Hey everyone!
First and foremost, I apologize for the 'emoness' of the last chapter. Still, thank you to everyone who reviewed, especially Nixxy-dear. Your review made my day Also, well done to L.M.D.A.A. and Nixxy for guessing who were the 'unknowns' in the last chappie.
This chapter is slightly crazy, almost crack, and was meant to be the return of the humour. I just wanted the story to relax a little, give our dear Saku-chan a little breather. Too much happening.
Anyway, Lil old me. I sincerely apologize for the 'emoness'. Please review and tell me if this chapter is any better. I enjoy constructive criticism. And anyway, Sakura is NOT going to die. But that's a secret, so shhh.
Sakura's eyes felt heavy, and it sounded like someone was raping a drum right next to her ear, judging by the deafening pounding in her head. She groaned, not recognising her surroundings at all – she hadn't slept on a soft and comfy bed ever since she left Akatsuki – but decided to keep the fact that she was awake a secret for now. Instead she tried to recall what had happened that led to her current predicament.
Oww… scratch that. Find some painkillers first, and then think.
She opened her eyes and stood up shakily, intending to find the closest painkiller possible as her chakra was still dangerously low, but was stopped by a loud squeal and someone glomping her, causing her already non-existent balance to topple.
"Oof!" she grunted as her back hit the floor. The… surprisingly soft floor. Carpet?
"Saku-chan! We thought we lost you just then! What the hell were you thinking, almost killing yourself like that, huh?"
"Umi! Get the hell off her! She can't breathe, stupid!"
"Oi! I'm not stupid!"
"Wha…What the hell…?" Sakura hissed, clutching her head. She blinked a few times, finally noticing the two in front of her. "Umi-chan? Shiso? Why're you guys here?" her common sense had decided to take a vacation.
"We live here, you dummy! And we were looking after you!" Umi supplied cheerfully.
"Correction, I was looking after you, while the idiot over there attempted to 'help'." Shiso corrected, irritated, handing her a glass of water and two white pills. "Painkillers." He answered her wordless question, kneeling next to her. "Are you feeling any better?"
Sakura swallowed the pills gratefully, and considered his question. Her wounds seemed to have been healed, and all that was left now was the sore muscles and headache. "Yeah… I'm still sore all over though."
"Aa." Shiso nodded, rubbing his neck sheepishly. "Sorry, can't do anything about that, unfortunately. I'm still learning." At her blank look, the brunette snorted. "Who do you think healed you, eh?"
The rosette blinked. "You?" she asked curiously. When he nodded, she smiled. "Should've known. Umi doesn't have the patience for medical ninjutsu."
"Hey! That's mean, Saku-chan!" Umi objected. "I'll have you know, I got to Tokubetsu Jounin just fine without patience."
"Special Jounin?" Sakura echoed.
"Yeah. Both of us are Jounin, it's just me that's the Tokubetsu. I'm the all-round; defence, offence and T&I, while Shi-kun just got his genin team last week." Umi explained.
Sakura chuckled. "Shiso and little genin?" she hid a snort. "Impossible."
"I'm actually doing rather well, thank you very much. It could've been much worse – I could've ended up with two temperamental idiot girls on my team, and a quiet, laid-back guy forced to put up with them." He grumbled at the end.
"Are you describing your team," Sakura started.
"Or us?" Umi finished with a grin. "'cause that's really mean if you're talking about us, y'know. Our feelings are hurt." She sniffed dramatically.
"Meh. Just teasing. My team's fine – a nin-tai-gen combination. Pretty varied, if you ask me, but I can deal." He shrugged. "But that's not what I wanted to talk about."
Sakura paled at the serious air in the room, and the rapid change from Shiso's teasing to no-bullshit attitude. Even Umi wasn't laughing anymore.
"What the hell did you do that got you so fucked up?" he gestured to the pinkish flesh of her still-healing arm, the multiple scars on her abdomen and legs. That's when Sakura realised that she was only in her chest bindings and black shorts, but she was too tired to be embarrassed. "I want details, Sakura-chan, so speak up. No lies."
The rosette briefly considered lying, but decided against it. They were Umi and Shiso. The only two people she could honestly say she trusted with her life.
So she told them. Everything.
She talked about her life in the Akatsuki, training, her parents, the chuunin exams, the bonds she made with some of the Konoha ninja, her weird dream at the hospital which led to awakening her Rinnegan, the betrayal, and the moment they had to separate.
Sakura paused for a moment, giving them time to take it all in before she continued.
She spoke of her confrontation with Pein, eavesdropping on his conversation with the fake 'Madara', her reunion with Itachi, his plan regarding Sasuke – everything. She was interrupted when she told them about being sent to Oto and meeting Sasuke.
"Wait, wait, wait. Are you seriously trying to say that your dad sent you to the guy you hated most of all, because he was afraid you were stronger than him."
"Yes Umi." Shiso ground out. "Now, shut up and let her continue."
Sakura continued, talking about the deal she made with Sasuke, their spars, missions, her personal dilemma, discovering the Sage of Six Paths technique, using it on Sasori, meeting the leaf nin again, leaving another riddle in Neji's pocket, and the suicidal mission Orochimaru sent them on.
"The rest you already know. I killed them all, almost died myself, used what little chakra I had left to teleport myself to the closest village and collapsed. The end."
The rosette didn't look up when she finished, afraid that she would see the hatred and disgust in their eyes. She couldn't bear the thought of losing their trust. That's why she nearly jumped when she felt two pairs of arms wrap around her – one around her shoulders, the other round her waist.
"Poor Saku-chan." Umi sobbed. "Why did you leave the village? No one should have to go through the shit you've been put through. And how can you still stay happy? You've had everything taken away from you. How can you stand it?" she whispered.
Shiso's cheek was pressed against her own, but she still felt his body shaking with quiet sobs. "Umi's right, you know. You should've run, Sakura. No one should be forced to do what you have done. It's inhumane."
Sakura was frozen. They were crying. Umi and Shiso were crying.
And they were crying for her.
"Ha, take that, Shi-kun! Checkmate!" Umi crowed, fist-pumping the air.
After the waterworks subsided and they all shared a hug and many comforting words, they had decided to lift the sullen mood by playing shougi.
Correction: Umi had decided.
Sakura was sitting at the table munching on some dango and watching the two with a fond smile on her face. It had been too long since she'd felt so relaxed. And with her two ex-teammates, she could be herself without having to explain anything.
She shivered as a particularly cool breeze came from the open window. Wearing just bandages and shorts wasn't a too great idea in Ame. It was just too bad that Umi had chosen that moment to look up.
"Oh yeah, Saku-chan… Your cloak was basically annihilated by Shiso when we found you and used as bandages, and the shirt was too soaked up in blood to be usable. We'd saved the weapons and sealing scrolls you had though! It's just your cloak and shirt that didn't make it." Umi's eyes glinted. "That means we get to play dress-up!"
Sakura paled. "What? No! I can just wear one of Shi-kun's shirts, right? N-no need to get excited, Umi-chan!" She stammered.
"Nuh-uh, Saku-chan! No way am I gonna let you wear another oversized shirt. Do you enjoy looking like a boy? You're going to wear my clothes and you're going to like them!"
The rosette sent a desperate look at Shiso. "Help me here, Shi-kun! I don't wanna look like her personal doll!"
"Sorry, Sakura-chan. Umi's stubborn and if she wants you to do something, she'll have you do it."
Sakura didn't miss the despair that shone in Shiso's eyes, or the way his hand moved almost protectively to his hair. She shivered at the mere thought of what that could mean.
"Come on, Saku-chan! I've to fix your hair as well!" Umi said enthusiastically. "Seriously, when was the last time you used conditioner?"
"No." Sakura said in her best deadpan. "Absolutely not."
"Come on, Saku-chan! You look absolutely adorable!" Umi gushed, gazing proudly at her creation.
"I will not leave the house dressed like this." Sakura gestured to the mirror, her horrified reflection staring right back at her. "I look like a friggin' doll."
"Duh! That's the point, Saku-chan!"
Sakura gazed in the mirror, still disturbed by what Umi had managed to do to her in less than two hours.
No longer did she have the hope of hiding in her cloak's big and comforting folds when she wanted to cry. Umi chose bold, formfitting clothes which Sakura would've never even looked at, if it was her choice (she briefly wonders how was it possible for Umi's clothes to fit her perfectly, even though she was at least four inches taller than the girl).
She had on an emerald green skirt that ended a few inches above her knee and fishnet tights, her knee-length black boots being the only thing Umi allowed her to keep. That goes together with a pristine white V-neck t-shirt with a mesh shirt underneath and a trench-coat the same emerald green as her skirt.
And her hair. Oh god. That was the worst. Umi had cut it so it was now just a little above her shoulder blades, but that wasn't all. The redhead insisted on weaving beads into Sakura's hair. Green and white beads on pink hair. The cut was a little like a bob, framing her face and her bangs swept to the side of her forehead.
In summary?
She looked like a doll. No threat-factor at all.
When Shiso saw Sakura come out of Umi's bedroom, he choked on his water.
"I know. It's bad and I look ridiculous, and it's all. Your. Damn. Fault!"
"I-It could've been worse." Shiso denied meekly. But the glare Sakura sent him shut him up. Girls were fuckin scary.
That's when Umi hopped into the room, a bright smile glowing on her face. "Isn't she adorable, Shi-kun? She looks just like a little doll I used to have when I was five!"
Sakura turned to the redhead, a murderous aura emanating from her. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you right where you stand." She hissed.
Umi exhaled slowly and then proceeded to fix Sakura with a stare, all traces of teasing gone. "Because I love you, very, very much." She said in a deadpan voice, worthy of a very pissed off Sakura.
Sakura stared for a moment. Then blinked. "That is somehow disturbing. Never do it again."
Shiso, who had been observing the exchange between his girlfriend and close friend, couldn't take it anymore. He burst out laughing, bent over and clutching at his stomach, tears coming from his eyes and rapidly sliding down his face.
"You two – should – drop being – a ninja – and – become – fucking comedians!" he wheezed out between fits of laughter.
Sakura turned to face Umi. "You know, I was pissed off before. Now I'm outright depressed."
Umi smiled sheepishly. "Eh, could anything make you feel better?" she asked.
"The only sight that would make me feel better would be Shiso going out and jumping in some puddles. But that's a tad unlikely to happen."
Shiso, who had now calmed down from his laughing fit, scowled. "Just a tad, of course." He said sarcastically.
"Ne, Saku-chan, do you want some sake?" Umi asked cheerfully, going to the kitchen to retrieve said drink.
"Sure. You get the alcohol while I get the cards." Sakura agreed. This was probably the most unprofessional behaviour she'd ever showed, but she was relaxed for the first time in ages, and frankly, she couldn't care less.
"Strip poker, anyone?"
After decidedly too many shots of sake, and more than enough clothing items discarded, the trio lay on the living room carpet, flushed and wheezing with laughter. They didn't really care that what made them laugh in the first place was said over half an hour ago, they were all still laughing.
Suddenly, Umi sat up, digging her elbow into Shiso's gut.
"Hey," she hiccupped, "Saku-chan, didn't you say that there's another crazy guy in Akatsuki that's posing as Madara-hic-Uchiha?"
"Yeah, there – hic – is. I don't know who he is, though." Sakura shrugged. She was the least intoxicated, though Shiso didn't seem to be doing too bad either.
"Do you want us to help you out?" he asked with only a single hiccup at the end. "Knowing who he is will make everything easier."
"Yeah. Makes sense. But for that we need a sober Umi though." Sakura frowned. "May I do the honours?"
"Be my guest." Shiso smirked.
Sakura walked over to the redhead and fought off the urge to facepalm. The girl was obviously tipsy, and her intoxicated state seemed to make her unbelievably hyper. Not good.
"Umi-chan!" slap!
Umi blinked. "Eh?" her hand rose to touch her reddening cheek. "Oww… Why'd you do that, Saku-chan?" she asked tearfully.
"We need your help."
Shiso was right – it was much easier when all three of them sat down and brainstormed together. Sakura had drawn them a basic profile of each of the important members, and they spent the next our crossing out all of the downright impossible possibilities.
They were currently down to Kakuzu, Sasori, Itachi… and Tobi.
"It's not Sasori – he's dead. Itachi… do you even need to know that? Kakuzu seems too preoccupied with his money to bother, and Tobi is just ridiculous! He can't even throw a kunai properly!" Sakura exclaimed, exasperated. "Though… he does have a pretty impressive Yin-Yang Release…" she added as an afterthought.
"It's always the quiet ones, Sakura." Shiso added quietly.
Sakura felt her stomach flip over. "Who'd have thought… Tobi, the infamous loudmouth and idiot of Akatsuki, strong enough to pose as Madara Uchiha and have my father address him per –sama? What has the world come to." She whispered.
"Sakura-chan…" Umi muttered, placing a comforting hand on the rosette's shoulder. "It's always darkest before the dawn."
"And we'll always be with you, no matter what." Shiso added, his own emotion leaking into his declaration.
The rosette looked at her two friends, tears glistening in her eyes as she stubbornly held them back. "Thanks, Umi, Shiso. Thank you, so much."
She smiled.
Well… It was meant to be a humorous chapter, but the ending was still a little gloomy. Anyway, hope you liked it, and stay tuned for the next update!
Sayonara for now!
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