Meet Me at the Gates

Prologue. Into the Nothing.

Word count: 1k

Warnings: (!) Sometimes love can border on the brink of obsession. We're going to start from the very beginning. Injuries are painful, love is painful. Sometimes you have to be broken in order to know how to fix others.

Meet Me at the Gates.

"Into the Nothing."

~ \ ~ Prologue Start. ~ / ~

There is truth in wisdom we deem justifiable. There is justice in truth we deem unattainable.

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Most think that the Gods are the ones who control the universe. Although this statement is true, many do not know how much so. Some might say they see their life flashes before their eyes before death. But this is not true at all. The second before one's heart stops beating, what they really see is judgment. Their judgment.

If they have lived a passionate life, a full life, then it is possible they may move on to the eternal world of peace and realization. If their life was unfulfilling, then the Gods may send them through the cycle once more, so they may have their hand at a second chance in rebirth. However, if their life was full of sin, then those same Gods that grant will take away.

Sometimes, the Gods will directly influence a life and alter fate with their bare hands. These occasions are few and far between, but when they do occur, they are incredible. Whether it is with love, or friendship, or on circumstance, even power, these events would change everything. A sick man would become healthy. A forlorn child would become cheerful. A weak woman would become strong.

This is a tale about death and life. About cruelty and kindness. About hatred and love.

This legend is not a fairytale, nor is it a bedtime story. It is about a girl whose life was taken by the Gods and amended so she may carry out their plans.

She is a pawn, but even pawns can become the most powerful piece in a game.

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There was rain, as there always seemed to be, on that cold, wet night. The stars were hidden under a blanket of ominous drifting thunderclouds, rumbling in swirling black mists of howling passion. The crystal droplets that pattered the ground created an incriminating symphony, blocking all other noise save that constant beating. It was rather perfect, considering the precedence of the events that would soon take place. In the matter of several life-altering hours, one civilian family and one poor, innocent little girl's life would cease to exist. There would only be blood, and an unadulterated thirst that would finally be quenched.

The roaring tempest rained in full fury above the pair of travelers, soaking the fabric on their cart and drenching their belongings. With a loud crack of the reins, the male driving the coach urged their single horse to move faster. His wife was hunched over beside him, breaths leaving her parted lips in shallow pants. A trembling hand clutched at her enlarged stomach, eyes silently demanding for her husband to hurry. There wasn't much time left.

The man pleaded to the heavens, asking for their help, promising them anything if he could get his pregnant spouse to a safe location to give birth. The carriage flew across the muddy terrain, wheels rolling over each ditch and rock in the road with a jolting bump. Trees flew past in cloudy streaks of green and brown, blending into one hazy canvas of dripping paint. A shock of lightening lit up the sky, illuminating a structure just off the path a short distance away. With widened eyes, the man headed straight towards it. Over the rumbling, he shouted, "Don't worry, honey! We're almost there!"

The woman nodded, dripping red hair sticking to her face. Precipitation trickled down her reddened cheeks, mixing with the perspiration formulated from her harsh intakes. A contraction hit her with such force, she keeled over with a sharp cry, eyes scrunched in pain. She was vaguely aware of her husband taking her hand in his, although it calmed her deeply. The feel of his rough palm against hers was familiar and to know she was nowhere near alone was comforting.

The building was coming up quickly and as the wagon stopped just before the door, lights on the inside flickered to life. The man picked up his ailing wife, holding her close to his chest like he had done several months before at their wedding. He swiped a hand across her forehead, sending her a gentle smile. The door opened and a man in black robes came rushing out to greet them. It was then he realized the establishment was a church of some sort. Knowing the Followers of God would help his wife, he gave an audible sigh that was lost in the thundering.

"Oh my! Quickly, bring her inside!" He noticed the man was only several years older than he as they made their way into the warmth. Several more priests came to see what all the commotion was about, immediately hastening to aid the travelers.

"The baby's coming…" The woman managed to squeak out as she was laid atop a vacant bed in the back of the pier. She tightly gripped her husband's hand, breathing in a set rhythm like she had been told in the town they had traveled from, just in case something like their current predicament came about.

"I'm going to need you to start pushing, okay? One…Two…Three…" As the room grew loud with her screaming, the storm continued to rage. Her husband grew sick with worry as the color on her face drained, leaving her a wan, unhealthy pallor. With one last push, the priest gave a happy holler, taking their newborn child into his arms. Another sought to clip the baby's umbilical cord, as he patted the little girl's behind to elicit a cry. His eyes narrowed when the child stayed silent.

The man watched in horror as his wife slowly left him, unaware of the other unfortunate happening occurring a short distance away. "Honey, I need you to stay with me…" he whispered, tightening his hold on her hand, as if the action might keep her there with him.

"Sakura…" she rasped, eyes blinking in delirium. Her lips were cracked and her crimson hair was ratted, but he still found her undeniably beautiful.

"Sakura?" he questioned, begging for answers.

"Our…child…" He nodded immediately, pressing a wet kiss to her steaming forehead. "I…love you…" Oh God, she was fading. She was leaving him. He cried out, frantically caressing her cheeks, placid tears carving canyons into his dirt-caked face. Pulling her head into his lap, he whispered sweet nothings of reassurance into her ears, as her lips parted with one last breath. A sob wracked his body and he shivered, tapping his head to hers.

Several minutes later, the silence in the room seemed to wake him from his misery, although the heart-clenching ache continued to pierce him. Turning his gaze toward the melancholy priests, with one glance, he knew. He knew.

Shaking his head, he gasped, "No…no! They both can't be dead! No!"

An elderly cleric came to his side, placing a wrinkled hand to his shoulder, "There was nothing we co-"

"You're lying! They can't have both left me! You're…lying…" He wept, throwing his hands over his eyes, leaking more water than even the heavens outside the stain-glassed windows. Throwing his arms up, he looked above him, sight hindered by tears, "Why? Why have you taken everything from me?" He shouted, blaming the Gods for his heartbreak. "What do you want from me? My life? Take it! Take my life! I don't want it! Give it to my child! Let her live! Let my child live!"

A clamor shook the building, rocking the candles alight with dancing flames. A bell chimed in the distance; once, twice, thrice. The man's eyes rolled to the back of his head, lips curving upwards as his body slumped across his deceased wife. They had died together.

The priests looked on in sorrow, save for the youngest. A screeching cry sounded, echoing through the monastery. The minister holding the newborn looked on as she blinked her eyes open for the first time, revealing crystal clear emerald orbs. He gave her a sinister smile, "They said you'd come." He shared a look with his fellow worshipers, "We've been waiting."

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~ \ ~ Prologue Start. ~ / ~

A/N: I know its short, but it's a prologue. And yes, I'm currently writing "Pretty Little Devil", but I've had this idea circulating in my mind for awhile and needed to get it out. I've wanted to write a story where it starts at the beginning of the Naruto series, and finally decided to do it. I know many others have done the whole Sakura-has-a-God-inside-of-her deal, but this isn't going to be like that. I don't plan on making Sakura a GodMod, nor do I plan to make her weak. She is going to develop differently in this story than in Canon, so her jutsus, powers, strengths, weakness, everything may be changed. I don't know yet. That's if I should continue this story…Review and tell me if I should or not please!

Love. Love. Love.

Kiss. Kiss.

~Alice