A/N: Okay, here's the next chapter. I was in the middle of writing it when i posted the other chapter...I wanted to post them together but i hit a bit of a road block. Anyways, I hope you enjoy and I know this is kinda a drag in the beginning, but it sets up for the end of the story. Well, I hope you enjoy and I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 38: How to Say Goodbye
Enzeru watched all the young people that were gathered around her home. It was several days after they had first showed up. She sighed, her old bones were tired. She wasn't sure if she could take much more of this. She smiled at the little children that were piled around her right now. It was currently early evening, the time Enzeru usually regaled the children with tales of Sakura's grandfather's exploits. She sighed…she missed Hetoshi so much…
Sakura seemed to sense her mood, because they young woman, who had black hair once more, walked over to her and hugged her. "I miss him too Obaa-chan." she whispered, confirming Enzeru's suspicions. The old woman laughed and cupped her check. She kissed Sakura's cheek and sat back in her chair. Enzeru's eyes glistened with tears she would not shed in front of the young girl who was more like a daughter than a granddaughter.
"Oh, Sakura…You will never know how much I miss your jii-chan unless you lose that red head of yours." She noticed the sadness that crossed the young woman's face and she patted her hand. "I will stay with you for now…but I am old, my dear, and my body has been through a lot. I will not be around forever." Enzeru sighed…she had managed to say it. She knew that it would be hard for Sakura to accept losing her, but she also knew her body was giving out. There were tears in Sakura's eyes.
"Obaa-chan…I love you…so much. But seeing you in so much pain…missing Jii-chan so much…it hurts worse knowing that you're not really here." Sakura was crying lightly. Enzeru shushed her and sent the children out of her room. The kids kissed her wrinkled cheek and said goodbye. It seemed they sensed something as well. Finally, it was only Sakura and her grandmother. Enzeru sighed, her age catching up with her.
"Sakura…I may be old, but I am not foolish. I have been dying since your jii-chan died. My heart gave up when he left this world. The only thing keeping me here were you and Karin…and my promise to your jii-chan. I promised that I would live until you and Karin reconciled your differences. You have done that now…and much more. I have tried to hold on for your sake, but I am human, my dear. I am selfish…I want to be with my darling Hetoshi…" Enzeru smiled at Sakura, who was sobbing uncontrollably now. Sakura had her head in her grandmother's lap.
Enzeru smiled and made Sakura look up at her. "My dear, dear child. You cry for me like your heart is breaking." Sakura hugged her tightly, not wanting to let go, but knowing that she was making her grandmother suffer by not letting her go.
"Obaa-chan…I know…it wasn't…fair…for me to…keep you here this…long." Sakura sobbed into her grandmother's shoulder. Enzeru sighed and made Sakura look at her.
"Sakura…my pain wasn't physical. The poison is uncomfortable, but not painful. There isn't anything you can do for my body now…it's too old and it's been exposed too long to the toxins. You can't blame yourself for this. My pain was being without my beloved husband for so long. You will know soon enough the love your jii-chan and I shared. Your red head loves you like your jii-chan loved me." Sakura sniffled and looked at her grandmother.
"I love you, Obaa-chan…" she kissed her grandmother's face as the old woman laid back in her bed and smiled.
"I love you too, my sweet, darling Sakura. I will always be with you…your jii-chan and I will always be with you…" Enzeru smiled and closed her eyes. Sakura cried as she felt her grandmother's strength slowly leave her. When Enzeru's spirit left her body, Sakura let out a wail that shook the house. Pretty soon, everyone in the house was crowding into the room.
Sakura was inconsolable. Karin saw her grandmother lying on the bed and instantly knew what had happened. Tears had fallen down her face and she had fallen, unable to stand as she looked at her grandmother's smiling, peaceful face. The sisters wept for their lost loved one. Kankuro held Karin as she mourned the loss of her grandmother. Gaara tried to console Sakura, but the young woman had curled in on herself, weeping.
Gaara had looked back at everyone, who had tears in their eyes as they looked at the two sisters and then at their grandmother. With a cry, Sakura disappeared. Gaara wasn't far behind. Lacey handed the little blonde girl she was holding to Lee, who had sad eyes.
"Goodbye, Hatori-sama. I hope you find peace and happiness as you reunite with you husband in the afterlife." Lacey pulled the sheet over Enzeru's head and the entire house mourned the passing of the woman they had all come to call 'Obaa-san'.
--
Gaara tried to subdue his grief struck mate. He tried to hold her, but she tore from his grasp and ran. They were in the forest one second and then he would tackle her and they would end up somewhere else. Right now, they were in a very cold, very snow covered place. Sakura howled her grief to the frozen terrain. Gaara felt grief rip through him and he was desperate to comfort her.
Gaara grabbed her around the waist and they shifted to yet another location. Gaara had managed to get them to the desert…his turf. He managed to throw Sakura on the ground and pin her. She fought, tears sliding down her face, her throat raw from her grief and the wails that had come from her throat since her grandmother's passing. Desperate, Gaara did the only thing he could think of…he bit her.
Gaara sank his fangs into her neck, trying to calm her. She screamed and fought him, kicking, punching, arching against him…and then she broke down. She cried against him, her tears soaking him. He let go of her and held her as close to him as he could. She was still beneath him, but her sobs shook her entire form, making his form shake as well.
Gaara had never seen her this distraught…he didn't know what to do…didn't know how to deal with this. Again, he acted on instinct…he kissed her. He kissed her more passionately than he ever had, even when the mating heat had been on him. He kissed her, trying to take her sadness and pain into himself. He caressed her face, licked up her tears, whispered love words to her, telling her that everything would be alright.
Sakura allowed him to comfort her, remembering the words her grandmother had told her before her passing. A new pain came to her…the thought of losing Gaara. She gasped at the thought and looked up at him, fear all over her face, in her eyes, in her mind…in her scent. Sakura saw him stiffen and look at her.
When their eyes met, it was like something in Sakura snapped. She kissed him voraciously, tearing at his clothes, pressing against him tightly. Gaara was surprised by her sudden change. Her mind was jumbled and he couldn't find the source of her sudden change. He felt her grip his head as she pressed a hard, bruising kiss to his lips.
She ripped his clothes from his body, her eyes roving, almost like she was looking him over for injuries. He gasped when she rolled over on top of him, her hands flying over his body, as if to reassure herself he was unhurt. He was surprised when she stripped herself just as quickly, rubbing her body against his. He watched as she petted his hair, caressed his face, reassured herself that he was there.
He almost yelled when she pushed down on him. He fell back, his head hitting a pile of sand. She was tight, her desperation making her instantly ready for him. She pulled him up, his face in her breasts. She whimpered, offering her breast to him. He took it into his mouth, unable to deny her. He wrapped his arms around her as she slowly rode him. It was the slowest, most breath taking thing Gaara had ever experienced. She was making love to him. It was all there was to it. It wasn't mating, it wasn't sex…they were making love.
"Gaara…Gaara…" she sobbed his name over and over, like it was a safe word. She continued to make love to him, her desperation turning quickly to passion and translating into love. They moved together, a mutual loving. Gaara allowed her the control she needed, sensing her need to reaffirm something with him. He could hear her moans, the light gasps as she got closer to the end. He reached up and took her lips in a kiss so sweet, he could feel the tears falling from her eyes.
He whispered love words to her, making her gasp and grip him tightly. He growled and turned their positions so that she was beneath him. He kept the slow pace, kissing her face, her neck, anything he could reach. She wrapped her legs around him, cradling him as he made love to her. She dug her hands in his thick hair and he groaned, his head dropping so that he was kissing her shoulder as he thrust into her gently.
"Gaara…" she gasped his name as he continued his gentle ministrations. She then said something he hadn't heard her say out loud since she had demonstrated her power. "I love you…I love you Gaara…I love you so much…" she sobbed as she was pushed over the edge. She was convulsing with pleasure, gasping with each spasm that rocked her body. Gaara stared at her, a blush on his face as her words sank in…she loved him…
He gasped as he felt his body react powerfully to her declaration, sending him over the edge. He spilled his seed into her, thrusting in subconsciously, making sure there was no mess. His hips would spasm and thrust his member into her, like he was stuffing his seed as far in as possible. For a few seconds, he prayed he got her pregnant. He wanted her breeding…wanted her carrying HIS children. He wanted to see his seed swell her belly, watch her body change to accommodate his child.
"Sakura…uh…fuck…" he whispered, hugging her tightly. He then said something he couldn't ever remember telling her aloud. "Sakura…I love you Sakura…" he whispered to her, nuzzling her. She sighed in contentment, her emotions so raw that she didn't have the energy to stay awake. She curled up where she was, her lover still joined intimately with her. She fell asleep on his chest and he stayed this way, knowing she needed the feeling of closeness.
--
Four days after her death, a funeral service was held for Hatori Enzeru. Sakura cried openly for her grandmother. The service was private and Enzeru was laid to rest beside her beloved husband. Sakura put a seal on their tombs, so that they would never be disturbed. Karin mourned the loss much the same way Sakura did, but she also lost weight, became extremely pale, and cried often.
Kankuro was at the end of his rope and didn't know what else to do. Gaara gave him a little advice. "You want me to what?" he whispered to his younger brother, who shrugged.
"It worked for Sakura." Kankuro turned green and shook his head.
"I really didn't need to hear that about my sister in law, Gaara." he muttered and looked ahead of him to where Karin was walking with Sakura, the two girls embracing and drawing comfort from one another. It had been even harder for Karin, because Minotsu had showed up, accusing Sakura of killing his mother. He had been escorted away from the service, but the damage had been done…Sakura had cried and Karin had been embarrassed.
Kankuro looked back at his brother, a brow arched. "You're sure it will work?" Gaara shrugged and walked ahead of his brother and whispered to Sakura, who smiled sadly at him. She kissed him and he went ahead to get the car. Kankuro regarded his girlfriend and his sister in law. He made up his mind and walked towards them. Sakura's eyes met his and she stared at him for a while before she hugged Karin tightly and went to find Gaara.
Karin looked up at Kankuro, her eyes dull and her face drawn. She looked so tired to him. He pulled her to him and kissed her on top of the head. Gaara brought the car around and then conveniently disappeared with Sakura. Kankuro took a deep breath and helped Karin into the car. He watched her strap in and look back into the graveyard with sad eyes. Kankuro's eyes hardened with resolve and he got in the car and drove out to the country manor.
"Obaa-san used to love this place…it was her favorite place to come with jii-chan during the summertime…" Karin said, her voice hollow. Kankuro sighed and drove past the house and out further. He watched the confusion play over Karin's face. He stopped the car and turned it off. He got out and went around to her side and helped her out. He took her hand and grabbed a blanket. He walked with her for a while until they came upon a field full of wildflowers. Karin gasped and looked around. "It's so pretty…" she said in a light tone…the voice of the Karin she had once been.
Convinced this was the right decision, he laid the blanket on the ground and wrapped his arms around Karin. She looked at him and saw the concern on his face…the love in his eyes. She smiled at him and put her head on his chest. "Thank you for being here for me, Kanky-kun…" she sighed and snuggled into his arms. Kankuro blushed at the nickname, but said nothing. He leaned down and kissed her lightly, letting her decide what she wanted to do.
Karin kissed him back, a sigh escaping her as she pulled him down with her. She moaned as he laid on top of her, kissing her gently. His weight was welcome…grounding. Karin ruffled his hair with her nails and giggled when he moaned at the feel. She buried her face against him, inhaling deeply. Kankuro allowed her anything she wished, he didn't pressure her. "Karin…" he whispered and nuzzled the side of her face. He felt her hum in pleasure.
"K-kankuro…" she moaned back at him. Her hands were frantically running over his body, pulling at his clothes. All of Kankuro's control snapped then and he pressed all his weight against her. He mumbled her name over and over again, pulling at her clothes. He finally had her black dress off and was staring down at her small, curvy figure. He could see the blush on her face as she squirmed under his gaze. He pulled her into his lap, her straddling him, looking deeply into his eyes.
"Karin…I…" she didn't let him finish, but rather drowned her sorrows by indulging herself in another heated kiss. He put his hands behind him to hold him up and let her explore. He had his narrow eyes on the thin scraps of material hiding her from his view. She had on a thin, lacey black bra and matching thong. He felt himself harden and, from the look on her face, she felt it as well. She looked down at his body, which was still in his black suit, and looked back up at him with hooded eyes.
"Take them off." she said in a commanding tone. Kankuro's eyes widened as he looked at her, too stunned to move. She growled, much to Kankuro's surprise, and put her hands on either side of his button down shirt. Luckily it was snap buttons, because she ripped it open and let her hands rove over his now bare chest. His tie was hanging down, a stark contrast to his skin.
Karin pushed him down onto his back and looked down at him. She gasped as she looked at him and squirmed, much to his dismay. He groaned, feeling her against him. Karin continued to move and Kankuro found himself gripping her thighs, his back arched and his eyes closed. He was panting by the time she finally stilled. Wanting to feel more of her pressed against him, he toed his shoes off and rolled her under him. He then stripped down to his boxers and laid back on top of her. She moaned and pressed up against him.
Kankuro shook his head and looked down at her, his eyes glazed over with lust. "Karin…do you…is this…what you want?" he panted, looking into her eyes. She reached up and cupped his face in her hands. She pulled him down and kissed him gently. She nodded in consent and whispered something to him that made him groan. Gently, so as not to hurt or startle her, he unhooked her bra and let her beautiful chest spill into the sunlight.
Kankuro stared for a few seconds before leaning down and nuzzling her breasts. She cried out when he took one into his mouth. She squeezed her legs tightly around him, making him grunt in laughter. He sat up temporarily and gently removed her thong. He then let her push his boxers off and they laid there, looking one another in the eyes. Karin was blushing madly and Kankuro was almost as red faced as his girlfriend. As they stared at one another, Kankuro gently started easing himself into her.
She gasped, tears pricking the edges of her eyes. She made a few noises as he continued to slowly push into her. When it became too much for her, she sobbed and dropped down onto her back, biting her lip. Kankuro stretched out on top of her, kissing her. He whispered to her and she whimpered. Determined, Kankuro kissed her roughly and pushed the rest of the way in. She yelped, but it was muffled by his kisses. Feeling the need to breath, he broke their kiss and rested his head on her shoulder, kissing her neck.
Kankuro felt tingling from the tips of his toes to the ends of his hair. He stayed still for long moments as he waited for her to assure him she was alright. After several minutes, he looked up to see Karin staring blankly at the sky, her breathing heavy. Her eyes were hooded and she had a death grip on the blanket beneath them. "K-Karin?" he asked in an uncertain tone. She looked at him, her mouth slightly open.
Karin stared at him, her entire body feeling like it was on fire. She released the blanket and smoothed her hands up his chest. She pulled him to her and gasped when the action pushed him deeper inside her. She moaned and squirmed, trying to find pleasure. Kankuro hissed and his arms started shaking. Karin looked at his arms on either side of her head and then up into his face, which was scrunched up from trying so hard to control himself.
"Kan…kuro…" she moaned and bucked her hips against him. He groaned and his arms gave out, sending him crashing on top of her. He used his remaining strength to push himself up enough to not crush her. He growled and rubbed his face against her. She moaned and pushed her hands into his hair, pulling slightly. Karin managed to say something then that dissolved all of his control. "Kanky…m-make love…to m-me…" she gasped out. She felt the shift in him and suddenly he let out a cry.
Karin moaned in pleasure and amazement as Kankuro proceeded to do just as she asked…make sweet love to her. And they were in that field for several hours.
--
The atmosphere inside the mansion was slightly melancholy…alright, it was very melancholy. The small children weren't sure exactly what was going on, but they knew their adopted family was sad, and that was all that mattered. The two little girls with Lee and Lacey whimpered as their 'parents' tried to keep their emotions from showing.
The little red headed child clung to Sakura and refused to be separated from her. It was like he knew she needed him and the older red headed male in this time of sadness. The little boy that looked so much like Sai was still snuggled up to said artist, sleeping. Sai could feel the sadness in Sakura, but he also knew she was dealing with the loss of the only other person on Earth that had taken care of her and loved her when she was separated from her sister.
Jiraiya and Tsunade had come with their condolences, and the youths' missing homework. The schoolwork got their minds off of their tragedy and it gave Sakura something to do besides dwell. For this, Gaara was very grateful, but he knew that Gokuraku needed their biweekly supplies, and most likely a little more.
His mind made up, he walked towards the room they shared with their young charge. The little boy had taken to playing by himself, in their room, and was never too far from Sakura. He stayed away from the other children. This slightly worried Gaara, but he figured that it was because of the boy's unique abilities that he refused to be around other children. He was an old soul.
"Mitsukai-chan?" he stuck his head into their bedroom and found her tapping a pencil against the edge of the desk, an arch look on her face. She looked up at him and he could still see the sadness in her eyes, but it was slowly going away. She was accepting the loss and dealing with it. He purred, knowing how much she liked hearing that. She gave him a half smile…it was a start. He walked over to her and nuzzled her. Their young charge didn't even pay attention to them since he was used to their behavior when together.
"What's wrong Panda-chan? There's something on your mind." he smiled against her neck, remembering that she was an ever present entity in his mind.
"We need to get the supplies to Astair. And you still have to set up barriers in the minds of the new residents in Gokuraku." Sakura blushed and looked at their young charge.
"Yes…that I do. I also need to do the same for these children." Sakura got up and walked over to the little redhead. He looked up at her expectantly and she smiled at him. He smiled back and held up his arms, waiting to be picked up. Sakura smiled and picked him up. She put her head against his when he was in her arms and wove a barrier in his mind. He looked up at her with questioning eyes. "This way that mean man can't find you again…" the little boy's eyes widened and he hugged her tightly. She smiled and handed the boy to Gaara.
Gaara looked at the boy with an arched brow. The boy looked up at him with loving eyes…something Gaara had never had before. Sakura smiled at the two as she walked into her closet and dressed in black cargo pants, an olive green tank top, and black boots. She pulled her hair up into a messy bun and pulled fingerless black gloves onto her hands. She took the child from him and smiled. "Akouji and I will meet you in the foyer. Don't be long, Panda-chan." the two smiled at him and left.
Gaara arched his brow at Sakura's choice of name for the child. " 'Bloody Prince', ne, Mitsukai-chan?" He shook his head and went about preparing for the pickup and transportation of a large amount of goods.
--
Amazement struck Lotus as she read Yamato's notes. "This is impossible. This can't possibly be how I was created…" her voice was low and pained. According to Yamato's notes, the souls inside the dreamstone had somehow been extracted and used to bring Lotus to life. This meant that she didn't have just one soul…she had many. She could feel the lump in her throat.
"So many innocent people were killed to bring me to life…how can someone justify that?" she asked herself in a low, calm voice. However, her insides were screaming that this was not natural, she was not natural. She shook her head and kept decrypting the information. Something with a warning label caught her eyes. She read it thoroughly and she was extremely angered by it. "So…he can blow me apart any time he feels like it…" she could feel tears threatening to show.
She shook her head again and read about the bomb inside her chest. In the notes, it outlined that only Madara had the remote and that it was secreted away somewhere. She would need an excuse to probe Madara's mind. She jumped when she heard shouting and she hurriedly re-encrypted the information and closed out of her programs. She stood with an emotionless mask on her face.
One of the remaining scientists came running in, panting. "Lotus! Madara-sama has sunk into a coma! We don't know how, but he just fell unconscious. We have to wake him up or anyone can access his mind and tell all our secrets!" Lotus smiled internally…this was working to her advantage.
"I care not for these things. I was designed for one thing and only one thing…to kill Haruno Sakura." The scientist looked horrified by her response.
"But Lotus…he's the only one that knows how to keep your body from deteriorating at a rapid rate! If you don't do something, you'll start deteriorating and there isn't anything we can do to help you!" Lotus knew this was true. Madara was the only one that knew why her body would start deteriorating randomly. However, she had a feeling she knew why as well. She just leveled a blank look on the man.
"Very well…I will try and bring him back from the world he has sunk into." she walked with the man to where Madara was. She walked into the room and narrowed her eyes. Lying on a large, comfortable looking bed, was the bane of her existence. She scoffed inwardly at the sickly green sheets and off-white comforter on which he was resting.
Lotus sat in the chair one of the scientists pulled over by Madara's bed. She decided to try and wake him without revealing her psychic abilities. "You need to wake up. If you do not, all your plans will fall apart. My body is already beginning to deteriorate." she would have thought that would make him awaken, but he just stared sightlessly at the ceiling. She looked at the scientists from the corner of her eye. "You all should leave. I may have to wake him up more…forcefully." the scientists looked horrified, but did as they were told.
When all of the scientists were gone, she closed her eyes and reached for the one person she knew could help her…Sakura. 'Sakura-sama…I think you should take a look at this…' she knew that Sakura would never pass up a chance to see through her eyes. She felt a sudden presence in her mind and went inside her own head to meet with the other woman.
When she got to her retreat, she saw Sakura inspecting the place. It was a beautiful garden with cherry blossom trees and weeping willows and bamboo. She noted the amusement on Sakura's face. There was one weeping willow that was larger than the others and there was a blanket laid out under it. Lotus often came here when she was meditating and often brought Raidu here.
'Sakura-sama…you find something amusing about my haven?' she asked in a neutral tone. Sakura looked up at her with a smile on her face. She shook her head.
'It's not like that Lotus. I just find this very much like you. This place suits you. It's peaceful and beautiful.' Lotus bowed her head and agreed.
'It is the only place I can come for solace from The Center. They can not come here…even with their psychics.' Lotus knew that Sakura was thinking about something, but she dared not ask. Finally, Sakura asked what was on her mind.
'Why do you stay even though it's obvious you hate Madara and everything he stands for?' Lotus sighed and sat under her tree, leaning back against it. It grounded her.
'Why do you take in children when you don't have to? Why do you train operatives to combat this evil place? Why do you care?' Sakura looked at her carefully, not speaking. Lotus sighed and pulled her legs up to her chest. 'Despite the circumstances of my birth, I am still only nineteen…at least in human years. I know what Madara is doing is wrong. Staying, and disrupting his plans, are the only way I can help. I can not leave because I am incomplete. Should I ever leave, my body will deteriorate till I am nothing but dust. I…I found out today, in Yamato's notes, that if Madara wanted to, he could blow me up. I have a bomb in my chest…' she head Sakura gasp and looked up into Sakura's sympathetic face.
'So that's what Raidu meant when he said you were incomplete. He thinks that you are searching for a way to give him children.' Lotus looked at her a second and then started chuckling lightly. She burst into laughter after a while.
'It is true that was one of the things I was searching for…and I know how to turn on my reproductive capabilities, but I was looking for clues as to why I was deteriorating. I found more information that I would ever want. However, this is not why I called you here.' Sakura nodded, recognizing the girl no longer wished to talk about their previous subject. Sakura sat beside her and waited.
'The reason I need your help is because Madara suddenly collapsed into a coma. As happy as this makes me, he is the only one that can counteract the deterioration of my body and I need him to do so. I only need this every six months, so hopefully I can figure out how he does it before I kill him…that way I can stop the process myself. I need you to find out what has sent him into his comatose state. I would, but I do not want him to know I am psychic. He would monitor my brainwaves if he found out.' Sakura nodded in understanding.
'I will do what you have asked, Lotus. But know this…I will do everything in my power to help you. While I am in his mind, I will try and see what it is he does to preserve your body.' Lotus nodded in thanks and sighed. Her garden started fading and she opened her eyes. Through her connection with Sakura, she saw blackness.
Lotus, who was with Sakura, looked around and found a space-like void. There were stars and planets, but there was debris. There was also a black hole. She felt Sakura gasp. 'This…this is how I got here. This…this is where my home world used to be…' Lotus cocked her head and just floated with Sakura. They both heard arguing. Sakura crept with Lotus until they could hear the fight for themselves.
'It's not that hard to kill one girl, Madara. She may be powerful, but she fears losing loved ones. Take someone she cares about, slit their throat in front of her, and she will quake like the child she is.' Sakura stiffened at that voice…she knew who that was…
Sakura listened to Madara. 'The only other person she really cared about was killed by one of the mercs you told me to send to her home. The poison killed her. There isn't really anyone else that I can kill that would affect her like those two old fools.' Sakura felt a growing hatred for Madara and the standing fear of the…thing…he was talking to.
'Don't be stupid. She has an older sister. Find her. She has that brat Minotsu saved from you. She cares for the girl or she would not be hiding the girl.' Sakura's eyes widened. It was true…Sakura cared more for Karin than she was willing to admit. Lotus noticed Sakura trembling. She put a hand on the girl and noticed she stopped shaking.
'How can I get my hands on the little bitch when I don't know where she is or how many people are guarding her?' Sakura noticed the petulant note in the man's tone. She noticed the hostile aura around the distorted image Madara was talking to.
'How is it that such an incompetent fool was able to take my soul from the Haruno's damnable necklace? Why did it have to be you?' Sakura noticed Madara stiffen and glare at the image.
'You know…I didn't have to allow you into my body. I did it to learn from you. After seeing the things you showed me while I was studying the dreamstone, it was well worth faking my death to do more in depth studies. I even put part of you inside my only living heir.' Sakura then knew why she had such an unexplainable hatred for Sasuke…Orochimaru had tainted him. The conversation started to turn elsewhere.
'Your pet is trying to wake you, I can hear her. She needs you to renew her body. Tell me, does she know how you do it? Why there are so many young women brought in?' there was a sick glee in the image's snake-like voice. Sakura shivered, as did Lotus. But Sakura wanted to know.
'Lotus is never awake when I put her in the tubes, so she doesn't know that her life force is renewed by stealing another's. Her body is still too unstable by the souls that we were stupid enough to build her body from. Had we thought it through, we would have used that ancient creation technique of yours. You seem pretty good at building bodies for yourself when you were still alive.' Sakura felt Lotus go still beside her. It was then that Sakura pulled both of them from Madara's mind.
They were back in Lotus' garden. The young woman didn't look at Sakura, just sat there. Sakura could feel her pain, but knew she couldn't heal it. She merely put her hand on Lotus' shoulder and looked at her. 'You can't blame yourself for this. You didn't know. You can refuse the treatment, but that will make him suspicious. I know it's hard, but think of it as one for the safety of millions.' Sakura noticed the tears in Lotus' eyes when the girl looked up at her.
'That does not make this any easier, Sakura-sama…' Sakura gave the girl a half hearted smile and closed her eyes.
'I know…but that is what our kind face. We are not human and we will always be hated by someone. In order to save the world from Madara, you must be renewed and at full health. Killing is never an easy thing, and it takes it's toll on the mind…but sometimes it is necessary for the greater good…even if it feels wrong.' Lotus nodded and slowly faded from her haven. She opened her eyes in time to see Madara's fluttering open. The look in his eyes disgusted her and the smile he gave her made her gut clench.
"Lotus…you came to sit by my beside…how…human of you." His smile dropped at the cold, calculating eyes she gave him. She said nothing, just held out her arm. There was a patch of decay on her forearm. Madara knew what she was saying without her even opening her mouth. "Right…let's go see what's left of my lab." The two got up and walked out, Lotus a few paces behind him. Her souls wept for what she was about to do.
--
Astair was sitting in her recliner, listening to the young women and girls talking, chatting, and playing with one another's hair. She smiled at their mundane conversations. She noticed how things went oddly quiet and felt around with her senses…Natalie had come in…and Hidan was right behind her.
All of the young women were wary of Natalie, but mostly because where she was, Hidan was sure to follow. The younger girls were less afraid of Hidan because they saw Natalie arguing with the large man all the time and he never hurt her. They often saw the young child that would willingly go to either of them, but no one else.
Astair smiled at her favorite two charges. "Hidan, Natalie…how is the little one doing?" the young women and girls waited on edge. Natalie smiled and looked over her shoulder at Hidan.
"She wont let Hidan put her in a cradle or even in a different room. She starts screaming 'tou-san' every time he gets out of her sight." she snickered and looked at the tall male coyly. "She has to sleep with me in a bed in the same room with Hidan or she cries all night. Hidan refuses to let her sleep with him." Astair giggled at this and looked at them, her head cocked.
"So that's where he's been…in your room." all the females noticed Natalie blush and stutter, but there was little she could do to rectify her earlier statement. Astair waved it aside. "Have you named the little darling?" Natalie looked over her shoulder again at the tall silver haired man. He cleared his throat and looked away from them.
"I'm gonna call her Sora…you know…cause her hair looks like the sky." Natalie smiled at him and he just blushed more. Natalie shifted the sleeping child in her arms and sighed.
"Hidan, can you take her for a while. I've had her since this morning while you were helping the others train the boys." Natalie rolled her neck the best she could, drawing Hidan's attention. He grunted and grabbed her elbow. Astair noticed the wince from some of the other girls and how the younger ones hid behind the older girls.
When Hidan pulled lightly at Natalie so that she was sitting, he took the little girl from her and sat the child in his lap after sitting down behind the girl. He proceeded to rub her shoulders. She sighed thankfully, crooning about his 'magic hands'. Hidan blushed and grumbled, but not enough to wake Sora. The other girls just watched the two interact and several giggled among themselves and whispered things. Hidan, for his part, ignored them.
"Astair-san…Sakura-sama is supposed to be coming sometime soon with the supplies, is she not?" Natalie asked in a hushed voice, so as not to awaken Sora. Astair looked in the girl's direction and made a noise.
"That would be correct. Sakura-san is actually a few days late. She was supposed to be here…two, maybe three days ago. However, I feel a great disturbance in the city. I think something happened that impacted the entire city greatly. Suddenly, one of the boys that trained with the Akatsuki appeared, panting.
"S-someone's coming! There's a HUGE truck on it's way a-and there's something about them…" Astair narrowed her sightless eyes and hurried the young women over to huddle around Hidan and Natalie. They did so readily. There was screaming outside and there was the sounds of arguing. Hidan told the girls to stay put and handed Natalie the little girl, who whimpered.
Hidan walked out and found several guys in black, hats tilted slightly, arguing with Astair. Astair had several children behind her and one boy's arm in her hands, while the man pulled on the other arm. Hidan walked up as Astair yelled at the man. "This is private property! How dare you enter our village without our benefactor's permission!" the man sneered at her, a cruel smile on his face.
"We are the military…we do what we please and NO ONE can tell us what to do. We are taking every male between the ages of sixteen and twenty-eight, whether you like it or not." The man's smile didn't last long when Bijou appeared from no where, lunging at the man's arm. The boy scurried behind Astair. Hidan stepped forward.
"I warn you mister, our benefactor will be here shortly and she will not be pleased if you have disrupted her village with your petty bout for power." the man looked like he'd swallowed a very foul tasting bug.
"And just who do you think you are!?" the man yelled. Hidan arched a brow, but he felt power building and knew his employer would soon arrive. He just crossed his arms over his chest.
"I will warn you again, mister. Leave before you make our benefactor angry." the man gave a cocky grin.
"And just who is this precious benefactor of yours?" he said in a haughty, disrespectful voice. Growling met his lack of courtesy.
"I am." the man's smirk disappeared and he slowly turned on his heel to find a very angry looking Sakura. Gaara was right behind her. There were four truckloads of supplies coming through the pass. The man paled.
"Y-you…you're…" he stuttered. Sakura laughed and put her hands on her hips.
"That's right…it's me. I thought I told you the last time you tried to pull this shit that my village was off limits to your pathetic excuse for a military. This is where my employees live peacefully. I would hate to have to destroy you to keep them safe." she made the threat with a smile on her face. However, her voice held steel.
"Astair, take the children and start unpacking the supplies. I think it's time I showed our good friend Captain I-don't-have-to-listen-because-I'm-too-dense what happens when he makes an enemy of the leader of the Hatori Clan." the man paled further. He started backing away, his hands in front of him imploringly.
"N-now let's think about this…I AM military and hurting me will only hurt you in the long run." Sakura smiled and got up in his face. Being as she was as tall as him, almost taller, the man was rather intimidated.
"Captain…I assure you that the rules that apply to you don't apply to me. You came on private property and was about to kidnap the children and siblings of my employees. There's a reason we live in this village…it's to avoid assholes like you." her eyes were angry now as she looked over at the young man the captain had been holding on to.
She motioned him over to her and he came…although unwillingly. He hid behind Sakura, who put her hand on the child's head. "I want you to apologize for scaring him and if he doesn't believe you, I'm going to beat the crap out of your entire platoon and send them packing back down the mountain. If you scare him again, I'll send you back down the mountain in a body bag." Sakura's smile never wavered and this made the captain a little less wary than he should have been. Added to the fact that he could hear his subordinates whispering about him, it made him haughty enough to test her patience.
"Look here, Miss P.I. This is the military you're dealing with. We have a right to pull anyone and everyone, no matter their affiliations." the man looked indignant. The young boy at Sakura's side slightly hid behind her, but there was no fear. Still angry that there was an outsider in her safe haven, Sakura's eyes darkened.
"I will tell you one last time, Captain. Leave here or you will regret it…as will the men under your command. This is a peaceful society where people who wish to avoid conflict may come and live. I will not have you and your war come into my village and disturb my people." There was a feral feel about Sakura now. She was getting ready to defend her people if it should come to that. Hidan could see this as well.
Hidan stepped forward and put his hand on Sakura's shoulder. "Hatori-sama. Let me deal with them. You and Sabaku-sama have work to do around the village. Please stop by my old house, the one by the hospital. It's where Megumi and Tobi are now. She needs you to check on her. Itachi and the others are training the kids in tracking and such, so they may or may not bring in fresh meat tonight. I hope you brought in some game as well…we've almost hunted everything." Sakura regarded him a moment and then stepped back with a sniff. She looked over at the Captain, who stiffened.
She walked up to the captain and grabbed his head, much like she had done to Sasuke. She cringed, but there was a cruel smile on her face. "If he gives you any trouble Hidan…kill him. I will not have my people threatened by a warmongering captain with a hidden agenda." Her eyes narrowed on the captain as she turned to leave. "I have all your memories Captain…I will warn you one last time. Get the hell out of my village or I will kill you." she started walking away then.
However, something stopped her progression. It was a soldier. He walked up to her and glared at her. She glared back. "Have you no pride in your country? No wish to change things?" the man asked in an angry voice. Sakura scoffed at him.
"I am making a difference, boy. I have spent the last seven years making sure that people who have been screwed over by the government, the military, and anyone just plain screwed over have a place to live where they aren't looking over their shoulder's in fear of being attacked or killed." She arched her brow at him, her face deathly serious. "I have one of the largest P.I. firms that handle some of the most horrendous cases you can imagine. Tell me…who do you think comes in when you and your glorious military screw up and soldiers are captured? That would be me and my operatives." she almost smirked at the shocked look on the soldier's face.
"Every person in this village has emotional baggage. Whether it be from broken homes, death, or war, everyone here has a past they are trying to escape." she went to move past him, but he caught her arm in a tight grip. Before he could move, Sakura went feral, her eyes turning silver and her fangs growing slightly. She moved like lightning and had the soldier on his back, her hand at his throat. The man looked surprised.
"DON'T touch me. I said everyone in this village has a past…including myself. Unless you want to find out the true extent of the power of the Hatori heiress, never forget that." she shoved his head in the dirt and stood quickly. She walked over to Hidan, who was shaking his head.
"On second thought, Hidan, I think I will take care of this right now. Get everyone to the safe houses. This ends now. I will not have outsiders threaten the safety of my village." she said outloud. She then leaned in to whisper to Hidan. "Our good friend the Captain is about to order his men to make a raid on the town. Get a move on it or you will be going down with them…in pieces." Hidan nodded and took Astair's arm. The blind woman refused to move and when Hidan made to pick her up, Bijou growled menacingly.
"We will stand with the master. She is Astair's link to this world. The thread that binds her here is threatened. Do not ask her to leave this battle." Bijou growled out. The soldiers took a collective step back. The one eyed wolf chuckled darkly as he glared at the men. Astair held out her hand and Bijou put something in her hand. She squeezed it and suddenly she was holding a long metal bo staff.
"Hidan…make sure my children are safe. You have a child of your own to think of now…and Natalie. Hide my children well…they are my everything." Hidan bowed and disappeared. Sakura glared at the soldiers before them. Suddenly, the wind whipped up around them and sand swirled everywhere. Gaara appeared in front of Sakura, his back to their adversaries.
"Mitsukai-chan…what's going on. What's taking you so long to get back to the supply trucks?" he asked just loud enough for everyone to hear. The soldiers looked offended, but it was obvious he did not consider them a threat. Sakura just lifted her chin, motioning to the men before them.
"Ask them. They seem intent on disturbing my people. I will show them what happens when you mess with those under my protection." Gaara arched a brow and looked over his shoulder. His expression never changed.
"Huh…you're going to fight men that even our kids could beat? That's harsh, koi. What have they done that has offended you so?" He noticed the angry Astair standing there and he stiffened. Astair only got angry over one thing…her kids. It was about that time that Sakura answered him.
"They are threatening the safety of Gokuraku and the safety of Astair's children." another soldier stepped forward, his hands up in entreaty.
"Excuse me, Hatori-sama, but we are fighting for a just cause. The government has rotted from the inside out. If we do not do something soon, there will be even more bloodshed in the future." Sakura regarded this man for a few minutes and then disappeared, only to reappear in front of him. Her eyes were cold.
"More bloodshed, huh? You want to know something about the kids here, private? Almost every child in this village is an orphan." this surprised the soldiers…and it showed. She looked at them, her eyes blank. "I have been taking in orphans since I established Gokuraku. Astair is the foster mother of the village. She has had almost one hundred and forty seven thousand kids over the last few years and all of them suffered traumatic pasts." Astair raised her chin proudly as the men looked at her, Bijou at her side.
"I remember the names of each and every child that has ever come to live in my home. Several are people you know…people you come into contact with every day. I know every child, what they are doing now, and I keep in touch with every one that is still living. I have watched a third of the children that I took care of die young deaths for reasons exactly like yours. I refuse to allow you to take my children to die for a cause they do not believe in. These kids just want to be left alone…to be given time to heal the wounds in their hearts and souls." she narrowed her blind eyes on the captain unnervingly, causing the man to squirm.
"I may be blind, but even I can see the motivations of your captain are not pure. Power will destroy with haste and glee. It has no conscience and no heart. Do not give your lives for something you do not truly believe in." she implored the soldiers, hoping they would leave without conflict. Four of the nineteen soldiers shook their heads and took off their hats. They looked at the hats and then at the guns they had. They put their hats on the truck behind them and walked away, back to where others had started gathering.
Sakura saw the angry look on the captain's face. "Deserters will be punished when this village is under our control." he hissed, glaring at the men. Suddenly, there was a commotion.
"Get your filthy hands off of that child!" came a scream. Suddenly, there were at least seven more soldiers, all had a child in their arms. One had a certain blue haired girl with pink eyes. She was crying and yelling 'tou-san' over and over. Sakura narrowed her eyes as the soldiers that were behind her stared with wide eyes. The one that had implored Sakura to stand down looked on with wide eyes.
"Captain! What's the meaning of this!?" he looked at the captain, who was standing beside him. The older man looked at him, a smirk on his face.
"This is war, Private. These brats are our leverage. Now stand down. This is our village now." the Captain smirked, but suddenly something slammed into his body.
"You were always a bully Morgan, but this is low, even for you!" he looked down into the fuming golden eyes of someone he'd never thought he'd see again. He glared at the young woman.
"Your parents sent you to the psych ward, Natalie…why aren't you there?" he hissed. Natalie narrowed her eyes on him, her fists clenched.
"Because after you convinced mom and dad I was a nut, some rather nasty people showed up and tried to kidnap me. If it hadn't been for Sakura-sama, I would be a human guinea pig in a lab somewhere." she hissed at him. She then reared back and punched the man in the face hard enough that he went down. She jumped on him and started hitting me.
"You sent your little goons into the home of the most wonderful woman in the world, you knocked out my protector and you STOLE MY CHILD!" she was pulled off 'Morgan' by the young Private that had questioned his Captain's tactics. 'Morgan' sat up, blood staining his teeth.
"What child? You're too young for a kid!" he yelled back, spitting blood on the ground and getting to his feet painfully. Natalie narrowed her eyes before she dropped her shoulder. Morgan cursed and dove out of the way just as Natalie charged. She ended up catching the man holding the little blue haired girl in the gut. He went down and Natalie managed to tear the child from his grasp.
"Sora!" she exclaimed, sinking to the ground with the child in her arms. She hugged the girl and kissed her forehead and checked her over. "Oh, baby, I'm so sorry…momma was checking on daddy and she didn't see the man pick you up until one of the other girls screamed. I'm so sorry baby…" she cooed to the little girl, who stopped crying and put her little head on Natalie's shoulder.
Morgan stood and watched with wide eyes. Suddenly, he noticed something off. He looked around and noticed there were a lot of angry looking people. He moved so that he was closer to his men. Natalie got to her feet and walked up to Morgan, her eyes angry. "THIS is my child, Morgan. You ever touch her again and I'll remind you of the real reason you convinced our parents to send me to the nut house." she growled at him. The older male paled but he didn't back away. Natalie looked at the other men over her shoulder, the ones that had a hold of the girls looked nervous.
"It would be in your best interest to let those girls go. You see…they are victims of sexual abuse and if they so much as whimper, the people in this village will tear you apart to get to them." the men immediately put the kids down and backed away. Morgan glared.
"When this is over, I'll see to it that you're locked up again Natalie. I swear it." Natalie scoffed and gave him a disdainful look.
"Fat chance aniki. I work for Hatori Corp. now. In other words…I'm more important that you are. Face it, you were the pampered brat, but now that we're all grown up, you can't play with the big boys and girls without crying to mommy and daddy about everything that doesn't go your way." He lifted her chin and glared at him.
"You may be a prince in mom and dad's eyes, but you're nothing but another man to me and that's all you will ever be." she turned back and headed to Astair's house. Sakura smirked as she noticed more and more villagers gathering to defend their home. Itachi and the Akatsuki she'd put in charge of training the boys were there and the boys looked eager for a fight.
"So, Morgan, you and your men going to leave peacefully, or do you have more tricks up your sleeve?" Morgan growled and clenched his teeth, but he knew he'd lost this one. As if reading his mind, his most loyal private, the one that had questioned him and implored Sakura, glared at him.
"Sir, I used to respect you. But after today...after your deplorable use of children as hostages…I can no longer serve under your command." the private took off his hat, looked at it, then at his Captain, and dropped the hat on the ground. He walked away in the midst of the villagers. They did nothing, but kept their eyes on the men with guns. With only twenty men left and three of his best gone, he decided to try something new.
He smirked evilly and held something up. It was a detonator. "I guess since plans A and B have backfired, I'll have to go with plan C." he laughed maniacally. "You see, on our way up here, I noticed there is only one way in or out of this place. It's the perfect place for a rebel camp. If I can't have it, I will make sure that you and yours perish so that you can not have it either." he was cut off by Sakura's sudden outburst of laughter.
"Oh that's rich…you're using words you don't understand. 'Perish'…oh, that's just too much." she laughed and when she sobered she gave him a wicked look. "You see, the thing about valley is it used to be a mountain peak…until I leveled it." she smiled disarmingly. She then moved so quickly it was all the soldiers could do to get out of the way. Suddenly, their very large, supposedly indestructible tank-truck was nothing but scrap metal behind them. Sakura stood in the middle of it all, her fist in the ground and a crater underneath.
She looked up and went after a soldier. The soldier yelped and dodged, only to be caught by one of the boys training to defend the village. He picked the soldier up and tossed him into a nearby tree. Pretty soon, all hell broke loose and people were taking down the small unit of soldiers left and right. Morgan managed to get out of the fray, but his path was cut off by Astair, who had Bijou by her side. He smirked evilly at the duo.
"I doubt it will be hard to take out an ancient mutt and his blind owner." he cocked off, bringing up his fists. He rushed Astair, but he was stopped dead when he ran into something hard. He fell back and looked up to see one pissed off silver haired man. There was blood at the corner of one eye.
"You just signed your death warrant mister. NO ONE attacks or even thinks about attacking Astair." he hissed. Hidan picked the man up by his throat and threw him against a tree. The tree splintered, making a huge ruckus. Suddenly, all other fighting ceased and everyone was watching the fight between Morgan and Hidan. Hidan took a menacing step towards the smaller man, his eyes alight with madness.
"I will kill you for coming after her…for hurting my child…for hurting Natalie…for coming here and hurting the children…" he drew back one large fist and slammed it into the struggling captain's chest, sending him flying through the air. Morgan was rolling around on the ground and Hidan was stalking towards him again when Natalie rushed to him. She put herself between Hidan and her brother.
"Hidan! You can't kill him!" she frantically grabbed at him. Hidan looked at her incredulously.
"What!? After what he did to Astair and the kids? To my little Sora? To YOU!?" Tears gathered in Natalie's eyes as she put her hands on his chest and looked up at him.
"Hidan…if you kill him…what makes you any different from the people at the Center?" she had tears falling down her face as she said it. Hidan froze as he realized she was right. If he killed Morgan now, he was no better than the people he fought against. He sighed and hugged her to him, letting her cry against his chest.
"You're right, Nat…I'm sorry…" he whispered. He kissed the top of her head and glared at Morgan as he comforted the young woman. "Where's Sora? Where's my baby?" he asked her gently. She whispered something and he nodded. He glared at Morgan. "You better worship the ground this woman walks on because if not for her, I would have killed you." he growled. He put his arm around the golden eyed beauty and they walked back towards Astair's house to get Sora.
Morgan struggled to his feet and found it hard to move. He looked down and found sand all around him. He gulped and looked up into the angry jade eyes of death. He whimpered. "You have upset my mate. You will regret this." he said quietly. Before Morgan knew it, everything went black.
--
Before long, all the soldiers that remained loyal to Morgan were detained and sent to Hatori Corp. via some of the more seasoned citizens of Gokuraku. Sakura was still fuming, but she allowed Gaara to calm her. He lightly teased the back of her neck with his fangs and she sighed in contentment. She directed the unloading of the supplies, the release of the animal's she'd brought in, the disbursement of pay, and the stocking of the local market.
Nothing in the village cost anything for those who lived there. However, specialty orders from the outside did. Everyone in the village did their part with the unpacking. Women and small children helped stock the shelves in the market, younger men took the building supplies, farming necessities, and other heavy things, while the older men too the more delicate supplies, such as the payroll and paperwork on the 'new citizens'.
Sakura went through all the people present and the new ones, she built barriers in their minds. Several were scared, but when it was explained that everyone had then and they were for their own safety, they trusted it a little more. Sakura laughed with the kids and introduced herself formally. Many of the kids knew about her grandfather, but none had ever met a real Hatori.
The soldiers that deserted Morgan were given the option of returning to the outside world, at the expense of having their memories erased, or staying and protecting the village. All five swore their allegiance to the village and to, surprisingly, Natalie. Having served under her brother, they were most comfortable with her. Hidan wasn't too sure, but when Natalie pointed out that Sora would have the best trained military men as her protectors, he was a little more agreeable.
When the trucks were unloaded, Sakura announced a village cook out. Sakura called everyone at the mansion and instructed them on where to go and what to bring. It was about time they had a little bit of fun.