OMG I love you guys! Reaching the eight hundred plus mark is just amazing! : D And last chapter I received the most number of reviews yet for one update (one hundred and five to be exact). If you keep that up, I'll be reaching the big one thousand in the next update! A massive personal milestone for me on this site, so thank you!
On that note, and I'm sorry to have to bring this up again, but I should add that this story is currently on the favourite/alert lists of over four hundred members… so there are A LOT of you (around three hundred, in fact) who aren't leaving any feedback. This makes me sad : ( I see lists of names on my stats that I don't even recognise, and can I be honest? It's frustrating to get so many new story and favourite alerts flooding my inbox every update but utter silence with them.
So, to those of you who are not reviewing: I'm so glad and honoured that you like my story enough to favourite and follow it, but please would you consider leaving your thoughts, even if it's just once in a while, to let me know that you're on board? It's really disheartening otherwise. You've already taken the time to read the chapter, which I thank you for; maybe consider taking an extra two minutes to type a comment? Don't want to review? Then message me. I'll be so thrilled to hear from you.
Just before we go on, some quick advertising of yet more reader contributions! Please check out thelittlemonster's work linked on my profile; she has started to do some prequel takes on characters from this story. Suigetsu is her first; make sure you have a look, and please remember to leave her a review if you do read. Keep in mind that these aren't official prequels, as they are her own creative takes on how she thinks things went down prior to the events of Quietus. Thanks again for the contribution, little monster; I never expected to receive fanfic spin-off requests for this. But if anyone else feels inspired enough in future please feel free to write whatever you like.
Also be sure to check out her other series, Beauty and Dragon, which this story inspired her to create.
Another Sasuke piece by ariadnia is complete. He looks so delicious! Check the link on my profile and please leave her a comment on deviantart if you favourite her work. Also check out her Hades and Cinderella art, based on a song I've linked to on my profile. A new Itachi drawing is also up; this talented girl whips out art faster than I can my updates, I tell you!
Jenazia has also very kindly contributed an absolutely stunning piece of work depicting Sasuke and Sakura from the story. You MUST make sure you visit the link on my profile and leave her an appreciative comment – the art is just gorgeous!
Mitsukiy0-Tennyo has also uploaded more lovely artwork - visit the links on my profile for pictures of Karin and a very gorgeous Itachi. Thank you so much again for the kind gift!
And last but by no means least, AnonymousInkBlot has created another piece of artwork depicting Sasuke as the Underworld God. It's hot, so go check it out on my profile and leave her a comment.
A major thanks to all the above epic people who kindly took the time to create for this story and again to everyone else who has in the past. I never imagined I'd get one fanart for this story let alone so many. I'm truly honoured. Thank you.
Okay enough waffling – onwards with the story.
Chapter XIV
Deep beneath the crater of her maternal earth,
Does she seek comfort, by the hearth,
Plaintive of what was left behind,
But stay – a thread of faith is found,
The Hope that sprung from Pandora's box,
Is not yet in abandon lost.
When the blinding funnel of light finally dissipated, Sakura's vision was swimming. She felt wheezy and utterly disorientated as she lifted her head from where it had been buried in terror against the solid wall of Sasuke's chest, and for a few alarming minutes, her eyes were unable to focus on anything around her. She felt herself being lowered, slowly and carefully, into a seat. The motion caused vertigo to overwhelm her, and her body was toppling sideways before she could stop it. The warmth of Sasuke's arms had fallen away, but a hand reached out to steady her, lingering by her left shoulder.
Breathe! Sakura internally screamed at herself, trying to break through the disorderly din that was causing utter discord within her. She frantically sucked in oxygen, her nails digging into the arm-rests of her seat in a desperate attempt to anchor her floating body to something, anything, solid.
Gradually, her vision began to clear and the world ceased spinning enough for her to blink through her tears, to discover that Sasuke had transported them back to the banqueting hall in his palace.
It had been restored to its splendid, immaculate condition following her tantrum. The last time she had been in the vast room, she had believed that Sasuke was a dangerous, deranged psychopath. Now she knew he was an immortal deity - and that fact changed the reality of her situation entirely.
Sakura lifted her gaze fearfully to him, her heart still pounding uncontrollably within her. He had been standing by her left side, observing her quietly. Upon seeing that her eyes had regained clarity once again, he abruptly looked away and stepped around the table, lifting the stopper from a crystal decanter full of shimmering, golden liquid. Sakura watched as he wordlessly poured a small amount into a goblet and moved back to her, extending his arm.
She tensed, instinctively shrinking back into the bejewelled chair. She couldn't tear her gaze off him. If it had been difficult to do so before, it was absolutely impossible now, when she kept expecting to find a sign on his face indicating that all she had witnessed by the river bank had been a crazy setup of some kind. But she saw nothing except a silent command in his dark eyes for her to accept the offering of refreshment.
Sakura's attention shifted to stare stupidly at the goblet – and his fingers. They were long and slender, like a sculptor's, and she found herself arbitrarily wondering why the undersides of his fingertips were calloused. What kind of physical work did a god who effortlessly ripped souls out of bodies do? And how could it be that such elegant, human-looking hands possessed such awful, devastating power?
She frantically tried to supress the fresh bubble of alarm that was threatening to rupture within her. No. She wouldn't submit to mindless panic again. She couldn't. So everything had been turned upside down once more, but it was alright; she would deal with it - somehow. After all, Sasuke had told her twice that he didn't want her dead. She had nothing to be afraid of – but how very afraid she was!
That was when she noticed the ring on the index finger of his right hand. Its platinum frame encased a beautiful, deep red jewel inscribed with a black insignia. Sakura stared senselessly at it – when a very strange and startling sense of déjà vu suddenly began to crawl over her. The insignia's image caused something to stir in the deepest catacombs of her mind; something she couldn't quite assemble, a whisper that dispelled into silence when she tried to grasp at it. The more she gazed at the ring, the more she felt like-
Sasuke shoved the goblet impatiently forward so that it was practically in her face, snapping her abruptly out of her peculiar reverie.
"Drink," he instructed.
Sakura couldn't keep the tremors from afflicting her fingers as she reached out to accept the goblet. Her hand wobbled precariously as she took it from him, nearly dropping the cup in the process. Her heart leapt when Sasuke's cool fingers closed around hers, steadily guiding the goblet to her lips. Once it was there, and she had taken a gulp from it, he retracted his hand.
Sakura blinked as she swallowed the sweet liquid down. A moment later her jumbled mind registered that it tasted somewhat familiar. Then it struck her; it was remarkably like the medicine her mother gave to her on the rare occasions when she woke up just before dawn with sudden, crushing chest cramps – as if something was ready to burst out from within her. The condition only ever happened during the springtime. Sometimes the pain got so bad that it left Sakura breathless, but a single teaspoon of the miracle remedy her mother fed her always alleviated the discomfort immediately.
Hospital scans and blood tests conducted by Shizune had always revealed perfectly normal results, and nobody had been able to diagnose exactly what the problem was. Heartburn, her mother had mumbled once, reassuring Sakura not to worry and that although it was unpleasant, it most certainly was not life-threatening if it happened only occasionally.
And so Sakura was bemused when the golden liquid that Sasuke had given her seemed to work in precisely the same manner as the medicine only her mother was allowed to administer to her. It was rich honey down her throat, warming her chest and soothing away almost all of her agitation. Oddly, she began to feel a little calmer. As she finished the pitiful amount served to her, she looked longingly back at the crystal decanter housing the delicious beverage. Was it some kind of rare blend of sake? Whatever it was, she wanted more.
Sasuke, who seemed to know precisely what she was thinking, said firmly, "That is enough."
Her greed had been effortlessly decoded by a god. Sakura flinched guiltily, hunching her shoulders, and placed the goblet back onto the table. Silence hung like a dead weight between them as she tried to assemble her chaotic thoughts by looking at anything but the deity standing to the left side of the table. It was no easy task. Sasuke had a certain, overpowering magnetism that always drew her full attention to him. The tangible, overwhelming aura of an immortal, she realised. And it didn't help matters that he happened to be so outrageously gorgeous too-
Gorgeous? Surely it was some kind of sacred violation for her to internally marvel over his looks? But it was difficult for her to absorb the fact that Sasuke wasn't just a striking guy about her own age. She knew it would take her a while to really fully accept that.
Something else suddenly occurred to her then; could Sasuke hear everything she was thinking inside her head? Her heart fluttered apprehensively. If so, then she would have to be extremely careful with her internal dialogue. In fact, it would probably be for the best if she just refrained from thinking altogether in his presence – however impossible that was.
"You're… really a god?"
The question flew from Sakura's lips in an unsteady wobble. Another tremor of fear quivered through her as she realised that interrogating him over the matter was probably a sin in itself. What if he considered her a faithless disbeliever? Her gaze flew away from where it had been arbitrarily admiring the decorative tassels at the overflowing hem of the luxurious table-cloth by her feet - and up to find that Sasuke's back had turned to her.
He reached out, plucking what seemed to be a small cherry tomato from a deep salad bowl, which he then proceeded to roll expertly between his index finger and thumb. Sakura didn't know what it was about the casual motion that caused her heart to pick up further speed as she ripped her eyes away to rest on the proud, fetching lines of his broad shoulders again.
"Yes," he answered after a brief pause, turning his head very slightly to the right, so that she could view the handsome profile of his face without feeling the weight of his unnerving stare upon her.
There. He had confirmed it. Sakura exhaled, giving her stunned brain a moment to register full-blown reality. But it answered her back with agitated, buzzing thoughts that ricocheted against the walls of her head, leaving her disturbed by the sheer lack of answers she had at her disposal.
But he looks so human. Why would a god take human form?
He looks human? Are you blind? Have you ever seen a guy who looks –that- flawless?
That must not be what he really looks like. Gods can take any form - can't they?
If he really is death, wouldn't he look more unpleasant?
No. He just rules over death.
He isn't the god who created people. He can't be.
Isn't he? How do you know that?
Are there really other gods out there?
What does he want? Is he… punishing me…?
Sakura scoured the depths of her mind. What had she done so scandalously wrong in her short life to warrant abduction by a deity? Sure, she had an inner self who often raged at the people who upset or irritated her, was almost gluttonous when it came to chocolate and sweet treats, but what else was there?
You hate death, a little voice reminded her through her confusion. You despise how it tears hearts apart, how it turns people who were once so full of life into shells of their former selves.
Sakura's eyes widened in alarm as she continued to gaze at Sasuke's back. That was it. That had to be it. Just the other week, she had internally cursed death for looming over Mr. Arakawa like a sinister shadow that was impossible to chase away. Sasuke had overheard her thoughts – and chosen to punish her.
But even as Sakura arrived at this conclusion she still had trouble accepting it. Of all the evil, sinful, twisted people in the world – the God of Death had selected her to judge? It didn't make sense. And yet there was no other explanation.
Before she could even realise the nature of the words that had deployed themselves onto the tip of her tongue, she blurted out, "I'm not an atheist."
Sasuke's fingers stopped twirling the tomato. He did cast a look over his shoulder, then. One dark eyebrow lifted at her odd choice of words.
Sakura felt heat creep into her cheeks and ducked her eyes meekly, amending, "I-I mean, I'm not a disbeliever." Once she had started talking, she couldn't seem to shut up. The aftermath of shock, she distantly registered, as her mouth rambled on, "I've always believed in god. I say my prayers every night and- and I help people. I even help animals. At the shelters. And I'm always grateful. I might not show it well, but I-I am."
Sasuke had turned to regard her, his expression indecipherable.
"S-so please," Sakura continued in a rush, "I haven't done anything wrong. I know that death is a part of life, and I never meant to-"
"Sakura."
She caught her breath sharply, breaking off. Her stomach twisted tightly in dread when she noted the mild scowl that had formed on Sasuke's sculpted features – as if he didn't care at all for the gibbering excuses she was throwing so desperately at him.
"I do not judge the living."
Of course Sasuke had read her fears as easily as if he were reading off an open page in a book. He was a god. That explained how he knew so much about her.
Sakura blinked bewilderedly at him. "Then…" she began uncertainly, "this isn't… a punishment?"
"No."
She released a quiet breath. Knowledge of the fact that she hadn't been brought to his realm to be judged was an immense relief. But it was also a great burden upon her mind, because Sakura couldn't think of any other reason why the God of Death would steal her away from the surface. What other motives were there? She couldn't find anything credible enough to account for why she was seated before Sasuke at that very moment. He had told her it was his will, and she was clearly meant to accept that, however difficult it was to do so. But there had to be another, underlying purpose.
Perhaps, if she tried her best to be patient again, he would eventually reward her with the truth as to just why he had chosen to kidnap her.
But she had questions, so many questions, and she felt she would go mad if he continued to deny her explanations. And yet, she was more afraid than ever to confront him. How would Sasuke respond if she did? Would he continue to leave her in the dark? Had anything changed now that she knew who and what he was? He had turned his back to her again, and nonchalantly popped the plump little tomato into his mouth.
I didn't know gods eat normal food, thought Sakura, as she watched him with wide, fascinated eyes. Did Suigetsu eat tomatoes too? She fleetingly found herself wondering what Suigetsu was god of, but quickly shoved the curiosity into a tight-lidded mental box. She couldn't risk thinking about him in Sasuke's presence. She was lucky, she knew, to have had witnessed confirmation of Suigetsu's words by the river bank; it masked the knowledge she had gained shortly beforehand perfectly. And more importantly, it concealed their meeting from Sasuke. Sakura swallowed thickly, watching as the death deity poured himself the same drink he had offered to her – but significantly more of it.
She had to be careful. Sasuke wasn't a compassionate god if he'd flung a fellow deity into a cell and shown no clemency to the woman who had begged at his feet. Now she understood, too, why his servants feared him so much. He likely had the power to terminate lives even more swiftly than she could manage to blink.
Forcing her mind to go blank when his eyes returned to her, Sakura compelled herself to bite the bullet of her fear. She couldn't well hope to gain any answers if she allowed intimidation to stay her tongue. But there was something she had to do first, before she could ask him anything else.
"Um," she began tentatively, feeling her cheeks warm further as she swallowed back her pride for the sake of what she deemed were surely her better interests. "I- I'm sorry. For… throwing that goblet at you."
She kept her gaze fixed firmly onto the closest dish before her – a succulent species of fish she had never seen before, surrounded by glistening slices of lemon and green herbs – and held her breath in anticipation of his response.
When it came, it wasn't what she had been expecting.
"No." His voice was cold, hard ice.
She almost choked on her breath in surprise, her eyes flying back up to find that onyx depths had narrowed disapprovingly at her. "Wha-" she began to fumble, when Sasuke promptly held up a halting palm, signalling her to be silent. Sakura bit her tongue and made herself comply, her heart racing. What did he mean - no?
"You are not," he elaborated.
Sakura blinked incredulously at him. "I-I am," she stammered defensively. "If I had known-"
He abruptly set his goblet down. When he began to advance toward her, it took all of Sakura's will power to remain seated. But her heart was pounding so hard and fast she was certain he could hear it, beating like a riotous drum within her.
Drawing to a stop by her left side, he placed his hands on the edge of the table, and demanded, "What action would you have taken, Sakura? Prayer?" His gaze seemed to drink up her features for a moment, before one corner of his lips pulled back to form a ghost of a sneer. "Will it work if you pray now?"
Sakura felt her lips parting to gape at him. She could scarcely believe that a deity was mocking her faith – as if prayers were merely empty words to him.
What manner of god was Sasuke? Were sacred beings not meant to be righteous, merciful, and benevolent? Or had the world misled her about that, too?
Sasuke's eyes on her were positively hawk-like as he awaited her response, and Sakura struggled to keep her lower lip from trembling.
Calm down! Her inner voice yelled at her, struggling to be heard over other senseless, panicked thoughts. This must be a test, whatever he says. Calm down and answer him! Don't just sit there and let him read you like Kakashi reads those inappropriate novels that everyone knows he keeps stashed in his desk's top drawer!
Bizarrely, the thought of her masked tutor helped her regain some equanimity. He'd once complimented Sakura on being sharp-witted and level-headed. She now needed those characteristics more than ever.
She knew what Sasuke likely expected her to do; to stumble an excuse, to cower beneath his stare, or worse - to actually fall to her knees before him and beg to be allowed to return to her mother. Because that was all she had really shown him up to that point – tearfulness and apprehension.
But he had claimed that he didn't want her dead. She had the word of a deity. Somehow she had to make herself trust in it – however difficult that was when Sasuke disconcerted her so much.
He won't kill you. He just wants to see how you react. You don't have to be afraid. You don't have to be afraid, she chanted over and over to herself.
With that in mind, she did the precise opposite of what she was certain he was waiting to see. She pushed her chair back and rose to her feet.
She thought she saw surprise flicker transiently in his midnight irises – but must have imagined it, for when she blinked, nothing but frosty indifference was reflected in the bottomless black depths.
Her voice, when she spoke, wobbled precariously, but she was pleased that at least she didn't stutter again like an incompetent idiot. "I know there must be… a reason why you've brought me here," she paused, before hesitantly venturing, "I don't know what it is yet, but I believe you'll tell me… when the time is right."
Sasuke stared hard at her for a long moment – then stepped around the corner of the table that separated them, causing Sakura's heart to jump.
Don't be scared, she kept telling herself. Don't be scared, don't be scared, don'tbescared…
But she was. She couldn't help herself. She released a shaky breath as Sasuke swiftly closed the distance between them in one graceful stride. And when his hands closed around her upper arms and he drew her in so that the front of her body brushed lightly against his, she was more than just scared.
She was petrified.
"What if the time is now?" he murmured, lowering his face so that it was mere inches away from hers. Up close, his beauty was even more startling, and she could make out the lighter flecks of stormy grey in his eyes. The colour made her think fleetingly of winter. She couldn't look away.
Sakura exhaled again, and, after several unsuccessful attempts at finding her voice, she finally managed to whisper, "Then I'm ready."
She knew the instant the words tumbled from her mouth that it was a lie. Because the truth was, she didn't feel ready to find out at all. Her mind hadn't yet fully recovered from the revelation that Sasuke was an immortal – she didn't think she could handle any further shocks.
"Ready, Sakura…?" he breathed, tilting his head marginally to the left.
She gulped. "Y-yes," she stammered, forcing herself to keep very still.
His penetrating gaze held hers for another long, tantalising moment – before slipping lower. Sakura's heart flapped like an agitated bird within her chest when she suddenly realised where his attention was directed.
Her was looking at her parted lips – and looking intently.
She nervously and self-consciously wet her lower lip - another of her mindless habits – and the fingers around her arms tightened marginally for a moment in response. Then Sasuke's gaze fell away and he briefly closed his eyes.
"Hn," the sound he made was one that bordered on annoyance. Then, abruptly, his hands relinquished their hold. His eyelids lifted and it seemed to Sakura that he was glaring at a particular, unfortunate spot on the floor.
Her pulse was thundering at impossible speed. How was it that his proximity had such a frightening and instantaneous effect on her? Every time he closed the distance between them, she felt as though every nerve ending in her body was attached to a wire, pumping high voltages of electricity through her. After a long moment, she finally allowed herself to breathe again. But her thoughts were a jumbled, frenzied mess.
What in the world had just happened? She knew that it wasn't the right time to dwell on it with Sasuke standing before her, and felt another flutter of apprehension as a request she had been meaning to make of him whispered through her thoughts.
Sasuke's displeased scowl had waned into a look that she was now absolutely certain was his default expression – one of utter detachment. Sakura took a deep breath; it was then or never. She opened her mouth – and, for the first time in his presence, hesitantly spoke his name.
"S-Sasuke…?"
His shoulders tensed slightly, as if in surprise – before he turned his full attention onto her. Sakura nervously averted her eyes, fearful of his response, as she began uncertainly, "I… my mother. She must be so worried. Please. I… if I could just send her a message to let her know that I'm alright…" her voice trailed off, and she dared not breathe, wincing in anticipation of his blunt rejection. But only silence met her ears. When it began to drag on, she anxiously flicked a glance at him – to find him regarding her coolly.
Then, to her complete astonishment, he spun abruptly on his heel and instructed curtly, "Come."
A tiny, feeble flicker of hope sparked to life inside Sakura. Was he granting her request? She rushed to follow after him, having to break out into a gentle canter to match his long, fluid strides. He led her out of the banqueting hall and took an immediate left turn, drawing to a stop before a pair of double-doors that Sakura had yet to investigate. They parted at his non-verbal command, opening up to reveal a large room that Sakura supposed was a reception or extremely luxurious lounge of some kind. A grand, black marble fireplace burned with bright, hearty flames directly before her, a rich, deep crimson rug thrown before it, giving the room a cosier feel than the austere, timeless beauty of the rest of the palace.
A gloriously framed, ornate mirror was hung directly over the hearth's enclosure. The single, enormous crystal chandelier in the room was dimly lit with candles, further emphasising the warm environment of the room. Two deep red, gold-lined, plump and elegant armchairs were stationed upon the rug before the fireplace. Several glossy wooden tables also decorated the space, supporting wonderful vases adorned with artistically arranged blooms. Sakura was momentarily distracted by them – they were an exquisite mix of midnight blue blossoms paired with milky white. Then she realised that Sasuke, whose eyes had followed her line of sight, was waiting for her. She turned back to him, following as he led her to what looked like an old-fashioned writing desk. It was beautifully carved, depicting a pattern she couldn't quite discern – but she didn't get much of a chance to attempt to identify it, for Sasuke had pulled back the chair that partnered the small table, in a wordless directive for her to be seated.
Sakura lowered herself into the comfortable chair, her pulse never once slowing down as she took a look at the items before her. A piece of something she could only identify as blank parchment was rolled out before her. Set neatly beside it was a long feather quill, and next to that, a small dark pot of ink. Sasuke gestured for her to write. Sakura swallowed, trying to mask her disbelief.
He was granting her request. But her happiness at the fact was significantly dampened by anxious awareness of the fact that Sasuke was standing over her right shoulder like a vigilant eagle. His presence was a silent, unspoken message for her to think carefully about what she wanted to pen onto paper.
Awkwardly, Sakura reached out, her fingers grasping the quill. It felt far too delicate and light to use for writing, and she was uncertain about whether or not she was even holding it correctly. Feeling self-conscious underneath Sasuke's watchful gaze, she dunked the quill into the pot – only for the ink to spill out from the force of her inexperienced action. She stiffened, opened her mouth to instantly apologise for staining the beautiful table's surface – but her words caught in her throat when Sasuke's fingers wrapped over hers, guiding the quill back into the pot. She was painfully conscious of him as he leant forward, his face hovering over her right shoulder. Sakura stared, wide-eyed, as in one, gentle motion, he moved her hand to dip the quill's pointed end into the ink. Then he lifted her hand back, and retracted contact.
Her skin once again tingled from the lightness of his touch. How was it possible that Death's hands could be so careful? Sakura was so diverted by this, that she almost missed Sasuke's command as it cut through the weighty silence.
"Write."
Karin's feet retraced the path they had trodden countless times, but her eyes were distracted, unseeing, as she supervised the latest group of newly deceased souls along the bank.
The image of Sasuke and the mortal girl was ingrained in her mind, as if inked with incurable venom, taunting her, torturing her. Unbidden, her earlier exchange with Suigetsu floated through her thoughts, causing her to glare heatedly before her. Had he been right about the death deity's reasons for bringing Sakura to the Underworld?
Was it possible? Was it possible that Sasuke- that somehow, he…
Karin ground her teeth together angrily. She couldn't even bring herself to complete the thought; it was too ludicrous, too impossible. Sasuke couldn't desire the girl in any way. Sakura was too small and slight a thing. She was a pathetic, porcelain doll who looked like she would shatter from the slightest application of force; she certainly wasn't built to endure the intensity of a god's affections. No; Sasuke didn't like her. He wouldn't. She was a mere wisp, barely a woman. Her exotic colourings were perhaps her greatest assets; there certainly didn't seem to be anything else remarkable about her that the river nymph could see.
"Hmph," Karin grumbled, as she kicked aside a stray pebble. In all her long years of servitude to Sasuke, he had never once looked at her as intently as she had glimpsed him regarding Sakura. With Sakura he had almost been careful. Almost… gentle. It had been such an alien and foreign sight to Karin – and one that had released the tumultuous rage of a woman scorned. How long had she pined after the Underworld's handsome king? How many times had he brushed aside her attempts at conversing with him, curbing her affections with a withering, uninterested glare?
The scarlet-haired woman's lips twisted bitterly. Maybe she ought to have listened to Suigetsu the fool, after all. Perhaps Sasuke had indeed whisked the human girl to his world to warm his bed. Was it truly so outrageous? Gods and goddesses had always bedded exceptional humans throughout the ages. And Sasuke had been alone for so very long. All his pent up, raw emotions, unleashed upon Sakura…
Nausea overcame her as she once again fought to deny the sinister, jealous whispers that were rising to take possession of her mind. No. Why would Sasuke want a girl who was inexperienced, immature and thoroughly unexceptional? Besides, Sakura had been hysterical, and afraid of him. Whatever Sasuke intended for her, she clearly didn't seem willing to partake in it.
Karin all but shoved the poor soul ahead of her toward the correct line. "Stay there!" she snapped. The soul – a teenage girl who appeared to be close to Sakura's age, quivered pitifully, reminding Karin of the pink-haired freak who, by some satanic means, had somehow managed to capture Sasuke's full and undivided attention.
But why? What did Sakura have that made her different, and more alluring?
Karin's gaze grew steely as she acknowledged that there was only one person who could assist her in salving the questions that burned through her. It wasn't ideal, as she hadn't intended on approaching him again, and if she had absolutely any other alternative then she wouldn't even bother to-
"Karin?"
She was drawn from her thoughts by a soft, quiet voice. Scowling, she tossed a look back at Juugo, who was peering at her with a peculiar expression on his face.
"What?" she snarled.
Juugo hesitated. She seemed like she was in an even more temperamental mood than usual, and experience had taught him enough to know that he needed to proceed with caution.
"Is everything… alright?"
"Yes!" she barked back, far too quickly. "Perfect! Now get back to the shore, Nagato's ferrying some more over!"
Juugo released a quiet sigh, and nodded, turning away to do as he'd been instructed. Karin watched him for a moment, wondering how he could be so patient and accepting of his fate. Because suddenly, it wasn't enough for her to carry out Sasuke's will and demand absolutely nothing back in return. Suddenly she felt used and slighted – just as she had when the death deity had first appeared to her, like a dark, glorious, seductive seraph, so many years before.
Her lips peeled back, baring pearly teeth, as she made her decision.
Kakashi sighed lightly as he regarded the faces around him. They were unique, and unalike, yet their expressions at that moment were remarkably similar, mirroring universal astonishment. He briefly contemplated the will of the Fates, for he, Asuma, Kurenai, Gai, Tsunade, Inoichi and Iruka had been reunited, once again, by unfortunate circumstances.
Sakura had been missing for two days – and Kakashi could already see the strain on Tsunade's face. The police had been at the door when he'd arrived at the formidable woman's house, but they all knew that human authorities were useless to them; Sakura had been stolen away by an immortal, to a place where mortals could not venture.
It was Iruka who finally broke the stunned silence. "Are you sure about this…?"
"Yes," Inoichi answered for his friend. "Sai disclosed this to us late last night."
"I cannot believe it," Kurenai shook her head, turning fearful eyes to Tsunade. The woman's expression was stony, but the tight clench in her jaw betrayed the depth of fury that was simmering within her.
"This is troubling, indeed," Asuma remarked. "Suigetsu's always enjoyed causing mischief, but for him to do this…"
"He's gone too far, this time," Kurenai agreed.
"For him to offer us his assistance, only to stab us in the back," Gai's dark eyebrows drew together to form a deep frown.
"You said Naruto was with you?" Iruka asked warily.
"Yes. He didn't take it too well, as you can imagine," said Inoichi.
"Where is Naruto now?" Asuma questioned, casting a glance over at the blond-haired man.
"With Shikamaru and Sai," Kakashi replied. "They'll keep an eye on him, but we have to act quickly. You say that Suigetsu isn't responding?"
"That's right," Asuma nodded.
"Now we know why," Iruka muttered.
"Wait," Kurenai held up a slender hand. "Let's try to unpick this. Why would Suigetsu abduct the child?"
Tsunade spoke up then. Her voice was a livid hiss, her expression thundery as she answered, "For leverage. The fool wants his seat restored at the Pantheon."
Iruka's jaw dropped as the rest of them stared in surprise. "What?"
"Is that what you promised him in return for his assistance?" Kakashi probed quietly.
Tsunade's hands closed to form frustrated fists. "He was delusional to even demand such a thing. We cannot reclaim our seats."
"But you gave him your word," Gai pointed out.
Tsunade's silence was all the confirmation they needed.
Inoichi placed his fingers to his temples. "How can we locate him if he does not answer to our calls? We cannot possibly search through all the oceans. He has absolute dominion over his territory and can easily elude us."
"And this does not explain why the seas are so disturbed," Asuma added. "If Sakura is indeed submerged-"
"He won't kill her," Iruka frowned. "He's not that stupid. He doesn't have a motive, not unless he finds out that Sai has told us-"
"Damn it!" Tsunade erupted, slamming a fist against the coffee table before her. "I'll skin that treacherous bastard with my own hands!"
"Tsunade," Kakashi raised a hand, trying to reign her temper in. "Jiraiya can assist us in this. His subjects can travel through water-"
"No!" Tsunade stiffened, her eyes flashing as they met Kakashi's lone gaze. "I will not depend on him again. He has already shown himself to be perfectly incompetent in the past!"
"Tsunade," Kurenai stated gently. "You know that Jiraiya cares about-"
Tsunade rose abruptly to her feet. They all knew her well enough to recognise what the action meant. She didn't wish to converse on the matter any further.
"I will find Suigetsu," she snarled. "And when I do, I'll make him answer for what he has done."
In a heartbeat she had exited the house, leaving the others to share troubled, unhappy glances.
Being cooped up in a cell had taught Suigetsu two things. The first was that he suffered from some immortal variant of the human condition claustrophobia. He found that he despised the enclosure of the solid rock-faces around him and the lightning infused bars before him with vehement passion. The second thing he had discovered was that sulking in imprisonment was remarkably tedious, and so he had resolved to create as much noise as possible, in the hopes of drawing an aggravated Sasuke to him.
"What do you call a god who steals children away? A kid-napper. What do you call a god who doesn't have the balls to court a girl the traditional way? Sasuke. What do you call a god who stabbed his own brother in the back? Sasuke! What do you call a god who's stupid enough to throw me in prison? Bingo! Sasuke. And what do you call a god who's gonna get his ass kicked the second I'm out of here? Yeah, that's right – Sasuke!"
"Shut up, you idiot! I can hear your racket all the way from the river!"
Suigetsu blinked, a grin slowly curving his lips. His rowdy yelling had finally attracted some attention – though it wasn't quite who he'd been expecting.
"Heh. Back so soon? Just can't keep away, can you?" he teased.
Karin drew to a stop before him. One look at her face and the rigidness of her posture revealed a wealth of knowledge to the confined sea deity – and he wasted no time in exploiting it.
"Say, Karin, you don't look too happy. Has Sasuke been a jerk again? Oh, wait; my bad; he's always a jerk."
Karin glared at him. When she didn't deign to verbally respond, Suigetsu's grin became sharper, more predatory, as he moved in for the emotional kill.
"Oh, I get it; you saw him fucking Sakura's brains out. Ouch. That's got to hurt. I mean, you spend centuries trying to jump him, and along comes Cinderella, who steals his non-existent heart right off the-"
"Shut up."
"-huh?" Suigetsu blinked again, surprised. The dejected tone and unsteady quiver he detected in Karin's voice were so markedly uncharacteristic of the feisty, sharp-tongued nymph he was accustomed to encountering, that for a few seconds the Sea God fell silent. He walked forward and peered at her through the bars of his cage - and his jaw fell open when he was certain he detected a trace of moisture on Karin's cheeks.
"Don't tell me you're actually crying over that bastard?"
"Of course not!" she snapped, quickly reverting to the form she liked to show off most to the world. "And what would you care, anyway?"
Suigetsu snorted. "You're right, I don't. Now why don't you run back to your precious Sasuke-kun?" He emphasised the name in a high, comical pitch, waving his hands in mockery of females with mindless crushes on the death deity. "Oh yeah; he doesn't want you."
"You are such an ass!" she snarled, pointing animatedly at him.
"And you're a delusional bitch," the Sea God pounced, narrowing lavender eyes at her. "Regret taking up his offer yet?"
Karin merely released an indignant 'hmph' and folded her arms, tilting her head back haughtily at him. "You're just jealous that he's better than you – in every single way."
Suigetsu snickered. "You haven't done him yet," he said, raising his eyebrows suggestively. "How can you compare?"
He watched, amused, as Karin's complexion almost became as red as her hair colour.
"K-keep your disgusting thoughts to yourself, you bastard!" she stuttered, clutching agitatedly onto the right side of her spectacles.
Suigetsu chuckled, before casually looping his hands back behind his head. All traces of mirth vanished as he demanded, "What do you want, Karin? I'm not in the mood for your annoying shit, so if you've just come here to gloat again, you can piss off."
Karin hesitated despite herself. If she decided to continue with what she'd planned, she knew there would be no turning back for her. If Sasuke found out, only the deity before her would be capable of saving her from certain death. Could she trust Suigetsu again, after the many years they had spent apart? Did she really want to go through with what she had in mind?
The image of Sasuke trapping Sakura between the cage of his arms and the rock-face flooded through her head and she swallowed thickly, unable to remove the sour taste from the back of her throat. She couldn't ignore it. She couldn't pretend it didn't hurt. She couldn't go back to acting like everything was normal. When she spoke next, she did so telepathically. She wouldn't take the risk being discovered so soon.
'That girl's a living human. What's she doing in the Underworld?'
Suigetsu's eyebrows shot up. Karin was choosing to communicate to him through her mind? This was unexpected. His curiosity snagged, he answered, 'So now you're ready to talk?'
'Shut up and answer me, idiot! What's a mortal doing here when she isn't dead?'
'Beats me. As you can see, his royal grouchiness doesn't exactly want me or anybody else finding out, either.'
'Is he going to kill her?'
Suigetsu grinned. 'It'd be a waste if he did. She's hot.'
Karin scowled disapprovingly at his words, before continuing, 'Can you get her out of here?'
Suigetsu stared hard at her, immediately suspicious. What, exactly, was the nymph playing at? And more importantly, what had caused her sudden change in heart? He knew that Karin was unpredictable in nature, just like all water elementals – but for her to completely back-track on what she had told him earlier? And when the decision concerned a certain Sasuke Uchiha, no less?
'What's with you all of a sudden? If this is a trick, I'll tear your ugly head off.'
'It's not a trick, idiot! I want her out!' Karin mentally snapped back.
'You're actually going to go against Sasuke's wishes?' Suigetsu narrowed his eyes at her, before scoffing, 'I don't believe it.'
'Fine,' she telepathically snarled. 'Then just stay in there!'
The Sea God glared at her in turn. 'How do I know I can trust you? You might go and rat on me to Sasuke the second you leave.'
'If I wanted to rat on you, I'd have done it already!' Karin countered.
Suigetsu said nothing, but continued to scrutinise her closely.
She rolled her eyes impatiently. 'Listen, fool! I'll help you out of there if you promise to get that pitiful excuse of a human away from Sasuke.'
Suigetsu flashed a hostile smile. 'You think that'll improve your chances with him? Dream on!"
He watched in satisfaction as Karin's hands tightened to form angry fists. He knew that she would have swung at him – were it not for the lightning bars that separated them.
'I don't care about that,' she answered coldly. 'Just get rid of her!'
Suigetsu smirked. 'So you wanna team up, now? We're making progress, Karin.'
'Shut up,' she glared again. 'Can you do it?'
'Well, sure, if we time this right.' He stared intently at her again, before adding, 'You sure you wanna piss Sasuke off? He's got the worst temper out of all of us.'
Karin's heart was pounding. She couldn't quite believe that she was plotting to steal the God of Death's prisoner away from him. But she didn't have any other choice. If she tried to brush off what she'd seen, and the fact that Sasuke clearly favoured little Sakura over her, then she knew that jealousy would eat away at her until nothing remained. She wouldn't be able to continue with her duties when her heart felt as though it had been trampled to pieces. And if she did not carry out her duties, then Sasuke had no need for her – and would likely terminate her existence. Karin always looked out for her better interests first. She would be doing Sasuke a favour, she reasoned, by removing the girl from the Underworld. No good would come of his fleeting interest in the mortal child.
Taking a deep breath, she communicated the last of her terms to seal the agreement between them. 'If I let you out, you've got to get me out too.'
Suigetsu wasn't certain he had heard correctly. 'Huh?'
Karin huffed impatiently. 'You heard, idiot! I don't want Sasuke coming after me!' She felt a prick of annoyance when Suigetsu's jaw dropped open in utter disbelief. Then he shook his head, and to her fury, began to laugh. Hard.
"Shut up!" she barked aloud, glancing nervously around them.
Suigetsu continued to snort with laughter, before finally managing, "Oh, man, this is gonna be priceless. He's gonna be so mad! Ahahahahaha!"
"Quiet!" Karin hissed underneath her breath, apprehension fluttering through her at the mere thought of a furious, vengeful Sasuke. Then, in her head again, 'How do we get that little freak out of there? I can't get into the palace-'
Suigetsu smiled a small smile, as he answered in kind, 'Leave the little flower to me.'
Sakura stared absent-mindedly into the fireplace. After she had scrawled a very short note, Sasuke had departed, presumably, she hoped, to have it delivered to her mother. She'd remained in the warm room, taking seat in one of the comfortable armchairs, and had soon lost herself in her thoughts.
Sasuke had permitted her to write a letter. Maybe he was more compassionate than what she had initially allowed herself to believe? She shook her head, quickly dismissing the idea. The fact that her kidnapper had allowed her to scribble a few words didn't remove her fear of him. He was Death, the embodiment of what frightened her most.
Perhaps that was her test…? If she somehow overcame her fear of Sasuke, and consequently of death, would he let her return to the surface? Sakura lowered her head, resting her chin on her knee-caps, drawn up and close to her chest. The more she followed the train of thought, the more it seemed plausible. Maybe, if she made an effort to understand Sasuke…
Then what? Her inner voice sneered at her. You'll become friends and he'll have mercy and release you? Just look at him. Does he look like a nice, friendly god? You think just because he let you write a note, that he'll be kinder to you from now on? How stupid are you?
Sakura swallowed miserably. A god. She was being held captive by an immortal. How could she ever have anticipated that her life would take such an unpleasant and thoroughly terrifying turn? She recalled the wishes she had made at the end of the Spring Festival, and her mouth curved to form a grim, bitter smile. She ought to have asked for shelter from death – quite literally.
She ran her tongue over her lips, realising that she was thirsty again. Releasing a heavy sigh, she rose to her feet and exited the room, before making her way back over to the banqueting hall. The golden liquid in its decanter sat temptingly before her as she approached the table. But she decided against pouring herself more of it, reckoning that there had to be a reason why Sasuke had told her that her serving had been enough.
Instead she picked up the elegant water jug, filled a goblet, and swallowed the cold, refreshing liquid down in one hungry gulp. Sighing with satisfaction, she poured herself a second serving – and nearly dropped the goblet when she suddenly saw a face reflected within it that most certainly was not hers. She yelped in alarm, and quickly set the goblet back down but not before it precariously spilt some water onto the luxurious tablecloth.
'Whoa, whoa! Calm down, Pinky! It's me!'
Sakura gaped at Suigetsu's face, rippling on the surface of the small circle of water.
"S-Suigetsu?"she squeaked in bewilderment. Surely she had to be imagining that she was seeing his face in her drink, as well as hearing his voice in her head. But when she blinked his reflection was still very much there.
'Shh! The bastard's not around is he?' When she mutely shook her head, he continued, 'I was almost ready to give up trying to get hold of you. Listen. Think your words out to me – I'll hear them, so long as we're connected through water.'
Realisation settled over Sakura. She concentrated, attempting to speak to him as he requested. 'Are you a Water God?'
She was rewarded with a smile that reminded her, for a heart-constricting moment, all too much of Naruto. 'Smart girl,' he complimented. Then, seriously, 'Are we still clear?'
Sakura nodded, hope blooming within her as she reached out and lifted the goblet into her hands again. If she had another deity on side, perhaps she stood a chance of escaping. But it meant that she absolutely could not risk letting Sasuke find out that she was communicating with Suigetsu.
'Suigetsu-' she began, suddenly feeling like she wasn't so alone.
'As long as we talk like this, he won't be able to overhear us,' Suigetsu cut her off. 'But you've got to keep this a secret, got it? Now I'm assuming, given that he hasn't come over here and tried to decapitate me yet, that he doesn't know we've spoken already.'
'No,' Sakura answered. Then, hesitantly, 'I saw him at the river bank. With souls. I... he brought me back here.'
'So you found out anyway, huh? Believe me now?'
'I'm sorry,' she mentally apologised, cradling the goblet close. She'd only met Suigetsu in person once, but she was already certain, somehow, that she was safer with him than she was with Sasuke. At least Suigetsu was easy to talk to – even if he was somewhat unpredictable, also.
'Heh. Anyway, you offered to help me out. You still up for that?'
'Yes!' Sakura nodded eagerly, her pulse picking up speed.
'Good,' Suigetsu grinned. 'Help me out and I'll help you out. Literally. Now listen carefully, Pinky. Sasuke keeps a special lightning blade on him at all times. I need you to get hold of it for me.'
Sakura released a breath. A blade? Did Suigetsu mean the sword she had spied attached in its jewelled scabbard at Sasuke's waist? Nervously, she answered, 'I… how am I supposed to do that?'
Suigetsu wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. 'You're a woman, aren't you? I'm sure you can find a way to disarm that asshole.'
Sakura's jaw dropped in mortification, searing heat flying instantly to her cheeks in response to what Suigetsu was implying. The water deity must have noticed, for he released an amused chuckle. 'You're even cuter when you're embarrassed,' he teased.
Sakura fought the urge to spill the water onto the floor, and managed, 'I-I mean it. I can't do it. He scares me so much, I…'
Suigetsu snorted. 'Has he told you he's going to kill you?'
'No…' Sakura blinked.
'Has he told you he's not going to kill you?'
'Yes, but-'
'Then what's the problem?'
Desperation bubbled within Sakura. She knew exactly what the problem was, of course. If she wanted to obtain the sword, then she had to make the effort to talk politely to Sasuke again, to try to gain his trust so that he allowed her to handle the blade. But even then, even if she did, by some miracle, manage to open the channels of communication between them, there was still no guarantee that Sasuke would hand his sword over to her. How could she take it from him without flagging his suspicions? He always watched her so closely, so carefully. Suigetsu didn't understand that she was a terrible liar, and always had been. And being economical with the truth to the death deity would likely be her final and most fatal mistake.
'I can't lie to him,' she disclosed honestly. 'He's a god. He'll see right through me-'
'You won't have to lie to him. Listen, do you know how to fight?'
'What?' she frowned down at his reflection, confused by the sudden change in subject.
'Can you use a sword?' Suigetsu pressed impatiently.
'Um… no,' Sakura shook her head, uncertain as to where the conversation as heading.
'Perfect,' the water deity nodded. 'Ask Sasuke to teach you and then borrow his sword to practice. Then bring it over when the coast's clear. In an ideal scenario, that would be after you knock him out with his own weapon.'
Sakura gawped. Her heart was now pounding erratically within her. Ask Sasuke to teach her how to fight with a sword? There was no way she could or would do such a thing. She didn't trust him enough not to hurt her, despite his words. They barely knew each other, and besides, he was a deity who would surely consider it a waste of his time. How could Suigetsu be so certain that Sasuke would even consent to indulging such a random request? She anxiously shook her head. If Sasuke found out, if he tracked her down before she got the sword to Suigetsu-
What would he do to her…?
Reading the apprehensive look on her face, the Water God sighed, 'Look, Pinky. If you want to find out why you're here, you're gonna have to talk to him. He's a royal pain in the ass, I know, but you gotta suck it up and try. And if you want to get out of here, you'll get me that sword. We'll talk again.'
"Wait!" Sakura began, forgetting in her desperation to communicate mentally. "Suigetsu-!"
'Keep your eyes open, Pinky.' With that, the water's surface rippled, and when it stilled once again, Sakura found herself staring into clear, innocent liquid. She slowly set the goblet down, her mind racing.
Suigetsu wanted her to try and get to know Sasuke in an attempt to steal away the sword that he needed, which he claimed that she in turn needed, in order for them to escape from the Underworld. How in the world was she going to do that, without Sasuke realising?
Sakura raised a hand to her face, and released a groan of despair.
Sasuke stared down at the unfolded parchment in his hand. The note scrawled upon it had been written in cursive script, the letters rounded and fanciful in nature. But the tone of the message was anything but playful and light-hearted.
Dear mother,
Please believe me when I tell you that I'm fine. I'm unhurt. I'm not hungry, and I'm not cold. I'm so sorry for making you and everyone else worry.
Please remember to water the roses, the peach blossoms, the geraniums, and the cypress plants.
I love you more than anything else in the world.
-Sakura
His index finger trailed over her signed name, brushing the corner where her silent tears had fallen to stain the paper. It didn't matter, Sasuke told himself, that she was unhappy. He had brought Sakura to his realm for his own desires – her feelings were subordinate in relation to his own wants and needs. The fact that he'd chosen to grant her request changed nothing. He had done so to further his own designs – that was all.
His eyes lowered briefly as he recalled how his name had sounded falling from her sweet, chaste lips. He wanted to hear it again. He hungered for it. He wondered how it would sound if he made her gasp it, moan it, scream it...
Sasuke released a quiet breath. Soon, he told himself. As long as he had Sai keeping an eye on the search for Sakura on the surface, he still had time to entice her to accept the food of the dead from his hand. Folding the parchment once again, he raised a thumb and index finger to his lips, meaning to whistle for transportation – when something on the ground suddenly caught his attention. Sasuke tensed, his eyes immediately honing in on the spot where he had detected movement. He stared intently, and when a full minute passed without further occurrence, Sasuke made to turn away – only to spin back around at the final moment. In a flash he had unsheathed the blade at his waist and lunged forward, stabbing its tip into the ground. Then he knelt down to examine the creature that had been impaled by his sword.
A small toad with orange markings struggled, flailing its arms and legs before growing still. Sasuke's eyes widened in instant recognition and he drew a sharp inhalation of breath. The amphibian's identity was unmistakable. He rose rigidly to his feet, fury swirling in onyx irises, bleeding them to crimson.
The fingers grasping Sakura's note tightened. Sasuke blinked, and the parchment erupted into black flame.
Author's note:
Half this chapter was just Sasuke and Sakura interaction. I really had trouble with it, it was an awkward scene and I hope it came across as awkwardly as I had in mind xD Anyway, it's SNOWING as I'm typing this, the world is white and wonderful, and I'm happy. If you review for me, I'll be even happier!
Ohohoho, Sasukeee – why so possessive at the end?
Sasuke snarls back: Because. She. Is. Mine!
O…kay. Take an Itachi Chill Pill. Clinically proven to, err, calm you down and make you appear effortlessly unruffled and tranquil… like the character it's named after. xD
And ever heard of animal rights, Sauce-face? Evil, evil death god! I'm hoping you all know who that toad belonged to…
P.S. Too bad Sasuke burned the note. Because clever Sakura actually wrote a hidden meaning in there to her mother… research yielded that the meaning of peach blossoms is 'I am your captive' and cypress means 'death'. Put them together and you get… I am death's captive? xD Damn you Sasuke for foiling this attempt at communication!
Oh well, at least Sakura has Suigetsu on side, though he's in for it when Tsunade gets her hands on him, poor guy. ; )
I know I said a new character would be introduced, but this will have to be in the next chapter. Reason being is the contents of this one changed and parts ran on for longer than I anticipated they would. Also, I apologise for Ino and Hinata's absences too; again, they didn't fit here.
Expect the next few chapters to be loaded with Sasuke and Sakura interactions. Whoopee! There will be updates on the search for her woven in also, of course, to advance the plot. Thanks for reading, see you next chapter!