If anyone is looking for more action, you'll have to wait. Also, I'm welcoming any ideas. Who knows...

x.Serendipity.x

Awakening

A flock of bluebirds flew and danced their way to the windowsill, chirping happily. She heard their noisy loud calls, their arguments, their twitters.

Sunlight streamed through the warm cotton curtains, onto the dust-strewn drawers. The room had not been cleaned for at east several weeks.

As dusty and untidy as always, however, the room was centered about a girl with pink hair and green eyes.

Eyes that opened now, that hesitantly widened, and enlarged furthermore at this strange world. And then, imperceptively, she drew in a breath, and then another – one delicious breath, the aroma of warm sunshine, the feel of soft cotton against her hands, the brush of the wind against a passion-fevered brow.

She could feel. She could see, touch, smell…hear the cheep-cheeps of birds and the zree-zrees of cicadas on this breezy spring day.

She was slow to recognize herself in the dusty mirror that stretched across the other side of the room. Her skin was as pale as ever, dark bags lining under her eyes…mussed up hair that felt limp and sticky to her neck.

Her mouth – a taste not unlike something the cat would drag in. She opened them and for the first time in a long while she spoke.

"Am I really…here?"

Xxxxxx

"How much farther, Kakashi-sensei?" yelled the blonde ninja over the loud crash of the waterfalls and thundering rain. "I'm starving!"

"It'll be much faster if you stopped complaining," answered the Jounin, flitting over the trees.

"Jeez! That's what you always say…" It was after yet another escort mission to a small village by the waterfall. Naruto was hungry – hungry wouldn't cover it. Ravenous, famished…

The third person beside them had not spoken a word. He narrowed his dark eyes, half-angrily. All these missions were a waste of time. They would not bring him enough power, fast enough.

A clearing ripped open in front of the team and they streamed through the watery skies to the village.

Xxxxxx

Crash – the unmistakable break of glass was heard by the receptionist. She hurriedly threw down the papers she was signing and grabbed the clipboard. Which patient was it now?

And then the crunch of glass on the floor. The woman ran towards the sound, heart beating. Frightened and bewildered, she was face-to-face with the door which she was sure lead to the source of the noise.

But how?!

Undeniably this room belonged to the Haruno girl. She couldn't have awoken; all evidence pointed her into the direction of death – yet the glass had been broken, she had heard it –

The receptionist pushed open the door, taking in everything, from the shards of vase that surrounded a few cracked, withering flowers and get-well cards, as well as the dusty furniture and equipment. And then –

" – You!"

It was the girl. She was clearly sitting straight up on the bed with a frightened expression, her green eyes large. She was breathing – at least, appeared to be doing so – and moving.

"Y-you're…"

The woman ran out the hallway, leaving the clipboard skittering off onto the ground.

"Tsunade-sama! Tsunade!" Loud banging could be heard on the Hokage's office. A previously irritated woman with twin ponytails realized this was important.

"Come in," she commanded, folding her hands. Her amber eyes widened at the sight of the receptionist. Usually she was calm and assertive, but now…

"Tsunade-sama!"

"Don't just scream like that. Tell me!"

"The – the Haruno girl – " Leaning against the frame of the door, the frazzled woman breathed heavily. "She's alive!"

Calmly the Hokage stood up, though her mouth went dry. "Take me to her."

The dead weight of the covers, the air, heavy with oxygen – it all came to her. Sakura knew that somehow, she was alive, once again. And she also knew that it had not been a dream.

One mere look in the mirror told her so.

A black, elegant shape the size of a small fingernail curled at the crook where neck and shoulders met. It was shaped not unlike Sasuke's…No, she told herself, almost dream-like; Sasuke has never been bitten. I was bitten for him.

As this thought came to her she suppressed a wild urge to laugh. It hurt, it stung…

Quiet footsteps rapidly became rushed ones. "In there," she heard someone gasp. The door banged open for the second time that day and someone Sakura had never seen before swept in.

She had sharp, perceiving amber eyes that made anyone in her way shrink back in fear. Though obviously mature, the woman had her hair wrapped childishly – in two similar pigtails that now spun wildly about her young face.

She was tall and intimidating – made even more so with her elongated high heels. Her mouth opened when she saw Sakura.

"You're awake…" In one lightning movement, she crossed the remaining space between them. Her eyes took in the curse mark – she had seen it before, but never had she thought that…this girl…this girl…would survive.

"Strange," she said quietly. "So very, very strange."

Sakura winced.

"Get dressed. Can you understand me?"

Sakura nodded, her throat feeling tight.

"If you wish, get some rest. We will come back. Can you stand by yourself?"

Sakura nodded her head, just wanting to be left alone.

Her wish was answered. The two women slipped out, discussing this miracle in the muffled hallway.

Sakura leaned back, for some reason wanting desperately to cry. Nothing would ever be the same…

If only they knew, she thought. If only they knew what I had done…

Xxxxxx

As soon as he arrived, Naruto shot to the ramen shop in oblivious excitement, stomach growling all the way. Sasuke, however, took the closest route to his home, shoving off his rain gear. His eye caught hold off the picture.

Their picture. Team 7.

Painfully he remembered how Sakura had collapsed. His fingers tightened, leaving a small trail on the dusty glass. She was so happy here, so unknowing of what could happen. What actually happened.

The snake...he had seen it, heard the quick snaps of the jaw, the slash of tongue, the ravenous eyes. It had been so close, too close.

She had pushed him away.

So what does this mean? he wondered for the umpteenth time, angrier still. She was always so careless, capricious, even. She had gotten herself stuck in these situations and now...

Xxxxxx

Tsunade closed the door slowly behind her. The girl was alive. This proved her strength, her raw will. She could not have been the target...he would come back. This she was sure of. If anything, Orochimaru was cunning and had multiple tricks up his sleeve. He had killed countless people for simple experiments. He would risk this. It would have to be considered.

She brushed her hair back tiredly from her face and turned arond to open the door once again.

Soft clicks of her shoes could be heard as she walked down the hallway.

The girl's door was ajar when she arrived. It creaked.

Sakura was sitting on the bed in the same position. For one moment the Hokage believed she was really dead; her face was a mask, unmoving - but the girl's hands were shaking.

"We'll need to perform a few tests on you."

Sakura glanced up in a start. "Y-yes." Her lips were dry and chapped.

"I have decided to keep the news secretive so far. Only the other nurse knows. As for your situation..." She hesitated. "Please...do not tell anybody about this."

"Hai."

The girl stood up on her legs, shaking.

End of Chapter Three.