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**

"We leave tomorrow at sunrise. I'm going to bed."

Sasuke announced, not bothering to slide past Karin, but instead disappearing in a flash.

I looked at the spot where he previously sat, and I clutched at my chest, my head suddenly not the only thing that was hurting.

**

Everyone was still sleeping when my eyes snapped open. It was still dark, the sun nowhere to be seen.

I covered my mouth with my hand, and got up shakily, trying my best to tiptoe by everyone. Once I was in the bathroom, I shut it softly behind me.

I turned the shower on so they didn't hear me, and crouched down by the toilet and emptied whatever I had in my stomach.

I dry heaved for a few minutes afterwards, but finally flushed, heading straight for my toothbrush.

I let the shower run, lying on the ground of the smooth, cold tiles. They stung against my overheated skin, but I didn't care. My breath came out ragged, but I felt better once I had vomited.

This was weird, though. I never got sick, hardly. I shrugged it off and looked at the shower. If they heard it on, they'd probably ask why I came out with dry hair. I stripped and decided to take a quick shower, hopefully washing away the fever I had.

Once I was washed and dressed, I opened the door. The sun was just starting to peak out of the clouds, and everyone was up and awake, readying their things.

"Man, why do girls shower so much…" Suigetsu muttered as he got his sword, referring to me.

"Karin's a girl," I rebutted, and I heard a snicker from him, followed by 'hardly.'

There was a lot of screaming and kicking after that, and I cringed, my brain pounding against the inside of my head.

I felt a pat on my back and turned around to see Juugo, smiling at me. I forced a smile back, and went to gather my own things.

**

"Let's go," Sasuke ordered, stepping out of the Inn's entrance.

I looked up at the sky. It was 5:46, and still dark. The sun was hardly visible.

Unlike before how everything felt cold, now everything just felt hot.

Unbearably hot.

I didn't want to go, but I couldn't tell them I was sick, either. What if they found me useless and killed me?

I sucked it up.

"So, where are we headed?" I asked, dragging my feet along the dirt. It's been about an hour since we've left the Inn.

"We can't tell you the destination, or the directions in case you guess," Karin started, "But from where we are now, we'll be passing through a desert soon, so be prepared."

My walking slowed even more, until I stopped completely. I was frozen on the spot.

Sasuke turned to look back at me, his Akatsuki robe fluttering in the breeze. The others turned to look, too.

"What's wrong, Sakura?" Juugo asked, though it seemed like he already knew what the problem was, for some reason.

I laughed bitterly. The desert.

Perfect.

"Nothing," I brushed it off, "Let's go."

My pace was the slowest, walking about a meter behind everyone else. I tried to walk faster but it was too tiring. I had many herbal antidotes in my bag, but as luck would have it, none for fevers.

I packed this bag expecting to fight and be injured. Not getting a fever.

I dazed in and out, my eyes concentrated on my feet, and my eyelids occasionally drooping lower.

"…doesn't look so good…" I heard Suigetsu murmur to the others. Upon looking up, I found that his eyes were on me.

My eyes widened for a second in surprise, but then I ran to catch up to them.

"No, I'm fine. My Hokage had me on a vacation before I came here, so I'm not used to waking up so early yet." I lied, looking down do that they couldn't see how flushed my face was up close.

When I looked up, Sasuke turned his head slightly and was staring at me.

**

Whatever I had imagined walking through a dessert with a fever was going to be like, this was 1000 times worse.

I looked up warily at the sun, shielding my eyes from its harmful rays. Judging by how it has moved, about two hours had gone by.

As if my legs weren't tired and worn enough, walking through sand wasn't an easy task, even if you were in normal health.

I bumped into Suigetsu's back when he stopped, and backed up looking confused. Why'd he stop? I noticed everyone was in their fighting stances.

I doubted they were just posing.

Great. A nearby enemy.

I bluffed, slipping out my black gloves and sliding them on my sensitive hands. As the fabric brushed against the skin and I cringed, I couldn't even imagine smashing the ground.

My eyes scanned the area, doing the best I could. But I relaxed after I remembered Karin was a sensory type, so I'd leave the pinpointing the enemies location kind of stuff to her.

"Sakura!"

I looked up just in time to see Juugo fling himself at me and crash into me. We both fell to the desert floor with a thud.

I gasped, my sensitive skin intensifying what would normally be un painful, to something very painful.

I looked up at Juugo, who was on top of me and shielding me with his body. My expression demanded an explanation. He gestured to a Kunai that sat a few meters away. So he threw me to the ground so I wouldn't get hit.

We both got up and I patted myself off.

"I could have dodged that," I lied. I was groggy, and didn't even feel it coming. "I wouldn't be able to call myself a ninja if I couldn't dodge something like that."

Juugo nodded in acknowledgement and backed off, readying himself again.

"Sasuke," Karin said, her voice sounding the most serious I've ever heard it—which isn't saying much.

"Yeah, I know where they are. Take Sakura and you two go to cover," He commanded, and his blade was in his hand in a flash.

Karin appeared beside me and grabbed me harshly by the arm. I bit my lip to refrain from making any noises as she pulled me along.

We hid behind a dead tree, and I peeked out from behind it to see Sasuke and the others.

Perfect timing. As soon as Karin and I had hid here, they all swarmed in.

I guessed Karin couldn't fight since she was here hiding. She was probably only good for sensing chakra's. Me, on the other hand…

I paused for a brief moment.

Wait. Why did Sasuke tell Karin to take me behind the tree as well? Did he think I couldn't fight, or… Or did he know I was under the weather?

I haven't been making it too obvious; only complaining in my head every now and then.

I clenched my fist, suddenly in the mood to fight. Maybe he really didn't think I could fight. I stood up.

It's just a fever, I could still suck it up and fight.

How many enemies were there? My emerald eyes counted 17, including the limp bodies on the ground. There were only five still standing. I slid back down.

Fine. I won't go out now. But I am next time.

**

"So why were those guys after us randomly?" Suigetsu asked, sipping loudly on his straw. I watched his Adams apple bob as he glugged the water down, and I licked my lips.

He saw me, and offered it to me. I crossed my arms and turned my head the other way. He snickered.

"They were most likely just thugs who got lost out here and wanted to rob us for any food or water we have, or it means we're getting too close to their village." Sasuke murmured, pulling the hood of his cloak up to shield him from the sun.

Karin ran to catch up to Sasuke.
"Sasuke! You were great in that fight! You didn't even have to use any chakra!" Karin praised him endlessly. I tuned her out, instead focusing on the whistles of the wind.

I swayed briefly.

My mouth opened wider to try and suck in as much air as I could manage. My fever was burning me up, and after three hours in the desert, I couldn't take much more.

I looked up at Juugo's back, hoping to calm down.

There were two of him.

Juugo was walking side by side with himself, and I blinked and rubbed my eyes. When I looked up again, there was only one.

Okay, I needed rest.

But I made it this far, so I sucked in another breath of the dry air, occasionally looking at Suigetsu's water as we trudged on.

Sluuurp.

I peered over at Suigetsu again, watching him finishing off the last of his water.

The heat was making me tired. I licked my dry lips.

My knees buckled momentarily, and I stumbled forward, but caught myself before I fell.

I looked up at the bright sun, and quickly found that was a bad idea, and averted my eyes to the sand at my feet.

Suddenly, it came up to meet my face.

**

Suigetsu's P.O.V

I found great amusement in the fact that the pink haired girl kept flickering her eyes over to me. Or more specifically, my water.

I slurped loud and obnoxiously, enjoying the parched look on her face. Not only that, but she was extremely flushed. Sure, we were all hot, but she…whoa.

I finished off the rest of my water, throwing my head back and letting the last few drops plop into my mouth. I looked to my left for her reaction.

I watched as the little cherry blossom fluttered to the ground.

"Oi!" I yelled, confused.

I rushed to Sakura who was laying face down on the sand. Did she enjoy being unwillingly unconscious?

Everyone turned around at my voice, and Juugo rushed to Sakura as well. Karin and Sasuke stayed where they were.

Juugo started flippin' his shit, lifting her off the ground and brushing her hair out of her face.

I watched with a wide grin as his eyes frantically scanned her face, and his hands desperately clung to her.

Looks like somebody has a little crush.

I couldn't blame him. But I could tease him.

"I know why she fainted…" I whispered solemnly, causing not just Juugo's eyes, but Karin and Sasuke's eyes on me as well.

Apparently Juugo was too impatient for my epic silence, because his voice cut through the silence like a razor. "Why?"

I took Sakura out of his arms and stared at her face. Her features were more delicate than Karin's, I noticed. Especially when she was peaceful in her own little world of unconsciousness.

I nodded to myself. "Yes, I'm sure of it now," I paused, looking at her a bit more. "She fainted from my alarming good looks."

Juugo's fist instinctively smashed into my cheek, which of course didn't hurt at all.

"We still have about an hour or so until we reach the village," Sasuke said emotionlessly, "So we'll have to carry her."

"I'll do it," Juugo offered right off the bat, and I raised a teasing eyebrow at him, causing his face to become even more red.

"No," Sasuke said, and he took a few steps towards us. "I will."

My eyes widened. No friggin' way.

"Wha? You want to carry her?" I made a suggestive facial expression, but it was promptly wiped off by Sasuke's glare.

I looked over at Juugo, and his eyebrow was twitching. There was only one word to describe him right now. He was feeling jealousy over a girl for the first time. How cute.

"Why?" Juugo asked, nice and to the point.

Sasuke looked down at him, his black eyes even darker from the shade that his hood provided.

"Karin doesn't have the strength to carry Sakura for an hour, Suigetsu won't want to, and also like Karin, will have to take breaks. Especially now that he's out of water. And you should know why you can't." Sasuke snipped, and passed Juugo and made his way to the pinkette.

Juugo bowed his head and touched his curse mark, a grimace on his face.

I watched as Sasuke's fingers slid around her body and lifted her up. Juugo watched as well, a grimace still plastered on his face.

Man, this was weird. So much drama.

Sasuke was standing now, the unconscious girl bridal style in his arms.

I looked at Sasuke, and studied the protective look on his face.

I looked at Juugo, and saw the jealousy on his face.

Man, girls were so much trouble.

**

Sakura's P.O.V

I was vaguely aware of something refreshingly cold on my forehead.

My eyes shot open, and I looked around, confused that I wasn't in the desert.

I was in a room like the one in the previous Inn, though the colour schemes and decorations of the room were different depending on the country.

Looking around the room, I didn't notice a flash of orange in my vision.

Juugo was sitting cross legged beside my mat, waiting for me to wake up, probably. Or he volunteered to watch me, considering we were the only ones in the room.

"You're awake," He sounded breathless, as if he had been holding his breath the whole time I was unconscious.

I nodded and peeled the towel off my face.

"So, a fever, huh?"

I looked at him, surprised. "You knew?"

"Before you did." He said bluntly, and I cocked a brow.

He sighed. "The chakra that I put in your system In exchange for the amount that you lost," He paused, watching as the spark of understanding lit up in my eyes. "I told you it would have negative effects. It would have come sooner or later. I'm just glad you're still alive."

My eyes widened. His chakra was really that dangerous? I thought of Naruto's blazing red Chakra from the kyuubi.

More dangerous than that?

My eyes narrowed. What was he? I remembered when I first met him, and I saw that suppressed bloodlust in his eyes.

I inched myself away a little but, suddenly not wanting to be near him.

"You're feeling better now, right?"

"Why? What'd you do?"

Juugo cringed, hurt that I assumed he did something. I realized how harsh I had said it, and suddenly wanted to comfort him. But I wouldn't know what to say anyway.

"Nothing. It's just that the effects don't last long. So I figured it'd be over by now."

I nodded in understanding, flopping back down on the mat.

I looked up at the orange haired man from where I was lying, studying him. His mouth was twitching, and I raised an eyebrow, sitting back up again.

"I'm going to wash my face," I announced, shutting the bathroom door behind me. I turned the tap on and splashed the cold liquid to my face.

Pinching my skin, I was satisfied that It wasn't sensitive anymore, and left the bathroom in confidence.

"Juugo?"

Even I could hear the worry in my voice.

Juugo was hunched over on the ground, trembling violently.

I rushed over. What was wrong with him?

I bent down by him, my hands hovering near him, unsure of how to help.

"Get away!" he roared, sending me flying across the room with a flick of his wrist.

"Augh!" My back slammed into the wooden walls, the back of my head also taking impact. I slid to the floor, my vision momentarily blurred. I blinked rapidly, only getting up when It returned to normal.

Juugo was panting, and I noticed his left hand had gone a grey purple colour. I clenched my fists.

"…Juugo?"

I took a cautious step towards him, on guard in case he tried to hurl me again. This time I would be prepared.

What was happening to him?

I sidestepped around him, trying to get a better view of his face.

Well, I got what I asked for.

He suddenly uncurled from the hunched position he was in, throwing himself at me.

Juugo pressed me against the wall, both of his hands pinning mine against the wall. I tried to move my arms, and even when putting chakra into them, found it useless. I still hadn't regained my full strength.

"Juugo!" I spat angrily, squirming against his hold. "What's the matter with you? Let me go." I commanded.

He looked up, and I noticed half of his face was that same grey purple colour. I sucked in a sharp breath. It looked like Sasuke's curse mark.

I blinked , my eyes stinging as I remembered the horrible memories of the curse mark consuming Sasuke. "Juugo! Don't let that thing take you over! Fight!" I practically screamed, and also listened to my own words, still trying to break from his hold.

He pressed his lips against my neck, and my eyes widened, my eyebrows set in a deep frown.
"Juugo, you…" I bit my tongue angrily, trying to refrain from being too mean. I knew this wasn't him. But with the curse mark, Sasuke wanted to kill. Why was Juugo doing…this?

I felt something wet on my neck and noticed he was now gliding his tongue along the skin of my neck. I shivered, but also grimaced.

He raised his head, as if he was planning to go for my lips. I turned my head away sharply. I'll be damned if my first kiss is taken like this.

"Sakura…" He grumbled, pressing his body against mine. I couldn't help the noise of disgust I made. I liked Juugo and all, but not once did I think of him like this.

"Juugo!" I screamed trying to raise my knee to his sensitive spot, but was dismayed when I couldn't bend it that much.

His hand reached under my shirt, and my eyes widened, fully taking in the situation now.

This was Juugo. But it wasn't. If he was in his right mind, he wouldn't be doing this. If I let him do what he wanted to do now, he would hate himself. And I would hate him. I had to stop him.

"J-Juugo! Let…go!" I shoved, but to no avail. "Why are you doing this?"

He didn't answer. The only thing coming out of his mouth were his strangled breaths. He reached his hand down to my thigh and grazed his hand there.

My fists were tingling, dying to punch him. I would if I could.

Juugo put his lips to my ear. "Sakura…"

My teeth clenched. "Juugo!—"

"Juugo."

My head shot up and my eyes widened as they zeroed in on the figure at the door.

Hesitantly, Juugo turned his head to meet the boy standing at the door.

"Sasuke," Juugo greeted, his voice tight, but he showed no sign of releasing me.

Sasuke was alone, standing at the doorway in his Akatsuki cloak. He activated his sharingan, and my mouth opened.

They weren't going to fight…would they?

"Hmph," Sasuke smirked, his fingers twitching. "When you're like this, you usually calm down when I step in."

Juugo shrugged, his grip on me still not loosening. If anything, getting tighter.

Sasuke slid out his katana and twirled it skillfully, his fingers dancing with the blade.

Juugo's hand suddenly turned into some sort of claw, and now his full attention was on Sasuke.

With his claw hand, he tossed me aside, sending me into the wall yet again, causing a few cracks to be made.

Sasuke's eyes flashed to me and then back to Juugo, his hand tightening on the sword.

"I'm going to enjoy this."