Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own Naruto cause if I did…heh believe me things would change! coughSasuSakucough Unfortunately it belongs to Masashi Kishimoto, blah, blah, blah, insert random legal document , etc.

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Chapter 16: Recap!

Kakashi smiled as he left the room knowing Sasuke was already falling asleep behind him from his breathing. As he left he was careful not to wake the sleeping ANBU who were slumped against a wall.

He arrived back at their room and started getting ready for bed. He glanced over at Naruto, who was dead to the world, drooling all over his pillow, and smiled beneath his mask. Fortunately Naruto hadn't yet begun to snore. When he did well things shook to say the least. Then his eyes drifted to the one bed on the end. It was next to Sasuke's and was furthest away from Naruto's. It was Sakura's bed. Though he knew Team 7 thought otherwise even he, the copycat ninja, felt pain. He felt partially responsible for letting Toshikai take Sasuke and Sakura. As he lie down he remembered something that his Jonin teacher, the Yondaime Hokage, had told his squad once,

"No one is immortal or impervious to pain. Deep down we're all only human no matter how much we try to hide it. Yes, Kakashi, even me. Don't worry about it much. You'll understand someday."

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Chapter 17: Painful Reminiscence

"Hey Sasuke," Naruto greeted the Uchiha who was sitting by the fountain.

"Hey," Sasuke replied in his usual monotone. He had no inclination to talk to Naruto and was silently hoping he'd just go away.

"I was going to go over to the hospital today," Naruto said sitting on the edge of the fountain. "Do you want to come?"

Sasuke shrugged. It had been about six or seven days since Sakura had been put in the hospital, but nothing else had happened. Toshikai hadn't returned and no attacks had been reported anywhere nearby.

"It wouldn't kill you," Naruto said.

"Never said it would," Sasuke said willingly Naruto to leave him alone.

"Yeah, but you wander around town like a lost dog who can't find his master. Don't think I don't see you always moping about," Naruto retorted.

"What do you want me to do Naruto?" Sasuke said sitting up. "It's not like it'll make any difference!"

"It makes all the difference!" Naruto argued. "Besides if it doesn't then you can come sit here and mope yet again. What's there to lose?"

Sasuke didn't answer, but turned his head away to watch the crystal water droplets as they cascaded down from the fountain sending ripples across the serene pool.

"Whatever then," Naruto said having apparently given up. "I'll be at the hospital if you change your mind."

Sasuke turned to watch Naruto walk away when he paused suddenly. Turning around, Naruto called back, "They did a study once that said patients are twice as perceptive of their surroundings. Just thought you might want to know."

"Naruto," Sasuke said quietly though he knew Naruto couldn't hear him. "I can't."

Sasuke leaned back onto the bench once Naruto was gone and stared up at the lazy clouds. It had rained almost constantly for the past few days, but now the sun seemed to be trying to peek out from behind the clouds. It wasn't that he didn't want to go; it was…he didn't know what to say. What could he say to the girl who saved him when he had hardly cared before?

Making a decision, he stood with a sigh and walked into town. Finally arriving at his destination, Sasuke was relived to see the word open in the flower shop window. He sighed complacently wondering if he really wanted to do this at all. As he opened the door a small bell above it announced his presence with a loud jingle. The shop reminded him of Ino's shop back in Konoha with all the flowers, both potted and not, surrounding him.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," a girl's voice said from somewhere in the back. "Oh! Hello."

Walking out of the storerooms in the back was a girl with long dark hair that fell evenly just below her shoulder blades. She was covered in dirt and fertilizer, clipboard in hand. She had looked annoyed for a moment, but after seeing Sasuke her smile returned. Sasuke was used to it as he had that effect on most girls.

"So what kind of flower would you like today?" She asked wiping dirt from her hands onto her apron.

"I'm not sure," Sasuke admitted.

"That's okay, that's what I'm here for," the girl replied. "Sheesh, where are my manners today? I'm Kaname."

"Sasuke," he said.

"Well then Sasuke, tell me what's this girl like," Kaname said grabbing a ladder and climbing up on it as she watered flowers high up on shelves. "So is it for a special occasion or just cause? Birthday, wedding, or something like that?"

"Actually," Sasuke paused, "she's in the hospital."

"Oh," Kaname said hopping down off the ladder. "Do you mind if I ask why?"

"Me," Sasuke said. "She was trying to protect me and…"

"That's enough for me," Kaname said. "I don't like to pry too much. So would you like a bouquet or a single flower?"

"I have no idea," Sasuke said. "I don't even know what she'd like to be honest. You decide."

Kaname smiled pulling out a simple, but elegant vase and after filling it with water hurried off into the back again. Sasuke could hear her rustling about searching for the flowers she wanted.

"I guess that means no anemones," Kaname called back.

"Why not?" Sasuke replied confused.

"They mean forsaken," Kaname answered.

After a few more minutes she returned with a collection of flowers in her hand. She cut the stems and checked to make sure they fit in the vase.

"Perfect," she said after a few minutes of arranging them. "Like it?"

Sasuke nodded hoping Sakura would too.

"Lilies of the valley for the return of happiness, heartsease to say you're always thinking of her, red carnations to say how much your heart aches, and finally a hyacinth to say you're sorry while asking for forgiveness," she quoted. "Leave it the language of flowers to speak when you can't my mom always says. I hope she gets better soon," she quickly added watched Sasuke's confused expression.

"Thanks, me too," Sasuke said.

"No charge for those either," she said. "Now go on and give them too her."

Sasuke nodded as the girl once again disappeared into the back. Shaking his head Sasuke left the store and walked back towards the hospital. He took his time not wanting to encounter Naruto there in the least. Once he arrived the nurses immediately sent him up without even a question. Opening the door for him the ANBU ushered him in. He walked in slowly setting the flowers down on the bedside table with a small note for Sakura's eyes only. He pulled up a chair and pondered what to say. Finally he decided just to start from the beginning.

"Naruto says you can hear me," Sasuke said taking Sakura's hand. "At least, that you know I'm here with you. I hope he was right. Obviously I have no idea what to say, but I guess I should start with I'm sorry. That seems like a good place. Let's see where to start now that I said that? I guess Land of Waves will have to work.

"Sakura even though I didn't show you at first, when I thought I was dead…I was happy to find you worried about me," Sasuke said retelling the story to her from his point of view.

Meanwhile…

"Why not?" Naruto said standing outside the door his entry blocked by the ANBU.

"You can't go in, Naruto," Akimoto said sternly.

"Just tell me why," Naruto pleaded.

"Sasuke already beat you and you don't need to interrupt," Miharu replied ignoring the whining shinobi.

"But…" Naruto whined.

"No!" the ANBU said sternly.

Watching Naruto stomp off both of the ANBU rolled their eyes after him. Glancing at Sasuke, they retreated to the chairs on the opposite side of the hall where they would keep guard.

So the painful memories continued to be shared for about another six days. Much to Sasuke's hidden joy, and Naruto's open glee, Sakura did start to get better little by little. They said that even though there would always be a scar the wound on her stomach would heal with time. After a while though Sasuke was tired of waiting much longer. The only highlight of his day was the hour or so he spent with Sakura in the hospital.

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A/N: So first of all, I know this chapter is…dare I say it…cheesy, but I didn't want to delete it and I think it's kinda cute. I'm sorry for all of you cheesy love story haters, but you'll have to deal with it for just this chapter I swear…okay, in retrospect, I take that back… Either way, I hope you like this chapter two and definitely tell me what you think. It's another shorter one, but the next one will be longer. So remember to tell me whatcha think and give me any ideas you come up with!

Sanity is only madness put to good uses!

Miharu Uchiha