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This chapter is something of an ice-breaker and is Sasuke and Sakura heavy. I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter XXIII
And so she gave her word to Death,
No more false lies would she beget,
In earnest did she vow to obey,
Ne'er again to pry nor stray,
In silence, he heard, his mind concealed,
To words that cleft his armoured shield,
Though such a truth - he would not yield.
Obsidian eyes trailed unhurriedly over Sakura's form. She was clothed in an outfit that closely resembled the one she had donned for their first training session. Deep green sleeves moulded closely to her arms, reaching to just above her elbows. The pleated leather skirt was grey, and beneath it, darker grey knee-length tights modestly concealed the bare skin of her slender thighs. Her hair was pulled back into a long braid, stray wisps falling into her face. Sasuke watched as she quickly dismounted the post and joined him on level ground.
She was nervous. He could plainly see her inner anxiety from the way she unconsciously hunched her petite shoulders. She took a few, shuffling steps toward him and stopped when she deemed the distance between them to be adequate enough. Sasuke waited, curious and keen to discover what she intended to say and how she would choose to act.
Sakura's heart was galloping hard and fast. She had made grand plans to apologise properly, but a part of her had doubted that Sasuke would even read - much less acknowledge - her note. However, he evidently had, and she found the prospect of verbally acquiring his forgiveness a daunting one. She had devised a simple speech, which seemed to have flown right out of her head now that the death deity was standing before her.
The seconds dragged by, every single one that passed heightening the tense silence that had fallen between them.
Do it, Sakura fiercely scolded herself. Just open your mouth and get it over with. Don't think about it – just say it!
Fiddling fretfully with the tail of her braid, Sakura swallowed down her self-consciousness, forced her eyes back up to the stoic god's, and began earnestly, "I'm sorry, Sasuke."
His expression remained stony, and - Sakura agitatedly thought - completely unforgiving. But before she could lose her nerve, she ventured, "I should never have gone snooping around behind your back. And I-" Overcome with terrible guilt, she averted her gaze and conceded, "I should never have lied to Ume."
She paused, her anxiety only escalating when Sasuke remained quiet. She chanced a quick glance back at him, to find him regarding her coolly and indifferently, without the faintest semblance of any kind of emotion on his face.
Sakura lowered her head and shifted her weight from one sandal-clad foot to the other. "I…" she took a deep breath, and decided to take the plunge, reasoning that she had the best chance of being pardoned if she was as honest as possible. "I know it's not an excuse, but I just wanted to understand. That's why I did it. I want to understand this place better and I…"
Tell him! Her inner self practically screeched at her hesitation.
"…I want to understand what you are," Sakura near-whispered, distressed to feel unexpected heat flourishing to her cheeks. Hastily, she rephrased less personally, "I mean- I want to understand what you do."
Sasuke kept staring at her. He said nothing.
Squeezing her eyes briefly shut, Sakura confessed with difficulty, "It's been so hard for me. I'm trying, but I…" she chewed down on her lower lip, "I'm human, Sasuke. I'm clumsy and stupid, and I make mistakes. But I didn't mean to knock the candles over. I just- that was an accident." She shook her head in puzzlement at what had overcome her at the sight of the portrait, but resisted the urge to refer to the painting. Mentioning it at such a critical moment, she was sure, would close Sasuke off even further, and that was the very last thing she wanted to do.
Clasping her hands behind her back, Sakura continued, "This place is so strange, so different to anything I've ever seen. But I keep messing up because I don't know what's going on. I wish you could just explain it to me." When Sasuke's eyebrows drew together at that, she quickly tagged on, "But if you can't, or don't want to right now, I'll wait." She wet her lips and added with an awkward little laugh, "Maybe that's my test?" After another pause, in which Sasuke's expression remained unmoved, she finished solemnly, "I promise I'll be more careful from now on. I won't go snooping anywhere you don't want me to, and I won't leave the palace without telling you."
One dark eyebrow lifted marginally at that, and Sakura fleetingly wondered whether she would come to regret her words. It was a difficult promise to make; she knew what she was committing herself to, that she was relinquishing what little freedom of movement she had, but told herself that she had no choice. She had to lay all her cards on the table if she wanted any chance of repairing the damage she had done.
There was just one card that she would keep to herself. But it was one she would never permit herself to even consider in Sasuke's company.
The sound of footsteps slowly approaching her caused Sakura's pulse to quicken. Her lashes swept up to find Sasuke standing directly before her. His expression was aloof, but his eyes were as hard as anthracite searing intently through her. With great effort, Sakura maintained contact between their gazes. Her heart fluttered when he continued to stare deeply into her irises, as if seeking to mentally scour every inch of her mind for any further traces of dishonesty or deceit. She suddenly had the unnerving sensation that he was glaring right through her, into her very soul.
What did those unfathomable depths see when they looked at her?
Then, abruptly, Sasuke blinked, and reached out with his left hand, ghosting his fingers over the hair on the right side of her head. Sakura remained perfectly still, ignoring the overpowering need to move away from his electrifying presence as he stepped closer, so that he stood toe-to-toe with her.
The words he spoke in response caused her heart to leap into her throat.
"What else have you lied about, Sakura…?" he murmured.
Panic almost seized her as the transient thought of him knowing about that which she had to keep secret flew through her mind, but she compelled herself to uphold eye-contact. She wasn't lying about anything. Lying and withholding information were two separate things, weren't they? She was being honest when she told him that she would not pry anymore. She had no further intentions of exploring the Underworld alone. The only person who could enlighten her about the extraordinary realm was the enigma of a god who towered over her.
Her insides jittering, Sakura shook her head, and answered, "Nothing."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed mistrustfully. Did Sakura really expect him to believe that she would cease searching for an escape from his kingdom? He was no fool. He knew how much she longed to return to the surface, saw the sadness and yearning she was fighting to keep obscured from him. And although her desire to understand did not excuse the fact that she had entered through a door which had been deemed forbidden to her, Sasuke told himself on reflection that he ought to have expected and anticipated her curiosity. Wanting to learn more was, after all, an integral part of Sakura's inquisitive and scholarly nature.
That did not mean he would forget the occurrence – and neither would she. The death deity was wary of accepting her word, yet her promises were sincere. He did not detect fabrications in them. Her pupils were dilated and open to him, her beautiful doe-like eyes genuinely remorseful.
It was annoying, how expressive those green orbs were, how he felt the inexplicable craving to study them, the way they reflected emotions so vibrantly. He wondered how a pair of eyes could be so innocent and alluring at the same time, and was struck by a sudden, senseless urge to snake his right arm around her waist, and pull her close against him.
He wondered how Sakura would react if he did.
Instead, he tilted his head and leaned in closer, so that his lips hovered over her left ear.
"Lie again, Sakura…" Sasuke exhaled against her skin, his words trailing off as the remainder of the unspoken threat weighed ominously in the air. Sakura froze, paralysed in place by the tingling sensation in her ear which his warm breath had provoked, and the unmistakeable implications of his silent guarantee. If she was dishonest again, she would face the full consequences.
The very thought of what those consequences would entail instilled her with terror. She gulped, processing at that second that Sasuke was being unquestionably lenient. She was walking a very thin line, indeed.
"I won't," she assured him, as firmly as she could manage. "I promise."
The following seconds were almost unbearable for Sakura, as the Death God lingered in place. Then, to her great relief, his hovering fingers lowered and he stepped back, closing his eyes briefly.
"Hn," he dismissed. His eyelids lifted again and formed dangerous slits, as he added in warning. "You will be held to that vow."
Sakura released a breath. Did that mean she was forgiven, or at least on the road to being pardoned? She hardly dared to believe it, not when Sasuke still looked so displeased and guarded.
But a tiny ray of hope sparked to life within her, when the death deity abruptly turned away and ordered curtly, "Retrieve your blade."
Shikamaru cast a wary glance about his surroundings. The village they had wandered into was located on the outskirts of Konoha and not one they had visited often before. It was a quiet little town, quaint in appearance, but otherwise unremarkable. It had little to recommend itself to tourists - other than several bathing houses and its unusually large population of women.
It was precisely the kind of town Jiraiya enjoyed 'exploring'.
"All this travelling on the road is making me feel grimy," Naruto whined behind him. Shikamaru released a light sigh. He could already guess, from countless experience, where the conversation was likely heading. It was no coincidence that the male bathhouses were adjacent to the female ones. Naruto had much more in common with Jiraiya than he liked to admit.
He ignored his friend and kept his eyes focused firmly ahead. A pretty young brunette caught his eye and offered a coy smile. He quickly averted his gaze, unaffected by her attentions. He had seen, and knew, much more beautiful girls, anyway.
"Ah, c'mon Shikamaru; just a little rest? Can't we stop for five minutes and grab a drink?" Naruto pleaded, his arms folded casually behind his head, his eyes squinting the same way they always did when he was up to mischief.
Shikamaru turned his gaze up to the sky in exasperation as a particularly attractive red-haired girl beamed at Naruto as she passed him. How troublesome, he thought to himself, as his friend's sunshine head twisted to follow after her. He ought to have known that bringing Naruto to this place was a bad idea. The loud-mouthed blond reminded him too much of their leader, sometimes.
"Don't lose focus," he scolded. "We're here for Jiraiya."
Naruto mumbled complaints beneath his breath, but trailed obediently after him. They stopped at shops and restaurants, asking the owners and locals whether they had seen a man who fit Jiraiya's description and photograph. None had, and they were almost ready to concede that Jiraiya was not around, when a dark-haired woman who had been listening in to their enquiries pulled a sour face at them.
"That old geezer! He got tossed out of the bathhouses! Trying to spy on naked women, he was!" She glared at them, and added before they could protest their innocence, "Are you friends of that pervert? Leave our village at once! We've no place for the likes of you!"
She grabbed her shopping bags and bustled off, leaving Naruto and Shikamaru to exchange helpless glances. Jiraiya was still finding time to pursue worldly pleasures, despite the urgency of Sakura's situation.
"Better not tell granny Tsunade about this," Naruto muttered, as they turned and began to make their way toward the bathhouses. Three minutes later, they found a familiar figure sitting unashamedly on a rock by the front entrance to the male springs. Jiraiya looked up as they approached, and cheerfully raised the bottle of wine in his hand up to them in greeting.
"Oho!" he exclaimed. "Very good! You've found me, Naruto!"
Naruto shook his fist at him. "You perverted old hermit! Sakura-chan's missing, and you're here spying on naked women?"
Shikamaru thought it was somewhat ironic that Naruto was lecturing his old teacher, when Naruto himself had been begging just minutes earlier to make a quick stop at one of the food bars.
"My dear boy," Jiraiya corrected him affectionately, "I am conducting research. A bathhouse contains a great wealth of information-"
The tinkling sounds of female laughter caused Naruto to flush deeply. Jiraiya straightened, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"I wonder what information I can gather from that…" he began, but broke off when Shikamaru abruptly grabbed him by the collar of his long, sleeveless burgundy coat and yanked him up to his feet.
"You know, Tsunade's right about you," he sighed.
Jiraiya scowled at the mention of her name. "Shikamaru, don't be such a prude. You're young, and you aren't above such pleasures, no matter how hard you might try to convince yourself otherwise…" he stared thoughtfully at the youth before adding, "You mean to tell me that you have no desire to spy that minx Ino in a bathing suit?"
Naruto choked on a cough. Shikamaru felt heat blaze into his cheeks, and he muttered in irritation, "You've had way too much to drink, old man."
"Or you," Jiraiya turned blithely on Naruto. "Little Hinata-chan would look fetching too, I'm sure."
"Wha-!" Naruto spluttered. "Shut up, pervert!"
They succeeded in dragging the lecherous Jiraiya out of the village, but not without a colourful verbal send-off from a wealth of affronted women of various ages. On the field outside the town, he settled down beneath a tree, and immediately sobered.
"Of course I'm not intoxicated," he stated moodily. "What lightweight do you youngsters take me for?"
Naruto glared at him. "What are you doing all the way out here? You're supposed to be looking for Sakura-chan!"
"Calm down, Naruto. I merely stopped by here an hour ago," Jiraiya waved a dismissive hand at him.
Shikamaru doubted that was all the time he had taken, given the mass of ladies he had managed to upset, but shook his head, eager not to waste any further time. "We've been trying to track you for several days, Jiraiya."
"Get a damned cell phone, already!" Naruto interjected, pointing in frustration at the white-haired man, who sighed heavily.
"I have no need of such materialistic items-"
"Jiraiya," Shikamaru quickly directed the conversation back to the subject at hand, before it could divert again. "We need your help, but we won't talk here. Come back with us, and we'll fill you in."
Jiraiya's eyes darted between the two youths who stood gazing expectantly down at him. Then he said with an impish smile, "Young rascals; so forceful these days. Well, then; shall we go?"
Sakura watched Sasuke's movements carefully, trying her utmost to mirror them as best she could. The death deity had begun their second training session with what he probably intended to be a 'warm-up' ring-catching activity – but Sakura had been out of breath and suffered a number of falls by the time he had terminated it. He had scarcely permitted her to regain her bearings before commencing onto the next task, which involved her mirroring the steps he took. They had started off basic enough – but of course, as Sakura had quickly realised, Sasuke was a punishing tutor who did not go lightly on her.
She took a side-step to her right, watching his feet and hands, grateful to have an excuse to not look into that face, though she could feel the weight of his gaze, directed constantly at her. When Sasuke swiped his Kusanagi left, she did the same with her sword. When he performed eight-shaped loops in the air with his blade, she copied the motion – albeit with much less fluidity and grace.
Sasuke's movements became faster, and Sakura pushed herself to keep up. He feigned movement to his right, and she followed – before he abruptly switched directions, back-pedalling smoothly. She cycled backward and jogged left when he did, breaking into a sprint as he picked up further pace, but faltered when he changed course once again.
"Focus," he reprimanded sternly. Panting, she hurried right, forward, left, then around as he made to circle her, her eyes darting to his face for the briefest of seconds. Sasuke didn't even look like he was exerting himself. His breathing was regular and even. His eyes snagged hers, and the distraction cost her as she tripped up over her own feet and landed on her rear end on the sandy arena floor.
Sasuke scowled down at her. "Hn," he scoffed. "Inept."
She frowned in turn. Hadn't he called her that insulting term before? Gulping down air, she defended, "I'm trying my best-"
But Sasuke had no interest in hearing excuses. "Get up," he cut in mercilessly. Sakura lugged herself up to her feet, her lungs heaving for oxygen, wondering why he seemed so dissatisfied. What did he expect? She wasn't a godly, flawless being like he was. She had limits – very human ones. She had hardly exercised vigorously in her life, apart from during dance lessons, despite Ino's futile attempts to get her to regularly attend gym classes.
She watched, regulating her breathing once again, as with an elegant flourish Sasuke produced what looked to be a tennis-ball sized glass sphere in his right hand. It was oddly cloudy, as if it confined some manner of fog within – which she soon realised was precisely what the mysterious grey swirls contained inside the ball were.
"A veiling sphere," Sasuke informed her. "When struck against a solid surface, it fractures, releasing the mist within it." He held it out to her. Sakura accepted it, and cast an uncertain glance back up at him.
"What do I do with it?"
In response, Sasuke produced another three out of thin air and handed them all to her. She had to replace her sword in its casing in order to carry them all.
"They enhance stealth and detection skills," the Death God answered, before gesturing for her to step out of the circular area. He moved to the centre of the lowered ground, and indicated for her to stand by one of the columns that formed a ring around the dome.
"Strike the spheres to the ground, and try to complete a full circle around the pillars," Sasuke explained. "When the mist dissipates, you must remain hidden behind a column."
Sakura stared at him. "But you'll already know where I am," she commented, confused by the purpose of the activity.
He threw her a pointed look. "Remain concealed from your enemy's sight," he clarified.
She blinked and looked down at the spheres in her hands. It seemed like a straight-forward enough drill; she simply had to time her runs while the mist cloaked her form from Sasuke's direct line of view. Then she glanced back at Sasuke, who was waiting expectantly for her to hide behind the first column. As Sakura moved to do so, she peered back at him and asked nervously, "What happens if I don't hide in time?"
In response, Sasuke stabbed his sword into the ground and unclipped one of the weapons he had attached to his belt at the start of the training session. A sharp kunai glinted menacingly in the light, as the death deity warned, "I will not miss."
Sakura's eyes widened. The hidden message behind his words was unmistakeable. If she failed to hide herself, the weapon would be flung directly at her. Even if Sasuke did not aim to strike her, she certainly did not want to be faced with a potentially dangerous incoming projectile.
"You'll make this fair, right?"
He sent her a haughty, condescending look. "Scared, Sakura…?" he taunted, flipping the kunai into the air before catching it in his palm again.
She bristled indignantly. Sasuke knew perfectly well that she wasn't comfortable with training with him. Why did he have to mock her about it?
Because he's even more of a jerk than Neji Hyuuga on his most ego-inflated of days? Her inner voice helpfully supplied. But she said nothing, choosing instead to compose herself behind the pillar. She was so desperate to succeed, to make it all the way around without misfortune slapping her in the face. She'd had too much bad luck lately. Surely she could accomplish such a simple activity? Sasuke clearly did not hold high expectations of her doing so and yet, how she longed to prove him wrong, to replace that contemptuous look with one of reluctant surprise!
I can do this, she thought determinedly to herself. I just have to run as fast as I can, and keep my eyes open. I can do it!
"I'm ready," she called out to him.
She swallowed as she heard the clink of metal. Sasuke had probably just armed himself with extra kunai – not that he needed them. The instant he glimpsed a clear opening, she had no doubt that he would not miss.
"Begin," his voice rang out authoritatively.
Sakura held back, reasoning that the longer she waited the more unpredictable her sudden movement would be. The death deity's position in the middle of the arena maximised his view of the circle of columns, but Sasuke had no way of knowing when she was about to toss the sphere – not unless he did cheat, which would defeat the entire objective of the training exercise. She was aware that he could locate her immediately if he wished to, but trusted that he would give her a sporting chance at succeeding.
All she had to do was hurtle the globe in Sasuke's direction and make a mad dash for safety. It was almost like a game of baseball. There were twelve pillars in total, and she had been given four veiling spheres, which meant she had to complete three columns per sphere thrown.
It was easy enough – except that the distance between each pillar was quite a sprint in itself.
"Sakura," Sasuke prompted sharply, impatiently, after a full minute had passed.
"You never specified a time limit," she countered. Her fingers tightened their hold on the sphere as she waited for his response.
Sure enough, it came.
"Hn. Begin, or-"
She didn't give him a chance to finish. Midsentence, she threw the sphere right toward him. It struck the ground and shattered, instantly releasing a cloud of thick grey mist that quickly enveloped Sasuke's form and blanketed his view of her. Sakura marvelled at the sight for a transitory moment – before remembering she had a mission to accomplish. She bolted for the next pillar, keeping a close eye on the thickness of the mist.
She was caught by surprise at the speed at which it began to dissipate. She had thought it would last a little longer, but of course, Sasuke delighted in making her life more difficult. Racing past the first pillar, she pushed herself onwards towards the second, just as the fog began to thin dangerously – and yelped in alarm as the ominous whistling sound of a projectile cutting through air and hurtling her way made her dive desperately forward and skid behind the sanctuary of the second column – just as the slicing of metal indenting into stone reverberated in her ears.
She panted, her heart thumping wildly from exertion and adrenaline.
"That distraction won't work again," Sasuke's hard voice reached her in warning, referring to her verbal diversion. Sakura concentrated on catching her breath, and prepared the second sphere.
Great, she fumed silently in frustration. Now she had to complete four pillars in one run. How was she going to manage that, when three alone were a stretch? And Sasuke had just given her a taster of how deadly accurate his throws were.
I'll just have to run faster – and worry about the pulled muscles later, Sakura mentally told herself. Taking a deep breath, she peered cautiously around the column to gauge Sasuke's position – and gasped when another kunai soared inches past her head. Quickly, she sought shelter again, her mind racing in an attempt to map out some form of strategy.
A sudden thought occurred to her. If I throw a second one, just as the first is wearing off, I can buy myself more time, and I won't have to worry about looking for an opening to throw the spheres from behind the columns.
But that also meant that she absolutely had to complete as many runs as she could, and utilise every fraction of a second available to her, without relying on the safety net offered by the pillars.
"Do I get any extra spheres?" she questioned.
"No," was the curt response.
Sakura looked down at the three remaining spheres in her hands. It had to be doable – otherwise Sasuke would not have limited the number to four. Unless he just wanted to make a total fool out of her – which was something that she wasn't quite ready to put beneath him.
Sasuke looped his index finger through the ring at the end of another kunai's handle, and spun it lazily in anticipation of her next movements.
What will you do now, Sakura…? He internally wondered.
Sakura braced herself. She would have to throw the first sphere blindly – and hope that it landed close enough to the Death God. Counting down from three in her head, she hurtled the glass globe as far and fast as she could, straining to hear it connect with the ground. When the distinctive sound of thin glass shattering reached her ears, she lunged forward, just as the mist began to flood up. Heart hammering, she prepared the second sphere as she tore past the third column, forcing her legs to surpass their accustomed limit.
Four! She thought frantically, as she raced by another pillar, just as the dense fog began to thin once again. She choked on a gasp as a metal projectile flew her way, and ducked unseeingly, throwing another sphere toward Sasuke's barely visible silhouette in the middle of the arena. It ruptured on the ground as she passed the fifth column, fully cloaked her as she rounded the sixth. But the untrained muscles in her legs were starting to burn, and she was near breathless. She could feel her momentum slowing as she passed the seventh, and by the time she approached the eighth, she knew she had to stop. The distance was too great, and she wasn't used to running such long distances.
A kunai suddenly indented in the ground right beside her left foot, throwing her unexpectedly off balance as she hopped to avoid it. Before she could regain her bearings, another kunai pierced the edge of her skirt, the incredible momentum with which it had been thrown succeeding in staggering her backwards. She cried out, meaning to throw the final sphere in her grasp, but another star-shaped metal weapon snagged the other side of her skirt, tearing straight through the edges.
Sakura spun thoughtlessly as a ruthless projectile whistled within inches of her right ear, slicing off thin, flying strands of pink hair along with it. The pillar, she realised in panic, was now behind her. She looked up, her eyes widening in terror as they witnessed three more kunai rushing straight toward her like honed, steel missiles. She leapt to the left, lost her balance as Sasuke directed another small, disc shaped weapon by her feet, and fell against the pillar, her back slamming into hard stone.
Stars briefly swam across her vision, and she felt something catch against both sides of her skirt. With alarming accuracy, another small disc snagged the left sleeve of her sparring outfit, and an additional one sliced into her trailing braid, tugging it painfully backward and holding it firmly in place against the column.
What had just happened? Sakura blinked, lungs heaving for oxygen, utterly stunned by the speed at which she had been effectively trapped against the pillar by weapons that had speared straight through the edges of her clothes. She flinched when a final kunai embedded into the hem between her legs, and looked up, her heart jumping as Sasuke slunk out of the rapidly clearing remnants of mist like a noiseless shadow, Kusanagi in his hand once again.
She tried in vain to wriggle free, but the weapons were holding securely onto her clothing, and the only way to break loose was to tear the fabric in various places. Her head was tilted uncomfortably back, fixed in position by the projectile that had been aimed at her hair. Deeply embarrassed by the awkwardness of her position, Sakura threw the glass sphere in her free right hand directly at Sasuke's head in indignation. The death deity caught it effortlessly, which only made her fume further at her failure and his arrogance - and was promptly rewarded for her reckless attempt by the tugging feel of another weapon indenting into the sleeve of right arm, rendering all her limbs useless.
"Going somewhere, Sakura…?" Sasuke mocked, one corner of his lips drawing back to form a faint, sinful smirk that she was certain rivalled the devil's himself.
She gulped, the heat in her cheeks increasing at the indisputably wicked sight. "You-" she spluttered accusingly, "You cheated! You didn't give me a chance!"
The smirk waned as swiftly as it had appeared. "No," Sasuke clipped, features cold once again. "You lack speed."
Her earlier resolve all but withered away at being so bluntly put down. Once again, he had not even acknowledged the fact that she'd tried so hard "Please let me down," she requested quietly, miserably.
Sasuke regarded her intently. He could see the defeat in her expression and the way her shoulders hunched. Irritation spiked through him. Why was she so weak? Why did she give up so easily, when it was still possible for her to free herself?
It was annoying.
Pointing the tip of Kusanagi at her throat, he instructed, "Break loose."
Her resigned gaze darted sullenly to his. Feeling humiliated, she conceded, "I can't move."
His eyes narrowed disapprovingly at that. He had watched Sakura long enough to deduce that she never acted or pushed herself beyond her personal zones of comfort unless she was cornered or forced into doing so. And so he devised a simple method to compel her to move.
He targeted her emotions – which were both her weaknesses, and a source from which she could draw strength. It was something she had yet to realise. She needed to become stronger, and Sasuke intended to make her stronger – the hard way.
Slipping the edge of his blade beneath the delicate chain around her neck, Sasuke tugged lightly, causing it to sever and fall. Catching it with his free hand, he held it up before her dismayed face, and repeated, "Break loose."
Sakura shook her head and said again, "I told you, I can't-"
"Then I will destroy it," the Death God interrupted icily.
Sakura gaped at him in open shock. Was he serious, or bluffing? She could not tell. Distressed, she pleaded, "Please, my mother gave that to me-"
Watching her closely, he lowered his sword. "Four paces. If you do not break free, I will crush this."
Her heart pounded as he took a step backward.
He's really serious, she suddenly realised, horrified. Sasuke's eyes were cold and merciless. There was no doubt that he would shatter the necklace. Desperation swelled within Sakura as he took a second step back, and she felt a surge of resentment at her human feebleness and his inhuman heartlessness rush up like a riptide inside her, leaving her breathless. It was the resentment that finally kicked her into acting.
She despised the way he was so clearly provoking her into acting. But her only thoughts were of retrieving her mother's precious charm. If she could just break one arm free… her right one was in a less awkward position. With as much force as she could muster, she tugged on the limb. Nothing happened, and she jerked more aggressively. The sound of tearing fabric and the instant relief of pressure on her muscles informed her that she had successfully managed to release her arm.
Sasuke took a third step back, watching with great interest as Sakura moved at last. The kunai and shuriken were embedded too deeply in stone for her to remove by hand – and so she was resorting to tearing clothing to break loose. She had disengaged herself from the hold of all the weapons – save for the one that was implanted in the fabric between her legs. With an angry wrench that left a long tear in her skirt, she was free – just as he took the fourth step back. With a burst of admirable speed that mildly surprised the death deity, Sakura lunged forward, her hands grabbing for the chain in his possession.
Swiftly, Sasuke side-stepped away, his eyes glinting with anticipation at the spark of fire he saw in her emerald irises. She was flustered, her hair dishevelled and falling out of its braid – but she had never looked so beautiful and becoming. His pulse quickened. He wanted to aggravate her further, to see what she would do, how far she dared to push herself to regain ownership of that which was precious to her.
"Too slow, Sakura," he goaded, snatching his arm fluidly back as she tried futilely to retrieve her chain again.
"Sasuke!" she exclaimed, irked at the cat and mouse game she had somehow found herself playing. Was he doing it deliberately? Sasuke had never struck her as the sort to initiate such an interaction, but she supposed it was further proof of how little she knew about him and how unpredictable his nature was. She dove at the necklace again, but once more Sasuke evaded her. He stepped back, standing by the edge of the steps that led down to the lowered circular arena. He dangled the chain, his blazing eyes positively daring her to close the distance between them and try again.
Sakura stiffened and folded her arms unhappily across her chest. She made to turn away - and glimpsed Sasuke lower his arm fractionally from the corner of her vision. In a second, she had whirled back and darted forward, snatching at the chain. But she only ended up colliding into him and knocking them both off balance. They rolled down the steps, and when Sakura regained her bearings, she realised, with abject mortification, that she had landed on Sasuke, her hands pressed against the front of his chest. Immediately, furious crimson stained across her cheeks. She could feel the steely hardness of his muscles beneath his tunic top, and made the mistake of looking up into his face.
Intense obsidian smouldered into her as Sasuke gazed up at her beneath sooty lashes. Catching a gasp in her throat, Sakura pushed herself off him, as if scalded by the flame radiating from his eyes. She froze when, before she could completely draw away, Sasuke reached up with both hands, and she felt them slip around the back of her neck, sending tingles of instant electricity spiking through her skin at the contact. Something cool rested against her skin, and she looked down in confusion, to see that he had secured the chain safely back in place. She swallowed when his right hand lingered transiently by her throat, and drew away from him. Her heart hammered within her ribcage as Sasuke sat up in turn, his unruly hair even more wildly dishevelled and covered with a light dusting of sand.
She didn't know why she felt a brief, inexplicable urge to reach out and free the grains of sand from those silky raven locks.
A tense silence hung in the air between them. It was only broken when Sakura asked quietly, "Why did you do that?"
Sasuke, who had been sitting with his elbows resting on his kneecaps, regarded her for another long moment, before rising nonchalantly to his feet.
"I did nothing," he replied flatly. Sakura twisted her head, following his movements to stare at him in astonishment. He knew exactly what she was referring to; why, then, was he choosing to disregard it?
No, a little voice whispered inside her head, as realisation dawned upon her. He isn't ignoring it. You told him you couldn't move. But you did. You broke free, when you thought you couldn't.
She swallowed. Had Sasuke meant to make a point to her? If he had, he had chosen a horrible way to do it by manipulating her emotions.
Does it matter? Her inner voice demanded. You've got the necklace back. Let's not dwell on the subject, unless you just want to think about how rock hard those pectorals were-
She furiously stomped the remainder of the words down, turning her face away to hide the deeper flush of heat that assaulted her cheeks.
Sasuke poured two goblets of ambrosia, and noted the agitation in Sakura's body-language. Concealing a faint knowing smirk as he guessed the course his captive's thoughts had taken, he deadpanned, "Sakura."
She bolted upright at the sound of her name falling from his lips, and turned her head slightly, giving him a glimpse of her pink-dusted cheeks.
"Yes?" she managed tautly.
"Sit," he gestured to the unoccupied seat on the other side of the low rectangular table that was laden with a variety of dishes.
Feeling terribly self-conscious of her flustered visage and the ruined state of her dress, Sakura threw all vanity out the window and reminded herself that she had to work to get back into Sasuke's good books – if he had any – and obediently got to her feet, joining him at the table. She only realised she felt hungry when her stomach began to growl at the sight of the mouth-watering food on display before her.
Thankfully, Sasuke's eyes were not on her, and she took the opportunity to compose herself again as she accepted the goblet from his hand and swallowed down the woefully small serving of ambrosia he had poured her. Almost instantly she felt calmer, and the aches and pulled muscles in her body quickly faded away. Her eyes roved eagerly over the dishes; succulent king prawns on slender wooden sticks, with the greenest of avocados and a delicious looking garnish sauce, slices of what appeared to be marinated duck meat served with a beautifully presented salad, and a platter of fresh fruit that included figs, red grapes and blueberries. Nuts and an assortment of other light snacks also dotted the table. Sakura loaded her plate with a little of everything and for the first few minutes, they ate in silence.
Talk to him, she willed herself to make the effort. There's so much you can ask a god. Think of something general, something that isn't personal…
Frantically, Sakura sifted through her mind for a topic of conversation. Then she had it. Perking up, she looked up to find that Sasuke had already finished his meal, and was sitting back in his chair, sipping leisurely on his drink. Swallowing down a mouthful of prawn and avocado with the water she had poured herself, Sakura began, as casually as she could, "Sasuke?"
His dark eyes flicked back onto her.
Fighting the urge to fidget with the napkin in her hand, Sakura ventured, "Are there lots of gods?"
Sasuke had lifted his goblet to his lips. Her query made him pause. Sakura held her breath, half expecting him to answer with what seemed to be his characteristic silence, but to her relief, he answered.
"Yes."
She watched as he drank from his cup and then berated herself for staring so impolitely. Guiltily, she stared down at her plate. It was like she had never seen someone take refreshment before.
"But many faiths preach the existence of just one," Sakura followed perplexedly after another moment, her gaze darting back to him. She had no idea how he would react to her attempt at conversation. She hoped he would not mind it.
He released a sound that resembled a contemptuous snort at that, but said nothing more as he raised the goblet to his lips again.
Sasuke wasn't much of a talker; that much she had gathered very early on. Which meant it was up to her to keep throwing different conversational openers at him, in order to find out what he was and was not willing to talk about.
"How were humans created?" Sakura asked next.
"From clay," Sasuke answered.
Sakura's eyes widened with amazement. "That's really true?"
The death deity's silence confirmed it.
"Who made them?" Sakura continued. "Was it just one god?"
He shook his head.
"And they're still around? People still pray to them?"
She thought she detected something like reluctance flicker across Sasuke eyes, as he slowly replied, "They passed."
Sakura was stunned. "Gods can die, too?"
Sasuke shook his head.
"Then what do you mean?"
The Death God paused, regarding her intently for a moment. Her eyes were bright and eager for information. He opened his mouth to silence her incessant questioning – but then decided, on a whim, that he wanted to listen to her pleasant voice further, and so indulged her curiosity, being careful with what he revealed to her.
"A god whose purpose has been spent, who is not remembered in mortal prayers, passes," he stated.
Fascination was making Sakura relax into the conversation. She couldn't keep her eyes off Sasuke as he spoke. She silently marvelled at how much knowledge he had to possess – knowledge of the entire universe, and its secrets – the secrets of creation; secrets that the hopelessly inquisitive part of her yearned to uncover.
"Passes where?"
"To a place where time suspends; the source of all creation and matter."
Sakura pondered this as she munched on a fig. "You mean… like space?"
Sasuke shook his head, closed his eyes briefly, but said no more.
Taking his silence to mean that he did not wish to discuss the confusing subject further, Sakura swiftly changed the topic.
"Where do the black and white boats on the shore lead?"
Sasuke's gaze returned steadily to her.
"To the realms of the damned and the righteous," he answered.
"Like heaven and hell?"
The Death God nodded. Sakura exhaled. It was just like she had guessed, except having it confirmed by a deity made it seem all the more real. "Heaven is here?" she whispered. "All this time, I thought it was up in the sky..."
"Hn," Sasuke uttered dismissively. It was just one of many mortal misconceptions.
A sudden nagging curiosity entered Sakura's mind, and she glanced nervously at Sasuke. How would he respond if she spoke what was in her thoughts? She supposed she would never know unless she asked.
"Sasuke…? I'd really like to see more of the Underworld. I mean," she added anxiously, when he lifted a dark eyebrow at her words, "If that's alright with you – if you wouldn't mind showing me."
When he remained quiet and simply stared at her in response, Sakura took it to mean that showing her around was not on his personal agenda list. Disappointment made it difficult to find other things to talk about. The Underworld's monarch clearly did not trust her anywhere near enough to provide her with an extensive tour beyond his palace. She had allowed herself to be carried away. Swallowing back the bitterness in her throat and quickly masking any feelings of deflation, she got up from her seat, informing him, "I'd like to practice running around the columns a little more."
She expected Sasuke to remain in place. But the haze of dejection that had fallen upon her at having her request all but snubbed lifted slightly when the Death God rose and wordlessly followed her to the central area.
Ino wrinkled her nose as the automated voicemail service began to play in her ear again. She abruptly severed the connection, pacing impatiently around her room. Why wasn't her dad answering? She had already tried calling him three times.
Maybe he's got no signal, she assured herself. Patience had never been one of her strongest virtues. He would call her back as soon as he was able.
Sighing heavily, she flopped onto her bed, staring up at the gauzy, baby blue canopy of her bed. Her thoughts almost immediately turned to Sakura. Where was she, now? A week more and Ino's best friend would have been missing for an entire month. Her eyes began to prickle with an all too familiar sensation. Before that week was up, Sakura would turn nineteen. But she wasn't around to celebrate it. Instead, what was meant to be a joyous occasion would be marked by subdued silence.
Ino's vision blurred. She didn't bother lifting a hand to wipe at the tears.
Sakura collapsed onto her bed, thoroughly exhausted. She had spent the remainder of the training session trying to run full circle around the columns, but had once again failed at the eighth pillar. Thankfully, a scowling Sasuke had not skewered her clothing into a column again, choosing instead to terminate the session and dismiss her. She had left the training arena alone, and by the time she had reached her bedroom, hardly had the energy to keep her eyes open.
I need to have a bath, she distractedly told herself, but her limbs felt strangely heavy, and her thoughts trailed off on a tangent. She would have to try and train alone again until she could run all the way around the pillars… it would be more comfortable than training with Sasuke watching her every move, just waiting for her to slip up at any second.
Her eyelids lowered, the image of Sasuke's disapproving face the last thing she saw before she fell into deep sleep.
Apollo released a triumphant crow as his golden chariot tore through the field.
"I'll definitely win this time!" he declared, as he steered his horses to the right, smoothly around a gently slope in the grass.
Kore threw an anxious look back over her shoulder, raising her left hand to keep her long hair from whipping into her face and obscuring her vision. Hades's chariot was thundering closely behind them. He had started ahead, but Apollo's steeds were fast, and had quickly caught up to the midnight horses. She found herself wondering how much of a contrast the dark young god was to bright Apollo, how the two shared a bond that was strong enough for Apollo to consider Hades a brother, the same way he considered her a sister.
"Hades!" the Sun God yelled over the howling of the wind that rushed passed their hurtling carriages. "How does it feel to be losing?"
In his chariot, Hades smirked confidently. The fool believed he was winning, when the truth of the matter was that Hades was deliberately holding back, biding his time until he could take the lead. And by then, it would be far too late for Apollo to salvage victory from him.
He had absolutely no intention of losing. Because this time, there was something more at stake than merely winning and expanding his total score count over the Sun God. The girl that rode with Apollo was the very same maiden he had spied at the festival held in the Spring Goddess's honour – the strange maiden who had fled with Aphrodite the second his eyes had fallen on her. The light that radiated from her form made it apparent that she was a goddess, but he knew little of her otherwise. When the race was over, he intended to learn more. Her colourings were nothing like the other goddesses he had seen. What relationship did she share with Apollo? How did his friend know her, and who were her mother and father? Why had he never seen her around before?
He was mildly curious, though he would never admit it. Hades scoffed to himself that the only real reason why he had bargained the girl into the deal was to irk Apollo and deliver him the humiliation of losing, with a pretty spectator for a witness.
The forest was swiftly approaching ahead. He cast a quick glance to his right, to find Apollo cutting in front of him. A predictable strategy that Hades had expected. In response, he guided his steeds further left. They had raced through the forest countless times, and Apollo was taking the route that Hades himself usually took. Clearly the idiot was not as air-headed as he appeared, and was looking to avoid his previous mistakes – and trying to show off in front of the girl.
Two could play at that game, Hades decided, determined not to be outdone.
Kore gripped onto the front of the chariot as Apollo's horses picked up further pace. She wasn't sure how it was possible that they could gallop any faster. They were almost at the forest, and she debated whether she ought to assist her friend to a comfortable victory – or to leave it to skill and fate to determine the winner.
Something in her stomach fluttered at the thought of losing, and what it would entail. Apollo had given his word to Hades. If he lost the race, Hades would claim her on the very same chariot and take her… where? She did not know. The uncertainty made her heart pound.
"Kore!" Apollo's voice spoke loudly over the biting air in her ear. "What do you say we cause trouble for that bastard, Hades?"
"Shame on you, Apollo!" she scolded. "Mother says that a victory attained through dishonest means is a false one!"
"Bah!" Apollo dismissed scornfully. "That old bag doesn't know how to have any fun. Why do you think my father is always avoiding her? Come on! Imagine how satisfying it would be to make Hades land face-first in the dirt."
Kore couldn't help but release a giggle at that, imagining that handsome face marred with earth and wearing an even deeper scowl than usual. Her amusement prompted Apollo to cackle gleefully. "Let's do it, Kore! Let's teach him a lesson!"
Kore hesitated for a brief moment. She wanted Apollo to win! Didn't she? The fact that she was even debating it confused her. She knew nothing about Hades, even if the Sun God vouched for him! Making up her mind, she exclaimed, "Oh, alright! But you're to bring me gifts every day and drive me around in your chariot whenever I want, from now until my next birthday!"
Apollo grinned over her head. "I always spoil you," he teased.
"You will have to spoil me more, now!"
"Could I ever refuse you, Kore?"
Beaming from ear to ear, Kore playfully nudged him in the ribs, and then turned her attention to the forest as Apollo's horses surged into it. At her command, the flora parted, leaving the way clear for the chariot to pass without hindrance. Apollo hooted with joy, was ready to celebrate what he deemed to be a certain victory – when a sudden jolt at his wheels caused the carriage to lurch unsteadily to the right. Kore screamed in surprise, almost flew over the edge from the force of the shake, but Apollo's right arm caught her fast, pulling her securely back against him.
"You lunatic!" she gasped. "Steer properly!"
"It wasn't me!" Apollo defended. "I thought you removed everything from our course!"
"I did," Kore frowned, perplexed, as further vines and bushes parted for them at her will.
"Then what- argh!" Apollo sharply steered his horses to the right as a black chariot suddenly cut in front of them, missing a collision by inches. Hades shot them both a look over his shoulder, his eyes blazing with challenge.
"What the- you bastard, you're cheating!" Apollo accused him, instantly realising that Hades had likely caused the ground to split beneath his chariot's wheels
Hades merely smirked wickedly, and deliberately kept his carriage directly in front of them, preventing Apollo's from overtaking. Their attempts at changing direction were hindered as Hades's chariot mirrored their every movement.
"Do something!" Apollo urged Kore, who helplessly shook her head.
"I can't! He is too close, if I obstruct him, we will collide-"
"Damn it!" Apollo clenched his teeth. They were beyond halfway through the forest, and the vale would soon be within sight. Desperation caused him to execute a hastily formed plan. He couldn't lose! He had strung Kore into the deal, and if her mother somehow did find out, he would be skinned alive, and there was nothing Zeus and Hera could do to protect him. If he could just knock Hades off balance for long enough to put more than a few seconds between them…
Apollo abruptly jerked his horses to the right. They jumped forward with laboured neighs and Kore cried out as she felt the back wheel of her friend's chariot crash into Hades's. The raven-haired deity glared at Apollo, and hissed the very thought that was echoing riotously in Kore's mind.
"What are you doing, idiot?"
"Making sure I win, bastard!" Apollo grinned viciously back.
Kore glanced frantically from one to the other in dismay. The sudden animosity between them was frightening. They were too competitive, were taking the race far too seriously. When Apollo slammed his chariot into Hades's again, she screamed, "Stop it! Apollo, we'll be hurt-"
"What's wrong?" Hades taunted over her. "Too dead-last to win honestly?"
"Hah!" Apollo retorted. "You're one to talk about honesty! You're the biggest cheater I know!"
"I am better than you'll ever be, admit it!"
"Over my dead body!"
"Maybe that can be arranged!"
Kore was horrified. They were bickering like immature children, completely ignoring her pleas to slow down and disregarding the danger they were putting themselves into by driving their carriages so recklessly.
"Will you both stop-" she tried again, but once more went unheard by the young deities who were glaring furiously at one another.
"I'm not scared of your family, Hades!"
"You should be!"
"My father is ZEUS!"
Anger spiked within her. They left her no other choice. Focusing intently, Kore sent a command to the tree roots beneath the ground, and gripped tightly onto the chariot's edge. A second later, both carriages collided into an unseen force, sending all of them flying into the air. Apollo landed safely in a tangled bush. Kore cushioned her fall on a bed of leaves, and her eyes widened when Hades landed right beside her. Winded, he lay for a moment on the grass, staring dazedly up into the canopy of trees above them. His eyes, Kore noticed at closer proximity, were not pure black as she had previously thought. They were a deep, dark shade of grey, a beautiful, stormy colour that captured her attention and held it fast.
"Are you alright?" she asked him uncertainly, her heart racing within her as she acknowledged that she was directly addressing Hades for the first time.
When he did not respond, she leant tentatively over him. "H-Hades?"
Before she had time to think, before she could even blink, Hades reached out and grabbed her by her arms, reversing their positions so that she was pinned beneath him. Kore's pulse thundered in fear – and another untold emotion she could not comprehend as she struggled to wriggle out from beneath him. It was no use. He was too strong. Glaring down at her, Hades hissed, "The trees answer to your call. Who are you, goddess?"
Who was she? Kore's throat suddenly felt parched. The power of his gaze was frightening, the magnetic aura encompassing him electrifying. She opened her mouth to ask him to release her – when a hand suddenly clamped onto his shoulder and hauled him off her.
"Bastard! Don't touch her!" Apollo shoved Hades away and knelt beside a shaken Kore. He gently touched her flushed cheek, removed a green leaf from her hair as he questioned, "Are you alright?"
Before she could answer him, Apollo turned livid blue eyes to Hades, who had gotten to his feet and stood watching them aloofly down the barrel of his aristocratic nose.
"Forget our deal. You're not taking her anywhere! I've got to get her home before her mother-"
He broke off, blanching, and Kore froze in fright, as a familiar voice suddenly called distantly, "Persephone!"
Sakura slowly came around, feeling light headed as the dream faded away to black. She anxiously grasped at its rapidly retreating remnants, trying to recall details, any at all. The last word… what had it been?
Pers- Per… the memory was gone. She swallowed, staring at the golden weaved canopy above her in frustration, before sitting up. There was no point in straining her brain over a recollection that she knew would not come to her. But why was she seeing things that she could never remember when waking? Would asking Sasuke help to clear the baffling mystery?
What are you going to ask him, exactly? Her inner voice demanded. Oh, hey, Sasuke? I see things when I sleep, but I can't tell you what they are, because I don't remember them. Great, as if he doesn't think you're 'inept' enough.
Sighing, she slipped off the bed, picked out a fresh change of clothes from the wardrobe, and disappeared quietly into the bathroom.
Author's note
I had meant to add another Sasuke part to this, but to be honest, this is over ten thousand words and if I had added to it, it would have taken me another week to update. It's fine though, because it doesn't really change the content of the next chapter, which may or may not involve Sasuke FINALLY showing Sakura around on his super cool chariot…
Excited?
Regarding creation of humans, according to Greek myth, Prometheus created man and Zeus the first woman, and both from clay/earth, so that acounts for Sasuke's answer.
So, who do you think called to Kore at the end? It should be pretty obvious! Good thing that person interrupted, as Hades was about ready to lunge at Apollo for cheating (when he, himself, also cheated). Hope you enjoyed the conclusion of that scene; I really wanted to capture Apollo and Hades bickering. Hades didn't win, but there will be another scene leading on from this, where they (as in all three of them) will be running to avoid the person who called to Kore… which means more Kore and Hades interaction. And as for Hades pinning her down, he figured out that she helped Apollo get an advantage, and was angry about it.
Please leave a review for me. I'll love you forever! Thanks for reading and see you next update.