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Pressure Points
Chapter 3 – questions

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto.

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Sasuke gently placed the sleeping girl on her dorm bed, gently tucking his best friend under the covers. He quickly scanned the room, noticing its bland sophistication and messy notebooks and papers scattered across the wooden desk. Taking a seat at Sakura's desk, he quietly placed Sakura's belongings on the desk, analyzing the correct places to place the items.

"Sasuke-kun," Sakura quietly whispered, "I'm sorry."

The Uchiha turned in the chair and was met with Sakura's puffy eyes, a sheepish smile present on her lips.

"It's fine, Sakura."

The girl blinked for a moment before pulling her blankets closer to her, silence encompassing the couple once more.

"I – Can you – stay with me?"

A light blush spread on her cheeks, once more pulling her blankets close in attempt to hide her embarrassment. She was surprised when her best friend lightly chuckled and got up from his place, sitting on the foot of her bed, gently gazing into her embarrassed eyes.

"I already said –"

"You didn't say anything, silly," Sakura playfully chimed.

"Well,impliedthat I would stay with you."

Sakura giggled and closed her eyes, letting herself drift off into the worriless world of slumber.

"Th – thank you, Sasuke-kun..." She quietly whispered before completely succumbing to sleep.

Sasuke let a tiny smile play on his lips before slowly getting off her bed and taking a seat at her desk once more, the memory of their childhood playing behind his eyes. He remembered the cute innocence of both of them in their younger years, almost like such trauma would not bring their bubbly nature down. And then, his mind wandered to the days of the present, of a few months ago, and of today, where Sakura locked herself beneath of barrier and expectations, the innocence of her younger years gone.

He quietly watched as her lips smiled then quivered, tears beginning to stream from her eyes the longer time passed. The Uchiha concluded that she was dreaming of her father, and got up and stood beside her once more. He leaned down and gently wiped the oncoming stream of tears with his thumb, smirking satisfactorily when Sakura's lips slowly formed a tiny smile.

"Sakura," the Uchiha muttered as he took a seat on the floor and leaned against the side of her bed, "I don't see why you're hiding at all."

Moments later, he was lulled to sleep by Sakura's quiet, relaxed breaths.

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"Is Sakura going to be okay?"

Tsunade smiled at the tiny girl in the clinic bed, gently recording her vital signs and heart reports on her clipboard. Tsunade found herself swept off her feet at Yuri's innocence, and took a seat by her bedside when all her tests and reports were finished.

"I think," Tsunade said, looking the girl in the eyes, "That Sakura will be just fine."

"She hasn't come to talk to me yet. It makes me feel lonely," Yuri said, turning her back on Tsunade to look out the clinic window, "She's like my sister."

The headmistress kicked back in the chair and smiled, basking in the serenity of the clinic. She found a liking in Yuri, in which she could easily see, because Yuri saw right through Sakura's fake façade and still loved her anyway. Tsunade knew, almost too well, that most students in her school only saw Sakura as the freakishly good surgeon, too jealous or too full of themselves to see through her medical coat and see the fragility within her.

"Are you sure she's going to be okay?" Yuri whispered.

"Yes, Yuri, I'm quite sure. Sakura is a strong girl. Like you."

"Does seeing your mommy die make you strong? Or have your daddy die? Because then I understand."

There was silence in the room for a few moments, before Tsunade's naturally thundering voice cracked the silence.

"I suppose so, Yuri," She slowly said, "But it can also break you until you need someone to help you up."

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Sakura slowly awoke as the sun's warmth continued penetrating her walls and windows, giving her strength and warmth to face the truth and continue with the next day. She blinked a few times when she was met with a mess of onyx hair, but smiled when she had noticed that it was only Sasuke, still asleep. Her eyes looked at the clock on her desk, which read 8:00 AM.

"Sasuke-kun? Wake up, it's eight."

She lightly giggled when her friend woke with a groan, instantly beginning to massage a sore neck. Sakura remained positioned in her bed, the covers tightly around her once more, as she quietly watched her friend wake from his sore slumber.

"Thank you, Sasuke-kun," Sakura quietly whispered, "I don't know what I would have done."

Sasuke turned to face her and offered her a tiny smile, slowly getting up and stretching his sore muscles. Sakura returned the smile, still remaining in bed, almost skeptical about going outside into the hallways, almost too certain that the media would come rushing in and bombarding her with questions she wasn't readyto answer.

Silence encompassed the couple once more, both unsure of what to say, or if anything between them was needed at all. Finally, Sakura quietly looked up at her best friend once more, with her skeptical eyes and embarrassed smile.

"Sasuke, how great of a doctor are you?"

She was suddenly faced with a twinge of guilt when she noticed his eyes darken, his mood nearly dropping.

"I – I'm sorry –"

"No, it's fine," Sasuke coarsely said, "But I guess you can say I'm exactly like you."

Her eyes widened.

"Then why didn't you come here from the start? You didtransfer at an odd time."

"Like I said before, Sakura, I have my reasons like everyone else here does."

"Is it because of your father?"

The Uchiha exasperatedly took a seat at the foot of her bed, watching her intently as he struggled to calm his temper and remain calm. He supposed that she remembered every single aspect of their childhood, from the days of his parental struggles and the days when he was forced to move. She watched him patiently, knowing that in time, he would answer if there were such an answer to be said: they were best friends, after all.

"You could say so."

She smiled and dove deeper into her comfortable pillow, the warmth of her blankets, the mattress, and the boy next to her encompassing her with serenity.

"Yeah," Sakura quietly whispered, "Me too."

Sasuke smirked and got up from her bed, walking to where she lay. She watched him curiously, her eyes widening when she felt the warmth of his hand meet her cheek and remain there.

"I'm going to talk to Tsunade. Stay here."

She smiled, the brightness almost wavering when his warmth left her.

"Okay."

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The Uchiha found himself extremely annoyed when he was forced to walk all the way from the Headmistress's office all the way to the clinic, which, in truth, was on the very opposite sides of the university. He was somewhat peeved when Shizune had explained that she was in Yuri's room, watching over the girl since Sakura was unfit to watch over her from the day. However, he couldn't feel anymore thankful, knowing that Sakura was given a day off her detached, professional mood, and given a break where she was able to be the old Sakura that he had known from their younger days.

"Is Sakura coming today at all, Tsunade?"

Sasuke's eyebrow rose when he heard voices coming from Yuri's room.

"I'm afraid not, Yuri. But I'll stay with you all day, how's that?"

"Th – thank you."

The Uchiha opened the door and found Tsunade sitting next to the girl, reading he newspaper and keeping the seven-year-old company.

"I can bring her to Sakura, Tsunade."

Two pairs of eyes turned to face him, one pair lightening up, and the other looking skeptically.

"Brother!"

Tsunade looked at the girl surprised, and turned to face the Uchiha, an angry expression on her face.

"You'rerelated?!Why didn't you tell me? This is crucial!" Tsunade yelled.

Sasuke winced and walked over to Yuri's bedside, offering her a tiny smile, which she returned wholeheartedly.

"We're not actually related," The Uchiha quietly said, "I met her in the orphanage."

"Pray tell, what the heck were you doing at an orphanage?"

Yuri looked to her elder brother and received a nod, and lifted her arms, begging him to carry her. With an exasperated sigh, he picked her up and held her, his lips tugged into a smirk when Yuri laughed.

"...I was abandoned."

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A/N:The somewhat past of Sasuke and Yuri are somewhat revealed! XD
Anyway, I feel that this chapter was somewhat rushed, but whatever.
On another note, Sakura's back to her giddy old self – for the time being.
I've already got plans for drastic changes –snickersnicker-
Also, I guess I'm making Sasuke OOC, but, hey, he can be caring, can't he? 8D;;;

SO NEXT TIME : The full-on past of Sasuke and Yuri are revealed! What is the full truth of Sasuke's transfer? Sakura gets a special visit, but will Sakura face the media on her father's death, or choose to remain in her room forever?

Find out soon!
Thanks so much for your reviews (:
(And to book-fanatic: I'll think about that one. Thanks for asking. (: )