THIS IS THE LAST CHAPTER OF MY FIRST CHAPTER STORY! I AM SO THANKFUL FOR ALL MY SUPPORTERS AND REVIEWERS!
You make me feel welcome into this website each and every time you review and you inspire me to write more. I love you, and THANK YOU!
As I was saying or typing, this is my last chapter for Cherished, I hope you enjoy it just like I hope you enjoyed my other chapters.
RECAP
"You did it with her yesterday right?" Sasuke jumped at how Naruto could find something out so easily.
"Did she have the 'one night stand' with Sasuke?" Ino mouthed to the other two.
END RECAP
Sasuke moaned as he woke up. The headache in his head was growing worse. He looked in the mirror to see his reflection. The reflection that so many girls wanted and lusted for, the reflection that Sakura herself loves and touched. He grunted as the headache throbbed.
'Is this a sign… is she regaining them…slowly one by one…' He thought, recollecting the pink haired girl from his past. He shook his head, and got changed.
'Damn… and I have the stupid Tsukemono to help too…' He remembered, pulling a face from the thought of the girl he didn't like much.
---
Sakura tossed in bed, as she tried to get comfortable. The warmth yesterday that Sasuke gave her was now a desire she longed to have every night. She then remembered the dream she had while sleeping during lunch…
Older Sakura watched as the smaller one played with the raven haired boy. They were throwing leaves and smiling like as though there was no end to the day. It was clearly autumn, by the looks of the browning of the leaves from the tree and the garments that the two children were wearing.
The word suddenly popped into her mind just like that…blocked. It was a strange one too, but she didn't know how. Her gut just told her it was special.
Suddenly, another word slipped itself into her memory. Puzzle.
She stood out of the bed, the thin sheet falling to the floor. She strode to her desk and grabbed the leaf of paper from her board. She then wrote the other words that had appeared to her.
Serenade
Careless
Unseen
Autumn
Blocked
Puzzle
Sakura examined them from a distance. She noted that there were 6 words but none of them seemed to make sense. She gave up and headed downstairs to have breakfast with Gaara and Shiikure.
---
SOMETIME IN MARCH…
Sakura ran to the bathroom. She could feel something rise through her throat. She began spewing in the toilet. She did it quietly to make sure Shiikure couldn't hear. She knelt down on the floor and clutched her stomach in pain. Her stomach was gurgling.
'No…it can't be…' She thought as she felt a shiver crawl down her spine.
---
IN JUNE…
Sakura sighed as she brushed the stray bangs that obscured her view. She leant over the text book, reading under the dim light of her desk. She blinked at the impact of the bulb and looked back up at the list of words. She put her pen down and made a face, thinking hard. The heat was really getting to her, and the window open wasn't helping either.
BRRIING! Her cellphone vibrated noisily on the wooden table. She reached out and picked up.
'Hello?'
'Hey Sakura, it's Tenten.'
'Oh Tenten, what's wrong? Going fine with the studies?' Sakura leant back on the chair, placing her feet on the desk coolly.
'Yeah. Well, anyway, I just wanted to tell you that well… that Tsukemono girl's been asking Sasuke a lot for his help lately and… it's just getting suspicious…' Sakura sat up and straightened her back.
'Why are you wondering about Sasuke's loyalty Tenten? I'm sure he won't cheat on me!'
'I know… but it's just that…before you even came, he was dating a girl each week, but he'd keep another for fun! He was two timing with girls, Sakura. Well, that's all I wanted you to know… I'll let you study then, bye.' Sakura was then left with the -BEEP…BEEP- She sighed and placed the phone down. She picked up her pen and began nibbling on it.
'Maybe… Tenten is right…' She patted her stomach lightly. She could feel the child swimming around. She has been feeling those strange cravings and Shiikure and her older cousin had already raised their suspicion levels. Sakura had been eating twice the amount of food and twice the amount of laziness had affected her. She had already taken the pregnancy test which she bought secretly. No one knew her secret yet; she was never going to let anyone find out.
---
THE NEXT DAY…
Sakura ran to school, her hair swinging wildly around her. The vibrant cotton pink hair stopped to a halt when she felt that sprain again.
'Damnit… not now honey when I'm going to school!' She thought desperately as she crawled to a bench. She clutched her stomach again, clenching her teeth. Suddenly, the Konoha High School bell rung. The pink haired teenager looked up and began running again. She didn't care if she arrived late, but to not turn up at the time your boyfriend requested was not good. She finally reached the gates and panted heavily, displaying exhaustion.
She entered slowly, seeing as no one was around. Sakura's face had a confused look plastered ALL over it. She turned her head left to right, to find not one soul. She bit her lip in hope that Sasuke was still at the lockers waiting for her. She went up the stairs and went to her locker, to find no one there. She then headed up to her homeroom, to hear a sweet melody coming from it. It was like as though it was luring her. She entered her homeroom, to find a horrifying sight.
Sasuke was on top of Tsukemono, an umeboshi evident in between their mouths. They were leaning against the table, their lips locked together. Sakura gasped and quickly shut the door in a hurry. Tears were threatening to fall down from her eyes but she managed to hold them in.
'I won't cry, I won't cry, I won't cry…' She ran down the corridor and hid in the closet where once she and Sasuke made out during lunch break. She took out her phone and clicked on the number, 'Gaara.'
She waited silently; hoping neither Tsukemono nor Sasuke would find her. Finally, Gaara picked up.
'What's up Sakura?'
'Gaara, isn't there school today?'
'There is, but it's at 12pm. They announced it when you and Sasuke went out of English class to go to the bathroom.' Sakura cursed silently, remembering that this week the teachers were having a strike.
'Gaara I need you to do me a favour. Please.'
'Yeah what is it?' Sakura muffled a cough.
'I need you and Aunt Shiikure to get all my stuff and meet me at Jiruko Station.'
---
Sasuke sighed as he handled his bag carefully. He went through the gates and went up to his homeroom. To his surprise, no one was there. He sighed and placed his bag on the desk he and Sakura shared. He sat down, his head leaning on his hand as he was tempted to go to sleep. Swiftly, the door opened. He opened one eye to find Tsukemono walking through. Her red hair was now put in a bun and she walked up to him.
"Hi Sasuke-kun. A bit early today hey?" He nodded at her and continued his sleep. Suddenly, he heard Tsukemono singing a soft serenade. Her voice was harsh and rough, but it was perfectly in tune. She paused and Sasuke opened his eyes.
Abruptly, he felt a pair of lips crush onto his. His eyes locked on the black eyes gazing back. He toppled over at the sight and fell out of his chair. Tsukemono fell down with him, with her body over his. She pulled him up and Sasuke swore he felt an umeboshi slide into his mouth. She began tonguing him, her lips dancing around with his. He tried to break free, but her grip was like iron. She fell back on the table and carried on with her smothering kisses. The Uchiha heir heard the door open, but he couldn't see since Ume was holding him down. The door shut once again and Sasuke managed to knock her off.
"F--- you! I knew you were no good from the beginning!" He yelled at her. He stormed off down the stairs, his back turned to her the whole way. Tsukemono smirked and whispered into the microphone hidden in her school shirt.
"Mission…complete."
---
Shiikure walked around the room, investigating Sakura's room for the last bits and pieces she needed to send. She spotted a piece of paper, hung up on the board. She picked it off and began looking at the words. She smiled secretly to herself and grabbed a pen.
Minutes later, Shiikure left, the piece of paper pinned back up on the board once again. This time, something was clearly different.
Serenade
Careless
Unseen
Autumn
Blocked
Puzzle
Sasuke
---
Sakura sat at the train station, holding the train ticket in her hand tightly. The small piece of paper on which she copied the words onto, was securely in her pocket. The pink haired girl then turned to the sound of two people. She looked up to find Gaara and Shiikure, holding one bag. They held it out to her and she accepted it gratefully.
"Your books are still at home. We'll send it as soon as you get to Konoha city." Gaara told her. She nodded slowly. She knew Konoha city was far from the area they lived in, but she needed to get away using the quickest route.
"Here. Take this. You'll need it. I've arranged an apartment for you with a friend of mine." Shiikure placed a wad of cash into Sakura's hand. She then took the school bag and gave her one swift hug. Gaara reached out to pull her into an embrace and gave her a pat on the head.
"Take care of yourself okay? Don't let guys get to you. You're still 17." Sakura smiled in her cousin's chest, feeling the warmth.
"Make sure you take care of Shiinatani ok?" She giggled as Gaara turned a beet red.
"Here." Shiikure handed her the necklace which she and Sasuke shared and she fastened it around the pink haired girl's neck. With one last kiss on the forehead from both guardians, they left.
---
Gaara fixed the seatbelt around himself. He watched as Shiikure turned on the engine and began driving away from the station. He watched as his only cousin disappeared from view.
"Aunt Shiikure, I feel like bashing that dick's head in." Shiikrue chuckled lightly as she turned into a curb.
"No need Gaara, this is probably enough punishment for him already." Shiikure then stopped in front of a familiar house, Tenten's. She pulled the brake and gestured to Gaara.
"The honours." He smirked at her and ran into the house.
---
Sasuke ran to the train station as fast as he could. He knew Sakura wouldn't leave him; he just knew it. Tenten had just informed him that she left, and gave him a look of disgust. He didn't know what was wrong with his friend but she slammed the door in his face.
He ran up the stairs, panting heavily, until he caught sight of the pink blob of hair. She stood there, holding the bag in her hands, patiently waiting. Sakura was still wearing her school uniform which made her look normal nonetheless, but in Sasuke's eyes, she was perfect.
"SAKURA!" He called out, the bag at his side bumping into his thigh. She turned at her name, her face pale and stoic. He stopped in front of her and grabbed her shoulders.
"Sakura, what are you doing?!" He asked, shaking her. She calmly stopped him, and slid his hands off her shoulders.
"Going away. I need time. Don't bother finding me Sasuke, you've done enough." She said icily. Sasuke stared at her in confusion. His mind suddenly turned to Tsukemono.
"Look, if you saw what happened to me and Tsukemono, it didn't mean anything! Please Sakura, I love you…" He trailed off when he heard the loud whistle of the coming train. She looked off to the direction of the train. She looked back at him and answered.
"I don't love you anymore…Sasuke."
---
Sakura sat comfortably in the seat, the sheet gripped in her hands tightly.
She now understood the words, what they meant.
Serenade… It was what led her to what Sasuke truly was in the homeroom…
Careless… She was careless, to let the song lure her into its trap.
Unseen…She never knew… Never knew that how Sasuke could betray her like that…
Autumn… Her child was conceived in late February. It was sure to be born in Autumn, or even maybe winter. It was still so far yet still so close.
Blocked… Her heart and love was blocked from Sasuke's mind. He never cared. He just said those three words to trap her.
Puzzle…Her life was a puzzle. She thought everything that happened with Sasuke had managed to piece it up, but now it lay in ruins.
She looked out the window and sighed, watching as the sight of the mass of black hair disappear. She regretted what she said to him earlier, but it was for her mind to restore what it lost. Her memories. She looked down on the sheet of paper.
'Whatever these words tell, I promise I will find out what they mean…'
Sasuke watched as his one love was taken away by the train. He saw her pink hair disappear in the carriage. He sighed and pulled out the picture of him and Sakura. Every time Sakura ended up at his house, he always used the guest room. It was never his. Even on that special night, he didn't use his room. He wanted the memories to be kept a secret from her.
---
TWELVE YEARS LATER…
Sasuke looked up at the tall sky scraper in front of him. He entered slowly, holding the thin sheet of paper his mentor had given him. The revolving door opened, to reveal a woman with brown hair, cut short. Her unique amethyst eyes glinted in the building lights. She blinked blankly at him before leaving. Sasuke stared after her, before going into the elevator and pressing the level 8 button.
"So… you want to work here?" The lady spun around in her leather chair. Sasuke nodded slowly and slipped the note he held in his pocket.
"He said… you could help." Bellatrics took the piece and read it, processing the words into her mind. She sighed and threw it in the bin. She turned back to the man and answered.
"Very well. Welcome to Yearning Blood."
END OF CHERISHED
Hope you enjoyed the whole story.
There will be a sequel of Cherished. Its title will be 'Endless Path'. It's coming soon since I've planned and organized it! Look out for it!
Thank you so much for reading this story, I thank you SOOO MUCH! I LOVE YOU ALL!
JunsuiFushichou