Hello, folks! Here's the next chapter. I decided to keep the chapters shorter and update more frequently because my schedule is full so: Gomen'nasai! to those who expect longer chaps :S Hope you like it and I'd love to receive your feedback. Have a nice evening (or day depending on your current time xD)
PS. I do not own "Naruto", it belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
PPS If you think of another song that fits the mood of the chapter, please let me know. I'm not exactly pleased with the current one but since I like it I decided to post it XD
If I wasn't here tomorrow would anybody care?
If my time was up I'd wanna know,
you were happy I was there.
If I wasn't here tomorrow would anyone lose sleep?
If I wasn't hard and hollow
then maybe you would miss me...
"Would it matter" by Skillet
"Take a break, Sakura.", Sasuke slumped down in to the couch heavily, "It's been two days already."
"I'm OK.", the kunoichi replied absent-mindedly, without lifting her green gaze from the scattered pages. She was that close to figuring out the components of the antidote. If she managed to succeed in its creation, that means a great advantage for Konoha in the upcoming war.
"It's been a while since we've come here…", Sasuke grinned, "You like it?"
Sakura knitted her brows and finally lifted her gaze to meet his, "Ha?"
"I asked if you enjoy being here."
The medic let out her breath and eased back on the couch, staring at the ceiling for a moment and then she averted her eyes at Sasuke, "Yeah, I think I do."
"Oh, great…", Sasuke stood up and stretched his arms, "Where do you wanna do it? On the couch or in the bed?"
Sakura's eyes widened and she blushed, "Um, do what?"
"Come on, don't tell me you forgot. The bet? Before we came here?"
"Aaaa. No. no. no. I said I think I do.", Sakura chuckled nervously, waving her hands before her.
"Don't chicken out!", Sasuke smirked mockingly at her.
The kunoichi threw the pencil on the coffee table and sighed defeated, "Fine. Lie down.", she stood up to make him a room on the couch.
Sasuke bent down and lied on his stomach with eyes buried in the cushion below his head. He felt Sakura straddling his behind and sliding her hands on his back. Her touches were gentle but at the same time precise and strong. No doubt she was skilled at what she was doing. In no time the relaxation crawled in his body and he felt drifting off.
Suddenly her finger pressed slightly under his right shoulder-blade and a hiss sound escaped his mouth. Sakura immediately stopped her movements and titled her head to the side to look at his profile, "Did it hurt?" Sasuke mumbled something she understood as "a little" and she frowned. The kunoichi slid back a little to sit on his thighs and rolled up his dark blue T-shirt. Sasuke took the hint and lifted up his upper body so she could take the top off. As he lied down half-naked on the couch, Sakura's eyes noticed a slight bump on the place where she previously pressed. When did he injure his back? The medic channeled chakra in her hand and gently let it linger above the sore spot.
Sasuke shivered as he felt her chakra entering his body. The cool feeling spread inside him and he relaxed. It was awhile since she last healed him, he had forgotten what it was like.
Sakura tch-ed and bit her lip, "Why didn't you tell me you had a crunchy feeling in your back? Your shoulder-blade is pressing a tendon and it's began to swallow."
"It didn't hurt so much. I thought I just slept awry.", the shinobi tried to shrug but Sakura's hands on his back prevented him from doing so.
"Next time when something hurts, you should tell me.", Sakura growled, he was the same as Naruto and Kakashi.
"Aye, aye, sir!"
The kunoichi frowned annoyed but healed the bump and she let her hands slide over his back leisurely, continuing her massage. Her green eyes scanned the naked skin. He didn't have any battle scars on his back, only one small beauty mark right in the centre of his spine. She unknowingly slid her finger over it and whispered, "I don't like people who don't have scars on their backs."
Sasuke turned his face to the side so he could look at her with his peripheral sight, "Why?"
"Because you can't trust them.", Sakura caressed with palm his skin, "Back without scars means that you're prideful and constantly on guard."
"Prideful? Where did that come from?"
"You'd never run away from your opponent right?", Sakura smiled, "But I guess that's alright. We're shinobi."
Sasuke stirred under her and turned around, lying on his back. He stared at her emerald eyes calmly, "What about you, Sakura? Do you have scars on your back?"
"I would have had, if you had stabbed me instead of knocking me out that night when you left Konoha.", the kunoichi smiled sadly.
"Does that mean you don't trust me?", Sasuke grabbed her wrist and pulled her down.
Sakura supported herself on her hands, to the sides of his head. Her face was only a span away from his. Then she smiled, "No, it means that you shouldn't trust me.", she tried to pull back and stand up but the other shinobi stopped her, gripping her arms.
"And what if I do?", Sasuke pulled her even closer, with eyes deeply staring at hers, "Will you betray me, like I betrayed you?"
Suddenly Sakura pulled out a kunai from her pouch and aimed at his throat. The Uchiha gripped her wrist, immobilizing her attack and pinned her under him. His dark eyes were weirdly widened, glaring at her amused expression, "You don't trust me, Sasuke.", she whispered and tried to slip away from under his body but the Uchiha had straddled her legs an she gave up with a sigh.
"I do trust you."
"If you did, you'd be with a two-inches-long cut on your throat.", Sakura smiled, "At least I would have been, if it were Naruto and me in this position. Trusting someone means to be able to wear your heart in front of you when you're around them, not fearing that they'd crush it."
"I have never trusted anyone. My relationship with you is the closest thing to trust I've ever known.", Sasuke reached and put away a pink lock that had fallen across Sakura's face.
"A long time ago, you trusted your brother, Sasuke.", Sakura caressed his face, "He didn't betray you. You should remember what it was back then."
The Uchiha's lower lip trembled and he bowed down to kiss her. The moment before their lips met, Sakura turned away her face and the kiss landed on her cheek instead. Sasuke pulled back a little and looked at her with an accepting face, "He's even more messed up than I am, Sakura. You know that."
The kunoichi furrowed her forehead and tears welled up in her eyes, "But that doesn't change the way I see him, right?"
Sasuke gulped and licked his lips, unsure what to say, "Just don't get any scars on your back, ok?"
Sakura yelped in an attempt to smile and they both burst out laughing at the absurd situation.
Suddenly Sasuke's laughter hitched and a terrified expression replaced his cheerful one, "He's here.", he whispered and jumped on his feet pulling up Sakura as well.
"Who's here?", Sakura widened her eyes. If Sasuke was afraid so probably there was a reason, good enough for her to be scared too.
"Zetsu.", Sasuke ran fingers through his hair, "He just passed by one of the sensor tags I put in the forest around the village."
"How much time do we have?", Sakura knitted her brows.
"A day, at best.", Sasuke grabbed a paper and scratched a few words on it, he rolled it in a scroll and then made a handseal. A small bird appeared which took the scroll in its peak and flew away, "We need to get out of here. I sent Yuko a warning to evacuate the villagers. If Zetsu comes to the village, he'll slaughter everyone."
"Good.", Sakura rushed to the bedroom and in a minute returned with a full backpack on her back, "Let's go."
"We need to get some blankets. If we're to hide in the woods, we'll freeze to death."
Sakura frowned, "I've taken everything necessary. Let's go."
The Uchiha nodded and put on his boots and coat. When they were ready, they rushed out of the cottage, heading to the forest. Trying to be extremely fast and at the same time not to leave trails on the snow was almost an impossible job. A few times they had to stop and change directions, sometimes it was necessary to walk backwards, and half of the way Sasuke carried Sakura on his back, as if they had split at some point. Both of them knew that tricks like that won't deceive an S class rogue shinobi from Akatsuki but they had to try. The night was slowly closing in, and before they knew it, it was already twilight.
"We need to find shelter.", Sakura panted. The hill they were climbing currently was eating up all of her energy.
"I know a cave nearby." , Sasuke panted as well. They were taking turns of who would carry the backpack and unfortunately it was his turn now. Not that he would allow her to drag this outrageously heavy rucksack but still…
As they set foot in the cave, Sakura immediately slumped down on the ground, trying to catch her breath. At least in there, there was no blizzard, whipping their faces. Sasuke dropped the backpack on the stone floor and went deeper in the cave for woods. Seconds later he came back dragging a pretty thick branch behind him.
"How did you know there was going to be wood?", Sakura rubbed her palms at one another and blew hot air at them.
"Cuz' I put them there.", he tried to smile but the cold had frozen its features.
"Hmm, you were acting with a foresight.", she nodded approvingly.
"Don't sound so surprised…", he mumbled.
Despite the loud noise coming from the blizzard outside, Sasuke heard a cracking sound as if someone stepped over a fir-cone. The Uchiha pulled out a kunai and reach his hand at Sakura in a sign to stay put. A small shadow appeared at the entrance of the cave. Sasuke aimed the kunai but just before he threw it a quiet yelp was heard and Sakura rushed to the shadow.
"Don't!", the Uchiha yelled but the kunoichi didn't listen. She was already kneeling next to the unknown visitor.
"Pakkun. Oh, my God, Pakkun!", Sakura exclaimed and grabbed the pub in her embrace, "What are you doing here?", her eyes quickly scanned the outside area, searching for another shadow.
"I'm alone, Sakura-chan. Kakashi's not here.", the dog barked and pushed her cheek with his damp nozzle.
The kunoichi stood up and went back to Sasuke who was still standing with a raised kunai. The Uchiha frowned at the pub, "You could have been followed."
"Sasuke, don't talk to him like that! He's an excellent ninken.", the medic smiled widely, petting him between the ears.
"Followed? By who?", Pakkun sat up in Sakura's lap.
"Tch.", Sasuke turned around and kneeled to light up the fire. With just a simple set of handseals a warm and cozy flames were already playing before the shinobi.
"So what are you doing here, Pakkun?", Sakura raised her eyebrows.
"Ever since your last meeting, Kakashi, had told me to look for you. A week ago I finally came across a trail. By pure dose of luck, I may say.", the dog bared its fangs, in attempt to smile.
"You mustn't tell our location, Pakkun.", Sakura bit her lower lip, "If Kakashi knew where we were, he'd come and I don't want him involved in this any further."
The dog growled disapprovingly and turned around to look at Sasuke who was sitting next to the fire with his back against them, "You're not so happy to see me, boy."
"Why should I be?", the Uchiha murmured under his nose, "Every encounter I had with Naruto and Kakashi during the years I was hiding, was thanks to you and your damn nose.."
"Were hiding? Aren't you hiding now as well?", the dog grunted in attempt to chuckle.
"I never liked you."
"Neither do I."
"Easy, boys.", Sakura smiled and went to sit next to Sasuke, "Can we take the opportunity and send a letter to Konoha. I need to inform them about my progress with the poison. "
"Do as you wish. I'm going to sleep. Wake me up in three hours to change shifts.", the Uchiha stoop up and lied down on the cold ground.
The kunoichi sighed, rummaging in the backpack. She pulled out a dark green scroll with a small inscription to the side. Sakura opened in on the floor, revealing a summoning seal. The girl made a few handseals and placed her hand in the middle of it. After a dull poof two sleeping bags were lying on the ground. The girl grabbed the first and threw it at Sasuke. The Uchiha exclaimed surprised as he rolled over to avoid the collision.
"What was that about?", he murmured annoyed and suddenly glared shocked at the sleeping back, "Is the rucksack full with summoning scrolls?"
"Yup.", Sakura sighed and sat with her back at him, "Now go to sleep.", a dull rusting filled the air, as the Uchiha slipped in the sleeping bag.
Pakkun observed her actions with a slightly wagging tail, "You've domesticated him."
Sakura rolled her eyes, "He's not a wild animal, you know…"
"He was…once. But it's good to see him tamed.", Pakkun lifted his paw to lick it.
"I told you… he's not an animal…"
"And yet, he behaves like one when you're not around. He was quite protective of you a while ago, when I showed up.", Pakkun continued, scratching behind his ear with a paw.
"Is it bad?", Sakura frowned.
"No. it is not. But you don't seem to read the signs."
"Don't go all shrinky on me, please. We're talking about human being here, not a wild dog.", Sakura frowned, shaking her head.
"Humans are animals too, Sakura-chan.", Pakkun barked quietly, "Even Kakashi-boy has animal part of him.", the dog walked slowly to the other sleeping back and lied on it, placing muzzle on his forelegs.
Sakura stared at the burning flames; the skin on her face had dried up from the closeness of the fire, so she buried her face in palms, closing her eyes, enjoying the sudden coolness. Animal part, ha? Why she had never seen Kakashi like that? What could possibly make him lose his humanity and start acting like a wild beast? The Copy nin was strongly composed shinobi. Whatever happened, it must have been quite terrible. Sakura sighed. "I wish I had been there for him."
Naruto stumbled upon a sake bottle and the glass clanked on the parquet floor. The shinobi tsk-ed and pinched nose with his fingers, knitting brows. The stink of alcohol made its way to his stomach and the Jinchuuriki took a deep breath, trying to hold it up. He could drink but he hated the aftereffects – hangover, dried up mouth as if you've been licking a sandy ground for days and deadly stench which made your eyes teary, something even the mixture of onion and garlic in the extra nippy ramen in Ichiraku's couldn't achieve. The kyuubi host looked around himself – empty bottles, dirty plastic one-time-use plates with leftovers of something unidentified in them, and even more mysterious puddle in the middle of the claret carpet. His usual curiosity to identify the origin of the puddle was suppressed when his sapphire eyes caught the sight of small yellowish bits. Boiled sweet corn. Damn.
The boy suppressed the urge to vomit and turned his head aside, hurrying to the window. Quickly Naruto unlocked it and opened the both wings. The fresh air enveloped him, leaving a cool sensation on his cheeks and the shinobi found it safe to take a deep relaxing breath. The Jinchuuriki bowed down and looked to his left – the window of Kakashi's bedroom was open too. Naruto took another breath and held it again. Who knew what kind of smell was lingering in the other room, since even his most likely drunk sensei decided to open a window.
As soon as Naruto set a foot inside the room, his eyes widened. Kakashi – supine on the bed – was snoring loudly with half-open mouth. His mask was nowhere to be seen as well as his tank top and eye patch. The blond shinobi noticed the similar looking puddle on the sill of the window, slowly dripping on the floor, creating another smaller plash. Naruto swallowed loudly. So his sensei was looking through the window when he passed out. Fortunately inside the room, not on the street because the sight the famous Copy nin was right now wasn't something people in the village should see.
The Jinchuuriki went to the bed and shook his shoulder, "Kakashi-sensei…"
No answer.
"Kakashi-senseeeei…."
Silence.
Naruto frowned; he grabbed the sleeping men for the upper arm and dragged him to the bathroom. Dropping him on the cold hard tiles made him grunt but didn't wake him. The Jinchuuriki shook his head. Sakura was right – alcohol destroys brain cells.
"Kakashi-sensei. Wake up. You're late.", Naruto shook him again, this time harder. The Copy nin slapped instinctively his hand, munched few times and slurped the slobber around his mouth, continuing to sleep. A vein popped on Naruto's forehead and he switched the faucet of the cold water. The spurt hit Kakashi directly in the center of his head.
The Copy nin yelled startled and tried to jump on feet but the spout of the shower jabbed him into his head. "Damn you, Naruto!", his voice was high-pitched from the hangover, "Are you trying to kill me?"
"Sensei!", the shinobi grinned scratching the back of his neck, "Sorry."
Kakashi tsk-ed and stood up slowly, knowing that probably he didn't recover his balance yet, "What are you doing here, Naruto?"
"Kakashi-sensei! Don't tell me you forgot about our appointment!", the blonde frowned, "We were supposed to meet in the training yard two hours ago."
"Sorry, Naruto, but could you go home for today.", Kakashi unbuttoned his pants and prepared a towel, hanging it next to the shower.
"Are you OK, sensei?", the boy looked at him worriedly. It wasn't like him to drink carelessly or avoid training.
"Yeah."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Then why did you get wasted like that?"
"Naruto… It's none of your business what I'm doing in my spare time."
"It is mine! We're team.", the boy argued grabbing his ex-teacher for the upper arm.
Kakashi escaped the grip and glared at him angrily, "We're not. Our team got disbanded when Sakura left."
"You're not talking seriously!", Naruto shook his head.
"I am. It's the truth and it's time for you to accept it.", Kakashi turned around, "Now leave. I need to freshen up."
The Jinchuuriki licked his lips nervously and bit the lower one. His sensei didn't mean what he said. It was still the alcohol talking. The blonde turned around and left his apartment.
Kakashi ran fingers through his wet hair, letting his body tilting to the side. He slid down the tiled wall and sat on the floor. He really didn't mean it. But he needed a little time to himself. It was that day again. The day when his first team officially was destroyed. When he broke the one promise he vowed not to break. He couldn't protect Rin like Obito wanted. That day… she died. That day was today…
Sakura yawned and lifted her eyelid cautiously. Nothing seemed out of ordinary. She unzipped the sleeping bag and sat up, stretching her arms. The light coming from the cave's entrance was unusually white. Probably last night snowed quite a lot. The kunoichi looked around herself and saw Pakkun dragging sticks to the fire.
"Morning, Pakkun.", Sakura said with a smile.
The dog dropped the sticks and turned around startled, "Ah, Sakura. Morning. I didn't hear you wake up."
The kunoichi laughed, "You're getting old, Pakkun."
The dog growled and his nuzzle trembled, "As if…"
The medic grinned, "Nothing personal. I told the same to Kakashi."
"Really? And how come we're here, talking?", the dog bared his fangs in attempt to smirk.
"I told him that with age comes experience."
"Hooo…, I never thought of that.", the dog barked and threw the sticks in the fire.
"Where's Sasuke?", Sakura stood up and tied the belt around her hips, attaching her leather pouches.
"He didn't say. He suddenly got that terrified mug and rushed out of here, mumbling something like he's here.", the dog raised a paw to scratch behind his ear.
"Why didn't you wake me?", Sakura widened her eyes and they glistened.
"He told me not to."
"That idiot.", the kunoichi rushed out of the cave but suddenly she felt someone pulling her back. She turned around and saw Pakkun biting her boot, "Let go."
"He told me he'd take care of things."
"His opponent is Zetsu!", Sakura yelled, "Let go of me! He's going to die."
The dog released her and sharpened his ears, "From Akatsuki?"
Sakura nodded and attempted to run ahead but Pakkun stood in her way and growled, taking a defensive posture.
"What's the meaning of this?", Sakura frowned.
"If Sasuke's up against Zetsu, that's enough reason not to let you out of this cave.", Pakkun growled.
"There's no time for us to be arguing! Sasuke might be dying!", Sakura clenched her fists and narrowed her gaze.
"And how could you possibly help him? You don't have the antidote! You'll just die as well."
"I saved Kakashi without an antidote!", Sakura yelled and stormed at the dog but he jumped at her and snapped his jaw only inch away from her face, forcing her to fall back.
"Do you have the equipment to save him, Sakura? The only reason that you saved Kakashi-boy was because he was smart enough to make himself bleed to death. Will Sasuke think of the same? Do you have any blood bags for transfusion even if he did come up with such idea? Do you have even one leech to help you remove the poison or what? You're going to suck it out yourself?", the dog barked and her with bared fangs. The kunoichi's eyes teared up but she clenched her jaw in silence. Pakkun relaxed his muscles, "Do you even think of Kakashi-boy when you rush to your death like that? He lost you once. And he barely survived. He won't have the same luck twice, Sakura."
Suddenly a poof of smoke filed the cave and Sasuke emerged from it. The Uchiha looked around him nervously and his eyes met with Sakura. "We need to go. Now.", the boy pulled her towards the entrance of the cave. Sakura stumbled upon a small rock and fell, lacerating her left knee on the stone ground. She hissed but the boy didn't stop for a second. His terrified expression sent chills down her spine and goose bumps arose on her skin. What happened out there?
Pakkun observed the scene before him and his ears sharpened. He needed to inform Kakashi. The dog raised a paw and disappeared in a poof of smoke.
Sasuke kept running in the snow, oblivious of his surroundings. His brain was working at full speed. They needed to get out. She needed to get out. The boy froze in his steps, turning around and grabbed her shoulder, staring in her emerald eyes, "Get out of here! Don't look back."
"I…", the kunoichi tried to respond but a evil laughter echoed around them.
"Did you think that tiny flame would stop me, Sasuke?", Zetsu appeared slowly from the ground before them. His two-coloured body finally emerged completely and the Akatsuki glared at them mockingly.
"Sakura, run back to Konoha. I'll hold him.", Sasuke yelled at the kunoichi without breaking his eye contact with their enemy. The Uchiha pulled out a kunai and made a handseal, sending lighting chakra into its blade.
The medic widened her eyes not managing to avert them. That was a suicide, she needed to help him. He couldn't die here. He promised her that he'd train her. He promised that he'd help Konoha. He promised not to leave her again… The girl made a handseals and bit her thumb, placing her hand on the snowy ground. A pink-black slug appeared before her and Sakura pointed at the Akatsuki member, "Mahi, try to paralyze him, please." The slug crawled and then jumped in the air falling on top of Zetsu's shoulder, stabbing him with her poisonous needles. The monstrous shinobi just frowned and pushed away the little slug.
Sakura widened her eyes. Was he immune to Mahi's venom? She observed the clashes of Sasuke's kunai and Zetsu's vines. Only the one cut and he was dead. That certainly put a lot of pressure onto one's mind. Will he be OK?
Suddenly a vine appeared before her and the kunoichi yelled startled, jumping back and shutting her eyes as if that would help her to avoid the attack. She knew she made a mistake shouting. She must never shout on the battlefield. She mustn't distract her allies… she knew it but yet she couldn't help herself.
When she opened her eyes again Sasuke was already running to her side with worried expression. Suddenly Zetsu appeared behind the Uchiha and Sakura's eyes popped out in horror. He was going to die… the vine pierced through Sasuke's chest and the kunoichi cried out in despair with tears falling from her eyes. Sasuke's body jerked and poofed transforming into a tree log. Kawarimi no jutsu. Her heart jerked. Her former teammate appeared behind Zetsu and pushed his kunai through his chest. The blade popped out right in the middle of his sternum where the two colours combined. Did he get him? The medic saw blood spilling from the wound. Suddenly a steam started to appear from it and soon the blood was gone, leaving only a small hole where the kunai pierced. Sakura's eyes widened in realization – that was most certainly a chemical reaction! The blood from his white and black half was different. The poison was coming from his black half and the antidote was in his other body. That's why they neutralized themselves…
Zetsu made a pained expression averting his gaze from Sakura and then grinned. The kunoichi popped her eyes as she saw her friend coughing a handful of blood. When did he attack him? Then his body slumped down on the ground with a thump. The Uchiha's eyes were staring wide open at her and he reached his hand towards her. She could read the words on his lips, "Run." Sakura noticed the quickly growing puddle of blood on the white snow and tears welled up in her eyes. But she forced herself to stand up and escape. The fear moved her legs she knew that was a cowardly thing to do but still she couldn't stop. She didn't want to die. Not here. Not now.
Funny, when she was at the arena during the tournament she didn't really care about dying or not. She wanted to protect Kakashi. She wanted to save him. But now... Why didn't she stay? She wanted to save Sasuke as well. Was it because she knew she wasn't strong enough to kill Zetsu or that there was no hope for Sasuke? Which was the better option for her to think? Maybe both. Maybe that's why she's running mindlessly away like a genin. She felt sick from her own cowardice. How could she stoop so low?
Her running stopped and she froze in her steps. Even if she ran she was never going to escape him. What was the point then? Her body slowly turned around and faced Zetsu who had already caught up to her.
"You done running?", the mocking tone in his voice stabbed her through her chest.
"Yeah. I think I most probably would die here but I might as well try to bring you with me.", Sakura smirked.
Zetsu frowned and a vine attacked her, the kunoichi jumped back and flipped in mid air, avoiding another one of his attacks but when her feet reached the ground an excruciating pain pierced her right calf, forcing her to fall on the ground. When she looked down she noticed a bear trap closed around her leg, little above her ankle. The snow around her had started to redden and she felt dizzy from the blood loss and the pain. Her eyes searched for Zetsu and she found him standing right in front of her with smug expression.
"Well, well. Too bad... I wanted a little more fun.", he chuckled and stepped on the trap, pressing it with his foot. The metal teeth sank deeper into her leg and Sakura felt her bones shattering. She cried out, stabbing nails in her palms. The Akatsuki member grinned and gripped the chain of the bear trap.
Sakura's eyes widened in horror, realizing his intentions, "No…Don't…"
Zetsu laughed and pulled the chain, throwing it to the side. The trap teeth tore her leg and fell few meters away with her severed limb…
TBC