A/N:

Have I thanked you before? THANK YOU for all your support! I salute you all for sticking with this story.

"The Hike" turned out to be a very very long chapter. So, yea... you saw what I did. :)


Chapter 13

The Hike (Part 2)


Naruto waved a hand in the air. "Sakura-chan! Stay there! Don't go anywhere, okay?!"

As soon as they were near enough, Sasuke tossed over her backpack and threw a sharp glare.

"Idiot brat."

Sakura opened her mouth to retort, but Naruto interrupted. "You're in trouble Sakura-chan. Kizashi-sama's really pissed-off by what you did, no matter how bad-ass that may seem. You worried all of us! C'mon, it's dusk and we have to go back to the resort."

After taking a swig from the water bottle, Sakura wiped her mouth and scowled. "I haven't found my necklace yet."

The two guards exchanged looks, before Naruto scratched his head, further messing-up the disarray of blonde.

"All right, let's compromise! We'll help you look for it, BUT – with a single T – only until…" He glanced at Sasuke.

"Seven."

"…seven! Right! Because it will take us at least two hours to get down this mountain, and a sleepy hiker is bad news. If we don't find it today, then let's continue the search tomorrow. Do we get ourselves a deal?"

Sakura stared at him, then nodded. "Deal."

"Hallelujah! Now that that's settled, let's get going!"

Two paths laid in front of them: one was the trail they had travelled earlier, and the other was a shortcut to a higher trail. Naruto pointed at the latter.

"I'll go this way! It'll be easier to search if we split-up. Sakura-chan, you and teme will take the other. Let's meet here five minutes before seven. Since we can't use our cellphones, whoever gets here at most… 20 minutes late would just have to assume that the other have already gone ahead. Teme! Be a good girl, okay? Listen to what Sakura-chan has to say! See yah!"

Then Naruto dashed off without looking back.

"Dobe." Sasuke murmured.

The charge and the bodyguard were left alone; they just stood there, unmoving. Finding the situation a bit awkward, Sakura decided to sp–

"Let's go."

Never mind. "Yeah…"

They walked in silence, scanning the ground for any sign of silver. The faint light of the sunset wasn't helping, so they started using their emergency flashlights.

A few minutes passed, when Sasuke stopped near a boulder they had rested earlier, and bent down to the ground.

Sakura paused as well, expectant. "Have you found it?"

With the ever so stoic face, Sasuke resumed to his full height and raised a hand in midair. A silver chain with a clenched-fist pendant dangled from his grip.

"Hn."

"Oh my God! Thank you so so much! Thank goodness! I was starting to think we won't be able to find it." Sakura took it from his hand, examined it with delicate touch, and secured the necklace inside her capri's pocket.

"It's quarter to seven. We have to hurry back." Sasuke strode away, making Sakura jog and fall in step beside him.

At the mention of the time, she prayed that Naruto was now heading back to the meeting place as well.

They were travelling a path with vegetation on one side and a moderate downhill at the other, when a rustling sound alerted Sakura. It came from one of the bushes they were about to pass by. Nervous, she glanced at Sasuke, who didn't look bothered at the slightest. On second thought, when did he?

She kept her eyes on the set of bushes as the two of them drew near. Each step evoked images of a brown bear, a wolf, or whatever carnivorous wild animal that habited the mountains. Each step was twice, thrice, or even quadruple of her pulse rate.

Step. Step. Step. Then the creature broke through.

Sakura shrieked and leaped away from the bushes. On the middle of the path, staring back at them… was a…

A squirrel? She pointed the flashlight at the silhouette, and the small nut-eating creature sprinted off.

"Hn."

Oh… how she wanted to punch that smirk off that beautiful face of his. Okay, she did not just think about that.

The sudden shift of a rock under her foot startled Sakura for the second time. And before she knew it, she was reaching out for something to hold onto and tipping her balance at the edge of the trail. So, she grabbed for the closest thing available… Sasuke's sleeve.

Sakura's pull and Sasuke's move to save her favored the downhill terrain. And at the next second, they were rolling down the hill together, keeping a firm grip of each other. The solid contents of the knapsack dug onto Sakura's back everytime she landed at the bottom.

The rolling slowed down until they halted on their sides. While taking a few moments to calm herself, Sakura opened her eyes and became aware of the hard chest before her, and the limbs wrapped behind her head and upper back.

"You okay?" Sasuke pulled away.

And she could only nod at their proximity. "You?"

"I'm fine."

They rose from the ground, dusted their clothes and retrieved the flashlights, before moving on to relocate the trail. They had the map and compass, but they had no clue as to their exact location. The dark surroundings also added to the cons.

Sasuke suggested that they continue wandering, for they might find any landmarks that could indicate their location on the map. And because he had always possessed some kind of 'psychic abilities,' they did discover one. A flooring of flat stones, which were fitted together, defined the area. It was about the size of two typical car parking slots. At the center, a circular space was left out, exposing the soil underneath. And on either side of it were two logs for seating.

"This is a camping site." Sasuke handed the map. "We're too far from our trail, and it's too dark to look for a new one. It's best to settle here for the night."

"What about Naruto?"

"It's 7:40. He may have left by now."

"I hope he's okay."

Sasuke set his bag down with one arm. "Hn. There's a stream over there at two o'clock. Go and wash yourself."

Sakura arrived at the stream with the help of the map. Well, it was logical to locate a camp site near a water source. But as much as she wanted to take a bath, the water was too shallow; it only reached until the mid-shin. That, and this place was a little creepy. She washed her hair and wiped her skin with a towel, hissing at some cuts on the arms obtained from their fall. She took note of applying some disinfectant to them later.

Once Sakura was done, she headed to the camping site, where a campfire was now set at the center. It was Sasuke's turn to go to the stream, and she was on her own once again.

Sakura sat on one of the logs and took out her necklace. Upon closer examination of the chain, a joint of one metal ring had been broken and had created a gap wide enough for the next ring to slip through.

I must've broken it when I slung my bag over my shoulders.

She settled to fix it while waiting for Sasuke. It wasn't hard to do, and she was rather proud of herself for connecting it in record time. Now, it was as good as new, while it resumed its place around her neck and on her chest.

Sasuke returned and walked over to the opposite log. With one hand, he rummaged his pack and brought out a medical kit, which poked Sakura's curiosity.

"Are you injured?" She asked.

He didn't respond and continued with his task. From their past encounters, Sakura had come to know that silence could actually mean yes for the Uchiha.

"Why didn't you say so?" She stood up and joined him on the other log. "Here, let me help you with that."

"There's no need."

"There is, and I want to. I'm the reason why you're injured and it's in my conscience if that gets any worse. So, let me treat that properly, at least. You can only use one hand, and I'm doing you a favor. I don't care if you're trained to do this on your own. You've got company here, who's willing to help. So, may I?"

Stare.

"Thank you." Sakura reached for his left arm, careful not to touch the swelling on his elbow. She huffed in disapproval, and tried to recall the information about sprains she had read from one of Tsunade's medical books.

"Judging from your actions, you're still able to move your arm normally. Though I bet it's still quite painful. Does it feel loose or wobbly?"

"No."

"Good. Then this may be a first-degree sprain. But still, you shouldn't have moved it too much. That could've lead to a more serious injury. You know better than that."

Sakura walked to the opposite log, picked up her bag and brought it with her beside Sasuke. Then, she started rummaging the contents.

"Right now, we don't have any ice to reduce the swelling, but I think I've packed some ointment for sprains somewhere in here… Yup! Here it is!"

With measured force, she dabbed the ointment around the affected area. After that, she wrapped the elbow with an elastic bandage, and took one of Sasuke's spare shirts for a makeshift arm sling. While tying the sling around his neck, she spoke again.

"You know, sometimes, it's not bad to show what you feel inside. Pretending that you're okay with being hurt could only lead to more damage. It's torture at its worst. Trust me on that one." With a last knot, the sling was finished. "There, all done."

Sakura handed him the medical kit, but was frozen in place when she met his eyes. The eyes that were staring back at her, right to the soul. The kind of stare that always brought her on the verge of another panic attack…

Unable to stand it, she found her voice. "What?"

"Hn." Sasuke looked away and grabbed the kit, muttering something very close to 'thank you'. Or did she just imagine it?

They shared the remaining packed biscuits and energy bars, while basking in the warmth of the campfire.

The dancing yellows and oranges stayed above the static twigs and driftwoods. The crackle and occasional little sparks were the only signs of resistance. Around them, crickets watched from afar. She couldn't see them, but the noise they emitted gave them away. And between Sakura and the person she sat next to was the cold space of air called awkwardness.

She cleared her throat. "Um… Thank you…"

"…"

"…For helping me find my necklace."

"It's the dobe's idea."

"But you took part nonetheless."

"Hn."

Why wasn't he talking more? She wanted to hear him speak, to know what was inside that mind of his.

Better give another shot. "Is this the first time you've gone hiking?"

"No."

"Oh… Then, where was it?"

"Iwa."

"Woah. Everything there is pretty rocky. You did rock climbing with rappel and all?"

"Hn."

"Now, that's extreme. Who were you with?"

At this, Sasuke took a few beats to answer. "Colleagues."

"How was it?"

He turned to her with a glare that put the campfire to shame. "Disaster-free."

Ouch. "…I'm sorry about the fall and your elbow."

"I meant your behavior. Your demeanor is a disaster. If you hadn't come back for that thing, none of these would've happened… You wouldn't have acquired those wounds."

She almost didn't catch the last sentence, since it was muttered. But as unimaginable as it may seem: was the Uchiha Sasuke sulking? No matter how flattering his concern was, she had her own reasons.

"Well, I don't regret my decision. I'd search for my necklace even at the cost of my life. This is the only thing that makes me feel valuable. The only reminder I have that I should be thankful for merely being here. Because if someone else had sacrificed their own life in exchange of mine, then maybe I have more purpose for staying alive other than being a bait for my dad's money!"

There, she said it. Now, he might think of her as a materialistic, selfish, and unappreciative person. She expected him to argue back, but he didn't. Sasuke's eyes softened, and she was re-witnessing the look he gave at the Root District or at the library: the look of deep understanding – empathy.

"I see."

And he did. The honesty and certainty in his tone, together with those eyes, suggested that he did see through her. Maybe it was his 'psychic abilities' – maybe he did have one.

Despite her idea of shying away from possible love interests, this thing in between her lungs was jumping at the sight of this man beside her. Despite all the fears and doubts, this thing behind her forehead paused all the processing.

Sakura couldn't break the eye contact. The atmosphere had a super glue particle. She could never get tired of gazing at those charcoal eyes, even though it was a task to discern the pupil from the iris. Up close and with the light of the campfire, the real charcoal at the center could be noticed, dilated.

And for once, she was willing to go against her beliefs. She was willing to grab a parachute and jump off a high helicopter. She was willing to dive underwater full of sharks. She was willing to take a step towards the edge of a cliff.

She was willing to take a risk.

In slow motion, Sakura leaned forward and closed her eyes to blackness. Even with all its mysteries, the dark offered comfort – a barrier from the outside world. She continued leaning forward, letting the scent of woods after a rainstorm guide her to him.

"You should rest."

She paused. And opened her eyes to Sasuke's profile. He was fronting the campfire, face devoid of emotion.

"I'll go refill our water containers." He stood up and walked away, leaving her all alone.

Sakura kept staring at the space he had occupied, while the distant bushes blurred at every passing second. The crickets continued observing her, laughing at the display of foolishness. And she realized, she wasn't alone in this camp site, because humiliation and pain accompanied her.

For a thousandth time, an explosion happened inside her chest, and the impact hurt so much to the point of physical pain. She did this. She made up fantasies out of assumptions, and now she suffered at the knowledge of truth. Of course, he wouldn't like her.

How could she allow herself to hope?

No one would care about a psychotic teenager. No one would fall for a trouble magnet. No one would love her… not even Sasuke.

Sakura raised a hand against her chest and could only mimic her pendant's action – grip onto a metal thread.


The night landscape through the car window resembled his thoughts – unclear. Ever since last night, Sasuke couldn't control his mind unlike how he always used to. And it frustrated him.

The event at the camp site had been haunting him. It made him loathe himself, and that shouldn't be the case. He couldn't figure out what was worse: the fact that he rejected Sakura, or the possibility of him responding to her action.

He had been noticing Sakura's behavioral changes toward him lately, and they had not been a disturbance… not until what happened at the firing range.

His charge was getting fond of him. But there was a more appalling realization: He was starting to be in the same predicament.

Although Sasuke had only helped her yield a gun, he considered it a mistake. To offer help also meant to strengthen a bond. And forming bonds was the least thing he wanted in this mission. That was easy enough during the first months on the job, but when the dobe arrived, a different side of Sakura also surfaced.

He started seeing the unguarded Sakura, the one who showed more expressions other than a scowl, the one who cared so much for her friends, the one who conquered her fears head on… the one who wasn't such a brat after all.

Sasuke's brows furrowed. No, she was still a brat, because she never knew when to listen. Kizashi's orders were clear, but Sakura had always possessed a habit of defying instructions.

Why couldn't she think before acting just for once? What if she got lost in that mountain? Had she even cared about her own well-being? Did he always have to watch out for her in her stead?

Sasuke almost laughed aloud at the questions appearing inside this van. What was he thinking? He was the bodyguard. Of course, he should monitor her actions. It was all part of his work. Yes, it was a requirement. It was necessary. He shouldn't let the charge leave his sight. Her previous escapade should never happen again… for as long as he was her bodyguard.

Since the first meeting with the Harunos, Sasuke had been witnessing the on and off cold war between the two. And it somewhat brought memories of him and his own father.

When he was a child, he had always strived for the best in order to receive praises from his otousan. But whenever something went wrong, which had happened a lot, he always get the opposite. Regardless, Sasuke was still contented with those times, because he had managed to make his otousan notice him. And that was all he had longed for… attention.

The Harunos had their own problems, and he had been catching glimpses of the effects on Sakura. But he put it to himself not to get involved in any more of her business. These past weeks, he had been trying to interact less with her. The fewer the communication, the fewer chances of complications.

Unfortunately, Sakura thought otherwise, and she made her intentions known at the camp site.

It was all because of that necklace…

Sakura's voice rang in his ears. 'This is the only thing that makes me feel valuable… Because if someone else had sacrificed their own life in exchange of mine, then maybe I have more purpose for staying alive other than being a bait for my dad's money!'

Well, not entirely. The squirrel was at fault, too. What's with her and small animals?

If she hadn't over reacted, they wouldn't have fallen on that hill. Sasuke had been the one closest to the bushes, so he had noticed the animal ran towards them long before it showed up. But he couldn't deny that he was also responsible for the accident, since he wasn't quick enough to prevent her from falling.

Sasuke gritted his teeth. He had failed to protect his charge. It didn't matter if he was injured. Sakura should be free of even a single scratch. But she wasn't. And he blamed himself for it. He was the bodyguard and he should play that part well. But he hadn't. And he hated himself for it.

The anger increased at the flashback of what happened at the camp site. The staring. The eyes with the most vivid green they paled every leaf in that mountain. The vulnerability and raw courage hidden therein. And then he found himself: the lost seven-year old, the boy who wanted to prove his purpose, the Sasuke who was holding onto his ultimate goal… onto hope.

Everything else had been out of focus; the heart-shaped face was all he could see, glowing with the illumination of the fire. She had pursed her mouth, and those plump, soft-looking lips started nearing him; while her eyelids moved to a gentle close, the upper lashes touching the lower. And she had become an innocent temptress… a sinful angel…

She was exquisite.

Sasuke had allowed himself to observe her. He couldn't move. His brain couldn't come up with a command for his body.

The silver around her neck had glinted, and the earlier events hit him, including the reason why he was there in the first place. Sakura was his charge, and she would lead him to his goal… to his purpose. He only lived for revenge.

Then Sasuke had turned his head away.

Fucking hormones. He glared at all the streetlights and trees they were passing by. At 9:30, the outskirts of Yama were nearly empty.

Just this morning, they had found another trail that lead to the foot of the mountain. It had been an advantage for Sasuke, since he didn't have to crawl down any perpendicular slopes. His left elbow had still hurt, but not as much as it had been the previous night. All because of Sakura's aid.

They had arrived at the resort without saying a word to each other. And a worried and furious Kizashi had welcomed them. In silence, Sakura had faced her father's sermon, while Tsunade tended to Sasuke's injury. Before exiting the lobby and heading to the clinic, he had taken a glance at Sakura, who didn't appear to be listening… just hearing. And his intestines had started twisting into knots.

Until now, the pink-haired girl beside him invaded his mind. Doubt started swimming in with the calculated, rational and unambiguous thoughts.

Even so, he knew he had made the right decision.

A sudden weight on his left shoulder alerted Sasuke. He turned, and the smell of vanilla overwhelmed his senses. A sleeping Sakura was leaning against him, while the dobe was snoring against her left shoulder.

He should push her away. He should… but he was injured. Yes, it wouldn't be ideal to move his left arm. So, Sasuke let her borrow his shoulder for now. He would grant her this, at least.


The hallway was quiet, like it had always been. In normal circumstances, Sasuke would have preferred it this way. But this wasn't normal.

Where's a dobe when you need one?

Now, Sasuke was left with his own thoughts, and with the girl behind this wooden door next to him.

It had been weeks after the hike, but Sakura still wasn't talking to him. He pondered over the option of confronting her about it, of clearing the conflict between them. But how could he, when he couldn't even pinpoint what the problem was?

This set-up would be for the better. He wanted to stay away from her, didn't he? And now she volunteered to do that in his place. That should be a good thing. He shouldn't be bothered by her aloofness.

So, why was he?

Sasuke glared at the opposite wall. He was acting like a teenaged convict, confused and guilty. Heck, in his entire life, he had never even acted this way towards anyone aside from his mother. He had to remember his main objective for being here.

He had to focus on the plan to capture the criminal. His attention should be on that culprit and not on his charge. He was so close to the most desired justice… to his vengeance. And this was not the time to be distracted.

A sudden vibration from his pocket pulled Sasuke out of the commotion of persistent thoughts. He took the phone out and checked the caller id.

Shit. Just great.

What a way to add to the disorder inside his head. This person always called at the wrong time.

Sasuke looked around and made his way to the restroom at the end of the hallway. He just hoped Sakura wouldn't come out of her room yet. He closed the door behind him and locked it with a click. Then, he faced the lavatory mirror, pressed the answer button and raised the phone to an ear.

Two dark eyes glared back at him. Sasuke wouldn't bother to mask the irritation in his tone either.

"What?"

"Hn. Little brother."