. She'd known all along that Sakura was still alive. Raising her eyes back to Kakashi's masked face she demanded next, "The Uchiha has not seen her at all?"
"No," Kakashi answered. Even as he spoke the word, he was filled with a nagging sense of doubt. There was absolutely no evidence for him to believe that Sasuke would have a conceivable reason to kidnap Sakura, and yet… something about Sasuke's particularly chilly reception had ignited his suspicions. But perhaps it was merely his imagination. It had been an awfully long time since he had visited and spoken with Sasuke, after all. Maybe his fanciful mind had simply forgotten just how much the governor of death utterly despised him.
"Suigetsu has agreed to send his sirens to help cover the search under water," Tsunade said sullenly, prompting Kakashi to raise an eyebrow.
"That's remarkably cooperative of him, considering."
"I made the young fool a deal," Tsunade muttered.
"Which was?"
"Never mind," she dismissed. Then she gestured for him to follow her into the kitchen. Kakashi did so, and came to a stop behind her by the sink.
"Less than twenty-four hours, and they're already withering," she said softly. Kakashi followed her gaze, noticed the wilting flower in its pot. A light frown creased his brow. What comfort could he offer the woman standing before him? He saw the way her characteristically proud shoulders shook with suppressed rage and grief.
"We'll find her, Tsunade. She's alive."
Tsunade was silent. Kakashi opened his mouth to suggest another course of action – when the front door slammed open behind them. He turned swiftly, unsheathing the dagger hidden in a discreet pouch at his waist – only to lower it a moment later as his surprised gaze came to rest on the identity of the intruder.
"Well, hello there, Kakashi!" a deep voice boomed heartily. A towering, strongly built man with long, white hair that framed a slightly tanned and sun-creased face at the front and spiked like a jagged river at the back beamed widely at him. In his left hand he held a green, glass bottle of sake. A clue of his true identity. "It's been a long time!"
Author's note
Oh the drama! Who is the new arrival at the end? Pretty obvious maybe? xD And Sasuke! He needs a good ass-kicking! What a mean, controlling jerk. But there is a good reason to account for why he is as he is. Poor Sakura. Poor Suigetsu! He's such fun to write.
Just a quick note to those who are impatient for some SasuSaku fluff. I'm sorry, but this is based on a dark myth, so it will start out as dark and gloomy. Sakura has been kidnapped and isn't open to getting to know her jerk of a captor just yet. Would anybody be in her situation? Never mind the fact that Sasuke is gorgeous lol. That will obviously gradually change but the key word is gradual. I'm not going to rush things, and write lovey dovey scenes until I build the characters up to a point where they are ready to receive it. I will begin to deviate from the myth as the story progresses, but for now I'm sticking to the main storyline.
Thanks for reading, and if you'd like to plaster a huge smile on my face, please kindly leave your feedback. Happy New Year to each and every one of my readers; here's to hoping 2012 is your best year yet! See you next update guys, and make sure you check out all the fanarts on offer!