.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking a break. We've been walking for a solid six hours."

To this her makeshift partner said nothing.

Sakura dropped her bag on the ground a few feet away from the water source they'd been following for a short while. As she began to remove her palate and lay it out he took a seat to the other side of her, leaving enough space for something to go between them. She gave an exhausted sigh as she sat down and began looking in her pack for something. "How's your wound?"

"Acceptable."

The doctor in her didn't believe that for a minute, but, she would hold off checking on it for a bit. She pulled a scroll out of her bag and began to unroll it in front of her. As when she did anything, she could feel his eyes on her, watching her every movement. The first few hours of it had been uncomfortable; however, now she's just sort of grown use to it.

She bit her thumb, cutting a trail of blood before sliding it across the parchment and following up with a few easy hand signs. In a plume of smoke a bag very similar to the one she had been carrying with her appeared. It was seconds later she was digging into this one and pulling out a few stones; she arranged them in a clustered formation between her and the Akatsuki member. With a swift tap each one began to glow in an orange aura, emanating heat.

"There," she murmured. "Now, let me take a look at your wound before I start on dinner." He didn't move or protest as she came over to sit partially in front of him and partially to his left side. Gently, she removed the cloak from around his shoulders, revealing the pale, muscled shoulders; a lithe frame housed excellent tone. However, her eyes were solely focused on the bandages wrapping his left shoulder and part of his chest and arm. Without asking she snipped at the white material with a pair of scissors she'd removed from her pouch supplies. The process of unraveling it all was careful and required her to be closer to him that she liked. If it bothered him at all he made no mention of it. His eyes remained closed and his breath shallow, as if relaxed.

"All done," she whispered more to herself than to him.

"Jasmine."

She blinked. "I'm sorry…?"

He opened his eyes slowly and looked over at her, hooded pools of pitch lethargic. "You smell like Jasmine."

She wasn't sure what to make of that; she swallowed slowly and let out a momentary exhaled before going back to inspecting his wound. She watched out of the corner of her eye as he turned back to his former position, eyes closed.

"My mother use to wear it," she found herself saying as she ran her fingers across the gash, semi-glowing hands gentle. "The perfume."

"…Ah." His voice was quiet, and contemplative.

She sat back a moment. "Well, it's not healing as well as I would like it to. In fact, I'm a little worried that with your condition it might get infected, fester and eventually kill you. I shouldn't tell you this, one because I'm sure you don't care and two because of what you represent to Konoha…. But," she sighed, irritated, "I am a doctor first and a Konoha shinobi second. Fact is, Uchiha, if you don't stop using the Mangekyo, due to your failing immune system, your lungs will collapse and you will die."

"You haven't told me anything I don't know. How do we fix the immediate problem?"

Her jaw tightened and she let it go. It didn't matter how she felt as a medical professional in regards to his quick brush off; it really would be better if he did nothing at all about the Sharingan; better for Konoha… for Sasuke.

She put it out of her mind and went on to explain. "I can't seal this would and tie back your muscle tissue on my own. These caves won't allow for me to expel any chakra from my body to yours. However, if you can focus your chakra underneath the surface of the wound then I can probably manipulate it to… well… fix it."

"Do it."

She bit her tongue at the order and raised her hands over it, skin to skin as she waited for him to draw enough chakra. "Good, keep that amount steady." And then she went to work, intermixing what chakra she could into his body with her own in order to manipulate what he offered. Slowly, she began to close and reform; any infection present began to reverse and vacate the body, eliminated.

Everything was fine, for a moment. And then that was when the images started to flash into her mind. She tried to push her thoughts aside and focused as she finished, but, they wouldn't stop. Memories assailed her, voices she didn't know and faces she'd never seen. She felt herself inhale, swallow in fear. She jolted, still caught in the web as a hand gripped her wrist in a vice, as eyes of pitch caught her own and a tight voice spoke.

"What have done to me?"

Chapter Three

A groan emanated from soft, pink lips and ebony depths drug themselves open. His arm was stretched out to his right; a soft mattress was beneath and void of any other human body. He was warm, but, the cold went without saying.

A sigh escaped Sasuke as he pulled himself up, sheet slipping off of his taught, hard back and falling to his hips. He turned over, allowing it to fall completely off his nude form. He got up slowly, cracking his neck before he went about gathering his clothes off the floor. His mind traveled as he slipped the items back on.

He wasn't too surprised Sakura wasn't here. She usually got up early with Isao and went to work in the hospital. With a child she had the benefit of working a standard nine to five day; at best she had one day off a week, but, there were times she had two. Since he was older now, there were days she stayed late or went in earlier; it just all depended on what she was working on, how many people could do her job for her, and what was needed.

He would be lying if he told himself he wasn't a little put off that she wasn't there, or, that she hadn't woke him up to say goodbye… But then, she wasn't required to tell him when she was leaving or where she was going. She wouldn't expect the same of him either.

He couldn't help but smile and pause to look out a nearby window.

His pants were on, belt undone as he pressed a hand into the wall next to him, leaning forward. His shirt was on, undone but tucked in. On the floor next to him was his flack vest, crumpled in a messy pile atop his sandals and wraps for his calves.

Something had changed last night; something had changed in him… in their dynamic. He couldn't expect himself to keep going on as he had, doing nothing… wasting time. He didn't want anyone else. He wasn't so arrogant anymore to think she couldn't be happy with anyone else, but, he wanted to be the one to do that. He couldn't be satisfied knowing what it had been like for one night and letting it go because he couldn't get over his heart.

Maybe Naruto was right… maybe it was just worth it to make the first move…

He would.

…

.

…

The sun was bright, blisteringly so. Wasn't it supposed to be spring? It shouldn't be this hot, she told herself as she knelt n a bed of herbs; a basket was beside her as she inspected the petal of fuchsia colored flower. It would likely bloom in a few days; it would be then she extracted the pollen for the poison control unit. She stood, replacing her wide brimmed hat to guard against the rays as she moved onto a bush, basket in hand. Here she felt the leaves and leaned down to smell the aroma.

"Looks like you're ready," the pinkette murmured to herself as she began plucking gently and placing them into one sectioned off area of her basket.

Today was fairly relaxing despite the heat, she decided and sighed. If only yesterday had brought her the reprieve she'd wanted; something. Walking into the birthing and death records department of the village had been a wreck on her nerves. Hadn't she learned by now not to get her hopes up? How was it that they couldn't find a listing for the birth certificate information in question? How was she going to find out if that woman had a family that knew about the Uchiha massacre? It was the first good lead she'd had in over a year.

Sakura stopped and closed her eyes.

She was tired. She'd been tired yesterday. Coming home and putting on a good smile for her son had been one of the hardest things she had accomplished in a while. After all, she wasn't just doing this for herself, for Itachi… she was doing this for little Isao as well. If she could just prove…

Maybe it was time to give up? To move on with her life? No, then everything she'd worked for would be for nothing; everything she'd begged of her mentor would be for naught. Though… even Tsunade was telling her she should maybe throw up the towel; if she hadn't found anything hard, good, in the last twelve, thirteen years nearly… she wasn't going to; that had been what her mentor had said. Was she right?

The young woman sighed and looked down at her basket; she contented herself with being done and turned to leave the garden.

His face haunted her though; the pain in his eyes was something she saw every night she went to sleep as she told herself tomorrow would surely turn up something new. She made a promise to herself, to Sasuke… to her son.

To her son, her beautiful son who never questioned who his father was, who never told her about the things people said about him, who was always simply happy to be. She knew the pain behind the mask he wore; she'd taught him well by example, hadn't she? Be strong, she'd told him with every false smile, be vigilant, she quietly ordered with every persevering step. And no matter what they said about him, about his mother to him, he still never asked.

Was it worth it… or worse to keep trying? Would it be better for him if she just settled in acceptance and did what she could to make it work for them?

Sakura shut the door behind her as she entered the back way into the hospital, her mind lingering on. She set the basket down on a nearby table as she pulled off the brown smock and replaced it with her lab coat.

"Ai!" she called out to the passing girl in front of her. As she caught her attention she offered her up the basket. "After you done with whatever Shizune is sending you off to do please take this to the poison control unit."

She took the basket and bowed. "Yes, Haruno-sama."

Sakura watched her go off about her duty as she pulled a small black book from her coat pocket. She removed the pen and inspected the day's pages. There were a few patients she had appointments to see before she left in a few hours. One was a surgery check up… and… Kakashi. Well, she'd see if he showed up. After all, the newest Icha Icha novel was out, courtesy of the Hokage-to-be. She moved to make a note to stop by his abode if he forgot as she walked, careful to move out of the way of any passerby with the skill of someone used to constant chaos.

"Haruno-sama!"

"Yes, Himiko?" Sakura continued walking as the girl tried to keep pace with her, flustered.

"You have someone her to see you. She says it's very urgent and about the—."

"That's fine. Have them wait in my office. I have a patient next and it won't take long."

"But, Har—."

Sakura stopped and turned to face her in the middle of the hallway, pocketing her book and placing both hands in her pockets. "Himiko, patients come first. Now, is it ANBU, Ibiki, the elders or Tsunade-sama herself that's waiting on me to see them?"

"No—."

"Then it can wait. I'll be done shortly."

Himiko sighed, defeated. "Yes, Haruno-sama. I'll tell them."

Without waiting for her to go Sakura continued on her way, taking the stairs to the second floor and to next room on her appointment list. A nurse met her in the hallway with a clipboard ready to hand over.

"How's the little monkey doing?"

"Konohamaru-san is just fine, Haruno-sama."

"Did you take blood?"

"Of course. We did a full check up. The infection appears to have cleared his body and there are no signs of poison any longer. There's a nasty scar forming, but, all that aside I'd give him a clean bill of health… if it were my duty to do so."

Sakura chuckled and glanced over at the younger woman. "I keep telling you to put in for the physician studies. You'd be a great candidate. I'd certainly write you a recommendation, Miko."

"Yes, well, I'm perfectly happy with where I'm at now." She handed over the clipboard just in front of the door. "I'm not sure I could handle all the responsibility you do."

"I'll convince you one day."

"So you say, Haruno-san. Have fun with him. He's a little antsy to get back to duty." She waved before turning and moving down to hall to continue with her own work.

"Nurses," Sakura whispered before she opened the door and stepped in, skipping over the file Miko had passed on. As she'd said, it all looked in order.

"Afternoon, monkey."

There was laughter. "Hey, doc. So, how does it look? Clean bill or another week off?"

She looked up at him from her clipboard, features giving away nothing.

She had to give the old man credit… he sure knew how to keep the family line handsome. Asuma had never suffered on good looks and the 4th's grandchildren didn't seem to lack in that area either.

He'd grown into a tall young man with a strong jaw and a bigger smile than in his Genin years. His hair was a thick spiky mess that rivaled Naruto's. His eyes were bright, clear and full of trouble; that much hadn't changed. In his Jounin uniform, broad shouldered and a little bushy about the jaw, she almost felt like she was looking at his uncle.

"Well, let me give it a look myself. Pull your shirt up." She motioned with her hand as she set down the clipboard and pulled a chair forward, rolling across the floor so she could sit down. It appeared it was as Miko said. All clear and starting to scar. She reached out, feeling with her fingers and pressing. She watched for any signs of pain from the younger man but got nothing. She gave a soft frown and sent a small amount of chakra out to be assured.

And then she frowned further and slumped back in her chair. Her arms crossed over her chest as she settled him with a look. "Alright, kage bushin… where's Konohamaru?"

"Busted," was the last thing he said before he went up in a cloud of smoke.

Sakura rolled her eyes and sighed. "Perfect. Another idiot quick to kill himself." She'd get to him later. It wasn't like the runt could go anywhere until she signed his release papers.

She stood up, feeling like that last fifteen minutes of her day had been wasted on a prank. She let it go as she picked up the clipboard and turned to leave the room. What stood in her way was a little surprising. Was she that off her game today? He hadn't been able to catch her off guard for at least… what six years? Probably.

"I'd like to talk to you. About last night."

Sakura sighed. "Look I have a pretty good idea of what you want to say to me, but, can it wait until my shift is over?"

"I—."

"Haruno-san!" Himiko burst through the door.

"What, Himiko?"

"Look, I'm sorry I didn't wait on you. But, that lady from the birthing records office says it's urgent she speak to you."

Sakura's eyes widened for the briefest of moments. "Birthing and death records. You're sure?"

"Yes, Haruno-san."

"Tell her I'm on my way and give this chart to Miko before you do." She handed her the clipboard. As the girl left Sakura turned to Sasuke. "I have to see about this. It's very important. But, if you give me an hour I'll have lunch with you. Fair?"

He didn't look happy to agree to her terms, but, nodded nonetheless. "…Alright."

She stopped for a moment, her eyes softening. A memory stirred and she couldn't help but stop and think… that in that moment he'd looked an awful lot like his brother. Under better circumstances she might have voiced it.

"Thank you."

…

.

…

When Sakura opened the door to her office Izumi stood up and greeted her warmly almost immediately. Sakura took her hand and shook it.

"Haruno-sama. Thank you for coming quickly."

"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner. I didn't exactly give Himiko time to explain just who was in my office. You have something for me?"

"Yes, I do." The dark-haired, middle-aged women didn't appear phased at all by this information.

"Please, sit down," Sakura offered as she took a seat across from her at her desk.

"I don't have too much time, so, I'll get right to it. When you asked me to look under the Uchiha birth records and I couldn't find the file of the woman you were looking for I was a little put off. It isn't very customary for us to lose a file and so the only immediate explanation I could come up with was that her file had been confiscated by someone higher up; which, didn't make sense to me when I thought about it. Naturally, this was all after you left."

Sakura nodded, eyes intent and focus secured on Izumi.

"Well, I took a moment to consider that perhaps she hadn't been filed under her married name, but, her maiden name."

"Does that happen?"

"It isn't customary, no, but in some rare cases, for many unknown reasons—usually pertaining to security of the deceased's family—you will have cases when it's willed that the married woman's record be refilled under her family name."

"I see."

"So," she sighed out, "I did a check under that and found what you were looking for, but, that wasn't all." Izumi handed the vanilla folder over. "It turns out she had family outside of the Uchiha one she married into."

"Really?"

Izumi nodded. "Uchiha Sasami, formerly Suzuki Sasami, was actually a twin. She has a sister. I did a little digging for you and found out she was still alive; she lives in the village actually. She's a civilian by the name of Kato Rukia. I got her address for you. It's all there."

Sakura exhaled slowly, discreetly. Hiding her elation; suffocating it, was horrendous. She nodded confidently, remaining calm and serene in her expression. She smiled, but, not too brightly. "Thank you so much. This helps me more than you know."

Izumi nodded. "Yes, well, if it helps Konoha find a way to cure the blindness and strain attributed to the Mangekyo then it's all worth it, is it not, Haruno-sama?"

"Yes, definitely," she agreed. "I appreciate it and so will others." She stood as Izumi did, reaching for her hand and shaking it. "Do let me know if you need anything."

"My pleasure, Haruno-sama. I have to go, but, I'm sure I'll see you again."

Sakura nodded, bowing as she did before she left.

Once she was sure the woman was gone and that no one was around she beamed, grinning. "Finally," she half shouted in a whisper, while holding the folder as if it was a holy object. A breakthrough, finally. Thank, Kami-sama. She would savor this. Granted, she couldn't get her hopes up just yet, but, this moment would last for a while. For at least the rest of the day.

Suddenly a knock came at her door.

"Yes?" She washed her face of her joy quickly and set the folder down as the door opened.

Himiko poked her head in tentatively. "Uchiha-sama is waiting for you. He says if you're done he's ready for that lunch break."

"Ah, yes. Thank you. Tell him I'll be out in a moment. After you do please let the nurse's station know I'll be out for an hour."

Himiko nodded and ducked out, shutting the door quietly behind her.

Sakura stared at the door a moment, considering just what was in store for this meeting. She wasn't lying when she'd told him she had a general idea of what he wanted to say to her; thankfully, he would be all business… as usual. And that was something normal she could handle—even from the Uchiha.

She dropped her lab coat on her desk, checked herself in her wall mirror and made sure her hip pouch was secured about her waist. She frowned at the white button up and the skin tight capris. It would have to do; after all, it was work comfort. She wasn't on a mission and this wasn't a date.

She gave a sigh and left, shutting and locking her office behind her.

As expected he wasn't sitting down in a chair in the waiting area; no, Sasuke stood just a few feet from her office door in the hallway, leaning against the wall.

She offered a smile. "Shall we go?"

He nodded and pushed off the wall, taking a bag with him and pulling it over his shoulder. Silence accompanied their presence as they left the hospital.

He didn't look at her, but, on ahead at the passing civilians and shinobi going on about their day. Briefly, he noted she looked better, not physically… but, something was better about her. "How's your day so far?" he asked.

"Good and bad. Well, not so much bad as annoying."

He nodded, knowing she would explain.

"Konohamaru was due for a check in today and instead sent a kage bushin in his place. I can only assume he didn't think I would have time to really look in on him after Miko talked to me, one of the nurses on the second floor. Or course, she wouldn't have been able to detect a thing."

Sasuke gave a little smirk at that. "I'm not surprised."

"Neither am I. I'll get to him later." She shrugged. "So, where are we going to eat?"

He motioned to the bag he was carrying. "I got something to take out… It's not something I want to talk about in a room full of people straining to hear us."

"Naturally," she agreed. "What did you get me then?" she peered over at the bag.

"Orange juice and the Reiko special number one."

"My favorite." She smiled.

"Mmm," he agreed.

"And where are we eating, again?"

"Training ground. I had one reserved today for other uses, but, this works just as well."

Sakura frowned. "You do know I'm sparing with you."

"Only if you want to. Do you need to expend some energy?" His voice was monotonous, lacking any indication if cared whether she wanted to one way or the other.

"No, not really, if you want me to be honest. By the time I get done at work every day I've gotten enough of a workout. That kind of exercise is saved for the mornings before work."

"That's why you left early." And here he assumed it was the hospital that had her up before the crack of dawn.

"…Yeah," she agreed, letting it go.

The rest of the walk was met with silence. When they reached the destination he took a seat with her under the tree there and pulled out their lunch. They ate quietly and watched the water on the river ahead of them. Even after they were done the quiet remained. When he felt it was a good time to start saying something it was her who beat him to the punch.

"Before you say anything I just want you to know there's nothing to really talk about."

The statement preened his curiosity enough that he let her go on, turning to watch her face as she spoke.

"I realize what happened last night was just us doing what we wanted. I don't regret it, and to be honest I needed it as much as I'm sure you did. We're adults, Sasuke; not children."

"I'm aware."

"Nearly in our thirties, I might add."

"I'm aware of that also."

"I'm not a foolish little girl anymore and I don't need you to tell me it didn't mean anything more than two very old friends giving each other what they needed at the time. I respect you as a teammate and as the uncle of my child; I don't want that to change. I'm sure you don't want one night to change that either."

He was quiet for a moment and looked away towards the water, eyes narrowed and thoughtful. One leg was stretched out in front of him while the other was bent with his elbow on it; his forearm half hung there, relaxing. His free hand supported him. His body half faced Sakura in that position.

"What do you want, Sakura?"

"I want us to continue as we were; comfortable, even if sometimes strained on our beliefs in regards to Isao and how he should be raised. I like having you around for him and I don't want that to change." She gave a smile. He could feel the wane in it.

"I'm sure that's what you want. That's why you wanted to talk to me, isn't it? Well, I'm ok. Alright? You don't have to worry about me feeling hurt. I've been over you for a long time."

"Do you know what I want?"

"I'm sorry?"

It was then he turned his gaze away from the water, coal orbs locking on hers. She didn't look away, but, she appeared a little put off. He had to stop himself from smiling at that, laughing. It had been a while since she'd looked so unsure of herself of what someone else was thinking.

"You," he whispered as he reached for her, moving to take the back of her head and capture her in a kiss. She jumped under him, obviously surprised, but, she didn't push him away either. He moved his lips across hers, gentle and pleading at once, running his tongue across the opening until she gave under him. And then she gave back, returning the kiss as much as she had the night before, sighing through her nose.

His tongue tangled softly across hers as he ran the thumb of his free hand across her cheek, gently brushing her hair out of the way in a way that was reverent; his hand swept though her hair. His other moved down her back, pulling her to his chest.

Fire lit his blood and he found himself wanted to press her down into grass. He wasn't ashamed to admit he would gladly take her right there, that she would take him as eagerly as well.

He pulled away, not quite letting her go as he stared into her hooded green eyes.

"I don't want one night. I don't want to go on like we were. I want this," he whispered, breathy and unabashed. "I want what you do to me."

Sakura took in a breath and closed her eyes again. Carefully, she pulled away from him, trying to form thoughts. "Sasuke, I…"

He waited, quietly, watching her.

"I don't…" she stopped and looked over at him. "I don't think I can right now." Why was that so hard to say?

"Why?" He appeared strained, but not angry or shocked by her response. "Give me a reason."

"I just can't right now," she replied, her voice tight. "Do you even realize what you're asking, who you're asking?"

"Sakura."

"Look," she answered, "For one… what if it didn't work… what about Isao? Can you imagine the kind of strain it would put on him?"

"Don't use him as an excuse," he muttered. "He's not a child anymore, not by shinobi standards. In a few months he'll be doing and seeing things other normal boys his age won't for years to come, if that."

"Sasuke."

He stood up and she followed suit.

"We work," he half snapped, not in anger but to get his point across. "And we've practically been a family since that boy's first birthday."

"And I don't want to ruin that dynamic!" she argued, eyes hard.

"We won't and you know that, Sakura. I would never cheat on you, I would never let anyone hurt you, I would be there as I have been…and," he breathed out, voice hot as he got closer to her with every step, "when I love you it wouldn't be on a whim."

Her eyes wavered slightly. It was for a moment, but, it was enough for him to keep going.

"I'm not giving up on this," he whispered. "I know you want this as much as I do… even if you're too jaded by grief and fear to see it.

"You're right, Sakura. We're not kids anymore. As a girl you would have broken bonds, oaths, to be with me, to make me happy. Then… you couldn't do anything to make that happen. But I can. For you.

"I will."

AN :: So….that was interesting…. Sorry the update took so long and sorry if as a result of fanfiction[dot]net changing the way their site works that I couldn't reply to all my previous reviews. I do want you all to know I saw them, I loved them and I have listened. I sorely hope you have enjoyed the update. It was fun to write if even a pain and late.

—Blade