Chapter Twelve: Painful Anniversary and a New Neighbor

Ancient Greece:

It was but a blur when it happened and even after when she recalled it in her mind later. They had been lazily enjoying the abandoned wheat fields near her family's olive grove. Sasuke had his head in her lap while she had been enjoying the moment and feeling of the days lethargic pace when she looked down at him. For a moment, for one solid and paused breath, time seemed to slow impossibly more.

Dark eyes looked up at her with onyx color that was such a rich luster that it was like gazing into the midnight sky. She felt far more trapped in that moment than when she had ever gazed into them when they had bled into red pools of hypnotizing allure. But that was when clarity ceased and blurriness took over.

In the blink of an eye, he had removed himself from her lap. It had happened so quickly she had thought he had dissolved into nothing. But then she spotted him standing on the opposite side of their small sanctuary of flattened grass, looking at her with nothing less than horror. Before she could even be alarmed by what could cause such an expression to appear on his apathetic face, it transformed.

Confused, she had made a move to stand and that was when he had shouted at her to not move. That was when it hit her and the hurt of the rejection was nearly physical. Disgust was what she saw on his face. Disgust and contempt and it was all directed at her.

Naruto had gone after Sasuke not long after his hasty and unexplained departure, thus leaving Sakura alone, feeling confused but mostly hurt.

There were two things that remained vivid in her mind. The look of near worship as he gazed up at her from her lap and the repulsed expression he wore as she attempted to shorten the smallest of space between them. She had folded into herself and wept until Naruto returned an hour later. Her eyes had long since dried up but the red and puffy swelling, as well as the salty tracks, told Naruto all he needed. After many cursings of a certain bastard, Naruto took her home, told her it would be alright, and to not take Sasuke's actions to heart.

"That bastard has more mood swings in a day than he has brain cells," Naruto had yelled. "Tomorrow he will show up as if nothing had happened. He might even be the one weaving flower crowns for you as he frolics through the field."

She laughed when her mind produced an image of such a thing. Sasuke would never frolic, he would stomp. And he would not be weaving the flowers, they would be what he was stomping on. But all the same, she felt better after Naruto's assurance that Sasuke would be back within a day or two and acting like nothing had happened. She had gone to bed that night feeling much lighter than she had felt earlier that afternoon. But the next day passed and then the next, and Sasuke had yet to make an appearance.

The metallic glint of reflected moonlight was all he needed to make a quick descent and land precisely where he wanted. Taking station on a cobblestone wall that ran along freshly tilled farmland, Sasuke glared down from his vantage point as his purposefully hard landing captured the attention of his prey.

Purple eyes gazed back up at him, a predatory smile resembling that of a shark spread across his face. "Ah, Sasuke Uchiha, just the demon I was looking for," he commented as he hefted his large sword from his shoulder and propped it into the ground to lean on. "You know you're a tough one to find. You would think with such raw power it would be easier."

Sasuke allowed an arrogant smirk to shape his lips. "I am only found when I want to be found. You're lucky that I was in a giving mood tonight," he replied before his tone and face turned frigid. "Now what are you doing here? This is not your territory."

The threat in his voice seemed to have no effect on Suigetsu as he grinned toothily. "Yes well," he responded. "As a rogue technically I am encroaching on someone's territory no matter where I am so I figured why not choose this charming little countryside."

Sasuke moved from his perch, wings making a flutter as he landed on the ground. His knees bent with the abrupt force only minimizing the small fissures that spread through the ground beneath his feet.

As he straightened, his eyes bled red in unvoiced threat. "Both of us know that you have other places in the world in which you would want your beady little eyes to rove over," Sasuke remarked darkly. "Now do us both a favor and don't waste our time, why are you here?"

Suigetsu's casual display only faltered slightly as he shifted his body, taking a subtle stance of defense that ceased to escape Sasuke's observance. "Orochimaru would like to seek out an audience with you. He has an offer to extend."

Sasuke's brow raised. "Never thought you would sink so low as to become that serpents messenger boy. Even for you that's low. Who would have thought the lone shark would ever be so weak and desperate to sell out for servants work."

Suigetsu's lavender eyes darkened to violet but despite the hate reflected in his orbs, he pasted a crooked grin on his face. "He made an offer I couldn't refuse."

"And now you claim he has one for me?"

Suigetsu nodded.

"Tch," Sasuke scoffed. "Don't bother wasting your breath, I already told him I am not interested."

He shoved his hands in his pockets and began walking away.

"You know," Suigetsu's voice echoed from behind, causing Sasuke to slow his steps. "I couldn't help but notice you have been spending a lot of time on this little rock the mortals call inhabitable land. Makes me wonder what's on it that would cause you to linger so long."

Sasuke did not turn around as he stared down the dark road before him. Gritting his teeth, he moved to take a step forward but was stopped by the next words that echoed through the night.

"I couldn't help but notice you seem to hover around a particularly enticing mortal. I haven't seen her myself but her soul's aura calls out so sweetly. I can't even imagine what it actually looks like."

Sasuke's fist was tightly clenched as he did his best to not show a single sign that would give away that Suigetsu's words struck a chord far deeper than intended.

"Well, I guess now you know why I have been spending time here then," Sasuke remarked back, his head turned to the side to eye Suigetsu threateningly. "Just also know that you are to stay away from it. That soul is mine to claim."

Suigetsu let out a scoff. "Please Uchiha, we both know that if you were going to claim that soul you would have done it a long time ago. It's not your style to play cat and mouse. You arrive, you corrupt, and you leave. Which makes me wonder…what exactly is so special about this one."

Sasuke swallowed, he did not like the unease that such a threat brought upon him. He should not care. Not this much. "Tch," he let out, turning his back to Suigetsu. "There is nothing special about this one. I just felt like trying something new."

"Nothing special eh," Suigetsu repeated. "Well then I am sure you wouldn't mind if I—"

Before Sasuke could even form a thought, his body had reacted on its own accord. One moment he was standing while facing the darkness and in the next, he was crouched over a more than stunned Suigetsu with his hand clasped around the demons neck. His mind was dizzy with rage and movement as he glared almost nose to nose with the violet eyed demon. He could feel the tomoe patterns in his eyes swirling so quickly they were just a blur to the rogue demon.

Teeth clenched, his seething breaths came out labored and hot as small flecks of spittle fell onto the demon beneath him. His body shook. He had never felt so out of control that had his mind been able to cognitively acknowledge it, he would have been worried. But at this moment, worry was but a fleeting thought. Instead he felt powerful and territorial. Like a lion who had found another lion trespassing in his pride, he wanted to rip the other creature apart.

It was just fortunate for the slippery eel that Sasuke needed a message delivered. With great restraint, he was able to calm himself enough to unclench his jaw to speak the words he needed.

"If I see you so much as look in the direction of this island ever again I will chop you up so finely that you wouldn't even be considered chum for the bottom feeders," he growled darkly before standing up, dragging the rogue demon up with him. Once standing, he shoved him. "Now run along before I change my mind."

Suigetsu no longer held any ease that he posed earlier. With caution, he nodded his head and stepped towards his sword, pausing in his crouch when Sasuke spoke again.

"And tell your master and any other demon you come across that they will share the same fate as you if they come near here. I want nothing from that snake nor will I ever."

Sasuke did not wait to make sure Suigetsu left. He did not need to. The look in his eyes was enough. He had seen that look many times caused by his brother, father, and most often by his uncle. It was always terrifying but also inspiring to see such fear from another's power and presence. Tonight was the first time Sasuke had ever seen such a look and he be the reason.

To say he liked it was false.

He loved it.

Despite her warm attitude and caring heart that made people like her, Sakura did not have very many friends. The island she lived on was small and the area she dwelt was low in population. While she got along with everyone, she could not call any of them true friends. Most were either too old or too young to be considered peers.

Over the past year, Sakura had grown overly fond of having both Naruto and Sasuke in her life. Despite his pervy habits, she had even grown fond of Kakashi's presence. But the silver seraph was not the same. For when it came to the sunny angel and midnight demon, she had found a special place in her heart. Naruto pretty much carved his own name in that place with how easily he contributed to their relationship. But Sasuke had been much more difficult. It was like a small seedling had been planted and while on the surface it looked like nothing more than a small sprout, beneath the surface was a complex and deep rooted system. The kind that would do damage if uprooted. And uprooted it had become.

On that day in the abandoned field, she had thought she had finally broken through to him when he had laid his head in her lap as if he did not have a care in the world. It was not as if Sasuke completely avoided touching her, and it was not as if she were hoping for his touch. But his habit of only touching her purely out of necessity had not gone unnoticed by her. Sasuke had always been careful around her.

Yes, he had his tendency to be slightly too close in proximity that left her unnerved every time. But rarely was there actual physical touching. Sakura was positive he did it on purpose. She had a suspicion he liked to make her feel uncomfortable. But that aside, actual physical contact was left to be far and few occasions.

That day he had so easily been trusting and open for the briefest of moments. It was what she finally marked as his acceptance of her. The budding of the tiny plant that had steadily grown over the changing months and seasons within her heart. It had warmed her so much that she felt a flutter within her heart and stomach that she could not help but beam down at him.

Sasuke had looked at her and for the first time, his face had been completely open to her. He had looked at her like no one had ever looked at her before, as if he were in awe.

There was no denying that such an expression coming from him was not flattering, and it stirred something within her. Sasuke was, by every means, the most handsome being she had ever laid eyes upon. Although his personality seemed cold and abrasive, Sakura had learned in the past year that it was just a front. While his methods and delivery were not always a mastery, Sakura knew that his actions and demanding aura were always directed in the preservation of those he cared for. A category in which she had thought she had finally earned a place.

But before the bud could even begin to bloom, it had been ripped out of her chest, roots and all. Leaving her feeling like there was a giant hole in her heart. Initially, Sakura had been confused and hurt but those feelings had been steadily changing over the days. Changing into something she rarely felt.

Anger.

It had been a month since she had seen a single spiked hair of the demons head. She had interrogated Naruto about it but the blessed seraph seemed to be just as confused as her. After the third week, she seemed determined to focus on being angry with the demon.

She found it hurt less when she was angry at him. It made his absence seem more like her idea than the uncontrolled reality that Sasuke seemed to have removed himself from her life. Or phrased more painfully, removed her from his life because it seemed she was not important enough.

Sakura understood she was just a small countryside mortal. Her life was dull compared to only what her wildest imaginations could derive from what little she really knew about the seraphim worlds. But all the same, without the anger to mask it, it hurt.

She had done well to not let Sasuke's absence bother her for the past week, but on this particular morning, she found herself having difficulty pushing thoughts of him from her mind. It was the anniversary of their first meeting. Like that fateful day a year ago, Sakura had awoken before the sun had come up to carry her families offerings to the temple and return with the fresh spring water that was blessed by the gods.

It was something she had always done with her father but in recent years the trip up the mountain had become too rigorous for his bad knee. So it was a task Sakura took upon herself to make sure her family's prosperity remained blessed by the gods. Last year was the first time to do it on her own, this year was her second.

Waking up before the sun had even begun to show signs of its approach, Sakura ate a small breakfast then gathered her offerings in a basket. Lastly she grabbed a light shawl to wrap around herself as the morning air was still cool despite the warmer season they were currently in. With the basket tucked neatly beneath her arm and her shawl wrapped around her shoulders, she lit a small oil lantern and made her way out the door.

As always it was quiet on the mountain side and the stars above were exceptionally visible tonight with the lack of cloud cover. Sakura had always loved this day. But despite the fond memories of the many years of tradition, there was a subtle melancholy this particular morning. Although she had done this alone last year, she had not felt lonely then. Today was different.

It was the year mark from when she first met her seraphim. Yes, her seraphim, for that was how she had come to know them over the year. They were always around it seemed. Even when they weren't there, they were there. She didn't know how to explain it but it was like their presence was ever felt.

But not today. Today she was alone. She felt nothing.

Doing her best to push aside the eerie loneliness, Sakura took up a swift pace in order to make it to the summit before dawn. With the dim light of her oil lamp and the full moon, it was easy to make her way up the winding path. However there was something about the way the light cast shadows all around her that left her uneasy. While darkness kept her from seeing dangers, the light made her visible to predators.

It was a silly notion as there were no predators in the area but Sakura still couldn't help but feel uneasy. As if something were watching her.

The memory of a wandering demon came rushing back to her and she found herself hugging her shawl closer to her as if it were a Spartan shield. A crack to her left had her whirling so quickly her lamp was nearly extinguished from the wind she had caused. Its illumination flickered and then slowly grew back to light her surroundings.

"Hello?" she called out, doing her best to keep the quiver from her voice. She swallowed deeply when there was no reply but the distinguished flutter of cloth confirmed that something, or someone was there.

"Sasuke?" she called out, hating how much hope was present in her tone, she was supposed to be angry with him. Again there was no reply.

Whether it was self preservation or stupidity, Sakura found her earlier fear being replaced by irritation as she lowered the lamp slightly and placed her belongings onto the ground. As she straightened she grabbed a few rocks that were near her feet.

"Sasuke if you are out there this isn't funny," she growled. When she received no answer again she threw a rock into the brush. "You have some nerve to not show your face for the past month and then decide to try and scare me!" She tossed another rock, this time throwing it harder than the first. "I'm serious, this next one is going to hit right in that arrogant mouth of yours that I know—"

She was cut off from her rant when a rustle of leaves sounded and a dark figure stepped out into the light. But it was not Sasuke she saw standing before her with his hands raised in defense and a gentle but surrendering smile on his face.

"Wait, wait," the stranger protested as he eyed her arm that was poised and ready to throw. "I came out, don't throw. I didn't mean to frighten you!"

Sakura stared at the stranger as her brow wrinkled. She did not recognize him at all, and while the island ports brought in a constant flow of new faces for trade and work, none of them ever wandered this far from the main islands hub.

"Who are you?" she asked in a guarded tone. "Why were you lurking in the bushes?"

"Can you put the rock down first?" he requested gently, eyeing the drawn back arm that held the stone. "That first throw was not bad but that second one makes me not want to know how much harder that third one would be."

Sakura studied the man for a long while. After a moment she lowered her hand but kept a firm hold on the stone. The stranger nodded and gave a small grateful smile.

"I am sorry to have startled you, my name is Oberon," he said taking a step forward but stopped when Sakura retreated back a step herself.

"What are you doing here?" she asked suspiciously.

"I live here," he answered. "I am new to the island," he explained quickly when she seemed to not buy this piece of information. "I live with my uncle you may know him. He owns the barley farm just a stone's throw from here."

Sakura knew the man he was speaking of. Aetós was a middle aged man who liked to keep to himself most of the time. However he had grown sick last winter and she had helped him recover and learned more about him than any of his neighbors. However she didn't recall him ever speaking of any family.

"Oh," she said slowly. "I did not realize he had a nephew."

Oberon rubbed the back of his head as he made a show of looking uncomfortable. "Ah yes well, I would not think that. Not too many people like to speak of the bastard son of their sisters. I assume he probably never mentioned he had a sister either?"

Suddenly Sakura felt guilty as she shook her head and quickly moved closer to him again. "Forgive me, I didn't mean to be so ill mannered and callous," she quickly apologized while stretching forth her hand. "My name is Sakura, I live in the manor a few kilometers from here, where the olive grove is."

Oberon took her hand and gave her a charmed smile. "No need to apologize," he said, accepting her hand and drawing it up to lay a kiss atop her knuckles. "A pretty maiden such as yourself should always be cautious when coming across a stranger at any hour."

Sakura felt a warmth grow in her cheeks. She hadn't always been one to fawn over men but then again, her experience with handsome men within her age was limited. Sasuke and Naruto did not count. Since they were already over a century old and not exactly young men. And then there was their ethereal beauty. She knew better than to even hope that they would look upon her with any attraction.

However, now that she was eased, she could not deny Oberon's own attractiveness. It was a bold statement but she almost felt as if he could give the seraphim a run for their money when it came to handsome features. Slightly long dark brown hair curled around his ears and the nap of his neck, the fringe of his bangs just barely framed his dark brown eyes. And in his mouth he chewed a piece of grass that gave him an easy going but roguish look.

"Well all the same, I apologize," she managed to say as she withdrew her hand and busied herself with collecting her belongings in an attempt to hide her flushed face until she could compose herself. "I just wasn't expecting to meet anyone and you caught me off guard hiding in the dark like that."

"Ah yes, well, it's a bit embarrassing but it seems I got a little turned around," he answered. "I couldn't sleep so I thought I would take a walk. But it seems I got turned around. Seems I somehow wandered off the path."

She attempted to give him a sympathetic smile. "I can see how that can happen when wandering around it a strange new place, in the dark, without a light," Sakura pointed out. It was perhaps a harsh judgment but Oberon did not seem to be too bright when it came to common sense. Taking pity on him, she held out her oil lamp. "You may take this if you would like to guide yourself home." She pointed down the direction she had been coming from. "Follow the path straight then turn right when you reach the old mill. That path should lead you straight to your uncle's farm."

"I couldn't take away the only light of a beautiful thing like you," he protested with a tone that held almost too much flattery.

Beneath the flowery words was an underlining of second meaning that seemed malicious. However Sakura ignored this. She never liked to be one to judge too quickly.

Sakura shook her head. "It's nothing. I know my way well enough I could get to my destination blindfolded," she insisted as she offered the lamp again.

Oberon reluctantly took the lamp. "How about this, I can escort you to your destination, then perhaps you could walk me back when you finish with your things. I wouldn't feel right knowing you were out here all by yourself. There could be other things that are lurking in the dark besides lost city boys."

Sakura couldn't help but give him only a polite smile. In any other case she would have been fully amused but his words had reminded her of another handsome, dark haired man that gave out similar warnings of what lurked in the darkness. Immediately Sakura frowned at the thought of Sasuke. She was not supposed to be thinking about him. Thinking about him made her miss him and she would not miss someone who walked out of her life without a care. She was moving on. From what exactly was a bit grayed, but all the same, she refused to dwell on it.

With this determined reminder, Sakura faced Oberon and forced a more genuine smile. "I would be happy to have your company," she said as she looped her hand through his offered arm and began to walk with him, setting her attention up the darkened path.

As she began to talk animatedly and inquire of Oberon's life before coming to the island, she failed to notice the dark desire that flamed in his eyes. Little did she know that Oberon was just the name of the last mortal soul claimed by the demon walking alongside her. Little did she know that he was in deep need of a soul to keep him going a little longer since his recent banishment from the underworld.

As the rogue demon supplied fanciful answers taken from stories he had stolen from the mortals he preyed upon, he failed to realize who the true prey was in this situation. For little did he know just what a precious jewel he had crossed paths with. Most rogues stuck to the cities where there was an abundance of souls. But there was a risk of running into seraphim, both blessed and fallen. Muso, the true name of the demon, was young, he had yet to even collect a century to his name, therefore he was weak.

He would not have lasted more than a decade before being hunted down by an archangel or demon lord. So he resorted to the outskirts, making his prey far and few. Normally he would not have come to such a remote island but something had drawn him here.

He had thought it was desperation but the moment he sensed her soul, Muso knew that it had been her. This ignorant little mortal girl that had him practically drooling with how delectable her aura was. The rogue had thought himself lucky in finding a diamond in the rough. He had yet to fully look into her soul but he could sense it had a strong purity. It would last him far longer than the murderous soul he had last claimed. However, little did he know, that this diamond was guarded by a creature far more menacing than a dragon in its treasure trove.