A/N: Thank you to Sapphire Rivulet

As you guys know I am in a desperate need for betas, please recommend someone or self volunteer.

Chapter 35

Another month passed, and summer was quickly blooming. All the flowers had burst open in a sea of color and the birds sang their songs bright and early, much to Sakura's annoyance. She used to love morning, because that was when she would catch her Sasuke Kun.

Now, she curled up in her bed and slept past noon, not caring at all whether Sasuke was dead or alive.

She didn't try to go back to Konoha anymore. She had lost the will to try.

Although Sakura had been forcing herself to get out of this depression, it became clearer and clearer every moment that the monster called Sadness would probably haunt her for the rest of her life. As long as she was with Sasuke, she could never be happy.

She and Sasuke grew apart.

At first Sasuke came every single day to ensure she didn't do something stupid like killing herself, and after a while Sasuke realized that she wouldn't commit suicide, so he got busier and busier. He came less and less, and eventually she would see him once every two days; once every three days.

They rarely talked when they saw each other. The memory of her unborn child panged painfully in Sakura's heart every time she looked at him. Sasuke never approached her directly; instead he deliberately created situations where Sakura had no choice but to be near him.

Soon, that little trick lost its thrill, as Sakura ignored him regardless.

Sasuke began to long for her presence, even to the point where he didn't care if she ignored him, just as long as he could be near her.

He remembered a time when he was utterly disgusted by her, her every act and move had forced him to the brink of fleeing for the hills. Now, he could barely get enough of her, and he often wondered whether Kami was just giving him his karma.

He waited for the day that she would forgive him.

Perhaps she never would...

Summer rolled into autumn; the leaves began to turn yellow, and Sasuke sat in the herb garden one night, drinking cherry-blossom sake.

Sakura was collecting moongrass. Naturally, moongrass was best when picked under moonlight, and that night it was a full moon.

Sasuke watched as Sakura bent down to pick each leaf, one by one, then place them carefully in the basket at her side.

She looked as if she wasn't from this world. There was a sense of serenity and peace in her expression that Sasuke has rarely seen before. He wanted to stare at her forever, and enjoy the peace she brought him.

A branch pricked Sakura's finger, and a drop of blood squeezed out. Sakura frowned, and within a moment Sasuke had appeared in front of her. Her finger was in his mouth before she had a chance to protest.

He sucked and licked at her wound, his eyes closed. Neither of them moved as his tongue twirled around the appendage.

Sakura's eyes darted towards his hair. It reflected the moonlight. Its raven color actually shone underneath the light, as if a halo had decided to dance upon his dark tresses.

He was still holding her hand, her finger still in his mouth. It had stopped bleeding by now. She didn't pull away, but he let go and she stepped back a few steps, trying to put some distance between them.

"Sakura." His voice was soft. A cold fragrance blew in her direction, and she shivered, and ran back to her room.

The basket of moongrass was dropped on the ground, scattered around by the wind.

Sasuke stood in the garden alone. The moonlight glowed against the leaves, making the place as bright as day.

Sakura was sewing some cloth when an explosion was heard in the distance.

Her heart dropped as she looked up from her work.

She looked at Sasuke, who frowned and looked up from his scroll.

A guard wearing an eagle mask appeared. "Sir, the Raikage has arrived, he's declaring war against us."

Sasuke sighed. "How annoying."

Sakura noticed that the man was injured, and asked, "Are you alright?"

He bowed his head deeply. "I was poisoned by Kabuto last month. The symptoms haven't been showing until recently."

Sakura quickly leaped over her couch and examined the man, it was clearly shone that part of his body was becoming transparent, the flow of the blood could be seen underneath the flesh, "Your body needs a thorough cleansing; I don't have enough chakra to do this."

The man tried to protest. "It's fine, please -"

"Sasuke... Isn't he your subject? Can't you heal him?" Sakura turned imploring green eyes on Sasuke.

"No."

"What do you mean, no?" Sakura cried out. "He has been loyal to you all this time!"

"If I cleanse him, he will kill me," Sasuke said simply.

"Not everyone is as despicable as you are," Sakura spat.

For a moment it seemed as if time had stopped. Sakura regretted her words almost as soon as she said them. This was a man who had used her, manipulated her, played her, yes. But somewhere deep in her heart it hurt saying such words that she couldn't take back. They seemed to be the only weapon that would pierce Sasuke's armor.

Sasuke looked at the two people in front of him. "Ryuku, come here," he finally sighed.

The Bird Masked man walked over to Sasuke obediently.

Sasuke forced him to sit down, and he focused a flood chakra to his hands, running them gently along Ryuku's body.

The process continued for several minutes, until Sasuke started to breathe heavily.

Suddenly, a thunderous yell came from the cave entrance, and everyone turned to the sound.
"Uchiha Sasuke!"

Sasuke looked up, then stared at the roseate. "Stay here," he said, and walked out of the door.

Almost as soon as he disappeared, Ryuku charged at Sakura.

A/N: Searching for Beta.