Cold As You

Chapter Nine: Final Arrangements

Sakura passed back in forth through the darkened room. Occasionally a flash of lightening light her room and then the sound of thunder would reach her ears. She had spent the past few days trying to find the thickest clothing she had along with clothes that would hopefully not absorb much of the rain. She found hardly anything. All she had was a long sleeved dress and a pair of slacks to wear underneath them.

She twisted the piece of parchment that was in her hands over and over again. This would certainly be the biggest risk. They had made plans to go after Itachi as soon as they killed Orochimaru. It was the wait that was killing her. There was only so much she could do. She let out a slow breath and the hinge that had been placed on her forehead disappeared and the small blue diamond at in its place. There was no reason to hide it any longer. They would be killing Orochimaru in a matter of hours.

She jumped as a loud wave of thunder shook the building. She shivered hearing the creek of her door open. "Who's there?" she asked. She looked around the room nervously not seeing anyone. She ran to the door and flicked on the light her mouth hung opened completely shocked. In front of her on the floor staring right at her was a rat, and not any simple rat. One made out of ink.

"Sai," she whispered. She watched as the rat ran from the room. Her eyes widened. Honoha was here. They had still come for her. Even though she had told Moegi not to. She gulped. She looked at the array of scrolls that sat on the desk. She spent the next few hours making sure to roll them all properly and placed them in a bag that she would take down to the healing room.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when a knock came on her door. She turned around and faced it. "Come in," she watched as Kabuto walked into the room.

"Orochimaru-sama has asked me to come bring you for breakfast," she nodded and grabbed the bag that sat by her feet. "What is this?" he questioned almost reaching for the bag.

"I need it for the replacement," she bit back moving the bag away from him. Kabuto eyed her before they walked down a long flight of stairs. She really was much further above ground before. She gulped and she reached the dining room to find only Orochimaru. Where was Sasuke? She gulped as she sat down.

She waited a few minutes before Kabuto placed a bowl or warm pourage in front of her. She stared at it for a moment. She almost didn't want to eat. But she knew if she was to have enough energy for the day she would need it. She picked up her spoon and dug into the food. She looked up to find Orochimaru watching her intently.

"I see you've prepared for today," he smiled. At first Sakura was confused than realized he was talking about yin seal.

"Yes Orochimaru-sama," she said refusing to meet his eyes. She could hear his smirk without even having to look at her.

"I like a woman who is obedient. Maybe if you behave, I'll let you live after the birth of your child," Sakura had to clinch her fist to keep herself from yelling at him. He would never get his hands out her child. She'd die before that happened.

"Yes… Orochimaru-sama," she went back to eating not trusting herself to remain quite so she shoveled the food in her mouth. "I'd like to begin as soon as possible, Orochimaru-sama. This will take a while so I'd like to start as soon as possible."

Orochimaru smiled as he stood. "Follow," Sakura stood up with shaky legs. Where the hell was Sasuke! Her mind was reeling as she walked down the dimly light hallway and to the medical office where she had first been working. She gulped. If Sasuke didn't show… she would have to either kill him herself… or go through with the replacement….

She couldn't do that. She would have to kill him herself if it came to it. She watched as Orochimaru moved to lie on the medical bed. She went straight to the sink and began washing her hands. She looked behind her to find Kabuto watching her intently. "I need you to set up the sedatives," she said looking at him. For the first time that she entered the room she got a good look at Kabuto.

Her mouth widened slightly. "Nevermind, I'll do it myself. I wouldn't want you messing anything up." She said quickly moving around the room to set up the sedatives. Orochimaru seemed pleased with how she was treating the silver haired medic almost as if he was debating on making Sakura his new medic and disposing of Kabuto when the time came.

Sakura sighed in relief as she set up the sedatives and placed the needle in his arm. She watched as his gold eyes slowly shut. She sighed in relief before looking to Kabuto who now was Sasuke. Her eyes widened and the room filled with the loud noise of chirping.

Sakura let out a scream as she was moved from her spot in the bed and in front of Orochimaru who was fully awake. The man let out a laugh. "Did you really think I was that stupid Sasuke-kun?" the man asked. Sakura let out a cry as Orochimaru squeezed her arm tighter.

"Let me go!" she pleaded. She let out another scream when his hand snaked it way up to her throat and tightened around it. She looked to Sasuke completely horrified. He just stood there calm as a cucumber. Orochimaru smirked. Sakura watch in horror as he held his other hand up and snakes flew from it right at Sasuke.

"And now you're all mine Sakura-chan," Sakura let out a sob as blood flew from Sasuke's body. Sakura's eyes widened as a loud explosion came from Sasuke. She gasped when she found him not there. Orochimaru's grip on her loosened and she flung herself from him.

Once she was a good distance away from him she turned back to look at him tears in her eyes. She gasped. Sasuke stood behind the man his hand completely through him. "Sakura," Sasuke grunted. "Get out hurry."

Sakura nodded before scrambling to her feet she ran from the room as screams of pain echoed down the corridors. Sakura collided with Karin as she ran around a corner. "What is going on?" Karin asked grabbing the crying Sakura.

"Sasuke's killing Orochimaru!" Karin stood there shocked. Neither of the girls moved at the building around them started to crumble. Pieces of the ceiling fell around them.

"We have to get out," Karin said her eyes wide. "Orochimaru placed his charkra in his building! If he dies! The building goes down! We have to move!" the red head grabbed Sakura's arm and started to run down all hallway.

"Wait!" Sakura yelled. "I… I have to get something,"

Karin started at her as if she was crazy. "What do you mean?"

"Where is Orochimaru's office! The one that has the decayed hand,"

"Are you crazy? We don't have time! This place is falling apart!" she screamed.

"We have to go now, you can feel chakra right? This place won't fall until Orochimaru is dead. If you feel his chakra die we'll forget it about it," Sakura's green eyes pleaded with the girl. Karin started at her hard for a moment before sighing.

"Let's go,"

A/N

Only one more chapter ;) I bet you all our getting excited! :D Thanks for all the awesome reviews! You guys are the best!