Sakura's Apartment

[Sakura Valois]

His words were an instant killing blow to her emotions and Sakura turned to face him, spinning slightly on the heel of her boot. She wanted to look him in the eye as he berated her for her last statements upon the Uchiha prodigy and with her mistakes of Vincent. She had killed him, her third son. She ignored everything and anything around them as his words slashed through every bit of hope she had for the future. Those hopes involved his forgiveness over their child and her mistake of killing him. The memory flooded back to her in an instant. The white laboratory rooms, hundreds of wires and machines hooked up to her newborn. She had broken through the locked door and pulled the wires free. A whirlwind of emotions running through her as she screamed at Raphael for testing on him. The final machine was pulled, and the infant's heart rate dropped to nothing.

Jerking her head up she inhaled deeply trying not to let her emotions get the better of her. There was a stinging sensation in her eyes and she wondered for a moment if she let the tears fall, would he keep seeing her as weak? Of course he would. He was still getting upset and angry over thing he didn't understand.

He was being an arrogant jerk over things he didn't understand. Things sometimes Sakura herself could never understand.

Of course he didn't understand, Raphael never showed a single emotion until she came along. She did everything for him! And here he was trying to berate everything she'd worked for in the past.

Maybe he was right. That's why she didn't want him there, because she wanted her family to be normal again. Tired of the fighting over her heirs and tired of pointing fingers from one clan to the next. However she stepped up to him even as he turned away to leave. His last statement hanging in the air. Oh she wanted to challenge him on it so. Did he still have the courage to run the blade through her? Even after everything they had been through.

"Get out of my house Raphael!" She snapped at him reaching forward and pushing his chest hard. "Get out and leave my daughter out of this!"


She shoved him again, waiting on him to leave.

[Raphael Valois]

In an instant his hand took her wrist and pulled it aside while his free hand moved for her neck, his fingers were just about to wrap around her neck when his fake eye saw the movement from upstairs.

And his heart sank.

There was his daughter, holding onto the railing, with tears running down her face. Both eyes were off Sakura and slowly he released her wrist and his other hand returned to his side. He walked though Sakura, letting his shoulder hit her hard, more than enough to move the small framed woman. He slowly walked up the stairs and before he could kneel down to her level, Nanami took hold of his leg, just as she had so many times in their short time together. Raphael gave a sad smile and lifted her up under her arms and held her face to face with him. Raphael made sure to close his right eye so not to frighten the poor girl even more.
For a moment there was nothing in the room but the two of them. Father and daughter. It was something he had felt only once, when holding his newborn child Vincent. Slowly the young girl slowed her tears and when Raphael flashed his awkward, unpracticed, but sincere smile; she giggled a bit. Sakura wouldn’t understand the depths in which this girl had changed him and he didn’t really care to explain. It was none of her business. She helped him grow and Raphael couldn’t let that go. Not for all the power in the world. He kissed her forehead and set her back on her feet. “I’m sorry Nanami.” It was the first time he had used that sentence in his entire life, and he didn’t cough, bleed, or melt as Sakura often teased he would. But he said it softly, and kissed her head again.

Raphael stood and walked back down the steps not bothering to look at the pink haired traitor, and forcing himself not to look back at Nanami either. When he had past her he spoke without turning around. “If you bring any unhappiness on that girl. Nothing in heaven or hell will save you from me…” And with that the proud father left the house, and began walking towards one of the empty training grounds where he would meet his brother.

[Sakura Valois]

Fear struck deep in Sakura as she backed up feeling the tips of his fingers brush her throat, a tiny noise leaving her lips as she shrunk back from him. Swallowing hard she watched as her partner pulled away from her at the sight of Nanami and her tears. Her back pressed in to the wall next to the door as the scene unfolded before her. Something she didn't want to witness, her head turned away, down to the floor knowing he'd never show affection like that for a while. Sakura didn't move until his footsteps drew in closer once again. She heard his words and squeezed her eyes shut tightly. She wasn't sure if she wanted to look at him leaving her again. It still hurt each time he did it. Her hands clenched in to fists as she resisted the urge to hit him.

"You stay away from her." She whispered pushing off from the wall and moving up the steps. She swooped in and picked up her the tear stained girl and held her tightly as she moved away from Raphael. "You stay away from what doesn't belong to you!"

She shouted that last part and broke out in to a fit of sobs. The tears sprang from her emerald eyes and streaked down her face as she moved out of the way and slammed the door shut.

[Raphael Valois]

It would be dangerous to attempt any of his newly acquired powers while his mind was in the unstable condition he was in. Everything he had required his mind to be at ease, a failsafe to prevent a number of things from going wrong, and his body falling apart. And so he sat alone and meditated as the sun set before him. He took slow, deep breathes with both eyes closed, and slowly released them, trying to force out the painful thoughts and memories that clouded him. He was good at that, pushing things away in the back of his mind and under mountains of paper works, unneeded tests, and anything else to keep him busy. He enjoyed that, and it was difficult to center himself without such work. And it would be even more difficult, with his least favorite person arriving in 42 seconds. Raphael sighed and took another deep breath, held it, and released. “Hello…brother…”

He knew turning around would be pointless. Ace had landed flawlessly within a nearby tree, without making even the slightest hint of an arrival. Any normal human would have been killed without a single warning. And the only reason Raphael knew he was there now, was because he was tracking the man’s bio signature when he left Sakura’s home. He felt Ace move next to him, now sitting and watching the sunlight beside him. Using his amazing speed to his advantage in a desperate attempt to impress Raphael. The blue haired man yawned loudly and cocked his head to the side. “Yo.”

There was a pause.

“How bad is it?” Raphael asked. Ace sighed and slowly his happy-go-lucky face turned into something serious.

“It’s bad bro…They got Maxi nearly took out The bossman too. That was last night.”

Another pause.

“But we can’t let you come back…” Ace said quietly and sadly, then braced himself for Raphael’s temper which never came. And that was a sign that Raphael was not himself. “Wesker thinks that we can lure them into a trap by sending them to your old labs and offices. We don’t know much more than before either. When we know some more stuff you can come back and we’ll strike back.” Raphael slowly rose and looked down at his brother, noticing the dark circles and pale tone he was in. Proof that even he could fall prey to fatigue. An interesting weakness he didn’t think possible. “He’s coming back.” Ace understood now what was bothering Raphael. It wasn’t Saskue that worried him. Ace made a mental note to talk some sense into his future sister-in-law before he left. Ace wasn’t gonna relationship advice; it was a one was trip to the wrong side of Raphael’s temper.

Ace slowly rose and said looked deep in thought. “yeah, I heard Itachi was K.O’d. This isn’t the same emo kid who ran away few years back. He’s gotten good.” Ace made a sly grin and looked up at his kid brother. “But he’s no Psymon. And he’s no Ace” Raphael rolled his eyes. “I brought some stuff for ya.” He tossed Raphael a very large suitcase. “I got all your clothes from Paris and Rome. And since you don’t have any Bio-tube’s here I made something for ya.” Ace made a proud grin before continuing. “It’s a powder, just put it in a hot springs and go under. It works exactly the same, just with heat. I also got your unfinished notes, a few extra weapons, and a basic set of…” Ace looked around. “well, the stuff you like to fuck people up with.”

Raphael smirked and tossed the bag aside, then rolled up his sleeves. “Good work. And now you’re going to assist me in another task, cur” The two men began to circle each other each slowly starting to grin. “I don’t have a tone of time to play with you little brother.” Ace’s red glove snapped off and instantly the electrical energy he stored in his body erupted over his left arm. Raphael scoffed and locked his fake eye on the blue haired man. This would give Raphael the chance to blow off some steam, and better prepare for Sasuke’s various lightning attacks. “You’ve forgotten your place fool! You’re the runt of the litter.” Ace dashed forward and punched, Raphael slid back and opened his palm.

The training ground exploded in green and black static-filled fire

[Sakura Valois]

It had only been a few hours later in the quiet apartment. Nanami had long since fallen asleep next to Sakura in the master bedroom, her fingers were sliding through the child's lochs of hair as she sniffled again. There were three empty boxes of tissues piled along the floor, with several stray bits of tissue that littered the top of the blanket. Red rimmed Sakura's emerald eyes as she moved and picked up her daughter gently and padded with the child to her own room. Laying her among the pink blankets, covering her up and backing away. For a moment Sakura wondered if she could do it alone all over again. Afraid she'd mess up her own child with all this. Sakura moved to the window and pulled it shut tightly with a slam not wanting anything to get through. She had meant what she said to Raphael at first. Her fingers flicked the lock and she moved across the hall, leaving Nanami's door open.

She crawled in to her bed, clicking the lamp off and curling on to the very edge of the bed. Part of her left one side open hoping he'd find his way in and come back. They had, had worse fights-- right? There was always something worse between them. She chocked back another sob as she buried her pink head in to the blankets and pillows falling asleep.

[Raphael Valois]

Every muscle in his body was a quivering mess of jello, and he couldn’t see from the blood that poured from a lucky head strike his brother had landed. Raphael slowly rose from the attack and stretched out to grab the blades; his lovely black and silver Katana’s made from the only two indestructible metals in the world. The two that grew on his brother’s body. Ace was having just as much trouble, even with his rapidly healing body. Raphael was gasping for air through several broken ribs, and his hand gripped his blades tighter as he slowly moved forward. His blue haired brother’s own wrist blades pierced through his arms and he prepared to defend himself against to coming onslaught. Raphael took his stance and glared coldly at his brother, who was now lowering his guard and smiling. “You feel better now don’t you?”
Raphael scowled at the other man and made started slashing away at Ace who was now fully attentive and blocking each attack and trying to counter, only to see his brother on step ahead. Raphael unleash a flurry of attacks and slices keeping his brother on the defensive before stepping back and bending backwards to dodge a sweep and his neck, then leapt into the air to avoid an attack at his ankles. He foot caught Ace with a loud crunch before landing on his hands, then to his feet. Ace was holding his jaw in pain, though he could see the bones and nerves instantly reattaching and returning to normal. Raphael could no longer stand strait, his bending had only served to further damage his ribs, and his burn marks on his shoulder and back from electrical attacks made it difficult to hold his weapons. Ace tried to bring his wrist blade back out and winced as he did. His left hand no longer sparking with energy. “Do you hate her for what happened to Vincent?” Ace was shouting through his pain and his fatigue and Raphael could still only barely hear from over the pounding in his head and blood in his ears.

“That’s none of your concern!”

Ace shot forward and slid on the ground, using his hands to kick up at Raphael’s face, but his fake eye saw it coming and grabbing his heel, then began to spin him around and threw him through the massive stone wall then lead into the city. Ace not only smashed through the thick wall, but several homes and shops. Raphael sprang forward and into the air, only to meet a kick to his gut as Ace shot forward before his brother could reach him. Raphael was too stuned to stop the second leg from connecting with his neck and sending him spinning back towards the ground landing with a loud thud and kicking dust into the air. Ace ran down the massive outer gate towards the fallen man with as many of his blades and spikes as would fit in his palm and arm. But his attention turned when he noticed several ANBU members racing towards them. They were fast, but not fast enough to reach Ace. The blue haired man used the last of his strength to disappear, grabbing his brother and bag long before the ANBU members even arrived at the scene.

Science was truly an amazing thing. While Konoha lacked the ability to create the all healing Bio-Tubes; Ace was able to create a miniature version of it’s miracle. Just had hot water and the properties changed to heal internal and external wounds. And both men needed it. By the time they reached the hot spings, used a packet, and undressed, both men couldn’t feel their bodies and just fell into the steaming hot water. Raphael and ace sank into the bottom of the hot springs and allowed themselves to separate from their physical pains. Raphael instantly began to think about the events of not this after noon, but the past six months.
You’re wrong about Sakura

Raphael had forgotten about the side effect to their evolutions. Each of them could get small insights to the other’s minds due to the twin Las Plagas that they wielded. And annoying trait that Raphael was about to remove that day before his attack.

I think she has been beating herself up over Vincent that you know. You two don’t communicate well and you both allow your pride to hide what’s important. You were there and everyone else left her. You didn’t have the best intentions all the time…but you were there. She’s afraid to look weak infront of you because we all know you hate the weak. I don’t think her exile from you made her forget about you bro. You two got somethin’ nice And she isn’t going to trade that in for anything else.

I grow tired of your advice. Raphael said coldly, though he did listen to Ace’s words. He would confront her one final time and hear what she had to say about everything. And give her one final chance to clear out the miscommunication he was certain was her fault…

As soon as he could feel his legs…

[Sakura Valois]

Another hour passed by and she couldn't sleep. The kunoichi was tossing and turning, gripping the blankets and trying to hold back more tears. She was angry at him and yet, the urge to bury herself in his chest wouldn't go away. She needed to be close to him. Now it was eating away at her. The feeling of him being so close and unable to reach him was irritating. The pink haired medic rolled to the far edge of the bed and slid off it, padding around her room in circles. Fingers raking though her short hair as she moved to the dresser, pulling on her medic skirt and zipping up the infamous red top. She left the headband and gloves as she hooked up her boots, before heading down the hall.

She knew he hadn't left the village entirely. She could still feel him there. Through that damn bond he insisted on keeping up. Not that she minded... He just always was there to save her-- more like insisted on saving her. She inhaled deeply calming herself down quietly as she entered Nanami's room. The child slept silently and she moved her arms around the toddler heaving her up and quietly moving down along house. The three year old squirmed a bit and fell back asleep, snuggling in to Sakura's shoulder.

The medic skipped down the few steps of her apartment, quietly looking about the empty village. She continued walking though, not wanting to leave Nanami alone in times like these. She searched the back of her mind for Raphael. He was close but where?

She kept walking, the sounds of her boots echoed off the old red bridge that passed to the ending of the village. She paused along it and looked down at the river that passed by. Swallowing the lump in her throat, this had been where she first met up with team seven. Deciding not to think about such things she pressed on. It was then she saw the steam rising from the old bath houses not far off. Curiosity getting the better of her, she decided to move towards it, passing by the old changing buildings and privacy fences. She pushed open the gate to the back remembering the fond memories of this place. It had been here, where she tried to peek at Kakashi's face and then some. Sakura moved around the corner and stopped dead at the sight. Her pale cheeks were instantly stained in a dark crimson color as she squeaked turning on her heel to look away. "Ah! Sorry!" She had gotten an eyeful of plenty of both Ace and Raphael and it was enough to turn her well rehearsed words in to nothing but sputtering fragments.

"Hiya Angel." She added with a rock of her heels still not looking to them.

[Raphael Valois]

Both men froze as the pink haired woman busted in on them. Ace; who was stretching freely and not bothering to hide anything, and Raphael who had just stepped from several hours of submersion, water dripping freely from his body while he gasped for breathe. Ace instantly bust out laughing and continued to dress as if nothing happened. “Aren’t you supposed to see these things coming?” Ace said jokingly to Raphael who was glaring coldly at his brother. “I had Blue Rose shut down to better relax.” He said calmly. Raphael began to remove a spare change of clothes from the large bag his brother left him. “It’s been a long time doll-face” Ace said towards his younger friend. It was his first time seeing her since the incident with Vincent, and it couldn’t have been better. Raphael continued to dress in silence while Ace carried on small talk with Sakura’s back.

It didn’t take long for them to dress and for the awkward silence to begin. Ace looked back and forth between his friend and his brother before finally walking towards Sakura and letting his arms stretch out to take Nanami from her. “It’s alright, I’ll watch her till you get back.” He flashed her his sweet smile before taking the girl without letting Sakura answer. Their eyes met and Ace gave her a wink and tipped his head towards Raphael, and smirked again. Before she could ask for advice or fight for her daughter back, Ace moved out of the hot springs and left the arguing couple alone.

Raphael pulled his traditional eye patch from the bag before turning around to face her, arms folding over his chest defensively. Luckily both he and Ace had healed completely, otherwise she would have screamed at the two of them for being so rash. With any luck the wall would be fixed as well. But that was a concern for tomorrow.

“Shouldn’t you be busy preparing for your husband’s return?” he said numbly, throwing the bag over his shoulder and looking anywhere except in her eyes. His foot was tapping the ground quickly and his eyes kept moving from one side to the other, two obvious signs that he was uncomfortable in his situation.

[Sakura Valois]

The dark stain across her cheeks spread even further as Ace took Nanami and the wink only made things worse for her. She swallowed hard and jerked her attention to Raphael and his statements to her. Anger welled up within her, but she calmed it, turning to face him completely. She stalked forward a few steps not bothering to say anything to him just yet. She watched him avoid her eyes completely. Reaching a hand up, she tucked her hair behind her ear as she rocked on her heels again. "I can't wait on him..." She murmured.


"I have previous engagements with my fiance." She whispered softly biting down hard in to her bottom lip. The medic wasn't sure what they were anymore. What she was at that. Glancing up at the BOW, she gave a pathetic sigh and stamped her foot down hard on the concrete that surrounded the paths. "I have to tell him I'm sorry!" She added to the previous statement this time edging forward towards him with cautious steps. She was worried he'd lash out before she would be done.

"I have to tell him I'm sorry for what I did... "

[Raphael Valois]

Raphael sighed and let the bag fall from his shoulder. His human eye fixed onto her and slowly he began to take steps towards her as she spoke. He even cracked a faint smile when she slammed her foot down. “Then I would suggest you make it quick. Because I’m certain he’s a busy individual.” He stopped just before her and lifted her chin and looked deep into her eyes. He wasn’t sure if she knew what Raphael was doing that night with Vincent, but the end result would have been the same. Telling her the truth would only complicate things now. “You’re going to tell me exactly what has been on your mind.” His tone was firm, but not cruel. “Vincent, The Uchiha, myself.” His thumb ran over her cheek before he finished.

“You’re going to tell me how you want the rest of your life to continue Sakura. And I need to hear it from you, not guess what’s going on in that tiny head of yours.”

[Sakura Valois]

Sakura's calm facade faltered as she let out of a soft giggle at his statement. She moved in a step closer, closing her eyes for a moment before she tilted her head up to him, leaning her cheek in closer to his hand out of an automatic reaction. Her own hands moving up and digging in to his shirt as she jerked forward and pressed herself in to his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist. "You're never going to forgive me are you?"

She asked him after a few moments of silence. She wasn't sure if he would ever do such a thing for her. Forgiving her of the murder of his own child. She swallowed hard and tilted her head up to Raphael. "I didn't know I would kill him. I wouldn't have ever pulled the plug if I knew what would have happened...and now with word of Itachi's demise, it only can mean one thing. Sasuke-kun will return. You know he'll come looking for his heir." She whispered the last part tightening her grip in Raphael's shirt. The thought of Sasuke coming home for Nanami was something she didn't want to think about. No, not at all. What was she going to say to him? No, you can't see your daughter? She was Uchiha blood after all.

"Sasuke will come and Nanami will be gone."

[Raphael Valois]

If Raphael knew how to laugh, he certainly would have by now. Instead though he took a deep breath and forced Sakura’s head to his. He slowly exhaled and met her gaze. “You imbecile.” From the corner of his lips a smirk grew on his face. “I am the single most powerful Bio-Organic Weapon this world has ever seen. I have seen combat and training the likes of which would break even your precious Hokage. It will take more than one mere child and his fancy lightshows to defeat me.” His confidence had returned and his mind was too busy thinking about the coming fight to focus on anything else. “Defeat is impossible. The difference in our power is that of Heaven and Earth.” Raphael scoffed one final tome before allowing her insulting level of doubt leave his mind. “He won’t even come near our daughter.”

Raphael’s smile faded and turned into something sad when he remembered what she had asked him earlier. It was a difficult thing to let go, the death of one’s child. He was the first offspring between a B.O.W, and a human, and perhaps it just isn’t meant to be. “I will always morn for his death. And I will never forgive myself for not preventing what happened. As long as you remember those two things. Then you can have my forgiveness.” He forced a poor smile on his lips before reaching down and taking her lips against his. His embrace tightened and he held her there for several long minuets, kissing her over and over again to make up for several months of hatred and distance.

[Sakura Valois]

Sakura's lips parted as she sucked in a deep breath to snap at him for calling her such names. She had a right to be worried. No matter how strong Raphael was, there was that sinking feeling in her stomach that asked her the one thing on her mind, would she let Raphael kill Sasuke? It was something she didn't want to answer, nor think about for that much. It should have been enough for her that he had come back, forgiven her and even accepted Nanami in to his world. She moved to snap at him before his mouth descended upon hers. Sakura was taken off guard by his actions and it took her a moment before she leaned in to him. Hands sliding up his chest and wrapping around his neck as she smiled against his mouth.

"Jerk..." She whispered.

[Sponsored content]