Beta-Verson
Chapter 2
Fear and HopeSakura's Pov
"Sasuke." His name rolled softly on my tongue after he disappeared.
The academy was over and I went home. The sunset shimmered golden and red.
Once I arrived home I went into the bathroom to take a shower. I took off my dirty clothes and stepped into the hot steamy shower. The hot water splashed on my skin and washed all the blood and my worries away.
After the shower I changed into a pink tank-top with straps and black shorts for sleeping. I decided to skip dinner which didn't make any difference to me. Before I went to sleep I took a look at the star and moon decorated sky.
They somehow reminded me of him. The dark haired, onyx eyed man. Shrugging my thoughts off I went to my bedroom, crawling into my comfortable bed.
I found myself unable to sleep because numerous questions tormented me.
Sasuke who are you?
Was he really serious about wanting me to come with him? I mean I'm so weak. Why would he want to keep such a burden with him? But what would happen if I did go with him?
I didn't want to fight Neji when I came back.
I continued to stare at the ceiling for a while then I tossed and turned for about an hour until I drifted into an uneasy sleep.
I woke up again two hours later. Hearing a sound coming from the kitchen I suddenly froze. No it's just my imagination. I told myself but I was still scared.
After a few minutes when the noise wasn't repeated I calmed down and was about to drift back to sleep when I heard a deep voice
"Having trouble getting to sleep?"
Recognizing the voice, I froze in fear then shifted up into a sitting position.
My fear filled emerald eyes met cold onyx ones. He stood in front of the closed door, his hands in his pockets. The right sole of his shoe was resting on the door.
"Sasuke."
Silence
"W-why are you here?" I asked shaking in fear.
"Have you decided?" he asked back.
"I-I .." I couldn't answer him and stared at my hands, which were tightly clenching the blanket.
A short silence filled the room before he asked "Do you want to come with me?"
Then my voice finally came back. "N-no I can't." I stuttered.
Slowly a malicious smirk twisted his lips.
"Really?"
My eyes widened in shock as he was on my bed with one quick movement.
He grabbed my wrists in one hand and pinned them above my head. He sat on the top of me and I felt his weigh and warmth on my stomach.
My eyes watered as I felt a kunai touch the side of my neck.
He is going to kill me.
Fear was overwhelming me now more than ever. I didn't want to die. I was too afraid.
The kunai cut the side of my neck and I felt my blood dripping on the pillow.
"You can't imagine how it is to look into fear filled eyes. To see their arrogance vanishing and just their anxiety is remaining. To hear their desperate screams when they are begging for their pathetic lives. It feeds you with so much power. But the best part is when you deny their entreaty for life and kill them, slow and painfully. Can you imagine the power? I'll give it to you if you agree to come with me." What he said was terrifying me. I swallowed the lump in my throat. His onyx eyes turned crimson.
"No." Tears welled up in my eyes and trailed down on the pillow. Neji.
"So it's still because of him?" he asked huskily.
"No."
"Liar." The word was rolling on his tongue painfully slow. His usually onyx eyes flickered in crimson. Its color brought my memories back.
I shuddered. I was so afraid, terrified and scared of him. Images of our first meeting rushed through my head. Without any mercy or remorse he tormented a female jounin cruelly and slowly.
I was afraid of his eyes. His beautiful and cruel eyes.
"Are you afraid of me Sakura? "
"N-no." I lied. Of course I was afraid of him.
"Your eyes Sakura they are betraying you. They show your feelings clearly. Your hate, anxiety, joy and even love. Your love for him."
"Neji…" I mumbled.
"Get rid of your emotions and feelings. I know you hate them more than anything else. Only if you destroy them you can become strong. And only then you can forget about everything. Even about him."
"I can't…"
"Can't you or don't you want to?"
His words echoed in my mind. Can't you or don't you want to
To my surprise he pulled the kunai in my pillow carefully out as if he didn't want to hurt me more than I already was. He pulled his kunai back into his belt. His free hand joined my other wrist, so he won't have to hold two wrists in one hand, still keeping me pinned on the bed.
The blood trailed down on the pillow. I shivered as he licked his lips. He slowly bent down and brushed his tongue against my neck. He was licking my blood, each drop seemed to be precious to him. It felt soothing but at the same time it scared at me. As he finished he rose up and faced me.
A dark smirk decorated his face and his eyes softened as he bent down again to brush his lips against my ear sending a shiver down my spine. His hot breath was tickling my ear softly, making me shudder pleasurably.
"Don't worry I'll make you forget everything about him." As soon as he said this, everything went black.
In the morning I woke up with a terrible headache. I put my palm on my forehead and tried to remember what happened last night.
As my memories hit me I broke out in fear.
Onyx
Crimson
Blood
And then his last words 'I'll make you forget everything about him.'
I wondered if he was serious. His words were making me feel uneasy.
I went to the bathroom and did the necessary things. After I finished I went to the academy. This time without any feelings of fear or hatred, but my hate for this village will always remain.
On the way to the academy I heard rumors about the deaths of my bullies but I didn't tell them anything. It was Sasuke who killed them. I shivered at the thought of him.
If Sasuke hadn't killed them I still would've had to suffer and no one would've cared.
Neji… the fact that he didn't care hurt me the most.
Flashback"You bitch." A girl hissed. I received a hard slap on my face. Tears poured from my eyes.
The girl and her friend pushed me to the ground and beat the shit of me.
I lay beaten and bleeding on the ground. Then I saw him. His white eyes stared coldly at me, there was no concern were in them.
"Neji." I begged quietly, almost entreatingly, but he made no attempt to help me, he just walked away.
In that moment my heart shattered.
End of Flashback
When I arrived the meadow in front of the academy, I heard my name called by someone. "Sakura-chan." I recognized that awesome familiar voice. "Impossible."
I turned around and called with a bright smile "Naruto."
My eyes met his clear azure ones. How innocent he was.
"What brings you here?" I asked.
"I wanted to visit you."
"But you always have to train so much. You must be very busy." I stated.
"Don't worry Sakura-chan. I'm here because I wanted to see you."
"That's so nice of you Naruto. How about if we sit on that bench over there and continue our conversation?" I pointed at the bench.
"Sure." He grinned.
We went to the bench and sat down.
Naruto was my childhood friend. We've met in a park. It was a very funny meeting. I was six years old and he seven years. I was playing when he suddenly pointed at me and asked " Hey cute girl over there how about some ramen? It's my treat." I didn't know why but I agreed. Somehow we became friends. Even though we were close friends I didn't tell him about my dark side or how much I suffered.
I guess I didn't want to burden him with my problems or lose him as a friend.
Now after nine years he matured quite a lot. His face has become more handsome and his body has formed nice muscles.
"So Naruto tell me do you still want to become the hokage of this village?"
"Of course I do, now more than ever that's why I've to train so hard every day. Did something new happen?" he asked.
Images of crimson and onyx flashed in front of my inner eyes. I heard his dark voice and saw his with malice filled smirk in my mind.
"No nothing new happened." I decided not to tell him.
"How have you been lately?" I asked.
"Very well as always." He grinned at me. I envied him. How could someone be so happy? Then I remembered why I couldn't be happy. It was because of this village. I hated it.
But there was still someone I cared for.
"Naruto would you stay for someone who doesn't care for you?" In that moment I saw Neji's unconcerned pearl white eyes in my mind. The way he looked at me as if he doesn't want to have anything to do with me.
"No because if the one doesn't care for you there is no point in staying. You'd only wind up more hurt than you already are. Sometimes we've to take new parts to become happy. To find out what is lacking in your life."
To take new parts…"Nee Naruto would you ever betray this village to become stronger?" My hands clenched the ends of my red coat.
"Why are you asking?"
"Just answer me."
"No I would never betray this village but if I had to become stronger I would leave this village. I would make a journey through the different hidden villages and collect new experiences there. After I became strong enough I would come back and protect this village with my life."
I was amazed by what he said. He seemed so selfless. To protect this village.
"Would you even go if your intent is to hurt the people, when you come back?" I asked.
"No I wouldn't. It's not right to hurt other people. If you're strong you've got to protect them and not hurt them."
And who protects me? I know plenty people who hurt me, but protect?
Then he grasped my hand softly. "Sakura we've to learn to forgive each other even if we've been hurt by them..."
To forgive…A silence arose.
"Sakura-chan is something wrong? Why are you asking such weird questions?"
"It's nothing." I hesitated. "Naruto?"
"What?"
"Would you ever miss me if I went away?"
"Of course Sakura-chan I would miss you very much. Why are you going on a trip?"
Suddenly tears welled up in my eyes and I threw my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.
"Naruto…" I sobbed. I was so glad someone cared for me that I broke out in tears. He began to stroke my back in cycles.
"Sakura-chan what's wrong?" he asked confused.
"Thank you." Then I cried into his shirt for I don't know how long.
"Thank you Naruto you really helped me today."
"I don't know how but you're welcome."
With that I said goodbye to him and we went our separate ways.
The sunset shimmered golden red. It was beautiful and filled my heart with warmth.
I tilted my head up and new determination flowed into me. I decided to forgive this village.
I felt that I was strong enough now to endure the pain no matter how terrible it was.
How terribly wrong I was….