A big thank you to my beta Lady Kyoshoku!
I estimate another four chapters left. I already have all the chapters up to chapter 30 done. They needed to be done and worked through together. Those plot bunnies, ya know?
Recommended Song: Kate Voegele - Hallelujah
Disclaimer:I do not own Naruto, or any of its characters. Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto
-Preparations-
-26-
Shaking, pale hands wiped away the weakness she displayed on her face. Her room was dark, like usual. It was the only thing she'd seen since she handed herself over. Her legs were bare, wearing only a thin cotton nightdress and panties, and she focused her strength to the straining limbs, forcing herself towards her locked door. When she reached the black wall, she sat down beside the shaft of light which glowed through the thin crack and listened; nobody was there.
On the drive to the strange, Japanese-like mansion, Sakura took in the red tiled roof and the dragons which loomed over each edge. The decking to the house was a glorious brown and the stairs to the red front doors were grand. The building itself was cream with red circular windows.
It seemed like centuries ago when she'd arrived on the scene. Osamu hadn't beaten her too bad, and Sakura guessed the day he needed her for was arriving soon. They needed to be in tip-top condition. The food, however, was scarce. When it arrived, there was the bare minimum they would allow her to have, and her body felt the weight of that. Her stomach felt shrunken and her legs shook on a daily basis. Her body was weak, and it wouldn't help when the fight drew nearer.
She sat in a tiny match-box room on the top floor; the attic with many rooms like it. The rooms below her were cleaned and she could hear shuffling from day to day. All preparations; it made her blood run cold.
Two months and four days had passed and Sakura found herself doubting her actions. She was one girl; how could she make a difference? With her body having being weakened for two months, she wasn't in the best condition for a fight. Her healing chakra kept her going, and as a result her chakra intensified from the constant application. But without the nourishment, she was useless.
Osamu usually visited her by night; forcing her to pleasure him while whispering filth to her. The only thoughts keeping her sane were thought of her friend waiting for her. Thoughts of how she would return to them when the nightmare blew over.
Thoughts of Gaara.
How did he feel when she told him he was in her heart? Did he read it? Was he looking for her? He promised to protect her; did it hurt not being able to do anything?
Footsteps creaked outside the door and she took a deep, quivering breath, mentally preparing herself for what would come. But before the handle could turn with the key in place, a voice beyond the door called out and Sakura listened in.
"Kensho sent me to fetch you," it said with authority. She felt the floorboards creak and the man on the other side, Osamu no doubt, turned to answer.
"Tell him I'm busy. I'll be there in a moment."
"He wants you now. The council think you're getting too close to your daughter. We voted to keep you at length from her. We can't risk you meddling with any possible deals."
"What?!" Osamu exploded and Sakura's thin body jumped in shock, keeping her raged breaths down.
"He is expecting you as we speak."
The sound of a fist connecting with a jaw made Sakura's eyes widen and followed the sounds of footsteps walking away with harsh thuds. The other man stood, creaking the floorboards with his weight, and followed the same path with a curse on his tongue.
Sakura's breathing became heavy and a small smile broke out on her face. He wouldn't touch her anymore. God knows the scent of his sex and murky sweat was permanently lurking in every corner of her den. Her prison.
She stood back on shaking legs and tumbled across the room, partially affected by drowsiness. She suspected they may be adding a little something extra to the food, and so she resolved to steal some from the kitchen when the time drew nearer. For now, the doors only ever opened to Osamu.
oOo
He couldn't stand being around his friends for too long. They were losing hope, he knew it. And the doubt, anxiety, everything was getting to him. He couldn't sleep without her by his side, as Shukaku tauntingly reminded him, not that he would be able to either way. His inner demon howled when the news reached him. He was smitten with what could have been and determined to get her back.
Naruto's eyes gradually faded and his tone became lower and solemn. He spoke falsely of hope, trying with his last will to cling and keep the group alive. They were emotionally exhausted and Nina hadn't heard of any promising news. Gaara watched her nightly, and then come morning, Naruto took over his shift, followed by Tsunade's running orders.
Every morning, when the sun began to rise and peek above the distance, he would race out when relieved of his guard duties and search a newer area, though he suspected they may no longer be in the city.
Over the two months that passed, he found himself panicking, wondering if he had dreamed up Sakura. There was no sign of her, and the locations he searched were growing thinner.
He sat with Nina that night, instead of guarding her from a distance. He didn't know why he did, but she was the calmest. She was most certain the plans would come underway. The only one left with much hope.
And looking into her green eyes was soothing, although the reminder of Sakura pained him greatly. "You said months ago it would be soon."
She nodded and brushed her hair by the vanity table. "You must understand; I have been captive for two years. It feels soon."
He nodded and looked away. It was wrong to pester her. "Sometimes, I can see the hope leave you." She said quietly, calmly placing the brush back.
"I've heard nothing of her. I can't smell her anymore; her voice is leaving my head. I'm forgetting her. It's only been two months and I'm struggling to remember why I craved her words. What's next? Will I lose sight of her too?"
The words left him before he could close the gate and lock it shut. They were blurted out and Nina's eyes melted from her misery. "I miss her too. It's the stress getting to you; you never sleep and your thoughts are constantly plagued by her."
"If I'm constantly thinking about her, why is it so hard to remember?"
"Like I said; stress."
Gaara stood wordlessly and took for the window, dropping silently on the ground and crossing the street to stand watch. When he dropped to the ground, however, a car pulled up and two men in black suits exited, heading up the stairs.
They pounded on the door and Gaara snuck further into the shadows of the building. After two loud bangs, the front door opened revealing a flushed looking man who blankly stared out of strangely large dull eyes and broke into a sneering grin.
"Time already, huh?" He asked jovially as if he were commenting on the weather.
"We've come to collect you both."
"Oi Nina-kitty? Our carriage awaits!" He mocked up the stairs with a rude, piercing laugh which sounded young and full of life.
Gaara's heart began to beat anew and he whipped his phone from his pocket, thumbing in a number impatiently. He moved backwards a bit so he wasn't heard and whispered into the phone when a tired Tsunade answered.
"It's starting; they're here to pick her up."
The plans had been waiting for this moment. There was nothing else they could do until Nina was taken away. He heard Tsunade shuffle and bang into something on the phone in her stressed shock.
"Follow them; I'll assemble everyone. Keep detailed directions on how to get there. We'll phone when we're ready and you can direct us from there."
He shut the phone off and ran down the street towards the bike he had parked in the shadows. He pulled the helmet from where he had hidden it and shoved it roughly on his head, burying the wild red spikes.
Nina walked calmly out the door, unable to stop her eyes searching for Gaara in panic. When she spotted the bike she looked away not wanting to draw attention to Gaara's presence. She was shoved into the car violently, despite her being willing to walk towards impending doom.
Gaara revved up the bike gently and took off when the car left.
The journey led him through the residential estate and he found his emotions were leaking through his expression. He had searched the area over five times, knowing this was where they disappeared when Neji last noticed them. There was nothing here.
He followed steadily, feeling paranoid when they began to look through the windows and mirrors at the bike which kept their trail on the barley deserted streets. Gaara cursed and turned off to shake their suspicions. He turned onto the next street, being able to see them through the large spaces between the richer, detached houses. Eventually, they came to a turn off and slowed to pull aside a gate leading to a field.
Gaara cursed that he hadn't checked beyond it before and waited by the opened street until the car moved through the fence, leaving it open. He guessed they would expect more arrivals throughout the night. It seemed much too late to hold a meeting, but the patrons were also there for sex, so night would be more appropriate apparently.
It was barely past seven at night.
When the car left, he gently pushed his sleek machine forwards into the field and then dimmed his lights, following the car in the inky blackness where no lamps would highlight him.
He followed the car, and pulled back further when a slight ringing sounded in one ear. After a few expected rings, the tone eventually died and a voice called in his ear from the connection to his phone.
"What's your position? Everyone has assembled." Gaara had to admit he was impressed and Tsunade sounded stern with conviction.
"Head towards the residential district. It's a straight drive until you come to the edge of the town. They headed off into the countryside through an opened fence. It's been left like that."
"We'll be there soon."
"Don't be too quick; I'm still on their trail. I'll call when they stop and I've located where they are being held."
Tsunade hung up and he continued onwards into a set of thick trees. When the full lights of the car beamed stronger, Gaara panicked and turned off into a more dangerous territory for any vehicle. The grounds were uneven, bumpy and unpredictable in the light.
When the car didn't falter and the men inside continued looking onwards, he felt reassured that he hadn't alerted them on his presence.
They pulled to a stop when a large building came into sight; a building he had almost noticed above the high-standing trees surrounding him. It glowed from porch lights and the car circled around the back of the house, leaving a free, open space out front the mystical Japanese mansion. It seemed eerie, yet had the look of a newer themed hotel one might see. A small reception inside with scantly dressed girls made Gaara's nose turn up in distaste. They must have some idea of what was happening to the girls inside the house.
He took out his phone and dialled Tsunade's number, warning her of what approached and where to leave the vehicles. They arrived five minutes later, and the cars gently hummed closer to Gaara. But the second bike beat them all to the punch. From the second, the rider pulled the black helmet from blonde spikes and Naruto turned to look at Gaara with a burning sense of hope. The hope he used to carry.
"Time to go, eh?" He questioned as his eyes glowed a mystified blue at Gaara, who smirked and pulled off his own helmet. They looked at one another knowingly. It had come down to this. The time had finally arrived.
oOo
Sakura stood quickly and with grace when the door opened. The pale colour in her cheeks seemed lifeless when the muscular figure stepped into the room at a frightening height.
Every time those dull blue eyes pierced hers, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck begin to rise in terror. He approached her and placed his strong fingers on her back, pushing her towards the door. She complied without complaint; he was the worst of them. The one who seemed almost secretive, silent, but made his presence known.
The hand on her back made her heart twist with her stomach, as if they were in reverse. Her stomach burned, her heart felt a twinge of sickening. She was led down the stairs onto the next floor and into another room, where three women waited impatiently.
"You'll stay here, and will not fight them. Do not attempt to escape; we'll find you." Was all his cold voice whispered before he left and her breathing picked up from being frozen in time.
The girls took hr to the chair with haste, uncaring for what they began to prepare her for. She didn't mind, and they didn't speak directly to her. They just worked. Working unique combs through her hair, washing her down with strangely scented sponges; they worked with care.
The door opened again, but those who pampered her ignored it until another girl was roughly thrown in and she skidded to her knees. One woman picked her up harshly, inspecting her thin legs which matched Sakura's and pushing her towards the chair beside Sakura.
Sakura watched the girl tremble and look to each woman who touched her and tutted at the short length of her hair. It was almost boyish, yet held pixie-like spikes, which complimented her look. Her hair was lily white and looked fluffy and delicate. Her eyes were a soft, neon blue and looked scared.
"I'm Sakura,"
She jumped and turned to the pink-haired girl and attempted a half-smile. "Sayuri."
Sakura frowned and the girl looked away, thinking she was judging her like the women who began to soak her. "How old are you?" Sakura asked quietly, her eyes saddening.
"Fifteen."
Sakura's body felt tense and she shivered, not missing the look one of the women sent towards Sayuri. It was almost alarmed, but she masked it with ignorance and continued working.
When the women were done, Sakura stood and they robbed her with a pale green kimono, which was short - almost like a dress. Sayuri stood too and Sakura turned to measure the height difference. She was only a few inches shorter than herself and the light blue kimono wrapped tightly around her, making her balance swagger as the woman moaned to tighten it further.
"If they fed you properly, you would be able to fit into this!" One snapped.
"Give them your food," Another laughed with a deep, throaty voice; which may have sounded seductive to some men.
"Not a chance!"
Sakura looked around for the food they spoke of, and by the table passing the door, she noticed several plates, which had been picked at by the women as they worked.
"Take them down now. Those men are all impatient."
Sakura didn't acknowledge who had spoken, but walked proudly from the room with Sayuri behind her, nervously looking to Sakura for guidance. She followed her step for step, taking anxious looks behind her at the woman who followed. She was a tall, butch woman and her arms were crossed impatiently.
When they made it down the stairs to the bottom floor, Sakura's body tingled, aware of something she was not. She looked up and turned around the entrance way, looking for what her body sensed. There was no one.
"This way girls" A young girl spoke, who Sakura didn't care to look at. They were led to a side room and upon entering, Sakura's face scanned the dressed up girls who waited almost like zombies. They were closed and locked in the room.
Sayuri tugged on her sleeve and she was taken to the edge of the room, by the corner. "I haven't met you before; but I know these girls," Sayuri explained with a hand over her whispers.
Sakura snapped her head to the girl, "Tell me about them."
She needed to know all she could get her hands on, if it were possible. Sayuri placed a finger to her chin and eyed the closest girl, who stood stiffly, watching the door out of familiar red eyes. Her hair was long, as black as the night, and soft clips pinned it back from her pointed, defined face.
"That is Beth-Ann Uchiha."
"What?!" I hissed in a squeak, looking away innocently when the girls looked over with worrying, dead eyes.
Sayuri nodded when their attention left us. "I heard much about her family, but they labelled her a disgrace, and her father used her to buy acceptance into the council. He's after the same rights and power as the rest, but doesn't care for other cities. Konoha is his priority."
"How could a father do that?" Sakura whispered, turning to find the Uchiha girl biting her lip nervously, unsure of what to do. She was unlike the Uchiha's she knew; Sasuke and Sai. Both so emotionless, so contained within themselves. Beth-Ann's face was an open book, free to anyone who felt like reading.
"By the window, the girl with blonde hair; that's Miu." Sayuri explained, extending a long finger to point at the unbelievably beautiful girl. Her hair was thick, with large wavy curls that hung past golden eyes. Her look resembled a mermaid, and Sakura found herself watching her pleasant features as they gazed out the small window, up at the moon which hung above the shadowed trees.
"She was adopted at thirteen," Sakura's stomach twisted painfully. She hadn't been adopted so long as the girl; who looked to be around the age of sixteen or seventeen. "She got it lucky though."
"How could she have it lucky?" I hissed, before sending an apologetic look to the startled Sayuri.
She coughed lightly, looking away with a tremble in her voice, "The guy who adopted her; his name is Yosaku. You won't have heard of him; none of us have, except Miu, who told me of him when we last met. He's a gentle giant; genuinely cares for her safety."
"Then why is she here?"
"They're threatening his life; he's not a violent man, and it's the only thing she can do to save him. I'll bet they banned him from attending tonight. He'll be somewhere else."
"That's so sad," Sakura's crackled, tightening herself with a frown.
"Next to her; that's Izumi; I heard she had a bad life. Prefers it here, in fact."
"How could anyone prefer this?" Sakura snapped, her throat tightening as she still watched the sullen Miu gazing into nothing. Beside her, Izumi stood tall with her eyes closed gently. Her hair was black and short, with wavy curls dangling at the end of her neck.
"No one knows. She tells us to be thankful; it could be worse."
Sakura was beginning to not like this girl; but her life must have been much worse. Her pink hair was fastened to her head with black chopsticks, and it swung in the direction of another who caught her eyes. She didn't want to hear more about this Izumi.
"What about her?" Sakura asked gesturing with a node towards the girl who sat eloquently on a seat by the far wall. Her hair was a wild red, but looked soft to the touched, despite the scorching colour. It was pinned back from her black focused eyes; yet those eyes seemed strange. Almost vacant.
"That's Hotaru; Yusuke's girl." I cringed, and Sayuri seemed to realise the affect it had on everyone was very much the same. "She has amnesia; doesn't even remember if her name is Hotaru. I heard he killed her parents one night. Kensho was laughing about it."
Sakura cringed and looked down to Sayuri. "You know; I guess that made us legally cousins."
"What do you mean?" She asked with a puzzled tilt of her head. The young girl was too innocent and frail to be here.
"Osamu and Kensho are brothers. But technically, I'm not his 'daughter' anymore. I'm not sure if he knows it, though."
She looked puzzled, but Sakura didn't care to elaborate. She took a hot piece of bread from her pocket, form which she had stolen from the table upstairs, and split it in two, handing half to Sayuri, whose wide eyes shone and accepted the food gratefully.
"Is this it? Six?" Sakura asked counting rough numbers.
"No; there are two more. I don't understand why they're late." Sayuri said between mouthfuls.
"If they catch you; you'll be punished, and I won't stick up for you." It was perhaps the strongest voice Sakura had heard from a female since Tsunade and Temari.
Her head turned to Izumi, whose eyes were open now; eyes of pure purple. Eyes Sakura seemed to recall.
"I apologise if some of us are not ready to accept this fate," Sakura returned, looking Izumi in the eye as she took another bite of the hot bread.
Izumi's purple eyes narrowed into slits as she looked back at Sakura. Her cocky stance spoke louder than her actions did. The proud tilt of her head and the confidence in her leader-like expression told Sakura she had taken it upon herself to speak for the rest, who seemed too dazed to stand up and protest. Miu turned her golden eyes on Sakura, acknowledging the authority to her look and how Izumi didn't like the challenge.
Sakura continued when the whole room watched her; better now than never. "I'll warn you now tonight won't run smoothly; I don't intend to let it. I'll break from here and help everyone who wishes to be free from this."
Izumi's face looked almost psychotic when she tilted her head back and released a shriek of hollow laughter. The girls jumped and watched her next, their building hope dimmed. "And how does one skinny girl plan to do that?" She taunted.
Sakura's cat-like smile caught her off-guard. Her insides were burning to attack the girl, but another part of the feeling was how the ring leader didn't cheer on the girls; but sent them spiralling to hell.
"Would you care to step forward and take the challenge?" Sakura asked opening her arms out with a cocky grin; she was never too good at cocky, so she hoped the fake expression worked. Izumi didn't seem affected and the smile was lost for a blank expression which Gaara would have taken.
Remembering his face made Sakura's heart clench, but her face turned stoic and the girls turned to watch the unpredictable look carefully. "Of course if you can't; you shouldn't speak up in the first place." She said with a low voice.
Hell, she was sure he'd be proud of how that turned out. The girls seemed to shuffle in their spot, looking to one another silently conversing their thoughts. No one spoke, and Izumi watched Sakura coldly; but her emerald eyes could see something odd in the whirl of pain Izumi hid behind her stormy eyes. Fear. She was afraid. But of what? It certainly wasn't Sakura. What was she really running from?
The door behind Sakura opened and she and Sayuri whirled around watched two girls enter. Sakura's expression changed fast and her heart began to ache again. For the girl who entered.
"N-Nina? Why are you here? Why you?!" Sakura rushed out, willing herself not to cry again. The other girls watched her now, and the emotional display. They were confused by Sakura, but she would get back to her.
Nina stood nonchalantly, with her hair hanging like usual, and a sweet, yellow kimono reaching her knees. She smiled sadly at Sakura. "I'm sorry, Sakura."
Sakura pushed herself forward and took Nina in her arms, cuddling her close and stroking her hair. Nina continued to talk after she sighed and wrapped her arms around Sakura. "They're worried about you; Gaara hasn't been the same, you know."
Sakura pulled back from Nina with wide eyes, begging her to explain. "Is he okay? What about Naruto? Tenten? The guys? Hinata? Ino?"
"Everyone's just fine; they're looking forward to seeing you return like you promised. But it hasn't been the same without you. Everyone feels torn up."
Sakura nodded, not breaking eye contact with Nina's own emerald orbs. The girl beside her hummed gently, watching the two and Sakura pulled back looking at the girl who smiled freely, as if she wasn't a part of this torture.
"I'm Haruhi." Her jade green eyes and dark green hair were odd, and the tell-tale signs of dye were leaked onto her scalp. A dye; who would dye it? Especially when the council were set on the extraordinary. "Yeah I know; Joe cheated to fit in." She said, realising what I watched.
"Sorry," I whispered for staring too long and feeling bad about what happened. Izumi moved forward slightly and Sakura turned to judge the puzzled expression she was sending the group. She turned to Nina, hoping she would understand. "Nina; I'm not leaving without everyone, but I will leave here and they will die."
Her eyes opened widely and she nodded slower, as if she didn't accept this. "I see. then I'm with you, and I'm sure Haruhi here is."
Haruhi bobbed her head with a smile and Izumi looked at her with a confused glare. "You're crazy; you'll get us all in trouble."
"They're the ones in trouble," Haruhi blurted out crossing her arms stubbornly. Nina looked to her warily and she dropped her hands with a small smile on her face, looking casual once more. Sakura found her outburst odd.
"What's wrong with you?" Izumi snapped dropping her hands to her sides in fists.
"Who is with us? I'll get you out of here, I promise." Sakura spoke turning on the girls again. They looked to one another with fear evident in their expression and Izumi snapped madly.
"Stop this at once; you'll all be killed and I won't be bailing you out. In fact, I'll be the one dropping you in it!"
Sakura turned to her with a betrayed expression, while the girls looked to Izumi, cowering in on themselves and looking away; accepting nothing would be done. Sakura's face tensed up as she looked the purple-eyed girl in the eye full of defiance.
To Be Continued...
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