Ablaze: Told Twice Book 2

The Girl Who Said Goodbye

Sakura watched as all color drained from Superman's face. Disbelief appeared, followed closely by horror as Sakura let her eyes hardened and showed her determination to honor Bruce's wishes.

"He has a no-kill code."

"He does. I do not, and he knows it. The only reason I don't take lives is that it isn't the League's way. I am a part of the League."

"If you killed him, do you know what would happen to you?" They'd kick her out and possibly hunt her down for murder. She'd be no better in their eyes than the people they chased. Why Bruce would ask this of her, she didn't—well, she knew that too.

"All of this is hypothetical," Sakura prevaricated.

"Sakura!" Superman exclaimed. It caught her attention immediately because they tried to stick to codenames while on the job. It made her spine straighten and made her more willing to fight. "Do you know what would happen if the League found out about this?"

"Yes, Superman. That's why I didn't tell them."

A chastened look briefly crossed his face before he shook it off. "If I asked you not to—"

"No." Sakura shook her head. "We aren't going to do come up with any more hypothetical scenarios. He trusts me to do what he wants. How can I break that trust? An evil Batman would be a monster, the likes of which could destroy the world with swift brutality. He knows it. I know it, and so do you. If he thinks the best thing to do would be for me to kill him, then it's what I would do even at my own expense."

Superman stepped closer and put his hands on her shoulder, and squeezed lightly. "Stop. Please, don't say anymore—"

Sakura closed her eyes but didn't pull away from Superman. She let his touch ground her. "The League is a good place and filled with good people, but after all of this, I'm not sure it's a good fit for me."

"No," Superman pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her, and held her tightly. Sakura felt tears fill her eyes but fought not to let them fall as she returned the embrace. "Give it time. We'll work something out."

"Listen to me, Superman. My place is not here. I don't know if it's with him. It's fine if it's not," Did she believe that? She couldn't focus on that. It wasn't crucial that she reach a conclusion on that matter. She had time—a whole book, really, to come up with that answer. "But I have to go."

"I don't want you to."

Sakura felt her heart ache at the words. If she didn't know better, she'd think they were a ploy to manipulate her into staying. However, she knew Clark, and that wasn't his style. He was telling her how he felt. He needed her to know.

"I know, but you have to let me go anyway." If anything, his hold tightened before he eventually released her and took a step back. "I'll get my things and go."

"From here? Or from—"

"Both."

Superman took a few steps back as if being close to her hurt him. Maybe it did. Even Superman couldn't escape emotional wounds. "You're going to Gotham?"

Sakura sighed as she imagined what would happen if she showed up in Batman's territory right now. Nothing good. "No. Look, I'm making this decision for me. Not for me and him or me and you. For me. I need to go. If you want to know why it's because it's what's best. Can you accept that?"

There was an extended silence before he said, "Yes."

Sakura exhaled and let out a "Thank you" before she made a move to walk around him. Before she could clear the door, she heard him ask, "Will you come back?"

"I don't know."

He chuckled a little grimly. It sounded wrong coming from Clark. It was like nails on a chalkboard that made the hairs on her arms stand on end. "You don't know the future, and neither do I. I'll wait."

Sakura didn't turn around. She knew if she did, she wouldn't have the strength to go. "Don't."

"I'll wait," Clark repeated firmly. "I'll watch after him, too. I'll make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."

When Sakura felt a tear fall and hit her cheek, she walked away and left him behind to gather her belongings.

:::

Batman briefly paused when entering the coordinates for Gotham when he heard someone join him. He turned his head and noted it was just Superman before he continued.

"Got a minute?"

Batman had to force himself not to clench his teeth but couldn't stop himself from biting out, "What do you want?"

"A lot, actually." Clark bared his teeth in a facsimile of a smile. It almost made him reach for Kryptonite that wasn't there. "But I'll settle for the answer to a question. You made contingency plans to stop everyone in the League if any one of us ever went bad. But you didn't come up with one for Sakura. Why not?"

Batman felt his brow twitch. "You know the answer to that. Don't pretend you don't."

The look in Superman's eyes was sad as he softly replied, "I just wanted to be sure." Superman stepped close to Batman and opened his hand, presenting a box to Batman, who eyed it distrustfully.

"What is it?"

The two locked eyes. Something in Superman's visage made him put aside the animosity that had been building between them. "If the League ever does go to the wrong side, I want there to be someone I can trust to keep the planet safe." Batman reached out and took the box out of Superman's hands, knowing what he had been given even as he opened it briefly. "Even from me," Superman added.

Batman waited. A part of him expected Superman to say something more about Sakura, but he didn't. He only looked sad, and it was enough to tell him that something happened after he left. He wanted to ask what it was, but League business was no longer his business, so he clamped his mouth shut and nodded.

"I'll beam you down." Superman offered. Batman accepted.

The second Batman disappeared, Superman said, "You can come out now." Sakura stepped around the corner and averted her face in a vain attempt to hide her embarrassment. "I'll have to send you to Metropolis now if you want to avoid questions from the others."   Sakura stepped forward and quickly occupied the space that Batman once filled. It was a deal that was too tempting to pass up. She didn't want to talk to any of the others. It would be less than ideal when she felt so raw. "What do you want me to tell them?"

"Tell them," Sakura hesitated, grasping for words before she settled on, "I'll see them around."

Superman nodded and gave her a smile that looked as false as it was before he sent her to Metropolis. He stared at the spot that Sakura disappeared from and whispered into the air, "I'll miss you."

Flash appeared seconds later with a rush of wind. He looked around quizzically before he asked, "Where's Kunoichi?"

Superman took a deep breath.

End book 2

See ya'll in Book 3!  The conclusion.