Sorry I was half asleep when I posted this chapter, there were a lot of errors I've fixed the major ones and I'll probably make a few changes here and there. Once again sorry about that it didn't register that words were literally missing in this. lol


Chapter 8

Shortly after Tsunade spoke with Sasuke, she went back to finish up with Sakura's treatments for the day. While she checked her for any changes or fluctuations, Sakura found herself coughing hard, as she felt a familiar occurrence of awful fluid come up.

Quickly stopping her examination, Tsunade grabbed something for Sakura to throw up into; as she simultaneously patted on her back. "Sakura you alright now?" she asked while rubbing circles on her back.

"Ye…ah" she answered, while wiping her bottom lip. "OK just take it easy you're all done for today" she said next while handing her a clean towel, before going over to check Sho's side.

Since Sho's mother was in the room, Tsunade had her help with some of her inspection. "OK Sho-kun all done," Tsunade finished before she shortly left the room with her paper work. After Tsunade had left, Sakura exhaustedly laid back in bed; trying to collect herself after her sick spell.

Once Sasuke made it home from the hospital, he carefully looked over the paper document Tsunade had given him. After reading it over and over carefully, Sasuke sat down for a while as he felt a horrible pressure of being the ultimate one in charge now of Sakura's life. Knowing that he almost messed up earlier, when he tried to reveal the truth to her; he quickly decides to make a few phone calls to all the others.

"OK Sho-kun… I'll be back tomorrow get some rest." Sho's mother finally said after she finished reading him a story. "…Mama about earlier… can we?" he hesitantly asked while she got her things together. "Sho… I've told you that's impossible please don't ask again" she scolded him while she pulled up her purse. Hearing her yell at the kid, made Sakura unexplainably pissed over her being so uptight; even though she didn't know what she was opposing. Sho was a good kid, whom was sick he didn't deserve to be told no.

Elsewhere, Ino goes to answer her ringing cell phone, only for her to hear her door being knocked on first. "Hello?" she said quickly answering it without having any idea of who could be coming over to her house this late at night.

"Hey Ino it's me Rena…I brought you a present" she said while holding up a bottle. "Hey what are you doing here so late?" Ino asked after she hurried Rena into her house, before she woke up her parents.

"Oh sorry, it's just I hadn't seen you since you left the club suddenly and I wanted to apologize about acting like that... It's just... I'm just so distraught over Sakura acting that way." Rena continued as she pretended to wipe away a fake tear. "Come on have a few drinks with me." She said next while holding up the bottle in hopes of tempting Ino.

Ino sighed as she invited Rena up to her room, after closing her bedroom door; Ino watches as Rena starts pouring her a lot to drink. Ino wasn't big on drinking, especially since she was underage, but after the events transpiring with Sakura; she really needed something strong to take her mind off of it.

Trying her best to sleep off her upset stomach, Sakura couldn't ignore the sniffling, coming from the other side of the room; annoyed and not feeling well Sakura turned her head to look across the room.

"Hey quite down over there I'm trying to sleep" she said to her roommate, Sho looked at her with a sad teary face, as he tried his best to stop crying. Seeing him in distress and weak from her earlier exertion, Sakura little by little got up from her bed to slowly walk over to the boy.

"What's wrong...? There's never anything wrong with you" she tried to say to cheer him up. Sho didn't say anything as he looked down. Not knowing what else to do, Sakura sighed before getting into the hospital bed with Sho.

Sho surprised by Sakura suddenly getting in beside him. Watched her lay her head next to his as they both start looking at the ceiling; Sakura asked once again. "So what's up? You can tell me… We're friends aren't we?" Sho sniffled once more, as he pulled out a piece of paper he kept in a drawer. Sakura confused took the paper from him, and looked to see that it was a picture of kids playing in a park.

"I've always wanted to go to one but…" Sho said in the mist of crying, Sakura looked at the boy before she handed back the paper. "Really is that all," she asked while sitting up.

"Yea mama says no…" he admitted sadly. Sakura feeling bad for him patted him on the head, "Get some rest OK, you'll feel better tomorrow" she said next, while going back over to her bed.

"K" Sho could only reply half heartedly as he turned to put the picture back in his drawer before trying to go to sleep.

After Rena had gotten Ino pretty drunk, she started asking her different questions. "Uh that's hilarious Ino, so what do you think about Sakura?" Rena asked while swishing her drink around.

"...Well Sakura and I were best friends; I helped her out when people use to make fun of her big forehead." Ino said before laughing finding herself reminiscing about the past.

"She certainly does have a big forehead, "Rena commented before taking a sip of her drink."So what happened?" she asked curiously needing to find out.

"Well, it started over a guy," Ino paused as she took a big sigh "Sasuke… he is the hottest guy I've seen anywhere. He's strong mysterious and everyone wanted him. Luckily for Sakura they were put on a team together and well long story short she got the guy." Ino said before finishing off her drink.
"Huh?... I see, but Ino what I don't get is why now they aren't together" Rena probed further. "Oh now? Well there was an incident, and..." Ino stopped before realizing she spoken way too much.

"Incident? Like what?" Rena said quickly as she got closer to Ino's face wanting to know the information badly. "Well its personal, we don't talk about it, "she finished saying as she placed her empty glass down on her table. Hearing her cell phone, ringing again; Rena stops Ino whom was trying to answer it.

"Ino come on, you can tell me I promise I won't tell anyone cross my heart" Rena pleaded while reaching for the wine bottle. "Besides we're friends now... Aren't we?" she said slyly while keeping eye contact with Ino.
Ino waited a second to think it over. "Besides she treated you like dirt, why not give up some dirt on her." Rena said next while pouring Ino another drink.

Having the last drink already taking her over the edge, of rational thinking; Ino shrugged her shoulders. Before she looked at Rena, "OK so here's what happened..."

Early the next morning, Sho is taken by a nurse to go through his daily physical. Not long after he'd gone, Sakura received a visitor.
"Hey "Sasuke said while opening the door, Sakura hurriedly waved at him to come over. Sasuke hurriedly made his way over to Sakura's side to sit. "So you wanted me to come early… Are you alright?" Sasuke asked thinking that there was something wrong.

[SAKURA FLASHBACK]

Once Sho finally cried himself to sleep, Sakura once again got up to quietly leave the room; going back to the pay phone she had used earlier to contact Toshi. Sakura began dialing a number.

"H…ello" the voice said obviously half asleep.

"Hey it's me Sakura…Can you come by early tomorrow morning." She asked while she nervously waited for a reply.

"Sakura...yea…sure"
[END FLASHBACK]

Sasuke was surprised to receive a phone call from Sakura, since after the incident happened; he made it a point to leave his number with her, just in case she needed someone to speak with.

"Thanks for coming so early." Sakura paused. "Oh first, what was it you were going to tell me yesterday?" she asked next.

Sasuke remembering what Tsunade said before decided on dropping the subject all together. He made a point to call Naruto and the others, when he got home to make sure they don't say anything to Sakura about it as well all except for Ino he had tried twice to get a hold of her. "Oh that… well it was nothing."

"O...H" Sakura said in a disappointed tone, "Sasuke… I'm not very good at this friend thing…Sorry" Sakura admitted as she clutched a paper. "I do need a favor from you" Sakura asked while she handed, Sasuke the piece of paper. "What is this?" he asked before looking at it.

Feeling anxious, Sakura took a big gulp before answering Sasuke's question."Sho he's never been anywhere other than a hospital… Do you know where there is a nearby park?" she asked impatiently waiting for his response. "I do but… "Sasuke paused as he wasn't sure about either Sho or her being out of the hospital.

Watching him hesitate, Sakura quickly defended her reasoning. "Sasuke please, I'm not trying to run off I promise... That little boy wants nothing more in this world than to go to the park and he can't... Will…. Will you help me?" Sakura asked while staring the Uchiha down.

Sasuke looked at the image, before looking back at Sakura. "It's not just that Sakura, I mean that boy isn't our…" Sasuke stopped as he felt a horrible sensation in his stomach. Taking an extremely deep breath, Sasuke looked at the seriousness coming from Sakura's face before answering her.

"OK" he agreed. Overly relieved Sakura tells Sasuke her plan, while they waited for Sho to return.

As soon as Sho was back he noticed Sasuke pulling out his wheelchair. "Huh?" Sho gave a questioned look at Sasuke, who motioned for him to get in.

"Come on, we don't have much time." Sakura said next as she grabbed his shoes. Sho seeing Sakura wink at him, decided to jump into the chair; as they sneakily made their way out of the hospital.

After feeling the cool air on his face, Sho knew he was outside but since Sakura made him cover his eyes he wasn't sure where he was going.

Once the wheelchair stopped, Sho heard Sakura's voice. "OK open them." She demanded, as it took him a second to see anything other than white. Once Sho's vision adjusted, he was shocked seeing he was really at a park. Watching kids run around and play like in the picture, Sho quickly looked back to Sakura and Sasuke. "What are you waiting for go ahead" Sakura motioned as Sasuke locked his wheelchair; Sho smiled as he got up to go play starting with the slide.

Sitting on a nearby bench, Sakura watches Sho play. "Thanks Sasuke." She found herself saying while smiling just watching Sho play, "…he really needed this." Sasuke didn't respond as he was busy looking at Sakura instead of Sho. "What's the matter" Sakura suddenly asked while turning to see Sasuke just staring at her.

"…Nothing" he replied with a grin, Hearing some familiar music play in the background. Sasuke hurried off to catch a little truck going by. When Sho ran back to Sakura, he stopped while catching his breath. "Sakura did you see me on the slide?" he shouted unable to contain his excitement.

Sakura laughed at him, being such a kid despite him seemingly always acting older than his age. "Here you two" Sasuke said next, while handing them both some ice cream. "Thanks Sasuke," Sho shouted again as he sat on the bench, to eat the cold dessert.

Sakura looked at the ice cream for a bit, before Sasuke finished taking a lick of his. "What's wrong?" he asked seeing her not partake in the dessert.
"It's nothing really but how did you know I liked this flavor?" Sakura asked curiously; Sasuke blushed a bit before answering, "I just guessed that's all" he said while looking down.

Sakura watching his expression, looked back at the ice cream before taking a few licks; trying to catch some that started to drip on her hand.

"Good Sho-kun? Sasuke asked seeing Sho almost eat the whole thing. "Um" he replied happily, since his face showed that he got more on it then in his mouth; Sakura grinned seeing him so carefree.

After being at the park for an hour or two the trio made their way back to the hospital. When they finally had gotten back into the room; Sakura, Sasuke, and Sho noticed Tsunade Shizune and Sho's mother waiting for them.

"Sho" his mother shouted, as she wrapped her arms around him. "Where have you been mama's been sick and worried about you" she yelled while shaking him.
"Mama I'm fine we went to the park it was so much fun." he said with a smile trying to reassure her that he was more than fine.

"What?" his mother protested as she looked up at Sakura and Sasuke.

[Slap]

"How dare you take him out of this hospital, he is a sick little boy I don't care if you don't care for your own life but don't jeopardize my son… you hear me." Sho's mother screamed after hitting Sakura in the face.

"Hey" Sasuke yelled back, as he got in front of Sakura quickly. Seeing things escalate Tsunade quickly butted in. "Please don't strike my patient, let me handle this." While Tsunade calmed down Sho's mother, Sakura placed a hand on her cheek, before she said anything.

"You're stupid" she said under her breath. "What?" Sho's mother asked in disbelief as she felt angered.

"You heard me, just because he's sick doesn't mean you should shelter him from any chance of fun... I watched him at the park; he looked like just a normal boy without a worry in the world. I even think he forgot himself that he was sick. Don't you think his happiness is the most important?" Sakura preached as she pushed Sasuke aside to look into Sho's mothers eyes closely.

Sasuke, Tsunade, and Shizune were shocked, as they couldn't believe how much Sakura had changed recently in terms of showing compassion for someone other than herself.

Sho's mother was stunned by Sakura's words, as she looked back at Sho whom was scared to choose a side. "Tsunade-Sama ... I want Sho to be moved to another room immediately and I want you to make sure she doesn't have anymore contact with him." his mother demanded as she grabbed Sho's hand.

After Sho gave Sakura, a saddened look he left the room behind his overbearing mother. Shizune eyed Tsunade, before quickly following suit to go after Sho's mother; in hopes of calming her down.

"Are you going to yell at me to?" Sakura asked Tsunade as she looked over to her. Tsunade looked back at Sakura for a while, before a smirk crept over her face. "Why…I would have done the same thing." she admitted before leaving the room after Sho's mother.

Once the room was quite, Sakura sat down as she felt herself suddenly get weaker. "Sakura" Sasuke said while he sat beside her, slowly he put his hand to her bruised cheek."You OK?"

"...It was worth it, even if he had one good day." she admitted while she went to lie down on her bed with her back turned towards Sasuke.

"Well I guess I'll leave you now so you can get some rest."Sasuke instinctively said as he turned to walk away. "Sasuke wait…" she hesitantly spoke."Um?" he replied unsure of what she wanted of him now. "Can you...I mean will you lay with me for a while?" Sakura asked even surprised by her odd request.

Sasuke taken back by the request slowly walked over and took off his shoes first; before lying in the hospital bed, wrapping his arms around Sakura. "Like this?" he asked making sure not to cross any boundaries with her.

"Yes ... Thanks" Sakura admitted as a tear fell from her eye, "Can I tell you something?" Sakura asked next as she looked at the wall. "Un" Sasuke grunted as he held her. "I can't explain it but I feel really relaxed with you around… Will you stay with me like this until I fall asleep?" she said as she started to close her eyes. "Sak…ura of course." He replied while holding her a little tighter; since he secretly didn't want to let go.

[Beep] [Beep] [Beep]

Waking up to an alarm, Sakura hurried to turn it off. "I don't remember setting this" she said to herself before she noticed Sasuke had already left. When she sat up, she found a note beside her.

Note:

Sakura, I set your alarm can you meet me on the roof top around 5 a.m. - it's important.

Looking at the time, Sakura noticed it was 10 minutes until 5. Sakura fumed before she got up to put her robe on; since the hospital was quite she easily made it to the rooftop. Once she opened the door, she found Sho sitting in a wheelchair along with Sasuke as the two had talked.

"What's going on?" Sakura asked confused by the two being up there."Nothing I was just leaving" Sasuke smiled, as he left Sakura with Sho.

Sho waved at Sakura, as she slowly walked over to him. "Sakura sorry about mama, she gets like that but I wouldn't take that back for the world …It was so much fun thank you." Sho said as he looked at the diminishing stars.

"I'm glad you had fun, I want to thank you Sho" Sakura admitted while looking at the sky as well. The two talked for some time, before Sho stopped to point out at the sunrise.

"I wanted us both to watch it together." He smiled as he continued. "I've never seen one before have you Sakura?" He asked next.

Sakura was silent for a moment, having to think if she really ever had. Only getting blackness when she tried to think back, she sighed before answering. "I don't remember if I have, but this is a first that I can remember." She said happily as they watched the sun break from its hiding spot.

"This is great" Sho shouted from the top of his lungs. "Sakura, are you ever going to get married and have kids?" Sho asked almost out of nowhere.

Sakura taken back by the question, hurriedly answered. "No, being around you is enough for kids, and I don't plan on getting married." she said laughingly.

"Oh," Sho said disappointed. "When I grow up, I want to marry someone as nice and pretty as you," he said while leaning on her.

"Impossible," Sakura said as she looked down at him. "You deserve someone much better, but I guess she can be as pretty as me." Sakura joked while she leaned back on him.

"Sakura" Sho asked quietly. "Um'' she responded."If you ever do get married or have kids, will you name one of them after me." Sho asked next.

"Huh? ... Oh fine I guess Sho is a good name." Sakura responded before standing up "Come on let's get you back inside, before your mother freaks out again" Sakura teased as Sho got in his chair.

Once Sakura dropped him off by his new room, Sho looked at Sakura as he reached his arms out for a hug. Sakura hesitated a bit, as she bent down, Sho hugs Sakura tightly. "Thank you Sakura, thanks for being my friend." he said quietly, "Sure... I'll see ya later," she replied while slowly pulling away from him to leave.

Tired from getting up so early, Sakura gets to her room and heads back to sleep but not before smiling over knowing that doing something for someone could make them so happy and her own self.

After sleeping for a few hours, Sakura hears a lot of noise and motion that wakes her up. "Hum" she moaned as she looked around to see her room door close. Sakura instinctively stretched her arms out; as she checked the time first. "5 p.m. already?"

Looking over to the other side of the room, she quickly noticed Sho's things had already been removed from the room. Suddenly watching the door opened to her room again, she watched a nurse role in an empty bed beside her. "Hey," Sakura said softly still trying to wake up.

"So...Sho's mother finally moved all of his stuff?" she asked while rubbing her eye.

The nurse fixed up the bed before responding, "Yes… Poor Sho-kun passed away this morning. He fought his little heart out but I'm afraid he didn't make it." The nurse said as she tried to hold back tears.

"He… died?" Sakura said to herself as she sat there in her bed.