A Lonely Blossom

by animeduchess14

The Akatsuki are well known in the Shinobi world. They were S-rank criminals who show no mercy. Until that fateful day...they attacked Konoha, planning to destroy the powerful hidden village. Many lives were lost, making the 5 year old pinkette, Sakura Haruno, an orphan. Because of the day, her life changed forever.

4. Chapter 4: Fear

Chapter 4: "Fear"

~9 years have passed, now 14, Sakura is equivalent to chunin level after intense training.~~

(A/N) I might make the 9 years that have passed into another fan fiction! ^^

Sakura's POV

"Leader-sama? Konan?" They weren't in his office. I looked around the whole base even. In fact, no one was here besides me. 'Have you ever been alone here by yourself at the base?' 'No never. There was always someone here.' It was about noon, so I decided to make some lunch. I turned out to be a pretty good cook too. I usually made dinner, while Sasori usually made breakfast. We both took turns making lunch. "Hmm, what sounds good…oh! How about miso soup!" I turned around, only to remember that no one was here. "Right." I continued preparing lunch. I grinned remembering an old memory. "So I'm the lonely blossom, huh Inner?"

*flashback; Sakura POV; 4; Konoha*

"Tell me the story about the little girl again Mama!" The older medical nin smiled. Her daughter loved this story, but she didn't know why. It was pretty sad after all. She never did tell her what happened in the end either. "Shh. Ok, ok. I will. But try to calm down, it's pretty late blossom."The little pinkette frowned. "Ok." "Remember how it starts?" She shook her head no; it was too late for her to remember. "Ok. I'll start then. There once was a little girl, full of life, with pink hair. She had a comfortable life with her mother and father, the Land of Water's Lord. One day her mother fell ill. The little girl was heartbroken because she loved her mother deeply. Eventually the sickness got to her and she passed away. Te little girl was extremely distort. She never asked her father for anything, but the day after her mother's funeral she asked her father if they could get a cherry blossom tree planted out in their lavish backyard, and of course he agreed. Every day the little girl recited the same poem underneath the tree. 'A lone tree, with thousands of petals. Each holds a dream, only to fall to the ground. The blossom tree now bare, has no ambition, like me-the lonely blossom.

*end of flashback*

I smiled, remembering the last good memory I had of my mother. All my old, sad memories were replaced with new, happier ones with my dysfunctional family, the Akatsuki. I finally finished making the soup, and sat down at the table savoring it till the last bite. After I finished washing the dishes, I walked back to my room, eager to read the new medical scrolls Konan had got me on her last mission. Quietly I sat at my desk, immersed in the scroll. After an hour, I realized since no one was here, I don't think anyone would mind if I took a nap would they? I laughed as I curled up in my bed. I was quite content, until I began to have a dream.

*dream*

I was my five year old self again. I sat in my living room, blood on my hands. I saw my parents beg for mercy as someone in a black cloak with red clouds across it killed my parents. I never had seen who killed my parents, and I realized after living with them for almost ten years- the Akatsuki attacked Konoha. The Akatsuki killed my parents. I lived with them, and I just realized this. I then reached for Sasori's hand as they took me away.*end of dream* I violently woke up. I felt like I was having a mental breakdown or something. 'Just calm down, Outer.' I was breathing heavily. My last thoughts being, 'I live with mass murders.'

*Itachi's POV; 5 hours later*

After a long, boring mission the first thing I decided to do was rest. As I walked down the hallway, I couldn't help but sense that someone's chakra was flustering. It was Sakura. I quickly ran to her room. She was on the floor, unconscious.

*Sakura's POV, next day*

I woke up after sometime, but I didn't open my eyes. Happily I could sense Itachi's chakra. I quickly fell back asleep, only to be disturbed by a horrific nightmare. I was outside, sitting in my favorite spot, the edge of the dock. I looked pretty happy. Leader-sama came up behind me. "Leader-sama is that you?" I turned around only to find that he used his Rinnegan on me. I was forced towards him instantly. He whispered, "Lonely Blossom," and then stabbed me through the heart, and continued to with a foreign object. He actually killed me. But it didn't end there. I sat in a chair, reading a book in the library. Konan did the same exact thing Leader-sama did to me earlier, except she used a small dirk. I died screaming in her arms. The same thing happened to me over and over, each time a different Akatsuki member, a different type of knife, and a different setting. They all whispered the same thing. I was killed each time by someone stabbing me. Itachi was the only member left. I continued to see the same fate of mine and screamed, causing me to wake up. I wouldn't, no I couldn't stop screaming. It was blood-curling to my ears. "Sakura! Sakura! Wake up!" The voice sounded like Itachi. I opened my eyes to see Itachi shaking me, and Deidara and Leader-sama looking over me. They looked worried. "St-stay away from me!" I removed Itachi's hands from my shoulders. "What's wrong Sakura?" Even Leader-sama showed a worried expression on his face. "J-just stay away. I-I don't wanna die!" "What are you talking about Sakura, un?"

"Everyone tried to kill me, Over and over and over!" "Did you have a nightmare Sakura?" Itachi's voice was soothing to hear. "Everyone went behind my back, and stabbed me, and smiled as they watched me die. IT happened over and over." Leader-sama held my hand. "We would never cause harm to you." "B-but I saw it with my own eyes! The Akatsuki attacked Konoha…" I started crying, "…and killed my parents! I saw everything!" Leader-sama motioned for Deidara and Itachi to leave. When Itachi shut the door, he sat in the chair he was previously sitting in. "Sakura. Please listen to me. IT was just a nightmare. No one will harm you." I stopped crying, and found comfort in this words. "Y-you promise?" "Of course." He showed a rare, small but visible smile on his face. "Are you going to be ok?" "Yeah. Because you promised." HE patted my head and left. I looked over at my clock, noon. Sasori was probably making lunch now. I washed my face and left for the kitchen-right on time.

Still freighted from my nightmare, I was extremely cautious of everyone. I sat next to Deidara. "Hey are you ok, un?" "Y-yeah." We thanked for the food, and everyone continued chatting while eating. Sasori, Deidara, Itachi, Kisame and I were the only ones at the table. Usually we were the only ones that were anyways. I looked up at Itachi who was talking to Kisame. I quickly looked down, and continued eating. For the first time, in a long time, I truly felt scared of everyone's presence. "You guys don't have any knives, do you?" Everyone looked at me like I was insane, ( which I'm starting to fell is partially true)."Why would you ask that Sakura-chan?" Deidara and Itachi knew why. "Just wondering." I continued eating, still feeling uneasy. "Hey! Sakura!" Tobi yelled at me, while tripping over something while running towards me. He gave me a hug, and I screamed, "D-don't kill me!" "Huh? Why would Tobi do that? Tobi is a good boy. "S-sorry Tobi." He shrugged it off, and continued what he was doing previously. Itachi looked at me like I was a wreck. I feel like it too. "Are you sure your ok Sakura?" "I don't know." I only showed one expression on my face- shock. And inside I only felt fear. I shouldn't let a mere nightmare get to me like this.

*a week later*

I woke up in a cold sweat. For a whole week I've had this nightmare. I just wanted to kill myself after having it. Inner refrained me from doing anything stupid though. I always screamed at the end of the nightmare too. On the second night, Konan came to my room to see if I was ok. But now, I think they are used to it. I truly feared everyone. I begged for mercy in the middle of conversations, and cried while training. I was an utter mess. After waking up, I got up to go outside, and sat on the edge of the dock for a bit. I got up and started walking around the perimeter of the lake. Walking on the lake always made me feel better. I felt someone's chakra as I walked back to the dock. "W-who's there?" "Sakura it's late. You should be in bed." It was Leader-sama. "I can't sleep." "Come with me." He held his hand out and slowly I took it. We were walking in the hallway, when everything went black.

*Pein's POV*

"sorry Sakura." I picked her up, and continued heading to the infirmary, where I met with Konan. "Everything ready?" She nodded. I laid Sakura onto the table. She had to be unconscious for us to do the tests. Her psychological thoughts were completely haywire. I sighed as I began to wonder what we should do. Konan returned with a large scroll. "I think you should look into it." She handed the large scroll to me."What's it about?" "A rare formula for a drug that can erase dreams and nightmares." I didn't even know there was such a thing. She smiled, hoping this was the answer we were searching for. The drug took three days to make. I looked back over at Sakura. I hoped this will work. I don't know what I'm going to do if it doesn't. I can't bear to see her go through this pain by herself.

*3 days later; No POV*

The pinkette started to wake up. She saw Konan talking with Leader-sama. Softly she said, "Please..just." The two looked over at her and walked towards her. "Leader-sama, Konan. Please kill me." The two were absolutely shocked. "What did you say Sakura?" Konan couldn't believe what she had said. "Please, do me a favor and kill me quickly. I can't take this anymore. I don't want to be scared. I hate that feeling." Pein walked over to a table and picked up a vile that contained a clear solution." "Drink this." Thinking it was poison; she agreed and was knocked out. Little did she know that was the drug Pein created.

*Sakura's POV*

'Inner, am I awake?' Inner didn't answer. I found myself in a decent looking apartment. I was stunned when I was myself. She looked about 10 years older than I am now. What was she wearing? I was shocked to see my future self standing in a Konoha ANBU outfit. She didn't notice me, I tried to talk with her, but then I began to disappear. "Sakura? Are you awake?" I woke up to find Leader-sama in my room standing over me. "Leader-sama!" I jumped out of bed and gave him a tight hug. "I'm glad your back blossom." I sat back on my bed. "Hey Leader-sama, can we get a cherry blossom tree?" Surprised by the random question he said, "Sure. What's with this all the sudden?" He smiled, glad to have a normal conversation with her again. "I just find them comforting." He nodded. "How are you feeling?" "Pretty good! I feel like training already!" I felt extremely energized.

He just looked at me and retorted, "Maybe later, you need some rest." "Aww! Come on Leader-sama! I feel fine!" He gave up quite easily this time. "You can go outside, but no training, ok?" "Hai!" I ran out of my room, to the dock. I swear it's the most calming place ever. I looked up at the sky and thought to my self. 'Thank you mother and father. I can finally move on and become strong. I won't have a sad ending like lonely blossom, promise!" I smiled, truly content. I could sense someone's chakra. Suddenly, Sasori sat next to me. Happy to see him, I gave him a hug. 'That's all you've been doing all day. It's like a freakin' hug fest!' We both looked at the lake, it was so serine. I've been meaning to ask him something, and I finally remembered. "Hey Sasori-kun. I've always wondered- why did you take me in that one day?" He smiled and looked down at the lake. "Because beauty is eternal." 'Aww!' I have no idea what that even means. "It's ok if you don't want to tell me." He laughed and stood up, soon after I joined him. "You must be hungry." He could totally read my mind. WE both walked back to the base, discussing what we should make for lunch.

*No POV*

The day was filled with laughter as the Akatsuki blossom was back to normal again. She talked to everyone normally, she didn't feel threatened at all, and most importantly- she didn't' have any nightmares.

(a/n) Uploading chapter 5 soon! Please review, and thank you so much for reading!3