A/N: Just a small author's note before you continue. This chapter might be confusing for some because it involves several key scenes one after another. It should be noted that italics stand for memories and normal script is present time. Thanks! And Enjoy. :)

Chapter Fourteen

Regressed

They'd taken her to the hospital and then to a very discreet room which even Sakura had not known existed. An ANBU guard carried her – her body still partially frozen from shock.

After an hour or so of being checked for injuries, Tsunade found nothing wrong with her outside of a broken rib which was caused by the force of Sasuke's hold. The blonde woman helped pull a threadlike hospital gown over her head and then aided her in walking back to the bed.

"Now just lie back, like that, and try to ease the tension from your mind," The pink-haired woman could feel the weight of Tsunade's chakra pressing down on her. It soothed her muscles and helped lessen the stress. "In a few moments, Sasuke is going to show you a memory, alright?"

She had not heard them before, but she could feel her worried teammates posted on both side of the bed.

"Why can't you just tell me instead? I hate it when I have to live through someone else's past," Sakura asked, the nervousness pooling in her stomach.

Above her, she saw Tsunade share a look with Naruto and Sasuke. "What?" Sakura asked faintly.

Sasuke was the first to speak. "You have to see this for yourself. Telling you would waste time and we don't have much of that. And as for living through someone else's past…you won't have to. These won't be my memories, Sakura. These will be yours."

Her heart stopped for the second time that day and that same dreadful feeling resurfaced. "…Are you telling me th-that…you have been keeping my memories from me?" She did not even recognize her own voice. It was borderline hysterical.

But it made sense. Not once had she actually inquired about the abilities of the seal. Besides being able to bring back a person from the brink of death, bonding two individuals, and sharing an intense emotional and psychological connection – what else could it do?

"It was for your own good…" Tsunade began, her amber eyes serious.

"Just show me what you have to. I'm done talking Hokage-sama," Sakura cut in. Her voice had been cold and Tsunade's eyes had hardened over.

She closed her eyes and tried to ready her body for the impact of a thousand recollections.

Standing beside his orange clad friend, Sasuke blinked and let his Sharingan spin into place. Slowly – he pressed a finger to Sakura's forehead and let her rightful memories flow into position.

With the Hokage and her ex-teammates at her side – Sakura was pulled under by an invisible throng of surging hands.

At first…she drifted.

And then suddenly, reminiscent of a burst of sunlight over a dark horizon, there were a million colors. It took Sakura seconds to realize that these were in fact her memories soaring by. They fluttered past her eyelids like a cyclone of multicolored butterflies.

After several moments the colors began to warp into objects as they slowed their pace. She could glimpse herself in a few of them, her parents, friends, and teammates. And one memory jumped out at her. It was the night of the invasion and she was helping at the hospital when the first wave of attacks occurred.

Once she had realized the nature of the situation, Tsunade had grabbed her and led her to a safe zone overlooking the village. That was where she had first accepted her mission of receding Kyuubi. Sakura watched herself run through the village, head ducked, and arms swinging. She watched as she finally found Naruto and how her body curved when he shoved his hand practically through her chest.

She could see how fast Sasuke had arrived. He looked colder. Older somehow – although he had been barely twenty at the time. She watched how he saved her and the actual ritual for the sealing jutsu had gone down.

But it was so strange to be watching it from a different angle. It was like she was watching a silent movie play before her eyes on one enormous television screen. She wasn't living through it. She was just watching.

And then finally that memory faded from view. As the blackness crept up again, she could still see Sasuke holding her broken and burned body in the moonlight overhead. He was surrounded by ANBU, Naruto, Kakashi, and Tsunade. Flames from all sides flickered around the scene – glowing like orange dancers as they blazed through rubble and dead bodies.

Without warning and all at once – the invisible hands from before dragged her down into what seemed like oblivion. But it was brutal this time.

They pulled her so deep, that resurfacing would be impossible.

Voices drifted in and out of focus and range. Light and dark – back and forth. It was like a multitude of bees whose buzzing was simultaneously tiresome and terrifying.

She tried to resurface from the blackness but something was pushing her down. It was as if another body was lying on top of her, molded to her skin by some means. Now that she was aware of the entity holding her down – other senses started to become clear.

Her hearing had increased and the buzzing was starting to morph into something akin to speech.

Her sight was returning, the blackness blending into a mellow gray.

She smelled…smoke.

She could taste…blood.

And she could feel…flames.

She was burning! Had she died and gone to hell somehow? She tried to remember her last moment of life and that did not help one bit. Her last memory had been of Naruto and how he had shoved his hand right through her chest and how that had burned as well.

Yes, she was dead. And this was hell. The pressure was holding her down so much that she could not even open her mouth to scream. So, she had no choice but to accept the pain and blister on.

Slowly, and after some time, the pressure lifted and she was in control. Using all of her pent up effort, she opened her eyes.

And for the first time…Haruno Sakura had awoken from her coma.

The first thing she realized was that she was connected to many tubes. Sitting up felt like the pain from a three hour run but she made it anyways. She was in a colorless hospital room and the voices were coming from beyond the door to her left.

Actually, people were screaming. And then Sakura came to realize that they were screaming because her room was on fire. To her intense surprise – this did not seem to bother her in the least.

It was comforting somehow. The fire seemed - familiar. It felt like home. A glance down at her hands revealed that they were…clawed. This too did not faze her.

Slowly, she rose to her feet just as two forms throttled into the room. Instantly her eyes snapped to the two bodies that had startled her. They were male and dressed in jounin attire.

"That's Haruno?" The less built of the two asked.

"Raido!"The other male hissed. Sakura's interest peaked as she glanced over his form. He was attractive, with a shock full of chocolate hair on his head, and some tiny object tucked in the corner of his mouth. "Kyuubi's chakra has overcome her. Alert the Godiame at once!"

His companion, who the brunet had called Raido, backed towards the door and with a reluctant look towards his partner, vanished back into the hallway.

Now that they were alone, Sakura stared at him with untrusting eyes. Something in her head kept telling her that he meant her harm. Enemy – her brain chanted. But his eyes were friendly.

"I'm Genma. And I know that we haven't formally met before but you must remember me. I'm friends with your sensei, Kakashi," he spoke softly as he inched towards her.

She recognized him now that his words brought memories with them. Her head was throbbing however. And she wanted answers. "Why am I alive?" She found herself asking none too gently.

"Aren't you all sugar and spice…"Genma muttered to himself. But then he glanced at her face and answered her directly. "Uchiha Sasuke saved you."

"Impossible," she hissed. Though it was more to her self than anything.

"No," he stated as he walked ever closer. "He returned the night the Akatsuki waged war. His companions all died, one by one. Just recently the sole female, the snarky red-head, of his team passed away. She got in the way of Uzumaki's chakra and it left her burned…"

"I don't care about his companions! I just want to know how I am still breathing! How long has it been?" Outside and beyond her lace curtains - she could make out the silhouette of the moon.

"It's been a month since the invasion if that's what you mean. Why don't you just get back on the bed and we can wait for the Hokage, hm?" Despite her not wanting to acknowledge it, he was awfully charismatic.

"I'm fine where I am thanks."

"I know," he whispered. And something by the tone of his voice had her wanting to pull her thin hospital gown tighter around her form.

"What are you doing here anyways?" Sakura asked. It surprised her to see that the flames had been extinguished from the room courtesy of a water jutsu by Genma's hands.

"Raido, the one that was here earlier, and I guard your room in shifts. I'll have you know it isn't my ideal job."

Her attention was instantly drawn to the reflection in the mirror that hung adjacent to her body. The woman in the mirror was odd. She had medium length bright hair. Petal pink. Her eyes though were the oddest thing about her. They were orangey colored…almost red. The pale skin that was exposed because of the thin gown was glowing a faint crimson.

It took her awhile to realize that she was looking at her self.

"What's wrong with me?"She whispered, half turned towards the brunet.

"Kyuubi," Genma whispered.

She was angry. Furious even. Why was she even alive? What had they done to her? She was some sort of freak now. A freak of nature. He'd said that Kyuubi had something to do with the way she was. And that made sense at least.

The anger building in her chest was not coming from her. No it was coming from a darker place – something sinister and wicked.

He must have seen the rage showcased across her face for her stepped forward and reached as if he were about to grab her…

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" And before either of them could process her next actions, she had flung a hand out – a clawed Kyuubi chakra-enhanced hand – and he was hurled backwards into the wall.

The wall dented and cracked up the side and Genma slid to the ground, unmoving. That was the last straw.

Whatever was inside of her – Kyuubi or not – it shoved its way into the front seat of her mind leaving her no option but to take the backseat. Sakura, in utter horror, screamed inside her head. Physically, she looked unfazed by the sight of Genma's crumpled and bleeding form.

"Do not move," a voice commanded from the doorway.

But she moved anyways, just to see who the speaker was, and was gratified by the sight of one very striking man. He was cold looking with shiny raven hair that stuck out at strange angles and red star-shaoed eyes.

Sasuke – her mental voice echoed.

To his side an equally beautiful female stared at her with a severe expression. "Uchiha, what are you doing?" She questioned, her low blonde pigtails swinging behind her.

Not sparing her a glance he answered, "Stopping her before she goes on a rampage. Kyuubi's chakra has spread, just as I thought and it won't stop until it consumes her entire psyche."

"Then do what you have to."

Sakura stared at them with unfeeling eyes as Tsunade bent to help a newly awakened Genma to his feet.

Sasuke flashed out of focus and in the span of a second he had her within his grip and did not flinch in the least when Kyuubi's chakra seemed to pulse around his skin. An electric blue current snaked around his arm and it seemed to repel the red chakra away.

"Let me go!" Sakura yelled as she thrashed wildly. Her anger and sudden confusion seemed to fuel the red chakra that seemed to bubble around them both.

And then he grabbed her face between both of his palms, nails digging into her cheeks, and looked her dead in the eye.

Sharingan.

It hypnotized her into some sort of state which felt as if it were drug induced. Her head felt like it was too heavy for her shoulders and her feet dragged into the white tiles of the floor. Sasuke caught her as she slumped in his arms – limp and lifeless but totally coherent.

"Did you recede it, boy?" Tsunade questioned as she helped a shaken Genma to the next hospital bed to treat his wounds.

"For now," he answered coolly. His face betrayed no surprise at what had just transpired. With a swift bend of his knees, he hefted Sakura into the air and placed her softly against her previous bed. "But it will continue to spread throughout her body and mind…eventually it will consume her identity."

"Is there any way of slowing the process? Or halting it until we can find a solution?"

The Uchiha looked at the Hokage and then at Genma. "A month ago when I saved her life…I suspended her physical state when I sealed in my blood and chakra with hers. I looked for Kyuubi's chakra and it was gone but now I know that my own chakra just masked it temporarily. The only reason her mental state is still in tact is because she has the blood of an Uchiha running through her veins."

"She should be honored," Genma murmured although it sounded awfully sarcastic.

Sasuke shot him a look that was intensified by his spinning eyes. "No…she's cursed. But my chakra will not be enough – potent as it is – she needs more…"

There was a mild pause before someone spoke. "I'll do it," Shiranui Genma whispered.

"There's no going back," The dark-haired avenger replied impersonally. "It's called the Shoumon Seal – forbidden. In principle the seal has been incomplete but it allows for a third-party which completes the jutsu. Sakura has been exposed to something that goes against the natural laws and that is Kyuubi. When you are bonded to her, it will be a lifelong fight to suppress it. So does the offer still stand?"

"You did it didn't you without any second thoughts? I'm strong enough that it won't bother me and besides…she's too young to have to go through this alone," Genma whispered.

Finally Tsunade spoke. "After you complete the seal, I want you to also suppress her memories. If she knows about this when she awakes…it will drive her insane."

"You want me to let her live a lie?"

"Yes."

"So be it, she'll hate me anyways," The Uchiha replied, not in the slightest bothered by the prospect. "I'll be forced to push her back into a coma or else this will cause serious trauma to her brain."

"Uchiha, I'm ready. This is the least I can do for the kid," Genma murmured.

"Or are you motivated by other reasons?" And Uchiha Sasuke looked pointedly at Sakura and then back at the brunet man.

"Just finish the seal."

Gasping, Sakura reemerged from the veil of illusions cast by Sharingan. Almost immediately her teammates hands were on her chest pushing her back onto the railed bed.

"You," Sakura managed to say through her wheezes. "Stole my memories from me! You couldn't even at least tell me that I had actually woken from my coma before!"

Sasuke said nothing, opting instead to share a look with Tsunade. Only Naruto offered words of comfort to her. "I'm so sorry Sakura-chan. I only learned about this a little while ago and baa-chan swore me to secrecy! And I never meant to…put you through everything I had to go through."

"It's fine you idiot, I just want to hear from these two."

Tsunade arms crossed over her ample chest and she seated herself directly in front of the pink-haired girl's bed. "We did what had to be done. Sakura, you were in no physical or mental shape to handle Kyuubi's chakra like that. You saw what it almost did - the fire! The pain! You should be thanking Sasuke, he now has to exert physical effort to make sure it stays receded. And Shiranui also…"

"But Genma never told me-"

"He was ordered not to," Sasuke finally cut in. "We decided that this would be too much for you to take in at once and it would just be better for everyone if it was not brought to the light."

Sakura cut her eyes at him and heaved a giant breath. "Better for everyone else and not for me."

Naruto rubbed her shoulder and then stood. "I have to go check in on Hinata and I think that Sakura needs her rest." He kissed her forehead gingerly and Sakura offered him a small smile. "Which means that we should all leave her be."

Tsunade looked like she wanted to stay and say more but she eventually gave in. Walking towards her bedside, the blonde woman ruffled Sakura's head and left for the door. Sasuke turned to follow suit, but was halted by a strong hold on his wrist.

"Sakura let me go."

Her voice was even and determined when she replied, "No, I want to talk to you."

"I'll be back to see you tomorrow," he said, black eyes taking in her misshapen form.

"Liar."

He continued to stare at her with the same blank expression. "I promise."

She fought the need to snort. "The promise of an avenger doesn't mean much…not unless its one to kill you. I know you have goals."

"I don't have any goals, idiot." But even as he said the words, she could feel the hate radiating off of him.

"Yes you do. I felt it tonight. I felt the hate and determination. You are going after those Root nin, aren't you?"

He chose to neither confirm nor deny her claims and instead tried to pry her fingers from his arm. Taking his momentary distraction to her advantage - Sakura applied some more chakra than necessary to her fingers and pulled.

Sakura had the satisfaction of watching his coal colored eyes widen in surprise before he was helpless to fall into her.

She caught her lips against his, waiting for him to pull back like he had been injected with venom. But he never did.

Instead his fingers twirled through her vibrant tresses and pulled her closer. There was something desperate about his actions - the way his mouth pressed into hers and the way his fingers were borderline rough. When they finally broke apart, he pulled back to look her in the eyes. Sakura, without thinking stared back.

"Sleep," was all he breathed against her lips.

She didn't even have a chance, his Sharingan was already in place and like a vortex of black stars - she was sucked into another unfathomable slumber.

She awoke slowly, her sense of time distorted. Her head rang slightly and her body ached. God, she was so tired of being put under a Sharingan induced sleep. She was going to kill Sasuke…

Sasuke.

That tug or emotional pull that stretched between the two and linked them together like permanent metal shackles was weak. Barely there. Something had happened while she had been unconscious, that much was evident to her.

The cherry-haired woman shot upwards while pushing both feet onto the cool ceramic tiles. It stung through her skin and with an annoyed puff of breath, Sakura realized her feet had fallen asleep.

Ignoring the pain, Sakura sprinted to the door and out into the hallway. It was totally dark except for the occasional overhead lamp. Which were all flickering oddly. Her gut started to twist with sick anticipation.

It was strange how no medics were in sight but it was also better for Sakura because she had no intention of staying in the hospital anyways. She reached the exit with no obstacles and burst out into the cold streets.

She shivered but pressed on. Now, she didn't exactly know where to look first. Sasuke could be in a number of places and if his last actions were any indication - he wouldn't be home.

With her head ducked, Sakura darted to her left and down an empty street with no houses just closed businesses. She tried to ignore the worst case scenarios that kept flashing before her eyes and focus on finding him before he did something reckless.

Her running came to a halt when noticed something far more strange than just a seemingly abandoned street.

Her breath was actually visible. Small white puffs drifted in the air and then faded after a couple of seconds. Now that she was aware of it - it was really cold. And she was ninety-nine percent sure it had not been that cold when she had first started out on her escapade.

Following her gut, Sakura turned around. Flanking all possible exits, indistinct figures stood erect. They all bore porcelain masks depicting various animals - each fiercer than the next.

Gulping, Sakura wavered but did not flee. She was almost positive that wherever they had come from, Sasuke was surely there.

Two bodies stepped forward - the taller of the two in the lead. "Sakura," The voice was male. And seductive. With a sinking feeling in her chest - Sakura realized it was the same man from the convenience store. "You look a little cold."

She chose not to answer and instead fluxed chakra into her fingertips.

He stalked closer. Once he was about a foot away from her, he spoke again. "Has death changed you? I sincerely hope so."

What was he talking about?

"It's a vicious cycle…one that I hope to break. It's a shame, really, that your parents could not be spared."

Something cracked inside her and she lunged forward intent on stopping his next heartbeat. At once, the second figure that had stepped forward, now had her in their hold.

"Ah, there it is, that spark in your eyes. I love it," The man behind the mask crooned.

Her captor still held her fast and Sakura realized that he too was male. Her back was crushed against his body and she could feel the contortions of the muscles on his stomach ripple with each movement.

The man stepped forward and pushed a stray hair out of her face. "It's amazing what harbors behind that pretty little face of yours…something not so pretty. And I want it."

Sakura narrowed her eyes at him.

"Get the blood and detain her," He instructed as he walked back towards the fleet of ANBU. "No mistakes, Sai."

Sakura literally threw up in her mouth at the realization of who was holding onto her. The betrayal. It rippled through her veins and stung at the corners of her eyes.

Sai, whose face was hidden behind the mask, pulled out one of his carving knifes and sliced it across her shoulder. There was no time to feel pain as the swift hit to the sensitive spot on her neck knocked her into oblivion.

TBC

A/N: Sorry for the wait kiddies. You see, this story is finally wrapping up and the villains are stepping into the limelight. I'm not too happy with this chapter but my sister loved it. LOL. If you have any questions, just pm me. I received a lot of those last chapter but I only answer questions that need clearing up not spoilers. Sorry but that wouldn't be fair to everyone. Cheers!

P.S : Someone actually guessed early on that Sakura was hosting Kyuubi's chakra and I'm much too lazy to look to see who right now. But Kudos to whoever it was!

Surmise