Note to the reader: I just wish that I could make a good chapter out of this one. Thank you reviewers and readers!

Summary: Finally, Sakura learned to become angry. And who was the guy who took Sakura home?

CHAPTER III- Fatal Obsession Part One

It was morning and the next thing that came into Sakura's drowsy head was the comfort she was feeling. Her head was resting on something firm but gentle to the skin. She was enveloped by certain warmth which perhaps kept her wanting to stay in that sleep for a longer time. She felt something solid just close to her—it was the one radiating the heat. She needed the comfort after much work in the hospital. Sakura cuddled up closer to the source of the heat—wait a minute. Her hands involuntarily moved over the surface of that "thing" and found out that its shape was human-like. Sakura's head suddenly rounded up in one speculation.

Sakura's eyes went open like saucers and to her surprise, she was actually cuddling someone she shouldn't have. Kabuto! No, that was a sleep-derived hallucination. She had to stare at the person again with her blurred eyes. Silver hair… silver hair… MASK?

The end of the world was at hand.

Sakura didn't need another second to waste. She bounced off the bed and started hollering. The man who appeared not to be shocked only opened his eyes: one was onyx and the other was ruby. "Good morning Sakura."

"Hatake-sama!" She yelled and stared at him. "What are you—" She looked around and then continued. "I mean—where am I?"

Kakashi gave a quick glance at the clock just at his bedside and then replied to the baffled lady. "In my apartment."

"In your apartment?" Sakura couldn't believe her ears. "How did I—"

"Simple." Kakashi sat upright and then took off the blanket which was enveloping his trunk. "I took you home."

Sakura was about to continue with her rant when she recalled what happened last night. There was Kabuto with his mischievous smile. There was Orochimaru—or she was hallucinating—who was in a cab. He needed my help? She became silent and was noticed by the army Lieutenant.

"I saw you with Kabuto last night," he began, "and I knew right away that you were in danger." Kakashi said and fixed his bed while adding more information. "Don't ask me how I knew." He stated after observing that Sakura wanted to ask why. "I met him before and I know what he loves to do." He paused and smiled. "Trapping and deceiving people." He looked outside and then continued, "You were unconscious and was in his arms when I caught him. But he managed to escape."

Sakura watched the handsome Kakashi move to his cabinet and take out clothes. "Um, thank you then…"

Kakashi's trademark captivating smile crossed his face though his mask concealed it. He pulled out white matching clothes depicting a nurse's uniform. He threw it to Sakura who needed a second look before screaming.

Sakura quickly pulled the blanket (which Kakashi had carefully folded) and covered herself. She didn't even realize that she was only in undergarments because of shock. "Don't tell me—"

"Nothing happened, Sakura." Kakashi shrugged and took out his own clothes. "I thought it would be uncomfortable with the whole uniform so I asked the helper to undress you. Now, go home."

And Sakura did what Kakashi said after wearing her uniform. She quickly called for a cab and went home. When she arrived, the house was still silent as expected for it was half past seven a.m. She got herself in quietly and then proceeded to her room to change. Sakura had just closed the room of her door when she saw a familiar figure on her bed. She approached it and sighed to herself upon recognizing the figure. Sasuke. She changed her attire and then went to the kitchen to prepare him breakfast.

Eight a.m.

Uchiha Sasuke, the ever annoyingly stubborn angel twitched because of the sunlight. He shifted from one position to another until he felt something sit on the bed. He opened his eyes and saw someone he never wished to see again.

"Good morning Sasuke." Sakura slowly laid the breakfast at his bedside desk. "I made you something to eat."

Not her again. Sasuke practically groaned and then shoved the cup of coffee on the desk. The content spilled all over the desk and the floor. "I told you to leave me alone."

That was it.

"You don't want me around—" Sakura stood up from the bed and then threw her hand in the air. "Fine."

"Fine." Sasuke sat upright.

"Fine!" Sakura's eye brows furrowed.

"FINE." Sasuke pulled his blanket off and threw it on the floor.

"FINE!" She repeated with much irritation while she swept the blanket off the floor.

"F-I-N-E." He made his voice louder than of Haruno. "Of all mortals I need to be stuck with why is it supposed to be you?"

"And among all those I have cared for in my life—" Sakura paused and then yelled. "Why was it you that god brought back!" She lost control of her words and she was confused herself if she meant them.

Sasuke was somehow taken aback by her sharp words for the reason he did not understand or knew existed. He stared at her with mouth open but not a word passed. Sakura wanted to say more but she just turned her heels, grabbed some clothes and then walked off. Sasuke on the other hand, just stood there and watched the pink head walk out.

Why is he—Argh! Sakura went to the hospital and signed a vacation leave which was already several times offered to her (yet she humbly declined). After which she went straight to Ino's house for a visit. She strolled through Ino's heavenly garden and at the end of the cemented pathway, an oak door welcomed her. She rang the doorbell and waited while gazing at the butterflies peacefully fluttering around flowers. Ino had successfully cultivated different species of flora and the flowers added grace to her house.

"Sakura! What a surprise!" Sakura was quite astonished when she heard the door open. "Come in!" It was Ino—already seven months pregnant.

"Oh, thank you." Sakura went in and then asked her best friend. "How are you?"

"I'm fine." Ino called her house helper and motioned her to prepare breakfast. "Very happy in fact."

"I can see that." Haruno motioned her eyes to Ino's stomach. "How many months?"

"Seven." Ino caressed her womb and then added. "She's going to be a healthy one. And," she took the tray of coffee cups from her maid, "you will be her godmother."

Sakura chuckled as she took the tray from Ino and placed it on the coffee table. "Where's Shikamaru?"

"As usual," Ino shrugged and smiled, "working late till morning." She eyed the door at the second floor and sighed. "A very busy man he is." She looked over her shoulder and then took a glass of milk from her maid. "So, what brought you here?"

Sakura smiled weakly and then sighed. "Comfort perhaps."

"Is there something wrong?"

Sakura shook her head and her eyes were met by Ino. "I mean—yes."

"Then tell me." The other lady smiled.

The first thing that came to Sakura's head was the name: Sasuke. But she knew that Ino would freak out if she ever finds out about him. She looked at the coffee cup she had in her hands and then said. "I—I just feel—"

Ding! Dong!

"That must be Tenten." Ino motioned the maid to take the guest in. "She said she wanted my advice in gardening."

As expected, Tenten came up into the sofa and sat beside Sakura who was just jovial to see her old friends again. They chatted for at least an hour and then they went on a tour around the city. They shopped for the clothes of Ino's baby; they laughed about the names they proposed for the baby; they visited Chouji's restaurant and ate there with him; and they had so much fun until evening.

When the clock reached eight pm, the three returned to Ino's house. "Thank you for such nice time!" Ino clapped her hands and then embraced her friends before they left. "Come back anytime."

Tenten and Sakura bid her good bye and then decided to walk together as they talk.

"Did you see the lady in gown? Oh my god—that wasn't just right for her!" Tenten laughed.

Sakura was about to add another thing about the lady but she heard a tumbling of a large barrel from an alleyway. She didn't mind it first but after a few seconds, she heard another thing which sent her hair up. She head footsteps which stopped as soon as she stopped walking. "Did you hear that?" Sakura called Tenten who was a few walks ahead of her.

"What?" Tenten looked over her shoulder and then shrugged. "I don't hear anything?"

Sakura decided to continue moving on when she heard another set of footsteps which stopped when she stopped as well. "Tenten," she eyed at her with a more anxious look, "I think we need to go faster." Sakura increased her pacing, followed by Tenten. Now, even Tenten heard the footsteps which were drawing closer—and faster. The two ladies were briskly moving along the street which was, for some kind of reason, growing dimmer as seconds went by. After a minute, they found themselves running towards the only hidden path way they could see.

"Let's split!" Tenten suggested as she ran to a different direction when Sakura went straight into the dark alley. Tenten had gone far but the already running footsteps were still following her. Oh my god! She bit her lip as she ran. The alley went darker, making her bump into the damp walls and stumble into things god-knows-what. She once fell on her knees, making her shout when she felt s hand touch her shoulder.

Sakura was screaming in her mind as she moved on, the humid air wrapping her face with unknown eerie feeling. Her feet seemed not to touch the ground but mud. Her legs were like jelly but she went on. She ran until she finally hit an end, in fact—dead end.

"Help!" She yelled but only the cool unkind breeze answered back. She moved her gaze but she could not see anything but the moon which was hidden behind a plentiful of clouds. Sakura could hear her own breathing and heart beats mixed into an obvious nervous rhythm. Her emerald eyes were welling up as she moved her hands to the wall as if searching for something to make her safe. But nothing made her feel safer and she could only whisper a name.

Sasuke. She held onto the locket Sasuke left her when he died. I need you now… Tears rolled down her muddied cheeks as she clasped the locket tighter. The air went still and there was no sound of anyone coming. She loosened her hold of the accessory and then tried to adjust her eyes to the darkness. She saw no one. She heard no one. When Sakura was about to walk back, she heard footsteps once more… the thing was, they were too near. "Get away!" She uncontrollably shouted. The footsteps continued. "Leave me alone!" No response but more steps.

Nearer…

Sasuke…

Very near…

I-I need…

It was there.

I need you here Sasuke!

"Sakura." A familiar voice brought her senses back to sanity. Sakura raised her eyes to see the moonlight slightly reflecting a man possessing silver hair. As he got closer, the moon revealed a mask and a sheepish eye exposed. "What are you doing here?"

Sakura felt that she stopped breathing for seconds. He stared at him for another minute before bursting into tears and shaking her head. "S-someone…"

Kakashi seemed to understand what she was saying for he eyed her with graveness. "Go home Sakura." Kakashi led Sakura out of the alley she got herself into and then guarded her as she waited for a taxi cab. Once she got one, she bid good bye and said a soft 'thank you' before going into the cab. She sat behind the taxi driver and then slowly closed the door.

Sakura wiped the oozing blood from her gashes she got from the environment of the alley. She looked at the dirt which tainted her porcelain flesh. She looked outside the window, watching the night lights of the city pass by the cab. She sighed and was about to fall asleep when the taxi stopped and the driver announced that he was to take a refill of gasoline. The cab moved slowly to a gasoline station which was somehow far from the buildings and bars. "Pardon me miss." The driver humbly went out and moved into the store to purchase something.

Sakura watched the driver vanish into the darkness and waited. She looked at her wristwatch and discovered that the glass was shattered. She groaned and then unhooked the lock. She took the locket off and then stared at Sasuke's picture. I shouldn't have shouted at him like that. Then she pouted all of a sudden. He wouldn't probably care anyway.

Just a second after thinking about Sasuke, someone banged an axe on the window at the side of the driver. "AHH!" She screamed as she rushed as far as possible from the shattered window. She tried to see who it was but there was no sign of the assailant until someone crashed the same bloody axe on her side of the window. "OH MY GOD!" Sakura moved to the other side and shielded herself from the shards of the glass. The attacker pounded on the glass five times before breaking into the glass. Sakura tried to open the door at her side but it was no use. "Open up!" She was jerking the door but she was forced to hurl away when the man tried to break the second to the last unbroken door window. Sakura began opening the doors she could reach but the locks were jammed. The assailant broke the rest of the glasses having the rear glass as the last target. Sakura kept on screaming until the last of the glasses were shattered.

After which, there was pure silence. Sakura had herself defended by her injured arms because of the pieces of glass. She was trembling badly but nevertheless she moved her arms to check if she was truly alone. No one was attacking. "Help me…" she whispered to herself with the most pitiful voice. Her sore hands moved to the door once more to open it but it was still futile. Her messed pink mane covered her pretty horrified face as she tried to brush them off. The more she moved, the more she got herself messier.

Sakura was already slowly recovering her calmness when a hand launched forward and grabbed her shoulder from the back. "GET OFF ME! GET OFF—" She kept on fighting off the one who held her until she heard the person speak.

"Haruno! What the hell—"

"Sasuke? Sasuke!" Sakura knelt on the chair and almost embraced Sasuke's arm. "Help me—"

For some reason, Sasuke felt pained upon laying his eyes on the panic-stricken girl inside the apparently destroyed car. He drew his hand back and cleared the rear window of any glass before pulling Sakura out. His face even became sullen when he noticed Haruno's bruised legs which were seemingly unwilling to move. Be careful. His lips moved but no words came out as he assisted Sakura out of the car. When she finally got out, she seemed to wobble and fall instantly against his body.

"You're shaking." Sasuke commented after taking hold of Sakura's shoulders to keep her standing.

Sakura was not speaking but she remained shocked and quivering. Tears were just leaking like cascades from her eyes while her hands were firmly clasped on Sasuke's shirt.

He didn't know why he felt bad—probably extremely hurt when he felt Sakura's body weaken against his. Sasuke's eye brows met. Remember, this is for your trip back to heaven. He looked away and then moved his arms to carry Sakura. The pink head only had to oblige as she hung her arms around his neck. Before leaving the site, Sasuke took a long look at the car—wrecked and scary in a way. And then, his onyx eyes moved to gaze at Sakura's lame, pale body—dependent on his strength. Sasuke turned his heels and began walking towards the road and took the long way home.

It was midnight when he managed to kick the door open and close it with a push. He went straight to the bedroom and placed Sakura there. "No… Sasuke…" she finally spoke for she did not want to let go of him.

"Stop it Haruno." Sasuke answered plainly and forced her down on the bed. Sakura recoiled under the sheets and began grasping the bed sheet as if she was still in eternal struggle. Sasuke watched her moan and cry—the traumatic experience still haunting her. He was about to go when Sakura's soft hand held onto his shirt. Sasuke eyed her and pulled his shirt but her hold remained strong. "What do you want?"

"Stay… please…"

"You're at home so just sleep."

"Sasuke…" she sobbed as Sasuke pulled her hand off his shirt. The Uchiha turned his back and walked towards the door. He heard her cry under the sheet but he made his decision adamant. He walked out and then closed the door. This is for the condition. Damn, why do I have to do this? He shook his head and then went to the sofa set to sleep.

Hours after, at about three in the morning, Sasuke woke up for an anxiety he did not know what. His eyes automatically burst open but he tried so hard to close them. No use. He did not understand what woke him up so he went to the kitchen to drink milk. He lazily took out a box of fresh milk but he suddenly stopped from pouring the content into the glass.

This is not it.

There was something he needed to do. And he didn't know why he needed to do that.

Sasuke silently moved barefooted towards Sakura's room and slightly pushed the door ajar. His onyx eyes picked up the stray light of the moon for it directly hit the lady on the bed. Half her body was under the blanket and the bed was in slight mess, showing that she often shifted positions. He observed how she slept and his eyes rounded upon discovering something: she was not asleep but was still crying… crying for hours.

Sasuke gulped an air of guilt which he did not know why he was feeling. He bit his lip and squeezed his eyes shut before deciding what to do next. He went into the room and closed the door as quietly as possible. He ambled towards her and sat beside her on the bed.

"Sasuke…" Sakura muttered as a smile of anguish crossed her face.

Their eyes met for seconds but a lot of words were able to create sentences their lips could not say. Sasuke, however, was still quite cold towards Haruno. He managed to look away and offered his hand. "Hold onto me if you can't sleep."

Sakura gladly did so and tucked Sasuke's hand under the sheet. Her hand was gently wrapped around his. A placid look was finally granted on her face as her eyes relaxed and she fell, soon after, into a deep sleep. Sasuke only looked back at her when she had closed her eyes. He studied her face—familiar yet still unknown. She has lovely eyes. He remarked. I just noticed it now. Those eyes—familiar for they were the only eyes which looked up to him with great love. What he did not realize was that those eyes were not actually unknown. For a second there, he distinctly reminisced that pair of clever emerald eyes. The unknown thing was his feelings whenever he met those eyes with his.

Familiar yet still unknown.

Sasuke had to understand things better himself.

END

Hm, less crappy but still is. Thank you for the reviews! Thank you for the readers and the support!