Death Of A Soul (2)

[wicked]

Disclaimer: Still applicable.

<b>Death Of A Soul: Chapter Two</b>
by Wicked Child

Their hearts heavy, the three men made their way back to their village, each with a somber expression adorning their faces. No one spoke. No one knew what to say. What could they say? Two had lost their teammate and one lost his student. Speaking now would prove pointless. They all knew what happened.

They failed.

The three of them failed in protecting their teammate. They failed in seeing what her presence meant. They failed so many things, no one more worse than the other. The cold hard truth was simple. They failed. And now they walked toward their home bringing with them the news that Haruno Sakura did not accompany them.

Kakashi looked back at his two subordinates. Both boys had their eyes downcast, hands shoved in their pockets. It had been a difficult task in getting both prepared for the journey home. Naruto had run himself out, passing out in the forest from the release of emotion. It had been a difficult task to leave Sasuke but he had refused to leave the bloody scene. Kakashi had acquiesced and searched for Naruto on his own only to return to find Sasuke in the same spot. At least by then the Uchiha had stopped repeating her name as though it were a mantra of his.

Sasuke had looked up at him then and said that he?d tell her parents. He also stated that he?d kill his brother not only for himself but for Sakura as well. Kakashi internally recoiled at the newfound hatred in his genius student. He then watched as Sasuke began picking up the remnants of red dress that littered the ground, silently and carefully placing them in his pack. Kakashi thought he heard the boy whispering her name again. He himself was at a loss as to what he should say or do. Team Seven was his first successful team. The only team he ever passed. He loved them each, individually and as a group. It never once crossed his mind to not lay down his life for any of them. He would gladly do so, but he refused to allow any of them to do such a thing for him. He had lost friends in battle, but never a student.

His mind brought a memory from their first real mission to the Country of the Wave. He had stated that he wasn?t going to let anyone on his team die. They had complete faith in him then, despite his eccentricities. She had faith in him. <i>Add the guilt from her death to your ever growing list Kakashi,</i> he thought bitterly.

The gates of Konoha loomed in front of them. It had been only days since they left but to each an eternity separated them from those housed safely within. The guard nodded at them as they passed by, frowning slightly at the absence of their pink-haired companion. However, their battered appearance mixed with their solemn faces told him everything he needed to know. She didn?t make it.

The trio continued their journey through their beloved village toward the Hokage?s office. None were in the right mindset to confront their village leader but it was something that had to be done. Delaying the inevitable would prove much more detrimental than most would think.

Naruto didn?t want to see the old lady. He didn?t want to walk in there with one less shinobi by his side. He didn?t want to say that his Sakura-chan wasn?t coming home. He didn?t want to admit that he failed in protecting her. She wasn?t strong and he knew that. It?s why he always declared that he?d protect her, save her from danger regardless of his own safety. He loved the girl even when he knew he didn?t have a chance in hell in getting her to see him as anything more than a teammate she decked every now and again.

He didn?t even know why she walked away. A part of him wondered if some unseen enemy had snatched her while the others were locked in battle. He remembered screaming at her to get down so as to avoid a shuriken attack but then he lost sight of her. He tried not blaming himself for losing her in the fight but the damn enemy was relentless. He clenched his fists, his body trembling with pent up emotion. Screaming himself hoarse in the middle of a forest wasn?t enough to expel everything he was feeling. He then looked at his sensei and narrowed his eyes.

In his mind, their sensei didn?t do very much in searching for Sakura. He saw the blood and the dress and the hair and declared her dead. <i>Where the fuck was her body then? Did he really think some animal gobbled her for an afternoon snack? Why didn?t he search harder? There was no body dammit! Sakura-chan could still be out there and Kakashi-sensei doesn?t give a damn!</i> He glanced at his remaining teammate. Naruto had to admit he?d never seen such an expression on Sasuke?s face.

?You look how I feel,? the blond said softly.

Sasuke closed his eyes, ignoring the pain in his broken leg. He didn?t want to hear Naruto?s voice. He had already tuned out the lively sounds of the village around him because they didn?t know what pain was. They didn?t what had happened. In his mind, they had no right to be happy and laughing when one of their own had stupidly walked away from a battle only to be killed in her retreat.

He didn?t want to hear Naruto?s voice ever again because whenever he did he expected a feminine voice following it tell the blond to shut up or reprimand him one way or another. But that wasn?t going to happen now. It would never happen again. He would never see the pink-haired girl deck the blond boy for showing affection toward her or for calling his rival a bastard. He would never see the pink-haired girl again. She would never ask him to go on a date. She wouldn?t blush in his presence when he acknowledged her. She wouldn?t say the words he secretly longed to hear from someone, anyone. She would never again be by his side.

Sasuke thought about the dress, or what was left of it inside his pack. He had every intention of cleaning the cloth and returning it to her parents. It was a gruesome thought, and perhaps gesture, but it was all they had left of Sakura. It was all he could give them.

<i>And it?s all your fault Uchiha. You were the final nail in that girl?s coffin.</i>

?Tch.? He looked away not wanting to listen to his conscience.

?Naruto. Sasuke. We?re here,? Kakashi said, his tone neither somber nor indifferent. Naruto wasn?t really sure but he thought that was the moment he began hating his sensei.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

She lay on the bed sleeping rather peacefully despite the injuries incurred on her last mission. His eyes watched as she slowly shook off the vestiges of slumber. His partner had thought him crazy for taking the near dead girl after their battle with her teammates, but Kisame never once voiced his disdain for fear of angering the prodigy. But then, Kisame never could fully see inside Itachi?s mind or how it worked. There was a very distinct reason he brought the girl. The question was, however, would she actually go along with what he had in mind?

Sakura slowly opened her eyes with the vague notion that she wasn?t where she was supposed to be. The room was dim, lightened only by several torches scattered about the room, casting eerie shadows on the walls and ceiling. Her mind registered that she was lying on a bed, the covers tucked neatly around her almost as though they were the bonds keeping her chained to the bed. It should have brought fear with that knowledge but right then she didn?t care. She wasn?t so sure she could care any longer. What did surprise her though was the fact that her body did not ache as it once did.

She recalled falling to the ground, exhausted emotionally and physically, the memory, and an image of Sasuke?s Sharingan glaring down at her. She immediately pushed Sasuke out of her mind. There was no way regardless of her current situation, which she had yet to discover, did she want that Uchiha in her mind. The kunoichi closed her eyes, the memory of the ground rushing up to meet her. A smirk formed its way on her small mouth. ?Face meet floor.?

He watched as she smirked and finally spoke, her voice hoarse from lack of hydration. She was still so young, and innocent. It rang throughout her words, even if they were just simple nonsense. It would be a pleasure in corrupting her, bending her to his will. Perhaps, foolish little brother, her corruption will bring about your hate. Maybe then you?ll be worthy of my time.

The girl moved her head to the side, blinking at the stonewall before turning it to the other side, her eyes searching the rest of the room. She felt a presence but was unable to pinpoint where it came from. To her it was all encompassing rather than one definite location. She licked her lips and cleared her throat in preparation of speak.

?I know you?re there. I can feel you even if I can?t see you. Who are you and why am I here?? What do you want with me? she added silently.

?Who I am is of no consequence. You are here because I brought you here.? His smooth, lulling voice echoed in her head.

Licking her lips again she responded. ?That?s all well and good sir, however that doesn?t answer my question. Who are you?? <i>Please don?t say that you?re with Orochimaru!</i> Sakura wasn?t sure if could handle seeing the man that killed the Third and cursed Sasuke.

?I am not Orochimaru. But I am no friend either.? Itachi watched as his words sunk into her head. She was putting on a good act, although he was more certain that it was more out of ignorance than sheer willpower.

His answers were irritating her. He answered without answering and a person could only put up with for so long, and right now for Sakura her patience was running out. The bed sheets were finally beginning to feel like chains keeping her locked to the bed. ?Okay Not-Orochimaru-But-Not-A-Friend,? she said sarcastically. ?What could you possibly want with bringing me here? I am of no use to you.?

A small smile tugged at his lips. She certainly was more ignorant than he thought for she didn?t comprehend the danger she was in, even lying in that bed. ?I will be the judge in deciding your use. For what I have in mind, at present, you will be more than useful Haruno Sakura.?

Her emerald eyes widened. <i>How does he know my name? I never said it and I don?t think anything I carried with me had my name imprinted on it.</i> Finally the girl was beginning to sense the danger she was in. ?How?. How do you know my name??

?I made it a point to know.? Itachi paused watching the flicker of emotions in her eyes. ?I also know that you are a member of Konoha?s shinobi. Your sensei is none other than Hatake Kakashi. Your teammates Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke, both of which surpass you in ability. In short, you?re the weakest member, the expendable one.?

Anger clouded the girl?s eyes. ?I am not expendable!? <i>How dare he! What a miserable ass! I know I?m weak but I?ll be damned if I?m labeled as expendable!</i>

?Oh?? Itachi tilted his head as though he were looking at an insect display. ?Then tell me kunoichi why they left you in the forest.?

?They didn?t leave me,? Sakura spat. ?I walked away from them. It?s true that they don?t need me. I am dead weight to them. But they would never consider me expendable. They?ll search for me.?

?And rescue you??

Sakura bit her lip in response. She still couldn?t see the physical manifestation of the voice that permeated the room. ?Yes,? she whispered.

Itachi leaned forward, comfortable with the knowledge that he was still hidden in shadow. ?Is that what you want??

?What??

?Is that what you want? That is to say, do you want them to continue to see you as nothing more than dead weight? A useless kunoichi always in need of a savoir?? Itachi watched the girl closely, a mixture of emotions swirling in her eyes. He waited, minutes, hours, for her response. Finally it came.

?No.?

?What was that kunoichi??

?No,? Sakura repeated herself.

?No what kunoichi?? Itachi watched her closely.

?I don?t want to be weak. I don?t want to be dead weight.? Sakura bit back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks.

?You don?t want to be expendable.?

?No.? Sakura slowly shook her head from side to side, feeling the first tear drop as it rolled down her cheek toward her nose.

?Your are now bound to me kunoichi. Whatever my will, you obey.?

Sakura nodded wondering what she had just gotten herself into but determined to not look back. <i>Regret is for fools. I refuse to be that fool.</i>

?There is water on the table beside the bed if you are thirsty. Someone will bring food shortly. Tomorrow we will see how strong you will become.? Itachi left silently, unseen.

Sakura felt the bed covers loosen as she tried to sit up. She glanced at the bedside table and noticed a clear pitcher filled with water and an empty glass beside it. Her hand trembling, she took the pitcher and poured it into the glass before bringing the glass to her lips. She honestly didn?t think the man had drugged or poisoned the water. She fit into some unknown plan of his and therefore wouldn?t kill her, yet.

?What have I gotten myself into?? With that thought in her mind, Sakura downed the water greedily, reaching for the pitcher again to slake her thirst. She never once noticed her lack of dress.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sasuke looked at the bloodstained pieces of garment in his hand. He had attempted to clean the pieces but the blood was refusing to wash out. He was tired but feared sleep. The realization of what was missing too glaring to close his eyes.

?Sakura.?

He closed his eyes, trying to remember the last kind thing he?d said to her. His shoulders slumped when his mind located the memory in question.

<i>?Thank you.?</i>

He knew he couldn?t count that for what took place afterward. <i>And yet she did her best to stick beside you.</i>

Sasuke gently laid the last garment on the counter before walking away. He had yet to clean up after returning home and from the Hokage?s office. She was less than happy at the outcome. But Sasuke didn?t think the woman could understand what really happened. Hokage-sama couldn?t possibly understand what Team Seven lost that day in the forest.

<i>?I?m sorry to hear of her death. She had a lot of promise as a medic-nin.?

?Old lady Tsunade you have to send a team out to search for her. We never found her body! She might still be out there!? Naruto pleaded with their Kage, his fists clenched and shaking.

?Naruto,? Kakashi said calmly. ?Hokage-sama cannot afford to waste men on a search.? He placed a hand on the boy?s head in an effort to comfort, or rather subdue him. However, Naruto would not have any of it.

Slapping his sensei?s hand a way Naruto turned his anger on the famous Jounin. ?Don?t touch me you bastard! You gave up too soon! You never cared about finding her, even if it was just a piece of her! You never gave a damn about Sakura-chan! All you?ve ever cared about is your precious prot?g?.?

Kakashi?s eye narrowed at his student?s outburst. ?Naruto! Don?t you ever insinuate that I never cared about one of my students. I care about each of you equally and losing Sakura is just as hard on me as it is you.?

?Bullshit! You were too calm when we found out she disappeared. You were too fucking calm when we found the blood! You never once said a damn thing about her on the journey home!?

?Naruto!?

?No!? Naruto?s anger was beginning to manifest itself in the form of orange chakra, his eyes switching between deep blue to angry red. ?Save it Kakashi-sensei. I will no longer tolerate you as my sensei.?

?Naruto!? This time it was Tsunade calling his name. But the boy didn?t care. No one cared about Sakura?s death except for him and maybe Sasuke. ?Naruto!? she tried again. ?I will not have you accusing a well decorated member of our team with such nonsense!?

?Our team? What about my team? What about Sakura? What about her parents?? Naruto?s rage wasn?t quieting and he?d be damned if anyone refused him his right to be angry. ?My team is broken! I don?t expect you to understand old lady! You would pick his side because no one would ever want to go against the great Copy Ninja!?

?Naruto!? Kakashi again tried to reign in his student, doing his best to keep his voice neutral.

Naruto turned to glare at whom he considered his former sensei. ?Fuck you. Team Seven is dead. It died the moment you gave up on Sakura. Fuck you Kakashi. FUCK YOU!? With that, Naruto stormed out of the Hokage?s office leaving behind him a wake of hurt feelings, anger, and bridges if not burned then too shaky to approach.

Kakashi watched the retreating back of his former student. He knew that there was no way in hell that the two of them would see eye to eye on this particular situation. He was hurt; undeniably hurt that Naruto had so unabashedly accused him of not giving a damn. He had sacrificed too much for Konoha to allow such a thing to be said in his presence. But the loud mouth boy refused to let him answer and any action Kakashi could take to defend himself would have most likely resulted in a battle between student and teacher.

?I?m sorry Hokage-sama,? he said to the blonde woman. He truly was. In Kakashi?s eyes he had failed as a teacher and to him that was worse than failing a mission because when he failed a mission, it meant he was dead and would not have to deal with the aftermath. Failing as a teacher meant he would have to live with that failure for the remainder of his days.

?Don?t be sorry Kakashi. I understand the boy is distraught,? Tsunade said sympathetically. She clearly saw the pain that the Jounin tried his hardest to hide.

?He?s right you know.?

Both Tsunade and Kakashi looked at the Uchiha boy who had up until that point remained silent.

Tsunade glanced at Kakashi before asking, ?What do you mean Sasuke??

?Team Seven is dead. It died the moment we failed to protect one of our own. It died the moment we failed to teach one of our own.? Sasuke kept his head bowed, eyes trained on the floor where, in his mind?s eye, he saw petal pink hair strewn across the dirt mingled with blood. ?The moment Haruno Sakura died, the heart of Team Seven died. We will never get that back, no matter what any of us do.?

Sasuke made his way toward the exit, stopping briefly at the door that had been knocked down by his teammate. ?Unlike Naruto, I will keep you as my sensei. There are no others out there that can teach or understand my ability.? He paused before continuing, ?But don?t think for a minute that I disagree with Uzumaki. Some of what he said rings true and everyone here knows it.? With that the Uchiha survivor walked away toward his house, determined to clean the shredded red dress he carried in his pack.</i>

Back in his room Sasuke spoke to the wind. ?When you died Sakura, the heart of Team Seven died. We?ll never get it back.? He had feared that the days of Team Seven were over when he left Konoha, only to be dragged back by a promise Naruto made to one pink-haired girl that held more sway than she knew. He had feared that the three of them would be separated, the only two people he felt he could trust and love. But that hadn?t been the case and Sasuke had been grateful to Tsunade for allowing them to remain as they were. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Sasuke had always hoped in one way or another that the three shinobi would be able to stay together, working together.

Sasuke looked at the picture of the three twelve year olds standing in front of their sensei. She was smiling her delicate smile. He was smirking his usual smirk. But he remembered that day fondly. It had been a good day. A solitary tear slid down his face, unchecked.

?When you died Sakura, my heart, what was left of it, died too.?


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
<b>AN:</b> Wow, it seems as though Sakura is almost honky dory while the boys are all about the angst-fest. Hopefully this puppy is longer for y'all. It's about 3,544 words (not including author notes, title, and disclaimer). It should also be noted that Tsunade did heal Sasuke?s leg but I have had a hard time placing that within this chapter.

[csmlee]

Naruto didn?t want to see the old lady. He didn?t want to walk in there with one less shinobi by his side. He didn?t want to say that his Sakura-chan wasn?t coming home. He didn?t want to admit that he failed in protecting her. She wasn?t strong and he knew that. It?s why he always declared that he?d protect her, save her from danger regardless of his own safety. He loved the girl even when he knew he didn?t have a chance in hell in getting her to see him as anything more than a teammate she decked every now and again.

Aww... poor Naruto. *huggles him* But that's so true. He knows he doesn't stand a chance with Sakura yet he still insists on being there for her.

He didn?t want to hear Naruto?s voice ever again because whenever he did he expected a feminine voice following it tell the blond to shut up or reprimand him one way or another. But that wasn?t going to happen now. It would never happen again. He would never see the pink-haired girl deck the blond boy for showing affection toward her or for calling his rival a bastard. He would never see the pink-haired girl again. She would never ask him to go on a date. She wouldn?t blush in his presence when he acknowledged her. She wouldn?t say the words he secretly longed to hear from someone, anyone. She would never again be by his side.

Double aww... I'm starting to feel bad for Sasuke too. *huggles Sasuke as well*

?Okay Not-Orochimaru-But-Not-A-Friend,? she said sarcastically.

Heh. Leave it to Sakura to be sarcastic even in such a situation. Itachi is gonna have a handful. <-- And you can interpret that however you want. *snickers*

Kakashi watched the retreating back of his former student. He knew that there was no way in hell that the two of them would see eye to eye on this particular situation. He was hurt; undeniably hurt that Naruto had so unabashedly accused him of not giving a damn.

I'm sure Kakashi has his reasons... Naruto shouldn't be so harsh on him! *bonks Naruto on the head*

Back in his room Sasuke spoke to the wind. ?When you died Sakura, the heart of Team Seven died. We?ll never get it back.?

?When you died Sakura, my heart, what was left of it, died too.?

Wahh!!! Talk about an angst overload... *sniffles* All right, all right, no more picking on Sasuke. I'm feeling awfully bad for him now.

You know, this Naruto forum is getting flooded by angst writers. *opens cage where she keeps the fluff bunnies* Go get the angst demons, my cute little widdle bunnies!!!!!

[wicked]

But...Cheryl! It's FUN picking on Sasuke! Don't feel bad for him. Why? Because he's Sasuke! That's why. And he's an ass.

And you best keep your fluff bunnies away from me. *sctachbitehiss* I'm allergic. Like deathly allergic to fluff bunnies. :razz:

Thanks for the review. I'm plotting things out in my mind and I hate to admit it but at the moment I'm leaning toward ItaSaku and NaruSaku. That's not written in stone (well the ItaSaku is kinda written in stone for this fic considering...) so things may change. Sasuke, despite his angsty ass, is still in the running. Although I have to say there might be some NaruHina, SasuIno (wrong I know but that doesn't mean it's not there just to pair the fool up with someone), ShikaIno and a myraid of other pairings. Except for Kakashi. Cause he rocks single.

I'm also uploading this fic to my brand spanking new lj fic journal: eyeliner__crush if you want to catch it there. If not, that's okay too. ^____^

Yes Sakura is going to be a bit sarcastic and bold in this. And I can't help it if humor does weasel it's way in because no matter how hard I try it can't be helped. Now I'm repeating myself.

And yes Itachi will have his hands full....*snickers* And I will interpret that any ol' way I please.

Thanks Cheryl!!!

~Wicked

P.S. I hope I didn't freak you out when I posted to your LJ the other day. I really need to write that lemon thingy down just to get it out of my head!!!