Hello again! Yeah, I wasn't getting many reviews so I wasn't sure if anyone was reading this. XP

This chapter is full of waffiness! YAY! WAFFY!

Vegasbobcat: Thanks for the great review! U are a good friend!

Icygal237: Thanks for pointing out my mistakes about Kira and Rin. I was trying to find the part where it said Rin and I was all peeved because my replacing thingy is screwed. :P Could u point out where I mixed up? Thanx!

As for it being based on the movie, yes I do know that. I'm adding the story of Chihiro and Haku in sometime. Komagi's going to explain it to Sakura… either that or Zeneba. Whichever one I feel is best to tell. All in all, I'm glad u like my fic! Hope u review again!

And just so there aren't any more problems… I do NOT own Naruto or Spirited away! I just mixed 'em for fun!

Chapter 7: Healing Touch

"I said don't touch her!"

Muso let out a cry as the Sharingan windmill was driven through his back, stopping just before it Reached Sakura's stomach. Sasuke pulled it out and stepped backwards. The Uchiha smirked, ignoring the blood dripping off the blade. Muso glared and dove towards Sasuke.

"Perish!"

Eyes thinning, Sasuke swung his windmill around, decapitating him. Muso let out one last sickening cry before his head fell to the ground with a thud. His body, however, continued to move, its claws scratching his side. The corpse collapsed to the ground, blood flowing profusely from his neck. Sasuke paused, waiting for something to happen. Something wasn't right about that battle… Turning back around, he gave Sakura a worried look.

"You okay?" He asked, sitting down beside her. Sakura nodded and tied her kimono back up. "Did he hurt you?"

"No…" She replied. "He was about to… but-" Sasuke cut her off.

"I'm sorry, Sakura…" He said, averting his gaze. "I should've been there." Sakura took his hand gently and smiled.

"It's alright. I'm okay now, quit worrying about the past." Sasuke shook his head.

"I can't." He growled. "You could've been killed. There's a good chance that it could happen again."

Sakura gazed at him softly. "Sasuke-"

There was a muffled groan at their feet. The two glanced down to see the real Kagaimaru starting to stir.

"Oh my god!" Sakura cried, crouching down. "Kagaimaru! Don't worry, you-" Sasuke placed a hand on her shoulder.

"He'll be okay." He said softly, pulling her back. "He's strong. Don't worry about him."

Sakura was about to protest when Kagaimaru raised his head.

"Your friend speaks the truth, you know…"

Sakura glanced down at Kagaimaru, who had a small smile on his face. His eyes had changed from their piercing red to a soft violet.

"You…" He said weakly, squinting so he could focus on her. "You're that girl that Muso was after…" Sakura nodded.

"He's dead now." She explained with a smile. Kagaimaru shook his head as he sat up.

"No… Muso's not dead. He would not let himself get killed so easily." Sasuke's eyes narrowed. He knew that something was wrong with that battle. It was too easy. Kagaimaru was a powerful being… even more powerful than he was.

"No need to worry about him right now." He said. "Right now, I say you should worry about that gash in your side." Sasuke looked down to see the place where Muso's decapitated body had hurled itself at him.

"It's just a scratch." He said flatly. Kagaimaru shook his head.

"No… I don't think so." He said with a frown. "He would not leave you that scratch for no reason. Watch yourself, Sasuke." The Uchiha nodded. "And Sakura…" He said, turning to face the pink-haired girl. "Muso will be after you too… remember that." Sakura smiled and nodded. "Well, I'd better go. My dear Nagasaka will be wondering where I am right now. And Sasuke… Muso's attention will be directed mainly to Sakura. She is female after all." Sasuke nodded in understanding. He bid farewell to the two, leaving them in the dark room once again. Sasuke glanced at Sakura, who was staring at blood splattered floor. Her eyes were wide in horror as she took a step back. Sasuke, curious about what she was so freaked out about, followed her gaze, only to find himself shocked as well.

Muso was gone.

Sakura stood on the balcony once again, overlooking the calm waters. She still trembled at the thought of Muso attacking her. And finding out that Muso was still alive wasn't the most appealing thought either.

Sakura jumped as a cold hand rested on her shoulder. She turned around quickly; ready to hit whoever had touched her. Another cold hand caught her flying fist as she was forced to look in the face of her attacker. Sakura froze, her eyes wide in surprise.

"S-Sasuke…?" Her stiff formed relaxed slightly, her hand becoming limp. Sasuke nodded, averting his gaze. Sakura was still jumpy about Muso. If he had been there earlier…

"You're still nervous." He pointed out, releasing her hand. Sakura frowned as the Uchiha pulled himself on the guilt trip once again.

"Sasuke. Stop." She said firmly. "I'm fine!"

"No, you're not!" He snapped. "This is what I'm talking about! You know he's going to come after you!"

"I know that!" She shot back. "Oh! I get it now! You think I'm weak! That's why you're so hung up with protecting me! Isn't that-" Sakura was silenced when Sasuke pulled her into a firm and loving hug. Sakura tried to move away, put his hold on her became tighter.

"I'm sorry, Sakura…" He whispered, loosening his grip hesitantly, fearing that she would run from him. "It's not that… it's just… I don't want to lose anything so important to me ever again."

Sakura gasped. She was important to him! Yes! One step closer to Sasuke! "Sasuke…" She clutched his shirt instinctively, whispering his name before burying her face into his chest. She then pulled back -as far as Sasuke would let her, at least- to look him in the eye.

"Don't worry about me… I'm alright." She told him sincerely. Sasuke gave her one of those rare, genuine smiles of his that made her heart melt. She looked down, avoiding his gaze. Her eyes ran over his torso when she gasped.

"Sasuke!" She cried. "Look at your side!"

Sasuke glanced down at his bloodstained shirt. It was then that he realized that the blood was not that of Muso's, but his own. The Uchiha lifted his shirt, revealing three nasty gashes on his side. Sakura cringed as she crouched down to observe the cuts, running her fingers lightly over them. Sasuke winced at her touch, but eventually relaxed. He looked down curiously as Sakura continued to caress his wounds, his eyes widening when he realized that they were healing themselves at an amazing speed.

"Sakura… do you see that?" He asked, taking her hand and moving it away. Sakura froze. The three gashes were now no more than small cuts.

"Wow…" She murmured as she stroked the wounds one more time. "Did I do that?" Sasuke nodded.

"Looks like you have more power than I thought…" He murmured, admiring the work of her newfound healing skills. "If he managed to steal these powers from you… he'd be invincible…!" Sakura's eyes widened.

"He's already that powerful?" She asked. Sasuke nodded, pulling his shirt back down.

"Sakura…" Sasuke started. "If you see anything suspicious… promise you'll tell me." Sasuke turned her to look directly into his eyes. "He'll come for you not only for power, but to hurt me, too. He won't show you any mercy… I can tell you that." Sakura nodded, agreeing to the Uchiha's terms. A gentle breeze blew by, causing her small frame to shiver.

"You should get some rest." He said softly. Sakura nodded. Sasuke was right. She needed to sleep. Today had been a huge day… and if Sasuke weren't there… it most likely would've been her last.

Turning back to Sasuke, she saw him start to leave. She called out his name, causing the Uchiha to stop in his tracks.

"Sasuke… thank you." She said with a smile. Sasuke paused, wondering what she meant. Realization dawned on him and he nodded before vanishing. Sakura smiled after him, eventually turning to go inside. She pulled off her kimono and crawled under her blankets, falling into a deep sleep.

Sakura sat up, searching around for the dark chakara that she had sensed. A voice whispered in her ear, sending shivers up her spine. The kunoichi turned around slowly, eyes wide in fear.

"S-Sasuke?" She asked in not but a whisper. To her horror, she was pushed back down by an unseen force. She looked up to see horrible, piercing red eyes gazing down at her. His greasy, black hair hung down, brushing against her face.

"Muso…!" She gasped. She tried her best to struggle away from him, but his grip on her tightened.

Smirking evilly, Muso bent down and kissed her forcefully, smothering Sakura's horrified screams. He pulled back and licked her lips with his almost snake-like tongue before kissing her again. His hand reached down for her sash, laughing in an almost maniac tone as he jerked it loose. Sakura let out a shriek as it came undone.

"Delicious…"

"Sakura!"

Sasuke sat up, panting heavily. Ever since he had left Sakura, his side had been driving him insane. Glancing down at the place where Muso had inflicted the injury, he swore under his breath.

The wound had reopened.

Sasuke knew it for sure. Muso was definitely still alive. A normal wound would never reopen after being healed that well.

The Uchiha gingerly touched the gashes, wincing once again as his fingers touched the flesh. This was unlike any wound he had ever gotten. This one was more painful than any of the serious wounds he obtained. Its pain even rivaled that of Orochimaru's curse!

Sasuke buckled over, blood seeping through his fingers. He swore once again, biting his lower lip to distract himself from the pain. Unfortunately, his actions were futile. The pain spread through his body, making him convulse. He let out a cry of pain, collapsing on the floor completely.

"Uchiha! You're bleeding all over my carpet!"

Sasuke cursed again. Damn that Yubaba… from the tone of her voice, he could tell she was more concerned about the flooring than anything else.

"Stupid child! Why couldn't you die somewhere else?" She snapped, glaring holes into him. Sasuke simply glared back even more ferociously than Yubaba did. The old witch sighed.

"Well, I should at least help you…" She muttered as she lifted her hand. "Let me put you out of your misery."

Eyes widening, Sasuke stood up and bolted out of the room as dozens of flat paper shikigami birds attacked him. Focusing the chakara on his feet, he leapt over the side of the balcony and ran along the wall.

He needed to get away from the paper… he needed to get to Sakura.

Glancing down, Sasuke ruled out the idea of escaping underwater. It was too high, even for him. Instead, he continued running, doing his best to avoid the papers.

Once he thought he had a good distance away from the paper, he turned around and skidded to a halt on the side of the building. Forming the symbols with his hands, he raised one to his mouth and inhaled.

"Art of the phoenix flower! The touch-me-not!" Sasuke exhaled, shooting fire at the pieces of paper. He watched with a smirk as the shikigami burned to a crisp. Sasuke panted heavily, trying his best to hold onto the wall. He had just used up the remaining free chakara.

"Damn…" He breathed. Glancing up, he cursed again as another wave of paper flew towards him. Sasuke turned again and continued running. It was all he could do for now.

Glancing around, Sasuke noticed a metal pipe that stuck out of the building. Knowing he didn't have much chakara left, he took his chances and landed on it. The shinobi ran across quickly avoiding the attacking shikigami as their edges cut at his arms, legs and face. Sasuke ignored the pain and continued to run. Glancing up, he noticed a pink-haired girl standing on the balcony, completely oblivious to the danger heading her way.

"Shit…"

Sakura sat on the balcony, unable to sleep. The sun had just started to rise, making beautiful colours in the clouds. Sakura smiled at the tranquility of the view.

"Sakura! Watch out!"

The pink-haired Shinobi turned to see a swarm of shikigami flying towards her. She let out a shriek and ducked just in time. Sasuke skidded to a halt in front of her.

"You okay?" He asked quickly. Sakura nodded. The two turned at the sound of fluttering paper and cursed when they saw the shikigami swerve around and fly back towards them "Come on!"

Lifting Sakura up, Sasuke ran inside the building and slid the door shut. They watched as the paper collided with the door, rattling it furiously. The two shinobi waited anxiously as the paper birds started to drift away, one by one, from the window. Once the swarm had left, the two stood up.

"Sasuke…?" Sakura glanced at his cuts. "Sasuke, you're-"

"It's nothing." He said, cutting her off. Sakura looked away, a hint of sadness in her eyes. Sasuke glanced back at her and let out a small sigh.

"Sorry…" He muttered as he placed a hand on his injured side. "I'm the one that keeps making you cry…" Sakura turned back to him in surprise.

"No… don't say that." She whispered. She reached up to touch his shoulder when he slapped it away. The raven-haired boy stumbled back, coughing up blood. He leaned back on a wall for support and slumped to the ground, breathing heavily. Sakura stared wide-eyed at him, not knowing what to do.

"Sasuke…" Sakura bent down, gently caressing his cheek. Sasuke didn't move away this time. Instead, he leaned into her touch, closing his eyes. "Sasuke… please don't die…" The Uchiha opened his eyes, a weak smile planted on his face.

"Don't worry… I won't."

TBC…

Aw… poor Sasuke… Is he gonna die? Who knows? ME that's who! Muahahahaha!

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