The Calling

By ShinobiSpirit

Chapter Twenty Three

The sound of water running, the feel of her bangs floating along the cool breeze, and the distant voices echoing in her ears caused Sakura's eyes to slowly flutter open to a starry night sky. She breathed in deep and exhaled a refreshing breath before inquiring on her whereabouts—and what felt so warm beside her? When she turned her head, however, she gasped and quickly sat up in alarm.

"Saijou," she whispered. His eyes were closed and his body was curled inward, as if someone had previously been encircled in his warmth. A blush found its way to her cheeks when she realized it had been her.

A few minutes went by, and Sakura found herself staring at the sleeping man in a new light. Saijou, though a figure that was constantly driving her nuts and most likely didn't exist anywhere outside of her mind, was quite handsome. There was absolutely nothing feminine about him; from the way his chin was set, to his long nose and refined jaw. Beneath the opening of his white shirt she could clearly see the muscles that made up his powerful neck, even in the dark, because his skin was so incredibly pale. At that moment she wondered if perhaps one day she'd be able to examine Sasuke in such a way. Would he be as beautiful or more so? She made a note to find out.

With a gentle sigh, Sakura stood up and brushed herself off. She made sure Saijou was still asleep before she descended down the hill they had been laying on, examining the peaceful landscape out of curiosity.

Even in the night, it seemed the environment was full of life. Bugs were wriggling about, animals sifting through the tall grasses and leaping over the small water-filled groves—no doubt a result of a recent rain storm. It was perfect. In fact, as Sakura slowed her pace to a stop just before a large oak tree, it seemed too perfect.

"I'm here again." She realized aloud. "Why?"

Nothing came to mind. She couldn't think of a single reason why she would be in this place again. Did she fall asleep? Maybe she had gotten knocked out or drugged? She shook her head and wrapped her arms around herself. It was all in her imagination. This world wasn't real. She'd wake up soon and find herself safe in bed in the morning without any missing limbs or lacerations on her body.

Nothing happened to her.

She had to believe that, but why was it becoming harder and harder for her to remember what she had been doing last? It made no sense at all. "Maybe…"

"You didn't want to remember." Saijou whispered in her ear from behind.

Sakura jumped and spun around with a squeal. "Don't do that!" She yelled, clutching her hands to her chest. "Remember what?"

A smirk found its way on his lips. "If I told you that, you'd remember." He chuckled lightly and reached a hand out to ruffle her hair. "It's better if you just forget and come with me."

Sakura frowned and shoved his hand away. "Forget what? Why aren't you telling me?"

Saijou shrugged his shoulders and crossed his arms behind his head. "Because it isn't important." He yawned and allowed his hands to fall to his sides. "Come on, it's late. Let's head back and get some shut eye, hm?"

She quirked an eyebrow at him skeptically. "I am not sleeping with you." She cleared her throat after a second and whispered, "Again."

Laughter erupted past Saijou's parted lips and he bent forward in an effort to contain his hysteria. "'Again,' she says! That's great!"

Narrowing her eyes, Sakura huffed and turned on her heels. She had never been so embarrassed in her life. Even if he wasn't real, she wasn't supposed to be the center of the jokes of a person she herself made up. What kind of crap was that? 'I can't ever win. Jeeze.'

"You can quit laughing now!"

"Sorry." Saijou apologized between breaths. "That was just too funny. You act like I'm some kind of lecher."

Sakura's face went blank. "I have nothing to say to that."

"For once," he remarked sarcastically. Saijou straightened out his clothes and ran a hand through his wild dark hair. "Anyway, like I said, it's best we get going."

"To where?" She demanded. "Why can't we just stay here?"

He paused for a moment and considered how to explain the situation. Was there a way to tell her without actually triggering her memories? If he made a mistake and did so, he knew she'd go berserk. But how long could he keep her here before she was either forced to wake up or pieced it together herself?

".. jou."

"Saijou!"

"Hm?" He shook himself from his thoughts and glanced down at the pink haired girl in front of him. "What is it?"

Sakura turned her head to the side and crossed her arms over her chest, letting out a stubborn huff. "Let's go, I'm getting cold." She announced bitterly.

He smiled at her childishness. "Sure."

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Kakashi stood outside the Hokage's door, engrossed in his thoughts. The autopsy revealed absolutely nothing. He was running out of things to tell the boys concerning Sakura's whereabouts—luckily for him Sakura's parents were scouting the shores of Wave Country for specimens for a new antidote to a poison developed in their labs. They were something of geniuses themselves, but not too bright in the parenting field.

With a quick jerk of his head, his thoughts traveled back to the looks on Naruto's and Sasuke's faces when he told them Sakura wouldn't be joining them for a while. Of course, Sasuke already knew why. He was there the day it happened, and truth be told he hadn't really been the same since. Whether or not it had more to do with his past rather than the reality of Sakura being the culprit was still a question he had no exact answer for.

"Kakashi," the Hokage called.

Mind cleared, the gray-haired Jounin gingerly opened the door and stepped inside, closing it behind him. He approached the Hokage's desk and rested his one lazy eye on the most important man in the village, and perhaps the only one to have answers to his questions. "Hokage-sama," he said politely in acknowledgement.

"I know I've left you in the dark on a lot of this, but I didn't want to say anything until I had some definite decisions in place." He said softly. "I don't have time to go into any great details with you now, but I will tell you what's going to happen with Sakura."

Nodding, Kakashi braced himself for whatever the Hokage had to say about his teammate's fate. Would it be the death penalty after all? Did they find out something he didn't? He straightened his back and waited for the older man to speak.

"It appears that Obunai was responsible for the murders of the seven Chuunin, in an attempt to rouse Sakura's 'adopted feature.' As it stands, we don't know if the incident had the desired effect or not, because right now she is still unconscious. However, I cannot afford to take any chances at this point." The Hokage stood from his chair and moved to the window beside his desk. "Realize now that if I don't do this, the council will demand that Sakura be executed."

Kakashi held his tongue. He wasn't sure whether or not he wanted to know what was going to happen, how Sakura's life was about to change because of something completely out of her control.

The Hokage turned towards Kakashi, his eyes cold and void of emotion. "Therefore, Haruno Sakura is now hereby banned from Konoha until I consent otherwise."

"Banned?" Kakashi repeated, hardly believing what was happening.

"Don't worry," The Hokage turned and made his way back behind his desk. "She's been put in good hands."

"Whose?" He demanded.

With a small smile, the older man sat back in his chair and said, "You remember Akimoto?"

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Sasuke sat on the end of his bed with his arms folded in his lap. The day had been uneventful and he found that no matter how hard he trained, the image of his teammate wouldn't fade from his tormented mind. It was too haunting—too real—and he wanted nothing more than to forget.

Where was she right now? He wondered. The thought of her being tortured made his blood boil, but not for just the obvious reason; it made him even madder to realize he actually cared if she got hurt or not. Rebuilding his clan was an essential part of his ambition, but it wasn't in the cards at the moment. And to think, he considered her a candidate? It wasn't as if there were any other girls he favored more or less, but Haruno Sakura? That is, assuming she's not executed for her transgressions.

The thought of torture made him mad. But the thought of her death left him feeling indifferent.

Would he miss her? Would he wish he had done something? Could he watch? Words like 'miss' and 'care' sounded so alien to him that every time he thought of them, he suddenly wished he hadn't.

"I don't care." He said aloud.

'I don't… Sakura.'

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SS