The Calling
By ShinobiSpirit
------------------------------------
"S-Sasuke-kun?" Sakura called, holding herself tighter as she began to shiver from the brute coldness brushing against her exposed skin. "Is that you?"
The solitary figure remained silent as it took a step down from the small hill.
"Sasuke-kun?" She called again, her jade green eyes wide with panic and fear. Could he not hear her through the rain?
Another careful step followed by another. Still, the figure said nothing.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura yelled, tears running down her cheeks, mixing with the down-pour of rain. "Answer me! Please!" She pleaded, closing her eyes as she wiped away her tears and excess water.
After a moment, she opened her eyes and looked up, but the figure was gone. She blinked, her gaze shifting every which way in pursuit of the figure. 'What's going on...?' Suddenly, she felt a vice like grip wrap around her small frame. This caused her to gasp out in both pain and surprise. Was she being attacked?!
'I.. I can't... move..' Sakura writhed and jerked, but to no avail.. she couldn't even reach the pouch on her hip. Her arms were being crushed against her, there was no way she could escape and it was already getting hard to breathe.
'..I... I have to.. find a way.. Sasuke-kun..'
------------------------------
Sasuke startled awake, finding himself on a bed in a small room. He slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position and wiped away the drops of perspiration gathered at the base of his forehead protector with the back of his arm. Hearing a noise from beside him, he cut his eyes to the right.
Naruto was sprawled out on a neighboring bed, snoring away with his mouth wide open. Sasuke put on his famous poker face, obviously annoyed with his comrade. 'Idiot..'
Turning his head away from Naruto, his thoughts wandered elsewhere as he stared outside at the ferocious storm. Was that what woke him suddenly? Or was it Naruto's snoring? He couldn't tell, but whatever it was, it made him feel completely uneasy. It was like that feeling that shoots up your spine just before you're about to be hit with an attack. His senses were flowing.. what was it? Was someone out there?
".. Sakura-chan... hehehe.. all mine..."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, turning his head to look at Naruto over his shoulder. He had no idea that the blonde boy talked in his sleep, but he wasn't the least bit surprised. It was then, however, that he felt a jolt run through his body.
"Sakura.." He muttered, his attention now focused on the window again. Dark eyes glared into the reflection as he stared himself down, questioning his reasons for continuously thinking of his teammate. She was proving to be even more annoying when she wasn't with him than when she was, and this irked him to no end. Was he really becoming so attached to these two?
'Shut up.' He told himself, closing his eyes and shifting to lay on his back. He crossed his arms behind his head and stared up at the ceiling, listening to the rain beat against the roof above. 'I don't have time to play hero.' He thought, his eyes open and transfixed angrily on the ceiling as if it were her.
He wasn't going to budge, no matter what thoughts went through his head.
-------------------------------------
"Ah-h.." Sakura felt like she was suffocating, the restraints only got tighter, and she only got weaker. The rain wasn't letting up at all, either. She couldn't see anything and she was starting to get light headed. Was she going to die? 'No! I can't die! I have to get out of this!'
A thought ran past her, and she began to relax in the grip of her enemy. If she kept struggling, her attacker would only kill her faster. It was like quick sand. Maybe if she stopped struggling, she could buy enough time to find an opening and escape. Theoretically, of course.
"Sakura.."
'Huh?' Sakura's eyes shot open at the sound of her name. Who was it? How did they know who she was? And why were they attacking her? As all these thoughts ran through her head, she felt something press up against her shoulder blade. Weakly, she turned her head, looking to see what it was. And she was met with something she didn't quite expect.
'Black hair..' She thought, but before she jumped to conclusions, she attempted a quick breath and turned her attention forward, looking down at what was constraining her. It was his arms! The same wrist protectors she was so accustomed to! "S.. Sasuke-kun?"
He grunted against her back in response, his hold on her loosening somewhat, but not enough for her to escape. This worried her. Was he hurt? Or did he accidentally mistake her as an enemy due to the rain?
"Sasuke-kun.. are you alright?" Sakura asked quietly, looking at him over her shoulder.
'Hm..' A smirk crossed his lips as he lifted his head, bringing them face to face. Watching the stream of red slip along the contours of her cheeks only made his smirk deepen, his dark eyes staring daringly into her soft jade ones. 'What will you do, Sakura?'
Sakura blinked heavily, hardly believing this was even happening. Perhaps the rain was playing tricks on her.. it wasn't unheard of, she was sure. 'Come on, Sakura.. this is a trap! There's no way Sasuke-kun would be holding you like this, much less about to kiss you! Wake up!' Her eyes widened and she felt a surge of pain run through her chest as she turned her head away, looking at the ground. It was the sad truth, but the truth none the less.
Suddenly, laughter erupted from behind her, and Sakura could feel Sasuke's arms loosen into a small hug.
"Huh?" She looked up, not quite understanding what was going on.
'Sasuke-kun.. is.. laughing?'
-------------------------------
Confuzzlement. My new favorite word.
SS
