Chapter 21

Sakura should be cheerful about the remarks Sasuke made. He gave up on her. He openly complimented her relationship with Sai. She takes a sneak peek at Sasuke and notices how nonchalant he is with Naruto. He's calm and collective demeanor seems to be forced, at least that's what she wants to believe. Before Sasuke could notice, she quickly looks away. Sai notices the strange behavior Sakura is showing. Sai grabs hold of her hand.

"Sakura," Sai squeezes her hand to get her attention. "What are you thinking about?"

"I guess he really doesn't love me," Sakura sighs. "I'm just use to Sasuke pursuing after me." She looks down at the ground. "I'm sorry."

"No worries," Sai replies, "It's going to take some getting used to." Even Sai is a little wary to see Sasuke uninterested in their relationship.

"The cave looks beautiful," Sakura changes the topic. She looks at the many crystals that are embodied in the rocks.

Kakashi grabs his speaker and shouts, "Get with your partner. We are going to do a little trust exercise." Sakura lets go of Sai's hand.

"I'll see you later," Sai said. He glances at Naruto and could see light radiating from him. He's too bright. Naruto gets too lively when it comes to challenges.

"Missed me?" Naruto asks. He bumps his shoulders onto Sai's.

"Calm down, it's only a trust exercise." Naruto ignores what Sai said.

"We are going to win!"

xXx

Sasuke has carefully set some perimeters between himself and Sakura. He's walking three meters behind her. "You know I don't bite." Sakura looks back at his stoic face. It's hard to read Sasuke. He's being real cautious around her.

"I know," Sasuke replies. He looks at her back figure. Being near Sakura is dangerous. He's still has feelings for her. Just by being near her gives him false hope. "I just don't want to be near you," Sasuke coolly comments.

Sakura is a little hurt. To think he doesn't like me to this extent. "Fine, be like that." Sakura grabs the map, Kakashi has handed to her. "All we have to do is to find the exit, and you will be free of me." It's a little puzzling to see Sakura angry.

"Why are you angry?"

"I'm angry because of your rude behavior," She comments. "Do you hate me?" She glares directly at him. Emerald eyes meet onyx eyes. It drives Sakura crazy to see no expression on his face. It's as if Sasuke has fully shut down on her.

"I don't personally hate you." Sasuke doesn't hate Sakura. It's impossible to hate her. She did nothing wrong. The only person he hates is himself. He wishes that he could casually walk next to her without having his heart racing because of her. "You should be thrilled that I'm not pursuing you." Sakura halts and drops the map. What Sasuke is saying isn't wrong. She should be in bliss right now. Sakura grabs the map.

"Yeah, you're right," Sakura said with her shaky voice.

"Are you crying?" Her shaky voice gives everything away. "You are crying." Sasuke clenches his fist and hesitates to console her or not.

"I'm not crying," She replies. She's obviously lying. "I'm just frustrated."

"Sakura," Sasuke finally walks beside her. He looks at her heart shaped face. Her emerald eyes are glistening. "I don't understand you." The close proximity is complicating things for Sasuke. His heart is already racing. "You shouldn't show me this side of you." Sasuke looks away and swiftly takes the map from her hand. It's giving me false hope. "I will lead, since you're not in the condition to." Sasuke speeds up and walks in front. He wants to put his arms around her slim waist and give her a hug. He wants to touch her. The promise he made himself is preventing him from doing so. The last skin to skin contact he made in the bus has ended it all.

"You really love Karin," Sakura said. Jealously is overriding her mind.

"What?" Sasuke stops his track.

"Nothing," Sakura replies. Angry and hurt, she speeds up her pace. There is no way she's going to watch his back and stay calm. Everything that she has bottled up inside is slowly tipping. "You and Karin are perfect for each other," She heatedly said.

"I'm perfectly aware of that."

"You both are heartless."

"I know."

"You both are the same!" Sakura shouts.

"Is there anything else you want to get off your chest?"

Sakura has enough. His cool demeanor and casual replies has made things entirely worse. She feels like she's going to explode like a volcano. She glares at Sasuke and runs deeper in the cave. Jealously is eating at her heart. Sakura hates how Sasuke makes her feel. She hates how low she has become. The words she spoke have proven one thing. She's not over him.

"Sakura, where are you going?" Sasuke shouts. He runs after her.

"Leave me alone!" Sakura yells. She stops running and catches her breath. She can never outrun Sasuke. "Just say it." She turns her back and looks at his worried expression. "That you hate me." Sasuke could never say that. It's impossible.

"I won't."

"Say it!" Maybe then her tiny lingering love for Sasuke will fully be extinguished. "Please just say it," She begs.

"I can't." He looks away from her hurt expression. "I'm sorry."

Sakura inches further away from Sasuke. "Why are you so unfair?"

"Sakura, it isn't safe there." Sasuke motions forward.

"Stay away from me," Sakura warns. She steps back. The fragile ground starts to crumble. Immediately, Sasuke drops the map and follows after her. He quickly wraps his hands around her and shields her head. Sasuke supports Sakura body and swims to the surface.

"Sakura!" Sasuke yells. He looks to the right and sees a dry area. He laid her wet body onto the surface. She's still unconscious. Sasuke places his mouth onto hers' and performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation and successfully manages to save her. Relief washes over him.

Sakura slowly opens her eyes. She notices a scar on Sasuke right arm. "I'm sorry." She moves closer to Sasuke. Sakura wet clothes is hugging onto her lovely body. Sasuke quickly looks away.

"There's no way to go up." Sasuke slides his wet hair back. "We'll have to wait for someone to save us." Sakura swiftly rips the end of her shirt and wraps the fabric around his scarred arm.

"Thanks for saving me." She sits right next to Sasuke.

"You really worried me," Sasuke reprimands Sakura. "Next time, listen to me."

"I said I was sorry." They both are quiet.

"I don't love Karin," Sasuke breaks the silence.

"Then why did you have sex with her?"

Sasuke is confused. "What?"

"Karin told me," Sakura said. Sasuke is laughing. "What's so funny?" She glares at him.

"We never went that far." Damn Karin. I should have known.

"So it was a lie?" Sakura is extremely embarrassed.

"It was a lie."