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Bring Me To Life

Summary: After Sasuke left, Sakura didn't know what her purpose in life was anymore. Her presence has becoming nothing. When three years pass, Sasuke comes back to Konoha. At his return, Sakura is at a mix of emotions. "Save Me From The Nothing I've Become."

Chapter 13 – Hope

"S… Sasuke-kun?"

Emerald eyes were as wide as saucers, complete and utter disbelief held within them. Her mouth had fallen, her jaw hanging as she openly gawked at the pale raven-haired male.

Maybe, this is just a dream… she told herself furiously. Just a silly, painful dream… I'll wake up, sometime… She shut her eyes for a brief moment, squeezing them tight, as if to rid the image of the live boy before her.

"Sakura… you're heavy…"

At the sound of his hoarse, straining voice, Sakura heard herself gasp. Without a second thought, she lifted her weight off rapidly off his chest, large sea green eyes blinking furiously to make sure she wasn't dreaming, she wasn't hallucinating, that what was going on before her was actually real.

Shadowy onyx eyes blinked, looking somewhat glazed over. "…What's going on?"

Gradually, his face began to resume its healthy pale tone, his body slowly warming with the feel of life. Seeing, and feeling, this, Sakura wiped her jade pupils with the back of her hands vigorously, rubbing the eyes. She was still unconvinced, too afraid to want to as to possibility bear the thought of a miracle with the fear of deceit lingering in her mind to believe what was happening before her very eyes.

"You're…" she whispered almost indistinctly.

But… he was as good as dead…! the pink-haired kunoichi thought, noticing her hand had risen and had been absentmindedly stroking the side of his face tenderly with the back of her hand. She saw Sasuke blink at the action, but make no move to stop her, or lean away from her touch.

"I… don't believe this…" the kunoichi murmured almost inaudibly.

What's not to believe? pondered the Uchiha idly, gradually blinking piercing onyx eyes. Kabuto only poisoned me…

Sasuke strived to remember what had occurred after his brief poisoning, only to find that everything afterwards seemed to be a blur, falling into a cold, empty darkness before being awakened by the consistent sound of sobbing from his emotional teammate.

"Sakura…" the raven-haired male started, his voice vaguely pained and exhausted.

The blossom-haired girl could feel her emerald eyes moisten with unshed tears at the sound of his voice. That, the realism of it, was something a dream or hallucination couldn't do. Thinking of this in mind, losing control of her body as she acted purely on instinct, she leaned down, pressing her lips against his, the hand caressing the side of his face now holding it against her.

Dark onyx orbs flashed for an instant. What… the hell…?

His eyes roved over the tear streaks marring her porcelain face, and observing this caused his eyes to narrow before he allowed them to droop close, feeling her press against him harder before pulling back.

As she stood upright, she firmly avoided Sasuke's penetrating onyx stare.

"…Sorry…" Sakura mumbled, tugging on a lone strand of pink hair with her hand out of nervous habit, softly laughing uneasily.

At her comment, Sasuke's face remained stoic, onyx eyes darting to the corner of the room as his gaze lingered there.

"Sakura…"

Large sea green eyes blinked a few times at the sound of her name being called, shyly glancing at the Uchiha.

"Why were you… crying?"

At the question, an instant blush dusted the girl's cheeks, her head tilting downwards as a feeling of self-conscious washed over her, overwhelming her.

"Because…" she began softly, then heaved out a quiet sigh. "Because, I thought I was going to lose you… Sasuke-kun…"

Said person remained silent, finding her words repeating over and over in his head, echoing in his mind. His eyelids hooded over shadowy ebony orbs, his body remaining lying against the bed with his back against the sheets of the hospital mattress.

"Why… Why do you care so much?" he asked blankly. "There's no point…"

Sakura shook her head, a sad smile adorning her pretty face. "Sasuke-kun, don't say that. There's always a reason someone should be cared for."

Sasuke persistently averted her gaze. "Then, what's the reason?"

At the question, distinct jade eyes blinked a few times, remaining silent for a moment as she pondered over his question. She spoke aloud when her mind had concluded to a sole answer.

"Caring for someone… helps you strive for power, so you can protect those you care about." Her tone almost sounded wistful.

A calm silence took place following. Recollections flashed across the Uchiha's mind as he remembered how Naruto had increased greatly in power when it came to protecting those close to the blonde, hardheaded shinobi – in contrast to when Sasuke would gain his power through anger and hatred, not to mention raw talent.

At this conclusion, the Uchiha forced his body to sit upright, his mouth forming a thin line with onyx orbs squinting at the strain against his body to get in the vertical sitting position.

Sakura got up from where she was sitting and placed her hands gently on his shoulders. "You shouldn't move so soon, Sasuke-kun," she informed him quietly.

His onyx gaze rose from the floor to her face, raven strands hanging in front of his onyx orbs. He pushed his body up a little higher, up to the point where his lips met with hers.

Sakura felt her body stun from the spontaneous action, not moving a muscle. He pulled away as quickly as he leaned in.

Emerald eyes blinked furiously a couple times. "Sa… Sasuke-kun? Why – Are you—?"

He briefly cut her off.

"Thank you."

The girl cocked her head to the side in confusion, "Wha – What?

"Thank you," Sasuke repeated, adding slowly, quietly, "…for always caring for me."

It's not everyday the Uchiha Sasuke goes around thanking someone, her inner self mused. Sasuke's arms slid around her waist, pulling Sakura down so that she was placed against him, settled against his bent knees.

"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked, confusion clearly heard through her tone. Large sea green eyes blinked, baffled.

"You… the dobe… Kakashi…" Sasuke began, quietly, strong arms still encircled around the kunouchi's tiny waist. "You all make me weak…" Sakura opened her mouth to retort, soon realizing she had not anything to say when nothing came out. Regardless, the Uchiha continued. "Because of all of you… I get distracted…"

Sakura tilted her head to the side, resting it on the crook of Sasuke's neck. She knew in his own way, he was telling her that he cared for her. A small smile spread on her face at the thought. He had such a way with words.

"Sakura…" he continued, bringing her out of her thoughts. "…Why do you still care for me? You know I can never give you what you want."

Sakura heaved out a soft sigh, feeling Sasuke's arms tighten around her waist slightly.

"I don't care," she replied briefly. "I don't care if you never feel the same way. I'm not going to lose you again. Never again. I'm not going through that hell twice."

The raven-haired male stayed silent for a while. Then:

"Prove it."

At the two simple words, Sakura leaned her head back, emerald eyes falling upon his pale face, trying to decipher if he was being serious or not.

"Really?" she asked him.

Sasuke nodded, his grip loosening on her waist. "Right now."

Sakura shook her head, "Sasuke-kun, you just woke up from a near-death experience, I don't think—"

Sasuke mockingly shook his head, "Are you afraid I'm going to defeat you, Sakura?" Her name rolled off his tongue like liquid velvet, beautiful yet taunting. " My current state is an advantage to you. Besides, I'm not that injured…"

He slid off the hospital bed, opening a shut window and looking at her with a challenging smirk twisting on his face.

"Team Kakashi, training grounds," he told her, simple and concise.

Emerald irises watched him vanish out of the window, taking a deep sigh as she slowly reached in a hip pouch at her side. She opened the small flap, reaching inside as she pulled out her handy black gloves. She slowly pulled them on her awaiting hands, clenching her fingers in anticipation.

Sasuke-kun… fighting's in your blood, huh? She laughed softly. You can never keep yourself from the battlefield…

Quickly glancing around, a habit Sakura supposed, she then walked towards the window, stealthily following suit of Sasuke's leave as she slipped out as well.

She met him at Team Kakashi's training grounds, a small smile spreading on her face as she saw his presence, him acknowledging her attending with a succinct nod.

No going easy on him this time? Inner Sakura interrogated with a haughty tone.

Well… maybe just a little, because he's wounded—

No! You're going full on! Wipe that smirk right off his handsome face!

"I'm not going to go easy on you, Sasuke-kun," Sakura stated, tightening the black gloves casing both of her hands.

"I don't expect you to," he countered smoothly.

Sakura nodded, and their battle began.

Using the speed she had attained over the years, courtesy of Tsunade's training, she charged at him, her fist arose.

The Uchiha merely arched an eyebrow, catching her fist and jumping in the air as she had swung her leg to get him off balance. Sakura smiled, aiming her free chakra-filled fist and hitting him in the stomach. She sent him backwards, making his back hit hard against the bark of a tree. Blood trickled down from Sasuke's mouth, and he stood up almost instantly, using the back of his hand to wipe the blood oozing down his face.

His dark crimson Sharingan eyes flashed dangerously, and Sakura gave a pleased smile.

Sees me as a threat, so he uses his Sharingan… she thought delightfully.

Sasuke began sprinting with his incredible speed, becoming a blur to Sakura's apple green gaze.

Shannaro! I can't keep up… so there's only one thing to do.

Thinking quick on her feet, she aimed a heavy fist on the ground, sending a fissure throughout all of her directions.

Damn… Sasuke thought, looking at the sharp cracks through the ground as he camouflaged himself in a tree, So, she has improved…

He quickly took out a few shuriken from his hip pouch, slightly surprised they hadn't removed it from him while he was at the hospital.

Carefully aiming, he threw them so one shadowed the other. Sakura, noticing the flying blades, took out a kunai and deflected them, not noticing the shadowed shuriken as it grazed by her cheek and shoulder. Sasuke used his speed again, coming out from the shadows and stealthily followed his shuriken, appearing in front of her.

He aimed a punch at her face, and she caught it just in time before it landed a blow.

"You've improved…" Sasuke muttered.

Sakura smiled at the flattering remark. "What'd you think I was doing while you were at the Sound?" she countered back.

"Don't get so cocky," Sasuke warned as he made a few hand signs.

Katon: Gokakyuu no Jutsu! Sasuke called mentally, a huge fireball erupting from his mouth. Sakura jumped back, dodging the fireball. Sakura leapt back into the shadow of a tree branch, her emerald eyes scanning the area for any sign of the Uchiha prodigy.

Then, she felt the cold metal of a kunai against her neck.

"I win," he mumbled hotly against the shell of her ear.

Then Sakura smiled broadly, followed by a poof! as where she formerly stood now evaporated in a cloud of smoke.

Kage Bunshin? Why didn't my Sharingan catch that? Hn, maybe I am not fully healed yet…

Just as Sasuke was about to move to make a counter attack, he felt the unfamiliar feeling of metal pressed against the pulse of his neck.

"No, Sasuke-kun. I win," she whispered to him, beaming proudly.

Ignoring the words, as it would affect his pride, the Uchiha merely closed his dark onyx eyes briefly. "Aa."

They both leapt on the ground, landing easily on their feet. "You see, Sasuke-kun, not only was that not my full power, but that's an example of what'll happen if you leave again."

He could just hear the smile in her voice, and saw her grinning childishly at him when he gradually opened his eyes. He simply shook his head at her childish antics.

Then she began stepping towards him, her arm extending out as her hand reached out, grabbing his own in a firm grasp. He merely arched an eyebrow, onyx eyes darting back and forth from her face to their linked hands, his expression clearly asking for an explanation to the sudden action.

Sakura merely continued smiling back at him, beginning to pull him along towards the direction of the hospital.

"We should go tell Naruto, Kakashi-sensei, Sai, and Tsunade-shishou that you're alright, right?"

Sasuke's expression turned stoic, and he gave a hint of a nod in reply. "Hn," he grunted in return.

…You really have changed, Sakura.