Chapter 8

Introductions Aside

Sakura awoke in a cold dark place chained to a wall. She couldn't move much and was feeling a little groggy and her body hurt in places from the cuts she received from Kagara. Blinking her eyes to get better focus, she began to look around to figure out where she was located. It seemed like she was in a cave. The walls were black and very rocky with jagged edges. There were two light sources; one seemed far away, maybe the exit or entrance to the cave. The other was a small fire that was casting many shadows on the wall. It was a smokeless fire. So she could breathe pretty easily.

Sakura moved her head to the left and right to look at the chains. She tried to pull them but her strength was virtually gone. She let out a long sigh while her head dropped down. Thinking. Thinking. Thinking. That's all she was capable of doing right now. Eyes closed. She tried thinking of ways to get out. To reach that far away light. "No. Hmm. No." Sakura said to know one but herself. A hideous laugh echoed thru the cave sounding distant one instant and right next to her ear the next. Sakura's head snapped up eyes wide open. She searched the area looking for the source of her fear. The figure manifests itself seemingly from the darkest part of the cave. He casually walked up to the pink-hair kounichi and stared at her profile. Her eyes widen when she pieced together who this possibly could be. He was tall with long dark hair, a smooth voice and extra arms if you can call them that. It is no doubt that it's "Naraku!" she whispered out.

"I see you already know my name, but I do not have the pleasure of knowing yours." Naraku walked closer to Sakura and bore his stare into hers. She felt like telling him her life story. It's no doubt that this demon carried power. No wait. Manifest power. He is confident, arrogant and in control. So in control. Sakura opened her mouth to speak but closed it. Her inner self was livid. To feel this kind of fear, this lack of helplessness was going against the 'new' Sakura she had pledged to herself. The argument played across her face for a bit. Naraku just stared at her waiting for her reply or waiting to see who won the argument. The fear or the determination. Then her face became serene and calm. Her eyes were closed and her breathing became regular. Sakura clamed her nerves and decided that she will fight with everything she had. She raised her eyes to meet the stare of her nemesis. Her glare became cold and full of venom. He chuckled lightly under his breath.

"So, you want to play it like that… Haruno Sakura."

Her eyes remained calm at the sound of her name rolling off his tongue but a smirk crawled from her mouth.

"Yes, I know some things about you. But I want you to tell me." His voice was liquid smooth, deep and full of vibrato.

"Why should I?" Sakura's voice was dull portraying an air of boredom.

"Because, it would be easier for you."

"Easier? Or do you mean less painful?"

"My. My. Aren't you a smart girl."

"So I've been told." She let another smirk grace her bruised and dirty face. Her voice was arrogant and self assured. She was not going to give this bastard an inch on her.

Naraku's patience was beginning to wan. He was going to have to teach this girl just who she was talking too. He drew closer to her while changing his stare to a menacing one. His killer intent was almost choking her but she dared not break her resolve. She kept her bored look despite wanting to look away and cower from the overwhelming deadly aura he was generating.

"Then you should be smart enough to know just how dangerous I am."

Sakura swallowed a bit. Trying to summon more courage.

"I've heard the stories." She sneered at him. "But I'm not impressed."

Naraku took his index finger and started digging into one of Sakura's cuts on her arm. The pain was excruciating and blood poured out of the wound from its once coagulated state. A small grunt came out of Sakura. The hanyou smiled at the painful gesture. He took his other hand and dug his nails into the deep wound that was on her chest. She screamed out in pain. It was blinding mind numbing pain. He ripped his fingers from her and whispered venomously into her ear.

"You will tell me about yourself and you will serve me." He whipped around and walked into the darkness.

Sakura's head collapsed and hung submitted. The induced pain shut down her consciousness. She went into a blissful nothingness. Even her inner subconscious self held onto the darkness not wanting to experience what just happened again. Hours went by and she woke up stiff and achy. Somebody had cleaned and bandaged her wounds but she was still chained. No doubt to keep her alive and seemingly healthy for a while. Time and day became unknown factors to her. The small fire was still burning but the second light was no where to be seen. It was totally quiet. All Sakura had at the moment was her thoughts and her inner self.

'Why is this happening to me? What did I do that was so wrong?'

'You stole the scroll.'

'But I wanted to get stronger, so that I wouldn't be a burden.'

'Yeah, but at what price?'

'Price! Price! I'm giving up myself to be someone else.'

"Is it going to make you happy? Do you really think getting better, stronger and faster is going to make you happy?'

"That's the whole point of it isn't it?'

"Or are you doing this to make a certain Uchiha happy?"

Sakura became silent after the last question. Damn her inner self for being so smart and rational. She was actually shocked that her usual brandish inner self is being logical.

'I'm doing this for myself. Only for myself. At all cost!'

'At what cost?'

"I'm doing this for myself! At All Cost!!" She screamed out seemingly in the darkness to herself. Her words echoed and ringed out. Repeating it over and over like a mantra. 'At all cost.'

"So you want to be stronger. You seek power." Naraku had returned and emerged from the darkness. Sakura said nothing just stared at the loathsome half demon.

"Nothing wrong with being stronger. It's the way of the world. Survival of the fittest." He walked up to her and studied her for a bit. "I've seen your thoughts or rather walked that lonely road of weakness." Sakura got angry and yelled out. 'What do you know?'

"Oh, I know all to well. I used to be weak and pathetic. Cared for like a child and protected. The pity that was put upon me was stifling and overwhelming. I can see it in your eyes. You're sick of not being counted on as an asset but as a hindrance." He grabbed her head with of his hands and flattened his palms against her skull. He stared into her eyes that where wide with worry because the truth was about to be set free. Images flashed thru her mind and his. Her mind became an open book that he could flip to any chapter of her life. She reminisced on the days that she spent with Team 7. The battles they had.

Naraku spoke to her. "You see the times you shared with them. Oh look some of them were happy." He had a wickedly sarcastic tone in his voice. "Ah, see. Look at the battle with Zabuza and Haku. I see all you could do is stand there."

"I was protecting our client."

"No, you were left behind because you were weak."

"That's not true!" Sakura was trying to block Naraku from her mind but was failing.

"Oh, look here, you couldn't even win your match against Ino."

"But..."

"I see your sensei doesn't bother to teach you or help you improve. It's no wonder you're weak and pathetic. You just watch while the others pass you by without a second look."

"You're wrong." Her voice was small and timid.

"I can see Sasuke and Naruto can do the most amazing things. I can see why your sensei favors them over you."

"He does not."

"Oh, is that denial I hear from you. The weak is always in denial."

"I'm not in denial." Sakura spit out thru clinched teeth.

"Then why did you steal that scroll?"

"Because..."

"Then why did you leave that stadium?"

"Because…"

"Why do you train everyday?"

"…."

"Because you are weak and you finally realized it."

"I'm! Not! Weak!" Sakura screamed out. Naraku took his hand and slapped her hard on the face. He repeated his actions again and then punched her in the gut. She groaned in pain and hunched forward as much as the chains would allow her.

"I'm going to show you just how weak you are. Then you are going to beg me for power." He picked up her head by a handful of pink hair and breathed those venomous words to her. She glared defiantly at him then spit in his face. The salvia mixed with blood landed on his right cheek and began trickling down his face. He took his hand and wiped it off. His eyes rose to hers and they stared at each other briefly. His stare was cold and Sakura's body shivered. He grabbed her by her neck and began choking her. She started struggling and grasping for air but he keep squeezing. Sakura began to panic. She felt that her life was going to end right there right now. Her eyes began to water and her vision was getting darker. Suddenly Naraku let go of her throat and she took a painful breath and filled her lungs with much needed air. Her throat was dry and in pain. Her ripped her top and put a hand on her chest. She screamed in pain at his acid touch. When he removed his hand her had marred her body with a bright hand print that had been etched or burned into her chest.

"Are you weak, Sakura?" he whispered to the currently Konoha missing Nin. She was crying now. The vow she made to herself to stop crying was broken. She couldn't help it. Her body just wanted to cry. To cry at the horrifying situation she placed herself in. But her resolve was not yet broken. She sobbed harder but a commanding "No." was her answer. "I'm not weak."

Naraku's laugh was psychotic and it echoed throughout the cave hurting her ears and confidence. He summoned Kohaku to the cave. He walked in with weapon in hand. Naraku removed the chains, turned Sakura around and reattached her chains. Her face was starring at the wall while her back was exposed.

"What? What are you going to do?" Sakura softly asked.

"Oh, I think you already know." Naraku walked behind Kohaku and whispered some words into his ear. He still had that emotionless face. He began to spin the chain part of weapon causing it make a whirling sound. The former demon slayer let go of his chain in a dead aim for Sakura's back. She yelled out in pain as soon as it made contact. On her back was a long whelp mark that cut diagonally across her porcelain back. Kohaku continued for while until she passed out from the torture.

Sakura hung limp in her chains. Her back was marred by numerous cuts, gashes, and whelps. The vest and top she was wearing was ripped to shreds and soaked in the stuff that normally gives the body life but now dripped out pooling below her. Naraku took her down and laid her face down by the fire. He ordered Kohaku to clean her up and bandage her wounds.

"It's only a matter of time when she breaks. The real battle will be in her head." He walked back in the shadows and took his leave for the moment.

To be continued

Chapter 9

Sakura jumps in a converted Dolorean and goes back in the future with McFly. Will she change her future or her past?

A/N

Thank you so much for the reviews!! I'm really sorry for not updating in a while, but moving to a new place will do that.

I hope to have chapter 9 out before Christmas. But if not, I wish everyone Happy Holidays!

Please Read and Review, Tell me what you think, if I can make it better and such! I really do try to include reader requests.

Thanks

SW