"WHAT?!"

Sakura held the phone away from her ear as her mother screeched into the phone. After sensing that she calmed down, she placed it back to her ear. "Yeah… the house was broken into. I'm fine though."

She hadn't told her parents about getting shot yet, which any other person would've. I can't even predict such a reaction. I'd rather explain it to them personally. "What was broken? Did they steal anything?"

"No, they didn't. And as far as I know, it's just the front window and the door."

"Should we come home?"

"No, no. I'll be fine. I'm already staying somewhere else."

The hospital wasn't an ideal place for her to be staying, but at least it was comfortable. Just a matter of days left and then I can leave. Sakura looked up to hearing a knock at the door to her room. "Oh, mom, I've got to go."

"Alright, bye sweetie."

Sakura hung up the phone back on the wall behind the bed. She certainly felt less drugged than she did the previous day as just getting out of surgery, but today, her body still ached. Any sort of movement could send pain near her wound. She couldn't even sit up, and had to be monitored constantly and had the wear the oxygen mask on certain occasions during the day. The door opened to reveal one of the nurses, "Sakura, there are visitors here for you."

The nurse stepped out of the way to see Kaiba and Mokuba enter the room. They walked in as the nurse began to check Sakura's vitals. "Hi Sakura!" Mokuba said. "Here, these are for you."

He held out a small bouquet of yellow roses to her. Sakura took them and smiled as she set them on the end table. "Thanks Mokuba. That was sweet of you."

"Don't thank me, it was Seto's idea."

Sakura's eyes widened as she looked over at Kaiba, who was currently avoiding her gaze by looking out the window. "Well, thank you too, Kaiba."

He grunted and then looked to her. At least she's in a better mood than yesterday, Kaiba thought.

The nurse glanced at Sakura, "How are you doing today, dear? Any pain, swelling, infection, irritation, or side effects?"

"Uh, yeah." Sakura replied. "My midsection has been hurting a lot. Is there any medication you can give me?"

"Rate you pain from one to ten."

Sakura thought for a moment. "Six."

"If we gave you anything, then you'd probably feel pretty out of it."

Sakura sighed. "Alright, but could you please wait until they leave first?" she said pointing to the two brothers.

"Of course. Just call if you need anything."

The three of them watched the nurse walk out of the room. "So, how are you feeling, Sakura?" Mokuba asked.

"A little tired."

"Did you sleep?"

"Not really. It was difficult… also; the nurses woke me up every few hours to check up on me."

The truth is, when she went to shut her eyes to sleep, the image of being shot kept replaying in her mind. Such a traumatic experience would lead her to have nightmares, which were not something she favored well. I remember even the simplest of nightmares could send me crying when I was little.

"Mokuba," Kaiba said. "Perhaps, we should leave Sakura alone, she obviously needs rest."

"No Kaiba, its fine." Sakura said. "I don't want to have you two leave, you just got here."

Mokuba looked between his brother and Sakura. "We'll come back later, alright?" he said. "Seto said he had some work to finish today anyway."

It was a lie, but Mokuba wanted to know why his brother was being like this. "Oh, okay, I'll see you then."

Mokuba nodded as he followed his brother out the door. Once the door of them were in the elevator, Mokuba looked to his older brother, "What's up with you, Seto?" he asked. "Why did you want to leave so suddenly?"

Kaiba sighed. "It's complicated."

~.~.~

Vivid images began to swirl within Sakura's slumber. If anything, they were nothing but peaceful. She found herself standing among the darkness until a spotlight shone above her. She glanced up to try and find the source of such light, but just found an endless spiral of it. Sakura looked around, but found nothing but the blackness around her. That is, until she heard a voice,

"Ah yes, it appears you haven't died after all." The man started.

Sakura's eyes widened as she turned to see another spotlight appear. The man held a silver gun tightly in his grasp and Sakura went o run away as fast as she could. But, to her own surprise, she was kept within the spiral of light. She collapsed onto her knees and began to sob. Sakura went to scream, but couldn't find her voice. People never seem to speak within their own dreams. Hirotani lifted the shimmering gun up so it pointed to her head.

"Hmph," he continued. "You're pitiful. You are named for the cherry blossom, yes? That figures. You're just as pathetic as such things… how fragile and easy to wilt you are!"

The bullet shot from the gun aiming right for her. Even though it aimed for her head, she didn't feel it hit her skull. Sakura fell to the ground and instead found the pain above her left hip; where the current wound was. She screamed again, but only air came from her mouth. This only seemed to drain her life energy until she felt it was completely deflated.

Sakura awoke to find tears dripping from her eyes and let out a loud scream. Somebody held down her shoulders in an attempt to keep her from flailing. She looked up and saw blue eyes staring into her hazel ones. Taking everything in, she saw that Kaiba was the one holding her down. Seeing that she was awake, Kaiba retracted his hands from her shoulders and walked over to the window. Sakura now noticed the nurse that stood next to her. "Are you alright, dear?" she asked.

"Y-yeah." Sakura replied rubbing the tears from her eyes. It was just a dream. You're still alive. For now.

She took a deep breath and felt cool air trickle into her nostrils. She reached her arm up to her nose and now felt the cannula. The nurse seemed to notice her expression and found the need to explain, "Oh, you were just a little short of breath. It's not anything to worry about dear; you should be able to remove it in a little while."

She nodded and looked around the room. Kaiba glanced back at her and then continued looking out the window at the street below. The nurse soon left, leaving the two in silence. Sakura's eyes met with Kaiba's for a second, but not before he looked away. "So, where'd Mokuba go?" she asked him.

"Home." Kaiba responded.

"Why?"

"Hospital food doesn't exactly agree with his stomach."

"Oh." Sakura remembered that when Mokuba was hospitalized, he never really ate anything. She did admit that the food wasn't exactly four stars, but it certainly wasn't terrible. But, she couldn't silence her giggle from his comment.

Kaiba stared at her. "What's so funny?"

Sakura tried to control the smile on her lips as she looked at him. "Nothing. It's nothing."

He glanced toward the doorway. "I'm going home to check on Mokuba."

Sakura opened her mouth, but shut it again. No, it's a stupid request. Well… "Uh, Kaiba..?"

Kaiba turned back toward her. "What?"

No, maybe I shouldn't say it. Should I? "Well, I know you have to go home to Mokuba and all… but maybe you could stay a little longer. Just because… it's a little lonely around here…"

Kaiba felt a serious need to run for the door now. But yet, he held back. He sighed. "Alright."

He walked over to the side of the bed and sat down in one of the chairs next to it. He crossed his arms over his chest and sent occasional glances in her direction. Just by looking at him, she knew it was a bad idea to ask that of him. The room was filled with silence and wandering eyes. Why did I ask him to do that? I shouldn't beg him to stay just because I want him around me. I need to make this less weird. "Uh, thanks for holding me down." She said. "You know, when I woke up."

Kaiba nodded, but didn't respond. "What was it?"

"Pardon?"

"What were you dreaming about?" For whatever reason, he was curious about it.

Sakura looked down at her hands. "Just… a bit of a memory."

He nodded. Kaiba could imagine the kind of scars such a traumatic experience would leave. Even that experience would leave smaller scars on those Sakura had touched with her heart, like him. "Sakura?" he asked.

She looked up. "Yes?"

No. I couldn't say it. I, Seto Kaiba, can never reveal such things. "Never mind." He stood up from his chair. "Do you mind if I leave?"

"No, its fine. I guess I'll be seeing you tomorrow?"

He nodded.

"Okay. Goodbye, Kaiba."

"Goodbye Sakura." He responded leaving the room.

That was too close for comfort.

Ugh, it took me like two hours to come up with that last part after the nightmare. Was Kaiba too OOC? I feel this chapter was kind of blah either way. Oh yeah, today is my one year anniversary of becoming a member on Fanfiction! *applause*It's been a good year guys, I've written 7 seemingly successful fanfics, so thanks.