Holding Her Last Breath: Just 3 Days
Sakura: Ahh it's so good to be alive again!
Naruto: Ah- Sakura-chan what're you talking about?
Sakura: Huh? N-Nothing! Nothing at all! Here's a note from the author, xXAsukachanXx: My lovely readers did you miss me? I'm in a really good mood, and since I got back on the late Friday evening and this was typed well before I left and even packed I decided that why not get this up for you guys ? I had the most AMAZING time, I met a ton of new people grew closer to the friends that came along, and I connected with God :).
I realized that it's incredibly hard to keep track of the new reviews and whatnot now that I finished Till the Last Rose Dies and Run Away With Me, My Blossom including this one since it's incomplete. - -" maybe I should start keeping track…
Sakura: But now that that's all said and done, let's get on with Chapter 4: Breakfast With a Twist!
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"Who are you and why isn't Sakura moving?" Sasuke demanded. Automatically, his Sharingan activated and he stood.
"Down boy. They aren't in danger. We've frozen time." Inari explained as she appeared sitting on the table next to him. Sasuke jumped a few feet away from her and deactivated his Sharingan.
"Frozen…time?" he repeated, confused but a little more relaxed. Sakura was alright…
Inari rose "Aah. I'm your charge, aren't I? If other people we to find out about this I'd have to wipe your memory. Which is why we stop time to check up on you discreetly."
"Dressing like that isn't being discreet." He argued and pointed to it. It was a low-cut sweater and a skirt definitely not cut out for the "winter season".
"You don't like it? I found it adorable! I see why you like Sakura. She has great taste in clothing…" she pointed out since they were wearing similar outfits.
Sasuke gave her a "yeah right" type of look. 'Sakura would never wear something so low-cut…' he thought. But in his mind something countered with, 'Don't you mean that YOU wouldn't allow it?'
"Don't give me that look! It's not MY fault that this body has such an enormous chest! They don't allow me to wear normal clothing! If I don't do this, they cut off my air supply, and if I try to cover them they get stuck on things…" she complained.
"She didn't answer my question." Sasuke interrupted and turned his attention to the small girl who was sitting on his counter top. "Who are you?"
"No need to get grumpy, Sasuke. This is Shimori-san, an important figure in the Spirit World. She came to see you since she's a fan." Inari explained with a smile.
'Great, more fans,' Sasuke thought with a growl. "I don't care if she's important. If you don't have any business here then leave. I don't have time for fans." he replied. And in a way, he was right for he now had less than 3 days to spend with Sakura.
"You don't understand– she's important as in, she's the Grim Reaper. Don't piss her off, she may look innocent in that creepy kinda way but you have to remember that she can take your life away on a whim." the angel whispered to him warningly.
Sasuke gave her a you-got-to-be-kidding-me expression. Yesterday he had met an abnormally large-chested angel who brought Sakura back to life by turning back the hands of time, and now he was meeting the person who could take her away again- at any given moment. And she was a FAN!
"Hn. Anyone else I need to meet?" Perhaps the Easter bunny?
"Actually there is. He's my partner, but at the moment he's not human." Inari answered him. Sasuke didn't answer but raised an eyebrow and giving her a what-the-hell-are-you-talking-about look.
"Introducing Neko-chan the cat!" Inari said as confetti mysteriously fell from the ceiling and onto a dark cat that sat next to the Grim Reaper. Sasuke began to rub his temple in annoyance, but then noticed it was the cat from the previous night.
"…her name is Akaei-chan." Shimori complained quietly. He also noticed that she never raised her hood to reveal anything higher than a eerie smile.
"Gomen, gomen Shimori-san But isn't Akaei-chan a little more like a little girl's name?" Inari asked politely. Even though she was an angel, the Reaper had the ability to reap her immortal soul.
The cat raised its head to give Inari and annoyed expression. "I am neither 'Neko-chan' nor 'Akaei-chan'! Both are degrading name to a man…Inari, why am I here in the first place? You've got this case covered."
Inari smiled sheepishly. "Heheh…well the Council didn't exactly trust me to do this one on my own, because they were afraid my emotions would get in the way again- besides, you were complaining about being trapped up there weren't you? You should be thankful to me-"
"But why am I in CAT FORM??"
"Well…you know how Jii-sama gets. You're my companion, and you won't draw so much attention if you're a cat-"
Shimori bent down and held the cat in her small arms. "Don't be so grumpy Akaei-chan. It'll be the death of you." Giggled the reaper eerily.
"I don't care if she IS the Grim Reaper! Inari if you don't get me out of here I'm-"
"Ahem." Sasuke grunted impatiently. They didn't seem to be getting anywhere, and freezing time to argue about names wasn't getting him anywhere.
"Shimori-chan, we better let Sasuke get back to Sakura and his guests. He does only have 3 days with her." Inari added making the girl frown.
"Take me later. Or-"
"I know, I know, you'll reap my immortal soul." Inari interjected exasperatedly. "Why not get Akaei-chan to take you? I DO have other things to do at on Earth y'know."
"He's a cat who can't take me places the way you can. I'm only in human form…if I wasn't you'd be sorry…" Shimori warned her.
"Regardless Shimori-san, technically, you're a child on Earth which means you have to listen to me since I'm an adult." Inari told her calmly.
"I can do what I pl-"
"All of you...get out." Sasuke told them testily.
"Sorry…I'll check on you later, Sasuke." Inari apologized, as she was actually apologizing for the "child". And the three disappeared.
"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked when time began again. A horrible ringing ran through his head, which almost made her words inaudible.
When it stopped, he looked down at the woman's worried face. "Are you alright?" she asked as she pointed to the blood leaking from one of his ears and the fact that he was standing.
Quickly he wiped the blood away as he sat down. 'Stopping time must come with a consequence. Is it because I'm human? "Aah, I'm fine."
Naruto continued to brag about some recent mission he had been on as Hinata listened intently while Sakura giggled, remembering how he used to it as a kid. "Naruto, if you're gonna tell a story, don't stretch the truth." Sakura commented and hid her smile behind her coffee cup.
"But, I'm not Sakura-chan! It really happened!" Naruto complained.
"Really? You honestly expect me to believe a thousand shinobi had you cornered and you fought them ALL off on your own? Che, give me a break." Sakura added making Hinata laugh quietly. Sakura had said her honest opinion and was open, but didn't over-do it like Ino.
Sasuke stayed silent but kept a serene expression. He had never acknowledged just how comfortable he was with Sakura by his side. When he was with Orochimaru, ihe was always alone and consumed with the burning desire to get revenge on his brother.
Nothing else mattered, until he had crossed paths with Naruto before confronting his brother and successfully avenged his clan. But it took a toll on his body and ended up being dragged back to Konoha to be hospitalized.
Once again, he had woken up to Sakura by his side. Only this time, she didn't have anything he could smack out of her hands.
"Oh, Sasuke, you're up." Sakura said to him nervously while excluding the suffix she had used when they were younger. Without a word, he sat up, feeling the cool breeze come in from the open window.
"You've been out for 3 days because of all the blood you lost…I was afraid that you were in a coma." She added and tried to laugh but failed miserably.
Sasuke immediately noticed the nurse's outfit she was in and realized she had grown her hair out a little more. He successfully found his voice and croaked, "You-healed me?"
"I- Yes. after you left I trained to be a medic-nin under the Go-daime, Tsunade-sama, previously one of the Legendary Sanin." Sakura explained while meeting his eyes, as if trying to see any bit of change in emotion or a possible reaction.
When she didn't, she went on. "You weren't in the cleanest condition when we found you; 3 broken ribs, a broken arm, leg, and possible head trauma."
He looked at his wrapped arm that was wrapped neatly and into a nice bow. Something Sakura would do. "But," Sasuke looked up from the corner of his eye when she spoke once more. "You finally did it; you killed Orochimaru, an Akatsuki member, and your brother! I'm not sure what you did to get beat up like that, but…your injuries were worth it, ne?" Sakura didn't fail to smile to at him, but he knew that she was forcing herself to appear happy.
Though it had been several years, Sasuke knew that there still was a part of the old Sakura left in her.
And that Sakura was never good at faking her smiles.
"…Aah."
Sakura had to look down. She could no longer look at him as he stared out the window without another word.
"These years away from you made everyone stronger. We've all been working hard to bring you back. A couple days ago I got accepted into the elite ANBU medic squad. But I couldn't have done it alone, Naruto and the others have been cheering me on. Even Ino's become a jounin and a medic nin; we've been training together."
She decided that he seemed to be annoyed by her constant rambles and stood up. "When you're well enough, I get Naruto to come and visit. He's been dying to see you; even unconscious." Sakura explained, trying to smile. "If you want, I'll come along…"
"There's no need." Sasuke replied coldly, not glancing at her. Tears began to form in her jade orbs. "I…Alright…g-get well soon, Sasuke. Make sure you call the nurses if you need anything." she managed to say without her voice cracking too much and she hurried out of the room before the tears threatened to overwhelm her.
Later that evening Naruto barged into Sasuke's room and began yelling at him. He had overheard a conversation between Sakura, Ino and Hinata and heard that she had been crying. Sasuke had treated her colder than he ever had, and it made her breakdown.
"SASUKE!!" he screamed at him angrily as he clutched his shirt.
Sasuke turned to look at him. "Just what the hell do you think your problem is?! Do you ANY idea at all what Sakura-chan's GONE THROUGH for YOUR sake?!" he demanded.
Sasuke looked at him with cold eyes but said nothing.
"Since you left she's been working herself to the bone to get stronger to be able to save your ungrateful ass!! When we finally find you you're half dead and unconscious the first thing Sakura-chan did was heal you with everything she had!! Sakura-chan even helped carry your heavy ass into the hospital and wouldn't leave your side until she knew you were better!"
"That's not my problem. I didn't ask to be saved." Sasuke replied icily. Naruto's eyes turned red with rage. "That's not the point Sasuke! It wasn't just some random chic that helped you…it was Sakura-chan! ...What the hell happened to you?!"
"The Sasuke you knew is dead." He told him coldly.
"What's that?!" Naruto demanded.
Sasuke sat up. "I've changed. Are you too stupid to accept that, usuratonkachi (a/n: means "deadlast" or "loser")?"
"Che-Are you trying to pick a fight with me, teme?!" Naruto demanded as he clenched Sasuke's shirt more tightly.
The man scoffed. "You thought that everything would return to normal when I came back? Think about it, dobe, no one wants me back in Konoha-"
"But you're wrong…," Sakura argued as she appeared standing at the doorway with Ino and Hinata behind her. Slowly, she walked in. "It's okay, Naruto." She told him calmly, touching Naruto's balled fist that was around Sasuke's shirt.
"But Sakura-chan-"Naruto protested as he stared into her sad emerald orbs. It was eminent that she had been crying for her eyes were still puffy and red.
"Thank you for getting so worked up for my sake. But as head doctor of Konoha Hospital, Sasuke's my patient and I can't allow you to hurt him while he's admitted." Sakura answered quietly.
Naruto sighed and looked down. Even though he was with Hinata, she was someone special to him. Being with him through thick and thin, he had grown to love her more than a sister.
"...I'll be outside with Hinata-chan and Ino. You better be nice to her, teme or I'll have to drag you outside the hospital and kick your ass." He snarled at the man before leaving. Ino shut the door looking sympathetically at the two.
She sighed. "Sorry about that, I know you're still recovering. But you know how Naruto is."
Sasuke looked away and dusted his shirt off in annoyance. She sat down next to him again and looked at him, bandaged and bruised. . "After all this time…you still think of me as annoying, ne Sasuke-kun?" she asked him quietly, unable to stop herself from using the suffix to his name as tears came to her eyes.
Sasuke glanced at her from the corner of his eye but didn't say anything. "Ever since I was little…I was always incapable of helping you- inside and out…I wanted to show you two that I was strong, that you or Naruto or anyone wouldn't have to protect me ever again. I became a medic-nin to show that I CAN protect myself and the people I care about…" Sakura confessed as the first tears fell.
Sasuke couldn't bear to look at her; the emotion she showed for him was intolerable; even for him. But what did she want out of him? He hadn't been back a week and they expected him to act as if he had as much energy as Naruto (which would never happen)!
"You should've left me there to die." Sasuke told her with little emotion. Sakura looked down as more tears fell. "I figured that that was what you had wanted but…" she looked up with a quivering smile. "I'm too selfish to leave you for dead. I couldn't bear to walk away knowing that the minute I did I'd never see you alive again. I'm sorry,"
"…why-do you still go so far for me, Sakura?" Sasuke asked while looking at her with a scrunched up expression mixed with both frustration and confusion..
She met his eyes and gave a sad smile this time.. "Do you still not get it, Sasuke-kun? I've said it before, and I'll say it again and again if I have to; it's because- I love you. And I'll always love you."
Sasuke looked into her eyes, confused as ever. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't understand the emotional headstrong girl before him. "I betrayed you, Naruto and Konoha- yet your feelings are the same?"
"I understand that you betrayed us, but even so- and call me crazy for this- I never stopped loving you. If I didn't I wouldn't have cared that I wasn't strong enough to bring you back or stop you…"
Sasuke sat up and leaned close to her with a scowl. "You honestly believe you would've been able to stop me?" he asked her in a low voice. She nodded as the tears kept falling.
"No one would've been able to stop me, Sakura." Sasuke responded rather harshly, but noticed the startled look in her eyes and added more softly without meeting her gaze, "You know that."
"I realize that now, but deep down, we all wished you came to us for help..."
"It wasn't Konoha's battle to fight." He replied stubbornly.
"Demo (a/n: means "but")! Are you satisfied...satisfied knowing that you really are the last Uchiha now? Did killing your brother give you any satisfaction, and contentment?" Sakura protested.
This time Sasuke wearily closed his eyes. "I don't care. You're annoying. Be happy I returned."
Though there was still so much she wanted to say, the pink haired woman decided to let it go and gave him a light smile. "I am. We all are. Please try and get some rest. I'll check up on you later." She rose, turning to leave.
"Sakura," Sasuke called back to her. "…Arigato."
A blush crept onto her face before she mumbled something incoherent and hurried out of the room. He ran a hand through his raven hair and let out a breath before lying back down. 'She's still annoying…' he thought at first, closing his eyes.
But his lips curled up slightly at the thought. 'But it's good to be back.'
When Sasuke was released from the hospital, the previous Konoha rookies threw him a welcome back party to show him old relationships hadn't changed and the ties and bonds he had tried hard to break were unbreakable.
And after six months of torture ( having his chakra locked, watched by ANBU 24/7, and going on D rank missions) all while getting disgusted glares from people passing by (his betrayal was world-known) things seemed to go back to normal.
And after a year, Sasuke told Sakura to move in with him. Embarrassed, she accepted; hoping that this was the start of him opening up to her. And deep down, he trusted her more than Naruto; his best friend.
But in her eyes he hadn't opened up at all. Their relationship was only based on lust, an emotion that stopped him from thinking about that sad realization that he was alone.
Yet who could blame her? Most of the time, Sasuke would leave for missions that lasted for long periods of time. But when he was home, he'd sleep with her, only to leave for another mission shortly after. Sasuke was completely oblivious to the amount of tears she cried while he was away.
And to make it worse, Sakura began to work tirelessly at the hospital or accepting numerous missions so she became so tired it was near impossible for her to think of him or anything at all.
But now, Sasuke had 3 days to show her that he would no longer be blind to her emotions and ignore what really mattered.
Sakura noticed her boyfriend looking deep in thought and couldn't help but look worried. 'Is he thinking about his family again?' she thought. At times, Sasuke would thrash in his sleep because of the memories and pain. Though it had been over a year now, the trauma was something he would deal with for the rest of his life.
Under the table, she grabbed his hand and caressed it, which brought him out of his thoughts. Obsidian eyes softened at this gesture as his grip tightened on her tiny hand.
"-We should all go out tonight." Naruto announced in a loud, cheery tone when he finally began focusing on what the blonde was saying.
"I heard that t-there isn't going to be a cloud in the sky tonight, so why don't we get all of Rookie 9 and go out to eat then go star-gazing?" Hinata added.
Naruto grinned and kissed her forehead. Without Hinata, Naruto felt alone. The girl he had grown to have a childhood crush on had never seen him the way he saw her, and had always loved his best friend. He believed no one could love someone with a monster living inside of him. He also believed he would hurt them since he couldn't completely control the beast.
And without Naruto, Hinata felt like a failure. Neji, a natural born Prodigy and her sister Hanabi, talented in her own way were the blocks in her life she could never surpass. She felt as though she would never live up to the Hyuuga name as heiress. And being the timid girl she was, at times it was impossible to stand up to her father.
The two were complete opposites, yet entirely perfect for each other. They were complete and their insecurities were one of the things Naruto and Hinata grew on and loved.
"That's a great idea! Sasuke-kun, it's been ages since you've been outside except to go on missions. You need to catch up with Neji and Ten. Their baby girl Miya is absolutely adorable." Sakura exclaimed to her
Gradually, Neji and Tenten confessed having a relationship. Later, they were married and shortly after they announced their baby-on-the-way. 2 years after they had their first daughter Sasuke was found and returned to Konoha.
"I'd rather do other things." Sasuke told her plainly as he ran a hand up her thigh stealthily. After resisting the urge to jump and feeling a dark blush creep up her neck. Sakura caught his hand in hers.
"Those things can wait. Come on, Sasuke-kun…pleeeeeeese?" Sakura begging him as she touched his shoulder lovingly.
Sasuke sighed. Why was it so damn hard to deny this woman when she asked him to do something? Though he could care less about see his rival Neji, who would mock him for marrying Tenten and starting a family before him, it HAD been awhile since he had gone anywhere with Sakura-unless it involved their bedroom…or other places in the house.
"Hn." He replied but glanced over to give her a look. 'You owe me later.' It seemed to speak. Her jade orbs met his and silently promised with hidden amusement behind them
Sakura kissed him on the cheek. "Heh, you're actually agreeing to see everyone, teme!" Naruto grinned.
"What's your point, dobe?" Sasuke demanded through narrowed eyes.
"Well, it means Sakura-chan's really wearing off on you! It's about time. I was beginning to think you turned into a hermit or died or something!" he laughed.
Sasuke flicked part of his pancake at the blonde man and it made him twitch as it hit him dead center or his forehead. Naruto in return threw a mini sausage at him and watched it hit his cheek.
"Ha! You're used to taking those to the face, ne Sasuke!" he joked before laughing haughtily.
Sasuke splashed syrup at him. "Used to getting sticky now, dobe?" as insults were thrown back and forth, the two men suddenly started tossing food at each other like small kids; not caring where it flew. Some hit Sakura and Hinata who tried to stop the two.
"Ahh!! Sasuke-kun, Naruto STOP!"
"N-Naruto-ku-"
SPLAT
"…."
"…."
"OH MY GOSH HINATA!! What the heck did you just get HIT with?!"
"It looks like egg."
"Uchiha, SHUT UP! Naruto– HEY GET BACK HERE!! DON'T RUN! APOLOGIZE TO YOUR WIFE!!"
"I'll stop running when you put that knife down Sakura-chan!!"
When the fight had stopped and Sakura had given them a well-deserved beating she pushed Naruto towards his wife.
"You two are ridiculous!! Having a food fight like we're 12 again, you two should feel as ridiculous as you look right now!!"
And she was right. In Naruto's blonde hair syrup could be clearly seen dripping from his spiky locks. Crushed pancake covered the front of his jacket and coffee made splattered blotches on shoulder.
As for Sasuke, egg could be clearly seen in his hair and his face shone from the sticky syrup coating it. As for his dark clothes, bits of saucage and fruit stained his shirt, and on one of his raven brows, a piece of pancake stuck to it from the syrup.
After their scolding, Hinata took Naruto home to shower and told her that the girls should meet up later so they could discuss 'other matters'.
Sakura agreed and said her goodbyes as she headed upstairs to the bathroom to make sure Sasuke had gone up to shower.
When she walked into the bathroom she called his name. The water was running, but she didn't see the outline of his toned figure in the shower.
"Sasuke-kun? Are you in here?" she asked.
But the minute she walked towards the shower and pulled back the curtain, in a blur of the moment Sasuke appeared and yanked her into the shower and pinned her against the wall. Feverishly his sticky lips crashed onto hers.
As Sakura felt the warm water soak through her white sweater outlining her thin body. She tasted the maple syrup that had been thrown at his face, but it made the kiss taste sweeter. Her arms wrapped her arms around his neck subconsciously.
She moaned lowly as he nibbled on her neck roughly. "S-Sasuke-kun…we can't do this now…" she stammered fighting the urge to take him then and there.
"Why not?" he asked nibbled in all the right places, slowly coaxing her into giving in.
"B-Because I agreed to meet the girls in a little bit…" she breathed when his hand started to wander across her body.
"You can be late." He whispered seductively to her. A frown curled at his lips when he felt her shake with laughter. "You're a sneaky Uchiha aren't you?" Sakura asked playfully when he lifted her up higher.
"You have no idea." Sasuke replied evilly before ripping at her clothing and crushing his lips onto hers. This was going to be a shower Sakura was never going to forget.
TBC…
Unlike commitedtokiba- aka Mel- I'm no good at writing lemons XD. Which means, no lemon for you!
I might try to write a lemon –blush-… any requests XD? Also! "Shi" means either the number four or death. And "Mori" means forest.
Don't hold your breath…
xxasukachanxx