To Be Human

Big hands cupped her delicate face as lips drew nearer towards hers, "Beauuu-tiful, so very beautiful," His words slurred and she could smell the pungent rice wine in his breath. "I can give you anything in this world," His hands glided from her face to her neck and they went underneath her silk robe, trying to expose more skin.

"Really anything, Master?" She quipped as a hand laid over his, stopping the man from getting any lower.

The man nodded desperately, "Anything lovely maiden," He leaned in to snatch a kiss but the small palm of her hand stopped him from doing so.

A tiny choked escaped his mouth while his mind was frozen with shock. Wide eyes looked down to see nothing but her white wrist and blood- his blood.

"You said anything," Her hand retreated from within his chest quick, the deep red beating heart and blood were a stark contrast to her porcelain white hands, "I want your heart." Tongue licked across her lips and she offered her victim one sweet smile- as a note of gratitude- to let him see something beautiful before he passed on.

Sakura finished her hearty meal and looked into the mirror to see blood smeared across her face, a tiny bit tainted the soft pink of her hair. Sparkling emerald eyes, full pink lips and flushed cheeks accompanied by a soft grace of pink hair were her reflection- gorgeous. She was gorgeous and life would have been easy for her but she loathes it.

"What is the point of being beautiful?" A tear trickled down her cheek, "I'm nothing but a monster."

At that moment, a purple songbird flew in and with a swing of its wings it transformed into another beautiful golden-haired maiden.

"You're not a monster, sister."

"I kill people," She buried her face in her hands.

"To survive!"

"Ino, you wouldn't understand," She shook her head, "You don't have to kill to survive but I do and I do not want to!" Glazed green eyes looked into pale blue ones, "I think it's time to end this."

Ino made swift strides to Sakura and held her tight, "Please don't! I'll be alone!"

"No, you'll have the other songbirds to accompany you."

"They're... they're not you! Sakura, what about... I'll do the killing for you?"

The pinkette was surprised and bile almost made it to her mouth. How could she make her innocent friend kill?! "No way in hell I would allow you to do so! I'd rather enter the seventh level of hell than see you kill for me!"

"Then... then I'll just have to end my life with you! Sakura, if you die, I promise, I'll die with you. We made an oath!"

"I want to be human, Ino."

"There is a way for that, Sakura," Ino was biting on her lips, unsure to tell Sakura the way, "It's rather difficult though..."

Her hands quickly grabbed Ino's as her eyes desperately plead her to speak more, "What is it? Do tell Ino."

"Mortal's love."

"Wh-what?"

"A mortal man has to truly fall in love with you, for who you really are. You have to expose the truth to him and he has to accept you," Ino paced towards the dead body, "But you've heard what happened to the red fox right?"

"She- she ended up like this man," Ino continued, "And I remembered the other spirits had to collect her fox form late in the night..."

"Exactly..." Sakura whispered, "But who would love me?!" She clenches her fist, "And..." She looked at Ino, tearing.

"Men are never kind to us," Ino nodded as she finishes Sakura's sentence.

The lower plane of the mountain was laden with white snow as she climbed higher up. Her cursed beauty only led men to lust- never love. More tears rolled down her blushed cheeks as she remembers the day she saw Ino marry off to a new life.

The blonde was ever so lucky to have found someone who truly loves her and understands. When the red veil was lifted Sakura saw nothing but happiness in Ino's sky blue eyes. She'd found mortality- she'd found love. And the man she vowed to spend her entire life with was a kind one, Sakura made sure he was. She thought Shikamaru would run and maybe even lead Ino to her demise when she confessed- and she was so prepared to finish him off if he did- she was wrong for the first time. Albeit still being close friends, Sakura knew that one day she had to disappear as Ino ages. Perhaps when Ino dies, she could jump off the cliff too...

"Damn it..." She heard a low voice- a voice so low no mortal could catch. Sakura made quick strides towards the direction and met a man clad in armor, back resting upon a big rock, lips pale and dry from the cold.

Without a second thought, the pinkette rushed to him, "Oh my, mis-mister, are you alright? Do you need help?" Sakura knelt down and eyes examined his body, "Goodness! You're bleeding, co-come, let me aid you down this mountain, the bottom is not far away."

"Aa," Was all the dark-haired man replied.

Sasuke never liked being in a helpless state but he was wise enough to accept help when he needed to. So, with their hand wrapped around each others' waist, they made their way down the cold mountain.

The warrior was curious how a small-framed woman could hold his weight but he questioned her nothing.

"He cannot be moved for the time being. He has to stay here for a bit I'm afraid," said the doctor.

His money pouched must've dropped somewhere in the mountains while battling off thugs and there was no means to call for his people. Sakura- being the kindhearted spirit she was- paid his medical fees and even boiled his medicine for him.

"I-I know it's bitter Mister but please, you have to finish it all. I've prepared some sweets to wash off the aftertaste of the medicine," The bowl was placed to his face as she slowly encourages him.

"Hn, I'm not a kid you know," He took the bowl off of her hands.

"Becareful! It's hot!" She warns.

"Aa, I can handle it," He smirked and gulped down the bitter liquid.

Sakura, as temperament as she is, was unhappy. She couldn't believe she had rescued an ingrate. Putting the sweets rather harshly on his laps, the pinkette got up and set her foot a little too hard on the ground each step she took towards the door.

"Miss..." He called out and she turned.

And their eyes met.

And they both felt an unexplainable attraction.

"Thank you." He said.

He wasn't an ingrate after all.

"Welcome, Mister," She bowed a little as the ends of her lips curved up a bit.

"You can call me Sasuke." He unwrapped a sweet and swallowed it whole- more of a gesture to show his appreciation than anything because, Sasuke Uchiha hates sweets.

"And you can call me Sakura. Now, rest well, I'll be back tomorrow."

Sasuke was prepared to tell her there's no need to come for him anymore but at that moment, he uttered not a single word and he did not know why.

She closed the door behind him and felt her heart beating faster than usual.

As does his.

A/N: This AU is based on Chinese folklore- fox spirits and whatnot. This is more of a pre-setting. I would continue exploring this story in further chapters! I know I've lost a bit of writing touch on SasuSaku. This piece wasn't as nice as I wanted it to be but my brain is drained now. Reviews and thank you!