3. Pray

The first time Sasuke prayed it was not for him, but for her.

"Sasuke! You can't go back, it's too dangerous!"

"You expect me to leave her behind?" Sasuke snapped his Sharingan activating.

"Of course not, but what good is that we lose both of you?"

Naruto found himself pressed up against the tree, Sasuke's hand pressed against his neck. "We haven't lost anyone, I haven't lost her. I can't lose her." He growled as his hold tightened around his neck, pushing him once more against the tree Sasuke let go and and ran into the forest.

Sasuke leaped from tree branch to tree branch until he reached the site. Scanning the area he quickly spotted who he was looking for.

"Hyuuga," he whispered kneeling beside the motionless girl. "Hyuuga, wake up." Sasuke went on as he lightly shook her by the shoulders. Sasuke hadn't felt a pain this deep, not since the death of his family several years ago. "Hinata you said you were going to make it out of this!"

After several minutes of unsuccessfully trying to get a reaction out of her Sasuke turned his gaze upward.

"I'm not sure I believe in a greater being," he began, "If there is someone out there, I've never asked for anything." Sasuke paused and took a breath, "What I'm saying is that I've never felt the need to ask for any favors."

"But, I need her. I need her to be with me, to be by my side. I can't go on without her, not when I know what it's like to have her." Sasuke took another breath to steady himself.

"Don't take her from me" Sasuke reached for her hand and grasped it tightly between his hands. "Please." Sasuke hands continued to clutch her small hand. Then he felt it, he felt a small twitch as her hand tried to break free of his grip. Sasuke's eyes quickly darted to her face as he held his breath for any other signs. Slowly, almost painstakingly slow her eyelids began to twitch. It seemed just the simple task of opening her eyes took a great amount of effort. Finally obsidian eyes, met white.

"You called me, Hinata," she whispered.

"I guess I did," Sasuke answered. "Thank you," he added looking up once again as he scooped up the girl and made his back.