Chapter – 22

Team 7 were on their way to Tazuna's home. Sakura and Naruto were talking all the way. Kakashi was walking behind them casually with Tazuna. Sasuke on the other hand was quiet. His brows were furrowed in thought. He kept thinking about how Sakura got injured just to protect him and Naruto. Why would she go so far?

An image of Sakura lying in her blood passed by in his mind and he instinctively held her legs tighter. It was like he was convincing himself that she was alive. Sakura noticed Sasuke holding here tighter and she wondered what was going on.

"Hey Sasuke? Are you okay? You're really quiet."

Sasuke didn't reply and just kept walking. Sakura turned to Naruto to ask what happened to Sasuke but he just shrugged. Is he angry? Well who knows. I guess I'll never find out. He is a secretive person. On the other hand, Sakura was enjoying being carried by Sasuke. It never happened in her old life. She could also see that Kakashi had let his guard down around her. Meaning that he now trusted her and that gave her immense joy.

They reached the house. Inari's mother came out and hugged Tazuna chanting how she was thankful he was okay.

"Thank you very much. I really appreciate it that you risked your lives just to protect my father."

"It's nothing. That was our mission, wasn't it? You don't have to thank us." Kakashi said while scratching the back of his head awkwardly. Then he continued

"I'm sorry but could we have a futon? Sakura was injured and she needs to rest."

"of course. Please come in. I'll also make dinner for you."

She laid out a futon and comforter and then went to get the first aid.

"Sasuke, you can put me down now."

Sasuke didn't say anything. He just tightened his grip for a few seconds and then let her down. Then he walked out of the room. Sakura saw him walking out and started wondering what happened to him. Inari's mother came in the room with first aid and started dressing her wounds. Kakashi, Tazuna, Naruto and Inari were sitting at the dining table, just chattering. Meanwhile, Sasuke went into the woods.

It was dinner time and everyone was sitting at the table eating and chatting. Sasuke was quiet but he kept watching Sakura from the corner of his eyes. He saw how she smiled and laughed at Inari and Naruto's bickering. He also noticed how difficult it for her to lift her chopsticks but she didn't say anything. She acted like this was nothing for her. That just pissed him off even more. He stayed quiet and ate his dinner. It was time to sleep and Kakashi had given Sakura the futon so she could rest easily. Sasuke was leaning by the wall nearest to Sakura. Kakashi and Naruto were on the opposite side. They all said good night and closed their eyes.

Sasuke woke up in the middle of the night to check on Sakura but it turned out she wasn't even there. Panic filled him. Where did she go? Is she okay? He ran out of the house and searched a little. He finally saw her sitting at the port. She was looking at the reflection of the moon in the water with a small smile. The moonlight shined on her pink hair making her look… beautiful. Sasuke found himself automatically walking towards her like she was just some kind of magnet. He stood behind her but before he could say anything, Sakura beat him to it.

"Shouldn't you be sleeping? It's late."

"I should say the same to you. Don't you have even a little sense that since you're injured you need rest?" Sasuke said with a scowl.

"Haha, im fine Sasuke. It's not a big deal. This stuff happens on missions."

Now Sasuke was mad. She was acting too nonchalant even after coming close to dying.

"Sasuke? You okay? You seem troubled. Are you mad at me or something?"

"OF COURSE I'M ANGRY!"

Sakura shrunk back a little at his out burst. Woah, he really is angry.

"But why? What did I do?"

Sasuke hid his eyes with his hair and clenched his fists.

"You… you are totally reckless! You don't take care of yourself at all. You just keep meddling in ever little thing and just let anything happen to you! Yet you always wear that stupid smile of yours. You never talk. And then you went ahead and almost died just because of us! Do you know how I felt was when I saw you lying there, almost dead, with your blood all over the ground. You.. you..!"

Sasuke couldn't say anything else. He started breathing heavily after his rant and just looked in Sakura's emerald eyes that showed that she was shocked after hearing him blow up at her. Sakura was surprised to see that Sasuke was actually worried about her well-being. Maybe seeing the blood brought back bad memories for him about his clan and parents being killed. Sakura slowly stood up and looked into his eyes. Slowly she smiled as she walked to him and hugged him.

Sasuke was angry but he saw her stand up and look at him. Then she did that. That stupid smile! And then what she did next surprised the hell out of him.

"I'm alright okay? You don't have to worry about me so much. I won't die this early you know?" she said with a smile.

The image of her standing in front of him to protect them from Haku's attack flashed by his mind. He instinctively grabbed her waist and stood there for a minute to calm down.

"Sakura… don't ever do that again. Don't ever die because of us. If you do, I won't forgive you."

Sakura smiled a little and pulled away. She looked at him and just smiled. She didn't say anything. Sasuke thought that meant yes so he didn't pester her more.

"come on, let's go back."

Said Sakura and she started walking. Sasuke looked at her back for a while then followed her. They reached the house and laid down.

"Good night, Sasuke."

"Hn."

While Sasuke waited for sleep to come, he kept thinking about how Sakura hugged him. Her small figure close to him filled with warmth. Her smile. She is so frail yet she is really strong. He looked at Sakura, who was now finally sleeping. I promise I'll get stronger. To protect everyone. Specially you. And then Sasuke went off in dreamland.

Two days later, the bridge was finished. Team seven was saying goodbye to the villagers and Tazuna and his family. Inari and Naruto were stopping their tears but were failing miserably. Sakura just laughed and Kakashi was talking to Tazuna-san. Sasuke was standing at the back. His eyes were roaming around but they finally stopped at the pinkette. This annoyed him to no end. Why do I always end up looking at her? He scowled and turned his head away. They said goodbye and started walking back to the village.