Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! I posted this now instead of the weekend because I really like this chapter. It is my favorite one so far. Enjoy.

On the Contrary

Chapter Eleven

.: Numb :.

Suddenly, Sakura felt her arm dampen as she cried in pain. She grasped her arm, trying to stop the blood flow that the glass had caused.

Without a split second, Juugo went for another blow. Sakura hastily ducked this time, and once his eyes were not on her, she ran to his side. She knew violence around Juugo was not the answer, but she had to defend herself. At that thought, Sakura raised her fist and aimed for his face. Juugo grinned maliciously as his hand grabbed her fist, making her scream once more. Unfortunately for Sakura, he happened to have another piece of glass in his hand.

Flinching because of her throbbing arm and hand, Sakura tried her tactic once again. She quickly ran to his other side and pumped her fist with chakra. Without a moment's hesitation, she lifted her fist and went for the side of his face.

Stumbling backwards, Juugo shook his head and tried to decipher where the blow came from. He looked from the corner of his eye and studied the pink blur near his side. Sakura gritted her teeth as she clutched her injured arm and watched a pool of blood form from her bleeding hand. He gave a loud slurred laugh once he was able to clearly see the grave condition she was in. Juugo continued chortling for a good minute until he finally collapsed to the ground.

Sakura sucked in her breath and bit her lip. It was not only because of the pain she was in, but because of the sight she had just witnessed. Here he was, the large, gentle man who actually gave her a good first impression in a vulnerable and violent position. He was sitting on the ground, shaking, so Sakura assumed that his episode was over.

Sakura warily walked towards Juugo. Knowing that it was best not to hurt him anymore, Sakura kneeled down to his side and touch his shoulder. He did not look up at her touch, and Sakura wondered if this was because he was trying to hide his tears.

After a moment's hesitation, Sakura tentatively hugged Juugo's bulky arm. Devastated, the now san Juugo gave her a sorry glance. Upon seeing his heartbreaking expression, Sakura held her breath and finally gave him a full hug.

It was the only thing she could do now, because hugs always seemed to work.

Sakura swallowed the growing lump in her throat as she let go of Juugo. She tried to manage to smile as if to say, 'no hard feelings' but they both knew that that would never work. Inevitably, whenever Sakura looked at him, he avoided her gaze. His eyes rested on her visible wounds instead until the cell door swung open.

"Sakura!"

The Godaime rushed into the cell, jumping over the dead guard. Shizune was right on her heels and tiptoed around the guard. She struggled to swallow at the sight of the murdered man.

"Tsunade-sama!" Sakura cried as Tsunade harshly pulled her up. The Hokage's eyes darted between Juugo and her former student's wounds, her eyes filled with malice.

"What have you done?" she fiercely asked him. "What happened here?"

"Tsunade—"

"Sakura, don't start," Tsunade cut her off, eyes still on Juugo.

"Please," Sakura started again, "I think the other guard might have been harassing him. And h—he was trying not to hurt anyone—"

Tsunade gave a caustic laugh as she looked at Sakura's injuries. "Fine then. Since you're so eager to talk, Sakura, then tell me what you were doing down here in the first place. You know, after telling me that you needed a break from work."

All of a sudden, Shizune gulped so loudly that everyone in the room heard. "I—I believe that's my—"

"No!" Sakura shouted at her. "I let myself down here because I thought I would see Juugo again. I'm not a child; I can come down here if I want."

"Even if it's against the Hokage's wishes," Tsunade growled. "Hmph." Flipping back one of her blond pigtails, Tsunade walked over to the Oto ninja and put her hand on his shoulder. Sakura opened her mouth in protest but was muffled when Shizune quickly covered the opening to the younger kunoichi's mouth.

Eyes full of wickedness, Juugo shrugged Tsunade's hand off of him. He stood up and towered over her, but Tsunade smirked at his action. "Can't control it, eh?"

Juugo clenched his fists and angrily looked at the area around him. His eyes caught Sakura's and she fiercely shook her head. Ad nodded as he took a deep breath and let his fists relax.

"Hokage-sama. I am sorry for what I have done. It wasn't intentional."

"You killed one of my men," Tsunade spat. "Even though he was stupid enough to give you glass dishes for your meals, he's a Konoha man."

Tsunade swiftly glanced at Sakura in the middle of her tirade. Sakura thought she could see a bit of remorse in the Godaime's face, but she was never too sure.

"You injured the top medic nin in the village," Tsuande added, with just as much malevolence. "Your apology is not accepted."

"Fine," Juugo said in a low voice. "Keep me locked up."

"Right. Because that worked before! We're giving you an injection," Tsunade said to Juugo's empty eyes. "I warned you before."

Sakura wriggled from Shizune's grasp. "What will it do?" she quickly asked. Her question was not because she did not know what the shot would do; Tsunade had informed her about giving Juugo shots if necessary if he became aggressive. She had actually interrogated Tsunade for Juugo's benefit. She had no doubt that he was wondering what the shot would do.

Tsunade gave Sakura a disbelieving look. "Numb him," she told her, as if a young child would know such a question. "His arms in particular, but we won't hesitate to numb the rest of his body."

Without a split second, Tsunade motioned for the three to follow her. Sakura was surprised that Juugo had not lost it once again with the way the Hokage was going on.

But then again, it was not that surprising. While Tsunade spoke he often stared blankly at nothing or at her wounds. It was as if he felt more than guilty…as if he had made his own death wish because what had happened to her.

"We're going to the hospital," Tsunade said as they left the cell. "Shizune—oh, it's not that bad—go tell someone to clean this mess up!" With a flick of her wrist, she gestured to the pieces of glass and the dead body and stomped off.

Once the three arrived at the hospital, all eyes were fixed on them. Sakura clutched her arm and tried to hide her wound, but her bloody hand was still unfortunately visible. Once, Tsunade scowled at the ones who gawked, they all returned to their work. She led Sakura and Juugo to a room near the back of the hospital where a group of jounin were already located.

"Tsunade-sama!" one cried in surprised as he wiped his mouth and hid a tall bottle behind his back. "What are you doing here?"

"Don't question me," Tsunade snapped. "Strap him down."

The jounin wasted no time to grab Juugo and lead him to the bed. Juugo began to shake and Sakura bit her lip.

Please…please don't lose it.

"Don't—" Sakura pleaded.

"I know," he replied.

Digging his nails into his palms, he let the jounin force him to the bed. Two belts attached to the bottom of the bed were strapped over him ("Good thing these are already huge," one jounin remarked, amused). He clenched his teeth and glowered at the Hokage.

"You're done."

"No," Tsunade coolly said. "I'm not. We're knocking you out too."

"You said I was only going numb," he growled, his eyes darkening once again. "Watch yourself."

Ignoring his comment, Tsunade reached for the injection. She slowly walked to the side of the bed without a hint of fear in her expression. Juugo snarled and lifted up his arm in her general direction. Effortlessly, he snapped off the straps.

Juugo rose from his lying position and cruelly scrutinized everyone in the room. Once he was finished, he picked up the rest of the belt and ripped it into little pieces. A few jounin grabbed a hold of his arm but he swung them away. He laughed at their now terrified expressions as he picked up a chair and threw it in their direction. Once someone was hit, he turned to the Hokage.

"SURPRISE!" he finally shouted to her, grinning. "THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS!"

Sakura's heart quickened to the point of near shock as she observed the scene before her. 'No,' she thought. Of course he wouldn't be able to stay calm for so long. Not with the way he was being treated. How could she be so ridiculous to—?

Sakura watched Juugo's hand harshly swipe some of the shots from a small table. Shoving her aside, he came towards the Hokage. Sakura ran between them, her perspiring hands reaching out to Juugo.

"Tsuna—JUUGO!"

"Sakura!" another jounin frantically called, pushing out of the back. "Get back! You're already hurt!"

"NO!" Sakura called. "I—"

"Sakura-san!" Shizune was now standing at the doorway, frantically looking around the room. "Tsunade-sama can take care of herself! Please!" She ran into the room and grabbed the pink haired woman, as Tsunade jabbed the injection into Juugo's large side.

After staring in horror, Sakura found herself sobbing at the now motionless man who was being forced onto the bed. Using whatever strength she had left, she struggled to fight off Shizune, but it was no use. Her arm and hand were throbbing way too much to help her escape. As she gasped for air from Shizune's tight grip, Sakura began to taste the salty tears that had finally reached her mouth.

Shizune pulled the crying and stuggling woman out of the room into the front of the hospital. She gave Sakura a quick hug, as if she were reassuring a child. "I'm sorry," she murmured in Sakura's ear. "You'll understand one day."

"Sakura!"

Not too far away, with a quick leap Mrs. Haruno left her waiting chair. She grabbed her daughter from Shizune and hugged her tightly.

"Mom," Sakura whispered.

"Shh...Thank Kami you're okay. The receptionist just alerted me about you."

"Mom," Sakura started again. She gently pushed her mother's chest and looked into her eyes. "I want to go home."

After a moment of initial frowning, Mrs. Haruno briskly nodded as she looked at Shizune. "Okay…okay."

"Take care of those wounds," Shizune softly told Sakura as they began to depart. "And don't worry. E—everything will be okay."

Walking in silence was best for the two of them, so mother and daughter decided not to speak on the way home. Upon reaching Sakura's apartment, Mrs. Haruno warily opened the door and motioned for Sakura to go in first, as if the harsh evening would injure her daughter some more.

Without looking at her mother Sakura walked to her bathroom and washed off her wounds. She healed herself with her uninjured hand and winced as the chakra pumped in. Once she was done she found her mother sitting on her couch, staring into nothingness. Sakura sat down next to her and gently put her head on her mother's shoulder. Her mother gave a hint of a smile.

"Where's Sasuke?" she asked, after a moment of silence.

"I don't know," Sakura softly answered.

Mrs. Haruno nudged her daughter. "He wasn't with yo—?"

"No, mom."

"Oh."

Knowing that her daughter would not want to talk about the day's events, Sakura's mother scanned the room for something happy to talk about. Her eyes laid on a kimono hanging near the door and she smiled.

"I dropped off your kimono earlier today," she informed Sakura. "Do you want to try it on?"

Sakura's throat tightened as she looked at the beautiful red and white kimono. The dress was perfect, and its place in her home was as if it were mocking her. A perfect dress for a flawed girl. She looked at her mother and bit her lip.

"I…no."

"Sakura."

"I can't." Sakura blinked back tears as she looked at her mother. It wasn't long until she was shaking with sobs and gasping for air again.

"It's been a long day," her mother whispered.

"T—that's not it. We got into an argument."

"Who? You and Sasuke? Everyone argues with their partner—"

Sakura shook her head, gripping the arm of her couch. "I…mom…" She gave her mother a sorry look and stared out of the window, sadly smiling. "We're not like everyone, OK? I…don't think this isn't going to work out anymore."

"What did he say?" her mother quickly demanded. "Did he hurt you?"

"He told the truth," Sakura told her. "…and so did I. He wasn't sure about my decisions and I…wasn't too sure about his feelings. We haven't spoken in days," she added as her mother abruptly stood from the couch. Sakura's mother pursed her lips and started cleaning the area, as if tidying up was more important than her daughter's words. "I—I'm sorry if this is ruining everything for you. You don't have to clean up after us…"

By the time Sakura had finished speaking, her mother had left to go to another room. Looking at the empty spot next to her, Sakura sighed and hugged the couch's pillow. After a moment to herself, Sakura finally went to her room.

Sakura lay face down on her bed as studied the contents in her closet. She decided that this wasn't going to be like last time, when she saw her unworn engagement ring. To make sure it didn't happen, she closed her eyes, concentrating on the most positive recent moments in her life...talking with Ino at the flower shop…getting encouragement from Hinata…going shopping with Sasuke…

But the negative events still popped up. Her argument with Sasuke…Juugo going berserk…

Sakura tightened her closed eyes. "Not again," she mumbled, as images of an out of control Sasuke and a mad Juugo ran though her mind. The experiences were so similar…was she doomed to deal with unstable people because of Orochimaru's curse forever?

All of a sudden, Sakura felt something change in the room. It was as if something was added…another person's presence. At that last thought, she sat up and twisted her head to see her visitor.

Blocking the cold air from her window, it was Sasuke of course, and he was sitting on her window sill as usual. Although he seemed indifferent at first sight, his eyes bore into hers as if it was the first time he was seeing her. Sakura was the first to blink and after doing so she left her bed to stand before him.

"What are you doing here?" she softly asked. "My mother is in another room and she won't be happy…"

"Sakura."

Sasuke jumped from the windowsill with such speed that it startled her. She watched him uncertainly flex his hands as he slowly observed the scars on her hand and arm.

Once he was done loosening up his hands, Sasuke warily reached up a hand brushed the side of her face. It was only natural that he ignored the crusty remnants of tears and the sweat on her face as he felt her skin, because after everything she had been through, she was still so soft. Sasuke's hand left her face and he placed it on her shoulder as he gazed at her once more.

"Are you okay?" he finally asked.

Sakura averted her eyes from his. "I shouldn't have gone there."

"But you did."

Sakura vigorously shook her head and proceeded to speak again, her voice shaking. "I went when you didn't want me too. I—I knew you would be worried. So that's why I…"

"Shut up."

Sakura's eyes widened at Sasuke's words as she abruptly shut her mouth. Frowning at her statement, Sasuke leaned down to her eyelevel and slowly began to communicate his intentions with her.

"Listen to me…Sakura. You're fine…that's all that matters to me."

And, with his proclamation, Sasuke's free hand reached Sakura's other shoulder. Sakura drew in her breath at the feel of his warm hands. It was usually the other way around, but now she was the cold one. Tonight, his presence was comforting, something that made her content and warm as well.

After a second that felt like a lifetime, Sasuke's hands reached for Sakura's back. He proceeded to encircle his arms around her and gently pulled her towards him. Sakura followed suit and reached her arms around his large torso. Unused to such an action due to the recent unfortunate events, Sasuke shakily exhaled. His breathing was not any calmer when she buried her head into his chest as their embrace continued to occur.

Even if Sakura's mother was nearby, they were able to stay calm. Even if the cold air from outside was filling up her room, they were able to stand in silence, enjoying each other's company. Near the end of their embrace, Sasuke held Sakura a little more tightly until he finally let go. Astounded, he stared at Sakura and she gave him a similar expression in return. He was never one to initiate hugs, after all. After their silent exchange, Sasuke nodded at her and took a step backward.

"I have to go," he quickly told her, the room suddenly becoming foreign to him. He started for the window and skillfully lifted himself back on her sill.

Sakura winced, but game a small smile to mask her disappointment. "Okay."

He took in the unfortunate scene before him; the girl who would lament even more if he left her behind. Her façade began to fail, and Sasuke paused.

"Sakura…"

With a sense of finality, he reached out his large hand to her small one. Without wavering, Sakura took a bold step towards him and took his hand. The two clasped hands for a moment until Sasuke instantly shook his head and drew his hand back.

"I'll...see you later…" he muttered, his face apologetic.

And then, without casting her another glance, he swiftly and silently disappeared into the darkness.

Author's Note: Heh…bet you didn't see that SasuSaku moment coming after the earlier events in the chapter. FYI, when Sasuke is reaching out his hand, he's offering for her to come home with him, but he changes his mind. Thanks for reading and please review!