A/N: Has anyone else read Manga Episode 384? GO SASUKE-KUN! PWN THAT WEASEL'S SORRY ASS!

Ehem, anyways, Happy New Year everybody!

I don't own Naruto... but Kami-sama, I wish I did.

Chapter Four: Understanding in a Dream

The clock chimed five times.

"I feel like shit." Sasuke folded his arms across his chest. Well, they weren't reallyhis arms or his chest, but at the moment, that's all he had. "And I wish I didn't have to sleep on the floor."

"Maybe you'll think twice about insulting a girl on her period in the future." Sakura could still hardly contain herself. It had taken her a good hour to silence her relentless laughter at the unfortunate Uchiha's predicament.

"Nobody said you had to lie on the floor. You're welcome to sleep beside me," Sakura said quietly. "Honestly, compared to what we've been through these past two days, that would be nothing."

Sasuke silently contemplated what she had said.

Well, she's right. This situation cannot possibly get any more awkward… I might as well sleep comfortably after all I've been through.

Sakura began to doze off when she was startled awake to feel another body slide into the bed. Shifting gently as to not alert the other person, Sakura peered over her shoulder, curious as to Sasuke's position.

Predictably, he was lying on his back, facing the ceiling with his eyes closed.

"Get some rest, Sakura." And with that, he was asleep.

Sakura watched him sleep for a while.

I never thought I'd say this, but I think this little mishap has turned out to be a good thing for us… for me. I've gotten closer to him… even though I know he will never care for me like I care for him. And now… I see how he lives his life…even if through just a miniscule glimpse… so alone, so afraid… it sickens me to know that I once claimed I loved this person for those petty reasons…

But man… his body is damn amazing. I almost can't wait to go the bathroom again. I wonder what he thinks of my body…

Where am I?

Sakura found herself standing in a darkened room with no doors or windows. The air was thick and sickly with the harrowing scent of fresh blood, and the only illumination was coming from an oil lantern at the far end of the room. There was no furniture and the walls were completely bare.

What the hell is this?

She looked down at her hands, which she was surprised to see were not Sasuke's.

Am I back in my own body?

"…why me?" a little voice sobbed.

It was then that Sakura noticed a little person cowering in the corner of the room across from the lantern. Hesitantly, she moved closer to inspect this obviously terrified child.

Spiky black hair…

As the floor creaked under her feet, she unintentionally startled the poor boy. He flew to his feet and spun around to face her.

"Are you alright?"

"Who are you?!" the little boy barked. His voice was higher, and he was physically smaller, but there was no doubt that it was Uchiha Sasuke at a younger age.

Genjutsu? No… a dream of some sort.

"I said, who are you?! Answer me!" He was grasping a kunai and holding it in front of himself protectively.

"I'm Sakura… I'm not here to hurt you." He didn't look convinced, but he lowered his kunai. "And you're Sasuke, right?"

The boy narrowed his familiar eyes. "How did you know that?"

Sakura racked her brain for an answer that would seem realistic. "Everyone knows who the Uchihas are."

"Oh, that's true…" Now he looked more convinced. Sakura released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding for a while now.

"So, uh, where are we, Sasuke?"

"I don't know… I just remember that Aniki killed otou-san and oka-san… and now I'm here…" he choked out. He looked ready to burst into tears, but he was obviously fighting them with all his might.

Sakura felt ready to cry too. Poor Sasuke. She slowly approached him, wanting to provide any possible comfort to him that she could muster.

Suddenly, a scream erupted from the little boy and an unseen force threw Sakura back, slamming her into a wall.

"NO, ANIKI! STOP IT! STOP HURTING THEM!" He was clutching his head and shaking violently. "THEY'RE YOUR FAMILY! DON'T, NII-SAN!"

Sakura forced herself onto her feet again and was greeted by the sight of two blood-red eyes staring down at her.

Sharingan?

With a shifted glance from the eyes, she was tossed across the room like a doll, her head crashing against the floor, leaving her paralyzed.

The young Sasuke was being destroyed from the inside out. He was bleeding from the mouth now, and he was cut and bruised all over.

"Sa… suke…" she grunted. "I want to help you…"

"You can't," a familiar voice said tiredly. Sakura shifted her head to the side to see the Sasuke she knew sitting with his legs bent and his chin resting on his arms which were wrapped around his knees. His eyes were closed. "You can just watch."

"You're dying over there…"

He opened his eyes and watched his younger self suffer. "Not surprising."

"How can you sleep with dreams like this?"

"I often times don't. And when I do, I just deal with it. Dreams aren't reality… and I've already lived through it, so it doesn't really scare me."

Sakura felt sick to the stomach. "That's awful… Sasuke-kun." A hot tear slid down her face. "I wish… you could at least sleep soundly for once… I'd do anything for that…"

Sasuke turned his head to face her, looking a little confused.

There was a sharp pain in her head, and her vision turned to white.

The clock chimed nine times.

Sasuke opened his eyes gently. He felt surprisingly rested this morning.

No training today… What is this smell? It's wonderful.

He shifted his gaze downwards and was greeted by a mess of pink hair.

Such a strange hair color… but yet it works for her…

WAIT, WHAT?!

Sasuke froze. He was facing the hair that had been on the back of his head last night. Startled, he tried to move his right arm to touch his hair, but realized that Sakura was laying on it. His left arm was wrapped around her waist and met the right arm on her stomach.

Carefully as to not wake the sleeping girl, he removed his arms from her body (and realizing the close proximity of their bodies in the process) and slid out of bed. He nearly crashed into the mirror out of excitement to see his own onyx eyes staring back at him.

He let out a happy sigh and slumped into a chair. Problem solved… and I didn't even have to see Ino.

Sasuke sat there quietly for a moment, watching Sakura sleep comfortably. That dream last night… she was there too. What she said… I have to wonder if she meant it. And why was I… like that with her?

Said girl stirred, snapping Sasuke out of his thoughts. She wasn't awake, but she would be soon. He glanced down at his body. I should get dressed… not like she hasn't seen more than this, though…

Hey, what the hell? Why am I wearing pink boxers?! Damnit, Sakura!

A/N: Yes, there will be one more chapter of this story. I hadn't wanted to make it this long, but I can only end it the way I want to with another chapter.

So, have a great holiday, all!