13 : Sakura, Sasuke

By: Kokoro Kakera HP ^^

Disclaimer: Naruto, (Manga, anime, products, etc.), belongs to Kishimoto Masashi

Author's Notes:
Yep, doing another weird thing with the chapter again. Won't work if I do it any other way though.
This chapter is... well, I suppose it's just another 'cream-filling' chapter. Meh, it IS the 13th chapter... The next three are where things really start happening. I COULD write it all out as one big chapter, but you all know that's not my style.
(It's because I love my cliffhangers too much).
(Also because I'm too lazy.)
>D You can throw things at me now if you'd like.
I can't believe it. Some people have actually e-mailed me saying that my fanfiction made them like Sakura! I'm so happy that this little story of mine could do such a thing! *^_^* Thank you! Really though, Sakura isn't meant to be hated. She's a really nice character in the anime and manga. She's just misunderstood because of the layers of 'anime girl stereotype' dumped on her. Keep looking past those barriers and you'll find something nice in almost every person! =)

Things weren't supposed to be like this.

Sakura was still on the ground, crying for all she was worth. A minute passed, before Sasuke couldn't wait for her to calm down by herself.

"Sakura." She gave a small strangle hiccup as she tried to restrain another sob.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun... I-" Her voice dissolved into tiny whimpers.

"Sakura." He said again. "Your arm... Is it okay?"

"It's fine." She said in a whisper. "It stopped bleeding when he left."

'With Naruto.' She wouldn't look at him when she talked.

"Let's go then, Sakura."

"But-" She grasped her arm tightly, remembering the trouble it had caused earlier.

"We don't have the luxury of backing out of this." Sasuke said quietly. "We have a promise to keep."

'Sasuke-kun...'

They'd been walking for a while now and he hadn't talked to her since after Naruto's kidnapping. Sakura was sure that he was furious with her. Why wouldn't he be? It had been her fault they lost Naruto. Why had he not just left her behind? She looked down and bit her lip. The hatred she harboured for herself burned bitterly in her stomach and at the moment it was a miracle she wasn't crying.

Sasuke glanced back at Sakura to check on her. Out of them both, he was sure she had taken it the hardest. He noticed how dejected she looked and realized that she was blaming herself for what happened. He mentally cursed. The fact that he hadn't said anything since then probably helped her assume as much.

"Sakura." She looked up.

"Yes?" She whispered.

"Wait."

"Huh?" She stopped in mid-step and blinked when Sasuke turned around to face her. His expression, instead of being one of disgust like she'd expected, was apologetic. "Sasuke...kun-?"

"We'll get him back. For sure. So-" He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly. "Stop being so hard on yourself." Sakura's eyes filled up with tears of relief. She nodded, eyebrows creased from the effort not to let her tears fall.

"Okay."

'You'd better be okay, you idiot.' Sasuke thought. 'I've kept my end of the deal. You'd better keep yours.'

"I'm counting on you too, Sasuke!" A second passed between him and Naruto, where their eyes met and an understanding was reached.

'I'll be fine. Protect Sakura.'

"Junrou was right after all." A voice pulled Sasuke from his thoughts and he immediately got into an attack position. Two ninjas stood before them and Sasuke had a strong feeling that they weren't there for peaceful reasons.

One of them grinned. "You two were stupid enough to try and follow him. Mistakes are meant to be learnt from, but this will be the last one you ever make." With that said, he and his accomplice, both perfectly synchronized, made three quick hand symbols. The area around them seemed to change.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura cried fearfully.

"Stay near me!" He yelled. "Don't leave my side under any circumstances!" He turned to keep an eye on her and swung around quickly, shocked when he didn't find her behind him.

"Sakura!"

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura yelled. "Sasuke-kun! Where are you?" He was behind her only seconds before...

"Don't bother." A body materialized from the shadows. "Even if I don't kill you first, you'll never be able to find him as long as I'm alive."

"Shit! Sakura!" Sasuke looked around wildly, searching for her.

"It's no use. Unless Toru and I are both dead, this genjutsu will keep you from seeing each other." The ninja that had stopped him earlier smirked as Sasuke stopped his attempts to locate Sakura. His arms fell to his sides as he gave up his last action. He turned and put all his attention on his enemy instead.

'I don't have time for this!' Sasuke could feel his anger grow by the second.

"You shouldn't have said that." The sharingan surfaced in Sasuke's eyes. His muscles tensed up as he readied himself.

"Oh?" The ninja crouched into a fighting position, anticipation in his features.

Sasuke's arms shot out, sending a flock of shurikens at him. The ninja dodged them, a slight amount of unease showing up in his face when he noted how fast he had to react. The deadly intent in Sasuke's eyes didn't change.

"You've just given up your life."