[Soul Eater AU, angst, bittersweet]

"Sasuke!! Stop it!!"

"S-Sakura..."

"As your Meister, I command you to STOP!!"

"It's... Too late. I told you, didn't I?"

"Sasuke!! No!!"

"Hn... Love you, too... Sakura."

__________________

- 24 Hours Ago -

"I can't believe it..." Sakura smiled to herself as she sat in the living room, scrolling through an article on her phone, "we already collected 99 souls. To think we've come such a long way."

"Yeah." Sasuke called from the kitchen connected to the living room as he set plates out onto the table, preparing breakfast, "I'm impressed I've put up with you for this long."

Sakura pouted, "well that's not very nice."

"Yeah, yeah. You would say the same about me." Sasuke smirked as he wiped his hands on his apron, walked over to where she sat, and rubbed her head, "breakfast is ready, by the way."

"Okay." Sakura smiled up at him, catching his eye.

Geez, she's so annoying. Sasuke smiled back down at her as she got up and walked to the table, pulling out a seat for herself. He sighed and sat in the seat across from her. Every time she looks at me like that, I get all vulnerable and lose concentration. In fights against evil souls, especially. She seems to be good at doing that, but why? It's so annoying.

"Thank you for the food, Sasuke! It looks so good!" Sakura beamed as she took her chopsticks and dug into the scrambled eggs and tomatoes Sasuke had prepared, "mmm amazing as usual! So what do you think we should do today? Should we train a little or go find Naruto and Hinata and do some sparring? Maybe we can hit the market today, think we can find some tools for the next time we go out and find an Akatsuki soul."

That last Akatsuki soul, Sasori, went to Naruto and Hinata after some minor debate and compromise. Even after that fight, Sasuke and Sakura were still ahead of Naruto and Hinata when it came to collecting souls, but they still had to catch an Akatsuki soul in order for Sasuke to become a Death Scythe and become an ultimate weapon.

"I... Was thinking of going out with Naruto for a day."

Sakura blinked a few times. After all the suggestions she'd give him, he gave her an option that wasn't even mentioned, "uh, are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"A-alright. If you're sure about that. Do you want me to come alo--"

"No, no. It's fine."

As Meister and Weapon, we always do things together. Why is he acting like this? Sakura looked at him sadly as he cleared his plate and walked up to her.

"Here. I'll do the dishes, too."

"But... That's my part of the bargain. Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Of course." Sasuke took her empty plate and walked over to the sink, "I'm leaving right after this, so no need to worry about me."

Sakura pursed her lips, "alright..."

Sasuke glanced back at her over his shoulder and shut his eyes. She's upset... "Listen, Sakura. After I go talk to Naruto, we'll go talk to Kakashi and go after an Akatsuki soul, together. Alright?"

At that, Sakura smiled excitedly as she nodded, "yeah. Okay."

He smiled to himself and continued washing the dishes.

So annoying....

___________________

"Do you think the two of them are dating?"

"What the heck?! No, of course not!" Sakura crossed her arms, "why would they? Sasuke talks endlessly about how annoying Naruto is."

"Are you, perhaps, jealous?"

"Jealous?! No! I'm just concerned. We do everything together."

"You do?!"

"Y-yeah, is that not... Normal?"

"It's really not."

Sakura glared at her teacher from where sat by his desk, "alright, Kakashi-sensei. You and your Meister. What's normal, then?"

Kakashi looked at his student, shutting his book, "normal? We only hang out together when we train. Same applies with most Meisters and their weapons. You two are... Unique."

"Really?! I always thought we had to stay together."

"Not really." Kakashi shrugged, "it's very noble of you both, but it's not really necessary. The only other Meister and Weapon duo like you two is... Naruto and Hinata, and those two are dating."

"They are?!" Sakura stared at him, "I didn't know that!"

"You couldn't tell?" Kakashi chuckled, "those two hold hands even outside of battle."

"No, I didn't know that..." Sakura looked down at the floor, "Sasuke and I do everything together. If it's not ideal that we do that... But I thought..."

"Who told you that you two need to stick together all the time?"

She looked at him, "he did. He's the one that said we do everything together."

"Huh. Interesting..." Kakashi smirked and stroked his mask-covered chin, "you two are a good pair, I can tell you that. And if this isn't jealousy, then I don't know what is."

"Jealousy, huh..." Sakura shut her eyes, "I feel like I always keep Sasuke on a close leash. I need to let him be free to do whatever he wants. I don't want to hold him back."

"Hm?"

"Maybe...." Sakura clenched her hands into fists, "maybe we shouldn't go after this Akatsuki soul. We should do what Sasuke wants. He's always doing whatever I want..."

Kakashi looked at her then smiled, "maybe he does what you want because it's what he wants. Your souls are connected, aren't they?"

"Y-yeah, but... I feel like I'm forcing him."

"Well." Kakashi shrugged, "I don't know about you, but the fact that he's giving you what you want is proof enough that he... Nah, I might just be imagining things."

"What?!"

"It's nothing." Kakashi patted her head as he stood up from his desk and started towards the door, "you'll figure it out sooner or later. Check the mission board on your way out. I just posted a new Akatsuki soul mission."

At that point, Sakura wasn't thinking about the Akatsuki soul. All she wanted to know was what her sensei was saying about her demon scythe. Before she could run after him, her phone pinged with a new message.

Sasuke: Hey. I'm all done, here. Let's meet up and talk about that Akatsuki soul.

Sakura pursed her lips and glanced over at the mission board. On it was a single Akatsuki soul mission that waited to be claimed, "Sasuke..." Was that really jealousy? I don't have anything to be jealous of, though. Right? Sasuke's not really MINE, is he? I have to let him be his own person, after all... But...

"Once a Demon Scythe becomes a Death Scythe, he becomes his own weapon, his own Meister. Technically, he can fight on his own. When Sasuke becomes a Death Scythe..."

Kakashi's words from weeks ago echoed through her mind. After this mission, Sasuke won't need me anymore. She looked at the mission and took it off the board, "this is for Sasuke."

_______________

"So, this is it?" Sasuke read through the mission briefing that night, "this looks doable. What do you think?"

Sasuke, who stood at the doorway to Sakura's room, looked at where she sat on the edge of her bed, "hey."

Sakura jumped slightly and looked up at him, "y-yeah? Sorry."

"Hm..." Sasuke walked up to and stood in front of her, arms crossed, "what's on your mind?"

"Nothing. I'm just tired. And it's pretty late, so we should get to bed--"

"You're my Meister. I've been connected with you for years now. I can tell both when you're lying and when you're not okay." Sasuke knelt in front of her to meet her somewhat eye to eye, "you know you can tell me anything."

"What... What happens after this mission?" Sakura looked at him, "you'll become a Death Scythe and I'll be so happy for you, but... Is that the end of us? We do everything together, but once you become a Death Scythe, as Kakashi-Sensei said, you won't need me anymore."

Sasuke stared at her blankly before chuckling, "I see... You don't want me to leave you, is that it?"

"Well..." Sakura blushed slightly, "I mean... It'll just be different, that's all."

"Hey." Sasuke set his hands palms-up on her lap, "give me your hands."

She hesitantly set her hands into his open palms. Once their skin met, Sasuke's fingers wrapped around her hands, warming them.

"You feel that? Our souls' wavelengths are connected. As long as that connection doesn't break, whether I'm a Death Scythe or not, we'll still be partners. Got that?"

Sakura smiled, "yeah."

"Besides." He stood up, "I couldn't leave you, even if the academy forced me to. I committed my life to you, and I'll keep it that way."

Sakura's heart beat faster as he rubbed her head and turned to leave.

"Good night. Sleep well, Sakura--"

"Wait, Sasuke." Sakura's hands clenched over her knees, "this is... Our last night together, right?"

"Eh?" Sasuke looked at her, "I guess... Yeah, you're right. After tomorrow's mission..."

"Can you... Stay here with me?" Sakura asked hesitantly. He stared at her before smiling and chuckling softly.

"Yeah. Sure."

That night, Sasuke lay next to Sakura in her bed, one arm wrapped around her. He opened an eye to look at her when he felt her hand grab at his shirt tightly.

"... Sakura?"

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. I'm just worried about you."

"This Akatsuki mission tomorrow." Sakura moved closer to him, "I know you promised you'd protect me, but I need you here more than you think. So... Please... Please don't die tomorrow. Don't die for me."

Sasuke's eyes opened wide as he stared down at her, "S-Sakura..."

"Please."

Sasuke pursed his lips before pulling her in closer to him, "sleep well, Sakura."

I'm sorry... Sasuke shut his eyes and smiled sadly. I really can't make any promises there. You're seriously my whole existence. I'd do anything to keep you safe. Ever since the day we met, I just knew you were the one. My past hasn't really been one to be proud of. But you gave my life meaning, purpose, you filled me with passion about something so important to me: you. I talked to Naruto today about it. About how annoying you've been recently, and it could only mean one thing: I'm madly in love with you and I didn't even know it. You might not feel the same about me, and that's fine. I'll do anything to protect you. I'm your tool. Your weapon. I'm your Demon Scythe. No matter what the consequence, I'll keep you, my Meister, safe. That's my duty. I can't promise you my own well-being. But just know, Sakura... I love you too much to let you get hurt so easily. So, tomorrow, we either walk out alive but I'll no longer be yours, or one or none of us make it. Either way, I want these last moments with you to be special.

Sasuke pursed his lips and shut his eyes as he hesitantly leaned down and kissed Sakura's forehead.

"I swear... We'll make it out alive. I'll let my every existence be for you."

____________________

"Well, well, well... A couple of academy students found my secret hideout."

Sakura and Sasuke stood before the gray-haired Akatsuki in the middle of the dark forest they'd been instructed to go to early the next morning, "you. Are you---?"

"Hidan of the Akatsuki? Yes. Yes, I am." The man snickered.

"My name is Sakura, and this is my Demon Scythe, Sasuke. We're here to take your Akatsuki soul."

"I don't think so." Hidan smiled evilly as he pulled out his own weapon, "I believe it's your souls I'll be taking."

"Be careful." Sasuke muttered to Sakura under his breath, "and just relax. I can feel you're so tense right now."

"Okay." Sakura's lip trembled as Hidan pulled out his own scythe, "it's scythe against scythe..."

"But you have me." Sasuke smirked as he took Sakura's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze, "we've got this."

She looked at him, smiled, then nodded, "yeah."

The two nodded at each other and Sasuke transformed into his Demon Scythe form.

"I believe I have the advantage here, however." Hidan licked the blade of his scythe before swinging it towards Sakura, who swiftly deflected the attack by swinging her own scythe to hold Hidan back.

"Tch!"

"Sasuke!" Sakura looked at her scythe, "are you okay?"

"This guy's scythe... It's no ordinary scythe..."

"You're right!" Hidan cackled as he pulled his scythe back, "this scythe used to be my partner... Until I turned him into the ultimate weapon, making him a permanent scythe that could kill any human being it comes in contact with!"

"How's that even possible?!"

"It has to be some kind of poison." Sasuke muttered, "that blow almost shattered me."

I guess we can't do that again, then... Sakura pursed her lips as she started dodging Hidan's blows and attacks. I can't let him hurt Sasuke... I don't know what I'd do without him if he died here... S-Sasuke... I... Do I really...?! I'm in love...?!

"I'll kill you, first, sweetheart!" Hidan cackled maniacally, "then I'll take care of that pitiful tool you call a Demon Scythe!"

"Shut... Up!!" Sakura yelled as she started towards him, blinded by anger.

"Sakura, calm down!"

"Sasuke..." Sakura smiled between gritted teeth as she avoided Hidan's swings, "I think... I think there's something you need to know. It's important."

"What?! Now?! We're in the middle of an important fight, here!"

"I-I know, but... I've waited way too long, and I've been just too blind to realize it, but... Sasuke... I..."

"Not now!" Sasuke's voice was frantic, almost scared, "Sakura! Focus on the fight! Focus!! Your footing!! Don't leave yourself open!!"

"S-Sasuke..." Sakura spoke as her grip on her scythe loosened and her shoulders shook with sobs, "S-Sasuke, I--"

"SAKURA!!"

She stared in horror when her scythe was no longer in her hand, but was standing, in human form, in front of her, arms wrapped around her and his blood spilling everywhere as Hidan's scythe slashed his back.

"S-Sasuke!!"

"Ack!" Sasuke coughed up blood between him and Sakura, "wh-wha... What did I... Tell you..."

"Sasuke!! Please, no!!"

"You... Really are... Annoying... Ack!"

Sakura caught him before he could hit the ground and let him lie over her lap, "Sasuke! Don't talk, just stay with me! Don't die!!"

"It's... Fine..."

"Sasuke!! Stop it!!"

"S-Sakura..."

"As your Meister, I command you to STOP!!"

"It's... Too late. I told you, didn't I? That... I-I'd protect..."

"Sasuke!! No!!"

"Hn..." His hand gripped her hand weakly, "love you, too... Sakura."

His hand silently fell from hers as Hidan stood above her, snickering.

"Welp. I guess that's one way to do it." He sighed, "so what now, Pinky? Are you gonna give up or let me kill you?"

Sakura gripped her fists angrily as she pressed her forehead against Sasuke's, "just... Shut up!"

"Huh?"

Sakura carefully set Sasuke to lay on the grass as she stood up, "I'm not done with you."

Hidan stared at her tear-stained face and saw the hatred in her eyes, "y-you think you could beat me without your pathetic scythe? He's gone!"

"No." Sakura's voice shook with anger.

"As long as that connection doesn't break, whether I'm a Death Scythe or not, we'll still be partners. Got that?"

Sasuke smirked, "you're my partner. My Meister. And now that you're my meister, I'm your weapon. I'm willing to give up my life and soul for my Meister as its tool. So from here on out, my existence only belongs to you. Remember that, Sakura. Okay?"

Sakura looked at him, smiled, and nodded, "yeah. I got it, Sasuke."

"I want you to be my Death Scythe, Sasuke. Then once we get in some training and accept some missions, I'm going to make you into the greatest Death Scythe anyone has ever seen."

He looked at her, smirked, and nodded, "alright, Sakura. I'll hold you to that. I want you to be my meister."

"He... He taught me so much..." Sakura shut her eyes as she started to glow brightly, "he taught me that no matter where in this universe he is, he's still with me. He also taught me to trust him to always be here for me." Tears poured down her cheeks as she held out her arm, "I... I love him! I love Sasuke! And it's because of me that he's gone!!"

"W-wait..." Hidan stared in horror as smaller scythe blades emerged from Sakura's body, "hold on, this..."

"I won't let his sacrifice be in vain." Sakura cried as scythes came out of the palms of her hands as well as from her arms and back, "I'll destroy you!!"

This is... Hidan stared in horror. The power of the Death Scythe...!! But... H-how?! The Demon Scythe is dead!! How is it possible?!

"Sasuke and I are connected!!" Sakura started towards him, "you can break us apart, you can kill him, you can kill me, but we're still a part of each other. We're one!"

Before Hidan could even react, Sakura brought the scythes from her body down on him, slashing him in all directions without hitting any vitals. She held a scythe against his neck, ready to kill him.

"Go ahead." Hidan smirked as he challenged her proudly, "kill me."

Sakura rose a brow before peering at him and stepping away, "no thanks. I'm not wasting my time on you."

Instead, she moved to where Sasuke lay, motionless, and took him into her arms. Hidan quickly escaped without Sakura noticing, but at that point, she didn't care. She frantically removed his shirt and pressed it against the large, bleeding wound in his back.

"Come on, come on..." Sakura shut her eyes and cried, "please, Sasuke... Don't leave me..."

"Sakura?!"

She looked up to see Naruto and Hinata run up to her, "please, help me!! He's already passed out, he's lost too much blood...!"

"Come on." Naruto knelt down, slung Sasuke's arm over his shoulder, and held him up, "let's get him to a hospital. He might have a chance."

___________________

"Ngh... Hmm..."

"S-Sasuke?"

".... Nnmm?"

"Sasuke, look at me."

Sasuke's eyes slowly opened to look at the girl sitting next to him, her hand holding his, "S-Sakura..."

"Oh thank goodness!" Sakura stood up and threw her arms around him, "Naruto and Hinata helped me get you to a hospital!"

"Wait..." Sasuke cringed, "wh-where's..."

"He got away."

The two turned to see Kakashi walk into the hospital room, reading his book.

"Kakashi-Sensei, I can explain..."

"I heard you turned into a Death Scythe."

"H-huh?" Sakura blushed, "how did...?!"

"I have my sources." Kakashi smirked, "anyways, I'm impressed by how much you two have grown, both individually and as a duo. However, you failed this important Akatsuki mission, letting him get away."

"I understand." Sakura shut her eyes.

"That being said, all of the souls you've collected thus far, all 99 of them, are confiscated."

Sakura and Sasuke stared at him in horror, "c-confiscated?!?! As in... Starting from scratch?!"

"Yep! So now that all 99 of your souls are gone, you might wanna get started recollecting! Good luck!" Kakashi smiled, "glad to see you're feeling slightly better, Sasuke! I'll be on my way, now."

Sasuke gritted his teeth and cursed repeatedly under his breath, "I'm gonna kill that guy..."

"At least..." Sakura gripped his hand tighter, "we'll be together a little while longer."

He looked at her before squeezing her hand tighter and smiling, "yeah. You're right."

"Sasuke." Sakura looked at him, "I... I love you. And I want my existence as your Meister to be more than that. I want to be more than your Meister. So... I'll live my life from here on out living for you, just as you do for me. I'll protect you, too, and I'll keep you safe."

Sasuke smirked before bringing her hand up to his lips, kissing it, "I'll do the same. I trust you with my life, my Meister. I'm here for you, Sakura. My soul is yours."

~~~

Inspired by Soul Eater

Written by xX_Fang_Xx