Dark Paradise

Chapter 3 – Surrender

'Sweet despair, feel you devour me. Silently, oh, won't you carry me?'

Sakura opened her bleary eyes to see Kushina and the Hokage leaning over her and looking worried. After a moment, Sakura eyes seemed to focus and she realized that it wasn't the Hokage – but Naruto leaning over her and looking slightly annoyed.

Sakura's anxiety returned as she remembered the notes on the Sharingan, disappearing before her eyes. Which, of course, only reinforced her thoughts that her situation was somehow directly connected to the Uchiha's red eyes. But of course that was all she knew, and as far as knowing anything went – that was nothing. But Sakura had never been one to give up and over the next few weeks, she continued her research of both Kushina's pregnancy issues and her own bizarre situation. Of course, being the medical ninja she was, thanks to Tsunade, not that anyone knew that, Sakura came up with various scenarios that could help Kushina – who, as far as Sakura knew still hadn't mentioned anything to Naruto or Minato, not that it was up to Sakura. Even if things were going fairly well on that front, Sakura's other problem had come to a complete standstill. She'd exhausted all the possible books and research on either memory loss, psychological memory blocks or the Sharingan. But she'd gotten nothing from it. The less she got the more it had enforced her resolve – she couldn't speak to Sasuke about this. Not only because he'd think that she'd completely and utterly lost her mind, but because she was afraid that she actually might be. His attitude had also changed over the last few weeks, and somehow – painfully – she'd settled into the routine of being a girlfriend. His girlfriend. It was easy to pretend…too easy, that this was her life. And she hated it. Partly because she loved it, every kiss, every kiss – she couldn't say no. (Yet, of course, they hadn't been having sex since the big blowout that she had no memory of, not that Sakura minded. Much.) And partly….partly, because Sasuke, the real Sasuke, would never, ever, touch her like that. Let alone kiss. And it hurt like hell to admit it, but it was a truth, a piece of home that she could hold on to.

But eventually, everything around felt unreal. Every bit, every memory that wasn't her own. She felt like she was on the edge – on the verge of slipping and losing herself…forever. Every once in a while, Sakura had to look underneath her bed and find her clothes. The forehead protector. It became a habit. Although, maybe a crazy one. They were reminders of home. Her true home – despite the war and the killing. It was home. This wasn't. She repeated that every day – like a prayer. As if it would keep her sane, and for a while, maybe it did. Desperately, she'd even gone to Hinata, asked her to use the Byakugan to see if there was some kind of block on her mind. The girl had only seen some kind of disturbance with Sakura's chakra. Which could have been caused by anything. Another dead end.

Sakura spent most of her days at the training grounds and some days she would leave Konoha to butcher some trees. That too helped – to see her power for herself. To actually use it, feel the familiar power in her veins, to feel the rush of energy she'd grown to love so much. It was exhilarating. And provided some peace. But that didn't matter. At the end of the day – she was still trapped. Not that she was even sure of that fact, and the longer she stayed to more she could feel her sanity slip. Little by little until she felt like she needed to decide, stay or escape – by ending her own life. Sakura jumped up, shocked by the very thought. When had she gotten to this low point? No. She couldn't be unravelling. She needed to….she needed to…what exactly?

She had no idea.

"Sakura-chan."

Sakura let out a shriek and turned around. She'd been caught off her guard completely. It was more than a disgrace, considering the person behind her was Uchiha Itachi. Which wasn't entirely out of the ordinary since she was at the Uchiha training grounds waiting for the younger brother.

Sakura cleared her throat. "Itachi-san."

He continued to stare at her, silent for a long time. "Are you losing it?" he asked eventually.

Sakura frowned, considering his words. "Am I what?"

"I didn't think this would get you under, I was under the impression that you were clever."

"I don't know what you're talking about," her answer was stiff, but deep, deep down there was a thread of hope. Hope that she wasn't alone, after all.

"I wonder," said Itachi, stepping closer. "If everything Sasuke did to you made you strong, or broke you." And then he attacked her. Sakura, luckily, saw it coming, and years of training with Tsunade prepared her. Maybe not for the Uchiha Itachi, but it had been good enough to defeat an Akatsuki member. Sakura pulled back a fist ready to punch, when she realized – she couldn't use her strength here. Itachi must have seen the realization in her eyes because she swore his lips twitched into a smile. Itachi didn't use the Sharingan, he assaulted her with a flurry of shuriken and kunai. Sakura was quick, though and she managed to make it through the attack with just a few cuts.

"What the hell are you doing?" she snapped as Itachi rushed forward, now using his blade.

"Waking you up!" he slashed and Sakura got a kunai from her pouch, effectively blocking his attack and sending sparks flying between their weapons.

"I am awake." She said through clenched teeth, holding him at bay now using her strength the hold his blade back.

"Not yet." He told her, bring his hand up, fist ready, but Sakura caught that too. She'd been on the defensive but now, she attacked, bringing her leg up to send him flying, but Itachi's own leg blocked her, but her strength still hit him full on. He groaned as the hit seemed to vibrate through him and Sakura used that moment to let go of his fist and shove him back. Itachi hadn't expected it and her flew back. His back hit a training post and then, he disappeared in a flash of black crows. Sakura was breathing hard, her eyes moving around the training grounds, before she turned to face him. Itachi looked down at her, "Those eyes are awake." He said, giving a slow nod.

"You know." She whispered, her heart hammering in her chest.

Itachi said nothing, but his eyes spoke volumes and after an eternity – he nodded.

Sakura looked down at her hands. They were shaking with adrenaline. "More," she said, suddenly feeling a rush in her blood. Itachi complied. He drew his blade, on the offensive once more and Sakura blocked with her kunai, they sprang apart before rushing back at each other. Sakura knew, logically, he was holding back to match her strength, but in that moment she didn't care. She wasn't alone. Itachi knew too and after this was over, after she'd felt the full effects of this rush – she would find some answers. It was right before their blades touched that they were stopped mid-air. Someone had caught them, was crouched between them, after having caught both blades.

Sasuke had arrived.

"I don't know what's going on," he began, his voice a stiff calm, "But this much killing intent will draw unwanted attention."

Sakura swallowed, pulling her kunai back. Both Sasuke's palms were bleeding and Sakura immediately grabbed the one closest to her and healed it.

"Reckless." She muttered lowly and Sasuke scoffed.

Itachi pulled back his blade too and made small talk with his brother that Sakura didn't bother following, she went around, healing Sasuke's other hand, but she didn't let go of it once she was done. She heard Itachi take his leave and she waved a goodbye with her free hand.

"Mind telling me what that was about?" it wasn't a question, more like his usual brusque demanding.

Sakura moved her thumbs over his healed palm and she shook her head. It was nothing she could discuss with him. Or could she? It shouldn't have surprised her that Itachi knew. After all, she had read that he was a genius. Even more so than Sasuke. But as she looked up at Sasuke now, she realized that it was impossible. He didn't know, not with everything that's happened between them. Again, she shook her head and leaned up to kiss him. It had become so easy to do that. Scarily easy.

x-x-x-x

Finally, three days later, Sakura got a moment alone with the eldest Uchiha brother. He'd glanced up at her as she approached him, but made no move to leave. Sakura took a seat next to him and immediately fell into it.
"How?"

"The most probable explanation of how I'm aware of this…place, it the use of Shisui's eye. I'd implanted it into Naruto and it had activated on me and broke the Edo Tensei control. This, I'm sure, is a side effect of that."

Sakura was silent, processing that. "Then how do I know?"

Itachi shook his head. "Nothing is clear yet." He sounded frustrated.

"It's about the Sharingan," she decided to say, watching him for any kind of reaction. To her surprise, he agreed. "I agree, but every time I consider it, it's as if the thoughts seem to slip away from me."

Sakura turned to look at him and quickly recounted her experience in the library, where the words had disappeared from the page.

Itachi's expression turned grim. "It's almost as if we know the answer but something is holding it just out of reach."

"Always out of reach…" Sakura murmured.

x-x-x-x

Sakura's mother sent her to the Yamanaka's the next day with some sweets that she'd made. The shop was being manned by Ino and Sakura immediately realized something about her friend. Ino wasn't a Shinobi here. The girl looked exactly as she had before, and acted the same as before. Here, they were still best friends. To be honest, Sakura was startled by the revelation. Without Ino, who had Shikamaru and Chouji teamed with? Ino answered that question without Sakura having to ask. Here, she had a brother. And, she was dating both Kiba and Sai.

"What?" Sakura sputtered and Ino gave a sly grin.

"Hmm. Kiba was the one who wanted an open relationship, and now I'm giving him one. And until one of them man's up and says they want me and only me, I'm free to have fun."

Sakura couldn't believe it. The amount of confidence Ino had in herself and her female prowess was unbelievable and certainly not something Sakura had ever possessed. She wondered if she had been this way before, if the real Sasuke would have given her a second look. The thought was useless and a waste of time, because chances were that he wouldn't have and now, she'll probably never know. Ino, having picked up on her depression, immediately assumed it had something to do with her relationship, and she wasn't far off.

"Had another fight with your honey?"

Sakura looked up and shook her head. "Not exactly."

Ino gave Sakura a long look before she turned and went out the back door, coming back a second later and pulling Sakura upstairs to their house.

"Let's get you into a dress. You look like you need a drink."

And sadly, it was true.

Sakura found herself in a tight bright red dress that she never would have chosen herself, with Ino in a similar purple number in front of Konoha's most notorious clubs.

Music pumped all around them on the side walk and Ino grinned, taking Sakura's hand and leading her inside.

"Get us some fancy sounding drinks!" Ino called before moving off, Sakura's eyes followed her until Ino found Sai, she gave him a big kiss and across the room, Sakura spotted Kiba who looked no less than furious. With a sigh, Sakura headed off to the bar. She slid into a seat and ordered two of the strangest drinks on the menu. Eventually Sakura ended up drinking both and ordering two more, and the more she drank, the more she thought about this situation with Sasuke. She loved everything about him, she always had. Now, it just came with him loving her too, in every kiss and every touch. But it wasn't real, and she could only be so grateful that he hadn't pressured her about sex, not that he'd need to since, technically, they were in a relationship. It was frustrating, and being with him was wrong. She knew it, deep down. If she ever escaped this place, she would never be able to face him again. If he found out about what had happened, Sakura wasn't sure what she would do. But she was also in a difficult situation, she needed to survive her without drawing unwanted attention to herself. Which meant her relationship with him needed to stay intact. But she knew, if he found out about it…he would never understand. Not only that, but weeks in – she still had no answers. She was no closer to going home than the moment she had arrived. Itachi had no answers either, so even if it was calming to know that she wasn't alone in this, it didn't matter. She was stuck and it would drive her crazy, she knew it. Sakura threw some money on the counter and stood. Her head spun a little from the alcohol and she used some of her chakra to burn it away as she moved back to the front door, Sakura scanned the club quickly but she couldn't see Ino. Sai was sitting at one of the booths. But Kiba wasn't where he'd been before. Sakura sighed and stepped outside. He was across the street waiting for her, and after a moment she walked over to him.

"Sasuke-kun."

"What are you wearing?"

Sakura looked down at herself, at the way the soft red material hugged her form, accentuated the curves that she had, showed more cleavage than she had. She looked up at him again. "Ino."

The name said it all and Sasuke shook his head. "Come." Surprisingly, he slipped his hand into hers and led her away from the club. They walked in silence. It was comfortable, despite his intimidating way. Sakura was hyper aware of his hand around her's. He'd never done this. Not once. It was shockingly intimate. That small contact warmed her heart in a betraying way and Sakura found herself looking up at him. His face wasn't as tense as always, in fact, his handsome features almost looked content. They missed the turn that would lead to her place and instead walked on to the Uchiha Compound.

It was late enough for the streets to be quiet, they passed a few people who smiled and greeted them as they made their way to the main house. The lights there, too, were off. Sakura hadn't realized how late it was. Sasuke let her in and they went to his room. Sakura stepped in first and once the door was closed, Sasuke grabbed her, jerking her closer and slamming his lips down on her's. "This damn dress." He hissed, his hands slipping the dress up her thighs. Sakura gasped, her heart hammering in her chest wildly. He slid the dress up to her hips before lifting her up against him. Her back hit the dresser and rattled a container on the top, but Sasuke didn't stop. His lips found her's again as she wound her legs around him. Sakura tugged on his hair as his lips moved over her neck and Sasuke pushed her back into the dresser again, causing the container to fall and spill out over the floor. Sasuke stopped. Like cold water had been spilled over him and Sakura looked down at the fallen things. Among them, a small black velvet box lay, having fallen open and a diamond ring glinted up at her.

Sakura stopped breathing. She let go of him altogether and lifted it up in her hands.

A tense moment of silence followed.

"Is this why you used the Sharingan on me?" she whispered.

Sasuke eyed the box in her hands but he said nothing.

"Did I say no?" she asked, her voice steadier now.

Still, he said nothing, those dark eyes simply stared at her.

"What is it?" Sakura demanded outright now. "Tell me. Or was this ring for another girl?!"

"No." Sasuke finally answered. "It was for you."

For a moment they simply stared at each other, and then Sasuke's eyes turned red. Sakura pulled her hand back, slapping it across his jaw.

"Don't you dare." she hissed, her throat tight with tears.

Sasuke's eyes faded back to dark. "I was trying to give you back what I made you forget."

But Sakura remembered nothing. Not that she would.

"I still don't understand why."

"I needed to be sure why I loved you."

Sakura looked away. She'd promised herself she wouldn't do this anymore. She couldn't. When she went back to the real world she would never be able to face her Sasuke again.

"And," he told her easily. "I do."

Sakura squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn't do this. Not ever. She couldn't love him, not here. Not like she does the real Sasuke.

Sasuke turned her to him with a touch of his fingers on her chin. His lips brushed her's in soft strokes.

Sakura finally felt like breaking. She'd held out, half-lost her mind, but she kept it together.

Sasuke kissed her and on an impulse - she returned the kiss. Something inside of her began to beat. And for the first time in weeks, Sakura felt alive. Really alive. Even with the tears streaming down her cheeks, she pulled him closer and her hands found his hair, and Sasuke unzipped the dress at the back, slipping it off easily. It fell to the floor and Sakura set every bit of uneasy out of her mind as she pulled his shirt off. With every piece of restriction, of clothing lost, Sakura fell into him more. She lost herself in the moment, in him. Even as they moved together, as his hands and mouth slipped over her chest, Sakura could bring herself to think about anything else but him and in that moment, she couldn't regret it.

She couldn't explain sex. Before she felt a sense of vulnerability but not after, and every single thing she'd worried about in her life, every worry she had – had been for nothing. There had only been Sasuke and her. His hands, his wonderfully skilled shinobi hands had done amazing things to her. When they were done, Sasuke had laid next to her, his hands moving over her, slipping over her hips as he kissed her. Her neck, jaw line, shoulders.

"Shower," he murmured, giving her hand a tug and Sakura smiled up at him. "I'll follow you."

Sasuke gave her one last look before slipping out of bed, graceful as always, and naked before he entered the bathroom.

Sakura sat up. She needed a breath. She wasn't so much worried about what they'd done but the moment she stood up, it was there. Evidence of her lack of sexual experience. After a beat, she shoved the covers over the bed and went to his drawer. She pulled it open, feeling around for a shirt she could wear. Her knuckles hit the bottom. It felt strangely hollow. Sakura eyed the door to the bathroom. The water was running steadily. She looked back into the drawer and pushed the clothing aside. Her heart gave a painful beat as she have the bottom a hard knock, it pushed away and Sakura almost fell to the floor. She held on to the dresser for support and her eyes swam with tears. Slowly, she reached in, her hands skimming the Kusanagi blade that he'd hidden. And the moment she touched it, her mind seemed to come alive. Her memories came swimming back to her. Madara had done it. He'd used his Sharingan and trapped them inside the Infinite Tsukuyomi. And Sasuke had known.

x-x-x-x

New chapter!

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Zana-Lee

xoxo