"It's…because…I..love you.."
She had said it as if it were the simplest answer in the world, like he had been blind the entire time. He practically was.
The sound her body made when collapsed to the ground was a thunder crash of pain, the loudest and slowest fall he'd ever witnessed in his life.
Her hair was sprawled out all around her pale face, her eyelids shut lightly, lashes barely touching the apples of her cheeks. The chakra around her hand was finally gone, as well as in the rest of her body, dull and devoid of warmth.
Sasuke's entire body shook, unable to take his eyes off of her face. She looked incredibly peaceful, as if she were only taking a well deserved sleep session after a long and strenuous mission. The only difference was, she wouldn't be waking up from this sleep.
"Huh, who would've thought?"
Sasuke's ears picked up the voice immediately, his insides boiling as he heard her malicious laughter. But he refused to look her in those stolen eyes of hers.
"This is the first time that anyone's resisted my control. I have to say, I'm very impressed. I could imagine the strength it must have took." Joryoku said.
Sasuke said nothing.
"But, it's really unfortunate. I liked Sakura-chan..and it can get pretty lonely sometimes. We could've had tons of fun together, in fact, I had a lot of plans in store for us.."
That got his attention.
"I was even going to be nice and use your appearance for the occasion. That way, she'd be less likely to fight back if it were your face she saw instead of a stranger's, wouldn't you agree?"
Sasuke's entire body burned with rage, fire eating away at his bones and flesh. He tasted more blood on his tongue as he bit down on his teeth significantly hard, the stars in his sharingan blazing violently.
Is that what he planned on doing with her? Not only had he planned to use her to lure out Naruto, but he had other plans for her afterwards, to use her body for pleasure or any other acts that would be against her will. Or, had he already tried to make her do something?
The image of him placing his hands on her only fueled his rage.
"Or, maybe we still can!"
A sudden jolt of chakra come into Sasuke's awareness, and his eyes darted to Sakura. Right in-between her eyebrows, he saw a faint green light begin to shine, and with shock, he realized that he sensed chakra beginning to stir in her forehead.
Sasuke turned to Joryoku, who was shooting Sasuke a mischievous smile.
"I've never tried this before, but there's a first time for everything isn't there? Do you think I can do it? Just think, controlling a body devoid of life to do my bidding.."
Sasuke's mind raced, unable to fathom what Joryoku was trying to attempt.
The thought made his entire body go numb. Controlling Sakura's body, using her for his own selfish needs, even after she was…
"And the best part?" Joryoku continued, walking closer to Sasuke, her eyes boring into his violently, a sick and twisted glare stamped on her face. "She'll be just like a puppet, only more…warm…more capable of the true experience."
Without any warning, an excruciatingly hot fire erupted in the space between Sasuke and Joryoku, the orange flames tickling Sasuke's lips as he grabbed Sakura and held her close to his chest, leaping backwards. He watched as Joryoku's eyes widened as the flames caught the edges of her golden hair and her arm. The smell of burned hair and a cry of pain filled the cave as Sasuke landed safely a few feet away, clutching Sakura tightly, her head resting in the crook of his neck.
"If you ever touch her, I'll kill you." he spat, the fire reflecting in his eyes.
Joryoku's teeth were gritted tightly as she favored her right arm, a large third degree burn stamped on her skin. Sections of her hair were charred off completely, hanging down and creating an ombre effect of blonde to black. Her eyes glared into his dangerously.
"You'll kill me?" she reflected back at him. "Is that what you'll do?"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as an eerie green glow began to surround Joryoku's body, eating away at her skin and features so that they began to melt into new features.
Her height increased by a few inches, her shoulders becoming more rounded and her torso shrinking only slightly. Her golden hair began to recede into her head, stopping when it had hit shoulder length.
The glow subsided, and when her dark evergreen eyes opened up to him, Sasuke's throat ran dry once more.
Haruno Sakura stood before him, her eyes staring successfully into his anger-fueled ones, her skin blood free and her neck injury free.
She winked at him. "Would you really kill me all over again?"
Blood..everything smelled like blood..
Why couldn't she see anything..hear anything?
"If you ever touch her, I'll kill you."
Her? Who's 'her'? Who was speaking with such venom? She felt like she knew him..
Why did her head feel like it was on fire?
Her neck hurt..she wanted the pain to stop..
Where was she?
Had she been doing something important? Something that made her heart pound? Why did she feel so incredibly sad?
"Would you really kill me all over again?"
Kill…all over again….
Yes…I was…I am…am I dead?
Yes..I..saved him…I..protected him….
"It's not your fault."
"If you hadn't had fought back like you did, we wouldn't be here right now."
"Have you forgotten who you're dealing with?"
"You not only saved yourself, but you saved Fuu. Naruto. Hell, you've saved thousands of others from Joryoku. You've put a stop to something like this ever happening again, so I refuse to let you beat yourself up over this. You're still standing, so continue to."
Yes….yes! She saved him from….from him!
In a violent frenzy of technicolor, everything came rushing back to her in an instant.
A/N: SURPRISE!
Not only do you guys get a super early update (the day after) because this chapter is short, but I can end your misery for now.
Did you really think I'd kill Sakura? Oh please, she and Sasuke haven't even kissed yet! Plus, that is something that I'd never do! Hail Queen Cherry Blossom!
(Late) April Fools? I'm a terrible human being..
I've had the past two chapters planned from the beginning, and finally writing them is crazy!
And as to how Sakura is alive..you'll have to wait and see! I've left some hints behind in previous chapters..can you pick them out?
See you guys next time! xx