Akatsuki no Sakura
Rating: R for violence, sexual implications and strong language in later chapters
Category: Romace/Angst/Action
Pairings: SasuSaku, ItaSaku
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Yeesh.
Chapter Ten: Black as Blood
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Around midnight, Kisame decided that enough was enough. He found a tiny oasis, with a fair amount of greenery and a few boulders, and of course a miniature lake of water, deep enough to allow someone to bathe in it without exposing too much skin. Kisame set Sakura down on the soft moss before rushing to the water and diving in. The cool water revitalized the shark-nin's energy, his dried skin soaking in the moisture. He let himself float there for a bit, closing his eyes and relaxing for a few minutes.
When he got out, his cloak clung to his skin, and his hair was soaking wet. He took out his leather canteen, filling it with water before moving to sit next to Sakura. Strangely, she was still unconscious, but Kisame decided it was simply because she was exhausted. He lifted her head, trying to get her to drink from the canteen, but she wouldn't swallow. Kisame frowned, his eyes narrowing. He tried to give her water again, but gave up after his third try. Setting her down, he gathered a large stack of the green grass and ripped a branch free from one of the two trees there. Breaking the branch up into chunks, he set the grass on top and sighed. Itachi would be useful here, as Kisame didn't know any fire-type jutsus. Those were Itachi's specialty. However, he did know how to make sparks with rocks…..
After the fire had started, Kisame rested with his back to a nearby boulder, falling asleep quickly. Itachi would get there soon, he figured. He didn't have to worry about him, and Sakura was right next to him, he would wake up if anyone tried to grab her.
Several miles away, Itachi limped out of the forest, his foot coming down on soft sand. Gritting his teeth, he lifted his head to scan the horizon. The sky was the color of pitch, the crescent moon overhead offering little light. The sand was a sea of dark blue, and as he looked down the blood that dripped down from his leg looked black as it landed on the sand. He grunted and began limping in the direction that he could sense Sakura's faint chakra emanating from. It would be a long walk.
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"WHADDAYA MEAN, NOT HERE!" Naruto slammed his fist on the reception counter at the hospital, fuming at the poor nurse. He had walked into Sakura's room only to find her bed empty, with the machines out of whack and the IV tubes with no patient attached. The nurse shrunk away from the furious Hokage, trembling terribly.
"I-I'm sorry, Hokage-sama, but there was no patient there when the nurse checked a half an hour ago….." Naruto stormed outside, slamming the huge doors of the hospital as he went. Naruto paced around the perimeter of the hospital, until he let out a roar of frustration, his blue eyes changing to their demonic red. As he spun around and punched the wall of the east side of the hospital, several ANBU appeared next to him, then suddenly backed away slightly at his glare.
"H-Hokage-sama, we just found… you'd better follow us…" Naruto's eyes narrowed. He nodded and followed the ANBU through the dark town, glowering and muttering darkly. They stopped at a dark spot behind a building, and Naruto's eyes narrowed.
"I'm looking for...what, exactly?" The ANBU sighed and pointed at the base of one of the trees. Naruto's blood went cold as he recognized the limp form of Hyuuga Neji, eyes half-closed and sallow.
"You, you an you! Get him into the emergency room, now! And bring me Uchiha Sasuke!" The ANBU nodded and disappeared, the last ANBU grabbing Neji and hoisting him over his shoulders and disappearing. Moments later, Sasuke ran to Naruto, his eyes bright red.
"What's going on? Naruto, it's the middle of the goddamn night... This better be good." Naruto glared at him and snarled.
"Neji's been attacked." Sasuke sneered at him.
"And I should care because...?"
"Because Sakura-chan went missing at the same time." Sasuke's eyes widened and he grabbed Naruto by the collar and yanked him close.
"You had better be joking. Dammit, I knew we should have posted ANBU outside of her room..." Sasuke let go of Naruto and turned away, scowling.
"We have to go after her."
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Sakura rolled over onto her side, slinging her arm over something warm.
"Itachi-sensei..." She smiled in her sleep and cuddled closer to the warmth. She giggled and feverishly grabbed at the cloth there.
Meanwhile, Kisame felt something sling over him and his eyes snapped open. He relaxed a bit as he heard the kunoichi's voice, but suddenly realized what was happening and he paled. Itachi's gonna murder me if he sees this...
Suddenly, a dark figure stumbled into the camp and Kisame had to fight to stop from squeaking in fear. Oh CRAP!
Itachi staggered over to the two figures; he was too exhausted to pay any attention to them and he dropped to his knees, landing face-down in the sand. Sakura groaned and rolled onto her other side, releasing Kisame and grabbing Itachi at the same time. Itachi managed to roll onto his side, and his eyes widened as his face met with hers, only inches away.
Crap... how am I gonna get out of this?
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Sekhimet: I'm so so so sorry for not updating! I completely forgot... I've been busy roleplaying, the fic completely slipped my mind! -bows- -gets hit by a flying hammer- OW... Next chapter: The morning after! Or something like it.