Summary: She had just lost a patient and even if the staff said nothing could be done about it yet she blamed herself for it. A gift from the one she loved made her realize that she could truly do nothing about it.

Pairings: Sasuke/Sakura

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, at all. All the characters belong to Kishimoto Masashi-sensei.

As Time Passes

A Single Blood Red Rose

"I'm sorry, but, Reiko-chan has passed away," said a pink haired girl softly, her head downcast as she announced the news to the girl's parents. Reiko was a Genin from Konoha that made it to the third round. She had a match with a particularly strong Genin from Kumogakure and was beaten terribly that all the medics rushed to her side and called on the Godaime's best disciple, Haruno Sakura, to try and save her. She was bleeding internally and her lung was punctured. Sakura didn't know how long the girl could last. She was only eighteen when she dealt with a death, Reiko died at the age of thirteen. "I'm sorry," whispered Sakura as she bowed her head. Wheeling around, she took her leave.

Sakura's back faced Reiko's distraught parents, Reiko's mother holding onto her father for support. Sakura felt a single tear roll down from her cheek. She didn't even know the girl, but she couldn't help but feel bad about losing such a young girl's life. She held so much promise as a shinobi of the leaf. A figure donning an ANBU uniform appeared in front of her, the figure's hands holding her shoulders.

"What's wrong, Sakura?" asked the ANBU, his wolf mask decorated with red at the side of his face. His brow furrowed in worry as he noticed Sakura did not reply. "Sakura, tell me, what's wrong?" he asked once more, pressing the Jounin for details.

"It's… it's nothing, Sasuke-kun," whispered Sakura as she shrugged his hands away, hugging herself. The red material of her fingerless gloves rubbed against her bare skin as she looked away from the ANBU Captain, her eyes focused on the moon.

"There's something wrong, Sakura," said Sasuke sternly as he walked up behind her, making the Jounin face her, "I've known you for six years and you weren't my girlfriend for the past two for absolutely no reason." Sakura averted her gaze from his face, illuminated by the moonlight.

"Death," she whispered as tears began brimming in her eyes, "You know how it is to deliver it, right, Sasuke-kun? I mean, you're a member of the ANBU." Her voice showed her pain. Sasuke nodded slowly, wondering where she was getting to. He was an ANBU Captain, captain to one of the best platoons. She was a regular Jounin with a Genin Team to teach and a medical specialist. Both were polar opposites when it came to their jobs but they loved each other nonetheless.

"Sakura, tell me what's wrong," said Sasuke once more, pressing her for details. The next thing that happened he did not expect. Sakura sent an earth-shattering slap to his face, her tears falling slowly.

"A patient died okay! She died and I was on duty!" she cried out in anguish before turning around, running away from him. Sasuke held the tender skin of his cheek as his onyx eyes flecked with crimson watched his girlfriend's fleeing figure.

In her apartment, Sakura held a pillow, her tears staining the cloth covering it. She felt torn and broken, unable to handle the fact that she couldn't save Reiko's life. She couldn't face anyone, not even Fuuko, the younger sister she never had. She didn't want Shuunto and Kyouta to see her; she didn't want Sasuke to be anywhere near her. His being reeked of death and that was the one thing she did not need.

A soft knocking sound could be heard but Sakura didn't stand up to open the door. Her body felt heavy. The knocking grew louder and was more frequent but still Sakura did not do anything. Exasperated, the caller fumbled in his pocket for a spare set of keys to the apartment. Opening it, he entered the room.

He could see her figure with a large pillow in front of her, trying to block the tears from escaping. His fingers were bleeding slightly. He had no time to ask Ino to cut the thorns, he had to give it. A little pain on his part wouldn't matter if it made her smile again. It was his addiction, his obsession, his reason for living. Entering her room, his feet padded softly against the wooden flooring.

Sakura looked up and saw Sasuke's face. She moved back. She didn't need him to be there, he wouldn't understand the pain of a medical specialist.

"You shouldn't cry," he said simply as he sat down in front of her. His strong arms pulled her closer to his body, her face near his as he kissed her tears away. "It doesn't suit you, a crying face." Sakura couldn't fight her way out of this, all her strength was gone. Leaning into his body, Sakura's tears began to subside. Her jade green eyes saw a flash of red on her bed.

"A, a rose?" she asked softly picking up the flower. She winced as she felt a thorn prick her. Sasuke took her hand and rubbed the small amount of blood away.

"Sakura, I love you and nothing will ever change that," he murmured before dipping his head slightly and kissing her half open mouth. Sakura felt her body respond, her body not listening to her mind. "Her death wasn't your fault, you did all you could," whispered Sasuke in between their fevered kisses, "A girl I know once told me that."

Sakura didn't reply as she continued kissing him. She remembered saying that. It wasn't Sasuke's fault that his family died. It wasn't that he was too weak. It was because Itachi had snapped and had slain all of them; it wasn't at all his fault.

"I love you," she whispered as she felt him press her body against the mattress. The rose fell down from her bed unnoticed, the sharp red of the petals noticeable against the darkness of the room. It lay forgotten as the two busied themselves. Its message was clear anyway.

A single blood red rose meant 'I love you' in flower language. Their true feelings for each other was the perfect epitome of what a blood red rose meant.

--- Owari ---

A bit dark, if I have to say so. I was experimenting with the idea of a rose so that came up.

It's true! It's painful for a doctor to know that a patient of his/hers has died and the doctor could do nothing about it.

I hope you like it.

In any case, these stories aren't going to be long, since they're the type devoid of any major storyline. If these one-shots inspire you to write any more, by all means