Normal POV:

Sasuke reached Konoha in ten minutes tops. He had been running at his fastest rate, he had consumed all his chakra but he knew it had nothing to with this.

He would never forgive himself if he would let her die.

He raced towards Tsunade's office; he was clinging onto Sakura's cloth fabric trying to stop his trembling.

"What's going on?" the Hokage questioned stunned as she got up from her chair as Sasuke almost knocked down the door with his foot.

"She needs your help." He panted. "We have been attacked. It's poison."

Tsunade immediately ordered Sasuke to trail her outside. He protested because time was short, but he followed Tsunade towards the nearest room, right across her office. He laid Sakura down on a bed with white sheets and he realized terrified that white was turning into red.

"If you don't hurry…" he tried to threaten but he was too scared to make it sound that way.

"Step behind, kid. I know what I'm doing." The blonde ordered.

Sasuke watched nervously as Tsunade started to pull the strange sword out from the girl's bloody abdomen. He almost shrieked when he saw her arch her back in pain and let out a scream when the weapon was finally away from her and tossed on the floor. He saw that she was breathing hardly, and even if her eyes were closed, she still could not stop the tears that were running down her cheeks.

Tsunade immediately started checking for the poison throughout her body, releasing chakra from her palms as she pulled it slowly out using strange blue chakra strings.

"If you don't mind, Sasuke, you should leave now." She said throughout her teeth concentrating even more energy towards her hands.
Sasuke could see that this was hard, but he didn't want to leave her side; not after what Sakura had always done to him.

"Say what? Why should I leave?" he asked puzzled, maintaining his calm weakly.

"Because," Tsunade almost smiled "I gotta take her clothes off and I'm sure she wouldn't be very pleased when she wakes up to know that you've assisted to the whole thing."

'What? So this is the reason?' he questioned himself amazed.
'Well dude, you gotta admit, it would be kinda hard to try to help her when she is half naked, so admit it, the old lady's right.' His Inner teased.
He hated to admit it, but his Inners-self had a point.

"Yeah sure." He grunted as he exited the room. He watched her again before closing the door behind him; damn he felt so wrong.

-Later that night-

Naruto and Shikamaru arrived just an hour after the whole mess. They wanted to check on Sakura, but Sasuke assured them that she wasn't aloud to have any visitors. The operation had went well, what would you expect if the doctor would have been one of the Legendary Sannin?

The word hadn't gone on, nobody expect the jounin and the ANBU knew about the situation.

Even if they were tired, the guys continued to wait outside her door, sometimes begging Tsunade to at least see her. She would always say no, she wanted all of them to get some rest, but the incident seemed to chase away their sleep. Sakura had been moved to a room in the hospital on the third floor, and thus the nurses were always keeping an eye on her.

Naruto knew that wasn't their only mission; he knew that they were the ones who stopped him, Shikamaru and Sasuke to go and see Sakura. But no matter how much he wanted to tell them off, Shikamaru would pull him back to his chair and order him to calm down.

"Jeez, bro', I'm sure she's fine."

"Yeah I know, but I wanna convince myself that."

An elderly nurse came towards them and told them what was on her mind.

"Now you punks, I don't care who this girl is for you! I just know one thing, if I hear one more noise you're out of here! And that's final!" she shouted desperately.

The instant she turned around, Naruto decided to speak his mind as well, even if both his friends were trying (repeat key-word 'trying') to hold him down.

"Speaking 'bout loud, you fat-ass grandma, you should hear yourself!"

His line was the line that had filled the glass. They had been quickly kicked out by force into the streets and been banned to ever come there again only if it was an emergency.

"Nice work, fishcake!" Shikamaru commented as he went to his home.
Sasuke was just too furious to even criticize his friend. He went back home, without saying a word.

Naruto just walked back to Hinata's place with his hands in his pockets.

Damn, he would make a hell of a dad.

-Next morning-

Sasuke woke up early, actually he didn't sleep at all. He was too nervous, too worried to do anything than think about Sakura.

He wanted to visit her today, Tsunade said that he could visit as often as he wanted starting today, and this was just what he planned on doing.

He didn't care about the nurses if they wanted to stop him. He could just use his Sharingan and badabing-badaboom he would be able to see her.

Walking down the streets towards the hospital, he ran into Sai.

He looked worried as well. His eyes weren't tired, but his lips were trembling, while the bouquet of flowers he had in his hands had a beautiful smell.

"What's with the flowers?" Sasuke asked indifferently. "Karin or Ino?"

"None of them." He avoided the answer flatly.

"Then who?" Sasuke tried again.

"Sakura." He said ashamed.

Sasuke almost froze. He tried to move normally, but he felt like drunk. Drunk on envy and on dishonor.

"I read in a book that when your friends are in the hospital, you should get them flowers or sweets. It helps them, they realize that they can have faith in you. And to be honest, I want both Sakura and Naruto to trust me." Sai spoke easily.

"Hn." Sasuke tried to sound indifferent.

"So where are you going?"

"The flower shop."

"You have past it. Ino's shop is way back."

"I know another one." Sasuke said. He actually did. There was another shop, it's true, a more expensive one, in the west wing of Konoha. He could at least get her some flowers.

He sooo didn't want Sai to take his place.

He bought white daisies. A whole bunch of them. He knew she liked daisies, when he was ill she would always get him this specific kind of flora.

He didn't like flowers at any rate, but if it makes her happy, then he could buy her as many as she wanted.

Reaching the hospital, he ran into Karin and Ino.

He realized they both looked a bit sad, maybe because they weren't so bad friends with Sakura after all. He could tell Ino had been crying, but the instant the two fan-girls had spotted him, they looked envious and they tried to get into a conversation with him. He pushed them aside and stepped trough the hospital room.

He felt lucky that not even a nurse recognized him but he felt once more kind of strange to run into Lee, Kiba, Tenten and Neji on the staircase.

He reached her door, but decided to wait a few more minutes. Who knows who was in there with her?

His waiting paid off, Sai exited the room couple of minutes later. He looked pleased with himself, he smiled one of his strange robotic smiles and he didn't even notice Sasuke standing on the waiting bench, nervously holding a white daisies bouquet.

Sasuke got up as he knew she was finally alone.

He reached the door and opened it cautiously.

Man, he really felt weird.

Sakura was awake; she was looking very tired and exhausted but beautiful nonetheless.

She slowly lifted her view up from her lap (she was in a sitting position) and smiled vaguely as she saw Sasuke enter the room.

Her eyes were light green, welcoming. Her hair was untamed, in a wild position everywhere. Her lips were trembling softly, she was biting them cautiously.

'Her hair looks real hot.' His Inner cheered.
'Yeah, I know.' He admitted as he got lost in her eyes.

"Hello, Sasuke." She tried to say in way that she would sound healthy, but he immediately realized she had difficulty even opening her mouth or turning her head.

He snapped out of it and greeted her as well.

"How are you?"

"I'm doing well." She smiled a fake smile.

"Brought you flowers." He stated flatly as he pushed them down a vase alongside with other colored flowers. He realized that he wasn't the only one to offer her something like this. 'Man, she can open a flower shop.'

She seemed real pleased, he realized.

"Sasuke, thank you very much." She said honestly.

"No problem." He tried not to cough.

'That bastard was right, girls like flowers.'

"So…" she asked quite ashamed "What happened after I had past out?"

"I wanted to talk to you about this." Sasuke started to sound severely, she thought. "What was in your head, Sakura, to try and save me, hn? You think I can't handle myself?"

She was stunned. The way his voice sounded was striking her like lighting.

"I… I was just trying to…" she mumbled letting her head down. She was watching her fingers, so white and so cold.

He regretted that he had asked her this. He was questioning her in such a time. He should at least thank her; she was the one who saved him. Instead he is criticizing her. He is telling her, no he is asking her what the fuck she had been thinking of. And now, she is feeling all wrong again. And that was because of him, again.

"Never mind." He tried his best not to say more than he wanted to. He was being indifferent like always. Why couldn't he just tell her how much he wanted her? Oh, that's right. He's not the type. "You don't understand. I don't know if I'll be able to live on with myself if I lose Naruto or you."

She smiled.

"Next time, I'll be more careful."

"There won't be a next time." he stated flatly.

They were watching each other in silence. He realized how much her lips were trembling, even if she was biting her bottom lip harshly.

He wanted to ask if she was cold, but she was surely going to tell him that it was nothing. And he knew what nothing was, she was just as nervous as he was.

'Sometimes it's real good to be able to hide your feeling. Right now I feel like turning red and getting anxious.'
'You're stiff as a rock.'
'Good thing I don't think like one.' He added.

"Has Naruto been here?" he asked.

"Yes." She smiled. "He and Hinata have arrived the second the visiting hours were open."

"Doesn't surprise me."

"Me neither. Hey, by the way… he said he wanted to discus some things with you."

"They can wait."

She turned red.

"Uhm… Sasuke… I wanted to… thank you…"

"For?"

"For bringing me back here. If it wasn't for you, I don't think I would be here now."

"Don't mention it." He said rotating towards the window and watching down below him.

Once again, he didn't say all that was on his mind.

"But, I have to, I mean you saved me and you…" she was interrupted by his smooth voice that echoed throughout the room.

"You know I don't repeat myself so don't mention it."

"Right, I guess."

"When are they letting you out?" he tried to change the subject.

"At least a week. They said my body is still fighting the poison, that's why I can't move too much. But I feel better already and I'm sure they're gonna let me out faster."

After a moment of silence, she tried to break it: "What did Tsunade say about the mission?"

"Passed." He almost smirked.

"I'm not surprised. Tsunade-Sama always had faith in you."

"Not always."

"How come?"

"Hn, nothing."

"It doesn't seem like nothing."

'I can't tell that Tsunade kicked me out when she started the operation.'
'Yeah, boomer man, she'll think you're like Naruto.' His Inner teased.
'Don't dare compare me with him!' his voice groaned.
'Sorry dude, it isn't my fault you just couldn't wait to see her with no shirt on.'
'I couldn't help it.' He said embarrassed.

"Well believe me it is." He uttered under his breath.

"You still don't want to tell me anything?" she said like damaged.

In less than half of a second he was standing in front of her, bending down a little so that his hot breath would cover her pale skin. His mouth was only inches from her own when he smirked naughtily.

"You're still annoying, Sakura?"

She was amazed of what he had told her, good thing she knew what to answer.

"You're still a jerk, Sasuke?" she grinned as well.

It was his time to be surprised.

'I didn't remember her like this.' His Inner cried.
'I know, it's confusing. One second she's sweet, the next one she bosses me around. She's changed.'
'It looks good on her. That grin.'
'Everything looks good on her.' He admitted.

'Cha! Take that punk! Teaches you to call me annoying!' her Inner cheered.
'He deserves it.'
'Ya right he does! But jeez, look at his lips…'
'Don't make me look there; you know how I suck at not taking my eyes of him. Besides, I know he's hot, this just isn't the right time.'
'It's always the right time.'
'With Sasuke, you can't tell right from wrong.'

His grin turned into a straight line.

"Jerk, hn?" he questioned her, not backing down an inch.

"Annoying, right?" she narrowed an eyebrow.

"Take it back…" he threatened.

"Make me!"

"Maybe I will!"

"Oh!" she laughed "I hope I live to see the day!" her grin was just as wicked as before.

His eyes were stunned. How could she always take out the best of him?

He didn't say a word. He just twisted around and thought about exiting the room. His back was towards her, de didn't want to show her how much he was boiling inside. If she knew, she would definitely take advantage, and this was nothing he had in mind, not until later, maybe.

Turning his head slightly, in a way that made her lose her breath, with a free smirk on his face he said before disappearing:

"I definitely will."

Sakura's POV:

Now that's what I call stubborn!

He firstly tells me that he cares and that he is sorry.

He then saves my life, alright after I save his.

He then gets me my favorite flowers.

He then asks me how I feel

And then, with the striking hit he calls me annoying and then he threatens me that he'll make me regret.

C'mon now, there's nothing that could make me regret what I just said. To be honest, I don't regret anything that just happened.

Sasuke's POV:

Three words.

WHAT.

THE.

FUCK.

Did this shit really happen?

C'mon now.

Did Sakura. Just. Call. Me.

A.

JERK?

What the fuck is going on here? How come she's all changed and stuff?

How come she can defend herself from me?

Gotta admit, it is better sooner then later. She isn't weak anymore. She's just as annoying as ever. But now, she's annoying in a different way. Damn, she just stood up for herself. Like she forgot who I was. Like she forgot that she was speaking to Uchiha Sasuke.

Damn I'm pissed. But who am I kiddin'? She's all changed and she is doing pretty fine in ignoring me. Still, they way she acted makes me wonder if she still has even the tiniest crush on me. Maybe she really has gotten over me. Maybe for her it's just for fun's sake.

Maybe it was just a childhood crush and nothing more.

What the hell am I doing? Thinking about her, again?

But I did tell that I would make her regret.

I'm sure gonna make her wish she never said what she said. I'm just to pissed to realize something.

What am I gonna do?
How can I make her regret?

I know something, but it's definitely something neither of us will regret. Shit, there it goes again, I'm thinking obscene. I have so many things in my mind that I could do to her.

I mean come on, when was the last time I felt something so strong?

The answer: Never.

When I think 'bout her, I think like Naruto.

Pretty much explains it right?

But I know a way I could surely make her freak out.

I could always 'visit' her tonight. Let's see how big of a sacredly-cat she really is.

-Later-Minutes to midnight-

Sasuke had his plan in mind. He would give Sakura a late night visit, strangely enough, he was curious to see how scared she would be when he would pretend to be someone he wasn't.

He had other ideas of course, ideas that could satisfy him in a more pleasant way, but for now, he wanted to teach her something she would regret.

'I wonder how loud she can scream.' He smirked.

'In or out of bed? ' his Inner teased.

'For now, outside will have to do.'

Walking down the streets, he hated to admit it, but he felt something wrong. Besides his 'Halloween'-kind of plan, he felt something that was surely sinister: Something that wasn't taken in joke kind of way, something just as real as you and me.

The hospital was open, the night round was just about to change with the day-staff.

He hardly managed to get to the third floor, nurses almost everywhere.

He looked to his and then to his right before opening the door to her room. He felt the same creepy feeling as he did before, only this time it was stronger. He had doubt in what he was about to find in the room, but the only way knowing was taking a peek. He didn't have his katana with, so his hands would have to do.

He opened the door slowly, with no crack to complete the silence.

The darkness was even more profound than stillness.

Sasuke hardly recognized the person standing over Sakura's bed.

After using his Sharingan, he understood who it was.

Suigetsu.