Quick little update for you guys, I'm hoping to finish the next chapter in the next couple of days (or hours, depending on how the evening goes :D) As always, your reviews are greatly appreciated. It warms my heart to see your reviews in my inbox the next morning sharing your excitement of how the story has progressed and how it will continue to do so! Thanks for reading! Xo


When we arrive the guards make us wait until Tsunade is available to greet us.

"I told you I'd think about letting you come back. It wasn't an invitation to show up unannounced," Tsunade crosses her arms over her chest, "And with him no less."

"You can't expect me to stay away forever," I say calmly.

"Forever? It's hardly been a day," she scoffs.

"With respect, Tsunade-sama, Sasuke would benefit more from Sakura's care than anyone else's," Naruto pipes up.

"That's the problem," Tsunade shifts her gaze to consider Naruto where he stands beside me, "I need somebody who will be unbiased and who will act without fear for his safety when doing what is necessary to protect the village from his presence here."

"Can we just come in to see him for today?" I ask, drawing her eyes back to me, "Please?"

"Fine, but you'll leave the door open."

She turns on her heel with a grimace and we follow her in. As we ascend the stairs, the amount of guards increases. She has him on complete lockdown. We turn into Sasuke's room and find him hunched over on the side of his bed.

"I'm posting guards in the hallway," Tsunade says it as a threat rather than a comfort before she props the door wide open and exits.

"Sasuke," I say gingerly, once she's left. Sasuke looks up sharply and strides over to us in a single move. He pulls me against him in an unexpected show of affection. It catches me so off guard that I find myself hesitating before I wrap my arms around him. But then he pulls away too quickly and regards Naruto with similar appreciation.

Sasuke sighs and returns to where he sat before. His eyes are sunken and dark. He probably didn't get any sleep.

"Thank you for coming last night, Sakura," his voice is rough and betrays his vulnerability.

"I was worried about you," I admit and approach him with caution, "I still am."

"I'm fine, she didn't give me anything else after you left. Are you coming back?"

"Not yet," I sigh and pull a chair up in front of him, "I'm trying, Sasuke. She's not so keen on having me here right now."

When his eyes meet mine, I feel everything slip away for a moment. A strong urge to kiss him and pull him close once more almost takes over me. Does he feel the same? Can he feel that heat surging between us? Or is it just me? I see his arms tense and then Naruto breaks the silence.

"But we can stay here today as long as you want us," Naruto grins. I smile, but don't take my eyes off of Sasuke. There's a long pause between us before Naruto says, somewhat unsure, "I can leave you two alone, if you need to talk?"

"Why?" Sasuke's eyes move between us, casting slowly back and forth, "Did you tell h - ?"

"I didn't say anything," Naruto and I utter defensively, almost in unison. Sasuke's eyes widen as it dawns on him what Naruto thought he was talking about. I shake my head as I turn to Naruto, glaring at him.

"I didn't say anything," he stresses, rubbing the back of his head, "Because there's nothing to say."

I peer at Sasuke, assuming he may lash out for Naruto's inability to lie and keep secrets. Instead, he looks worried and he won't meet my eyes. I place my hand over his and feel him flinch under my touch.

"He didn't say anything, Sasuke. Tsunade did and then I realized it was the truth. Naruto only confirmed my suspicions."

Sasuke pulls his hand away, running it through his hair. He won't look at either of us but he doesn't hide the shame that settles on his face. Naruto steps toward me and squeezes my shoulder. I glance at him and he gives me a somber smile.

"I'll be downstairs if you need me," he nods reassuringly and exits the room. Why is he leaving? His absence confuses me. Doesn't he want to be here with Sasuke? To comfort and ease him?


When I finally look at her, it floors me. Her bright green eyes search mine, not with contempt or even curiosity, but something soft and tender. In that moment, I realize I care for her. I didn't want her to know that I'd done something so shameful and full of cowardice. Above all, I didn't want it to cause her pain -

Because she's my friend, and I care about her.

"Were you going to tell me?" she hides her anger well but as she speaks, I can see frustration settling in.

"I don't know," I tell her honestly. I don't know how this all will end, so what's the point of putting her through this discomfort time and time again?

"Why did you tell Naruto?" I can hear the words hanging in the air, though she leaves them unsaid. And not me?

"I guess I had to tell somebody," I slide back on the bed, feeling exposed under her open stare. Even still, I'm more aware of her presence today in particular. She doesn't waver as she looks at me; I can feel that something's changed. Has this changed our dynamic knowing now what she does about me? No, we had no dynamic.

"I'm hurt that you didn't tell me, but I know I have no right to be," she says quietly, chewing her lip. I don't want to hurt her.

"I thought it would be better if you didn't know."

"Why?"

"I couldn't stand to have you think less of me than you already do," I say harshly, but keep my voice level to avoid drawing attention, "I thought Naruto would understand, but I was wrong."

"Will you help me understand?" She maintains a remarkable measure of calm as she leans forward, imploring me. Why would I do that? Why would I put her through something like that?

"You're both better off without me, Sakura. I've been selfish, maybe it's better that you won't be here anymore," I shrug as though the thought doesn't bother me.

"Are you saying this because," she pauses and I can see how hard it is for her to say the words. She lowers her voice, "Because I found out what happened - Or is it because of what we did?"

I shut my eyes, trying to block out the memory of that night when she was wrapped around me. Fuck. It's not that, it couldn't ever be. She was -

"It's because I've caused enough pain for the both of you. Sakura, you came rushing over here last night because you were so anxious about my wellbeing. You shouldn't have to live your life that way, constantly wondering if I'm going to be okay."

"And you think if I'm not here I'll be able to stop?" She regards me with earnest.

"I'd want you to try, like you did before."

She scoffs and looks away from me. Something passes in her eyes, something indiscernible to me. It's not contempt, I think she's grown past that. But I know she held it for me that first night in the hospital. Yet even then she was worried about me and came to see me.

"It's not as easy as I might have made it sound. There's no way Naruto and I could ever forget you, especially if we know you're in pain."

"I'm not a wounded animal, Sakura," I narrow my eyes at her and she scowls at me.

"It's not pity, Sasuke. We don't feel sorry for you, we never have. You're confusing our concern for sympathy, as usual," she struggles to keep her voice low.

"You're right, because that's all that anyone has ever had for me," I say calmly, then admit, "Until now. I want you both to be happy and I think that's easiest if I'm not occupying your lives," when she doesn't say anything, just gives me a somber look, I continue, "Especially you, Sakura. Naruto has his freedom, but if you're stuck here with me, you can't enjoy your life. You can't be happy here, cooped up in this fucking graveyard with somebody that tried to kill them-self."

Sakura pushes off the chair and forces her lips against mine. Before I can draw back, I feel myself pull her onto the bed, tugging her closer. We close our eyes and Sakura's fingers tangle in my hair, her nails lightly scraping my scalp. Something tightens in my groin and I'm pretty sure she's conditioned my arousal with that simple touch. As I grasp her waist, I run my tongue along her bottom lip, almost on instinct. Just as her mouth opens to me, she yanks herself away. She stands from the bed, panting lightly, as Naruto waltzes in. As oblivious as he is, he actually falters in his steps when he sees us.

"Tsunade-sama needs to see you," he says the words slowly and I can see something circling in his mind. I hunch forward a little to hide the somewhat noticeable rise in my pants. Sakura wipes her thumb along her swollen, darkened lips. I know she's trying to be subtle but it makes me want her more.

"Um, I'll be down in a second," there's the softest tremor in her voice. I don't know if Naruto can, but I can hear the desire laced in her words. I want her again. She starts to leave but I grab her wrist. Naruto nods, his eyes darting briefly to where I have a hold on her, and then he hurries out.

"Why did you do that?" I don't let Sakura go, my eyes trained on her.

"It made me happy," her voice is barely above a whisper as she looks down at me, "I thought it might make you feel the same."

She tears her hand away gently and moves downstairs, leaving me with an unfamiliar ache. Dread settles in as I realize, I can't have more.


I try to calm my breath and my stuttering heart as I descend the stairs, but it's no use. If I hadn't heard Naruto's footsteps then we'd have been caught. Caught doing what, I don't know, but I'm fairly sure Naruto is smart enough to suspect something. Tsunade taps her foot rapidly as she talks with Naruto and I'm so wrapped in my own thoughts that I don't hear her call my name. Naruto nudges me.

"What?" I snap my eyes up to regard them both.

"There's an emergency at the hospital," she grits her teeth and swallows hard, "I need you to stay here until I get back."

"Do you want me at the hospital instead?" I offer though I don't really support the idea. I'm just trying to hide the avidity that's started to swell in me.

"As much as I would rather, it concerns a more recent patient and your current absence would waste necessary time trying to catch you up," despite the aggravation in her voice, her expression makes it clear that she knows it's not my fault, "Just stay here and try not to screw up while I'm gone. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Without another word, Tsunade is out the door and barreling down the trail. The second she leaves, Naruto grips my elbow and pulls me towards the backyard and away from the guards.

"Did I interrupt something upstairs?" His voice, along with his sharp glare, is accusing. I shrug him off and shake my head.

"Of course not. He wouldn't tell me anything," I avoid his eyes and start to walk away but grabs my arm again.

"Sakura, what's going on?"

"Nothing, Naruto, nothing," I snap, pulling away from him, but keeping my voice quiet, "Now, you're welcome to stay, but I'm going to try and do what I can to convince Tsunade that I'm capable of staying here."

"Sakura, just because you have feelings for him, that doesn't mean you have to suffer for him."

"I'm not suffering here. I'm actually quite content."

"It's not healthy to be cut off like this, Sakura," he pauses and swallows with difficulty, "Maybe you should let Tsunade take over here and just come to visit."

"You were just defending my position to Tsunade when we got here," I flare up, running a hand through my hair.

"That was before I saw you two," Naruto's hands go wild as he tries to contain himself, whispering harshly, "Sucking face."

I stiffen, all the blood rushing to my cheeks. Shit, I didn't actually hear him coming. I put a hand over my mouth, but it does nothing to erase what's already happened.

"Do you think I can't handle myself around him?" I question defensively.

"Sakura, I'm just worried you're not going to be able to differentiate your personal feelings from his."

"You sound like Tsunade," I hiss, "What does that even mean?"

"I know you want to see the good in everybody but you can't deny that Sasuke has let us down before," Naruto takes a deep breath and I can feel he's finally worked up to what he really wants to say, "What if he's just using you?"

"How can you say that?" I balk, "You don't even know what happened."

"I know enough about what you've gone through because of him," Naruto's voice is gentle but his words grate on my ears.

"Stop. Naruto, just stop," I put my hand up, but it falters. Then, I turn away from him and head upstairs.