Chapter VII: Touch

Head down, I watch how my feet hit the ground. Step by step, I'm getting closer to you. I look up and feel a sharp breeze meet my cheeks, making me take in the cool air.

Had I not promised myself I would never run after you again?

I felt the nauseating feeling of betrayal overwhelm me. But Kakashi's words had such impact on me that I could no longer deny the truth. I couldn't go on like this. I had to change. Something had to change.
I frown at my own thoughts. Here I was going on about myself, when in truth this mission was for the village. Well, not really. It was a request from Sasuke.

I move at quicker pace, pondering if accepting this mission was a mistake.

I underestimated the severeness of the situation. I try to keep my touch featherlight but I can tell he's in pain. I speed up my movements, taking note that I had made it just in time. I take no further risks and inject an antidote hoping it is efficient enough to reverse the effect of the poison quickly. I pause for a moment. For the first time since entering the room I'm aware Sasuke is behind me, watching me.
I ignore him and further tend the patient. Trying to subdue his fever and ease his pain.
His eye creep open and he gives me a stare blank. Normally this doesn't take me by surprise but his yellow eyes are unusual. I swallow when he grabs my hand hovering above his cheek.
The strange caress of his thumb makes me hold my breath.

It was a strange type of touch to receive from such a young boy.

His eyes flutter shut and he loses consciousness again. I put his hand to rest next to him and sit patiently by his side. Though we haven't spoken, I already care deeply about his well-being. Speaking of caring…
I take a glance at Sasuke, who is leaning against the wall, waiting for me to explain the situation.
'We need to wait a little,' I inform him coolly.
He only nods, staying silent as always.

You have yet to say your first words to me.

'How did he get poisoned?' I ask nonchalantly.
'A fight.'
I let out a tired sigh. I could've guessed that myself, I was hoping on a bit more information. But I can't be bothered, I have enough experience and training to do so without. But still…
I simply shrug at the feelings of annoyance and tiredness, telling myself that certain things wouldn't change …just like Tsunade had said.

I mindlessly stroke the hair out of his sweaty face. I frown, only now realizing he looks kind of familiar.

At that moment Sasuke decides to speak up. 'He's… Orochimaru's son.'

The revelation is shocking to say the least so my hands halts. So many question run through my head, ones that would be senseless to ask a normal person but we were talking about Orochimaru, a man anything but ordinary. …Was this boy some sort of experiment?

I patiently wait for you to continue talking.

'He followed me.' You tell me as I hear your footsteps closing on me. I tense up yet straighten my back defiantly, no longer letting your presence get under my skin.
'I think Orochimaru might've talked him into it.'
'W-what do you mean?' I manage to bring out, slightly looking over my shoulder to see how close you are. You kneel down next to me, looking at the boy's face.
'I had to visit him…' You turn your head to look at me. Your expression is stoic and unreadable always, making me only guess where this conversation could be leading to.
'It's a long story.'
I blankly stare back.
'Point is, he is probably not fully human.'

Are you? A snide voice asks in my head. For once, I'm not scowling at it. If I could, I'd nod and repeat the question out loud.

'He could be up to something,' he says about the boy while avoiding my eyes again.
'Why do you think he followed you?' I simply ask.
'Orochimaru told him about me being his student… At first he saw me as some sort of…. rival. And now, for some reason, he wants me to train him.'

'Doesn't Orochimaru train him?' I asked confused.

You stare back at the boy and simply shrug.

I feel myself fall. I startle myself awake and look around. The room is dark and I'm feeling cold. The boy is still out. Sasuke still hasn't come back, I note.
I roll my shoulders, my back aches.
I let out a sigh, hoping I could get into bed soon. I check the clock and feel the boys skin. Still burning hot. He's no longer in pain but he's having a hard time fighting off the poison. Tiredly I rub my eyes, trying to fight off the sleep and think of another way of lowering the boy's fever.

'N-no, I won't.'

I flutter my eyes open and look at the boy, whose eyes are still closed. Probably dreaming. I can tell he's tensing up so I try to calm him down, using the cold cloth in my hand to ease him into wakening up while trying to cool off his burning forehead. My attempt is a success. His eyes flutter open.

I get startle by his yellow eyes again.

They make me feel uneasy. Perhaps it's the unnatural coloring that causes that.
Or, my mind adds maliciously, the last time we saw a pair of eyes like that the world was turned upside down. Though I harbor hate towards his creator for different reasons, far more inhuman reasons, I still hate Orochimaru for unleashing all of the hate inside of Sasuke. I wonder from time to time how the word would look without him becoming the man he was today.

….Would we've fallen apart?

'I'm not going back.' He hisses. Like a snake.
I quirk up an eyebrow, hushing him immediately. 'You don't have to go anywhere,' I whisper.
'You need to get better first… Just rest for now.'
His eyes widen and he gives me a long stare, which eventually makes me feel uncomfortable. The silence in the room isn't helping. All I hear is his heavy breathing and my heart pounding loudly in my ears.
'You? I-I thought I had imagine you…'
'I'm a friend of Sasuke,' I tell him, trying to calm him down a bit.
'I'm Mitsuki,' he gives me a small smile, which I immediately return. 'I'm Sakura.'
He doesn't say anything else and simply stares at me with those inhuman eyes.

'Don't touch her.'

I frown at the sudden outburst before feeling a familiar shiver run down my spine. I turn my head, grab a kunai, turn around half-kneeling and hold the weapon out for me.

'Why are you here?' I ask at the figure in the shadows.

'Well, this is my house.'

I loathe his voice. His slithering, cold, barbaric voice.

I feel my blood turn cold when he approaches me, seeing him appear out of shadows next to the door.

'Sasuke didn't tell you?' he asks politely.

I only answer with a scowl and an angry look.

No, the bastard rarely says anything, an angry voice in my head shouts.

'I guess not…' He flashes a smile before walking further into the room.

Orochimaru hasn't aged one bit since the last time I saw him. As a matter of fact, he looked even younger. I eye him from top to toe, which only widens his smirk but I don't care. I'm simply stunned out how such a despicable person can still be around, alive and well that is.

'Don't come close to me,' the boy speaks up.

I slightly turn my head to take a look at him, he doesn't seem to like his father much more then I do. I realize now that he hadn't been dreaming earlier but Orochimaru had been talking to him. They must be connected in some way. I suddenly make a point out of the fact this boy probably has no mother.

….right?

I look back at Orochimaru and wonder where the hell Sasuke is. Did he know about him coming here? What do I do? I don't care for either of them. I mean I care about the boys health but neither of the two have anything to do with me. This mission solely exists because Sasuke asked Kakashi.

'Mitsuki does not have… a normal body. He is a synthetically made.'
'So?' I ask.
'So your antidote works differently on him,' he states.

Now I feel a blush creep on my cheeks. I'm a bit embarrassed and mostly angry at myself for not thinking about that. Well, how the hell was I supposed to now? Nobody ever tells me anything!

'I'm sure it will work but this,' he says while picking out a tube out of his pocket, 'will speed up the process.'
He throws it at me and I catch it, immediately taking a glimpse at it. It's a blue fluid and it glisters in the dark.
'See it as a booster.'
I'm a bit reluctant to say the least so I look at the boy. To my surprise he nods and whispers it's alright.
I take a needle and inject into his body. When he loses consciousness, I look alarmed at the Sanin, who tells me that is a normal reaction. He'll even be up in a few hours.

'I'm afraid his body has flaws… Does not get easily hurt but unfortunately the healing process of full human is still far more superior than his.'

'Poison is his worst enemy,' I mumble thoughtlessly out loud.

'Correct.'

I jump up when I hear how close he has gotten, to which he smirks. I angrily take a step back.
He gives me false upset look, as if it is a great mystery to him why I would not trust him nor like being around him.

'My, my,' he starts. 'You're all grown up…'

He eyes me the same way I did him earlier, except he does it on such a way it could almost be considered perverse. I note to myself evil men like to do that. It emphasize their cruelty. I also remind myself that I can be quite cruel myself, so there is no need for me to feel so much fear. I tighten my fists when thinking that.

'Sakura Haruno,' he states my name. 'You were once quite close to dear Sasuke, were you not?'

I don't even bother to answer that question.

'Tsunade's apprentice…'

'I know who I am and who I once was,' I answer sharply. 'No need to inform me of what I already know.'

He snickers, amused by my temper. Something that probably reminds him of his former teammate as well. He surprises me by taking another step towards me yet I command my body to not move a muscle. I'm not letting this man intimidate me either.

'Where is Sasuke?' I ask him.
'I wouldn't know.'

Another step taken forward.

His yellow eyes are all I can see.

I don't know why he taking such an interest in me. I feel like he's looking right into my soul. I catch myself almost taking a small hesitant step back. I straighten my posture, put my chin up and defiantly stare back at him. Staying completely still, yet my mind is a frenzy.

What does he want?

His presence makes my skin crawl.

My stubbornness had made me violate my own barriers because suddenly he's far too close for my liking.

'You have changed,' he notes. My lips are sealed and I can't find the wit to answer him.
He's so close I can feel his breath on me. He brings his mouth to my ear while my eyes widen in surprise.

Why am I not moving?

I can feel his mouth lightly touch my ear when he speaks up.

'You have a darkness inside of you.'

NOTE: This Mitsuki is obviously not the Mitsuki of the Boruto-series. I read he had an "older" brother (with the same name), so let's just go with that.

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