Sorry for the major delay in getting this out there! Thanks to everybody who reviewed last chapter. If you haven't done so already, please keep checking the group page on deviantart for new artwork as it is added.
To all of you who wonder whether or not I actually read every single review I receive; the answer is yes, I do, and I value each and every one. Due to the multitude of feedback that comes in, however, it does take a while for me to respond, so a sincere thank you goes to everyone for bearing so patiently with me.
Please also make sure you listen to the tracks indicated on my profile at the points when 1) Sasuke plays the harp and 2) roughly when Sakura starts to answer Sasuke's question about what she lives for, onwards. Note: It is very important that you carefully pace the second track correctly for the full intended effect – please follow the timing notes on my profile page under Chapter 33 and believe me when I say it'll really build a sense of anticipation and atmosphere for you.
This chapter also introduces the main adversary of the story, though he will be joined by others later. Hope you enjoy the update people. The preview poem promises a good one!
Chapter XXXIII
With gaze of obsidian,
He tempts her near,
Enticing ever closer,
With eyes that sear,
Scorching, blistering, sweltering flames,
Will her to forget from whence she came,
And in His hand - that woeful bane,
The Forbidden Fruit,
Upon her lips stains,
Its cruel, irresistible, bittersweet blood,
Crimson as Death,
Crimson as lust.
Shizune winced at the pressure of a hand pressing firmly over her wound.
"Tsunade-sama," she managed. "Please. You mustn't-"
"Hold still," Tsunade interrupted grimly, as she directed an unstable, fluctuating stream of chakra into her right palm. She closed her eyes, visualising the damaged tissue underneath and began to channel energy flow to repair and rejuvenate the injury. The limitations her seal placed upon her chakra reserves, however, meant that the speed of cell restoration was significantly compromised.
Shizune swallowed as the stinging pain in her leg slowly began to ebb.
"Why?" she whispered. "Why, Tsunade-sama? There was no need for you to use the forbidden transportation technique-"
"If I'd had another option, don't you think I would have taken it?" Tsunade snapped back. They had been outnumbered, and avoiding further injury to Shizune had been her top priority. Immediately noting the flash of sadness and guilt in Shizune's eyes, Tsunade held her breath for a moment, before slowly releasing it in an attempt to rein in her frayed temper.
"It's not your fault," she added in a mutter. "We've been bending the rules often enough lately; now that we know Kabuto's in league with that snake Orochimaru, there's no telling how many others are involved." After another pause, Tsunade continued with certainty, "Orochimaru has spies everywhere, it seems. And he's been breaking rules of his own by passing on forbidden knowledge to ill-prepared mortals."
"What can he mean by it?" Shizune shook her head. "What has he promised Kabuto? And why Kabuto?"
"He's clearly someone Orochimaru knows he can manipulate to his maximum advantage," Tsunade spat bitterly. "Like he did to other fools in the past." Satisfied that the skin had healed fully, Tsunade patted Shizune's leg, signalling that all damage had been repaired.
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama."
Waving off her friend's gratitude, Tsunade sat back on her heels and retrieved the remaining phial from her jumper's pocket.
Gripping it tightly in her hand, she hissed, "That bastard Kabuto – how could he have possibly gotten his filthy hands on two phials?" Which begged the following question; just how long had he been monitoring them?
Shizune's left palm flew to her mouth as a troubling thought suddenly occurred to her. "What if…" she began fearfully, "…what if he has more?"
Tsunade shook her head. "Impossible. We checked all the other phials before we locked them away in the vault. We had a full set, Shizune! How could he have managed to-?" Abruptly she broke off and lifted the stopper from the phial. Inhaling deeply from it, she frowned. She was certain that the scent had been different when she had lifted it to her nose on the surface. Sniffing again, she realised with shock that she had been completely mistaken. The damp and earthy odour in Kabuto's secret basement had somehow skewered her olfactory senses. What was going on?
"What is it?" Shizune peered anxiously at her.
"This…" Tsunade shook her head. "This does not smell like the original."
"What?" Her friend looked concerned. "What do you mean, Tsunade-sama? You seemed so sure in the basement-"
"No. It has a similar initial scent but there's something off about it." She held out the phial for Shizune to smell.
She gasped, handing it back to her. "You're right! But then, how…?"
Tsunade was quiet for a long moment. Then her eyes suddenly widened as an outrageous idea presented itself in her racing mind. Was it possible, somehow, that Kabuto had only stolen a small sample from one of the phials and found a way to alter the genetic makeup of the blood he had obtained by crossing it with extracts from plants, thus producing weak replicates?
But that wasn't humanly possible. Not without inhuman intervention, at least.
They already knew that he was connected to Orochimaru – who did have divine contacts and powers of his own. Orochimaru, who had clearly been whispering poisonous secrets to Kabuto, secrets that no mortal had the right to know.
The more Tsunade thought about it, the more it began to make awful sense, until a sickening realisation began to creep upon her. Did this have anything to do with why Orochimaru had selected Kabuto in particular? She remembered from his job application form that the junior doctor possessed an uncommonly high IQ level. But it was just not feasible to reproduce the DNA of the blood of an immortal in a laboratory. Even with the addition of ambrosia, there would be code mismatches and unexpected cell divisions, dangerous and unstable mutations-
Her breath stilled. That was precisely what the horrifying 'Zetsu' creatures were. Mutations, abominations of nature, unholy crosses between humans and plants.
Tsunade rose, her heart pounding. "Shizune, analyse the cellular structure of the blood in this phial," she ordered, holding out the container.
"Tsunade-sama?" Shizune rose in turn, looking questioningly at her as she accepted the phial.
"I think," Tsunade began angrily, "that if the results of the tests are what I suspect, then that son of a bitch Kabuto might have found a way to create genetically modified blood samples that mimic the originals!"
It also meant that Kabuto was an even greater threat than they had initially realised.
Shizune's shocked expression was quickly replaced by one of determination. "I'll analyse these right away!" she promised, making an immediate move. But a voice promptly halted her, and caused Tsunade's stomach to twist unpleasantly.
"Before you do that, do share the particulars of this fascinating conversation with me, Tsunade."
Tsunade's hands closed to form tight fists. Gritting her teeth, she turned to the door, only to be greeted with a mischievous wink and a smile that did not quite reach Jiraiya's eyes.
"Keeping secrets from me again, old girl?"
Orochimaru had discovered throughout the endless years of his existence that both mortal and divine emotions were equally easy to manipulate. It was just a matter of knowing which buttons to push – or more often, which buttons to leave untouched and intact. He had toppled many a mighty man and countless, grief-stricken human women – as well as deities who prided themselves on their great intellect. What had started out as genuine curiosity about the depths of human and godly emotions and how much they could be bent to his will had developed into a cruel, deadly, terrorising game – one that afforded him great benefits, as well as secured him alliances which ultimately advanced his grand designs. With every soul he tormented with fear, pain and doubt, his powers grew.
One such ally stood before him, dressed in crimson and black – colours that reflected the bloodied history of his past. And history had taught Orochimaru that while it was important to keep associates close – it was even more imperative to keep unpredictable enemies closer.
"I trust you have an explanation for this?" The figure's hands were clasped behind his back and he did not bother to turn around. His usual mark of disrespect.
"A thoroughly unexpected turn of events," Orochimaru replied, "but one that can be quickly rectified, I assure you."
A silence fell between them, which the serpent knew was an unspoken invitation for him to elaborate.
"Kabuto is quite an exceptional human. His thirst for knowledge guarantees he will stop at nothing to obtain what he desires."
"I hope for his pitiful sake that is true," the figure responded coldly. Shifting his head to the left slightly, he added, "For the instant he ceases to be useful will be the instant he ceases to breathe."
"But of course," Orochimaru agreed silkily.
The figure returned his gaze ahead. "Tsunade has obtained one of the phials. Identify the location of the other. At any cost."
"Consider it done," Orochimaru nodded, making to step away.
"And Serpent," the figure added, causing the pale-skinned Personification of Dread and Terror to linger. "The conditions of the Truce have been compromised. It would bode well to acquire another ally."
Orochimaru's curiosity and interest were immediately caught. He could tolerate another player on their field – so long as the new addition did not pose a threat to his own personal plans.
After a lengthy, pondering pause, the figure suggested, "I think it time you paid a visit beneath the surface. Last time I checked, a young King desired revenge on the Surface Gods as much as I do. Perhaps he has overcome his childish grudges and will be willing to listen to a very attractive proposition."
Orochimaru smiled sinisterly, his snake-like tongue running slowly along his lips. Well, this certainly placed an interesting twist on events. He had been wronged in the past by the very individual being mentioned, and the possibility of delivering vengeful torment filled him with glee. In an instant, he had vanished.
The figure's eyes remained fixed on the large, thick, impenetrable crystal structure before him. His most prized possession. The only remaining memento he had of tearing the Olympian Gods and their precious order to pieces.
He smiled grimly at the motionless figure trapped within the unbreakable, transparent tomb.
"For all your foresight, you failed to realise your greatest mistake," he murmured softly. "After all, what chance does pitiful humanity stand against both War and Death?"
The pale face within its eternal confinement remained expressionless.
Long, slender fingers twirled the phial distractedly in circles as dark eyes stared intently into the fireplace. He had replayed the exchange he'd witnessed on the surface over and over in his head, his sharp mind working quickly to match it with all the facts he had already acquired.
The phial contained blood. Sasuke knew after witnessing the human Kabuto's reaction to losing it, that the blood contained within was valuable. It was certainly valuable enough to force Tsunade to utilise the transportation technique in order to escape with the remaining sample. He had never before seen the unnatural creatures that had attacked the two women; was the existence of the 'Zetsu spores' Kabuto had mentioned somehow linked to the blood in the phial?
It was not possible for an ordinary mortal to play god and create such monstrosities. Kabuto was dabbling with the forbidden and by doing so, was enticing death well before his time. But before he removed the pesky problem, Sasuke had to understand exactly what he was dealing with; who Kabuto was working with and from where he had obtained the contents of the phials.
Wordlessly, he rose and left the fire-lit drawing room, making his way to the palace gardens. There was only one way to test the budding theory that had been circulating in his mind. Stepping outside, he found a patch of free soil by a cluster of milky white blooms and knelt by it, unfastening the cap of the phial.
Tilting it, he allowed a single drop to fall from the tube, onto the soil – and waited.
For a heart-thumping minute, nothing happened. Sasuke blinked. Perhaps he had not put enough. Maybe more than one drop was required – or maybe he had miscalculated and been wrong with his suspicions. Frowning, he unfastened the lid again and sniffed the liquid inside. Governing death meant that he was something of an expert on the scent of mortal blood – and this did not smell like ordinary blood. Neither did it have the distinctly sweet aroma of ambrosia-fuelled deity blood. He was just about to pour another drop – when the hand holding the phial suddenly froze. The Death God's breath stilled as he gazed down at the patch of soil in disbelief.
A thread-like, white spore was starting to sprout in the place where the drop of blood had fallen. It uncurled before Sasuke's eyes – then abruptly shrivelled in on itself, fading to grey and withering into nothing in a matter of seconds.
Words gasped in desperation reverberated deafeningly in Sasuke's skull.
"Madara! W-we have to keep it… hidden from him! The- the essence of spring-"
Spring. The season that commanded life. The power capable of nurturing and growing…
Sasuke's fingers closed tightly around the phial. Was this the essence Naruto had mentioned? But how could it be? It seemed contaminated somehow, as if it were a mere shadow of what it ought to be. Some weak, scientifically engineered variant that had vital strands of genetic code missing, which accounted for why it was unable to sustain life for too long – as he had witnessed on the surface with the lurching Zetsu creatures.
Because, Sasuke concluded with a sharp intake of breath, the blood he held was not the original. The original was somewhere else – and if this corrupt sample's limited capabilities were anything to go by, the original surely had the power to infuse life without fault. If it were to be discovered by mortals… the possibilities would be endless. He released the air in his lungs slowly. Tsunade, he was certain, had the originals. She was the guardian. The same way she guarded Sakura-
Sakura.
Her daughter was named after spring; a girl whose soul was pure, untarnished. A girl who strangely knew the name Hades, who had mortal blood – but who was more receptive to the effects of ambrosia than any other mortal he had ever known. A girl who suffered mysterious pains at the start of the spring season – pains only the wine of the gods could alleviate.
Saskuke's mind was hurtling full speed. Ambrosia worked by altering blood chemistry. And whatever the mysterious ailment that afflicted her clearly responded and reacted positively to that.
Words spoken to him by another older deity echoed then in his memory; words he had not been able to dismiss.
"On the contrary; this affects you also."
"The trees are already shedding their blooms…"
The Death deity's thoughts whirred to a stop, and all that was left in their wake was a numbing hum. He exhaled, stunned, staring disbelievingly at the phial in his fist. Everything was suddenly falling into place with chilling finality. There were still many blanks to the puzzle – blanks he needed a little more time to piece together – but the picture that had now formed was unmistakeable.
What great secret had he inadvertently stumbled upon?
He was on his feet in an instant. Stalking back into the palace grounds, he barely acknowledged Ume as she curtsied to him, carrying a large silver tray of food in her hands.
"My Lord-" she began to greet politely.
"Bring Sakura to my chambers," he ordered as he breezed by her, adding emphatically without halting, "Now."
'So what's the latest, hot stuff? Sasuke trusting you yet?'
Sakura swirled the water in the basin idly with her index finger. Trust? It seemed like nothing she said or did was capable of getting the stoic Death God to relax in her presence. She recalled the way Sasuke had left her when they had returned from their tour of the heavens. They had dismounted the chariot, and she had thanked him – quite genuinely – for allowing her to set her eyes upon the most sacred of places.
Her lower lip protruded as she remembered his response. A penetrating, silent stare that had set her pulse fluttering quite oddly – and then he had promptly excused himself. Just like that. No goodbye. No 'you're welcome' or 'don't mention it, Sakura'. Nothing. Leaving her to return to her room and try, unsuccessfully, to soothe her agitated nerves with a steaming hot bath as she had attempted to figure out just why he had been so irritated with her.
'I think he hates me now,' she concluded glumly.
'Hah! There's a fine line between love and hate, right? I mean, take all the great romances throughout the ages-' Suigetsu's telepathic voice then adopted a peeved tone. 'Hey, will you quit messing with the water? Your doll face is the highlight of my day, and I think with all the shit I'm putting up with for you, cooped up in this five star cell, you owe me a decent view of your pretty face, at least.'
Sakura sighed heavily and retracted her hand. 'He took me to see Elysium and the Elysian Fields.' With a faraway look in her eyes, she added, 'Everything was so perfect… so beautiful.'
The Water deity blinked in surprise – both at her reaction and the news. 'He did? He actually took you to both heavens?' When Sakura nodded, he whistled. 'Damn, you're even better than I thought. He's starting to trust you alright.' Wagging a finger at her, he ventured, 'You better start showing him some trust in return.'
'How?' Sakura asked, tempted to swirl the water's surface again.
'Oh, well, let me think here,' Suigetsu tapped his chin in mock thought. 'I dunno, maybe you could like, you know?' He gestured arbitrarily in the air with a hand, before suggesting casually, 'Give the pitiful bastard his kiss already?'
Sakura swiped the surface of the water angrily, sending droplets flying onto the elaborate mirror in front of her.
'Okay, okay, geez, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!' Suigetsu's apologies were anything but sincere.
'I already told you, I'm not doing that!' Sakura fumed down at him. 'How many more times until you understand?'
'By Zeus, you've got to be the cutest but most uptight prude I've ever met-'
Prude? Was that the word to describe girls who actually respected their bodies and refused to manipulate the emotions of males – human or otherwise? Thoroughly insulted, Sakura made a show of tugging threateningly at the drain chain with her index finger.
'Whoa, whoa, wait Pinky, wait!' Suigetsu held up his hands to pacify her. 'Just think about this rationally for a minute-'
'I am thinking rationally, and if you don't change the subject I'm going to pull the plug.'
Suigetsu waved comically. 'Okay, but just hear me out for a second, here. He's taken you to the Elysian Fields and Elysium; that's a big deal. A really major deal. You've got to give him something back if you want to move our plan forward. Show him that you trust him around you physically. Stop being so edgy around the guy. Now I'd never fight the bastard's corner, but to his credit, he could have jumped you a thousand times over by now, without you even knowing about it, right?'
The thought was a very unsettling one and Sakura could only gape down at Suigetsu's reflection, utterly appalled. If he was trying to be reassuring, he was doing a horrendous job at it.
'What's the big deal?' Suigetsu continued blithely. 'It's just one puny little kiss. You won't even miss it. The closer you lure him in, the more likely he'll let his guard down. I mean it's not like you're saving it for any human guy on the surface, is it?'
Sakura bristled, indignant. 'Maybe it's something small and meaningless to you heartless gods, but to me, it really matters-'
'Ouch.' Suigetsu looked theatrically wounded. 'I have a heart, Pinky. Really I do.'
'How would you know that I'm not saving it for someone on the surface?' she countered angrily.
Suigetsu's sad expression evaporated in an instant as he snorted derisively. 'Uh huh, yeah, right. You think lover boy Sasuke's gonna honour your wish? He's always been a possessive asshole. You so much as look at another guy, and they'll be walking the banks of Acheron before you can say sayonara. If it's going to happen anyway, why not work it to your advantage?'
Sakura's eyes lifted to gaze sullenly at her reflection in the mirror. That sounded like something awful Sasuke would do, and as horrible as the notion seemed, the miserable truth was that there wasn't anybody waiting for her back at home. She hadn't ever really been in love with anyone, save for a handful of celebrity crushes that every teenage girl on the planet indulged. How could she even view the world the same way, after knowing Sasuke and his realm?
She had lost everything. She couldn't possibly lose her first kiss too. Sasuke happened to be the deity who decided who went to hell and who did not, but that was no guarantee that she was immune from being flung into the fires of torment just because he had chosen to kidnap her, especially considering the dishonest manner in which she was intending on departing his Kingdom. The kiss, however, had already almost happened on more than one occasion. Sakura was finding it increasingly more straining to stay on high alert. And perhaps that was what frightened her the most.
She was just an ordinary teenage girl and Sasuke's outrageous physical beauty, coupled with his magnetic aura of mysterious allure and the dark, dangerous, predatory power he exuded were capable of ensnaring even the hardiest of females. His voice, like silk-wrapped steel, the effortless grace and stealth of his movements… everything about him was captivating and seduced the senses. It was only to be expected, Sakura thought suddenly, that Death would possess such a compelling and attractive form, so as to entice immediate and willing submission from all who encountered him. And although she despised the manner in which she had been so heartlessly stolen from her home and her loved ones, there was no denying that the Underworld – and consequently its handsome, enigmatic ruler - appealed to the most secret part of her that had always craved adventure and excitement.
Sakura found herself wondering at that instant what she would have done if Sasuke had just chosen to speak to her honestly at the Carousel and approached her without deceit, unthreateningly. She knew it never would have happened, but if he had – how would she have received him? After she had freaked out and he had proven to her that he was really who he claimed to be; would she have really rejected an offer to explore a hidden, unknown world? A world everybody else only got to see once they were quite literally dead and buried?
Even as she was asking herself, Sakura already knew the worrying answer.
One moment of indecision. One hesitant second of letting her guard down. That was all Sasuke would need – and the reality of that fact scared her.
But what if… a tiny voice whispered in her head tentatively, what if it guaranteed your freedom? Wouldn't you be able to sacrifice just one tiny kiss?
Suigetsu, who had noted her distracted, troubled expression and could only speculate what she was contemplating, cleared his throat, 'Uh, Pinky? Light's on upstairs, or you zoning out on me?'
Sakura shook her head, turning her attention back to him. Before she could say anything else, her body froze at the sound of the bathroom's main double doors opening.
'Someone's outside – I have to go!' she informed the Water God hurriedly.
'Right – just keep in mind what I told you. Loosen up a little more around him,' Suigetsu reminded her with a wink. Heart racing, Sakura pulled the toilet handle, using the noise to disguise the sound of water draining rapidly from the basin. Straightening her hair and clearing her throat, she unlocked the door and stepped outside, half panicking that she would find Sasuke's dark, probing eyes waiting for her – but was relieved to find Ume instead.
"Oh! Mistress! There you are!" she exclaimed. "The Master has called for you."
Sakura blinked. Sasuke was back? When had he returned?
"Where is he?" she questioned.
"In his quarters. He has summoned you, Mistress," Ume stated.
Sakura's lips parted. Sasuke wanted to see her… in his bedroom? She had only been in it once before, and on that occasion the King of the Dead had consumed her absolute attention, so she could not even remember what the chamber even looked like. Was she really comfortable with going to his room alone? When he had been displeased when he'd left her?
Grow a backbone! Her inner voice snapped at her. Like Suigetsu said, he could've taken advantage of you a thousand times already. But he hasn't. Nothing's going to happen. You're the one who is in control. It's just a room. That he happens to sleep in. If he ever does sleep. You'll be fine!
"But I'm- I don't think I'm-" Sakura fumbled, looking down at her clothing uncertainly. After bathing, she had selected a lovely dusky pink chiffon dress with a sweetheart neckline and semi-transparent, butterfly sleeves, adorned with tiny silver beads, accessorising with matching silver jewellery and sandals. But suddenly, oddly, she felt self-conscious.
Ume giggled knowingly, and replied reassuringly, "You look beautiful, Mistress."
A lone eye tracked Naruto's movements resignedly. Kakashi knew what it meant when the blond started pacing around so restlessly. He was no doubt formulating an extravagant and foolhardy plan which involved storming the Underworld and raiding every corner of the Land of the Dead until Sakura's precise location was discovered.
In truth, Kakashi was still struggling to accept the likelihood of Sakura being held captive below ground. Of course it made perfect sense, given that they had all scoured the surface so thoroughly. Jiraiya had certainly warned him of Sasuke enough times. And yet doubt still tore at him; a tiny fraction of delusional, lingering hope that somehow, somehow, Naruto was mistaken. His detailed description of the death deity's reaction when he had mentioned the essence of spring – that split second of hesitation that had stayed Sasuke's hand from delivering a maiming blow – surely it might have just been coincidence? Perhaps it had been Madara's name that had caused Sasuke to pause. But Naruto was adamant that his gut instinct was right. He was absolutely certain of what he had seen. And there was no denying the nature of the seal that prevented Sai from telling them the truth.
What was even more difficult to understand was why Sakura was being held there. The troubling thought of Sasuke using her to extract some form of vengeance upon them weighed heavily on Kakashi's conscience.
Sasuke would never hurt her, Naruto kept insisting, after the initial shock of his suspicions being correct had finally sunk in. Kakashi, however, wasn't quite so confident about that. Judging from the deadly reception he had dished out to Naruto, the countless years that had passed since the calamitous war between gods had done little to soothe Sasuke's rage. If anything, he was colder and more heartless than ever, altered beyond their recognition.
Sai sat quietly on the carpet, looking utterly desolate. They were at Kakashi's place, and the pale youth had scarcely said a word – because he couldn't. Even Naruto's attempts at directing closed questions, which only required a nod or a shake of the head to answer, had been unsuccessful.
"Naruto," Kakashi began carefully. "It would do us no good to keep this contained from the others. We must inform Tsunade, sooner rather than later. Together we can come up with a way to recover Sakura."
Naruto continued to pace agitatedly. "No. No, we can handle this. We can get Sakura back safely."
Kakashi felt something twinge unexpectedly deep in his chest. Even after all this time, Naruto was still trying to look out for troubled Sasuke.
Hadn't he tried to do the same, too? But Kakashi knew he couldn't any longer. Sasuke had overstepped the boundaries once and for all by kidnapping Sakura.
"How do you propose we explain her disappearance, if we were somehow able to reclaim her?" he queried. "You can't keep lying to cover him, Naruto. It's clear from his actions that he no longer holds any of us in regard."
"I'll figure something out," Naruto muttered, running a hand agitatedly through his unruly blond hair. "Damn it," he hissed. "Why, Sasuke? Why would you do this?"
"Naruto," said Kakashi quietly. "As much as I hate to say it, we cannot trust him."
Naruto stopped suddenly. "I'll go down there," he said determinedly. "I'll go down there and get her back myself."
Kakashi raised his eye exasperatedly to the plain cream ceiling. As usual, Naruto wasn't thinking his plan through. He was being driven by instinct – and with Sasuke, such reckless actions would lead to deadly consequences - quite literally.
"It's too dangerous," he attempted to reason patiently. "You saw the way he attacked you. Do you really believe he'll let you get a word out before he tries to finish you off? Think, Naruto!"
"If he knows what we know about Sakura-chan, maybe he'll listen-"
"You've already said quite enough to him, Naruto. Sharing our secrets with Sasuke is a foolish thing to do. We don't know how he'll react! He could be in league with Madara, for all we know-"
"No!" Naruto's eyes burned ferocious blue-flame. "Sasuke would never team up with that bastard! Not after the part he played in his family's extermination!"
"Perhaps not in the past, but we don't know what Madara is planning. He's cunning, Naruto. He could offer Sasuke something, promise him something."
"Sasuke's not stupid," Naruto spat. "He's an arrogant asshole, but he's not stupid."
"Stealing Sakura was stupid," Kakashi lifted an eyebrow. "He ought to have known better."
Naruto remained quiet at that.
Sai's voice spoke up then. "He isn't the same god you used to know," he stated with strange calmness. "He won't hesitate to eradicate anything that gets in his way."
Kakashi's eye widened as realisation suddenly crashed into him. "Wait a minute," he exhaled. "Then- Inoichi's disappearance- that was-?"
Sai's gaze lowered. He said nothing more.
Naruto's hands tightened to form angry fists. What was Sasuke doing? How could he have changed so much – to go so far as to kill a seraph, just because he deemed him a threat? They had no proof that Inoichi was dead – but they had no evidence he wasn't, either.
"Then there's no telling what he would do if we interfered directly again," Kakashi concluded. It was a chilling truth, and one that seemed to register with Naruto at last.
"I just need to know she's safe, damn it!" he erupted, completely contradicting his earlier insistence that Sasuke would not harm his dear friend. Shaking his head, he collapsed on the couch and covered his face with his hands, an open display of the helplessness tearing at his emotions inside.
"We'll tell the others," Kakashi stated firmly.
Naruto rubbed at his face and shook his head again. "No," he refused. "We can't. If Sasuke finds out – if he feels threatened…" he swallowed, and finished painfully, "I- you're right. We don't know what he might do." Laughing bitterly, he confided sadly, "I used to know Sasuke so well. I understood him. Now I… it's like I can't reach him. He's so wrapped up in hatred and anger, he can't even hear me."
"He made it very clear what would happen if we set foot in the Underworld again," Kakashi reminded him.
"But we have to speak to him!" Naruto exclaimed. "We can't go to the others until we understand why he's doing this!"
Kakashi was quiet. As much as his better judgement argued otherwise, he had to admit that Naruto had a point; approaching Tsunade and the others and sharing what they knew would likely result in disastrous consequences for everybody. They didn't know how Sasuke would react. They could only formulate a plan if they understood his intentions. But stepping foot in the Underworld again would be dangerous for them both. Sasuke had made that transparent enough.
The others were already mistrustful enough of the Death God and Kakashi knew that Tsunade's outrage would know no bounds. It was better to attempt to resolve the issue quietly, involving as few parties as possible.
His gaze moved to where Sai was sitting with his eyes lowered. And an idea suddenly occurred to him. They needed to send a very, very carefully thought out message to Sasuke, one that would secure them an audience with him.
What he murmured next caused both Naruto and Sai's heads to rise and turn towards him.
"Maybe there is a way we can communicate with Sasuke safely."
As she followed Ume past the lone, milky tree shimmering in the middle of the impeccably kept stone courtyard, the full extent of how nervous she was began to creep over Sakura. They continued down the northern path that led toward their destination, and by the time Ume had stopped before the immensely striking pair of arched silver doors heralding the entrance to Sasuke's chambers, Sakura's heart had already settled itself into a steadily pounding rhythm.
"Please enter, Mistress," Ume gestured. "My Lord awaits you inside."
Sakura clutched tightly onto the rippling skirt of her gown and swallowed. Taking a minute to compose her nerves, she then gave a resolute nod and thanked her maid, who curtsied before promptly taking her leave. Left alone, staring at the massive, daunting doors before her, Sakura once again reminded herself that she was in control and took a deep breath, before stepping forward and climbing the three low, wide steps that led to the stone, half-moon shaped landing directly in front of the doors.
Pulling on the weighty, solid gold door-knocker, Sakura knocked twice and waited. A minute crawled by. Then another. No answer came.
She knocked a second time and waited once more for permission to enter. When she heard nothing again, Sakura glanced anxiously behind her. Why wasn't Sasuke answering? Hadn't Ume told her he was inside? Was she expected to stand out in the courtyard until he responded?
"Sasuke?" she called uncertainly. "Are you there?"
Silence. She looked at the gold door handles and reached out to one of them. No sooner had she touched the right one, the sound of the doors parting echoed through the air and Sakura watched, surprised, as they swung open inwards.
Cautiously she stepped inside and her eyes were finally treated to the full, imperial grandeur of a King's quarters.
The chamber was wider and even more opulent than hers, which was an impressive feat in itself. She had not quite known what to expect and what she was gazing upon definitely surpassed anything she could have imagined. Sakura scarcely acknowledged the heavy doors closing with a resounding thud behind her. She was far too busy gawping at the aesthetically dazzling décor before her.
The room was enveloped in royal hues of deep blue, silver and gold. Elaborate tapestries featuring nocturnal scenery and proudly displaying the Uchiha family crest adorned the walls. Rich wallpaper embellished with delicate, burnt-gold, damask threads captured the flattering glow radiating from the multitude of decorative, silver floor candelabra illuminating the chamber.
Thick navy rugs were thrown over the polished, midnight floor. Scattered tastefully atop one of the throws to her left were exotic, reclining cushions of various shapes and sizes, positioned beside a large silver harp. A wider, more intricately woven rug littered with more cushions was sprawled in front of a fireplace that was somehow even more outrageously majestic than all the others she'd set eyes upon. Above it hung a massive mirror. Beside the hearth was an elegant, gold framed navy chaise longue and next to the lounging seat was a high, rounded table, upon which was placed a crystal decanter of ambrosia.
A colossal, glittering gold and crystal chandelier boasting twinkling sapphire droplets hung centrally from the ceiling. And directly behind it, nestled against the northern-most wall was…
Sakura's lips parted. The place where Death slept. With its four, intricately carved, gold and silver posts and ornate bed frame, luxurious midnight canopy and two-toned, silk sheets of dark cobalt, the bed was certainly fit for a king. Sheer, transparent silver drapes were tied neatly to their posts with thick, plaited gold cord.
Massive, arched windows with stunning blue, purple and silver stained glass designs were set in the back wall on either side of the bed, flanked by regal swathes of heavy curtains. Sakura caught sight of a pair of wide balcony doors to her far right corner, also framed by matching draperies.
She shook her head, hopelessly impressed as she slowly took in the width of the King's quarters once again. There were three other additional silver doors; two of which were curiously nestled adjacently behind gauzy, loosely bound, flowing drapes by the farthest left corner of the room, and another in the middle of the wall to her right. Sakura wondered where they all led.
Then it occurred to her that she had been so caught up with marvelling at all the furniture that she had initially overlooked the fact that she was alone. Sasuke was nowhere in sight. Sakura turned and flinched when she suddenly noticed imposing twin marble statues positioned on either side of the grand doors behind her. They were either panthers or leopards – she could not tell exactly. Stepping away from them, she ventured further into the room, amazed by all the glorious finery on show.
A pleasant spicy scent hung in the air. Sakura quickly found the source; smoky sticks of incense burning from pots resting on two of the several other tables stationed about the room.
Where was Sasuke? She stood awkwardly, not wanting to snoop around, even when the temptation to do so was immense. Clasping her hands behind her back, she waited. Everything was silent, except for the crackling of the fire in the hearth. Sakura counted a minute in her head. Two minutes. Three, four…
After five, she decided it would do no harm if she sat down while she was waiting for Sasuke to show up. She moved, immediately drawn to the harp. It was even more striking on closer inspection, beautifully engraved with gilded swirling details. Sakura ran her fingers along the length of the remarkable instrument. Sasuke was clearly a proficient musician… who would ever have guessed it, given his identity?
He's a god, she reminded herself. He's perfect at everything.
Well, almost everything, Sakura corrected, an unanticipated smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Social skills were definitely an area that required urgent improvement.
Taking a seat on the plush, comfortable cushions, her inept fingers plucked idly at the strings, pulling at unfamiliar notes. The harp's gentle, lulling tones resonated in the air, drawing a discontented sigh from her lungs. How she wished to know how to play!
Closing her eyes, she allowed her ears to enjoy the soothing sounds the instrument made as her fingertips continued to tease random strings. The more she concentrated on the notes, the more relaxed she felt, and the more eagerly her hands moved – until they began to play the tentative beginnings of something that almost resembled an actual melody. A tune began to float into her conscience, as if drawn from the deepest, darkest catacombs of her mind; something that sounded eerily and painfully familiar – and yet Sakura could not recall where and when she had last heard it. All she knew was that it felt so comforting. She could almost hear laughter echoing with it. The warmth of sunshine. Scolding words, spoken as if from a dream…
'Kore!'
'You're mortifying me!'
'Play the way I taught you… with passion!'
Behind the sheer sapphire and silver drapes in the left corner of the chamber, Sasuke stood, watching her silently. Listening attentively to the faltering phantom of a melody that was resonating with broken fluency from the harp.
He knew for a fact that Sakura had never taken lessons on the instrument. His eyes remained fixed on her form as he stepped out from behind the filmy barrier dividing them and walked noiselessly as a shadow toward her.
The warmth in her mind was slipping away with the same rapidity in which it had surfaced, and with it her fingers grew clumsy again, slowing until she was plucking at indiscriminate strings once more. Her eyes opened and she lowered her hands – only to stiffen when her elbows unexpectedly brushed against arms that suddenly lifted to encircle her within their enclosure. A familiar pair of hands hovered over the strings.
Sakura inhaled. She had not heard him. He'd given her no possible chance to evade his proximity, no opportunity to move away.
"Sasuke," she began, trying desperately to ignore the way her heart seemed to wrench in response to his commanding presence. Had she just displeased him again by taking the liberty to play uninvited? "I was waiting for you. I didn't mean to mess around-"
But the death deity was clearly not interested in hearing an apology for tinkering on the harp and promptly cut her off.
"You pull too firmly on the strings," his smooth voice spoke quietly into her right ear. Sakura had to fight to physically suppress the shudder that threatened to shoot down her spine like a lightning bolt. He was so close that her back brushed against his front, and she could feel the warmth radiating from his form directly behind her.
Don't be so tense! She reprimanded herself, recalling the advice Suigetsu had given her. With painstaking slowness, she willed her rigid spine to relax, little by little.
"Watch," Sasuke murmured, and proceeded to play – with delightful proficiency. Sakura could only listen in enthralment as a hauntingly beautiful melody serenaded her ears. His long, elegant fingers danced over the strings, caressing the silver threads rather than simply plucking them. She scarcely realised that her body was automatically relaxing as the music touched her very soul. She could not take her eyes off his hands for even a second.
When the tune ended, a pause hung between them, which Sakura used to collect her scattered thoughts.
"That was amazing," she complemented, her hands hovering beside his on the strings. Without considering her next words, she blurted, "Could you teach me?"
Great idea, her inner voice chirped sarcastically. It's not like the freaking GOD OF DEATH has anything better to do in his spare time.
Was that why he was taking his time to answer, Sakura worriedly wondered? The seconds trickled by, and the tension the music had alleviated between them began to creep up on her again, exacerbated by her accelerating heart rate.
Then Sasuke remarked, "You seem acquainted with some notes."
Sakura watched as his hands lightly encircled her wrists, repositioning them on the harp.
"Oh no," she answered, shaking her head. "I've never played the harp. I mean," she added unthinkingly, "apart from that time when I fooled around on one once with Naruto in the auditorium, but I don't think that counts."
She was genuinely confused when the fingers on her wrists suddenly tensed, tightening marginally – yet noticeably.
"Naruto," he repeated the name flatly, expressionlessly.
Interpreting it to be an unspoken request to identify the person she was referring to, Sakura explained, "Oh, Naruto's this really loud, goofy friend of mine."
Sasuke seemed to reconsider her request to show her the basics of the instrument, for his hands fell away from her wrists. She heard the soft rustling of clothes which informed her that he had risen to his feet behind her. Sakura turned to look after him, surprised to find that he was dressed more informally than usual, in a loose black shirt with long, baggy sleeves and silver threaded details at the shoulders and cuffs. The strings at the collar were untied, providing a teasing glimpse of the top of his chest. He wore black trousers that bunched loosely at the knees, secured at the calves by the straps of his black sandals. In his left ear glimmered a sapphire and silver droplet. Sakura thought he looked even more wickedly sinful than usual in casual black attire. As he stepped to the ambrosia decanter by the fireplace, he directed a sooty-lashed glance her way.
"And how long have you known this… Naruto?" he questioned, uttering the name aloofly as though it was not a word permitted to be spoken in polite society.
Puzzled by this query, and somewhat bewildered by the fact that he seemed to be taking a sudden interest in her surface life, Sakura rose from the cushions in turn and responded, "A few years. He transferred from another school."
Sasuke, who had begun to pour ambrosia into two silver goblets, paused. Was that the story the wretched idiot had fed poor, naïve Sakura? What other shameless lies had Tsunade told her? One corner of his mouth twitched; a ghost of a disdainful sneer. Nothing was stopping him from revealing the truth of Sakura's so-called friends' identities. The notion of doing so, of sending the glass walls surrounding her crashing down was certainly a tempting one. It would not be difficult, he knew, after she had gotten over the initial denial, to change her feelings toward the surface folk, and work them to his advantage.
The only thing that prevented him from doing so was that he still did not know precisely why Tsunade and the others had gone through such painstaking lengths to keep Sakura completely oblivious to who they really were. And as he was beginning to comprehend, what she possibly was, too. Meddling too hastily would prove unwise, particularly if there was a genuinely important and justified reason for withholding everything from Sakura – a reason that was intended to protect her. Once Sasuke understood entirely what that reason was and who or what they were so intent on shielding her from, he would not hesitate to sever every string of deception they had wound around the girl.
He wondered how willing she would be to return to the ones who had lied to her all her life once she learnt the truth.
Walking back to her, he wordlessly extended his hand, offering a goblet of ambrosia. Sakura's eyes rose to meet his, and he read uncertainty in them.
"I'm not sure," she said. "It seems to affect me too much."
The Death God did not retract his hand and as she reluctantly accepted it, she realised why. He had only filled half the goblet. A smaller portion than any she'd taken before. It prompted her to remember the question she had intended to ask him about ambrosia being similar to the medicine her mother gave her whenever she suffered one of her breathless episodes.
"Sasuke," she began, gazing down at the shimmering liquid in the cup. "The remedy my mother gives me when I'm having an attack… it tastes just like this." Looking back up at him, she shook her head, genuinely perplexed. "How can that be? Ambrosia is only available to the gods, isn't it? How could my mother get hold of it?"
Sasuke's gaze pierced into her. His silence was unnerving.
Sakura glanced down at the drink again and thought fleetingly of another certain deity. Of how eager that deity was to return her to her mother.
A strange sensation began to prickle over her. Now that she considered it, hadn't she spotted books relating to anthropology and herbal cures from different cultures in her mother's study before? Had her mother discovered a way to obtain ambrosia on Earth, somehow? Was that even possible?
What are you thinking? The voice of reason whispered in her head. How can you even entertain the idea that your mother is somehow connected to all of this?
But how else could Tsunade have access to the wine? The need for an explanation burned ferociously inside her. She looked to Sasuke, hopeful for an answer.
He moved to a large, jewel encrusted chest that Sakura had somehow overlooked on her initial inspections of the room, nestled between two floor candelabra.
"The world has many secrets, Sakura," he stated. With an effortless tug, he lifted the lid to reveal a mesmerising mountain of solid gold coins and trinkets inside. Sakura was already moving forward, her eyes powerless to turn away from the lustrous glamour of candlelight glinting off gold.
Sasuke went on, his silky voice almost hypnotic to her ears. "There are some who hunger to find wealth, hidden in undiscovered places." He took a handful of coins and let them slip between his fingers pointedly. "Some desire eternal youth. Others yearn for knowledge." His eyes pinned onto her again. "Those who become too fixated with uncovering them often meet an untimely demise."
Sakura's eyes widened. Was he alluding that her mother was chasing after forbidden knowledge? Or wealth? Or-? Her breath suddenly stilled as a wild suspicion suddenly sprung forth in her mind. Youth. Hadn't her mother had always watched vigilantly for even the smallest wrinkle to appear on her face?
No, a little voice in her head rejected. Mother would never do anything so foolish.
Sasuke's heavy lashes lowered. He rested a hand on the pointy tip of what appeared to be a spear. When he unearthed it from the coins, however, Sakura found herself staring at a garnet embellished golden crown.
"Such has been the fate of many mortal kings," Sasuke added, allowing the crown to fall with a resounding clatter back onto the glimmering pile of wealth. Sakura came to a stop by the chest, gazing down at the jewels in silence.
Once again, Sasuke had not directly answered her. What he had chosen to tell her, however, only served to give rise to even more questions in her head.
But had he not just warned her of the fate of humans who went snooping in places prohibited to them? What made her desire for knowledge any different? And what was the purpose of going to great lengths to obtain all of the things he had mentioned, when a person's biological clock was ticking ever closer to its final time out? Agitated, she downed the liquid in one gulp, needing the comforting warmth it provided.
Sasuke's watched her with hawk-like eyes. Waiting for the point at which the ambrosia kicked in. Waiting for the point at which she relaxed.
"People are born," Sakura spoke softly. "They live. They spend their lives learning, working to get by. But when they die, they can't take anything with them. Money, riches… even knowledge." She picked up an irregularly shaped coin from the chest. This was what wars were started over. The depressing truth was that wealth did most of the talking on the surface. Money was, quite literally, power. Why was it so important, really, when the end result for everybody was the same? All that awaited a person when their years were spent were a grave and tombstone. "What's the point?"
Sasuke had anticipated her question. It was the same one that had been asked by mortals since time had begun.
"Everything has a purpose."
His voice drew her out of her distracted contemplations. They stared at each other in silence for a long moment, and it struck Sakura that they were engaging in one of the longest interactions they'd had yet.
It felt… strange. But not wholly unpleasant.
When his hand moved without warning to rest over her heart, Sakura swiftly began to reconsider whether what she was feeling wasn't unpleasant. As always, her body was internally reacting to his touch. It was something she could not control, no matter how hard she tried. The death deity's gaze lowered briefly as he felt the organ pounding beneath his palm, before directing his eyes back to Sakura's. They were wide, the pupils fully dilated to him.
"This heart," he began quietly, maintaining eye contact, watching her face intently for every reaction. "Why does it beat?"
Uncertainty flickered across her sweet features. He could see that she was confused, not sure how she was expected to respond. He pressed his hand more firmly in place, as he clarified, "What do you live for, Sakura?"
Sakura's mind drew an initial blank. She knew his question linked to the one she had asked moments earlier, but… it was something she had never really stopped to consider. Who, apart from philosophers and religious leaders, really went about their daily lives dedicating time to such deep musings? She had always been so busy with college and friends up on the surface. She hadn't ever measured her true quality of living. Of course she had always been grateful to have a roof over her head, a comfortable home, all the clothes she'd ever desired, and a full plate from which to eat. But she had a funny feeling that wasn't what Sasuke was referring to, and she suddenly found herself deliberating the true meaning behind his query.
"Well I..." she began slowly, cautiously, trying not to pay too much attention to how comfortable his hand seemed to be in its position. Almost like it fit there. "I want to help others. I want to save lives."
Life. She attached great significance to it. Her answer only served to fan the flames of suspicion he was harbouring about her.
"If you fail?" Sasuke followed, his tone still nonchalant, giving away nothing of his inner thoughts. He watched, with keen interest, as her apple-green eyes hardened with determination.
"Then I'll keep trying to save as many others as I can."
"Why?"
She looked bewildered, now. As though she hadn't anticipated him to push the matter further.
"Why?" she echoed, shaking her head. "Because that's what doctors do, Sasuke. They care for people."
"You would waste away the years of your existence, prolonging the lives of those who will eventually die?" He sounded sceptical. As if he couldn't quite understand why she would throw away so much time and dedication to a purpose he deemed utterly futile.
Sakura forced her eyes to stay on his when the hand over her heart began to slide upwards, its fingertips brushing against her left clavicle. Tiny, electrically charged tingles crackled beneath his touch. Again, she did her very best not to pay it too much heed.
"Nobody wants to see their loved ones die," she said, and the fingers paused for a moment. Sasuke, who had been gazing down at his hand at the base of her neck, looked up at her again. Sensing that he was still unconvinced, she went on, "If I can make people happy, even for a short time by prolonging a life, then isn't that worth it?"
His dark eyes narrowed. "Human medicines cause adverse effects. A life prolonged by them often begets further suffering."
"It's still better than the finality of death if there's even a small chance a person can be cured."
A pause lingered between them, in which the Underworld's ruler seemed to weigh her words.
"And what of those you cannot save?" Sasuke demanded next, his fingers resuming their course, creeping to trace up the left column of her throat. It was a dangerously sensual touch, so light, barely there, yet it was capable of causing such disturbance inside her. Like an earthquake, shifting the plates surrounding Sakura's very core. It was an unsettling and unfamiliar feeling, and one she did not quite know how to manage.
"I know some people can't be saved," she replied as steadily as she could. "So I'd try to do my best to ease their pain."
Sasuke shook his head at that. "Sakura," he uttered, almost condescendingly. She swallowed at the sudden change in tone. "Death is the only true release."
Sakura's eyebrows knotted to form a frown. "Maybe that's right, but I can't just stand back and do nothing. Life has to be preserved, in any way it can."
"Even when its sacredness is disregarded?" he countered, his hand lingering on the side of her neck. "Why assist those who do wrong to others, who intentionally cause their bodies harm?"
"Because every life is precious, even if some people don't see it that way," Sakura answered. "Humans don't have the right to judge each other, Sasuke. There are always reasons behind why people choose to take the paths they do. You're a god; you understand that."
Something gleamed in his eyes, and Sakura had the odd feeling that he seemed satisfied with the responses she had given him. What he said next, however, caught her off guard.
"Sakura," the death deity drawled her ordinary name, making it sound much more enticing than Sakura had ever imagined was possible. "You live for the needs of others – but neglect your own."
The trembles inside her were becoming more difficult to keep at bay, especially when Sasuke chose to step forward, so that the front of their bodies were just shy of touching each other.
"And the price of such selflessness," he murmured, causing Sakura's heart to flutter as he leant down to whisper pointedly into her right ear "...is that you do not live at all."
She closed her eyes, wrestling to stand her ground. His presence was so electrifying, setting her nerve-ends on edge. Forcing her tongue, which felt oddly unwilling to speaking at that second, she managed, "You rule the dead. What would you know about living?"
"Hn," the warmth of his exhale tickled the strands of hair above her ear. Blessedly, his hand then fell away from her and he stepped around her, circling her with measured slowness. "I hear their regrets," he stated. "Their fears and laments." Stopping behind her, close enough to smell the sweet, floral fragrance of her hair, he finished much more quietly, "Their desires."
Sakura's fingernails were digging into the goblet so hard that had it been fashioned from any softer, lesser metal, they would have left a permanent indent. Relief flooded through her when she sensed – rather than saw – him step away from her, without touching her again.
Her backbone of steel was holding – just about. But when she made the foolish mistake of turning to look after him, her undoing began.
Sasuke had moved over to a cloth-covered table bearing a wide gold fruit bowl. Held within it were uncommonly big red fruits. She recognised them immediately. Pomegranates.
Sakura watched as he grasped the small knife that had been embedded in one of the pomegranates and used it to slice the fruit cleanly in two. Then he returned the knife and bit straight into the open half he held in his hand – with the same normalcy as if he were eating an apple. He stopped by the fireplace, seemingly unmindful of her open staring.
Her focus moved back to the half he had left in the bowl. She could see the edible seeds – but there did not appear to be any of the familiar spongy-yellow membrane - which made pomegranates so notoriously irritating to peel - separating them. Then it occurred to her that she had never seen such large, lustrous looking pulps. Their colour was even deeper in crimson hue than the ones she had spied in the banqueting hall. They gleamed with moisture and Sakura found herself wondering how such a ripe-looking fruit could possibly be sour as Chizu had claimed. Her mouth was suddenly watering dreadfully to taste it.
Her eyes darted back to Sasuke, who had taken another bite from the pomegranate as he watched the fire burn. It was astonishing, thought Sakura to herself in amazement, that half the fruit was equal in size to a whole one on the surface.
Blinking, the Underworld's ruler abruptly turned his head to glance askance in her direction, becoming aware of her attention at last.
Noticing where her gaze was directed, the death deity looked down and swallowed his mouthful – before looking back at Sakura. A dark eyebrow lifted in understanding, and without a word, he extended the unbitten side to her.
The allure of his silent gesture, the way his eyes captured hers, was devastating and absolute. Sakura found herself instantly and inexplicably ensnared. Perhaps it was the mesmerising way the firelight danced and threw both flattering warmth and shadows across the sculpted planes of his face that suddenly made tearing her eyes away from him an utter impossibility. Perhaps it was the rich, spicy scent that hung in the air that made her feel oddly heady at that moment. Maybe it was the innocent appeal of the plump, glistening seeds which called to her – rendered almost sinful by the fact that Sasuke was holding them. Or maybe the ambrosia's relaxing effects had finally begun to kick in. Whatever was responsible, her legs were compelling her forward without a thought – closer, closer, until she had stopped directly in front of him.
Blood-red, plump beads twinkled invitingly at her. He held the fruit temptingly, angling it toward her mouth. His head, which had been tilted aloofly back, lowered, his consuming eyes trapping her in place.
'Try it,' a voice like molten black velvet caressed her thoughts.
Sakura's lips parted - and she bit into the soft pulp.
Incredible sweetness, unlike anything she had ever tasted before, exploded on her tongue. A rich, tantalising flavour engulfed her senses, so overpowering that it compelled her to close her eyes. A soft sigh escaped her lungs as her teeth crushed the seeds, causing them to burst and release their heavenly nectar. Never before… never before had she tasted anything so delightfully delectable – so indulgently saccharine and succulent…
Sasuke stared down at her, wide-eyed. His heart pounded. She had eaten of the fruit. Just a small mouthful, containing six, large seeds – but at that moment he did not care to give her more, nor did he allow himself to openly revel in a victory that was unknown to Sakura. For the field of his vision had narrowed and all he could see was the stain of crimson upon her rosy, parted lips. The way the liquid trailed from the corner of her mouth, down the gentle curve of her chin. Pure, sensual seduction, luring him in. Like a deadly addiction - like the sweetest of poison - and she already looked divine in red. It stirred something carnal deep within him, something that blazed beyond containment, and Sasuke knew, then. He knew at that very moment that he could no longer hold back.
The remainder of the pomegranate was discarded from the death deity's hand. It landed with a dull thud on the floor, garnet beads spilling forth on the rug.
Sakura had just swallowed down the luscious mouthful, intent on savouring every second of it – when the sudden sensation of warmth brushing against the left corner of her lips caught her by surprise. Her eyes flew open and her mind, still diverted by the wonderful residue of sweetness the fruit had left in her mouth, was initially confused as to what was happening.
That fraction of hesitation was all Sasuke needed to claim her lips with his own.
Sakura inhaled sharply, stunned into immobility. Her lungs forgot how to breathe. Her treacherous mind stumbled and forgot how to think. For what seemed like a heart-stopping moment in which all time had suspended, she could only feel – finding herself thoroughly unprepared for the rip-tide of alien sensations that assaulted her, ignited into being by the warmth and softness of Sasuke's lips moving against hers.
The kiss was light. Slow. Chaste. As if it sought to test uncertain and unknown territory. But it was enough to set Sakura's pulse thundering wildly, and when Sasuke's hands trailed teasingly down the bare skin of her arms, it was as though his fingertips were channelling a head-rushing combination of fire, lightning and ice through every nerve-ending in her body, leaving her frozen, burning and tingling all at once. The effect of his touch on her was both dizzying and frightening.
What were these unsettling feelings? They were so much more overwhelming than anything she had experienced in his presence before and left her quivering inside.
When Sasuke drew back, Sakura remained numbly and mutely in place. Staring at him with wide, shocked eyes, she slowly lifted a hand to her lips. The gut-wrenching acknowledgement that her first kiss had been stolen by Death hit her full force, leaving her trembling. The fact that she had not reciprocated provided little consolation and only made the reality of her situation all the harsher. She had not given her first kiss to him. He had taken it – which was something else entirely.
It had happened so unexpectedly, out of nowhere. One second she had been eating from the pomegranate – the next…
She swallowed thickly. The God of Death was gazing at her with a look she had never seen in his eyes before. She saw from the way his chest was heaving that he was fighting to restore regularity to his own breathing.
The tense silence that followed was deafening. They stared at one another. Sakura was the first to break, unable to bear it any longer. Struggling to keep the tears that were stinging at her eyes, she managed chokingly, "What are you doing?"
She already knew. Of course she did. But pride dictated that she confronted him anyway. Suigetsu had made it sound so easy. But the reality was that it had made everything so much more difficult. And why wouldn't her stupid, stupid heart cease its relentless racing?
When Sasuke did not respond, she went on, her quivering voice betraying the multitude of conflicting emotions tearing at her inside, "You're a god, the God of Death." Shaking her head and taking a step away from him, she added with growing distress, "I'm human- it's wrong, Sasuke!"
He blinked, face neutral once again, and advanced slowly, cautiously, as if wary of upsetting her further. His movements only served to heighten her agitation. She continued retreating.
"I make the rules, Sakura," Sasuke reminded her, implying that she had no reason to fear being judged by anyone else.
Sakura's jaw dropped in disbelief and she stopped abruptly, prompting him to do the same. That was his justification? He was the one who decided the path her soul would take after life, and so that made everything fine?
How… how unashamedly arrogant- just expecting her compliance, not taking into account her feelings on the matter, how extra wrong it felt given the circumstances they were in – the circumstances he had chosen.
She struggled to breathe, overcome by a near-blinding degree of rage that she had never experienced in her life. But beneath it, a tiny voice whispered to her that if she had really wanted to, she could have recovered and shoved Sasuke away the moment he'd closed in.
It made her even more furious – both at him and more so at herself. It was difficult to keep Suigetsu's words and the escape plan in mind, when anger was simmering the blood in her veins. She knew she had to calm down. To compose herself. When she next spoke, it took a great deal of effort just to stop herself from fleeing his room.
"You took my freedom," she whispered, "for what? For this?"
Sasuke visibly tensed. Almost as if her words had struck a nerve, or even more extraordinarily, actually succeeded in causing offence. A dangerous glint flashed across his eyes – something dark and hostile. The space between them was plagued by a stretching, suffocating silence.
Then, narrowing his gaze at her, Sasuke uttered coldly, "You are not a prisoner here, Sakura."
Sakura floundered, at a loss for words. He had the nerve to claim such a thing, when he'd snatched her from the surface, told her his world was her new home, and clearly had no intentions of returning her until he was done with her – if at all? When he had her feet bound by shackles?
A short, bitter, slightly hysterical laugh escaped her lips. "You-" she began incredulously. "You can't really expect me to believe you-"
Sasuke's eyes hardened. Without saying anything else, he raised his left hand, snapping his fingers together once. She felt a sudden, fleeting pressure at her ankles, followed by a throb of heat – then something loosened, and fell with a soft thud on the floor.
Blinking, Sakura looked down, her stupefied brain struggling to process what her eyes were seeing.
The golden anklets Sasuke had secured to her lay on the floor. She exhaled, her thoughts whirling in a cacophony of bewilderment. Air breezed against her right side. Sasuke had moved there, in as little as a heartbeat.
"Believe me," he hissed acrimoniously into her ear.
In the next instant, he had departed the chamber, leaving Sakura to stare dazedly at the discarded bangles by her feet.
Author's note
Oh my! Sasuke playing the harp with Sakura nestled between his arms? Sakura eating the pomegranate? THEIR FIRST KISS?!
Review? Or PM your thoughts? Kindly?
This first kiss was much anticipated by you all, so I'd really like to know what you all thought. I tried to build up the anticipation, which the music should hopefully help with, too. More reactions from Sasuke and Sakura's points of view next chapter.
Please don't worry about Sakura not reciprocating – perhaps we shouldn't count this as their first real kiss. That is coming up. Poor thing doesn't yet realise that Sasuke is actually more honest than her family and friends – not that he intentionally means to be. Although, it is ironic that he claims the Underworld is not a prison to her – when she's just had a bite from the forbidden fruit! Oh, the angst and drama! I had a little too much fun writing this I think, haha.
The harp belonged to Sasuke's mother, out of interest. Sasuke's starting to figure things out about Sakura, which is starting to give way to a gradual shift in the dynamic between them. Safe to say emotions are high and things are well in motion, now. I hope this was worth the long wait. Thanks for reading.