Tortured Memories

PoD- "Hey guys. thanks for the reviews last week! I love them and love my supporters!"

Senior Gaara- "We love all out readers and appreciate them so much. We hope you all stay faithful through the Tortured Trilogy. Some may enjoy the three stories, but others may be disappointed in our choice of pairings, but even so. We hope you stick with us. Thank you."

Disclaimer- No own Naruto!

Chapter Two

I didn't feel anything for a moment. My eyes widened and welled with tears as I was pierced through with a spear of sand. I lost as feeling in my legs and the only thing keeping me up was the sturdy lance that went straight through me. I stared up at Gaara and his face went pale. The sand began to crumble and I fell back into Sasuke's arms and we both landed back into the snow.

Did I save his life? I seized my stomach where a huge hole now resided. It went straight through the front and to the back. I screamed as the numbness of my body faded and I was struck with an extreme pain that surged through my whole body. I had saved Sasuke, but now I was slowly slipping away from my loved ones.

I didn't try and stop the tears. I let the warmth of them sooth me, even though it didn't do anything for the pain that was striking my core. I was lying helpless on the ground with Sasuke holding me. Was Gaara still here, or did he run at the sight of my pain? Was he going to go for Sasuke again? All I could do was lay there helplessly.

Sasuke...

I screamed as the pain struck again and surged through my whole body. God! I looked down at my wound and the entrance was covered with blood and sand. So, I had saved him. I closed my eyes tightly and winced. I put as much pressure on the front as I could as the back was being frozen so I had no need to worry about that. I screamed again and I felt two people grab my shoulders; I looked up, and saw Sasuke holding one shoulder and Naruto the other.

"S-Sasuke...w-what -"

"Sakura, be quiet," Sasuke ordered softly.

"What about Gaa-"

"Gone," Naruto stated.

I screamed again and gripped my stomach. I sat up and felt a river of blood flow from my open back. My vision began to blur and soon all I could see were the shadowed outlines of Sasuke and Naruto. They both kept talking to me, trying to make sure I stayed awake.

"C'mon, Sakura! Stay with us! Don't let go," Sasuke whispered.

I was losing too much blood and I was growing weary. I kept hearing them but I soon saw nothing. The last thing I heard was Naruto's voice saying, "Kakashi-sensei!"

I don't know how long it had been, but I woke up in the infirmary. I was really dizzy when I sat up. I had a bandaged wrapped around my stomach and it was stained with blood. Did that mean Sasuke was still alive? I flipped the sheets off and slid onto the floor.

"Yo, Sakura, that's not really a good idea," a familiar voice stated from the doorway.

"Sensei!"

I remained standing on the floor with one hand on the mattress. I was really unsteady and I didn't want to take a chance on falling over and going black again. I just stared at Kakashi with a concerned look, I figured he knew what I was thinking.

"Sasuke's fine," he stated.

I relaxed and leaned against the bed. Thank God. Oh, Sasuke.

"Sensei, what happened?"

"Well, from what I've been told and from what I've seen, I'd have to say that the Kazekage, is trying to get back at Sasuke," Kakashi stated.

"Yeah... Sensei, where's Sasuke and Naruto? Is Naruto alright, too?"

"They're both fine, in fact," Kakashi turned and waved down the hall.

I stared at the doorway as Kakashi turned back and rubbed the back of his neck. I watched as if waiting for death, but it was something much better than death.

"Oi! Sakura-chan! You look better!" Naruto chuckled.

He and Sasuke walked into the room and I felt my face go crimson red. Naruto had his hands behind his head and Sasuke had his hands tucked away in his pockets. I examined both of them; no bandages, no marks, and no bruises.

"Sasuke! Naruto! You're alright?"

"Yeah, except Sasuke," Naruto chuckled.

My face froze. Sasuke was hurt and no one told me! I stared blankly at Sasuke then Naruto. Kakashi was able to steal my attention, though.

"What Naruto means is that Sasuke got a tiny scratch from Gaara's sand when you took the hit," Kakashi stated.

"How bad is it, Sasuke?"

"Like Kakashi-sensei said. A tiny scratch," he replied.

"So, everyone's okay?"

Kakashi nodded. I paused trying to think of something else to say, but nothing came to mind. I sat back down and winced as I bent and the gash bled and it stained the wraps. Everyone showed concern toward me and I assured them with a smile.

I sat there just staring at them. They were my family and I needed to make sure they all stayed safe. I knew I had to as well, but what good would it do if I stood in the safe shadows and let them take the hits for me. I closed my eyes and thought about saying something again, but my mind was still blank.

"Alright, guys. We should leave Sakura alone now," Kakashi stated and he walked out followed by Naruto and Sasuke.

I sat there and watched them all go. As their foot steps faded a thought struck me. I jumped up and ran to the doorway. I leaned out into the hall and stared at Sasuke's shrinking figure. He would be gone soon and - "Sasuke!"

He turned and stared at me. Kakashi and Naruto kept walking. Why did I stop him? I opened my mouth to talk but nothing came out. I started to sway and I looked down at my bandages they were bloodier than they were a second ago. Did I accidentally and unknowingly rip out a stitch? I looked back to Sasuke who just stared at me. Then I started falling into the hall and toward the floor.

I never did hit the floor, and I think it’s because Sasuke ran and caught me. I kept hearing his voice in my head just talking to me like I was awake.

"You're such a klutz, Sakura. You need to be more careful. First you pass out because you take a hit for me and now you're just fainting all over the place."

I woke up about an hour later. It was now growing darker outside and the sun was fading. I slowly sat up to only be pushed back down. I glanced beside me and stared at Sasuke. Had he been here the whole time?

"Tsunade says you need to stay down," he stated.

"But -"

"She said you'd tried to argue and if she was here she'd probably let you do whatever, but I'm here now. So, stay still," he ordered.

I stared at him in admiration. He really did care about me! I sighed and looked up at the ceiling. Sasuke sat in a stool beside me and just stared blankly into space, as I was doing now.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke." He turned and I kept my vision on the ceiling. "This must be the worse Christmas ever for you, I'm really sorry."

"For me? What about you?" he stated. "You're the one that was practically dead."

"Even so, that must've scared you. I mean, thinking I was gone. So I pretty much ruined the holiday for you."

"No, you'd have to try harder."

I smiled and sat up. Sasuke stood up and looked down at me. He put a hand on the side of my face and smirked. "Rest, now," And he kissed me and left.

I sat there and rubbed a finger gingerly across my lips and smiled. I rested down on the bed gently and closed my eyes. I slowly began to drift into an eerie place full of calm and happy memories. I rested there until I was seized by the arm and shaken roughly.

"Sakura, c'mon!" the person shouted.

I opened my eyes and stared up at Sasuke. Naruto ran in after him and Kakashi stood in the doorway with his back to the three of us. I glanced back at Sasuke. He wore a face of concern and Naruto's was one of both concern and fear.

"We got to go," Sasuke stated.

"W-what? Why? What's go-going on?" I stammered.

"No time, get up!" Sasuke ordered.

"You three need to get out, now!" Kakashi shouted over his shoulder.

Something was coming down the hall. I heard it. It was like slithering but it was shifty. It confused me so much, but I didn't feel like waiting to find out what it was. I threw the sheets off and jumped out of the bed. I hit the floor, but then I collapsed with a yell echoing out of my mouth.