Sakura

Sakura waited for her words to sink in. At the moment, it seemed that Kabuto was choosing to ignore her. Maybe that's for the best.. she thought, refusing to let her true emotions show at this point in time. For those small moments, it appeared as if the young man was just going to leave what she had said alone and move on. That would have been what the kunoichi preferred, but that's not what happened. There was a dark tone as she heard a noise next to her. It was Kabuto. Oh man did he look pissed. Clearly he was trying to hide it behind his glasses, but Sakura knew that even as he spoke, he seemed just as conflicted as her. Well, she thought he did until she actually heard and let sink in what he said.

"It is very unbecoming of a man to let another talk bad about his possession. You are my toy, my pet. I will use you as I like, but I will not let someone else do the same. Only I control you.".

Kabuto's words hit Sakura like a brick in the face. Slowly but surely, her emerald eyes widened and she stared at him, fear in her eyes that she did her best to hide, though it wasn't enough. Wow, I didn't expect such a drastic change.. she thought, taking the time to swallow a rather large lump that had gotten itself lodged in her throat. She probably should have left it alone, but when did she ever do what she 'should' have done. This was Haruno Sakura, after all. She was always running her mouth and getting herself in trouble. "Idiot.." she growled, the fear very much concealed now, and her confidence and sarcasm back with a vengeance. "Stop while you're ahead, baka!" Even inner Sakura was warning her, but the pleas fell on deaf ears.

"I am not a possession, four eyes. Not to you, nor Sasuke kun. No one owns me and I will not be controlled. If you think I'm going to lie down and take it like your 'good little girl', you've got another thing coming..." Even as she spoke, there was very poisonous venom in her tone. Oh she was mad. Sakura had never been so furious in her life. Still, part of her was still conflicted, and she even thought she saw the conflict in the young man's eyes as he forced himself to go even further than he'd already gone. He's doing what needs to be done...and I'm doing what needs to be done...We are now acting the way we should be...and the game has resumed...I have to make up for that poisonous comment if I'm going to keep from getting hurt though...I have to remember my strategy...I can't let my emotions take over..I'm the one in control...not him....

Even as the young kunoichi reassured herself of this, she was about to say something else when she felt something foreign to her. And by foreign, let us assume that Sakura was not touched very often. She did not like it. A finger trailed up her arm, past her shoulder, and all the way up to her chin where it was lifted up so that Sakura was forced to look Kabuto straight in his angry onyx eyes. Again, the young woman swallowed rather hard, the fear returning and running away again. The pink haired girl was rather annoyed. One minute, she had the courage to spout any kind of venom she felt like, the next, she was so overtaken by fear that she could almost feel herself trembling. "Shimata, get it together, Sakura, Shanarou!".

As if Kabuto knew what she was feeling and decided to do something to further upset her, Sakura soon found that she could not move as she was being held in place. Of course, she struggled, angry that he had the nerve to do such a thing. "Why you, let go of me or I'll hit you so hard that your head will spin!" The tone in the young woman's voice was that of anger, laced with fear and something else that could not yet be described in that moment. Her struggling was to no avail, as his grip was iron. Soon, Sakura's eyes caught sight of the eerie color of chakra being focused into his index finger. She knew what was coming before it even happened, but it still hurt enough to cause her to squeak in pain. Shimata! I can't keep doing that just because it hurts! It shows weakness! It gives him an advantage! I will not lose! The concentrated chakra that created a blade was enough to do some very serious damage, yet it only seemed to be a warning as it trailed down from her chin and down to her arm, not cutting deep enough to do anything but bleed. A lot.

Sakura's body again betrayed her as she cringed from the pain of such a long and bloody cut. Glaring with a fiery gaze, the young woman continued to struggle until he did finally let go of her. However, insult was soon added to injury. Quite literally.

"You think I care about you? I'm just having fun, that's all. You are mine, and you will never be your precious Sasuke kun's.".

There were two things that made Sakura angry about those words. One was that she knew he didn't care about her and that was why she had been so damn sarcastic when she'd teased him about it a little earlier. "If I thought you cared, I wouldn't have tried to get under your skin with my blatantly obvious sarcasm...I thought you were supposed to be intelligent, four eyes.." The second thing was that she did not 'want' to be Sasuke's, and that was what he seemed to not understand. I thought that I had made it clear that he was better than Sasuke kun, although when he switches moods like this...Nope, still better than Sasuke kun...Grin and bear it, Sakura...You have to put up with it, just for a little bit longer...I swear, had I not promised to behave for a few days, I'd knock him out where he stood and escape right this second...First things first, I have to get this wound healed.. The young woman was dizzy from the amount of blood and even the mere sight of it. She was a medic, very used to seeing blood, but seeing her own made her very unhappy.

Staring back into Kabuto's onyx eyes, Sakura saw the smallest flash of sadness. It reassured her of her earlier thoughts, but didn't make her any less angry. I already said that I know it's better this way...He has to do what he feels helps him feel in control, and I have to do the same...It's all part of the game, you see...Gomen, Kabuto sama...Maybe in another universe, we could have been friends...As much as I hate to admit it, I enjoyed our small bit of 'fun.' I know it won't happen again, and that's fine...Demo, I know that there is confliction in us both...Maybe we can help each other kill those sides of us...Won't that be fun, ne?.

"Remember what I said, about being a good girl? I suggest you take that to heart. Be my good little girl and behave. I don't have to punish you if I know you are mine, but if there is any doubt, I'm afraid I will. And I don't mind punishing you.".

Sakura finally kept her mouth shut. She just stared at the man before her who seemed to hold so much power, he was gaining ground fast on their chess board, and the young woman had to do something quickly to stop that. Remember the strategy...Play it safe... she kept telling herself, biting her tongue and then her lip very hard as she fought the urge to give him some snake bite comment about his last sentence spoken to her. "Very well, Kabuto sama. I'll behave like a good girl, just like I promised...I'm not fond of your punishments.." Heh, I really do surprise myself with my acting skills sometimes...My eye had better not be twitching... It wasn't, but Sakura couldn't suppress the small smirk teasing the edge of her lips. As I said before, I'll be a good girl...but when you least expect it, I'll steal your king and it will be checkmate....

[ Oh my. I remember that time. That particular day. You said such things to me that could be taken in such an odd way. I took it the way I was supposed to, although now, were you to say those things, I'm quite sure they'd mean something different. That cut you made on my arm made me mad, demo, I won't admit that I was too scared to really give any kind of real retaliation, I mean, you were serious. Kabuto kun, you could be so sadistic when you felt like it. I'm just glad that now it's all over and we are happy together. That time really was painful. Were you really as conflicted as me? I wonder that sometimes. ].

Sasuke

[ The fact that Kabuto let me see his emotions so easily was rather surprising. Normally, it was infuriating how much it took to get him riled up to the point where he actually showed it. It seemed to me that Sakura chan was doing a little bit better job of getting under his skin than me, lately, and I wanted to change that. Demo, how to use that to my advantage. I decided that I'd use Sakura chan in more ways than one. I still carried on with my original plan, demo, I would let her undo Kabuto to the point where I could break him and make him suffer. At the moment, I was on my way to talk to Orochimaru. I wanted to see just what it would take to get 'custody' of the little Sakura blossom switched over to me. It really just was oh so fun when things would go my way and I could continue to manipulate my pieces.. ].

Kabuto

The fear in the pink-headed kunoichi's eyes excited him. Her breathing became uneven, but their eye contact did not break. She could not hide that she was scared of him, and for that he was glad. She should be very scared of him. However, she should have been so chilled to the bone to speak. That wasn't like her though, she never did keep her mouth shut. Not when she was angry.

"Idiot.." he heard her spit out.

"Heh. You are in no position to insult me" he replied, grinning. She was bold, he gave her that. Bold and reckless.

"I am not a possession, four eyes. Not to you, nor Sasuke kun. No one owns me and I will not be controlled. If you think I'm going to lie down and take it like your 'good little girl', you've got another thing coming..."

Somehow, she still believed that she was not his. She believed he could not control her. Oh, she would learn. It shouldn't take long for her to realize that she would never be free from him. As stubborn as she is..her will can't last forever. The longer it lasts..the more the challenge. And I do enjoy a good challenge.

As he neared her, it was clear that she was uncomfortable. And as he touched her, he realized that she really didn't like to be touched. Especially by someone like him. Someone so sadistic and evil, with dark intentions..he was not surprised when she flinched. Her courage disappeared, replaced momentarily by her anger. It seemed she couldn't hide her terror forever. Moments of anger and fear flashed back and forth, taking turnes within her emerald irises. He held her firmly, her struggling useless.

"Why you, let go of me or I'll hit you so hard that your head will spin!" she threatended, resulting in a second chuckle escaping his lips. She was blind, too. She was his prisoner, and he was doing what he liked to her. Still, she was certain she would be able to hurt him. Her fury was evident, although it wasn't like she could act on it. Didn't she realize that she could do nothing? He was able to cut her as he pleased. She deserved it. For what? he began to wonder, but quickly pushed the thought away. She had ruined everything, that is why she deserved it. She was nothing but trouble. Even if she didn't do anything specific to him..aside from annoy him.

"If I thought you cared, I wouldn't have tried to get under your skin with my blatantly obvious sarcasm...I thought you were supposed to be intelligent, four eyes.."

His intelligence was insulted yet again, which gave him his reason. He had a reason to punish her. She was rude, albiet that was a small one considering he had done the same to her. Still, he ignored that fact and focused on his anger towards the annoying Uchiha who irked him. Maybe he was taking it out on her, but that was quite alright. He was allowed to do as he wished. She seemed dizzy under his hold, which was no doubt due to her blood lost. Perhaps that was why she suddenly submitted to him. She still seemed angry, however in her weakened state is was possible she finally made the intelligent move.

"Very well, Kabuto sama. I'll behave like a good girl, just like I promised...I'm not fond of your punishments.."

Still, he could almost hear her thoughts. She was just playing along with his game because it wasn't yet her turn to move on the offensive. She was losing fellow pawns, avoiding his tactics. She even sacraficed a bishop. However, soon she would attack. One wrong move of his, and she would try and take out some of his mose vital pieces. She wasn't giving up just yet. She wasn't quite ready to submit to him. Her smirk intriged him futher. Are you enjoying this, Sakura? You are afraid, but you still manage to have fun with our little game. I only hope it ends well.

"I'll be leaving you now, but don't get too used to being alone. I'll be back shortly. You aren't my only troublesome errand. And don't count on being fed for awhile. Since the food I brought was so disgusting, I doubt you'll miss it anyways." he explained, and let go of her. He turned away from her and walked out the door, no hesitation in his step. However, when he was on the other side of the door and it was sealed, he didn't leave. Instead, he slid down the door and sat leaning against it. Truthfully, he needed a moment before doing anything. He also wanted to make sure Sasuke didn't decide to drop by. That was the only reason he stayed on the other end, because he knew she would not escape. And he definetly didn't care about her well being.

Orochimaru

What an interesting day..and it keeps getting better. I sense that Sasuke will be here soon.. he thought, an evil smile appearing. And the nine tails brat wont hesitate to save his friend, that I don't doubt. I do hope he isnt too early, dealing with him until the Akatsuki take the bait will be a bit too exciting.

He moved his thoughts to a seperate place in his mind for the time being as the Uchiha, the boy whos body would soon be his, appeared suddenly. He was not surprised in the least to see him. "Hello, Sasuke. Is there something you wish to discuss?"

Although he asked, he had a strong feeling of what this was about. What else would he have to discuss besides his adorable little pink headed 'friend'?

Itachi

Each step they took was quick and silent. They had been headed to the leaf village, although of course they weren't going to go in. The plan had been to lure them out. However, the plan had been changed when new information came in.

"Eh, Itachi, whatdoya think of this? Why would the naruto kid be going to sound? You think it has something to do with your brother?"

He couldn't be certain, but it didn't feel right. It seemed odd, too much of a coincidence. It was expected that Naruto wouldn't give up at returning Sasuke. Itachi believed that if anyone would guide him home, it would be that boy. He hoped. But it didn't feel like that was what this was about.

Orochimaru..what are you up to this time?

"Hey, Itachi! Are you gonna answer me?

"Hn?" he questioned, too busy in his thoughts to put effort into speaking.

"I asked you what you think is going on..jeez, what is going through that head of yours?

He sighed. However, he didn't ignore Kisame. Anyone else and he would have, not out of rudeness but simply because he had no need for words. Kisame was a good companion..no..friend to him. Out of all the akatsuki, it was no doubt that they got along the best. Instead of staying silent like he so wanted, he decided to be thankfully for what he had.

"I can only speculate, however, I do not believe it is about my little brother." he guessed, glancing away. They were now headed in the direction of the sound village, where Naruto would soon be. As well as Sasuke..