Torture

Chapter 14

Disclaimer: Nothing do I own...

A/N not my best chapter... I have had a bit of writer's block. I will try and get the next chapter out soon though. Hopefully by next monday at the latest. this is not my best work, I am aware, but it is what I got so... yeah, on with the story.

Sakura stood slightly behind Kakashi in the living room. She looked at the 2 ANBU draped on her couch when Kakashi spoke,

"Why whatever are you talking about?"

"You know damn well what we're talking about Kaka-sempai. Anyway, that isn't why we're here."

"No it isn't, now then. How did he manage to get in here and to her?"

Sakura felt Kakashi squeeze her hand lightly when she trembled at the mention of what had just occured and stepped closer to him.

"A couple of our guys are currently updating Baa-chan and we sent Neji over to Tenshi's to check things out there. When they all finish up they will get word to us and you, Sakura, will be escorted to talk to the old lady. Kakashi, you can come too, seeing as you guys are sooo close."

"Why thank you... brat..." Sakura rolled her eyes at Kakashi's response and walked over and sat between Naruto and Sasuke,

"So, do you two still want to hear what happened? I did promise to tell you..."

"No you don't have to relive it Sakura, just tell Hokage-sama to show us the transcripts."

"Thank you..."

"No problem."

The two young men tilted their masks up and smiled at her. Sakura smiled back, though it was strained.

"So you were caught suckin' face with Kaka-sensei, ehhh Sakura-chan?"

Sakura sputtered and smacked naruto across the back of the head, "We were kissing not... not sucking face you baka."

"Technically, Sakura, it is the same thing."

"Sasuke..."

"Oh shit."

Smack!

there was a knock and Naruto motioned to the other two masked ANBU to go answer it.

Kiba stood at the door with Akimaru,

"Time to go."

"Alright, come on."

-------

"Thank you for coming... I guess... well Tenshi is safe, apparently Kabuto tried to get her after failing to get you, Sakura. He seems to be losing focus on his original goal. We will be moving her to another safe house, deeper in ANBU HQ.

Sakura, you are not safe in your home and due to circumstances that have presented themselves..."

She looked between said girl and Kakashi with a satisfied smirk,

"Uzumaki, I believe you owe me some money. But back to the subject at hand.

You will be moved to an apartment closer to headquarters aswell. Kakashi will be staying with you, however your ANBU guard will be upped aswell. Tenzo will be here soon, I have him finishing up the paper work and he will take you two there. I would ask that you go nowhere alone. Both of you. Kabuto may decide to try and use what he has found out against you. Is this all understood?"

"Hai shishou. I understand."

"Good, and may I just say," She took a deep breath and stood with her hands still on the desk,

"IT'S ABOUT DAMNED TIME! Alright, now that is off my chest, go wait in the lobby for Tenzo."

-------

Sakura stood outside with Kakashi, she was leaning lightly on his side and holding onto his arm and he just smiled,

"So what do we do now Kashi?"

"Hm? I guess we just take it a day at a time..."

"Okay... Oh look there's Yama... I mean Tenzo, I still want to call him Yamato sometimes, 'specialy when he isn't wearing his ANBU uniform... jeez."

"Hello Sempai, Sakura. Are you two doing alright?"

"As good as can be expected."

"Ah. well we should get going I guess."

"Hai."

Sakura stayed attached to Kakashi's side as they walked down the lamp lite streets of Konoha. A couple of blocks down the street, Tenzo turned and and headed up the walk of one of the small houses there.

"This is where you guys will be staying and your guards all asked for said duties. So you know them all, they will be trading out every 8 hours, so I will be seeing you in about..." he looked at an imaginary wrist watch, "16 hours. Ja, and be careful."

They turned and looked at the small house, "Kashi, didn't Tsunade say she was putting us in an apartment..."

"Yes, she did. I think she is trying to be sneaky Sakura."

"Hai, she is..."

They opened the door and standing before them were Neji, Hinata, Ino, Shikamaru and Naruto. They were all wearing their uniforms but had their masks off.

"So... you guys all wanted guard duty?"

"Well, it is for you Sakura, and you happen to be important to us. As troublesome as it is. Because we are your friends we would rather it be us, rather than someone else. That way, like my father told me years ago, we can do our best to make sure nothing goes wrong."

"Aw, Shika, see that's why I love 'im, I told you he could be sweet when he wanted to Sakura!"

"Hai, hai Ino... by the way, how's Temari?"

Ino blushed and lightly smacked Sakura's arm, "Sakura are you turning hentai on me?"

"Oh yes Ino, I am turning hentai on you."

Sakura reached around and grabbed her best friends butt and then laughed when Ino turned redder than a boiled lobster. The men in the room all just looked on as if Sakura had grown a second head,

"Oh come off it guys, aren't you all supposed to be doing guard things?"

"Ano sa, Ano sa, Sakura? When did you get so perverted? I mean first you make out with Anko, then Kakashi and now you are groping Ino... what happened?"

Sakura rolled her eyes, "In case you have forgotten, Anko and I were messing with those idiot preachy bastards and I just grabbed Ino's ass to get a reaction out of her. And it isn't perverted to kiss some one you care about."

"Oh, well... okay? Well, on to business then. We will trade out the interior watch halfway through. Hinata and myself will take first watch outside. Ino, you will take inside with Shikamaru and Neji first. Sai was finishing up some things and will be here in a few minutes. He will join us outside. Sakura, you and Kakashi should go get some sleep... and I mean actually sleep!"

Kakashi raised an eyebrow and shrugged as followed Sakura after she had pulled back and punched Naruto in the nose before turning and walking into the Kitchen,

"I am actually rather hungry, thank you very much Naruto. Keep your perverted notions to yourself."

-------

After the first shift was over, they were replaced by Sasuke, Genma, Lee, Tenten, Suigetsu and Temari.

Temari explained that Sand had told her and Kankuro to stay and that they were also sending some other sand nin to help watch over Sakura and Tenshi. Nothing really happened other than Sakura visiting Tenshi and doing her therapy as well as getting permission from Tsunade to try and continue the work she had been doing in the mental ward before she had been sent on the mission that had one so terribly wrong all those months ago. She had managed to talk her into it on the basis that, a) it would help her to have something to focus on, b) Sasuke had explained that the young man she was interested in helping was terrified of himself and wanted to get better, and c) at the very least she could get a game plan together for when she was able to actually go back into it full force.

Sakura brought home the folders for the patient she was to be working with. Juugo.

Suigetsu made a few of the others nervous still. Sakura had had enough. She stood up, walked over to the pointy toothed nin and hugged him. Sasuke and Kakashi snickered while the others looked rather uncomfortable. Suigetsu had stiffened before patting her lightly on the shoulder.

"See, he isn't all bad, now get over it. He has been working with us for a number of years now and has by all accounts proven himself loyal to Konoha. So stop treating him like an outsider dammit."

"Uhh... arigato Sakura-san."

Sakura smiled and shrugged, "Well it's true. there were plenty of times you could have turned on us. Yet you haven't. You're just a bit of a loner, that's all."

Her time was spent talking with those on guard inside, eating, holding onto Kakashi, talking to other friends who had stopped by and reading over the files she had brought home.

-------

The next group to come to relieve Sasuke's was made up of Tenzo, Anko, Kiba, Shino, Kankuro, and Tonbo.

That night she woke screaming, Kakashi managed to quiet her. She clung to him through the rest of the night, unable to find sleep again.

Kankuro and Kakashi had a staring contest, Kakashi won. Sakura talked, ate and finally found sleep much later that night.

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The days stretched on and Sakura had good days and bad days. She went to her therapy sessions and gradually got a little better. It had been almost a month and Tenshi was actually looking better. Her time left had been extended to another 6 months. While this was a good thing, it also meant there was now more of a chance for Kabuto to get to her.

Sakura continued with research into Juugo's condition. Sasuke and Suigetsu would help when they could. They told her more about their time with Juugo on team Hebi and about the battle between Sasuke and Itachi. How the final member, Karin, had been killed. She had heard the story before from Sasuke, but was always willing to listen when he needed her too. It was however the first Kakashi was hearing of it all and he listened carefully to everything the two young men said about the other young man, who had threatened Sakura upon their first meeting. He suddenly understood why Sakura wished to help him so much. Juugo was, at heart, a good person who was overtaken by bloodlust and held no self control. He had wished to be killed so he could cause no more pain.

Sakura had formed a plan and had it approved by Tsunade. She would begin as soon as she was deemed able and ready.

Kakashi and Sakura grew closer and they talked about everything and anything. They had gotten close to 'consummating' their relationship a couple of times but had stopped when Sakura could not quite handle it. Kakashi remained understanding and patient.

Kakashi noted that she was improving, slowly but surely, and talked to her therapists and Tsunade. They agreed that she could begin training again, though nothing extensive and so he and whoever happened to be on guard at the time would train with her for a couple hours everyday.

Her nightmares still came, the sound of dripping water still sent her into panic attacks. Some days were worse than others, but the majority of the time Sakura was herself.

Everyone was begining to relax a little. Then the day came 2 months after Sakura had been acosted in her own home that Kabuto was spotted again. Every one went back onto high alert.

A/N i know, I'm sorry it sucked. The next chapter will be better though... I hope...