CFEIT: 2ndGEN Sakura
Sakura didn't know that someone had been here before, almost exactly like her. That Sakura was maybe a few months younger, a great deal angrier at the world (and Sasuke) and somehow different than her. Sakura didn't know any of this when she dropped her paper to stare at a younger Sasuke.
She didn't know how much pain the other Sakura had gone through, gaining her closest friends, finding Sasuke again, being betrayed, and then losing them both. Sakura only knew this boy in front of her. She couldn't know there was another young Sasuke, terrified, but brave, who led some of their group to freedom, but was only doomed to die. She didn't know Sakura had tried so desperately to find him, searching and watching the network for hours out of every day on the off chance he might appear. After Sasuke and Naruto left, most of the other Sakura's will had wilted. Then hope. Sasuke appeared, holding out a promise for escape. She jumped at the chance.
The other Sakura remembered hugging Sasuke, when he finally helped free her and a few others, but the rest was vague. Sasuke almost pushing her away, but being too relieved to do it. Murky memories of Neuro and Yako and plans. Then harsh words when she tried to keep Sasuke by her side all night. Glares and raised fists, but not hitting for fear someone somewhere would be able to track the shock, if it still shocked. Searching for food. Then watching Neuro watch them. Nights of quiet observation.
Neuro went ahead of her. Sakura waited for an anxious day. Then, pushing aside Sasuke's protests and Yako's looks, she went down the pipes. Quiet. Still a ninja. Just not quiet enough. Tripped at a crossing, hit her hand and let out a cry. Instantly light bloomed around her and she froze. Damnit. DAMNIT.
The new Sakura watched her surroundings with paranoia, twisted by the time paradox in front of her. He couldn't exist. But then, neither could she really. Neither could the Sakura who came before her or the two Sasuke's before him.
But she didn't know about them and she stayed in waiting, hoping for information that could send her home. Nothing would. She could hope.
She didn't know how much pain the other Sakura had gone through, gaining her closest friends, finding Sasuke again, being betrayed, and then losing them both. Sakura only knew this boy in front of her. She couldn't know there was another young Sasuke, terrified, but brave, who led some of their group to freedom, but was only doomed to die. She didn't know Sakura had tried so desperately to find him, searching and watching the network for hours out of every day on the off chance he might appear. After Sasuke and Naruto left, most of the other Sakura's will had wilted. Then hope. Sasuke appeared, holding out a promise for escape. She jumped at the chance.
The other Sakura remembered hugging Sasuke, when he finally helped free her and a few others, but the rest was vague. Sasuke almost pushing her away, but being too relieved to do it. Murky memories of Neuro and Yako and plans. Then harsh words when she tried to keep Sasuke by her side all night. Glares and raised fists, but not hitting for fear someone somewhere would be able to track the shock, if it still shocked. Searching for food. Then watching Neuro watch them. Nights of quiet observation.
Neuro went ahead of her. Sakura waited for an anxious day. Then, pushing aside Sasuke's protests and Yako's looks, she went down the pipes. Quiet. Still a ninja. Just not quiet enough. Tripped at a crossing, hit her hand and let out a cry. Instantly light bloomed around her and she froze. Damnit. DAMNIT.
The new Sakura watched her surroundings with paranoia, twisted by the time paradox in front of her. He couldn't exist. But then, neither could she really. Neither could the Sakura who came before her or the two Sasuke's before him.
But she didn't know about them and she stayed in waiting, hoping for information that could send her home. Nothing would. She could hope.