Blackdragon: I think I might have lost many of you, seeing how I was gone for a freaking year, haha.

But the good news is that I'm back!

And the reviewers really inspired me, trust me. I've got half of 5 written out, but I'd like to know if I should continue or not, haha.

And anyone interested in beta-ing? I desperately need one- I can write, but dang, ­­my grammar escapes me when I have a plot bunny in my head!

Anyhoo, here's the next chapter!

Brambles

It is easy to become entangled in a snare of deceit.

Morning came, fresh and new, oblivious to the bloodshed that would occur in a few hours, and the little act of violence in a few minutes.

Sasuke loosely donned his white shirt and navy slacks, wrapping and tying a coil to keep it in place. The thought that Karin upset Sakura enough to cause Sakura to lash out unsettled him; there were so many changes in Sakura, he couldn't even begin to comprehend or begin to understand. She certainly wasn't transparent anymore, nor a weak little thing.

Sakura's actions illustrated her beautiful strength of mind and character, something that unraveled Sasuke.

Goddamn. He left Konoha to get rid of shit like this. But honor and dignity ruled Sasuke, in the end.

A few minutes later, Sasuke pondered things thoroughly and arrived in front of a small door to a room similar to his. Friend or not, Sakura was still a former teammate.

Karin would have surely spread rumors, no doubt about it. As much as he hated to admit it, Sakura saved his life. In return, he could at least do save her reputation in Sound.

With a knock on the door, Sasuke patiently waited.

"Who is it?" Even though Karin knew perfectly well who it was. Her radar, always tuned in on her Sasuke-kun, never failed to give her advanced notice of her future husband's arrival. Future husband. Of course!

"I need a word with you."

Karin's eyes sparkled with unseen diamonds hidden in the depths, and checked her appearance one more time in the mirror, before hurriedly opening her door.

There he stood, in all his dark glory, with a smoldering gaze and deep red eyes.

She nearly fainted. This is the day when Sasuke would claim his undying love for her and lose his cold façade and let go of those carnal urges!

Karin blinked, as she felt herself roughly thrown against the wall, and smirked as the beginnings of her fantasy began to come true. So her Sasuke-kun liked it rough, huh?

"You know," she purred, until she met his angry gaze. Maybe he liked it really rough?

In a cold, quiet voice, Sasuke spoke in a dangerous tone. "Don't you dare touch her. Keep your mouth shut in regards to her," emphasizing the female pronoun to get his point across.

"…"

Really, it wasn't about Karin, but her. Those jealous impulses throbbed more and more painfully with each word Sasuke hissed, consuming her heart, clouding her judgment. She couldn't look at those wild eyes; turning her head towards the ground, she bit out,

"What's the meaning of this action for her?"

"Nothing you would know," he said coldly.

Really, he should have said that it was… a long overdue apology.

And the last time he would do anything for…that little weakling.

A walk set to a brisk pace, Sasuke made his way back to Sakura's door, and slammed the door open.

Goddamnit! What the hell was he thinking, threatening Karin like that?

He steeled his resolve and held up his usual apathetic façade.

His acute hearing picked up hurried sounds of rustling, as Sakura shifted upright.

True to her word, Sakura poked her head from underneath the covers. "Sasuke?"

The lack of his suffix slightly unnerved him. Maybe it was because he was so used to hearing it?

"You're going on a mission with me today," he curtly spoke.

He watched Sakura's forehead wrinkle in question, watched those radiant orbs sparkle in a brilliance of mind, watched her open the door slightly more and showed him a bit of creamy neck where her kimono slipped slightly. He watched as her coral lips opened to take a slight breath before speaking.

"Why am I coming with you? Is it a S-rank mission?"

"No. You're going to help us."

"No, I never agreed to help Sound. So don't drag me into Sound's affairs." Sakura finished with a strong edge to her voice, signaling the end of her decision. Rising from the bed quickly and holding her thin sleepwear tightly, Sakura stood up straight and faced Sasuke.

Sasuke closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and revealed blood red eyes, with three black tomoes swirling dangerously.

One moment of eye contact was all it took to force Sakura to stumble backwards from the intensity of his hot, penetrating gaze.

"If you don't," Sasuke opened with a slight warning to his tone. "Orochimaru will," he stepped forward. "Tear Konoha," and cornered Sakura, "apart."

A backward stumble and shaky moment later, Sakura regained her composure.

"You got that?"

His demand left her completely speechless.

How could he? Cruel bastard!

Eyes narrowing dangerously, Sakura took another step, until their breaths mingled and bit out, "You. Will. Not. Drag. Me. Into. Sound's affairs. You got that? The deal was for me to heal you when you receive injuries, not follow you and carry out missions for Sound."

With a movement of a light flicker, Sasuke pinned Sakura to the wall with a kunai and a piercing gaze. Leaning forward with scarlet eyes of cold murder, Sasuke softly spoke, barely audible to Sakura's senses, "you will come with me, and heal me when necessary. Now be a good girl," and he lightly traced the corner of Sakura's quivering jaw, until he gently rested his hand at the base of her neck, "and you will be rewarded."

If her heart was beating out of her ribcage, Sakura would have spoken then. But she did not want 'rewards', or anything from Sasuke.

As stupid a decision as it was, Sakura met his gaze once more.

"I only want one reward," she said thickly.

"Oh?" Sasuke's ghost of a murmur sent chills down Sakura's spine.

No! Stop it, stop it! Her mind roared. Hardening her resolve once more, Sakura spoke in a much more confident voice, "I only want you to come back to Konoha, and stay. That's all."

All was silent for a few moments, before Sasuke withdrew his kunai, stepped back. Sakura breathed in deeply, as if someone gave her wings to stretch out.

"I see." He turned his back on her, before motioning for her to move.

"Come. We need to reach the Raikage before evening."

"I'm not unless you're coming back to Konoha."

"Hn."

"Hn? That's all you can say? Then I'm not going! I will not even set foot outside of this damned room-" Sakura seethed, and abruptly stopped when she saw Orochimaru breeze in.

"What's this?" Orochimaru drawled. "A quarrel? Now, now, Sakura, if it placates you, trust me that you will not be going on any missions with Sasuke."

At this, Sasuke shot an alarmed glance at Orochimaru, but he didn't meet the Sharingen user's glance, and coolly continued. "There's something that has to be done before we can leave, Sasuke. I'd like to have a word with you, Sakura."

When Sasuke didn't leave, Orochimaru waved him out. "Go, Sasuke. This concerns the deal, not you." With a clearly shot glare of displeasure, Sasuke parted from the room.

Breathing became oh so much easier. For Sakura, at least. Orochimaru seemed not even affected. Lame, huh? Guess that goes with the part of controlling Sasuke. Well, wouldn't she like to have that?

"It has been established that you will not accompany Sasuke on a mission, yes?" He didn't even wait for her assent as he continued, "However, I do admit that you're more use to him other than a healer…" Oochimaru trailed off.

Can't you heal Sasuke? He's been…tense, these days. Make him relax…"

"Give him get a massage. Soak in a hot bath."

"No. He's a big boy now. Surely he can draw a bath. While we're on the subject, Minaki-san is just as capable, if not more. And wohy would she even be serving the likes of you? I've seen her eyes. YOU"VE seen her eyes. They hold a fire that is unbreachable. So the question is, why is she in service to you?"

Dark and deep, menacing and forboding. That's what Orochimaru's chuckling felt like, washing in waves over Sakura's quickly prickling skin.

"That's for me to know and for you to speculate, for know."

"I'm done guessing, but if there's anything you won't have to infer, it's that I. Refuse."

"But you're his personal caretaker…it's part of our deal, was it not, sweet Sakura?."

"No." She refused to explain herself.

Disgusting, that's what it was. Though a younger Sakura might've snatched the offer in a heartbeat, provided she even knew what it even was, the older Sakura, never.

In love or not, she still held morals, and this ran against one of the worst transgressions of her honor, dignity, and pride, though she wasn't sure if she could distinguish them at the moment, for the request challenged the integrity of all of them.

"No!" she almost hysterically shrieked.

"No?" Orochimaru tilted his head, but leaned forward. "He's always so rough with the girls, and he's usually as tense when he's done…Maybe you can take the edge off the keen?"

"Of course not, and may the gods forbid it!" Sakura forcefully spat. "I came here to heal, Orochimaru, not to be company in bed! And as ambiguous as your morals are, I still retain something, and I know you will respect that."

"Hmm, very well."

Sakura blanched. Orochimaru just…conceded?

"But if he gets too wound up, I think you might find yourself in a more…uncompromising situation. And it would be so much sweeter for you if you just give in, for once." He said, then sliding out her door with an air of finality.

What did he mean? That Sasuke would force himself upon her? Not like that going to happen, but it scared her.

It really did, because a year in Sound has the bone chilling ability.

And thus, she had decided that she had never felt more apathetic and sorry for Sasuke than she had now, for it was only himself to blame that he wanted to be a jerk.

Roses, afterall, do have brambles. If Sasuke was caught, then so be it. Actually, he hoped he choked.

And if she ever was ensared in brambles, well, let's hope that she doesn't choke, shall we?

And let's face it- Sasuke hadn't changed that much since he was gone. He was still..Sasuke, but more ruthless, colder.

She raised her fist and brought it down to crack the table with an irrevocable crrrrack!

Sasuke is, or was, part of Team 7. Just as he appeared at her doorway the moment he heard the noise that surely echoed in all of Sound and the seven hells below, looking clearly annoyed.

"Do you wish to die?" He asked.

"People who don't follow the rules are trash, but people who don't take care of their friends are worse than trash."

By pushing Sasuke away, Sakura realized so many things at once. Immaturity. Hate. Revenge. Disgust. Repulsion.

And it made a nauseous feeling rise within herself. God, she needed to sit down. Now.

She hardly noticed a warm callous hand pushed her down onto the mattress, a face staring down on her, and the same hand feeling her forehead for febrile signs of hotness or delirium.

"Why?" she whispered.

"Why what?" He leaned on the nearest wall and stood casually, arms crossed and body relaxed. His red eyes shone like a thousand glittering rubies.

"You break these ties with us, and yet you're…" she struggled to find an appropriate word.

"Yet you're…" she waveringly began again.

"Save it." He cut in coldy. "You are an exceptional medic that is useful to me. Nothing more." By the time Sakura glanced up, Sasuke already left the room.

Just a medic…huh?

That was so cold. Hurtful. And there was nothing that upset Sakura more than understanding her role as a tool at the mere whims of others.

What would Kakashi do in her situation? What about a rule for betrayals? Did he ever say anything of the lik?

She could…write letters, couldn't she? But the question is, would they make it?

With a quick movement, Sakura snuffed out the candle in her room and left the dungeon in a state of hurry. She could try to, at the least.

But it wasn't long before she felt the chakra signature of that girl…what was her name? Karin? Yes, yes, that was it.

Was she looking to have her jaw broken twice, in 2 days?

"YOU!" She pointed an accusing finger above a blended crowd of Sound civilians and nin.

"Yes miss? My name is Sakura."

"I know that!"

Sakura arched an elegant eyebrow. What was she supposed to say to that…? As Karin fought her way through the busy square, Sakura wasn't sure what to make of the relaxed face, er , as relaxed as it could be. Ok, so semi-serene Karin.

"You going anywhere?"

Sakura was taken aback. Why would she want to know? To make friends? She scoffed. But she obliged anyway.

"To the post office. You wouldn't happen to know where it is, would you?"

Her eye brows scrunched up. "We don't have one."

Are you…kidding? Sakura could have tried to kill Orochimaru at that point of time, and succeeded.

"I see." She quietly said, seething in a controlled rage.

"Hey, look…" Karin looked at the ground, not that there was much to look at anyway, and twisted her hands nervously. "I know what you meant about Sasuke, and I realize that he probably isn't the one."

"Yeah, tell me about it. I get to know him all these years, and he treats me like shit."

You are an exceptional medic that is useful to me. Nothing more.

That familiar ache in her chest came back with more force than necessary, and her eyes started to water as she stared into the distance, into the forest tops of Konoha. Even after all these years, Sasuke still had the capacity to hurt her so much.

Unlike Sasuke, Sakura couldn't break the bonds that held the team together. Never. But she wanted to strangle him, to get him to see the tremendous strength and will of the heart it took to hold broken threads together.

Seeing Sakura with a suspicious shine in her eyes had broken a new level of perspective for Karin. So Sasuke was a bastard to Sakura, too? A former teammate at that, too! All rage she held at bay for Sakura effortlessly slid into place for Sasuke.

"Hey, Sakura-san, I just wanted to um," Karin began, unsure of what to say comfortably.

Sakura turned a swift, sad, and most of all, brilliantly green gaze into Karin's.

And that's when Karin knew that whoever this Sakura was had more weights than she could ever bear in a lifetime, and that the strength of character she possessed were unrivaled.

She had always prided herself in being a good judge of character. And she was never wrong, she thought arrogantly.

And so she began confidently, with a voice that made her proud.

"I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier, and I hope you can forgive me."

And when Karin met Sakura's glance, she knew she had made the right decision for once in her life.

A few moments. One glance.

And that was when both kunoichi reached a mutual understanding. Of the incredibly difficult life kunoichi led. Of the heartbreak Sasuke brought on. Of being in pain, of suffering, of compassion and honor.

And in doing so, Karin prided herself in finding one of the most exceptional characters that probably ever existed, and even, making a friend.

In doing so, one could say that roses, too, have the ability to make an unripened bud bloom into a woman.

All it took is a little bit of effort.

Hey guys! Wow, I'm not sure where I want to take this story…any suggestions?

And I know it's a shortie…but I'm working on another SasuSaku story- but it's a 4 shot. And a hecka lot fluffier than this hell-bent Sasuke, haha.

Also, I'm wondering, is anyone interesting in being a beta? I'd prefer one of my fans did it, because well..you know, your heart's more into it, no?

Thanks! I'll be back in a couple of days with a new chappie for you, I promise.