20As promised, here is the next update. I hope you enjoy. This fic is based off of the song Underneath by JoJo. Enjoy!
Underneath (Revamped) Ch. 5
Normal POV
Sakura sat at the kitchen table with the tray of cookies that Daisuke and Mikoto spent the day preparing before her. She nibbled on one of the surprisingly delectable cookies when Sasuke walked into the room. He glanced at her and gave her a momentary nod before looking around the kitchen.
"Itachi just left." She called out guessing that was who he was looking for. Sasuke nodded sitting down across from her.
"Where did he go?" Sakura shrugged reaching for another cookie after finishing the one she had.
"Probably to talk to your father." Sasuke grunted giving his new sister a once over.
Before turning his gaze away from her. A dark memory from his past including another woman with pink hair started veer its ugly head in his consciousness before he closed his eyes tightly. It's in the past. It's in the past.
"Sasuke, are you okay?" His eye snapped open at the soft hand that touched his own tightly closed fists. Shifting his gaze upward he made eye contact with the concerned pinkette.
"I'm fine." He coldly replied abruptly getting to his feet. "Where's mother?" Sakura raised a confused brow before her eyes narrowed.
"I don't know. Mikoto wanted to have some more bonding time with Daisuke so she took him somewhere out back." Sasuke grunted turning his back on her walking away.
Something didn't feel quite right about letting him leave. There was just something in his eyes that made her terrified about being around him alone. It's almost as if he's done something vile and he's trying to hide it from everyone. Or is she just being paranoid from all the secretive talk from Mikoto and Fugaku about skeletons in the Uchiha closet?
"Sasuke!" The boy paused but didn't turn to acknowledge her. Sakura swallowed taking his silent as a sign for her to continue. "What is it that you need Itachi for?" He turned his head slightly. For some reason, a cold sweat broke out on her forehead. "I mean, I'm meeting with him in a little while at the hospital so I can rely the message to him when I go with Daisuke."
"Hn." With that, Sasuke walked away.
When he disappeared, Sakura let go of the breath she didn't know she was holding as she allowed herself to fall back into her seat. What's going on with that boy? The sound of her phone ringing had her heart pounding. Once she was able to calm herself down a little, she checked the caller ID before quickly accepting the call.
"Itachi?"
"Sakura, are you alright?" She let out a nervous laugh playing with her hair.
"Of course, what makes you think anything is wrong?"
"Your voice sounds shaky- like you're scared of something." Her heart stopped beating for a second before she let out another laugh as to not let on that he was right. Besides, she still doesn't know exactly why she feels so afraid of him.
"I promise I'm fine, Itachi." She said as calmly and convincingly as she could. "Now, what is that you called me for?" There was silence on the other end before she heard the slight shuffling of clothing.
"My father and Satoshi have decided to head to the hospital now to get the test done. It seems the two of them are not exactly very patient on the subject." She nodded even though she knew that Itachi couldn't see it.
"Alright, do you want me and Daisuke over for emotional support for them?"
"I think the both of you will benefit Satoshi more than my father, but yes. Also, I wanted to know if you could bring my mother with you."
"Would that be wise?"
"Probably not, but they both need to be there to hear the results. I know it's going to be- is hard for the both of them, but they still need to hear it and it's better if they heard it together." Once again, Sakura nodded before rising from her chair.
"Alright, we'll be there in about twenty minutes. I can't say that Mikoto-san will be with us, but I'll try to convince her to come."
"Thank you, Sakura." Sakura laughed softly.
"You're welcome, Itachi." She paused in her laughing as a serious look took over her face. "But are you okay?"
"I'm fine." There was more shuffling of clothing on the other line. "Why would you ask?"
"Well," Sakura started taking a lock of her pink hair and twirling it around her finger. "You've been gone from the house a lot since your father has been staying at the hotel. Daisuke is getting worried and Mikoto-san looks a little sad when she notices that you're not around." There was silent once more on the other line before a soft sigh filled her ear.
"I apologize. My father is very concerned about his future with mother and is, more or less, forcing me to temporarily take over his position in the company so he can work things out with mother. I've been having to work on paperwork and managing the city's multiple police stations. It's been consuming most of my time and I've been having to ask father for advice in some aspects." He paused once more. "I'm sorry I've let work take me away from you and Daisuke. I promise it won't be like this after today." A small genuine smile formed on Sakura's lips as she laughed softly.
"It's okay, Itachi. I understand that you're just trying to help your parents. You just want the best for your parents and you're willing to take on such a big challenge to give them the time they need to work things out. I expect nothing less from someone like you." She smiled wide before walking out of the kitchen to the back door she saw Mikoto and Daisuke disappear through. "If it helps, I can take a look at the paper work and see if I can lessen your burden a little. I deal with paper work all the time at the hospital so it shouldn't be too much trouble to work on a little more." A deep chuckle reached her ear making her smile grow wider.
"I love you, Sakura."
"I love you too, Itachi. I'll see you soon." And with that, the two ended their call. The wide smile on Sakura's face just wouldn't leave as she opened the door to the back and stepped out.
She made her way through the garden of healthy colorful plants of various stages of growth until she came across a koi pound with Mikoto and Daisuke kneeled beside it. Two toy boats sat on the surface of the water while Mikoto and Daisuke each held remote controls that guided the boats in the direction they wanted them to go in. Both were happily laughing with each other as they seemingly raced the boats along the surface. Sakura smiled at the scene loving the warm feeling she got at seeing her son happily play with his grandmother without the fear in his eyes. After a few seconds, Sakura cleared her throat and took a step closer to the two.
"So this is where the two of you ran off to." Daisuke turned his head and gave his mother a wide happy smile.
"Mommy, grandma gave me a boat to play with! She said it used to be daddies!" Sakura's eyes softened at his excitement as he turned back around and began playing with his boat again. Mikoto gave the little boy a loving look patting him gently on the head before turning a bright smile towards Sakura.
"You see? I have him calling me grandma within three days!" Sakura giggled lightly.
"That's wonderful, Mikoto-san." The smile dropped from her face as an apologetic look took its place. "But I do have some news from Itachi." Surprise coated her features as she tilted her head to the side.
"Oh? What is it?"
"It looks like Fugaku and Satoshi want to have the test done early. They're both on their way to the hospital now." The smile slipped from Mikoto's lips being replaced with a blank stare. Sakura swallowed wanting to just tell the kind woman to forget it and go by herself so she and Daisuke can spend more happy times together. Lord knows the woman deserves it with what she's going through, but she can't do that. Instead, she settled for averting her gaze to the sky so she wouldn't falter in her mission to at least ask her if she wanted to come or not. "Itachi wanted to know if you would come with me and Daisuke to the hospital now to hear the results for yourself." The silence that followed had Sakura nervous. Should she not have asked and just told Itachi that she didn't want to go? Just as Sakura was about to open her mouth to tell her mother-in-law that she didn't have to go, Mikoto spoke up instead.
"I'll go, but I would like to ride alone." Sakura looked back at the woman with understanding in her eyes. "If that is alright with you?"
"That's perfectly understandable." Sakura gently told her closing the distance between them. Settling down beside her, Sakura wrapped her arms around her. When she felt Mikoto return her gesture, she continued. "Just don't forget that if you need anything, call. I don't care how far away I am from the hospital- I'll turn around and come back, alright?" Mikoto only nodded not trusting herself to speak and keep her emotions in check. Both women pulled back and Sakura gave her a bright smile. The pinkette was about to say something else, but the sight of her son squeezing between the two of them and wrapping his small arms around Mikoto in a tight hug cut her off.
"Don't be sad grandma. I don't like it when you're sad." The little boy said before turning his gaze upward to look his grandmother in the eye. Mikoto felt her control on her emotions slip for a moment as she squeezed the little boy in a hug before letting him go.
"Alright Dai-kun." She laughed lightly giving her beloved grandson a bright smile. "Now run along and put your shoes on so you and your mother can go see your daddy and uncle." Daisuke nodded vigorously before running back inside to do as he was told. Sakura stood as well, placing a hand on Mikoto's shoulder and squeezing gently.
"Everything is going to work itself out. Just stay strong until then, alright?" Mikoto nodded giving the girl a small smile. Sakura gave her shoulder one last squeeze before walking back inside.
It wasn't until she heard the door close did Mikoto allow herself to let go. Only then, did she allow herself to let the weight of the situation enter her mind. Only then, did she allow the tears she's been holding back to escape and cascade down her cheeks. Only then, did she allow herself to cry.
At the Hospital
Normal POV
Fugaku sat in the waiting room along with Itachi, Satoshi and a few others who were there for their own reasons. Itachi sat on the rows of seat directly across from his father while Satoshi just couldn't seem to stop pacing the small area between them. Fugaku wanted to tell the boy to stop, but he just couldn't bring himself to speak to him.
In truth, the two haven't spoken since the banquet. It was always that relayed any messages they had for each other. They haven't even seen each other since that day. Just being in the same room with each other brought out intense emotions that was way too difficult to keep at bay.
"What's taking so long?" Satoshi found himself grumbling. He paused in his pacing to glare at the reception desk before he sighed and plopped himself down next to Itachi. He rubbed the back of his head with a hand letting out another deep sigh. "This whole thing is far too insane." Itachi glanced at his brother-in-law's distressed form then at his father's impassive face before he inwardly sighed.
"Sakura and Daisuke are on their way." He finally said leaning back into his chair. The red haired man merely let out a dry laugh before hanging his head.
"And to think I only came in hopes of seeing my sister after being separated." He let another ironic laugh before burring his head in his hands. Uncharacteristic curiosity took hold of Itachi. He knew from Sakura that she was separated from her elder brother when she was five but she didn't remember for what reason. What's the harm in asking?
"Why were you two separated?" Satoshi glanced at him from the corner of his eye before sighing.
"After our mother disappeared Sakura's father kept her, but he didn't want to support a kid that wasn't his so I was placed into foster care. The agency tried to get me into a home close by so we weren't separated, but I ended up being adopted by a family across country. I haven't been able to see her since then for various reasons, but the most prominent one being the lack of an address." He grunted before letting out a deep sigh. Itachi nodded turning back forward. Something about that story sounds fishy, but for now, he can leave it be. They have far more pressing issues going on.
"Mr. Uchiha and Mr. Haruno?" The three men stood as the nurse called them over. They walked over and stopped just in front of the nurse. "We're ready for you in room 47." She smiled brightly at the three of them before leading them to their room. A frown marred Itachi's features as he glanced at the hospital doors then at his watch. It's been nearly forty minutes since he called Sakura. She should've been there by now- where is she?
"Itachi." He slowly turned his attention to his father waiting for him the doorway of the hospital room. A feeling of dread overcame him as he waved his father to go in without him. Something didn't feel right about this situation and he didn't like it one bit.
Stepping out of the hospital, he took out his phone and dialed the house number. Who knows- maybe she fell asleep? She has certainly done it before in the past considering how tired she gets in the state that she's in.
"Hello?" The sound of his brother's friend Naruto answering the phone startled him a little before he shook it off quickly.
"Naruto, is Sakura and Daisuke at the house?" A pause followed.
"Uh, I don't know- hold on a sec." The sound of the rustling of clothing was Itachi's only warning to move the phone from his ear before the blonde could start yelling. "Oi, has anyone seen Sakura-chan or Daisuke?"
Sakura-chan? Itachi thought with a raised brow. It seems he will have to have a conversation with the blonde when he gets back about the familiarity he has with his wife, but for now, he needs to focus on finding her and his son. When he heard the yelling was over, he placed the phone back to his ear in time to hear the blonde make a small noise in the back of his throat.
"Ano, Sakura-chan and Daisuke left for the hospital a while ago. Aren't they there already?" Itachi's heart stopped beating. Something is wrong.
"Is Sasuke there?" Itachi asked running to his car and quickly climbing in. Slamming the door closed, he started the engine as fast as he could before peeling out of the parking lot.
"Uh, he left to run a few errands for Mikoto-san a few minutes ago. Why?" Itachi growled dodging the traffic going well over the speed limit trying desperately to spot his wife's car on the path she would have taken from the mansion to the hospital.
"Naruto, I need you to gather some of your friends and look for Sakura and Daisuke. Now." When there was no response on the other line. Itachi nearly lost his mind. "Naruto!"
"Itachi… how close are you to the house?" Before Itachi could answer, he turned a corner and swiftly slammed on the breaks as he noticed the backup cars and police line.
News helicopters circled above as well as new vans parked all around making a report of a car crash turned kidnapping. Dread filled Itachi's stomach as he snatched open the car door leaving his phone in his car. He sprinted towards one of the offices keeping the general public from crossing the line.
"Hey, back up! This is a police line-"
"I am Itachi Uchiha. Let me through." From the icy chill of his voice to the death bringing glare directed at him, the cop didn't waste any time allowing Itachi through.
Itachi ducked under the police line and froze the moment he saw the car in question. The sight of his wife's car crushed on the front passenger side and pushed to the other side of the road with tire tracks marking the direction had him breathless.
"Itachi." Said man barely heard his name and numbly turned his head to look at who called him. At the sight of the gravity defying white hair and mask covering half of his face, Itachi felt only slightly better that someone experienced was handling this case.
"Kakashi. What happened?" He gave Itachi a grim look as he glanced back over the car before he sighed.
"We don't know for sure yet, but from what I can tell from here, this was a planned attack." Kakashi moved a little ways to the side to point out a narrow alleyway right across from where Sakura's car was pushed. "The perpetrators must have hide in there until she came. However, since her car was hit from the front, they must have had someone to tell them when she was coming from the street. Now, from the absent of another car, it's clear that they fled in the same car they hit her with after they snatched both of the victims." Itachi felt his stomach lurch.
"Both?" Kakashi glanced at him for a moment before moving to the car and pointing to the backseat. Itachi hesitantly glanced to here he pointed noting that the straps to his son's car seat were cut open.
"They took the kid too." He couldn't breathe. Itachi couldn't breathe. Kakashi walked to him and placed a hand on his shoulder before narrowing his visible eye at him. "Itachi, are you alright?" At that point, Itachi felt anger incase his body as he gripped the collar of Kakashi's shirt pulling him threateningly closer.
"This is my wife's car. Whoever these bastards are, they have my wife and my son." Kakashi's lone eye widened before understanding filled him. Carefully, he gripped Itachi's balled fist and removed it from his shirt.
"We'll find them, Itachi."
"No." Kakashi's eye narrowed at the blood lust coating Itachi's form.
"I'll find them and when I do, I'm going to murder every single person that dared to lay a hand on them." With that, Itachi left Kakashi and head back to his car. He has old friends to call. After all, this is going to be a hunt he's going to need back up for.
With Sasuke
Normal POV
"Come again sir!" Sasuke grunted at the clerk before heading out of the store with the supplies his mother asked for him to get for her. Honestly, isn't this why they have maids?
"Long time no see, Sasuke-kun." The all too familiar snake like voice grated on Sasuke's ears.
"What the hell do you want, Orochimaru." The raven haired boy hissed turning to look at the monster that nearly ruined his life. Orochimaru merely cackled as a creepy smile formed on his lips.
"Oh Sasuke-kun, we do you look so angry? We were so close before."
"No." Sasuke snapped, his features darkened as he growled at the snake. I hate you with every fiber of my being. You forced me to do unspeakable things at the threat of my family's life. Now, if you don't want a bullet in your forehead then I suggest you get the hell away from me and never come back." The smile on Orochimaru's face only grew.
"Sasuke-kun, still brash and quick to jump to conclusions as always." Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"What are you talking about?" Orochimaru hummed as he dug in his pocket. Before he could even blink, Sasuke held a gun in the middle of the man's forehead, ready to fire at the slightest movement. "Get your hands were I can see them. Now!" Sasuke snarled, his eyes never leaving Orochimaru's amused ones. The snake man only laughed.
"I take it you haven't seen the news yet, have you?" At Sasuke's raised brow, the snake man pulled a photo from his pocket and held it up in plain sight for Sasuke to see. The second Sasuke's eyes focused on the picture, his heart stopped and he nearly lost his grip on his gun. Orochimaru's smile grew. "Now that I have your attention," he started pushing the gun to the side allowing Sasuke's arm to fall down to his side, "we can talk a little more civil."
"What do you want?" Sasuke whispered, defeat and dread falling over his being. A contemplative smirk covered Orochimaru's lips before he cackled once more.
"You may have been one of my top agents back when you were an obedient little lap dog, but now I have many more agents even better than how you were working for me." However slight, relief filled him. "But you still do have something that I want." Sasuke's eyes darkened growing cold.
"The weapons." Orochimaru smiled wider.
"Exactly." Bending down, Orochimaru set the photo between Sasuke's feet before standing to his full height. "This time around, I'm going to give you two options." Sasuke growled. "One, you can go rogue on this like you used to and steal the materials I ask for, or, you can converse your options with your family. Either way, I'm going to get what I want. If not," Orochimaru turned around and began walking down the street. "I'll ship you the remains of those two one at a time starting with the baby in her stomach." Sasuke felt bile rising in his throat as his eyes were glued to the photo between his feet.
Sakura was unconscious, tied and gagged to a chair with Daisuke's hands chained to one of the legs. He was wide awake and looked utterly terrified staring straight at him. What scared him the most, were the man standing behind the both of them with a katana in his hands positioned at Sakura's neck. The message was clear: give us what we want, or they die.
"Shit." Sasuke snatched the photo from the ground and sprinted the rest of the way home.
It seems, no matter how hard he tries to get away from that snake bastard, he always finds a way to drag him back. This time, however, he made one fatal mistake- he brought his brother into this.
Location Unknown
Normal POV
Sakura woke with a pounding headache and the sounds of soft sobbing from a little boy. As she opened her eyes and waited for her vision to focus, she glanced around her until her eyes landed on her son, chained to the chair she sat in. Her eyes widened as she tried to call out to him, but found she couldn't speak due to the cloth stuffed into her mouth. However, at the sound that she made, Daisuke snapped his wide eyes up to him, tears pouring down his face.
"Mommy?" Sakura's eyes softened as she looked at him which seemed to calm him a little.
"Well, you finally woke up have you?" Sakura turned to look at the man that approached them. Her body tensed as she tried in vain to move her limps so she could at least shield her son from view. The man only smiled at her efforts pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "My, aren't we being protective?"
"Leave my mommy alone!" Daisuke yelled giving the man his best glared through his tears. The man smirked down at him taking a step closer but stopped once he noticed how tense Sakura became. A frown settled on his lips.
"Don't tense. Your body has been put under enough stress. You could cause yourself to have a miscarriage." Sakura only glared at him bringing a sigh to his lips. "My name is Kabuto. I have been assigned to make sure you two are in the best condition possible. That is, until the Uchiha family begins to defy Lord Orochimaru's orders." The smile on his face morphed into something sinister that made Sakura's blood run cold. Seeing that his message was put across, he turned and began to walk away. "I'll be back later. Don't make too much noise. Remember, we don't necessarily need you alive." With that, Kabuto disappeared leaving Sakura and Daisuke alone.
I hope you enjoyed. Favorite, follow, and review. There will be a few more chapters left. Until the next update. ~