Lighting painted the skies of so called night, a lone figure drenched in a black hood loomed over her, her eyes wide with fear.
"This isn't your fault.
This happened to you."
The voice whispered, a hand shooting out and taking grasp of her arms. "Don't fight me woman." Growled the voice. She couldn't scream, her chords were silenced and fear crippled her. Her eyes pleaded for her, hoping someone would find her. Someone would see.
Days blurred together and her mind was amuck. She couldn't distinguish day from night or from friend nor foe. Her head was forced underwater and her body was sent ablaze. Her hands blooded and her eyes stung from the tears that ran dry. "Please.." she whispered to the emptiness that filled her.
"They'll bow before you."
The voice swept upon her.
"Who's there?" She called, pain tugging at her throat from her unused voice.
Silence ascended unto her, and she knew.. she knew.
"They will regret taking you away."
A gasp was heard as she shot up in bed, her head spinning and the world around her going with it. Slowly, she came too and the hollowed parts inside her began to fill with rage. Slowly, the medic stood from her bed as she clutched at her stomach, some unknown pain trying to cripple her as she made her way to the bathroom.
Another bout of pain surged through her and whatever was once in her stomach sought refuge into the white porcelain bowl below. She extracted herself from the floor and turned on the shower, not bothering to remove the clothing that clung to her skin for dear life, sticky with cold sweat and lost dreams.
A nightmare.
'Or was it?' Inner murmured, the fear evident in her voice as well. Sakura sat there, flaring her chakra in hopes of someone feeling it, of hearing her silent pleas.
It didn't take long for another to answer, and like lightning, he was by her side. "Sakura." He breathed as he helped her from the shower and closed his arms around her, ignoring the water that soaked his clothing.
"Shika.." she whispered, darkness consuming her as he held her tightly, her only anchor to this world.
*.*.*
"Good to see you're up and about." Came the medic's voice, sarcasm dripping from every word.
"Ne, Sakura-chan, I think I've been here long enough." Kakashi whined pitifully.
"If you undo all of our hard work, I will break every bone in your body and not bother putting you back together." Sakura answered as if she were discussing the weather.
"So mean to your sensei." Kakashi pouted as he sat on the hospital bed.
"Hush now, I have to check you over. I'll give you the all clear if I'm satisfied with the results." The medic responded, waving off his comment. Kakashi frowned but did not fight her. As she stood by him and began her examination, Hatake watched her intently. Her eyes were tired and filled with lost sleep, her body was slumped a bit, not something normal for someone who had near perfect posture all the time. Her hands were cold even though they were always warm and her chakra stung a bit when it was usually welcoming. He couldn't really complain, he probably deserved something worse than a sting.
"You look tired." He murmured as he watched her work.
"Working 16 hour shifts does that to people." Sakura answered without thought. It wasn't a lie entirely, albeit at the moment it was sort of one. Hatake didn't have the right to know her struggles and private life, so she kept to professional woes.
"I see." Of course he did, he may not have been close to Sakura, but he could still tell when she wasn't being honest with him. Sometimes, anyway. He wasn't so sure as to what he did or didn't know about her anymore. His two male students had explained their little break through in her office a week ago or so, but he himself had yet to speak with her.
Maybe it was because he was ashamed and embarrassed. Most teachers knew their students, and although he knew her name, the woman before him was a complete stranger. "Staring is rude." Sakura murmured as she pulled away a bit, "Are you experiencing any pain anywhere or soreness?" She asked expectantly.
"Ah, no. A little tightness here and there, but nothing substantial." Kakashi answered.
"Good. Normal. Okay, I'll give the green light, but you have to meet with me twice a week for the next two weeks so I can keep track. Doesn't have to be here, you can come to my home." Sakura responded as she pulled away, "I will not green light you for any missions if you don't." She warned, the serious tone in her voice letting him know she wasn't joking.
Hanging his head, Kakashi nodded stiffly and looked away. What the hell was he going to do for two weeks? "What about training?" He finally asked.
"Fine, but come see me within two hours of whatever training you do so I can make sure your body can handle it." Sakura answered without looking up from her paperwork that he assumed was his chart. Kakashi frowned once more but didn't argue, if he wanted to do missions, then he would have to endure this. "Now go, before I change my mind. I'll have your discharge paperwork sent to your house."
He didn't need to be told twice.
But something stopped him. "Sakura." Her name left his mouth before he could even think.
"Kakashi?" The rosette turned to him before opening the door, a questioning look on her tired face.
"I'm sorry." Hatake finally said after a few beats of silence.
"I know. And I will tell you what I told them; I do care about you, but it'll take some time. I just need some time." Sakura said slowly, her eyes staring into his, and there was a tint to them that he'd seen only a few times. She was trying, and it looked as if she were on the edge of breaking.
"I know I'm the last person to say this - but please know, my door is always open. I'm sorry I ran away before. I'm sorry I've always just ran away… but I won't, not anymore. Not this time." Kakashi said, the tone in his voice catching Sakura by surprise a bit. She knew he meant it and some part of her felt lighter, "Thank you." She gave a small smile before stepping out of the door into the hallway.
*.*.*.*
"Sakura." His words were murmured into her ear, "Wake up.." his breath was warm as it washed over her face.
"Mmmm.. but I don't want to." She groaned, cuddling to the warmth of his body.
A low groan came from his lips, "Keep doing that and we won't leave this room." He smiled.
Sakura paused her movements for a moment before wiggling again, "We will, or I'll stop your heart." Sakura said softly, making the elder Uchiha go pale.
"Such a mean soul." Shisui laughed, grabbing the rosette by the shoulders, he threw her over his own shoulders and carried her outside. "Training time, love. Your test is in two days. We are not going easy on you. Bring everything you've got." Shisui mused.
Sakura stared at her five friends and groaned, she just wanted a fucking day off. "Can I at least go get clothing? I'm not training in pajamas."
"Fine, fine. Ino, go with her and make sure she gets changed. Don't need you sneaking off." Shisui smiled sweetly causing the medic to roll her eyes.
"Wouldn't want anything more." Laughed the Yamanaka.
*.*.*.*
She lie exhausted on the grass hill beside her friends, all of whom were also exhausted. "You put up a good fight." Breathed Shisui wincing at the bruise that was sure to be forming on his rib cage.
"I know." Smiled Sakura, her head tilting back.
There was blood. Blood everywhere, it was on her clothing and in her hair. The room was small and she stood disoriented, her body feeling suddenly weak. There were pleas of remorse, fear muddled the air and she breathed it in like it gave her life. As the confusion faded, a smile formed on her lips, eyes flashing orange.
"This isn't your fault. This happened to you."
Emerald eyes shot open, was that a dream? She didn't even realize that she'd fallen asleep, but she must've, unless...
Unless it was a memory.
Shisui glanced over at Shikamaru and they both silently communicated something. There was a knowing look on Neji's and Ino's faces, but no one said anything.
"Guys... we should go home. I'm tired.'' Sakura finally yawned, the tension of the day mirroring on her face quite clearly.
"Right, of course." Shikamaru popped up, helping the rosette from her place as Neji helped up their blond friend. "We should all meet a few hours before your test. We can run a few last measures." Sakura's eyebrow twitched but she gave a slight nod in response earning a smile from everyone else.
"Okay, okay. Home. Now. I'm tired." Sakura growled, pushing Shikamaru towards her home. Shikamaru laughed a little before wrapping his arm around her waist.
"So troublesome." He mused, Sakura sticking her tongue out in response.
*.*.*.*
A battle cry rang through the trees, pain and anger painted the scene as she launched through the air and slid her sword with ease through the clone of Uchiha Itachi. He had been smart enough to not tempt her with the Sharingan, not after their last encounter. He could tell the other members were curious as to why he hadn't yet, but he didn't humor them with a answer. He watched from far in another tree as she swung at Ibiki, he had to keep dodging, while everyone else was fighting, he was watching her intently. His Sharingan watching her, making sure the other sides didn't come out. She had passed the torture session with Ibiki and Inoichi - they hadn't been able to get one bit of Intel from her and his relief came when Inoichi couldn't find anything outside of the norm in Sakura's mind.
They were going on three days now of this, it wasn't like a traditional test, the Hokage had ordered a rather intensive test, she did not want anyone to question the fact that Haruno was earning her title on her own merits - not because of some sort of favoritism of any kind. He understood why she would want such a thing, Haruno always stood in the shadows of those around her. First her teammates and now only known at the Godaime's apprentice, not her own name. This would change that - well, to those in ANBU anyway. Obviously, no one else would know, but somehow that was enough to the rosette. She was ready to serve her village by being an elite. Uchiha knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she would serve well.
Even with this thought, he was still uneasy with the unknown prospects. Was this other side of her a friend or foe? Had she been lying? Was she going to strike when the opportunity came, whatever that might be? He didn't know, but some part of him believed in the rosette. He knew that regardless of what was happening to her, she would always put her village above herself. Her loyalty to their village and their Hokage was unshakable. Anyone could see that. She was a female version of himself.
His thoughts turned to Shimura Danzo, the man that had tried to recruit him to kill his clan due to a supposed revolt that they'd been planning. That didn't end up happening, Danzo was disposed of and Shisui and Itachi took care of this little threat of rebellion that their clan could have been cooking up. They stomped it right out, not allowing anything to further fan the flames that was their resistance.
When his thoughts came back to him, Sakura was standing right in front of him, those primal eyes watching him, flickering the orange color he'd seen during their last meeting. "Do you have a name?" He found himself asking.
Sakura tilted her head to the side, "In spite of popular belief, we are the same person. We are one United soul. This wasn't a choice, nor a gift." Came her soft voice, a touch of gentleness in those primal eyes. With a smirk, Sakura put her hand on his chest, "I think the test just ended." With those words, he was transported into the center of the field where the other ANBU members had been bounded by chakra restraints.
The other men stared at him with wide eyes, someone was able to actually catch Uchiha Itachi. It had been unheard of. No one had ever caught Uchiha, no one.
Even with all the attention on him, all he could think was, 'this isn't the test she was talking about.'
This wasn't the only test that was taking place. They had both ended, and by the look in the rosette's eyes, he had passed.
He wasn't sure exactly sure what that meant, but he was more than interested in finding out.
*.*.*.*.*
"Are you sure?" Growled Shikamaru, his chocolate eyes pouring into charcoal hues.
"For fuck sake, yes. I am sure." Shisui hissed back, his eyes flashing red for a moment as he tried to remain calm. There was no room for error and they were both on edge. Shikamaru knew he could trust the Uchiha, but he was just so worried. He hated this tightening in his chest, Shikamaru did not like hiding things, no matter the reason.
"I just... I just cannot help wonder how the hell this all happened. I thought we were careful, I thought we had it taken care of." Shisui groaned, falling back into his seat.
"Yeah, join the club. If I would have been there. If I would have known…" Shikamaru sighed, looking down at his cup.
"There isn't any point in beating ourselves up, we just have to figure out where to go from here." Neji said, his voice of reason bringing the two males out of their daze.
"Yeah, let's face it. Thinking 'could've, would've, should've' won't help us now." Ino chimed in as she sat across from Neji. "We just need to make sure that things go smoothly from now forward." All four heads nodded at this and hummed in agreement.
"Right, so…. Does she know yet?" Shisui finally asked the question that was on everyone's minds.
"I think she's starting to." Shikamaru answered as silence engulfed them. There was a pained look on his face as he stared at his cup, "I cannot get the picture out of my head.. She looked so.." broken. Ino nodded knowing where his train of thought had gone.
"All we can do now is keep shit from hitting the fan, the rest will be up to her." Neji added, all four people trading glances.
The question that weighed heavily on their hearts was one in the same:
What happens next?