Hey guys… yes, I have finally decided to update. Thing is, I forgot about the story for quite a while. I'm quite relieved that they didn't delete my story. I'm sorry for the wait, for those of you who did…if any…

I'm just warming up, so this will be a short chapter.

-chapter 14 : Recovery-

Nhhhhhh…….

"will they be al…"

Pain was the first thing she knew when Sakura came to.

Nine-tails… I hurt all over…

"Not sur-…the boy… wake…"

"Yo... mean… Uch… suke?"

She bolted upright in bed at the fuzzy sounds of Sasuke's name in her head … and fell back down, with a loud "aAAh… gh." She was in an obsessively clean hospital room. Kakashi was sitting by her side and a doctor was standing next to him.

"Sakura." Kakashi said, smiling. "Welcome back."

"Hey, Kakashi-sensei." She replied respectfully, then asked quickly. "Where's Sasuke?"

"Right here." A door to her room that was in the same wall her bed was against opened. At the sound of that voice she had thought she would never hear again, she tried to get up and turn around to look. But a gentle hand touched her shoulder; Sasuke was already by her side. He had a bandage on one cheek and he had a crutch for his burned leg, but it was Sasuke, fine and alive. His black eyes reassured her as he gave her a slight smile.

"Sasuke." Sakura wanted to get up and hug him, or kiss him. But she couldn't, she was too badly injured. But Sasuke bent down to give her a quick soft kiss on the lips, and then remained close to her face, just looking at her… which of course, was when she realized the only clothes she wore were the bandages that covered her entire upper body and torso.

"PERVERT!" she shrieked, slapping him and knocking him backwards, clutching the white sheets to herself. Her pitch black eyes and bright red cheeks looked quite odd.

"Gomen! Sorry, sorry sorry! I didn't mean to!" Sasuke apologized, flustered and somewhat dazed from crashing into the far wall. The doctor, who had been silent up till now, was doing a weird kind of bobbing up and down thing.

"Sakura-san, Sasuke-kun is just recovering – could you avoid injuring him?" He asked, pleadingly. Sakura looked down and apologized.

"The doctor needs to check up on your burns and cuts." Kakashi said, and left the room with a "Hope you feel better, see ya."

Silently, Sakura allowed the doctor to poke around and take notes on his clipboard of her healing. Then he left and a nurse came in. She was redressing Sakura's wounds when she touched something that obviously hurt. Sakura tensed, restraining herself but a short "eyahh.." escaped her. Sasuke, unreasonably on edge, dropped his crutch and quick as lightning, had the nurse pinned to the wall, his eyes an angry red as the Sharingan threw out his emotions.

"Don't you dare hurt her." He snarled.

"Sasuke! What the hell is wrong with you, she's helping me!" Sakura cried out, trying to get up. The nurse stiffened, but did not cry for help. The reason why came soon. Sasuke's leg buckled without the crutch, but the nurse caught him.

"Back to your room."

"I'll stay here." He returned.

"Back to your room, Sasuke-kun, or I'll lock you in there for as long as your hospital stay lasts." She said sternly, sounding like a mother. Sulking, he retrieved his crutch and patted Sakura's forehead, smoothing out her hair.

"I'll see you soon." He said, and left.

The days passed, some quickly and some slowly. Sakura and Sasuke both healed quite well, although the doctors warned against any strenuous practicing anytime soon. Sakura's crazed attacks on Naoko had taken serious tolls on her body.

"Five petals? You're kidding me!" Sasuke said, staring at Sakura in amazement as they took an early morning walk. It had been so long since they had been able to do that.

"I'm not, and it's a shame you didn't see it. I wish I could do it again but I'll probably have to wait till we're adults, because that thing almost killed me. Frankly, I wonder how I'm still alive after using all that chakra." Sakura said, grinning. Sasuke took her hand.

"You saved my life." He said. He stopped her and took her other hand, turning her to face him. "Can I thank you enough?"

Sakura threw back her head and laughed. Then she quieted and replied. "You don't need to."