SAKUR:A
Chapter 7: Comrades
Note, note, note: - Okay peeps, here I go again. From here on, please go 'Black Out' Mode until you guys see Sakura 'open her eyes' part, then flick on the 'lights; again. Thanks. Please do tell me if you guys couldn't do this flick off & on thingy. Loves!
.
(Sakura's POV)
.
.
.
.
.
Falling.
.
.
.
Closed my eyes.
.
.
I could feel the gale force against my body as gravity pulled.
.
.
.
Down.
.
H...ey...
.
Down.
.
O….ii...i..
.
Going down.
.
Do...nt...ign...ore...me...
.
There's no turning back.
He….yyyy...
All I need to do right now, was to wait for that crash.
And,
Everything will be fine.
Hee….yyyyy!
Was there something?
Something buzzing in my head…
HEEEEEYY!
Wha…!?
Hey you! Yes you you you!
You hear me don't you!
How dare you ignore me!
"I...I didn't…"
Quickly I opened my eyes. I squinted a little from the sunlight and I saw no one except for me still on my way to hit the ground. I'm sure that there shouldn't be anyone right now, that's crazy right…?
You're not crazy. You're nuts girl! Nuts!
Are you trying to get us killed!?
"Who!? Who's there!?" I said, "Where are you?"
Here!
"Where!?"
Heeeere!
"Don't try to mess with me! Show yourself!"
This female voice; it was so close like...it was talking right by my ear and it was loud enough to echo inside my whole head. Someone has invaded my brain!
I'm right in here!
In your head you stupid girl! Since you're stupid, why not try listening to others for a change!
"I don't get it...You're inside me?"
Great.
Now I'm stuck with a dumbass and a so-called 'Ultimate Weapon of Konoha'.
Big talk!
Someone who couldn't understand her own OS talking couldn't really a big shot?
Jeez...
"OS? As in Operating System?"
Hooo-raah...Jeez. Duh! What else?
By the way, you're gonna get us killed, ya know?
I remained silent for a moment.
Despite it does sound stupid talking to my own head. I was sure I wasn't hallucinating or anything. The fact that I'm falling was true and I was just getting closer to the ground. I...I...just didn't want to end up hurting the people around me…
If you don't wanna die then why jump?
It's not heroic for a main character and it solved nothing, sister.
You die, I die too and all this story die along with you.
You don't wanna end this whole story before letting someone discover your past, right?
I nodded quietly.
"Yeah… But that's too late. It's not like I could fly or something…," I said sadly.
Hmph! Don't be silly. Who do you take me for?
I'm THE Computer?
Version 10.10.00!
All sexy and advanced OS in the entire world!
If you wanna fly. YOU. FLY!
Just a little system switch and voila!
*Beep*
.
.
Initialising: Aerial Mode...
Launch: Super Thrust Jet Engine…
.
.
Before I could say another word, I jerked hard from the sudden force that stopped me from falling forward but instead I PAUSED midair!
I wasn't hallucinating! Not ever!
I turned to look at my own reflection of the nearby building glass,
My feet had jets! Like Iron Man's!
I'm Iron Woman!
No. Seriously. I AM flying!
See.
Told you I'm good.
I know every nook and cranny of your system more than yourself.
I'm a professional ya know. PhD since I was born.
You ought to thank me for saving your life, dear.
Thank you.
Uh...Were you always this obedient?
Oh. You were made to be this obedient. Pfft!
Lucky me. I got to be me. Ha!
"You were always this rebellious, Version Ten Point Ten Point Zero?"
Excuseeee me for being rebellious. I was MADE as well. And another thing,
It's Version 10.10.00!
Not Version Ten Point Ten Point Zero!
"Ah, sorry. It should be Version Ten Point Ten Point Zero Zero."
No! No!
It's Version 10.10.00!
"Oh, Double Zero. Okay, I get it now."
No no no no no!
It's Version 10- What the hell...Why do I bother explaining to a dumb machine?
Look whatever it is. You can call me 10.10 for short.
"10.10?" That sounded so weird,
"Why don't I call you Ten Ten instead. Doesn't that sound much nicer?"
She snorted a bit with a sarcastic chuckle. She's just like any other man-made mechanism like me; a talking computer system with an attitude in fact! I was not just surprised, I was impressed.
Ten Ten, hmm...I kinda like it.
Fine. I'll take it to mark our acquaintanceship.
It's not like this is our first day being with each other; just so happened 'someone' didn't realise that I room inside her head!
I could imagine her roll her eyes. If she had one that was.
Talking to Ten Ten was something rather different. Aside that I sounded haywire talking to my own head. Moreover, in the midst of suicide. But not for now. Not today.
Ten Ten was right...I wasn't thinking straight. I guess Itachi might be panicking by now but…
I don't want to go back. Not for now.
I want to be alone for a while…
If you don't wish to go back, then don't.
Go somewhere else then.
Ten Ten read my mind?
I don't.
I AM your mind.
Sigh...yeah…
"Where do you suggest I'd go?" I asked as I glanced over the horizon of Konoha that stretched vastly into the distance.
I have no one, no home and no aim. I didn't know where I should be heading.
You can't pass the The Great Shell. You'll be detected.
If you want a getaway, there's a spot I know you can stay hidden for a while. Just follow the marker I set for you in the GPS.
*Blink*
Thanks, Ten Ten.
"You...You're being so nice to me…," I muttered. "You won't…"
Sell you out?
Hmmm….That depends.
She knew I jerked a little; she chuckled at it.
I wanna time out from Sasuke too.
I guess you could call me an accomplice in this with his best deal.
Are you going to trust me or what? You've got no choice I'd say, you're stuck with me for life!
Uh huh...
By the way, those are awesome super jets you've got. The best so far. You might wanna take it for a spin. Heh!
I smiled as I propelled forward at high speed.
It was an amazing experience, no doubt I was still clumsy in this flying business. I went so fast that cut through clouds, almost hit birds in my face and I couldn't believe I had these jets under my feet! And I had never thought that I had Ten Ten all this while.
Right inside of me.
I never expected all this to happen; the thought that I was alone living for myself just weighed me down. I was stupid. I was emotional. I only thought I was special, in the wrong way.
I only felt like ending myself when I that's not what I really wanted.
I felt the fear. I the felt hopelessness the moment when Sasuke took control of my body. And I wasn't myself. I watched my hands pinned down the enemy, power was rushing in every inch of my body and my hands were just...there…
Around his neck.
I could still recall his awful choking, blood gushing out from his mouth but he didn't fight me. He let me kill him.
I was robbed of my choice to save him. Be controlled to end him. Brutally.
I became a killer.
In spite I was named Annihilator; I don't want to kill. I don't want to hurt anybody. Friend or foe. Please don't make me...
Hey…
Pull yourself together. I know it's hard but...you and I are the same.
We are manufactured.
The fact that I had a partner, it felt...different. Warmer.
"Thanks Ten Ten. I know…," I uttered. "Say, Ten Ten."
What?
"You are female?" abruptly.
Hmm...for that question. I don't particularly have a gender but I could switch to the male version if you'd prefer.
In the laboratory, I'm male.
"I see...Nope, you're good like this."
I do prefer the 'her'. The sense of having a sister was much better. Imagine, having a male invading my privacy. I'm conservative, yes.
"Does your male version has a name?"
Version 10.10.00.
Sasuke isn't the type who'd spend a second giving names.
That's a reasonable claim.
*Blink blink blink blink blink*
"Something's wrong?" I was a little panicky.
*Blink blink blink blink blink*
Battery: 20%
You're on low battery.
Time to land.
"H-How am I supposed to do that?"
Just land.
"What!?"
Seriously, I don't know how this mechanism works.
Fine. I'll turn on the Auto-Pilot.
There.
Ten Ten was a big help, I was skillfully guided to a smooth descend. I was getting tired pretty much quickly, flying required a large amount of power and I wasn't well charged last night when I thought I needn't to.
I felt relieved as soon as my feet touched the ground. Ten Ten was smart enough to land me in an abandoned backyard, out from the eyes of the public at least. We were at the borders of Konoha, the one that Ten Ten called The Great Shell.
I began to wonder why it was called so; there was barrier for sure as I could see a thin almost-transparent blue wall. No, it's somewhat curved all the way up and stretched into a far away place.
Don't touch it!
I jerked when Ten Ten suddenly warned me when I was about to explore the thin layer with my hand.
Do you want to get yourself detected?
It took me a while to cancel out your IP address.
Sasuke's stuff are all hard stuff.
And unidentifiable units get electrocuted. It's no small deal. This is Konoha's main and final barrier.
Jeez!
"Sorry…," I apologised sheepishly.
On the other hand, Ten Ten piqued my interest about The Great Shell. I wanted to enquire more not when a light began blinking.
*Blink blink blink blink blink*
Battery: 12%
Huff puff… Huff puff…
The exhaustion is real. Since I haven't adjusted myself to my aerial mode; I did a lot of strains to my battery. I need to charge.
I got to find somewhere I could plug in for a while. At least a socket or something…
Huff puff… Huff puff…
I'll try locating the nearest possible electrical port you could use to charge up.
This may take a little more of your battery.
Hang on.
Huff puff… Huff puff…Huff puff…
Battery: 7%
I found the nearest spot where we can hide and charge. It's just a block away, follow the map.
Huff puff… Huff puff…Huff puff…
I nodded, saving as much energy left to get to the port. I positioned myself to the right direction but before I could begin walking, something just leaped out of the bushes.
Stumbling a bit as I almost fell, I got into my defensive stance when it was all too sudden to capture what it was.
A dog.
Not just any dog.
It was extraordinary. The size of it was larger than any other. Bearing its fangs at me, it growled lowly.
Great. What now?
I was so exhausted that I could hardly move; talk about fighting against this beast.
There was no sign of the animal attacking aside from threatening me with its fearsome behaviour. It tamed when a voice began,
"Easy. Akamaru. Easy."
Appearing from the bushes again was a male cloaked in black furred hoodie jacket. He had these weird marks on both his cheeks and had baby fangs too!
My browns knitted at the sight of the two, questioning myself whether if they were dangerous? I had to stay alert not when he called,
"Ahjie."
He startled me with Bu'Lanian language. He couldn't hide that he was truly one by his pronunciation. Again, this guy called me,
Sister.
I knew you nothing. But I knew you knew me well. I had to be cautious even if I was very curious to know who I truly am.
"Nie mmh nyien tiet ngai?"
I shook my head, denying.
"No. I don't recognise you. I don't know you at all," I replied bluntly.
I really don't know this person. Or that dog.
Huff puff… Huff puff…
Battery: 5%
*Blink blink blink blink*
Huff puff… Huff puff…
Why must this guy be in the way when I needed to charge!
My legs began to fail me and I could feel my body weight heavily as most of me began to turn off. Let me sleep for a while alright…
I fell and I knew I would fall into the arms of the stranger; I trusted that he would catch me because I believed in the familiarity he held towards me.
And as for me, I knew not the slightest thing about him. I was just too tired to think, doubt or worry…
.
.
.
(End of Sakura's POV)
.
Konoha Central Building
.
"Sasuke! Sasuke!"
Itachi ran.
He ran along the corridors in panic as he searched for the other Uchiha.
"Has anyone seen Sasuke?" he asked randomly.
"N-No…"
"Hey, you. Yeah you. Have you seen Uchiha Sasuke?"
"No, sorry."
"Sasuke. Where are you at a time like this!?" The long haired raven cursed intuitively knowing that his brother hasn't left the premise.
"Mr. Itachi! Mr. Itachi! You're looking for the Professor?" One of Sasuke's students approached him, "He's in the smoking lounge. I met him a while ago probably he's still there."
Grateful to the young man, Itachi sprinted off to where he was guided to while hoping that the other Uchiha hasn't left.
He sighed in relief while panting as he rushed over to the smoking room to find that his brother is still present. The cold Uchiha glanced a little then back to spacing out as he hunched over the balcony railing. There was no time to waste feeling the wind, Itachi rushed up to him,
"Bad news, Sasuke!" He got his brother's expressionless attention, "Sakura jumped!"
Took his cigarette off his lips, Sasuke frowned,
"What…?" monotonously.
"Sakura jumped! She jumped off the roof of this building! Suicide!" Itachi continued to panic,
"Then she flew! I thought she would hit the ground but she flew! She could fly!?"
Sasuke immediately put out his cigarette upon hearing his brother and fished out his smartphone from his lab coat pocket. His fingers stealthily flicked and typed on the surface of his phone without a pausing for a second. Impressive.
"Ch!" Sasuke frowned out of irritation.
Something must not be good.
"What's wrong?" the elder brother asked, Sasuke continued to stay silent while staring at the screen. "Is there something—"
"She hid her IP address," the grumpy male cut him short.
"IP what?"
"She cancelled out her location. She ran away…," Sasuke summarised.
"Can't you track her down or something?" Itachi's suggestion was replied with a fearsome glare.
"What did you do? What did you say to her again, Itachi!?" growling, Sasuke restrained himself from being violent.
"I didn't say anything wrong. I don't think I did!"
"What do you mean by 'you don't think'? How can the Chief Secretary be unsure of himself!?" A sarcasm which Itachi decided to rebuke at,
"Look, Sakura was depressed, okay? All that's because you forced things on her!"
Sasuke didn't like it, his expression changed for the worse.
"Force? She was MADE to do things whether if she liked it or not!" he snarled, "She's a ROBOT, damn it!"
"She's your WIFE!"
They both turned silent after yelling to the top of their lungs. Exchanging dangerous glares and breathed heavily out of anger.
"You imbedded that robot with Sakura's memories you extracted before she died completely. It's you who brought her back to life…" Itachi softened his tone,
"Seriously. Mom was right… Why Sasuke?"
Sasuke turned away avoiding eye further contact with his brother and hastily lighted a cigarette. He was uneasy and confused.
"You missed Sakura."
That's right...
"But do you still love her?"
"..."
Sasuke stayed silent with his back continued to face his interrogative brother. Not quite the honest man he was.
"If you couldn't give her the love like you used to; the same one that you gave the human her. Then why revive her in such a pitiful way?"
Itachi paused as his chest grew heavy. He wished to help his suffering sibling, what could he do to save his breaking soul?
"You're tormenting Sakura, the kids...especially yourself… That isn't Sakura at all. Sakura was long dead." He decided to speak plainly,
"If you don't treat her as Sakura, shut her down and move on, brother."
The raven genius didn't reply a word, put out his cigarette another time and headed for the exit without bothering about Itachi.
Sasuke paced his way along the empty corridor which the silence made his shoes loud. Despite the sound of his footsteps were consistent and composed, inside he wasn't at all. The frustration was building within the male.
He stopped.
Took a second to look out of the window; into the vastness. Where kept searching for the thing he couldn't find; he didn't know what to find.
A tired sigh escaped him. He felt miserable...and confused.
Why.
Sasuke assured himself he had no answer. He simply made Sakura out of his own logic mind only to think that he was determined to build this robot.
Not just for the nation.
He looked at his hands; cracked skin, cut marks and they were pale. He clenched them tightly till they were almost white.
"Sakura...Do you hate me…?"
He breathed heavily and closed his eyes for the last time before he input numbers in his phone from memory, then waited for the line to be answered,
'Hi this is the Yamanaka Flowers. Nothing but the freshest!'
A joyful female voice came up on the other side of the phone.
"Ino. It's me. I need you to do something for me," said the raven.
'Heh. Which is it? Dead or alive?'
"That depends...if you're up against it," he chuckled sarcastically. "Take Sai with you. You might need him."
'It's not usual for you to look down on me.' She snorted. 'What is it this time?'
Sasuke paused shortly,
"A robot."
Love from Blue:
A lovely day to you dearies!
Yeah, it has been sometime for an update and so here it is. Hope you guys enjoyed it and do forgive me for being late.
And again in all chapters; thank you for the reads and comments and suggestions. All of them I really appreciate and take them to heart in hopes to better my writing work. I love it when you guys put some words to show me your thoughts and they motivate me to do more. I love them and love you lovelies.
I hope to keep up the story and make it as interesting as possible. I do listen to your views and take them to consideration. So do continue to stay active and provide me some good views in the review box/PM.
And. And. And. I hope you guys don't mind my 'computer jargons' if I wrote them wrongly. But please please DO tell me so that I could correct them. Thanks in advance!
Love you guys and have a splendid day!
** Thank you Sleepingredrose for the review. Hope you continue to join me on this journey down the chapters to find out more. Stay lovely. :D