Author's notes: OKAY WELL. BRING ON THE FLUFF. MWHAHA. annd reviews. :)

Side note: While i was listening to this chapter i kept listening to the two songs : never too late by three days grace ANND

My december by linkin. iii thought it fit perfectly with this chapter. :D

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Sasuke opened his eyes as he stared at the ceiling for a moment. He slowly propped himself on his elbows as he winced in pain. He examined the cabin as he spotted Sakura sitting beside the fireplace curled up in a ball. He sighed as he tried to get up. He moved his legs over the side of the bed as he winced in pain.

He stood slowly making his way over to Sakura as he picked her up ignoring the pain and his body screaming at him to rest. He carried her over to the bed as he layed her down. The touch of her skin was ice cold. He pulled the blankets up over her as looked at her before walking away.

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Sakura didn't open her eyes upon waking up. She layed still for a moment. She felt warm and comfortable as she rememberd falling asleep beside the fireplace on the cold hard floor. Her eyes shot opon as she quickly sat up. She looked around and saw Sasuke sitting against a nearby wall as she let out a sigh of relief that he hadn't left again.

He sat, his back against the wall. One leg was bent, his arm was resting on it, and the other leg was stretched out. Sakura got out of bed as she made her way over to him. She bent down beside him as she saw that the colour had returned to his skin. She saw the beads of sweat rolling down his cheek as his eyes were slightly sqeezed, because with each breath he took, it caused him pain from his wounds. Sakura sighed as she slowly picked him up, it was nothing considering she was fully rested and at her full strength now.

She set him down on the bed as she slowly began removing the bandages. She placed them to the side as she made a few hand sighs and her hands began glowing green. She held her hands to his wounds as they began healing. She healed the first few wounds as she placed her hand on the place where they once existed.

Sasuke opened his eyes as he felt her cold finger tips brush his skin. He looked over at her as she quickly pulled her hands away. He looked at her for a few moments then looked away.

Sakura sighed as she held his hands over his other wounds and continued to heal them. She felt his gaze fall back upon her. She had always wanted him to stare at her, to take notice of her. But not anymore, not now. She had spent all those years trying to forget about him, to move on.

"Why did you come back." she said braking the silence, but she continued to look at the wound she was healing and avoiding his gaze.

Sasuke didn't answer. He simply kept looking at her. He didn't know what to say.

Why did I go back?

Sakura sighed as he didn't answer. "You came to protect me, but you just ended up getting hurt in the end." she said as if answering his question. She kept her gaze on that of his healing wounds.

Sasuke looked at her then looked away. "Why are you doing this." Sasuke said with no hint of emotion in his voice as he looked back at her. "Why are you helping me."

Sakura looked at him with a surprise look. Then she looked back at his wound. "You helped me once when I was wounded, I'm just returning the favour." she said coldly.

Sasuke looked at her, showing no change in his emotion but he was surprised. This wasn't like the Sakura he knew. He understood now. She was just simply doing her job as a medic nin to tend to any injured shinobi.It was, afterall, an oath they had to take. So that was it, she wasn't doing it because she wanted to, it was because she had to. "I don't need your help." Sasuke said coldly as he pushed her hand away.

Sakura looked up at him. "No, that's right, you don't. You never need anyone's help Sasuke. You can do everything on your own, you never let anyone in to help or- " Sasuke cut in.

"I never asked for your help. I told you not to care about me and that it's none of your buisness!" he snapped.

Sakura looked at him fighting back the tears.

"You think you know everything Sakura. You want to try to understand me, try understand what I feel so you can help. No matter how many people I let in. No one can understand what I've felt, the revenge I seek the pain of losing my parents, my whole clan. Not even you." he said coldly looking into her jade eyes with his black emotionless ones.

Sakura lowered her head as her pink locks hung in front of her face. She fought hard to keep back the tears, she refused to cry in front of him again, to show that she was weak. "You see Sasuke, because of all those reasons that's why I'm probably the only one who would understand how you feel, understand the hate, the pain, the loss of your whole clan," Sakura lifted her head. "The loss of my whole clan." Sakura turned back and continued healing his wounds as she once again avoided his gaze.

Sasuke sat there as he understood.

Her family was killed too..

"It's different." he finally said with his monotone voice.

Sakura stopped healing his wounds as she looked up at him. "Different? How is it different. Because it wasn't your clan? Because you watched your parents get killed by your brother?" she shook her head "It's all about you Sasuke. How about me? I was on a mission. This was only a month ago. And my clan was killed by my cousin. Do you know how helpless I felt? I felt as though I abandoned my clan, as though I left them to die!" she said as she could feel the tears comming. She sighed.

Sasuke looked at her as he could see all the pain and hurt in her eyes. He now understood, he know finally knew that she was the only one who could understand him.

"But I have friends who love me and care for me, they were there for me. Why won't you let us be there for you, let us...love you." she said looking at him as her hands were subconciously resting on his chest.

"Love me? How can any of you love an S-class criminal. You shouldn't even be here Sakura. No one loves an crimal like me." Sasuke said looking back at her as he could tell that she was about to cry any minute but was simply holding back the tears.

"You see Sasuke," she said as she removed her hands from his chest and held them to hers. "That's where you're wrong.."

Sasuke looked at her. Had she still loved him. Even after all these years. She held on to him and didn't move on. After he left her, after he ignored her and threw everything back in her face.

She loved him.

There was a few moments of silence as Sakura sighed and placed her hands back over his remaining wounds. She continued to heal them as Sasuke just stared at her, he didn't know what to say. Whenever she used to tell him she loved him, he would just roll his eyes or call her annoying, but this time, this time it was different. He knew she wasn't the same fan girl that would always stare at him and smile. But now she wouldn't even look at him, and there was no evidence of a smile. She had changed.

Sakura finished healing him as she stood and walked over to the fireplace. She sat down in front of it as she brought her knee's close to her chest and stared at the dancing flames.

Sasuke sat up in the bed as he just watched her. Part of him wanted to go over and sit with her and tell her how sorry he was and just hold her. Another part of him wanted to leave and just go away leaving everything behind, as he did once before. He looked out at the window. "Once the rain stops you should head back to Konoha." Sasuke said in his monotone voice.

Sakura looked over her shoulder as she nodded. She turned back as she sighed and poked at the fire. She heard footsteps as she didn't bother looking. She heard the door open and the room fell silent again. The thunder roared outside as she just stared at the fire.

Sasuke walked out as the rain poured mercilessly down claiming him as their victim. He walked down the path and stood on the bridge that went over the small stream. Although, the small stream had become more of a small lake due to the rain. He sighed.

What am I doing?

She's the only one who really cares and loves me for who I am.

She's the only one who understands the pain and hurt and I went through.

For the hate I experience.

She loves me.

And I,

I lo..

Sasuke looked down as he felt pain comming from his right shoulder. There was a kunai sitcking out as blood was trickling down being washed away by the rain. He looked around. He heard laughter as he immeadiatly recognized it.

"Sasuke." a voice called out.

Sasuke didn't bother turning his head as he stared down at the water in front of him as he watched the rain drops hit the water. "What do you want Kabuto." he said coldly.

"You know what I want Sasuke." he said appeared behind him.

"I'm not going back." Sasuke replied in his monotone voice.

Kabuto began to laugh. "Who said we wanted you?" Kabuto said with a smirk.

Sasuke's eyes widened as he turned and faced Kabuto. "You leave her alone." Sasuke said staring into Kabuto's eyes with his blank expresionless ones.

"Why? Do you care for the girl. Do you love her?" Kabuto said with a wicked grin.

Sasuke didn't answer him, he just continued to glare at him.

"What, you don't think she loves you do you?" Kabuto burst out laughing. "Who could love you. Who could love a criminal like you. No one wants you Sasuke. Not even her. Well, there is one person." Kabuto said with a smirk. "So, why don't you just let me take her off of your hands, maybe I'll even get her to love me. Don't worry Sasuke, I won't harm her..much." his smirk widened then quickly faded as he looked down.

Sasuke grabbed Kabuto by the throat. "I will kill you if you ever lay a finger on her." he said staring into his eyes.

Kabuto coughed as he looked up at Sasuke. "We won't always be around to protect her. And when you're not there, she's ours." Kabuto lifted his hand that was glowing blue as he grabbed Sasuke's wrist and he immeadiatly let go. He looked up as Kabuto was gone.

Sakura stood as she heard voices. She opened the door as she slowly made her way outside, the rain pouring down claiming yet another victim. She saw Sasuke standing on the bridge as she approached him. When she got closer she noticed the kunai sticking out of his shoulder and that he was grasping his wrist. "Sasuke, what happend?"

Sasuke looked up at her as her as he looked down at his wrist once more.

Sakura slowly pulled the kunai out as Sasuke winced in pain. She held her hands over his shoulder as green chakra appeared and his wound was healed. She looked down at him clutching his wrist. "Here, let me see that." she said reaching down and grabbing his wrist. She held her hand over it. "You're veins were cut from the inside.." she said looking at him questioningly. He just stared back at her. She sighed as he didn't respond and healed his wrist.

He watched as she healed him. Once she finished he brought his wrist up as he rubbed it with his other hand. He was amazed at her ability to heal wounds so quickly, taught by Tsunade no doubt.

Sakura walked to the other side of the bridge as she looked out at the rain hitting the water. She sighed.

What am I doing out here?
It's obvious he didn't want to be with me, that's why he came out here by himself in the first place.

She sighed as she turned to leave. She stopped as she looked up at Sasuke who was standing in front of her.

Sasuke looked down at her as he brought his hand to her chin. He gazed into her jade eyes. He could see the pain, the hurt. No doubt half of it was caused by him. Looking into her eyes was like looking in a mirror. It pained him to see her like this, because of him. His eyes softened a bit as he gazed into hers.

Sakura looked into his eyes as she could see, and even feel the pain. She knew what he had been through, and could relate.

Sasuke lifted her chin as he moved closer. He closed his eyes as their lips were only a millimeter away from each other.

Sakura felt butterflies in her stomache. She couldn't do this, she didn't want to...

They're lips collided as Sakura slowly closed her eyes and she turned red.

Sasuke pulled her closer as his tongue bushed softly against her lips waiting to enter. He deepend the kiss.

She placed her hands on his bare chest as they got closer. She deepend the kiss as well.

Sasuke surprised even himself. He was screaming inside,

What are you doing!

He knew he would regret this moment. But now, right now none of that mattered. It just felt so right. This was right, she was right.

He loved her.

Every girl dreams of their first kiss to be magical and romantic. There would be butterflies and birds chirping happily and the sun shining brightly and it would indeed be a moment to never forget. There was no butterflies, no birds, no sun, and this definatly wasn't a magical romantic moment. This moment was better, it was one that she would, they would definatly never forget.

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Sakura slowly opened her eyes as a yawn escaped. She sat stretched her arm out where Sasuke should've been. She quickly sat up and looked around the small cabin. He wasn't there. She let out a sigh, he had left. It was no surprise. Just then the door swung open as Sasuke walked in with a few dead rabbits clutched in one hand. A smile spread across Sakura's face.

Sasuke entered noticing she was awake. He walked over to the fireplace as he began to skin the rabbit. Once done he placed them over the fire too cook. He heard footsteps as he stood and turned around. He saw Sakura with a sheet wrapped around her. She stood a few feet away as they just looked at each other for a few moments.

"Good morning Sasuke." Sakura said with a smile.

"What's so good about it." Sasuke said turning back to the rabbits cooking on the fire.

Sakura's smiled faded as she turned and walked back over to the bed as she picked up her clothes that were on the floor. She let out a sigh. He was still the same old Sasuke. She dropped the sheet as she changed back into her clothes.

Sasuke pulled the rabbits out of the fire as he set them aside. He looked over at Sakura who was changing and now putting on her shoes. He turned back to the rabbits. "Food's ready."

Sakura made her way over to Sasuke as she eyed the dead rabbit. She normally wouldn't have eaten it but she hadn't eaten in days so who was she to complain. She picked it apart as she began eating it.

Sasuke watched her gnawing at the rabbit as he shook his head and finished his. He soon stood as he walked over to the door.

Sakura looked up. "Where are you going?" She asked placing her half eaten rabbit to the side.

"Outside." he answered coldly as he glanced over his shoulder.

"Oh.." Sakura said as she looked down at the ground noticing his cold reply.

Sasuke sighed as his eyes softened again. "Wanna join me?" he asked in a cooler tone.

Sakura looked up as a smile spread across her face and she nodded. She stood and walked over to the door as he held it open for her and she stepped out. She looked up as she shielded her eyes from the sun.

Sasuke walked past her as he made his way over to a large boulder and sat against it.

Sakura followed him and sat beside him, leaving some space between them. There was a few moments of slience between them as Sakura looked over at Sasuke. "Sasuke?" she said turning her body.

"Hn." Sasuke replied keeping his eyes closed as his head was titled back and he leaned against the boulder.

"What are you going to do now?" Sakura asked not taking her eyes off of him.

Sasuke shrugged. "Isn't it obvious. Kill Itatchi." he said.

"Oh, then what about after that." she said inching closer.

Sasuke looked over at her. "I don't know." he replied honestly. He had based his whole life upon revenge against his brother.

"Well maybe you should come back to the village, with me." Sakura said looking at him.

"No Sakura." Sasuke said in his monotone voice as he looked ahead of him.

"Why not." Sakura said more seriously.

"Because I don't belong there. No one wants me there anyway." Sasuke said cooly.

"What are you talking about. Of course people want you there. Naruto,Kakashi-sensai...me." she said as she looked at him pleadingly.

He just shook his head. "None of that matters Sakura. I don't belong there, you have your own lives now and I have mine."

Sakura could feel her eyes watering. "What do you mean none of it matters? What about last night, doesn't that matter? Don't...don't I matter?" Sakura said fighting off the tears.

Sasuke sighed as he looked at her. "Sakura, we can't be together. Last night, well that was just a stupid thing to do." he said bluntly.

Sakura shook her head. "Stupid..stupid." she said as she lowered her head.

Sasuke sighed as he looked back ahead of him. "Listen, if you're going to start crying would you mind doing it somewhere else. Maybe on your way back to Konoha." Sasuke said as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall.

Sakura looked up at him, her eyes watering. She slowly stood as she took a few steps away then looked back over her shoulder. "I can't believe I still love you.." she said as she dissapeared into the forest and she couldn't fight them any longer as the tears began streaming down her face.

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A wide grin spread across Kabuto's face as he pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose.

"Excellent."

he said as he watched her dissapear into the forest. He began to laugh wickedly as him, and a few sound ninja, followed Sakura.

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Sakura ran through the forest as she stopped and ducked dodging several kunai. She turned to see Kabuto with some sound ninja behind him.

"Kabuto!"

she said clenching her hand into a fist.

"Hello there my little cherry blossom."

he said with a smirk as the sound ninja attacked her. She took out a kunai as she stabbed them and she finished the last one off with a punch to the abdomen and sent him flying through a tree.

"You're next!"

she said as she chaged towards him, her fist pulled back. Kabuto smirked as his hand began glowing blue and he switly moved to the side and touched her chest with his hand.

Sakura stopped dead in her tracks as she grabbed her chest. She began feeling dizzy and weak as she fell to her knee's. She clutched her chest tighter as she could feel the darkness fall upon her. She fell to the ground.

Sasuke-kun...

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Author's notes : TAA-DAA. finito. bwhaa. okay well. hmm. im leaving for my cottage tomorrow so i'll be gone for a week! GAH.im sorry. i hope this, and the other chapters will keep you happy for now? When i get back i promise a super huge chapter filled with juicy fights and more FLUFF. bwhaa 3 okay well review please and i'll see you in a week!