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 20: Recap!

Indeed Sasuke was back. He had limped into town and sat down or rather collapsed on the bench by the fountain. He glanced around and found Naruto racing up to him.

"Sasuke! I have something I want to show you!" Naruto said excitedly.

"Hn… I don't want to," Sasuke grumbled. Everytime before when Naruto had tried to cheer him up, including his weird impression of a Sakura doppleganger, it hadn't worked. He wasn't about to care now.

"Come on! Please?" Naruto pleaded and begged. "I know you'll want to see this. Believe me!"

"No, I don't!" Sasuke replied angrily. "I don't want another doppleganger and I don't want anymore of your schemes to cheer me up! I just want Sakura and you can't give me that!"

"Actually, I beg to differ," Kakashi called from across the square.

Sasuke turned to retort, but what he saw left him speechless. His jaw dropped and he heard Naruto laugh to the side. Sakura! His mind screamed as he saw her not more then thirty feet away.

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Chapter 21: Guardian Angel

Sasuke's heart thumped in his chest and he was shocked speechless. Then to his, the ANBU, and practically everyone else's, save Kakashi's, surprise, Sakura stood slowly and painfully. She found her balance after a moment and then stumbled towards Sasuke with a look of ultimate concentration though painful agony was etched into her features. For a moment she stopped and swayed almost falling. A nearby nurse moved to help her, but Sakura raised her hand for the nurse to stop and kept going after catching her breath. The whole square was deathly silent and not a sound broke the silence. Sakura almost made it to Sasuke, but a few feet away she tripped and fell forward. Sasuke, breaking the motionless silence, darted from the bench and fell to his knees catching her in his arms.

"Hello stranger," Sakura whispered. "I missed you. Though I did imagine a more dramatic entrance." She added the last part with a laugh.

"I…uh…" Sasuke said still in shock.

Sasuke felt Sakura wince with a tremble and he eased his grip, but she pulled him closer, tighter, as if she was afraid to let go of him. Her hands clenched his shirt like she never wanted to let go. Sasuke noticed she was crying, her warm tears spilling onto his shirt.

"Now would be the time to say something," she mumbled weakly still pressed into his shirt.

"Sakura…" he whispered unsure what to say. This emotion thing was all new to him.

"I missed you so much. I didn't think I'd ever see you again," Sakura said through her tears. "I…I…"

"Hey, it's okay," Sasuke said grinning slightly as his famous composure slipped away. "I'm not going anywhere."

Then in the middle of the Village in the Clouds middle square, crouching next to a huge fountain, with Naruto, Kakashi, ANBU, and others looking on, he kissed her. Lightly at first since he was afraid of her reaction to it, but if she pulled away he would understand completely. In surprise she pulled away slightly, but slowly kissed him back. This was what she had been waiting for since the ninja academy. This is why I never gave up on him, she thought her will melting away.

"Dang, there goes my chances with Sakura," Naruto joked, quietly sitting on the edge of the fountain.

When Sasuke and Sakura broke away, Sasuke pulled Toshikai's headband out of his bag where he had stuffed it. He glanced at it for a moment before handing it to Kakashi.

"It's not over," He told Kakashi who walked over with a bemused smile. Kakashi didn't say anything for a moment, but merely helped Sasuke lift Sakura back into her wheelchair.

"I know," Kakashi said finally taking the headband from Sasuke. "This must mean something. I doubt Toshikai would throw away his headband for no apparent reason."

"Speaking of which, Sasuke, I need my hitai-ate back. I know you look good in it and all, but…" Sakura laughed softly, discovering it hurt her ribs to laugh too hard.

"Oh," Sasuke said. "I forgot I was wearing it."

He untied it and tied on for Sakura who laughed as he fumbled with it. He pulled out his own and quickly tied it on. He grabbed her hand and gave it a tight squeeze.

"We'll present it to the Raikage in an hour or so," Kakashi said finally. "I would say now, but he's in a meeting. So meet back here then."

With that Kakashi disappeared in a cloud of smoke leaving his squad standing there. Well, standing and sitting.

"I'll be right back," Sakura said suddenly and tried once more to maneuver her chair. She had gotten better, but still hadn't quite gotten the hang of it just yet. One of the ANBU came over with a grin and helped her with it.

She was getting better at maneuvering the wheelchair, but occasionally flew out of control. They arrived at her room and the ANBU opened the door for her.

"Just yell when you're ready, Miss Haruno," they said.

"I will thanks," Sakura said. "Oh by the way it's Sakura."

"Okay, I'm Akimoto and this is my partner, Miharu," the taller of the two replied with a grin.

Sakura wheeled in and quickly, but gently switched back into her normal clothes. As she put on her shirt, she absent-mindedly poked her finger through the hold in her undershirt before pulling it on. A smile played across her lips as she tied on her headband. Despite all the pain she still felt, she was completely giddy with joy. Her lips tingled remembering how his had felt on hers and she nearly squealed in pleasure. Sasuke did care and she loved him even more than she ever had.

She beamed at her reflection and turned to wheel out. Then she changed her mind slipped her shoes on, and gingerly stood up. She knew she shouldn't, but when had that ever counted for much? Suddenly the door flew open and, okay it didn't exactly fly, but from the look on the nurse's face it could have. Sakura recognized her as the nurse who had chastised Naruto and gulped audibly.

"Miss Haruno!" the nurse cried. "What in the world are you thinking? Bad enough the stunt you pulled outside. You shouldn't even be standing, or if I had my way out of bed, let alone trying to walk!"

"But I…" Sakura started.

"No buts missy," the nurse said cutting her off. "Honestly strict bed rest and here you are trying to walk. Sheesh, well I suppose while you're up let me change your bandages and see the damage done by your little escapade."

"I feel fine," Sakura protested.

"Sure you do, but I've seen ninja better off who ruined their bodies by trying to do too much to fast," the nurse said ignoring her. "They ruined themselves and can never be shinobi again. Do you want that?"

"No, but I have someone waiting for me," Sakura argued knowing it wouldn't work. This nurse reminded her of an ornerier, older version of her mother.

"I'm sure you do," the nurse said. "Great! I wonder how much more damage you caused getting dressedby yourself!"

Sakura sighed resignedly and watched as the nurse unzipped her shirt and pulled it up making Sakura hold it. The nurse slowly began to unwrap the bandages as Sakura stared at the blank back of the door rather bored until the nurse whistled. She glanced down and saw the nurse had unwrapped the entire layer upon layer of bandages and had seen the wound beneath that was held together in front and back, by ugly black stitches, through which small drops of blood were able to seep.

"Oh, no," the nurse said clicking her tongue. "I don't have another roll of bandages with me. Hold on."

"What else can I do?" Sakura muttered through her arm was getting tired from holding her mesh undershirt and over shirt up while her injured left arm offered no compensation.

She was also annoyed by the fact that even seeing the wound that put her here didn't help her remember anything that had happened. All she wanted was to remember how she got here and such, but her brain refused to cooperate with her agenda. She made a mental note to ask Sasuke if she ever got away from the nurse.

"Where are they?" the nurse said angrily. "I swear no one ever puts anything where it belongs. Oh here they are."

Sakura rolled her eyes once more and, having given up on trying to remember, wondered if Sasuke and Naruto were missing her. That and the air in the room, though not cold, caused a tingle up and down her spine as it tickled her wound, which was usually wrapped tight hidden away from the air.

The nurse came back over and began pulling the roll apart before she could begin her work. It made it easier to stretch them around Sakura if they were already apart. Suddenly the door opened and Sasuke walked in.

"Sakura, I wanted to show you something while we have time. Are you coming?" Sasuke said until his eyes made contact with her. "Oh…"

Sakura quickly dropped her shirt and pulled the over one tightly around her almost taking out the nurse. There was about two seconds of awkward silence that felt like forever. Sasuke went a brilliant red and dropped his eyes. Sakura couldn't even tease him because she wasn't any better. In fact from the way her face burned she was probably worse.

"I'll just wait for you…" Sasuke managed to blurt out.

The nurse looked back and forth between Sakura and Sasuke as he backed out of the room and shut the door. Once he had the nurse grinned at Sakura.

"Up with your shirt missy," she said with a chuckle and added a wink. "He won't be back."

Sakura eased the shirt back up wishing she hadn't dropped it so fast and this time carefully avoiding her stitches. The nurse wasted no time and quickly finished wrapping up her bandages.

"There now, that's better," the nurse smiled at her work. "Now sit and I'll wheel you out. By the way you're still cherry red."

Sakura smiled at the nurse who moments ago had been an ornery lady. However, she quickly lapsed back into her old attitude.

"Now, remember Miss Haruno, NO strenuous activities whatsoever!" the nurse lectured. "Don't even think about walking anymore. Just stay put. Your body is in no condition to be doing that!"

"I know, I know."

"Sakura!" Sasuke said outside the door, still red himself. "Sorry about…"

"Don't worry about it," Sakura said. "I just thought Uchihas never got embarrassed. Shall we go then?"

"Yeah," Sasuke replied with a slight grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

The two left the hospital slowly and then once they were out in the fresh air Sasuke turned to Sakura with a mischievous look in his eyes. A look Sakura hadn't every really seen before. Now that she thought about it, she had only seen three of Sasuke's looks tops. His smirk, glare, and blank stare, but it was turning out he could smile and be relatively happy.

"How fast do you think this can go?" he asked motioning to the wheelchair.

"Haven't tried," Sakura answered.

"Let's find out," Sasuke said at the top of a hill.

"SASUKE!"

The two went screaming down a hill, Sasuke clinging to the back of the wheelchair, and when they got to the bottom, without a word Sasuke wheeled the chair into an alleyway and over some bumpy cobblestone walks. This small path led them to a quiet, secluded water garden. There was a small bridge that led across the water to a small island in the middle of the pond. It had a bench on it that was flanked by two cherry trees.

"Sasuke I…it's…" Sakura said forgetting to yell at him for the hill, "it's beautiful!"

Sasuke smiled his once in a lifetime genuine smile and then, to Sakura's amazement, gently picked her up. He carried her across the bridge setting her down on what she now realized was a swing rather then a bench.

"Thanks," she said softly as Sasuke sat next to her. "Say Sasuke?"

"Yeah?" Sasuke replied smiling as his fingers knotted through hers. He hadn't imagined opening himself up would ever feel this good, but somehow it did.

"What exactly happened out there?" Sakura asked casting her eyes downward. "I wish I could remember, but…I can't."

Sasuke turned to her surprised by her question. She was still herself, but it different at the same time. It seemed like her brush with death had changed her, but then it had changed their entire squad.

"It's all a blur to me and I can't remember anything from the point I hit the tree up until now," Sakura went on, then glanced at Sasuke.

Sasuke sighed, "Well, it's a long story, but I guess we have time."

Sasuke then related the events from the point Sakura's memory failed her. At moments he paused to remember.

"I thought he would kill us and then…I thought I'd lost you," Sasuke said softly squeezing her hand.

"I jumped in front of you because I wanted you to live. I remember that much," Sakura said when he was finished. "By the way, thank you for the flowers."

"I'm glad you liked them." Sasuke said slowly and quietly. He hesitated for a minute completely lost in thought. "I'm so sorry Sakura. I've been such an idiot. I don't need forgiveness, just…"

"I love you, Sasuke," Sakura interupted him. "How could I not forgive you? I always wondered if you would ever…look at me like you cared… I wanted to show you that you could…"

Sasuke winced remembering how he had acted towards Sakura before, how he never wanted to act again. He heard something and turning he saw Sakura was crying beside him. He put his arm around her and pulled her close. She turned slightly and hugged him back. For a moment they sat there locked together. Sasuke watched her face as it rested gently on his chest and noticed, though she was crying, a small smile danced on her lips.

"Sakura?" he whispered in her ear.

"I heard you Sasuke…when you were talking to me," she said. "You are my guardian angel."

"From now on, I swear I'll always be there to protect you when you need me," Sasuke vowed quietly. "Always."

They sat for a few more minutes and then after realizing the time decided to head off to meet Kakashi. Sasuke turned to help Sakura back across the bridge, but she shook her head wanting to try. He did help her to the bridge, but after that stayed right behind her, his hands at her hips for support. Every step she took was sheer agony, but she fought through it and finally made it to the chair.

"My nurses would be so pissed if they knew I did that," Sakura panted out of breath. "Not that it matters much since they'll be putting me in therapy soon anyway."

"I thought you did pretty good," Sasuke said. "I think you'll fly through therapy and whatever else they throw at you."

"I hope," Sakura said.

Sasuke gazed into her jade green eyes and dropped to his knees to kiss her. She was stronger than most kunoichi in Konoha than she knew. Now he wanted to show her. She leaned in to kiss him back, their lips centimeters apart, when Naruto burst out of nowhere. Sasuke fell back onto his heels brilliant red and annoyed while Sakura turned her head away.

"Hey guys! Kakashi sent me to find you!" Naruto said. "By the way, are you okay, Sasuke? You look a little red."

"I'm fine," Sasuke growled standing and brushing off his shorts. His Uchiha composure had quickly returned in Naruto's presence. "Let's go."

"Uh…okay," Naruto said glancing from Sasuke to Sakura and back again.

Naruto led them back to Kakashi who was waiting for them outside of the gate leading into the Raikage's palace. Kakashi grinned beneath his mask as his team joined him.

"So what have you two been up to?" Kakashi asked Sasuke and Sakura.

"Nothing," Sasuke replied moodily. He was still annoyed with Naruto.

"Oh really. You didn't do anything special together…in private…" Kakashi teased leaning down inbetween them and pausing to cause tension, "…alone. Don't you think alone is such a wonderful word?"

"We weren't doing anything!" Sakura yelled at their sensei.

"Being defensive won't help anything. The first step is admitting it instead of denial," Kakashi smiled enjoying himself.

"Just drop it!" Sasuke said angrily.

"Kakashi, the Raikage's waiting inside for you," a jonin Sakura recognized as Ashitaka said. "Oh by the way, how's Miss Haruno?"

"Good thanks," Sakura said wheeling into view as she realized he couldn't see her.

"Toshikai won't be happy when he finds out," Ashitaka smiled warmly at her. "You're the first to ever survive a blow from him."

Sakura thanked him as the doors opened and Sasuke wheeled her in. The Raikage sat at his desk much like when they had first arrived to see him. He looked up seeming more tired than usual.

"You wanted to see us?" Kakashi asked.

"Indeed I did," the Raikage said. "Ah, Sakura! How are you?"

"Fine I guess," Sakura replied.

"Good, good," Seizo said seeming a bit distracted. "Now shall we get down to business? I understand my son returned momentarily."

Sasuke nodded as Kakashi handed the Raikage his son's hitai-ate. "He said he wouldn't need it anymore."

"I see," Seizo mumbled his fingers brushing the metal of the headband. "He's such a fool if he intends to bring Yosei into this without the scroll."

"He wants to cut any tie with this village he has," Kakashi said thoughtfully. "If he thinks he can, he will."

"What can we do?" Naruto asked. "How can we do anything once he summons Yosei?"

"My son is arrogant and I believe that will lead to his own undoing…" Seizo replied. "When you go after Toshikai, you won't be alone anyway. I'm sending my best Jonin to accompany you."

Sakura sat in silence watching Kakashi work it out in his head. He glanced her way and smiled briefly.

"How many?" Kakashi asked. "When would you like us to leave?"

"As many as I can spare and as for when, I'd say as soon as we find where Toshikai is," the Raikage said melancholy resonating in his voice. "Kakashi, may I speak with you alone?"

Kakashi nodded and told his squad to go ahead and get something to eat. Though Naruto protested briefly, Kakashi promised to fill them in later. With a sigh, Kakashi watched as his team filtered out.

"So what did you need to tell me without them?' Kakashi asked turning back to Seizo.

"Actually we found out where Toshikai is hiding, however…your team needs more…training before they'll truly be ready to face him," Raikage Seizo said. "Also I don't want to say it either, but I think you'll agree that it would be in her best interest if Sakura remained here at the hospital."

"She won't like that," Kakashi said evenly. His thoughts were flying through the scenario in his head. She wouldn't be content to stay behind, he knew that much.

"Exactly, but I honestly don't want another near death encounter," the Raikage said.

"That's true," Kakashi said wondering how he would tell her she had to stay without losing a limb. "How long do we have to train?"

"I'd say no more than three days tops before Toshikai will try another attack like the festival," the old man estimated. "After which, I'll give you Toshikai's location. We're still making sure he's there though I don't see where else he could go."

"I agree. Well, it won't be easy, but they're fast learners. I just don't want Sakura to hurt me when I tell her," Kakashi said rising to his feet and turning to leave.

"I'm sure she'll understand," the Raikage said following suit. "Good luck, my friend. I'm afraid you'll need it." He mumbled watching Kakashi's retreating form.

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A/N: First of all, please don't send a mob after me to kill me! I know I promised to update soon and I didn't, but at least I am now right? Anyway I hope you like this chapter all you loyal peoples whom I love a ton for putting up with me! I just have to say that we're getting closer to the end with every chapter I write! Eeek! Hopefully it stays good enough for everyone until then. As always, I'm completely open to suggestions! In fact I NEED them! So please, anything you think of or want me to put in the story tell me and I'll probably do it!

"Heaven's not a place that you go when you die, it's that moment in life when you actually feel alive."

Miharu Uchiha