I am really sorry for the delay. I will explain at the bottom of the chapter, because i have kept you waiting long enough.

Thanks for all the reviews. if i didn't get back to you, i am sorry. life is crazy

Disclaimer: DNON

Enjoy the chapter. sorry for the shortness, i just wanted to get it up, but it is still kind of important.

Forced 14


She wasn't exactly sure of her surroundings, but she knew that the were a whole lot better than what she had had while she had been with Akatsuki. The bed was soft but firm, and as her mind began to become clearer she began to hear the small yet incessant beeping of a machine, and the little prick in her hand, where she was sure a needle was probably inserted. Feeling another one farther up her arm and figured it was for letting liquids into her body that was severely dehydrated.

Shifting around in the bed, she could feel the new clothing on her bunch in areas as it stuck to the bed. She wanted so badly to just shake her head and make the fogginess go away. But upon trying to, it only resulted in letting a small headache come upon her. Scrunching her eyes she tried to will the throbbing pain to go away. Trying to shift around again, she felt a steady and firm hand descend upon her arm, telling her silently to stop moving. Scrunching her eyes again, and then letting them slowly open she had to blink a few times for the fuzziness to leave the edges of her vision.

Once her vision cleared completely she stared blankly ahead at the sterile white ceiling. Already she could tell that there were several people already in the room. Finding the strength in her weakened body she turned her head to look at the person that had their hand on her arm. Her eyes found the hand first and then it traveled up the arm, and just by looking at the slenderness of the arm, she knew it was a female, and then up to the face. Amber eyes looked concerned at her.

Looking behind the amber eyed woman, she saw a tuft of silver hair poking around and then found the half covered face with one grey eye looking almost cautiously at her. Moving her gaze around again, she spotted a spiky head of blond hair giving her a worried look as well. She knew each of them and she was glad that three of her closest friends were there, but where was the other face that had brought her to Konoha. Her eyes tried to wander the rest of the room and when she spotted a head of black hair her heart jumped but upon realizing it was Sai, her heart slowed. It wasn't him, but where was he then?

Trying to open her mouth the only thing she let out was a croak of a word. She tried wetting her through by swallowing but even that didn't help much, another croak was the only thing she let out. Hearing something softly hit the table next to her bed she discovered a glass of water placed before her. Rising up slightly out of the bed with a little help she was finally able to reach her sore arms out towards the glass and taking it began to drink.

The cool water felt refreshing on her throat and to her senses as well. The entire time she had been with the Akatsuki there had been little water for her to drink. Relishing in the taste of the cool water, she downed the glass in a matter of seconds, she knew that while she did so, the occupants of the room, watched her intently, watching as she practically ravished the glass of water. They knew, looking at how ravenous she was for water, that she had probably been given none, or quite little during her off another glass of water that had been graciously offered to her, Sakura was finally able to speak to the members of the room around her, without croaking.

"How......how long have I been here?" she asked out, voice crackling only a little bit, but the words were understandable.

"You've been asleep for three days?" the blond woman told her. "You gave us a scare a little bit when you first came in, but you are out of the woods now. All you need to do it rest and regain fluids and nourishment and you'll be feeling better within the week."

The younger medic just nodded her head. Tsunade could tell that there was another question at the tip of the girls tongue, and she was sure she knew just exactly which question it was. Where was Sasuke? And even if Sakura would ask the question, Tsunade really didn't have answer. She had sent out a team to try and retrieve Sasuke, if even for another few days, but the Uchiha had eluded her team and had simply vanished. She watched the pinkette mull the question about in her mind, before the Hokage finally spoke.

"Sasuke, is no longer in Konoha." the statement was short and crisp, yet to Sakura it was as if it the sentence remained in the air longer than needed.

Her question was answered but it left so many other questions plagued her mind now. Why would Sasuke just leave? It was partially a stupid question but at the same time it was a valid one. Her mind was puzzled by everything that had happened. Did everything that had happened, mean nothing to him. Sasuke was someone who didn't act just on impulse, he had to have a reason. But what were his reasons for saving her from Madara's clutches and then their encounters on their way back to Konoha.

She nodded, as if in a daze, finally registering it in her mind that Sasuke was not in Konoha and that there was a good possibility that he probably wouldn't be coming back. In her mind she knew it was stupid of her to even think about the possibility that Sasuke would stay. She was now sure that the stolen moments with him, were probably only raging hormones and emotions that had been suppressed for too long. It was stupid of her to even think that Sasuke would see in her in such a way.

Letting her body sink back farther into the hospital bed's mattress, she turned her head away from her teammates and looked out the partially covered window. She could almost see what had most likely gone on. Sasuke had made his demands of what would have to happen to make him stay. His demands were probably not met, or rather couldn't be met, and with a rage still burning in him towards Konoha, he had left.........without even a word.

The occupants in the room could see the dampened mood of the young medic as the news of Sasuke was told to her. They all suspected she would be disappointed, but not to the point where she would actually look dejected. Their eyes moved away from her for a second and then to each other, sending a silent message of a question of what could have happened between her and Sasuke in such a short amount of time that they had been together.

Kakashi had seen firsthand how protective, or could have been possessiveness, that Sasuke showed towards Sakura in that clearing, not so many nights ago. The man had protected the girl with his body had only let Kakashi look at the girl, out of a mere whim. Everything had been fine until Kakashi had made that move against Sasuke causing him to retreat, taking the pink haired girl with him. What could have possibly gone on those two possibly three days the two had been together. By the way Sakura was acting, she looked as if she had just been jilted, and right now Kakashi's mind could only wonder why.

He was sure he was close to the Fire Rain border. Fire country, was usually avoided at all costs by himself up until this point, only crossing the border when it was absolutely necessary to go across the border, for missions and other assignments that Madara had sent him on.

Looking around him and sensing that he was alone, he settled himself against a tree amongst one of its thicker branches. His knees were bent upwards allowing himself to rest his arms against them, while leaning his head back against the trunk of the giant tree. It wasn't very often he would let his guard down like this. Though his senses were still making sure he was alone, he had never really felt like something was just....... missing.

And he blamed Sakura for it. If she hadn't been caught. If she hadn't become another obstacle for him. If she hadn't been branded and beaten, he wouldn't have taken remorse. There were so many if's and frankly they were driving him insane. He knew deep down that he couldn't blame Sakura for what had transpired. It wasn't her fault that she had been branded. It wasn't her fault that she had been caught or rather captured, knowing that by what Tsunade had informed him. It really wasn't her fault, it was his, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he probably could have done something about it rather than sit back and watch it happen.

He was questioning himself though. It had been so easy to walk out of that hospital room, not knowing what would happen once he left, but he couldn't leave the room when Madara had been in the room. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was wondering what exactly he felt for the girl that had grown up. Emotions were being confused and he wasn't sure how to respond to any of it.

He knew of only one legitimate reason why he had left Konoha, he wanted to watch Madara. Sasuke knew that he couldn't return to the mountain base, and he was also sure that Madara had probably already moved from the stone structure. Madara wasn't stupid and the older Uchiha knew that his secrets were probably all out, and in Konoha's hands. Sasuke wasn't sure what the older Uchiha would do now, but it was now Sasuke's priority to keep Madara under tabs.

Madara wanted to destroy Konoha and would by any means necessary. Sasuke had decided that he would repent in some ways for all the information he had given Madara about Konoha, that he could still remember, when he had been under the man's thumb. He would find some retribution to ease his conscience, if he could stop or at least delay Madara's plans until Konoha was ready. But deep within Sasuke, he knew it was also to keep a person safe. A person that shouldn't have entered his life.

I feel so bad, about the length. i really am, i always try and write longer chapters and this one is just pathetic, especially for taking two weeks.

so why this chapter was late.

1 College: it is almost the end of the semester, and of course the projects are starting to come upon me and i am not liking them at then homework in general is just a killer.

2 guys. can't live with them, can't live without them. that is basically my feelings right now.

3 work: work is starting to pick up for the holiday seasons just around the corner, so i will be picking up more hours.

top three reasons, oh yes.

Update: I have no idea. i will try and write what i can when i can, and i will try and make the next chapter, longer than this one. i have time off around thanksgiving, so hopefully i can get a chapter up then, but absolutely no promises.

for the poll for my next story. the two are tied, so i will end the polling pretty soon and if they are still tied, i will just post whichever one i feel like posting.

please review, and let me know how the chapter is, though it is so short

yoyo