Disclaimer: See chapter one.
Ghost of Love: Chapter Six
Sakura shifted uncomfortably, somewhere in the space between slumber and wakefulness. Her body ached abominably, head pounding and muscles clenching spasmodically. She became vaguely aware that she couldn't move properly; she was trapped somehow and panic set in with frightening speed. Her eyes shot open and she struggled mindlessly against her bindings.
"Slow to awaken again, hmm, little one?"
Sakura's eyes flitted shut again, her limbs stilling as memories returned in a violent flood. Oh right. Damn it… why did I ever come up with such a stupid scheme? She silently berated herself, trying to force her body to relax against the horrible sensation of being restrained against her will. Maybe if I don't move he'll think I was just having a nightmare? Not likely, but on the off chance it might work…
His voice came from much closer this time and Sakura silently tracked his progress across the room by the sound.
"You do need to practice your deception, you know. Your eyes are shut far too tightly for sleep and your lips are pursed with tension."
Cool fingers tapped the corners of her eyes and lips lightly and Sakura flinched, trying to burrow deeper into the mattress.
His tongue clicked with mock disapproval. "Flinching, too? And your heartbeat, my dear, is just racing," fingertips rested on her wrist, pressing firmly against her fluttering pulse. "…need I comment on your rapid breathing?"
Giving up on any pretence of sleep, Sakura forced her eyes open and found herself staring, frozen, into the eyes of the looming snake sannin. His soft, dark hair tickled her arm and throat and she swallowed heavily, blinking against the faint glow he seemed to give off. What happens now?
Orochimaru sighed lightly, as though disappointed his little game was over already and lifted her hand, snapping a cool silvery band around her wrist.
"There- that should keep your chakra under control."
He straightened and withdrew a kunai, ignoring Sakura's fearful gasp at the sight of the weapon. With four swift, neat strokes the ropes that bound the coral-maned kunoichi fell away, leaving her almost more afraid now than she had been before, wondering what was to come.
"Now, my dear, there is simply the little matter of giving me all that excess power you don't need," he purred, dragging one finger lightly across her cheek.
Sakura hissed in a shocked breath and bounded off the bed, twisting herself agilely around Orochimaru in order to get past him. The dark-haired rogue chuckled with amusement at her antics, watching with glittering eyes as she landed a metre away from him and promptly collapsed into a jumbled heap on the floor.
"You haven't moved for nearly two days, sweet Sakura; your body is hardly in any condition to be leaping around like that," he smirked as he knelt gracefully by her side.
Sakura flinched back and tried to scramble away from the snake sannin. "Don't touch me, you monster," she snarled breathlessly, giving up on any hope of escaping at this moment; her body quite simply refused to cooperate with her demands. She settled for hunching over protectively, trying to make herself the smallest target possible.
Orochimaru narrowed his golden eyes, not trying to hide the malicious spark that entered them. He crept slowly closer to the cowering kunoichi, every movement catlike and deliberate. "I had rather thought that I was being remarkably hospitable, considering you came into my home and attempted to kill me," with every carefully spoken word he stalked nearer, pinning Sakura to the spot with his cold gaze, until he hovered over her trembling form. He leaned in and brushed her hair aside, using his immense physical presence to keep her still. "Albeit rather pathetically," he purred against the shell of her ear, eliciting a shiver from the wide-eyed girl.
Sakura blinked, her uncontrollable body almost following him as Orochimaru withdrew and sat back, taking his warmth with him. What the hell…? She swallowed, trying to force some moisture into her suddenly dry mouth. With a shaky breath she wrapped her arms around her waist in an attempt to create some sort of barrier against the now impassive snake sannin. Slowly, as the shock began to wear off, Sakura felt the pain set back in. Her muscles clenched spasmodically, while the ache in her head pounded in time with her heartbeat.
"I-I thought you said this band… thing, would keep my chakra under control?" Sakura whispered, her teeth chattering as a horrible trembling set in to her body. She hesitantly held out her hand, indicating the slowly writhing bracelet that encircled her wrist.
"It is controlling your chakra. Note how the earth is not rising around you, how your body does not glow with the aura of your power?" he paused, waiting for her nod before continuing. "The band does not control how much chakra you produce, it merely ties what you do produce to the confines of your body. And that, little one, is why you need me," the snake sannin smirked at the girl, his lips curling into a cheshire grin.
"…oh."
AN: Hmmm... not sure what I think of this one. Let me know what you guys think of it? *entices with homemade christmas cake* XD