Chapter 2: If Winter Comes, Can Spring Be Far Behind?

It was late afternoon, three days after they left Konoha, when they arrived at the village hidden among the clouds. They travelled through a convoy of carriages, for being with a Hokage entailed such benefits - or rather an annoyance, much to Sakura's chagrin.

"At least we arrived sooner than when we walked on foot," Naruto appeased. Yes, that's fortunate, though. She was just not used to all the attention and treatment. Their sensei, Kakashi, tailed them as they entered their inn.

She had opted to have a room for herself, but Naruto asked to share one. She could get to choose her bed, he promised, and he wouldn't do anything silly, swear!

"Please, Sakura-chan, just like old times!" he begged. And it was contagious, she finally agreed. Even Kakashi, who was trying to be indifferent, couldn't help but play a small hidden smile behind his mask.

Sakura declined the dinner prepared by the Raikage. When the other two left, she was alone in their suite. She couldn't deny the jitters she had since they decided to come for a visit, for she was rather nervous of what Sasuke would do once he saw them. Would he drive them away, again? Or would he even get out of his cell to meet them? What would she feel? Naruto? Would wounds open up again? Regrets?

As she lay there, however, waiting for her body to give in to slumber, she prayed that may this visit mark a peaceful closure for Kakashi, for Naruto, and for her.

The next morning, she didn't get up as soon as she'd awoken. Instead, she willed herself back to sleep. But couldn't, for she wouldn't want to face what's in for them. She was still scared, of how this visit would go. Of seeing Sasuke again, when the last time she did, all she could remember was him stabbing her again and again.

She could sense that Naruto was equally nervous. Kakashi was just the same, even though he had never uttered a word since they woke up. Despite his laid back expression, she could tell that their sensei was affected, as well. At least, she wasn't all alone feeling awkward about seeing Sasuke again.

Their trip to the prison was uneventful, unusually quiet. And when they'd reached the high fortresses of an old castle, their pace slowed, stalling. The prison guard asked them to deposit their kunai plus all weapons, even their hitai-ate.

Heavy doors twice, or thrice, as tall as them were pushed open by two brute ninja. Then they were led to a very narrow corridor, too dark as though these convicts did not deserve light, or warmth. It was cold, even. Everything was silent, and all they could hear were their wary footsteps.

Not so far from the door, they entered a staircase leading down to a wide hall filled with chairs and tables, and this might be the visitor's center. It was wide, indeed, a big change from the one they just came from. And yet it was empty. Which makes sense, maybe. Maximum security prisoners might have lost even their dignity that no one had visited them. How about families? Friends? Didn't they stick up with them through such times?

It crushed her heart thinking about it, as guilt suddenly seized her. She had planned to make this visit her very last time to see Sasuke. It should all end here.

It should…

They waited for about ten minutes until another guard opened the gate across the hall, with a chained Uchiha Sasuke in another hand. Sakura felt the atmosphere strained as all three of them saw their former teammate being led to their table. Naruto gripped his chair, Kakashi sat stiffly as he pinched his crossed arms against his chest.

And Sakura, her eyes were only fixed straight ahead, to where the boy of her past was walking lifelessly to where they were. There were no emotions from her, only eyes filling her face as she studied him. He was almost unrecognizable. His body was slouching as he walked, his head was down. And when he sat to the seat across them, he laid his cuffed hands on the table and looked at them, then bowed his head to stare at his fiddling fingers. He looked… empty.

It was standard protocol for prisons to disturb the chakra flow of the convict so as to keep one from using techniques. But judging him, Sakura knew that his hollowness wasn't due to that. He looked healthy; he seemed to be eating right. But his face seemed as though it had sagged, for lack of muscle use probably. It was just hard to describe him.

As well as painful to look at.

She didn't know if he was in his right mind as of the moment, or if he had memory lapses, for he had not uttered one word, nor gave out one emotion upon seeing them. They should have been his most hated people. But now, he just didn't care.

He was an empty shell. And just by looking at him, Sakura felt that life was taken out of him. He no longer had the will to live. What would he have to live for anyway, when avenging for his clan was long past fulfilled?

Uchiha Sasuke was a pathetic case. And she pitied him so much so that she couldn't stand looking at him like that. She stood, without even noticing that Naruto tried to start a conversation. Past tables and tables and to the stairs, she walked out, careful not to skip to a run.

She would have gone straight to the doors back to that narrow corridor, but she was almost breathless from that encounter; she stopped against the wall to catch her breath. When she turned, she could still perfectly see the table where they all sat, down from where she was resting. However, her heart skipped a beat as she saw Sasuke straight ahead slouching in his seat with the same position before she left.

Only difference was his head was tilted and he was staring back at her.

AN: Still for SasuSaku Month in LJ. Prompt: Warmth for Week 3 Post-Canon Theme. Thank you all for the comments and for seemingly enjoying this fic and this month as I am.

Chapter Title Reference:

O, wind,
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?
~Percy Bysshe Shelley

Again, enjoy ~~ More love! :3