Back in Konoha, Tsunade had every medi-nin working on the girl.

So far, they had managed to stabilize her condition, and identify the poison. Unfortunately, there was no known cure for it.

One medi-nin reported to Tsunade on Kagome's status. "Tsunade-sama, we've found residual traces of the poison in her veins. This isn't the first time she's been exposed to this poison."

Shizune frowned. "I though you said the poison was fatal, Tsunade-sama. How could she have possibly been infected before?"

Tsunade thought. "That means there's at least one person out there with the antidote."

***~~~*** Outside Konohagakure ***~~~***

Sasuke crouched on a tree branch overlooking his old home.

What should he do?

Kagome was down there.

She was in pain. She was dying.

But, if he went to her, he'd be captured by the ANBU, and detained.

By the time they let him out- if they let him out- it would be too late.

Kagome was going to die, if he was there, or not.

There was a rustle in the bushes, and Sasuke quickly concealed himself in the upper branches of the tree. A few moments later, Ino Yakamanka, Chouji Akimichi, and Shikamaru Nara appeared below him.

Shikamaru was obviously bored, while Ino and Chouji were deep in conversation.

"-yeah, so what I heard, is that Naruto did find Sasuke-kun, but that girl in the hospital stepped into their fight." Ino was saying. Chouji crunched a chip. "I heard that all she's said since Naruto brought her in is Uchiha-san's name. 'Sasuke-sama'. That's all she says."

Sasuke's heart twisted. Kagome was waiting for him- she was relying on him- and he couldn't do anything. He steadied himself against the tree trunk, and accidentally snapped a twig. Ino and Chouji, engrossed in their gossip, didn't notice, but Shikamaru did. He looked up, sharp eyes searching, until he found Sasuke.

Sasuke met the Nara's eyes with his own. Suddenly, he had a spark of feeble hope. Slowly, he reached into his side pouch, and brought out the vial of antidote.

"For her." he mouthed, desperately praying that Shikamaru would understand.

And not be too lazy to do anything.

He dropped the small bottle to the forest floor.

It's landing muffled by leaves and grass, no one noticed it, save for Sasuke and Shikamaru.

Never taking his eyes off the Uchiha, Shikamaru knelt to retrieve the vial.

"Oi, Shikamaru, what're you doing?" Ino asked.

Shikamaru glanced over at her, for a single instant, and when he looked back to the trees, Sasuke was gone.

"How troublesome…" he muttered, ignoring his two teammates, and heading back to the village.