Disclaimer: I don't own any of my characters. If I owned Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke would already be a couple.
Soulmates
By SuzukaAzumi
Chapter 4 The End of Happiness
Sakura jumped out of bed. She was sweating, tears were flowing from her green eyes and the afterimages of the dream were still imprinted in her brain. She could never forget those horrifying visions. Her dream had begun just like any others. But it was a little different than before. Her father, mother, brother, —everyone— had been dead, killed by some monstrous creatures. She had only watched, frozen by fear. She couldn't do anything. Finally, everything took the color of blood and she had awoken.
The little girl walked through the corridor, with Kirara in her arms, to her parents' room, searching reassurance. Her cat licked her face, but even the kitten's attention couldn't appease Sakura.
The dream had seemed so real; as if she was really there, witnessing everyone's death. She had a bad premonition. What if it was real, that it was something that would come? No, it was impossible. Her mother had a strong barrier. Those creatures wouldn't be able to enter their territory.
She passed in front of the Sealed Room. She felt drawn to the doors, as if something inside wanted her to open them. But her mother had forbidden her to enter and Sakura still had the dream in her mind. She passed the room without a second look and noticed light in the living room. Some voices were coming from it.
She walked to it and peeked from the space of the door. She could see her mother's back and some warriors—friends of the family—as well as her father talking. She could hardly hear anything but hushed whispers.
"They…here…"
"Defend…village…barrier…"
"…Juubi…"
Who were here? Did something happen to the barrier? The village was normally far enough for it to not worry about defending itself from demons. And the Juubi? She was sure she remembered this name somewhere. But where did she hear it bef—
"What are you doing here Sakura?" Said a voice behind her.
She jerked and turned around. The people in the living room were silent. Clearly they had heard the voice.
"Naruto!" She said in angrily.
"What did I do?" Naruto said, confusion showing on his face. He was in his pyjamas and a penguin hat was on his head. Sakura never understood why he always kept it.
Light suddenly shone on the two kids. Someone had opened the door. They both looked guiltily at their mother. Lady Mebuki gazed at them, signed, and let them into the room. Her faced was white as a sheet and she seemed sick. The door's shutting sound was heard clearly in the silent room. Sakura immediately saw the familiar figure of her father and approached him. Her eyes opened widely when she saw blood dripping from a wound in his forehead and a bruised arm. A vision of her dream came back to her.
She ran to him and examined his wounds. "Father! What happened?" She asked, concern evident in her voice.
"Nothing serious my little girl," he said tenderly. He patted her head. "Your mother will fix me in a glance."
Naruto came to Sakura's side. "Yo, Father! Did you beat them?"
"No, Son. I came back for the Kusanagi Sword."
"The Sacred Sword? Why? Are the one you are trying to defeat so strong?" Sakura inquired. Her father was a skilled swordsman and she knew no one who could beat him. If he had to use the sword to vanquish them, it means serious trouble. What if he couldn't do it this time? Sakura had great faith in her father, but no one was invincible. He father, who had always looked so strong, unbeatable, seemed vulnerable under the moonlight. And her dream made it worse.
"Don't worry, Sakura, Naruto," said Kizashi.
"Can I come with you?" asked the eight years old boy.
Kizashi shook his head. "It's too dangerous."
The door opened yet again, revealing Lady Mebuki, the Kusanagi Sword in hand. She had retrieved it from the Sealed Room as they were talking. Kizashi knelt and took the sword and pulled it out of the scabbard. The sword was simple yet it held a strange beauty.
Mebuki took a Tamagushi from the sleeve of her haori, put it on the blade, and began to chant a blessing. The sword began to shine a white light and the glow disappeared soon after. The lord's wounds were also healed. The children's mother was even paler after the effort but she smiled tenderly at Kizashi.
Kizashi and Mebuki embraced each other. "Be safe," she said.
"I'll return soon, don't worry."
He looked at his family one last time and went with the other warriors. Sakura would always remember his back as he walked to meet the enemy. He was soon out of view.
Lady Mebuki dropped to her knees and began coughing.
Naruto and Sakura immediately went to her side. "Mother! Are you okay? You should rest."
"No," she said. "I have to pray for your father's return, for I can't do more. You two should sleep."
Her servant aided her to her personal chambers and the siblings were left alone. Sakura hugged herself. She suddenly felt cold. Warm arms enveloped her, and she saw it was her brother. She returned the embrace.
"Do you think they are going to be okay?" She asked. "I'm scared, Naruto."
"Don't be," he responded. "Father is the strongest person in the universe!"
She chuckled nervously. "If you say so." Sakura felt safe in her brother's arms. "You'll always stay with me, right?"
"I promise."
After a while, they each returned to their room, but Sakura couldn't sleep. No matter what she tried, she couldn't get herself to enter the world of dreams, partly because she didn't want to see that horrible vision again, and partly because she had too much to reflect.
When she was finally able to close her eyes, her ground began to shake violently. Sakura was immediately awakened and she ran to her mother's chamber, followed by Kirara. Her mother was lying down, blood in the corner of her mouth, tears tilled down her face.
"Mother!" She screamed and went to her side. "Mama!" She hadn't called her that since five years old.
"…Sakura…" Mebuki said, clearly weakened. "I'm sorry…I wasn't able…to maintain…the barrier. They are too strong."
"Don't talk Mama. I'll get someone," said Sakura, tears in her eyes. "HELP! SOMEONE! HELP!" She screamed. She looked at the door, but fire was invading the room. The air was beginning to be unbearable. It was her dream all over again, but this time, the pink-haired girl knew that it was real.
"It's…no use…Sakura. Listen."
Sakura's tears fell on her mother's face.
"You mustn't…let them get the Kusanagi Sword. Promise me."
"Who are they? "
"Promise me, Sakura." Lady Mebuki said, her voice suddenly stronger.
"I will, Mama."
Mebuki smiled sadly and her eyes closed.
"MAMA!"
Sakura wouldn't let go of her mother but fire continued to burn the room. She coughed from the gas. The ground shook harder, and, just like her dream, the mansion fell apart. Gigantic monsters watched her. One of them had, in their mouths, a severed arm, holding the Kusanagi Sword. Her eyes opened wider. The arm was her father's, with a tattoo of a dragon biting his tail, forming a circle. Naruto had the same one.
The creature ate the arm and sword fell beside her. She was all alone now. The monster began attacking her, but a big cat with saber-like tooth bit him. She recognized a bigger version of Kirara.
She looked slowly around her, tears preventing her from seeing clearly. What was once a beautiful and peaceful Castle was now hell. Fire was everywhere. People were screaming and running away. She remembered her dreams. She hadn't been able to do anything then. She looked at the sword another time, and remembered her mother's last words.
"All of this…for this thing," she murmured. She took its handle. "If it's like that, then I will kill whoever was behind this, reunite the Tools, and destroy them." She gripped harder, her voice grew louder. "For something like this to never happen again!" And she charged.
Author's note: The plot of this chapter was inspired from Kurogane's past in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles.
The tamagushi is a form of Shinto offering made from a sakaki-tree branch decorated with shide strips of washi paper, silk, or cotton.
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