Special thanks to Psycho rabbit kunoichi and SasuSaku453 for the reviews! I am so very sorry to hear that SasuSaku453, my deepest regards.
This one is fast-paced and moving forward with leaps and bounds!
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Sasuke looked at Sakura with shock written in every line on his face. Her parents had died?
"I feel…" Sakura said, grasping Sasuke arms for support as she sobbed on his chest. "I feel… dead…"
"Sakura… I'm here… I know… I know…" Sasuke said, hugging Sakura tightly as though if he were to let go, she'd fall. "It's okay."
Sakura fell to her knees and hugged her sides.
"Sakura," Sasuke said, kneeling down. He looked at her eyes and they showed the same kind of pain that was in his eyes at his parent's death. Even today, looking deep into his eyes, one might be able to notice the pain and horror his brother had set upon him. "I-I need to get changed."
Sakura looked up. That statement wasn't what she was expecting… Maybe it was, though… Well, from Sasuke at least.
He led her to the folded up futon in his room and quickly changed into his bathrobe. It would have to do. It was better than wearing a towel.
He sat beside Sakura again and Sakura immediately clung to Sasuke as though he were a magnet.
He hugged her close again, and she didn't stop crying for at least half an hour.
"I di-didn't g-get t-to s-say g-g-goodbye…" Sakura choked into Sasuke's robe. "I d-didn't tell them how much… How much…"
"You loved them?" Sasuke said. He could feel her pain too, as though it had happened all over again. "Couldn't tell them what happened today and show them what you learned?"
Sakura nodded.
"I know, Sakura," Sasuke said squeezing her gently.
She gasped. "I forgot," She choked a little. "I forgot, I'm sorry, Sasuke. I'm sorry, I forgot about… About your…"
"Don't worry about it," Sasuke said. "It's not me we need to worry about. Are you a little better now?"
"Mmhmm," She hummed into his robe. "I'm tired."
"I am too," Sasuke stifled a yawn. How late was it? He looked up at the clock over his door. "It's 12…"
Sakura was breathing particularly heavy.
She's asleep, Sasuke stood up, but the sleeping Sakura grabbed his robe and held him beside her. Poor girl, now she's going to be clinging onto anything she had get ahold of… Literally.
Sasuke laid beside her on the folded up futon and looked at her face as she slept. He hadn't seen this before. Not that he really took notice. But he knew that that small frown line between her eyebrows wouldn't be going away for a long time. He knew from personal experience.
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Sasuke opened his eyes at the quiet chirping of birds outside his window. He moved his head around and checked the clock. 6:32 AM and counting. The room was filled with sunlight already and it was going to be a scorching hot day, he could tell.
Sasuke went to stand up, but noticed the hands holding him down. Looks like she hasn't moved all night, Sasuke thought as he looked at his sleeping companion.
He slowly and carefully unhooked her hands from his robe and he stood up, stretching and breathing deep.
"Sa… Su… Ke…?" Sakura's voice asked groggily. She opened her eyes slowly.
"Sakura, go back to sleep, I'll make breakfast, okay?" Sasuke walked over to Sakura and on a last second decision… Kissed her. He kissed her just on her forehead, but he kissed her, nevertheless.
She smiled and closed her eyes again.
Sasuke walked from the room, feeling light headed. It was almost as if it wasn't him back there… He felt embarrassed. Why did I do that? Why? Oh God, that was stupid, Sakura probably thinks I'm a moron now… He remembered her smile. Oh, what the hell… She deserved it…
He walked into his kitchen and looked around for some special things to make for breakfast. He dug through his cupboard and found a box of something that had curly writing on it. He couldn't read it because it was in English, but he knew that it was imported. He checked the expiry date.
"Still good… Hmm… Let's see… 'Expires June 2016…' Wow. 'When box is still closed…' Hmm, okay. 'If box is open, expires November 2008.' So 3 more months then," Sasuke nodded in a satisfied way and put it on the counter. "Luckily there was Japanese on it," He nodded at his own statement.
"Well, then, let's see what this is then," Sasuke said. He tore open the box and found freeze-dried food. Making a face at the food, Sasuke immediately threw it all in the garbage. Anything that was freeze-dried usually had preservatives in it. Anything that was freeze-dried and could last for 9 years in a box obviously caused cancer.
"Damn, I don't think I have anything else," Sasuke sat down at the table. Maybe making breakfast wasn't his thing. He laid his head on his arms, staring at the wall. He sighed.
The room went black… Sasuke felt his body come in contact with cold floor…
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"Foolish little brother, if you wish to kill me, hate me, detest me, and survive in an unsightly way. Run. Run and cling to life." Itachi's eyes appeared before Sasuke.
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"Don't kill me!" He had stopped in the middle of the street, staring, terrified, at his brother.
"You're not even worth killing."
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He glared at his brother, the sound of a thousand birds in his ears. His hand was burning under the combined force of Chidori and his brother grasping his wrist.
The birds died away. A large hole in the wall showed the true force of his Jutsu.
Sasuke grimaced as he felt the grip of his brother's hand get stronger. Itachi turned as Naruto made a sudden move.
Don't interfere! Sasuke thought frantically.
"His Chakra is filling up the space," The slimy looking gray creature beside Itachi growled. "I see, this is the Nine-Tails' Chakra."
Sasuke raised his hand in preparation of hitting his older brother. "Why you…"
"You're a bother," Itachi hissed, his grip becoming overpowering. Sasuke screamed as he felt the bones in his left wrist disconnect and become lodged in his muscle and flesh.
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Sasuke screamed as he felt the pain shoot through his arm. He unconsciously kicked the table, tipping it over and creating a loud crash.
"No! Get away!" Sasuke screamed. "G…No… N…" He thrashed all over the floor, seeing the familiar combination of Sharingan and his dead parents. His eyes were rolling madly in his head as he kicked at invisible people.
His eyes were flashing, going from red to black, as though there were a strobe light in his eyes.
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Sasuke stood up slowly.
"The one who's going to kill him," Sasuke said, ignoring the pain in his arm. "Is me!"
He could see Itachi glaring at him, slightly amused. It scared him. He was breathing heavily, concentrating on his breathing and not the pain he felt all over his body.
"I have no interest in you right now," Itachi whispered angrily.
Sasuke could feel the frustration in his stomach climb up his throat and out his mouth as he ran towards his brother, curling his fists tightly.
"Shut up!" He yelled. Itachi's foot came out of nowhere and hit him in his stomach, sending him flying towards the end of the hall.
"Sasuke!" He heard his name being shouted by Naruto.
He could see black creeping into his vision. No! I mustn't lose consciousness! I must kill my brother! I have to! This could be my only chance!
"Damn it!" He heard Naruto running down the hall towards him. But he stopped when Sasuke yelled, "Naruto, I told you not to interfere!"
"I told you before," Sasuke used the wall behind him to help him stand up. "I've lived up until now… For this moment… For this day!" With his Sharingan activated, Sasuke felt a little stronger.
He ran towards his brother, sounding very much like a jet warming up.
He threw his fist forwards, but Itachi effortlessly pushed it aside. He smiled a little before punching Sasuke again. Sasuke could feel himself go flying backwards once again, smashing into the wall, coughing up blood. Once again, the dark was threatening to take him.
He fought it, sitting up slightly, he muttered, "I'm not through yet."
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"Fuck!" Sasuke screamed, thrashing himself around. He could see the hall… The hole in the wall… His brother and the strange creature that accompanied him… Naruto… The frog and Jiraiya…
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"This is my battle…"
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Something cold came in contact with Sasuke's overheating forehead. He panicked and pushed whatever it was off, and tried to move away from whoever or whatever it was.
"Sasuke," A voice. A girl's voice... Who was it? What was going on? Where was he? Why was it black?
Sasuke opened his eyes. Someone was in front of him. His eyes widened in fear and he opened his mouth in a silent scream. In his hallucination, it looked like Itachi.
As soon as his eyes opened, Sakura could see it. Terror. She generally saw it in the kid's eyes at the hospital when they came in. Sasuke looked absolutely terrified, horrified, fearful, frightened… Sakura had never seen these emotions from Sasuke before… Ever.
"Sasuke," She said more firmly. "Sasuke, listen to my voice. It's okay."
She had to act like he was one of her young patients. He had just had a hallucination, and 'no matter what the age, condition or maturity, the patient should always be treated as gently as a child.' Sakura remembered back to what Tsunade-sama had told her.
"Sasuke, listen to what I'm saying," Sakura said, practically purring.
Sasuke stopped thrashing about and sat still, his back against the upturned table. He heard such kind words. His mind calmed down a bit when he looked into the girl's face. A girl's face. Not Itachi's.
"Wha…?" She came over and covered his mouth.
"Don't talk," Sakura pushed him down so he was lying down. "Stay still. Okay?"
Sasuke nodded. He started remembering what was going on.
Sakura stood up and grabbed the nearest tea towel. She got it damp with cold water and rushed back and placed it on Sasuke's forehead.
Sasuke felt the coolness of the cloth on his pounding head. He closed his eyes and groaned slightly.
"Sasuke, no, Sasuke, open your eyes, stay with me," Sakura said, hitting her hand on the floor, trying to get his attention.
Sasuke opened his eyes again. "You're a medic-nin… I forgot… I'm glad…"
"Yes, Sasuke, keep your eyes open, just concentrate on my voice," Sakura said. She needed him to calm down completely then she could get him over to the couch or make him drink a glass of water.
Finally, Sasuke stopped shaking and Sakura immediately made him sit. She helped him drink some water, kneeling in front of him, tipping the glass a little.
"Thanks. I'm sorry for waking you… I was trying to make breakfast… I don't really know what happened next…" He gabbled.
"It's okay, I was going to get up anyways," Sakura said, looking deep into Sasuke's eyes, looking for any sign of anything.
Sasuke blinked and looked away, noticing Sakura staring at him like she used to. She was looking in his eyes. He always felt uncomfortable when a person stared at him in any way. Especially in his eyes.
Sakura took his jaw in her hand and turned his face towards his. His stomach jumped for some reason when he saw how close she was. Maybe what Naruto had said to him before was true. Maybe deep, deep within his being, he actually did feel something for Sakura.
He leaned forwards. Her eyes were more hypnotizing than Sharingan…
Their lips connected. Sakura's eyes stayed open for a fraction of a second in shock, but Sasuke leaned harder on her, urging her to kiss back.
She did after a while. At first it was just lips, but it slowly transformed into tongues dueling to the death.
Sasuke leaned forwards and ran his hands down her waist to her buttocks. He squeezed then picked her up with ease, placing her on his lap. She gasped when he did, but gladly took the position, straddling his legs.
She shook her head slightly and disconnected from Sasuke, a string of saliva staying between them. They were both breathing hard, and Sasuke's hair was an utter mess. That was either sleep or what had just happened. By accident, of course.
"So, I, um," Sakura said, getting off Sasuke to sit beside him. "I guess you're okay, then?"
"Not without you," Sasuke leaned back towards her, but she put two fingers on his lips. "Sakura," He said weakly. He was begging. Pleading her. Never had he done that before. They both knew it.
"No, Sasuke, I… I can't," She stood up and opened the nearest window, letting a warm breeze wash over her. She put her hands on the windowsill and leaned forwards. She turned her head slightly, looking at the ground, not Sasuke, and said, "Sasuke, I'm sorry… I don't know what came over me."
"Sakura, that was me," Sasuke reminded her. "I came on to you."
"Oh," Sakura muttered, turning her head back towards the open window. As she looked out, Sasuke looked at her. She was beautiful. Her light pyjamas created a halo around her and her bright pink hair glowed in the sunlight.
Sasuke stood up and walked over to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, placing his chin on her shoulder gently. He looked outside and sighed deeply.
Sakura leaned her head back onto Sasuke's shoulder. She didn't know what was going on, but whatever it was, she didn't want it to end. It was like one of her dreams.
She had told Ino that she didn't like Sasuke that much anymore, he was 'boring her' as she said, but she knew, somewhere deep within her, she knew that she still cared for Sasuke like she did a long time ago.
"Sasuke?" Sakura asked lazily.
"Mm?" He hummed into her neck.
"Why did you leave?"
"Leave?"
"Yeah, remember?" Sakura rolled her head sideways, her mouth on Sasuke's ear. "When you broke my heart. Orochimaru."
How could he have forgotten?
"Oh," Sasuke cursed in his head. He thought he had lost that memory. It was back and it burned his insides with the dreaded familiar fire of misery and loneliness. He even remembered missing something. Missing her. Sakura.
"I missed you," He sat them both down on the nearest chair, sitting Sakura on top of him. She was so light, breakable, but strong. A feather, really. "I missed your scent, your voice… Everything. I wanted to come back so bad, but I couldn't… I was trapped within myself… Within Orochimaru's mind. His soul was tainting mine. I'm free though… I'm back… I'm right here…"
"You're not answering my original question," Sakura said, taking Sasuke's hands in hers and looking at them, intertwined. "I asked why you left, not if you were back."
"Does it matter?" Sasuke did not want to answer that question. He did not even know the answer to that question. "I'm sitting here, not harmed, right here with you… Isn't that all that matters?"
"Sasuke," Sakura stood up and walked to a little ledge on his wall. A small mirror was on it. She picked it up and came back. "Not harmed?"
Sasuke took the mirror and looked, puzzled, up at Sakura.
She positioned the mirror above his neck. "Look."
He looked. He saw three small marks, hardly noticeable to someone who didn't know they were there, but Sasuke saw them as if they were new. It looked like a Sharingan tattooed on his neck. Three small bruises.
"I… I…" Sasuke stuttered. He forgot that too.
"Sasuke," Sakura sighed, pulling a chair in front of Sasuke and sitting in it. "I know you're trying to forget. Let's put it this way," She leaned back in her seat, looking out the window. "Why do you think they teach us Social Studies?"
"Because it's a good class to talk through?" Sasuke smiled.
Sakura laughed. She remembered. "No, not so me, you and Naruto could sit and piss Iruka-sensei off," She smiled weakly. "It's so these things will never happen again. It's so that children will learn the mistakes of others and not repeat them."
Sasuke looked confused.
Sakura sighed. "I'm telling you this because it's bad for you to forget your past. You might repeat what you did."
"I wouldn't," Sasuke shook his head. His eyes widened. She thought he was that stupid? "I wouldn't ever go back to that Hell Orochi…"
"No, I know that," Sakura cut him off mid-sentence. "But you might repeat that same mistake in a different situation."
"I-I… No… No, you're wrong…"
"Am I?" Sakura shook her head slowly. "I know that you were after your brother for revenge, and the next chance you get, you might take it. Good or bad."
"No…"
"Oh, Sasuke," Sakura stood up, and Sasuke followed her motions. "Come here. It's too early to be fighting."
"Debating."
"Whatever," Sakura leaned against a wall. "I feel strange."
"Yeah, this house does that sometimes," Sasuke took Sakura by the waist and led her to the bedroom. She laid down on the bed first, and Sasuke laid behind her, her hair tickling his nose. She smelled sweet. Not the fake smell of perfume. It was her. Her scent.
"Sasuke," Sakura mumbled, in a trance like state of almost-asleep.
Sasuke made a sound in his throat to show he was listening.
"Don't ever leave again. Promise?" Sakura took his arm and draped it over her waist.
"Promise," Was Sasuke's sleepy reply.
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I dunno what Sakura did for Sasuke with his hallucination, I just wrote some stuff… I could have asked my mom (who's a nurse) but I was too lazy… Yeah…
Oh, and Sakura starts making out with Sasuke right away because she's in mourning mode, and believe me, some people do weird things when someone close to them dies. Believe me. Believe it.
You have the right to groan.
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