Kissing because she needs it.

(for ResistanceBlade, who so adamantly wanted a dark one~ here you go! Might not live up to your expectations though, sorry.)


"Sakura—"

The girl was screaming, ramming one fist against the grass and her other hand holding her bleeding stomach. The crimson of her blood was spreading through her clothes, coating her pale, shaking fingers with scarlet. "It hurts, Sasuke-kun, it hurts!"

She was beginning to thrash wildly. "Calm down, Sakura!" he yelled. With one quick movement, he had her pinned to the ground. She looked up at him warily, tears streaming from her green eyes like an endless river of pain. "It's okay," he whispered, "I'm here."

Sasuke tore open the bottom of Sakura's shirt, ignoring her weak protests. This was no time for embarrassment to take precedence. He pulled his own shirt over his head and began ripping it into one long cloth, which he tightly wound around her bleeding stomach, hoping to staunch the rapid blood flow.

The putrid smell of the dead ninja around them was making him sick. When he was sure she had calmed down enough, he carefully picked her up and searched for a place they could stay for a little while. The sky was rumbling ominously; Sasuke knew they needed to find shelter quickly before the rain began falling.

"Sasuke-kun…" she suddenly whispered, her head resting on his shoulder.

"I'm here," he answered her in a raspy voice. He was exhausted, but he had to protect this girl, no matter what—he would not allow his most important people to die.

She looked up at him, one hand weakly reaching up to touch his cheek. "Sasuke-kun…" Her green eyes were swollen with tears, her fingers covered in blood.

He knew what she wanted.

Without hesitation, he gently tilted his head towards hers and for a brief moment, their lips touched—a short, bittersweet kiss, tasting of her own blood. As he pulled away, he whispered, "Don't worry, Sakura. I'll definitely protect you."

She smiled weakly and let herself fade into unconsciousness.