So I know it's been like forever in my time since I updated. Every day that passed made me feel guilty for not writing. I've been so sick with this baby and leaving work early and not going in and then working double shifts to make up for it that I've been totally drained. Like I said in the last chapter, I'm kind of stuck right now. I had a good idea for how this will end in a few chapters, but getting to that point is keeping the story on hold. I've been writing little bits here and there but I feel like it sucks and i keep deleting it... I will say I can't remember if I proofread this chapter or not, but at least it's something, albiet short to keep you interested. Lemme know what you think. It always helps encourage me to write.
Sakura was amazed when she opened the apartment. Candle and roses were all over. Dinner was on the table. Soft music was playing in the background. They ate while making small talk, both obviously nervous about what was going to happen. Sasuke took the plates to the sink and washed them while Sakura explored the other rooms. The bedroom had soft silk sheets and smelled sweetly of flowers.
"Sakura," Sasuke whispered right behind her, making her jump. She turned around and looked up into his eyes. "I want to make love to you," he said boldly. Sakura blinked a few times and swallowed hard. He cupped her cheek affectionately, leaning down to press his lips to her forehead, her nose, her lips. Sakura was trembling under his touch. "Will you let me?" he asked. Sakura nodded slowly.
She watched as he slowly stripped down to his boxers and sat on the edge of the bed. She came over to stand between his legs, her back to him so he could unzip her dress. It felt to the floor without a sound. She turned around to face him then, an innocent and nervous look in her eyes. His hand moved up to her face, sliding down her neck, between her breasts and rested on her stomach.
"I always wanted you to be the one to revive my clan," he mused sadly. He tried to hide the tears in his eyes but Sakura caught them. She had learned with the Uchiha, reading body language was everything. She sat next to him on the bed, and took his hand in hers. When he looked up at her she was smiling at him, a warm, motherly smile.
"There's someone else that's truly meant for you Sasuke. I know it in my heart," she whispered. He half smiled at her, before gently laying her down. He laid next to her and they stayed there quietly, side by side for a few minutes, not even looking at each other. "Sasuke-" Sakura began, sitting up but Sasuke also sat up and put a finger over her mouth.
"I love you Sakura," he said softly.
"I love you too Sasuke," she said with tears in her eyes. Sasuke closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to hers. His kiss was just the same as it was the first time. Sakura felt dazed and dizzy from it. Her lips parted for him and let him deepen the kiss. She couldn't hold back a small moan at the satisfaction it brought her. Then she felt ashamed. She had obviously underestimated the attraction she still had to the younger Uchiha sibling. She was panting when they broke apart, her eyes still heavy lidded. "Kiss me again," she whispered and he obliged, wrapping a hand around the back of her neck to bring her closer to him.
"Turn on your side," Sasuke instructed, and she turned away from him, wondering why. He fit his body against hers, one hand wrapped around her stomach, his free hand playing with her hair.
"I thought you wanted…" Sakura murmured.
"It's enough to know I still have the same effect on you that I always had. It's because I love you and my brother too much to cross such a dangerous line. I promised Itachi I would not try to win you over, and there's nothing that would separate us from our feelings if we went through with this. All I want is to hold you while you sleep. I want to protect you Sakura, no matter what the cost," Sasuke explained. Sakura wiped a tear from her eye.
"Thank you," she whispered, turning in his grasp to face him. She draped an arm and a leg over him so she could hold him as well. He started to tell her about all the things Mitsuki did around him and how she started trying to say Uncle Sasuke. She had his name down but Uncle was a very hard one syllable word for a one year old to pronounce. She in turn talked about how Mitsuki had been when she was younger, how she'd told her one day they'd all be together again. They both fell asleep feeling strangely fulfilled just holding each other. When she woke up Sasuke made them breakfast and they ate quickly so they could see if the antidote was done.
"Sakura?" Sasuke asked.
"What is it?" Sakura replied. Sasuke looked around, narrowing his eyes, before activating his Sharingan. "What's wrong?" she asked, a little panicked. She wasn't quite sure how it happened, but Sasuke was suddenly on the ground and she was looking into Madara's eyes once again. She stumbled back and fell on the floor, moving to where Sasuke lay. "I delivered your message, what do you want?" Sakura snipped, trying to wake Sasuke.
"I know you did. I had no doubts you would… I hadn't realized you felt this deeply for both my sons Sakura. What will you do when they're both gone?" Madara asked with a smirk.
"What do you want?" Sakura asked.
"I've decided that I'd like to see Sasuke's Sharingan evolve before I return. You have my word that I'll delay the attack," Madara said.
"Your word?" Sakura scoffed.
"Take it on good faith, and if not that, your border patrols should be recovering the body of my spy, Zetsu," he furthered.
"What kind of man bent on revenge tells the people he's going to attack, his plans? This is madness," Sakura said.
"Did you not call me arrogant and egotistical? Is it hard to believe that if I'm sure I'll win that it's not fun to taunt those I'm going to kill? It's more like a very amusing game for me Sakura," Madara said.
"Tell me why you're protecting me. Are you hoping for me to have a son that you can take-"
"I do believe I told you already, that if I wanted to kidnap you I wouldn't waste time speaking with you here. If I had the intention to steal my grandchildren, Mitsuki would be gone already. Boy or girl, it doesn't make a difference. Being a man doesn't make you stronger. Women tend to be stronger actually, because they try and prove their worth to men," Madara interrupted.
"I just don't understand… As a parent you're supposed to want your children to surpass you and go on to do better than you. Your pride wants you to see Sasuke grow, but for what reason?" Sakura murmured.
"If you hadn't gotten to Sasuke, I could've brought him to my side. I could've turned him against Itachi and used you as his motivation to kill, you know," Madara said with a twisted smile. Sakura looked disgusted. "As a parent, you do want to see your children surpass you. I wanted them to grow strong and help take this place apart side by side. By all rights, I should want you dead. It is your fault that Sasuke is here and Itachi is alive… but you both intrigue and amuse me. A girl born of normal parentage, who was trained by the infamous Kakashi Hatake, and then by the Sannin Tsunade." He paused as if contemplating whether or not to elaborate on his feelings. "While you'd be no match for me in a physical fight, I wonder in a battle of wits how I'd fare," he decided to finally say.
Sakura stared at him for a few moments, taking in what he'd just said. The great Madara Uchiha thought she could outsmart him? Or perhaps even change his mind with enough talk. But she was still no closer to figuring out what he really wanted. She assumed he was leading her to the point where she would ask again, and after revealing this information to her, would actually tell her. Suddenly she wasn't sure if she wanted to know…
"What do you want from me?" Sakura asked. Madara smiled a dark smile.
"Sakura, what happened?" Sasuke asked when he finally opened his eyes.
"We need to go," she said, rushing out the door. Sasuke quickly took off after her. The closer he got, the faster she ran toward the hospital. She heard him calling her name, but she blocked it out. She blocked everything out. She didn't even want to think about what had just been asked of her. She pushed past the nurses and doctors and ran up the stairs until she reached Itachi's floor. She ran into the room and grabbed her daughter, holding her close.
"Mama ok?" she asked, staring at Sakura with concern.
"What happened?" Itachi asked, shooting up out of his bed. Sasuke flung the door open with the same expression as his brother. "What happened?" Itachi asked again, looking between them.
"Sakura, what happened?" Sasuke asked. She sank to the ground and started crying, shaking as sobs escaped her. Mitsuki started to get upset as well. She let out a shrill cry before she started crying because of how panicked she felt.
"Tell me, what means more to you? Konoha or my sons?" Madara asked.
"They're the same," Sakura answered defiantly.
"Now Sakura, we both know the answer. They don't both have to die, and Konoha doesn't have to be destroyed either, it's up to you," he said.
"Sasuke what happened?" Itachi asked. Sasuke shrugged his shoulders.
"We were just about to leave and I was knocked out. She was like this when I woke up," Sasuke said.
"What do you mean it's up to me?" Sakura asked.
"You can convince anyone to bend to your will Sakura. You're an amazing actress and everyone wants to see you happy," Madara said.
"And who needs my convincing?" she asked cautiously.
"You have two choices, neither of which is going to be pleasant for you. Be assured that this will guarantee you and your children's safety," he said.
"Are you hurt Sakura?" Itachi asked, prying his hysterical child from her arms.
"Sakura?" Sasuke yelled. He grasped her shoulders and shook her slightly to break her out of her daze.
"You can either give me Naruto, or you can give me Sasuke," he said.
"They'll never go to you," Sakura said defiantly.
"They will if you say the right things," Madara said.
"I refuse," Sakura spat, glaring hatefully at the man before her.
"You know I said I didn't want to see you or my grandchildren hurt, that I'd only kill you if you got in my way. My subordinates are another matter," he warned.
"You'd order someone else to kill your kin?" Sakura asked, sure he was bluffing. He moved closer to her and got on his knee, grabbing her chin roughly to look her in the eyes.
"While I'd like to avoid the situation, proper leverage is always needed to bargain. I'll settle for one or the other. If you still want to refuse, I'll make sure you're tied down and forced to watch your daughter bleed to death," he said dangerously, eyes glowing red and morphing into something that seemed like it went beyond the Mangekyo Sharingan. He showed her just what he meant. She was bound and the village was in tatters. She could see all her friends dead and dying around her, and right in front of her was Pein holding Mitsuki who was cut up and bruised. She whispered mama, reaching pathetically to her, but as much as Sakura struggled she couldn't get free.
Sakura realized she was bleeding from between her legs, the trauma of the battle having killed her unborn child. She started to hyperventilate. Tears poured from her eyes as she struggled against her bonds. A kunai was produced and Mitsuki was put on the floor. The blade was put against her neck and Sakura's heart started racing. She screamed but no sound escaped her. She heard the sound of metal against flesh and a spray of red blinded her.
"I'll expect an answer tomorrow Sakura," Madara said with a smile. He put a hand on her head and mussed her hair. She was visibly shaken. Her eyes leaked out tears and she trembled at the forced vision.
"How do you expect me to convince them?" she managed.
"Naruto would go to the ends of the Earth for you. You would only have to send him my way and I could capture him easily enough on my own. All you would need to do to convince Sasuke, is to tell him you want to be with him. You explain that Itachi was the one who proposed the massacre to me, because of his love for Konoha. Then I'll protect you and your children, and you and Sasuke can be happy together and-"
"If I give you Naruto, you're still going to attack Konoha, so where's the benefit in that? No matter what I choose Konoha is still going to burn by your hand," Sakura protested.
"I would be willing to overlook the destruction of this village if I gained the power I wanted from the tailed beasts. It would be the same promise I've made you. If you don't get in my way, you don't need to die," Madara explained. Giving him Naruto would probably ensure that they would never be able to kill him. Giving him Sasuke meant Itachi would die along with Konoha which would be destroyed along with everyone she loved. She was promised safety for her and Mitsuki no matter what she did.
"What if you're not as strong as you think you are? You're trying to cloud my judgment with images of things that won't necessarily happen," Sakura said boldly. Madara smirked.
"It might not happen in that exact manner, but I assure you the threat is as real as any I've made," Madara said.
"Just like your threat to destroy Konoha? Do you expect me to believe you lost to the first on purpose so you could plot your revenge in secret? When you returned the next time the fourth stopped you. Why should I believe that you'll succeed this time, unless I help you?" Sakura asked. Madara sighed.
"Still finding the will to defy me? I can't say I don't admire you for it. Will you be like Itachi? Let your family die to save this place?"
"I was told when you love something, you risk everything to keep it safe," Sakura said, regaining her momentum.
"You'll notice that the people who say such things have watched everyone around them murdered," Madara said in the same dangerous tone as before. He leaned next to Sakura's ear. "I'll let you live after it all, so you can suffer with the images of their deaths. I'll round up all the people you love and slit their throats so you can bathe in their blood. I'll save Sasuke and Itachi for last, and let them watch Mitsuki die, before I have you stabbed through the stomach to kill the last Uchiha before I kill them.
And you'll have nothing left then. Not your village, your family, your friends, or your children. All you'll have is the regret of knowing if you'd helped me, at least some of them would still be alive. Just when you feel like you're starting to heal, I'll come to you and force you to watch them die all over again until the guilt becomes so unbearable you want to kill yourself. Then I'll return and break your limbs so you can't act on your desires and have someone take care of you as though you're diseased until you go insane. Then, when you don't even know who you are anymore, I'll kill you in a slow agonizing way," Madara said, beating down her self esteem.
"You'll still have lost because you couldn't beat me in a battle of wits," Sakura growled at him. Madara leaned back on his heels and despite his obvious anger, he smiled. It scared her, more than his threats and his visions of death.
"I'll be back when Sasuke's Sharingan evolves Sakura. If you haven't decided to help me by then, I may not be able to keep my promise. We'll see who ends up winning this battle," he taunted her. He was gone in a puff of smoke, his dark expression, that twisted smile ingrained into her mind. She trembled as she realized just how lucky she was to be alive right now, and she vigorously shook Sasuke until he began to stir.
"I'm not hurt," Sakura finally whispered. "We'll talk about it later." Mitsuki wriggled free of Itachi's grasp and curled up in her mom's lap in exhaustion.
"Why later?" Itachi asked. Sakura looked up at him and he was taken aback by the fear he saw in her eyes. He kneeled down next to her and kissed her temple. "Please don't do this to me. I'm here to protect you now," he whispered.
"I need to get my thoughts in order before I can say anything," Sakura said.
"Alright," Itachi relented. There really wasn't any point in getting her upset again.
"Has Rin brought the antidote yet?" she asked.
"Yes, it's done in a 3 part series. I took the first before you arrived. The next is in a week, and the last is a month from that," Itachi answered.
"Are you feeling alright?" Sasuke asked, his concerned gaze still fixed on Sakura.
"I feel like I'm ready to go home," Itachi answered.
"I feel like I'm ready for a break from existence," Sakura murmured. She sighed heavily and rubbed at her eyes.
"Let's get Sakura and Mitsuki to Tsunade's and then we can go get her things from Kakashi's," Sasuke suggested. Itachi agreed. It wasn't long before Itachi was tucking his fiancée and daughter into yet another new bed. Sasuke had already gone to Kakashi's, leaving them alone.
"I'm worried about you," Itachi said, taking her hand and kissing her fingers. Sakura bit her lip.
"He came back," Sakura murmured.
"What did he want?" Itachi asked, suddenly very intense.
"He wants me to convince Naruto or Sasuke to join him. If I pick Naruto he'll leave Konoha alone unless threatened directly. If I pick Sasuke Konoha will be destroyed," Sakura said.
"How does he expect you to convince Sasuke?" Itachi asked.
"By telling him you proposed the idea of the massacre to him, before you had any orders or missions instructing you to do so," Sakura revealed, feeling a heavy burden on her heart.
"I'm sorry to tell you it's true, but it's not like I hid it. They were a threat to the village the same as Madara. I knew Danzo would make the suggestion, as it's how he deals with everything else. I acted preemptively to prevent an attack on innocent people," Itachi said, without a hint of regret. Sakura went on to describe her horrible ordeal to him, and he listened intently.
"What am I supposed to do?" Sakura asked.
"I can't promise you we'll be victorious in this battle Sakura… I'd die to protect you and I may just… Madara doesn't have any weaknesses as far as I know… Maybe… we could use this situation to our advantage…" he said, thinking to himself. Madara was leaving himself exposed in giving Sasuke as a choice. Of course he would favor his son as an option, and made this option more appealing to Sakura, because ultimately he'd be getting Naruto anyway.
"To our advantage?" Sakura asked.
"I've got a plan, but it'll require a lot of acting on Sasuke's and your parts. If we can convince Madara you've done what he's asked, we may be able to get him at a weak point in battle. This would put you two and the children at great risk however. If you don't convince him, or he realizes before the trap is sprung he'll retaliate against you. It's not something I want to imagine… The choice is up to you Sakura, you're going to be the one who needs the most training in all this and with the pregnancy it could add a lot of extra stress that you don't need," Itachi explained.
"Would we be in any more danger than we are already?" Sakura asked.
"It's true that Madara may come and go as he pleases and we have no idea the constant threat he may pose already, but if you or Sasuke slip up when you go to him, the children will be right there beside you and there'll be no way to defend them," Itachi said. "Konan and Pein are a ruthless team, but unbeknownst to them I know all their weaknesses. It isn't skill or friendship, or even love that binds the two so closely…"
"What is it then?" Sakura asked.
"Konan is Nagato in disguise. It took me a while to figure out who was pulling the strings to his technique, since it obviously wasn't any of the 6 bodies he was controlling. We'll need to fight the bodies to put on a convincing show and plan an attack on Konan when she least expects it. This will kill them all, and then only Madara will be left," Itachi furthered.
"I think you should speak to Tsunade when she returns for the night and tell her these things so you can start planning our defense," Sakura said. Itachi nodded and cupped her cheek.
"I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe Sakura," he promised. "You, Mitsuki, and this one," he added, putting one hand on his daughter's head, and the other on Sakura's belly.
"I know," she said simply, with a smile.