Oh hi! thanks for the reviews. =] hmm yea... i do think that my chapters are short. so sorry!!

Chapter 4 - Waking up

The light was seeping through Sasuke's eyelids. It annoyed him. He just wished to stay asleep forever..... he didn't get to sleep long often. Then he felt something on his head. something wet... and extremely cold!

Sasuke's eyes sprang open and he sat up. The ice pack on his head slid off. Subconsciously noting that moving did not hurt anymore, he looked around, examining his surroundings.

No, he wasn't in the hospital ward anymore. He was in a pistachio ice-cream green room. On the bedside table on his left stood a glass of water and a photo frame. A photo frame which held the only photograph in the entire room. A photo frame that held a photo of team 7.

He was in Sakura's room.

Why am I in Sakura's room? Sasuke thought back... Ouch. He rubbed the lump on the back of his head.

Just then, the door to the room opened and Sakura walked in, carrying a tray of medicines and a pot of herbal tea.

"Ah, Sasuke-kun!" she said when she caught sight of Sasuke, who was replacing the photo frame on the table.

"You're awake! I'm so glad," she smiled a dazzling smile and put the tray on the same table. Then she poured a cup of herbal tea and handed it to Sasuke.

"Here, drink this. It'll help numb the pain in your head. I'll heal it for you later." Sasuke accepted the cup and began sipping the tea slowly. It tasted horrible.

"Ano, Sasuke-kun.." Sasuke looked up. Sakura was looking at him with a guilty and apologetic look. Taking a deep breath she rushed,

"I brought you here because I know you really don't like the hospital ward. I thought that it would be better to bring you to my place instead of returning you back there for treatment..." She bent her head down in shame. "I really didn't mean to punch you that hard! I just knew that if you ran away i wouldn't be able to stop you! I really wouldn't be able to bear it if i couldn't stop you... again. What I'm saying is, I'm so sorry Sasuke-kun! i really didn't mean to hurt you! Will you forgive me?"

"Hn."

"Oh thank you, thank you Sasuke-kun! I really didn't mean to hurt you! It was just that i didn't want you to go!" ..and you were pissing me off.. she thought.

And she hugged him. she hugged him gently so as to not hurt him, but with enough intensity for him to feel that she really meant it.

Sasuke was frozen. He felt as if he would melt in Sakura's arms, but he sat frozen; as still as a statue. His body did not know how to respond to Sakura's gesture. Though he may have looked like a Casanova, though many had threw themselves at him, Uchiha Sasuke was clueless at how to handle girls. For those few seconds his mind was totally blank. When she released her hold and looked up at him, the most dazzling smile on her lips, Sasuke felt hot. His cheeks and ears were burning and a deep red colour flooded into his pale skin. He, Sasuke Uchiha, was blushing! He abruptly turned his face away from Sakura, who was scrutinizing it with a sudden curious intensity.

"Sasuke-kun, were you bl-" Just before she could finish she was interrupted by the doorbell.

"Coming!" Sakura shouted. Then turning back to Sasuke, "hold on a minute while I get that." Sasuke nodded, his face still turned away from her. When he heard her get up and leave the room, he sighed in relief.

What the hell was that about?! he scolded himself. Uchiha men don't blush! Sasuke was knocked out of his reverie when heard a loud voice from downstairs.

"Ah, Sakura-chan! Did you see Sasuke-teme? The nurses say he disappeared from his ward yesterday..." Naruto.

"Uh, yes actually, " Sakura replied.

"Really? Where is he?"

"Well, long story cut short, Sasuke-kun is staying in my room."

There was a prolonged silence downstairs before, "WHAT?! That teme is staying with you?! In YOUR ROOM?!" Naruto exclaimed.

Sakura was mad. Really mad. Who was Naruto to tell her who she couldn't let stay in her room? Her father?

"That's right you baka! Sasuke-kun is staying with ME, in MY room!" Sakura shouted back.

Another prolonged silence before Naruto's barely audible muttering was heard, "It's always Sasuke..."

"What?" Sakura shouted. "What did you say?" Sakura still sounded as if she would murder Naruto.

"Nothing. So is it okay if I see the teme? I need to talk to him."

"About what?" Sakura asked.

"Tsunade baa-chan wants to talk him..." Naruto said hesitantly.

"About what?" Although he couldn't see it, Sasuke could feel Sakura's beautiful emerald green eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What does Tsunade-sama want with Sasuke-kun?" She asked Naruto again.

"Uh... she wants uh...." Naruto stuttered when he saw Sakura's crazed look of anger.

"Say it baka. Hurry up!"

"She wants to question him! Interrogate him! Find out stuff from him!" Naruto said hurriedly. "I told her i wouldn't let her do anything other than to him!"

"What do you mean 'other than that'? Was she going to-" Sakura gasped.

"I told you. I won't let anything happen to the teme. I promise. I'll be with him the whole time!"

"I don't know Naruto. I don't know.." Sakura sounded close to tears. For some unexplainable reason, Sasuke wished he would walk downstairs to throw his arms over her shoulders and tell her it would be alright. But his feet were planted to the ground. Sasuke also realized that if he stayed, his life could be in danger. He could run away now, no one would see him jump out the window. His arm and ankle were completely healed thanks to Sakura. Sakura...Sakura... How could he bring himself to leave her, now when she was in need of comfort? How could he leave when he knew that her beautiful heart may break apart if she did?

'I really wouldn't be able to bear it if i couldn't stop you... again'

'It was just that i didn't want you to go!'

I'll stay he thought. I'll stay for Sakura.

Okie. =] this chapter's longer. haha.. so R&R please! =]