Fading Dreams and Blossoming Faith
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto,while this plot is RIGHTFULLY MINE! XD
A/N: Italics are for Inner Sakura, while the underlined are for the inner thoughts of anyone, and lastly bold for both Sakura and Inner's thoughts
Read and...
Chapter 7: League of Minions
Recap
'THE DEVIL REINCARNATE!'
'Umm…' Inner Sakura interrupted Sakura in her new revelation. 'You know, it would be best to stop him! He'll be announcing to the class your relationship!'
Without any further thought, Sakura jumped out of the bed and ran to stop the man's plans. Racing for her life, she was no longer thinking rationally. Just, stop the DEVIL'S plans, was the only thing she was thinking of.
'This is going to be a living hell'both Sakura and her inner self thought
End of Recap
Loud thuds were heard as the three travelled to get away from the place.
"Everything is settled."
"We only need to get into the car, then we can finally leave."
"What about-?"
"This was his decision"
"But-?"
"Don't 'll get him back."
"You being here,this mission,isourtop priority for now."
"I-I'm so-"
"This is our job..."
'Whoa! This place is cool! Where are we again?' Inner Sakura said, flabbergasted at the different buildings that had come into view.
'Really, why am I here?' Sakura then massaged her temple with her free hand. 'It's all because of that DEVIL! Not only do I have to act like the DEVIL'S girl, but also the frigging slave of none other than the DEVIL REINCARNATE' himself!' Sakura was on fire internally.
'Whoa! Easy there, girl! If you continue to be this mad, I won't ever get to enjoy my AC,' Inner Sakura said, fanning herself in front of her AC.
'I hate you, Inner Sakura!'Sakura internally pouted.
'Well, I'm sorry! This is, after all, the privilege of an Inner, having all the luxuries of life, especially when their host is totally creative! Oh, I love you,Saku-chan,' Inner Sakura said, trying to wrap her imaginary hands around Sakura.
'Hai... Hai... I get it now,'Sakura said, trying to release herself from Inner Sakura's grasp.
Inner Sakura finally released herself. 'By the way, Saku-chan, did you made another bento for us?'Inner Sakura asked, trying to peek at Sakura's other hand, which was holding a drool-worthy, packed bento.
'Well, of course! This is the privilege of someone who cooked it!' Sakura said happily, mocking Inner Sakura. She suddenly changed into an irritated statue. 'Argh... And you made me think of it again!'
'Gomen ne...' Inner Sakura said, fidgety.
FLASHBACK
Sakura ran fast, in order to overtake the DEVIL before he actually acted on his plan to announce to her classmates their (fake) relationship.
'What the hell? Where is that devil?' Sakura sprinted to the next corner, still looking ahead for the presence of that certain man.
'Go Saku-chan!' Five more classrooms, and we're there!' Inner Sakura cheered, with imaginary pom-poms. 'And that man may have gotten lost,' Inner Sakura snickered.
Sakura felt a hit in her really told her that something big was going to happen. Heck, not big, but BIG. Everything would change. Her whole life was at stake!
'Hope so, Inner Sakura.' Sakura ran faster, being only ten feet away from her classroom. She stopped at the back door. It was TOO SILENT.
'Wow, silence is becoming one of my worst enemies,' Inner Sakura commented.
'Hope that DEVIL is not here yet! Please! Please! Please!'Sakura begged.
As she opened the sliding door, everyone in the class faced her with big eyes the size of plates. 'This is bad,' Sakura thought, feeling what her 'guts' had been telling her. Her emerald eyes scanned the room, searching for her prey, the DEVIL. He was there at the front, smiling evilly and triumphal at everything. 'He actually did it' was the only thing she couldconclude.
Ino was the one who broke the awkward silence. "Yo! Forehead! It looks like I don't have to worry anymore,' she declared with a wide grin.
'Damn it! That bitch is a total PIG!' Inner Sakura cursed.
Sakura then let herself inside. All eyes were still on her. If the act of staring could bore a hole in one's body, surely Sakura's body would have nothing left right now. She walked to her seat, while the murmurs from her classmates were getting louder.
'I hate these people! They don't let you have a damn say!' Inner Sakura gritted her teeth. Sakura only sighed. 'I'd rather hear whimpers than murmurs though,' Inner Sakura said in triumph, after hearing small sobs from the blond loud-mouth.
Sakura went to her seat. Sai faced her, looking like his indifferent self. "Sakura..." was the only thing he said. Then he turned back to face the front. Sakura and Inner Sakura just sighed.
Sakura then felt a nudge on her seat. Sasuke had just kicked her for the second time that day, the second time he made the initiative to talk to her. Sakura felt joyous, along with Inner Sakura. She then looked backed to see her beloved Sasuke.
Sasuke was the one who took the initiative to talk first. "I don't know how you met my brother, but if you do something to hurt him, I'll make your life miserable," Sasuke warned her in a monotone voice.
'What the-?!'Sakura's thin brows twitched in irritation.
'Hey! Shouldn't we be the ones to be angry here? We're the victims, for crying out loud!' Inner Sakura said hysterically.
'How did we get in this situation again?'Sakura asked, feeling lost, as if all her energy just got drained by what was happening.
'Still, I love the way he warned us. It made me feel as if he was a very protective man to the people he is close to. Just imagine being someone he cares about...' Inner Sakura blushed. '...He's going to be that protective.'
'From this day onwards is going to be a living HELL, do you know that?' Sakura declared.
The class had started yet again. The moments of confusion finally ceased, except the fact that Naruto hadn't accepted much of the 'truth' that was announced by the DEVIL substitute teacher.
The last bell rang, and school finally ended.
Everyone left, including Sai and Sasuke, except for Naruto and his group, who stayed behind.
Sakura fixed and packed her things to prepare to leave as soon as possible, before the DEVIL dragged her to his hellish den.
'Pack and go,'she reminded herself. Before she could sling her bag over her shoulder, someone clasped his hands on her shoulders. She faced the whimpering blond.
"Sakura-chan, tell me it's not true. Itachi-sensei just blurted out lies!" Naruto cried animatedly.
'I hope it was,'both Sakura and Inner Sakura agreed.
"Oi, Naruto, let's leave the lovebirds." Shikamaru grabbed Naruto and winked at Sakura. Kiba and Chouji snickered as they all left the room.
'Funny... How in the world could we be left behind with a lover if there is no one here...?' Inner Sakura asked stupidly
'Shit! He's here!'Sakura panicked.
'How about we jump out the window?'Inner Sakura suggested.
'What the-!'
'Just suggesting, girl,' Inner Sakura said, trying to calm Sakura down, her hands up.
Sakura then walked out of the room, repeating enchantingly to herself. 'Be calm, the DEVIL is not a PREDATOR. You're just the DEVIL'S GIRL, that's all...' And yet again, she was stopped when someone clasped his hands onto her shoulders. Even before she turned around, she was dragged out of the place. Before she knew it, she was already at the DEVIL'S DEN, or rather, her beloved Sasuke's kingdom.
It was a three-story house. It was extravagant how the walls were carved with different designs. One might say it was a masterpiece, and a breath-taking one. Even people who didn't have the slightest idea about what art was would still be mesmerized by the did Sakura know she was being dragged yet again by the DEVIL.
When she finally came back to reality, she was already inside the house. If someone was already mesmerized by the outside, they would be enchanted with how the place was set up on the inside. The setup was from the baroque period. Although the place was full of luxurious or expensive things and furniture, everything was in order and clean.
She was lost yet again in how big the place was. And yet again she was being dragged, by another man, this time upstairs to the DEVIL'S den, his room. Both men were chuckling at seeing how the pink haired girl stared around the whole place without noticing she was being dragged all over. They arrived at a massive door, and went inside. Unlike the outside or the inside of the house, the DEVIL'S den was simple, and yet elegant. The room was big and white, the knickknacks were kept to a minimum number, there were shelves filled with books, and on movies. Sakura was led to the middle of the room, where some bean bags were scattered around a small desk.
Someone flicked his fingers in front of her face. She finally snapped out of the trance she'd been in while awing at the place. The man who was in front of her now was not her DEVIL, but the same man who was overfamiliar with her, and who had declared himself as the DEVIL'S cousin.
"Shisui," he smiled widely, and offered his hand for a answered the man by shaking his hand.
"Sakura," she answered. He smiled more widely in return, a comfortable aura around him.
'This guy seems nice,'Inner Sakura assessed.
"I'm Ita-kun's older cousin, by the way, and also I'm attending the same university, but in a different department. I belong to the social science department, while Ita-kun belongs to the architecture department," he introduced, lifting the tension. "Hey! Ita-kun, you're slow! What are you looking for?" he whined.
Both looked at the man who was looking for something on one of the bookshelves. As he got the folder he was looking for, he proceeded to one of his desk and snatched a pen, and went to the two observant.
"Sign." Itachi gave the pen and the folder to Sakura.
"Is that-?" Shisui asked in curiosity, looking intently at the folder, "-a marriage contract?" He grinned at the two, who looked at him with different emotions, to kill the stupid man, embarrassment, shock, and to MURDER the stupid and presumptive man.
Sakura beat Itachi to a reaction. She kicked the bean bag that Shisui was sitting on, which made him roll off it and to the other side. "This is not a marriage contract. We barely even know each other, for Christ sake!" she fumed.
Shisui was quite shocked at Sakura's reaction, wondering how this innocent-looking girl could snap like that. Itachi, on the other hand, was dumbstruck, but kept his facade on. He was a little glad that she took the job from him in hurting his (poor) cousin.
Sakura opened and read the folder, the contract. 'Whoa! He really wasn't kidding when he said he already prepared the contract,' Inner Sakura mused, as she also started to read the contents. The contract indicated that they had to be together and act together like a couple for a year, including bringing bento to his university during her free days. 'Hey, isn't this a little unfair? This one is like a thing done by a newlywed!' Inner Sakura interjected
Sakura replied with 'More likely, a demand to BE his slave.' At the last part of his conditions, 'You may also do whatever you want, including seducing my little brother, Sasuke, but only when other people are not around,'Sakura's eyes jolted to Itachi, who was looking at her. "How did you-?"
Itachi faintly smiled. 'It's that angelic smile again!'Inner Sakura covered her eyes.
"That's a secret," he answered.
"Tell. I'm curious." Sakura demanded venomously.
"..."
"Not going to answer,are you?" Sakura asked in a pissed off tone.
"Can't you just go over it?" Itachirebound the question.
"No," Sakura said plainly, yet bluntly.
"Well then, I just hope you enjoy disappointment," Itachi remarked.
"Wha-?" Sakura fell over atthatanswer.
"Secret? What secret?" Shisui said to Itachi. "Come on, little cousin, tell me your secret?" he pleaded, and in return, Itachi glared at him. "Come on, Ita-kun, you used to share all your secrets with your older cousin,"Shisui said, making puppy-eyes.
'How come his cousin acts like that? He is so carefree, unlike Sasuke, who acts cool, and the Devil acts like a DEVIL,' Inner Sakura observed. Without realizing, the folder was snatched up by Shisui, who read the contract.
"Wow! Cousin, you're so wicked!" Shisui grinned at Itachi, and gave the folder back to the pink haired girl, who looked embarrassed. "Is this the reason why you asked me to come here today, to witness the signing of your 'relationship' contract?" he grinned.
"Hn," Itachi answered.
"And that's a yes," Shisui concluded, and so he sat again beside Sakura. "Go on, now. Sign," he smiled.
'I don't quite understand the relationship between these two cousins,' both Sakura and Inner Sakura said. Sakura then signed the contract. "Here," she handed the folder back to Itachi. "Just out of curiosity, when did you write-?"
"Yesterday," he answered. "And tomorrow, it's your free day, and you have to bring a bento to my department." He then gave her a copy of the contract.
"So fast!" Sakura was surprised.
End of FLASHBACK
"Where is his department again? This place is massive." The pink haired girl looked at the large building in frontof her.
Someone tapped her back. "You lost?" a red haired man asked.
"Um... yeah," Sakura answered.
'Wow! He's a hottie!'Inner Sakura squeaked.
'Hey, I thought you were only faithful to our beloved Sasuke?' Sakura questioned.
"Which department are you heading to? I can drop you off there," he asked politely.
"U-um... I'll be heading to the architecture department," she answered with a smile.
"Luck is on your side, only do you become safe from the wrath of the time-watcher, but you also get to be accompanied by us," a blond came up beside her. "Deidara, un," he gestured.
'Whoa! Not only does this place look extravagant, but it's also full of hot guys,' Inner Sakura rejoiced, drooling at the newcomer.
"Ah, yes, Sasori," the red haired man continued. "We're also going there, um..."
"Sakura," she replied.
"Well then, let's go! Everyone might be there already, un." Deidara started moving toward their destination.
'Everyone? Ooh... can't wait to see the others!'Inner Sakura said dreamingly, while Sakura just shook her head.
Sakura and Sasori followed the blond. Along the way, more people joined the group, namely Hidan (a grey-haired man) 'With freakish, pink eyes! Hell, I like it!' Inner Sakura interjected, Kakazu (can't entirely see his face because of the hood) 'Only the fact that he loves money, since he kept looking at his accounting book, makes him okay.', Tobi (a childish guy with a mask on, andruffled black hair) 'And this guy is totally weird. He always puts his name in every sentence he says,' Inner Sakura commented. 'Is he really a college student?' Sakura wondered, Zetsu (Who is also kind of weird as well, since he has black and white face paint, and the clothes he wears are also black and white - To sum it all up, he looks like a mime.) 'Wonder he if he also acts like one?' Inner Sakura wondered, and last, but not least, Kisame (Who is totally weird. Not only does he have pointed teeth, but a weird skin color.).'Maybe he's a blue-baby! Hahaha,' Inner Sakura joked.
The group finally arrived at the architecture department. 'And wow! This building is more superb than any of the other buildings we just encountered,' Inner Sakura said amazed, while Sakura just gaped.
All the men looked at her, surprised by how this girl was able to attract them with such a simple gesture. Just being with her for a while made them feel comfortable, since she was not like any other girl.
"Tobi likes Sakura's astounded face!" Tobi said cheerfully. Everyone who heard that chuckled, and made Sakura totally flustered and embarrassed.
"Sakura-chan, can I ask, who are you looking for?" Zetsu asked politely.
"I'm here to deliver a bento to a certain MAN," she answered.
"Who's the fucking man who would send such a beauty to deliver a bento? That's fucking slavery," Hidan commented.
"That man should be punished," Zetsu added, fuming, a dark aura surrounding him.
'Saku-chan! Not only does he look like a mime, he's a psychopath! He has two sides to him!' Inner Sakura shiveredat the black Zetsu's last comment.
Sakura, on the other hand, just nodded and agreed with Hidan and Zetsu's comments.
"Who is this man, un?" Deidara interrogated.
"That would be none other than the DEVIL REINCARNATE, Uchiha Itachi!" she answered. She felt light after releasing some of her damn frustration. 'Gosh, that felt good, and these guys are one heck of a group. I like them already,' Sakura thought. "Well, then, I think I can handle it from here. Thank you for assisting me."
She bowed and went her way, leaving behind all of the men gaping at her, struck by the words she told them, "the DEVIL REINCARNATE, Uchiha Itachi!"
Kisame was the one who broke the astonished silence, bursting out laughing. "Never imagined it would be her. She's quite the catch," Kisame said.
"Tobi will catch Sakura," and the masked guy ran towards the pink haired companion.
"What the FUCK? So, here I was, wondering who the fucking BITCH was who was able to grab the attention of the so-serious Itachi Uchiha of the Akatsuki," Hidan commented as well.
"Never thought that there would be someone who would describe the famous Uchiha as a DEVIL, un," Deidara said, still in a state of disbelief.
"For all we know, quiet guys are more interesting," White Zetsu concluded about the pink haired companion. "When they are alone with someone they like, all facades are discarded," Black Zetsu quoted.
"This day onwards will be quite worthwhile," Sasori continued to walk, and so did the others.
"And I bet on that," Kakuzu declared to the anticipating group.
'Where is that DEVIL?' Inner Sakura asked, looking in every direction.
'Don't know.' Sakura scanned the place. 'We finally arrive at the place, and what the heck, this place is HUGE!'
"Tobi calling Sakura!" Tobi shouted behind her.
"Oh, Tobi-san," she looked at the masked man.
"Tobi is also going to see the DEVIL. He is actually in Tobi's group of friends," he informed joyfully.
'NANI? I'm feeling the chills already, Saku-chan! If he hears our nickname for him, he will probably murder us!'Inner Sakura panicked.
The others had finally caught up with them. All were grinning at the pink haired companion, who was fidgeting in her place.
"Don't worry, no one will tell him his nickname, Sakura-san," Sasori tried to comfort the pink haired girl.
"Thank you!" she bowed again.
"But there's a fucking catch," Hidan continued. Sakura just stared at the cursing man. "Whenever you visit the fucking DEVIL and bring his fucking bento, you'll also have to fucking bring us some share," he grinned evilly.
'What the-? They're all fucking Devils in disguise!'Sakura thought.
'They're the DEVIL REINCARNATE'S MINIONS!' Inner Sakura said hysterically.
In the midst of bullying the poor, pink haired heroine by one of the fucking minions of the DEVIL, namely Hidan, the DEVIL himself was fast approaching the group, with two more on his back, a blue haired girl and one long red haired guy, who both looked serious.
"Stop," the long red haired guy ordered the fucking , the fucking minion stopped harassing our pink haired heroine.
'Wow! That guy has authority! If he's one of the fucking minions of the DEVIL, then who is he?'Inner Sakura asked curiously.
'Is that the first thing that you can think about? Right now, I'm praying to Kami-sama that they are the last of his minions!' Sakura exclaimed.
'Oh... you're right, my bad,'Inner Sakura said guiltily.
"My, this is the first time that you've allowed another girl to be close to you guys, other than me," the blue haired girl with a flower origami pinned in her hair said, as she winked at the pink heroine.
"Well, fucking yes!" Hidan answered.
"She was a lost lamb when I was on my way here, so I helped her out," Sasori interjected.
"And we never thought that she was the girl. I mean, 'your' girl, UN," Deidara continued as he looked at Itachi.
'How did these guys know that you are the DEVIL'S girl?'Inner Sakura asked. In reply, Sakura just looked back at her DEVIL boyfriend.
"Hn," Itachi replied. Sakura's eyebrows twitched in irritation.
'Is that the only thing he can say?' Sakura wondered in annoyance.
'You know, I've noticed something,' Inner Sakura blurted out. 'When there are people around him, he acts cold, like our beloved Sasuke.'
'Isn't he always cold to us?'Sakura asked
"Hi! I'm Konan," the blue haired girl in the group joyfully bounced into Sakura's view. "And this is Nagato, my boyfriend!" she introduced the long red haired guy, who nodded in return.
"Sa-" She was interrupted.
"Haruno," Itachi interjected into her introduction.
'Hey, I'm in the middle of introducing myself,' Sakura fumed.
Kisameburstoutlaughing at the conversation, as well as Hidan and Deidara, and the others just chuckled. Nagato and Itachi were still unmoved, while Tobi was totally clueless. "Don't be overprotective of her, Itachi, or she'll hate you," Kisame added.
"Hn," Itachi replied, as he went to stand beside Sakura.
"Well then, Haruno-san," Konan grabbed Sakura's hands. "Can I call you Sakura-chan? It's much better calling you by your name, since it really complements you," Konan smiled,
"H-how did you-?" Sakura wasagape as she asked, knowing full well that the woman in front of her hadn't heard her name yet from anyone in the group
"A certain cheerful young man passed by, and he's quite the talker, telling people his beloved cousin was now love-struckby a certain beautiful maiden," Konan cheerfully explained as she winked again at Sakura.
'That imbecilicDevil!' Inner Sakura snapped.
"Tobi agrees!" he added, making Sakura blush more from embarrassmentat all the attention she was getting.
"Well then, let's go to the park and have our lunch," Konan cheerfully declared, as she went to grab Nagato's arm. They walked away, side by Sakura could follow the group, Itachi's hand intertwined with her free hand. Sakura felt blood rising to her face again, and her heart started jumping rowdily.
'What is he doing?' A little later, Sakura then grinned after devising a simple,mischievous plan. 'Here goes...!'
Itachi was caught off-guard when he feltthe girl'shandintertwinetheir fingers. He then did what his gut told him to...
'What! He didn't even flinch!' Sakura reacted, dismayed.'Devilsreally don't have anyidea about pure emotionssuch as love,' Sakura concluded, which was silently agreed with by Inner Sakura.'Really? What am I doing?' she asked herself.
'Well, it looks like you're walking hand in hand with your boyfriend~,' Inner Sakura teased, as she changed the heavy atmosphere.
'I'm not!' Sakura denied the obvious fact.
'Tell me, where are your hand?' Inner Sakura asked.
'At my side, holding our bento,' Sakura answered plainly.
'The otherhand,' Inner Sakura's eyebrows twitched, annoyed.
'With... his...' Sakura answered warily.
'What are you doing right now?' Inner Sakura continued to inquire.
'Breathing,' Sakura replied in mannerthat no one could doubt her answer.
'Obviously, yes, you are breathing. If not, you would probably be a walking deadright now,' Inner Sakura massaged her aching forehead as she continued.'Now,what is the obvious thing that you are doing?'
'Walking!' Sakura spatout, as light blush crept up her face.
'If you sum up the two correct answers, what would you get?' Inner Sakura teased in a sing-song manner.
'...'
'Sakura...?'Inner Sakura called,gettingher attention with a sense of authority.
'Walking, hand-in-hand,'Sakura answered in defeat.
'See! You finally confessed!'Inner Sakura rejoiced.
'But, I was just experimenting on whether there would be a reaction from him.'Sakura looked at the man, who still looked the same as from even before they held hands.
'We better just enjoy ourselves right now. After all, they all look freaking handsome!'Inner Sakura giggled.
'And he was not joking about the 'unnecessary beings,' Sakura added, as she noticed that every girl they passed was giving her a death glare. She just sighed, and Itachi noticed it, and held her hand even tighter.
'It would be best to just enjoy yourself, and be with them as much as possible, since it's not just the Devil they're after. Even the others are being stared at by those so called 'women,' Inner Sakura observed the place.
'I hope we can return home in one piece,'both wished.
To be continued…
Preview: Two fake lovers finally have lunch, as they both reach a certain level of all lovebirds... A lovers' quarrel.
A/N: ...Review!