A/N: Thank you to all that have decided to follow along with this little adventure of mine. It is deeply appreciated. Chapter Four is in the works!

1/2 page format recommended.

Reviews are encouraged!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter Three: The Meeting

Sakura arched her chest toward the sky, in complete synchronization with her comrades. At that moment she felt quite glad that Shizune had suggested this weekly meditation for a healthy mind and body, especially in harsh times like these. Moments away from complete relaxation, she heard, "Sakura-chaaaaan!" The remnants of her bubble of peace and meditation fell around her, and she lost her balance. BAM! A hematoma the size of a popsicle formed atop her head as it hit the concrete. The steam sizzled from her forehead.

"NARUTOOOH!" she shouted with a raging fist as she peered up at her friend, "What in Kami's name do you want?!"

Naruto caught his breath, "Teme is asking for you, he says it's urgent."

She was completely taken aback by the mere thought of Mr. Snootypants Uchiha ever giving the notion that he needed anyone other than himself. It seemed like forever since Sakura would have considered waiting hand and foot on the boy she had always wished would be hers and hers alone. She laughed a little to herself.

"I'm not going back, Naruto," she notified.

"But he needs your hel-"

"I said no!"

Naruto pouted at his rosette friend, his brow furrowed in disappointment.

"Teme is a part of our team again, Sakura-chan. And I know he hasn't done much to make up for anything that's been done, but I don't think you're doing any good by not helping your teammate. I know you would do it for me, or Kakashi, or even Sai. So why can't you at least do it for Sasuke?"

Sakura looked up at the adamant kyuubi container, and felt remorse. Not for Sasuke, of course, but at the thought of letting Naruto down. He was her best friend, he didn't deserve the disappointment after all that he had done to bring Sasuke back. She took a deep breath and lifted herself off the ground, dusting her hands off on her skirt.

"I'll see what I can do."

Shit, Sasuke thought as he tried hard to focus in on his hand out in front of him. He watched the blurry movement of his fingers when he heard the click of a door hinge. The small figure topped with rosy fringe approached him, and he chuckled slightly. Halfway across the room, she stopped.

"What do you need?" she spoke, not a tinge of interest or care in her voice.

Sasuke almost regretted asking her here. Why couldn't she be the pathetic girl she once was, the girl that would've died just to be near him, the girl that glowed bright red at the thought of touching him? He would've been healed long before now if she was still that girl. "Or perhaps she wouldn't have bothered gaining these abilities," he considered. Rethinking her question, he sighed.

"I can't see."

The pinkette's brow bent, "You can't see?"

He scoffed, annoyed, "I know you're not deaf, Sakura."

"If you're going to be rude, you can stay blind," she snapped.

He was caught. "Fine, please heal me."

He feigned politeness, but she stepped forward anyway. "Baka," he thought. He watched her movements as she glanced over his chart and turned back toward him. She reached into her pocket and took out something, Sasuke hated not being able to see. "This would certainly be the most opportune moment to assassinate me," he thought, almost considering jumping from the bed out the window. But it was just Sakura, after all. She may have changed, but she would never kill her Sasuke-kun. That baka. Or would she…? He swallowed, suddenly apprehensive.

She clicked the flashlight into each of his eyes, "How bad is it? What can you see?"

"Which one do you want me to answer first?" he derided, Sakura huffed.

"Just answer."

"It's like an out of focus picture. I can see that it's there, but I'm not always certain of what it is." He rolled her eyes, like she really needed a description.

"Okay. This might feel odd at first," Sakura said, in doctor mode.

Green chakra began to flow from her hands, he was a bit confounded as she took a seat along the edge of his bed. Feeling her next to him, it was just…odd. She rested her hands on his temples, the relief was intoxicating. He closed his eyes, his body relaxed and he cringed at the pain in his abdomen. He opened his eyes, curious to see whether or not she had actually made an effect. And there she was; emerald eyes staring back at him, the same face that he remembered from all those years ago. Still, something was rather different.

"Better?" she asked.

"Hn," he affirmed.

She lifted his shirt, Sasuke grabbed her hand. His eyes met hers intensely, and she scoffed, snatching her hand back.

"Get over yourself, I need to heal your injuries," she mumbled obscenities to herself.

Plopping back down on the bed, he waited patiently as she began to heal his multitude of fractures. He winced, this was more uncomfortable than the repair to his eyes, yet he could feel the healing. She could really do this. "You're different," he wanted to tell her, yet sucked in his words in fear of a sappy response. "Don't appease her," his other thoughts warned.

"Turn over, please."

He smirked immaturely at her words. Pushing himself up, he let out a pained breath and she took his arm. She was helping him? He avoided her eyes, half afraid that she might spot the pleased sense of surprise in him She had a firm grip on him, it was almost impressive.

Again, a familiar relief hit his back. Naruto had spoken time and time again of her formidable skills, but being able to experience them for himself was beyond what he imagined. She was truly gifted. As the chakra was lifted from his back, he turned his head back to her. She had already stood and began collecting her things, he suddenly felt alarmed.

"This is the most that I can do for now," she said, not batting a lash in his direction.

"Not much," he lied, feeling the relief in his body.

"Well then you'll just have to gain some patience," her words were dull, "these things take time."

It was then that he realized he was not a fan of professional Sakura. Sure, he had wished while he was away that his friends had forgotten about him just as he tried so hard to forget about them, but he never expected Sakura to. At first her reluctance towards helping him was a good sign in Sasuke's enervated eyes, yet it had become oddly infuriating. How dare she treat him like a stranger, like he never mattered to her.

The pinkette picked up her bag of medical supplies and turned to Sasuke, her face was clear of hostility or care of any sort. She opened her mouth to speak, but just as it always was- Sasuke's anger got the better of him.

"Why are you being this way?"

Sakura felt her stomach knot up at the raven-haired Uchiha's words. She had done so well the entire time that she was there, shielding her emotions that were completely liable to crumble in front of the judgmental teen at any moment. How badly she wanted to sulk before him and slap him until his cheeks were red against her angered hand. How desperately she wanted to ask him how he could leave her when she loved him so deeply and begged him not to go. Yes, she was still a child at the time, but does that mean her love was not real? Really, in all of the ways that mattered now, she was still the child she had been back then. "My love was as real as your desperation for vengeance," she thought as she tried to keep her composure before him.

"What way?" she was impressed by her own nonchalance.

"Don't act like you don't know me, Sakura," he spat, his eyes glaring, deep crimson orbs of intensity. They made her stomach churn.

"You have no reason to speak to me this way," she asserted, "I came here to help you."

He shuddered harshly at the sound of her words, a part of her old-self was hurt deeply as she watched this. His fists clenched at his sides, a purple aura enveloped his body. Feeling a cold come over her, she watched intently as black marks stained his skin like a virus. What was this? In truth, she knew, but chose not to remember. So clearly, she could see it in her mind, what this thing had once done to him. A power that he had craved, a power that made him leave.

"I see Right. Through. You," he snapped.

"Shit," she thought, her nerves wavered. "Sasuke," she almost whimpered as her eyes widened in fear, not of Sasuke, but of the memory. Thoughts of the forest of death flashed through her mind, the snakelike man and his wicked power that had forever changed Team Seven. This was not Sasuke, this was the cursed seal.

"Please calm down," she said, trying to muster up the courage to step closer to him.

"DON'T TELL ME TO FUCKING CALM DOWN."

Her body shook. "Please make this stop," she thought desperately, her eyes closed tightly. She held back the tears and opened her eyes. He stared at her, his crimson orbs were almost blackened.

"Don't do this," she spoke, "Please. Sasuke-kun." She closed her eyes, overwhelmed.

Sasuke's groans of pain and anger slowed along with the whirring of the dark chakra. He hunched over the bed and collapsed, half naked on the linoleum floor, back to his normal self. He was weak and spent. This vulnerability that resulted from such overexertion was something she would never be used to seeing. She almost felt...pity, though she hated to think of it. Sakura bent over to help him.

"Sasuke."

Warm, onyx eyes found hers and she heard, "You haven't changed in every way."

She shook her head, "You're right, I guess."

Picking him up from the floor and cradling him in her arms, she set him back down in bed. His expression was filled with the disapproval of having been manhandled. For a moment, she caught a glimpse of the merely angst ridden boy he used to be; she caught a glimpse of the humanity that still remained. All was not lost after all. She couldn't help but smile. Picking up her bag, she turned and said, "It's been nice seeing you," for the most part, she thought but didn't speak aloud. Walking to the door, he called to her once more.

"Sakura."

She turned back, "Hmm?"

"No one can know about this."

Her smile faded, "I understand," before leaving him to his vices.