Chapter Fourteen: Deja Vu and Story Times
Present day:
Madara watched as the hunched form of a withered looking man came before him.
"I've seen you take better vessels in the past," Madara remarked with disgust. "I hope you are not becoming so weak that the body of an old man, who already had a deteriorated mind and no will power, is all you can achieve Sasori."
Sasori gave a sneer before an exhausted cough escaped his lungs. "Every vessel I collect serves a purpose," he defended. "While this body may be deformed, it has served me well in collecting some of my greatest masterpieces. These mortals take pity on vulnerability and as a result let down their guard. As the mortals good book says, there is a time and place for everything. That goes for my puppets."
Madara gave a disinterested nod. He could care less about the empty bodies that Sasori preserved and wore after sucking out their souls that they once housed before coming into his clutches. All Madara cared about was that the puppeteer was still of use to him.
"Very well," he acknowledged. "Then tell me, what has Sasuke been up to? Where is he now?"
"He remains in the city," Sasori reported.
Madara lifted an eyebrow, intrigued by this information. "You are sure of this? It is not like my nephew to linger."
Sasori nodded. "Well linger he has. He has been spending a lot of time wandering the city. Sits outside of buildings, watching, waiting."
"For what?" Madara pressed.
Sasori shook his head. "That I do not know. But recently he has made contact with some mortals. I assume perhaps he found himself prey."
Madara pondered this but did not look convinced. "Perhaps, but Sasuke has no need for souls. Unless boredom has driven him to hunt but I doubt it."
It fell silent as Madara went deep into thought, the only sound coming from his pacing as he walked along the wide window. The clubs day time workers went about in preparation for the coming weekend. He paused and stared down at a sound crew member who was flirting with a bartender. The woman looked thrilled to have the attention of the man and Madara sent out an influence of lecherous intent towards the sound crew man. He couldn't help but smile as the man leaned in to whisper something in the woman's ear who looked shocked, then heartbroken before anger rose to her face. The bartender slapped the sound crew man then stomped away.
It was pathetic really. But it was in his nature to steer mortals away from what would be good for them. However the juvenity of it caused him to suddenly gain a frown on his face. He had so much more in him, but now he had resorted to simple broken hearts.
It disgusted him.
He was a lord of the underworld. Not just any Lord, but the Lord, the ruler of the fallen. It was time he took his place back. His sister's husband, Fugaku, had run the fallen to a shameful mockery of what they once were. Making alliances with the blessed and following their rules.
It was time he returned. It was time he finished what he always meant to start. Unfortunately he needed Sasuke. Sasuke was the catalyst, the match, the spark that would start the fire. There had always been an underlying dark power within his nephews. At one point Madara had thought Itachi would be the one to unlock it but he proved to be more in control. Lucky for him, Sasuke had proven to be less in control and to top it off, Sasuke had a hunger for it. Unlike his pacifist brother.
Unfortunately, Sasuke was too much like Madara himself. He was driven by selfish desires which had been the delay in Madara regaining his full power. He needed Sasuke, but before that, he needed motivation for Sasuke. A weakness, a desire, a benefit. Whatever it was, Madara would find out what it was and then he would exploit it.
He took a slow sip from the rich amber liquid in his hand as he took in the face of the sound man. The poor mortal was preoccupied with questioning why he had gone with such an offensive pick up line on the sweet girl he had finally found the courage to ask out. Not bothering to take his eyes off the confused and heartbroken man, Madara gave instructions.
"I want you to find out why Sasuke is lingering. Find out what has caught his attention and report back to me."
Sasori gave him a low bow before making his way out of the club and into the streets of New York. He would first start with the mortals he had seen Sasuke approaching over the time he had spent watching him. But before then he needed to make a stop. It was time he found himself a new form, and the young red headed boy that lived in the apartment next door, who took pity on his crippled form, would do just nicely.
Tap.
Methodically and repeatedly, Sakura's index and middle finger hit the center of her forehead as she stared up at the ceiling.
Tap.
There was something eerily familiar about the gesture. But she just could not seem to place the time, nor place, that such a thing would occur.
Tap.
Everything about this situation had a heavy sense of familiarity. The forehead poke, the promising words, the sudden departure of a dark haired demon, the lingering confusion, the pondering of meaning. It was all familiar, down to even how she ended up laying half way on her bed with her feet hanging over the edge. She wondered if this was how mortals felt when they claimed to experience deja vu.
Whatever it was, it was infuriatingly irksome. With each poke of her fingers, Sakura hoped it would somehow trigger something in her mind. So far all she had managed was a buzzing headache.
Tap.
Her fingers landed on her forehead and she felt herself go cross eyed as she glared up at her paused hand. Her mind felt numb from the labored straining she had put it through for the past hour. It was like having something at the tip of her tongue but she just could not quite form it into something tangible. It was just a fuzzy blur that did not help with the dull throbbing that was forming at the point just right behind her skull. At the very spot where her fingers were now resting.
"Urg!"
The frustrated groan escaped her as her body lifted from the bed and she glared at the reflection of herself in the window across the room. With another huff she pushed off from the bed and moved towards the window bay and sat down. Shoving the panes wide open, she gazed up at the constellations that shone down upon the heavenly realm. Again she was hit with an odd sense of familiarity.
As she looked and identified her formations of stars, her mind wandered. There were too many mysteries in her life that she was suddenly becoming aware of. For a long time she had let things go, whether it was out of trust to her pseudo family members, or her own blatant oblivious naivety, Sakura had never bothered to seek answers. At least not in ways that would break the rules. But with the sudden trend of current events, Sakura couldn't help but think all of these mysteries revolved around one thing.
Herself.
Perhaps it was a bit conceited but it was how she felt. She hoped it didn't but until she could find the proof, she wouldn't be able to let it go. Her tolerance for being kept in the dark was growing to its end. Over the centuries it had been rubbed and worn thin. Now it was threadbare and about to completely unravel.
The tingle of fingers dancing up her spine made her arch into the touch. The caress continued at her response, moving along her rib cage as the touch moved towards her right shoulder. Goosebumps followed in the tracing fingers wake, like bread crumbs they marked the path of the wandering fingers. They moved along the edge of her scapula where her wings would sprout but as they did, she was hit with a knowledge that there was nothing but flesh and bones beneath her skin. There were no dormant feathers waiting to be summoned to take flight. Her wings were gone.
She would have panicked at such a nightmare but there was something oddly familiar about the plain emptiness. She would have pondered more had the feeling not been overshadowed by another realization.
Her shoulder was bare of any clothing. And it was not just her shoulder, but her entire body. She was naked and the feeling of the wandering fingers were nothing short of intimacy that she knew she had never experienced. Not that she did not want it but she had never been given the opportunity, never found a partner in which she felt right about. There had always been something missing and always a layer of guilt. As if she were betraying someone.
Her thoughts became muddled as she was lost to the sensation of the fingers as they rounded her shoulder and moved up her neck. They found purchase as the hand moved up the nap of her neck and gently tangled in her hair. Tugging gently, she felt her head being guided to tilt to the side and her eyes closed as the fingers combed through the strands of her hair. Strands that were far longer than she had ever allowed her hair to be. Combing her hair to the ends, her hair was released as the large masculine hand ran down her bare arm.
Something solid and warm pressed up against her back and she could feel the steady rhythm of a man's breathing as his bare chest pressed up against her. A second hand curved from the top of her hip to her waist where it curled around to her stomach. A soft breeze grazed her left ear just before the gentle caress of a pair of warm lips brushed against her neck. The sensation lingered as she felt his lips draw away only a fraction of space and hover just above the surface of her skin. Her skin prickled and the hairs on the back of her neck rose as she felt his heavy breath trickle from his parted lips down her neck and brush her clavicle.
Her hand moved of its own accord as it reached up and behind her. As if she had performed such a movement countless times to make it a natural habit, she found herself grasping onto a mess of soft locks. She felt a rumble vibrate against her back from the man pressed against her. The rumble was her undoing and she pulled her arm down, her grasp on the silky locks tugging the mystery person's head, forcing the teasing lips back down to her neck.
The moment they made contact all teasing was lost to hunger. No longer was it just a brush of the lips but instead it was a hot open mouthed attack. His teeth scraped at her skin before she felt the warmth of his tongue trace her pulse, latching on a giving it a suck. When he released her skin his cool breath rushed over the moistened bruise that she knew he left to mar her skin. But she didn't care.
"Sakura."
It was a worshiped plea of longing that she felt was reciprocated by her own body. She felt that need and want within her core. The feeling was so overwhelming it ached. She needed to be closer, she needed to partake herself, she needed him.
Her eyes snapped open but it made no difference. She was in darkness, complete, suffocating darkness. But that did not matter. She did not need to see or breathe. She just needed to feel.
She extracted her hand from the silky hair and turned her body.
Sakura froze the moment she turned.
Two orbs of bloody swirls of red and black stared back at her. A faint glow ebbed from the gleaming red giving just enough illumination to see the mess of black hair above and the twisted smirk of lips beneath.
Sakura bolted from her bed, her heart beating wildly in her chest as her breaths came out ragged. With each beat of her heart, her head pounded with a near splitting pain. Raking a hand through her sweat dampened and bed tangled hair, she took in an uneasy breath as she tried to recall the strange dream she had.
Unfortunately it was like trying to grasp sand. The tighter she tried to hold onto it, the faster it seemed to flow from between her fingers. Soon it was empty with only a few grains that seemed to cling to her skin. The few grains she managed to cling to were just snippets and flashes that seemed to have no connection from one to the other.
While she was at a loss for what to do with what remained, there was one image that stayed well into her mind. Unruly, dark hair above scarlet irises that were swirled with a piercing black. And then there was that predatory smile. A smile she knew from more than just dreams. She had seen that smile hours ago on a man that had matched the features of the man from her dreams.
Sasuke.
The fact that she was dreaming of the rouge demon prince was odd. However what struck her as the most odd was the feel of the dream. It hadn't felt like anything she had dreamed before. The lingering emotions made it seem like she had lived it rather than dreamed it. Even now, even though she failed to bring up what she had seen, she still felt the residual feelings that were left behind. Lingering heat and desire that made her cheeks grow warm. She wanted to label it as lust but that felt too superficial. This was deeper, more meaningful. It was not a means to satisfaction but survival.
It all befuddled her even farther with her already confused mind. But despite the murky thoughts and confusion, one thing, one fact seemed solid and clear. Sasuke had promised her answers. At least that is what he led her to believe just before his departure the day before. Whether they were the answer she sought, she did not know but it was worth asking.
Logic told her to avoid him at all costs, but curiosity made her question that action. And all too soon she was laying her head back down as her mind pondered what she would do if she were to cross paths with a certain Uchiha in the future. Would she run or would she linger?
Sai was in the process of unchaining his bike from the bike rack outside of the public library when he approached him. Him being the man from the other day in the park. Sai had not gotten a full look at the man but it was his presence that was far more identifying. There was a coldness in the air, despite the warm spring sun and high humidity of the day. As if his body possessed a sixth sense, Sai felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. Before he had even looked up and saw the dark haired demon standing next to the line of bikes with his attention set on him Sai knew who he was.
Slowly, Sai stood and freed his bike from the metal bars that kept it standing. With steady steps, he wheeled it over to where the demon stood in obvious wait. He cast a wary glance around, suddenly worried about being alone. Sakura had taught him a lot, he knew better than what he once thought was right and wrong. But the heavy presence escaping the demons body before him seemed to beckon all too enticingly. He knew he needed to stand his ground and resist. It would prove that he had grown stronger. But another part of him wanted him to run away. Too afraid to disappoint Sakura by falling prey to temptation and too unsure if he would or wouldn't do just that.
"It's Sai right?"
The fact that the demon knew his name made him uneasy. A fact that must have shown on his usually unreadable face.
"My name is Sasuke," Sasuke introduced in an attempt to make the mortal before him relax. "I believe we saw each other the other day in the park. You were with a friend of mine...Sakura."
Sai shifted slightly, unsure of what to make of the claim. But despite his lack of belief, he nodded. "Yes," he confirmed. "I remember seeing you."
"Good," Sasuke said with a sharp smile. "So you have known Sakura long?"
It was more of a statement than a question in the way Sasuke's tone inquired and again Sai was wary. "A few years," he replied in a vague answer. Sai was sure that in all his years he had never met this demon except for a few brief bumps and passing. But the way Sasuke seemed all too familiar with him made him wonder if perhaps his recollection was failing him. Did he know him from his darker years as a youth? If so, Sai wanted nothing to do with this demon.
"And how is it that you came to know her?"
This Sai was unsure of how to answer. As far as he knew, demons and angels were not friends. That meant, whatever he said could possibly serve to hurt or endanger Sakura. To top it off, Sasuke seemed to know things about him, and Sai was unsure of the extent of that knowledge. Did he know that Sai had once been nearly fully corrupted to the point of no return? Did he know that Sai was aware of what he was? Did he know that Sakura was his guardian angel? He had never had to deal with or interact with divine and damned beings that knew each other aside from Ugly, Dickless, and on the rare occasion the grey haired sex obsessed angel.
As a precaution, Sai decided to go with the assumption that Sasuke knew none of this. When Sai had first met Sakura she had given him specific instructions to never reveal what she was. When it proved to be difficult, she gave him an alibi that he could use should anyone inquire of her. At first he had questioned the morality of it as he felt it was very much like lying. It was then that Sakura had explained how on rare occasions, keeping the truth to protect someone who was innocent was okay.
"She is my councilor."
"Seems a bit young to be a psychologist," Sasuke commented, obviously not believing his words.
Sai shifted uneasily. No one had ever questioned the validity of the cover up. "It is more of a peer mentoring," Sai explained, doing his best to remind himself that his lies were good and not bad if they protected Sakura.
"And what exactly is she mentoring you about?" Sasuke pressed.
"I um...got into some trouble several years back," Sai answered hesitantly. "Sakura has been showing me how to make better life choices."
Sauske rolled his eyes. Of course, Sakura would see the good in someone and think she could save them. If it wasn't a demon then she found the next best thing to "fix", a corrupted soul. If he didn't already know she was mortal, she would have been an annoyingly perfect candidate for an angel.
Sasuke wasn't completely familiar with reincarnation, but he felt that the nearly identical personifications were abnormal. She wasn't just another vessel for a soul, it was like a complete carbon copy.
However this fact did not dissuade him as it made him hopeful. It would make his task of slipping into her life very easy if he already knew exactly what would make this version of her tick and think.
"So your relationship is only on a professional basis?" he asked hopefully, recalling the all too casual way he saw them interacting in the park and was now hoping it had only been his imagination.
"Maybe at the beginning," Sai found himself saying, unable to hold back some truths. "But with time I have come to find her to be a fine companion for friendship."
It was an odd way to phrase it, but in the time that Sasuke had spent watching this particular mortal, he had noted that he was an awkward soul. Awkward, but obviously precious to Sakura. That he had no doubt. Sakura had always valued anyone who was bestowed the title of friend, whether they wanted her friendship or not.
"And where could I find her place of residence?" he found himself pressing.
Sasuke watched closely as Sai suddenly seemed to become even more nervous. After fidgeting for a moment, the mortal managed to look him in the eye as he narrowed his dark eyes.
"I thought you said you were a friend of hers," he said with a tone of suspicion. "If you were, wouldn't you already know where she lived?"
Sasuke's jaw tensed in irritation. It seemed this mortal was smarter than he thought. He forced a smile on his face. "An old friend," Sasuke said. "It's been awhile since I last saw her and it was by chance that I ran into her the other day. I unfortunately had to depart from her before I could get her contact information. But since we share her as a mutual friend, maybe perhaps you could oblige me. After all, any friend of hers is a friend of mine."
Sai felt the familiar feeling of influence wash over him. Like an invisible nudge, he felt himself wanting to let the information flow from his mouth. He pressed his lips together, resisting the urge to open his mouth and give all his secrets to the demon standing before him.
Painted on Sasuke's face was a smile that most would think friendly. But Sai could only see the dark intent behind the mask of friendliness. "I am sorry," Sai said, struggling to form the words that were not what Sasuke was asking for. "But I am not comfortable with giving that information away. If she wanted to be contacted she would have given that information to you herself."
The unthreatening smile turned into a gritted sneer that Sasuke quickly checked. This mortal's resistance to his influence was impressive. Especially for one who had such a spotted and tarnished soul.
He sent out another influence, much stronger than the one before and tried again. "As I said before," Sasuke said, doing his best to keep his temper. He would like nothing more than to hold the boy over a ledge until he uttered everything but he resisted the urge. Sai was important to Sakura and unfortunately, that meant Sasuke could not afford to let any harm come to the mortal. At least not yet. "I had to leave before we had a chance to exchange information." He sent out another pulse of influence. "I have been trying to reconnect with her for quite some time. I was only lucky that I ran into her at the park."
"Then perhaps you should invest in a charm?"
"What?" Sasuke asked, taken off guard that Sai had managed to resist his influence yet again.
If it were not for the nuisance of it all, he would be impressed. Though judging by the bead of sweat that was forming at his temple, Sai was struggling. Which meant he was consciously aware of the influence that Sasuke was sending his way. He was mentally battling against it.
Interesting, Sasuke thought to himself. It seemed that Sai was aware of the existence of seraphim. It made sense given the fact that Sakura seemed to have a knowledge of them as well.
"A lucky charm," Sai said, breaking Sasuke from his thoughts. "You should get one, then perhaps you will be lucky again in running into her. Now I must apologize but I will take my leave first. I have things to attend to."
Before Sasuke could respond, Sai had taken off quickly. Sasuke could have followed but he chose to linger behind and process this new information. If need be, he at least knew where to find the mortal again.
It took him three days to find her again. Or at least that was how long had passed when he decided to make an appearance. It was strange to Sakura. Only three days had passed but it had felt far longer, and the anticipation for when he would appear again had surprised her.
She was making her way through the streets with Sai when she spotted him. Leaned against one of the legendary buildings of New York. His eyes stared at her through the throng of pedestrians that passed between him and herself. Not once did his stare leave her as he watched her. The moment she locked eyes with him, she made out the smirk that graced his lips and the glimmer in his eye that was an unmistakable invitation.
Sakura had had three long days to think long and hard about what she would do if she ever crossed paths with him again. Up until this moment, she was undecided. But now, she felt as if there was never any other choice. The promise within his eyes was too enticing and she couldn't resist.
She liked to think it was because he had answers but there was a deeper, nearly carnal reason. There was an ache within her that would only ease with the closing of space between them.
She turned to Sai who was oblivious to the entire exchange as he dug around in his messenger bag. They had been on their way to a job interview for him. Recently they had been working on being a contributing and functional citizen of society. This meant having a job, being self sustainable, and making something of himself. Sai had had many jobs in the past since he had been on his own nearly his entire life. Unfortunately his lack of social skills made it difficult for him to keep said jobs. So Sakura had been focusing on finding him a place in the world that he could thrive.
Art was where he thrived so art was where she decided he belonged. Perhaps it was cheating but she had influenced a small marketing company to give him an interview in helping with their graphic designs. The job came with the needed training, all a candidate needed was the artistic eye. This Sakura knew he had.
As she watched him fumble around, she took in his black slacks and dress shirt that he had already rolled the sleeves up. It looked less professional but she allowed it since it gave him a more artistic look and she hoped that they would see that too.
He paused in his rummaging and withdrew what he had been looking for. A small key chain that Sakura had given him last year as a good luck token. Content that he had it, he carefully stuffed it in his pocket then looked up at her.
She couldn't help but feel the proud swell in her chest and smiled fondly as she noticed his tie was crooked. "Be sure to give them a firm handshake and speak clearly, no fidgeting," she recited as she adjusted his tie with nimble fingers. She brushed his shoulders, clearing them of invisible lint as she took a step back to look him over entirely. Happy with what he presented, she gave him a nod and met his eyes. "Be yourself, just not...too much yourself," she added hesitantly. "Mind your Ps and Qs."
"Do I not pronounce those letters right?" he asked and Sakura rolled her eyes.
"No your letters are just fine."
"But you said—"
"It's just an expression," she explained. "It just means to be on your best behavior."
"Then what does P and Q stand for?"
"Never mind that," she brushed off, not about to admit that she had no clue what Ps and Qs meant. She had picked up the expression with the last mortal she served as guardian to but she herself didn't understand the origin of expression. Only the meaning. "Do you have your portfolio?"
He nodded and tapped his messenger bag.
"Good," she nodded, then fell silent for a moment. "Good luck and I will see you later."
"You are not coming with me?"
She hated the slight disappointment in his voice but she did her best to try and ignore it. It was the hardest part about being a guardian. Guidance, too often turned to dependence, and she always felt like she was betraying them when the time came to set them free. Sai was still far from no longer needing help, but he was at a point that there were certain things he had to do on his own.
Sakura shook her head, doing her best to focus on Sai and not the heavy feeling of the pair of eyes boring into the back of her head. "This you must do on your own, but you can tell me about it after."
"This evening?"
Sakura hesitated. She wasn't sure what would become of her day when she left him and approached the lurking man not more than one fifty feet behind and slightly to the left of her. However, the eager look in Sai's eyes made her not want to deprive him of this. This was important. If it went well he deserved a celebration. And if not, he would need someone to pick him back up from the defeat.
"Yes," she said, determination in her voice to keep the promise. "I will see you later tonight. We can go out to get that tofu cake you like in celebration of your new job."
He cocked his head to the side. "But I don't know if I got it yet."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "But you will," she assured, doing her best to stir up some confidence in him. "Now go on so you won't be late!"
She gave him a gentle nudge to send him on his way. Obediently he walked towards the tall office building and she watched him until he disappeared past the revolving door. Then with a deep breath, she turned around and began to make her way towards the dark demon that was waiting. Her feet moved faster than she was prepared for as the invisible pull seemed to eagerly spur them forward.
Sasuke watched her every move until she was standing before him.
"You do know this really doesn't help with clearing you of being a stalker?" she said with her hands on her hips. The sass she had managed surprised her but he seemed unperturbed by it. If anything he looked gleeful.
"And what exactly is this that goes against my case?" he said playfully.
He was in a better mood today than the last time he had spoken with her and she accused him of being a creeper. His talk the other day had set him at better ease knowing the relationship between her and the mortal boy she had been with. He had been watching them both particularly closely today. Checking to see if what Sai had told him added up.
"I mean you showing up and watching me from across the way."
Sasuke rose a brow. "What? A man cannot sit in the city square and appreciate beauty. I thought such actions were romantic?"
His words brought a tinge of pink to her cheeks and he smiled, causing her to frown as she placed her hands on her hips. "Not in this day and age," she replied. "It's creepy."
"Ah yes well, is it really stalking or creepy if you already knew I was coming."
Sakura opened her mouth to retort but was left gaping when she had no response. He had a point. He had told her he would see her. And it wasn't as if his appearance was unexpected. She had been on the lookout for him constantly for the past seventy-two hours. She crossed her arms instead.
"You said you had answers for me," she accused.
"I do," he assured. "But let's go somewhere more quiet and private."
He extended a hand, his long thin fingers splayed out for her to take. Without a thought Sakura's hand moved upwards to accept it. Just as her fingers were about to touch the tips of his, she caught herself. She quickly retracted her hand before making contact, taking note of the physical strain it seemed to take in order to pull her hand away.
When she looked up she noticed the action had not gone unnoticed from his eyes. Even now he stared at her clasped hands that she was holding against her torso, fearing that her hand would move on its own accord if she did not physically restrain it. Self conscious of his gaze she moved her hands behind her. The action broke his gaze away from her hand and he met her eyes once more.
As naturally as he could, Sasuke let his own hand return to him where it found itself stuffed into the pocket of his trousers. A smile came to his lips that looked forced to Sakura.
"Follow me then," he said with a tilt of his head before turning his back to her and began walking away.
They had walked in silence. With every turn down another street, Sakura found it to be less populated than the one before. With each turn, he would glance back to be sure that she was still following him. As if expecting that she would change her mind. The idea had passed through her mind more than once but each time her curiosity won out over self preservation.
Soon he abandoned the streets and took to alleyways and parking lots until finally they reached what Sakura assumed was their destination.
He had led her to a pier. It was vacant, secluded, and certainly private as he promised. As they reached the end of the boardwalk, Sakura gazed out across the water. Near the opposite shore a sailboat moved through the marina on the opposite side of the harbor. The breeze it sailed on brought in a salty air as a handful of seagulls sailed around, squawking occasionally as they searched for scraps of food. The hollow thud of the wood against wood, along with the squeak of rusty metal and the wet slapping of water sounded with each bobbing of the dock as the waves washed into the shore.
Grasping the wooden railing that was worn and weathered by the sun and salt, she cautiously turned around to face Sasuke. Despite the fact that she knew he was behind her, his presence still unnerved her in the way he intently watched her. Not once did his attention move from her.
Suddenly feeling self conscious, she searched for a way to lighten the mood. "So is this were you murder me and throw me into the bay for the fishes?" she asked, thinking about the numerous crime shows that Sai found a fascination with. Initially she had disapproved of them but it turned out they served a purpose in educating him on the definitely wrong things to do. It was a poor attempt at humor that even she failed to laugh at, mostly because a small part of her knew the suggestion was not as far-fetched as she wanted it to be.
Sasuke forced a stiff smile to his face and took a step closer to her. Like a startled cat, Sakura jerked from the wooden railing and attempted to keep the distance between them. Taking a side step, she moved away from the edge and towards the direction that would give her a straight shot to get off the floating wharf and onto solid pavement. At her action Sasuke paused, tilting his head to the side in contemplation.
"Um…" Sakura fumbled for something to lessen the awkwardness. "So...how exactly do you know me?"
Sasuke gave her a contemplative look, tilting his head to the side. "Would you like to hear a story?" he asked, ignoring her question.
Sakura gave him a confused look.
"Long ago," he began without waiting for her answer, "in an ancient land that was once the prime glory of the world-" he started to circle her- "there lived a young maiden. She was beautiful. With jewels for eyes and floral hair."
She felt a tug on the back of her head and turned her neck just enough to see that Sasuke had paused in his prowling and was now fingering a section of her pink hair. "Her long locks were velvety soft, just like the petals it mimicked." His eyes were focused on the pastel strands, his mouth slightly frowning at the short ends between his fingers.
Sakura took in the odd expression. His words seemed much heavier and melancholy than the sultry tone he usually spoke in.
Suddenly, his eyes shot up to meet hers. He held her gaze for a heart beat before his mouth twisted darkly, replacing vulnerability with predatory. He started his circling again, eyes roving over her body as he came around the front of her.
"She was a special girl with powers unknown to her."
"What kind of powers?" Sakura could not help but ask as he passed behind her for a second lap.
"Beguilement."
Sakura startled when his breathy answer was given closer to her than expected. He gave out a small chuckle as she whirled around to face him.
She looked at him quizzically. "You mean like a seductress?"
Sasuke sneered at her wording. "No," he said, a hint of contempt in his voice at the lack of decorum in her delivery. It was as if she were suggesting the woman in his story was nothing but a common whore. "She drew people in with her aura. She was lovely to look upon but that was not what attracted them. It was her pure kindness and gentle touch. She had a gift for seeing the good in even the lowest of creatures."
He paused for a moment as he seemed to drift off in thought. For a long moment he seemed to nearly forget she was there. When Sakura could no longer stand the awkward feeling of being intruding on his private moment, she cleared her throat. Snapping him from his thoughts, Sasuke blinked a few times before looking directly back at her. There was a small delay before his smug smile took over again.
Back to his unnerving predatory self, Sasuke continued with his story. "She dwelt upon a small island where she blissfully lived in ignorance that her home was really a prison. She lived happily in peace but she was meant for so much more. Her closed and small world held her back. Despite her yearnings, she resorted to being content with her simple and quiet life in the countryside. She would have lived and died wastefully and in vain had fate not stepped in."
He began his circling again, each time he passed in front of her, Sakura's eyes followed him. And each time he circled behind, her body stiffened in apprehension of an unexpected touch or close breath. It was not until he appeared on her other side where she could watch his every movement again that she managed to breath.
"One day she crossed paths with a creature that became intrigued with her," Sasuke continued. "She was different from others and he wanted to know why. So he befriended the young mortal maiden. Day after day he agonized over finding his answer but it was not until many months later that he discovered it."
"What was it?" Sakura asked, her voice breathy as she became engrossed with his story. It was strange, yet, so...familiar. She wanted to think it was one Tsunade told her back when she used to tell her all the ancient stories, but something about that did not seem right.
"She had a soul of the purest intent," he said, stopping again only a few inches from her face as he gazed into her eyes.
Sakura felt herself go nearly cross eyed as she stared back into the black pools before her. He was looking at her expectantly, as if waiting for some kind of understanding to hit her. But even if her mind was not already fuzzy from his close proximity and the powerful scent that came with it, she was not sure if she could find what he was hoping she would.
A crease formed on her forehead. "Why would that be significant?" she asked, causing a slight disappointment to glaze over his eyes. When he blinked, it was gone.
"Because he was a demon of the underworld," he answered. "Born and bred to corrupt and drag down any and every soul to the underworld where they would spend an eternity paying for the sins that he had enticed them to commit."
A shiver ran down Sakura's spine at the intensity of his words because there was not a single doubt in her mind, that the man before her, did the same things. Demons craved corruption and chaos. They thrived in watching a souls downfall. The farther the fall, the better. If this girl had been as pure in heart as Sasuke was leading her to believe, she could not imagine the allure she would have for any demon with enough ambition.
Sakura had looked upon thousands of souls, each one unique according to the deeds and intentions of each one's hearts. Some were blacker than Sasuke's own eyes, while others dull and grey like Kakashi's wings. Others she had seen, shined with a pearlescent beauty and light that flowed with life and true joy. Very few went untarnished. In fact, she had yet to ever see one that did not have at least a few spots that were slightly dulled. If she was correct in assuming what Sasuke was describing, she could barely imagine what that soul would look like.
"Did he?" She whispered, sorrow in her voice as her heart went out to any soul that would be targeted by a creature that would want to taint such a holy thing.
"Did he what?" Sasuke asked tilting his head to the side.
Sakura swallowed as she watched his eyes roll across the plains of her face. "Did he claim her soul? Drag her down?"
A dangerous smile crossed his lips and Sakura dreaded the answer that would bring about such a smile. "No," he said, surprising her. "She claimed his."
Sakura's face pulled into confusion. "What do you mean?"
His hand moved up to caress her face and she made no move to avoid it, too eager for his answer to register what he was doing before it was already happening. She felt his fingertips graze across her cheek as he leaned closer. Her heart began to pound against her rib cage, growing in rapid speed and strength with each inch he grew nearer.
"I mean," he purred lowly, his warm breath ghosting across her skin.
When he came to a stop, his lips were poised so closely to the left of hers that if she made even the smallest of movements, they would brush against the corner of her mouth. Sakura remained frozen. A petrified statue that could be mistaken as a sculpture of marble made by Michelangelo himself.
"Despite what he was and what he wanted to do to her, he had grown too attached to her. So he tried to separate himself from her, worried that he would some day lose control and give into his greed. But," he interjected, his voice taking on a soft vexation, "she was annoyingly tenacious in keeping his company. Regardless of his many warnings, she still saw goodness in him. Despite the damnation that she risked, she deemed him worthy of her own goodness. He belonged to her, and she…" his voice grew soft as he drew away from her face to look her in the eyes again. "...to him."
A silence fell between them as Sakura stared back at the demon. Gone was the predatory look in his eyes as they softly washed across her. Instead he held the expression of someone who had lost something precious and was intent on finding it before ever returning home.
"So they fell in love," Sakura concluded.
Sasuke let out an amused breath.
"Hn," he hummed. "Love is something that mortals like to attach to their precious people, but those bonds are so often broken with the boredom of time or death, easily replaced with another." He shook his head. "No, what these two shared went beyond the definition of love. There are no mortal words that describe what they had."
As he spoke Sasuke's eyes blazed so fiercely that Sakura could barely hold his gaze. But his hand that still remained on her skin kept her from looking away. There was something in his voice and in the way his eyes held so much intensity, she began to question this story's origins. It sounded like the beginning of a myth. Some romantic saga written by a whimsical mortal but Sasuke's eyes told a different story.
And then it hit her.
The intensity in his eyes, the heat that fueled it. It did not come from an appreciation of such a tale. It came from an understanding that went beyond empathy or sympathy. It was the look of someone who lived it. This was not just a fairy tale Sasuke was telling her, it was a memory. His memory.
Sasuke was the demon.
With this realization, Sakura was flooded with more questions than she could sort. If this demon had such a treasured and pure love, how could he be so heartless in his actions. Perhaps his past deeds had been embellished but even if they were significantly less drastic, the actions of Sasuke Uchiha were still far and beyond sadistic. And what kind of mortal could tame such a beast? Who was this woman?
"What happened?"
She saw Sasuke swallow hard as if pushing down the emotions she knew he had to be feeling. "She died," he said quietly.
Despite her suspicions of such a tragic ending, Sakura could not help but feel her own sorrow for the anguished heartbreak of such a travesty. It was as if she herself had suffered the loss. Her eyes burned as she stared back at him but it was nothing like the heat of intensity like Sasuke's. Instead it was from the tears that built up in her glossy green eyes.
"I'm so sorry," she said in a broken tone, causing the first tear to fall down her cheek.
Sasuke watched, mesmerized by the glistening drop of salty sorrow that fell from her long lashes. It intrigued him, made him wonder if this was just a part of her natural empathy or because it was something deeper. When the second tear dropped from her lashes he caught it. Wiping his thumb across her skin and drying her cheek.
He dared to take a step forward so that she was forced to tilt her head nearly straight up as he brought his other hand to her other cheek. Cradling her face in his hand, he let his head fall forward, stopping just as his long bangs touched the top of her head. His black fringes danced in the small breeze that managed to flow between them. The heat of her body radiated from the two inches that separated him.
"Why are you sorry?" He asked.
"Because you lost her," she answered. "I can't imagine what that would be like. To have loved so deeply and to lose it."
There was a taste of bitterness that flooded his mouth at her words. He knew he should have known better than to assume a simple story would bring back her memories. And yet...there was something in her eyes that said otherwise. It was as if she possessed the emotions and feelings but the real experience was veiled by the lack of memories. He attempted to see something tangible through the opaque veil but only continued to see muddled shadows, nothing of true clarity or understanding.
At this he concluded his eyes were just seeing what they wanted to see. Empathizing had always been her strong suit. When a person cried, she cried with them. It was a pity he saw in her eyes, not recollection. And it hurt. It hurt his heart and his pride. The later pain sent him into a natural instinct of defense.
He did not want her pity.
He let his hands drop from her face and took a step back. "Tch," he scoffed, giving her a look that accused her of silly naive. "Why would you be sorry for me? It's just a story."
The flatness in his tone made Sakura flinch at the ability in how quickly he switched. One moment she felt as if he were bearing his soul to her, the next he was cold and aloof, making her feel like a fool.
He took another step away, shoving his hands in his pockets as he looked out across the water. She could tell she had done something to displease him but she was unsure of what had caused such a change in his tone and body.
"Perhaps," she conceded, her tone treading lightly but she could not help but query on. "But are not all stories stemmed from some truth?"
Sasuke's attention moved back to her at her words, his body turning along with his head. For a moment Sakura nervously bit at her lip as he looked at her blankly. Tucking her hands behind her back, she dug the toe of her sandal along the boardwalk. He could not help but let the small smile come to his lips at the action.
"So they are," he stated with a fondness in his voice.
A demure smile crossed her face and his warm tone gave her bravery to close the distance between them herself. As she moved up to the railing she wrapped her arms around the weather worn wood and gazed out at the water. Sasuke joined her, taking position at her right and leaving just enough space to allow the breeze to travel between them.
The amount of time that passed between them went unchecked as they stood in silence and watched the ferry boats cross over the bay. Or at least Sakura watched the boats as Sasuke watched her.
"What happened to the demon?" Sakura asked suddenly, breaking their relaxed silence.
When she received no immediate response, Sakura looked up at him to find that he was already turned toward her with a pensive expression. As if he were struggling to find the right answer to her question.
"Unwilling to let her go, he vowed to bring her back, no matter the cost."
"And what was the cost?"
"Does it matter what the cost was? No price was too high." She raised an eyebrow, unsatisfied by his answer. Sasuke let out a sigh a turned more somber, his eyes moving to the water. "Without her light, he fell into darkness," he replied. "A darkness he had never imagined and there he dwelled for centuries."
There was a pause when Sasuke finished, and Sakura waited for him to continue. When she realized he had no more to add, her nose scrunched up. "I don't like the ending of your story."
Sasuke let out an amused breath and leaned closely to her, his nose coming to a stop just inches from her own pert nose. He grinned at her. "Who says it's the ending and not just the beginning?"
His words brought a knot to her stomach and she took a step back. Unnerved in the unknown underlying of his words. She swallowed thickly. "So what is the ending?"
He turned his body fully so he was facing her frontly as he rested his arm against the railing. "That, my dear Sakura," he began, raising a hand to poke her in the middle of her forehead,"...has yet to be written."
She let out a surprised grunt at the action and he retracted his fingers as she stared at him. He smiled at her, his eyes shining with a sparkle that left Sakura even more uneasy. It was an unhinged look like someone on the bridge between sanity and crazed actions.
"But do not freight," he assured her, thinking the unease was from the displeasure of receiving no conclusion to his tale. "I have a feeling you will get your ending very soon when all the stars are finally aligned."
His eyes glanced up to the sky.
"You should go now. I believe you have a promise to keep and it will be dark soon. It is not safe for you to wander around in the dark."
Sakura frowned at his words. Not only because she realized he had been eavesdropping on her conversation with Sai or because she felt like she was being treated like a child. But it was mostly the familiarity of it. It was like she had heard the warning multiple times.
As an angel, she knew the dangers that came with the departure of the sun. But it was a danger that everyone knew about, it was instinctual for their kind. There was no need to voice it. Yet, the warning sounded like a broken record, a repeat of something she had heard a thousand times.
"Wait," she protested when he looked as if he were about to leave. He paused and looked at her. "You said you would give me some answers…"
He smiled oh so sinfully. "And you trusted the word of a demon?"
Sakura stared at him in disbelief, her green eyes wide as her mouth hung open. They had both alluded to the fact that she had a knowledge of what he was, but it was the first time either of them had so blatantly acknowledged it.
"Well…yeah," she said dumbly, hating herself for admitting that yes she had in fact trusted the word of not only a stranger, but a demon.
"Hn," he hummed. "Still just the same."
Her face scrunched. "What do you mea—nhg."
She was cut off when he suddenly jabbed the center of her forehead again. "Next time," he said as he withdrew his fingers. "I promise."
"When will that be?" She questioned, rubbing her forehead as she glared at him. "Two days, three weeks?"
He smirked. "Tomorrow," he answered as he waved his hand gesturing to the area where they stood. "Same spot."
He was gone in a blur, leaving Sakura alone to make her way to find Sai and hopefully congratulate him on his new job.