Beta'd by Mindtrash
My super, amazingly talented friend has been writing a GaaSaku mermaid au. The story is called Somewhere Beyond the Sea by Binxxx and can be found only at AO3. Go check it out!
Chapter Sixty-seven
Her mind echoes his words.
"If there is a world where I would do any harm to you..."
Sakura's eyes stare distantly at the trio in front of her preparing for their departure.
"Promise me, Sakura."
Gaara's orders were passed when she left his room to let him rest, and to distance herself. Like the obedient henchmen his siblings and Matsuri have turned into, they prepared for their departure off the island first thing in the evening where they can stare at the full moon safely if they so choose. Safe from Shukaku's reach, and most importantly-
"Away from Gaara," Sakura mouths to herself.
She swallows hard when the trio turn to look at her. One looks on with disdain while the other two glance at Sakura with hollow stares.
"Promise me that you'll end me then and there."
Though their eyes give nothing away, she knows she looks to be the fool lingering behind with the devil. She even feels the fool when her own voice speaks in her mind.
'I have no means to end you.'
At least, not how she is now.
Her strength now is her logic, her voice, whatever means she has she should be using to convince Gaara to let her leave with his siblings and army off the island, and away from danger. Her voice grows more tired and low each day, and she has very little care or worry to what danger Gaara actually poses tonigh
With Gaara constantly on her mind, her head turns up and back to look towards the large home. The chilly air is silent now, and Sakura hopes it will remain that way throughout the night. Matsuri had brought his tea and medicine earlier, so hopefully he slumbers throughout the night.
"Sakura-sama."
Sakura turns to meet face to face with Temari. The other woman had easily sneaked so close without the rosette even noticing. A few steps behind her is Kankuro who is staring Sakura down blankly with his hands in his pockets. A distance away from him is Matsuri whose choice is to leave Sakura without any words.
As the rosette waits on Temari to speak, the blonde grows quiet as an eternal struggle goes on in her mind. Eventually, she voices her concern.
"There's still time before we depart. You could still ask him to let you come with us. I'm sure Gaara could be convinced that-"
"I won't stoop so low as to beg Gaara to let me leave off this island when I should have that choice myself." Sakura plainly states.
She's bitter with Temari's words, but she adds more sting into them only because she feels terrible. Time is taking its slow toll killing her with a seal. Temari is quiet to Sakura's remark, unsure what to say but with quivering lips that tell Sakura she wants to speak more.
"I choose to stay," Sakura says with a drawl. "In case Gaara's wound reopens somehow."
It really isn't her choice, and she knows Gaara injuring himself again is unlikely given that he is going to try to slumber through the full moon, but if it will get the two siblings Sakura has grown to care about off the island safely then she will reassure them with a false smile. Just as she expected, Temari opens up a little more then.
"The prisoners will still be locked in the mountain."
This bit of information is a surprise to Sakura before she realizes the means and necessities they would have to accommodate if they chose to bring the prisoners.
'And it's only for a night,' Sakura remembers.
Still, they are stuck in harms way against their choice which is a reminder to Sakura as well-
'I'm just another prisoner.'
Temari is looking at Sakura in hopes of a silent promise but even Sakura can't guarantee the safety of Temari's lover who is locked in the mountain.
'He has a means to protect himself,' Sakura is sure of.
But she speaks honestly to Temari who is smart, and understands Sakura's predicament.
"I plan to leave Gaara be tonight. What he does on his own is his choice."
Sakura can see Temari's eyes fall some but her voice is silent in any requests or promises from Sakura. Naruto is on his own just like Sakura is.
The blonde woman nods feebly at Sakura.
"Sakura-sama, I hope you do not die tonight, and that Gaara-sama keeps his word to keep you safe."
Temari manages some emotion out of Sakura's contorting face. She leaves the rosette confused wondering if she said what she did out of concern. Temari was always a cold woman, but Sakura knows her to have love, concern, and compassion for others. Still, she is unsure if those emotions stem as far as to the rosette. When Temari was a little girl they certainly did.
Temari bows and turns to leave, after a few steps Sakura suspects Kankuro to follow. However, when his feet linger behind Sakura turns her gaze to his stoic look. The pair are quiet as Kankuro begins to chew the inside of his lip while staring down at Sakura.
"You... should just come with us," he eventually comments. "Or maybe I should stay behind. Stay with you."
Sakura's eyes widen slightly in surprise, and she voices the reason behind her shock.
"Bold of you to go against Gaara's order."
The puppeteer taps his foot impatiently, and turns his head and eyes from Sakura in scorn. There is hurt in his look for having Sakura disregard his suggestions, but the roseate has become blind to Kankuro's internal struggle.
"He wouldn't hurt me," Sakura says in a monotone voice. "He loves me."
She lets those words sink in to the man in front of her, and his eyes widen and his jaw grows unhinged. His real eye flashes for worry for the very woman whose silhouette is reflected in his glass eye. Sakura actually wonders what is going on in his mind. Kankuro was typically the one to reassure her of Gaara, and the redhead's actions, but now he looks at Sakura as if he has just dropped her into a pit of snakes.
"Kankuro, let's go!" Matsuri hollers behind them.
Kankuro's tormented look only garners a little satisfaction from Sakura, but she pulls her eyes away from his when her heart can take no more of his expression. Like Gaara, he is twisted and wrong... but he is still a friend she wants to save.
"You will see me again after tonight," Sakura tells Kankuro to reassure him. "I'm expecting him to sleep through the night anyway."
"Sakura," Kankuro calls when Sakura's eyes don't go back to his.
The call of her name does the trick, and she watches his eyes look down at her with concern, but assurance of her own words.
"You're smart, you know. You figured out how to handle Gaara fifteen years ago," Kankuro tells her quietly.
It's true. She was thrown into a situation any other would have failed in, and she achieved much with young Gaara due to her caring nature and knowledge. Yet, there were some words of wisdom from others thrown into the mix. She can't recall many of them now, but some villagers of Suna offered some guidance and insight. A lot of them forgotten, yet Kankuro whispers something to her she recollects easily.
As his steps start to retract, and his eyes keep Sakura's locked on to his, he tells her something that makes her heart pause for a moment.
"Sakura, don't run."
His steps continue to back up as he shakes his head slowly in her direction.
"If you run, he will chase you," Kankuro continues.
Sakura's eyes stay steady on Kankuro's. If his departure weren't such a timely one she would remind him how often she has heard those words, and not once has Gaara gone after her like everyone else feared he would. Years with his twisted brother has Kankuro adding on to that proverb, and he probably tends to frighten Sakura more due to his knowledge of her seal.
"...and he will catch you."
Kankuro manages to place the image of Gaara tearing her apart in Sakura's mind. She wonders if the gold of Shukaku's eyes would be her last sight, or if it would be the teal of Gaara's gaze piercing into her as his hand does the same through her abdomen. Would he still hold enough love for her to keep her death a quick and painless one? Or would he torture, and torment her like he claims she has done to him with her transverse in time.
These are morbid thoughts to have, and certainly now is not the right time to be playing such imagery in her mind. Not when she is watching the only people in this home have the means to stop Gaara were he to attack her. It also angers her some that she has to fall back on others to rely on them to save her. Sakura tries to shake off the imagery in her mind, and instead nods her head at Kankuro as he backs away more and more. She says nothing to his remarks despite his real eye telling her that he wants reassurance of his own words. The rosette offers him no relief, and instead whispers at him.
"I will see you tomorrow."
There's an audible click of Kankuro's tongue, but he speaks no more words to Sakura or a goodbye. Instead, he turns his slouching back to her with his hands in his pockets, and treks in the direction of the jungle. Sakura watches the trio long after they disappear into the jungle. Her mind settles on wondering where it is exactly they depart to.
"They mentioned they would be leaving the island," Sakura speaks to herself.
Their means of transporting must be a fast one, or perhaps there is a neighboring island nearby. She also wonders how many of Gaara's henchmen does the island hold, she has only seen passing guards in the mountain prisons. She knows from Gaara's near death experience that they also have medics on standby somewhere on the island.
'They will all be gone too...'
It's actually interesting to see Gaara send off his army, and medics when he is bedridden with a serious wound still healing. Is his concern really set on the well-being of his army? Sakura would like to believe so, wish to have taught Gaara to care, but she feels he keeps his men safe for more selfish reasons. Otherwise the prisoners would be taken along instead of sacrificed behind. Perhaps they are the poor chosen lambs tied up, and oblivious to the invisible chains that tie them down with the hungry wolf approaching.
Sakura tries to shake that thought off when Naruto's smiling face appears in her mind before it is replaced by death.
"Stop," She tries to tell her racing mind. "He can handle Gaara."
Sakura's faith is teetering despite her words.
The idea of visiting her blonde friend presents itself to the rosette. She has some freedom away from the eyes of Gaara's siblings, Matsuri, and guards. No better opportunity would probably happen again until the next full moon. She reminds herself though that the most vigilant pair of eyes set on her still remain in the home behind her. Even if he is locked away, slumbering, she somehow can feel an aura that seems to be following her, making sure she is close and safe.
Making sure she doesn't run.
And how tantalizing the idea is, even without Kankuro placing the thought in her mind. Staring out into the vast, dark jungle, it's almost beckoning for her to try. Even behind her do the waves call with a promise that they can carry her, and outrace Gaara along with his compulsion of her.
But a voice always speaks to her before she can act nowadays. Maybe it's her logical side as it tells Sakura,
'Don't. Stay put. Do not anger him.'
"No," The rosette whispers to herself in agreement. "Tonight would not be a smart move."
Her own set aside, Sakura realizes who's lives she puts in jeopardy should she choose to run, and manage to escape from Gaara and this island. The redhead lashes his anger out on everyone, but her. She would hate to hear of Gaara, and whatever side the full moon brings out of him; channeling that anger out on the defenseless prisoners tonight. Of course, Naruto is also thrown into the mix.
'No,' She decides to herself. 'I will stay here tonight.'
She will listen. She will behave. She will make sure Gaara knows she followed through on what he demanded of her. She will let the cracks in her spirit split her more open.
"It's just for tonight," She bleakly says.
Her eyes pass the setting sun to look at the orange sky where the moon already shows off its grand size, and closeness, then looks at the old, giant home behind her. Sakura sighs to herself before slowly trudging her way back home, and towards Gaara. Another heavy sigh escapes her once she enters the home, and closes the door behind her. She pauses in place before leaning her tired back against the wooden frame. Her eyes scan the floor as her ears try to listen for sounds within the old, vast home.
There is an occasional creak here and there, but nothing that would tell her someone is even home. Gaara is quiet, hopefully sleeping, but Sakura can feel something dark within the home, and it would threaten to choke her should she choose to focus on it. Instead of retreating to her room she instead makes her way down towards Kankuro's room.
The rosette takes no precautions to be extra quiet, she wants Gaara to feel her presence lest he thinks she ran away. If she cannot run then she will amass what knowledge she can from this house. Yet, it comes as no surprise that Kankuro's door is locked. The same is done for Temari, Matsuri, and many other rooms. Breaking and entering would only cause a ruckus, enough stir to awaken Gaara.
"Tch," Sakura clicks her tongue while looking at her clenched fist. "I couldn't break down doors as I am now."
Her exhaustion piles on as she goes room to room, scouring books and scrolls alike just to find any answers or clues to Gaara and this war; to the seal on her back or to time travel. There's always a chance she could also come across something that could help with the seal or clues to her time predicament, even if she herself is doubtful at finding anything. Eventually, like she has assumed, the available books and doors run out, and she is left with absolutely nothing; but a more tired and defeated soul.
The rosette makes her way into the kitchen, and prepares herself a small meal while listening to the silence around her. His company is far from wanted, but Sakura does let her mind focus on Gaara while she chews at her meal. She half wonders if she is now the one slowly obsessing over him, and even realizes she has yet to even ask herself.
'Why am I doing all this for Gaara?'
Ah, but the answer is a quick one as the small redheaded child once was pops into her mind; his lips stained with red syrup as he manages to crack a laughing smile at Sakura.
"You are my best friend, Sakura!" Gaara's young voice echoes in Sakura's mind.
Maybe she is obsessed with Gaara; his kid self.
Sakura pauses her meal to stare out as the sun shines it final moments for the day before slowly setting. The sky darkens, but the jungle still looks bright while the full moon brandishes its mighty glow. She swallows hard as the dark aura in that home suddenly feels heavier around her. She forsakes her meal for the moment, listening to the silence as her senses tell her something is off. Yet, minutes pass in silence, and Sakura takes a few breaths to ease her now racing heart. She looks once more out the window, her eyes narrow at the howling wind, and dark clouds now pass by the bright moon. Though the orb is still too big and bright to be masked away by clouds that carry rain.
Her heart and senses do not settle completely. In time, Sakura decides to abandon her meal completely to retreat to whatever safety her room holds. Which, as she slowly trudges up the stairs, she realizes offers absolutely zero security from Gaara should he choose to come after her. She holds her breath as she takes her first step into the hallway that holds both her, and Gaara's room. The only noise in her ears is her thumping heart, but she keeps her hearing strained for anything else. There is only silence as Sakura turns her back to Gaara's door to face and open the door leading to her room.
Her room is pitch black, and quiet. Normally Sakura would hesitate stepping into such a dark room, but the hallway feels more ominous, and she simply wants to place as many barriers between herself and Gaara as possible. She softly closes the door behind her before listening to make sure the stillness of the home remains, and that she hasn't disturbed Gaara's slumber. She feels completely in the clear before making soft, slow steps towards the lamps in the room. Her senses and heart continue to thump, and alert a tired Sakura that something is amiss, but she can see nothing nor feel anyone close by. Light will help her to calm her racing mind.
Sakura cannot see the shadow who hides behind her. In the dark depths do hands slowly reveal themselves, and inch their way for Sakura. The darkness produces twitching claws as a beast of prey brings their touch closer with an intent to ensnare her. It's only when Sakura switches the lamp's light on do her eyes widen, and her heart stops with fear once she realizes she is not alone in her room.
She is caught.
She didn't even get the chance to run.
She isn't even allowed a cry or scream as those dark claws entrap her mouth from doing so.
Instead the hands pull her in close from behind before she feels a hot breath in her ear.
"Sakura," It begins to say. "Don't scream. It's just me!"
Sakura blinks rapidly as she tries to register the voice that is holding onto her. Her jaw drops, and she pulls her body away from her bedroom assailant.
"Naruto!" Sakura exclaims as she turns to look at her blonde friend.
Her eyes remain wide as the blonde grins in her direction before stretching, and resting his arms behind him.
"Did I surprise you? Sorry!" He tries to laugh off.
Sakura meanwhile is in a frozen stupor staring at Naruto. There is joy in seeing him again, but also a dreading mixed in when she realizes exactly where he stands.
"What're you doing?! It's not safe here," Sakura quickly warns him. "You should leave. If Gaara were-"
"It's alright. Don't worry," Naruto murmurs to Sakura as he takes steps, and glances around her room.
The rosette doesn't even know where to begin, or explain to Naruto how unsafe it is for him to be here right now. The young man simply continues to examine Sakura's room in a nonchalant manner.
"You don't understand," She begins to explain again. "Tonight is a full moon, and Gaara-"
"Yeah. Yeah," Naruto again cuts off Sakura with a carefree attitude. "I know all about what happens on nights like this. Temari has told me."
Sakura fumes lightly, but eventually accepts that the blonde is here now before she takes a seat on her bed. Fatigue weighing her down once more.
"He would tear you apart if he caught you here," Sakura tries to reason instead. "How did you manage to escape anyway?"
Sakura's stare is completely on Naruto, but the blonde seems more interested in the décor of Sakura's room rather than the rosette herself. Still, he answers her question as he continues around the room.
"When I want out, I trick the guards with a clone. I don't always wait on Temari you know," Naruto answers.
He pauses his search, and his eyes turn to her.
"Tonight though, there are no guards," He adds with some elation in his voice.
Sakura's eyes bounce once Naruto drops his body to the floor, and peers under her bed.
"Tonight there are no guards, and no Temari or the others," Naruto continues his words.
He sighs when the contents under Sakura's bed don't interest him, and pushes himself back up. He ignores Sakura's intently curious stare, and instead glances around the room again.
"Tonight is the perfect night. There's no one to stop me." Naruto mumbles to himself.
Yet, his voice is an easy one to hear for Sakura, and she catches those words at the same time his blue eyes land on her green ones. As soon as he spots Sakura's silent questioning in her gaze, he offers her a grin before plopping himself next to her on her bed.
"Well," He begins to say while looking at her. "...it would have been perfect."
Sakura narrows her eyes at her blonde friend in all knowing.
"What are you doing?" She asks skeptically. "What is it you're looking for in here?"
Naruto grimaces before revealing to Sakura.
"Sakura-chan, one of the reasons I came here is because I'm looking for something."
So vague are his words that Sakura wonders if Naruto is still hiding secrets from her. Then again, from the way his face contorts, looking once more around the room and décor, the rosette begins to understand that even Naruto is unsure what he is looking for. Still, she presses-
"You're looking for what, exactly?"
Like she had guessed, Naruto just shrugs.
"This will sound weird, okay?" He adds before explaining more to Sakura. "But one of my comrades has been searching for a tea kettle."
Sakura rolls her eyes in Naruto's direction.
"Now it not the time to be searching for trinkets-" She whispers angrily at the blonde.
Naruto has his hands in the air before Sakura even finishes her sentence.
"No. No. No," He tries to reassure Sakura. "It's not like that at all. My friend says it belongs to a village Gaara destroyed. My friend took up a mission to retrieve, and return it. It's a precious anti...antu..."
Naruto becomes puzzled by his own words as he tries to recall the correct term. Meanwhile, Sakura looks on with angry eyes before she sighs a heavy breath and speaks the word Naruto was looking for.
"Antique," She mumbles, and causes Naruto to snap his fingers.
"That's the word! It's an antique," Naruto says with a grin. "He thinks it's here, and wants me to look."
At the first mention of tea kettle Sakura's mind instantly fell to the image of Gaara's collection. Yet, she bites her lip sealed; afraid to utter that information to Naruto. She will not trail breadcrumbs for Naruto to follow into the devil's room.
"Whatever means of outside communication you have, tell your comrade it's not here," Sakura begins to tell Naruto.
Yet, her heart plummets when Naruto's blue eyes trail from her own gaze, and towards the door leading out of her room. Sakura understands that look from many years accompanied next to Naruto. There is determination to retrieve this antique kettle, and a drive to help his friend succeed his mission. Besides, Sakura is also aware of Naruto's caring nature.
'He would risk his life to find this item rather than his friends risk their own.'
Still, it's not worth it in Sakura's eyes. Instead of seeing her blonde friend succeed normally like he would in her world, she is trembling at the thought of him being torn apart by Gaara's own hands. The outcome of Naruto's plan being an optimistic one is lost in Sakura's thoughts, and she rushes to throw her body in front of Naruto once he begins attempting to make his way out of her room. She puts herself between him and her door, outstretching her tired arms.
"Sakura?" Naruto whispers as his eyes widen to the sudden display.
This time, Sakura is biting her lip to stop it from quivering as warm dew builds in her eyes.
"Don't..." She whispers in a hushed croak before repeating herself. "Don't go in there. Don't go to where Gaara is."
Sakura looks away from Naruto when his eyes already tell her that he has a set mind to do exactly what she asks him not to do.
"He will kill you," Her voice quakes, but with strength to her words still. "Any night but tonight."
"Everyone will be back tomorrow," Naruto tries to reason with Sakura. "I promise I will be alright. Why are you underestimating me? Is the Naruto you know weaker than this Gaara?"
Despite Naruto's words Sakura's head still shakes with doubt. How can she have hope for the blonde when every passing second is stealing her ambition to fix everything she wronged in this world? Her tired limbs, cloudy mind, and dull gaze are all reminders of that. She can't fathom the thought of Naruto's death listed as her fault next to Gaara's vile stance of an upbringing.
"Please..." She whispers to Naruto, and looks towards the ground as it is unbearable to look into his eyes right now.
Her plea, beg, is not answered. She is left trying to block Naruto with a racing heart, and wet, shaking eyes. She watches as the blonde takes a step toward her, and his arms are reaching for her now. Sakura recognizes the embrace Naruto is trying to bring her into, and it makes her heart panic more. He will refuse her with a hug, she just knows it, and she has ran out of options to stop the blonde... except for one.
Before Naruto can pull Sakura into a hug, before he can even touch her she flinches away, and looks back up at him with steady eyes.
"I will do it," She tells Naruto. "I will get it for you."
"Eh?" Naruto questions, bewildered by Sakura's words, and frozen in his spot.
The rosette uses Naruto's sudden stupor to her advantage, and quickly reaches the knob behind her to open the door. Naruto's eyes widen in a panic when he sees Sakura's attempt. Though the blonde may be nonchalant of the danger Sakura warns him about, he seems frightened once the rosette suggests sending herself instead.
"He won't he hurt me. Everyone knows that," She gives Naruto her reasoning as she quickly backs away.
"Wait, Sakura!" Naruto fiercely whispers as he makes a reach for the rosette. "Don't do-"
"It will be alright!" Sakura tells him back before she swings herself outside of her room, and slams the door in Naruto's face.
She takes a second to listen, making sure Naruto's voice is silent before turning towards the door that leads to Gaara's room. She wishes she could anticipate herself. She wishes she would calm her racing heart before entering his room, but what she wishes most right now is for Naruto's safety. So, she doesn't even spare herself a moment to collect herself before opening Gaara's room, and throwing herself inside his dark quarters. She is quick lest Naruto follow after her. It isn't until she shuts the door behind her does she freeze to try to collect her rapid breathing.
She stands in silence. Anticipating, waiting while making sure that Naruto doesn't follow, and that Gaara doesn't attack her. She trembles lightly, certain to hear Naruto call or come for her only to accidentally stir the beast in this room awake. However, passing seconds of nothing reassure her. It is probable that Naruto does not come because he dare not stir Gaara awake, or he remains behind due to reassurance by Sakura's words.
'He will not hurt me,' Sakura tries convincing herself.
Yet, her heart itself shudders as a heavy, dark aura hits her light senses. This room feels like the epitome of evil, and the darkness conceals anything visual that would make the rosette feel this way.
'Get out!' Her own mind warns her.
In her spot she shakes quietly while her head tilts to and fro, listening, watching... waiting.
'Nothing.' She thinks to herself as she stands like stone in her place.
Maybe Gaara's appetite for terror, and destruction grew painfully unbearable. Perhaps he has run off, along with Shukaku's influence, into the jungle to quench a disgusting blood thirst. Sakura keeps the possibilities in mind so that she can at least step foot in front of her. Her first steps are light, ninja-like, and invisible to even the most of elite trained ears. Yet, as she continues the tiredness of her body, the stressful strain on her mind, and the constant worry of awful outcomes paint an image in her head, and the hopelessness of the future all begin to weigh her down. Her final step, in front of Gaara's tea kettle collection, makes the floor creak under her.
Sakura instantly freezes as the board under her strains with a loud noise. Her eyes focus to sudden movement on Gaara's bed. Her eyes strain to see through the dark, but she spots a bulge under the bed sheets lightly moving. Her eyes widen in horror, and her breath hitches when she hears Gaara take a deep, heavy inhale.
'I woke him up!' She panics in her mind.
The kettles in front of her are forgotten as her eyes strain on the lump under the blankets instead.
'He will not hurt you,' Sakura tries to ease her racing mind.
The rosette is transfixed, watching as Gaara's dark silhouette emerges from under the blankets. His back is to her as he rises to sit upright, and the bed sheets that drape his shoulders like a cape begin to fall, sliding down and off his back.
'He says he loves you.'
That love only warned her to strike him down if she had to. Never that she would be safe from him tonight. Sakura is silent watching Gaara begin to crack his neck back and forth before his head lifts upwards. He looks like an animal to her, tilting his nose into the air to sense the other who is with him.
'You've handled him like this before,' Her logical side tries to remind Sakura once she knows she is caught.
Yet, the vision of the child she once cared for is gone once Gaara cranes his neck back, and Sakura is met with a pair of glowing, aqua eyes.
Sakura waits on him to call on her as she is left standing there just staring, and anticipating movement. Her mind reminds her, warns her, once again-
'You've never handled Gaara like this.'
