-A/N: Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Nartuo series

Italics like this mean its thoughts in a character's head

Love of Elements

Ch. 15 Defenseless

SONG: "Love is Gone (Acoustic)" – Slander ft Dylan Matthew

Sakura sat dully on a patient bed, paying no mind to soldiers trying to cover the blown hole in the exterior wall to keep out the howling rain. Puddles were quickly spilling across the marble floor. The healers quietly tended her busted knee and cracked ribs. Her jade eyes remained on the same spot of the floor. The spot where Asuma's blood still resided.

_elsewhere_

Konohamaru laid boredly on his bed, as instructed by his uncle. The teen had overexerted himself training, meeting the rebuke of his uncle and a demand for bedrest. Where is he anyway? He went to get bandages over an hour ago.

He quickly sat up as Naruto transported into his room. He yelled out in response to the brief scare, "Hey! You said we were supposed to stop doing that!"

Naruto slowly turned to meet the face of his young friend. Konohamaru's irritation fizzled away. The teen felt his nerves pick up at the blonde's solemn face, "What's with the look?"

Naruto hesitated before quietly stepping over and sitting on the bed beside him. He clenched his tan hands in the blanket. Konohamaru's heart pounded, "Naruto…?"

Naruto took a slow breath and looked him in the eye, tears pricking his own.

_elsewhere_

Kakashi slowly lifted his hand to the door. Sasuke standing quietly behind him. He felt sick as he knocked.

Time dragged slow as they heard footsteps come closer. Kakashi's throat felt dry as the door opened.

Kurenai's eyes widened in surprise, having not seen her friend in years. She smiled brightly at first, "Kakashi, you're back! How have you be-" Her voice and expression trailed off as she noticed the grim faces and bloody clothes. Her hands trembled slightly as she nervously looked to Sasuke's eyes and instinctly knew the reason for their visit, "What happened?"

Sasuke's dull eyes spoke for him. Her heart raced as she looked back to Kakashi. Kurenai's eyes grew wider as she saw through his sadness. Kakashi spoke quietly, "There was an attack today…Asuma didn't make it."

Kurenai froze still with her red eyes horridly wide. Sasuke's chest tightened as tears began to quietly slipped down her stunned face. She slowly began to shake her head, "No…"

She drew a hand over her chest and gripped her clothes. Her expression tightened and she fell to her knees, "No!"

Kakashi kneeled beside her as she began to sob. He placed a hand on her shoulder, "I'm so sorry."

Sasuke glanced up as Mirai walked towards the door. He clenched his jaw so tight that it felt like it could break. The three-year old girl's eyes grew sad as she saw her mother in tears, "Mommy?"

_the next day_

Sakura quietly slipped on her black dress, layered with intricate black lace, but no beautiful detail of the dress could make her smile. She ran her fingers down the long sleeves, it seemed like too short of a time since the funeral from battling Air. She smoothed out it's long skirt and made her way out the door.

She walked slowly, noting others in the castle heading the same direction, also dressed in dark hues. She bit her tongue. Asuma's funeral arrangements had been made quickly given it wasn't that unusual for a soldier to die. Asuma, however, was no ordinary soldier.

Her jade eyes looked around as she stepped outside, much of the kingdom was coming to honor the fallen commander. Sakura couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt as she saw tears on some of the many faces. If Asuma hadn't been in the infirmary when she was taken then he wouldn't have died coming to her aid. Logically she knew, someone else would've died in his place; in fact other soldiers were killed by Hidan as well, creating a group funeral. And Sakura knew she had been taken in revenge for curing a horrid illness that would've rampaged across the globe. Logically, she knew she did nothing wrong.

Still, she had watched the life leave Asuma's eyes after coming to save her and saw the other soldiers' bodies on the field. She couldn't help but wish she was capable of protecting herself. Then people wouldn't have to die in her place.

She felt grim as she filed into the crowd, finding herself seven rows back. The only sound was whispers and crying, Sakura felt her stomach in knots as Sasuke and the fallen's loved ones made their way to the platform. Sasuke began to speak words to honor the fallen, but the pinkette found it hard to focus. The look of Asuma's dead body taunted her mind. She hoped his body had been cleaned of all the blood before his family came to see him.

Sakura looked over as she heard sobbing. She felt sick as she saw Konohamaru crying with Naruto's arm wrapped over his shoulders. She drew her jade eyes to where Asuma's casket was being lowered, decorated in red poppies. Kurenai stood before it, holding her wailing daughter in her arms; Kakashi at her side.

Tears sprung to her eyes once more as the little girl cried out for her father. The sky seemed to darken as his burial spot, among the other soldiers', was being filled. She wondered how many more funerals she would experience in her lifetime, and if she already attended any in her lost memories. Each one she attended seemed harder than the prior.

Her pulse quickened as Sasuke asked people to line up to lay flowers on their graves. Her hands trembled as the people began to move forward. She took a deep breath as she picked up a white rose for each grave from the pile. I can do this. I have to do this.

Sakura's hand flinched as her tense fingers were pricked by the roses thorns. Her jade eyes were cast downwards as she grew closer to the burial spots, closer to Asuma's grieving family. She wondered if Kurenai knew exactly how Asuma died, that he died coming after her. She wondered if any of the mourning families knew. She felt trapped as she drew closer to them.

Sasuke closely watched her from the corner of his eye as tears silently slid down her face. He could see it. Her emotions were displayed in her eyes like an open book. In the several months he'd known her, he saw the way Sakura cared for people and quickly drew guilt upon herself when it came to others. She was just beginning to forgive herself for the few who died from the treacherous illness, initially blaming herself for not creating the cure fast enough. His expression dimmed further. Now she's blaming herself for this.

His dark eyes continued to trace her as she laid the white rose unto Asuma's grave, keeping her head down. She paused.

Sakura looked up, despite her panic. She felt sick as she met Kurenai's teary eyes, seeing a mother still holding her sobbing daughter. The pinkette's throat felt tight as her chest tensed up. Tears began to flow faster from her eyes. She whispered, "I'm so sorry."

Before Kurenai had the chance to respond, Sakura rejoined the line, holding on till she could part from the crowd. The king watched her retreat back to the castle. Sasuke stood firm, reminding himself of his duty to lead the funeral and the consequences of showing her favor in public. He looked back over to the grieving families of the fallen soldiers. Sasuke straightened his shoulders, recalling the pain of his parents' funerals. He wondered if he could ever forget the pain Mirai was feeling now.

_an hour later_

Kakashi remained standing before Asuma's grave, Kurenai leaving not long before to lay Mirai down for a nap. The pile of white roses raised a sweet, fragrant scent into the air, yet it made him feel sick. He recalled the seven joyous years he spent in Fire before his banishment. His uncovered eye flickered with bittersweetness as he remembered the hours of sparring, joking, and hunting adventures he had gone on with his fallen friend…the way he would tease Asuma when he first had a crush on Kurenai.

The last time tears had come to his eyes was when Minato and Kushina died. He had grown close many times after Sasuke threw him out of Fire, but held onto hope they would take care of each other, and maybe, just maybe, he would see them again. But this…right after getting permission to remain in Fire, right after beginning to dream of memories to come…his next and last memory of Asuma was death.

Kakashi bowed his head further, feeling moisture come to his eyes. I'm sorry I didn't come sooner, old friend.

_the next day_

Sasuke slowly walked down the marble halls, his feet not making a sound against the deep red carpet. He finally managed to get some sleep, but much work still remained to deal with the death of Asuma and the other soldiers. His least favorite being picking someone to replace Asuma in rank. He inwardly sighed at the thought. He was so caught up in royal obligations he still had yet to talk to Sakura.

His dark eyes wandered the empty hall. He would need to return to his office soon, but he managed to finally get a break to look for her. She wasn't in the greenhouse or library, meaning there was one other place she'd likely be. Sasuke expanded his senses as he quietly slipped through the familiar pair of glass doors. He took calm steps as he strode over to her favorite spot. He shifted his eyes as he sensed her behind the glittering tree. He inhaled slowly, "I thought I'd find you here."

Sakura darted her head up, having had her face buried in her arms. She was curled up in a ball, hiding behind the same cherry blossom tree that she always ran to. Sasuke looked down at her, the royal garden glass ceiling displaying dark clouds above him. Sakura quickly wiped the tears from her face, "W-what are you doing here?"

Sasuke analyzed the redness and puffiness to her eyes, she had been crying frequently since the day before, "Looking for you."

The pinkette kept her gaze down, hoping to hide her weary face, "What for? I'm sure you're needed elsewhere."

Sasuke paused; she wasn't wrong. However, even if he hadn't been looking for her, he nonetheless needed a moment to step away. He processed her appearance another moment before moving. Sakura held her breath as Sasuke moved to a nearby side of the tree. He sat roughly a foot away. She bit her tongue, grateful he was only in peripheral view, but yearning to hide completely. Sasuke cast his dark eyes up, watching the sparkling cherry blossom flowers twinkle on top of their golden leaves. He parted his lips, "Perhaps I need a break."

Sakura pulled her knees closer to her chest, she doubted Sasuke slept much since Asuma died, probably less than her. She locked her pale fingers together, "You knew him for a long time, didn't you?"

Sasuke's expression dulled a little. He had sought Sakura out to disperse her feelings of guilt; he severely didn't want to address his own guilt and sadness. He breathed out, "I did. He was on my father's council before mine."

The pinkette's expression twisted sadly, "I'm sorry."

His chest tightened at the hint of crack in her voice. He kept his voice calm, "Because I knew him or because you're blaming yourself?"

She tensed. Sasuke watched as much of her as he could from his peripheral view, pressing his back harder into the coarse tree truck. Sakura leaned her cheek into her arm, tears welling up in her eyes, "I know it doesn't make sense to…they were criminals who killed for a living, anyone could've been their target…and anyone could've gone to battle them…"

Sasuke stared hard at the ground as her face grew wet once again, "But…?"

Sakura curled tighter into a ball, hiding her face in her arms, "Maybe if I wasn't so defenseless…Asuma and the others wouldn't have died…I…I just wish there was some way I could fight so people didn't have to die in my place…but I have no magic and no weapon…I'm helpless and it's infuriating."

Sasuke tensed his arm as he yearned to reach out to her. His mind swirled with images of two days prior. It was true, having no magic put her at a serious disadvantage. So much so that he arrived to the scene of finding her not breathing. His throat felt dry as he recalled the determination to resuscitate her beginning to fade to panic. His hands dug slightly into the ground as he remembered having to place his mouth on hers.

He breathed in slow, trying to wipe the memory of her lips away. He swallowed, trying to refocus. Sakura had shown the ability to think on her feet when she was caught alone with Sasori, but it was true she didn't know how else to fight. He pondered a moment, "Even if Asuma hadn't died going after you, it didn't mean he wouldn't of died the next day doing the same for someone else…but if I knew one thing about Asuma, it was he was willing to die to protect the innocent. I don't think he'd regret what he did."

Sakura continued to feel sick to her stomach, "But now Mirai doesn't have a father…and Kurenai and Konohamaru…"

Sasuke recalled their faces at the funeral, expressing a pain he remembered all too well. He looked down with a slight dullness to his eyes, "Mirai will have people to tell her about the hero her father was, and the rest will have years of memories to hold onto…Parents, siblings, lovers, children…they're lost every day. But people manage to find the will to carry on."

Sakura raised her head a little, recalling the harsh losses both Sasuke and Naruto had to face as children. Despite the devasting loss of their families, they both were moving forward, side by side. She wondered for a brief moment if her lost memories held any similar casualties. She leaned her head back against the shimmering tree trunk, her tears slowing but her heart not feeling better. She sadly parted her lips, "How can you be so sure? What if everyone isn't as strong as you and Naruto?"

Sasuke thought back to the horrid days after his parents met their demise, the way Naruto hardly surfaced from his room when he lost his. Strong was certainly not an appropriate description for those early days of grieving. He tried his best to shove the thought aside, turning his head to finally see the side of her face. His heart clenched at how close Sakura had come to joining that death list. That moment challenged his strength far more than he'd like to admit. It made him consider regretting their relationship. If they hadn't become friends then her well-being would hardly concern him. He leaned in slightly, "I've seen it. The people of Fire have the will to overcome anything."

He swallowed hard as he contemplated almost having to overcome the pinkette's death. He carefully took in the details of her pale complexion and the way her long, blush hair hung over her shoulder, "But your death…"

Sakura finally turned her head in surprise, her heart skipping a beat as she made eye contact. Sasuke clenched his jaw as he refused to finish his thought out loud. He rebuked himself for saying that out loud. He thinned his lips as he was still mesmerized by her weary face, "You're not allowed to die."

The pinkette's eyes widened a little bit. Her face began to warm, unsure of his meaning. Her jaw parted slightly as he continued to stare at her. Sasuke mustered his will power to remain in place, not wanting to repeat how he yanked her into his arms when she began to breathe again. Sakura's heart began to beat faster, thinking through how Sasuke was the one to find her oxygenless body. She whispered quietly, "Thanks to you, I didn't."

Sasuke strictly tensed his jaw. Even with puffy eyes and a tear-stained face, she was still so beautiful. He swiftly stood. Sakura jumped a little at his sudden movement. Sasuke took a couple steps away as Sakura's heart kept pounding. He took in a few slow breaths to calm his nerves. He glanced back at her sitting form and processed a previous thought again. He mustered a plain tone, "I'd rather you not get kidnapped again, but perhaps it is time we find you some way to fight."

Sakura looked at him in confusion, not following the change of subject. She tried to slow her heartbeat, "What?"

Sasuke looked away, "Meet me at the training grounds tomorrow morning."

Before she could ask another question, he transported away.

_the next day_

Sakura swiftly made her way down the tall staircase, not caring to use the railing. Sasuke declared he was going to teach her some way to fight, but she was clueless as to what that meant. She pursed her tinted lips as her pale legs paced within her plum gown. She had considered asking the seamstress for better fighting clothes, ones she often saw TenTen wear, but deemed it best to learn to fight in her traditional clothing.

Her pulse picked up bit, wondering just how much time she was going to spend with the king. She couldn't get his words out of her head. "You're not allowed to die." She knew they had established a friendship over the months she'd been living in Fire, but for him to say something like that out loud seemed so…affectionate. She shook her head, surely it was just due to losing Asuma.

Her stomach dropped at the thought, still blaming herself for his passing. She sighed as she walked into the warm sunshine, she needed to find a way to twist that into motivation to get stronger. She needed to make that the last time someone died for her. Her jade eyes wandered, finally reaching the training grounds, a place she'd only walked passed thus far. Her shoulders tensed as she caught a familiar, strong frame.

She clenched her hands in her dress as she walked across the grassy plain, aware of him staring at her. She shifted her jaw back and forth till she reached his spot. She tilted her chin to meet his gaze, "Good morning."

He took in her figure, confirming his training plan for the day, "Sleep enough for this?"

Sakura breathed in slow, very curious of his plans, "Yes, I'm ready."

Sasuke gave a small nod, ignoring his lack of sleep, "Good. Since you have no magic there's two things we're going to do." Sakura listened closely. He unlatched a leather belt hanging on his waist and handed her the contents, "One: you need to carry and learn to use this weapon."

She held the iron sheath, decorated with ornate engraving, holding a long dagger. She pulled it's dark hilt and analyzed it's revealed metal form. Sasuke continued, "Two: you need to learn hand to hand combat incase that or any other weapon is taken from you."

Sakura slid the long dagger back in it's sheath and buckled the leather scabbard around her thin waist. She kept a hand on it's hilt and looked to him, beginning to feel eager, "What's first?"

Sasuke noted her restless expression. Her eyes widened a bit as he took a step closer to her. Sakura gasped as a fist was suddenly slung centimeters from the side of her face, she awkwardly stepped to the side. The Fire king stated plainly, "First, is defense."

Sakura swallowed, he was fast even while holding back. Sasuke withdrew his fist, "You need to learn to dodge and use the weight of your opponent against them. You need to get to the point you see that coming and use my speed to yank my arm forward and offset my balance."

The pinkette processed the remark and gave a quick nod, determined to become stronger. Sasuke watched the resolve form in her jade eyes. He continued, "We'll start slow."

Sakura took a couple steps back and lifted her hands slightly, preparing for him to make a move. Sasuke moved forward at a pace she could track, aiming a fist at her head. Sakura ducked and yanked his shirt sideways, trying to get behind him. Sasuke planted his feet harder into the ground and grabbed her arm with his opposite hand. Sakura's heart jumped at his touch. Sasuke looked down at her, "You pulled the wrong side. You'll get more momentum pulling the side of your enemies body aiming at you."

The pinkette inhaled slowly as he released her, his fingers brushing against her. She swallowed, trying to focus and pleading for her face not to turn red. She hadn't thought far enough ahead to realize how significant touch was in training. The two positioned themselves again and Sasuke released a slow punch. Sakura reached for his wrist and pulled it forward. Sasuke noted that she remained on the inner side of him, allowing his free arm to easily come into range. The pinkette lightly yelped as Sasuke used his free arm to lock around her waist as he twisted into proper footing.

Sakura's face burned as she felt his warm chest against her back. Her hands instinctively went to his muscular arm around her, "I did what you said!"

The king struggled to not focus on the hold of her small waist. His throat dried slightly as he forgot to let go, "But you chose the wrong side. You need to step outside of my stance so you can pull my weight without being in reach."

The pinkette's mind processed the information at a slight delay, distracted by the feel of his baritone voice emerging from his chest. Sasuke finally let go and took a step back, he tried to refocus his mind, "The smallest mistake can cost your life."

The comment brought Sakura back to reality. She turned to him and remembered why she came, how many lives had already been lost for her safety. She breathed in slowly and readied her stance. Her eyes filled with focus, "Again."

_an hour later_

Naruto walked slowly down the hall, his hands shoved in his pockets. He had just brought Konohamaru and his family breakfast, still carrying the weight of their grief. Outside of his parents, death never seemed to get easier. His blue eyes shifted up as he turned down an outdoor hallway, the bright sun didn't do much for his mood.

His thoughts paused as noticed a figure standing many meters down the path. He continued walking and grew with curiosity as he noticed the familiar mask and light hair. A blonde eyebrow rose at the odd spot of standing, Kakashi appeared to be watching something. The young man drew closer to his mentor, "Sensei, what are you doing?"

His expression grew in mild surprise as he noticed the fondness to his teacher's eyes, he followed his line of sight. Kakashi's weary face titled in a small smile as Naruto caught his view, "Seems things have changed more than I thought."

Naruto took a step closer to the stone half-wall. His blue eyes watched Sasuke slowly sparring with Sakura, he smirked, "Look at that…"

The mentor didn't move his stare, his voice filled a bit with amusement, "He said she was just a resident. I gather there's more."

Grief retreated to the back of the blonde's mind, "I don't know about Sakura, but that idiot's in deeper than he thinks. He just refuses to accept it."

Kakashi's curiosity continued, "I never thought I'd see the day…she must be special."

Naruto's smile grew, "Extremely. Hinata's the only reason she's not the best in my book. She's really good for him too."

The mentor continued to watch them loosely spar. Despite Sasuke's words, Sakura clearly had an impact on him. It was a heart-warming sight before he continued to Asuma's grave. His hope in Sasuke had grown exponentially more, "I look forward to knowing her more."

_another hour later_

Sakura wiped the sweat from her brow as she tried to catch her breath. Sasuke watched her closely, unphased by the training. The pinkette had made dozens of mistakes, but kept on trying and was making great progress. He loosened his stance, "That's enough for today."

Her jade eyes darted to him, "What?...But we still haven't gotten to my weapon."

He gleaned amusement from her determination, "Defense comes first, and you'll be learning to defend against my sword without yours."

The pinkette tried to even her breathing as she processed the information, "But I still have so much to learn…"

Sasuke looked up at his castle, "Which will require much time. But, we both have jobs to do. You're welcome to spar with Naruto later today."

Sakura fought off the urge to pout and offered a nod. He was right, and she was sure his job as king left much more to do. She looked over her dirtied dress. She very much needed to wash up as well. Sakura tried to not let embarrassment of her disheveled state get to her. Her heart jumped as Sasuke started to walk towards the palace, "Sasuke!"

The king stopped in his tracks and faced her. The pinkette offered a warm smile, "Thank you."

Sasuke refused to let his face reflect what her smile did to his heart. He swiftly returned to his path and called back, "Same time tomorrow."

Sakura amusingly rolled her eyes at his usual lack of accepting gratitude. She silently chuckled to herself as she tucked some hair behind her ear. Guilt still wore on her heart, but she could breathe much easier than the day before. She smiled as she made her own way to the castle. Sasuke was truly becoming her solid ground.

_author notes_

A tough beginning, but ending on a much happier SasuSaku note! I'll probably find a way to make some fun training scenes between them. Still some grief to deal with in the next chapter, particularly for Kakashi, but should lead to some good opportunities. More SasuSaku to come, please review!