Flaming Heart
Disclaimer: You know…
Author's Note: Thank you all for the wonderful reviews! Let them keep coming –grins-
What she would not give to see their faces?
Sakura would pay to see the faces of those who always stared down at her, the ones who always believed that she would not succeed as kunoichi. The weakest, they called her behind her back.
She knew as she walked down the streets, marching painfully slow, that she was definitely strong.
No one… would be able to endure the heartache. No one would find the courage to leave while the person you love the most is sleeping, having no idea that you will be forever gone. She left without a word or a note. She was leaving and she was taking his heart with her. Slowly the pink-haired girl stared at the grey sky and shivered slightly as she realized that a storm was coming. Maybe the skies were feeling her pain. Maybe the skies would cry the tears that she so stubbornly refused to let go.
Sakura kept walking, the sharp pain inside her chest ached as if her heart was on fire. Her heart was flaming… flaming with despair, flaming with deceiving hopes that a miracle would come.
A dry sob instantly came out of her mouth as her green orbs stopped at the enormous gates, the green dark forest waiting for her. Sakura eyes stopped on the silhouette that was standing by the gates. She nodded in a resigned way at Sarutobi who had a serene expression on his old features. He waved at her, greeting her back.
She finally reached the gates, her eyes stared in surprise at the old man extended arm, a brown bag in his hand, "I took the liberty to prepare you a small traveling bag," said Sarutobi, his lips curved upwards at her thankful expression. He noticed that she had nothing else with her.
"Thank you," said Sakura as she held the bag. A long moment of silence passed while she stared at the forest, "It feels strange…" said Sakura at last, "like a wheel has started to spin abnormally fast," she added with a long sigh. The nervous feeling in her stomach… it didn't seem as if it was going to disappear any time soon.
"Hmm, the same wheel of fate you have been playing with…" Sakura stared at him, her rosy swollen lips parted, confusion was evident in her eyes, "You can feel them… the consequences making their way toward you, isn't that right?"
A gust of wind rose at the Third's words. Her pink hair flew away in every direction. She gulped, then forced herself to stay put. She could not think of it right now. If she were going to leave, she would have to do it while she still had time, while she did not have any second thoughts.
"It's difficult to let go," Sakura eyed the old man, surprised at his gentle tone of voice, "There are things that we never want to let go, people that we do not want to leave behind…" Sarutobi paused, his intense gaze analyzed her tired and worried pale features, "You have to understand that you do not belong here,"
Sakura lips pressed tightly at his words. She knew he was right. She did not belong there. But it was too late now. She had forged bonds… true bonds that she thought she would never be able to built… after… what happened with team seven.
"I know," she whispered, a sad smile in her ghost-like face, "I know," she repeated strongly.
"Sakura-chan!" A familiar voice made her blood freeze. Sakura eyes expanded as she looked down at Kenji, "Sakura-chan…" the young boy paused as he bent forward, his hands on his knees, trying to calm down his heavy-breathing, "we have been looking everywhere for you!"
Sakura's sudden strength dissipated away. Kenji looked straight at the pink-haired girl as he straightened up, his deep brown eyes stared at the brown bag in her hands, "are you going somewhere?" he asked, pointing at the bag.
The old man stepped forward towards Rin's brother as Sakura already pale face got paler. Sakura stepped backwards, her heart threatening to stop at any moment. She eyed the small boy with tears forming in her green orbs. Dammit, she couldn't… she wouldn't cry. She had promised herself.
"Sakura-chan…" Kenji whispered as she turned her back on him.
"Kenji," Sarutobi's voice stopped Sakura from running away, "Sakura is going on a small mission,"
Kenji looked at the old man and then towards the pink-haired girl back, "Oh," he said, his confused face changing to his usual one, "Sakura-chan, will you be gone for long?"
Sakura half-turned around and forced a smile on her face, "I'll be back before you can blink!" she added in a fake cheerful voice. Kenji grinned back at her, not noticing the fake tone.
"Be back soon!" the young boy exclaimed as he dashed towards her, embracing her in a tight hug.
Sakura was surprised at his tight grip. She was not sure if she was imagining it, but she had the odd sensation that he knew that she wasn't going to come back. She hugged him back, fighting back the tears that she wanted so badly to cry at this point.
"Good-bye," she muttered under her breath as she messed the boy's hair, "Watch out for your brother and sister while I'm gone, will you?"
Kenji nodded and walked back to Sarutobi's side. He smiled softly at the pink-haired girl as she shot him a last look before he lost her from his sight, the tall trees hiding her, taking her away to her unknown destiny. Kenji turned to look at the old man.
Sarutobi eyes were still on the forest as if he could see deeper than he could. As if he could see things, that no one else could. Kenji tucked at the man's sleeve, "She's not coming back is she?"
The old man offered him a sympathetic smile, "You always been the smart one, haven't you?" Sarutobi asked, taking the boy along with him, "Sakura has her own path to follow now,"
Kenji looked up at the old man and nodded. He was not sure what that was supposed to mean, but it did not matter. Sakura had to return… for nee-san's sake.
Rin took a deep breath as she turned around and marched down the street. Her trek was quick and her brown eyes were wide-open, alert, trying to spot a certain pink-haired girl. She had been looking for Sakura since this morning.
The last night words haunted the medic-nin's mind as she carried on her search. A void filled her soul when after a few hours; she realized that Sakura was nowhere to be seen.
She had not even come home last night.
The brunette girl knew she had been unfair. She allowed her bitter side to come to the surface and could only watch impotently, like a mere spectator as the strange Rin took over her confused and torn emotions. Sure, she felt guilty but she also felt a lot better. The heavy weight, the words stuck in her throat were gone, the air around her seemed to be cleaner and she could now breathe easy.
She checked the training fields, the graveyard, the Ramen shop, the nearest inn, the hospital, the Hokage tower, everywhere but one place.
She suddenly turns left and finds herself facing his house. How was she supposed to tell him? How was she supposed to tell him about their fight? What was he going to think about it? Would he blame her? Would he hate her?
Her heart stung at her final thought. She would not be able to endure it if the silver-haired nin hated her.
A cold shivered descended her spine as she stepped forward to his door. She could hear her frantic heart beat.
"Sakura-chan," she whispered softly, the palm of her hand caressed Kakashi's door softly.
Rin took a deep breathe and nodded to herself. She could do it. Softly, she knocked at the door.
Inside, on the messy bed, a lone figure shifted to the left, his eyes slowly opened. Kakashi let out a small yawn and looked at the empty space. He quickly sat up and shoved his blankets away. Why did she leave? Where had she gone to?
He slowly stood up and his hand rubbed his stomach. A strange terrifying feeling possessed him as he made his way to the corridor. It looked like someone was at the door. The knocks had become louder, almost desperate knocks. He spotted his pants on the floor and quickly put them on.
"Alright! I'm coming!" he half-shouted as he hurried toward the door. He sighed deeply and opened the door. His eyes fell on the brunette girl who looked back at him, her eyes filled with tears.
Kakashi suddenly felt scared, his heart beat became faster and faster as he stood there lost at words staring at the medic-nin.
Rin looked at Kakashi's naked face and torso. She quickly lowered her head, her brown hair hiding her crying features. She tried to calm down so that she could be able to say something, but there was something more inside her. Her heart beat was fiercely driving her insane, nudging her to say everything she wanted to say, to risk it, because she might lose her opportunity to find out the truth.
The air suddenly became almost unreachable around them. Kakashi slowly moved aside so that she could get inside. Rin stepped forwards, not once staring at him.
"R-Rin?" Kakashi whispered as he quietly closed the door behind them. When he received no answer he began to worry. What had happened?, "Rin?" the silver-haired nin asked again, "Rin please say something,"
Rin's head slowly lifted and she opened her mouth to say something but instead a large sniffling sob came out. Kakashi swallowed dry as he closed the space between them. It was painfully to see Rin's crying.
The brunette-haired girl did not answer and only kept on crying. Kakashi wrapped one of his warm arms around her shoulders and pulled her closer. He shushed her until her uncontrollable sobs were only soft sniffles.
"Why are you crying? Did something happen?" he asked, kissing her forehead afterwards. His thoughts were torn between the crying girl and a certain pink-haired girl that mysteriously disappeared.
"K-Kakashi-kun?" Rin asked shaky.
"Yeah?" The silver-haired jounin answered rubbing her back as she leaned closer to him.
"D-do yy-you love me?" Rin asked looking up at him.
His mismatched eyes widened in shock for a moment before he smiled sadly at her. His heart lurched with something painful as if he got stabbed without warning. He surely did not expect that question. He had always been conscious about her feelings, since they were genins. He had always hoped that she would find someone else, a better person, someone that could love her back.
"Rin… you look tired. I think you should go get some sleep," Kakashi said.
"No!" She said tightening her grip on his arm. "Answer the question!"
"Rin you know you're very important to me…" Kakashi began.
Her whole body froze, became like ice and felt as if it broke in tiny pieces. Pieces that you could not glue back, ever again.
"No… Kakashi… it's either you do or don't!" She cried, "J-just answer the question," Rin insisted, she needed to hear it, clear and loud that he did not love her. She wanted to memorize his haunting and hurtful words so that she could remind herself, that she was nothing to him, just a mere teammate, a burden that he promised to always look after.
Kakashi remained silent hanging his head. Rin looked up at him disbelieving and hurt before pushing herself away from him, "I knew it. I was right," Rin started, her whole body shivered but she paid no mind to it, "A burden… Oh God," one her hand clutched to her chest, "Oh God Kakashi! Why? Why didn't you just walk away from your promise? Am I so pitiable that you had to stand your ground and just pretend to care a-about m-me?!"
She shattered her own heart into smaller pieces as she spat those unwanted and hurtful words.
Kakashi looked up at Rin. His eyes seemed like ice to her and she consciously trembled strongly. She stepped away noticing that she had angered him.
"I don't know what you want me to say," he said at last, his voice was low and dark.
He could not believe that she had said that. He could not believe that she thought that he pitied her...
"Say…" she paused, "Say t-t-that you love me!" she cried shaking her head.
Kakashi made his way towards her and hugged her hard ignoring her effort to push him away. Rin finally gave up and continued to sob. He did not say anything to ease or increase her distress.
"Rin?" Kakashi whispered into her hair.
The brown haired girl looked up at him tears still staining her cheeks. Slowly he reached up and wiped away a few tears that were about to make their way down her face.
"You deserve so much more than me," Kakashi said, his mismatched eyes staring down at her.
Rin gasped as she stared at his crimson eye. Obito's eye. They were both refusing her, they were both rejecting her.
"B-but I want you! YOU! D-don't you get it? P-please say you want me too…"
"I care way too much about you to lie," Kakashi said closing his eyes. This was becoming harder.
Rin's anger flared up and she tried to pull herself away from his tight and warm embrace. More tears fell down her pale features like cascades. She carried on pulling even though she knew she couldn't get away from Kakashi's tight grip.
"Let me go!!" Rin sobbed punching him in the chest. Kakashi kept her close refusing to let her go, "Then why? Why can't you love me…" she asked as she stopped moving.
She laughed softly as she stared at his pleadingly eyes. Rin knew why. She just wanted him to tell her. She wanted to hear him saying.
Kakashi was silent for a moment before his lips moved, his voice was faint, barely a whisper. With his head down, Rin could not read his lips nor hear him clearly, but somehow she had heard it.
"Sakura,"
Rin finally freed herself and walked towards his door. She slowly opened it while Kakashi remained in the middle of the corridor looking at her trembling back, with pitiful and sorry eyes.
She slowly turned around. There were no more tears to cry. She had heard what she wanted to know. Rin swallowed dry and opened her mouth, "She's gone. Sakura is gone," then she turned her back on him and stepped outside.
Her eyes stared at the dark-grey sky that forced the sun to hide. It seemed as if a storm was coming. The winter along with it.
"What do you mean she's gone?" he asked her, his mismatched eyes were wide and panic could be read in them.
Rin did not turn away to look at him, "I've looked everywhere for her since this morning,"
Kakashi heart almost exploded against his chest. He omitted that the pink-haired girl had spent the morning in his house, "Are you sure? Maybe s-she just-"
"NEE-SAN!"
Both of them quickly glanced at the running boy. He stopped between them a smile plastered in his face clearly not realizing their cold mood, "I saw Sakura-chan!"
"Where?" Kakashi quickly asked.
Did you really leave?
"I saw her at the gates! The third was with her. He said Sakura-chan was going on a small mission," Kenji said, noticing now their rigid postures.
Rin eyes widened at Kenji's response. So she was right. Sakura-chan really did leave.
"When?!" Kakashi asked kneeling down, his arms shook the young boy.
Kenji gulped at Kakashi's scared face. He thought Kakashi was never scared, "I… almost one hour ago,"
Kakashi didn't know what to think. He let go of the boy and stood up. Small droplets of rain fell down on them. The sky could no longer hold back.
"Kakashi," Rin said, surprising herself and him with her cool and collected voice. She slowly turned around and looked at him, "I go pack. You go and try to find out where she is heading to,"
Kakashi nodded and quickly turned around.
There was no time to lose.
Sakura… why?
Sakura suddenly stops; she stretches her arms and looks at the crying sky. A gentle wind brushed through her skin, a cold feeling traveled down her spine.
She needed to hurry. The pink-haired girl quickly looked behind her shoulder. She could no longer see the tall Konoha's gates which was a good sign. However, she could not see yet the borders. She was still in the fire country domain, she could still easily be found.
Fighting back the tears that she so badly wanted to let go, she dashed between the trees, her heart raced at the adrenaline, at the feeling of letting him go.
Did Sasuke feel like this when he walked away? Did Sasuke feel this broken at every step he took?
Sakura shook her head, those thoughts only made her feel worse. Her emerald eyes are wide opened as she carries on, running, never stopping.
Don't look back, she told herself over and over again.
But it was easier said than done.
Because behind her, was everything she came to love, a possible life that she could have lived.
Behind her were the many, 'what if'
She chocked back a sob, "I do not regret it," she whispered, "For you Naruto… for you,"
Because in the end that bond was the strongest one. Despite her heartache, despite her strong need to go back and bury her head in his strong chest.
Naruto would have done the same for her. Naruto had always been there for her and she never had the opportunity to pay him back.
She smiled at the sweet mental picture that her head displayed for her over and over again.
A young Naruto at his mother's lap. Minato-sensei making funny faces. A sulking Kakashi because he had to babysit and a sweet-smiling Rin by his side.
Because that's how things should be.
His blue eyes darted away from the silver-haired jounin. He stared at the old man who was smiling a secret smile. Sarutobi looked back at Minato, his face quickly fell into a blank mask, and the smile vanished at once as if it never been there before.
"Sarutobi," Minato started, "Where did you send the girl to?"
Sarutobi eyebrows rose. It amazed him how blindly he trusted his student. He did not even ask him if it was true.
"Ahh, the pink-haired girl you mean?" asked Sarutobi ignoring Kakashi cold glare.
Minato arched a blonde eyebrow; his face showed the impatience he was feeling, "Yes," he finally said.
"I don't know where she is heading to," said Sarutobi as he walked closer to the window. He looked down at the streets; the heavy rain looked like a long curtain that fell down from the sky. A curtain that danced with the wind. His eyes widened slightly as he saw her.
Rin, the medic-nin running down the street. A backpack on her back.
"I received Tsunade's letter and I simply delivered it to the girl," Sarutobi answered turning around.
Minato nodded and looked at Kakashi, "If she's going to Tsunad-"
"That's not it!" Kakashi said, gritting his teeth as he looked at them, "It's something more… I… please Minato-sensei,"
The blonde-haired man looked at Kakashi, "Kakashi I think we both know that something like this was bound to happen sometime soon,"
Kakashi shook his head, "You don't understand,"
"Very well, go gather a party search team," said Minato noticing the light in his student eye, "Kakashi, do not force her to come back,"
Kakashi was suddenly taken back with his sensei words. Sarutobi quickly turned around and peeked through the window. The brown-haired girl was long gone.
"B-but-"
"Trust me Kakashi… Jiraiya and Tsunade are hiding something from us, the very same thing Sakura is hiding from us," Minato said noticing that Kakashi had realized it as well, "If Sakura left it's because she does not wish to stay,"
Kakashi slowly shook his head, "She wants to stay…" he whispered before he left the Hokage's office.
Don't you Sakura?
Rin took another soldier pill and quickly ran between the trees, cursing under her breath as the heavy rain made it harder to track the pink-haired girl down. She jumped up to one of the tree branches; her brown eyes scanned the area for a clue, for anything at all that indicated that Sakura had been there. Rin sighed when she saw nothing, nothing at all. She did not stop though, she carried on. She was going to find Sakura… for him.
If she couldn't be happy, at least she wanted him to be. She wanted him to carry on smiling. His smiles were already a rare sight even with the pink-haired girl presence.
The medic-nin took another soldier pill as she jumped to another tree branch. She was not doing it only for him. She was doing it also for her.
Sakura had been the link, the replacing piece of a broken puzzle. Sakura had brought them hope, had made them see that life was not yet over with them. Sakura made her laugh and made her smile again. More importantly, Sakura brought him back to life.
Before her, Kakashi was a ghost, his eyes only saw his lost friend, and his eyes only saw her, the girl he had to take care of. That's what Rin was. A promise, a promise that the silver-haired young man held to, that kept him going.
But not anymore.
He could go now on his own. He had Sakura now.
"SAKURA-CHAN!" Rin called out as she ran forward, "Sakura-chan…"
It was too dark to carry on. Sakura came to a final stop as she spotted a good place to rest for the night. The tall trees protected her from the most of the rain. The sky roared and flashed to life, illuminating her slender figure for a few seconds. Sakura had dark rings around her eyes, her nose
and cheeks had become red. She wished that she had remembered to bring something warm. That's when she remembered. The blanket.
Her shivering hands opened the bag and she pulled out the brown blanket. She quickly placed it around her, feeling no difference of temperature. She was already soaking wet, her pink-hair glued to her face.
She slowly placed herself close to the tree, leaning her back against the tree body. She could still feel a few particles of rain falling down on her but it was better than carrying on under the intense rain that the trees could not offer protection to. A long sigh escaped her almost purple lips as she stared ahead, her emerald eyes lost in the darkness.
Her mind played the sound of kisses, the sound of their moans, the sound of her name coming out of his sweet lips. She shivered more fiercely, clenched her jaw and tried to think of something else. It was too late.
She remembered it so clearly, the emotion in his eyes. That look that she would never forget. The look that told her that he wanted her, the look that told her that he needed her… the look that told her he loved her.
Tears escaped her eyes and she became mad at herself. While he looked at her so tenderly, having no idea… she had looked back at him with a look that told him good-bye.
Her cries became louder, she hugged herself bringing the blanket closer and not noticing the shadowed figures approach her. They came soundless like a thief comes in the night. Her head was down; her shoulders trembled with each sob.
"Sakura Haruno," a cold male voice echoed through the air, reaching her ears.
Slowly, she looked up at the masked ANBU in front of her. Her vision was somewhat blurry so she wiped her tears away, a last sob escaping her lips. She forced herself up, dropping the blanket to the floor. Her eyes fell on the masked ANBU. She noticed two others behind him still shielded by the darkness.
"Yes?" Sakura questioned, her heart thumping stronger and faster.
"We have orders to take you with us," the same ANBU spoke, "We do not wish to harm you so we ask you not to show any resistance,"
Sakura nodded slowly taking in the ANBU words. Her eyes were still looking at the shadowed figures. Had Minato-sensei ordered them to bring her back? Would not Sarutobi intervene for her?
The pink-haired girl stepped back, her back met the tree. The ANBU remained still, waiting for a response.
"I cannot go with you," Sakura said at last, "Go back and tell the Hokage that I have a mission to complete,"
There was a snort, she couldn't tell either it was from the ANBU she was speaking with or from the hidden figures.
"You do not understand," the ANBU replied, "We cannot go back without you,"
Something in the back of her mind told her to run. However, she stood firm, her emerald eyes on the ANBU figure.
"Then you leave me no choice but to resist," Sakura said, swallowing dry.
The ANBU stepped forward, "Don't be foolish," there was a warning tone in his voice, "You are surrounded,"
Her eyes widened. Why would Minato-sensei send an ANBU battalion after her? Something was clearly not right.
Sakura instantly adopted a defensive position, "I'm not going," she muttered darkly. Suddenly the weight of the note in her pocket seemed to have become heavier as if it was reminding her of the task in hand.
"You have no-"
The ANBU quickly jumped backwards as three kunai flew straight at him. Sakura did not lose any time, she ran towards him, fist ready to hit its target.
She narrowed her eyes as her fist met a piece of wood. The ANBU had used a replacement technique. She looked straight at the other two ANBU that did not seem to have the intention to fight her.
Good. She would not stand a chance fighting three ANBU at the same time.
The hair of the back of her neck stood up as she felt a presence behind her. She quickly turned around and blocked the ANBU kick. Her hand held his ankle. The ANBU sounded surprised when he tried to pull his leg back. He cried out in pain as his leg bones broke.
Sakura quickly let go of his leg and hurried towards his stumbling figure. With the palm of her hand she hit his chest and sent him flying across the forest. His tall and strong body hit several trees until he finally stopped, far away, unconscious or probably dead.
She quickly focused on the other two ANBU. Sakura's heart began to beat faster. The look on her eyes was piercing, intimidating. Her emerald eyes began to grow bleary as the two ANBU took slow steps towards her.
One of the ANBU quickly stood by her side a kunai ready in hand. The two of them quickly teamed up and attacked her. Sakura could see by their attacks that they had no intention to kill her. Wound her perhaps, but there was no killing intention.
She thanked Kakashi for training with her. She was quite surprised at how easy it was to avoid to be hit. Right, left, down, up. She avoided them all. The medic-nin never noticed her progresses as she fought with the copy-nin but right there, in the middle of the forest, so close to the border, she noticed how much she had improved.
Not only was she faster, she moved without thinking, as if she was on automatic pilot.
Her eyes widened as she heard the sound of broken twigs behind her. Sakura gasped felt something painful hit her back. She avoided the other two ANBU's attack and jumped away to a considerable safe distance. Shit bit her lip as she stared at them. There were more two ANBU now.
She swallowed dry as she stared at the four of them.
"You are surrounded,"
She had no other choice. She dug her feet on the muddy ground and forced all the chakra she could gather.
Rocks, trees, pieces of wood, everything flew in every direction. The ground shook as if an earthquake had taken place. The standing trees that did not fell down with the impact, cracked. The sky roared again as she ran through the forest, short of breath.
Footsteps behind her.
Her brown eyes widened at the mess in front of her. She jumped down the tree and ran towards the chaos. Several trees had been ripped off the ground and were lying down, broken. Her lips parted as she spotted two bodies crushed by rocks. She quickly ran towards the bodies, her brown eyes stared in horror at their ANBU masks.
What in the god's name were the ANBU doing here? Were they after her? Had Minato-sensei sent them after her and Sakura?
Rin was startled at the sound of an explosion not too far away from her. There was a loud scream. Rin heart almost stopped at the sound of the familiar voice.
Panicking she hurried towards the explosion sound, another soldier pill ready in her hand.
Anko stopped and looked to the left; her light grey eyes stared at the darkness of the forest in wonder.
"Hey," she called out to the others, "I think I heard something,"
The silver-haired jounin landed right at her side, his eyes gazed at the darkness as if he could see beyond it.
Another figure landed at her other side, his thick eyebrows narrowed, "Are you sure?" he asked as he glanced sideways at the silver-haired boy. He had never seen his rival looking like this.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Gemna said walking past them, "Let's get going,"
They all nodded except Kakashi. He dashed forward at an incredible speed without saying a word.
Anko and Gemna traded worried looks.
"YOSH!" The boy with thick eyebrows said as he stared ahead, his speed matching the copy-nin.
Sakura flew backwards landing on her side. Three ANBU had already caught up to her. She quickly stood up, ignoring the pain of her left broken arm. She needed all the chakra to defeat them so she could not heal herself yet. Sakura glared at the ANBU who had kicked her.
She had placed him under an illusion but it seemed that it did not work against him. He had quickly dispelled it and caught her by surprise.
"Do not offer more resistance," The same ANBU who had kicked her said as he stepped toward her.
Sakura stepped back, fear now evident in her emerald eyes. How was she going to defeat them, especially when more of them just kept coming?
"Get lost," Sakura spat as she ran towards him. The ANBU looked surprised at how she was still able to move her broken arm in that condition.
Sakura forced her arm upwards, a crack rushed through her and she winced painfully. Another ANBU appeared at her side unexpectedly. Sakura tried to complete the seal but in vain. The ANBU had hit her side sending her to floor. The ANBU that had broken her arm crouched next to her and pulled her hair.
Sakura bit her lip forcing herself not to cry in pain.
"Give me the rope," the ANBU asked to the other.
"Stop it right there!"
Sakura cried at the other female voice. She forced her head upwards ignoring the ANBU grip on her hair. She looked at Rin, tears falling down her wounded and dirty face.
"You look like a mess," said Rin as she placed a hand on her hip, "You can let her go now. I will take her to the Hokage," Rin brown eyes narrowed slightly at the four ANBU figures that showed some dithering at her request.
"R-Rin!" Sakura exclaimed, her emerald eyes in horror, "Run!"
Rin looked at the pink-haired girl in confusion, "Don't be-" her eyes widened as one of the ANBU came running towards her, a kunai in his hand, "N-Nani?" Rin asked in shock.
"Rin!" Sakura exclaimed as she watched impotently as the other two ANBU also rushed towards the brown-haired girl.
Rin avoided the first ANBU attacks, her head spinning, her thoughts a confused maze inside her head. They were attacking her… they were also after Sakura. What the hell was going on?
She was caught off guard as the ANBU disappeared and appeared behind her, kicking her back. Rin's eyes widened at the pain but mostly at the other two ANBU that were right in front of her. One of the ANBU remained behind watching as it's partner dashed forward, stabbing a kunai right into the girl's chest.
Sakura cried out in pure horror. A rage of chakra shot through her body, "LET GO!" she yelled, punching the ANBU away. The ANBU yelped and let go of her hair, his both hands held his throat where he had been hit. The air was not coming no matter how he tried to suck in.
The medic-nin tried to reach Rin. The ANBU who had remained behind turned around and performed a quick simple seal. Sakura gasped as the plants on the ground firmly attached themselves to her legs. She tripped as she tried to move forward, despite fully knowing that she couldn't move.
Soon enough, her whole body was covered with green wet plants that held her firmly to the ground.
"I'LL GO!" She yelled, tears falling down, chocking her, "I'll go… d-don't, p-please let her go!"
Rin fell down to her knees, her hand was glowing green, healing the wound on her chest. Her brown eyes were wide in shock; they were staring in Sakura's direction.
"Finish her," the ANBU who had performed the seal said, "Now," he added upon seeing his other two hesitations.
"NOOOO!" Sakura's scream echoed through the forest as a sharp kunai sliced the brunette's throat.
There was a deafening silence afterwards. Sakura remained still as the ANBU who had ordered the others to kill Rin approached her. He crouched next to her and caressed her crying features. Sakura did not even recoil at his touch. She carried on staring at Rin's body.
The rain washed the blood off the ground.
Sakura sobbed uncontrollable as the plants around her disappeared. She felt herself being lifted up and showed no resistance, her eyes paused on the small lifeless body.
She heard cries of pain around her but she did not paid attention to them. She could only see Rin's brown eyes staring back at her.
"Rin…" She whispered as she collided to the floor. She winced at the pain of her broken arm. Sakura was suddenly startled when right in front of her the body of the ANBU who had been carrying her, fell lifeless.
She slowly turned around; her whole body trembled with the shock of watching her friend die. Her blurry emerald eyes widened as she stared at him. The man in front of her.
"Sakura,"
When he spoke her name a chill ran down her spine. Sakura frowned in sheer disbelieve.
"S-S-Sasuke-kun,"
Sasuke looked indifferent, cold, and unsympathetic, like he boy she used to know.
By the time Sakura called out his name, he had already turned around and never saw her expression.
"Seems like I have arrived too late," he said as he stared at the dead body not too far away from them, "Sorry,"
The silence ruled once again.
The skies carried on crying that night. The sounds of broken twigs were dampening by the heavy rain. The ground became muddy and at every step she took, there were few splashes, particles of mud landed on her bare feet and ankles.
She walked ignoring the pain her body endured. Ignoring his prying look. She shut her thoughts that revolved around the dark-haired boy that silently followed her.
Her feet bled due to the multiple cuts caused by the rocky muddy ground. She did not pay attention to her wounds, the minor ache was nothing compared to the void hole that filled her broken heart.
She came to a sudden stop; her knees shook violently as her green crystal like eyes stared at the coiled body in front of her. Her mouth opened but not a word, or a sound came. The kunoichi forced her heavy, numb legs forward. Her breathing became heavy as her heartbeat thumped strongly against her chest.
"No…" she whispered, her pink-hair obscured her teary eyes. Her hands trembled as she kneeled next to the bloodied body. A loud sob escaped her dry wounded lips as she stared at the brunette girl features.
There was a large cut across her throat, blood was still leaking. Her eyes were swollen beyond imaginable. Slowly, her hands still trembling, Sakura carefully held Rin's wrist. A faint pulse.
Her eyes widened. How could she still be alive?
"No… no, no, no," said Sakura, between sobs. Her hands instantly glowed green.
A drop of sweat fell down her face and mixed itself with her tears. Sakura pressed her both hands on the brunette's throat. She could feel her blood stream slowing down at a rapid pace, her heart squeezing, thumping slowly, ready to stop at any second.
"Rin!" Sakura exclaimed exasperated, tasting her salt tears, "Don't die on me! Don't…"
Sakura's world became dizzier as she forced more chakra, her last bit of chakra. She could not let her die, not Rin. She would now allow anyone else to die… not Rin…
A mix of desperate and relief sound escaped her lips as Rin's eye fluttered open.
"S-Sakura-chan," Rin whispered, wincing from the horrible pain of her wounds. More blood leaked out as she spoke.
"Rin!" Sakura exclaimed, letting out another loud sob. Her green chakra started to falter but she paid no attention, "Y-you are going to be okay. Don't talk!" Sakura added with a short unconvincing nod.
Rin closed her eyes and a small smile adorned her different face, "It's okay," she muttered quietly, "You have no chakra left… p-please s-save it, y-you will need it,"
"N-no," Sakura eyes widened at her words, "No!" she said more fiercely, "You can't talk! Rin don't talk!" Sakura panicking said as more blood escaped the brunette's wounds.
"Sak-kk-kura," Rin stuttered, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth, "t-take good care of them,"
Sakura sobs increased, tears fell more freely as her last bit of chakra disappeared. The last strengths in her body vanished and she felt herself fall next to Rin's wounded body. She slowly turned her head and met Rin's dying form.
"Y-you are now… all they have," she said, closing her eyes, "I'm glad to have met you,"
"R-Rin…" Sakura whispered, tears still falling like a wild river driven by a storm.
"I will see him now," Rin smiled and coughed lightly, "O-Obito-kun," her final words came above a whisper, a smile adorned her face even in death.
Sakura body trembled with her silent crying; her stretching hands touched the brunette girl muddy hair.
"SAKURA!!"
The pink-haired girl felt ill as she heard his yell. She tried to stand up but fell right to the floor. Her whole world was spinning around. Sasuke looked at the pink-haired girl and frowned. He stretched an arm to her which she accepted. He helped her to stand up and she leaned against him for support.
She quickly forgot all her confused thoughts. Why was Sasuke in front of her? How was that possible? How… how and how? She quickly threw all the questions away… she just wanted to tell him to take her away before—
"No… No… Rin… RIN!"
A/N: So I'm a really evil person. I'm sorry… so sorry for all those that loved sweet Rin. I loved her too and I still do! I always had it planned her destiny since the beginning, I changed my mind a couple of times about it but I stuck with the original plan…
Please don't forget to Review. I hope the fighting part was not that confusing.