Hello you wonderful readers c: Welcome to Chapter Twelve of Tasting Flesh! Please feel free to enjoy the chapter with a smile and get yourself a yummy and healthy snack~ What am I doing? o-o Lawl xD Ignore me, okay? I'm just happy.
I have been so busy lately, and I'm sorry for those who have been waiting for so long ;w; I just want you all to know that I am truly thankful of having wonderful people like you guys taking the time to read my story; it's helping me become a better author and a better person c: All that pleases you will please me with a good day of fuzzballyness! And who doesn't like fuzzbally feelings? Special thanks to everyone who is tuning in from the start and the ones who have just found this fanfiction and sticking to the end c: You're all amazing like cookies.
REPLIES TO REVIEWS (that needs Kitty's answers~)-
ImmaPiratte- My tumblr is actually kinda personal... But if you find it and follow, I would gladly follow back ^-^ Sorry, I just don't like giving out my accounts of other websites, it kinda makes me paranoid?
- ASDFGHJK pwp I love hugs xD
harusaki-tsukiko- Your guesses are very nice c: And I'm sure Ino will appreciate that you took the moment of applying to her plot of taking Sakura's viginity by force xD All my secrets will be kept secrets! So tune in, okie dokie? :3
Everyone probably caught the drift from the last twelve chapters, but you know I can't stop it. Do what you can to make a Kitty fuzzbally! Review, Favorite, Follow or do nothing at all will put a smile on my face. Please enjoy this chapter and have a wonderful day!
=xxx=
.
.
.
A woman's heart is the most fragile thing on the planet.
.
.
.
The need for care and love is most critical for the soul and the insurance for a better day...
.
.
.
My own future is limited on those who wish to feast on my flesh and blood.
.
.
.
Darling, please... I need you more then I know myself;
.
.
.
Show me the way to the real world that wants me dead.
.
.
.
Tasting Flesh
Chapter Twelve
Sakura was taken by the beauty of the decorations Konoha had taken care for the Spring Festival in honor for a late birthday; since she had never really seen the village at night, she was hypnotized by the colored lights and the people dressed in festive clothes of yukatas and kimonos. Couples held hands and children chased each other through the crowds, adults gossiped among each other and teenagers played at vendor games to win goldfishes and candies until they noticed Sakura still clinging to Sasuke's two fingers.
Sakura blushed harshly when they stared at the two entering the area, looking anywhere else besides Sasuke's side, who simply looked bored already when girl's started ogling at his presence. She was about to let go of Sasuke's pinky and ring finger, but stiffened her shoulders when she felt his digits curl around her small palm and pull her a little bit closer.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke muttered as his eyes looked down to her flushed features. He waited patiently enough before raising a brow for her to hurry along, since some ladies started to try and sneak closer to his other side and make giggling noises for his attention. He didn't pay any mind to them, since his attention was soley focused on one person.
"N-nothing." Sakura gripped him hard as she could, trying to tell him secretly that she was not used to being surrounded by people with a man by her side. Sure, she had Sasori and Deidara by her when she came into town, and even Inoichi, but...this guy holding her hand was really something else. "It's just weird...having people look at me, and you're here."
"Am I that much of a bother?" Sasuke's little intimidation of being startled really didn't help Sakura with her own nerves, honestly, but his trying attitude was something Sakura was going to be thankful for. "Stay by me and it will be fine."
"Um..." Sakura blushes a bit redder and daringly pressed herself on his arm for comforting support. She didn't notice how his whole body stiffened under her little grasp, but he was too busy leading the darling into the crowd of people who just started hammering the shrine maiden with comments and questions.
"Sakura-hime, you look so devine tonight! I love the color choices!"
"How can we party without the birthday girl here, ne? How rude of us! Bahahaha!"
"Sakura-hime, do tell us about your...friend you brought along. I have never seen him before."
Sakura made quick chats and simple gestures of thank yous to those who commented and wished her a happy birthday, Sasuke watching her intensly and with great interest. Uchiha Sasuke was amazed by the sudden change in the situation of his bride being thrown into, and she handles it so elegantly and with gentle grace, like the proper queen she was meant to be someday soon in his world. His eyes softened when she looked down to a child tugging on her overly long sleeve for her attention; her sweet smile of sparkling teeth and soft-looking lips, her simple pat on the child's head sent the kid into a gleeful shrill as he offered a small peck to the shrine maiden's cheek...
To Sasuke, Sakura was the definition of perfection.
Coming back up to Sakura's side as she stood up from thanking the child's kiss, he was quick enough to put the other flirtacious women away when he wrapped his arm around Sakura's shoulder and guided her away from the mess, silently excusing Sakura from other conversations and to get away from the stares sinking into his skin. He glanced down when Sakura made a noise of confusion, and kept on going to walk her along as the escort he posed to be over to a vendor of sparkling windchimes and other outdoor decor for a porch or balcony; instantly becoming enchanted by the sparkles of light the fake diamonds and glass gave off from the advertising lantern, Sakura became lost in her own world as she stared at the rainbows reflecting off of her emerald eyes.
"Wow!" Sakura cooed with her hands together. "Aren't those pretty, Sasuke-kun?" She pointed to the dangling shapes of flowers and bugs on a thin string that was connected to a wiring hold.
To Sasuke, it looked nothing more then a piece of distraction for humans...and they were clueless to ignore the actual piece of art that his hand was on as of right now. "It's fine."
Sakura's head went back to look up at Sasuke, her smile widening. "You're silly. This is really pretty, you know!"
"Sure..." Sasuke smirked a little bigger as he watched her act so child-like with the simplest of things around her: the lanterns, people's costumes, the lively music of flutes and drums...basically everything was getting her more and more excited, making Sasuke more and more happy. Which was not a feeling he had within him for a long while.
Feeling her hand swift down his arm, Sasuke watched as her little fragile fingers grip his pinky and ring finger once more in that tight grip he could barely feel; feeling so free to hold his hand in whatever way made her feel sated made Sasuke's heart leap in his chest a little. How much does he want to hold her little hand in his palm and carry her away from all this madness of people and crowdedness... All Sasuke wanted to do at this point was to pick Sakura up and jump off into the darkness and show her the real life of magic and parties. With him. In his world. Alone.
"Sasuke-kun, over here!" Sakura chirped with a happy gasp as she pulled him over to another vendor across the street, a old-fashioned, Japanese-style table with children on their knees and working on little projects of somekind. Sasuke didn't know what, but this seemed to make Sakura excited since she caught the vendor's attention for a moment.
"Hello, my pretty lady," the elderly vendor cooed at the pink-haired woman's smile. "what can I do for you on this lovely night?"
"I want to work on metal, please," Sakura bowed her head and scanned the table of the children giggling to themselves with their work on metal. What the vendor was giving off for free with the people tonight was making metal into a soft material; not steaming hot to burn the skin of sensitivity, but a special kind of trick of allowing people to carve with a wooden tool to design metal-plates, medalions and other objects. Looking at one a teenage boy was doing, with his girlfriend cuddling by his side with amazement in her grown eyes. "I want a ring, please!"
"Aa!" the vendor smiled and went behind his curtain, coming back a moment later with a slightly large ring on his palm, and a wooden stick beside it. "Just go at it with the designs. But do hurry with it since time it limited; the metal will cool fairly quickly."
Sakura nodded with a smile and dropped to her knees, leaving Sasuke in his own state of confusion with the vendor smiling so oddly to him. Sasuke simply looked away from the vendor's face and watched Sakura set to work on...whatever it was she was doing. Her shoulders moved fluidly and quickly, her head lolling side-to-side with concentration. He simply watched her with soft eyes, and whenever some girl bumped into him purposely for his attention, he never gave it to them. He kept his eyes soley on Sakura until she was done.
After a little while, Sakura stood up back to the vendor and asked if the metal was cooled enough to wear. The old man nodded in approval and wished Sakura her enjoyment with the ring, leaving Sasuke to wonder what was going on...
Sakura twirled around to face Sasuke, opening her palm to show a ring that would fit perfectly to one of Sasuke's fingers; the silvery design matched the color of Sakura's own pendant that Sasuke made for her, and allowed him to inspect it with it remaining on her palm. It was a thick ring, Sasuke noticed, and he instantly saw the three commas in a circular form with a vine-like style going across it and repeating.
"This is for you, Sasuke-kun," Sakura said shyly as she gently pushed her hands closer to him, making him to take on instinct onto his own hand. "Because, you know, you made me this..." she gestured to her necklace that Sasuke made, fingering the pendant and lightly touching the ruby gems that decorated into the cherry blossom flower. "So I made that for you, Sasuke-kun. I hope it looks alright for a lack of skill..."
Sasuke looked at the ring silently, then slipped it onto his left ringfinger. He flexed his left hand around carefully, testing the tightness of the ring and found no bothersome pinches; he flipped his hand a round to look at it in the lantern's light before looking back into those emerald eyes he adored so much.
"Thank you," Sasuke said in a stoic tone.
"Eeeh! Don't do such a thing like that, boy!" The elder vendor caught the attention of some of the children and Sakura and Sasuke from his cracking voice, his whiskered nose flaring in slight irritation. "Be more gothic, my dear lad! Give the lovely woman a kiss of thanks; not those lame excuses!"
"Ahem, it's alright, sir," Sakura waved her hands around in defence. "Sasuke-kun doesn't need to do such a thing like that. I'm perfectly happy with a simple thank you..." She bid the vendor another thanks and kissed his large nose, causing the old, crippled man to blush and have his mustache curl in pleasure before taking Sasuke's elbow and dragged him away from the crowdness of people and wooden stands.
Finding a spot by a numerous count of flowers, right next to Inoichi's closed shop, Sakura let go of Sasuke's sweatshirt sleeve and looked at him rather embarrassed with herself. "I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun, people down here can be so old-fashioned."
Sasuke didn't say anything, just watching her so simply with those dark eyes. Sakura felt her cheeks grow hot by the moment, believing that she wasn't coming up with a good excuse for the vendor's romatic actions. "I don't know if you get that back in your world... It's actually kinda common for old people to try and get younger people to display public affections and-?"
Gripping her chin very gently with his thumb and indexfinger, Sasuke tilted Sakura's face upward to stop hiding from him; he met her eyes briefly before closing his own eyes oh-so-calmly and knelt his head down to press his mouth onto Sakura's broad forehead. It was just on the skin and below her hairline where he gave a thankful kiss to her head, inhaling the sweet scent she carried with her everywhere, Sasuke kept his other hand that was twitching at his sides to not grab her and continue with something more for his sweet one. He was going to keep it simple, slow and only on Sakura's clock of how far their relationship can go.
Unlike Sasuke, who was staying cool and simple, Sakura's face bled tomato-red as her heart pounded against her ribs to the point that it could have jumped out of her mouth and allow her to simply die of pleasure. She didn't think of anything negative of this action; not thinking about Sasuke's species, not about her own 'curse' and how Demons wish to consume her flesh... No, no, she had no idea close to those. Sakura simply let her eyes flutter closed like a butterfly's wing and exhale quietly in a happy sigh.
'I feel...so happy,' she thought sweetly and smiled mostly to herself.
All too soon, just when she wanted to hug Sasuke close to her, he pulled himself away and let go of her chin altogether. Opening her eyes over again, Sakura glanced up to see Sasuke's face totally calm -yet his ears were a little pink- and he showed his left hand again of his new gift.
"Thank you," he said in the same tone as before.
Confused of his actions in some way, Sakura blinked a few times before allowing herself to smile so brightly infront of him. Her cheeks still felt very hot as she wrapped her hand around his pinky and ringfinger, touching the ring with her little finger as she giggled. "You're welcome, Sasuke-kun!"
Sasuke smirked a little when Sakura started to guide him around the streets of Konoha, allowing her to look, wave, chat and listen to people who passed by them and called her name for her attention. He was surprisingly patient, even for himself, and allowed Sakura to do whatever she wanted in chatting, and has even brought Sasuke into the conversation a few times: one of them being with an old couple who stared at Sasuke the whole chat.
"...and I have also tried out that herb for tea," Sakura exclaimed with a bright smile, her cheeks still red. "Chiyo-baachan liked it a lot, too, so thank you so much, ma'am!"
"Aa..." the wrinkled lady that reminded Sasuke of an angry cat nodded lazily, her slit eyes staring intensly at Sasuke's blank face. "Aa..."
"Mm?" Sakura followed the gaze of the old couple to see Sasuke stuck in the evil eyes. "Oh! Pardon me, please, this is my friend Sasuke." Sakura waved her hand to make a presenting move for show. "He is from out of town, and is visiting the Haruno Shrine for a while."
"Sasuke..." the old man that looked like a walrus belowed, "that is an interesting name."
"It is like that old folktale name of Sarutobi Sasuke, right my love?" the catlady said with an akward smile. "Such a story about a Demon... I heard it is bad for people to name their children that."
"Hai, it can cause bad luck, just like a weasel!" the old man laughed. Sasuke's eye twitched feriously, just wishing to take him down for laughing at his family's ancestor.
(Author's Note- I know that Sarutobi Sasuke is a fictional ninja, and that Kishimoto used this name for Uchiha Sasuke's ancestor on Mikoto's side of the family. I figured it'd be nice to use that for a folktale of Demons... Fanfiction freedom for the win!)
"Well, I think it is a nice name... It sounds strong to me," Sakura said shyly as she looked down to her feet, taking all three people back by her soft comment. "I would think that it fits his personality, if you think about it."
The old couple looked at Sasuke and scanned him thoroughly. He knew exactly what they were doing, and he allowed himself to pretend on being the human he is suppose to play in this world. He waited until they were done eyeballing him so creepy-like, sending those weird shivers that make you feel uncomfortable all the freakin' time when-
"Kamo."
Both Sasuke and Sakura looked at each other confusingly before looking back to the old couple with a gaped mouth. "I'm sorry," Sakura stammered, "what did you say..?"
"I would have named him Kamo, if he was my son," the old man sighed and his wife nodded in agreement. "Kamo would fit perfectly for him and his personality! Don't you agree, Sakura-hime?"
Sasuke was still trying to count in his head so he didn't have to slaughter the old man for naming him a duck, just because of his hair looking like its ass.
=xxx=
Sakura took a large bite out of her icecream cone, savoring the sweet flavor of strawberry and vanilla cream. She giggled lightly when she felt the melting treat drizzle out of the corner of her mouth, and she allowed her tongue to catch it before it dripped to her new clothes -and Ino would have a cow for that- as she peeked over to Sasuke, who had only taken a monsterous bite out of the flavorless cone he asked for. She already knew that her considered man did not like sweets, but she found it more amusing that he was willing to eat when she wanted to.
She watched as his perfect teeth, his canines looking a bit sharp as well, as he munched the cone, sending many bits and pieces of the cracker all over his mouth and sweatshirt, and he simply didn't care about it. Sakura couldn't hold back the giggles as she pointed at his facial expression of getting angry with the crumbs pricking his skin.
"You look funny, Sasuke-kun," Sakura cooed giddy before taking a napkin to wipe the crumbs away. "You should have gotten an icecream, then it wouldn't have sticked to your face."
"Hn..." he groaned and rolled his eyes. He gave Sakura another second to try and clean his face before yanking himself away from her, rubbing his mouth with his bare hand. "You're acting just like my mother."
"Your mother?" Sakura perked up instantly and looked at him. "What is she like? Is she pretty as you are?" She stiffened when she realized what she had just said. Looking at him with narrowing eyes, seeing how he was smirking at her failure. "Don't start now, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I don't even dare myself to mess with you." He finished the last of his cone before looking back at her, sitting on the brick by a garden and waiting for him to answer her question. "Yes, my mother is very pretty... She has seen you before, when you were a little baby."
"Wow," Sakura giggled a little. "I wish I can see her."
"You can, if you wanted to..."
Sakura's face perked adorably to look at Sasuke. "I can? How could I do that..?"
Sasuke shook his head furiously, reminding himself of his given patience with her. Sasuke just can't do this to Sakura; getting her into the Demon World that she can't remember or allow herself to open up to it if she could, it would do too much damage to their already lost relationship. All Sasuke had wanted was to come home and have her remember everything, jump into his arms and cry to him. He knew that the Sakura he had loved in the past was still there...somewhere sleeping inside of her memories, along with her Forbidden Flower powers. He just needed to find it before he could take them anywhere special.
To Sasuke, his bride was fragile.
Standing up after throwing the napkin away, Sasuke stretched his back to try and ease his sore muscles from hunching over to hear Sakura properly when she said something. Despite him having such wonderful hearing, people who scream and yell over him was nothing but a bothersome rant of stupidity. He looked around to give himself an excuse to give himself a minute to let out his anger; the anger that he had been keeping inside since those old farts had named him after a duck, making fun of his family name and all. He could have waited until the festival was over, but he just couldn't keep it in unless he wanted to slaughter some idiot right on the spot by using his Chidori move or his bare hands.
He saw something that caught his eye, and he took that as the perfect oppritunity to slip away for just one moment. "I will be right back. Wait here for me and don't wander off," he said cooly, giving Sakura a serious look of 'I mean it' before disappearing altogether before she took another bite of her icecream.
Sakura waved her fingers in a short farewell, since she was starting to get used to Demons being so fast and strong, she would now watch Sasori do simple tricks of watching things from the other side of the room and other ideal delights of entertainment, and even Ino using her 'charm' to get away with anything. She smiled at that idea, think of what she can do with herself as the Forbidden Flower. Sakura wondered what she could do and when she could start trying out her powers to show off to her family and close friends.
On the thoughts of her friends, she wondered if Kiba and Shino were around in the festival. She was too busy with her own little things to so looking for them, or even try to find Kiba's favorite dog mask that he always wore to school on the day of festivals or other celebrations; being the kind of character he was to make a goof of himself and flirt with man girls -Sakura included- and have no shame with it at all. Since the arrival of Sasuke and the reveal of Sakura's innerpower, she didn't give herself the time to think of Kiba and Shino like she use to, feeling her head and heart with what she was suppose to do with Sasuke and her family.
'I think Kiba-kun would like Sasuke-kun...' Sakura told herself shyly as she finished the last of her icecream cone, licking her thumb to get the crumbs. 'Kiba-kun would just love to try and make Sasuke-kun smile. It would just be a new challenge for him, after all.'
Sakura smiled brightly at the idea of Kiba trying to use one of his cheesy jokes to get Sasuke to loosen up. It would be so sad to see Sasuke react meanly and spit fire into his face. 'Is that even possible for Sasuke-kun?'
Sakura was about to ask the very man himself when he returned, standing up for him to hopefully take her actions that she wanted him back -since he always did before previously- but found his duck/chicken hair to be nowhere in sight for his tall stature, and he was fairly tall, but found a very familiar face standing right infront of her with his hands in his pockets, face and hair hidden by a decorative scarf and hood.
"Shino!" Sakura chirped sweetly as she lightly punched his shoulder. "You nearly scared me, you meanie! You look like you're dressed for a Halloween party, not a spring festival!"
Shino did his usual shrug and fixed his sunglasses back onto his nose properly. "You used to be so scared; what happened to the Sakura from a few weeks ago? We haven't seen you since your birthday, you know..."
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that," Sakura sighed. "I've been very busy lately and I haven't had the chance to go out."
"You're out pretty late," Shino pointed out with a raised brow. "Is Chiyo-sama finally giving you freedom to join the civilized life?"
"Oh hush," Sakura hissed to defend her grandmother. "Just be happy that I'm here for a party, and you should be on your knees- Bow to my worthyness of being the birthday girl!"
"Pardon me, mi'lady," Shino bowed his head and curtsied elegently.
"By the way, where is the party animal we all know and love, ne?" Sakura asked with a wink and snapped her fingers. "I've been meaning to hug that weirdo since Akamaru is still biting his butt for that little crayfish."
Shino went silent all of the sudden, looking bothered by the motion of his eyebrows. Sakura couldn't see his face at all, but she could tell from the years of knowing her friend that this was not a good sign; she hoped that everything was alright with Kiba. "Shino, is Kiba-kun okay..?"
He didn't say anything, but he motioned his hand for her to follow him and started walking down the crowded street. Sakura tried to stop him, looking around once more for Sasuke's arrival to be anywhere; unable to see a tall, dark and gloomy-looking man in the mess of other people laughing and acting so merrily around her. She fumed inside her head before dashing off after Shino, remembering that Sasuke was able to get her scent and follow after her when he returned to their little hideaway spot; thinking nothing wrong with just seeing what was making Shino so silent all of the sudden.
Sakura had a hard time keeping up with Shino for a while, seeing him slip past people with no problem, like a simple leave flying in the wind as she struggled the most getting through and pardoning herself whenever she bumped into someone by accident trying to catch up to him. She didn't remember Shino being such a fast walker, but she eventually caught the edge of his knitted scarf and tugged for him to stop.
He looked back at her curiously. "Can't you run well in dresses?" he asked teasingly, as usual. He caused Sakura to fume her cheeks and twitch her brow in slight anger, punching him in the arm lightly again to express her frustration.
"Ino gave me this outfit, I can never run in this!" Sakura declared with a pointed finger inder his nose. "If you have anything to say about Ino-chan's choice of clothing, speak with her about it."
"You can't run..? That's too bad," Shino sighed as he went back to walking down the the dark dirtpath that was so familiar to Sakura: the graveyard of Konoha rested beyond the point in the misting scenery. Sakura was used to going to the cemetery daily for blessings of loved ones passing away, but she had never seen it at night...unless you counted movies. "Hurry up, Sakura. You're going to fall behind and get lost."
Sakura didn't even notice him falling farther and farther ahead into the mist, making her jump and scurry as fast as she could to catch up with him.
.
.
.
The greatest slumber will be death...
.
.
.
But, as many don't understand, that it is the start of something great.
.
.
.
Something so sweet, something amazing and it will make you wish to sing and dance;
.
.
.
Death is never the end, but how can we know that for sure?
.
.
.
The only way to find out...
.
.
.
Is simple.
.
.
.
Sakura followed Shino past the gravestones and the footplaques that with the kanji names of the deceased. She did not feel any fear to this, actually remaining calm as she followed the covered friend she has known for so long. Remaining quiet with all the questions she asked so politely and simple as she could. She could hear the grasshoppers chirping and other bugs humming a midnight tune when she noticed Shino out of her sight.
Becoming nervous of losing her friend, Sakura turned left and right until she found the shadow only a few feet away. She smiled to herself, feeling at ease as she skipped over as quickly as she could over to him, tackling his shoulder playfully.
"You loser! You tried to ditch me, didn't you?" Sakura giggled like the old days, her head looking around. "You know, it's not scary here at night. I like it. So, wheres' Kiba-kun? He owes me big time for not visiting the Shrine often."
Shino still didn't say anything. Instead of using words, he pointed a bony finger downwards to the ground. Sakura shook her head, simply thinking that Kiba was acting like a wolf again and trying to hunt her down and she turned her head; she didn't see the brown-colored hair and the tanned cheeks that she abused with pinches with Ino, the muscles he loved to flex and show off to the ladies at school day and night.
No, instead, Sakura found a gravemark entitled: 'INUZUKA KIBA, BELOVED SON AND BROTHER' written in silvery bold letters. Her hands dropped Shino's jacket, her heart stopping instantly as she stared at the letters, reading them over and over, over, over-
"What is this..?" Sakur asked in a whisper, a shiver doing up her spine.
"It is Kiba's grave...he died," Shino said softly, stepping back a few times to give Sakura the space she desperately needed as she sunk to the grass. He looked at her through his sunglasses, eyeing show still she looked. "He died on your birthday, Sakura."
All the little snippets of the bonfire; Kiba's flirtacious attitude to her before Ino stole her away for a dance; the little girl guiding her into the woods and finding the door; the menacing eyes Kiba had that looked downright evil swamped into her head, causing a crack. Sakura let out a dry sob, her hands covering her mouth as she tried to bring tears to her eyes. That was all she could remember of Kiba...and she figured it was a dream!
The fangs. The black eyes. The ripped skin and flesh dangling from his ribs, arms and mouth.
"H-how did he die?" she asked desperately, unable to look away from the gravemark as she reached out to touch the elegant kanji. "I don't know...how he died, Shino. Please tell me how Kiba died."
They sat in silence, allowing the mist to creep over Sakura's bare thighs as her shoulders shaked, her eyes leaking water down her face and spreading a hint of her seafoam green eyeshadow to smear. She didn't care though. She didn't care if her makeup was ruined, her legs feeling cold as ice on the frozen ground, the noise of people's joyful laughter in the distance while she let out a cry of misery.
She didn't care at the moment. Sakura cared for nothing right now.
After a long while of crying and making stupid hiccuping noises, Sakura wiped her tears and running nose on her sleeve, inhaling as large as she could to bring up a voice of desperation and anger.
"Answer me, Shino!" she shrieked, pounding fists onto the grass. "How did Kiba-kun die!"
"It was you..." Shino simply shrugged his shoulders, watching as Sakura hunched so lamely at the blame given towards her. Reaching his hands out of his pockets, Shino allowed a finger to hook on the lense of his sunglasses and let it fall to the ground with no noise. Opening his eyes, Shino's once delicate eyes were now dark as night, no white of humanity within them as he glanced at Sakura's revealing neck.
So slender... So pretty...
"It was you who killed him, Sakura," Shino continued on as he used the hand to untangle the scarf from his neck, inch-by-inch it showed the dangling flesh and meat of his throat rippling. His jaw was disconnected and broken, teeth sharpened to the point of puncturing the toughest leather as a strand of drool slipped out of his ripped lips. A blue-ish tongue, resembling a snake, lapped out to taste the air, to taste Sakura's skin that gave off that wonderful, mouthwatering aroma.
So sweet... So perfect...
"A Demon was so hungry for you, Sakura...he overtook Kiba's body and consumed his soul at the bonfire and that ruined Kiba's body and mind altogether," Shino explained dropping the scarf to the floor. Next was the hood, and underneath the fabric was Shino's skull bones sticking out like a devil into sharpened horns. "The Demon couldn't take it any longer, so he tried to kill you in the forest...but Ino got in the way and killed the Demon, as well as putting Kiba out of his misery."
Sakura couldn't move at all. She touched the kanji, not wanting to believe in anything Shino was saying...even though it was probably very accurate.
"Kiba was already dead when Ino snapped his neck."
Sakura closed her eyes, tears falling down. It was all her fault now, killing Kiba like that. It was out of her power and his as well; being a simple human who was overtaken by a monster, eaten alive on the inside. She pressed her forehead against the chilling cold gravemarker, trying to send a prayer of apology to Kiba in the afterlife, wishing him no pain and an neverending peace between them.
"I loved you so much, Kiba-kun..." Sakura said quietly. "You were such an amazing friend that I could love... I'm so sorry, Kiba-kun." Her fingers gripped the edge of the gravestones, holding tightly as she felt this overwhelming sensation of tensing and something snapping inside of her.
'Behind you, Sakura!' a voice rang right into Sakura's ear, causing her to jump up and swing around. Her little hand grasped onto Shino's neck, her fingers constricting around the male's throat as she stared into the jagged teeth of the monster who had consumed her friend.
Sakura's eyes widened as she held Shino back, his face an arm length away as his own arms scrabbled to scratch something but failing. To Sakura, she felt like she was holding onto something weak, like a bunch of fallen leave that could just easily crumble under her fist. She didn't know where this power came from, where this simple-looking move could be in her hands; she could just remember Kiba throwing her skull against the tree before she passed out from the seizure.
"Hold still. Hold still!" Shino howled with a scraggy voice, more saliva dripping off his mouth as he tried to bite onto her arm. "Just one bite is all I need! Give me just one bite!"
Sakura squeezed her hand on instinct, causing Shino to gasp for air for a moment before she threw him back against a tall Buddha statue and watched him stumble the stone down into rubble, howls if distress and anger rang into the air as she took off down the dirt path to get back to the festival, to find Sasuke and hold onto him.
It only took another long moment for Sakura to realize that the mist was becoming too thick for her to see through, to make out the lights or wherever the laughter of happy people were coming from. She panicked, looking back to the Buddha statue to find Shino's limp body to be nowhere in sight, feeling a cold sensation tingle up her spine as she heard the voice back into her ears, being so gentle to warn her.
'Behind on your left,' and Sakura did as she was told. Her hand flat, Sakura striked the adam's apple of Shino's throat and let out a strangled cry when she saw his eyes starting to sink into the socket. As if she knew how to do it, she clenched a fist and punched Shino's belly with everything she had- And he went flying.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura cried out as she tried to take off to wherever she was hearing the voices of people. Her feet instantly started to burn and she tripped on her sandals, skidding her knees and legs to the point that it stung. She rolled over to her bottom to find her legs giving off droplets of blood, oozing just the tiniest bit from the cuts.
"I can smell you, darling!" Shino's demonic voice cooed in the shadows, causing Sakura to shriek outloud. "You can try to hit me all you like, but I will not stop until I get a sip!"
Sakura rolled to scramble up, but her ankle was suddenly yanked forcifully by Shino. She screamed as loud as she could for Sasuke, for anyone to answer her as she clawed into the ground to try and stop him from taking her anywhere. Shino smile deviously as he pulled on her leg again, bringing her shin to his mouth as he opened his disconnected jaw and-
Sasuke's hand grabbed the back of Shino's hair and snapped his neck back, causing the Demon to shrill evily and try and snap at Sasuke. The Demon God didn't give the hungry one a chance as he grabbed both of his scrawny arms, placing one foot on his back and started to peel them apart, making Shino to finally cry out in pain and try to squirm away. With the noises of pain, Inoichi, Ino and Deidara emerged from the mist, glancing briefly to Sakura's pale features before walking casually up to Sasuke's sides. They all looked so human and simple as Sasuke ripped a bloodless arm from Shino and stood up tall; throwing the arm down and stepped away.
"Deidara, it's your turn..." Inoichi said with a simple sigh as he picked out his cellphone. "I'll call Chi to come over with Chiyo and Sasori."
"Ino-chan, come help me!" Deidara purred with an impish grin as he picked Shino by the ankle. The body started crawling, thrashing and hissing to the three blondes as Ino agreed to Deidara's request and helped to drag him to the trees, away from Sakura.
Inoichi looked over to Sasuke, saluting a finger from his brow before following the two teens into the trees where a loud and haunting scream ripped out only a minute later. Sasuke kept his cool as he cautiously walked over to Sakura and positioned himself to pick her up from the ground bridal-style.
Not registering in time on who was about to touch her, Sakura stiffened and swung her sore leg upward to do a roundhouse kick on Sasuke's side; making the Demon God's eyes widen to the impossible and fall to his knees in a groaning pain, his arms wrapping around his sides as she slammed his own head onto the ground.
"Oww!" Sasuke hissed like an angry dragon, making Sakura blink a few times and start panicking all over again.
"Sasuke-kun, I'm sorry!" Sakura cried out as she crawled to his side, her fists clinging onto his black hoodie. She felt like she was going to cry all over again just because she hurt her Sasuke. "Are you alright? It doesn't hurt, does it?"
"It hurts, you annoying pinky," Sasuke groaned his frustration as he rolled to his side. Sakura could see his ears beat red and his face looking so pained, like he got hit by a truck. "The hell were you thinking, hn?"
"I was scared, okay?" Sakura blurted out with a pat on his shoulders. She couldn't hold herself back as she buried her face into his shoulder, cuddling him. "I thought you wouldn't come, Sasuke-kun. I thought he was going to kill me!"
"Hnn..." Sasuke pained out with a gruffy exhale. He forced himself to sit on his shins, bringing Sakura up with him, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and under her thighs. He didn't give Sakura a chance to say anything as he leapt into the air and landed ontop of the trees with ease, like they weighed no more then a feather, and he started jumping his way towards the protected territory of the Haruno Shrine. He could faintly smell her blood on her legs, and it was never the best idea to linger around when one came after her.
Sakura clung to his sweatshirt the whole time, closing her own eyes as she pressed her cheek against his strong shoulder. She did her best to try and register that Kiba was still dead, and so was Shino at this point... Sakura tried her best to feel sad for her two friends, but how could she? They tried to kill her, and they simply were nowhere themselves in the least bit. She felt Sasuke land onto grass, the familiar smell of cherry trees filled her nose as Sasuke settled the young woman onto soft grass. Sakura still didn't open her eyes, no, she was tired and she wanted to stay by Sasuke for a while longer.
Out of the blue, Sakura felt wandering hands start peeling the kimono off of her shoulders, causing her eyes to snap open to find Sasuke starting to undo the obi, holding the edge of it with his teeth and his hands worked on unfolding the kimono-flaps off her small chest.
"What are you doing?" Sakura screeched as she tried to scramble away from him. She found herself at a loss when his legs pinned her thighs down, his thighs squeezing her legs together as he continued on with a serious and stoic expression, his eyes scanning her body.
Sakura's face went red when she looked at his face, holding the obi between his teeth as a little glint in his eyes sparkled in the moonlight. She froze. She had heard of this kind of scene in books Ino had read, and movies she watched out of boredom to find the couple...doing things to each other. Her heart pounded horribly at the thought of Sasuke bringing this to that point in a relationship.
She didn't feel ready at all!
"Sasuke-kun, stop!" Sakura tried to push him off, but it seemed that her strength she used on Shino and Sasuke's side wore off, because Sasuke took her wrists and pinned them above her head. Shutting her eyes, she whimpered lamely at the idea of what Sasuke could do next.
Exposed to the cold night in her thin, white strapped dress -usually used for long underwear- Sakura panted in fear and anxiety when she felt Sasuke's black bangs tickling the skin of her neck. She wasn't ready for him to let his hot tongue to stick out and slowly stride up her flower-stem neck, slowly making it's way to the middle of her throat as she gasped loudly. It stung her skin, Sakura realized instantly, and it felt like a match was lighted and pressed into her skin- soon becoming a numbing pain of cold like cooling frost of snow.
Sakura shivered helplessly when Sasuke moved his lips to her collarbone. She bit her lip to hold back a weird feeling in the back of her throat, just begging that it wasn't a moan.
"He scratched you here..." Sasuke whispered so delicately against her soft skin, "and here, too..." He sucked on her sensitive spot of her neck and shoulder coming together, making her spaz out into shakes underneath him as he lapped up the little strand of blood; licking his way to the cut to heal it with his given power by licking the wound, and his saliva will do the rest. Sasuke was not as skilled in healing others, since he would usually take his mouth to suck on cuts on his wrists and arms, but he thought himself doing a good job anyhow.
Sakura started squirming again, making Sasuke struggle to find the actual cut on her shoulder made by Shino's thrashing claws. "Baby...calm down and let me do this," he whispered in a tone that made her freeze, and pretty soon, she fell limp under him like a helpless animal. Sasuke smirked against the strap of her dress before licking the cut on her shoulder, making her quiver a little as her hands stayed above her and allowed his hands to slide down her body, pressing down her sides to feel if anything was broken.
When he found none, Sasuke pulled himself back to examine her face; all red and tired looking, Sasuke found himself attracted to it, wanting to bend back down and kiss her face until she fell asleep. But he was not finished. He noticed that Sakura was bubbling slight goosebumps on her arms, and her shivers came from the cold. Sasuke stripped off his black sweatshirt and forced Sakura to sit up limply, making him to dress her in the sweatshirt and neglect the kimono Ino spent hours perfecting on Sakura's doll-like body.
Once Sakura was inside his overly large clothes, Sasuke went back to work in his dark jeans and matching black t-shirt and gently held her leg with both hands, cradling the sensitive flesh in his palms as he bent down and started to suck the overly-sweet blood off her skin. She made an uneasy whimper, but he ignored it and continued on with his licks and kisses.
The blood was overpowering his senses much more on her legs, making his inside beast wish to crawl out and make some more blood emerge from her wounds. He closed his eyes and kissed Sakura's knee so lovingly and gentle, sealing off the gash from him from going any furthur. He worked on the next leg, where Shino had clawed her ankle, and settled himself to do this last part before allowing her to start moving again.
He refused to have her hurt. In pain, or upset for whatever reason.
Pulling his tongue back into his mouth, Sasuke gently set down Sakura's gorgeous leg to the soft grass, looking up to find her arms wrapped around herself in his sweatshirt and her face buried into the fabric. He breathed to relax his urges before crawling a bit closer to her side and pulled her into his awaiting lap. Sakura did not fuss in any means, and gradually rested her head on his shoulder and he pressed his cheek ontop of her now-ruined hair. His thumbs rubbed her back, trying to soothe her in the best way that he could without making her afraid of him.
Sasuke closed his eyes and breathed. "You did a very good job, Sakura..." he said quietly. He felt her move her head a little to look up, but made her remain in the position for him to smell her hair. "You used your Forbidden Flower strength to try and protect yourself before I reached you."
Sakura didn't respond, only pressing her face back into his neck and tried to get that scary image out of her mind of Shino's demonic possession. It was simply too much for her to handle anymore.
Feeling her anxiety, Sasuke moved his head to press his mouth onto her hairline, kissing her forehead in the most sweetest way she could ever feel around him in this life. Despite his voice being flat as always, being so stoic and emotionless, Sakura could just hear the appreciation and adoration that was in his voice.
"Thank you, Sakura."
=xxx=
When the patrol party returned to the Shrine, Sasuke had carried Sakura into the living space on the second floor and settled her on the cushioning sofa in there. Pakkun was already present inside the territory and laid by the opened window with his ears on alert for the littlest sounds outside. Inoichi, Chi, Chiyo, Sasori and Deidara fashioned a meeting circle infront of the fireplace, Sasuke joining as well; and Ino took her place to cuddle with Sakura, who still hasn't said anything since Sasuke healed her.
"It's okay if the kimono got dirty," Ino cooed softly as she pet Sakura's hair, her friend's head resting on her shoulder. "I'll clean it and make you wear it another time when nothing can get it messy... But you owe me another time to do your makeup, alright, cutiepants?" Ino kissed the hair of Sakura's head and snuggled her like a teddy bear as the Demons allowed their meeting to start infront of them.
Sakura's emerald eyes watched Sasuke's back -which was infront of her and only a few inches out of her reach- as he stood with his back straight, tall and proud as he used his voice of a leader. Her heart thumped a bit as she watched everyone pay attention to him... She was amazed.
"Has there been any other possessions of humans?" Sasuke asked in a strong voice, his hand continously rubbing his chin as he looked to the Yamanaka adults. "Anything near seduction of the humans by them..?"
"Na-ah," Chi chirped with a serious expression. "Some stop by us, some passed to festival."
"We tried to get as many as we could, the stronger ones at least, but some did pass because we were outnumbered at some point," Inoichi added in for his wife as he squeezed her hand thoughtfully. "But we can't be too sure that possessions took place properly to consume their souls; it was too crowded."
"Some of the Demons allowed their original hunger-looks to come out, and the humans took it as a prank to scare children at the festival... An old woman nearly figured it out, though," Sasori counted on beside Chiyo, who nodded. "Chiyo had to step in and instruct the hungry ones as actors. Thank goodness the old lady bought it."
"And that boy who tried to get Sakura," Sasuke said. He felt Sakura's form stiffen a bit but soon relaxed when Ino cooed at her and buried her face into Sasuke's sweatshirt, inhaling deeply.
Deidara shook his head. "We couldn't do anything to save him... Ino ripped his head off and I destroyed the remains in the woods. They won't be able to find his ashes in the dirt, honestly." He looked down in shame for killing a kid he knew very little of. He soon found a comfort when Sasori reached over and rest his hand on Deidara's thigh, rubbing gently until the blond man forced a smile.
"We can't keep this up forever, Sasuke," Chiyo said darkly, yet so careful not to act so surprised by people's lack of reaction. "If this keeps up, humans are going to notice, and it's going to be a Witchhunt all over again."
"Hn," Sasuke muttered. Silence took over the room besides Sakura's deep inhaling as she started to slumber off inside the cocoon of Sasuke's warmth and scent.
"I think...we should take Sakura to the Demon World," Chiyo finally said. "We need to keep her safe in the Uchiha Kingdom, and we need to start getting her memories and powers back as soon as possible."
"She has just shown the signs of her strength returning." Sasuke's eyes flickered to stare Chiyo down. "I don't think I can make such a thing happen. She's not ready for our world yet."
" But when will she be ready, boy?" Chiyo growled snottly. "Do you want to keep her here where both Demons and Humans can look for her and try to hurt her again? I bet you would like that."
"No, I don't."
"Then make a choice, Sasuke. Make that choice for your bride's life and your future." Everyone looked down, refusing to meet Sasuke's eyes that shot around to everyone, just to see if they have their own opinions about this whole ordeal of Chiyo's blabbering.
Sasuke turned his head to look at Sakura's sleeping face; her baggy sleeves were on her mouth and she was curled on the couch, her head resting on Ino's lap as the blonde Demon played with her long hair. He looked at that angelic face that kept him from insanity and thought about her own wellbeing in this world since she had awakened as the Forbidden Flower.
"...fine."
.
.
.
This world is not safe for you anymore...
.
.
.
There will be so much more hell to pay for when I sneak you away.
.
.
.
I have no shame in my decisions, and I do not regret my answer.
.
.
.
Please find yourself within you and come back home...with me.
=xxx=
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE- :D... Hi c: What do you think will happen next chapter, ne~?
Remember to Review, Follow, Favorite or do something to make you smile! o3o Suggestions, ideas, music is all allowed to be spoken. HAVE NO SHAME, MY LOVELY READERS! KITTY LOVES YOU.