Chapter 8: The Nightmare
"Gaara, wait here okay?" I said. "I'll just go and talk to Sasuke."
He nodded slightly. "I'll be waiting."
I smiled at him before I stood up and approached Sasuke who again, was walking away from me.
He stopped at a clearing. I saw him holding something. I looked closer and found out that it was a peach-colored paper. He stuffed it in his trouser's pocket and faced me.
"I'm h-here to ask you if.. um.. how many days are we going to stay in the forest?" He asked me.
"Oh uhm.. Two days and one night." I answered.
Silence.
"I didn't know that you and Gaara are getting along with each other." He spoke, breaking the silence.
"Y-You saw.. it?" I nervously asked him.
"Of course! I was about to approach you but then you called him and he helped you out.. Then you.. kissed him." He explained.
"A-And so?" I asked him. This is the right time to know his true feelings for me. He wouldn't react if he doesn't like me, right?
"I'm happy for you." He said with a grin. "Now no one will bother me, asking for a date or something.. And I owe it all to Gaara."
Ouch! That really hurts! He sounded so.. happy. And that only proves that he doesn't.. like me the way I do for him.
"B-But y-you uhm.. kissed me too, remember? What does i-it.. mean?" I asked him. And as usual, sensitive me conquered my heart and tears started to form in my eyes.
He smirked.
"Oh that? I knew Itachi was watching us so I kissed you to make him jealous." He answered.
"A-And you said t-there's nothing he c-could do to take m-me away from you.. What about th-that?" I questioned him.
"That's part of the plan of hurting Itachi's feelings.. That is if he does have feelings. That's a part of my revenge to him for taking away.. all that's precious to.. me." He answered. "Thanks for your cooperation, Sakura."
Tears rolled down my cheeks as if it's a river that will never stop flowing.
I watched him as he walked away from me. The tears blinded my vision.
He had hurt my feelings too much. He scratched it, kicked it, punched it.. He tore my heart apart. And it really hurts a lot!
I ran to him, grabbed his arm and spun him around. I slapped him really hard on his cheek. I guess he was unaware of that because his jaw dropped open as he touched his now burning cheek with his fingers.
"I have loved you so much, Sasuke.. And everyday I wish that one day you'll notice my love for you.. I know you deserve more b-but this is.. this is me, this is all I am! I can never be the one that you love! I can never be the one you truly deserve. F-For you I'm just a tool for revenge. A stupid, pink haired, noisy admirer of yours. B-But I'm still an ordinary person who gets happy and.. hurt a-and that was too much.. If you cannot respect me as your friend, as I am, as Sakura please just respect me as a person.."
After telling him what I felt that time, I left him there and headed straight to my home, crying.. just crying..
-----
For two days I didn't speak to Sasuke and I never thought that I could do that. I was so depressed. Gaara won't speak to me. Even Ino and Naruto noticed my sudden change. I simply can't pretend the way I could before.
And now it's Saturday, camping day.. Of course Ino was so happy because Sasuke came. Naruto.. Well, he kept babbling to Sasuke, saying things like 'Sakura's mine!' or 'Sasuke, you jerk!'. Sasuke just ignored him completely and that made him angrier.
I sighed. I sat alone in one chair at the bus and did nothing but stare at a plastic container with some cookies in it. I baked it last night and I planned of give it to Sasuke.. but I knew he would not accept it after what I have done to him.
"Sakura, I'm worried about you.. A-Are you alright?" Ino asked me.
I nodded and gave her a weak smile.
"Uhm.. Ino, could you uh.. leave m-me alone for a while? I need some time to think.." I told her.
She looked really worried but she left me anyway.. She sat next to Sasuke but he only shooed her away.
I sighed as I looked at Rock Lee talking to Neji, boasting about his abilities, his looks, and told him how much he admires me. Oh yeah, Ino forgot to mention that he'll be coming maybe because of thinking too much about Sasuke.
Sasuke.. I secretly glanced at him. He was sitting alone. He sighed as he looked outside the window. He's really bored, I could tell.
Then I saw Gaara, sitting at a corner of the bus. Like me and Sasuke, he's also alone in there. His arms were crossed across his chest.
Then I saw my classmate, Hinata who was sitting behind Naruto's chair. Naruto once told me that he finds that girl weird. I looked at her as she peacefully slept..
Yeah, maybe a nap would be great and somehow help me forget my heartaches.
I closed my eyes and slowly drifted to the world of dreams..
-----
The place was nice. It's full of tall trees and sweet humming of the birds could be heared. Everyone was so happy.
My eyes roamed around the forest as we walked. The cerulean sky turned into red-orange as the dawn approached. And soon, it was dark.
I felt hungry but when I looked around, I saw no one. I'm alone! I called their names but there was no answer. I shivered as I felt the chilly air touch my skin. I heared the sounds of the nocturnal creatures that dwell in the forest.
I started to walk around in search of my friends, the gibbous moon guiding my way. The wind felt colder and I suddenly got an eerie feeling about it..
My lips curved into a smile as I spotted a cave with a faint yellow light inside. They could be in there preparing our supper or what.
I slowly walked inside the cave as the light grew brighter and brighter. Finally, I reached the bottom of the cave.
My smile vanished upon seeing a person I hate. A person I wouldn't like to see forever..
"Itachi.." I said, almost like a whisper.
My eyes widened upon seeing two unconscious figures behind him. A raven- haired and a red-haired guy.. The causes of my confusion.. And the most precious persons in my life. Sasuke and Gaara..
"What have you done to them?!" I snarled at the older Uchiha.
He drew a katana from its case and held it in front of me.
"Who would you choose to live, Sakura?" He asked me. This time, he pointed his katana on Sasuke and Gaara.
It's as if he's asking me who is more precious.. Who is more important.. Who I love the most.. But I can't answer that. Not now..
I couldn't do anything to save them because I'm weak, weak, WEAK! I kept on blaming myself. I was trembling a lot and soon tears started to roll down my cheeks.
Itachi smirked at me. Then with a blink of an eye, he slit their throat and lots of blood gushed out from their neck. They're dead.. A-And it's all because of me..
I collapsed on the cold, dirty ground upon seeing that.. That horrible incident.. Itachi licked the katana's blade that was covered by Sasuke and Gaara's blood before tossing it aside and paced towards me. He squatted down. His hand snaked at my back.. up to my scalp then he grabbed a handful of my pink hair and suddenly pulled it down. I whimpered.
"You didn't choose anyone so I decided to kill both of them." He slowly licked his blood-coated lips. "So that I could have you.."
I was trembling a lot and all I could do was cry.. I couldn't move like I was frozen in that spot.
I could tell that he enjoyed seeing me like that.. So scared, so helpless and so damn weak.. I could tell just by looking at his eyes.
I tried not to look at their lifeless bodies but my eyes failed me. As I looked at them, I felt more guilty and sad.
Itachi smirked. He went closer to me and licked the tears that were rolling down my right cheek. That was more than I could tolerate. I knew I would only lose if I try to fight him. He's a lot stronger than I am! I couldn't even do anything to defend myself from that bastard..
He crushed his lips against mine, pinning me down to the ground. I could taste their blood mixed with the salty taste of my tears and it felt so horrible.. He flashed me an evil grin as he started to undress me..
"NOOOOOOO!!!"
-----
I slowly opened my eyes as I felt someone shook my shoulders.
"Sakura, wake up! We're here now." That was Ino's voice.
What the?! Oh I'm glad that was only a dream.. A nightmare.. And I'm happy that Sasuke and Gaara are still alive.. I inwardly smiled.
"What? In the forest?" I asked.
"Yes, yes now get up!" She said.
I sighed as I took my bags and followed her outside the bus.
-----
It was already around five thirty in the afternoon when we finally reached our destination-- a clearing surrounded by gigantic trees.
"I'm really hungry!" Naruto complained. "Good thing I brought some instant ramen with me.."
"And where will you get hot water for that?" Neji asked him.
"I've brought my thermos with me! Hah, hah, hah!" He proudly answered. He thought he's so smart.
He put his bag down and began searching for his instant ramen and thermos.
Gaara sat alone under a tree. My friends wouldn't even talk to him. Maybe it was a mistake bringing him here..
"Hi Gaara.." I said as I sat beside him.
He didn't answer nor even looked at me.
"H-Have I done s-something.. wrong?" I asked him.
".."
"Gaara.. P-Please speak to m-me." I said.
"You told me to wait for you at the bench.." He said. "but you never came. I was about to.. to.. te--, nevermind.."
Oh, how stupid of me! I was too busy thinking and crying because of Sasuke.. I made my whole world revolve around him and I forgot the other people around me..
"What is it that you are supposed to tell me?" I asked him.
He glared at me but didn't answer my question.
"S-Sasuke and I.. h-had a misunderstanding.. A-And I was.. too depressed.. And.. Oh, I'm s-sorry.." I explained to him.
He didn't answer me. He just stood up and walked away.
"Gaara.." I called him.
He stopped but didn't look at me.
"I.. Uhm.. I.. j-just want you to uh.. know th-that I'm.. happy that you're h-here with.. me." I said. My cheeks felt hot.
He started to walk again.
"M-MY THERMOS! I-I-IT'S NOT.. H-HERE! OH SHIT! DAMN IT!" I suddenly heared Naruto scream.
"Good thing I brought some fish to be cooked up on the camp fire." Shikamaru said with a grin.
"B-B-B-BUT I.. I.. WANT MY RAMEN!!" Naruto retorted, almost like crying.
"Hmf, dobe." I heared Sasuke say.
"Why you dumbass Sasuke! I'm gonna beat the shit out of ya!" said Naruto.
"Guys, guys!" I heared Ino say. "It's almost dinner time. Boys will go and find some twigs for the camp fire while us, girls will prepare the food."
Naruto groaned. The guys went in different directions while the three of us gathered and prepared our supper.
-----
Hmm.. That was good! We finished eating and we got to set our tents up.
I looked at my things, in search for my small tent. But..
"M-My tent! W-Where's my tent?!"
"A-Are you sure you lost it, Sakura?" asked Ino.
"Yes! I looked through my things thoroughly but.. Oh my god! Where the hell am I going to sleep?!"
I learned from Ino that the group only have three tents, each could have up to three persons inside. Tent number one is owned by Hinata. Naruto, Lee and of course Hinata will be sleeping in there. Tent number two, owned by Ino. Sleeping in there will be Ino, Shikamaru and Neji. Sasuke has his own tent and Gaara has his sleeping bag.
"You could sleep in my.. tent." Sasuke offered.
I thought he was.. angry with me..
"WHAT?!" Naruto suddenly said. "Y-You pervert! When we go to sleep y-you will take advantage of my Sakura a--"
"Naruto, Sasuke won't do that!" I said to him. I turned to Sasuke. "Uhm.. Thanks f-for the.. offer.."
Well, I owe him one. I don't want to be sleeping outside.. After I dreamt about that horrible nightmare..
"To be sure that no 'miracle' will happen, Sasuke could you let me sleep in your tent? There's a room for another person in there, right?" Ino said. It's obvious that she's jealous.
"I want to sleep peacefully tonight. I wouldn't want another noisy girl inside my tent." He answered, flashing a disgusted look at Ino.
Ino sighed.
"Well, could you allow Gaara to sleep in your tent?" She asked again. There's no way she's going to let me sleep with Sasuke alone.
"Whatever.." Sasuke monotonously replied.
"I never thought that this camping trip would be SO boring.." Neji said as he sighed.
"Yeah.." said Shikamaru. "How about a game?"
"Hmm.. How about hide and seek?" Naruto suggested.
Lee sighed. "Naruto, we're in a forest."
"How about ramen eating contest?" The cerulean eyed boy suggested again with a big grin on his lips. We just glared at him.
"How about the famous game of truth or dare?" Sasuke suggested.
"Oh Sasuke that's such a good idea!" Ino exclaimed.
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Sorry if this chapter sucks.. And um.. quite dark. I just can't stop thinking of Itachi and uhm.. unpure thoughts keep invading my mind.
Oh yeah.. Please review!
