Chapter nineteen-

Sakura saw Sasuke crumple and go limp in his brother's arms. Having just woken up from her comatose stupor (AN just can't seem to stay unconscious huh?), Sakura watched Itachi dump Sasuke on the ground through watery half closed eyes. Seeing Sasuke laid flat out on the ground, she realized his chest wasn't moving up and down like it should have been and when she really squinted she noticed his eyes were staring at the ceiling with a blank, frozen expression.

I…Is he dead? She wondered.

Of course not! Inner Sakura countered. Sasuke-kun wouldn't fall so easily!

What do you mean easily? Sakura snapped angrily. They've been at it for almost five hours!

So what? Inner Sakura seemed unconcerned. He's fought longer than that before.

Sakura wasn't convinced. The time she had spent unconscious had replenished her Chakra slightly and she was able to heal herself enough to get to her knees and crawl over to Sasuke. She paid no attention to Itachi, but it didn't matter because Itachi didn't give the impression that he was able to move.

"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura whispered, reaching out to touch his cold, blood soaked flesh. She couldn't grasp the reason he had been put into this state. She had healed his worst injuries. He had no cause to be dead.

As her hand reached to caress his face, Sasuke blinked and turned his head ever so slightly to gaze into her eyes. "Sakura," he murmured. "I almost killed my brother. I almost killed him. I could have killed him. I had the power to kill him. I don't want to kill him. I have to kill him. What am I Sakura?"

Sakura shook her head in disbelief. "Did you ever want to kill him?" She asked, ignoring his last question.

"Yes in the beginning," As Sasuke's voice got a little stronger his chest began moving again. His breath was ragged at first but soon steadied into a normal flow. "I have never felt so much…hatred in my life than I did then. But after a while it became more of an obligation. Then I started asking myself questions like, "Will I become like him if I choose this path?" Or "Would mother and father really want this?"

I almost backed out altogether when became part of squad seven and life finally started to look up a little. But there were constant reminders everywhere; the only way I kept myself motivated was the thought of his voice and what he would say if I didn't come after him. The reason I went to Orochimaru was to convince him and myself that I was really determined. It worked at first, but that snake freak wouldn't let me alone for five seconds. It was almost like having an extra persistent shadow. "Sasuke-kun this" and "Sasuke-kun that" he sounded like a fan girl." -Sakura blushed here- " So finally I left. I had no intention of going after Itachi, but after he took you and Naruto and Kakashi I felt it was my responsibility to get you back."

Sasuke was growing hoarse. Tears flowed freely down his cheeks but he seemed happy somehow in a weird Sasuke-like way.

"Sakura, I told you that you didn't understand my burden," he continued. "But what I didn't realize is that you had one of your own. Love is painful isn't it? I wish could give you what you deserve Sakura. I wish you could have seen the other side of me. I'm sorry I never showed you."

"What do you mean "could have"?" Sakura asked. "There's still time. Forget Itachi (Itachi- Ahem right here!). Come back to Konoha where you belong. You will be forgiven. If not by the villagers than at least by your friends who really matter! Sasuke-kun you can have a second chance."

"There's something I need you to do for me," Sasuke muttered as if Sakura hadn't spoken. "Seal it. Seal the curse mark. Please."

The curse mark was starting to smoke as he spoke. It was burning at his flesh slowly, trying to eat it away to the bone. If it wasn't sealed or gotten rid of soon there would be some major problems.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura screamed. "What's happening?"

"Orochimaru didn't get what he wanted," Sasuke said simply. "And now I must be punished. Seal the curse mark. I don't want to be connected to him anymore."

"But I don't know how," Sakura was alarmed at the rate the curse mark was doing its damage; Sasuke's bone was exposed.

"You don't have to know," Sasuke was having difficulty speaking through the pain. "Just go on…instinct."

"What instinct?" Sakura's panicking was making the situation much worse than it needed to be.

"Just wing it!" Sasuke cried in frustration. He was writhing in agony but still his companion did nothing.

"I…I can't!" Sakura cried back.

"Sakura you can!" Sasuke yelled. "And you have to! Orochimaru will take full control of this body if you don't! That's his way of things! If anyone can stop that it's you! Sakura I know you can do this! I love you!"

A/N- AHHHHH I'm falling victim to sappy-ness. I know ever1 was really occ in this chapter and I apologize for that. I did it this way because I want Sasuke to realize that he loves Sakura and all that good stuff so yea.

Sasuke-Who said I loved Sakura?

Sandgirl- um…you did.

Sasuke-but you made me!

Sandgirl- well that's just my way of things…telling the truth has always been in my nature.

Sasuke- that's not the truth! Girls have cooties!

Sakura-SASUKE-KUN!

Sasuke-save me.