Exams and my projects have not yet finished and Kitty is seriously losing precious story-time! ;w; -I do not regret calling it story-time...I have fun telling stories, you know? ;D- Anyhoo, eveyone is being amazing, and I love it to the end of time! You guys are really helping me get through the stress of work and stuff so please, please, please keep it up, okay? Treats are the new chapters and (hopefully) improved writing skills...
God knows I need it.
I wanted to point out to those who have already sent me messages in PM (the number of eight or nine!), I am aware of the one author making a story that is very, very similar to mine of Tasting Flesh. momoXvolturi had been so kind enough to alert me this first before I was swarmed, and we have worked together to get this sorted. Now, I have not recieved any word from the author, and I hope to hear soon about this; but I would like to point out that I am not looking for a fight C: I'm sure this person hasn't meant to do it on purpose, so please don't be rash or anything, but warning the person will be just fine with me. No threats or anything, please. I don't want any trouble!
P.S. I am not wishing to share the name of the author, so you will have to find that source somewhere else to those who want to look this up. You can ask momoXvolturi if she is okay with it C:
RESULTS OF VOTING FOR SAKURA'S MUSIC BOX SONG IS IN! ;D
Pan's Labryinth- 4
Suna No Oshiro- 4
First Love- 2
Oh my god...so close, people o_O What to do now but to simply flip a coin(how original am I, ne?)! I flipped it and for heads on Pan and tails on Suna, and the results are~ Suna No Oshiro wins the music box! ;3 Thanks to all who participated and voted to help a poor Kitty out. All my thanks to those who Review and Favorite and Follow.
All who have any problems with me or my story... I don't care ;3 I do what I want and I like it when there are more people who are enjoying it; your negativity doesn't bother me.
ASDFGHJKL~! Everyone knows that I love them, yes? You all know what to do to keep a Kitty fuzzbally? Reviewing, Favoriting, Following or doing nothing will keep me warm for the cold winter (and it's going to be cold for a long time, people). I hope everyone will enjoy the chapter and have a great day! xD
=xxx=
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My heart soars underneath the skin like a hummingbird's wing.
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Voices are in my head. Voices that are commanding me.
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I want nothing more but for you to hold me close, and sing to me.
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Where are you?
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Tasting Flesh
Chapter Seven
Sakura was in a very dark place.
She could hear voices, but she couldn't see anything at all; blackness consumed her vision as her head was numbing intensly to the point that she wanted to cry. Tears didn't produce in her eyes for some reason, she didn't understand why, but she could feel hands on her. She was being carried in a pair of strong arms, masculine and warm to the touch; it was like a savior was holding her close as she heard the thumping rhythm of a strong heartbeat pounding against her little ear as her head lolled against the person's chest. She would have made a noise to retreat from the odd feeling, but she now wanted to cuddle against the warmth after the chilly sting shot up her spine, causing her to stiffen.
"Is she okay..?" Sakura heard a female's voice. Possibly Inos'. "Hey... Oi! You fucking asshole, I'm talking to you! Is she alright or not, ne?" It was Yamanaka Ino's voice.
She felt the vibration of the person carrying her as he spoke in the soothing, calm tone. "She's fine."
"That doesn't sound convincing to me, you fart-face," Ino grumbled as she neared Sakura, possibly by her head. Sakura felt her delicate fingers touching her forehead, suddenly gone when the male's voice went down to a firey hiss.
"Don't touch her, you little snot." Sakura mentally cried out by the sound of his angered voice. He sounded so protective and serious, like she was in his protection and care; like he wanted to make sure that she was absolutely safe and out of harm's way.
"I'm checking to see if she has a fever, damn it!" Ino spat. "I'm not removing any more barriers, if thats' what putting your panties in a bunch."
'Barriers..?' Sakura thought drunkly. She tried to move her head or open her eyes. It was a failure as her skull fell back, limping in air. She could hear the caught breath in the man's throat.
'Don't move so much, Sakura...' the voice hushed Sakura's troubled mind, acting so sweet and caring for the first time after the little episode of the harsh pain that still sent spasms throughout her body. 'You're going to bother him so much, you know.'
'Who are you?' Sakura cried out in her head, her brows furrowing as she heard wood creak beneath her, thinking they have entered the porch of the Haruno Shrine, she didn't stop. 'Go away!'
'I can't...' the voice whispered faintly now, like it was scolded and now feeling so guilty.
Sakura mentally stiffened. It didn't answer her question, and she wanted it now. 'Wait! Come back, please. Tell me who you are!'
'Go away...I can't go away...'
'Wait-!'
"Sakura."
The voice was gone, replaced by the lovely voice of a man; his tone was deep and rich -Sakura wouldn't have doubted that he was handsome, too- as it reminded her of Uchiha-san back from the bathhouse, only the wall didn't block them apart and made their voices echoing or distant. She can hear him much more clearly, slowly drowning in the sound of him calling her name like it was a prayer, something that he found so important to him.
'Uchiha-san...'
She felt Uchiha gently set her down on something firm but comfortable, careful with her head as he cradled it gently to settle down on a makeshift pillow; she made a whimper and he simple made a hushing noise, gentle and reassuring to Sakura's ears. All she wanted to do now was have his hands continue to hold her head and fall asleep.
"Oi, how bad is it? Did I crack them too hard?" Ino's voice perked her little ears. Sakura felt Uchiha's knuckles brush the swell of her cheek while the other hand pressed against her temple. "I didn't try the really hard ones or anything, but you know... It's really hard to try and get the little-!"
"Shut up, Ino," Uchiha grumbled in an annoyed tone. Sakura would have giggled if she didn't feel so sickly all over, her head was throbbing again. "She's going to be fine; just don't touch her barriers anymore...unless you want to lose an arm."
Sakura heard Ino snort. "Psssh! Like I'd let you take my arm to scratch your back. You don't scare me like you do with Daddy!"
"Unfortunately."
With both palms pressed against her head, Sakura wanted to open her eyes to properly take a glimpse of the Uchiha man. The person who was simply a guest here but is being so gentle, like he has done this with her before, and speaking to Ino like they have already met. She was confused, yet she wanted thank Uchiha and apologize for causing so much trouble for his stay. Able to move her fingers, Sakura clenched the rug underneath her as she tilt her head back, ready to force her eyes to open.
"Sakura, don't move," Uchiha murmured near her ear, sending some kind of shiver down her back. She didn't squirm when his fingers weaved into her pastel hair and she could feel his warm breath of her face. "Don't worry, baby..."
''Baby?''
Outside Sakura's closed eyes, Sasuke felt the cracking wall of the barriers -all thanks to Ino's picking- he found the area where it was bleeding shy memories, causing Sakura to be in such pain. He knew she was uncomfortable with dangling chunks in her mind, her brain and her body, the confusion of not understanding anything and lost.
With his hands, Sasuke's eyes narrowed as his own fingers tore down the useless walls, causing Sakura's back to arch as she let out a silent scream before passing out, laying limply on the floor.
Ino's eyes widened. "What did you take down, Sasuke?" she shrieked in a snarl. Her delicate hands quivered as she thought about strangling the dark colored man. "How could you kill her like-"
"I didn't kill her," Sasuke corrected as he pointed to Sakura's small chest, which was rising and falling gracefully as she slept. "Her mind just had to take in lost faces after you continued to poke and poke at her barriers. You caused a leak, you little brat."
Ino stiffened. She figured she got ahold of uneeded walls that were already crumbling. "I'm sorry..."
"I don't want your-"
"I wasn't talking to youuu!" Ino growled. Her eyes instantly fell into a softened stare as she watched Sakura lay on the floor of the prayer room, doors and windows open as the light of the sun came in to put her and Sasuke into a spotlight; his dark colors didn't stop his face expression as he stared at his bride's slumbering form in silent pain. Ino knew she made a mistake, that her hard effort into making a promising enterance for Sasuke for her best friend to remember; her pink haired friend finally remembering who she was as a person...
And all she caused was pain. 'Great job, Yamanaka,' Ino grumbled to herself, her inner demon snarling at her for her stupidity.
"Ino."
Baby blue eyes looked at the man reaching out to touch the pink hair with his fingertips. Sasuke used one finger to curl around a lock of Sakura's long hair, looking like he was admiring the shine the sun gave off of the pastel coloring of pink petals that would match outside on the cherry trees. "I'm...not mad at you, so stop acting like a child."
Ino could only exhale softly as she dropped to her knees slowly, watching as Sasuke waited for his special person to wake up with renewed memories.
=xxx=
"Baby..." the voice called to her, making her head look up to his taller height. She was a little kid again, darn it. There was something different this time, though, making her eyes widen a bit as her jaw dropped. She can see his face!
Pale skin covered the sculpted bone of his face; a perfect nose and pointy chin made everything look like it was sculpted by a Roman or Greek Artist, so perfect. Black, raven-shining hair in spikes, his bangs covered his coaled eyes. His hair was styled...like a chicken's butt. He had thin lips and no such marks on his face of freckles, marks or scars. He looked godly handsome.
Sakura blushed.
"Baby," his lips twitched up into a smirk, "what are you looking at?"
She simply shook her head and crawled over to him, letting him watch her climb into his lap and curl up against his chest with a high-pitched sigh. She noticed that she was in her pajamas of a white nightgown with red ribbons lacing around her neck and chest, designing in an elegant way. Her hair was also wet, making her think that she recently took a bath and was getting ready for bed.
Why was it always dark when she dreamed of Sasuke?
"Sasuke...-kun," Sakura's childish voice squeaked shyly as she looked up from her lashes, her little hand fisting into his black sweater. Her chubby cheeks pressed against his chest as she whimpered like a puppy.
His warm hands cupped her face and allowing her to look up at him as he studied her flushed face. "Hn, you're tired now aren't you, sweetheart?" he smirked as his eyes softened when she nodded. "This is why children don't stay up late, you know?"
"N-no," Sakura slurred as she grasped his wrists, staring at his gorgeous face in absolute awe. She didn't want to sleep. She wanted to stay awake and continue to look at his face, afraid that she will never see it again if she falls asleep. She reached up to touch his face, feeling his skin softly with her little fingers. She cringed.
Sasuke noticed that. "Sakura..?" His thumb rubbed her temple so gently, she shivered a sob. "Darling, does something hurt? Show me."
Sakura shook her head. "N-no hurt... I'm...j-just..."
This dream just felt so real. It was scaring her.
He tilted his head to the side, absolutely confused by this. His hands continued to hold her head as tears swelled up in her emerald eyes. Slowly, as if afraid to hurt her, he leaned in and pressed his forehead against hers', allowing her tears to fall down her cheeks as she sobbed.
"Sa-Sasuke..-kun...Sasuke-k-kun..! Sasuke-kun!" she shut her eyes tightly, her fingers clung to his sleeves and she pulled. She sobbed as she cried out his name. "Sasuke-kun! Sasuke-kun...you're my Sasuke-kun..!"
"Yes, I am your Sasuke-kun," he answered quietly.
Long, skinny arms wrapped around Sakura's curveless waist, suddenly pulling her out of Sasuke's grip. She screamed, her nails digging into the floor as she tried to reach out for Sasuke, who stood still as stone, like time froze. Her eyes widened as she screamed louder for him to look at her; indents of her nails scraped the hardwood floor as darkness crept over her legs, making the arms grip tighter around her as she was pulled into the air and felt herself being slammed into the darkness.
Sakura's eyes opened, ignoring the burning light of sun hitting her emerald eyes as she screamed at the top of her lungs, sounding scared to death and being tortured by an invisible monster. "Sasuke-kun!" she shrieked.
Ino watched above Sakura as she screamed and tried to catch her breath. She could tell that her best friend was tired and hot from the past half hour of being knocked out from regaining memories. Ino couldn't tell what they were, but she worried for her friend's mental health; hoping that nothing will leave a permanent mark on Sakura's brain, leaving her paranoid or crazy...
'I don't want a nut for a friend,' Ino thought flatly as she sighed that idea out. She held Sakura's head gently and tried to get her attention from her freaked-cries. "Sakura-chan... Sakura-chan, look at me. You're alright, everything is okay now! You're awake!"
Nearly choking on her spit, Sakura gasped to inhale and stare at Ino's blonde hair and pretty face. She couldn't help but reach up and touch her friend's cheeks, hoping that this isn't another dream that would become a nightmare in a manner of seconds. When she felt the actual flesh of Yamanaka Ino's skin, Sakura couldn't help but smile through her tears.
"See, you're alright now," Ino cooed as she returned the smile she was praying for. She could kiss Sakura's porcelain face right now if a certain someone wasn't watching. "Sakura-chan, I want you to meet someone who pretty much, like, you know, saved your life from choking on your own spit!"
"I...did what?" Sakura gurgled as she swallowed thickly. "I-Ino-chan, what hap-?"
"Let him answer that for you, okay?" Ino instructed as she gently patted Sakura's broad forehead, looking up to the corner of the prayer room with a sly smile on her face. "You would help her out with this situation, right Sasuke?"
Sakura's eyes snapped open. "Sasuke..?" Too fast in her movements, Sakura sat up and caused her eyesight to become blurry when she stared at the giant blob of blackness sitting in the corner. Her head started throbbing again, her words slurring when Ino blocked the view of the dark blob until she regained her sight back. "Ino...don't t-tease me, please."
Ino shook her head while a masculine voice spoke behind her, startling Sakura a little when she remembered the voice all too well. "Hn, she's not teasing you..."
When her blonde friend moved out of the way, Sakura's clear vision could make out the detailed face of a handsome man; pale skin and black-raven hair, dark eyes decorated the sculpted face as his attire matched with his hair and face expression. A black shirt with short sleeves and a dark pair of jeans, barefoot as he sat so manly with one arm propped on his knee. His face was absolutely calm, but his eyes spoke more then anything...
'Sasuke...'
Her brows scrunching a bit, Sakura struggled to find some kind of words that sounded humane. "Ahem...I-I- Uhm, I'm sorry... Uchiha-san? I'm sorry if I disturbed your time of-"
"You know you can call me by my first name, Sakura," he intrupted her cooly, looking down to his bare feet as if he was somehow regretting of intrupting her. "You're acting like I'm a complete stranger to you."
"Uhm, I'm sorry..." Sakura swallowed, "but I d-don't..."
His black eyes met her, sending an odd feeling in the back of Sakura's head. It was a very nice feeling, very calming to her troubled thoughts as she loosen the grip of the floor. She breathed in, seeing him just watching her carefully like he was afraid something bad will happen. The same expression from her dream...
The same voice.
The same hands.
"Y-you are..." Sakura's lower lip quivered as her eyes widen to the size of plates. She brought her hands to her chest, gripping tight enough that her nails dug into her palms through the fabric, feeling her heart quicken underneath her ribcage. She just stared at him in fright, but her body was telling her a different story; this side was better and more ease, being protected by this person.
'He has a name...' Sakura told herself. 'He has a name and I know it...'
"You're Sasuke-kun," Sakura said. Her voice was cracking and almost inaudible, causing Ino to smile secretly behind her. "Your name is Uchiha Sasuke..?"
Sasuke nodded slowly, removing his wrist from his knee and straightening his back as he leaned closer, telling a secret to the girl that was a few feet away from him of the prayer room. His thin lips parted as he spoke in his deep voice, sounding like a leader that would take thousands into the war, just like the characters from Sakura's books. "I am your Uchiha Sasuke, Sakura."
"Ah! So you remember everything now, don't you, Sakura-chan?" Ino chirped in with a bright smile. She was so glad that everything was going perfectly between them.
"T-this isn't...p-possible," Ino looked to see Sakura's face paled, her lips quivering in shock and slight fear as her emerald gaze refused to leave Sasukes', but her head turned towards Ino. "I-Ino...I'm dreaming, right? H-he's nothing b-b-but a imaginary person!"
"Damn it," Ino cursed sadly as she grabbed Sakura's shivering hand. She used her other hand to cup her friend's face and have her look into her baby blue eyes. "Sakura, listen to me! Sasuke is a real person; he is right there right now!" She pushed Sakura's face back to look at Sasuke, who simply sat there with a blank expression on his face as he raised a brow to question Ino's behavior. "Do you remember this face from anywhere? Dreams, maybe?"
Sakura's cheekbones lightened a bit to a shade of pink, making Sasuke smirk a bit when tears swelled into her eyes. "I-I don't... This is crazy!"
"No, it's not, Sakura!" Ino whined as she started to shake Sakura's shoulders. The one who was actually crying was Ino at this point, Sakura just wide-eyed and scared for her own life. Ino's whimpers and sobs cracked the room into a sad atmosphere; burying her face into Sakura's hair, crying her feelings out. "Why can't you remember anything, Sakura-chan! You reconized his face, but you don't remember him!" Ino sobbed in her own misery, scaring Sakura when her arms clung to her shoulders in a tight hug. "He's Sasuke... You two were inseperable back then; why can't you just remember all of the great things you two did together, huh?"
"I...am suppose to-?"
"Ino, let her go," Sasuke's voice sent a pleasurable shiver up her spine, being felt by Ino and allowed a little goodness back into the situation. She whimpered as she let go of Sakura and found Chiyo at the stairway, looking down on the scene playing out and Sakura's alternate confusion expression.
"Sakura," Chiyo began, "there is something that needs to be discussed."
Sakura's voice was cracked, scared. "Baa-chan, w-what the heck is going on..? Th-this is all too real and...scary!"
Chiyo nodded softly, forcing a small smile onto her wrinkled face as she got off the steps, slowly making her way over to Sasuke's side. "When you were a young child, there was something placed into your mind...they're called barriers," she explained softly as she instructed Sasuke to stand up, which he complied. "They are like walls that only demons can see, and some can make them and remove them.
"When you were about eight, three demons installed these barriers into your mind while you slept," Chiyo sighed when she looked up to Sasuke's towering height, a sad smile. "I was one of them, and so was Sasuke...the last demon is not present here now." She looked at Sakura's face, slowly walking over and guided Sakura to stand up by holding her hands in her wrinkled ones, as her grandchild shakingly followed the silent order and pulled her a bit closer to Sasuke.
Sakura was shaking intensely, feeling her heart speeding like a hummingbird's wing when her jerky legs refused to let her stop. In her head, this was too crazy to be true for reality, yet her heart was telling her the opposite.
This was suppose to happen. This feels right.
"I can understand that you're probably scared right now, that you don't understand any of this," Chiyo gently stroked Sakura's pink head like she would when she was a little girl. "But, I promise you, Sasuke is real and he wasn't your imaginary friend; Sasuke has actually been by your side since the day you were born, and now he's back."
"Unfortunately, we can't remove anymore of the barriers," Ino shyed in while looking to her feet when Sakura's head snapped around to look at her. "I have tried for a long time now, and I think Sasuke finished off the rest of the ones Chiyo-sama and Sasuke did all those years ago. We can't take down anymore without the other demon here."
"But we will help you with anything you need, Sakura," Chiyo gently pulled Sakura's face back to face her and Sasuke, noticing the fear in her eyes. "We will answer any questions you have..." Very slowly, Chiyo used her free hand to grab Sasuke's wrist and guide both Sasuke and Sakura's hands together. She let Sasuke do the work of interlacing their fingers as he set a gentle grip to the fragile girl, his face still blank as he simply stared at the joined hands. "Sasuke is going to take care of you, Sakura."
"W-why..?" Sakura sobbed tearlessly. "Why would...h-he do t-that?"
Sasuke's black gems trailed up the arm, feeling the pulse of their joined hands from her palm, he felt the electic sting shoot through his hand and throughout his whole body; sending only sweet tingles that he had dreamed of for years. He didn't want to let her go ever again. His eyes softened, but his face and body was still unreadable as he spoke very carefully, as if Sakura would be scared of his usual leader-toned voice like he does with Chiyo and Ino.
"Because...you're a Forbidden Flower and-" he swallowed thickly, feeling his own heart quicken. "-you are also my bride."
Instantly, like touching a flame, Sakura yanked her hand out of Sasuke's gentle grip. Her emerald jewels were wide in fear, but the addition of shock was reconizable as she did an empty scream; tears dripped out of the lids as she took jaggering steps backwards, her head shaking slowly.
"I don't...understand," Sakura whispered at first. Her throat tightened as she yelped out a screeching cry. "I don't understand!"
Ino took the time to touch her best friend's shoulders to comfort her. "Sakura, it's okay to be-!"
"Don't touch me!" Sakura screamed in terror as she dodged Ino's touch and bolted up the stairs. Shock and dread sizzled through Ino's veins as she looked at her own hand, like it caused her only friend pain and fear. Like she was the cause of all of Sakura's state right now: feeling like a monster who did something nasty. Without warning, fresh tears fell out of Ino's baby blue eyes as she sank to her knees and curled up with her hands to her chest; trying to keep back the sobs, but her shoulders shaked.
"She thinks I'm a monster...doesn't she?" Ino thought outloud. Her head was shaking in forced denial, but she knew in her mind and body that it was true. "I wanted nothing more then to protect my best friend! I want her to be happy for once in her life, is that too much to ask?" She looked up to Chiyo and Sasuke looking at her. "Well? Is it too much to ask?"
"No, darling," Chiyo hurried over and wrapped her covered arms around Ino, allowing the child she could barely stand cuddle her face into her scarved neck and sob like a baby. Her hand undid the tie of her ponytail to ease the stress in her head as she rubbed the crying teen's scalp soothingly, like a professional mother. "It's not too much to ask for one's happiness..."
Chiyo looked up to see Sasuke's blank face. Everything was shut off now as he looked at the hand that was once holding Sakuras'- his bride's delicate, gentle, soft hand. He was disgusted with himself a little, not as much as Ino was probably feeling right now, but he didn't care; he simply hoped that Sakura wasn't in a state of panic that she would do something absolutely insane like jumping out of a window.
He let his senses wander to the third floor, finding Sakura's room and her heartbeat against the closed shouji door and in one place. 'She's just trying to keep us out...' This pleased Sasuke a little to drop his hand.
Looking at the two women on the floor, he raised a brow when Chiyo looked at him, continuing to coo and soothe Ino's depression. He didn't want to watch this, so he simply walked out of the building with his own final words.
"She just needs time."
=xxx=
Sakura lost track of time after the first two and a half hours of being locked inside her room. She didn't leave the room for any reasons, not even when she was hungry, too scared to see any of the faces of the two people she trusted her whole life.
And him...
Curling more in her bed, Sakura buried her face into her arms and tried to pull the blanket over her head, not caring she was acting like a total baby. She wanted to keep crying and crying, but she felt her tears running out. She was still shaking though, and she was still in shock from everything.
"-you are also my bride."
Sakura shivered hard at his voice. It was so soothing and genuine, she found her own cheeks flushing and it wasn't from the long time of crying. How can she be reacting like this? To his eyes, his voice...his whole being just a little out of reach due to her bedroom door! No, she didn't want to have anything to do with him.
'He was an imaginary friend!' Sakura thought sorefully, whimpering into her pillow as she bit her lip. 'He was suppose to be imaginary...'
'You love him.'
Sakura's eyes snapped wide open. The voice was back, and it felt like it was right next to her. She uncovered her head to catch the one who has been filling her head, and found herself being alone in the sunsetting-lit bedroom. Her breathing quickened a little as she darted her eyes around, thinking that there was a shadow somewhere taunting her.
'Don't be scared, Sakura...'
"Who are you?" Sakura asked in a inaudible whisper, feeling her whole body shut down and she curled into her bed again, hoping that it will cocoon her into safety from...all of this.
'I am a friend.'
Feeling angered, Sakura snapped with her stiffening body. "Who are you and what...the fuck are you doing here? What do you want from me?" she sobbed helplessly. "Please... Just please leave me alone. I want to be alone!"
'I am you, and you are me...' the voice whispered in a sweet voice, like it was only comforting her. Sakura almost felt the invisible arms wrapping around her waist again, but this time it was like a comforting hug. A simple gesture to soothe the aching pink haired girl. 'We are the Forbidden Flower, Sakura.'
"What is that?" Sakura mouthed in question, suddenly feeling her aching muscles relax under the touch of the unseen hands and arms.
"Sakura!" A familiar voice pulled Sakura out of the trance, the arms and voice gone without a note of existence. Sasori's shadow was visible outside of Sakura's shouji door when she looked over, suddenly giving the warm energy that Sakura has been looking for awhile now. "Sakura, can I come in?"
She took a moment to take in the question and slowly nodded. "Yeah..." she answered, her blanket going back over her head.
She heard the door open and slide shut, the noise of Sasori's bare feet walking to the edge of her futon bed and sat down. She shut her eyes, praying so hard that he won't remove her blanket, shaking in the process of the wish. He heard him sigh.
"Sakura, it's okay," Sasori said quietly, his warm hand pressed on her covered arm and started petting her gently, like petting a frightened animal. "Chiyo told me what happened and...I'm sorry."
Sakura kept her eyes shut, feeling the tears coming back with her cracking voice. "You're one of them, aren't you...Nii-chan?"
She heard him breathing in roughly. "Yeah, I am a demon, too...just like Chiyo and Ino," he had a smile in his voice, she noticed, like he was proud of it. "You should know that we are not going to hurt you, Sakura; we're family."
"Am I...a demon?"
"No, you're not a demon," Sasori cooed as he scooted closer, seeing no rejection from Sakura as he kept petting her back. He wasn't going to pressure her to uncover her face. "Listen, I know you don't understand, but...this Sasuke guy isn't going to hurt you either. And, if I may add, he's quite impressed with your reaction. He's actually sulking in his little cabin right now thinking he said something wrong. Now that made your nii-chan happy." He chuckled to himself and then shutting up when he noticed Sakura tensing again. "If you must know...Chiyo is not my grandmother, and I'm not actually in my twenties."
Now that got her attention. "Huh?"
Sasori smiled again. "I'm actually Chiyo's only biological child," he said simply with a shrug. "Your father was adopted as a young boy, but I didn't age well enough for a few centuries for some reason...long story short, demons are immortal, and your grandmother is older then you think she is."
No response. Sasori could tell that she was starting to get scared again. "You know, I loved your father like my own brother, since he pretty much was a brother to me..." Sasori closed his eyes, remembering how Kizashi would share the same bed with him during thunderstorms as children. "And I love you like my own sister, Sakura. Your father asked me personally to be the best sibling to you before he passed away, and I tend to stick to that promise." He was careful to peel the blanket off of Sakura's face only, seeing her puffy and sore eyes and bitten lip from constant nawing of fear; he simply smiled, seeing underneath all that sadness the beauty he watched grow up. "Your memories were blocked for a special reason, Sakura. I know this is all scary and unknown to you, but as Chiyo promised, we are here to help you through all your troubles."
Sakura's eyes didn't look at him, she nibbled on her bottom lip again and practically clung to her blanket. "I'm...scared."
"I know," Sasori acknowledged. "This is a lot of information to take in. Hell, I'm not even sure how much you remember, but I swear that I will take the oath of doing whatever it takes to make you stop being scared. Would you like that?"
Slowly, Sakura's green eyes met Sasori's chocolate brown ones, seeing the comforting twinkle as he dazzled a smile. She swallowed, curling more into a ball as she nodded carefully, making him smile bigger and lean back. "That's a good girl. How about I leave you alone for a little bit, and if you need me...I'll be sticking around here for a bit. I told Deidara no more dates until my pinky is all better." She knew he was trying to tease her, to get her to laugh, but he was also expecting her not to respond.
Sakura watched Sasori get up onto his feet and head to leave the room, her shoulders tensed a little bit. "Thank you...Nii-chan."
Almost touching the door, Sasori inwardly smiled and left the room, closing the door behind him carefully and walking down the hallway. Sakura was now all alone again in her little bedroom, no one to be near to scare her or speak to her...
From the corner of her eye, Sakura saw the music box that she had been dying to listen to ever since she unwrapped the beautiful piece of work from the wrappings. She sniffled a bit as she rolled to her belly and reached to under her bedside lamp to touch the box, pulling it a little bit closer to her side as she payed attention to the detailed creation; the vine-like swirls and indents of perfect craftsmanship enchanted Sakura. She wanted to find out where Sasori got this gift for her so she may find the creator someday, meeting the talented one who made a unique piece for her.
Slowly tipping the top up, Sakura found two porcelain dancers of white twirling to the waltz while the chimes of the machine started the song.
The bell-like tune made all the troubles melt away as Sakura rest her head on the pillow, watching the two dancers look at each other happily, the song echoing into the room like a melody; her thoughts started to swirl beautiful colors behind her closing lids. She didn't want to sleep yet, yet the song was just making everything so much better...
The song...she remembered it so well. Sakura started humming quietly along with the bell-like tunes. Her eyes now closed, the colors emerged perfectly into an aligned design of a baby's dream; like she was going back in time when babyhood didn't have any scars, perfection of innocence in the definition. Her palm pressed to her small chest, Sakura allowed her heartbeat to pulse against her palm as she begged herself to stay calm.
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The melody of a lullaby is a song that steals away the pain.
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The pain of reality and the pain of fear...I wish it would make it all go away.
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I dream now and wish for my Knight in Shining Amor to come save me,
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and hold me close and allow me to hear his heartbeat.
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But then I remembered...
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He's not actually far away
=xxx=
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE- Boom baby ;D This chapter actually came out very nice, in my opinion... Although I'm sure many of you wanted more chat-chat between SasuSaku. Neh, I promise that next chapter that they will xD... And ohh, boy they will TALK~!
Reminder that the song is now Suna No Oshiro ;3 Unless you're stuck to your own vote, you may listen to the one you wanted originally. And, please don't ask me for the author's name or story that is (frightenly) similar to Tasting Flesh. I'm not looking for trouble, people, and I hope to hear from the author soon for an explanation.
Remember what Kitty likes after every chapter? C: Review, Follow, Favorite or doing nothing will bring a smile to my face! I can't wait to hear from all of you and will see you in next chapter of Tasting Flesh! Goodbye, my lovely readers!