Wow. Major writer's block. Sorry about that. Please review and tell me what you think of this chapter. It's really the only way I can find inspiration to keep writing!

Sakura rested with her back turned away from Sasuke as she lied on her left arm on her steel posted bed inside the metal cage.

Sakura's hair was still moist from it having just been washed by her captor.

Sasuke was doing nothing but stare at her now, as he sometimes did. Sakura had on nothing but a large white t-shirt that fell to just above her thighs and white panties underneath. She knew the angle in which she lied right now exposed her undergarments slightly but Sakura really couldn't do anything about this fact; her hands were tied in front of her.

Her leg wasn't chained right now in exchange for the alternative restriction.

Sakura could literally feel Sasuke's eyes boring into her backside, sitting in the single stool behind her, doing nothing but stare at her.

Literally. That was all he was doing, watching her and possibly waiting for her to fall asleep, not that Sakura cared to fathom.

Just as she was beginning to feel the lull of sleep surround her senses, Sakura heard the stool clatter overturning noisily and aggressively behind her. Sakura gasped, startling awake. Just as her eyes opened wide, Sasuke's long arms came encircling her from all sides; Sasuke body lined up with hers on the bed so he could spoon her form.

Sakura intuitively squirmed a little in discomfort and immediately Sasuke's grip increased tenfold, one arm constricting around her stomach while another angled her neck around so that he could force his mouth over hers.

Sakura succumbed to his strength and unwittingly granted his tongue entry to ravage her mouth.

Oh god. Was he really going to force himself on her this late into the night? She was so sleepy…

But Sasuke didn't get more intimate than the kiss, after a few minutes of ravishing her mouth, he separated from her, only to relocate his head into the crook of her neck, resting there.

His arms never let go of her form as he fell asleep.

Sakura couldn't sleep at all that night.

Sasuke's rhythmic breathing told Sakura he was genuinely asleep.

He was sleeping on his side while his one arm was draped loosely over her waist and another underneath their pillow. His body was completely spooning hers from behind.

They were both still naked. They'd just finished having sex and Sasuke had fallen asleep soon after. Just as he always did now.

It'd been two weeks since she'd told the man she loved him and everyday since then, she'd had to consummate the confession; not that Sakura was any bit surprised by this.

She was prepared to do anything to get back her chakra and freedom.

Since the first day of her confession Sakura had been careful not to mention her lost memories in conversation. She knew that was not the way to trick a genius like Sasuke.

In fact, she'd decided that trying to get answers from him was completely not the right approach.

She needed Naruto and Gaara.

She was sure they could help her get back her life and everything else Sasuke had taken from her.

Sasuke no longer kept her ankle chained and let her freely wander in her room but he still kept the door to her steel room bolted and occasionally mandated that she wear wrist restraints.

Sakura hadn't wanted to push him too much so she hadn't argued with him on this. Sasuke had never returned her confession and nor did Sakura expect him ever to do so. His pride would never let him do so.

The morning after the second week to her confession, Sakura was told by Sasuke that they were leaving the sanctuary.

"Why?" she asked him while he pulled open the sliding closet adjacent to the her steel room. She stood next to the man as he knelt down and took out her iconic battleware: red vest, pink skirt, battle shorts and knee high boots.

"Change into these," Sasuke ordered while pushing the garments into her grip. Sakura pressed her lips together while adjusting her hold on the clothes, because the boots almost slipped out of her hands. She knew Sasuke had heard her.

Should she press on?

Sakura decided she had to comply to his order first. Not even bothering to walk into another room, Sakura just turned around and started stripping.

She knew better than to walk away from Sasuke without his permission.

Sasuke seemed content at her obedience because when she just finished the zipper on her vest, he decided to answer her:

"We're going to find Tobi."

"W-w-" Sakura started asking but was stopped by a sharp stare from the Uchiha. Sakura gulped.

She didn't really need him to answer this question anyway. She'd really just been seeking for a confirmation to her suspicions.

It had to have had something to do with that crystal ball he'd stolen from Sasuke. That crystal ball that was apparently hers. Additionally, Sakura -for her own reason- wanted to find Tobi just because she was still worried about Naruto and Gaara.

Gaara.

The man she'd been so fearful of calling out for while she was sleeping next to Sasuke. Luckily, her subconscious seemed to know how dangerous her current predicament was and so Sasuke had never heard her innermost thoughts about the Kazekage.

Gaara loved her.

And she…

"What are you thinking about?" Sasuke asked her, with a slight bit of irritation in his voice, while drawing close to her. Quickly pushing away all thoughts of her red-haired guardian angel, Sakura flashed a soft smile at Sasuke. "I was thinking of Naruto and Gaara."

The Uchiha scrunched his eyebrows in confusion and obvious agitation. "What?"

Sakura knew she had surprised him by being so honest with thoughts about another man. She knew he wouldn't suspect her of being unfaithful to him if she confessed so openly.

"I wondered if it was to save our friends, because Tobi had kidnapped them before from the sanctuary."

Understanding spread through Sasuke's expression and he backed down from Sakura, his posture even becoming slightly relaxed. "Well, I suppose we could save them if we happen upon them." Sasuke answered casually.

But our main goal is the crystal ball, right Sasuke?

For the first time, as they exited the Uchiha sanctuary, Sasuke didn't drug or place her under a genjutsu or travel at such a fast chakra speed that Sakura wasn't able to make out any of her surroundings.

For once, she could see where he'd been keeping her for more than a year.

The entrance Sasuke stepped out of while carrying her on his back as he exited the stone doorway was carved into the side of a cliff. The thick stone door slid close of it's own accord with a resounding 'thud.' Sakura knew only a that Uchiha chant/jutsu could open it again. The one she'd seen in The Land of Iron.

Sasuke leaped with amazing height quickly and expertly up the side of the precipice, the remains of a dried up lakebed lying threateningly beneath them, some two hundred feet. Sakura knew no one could survive a fall from such a height.

No one without chakra anyway.

Sakura hadn't bothered to ask Sasuke where they were going or how the man expected to find Tobi.

Because she knew he wouldn't have answered any of these questions.

It wasn't that she didn't trust his judgement though, if it was one thing Sakura could always count on, it was Sasuke's intellect. His ingenuity and strategic mind. He always had a strong, near faultless method of getting what he wants.

As much as she hated to admit this.

So regardless of where they were currently going, Sakura knew they were getting closer to Tobi. By the time night fell, they seemed to have covered a fair amount of distance before Sasuke determined that they should set up camp.

Sakura offered to help but the man wouldn't let her.

"You've only just recovered," he argued adamantly.

Sakura bit her lip, not wanting to argue with him but also not wanting to just sit around and do nothing. Like some incompetent housewife.

"Let me go foraging for dinner at least, please? Let me show you that you don't have to take care of everything for us."

Sasuke suddenly dropped everything he was holding and came to lock eyes with Sakura. His gaze was intense. It made Sakura tremble in fear. He started advancing on her.

"S-Sasuke?" she asked in a quivering voice while backing up from his fastly encroaching form. She didn't get far before the man reached out and harshly snatched her wrist into his grip.

The man jerked her in close to his form.

"Are you trying to run away from me, Sakura?" he intoned menacingly up close against her white cheek.

Sakura's eyes widened in horror. She genuinely hadn't thought of that at all. Not right now anyway.

Was Sasuke really this...insecure when it came to her?

Sakura quickly shook her head. "N-no no, of course not, Sasuke! I would never do that to you! I-I just wanted to help out. You're always doing everything for me, it makes me feel bad and-and useless. And I just want to be less of a burden to you."

Sasuke didn't let go of her but his gaze softened, if only infinitesimally.

"Please Sasuke, have faith in me."

The man kept his gaze trained on her for a long time. Sakura slowly moved her hand and lifted Sasuke's hand from her arm, but didn't let go of it. Instead, she laced her fingers with his. The man didn't pull away.

Sakura squeezed his hand gently while staring him straight in the eye. "Believe in me."

All the anger was gone from Sasuke's expression by now, he only looked at her...with such…wonder and innocence. So pure and, Sakura couldn't believe it, vulnerable.

He really was in love with her.

What was this tight feeling coiling in the pit of her chest right now? Was it guilt? Was she actually feeling bad for what she was doing to this man?

He deserved it. He deserved it. He deserved it. Sakura kept chanting this mantra in her head as the Uchiha leaned in slowly, and kissed her. His lips met hers in a gentle, soft kiss.

The first one they'd shared that wasn't violent or forced.

Sasuke parted from her but stayed up close to intone softly: "Don't stay out too long."

And with that Sakura parted from the man with a final reserved smile before turning to step into the dense woodlands.