Breathe.

            The first time he hugged her, it wasn't a well thought over move. He had just laid his eyes on her after one year, four months, two weeks and six days, with her (big, violet, apologizing) eyes boring into his, drinking in all the changes he had undergone, and silently hoping he would forgive her for not being there.

            Then, he hugged her; not lightly, but not bone – crushing either. Her breath hitched as she realised she was forgiven, and he knew she knew that he was glad that she was back. Damn glad.

            But she didn’t know just how glad he was.

            He was alive again.

Ghosts of...

She felt the warmth of the sun sending it's goodbye for the day as she walked side by side with him. There was a slight chill in the air, having rained an hour ago, with an occassional breeze playing with her hair. Birds sang around her as trees sighed, relishing the recent shower  they've had. The ground felt hard against her feet, her shoes clicking quietly against the cement, as her eyes, open, stared in front of her, seeing nothing.

There wasn't a single soul around and she suddenly registered Hei grabbing her hand.

'We're almost there' he said as Yin nodded to him.

Hei was lost in his own thoughts, eyes taking in every detail of his surroundings, always on the alert. It would be foolish to think the Syndicate wasn't on their heels. It was always there, watching and waiting for the right moment to ambush them and break them apart.

Yin sensed a change in her surroundings. There wasn't any warmth in the air, evening rapidly giving way to night, though she could feel a source of heat frequently.

Streetlamps, she decided.

The ground beneath her felt softer than before. There was no concrete seperating her and the earth anymore. Lots of voices reached her ears, a bright feeling, and suddenly her fear of getting lost blared in her head, impulsively making her tighten her grip around Hei's hand.

Hei registered her grip and stopped in compliance, yanking at her hand to do the same, which stopped her promptly.

'What's wrong?' Yin knew Hei must be bending down to her height, because she could hear her voice from somewhere before her, as opposed to hearing it from her side.

'Yin?' his grip on her hand tightened gently

She moved her head to the left, in an attempt of indicating the crowd, which Hei understood. He rested his arm on her shoulder assuringly.

'We're at the market, don't worry. Don't use the specter, okay?'

Yin nodded, facing where she could hear his voice.

'I won't lose you, Yin.' he said finally. before they resumed their  slow walk, hand in hand, closer than before.

She heard his voice change. Very common for him, but something she didn't grab quickly. He sounded happy. She looked to her side, at him. He isn't Hei anymore. She looked away. He's Li now.

Yin tuned out of Hei's conversation with various shopkeepers, inquiring and bargaining about fruits and vegetables. Instead, she concentrated on the almost missing warmth in the atmosphere, relishing it whenever she came close to a source of heat, and how Hei's grip  tightened every now and then.

His hold was gentle, even if it was tight. His grip was as welcome as the heat she wanted. Amidst confusion and uncertainity he was her anchor. She felt strangely happy and content  with him around. Like... like his cooking, she decided, with an almost invisible smile. Like Mao's fur, like the moonlight... like her mother.

Yin gasped as she realised Hei wasn't anywhere around her.

Where did he - ?

Panic seized her as she felt around with her arms, trying to locate him. Needing to.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

'Can you pack these for me?' Hei asked the shopkeeper, smiling.

'Sure, kid' the old man smiled before his attention got diverted

'What the - ?'

Hei looked over his shoulder, eyes widening as he did so. Not a second was wasted as he dropped his bags and hurried to her.

'Yin!' he called out, arms on her shoulders, the warmth stopping her in an instant.

She felt as though life returned to her.

'Hei' she breathed out softly, trying to calm herself down

'What were you thinking?!' he hissed, slightly shaking her by her shoulder

'Didn't you listen to what I said earlier?!'

Yin closed her eyes, pausing herself.

'You almost got your spectre out!'

She opened her mouth to say something, before her gaze fell downwards.

'Hei' she mumbled again, even lower.

He straightened, realising there was a reason to her freaking out.

'What's wrong?' he asked, letting his arms fall to his sides.

'Let's go back' she asked him.

He made a noise, to disagree when she grabbed his arm pleadingly. He paused, frowning, before letting out a sigh [worrying]

'Fine. But you're going to explain'

Yin nodded as he took her hand and returned to the shop.

'Sorry about that' he apologized, picking his shooping up and paying the man.

'Ah, young lady! She looks troubled' the old man said, returning some change.

Hei laughed casually, 'No, no. It's nothing, actually' before giving her a side glance; and sure enough, her expressions (not her eyes) betrayed her feelings. Hei's eyes narrowed further as he made his way out.

Silence continued as their companion for a while as they exited the market. A little furthur down the street, when Hei thought there were no people around, he let go of Yin's hand.

He didn't notice her stopping as he continued down the street. Yin's hand twitched, grabbing thin air, longing for the warmth again. Her (absent) gaze fell to her feet as she tried to catch up to him

'Hei?' she called out as he slowed his pace, but still refused to look her way.

'Sorry.' she said, still looking downwards.

He sighed in frustration. 'Don't be. I'm sure it wasn't your fault.'

Yin nodded, still not looking at him.

'Yin, I know you realise the position we're in. But just... try to be more careful, okay? Mao, Huang and the others... (Amber, Yin thought) don't let their sacrifice go waste.'

Yin nodded again. 'I'm sorry.'

Hei could hear people in large crowds exiting the market, knowing that wasn't a good thing, he looked at Yin.

'Let's go home quick, okay?'

They started off once again. Yin didn't take more than 5 steps when she felt something wrong. Someone knocked her off her footing from behind, and she felt her breath leave her,as did her contact with the ground. The next thing she knew, she was splayed on the ground, face down, her limbs throbbing with pain.

Hei looked behind just as she touched ground, his expression going from concerned to livid, hurrying to the fallen girl.

'Yin!'

'We're so sorry, sir! We weren't looking - '

'Are you all right?'

' - where we were - '

Yin opened her eyes, slowly, and turned to face Hei, as Hei breathed a sigh of relief.

'Lady, our profuse apologies!'

She nodded absently as she got to a sitting postion, head feeling dizzy.

Hei grimaced as he touched her forehead -

'It hurts' she said

- feeling the warmth of Yin's blood on his fingers.

'You're wounded, Yin. Hold on' he said as he slowly piggybacked her with her arms circling his neck automatically.

'We're sorry!', the men said, bowing to Hei.

'It's all right' Hei said, smiling, before turning away from the crowd and continuing away from the crowd, smile dropping the very next second.

'Are you okay?' he whispered to her, as he felt her breath on his neck hitch with pain.

'It hurts' she repeated.

Hei frowned. Sure she got a bruise on her forehead but it shouldn't be paining that much.

'Your head? I could slow down if you want me to.'

Yin shook her head, snuggling deeper into his shoulder

'... knee hurts' she mumbled with a slight wince

'You want me to slow - '

'No'

He frowned again. Even when she's hurting?

'What's wrong?' he asked, thinking of what could have disturbed her to such an extent, eyes fixed on the road ahead.

But Yin fell silent and did not answer him, mulling over memories long forgotten.

The Fall

Eliot Spencer, to people around him, may look like someone who is always gruff and irritated. As someone who ignores the entire fun even if life throws a lot at him. He may look like an introvert, someone who flags off your danger signal just at the sight of him. As someone who promises a lot of pain if ever caught on his wrong side. And your first glance tells you.

He delivers what he promises.

Eliot Spencer, to people who know him, doesn't look gruff; it's just him being him. They know that they should be surprised, alarmed even, if he is anything but gruff. They also know he never ignores fun at all. He has it during his job- the whole package that life throws at him, plus a little extra. They know he isn't an introvert. Not at all. He got an A at grifting (Sophie told him that). He likes to hang out, to tease and mock, and even chuckle (surprise, huh?). There are no danger signals or alarms blaring, because they're actually comfortable in his presence.

How, you may wonder, and even think they're crazy.

Because this is what he does- Eliot Spencer hits and kills and murders people if the need arises...only and only to protect his people. He may tease them, mock them, and hell, even cuss at them, but when the need comes, when the moment comes, he's there, just as sturdy. Just as reliable. Just as loyal.

At the end of the day, this is what he is. This is what he does.

He'll take the fall for you.

Yes, touching. Right.

Oh, her eyes reflected her love for you

It’s true

But you never cared, did you?

You made her blue

More than anyone else could do

Oh, dear, I wonder

Have you ever thought

The life for which she fought

was to the ground shot

Have you ever puzzled

How her life was once her love

And how she has all but shoved

All the given vows;

Her dreams now weep

Her soul, out of her, just seeps

You,

You were her world

Her essence, her being

But now it seems she’s lost

Her reason for moving

Waiting is all she does

Devoid of hope, of meaning

Does not want to go on living

She loved you, it’s true

But now it’s too late for you to say

That you do.

Nobody

It hurts like nothing ever. What you said that day, Thor, it hurts. Time and time again I thought it would be okay; Karin died anyway. And believe me when I say I don’t hate her for what she did. Actually, she didn’t do anything. It was you. You were always the special one, weren’t you, Thor? You broke the tradition of women choosing their men and turned it around. But I can’t blame you for that. You are the Ochre Ring’s First, after all.

Things could have turned back to normal if it weren’t that I remembered what you said every time I looked at you. Chen tried to hear me out. She really did; but I locked myself up. I must have looked pathetic. In the end, she gave me an understanding smile, and reassured me before going on her merry way with the Third.

And then when Karin died, you realised your Second’s post was empty and decided to place me there. I couldn’t have resented you more. I badly wanted to reject your offer. I am your second preference, huh? But then again, without you, Ochre Ring means nothing to me.

Then, one day, do you remember? You wanted to ‘talk’ to me. Whenever I think about it, I feel strangely happy. You do remember what my reply was, don’t you?

‘I’m not your sister, Thor.’

I know you were still mourning the death of Karin, but I didn’t care. I was busy despising you in anyway possible. Now, I want to clear this up, I don’t hate you; not for what happened, no. I don’t know if you remember or not – we have known each other for the longest time. In fact, we were engaged as soon as you landed on Chimera. It has been, what, four years since then? And in these four years, you couldn’t realise you didn’t love me that way? Four years, damn it! Four long years in which I dreamt we would be together – that’s what I hate you for. For giving me false hopes.

Couldn’t you find one minute between us to tell me that? Confess your true feelings and we would have been on our ways? You didn’t know how I would react? Well, sure, I would have thrown a fit and done anything to stop you from breaking the engagement. But at least I would have understood. When Karin came along, it seemed like a lame excuse to push me away, to say I’m like your ‘sister’. It was lame, Thor, really lame.

It really confused me as to why your decisions and interests changed at once when you went with Zagi. Suddenly, Karin becomes your Second, and I become someone like you sister. How was I supposed to anticipate that you would suddenly fall for a girl you met less than a week ago, and turn your long – ago engaged Second into your sister?

And then again, during your confession, remember when I asked whether I wasn’t enough and you said you were sorry? You hurt me then, too, Thor. I was enough and capable and competent for as long as I could remember, but in less than a week I am not enough for you, am I?

Well, screw this. I don’t care about you, or your thoughts. I really don’t give a damn.

‘Do you still love me?’ you ask. I don’t how you can even dare.

But I’m not your Second anymore to follow you wherever you go. Oh, no. I have the resignation letter right now in my back pocket. I’ve been waiting for the right moment to throw it to your face, and the way you’ve tried to make up for all the blunders you did made it the perfect time. I don’t care about you apology, Thor.

I turn around, my back facing you, as I take out the letter and throw it at you with precision. You don’t read the latter, but wait for my answer as I grab for the door knob.

‘Tiz!’ you call out.

I snort. How I had hoped each day that I would wake up to that voice every morning; to your voice.

Things were much easier when we were children, weren’t they?

My hand lingers briefly on the door knob before I wrench it open and make my way out.

/You’re like a sister to me./

‘No, Thor. Never again.’

You’re nobody to me.

08.07.09

3:15 a.m.

Forever Friends

Their first meeting isn’t even a meeting, or even an introduction. Sasuke just looks on from afar as Sakura cries in the playground leaving him to wonder what is wrong with her.

Exactly after two days, their second meeting takes place in the same location, with Sakura in the same situation. But this time, Sasuke walks up to her, and actually looks at her.

At first, he thinks she’s ethereal.

/pink hair and pale face with jade optics. Oh, is she a beauty. Not that kind of beauty that makes you want to fall in love, but the beauty described by his mother in fairytales. The enchanting beauty./

But then he remembers she’s crying.

/Ethereal beings don’t cry, do they?/

‘Hey, you!’ he calls out.

Frightened eyes meet his steady ones. Sasuke stares, surprised by the fear in her eyes.

/You won’t hurt me, will you?/

He slides onto the ground beside her as she hiccups, and hastily rubs her tears away.

‘What’s wrong? Why are you here all by yourself?’ he asks, looking at her.

‘I…’

‘Hm..?’

‘They – they bully me because I have a huge forehead’ she mumbles.

Sasuke smiles and puts his palm on her forehead and brushes away her hair. He laughs softly before retracting his arm.

‘You know, my brother, Itachi, says that people with big foreheads are lucky!’

‘Lu – lucky?’

‘Yes, because they can store more information than normal people. They are geniuses!

‘Re – really?’ she sounded unsure.

‘You should believe me. My brother is always right!’

‘I –‘

He looks at her crossly, as she suddenly whimpers and clutches her left arm in pain. Sasuke notices this and takes her injured arm.

‘Does it hurt?’

She really wanted to bawl her eyes out at the pain. He looks at the newly forming tears in her eyes and places a gentle kiss on the wound

/Her heart goes thump thump./

A moment of silence passes.

‘Does it hurt less?’

/Yes, Sasuke kun. It doesn’t hurt at all!/

‘My mother says it makes the pain go away.’

She blushes and retracts her hand as he lets go.

‘Thank you, Sasuke kun.’ is all she says, burying her face in her knees.

‘Hey! You know my name!’ he exclaims, looking happy.

/Of course I do. Who doesn’t?/

But a frown descends on his face.

‘… I don’t know yours’ he says, smiling sheepishly.

‘Ha – Haruno Sakura.’

‘Hm.. Sakura?’ he says uncertainly. ‘But you smell like oranges!’

/I like oranges, Sakura. They’re sweet, and tangy and so heaven like. Don’t you too?/

Sakura turns a shade of red before mumbling something incoherent.

‘You aren’t brave at all!’ he states rather rudely.

She flushes again, but opens her mouth to retaliate.

‘Anyway -’ he continues, effectively cutting off whatever she wanted to say. ‘- the next time they come, you tell them you’re angry, and do this’ he says, which makes her automatically face him.

Sasuke draws his eyebrows nearer, narrows his eyes and emits a small growl from the back of his throat.

‘I can’t do that.’ she says softly.

‘Yes, you can! You just have to learn to hate!’

‘H – Hate?’ she says uncertainly.

‘Yes. If you hate, you get angry. If you get angry, you get brave!’

He is the Uchiha prodigy after all.

‘O – Okay.’

He looks around and suddenly realises the time.

‘I have to go now’ he says, getting up and facing away.

‘W – wait!’ she calls out.

He turns back to see her getting up and dusting her clothes off. Then, she plasters a shy smile on her face.

‘C – Can we be friends?’

/You’ll be my first friend. Please say yes?/

Sasuke blinks slowly and then beams at her, nodding his head excitedly.

‘Yes.’

/First friends? Best friends? Forever friends?/

Sakura smiles radiantly.

‘Thank you, Sasuke kun!’

Sasuke waves to her

‘Bye! See you!’

He walks away leaving Sakura giddy with joy.

[Two days later:]

‘See?’ he states as they both walk away from the Academy ‘my plan worked! You were angry at them, weren’t you?’

She stares at him confused, and then smiles at him.

‘No, Sasuke kun. I wasn’t angry at them. Ino was angry at them.’

‘Ino?’

‘Yes! She’s my bestest friend, Sasuke kun!’

/His eyes widen and his heart beats erratically./

‘Bestest?’

/Then what am I, Sakura?/

‘Yes, Sasuke kun. Bestest!’

Sasuke’s features darken as he scowls and walks away faster.

‘Wait! Sasuke kun! What’s wrong?!’

/What’s wrong? You are the genius with the wide forehead. Go figure./

And she does. It takes her exactly 6 seconds to understand and laugh at him.

/You thought I wouldn’t consider you my friend anymore, didn’t you?/

Hearing her laugh, he quickens his pace.

‘Hey, wait!’ Sakura says, running to catch up to him.

‘What is it?’ he asks, stopping for her, still brooding.

Sakura, now facing him, smiles her trademark, radiant smile and hugs him tightly.

/His heart goes thump thump/

‘But we are forever friends, Sasuke kun!’ she whispers in his ear.

/Forever and forever and forever and forever!/

Sasuke smirks into her hair and whispers back

‘Of course, I know that’

She moves back and looks him in the eye, pouting slightly.

‘But I’m the one with the wide forehead! I’m the genius!’

He shrugs ‘I’m genius-er’

‘Ha! But I’m the genius-est! I even helped you in today’s test!’ she exclaims, pounding her fist in the air, eyes blazing with childish happiness that she just outdid Sasuke.

And Sasuke stares at her in silent admiration, more than happy to be in her company.

Then comes the ill – fated day; the day when Sasuke returns late from his shuriken practice, the day he finds his aunt and uncle with whom he had talked 12 hours prior, lie dead on the ground; the day his whole clan is slaughtered just to check the strength and capabilities of Sasuke’s pride, Uchiha Itachi.

The day Sasuke is broken; the day he started his second life – an avenger’s life.

His brain dies. All he remembers is a lot of blood, his own miserable cries, his brother’s mockery, loneliness, hatred and his ambition to strive for revenge.

/It’s always so dark, isn’t it?/

A week after his discharge from the hospital, Sakura finds him in the practice ground.

‘Sasuke kun?’

He busies himself throwing his arsenal at the already mutilated straw doll.

/I brought you tomatoes./

‘Sasuke kun?’ she calls a little louder this time.

‘What do you want?’ he asks, not facing her.

Sakura winces.

/Cold./

‘I – I brought you lunch’

‘I don’t need it. Go away.’

/Cold./

/Won’t you even look at me?/

‘But - ’

‘Who are you anyway?’ he asks, finally facing her, irritated.

A part of Sakura’s heart dies that day.

‘I’m –

/(Ha – Haruno Sakura)

(You smell of oranges)

(Does it hurt?)

[A soft kiss]

(Friends?)

(Thank you, Sasuke kun!)

(Forever friends!)/

‘See -’ he glares at her ‘you aren’t associated with me. Don’t make me start hating someone I don’t even know.’

Tears start flowing from the jade optics he once thought made her look beautiful.

/(Next time, tell them you’re angry)

(You have to learn to hate)

(Forever friends)

(You are not brave at all!)

[A glare]

(This is what you do)

(Forever friends!)

(I know that)

(I’m the genius!)

(Forever and forever and forever and forever!)/

/ Where is the forever, Sasuke kun? /

‘Get out of my way.’

/(We’re friends forever, Sasuke kun!)

(Why are you here all by yourself?)

[Soft touch.]

(…Wide foreheads are lucky)

(Genius-er!)

He walks away, and this time Sakura doesn’t ask him if he wants to be friends with her, or laugh at his back and run up to him to hug him.

She crumbles to the ground, fisting her young hand in the soft mud, while her lips tremble.

/ Where is it, Sasuke kun? The forever you said you knew about? /

‘I’ll learn, Sasuke kun! I’ll learn to hate. I’ll do it for you, Sasuke kun.’

/ Then maybe you’ll remember me.

Say I smell of oranges

And remember that we are supposed to be forever friends. /

---------------------------------

Naruto. SasuSaku. 13.09.10

no happy endings, no straight lines.

Life doesn't always have a happily ever after.
. . . 
It was another of those times when Sasuke really cursed his existence. He knew of the rough life he was forced to lead, he knew all the hardships he faced. But he was rewarded; he was reunited. He was accepted, loved and cared for. And when he was thinking that may be he too could have the enigmatic happily ever after, Fate decided she has been too kind to him and screwed his life up all over again.
Sasuke was rigidly seated on a hospital bench, glaring holes at anything that his eyes met, and muttering curses once in a while.
'-'kura chan' a voice mumbled to his right and he saw Naruto gazing anxiously at the operation room where the red light was still on, indicating that she was still fighting to live. Sasuke's gaze fell down back to his lap and he frowned as his fists clenched.
She was the source of his sorrow.
'She'll be okay, right?' Naruto's voice quivered.
/No, Naruto/
'Right?'
'Hopefully'
'...we will meet at the bridge..'
'Hn.'
'...and she'll scare me with her crazy fists just because I haven't bathed...'
/There'd be no one for Naruto to 'Sakura chan' anymore/
'...and on the third saturday, we still get to do a sleepover at your house...'
/There'd be no one to 'Sasuke kun' me anymore/
'...oh, and of course! We'd still do missions together, and everything will be okay...'
/There'd be Team 7 no more./
'...and...'
'SHUT UP!'
Sasuke growled, clenching his hands yet again. He was not going to comfort Naruto by weaving illusions and lies around them. He was not going to say everything is okay.
/Nothing is/
Naruto promptly fell silent, sliding to the floor and resting his head on his folded knees.
Sasuke felt uncomfortable. He felt agitated. He felt... hurt.
/Tsunade gave up hope. TSUNADE gave up hope.
Doesn't she care enough?/
Sasuke scoffed as soon as the thought passed through his head. He wasn't worthy to ask such a question when, not so long ago, he was the one who didn't care enough.
Footsteps echoed as people rushed into the congested hall. Konoha 12, all of them, gathered there. Tenten quickly regained her breath and asked in a hurry:
'How is she?'
Sasuke expected Ino to question him first, but one glance at her told him she was feeling sick. She knew something horrible was going to happen. She just knew it.
Not having heard Naruto's reply, Sasuke spoke up the bitter truth
'No hope.'
The only thing Sasuke saw before blonde and orange obstructed his view was that Ino had slid to the floor, her legs too weak to support.
Thinking something to happen is always different from actually hearing it.
'How DARE you!' Naruto pinned him to the wall, faint traces of red leaking into his irises.
'The truth, Naruto!'
'Bullshit! You just agreed that she'd be fine! Don't you dare go back on your word, temé!'
Everyone just looked on; too shocked to move.
'What does your head say, Naruto?'
Knowing is different from believing
'T-That's irrelevant!'
/You know you believe what Tsunade said too. I know that you do./
Sasuke snorted.
'Really? So you want to live in a world of falsities and lies, do you?'
That perhaps that today never existed?
'TEMÉ!'
That may be I am not to be blamed for what happened?
'... Let go, Naruto.'
'What?'
Guilt. That was what stopped Naruto, and brought him back to his senses. He could sense guilt in his voice. That and sorrow. Painful sorrow.
May be that we never went on that mission?
'Sasuke, are you okay?
May be that there never was a Haruno Sakura to begin with? A girl filled with life and joy, with hopes and aims, wishing to share her joy and suffer through the pain.'I'm not  okay, OKAY?! Now just shut the hell up and let go of me, dammit!' he yelled, yanking his  clothing from Naruto's fist and stomping off.
/What am I thinking? She isn't dead yet!/
But his pessimistic side, or as he liked to call it, his logical side replied
When Tsunade says there's no hope, there's no hope.
'Shit! Damn every fucking thing!'
He'd do anything to go back and correct his mistake. He'd give up everything to see her alive.
. . .
He trudged slowly along the road, ignoring the whispers people made. He was sure people were even pointing at him behind his back. But this wasn't anything new. Humiliation has been one of his newest friends of late. He felt dizzy. He didn't want this, but then again, no one did.
If only he could let go of these regrets and make everything okay.
His head was numb. It was a wonder he even found his way back to his home. Stepping in and locking the door behind him, he fell into the couch. He didn't get up to switch on the light. He couldn't.
He was tired. Dead tired of everything the world offered him at the moment.
And as usual, darkness brought with it it's playmate, the one thing Sasuke feared the most. Memories. But he did nothing to ward them off. He looked at the unlit tubelight with numb fascination as he relived the day's events. His nightmare.
================
It was been a mission; an A class. They were to deal with the Grass nin to the north west of the Land of Fire and stop them from reaching Konoha; ward them off, injure them, kill them. Anything as long as they didn't reach Konoha.
Team 7 and two teams of chuunins were assigned, with Sasuke as the captain. Everything went well. They reached the location in due time and scanned the area throughly. Sure enough, a little army, about 14, of Grass nins were relaxing in the clearing.
'Now that is great timing' Sasuke thought, smirking to himself.
Things couldn't get any better.
All he needed then was a plan. He posted a chuunin near the Grass' camp to report of their motives. And they found out soon enough. Kyuubi.
Sasuke frowned.
/Since when was the Grass interested in Kyuubi? Unless Akatsuki...
Damn. Since we don't know the ranks and capabilities of these nins, it'll be a risk to bring Naruto into battle. But if this mission is to succeed, we need him action./
'We need a distraction -' he announced to his team. The chuunins looked hopeful '- and I don't want chuunins. They are an easy bait. I want someone who can stand ground.'
His eyes meaningfully rested on Sakura, who nodded at once. 'I'll go.'
He could've gone instead of her. He could've told the team his plan and hope that they executed it perfectly. But no.
Those who don't follow rules are trash.
He was arrogant. Afterall, he was the team leader; they had to obey him.
But those who don't care about their team mates are worse than trash.
In a moment, Sakura was ready for Sasuke's signal. She trusted him.
She trusted him. Sasuke knew that a long time ago. But what he realised later was that she trusted him foolishly. She didn't ask him of the plan. She was ready to jump in the fray just like that. She was ready to be the pawn without knowing whether or not she'll even wake up the next day. God, she trusted him foolishly, blindly, selflessly.
[Sasuke felt disgusted with himself.]
She left his side the next second as the Konoha nins waited with sick anticipation.
'She has to succeed. Has to. HAS TO!' his mind screamed
[Even then, the mission was all he cared about. Not her, a pawn.]
It was a full six minutes later that Sasuke's heart dropped to his toes. That he realised distractions and ambushes can be predicted; and that his plans weren't as foolproof as he believed them to be.
The seventh minute was very happening. Sakura's scream echoed through the clearing; Naruto lost hold on the Kyuubi; and Sasuke suddenly felt helpless.
By the twenty-seventh minute, it was all over; and by the seventy-seventh minute, they were all in Konoha's hospital, with Sakura piggybacked on Naruto's back; and Sasuke's hopes crushed.

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