Torture

Chapter 5

Disclaimer: I don't own nothing... not Naruto and not the song that is used later in the chapter.
A/N I don't usually use songs in my stuff, but I couldn't help it, I love this song and it kinda fit. so there. if you wanna look up the version I used, it is Bridge over Troubled Water, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkle... that name makes me giggle... haha...

Her body had exhausted itself, she had passed out. When her body went slack Naruto and Sasuke looked to Kakashi, Questions running through their minds a mile a minute.

"Kakashi, why don't you talk to them, I will stay and watch over her for now. Once that is taken care of we can ready to head back, ne?"

Kakashi nodded and stood slowly, motioning for the two to follow him out of the room. Naruto looked back down at Sakura, he reached out and brushed some of her wayward hair out of her face and behind her ear. She trembled at the contact causing both he and Sasuke to frown before heading out of the room after Kakashi to get some answers.

When they got into the sitting room Kakashi was already seated on the couch against the back wall with his head in his hands, elbows resting on his knees.

When Kakashi heard the other two young men take their seats he ran his hands over his face and back through his hair, "It's bad, I can't tell you guys anything she told me. I'm sorry but this is the kind of thing that she is going to have to tell you in her own time... but I will try and answer any general questions you have..."

Naruto was the first to speak, "How long was she in there?"

"About a week and a half."

"What were the conditions you found her in?" Sasuke asked as calm and collected as ever, though you could see anger bubbling just below the surface of his cool demeanor.

"Her jaw was dislocated, the muscles seemed to have been numbed. she was strapped to a large stone slab, water torture... she was... sh... she was covered in her own blood, among other things and nude, save for a scrap of her medic skirt. latteral insitions were present on her arms, legs and abdomine. Her back was nothing but blood and torn tissue. There was a chakra inhibitor on her left bicep, covering the ANBU tattoo there... she looked lost... you have no idea, her eyes were empty... she was so scared, Naruto, Sasuke... I have never, never seen her so scared." Kakashi's voice cracked in a few places, he couldn't even bring himself to look at them as he spoke.

Sasuke and Naruto were silent for a moment before Sasuke looked Kakashi in the eye, "Show me."

"Sasuke no."

"Dammit Kakashi show me! I need to know. Show me what you saw."

Kakashi closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them, his Hai-ate discarded earlier, he let the toma of the sharingan spin as he leveled his gaze with Sasuke. Sasuke looked into his eye and his jaw dropped before he tore his gaze away and promptly ran out of the room to devest himself of his earlier lunch.

Naruto looked at Sasuke as he ran from the room and then let his sight return to Kakashi.

"Kabuto?"

"Hai."

"I am going to kill him for this..."

They sat in silence even after Sasuke returned. He looked at both of them and walked into the back room once more. When he entered, Neji stood, nodded and then left him alone with the sleeping Sakura.

Sasuke moved to sit beside her on the cot and gently lifted her head and placed it in his lap. He looked down at her sleeping face and slowly ran his fingers through her short choppy hair. Bending slightly at the waist he leaned over and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead, "Sakura, I am so sorry for what ever that bastard did to you... please be okay... you are my family, you are the sister I never had... please don't lose yourself to this."

Sakura stirred at his whispered words, shifting her weight onto her side she slowly opened her eyes and looked around for a moment, completely lost.

"Sakura?"

"S..s..sasuke... what are you doing here?" She sat up quickly and looked at him with her head lowered.

"Naruto and I were sent as back up."

"Naruto's here?"

"Hai, he is in the other room with Kakashi and Neji... Sakura, if you need to talk about it, you know... I mean you know Naruto, Kakashi and I are here for you right?"

"Yea... I already told Kashi everything and I... I can't... I can't talk about it again just yet... can you guys give me time?" She looked up at Naruto who was standing in the doorway and then to Sasuke, they answered in unison, "Hai."

Naruto came over and sat next to her on the other side and put his hand on her back, she flinched away from it, "Sorry... it hasn't healed completely yet..." she looked at him a little sheepishly.

"What hasn't healed yet?"

Sakura pulled the back of her shirt up and showed them the swollen raw flesh on her back that would undoubtedly scar.

Sasuke eyes widened, "My god Sakura, what happened to you?"

She flinched at his slightly raised voice and he immediately back-peddled, "Gomen, gomen, it just... it startled me is all... you can tell us when you're ready."

Kakashi sent word to Idate that the back up had arrived and that they would be heading back to Konoha the next morning so not to worry. He and Neji then set about packing the needed items while Naruto and Sasuke tended to Sakura, getting ready for the morning.

When it was time to bed down Naruto and Sasuke took first watch, Neji took the couch and Kakashi stayed with Sakura.

"Kashi?"

"Hai, what is it Sakura?"

"Could you sing that one song..." Kakashi smiled as he sat with her head in his lap, his back against the wall and he started to hum a little before he began singing softly...

" When your weary, feelin' small.
When tears are in your eyes,
I will dry them all."

Sakura's eyes closed lightly, he could tell she was awake and still listening.

"I'm on your side, ohhh when times get rough,
and friends just cant be found,
like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down, like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down."

She shifted to wrap her arms around his waist as she lay with her head in his lap, his fingers absentmindedly running through her hair and moving it out of her face.

"When your down and out,
when your on the street,
when evening falls so high I will come for you, "

He looked down and saw a tear sliding down over her pale cheek and brushed it away softly, continuing to sing quietly.

"I'll take your heart ohhh,when darkness comes,
and pain is all around,
like a bridge over troubled water,
I will ease your mind,
like a bridge over troubled water,
I will ease your mind..."

He could tell she had fallen asleep by the deep and even breathes she took, but he continued to sing even so... This was the song she had sung to him after returning yet again without Sasuke all those years ago. He had been rather depressed and down on himself, she had stayed in his hospital room all night and softly sang to him.

"Sail on silver girl, sail on by.
your time has come, too shine,
and all your dreams are on there way.
See how they shine, ohhh,
if you need a friend,
I'm sailing right behind,
like a bridge over troubled water,
I will ease your mind,
like a bridge over troubled water,
I will ease your mind..."

He smiled down at her, she was sleeping peacefully it seemed, he could only hope she continued thusly. When he heard fabric shifting in the doorway he turned to see Naruto and Sasuke both smiling at him. Well Sasuke was smirking, but that made no difference. He offered a small shrug and they walked quietly over to him.

Speaking as quietly as he could Naruto spoke, "Nice song, it's one of her favorites... she teach it to ya?"

"Hai."

Sasuke's smirk widened, "Well, everything outside is all clear, we are going to go do the rounds again in about 30. you should get some rest to, you look like hell old man."

"Shut up." Sasuke and Naruto chuckled lightly as they walked back out of the room to get some coffee.