Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own Naruto cause if I did…heh believe me things would change! coughSasuSakucough Unfortunately it belongs to Masashi Kishimoto, blah, blah, blah, insert random legal document , etc.

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Chapter 18: Recap!

Anger flooded through Sasuke as Toshikai taunted him. He had activated the Sharingan long ago, but he still couldn't see with all the fog. Toshikai always managed to flit past him managing to pummel him everytime in the process. Blood began to drip from Sasuke's mouth, but he quickly wiped it away.

"What are you trying to accomplish?" Toshikai mocked him.

Sasuke growled and went for one final attack though his limbs pleaded with him to stop. His tiredness made him sluggish and Toshikai easily dodged. Turning he slammed him into unconsciousness. Before Sasuke succumbed to the blackness that threatened to take him, he heard Toshikai laughing above him.

"You failed again. Oh look, what a touching sentiment," Toshikai smirked nudging Sakura's headband with his foot. "Which reminds me."

Slowly Toshikai slipped his own headband off and let it clatter to the ground by Sasuke's head.

"I won't need it anymore," he said walking away.

The headband and Toshikai's retreating form were the last things Sasuke saw.

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Chapter 20: Seeing is Believing

Sakura had first awoke around 5:00 in the evening or so and while waiting for Naruto slipped in and out of consciousness still feeling weak. She hurt horribly and the only release was the mind numbing drugs poured into her system and sleep. That was about the only time she didn't feel pain, lost, or anything really. Sleep was her sweet release from asking questions and the annoying, but ever-constant beep of the heart monitor. Kakashi was never far, but she only vaguely recalled the nurses and doctors going in and out. Finally Naruto arrived.

"Sorry sensei!" Naruto yelled. At first he looked as though he was trying to think of an excuse, but then he said simply, "You called me?"

"No," Kakashi said grinning at Naruto's confused look.

"I did," Sakura said from the bed behind Naruto.

"S..S..Sakura?" Naruto said in shock. "Sakura!"

He ran forward throwing his arms around her and squeezing so tightly it hurt.

"Naruto, that hurts," Sakura whimpered.

Naruto let go, but not before squeezing one more time. Sakura winced feeling like someone had pressed a red-hot iron into her skin and the rubbed salt into it. Nonetheless she smiled at the blond ninja in front of her.

"Hi Naruto," She said.

"You're okay! I thought… I mean I was so worried!" Naruto said happily. "We should hunt down Sasuke and tell him!"

"No!" Sakura replied quickly. "I want to tell him."

"Oh…I see," Naruto said his grin spreading.

Sakura listened for a bit as Naruto reiterated what had happened while she was here until a nurse came in and requested he leave.

"Young man, she needs her rest!" the nurse scolded. "You go get stabbed and see how you feel!"

"Fine," Naruto muttered after trying unsuccessfully to argue his case. "Bye Sakura!"

"Bye Naruto," Sakura called after him.

Suddenly he darted back in, hugged her more gently this time, and then ran out before the nurse could get after him again.

"Crazy boy," the nurse muttered checking Sakura's vitals. "Well you're good to go."

"Get some rest, Sakura," Kakashi said hugging her. "In the morning you can see Sasuke."

She nodded and felt painfree sleep not far away thanks to the medicine. Kakashi and the nurse flipped the light and left closing the door with a click. Her head ached along with every other muscle in her body, plus some.

"Sasuke…be safe…wherever you are…" she mumbled before peaceful sleep seized her once more.

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.Red swirling color and Sasuke's voice saying something. Why can't I understand him? More red color and a sickly splattering noise. I can't see, I can't hear what's going on? More red…I don't…wait…stop spinning… Sasuke!

Sakura woke from her nightmare with a yell. Sitting up straight caused a scream to follow the yell as white-hot agony exploded through her. She lay back down and instantly heard footsteps running down the hall. The ANBU, Kakashi, and two nurses burst into her room.

"Miss Haruno!" one of the nurses yelled. "Are you okay?"

"We heard you scream," Kakashi said with a worried expression across his features.

"I'm fine," She answered truthfully. "Just a dream."

"Sounded more like a nightmare the way you yelled," one of the ANBU said matter of factly.

"Yeah, it was I guess, but I feel much better now," Sakura said. "I'm sorry if I woke any of you."

"Nah, it's almost seven now," the nurse said. "Which reminds me… I need to check your vitals anyway. I know it sucks, but I could've woken you up."

"Go for it," Sakura replied. "I'm wide awake now."

"Kakashi?" Sakura called after the nurse was done and left. "I was wondering…do you think maybe…I could walk at all?"

"Maybe a little if you put your mind too it, though I'm sure the nurses might kill you for it. Why?" Kakashi replied.

"No reason," Sakura said turning to look out the window. "Just wondering… Oh and…can I ask for a favor?"

"It depends on the favor," Kakashi said reluctantly wondering what this 'favor' was.

"Could you maybe…you know sneak some real food in here?" She said giving him puppy eyes. "Hospital food sucks and you're the only one that could do it."

"Yeah, I guess I could do that for you," Kakashi grinned. "But don't get used to it."

"Thank you Kakashi-sensei," Sakura chimed with a laugh as he left.

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Sasuke awoke to rain dripping on his face. Well, that and he was partially drowning in a pool of bloody water.

"Well, that went great," he muttered aloud as he spat out sour blood. "I sure succeeded in making a fool out of myself."

Sasuke sighed and then saw Toshikai's headband lying beside him. He picked it up and gazed at if for a moment. He suddenly felt the urge to just throw it as far as he possible could or farther, but he didn't. He rose to his feet rather gingerly and turned to limp back to the Village in the Clouds.

Bruises ran up and down the length of his body and the gash on his leg was now encircled by black, blue, purple, red, and other random colors of bruising. Still he ignored them and went on.

Finally alone in her room the day passed slowly for Sakura. The nurses came in every two hours she had discovered to check on her and once in the morning, afternoon, and night to check her vitals and stuff. Now that she was alone she looked over at the flowers that sat by her bedside. They were beautiful flowers and she wondered at first who had brought them in. Then she noticed a card attached between the petals of one of the flowers. She gently eased it off and opened it. Immediately she recognized Sasuke's handwriting. His kanji flowed together easily as she read the note.

Sakura,

I'm so sorry for this…for everything. I don't know if it helps, but…I wish I could make things better. I… This…I hope you like the flowers…

Sasuke

She smiled shaking her head at the unfinished sentences on the paper. Sasuke wasn't the emotional type, but at least he had tried. She set the note back down by the vase and decided to test fate. She slid to the edge of the bed and started to stand.

"Journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step," she whispered carefully stepping down.

Her legs didn't give out this time, but were very wobbly. Deciding to take it slow she hesitated for a minute. Then she decided to take another step and another. She only went a few before she merely pulled the wheelchair close to her. As she sat down, she felt like grabbing the nurse button and bit back hot tears. Swallowing her pain she eased her right arm to the wheel only to realize her left was almost in as much pain as her stomach. Just sitting here in a general sitting position hurt and now she couldn't even move herself anywhere.

Then out of nowhere, slightly scaring Sakura, a nurse burst into the room. She did a double take between Sakura and the bed with a confused look before saying anything.

"What are you doing over here?" She questioned. Then continuing before Sakura could answer, she went on, "Nevermind, I was just coming to get you. Sasuke's back!"

Sakura felt her heart leap into her throat at the nurse's words. This had left her speechless. The nurse beamed and turned the wheelchair over to Kakashi, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere from the hallway, who wheeled the chair down toward the main doors.

"Ready?" Kakashi whispered in her ear. "Do not push yourself. Just be careful and then stop."

"I will," Sakura mumbled though her heart was elated.

Indeed Sasuke was back. He had limped into town and sat down or rather collapsed on the bench by the fountain. He glanced around and found Naruto racing up to him.

"Sasuke! I have something I want to show you!" Naruto said excitedly.

"Hn… I don't want to," Sasuke grumbled. Everytime before when Naruto had tried to cheer him up, including his weird impression of a Sakura doppleganger, it hadn't worked. He wasn't about to care now.

"Come on! Please?" Naruto pleaded and begged. "I know you'll want to see this. Believe me!"

"No, I don't!" Sasuke replied angrily. "I don't want another doppleganger and I don't want anymore of your schemes to cheer me up! I just want Sakura and you can't give me that!"

"Actually, I beg to differ," Kakashi called from across the square.

Sasuke turned to retort, but what he saw left him speechless. His jaw dropped and he heard Naruto laugh to the side. Sakura! His mind screamed as he saw her not more then thirty feet away.

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A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but life got in the way I guess. I was working on a dance and off working on getting my brown belt and I'm very sorry! Still I finally updated so take pity on me and have mercy…please? Anywho I hope you like this chapter. Especially asuka02redeva cause I put in the part with hospital food just for you. Plus I know how much hospital food really does suck! So please review and I'll update the next one soon.

"Heaven's not a place that you go when you die, it's that moment in life when you actually feel alive."

Miharu Uchiha