Suigetsu raised one eyebrow quizzically.

Sakura leaped forward and grabbed his shirt.

"Answer me!" she cried, almost in hysteria.

"Answer me at once! What connection do you have with Sasuke?"

Suigetsu continued to stand there, with his arms akimbo, an annoying smirk now appearing on his face, reminiscent of Naruto's.

It seems that he refuses to answer, thought Sakura.

Well, then, she had absolutely no choice but to…

Wham! Sakura's clenched fist hit Suigetsu on the jaw, sending him flying. She watched, satisfied, as he landed with an earsplitting crash on the ground, a few feet away from her.

To her surprise, what was Suigetsu a moment ago was now nothing but a puddle of water.

"W…What?" Sakura spluttered, bewildered.

Her surprise was further augmented when the water slowly took shape, forming Suigetsu.

Sakura rubbed her eyes. This has to be a nightmare, she thought. All these happenings, from the very moment she walked into the clearing, to the point when Suigetsu literally turned into water, every single one of them just seemed illogical and inconceivable.

Perhaps I am just having hallucinations, thought Sakura, in a desperate attempt to console herself.

Yet, as she watched Suigetsu pick himself up, walking steadily towards her, with his white hair gleaming in the soft, silvery rays of the moon, she knew that it was not a dream.

A mist was now rising, shrouding the world in an impenetrable grey. Sakura could barely make out Suigetsu's outline.

"P…Please," Sakura tried to choke back her tears. She had no wish to appear weak and vulnerable, especially not in front of a stranger.

"Please just tell me where Sasuke-kun is."

Suigetsu lifted his head and stared straight at her. For one moment, their gaze interlocked. Sakura could feel Suigetsu's penetrating her, searching her soul.

She looked steadily back into his eyes.

For that instant, they were engulfed in a silence that was stifling and unbearable, punctuated only by the distant rustling of the leaves.

"I should have known earlier." Suigetsu said lazily, breaking the uncomfortable silence, his gaze fixed onto Sakura's determined face.

"Your name is Haruno Sakura, right?"

Sakura took a step backwards, completely dumbfounded.

"How do you know?"

"Pink hair, emerald eyes…Sigh. And here I am, thinking that you are a softie!"

"I don't understand what you are bantering about."

"Sasuke has mentioned you before," Suigetsu was now staring at Sakura with a sly gleam in his eyes. "Yet, I have never been able to grasp the true nature of your relationship. What exactly are you to him?"

Sakura was at a loss of words. She stood upright, her arms hanging loosely be her side with her mouth slightly gaping open.

What was she to him?

A comrade?

A friend?

Or a lover?

Sakura could feel tears welling up in her eyes. She realized with a stinging pang that she did not have an answer.

Those tears, which should have been familiar to her, now felt salty, bitter and alien.

All of a sudden, Sakura had this image of herself drowning helplessly in the cold, unfeeling waters. She was struggling frantically, but she only sank deeper and deeper…

"I…I'm just…just his comrade," she said finally after another long and awkward pause.

An inquiring smile played about Suigetsu's moist lips. His eyes lit up with curiosity, as he scratched his forehead comprehensively.

"Well, all I can say is that Karin might not be too pleased about meeting you."

He chuckled to himself, a devilish gleam now present in his eyes.

Why should I care if this Karin, whoever she is, likes me or not? Wondered Sakura.

Suigetsu shook his head and signaled with a wave of his hand for her to follow him.

Sakura took a leap forward, her heart pounding madly away. She could feel the blood rushing to her head, making her slightly giddy. Yet, as she followed Suigetsu, there was a certain spring in her steps…

It was as if though the first rays of the morning Sun had penetrated her dark, desolate world.

Sakura could feel the wind blowing pass her as they reached the outskirts of the forest. As she lifted her gaze, Sakura saw a wide plain that extended for miles, as far as the eye can see. The gentle wind played with the blades of grass, caressing her cheek lovingly.

"S…Sasuke? Sakura said uncertainly as her eyes finally landed on four small tents pitched near an ancient tree that towered above her.

"You're back, Suigetsu."

Sakura could hardly believe this. This cold, mellow voice that was completely devoid of emotion could only belong to one person…

"Sasuke-kun!"

That's all for Chapter 4! Hopefully I will be able to update the story by tomorrow. Read and REVIEW, please!