SNOW GLARE

CHAPTER 5

Dropping his hands by his side he looked down at her, "Naruto did this," he replied with an ironic slanted grin as he pointed to his eyes, and that's not even half of it…

Sakura looked down, her eyes scanning from left to right in confusion as she felt her heart beating strongly in the back of her throat. Naruto?

"Are you seriously surprised? This was just due to two of his tails smashing into my face as he reached stage 4 of his transformation," he commented, stroking her clammy left cheek. You should've seen the scar he left across my face before I got it healed.

Taking a deep breath Sakura tried to see reason, Naruto has wanted to save Sasuke. Perhaps this is why he didn't tell me? Was he ashamed? Looking up to meet Sasuke's void eyes she traced her fingers over his right cheekbone; below his injured eye. The uneven texture of his skin hinting at the existence of a scar once healed with hands less talented than her heart quaked with fear and uncertainty as she felt a pull in her chest; the world she believed she knew spiralling completely out of her control. "I'm only going to ask this once…please, tell me everything," she choked out in a grim monotone, brushing strands of her pale pink hair behind her ear with harmonious grace as her eyes shimmered, an inner pain surging through her.

Watching her curiously Sasuke turned, his back facing her. Glancing over his shoulder at the beauty standing behind him in heedless aversion, Is that distaste directed at me or Naruto? Eyes narrowing he grunted in distaste, "I sought out Naruto; he agreed to take my life."

An irreversible silence filled the air as the gentle cooing of the wildlife echoed off the walls of the mountain face. Sakura's eyes widened as she looked across at the large and very full moon peering over the ocean of blanketed trees before her, that's not true…It's can't be. Her arms shivered as the near invisible hairs on her arms pricked upwards due to the frost filled air around them; snowflakes riding in the gentle but constant night's breeze, slowly blanketing the undeserving ground below with their crystallised beauty. "Why are you lying?" she whispered as she fought her inner urge to pin him down and beat the truth out of him by any means needed.

Eyes narrowing Sasuke glared across at her, snowflakes wisping in the space between them as it seemingly grew with every word thought but not spoken. So I'm lying am I? "I'm not. I knew at that time that if I wasn't killed or unless something happened I would be forced to attack Konoha."

"You're a fool no one can 'force' you!" she snapped as she watched him, annoyed and loosing what little remained of her patience. This isn't a joke, it affects so many lives!

"I'm not a fool and I can be forced," he replied sternly. Sighing he looked down at the wet crystallised dirt beneath his feet as he swallowed the saliva gathered in the back of this throat, he lifting his head up high, "I became the leader of the Akatsuki 6 months ago."

"Why? Why did you accept?" Sakura enquired as she as she shook her head while she traced her tongue over her frost covered lips. It's past the point of him being re-introduced to our village, he will be killed on sight if this gets out. "Leave them before it's too late!"

Taking a deep breath Sasuke sighed, "I told you that you would you will try to talk me out of it."

Her bottom lip to quivered for a moment before being halted by her self-control. "The Uchiha Sasuke that I loved had dreams of the future, he wanted to revive his clan back to its former glory and become a leader they would be proud of." It hurts to see you like this. I can't stand it. "You have changed so much if you think the Akatsuki has what you desire deep within your heart Sasuke," she added in a disappointed whisper, "You might believe that it is just their thirst for Konoha that you disagree with but in the end you will see that you're not one of them at all. You are just like Itachi, pretending to be the bad guy when you're really crying on the inside."

Bullseye. Reaching forward he encircled his left hand around her throat, so tight that he could feel her veins pulse and her breath become haggard. "Do you really have that kind of opinion of me," he snapped.

A chill raced down Sakura's spine as she felt her arms limp at her sides. If I'm not careful he could snap my neck. Swiftly reaching up to his hand around her throat she attempted to pry his fingers away from her throat.

Noticing her troubled breathing pattern he released her, I never stated that I eve had a choice in becoming the leader, why do you think I tried to end my life it was about more than just one mission. "You should just go back home if the truth is something you cannot handle," he stated bluntly.

Raising her eyebrows Sakura watched him carefully.

"I don't want to see your face when I wake up. Sleep somewhere else tonight," Sasuke cut in as he sighed. Tell whoever you want, it will make my death a lot quicker.

Sleep somewhere else? Stunned, Sakura stood still as a powerful breeze encircled her as she tried to take in what she had just been ordered to do so rudely. "Make up your mind!" she snapped dangerously, "You told me not to leave but to heal you and now you're telling me to leave and that you truthfully want to die?" She sighed, "What is with your bipolar attitude!" Besides it's obvious I might leave and return home.

"What about you?" he snapped back, his voice booming through the cave, as his team mates jumped down to their level. "You acted as if you trusted me and after one statement you flip out. Don't ask questions if you are afraid of the answer." Pausing for a moment he slid his hands into the pockets of his apparel, "After all, it's obvious that your point has been made. You don't love Naruto, you love me; why else would you try so hard to make me change. You're wasting your time," he added with a sigh, "I like being the way I am."

Sakura flinched. I love you? "Naruto is family to me, my love for him is not anything more," she whispered in an inattentive state before pressing her feet deeper into the snow, It's true I love you Sasuke. But it's not the same, now I can see your faults…I'm not blinded, the mask over my eyes has been lifted. Turning her head to the side she grimaced, "Every muscle and bone in my body is repulsed by you and your actions," she whispered her heart throbbing as she shifted her feet in the icy dirt below her feet, "I deserve better." There is so much wrong with this situation!

Sasuke turned around casually, You didn't even deny it, he noted with surprise, I thought she was trying to save me at a distance not renew her love…

Karin's heart pounded wildly in her chest as she clawed at her skirt furiously.

Gritting her teeth Sakura started to walk in his direction; past his team mates and up to him. "I'm leaving," she stated firmly but surely as she took a deep breath, "But I can't promise I will return…Not after what you told me regarding Naruto." My whole body is throbbing, I thought heartbreak merely affects one's way of thinking, not their actions. When he left I just cried I never felt this quaking of emotions. "I need to clear my head."

Sasuke felt a faint pang in his chest, somewhere behind his ribcage, heartbreak? He wondered as he watched the woman that he loved, ignoring the message his heart was trying to tell him. Don't push her away, you will die for sure. "Go," came his blunt reply as he pushed aside all other thoughts, his tone equal in its complete lack of favour as Sakura's previous comment. I can't believe her effect on me. She makes me feel as if I should be a better person. He mentally kicked himself, what an idiotic thing to think…

"Are you the person you hoped you would be?" she whispered as she met his eyes. Sakura smiled sarcastically as snowflakes ceased to cascade from the sky. "I do love you Sasuke, no matter how I try to convince myself otherwise…No matter how much you hurt me or how evil you become...That's my curse and it's just as deadly as the one Orochimaru placed on you," she whispered grimly as she disappeared completely from sight.

…and I love you. Looking out at the forest of crystal trees before him Sasuke held his breath, pained at her departure. Now who will she return to?

Sasuke smiled as he reflected on her bold responses earlier on, Maybe if you return we will both win...My love. "Karin, Juugo, Suigetsu. Before you go to sleep tonight, search the nearby forest areas for anyone sent from Konoha. If they aren't here yet they will be after us soon."

Karin rolled her eyes at Sasuke's back as she grimaced.

"…and Karin?" Sasuke drew slowly as he looked over his shoulder at her, not meeting her gaze, "Get off your pedastol. I had sex with you once…out of pity. You weren't my first and it won't happen again."

Karin's eyes shook as they overflowed with emotion. Out of pity? That's what you're saying now? Hah.

Suigetsu grinned broadly, "Looks like I'm the only one who can take you on more than once…What's our tally at now bitch?" he teased as he made a strange face as he pretended to be counting, "4 times isn't it?"

Eyes alight with fury she swiftly kicked him between the legs and smiled before anyone saw what happened or heard him howl in pain…And now you will be out of action for a while…oh dear, she noted silently to herself.

Sakura sighed as she sprinted across the densely blanketed forest floor, scattering the once peaceful snowflakes from their final resting places. I can't believe he is the leader of the Akatsuki. Perhaps he wants me to leave and not return. Well, in any case I'm not sure of my next move…