Ch.16: Pulling Strings

Sakura pov

It's been a week since all that stuff happened. I thought maybe things between Sasuke and me would have changed somehow but he didn't act any different. "Next time make sure I don't have to come save your butt." Ino said jokingly. We sat in my room at Sasuke's, she waited patiently for me to get dressed. Sasuke and I had been permitted to return to school mostly because Anko was much to lazy to come here and talk to us. "Ya know something about you seems different...." I stared blankly at my blonde friend, "Yeah...I can't quite put my finger on it..." "Mommy...Daddy says hurry up." Toshida came walking in, looking super cute with her dark purple hair up in a ponytail. Looking at me her eyes widened, she took a deep breath, "Mommy when did you get kitty ears?" I nearly choked on the water I was sipping on. Running to the nearest mirror I paled. Sure enough sprouting from the top of my head were two pink cat ears. "How....Why....What..." I stumbled with my words."You forgot When, Where and Who." My obnoxious blonde friend chimed.

"I think they are cute mommy." Toshida added before she exited the room. I could hear her yell, "Daddy, mommy has cute kitty ears now!!" Surely Sasuke would be surprised. "Come on or we'll be late." Ino said. Sai must still be angry at her or she wouldn't be over here getting a ride with Sasuke, Naruto and me. Walking slowly downstairs I waited to be ridiculed or made fun of by either one of the boys but surprisingly Naruto smiled and Sasuke smirked. Like for real, a real honest to god smirk from Sasuke Uchiha. My heart beat a little faster around him now but I remained professional, I am his familiar nothing more nothing less and I was ok with that. At least I thought I was. "Let's go. I'm not going to be late because of you bums." Sasuke said.

I made it into my class on time thanks to a speed boost from Ino. "There you are... I would like to see you all in my office now please." Anko said to our lunch table. Ino, Sasuke, Naruto and I followed her quietly to her office. She shut the door let out a sigh then walked to her chair and sat down. "Good job taking down those two high level demons." She said. I smiled as did both blondes, "But there's still the problem with the hunter to deal with." We all had forgotten about Neji Hyuga, the hunter who fought Naruto and who's main target seems to be Sasuke for the supposed murder of someone named Tenten. "He's acquired the holy mark upon his brow. He's pushed himself to unqualified lengths just to keep up with you Sasuke. Your his target and he won't stop until you kill him or..." She paused leaving the rest for us to fill in. "What do I do?" Sasuke asked. Crossing her arms, her eyes scanned our faces before resting on his. "You'll have to face him. It's up to you to end this."

"Won't that cause problems with the Hunters?" He asked, I had similar questions. "No. Once he obtained the holy mark the Hunters let him go. He is wielding a holy weapon with wicked intent." "But you can't just send Sasuke after him and have them battle to the death." I interrupted. Her eyes fell on me, "It's our only choice. No one else could stand against him...his only target is Sasuke."

Sasuke pov

"I'm his target which means if I go to him he'll most likely leave Sakura and Toshida alone right?" I asked, right now the only thing that mattered is keeping them safe. If things were to go bad I knew Naruto could protect them. Sakura looked over at me in shock, Anko nodded, "Most likely. He seems to only be after you. What's the reason behind it?" She asked. Looking away I remembered the shame, "I let my vampire side take over when I first got here...I killed someone." The air in the room grew cold, Ino and Naruto stood silent, Sakura looked at me with the expression I knew to well. Fear. "I see. Well that's in the past. We are not anyone to judge, I've done things in my past that are very...bad. Nevertheless it's you who has to stop him." Anko said with a grim tone.

"I want to go to." Sakura surprised me by saying. "And me." Naruto said."Count me in." Ino laughed. Anko looked over at me, "No Sasuke has to do this alone. Unless he feels otherwise." Everyone looked at me but I knew the answer, no one would get hurt because of me. "Thank you all but no. This is something I have to do." Looking back over at Anko I asked, "Do you know his location?" She flipped through some files on her desk before saying, "Yes. Seems he's waiting for you in the forest of dead trees." Nodding I turned to walk out. "I am your familiar and I will not let you go out there alone!" Sakura yelled while standing. "He's made his choice. You three are being sent home early." They looked at her with obvious anger and confusion but no more was to be said.

That was hours ago. Right now I made my way toward the hunter. I made sure to fill up on blood before going, last thing I wanted was for him to have the upper hand. You could see the forest from a mile away, picture a normal forest but with bleach white trees that held no leaves. It was eerie walking by the trees especially while the sun was starting to set. I continued to look around trying to find any sign of the hunter who has caused so much trouble when I was tackled. I flew into a tree shattering the trunk and causing it to fall over. "Damn it..." I groaned as I stood. "Took you long enough to show up blood sucker." The hunter Neji said with an evil smile. He looked different from last time, apart from the new green glowing symbol on his forehead he seemed to grow more muscle mass.

"So did you come alone?" He asked while taking out his patient knife. Cracking my knuckles I frowned, "Yeah I'm alone. I wouldn't want you to make excuses when I kick your ass." I said. He ran at me faster then last time, dodging under his strike I hit him right in the ribs but it felt like hitting a boulder. Grabbing me around the waist he picked me up, flipped me then power bombed me into the dirt. My breath was knocked out of me, he planted his foot on my chest. "Come on! Change already, show me your true power!" He yelled before grabbing me and flinging me into another tree.

Rubbing my cheek I struggled to find my footing. Approaching slowly a smile crawled onto his face. "With this holy power no one can stand against me, as you are right now you can't beat me!" Once he was close enough I grabbed him and bite down. Yelling in pain he punched me in the stomach sending me skidding back. Laughter arose from his throat, "And to think I thought for a little while that you were actually stronger then me." He went to grab me again but this time I flung him to the ground which he smashed into pretty hard. I pulled the demon power threw my body and into my fist and brought it down. The earth crumbled away yet he stayed unharmed. Pushing me backwards he sat up, "This is for Tenten!" Before I could comprehend his words he appeared in front of me and heart punched me.

I feel to my knees, my body was starting to shut down. My heart beat slowed, this must have been it. Cold started to crawl over my arms it was happening, sooner then expected. I was dying. My vision was darkening, a face appeared in front of me. "Wake up hottie your not allowed to die on me yet." Air flooded my lungs, suddenly my vision cleared and I could breath again. Pulling away I found myself staring at the girl with blue hair, she smiled. "Not bad for our first kiss huh?" She said with a smile. My chest hurt like hell but still I was confused as to why she was here.

"Enough!" I heard. Shit I forgot about the hunter. I looked over in time to see him bring down his knife but then ice encased his wrist stopping him from moving. "Tsk Tsk Tsk. You need to cool down." He was thrown backwards by a large ball of ice. She helped me stand, "Why are you here?" I asked. Her finger nail grew long and sharp, "Just here to make sure you don't die." Cutting my forearm she smiled, I glared at her, "Don't give me that look. Drink your blood get super hot and kick this guys ass." She muttered while pointing at Neji who was digging himself out of a tree. Looking at the thin red line that was now leaking crimson I sighed, I had no choice but to give in without this power I wouldn't stand a chance.

"There ya go. Get into the mood, I'll hold him off." As she said that he attacked again, creating a wall of ice she smiled. Licking the blood I let the power of a half breed take over, dark aura spun around me. It was time to finish this. He hit the wall of ice shattering it, "Out of my way ice women" He yelled while hitting her. Turning toward me his eyes widened in delight, "Yes! This is what I wanted! Your at your full power now. Now I'll have fun destroying you half breed." We collided fist to fist, causing the dead trees around us to be blown over.

Hitting him up in the air I jumped. I was furious and fueled with power. Knocking him back and fourth I hit him one final time sending him crashing into the ground. Landing easily he surprised me by grabbing my leg and nailing me in the face. Crunching threw trees I dug my feet into the dirt to stop, "Watch out honey!" Elsa's twin yelled. Thrusting her hands toward me an ice wall erupted in front of me blocking the perusing hunter. "Use the aura of yours! Picture in your mind what you want it to be." "Enough from you!" He yelled as he zoomed at her. I appeared in front of her and kicked him into a nearby tree, "Thanks hon." She said. "Sasuke!?" My head snapped in the direction of the voice. "Daddy! Are you ok!?" Toshida and Sakura stood nearby. "What the....Why are you here!!!" I yelled.

"Like I said I'm your familiar. I'm here to help." Sakura said."I wanna help daddy!" "Enough!" Neji growled. He came right at me, blocking he smashed me into the ground. He began hammering away at me, with every punch he connected my skin started to burn. 'Use the aura of yours! Picture in your mind what you want it to be.' I pictured a flaming black sword forming around my hand. Sure enough it started to appear, shoving my hand forward the aura blade ran him through. Screaming he was blown backwards. Sitting up I was breathing heavily. Sakura, Elsa's sister and Toshida were at my side. "You ok?" Sakura asked. I nodded until I heard laughter and at first I thought it was Neji until she appeared from the tree line.

My blood ran cold from seeing her again. She stood looking down on Neji. "Mmm...so sad that you couldn't get the job done." Her eyes found mine again, "It's been awhile Sasuke...oh I'm guessing you thought you killed me. And you were even kind enough to bring me the shadowed heart. Thank you." Toshida started to float in mid air. With a flick of her fingers Toshida flew over to the woman, "Daddy! Mommy! Please help!!" She cried. Trying to stand I found myself almost out of power. "Now for the finishing touches." The girl smiled then with one quick movement that seemed to take an eternity to complete, she slit Toshida's throat. "No!!" I heard myself yell. Sakura sat with tear filled eyes beside me, Elsa's twin stood. "You bitch! The child never did anything to you!" She flung sharp ice like knives from her fingers at the girl but they shattered after hitting a invisible force field. Moving her hand she knocked the ice girl backwards. "Now back to business." She turned back to Toshida who sat with her knees under her and head down. Instead of blood a dark black liquid dripped from the wound, once the girl touched it a cloud of black enveloped her. She laughed, " The power is finally mine." She laughed.

Neji sat up shakily. Sakura continued to cry, Elsa's twin groaned and sat up. I stood watching in horror the transformation that was happening in front of me. "Why Tenten?" Neji mumbled. The girl who I thought I had killed when I first arrived here stood in front of us. Looking down on the hunter, she said. "Because I'm a god."

To be continued......

(A/N: Ok I for one feel good about this chapter. Is it good or bad? Please comment I love hearing from you all. Also there is one chapter left of this book so fun haha. Vote, comment and Enjoy.)