Yeah so it's been a week. I have no reason not to have updated, but I haven't been in the mood to write stories or chapters for current stories. If I'm not in the mood I do a sloppy job.

Holy shit! I got 46 reviews for the last chapter! God I love you guys! Make me feel so wanted like that... you -sniff-... you jerks... god I love you!

Important question: Who added me to their C2's? I would like to know in a simple review, that way, I can properly thank you at the end of my story on the 'Special Thanks' page I will create.

Recommended Song: Three Doors Down – Here Without You

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or any of its characters. Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

-A Helping Hand-

-19-

"Sakura… we… we might not get out of here you know?" A frail voice sounded from the bedside of the young, traumatised girl.

"It was my fault…" It had been the girl's mantra since the body was thrown into the pathetically tiny hole. They took her life and didn't even bother to make an effort with the 'grave' she now resided in. Her life... her only friend's life.

"Sakura…" The young girl with short, snapped hair stroked the pinkette's arm soothingly. The ends of the strands stuck up and was thinning in many areas on top of her almost bald head. The remains of constant abuse to the once smooth blonde hair she had possessed. "…you should sleep some more" She said defeated as she stood and walked over to her own bed, which lay closer to the door. There was nothing more she could do for her roommate.

I'm sick of sleeping…

Lime eyes opened frantically, looking from left to right in their desperate attempt to catch her bearings. Her breath felt trapped in her throat… the feeling of being suffocated.

With all the force in her body, she willed her muscles to relax and gasped loudly as the oxygen began to flow once more. Coughing followed as she breathed in, desperate for more air in her system.

After calming herself, she looked around the room and attempted to lift her head and move her arm. She was stiff… nothing responded to her signals. She felt like lead.

Luckily, the alarm clock seemed to be dangerously near the edge of her desk, and it's luminous red numbers taunted and mocked her unfocused eyes. Three… AM?

Small, wet droplets of water ran from her eyes and she looked back down to her broken body. It amazed her how the optimism left over still worked out she had been left much worse off a few times before.

For the few hours of unconsciousness that had overcome her, a small amount of chakra was left over in her system. Just enough to make her stiff joints and limbs respond and heal enough to prevent deformities and serious problems. Sending the cool, green chakra to her back and ribs, her torso seemed to tighten as a sign of her medical miracle taking place.

Through the process, she though on how she hadn't been able to move like this before. If she hadn't been put in medicine at school, would she make it till daybreak?

Part of her seemed to imagine her cold, lifeless body being left over. Her room becoming silent as Osamu entertained guests or screwed the bimbo on the floor below.

Feeling the tingling sensation die down in her back, she started out light, bending and straightening her fingers and toes; then moving onto her feet, hands, arms and legs. Carefully, she lifted her arms to brace herself and pushed on the limbs to raise her back from the wooden ground, which couldn't have helped her condition. She bent her knees to push out but found herself falling back to her butt as a stifled moan was issued.

The pain was hitting her hard, and had to be treated soon; but with no chakra, she would have to do this the old fashioned way. Changing her plan, she began to crawl backwards to her bedside, where a small metallic red box lay. Grabbing the chilly metal container, she placed it on the floor and flicker the little lock to reveal its contents.

A small giggle escaped her lips as she closed the box again. Looking around nervously, she began to panic and hyperventilate. As if not believing her eyes, she opened the box once more to look at the medical supplies. All that was left of her usually bursting stock was a few sponges and the tatted remains of a bandage which had been cut tattered. She must have been in a rush that day. The little bottle of cleaning alcohol was dried up and leaking a foul, leftover stench which made her stomach churn. What the hell was she supposed to do? She certainly couldn't walk into the shop a few streets down. She would certainly collapse, and not only that; there was the obvious fact on how it was three in the morning. Everybody was in bed at this time. Her neighbours would certainly shut the door in her face and she needed help immediately.

"Alright… well next time you get injured… come to me… I'll help you out…"

No! She shook her head to rid herself of her friend's soothing words. She couldn't wake them up at this time in the morning. Besides that, last time a friend helped her in a similar situation… the consequences were dear.

Stinging eyes began to water and for the first time, a stinging pain clutched just above her left eye. The encounter with the bastard's knee wouldn't look pretty. She had no choice. She was out of everything. Looking around the room one last time, as if to find something useful to her what she has missed, she sighed with a small tremble. If she was stealthy about it, not a soul would find out.

Using her bed frame, she gripped the hard wood with a deadly grasp which cracked and splintered the smooth surface. She stood with difficulty, and hunched over to try and find a comfortable position to walk in. Realising her posture alone didn't look healthy, she continued to her front door, sending a sideward glance to the window. It would have been a perfect route, but it was too high to jump in her state.

She grabbed her fluffy pair of slippers, which resembled Eskimo's boots and slipped them on slowly, deciding to go easy on her back. They were perfect for sneaking out of a house filled with wooden floorboards.

The stairs were a little more difficult than the walk. She would find herself struggling for a hold on the wall occasionally because of tipping too far forwards with her back.

The journey from her room to the front door took her ten minutes of steady, careful steps. 'Old people sure do have it hard…' She thought on a lighter note, to try and stay positive in this situation.

Gently pushing down on the handle of her front door, she pulled the door open slowly, sending nervous looks up the stairs. After opening it partially, she skimmed around the crack she made for herself and stepped out onto the winding path of her house.

Whilst walking across the street and checking roads for cars, which was stupid, she tried to hold back all of her doubtful thoughts on how they might not be in or how they could ignore the door. Tenderly, she stepped on the path to the house and froze to the spot.

What if Gaara was in? What would he say? It wasn't like they were together; but their interest in one another was clearly visible. Maybe, if he seen her like this, he would back off not wanting to deal with her emotional crisis right now.

The cold night's wind seemed to grow impatient with Sakura's stalling and sent a pain-ridden chill around her body, making her back scream in pain. Taking the hint, she continued down the path with small, yet quick steps before leaning on their door for a breather.

Raising a trembling hand, she almost pressed the small white bell before she thought better of it. She had heard that bell before and the noise it emitted would send you into accident and emergency in the middle of the night. Instead, she changed her course and took a quick knock at the door. Sighing in annoyance with herself, she mentally scolded the feeble knock which couldn't have stirred a fly on the other side, and looked up to the window on the second floor.

She prayed it was Temari's room before she took a loose stone from the wall separating the neighbour's house, and looked up.

'Please be Temari's room! Please!'

Ignoring the pain for a moment, she threw up the stone and could have grinned when she heard a sound loud enough to wake the inhabitant of the room, yet not the whole house.

Waiting a second, she impatiently reached for another, repeating the process. Her back once again cried out and she found herself tumbling against the door, releasing a dull thud which she froze at. It probably sounded like somebody breaking in. Yet, who would break into the Sabaku's house was beyond her.

Allowing herself to chuckle at the humour of it, she failed to realise the curtain's draw back from the window to inspect the person below or the small light from beyond the small window of the front door. The sound of rustling and metal locks opening made her eyes snap open from her moment of relaxing and she pushed from the door before she fell through it.

Mentally chanting Temari's name again, the door opened and her eyes looked a little panicked, but relaxed. Okay, so it wasn't Temari. But it wasn't him either.

"Sakura?!" He asked stunned taking a step forward and looking at her face quizzically. "Why are you here?!" He asked, not realising her slouched form or the reddened patch from where Osamu's hand had connected with her face. It was a dark night after all.

"Kankuro… get Tem" She said painfully, trying to remain calm and neutral. She didn't want to panic him or wake the whole house up.

"Eh, why?"

"Tell her it's urgent… please!" She begged looking up at his confused expression.

"Err… sure, come in Sakura" He said keeping the door open for her, before walking quietly up the stairs.

Stumbling past the door, she leaned against the wall uncomfortably and shut the door soundlessly. Soft footsteps echoed from the stairs and she looked up to find a yawning Temari with serious bed hair.

She let out a long yawn before addressing Sakura, who was still cloaked in darkness. "What the hell are you doing at this time of the morning?" She yawned lowly, "Shouldn't you be asleep"

"Tem… I… I need your help" She admitted while staring at the floor, ashamed of her weakness.

"At this time? What's wrong?" Temari replied a little more gently, sensing something was up.

"Well… you said that I could come to you…" She said making Temari confused.

"Eh?"

"I could come to you… next time…" She trailed off quieter and hugged the coat she grabbed closer to her body. She didn't want to have to tell her out loud.

After a second of thought, Temari's eyes widened every so slightly before looking Sakura up and down. "Where?" She asked in full understanding.

Sakura's voice suddenly felt dry and croaked. She willed herself to stay strong in front of the Sabaku's, but the tears were stinging her eyes again. As if she had got a load off her chest without actually saying anything. She had a feeling they knew how she became bruised. "…M-My back" She whimpered looking to the floor. "…my face" She turned her head away so they couldn't see the scar yet. "…and my ribs" She finished looking over to the shocked Temari and the confused Kankuro.

"Kitchen now!" Temari ordered to Sakura, who slumped into the kitchen slowly. "Kankuro, get the first aid box" She said before following Sakura into their family kitchen.

"Eh? She's injured?"

"Just do it"

Walking into the kitchen in anger, Temari looked to Sakura who stood awkwardly next to the breakfast bar. Sighing in frustration, she walked over to the lamp near the door and switched it on, so she could fully investigate the damage.

As she turned, her eyes returned to their widened state and she gasped at Sakura's face. A large, bloody lump, with a scar running straight through it, adorned her forehead, just above her left eye. It crossed over onto her eyebrow, making Temari assume she could have damaged her eye had it been any lower.

A red bruise was showing up on her cheek but it wasn't as serious as the former mark. Temari gulped, walking over to the pinkette, no longer in anger, but in sympathy. It wasn't Sakura who she should be angry at for being injured.

"Take off the coat" She almost dreaded what was coming next. Sakura paused before shrugging the material from her shoulders. Nothing looked bad from Temari's eyes, but scars didn't lie on top of clothes. "Take off the top"

She walked over to Sakura, to help rid her of the light pink pyjama top she wore, which matched her pale green, baggy bottoms. She still wore the furry, beige boots on her feet.

After ridding her of the material, she placed it on the countertop and looked to Sakura's thin, little stomach. A large bruise was beginning to turn black, just where her ribs ended. "I fixed the crack already… but I'm out of chakra" Sakura said disappointedly.

Temari frowned and moved onto her back where she felt a lump in her throat. Her back… was by far the worst injury she had. Large, blackened bruises were showing up in several locations, some had red circles around them and had already swollen a little. "S-Sakura" Temari gasped holding a hand to her mouth.

"Hey, I brought the- holy shit!" Temari's brother's voice called from the kitchen entryway. He stared at the large, black bruises adorning the petite girl's back in horror. The only thing covering her upper body was a black bra. Blushing heavily, Sakura grabbed the shirt she had worn and messily covered her chest with the material.

"Kankuro!" Temari said sternly.

Handing over the supplies, he turned and sat down on a stool, facing it away from Sakura to give her some decency. "I'm cleaning that eye of yours first" Temari stated grabbing the cleaning alcohol and a cotton pad.

Kankuro turned around in disbelief to see why her eye needed cleaning first, and turned sadly when he saw the marks.

The tension in the room was high as Temari nervously bit her lip, as if wanting to say something and stopping. Sakura noticed this but looked to the floor hoping she wouldn't ask.

"Sakura" Kankuro asked from his seat. She turned her head and eyes to watch his back as Temari looked between the two, while patting her eye. Sakura hissed at the pain but continued to watch Kankuro. "…we're tired of the lies"

Closing her eyes and looking to the floor she ignored his hinting request. "Sakura" Temari asked nervously.

Getting annoyed, Kankuro turned to look at the smaller pink-haired girl. "Damn it Sakura, tell us the truth!"

She shook her head and bit her lip, eyes still closed to the world and the questions.

"Fine, if you won't way anything, maybe I should wake Gaa-!"

"No!" She yelled jumping up from the stool and looking fiercely at Kankuro who stopped with a look of interest. "Don't…"

"Tell us"

"I can't!" She whimpered. Temari turned her head and placed a soft bandage over her head and stuck it with medical tape.

"You can't? Or you won't?"

"I… I can't" She was sounding squeakier as her voice broke from the strength she had forced upon it. Temari moved to her bruises and gently bathed them in a cool liquid before gently rubbing cream into them. Sakura felt better after the cream, which began to turn hot on her skin, was rubbed in.

"It's your dad isn't it? Your guardian" She turned away and looked to the floor. Temari decided to pipe in becoming tired of having to guess.

"We know already Sakura! We know first hand why those scars and bruises are there! It is him so why won't you just admit it!"

"It isn't! I-I fell and-!" She accepted the pain relief from Temari and swallowed the little pill.

"Don't give me that bullshit!" Temari fought back getting louder. The two seemed to forget about the other inhabitant of the house and Kankuro shot nervous looks up the stairs as if seeing something.

"I can't say! Do you want me to running around screaming it? I won't be so weak!" She yelled, edging backwards with her chest still covered.

Temari and Kankuro's eyes widened in shock and fear after they visibly tensed; which Sakura almost mistook as a reaction to her outburst. She was about to begin her apologies with a sincere look, but found herself pausing. Their eyes weren't looking at her. They stared at what was behind her… or rather, who.

"Haruno?" A deep voice asked from behind the smaller pinkette. Her eyes matched Kankuro and Temari's when she recognised the voice. "What happened?" He asked darker, letting his hand trail the bruises along her indented back.

"G-Gaara?" She questioned moving forward and turning around. Big mistake.

He advance toward her and turned her head to look at the large bandage covering her wound. He also examined the red mark on her cheek, fire burning in his eyes. Only, he wasn't aware of the topic Kankuro and Temari had been bringing up. He hadn't seen any other bruises from her. She wanted it to stay like that, knowing it would be more believable if it only happened once.

"I… I gotta go" She said quickly, throwing the shirt over her head and grabbing her coat. "Thanks Tem."

Hastily, she ran from the house after hearing the door click behind her. Regretfully, she didn't make it far before she was forcefully turned and lifted like a child from her underarms. She gripped the arms which held her for safety, should the being decide to drop her from her elevated position.

"You didn't answer my question" A dark, demanding tone asked her as she stared into black-rimmed, jade eyes. Her heart quickened, a million thoughts rushing to her head to try and make the situation seem less… threatening.

"Gaara!" She gasped the moment he finished his own question, struggling against his hold. "Put me down"

Hesitance streaked behind his usual blank eyes before he set her down slowly, but neglected to release her.

"It was just an accident… I took a tumble down the path and banged my head against the fence. Then I landed on some of the rocks that were decorating the drive…" She said in a rush, mentally congratulating herself. He had seen some strange rocks out front of her house before. It was entirely believable.

"Is that so?" He asked sceptically before running the tips of his fingers over her bruised cheek. He searched her eyes for any traces of lies and she knew it.

Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on the circumstances, she was a good liar… too good. After his tension slowly faded and his eyes softened from the cold, hard look he used when trying to figure her out, she too relaxed and found herself wondering. The smallest part of her decided to relish in an imaginary fairytale, involving being rescued from the handsome male by her wicked guardian and all his wrong doings. What would actually happen, in the real world, should he find out?

Honestly, she didn't know what she was to him. The looks he sent her had changed since the party. They were deep and no longer held back from revealing the longing cast in the deep green currents. It made her somewhat happy when she relished in this fact. Her heart would flutter gently until the crushing reality of her hidden life would sneak back up and rear its ugly head. She couldn't be with him… not while Osamu still lived.

She paused… still lived?

Pressing his lips tightly against her own, he divulged in her taste with a quick, meaningful kiss only to find her heart wasn't in the returning gesture. He pulled away to examine her once more. She seemed confused, yet enlightened by another thought flashing in mind.

"What's wrong?" He asked bluntly as her eyes refocused and took in the current situation.

"N-Nothing?" She lamely replied, "…I…uh…well" His eyes flashed his amusement along with the upturning of his lips. "I was just thinking…"

"Of?" He chimed pulling her closer to rest his forehead against her own and interlinking his hands on the small of her back.

"N-None of your business!" She stammered batting him in the chest playfully as his hands drew circles on her back in a soothing manner; conveniently over the memorised bruising patterns.

"Fine" He said ending his taunts and pulling in once more for another confrontation with her lips. This time, she responded fully lazily resting her arms over his shoulders and her hands in his hair. She inhaled sharply before pushing him away with a pout. He smirked in return releasing her. "Too late, I lead now with three"

"You-!" She stopped mid-way and cursed the red-head when he disappeared in a flurry of sand. "…jerk" she continued half-heartedly with a sigh and a smile.

oOo

"What happened?" Gaara asked as he appeared in the kitchen without warning.

Temari jumped from her hunched over position by the sink, where she washed her hands of any blood of alcohol. She sighed and settled for the truth. "She… didn't say"

Gaara looked to the floor. It wouldn't make sense for her not to tell Temari but maybe the opportunity didn't present itself. Then again her shouts of screaming her reasoning in the streets were what disturbed him from his deep meditation. The moment her familiar voice rang from the hallway, he transported himself behind the disturbance.

Still, something seemed off, even if her story made sense. A disgusting feeling was ever present in his stomach, as if the answer was right in front of him. First hand, he should know… but thoughts of her ever-lasting cheerfulness would always keep his mind preoccupied from any truths. She was a constant distraction from any reasonable thoughts. But, that distraction was beginning to diminish as he began to concern for her well-being and the secrets she kept well hidden.

"Will… you always save me?"

Shaking his thoughts, he sombrely followed Temari as she ascended the stairs to sleep more, while she muttered about sleep and incoherent ramblings which only made sense to herself.

oOo

"Ugh…"

It was her constant moan for the past ten minutes. Nothing made sense so she could only mumble as the effects of some unknown alignment washed over her limp form.

Her vision blurred as she forced herself to remember what had happened. Deciding on closing her eyes, she focused on the facts.

"I have no choice so just eat it… I'm in charge of your meals… ungrateful bitch" Yoko cursed after shoving a plate of colourful food, including dumplings, across the table; her favourite.

"F-Fuck-ing… cow!" Sakura managed to splutter as she lifted her head, which felt extremely heavy. Looking around, she didn't recognise the room, yet knew she was still in the house. When Yoko dragged her obviously drugged body from the dining room, where she had been writing her essay on medicines and new-found cures and research, she recognised the stairs hitting against her back as her arms were tugged upwards, only she didn't make it far beyond the last step which made contact with her healing back.

The previous day had been uneventful and the chakra Sakura had managed to gather was sent to her injuries. Mainly, her face and throbbing head. She had hidden every wince and discomfort from Gaara and left their house feeling much better than she had when she stumbled in.

Now, it was the last day of her weekend and she briefly wondered why Yoko had drugged her food in the first place and locked her in the small room. She couldn't make it past her blurred vision to identify what she was lying on, but she knew it was soft .

The door opened once more and the large echoing thump in her head managed to fade in time to catch the words being spoken to her.

"…I wouldn't have to do this if you dressed nice in the first place" the sultry blonde complained unfastening the buttons to the loose jeans that hung on the pink-haired girl. "…but I don't want my customers to be disappointed in your clothing. They may not pay me the full price" She giggled pulling the clothes from Sakura.

After tugging the tight-fitting green shirt from her hair, she flung the garment next to the jeans and tugged her ankle socks from her too. Sakura bit back the comment she couldn't form into words and continued to focus on what was happening.

"…but don't worry" Yoko continued after babbling about nonsense. "you'll be fully aware of things when he arrives."

'He?'

Sakura faintly heard Inner Sakura's angry murmurs. Even her inner was taking the drugs full force and it sounded no more than a drunk's slurs.

Yoko paused in front of Sakura looking down at her work. It wasn't anything superb, but it gave off the seductive impression which Yoko thought any man would have difficulty refusing.

As her vision cleared, she looked down to the abomination she was dressed in. The sexy-feel Yoko was going for as clearly not what Sakura would agree to. Instead, clung to her body was a thin, satin night gown which barely made it to the middle of the thigh. The lace and trim made her want to hurl. It looked disgusting and she knew she probably looked easy. Which made her stomach lurch; what exactly did Yoko plan for her?

Now wasn't the time to be playing Miss Naïve. Summing together the facts, she didn't manage to piece them together before Yoko struggled in heaving her off the soft, sturdy…thing… beneath her. Once she held Sakura upright, she felt something cold and hard clamp around her wrist. Snapping her hazed eyes open, she felt the other hover above her head and suffer the same fate.

Her head still felt heavy and her neck didn't hold the strength to lift it. The feel felt metal and rattled against her weight when she flopped down after being released from the panting, weakling in front of her.

The door closed with a click, as if the chains encircling her wrists could give out and she would manage to leave. 'Heh… been shopping in naughty places, have you Osamu?' She thought to herself.

Yoko's mysterious call and the large number she wrote down. She was selling something and Sakura didn't need to guess twice to figure out what. Why else would she be dressed so revealingly, suspended by the ceiling and drugged until 'he' came along… tonight.

She could really use some of that chakra she used to clean up her wounds. It was possible for her to concentrate and gain enough to subdue whoever this 'he' was by the time he made his appearance. But, relaxing enough to gain the extra help wasn't an option as her shoulders pulled against the sturdy chains.

After all the torture she endured, she remained strong and revealed tears only when the pain was the most unbearable. She even managed to smile and carry on with her care-free life.

As her eye sight began to clear and adjust to the situation befalling her, she furrowed her eyebrows and attempted to stand on her own two feet, lifting the weight off her back and shoulders. Her knees began to tremble as she looked around the room.

Maybe this time, she wouldn't be able to smile after what would happen in these four walls.

To Be Continued…

Yeah I know you probably have unfriendly thoughts towards me. It's been a while since I updated… well, in reality, it's been like a week and a bit, which can be considered not long at all.

But, at least I'm not taking months to update. So don't whine and let me manage the story in my time. It's hard when I have SO MANY ideas running around in my mind.

It… becomes hard to focus.

Anyway, you know what to do with that neighbourhood-friendly-button below.

Also, I have a question, in different countries, is the button below different colours? Because I've read a few stories which say 'press the purple button' but I always thought it was blue. There's a bit of curious information for ya.

Next Chapter: Yoko's plan are foiled, but not by our favourite red-head. She gets her 'reward' for such a hard days work.