take my hand but leave my heart

Chapter 2

Summary: In order to protect Sakura from an enemy of Konoha, Sasuke buys her and binds her to himself with an ancient jutsu. She is not very understanding.

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Outside the door, Sasuke paced back and forth. He'd never been much of a fidgeter, but right then he had all this excess energy and rage. He wanted to kill something. Preferably something that could fight back.

He clenched his fist and thought of the old man he slew without an ounce of remorse.

Why should he have any for him? He was a monster.

His stomach roiled, but if he was a monster, what does it make the man who sought him out?

He hit the wall like a meteor. Cracks fissured out from his fist.

That was dumb. He had one hand and the only healer he was willing to let touch him, might never let him touch her again.

Sasuke waited.

Soon, a scream of frustration could be heard from inside the office.

"SASUKE UCHIHA, YOU GET YOUR ASS IN HERE, THIS INSTANT."

Self-preservation instincts kicked in and Sasuke winced. The cold fingers of true fear ran down his spine. I should run. I really should. He could practically feel his rib cage caving in under her fist…

But Uchihas do not run or cower… this Uchiha probably should, but he wouldn't. He stared forlornly at the staircase for a moment then walked into the office.

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"There's an ancient law that predates Konoha, it gives a high ranking or wealthy person the ability to own another person."

Sakura, thinking this was information that was relevant to a mission, listened raptly.

"There is a very powerful, very complex jutsu that facilitates this bondage," Kakashi continued. "Apparently there are only two men left in the world who can perform it."

Sakura rolled her eyes, of course it was two men.

"Ownership isn't just a legal state, it's a link. The link becomes cemented through a physical object. It was also one way of declaring that person already belongs to someone."

Sakura couldn't help but think of wedding rings, their purpose being the same. So horrible that a sentiment as romantic as declaring belonging, could turn so disgusting and dark.

"Usually a necklace, or a ring… or a bracelet."

The bottom dropped out of Sakura's stomach.

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In the office Sasuke found a wildcat, poised to claw his eyes out. And then he remembered. "Sakura, don't-!"

Too late.

She lunged, aiming for the face. Her fist was an inch away from connecting when she suddenly dropped to the floor with a shriek. She writhed once then deflated, like the pain suddenly ceased, leaving behind a sense of uncertainty; had the pain been real at all?

She lay there, staring at the ceiling, wondering what happened. But her rebound time was quick. She jumped to her feet and tried again. This time, Sasuke smoothly knocked her hands aside and subdued her by twisting her arm behind her back.

"Stop, you're just going to hurt yourself."

"Don't sound so confident, I think I can get a couple hits in," she bit back, sarcastically. Their last training session had ended in a draw.

He recalled how she'd looked, hair in a disarray, ripped clothes, a smudge of dirt on her cheek. She panted even as she grinned. Heart in his throat, he'd thought to himself that she'd never looked more beautiful. And then they'd connected with simultaneous punches to the gut. They woke up an hour later, tangled together in a heap. They lay like that for another two, too tired to move.

He mourned that a day like that would never happen again.

"Sakura." Kakashi's firm tone seemed to bring her back to reality. "We should probably go over the logistics."

"Oh? The logistics of Sasuke owning me?!"

Kakashi looked sick when he told her 'yes'.

"As you've figured out, you can't attack him."

"I promise, I'll figure out a way."

Is it wrong that that's sexy to him? He pushed the thought deep down. "I can't control the punishment, I'm sorry."

"He'll be aware of everything going on with you. He'll know innately where you are at all times and have a direct link to how you're feeling."

"Oh yeah? Are you getting a clear picture right now?"

The fury burned white hot, he was almost sure she didn't know that he could feel her heartbreak too. "Stop interrupting." Her hurt compounded his.

He hadn't intended it as an order, but her lips pressed together. She shrieked in shock, through her closed mouth.

Kakashi shot him a cutting look. "His orders will be followed."

"It wasn't on purpose!" Sasuke protested.

"Things he disapproves of will be punished in the same manner as when you attacked him." Sasuke sizzled under the heat of Kakashi's masked anger. "Anything I'm forgetting?"

He hadn't forgotten anything. He just wanted him to say it.

He wanted to be able to look her in the eye as he told her this. He deserved every last ounce of hatred she'd feel for him. He had taken something without consulting her. This was vile, this was an ending; of a lot of things. He thought, everything else she might be able to forgive, but not this.

He wanted to look at her, but found he couldn't. Sasuke stared at his shoes and told the ground the horrible, ugly truth. "This jutsu was traditionally used to bind women as… concubines. Men who want to own another person… they're traditionally very possessive, greedy people. A jutsu like this ensures…" with pain came courage, sour and curdled in his gut. He looked her in the eye, like she deserved and watched her crumble. "Sakura, you will never be able to have another man's children."

For an entire minute, Sakura stood there, processing this news. A broken beginning cracked in her throat. She opened her mouth several times as if hoping she'd find the words along the way. She looked at him and even if he couldn't feel every fissure within her, he would know. Her eyes told him her sorrow, her confusion, betrayal and then-

Coldly, she promised him. "Then I suppose I'll never have children."

Then she left. He didn't blame her.

Sasuke, lost, turned to Kakashi. The man's fists were clenched around the edge of the desk, white at the knuckles. He stared grimly at the spot his female student had vacated. "She doesn't mean it," and he did not mean this as assurance.

Kakashi knew very well why he did what he did, but sometimes knowing a thing doesn't lessen a person's feelings on the subject.

"Should I-?"

"Probably best that you don't," Kakashi interrupted.

Which left him to wonder what he should be doing, if anything at all.

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a/n: Hope you enjoyed this chapter and thanks for reading. I love to hear what you guys think!