KYOHEI FINALLY ADMITTED HE LOVES SUNAKO!!! BAHAHAHAHA. And I got three new CDs last night. Seriously… Escape the Fate is just so damn amazing… Their new sound… drool…
And if Hinata's dead, Kishimoto is going to find a very angry seventeen-year-old on his door-step in the next few weeks…
Disclaimer: Still not mine. Sigh.
Dedication: To Breaking Benjamin and Escape the Fate.
---
When I woke up the next morning, I groaned as sunlight hit my eyes, and I instinctively curled into the warmth on my left. Said warmth growled when I moved, thinking I was getting up, and it pulled me closer. I let out a sigh as Sasuke tucked my head underneath his chin, and locked his arms around me.
"You gonna let me go anytime soon?"
"No."
I rolled my eyes, but I didn't move. It was too early to start an argument over something so stupid. I yawned, and carefully started going over the events of last night in my mind, yet again.
"When are we going to go after Kabuto?" I mumbled into his neck, my nose full of musky boy scent. My lips curved up into a smile, and I let out a soft puff of breath. He shivered.
"Don't do that," he muttered, and I had to suppress the urge to giggle maniacally. I did it again, just to piss him off, and he groaned in something like lust. Satisfaction swamped me.
"Don't do what? This?" I asked him, and then I breathed on his neck for a third time, and this time, he hissed, and pulled away from me.
"Yes, that."
"Oh," I pouted at him, and fluttered my lashes, and tried to be Ino. I failed. "But what if I want to?"
He looked at me for a second. "You might not like the results, if you keep it up, you know."
My lips spread in a slow, dangerous smile, and I whispered in his ear "Really? Would I really not like it?"
"Really, really," he murmured back to me, his lips brushing lightly against my cheek, and gently tracing their way down my throat, his breath hot on my skin. I always stop thinking when he does this… Seriously, my brain just kind of fizzles out and dies…
A tendril of lighting ghosted its way up my spine, and I shuddered delicately. His lips hovered just a centimeter above my own, and I suddenly understood why he had not liked me breathing on his neck. It was just so damn tempting.
"Are you going to kiss me now, or not?" I demanded, my voice soft and ragged. I hate him so much.
"Very definitely."
And then his lips were on mine, and it was so hot, and I twisted my fingers through his inky hair, and he's all mine mine-mine-mine-no-one-else-can-touch-him-because-he's-mine… A flood of possession swirled through my body, and I tugged him closer.
Neither of us are truly gentle in nature (he is, more then I am, but still…), and when I pulled away to breathe, I knew my collar was, at the very least, bruised, and Tsunade would probably ask me awkward questions if she was them…
Not that I was the only one with injuries; I give as good as I get, and I fight dirtier then Sasuke does. He had nail marks gouging deep into his chest and his shoulder, and even deeper into his back, and I smiled in smug satisfaction. He was mine, and those damn nail marks proved it.
We kind of looked at each other for a second, both our breathing heavy and labored as we fought for air, and we gave ourselves a chance to survey the damage we'd done to each other. My pajama top was in shreds (bastard! I had liked that one, too!), and my shorts had mysteriously disappeared…
He smirked down at me "Damn, I knew you scratched… But I didn't think you would bite me."
He was right, too; there were bite marks all across his neck. Fuck, what am I, a leech?! I flushed, the blood from the rest of my body rushing up to my head. Or, at least it tried. "Shut up. I'm going to have hickeys for weeks! Tsunade and Kakashi will think you're abusing me!"
He chuckled, and pulled me closer, and wrapped the bed covers around us. It was like he was trying to hide us from the world. Maybe he was. I wouldn't have cared either way.
I wanted to hide.
I didn't want to be seen by anyone, didn't want to have to feel anymore. I wanted Anko and Kurenai and Shizune, and Kakashi and Asuma and Genma, and I just wanted someone to be there for me.
And I had Sasuke. I struggled to sit up, and I looked down at him. I let my eyes trace his features, from the small, musing smile on his lips, to the casual, warm cast to his eyes, I had him, and it would be fine, because we would be together.
"Princess?"
"Hmm?"
"You gonna get up?" he asked, his voice strangely gentle, and soft, and almost broken.
God, it's no wonder he's worried, I'm fucking bipolar when he's around. I ran my fingers slowly through his bangs, and I bit my lip. I didn't even deserve him. I'm such a horrible person…
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm comfy." And then I lay back down, and I curled my body into his. I'm glad that I mean something to him. I'm glad I mean something to somebody at all.
I closed my eyes, and I slept again.
---
When I woke up again, I couldn't feel Sasuke next to me. Panic seized me for some unknown reason, and I stood up blindly.
Or, at least, I tried. I was kind of wrapped in sheets, and so I hit the floor with a resounding 'thump'.
And then Sasuke came rushing back into my view, and I let out a sigh of relief. I dislike not knowing where he is; it's kind of scary, being totally alone.
I've really become used to sleeping next to him.
That thought on its own was like a smack in the face. I had never really been dependent on someone ever before, not emotionally, anyways, and now that I am, it's kind of… scary.
I wrapped my arms around myself (or at least I tried… still wrapped in sheets, damn it), and I started swearing like a drunken sailor.
Sasuke shook his head at me in disbelief, and came and picked me up, and held me in the air, bridal-style (dear god, kill me now) for a second.
And then he dumped me on the bed, and I started swearing loudly again.
"Get dressed, Sakura. We're going hunting."
I stilled as his words swept over. A smirk tore itself over my lips, dangerous and deadly, and I untangled myself slowly, and just as slowly, I stood up and looked at him. The rush of pre-hunt adrenaline had me on edge, and I suddenly remembered why I had started hunting in the first place.
That rush of pre-hunt adrenaline was nothing compared to what it felt like to run through the streets at night, a leech's scent in your nose, feeling the wind screaming through your hair, and laughing laugh-laugh-laughing as you chase your soon-to-be-prey hunter down alleyways and past bars and over rooftops… No, it just couldn't compare.
Because that's the game we play; the hunters become the prey, and the hunted become the predators. It's dangerous, but it's worth it.
And I'm not even lying.
"Well then," I murmured to no one in particular "I suppose I'd best get dressed…"
Sasuke noted the change in my voice, and he looked at me, concerned. "Sakura, are you… alright?"
I smiled up at him, my eyes half-lidded as my dangerous little five-year-old took control. "I'm fine… Actually, you know what? I'm better then fine."
And then I whipped around, and went to find something to wear. Sasuke snorted behind me; he was amused by my sudden monotony. He better get used to me being like this… I'm always like this before I hunt, even if he doesn't see it.
I reached blindly into my bag, and started pulling clothes out of it. They ended up being thrown pell-mell all over the place behind me, and it continued until I found my favorite hunting uniform.
I tugged the skin-tight black zip-up jacket and short-shorts out. I tossed them over my arm, and ran into the bathroom and got changed as fast as I could. Well, after a shower and towel-drying my hair pretty much thoroughly… So I was clean, thank god.
The outfit honestly didn't afford much warmth, but that didn't matter. When you were broiling hot because you were running so fast, it kind of helped.
And it also let me strap on so many weapons that it was worth the cold.
I got out, and blinked at Sasuke. "What?"
He still looked amused. "Nothing."
I shook my head to myself, and went to find my boots (Anko calls them my hooker boots. They're not). They were sitting in the cubboard, and I slid them on, and zipped them up. They were knee-high and black and sexy and warm, which was another reason I didn't have to wear pants when I wore them.
After this was finished, and I was dressed, I went to find a ponytail to put my hair up. Running around with loose hair is annoying.
I searched our room. I searched the entire room.
And I couldn't find one. I growled, exceedingly annoyed. "Sasuke, I'll be right back, I need to go steal a rubber band from Hinata, because apparently there isn't one in this room."
He just chuckled, still amused at something I didn't understand, and I just left the room, rolling my eyes. The dude is weird when he wants to be.
I walked to the next room, and knocked on the door.
A squeak and the sound of something heavy hitting the ground, and a grunt was all I heard, and then the door was opened by a very red Hinata, wearing nothing but a sheet.
I raised an eyebrow at her. "Apparently, I'm not the only one getting some… Neji's gonna be pissed."
She squeaked at me, her blush thickening, and I just laughed. "Don't worry Hina, I won't tell him. I like Naruto; I don't want him to die. Anyways, do you happen to have a rubber band?"
She nodded, still red as a beet, and was about to open the door to let me in, but I stopped her. "Sweetie, I do not want to see what's in there… could you just go grab it?"
She turned even redder (if that was even possible, considering the circumstances), and quickly closed the door in my face. I didn't blame her; it was kind of weird, anyways. A few seconds later, she appeared, and stuffed a couple of rubber bands into my fist, and then I grinned at her.
"Thanks hun, now, I think you should go finish up whatever it was that you were doing… but if someone else knocks on the door, really, just don't answer it."
She nodded again, still bright red, and she closed the door, and I went stomped back to our room, something having dawned on me.
"You knew! You asshole, why didn't you tell me they were screwing in the other room?!"
Sasuke grinned at me, and I wanted to kick him.
"It was only fair that you walk in on them, too. I walked in on them earlier; they didn't even lock the door."
I shook my head in total disbelief. "Dear god, if Neji finds out…"
He finished my sentence for me. "Naruto's going to die. I can't wait."
"What kind of best friend are you?!"
"A good one!"
"…O-kay then…" was all I said, and then I slipped into the bathroom, to get to a mirror, and to do my hair.
Sasuke was behind me, and he watched me gather my hair at the back of my head in a high, tight, functional ponytail-bun-thing, watched my bangs framed my face. I stared at them in slight hatred. I really don't like my bangs, but they work for me like this.
Eventually, I might cut them… But right then wasn't the time to think about things like that. My eyes caught Sasuke's in the mirror, and we held each other's gaze. There was a tense humming between us.
It wasn't just tension. It was fear, masked and twisted, but it was there. I was afraid that this wouldn't work. I was afraid of being alone. I was afraid of losing him.
His fingers grazed the curve of my back, and I knew reassurance when I felt it. If one of us was going, so was the other. He wouldn't leave me alone. And I wouldn't be facing the possibility of Anko and Kakashi dead, not alone, anyways.
I carefully passed Sasuke, our fingers linking casually as he flicked the light off. I tugged him back to where I had stashed all of my guns (under the bed. Seriously people, everyone always thinks that under the bed is too obvious, so no one checks it… which is good, considering…), and I pulled out the two normal-looking suitcases, and I opened them.
Laid out before us was a lovely vision of pain-inducing weapons, and I pulled out a Glock, and strapped it to my thigh, and then grabbed its twin, and strapped said twin to my other thigh.
Knives went in my boots, and the needle-point knives meant for slamming into random body parts (usually the neck…) were shoved in my hair. I debated pulling on my knife-nail-leather gloves, but decided against it, and just shoved them into Sasuke's hands, with a mutter of "Hold these."
He just held them, and slightly smirked at me. I rolled my eyes, and I turned my attention back to my guns.
My rifle sat there in four pieces, and I ached to bring it along, but I knew I couldn't risk it. It was too dangerous, too slow. It was good for long-distance sniping, but I somehow seriously doubted that there'd be any sniping on this little outing of ours.
I turned and looked at Sasuke. "So when are we leaving, by the way? You're not getting changed yet…"
"We're not leaving for a few hours."
I glared at him. "And so that's why you were laughing at me. Unfair. So I got all dressed up for nothing? I could have stayed in bed."
"Nah," he mumbled. "You look prettier this way."
I wanted to blush. But I don't really blush. It's kind of… yucky. And it's more or less Hinata's area of expertise, not mine. "Thanks," I murmured back, and I smiled up at him.
Although, considering, staying in bed would have been way more comfortable. I could have slept for a few more hours. I love sleep. It's so relaxing. But I think I'm almost all slept-out. There is a point where I just can't sleep anymore. And that point always sucks, because there's nothing I can do at that point. Blah.
"So what do we do now?" I whispered.
"We wait." Sasuke replied.
---
And so we waited.
And waited, and waited. I was so bored by the end of it that I nearly screamed. So I have no patience. I know that, okay?! I tugged the blanket I had wrapped around me a little closer, and I let my eyes flash obsessively at the clock.
I hate waiting.
It's called 'the waiting game' for a reason. It's not something you can ever win, because once you get to whatever you were waiting for, you find out something screwed up, and you have to wait some more.
It's the most annoying thing in the world.
I turned and looked at Sasuke, sitting coolly across from me, his hair swept back in an almost windblown fashion, and wearing all black, from his shirt, to his sneakers. And he was wearing aviators.
I wanted to throw myself at him. Aviators are sexy.
The knock on the door shocked me, and I jumped what felt like a foot in the air without trying. But, despite my strange shock, I got up, and pushed the door open.
It was just Hinata and Naruto, both dressed in black for the occasion. Black just always works best during the night, because it hides things in shadows very, very well.
"Where are Tenten and Neji?" I asked, and Hinata shrugged.
"Tenny is probably still trying to wake Neji up. Although, they should be here soon, if I know Tenten at all." She grinned weakly at me, and I grinned weakly back at her. Neither of us liked where this night could be going.
Sasuke and Naruto gave each other the guy nod, and then sat at the table, strangely quiet. Apparently, none of us were really ready for tonight. I tugged Hinata over to the bed, and we flopped down together, and flicked the TV on.
"Crap, crap, more pointless crap… Why isn't there anything good on?" I demanded irritably. I needed a good way to vent my frustrations at life in general right now, and screaming at a stupid soap would probably be the best way.
But there were no trashy soaps on. Sigh.
I rolled my eyes at the ceiling, and wished that it would disappear. I wanted to see the stars.
But there are no stars for killers, I thought, and then I closed my eyes, and let my body rest, comfortable and safe in the tiny little hotel room with my three best friends.
The next time the door was pounded on, I didn't jump, as I had jumped the first time. The first time, I'd been unprepared for it, the loud knocking, but this time I was ready for it.
And it's Tenten. Seriously, Tenten doesn't do gentle. Ever.
Naruto got up, when the pounding continued, and the rest of us made no move to get up, and he unlocked the door, and let an annoyed Tenten, and a still-out-of-it Neji in. She was huffing, and he was just being his cold, emotionless robot self.
"Are we going yet? And, I swear to god, if that creep of a receptionist smiles at me again, I'm going to kill him!" Tenten went off into a rant, and both Hinata and I giggled. Well, Hinata did. I suppressed a painful chuckle.
"Yes Tenten, we're leaving now."
"Where are we going, how are we getting there, and how long is this going to take? I need some sleep in the next twenty-four hours, or very bad things will happen."
I kind of expected that. Tenten looks exhausted. "Don't worry hun, we're going to find an old friend, Sasuke and Naruto are driving, and it shouldn't take too long. And then we're coming back here and passing out."
"And if we find the adults?"
I shrugged. "We're still coming back here and passing out. I refuse to loose sleep because they're being stupid."
Of course, they all knew the happiness in my voice was faked, and that I would be seriously unhappy if we found something I didn't.
Thinking about it made me wonder what would happen if I was actually faced with the possibility of their deaths. It was a scary thought.
Considering, I'd probably go on a killing spree, and forget any truces I'd ever made, good intentions or no. If it came down to the leeches or me, it would be them, any day of the freakin' week.
I refuse to die for people who are already dead.
I blinked at the others, and I pulled Hinata off the bed, and I grabbed my black leather jacket. It was like a signal in itself, and I tossed it over my shoulders. I walked out the door behind Tenten and Neji, with Sasuke at my side, and Naruto and Hinata behind us, holding hands.
It was time for some interrogation, and if I had to break some bones to make it happen, I would.