A Walk in the Park-

Disclaimer: We do not own Naruto!

Chapter Twenty Five-

Brash Decisions

The next morning, I was sitting in one of the armchairs in the library, waiting for Itachi. Sakura was still in my bedroom sound asleep, Luna next to her in my stead. My anger was nothing like the blind rage last night, but I was still pissed. The love of my life was attacked and I was sitting right outside in my car. She could have been raped and I would have been a few feet away, letting it happen, helpless to stop it, useless when she needed me. How many times was I going to let her down when it mattered the most?

Just who was this bastard that dared lay his hands on my girlfriend? I had my suspicions, but I wanted to know for sure. He wasn't going to get away with this, of that I am certain. She had been so frightened, refusing to leave my side for even a moment last night. I was lucky, extremely lucky that things didn't turn out as bad as they could have. That she wasn't hurt as bad as she could have been.

I am so fucking sick of not being able to protect her, of letting her get hurt, of hurting her myself. I needed to get my act together and be the man she deserved. I won't let her return to that hell hole until that monster has been taken care of. I had already called Naruto to warn him just in case Sakura wasn't the only one that creep is after. I'd hate to think what would happen if he got his hands on Hinata. That man is going to pay. When I get my hands on him-

"Brooding?" Itachi asked as he entered the room. He sat in the other armchair and crossed his legs, leaning back.

Let the chat begin.

"Are you going to help me or try to stop me?" I asked, getting straight to the point.

"Don't be brash, Sasuke. You need to think more before you act." He insisted. "This man you're after, what did he do?"

"He pinned her to a wall and covered her mouth so she couldn't call out." I summarized. "Whoever he is, he crossed the line. I won't let him touch her again."

Itachi took in the information before speaking again, his tone nonnegotiable.

"If we're going after him, we will do it in a legal manner. Even if Sakura won't press charges, he will be reprimanded."

"We? You're going to help me then?" I asked and looked at me as if I were insane.

"Of course I am. Sakura is an Uchiha now and we must look after our own. Besides, someone must keep your temper in check. I know full well you'll try to punch him the second you get the opportunity." He explained. I stared at him for a moment before smiling.

"Thanks, aniki."

I was grateful for his help, but I was still going to kick that bastard's ass no matter what Itachi said. I would get revenge. We discussed things a little longer before he left for work, leaving Sakura and I with Luna. Kakashi wouldn't be happy about me missing work since my race is coming up, but he would have to deal with it. My girl comes first. I went back into my bedroom to find Sakura lying awake, gently petting Luna's head. She had a faraway look in her green eyes and her brow was furrowed. When she saw me she tried to smile, but even that had an underlying worry and melancholy.

"Hey you." I greeted and joined her on the bed, Luna snuggled between us.

"Hi." She murmured quietly.

"Is that all you have to say as you blatantly steal my dog from me?" I teased and lightly tugged a stray lock of pink hair.

An amused smile did taint her lips then, which was relieving. "Keep accusing me and I just might do it."

"As if you could, but you'd better not. I'd hate to have to punish you again." I sighed and then gave her a smug grin.

"You don't intimidate me, Sasuke. You would do well to remember that." She warned before sitting up with a sigh. "I need to borrow your phone and call Hinata . . . I left all my belongings at the hospital. My phone, wallet and everything."

I had a bad feeling about that as I handed over my phone. I could only hope that man didn't steal them. I wouldn't put it past the asshole. As she went to my contacts and called Hinata, I also made a mental note to get her back for that intimidate comment. It seemed as if she didn't learn her lesson the last time we played this game.

"Hey Hinata . . . Yes it's me . . . Oh, he did? Yeah . . . It's probably all my fault it happened anyway." Listening to Sakura's end alone was quite nerve wracking, but I managed to keep calm. "Thanks. Actually, I was calling because when I ran out I left my purse and everything in that room. It was the storage room right across from the canteen . . . Okay just let me know when you check. Thanks."

She ended the call and handed me back my phone. I quietly waited for her to tell me what was going on, not wanted to push her if she wasn't ready. I had no way of knowing what was going on inside her head.

"Sasori didn't show up for work today . . ." She told me.

Sasori. So that was the bastard's name.

"How are you taking everything? Can I do anything for you, love?" I asked, petting Luna when she nosed my hand.

"I'm fine. I just want you with me . . . I want to be with you . . . Nothing more, nothing less. I want to file a police report because what he did was unforgettable . . . And if I hadn't escaped when I did, it could have been even worse. I don't want to risk this happening to anyone else." She voiced with convection. I grabbed her hand and placed a soft kiss on her wrist.

"I will always be with you Sakura, for as long as you want me to." I promised. "How soon do you want to file a report?"

She thought it over for the briefest of seconds. "Now."

I couldn't help but smile at her answer. She was stronger and braver than I sometimes gave her credit for. She held out her hand for my phone again and I gladly gave it to her.

I sat quietly with Sakura while she called in to report last night's incident. It took her several minutes to explain everything, reporting every little detail that had happened since her first meeting him, and even speaking more in depth of their confrontation last night. Just listening to it had my blood boiling, fists clenching . . . but I knew my time with that bastard would come soon. If Sakura could be this calm, then I could give her that much as well. She deserved that from me.

But he'd better pray to the heavens that the law found him long before I ever did.

She finally got off the phone with them after what seemed like ages, each second more agonizing than the last. I was eager to know what they said, or what actions would be taking place, but I'd let her tell me without me questioning her about it. As soon as she ended the call, her brows furrowed as she looked at my phone and I waited as patiently as I could to know what it was that was bothering her.

"Hinata just sent a text . . . the room was empty, none of my things were there."

"Shit." I mumbled under my breath. If he has her wallet, then he knows where she lives now. All he had to do was look at her ID. Damn it.

"We'll grab some things from your house and you'll stay with me until that man is caught." I declared.

She nodded her agreement quickly. "I have to be honest . . . I'm too afraid to be alone So, I'm really thankful for you and Itachi both letting me stay here. It shouldn't take me too long to pack up some clothes and necessities. There's an investigator going to check out things at the hospital and they said he'd call me sometime because he'd have to see me in person for questioning."

"This house is as much as your home as it is mine, and Itachi already considers you as family. I'll be with you when you see the investigator as well. I won't leave your side." I told her and kissed her forehead. "Should we head to your place now?"

"Yes. The sooner we go the sooner we can return."

"Hn."

We got ready and reluctantly left Luna at home, though it wouldn't take us long to make the trip there and back. I drove to her apartment and backed in the parking lot. I looked around outside for a bit before we made our way to her front door. Then I unlocked it and looked around again, having her stay in the entry way as I checked the inside. Not seeing anything out of place, I locked the door behind us. It appeared safe, but I was still on high alert. I couldn't be sure what that crazy surgeon was capable of and if he'd show up. Hell, I didn't even know what he looked like.

"I'll just be a minute." Sakura said before heading down the hall.

I decided to stay near the door and gazed around the living room. Something was setting my nerves on edge. I could sense something was amiss, but what? I heard Sakura yelp from the bedroom and quickly ran over, slamming the door open. She yelped again at my sudden appearance and then sheepishly smiled at me. She had dropped her suitcase as she was pulling it off the top shelf of her closet.

"I'm fine I just dropped something." She apologized and picked it up from the floor.

I sighed and shook my head at her, smiling nonetheless. Honestly, she nearly gave me a heart attack. I went back into the living room to guard the door when I noticed it was unlocked. Fuck. Something snuffled behind me and I whipped around, just barley dodging a blow aimed at my head. He's here. My charcoal eyes took in the man I had been waiting to get my hands on and I gasped. Red hair and gray eyes, a glare I recognized all too well.

It was the purple Mercedes guy? I was confused for a moment before it clicked. I had first seen him at the hospital where he works. He hadn't been following me, he had been following Sakura. Those glares and scowls were jealousy and resentment aimed towards the only thing standing in his way: me.

"You son of a bitch." I spat as my anger from the previous night returned full force. Now was the time, he was going to get what was coming to him and no one was going to stop me.

"I told Sakura she deserved better than a kid like you." He stated sinisterly.

A kid, huh? I didn't even bother to glare at him and smirked instead. Oh, I was fucking livid.

"You should have heeded my warning. I won't be responsible for what happens next." I said evenly. You're mine now, bastard.

He went to make the first move, lunging at me, but I easily side stepped him. He crashed into one of Sakura's book shelves and knocked the whole thing over. I rushed over to him and yanked him to his feet by his collar, pulling my fist back and punching him in his nose with a loud crack. Definitely broken.

"Sasuke!" Sakura yelled and I glanced up to see her running in, her face stricken with worry.

Sasori took this opportunity to hit me hard in the stomach, but I kept my hold on his collar. I swung again, this time hitting him in the eye before Sakura called out once more.

"Sasuke!" She cried and fell to the floor, trembling.

Sasori gripped my wrist holding his shirt and lunged again, this time knocking me on my back with him over me. He landed a right cross before I caught his next punch and reversed our positions. Then I clutched his throat while I socked him in the jaw over and over. I could hear Sakura's voice but I couldn't make out what she was saying. Then next thing I knew someone was pulling me off of a gasping Sasori, holding me firmly in their arms so I couldn't move.

"Enough!" Itachi's voice yelled right next to my ear and I stopped struggling. When had he gotten here?

Suddenly Sakura was right in front of me, tears streaming down her cheeks. I was vaguely aware of the other people in the room that carried a beaten Sasori away.

"Sasuke . . . Oh my god, are you okay?" She asked and cupped my face, forcing me to keep my eyes locked on hers.

"I'm alright." I answered as best I could, my adrenaline levels still spiked.

Itachi let go of me and sighed. "I knew this would happen."

Sakura's arms flung around my neck and she sobbed against me.

"I was so scared . . . I'm so sorry this happened. It's all my fault." She pulled back after a moment, releasing me to pull my hands into her own and only crying harder as she examined them. "Your hands . . . " Her last words were barely a broken whisper.

I followed her gaze to my bloodied and bruised knuckles. They burned but didn't hurt as much as I knew they would later when the adrenaline faded.

"It isn't your fault." Itachi told her and I agreed.

"There was nothing you could have done." I said and looked back up to her emeralds.

She shook her head, tears falling down her cheeks. "I'm still so sorry . . . I love you . . . So much." She hugged me again as she sobbed.

"I love you too." I cooed and returned her embrace.

"Stay here," She ordered after calming herself and pulling away from me. "I have something that will help."

I watched her retreating form and was tempted to follow anyway until Itachi spoke.

"Did I not ask you to control your anger? Must you always be so brash, Sasuke?" He lectured and I met his eyes.

"Is he dead?" I asked, unsure what I wanted the answer to be.

"No, he isn't. I know you well enough not to expect you to regret this, but if you continue to act first and think later, you will end up in some serious trouble one day. Trouble I might not be able to get you out of." He said and walked to the opened front door. "I'm going to talk to the police. Come straight down here once you've finished."

With that he was gone and I was left feeling guilty. He was right in saying I wouldn't regret this, but I was upset that I had disappointed Itachi. I would need to talk to him later. Sakura came back with a first aid kit and quickly went to work on my hands.

"Thank goodness you didn't break anything." She said with a sniffle though she was no longer crying. She cleaned my hands before treating them with antiseptic and finally bandaging them up. "Sasuke . . . I don't know what I would have done if you had gotten hurt."

"It wouldn't matter if I did as long as I was able to protect you." I insisted, offering her a small smile.

"Don't you get it . . . You make me feel protected just by being with me . . . I understand you wanted this in a way. But I need you safe . . . What if he'd had a weapon, Sasuke? What if he'd hurt you . . . And I . . ." She trailed off, biting her lip.

"I understand, but I can't help how I feel. I'd rather it be me than you, weapon or no weapon. If something happened to you, I would never forgive myself."

"And I feel exactly the same! So . . . So I need you to respect that. You wouldn't want me doing something so reckless . . . Would you?" She asked and I frowned. The thought alone was enough to irritate me.

"No, I wouldn't. However, I won't give in on this either. I will try to take better care of myself, but I will always protect you first. Our only solution is to protect each other." I reasoned.

For a moment she was taken aback but then she smiled. "I think I can agree to that." She told me softly before leaning in to kiss my cheek.

We stared lovingly at each other for a while longer before getting up and heading outside. We gave our statements to the police, letting them know Sakura had called in and made a report earlier for Sasori's harassment. We were planning on meeting up with an investigator before things all went downhill and I had to fight him. Itachi insisted he handle the rest and that Sakura and I should grab her things like we'd originally came to do and go back to the house.

That night I held her tightly as she returned the embrace, both of us needing to feel the other's warmth. These past few days have been filled with too much stress. I still had to get ready for my race and we still had to wrap up loose ends with Sasori. I just wanted some more time with my girl without all the bullshit. The time we had now really wasn't enough and it may be greedy to want more, but I do. I wanted all the time she had to offer for the rest of her life. I would never meet another woman like her, nor would I want to. I've reached the point to where I can't live without her. She is my everything.

A/N:

Back and with Sasuke kicking ass. Yay. Lol.

Whew. Glad it's over honestly, because Sasori totally need to be locked away somewhere. He was definitely drama-central.

So only like ten chapters left. Oh my. It's moving by so quickly!

Thanks as always for reading and reviewing! We appreciate it! XD

There was only one question this week and the chapter answered it for us so that's it for this A/N.

Til next time...

-Kanatyy