~Back Then~I remember back so well. Sakura was just a little girl and didn't know anything about anything. She didn't know why I was always by her side and she didn't know why I had to be. She didn't know who she really was and what her purpose was. I knew. I knew it all, but I couldn't tell her then. I still can't tell her now, but now there is a difference as to why.
I remember when I first met her. I was young, so very young, and so was she.
"Hey Akatsuki?" she had asked me softly.
"Yes Lady Sakura?" I had replied trying to be as proper as I could. Sakura was a very important person to everyone at this time, not just me.
"You don't have to call me Lady Sakura... you can come up with a cute nickname or something..." she had said with a giggle. She was always so cute when she giggled. I loved the sound of it too, it was a reminder of how much of a gentle soul she could be. It was just unfortunate that no one ever thought she was allowed to choose her own destiny. I'm still sorry for her to this day about that.
"Aku! Aku! Follow me!" she had called that day at the water falls.
"Lady Sakura! I don't think you should be doing that! It's extremely dangerous! What if you were to fall and hurt yourself?" I had called nervously moving across the top of the waterfall towards her. The water was so heavy over my feet but then she nearly gave me a heart attack and fell on me. We ended up being fine, but it lead to several awkward moments as having too much in the way of wet clothing on would prove to be bad for Sakura, so she decided to take most of it off.
It was like watching a small child for the longest time! She never thought about consequences! I was there and supposed to protect her, but how was I supposed to do that when she was mischief incarnate?! I remember her mischief causing my immortality in order to keep watch over her. Another stunt where I had to keep her out of harms way, but this time, I didn't make it out in one piece. I remember so clearly the pain of that blade ripping through my flesh. I can't recall much that happened after that, but all I know is I woke up back in one piece and in Sakura's arm as she sobbed holding my what seemed to be lifeless corpse. She was so worried that I had died for her, but some how, she brought me back. She kept crying about how she was so worried it wouldn't work, but it did, whatever it was.
I owe her my life and yet what we had was never enough. I was with her all the time and yet wasn't at the same time. I could be with her, but not really be with her the way I desired. My years of care of her made me extremely protective and possessive. I never let another man court her both for the sake of their safety and my sanity. She never seemed to be really interested in love anyways. She always just talked about how the world was such a beautiful place and how she wished she could live forever. It didn't seem to phase her that she would live forever, it still hasn't I'm rather sure, but she can't say much in her current state. Yes, I'm sorry Sakura, I really am.
