/Very sorry that this is late but I've been terribly sick and haven't been able to write since then. So, as an added bonus I'm going to add a few more pages to this chapter then the normal 3 pages I usually do. RR still please and thank you/
Sasuke blinked at the foggy surroundings before he noticed they had come out a side door of the mansion. After carefully inspecting the door, he found that it swung open quite easily from this side, however once inside, they would be locked. Biting the inside of his lip, the raven haired boy also noticed something. He had no idea how to, or even where he would find the key for Naruto's cell. In complete frustration, he kicked the huge wooden doors that he had let swing close; this only caused him more frustration from the pain that now shot up his foot. "Damn and curse all the seven hells!" He mumbled under his breath, holding his foot.
Sakura walked over beside him and stared down at the ground, trying to search her brain for anything that could help them. They couldn't search the whole village themselves for the key. Not to mention they had no idea what in the world would happen to them if they split up. The thought of Sae's hands closing around her neck once more made Sakura-chan shiver and cling to Sasuke's arm tightly. Wondering what the gesture was for, Sasuke looked down at the blossom-pink girl before tugging his arm lightly away. He understood her fear, but it wasn't going to help Naruto if they just stood their and wondered where to go. "Sakura, listen up. We need to find that key. While I go look in the other parts of the village, I need you to go back inside the mansion and look for it. You've been inside there with Naruto and walked back through it with both of us, so you'll have a better idea of what to look out for."
His explanation made sense to her, but Sakura was not about to go in the mansion alone again. She had that gut feeling again, the one that told her that if she took one step into that mansion that she'd be done for. Looking back at the haunting doors that seemed like jaws ready to snap open and stay shut for eternity once she was inside, the kunoichi gulped and placed both hands on the old wood. "Please, just hurry.", was the only reply that Sasuke had gotten before Sakura opened and closed the mansion doors behind her.
Again, Sasuke felt as though he was sending one of his friends to the slaughter house like a cow, but he knew that it was the best chance of getting the key and Naruto back in his arms. Turning, he headed back towards the bridge that Naruto and Sakura had first crossed to get to him and the mansion. The old wood had crumbled even more now and Sasuke could feel the icy cold water's temperature from where he stood. One slip, one mistake and he'd fall in and freeze. Taking rushed baby steps, the boy forgot all about his training as natural instinct of fear began to grab at his already shaken mind.
"It hurts!" A woman's voice shrieked and howled from directly behind him.
Sasuke screamed and whirled around, which was a bad mistake. His ninja shoes slipped on the wet boards, causing the boy to crash onto his back. Above him, a ghostly white hand reached at his neck, while glazed white eyes stared at him. Grabbing the woman's arm, Sasuke began to throw up as he felt tiny prickles of coldness up and now his spine. The woman was sucking his spiritual energy even when he was just touching her. "Leave me alone….I have to…get back to the one…who needs me most!" Sasuke cried out, not knowing what else to say.
He certainly didn't expect the spirit to back off, which it soon did. Sasuke hopped carefully to his feet and rubbed his numb hand before he looked back at the ghost, her eyes now covered by long faded black hair. "You…go to Osaka house…to find the thing you search for…to find the light…you must find the darkness…" The woman gurgled and spat; water spurting out of her mouth as she did so.
Sasuke couldn't speak, stunned by what he had just witnessed as the woman sank back into her watery grave, pointing at the door at the opposite end. 'The Osaka house…should I trust her?' The raven thought before getting up and running with new found hope. It was the only clue he had at the moment and he wasn't about to question it. His feet were like wings as he barely touched the boards, jumping over the missing planks, three at a time. 'Naruto, wait for me. Don't you die on me blonde…' he prayed in his mind before pushing his hands outward and hitting the door's open to the village.
Sakura reached over and opened the door that Naruto had during their first visit there, careful not to let any of the bugs crawl over his pale flesh. She had thought about returning to the blonde and staying with him for comfort until Sasuke came back with the key or to search the place again. She knew, however, that if he hadn't found the key, he would be seriously furious with her not looking around the mansion some more. "Why do you run? Why do you try?"
Sakura whirled around, looking into the eyes of Sae as she opened the door. Her forest green orbs widened as the woman traced over her cheek bone with a soft finger. "Scream, call for help. No one will come for you. No one cares about you anymore Sakura Haruno. You are better off dead don't you think? No more holding anyone back?"
Sakura held a hand up to her mouth, surprised that the spirit knew so much and the fact that her words were so true. Tears swept down her, now flushed cheeks before her arm dangled back to it's place at her side. It was true; what had she done for the boy's besides cause them trouble? It was enough for her to be disgusted. She had put Naruto down before they had come and given up even when he hadn't. She was the childish one, whom had only concentrated on Sasuke once again then on worrying about the blonde boy whom cared so much about her. "…Your absolutely righ-"
Sakura suddenly gasped as Sae grasped a hold of her throat tightly and began to squeeze the life right out of her body. "You won't be needed anymore…Dear Sakura-chan." Sae hissed before laughing insanely again at the girl's quivering.
Sasuke turned and glared back at the doors in which he had come through. He felt something was wrong; it was one of those gut feeling and it was starting to make him feel absolutely sick. Turning back to the task at hand, Sasuke ran up the cracked stone stairs and made his way to the Osaka house. 'Hold on for me…' He prayed silently; every step he took making his pick up more and more speed. After what seemed like an eternity, Sasuke reached the eroding building. The raven tore through the rooms one by one; searching frantically for any kind of clues and once and a while feeling the eyes of Miyako watch him. "Just stay where you are." He hissed after the fourth time of spotting her in the very back room, gazing at him from the open air porch.
"WWWhhhyyyy?" The ghost moaned, slowly making her way towards him; her malice doubling from before.
Sasuke stood up, his bangs laying flat on his head from sweat and dirt; his eyes flashing red and making the spirit stagger back. "I said back the fuck off." Sasuke hissed, causing Miyako to retreat back to her position on the porch and sputter incoherently at him.
He could have gave an rat's ass at the moment as he searched the room for any signs of a key. None, not even a hint. He couldn't even find a document or scrap of paper that mentioned anything about a key. Perhaps the ghost had been lying after all? Sasuke felt despair rip through his heart. What was he to do now? The ghosts in the mansion had probably found Sakura by this point and who knows about Naruto? Suddenly, he slumped to the ground in defeat, whispering to himself. "What do you want me to do…?"
As if on cue, Miyako floated over, placing a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. The tingle of his spirit being touched made the boy vomit, but he didn't push her away. "Help meeeeee…" She beckoned, gripping his shoulder even tighter and causing him to empty his stomach once more; until finally, as if giving in to his plight, Miyako pulled Sasuke into a vision.
Sasuke stood where he was, an inch away from the brazier and watched as Miyako and her attacker wrestled on the ground. "Massssuuummmiiii why?" She choked out trying to throw the bloodied man off of her.
Sasuke could tell that Masumi was obviously from the other world by this point, since the many gashes and wounds on his body did not bleed. 'She was killed by her boyfriend's ghost?' Sasuke suddenly realized. 'That's right…she came here looking for him…and yet in the end…' He could only watch as the woman slowly stopped struggling and laid her head on the floor with a thud. Sasuke waited for the vision to end, as Masumi turned his head towards the raven; as if knowing he was being watched. Nothing could have prepared Sasuke as the ghost knowingly grabbed onto him by the throat and forced him into the wall, causing pain to admit from every vital point in his body.
Screaming, the raven blinked to find himself back in reality; Miyako no longer holding onto his shoulder, but sobbing into his arms. Her malice was gone, but her sorrow remained. "I'm searching to….for my light…Miyako…show me the way?" Sasuke asked weakly, feeling almost bad for having to ask anything from her.
The ghost began to fade, causing grieve to return into the boy's heart. He knew it was to good to be true, she wasn't going to help him. Biting his lower lip, he grasped the apparition's hand as she began to leave, causing her sunken eyes to look into his charcoal ones. "…I'm sorry for your loss…I will help you…somehow…"
He was unsure of what to say, if only to comfort her while she faded. Sasuke was alarmed as he felt something heavy in his hand, though Miyako had long disappeared. He glanced down, to find a small key with a butterfly crescent on it. "Save him…"
Sasuke busted through the doors of the old mansion without thought. He hadn't stopped, he had ran all the way here without looking back. Turning towards the door to the right, he felt himself trip over a large lump and almost instantly knew what it was. Shaking and trying to get a hold of himself, Sasuke looked down at the body of Sakura; her lifeless eyes gazing up at him innocently. Again, Sasuke vomited until he felt like he was upchucking his own intestines. "My…God…Sakura…I'm so sorry…" He whispered, tears sliding down his cheeks.
He had never felt this way about a comrade before, nor did he ever imagine that it would be this hard to let one go. He had always told himself that if she or even Naruto died, he'd get over it eventually. Yet even still, as he held her lifeless and cold body; he couldn't feel more broken. He had failed to save someone dear to him yet again and he wasn't sure if he could even continue. What if Naruto had died? What would he do? No, he didn't want to know, he was better off not knowing and still having a little bit of hope right? He didn't know, he didn't know anything right now. All he could do was clutch the kunoichi to his chest and pray that he was dreaming this up or it was another sick joke of Sae's. He waited for something, anything to happen so that he could feel relieved. The only thing he found, was anger as he sensed the hostile spirit smirking at him. Looking up into Sae's black eyes, he cursed and stood; still clutching the girl to his body as though to protect her from further harm. "Does that girl mean more to you then I do Sasuke?"
Sasuke couldn't believe what he was hearing, as Naruto replaced Sae, looking at him with accusing and pitiful eyes. Sae appeared behind Naruto, a hand on his shoulder as he looked at the raven with pure malice and astonishment. "You were going to leave me weren't you?"
"Naruto I-"
"After I ran all this way to save you? You toss me aside for this girl's dead corpse? Fine Sasuke. Leave with her and that sensei. Leave me again…" Naruto whispered on the verge of tears, his body slowly disappearing into nothingness.
Sasuke growled and looked at Sae with wildness. "What the hell is going on?"
The only reply he got, was a small giggle and wave as the bloody kimono girl clicked her fingers. Sasuke waited for a vision or maybe a ghost, ready for anything she would throw at him. Instead, Sakura suddenly coughed and shivered in his arms as though waking up from a bad dream. "Sakura….", Sasuke cooed before looking around, "Naruto?"
" Until then, I'll be waiting…" Was the haunting reply he received.
Sasuke sat in the rain, holding Sakura in his lap to keep her and himself warm. They had walked out of the mansion with little disturbance and now sat on the hill that first led them into the forsaken village. Sasuke covered his pale face with his hands, rough from fighting and blistered from countless grabbing onto things. Sakura laid in the boy's arms, asleep from lack of energy and very sick. Sasuke only had a few medicines on him at the time, but he used it all on the ill kunoichi, even though his own stomach turned and squirmed in pain. Sasuke wasn't even sure if he could feel it at the moment. All he could think about was his blonde haired lover that probably laid dead somewhere; filled with sorrow and hatred for his being. Sasuke gritted his teeth at the thought, wishing his own life would end once and for all. His sensei was as good as dead, as well as Naruto; Sakura was dying and would die if he didn't get out here soon with her. He hadn't even noticed the black and white surroundings until Yae sat next to him, her face grim. "This was to big of a burden for you and that boy…Forgive me. I only was hopeful for the future."
"What future? My life is now a living hell thanks to this damn village and it's curse! I'd rather just let Sae take my life and be done with it!" Sasuke shouted at the young girl, causing her to flinch and turn away.
"I know it's hard, but you can't give up. There is still hope." She said, trying to sound emotionless, though her voice cracked.
Sasuke turned and looked at her with a dangerous glare. "Don't tell me that shit. You know and I know that there is only a very slim chance of me even living let alone saving Naruto. Stop putting me through shit. I'm not going anywhere until I find the way out and then I'm leaving, killing my brother, and then taking my own damn life."
Sasuke's vision returned to normal, telling him that he scared Yae away. 'Naruto…what should I do?' The raven silently asked, wishing he'd hear the boy's smart ass mouth shoot off. Even now he could see the smile on his face as he told Sasuke to get his ass up. He could see him eating ramen and smirking at the raven as he began to eat more then him, and how he gave him clueless looks as Sasuke had defined situations in the pass. No, that was it. He couldn't take it much longer, or he was going to break into uncountable pieces. He had to get Naruto back, come hell or high water. Standing up, the raven placed the kunoichi on his back and headed towards the bridge that led to the graveyard. He could feel something calling him from there, as though a ghost waited for him; at the current moment, Sasuke didn't doubt it at all. The force pulled him across the bridge that hung in the air over a creek that lay twelve feet below. If he fell through a board, he'd be done for. Still, his steps were steady as he moved, as though he had done this countless times. Around him, countless past happenings began to reveal themselves to him.
Sae and Yae ran across the grave yard, playing tag and giggling as they jumped over the tomb stones like graceful little bunnies. "Hurry up Sae!" Yae called to her sister as they made there way back to the old tree; their own hide away.
"Yae, is Itsuki going to be waiting for us? Him and Mutsuki?"
"Yes, the brother's will be there! Common!" Yae yelled back, grabbing her sisters hand.
The twins ran into a small hole that lead into the tree that was surprisingly hollow. Inside, small candles were lit on grave stones with twins holding hands; the head broken off of one of the figures on each. Each also held a pinwheel. In the middle was a small shrine with four circles engraved in the stone. Sitting by it, was Itsuki and his brothe Mutsuki; both having tears in there eyes as they glanced at the, now surprised, twin girls. Nothing was said for a few long moments before Itsuki finally whispered. "It's our turn…tommarrow we will be cleansed for the ritual."
Yae gasped and ran over to the two boy's, holding Mutsuki close while Sae did the same to his twin. "No! That can't be!" Yae whispered to herself more then anyone, "We have to help you escape."
"No, it's fine…I want to be Itsuki's butterfly…"
The three looked over at Mutsuki, his black bangs falling into his eyes as he looked at his brother with a pained grin. "We'll be one right? That's all I want."
"You are to brave Mutsuki…" Sae whispered, glancing at her twin whom finished for her.
"…and to foolish."
Sasuke stood suddenly in the same room that he had when Yae had first called him. A pit stood several yards away with the lining candles and a small slab of stone in front of it. Monks with staff's began to clang them against the ground, causing the bells to chime and hurt the raven's ears. Laying on the stone was Mutsuki, Itsuki's hands on his neck as he placed his legs on either side of Mutsuki. His hands quivered and pressed lightly on his brother's throat whom placed his own on top, trying to force his brother to increase the pressure. Finally, a priest walked over and helped Itsuki press down. "Do it for the sake of the village."
'I don't want to…I don't want to do it…!' Itsuki's thoughts rang loud and clear for Sasuke to hear. 'MUTSUKI!"
