Sakura grumbled and rubbed the ointment into her ankle. Her wrist wasn't as sore as it had been but her ankle was giving her a large amount of grief. Her sensei hadn't quelled her concern but he had made it more logical. Not her fear but, rather, the injury. He told her that it was most likely her thrashing about that caused her to hit her arm and leg, not the actual dream that caused it.

"Probably nothing to worry about." Kakashi-sensei had said, his head cocked to the side and his eye closed to show he was smiling. He could be so irritating at times, especially when he actually made sense. It wasn't that he was trying to minimize her problem, just bring a little more logic to the situation. Twisted ankle or not, she still had to train; which most likely accounted for the amount of pain that surged through her leg.

Sakura snorted and looked out her window as the curtain billowed in the wind. She had opened it in hopes that the wind would dilute the thick medicinal smell that seeped from the ointment. Jolting around in the bath tub could have been the cause of the injury and most likely was. She hated that that actually made sense. She had come to the conclusion that she was just being paranoid and childish. A deep breath filled her lungs as she let the cool night air envelope her; ignoring that occasional hard whiff of medicine. She needed a night of undisturbed sleep, pure and deep, for her to heal the way she needed. She settled back on the bed and propped her leg up on the pillow; recounting different portions of the day. Naruto had been extremely concerned when he first set eyes on her.

"Did someone hurt you?"

"No, I just twisted it."

"If someone hurt you I'll kill them." She smiled as she remembered the look on his face. He was protective of her, she would give him that.

Sasuke was unconcerned which bothered her immensely. They were after all a team and she always worried about his well-being. Her nose curled up as her mind slipped over to the negative side. With a snort she cast Sasuke from her mind, deciding that she would much rather think of something positive. Naruto had offered her his ramen on their break. That told her just how concerned he was. Of course he didn't offer her all of it; just a bite. That was inconsequential though. It was after all the thought that counted. He may have been an obstinate nit-whit but he did have a heart, perhaps too much of one at times. He put everything he had into everything he did. He might joke, act stupid and goof about, that was just the way he was and it didn't mean that he wasn't full in the mission. One thing she knew she could always count on, was that he would greet her at the training grounds with a smile.

With that image in her head she closed her eyes. She had always heard that the last thing you think of is what you dream of. Honestly, in comparison to her previous nights' dreams, she wouldn't mind dreaming about the blonde headed dolt. As her breathing deepened and her body relaxed into the sheets, she drifted into the liquid void. That slight resistance between weightlessness and gravity.

Blank, dark, enveloping blackness surrounded her for the most part of her slumber. Neither thought nor dream penetrating the level of REM. But that couldn't be expected to continue especially once the mind began drifting away from such a deep sleep. That little bit of consciousness allowed her dreamscape to burst through yet oddly enough the darkness remained. She frowned into the darkness knowing that she was dreaming and waiting for the pictures to be painted across her vision. A caressing sensation began moving up her leg, causing her to shy from the touch. She strained against the night to see just what was touching her ever so slightly.

From the dark a figure grew closer as it moved up her body. A gleam of blue eyes appeared. A few moments past before she recognized the whiskered imp. A flush spread across her face as the look of lust in his eyes was enough to set her on fire. Her heart pounded audibly in her chest as he drew closer, his lips caressing hers lightly. His hands found her neck as he pulled her closer letting the intoxicatingly intimate moment drive her to return his passion. She closed her eyes as they shared a moment she knew would never happen in life. His thumbs gently stroked either side of her face before he broke from her. She protested the separation but she was pleasantly surprised when he moved to her neck. His mouth worked smoothly over that tender tissue; his teeth exposed just enough to nip her teasingly. She let her eyes stare off into the blackness as he continued his loving assault on the opposite side of her neck. His hands moved around to her back, pulling her closer to him. As his hands slide over her shoulder blades she realized that something was wrong. His fingers gripped her shoulders as his arms tensed.

"Naruto, you're hurting me!" She gasped as his fingers dug into her skin. She tried to push away but it was a futile attempt. She let out a scream as he clamped his teeth down on her neck, sinking them far past the point of pain. She pushed his head back, his teeth tearing the skin as she arched her knee up. She didn't expect it to work but he doubled over anyway. The darkness that surrounded them bled away revealing her bedroom. He looked up at her his eyes crimson and a snarl across his face as her blood dripped sickeningly from his chin. She frowned and kicked him back, doubling her fists ready to pummel him senseless. It may have been her dream but even then he should have the decency to know better. A growling scream of a roar escaped his mouth as he lunged at her. She spun around sending him across her dream room with a hard kick to the jaw. She screamed out as the impact rattled her ankle. She stumbled back on the bed, half way catching herself with the head board.

What is the matter, lovely? I was sure that you wanted a dominate mate.

Sakura's eyes widened substantially as Naruto made for her again. She ducked him and managed to get off of the bed. She looked around in an attempt to find the voice that was haunting her, taunting her in every nightmare she had.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" She screamed into the room as Naruto foamed at the mouth, growing ever closer to her. She balled her fists and readied herself to attack him but just as he moved to maul her again the world melted to black. She took a step back as the darkness enveloped her. Her fingers met fabric sending a jolt of fear through her. She whirled around and stared up at the dark singular eye of her sensei. Something was wrong. Malevolence was coating him, coaxing his skin darker, his glare more malicious than she could have ever imagined. Before she could throw herself back his hands gripped her shoulders; a dark laugh filling the void around them.

Perhaps this is more to your liking, poppet.

She jerked backwards but only received a pulsating pain through her arms as Kakashi pulled her closer; refusing to loosen the grip he had on her. Tears began to stream freely down her face. She quickly jumped landing her feet hard against her teacher's chest, sending him away from her. Her body hit the ground and she looked up but her sensei stumbled back into the darkness and freeze.

Tendrils of inky nothingness curled around Kakashi, bending and breaking him as he was sucked back into the dark. Sakura sat up on her knees and buried her face in her hands. It was all a horrible nightmare. She was stuck in her own mind and had to think of some way to force herself awake before another of her many male acquaintances made an appearance.

She began to tremble as rage began to consume her. She crossed her arms over her stomach as she began to rock, containing the anger inside of her so that she could think. Her fingernails began to dig into her arms as she began to loose her temper. The laughter rang again echoing in the nothingness.

Those tears are so very succulent. Let that rage escape, little girl. Let that unbridled anger consume you and sustain me.

Sakura shook her head violently. She forced her eyes open as she stared up at those milling fan blades. She hated those things. They had become a recurring midnight image that tied in closely with her insane nightmares.. She pushed herself up in the bed and wiped the sweat from her brow. She was freezing yet her skin was alight with fever. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and made to stand, testing her injured ankle before putting weight on it.

She hobbled to the bathroom and blinked back the blinding light as she quickly turned the faucet on. She let the water run over her hand as it filled the sink. She killed the flow and dunked the closest wash cloth into the icy water. After saturating the rag she wrung it out, before washing her face. She sighed and dropped the rag into the sink and looked up to the mirror over it. Her face blanched as she stared at the undeniable puncture marks on her neck.

Her hand shook as it rose to her neck, her fingers tracing over the tender wounds. There wasn't fresh blood and the punctures didn't seem to be willing to bleed. Her head swam and she stumbled back, catching herself on the wall. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath letting out her panic in a ragged breath. She looked down to her arm and quickly pulled up the sleeve of her gown. She didn't want to see what she thought she was going to see, but she did. Bruises in the shape of fingers curved around her arm. Her legs grew unsteady so she let herself slide down the wall. How would her sensei justify these wounds? She couldn't have just thrashed about this time…

You can't escape me that easily. You'll be mine the next time you close your eyes and every time after.