Goodness guys, I'm so sorry it's taken me forever to UD! School's been keeping me busy and I had a few changes to make in this chapter and others. Thank you for all being patient with the fic, and I now give you Chapter 3!

Disclaimer: Miah-Chan does not own Naruto!

Chapter 3.

"How long have I been here?" Sakura asked the next morning. Sasuke was feeding her this time, having told her he couldn't risk being caught letting her feed herself. She understood, and allowed him to do so.

"Hmm…about a week now I think." He answered, holding another piece of breakfast out for her. She took the bite, chewed, and swallowed before replying, "It seems longer."

"It's the blindfold. The darkness and silence of this place makes you feel as though you've been here for months, doesn't it?" he stated. Sakura nodded as she chewed another piece of her food. Once she had finished, Sasuke stood to leave.

"What do you do?" Sakura asked suddenly. He hesitated. "Around here, I mean." She continued. "Do you go out on missions or something?"

"No, not usually. Most of the time, I stay here, on the upper levels." He answered carefully. Though he wasn't being cold with her much more, it was still dangerous to give her too much information at this time. And it went against pretty much every fiber of his being.

He saw when she hesitated and decided not to ask. Curious, he questioned, "Why do you ask?" She sighed and shrugged.

"Nothing. I was just wondering. It's always quiet, so I figured no one was around much." She lied. Sasuke frowned and came back to sit beside her.

"You're not much of a liar, are you, Sakura?" he stated casually, leaning back in the chair with his arms crossed over his chest. The pink-haired kunoichi huffed.

"For your information, I happen to be an ANBU Black Op now. I can lie very well." She snapped, only half-hearted. Sasuke snorted.

"Sure, whatever. Either way, you just lied to my face. I don't appreciate that."

Sakura sniffed, her nose in the air, face turned from him. "Yeah? Well I don't appreciate being left alone for hours on end with no way to tell what's going on either, but you don't see me crying over it."

A smile twitched at Sasuke's lips. She definitely had spirit, this girl. More than he remembered her ever having. He wondered what had happened to make her have it.

"Oh?" he shifted, leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, as he looked her over. "Well, you're a captive. What do you expect?"

"I don't expect anything more than what I've got. That's why you don't hear me complaining." she smirked a bit, the closest he had seen to a smile from her. Sasuke nodded, thinking it over. Madara wanted her to agree to help them soon. Which meant he would have to start stepping it up to make her love him again. Which basically meant he would have to pretend to love her back. He sighed silently. Being nice and caring and talkative weren't very hard at this point, but pretending to love her? He barely touched her if he could help it. So how was he supposed to make her think he loved her?

"What are you thinking about?" her voice inquired through the haze of his thoughts. Sasuke snapped his head to look back at her. Though she was blindfolded, she was looking right at him and he could feel the questioning in her gaze.

"Nothing. Just that, perhaps I could…" he trailed off, wondering if it was a good idea. But Madara wanted her soon, and he wasn't but so patient. Sasuke continued speaking after a pause. "I could stay here. With you."

Sakura's shock was obvious. "Why would you want to do that?" she asked cautiously.

"Like I said, all I do around here is hang around upstairs. You're much more interesting." He answered, adding a tone of teasing to his voice. He was pretty good at this acting thing.

Sakura snorted and lay back on the bed, shifting so she was on her side, facing him. "Whatever. You're bound to have something better to do than sit here with a captive all day."

"Not really."

She smirked again. "Sure. Do whatever you want, as I'm sure you will anyway."

"I most certainly will," he smirked back. They remained in silence for a while until Sakura asked, uncertainly, "Why are you acting like this, all of a sudden?"

"Like what?" he asked absentmindedly, his eyes closed in thought.

"You're talking to me. A lot. You're teasing. You want to spend time with me. Why? You never have before." She said, which sounded more like an accusation. Sasuke frowned, eyes still closed.

'What to say?' he thought hurriedly. Finally he just replied, "I've…missed you." Was it a bad thing that it hadn't taken him effort to say that? Or was he just better at acting than he thought?

Silence was the only thing that Sakura could give him for a few moments. She was simply too stunned to say anything at all. Finally, she whispered, "I don't believe you."

Sasuke opened his eyes to glare at her, grateful that she couldn't see him. He waited a second, then asked, "Why not?"

"Because it's not like you. You're never this open."

"Perhaps I've changed."

"Yeah, right. You haven't changed, Sasuke. I can tell that much." She frowned, her pretty lips pursing in thought. Sasuke found he couldn't look away from them.

"I'm not sure what it is you're up to, but I know its something." She said quietly. Sasuke blinked, bringing himself out of the trance he had been caught in, and looked away shakily.

"Believe what you will, Sakura, but I'm not." He answered with an easy lie. She shrugged and they fell into silence. It was then Sasuke's turn to ask.

"How is Konoha?" In other words, how was Naruto. But he knew he couldn't ask it like that.

"Good. Naruto became Hokage a few years ago." She answered, knowing he wanted the information on Naruto. He could have cared less about Konoha itself.

"Really?" he was surprised. He hadn't expected that. Sakura nodded and continued, "Yes. He's great at it, too. The entire village respects him. Everyone loves him as Hokage. He's very much like his father in the way that he rules." She smiled softly at the thought. Naruto had grown up a lot in the time that he had become Hokage, but it was a good change for him. He had become much wiser.

"That's…" Excellent, he thought but didn't say. He left the sentence hanging, changing the subject quickly to her. "And you? An ANBU now, right?"

"Yes. I have been since Naruto became Hokage. Which is why it shames me to be here right now." By her smirk he could tell she was half-joking. Sasuke smirked to himself and relaxed a bit. Small talk wasn't as bad as he had anticipated, if he kept the conversation away from himself.

"Do you like it?"

"It's not bad. You get more missions." She replied evasively. He nodded and left it at that. There were things she couldn't tell him about being ANBU, he knew. Just like there were things he could never tell her about Akatsuki.

They chatted by way of small talk for a while longer, only a few awkward silences interrupting them, until Sasuke realized it was lunchtime. He left to get the food, came back, fed her, and they resumed talking until dinnertime. Again, the same actions were repeated. Finally it was time to sleep.

"I suppose I'd better…" Sasuke fought and lost a battle with a yawn. "Head back to my room." His eyes felt heavy and he realized that for once he was actually tired.

"Yes, you probably should." Sakura agreed, yawning as well. Sasuke stood from the chair and paused, thinking about what to do. After a moment's hesitation, he bent to kiss her forehead, murmured goodnight, and left the room.

Sakura lay, stunned for a few more moments before sleep took hold of her mind and dragged her under. But this time, no nightmares frightened her nor did dreams leave her waking up wistful. Tonight, she slept soundly.

As did Sasuke, only a few floors above her.

*****

"How is she progressing?" Madara asked another week later once he was alone with Sasuke. The raven-haired Uchiha had his back facing him as he tapped his fingers in a steady rhythm on the arm of the chair he sat in. Madara stood in the doorway, waiting for an answer. Sasuke finally gave it to him, of course after making him wait a few more minuets.

"She's…progressing." He said evasively. Madara frowned. He knew the young Uchiha was solitary and kept to himself whatever information he wished, but he knew that the girl had to be willing to save them. And if he didn't try to persuade her soon, it would be too late.

"How quickly is she progressing, exactly?" he asked coolly, leaving no room for maneuvering around a straight answer. Sasuke sighed and closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the chair.

"Not quickly enough." He paused before continuing, "I have to gain her trust, Madara. It won't be easy, nor will it be fast, considering the way I betrayed everyone. Especially her." He shifted in his seat but didn't turn to face his leader. "It will take time." He said with emphasis.

Madara ground his teeth. "We don't have time, Sasuke. You know that."

"It can't be helped." Sasuke answered coldly.

"Oh, but it can. And I intend to make it happen today. She will believe that you're in love with her and she will agree to help us." Madara growled back hotly. Sasuke didn't move. Madara's lips curved into a hidden snarling smile.

"And you will be the one to make sure of it. Whether it's truly you or not."

That got his attention. Sasuke was in front of him in an instant, features contorted in a cold rage. His obsidian eyes burned into those he could not see and he snarled, "And how exactly do you plan on doing that? I won't be able to get her to trust me in a day, Madara."

"You won't have to. I'll do it for you. Just do exactly as I say. All I need is your presence and your voice." He smirked. Sasuke clenched his fists by his sides.

"I don't have a choice, do I." He stated monotonously. Madara shook his head and replied casually, "Unless you want to die, that is." He watched smugly as Sasuke sighed and ran a hand through his hair, defeated.

"Fine."

"Good. Then let's go."

*****

Sakura turned towards the sound of the door opening. She felt Sasuke's presence as he entered and heard his hurried footsteps as he came towards her. She fought the smile that threatened her lips. He was early today; perhaps they could have another day to themselves.

"Hey," she said softly as he came to stand beside her.

"Hey," he replied just as softly. She sensed him kneel beside her and she nearly jumped when he took her hand. It was one of the first shows of contact he had given her. She sat there, confused, as she waited for him to say something to explain himself.

"Sakura…" he took a deep breath and hesitated. His grip tightened slightly and he continued, "I…have something to tell you. About why you're here."

She frowned and said, "What is it? I already told you Sasuke; I'm not helping any of you. No matter how kindly you may have treated me, I won't do it."

"Just hear me out—" he started to say but she interrupted with a forceful, "No."

He was silent a moment and her hand was released. He breathed in deeply and the next words he said were soft, so much that she had to lean in to hear him.

"Sakura…I think I'm dying. That's why you've been brought here."

The world stopped; she felt it, even if she couldn't see it. Her heart hammered into overdrive in her chest and her head felt light. She faintly heard herself gasp and cursed mentally at the small sign of caring. But that was the farthest thing from her mind. Sasuke might be dying.

"Everyone is dying, Sasuke." She finally stated matter-of-factly. He made a strange, choking sound that worried her before answering, "I know that Sakura. But I've been sick for a while; I don't know what it is. No one does. You're the only one we could think of that might be able to figure it out."

She remained silent until he took her hand again and said, "Please, Sakura. I'm the only one here that is sick. You're my only hope…" his voice trailed off and she sighed. Her heart hurt to think of him suffering, but her honor was still strong. Even so, his voice, his presence, his words, all weakened her into saying, "If it's that bad…I'll consider it."

He squeezed her hand. "Really?" he questioned.

"Yes." She hesitated and then said, "I'll study your condition and try to diagnose your sickness. But I will not agree to healing you at the moment."

His lips on hers startled her so much that she jumped. She didn't respond, but he didn't wait for one. She could hear the eagerness in his tone when he said, "Thank you, Sakura. That's enough for now."

She nodded; it was all she could do. He squeezed her hand again before leaving.

*****

Sasuke shut the door and stormed down the hall to his room before turning to Madara, his eyes searing with rage.

"What the hell was that?" he hissed, swiping his hand through the air. He knew the smile was there even though he couldn't see it when the masked Uchiha answered, "That was my gaining your beautiful blossom to our side, at least temporarily."

Sasuke gave a frustrated yell and turned his back on his leader. He'd done the talking but Madara had done everything else. He'd even kissed her! Kissed her! What the hell?

Madara chuckled from behind. "I'm sorry, Sasuke. Did you dislike that last little action of persuasion? I thought it was a rather nice icing on the cake."

"Leave. And don't come back. And don't you dare go to her again." Sasuke growled lowly, his voice barely audible but clearly filled with anger. Madara chuckled and left the raven alone.

Sasuke sighed and fell onto his back on his bed. Scrubbing his hands over his face, he left them covering his eyes as he thought about how to respond to his new twist of events.

*****

Sakura waited the entire day for him to come back. He never did. Guards came in to feed her and take her to the bathroom but that was it. He never showed up again.

With a heavy heart, the pink-haired kunoichi lay down to go to sleep. A while later, sleep heavy on her mind, she felt the bed sink behind her. Warmth embraced her and she turned her head sleepily towards the source.

Sasuke's breath was a warm caress across her cheek and she whispered sleepily, "What…what are you doing?"

His voice was a low, rumbling, husky sound as he answered in her ear, "Breaking all the rules."

She felt him untie her hands and found out slowly that her feet were also unbound. He didn't touch the blindfold, leaving that for her to decide. She reached up and took it off, blinking her eyes open. The room was pitch black, so it wasn't much different, but at least her eyes were open. She turned her head to glance at Sasuke; she couldn't see him, but she could faintly make out his silhouette, a lighter black against the blackness.

"Why?" she asked softly.

"I want to. And if you want to escape, I want you to. Everyone else is gone but me."

Sakura's breath caught in her throat. Freedom, completely in her grasp. All she had to do was keep it that way.

She sat up and felt him stiffen. But she only stretched and lay back down, facing him. Her face was inches from his and she whispered, "Go to sleep Sasuke. I'll still be here in the morning."

And she was; when he woke, his arms possessively around her, her head tucked perfectly under his chin, their bodies fitting together like matching puzzle pieces, she was still there.

And Sasuke had never felt such pain.

Sooo...yeahh. *hesitant smile* Hope you guys liked it! Chapter 4 will hopefully be coming soon. R&R Please!!

~Miah-Chan