Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto series or any of the character contained within it.


Dying where she was would be a gift from heaven. Being killed before a man forced himself on her. Before she brought a demon child into this cruel world, who's only purpose in life was to serve a tyrant. If Tsukiko was able to really die by suffixation, by the hand of Kabuto, she might have started praying for it.

So when she felt the grip on her windpipe suddenly be releases, and her headache return, she could only allow her soul to cry in disappointment, screaming for someone to finish the job!

Ragged gasps with a rhythm of painful coughs came upon her, keeping her throat busy. Sasuke now held Kabuto in the same position that was no different than the one she was imprisoned in not a second ago. He stopped her form dying.

Her gaze fell from the two, down to the stone ground where her blood caked hand held her in place. She sucked in the stale air with all that would allow before pushing it out of her lungs with ragged coughs. Fresh blood now dotted the top of her white fingers.

Why hadn't she died?

"Sick..." This word was said with spite behind a smirk, "I don't have a reason not to kill you here. Now."

Kabuto now lay on the ground with his arms pinned behind him and with Sasuke's weight on it. The Uchiha's hand grasped behind the medic's neck, just above the spinal cord. If enough pressure was applied in the right place, and he pulled, it could be broken. Certain death and absolute paralysis.

He must have applied pressure with his hand, because Kabuto unwillingly let out a gag after bitting his tong to keep quiet.

Really, there was no reason for him to stop anytime soon, but soon would be too short.

Tsukiko managed to swallow two gulps of air without having a coughing fit. "Sasuke."

His attention slowly turned to her. He had red eyes with two distinct black dots around his dark pupil: Sharingan.

"Sasuke," she repeated slowly, "please stop."

It made no sense, she never did. Why did she look for herbs in the middle of winter? Why did she have to have a stupid flower? Why was she here and why did she never try to escape? Why did he listen to her and release his grip on Kabuto?

Sasuke smashed his prisoner's head to the ground until he was unconscious before kicking him into the wall. His teeth clenched together. It made no sense... Even as he stared into her dark eyes, searching for any clues to an answer, none were to be found.

Why save an idiot?

She looked weary, about to collapse. A coughing fit came upon her with the musty air. She needed clean air.

He picked her up, and carried her away from the cold room of stone. Down the hall and pass large chambers; no one was in sight, and no one was to be seen. Her soiled hands grasped his white yukata. Her head of ink dark tresses pressed against his strong shoulder. Barely, he heard her shallow breathing; yet he described it more as wheezing.

Outside, in the shade he set her down on the river's edge.

"Breath," he commanded, and she slowly, in deep breaths. She took in the new, unsoiled air. Her throat felt dry and crusted, but she had no saliva to spare. Sasuke submerged his hands in the clear water, cupping a handful of it up and fringing it to her lips.

"Drink," he ordered with a stern tone. She questioned him while staring up at him with silence for a mere second before his eyes hardened as to say another command. So, she quenched her thirst without another question. Sipping the cool water from his palms allowed her parched throat to sooth itself.

He pulled her over to the shallow edge of the river, by her hand. She kneeled next to him before Sasuke took both her wrists and plunged them into the clear water. His palms worked around hers, cracking the dried blood off her hands. Flakes of red were carried away by the weak current and the matter was washed down stream.

"Sasuke." He looked at her, but it seemed to only make her stutter to piece her thoughts back together. As she was, he noticed the blot of red still crusting her cheek.

"I-I..." With his wet palm, he wiped the last bit of the occurrence away. Tsukiko stared at him, shocked; yet within a few moments she smiled at him, "Thank you."

He said nothing for the longest time before turning away because a light hue to pink now dotted along his cheeks. She took it as no offense. Sitting at the river's edge beside him, she allowed her hands to air-dry.

Sasuke thought of asking her something, it kept appearing in his thoughts. If he did ask this, it would disturb the peace.

"Tsukiko," she turned to him with an innocent gaze, he almost doubted himself. "What was with... back there? You-" He tried to find a different set of words, but none came to mind.

"Kissed him?" Tsukiko finished with a solemn expression. The smile had vanished and any trace of sunlight seemed to have been consumed by the clouds. She wrapped her arms around her legs, as there would soon be nothing else to hold onto. There was no debating it, she couldn't just lie to him.

"I'm a monster..."

She looked out to the other side of the river, a darker forest. She spoke as if her mind wasn't all there. "I'm able to see things through other's eyes, by that action. Sometimes their past, or their future... It's not something I'm proud of."

"Then," Sasuke concluded, "you saw my past?"

"And future," she affirmed with a frown, "but I know it will change after this."

"What do you mean?" He asked with a misjudged tone. "I'm unable to tell you, please forgive me..."

Sasuke clenched his fists. Was there anyone that did not know of his history? Then was she with him only out of pity? He didn't want to believe it, but he found himself falling for it.

"So, you pity me?" She looked at him, like she may have been hurt but would not show it. "I could ask the same..."

But neither one of them really thought so...


She felt the flicker of the candle beneath her dancing fingers. They felt the warmth of the flame, but were careful to keep their distance; afraid to be burned, pained.

She knew her surroundings in the darkness and shadows. The silent howls of the dead reminded her of her predicament. The new moon hung in the clear sky, signifying the new cycle and the end of hers. A lantern hung just outside her room, inviting the shadows within. It was the sign of availability to anyone willing to enter.

The door slid shut, omitting a staccato echo through the singly lit room. Someone had entered.

Tsukiko felt her blindfold, feeling the tightly bound cloth. She did not dare release herself from the safety of dark ignorance.

"So, they finally deemed the virgin to be deflowered," he spoke from the doorway.

She did not recognize the voice, nor did she want to. It was better to be anonymous, unknown. A new scent invaded the room, permeating from the intruder. It was better it was with someone she did not know, then someone she did... right?

Tsukiko remained sitting near her candle, playing with the fire. She encircled the fragile flame within her hands. "Better sooner than later." Before smothering it to a single wisp of smoke, submerging the room in pitch darkness once again.


Thank you for reading. My apologies for the long delay, but I am officially on summer break! Special thank you to Azura Soul Reaver, Princesa de la Luna, and OhMyGeePinkSucksAss for reviewing and bothering me to update! I really hope you enjoyed it! Please leave me a review to tell me anything and everything!

-Sin