Death Of A Soul (4)

[wicked]

Disclaimer: Applies.

<b>Death of a Soul: Chapter Four</b>
by Wicked Child

They sat in silence, her eyes entranced by the unusually clean floor while his eyes simply rested on her. They?d been like this for several hours, but neither spoke. She had nothing to say to the man who betrayed his village, his clan, and ultimately destroyed his brother. She hated this man. He had saved her from death in the forest but no reason had been given and Sakura was of the opinion that it certainly wasn?t out of charity. The man hadn?t a kind bone in his body.

So why?

He had repeated on several occasions that she was bound to him that his will was hers to obey. And she stupidly agreed before knowing to whom she?d been bound. She did her best not to dwell on that simple fact and instead focus on more important matters.

What was his will?

She was going to have to obey his will regardless, unless she wanted to die and there was stubborn side to Sakura that she didn?t realize she had that specifically stated that she was not going to die. But Sakura wanted to know, at the very least, what his will entailed. Destroying the village seemed unlikely, it didn?t interest him, or so she assumed. Had he desired, the village could have been easily reduced to rubble. So far as she knew it wasn?t, which meant he didn?t care about the destruction of Konoha.

<i>That?s Orochimaru?s will.</i>

The only reason he and his partner returned to the village was Naruto. Why, she wasn?t absolutely certain but she had a vague idea. Would he use her to get to Naruto? She doubted Itachi knew of the raging crush the blond had for her, but if he did, would he use that to his advantage? Most likely not. He didn?t seem the type to use bait. He'd more than likely rely on his own skill than lower himself to use a mere girl as bait. She might prove a nice distraction but not bait.

And what about Sasuke? The younger brother was determined to kill the man she was now bound to. If they were to ever meet up with her former teammate Sakura was positive that she?d betray Itachi because no matter how much Sasuke hurt her, what she felt was nothing compared to what the younger Uchiha had felt for the past several years. Then again, what would Sasuke think if he saw her standing beside his brother, the one he hated most? He?d turn on her too, and then she?d have no choice but to obey Itachi until she was in the clear.

<i>In the clear for what? Escape?</i>

What if he wanted her to harm her own family or friends as he had done? What if he used that as an excuse to test her loyalty to him or her strength? Sakura didn?t want to think about that path so she pushed it out of her mind as quickly as it had entered. But what if he just wanted to use her as a little play toy?

Sakura unconsciously shuddered before scratching her left shoulder. She didn?t even want to contemplate that avenue of thought. Sneaking a quick glance at the man, she didn?t know what to think. Did criminals like him, men who killed the people who loved and cared for them, desire such baseless things as sexual encounters? Did he want to, as Smelly had sneered at her one day, fuck her until he got his fill before throwing her to either the men or let the forest creatures take care of the rest? But the longer she sat with Itachi, the more she became certain he was a non-sexual creature. Not that she knew anything of sex of course, just what little she?d accidentally seen of Kakashi?s porno books.

Nothing made sense. The only connection she had to him was the fact that she?d been the teammate of his younger brother and the boy he failed to capture. Again, the fact that she wasn?t special slapped her in the face.

He watched her. Others would more than likely think she?d lost her mind, seemingly staring blankly at the floor, hardly moving, but he knew that her mind was churning. The girl was intelligent, surprisingly so for someone her age. She?d become formidable with age, if she reached that far. Maturity could only sharpen her mind more than it already was from a dagger into a nicely honed instrument of warfare. Her promise with genjutsu provided all sorts of possibilities. She may not have a bloodline limit but her mind more than made up for it. If she continued to progress with genjutsu, Itachi wondered at what her mind could do with forbidden mind jutsus.

Prior to the forest incident, her team had been asked a relatively simple question by their sensei. His brother hadn?t answered while Naruto-kun had looked confused but tried to pass it off with a few quick nods and squinted eyes. The girl looked annoyed. Kakashi-san had sighed and asked Sakura to explain for the boys? sake, which she did in detail. At the time Itachi was, if anything, amused. Two potentially powerful shinobi getting a lecture on genjutsu from an inferior kunoichi. In all truthfulness he found the scene utterly pathetic.

He also thought the girl would make a better mother than kunoichi. He still thought that but as long as he had her, he was going to use her until she really did prove worthless. The girl was book smart. She had the knowledge but no tutelage. That of course was going to change. He would make her a killer; he would destroy her, her innocence, her faith, her soul. Those she once loved would tremble in her presence. Not because the girl was all-powerful, although she would be exceptionally stronger.

No. They would tremble because she would have no guilt or regret in killing those she once held dear. A smile would adorn her delicate face as she swept a kunai across her precious sensei?s throat. A sniff of indifference as she imbedded shuriken into her mother?s back as the old woman ran from one the one person that once brought joy to her meaningless life.

And watching in horror would be his foolish little brother. He would see what the girl had blossomed into. The precious, delicate flower he had rejected and failed to protect. Anger would course through his body as he screamed to understand, tears falling from crimson eyes. Then his brother would see <i>him</i>, as he slowly walked up to the girl, placing a calloused hand around her delicate throat. The girl would look at her former teammates and simply say, ?It was his will.? He last words to ever be spoken from her soft lips before that delicate neck snapped in his hand.

Hatred, pure undiluted hatred, would pour from Sasuke?s soul and then?. And then Itachi would finally discover if it was worth it. Perhaps he would meet his own end or provide his younger brother?s.

His pulse quickened at the idea of his brother finally hating him enough to try and defeat his aniki. He saw the girl shudder and wondered briefly what thought or memory caused such a reaction. His eyes followed her hand as it scratched her shoulder. Such delicate looking hands. It would be more than fitting if some of her loved ones were killed by such delicate hands.

The door to her room opened, revealing a cloaked servant. Sakura watched as Itachi stood effortlessly and walked out, closing the door softly behind him. The silence of the room now broken by quiet sobs.

*~*~*~*~*

Naruto stared at the photograph in his hands. Back then things were so much simpler. Sasuke didn?t have a cursed seal. Kakashi didn?t pick favorites. He had people that recognized him for him. Sakura was alive, and if not beating him over the head for his adoration, was being snubbed by Sasuke for hers.

Naruto clenched his eyes shut, the tears threatening to spill. His team no longer existed. His Sakura-chan would no longer show her affection for him by beating the crap out of him. He laughed suddenly. Sakura could beat the crap out of him, yet she couldn?t handle walking through a forest or save herself from Gaara of the Desert. But then, he let her beat him because that was the only way she would touch him wasn?t it?

?Sakura-chan,? he whispered, caressing her smiling face. ?I would have won you know? Not only would I beat that bastard Sasuke and become Hokage, but I would have made you fall in love with me and you would never look back. I would have made you happy Sakura-chan.? He looked up and saw Jiraiya crouched in his opened window. ?Is it time Ero-Sennin??

The older man nodded, watching his student closely. He?d never seen the boy so distraught. Angry, dumb, hurt, and beaten, but never distraught. He watched as the boy placed the photograph on his bedside dresser, looking at it longingly.

?When was that taken kid?? Sympathy evident in the old man?s voice. He truly felt bad for the kid. He?d had a hard life, and now the one person he fell for was gone forever.

?A year ago.? He refused to look away from her smiling face. So beautiful. So innocent. Forever preserved in this memory. Naruto felt his heart being wrenched free of his chest again and tried to hold back the anguish.

?Let?s go kid.? With that Jiraiya turned and leapt from the window waiting for his student to follow.

Naruto looked back at the photograph. She really was a beautiful girl, he only wished she knew that. ?Watch over me Sakura-chan. I?m going away for awhile and I think it?s gonna be really tough but I can do it. Just, watch over me okay? And Sasuke-bastard.? The blond boy then took the same path as his sensei, determined to not look back.

When they reached the village gates, however, Naruto couldn?t help but glance back in the direction of his home. A tear slipped, unchecked as he resumed his forward path.

<i>I?m going to get stronger Sakura-chan. And when I do I?m going to avenge your death. He may be Sasuke?s brother, but there?s no way I can allow him to live or Sasuke to get his own revenge if I can help it. I don?t care what Sasuke thinks. This is my kill. The only one I won?t regret in my life as a ninja.</i>

*~*~*~*~*

?He left today.?

Sasuke continued in his training without missing a beat. ?I know.?

Kakashi watched his student. Determination laced throughout his movements as he practiced taijutsu against a wooden doll. The older man couldn?t help but wonder what was on the younger boy?s mind. Was it Sakura? Was it Itachi? Was it pure drive and need to get stronger? A combination of two or all three?

?Sasuke.?

The younger boy grunted, not stopping in his routine. His attacks coming more fervently.

?What did you mean that some of what Naruto said was true??

The punches and kicks came without remorse or care for the attackers well being.

?Do you agree that I gave up too quickly? That I accepted her death to easily? Or that I never cared in the first place??

Blood began to stain the wooden doll as its attacker allowed his true emotions to show.

?Sasuke! Answer me!?

The doll broke in two after a well-placed chakra infused fist hit it unrepentant. Sasuke stared at the broken training tool, his breath coming in heavy gasps. ?Why do you care so much Kakashi? It?s in the past.?

?She was my student. I cared just as much about her as you and Naruto. I treated her differently because she didn?t have as much potential as either of you and because she was a girl but I refuse to let either you or Naruto make me out to be a heartless bastard. There was nothing more we could do. She walked away. We?ll never know what happened to her but I do know she?s dead and nothing I would have done is going to change that fact.?

Sasuke kept his back toward his sensei. ?Tell me something Kakashi. It?s been bothering me for some time now.?

The Jounin sighed. He really was getting to old for this. ?What is it Sasuke??

?Why didn?t you summon Pakkun? He would have been able to find her, whether dead or alive, whether whole or in pieces. It wouldn?t matter, but he would have found her.? Sasuke turned then, looking hard at the man he felt threw away a young girls life.

?Whether or not Pakkun was summoned would not have changed anything Sasuke. Sakura would still be dead and you would still blame me.? Kakashi?s visible eye hardened at the accusations being hurled at him, silent or otherwise, by his last student. He?d be damned if someone tried to place the blame on him for something he had no control over. ?I admit that I failed in protecting my student, but so did you and Naruto. We?re all to blame, just as much as she is for walking away during a battle with S-class criminals. Do you have any idea how much I hope and pray that it was some wild animal that got her? I hope to God that your brother or his cohort didn?t chance upon her after they fled. Her death at their hands would have been worse, especially since they didn?t accomplish their mission.?

?Trying to redirect the blame Kakashi?? Sasuke?s smug look was back in place.

?Are you Sasuke? Let me tell you something kid, I respect you as a fellow shinobi of Konoha but right now I hate you as a person.? Kakashi?s anger finally took hold and refused to let go. He needed to get this out. He wanted to get it out. Dammit he wanted to hurt somebody. ?You said some harsh things to her before she went missing and I won?t deny the fact that I did too. But my words never meant anything to her as much as yours did. You think you?re going to find absolution? Wake up kid, there is no such thing as absolution when you live the life of a ninja.?

*~*~*~*~*

Sakura?s sobs turned into silent whimpers. It had been two hours since Itachi left her alone, and at the moment, despite her hatred for the man she wanted a human presence with her. Noise outside her room caused the girl to wipe the tears from her face and ensure that no0 mucus ran freely. She calmed her nerves and waited. Several minutes passed before the door opened and a servant came in bearing a tray of food and drink.

Bowing before the girl, the servant stated, ?Itachi-sama will return when you are done with your meal. He has much to discuss with you.? The servant left as quickly as he or possibly she came.

Sakura scooted off the bed and gazed at the food. She really was hungry and she hadn?t been poisoned yet, at least not through food. <i>Damn Smelly and his merry band of missing-nin?s.</i> She pulled a heavy chair from the table and sat down, trying her best to elegantly scarf down the food set before her.

She was rather successful in her attempt. The memory of Sasuke and Naruto gobbling up their dinner after the tree climbing exercise before puking their guts out helped Sakura rein in her need to shovel food in her under nourished body. It wouldn?t do to puke in her room that her benefactor so graciously gave her. The smell alone would be hell, let alone his reaction.

The door opened and Sakura expected to see another servant but was met with Itachi?s crimson colored eyes. She stopped eating and resumed her staring contest with the floor. So far, the floor had won more times than she?d like to count.

?Please continue. I will not disturb you as you eat.? Itachi?s voice filled the silent room as he took his normal seat. He did not look at the girl until he knew she was finished eating.

It didn?t take long as the girl finished her plate and pushed it away from her as she attempted to stand to take her normal place on the bed. As far away as she could be from him the better. Itachi looked on impassively as Sakura struggled with the heavy chair, her face screwing up in anger at her inability to use both arms to shove the damned thing as far away from her as possible.

?Sit.?

She looked over at the man partially hidden in shadow. ?I normally sit over there,? she said pointing to her bed.

?For one so young as yourself, you are quick to jump into bed with a man in the room.? Itachi?s voice remained its usual smooth tone, never betraying the smirk that formed of its own accord in his lips.

Sakura blushed before blanching at his statement. ?I? I?m not?.? Her mouth continued to move though no sound came out. Trying again Sakura whispered, ?I?m not like that.?

?Sit.?

The pink haired girl quickly sat back down, allowing her hair to fall in front of her face, shamed. ?Yes sir,? she whispered.

A moment later and a servant walked in, taking her tray as another servant walked in and placed several scrolls in front of her before disappearing through the door. Sakura looked suspiciously at the scrolls before allowing herself to touch the nearest. She looked up at Itachi who, again, merely watched her.

?What are these?? She sincerely hoped that none of them were a contract that required her signature in blood. This man was the spawn of hell and she didn?t want to be bound by blood to him.

?Instruction scrolls.? That damn smooth, lulling voice never once changing pitch.

?Instruction scrolls,? she echoed.

Itachi gave a slight nod. ?You seem to have a talent in genjutsu though it is horribly lacking. Until your arm is healed you are to study these scrolls diligently. You will be unable to actually perform any but so long as you memorize their theory that will be enough. When you are healed we will begin your physical training and retraining.?

Sakura opened the first scroll she?d touched and began to gaze at the contents. She frowned. ?This genjutsu is something that I won?t be able to accomplish. Only Jounin?s, like Kurenai-sensei or even Kakashi-sensei could complete this.?

?You will study these regardless of ability Sakura-chan. Memorize their theory.? Itachi watched as the girl?s frown deepened.

<i>When the hell did he get permission to call me Sakura-chan? Only Naruto does that but at least I can kick his ass when he pisses me off. I?d be lucky to even glare in his direction. He better not think I?m going to start calling him Itachi-sensei or Itachi-sama.</i> Sakura glanced over the first several lines of the scroll before deciding that she had better actually begin reading for fear of angering the prodigy. She soon lost herself in the scroll and had asked at one point if she could have a pen and blank scrolls to keep notes, which were quickly provided. Her good hand scribbling furiously as she read and began comprehending.

Itachi just watched his student. <i>At least she no longer refers to me as Nobnaf.</i> His face was never one to show emotion, so watching her wide array of emotions proved interesting. Her face tended to scrunch up when in thought. Her tongue sticking out to the side when writing down a particularly long note. He raised an eyebrow at one point when she squealed, ?Aha!? after having read and reread a particular passage. Haruno Sakura was proving to be a most interesting individual. A part of him almost felt badly for what he was about to do; yet he couldn?t bring himself to care.

?I thought you might like to know, that your village has declared you dead.? He watched as her head shot up, green eyes wide and mouth trembling. ?A memorial has already been held in your honor, and your name has been etched into the Memorial Stone.? Itachi cocked his head to the side. ?Your team has been broken going their separate ways, although my source tells me they were very broken up by your death.?

?You lie.? Sakura?s body began trembling, with what she didn?t know. Fear? Anger? Shock?

They didn?t try to find me? They just noticed I was missing and decided I was dead? Was I not worth finding?

?I have no need to lie Sakura-chan.? Itachi stood and walked toward the table. ?For all intents and purposes, you are dead. Your death will more than likely be added to my or Kisame?s list of kills. My brother will come after me with renewed fervor. I at first thought this an unfortunate occurrence. However, if people think you are already dead, then it might be even easier training you among other things.?

Sakura said nothing. What could she say? She was dead. Her teammates gave up on her and declared her dead. Her parents thought they lost their little girl. This wasn?t happening. How could she go back if she was already dead? She felt a hand, surprisingly warm lift her chin. Her wide green eyes clashed with Itachi?s crimson.

?Death only hurts the first time.?


*~*~*~*~*
<b>AN:</b> Apologies for the delay in update. Not positive I'm happy with the scene between Kakashi and Sasuke but I think it will do until or unless I can write a better one. I already stated that this was going to have ItaSaku of some sort, and I know of one definite NaruSaku moment (one moment that could almost not be seen as a moment at all), with SasuSaku of some sort as well.

I do believe I already know how this may end despite that being far off in the foreseeable future which means what I have in mind may change. I also have to admit that I love the last scene between Itachi and Sakura. I really love the last line.

[csmlee]

Aww crap! I just realized I forgot to review this chapter! *hides from Wicked*

5 minutes later...

Cheryl: *whispering from under a rock* Is she gone?
Sasuke: She wasn't even after you in the first place. And that was a very pathetic attempt at camouflaging yourself. The rock was half your size.
Cheryl: Aww... come on, it's the thought that counts.
Sasuke: Not when you're trying to hide from an enemy. *snorts*
Cheryl: Uchiha, you talk too much. Maybe I should encourage Wicked to let the other Uchiha have your precious little flower.
Sasuke: You wouldn't dare. *glares*
Cheryl: Try me! *sticks out tongue at him*

Anyway, where was I? Oh right, the fic! Ahem... Wow... I never knew Itachi could be this... sadistic. I'm now feeling really really worried for Sakura-chan. *huggles her* What will become of her now that she is in the hands of a crazily sick sadistic bastard who looks way too hot for his own good?!!

Itachi: *flexes muscle and smirks*
Cheryl: *oogles*

*coughs* Right, no oogling evil evil men.

And Naruto! *sniffles* The poor boy.

?Sakura-chan,? he whispered, caressing her smiling face. ?I would have won you know? Not only would I beat that bastard Sasuke and become Hokage, but I would have made you fall in love with me and you would never look back. I would have made you happy Sakura-chan.?

I think it's pretty obvious which pairing I normally prefer. But even I was effected by Naruto's little speech here. *huggles Naruto* I wanted to suggest throwing Hinata in to comfort Naruto (since Kishimoto does seem to be setting things up for those two in the latest manga chapter). But it won't be fair to Hinata because to Naruto, his Sakura-chan will always be number one in his heart.

And Kakashi's lecture to Sasuke... To a certain extent, I agree with what Kakashi had said. But he doesn't have the right to say that to Sasuke. Naruto does, but not Kakashi. *clobbers both Kakashi and Sasuke* They're both acting stupid. I guess I'm blaming Kakashi slightly for what had happened to Sakura.

Another very interesting and emotional chapter! Can't wait to read the next one!!!