Disclaimer: No way would I ever own Naruto.

Chapter 3: Wavering

"So, Naruto. Care to fill me in with what happened?" Sakura asked as a warm, green glow filled the space between them.

"Sakura-chan… You don't look so good either." Naruto barely whispered, but it was enough for Sakura to press on her question. "Let's go to Ichiraku's and – OUCH!"

Sakura looked up, shifting her attention to him from the wounds she was treating. "Naruto. Don't change the topic. Sasuke's been pretty quiet since his return… and then he suddenly decides to get into a fight with you?" Her voice was steady and calm, catching Naruto's interest.

"It was a spar. And plus…" Naruto remained thoughtful for a moment and continued on. "You're changing the topic too." Despite the overall graveness of Sakura's disposition, the blonde pouted and carefully inspected Sakura's reaction.

Sighing, Sakura gazed the clouds with a defeated smile. "Fine, fine. Ichiraku's, it is."

As soon as those words left her mouth, Naruto stumbled back onto the ground.

"Of course, you'll drop by at the hospital first."

. . .

"Ah! Sakura-san!"

The medic-nin turned towards the voice. There stood the brunette who seemed to be calling her name awfully lot recently.

"Mayuri-san… Hello."

Sakura gave a light nod and she turned away. She knew what Mayuri wanted to ask, and she wasn't about to give an answer so easily. The time Sakura spent on worrying about Sasuke wasn't something even comparably close to Mayuri's/

"Uhm, Sakura-san…"

The brunette carefully started again, as she watched the medic-nin walk away. Really, perhaps Sakura couldn't shake off her role as a doctor, for all it took was another pleading voice to make her stop and turn back.

Sakura looked over Mayuri carefully this time. The brunette had been sitting in the waiting room for hours, and it seemed that no one had informed her of Sasuke's condition yet.

"Is Sasuke-kun…" Mayuri looked hopeful this time, as Sakura stepped towards her.

'Just walk away. Just walk away. Let her suffer more in worry and distress, just as I had all these years.' Sakura felt her insides swirl in a turmoil as a cold, mean wave washed over her. 'JUST WALK AWAY, DAMN IT!'

And still, Sakura's feet continued on towards the girl before her. Well, Haruno Sakura didn't wish anyone the pain and loneliness she had to go through. Not even Mayuri.

Wait, but wasn't it because it was Sasuke's love that she didn't want to inflict any harm? She had told him that she wished him happiness, after all.

It was too confusing. Her feelings were spinning in a huge whirlpool and she just didn't know anything anymore; she didn't know what she should feel towards Sasuke's love. Sakura let out yet another sigh.

"He'll be fine. Some major injuries here and there, but he'll live through it, like he always did." Despite the confusion, Sakura assured Mayuri anyway. And while she half expected to feel regret, Sakura immediately felt guilty instead, upon seeing the girl brighten up to her usual self.

There, before her, the brunette's face filled with a small smile and warmth seemed to radiate from her again. And all it took were these few words of reassurance. Then, a small frown took over, and the confused Mayuri spoke again.

"Huh? 'Like he always did'…? How many injuries had he gone through before? How much pain…?" Her words drifted off.

Sakura concealed her surprise and answered calmly. "Lots." She didn't know what else to say.

The pink kunoichi saw the colors draining from Mayuri once again, and at the exact moment, Sakura realized something.

"Sasuke must have kept these things from you to protect you." Sakura voice her thought aloud, more to herself really, but Mayuri looked even more glum.

"To be honest… I wish he'd tell me his pain and sufferings." The brunette whispered, and upon hearing her voice, Sakura's heart clenched.

Mayuri sounded… lonely.

"He probably loves you with your warm smile, Mayuri-san." Sakura assured her. "Have faith in yourself. Oh! I really have to go now. Bye…"

Sakura's flowing pink hair didn't obscure the view of Mayuri's relieved smile as the pink medic left the room. Sakura sighed and wondered how those words came about.

Sakura would have hurried straight on ahead if not for the dark blur to her left. The green eyes widened under the bright hospital light.

"Sasuke?"

"Hn." Sasuke had been standing right next to the door. He carefully looked her over and mumbled. "Here for Mayuri."

'As soon as he feels slightly better, he runs over to tell her he's alright…' The pink kunoichi found her thoughts drifting once again, picking up every word and action of the Uchiha before her.

Gazing over her, Sasuke asked calmly. "So you understand?"

'…why I love her?' Sakura finished his question in his mind, as she realized that Sasuke must have overheard their conversation. Slowly, the pink kunoichi nodded. "Yea…"

Sasuke averted his gaze to the wall.

"Yes. I do." Sakura repeated firmly this time as she realized that maybe, she could accept this after all.

His dark eyes were still cast away to the blank wall that gave no answers.

"Ah! Naruto!"

The raven-haired looked up at her sudden call. He looked over to see Naruto sheepishly stepping out into the hallway.

"Naruto! What are you doing here! You should still be recovering –"

Before Sakura could finish, a pale hand slammed into the wall beside her. Her eyes widened in surprise as she inhaled the familiar scent close to her.

The last time they had been this close was when they were both trying to kill each other. Flinching from this memory, Sakura was just about to slide away but Sasuke instantly drew back first, and proceeded to open the door to the waiting room.

"I'm also recovering." Sasuke muttered under his breath, but Sakura wasn't sure if she heard this as Naruto came rushing towards her with his loud voice.

"Sakura-chan! Did something happen?" The blonde asked, breaking off the hospital silence as he gave a pat on his stomach. "Man, I'm hungry. First things first, let's go to Ichiraku's, neh?"

Sakura stood, gasping silently for the breath she had been holding in. Looking up at Naruto, she agreed.

"Yeah. Yeah, sure, Ichiraku's."

Her head spinned, and she didn't even hear her own words leaving her mouth. Uchiha Sasuke still brought her this shaky.

To be Continued

a/n: Ah.. It's pretty short. OH Thank you for all your reviews! They're very encouraging :D Anyway, ahh.. I don't know what to feel about the way this story is developing.. I don't know, at all! I'll continue to write nonetheless.. and soon, too, hopefully.