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I Don't Deserve Your Love, But You Give It To Me Anyway
By: Rise of the Blossom

Commission 1
Request: Reincarnation by TheTacticalFishMedic
Rating: T

When people spoke of the legend that was Indra and Asura, they spoke of the battles that changed entire landscapes, they gushed about the strengths of the brothers and how different they were in terms of their personalities. They even debated on whether the legend could potentially be real, since it stated that the brothers were repeatedly reincarnated, damned to an eternity of fighting one another until someone managed to break the curse.

That was great and all, but what people failed to mention was the other main character of the story – well, she supposed it was more like a supporting character, considering the treatment of them and how easily they were forgotten about. In fact, they were barely spoken about at all, much to her dismay.

The true legend – the one without any missing parts – stated that there were three who were reincarnated. Alongside the feuding brothers, there was the woman who was created to end the feud once and for all, to light up the darkness that had seized Indra's heart. Of course, people preferred action and gore, they longed for the rush of battles. They didn't want a woman and her bleeding heart getting in the way of that.

But just because they didn't want to see it, it didn't mean it wasn't true.

After all…

Eyes downcast, she assessed him critically, the callings of the ghosts from her past drowning out the sounds of the battlefield – or was it him who did that? He'd always had a strange effect on her, after all. Out of all of Indra's reincarnations, why did he affect her so deeply?

After all, she was the woman from the legend.

"Sakura."

"I created you for one purpose," he informed her, though didn't look her way.

She clutched the shoulders of Asura's reincarnation, heart stuttering.

"Sasuke-kun," whispered Sakura.

"You wish for me to bring him back to the light?"

"Yes."

Glancing up at the man beside her, she assessed his ageing features, realising in that moment that he wouldn't be around for long. Oh, he would still have plenty of years left, but not enough to keep his son from losing himself – that or he was unable to get through to him.

Her previous attempts of saving the reincarnations of Indra had failed miserably. Each time it resulted in her gruesome death. But… The latest one was nothing like the others. He'd resisted the calls of insanity every time, turning his back on them all, keeping himself focused entirely on his one, most important goal in his life.

Was that what kept him grounded? Was it what stopped him from resuming the old age feud that had destroyed the lives of many? Yes, it must have been, Sakura decided in that moment, because once said goal was accomplished and he no longer had that drive to continue living for that sole purpose, he was more susceptible to the madness of Indra.

For a while, she'd truly believed that she – no, the boy before her had done it. He'd cracked the cycle of hatred that caused the two brothers to come back time and time again, that caused her to come back time and time again. For the first time in too many hundreds of years, she could rest easy and live out her life like the people she surrounded herself with, instead of dying within weeks of coming to (or, as she affectionately called it 'waking up').

Her reincarnations had been completely different to theirs, in the sense that she couldn't recall a single memory prior to waking up (whereas they had no idea they were even reincarnations). While she was patently aware of the fact that she had had a life up until that point, all of it ceased to exist in her mind once she crossed paths with (or came close to) Indra's reincarnation and she was, in a way, reborn. It was like an alarm would sound in her mind and she'd abandon everything, stepping away from it all to complete the mission she'd been given by her creator, even if she didn't necessarily remember what that mission was.

The mission had never been successful before. Not once. The very first time, she'd died within hours of waking up, although she wasn't afraid to blame her creator for that any longer. After all, he hadn't even told her what had caused Indra to stray into the darkness, merely sending her on her merry way.

So he was Indra.

Hand coming to the tree she was standing beneath, Sakura watched him closely.

The training he was undergoing was intense, but not physically. It seemed he was pushing himself to his limits mentally and she wondered if that was where he was going wrong. To exhaust oneself mentally on a daily basis was traumatising for the brain – it was a fragile thing, after all. To be protected at all costs.

Slight movement made on her part had the man's gaze zeroing in on her, stealing Sakura's breath when blood red eyes met hers.

What a disgusting chakra, she couldn't help but think, shivering delicately.

The power emanating from him was not that of an ordinary human. Then again, his father was not an ordinary human man, was he? No, they were all descendants of the disgraceful Kaguya and, in a way, Sakura supposed she was too. She was created by Hagoromo, after all.

"Who are you?" Indra questioned.

He was fast, she noted, the hair being blown off her face when he moved faster than she could keep up with, coming to an abrupt halt before her. Could he perhaps sense she was also not an ordinary person? Was that the reasoning behind his standoffish attitude?

Everything about him oozed darkness, but she could see in his eyes that it hadn't always been that way. His eyes were defensive, far more defensive than his stance, informing Sakura that he'd potentially experienced an emotional (or even mental) trauma.

"My name is Sakura," she introduced herself politely, smiling faintly. "I'm sorry, I was just admiring your perseverance. Your training seems gruelling, if you don't mind my saying."

"Not gruelling enough," came his muttered response and he turned his back on her. "If you are looking for someone to fawn over, you have chosen the wrong brother. Leave me be."

So the issue was his brother, it seemed. One couldn't speak so disdainfully of a relative, of someone they were supposed to love, without there being strife somewhere down the line.

Hagoromo hadn't informed her of there being a second son, nor had he informed her what Indra's problem actually was. He'd merely created her, told her the task at hand and sent Sakura on her way.

"What is your name?" she asked instead of leaving.

But it seemed he truly was lost to his darkness and Sakura regretfully looked into his eyes when Indra spun, plunging his hand deep into her chest.

She had failed.

"I said leave me be," he growled, ripping her heart from her chest.

It was rare for Sakura to be able to recall the past interactions with the other reincarnations, but then again, it was rare for her to be awake for as long as she had been. Perhaps the more time that went on, the better her chances of recalling her past lives? Was that possible? She had no way of knowing, unless Hagoromo showed his decrepit face.

Gods, she wished he would. Damning her to such a life, dying either by the hands of Indra and his reincarnations or due to jealous clansmen, was torture and now that she actually had a personality, she wasn't afraid to unleash hell on her creator.

A woman could only be brutally murdered so many times before she started getting bitter about it.

Out of all her deaths, she believed her death at the hands of Uchiha Madara's brethren was by far the worst. Just when Sakura had been certain she'd been making great progress, that she would be breaking that cycle, that curse of hatred, she was waking up once more.

She was… awake?

"Sakura," a familiar voice whispered in her mind.

Opening her eyes, she looked around herself, frowning in confusion when she found she wasn't where she'd last been, where Indra had murdered her.

"I am sorry for what you went through at the hands of my son," the voice of Hagoromo continued, deepening her confusion since she could not see him.

Rather than being in a clearing, she was in a forest – one she didn't entirely recognise. Sakura's fingers brushed over the dirt, soon finding the base of the tree she was slumped against.

"What happened?" she questioned aloud.

It was night, she noticed and looked upwards, not surprised to find she could see nothing other than random spots of the sky. The trees were much too dense to allow anything more.

"Indra and Asura fought," he explained and Sakura narrowed her eyes when he continued the story, alerting her of the warning his son had given him.

"Reincarnation."

"It seems fitting that you have been reincarnated alongside them."

Did it? Was she destined to live for hours at a time, dying at the hands of Indra and his reincarnations?

"I created you too late before," Hagoromo stated. "Indra was long lost to the darkness."

Using the trunk of the tree to steady herself, Sakura stood, realising immediately that she was dressed in a respectful yukata.

"We still have time with this one."

"Who?" she asked in resignation.

"His name is Uchiha Madara."

"P-Please help me."

"What happened?"

He actually stopped, she marvelled. Not only did he stop, but he seemed vaguely concerned, too.

Regretfully, she'd torn her yukata and soaked it with her own blood, the self-inflicted injuries strategically placed throughout her body to back up her story of running from the monstrous men who'd attacked her.

"Come," he ordered, lifting her when she struggled to stand. "We have a medic on camp."

Hagoromo was right, Sakura decided, breathing out a sigh of relief as the strain her body was under subsided slightly now that she no longer had to use any of her strength.

"What is your name?" he asked.

"Sakura," she quietly responded and met his gaze, offering a small smile that had him pausing in his next response. "What is yours?"

"Uchiha Madara."

They didn't like her presence.

Staying close to Madara's side, Sakura pretended not to notice the glares of disdain that only receded when Madara looked their way, his proud aristocratic features evoking a suffocating fear amongst the clansmen.

She questioned whether he truly was Indra's reincarnation. So far, he had shown her nothing but kindness – the first acts of kindness she'd ever experienced. Unlike Indra, he wasn't wholly distrustful, although he was guarded, revealing titbits of himself over the course of several weeks (that was how long it took for her to heal and stunning her, he continuously came by the medical tent to check on her).

Since she was healed, he allowed her to walk alongside him, accompanying him to many places, much to the displeasure of his clan who never failed to hide their feelings towards her.

"They will learn to like you," muttered Madara, his focus trained on his father as the man went over their war tactics. It was another cause of contempt for the clansmen, who continuously voiced their concerns of her presence.

"If they don't?" she asked softly, glancing up at him.

He was an attractive man, there was no denying that and he was never without female attention, for their eyes followed him wherever he went. Did he ever take advantage of their affections? Sakura wasn't sure. They were beautiful women, sure, but from what she'd gathered of his personality so far, he focused on gaining more power and land.

"I will be leader one day," came his simple statement, eyes continuing to bore into his father.

Hiding her unease behind the deeper meaning she could pick up on, Sakura looked back to the older man, assessing him critically. Clearly, he was getting on in his years and she sincerely doubted that he would last much longer under the constant strain of battle. In fact, she was acutely aware of the fact that it was a rarity for men to reach the age of forty. Madara's father was on a tightrope.

"We leave for war tomorrow," she heard him warn his clansmen and instinctively, she placed her hand in the crook of his arm, ignoring when he looked to her questioningly.

Still, he didn't unfold his arms or move away.

Hope bloomed in her chest.

Maybe, just maybe, this one wouldn't be a failure?

Watching as he dressed himself in his armour, Sakura leaned back in her chair, offering a small smile when he glanced her way.

"Say it."

Always so blunt. Madara was not a man for mincing his words or waiting for another to gather their courage to speak freely. He believed it to be a waste of his precious time.

"It's foolish of me to request such a thing, but please be careful."

They were going up against the Senju Clan and from what Madara had told her of them, it seemed as though he was conflicted about going into battle against them. Not because they possessed strength that rivalled theirs, but something deeper, more meaningful. Whatever it was, however, he would not share it with her and she respected his privacy, so didn't push.

After all, she wished to keep him from falling onto the dark path Indra had gotten lost on. If there was something precious to him that made him – Uchiha Madara – hesitate before going into battle, undoubtedly senselessly killing tens to hundreds of people, then she longed for him to hold onto that part of his life.

Perhaps one day, he would tell her his story, but for now, she was content with how things were.

Smirking, he approached her silently, waiting until he cupped her chin before murmuring, "Unlike previous battles, I have something to return to now."

Blood. There was so much blood. Her own. Theirs.

In her desperate attempt to survive as they attacked in the middle of the night, she slipped, and all went black.

Oh, fate was a cruel thing.

Bound to the legend, she was destined to fall for the reincarnated Indra over and over again, fighting for his love, earning his trust, giving her all to break the curse.

How many lives had she lived? How many lives had she been a part of, trying to steer them off their paths of darkness? Too many. But amongst them all, it was Uchiha Sasuke who stood out.

He'd faced many obstacles in his lifetime, had been dealt the worst cards she'd seen out of all the reincarnates, yet somehow, he remained the lightest of them all. Sasuke didn't sway as easily into the darkness as the others. And because of that, she'd been awake for… Gods, it was almost fifteen years now – before then, her record had been four months.

It had to be why she could recall so much.

Where was she? What happened?

Sobbing, she rubbed at her sore eyes, body shaking with the force of her crying.

It was dark and she was scared and alone with no idea where she was or even who she was.

"It's okay, Sakura," someone told her gently. "They will come for you soon."

Who was that? Who were they? Why were they coming for her? The many questions only made her cry harder until her wailing attracted the attention of a couple who stumbled across her, their features filled with alarm.

"There you are!"

There was no hostility in their movements as they rushed to her and she felt herself being lifted off the ground by the man, cradled gently in his arms as they fussed over her. It felt nice having someone wipe away her tears, their touch loving. For some reason, it felt foreign, but definitely welcome.

"We've been looking everywhere for you, Sakura," the woman chided softly, sobbing once herself. "Gods, we were so worried."

"Don't run away again," he begged of her.

Who were these people? How did she know them?

"These are your parents," the person in her mind informed her and Sakura felt dizzy with her confusion. "They will love you and nurture you until the time comes where you must perform your job once more."

Job? What job was–

"Oh, Kizashi! She's hit her head."

"We'll take her straight to the hospital."

"Hurry, then! Don't just stand there!"

There was something about him that called to her.

Sighing contently, she placed her head on her hand, watching the most popular boy at the academy as he once more showed the clown of their class up, scoffing haughtily as he did so.

Against the wishes of her parents, the second she first laid eyes on Uchiha Sasuke, Sakura had thrown all previous plans aside and dived headfirst into training to become a kunoichi – a pitiful one at that. But, somehow, it felt right. Like an impossible itch that could only be scratched when she was near him, knowing that he was okay. That he'd eaten. Bathed. That he was taking care of himself and continuing to live after the tragedy that was the massacre of his entire clan. Any weaker person would have given in to their grief.

But not her Sasuke.

She smiled dreamily.

He was different.

How could one person possibly withstand so much pain and suffering?

To put it simply: he couldn't. It was why he was so easily swayed by Orochimaru's abhorrent promises of power, should he follow him. It was why he left them, breaking their hearts as he turned his back on everything they'd accomplished together.

Team Seven was her family. The day she'd been placed in Sasuke's team was the day she felt like she finally belonged. Something had brought them together, she just knew it and that itch was satisfied the more time they spent together. Whenever she saw not only his physical strength, but also his mental strength, she felt elated. She felt indescribably proud for his leaps in maturity.

But…

"There is still time," came a whisper in her mind, startling her. "You can still save him."

Was that her inner persona piping up once more? Sakura wasn't too sure. How could she be when her senses suddenly flared to life? When she felt herself unconsciously holding her breath, eyes widening as she tried to find a threat?

"Calm yourself, Sakura."

Who–

"Do not lose faith," the same person told her. "He is not lost yet."

But Sasuke had suffered through so much – he'd gone through so much. Any weaker man would have succumbed to their–

"Believe in yourself, Sakura."

The voice was right.

Naruto was right.

Finally leaving the depressing pit that had become her bedroom, Sakura made her way to the Hokage Tower, features set into a determined mask.

They would save Sasuke.

Why was she so drawn to him? After all that had happened, all that he'd done, why was she still drawn to him? Why did it tear her heart to shreds whenever he committed a crime? Why did it chill her to the bone whenever she looked into those cold eyes? They'd been through so much together. He'd broken her heart with his harsh, careless ways so many times. Yet…

Sighing, Sakura sat beside the lake, crossing her legs and reluctantly shutting her eyes, blocking out the wondrous sight of nature in order to start her meditation, though for a few moments longer, she was able to hear it. It had a faint smile pulling along her lips.

She couldn't recall how old she was when she found she could sense so far – well, not really sense, as she was unable to pinpoint locations or even be able to know what was happening. No, Sakura had a gift she truly believed was completely unique to them, the yearning of her heart granting her such a gift.

There.

She smiled once more as she picked up on his strong chakra signature. Even when they were hundreds of miles apart, she could sense him. Although she couldn't sense much else, she could tell that he was okay. He was alive and he was healthy.

Silently, tears slipped down her cheeks, but they didn't disturb her smile.

For now, that was enough for her.

He had stolen her heart like nothing she'd ever encountered before. His perseverance, his endurance, made her ache with longing to see him succeed. While that could be put down to it being her fate as the woman from the legends, Sakura knew it wasn't. No, it was because of him.

It was because of Sasuke that she was granted her first shot of a real life. She'd grown up like an ordinary child, belonged to a loving family and made friends that she cherished with all her heart. She'd actually been alive long enough to not only create goals, but actually accomplish them. She even had a favourite dish!

And it was all because of him.

So no matter what, she wouldn't see him fail. Not because he was Indra's reincarnation, but because he was Uchiha Sasuke. The man who had granted her a break from the curse.

"Sasuke-kun…"

I will save you from your destined madness.

I will break this curse for you, as you did for me.

She would not fail.

Not again.