Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters. I do own any characters that I made up and the plot. Stealing may result in legal action.
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And Then...
Chapter Two
Legend
"You are the heir to our clan. You are the Shiraha. Our Goukage. Lady of the Winged. My queen, Haruno Sakura." He said, his eyes alighting with something akin to pride and love.
I stared disbelievingly at him.
[Okay, this is no good. We've got a psycho on our hands, at night, in a most likely deserted forest. What do we do!?]
"I-I believe that you are mistaken, mister. I am not a Kage, nor the Shir-whatever." I said explained, slightly nervous.
Okay, Sakura, you can do this. Just back away slowly and when you have the chance, run like hell to the village and get some help.
My eyes widened, then narrowed. I didn't need help. I can get through this on my own. I won't run away anymore.
I will fight.
[Hell yeah! Now that's what I'm taking about!]
A deep chuckle escaped the man. Damn, I forgot he could read my thoughts.
"I understand if you do not believe me. But do you know of the Winged? Have you learned about the legendary species that supposedly died out thousands of years ago? No, I suppose you do not, as it is almost forbidden to speak of them, especially in front of the Hyuuga or Uchiha clans." He explained as he slowly lowered himself to a sitting position on the ground.
My body twitched, but I did not run.
"The Winged are a race that people once thought were Angels sent from Heaven. How terribly wrong they were. Please site, Haruno-sama, this might take a while." He said softly and patted the ground beside him. I still couldn't see who he was because he had some sort of hood covering his face.
"Um, who are you, anyways?" I asked, suddenly shy of the man before me. He smirked slightly and lowered his hood. I gasped and my eyes widened in shock.
H-He looks just like me!
"Yes, Haruno-sama. I look exactly like you. Can you guess why?" He asked, blowing a dark pink bang out of his eyes.
I stared at his hair, and dark green eyes.
"Um...you're stuck in a Jutsu?" I said sheepishly. The man facefaulted.
"Stuck in a-!? No! I am your twin brother, Akatsu!" He said indignantly.
My jaw dropped as I gawked at him.
"T-Twin brother!? But-but Okka-san said I don't have any other family!" I squawked. Akatsu's eyes darkened.
"Your 'Mother' did not tell you because she does not want you to come back to our clan and become our Goukage." He said angrily. I stared at him.
"What do you mean...?" Warning bells sounded someplace in the back of my mind, but I paid them no heed.
A cruel smile was etched onto Akatsu's face, his eyes gleaming with some sort of bloodlust.
"She stole you from our family when you were little, then made you believe that you were her daughter. Did you ever ask why you had no father? And why you looked nothing like your mother, nor anyone in your family? She's not your real mother, Haruno-sama. She's an imposter that stole you from us." He said darkly. Anger radiated off of him in powerful waves.
My knees trembled as I sank to the ground.
T-This can't be true.
[Oi, I think he may be right...]
Shut up!
[Think back, Sakura, to when you asked Okka-san those same questions.]
[Flashbacks]
"Kaa-san? What happened to Tou-san? How come I've never met him?" A five year old me asked my mother, who stood before me washing dishes.
She turned to me, her eyes widened and panicky.
"Sakura-chan, your father died before you were born on a mission. And I would appreciate it if you never spoke of him again." She said as she pushed a lock of red hair behind her ear, a tone of warning in her voice.
(Another Time)
"Hey mom? How come I don't look like anyone in our family? Why am I the only one to have pink hair and green eyes?" An eight year old me asked as I trudged down the stairs of our house, pulling my socks on.
My mother dropped the shoes she was holding out to me and a nervous glint entered her eyes as she turned a fake smile on me.
"You look exactly like your father, Sakura-chan. He had dark green eyes just like you! And I believe his mother had the same pretty pink tresses you have now!" She exclaimed happily as she thrust my shoes into my awaiting hands. I stared at her, confused.
"Mama, you said that Baa-san ha-" I couldn't finish my question because my mother had already pushed me out the door with a hasty goodbye.
[End of Flashbacks]
I bit my lip as my eyes clouded over.
"She was lying to me all this time...My life was a lie." I whispered as I clenched my fists together. A sudden anger filled my being. My head snapped up to the surprised stranger, no, brother, before me.
"I believe you. My mother...no...that woman lied to me about my life, made me live in a twist of lies and deceit." A humorless chuckle escaped my dry lips. Was this really me speaking? The kind, ever-caring Haruno Sakura? No...I am no longer that Sakura.
I was shaken from my jumbled and angry thoughts as Akatsu spoke, his voice low.
"Never think that, Haruno-sama. It is in your nature to be kind and caring. You were like that before that woman took you, and I am glad that she has not turned that part of you into a lie." I glanced up at him, twin frowns marring both of our features.
"Well, now that that is out of the way, I can finish reminding you of your life." Akatsu said, somewhat sarcastically. I smirked and moved so I was sitting beside him. We gazed up through the treetops to meet the blinking eyes of the bright stars above us, the lone moon surveying us all.
"The Winged lived in peace, and did not like to fight. But one day, a group of men came and killed the current Shiraha, leaving the Winged without a leader. In chaos, the Winged destroyed the men, leaving only one to survive with fatal injuries. The man returned to his village and told of the 'fearsome beast' that had attacked them without being provoked. Soon word got around about the Winged, and many sought out to kill them. Many Winged were killed, and soon a war had started between the two species, with man leading. After a particularly unfortunate battle, the Winged were forced to go into hiding, concealing their identities by becoming that which they hated most. Humans. Eventually they were thought to be extinct, so hunters ceased looking. But then, a horrible tragedy overcame them..." Akatsu closed his eyes. I stared up at him with wide eyes.
"W-What happened?" I asked, somewhat fearful of the answer.
"A woman found a group of Winged, and killed them off with her own bare hands. The only one left alive was a young, pink haired girl. Haruno Sakura." I covered my mouth and lurched forward, a swarm of bloody memories rushing through my mind.
"Haruno-sama? Are you okay?" Akatsu asked worriedly as he rubbed my back in a soothing manner.
So familiar...
"Y-Yes, I am fine. Sorry, Akatsu-san." He sighed in relief as he moved away from me. I sat up, a hand clenching and unclenching at the hem of my shirt. He eyed me but didn't say anything.
"Anyways, I had to wait years before I was strong enough to find you, and by the time I did, you had become that slut's mind toy." He said sourly. I twitched when he called my 'mother' a slut, but said nothing. I felt as if she deserved it.
Akatsu took a deep breath before continuing, his eyes closed.
"I waited a few more years, and trained harder. I watched as you grew up, and I was unable to talk to you. It was hard, Sakura-chan, so very hard watching my sister grow up without me. I watched as you became a Gennin, and the way you would fawn over that Sasuke kid. I had to psychically restrain myself from ringing his neck. Not only was he an Uchiha, but he was very mean, too." I giggled slightly, not the least bit miffed that Akatsu thought of Sasuke that way. He actually sounded kind of childish.
Akatsu turned a smile to me, happy to see that I was laughing.
"And then I found you here." He ended quietly. I stared at him as he sighed happily.
"So...you've waited who-knows how many years just to find me?" I asked, my eyebrow raised. He laughed sheepishly.
"I guess it's the twin thing. I don't really know myself. Something inside of me pushed me to find you. And I listened to it."
We sat in silence for a few minutes before Akatsu stood up and stretched.
"Well, I guess we'll have to start your training tomorrow, since it got so late." He said as he offered me a hand up.
"Training...?" I asked as I grabbed onto his hand, and hoisted myself up. He smiled at me.
"Yes. After you train with your regular teacher, I will teach you harder things, and how to summon. I will also indulge you on some more 'interesting' information about our clan. Oyasumi Nasai, Haruno-sama!" He said as he waved and disappeared into the night.
I stared, wide-eyed, at the spot my twin brother had previously been in.
[Man, this is way too much information and stuff tonight. We need sleep.]
I mentally agreed with my inner self.
"Aa...I need sleep. Oyasumi, Akatsu-chan." I said softly before turning back to my village.
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Shiroi Hikari: Wow! I never thought people would like this story so much. I put the first chapter, and in less than two hours I have nine reviews already! Arigatou Gozaimasu everyone!
Here are the current standings for the pairings:
Itachi x Sakura: 4
Neji x Sakura: 2
Sasuke x Sakura: 2
Kiba x Sakura: 1
Gaara x Sakura: 1
Kakashi x Sakura: 0
Orochimaru x Sakura: 0
Naruto x Sakura: 0
Shikamaru x Sakura: 0
Naruto x Hinata: 2
Shiroi Hikari: Well, Itachi-kun currently has the lead, with Sasuke and Neji close behind. I think I will pair Naruto up with Hinata, though I will leave Naruto x Sakura up there for anyone to vote for, simply because I might change my mind.
Ja ne and please review!
::Shiroi Hikari::