Chapter 13

Two days later, a beat-up, exhausted red-head stumbled through the village gates. She was quickly surrounded by people, welcoming her back, helping her to the hospital.

Sakura was already working at the hospital, so when she heard of Karin's return, she quickly searched out her room. Tsunade was there, healing a few bruises and asking her questions. Karin looked up when Sakura entered, giving her a blank stare. Sakura smiled, "I'm so glad you're back safely." Karin didn't answer, so Sakura went back to her duties.

"You seem ok, so you can go home and get some rest." Tsunade said. Karin nodded, silently getting up. After she left the hospital, she straightened her shoulders, held her head a little higher, and aimed for Sasuke's house.

Sasuke opened the door a moment before Karin could knock. They stood staring at each other for a moment. She looked down, reaching out to touch his arm. "Orochimaru kidnapped me, and held me against my will." she whispered, eyes still on the ground. "I know." Sasuke replied. Karin looked up at him again, "I wonder why he suddenly released me?" She asked, a strange look coming to her eyes. "Would you have any idea, Sasuke?" He was silent, staring at her with dark eyes.

Karin pulled her hand away from his arm, clenching her fists. "Is it true Sasuke? What Orochimaru told me?" A cold, disgusted look replaced her blank one. "Tell me it's not true, What Orochimaru said you did… with Sakura." "It is true." Sasuke answered.

Karin recoiled as if he had hit her. "Why! How could you?" She yelled. Sasuke frowned. "You know why! I did it to save your life! He said he would kill you if I didn't!" "It's disgusting!" She yelled back, "How could you?" She repeated. "Would you rather be killed?" Sasuke asked through clenched teeth. "You were with her… I can't stand even thinking it. You're disgusting!"

Sasuke's temper flared. "If I'm so disgusting, then why don't you get away from me?" He roared at her. "I will." She spat at him, "I don't think I want to be with you anymore. I can't stand it!" With that, Karin stomped away. Sasuke stumbled back inside, slightly dazed. "Welcome home…" he muttered bitterly.

Karin stuck to what she said. Soon, almost everyone knew she had broken up with Sasuke and unfortunately, a lot of them knew why. All of Sakura's friends were still kind to her, thought they were shocked at first, and sorry for what she had to go through.

The following week after Karin's return, Sakura barely saw Sasuke at all. She buried herself in her work, trying to ignore her sadness. She felt slightly bad for him, losing his girlfriend after what he did for her. Whenever she passed Karin, she received a cold glare. Luckily, their paths didn't cross that often.

One day, Sakura met Sasuke coming up the street. She was returning home from getting groceries, which were almost spilling over her arms. She was determined to look cool and impassive in front of him, but instead, she tripped on a rock, the bags flying out of her arms.

Utterly mortified, Sakura knelt and began picking them up. A moment later, Sasuke was at her side, assisting her. Now she was utterly shocked. Sasuke held onto one of the bags. "I'll help you carry them the rest of the way." He stated. Sakura resisted the urge to tell him to buzz off and merely nodded her head.

For awhile they walked in silence, then Sakura spoke. "I'm sorry." Sasuke looked at her questioningly. "That she left you, I mean." Sasuke just smirked, "It's her loss." "You are so egotistical!" she scoffed at him. Sasuke chuckled, dodging a half-hearted punch.

Sakura opened the door, standing aside to let him enter first. He set the bag down on the kitchen table. "Thank you." Sakura smiled warmly. "Well," Sasuke mumbled, scratching the back of his head. "It's the least I can do after what…" Sakura held her hand up, halting his words. "Ok, See you later." He said, walking out the door.

Another week passed uneventfully, aside from the occasional cold stare Sakura got from some people. She tried to ignore them. One day she was walking down the hospital hall when a man stopped and laughed. "You're Sakura right?" She frowned, nodding her head. He laughed again, it was rude, and obnoxious.. "It must be nice to 'get it on', to save lives" he grinned, "Or so they say."

Without thinking, she raised her hand, intent on decking him across the face. Hot angry tears pricked at her eyes. They widened when a hand shot out from behind her, stopping her. She turned, it was Sasuke. He pulled her behind him, stepping up to the rude man. Sakura gasped in surprise when Sasuke punched him, hard. The man went flying into the opposite wall, where he slumped, bleeding from his nose and lip.

Sasuke then grabbed Sakura again, pulling her away from the scene. "You have a patient waiting over there." He said to a passing nurse. Sakura smiled a little. He finally stopped when they were a couple halls away. He dropped Sakura's hand, turning to face her. "I'm sorry." he said, his face a jumble of emotions. "You don't have to take that, not from anyone." Sakura looked at him, smiling faintly. "I know, and thank you, but I have to get back to work." Forcing her legs to move, she began walking away. Sasuke continued standing there, watching until she was out of sight.

Sakura was relieved that Sasuke was still friendly to her, at least, as friendly as the Uchiha could be. She still had a sick, gnawing feeling in her chest. Giving up something precious to her, and it had seemed to all be for nothing. Another week passed and they heard that Karin had left the village. Sakura wasn't surprised, since Sasuke had been her only reason for staying before.

It was almost eleven o' clock when Naruto knocked on Sasuke's door. He didn't answer right away, so Naruto let himself in. Sasuke was sitting on his couch, flipping through a book. He looked up when Naruto sat in front of him. "Y'know, it's rude to barge in like that." Naruto smirked, "Yeah, whatever, you knew it was me. I know you wouldn't have opened it." "Hn." Sasuke acknowledged.

"Is it true?" Naruto blurted out, going straight to his point. "About forcing Sakura to do it with you, to save Karin?" Sasuke stared at him for a moment. "First of all, I did not force her. Second, you only heard about it now?" Naruto's eyes widened. "So you did! And you got dumped in the end anyway." He started laughing, but quickly turned serious. "That's probably why Sakura's been acting so depressed lately." "I know." Sasuke muttered, eyes on the floor.

Naruto's mouth dropped, "You know? Then why the hell aren't you doing anything about it?" He yelled. Sasuke frowned, "I'm the one who caused her pain, so if I tried to approach her, I think it would only make things worse." Naruto looked slightly smug. "Ino said that you should talk to Sakura, that, that was what a woman would want." Sasuke's frown deepened. "You've been talking to Ino?"

Naruto tilted his head to the side, "Yeaahhhh. Who do you think told me about all this?" he asked, waving his arms at Sasuke. The black haired man sighed. Naruto stood up, "You should, you should!" the blonde chanted. "Ino's a girl, so she's got to know something." Sasuke stood as well, "I want to, but I'm afraid she hates me." He said, glancing away in embarrassment.

Naruto grinned. "You like her, don't you!" Sasuke turned to face Naruto. "Idiot, go away before you hurt my brain." "I think I will." Naruto beamed, edging for the door, "I've got a little ramen date with Hinata at noon." Sasuke laughed a little at this. "Anyway, I better get going, I want to eat a few bowls before she gets there!" Sasuke sent him off with a punch to the shoulder.

Naruto's words nagged at Sasuke for the rest of the day. Finally, he decided to confront Sakura. He had no idea what he would do, or say, but he would do something damn it!

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It was another one of Sakura's days off. She wandered around her home, tidying it up until it was noon. The pinkette had no idea what else to do. Ino was on a mission with her team and Naruto was supposed to be having a date with Hinata. Finally, she decided to take a shower, even though she had taken one the night before. When she got out, she dried her hair, fiddling with it until it was perfectly smooth. It was still only early evening.

On a whim, she decided to visit the lake. She didn't bring her swimsuit, instead, she could look for shells or something. She left a note, stating where she was, in case Naruto showed up to tell her how the date had gone. Then she left.

When Sakura arrived, she walked along the waters edge, but didn't have much luck finding shells. After a bit more searching, she gave up and sat down in the sands near the water. The sun was just starting to set. It reflected off of the water in brilliant, beautiful rays. She drew her knees to her chest, draping her arms over them. Her loose hair swirled over her face in the slight breeze. She turned her head when she heard someone coming.

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Sasuke slowly made his way to Sakura's house. It was closer to evening than to morning now. There were no lights on inside when he arrived. Cursing under his breath he turned and almost walked away before a note caught his attention. He took it in his hands, smirking as he read it. 'I'm at the beach.' "To the beach it is." He said aloud before turning on his heel.

He stopped when he saw Sakura. He was still about twenty feet away, she hadn't noticed him yet. She was sitting on the ground, hugging her knees. Her light blue tank top hugged her body attractively. Sasuke smiled. It was beautiful, like a scene from a movie. She was beautiful. He began making his way towards her. She turned her head when he came close.

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Sakura was surprised to see Sasuke approaching her. He continued walking, eyes on hers, until he was right next to her. She was even more surprised when he sat down, inches away. He was wearing a white tee-shirt, with a pair of blue jeans. He sat with his knees up, hands behind him, propping him up. He never broke their gaze and neither one of them spoke.

Finally, Sakura decided to break the silence. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" She asked looking away, pointing at the sun that was setting over the waters. "Hn." he agreed, looking away from her for a moment. They again sat in silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

Deciding to be like Naruto for a moment, Sasuke dove straight to the point, to what he was dying to know. "Sakura?" She turned to look at him, her eyes soft. "Do you hate me?" She smiled at this, then laughed. "I could never hate you Sasuke." He let out an audible sigh of relief, and smiled back at her.

Sakura blushed a little, then turned her head back to the lake. Without warning, Sasuke leaned forward, now on his knees, and grabbed Sakura's chin, turning her face to him. Before she could say anything, he pressed his lips against hers.

Sakura's heart stopped, then went into overdrive. Her eyes widened and she pulled away in surprise. She stared at him, mouth open, breathing heavily. Sasuke was still leaning in her direction. He didn't say anything, only stared back at her, like he was watching her reaction. After a moment, she slowly slid back to her previous position, her eyes never leaving his.

Sasuke slowly tilted his head toward her again. She didn't move. He stopped when their foreheads were touching, black and pink strands mingling together. To his surprise, Sakura closed the distance, her lips brushing against his. He shuddered and closed his eyes, reaching up to touch her face again, pulling her closer. It felt like this was their first kiss, like they were just getting to know each other. And maybe they were.

Chapter 13 end-

When I walk softly, I need to hold your hand.

When I open my eyes, I need to see where you stand.

When I am weak, I need you to be strong.

I guess I just realized, it was you all along.

When I fight, it needs to be for you.

And if it's your blood, then take mine too.

Story end-

Yup, that's the end! I've had that beach scene in my head since the beginning of the story. I hope you guys liked it! Thank you all of my readers! Especially my reviewers, you guys kept me going. =D

I made that poem up at the end, hope you liked that too! Sorry if it ended quite suddenly, but this is the longest chapter I've written yet, which is one of the reasons it took so long to post. I wanted it to be good! ^_^

Love you guys!

~Ame-uta