Sakura closed her eyes, raised her head up slowly and swallowed. She channeled all her strength not to scream or cry. From the sound of his voice he was only a body width behind her. She couldn't run.
It seems like I can't keep that promise to you, Ino.
"Stand up." The voice was cold and firm.
Raising her hands slowly in surrender, Sakura obeyed.
So this is the end...
But...
She stiffened slightly.
If I am a shinobi, I should die like one. I can't just give in...
"What is your name?" The voice seemed eager to hear the answer, but it still sounded hard and empty.
The rain had lightened up somewhat. Sakura could hear the droplets fall against the leaves. An open patch of the forest was nearby where the moonlight shone through the canopy.
Why does he want to know? He didn't ask for the other ninja's name before he sliced him.
She held her tongue and sensed the enemy's annoyance at her silence.
"If you don't answer me I'm going to kill you," he said with a hint of controlled impatience.
Still nothing. The kunai dug closer to her neck. She began to bleed a little. It hurt but she knew it was just the beginning. She felt the warm blood trickle down her cold skin.
Sakura prepared herself for the pain of death. She shut her eyes tightly, head tilted toward the sky, and tried to think of a happy memory.
Naruto...Lee...take care of yourselves.
Kakashi-sensei...it appears we're going to meet soon. You can tell me where I went wrong...
Nothing happened.
"Damnit!" the enemy cursed. He grabbed her forcefully by the arm and threw her against the tree that was illuminated by the moonlight. Her body was flaccid, and she barely resisted. His kunai-less hand gripped her throat and lifted her up against the tree.
"Tell me your name. Now." He repeated. Though she was in the moonlight, his face was still in the shadow. Only most of his arm was visible.
Sakura's hands tugged on his as she involuntarily squeaked.
"If you're not going to answer...," the enemy said.
He tucked back the kunai and knocked off her hood with his free hand. He then roughly removed her mask. Sakura's hair pins dropped and her hair fell in her face. She must have looked frightful- her face pale from suffocation and rain, sweat, and dirt in her pink hair.
And then, the hand let go. Sakura slid to the ground, exhausted and hyperventilating. She didn't know why he let go, maybe he was saving her for later or using her as bait- who knew. Anyway, she didn't care. Sakura couldn't think at that moment- she could only breathe in the freezing cold air like it was life itself.
In the distance, she heard voices- the most beautiful voices she had ever heard. They belonged to the other two ANBU-nins for sure, and they were going to save her.
"Sakura!" Pause. "Sakura!"
"Sa-ku-ra!"
Sakura screamed between gasps, "Over h—"The last word was muffled by a hand that swiftly shot over her mouth.
Sakura's stifled cries grew louder, trying to call out to her teammates. She was sitting on the ground in the moonlight. If they came toward this way they'd see her for sure.
Please hear me!
"Shut up!" hissed the enemy. Sakura paid no attention and kept making muffled noises.
"SA-KU-RA!" yelled the ANBU again.
They're so close! Oh god, please let them see me...
"SA-KU-RA-SAN!"
The frustration of her platoon being so close yet incapable of hearing her was the last straw for Sakura. Tears welled up in her eyes and started falling in an uncontrollable stream down her face and over the back of her enemy's hand.
"SA-KU-RA!"
Sakura closed her eyes in despair, tears mingling with the rain.
A few seconds passed.
And then...
"Sakura."
It was barely audible, almost a whisper and uttered like a statement. There was a familiarity in the way her name was spoken.
Her eyes opened in surprise. They grew wider as the figure who held his hand over her mouth inched closer to her in the moonlight.
She saw his hair first- it was dark. Black or dark blue, or so it looked under the moonlight. It was dripping in the rain.
Sakura froze. His dark eyes met hers.
I know those eyes...