Pink Dust

5. Bleeding Crimson

Well, I'm back! I'm so sorry I took so ridiculously long with writing one measly chapter! In between working, my studies and a humungous writers' block it was difficult to keep motivated to write. I'm hoping to get back in gear and have the next chapter out soon!

Much Love! xxx

Chapter 5: Bleeding Crimson

~ Sasuke ~

The more time Sasuke had to ponder his current predicament, the wilder his theories seem to get. None of them really making sense, yet, making perfect sense at the same time. He could not be sure if it was because he was losing his sanity from being trapped in this place. He hated to admit it, but the impending clutches of defeat were slowly starting to set in. With very little rations left, the Uchiha prodigy didn't think he would last long.

The faint hope of anyone finding him has long been extinguished. Maybe this was his fate.

The Uchiha lay on his makeshift blanket consisting of his traveling cloak and sleeping bag, staring up at the glittering viridian crystals which decorated the cavern. Sasuke got sick of staring up into the nothingness of the high ceiling of the cave, which was a constant reminder of how small he felt and the precarious situation he found himself in. It was like a growing unease and he needed to escape it. When, in his explorations, he had come across this part of the cave and for the first time since he had been trapped here, the cave felt homey. The soft hiss of the waterfall in the distance seemed to calm him. The glittering crystals all around him made him feel at ease (sans those annoying pink crystals).

He had given up on questioning his predicament because fighting it brought nothing but resistance from the cave itself. And, for some strange reason, that irksome pink-haired ex-teammate of his graced his thoughts more often than he was comfortable with.

A faint blush crept up his neck at the recollection of his dreams concerning this girl who, even in his thoughts, doesn't seem to want to leave him alone.

"Annoying" he muttered, his voice echoing down the cave halls, deeply thankful no one could see him right now.

Even as he said that he couldn't help but wonder what the rosette was up to these days. Was she alive? Was she still a crybaby like she used to be? Somehow he didn't think so. It didn't matter anyway. Their paths might have entwined at some point, but they have been separated for so long. They had become estranged and Sasuke couldn't care less about returning to the village or rekindling their 'team'.

He sincerely hoped they had long abandoned their mission of returning him to Konoha and pretended that they were one big happy family. Sakura with her big green eyes, always looking at him as if he were a God who could do no wrong.

He had also gotten more accustomed to forcing the dreams or visions – whatever they were – he had been having of said teammate way down, effectively blaming it on the weird chakra of the pink crystals (which he adamantly avoided at all costs).

"Annoying" he muttered again, as a not very welcome image of the rosette writhing underneath him came to mind.

The Uchiha turned over to his side, hoping the change in position will disperse these unwanted thoughts.

~ Sakura ~

The moon had risen high into the air by now, illuminating all it touches, thus, falling through an open window onto a naked girl with light, of pink hair. Her creamy skin looked almost luminous from the accentuation of the moon's rays. She was sitting with her back against the wall in front of the mirror, her elbows resting on her knees. Every once in a while a droplet of water would fall from her long, wet hair. She had not bothered to towel-dry her hair after her shower.