Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I do own the plot, along with some members of the cast.
Note: Yes, Temari, it is who you guessed it was.
Chapter Six: Rival
Your mind's in disturbia
It's like the darkness is the light
Disturbia
Am I scaring you tonight?
Disturbia
Ain't used to what your like
Disturbia
Disturbia
Sakura was very slow to move. She lazily turned to face the one who addressed her so harshly. The dark hair, the matching eyes, the raven wings sprouting from his back. She looked at his outfit. It was his usual all blue mail uniform, with its matching hat. "Did you come to deliver a message for me, mail boy?" She asked flatly. His eye twitched, but his grin remained in place. Sasuke looked at the other boy, noting that they looked a lot a like.
"Sasuke, meet Sai. He's the head of the Post Office down below." Kakashi stated calmly. Sai, as the mail boy was now known, smiled at Sasuke. Sasuke nodded, feeling a little uncomfortable being around this dead mail kid. "Sai is supposed to bring by mail from Sakura's father about assignments that she has to handle. I assume you have something for her then?" He asked, holding his hand out toward the dark young spirit. As the letter was about to reach Kakashi's hand Sakura snatched it away. "Sakura!" Kakashi snapped loudly, rubbing his hand where Sakura had accidently hit it.
Sakura waved her hand as she tore at the little scrap of paper. She skimmed over it and then tore it up. "It's just a trial for the soul of some child molester. Daddy wants me to attend and learn how it all works." She sighed. She rose to her feet and stretched slowly, like a cat after a nap. "Kakashi, help Sasuke study up on his demon sealing while I'm gone. He's really bad at it." She stated calmly. Sasuke growled, opened his mouth to snap something back, but both Sakura and Sai disappeared.
Kakashi let out a long, annoyed sigh. "Well, come along Sasuke. Sakura will be back soon enough." He mumbled and the younger boy nodded. Sasuke glanced back, wondering why Sakura seemed so bored with a soul facing trial. Perhaps it was simply because he was human, but it seemed pretty interesting to him. He then focused on his current tasks and made a mental note to force all the information about the trial from Sakura when she got back.
In ThE uNdErWoRlD
Sakura landed very carefully on the polished stone floors. The black ground gleamed up at her, showing her a perfect replica of her annoyed expression. "Never thought you'd get bored down here, feo. Ugly." Sai remarked, turning his lips up in that far-too-innocent grin that was his trademark. Sakura ignored him and began the long walk down the dark hallway. The few candles lit bounced off the black polished walls. The entire corridor was made of the peculiar black stone, perfectly polished and finished to a smooth texture. She remembered her first walk down this way, when it was time for her trial all those years ago. She didn't expect that her guts and headstrong attitude would make Satan want her as a daughter. She was the oldest daughter, but she was also the only adopted daughter.
"I'm just tired of the same old thing all the time. I'm just thankful that when I marry and Sasuke-Kun becomes the ruler down here I won't be so lonely or bored all the time." She stated haughtily, combing her fingers through her hair. She was very annoyed, very tired, and she want to go cuddle with Sasuke. As of late, meaning the little incident where he had to reap the souls of two people at an accident sight, he seemed to be more accepting of her. He would let her snuggle up to him when he was trying to read or sleep. He'd just glance at her once and then return to his previous task. It actually made Sakura very happy, which was being ruined in this eerie place. The light was dim, and seemed to make the shadows come to life.
"I'm surprised you found someone. And he doesn't even look anything like-" Sai began but feel silent. Sakura's head throbbed as memories tried to wash over her. It was like trying to fight the tide and, surprisingly enough, winning. It took a moment, in which Sakura feel silent and halted movement, but it did indeed do the trick. She glared at Sai and he looked sincerely apologetic. "Sorry, Sakura, didn't mean anything by it." He mumbled but Sakura ignored him as the twin stone doors creaked open. Sakura walked in and looked between the three shadowed figures in the high up seats and the human soul kneeling beneath them. God, Jesus Christ and Satan were the shadows, so the other must have been the one being judged. A cloaked figure approached her. A bony hand reached out for hers. Sakura recognized the young script immediately. A script memorized data and could flicker every second into someone's mind just with a simple touch.
Sakura took the hand offered and closed her eyes as the past few minutes flashed before her eyes. The man claimed that the only reason he molested the boys he did was because he was a victim as a child himself. It was a very horrible lie. He didn't know what he was getting into, didn't realize that this place had the chronicles of his entire life. His childhood was normal and happy like most kids. He was curious so he raped his younger brother when he was seventeen and his sibling was six. He liked how that felt, and ended up taking away the innocence of over twenty boys. He was caught and given the death penalty. He was on death row for thirty seven years. He was fifty nine when he died. Sakura opened her eyes as the script slid back into the shadow. She smirked at the man, who looked at her hopefully. "Your verdict is all we need Sakura." Her father called, his voice booming and completely void of any emotion.
"Guilty. Sentence him to three thousand years hard labor and then let him be open for parole." She stated harshly. The three shadows spoke softly while the man panicked. Her father nodded and two large grey griffins walked out and dragged the speechless man out by the chains shackled to his entire form. "Justice has been served." Sakura mumbled, turning to leave.
"Sakura, wait!" It was her father. She stopped and turned, curious as to what he had to say. 'We need to have a very serious talk, Sakura." Her stomach churned, having the feeling that this talm would not be a pleasant one.
The Human World
Sasuke perked up and looked at the clock as Sakura fazed thorough the wall. "I've been waiting for you for nearly four hours! It's nine and you left at-"He stopped when he saw her. She looked like she hadn't slept in years. "Sakura, are you okay?" He asked, sitting up from his bed. He was just getting ready to turn out his night side lamp and go to bed when she returned. She crawled under the covers with him. She didn't say anything, only burrowed into him. He closed his eyes, returning her embrace, and no words were needed. Sasuke simply knew that Sakura was hurting and he wanted to protect her from the pain. Whether it be because he was actually falling for her, or because she was behaving like a normal human girl, he didn't know. And he was surprised that he didn't really care.
TBC
Yeah, that's it for now. See you next time! Until then!