Chapter 4: Friends?

Beta-d by: IkiIki

Sakura's eyes grew big. "Nani?" she asked.

Sasuke turned his head after he realized what he had just said. "Nothing! Just forget what I said."

But Sakura didn't leave it alone. She walked up to Sasuke and made him turn to face her.

"No, tell me. I thought your father said you were a virgin."

"Can I trust you?" the raven asked with a glare as if trying to find the answer written on her face.

She was taken back by the question, but regained her composure to answer with a nod.

"And you won't tell anyone?" he asked, as if challenging her previous answer. But she shook her head with a violent yes.

Why did he trust this girl? A slave, to be exact, and one he knew for a day. He had no idea. He felt compelled to put his trust into this cherry blossom for some unknown reason. He knew that the slave would not betray him. But if she did…

The Uchiha heir got up to the door and locked it. He did a few hand seals and whispered a silencing jutsu. He didn't want anyone outside the walls hearing of this. Sakura sat on the bed, while Sasuke sat on the floor with his back against the side of the bed. Then he started speaking.

"First, to answer your previous question. I would never bed an unwilling woman, especially slaves that I've know for only a few hours. For all I know, you could have some sort of disease."

This sort of offended Sakura but she kept her mouth closed.

"Next, I know how it feels to be forced to submit. This happened when I was about eleven. My father doesn't know. That's why he assumed I was a virgin. He doesn't know his best friend was the one to steal my innocence. The only ones who know are the people who were there, Naruto and my sister. It happened when my brother and I were sent to Sound for some special training, requested by my father. He wanted us to be the strongest we could be. The legendary ninja was my father's debt and was going to pay him back by teaching his children some of the thousands of jutsus he had perfected. We were learning some new jutsus that Orochimaru created. Summoning snakes, resurrecting the dead, a chidori current. He offered to help me privately with some of the jutsus because I was having a hard time getting them. My aniki was too busy perfecting everything, so he couldn't help me. So I accepted the help of the snake-like pedophile. It was on the sixth session that made me detest the man."

Flashback

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"Orochimaru-sama?" said an eleven-year-old Sasuke, as he entered the private study room of his host.

"Sssasuke. I've been exssspecting you," the older nin hissed.

The glint in the man's eyes sent a chill down Sasuke's spine. It was filled with hunger. Basically, it creeped out the young prince.

"Y-you said to m-meet you here so you can h-help m-me," he stuttered. Face it. He was scared. He had never seen that particular look in the man's eyes. He looked around to see that they were the only two in the room. Orochimaru usually had his toy — I mean, "assistant" — Kabuto there with him. This was the first time he was actually left alone with the man. What made it even worse and what added to the terror of the young boy was that the man kept advancing, while Sasuke kept backing up until he hit the door. He fumbled with the doorknob but within a blink, the snake-like man had crushed the boy to the wall, while looking down.

Sasuke tried to scream but couldn't because Orochimaru-sama was choking him. While trying to breath some air in, he saw the snake man whip out a kunai. It looked as though he was about to die. He started kicking and punching. He didn't even care if the attempt was more than likely futile but he kept going.

Frustrated with the little boy's antics, Orochimaru brought his knee up to stop the kicking and brought the hand that was around the young prince's neck to hold his wrists above his head. Sasuke took this opportunity to scream. It stung his throat but he screamed and screamed, until a hand connected with his face. All of his breath got knocked out of him. He started coughing and wheezing.

"If you don't shut up, I really will kill you," said Orochimaru.

Sasuke looked at the man while trembling. Orochimaru took the kunai and held it out again. Sasuke stiffened when it touched him. He closed his eyes waiting for the pain, but all that came was the sound of tearing fabric.

He opened his eyes to see that the man was cutting through his pants. Sasuke started hyperventilating. He was petrified. He was then thrown across the room and landed painfully on the couch. Sasuke was already too weak and knew that even if he did try it would be of no use… but still, it hurt like crazy.

Orochimaru was soon on top of him pulling and throwing the fabric off the terrified prince.

"Please. Help!" was the prince's silent plea.

"Suck." said the snake-like man.

Sasuke wasn't given the opportunity to say no, because three fingers were jammed into his mouth. He could have gagged when those fingers were in his mouth.

"This is so it won't hurt you as much," said a suddenly panting Orochimaru.

"So it won't hurt as much! What in the world?! Look at me!" he thought with wide eyes.

"Fine. If that'sss how you want it."

Orochimaru took his fingers out, and shoved his index finger into the small boy's entrance. He couldn't scream at the uncomfortableness and the pain that nasty finger had him in. His throat was burning and he had lost his voice. No tears fell on his face, for his tear glands decided they were fed up.

A second finger made its presence know in Sasuke's anal canal and started making a scissoring motion. Not long after that, the final finger pushed its way through. By then, Sasuke could no longer feel the pain. Orochimaru was hitting the boy's prostate. It would have sent any other man into ecstasy, but all Sasuke could feel was numbness. He was getting weaker.

The fingers were out, and Orochimaru pulled his pants to his knees. His penis was erected and already leaking of pre-cum. Sasuke was already in a half-conscious state. It wouldn't take long until he passed out. The ghostly white man was about to enter Sasuke. He couldn't feel the intrusion, but knew he was about to lose his virginity. It was then that the young boy finally passed out.

Sasuke woke up to find himself at the Uchiha's palace's private clinic, when he woke up. He saw white. He tried to get up, but found out his entire body was either numb or in pain. He turned his head, even though it was painful, to see a pair of gloomy blue eyes.

"N-naruto?" Sasuke asked, even though it was killing him to be talking. His throat was screaming for water.

"Sasuke?!" said the young blond, as he glomped the raven prince that was still in his bed.

"H-how long have I been here?"

"Since the fire," answered the blond. Seeing the confusion on the prince's face, he continued.

"When I was visiting you on my way to Wave country, maybe beat you in a spar to see who has the better teacher – My Sannin or yours – I ran into Itachi with you in his arms. He told me to take you to my parents and that they would know what to do. I asked him where he was going but all he said was he was going to finish some business. But then I asked him why you looked all beat up and why you had no pants on. He told me that Orochimaru did something "unforgivable". It took me a while but I finally got it. You know, you're really heavy," but stopped there when Sasuke gave him a look.

"Well, there was a huge fire at the Sound castle. Everyone perished in the fire. They don't know how the fire started, but I know it was your brother, because he told me the Sannin had paid for his actions. You've been here for about two days."

Sasuke was somewhat relived about hearing the snake was dead, but somewhat disappointed that he didn't get his revenge. But for now, it was all over.

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End of Flashback

"My parents never found out, but just assumed that I was attacked by some rouge-nin. Tch. They didn't even care," he said darkly.

Sakura frowned at this.

"Did they really not care?" she asked.

"My father told me that was what I got for being weak and that my time at Sound was a waste of time. My mother came and checked on me throughout the week to comfort me, if you want to put it that way. So maybe it was just that my father didn't care. My brother was praised by my father for being able to kick the ninjas' ass. He never told them what really happened. But I'm glad he didn't." Sasuke said.

"So, what happened to Orochimaru?" asked Sakura, who had gotten down and was sitting beside him.

"I suppose he's dead. I mean, Itachi said Orochimaru had paid and he himself had left before the fire took him out, leaving Orochimaru there," he replied.

Sakura was shocked. She thought she had it bad, being forced as a slave and everything she had ever held dear being destroyed. Yeah, it was way horrible, but still. She might have gone insane.

"So is that why you're the way you are now?" Sakura asked

Sasuke cocked an eyebrow.

"Like what?"

"Always seeking approval from your father. At the slave pen, you didn't seem like you wanted a slave, but only until the king said something, that was when you agreed," she explained.

After a long silence, he finally responded.

"I don't know," he answered honestly.

"For an arrogant bastard, you really don't have a lot of answers," she said teasingly.

Sasuke didn't find it funny and gave his "toy" a glare.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"Don't worry about it," he answered back.

There was an awkward silence, and it was then that Sakura realized the sun was setting.

"Thank you," Sakura said, breaking the silence.

Sasuke turned to her with a confused look on his face.

"For what?"

"For trusting me," she said and gave the raven a hug.

He stiffened at the contact, but then gave in.

"No," he said quietly. "Thank you."

Sakura giggled slightly and pulled away.

"You're welcome," she said, as she stared at him with a smile.

Sasuke thought she looked absolutely beautiful when she smiled. But then, how the setting sun's light bounced on her face, making it glow orange-like, went perfectly with her pink hair. She was absolutely remarkable. He smiled. He smiled his first true smile at her. His angel.

A knock at the door interrupted them from their moment. Sasuke glared at the door and yelled out a "What?!". Then he realized the silencing jutsu was still in place and trudged to the door. He opened it to see a small servant girl. No older than 10. She looked scared. No one could blame her. Sasuke was glaring at her with his Sharingan flared. He realized what he was doing and returned his eyes back to black.

"Yes?" he said as gently as he could. (Tch. Gently? LOL!)

"W-would you like you're slave b-bathed, heika?" asked the little girl.

Sakura blushed and stiffened at the question.

"No," he answered.

"Would you like her to stay here or should she stay at the slave quarters?" she asked.

Again, Sakura blushed and Sasuke answered.

"She will be staying here. You can leave now," he replied.

"Y-yes, heika." And with that, she was off.

The raven closed the door and turned around to see Sakura red-faced.

"Sorry about that," he said sincerely.

"Don't worry about it. I am a slave after all," she said calmly.

Sasuke frowned.

"Why do you accept that you're a slave? You don't seem like the type to give up so easily," he asked, while starting to get ready for bed.

"Well… The army killed my family, and destroyed my village. My best friend, Ino, was with her betrothed Choji at the time. So I have no idea where she is or if she's even alive. Everything and everyone I held dear is gone. And to top it, all off it was on my birthday."

Sasuke cringed at the part of birthday. For it was his birthday too and she was the present, but he was her birthday nightmare.

Sakura kept on going.

"So with everything gone my life was already in its living hell, I can do nothing but accept that I am a slave." She said calmly.

"I'm sorry."

"There's nothing you can do. So don't be sorry. I have to accept this fact," she replied back.

Sasuke stayed silent. He didn't know what to say.

Sasuke was in his pajamas while Sakura was in a long shirt that Sasuke had given her.

"Well you can sleep in the bed and I'll take the sofa." He said looking at her. It was then that he realized the lack of clothing she was wearing.

"Oh, how noble of you, heika. But it is your bed so you can just sleep with me," she said and turned around to climb into the bed.

"The Uchiha symbol looks good on her," he thought, as he watched her back lie down and face away from him.

He followed suit with his back against hers.

"Sasuke?"

"Hn."

"What are we?"

"…"

"How about friends?"

"…"

"Sasuke?"

"…Yeah… friends," he replied.

"What the hell is wrong with me? The Uchiha symbol looks good on her. She's a slave. She's…she's… my friend?" he thought as sleep slowly took over.

Sakura woke up with Sasuke about to leave.

"Where are you going?" asked Sakura.

"I have training with my sensei and a spar with Naruto. If you want, go to the slave quarters and they will give you a job, so you have something to do."

"Oh. Okay."

Sasuke turned to leave and Sakura called out a bye, while he said goodbye in return.

"Well, Sakura, let's go get a job," she said to herself.

She hated to admit it but,

"Damn it. I'm lost."

"Hi," said a voice.

Sakura jumped and squeaked. She turned to see Tamiko, in this weird white getup.

"Oh, hi, Tamiko-san."

"Hi, Sakura. What are you looking for?" she asked.

"I'm looking for the slave quarters. I need a job," she said.

"What was your last name again?" she asked.

"Haruno. Why?" asked Sakura.

"Haruno, Haruno, Haruno. I know I've heard that named before. I got it. Was your mother or someone Hikaru Haruno, by any chance?" she asked.

"Yes. Why?" asked Sakura, confused.

"Wasn't your mother a great medicine woman? Didn't she invent over 50 different medicines involving the cherry blossom? She was one of the only level 10 medics to ever live," she said excitedly.

Sakura never knew her mother was that great. Yes, she was a great doctor in her village. But a level 10 medic? That was news. She hardly heard what Tamiko said and she flicked her. And boy did it hurt. It made her fall back.

"What the hell?" she thought.

"Huh?" she said out loud.

"You weren't listening, were you?" said a pissed off looking Tamiko.

"Sorry. No." Sakura answered honestly.

"I asked you if you knew anything about your mother's works and wanted a job as a medic," said Tamiko.

Sakura eyes widened.

"A medic?" she thought.

"Sorry. I don't know anything about medicine. I was going to start my training after I got married," she answered.

"Oh. Well, why don't you start now? You do need a job. I know Tsunade-sama wouldn't mind," said Tamiko.

"Okay," Sakura said with a smile.

They walked heading towards the clinic when Sakura asked a question.

"Tamiko?"

"Yeah?"

"How did you do the flick?"

"Huh?"

"You know? It was a flick, but yet it hurt like hell, and it made me fall backwards." Sakura said.

"Oh. It was chakra-infused. With perfect timing and perfect chakra control I delivered a perfect flick. Just something that came with Tsunade's personal training. She only teaches her level 7 students and above. That's only Hinata and me right now. But I have a feeling with your heritage, you will be great," said a smiling Tamiko, that made her look very pretty.

"Oh. Okay," Sakura said smiling back at Tamiko. And with that, they headed towards the clinic.