Sakura ducked down a corridor when the door opened. She waited until Juugo had walked past before she slid out of her hiding spot. She checked Sasuke's door, making sure he hadn't come out. When she turned around she came nose to nose with Juugo. He had crazed look in his eyes, and a black mark that looked like a bruise began to radiate outward across his skin. She jumped back in surprise.

"Juugo you scared me-."

"Kill," was all he said before he was on top of her. Foul chakra washed over her, setting her nerves ajar. She struggled against his weight, but it only seemed to increase as the mark spread. His features began to change and morph into something not quite recognizable. She couldn't even help the scream that escaped her lips. She punched him square in the jaw focusing all of her chakra into her fist. Juugo's weight was gone and he slammed through several walls to her left. She laid there for a second panting. Until she heard rubble shifting; she sat straight up. Then she regretted it instantly. She had drawn all her chakra for that punch and most of her strength. Now her stomach was threatening to revolt, and madmen with hammers were smacking away at her brain. Through eyes blurring with pain she saw a figure standing over her, with his back to her.

"Juugo enough." Blackness took over her vision and she slumped into someone's arms. Sasuke she realized. After several tense minutes Juugo gained control over himself enough to respond.

"Sasuke?! I'm sorry! I didn't-," Then he noticed Sakura lying unmoving on the floor. "Is she okay?" Sasuke glanced back at Sakura.

"She'll be fine. You seemed to have gotten the worst of it." It was true. Juugo's face was a mass of black and blue. It would only last a few days, but he was relieved he hadn't hurt Sakura. Juugo was just starting to like the woman. Sasuke laughed to himself, he sounded relieved as he bent down to pick up Sakura. "She just used too much chakra too fast." Sakura felt herself being lifted.

"That's a relief." She felt Sasuke turn to face Lily. "I came when I felt Juugo's curse mark. Guess you beat me to the punch." There was a pause and the sound of large rocks being shifted. "Oh, Juugo! That is nasty! Let me ease the pain."

"I thought you weren't a medic."

"I'm not. But I know traditional medicines and ways to block pain receptors. As you are experiencing now. It doesn't heal it just allows for the person to continue on even while in pain." Sakura felt the surge of chakra that could have only been Lily's. "Get her something to eat and maybe some sake if you have any. She'll be a little shaken up when she comes around but otherwise she should be fine." Sasuke made a grunt and left. He cradled her gently and moved swiftly to what she assumed was the kitchen, but she was laid on a bed. There was the sound of cups being laid out, and liquid being poured. After what she guessed was five drinks he broke the silence quietly,

"I know you were listening to me and Juugo." His words weren't slurred but Sakura was positive he was drunk. He would never be this honest if he wasn't. "I wonder, did you hear Juugo ask if I made a pass at Lily?" He snorted like that was the most ludicrous thing he had ever heard. "No, I think that would be the excuse she's been waiting for to kill me." Sakura bit back a smile. Lily certainly did want to hit Sasuke but not for that. If what little Lily shared with her was to be believed, she loved Itachi and would do anything for him. On the flip side of that coin she also wouldn't let anything or one prevent Itachi plans from coming to fruition even if that might upset him. "What do you know about our strange friend, Sakura?" Sakura froze. Something had changed, he knew she was awake. Without opening her eyes she asked,

"What do you mean?" Sasuke smirked,

"So, you were awake." He thought about it then seemed to put that thought aside. "You know what I mean."

"I can't tell you much." Sasuke eyes darted towards her, assessing, looking for a lie. There wasn't any indication of deceit.

"What does Lily know of my brother?" Sakura wasn't even remotely surprised. She just watched the man who had once been so strong, now sitting drunk on the floor, and practically begging for information. Sakura let out a sigh and sat up. She poured herself a glass of what she guessed was sake. Then she drank it down and let it settle in her stomach. Choosing her words very carefully she said,

"Again, I can't tell you much more than you already know. She loved your brother. That much is clear. She talks to someone at night when she thinks I'm asleep. I'm not sure who, but the way she talks, it's like she is talking to Itachi." Sasuke looked confused,

"That's not possible." Sakura shrugged

"A week ago I would have said she is not possible." Sasuke nodded in agreement. "But she is very real."

"But, Lily said she was talking to her husband-." He hung his head and laughed. "Of course! That's what she found so amusing!" He leaned back against the wall and laughed again. He had never felt so stupid before.

"I'm not sure I understand." Sakura watched him warily.

"When we were going to get you, I heard her talking to someone. She said she was talking to her husband. So I asked if he knew about her and Itachi. She just smiled and said that her husband knew all about the two of them. I thought she had told him or he found out. It didn't even occur to me that she might actually mean Itachi was her husband."

"Sasuke, Itachi is dead."

"I know, that's what doesn't make sense. How is she talking to him?"

"You pointed out that Lily is unstable. She might not be talking to him." Sakura let that sink, but Sasuke shook his head.

"You haven't seen her chakra. If anyone can speak to the dead it's her." Sakura tried to phrase her thoughts gently, but it still came out a little harsh.

"And maybe she is as desperate to have him back as you are." Sasuke glared at her and she held up a hand to stop him from speaking. "Think about. Do you feel her use chakra? Does your Sharingan eye see a jutsu?"

"No, but her eyes. They were glazed over, like she was looking but not seeing anything. Though I admit I never looked through Sharingan, and I wouldn't try now."

"Why not?"

"I wouldn't be able to see anything. It would be like looking for something in the middle of the sun." Sakura nodded and poured herself another glass. Sasuke watched as she downed it. "What is Lily sickness?" Sakura coughed a laugh, then cleared her throat.

"I'm not that drunk, I still can't tell you that." She stared into her cup. "But, what if I told you that there is a connection to her not wanting to be touched and her sickness. Also I don't think she minds being touched. She was a cat." Sasuke conceded her point and pondered this. Sakura told him more then she knew. Her tone implied her illness wasn't one. What causes someone to seek a doctor, for something that is not an illness, that makes that person want to avoid human contact, and yet not? Sasuke poured Sakura another glass of sake. She raised her eye brows at him.

"Are you trying to get me drunk?" Mischief gleamed in his eyes, it was the first real emotion she had seen in him that wasn't anger.

"Maybe I want to know more." She didn't see a lie and yet.

"Liar." He cocked his head to the side.

"You sure?" She nodded, though she wasn't sure why she knew she was right. "Suppose you're right." Sakura took the cup and downed it. Then she filled it again and handed it to Sasuke. Now it was Sasuke's turn to raise an eyebrow of inquiry. "You want me drunk?" Sakura shrugged.

"Misery loves company." Sasuke raised the glass to that and tipped it back.

"Yea, well, I hope you have a good hangover remedy." Sakura laughed, of course she did. With how many times Lady Tsunade came to the office drunk she had all but perfected it.

"That can be arranged, but I'd hafta make it now, before the massive headache or worse starts." Sasuke seemed to consider the glass then shrugged and filled it again. He made to hand the glass to her, his hands shaking. Sake spilt across her shirt. Sakura giggled and Sasuke looked stunned, like couldn't believe he had just done that, but Sakura's laughter was infectious and soon they were both stifling giggles.

"What a waste of good sake." Sakura laughed again then pulled off her shirt and tossed it at his face,

"There you go." Sasuke then threw the shirt aside and leered at her.

"Maybe not a waste after all." Sakura's heart about hit the roof, no one looked at her like that. Least of all him. She was sure it was the sake pushing her to this. Lord she hadn't been this giggly since she had been put in the same squad as Sasuke. Now she was stripping? The thought quickly died when he leaned in and kissed her. It was not what she expected. Then he was moving onto the bed and over her. The warmth of him pressing against her made her tingle. They were kissing passionately, if not a little sloppily, his hands skimming down her sides the back down her back. Everywhere his hand touched seemed to burn, she suddenly felt like they couldn't be close enough. She pulled him against her and snaked her hands down to grab at his shirt. It came off with effort. Sasuke didn't even looked surprised as his shirt fell away, more like he was concentrating. Her bra was then ripped off. The hooks in back had actually broken.

"You are so buying a-." He silenced her with a quick kiss. Lips skimming down her skin planting kisses as they went. His tongue slid over her erect nipple and with that all semblance of sanity flew out the window. A feminine moan escaped her lips and everything else unraveled. Skirt and shorts were the next things to hit the floor, closely followed by his belt and pants. His hands found the knife strapped to her waist, but before he could remove that Sakura swatted his hand away. "That stays." She could see him visibly hesitate, probably remembering what that knife had already done. Sakura laughed at him and asked in a husky voice, "Is the last of the Uchiha afraid of a woman with a.-" He kissed her and spread her legs with his knees. Sakura's legs came up and around his waist. She squeezed him gently to taunt him. It was all the goading he needed. Instinctively he thrust into her. Their moans mingled. He thrust himself into her vagina over and over. It was quite the heady rush having his cock being squeezed by her sheath. He was surprised to find she was thrusting. A sudden jerk of her delicious legs had Sasuke pinned beneath Sakura. Her movements fast but steady that had he not known better would have spoken of practice. He grinned wolfishly at her,

"Sakura, you're a little too good at this." He gasped as she thrust down on him particularly hard this time. Her eyebrows rose and a sensual smile spread across her lips.

"Is that so?" She gently dragged her finger nails down his chest, pulling a groan from him.

"Ye…s." He hissed through clenched teeth. Sakura moved her hips in a slow erotic motion driving him close to insanity. He wrapped his arms around her pulling her down so he could suckle her breasts. He was rewarded with a deep groan from Sakura.

"Don't bite." She warned through her moans. It was a warning Sasuke quickly disregarded as he bit her erect nipple. She tried to pull away but he held her to him. Flicking his tongue across her nipples and then biting them. Sakura gasped and wriggled in his grip but he kept thrusting. In only a few moments their movements had them in a fever. Pressing and thrusting into each other. Pleasure ripped through both of them like a hurricane. They came breathlessly, whispering each other's names. Sakura collapsed on top of him panting, while he lay under her almost stunned. That was, Sasuke struggled for the word in his alcohol addled brain. Wonderful, he finally decided. Just as he was about to speak the words aloud he realized to his amusement, Sakura had fallen asleep.

"Light weight." He muttered at her. He supposed that wasn't fair because he could feel sleep fuddling his mind. He shifted her onto the bed next to him and threw the blankets over both of them. He knew he was too drunk and exhausted to carry her back to her room. The last waking thought he had was him musing over what she would say when she woke up next to him sober.