Chapter 2- Love?
Authors not: This part of the story takes place after the time skip.
Sakura awoke in her dark room as she opened her eyes she began to adjust to the darkness, now able to see her room and the contents in it. On one side of the room stood her dresser and other wall was her desk which was covered in books and scrolls as well as writing tolls and an unlit candle.
She sat up on her bed and swung her legs over the side, as they touched the cold hard ground, a shiver went through her. She pushed the covers off of her and stood up, stretching her limbs. She opened the door, as she walked into a hallway lit by candles, along on the wall.
She walked until she came to a door and opened it, walking in there was a hot spring and small dressing rooms in the back of the room. There were plants along some of the walls and a pile of towels in one of the corners. Sakura went to the pile of towels and took one, she went into the first changing stall and undressed, and covering herself in the towel she went out and stuck her toes in the water.
It was warm and refreshing. She discarded the towel and went into the water, leaning against the wall of the large tub like spring. She closed her eyes and relaxed, like she so seldom did. Sakura began to think, she didn't even notice the new presence in the room.
The boy came in until he was standing next to Sakura, looking down at her, "Enjoying yourself?" he asked. Her eyes shot open as she stared up at oxyn eyes and jet black hair. A flush immediately coming into her pale cheeks as she realized who is was.
"Sasuke!" immediately her arms shot up, covering her chest, although it was under the water, so her breast weren't visible due to the greenish color to the water from minerals and herbs that were mixed in it.
Sasuke smirked, amused at how embarrassed she was, did she really expect no one to walk in here, it was a placed they all shared. Sasuke turned around, taking a towel like Sakura did and entered a changing room.
While Sasuke was out of site, Sakura took a small towel and put it around her, still in the water. Sasuke came out of the stall and went to the opposite side of the water, Sakura looked away giving him his privacy as he removed his towel and got in. "I'm in." he said noticing she was looking away for him.
She nodded, turning her head back, but still not looking at him. Sasuke figured it was her respect that kept her from doing so. "Sasuke-sama?..." Sakura said, her eyes looking at the water. "Hn?" Sasuke said turning his attention back to her.
"Your time is almost up, soon Orochimaru will take over your body." Sakura said in a mellow tone. She twirled her finger around in the water, watching as it made a small whirlpool, anything to keep from looking up at him.
"Hn. But I…. we… still have 6 months. There is no need to worry yet." He said as he leaned back against the side of the spring.
Sakura nodded in understandment, "I know." She finally looked up at him, she thought as she began to regret it. It wasn't that she knew he didn't mind her looking at him, but it was that she knew that over the couple years she spent with him at Orochimaru's layer she and him became closer. Not only mentally but physically.
At one point over the years, Sasuke had become wore down from training with Orochimaru. Since Orochimaru was leaving to taker care of business he had to attend to, yet again, he thought it be in Sasuke best interest they train twice as hard.
When it was over Sasuke had wandered back to his room, or so he thought it was his room….
Sasuke entered Sakura's room, looking more tired then she had ever seen him. "What are you doing in my room Sakura?" he had asked her, groggily, as he stood in front of her as she sat on the bed.
"But Sasuke, this is my room." Sakura said. Sasuke looked around the room and noticed she was right, he had accidentally stumbled into her room. He nodded, in understanding. When he was turning he tripped and fell, landing on Sakura. Causing a squeal to admit from her.
"S-Sasuke-sama, are you alright?" she asked the boy who was now on top of her. He nodded. Their position was queer, Sasukes head was on her chest and he was lying on top of her, and her under him. They were on her bed as well, if some one were to walk in on them, they would have thought the worst.
"Sasuke-sama?" Sakura looked down at him, wondering why he hadn't gotten up. "A-are you alright?" No answer. "Sasuke-sama?"
"Sakura…" his eyes were closed, "Allow me to stay here." It wasn't a question it was more of a demand. He expression softened and she moved her arms around him, one around his lower back and the other placed on his head, her hand running through his soft hair.
"Hai, if it is Sasuke-sama's wish." She said, closing her eyes as well. Sasuke smirked lightly, not only was he unable to get up from exhaustion, but he wanted to stay in her warmth, he didn't know why, but it was like a drug, he couldn't come to break away.
Sakura began to feel his breaths come deeper and more in rhythm. She smiled when she realized he wasn't going to move. She moved up more onto the bed to where now her head rested on her pillow and they were all the way on. She continued to stroke his hair.
A pleasant sigh emitted from Sasuke's lips as Sakura released her chakra into his body, allowing his muscles to loosen. "Domo, Sakura..." he muttered against her. His eyes closed and slowly letting the unconciousness come to him.
"No need to thank me, Sasuke-sama. It's my duty, unto you." He could hear a smile in her words. He opened his eyes and looked up at her. Sure enough she had a warm smile on her lips. Sasuke slowly moved up more to where he was level with her, his head resting between the nape of her neck.
Sakura tried to remember to keep breathing. Having him so close, to have his lips touching her neck was absolutely irresistible! Sasuke slowly raised his head, their lips inches apart. Slowly, yet hesitantly he leaned in, their lips meeting. Sakuras eyes wide and Sasukes closed.
After that he had finally fallen asleep. When he awoke he had told Sakura he was delirious when he had kissed her when she brought it up….
"Sakura?" Sasukes voice snapped her out of her trail of thought. She looked up at him. "What is it you're thinking about? You seem annoyed." It seemed more like he was talking to himself.
"Just the past." She said with a reassuring smile. He nodded. Sakura stood up, the towel cover he front half of her body as she grabbed her towel which lay on the floor beside her, she got out and wrapped the dry towel around her, taking off the wet one.
Sakura went to her changing room and put on new clothing. She stepped out wearing a margarita type of dress with a red sash around her waist and fish next under shirt with the right side long sleeved and the left short. The Dress was a halter, so it tied around her neck. She wore a kunai pack on her right leg, and she wore shin high boots. Her hair hung loosely at her shoulders and her nails were painted black.
"I'll be going to work with Kabuto-sama." She said as she left the room. Leaving Sasuke to himself.
Sakura came to a room at the end of one of the hallways and opened it, the room was filled with all sorts of medical equipment and tools. There were herbs and antidotes, books, scalpels and other medical tools, along with some computer monitors. "Kabuto-sama?" Sakura said, stepping into the room, closing the door behind her.
"I'm in the back, Sakura-chan." Kabuto's voice said from the other side of the room. Sakura made her way to the back, and found him studying a book. "Kabuto-sama, is there any work today?" Sakura said causing Kabuto to look up from his book.
"No. But would you like to spend time with me? Lately we have just been seeing each other for training and work, unlike how it uste to be." Kabuto said closing the book and standing up. He placed the book on the desk. Sakura smiled. It was true, over the time she was there, her and Kabuto had formed a friendship. She told him everything and he helped her. He was her best friend.
"Ya that sounds nice." Sakura said as she followed Kabuto to the front.
Kabuto nodded, "Well I have to leave with Orochimaru later today. But I have till noon."
They walked into the hall and chat while they were walking. They came to a door, a little larger then all the others in the hide out.
Kabuto open it and they stepped out into a forest. Sakura smiled, "A walk?" she said as they stepped out into the sunlight she so rarely got to see. Kabuto nodded as he walked along side her after closing the door behind him. They walked and talked about simple things, normal people talked about. They talked of the weather, plants, some herbs, training sessions soon to come, and finally, Sasuke.
"I'm worried, Kabuto-sama." Sakura admitted as she sat watching Kabuto pick some herbs. "He has been very…."
"Solitary?" Kabuto said as he shot a glance for to Sakura as she fiddled with a small bouquet of cherry blossoms she had picked.
She nodded solemnly, "Yes. But I mean it's not like he hasn't been like this before, it's just a little different then usual, he only lets me bring him his meals and he barely talks to anyone beside me and Orochimaru-sama… He just seems so disconnected from everyone else, know what I mean?" she asked as she finally looked up.
Kabuto now sat next to her, "Yes, my guess is he is going through a rebellious adolescence stage."
Sakura nodded more in a daze then listening closely to him as she usually did. Kabuto noticed but when he was about to ask what was wrong Sakura stood up, "It's going to be noon soon, we better get going." She said as she started walking.
Kabuto followed her as they silently walked back to the hideout. When they came in Orochimaru and Sasuke were waiting impatiently at the front door. Orochimaru pacing and Sasuke leaning against the wall eyes closed, a look of discomfort on his handsome features.
Orochimaru glared at them, mostly Sakura. "Where have you been?" He sneered through clenched teeth. Sasuke opened his eyes watching them.
Before Kabuto could say anything Sakura spoke up, "Gomen, Orochimaru-sama," Sakura said taking a respectful bow, "It was my fault not Kabuto-sama's." She said as she stood up straight again.
Orochimaru glared at her then raised his hand and struck her across the face, hard enough to send her back into the wall. Sakura slumped down onto the floor, her hair shrouding her face. The blood visible as it streaked down her neck and dripped onto the floor.
"Thanks to you, I'm late." He hissed at her at the floor. Sasuke had his lips pressed into a tight line, his blood red sharigan eyes watching both Sakura and Orochimaru. Kabuto's face was agonized as he stared at Sakura. Orochimaru motioned for Kabuto to follow him as he turned and began to walk down the hall. "We're leaving now." Kabuto took one last look at Sakura's motionless form on the floor as her body leaned against the wall her head down, then followed after Orochimaru.
Orochimaru and Kabuto disappeared to god knows where using a justu. Sasuke finally pushed up off the wall and went over to Sakura, kneeling down in front of her and putting a hand on her shoulder. He examined her with his sharigan then turned it off as his eyes faded back to oxyn. "Sakura?"
Sakura didn't look up, she slowly wrapped her hand around his wrist and removed it from her shoulder. She stood up without a word, with an effort to keep steady and walked down the hall. Sasuke stared after her then followed her as she made her way to her room into her small half bathroom.
She entered her bathroom which only had a toilet and sink with a mirror and a small vanity, and cabinets with medical supplies and her personal products. Sasuke leaned against the door frame watching her warily.
She lifted her head once at the sink and look into the mirror revealing a deep gushing cut from her hair line down to her jaw which was beginning to turn a purple color. Sasuke remain silent as she cleaned the gash, wincing often and then began healing it herself. She did the best she could before she finish healing, now all that was left was a faded mark that would soon go away with time. She stared at her reflection then her gazed flicked to the reflection of Sasuke in the mirror behind her.
She turned around and looked at him. "Gomen." She said in a hoarse voice she could barely hear herself, though she knew he heard. Traitor tears began to rush into her eyes. She wiped fiercely at them with her palms. Soon she felt to warm arms around her holding her to his chest.
"Do you realize how absolutely furious I was that he did that to you? It took everything in my power to restrain myself and keep my emotions controlled." He said in a fierce tone. Sakura muffled her quiet sobs against his chest. He stroked her hair, not knowing what else to do. She usually was the one to help him not the other was around.
He swiftly picked her up, cradling her against his chest and carried her into her room, gently laying down with her on the bed, letting her curl up into a ball in his arms as he continued to stroke her hair. "Please Sakura… It's going to be alright, I won't let him do that again…." He spoke as he pressed his face into her hair, breathing in her scent.
Slowly she stopped sobbing and relaxed against him. He stopped stroking her and looked down at her, "Sakura?" he said as he gently used a finger to pull her chin up to see her face. She looked up at him, he eyes red from crying.
He slowly kissed her forehead, "Your safe." He sat up, setting her down on the bed beside him. "I'll be back soon, please, stay put." He said standing up as he left Sakura stared after him, he heart racing and her cheek bones flushed, she obeyed.