I'm so sorry I couldn't update sooner. For some reason I couldn't upload my chapter yesturday but it seems to work now. Thanks for your reviews!

sorrowangel823, -Asa-Hoshi-, Naruto's-Love, Hibiki-chan, uchiha hikari, XxboredxX, Valinor's Twilight, Cici Linne, Nijigasumi, star saphire, sakuya uchiha

Enjoy!

Hikari ended up sleeping for the rest of the day. Sakura came by again but Anko told her that Hikari was sleeping and thanked her for checking up on her earlier.

Anko went grocery shopping while Hikari was sleeping, to find something good to cook for Hikari when she wakes up.

Sasuke was out by himself training. At the moment he was taking a break and sat down, leaning against a tree. He was breathing hard from his practice and was exhausted. He closed his eyes for while to rest.

He thought about what happened earlier when he and Naruto accidentally walked in on Hikari in the bathroom and she was naked. Fortunately for her, the steam covered her body so they didn't really see anything.

Sasuke smirked to himself and put his hand over the bruise Hikari had given him when she threw a brush.

'She has a good aim.'

Then he thought about what happened later when he went to apologize. Hikari apologized for hitting him when he pretty much deserved it. Even though he wasn't seriously hurt, she still was sorry and touched his face. Her touch was so soft, so tender. He wanted to hold her closer but chickened out.

'This is insane. I need to concentrate.'

He got up and looked into the sky and frowned. Dark heavy clouds were gliding over to Konoha.

"Looks like a storm, a big one too."

Anko came home, put away all the groceries, leaving out a can of soup she was going to make for Hikari later when she was up. It was about 3:00 pm and everyone was inside because of the big storm that was approaching.

Anko was truly exhausted, not from taking care of Hikari but from her previous mission. When she was about to steal a sacred scroll containing valuable information for the Hokage, her cursed mark caused her severe pain. Luckily, Anko still managed to retrieve the scroll for the Hokage but it took a lot out of her. She knew that deep down that Orochimaru was planning something and that meant that something bad was going to happen, and she must stop it.

Anko suddenly felt very drowsy and walked to the bathroom to wash her face. She walked into the bathroom when the cursed mark activated again causing her to fall to her knees.

'What's going on? This is worse then before?'
As the pain intensified, tears fell from Anko's eyes and she screamed out in pain.

Thunder

Hikari shot up out of bed but not from the thunder crash, she heard someone scream in the apartment. Despite her condition, Hikari ran out of the room into the bathroom.

"Anko!"

Anko was lying on the ground in the fetal position, hands over neck, crying. Hikari immediately rushed to her side.

"Anko, what's wrong. Please tell me!" Tears were threatening to blind Hikari.

"My… nneck. AH!" Anko again screamed out.

It was clear to Hikari Anko was in a lot of pain. Hikari knew of course the reason of her pain. It was the cursed mark on her neck. It was trying to take over her body or kill Anko in the process.

Hikari took in breaths and talked calmly to Anko as if calming a child.

"Ssh Anko, it will be ok." she said in almost a whisper.

Hikari gently took her hand and placed it over Anko's neck and Anko's tense body started to relax and the cursed mark ceased to take over Anko.

A numbing sensation ran through Anko, relieving her body and then passed out.

Hikari carried her to her room and laid her down in bed. She knew Anko needed medical attention soon and she had to go out in the storm and get it.

She looked at Anko and then went to get her jacket but before she left, she stopped at the door and narrowed her eyes.

"So it begins." she said with a sad expression. The reason why she came, the reason she was alive, had to be full filled and no longer avoided. With that she ran through the storm to the Hokage's office.

Hikari ran to the Hokage's office got Tsunade, Shizune, and another nurse to come back to the apartment. On the way back Hikari explained what happened to Anko and how much pain she was in but didn't tell them that she stopped the cursed mark from killing Anko. They followed Hikari to Anko's room and Hikari stepped aside for them to do their work.

Tsunade first checked her pulse, and then examined her more closely. Anko was extremely pale and exhausted from her cursed mark; also she was running a high fever.

"She needs to be in a hospital. We should take her back immediately." Tsunade instructed.

Shizune and the nurse went to pick Anko up and carry her to the hospital. Hikari got up to follow but was stopped by Tsunade.

"Hikari, I want you to stay here. Change out of your wet clothes before you get sick."

"No. I want to go with Anko. I want to be with her."

"No. You must stay. Your heart is probably under a lot of stress and you need to calm down."

"I'll calm down if I go with Anko. Please let me go!" Hikari pleaded.

"Hikari, Anko will be fine but I have to put in the ICU. I don't want any visitors for her. She needs to heal and I don't want anything to bother her."

"But…" Hikari's hope was fading.

Tsunade put her hand on her shoulder. "I promise she'll be fine. If you come, you'll be exhausting yourself. I want what's best for you and Anko. And what's best is for her to go alone and you to rest. I swear to you that I'll take care of her. Do you understand?"

Hikari sighed sadly. "Yes"

"I'll come get you when you can see her but you must get some rest."

"Okay"

"Good" she smiled. Tsunade left and closed the door, leaving Hikari all lone in a dark apartment.

Hikari went to her room and changed out of her wet clothes into some comfy pants and big t-shirt. She went to get a towel and dried her hair and then brushed it out on her bed.

All she could think about was Anko. She had done the worst thing in the world, she had gotten attached. But how could she not. Hikari's personality draws her to people and people to her.

Hikari hated thinking about this. She wished all the badness would just disappear. Hikari laid down and curled into a ball and listened to the raging storm until she fell asleep.

Hikari tossed and turned in her sleep. "No." She whispered many times before woke up. She had another nightmare but it seemed more realistic. Tears were running down her face and her body was shaking, even though she wasn't cold. Sweat penetrated from her forehead and she was breathing heavily. She was scared.

She jumped out of bed and ran out the door. She didn't bother putting on shoes or a jacket, she just ran away, away from her nightmares, away from the world, away from him. She just couldn't stay in that apartment alone. She didn't want to be alone.

Once she got outside, she realized she couldn't go see Anko. She wouldn't be able to make it that far. She was far too tired for that again. She refused to go back to the apartment alone so her hope went to her neighbor.

Sasuke

knock knock

Sasuke woke from his slumber. He was always a light sleeper. He growled under his breath.

'I swear if that is Naruto again, I'm going to kill him!'

Sasuke got out of bed, not bothering to put a shirt on, and answered the door. He opened the door and to his utter surprise, it wasn't Naruto at the door, it was Hikari.

"Hikari?"

She was soaking wet from the rain and her eyes were puffy red, as if she had been crying. She wrapped her arms around herself to stop shivering but failed miserably.

"I…I didn't know where else to go." She seemed to be crying but it was hard to tell from the rain.

Hikari couldn't think of the right thing to say, everything was so messed up and wanted to break down right there. She didn't realize how tired she really was and started to lose conscious and started to fall. Before she blacked out she felt someone catch her and nothing.

Hikari slowly opened her eyes. Her head hurt and she was still crying. She had no idea where she was but as she looked around the room it started to look familiar. She was still in her wet clothes and was shaking, even under the thick blanket.

Then Sasuke walked into the room and took out some shorts and a shirt for her.

"Here"

He left the room and she got up and changed into the warm clothes. She sat up in the bed and held her knees to her chest and watched as the door opened. She stared at Sasuke and he stared back.

"I knocked but you didn't answer."

He knocked? She wasn't really paying attention to him; she was too confused about everything.

He brought some tea over to her and sat next to her. He looked at her, examining her body for any injuries but found none.

"What's wrong?" he asked sounding concerned. He noticed she was still crying and shaking.

Hikari sniffed and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"I'm f..fine."

"Liar"

Sasuke looked at her shaking hand and grabbed it gentle and pulled back.

"You're freezing cold."

Hikari just ignored the statement.

'No matter how many blankets she has, she's still cold as ice. If she doesn't get warm soon, she's get sick.'

Sasuke moved to the other side of the bed next her and sat closer. Hikari was to numb and too tired to care what he was doing really. She only concentrated on how cold she really was and closed her eyes.

Sasuke wrapped his arms around Hikari and pulled her to his body. Hikari leaned into his warm body, forgetting her boundary rules. She rested her head on his chest which was covered by a shirt now. Sasuke held her shivering body close to him and rested his cheek on her head, listening to her cry.

"What's wrong?" he whispered

"I'm…I'm scared." She tried to control her crying but broke down on Sasuke.

He pulled her closer and stroked her hair until crying stopped and fell asleep. He didn't move away from her but held her in his arms all night.

'What is she afraid of?' He looked out the window as the storm worsened and fell asleep.

In the morning Hikari started to slowly wake up. She couldn't recall, right away, what happened last. She started to remember that Anko went to the hospital and that Tsunade made her stay home but the problem was that she wasn't home. Hikari felt someone's arms wrapped around her protectively. She slightly turned her head and blushed to see Sasuke holding her. He honestly looked like an angel when he slept. Sasuke started to mumble in his sleep and pull Hikari closer to him. She blushed even more. She was right by his face. She struggled to get out of his iron grip but he was too strong. Then he woke up.

"Sorry did I wake you?"

"No, I was awake."

Hikari blushed. 'Did that meant that he was awake when he pulled me closer?'

Sasuke released her and she moved away from him and got up from the bed. If someone walked in on them, they probably would've gotten the wrong idea.

Hikari faced Sasuke who was still on the bed staring at her.

"About last night…thank you for everything." Hikari turned away. "I'll make breakfast."

Hikari left the room and went into the kitchen. She looked out the window and it was still raining cats and dogs. She sighed and went to the cabinet where the pots and pans were located. She took out a pan and just stared at it.

"Anko" she mumbled.

Then she felt someone's hand on her shoulder and she turned around to face Sasuke.

"I think you should rest."

"But…" Hikari couldn't think of something to say in return so just gave up.

"Come on."

He led her back to his room and made her go back to bed. He looked out his window and watched the storm grow wilder by the minute. Sasuke looked at Hikari while she slept and then got up to make her something for when she wakes up. As he was cooking he thought about last night.

'Last night was the first night in a long time that I didn't have nightmares. I'm not in pain from my cursed marked either. Weird'

As Hikari was sleeping, she heard voices speaking to her.

'You can run but you can't hide. I'll find you because you belong to me and no one else. You're mine!'

'No!'

The voice kept talking promises and Hikari kept refusing. Then she was woken up by a concerned Sasuke.

"Hikari wake up. It's just a nightmare. Wake up!" Sasuke gently shook her awake. Hikari opened her eyes as tears poured from them.

'I shouldn't be here.'

"Are you ok?" Before Sasuke could get any closer Hikari jumped out of bed and ran to the door.

'I have to leave!'

As she put her hand on the knob, Sasuke appeared right next to her and gently grabbed her wrist.

"Where are you going?"

Hikari sniffed back her tears and looked down at the door. "I'm…I'm sorry I've bothered you. I've been such a burden to you and I think I should leave."

"I think I deserve an explanation and besides, you shouldn't be running around outside in your condition."

"I must go see Anko. I'll be fine! Besides I know you don't want me here so I'll just leave!"

"What makes you think I don't want you here?"

Hikari paused and thought about it but couldn't think of a reason, she hasn't had any reasons lately.

Sasuke pulled her so she would be in front of his face. He stared into her eyes which still were crying. He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her. They were so close, that they felt each other's breath; Hikari's was shaky while Sasuke's was calm.

Hikari got nervous and confused; she wanted to be closer but she shouldn't be for so many reasons.

Sasuke was tired of pushing the thought of Hikari aside of him. He did like her, everything about her. He wasn't going to let her get away this time. He never felt like this before and wanted more of it. He slowly started to lean closer to her.

Hikari hesitated. She didn't know what to do.

'I can't do this. I won't do this.'

She put her hand on his chest just as he was closing in. "Sasuke, please don't." she whispered.

Sasuke froze then pulled away and looked at her with hurt in his eyes but noticed that Hikari was crying.

"I'm sorry. I can't, I just can't"

Tears ran down her face and she quickly turned to the door. But before she could leave Sasuke snapped back into reality and grabbed her wrist again.

'She's not running away this time.'

"Please wait!"

Hikari tried to pull her wrist from him.

"Just let me go!"

Sasuke had enough of this so he pulled her back into the room and closed the door.

"You can't leave in this storm!"

Hikari was furious that Sasuke was making her stay. She really didn't want him to do this and was losing her patience.

"Look I'm sorry."

Sasuke reached for her and tried to hold her but she tried to push away.

"Let go of me!"

She pushed his chest away.

"Get away from me!"

"No, not until you stop running away." He managed to hold her arms tight enough so she could stop pushing him.

"Please…just let…go." she cried. She wanted him to let go because it was harder for her to push him away.

"Why? Why won't you let me be close to you?"

"Because"

"Why?!"

Hikari just lost her temper and exploded.

"Because I don't want to be hurt!" Hikari yelled.

Sasuke processed this through his brain and wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered to her.

"Hikari, I will never hurt you." He wiped away the tears from her face. "I rather be Naruto's slave for the rest of my life and everyday admit he's better ninja than me."

Hikari laughed a bit and Sasuke smirked and cupped her face with his hand and brought her closer to him.

"It hurts me to see you upset." Sasuke moved some hair away from her face. "Trust me"

Hikari relaxed in his arms. She knew this was wrong but couldn't deny the longing for someone to hold her and care for her. She felt save in his arms and no one could harm her.

"I do" she whispered.

He leaned closer to her and pressed his lips softly onto hers.

Now the story is going to get interesting. All your questions about Hikari and her past will be answered.

Review Please ;P