Fade In

**I suppose for the sake of preventing any scarring of the innocent, a warning in advance. This chapter has very dark themes. The rating’s no joke. If you’re uncomfortable with it, please don’t read. Though, this chapter is quite imperative to the whole plot. Hmmm… ::scratches back of head:: If you can’t stomach it, umm, I guess you can send me a message or something and I’ll gladly give you a brief PG rated summary of it.**

…

Fade In

Chapter Four – Demons

…

Two and a half years ago…


Blood. There was so much blood.

The dark red liquid flowed from fresh wounds in thin rivulets, congealed in old lacerations across wet and dirty skin, and spotted the cold hard concrete floor in swirling and sickening designs. Harsh barren gray slab, one small barred window, and the stench of decay, of pain, of deep rooted fear permeated from the stone walls of their prison and slowly ate at their sanity.

It was supposed to be a get in and get out mission in Lightning Country. Her squad captain Michi Arai, a curvy and fierce woman who was nothing but lean muscle and deadly accuracy with a pixie hair cut and chocolate eyes was going to deliver the killing blow to a local warlord who decided he wanted more power and invading Kumogakure seemed the ideal plan to get that power.

Sakura and her other teammate, Hideki Maeda, a well built shinobi with short black hair and bright hazel eyes who was wise beyond his years but hid it behind joviality and easy smiles, were to secure the perimeters and open up a clear entrance and exit for them.

Everything had been normal. The guards were where they were supposed to be after days of scouting and mapping out the compound. Every three hours there was a rotation and that night during the guard change was when Michi had decided was the best time to make their move.

But as soon as the first concealed paper explosive went off, all hell broke loose and the warlord’s men came rushing in from all sides. It had been a setup from the beginning. Apparently the contents of the written scroll asking for help had been leaked and all this time, the warlord had been waiting patiently for any sign of enemy infiltration. They had blindly walked into a trap and there was nothing they could’ve done about it.

Three ANBU against at least a hundred of his men.

They had gotten through half before being forced to the dirt by arrows and bloody wounds.

…

Sakura was finding it difficult to breathe. Her eyes were fuzzy and the throbbing pain in her head was making her nauseous. They had been in their prison for two days now and throughout its entirety, they had been cut, beat, humiliated, and played with. Their chakra had been suppressed by a slightly opaque liquid that was forced down their throats, rendering them defenseless and weak, but not incoherent enough to spill their secrets.

“Who are you?”

“ANBU shitface.”

“Come now Pink, that’s not what I meant.”

“Go to hell.”

She smiled at the memory cause she had spat blood in her tormentor’s cruelly handsome face. Granted, it had earned her a slap in the face, but the brief anger in his black eyes had been worth it.

Sakura turned her head to look at her teammates. They were in worse shape than she was, but Sakura could hazard a guess and say mentally, they were probably doing better than she, if only by a little. She could feel her mental defenses weakening and fear take its place, which was the last thing she needed.

She tried to focus her eyes and somewhat succeeded as her teammates became less blurry and she was able to assess the damage done to them.

A long jagged cut trailed the side of Hideki’s rugged face. His hair was matted with sweat and blood and breathing seemed like an effort to him. Cuts and bruises adorned every part of his almost naked body. Her squad captain, uniform in tatters and spread eagle was in the same shape as both of them, but always…always she had her eyes and ears alert.

Six months being on a team with her were both the toughest and rewarding six months of her life. She had learned much from her red haired captain in the ways of being a female ANBU shinobi and she wouldn’t have traded it for the world. There was too much respect and admiration for the older kunoichi for her to think ill of all the grueling training sessions and the no-nonsense-I’ll-kick-your-ass-if-you-don’t-do-as-you’re-told attitude. Michi was brazen and truthful, but she was also an excellent ninja.

They hadn’t spoken a word to each other since they’d been captured, instead, sending messages through looks and head movement.

Stay silent. Don’t break. Be strong.

Their tormentor, who had happily told them to refer to him as Akai, swiftly entered the stone prison and smiled viciously. His black eyes gleamed with malicious intent as he stared directly at Sakura, the look hungry and dark.

He was tall, muscularly lean, and despite his choice in profession, handsome. It was a cruel handsome though, complete with cold angular lines and sharp malevolent black eyes. He wore his long black hair in a tight braid and exuded evilness in its prime.

When they had brought in this particular little morsel, he had instantly been taken with her. Such exotic features behind the mask for an ANBU kunoichi and he had always loved the exotic. Nights would find him panting and hard, dreaming of his pink haired victim and Akai had decided that he would save her for last and perhaps even make her his pet.

Akai stalked towards Sakura and upon reaching her, ran a long thin finger down her face, staring at her with obsession and lust.

“I’ve got a treat for you today Pink. I think you’ll enjoy it. But I would advise you to not look away…for your teammates’ sakes.” His thumb traced her dry and cracked lips, a sick fascination in those dark eyes before he pulled away with a sinister smile.

He turned around and pulled a small vial of clear liquid from his pocket and walked up to Hideki.

“Open wide.” Akai seized his lower face and forced his mouth open, pouring it all in and pinching his nose so Hideki had no choice but to swallow for some small purchase of air.

The effects were almost instantaneous. Sakura watched as her teammate arched against his bonds and his manhood swell. ‘No, no, no.’ A deep dread filled her and she almost cried out, almost blurted out who they were and where they were from because she didn’t want to watch this happen. Not to him. Not to the one person she saw as a close older brother.

If it wasn’t for the violent look Michi shot her, she would’ve revealed all that they had strained to keep secret. ‘Hideki…’

Sakura sagged against her own leather bonds, her head dropping with unshed tears.

“Now, now Pink, what did I say?”

A sharp hiss tore from Hideki’s throat as a knife pierced his thigh and Sakura whipped her head up, worry and hatred in her emerald eyes.

Akai grinned. It was feral and very much pleased. “I think you know what I just forced down his throat Pink. Do let your teammates know, I’m sure they’re very curious.” His tone was deceptively polite, but she knew that he was ordering her to tell them or else he’d just as easily stick another knife in Hideki.

“Safframate…” She whispered.

And he grinned again. “It’s an aphrodisiac usually given in only extremely small doses. It’s quite potent really. However, if given in large doses,” He glanced at Hideki. “the effects can be somewhat…painful to put it lightly. It’ll feel like your insides are twisting, you’ll become dehydrated, you’ll crave for sexual pleasure but won’t be able to find release and you’ll twist and turn and bend and scream for someone to touch you and soothe you but even that won’t help.”

As if on cue, Hideki’s mouth wrenched open in a silent scream and he fought against his ties, his body shaking and veins about to pop. Sweat poured from his body as he heaved for breath, his face turning red from all the exertion and torment. Michi watched in horror, straining against her bonds to let him know that she was there, that he wasn’t alone in this sick and twisted place.

Akai turned to her when he heard her chains rattle. “Don’t worry dear, your turn is next.” And there was something in his eyes as he glanced again at Sakura and she knew as that cold sliver of dread lazily made its way down her spine what he was going to do to her.

Don’t look away. Don’t look away. If you do, you’ll only cause them more pain.

And she looked and forced herself not to tear her aching eyes away when Akai began to stroke Hideki’s member, the motion long and hard as he squeezed on the super sensitive organ.

Her teammate tried to pull away in revulsion. She saw the disgust and fury in his hazel eyes among the helplessness and revolting sense of relief the action caused him. But he couldn’t go anywhere, couldn’t do anything as he was violated and his dignity slowly shattered.

Stay silent. Don’t break. Be strong.

Akai released a sadistic laugh and stopped, a nasty sense of satisfaction crossing his face before he rounded on Michi. And just as he did to Hideki, forced another vial of that cursed drug down her throat. Sputtering, her captain managed to spit in his face, earning her a backhand that caused blood to spill from her mouth.

“Fiesty little bitch. I’ll enjoy breaking you and don’t even think about turning away Pink, I want you to enjoy this as much as I will.”

For the first time since joining her team, Sakura saw a flash of fear cross Michi’s chocolate eyes as she began to struggle anew, trying the fight the powerful effects of the safframate and Akai but it was no use. She gnashed her teeth, pulled against her chains until her skin was raw and blood flowed in paper thin streams down her arms. Her body abruptly convulsed and it looked like something was trying to get out of her as she shook her head from side to side, trying to stem the unbearable waves of agony no doubt churning in her lower body.

Akai unbuttoned his trousers and let them fall around his ankles. Sending a sardonic look towards Sakura, he pulled out a kunai and with deft hands that she recognized only shinobi possessed—Dear Kami, Akai was a ninja. Why hadn’t she noticed this before? And most likely the son of a bitch was a medic nin from the way he was able to manipulate the body and that would explain why he knew of saffframate. Not many knew of the drug since it was extremely difficult to obtain and hardly written about.

She glared at him, wanted to break free and feel his heart explode in the palm of her hand, wanted to hear his anguished cry as she killed him over and over again cause then it wouldn’t make her feel so utterly useless and weak as that bastard picked her teammates apart.

He cut through her last remaining clothing, leaving her bare and open to his cold eyes. And in the background, Hideki struggled among the pain and convulsions rocking his body. He looked at Sakura for answers but she could offer none. All she could give him was a broken look before she was forced once again to look at Akai as he thrust himself into Michi’s unwilling body. Her captain’s scream pierced the chilly air of their nightmare and from the contorted angles her body was being subjected to, the safframate was at its peak. He continued to thrust into her, his movements hard and unforgiving and through it all, his coal black eyes never left Sakura’s.

Don’t look away. Don’t look away.

She fought hard not to, even though it hurt so much to watch. For the sake of Michi and Hideki, for the sake of not appearing weak, for herself and her team. But when she noticed the empty and faraway look in Michi’s eyes, the way her body had become slack, how she no longer struggled against the effects of the drug, just letting it consume her, and how she shied away brokenly from her rapist, Sakura’s heart began to break and the tears began to fall, running down her dirt smeared face to hit the blood splattered stone beneath her. Even the strongest kunoichi had a breaking point.

Hideki screamed with rage, shouted curses and promised death.

And with one final thrust and wicked grin aimed at Sakura, Akai emptied himself inside her broken and violated captain.

Sakura sagged, head bowing until her chin rested on her collarbone. Her hatred for the monster in front of her shook her whole body. Breath came in short bursts as she strained to keep control of her wayward emotions.

Akai pulled up his pants, eyes glowing and a sneer across his lips and once again, he made his way over to the true object of his lust.

“I hope you enjoyed your treat Pink.” He taunted, reveling in her unspeakable and barely contained emotion. It perpetuated the delicious air around her, almost making what she felt tangible.

Sakura glared at him, letting him see all the icy disgust and bone deep hatred for him and spoke in a deadly venomous voice. “I’m going to kill you, you fucking sick bastard.”

His sneer turned into a satisfied and feral smile. And before she knew it, he kissed her hard then abruptly tore away, now sporting a bleeding lip. But his expression never faltered. Always the malicious intent, the lust burning in the black bottomless depths of his eyes. He touched his split lip with the pad of his thumb, watched his own blood trail down the corner of her lips before reaching up and smearing it across the dry cracked surface.

“For remembrance of this day you couldn’t save your team.” He then grabbed her chin and pulled her face closer until their breaths mingled. “I’m going to kill you too Pink.”

He ghosted over her lips and then let go, leaving her to pick up the pieces of what remained.

‘Hideki…Michi…’

“H-Haruno…” She whipped her head towards Hideki, watched him level a stare at their captain and the painful look in his eyes before another bout of agonizing spasms shook his body. She struggled and cried with a renewed vigor when she started to realize what was happening to them.

Michi and Hideki were dying. Her team was dying and there wasn’t anything she could do about it.

Both their lips were a deadly shade of purple as they struggled for breath. Their now bloodshot eyes caught each other’s and a sad smile touched both their bleeding lips. Their vital organs were beginning to slowly shut down.

Akai had laced the safframate with another deadly poison.

Sakura released an angry and frustrated sob, fighting against the ties that bound her like a mad woman. If only she could get free. She’d heal them. She’d use all that she knew to save them. Her captain had been brutally raped and Hideki, wise and all smiles Hideki…he’d been humiliated and beaten to a bloody pulp and now his own body was going to shut down on him.

“Damn it!” She screamed until her voice was hoarse. “I’m going to save you two. Just let me get me free first and then I’ll save you…we’re a team, I’m not gonna let you guys die on me!”

She tried summoning her chakra, her monstrous strength. “Come on damn it!”

“Haruno…”

Sakura stopped her struggling to stare at Michi, a look of desperation in her eyes.

“You’re going…you’re going to get free and kill him for me. It’s an order. I don’t care how long it takes you, but you’re going to fucking kill him…and make sure he suffers.”

Be silent. Don’t break. Be strong.

Sakura sobbed, a new stream of tears hugging the contours of her face. She nodded once, saw the resigned and thankful smile on her captain’s bloody lips and didn’t look away when Michi took her last breath and her life faded out.

She quickly turned to Hideki, all the pent up panic finally breaking free. “Don’t leave…you can’t leave me too…please stay with me Hideki. I don’t know if I can make it out of here without you. Please…”

“Make sure…” A devilish grin even among all the decay and blood.

‘Hideki…don’t leave…’

“Make sure you cut off his balls and shove it down his throat for me.”

Sakura nodded her head vigorously. “Right. I’ll do that right after we get out of here.”

Sorrow.

It was the wrong emotion.

He sucked in a breath and coughed, blood falling on the cold stone and traveling down his chin. His lungs were collapsing. “Become stronger cherry blossom and take care of your new team.”

Another breath. Almost the last.

“Michi and I were honored to have you on ours.” He tried to reach a hand towards her, to offer some type of comfort for the teammate he couldn’t protect but safframate was merciless and as his blood-strewn body arched and his last breath was expelled from his mouth, he too faded out of her life.

ANBU always told her to be prepared for the worst. ANBU always told her to harden her resolve and lock away all unnecessary emotions while on a mission because the slightest hesitance could get her killed. And ANBU always told her that under no circumstance were they to reveal who they were and where they were from. It would bring the village they fought so hard to protect danger and bloodshed.

But ANBU could never prepare her for how it felt to watch her team tortured in front of her eyes. They couldn’t prepare her for how it felt to watch Michi and Hideki die a death they didn’t deserve right in front of her eyes and that she couldn’t do anything about it except silently promise that she’d kill the bastard who did this to them.

Shinobi should always be prepared to die for their village at any given time. Such is the honorable life of ninja. Today is here and tomorrow may never come.

…

Another tormentor came the next day, ignoring the two dead bodies and focusing on her. He tried to make her talk but she made no sound. Didn’t scream when he took a leather whip to her back then doused her open wounds with alcohol to prevent infection because Akai would have his head if she died. Her body was numb and her head spun in dizzying waves that made her want to heave.

He then dared to fondle her breasts and she bared her teeth in an animalistic rage that no leather straps could contain and when they broke, her fist connected with his jaw and she heard the satisfying cracking of bone and the wail of pain that followed. Two guards came rushing into the room and had her restrained, but not before suffering injuries to very sensitive places. They beat her until she fell unconscious in a pool of her own blood, the momentary surge of adrenaline draining from her body. The lashes from earlier were reopened and bleeding, her back nothing but a blanket of the deepest red.

It’d be during the night that Kakashi, Genma and Ino would assassinate the warlord, finishing the mission that her team failed to complete. And it would be on that beautiful night with the neon stars burning that they would save her and the shattered remnants of her ANBU team, find her broken and bloody and almost embracing the cold clutches of death cause it hurt too much to keep breathing. And it’d be the last time, but not the very last, that she would get a glimpse of the long black braid and ebony eyes of the man she swore to kill and who swore to kill her in return.

However long it takes…I will kill you…for remembrance…and redemption…for your mistake in not killing me when you had the chance…


…to be continued…


A/N: So who’s still with me after this grueling chapter? Ah, but living the life of a shinobi is a most dangerous and scarring life to live. And safframate comes from Anne Bishop and her Black Jewels Trilogy. I don’t know if it’s real so I’m gonna go ahead and give her full credit for the term since I got it from her books.

I got a few questions about Naruto and Sasuke and if they’re going to be coming back. To be honest, I’m not quite sure myself. You’ll know when I do.

Much thanks to everyone who took the time to review!

-hasu86