CHAPTER 15.
You will be burn and you will burn out;
you will be healed and come back again.
Fiodor Dostoyevsky
Sasuke's tears fell on Sakura's still chest, after a few seconds he began to notice how something strange was beginning to happen. As each tear fell from Sasuke, a small, faint light came out of Sakura's chest. Sasuke stared at that in amazement, how could it be? Little by little that light began to flow more intensely, it was a blue, almost gray light that came out of Sakura's chest. Sasuke moved away from her slightly, but without letting go of her in his arms. He observed what was happening.
Sakura's pink hair was beginning to have a different color, several silver strands came out, and her face was no longer pale but had a little color in her cheeks. Sasuke realized that Sakura's chest began to move, she was breathing.
"Sakura," said softly almost afraid that she would fade. Sasuke approached her face to see if she was really breathing, and indeed Sakura began to breathe again. The men who were present watched the scene in astonishment, just like Sasuke, they didn't really know what was happening. Although one of the four had a slight idea.
Sakura half-opened her green eyes; at first her vision was blurry, there was a dark spot in her periphery, and after several blinks she could see the beautiful face of Sasuke worried. He was as handsome as ever, although he looked tired, he had marks under his eyes from not having rested properly the last few months, but especially the last few hours.
"Sakura," Sasuke whispered again while he brushed several silver and pink locks from her face. "Can you hear me?"
"Sasuke..." she couldn't articulate another word. She was tired, her body was covered in bruises and wounds.
"Karin!" Sasuke shouted; this time he wasn't going to miss the opportunity to make her disappear between his fingers again "Karin! Come here damn it, I order you!" Sasuke shouted maliciously. And seconds later the figure of the red-haired woman appeared running into the room, approaching so quickly that she could barely stop in front of the renaissance figure of Sasuke and Sakura on the floor.
"Sakura," Karin said as she put her hands on her chest and began to do her magic. A small, dim green light came out of Karin's hands, giving warmth and at the same time soothing the pain. "She is okay, my Lord, but she needs to rest and," she paused for a second observing the deplorable state Sakura's body was in, "a good bath. I'm taking her to her chambers," Karin said as she stood up and turned to look at Jugo who had come out behind her to pick her up in his arms, he was the most bulky of Sasuke's three subjects.
"No," Sasuke said, "take her to my chambers and let her rest there." Karin looked at him with questioning eyes, but she didn't want to ask anything. "She'll be safer there," Sasuke explained. He didn't have to explain himself, but he felt he had to. Karin simply nodded and Jugo gently picked up Sakura, and the three of Sasuke's subjects left the room, leaving only the four gods alone.
"What just happened?" Sasuke asked as he walked towards his uncle and father looking for an answer. Both men stared at each other, while Itachi watched as the two old gods tried to give an explanation to what happened.
"You know that gods are immortal, right nephew?" Thanatos began to speak and Sasuke nodded "But the concept of immortality has a small nuance," the god of Death explained. "When a god dies, it seeks reincarnation in another body," Sasuke looked at him absorbed trying to follow what he was trying to explain. "Just a few hours ago the goddess Selene committed suicide promising that she would resurrect as a star,"
"In Sakura?" Sasuke asked astonished.
"When Obito created Sakura in the fantasy world, she was originally a star. You already know that your brother can only create inanimate beings, but just like your power, they can transform into humans," explained Hypnos. "Before she died, Selene had dreamed that she would become a divine star. It seems that her resurrection has been intertwined with the dream world, and in such a way, it is possible that Sakura is now the goddess Selene,"
"Is that possible?" asked Sasuke.
"Is it possible?" laughed Thanatos. "Of course. It is not that it is possible, it is that it is necessary. A god cannot die, so it is reincarnated. And after Sakura's death she has been intertwined with the dream world, which is why your pleas may have borne fruit and the goddess Selene may have heard you," said Thanatos with an amused smile. Sasuke looked at his older brother for a logical answer. He knew that his uncle and father knew much more than his brother, and had more experience than both of them, but Sasuke always valued his older brother's opinion above all else.
"Makes sense brother," Itachi said knowing he was seeking his opinion, "Just like we need a new Phantasos now," he said as he looked at his father.
"That's right," Hypnos replied "A Somnia just died," he spoke with utter sadness and regret. After all, it was one of his sons. It was the first son he had lost, though he understood the cause was just.
"Do you have in mind which Somnia will replace him?" Thanatos asked.
"I think Shisui is the most suitable Somnia for the position," Hypnos said as he looked at Itachi and Sasuke. Itachi nodded in approval of his father's choice, and Sasuke did the same. Shisui was the slightly older son than Itachi, but younger than Indra. "Likewise, I have to consult with your mother. You know I have to make this decision with her," both sons nodded understanding it was the fairest thing to do. When Sasuke, Itachi and Obito were crowned as the Somnia in charge of the Dream World, there were both parents present, so this time it was not going to be any difference.
"Well, I have to go take Obito's body to Hades," Thanatos said as he approached Obito's lifeless body. The three men stood watching as Thanatos did his work. As he approached Obito he crouched down and big black wings emerged from Madara's broad back enveloping both bodies and disappearing instantly in a mere flutter of wings.
"I'm afraid I have to go as well," Fugaku said. "I have to speak with your mother and make preparations for the coronation of the new Phantasos," he explained as he dissipated, leaving Morpheus and Phobetor alone.
"How are you feeling?" Itachi asked a very sorry-looking Sasuke.
"Tired," Sasuke said, running a hand through his hair that was now mostly loose.
"Rest. We'll see each other soon," Itachi said as he disappeared in the form of a crow, leaving Sasuke alone in the throne room.
Sasuke looked at his throne, it was a large dark one made of wood and iron. He noticed how it was alone, there in the middle of that large room. A king needs a queen, Sasuke thought. But that thought quickly made him remember Sakura's condition, and he quickly went to his room.
When Sasuke arrived at his room, there was Sakura lying on his large bed, with dark, silky sheets. He saw Karin who was at her side watching Sakura's progress, and when she saw Sasuke enter, she got up and approached him.
"She's stable, she's fine. I've been able to heal all her wounds. The thing is... that..." Karin said confused, and Sasuke looked at her furiously.
"Eros has...?" asked angrily.
"No, no." Karin quickly replied, "There's no sign of any kind of abuse," she said calming Sasuke and he sighed in relief. "There's just something off about her," she said confused.
"Like she's not Sakura anymore?" Sasuke asked arching an eyebrow.
"Not exactly. She's still Sakura, but I've noticed an incredible power in her, like she's a deity," Karin explained. "I know it doesn't make sense, because the last time I healed her there was nothing like that, but now..." Karin said.
"It makes sense, Karin," he replied curtly, but he didn't want to explain any further for now. Karin stared at him in confusion, but she didn't want to ask. She looked at him again with respect, waiting for an answer, but when she realized that he was not going to say anything else, she knew it was time to leave.
"I'll leave you two alone," Karin said as she opened the door.
"Thank you, Karin," Sasuke said as he walked over to Sakura.
"Of course, my Lord," she replied as she walked out of the room, leaving the two of them alone.
Sasuke looked at Sakura's body, which remained peacefully resting on his bed. Her body seemed so small there on that huge bed. Her pink skin and the turquoise nightgown that Karin had put on her, as well as her pink and silver hair, stood out against those black sheets. Having her there in his bed was Sasuke's greatest fantasy, and how ironic that fantasy had not been created by the god of fantasies himself, Sasuke thought as he let out an ironic chuckle.
He had the urge to touch her, to caress her fine, silky skin, but he was afraid of how she would react after being with Eros. It was possible that Sakura was uneasy by that experience, and he did not blame her. So, he acted cautiously. He sat down next to her, and caressed her cheek, observing that her skin was warm, unlike a few hours ago, when it was pale and cold. He brushed away several silver strands; he could not believe that Sakura was now Selene, the goddess of the Moon. How ironic, Dream in love with the Moon, Sasuke thought. At that thought he watched as Sakura opened her big, green eyes. It took him aback almost taking his breath away. She was the most beautiful goddess in existence, and she did not belong to Olympus. His heart skipped a beat as he watched her wake up, after having gone through the absolute terror of her loss, having her there in his bed was a gift from the gods themselves, but it was a gift from Selene.
"Sasuke," Sakura said as she took his hand that was on her cheek, and closed her eyes. His touch was gentle but firm, "Thank you," she said as she snuggled into the sheets.
"You don't have to thank me," he replied softly.
"You were right," she spoke again, but Sasuke didn't quite know what she meant. He let her speak. "Every time I'm away from you something bad happens to me," she said as she held his hand against her cheek and looked up at him from down lying there and him sitting on the edge of the bed next to her.
"Now that doesn't matter," Sasuke told her not wanting to have one of their usual arguments right now. "What matters is that you're here with me safe and sound," he said as he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear with his free hand.
"It does matter, Sasuke," Sakura replied seriously, "I promise I will never be separated from you again," and Sasuke looked at her strangely. It was possible that the bad experience of the recent events had led her to have a fear of being alone. Sasuke didn't want to happen that way. He didn't want Sakura to have learned that the world was dangerous through traumatic experiences.
However, now that Obito was dead, her life was no longer in danger, and being a goddess, even less so. She now possessed unlimited power, which she would have to start learning to use, Sasuke thought on the other hand. But now was not the time to explain all that to her, Sakura needed to rest.
"Sakura, don't worry, you're not in danger anymore," he simply said calmly. And Sakura nodded, closing her eyes.
Sasuke got up to let her rest alone, intending to sleep in a room, one of the thousands he had in his castle. Finally, he could also rest peacefully without anyone interrupting his rest. Sasuke also needed a bath, and to change his clothes. When Sakura realized that Sasuke was getting up and moving away from her, she took Sasuke's hand again, he looked at her confused.
"Stay," Sakura said, more than a request it seemed like a plea. At her words Sasuke could not deny her that, he did not want to move away from her either, so he nodded.
He headed to the bathroom, took a relaxing bath, and changed into more comfortable clothes. When he came out of the bathroom, he noticed that Sakura was still awake, looking at him with her bright emerald eyes. Sasuke wanted to give her some space so he headed towards one of the sofas on the other side of Sasuke's huge room.
"Where are you going?" Sakura asked him confused as she sat down on the bed, almost worried.
"I'm going to rest," he answered as he settled down on the sofa.
"Y-you can sleep here..." Sakura said timidly. "There is plenty of space h-here, we can fit the t-two of us easily," she said this time looking away from him. At that answer Sasuke smiled and didn't think twice, he went straight to his bed. He lay down without wanting to touch her body, afraid that Sakura would feel a rejection towards him after the experience she had had. But instead, Sakura looked for him, took his hand, apparently, she needed his touch to feel safe. And Sasuke didn't think twice, he took her in his arms, hugging her small body that was now shaking from the fear and terror she had experienced a few hours ago. "Thank you," she whispered, as she settled into his arms, seeming to feel more comfortable under his touch now.
"You don't have to keep thanking me for everything," Sasuke's voice conveyed total calm and security, "You know that all I want is to protect you and for you to be safe here with me," Sasuke said firmly.
Sakura nodded at his words, and relaxed into his arms. That image of Sakura so vulnerable broke Sasuke's heart. He had to do something about Eros, he still wasn't sure what he was going to do, but it was clear that he was going to pay for everything he had done to her. His furious thoughts were interrupted by Sakura's almost inaudible sobbing, and there she fell asleep crying in his arms, while Sasuke promised himself that he would kill the god of love for having made the love of his life suffer.