16 : Sasuke, Sakura
By: Kokoro Kakera HP ^^
Disclaimer: Naruto, (Manga, anime, products, etc.), belongs to Kishimoto Masashi
Author's Notes:
From what I read in the reviews I got for the last chapter; Yes yes, I'm a terrible person. Nya. =P
Oh, and a small word of warning: Prepare for angst.
The Wolf's Rain soundtrack is so pretty! Yoko Kanno is also another great composer~ *_* She is also the maker of the Escaflowne and Record of Loddess War soundtrack~
"Sakura!" Sasuke sprinted through the wood, head snapping from one direction in another as he scrutinized every single inch of each area he came upon. The heavy rain had made his search harder. He weaved in between trees and through bushes, not noticing the small scratches that appeared on the exposed skin of his arms and legs when he tore through heavily thorned ones. He dug his heels into the ground when a hint of pink streaked by his vision. "Sakura!"
A small flower stood proudly amidst a population of thorns. Sasuke cursed and slammed his fist against a nearby tree. A few leaves flittered down, loosened by the impact.
'Where are you?'
'Sasuke-kun...' Sakura staggered forward hapzardously, falling down occasionally in her hurry to find the boy. The rain had seriously hindered the rate of her progress.
'If this keeps up-'
She grunted as she fell again. Digging her fingers into the ground, she pulled herself up to her knees. She purposely kept her eyes away from the bloody stain she'd made on the dirt. "Sasuke-kun..." She whimpered. "Where are you?" Tears filled her eyes. She shut her eyes tightly. "Where..." She blindly groped beside her for a grip. Cloth rustled underneath her hand. Her eyes became wide. "Sasuke-ku-!" She gasped and scrambled back when her eyes found what she'd been holding.
The corpse of a dead man hung limply before her. The kunai in his shoulder loosened from the wood it had been jabbed into to hold him there. He ended up falling forward until the kunai in his thigh stopped his descent. The dead ninja's head lolled disgustingly, the movement matched only by his hanging arms. Sakura stared at the corpse, frozen in place by the gruesome sight. She opened her mouth, but voice wouldn't work. The skin on the man's thigh tore from the weight exerted on it and his face crashed into Sakura's lap. Sakura screamed.
Sasuke whipped around at the sound of the scream and dashed back the way he came.
'Stupid!' His mind hissed. 'Damnit! How could I not realize it!'
"It's no use. Unless Toru and I are both dead, this genjutsu will keep you from seeing each other."
"She was always beside me! I just couldn't see her!" He gritted his teeth in frustration.
'I'm too slow!' The clearing he had previously fought in came into view. "Sakura!"
"Sa..su..." From the behind the tree she had sought a resting place against, Sakura weakly opened her eyes. She could hear him behind her, frantically looking for her. He couldn't see her.
"Sasuke-kun..." She whispered. "I'm right here."
'I'm so tired... I just want...'
"Sakura!" He couldn't hear her.
'I want to just sleep...
"Sakuraaa!" His footsteps seemed to fade.
'Sasuke-kun will never see me... and I...' She closed her eyes again when pain blossomed within her chest.
'I should just disappear.'
Naruto squeezed her hand as he disengaged her grip from his clothes. The warmth of his hand slid into hers.
"I'm counting on you, Sakura-chan."
'Get up!'
Sakura felt the rush of oxygen slide into her lungs as she mustered up all of the energy she could. The movement hurt. Most of her energy was already being used trying to support her on her precariously shaking legs. They ached almost unbearably. She took a step to bring herself into open view and had to hold onto the tree beside her to keep from falling down. Her lips trembled as she prepared to yell.
'Please hear me.'
"SASUKE-KUN!" The boy whirled around, eyes wide at hearing his name called by the very person he had been seeking.
"Sakura!"
And then, everything was all right.
Sakura let herself go. The descent seemed both quick and long at the same time. Only a second had passed during the fall and in that time she saw Sasuke's eyes meet hers.
'You look so scared...'
Saw him run to her.
'What's wrong, Sasuke-kun?'
He had finally noticed her. Finally seen her.
'Everything... is okay now... isn't it?'
Hitting the ground hadn't hurt as much as she thought it would.
"Sakura!" Sasuke fell heavily to his knees in front of her. He looked at her and forced the bile rising in his throat to remain stationary. There was so much blood on her - coming from her - he didn't know what to do. "Hold on Sakura, I-"
Too much.
"I'll take you out of here. We'll get some help-"
"It hurts when I move..." Sakura whispered absently. "Everything..."
"Then I'll get help!" Sasuke shifted to get up, but was stopped by Sakura's hand on his.
"Don't leave me alone." She whimpered. Sasuke froze.
"But-"
"Not now...please?" He couldn't leave her now.
"Don't speak then Sakura. Save that energy for yourself." Sakura ignored his order.
'I need to know.'
"Do you think... I'm strong, Sasuke-kun?"
'Such a small thing...'
"Sakura... don't talk right now." She didn't seem to hear him.
"Am I? I always...wanted..."
'...Matters this much to you?'
"...Yes." He whispered, hoping that it would keep her from talking again.
"Then now... you...know I'm here, right?"
"-What?" Sasuke stared at her, bewildered by her question.
A light of comprehension appeared in his eyes. "Sakura-"
"Can you see me now...?" Her eyes pleaded for the answer to the question he'd forced upon her conscience with his actions.
"Sasuke-kun...?" A thick trickle of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth and with a morbid fascination, Sasuke's eyes followed it. It didn't seem real...
But it was. His chest tightened. It was as if gravity itself had closed down upon his chest and crushed all of his organs inside into paste. I'm sorry.' Sasuke's expression twisted into a pained one. 'I never meant-'
"Yes." He said finally. "I can see you." Sakura surprised him with a pitiful laugh that came out more as a cough. A few small flecks of blood fell upon and marked Sasuke's arm.
'You finally noticed me, Sasuke-kun.'
She smiled shakily, hoping that it was Sasuke she was showing it to. She couldn't see...
The sound of the rain was so soothing.
"Sakura?" She had suddenly become quiet. Sasuke's heart thundered in his chest.
Tenderly lifting Sakura up, Sasuke arranged her so that she was propped up against him. Lifting a trembling hand, he lightly touched the flesh of her face and nearly recoiled. The rain felt cold against his skin, but it was the absence of heat he felt from Sakura that chilled him.
"Sakura..." He began quietly.
Some of her pretty hair was sopped thickly with mud. It had made a sloppy print on his shirt. Noticing it, he blankly tried to comb out the sticky black and grass-riddled substance. It didn't suit Sakura - the dirt, the blood - the filth. He gave up when his fingers became too muddy to be effective in the attempt.
Basically, useless.
His vision became blurred and he had to run his arm by his eyes to clear them.
"You are strong, so-"
Sasuke stopped.
Useless.
He pressed his face into Sakura's shoulder as his head dropped upon it and hugged her.
"Don't die."