Read this first please...
(A/N: As many may have noticed I posted up a bunch of chapters in one shot because I forgot that this fic was ALSO here on now here's the latest one, but a fair warning, Sasuke's piece is missing from this chapter, due to the fact that it's content is probably unacceptable to I've had enough problems in the past with the site and I'd like to avoid repeating that once more. We are supposed to get along. The FULL chapter is located on my deadjournal, the link for which is in my profile.)
Demons Of Konoha
Chapter Five
Lust
Uzumaki Naruto had always been full of pride.
He was proud of his accomplishments as a shinobi. Proud of how much closer he had gotten to his goal to become the Hokage. He was proud of who he had become throughout all those years.
Except at that moment he wasn't proud of his decision to remain in one place and watch in silent horror as Sasuke tore through his friends. He wasn't proud of that. Except at the same time he wondered if he would've been proud of a decision to get involved and abandon Aurie.
Watching the teenage girl pull herself together on the bed in the room though he was certain he had made the better decision. They were hidden from Sasuke and his companion Tsuki. Safe for now. Except Naruto also knew he wasn't in the clear yet. If Aurie lost control he'd have to be ready for a fight.
A curse to their bloodline. Auriah had demons in her shadows. Her power that far surpassed the Nara's family technique had its dire price. The more she came to use her abilities the more she fed her inner demons. The ones that manifested themselves when she was truly ready for a fight. Aurie could one day be consumed by the demons completely. She'd release them and no longer have control over her body. Only if they succeeded in overpowering her of course. Naruto knew he'd stop that if it happened. If he didn't Aurie would end up like a vegetable.
She let out a strangled cry as she curled up further. Naruto was glad that the Kyuubi didn't put up as much of a fight as Aurie's demons. He wouldn't have been so sure if he could've survived for so long. Inside the Kyuubi laughed at him. Along the lines of Naruto was being stupid again.
Except at Aurie's wail his retort to the Kyuubi died on his lips. Naruto got up from the corner and stumbled to her side. "Hey come on you can do this! Don't listen to them! You're in control! Not them!"
Naruto shivered as Aurie's eyes flooded black as she turned to look at him. She was actually loosing control. This had never been such a problem before. Except, Aurie never had been so close to her target. Was it the desire to kill Tsuki that drove the demons out of Aurie's control?
"Auri-"
She reached out and snatched his hand. Squeezing tightly as the shadows in the room started moving. The Kyuubi snapped at its gate. Demanding that Naruto kill the girl right then. Except he ignored the demon as the shadow's spread. He pulled Aurie into his arms.
"Come on Aurie. You're better than this. Don't let them win." He murmured as she shuddered against him. "Your decision not theirs..."
Naruto trailed off as the room vanished as the shadows engulfed everything. Even Aurie was gone. He was holding thin air. The blonde got to his feet slowly. This was new. Finally something reappeared. A Street. Wooden fences. Benches. Street Lights. Naruto frowned. This was neither Origin nor Konohagakure.
"Where am I?"
"Still at Akumu..."
Naruto yelped at his friend's tear filled voice. He turned to see her standing behind him looking horrified at what they had to see. "If we're still at Akumu... Then what is this?"
"Genjutsu cast by the demons... It's meant to be Yami Ryu... It's..." Aurie frowned. She made her way closer to Naruto and shuddered. "My memories... They want to show you why...""
"Why what?"
"Why I'm too weak to kill her..." Aurie whispered as someone appeared by the lamppost. A younger version of Aurie was there kicking a stone along the path. "Why I can't kill her..."
Naruto directed his attention to the young Aurie as she stubbed her foot trying to kick the rock. She crouched down and lifted the rock. Then flung it angrily over a fence. Naruto chuckled at the pout the young Auriah made as she continued huffing about the stupid stone.
"What did the poor defenseless rock do to you?"
Naruto recognized the voice. Except it sounded so much younger. Sure enough Auriah looked up to the fence to find a young girl watching her. Violet eyes. Red hair. Actually decently dressed. Naruto was in no way surprised to see Tsuki perched on the fence with the rock the young Aurie threw in her hands.
"It was in the way." Auriah's younger self snapped..
Tsuki raised an eyebrow. This felt so damn familiar for some reason. Or was it a comfortable air they had. Naruto was vaguely reminded of Sasuke. "So you couldn't ask it politely to move?"
"Tsuki if you're going to stay up there mocking me then don't. I'm tired and I don't have time for your shit today." Naruto winced at the tone. Auriah sounded like she had a miserable day. Except seeing Tsuki wince the girl seemed to relax a bit. "I'm sorry Tsuki..."
"No... It's quite alright..." The young redhead crushed the rock in her hand. "The rock probably deserved the abuse for obstructing your path."
"I retract my apology." Aurie snapped. "So go away, you're pissing me off."
Tsuki dropped from the fence with an eerie grace. Naruto watched her slide up behind Aurie and hug her reassuringly. Almost apologizing silently. She smiled softly as Aurie relaxed slowly. Naruto turned to Auriah who was sobbing now. Naruto turned back as Tsuki kissed the younger Aurie's neck. Murmuring something.
"Idiot..." She snapped in return. Except she stayed in Tsuki's embrace.
Suddenly it reminded Naruto of his own experiences with Sasuke. He was reminded of one day after school. It must've been some time after Sasuke's family was murdered. It was the one-day his brother hadn't come to the school. His father and mother were missing as well. Sasuke had just walked out of the school playground alone.
That air that Auriah and Tsuki had… It was like theirs then…
Naruto had waited till everyone else had gone off with his or her parent before walking away. He had passed the lake where Sasuke was just sitting alone on the dock. For some reason the Uchiha had turned to look at him. He couldn't really explain the surprise he felt at that.
Except there was that silent acceptance. As Sasuke glared suddenly and Naruto returned the look. He had felt so relieved. Someone had acknowledged his presence. He wasn't just that lonely kid on the swing anymore. Not to Sasuke. He was someone else. When the two had turned away from each other Naruto had grinned. He was sure Sasuke hadn't been such an ice queen back then so he must've mirrored Naruto's reaction. They were just outcasted orphans who had found each other.
Aurie and Tsuki were social outcasts for some reason and they had found one another. As the young Auriah started telling Tsuki about her obviously bad day the genjutsu faded away. Naruto was now watching another memory take form. Except the next one wouldn't be so pleasant.
"Oh no... Please not this one!" The present Auriah screeched. Pleading with the demons as a bed with drapes appeared. A dark room where Naruto could hear screams. Ones that mirrored his friends. A sick feeling took hold as he realized what he was being shown. "Stop!"
Naruto felt like throwing up. His friend was tied to a bed being raped by an older man. She looked like she was around her current age. Pleading. Begging. Naruto staggered as he reached for Aurie. Even the Kyuubi sounded mildly revolted. Except he was asking about her power. For a woman so strong what happened?
Naruto and the Kyuubi could recall the beatings he had gotten growing up. Sometimes he had actually deserved them. Sometimes he understood why he received such poor treatment. Except their were birthdays that he'd have to hide from. Sometimes the other people got so bad that he'd have to run away. His apartment had to remain a secret. He shivered. Who knows how far the abuse could've gone if his attackers knew where he lived?
The horrible image faded to the same Auriah pulling herself into a full tub of water. Dragging her beaten and abused body to the warmth her bath could offer. Naruto heard Auriah gasp at the new memory. As Aurie just settled into the water the door to the room opened and an older looking Tsuki stood watching silently.
Naruto watched Tsuki come to a horrible realization of what happened as Aurie started scrubbing furiously at her own skin. The violet-eyed teenager shuddered and leaned against the wall just staring. Naruto couldn't imagine her thoughts at that moment. She must've been scrambling for something to say.
"Stop staring at me."
Naruto watched Tsuki gasp and close her eyes. Looking away as the young Auriah pushed past her wrapped up in a towel. Time had passed in watching Tsuki mildly panic. Time where Tsuki had been silent.
Had there ever been a time where Sasuke had gone so silent? No, but Naruto had done it to him. Naruto remembered just standing in that room when Sasuke lost his temper. When the Uchiha seemed to snap. When it seemed like all should've been well. When they should've been celebrating the Uchiha had ruined it all with a simple demand.
"Fight me."
Naruto recalled moving after Sasuke only after the Uchiha had stormed out. Which was exactly what Tsuki did after Aurie walked out of the room. Followed only then. Of course they must've fought then. Had it gone as far as Sasuke and Naruto had let it though. To start off as some regular competition of their power. Then to come to the realization that it was serious. Naruto had used his Kage Bunshin and Sasuke his Grand Fireball. Then it was serious. Naruto and his Rasengan up against Sasuke's Chidori. They almost killed Sakura if Kakashi hadn't interfered. Things had gone sour then. Was this the same defining moment for Auriah and Tsuki?
"He got me pregnant..." Real time Auriah hissed still in tears. "Tsuki was so silent... She never spoke to me... She was just so far from me... I should've seen it coming... Except I didn't till..."
He was right. It was. The two had hit a fork in the road then and kept silent about it probably. It probably didn't come to the surface until it was already too late to heal. When Tsuki spun out of reach. Just like Sasuke suddenly had. Except Sasuke became obsessed about power. What was Tsuki obsessed with?
Naruto backed away as the images faded away again and he was presented something that must've been similar to Sasuke's nightmares. The demon's version of Auriah lay on the ground beaten and bloodied. Dead. Naruto nearly threw up.
"Till they killed me... Till they took him from me..."
Naruto stared in shock. It was true Aurie had been killed. Her child had been taken from her by force. Except when the door swung open to that room he knew the next person in must've been Tsuki. Sure enough he was right. She was drenched in blood. Her eyes had a faraway look to them. In her hands was a small crying bundle.
"And she brought me back..."
Naruto gasped as the baby was put in a nearby crib. One his friend must've bought to put her child in. One she must've intended to love. Then as Tsuki made her way to the body Naruto could hear the demon within shifting uneasily.
"You should've killed that wretched creature when you found out..." Tsuki hissed crouching next to the body. "You're too nice Auriah... Too nice... That's why they killed you... And you're weak..." The red-haired beauty closed her eyes. Her fingers gripping a kunai and bringing it to her wrist. "You have that power... And you won't use it against others..." The kunai sliced her wrist deep and blood poured down her hand. "I'm giving you a second chance... Don't think you can die so easily... Raise that brat Aurie... And these demons will always be around to protect you... And..." The blood was dripping into Aurie's mouth as Tsuki leaned in closer. "I'll always be here Aurie... Just a call away..."
The image faded away as Tsuki closed the distance and Naruto was standing in the dark solely with Aurie. The one he thought he knew.
So Tsuki lost Aurie and brought her back. She was capable of doing such a thing it seemed. It was nothing like Orochimaru's resurrected versions of the two dead Hokages. This had been different. Except Naruto could see Sasuke in Tsuki even more clearly now. The pain that was there behind the violet eyes. The pain that had been hidden behind onyx orbs. Sasuke had the chance to leave Naruto to die. Tsuki had the chance to kill the baby and leave Aurie lying there.
Neither had done such a thing. Sasuke let Naruto live. He had him right where he wanted him to be. He didn't kill him. He couldn't kill him. He left him there alone and alive. Tsuki left Auriah alive and with the child still breathing. Naruto had a feeling the two Akumu members had so many similarities in their lives that they must've bonded rather well.
He turned to her slowly trying to comprehend all that he saw. "She killed them all?"
Aurie dragged her gaze up to Naruto's. "Yes she did... Left me with the child I raised... Then I realized what she meant... I didn't age... I couldn't die... She did something to me... So I was forced to abandon my child when he was of age to find her..."
"WHAT DID YOU DO!"
Naruto whirled around at the image reappeared. The Aurie he seemed to be familiar with was standing on a fence opposite of the Tsuki he had seen with Sasuke. Aurie was crying. Tsuki seemed deranged. Chuckling as she spun a kunai in her bloodied hands.
"How could you! Why!"
"Why wouldn't I?" Came Tsuki's low response. "They pissed me off... They deserved it... How've you been Aurie? How's your son?" It was evident the woman didn't really care. She hadn't aged at all. She looked exactly as she had in all of the previous memories. Her eyes just seemed to examine Aurie. As if checking for any evident changes.
"What did you do to me?"
"I gave you the world..."
"No you didn't! You condemned me you bitch! I have to watch my own son die!" Aurie screeched. "I don't want to see him die! If you really loved me Tsuki you'd-"
"I can't." Tsuki interrupted. "You'll die when I'm dead... You're running on my blood... When my heart truly stops beating then you'll be free... Until then..." Tsuki reached into her bag and pulled out a scroll. She tossed it to Auriah. "You get to be the hero Aurie... You'll get to be the bitch that kills me..."
"Tsuki don't do this..." Auriah pleaded. Naruto felt like he was starting to drown. He could see himself. Standing on some cliff molded to represent a Hokage calling to his one love. Except he hadn't known back then.
"Oh why not?" Tsuki hissed. "I'll give you anything you want Aurie..." Tsuki seemed so sincere. Despite of course the amusement in her tone and the blood splattered on herself thanks to her definition of fun. If Sasuke had offered Naruto the world he may have given in long ago. Except neither of the two back then understood their bond. They had been young Genin seeking out their unreachable goals. Neither knew they needed each other back then.
"I love you..." Auriah whispered as she shuddered. Naruto was surprised she hadn't fallen off the fence she was standing on. Naruto couldn't even guess when this had occurred. How long had it taken Auriah to seek out her former best friend? How long till she had actually found her? "I really do... I love you still..."
"I know." Tsuki replied icily. Her eyes had darkened. That expression Sasuke had when he had turned around to Naruto. When the markings of the cursed seal were creeping up the side of his face. That was the look Auriah was receiving.
"I'll kill you." Auriah managed as tears fell. She tightened her grip on the given scroll. Determined to fulfill her words one day. She wouldn't fail. Naruto recognized himself in that moment in Auriah's place.
A brief silence accompanied by a smirk. "I know."
Naruto couldn't breathe. No. This one hit too close to home. He was there again in his mind. At the valley of the end. Where Jiraiya and Orochimaru had battled it out for the sake of their friendship. Jiraiya had lost his friend in such a similar scenario to the one Naruto had been forced to go through. Sasuke and Naruto had last stood together there in that valley. They put their friendship to the ultimate test and failed miserably.
It was the first time Naruto hadn't fulfilled his promise to another person. He failed Sakura. The Kyuubi and him had thrown all they had at Sasuke. Except the Uchiha's hand tore through Naruto's lungs. Sasuke took on the form of a true demon. A true image of the evil that had grown inside. The hunger for power had transformed his friend. Now here he was at the syndicate trying to fix the only mistake he had ever made in his life. Letting Sasuke go.
It was either turn Sasuke back onto the right path as a Konoha Shinobi. Or it was to finish what the Valley had started. Finish that ugly fight with Sasuke dead. Or even himself. Either Konoha's pride and joy, the last of the Uchiha's, Uchiha Sasuke, the biggest threat to the safety of the fire country, would fall in that battle. Or Konoha's biggest secret, the Kyuubi's caretaker, the prankster of the hidden leaf, Uzumaki Naruto, it's sole defender now in the Syndicate, would be the one to lose his life then.
The memories faded and they were back in the syndicate. Naruto turned to Auriah one final time. He pushed the pain the memory of the Valley had brought. He instead focused on the matter at hand. On his so-called friend that had fed him a pack of lies. He watched her clench her fists and desperately try to hold back tears. Also struggle to find a way to justify all that had happened in the past few moments. "How old are you Aurie?"
"Around 650 years old I believe..." She managed past the obvious beginning signs of a nervous breakdown. Amazingly the demons were silent now. Which was strange. They could take control right then. Except they were amazingly gone. Only Hecate Auriah was there now in full control on the verge of destroying herself. "I've lost count really..."
"What?" Naruto shook his head. That couldn't be right. Aurie was a normal teenager just around his age. She never had a child and she hadn't fallen in love with that evil creature that nearly killed his friends. Except the demons that Aurie could summon had proven all of that to be a lie. He frowned. "That scroll..." The scroll Tsuki had given her. That last memory that had struck him so deeply. He was sure Tsuki had just given Auriah the upper hand. Why hadn't she mentioned that though? If she had the way to kill her then why hadn't she?
He hadn't taken a moment yet to put himself in Aurie's shoes...
Maybe then he would've understand why it had taken her so long to come to her decision about her former love...
"The secret to killing her..." Aurie smiled weakly. "The key to killing Tsuki lies in six different seals... That destroys her immortality and will allow her to finally die... The scroll told me all that I needed and then I destroyed it... So it's as she wanted it... I'll be the bitch that kills her... Even if I die when I do so..."
He heard enough. Naruto bolted from the room and he didn't hear her try to stop him. So he ran through the Syndicate searching for something to beat out his frustration on. Anything. Just not Aurie. Not Sasuke. He rounded the corner and without thinking he kicked the person rounding the corner.
Who happened to be Tsuki...
Small world...
Naruto suddenly let all the anger get to him. He flung himself at her letting the Kyuubi's chakra pump through his veins. The rest became a blur. He remembered killing Aurie's target countless times. Except each time she got back up staggering for another round. At one point she landed a hit.
There was a searing pain. He felt like he had been torn into pieces as the Kyuubi roared and suddenly everything was in focus again. He was on the floor doubled over as Tsuki stumbled into a nearby wall.
"Fuck!" She hissed angrily.
Naruto tried to get to his feet. He staggered away from Tsuki.
"You can't save him." She called after him.
Naruto froze at the sharp tone. He turned around to see Tsuki leering at him despite the obvious pain she was in. "I can and I will... I won't let you continue to cloud his thoughts! I won't let you destroy the good left in him you bitch!"
Tsuki chuckled darkly. "You can't save him if he doesn't need saving..."
Naruto scowled and turned on the pale woman. "You killed my friends you bitch."
Tsuki looked mildly surprised. She straightened as best as she could and shook her head. "Idiot… Uchiha ordered them to be captured alive… Your little pink bitch is alive still… Uchiha wants some 'entertainment' later on in the week…"
Suddenly something occurred to Naruto. Tsuki didn't seem in any way surprised that Naruto was there. As the woman limped away Naruto came to a horrifying realization. Tsuki had let them get in. She wanted him to find Sasuke. So she wouldn't stand in the way. Except why? What was she up to? He hadn't thought about it well enough quite yet.
Naruto took off in a run. Then he could find him right? She wouldn't stand in the way?
He forgot about Sakura...
Naruto found what he guessed was the main hall of the Syndicate. He made his way through it to the center doors. This was it. Right? After everything Aurie's memories and his own had made him recall. This was where Sasuke would be right?
He opened the doors and nearly had to hold his breath. There he was in his sleeping glory. Sasuke was asleep right there in front of him. On the desk in the center of the dark room lit up solely by candles. Naruto swallowed hard and stepped into the room. His eyes on his sleeping companion.
Sasuke was sound asleep in the desk. His head resting on his arms as he was slouched forward in his chair. The soft sound of his breathing was all that could be heard. Naruto moved closer and smiled.
There it was. That skin that seemed to glow. The silky raven hair. It was all there. Naruto just gazed at Sasuke and tried to tell himself not to touch him while he was sleeping. For all he knew the Uchiha may just instinctively kill him for daring to touch him. Except he looked so peaceful. Naruto loved this image of Sasuke. Peaceful. Vulnerable.
Before he could stop himself Naruto pushed Sasuke's hair aside and kissed the Uchiha on the cheek. Then he straightened and moved to leave. He winced remembering the pain that Tsuki had inflicted and nearly fell to the floor. He reached for the doorknob when he heard something scraping on the wooden floor. He shouldn't have done that.
Naruto had once been full of pride.
Now he was full of grief.
+
Haruno Sakura had once been full of concern.
She became a healer for the sole purpose of protecting those she cared about. So she could ensure their safety and not worry. In the defeat they had just suffered she had been unable to guarantee their safety. She had been incapable of ensuring their survival. She had been nearly downright useless.
She also had fallen for Sasuke's trap. Betrayed Rock Lee. Lost any chance of victory.
Now here she was struggling to summon up her chakra to heal her comrade. Ino's pale and bloodied form layed motionless before her. Sakura was certain by the pulse she was still alive. Which was a relief. She wasn't going to lose her best friend because of her own stupidity.
She continued straining what little chakra she had to heal Ino. She had awoken not long ago to their apparent prison in the syndicate. A large room with two beds. It all looked too expensive. It made Sakura wonder how many people had been killed to pay for the satin sheets and the mahogany furniture. She shuddered to think of that.
She returned her focus to healing Ino. She desperately hoped her friend would survive the onslaught she had suffered from possessing the mind of Tsuki and from feeling the female's pain. Finally there was movement and Ino's eyes fluttered open. The blue eyes met Sakura's green tearing gaze.
"Sa...Sakura?"
Sakura cried out and wrapped her arms around Ino fiercely. She knew she had startled her friend. Sakura was surprised Ino hadn't yelled at her yet, Sakura figured it was because Ino realized Sakura was crying. She clung onto her friend desperately, relieved that she had managed to save her at least.
"Where's Shikamaru?"
Sakura didn't reply to Ino's frightened question. She held on as Ino tried to move, tried to find Shikamaru.
"Sakura!"
"I don't know..." She whispered. She felt bad. She felt like she had done the entire team wrong. "They got him right after they got you..." She pulled away from Ino and looked away. "They got all of us... Nobody got away..."
"But Sakura..." Ino shuddered. "Are they alive!"
Sakura frowned. "I don't know Ino..." She got up slowly and made her way to the bed she had awoken in. She sat down and stared up. "We're the only ones in here..."
Ino sat up slowly wincing at the pain that ran up her spine. She remembered the initial impact when she had been flung against the wall. After that was a painful blur. She had slipped into unconciousness so easily. For a member of Konoha's Anbu that was unacceptable. Ino's eyes trailed up to Sakura after quickly looking over any possible injuries. She spotted the tear in Sakura's outfit and frowned. "Sakura... You're wounded..."
Sakura frowned and covered the hole. "It's healed up now... So that it isn't fatal... I was a little more concerned about your well being..." She closed her eyes and shuddered. The wound Sasuke dealt after manipulating her. She had struggled to heal it. She had felt like she deserved death. Now there she was having avoided death because she had remembered that Ino needed her. That the team needed her.
"Sakura?" Ino frowned. She knew that expression on Sakura's face. Her friend was thinking too much again. "What's wrong?"
"I fell for it..." Sakura whispered. She shuddered again. "Sasuke kissed me and I fell for it all..."
Ino jumped. "Wait what!" She stared at her friend in shock. "He KISSED you!"
Sakura nodded and smiled. Ino had reacted like both of them would've back then. Annoyed but happy. Yet she watched as the meaning dawned on her. Sasuke had indeed kissed her. But only to distract Sakura from seeing his true intention. A kunai through her stomach.
"Lee... He didn't see right?" Ino asked carefully.
Sakura shrugged. She really didn't know. She really couldn't tell. one part of her wanted him to have seen it. That was he knew she was a bad person. That she didn't deserve his love. At the moment Rock Lee's feelings for her had to be second. She'd deal with that loss later.
Ino shook her head. "We were warned... Low chance of success..." The blonde clanched her fists and slammed them on the bed. "Damnit. We were overpowered."
Sakura sighed and shook her head. "That wasn't normal..."
Ino agreed silently. None of what happened could've been normal. They should've realized something was up when they had so easily entered the Syndicate. Except Sasuke's companion was not normal. She strained to get to her feet and steady herself. She knocked away Sakura as she grabbed the bed for support. "Sakura... That woman..."
Sakura frowned. Tsuki. Besides Sasuke's clever manipulating she had been the one to eliminate their strongest fighters easily. "From what I could see... Tsuki has an outer layer of Chakra that sustains her body and never runs out. She's practically immortal because the violet chakra is created by stealing the energy of everything around her slowly and it constantly heals her cells. Preserving her body... Except it's obviously not her true Chakra because when she faced off against Neji she had the violet chakra vanish and she used this black one..."
"Interestingly accurate observation for someone who only got to see her fight once..."
Sakura and Ino screeched at the new voice and turned. Terrified it was Tsuki. Or worse Sasuke. Except it wasn't. It was a female demon.
"I'm Illia." The demon introduced herself as she adjusted her clothes. Her dark green eyes on Sakura as she closed the door behind her. "One of the hired help here... I couldn't help but overhear your conversation."
Sakura relaxed seeing a cleaning outfit and supplies. She was just the hired help here. She watched Ino survey the girl a moment before relaxing as well. She didn't look like a hostile demon. Looked rather... tame?
Illia was dusting one of the dressers. She glanced at Sakura as she rose to examine the room. Illia spoke rather slowly to the female. "I'm sorry for eavesdropping... I just happen to know Tsuki rather well enough to guess she fought against you."
Ino nodded. "Yeah... We're the Anbu from Konoha and we were destroyed so easily..."
"At least they left all of you alive... The men are down the hall healing." Illia smiled at Ino's relieved grin and Sakura's shocked expression. "I guess you don't have a good idea of where you are right now in the compound am I right?"
Sakura stared at the woman carefully before responding. She couldn't help but feel suspicious of the demon's motives. "No we don't... I'm assuming we're prisoners?"
"Guests is the better term." Illia corrected hastily. "Prisoners are normally executed. Uchiha has no patience for the weak. All of you are in the guest house of the Syndicate. It's still heavily guarded and only two Syndicate members observe the activity of the house. The two ladies are always going to be watching your every move. So just with the knowledge of Tsuki's presence here I trust no one will be foolish enough to fight."
Sakura stared blankly as Illia continued dusting the furniture in the room. She couldn't believe this. This was crazy. They were guests!
Ino apparently had recovered faster as she asked Illia for an update on the others. Sakura heard vaguely that they had all been healed up and were just resting. Except a few were worried about them. Sakura guessed that meant Shikamaru and Rock Lee.
"Sakura?"
Sakura blinked and turned as Ino called for her attention. "Um... Yeah?"
"Illia says that Uchiha will probably call us for a dinner later on this week..." Ino frowned. "We'll dine with him, the two Syndicate ladies, and some other guests..."
Sakura frowned. That didn't sound safe. They had yet to meet the Lady of the Golden Sun. Any plan of attack Shikamaru could come up with would be faulty without such information. She watched silently as Illia continued cleaning the room. At least until the door opened and this time Sakura's fears were confirmed.
Violet eyes stared back in a nearly mocking manner. Tsuki shakily entered the room and slid the door shut. Illia and her met gazes momentarily before she met Sakura's gaze again. She leaned against the wall. Sakura noted that she looked shaken.
"That explains a lot..."
Sakura blinked at Illia's annoyed tone. She watched Tsuki scowl.
"A mental connection to allow the two of you to communicate telepathically and heightens the senses... Except afterwards you feel the effects of your body readjusting to normal again... Uchiha must've put a strain on you Ms. Shineh to have you feeling so clumsy." Illia seemed to sneer. "He must've been investigating one of your opponents minds."
Tsuki's gaze intensified on Sakura. "Yes he did... On the mind of a withering cherry blossom..." The pale woman pushed off the door and made her way between Ino and Sakura's beds. Her eyes watched them carefully. Nearly daring them to try anything. "Now shut up and get back to work."
Illia shrugged and went back to dusting.
Ino shivered as Tsuki caught her buy the chin and looked her over. Sakura could tell her friend was terrified. The shinobi had flung Ino into a wall. Knocked her out with one swift shot. Ino knew they were at every possible disadvantage at the moment.
"Looks like they did a good job healing up your spinal cord... You appear to be functioning just fine..." Tsuki released Ino. "Lucky girl... Not many shinobi survive their spine shattering completely... You were paralysed mearly hours ago... You came very close to death."
Ino was ghost pale. Even Tsuki had more color on her face then Sakura's best friend.
Tsuki turned to Sakura. "You were fine. We figured Tsunade's apprentice could keep herself and her friend alive... Your Chakra's been wasted enough to keep you from trying to hit me... I do say... You pack quite a punch."
Sakura shivered at the glare she recieved. She was feeling cornered.
"Leave them alone." Illia snapped suddenly as she finished dusting the room. "They could very well figure out how to kill you and Uchiha."
"Doubt they'd try." Tsuki chuckled turning to leave. "Uzumaki Naruto would never let them hurt the man he's been dreaming of fucking raw."
Sakura's went red at the comment. Except her mind registered the name. Uzumaki Naruto. Their Naruto? The blonde who had wanted to be Hokage? "Wait!"
Tsuki looked back as she reached the door. "Yes?"
"Naruto's here?"
"Yes he is. I saw him just a moment ago. Hyper little brat. Packs a punch..." Tsuki shook her head. Almost as if not wanting to relive that pain. "He seems to believe Uchiha's still good. That we're just clouding his thoughts."
"You ar-"
"No we aren't. Uchiha's thoughts are clouded with Uzumaki and his brother." Tsuki shrugged. As if she really didn't care about Sakura's thoughts on the matter. Actually Sakura was certain the monster had no concern for the matter between them and Sasuke. "I came here to let you know that at the end of tommorow all of you will attend a feast to discuss your release back to Konoha. If Uchiha really decides to let any of you go that is."
"Naruto will talk some sense into Sasuke."
Illia interrupted as Tsuki tried to speak. "I don't belive you truly understand what Master Sasuke has become. He's nothing like you remember."
Sakura was up on her feet faster than she expected and she swung at Tsuki. Her target ducked as she missed. She had the energy to do damage. Except her body was fighting every movement. So when Tsuki avoided the next swing and hit her back into the bed she wasn't surprised.
She was surprised feeling her air being squeezed out of her body as Tsuki straddled her and choaked her. Sakura grabbed Tsuki's wrists and squeezed. She could feel that she was about to break them when Tsuki shifted and drove her knee into Sakura's stomach.
"Idiot." The Syndicate female hissed.
Sakura doubled over as Tsuki released her. She heard Ino get up and rush to her side as Tsuki got up and slid the door open.
"That was foolish..." Tsuki scowled. She shook her head and sighed. "Almost as dumb as actually believing Uchiha cared enough to kiss you... Absolutely foolish..."
Sakura swallowed the blood that had rushed into her mouth and glared at Tsuki. "You heartless whore!"
Tsuki chuckled and shook her head. "Ouch... If I hadn't heard that so often I might have been a tad insulted..."
Ino was helping Sakura up as her best friend hacked up the blood clogging her lungs now. As the door slid shut signaling Tsuki's departure Illia dropped her things and walked over to their side. She helped get Sakura back on the bed and seemed to look over the wounds.
"Listen... Normally I never agree with that damned woman... Except this one time..." Illia murmered as she pointed Ino back to her bed. "The two of you are weak. Too weak to even consider yourselves a challenge to the likes of her. So that was truly foolish..."
"I know..." Sakura hissed. She sat up angrily. Not quite content with their situation at all. She hadn't felt this defenseless in so long. Tsunade had trained her so she wouldn't be this defenseless. This weak. Or at least that's all that Illia could gather from her dissapointed and defeated expression.
"Listen... You two need to be careful around here... The only two women you'll run into ever in here are the two ladies of the Syndicate. So it's not a w-"
Sakura had flown to her feet with a triumphant grin. Before Illia could react the cherry blossum girl landed a clear shot at her face. The Demon flew back into the nearby wall. Sakura gripped Illia's shirt collar roughly. "Thought so..."
Ino smiled at Sakura as Illia tried to process what the hell had just occured. Seconds ago Sakura was down and out for the count. Now she held her up against the wall with such power that Illia was at a loss. What just happened?
Sakura smiled. Illia hadn't seen Sakura in her attacks against Tsuki snatch some Soldier Pills. Or when Ino had come to her aid the demon hadn't seen Sakura pass one to Ino. Now Sakura had enough Chakra to hold her own again, minus the bruises Tsuki had inflicted Sakura was back to her normal self. Ino had indeed been healed by Sakura so she was ready to fight once more as well.
Illia snarled and reached for the hand Sakura was holding her by. "Let go. I didn't do anything."
"Yes you did..." Sakura murmered. "You slipped up Illia..."
Ino got to her feet slowly and started searching Illia's pockets.
Sakura grinned. She hadn't been the most intelligent member of Team Seven for nothing. She had always been the most observant. Except this was no genjutsu. This was a real life mistake on the enemies part. "Can't you guess how?"
Illia stopped struggling and glared. Sakura was very aware of the chakra building up in Illia's body. She wasn't stupid.
"You said the two ladies are ALWAYS going to be looking at us. You also said that the only two women we'd ever run into here would be those two Syndicate ladies." Sakura sneered. "ONly two women right? You and Tsuki. Even there were holes there."
Ino finished raiding Illia's pockets and moved for the door. She was eager to discover if the men had freed themselves yet as well. Actually they may not have been so lucky as the two women on the Anbu. Except you never knew if Shikamaru had a card up his sleeve.
"You called him Master Sasuke... You seemed to be completely aware of every movement Tsuki knew... And when you scolded her you knew their trick so well it was too suspicious..."
Illia scowled.
"You're no maid… You couldn't even clean well enough to pass as one… Can you even tell the difference between those cleaners!"
Illia sighed and rolled her eyes. "I had a feeling Tsuki may have been right about you being too damn observant…"
"How do we get out of here?"
"You can't… Orders are to kill the one called Rock Lee immediately if you struggle. He's the only one Uchiha could care less about at the moment." Illia chuckled at Sakura's shock. She watched as female shinobi released her. "You were right... I am the enemy... Except your idiotic blonde friend has no idea..."
Ino didn't take the insult. She knew she wasn't the one Illia was referring to. To her horror Sakura knew Illia meant Naruto.
"If you hurt him..."
Illia shook her head. "Play nice here and he'll also be in one piece... He's easy to fool... Thinks he's my friend... That word doesn't exist to demons, he should know that. He never knew..."
"The Lady of the Golden Sun." Ino whispered. "She's a demon..."
"Of course I am... Tsuki and I are opposites in nearly every way..." Illia smiled darkly. "I'm a demon... She's originally an Angel... She's fallen like your Sasuke... No one can save her either..."
Sakura stayed motionless as Illia departed from the room and slid the door shut. That was it. They were trapped. No way out. If they fought Rock Lee would be killed. They wouldn't hold back.
Sakura dropped to her knees as the tears fell. If only she hadn't fallen for Sasuke's trick. If she had done what Shikamaru and the others had really wanted. If she had just fought. Then this wouldn't have been so hard! It wouldn't have been so hard to accept they had lost!
Why? Why her? Why them? Why This? Were they doomed to be like Tsunade and her team? Apart? Seperated? Never a team again?
No. She refused to believe that just yet. Next time she went after Sasuke there'd be no holding back. He didn't deserve her love any longer.
Haruno Sakura had once been full of concern.
Now she was full of disregard.
(Sasuke's Piece as usual goes here, except as stated above it is not posted here, go to my profile and go to my deadjournal to access the full chapter if you're curious, NOT for young readers!)