sagara-megumi:

Title: Forgotten Tales from an Ancient Time – Chapter 2

Rating: T/PG-13

Notes: Well, this one took me more time than I expected, sorry for the wait. Very few things this time ^^

While searching for some images, I came across an official art of Sasuke as a Tengu and a beautiful and very detailed fanart of that same picture. So I decided to use those as the main reference. Here’s the link to the manga cover: https://es.pinterest.com/pin/386324474265450027/

There’s another note after the chapter to avoid some sort of “spoiler?“.

***It’s already very late here and I have to get up early, so tomorrow I’ll give the chapter a final revision. Please, be lenient if you see eye-sore mistakes ^^U

Glossary:

–udon: a type of thick wheat flour noodle
–youkai: a class of supernatural monsters, spirits and demons in Japanese folklore
**‘You’: at some point of the story, Sakura says to Sasuke that he’s not going to address him as ‘You′. There are a few words to say this pronoun in Japanese, more or less rude. In this one, Sakura is obviously referring to the polite one, but I wanted to clarify this so it doesn’t sound weird.

As always, if there’s something wrong (spaces, brackets, words in another language…), please, tell me.

Words: 6838

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FORGOTTEN TALES OF AN ANCIENT TIME

Chapter 2

The sunset was tinting everything in golden colours; even her green eyes, mixed with those tones became a strange shade of  light amber that seemed to shine like precious stones. Sakura watched it through the open window, pensively, sitting on the floor of her small flat. As soon as she had arrived home, she had washed her as best as she could, since she could not wet any of her bandages and changed into a mid-thigh red T-shirt with the print of a white circle imitating the stroke of a brush, even with thick drops of paint running down the red fabric. It had been then when all the tension from the day had finally taken its toll on her. Absentmindedly, she touched the bandage that she had on her forehead, bordering her hairline. Her wounds had not been really serious, though quite alarming because of so much bleeding. Apart from that and the cut in her leg, which was not deep, she was now feeling some pain in her ribs, probably from the hitting of her body against the steps, that the doctors in the emergency room had assured her that were not broken, and also she had some bruises on her chest and shoulders.

Then, she turned her head to the raptor that lay on a cushion next to her. The vet from a clinic nearby the hospital, where she had left it before going to be treated, had told her that even though the injury had not been fatal, if she had left it on the mountain, it would have ended up dying from hunger and thirst, since its feathers were damaged and it would take a long time for it to be able to fly again. She extended her hand and touched it with her fingertips, brushing over its chest, feeling its breath and the fast beat of its heart.

A black kite, he had said the bird was. She had looked it up on her laptop and the photos of it flying majestically on the skies had bewitched her, making her wish of seeing it healthy and free soon stronger.

The vet had also warned her that that type of bird was very dangerous and it was not wise to keep it at home. But somehow, she felt responsible of what had happened, though she still could not explain the presence of the bird on her lap. Or what had happened in the mountain. She was sure she had not tripped over anything. Moreover, she still could feel the sudden push she had felt on her back, so strong that it had almost taken the breath out of her lungs. Maybe it was true that there were still some Tengu on the mountain and she had managed to anger them, though she could not think of anything she had done that could be considered disrespectful. Or maybe, they were playing a prank on her. A very dangerous one, considering that if the stone against which he had hit her head had been just centimetres from its place, she would have been up there, being food for wild animals.

Despite her tiredness and that she did not feel like eating after all that had happened, her stomach rumbled loudly and she realised that she had not had anything since breakfast. Sighing defeated, not really wanting to move, and with a last caress to the bird’s neck, Sakura stood up, closing the window, and went to the kitchen, feeling as every muscle in her body protested against the action. Once there, she went to her fridge and opened it, looking at the food reluctantly. She was not in the mood for cooking or to have an elaborated meal either. Then, as she closed the door, she remembered the riceballs the old lady from the mountain had prepared for her and she went to her backpack, that she had left in the entrance. She took them out, feeling sad at seeing that one of the corners of the little parcel had been crushed. It would have been strange if, after the fall, they were still intact. Carefully, she unwrapped them. There were three riceballs, one of them still kept its shape, the one in the middle was a bit crumbled, but the third was almost squashed. She took them and put then on a plate, putting the crumpled one together and for the third, she took a fork of one of the drawers to eat it as best as she could. She took a glass and filled it with water, and after thinking about it for a moment, she took a bowl from one of the cupboards and filled it too.

When she returned to the living room, she stopped on her tracks. The kite was awake and standing up on the cushion, watching her with fiery eyes of the colour of blood. Swallowing a bit nervous, she took a step forward and it made a shrill sound as it opened its wings, though the one which was injured laid lifeless to his side, brushing the floor with its longest feathers. It was as if he warned her not to get closer.

She went still again for a few seconds and then, remembering some words from her mother regarding the living creatures of the nature, she knelt very slowly, lowering her eyes slightly so she was not staring at it. She left the things she carried in he hands on the floor beside her, and then, she nodded, folding her hands on her lap.

“My name is Sakura” for a moment, she felt a bit stupid talking to a bird, but she continued. “I was in the mountain when the branch fell by the small Tengu shrine. You were injured, so I brought you to the vet and he said that your feathers are damaged and you can’t fly yet” she looked around, not wanting to frighten the kite by using her hands to gesture. “This is my house. It’s not very big but I hope you feel comfortable here until you can get back to the mountain.”

The bird of prey had folded its wings as she talked, as if it was listening to her, and then, after looking at her for some more moments, sat down on the cushion. Sakura was bewildered for a moment. Then, encouraged by the progress, she continued.

“The vet said that you need to drink water to rehydrate” she pointed briefly to the bowl she had been carrying. “So, please, drink from this” she took it and, leaning on one hand, she stretched her arm as far as she could, pushing the bowl.

She returned to her original position and nodded lightly.

“I’m going to have dinner now.”

She stood up slowly again, still not truly believing that she had been able to convey her thoughts to the raptor, and that it seemed to understand her.

Then, she pulled the low table in the middle of the room as far as she could in the room to keep as much distance as possible from the kite. Then, she went back to the kitchen and brought a tray with her food. She turned on the television, something that startled the animal a bit, and lowered the volume. She gave thanks for the food and then, started to eat, watching the news. Outside, it was already dark.

Soon after she finished her riceballs, Sakura yawned and decided to go to bed. She stood up, looking briefly at the bird of prey, which had not taken its eyes off her, and went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

As she started to scrub the plate, she heard a soft sound and very slowly, she bent backwards to see inside the living room. The raptor had stood up and was approaching the bowl, carefully. Then, after contemplating the water for a moment, it dipped its beak in it. Sakura could not help a small smile, her cheeks flushed from her excitement. When she finished, she made sure to make a little noise, and when she returned to the living room, the bird was already on the cushion again.

“Today, I’m going to sleep really soon, little one” she said smiling before making her way to the closet, which was in the corridor, just outside of the living room.

She took her futon out and extended it near the door, taking the table and putting it against the wall. Then, she went away again, and when she returned, she was wearing her nightgown. Even if it was only a kite, she did not feel comfortable with the idea of changing clothes or sleeping without them, so she resigned herself to a hot sleepless night.

The raptor watched her as she switched off the light of the room and lay on the mattress, the only sound in the room being the soft humming of the electric fan. She had been careful to position it so the air did not hit him directly.

“Good night” she whispered softly, and then, he heard the soft rustle of the sheet as she turned on her right side.

The kite watched her back, illuminated by the dim light which entered through the window from the street, listening as her breath gradually became steadier and deeper, until he was sure that she did not pose a threat for him, and then, it allowed itself to close its eyes.

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The kite did not know how much time had passed, but it opened its eyes quickly, all its senses alert. A baby was crying on the other side of the wall and something about the whimpering made him uneasy, though it did not know what it was. Then, it looked at the bed, but the woman was there, peacefully asleep. Everything seemed calm, but the raptor trusted its instinct more than anything, and it told it that something was not right. Then, there was a quick movement to its left and it looked on time to see that a shape seemed to come off the wall. It slithered along the shadows of the furniture projected on the floor from the lights in the street, and though the raptor looked at It intrigued for a moment, thinking that maybe was one of those insects humans despised so much, the evil energy that suddenly filled the room, made it spring to its feet. Immediately understanding that it was no match for that speed, it shape-shifted into his human Tengu form as He took the first step, taking the sword from the sash around His waist and sank it on the wooden floor on one of the strange elongations, less than a metre away from the bed. The cut part wriggled and twisted, as if He had cut the head of a snake, and when he tried to grab the tentacle, it slipped between his fingers, leaving a burning trail along its way. The Tengu grunted, shaking his hand, the burning blistering his skin for a few seconds before it started to heal itself. When he looked around, it had completely disappeared.
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The Shadow cursed Its back luck as it crawled down the wall of the building and hid Itself between the bushes of the less illuminated corner of the garden behind it. When had that woman managed to get herself a supernatural guardian? And a Tengu no less.

Every fiber of Its now more tangible form shivered remembering the strength It had perceived in the blow, in his hand as he tried to grab It. He had almost done it. now, the Shadow needed to change Its plans and trace a new strategy to fulfill Its mission. A small smile made its way slowly in the darkness of Its being, realising that he had brought an unexpected thing from Its incursion, one that could help It to achieve what It desired. It would be more difficult and challenging, but not impossible.

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Sakura opened her eyes slowly in the dim light, awoken by a strange feeling deep inside her. As her eyes wandered from the ceiling to the window, they came across a man crouched by her futon, watching her with red eyes, dressed in ancient dark robes. All her body tensed and she opened her mouth to scream, but before she could do it, the man covered it with his hand with an amazing speed, using such a strength that she felt pain on the back of her head.

“Be quiet.”

He did not move His lips to speak, but the words sounded clearly in her mind, and Sakura stiffened. It was the same voice she had heard in the forest, warning her about the branch. She fought, flailing her legs, trying to kick Him and her fingers closed around His wrist digging them into His flesh. She knew it was futile. Despite His slender figure, His force was extraordinaire, but she refused to let Him do whatever He wanted without resistance. She looked to the side, and to her surprise, the kite was nowhere to be found. Had he harmed the raptor before attacking her? Angry tears filled her eyes and she looked at him, her pupils flashing with hate. Just then, she realised that the man had two dark wings on his back and that one of them had some of its feathers crooked. She looked at the cushion again, ant then at Him, and He nodded. Then, He loosened His grip and she took His hand from her mouth with a strong pull. She scrambled to her feet backing until her back was against the bookcases that covered the wall, as the man stood up as well. He was taller than her, a dark figure only partially illuminated by the street lamps. His skin was pale in contrast with his hair and clothes; but the eeriest feature about him were definitely His eyes, red as blood with strange black symbols in the shape of a star and what looked like three slits coming out of His pupils. If in her heart she did not have the suspicion of who He was, she could have swore that He was the Death Himself. But under his robe, she could see the glimpse of a bandage across his chest, and trembling, she realised that what he had implied was true.

“Y-You are the-?”

“I’m a Tengu” he stated, moving his lips this time.

She stared at him in confusion and incredulity.

“A… Tengu…?”

He nodded and crossed his arms on his chest.

“Ah, don’t do-” she said on impulse, taking a step forward and extending her hand, but just as fast, she let it drop.

“You mean this?” he said pointing to his bandage. “It’s not necessary, I’m already fine.”

She watched Him as He pulled at the white fabric through his underclothes, a garment made of net that she had seen depicted in ancient stories of samurai and ninja.

“You should leave it like that for some more time” she said in a soft voice. “The vet said-”

“And what can a human know about us?” his words were edged with disdain, and that angered her.

“Well, obviously nothing, but he was taking care of a badly-injured bird, and put all his energy in saving it. The least you can do is show some respect for his feelings.”

He looked at her with sharp eyes, and she felt fear inside, knowing very well of what a Tengu was capable of, but His only response was to drop His hands to His sides and turn to the window, looking outside.

Sakura studied Him as the light fell on His beautiful features. Tengu were never depicted like that in books and legends. They always talked about red-skinned men or humans with bird traits; or in the ancient tales, they were monsters with bird feet or sharp teeth. Now that she could see it clearer, His hair was similar to soft feathers, framing His face and standing on end at the back, darker than the ones in His wings. He looked over his shoulder at her, and she blushed at being caught staring.

“Go back to sleep.”

Sakura could not say a word, and she did not move either. Her mind was still in a turmoil, processing all that had happened quickly, starting to understand things that before were obscure. But not only that. As a woman, she did not feel at ease having a strong stranger man in her room, even though, technically, he was not one. However, she could not tell him that.

“Do I bother you?” a small smirk drew across His lips and her face became hot, realising that He had guessed her thoughts perfectly. “Would you be more comfortable with this appearance?”

Suddenly, He was not there anymore. Instead, it was the kite who looked at her from the same place by the window. For a moment, it looked like It had nodded, and then, It took Its place on the cushion, sitting down cosily.

Sakura lowered her head, and then, not really feeling like standing up there what was left of the night, she made her way to the mattress and lay down, looking at the ceiling, trying to focus her attention in the shadows that moved each time a car passed or the air from the electric fan moved the curtain, but not being able to help a side glance to the window, aware of the eyes of the raptor on her. She did not know how much time had happened but, without realising, her eyes closed and she was engulfed in a dreamless darkness.

.

Sakura woke up with a soft intake of breath, not really knowing if what had happened the night before had been real or a product of her imagination. However, as her pupils focused and she turned her head to the open window, her eyes fell on the sitting figure of the Tengu a few metres from her. He had His head turned to the side, staring outside.

So, everything was true.

He seemed to perceive that she was not asleep anymore, because He turned His head and stared at her, His dark red eyes a bit different from the night before, less menacing, but strangely unreadable.

“This place has changed too much” He tilted His head again. “The clothes, the houses, the way society works… From here I can’t barely take in the whole city. So many buildings, so many people… so many useless worries…” he sighed. “There’s no place for us here anymore…”

“I think you’re mistaken” Sakura had sat on the futon and was threading her fingers through her short hair pulling it back. “Kyoto is still a city full of spirituality. Even though you can feel that things are not the same since you were here, I assure you that there is something special here that it’s impossible to find in most cities in Japan” she smiled a bit and got up, putting her hands in her waist and stretching her back. “If you could stay for a bit, I could show you.”

He smiled lightly, giving a last glance to the city.

“Maybe I’ll hold you to that” she looked at Him with surprised eyes, all traces of sleepiness gone from her face. “I’ll be staying here for a while.”

“Eh?” his mischievous side found her confused expression extremely pleasant. “W-What do you mean?”

The Tengu stood up and walked to her.

“You saved my life, so I’m on your debt. And I don’t like that, much less in the case of a human.”

“But, you saved mine first!” she protested furrowing her brows delicately, a very small pout appearing on her lips.

“You prayed at my Clan’s shrine” His tone became softer and Sakura was left without words to reply with. “Nobody had done it for years.”

“But… that was nothing…”

“For you, maybe, for us, it means that we’re still alive in someone’s mind and heart” a small smile drew across His mouth. “So, I hope you don’t mind having me around until I can satisfy it.”

For the moment, the Tengu decided, he was not going to tell her about the ‘thing’ that seemed to follow her around. He wanted to know first if she knew it and what type of supernatural being was. One thing was for sure, it was not a good one.

After a few seconds musing over His words, Sakura smiled, going to the window and leaning on the frame.

“But, there aren’t any trees nearby…” she said looking at the houses in front of hers. “Oh, but there’s a park near the train station” she pointed at a place she could see on her right, behind some buildings.

However, the Tengu was not paying attention to her. He was looking around the flat with evident distaste, but also with something akin to resignation in His pupils.

“I’ll live here. Though it’s quite small, I think I’ll manage.”

“What?”

“Why not?” a thin line became visible between His brows. “You decided to keep me until I recovered from my wounds, didn’t you?” the Tengu smirked. “Then, take responsibility” He nodded lightly and Sakura was sure He was mocking her. “I’ll be in your care from now on.”

.

When Sakura had looked at the alarm clock some time after the Tengu had made her flat His home and she had resigned to her fate, she had been surprised to see that it was almost midday, so she had decided to prepare an early lunch. She was really hungry, so she had made a huge dish of cold udon with vegetables, and fried shrimps, adding some pieces of grilled meat to His plate. She went to a lot of effort, trying to make everything perfect, from the food to the presentation, since she did not remember when it had been the last time she had cooked for someone.

She came back to the living room carrying a tray and put both servings carefully on the low table in the middle of the room. Then, she bowed deeply in front of the Tengu, who was still sitting by the window.

“I’ve made lunch. I’ve tried to make as nutritious as possible so you recover your strength soon” she lifted her head and looked at him with hopeful green eyes. “If you pleas-”

“I don’t eat.”

Sakura closed her mouth and stayed in that posture for a second, a deep crimson colour spreading across her cheeks. Then, slowly, she straightened.

“Ah,” an embarrassed short laugh left her lips and she averted her sight. “I… suppose so…” she fidgeted a bit. “Well, then, if you don’t mind, I’m going to…” she gestured to the table and then, she turned and sat down.

The Tengu frowned, following her with his eyes, not really understanding why she had reacted like that. It was not like she did not know, so versed as she seemed to be in legends, deities and youkai. And probably, she had been eating alone more than a few times. However, seeing her there, on her own and in silence, seemingly so far, made him strangely uneasy, and with a tired sigh, he lifted from the floor and walked to her. On his way, he picked up the bowl filled with water that she had given to his kite form the night before. She watched him, the tip of her chopsticks resting lightly on her lower lip, as he sat down at the table.

“I’d want to use this while I’m here, can I?”

She looked at the bowl. It was an old one made of ceramic, with a small chip on the brim, hand-painted with a motive of little birds and mountains. She had found it in a small village market while on a short trip with her mother, and though it was something most people would have already thrown away, it brought her memories happy memories of her childhood and could not bring herself to do it.

“Of course” she said with a small smile.

With a small gesture thanking for the food, the Tengu picked up one of the small pieces of meat and before He could bring it to His mouth, she averted her eyes and concentrated on her own food.

The alarm clock on one of the bookcases ticking away the seconds was the only sound in the living room for a while, apart from the occasional clink of the plates on the table.

“Why are you so quiet now? You were really enthusiastic before.”

She fidgeted a bit uncomfortable and, not knowing why, feeling on the defensive.

“Sorry, but… I’m not used to having lunch with supernatural beings. I don’t really know how I should behave…”

“Would it be better if I resembled a human?”

“Eh?” the question had left her dumbfounded and she looked at him with big round eyes.

In the blink of an eye, the wings disappeared and his pupils became completely black as if they were two bottomless pools of ink. He looked like a normal man, except for the blue robes he still wore, and Sakura had to blink several times to realise that it was not an illusion of her mind or a trick that he had pulled on her.

“Come on” he beckoned her to pick up her bowl again with his chopsticks, an amused glint shining in his eyes at her reaction. “Keep on eating.”

She did as she was told, but after just one bite and several glances in his direction, she set her her food down.

“Your Tengu form does not bother me.” she started and he shifted his attention to her, suddenly interested. “It’s what you said before…” he paused as he left his bowl of water on the table, having drunk a few sips. “You said you didn’t eat before…”

He lifted a brow.

“That’s what irking you?” he picked up half cherry tomato. “I’m not like humans that need to feed lots of times every day. I only do it when I get worn out, or when I receive offerings from the villagers down the mountain. It would be disrespectful if I threw them or let them spoil” he ate the bite and then continue. “You made this for me, so…” he nodded faintly. “Sorry…”

A sweet smile drew across her lips and the tense atmosphere that still lingered vanished completely. They continued eating for a few more moments before she spoke again.

“Um, I have another question.”

“You’re very annoying, you know?” he retorted back biting on a prawn.

“But it’s important” she shifted in her cushion for a moment. “How… should I address you?” he lifted a brown, looking at her with a bit of curiosity. “I mean, I can’t call you ‘You’ if I have to tell you something.”

He finished swallowing some of his food before answering.

“As you please, but definitely, not ‘little one’” he said frowning, pressing his lips in a thin line.

She tried to suppress a smile by hiding it behind the bowl of udon as she sipped some cold broth, thinking that it had bothered him a great deal to be called that when he was in his bird shape. As she set it down, she cleared her throat.

“But, I can’t do that” when he turned his head to her, seeing his really irritated expression, she tried to explain herself quickly. “My mother taught me that if you give a name to a supernatural being, you become its master. Even though the bond can be broken later through a ritual, I don’t want to…”

“He,” he regarded her with an amused smirk, his black eyes shining with a small spark of interest. “So you have knowledge of those details…”

“My adoptive mother is the Priestess of a Shinto Shrine” she said, smiling proudly, looking behind her at a photo that showed a blond woman with ceremonial robes and a little girl, clearly the woman he had in front of him, dressed in a kimono. “She made sure that I learnt every intricacy of the rites and rituals,  beliefs and legends, probably with the hope of me inheriting the post one day.”

“And? Are you planning to?”

“Um” she seemed to think about it for a moment before answering. “I don’t know yet. I love my work and when I decided to pursue a career, she took an apprentice…” after a moment, she looked at him with a slight frown. “But let’s not stray from the topic” he shrugged and looked at the last half of tomato before picking it up, and she sighed a bit exasperated. “Do you have a name?”

“Hm?”

“A name” she said a bit louder and slower, as if she was talking to a half-deaf old lady. “I suppose that in your Clan, you didn’t call each other ‘Tengu-san’.”

He chewed slowly, looking around, clearly struggling with the question and what answer he could give, and after a few seconds, Sakura understood that maybe she was intruding in an extremely private matter for him. And also, she realised that she had been talking to him as to any of her friends. And he was not. Biting her lower lip softly, she lowered her head.

“I’m sorry, I-”

“My father named me Sasuke.”

She lifted her head and saw that his cheeks had acquired a light shade of pink and his eyes seemed distant, like in a faraway land. Or time. A soft smile made her way into her lips.

“Then… do you mind me calling you ‘Sasuke-kun’?”

He made a displeased face.

“That sounds extremely disrespectful.”

“Well, I’m sorry, but I’m not going to call you ‘Sasuke-sama’, as if I were a teenager utterly smitten with an actor, or with her senpai at school” she took some udon from her bowl. “And period.”
.

The baby started crying again sometime in the late afternoon. After lunch, some more complaints to her about the way she wanted to address him and taking a short nap, Sasuke had felt curious about her books and had spent a good amount of time taking a look at the titles and picking up the ones which caught his interest. He had finally decided on one and had settled himself in his usual spot by the window, reading.

“Is it always like that?” he asked, frowning, as she knelt in front of him and served him some green tea in the bowl beside him.

“No…” she stood up and went to the table, where she had her laptop which she had been using to check her email and the library website to see some photographs of the exhibition. “It’s strange, because she’s always been a very quiet and friendly girl” she sat down and put her chin on her hand, propping her elbow on the table. “Maybe she’s ill…”

She stood up again and made her way to the corridor.

“I’m going to see my neighbours…”

Sasuke frowned, pursing his lips a bit, musing over what she had told him. Probably, it was not important, but seeing the things that had happened lately, it was better to check if it truly was just a sick little human brat. He stood up from his position and, as he followed her, he turned into a kite. It was better to go unnoticed.

.

“I’m really sorry for the bother, Haruno-san…”

When Sakura was opening the door, she had found her neighbour already in the hallway, unfolding a baby carriage, and he had apologised even before she could greet him.

“No, it doesn’t matter” she said with a smile, moving her hands in front of her to downplay the situation. “I just wanted to know if little Youko-chan is ill…”

“We… don’t know…” the man brought a hand to his head and scratched it nervously. “We brought her to hospital yesterday and they run several tests on her, but the doctors said they did not find anything strange… We’re going back today-”

In that moment, his wife came out carrying a whimpering baby in her arms.

“Oh, Sakura-san…” she nodded with a troubled smile. “I’m so sor-”

“No, please” Sakura put her hands up to stop her. “Don’t apologise. If Youko-chan doesn’t feel wells, she has to say it in her own language, right, Youko-chan?” she said bending forward and touching her red cheek softly. “Please, let me know what the doctors said when you come back, and if I can do anything.”

They nodded and bowed their thanks profusely and Sakura watched them as they strode away with quick steps. With a sigh, she came back into her flat and took her sandals off. Sasuke was there, with his arms crossed and a pensive expression in his face.

“Is something the matter?”

He turned without a word and she followed him.

“I don’t think so…” he murmured softly. “I hope not…”

.

After an early dinner, Sakura and Sasuke agreed on going to bed soon and, after watching some television, something that fascinated him, and answering his questions about said invention, they started to get ready.

“Are you sure you’re comfortable there?” she said extending the futon on the floor, watching as he sat down again by the open window.

“Hm, I’m fine” he leant his back against the wall and bent one of his knees up, putting an arm on top of it. “I don’t sleep much anyway.”

“However, you still have to recover from your injuries.”

“I told you I’m alright now. My wounds heal much faster than those of  you humans” he pulled a bit on the bandage under his robes. “I’ll take them off tomorrow. It’s starting to get itchy.”

She made a non-committal sound and then, turned off the light.

.

A strangled cry took him out of his slumber a few hours later. Sakura was lying on the mattress, tense as the string of a bow, her head tilted back in a pained expression.

“What.”

“My stomac-”

A high pitched pained moan cut out her words and immediately, Sasuke perceived the smell of blood in the room. Her blood. Immediately, he went to her side, his pupils changing their colour to a crimson hue and a six point star appearing in them. He scanned the room, but there was nothing that rang an alarm in His mind.

A stain of blood appeared on her nightgown, growing bigger by seconds, and without any qualm, he lifted it, leaving her midsection exposed. Sakura did not have time to protest, she was in great pain, and also confusion, seeing Sasuke’s face of astonishment.

There were deep scratches on her stomach and thick drops of blood ran down her flesh, pooling around her belly button, some of them falling on the mattress. Sakura whimpered again as a point of blood appeared on her skin, making an horizontal line and then starting again, crossed it going down, and he understood that they were no scratches. Someone, or something, was writing something on her skin. He had never seen that kind of magic, though He had heard His ancestors talking about old rituals to mark preys or enemies. And He knew that it would not stop until the message was finished. Sasuke furrowed His brow as a new stroke started and she clenched her teeth, trying to muffle somehow the scream that was about to come out of her throat. How had whatever was doing this been able to approach her? He had been on alert since the night before, watching every corner of the house but He had not sensed any supernatural presence near her. However, He did not have time to reflect on that idea, as her hand searched convulsively for something to grasp and finally clenched on his hakama.

“Hey…” He whispered, feeling bewildered and uncomfortable, being that the first time a human touched Him.

Her only response was to turn on her side and curl up like a new-born. A thick drop of sweat run down from her forehead mingling with her tears into the pillow, where she was trying now to muffle her scream.

“St-Stop… i-it… please…” she whimpered tearfully.

“I’m sorry…” and He realised that He had said it from the bottom of His heart. “I can’t…”

She looked at Him with her only visible eye, darker than before because of the dim light and the pain, but he did not see any trace of  reproach o resentment against Him for not being able to help her. She panted before a new stab of pain tensed her body again. Her other hand flew in the air, fisted tightly, as if she wanted to hit whatever was doing that to her, and He caught it mid air. Her fingers opened like a flower under His palm and, after tensing in agony, they closed around His. Her hand was damp with sweat and her fingertips and short nails dig into His flesh but He did not feel any hurt.

They stayed like that for long minutes of pause and pain, until finally, she relaxed with a soft moan of exhaustion and did not move for some time, and after being completely sure that there was no other presence in the room apart from them, He returned to his human appearance. He opened his mouth to talk, but closed it again, without uttering a syllable, None of the words that were going through his mind sounded right in a situation like that. The suffering she had experienced was something that nothing that he said could alleviate. So, he decided to keep silent. Instinctively, he extended his free hand and brushed her damp hair softly, pulling some strands away from her cheek and putting them behind her ear. She opened her eyes a bit and turned her head to him, still feeling out of breath, and tried to smile. It was wavering and crooked, but it showed her inner strength, and he returned it with one of his own, feeling a deep respect for her.

“Can… you…” Sakura, letting go of his robes, moved and winced, a low hiss and a groan leaving her lips, but when Sasuke tried to stop her, she shook her head stubbornly and continued speaking, a little winded.  “Can you… take a look…?”

She finally managed to lay on her back and lifted her free arm to cover her eyes. Sasuke, inhaling slowly, took the thin fabric drenched in deep crimson blood of her nightgown and uncovered her stomach. Most of the cuts were still bleeding but the angry swollen skin that surrounded them, made possible to decipher what was written on it. Sasuke read the characters and swallowed hard, his eyes opening in horror.

“What…”

he lifted his face to see Sakura watching him with a grim expression, that became even deeper. She pressed her lips in a thin line.

“I want to see it.”

“No” that only word was said in a terminate tone,  lifting his head to her, his pupils turning hard with determination and anger.

“Sasuke-kun…” he moved his head negatively and she sighed frustrated, despite the pain. “Your expression is telling me that something is really wrong and it’s scaring me. So please, let me see it.”

“It’s better if you don’t.”

“I’m going to know sooner or later, as soon as I see myself in a mirror… I beg you…”

He looked at her intensely for a few more moments, but seeing her eyes full of resolve, he finally sighed, defeated.

“You’re going to regret it.”

“I know…” he saw the light of her pupils waver. “There is a small mirror in the second room on the right in the corridor, in the cupboard under the washbasin.”

He came back a few seconds later with the item she had requested, and Sakura had barely had time to recompose her desperate expression and clean the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. She clenched her jaw as he sat down next to her and shifted the mirror, so she could see. As soon as her features showed her astonishment, he knew that that was the correct angle, and inwardly, he braced himself for her true reaction once she understood that they were not simple scratches. Her eyes widened slowly as she deciphered the upside down characters, reflecting sheer terror, her features changing into a gesture of incredulity first, a mute scream later.

‘Mine.’

TO BE CONTINUED…

Extra-note:

The word ‘mine’ in Japanese is written with more characters than in Western languages, so that’s why Sakura’s “torture“ is longer than expected. For those curious, the one I used (the more neutral one) is written like this:

わたし

のもの

lavendersmiles:

SasuSaku Month 2017

Day 21: Not Everything Is Black and White

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It’s similar to my other work, Photographs of Love, I know…

FFnet link 😀

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Showbiz always appreciates a good sensation. And one Saturday night, the world of glitz and glamour as well as the fans were shook with just one post in Instagram.

Aside from being one of the best actors of his generation, Uchiha Sasuke has the looks that can make anyone swoon. Despite his superstar status, he keeps most of his life in private. This mysterious aura of his just makes his fangirls and fanboys go crazy for him. Their Prince Sasuke is utter perfection for them, so to speak.

His eye for photography is also well known, like his equally famous brother – the renowned photographer Uchiha Itachi. It can be seen in his photos posted in his social media. His Instagram feed is fit for a magazine spread or an exhibit… and all of the pictures are in black and white. Thus, his fans gave him a nickname for it – Dark Prince.

Which is why when he posted a photo of a sunset with a girl– in full color – it was nothing less than a phenomenon.

Mystery girl had her back facing the camera. The caption was only a word – ’Love’ – but the impact to everyone was strong. The Prince Sasuke wifeys felt like they died, but one group of fans rejoiced.

The girl has pink hair… the same one as Haruno Sakura, the other half of the world-renowned love team – SasuSaku.

Ever since the blockbuster movie that they starred together four years ago, everyone saw the chemistry between Sasuke and Sakura. Utakata Hanabi made them household names. Numerous movies, shows, and commercials were given to them ever since.

The two can’t deny that they’ve been close as days passed, but they insists of being friends only. But the SasuSaku fans held on to the answer of Sasuke in one of his interviews.

“We’re good friends. Sakura is one of my most precious people. We never know what will happen in the future, but we’re not closing our doors to love.”

And it seems, the change of color in his Instagram feed means that the dream of every SasuSaku fan came true.

When he posted five more photos of him and Sakura together again in color, it was the confirmation the world needed.