Sakura

I had spilled my guts.

I told Naruto everything, about Sasuke's mark at least, and what Orochimaru did to my family –it felt good to unravel a few lies. Naruto had nodded and encouraged me to continue every time I had stopped.

"That old Snake-man," He muttered using my nickname for him. "Don't worry, Lord Third took his arms, he won't be able to do anything to us now." I smiled. For some reason just spilling my guts to Naruto made me feel better, he'd make jokes and help me laugh my way through it.

"Thanks Naruto." I looked up at the late night sky and sighed. "Where did the day go?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, it's dark out. You want me to walk you home?" I shook my head and stood putting my hands on my hips.

"Nah, I'm a big, bad Chuunin now. I can handle whatever's out there." Naruto smiled and we went our separate ways.

~X~

It was a powerful feeling; having the streets to myself.

It was a warm night; all the stars where out and the full moon graced the streets with an illuminating white glow. Crickets chirped and I heard a distant dog howl. That's when I sensed strong chakra. I looked up and saw four shadowed figures appeared in front of the moon. Jumping to my side, I took cover in an alley as they landed on a roof top.

"You think Uchiha will come?" I heard a female voice ask.

"Are you kidding? We beat him good, made him feel useless. Of course, he'll come to Lord Orochimaru." Then they were off again, moving towards the gate.

I've got to find Sasuke.

I quickly scanned the area and took off toward the Uchiha compound in search of Sasuke –my handsome dark haired teammate. Passing through the silent streets I barely noticed the cloaked figure following close behind me, making sure I did nothing reckless –and reckless I was being. I jumped the wall into the abandoned Uchiha compound and without hesitation darted into the house Sasuke had lived in by himself for the longest time.

"Sasuke..." I whispered. His empty apartment didn't answer back. Tears were welling up in my eyes at the thought of being too late to save him. Orochimaru's promise for power was nothing but I lie and he fell for it. I froze upon hearing the door open behind me.

"So my little brother is leaving?" I whirled around to find Itachi leaning in the doorway. Something told me he wasn't here to comfort, in fact, he looked perpetually angry at my act. He moved forward, his face was an emotionless mask and his movements as graceful and deadly as ever. "Orochimaru will make use of him; take over his body like he tried to do to me. It's sad though…He's actually so weak that he thinks he needs the Snake Lord's help." I turned to glare at Itachi; his red eyes watched me intently.

"What are you saying!" I snapped, hands curling into fist and one of Itachi's hands landed on my shoulder, forcing me to untense.

The moon contrasted a golden light down upon Itachi's serene, yet livid, features. "Forget about him Sakura-hime." The sentence was like a knife to my heart and I visibly recoiled, my eyes glassing over but no tears fell –I refused to cry. Itachi's hand fell and slipped back to his side and his Sharingan eyes locked with mine.

"I can still stop him."

"You will not." I gridded my teeth. "It is my job to keep you out of trouble-"

"Itachi." For once he let me cut him off and I lowered my gaze to the floor. "You won't use that on me, I know you won't…He's not gone yet…and I need to keep him away from Orochimaru. I won't forgive myself if I don't." I turned and ran out of the apartment and on to the streets.

Surprisingly, Itachi did not follow.

He's not gone yet! I can still save him!

Sakura-hime...this is his own free will.

Be quiet Saku! He isn't thinking strait! He's mad at me and Naruto. I worked my legs to move faster and Saku said no more seemingly disappearing inside of me.

~X~

I only stopped running once I had gotten to the gate.

But Sasuke was nowhere in sight.

"Sakura?" I turned there was Sasuke standing awkward and proud not three steps behind me, almost shrieking in delight. Then I noticed that he still wasn't wearing his headband and there was a backpack on his shoulders. "What are you doing here?"

I straitened up and tried to keep my voice even. "I'm going to stop you. Sasuke...you're not leaving." Sasuke's expression turned dark and mocking. "You can't go to Orochimaru, you promised me you'd keep away from him. I'll fight you if I have to."

Sasuke's frown stayed intact and he walked forward, until there was only about an inch of space between us. My breathing went rigged and he put his forehead to mine and closed his eyes. After some time he spoke.

"Sakura," He hesitated. "Will you come with me?" I gasped and took a step back.

For a moment I saw something in Sasuke's eyes: hurt? But then it was gone.

I searched his face and saw that he joking either. My hands formed tight fist, like they did when we were sparring, and I gulped tears begged to fall, but I wouldn't grate it to them. The dull pain of my nails digging into my palms was enough to prevent it from happening.

No matter what I wouldn't break down.

"I'm not leaving this village." I said stubbornly.

"Lord Orochimaru," Sasuke started and I winced at the title the Snake-man's henchmen used. "Can give us both power. He is weak now and once we learn from him we could take over and we can rule the Sound." Sasuke offered, strangely I considered the idea for a moment.

In an odd way that sounded like a fairytale. The princess and prince run away together, forget everything, and find a magical castle to rule over. Years together and heirs made for their abducted throne and a happy ending of dying peacefully in their sleep together…

That wasn't me. That wasn't Sasuke.

This wasn't a fairytale world, this was life. The world of ninjas. No princesses or princes could run away without a Hunter-nin on their tail to drag them back the next morning. Also I highly doubt they'd drag us back alive, if we were caught.

And then there'd be a war.

"Why me?" I asked.

Sasuke shrugged. "I like you, Sakura. I kissed you didn't I?" I bit my lip. I didn't like the way he talked about the kiss we shared.

Like it was just a step he'd taken to get me to leave with him. "If you like me then you'd stay..." Sasuke opened his mouth to say something then stopped. His eyes closed.

"Is that your final answer?" I didn't say anything and he smiled, but it was sad. "Then I can't have you stopping me." Sasuke's eyes opened and I found myself lost in his red Sharingan. I threw a punch and Sasuke jumped back and threw kunai at me, I dodged them and glared at him.

"I don't want to be your enemy!" I shouted and Sasuke's face mimicked Itachi's –emotionless.

"I'm sorry Sakura." Sasuke formed the 'Tiger' symbol and suddenly I couldn't move.

The ground beneath me opened up and I fell into darkness.

I was locked in a genjutsu and Sasuke was getting farther away every moment I was falling.

I had lost him.

HAHA! One chapter to go then it's until Goddess-Knows-When and the sequel and an author's note will be posted.

To all those 'Lord of the Rings' fans out there regonce and drink hardy because I, QueenVamp the Insane, am now a fan thanks to my Movie/Book/Music guru Alexis. And I shall post the final chapter tonight -midnight.

Please reveiw or I'll find you,

~QueenVamp