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With piercings so deep

Chapter Six

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"Did you hear of Leader-Sama's medic?"

"Is she dead?"

"No."

"Un, Konan you fool."

"Does Leader-Sama know?"

"This doesn't concern any of the Akatsuki, we should leave."

They all seemed like soft whispers, but she knew better than to believe they were keeping their voices low for her comfort. Sakura ignored the words and focused more on the sounds. Pretending one was Naruto, the other Ino, Tsunade and Kakashi. A weak smile struggled onto her lips, maybe it was them. Maybe they were fighting Pein, maybe they were winning.

Naruto's spiked blond hair from their Genin days had since turned into mature tresses falling above his eyes. Sakura liked it better. It suited him. She wondered what his hair looked like now, maybe he had changed it. Naruto had been parading around the whole village, screaming to the heavens of how he would have grown out his hair to his knees if Hinata didn't go to the festival with the rest of Rookie Nine. He didn't get an answer. She had fainted right before he had pulled off his pants.

The festival had probably passed hours ago, but the fireworks would be starting in a day's time. Maybe even today. Sakura winced, would Naruto be laughing and drinking with the rest of Rookie Nine? Or would he be out searching for her? Green orbs flickered open, would Shikamaru kiss Ino? Would Hinata confess? Would Chouji refuse desert? Probably not, Sakura inwardly chuckled pressing her cheek gently to the ground.

The stone floor had built up fragments of dust into her wounds. She didn't need to see them, she could feel it. That woman had slashed dozens of sheets of papers wherever her skin peaked out from her black dress. Pushing back that blue hair, the woman had pushed her up against the wall, careful not to trail blood. She was smart; Sakura had to give her that. Her wounds would heal in a few hours. And with no blood, no one would know.

Which was for the best, what would happen if Pain-Sama would've gotten angry for her carelessness? Would he punish her more for putting a delay on his healing? Sakura mused, probably. This was probably a punishment all in itself. Maybe it was for not eating the rest of the Miso? Sakura brought her arms around her chest and heaved in deep breaths. It hurt.

Pain sprung from her lower lip, jolting to her mid back. She pulled her right hand out from under her chest and placed it directly on her hip. A white radiance shuttered weakly from her fingertips, flickering like a candle. Slowly, as the light began to grow, her small scrapes and bruises began to disappear leaving only her ivory skin. There, Sakura gave a small smile, it didn't hurt as much. And now, Pein-Sama would not get upset. She winced. She hadn't had enough energy to heal the deeper wounds, only the ones the naked eye could see.

Hey, Sakura-Chan! S-Sakura-S-san- Hastily, she shut her eyes, wishing it would go away. Maybe she would wake up in her own bed. Sakura-Chan, gomen nasai, Medic. Emerald orbs shot open, letting what little light that slipped through the stone shone unsteadily over her body. Pein-Sama, leave my head. Sakura furrowed her brow to the floor, Leave me. Leave me. Leave me. Her mind repeated the two words over and over again until all the voices vanished. Sasuke, Father, Naruto, Hinata. All of them.

"Naïve, Medic." The voice persisted in Sakura's head. Suddenly, she wanted the others back. "Naïve, Medic." She could feel her pulse racing, tumbling around in her veins. She could feel her fingers dig into her palm, while her hand just took in the pain without a single flinch. Was that what she was? A hand? Then who was her finger? It wasn't Naruto. It wasn't Sasuke, or maybe it was. This was all for him.

"Naïve, Medic." The voice pounded again. Maybe she had two fingers. Two fingers digging there own paths. But what would happen to her if they both finished digging? What would be left of the palm? Sakura shook the thoughts out of her head and cleared her mind. There was nothing left to do. Expect wait for Pein-Sama, who would be coming in as soon as the light hit the third brick from the ceiling-

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And then everything went black.

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"Medic," An unshakable voice called from outside her four walls, "There is no time for rest." A firm knock echoed off the door before it swung open to reveal the owner of the voice who had been haunting her thoughts.

"P-Pein-Sama, I-ah, I-" Her head turned to the ceiling, letting her bangs cover her eyes, "The third brick isn't lit yet."

Pein scoffed, shooting Sakura a wearily glance. "Get up." He watched as Sakura shakily rose to her feet, letting her hair fall in light curls framing her pastel face. She was weaker than before, if possible, and had lost all color in her skin. Watching the girl struggle, he felt his body shake. "Are you incapable of hearing me, Medic?" When he saw her head shake to the side as an answer his hand gripped his cloak. "Up!"

Sakura tilted her head and let her limbs tremble weakly against her weight. That woman- this- it- shouldn't be doing this, Sakura furrowed her brow, wounds don't withdraw charka. Emerald orbs widened as she turned her head to a certain piercing imbedded in her shoulder. Was he taking back his Chakra? Was he really in that much pain? Her eyes softened as she looked up to meet his gaze. It was hard to tell his face from the stone but his cloak glistened just enough.

"Pein-Sama, training," Sakura whispered, carefully planning out every last syllable, "You can't." Sakura winced at those words, adjusting herself.

"Medic," Pein began, eyeing the struggling girl up and down, "That would be none of you're concern."

Sakura closed her eyes, noticing a small slur in his voice, let her teeth clench together. "Pein-Sama, anything that delays you're healing is my concern." Jade orbs flickered open to see the ginger haired man mixed with confusion and utter loathing.

"I see," Pein responded coolly, eyes flickering with amusement, turned his back on the girl, "Follow, Medic." Sakura frowned as her legs refused to leave their position. Small grunts escaped her mouth; quickly she covered her lips with a delicate hand. His glare returned to the pink haired girl as she continued to struggle.

Sakura, you pathetic girl. Pathetic, pathetic girl. She shook her head, her limbs numb. Weak, miserable. Her fingers desperately clenched the stone beneath her. What's the point in trying Sakura, with you as a daughter- Pink tresses circled around her frame as her knee's buckled. Was he still taking chakra out of her body? What was he planning on doing and- "Umpf,"

Two firm hands gripped her petite body as the muscles strained to raise her off the ground. Her locks skimmed the ground once more before her head was rocked towards his. She stared at him in bewilderment, why was he doing this? Her cold hands instinctively clutched his cloak, grasping any bit of warmth she could find.

"If you were cold," Pein began, not bothering to look at the girl in his arms. "If you were ill, you should have told me, medic." A small blush spread across her cheeks seeing the buried side of him. Her eyes refused to leave his pale complexion. His piercings. Even his cold stare; that took a hold of the hallways before him. "You're arms, Medic, my neck." Obediently she placed her hands lightly against his shoulders, sliding them around until they met and intertwined. Stumbling slightly before regaining his composer he took a step out from the barrier of her prison.

Click. Click. Click. His heel brushed against the cherry oak floor, setting a pace for Sakura to follow. He was cold, his arms, his chest, all of him. His pulse was slow and soft, calmly leading her heartbeat to do the same. His arms kept a firm grip of his body, making sure she wouldn't fall. Was this the Pein that captured her? Was this the Pein that made her hurt so?

A short shriek of a tall pale door broke Sakura out of her daze. Once again she watched his emotionless gaze wander the karma sutras that danced on his walls. He was beautiful. Beautiful and cruel. And it made Sakura wonder if it was all worth it, all this pain for Sasuke. Would he have done the same for her? Sakura shook her head, of course he would. He loved her.

Slowly, she felt his grip coming loose, letting her plummet to the floor. Sakura's head knocked against the wooden ground, letting a small echo race around the room. "Ah," Sakura breathed, wincing in pain. Drip, a dark droplet landed right on Sakura's pale cheek. Shaking, the pink haired woman looked up to see Pein's narrow eyes piercing his hands. It took the girl only a minute to realize where the liquid running off her cheek had come from. Running off his insipid finger tips was a dark burgundy, leaving small trails down his arms.

"Oh," A small squeak escaped Sakura's lungs as she watched a deep frown grow on his face. Without a single breath his cold hand gripped hers, squeezing her fingers to the point of cutting off circulation. A sharp breath shook out of Sakura's cherry lips, shocked. "Pein-Sama-" The ginger haired Akatsuki cut her off, slamming his stained fists on her shoulders.

Sakura trembled under her breath, slowly her fists clenched. "You have no reason to be heated, Pein-Sama, p-please-" The pink haired woman cut herself off, letting her temporary anger subside. She watched emotions play off his face from a cold, calm demeanor to a livid snarl. He clutched her skin harder.

"I have no reason to be heated, Medic?" Pein glared down at the girl; even kneeling he was still taller than her. "I have no reason to be heated?"

Sakura let her bangs fall gently over her forehead, brushing the tip of her nose. "H-Hai, Pein-Sama, you shouldn't worry." Her shoulder twitched slightly, letting his hand race to the ground. Hastily, Sakura raised her head to see Pein's eyes clasped together, his free hand covering his face. Small grunts left his clam breath. Emerald orbs widened, "Pein-Sama-"

"Fuck," Pein cursed, his voice loud and rasp, "You've killed me and I-" Sakura softly cut in, pleading "I didn't kill you, Pein-Sama, I didn't-" Pein's shout only grew louder, "The pain I'm feeling, the only comfort I receive from it is that you are not feeling the same hurt. So when I die, you're death will be a thousand times more painful." Sakura closed her eyes as soon as she felt he voice growing softer, sliding her hand closer to his black leather sandal. "Letting you die slowly, it's ineffective and it give me an unpleasant feeling. So tell me, what have you done to me? What jutsu is this?" Pein swiftly shot his blood covered hand from his face around to her neck, pulling her closer, "What kind of jutsu makes an Akatsuki feel compassion for a prisoner?"

Sakura tried to open her mouth, but his deep exasperated pants silenced her. He heaved in air as if he was out of breath, Sakura wondered if it was because of all the talking or the pain. She guessed it was a little bit of both. Sakura let her lips come apart as a small eep of inhalation let loose. Pein shot a glare at her.

"Who did this to you, Medic?" Pein snapped, letting blood flow to his head. "Tell me before you're chance has expired."

Sakura shook her head calmly, raising her eyebrows in a worried manor, "Please don't do this, Pein-Sama."

The ginger haired Akatsuki bit back his tongue and narrowed his eyes, "One injury towards you is a direct attack against myself, Medic, do not confuse this." Sakura hesitated before shooting a wearily glance at him, "Oh believe me, Pein-Sama, I am in no hurry to receive this compassion you claim to have." Her voice turned to a whisper as her gaze met his, "I know you don't like me."

Pein snarled, "'I know you don't like me' she says." Sakura flinched at the venom rolling off his tongue, "How naïve of you, Medic, to say something so bold." His lips moved closer to hers, it was then that the thick sent of alcohol filed her senses, "When really," His voice was rasp and husky, "You have no idea."

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AU: Short chapter, sorry about that!