Warmth. All she could feel was warmth as Sakura huddled in her blanket of darkness. How long had she been there? She didn't know. It seemed like eternity to her. Vague memories of Sasuke remained in her barely conscious mind as she hugged her knees and squeezed her eyes shut. The darkness surrounding her seemed to span forever, but reached no farther than her nose. It was easier to just imagine there was a vast vally of sunshine and warmth surrounding her rather than this dark stuffy place she now inhabbited.
The second chakra was her only sign of another living being. Where ever it came from, Sakura had no idea, but it was there and she could feel it. It almost seemed as if it came from inside her, but of course, that was an impossible thought. How could she have a second chakra?
- - - - - -
From dreams to darkness, Sakura lay dormant inside a cucoon made of her own chakra. She did not understand this, and chose to believe she was dead to the world. Orochimaru kept close guard on her to be sure she never broke free of his jutsu, even though it was her own chakra being used against her. With her own chakra binding her, the binds kept her weak, but alive. This way, Orochimaru didn't have to deal with her trying to escape from her prison as he played his little game with Sasuke.
For eight months, Sakura had been bound in this secret place, out of the reach of help. Seeing as how Sasuke never knew about this holding place, he couldn't save her.
So, with Sasuke searching frantically for Sakura for eight months, we come upon Sasuke as he stumbles upon Kabuto...
- - - - - -
Is she still alive? Is she still well? What could Orochimaru have done to her? These and many other horrific questions taunted Sasuke as he led the search for Sakura. Only a month earlier, Kakashi, Hinata and Naruto had to head back to the leaf village to help the village fight agaist the new gang in town, the Akatsuki.
Even with his hopes down, Sasuke continued to search for answers. He traveled through the land of the mist, but found no leads. The one place Sasuke dreaded to go, was the land of Sound. He had a feeling that was where she was, but somehow, Sasuke couldn't bring himself back to that dreadful place. Now, after searching every other place, Sasuke was forced to go there now.
As he approached the boarder, he caught a glimpse of white hair just below himself, running on the path in front of him.
"Kabuto..." Sasuke hissed as he jumped out of Kabuto's line of sight.
This could be a trap... Sasuke's instinct told him, but he was too desperate to get Sakura back to care.
Kabuto ran on and stopped abruptly in front of a large rock face. Sasuke watched Kabuto's hand motions with his Sharingan so he too, could get through the barrier. Kabuto dashed inside as Sasuke landed silently in front of the gate. He formed the seals and was let in as well. A long passage then followed for what seemed forever to the impatient Sasuke. When at last the tunnel changed, Sasuke was faced with two branches to choose from. Left or Right.
Sasuke closed his eyes and contemplated on which way to go. He fought with his intuition for some while before choosing left. This passage did not go as far as the first and it led him to an opening with one door. A prison door.
Sasuke's heart almost forgot to pump as the prospect of finding the pink haired ninja beyond this door came to his mind. He walk up to the door, barely breathing, and took hold of the lock. He grasped it firmly and pulled it open with one swift movement of his strong arm. His eyes came to rest on a dark colored cucoon.
Sakura was resting in the fetal position, unconcious. Thin strands of chakra lined the sack and were slowly pumping around the structure. Sasuke could see that the strands were attached to Sakura, as if it was her own chakra keeping her prison. Could this be how Orochimaru kept her all this time?
Sasuke approached Sakura catiously and sliced through the barrier with a kunai. Sakura fell out of her prison as it dissenagrated into nothing. Sasuke quickly caught Sakura's fragile form, and was surprised to find her belly had grown immensly. How did she get so fat? Sasuke thought as he cocked his eyebrow.
He gentle lowered himself and Sakura to the ground. Her body was wet with the liquid inside of her encasement, and she shivered in the cool air of the prison. Sasuke pulled off his top kimono layer. He wrapped her up and held her close. He closed his eyes as if he were pained when he realized how slowly her heart was pumping.
Sasuke knew that if he were to stay there with her, then it was likely, he would be caught by Orochimaru or one of his loyals. He needed to get away from this country to keep Sakura safe. And as things seemed now, to keep his son safe as well.
He gently lifted Sakura up as his eyes flashed red. He sped out of the prison and down the hall. His heart was pounding in his throat as he expected every second to be caught. He continued on sprinting as fast as his legs would carry him. His mind was racing as he could see the end approaching. When the smell of fresh air hit Sasuke's breath, he finally felt a little more at ease, but he did not stop running. In fact, he continued to run until dusk fell on the country side and he was forced to stop.
Sasuke was lucky to find a small hotspring off the side of a mountain with warm water for Sakura to bathe with. She was still out cold, and from the looks of it, she would be for a while yet.
The fluid from earlier had turned a sickening purple color and was getting very sticky. Sakura would probably feel much better if she were to have a bath.
Sasuke unwrapped his kimono from Sakura and washed it quickly in the water, wrung it out and hung it out to dry. He then turned to complete the next task at hand- cleaning Sakura.
Even if they had made love, Sasuke's nervousness was not easily hid. His hands trembled as he untied the silk binding the haori on Sakura. The white cloth left almost no room for imagination, exiting Sasuke's starved lust. He quickly removed her robe and then turned to remove his clothes.
He stripped from his sandals and his pants, leaving his haori on, and stepped into the warm water with Sakura in his arms. Her frail form jumped slightly at the sudden temperature change, but she relaxed almost immediately in Sasuke's arms. He slowly caressed Sakura's shoulder, washing off the sticky liquid. Her softly tanned skin was no longer golden brown, but was now pale and sickly looking.
Sasuke continued to clean Sakura off, moving up her shoulder, to her exhausted face, down her neck again and across her chest. Sasuke paused as his face slowly tinged pink at the thought of cleaning her breasts.
What if she wakes up? Sasuke thought. Would I end up scaring her, or would she get mad?
Sasuke chose to leave that area be, as his face blushed even deeper. He gently rubbed her back clean, her sides, her navel. He rested his hand on her swollen belly.
He had done this. This would be thier child! He smiled softly as images of a small child jumping into his arms hugging him tightly and calling out, 'Daddy! Daddy!' rose in his mind.
He stopped his ponderings to continue to wash Sakura, but a smile still lingered on his journey worn face.
- - - - -
Why is it so suddenly cold? Sakura thought as she tried to hug herself, but her arms and legs didn't want to obey. In fact, her legs were now stretched out. What an alian feeling it was after being so cramped up for so long. Sakura was thankful when a bit of the warmth returned, but her feet and her face were still exposed, making her still, a little uncomfterble.
She let herself fall back into the dark abbyss her mind usually occupied for a bit longer before the cold woke her again. She could feel something brush against her leg, and then the cold became a little more intense. Sakura wanted to move, to cry out in protest, but nothing seemed to work. Was she even alive still? Was her heart even beating?
The cold became almost unbearable as yet more rustling of fabric on her skin occured. Sakura felt a little surprised when she recognized the feeling of being held. Once again, warmth spread throughout Sakura's body, but she didn't want to let go of conciousness. She held on to what she could.
Sasuke...
All Sakura's mind could think was, Sasuke. Was she finally reunited with him? Was he the one who pulled her from desolation?
Sakura felt a wave of awakening flow through her body as her thoughts became more intense, more aware.
Sasuke.
Had Sasuke saved her from...
Sakura tried hard to remember. From... from...
Her entire body jumped with exitement as she remembered, Orochimaru.
The strong arms that were holding her tightened thier grip and held onto her gently.
memories of Konoha flowed back into her mind as she remembered exactly how everything went. She tried to open her eyes, but everything appeared dark. As her eyes adjusted Sasuke's worried face came into view.
"Sasuke..." Sakura tried to say, but she couldn't find her voice.
She tried to move, but her muscles didn't want to respond just yet. Sakura smiled in her ecstatic exitment.
"Sasuke." Sakura said as her voice came in more clear.
Sakura was so delightedly delierious, she screamed, "Sasuke!"
Tears ran down her face as the happiness overwelmed her. Her arms shot out as all her muscles re-awakened. Her body began to tremble as Sakura's exitement grew. She was free!
Sakura focused onto Sasuke and relaxed. His eyes were wide with worry, yet he still held her firm in his arm.
Sakura gasped and breathed in air as she grasped the front of Sasuke's Haori. "Sasuke-kun." She whispered softly as the tears rolled down her face. "Don't leave me again."
Sasuke pulled Sakura closer to him and rested his head in the crook of her neck. He left gentle kisses lining her jawline as he moved in for the prize. As his lips locked onto hers, Sakura couldn't handle the excitement any longer. She sighed and fell back into the depths of uncontiousness.
- - -- - - - - -
Okay ya'll!!! This is a short chapter, but I promise to make the next one longer! Thank you for all those who voted, I really do appreciate it. I have decided on the gender for the baby, and it's all good!
Be prepared, Itachi will be in the next chapter!! Bwahahahahahahaha!!!!
Jaa ne!!