New chapter! Thanks to those reviews, I was deeply motivated to actually work my lazy ass. ;P That's what happens when my ego gets attention. Thanks to those who reviewed :)


Listen to it… The melody that was weaved from our encounters, here; I'll sing it for you.

When she awoke, fluorescent lights met her eyes and the crisp smell of antiseptic floated near her nose. She sat up sharply and realized she was in a hospital bed. The last memory she thought of was when she dropped off the little girl to Tsunade's room. In a daze, she tried to recall what had happened. Oh that's right… I had this dream that someone told me Sasuke came back! I think I might have tripped and hit my head.

She got up on uncertain legs and got out of her cot and walked to the door. Opening it hesitantly, she walked out into the hallway. Swiveling her head around, she realized she was in the Critical-ward. Damn, what had happened? Determined to find out, she navigated through the crowd and made it to Tsunade's office. Knocking twice, she heard a "come in" and shyly pushed the door open. She saw Tsunade and Naruto sitting in big armchairs, Naruto looking peeved. Tsunade had her trademark scowl and had aimed it at Naruto.

"Tsunade-sama, what happened to me?" Sakura asked tentatively. Tsunade's head whipped around, Sakura felt like cowering. Her former teacher could be quite scary…

"Ah? What are you talking about?" Tsunade snarled in reply. Sakura was backed up against the wall, shivering in fright. Naruto wasn't much better off either, his face had turned pallid and he was trembling as well. "I mean… um, when I fainted?" Sakura tried again.

"Oh that. I told you Sasuke was back and you fainted. That's all." Tsunade's demeanor had changed from frightening to calm and kind sounding. I swear… she's bipolar. Naruto thought, his face a deadpan and his arms still a little shaky. Wait, Sasuke's back? As in back, back?

"Oh that clears it up! Thank you for taking me to the bed." Sakura cheerfully replied. Only a moment later, she realized the full extent of Tsunade's words. "What? Sasuke's back…? Is he being interrogated?" She felt hollow inside, as if something had been ripped out of her chest. An important feeling felt like it was lost, forever missing, never to return. Today… was the day I was going to mourn him… past two years, I always forgot… I changed my outfit, to showcase what I felt inside and this is the day he comes back? What irony… She sighed and thought regretfully.

"Old lady, you didn't say that's why you called me here! You kept me waiting for Sakura-chan and that's why I was so annoyed. Why didn't you tell me sooner? The 'teme' is waiting!" Naruto rushed up and towards the door. He made it out too, but a millisecond later, poked his head back in and sheepishly said, "Which room is he in again…?"

"Naruto get back in here, I still have to explain some things before you two are allowed to go see him." Tsunade sharply said. Naruto obediently sat down on one of the chairs and Sakura, not wanting to stand for longer than she had to, followed his actions. "Sasuke is still a criminal. Because of him, four of our people were severely injured. Who knows what else he has leaked out to that snaky freak? He can't be trusted and he's yet to receive his punishment for leaving the village. He has only been here about ten hours, half of it was spent healing his wounds and the other half was because he was sleeping. No one has questioned him yet; we were waiting to see if you could get anything out of him first, before the official questioning began. The person who found him, reports that he was covered in blood and his vision is gone from both eyes. The blood was from slash wounds and bruises all over his body. There is no scarring, no tissue damage. In other words they're fine. But he cannot see. You, Sakura, you are to find out what happened to his eyes. Naruto, you're to help him, in case he can't see ever again, train and use his other senses. His family line is tarnished now, being heavy ocular users, his prowess are no more than a mere child's. He is in room C297. You can go." Tsunade finished and laced her fingers together and rested her chin on the intertwined lodge.

Naruto rushed out immediately, but Sakura bowed and silently left the room. She thought Naruto would have been gone by now but she saw him, just next to the stairs, his fist clenched, his head shaking. She walked up to him, touched his shoulder and said "He's still Sasuke-kun… no matter what he's done, he's still our friend. We won't let him get executed, right? Yeah, Naruto you can believe it." Sakura tried to lighten the mood a little, give them both a chance to face their friend. Naruto gave a shaky smile and replied, "It's not that, I don't… I don't feel like I'm ready to see him again. Like it's too early, you know? I feel awful too, for not being the one to drag him back here like the sore loser he is. I mean, how many people can say: 'I dragged Uchiha Sasuke back to Konoha and he cried' because knowing him, he probably would." It seemed like Naruto was trying to lighten the heavy tension surrounding them. "Nah, it's okay, let's just go Sakura-chan." With that said, Naruto started walking up the stairs. Sakura right behind him, only she was lost in her thoughts. C297? That's the psycho dangerous ward. He's not a psycho! What injustice… well maybe they didn't want to mix him with other patients. No one really occupies the C ward.

Before the both of them knew it, they had reached the door Tsunade had told them to go to. Just a blank nameplate, they didn't even put his name there. Rage started boiling in Sakura, it wasn't his fault! Orochimaru had practically kidnapped Sasuke! Naruto slowly opened the door. An eternity might have passed and neither of them would have noticed. Sakura's heart was beating so loud, she was afraid someone would hear and then accuse her of being weak. Naruto's hands were clenched so tightly, he thought it would break. Both of them stood there… and pushed the door open just a crack.

"What are you two waiting for? Go away if you're not here to talk to me." An extremely familiar voice echoed throughout the room. Sakura's heart felt like it missed a beat. She was standing, in shock, in fear of rejection again, her face drawn closed, her eyes unyielding. Seconds ticked by… she realized that she and Naruto were still standing in the doorway. "Naruto go… inside…" She whispered. Naruto himself was frozen, unable to do as she told. Sakura gave him a light shove and he pushed the door open all the way. He awkwardly stumbled inside, his loud charisma gone. "Oi teme… long time no see." He growled in greeting. Naruto sat down in one of the chairs next to Sasuke's bed and Sasuke followed the movement.

"I could say the same to you, dobe." Sasuke replied back.

Sasuke turned his head towards the sound he heard at what he hoped was the doorway. "Sakura… cat got your tongue? Still being a fan-girl over me?" His voice was like velvet. Sakura stepped out into the room, her eyes combing over Sasuke. He was sitting up in his hospital bed, donned in a loose white shirt with white pants. His eyes were the same obsidian. His hair had grown out a bit and he had let the bangs fall over his forehead. His skin was still a beautiful alabaster. He hasn't changed… The white doesn't suit him. She thought. He's gotten handsomer, if that's possible… His attitude, however still hasn't changed.

"Sasuke. It's good to see you again. My tongue is fine, thank you." Sakura coldly replied back. "You are grossly mistaken if you think I'm here to 'fan-girl' you." She turned her face haughtily and refused to turn his way.

"Introductions over, I don't think we need this now, do we?" Naruto cut in. His voice sounded angry somehow. "Teme, explain to us why the fuck you left and what happened to your eyes."

Naruto felt insanely furious and was ready to slap Sasuke. The bastard doesn't even ask us how we're doing! If anything, he's gotten so much cockier. There we were, we saw him twice in the past three years. Each time we tried to take him back. He refused outright and now he acts high and mighty? You don't do that to people who think of you as a precious friend! He's still so rude to Sakura-chan. I wonder, has he really changed a little? Or is it just his physical appearance?

Sasuke turned his head towards the sound of Naruto's voice. "Wouldn't you like to know dobe, why I left?" He was smirking, like he knew exactly what Naruto felt. Sakura also turned her head to see what the scene was like. A pissed off Naruto, looking ready to spring at Sasuke and Sasuke, who had hoped to school his face into a smirking, smart-ass demeanor, was failing and becoming just as angry.

She shook her head and laughed lightly. Both boys turned towards her, wondering if she'd finally lost her mind.

"You guys… it's like Team 7 all over again. Seeing your expressions and this scene brings back such wonderful memories." Still chuckling, Sakura explained. Welcome home, Sasuke-kun…

Into the far off endless distance, our voices will soar higher and higher until they can reach anywhere in the world… I'm not dreaming anymore, time to look around and see, I'm not alone… anymore…


A/N- Yeah don't worry! It's not over yet! This is just the beginning. Sasuke's eyes still have to heal. So review, review, review! Any flames sent will be used to light the passion between Sasuke and Sakura. Adoration will get you chapters, fast.