Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If I did, Itachi wouldn't have died.

BETWEEN THE TWO

By KeepMeInspired

CHAPTER 11

A few words.

It only took a few words to bring her acute pain.

Her whole life she had been on dangerous missions. Her whole life she had been wounded, stabbed, punched, poisoned and bruised.

One would think she already knew and experienced all kinds of pain in this world.

One would think she would've been prepared to experience any type of pain.

But no.

No profession in this world, no amount of vigorous training could've prepared her for the pain of heartbreak.

For the pain of losing a loved one.

And for the pain of knowing that it's already too late.

Slowly, she brought her eyes down to where an object sat on the Godaime's table. Inside a plastic bag, a familiar brown stared at her.

She remembered she liked seeing them shine. When he laughs, his eyes shine with excitement. When he looks at her, she felt like she was the only woman in the world. With those eyes, he made her laugh. He made her smile. He made her cry. He made her angry. He made her glad. He made her feel important and lucky to be loved.

He made her feel like they owned the world.

Her mind reeled back to that moment. When he was walking out the gates of Konoha for that ANBU mission. How he smiled at her when she bid him goodbye. How he turned back to give her a quick hug.

She would gladly give back all the hugs they shared if it would bring him back to her.

The Hokage held out something. A slight tremor shook her as she moved her hand. Her skin made contact with cold, metal steel as the Hokage dropped a forehead protector into her open palm.

She could only stare at the thing, caked with blood and mud.

She fingered the small diagonal scratch on the side that marred the otherwise smooth surface of the forehead protector. She had thrown the thing out her front door when she thought he was cheating on her. It clanged noisily with her metal gate. That was three years ago.

There was no breeze that wafted into the room. But she shivered.

After five blissful years together, Kiba… you dare leave me just like this?

Angry tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

Tenten glanced up to see the Godaime eyeing her with sorrowful eyes.

Her hand closed into a fist and crushed the forehead protector inside it.

As if on a daze, she turned and headed for the door.

If she had thought to turn back and meet Tsunade's eyes one more time, she would've seen the unshed tears the Godaime kept in check.

If she wasn't staring down so intently at the object clutched in her hand, she would've seen Tsunade's attempt to lend a comforting hand.

If she wasn't focusing on keeping her tears at bay, she would've seen her slowly withdraw that hand.

The Hokage's door closed behind her.

If she had looked back, she would've seen the Hokage's knuckles turn white as she clutched the edge of her table in a tight grip.

If she had her wits about her instead of the deafening silence that filled her head, she would've noticed the person leaning on the wall a few paces from the door.

If she hadn't been so stunned, she would have seen the surprise in his usually impassive eyes at seeing her emerge from the Hokage's office in this state.

It was as if she were having a dream.

I hope I am.

She stared wide-eyed at an arbitrary point in front of her.

"I'm sorry, Tenten.", the Godaime had said. "I waited for the hostages' return in the hopes that Inuzuka would return with them." She gave a tiny shake of her head. "This came 2 weeks ago. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner." was what she said. "I'm sorry for your loss."

Her fists clenched and she felt the cold metal bite the inside of her palm.

It was a joke.

This isn't possible.

Is it?

Her ears buzzed. Blood rushed to her head.

The corridors began to narrow.

The floor seemed to rush up to her.

She couldn't think. Couldn't seem to breathe... Like an iron fist was crushing her heart and breaking it into pieces…

She barely noticed two strong hands gripping her arms to steady her.

"Tenten."

Byakugan eyes searched her face. "What's wrong?"

She met his gaze and somehow found the strength to speak.

"I saw the ring." Her voice trembled. She swallowed. "In the topmost drawer of the cabinet. When he was taking a shower, I sneaked a peek. I saw the ring, Neji.", she said, her voice pleading. She stared hard at the person in front of her, willing him to see, willing him to understand why all this couldn't possibly be true. "He was going to propose." Her voice broke.

Neji gave a tiny shake of his head.

"The ANBU team which recently returned… Was it Kiba's team?"

Tenten nodded.

"Did he return with them?"

A barely perceptible shake of her head was given before she collapsed to the floor.

The rough hands that were shoving her about gave her one last push and the blindfold came off. It was hours ago that she was blindfolded. It took her several seconds now to adjust her eyesight to the new surroundings.

"I'm glad you made it here safely."

Even when she turned sixty, with blurred eyesight and aching joints, she would recognize that voice anywhere.

She didn't turn.

"Please… Take a seat."

She crossed her arms in front of her chest and remained standing.

Rough arms pushed her down onto the chair.

She didn't struggle nor did she speak. She continued to glance around coolly, as if she was a visitor rather than a prisoner for an indeterminate period of time. As if she was around friends rather than enemies.

"No need to be so disdainful, Sakura."

She felt rather than heard him approach her from behind. She kept her gaze fixed in front of her.

"It's not like you to be so quiet, Sakura." He moved to stand in front of her.

Uchiha Sasuke, teammate turned traitor, gazed down at her from under hooded eyes. When before there was burning hatred in his eyes, now there's only cold indifference. He looked just like before only more mature and ever more so dangerous. Beneath the gauntness and the pallor of his face, you can see traces of the boy he had been before he was cursed with the seal. Despite everything, his naturally handsome face remained so familiar to Sakura's eyes that she had to stare at him for a few moments before recovering her head.

"Tell me. You missed me, didn't you?" He leaned down close to her. "I haven't seen this hostile side of yours before."

Sakura raised his eyes to meet his. Noting the distinct change in his Sharingan, she couldn't help but think how those onyx eyes which have haunted her dreams during the years could be both beautiful and devastating at the same time.

"If I was hostile, Sasuke, we would both be halfway to Konoha by now." Her voice was soft.

She saw the corners of his mouth lift up in a smirk.

Some things never change.

"Don't tell me I didn't warn you that she'll only be trouble.", a new voice carried to her from the far side of the room. She heard footsteps and looked up in time to see Orochimaru emerge from the darkness.

The way his eyes gazed at her, she knew right away that he has evil intentions.

Sasuke straightened up and fixed the vicious man with a cool stare. "I remember."

It appears to her that the only people in this dingy room they were in were the three of them. The servants were either lurking away or are very skilled in hiding their chakra presence.

"The battle with Itachi took its toll on your eyes."

"I know."

Orochimaru looked at her with those creepy eyes of his. "I hope she is as competent as you say."

"She is."

For a long moment, Orochimaru assessed Sasuke with a cryptic expression on his snake-like features. Giving a slight nod of his head, he headed for the part of the room where she assumed there was a door. The room was it with a single candle and she could only make out those that come within its illuminated circle.

"Remember what I told you."

Orochimaru stopped and slightly inclined his head.

"Nobody touches her except me."

It was dark but she was sure she saw Orochimaru smirk.