When Sakura woke again it was more quickly than the last time. She could feel the grass beneath her, hear the birds chirping, and could see the forest around her. She could also hear someone rummaging through a bag near her. Sakura tried to focus her chakra to her hands and saw the chakra outline showing that she was once again in control of her chakra. "Don't worry, Sakura," said the voice of a man she hadn't seen in two years. Not since he had poked her forehead as a way of saying 'goodbye'. "It's just me."

"Sasuke? Why are you here?"

"The question is why are you here? We are close to the border with the Sound. I found you alone."

"I was close to Jofuku with my team. We were going to help with a sickness that had broken out. The doctor there wasn't sure what was wrong and asked Kakashi for a team of med nins."

"How did you get here?"

At this question, Sakura starts to tear up. "I suppose Orochimaru dropped me here." Sasuke looked surprised and worried at the mention of his previous teacher.

"Sakura, are you alright? What did he do to you?" Sakura notices that while he's concerned, Sasuke also sounds angry.

"I-I can't. Not yet. I'll tell you, just give me some time. Please."

"You aren't hurt?"

"I won't die. I just-I need to come to terms with what happened. I need to figure it out before I can talk about it. I will tell you what happened, just not yet."

"Hn." From Sasuke that was an affirmative. For now. She was grateful; she knew that she needed to tell him, that he wouldn't let it go, especially since it had to do with Orochimaru, but for now she could come to terms with what the snake had done. Now, who was the-Sasuke! He has the curse mark. The snake said that the father was the last remaining person he had given his curse mark. He also said I would see the father soon. How am I...? It was one thing to try figuring out how to tell him, but another to tell him they were bound together. How will he even react? Would he believe me? Of course he will believe me, it was a matter of believing that the bastard really did it. But why would he lie about it? What would he gain?

Sakura suddenly found Sasuke right in front of her. "Don't cry. What's wrong?" He said looking concerned and a bit uncomfortable.

"I-I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm crying. I should be stronger than this. I am stronger than this," she said while trying to control her tears. I need to be checked to know if I am...pregnant. No! How will I explain this? How do I tell anyone I was weak enough to be taken, to be experimented on. I'm supposed to be one of the new Sannin, Lady Tsunade's apprentice. She would be so upset. Disappointed. Naruto, I don't want to think about how he'd react, what he'd do. I can't go back. Not yet. "I can't go back. Not yet. I can't go home." I have to handle this myself.

"Hn. Where do you want to go?"

"Away from here. Away from Orochimaru. Where are you going? Can I go with you?" At his look of surprise, she hurriedly continues. "Not for a long time! I'm sorry, I don't want to be a burden. I just can't go back yet. And I feel safe with you. If you don't want me along I can go somewhere else on my own."

"Hn. We'll leave in the morning," he said while erasing the shock from his face. If he had looked surprised when she said she wanted to go with him, he was shocked at hearing she felt safe with him. After all I've done to her, how can she possibly feel safe with me? I know she's forgiven me. She's the most forgiving person I know, but how can she feel safe with me?

"Thank you, Sasuke-kun." Sakura said as she lay back down, still tired even though she just woke up.

She didn't notice him watching her throughout the night with worried eyes, trying to see what may have been done to her.