Sasuke started, his eyes widened as my screams woke him. I still felt like I was drugged, the very walls painted with blood, still fresh. Suigetsu clamped a hand over my mouth, and I bit him, my sharp teeth tearing through. He muffled a scream as I sucked his blood into my throat, giving me strength, making him weak.

He fell, blood pooling around his arm. Karin squeaked, but I ignored her. She kneeled beside him, and clutched his head to her chest. He was unconscious.

I must've looked a fright, matted hair wet with blood and rain. Orochimaru motioned to Juugo, and although I was stronger from Suigetsu's blood, the amount of blood around me made me dizzy, and my vision was swimming slightly. He picked me up like I was nothing, like I was a feather or a leaf.

Orochimaru faced me, and close up, he was grotesque—pale skin stretched over high cheek bones, and he had thin faded lips.

"Little Sakura-chan….why are you here?" he asked me.

"Sasuke is mine. I'm not leaving without him." I said.

"Well, then you shall not be leaving at all." Wow. Dramatic, much?

Juugo threw me, and I struggled to remain upright. I rushed him, wobbling every step. I hit hard, but he didn't budge.

He grabbed me again, and hit me in the back of my head, and stars burst into life behind my eyes. The pain gave me a moment of clarity, distracting me from the blood, from my fear. In a split second I was on Orochimaru, his withered body was too frail to protect himself from me, even though his mental force was almost devouring mine. He was older than old, older than time. He wanted to eat the world, and the stars, and the sun. With surprising strength he held me off, both of us snarling.

I managed to bite his arm, his dry skin cold and his blood was black and icy, and I gagged instantly. I spat his blood unto the floor, where it sizzled and froze.

"How are you alive?!" I asked him. His answer was to lunge for my face. Joy. I held him off, years of training kicking in. Hiss tongue was long, far longer than a normal human's, and it wrapped around my neck, slimy and chilled. I was choking.

How will I get out of this one? He's as big as the sun, and compared to him my existence was as fleeting as the seasons. It was going dark, and my last thoughts were for Sasuke. For not being able to save him, for turning him, for bringing him all into this and not letting him get his revenge.

Oh Lord, how I wish I had never taken this mission. Oh so many regrets….

---

I was floating in warm soft darkness, lights blinking into existence behind my closed eyelids, and a murmur of voices slide through my brain as I dreamed…

"—She's still unconscious…."

"—She better wake up soon. Stupid forehead. Making me worry."

"—Is Sasuke going to be alright?"

Sasuke? Sasuke! The thought was the first one to send me reeling towards consciousness, and soon found myself blinking in the artificial lights of the Organization's hospital. Ino was curled up in a soft-back chair in the corner, but Tsunade was standing against the wall, watching me.

"Tsunade-sama?" I croaked. She started, and was soon by my side, handing me a glass of water which I downed thirstily.

"Did you let a squirrel in here? Because my tongue's furry." She smirked slightly, before her face became serious.

"Sakura, do remember what happened?" I nodded. "Well, after you disappeared from the warehouse, a few left over ANBU followed you, and tracked you to Orochimaru's base."

She was silent for a moment. She took several deep breaths.

"They followed you to that horrible blood room you were in—there was fresh blood everywhere—and found Orochimaru starting to drain Sasuke. They had to incapacitate Juugo—he's in rehab right now—and Suigetsu and Karin are in a joint holding cell. It seems that they were planning on leaving the scene. Sasuke….he still hasn't woken up. We gave him the cure and several blood transfusions. And Sakura…how did you get turned?"

I was quiet for a moment. How could I answer that? 'Oh! Your temporary vampire serum must've reacted badly to me and I turned into a real vampire and bit Sasuke?' Like, no. That's just not gonna happen.

So I looked away.

"I want to see Sasuke. And Naruto and Hinata and everyone. I miss everyone."

Either Tsunade ignored my change of subject, or she didn't notice.

I hoped to dear God it was the latter, as Ino slowly awoke. She blinked several times before she noticed me staring at her.

"Forehead! You're awake!" She ran and hugged me while I grinned. She slapped my arm. Hard. "Stupid! Did you know how worried I was about you?! I thought you were going to die! You came back covered in blood, unconscious, and you had fangs for goodness sakes! What happened to you!"

"Don't take an S-rank, whatever you do." I joked weakly. I still hurt. I still missed Sasuke.

"Can I see him?" she looked at me blankly.

"Who? Sasuke? Why'd you wanna see him?"

"We're kind of…dating? I'm not sure…what we are…but, we're something. Definitely."

She gave me a look of surprise.

"Wow. I thought you were born without hormones. I didn't think you'd land him of all people. Though you are pretty, you just need to lighten up when you're not on missions."

"Thanks Ino, you're so understanding." Haha, sarcasm.

"Oh, you know you love me. Do you think you can walk?"

I wiggled my legs experimentally.

"I may need to lean on you. How long was I out for?" She helped me up, blonde hair landing on my head, as she was almost six inches taller than me, and her high heeled boots didn't help.

"About three days." She replied as my legs threatened to crumble beneath me, and I rested my weight on her as much as I could as we hobbled down the hall to his room.

He was asleep; the only noise was from the breathing tube in his neck and his heart rate machine beeping every couple of seconds. I sat at his side, and held his hand, face pressed into it. He was cold, and it was all my fault.

Tears sprang to my eyes, and I wiped them away with his arm, and soon fell asleep beside him, guilt ridden and ashamed.

---

I was nudged awake by a nurse asking me to return to my room. I carefully made my way back and fell into a restless sleep for several more hours. I awoke to dim lights, and an almost pensive Naruto sitting at my bedside. His glasses-wearing face was ruined by the tongue sticking thoughtfully out of his mouth as he read.

"Naruto?" I said. He perked instantly.

"Sakura-chan! Do you want anything?" he asked.

"No." I shook my head.

"How are you feeling?" he asked me.

"I'm fine. A little weak, but I supposed that's to be expected. How was your week?"

"I love how you're so nonchalant about all of this. You were found in a cave of literal evil, and you want to know about my week. Wow."

I gave him a look.

"Fine, fine! I asked Hinata on a date."

"…and?"

"She's going out with Kiba, but it doesn't look to serious. I saw him flirting with a nurse the other day." He tensed, and even as I felt sorry for him, I felt sorrier for Kiba. Naruto cracked his knuckles threateningly.

"Oh. I'm kinda-maybe going out with Sasuke? I'm still not sure what we are." He nodded sympathetically.

"He's still out, isn't he?"

"Yeah." I sighed.

There was a pause, questions hanging in the air.

"Will…will you tell me what happened on the mission?"

"I suppose….It started pretty normally. We had to share a hotel room. We got to talking. We liked the same things, I thought about our past encounters and over analyzed things as usual. He made the first move, though I suppose he made the only one cause he was abducted after I turned into a vampire, and I had to rescue him. I didn't even do it properly. The frickin' ANBU had to help me. Save me. Whatever. It just sucked."

"Sakura."

"What, Naruto, can't you let me wallow?"

"Don't you ever pay attention." That didn't sound like Naruto.

Sasuke stood there, paler, thinner, but there, and apparently he didn't care that I couldn't save him.

"How come you don't hate me? I didn't finish anything." I almost felt tears, my throat a little raw; my voice came out a little bit too high.

He smiled, a Sasuke almost smile that was just for me, and I crawled from my bed. He kissed me then. He kissed me soft and sweet and I knew he meant it.

"I'm just glad Orochimaru didn't kill you." He said when we separated. "He's killed others for a lot less. I…trained…under him when I was younger. Right before I came to you guys. He was really twisted, but I was eleven, and foolish, and I wanted to get what I wanted, and I didn't notice. I think he's been a vampire for longer than anyone."

I nodded and held him closer. I was so relieved.

"I missed you so much Sasuke."

"I know."

I smiled, and then smacked him.

Welcome home.