Pride and Promise

Chapter 10: I Trust You

Sakura found herself at another in with Sasuke and his Team Hebi. According to Sasuke, his goal was less than a week away. Sakura believed him for Sasuke had started to grow even more agitated with each passing day.

Sakura had to spend almost every minute of her time with Sasuke, acting as a lioness would when another lioness (Karin) was prowling close to Sasuke. It was safe to say that Karin and Sakura were still complete rivals.

"Sasuke-kun," Sakura said, when they were alone one day in their room. "Relax," she advised. "I know you're anticipating the day you meet Itachi once more, but acting like this will do no good. It takes up too much energy and when the day finally comes you'll be a wreck. I know from experience."

Sasuke glanced at Sakura from the corner of his eyes. He was sitting against a wall polishing is kusanagi for what had to be the third time that day. Although he remained silent, he took Sakura's words into consideration.

Sakura smiled as Sasuke sheathed his weapon and relaxed slightly. "How about you go down to the spa," Sakura suggested. "That might ease tension."

"That's not necessary," Sasuke answered shortly.

"Okay," said Sakura as she looked out the window and into the bustling town that was below them. "How about you go into the town? I'm sure no one will recognize you here."

Sasuke looked out the window and contemplated the idea. "I'd rather not," he said.

Sakura pursed her lips. "Fine, then can I go into the town-"

Before Sasuke could say anything, Sakura held up her hands defensively and spoke quickly, "I promise you I won't leave. I just want to take a look around. I don't like being indoors for long periods of time."

Sasuke let out a sigh as he looked at Sakura. Finally he stood up. "If you really want to go then I'll go with you. I don't trust you with Suigetsu or Juugo or Karin, especially Karin."

Sakura smiled happily as she jumped to her feet. "Thank you Sasuke-kun," Sakura gushed happily.

A small smirk played at Sasuke's lips as he followed Sakura out of their room.

Sakura and Sasuke easily blended into the busy crowd (well, as easily as pink hair could blend...) of the village they stayed it. Like all the other villages they had stayed in, this village was also on the outskirts, it was mostly peasants and weary travelers that littered these streets.

Sakura walked along the shops with a gentle smile, stopping ever so often to look at what was being sold. One shop in particular caught her eye.

"Sasuke-kun, look," Sakura said with a smile as she bent over stand which sold necklaces. "Aren't they pretty?"

Sasuke remained silent, unsure of how to answer that, and unsure if he even wanted to answer that. As Sakura looked at all the necklaces Sasuke looked around at all the faces. Sakura was right, no one seemed to notice him which was a good thing.

"Thank you very much sir," Sakura said the to the owner from which she bought a necklace from.

Sakura smiled at Sasuke and showed him her purchase. It was a necklace on a durable cord (practical for her swift movements during training and missions and such) with a single pendant. The pendant was an expertly carved shuriken with a blue stone set in the middle of it.

Sasuke watched as Sakura tied the necklace around her neck; the pendant rested lightly at the hollow of her throat.

"Isn't it pretty," Sakura asked with a small giggle. Sasuke remained silent but a light smirk touched his lips as he shook his head. Sakura took that as an affirmative.

As the two walked through the town, they remained silent. Sakura looked to the blue cloudless sky. She wondered if Naruto was on their trail, but more importantly, she thought of the upcoming fight between Sasuke and Itachi again.

Every time Itachi got away, Sasuke had been greatly injured, Sakura knew. But this time, if this was to be the final battle, and if Sasuke were to kill Itachi, then how big was the price Sasuke would have to be? Would he die as well? Sakura shook her head as her eyes brightened with determination. This time she was with Sasuke. If he was injured she'd help him.

Sakura laughed to herself. In a distant past, when she had been young and foolish she had said those words to Sasuke. She had said "I'll even help you with revenge!" Never did she guess that she would actually be doing what she said. That she would actually be helping with Sasuke with his revenge.

Sasuke glanced down at the pink haired kunoichi who walked beside him. "What are you laughing at," he asked.

"A distant memory," Sakura answered as she smiled up at Sasuke. "A distant memory that actually came true."

Before Sasuke could ask, loud bells echoed throughout the market. With a paranoid reflex, Sasuke pulled Sakura close to him and ran into the nearest alley. Pressing his back against the wall, he watched as the people in the market started to scramble around frantically.

Sakura's eyes widened as she realized that she was in Sasuke's arms. In Sasuke's strong arms against it warm chest. Shaking her head, she pushed away from him. Going into the crowd, she grabbed a man's arm. "What's going on," she asked.

"The inn caught on fire and it's spreading quickly!"

Sakura looked at Sasuke with wide eyes. Taking his hand in hers, she ran in the direction of the inn.

In the forest close to the inn, Sasuke and Sakura found Juugo, Suigetsu, and Karin.

"What happened," Sasuke asked fiercely.

"A few rouge ninja decided to raid the inn," Juugo answered. "After taking all they wanted they decided to set the place on fire."

"But I saved your stuff, Sasuke-kun," Karin said brightly, latching herself to Sasuke's arm. Sasuke shook Karin off and looked around for Sakura but found no sign of her.

"Where did Sakura go," he asked angrily.

Suigetsu grinned and pointed to the inn. "As soon as you got here she went that way. I think she said something about having to help the people trapped."

Karin rolled her eyes at Sakura's antics. "Who is she trying to impress, it's not like this will get back to her precious Hokage...Hey, Sasuke-kun!"

Sasuke had dashed back towards the inn. He caught sight of Sakura who had come out assisting an elderly woman. Sasuke took Sakura's arm. "What are you doing," he asked angrily.

Sakura pulled her arm out of his grip. "I can't just stand by and pretend this doesn't concern me, Sasuke-kun," Sakura lowered her voice and looked around. "Even though I promised that I would help you, I am still a Konoha shinobi and a medical expert. It's my duty to help these people. If you're afraid someone will see you then go back with the others. I'll catch up later!"

Sasuke's dark eyes searched Sakura's for a moment. Before more words could be exchanged, there was a cry from the third story of the inn.

"Help me!"

Sakura looked up to see a little kid, no older than eight years old, waving from the window.

"My son! Katsu," a woman cried hysterically a small distance away from Sasuke and Sakura. "I thought he was already out!"

"There's no way we can get up there, it's too dangerous," a villager said to the man beside him as they tried to put out the fire in vain.

Sakura looked up at the kid and dashed into the building. Sasuke watched after Sakura, wondering if she was insane.

The smoke engulfed Sakura. Sakura coughed as her lungs filled with the smoke. As she made her way to the third floor, she found the room the boy was in. The door was closed and as she tried to turn the knob, her hand was scalded by the heat. Cursing angrily she punched the door down. The boy looked at her with wide fearful eyes.

Sakura offered a small smile. "Climb on my back and we'll get out."

After the boys small hands secured themselves around Sakura's neck, Sakura ran down the stairs again. As Sakura reached the second landing, the third story foundation began to crumble. Sakura looked up overhead to see the ceiling start to collapse.

Swinging the boy off her back and into her arms, she covered him as a rafter fell. The boy let out a yell as Sakura tripped. Quickly getting up, she moved out of the way just in time to narrowly miss the flaming rafter.

Finally, Sakura made it outside. Falling to her knees in exhaustion she smiled as the crying woman took her son.

"Thank you so much! Thank you!"

Sakura watched as the villagers started to get the fire contained. It would be another hour or so before it was put out. Sakura turned to the forest to see Sasuke waiting for her. He had an emotionless mask as he saw her. Her eyes hardened.

"I just couldn't leave them."

"I know," said Sasuke. Sasuke looked down at Sakura's hand that was burnt from the hot doorknob.

"You're injured," he said.

Sakura looked down at her hand and touched it carefully. She winced as it started to blister. "It'll be alright," she said. "Let's get back to the others-"

Sasuke took her by the arm quickly. Sakura looked up into his dark eyes quizzically. "Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke held Sakura's injured palm in his pale hand. "If you're not going to treat it I will. I don't need injuries of teammates to slow me down. Besides, it'll get infected if it goes without treatment for a while."

Sakura smiled at Sasuke and raised a teasing eyebrow. "I thought I was the medical expert on this team?"

Sasuke remained silent as he put a healing balm on her hand. Sakura let out a small breath as the cream soothed her burn. Sakura watched as Sasuke worked the ointment into her hand. She smiled slightly, maybe his heart hadn't turned completely into stone in the past few years.

Sakura watched as Sasuke expertly tied the bandage around her hand. "You did a good job, Sasuke-kun," Sakura said approvingly.

Sasuke looked into the pink-haired kunoichi's emerald eyes. "Sakura," Sasuke said in a grave tone. "I trust you."

Sakura's eyes widened with surprise, but instead of becoming all emotional, she smiled at him. "It's about time, Sasuke-kun. It only took you four years."

A small smile played on Sasuke's lips as he held Sakura's treated hand in his for a moment. Finally he let her hand go. Sakura held it to her chest as she looked down. Finally, she looked up into Sasuke's dark eyes and smiled.

"Let's get back to the others," said Sasuke. "We can't stay in this town anymore. If anyone is on our trail, then this fire will surely attract them."

"Right," Sakura agreed as she followed Sasuke to where Suigetsu, Juugo, and Karin were.

It took me a long time to update, sorry! And as I wrote this chapter, I was half asleep, so this isn't quality work. Well, this chapter is kind of a filler, only that one part where Sasuke finally trusts Sakura is important. The next chapter, will be a day before the fight between Sasuke and Itachi. So keep reading for that!

P.S. with the fight between Itachi and Sasuke, I don't know if I will follow the manga or not. It depends, but alas, we shall see!

Keep the reviews coming!

Love, Serena.