DISCLAIMER: I do not own "Naruto"

Chapter 19: Alone

They would never know that she left. She would be back before her watch was over, no one would know. She wasn't quite sure what made her think she was close… but she could feel it—him. He was so close. Sakura followed her hawk with all speed, bounding from tree branch to tree branch. The cool night wind whipped through her hair, and twigs reached for her. Her footing was sure and her brow set. The hawk wouldn't fail her this time; she wouldn't lose sight of it. She was so tempted to glance at her watch, just to check on her time, but there was no way she would look away from the bird. It felt like such a long time. Everything… it had been so long, these past few years. What was a little more running? A nervous energy coursed through her veins. Tonight… she would finally see him tonight.

Did she blink? The hawk was gone. She stopped instantly, almost stumbling in surprise. She glanced around anxiously, searching for the bird. In frustration, she let out a small gasp as she slammed her fist into the tree she stood on. The bark crumbled beneath her fist like a dry autumn leaf. And that's when an idea came to her. She looked down…

The hawk chirped in his ear. He looked over at the unwelcome bird. His teammates were growing increasingly suspicious of the letters he had received. He rolled his eyes and sighed as he took the message the bird had delivered. It seemed like only a day or two ago that he received the last letter… Sakura had said she wouldn't be writing anymore. She had lied again.

It'd only been a few days… but this was the same hawk, of that he was very certain.

He had a few moments to spare, so he ripped open the envelope and pulled it out… it was blank. Why was it blank?

Something fell on his head. He started in surprise, throwing his hand up to find what had fallen on him. It was a piece of bark. He looked up.

Their eyes met. She looked absolutely terrified. Her green eyes were wide and her mouth slightly agape. He smirked.

"Do you plan on staying in that tree all night?" He asked condescendingly.

A blush crept up her cheeks.

"Sakura…"

She couldn't stop herself from jumping from the tree. The way he said her name made her want to lose the distance between them.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

She stared at him, not believing it was him, thinking that somehow she was dreaming or caught in a genjutsu. His eyes were uncharacteristically soft and kind. Was he happy to see her? She had every impulse to run into his arms, but she stayed her ground and kept the weary gaze upon her face. He seemed very patient with her. He hadn't asked her twice and he merely watched her.

"I'm here for you… I came to find you."

"Why?" Sasuke's voice was tinted with frustration. "It's not safe."

Her brow furrowed. "You promised me a next time."

"I promised I wouldn't hold back." His voice, his face, became stoic and unfeeling.

"Take me with you," she pleaded. "I said I would go with you before, I'm still willing to."

He frowned. "Why do you want to join me so badly? What's your motive?"

"I have no ulterior motive. From the moment you left, I've regretted not following you." She stepped closer to him, her hands shook from longing. "I'll do whatever you ask of me, just as long as I have no more regrets."

"You don't know what you're asking," he replied coldly.

"I do," she said with glittering eyes. "I'll follow any order you give me."

"Do you understand what my goal is? Do you know what I desire?" His eyes narrowed in spite.

She glanced away for a moment, before taking another cautious step towards Sasuke. She hesitated before meeting his eyes. "Tell me," she whispered. "I'm here, I'm listening."

His eyes were so intense it was as if he were measuring her character—her very soul. He wondered if she were truly listening, if she were truly there to see him. Could he trust her?

"I want to kill my brother and anyone who gets in my way." His brow furrowed slightly as he ducked down to be eyelevel with the girl. He gazed intently at her. "Don't get in my way, Sakura. I don't think I'd be able to forgive even you."

Her eyes widened to reveal the whites around her jade irises. She knew Sasuke wasn't lying. He was an avenger, he would succeed in killing his brother… but did that truly mean killing the friends that were currently out to find him? A tear sparkled in her eye, but she refused to let it fall.

"Are you willing to betray your home for me?" His voice, his eyes, were soft… pleading, but for what? Sakura couldn't figure him out. He saw the tear and, reaching toward her, gently wiped it away.

Startled, she was silent for a moment, gazing at the handsome man in front of her. And then her senses returned and she replied breathlessly, "If that's your desire… I will."

"Prove it," he pointed across the camp at a slumbering woman with red hair. "Kill her and I'll take you with me."

The request took her by surprise. It was treacherous and heartless. Would he kill his own teammate while she slept? She wasn't exactly sure what to do, but she gripped her kunai tightly. "Who is she?"

"A nuisance," he smirked. Karin had useful talents, but he could get by without her, it wouldn't bother him in the least if she… disappeared. "You're a medic, aren't you? I need a good medic… you'll do perfectly. You can take her place."

She wanted to step away from him, realizing how much he'd changed… but she didn't want to believe it. She couldn't believe that he'd fallen so low that he would kill his own teammate because she was a nuisance. He was just testing her, perhaps to make sure she wasn't so desperate that she would kill someone simply because he told her to.

"They're ninja, won't they wake?" Sakura asked.

"They won't, I've made sure of it."

Sakura looked at him quizzically.

"Can you do it?" he asked expectantly.

She gazed at the woman across the clearing, taking in her appearance to remember the woman she would have to save later. Her knuckles turned white from how tight she gripped the kunai, but she hesitated.

Sasuke reached forward for Sakura, but her arm shot up in instinctively, blocking his hand from reaching her neck. Her other arm spun around to deliver a right hook, but he caught her fist in his hand. His eyebrow twitched with frustration; she was strong. She glared at him. She threw up her foot and kicked him away. He rushed at her, kunai in hand, but she blocked him. Their faces, snarling, were inches from each other.

"I thought you were going to surprise me," he said through gritted teeth.

"I didn't get the chance," she replied airily.

"Pathetic,"

"Are you going to kill me now?" she asked as they jumped away from each other.

"I just might." He smirked sadistically.

Sakura ran her free hand through her pink locks in frustration. "Why Sasuke? Why are you doing this? You don't have to be alone anymore?"

His voice was quiet when he spoke again, "I have to attain my goal. You can't help me."

In a split second, he was gone and panic flooded through Sakura. Would he really kill her? And then a moment later, she could feel him behind her, like a looming shadow. His breath was warm against her ear, and goose bumps raced down her arms and legs. An arm wrapped firmly over her shoulders and for a moment, Sakura thought that it felt vaguely like an embrace. Sasuke leaned forward until his lips barely brushed her ear and he whispered to her gently.

"You once said you loved me…"

"I still do," she replied breathlessly.

"Then why can't you leave me alone?" he growled.

"I'm not here to bring you back." She slowly reached up to touch the cool arm the held her. "I only came to see you again."

He was left speechless by her statement.

Sakura thought that maybe he would let her go, but his grip suddenly tightened painfully. She groaned and bit her lip. And then there was pressure by her neck and she couldn't stop the black fog from clouding her vision. Perhaps he was going to kill her.

She fell limp in his arms. He adjusted his hold on her, lifting her legs with one arm and supporting her upper body with his other. He jumped into the trees and took her back to her camp. He hesitated in the trees for a moment making sure that no one had woken to find Sakura missing. When he saw that no one was up, he set Sakura down at the base of a tree. He gazed at her and leaned close to her.

"I win."

He drew a finger over her jaw line and then got to his feet and jumped into the trees, once again disappearing into the forest.

Kakashi's lone eye opened briefly, warily. Sasuke was still choosing to be alone.

A/N: So I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas! I started writing this on Tuesday, but was so crazy busy that I wasn't able to finish. Well, what do you think? This was my little plot twist, kinda switching up events a little to serve my purposes. Bwahaha! I know it's a little out of sequence to the anime, but my plot will be moving in a little bit of a different direction from this point. Don't freak though, because a lot of the main story lines from the anime will still play out, but because of the changes I've added to "Alone" things will... slightly different. Ok, maybe a lot... but hey, I'm not gonna give anything away. Drop me some reviews! Again, because of the holiday coming up, if I don't update you can expect it next Sunday. My work schedule will be changing, so my update day may be switching to a new day. If I don't get the chance: Happy New Year!