Chapter Eight: Small Worlds and Poked Promises
Ancient Greece:
Sakura paced impatiently from one side of the road to the other. The escalating heat throughout the week had dried out the land and left the road dry and dusty. With each step she took, a small cloud of fine dust would lift around her feet before settling back down at another part of the road. The result was an overlapping trail of pronounced footprints to act as a recording of her impatience. A cart pulled by a horse caused her to pause her pacing and stand to the side. As the farmer passed by, Sakura gave a small nod of her head as the older man steered the cart past her. As she waited for the road to be clear of any more traffic, Sakura looked down at her feet. Leather straps crisscrossed over her feet and wound around her ankles and calves. A thick layer of dust had settled on her skin and she frowned at the definite line of where her normal skin tone contrasted significantly from the dirt covered portion of her lower legs. Instead of continuing her pacing, she decided to sit on the rock wall that ran along the road as she waited.
She managed to sit still for two breaths before her legs began to restlessly swing back and forth. When that was not enough to burn off the strange energy she had buzzing beneath her skin, her hands began to swat at the tall wheat that grew along the wall. She was not sure why she felt so restless but she had felt this way all day. After a night of tossing and turning she had pulled herself from her bed. Tired and dragging, she had managed just enough time to take two bites of her breakfast before she left with her father to the markets. It had been a busy day to which she was grateful for the distraction. But there had still been a gnawing in the back of her mind that caused her to feel nervous and queasy.
When it came time to come to the meeting spot and wait for Naruto she was relieved. Naruto always seemed to be able to find some way to distract her from anything that seemed to make her days seem off. It was strange, she had acquired many friends over the years but yet, she had never felt such a deep kindredship to anyone like she shared with Naruto. Not even a month had passed since her eyes were open to the existence of the angelic world. Yet now, she could not imagine her life without it.
As she plucked individual grains from the tuft of grain she had pulled from a certain stalk that had been tickling her elbow, a tanned hand was suddenly thrust into her face. Startled, she looked up to be greeted by the sun kissed face of Naruto. His brow and mouth scrunched into an investigative look of concern as he scrutinized her.
"Oh you're here," she said quickly.
Unconsciously, her eyes darted past his shoulder and a small bout of disappointment filled her when she noticed that it was Naruto and only Naruto that was standing in front of her. Naruto gave her a funny look as he looked over his shoulder then back to her. He caught the small glint of dismay as she continued to absentmindedly look past him. He waved his hand in front of her face again to regain her attention.
"Are you feeling okay?"
She blinked a few times and then looked at him owlishly. As she seemed to awaken from her thoughts, she finally graced him with a soft smile.
"Yes," she said. "Sorry, I did not sleep well and it has been a long day."
"Oh...well...do you want to do this another time?" Naruto asked hesitantly.
Sakura was slightly tempted to accept the offer. Despite her earlier abundant supply of energy, she suddenly found her reserves low. The lack of sleep and rigorous day at the market was now collecting its toll. She cast a quick glance behind Naruto then looked back to his wide blue eyes. She had been ready to reschedule a moment before but the eager glint in his eye seemed to dim slightly at the proposal. Such potential disappointment caused her heart to go out to the blond seraph. She could see how much he was looking forward to this and she did not have the heart to postpone it. Summoning some extra energy, she shook her head and gave him a stronger smile.
"No," she brushed off. "I have been looking forward to this all day."
"Great," Naruto beamed as he extended a hand. "What are we waiting for then, lets go!"
Sakura hesitated. Unsure as to why, but she had hoped that Sasuke would have come. She had believed he would have accepted her invitation. However, it seemed that perhaps he was not as interested in spending time with a mere mortal like herself as she thought.
Doing her best to not let the disappointment fill her mind, she gave one long look down the road before nodding her head. She slid down to the ground with the help of Naruto's hand and as they began to walk in the opposite direction, Sakura gave one more glance over her shoulder.
"I don't think he is coming," Naruto's voice sounded.
"I didn't...I wasn't…" she fumbled over her words. Why was she even bothering to look? Sasuke had given no indication that he would come last night. Yet, something inside her continued to demand that she had been right to hope. "Are you sure?"
Naruto looked at her closely. He had not seen her since yesterday afternoon and he sensed something had changed. Sakura rarely seemed to be bothered by Sasuke's absence. She had always seemed nervous, almost dreading when he mentioned he would invite the brooding seraph to come with them today. But right now, if he were not mistaken, she seemed almost discouraged by his failure to show up. Deciding to not push the matter, Naruto began to lead them down the road. And like always, it only took a few minutes of Naruto's happy chatter until Sakura was nearly skipping along with him as she laughed and conversed with the sunny seraph.
They had only made it around the bend when Naruto came to a sudden stop. With their hands still clasped, Sakura had not been far behind him as she had been practically running to keep up with his long stride. With no amount of warning that they were stopping, Sakura did not slow down nor stop immediately. However, she managed only one more step before she felt her arm being yanked nearly out of its socket when the extension of their connected arms ran out. Rubbing her shoulder as she moved to question their sudden cease of movement, she was distracted when she noticed Naruto's eyes fixed on something behind her.
"Didn't think you would come?" Naruto said, a wide grin spreading across his face as he looked past her shoulder.
Sakura turned her head just in time to watch Sasuke step out from the shadows of the lining of trees along the road. She watched as his eyes drifted from Naruto to herself. Like always, she felt pulled and trapped under his scrutiny. Dark eyes ran down her frame and she was certain she could feel a heat travel through her body as he took in her appearance. His eyes lingered on her feet and she suddenly became self conscious about the layer of dust. The wisps of hair she could feel tickling her neck told her the neat arrangement her mother had pleated before leaving for the markets was becoming unraveled.
When his eyes moved from her feet they only made it to her waist again where they lingered for a moment. Sakura suddenly became aware of the fact that her hand was still clasped within Naruto's. A look of disapproval waved over his features and Sakura was struck with the realization that such a friendly gesture could be interpreted into something more. With this thought, Sakura loosened her grip on Naruto's and quickly clasped her hands behind her back.
"What gave you the idea that I was not coming?" Sasuke asked, his tone monotonous and calm as he finally let his eyes rise fully and move his attention to Naruto.
"You didn't say you were coming yesterday," Naruto commented.
"Ah," he acknowledged then after a short pause, "but I never said I wasn't," he pointed out.
Relief came the moment Sasuke's eyes moved away from her and Sakura felt slightly more relaxed without the heavy pressure of his judgment. Subtly, she attempted to tuck a few loose strands back into her braided crown and kick some of the dust from her feet. She saw Sasuke's dark eyes focus on her from the corner of his eye and she stilled, this time feeling silly for caring about her appearance.
Vanity was never an aspect she cared about except for when she went into the city market. It was the only exception she made to look her best at all times because when she was there, she represented her father's business and her family. Gracing the family with a good image was what she strived to do. She was proud of what her family did and wanted to showcase that pride to the world. But in the countryside things were different. Everyone had a bit of dirt on them.
But there was something about the dark haired man before her that made her falter. The whiteness beneath his nails, the crisp and freshly laundered clothing, and the prim posture he held made her feel as though she was the odd one out. Suddenly Sasuke was looking at her all too soon again. He stared at her for a breath then raised a brow.
"So where is this view that you claim to be the best in the land?"
He had been losing his patience in waiting and was about to forget even joining them. He was in the process of doing just this when he heard the familiar obnoxious voice of his rival calling out for someone to hurry up. His shout was followed by the pitter patter of hurried footsteps on the compact ground of the dirt road. At the sound of their approach, Sasuke directed his attention farther down the road to see Naruto with his usual smile of a fool plastered on his face. Along with him, he towed a laughing and skipping Sakura.
Naruto caught sight of him first and came to an abrupt stop, causing Sakura to let out a small yelp of pain as she was yanked to a harsh stop. The dark haired demon watched with annoyance as a crooked, smug smile enveloped the sunny angels face.
"Didn't think you would come?" Naruto commented.
Sasuke rolled his eyes and pushed off from the tree he had been leaning against. Hands still secured in his loose pockets, he moved forward into the sunlight and onto the dusty road. He kept his eyes fixed on Naruto for a long moment, then slowly trailed his attention to the reason he had even come. To clarify, he was not there for her, but to observe her. And that was exactly what he was doing now.
Her hair was disheveled, falling out in small wisps around her temples and neck. They clung to her skin, sticky from the sweat of a long day in the summer heat. She looked tired, yet her bright eyes suggested she still had plenty of energy for adventure. He liked this. It made her seem more resilient than most mortals. It meant she wanted to utilize every waking moment to enjoy her precious and limited life. His eyes trailed down the rest of her body.
She was wearing a finer dress than she would normally. From the time he had observed her in the evenings and nights of the past fortnight, this told him she had gone to the city today. He wondered how she acted amongst those of the finer and more chaotic lifestyles that the flourishing cities of Greece brought. Was she bold and outspoken like the city folk, or was she intimidated by the city and became a meek and gentle country bumpkin? Something told him that she was not one to be cowed by others. He had seen her brief challenging looks, and while she seemed to be timid around him, he had no doubt she would not be this way with other mortals. Polite yes, but not pushed around.
As he moved down to her feet, he could not help the twitch of his entertained lips when he noticed the layer of dust. It was more evidence to his growing suspicion that she was never clean. His eyes began to rove back to her face but they only made it halfway when he noticed her hand clasped with Naruto's. He frowned at the innocent yet incriminating gesture.
The gesture of their hands was innocent enough. Children and parents, companionable friends, a simple offering of polite manners, they could all require such actions. But it could also be something else entirely, something of a deeper affection. If this was the case, Sasuke felt a sudden and deep disapproval of such a relation. It was not forbidden, but it was certainly taboo. It was unnatural and illogical. A relationship between a mortal and an immortal was inane. It was pointless. Perhaps some would deem it a poetic romance, but it was one of tragedy and would always end poorly.
Naruto was the kind to easily be affectionate with anyone and everyone. The idiot gave out more unwanted hugs and smiles then what should be socially acceptable. Then again, the blessed were always more affectionate to others than the fallen. Sasuke came from a family where rigid reserve was the only option. To show emotion would be to show your weaknesses. Physical and even vocal affection was limited and kept private. It was given to only those who were considered a truly special person. These things he knew, but he did not know what such actions meant to Sakura. Naruto had been practically dragging her along to keep up, but why where they still connected even when stopped?
As if sensing his thoughts, Sakura's hand quickly pulled free from the blonde man's beside her and she quickly tucked her hands behind her back. This sudden change brought about a pleased feeling within his chest. His eyes moved back to study her face, she looked uneasy under his stare. He did not like this. He needed her to be more relaxed if he were to properly observe her.
It was then he decided to finally answer Naruto's earlier comment. "What gave you the idea that I was not coming?"
"You didn't say you were coming yesterday," Naruto commented.
"Ah," he let out. It was a true statement and he had not planned to come. At least, not when Naruto had mentioned it. But that changed when Sakura had extended the invitation a second time. However he was not about to admit that detail. "But I never said I wasn't," he found himself giving as a hedged answer.
He caught Sakura fidgeting from the corner of his eye. At first it seemed like a natural movement but then he noticed the not so subtle way she tried to kick the dust off from her feet.
He turned his full attention back to her and she immediately ceased all movement as she stared back at him. He suppressed the amusement that dared to show on his face. She looked like a child having been caught in the act of a naughty deed.
"So where is this view that you claim to be the best in the land?"
And with that question it was not long before they were trekking along the cliffs of the coastal sea that formed the edges of the island they were on. It had taken them over an hour to walk there. A feature Sasuke was confused by at first. Such a trip could have been only a few minutes if flying. But then he remembered Sakura was leading the way and again, he was reminded of how ordinary she was. It was this reminder that brought about the usual frustrations and questions of why he seemed unable to not be fascinated by her. It was as if she had a forceful pull that he could not ignore. There was something about her he needed to discover, that he needed to know. Once he found it, he would finally put his mind at peace and no longer be forced to waste his thoughts with a mortal.
Sasuke was not sure what to expect. He had many doubts by the claims Sakura had made about the view, so he decided to not have too high of expectations. And he was right to do so.
The region of the island in which Sakura's family lived, was located in the foothills of a mountain that was more of a large hill. Its landscape was made up of a white, rocky soil and a normal assortment of foliage that grew sparsely along the mountain side. Most greenery came from the crops, orchards, and vineyards of the local agriculture. It was not desolate or unattractive, but it was rather mundane and basic when compared to other corners of the world.
"Is it not the most beautiful place in the world?" Sakura exclaimed when they came up to the rocky overlook that looked across the sea.
Sasuke took it in and he disagreed strongly. It was a nice view at best. The sea was a mixture of green and blue that made up the majority mediterranean coasts but it lacked the glassy clarity that was found in the more picturesque regions. The sun cast a red glow across the far waters, turning them a deep purple and highlighting the tips of the calm current in warmth. It was certainly a sight that one could appreciate. However it was nothing memorable when compared to the true art Sasuke had witnessed nature create in other places of the mortal realm. And those masterpieces were far from comparison to the beauties that lay behind the rifted portals that crossed over into the worlds of immortals. He was almost positive that there was a much more lush and vivid view of the same sea on the next island over. He was just about to point this out when Sakura turned around and looked at them.
"My father's sister lives in a villa on the coast close to Athens on the mainland. When I turned thirteen she came to visit and told me all about the beautiful sights that are there. Before she left she made a promise that I could travel across the sea to the mainland and stay with her for awhile. It was supposed to happen last year but my father nor my uncle could spare the time to travel with me."
Sasuke could hear the disappointment in her voice as she took a seat on a flattened rock and tucked her legs beneath her. Naruto followed suit, taking the spot right next to her. Sasuke followed his lead with one small adjustment. He took a seat across from them, situating himself directly across from the maiden to allow optimal observation. Her attention moved back to the sea and the salty breeze picked up the loose strands of hair and caused them to dance.
"For my birthday she sent me a beautiful painting that she had commissioned just for me. It was a view from their villa of the sea," she continued after a moment. "This place is nothing in comparison, but it is the closest I have been able to find. I like to sit out here sometimes and pretend that I am there at her villa."
Sasuke watched her carefully as she continued to describe her imaginations. The sights she would see, the people she would meet, and the different lifestyle. She spoke of what she imagined sailing across the sea would bring. What it would be like to see the great temples and experience to see a play set in the amphitheaters of Athens.
As she spoke, Sasuke watched her eyes and face as they alighted with a yearning, a deep need for these things. It then dawned on Sasuke that perhaps Sakura had some validation in her claim, because she did not know any better. She had never left this island, she had never gone any further than the beaches and cliffs of this rock sitting in the middle of the sea. A piece of land that could be traveled in less than a full day's time. So yes, perhaps this was the most beautiful sight of Sakura's pathetically small world.
As she spoke of the wonders she had been deprived of, Sasuke began to think of other places, places not even of the mortal realm. He thought about the heavens and the god tree that sat in the meadows. He had only visited the place in the sky once when he was very young, but he remembered it vividly. He was certain the colors and aesthetic construction that the heavens of nature had created, would leave the already awed mortal speechless when she cast her jade eyes across the lands.
Sakura was still talking but Sasuke was no longer listening. But it did not matter as Naruto was doing his part to stay engaged and pester Sakura with questions about Sakura's aunt. The pair chatted away and Sasuke took advantage of her distracted attention to analyze her. She seemed so natural and relaxed than the other times he had been in her presence.
He took in her unique features that always seemed meant for a person far superior than a mortal. She did not belong in a dull world, she belonged in a place where her features did not defy what was around her, but instead complimented her. He thought of his own home. Though dark and dangerous, it too was beautiful in its own way. Incomparable to anything found in Sakura's world.
He began to imagine what her face would look like then if she were to see it. Would she be frightened or awed? Whichever it would be, Sasuke was suddenly struck with the desire to know the answer. And unlike everything else in his life, he was not indifferent to which answer it would be. He had a preference. He had a hope that she would think and imagine his home the same way she dreamed of the lands across the sea.
They stayed at the cliffs edge until the sun fell past the lapping waves of the sea. As the last glowing light began to fade and darkness began to take over the sky, Naruto stood. He let out a loud groan as he stretched and then in a flash he summoned his wings, giving them a few slow flaps as if recovering from being cramped within his body. The small gust caused a flurry of dust to rise into the air causing Sakura to turn her face away and cover her eyes. Sasuke watched her actions and glared up at Naruto.
"Oh sorry," Naruto apologized, stilling his wings.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Idiot," he murmured in a low breath as he stood as well. He heard a small breath of laughter escape Sakura and looked down to see a small smile of amusement on her lips.
"I need to go," Naruto announced, causing Sakura to rise to her feet as well.
After brushing off her dress, she moved to wrap her arms around Naruto. He returned the hug and Sasuke stared at them, taking in the affectionate interaction. Again his mind wondered what kind of bond they shared. When the embrace lingered longer than he liked, which was the moment they made contact, he let out an annoyed tsking sound.
"I thought you had to leave?" he said with an unexpected sharpness in his voice. "The portal will be closing soon."
His words had the effect he wanted and the hugging fest before him was ceased.
"Yeah, yeah," Naruto waved carelessly then looked to Sakura. "Are you okay to get home by yourself?" Sakura nodded. "Are you sure? Because I can fly you…"
"No," she cut in quickly as she shook her head. "I can manage just fine, I walk through this area by myself all the time."
Naruto gave her a nod. "Okay suit yourself," he shrugged as he took a few steps back from the cliff, preparing himself for a running start. "But one of these days I will convince you to fly with me."
Sakura smiled as if this was some kind of shared humor that the pair shared. "Well until that day I will keep my feet firmly planted on the ground."
Naruto grinned and sent her a wink before setting his feet into a fast sprint until he ran out of earth. He pushed off with his last step, arching into the air before plunging down. Sasuke heard Sakura take in a deep breath as she peeked over the edge. She watched with a nervous excitement in her face as Naruto suddenly snapped his wings open and began to soar up to the skies. He sped past them in a blur of gold and white. He let out a distorted farewell that was carried away quickly as he continued to climb then disappear into a patch of sky above the sea.
Sakura remained at the edge of the cliff, her eyes glued to the space of air where Naruto had disappeared. Sasuke waited for a moment before growing weary of waiting for her to break her gaze away from the disappeared portal.
Unlike the fallen, who kept their gates open at all times, the blessed kept the tradition of closing the portals during nightfall. It was something that was done during times of war as a defense, leaving no possible entry during their enemies most powerful times. Ever since Madara took the life of Hashirama the blessed had kept their portals closed during nightfall. As far as Sasuke could understand, Madara both liked and disliked it. It showed that they were afraid, as Madara had claimed with pride. But now that there were talks of an official peace to be made between them, it caused him to be untrusting and paranoid.
Slowly, Sasuke walked towards Sakura and laid a hand on her shoulder. She startled at the contact. Letting out a hitched breath as her sandals began slipping, she wavered to catch her balance. Tightening his grip, Sasuke pulled her closer towards him and away from the cliff's edge, steadying her as she finally found her footing.
"Thanks," she said, the word coming out breathy. "I forgot you were still here. You startled me."
Sasuke frowned at her words. He did not like the thought of being insignificant to the point that his presence could so easily be forgotten. "Hn," he hummed, then turned away, shoving his hands into his pocket. "Come on, You need to go home," he called over his shoulder.
"Are you walking with me?" she asked.
Sasuke paused and turned around to look at her. "Of course, it will be fully dark soon."
"I thought I told you I am not afraid of the dark," she said, her hands falling to her hips as they jutted to the side.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her attitude. This was a new development in her actions compared to last night. Perhaps she was becoming adapted to his presence.
This was good. It was progress and perhaps it would speed up his discovery of what it was about her that intrigued him.
"And I thought I told you that it's not the dark, but what's in the dark that you should fear," he replied. "Stop being annoying and just come."
She puffed out her cheeks then after a moment of thought, she let out the air in a huff. "Very well," she sighed as she began to walk towards him.
Sasuke stayed still until she reached him and then fell into step with her. He noticed she quickened her pace and he could not help the twitch of a smile. Without any effort he adjusted his stride, taking no more effort than before to keep up with her. When she noticed the ease in which he kept up with her, she let out another frustrated huff as her breaths became labored and she slowed down.
They walked in silence, the occasional cricket filling the soundless void between them. Sasuke watched Sakura from the corner of his eye. She had a happy smile of ease on her face as she played with the long strands of hair that were now collected over her shoulders. She had taken it down earlier as they watched the sunset and now her nimble fingers worked small braids into the rose strands with an absent mindedness. There was a thoughtful look on her face as she stared forward.
"What's it like?" She suddenly asked.
"What is what like?"
"To fly." She stopped walking and turned to face him, her green eyes looking straight into his. "What's it like to be up there?"
Sasuke stared back at her, her eyes showed no hesitation with their held gaze. He cocked his head in thought. He had learned to fly when he had learned to walk. It felt so long ago but he recalled it vividly.
He remembered a few occasions when his wings had dragged on the ground. He remembered the gruff voice of his father telling him he was too weak to even hold them up properly, let alone manage to catch air. He had been determined to prove his father wrong and worked vigorously at it. He remembered being frustrated when he seemed to only manage to achieve a prolonged glide. The disappointment in his father's eyes had stung deeply. His own brother had practically flown from his mother's womb when she gave birth to her first son. His father had been so proud of Itachi and then he was born and that same pride could not be found in him. A seraph who could not perform what he was born to do was an abomination.
With hours of practice, and numerous bruises and cuts he accumulated from crash landings before his brother suggested practicing over the lake for a softer less injuring crash, he finally made his first flight. He remembered landing sturdily on the ground before his father and the approving nod that his father gave him before walking away. His chest had swelled with so much pride at that simple gesture.
Sasuke often wondered if he would have cherished that moment so much at the time if he'd known how far and few of those looks he would receive in his life. He noticed Sakura looking at him strangely and he quickly cast away the unwelcome thoughts and focused on her question.
How would he describe such a sensation?
To him it was natural now. There was no effort or thought needed. But Sakura was not asking about how to fly, she was asking what it was like. And that was something words could not describe. There were not enough nor the right descriptions to paint a picture of the sensations one found in the sky. There was that change in temperature and pressure as one road the wind currents. The exhilaration as one plummeted to the earth. The erratic beating of his heart and the sensation of feeling the tips of grass graze across skin as he pulled up just before colliding with the earth.
"It is something only to be understood with experience," he finally said. Then, without thinking he extended a hand. "Would you like to know?"
Sakura looked at his hand, outstretched and waiting. Sasuke saw her own hand twitch but then she took a step back, her arms coming up to her chest to hug herself as her head shook from side to side. "No thanks," she said quickly then bit down on her lip.
Sasuke let his hand stay suspended in the air as he watched her. He could not deny he was slightly disappointed with her decline. But then he remembered the twitch of her hand. Something inside of her had wanted to accept it. It was that thought that turned the earlier disappointment into satisfaction. He moved his hand back into his pocket and shrugged.
"Perhaps another time then," he said and she nodded.
Satisfied with this, he began walking, pulling his hand from his pocket once again as he passed by her. His hand wrapped around her shoulder, guiding her to turn and walk alongside him. As they took up their earlier pace, he let his hand slide from her back. His fingers grazed against her soft hair and clung to a piece before regretfully releasing the silky tresses all together. Despite the warm summer night air, his hand felt oddly cold with the lack of connection.
He quickly shoved his hand back into his pocket when he noticed her looking at him with a strange expression. He cleared his throat and looked ahead to the darkening path before them. "When you do decide you want to fly," he began, "make sure you come to me and not Naruto."
He saw her look at him from the corner of his eye and he turned his head. Her face was pulled in question. "Why?" she asked, and Sasuke was pleased that he did not detect any displeasure in the request, just curiosity for his reasoning.
He gave her a smirk. "Because I won't drop you like that idiot will."
It seemed that perhaps having the goal to get Sakura relaxed around him could have been a mistake. The maiden could speak so quickly that it sounded like an archaic language lost even to an ancient creature like himself. But despite this, he clung to every word. Filing away things he could use later when he had time to analyze his findings. He took note of the tone of her voice. Analyzing the emotions that filled her melodious voice as she spoke of people and things. With each subject, he mentally paired them with the emotion, learning her likes and dislikes without her even declaring them.
They had been walking for nearly a half hour when his attention, for the first time tonight, was drawn to something other than the rosette girl that paced just a few inches from his left. Summoning his blood limit he scanned the area. His blood red orbs surveyed every tree and bush within a mile of them and then he paused when sensed it.
Like the thrashing waves of rapids, the chakra of another seraph moved through the rocky edge of the mountain. The tomoes of his eyes spiraled faster as a darkened anger coursed through his skin. His heightened eyesight took in the blue hue of the man's hair. The silver shine of a large sword gleamed in the sliver of visible lunar sitting high in the sky.
He moved into action, his body moving of its own accord as he grabbed a hold of Sakura and dragged her behind the large tree that they had just passed by. He felt his wings erupt with a heavy, smokey darkness as he pushed the small frame of the mortal behind him against his spine. His heart beat strongly as he masked his chakra. It took little effort as it was a skill that had been practiced and perfected over the years. What did bring about his strain was the masking of Sakura's soul. It was like a beacon set atop a high cliff with a bonfire alight that called to all seraphs both blessed and fallen to come to her. Never had he thought her more annoying than in this moment. She was too pure. Too innocent to not be a delightful find for any demon who had a yearning for the challenge in corrupting a soul.
Sakura felt dizzy and confused from the sudden change in their situation. They had been walking easily through the staggered outskirts of the forest as she spoke about a humorous exchange she had witnessed in the market today between a young child and his mother. They had been walking so closely together that it surprised her at how at ease she felt around him now. But then it all changed.
She had not noticed at first but eventually she realized that Sasuke was no longer listening to her. He had paused his strides and his attention was focused far off into the darkness that her eyes could not see through clearly. Walking to his side she moved to touch his arm and call out to him but then she noticed his stature.
It was alert and rigid. She was almost certain she could see the dark hairs on the back of his neck rising like that of an animal sensing danger. Then his head shifted, giving her a better view of his face and she noticed the faint red with black swirls being cast across the land.
Following his gaze she strained to see what he was seeing. She could see the mountain, framed and dotted by the small stars that were quickly taking over the skies. At its summit, she could see the geometric outline of the small temple that stood like a sentinel over the land. Along the mountain slope she could make out the darker shapes of trees and larger brush but nothing in detail. Only black blobs among darker or lighter blackness. She was about to turn back to Sasuke when she saw it. A flash of silver, the glint of metal and along with it, the shadow figure of something lurking.
She was not given a chance to observe it any more before she felt the sharp tug of her arm that was still paused in a half reach for Sasuke's sleeve. Wrenched from her firm stance, her body was dragged then spun and pressed into something warm and firm. The rush of a strong wind blew around her and she shut her eyes as the dizzy whirl took over her head and body as well as the consuming smoke that had summoned from nowhere with the gust of wind.
She shoved her face into the source of warmth, squeezing her eyes tighter as she caught against the weak footing she felt in her body. As it dissipated, she slowly cracked her eyes open. Then eventually she opened them fully.
Pulling her face free she found herself looking into the finely woven linen shirt of Sasuke's. She felt a roughness brush against her cheek and realized that his wings protruded from the altered slits of his shirt that were fashioned at his shoulder blades. She had always been curious about the function of this strange fashion design but now it made sense. She had seen Naruto ruin his fair share of shirts when wearing more similar tastes to that of folk of this region when he accompanied her into public amongst normal humans like herself.
She moved herself slightly, trying to peak around his side but she was stopped by the tug of her arm that he still grasped in his long slender fingers.
"Stay behind me," he hissed in a tone that was laced with warning and a hint of annoyance.
"What is wrong?" She asked, keeping her voice whispered.
She saw his red eyes glance down at her from over his shoulder. He peered down at her with a look that she could not place before turning back around. "He is a rogue demon," he replied as he kept his focus on the figure moving about.
"Is he dangerous?"
She heard Sasuke let out a near snort at her question. "To some maybe," he answered.
"Is he to you?"
She earned herself another hard glare before Sasuke turned his red stare back to the mountain side. He said nothing in reply but Sakura took his glare as one being offended. Naruto had told her Sasuke was part of a powerful family, but how was she to know there were no families more powerful. It happened all the time. Even among her own country, the power of leadership was ever shifting and in many cases, it was a person's own family member that turned out to be their greatest enemy.
Sakura did not understand the politics and ways of the seraphs but she had seen enough of their traits bordering on the same level of human traits, that she was not stupid enough to think they were any different. For all she knew, that figure could be very well a family member of Sasuke's. One of equal or possibly more power than Sasuke. From what she understood, Naruto and Sasuke were young for their kind, certainly the longer one lived the more powerful they became if immortal.
"Then why are we hiding?" she accused.
"Because I do not feel like killing anything tonight and if he were to see you, there is a high chance that could happen," he said firmly. The shift of his head caused her to look up at him and meet the hypnotic spin that she was becoming more and more intrigued with. "Or would you like to watch me rip him apart?" Sasuke asked, with his brow arched.
Sakura could tell he was being sarcastic but she could not ignore that there was an underlying curiosity in his voice. Did he truly think she would even consider such a thing? Yes, she knew the evils of a demon. Naruto had warned her about the deeds and corruption that they could cause a mortal to do. But still, killing was wrong, no matter what a person had done.
She sent him a hard glare. "Of course not," she said with a tone of stone.
She watched as a flicker of something ran across his eyes but he turned his head from her before she could identify it. "Then be quiet and stay behind me."
Sakura frowned at the back of his head but he either did not feel her eyes burning into his skull or he did not care. As time stretched on, Sakura gave up her glaring and let her eyes roam down to where his wings protruded from his back.
In the dim starlight she could barely make out the true details but she could see the small pulse where a vein protruded beneath the rough outer skin. She could feel his heart beating where her arm was partially pinned against his back. She watched with fascination as the beat of his heart synchronized with the pulse of the vein.
Her eyes moved on, moving along the edge of his wing. The polish of the spiked talon that rested atop the joint in his wing gleamed in the starlight. Without thinking, she shifted herself to free her pinned hand. She felt the tight warning of Sasuke's hand around the wrist of her other hand but he did nothing else to stop her from freeing her arm.
With slow, transfixed movement, Sakura raised her finger up towards the peak of his wing. She was curious if it would be like softened leather or weathered and calloused. Would it be warm or cold? The complicated web of veins that fed hot blood into the membrane seemed to be answer enough. But in this moment, Sakura did not want to deduce by facts, she wanted to know from physical evidence. Upon first contact she took notice of two things. It was very warm and surprisingly soft.
Sasuke had continued to watch carefully from around the tree as the familiar demon finally began to make his way in the opposite direction of Sakura's home. His eyes narrowed as he watched him disappear into the dark. It had been Suigetsu, a rouge seraph that was loyal to Orochimaru. And it did not look like he was just casually looking around for some poor soul to prey on. He was here with a purpose, looking for something specific.
His fingers dug into the bark of the tree at the thought. He did not like the idea of Orochimaru taking interest in something, or anything on this island. It was remote and sparsely populated. The few cities it hosted were mostly small trading ports with a few local taverns as an offering of entertainment. It offered nothing that the larger cities of the mainland offered when it came to options in sinful indulgences. With those facts, no rogue demon would ever look for souls here. At least not one as greedy as Orochimaru. Not unless there was something of true value.
The light brush and tickle along the veined leather of his right wing caused him to break from his focused thoughts and turn around. Sakura stood wide-eyed with her hand held in the air and a single finger poised guiltily. He looked at her finger accusingly and frowned. Then he ruffled his wings, wanting to shake the lingering sensation of her finger tip where it had traced the sensitive edge near his talon.
"What are you doing?" he asked, moving his glare up to her face.
She did not shy away from his glare. Instead she kept looking up at him, meeting his eye with a slightly awed expression. He narrowed his brows more when she failed to give an answer which seemed to break her from the spell.
"Sorry," she said, blinking a few times. "I just wanted to know what it felt like. They're so beautiful."
Sasuke stared at her. No one had ever described any demons wings as such. Frightening, yes. Daunting, sinister, powerful, all of these he had heard. But never had he heard them described as a thing of beauty. Again a phantom sensation ran down his right wing and it sent a shiver down his body. It was disturbing how much he enjoyed such a feeling and caused him to frown again.
"Don't do that again," he said, his eyes narrowing. "I am not a cat to be petted."
His reprimanding words seemed to have no effect as a smile spread across her face and she let out a small giggle. He sent her another dark look and she put on a serious face, though he could see the hint of a smile as she struggled to suppress another giggle that was attempting to break from her lips. He rolled his eyes.
"Let's just go," he growled. "I have other things to do tonight other than walk you home since you insist on keeping to your mortal method of slothful travel."
He heard her composure crack again as a breathy laugh sounded but did not turn around. The soft sound of her sandals told him enough that she was following closely behind. If there were rouge demons wandering this landscape, he was not going to risk her lagging behind. He needed to get her home then find the reason why Orochimaru had suddenly taken an interest in this island.
Like the night before they came to a stop just outside the front gateway to her family's home. Sasuke paused with his hands in his pockets as Sakura turned to face him. Her earlier ease and playful attitude seemed to waver as she began to nibble at her lip in thought, a somber expression taking over her face.
"You are one of them aren't you," she said, breaking the silence.
Sasuke stilled for a moment, there was no question as to whom she was speaking about. Demons. Fallen seraphs. The evils of the world.
He had never been ashamed of what he was. Questioned his duties perhaps, but never had he regretted what he was born as. Yet, as Sakura looked up at him, her eyes fixed on him with careful calculations, he found himself faltering, delaying what seemed like a dooming answer.
However, her tone had not been in the form of a question, but a statement. He could see it in her eyes, the truth. Therefore, why was she asking? Was she testing him? Or was she hoping she was not correct? What if he were to lie, tell her he was one of the blessed, one of the good ones?
No, that would not do.
That was not who he was, he knew his heart and his heart yearned to lead mortals astray. It was his damned conscious that he had been cursed with that kept him back from his potential. And it seemed like he now had another reason, in the form of a mortal girl that he had an unhealthy obsession in understanding. She knew what he was, but did she know who he was? If she knew what he could truly do, she would run away from him just like any other mortal. Yet here she was, looking at him with no fear in her eyes, an anomaly.
He tilted his head to the side. "And what if I was to say yes?" he asked curiously. "Would that change the way you see me?"
The silence that followed as he waited for her answer was painstaking. His heart changed pace to a more rapid throb. As he acknowledged the pounding within his chest, he realized something. He cared what her answer would be.
He watched her eyes graze across his face then move down his body, pausing at the small stitched symbol adorning the left side of his tunic. He watched her take in the details of the red and white thread that made the fan. Slowly they moved back up and he wondered if this is what she felt like when he surveyed her.
"No," she said simply but firmly.
Sasuke felt his shoulders relax. "No?" he asked with a lift of his brow. "And do you truly understand what I am?"
He needed her to know. Her lack of fear in the appearance of a demon that was not him had him worried. Did she not understand the dangers? Did she not understand his kinds purpose or the value of the soul that lay within her?
Sakura nodded. "Naruto told me about the divide between the fallen and the blessed."
"And you did not fear Suigetsu?"
"Suigetsu?" she repeated in confusion. "Was that the rogue demons name? Did you know him? Why did he go rogue?"
Sasuke did not have the patience for her to lose focus on the matter at hand. "Were you afraid?" he demanded more forcefully.
"No." Her answer was nearly instantaneous.
"Why not?" he continued to demand, his frustration at her lack in understanding the potential danger was bleeding into his tone.
"Because you said he was not dangerous to you," she answered simply.
He paused at this, trying to process what this meant. If he were correct, he was to assume she felt safe around him. Sasuke nodded at this idea. It was a truth, she would always be safe around him. But he had to be sure he was right.
Keeping his eyes trained on her face for any hint of deceit, he continued his interrogation. "And yet you are not afraid that I may claim your soul and drag it down to the darkest parts of your gods underworld?"
She shook her head.
"Why not?" his tone was no longer demanding but still insistent.
"Because if you had wanted to hurt me you would have done it by now," she stated plainly. "And you made sure to keep me away from that other demon. If you wished me harm, you would not have protected me."
Her perception was sharp and Sasuke did not like this, it made him feel vulnerable. If a mortal could interpret his actions, there was no telling what an immortal could gain from him. It was he who was supposed to be learning about her, not the other way around. He needed to regain his standings.
Sasuke took a step closer, then another when she made no move to keep distance. He leaned down slowly, taking in the grassy smell of the countryside that had been trapped by her hair.
"I would not underestimate me if I were you," he whispered. His breath trickled across her shoulder, causing a budding of goosebumps to rise on her skin. "I am a very selfish person and I do not like to share. Who is to say that I am not just biding my time?"
She pulled back slightly, but only enough to look him directly in the eyes. "I would like to see you try," she defiantly challenged.
He watched the corners of her mouth twitch in a small self victory of her bravery. And he could not take it away from her. It was this version of this tiny mortal that intrigued him on the first day. A twisting ball of excitement rolled in the pit of his stomach and he gave her a devilish grin as he straightened up.
Her green eyes, of which the hue could still be seen in the darkness of the night, followed him. In a soft motion he raised his hand to her eyeline. Then, with a slow tap just above, he placed his index and middle finger to the center of her forehead. It was a familiar gesture he had been on the receiving end more times than he could count. But this was the first time he had ever offered the gesture himself. His arm had moved on its own accord but the moment the tips of his fingers touched her smooth skin, he had a feeling this would not be the last.
As he withdrew his hand her eyes came back into his vision. Confusion of his actions painted into her green irises that he felt he could agree with.
"Hn, maybe next time."