[Disclaimer: Alas, Naruto will never be mine]

A/N: I'm using less Japanese. I think I feel so comfortable with the character now, I don't think of it anymore. Sorry if they seem OOC. :) Enjoy!

Translation note:

Koishii = darling or beloved

Aah = syllable Japanese say meaning "yeah".

Chapter 18 – Unfamiliar Ceilings

A barren expanse of dull white greeted Sakura as she rubbed open crusted eyes. The aftertaste of a scream lingered in her throat unspent. It gave her urgency as pulled herself upright. Sakura glanced around fitfully for anything to gain her bearings. As she moved, she felt the pull of tubes and tape and heard the pulsing hum of monitors and machines filling the room's artificial silence. Seeing the bed and curtain, the gown she wore and the instruments around her, Sakura sank back down as her panic faded.

"I'm in the hospital," she explained for the ceiling's benefit. She waited for a response, alas, it was as bored as it looked and seemed intent on ignoring her.

Sakura shifted her head on the pillows to spy the small table of flowers at her bedside. It was a thing her initial search for threat or foe had bypassed. Four vases were arranged on in an even spacing. Sitting up again she scooted over to examine them closer, seeing note cards attached to each. Dragging her arm cross her body to reach them Sakura accidentally knocked off one of her pulse monitors. A small warning beep sounded shrill for a bit before cutting off. She realized that someone would be coming to check on her. She decided she didn't really care.

The sea green vase with camellias Sakura recognized immediately. The fragrance of those blossoms had drifted up into her window since diapers. Their presence meant her parents knew she was here, a fact that made Sakura relieved. Too often she would be gone and no word would get to them, with days or even weeks passing until the mission was completed. Neither one was a ninja, yet they handled her difficult lifestyle with unconditional love and support. It was a precious thing few ninja could claim to have.

The next vase was a masterpiece. White willow blossoms and baby's breath framed by green maple leaves led to sunny buttercups and purple lilacs, all surrounding an exquisite and rare pink lotus flower. Sakura stroked the cream-colored card with her fingertips. Again she did not need to read its contents, an artist's work spoke for them. "Ino," she said fondly.

The last two sets of flowers were a bit of a mystery, both different in everyway imaginable. The first bouquet was by far the largest on the table and the largest Sakura had ever received. Its two dozen long stem white roses seemed to glisten even in the paltry fluorescence of hospital lights. A pink ribbon was tied to the fine silver urn that held them attached with a card. Sakura needed to investigate this time. She opened to find a note in a calligrapher's script, she read, "If anything we're ever to happen to you, koishii, I would cease to live. Rest well and be safe, Neji"

Sakura felt tears rising up. Neji's concern seemed so genuine, so real, despite all her coldness these last couple weeks. She missed being loved. She missed being loved by Neji. He was caring and attentive, a strong man who took responsibility for the things. They had argued and fought and she didn't always agree with him, but he always listened. He was all she could ever ask for.

She sniffled slightly as she forced away the sob that had wanted to come out. Plopping back down on the bed, Sakura clutched the card to her chest. "Why were my last thoughts of Sasuke?" she asked the ceiling. "Why?! Why, when I will never be the last person in his?"

The fairy tales Sakura had read as a child were always filed with magical things. A kiss or an apple, a potion or a ring, a simple thing that brought the heroine of the story the love they wished for beyond their wildest dreams. Sakura pouted, staring at the small card in her hand, "Why can't I find a potion?" She was unsure whether she would force it down Sasuke's throat or take herself and run blindfolded to Neji's door, either would be better than this.

She rolled over and placed the card back in the envelope, then shifted to examine the final vase. It was as plain as Neji's had been ornate. A glass jar with the label ripped off, only two daffodils and no card to be seen. Sakura smiled, the hastiness of it all had Naruto's spontaneity written all over it. She was surprised though, she didn't think she had ever told him her favorite flower. "Never losing its beauty even in winter, the daffodil has the strength to hope for spring," she recited aloud. Sakura leaned forward to smell their faint fragrance when she noticed the slight odor of spaghetti sauce. It was obviously from the jar turned vase.

"But why is it so familiar?" she thought.

Sakura flipped back to the bed under the covers when she heard the door opening. A petite, non-descript nurse entered and averted her eyes when she saw Sakura awake. The woman was all business as she walked swiftly over to the windows opening all the curtains. "Looks like we knocked off our pulse monitor," she said brusquely. Sakura shied from the blinding daylight that flooded into the room. The nurse came over to her bedside and without much ado started removing tape and wires off Sakura. The kunoichi sort of wondered what the woman's problem was. "Itai!" she yelled when the woman took out her i.v. tube in a flash. A band-aid was slapped on and Sakura glared at nurse while being told, "Visiting hours has just started and you seem to get a crowd. The doctor will be around in the evening before your meal."

The nurse left and as the door slammed shut it all came together for Sakura. "She was one of the nurses I got in the fight with when we saw Neji," she realized. "Gee, I wonder what kind of treatment I got from her while I was unconscious." The thought reminded Sakura that she had better check a mirror before anyone saw her.

The kunoichi stumbled into alcove-like bathroom forcing her sleepy limbs to active duty once again. Catching herself on the edge of the sink she reached up to turn on the vanity light above the mirror. Blinking on with a fluorescent buzz Sakura barely recognized herself. A gaunt, tired looking woman with bandages on half her body and circles under her eyes stared back. "I look old," she thought. She forced a smile for a moment before letting her face relax back to it somber state. "We can start with some soap and hot water," she told the reflection, "and see how it goes from there."

Sakura walked a little steadier as she returned to the bed. Her efforts had yielded some results; at least she wasn't going to frighten anybody. On cue there was knocking at the door. It was follow by the entrance of the two people Sakura was hoping to see.

Ino and Shikamaru came in and were all smiles at seeing Sakura up and about.

"Hey flower-power girl, how are you doing?" said Ino cheerily handing her a small box of sweet dumplings she brought.

"Hey Ino," said Sakura trying to act more energetic than she felt, "A little better, now that I'm awake."

Shikamaru pulled over two chairs from by the window so the couple could sit with her. "You had us worried," he said as they got settled. "Temari reported to the Hokage everything that happened. The Anbu have been conducting sweeps for the past couple of days."

"Temari-san," Sakura said, "was she injured by Kisame as well?'

"Iie, she escaped him and came straight to the village with you," he said. Shikamaru ran his hand from under his chin to around his neck to his back of head. It rested there briefly before wiping back slowly in reverse motion. It was a reaction of his Sakura recognized well from having worked closely with him for a long time. It was a habit of his when he got anxious.

Sakura knew what caused of his worries. Kisame Hoshigami was declared dead by the Hokage over three years ago. It was connected to the same mission where Itachi Uchiha had been killed and where Maito Gai became a fallen hero. If Kisame was alive what had he been doing all this time without Itachi? What else was taken as truth that wasn't?

Sakura looked them blankly as these questions formed in her mind. "Temari..."she thought, "I barely remember her coming to save me... I was delirious I guess... Why would that monster be lurking outside the village now?"

Ino's eyes flickered back and forth between the two other people in the room. For some reason, both Sakura and Shikamaru had gone into annoying, ultra-broody mode. She had to deal with this from both of them now and then, but together like this, it was a little too much.

"If I want friends like this I'll get a couple blow-up dolls," she thought. Ino decided to change the topic, sort of.

"That's ok Sakura, after she reported to Tsunade-sama, fan-chickie tried to trick Shikamaru into running off to Sand Village with her. Can you believe the nerve?"

Sakura blinked as Shikamaru sighed heavily. "Geez, Ino," he said "that's not what happened. She needed an escort to the border and she asked the Hokage if I could do it."

Ino crossed her arms, "Oh really, and didn't she said something like 'If you're man enough you'll do it."

Shikamaru looked cornered for a second, "Well, yeah but that's just her way. Anyway, Gemma and Raido went. And why do you always make up names for her? Why can't you just say Temari?"

Ino took a snooty attitude. "I use pseudonyms as a subtle way of expressing my opinions on the woman."

Shikamaru raised his hands up as he looked at the ceiling pleadingly.

Ino leaned over to Sakura and gave her nudge with her elbow. "Did you hear?" she asked acting proud of herself. "I used a big word."

Sakura had to laugh even though her ribs ached. Ino had told her some time ago that having introverted, obsessive, super-geniuses for her boyfriend and best friend made her go a little crazy sometimes. "You both live in your head all the time," she had explained once, "I don't know how you do it." Ino's dealing method was to get them to laugh... and it worked ninety-nine percent of the time.

The three ninja chatted comfortably about less depressing things for a while. Shikamaru was in mid-sentence when he stopped and turned to look hard at the door. Pulling on Ino's arm he started to stand up. "We should go Ino."

Sakura and Ino looked at him curiously. It took Sakura a moment before she too could sense a presence nearing the door. Shikamaru's awareness of his surroundings had always amazed her. It had gotten their team out of tight situations on more than one occasion. "He really should go for the Jounin exam," she thought.

Her train of thought went out the window as she saw who entered. Calm, cool and collected, Hyuga Neji walked through Sakura's door. He smiled at them politely and nodded his head.

"Shikamaru, Ino-san."

Shikamaru was half pulling Ino along, "Hey Neji," he said neutrally while staring pointedly at the doorway.

"Konbanwa, Neji. How are you?" said Ino. She, unlike her rude boyfriend, had no qualms with the Hyuga clan heir. "You're looking genki."

"Konbanwa, Ino. Thank you I am doing very well," he replied cordially. His eyes shifted to Shikamaru who kept staring at the doorway. Neji said, "I hope I'm not chasing you out or anything, Shikamaru."

The pony-tailed ninja turned to his greatest annoyance. "Oh no Neji, not at all... we have to be going, right Ino?"

Ino stared hard at him as his eyes kept slipping back to the door. She gave Shikamaru the 'you know you're nuts' look, followed by the 'you're being a pain in the ass' frown and finished with the 'I don't know why I put up with this' exasperated face, all before actually speaking.

"Ah... yeah," she said unconvincingly to Neji. "Get well soon Sakura," Ino said more brightly turning back to Sakura, "we'll go shopping so I can spend Shikamaru's money! Goodnight, Neji."

The couple left in a rush and Neji shook his head as he watched them leave. He turned back and with satisfied expression at their sudden privacy moved to sit in the chair Ino had just occupied.

"You look better," he said taking her hand in his, "I was worried about you."

"Ah," mumbled Sakura as she looked out the window quickly. "Thank you for the flowers, Neji," she said turning to look at the vases. "They are very beautiful."

Neji caressed her cheek softly with a finger which drew her attention back to him. "They aren't as beautiful as you," he said, "Did you see the best part?"

"Huh," said Sakura, "No, what is it."

"Just wait." Neji teased. He jumped eagerly up and went into her little bathroom. She could hear him turning the faucets on.

"What are you doing?"

"Just wait!"

Sakura thought he was laying it on a little thick, but she was always impressed with how sure of himself he seemed. Of course, it also got a little annoying at times. Right now Neji was showing a side of himself that he normally hid from others, a side that could only be glimpsed when all his defenses were down. Sakura imagined this was what he was like when he was little, before the mark on his forehead and before his father had died.

The white eyed ninja was brimming with anticipation as he brought out a steaming styrofoam cup of hot water around her bed to the flower laden table.

Sakura moved to the side of the bed sitting up to watch. Neji pour the cup of water carefully into the urn that held the roses and then sat beside her on the bed.

Neji instructed, "Now observe carefully."

Sakura didn't know what he was up to, but did as she was told. They watched expectantly for a little bit when she began to notice some peculiar. The centers of each the white rosebuds were getting darker. She looked closely and she saw that it was a reddish color.

"Oh, Neji!" she said with delight.

The color built in the center then exploded into the petals, maturing to a vibrant pink. It was as if the roses were blooming all over again for her in seconds under her eyes.

"I was hoping you'd like them," Neji said grinning at her, sounding almost vulnerable as he looked down at his feet.

Sakura was touched by his gift... more than that. She impulsively leaned over to kiss him on the cheek, but somehow his mouth got in the way. She paused with her eyes closed, but then let herself give in. Neji's spell had done its work as inhibitions were cast away. The kisses were slow and passionate. Neji knew how Sakura liked to be kissed, the curve of his lips and hunger of his mouth had a familiar intimacy that soothed her aching heart. It felt just like when they had started dating. A pure, sweet tenderness that was honest and uncomplicated. It was why she had started falling in love with him the first time. Sakura hands crept lightly up Neji's chest to cling on his shoulders. She could feel his strong arms cradle her gently, their comforting strength making her supple and yielding.

The door to her room opened with whine of rusty hinges and the couple broke away awkwardly. The abrupt feeling of disorientation was tempered to disquiet as Sakura discovered a new person in her doorway.

Sasuke Uchiha looked at the scene before him with an unreadable expression. He pushed his wire-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose with a forefinger. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Sakura," he said in that impersonal way of his. "I was concerned and wanted to see how you were doing. If you will excuse me..."

Sakura noticed he was more mechanical than usual and her embarrassment fled at concern. "It's ok Sasuke. Thank you for stopping by."

Neji looked as if he had swallowed something rancid. The evening had been proceeding as he'd planned and the interruption as well as its perpetrator was a little too much for him.

"What are you doing running around at night, Uchiha?" he demanded.

The corners of Sasuke's mouth twitched up mockingly, "Don't worry Neji, I'm not planning on breaking out of the village just yet." Sasuke's words and challenging stare only made Neji's face darken.

"He didn't say he had permission to be here," Sakura thought fearfully. She wasn't sure whether Sasuke was just baiting him or not, but she knew Neji would have the Anbu here in minutes. "Neji will try to capture Sasuke himself if he thinks it necessary," she realized, "I don't want this to happen."

"Neji!" said Sakura quickly, "I'm sure the Anbu know he's here! Sasuke, ah, thank you for stopping by. Please leave now I don't want you to get in trouble. I... sssss!" Sakura winced as pain shot through her side. Her injured ribs protested as she had tensed watching the confrontation between Neji and Sasuke unfold. Both men were startled and moved towards her. She waved them off as she managed to regain control. "I'm fine... Sasuke please go."

The dark eyed young man looked torn for a moment before responding, "Aah." The ninja left quickly out the door.

Neji seemed to almost hiss with annoyance as he watched the retreat of his rival. "I don't trust that guy."

Sakura massaged around her healing bruises, trying to work the blood back into the area as she glanced up at Neji. He wore his hatred like a mask and it cooled desire she had to see him right now. "I hope Sasuke gets home quick," she thought.

"That goes for you too, Neji," she said lying down, "I'm tired and I'm sure my doctor will be making rounds soon."

Neji seemed to wake out of his rage, but it was too late. "Sakura," he began, "I only..."

"Goodnight Neji."

Sakura rolled on to her other side away from him. The chuunin captain could only look helplessly at her and then in defeat he retreated in a small puff of smoke.

The room became empty again and Sakura escaped to sleep as emotion and pain had drained her reserves.

It was much later at night when she awoke again. The medical-nin had been around to assess her recovery as well as her parents who were relieved to see her conscious and safe.

Alone now, Sakura stared out at the night sky. The moon shone brightly thorugh the window as the drapes had been left open filling the room with its radiance. She rolled over to look at the flowers once again. The roses had become colorless again as their water had cooled. They looked empty now to her, devoid of feeling. Her gaze wandered back to the daffofils in the spaghetti jar. She wondered if Naruto was ever going to visit or if he as too busy with mission. "I would have thought he have thrown them in cup ramen instead of a spaghetti jar," she mused, "spaghetti is more like..."

"No," Sakura said aloud as she sat up at the revelation. She had guessed wrong.

A tiny knock sounded on her door almost causing her to fall out of her bed and she turned to see Sasuke slip silently into the dark room.

"What are you doing here?!" she scolded him in a half-whisper, half-yell. "If you get caught you'll be in big trouble!"

She could here his dry laugh as he stepped closer to sit down next to the bed before speaking. Sasuke was unconcerned. "I may be somewhat limited right now without chakra, but I can still avoid a couple of nurses."

Sakura clenched her sheets in annoyance. "I'm talking about the Anbu, baka!"

"Daijoubu, daijoubu" he replied, "They're fine with me being here."

Sakura became quiet, but her face was still a portrait of disbelief. "You've gone insane," she replied as that could be the only logical conclusion.

"Yes I'm insane, Sakura." said Sasuke dryly, but there was no hint of sarcasm in his next question. "How are you feeling?"

Sakura turned to take a measure of him before replying. "He really seems quite normal...for him," she thought, "maybe the Anbu are ok with him being here." The kunoichi decided there was nothing she could do about it either way.

"I'm feeling better," she told him, "I'm just a little stiff." She smiled brightly at him. "I can't believe I recovered so quickly. I must not have been as badly injured as I thought."

Sasuke's face dropped and his hair shadowed his face as he spoke next.

"You looked so bad when they brought you in," he told her softly. "I was here... I do work in the children's ward sometimes, all Ino's idea... I saw... I saw..." he repeated his voice gaining strength, "you on a stretcher being brought in, and it was funny, the first thing I noticed was your clothes... I thought, 'Sakura never wears black'... as I got closer I could see that you were wearing your same ninja gear as always... except that blood had soaked through most of it... that's what made it look so dark.... You had blood everywhere... on your face, on your hands, in your hair.... It was all yours."

A choking sigh escaped from Sasuke as his shoulders bunched like knotted cords before shrugging loose again. "Tsunade appeared out of nowhere and took over from the medics working on you, then I was force to leave by one of the Jounin who came in with her... First time in two years I had to be restrained"

Sakura felt a little weird as she sat in the dark listening calmly to an account of her own near death. She had scrapes with death before, but was still surprised no one else had thought to mention it to her until now.

"Sasuke, I..." Sakura paused. She looked down at his folded hands as he leaned over hunched on his knees. She couldn't see their color in the dimness, but she could sense the trembling of them as he grasped tightly. She reached forward to place her hand on his to ease them. "I'm alive and well," she said reassuringly.

She didn't know what to think of his reaction. He knew she was a chuunin now and had seen her in close calls as a genin. "Maybe it's because he hasn't seem battle for a while." Sakura thought, analyzing the situation with a sterile logic. Logic she needed when thinking about him.

Her reasoning could not prepare her for his face when he surfaced again. It tickled at her memories of him from what seemed so long ago.

Sasuke appeared afraid and also furious at that same fear. His mouth was the thinnest of lines and his eyes were a watery desert, like a man who was had just been reminded why people cry.

He took her hand in his and placed it back on her lap. He clutched it with a desperate pain and said, "I don't want you to die."

Sakura shook her head as she refused to see the meaning of his words. "I told you, I fine. It was closer than I..."

"No!" he yelled cutting her off locking her in his stare. "I... don't... want... you... to die." The tide of silence returned to the room before he whispered, "...I couldn't bear it."

Sasuke stood up quickly keeping hold on to her. Sakura could only observe from her frozen and lucid state what he would do next. He bent down with syrupy slowness, his face moving with in course towards her, his warm lips brushing hers then pressing hers.

The spell was broken.

Sasuke pulled away and turned quickly to leave, but was arrested as something clamped down hard on his sleeve.

He turned back to see Sakura staring at him looking distraught. He stared back confused.

"Kiss me again," she said with a need for confirmation.

Sasuke was hesitant as moved back to her bedside and went to kiss her again. This time Sakura's mouth was unstuck and met his, gently kissing him back. The dark-eyed nin felt a wetness on his face and leaned away.

He looked at her face and wondered if he was doing something wrong. "Sakura you're crying," he said.

A sob became a giggle. With a sniffle she blinking away the forming tears.

"Kiss me again."

Sasuke did as he was asked and Sakura allowed the hope of love back into her heart. This fallen heir to a lost clan had always beautiful to her and always heartless...until now.

To Be Continued

A/N: Yup, Sakura is going to need grande therapy after this. :)