This chapter is very plot heavy. Be prepared for some major revelations and plot twists here. Hope you enjoy it.
Please listen to the indicated track on my profile page under chapter 27, at the part in the opening scene when Sasuke says: "Then I'll take it, now." and onwards. It really builds the tension and mood, make sure you hear it!
Chapter XXVII
In ages past,
I called you friend,
And would have followed you,
To time flow's end,
But Fate's cruel hands,
Severed in two,
The link we shared,
My bond with you.
Naruto gulped down a deep, unsteady breath, seeking to calm the turbulent storm of his emotions, caught wholly off-guard by their intensity. How long had it been since he had stood face-to-face with the lord of the Underworld? At that moment, it seemed to him as though all the millennia that had passed since their last meeting had done so in a blur, and it had only been yesterday when they had exchanged final, parting words. Those words still echoed in Naruto's mind, as if they had been singed into his skull with burning tongs. All at once he was being sucked violently into a spinning mental vortex, his vision momentarily glazing over as he lost himself to bitter recollections.
Near-crippling desperation as a hand extended to draw another out of a swallowing abyss.
"I tried to stop it! You have to believe me!"
The swipe of a long, slender, deadly blade, in open rejection of assistance, forcing the offered hand to withdraw. Contempt and loathing flashing in swirling, blood-red irises.
"Your family reigned at the expense of my own! I'll never be blind again!"
"We're still brothers!" The pleading voice was hoarse; choking on despair, as though it knew it was fighting a losing battle. The hand reached out once more, clawing frantically to provide salvation. "Damn it! Please! Take my hand!"
This time the blade's slicing edge connected with flesh, leaving a gashing wound, spilling crimson liquid in a gesture that manifested malicious, killing intent.
"My brother is dead!" Screamed words were hurtled hatefully like stones, striking physical blows upon an aching heart as the wielder of the sword plummeted into darkness, his cloak being snagged by ghostly, skeletal hands, rushing up to claim their new ruler. "And when we next meet, so will you be!"
The memory faded to white, and Naruto's vision cleared. Almost subconsciously, his left hand closed, as if feeling the stinging injury that had been inflicted upon it back then. It had been quick to heal. The mental scars, however, had not.
Sasuke appeared older than the aristocratic young god with whom Naruto had once relished racing and sparring. There were ominous shadows on the sharp, chiselled planes of his face, which had never been there before he had become King of the Dead. His features had also matured further, were now set in stone - colder, harder – and completely ruthless. He had always exuded great potential and raw power. That same power had undoubtedly been honed and perfected over time, and now pulsated from his form as a suffocating, crackling aura of danger and menace.
It was frightening, how callous those eyes were, how regal, aloof and utterly unreachable he seemed.
The muteness stretched on, in which they both eyed and measured up one another. Naruto knew he had to be decidedly more vigilant. He was in the Death God's territory, after all, where everything, even the crumbled stones beneath his feet, answered to Sasuke's will. His decision to venture to the Underworld had been borne out of frustrated instinct. Now that he was here, Naruto had to convince himself that it was the right course of action. He had already avoided Sasuke for long enough. And he knew the death deity was waiting for him to make the first move.
Putting great caution and consideration behind every word, Naruto began slowly, "Sasuke. It's been a while."
Sasuke stared silently back at him, his features devoid of any expression. He had always been notoriously difficult to read, but Naruto was anxious for any sign, any clue at all that could reveal even a sliver of what the stoic god might be thinking or feeling.
Another tense pause lugged by, and Naruto tried to continue conversationally, "You look a little different. Your hair isn't as long. Guess you finally listened to me after all and got a haircut, righ-"
His attempt to joke was skewered immediately.
"Why are you here?"
Naruto swallowed thickly. That voice. So empty. So chilly. Sasuke was evidently in no mood whatsoever to humour him by engaging in a catch-up round of small talk. He had never been much of a talker, but was now even blunter and to the point than Naruto remembered.
Pulse roaring within him, Naruto figured that adopting honesty was the best way to go about approaching Sasuke, and answered earnestly, "Someone important to me went missing about a month ago." When Sasuke gave no visible response, he went on, "I know Kakashi and Jiraiya have already asked you about Sakura-chan. I know what you told them you'd do if we troubled you about it again. But Sasuke… you can find anyone. We could really use your help."
One corner of the death deity's lips turned upward condescendingly. "Why would I help you?"
Naruto had anticipated the question, and provided his prepared answer. "Because," he said seriously, "if we don't find Sakura-chan soon, there'll be consequences on the surface which will affect your world, too. She…" he hesitated, before going on quietly, "Sakura-chan isn't like other human girls. She's… special."
Sasuke stared at him for another long moment. Then, voice dripping with disgust, he sneered, "If the girl is so special, why did you lose her?"
Naruto's eyes lowered sadly. "Heh," he shook his head. "I guess I've always been bad at protecting my most precious people." He looked up and met Sasuke's gaze pointedly for a few seconds, before continuing, "It's her birthday today. I'd give anything to have her back."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Anything?" he repeated the word sceptically, as if testing its sincerity.
Naruto gave a fierce nod. "Anything. I'd give my life for her."
The Death God stared hard at him again, as if trying to map out the possible reasons and feelings that could justify the magnitude of such a sacrifice. Naruto's heart was thundering. He knew Sasuke better than the others did. He knew he desired power and knowledge above all things. Naruto couldn't give him any more power than he already had at his disposal – but he could grant him knowledge. Knowledge of something that was forbidden to be spoken, something he had promised Tsunade that he would never allow to be known. But if it meant finding Sakura, then Naruto was prepared to do what it took to get her back.
Because he truly believed that Sasuke was not like him, the heartless, evil, war-mongering one who resided in the sky. Sasuke could actually be reasoned with-
"Then I'll take it, now."
-or maybe not. The distinct, metallic sound of a sword being drawn snapped Naruto out of the hurricane of his thoughts. Startled, he held up his hands in submission, and spoke guardedly, "I didn't come here to fight you, Sasuke-"
But Kusanagi was already in Sasuke's left hand, glowing pale blue in response to its master's chakra. "I told you," he hissed. "The next time we met, I would kill you. You've made this too easy, Naruto."
Something inside Naruto splintered at that. His composure. He had never been much good at keeping his cool in the raven-haired god's presence, and had the lousy track-record to prove it. Upset that the focus was shifting away from Sakura and toward an issue that Naruto had intended to resolve later on, he snapped, "Damn it, Sasuke! I don't care what kind of crap you've made yourself believe, but I didn't betray you back then! I didn't find out until the attack was happening-"
He wasn't granted the luxury of finishing, for Sasuke darted fluidly forward, sending Cerberus's heads barking excitedly in blood lust, and forcing Naruto on the defensive.
Shit! Naruto internally cursed. He was rusty and had forgotten just how eye-wateringly fast Sasuke moved. Speed had always been his signature. Frantically he tapped into his seal to summon some of his own power. The fact that they were underground meant that he could release more chakra flow than usual – and not have to worry about the one who resided in the sky finding out about his breach of the vow – not unless Sasuke was working for him and reported it. Which Naruto highly doubted; he knew for a fact that Sasuke detested that particular god almost as much as Naruto himself did.
Golden light burst from his form, and a luminous dagger materialised in his hand just in time to halt Sasuke's lunging stab. Naruto's arm nearly caved in to the force behind the death deity's attack as he was briefly caught by surprise at just how strong Sasuke had become. But he managed to steel himself at the final moment, pushing back and dropping low to avoid Sasuke's subsequent swipe. He barely succeeded in rolling to safety when Kusanagi stabbed into the ground, just about missing his left leg.
Skidding back, Naruto raised his dagger protectively across his chest. Sasuke stood, sword by his side, looking a thousand times more composed and unruffled by the entire situation.
Bastard's acting cool, as usual, Naruto inwardly fumed. It was funny how easily old sentiments fell in place when he was antagonistically engaged with the governor of death.
"Sasuke," he attempted to reach him through dialogue again. "Stop this! I came here for Sakura-"
Sasuke flickered out of sight the second Naruto spoke her name, and Naruto stiffened when he sensed a rapid fall in air pressure at his back. He's behind me! He thought, spinning wildly, slicing at Sasuke's reappearing form with his weapon. But Sasuke blinked out of existence once again, only to rematerialize gracefully above him. Naruto's heart leapt as he glanced up to find Kusanagi's tip bearing down toward him.
There was no question about it. Sasuke meant to impale him.
He really wants to kill me. Naruto could scarcely believe it, but there was little doubt when he looked into those eyes, full of such malevolent animosity. Sasuke had discarded the bond they had shared a long time ago, and any hope of salvaging it had clearly been buried forever, just like the bodies of the deceased over which he ruled. It was still difficult for Naruto to stomach the realisation. He kept thinking that maybe, just maybe, if he continued to persist, he would eventually cause a chip to break off the seemingly impenetrable armour Sasuke had secured around himself.
Naruto just hadn't expected to be unable to distinguish the armour from the person beneath it anymore.
He threw himself out the way and nearly stumbled to avoid the growling Cerberus's swiping paws. One hit from them and he knew he would be knocked out senseless.
"Damn it," Naruto breathed heavily, taking several retreating steps backward to maintain space between his body and Sasuke, who was slinking forward like a black panther on the prowl. "Just listen to me for a second-"
But Sasuke had no intention of hearing him out, and continued to advance.
Desperate to get through to him, Naruto yelled, "Do you know what Itachi made me promise, before he died?" Something indecipherable wavered across Sasuke's face at the mention of the name. "He told me to be your brother, in his place! He told me to look after you, Sasuke! He made me promise to make sure nothing bad ever happened to you! If the others come down here, and you don't cooperate, I won't be able to stop them all-"
The Death God's face twisted with an ugly emotion that was wrought with unadulterated rage. In an instant, lightning energy flared from Kusanagi, screeching murderously. Naruto gaped in horrified awe. He couldn't recall Sasuke's control of Chidori being so precise and dreadfully lethal. It had always been so unstable and jagged in the past. Fire had been his preferred element – but seemingly no longer.
"Do not speak of Itachi!" Sasuke snarled, and rushed at him, lightning screaming out from his blade in a radius so wide that it was impossible for Naruto to dodge it in time. He raised his arms, squeezing his eyes shut as he fought to wrestle enough power to summon a protective force-field of light – but his chakra network was hindered by the seal, and responded far too slowly. Crackling tendrils of lightning shattered the flimsy, golden barrier he had managed to erect in front of him as if it were made of glass, and stabbed straight through Naruto's right shoulder.
The pain was immense. Freezing. Biting. "Guah!" Naruto cried out, as the force of Sasuke's drive sent him flying backwards, slamming him into the rough rock face behind him. He blinked, momentarily dazed, but knew he couldn't stop to dwell on the agony. If he did, he would be as good as dead. He rolled out of the way as Kusanagi stabbed into the wall, breaking off large pieces of rock as Sasuke yanked it out again. His eyes were a livid, stomach-curdling crimson. His chest was heaving, his composure lost, and Naruto was distraught as the true extent of hatred which the god he had always considered as his brother, best friend and equal, hit him full throttle.
"Sasuke," Naruto wheezed, wincing at the unbearable pain in his right arm. Already, it was growing numb, the result of the poison contained within the lightning energy. "I'm your friend, damn it!"
The heartless half-smile that played on Sasuke's lips was even more terrifying than his previous wrath. "Still so deluded," he taunted. "You were the means to an end, Apollo."He spat the name out, as if it were venom on his lips. "We were never friends."
The darkly sinister smirk deepened and he seemed to delight at the hurt that flashed across Naruto's shocked face.
"No," Naruto whispered. Then, in wounded indignation, he bellowed, "You're LYING!"
His denial reverted Sasuke's smug expression to one of anger, and his swift response came in the form of another attack. Naruto parried and evaded, compelled to defend himself with one hand as his chakra worked pitifully slowly to mend the damage to his right arm. He ran down the misty path, the light flaring from his left palm warding back the dense fog. Sasuke tracked his movements easily, running opposite him, looking for what would likely be the final opening he needed to fell his age-old rival. Naruto once again cursed the seal placed upon him. In a fair fight, his speed could have matched Sasuke's. He would have surely gotten a hit in by now. But the Death God had every advantage, and it suddenly struck Naruto that Sasuke was trying to push him into a corner.
"You arrogant bastard!" he shouted, his voice shaking from the extent of his raging emotions. He ignored the violent throb of pain in his chest as he forced more of his chakra from of its seal, was furious when he felt its resistance as most of it slipped back into place. It didn't matter. He had just about dragged enough of it out. "Don't… underestimate me!"
Golden light erupted from his hand and fired straight toward Sasuke, who halted abruptly, nearly losing his footing in the process.
"Katon!" In a heartbeat he had raised his right hand to his lips, summoning a ball of fire that clashed into the golden light and immediately overwhelmed and consumed it. Blinded by the collision, Naruto failed to see the raised ridge in the ground and stumbled, sprawling to the gravelly floor. Those split seconds were all Sasuke needed to turn the tide. A vice-like grip closed around the front of Naruto's hooded top, and he was flung against the wall again, hard enough to knock the air cleanly from his lungs, sending the dagger clattering from his hand. His head struck against a jagged edge of rock, and he felt liquid warmth trail down his face as he slumped to the ground, breathless.
"You're finished," Sasuke's voice clipped mercilessly over him. Naruto looked up, his vision blurring as he glimpsed brilliant blue light coiling along Sasuke's entire left arm, down the body of his sword.
Sakura-chan, he thought out to her with every fibre of his being. I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you again…
There was a miniscule shift in his mind, and he froze when something seemed to breeze through it in response. He didn't dare pay it heed, as he acknowledged that he was just minutes away from being completely incapacitated, if he didn't act quickly.
"Madara," Naruto gasped, the name tumbling from his lips without a thought as Sasuke drew his blade back, meaning to pierce him straight in the heart. "W-we have to keep it… hidden from him! The- the essence of spring-"
Sasuke paused, and for an uncharacteristic instant, seemed to hesitate.
"S-Sakura-chan-" Naruto coughed, telling himself that it was just a coincidence, that the pain had to be causing him to hallucinate when he thought he witnessed Sasuke's arm lower marginally. "She- she's-"
Sasuke tensed a micro-second before a sudden bolt of lightning was directed his way. He flash-stepped away from Naruto and raised his sword defensively as the new arrival materialised through the mist. And inwardly cursed his luck, knowing that what he had been on the verge of discovering about Sakura had been denied to him.
"I knew it," Kakashi's voice spoke with resignation. "I knew you would come here alone." He kneeled beside Naruto's battered form, and shook his head. "Naruto, you're still so reckless."
Sasuke clenched his jaw tightly as Kakashi cast a lone-eyed glance toward him. "And you," he lightly chided. "If I had known you would ever use chidori against a comrade, I would have thought twice about teaching it to you."
"Hn," the death deity smirked haughtily. "You always were one to miscalculate, Kakashi."
"You're right," the masked man sighed, helping a wincing Naruto up. "But I've learned to live with my mistakes. You, however, Sasuke, still cannot accept them." Nodding at a panting Naruto, he continued, "Naruto played no part in what happened to your family. He was almost killed trying to lead our forces away from you – even when he knew you were planning to betray him."
Naruto raised pained blue eyes to Sasuke, swallowing the tears that were burning behind them.
Sasuke glared frostily at them. "Enough of your lies," he uttered flatly. Raising his hands to form a summoning seal, he added, "I will find this Sakura, and deliver her to you now - dead."
A faint, glimmering light shimmered in the space between them, and slowly began to adopt a feminine form. It was Sakura's height and build, but its features were otherwise indistinguishable.
"Sasuke!" Kakashi exclaimed harshly, stretching out a halting, warding palm. His visible eye was wide, alarmed. "Don't-"
"NO!" Naruto tried to lurch forward at the same time, only to double over in pain. "No!" he near-sobbed. "Don't hurt her, Sasuke! You don't…" he whispered, "You don't know-"
"Naruto!" Kakashi interrupted sharply, causing the blond to quieten, his ragged breaths the only further sounds that escaped his lips.
Sasuke's crimson gaze narrowed, and he seemed to deliberate for a long moment, before slowly lowering his hands. The phantom form lingered, before fading out of existence.
"I told you," he uttered coldly, his features expressionless once more. "Your affairs do not concern me. Test me again, and I will kill her."
He snapped his fingers together, and ordered curtly, "Leave."
For a confusing instant, Kakashi thought he had clicked his fingers to dismiss them – very disrespectfully. But it quickly became apparent that the sound was a signal to something else entirely. The ground beneath their feet trembled and a hulking figure loomed behind Sasuke, snarling ravenously, its bloody jaws drooling venomous saliva. Cerberus growled, and lowered his mighty heads in submission to his master's following command.
"See them out," Sasuke gestured nonchalantly, and in a blink, vanished silently before their very eyes. Kakashi wasn't fool enough to waste another second. Securing the injured Naruto's arm more firmly around his shoulders, he turned around and fled.
The first thing Sai distinguished when he opened his eyes was a white ceiling. For a disorientated minute, he thought that he was in a room in Konoha Central Hospital, and struggled to remember just what had happened to him. But then he became aware of softness beneath him, and the fact that he was lying on a comfortable couch of some kind. Gingerly, he sat up, and all his recollections suddenly came flooding back, washing over him like a tsunami. He almost lay back down, wishing that his memories could be wiped all over again.
Especially when his eyes met with Neji's stern, astute ones.
"You're awake," the seraph remarked bluntly, from his position leaning against a very plain wall. Sai was quick to rationally conclude that he had to be in Neji's house. It was sparsely furnished, and as clinical as the masquerading human's mannerisms. But that was to be expected. The only reason Neji had a house was to keep up appearances. In reality, he scarcely left Hinata's side.
"What happened?" Sai questioned, rubbing at his aching forehead. He had one hell of a headache – and knew who he had to thank for it. However, he did not dare to think the name of the perpetrator. Not with those eyes on him.
"We are expecting you to tell us," Neji clipped. With his arms folded and his face betraying little of his thoughts, he lived up to the honourable role of guardian angel to perfection. Thankfully, Hinata entered the small living room at that moment, with a tray bearing a steaming bowl of soup in her hands.
"Sai," she greeted with a gentle, apologetic smile. "Thank goodness! I was worried. We…" she shot Neji an uncertain look, and seemed reassured when he nodded. "We found you in the park, unconscious. Do you… can you remember what happened?"
They had been following him. But Sai was prudent that he could not let them know that he had realised it. It would only invite further questioning, and heighten suspicion.
"I…" he shook his head. "I can't quite recall… I was taking a walk, and then…" he shook his head again, signalling a blank. "I do not know what happened."
Both Hinata and Neji stared intently at him. And Sai felt sick to his stomach when Neji said sharply, "You are lying."
Sai shifted his gaze guiltily, and felt even more wretched when Hinata reached out to place a slender hand entreatingly upon his arm. "Please, Sai," she said softly. "If you know something, anything at all…"
He snatched his arm back and squeezed his eyes shut. "Forgive me," he managed to utter with great difficulty. "I am not being honest with you. You are right."
"You had better speak up, now," the hint of threat in Neji's words was not lost to Sai.
Taking a deep breath, he began, "I started feeling dizzy. And the next thing I knew, I blacked out. But just before that, I had another vision. I'm sorry. I didn't want to upset anybody. I have been wrong before."
Hinata's beautiful, clear grey eyes were wide. Clutching a hand to her pounding heart, she dared to whisper, "W-what was it?"
Sai masked the tell-tale disturbance in his chakra levels by clenching his teeth and feigning despair.
"I saw Sakura." he swallowed, causing Hinata to gasp, and Neji to sharply catch his breath. With great effort, he added, "She was locked in a cell. Dying."
"What were you thinking?"
Naruto ground his teeth as Kakashi delivered the lecture he had been anticipating the second they reached safe ground. Outrunning Cerberus had been no easy feat, and on several occasions, Naruto had been convinced that he was on the verge of becoming doggie food – for three rapacious jowls. Blessedly, they had made it to the surface without being crushed or devoured, and Kakashi had swiftly transported them to his apartment to recuperate following their unpleasant encounter with the Underworld's ruler.
The injuries he had sustained at Sasuke's hands had since healed – but Naruto was frustrated at how long it had taken to repair the damage in the heat of battle. Sasuke had not given him the opportunity, had taken full advantage of the seal placed upon his abilities. What kind of fight was it, if it wasn't a fair one? How was Naruto meant to healthily vent his anger when he couldn't even land the punch his fists were so itching to deliver to Sasuke's stupid, stuck-up face?
"To go down there alone; how could you be so reckless, Naruto?"
"What was I supposed to do?" Naruto erupted. "Sit it out while you went down there and provoked him? You think you can handle him, Kakashi?"
"Do you think you can?" Kakashi retorted. "Hasn't what happened today proven to you that Sasuke isn't the same god we once knew? When are you going to accept that, Naruto? He meant to kill you!"
Naruto glowered, struggling to contain his boiling emotions. "I had to do something!"
"You've only made things worse," Kakashi reprimanded. "If I hadn't arrived in time-"
"I would have handled it!"
Kakashi raked an exasperated hand through his silver hair. Naruto was clearly in denial, if he had believed that he'd had everything under control. "Naruto-"
"It wasn't meaningless," Naruto's voice dropped, quivering with emotion. "What we had… I won't give up! I know he's still there somewhere!"
Kakashi sighed heavily. When was Naruto going to learn? "Naruto. Sasuke has made it plain he's forgotten the past. Don't let your sentiments cloud your judgement."
When Naruto remained silent, Kakashi sighed again, and shook his head tiredly. "I'll have to think of a way to explain this mess to the others." Sending the blond a meaningful look, he finished sternly, "You lay low for now, Naruto. You've already caused enough damage."
Naruto said nothing as Kakashi left the room, disappearing into the kitchen to make a phone call to Jiraiya. But the stillness of his exterior mirrored nothing of his internal turmoil.
He couldn't stop thinking about the way Sasuke's arm had hesitated, for just a fraction of a split-second, when he had mentioned having to keep the essence of spring hidden. It hadn't been a figment of his imagination. He couldn't erase the flicker of something he had glimpsed in Sasuke's otherwise indecipherable gaze – a look that anyone else would have surely missed entirely. But not Naruto. He had known Sasuke for far too long. And he couldn't ignore the way his heart was thumping inside him. As if he had stumbled upon a staggering discovery.
As if a veil had been lifted before his eyes and everything was suddenly clicking frighteningly in place.
Sakura did not know how long it had been since Sasuke had left her. She had remained numbly in position, on the floor by the fireplace, for a long time afterward, before rising to her feet and returning to her room to change into training clothes. Hitting something and strenuously exercising, she had told herself as she'd stepped into the hushed training dome, would help to outlet all her suppressed emotions. As she practiced various sword strikes against a defenceless wooden post, Sakura finally allowed her thoughts to branch out.
She had been so close to letting him kiss her. Another heartbeat and his lips would have met hers. What would have become of her, then? The heat she felt creeping into her cheeks only made her more uncomfortable. It now seemed to Sakura that it would only be a matter of time before Sasuke would steal a kiss from her. He had made transparent what he wanted. How was she meant to continually resist and deny the will of a god? And now that she was finally paying attention, Sakura was uncertain of how she ought to proceed. She had never been in such a... delicate situation before.
What was the correct thing to do? Suddenly she resented the fact that her mother had never allowed her to date boys. She didn't have the first clue of how to handle advances from the opposite sex. Then she rationalised that even if her mother had let her see guys, nothing could have ever really prepared her for Sasuke. He was on an entirely different level, in a league of his own, and he threw traditional courting rituals out of the window completely. Sakura perplexedly thought that it didn't seem like he really wanted to woo her at all, or maybe it was that he had no clue how to do it. There was certainly nothing romantic or tender about the way he interacted with her. No. To Sasuke, it was all about staking a claim. But to what end… Sakura shuddered, as her eyes fell to the stunning emerald and gold bracelet, his gift, still clasped around her right wrist. She didn't want to guess.
Her vision briefly unfocused as unhappy, unshed tears welled up in her eyes. She had always secretly fantasised about what it would be like sharing her first kiss with the man of her dreams. And even though he was by far the most gorgeous specimen of a male she had ever laid eyes upon, Sasuke was more Prince Alarming than Prince Charming. Yet it seemed to be expected of her to play the role of his Cinderella - regardless of her feelings on the matter.
She closed her eyes, lowering her sword to cover her face in despair. Her life had always been so simple and… well, boring. Comfortable and predictable. Yet how many times had she yearned for excitement and adventure? How many times had she looked up into the night sky, wondering if there was more out there? Wasn't that what Fate had handed to her? Adventure? Except the problem was, she wasn't enjoying her ordeal now that it had been granted to her. Being stuck, quite literally, with Death was far from her idea of a passionate escapade. Proof of that was the fact that she couldn't stop the trembles that were afflicting her body. Why did she still feel so cold on the inside? Why had it taken so long for her pulse to settle?
It had been throughout the course of these torturous musings that Sakura had heard a whisper through her head. So fleeting and weak that she had almost missed it. It was impossible – but she thought she had heard Naruto's voice in her mind.
Naruto, she had thought forlornly, knowing the voice to be nothing more than wishful thinking. How she missed him! How she longed to see his goofy, endearing smile, to bask in the light and warmth he radiated.
I'll see him again, she vowed. As long as I stay level-headed. Wiping at her damp eyes, she told herself that she would just have to deal diplomatically with the new developments. They weren't ideal. But now that she had actually succeeded in gaining some kind of reaction out of Sasuke, she needed to stay disciplined, and focused.
I'm in control, she echoed to herself fiercely, recalling the way her smile had caused the creases in Sasuke's brow to smooth over. I am in control.
She lifted the large goblet of ambrosia she had taken the liberty of pouring herself in Sasuke's absence, and gulped it down, sighing as the liquid soothed her emotional agitation. Her eyes moved greedily to the table where more of the sweet beverage sat, shimmering prettily in its crystal decanter.
A few more glasses wouldn't hurt, she reasoned, and they would even give her the energy she needed to maintain an extended training session. Giving into temptation, she poured herself another serving and wolfed it down, licking her lips as she savoured the very last drops. Then she poured herself a third goblet, filling it to the brim, surprised by how quickly she swallowed it also. It was almost like her body thirsted for its consumption. Sternly dismissing the voice that pleaded for a fourth helping, Sakura stepped back into the central, circular area. Then she raised her sword to continue raining blows on the unfortunate wooden post, drawing satisfaction when it began to splinter at the sides. She carried on swiping and stabbing, marvelling at how brilliant the ambrosia was at keeping muscle fatigue at bay.
Eventually she grew bored with the sword drills, and turned her attention to the pillars encircling the sparring area. She felt energised, her body buzzing with warmth and a strange, foreign adrenaline. Were the extra servings of ambrosia responsible for her unexpected boost in stamina? Whatever was, she felt just fabulous. As if she could race a marathon. Running around the pillars didn't seem like such a major feat all of a sudden. Why hadn't she thought before about drinking ambrosia prior to her training sessions with Sasuke? If it made her body this aware and rejuvenated, she would definitely be able to perform better. Maybe Sasuke knew it too. Maybe that was why he never allowed her to ingest too much. Because he liked to be controlling, like the chauvinistic pig he was.
He was in for a surprise at their next sparring match, then, Sakura smiled, as she plotted to herself and began rushing full speed around the pillars. If she was lucky, maybe she could even get a hit in somewhere. That was, if Sasuke wasn't too busy hitting on her - in a different way, of course.
She giggled to herself as she passed the fifth pillar, then bit down on her lower lip in shame. What was wrong with her? It wasn't funny. But the more she pictured Sasuke trying to flirt, the more she began to chuckle. Soon she was laughing so hard that she pulled a muscle in her side. Forgetting all about circling the pillars, she waltzed to the central area again, feeling elated, like she was floating on clouds.
"I'm…" she began, frowning, before bursting into a jubilant grin. "I'm feeling as light as a bubble!" Giggling again, she spread her arms, and swiped unseeingly with her sword. Did ambrosia really possess the ability to make a person so high? Even as she went back to the table and was helping herself to a fourth serving, a tiny voice whispered that she ought to stop. She wasn't being sensible. But it was so distant and inconsequential and nowhere near as persuasive as the louder one that told her to have the fourth goblet, and a fifth. She was a teenager. Surely she was allowed to live a little – even if she was in Death's kingdom.
Sakura skipped down the stairs and into the central space again with the cup full of wine in her right hand. Her arms and legs were restless, and she felt oddly bubbly and lightheaded as she spun around and around, pirouetting like a ballerina, taking sips from the goblet until she had downed it all.
That was how a brooding Sasuke found her, twirling and humming, when he stepped off the rotating platform and into the training dome. As he curiously approached the steps leading down to the sandy arena, he halted to stare at Sakura, dancing with her back turned to him. She was dressed in a pink and grey sparring outfit, but was definitely not practicing swordplay. His eyes lowered to her seductively swaying hips, followed the shapely curves of her slender legs, before rising incredulously to her face as she whirled around to look at him. The telling pink flush to her cheeks and the glaze in her eyes, coupled with the incriminating, empty goblet in her hand, told him all he needed to know. The foolish girl had swallowed too much ambrosia for her own good.
The question was, just how much?
Scowling disapprovingly at her, he began, "Sakura-"
"Sasuke!" she greeted chirpily, lifting the goblet and beaming joyously at him. It was a sight so beautiful and alluring that for an awful moment, the death deity forgot his exasperation entirely, and it was all he could do to gaze at her, struck by how very desirable she looked – and just how much he wanted to take her. "This drink… it's amazing. I feel so… so alive!" She giggled and spun again, rocking unsteadily on the balls of her feet in the process.
Wary that she would tumble and hurt herself, Sasuke immediately joined her on lower ground. Prying her fingers gently from the goblet in her grasp, he interrogated, "How much did you have?"
"Hmm?" Sakura hummed. "Oh. A little." She made a tiny measuring gesture with an index finger and thumb. "This much. See? S'not a lot. Hic!" She hiccupped, then slapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes widening before she proceeded to burst into a fresh fit of giggles.
Sasuke's lips parted slightly – about as close as he could ever get to gaping open-mouthed at anything or anyone – when Sakura suddenly lifted her sword, hoisting it up precariously between them.
"Let's spar," she suggested enthusiastically. "I'll definitely beat you this time."
He slowly shook his head, reaching out to lower her right arm firmly. She was completely intoxicated, and barely in control of her own actions. She probably wasn't aware of what she was really saying, either. Sasuke calculated that she would have had to have had at least seven or eight goblets of wine to reach such a tipsy state. His silent refusal prompted Sakura to pout unhappily at him.
"Why noooot? I'm ready. Try me."
When he didn't release her wrist, and shook his head mutely once again, she stepped closer, the front of her body brushing against his as she looked up into his face beneath hooded lashes.
"Don't you want to try me?" she said huskily.
Sasuke froze as her left index finger jabbed into his chest. This playful, previously dormant Sakura was virtually unrecognisable to him. He had never expected alcohol to affect her so profoundly, and gazed in fixated, disbelieving fascination as she sulked, "You're no fun."
"You are not yourself," he stated. She seemed to find this hilarious, for she began to laugh again, before tugging at him to release her. When his fingers reluctantly let go, she sashayed away from him.
"What would you know about me? Just because… hic! You're a god- hic! Doesn't mean you know everything- hic!"
She spun again, dropping her blade to the dusty ground, looking lost for a moment.
"I feel… happy," she then declared. "Happy, happyyyy. Unh?" She suddenly stopped, pressing a hand to her forehead, and the smile slipped from her face. "I don't… I don't feel too good," she whispered, teetering dangerously to her left. Sasuke's eyes widened and he darted forward, just about catching her as she fell, her clumsy angle sending them both to the ground. Sakura landed snugly in his lap, with his arms around her, and giggled breathlessly once more.
A tiny voice that sounded very foreign and far away in Sakura's head was telling her that she was sitting in Sasuke's lap. That it was a big deal, and she was making a total and utter fool of herself. But she couldn't really bring herself to care, not when a more significant part of her quite enjoyed how it felt to be held by him.
Sasuke's pulse picked up speed when she stared right into his face and made no effort to pull away. She just fit in his arms. As if she had been moulded for him. It just felt… right. It was strange how he had never really paid attention to it until then.
"My mother would kill me," she confided sadly, "if she saw us like this. She'd even kill you. She never let me see anyone." Turning large eyes to the death deity, she breathed, "But can I tell you a secret…?" When she beckoned for him to lower his head and he did so, she cupped her hands around his left ear and whispered, "I did see someone. A long time ago." Drawing back slightly, she finished dreamily, "Hmm. He was so handsome."
Sasuke didn't expect the jolt of jealousy that swelled within him at the unexpected disclosure. He couldn't recall Sakura being romantically involved with anybody in the past. If she had been, he most certainly would have done something about it.
Unless… unless she had seen someone before he had watched her? That wasn't consistent with her mother's overprotectiveness. And surely if Sakura had pranced about with some puny mortal boy, he would have known.
"Who?" The Death God demanded. When she just hummed again distractedly, he lifted one of the arms that encircled her waist and gripped her chin, forcing her to look back at him. "Sakura."
She looked muddled for a second, before wriggling in his hold. When he held fast, she pouted, "I… can't remember his name. He just left me." Quickly realising that he was unlikely to obtain a coherent answer, Sasuke released her jaw, and she threw her right hand up into the air, forming a triumphant, yet clumsy fist. "Doesn't matter now," she drawled. "I'm a world who's taking over the girl!"
Sasuke lifted an eyebrow. He was still bewilderedly trying to get his head around how very different and thoroughly intriguing Sakura was when all her inhibitions were released, when her giggles turned into soft moans.
"Sasuke," she whispered again, leaning into his warmth. "I don't feel too well."
"You disobeyed me," he censured, his arms keeping her close. But there was no anger or accusation in his voice.
"M'not a lightweight," she grumbled, before slurring, "Hmm… smells nice." Nuzzling her cheek into his chest, she inhaled deeply, before growing still, having submitted at last to drunken sleep. Sasuke exhaled at how slight and fragile she felt in his embrace, and lowered his nose to the top of her head, breathing in her sweet, flowery scent.
At that precise moment, he couldn't imagine not holding her. He couldn't imagine not ever having her near to him. Not being able to reach out and touch her whenever he desired. He recalled his earlier exchange with Naruto, and his arms tightened even further around Sakura's slumbering form as he clutched her possessively to him. He had done everything he could to deter them, to throw them off his trail. But had he done enough? His time was running out. Sooner or later, they would know the truth, and take her from him. He had to bind her to him and his world, as soon as possible. When she awoke, he would offer her the food of the dead. He needed to be careful, though. He couldn't risk allowing Sakura to realise the fruit's hidden effects.
Snagging her sword from the ground and securing it back in its jewelled casing at her waist, he rose to his feet, lifting her in his arms, and decided against teleporting to her bedchamber, choosing instead to carry her all the way back. Fury still brewed within him at Naruto's arrival in his realm. He had made a monumental mistake showing up, and the next time Sasuke saw him, he vowed that he would finish the idiot off - permanently.
But the words that the loud-mouthed, overly emotional fool had spoken still reverberated deafeningly in Sasuke's skull.
"If we don't find Sakura-chan soon, there'll be consequences on the surface which will affect your world, too. She… Sakura-chan isn't like other human girls. She's… special."
Hadn't Jiraiya told him something similar? That the trees were already shedding their blooms? The shedding, Sasuke suddenly realised, had begun roughly two weeks after he had abducted Sakura. And the more Sasuke deliberated it, the less of a coincidence it seemed to be. Especially when he considered Naruto's most puzzling and troubling revelation.
"Madara. We have to keep it… hidden from him. The- the essence of spring-"
He frowned as he stepped off the revolving platform and back into the palace's grand entrance hall. Essence of spring? His eyes lowered to the sleeping girl in his arms. Her face was serene, and the mysterious glow about her was almost tangible – a temporary change that he attributed to her increased consumption of ambrosia.
Spring was contained in Sakura's name. Her colourings, so rare and unique, also harmonised with the season. And that light she carried… weaker than a deity's, but more radiant than any human soul he had glimpsed since ascending the throne of the Underworld.
His heart began to accelerate as a notion slowly began to trickle in his mind, a notion he had always been quick to scorn and dismiss before. Was it even conceivable? That Sakura was somehow tied to springtime?
"S-Sakura-chan… she- she is-"
Was that what Naruto had been meaning to say? Was that why Tsunade and the others had always been so overprotective of her? The signs were too many, now. He had witnessed Naruto and Kakashi's desperation and fear when he had bluffed his intent to kill Sakura. It went beyond simply caring for her wellbeing. They had a deeper connection. Something more imperative.
He would have entertained and accepted the possibility much sooner, were it not for the confounding contradiction of Sakura's blood chemistry. It was ordinary, and wholly human. How could she influence a season and vegetation on the surface, when she possessed no supernatural abilities?
But he recalled the speed in which she had managed to summon her chakra. It had been mortal chakra – but she had shown an uncommon knack for harnessing it, something most humans spent years and years of their life trying to perfect.
Then there was the attack she'd had. How did that relate to everything? Sakura had informed him that Tsunade had always given her ambrosia as a medicine. The wine had the ability to repair wounds – and to subdue serious conditions, temporarily making them appear as though they were completely healed.
Sasuke exhaled as realisation struck him abruptly like a bolt of lightning. Tsunade hadn't given Sakura the medicine to heal her pain. If it happened every year, then the ailment was still there, merely being suppressed by the beverage of the gods. Which meant that whatever it was still existed inside Sakura. The Death God's thoughts buzzed with a sudden, startling clarity, leaving only one coherent echo.
Sakura had something that was important. Something that was connected to nature. Something that caused her pain, and had to be inhibited. He didn't know exactly what it was, why it hurt her, or how it could be, when she bled and hurt and breathed like a human. But whatever it was, Naruto, Tsunade, Kakashi, and all the others were frantic to keep it secret. Hidden from watching eyes in the sky.
As he entered Sakura's bedroom and lowered her onto her bed, he stared at her for a long minute, as if the answers to all the infuriating questions ricocheting in his head were contained in her sweet features. How could his eyes have failed to see it? He already knew the explanation to that particular query. When he looked into her soul, he found nothing extraordinary. There wasn't a trace of anything remotely goddess-like, besides the purity and radiance of her life-force.
There was no seal on her, not one that he could detect. Unless it was one so complex, that not even he could recognise it. It was a maddening paradox, and many dots were missing. He didn't have much time left to try piecing it all together. And what irritated him even more was that Sakura was oblivious to everything.
Leaning forward, he pressed his forehead lightly against hers, and murmured in frustration, "What are you…?"
Her steady breaths were the only response Sasuke received. He remained by her side, tracing over her fingertips, watching as she fell into rapid eye movement and the haven of dreams.
Elysium, he suddenly thought. Elysium's light revealed things for what they really were. Every soul shined with its true, full worth. If he took Sakura there, and let her enter its sacred fields, would he finally see the source of all her riddles? Would he finally understand just what she was?
It was a place that was not intended for the living. But he saw no other alternative. Rising from her bedside, Sasuke drew the gauzy drapes, and turned away, lost to the heavy gravity of his contemplations.
Was she the essence of spring that they had to keep hidden from Madara? Or was this mysterious essence somehow locked away inside her for safe-keeping? And if so, who had put it there? Tsunade? Or someone else? And why Sakura? Why a girl who was otherwise essentially human, who could die just like everybody else? If this essence – or Sakura – was really so precious, why would they take such an irresponsible and thoroughly reckless risk?
He reached the door, grasped onto the handles to quietly exit the room, when a softly sighed whisper behind him, barely audible, travelled to his ears. Its effect was instantaneous, devastating, made his entire body freeze, caused the very blood in his veins to turn to ice, and sent his heart and mind careening into the endless depths of chaos.
"Hades…"
The breath that had hitched in his throat was difficult to dislodge, and for a horrendous moment, Sasuke couldn't even discern his own hand, gripping onto the handle before him with enough force to shatter it. Wide-eyed and plagued with dreadful, uncharacteristic hesitation - as if fearful of what he would discover - the Death God turned slowly back around.
Author's note
Oh, it's ON now! Mwahaha! Let the games begin.
I really loved writing the battle scene, and the little SasuSaku one. A good way for Sasuke to see another side of Sakura, without it seeming OOC or sudden, given that the silly girl got drunk on too much ambrosia. I thought it would make a cute/amusing change, with her in his lap and his arms around her. Get ready for an awkward next interaction between them. Kukukuku.
Any guesses which route the plot is going to down, now? How will Sasuke react? What does Naruto think he knows? And Madara is here, too?! WTF! Can this story possibly get any more complex?
Tune in next update to find out. ; )