Author's Note: Sorry for the late update…I haven't had time to write the next chapters because of –yes, you guessed it – more exams. September will be such a breather after all this. Please feel free to put in some suggestions for the previous chapters. )

My eternal thanks to the following readers:

laussica – haha…that would turn this into an M rated fic then? Hehe…we'll see, we'll see.

InuyashaObsessed101 – if you think they actually kissed, then I have accomplished my aim in that chapter. Hehe, thanks. I'll (try to) see to it that they kiss for real in the end.

xelagirl2- yes, ako po ay isang pinoy. There are LOTS of Filipino authors lurking in this site! I live in Mandaluyong City. Thanks for the comments!

happy-yume – I will…when I get my inspiration back, hehe.

Silverchild of the winds – was it too sweet? I thought I should make it waffy since the last ones were lacking. And, I DO LEAVe the capslock on too sometimes…HEHE, that makes three stupid people.

daydreamer53221 – I'll try to update as soon as I can. But these days I'm having writer's block…exams do that to you, you know. Haha.

Kohona Ninja Sasuke's Lover – please read the end note of CHAPTER 5…I've included the definition of Henge No Jutsu. Thanks for asking!

Zuan - Um…I'm getting to it on the next installment. I just hope it doesn't turn too corny. Hehe.

CrAzY-SiLLy-Me – Yeah. That's why it's entitled that way SWEET DREAMS (part 2)..haha, I hope you enjoyed reading it, even if it was just Sasuke's dream.

Crystal Renee – Hey there! Thanks for reading up to this point. Hope you'll stick around to read until the ending!

PrincessChii – funky hormones? Sweatdrops I never thought of it that way…hahaha.

Disclaimer: How many times do I have to say that Naruto is not mine! The envy is killing me!

Chapter 6: Squish Me Not!

Sallow light flooded Sakura's heavy eyes as they fluttered open. She squinted painfully when the yellow rays penetrated her pupils, causing her vision to become hazy – shadows and shapes swirled and swayed in front of her until everything came into focus shortly after. She was alone in her quiet little room.

Drowsily, she raised her head and peered from her covers to look outside the window. It was raining furiously, much to her surprise. But that probably wasn't the noise that woke her up, she thought. In fact, it wasn't a noise…more like, a voice.

That's right. It was a familiar tone that tickled her ear.

"Sasuke-kun…" she said, almost inaudibly. Slowly, she sat up and leaned back on the headboard, her back cushioned by the pillows. She eyed the bare wall that faced her bed, watching her motionless shadow as she contemplated what had just happened. Sakura pondered if she really had just imagined his voice, or, if reality permitted, that Sasuke really was there for a split-second. It seemed harder for her to believe the former idea, since she was sure she felt the words touch her ears. But then again what could Sasuke be doing in her room so early in the morning? No, that would be ridiculous, she told herself. Even weirder, what he said exactly was a mystery to her. She barely heard it. Was it "Home in a jiffy?" or "Hanging a bit?" She sighed heavily. Sakura was clueless…and felt very silly. It could not have been real. She looked around her room. There was no raven-haired boy anywhere. She was alone. No, that could not have been real.

She wrapped her hands around her neck. Maybe it was the fever was causing her to hallucinate? She recalled having read of such cases in a medical journal she happened to come across back then in the academy. Yes, that would be a more rational explanation.

She exhaled again. She had no idea what she was getting at exactly. Right then the window rattled, and as if the temperature suddenly dropped, she embraced herself tightly and curled her toes to fight the shivers that ensued. She hated waking up. Who cared about reality right now? She was having such a nice dream…

That's right, she had been dreaming of his black prince again. She continued to watch her shadow, its head titled slightly as she pieced back faint recollections.

"Sasuke-kun!" they chorused as the boy entered the scene of a partly filled classroom. She looked back to her rival, but she wasn't in her seat anymore.

"STOP!" she yelled, but she was too late.

Wasting no time at all, the blond genin had run down to him and flung her arms around him, giving Sasuke her best sky-blue puppy-dog look. It was immediately returned by a cold stare from the Uchiha genius.

"I said stop it, Ino-pig!" she screamed, and no sooner was there beside the uninterested boy as well, struggling to unlock Ino's arms from his neck. Ino, wanting to tease her even more, gave the decisive blow- she leaned into Sasuke, meaning to plant a kiss on his cheek. The classroom buzzed.

Sakura snapped.

She aimed for her face with a left straight punch, but Ino caught her fist easily. Her rival smiled mockingly, which angered her even more. Maybe it was that anger that made her right hook so much faster, and it connected with Ino's glass jaw. There was a puff of smoke and Ino disappeared. It was a bunshin, just a clone.

She heard a sardonic giggle from her back, making her jump away for distance. Ino remained standing there in a relaxed stance. She was mocking her again. Once more, she walked towards the raven-haired boy.

"Stop it I said!" Sakura rebuked furiously. "Ino-pig, that's not fair. I asked first!"

Ino stopped and turned around to face her. "Oh really?" she said dramatically. "You think Sasuke-kun would care if you're first? Well go ahead then. Let's see what Sasuke-kun says." Ino made her way back to her seat and rested her amused and dainty face on both hands, her eyes fixed on Sakura. "Come on. This will be fun to watch. You know what he'll say"

"Hmp!" sakura stuck out her tongue at her, not minding the small crowd that watched on. She walked towards her prince, who stood aloof as he boredly smoothed down the wrinkles from his shirt. She gathered her courage and gulped down the lump in her throat.

"Ne…Sasuke-kun?" The boy shifted his onyx gaze to her. Her eyes darted down to the floor as she fidgeted and wound her fingers unstoppably. His expression was unreadable, but she had his attention. She must show confidence, she told herself. Sasuke would want to see self-assurance. She looked him straight in the eyes.

"Will you…go out with me?" She managed to say it without batting an eyelash or stuttering. 'Oohs' and 'don'ts' from jealous boys and girls droned the classroom. Sasuke blinked once, but it was as if he did not hear her at all. He simply turned away. The whole classroom seemed to go dark, until there was just him and her under a spotlight.

"No thanks." He finally replied in a low voice, just loud enough for only the two of them to hear. Sakura lowered her head, his voice echoing in her mind. She had expected this answer, she thought.

Then, a fleeting remark caught her ears, "Maybe next time."

The words stunned her. She looked up to see his retreating back, one hand waving back to her as he walked away, disappearing into the darkness.

She smiled. A next time was good enough for her. Definitely good enough. Her feet spurned her to run after him…

And then she was back in her bed.

She grabbed the pillow next to her and hugged it tight. "Oh Gods," she muttered, Sasuke-kun smelled so nice in her dream—subtly reminiscent of citrus and green leaves—just like this pillow, she said inwardly as she buried her face into it and breathed in. "And his shirt," she added, "oh, it was so wonderful to touch." Just like this pillow, she thought, nuzzling her head into the cushion and falling sideward with a happy sigh. "Oh, Sasuke-kun…"

You're just like this pillow—

Seconds later, Sakura's eyebrows shot up her wide forehead, almost touching her hairline. Clutching the mysterious object in both hands, she raised it into the air. She threw it a suspicious gaze. Her brows met in confusion. "Now where did you come from?" she asked. Of course, the pillow didn't answer back.

But she didn't notice the large sweatdrop that had formed behind it. Tranforming into a pillow wasn't the best option…but it was the ONLY option, given their proximity a while ago. He had planned of sneaking out when she had fallen asleep again, which would unfortunately seem to be longer than he had expected.

"Hmm…" She turned the pillow over and over, occasionally feeling and fluffing it, looking for any note that may have been left inside the cover. When she found nothing, she smoothed the cushion once more. She noticed its resemblance to Sasuke. It was long and rectangular, firm but soft, with a dark blue cover. It even had an Uchiha fan symbol on one side! She almost laughed when she saw this.

"I wonder if…?" She laid her hands on it again. "I feel Sasuke-kun's chakra from this pillow."

She's on to me.

"I knew it!" She grabbed the cushion and stared at it intensely. Sasuke felt as if all the colors had drained from his body.

"You're from Sasuke-kun, aren't you?" she smiled proudly. The pillow almost fell out of her arms in relief. She hugged it so tight that it almost squeezed the life out of him. "I knew it! Sasuke-kun came to visit me! Aww, I wish I had been awake to see him. Thank you so much Sasuke-kun." She stroked its blue fabric fondly, the way one would stroke a pet for being good. Gentleness brimmed from her eyes. "I'm so happy, everyone came to visit." She glanced at the small table where the presents from her other teammate and teacher rested.

RUMBLE.

"Oh, was that me?" she asked herself, surprised. "Funny, I don't feel hungry at all. Anyway, let's see…apple or orange?"

With poor Sasuke still in her arms, she moved her swung her legs over the bed to grab an orange from Kakashi's basket. She took out Naruto's card as well and placed it on the bed. Slumping back down on the soft mattress, Sakura started peeling the apple while she rested her chin on him.

The moment her fingernail scratched at the orange peel, the scent wafted towards Sasuke, making him even more frustrated. It was hard for him to concentrate with Sakura literally crushing him, the fever draining him, and now this stupid piece of fruit she was peeling in front of him was driving him mad. "This is so yummy." Sasuke wanted to roll his eyes.

Give me a break, Sakura.

A few minutes later Sakura had already taken a segment and placed it in her mouth. She opened the Naruto's Get Well Soon card and read it between munches.

My dear Sakura-chan!

How are you?

I hope you're feeling better now. I'm sorry I wasn't able to help you in our last mission. Maybe that's why you got sick. But ne, ne, please get well soon! I hope this letter helps at least. I didn't eat at Ichiraku's so I could but this card for you! They say when you read what it says over and over, it actually makes you feel better mentally, then your body sort of gets tricked into feeling better...or something like that…

Aack! I'm running out of space! Anyway please eat lots and don't work yourself up. I always eat ramen when I feel bad, you should try it:D

The greatest ninja in Konoha,

Uzumaki Naruto

PS. Kakashi-sensei said we're going to train our asses off when you get better. Um, so enjoy yourself, even if you are sick. Ne? Hehehe. ;-)

Squirt.

"Aww…I did it again." She cried in exasperation. Her last bite had forced some of the orange juice to spurt unto the card, leaving small round yellow marks on the white paper. She tried her best to wipe the stains away with her little finger, but it was in vain. "Oh, I'm so sorry Naruto. And you even skipped Ichiraku's today just to give me this card."

…So that's where those marks came from.

After she finished the oranges, Sakura stood up and took the card, and propped up carefully once more beside her teacher's goodie basket. Her hands were a little sticky from eating. She didn't want to get any stains on her brand new pillow. So, very slowly, Sakura let the cushion drop from her arms and onto the mattress as she turned towards the bedroom door. In a few moments Sasuke heard a click. She was gone.

POOF!

Immediately, Sasuke bolted towards the window and opened it. But before he left, he decided to cast one more jutsu.

Sakura came back shortly after. The room was exactly how she left it. She crept into her bed and hugged the Uchiha pillow. So soft, she murmured to herself. She gave it a good hug and laid down, instantly falling asleep. "Goodnight Sasuke-kun."

Under the fading drizzle, a shadow from outside her window moved. The past few hours inside Sakura's room was certainly unforgettable. He looked on inside. Everything was like before he entered, except for the smile that was playing on her lips as she slumbered. He felt like a long battle had finally ended and only he knew what really happened.

And it would stay that way, he thought.

The first rays struck his tired but peaceful face. The streaks of light pierced through the great billowing clouds. His deep calm eyes glowed faintly as droplets of water on his face reflected the sunlight. Yes, he felt peaceful, and he cherished that sensation for a moment. That was the reason he sneaked inside, wasn't it? His anxiety had left him finally.

Taking one last look, he placed one hand on the window. With a sigh of relief, he greeted back under his breath. "Good morning, Sakura."

He was going to sleep well today.

-Tbc-

Author's Notes: Well, Sasuke finally got out! But the story is not yet finished. Thanks for reading!