Chapter 6

It has been three weeks since Sakura and I started 'going out'. I have to admit…I have gotten kind of used to it. What surprises me most is that I am not getting angry as often and she doesn't annoy me as much. I just feel better with her there. But I would never tell her that.

"So…our job tonight starts at 11:00 right?"

"Yes. That's what Kakashi said."

"Alright then I will see you then." She leans over the center console of my car and kisses me on the cheek before getting out of the car. I let out a sigh. I am getting way too used to this. I actually think I might love her. These past weeks have showed me how great of a person she is and how great of a person she can make me. Not to mention she isn't bad looking either.

"God! What am I thinking! She is my teammate! I can't be thinking stuff like that!" I pull over on the side of the road and sink back into my seat. "Stop having those types of thoughts Sasuke! You can't love her! You have known her for what a month! Damn what is my problem?" I slam my head against the steering wheel and hear the horn honk. I just need to go home and get some rest. That's it. Running on low battery for days on end can't be good for my mind.

…:::…

"Neji Section A, Naruto take Section B, Gaara Section C, Shikamaru take Section D. Sakura and I will take Section E. Now Spilt!" I say through my mike. Then I hear Sakura's voice come through.

"Sasuke?"

"Yes?"

"I have a bad feeling."

"So do I. Be careful." We reach section E after several minutes of riding. "Sakura let's split up. We can cover more ground that way. You take the left at the fork. I'll go straight."

"Got it." We reach the fork and I see her pull to the side behind me. I continue straight until I see a figure in the middle of the road. I try to swerve but lose control of my bike. It slips out from under me and after I tumble it somehow ends up on top of me, breaking at least two ribs. Then I see the figure above me and I see something that I recognize, red eyes. But these are not ordinary red eyes. These eyes contain black markings. There is only one person besides me who can obtain eyes like these.

"I…Itachi?"

"Yes little brother. It seems we meet again."

"You…bastard…"I manage to get out between gasps for breath.

"Now brother…I will make you suffer. Until we meet again." At his last words the world around me fades and I let out a scream of agony and terror.

Sakura's POV

"Oh no! Sasuke!" I straddle my bike again and put on my helmet. I speed back to where we parted and follow the path he took. Then I see a pile in the distance. As I get closer I recognize a black bike and under it is a head of black hair. I stop my bike and jump off. "Sasuke!" I shake him slightly before pushing the bike off of him. "Sasuke stay with me!" I turn on my helmet mike, "All Dead report to Section E immediately! Leader down! I repeat…Leader down!"

Sasuke's POV

I hear Sakura's voice calling to me but it is as if it came from a great distance. Then I hear others. Neji and Shikamaru, Naruto and Gaara. What is going on?

Sakura's POV

"What happened?"

"I don't know! I heard him scream and when I got here this is how I found him."

"Several ribs appear to be broken but that is probably from the bike. Something else is going on here."

"I…I…Itachi…"

"Sasuke? Sasuke talk to me?"

"No…no….don't…NO!"

"We have to get him back to Kakashi. There is no way I could figure this out in time." Shikamaru says from behind me.

"Can you ride with him behind you?" I ask Shikamaru.

"Yes."

"Then do that. We have to hurry!"

…:::…

"Some kind of illusionary technique has been used on him. He is reliving one moment over and over again. By the looks of it…it is a painful memory. One person has keep watch over him at all times."

"I'll do it."

"Good Sakura. I will tell Tsunade that you and Sasuke will not be present at school for a while."

"No…no…"

"I will drive you both back to his house."

"Alright."

…:::…

"No…no…why…" I can't stand to see him in so much pain. As much as I hate to admit it, I have developed feeling for him over the past month. Seeing him like this is almost more than I can bear…almost.

I take the cloth from his forehead, soak it in cold water and replace it. He has been running a fever that won't break and he screams out in pain every so often. The rest of the time he just mutters things like, "No" or "stop" and "why". I wish I knew how to help him. Kakashi has said we just have to wait. That he will wake up when he is ready. He rolls over and I realize something that I have never noticed before. He has a mark on the back of his neck. Under the mark are two marks that look like he was bit. I run my fingers over it. He flinches and I pull my hand back quickly. I wonder what that is.