Inspiration: Blinding- Florence and the Machine

"Felt it in my fist, in my feet, in the hollows of my eyelids. Shaking through my skull, through my spine and down through my ribs"

Pairing: SasuSaku for now.

Notes: I'm going to say that I am happy with this for the most part. This chapter is actually quite long. Also, thanks for sticking with me up til now. Reviews are very, very appreciated.

(Kariska was the amazing and lovely beta for this chapter. Worship me.)

Theme: Romance/Drama

Rating: Mmmm for Mature: following themes are or will be present in this chapter or throughout the fic: some vulgarities such as language, sexual themes, humiliation, drugs, and other dark themes.

[No more dreaming like a girl so in love with the wrong world]

"You've got some nerve, you fucking Uchiha brat." Hidan's voice was like a wasp buzzing in Sasuke's ears, like a threat. Ready to sting.

But Sasuke was far beyond being affected by it.

He was seeing white. It was past seeing red and it was absolutely mind-numbing. He lost control of himself entirely. Pushed to the edge of his reason, he was in an absolute murderous rage.

"Hn." He scowled. "So do you."

Hidan was crouched down, seemingly ready to attack at any moment. There was a murderous intent behind his eyes, equal to Sasuke's. "I found the little bitch lying in Itachi's room alone. That means she's fair game. You've got a lot of nerve bustin' in here and ruining my perfect night." He sneered.

Sasuke glared at him with razor sharp pupils.

In reality, he was entirely unsure what to do, of how to approach this. In a certain, sick way, Hidan was right. Here with the Akatsuki, that was just how things worked. Pein would bring in feminine entertainment, a girl from somewhere to break the tension, and everyone who wanted to would pass her around. When one member was done, the others would have their fill. It was unthinkable for him to claim that Hidan was out of order. When in reality, he was just doing what they had always done.

In reality, Sakura was fair game and Sasuke was out of line.

And he had no idea how to play this off.

This was a fucking terrible idea.

Now he had basically stuck his nose in this in a very public manner. Made a scene while he was supposed to be quietly figuring out a way to get her out. It was now obvious that he had made it very clear that he was interested in her.

He had just made everything one hundred percent more difficult for them.

Stupid, fucking annoying, idiot decision. Almost like he was Naruto and not Sasuke Uchiha. Sasuke Uchiha didn't make these sorts of rash decisions.

Where could he go from here?

He was hesitating. Openly, he paused, an uncertainty hiding underneath his grimace. What was he supposed to do?

Hidan was boiling over with each passing moment.

Sasuke flicked a glance over at Sakura. The tears were running down her face and the way she was rocking back and forth; he hadn't seen her this way. Not as kids, not even in his worst nightmares. He had never seen her so damaged. The color of despair that darkened the normally shining green of her eyes was disturbing to look at.

And again his anger was renewed by ten-fold.

Whatever happened, he couldn't do this again.

He thought about what his brother had said. She's going to have to endure it. If only for a few days.

She would have to be like this -this hopeless, demoralized shell staring back at him- for a few days according to their plan. All thanks to their perfect escape plan, that would hopefully leave everyone happy.

Sasuke knew that this was what the plan's proper execution would take when he and his brother came up with it, but seeing the effects of just the first encounter she was forced into, he didn't think he could handle it. Even if she could, he wasn't certain he was strong enough to allow this to happen. His conscience wouldn't allow it.

He may have left her in search of power, but what good was his power if he couldn't use it to help someone who had once been a landmark in his life? Even if he didn't love her or care about her any longer. Even if she was just a figment of his past, he couldn't watch as she suffered so greatly.

Damn it.

"Well, this is interesting." A voice came from behind him and he recognized it very easily. It was deep and a little scratchy, but still smooth in some odd way. Kisame.

Sasuke slightly relaxed with the added presence of the distraction and took the time to step faintly closer to Sakura. The action didn't go unnoticed by Hidan.

Apparently, they had caused enough of a ruckus that it was beginning to draw attention. Not good, when attention was the last thing they needed.

Sasuke glanced down at Sakura again, who hadn't moved from her protective hunkering. She met his eyes and he shivered, mildly tainted by the same familiar guilt.

Just outside of the door, Kisame was a tower of amusement. His glossy eyes drifted towards Sakura, then to Hidan and settled on Sasuke. There weren't many Akatsuki that Sasuke liked.

He didn't like Deidara what-so-ever. Their relationship was strained. He thought the blond was obnoxious, but not in the same way he found Naruto to be obnoxious. The kind of outrageous things Deidara did and said were always nearly intolerable.

Sasuke absolutely loathed Sasori. It was a deep, natural and unintentional sort of loathing. Possibly unfounded. He couldn't even explain why he hated the red head. He would guess because they were both quiet, aloof and maybe a little cold. Similar in several ways.

Hidan and Sasuke butted heads. Power struggles and arguments were very likely to outbreak between the two. Mostly because he hated Hidan's obnoxious arrogance and vulgar ways. The mouth on that man bothered him dreadfully.

Pein. Well, Pein was his leader. He couldn't exactly say he hated Pein, but the man was mildly intimidating. Even for someone like Sasuke, who prided himself on keeping a cool head, was a little off-put by Pein. Someone that made him uncomfortable and anxious. Someone he was sure he didn't have enough power to defeat.

Konan was someone that Sasuke couldn't care less about. She was just as silent, if not more so, than his brother when around the mass of their group. Even when involved in a one on one conversation she was eerily calm. It was easy to forget about her when considering everyone else.

Tobi… Tobi was lost on Sasuke. He simply didn't understand the person and never would. Whenever possible, he entirely avoided or ignored the simpleton. Besides, something was just off about that guy.

Kisame was one of the only members of their organization that Sasuke didn't feel dislike towards. His brother trusted Kisame— one of the few people he did trust besides Sasuke himself— so that was a good enough reason for Sasuke to trust him as well.

He off-handedly nodded towards the tall, blue-skinned ninja. He was aggressive and very straightforward. Sasuke appreciated that, especially at times like this. At the moment there was a smirk on his blue face. He shook his head, mirth present. "You kids are making a lotta noise." He chuckled once.

Hidan let out a grunt. "This fucker barged in here—"

Kisame shrugged and chuckled again, cutting him off. "I would have too with the way she was screaming. I know you like it kinky but the girl was loud enough to wake me up from my wonderful nap. I was just coming over to complain about how loud your pet was being but looks like the little Uchiha beat me to it." Sasuke tensed at being referred to as "the little Uchiha" however, he was eternally grateful for the distraction.

Somehow, looking at Kisame, he couldn't help but think that the blue Akatsuki was doing this purpose. Stalling and helping in some weird way, as if he knew that Sasuke needed it.

The Uchiha pulled himself away from paying attention to their short, hostile banter by changing his attention towards the little pink-haired ball at his side. How would he get her out of there without Hidan saying something?

The last thing he wanted was for rumors to spread that he was paying careful attention to the petite girl. If they thought he wanted Sakura for himself, most of them would probably try harder to take her just to get under his skin.

And then he realized that she was gazing at him. Sasuke watched her take a tear-speckled hand and wipe across her cheek. She was moving again and she looked less disoriented than she did earlier in Itachi's room.

He couldn't place the emotion behind her expression. Whether she was grateful, still frightened, angry or displeased with his presence it was hard to tell.

For a moment he just gazed at her while the other two argued behind him. She looked back blankly. Her crying had ceased but her eyelashes were clumped together from the wetness and even in the dim light, her cheeks were pink. And then she was very imperceptibly, cautiously inching towards him. Her arms were no longer hooked around her knees but carefully at her side and she was using them to slide closer to him in a way that was so subtle, he almost didn't notice it.

It was a strange sight and one he never could have imagined he would see; Sakura Haruno, a person he hadn't seen since he was 14, just short of crawling towards him. That look in her eyes, whatever the meaning, was making his muscles quake with an unknown emotion of his own.

And then he heard something. Something he couldn't decide whether it was a good thing or a horrible thing. "So, since you woke me up from my nap unfairly, I'll make you repay me by taking that kunoichi next. You won't mind, will ya?" Though it was phrased like a question, it didn't sound like a question. Kisame's sharp, shark-like teeth gleamed against the shadows.

Sasuke stiffened, Hidan visibly puffed up and Sakura whimpered very noticeably. In fact, the sound momentarily drew Hidan's attention for a moment before he looked back to the other man with a scowl, "I didn't finish my turn with the bitch and I'll be damned if you're gonna cut in, fish-face!" He ground out the words and Sasuke noticed that Sakura had given up subtly moving in his direction. Now she was on her knees creeping towards him. She actually managed to reach his side before either of the other Akatsuki seemed to notice she had moved.

Her warmth near his legs was surprisingly calming.

Kisame chuckled again, apparently getting worked up for a fight. Excited about the prospect of proving himself against the brash, crude man before him. "I'm not asking." Kisame's hand was slowly inching upward towards Samehada, which even strapped against his back and wrapped, was still threatening. "Give me the girl. I've decided to cut in."

And then, Sasuke realized that this could and probably would get ugly, as the Akatsuki were both growing serious.

"This is-" He began a sentence but his words died in the stale air of the room as someone interrupted them.

"Kisame. This is aimless." It was Itachi, and upon the sound of his low, smooth voice, Sakura released a relieved breath. It confused Sasuke to no ends. His eyes absorbed his brother's slender, familiar frame. A token of calm, serious logic. "Hidan, if you would please refrain from making this situation more chaotic and excuse my little brother's interruption."

This annoyed Sasuke to no end. A spike of territorial self-defense rushed to his veins. Before he could do anything stupid, he suppressed the adrenaline. It wouldn't be very smart of him to make yet another scene. They still hadn't cleared up the mess from the last one.

Visibly, Hidan froze. An irritated expression hit his face but there was something else. A deep, unsettling reluctance. "You've got no business tellin' me what to do." He spat out the words but his hand was no longer reaching towards his triple-bladed scythe, which was leaned carefully against the wall, just at his side. "Besides, it's easy for you to say, you freak. You've already fucked the little kunoichi."

Sasuke stiffened at even just the words. Just the thought.

His brother's face was impassive as ever. "He won't present any problems in the future." He responded quietly and evenly.

"No shit." Hidan hammered out the words, his eyes finally shifting towards Sakura. Sasuke tensed, expecting something from the gray-haired man. "Fine. I'm not in the damn mood anymore anyways. Let Kisame have the bitch. She was too whiny for my tastes." He responded, deflating from being angry and terribly aggravated.

Kisame grinned widely, his lips splitting to reveal his pointed teeth. Itachi had arrived later than the taller man but he was standing inside of the room, just beyond the door. At the words, Kisame didn't look to either Sasuke or Itachi for permission. Rather he stepped past Itachi briskly and made his way quickly towards Sakura.

He reached them in just a few steps.

Sasuke struggled with the concept immediately. Stop Kisame or allow him to take Sakura? What would he do?

He was fighting what his muscles wanted him to do. His knuckles were throbbing as he tightly curled them into a fist.

He couldn't go against Kisame as well. Openly trying to stop two separate Akatsuki from touching Sakura was way too suspicious. At this rate, if she escaped, everyone would know for sure that he had a hand in it.

Gathering his guilt and anger, pushing it into the back of his mind, he only barely leaned out of Kisame's way as the tall, blue man reached down for Sakura.

Sasuke didn't want to look at her. He didn't want to see the look on her face. Would she think that he was just letting her go? Just allowing another Akatsuki to ravage her after saving her from one? Would she be that blind to make that kind of assumption?

He was stiff and awkward as he heard her whine in protest. He imagined that Kisame would be far too strong for her to struggle much. It was only a moment before he saw Kisame straighten out of the corner of his eye and the man was walking towards the door again. Sasuke took a peek at the sight of Sakura's form tossed over the shark man's shoulder. His large hand was so noticeable on the small of her tiny back that it almost made Sasuke murderous again. To touch her at all made him annoyed somehow.

And then Kisame was out of the room with no parting words, no goodbye glances. Itachi had moved to give him room to leave. Hidan had apparently settled down though he was grumbling obscenities to apparently no one in particular.

Sasuke didn't allow his anger to come to his face as he left the room next. Itachi was last to leave.

The door to Hidan's room was shut behind them with a loud bang. He was surprised it still worked at all, after he nearly ripped it off the hinges earlier.

Sasuke shot a quick look up and down the halls but apparently Kisame was quick enough that had already disappeared around the corner.

This fact was almost crippling to Sasuke.

He could feel Itachi's eyes on him for a moment as he remained motionless and then the feeling was gone. The absence of Itachi's gaze gave way to the sound of his footsteps in the direction of his room. Kisame's room was in the opposite direction.

Sasuke was shaking.

He saved her from Hidan, just to give her over to Kisame.

What was this situation doing to him?

She was fighting the urge to cry again.

Rather than pay attention to the situation she was in, or the feel of that large hand against her back, Sakura focused on something much simpler; rather, she just gazed blankly at the way the ground passed beneath this Akatsuki's wide steps.

He was silent, strong and very tall.

Sasuke had just let him take her again. The drugs in her system were still strong enough to completely suppress even a morsel of chakra that she could use in any way but she was becoming a little more clearheaded with time.

She was beginning to fear the fact that Pein would probably seek her out to deliver her another vial of the liquid that would send her head spinning again. Just the thought was enough to make her unconsciously whimper.

The sound came from her lips as soon as the large, frightening Akatsuki came to a stop and for the second time she heard a door open that would probably lead to torture. To the demise of her dignity or what little she had salvaged from the last Akatsuki.

How could this happen to her? How could she become so weak? She was Sakura freaking Haruno. She had trained with the Hokage to become a superior medic. She had worked so hard to prove to Sasuke and even some small part of her wanted to prove it to Itachi, that she was strong enough.

Sasuke had wanted to leave to gain more power, so she wanted to fight to grow more powerful without leaving. To prove it to him. To show him that he didn't have to become a deserter to grow strong. But what was happening now? She was finally before Sasuke and Itachi again.

Finally present in front of her long lost friend, and his brother who she always looked up to, and she was entirely useless.

Like a freaking lump of desperate, poor, sad, helpless little Sakura. Not the Sakura that could level the ground in one punch. At this rate, she might as well have been the same little twelve year-old they left. Or the fourteen year old she was when she last met him on her travels; searching for him.

How could this happen?

She fought hard to not cry yet again.

All these tears were too hard. Too pride-breaking. Almost more than anything that could ever happen here, it was worse that she couldn't seem to stop crying. She needed to take the consequences of being caught by the Akatsuki like a woman. Like the powerful woman she was. No more crying like a weakling.

Naruto wouldn't be crying right now, wherever he was. Whether they were torturing him. No matter what they were doing. Naruto would remain strong, because that's what Naruto was. He was naturally strong. She had to work to become strong and this experience was tearing down her hand-built, hard earned strength.

It was absolutely spirit-breaking.

Again, she was plunged into unnecessary darkness, into a room with not nearly enough light and the door closed with a bump behind them.

Once inside, she was hastily sat down, not so soft or considerately, onto the ground. She remained there, her head hung low, as she listened to the tall blue man— Itachi had called him Kisame, whom she vaguely remembered from the bingo book— walked around her. She heard shuffling but didn't lift her head to look.

She was too busy feeling rather sorry for herself.

There was a shutting of a drawer behind her and then, unexpectedly, the room lit up a shade or two brighter. Quietly, warily, she twisted around to see that he had lit another candle. Surprisingly, with the second light, it was significantly brighter.

Again she wanted to make a joke about the lighting in this place. She passed it over this time only because the Akatsuki had turned to her.

Suddenly, she felt her heart beat fluttering uncomfortably. She willed Itachi or Sasuke to appear again. To save her again because surely she was about to be broken again. She was defenseless…how could she fight against this person? She could barely fight back against the other man and he was much smaller.

Chewing her lip with hesitation she watched cautiously, like a mouse, ready to scurry away at any sudden movement. Only Sakura didn't have anywhere to flee to.

He silently stood for a long moment, near his bed. It seemed like there was an invisible line between them that he wasn't going to cross until he was ready. She wondered why he wasn't attacking her, or ravaging her like the other Akatsuki had. Instead, Kisame seemed to want to gaze at her.

It was definitely accomplishing the mission of making her incredibly nervous. She couldn't figure out why he wasn't moving.

There were a few more moments of silence before his strong, but low voice broke over her like a wave. "Itachi never takes part in the activities of other Akatsuki members, no matter the nature." It was a seemingly pointless statement.

She chewed her lip and avoided eye contact. What was he trying to get her to do or say here?

"Neither does that little Uchiha." He chimed lazily. His voice was deep and sensual by very nature… it was calm. It didn't sound aggressive or suggestive in any way. "Who are you, kunoichi?" His dark eyes glowed strangely in a way that Sakura had never seen before.

She hesitated to answer his question. She couldn't figure out what it was he wanted and it was beginning to make her more than suspicious. Then again, maybe it was the drugs, combined with the fact that she was definitely a hostage right now. "I'm Sakura."

He nodded, as if he knew as much. "Sakura. Who are you to those Uchihas?"

She paused, gathering the words while watching the warm light of the candles flickering over his skin. In this light it looked more gray or lavender than blue. It was fascinating to look at.

Kisame. She could hardly remember anything about him from the Bingo Book. The fact that he was Akatsuki affiliated and that he wielded a very dangerous sword. She couldn't remember what village he was from or any other details, however. It was all a muddle in her mind.

"I-" She swallowed roughly, uncertain of herself. "I am from Konoha. Sasuke and Itachi-"

Her words broke and faded away as he was suddenly moving towards her. His legs were so long, he reached her faster than she could even process it. Against her will, all of her joints locked up. Frozen with fear, she helplessly watched as he bent down before her. His knees cracked as he did so and even bending down he was so much taller than her. He gazed evenly, his black and white eyes mellow, almost sleepy. "Have you eaten today?" He asked very abruptly.

Her heart calmed immediately as his words punctured it and cured her of her panic. She shook her head meekly. She actually couldn't remember the last time she had eaten at all.

He released a gruff noise as he went to stand. Just as they had on the way down, his joints clicked loudly on the way up. "This will be difficult to settle." He grumbled. "I don't believe Pein planned to feed you until you absolutely had to be fed." He stood, a tower above her, stretching so strong, sturdy and horribly strange.

Why was he being so considerate?

She eventually chalked it up to the drugs making her deduction processing power weak, so she stopped trying to understand.

As long as he wasn't forcing himself on her she was totally okay with this. "I don't think I'm hungry." She mumbled, placing a hand on her stomach. She realized offhandedly that she was still only wearing her panties, and her red shirt. Her breasts were bare beneath it and she was thrust back into reliving the feel of that persons hands grinding roughly against them.

She shivered, and felt distaste in her mouth.

"That's probably the drugs talking." He grumbled, almost as if he wasn't actually talking to her at all but just thinking out loud.

She shrugged.

After another long moment of surprisingly companionable silence, she relaxed a little bit more. Her back lost its stiffness, especially now that he had left her personal space, standing again by his bed. She brought her knees up and sat her chin atop her dusty kneecaps. Absent-mindedly her fingers drew patterns in the dirt as she breathed quietly.

He seemed to be perfectly happy to simply sit in silence but she was growing weary.

A thought popped into her head, and she felt comfortable enough to voice it out loud. "Can you take me back to Itachi?" Though her words were tentative and quiet. She waited for him to react negatively, but he simply turned his eyes, like an ocean they rippled with unknown depth, towards her with seriousness on his face. It wasn't a horrible seriousness or strained. Just a casual, thoughtful seriousness.

The seriousness dripped away and he looked almost amiable. "That's a bad idea." He took this moment to sit on his bed, leaning back on his hands and stretching his long legs out across the floor.

She drew a flower in the dirt and then erased it with her palm.

"The last thing you want to do is spend a lot of time with Itachi." His voice was strangely wise. In some way, though they seemed very different, he reminded her of Itachi. She wondered if they got along well.

"Why?" She asked quietly. Her muscles were aching, and she tried to ignore the stiffness as she stretched her own legs out in front of her. She smacked her hands together and the dust from them rose like a cloud into the air.

"Because, girly, it'll just look bad." He answered but only after watching her with parted lips as she reached down to wipe away the dust on her legs.

She was surprisingly comfortable considering she was in her underwear in front of another Akatsuki.

Looking up to greet the sight of his absorbed gaze, she almost smiled at the concentration he was displaying. His dark face was rather unexpectedly expressive.

"So I have to stay here?" She asked.

For some reason, she felt like a 12 year-old again. Like a little girl, asking so many questions, afraid of everything. Of the dark. Of sudden movements. Of things she didn't recognize or understand.

She hadn't been so afraid in a long time.

"Yes, girly." He responded with a grin on his words. She looked up into shark-like teeth, straight and gleaming in the candle light. "It's better this way." After a second of gazing at her like she was a puzzle and he was trying to put her together— which was actually an exact replica of how she felt— he looked away rather stiffly. The sudden change in demeanor was surprising, but again she left the answer being: It's probably effects of these drugs. Making everything weird.

She wondered why he didn't let her fully explain her situation with the Uchiha brothers after he asked her in the first place. She opened her mouth to ask him herself when his voice rumbled through her chest.

"Are you cold?" He asked.

It was the second considerate question he'd asked her and this time it filled her with warmth. How could she be cold when he was being so nice? He was almost nicer than even Itachi, though the Uchiha had an advantage; she'd known him since she was young. She was naturally drawn to Itachi. Kisame wasn't someone she'd known. He had no reason to treat her this way, yet he was. He didn't have to, but he is.

She smiled at him tentatively, glancing down at her state of dress. "Maybe a little..." She murmured. Her thoughts for some reason, drifted to Sasuke abruptly.

She wanted to banish his stupid face. The face she remembered so clearly walking away from her all those years ago.

Now when he popped into her thoughts she imagined him appearing in the door. During her time of need, he had come for her.

She shook away the thoughts only too eagerly, at the sight of Kisame standing. He was quietly but briskly shuffling through the contents of his dresser. He withdrew a large plain black shirt, sleeveless, and the most basic of essential ninja training gear. He didn't walk it to her, rather he simply tossed it. She somehow couldn't manage the catch so it landed with a plop over her head.

She heard him chuckle before she snatched it off, her face growing hot.

And then she realized she would have to put it on. Should she put it on over her Haruno shirt?

Instead of immediately moving to get dressed, she sat there gazing at the fabric that remained entwined in her fingers.

"I won't be leaving this room even if it bothers you." He said a little roughly, his voice a little less kind, but it still wasn't rude. Just simply scratchy.

She glanced up at him. It wasn't that she was shy. Getting dressed in front of boys wasn't something she did every day but she was prepared to do so when emergencies arose. But still, after her last experience with the gray haired Akatsuki, she was uncertain to show her body.

After a moment, she simply decided she couldn't be afraid forever.

She tilted her eyes away from him, and spun around on the ground. She couldn't tell if he was still looking at her or if he had turned around but with her back to him, she felt somewhat better. She hastily removed her red Haruno shirt.

The cold prickled against her skin and she immediately felt chills creep up along her tired, dusty flesh. She tossed her old, red shirt to the ground and quickly slid on the basic black tank he'd given her.

It was absolutely huge. Like a dress or a potato sack. The holes where his arms would go drooped all the way down to her mid torso while she was sitting down. If he were standing at her side rather than directly in front of her, he would be able to clearly see her breasts through the holes.

But still, it was clean and smooth, and somehow it even smelled masculine. Surprisingly she didn't mind the smell.

"Thanks." She said quietly, in the process of turning around. Once she did, she looked up into his face and realized that he was staring at her. His eyes were steadily holding onto her. She blushed uncomfortably under his gaze.

"No problem." He murmured, his voice raspy.

And then, once again, she found herself oddly wishing that Itachi would come for her.

Note: Subtle KisaSaku in this chapter guys. How'd ya feel about it? Man do I love that ship.