Of Blood, Bane and the Ties that Bind

by Yuhi Sakura

Sasuke wanted nothing more than to return to Konoha, declare his love for Sakura, and rebuild his clan. But Sakura has other ideas...as do Oto and the rest of Konoha. Will true love conquer all? Or fade like a withered cherry blossom?

32. Chapter 32

Chapter Thirty-Two: Amaranth

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Amaranth by Nightwish!

Sakura turned away, a heart rendering cry caught in her throat.

Baptised with a perfect name. The doubting one by heart. Along without himself. War between him and the day. Need someone to blame. In the end, little he can do alone. You believe but what you see? You recieve but what you give.

"Sasuke!" She cried.

"Go home, Sakura." He replied, charging his katana blade with the Chidori.

She couldn't believe it...and after she had...after she had...

"Now, Sakura." He said, his blade pulsing more fiercely.

"I won't!" She cried, throwing her arms out defensively.

Caress the one the never fading rain in your heart. The tears of snow white sorrow. Caress the one, the hiding amaranth in the land of the daybreak.

"Then I'll leave you." He replied, disappearing along with Kabuto.

Apart from the wandering pack. In this brief flight of time, we reach for the ones who ever dare.

Sakura fell to her knees, her breath hitched painfully in her chest. She looked at her trembling hands, remembering that only a night before she had given him everything. Everything.

You believe but what you see? You recieve but what you give. Caress the one the never fading rain in your heart. The tears of snow white sorrow. Caress the one the hiding Amaranth in the land of the daybreak. Reaching, searching for something untouched. Hearing voices of the never fading calling. Caress the one the never fading rain in your heart. Caress the one, the hiding Amaranth in the land of the daybreak. Rain, rain!

She wrapped her arms around herself and sobbed.

"Sakura!" Naruto cried happily as she appeared through the dust.

She didn't reply, she just turned her head away as she walked mutely past him.

"Sa...sakura..." He trailed off.

She didn't turn back.

But the moment she saw Tsunade her facade crumbled, her face twisting up in a sob. She ran into her surrogate mother's arms, oblivious of the sets of eyes now on her.

"He betrayed me...us..." She cried.

"Shhh...it'll be alright..." Tsunade replied, clutching her apprentice.

Sakura didn't have the heart to tell her what she had given him: Her virginity.

Sasuke looked back frequently as Konoha grew steadily smaller. He hoped one day she would forgive him...even if she never did see him again.

But he deserved all the hatred she probably felt.

TBC