A/N: Just as a reminder this is rated M for intense suggestiveness, language, and possible violence. Something that I think warrants the M rating and I also wouldn't feel very comfortable putting it under T.

Chapter Four

Haunted

Painful blasts of frosted air whipped at the exposed flesh of the pink-haired medic's face, making her grit her teeth against the cold. Her steady pace – which had taken her longer than she would have liked to admit – was dwindling. She blamed it on her out of practice lungs.

Her usual late evening run was disrupted by her seemingly chronic fragileness. With a sigh of defeat, she brought her sprint to a slow paced jog. She refused to stop even as her heart beat ten times faster than it should. Tsunade had warned her to not push herself but she had also said in the same breath, to not let her condition worsen.

And it seemed no matter how hard she tried to forget – the universe always had a funny way of reminding her of it constantly.

Bemused, Sakura stared at a civilian that waved her over from across the snow laden street. Glancing, somewhat warily, towards both sides of the lane, she sprinted towards an aged man.

"Sorry to disrupt your run, Sakura-san. It's just a whiteout is about to hit and you know how those things go."

Ah. Only too well. Last year – well the year she had been conscious anyways – she had none to wisely gotten stuck in some abandoned house when it hit.

She smiled kindly at the aged man as he turned towards his front door. She waved slightly as he did the same, before disappearing into his house. It was nice to know that some people still cared enough to look out for her, even if they were in the older crowd.

A much needed surveillance of the whitened village told her that it was in fact getting worse. The sky had darkened to an angry shade of gray, almost black. Sakura shivered, in spite of herself, before reaching in one of the pockets of her pants.

Her fingers gripped the small plastic bottle labeled, "Uchiha Sasuke", before she lifted it into her view. He had requested a refill of his sleep medication a few days ago, and she had done so, and then completely forgot to deliver it. Not that she was in any particular hurry. Maybe a few days away from the stuff would do him some good. Kami knows, if he had been using it while she was still in a coma, then it was a miracle he wasn't addicted to it.

A vision of a strung out Sasuke made her shudder. She wasn't so cold that she would wish addiction on any one, although he had certainly been testing her limits.

Turning her thoughts towards the small tawny bottle, she let out a long whistle in amazement. He must have been having some twisted nightmares in his mind if Tsunade had prescribed him that. Her pink eye brows drew together in puzzlement.

During some of her most hectic hours under Tsunade, they had covered the topic of narcotics and their effects. They had also covered the specifics of what one must do when being treated by such a strong drug. And she clearly remembered that going on missions was a huge no-no, no matter how difficult.

And hadn't Sasuke just returned from his rounds on the border? She was also pretty sure – no she was positive – that he had also just completed an S-rank the other day.

The medic in her taking over, she continued her familiar sprint around the lake, but dipped slightly, and ran towards the side of the village that housed her easily annoyed ex-teammate. Somehow she had forgotten about her laps. And the impending whiteout that threatened to spill over at any moment.

Above her, snow began to converge within itself, blanketing everything in its path.

The lower half of her jaw clambered noisily with the top half as she beat her frozen-yet-still-burning fists against the door. It crept open slightly before she was yanked inside.

"Um…" At least her teeth weren't chattering anymore.

Sasuke groaned as he took in the sight outside and her frozen silhouette. One of his hands covered his face in agitation as he started to breathe shallow breaths. Finally after composing himself, he turned to look at her, disturbed.

"And this couldn't have waited till morning?" She noticed his voice was unusually raspy.

Ah-ha! Definitely from a lack of sleep.

She fidgeted with the hemming of her mittens before glancing up. He was still waiting expectantly for her answer. "Well it could have. But I just thought that you might have wanted this."

She held up his medication. His expression broke into one of huge relief as he outstretched waiting hands. Smirking, she said, "Not so fast, Uchiha. This label clearly says no missions or strenuous activities." She eyed his red orbs- which were not from Sharingan- that were underlined with shadows in disapproval. "And from the looks of it, I'd say you have had a taste of both."

He shrugged and then swiftly grabbed the plastic container with ease.

"Hey!" She protested as he popped two into his mouth and then swallowed, dryly. He arched an eyebrow. "I paid. So I own." However simply put, his logic was indisputable.

She turned towards the door, fully intending to leave. Sometimes, some arguments just weren't worth it. And from the looks of it, he was going to do what he wanted despite her nagging. So fine. He could just drop dead on patrol one night, and that would be that. She wasn't going to cram common sense into his head where it should have already been.

"What are you doing?" He questioned at her retreating figure.

"Leaving?" She answered, annoyed.

He looked at her incredulously. "In this weather? She would have my neck for this if I let you roam out in some whiteout."

"She" was obviously Tsunade. She knew this from the suddenly thick annoyance in his voice, something that he only reserved for the Hokage and herself, especially for the latter of the two.

Sakura frowned at him. "So? I am sure, without a doubt in my soul, that you would have found some other way to get your ass kicked by Tsunade." Her lips parted into a forced sweet smile. "Let's not prevent the inevitable." With her last words, she continued on her way out, but stopped once she reached the threshold.

"Fine. But I do not intend to camp out here all night – waiting for this stupid storm to pass," she sighed.

"And I don't intend to let you stay here all night either."

Fuming, Sakura shrugged out of her coat and hung it on the rack that leaned against the wall. "That was cute, really it was," she seethed through clenched teeth.

How typical it was of him to ask her to stay only to save himself some grief and not for her personal well-being. He would no doubt attempt, key word: attempt, to throw her out when the sky showed the slightest sign of letting up.

He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed casually. And then he started to laugh. Not just the chuckles that she might have imagined from their gennin days. No, it was the kind of laughter that shook the whole body and induced head throwing.

Blood rushed to her cheeks in fury at his aggravating laughter. "What!?" She half demanded, half screamed.

The dark-haired shinobi merely shook his head before watching her through thick lashes. "Look at you." Well that certainly was stupid of him. She couldn't actually look at herself without the help of a mirror. "So…worked up. I said less than twenty words and you're already red in the face. Amazing. Kakashi was right – some things never change."

That made her a mixture of things. Angry. Embarrassed. And a tad bit confused. She knew that he was talking about her temper but he could have just as easily been talking about her skills as a shinobi or other things. Other things like her body. Did she still look like a twelve year old to him? Or did he see her as the twenty year old woman that she was? With a jolt of surprise, she realized he was right. He had only said a few words and it was enough to get her head racing with questions and concerns.

Besides, it wasn't like she cared what he saw when he looked at her. But it was rather annoying that he could get under her skin so quickly.

"You're right," She pointedly looked him up and down. "They don't."

Sasuke laughed again, that same loud and thunderous sound that fit him, oddly enough. It was so strange to watch him act in such a way that she had never even dreamed he was capable of. Had a year and some months really changed him so?

"Ah. I haven't laughed like that since…"

But she tuned him out. All of her concentration seemed to center on the fact that she had never seen him laugh like that before. Not even with Naruto. She would be lying if she said that didn't make her at least a tiny bit smug. Even if his laughter had been at her expense.

Coming back to life, Sakura stalked past him and towards the fireplace that was visible just behind the entry. He followed silently, probably still amused with her attitude.

"That feels good…" She sighed to herself. Her frozen fingers began to unthaw slowly, one by one. When they began to throb, she hissed. Immediately, warm fingers encased hers, rubbing soothingly.

She found herself gasping and flinching, possibly in unison. "Wha-" She started but stopped once the Uchiha fixed her with a stern gaze.

"Frostbite," he answered simply. At her confused stare, he sighed. "Aren't you a medic? It's minor, if you hadn't realized that by now."

She bit back the sarcastic remark on her tongue and remained silent. His fingers did feel unbelievably good. He watched her as his skillful fingers massaged the stinging skin of her red hands. With a gulp, she realized that she probably looked like some poster child for hand massages with her head thrown back to the side in pleasure.

She snatched her fingers back and stuffed them in her pockets. "Thanks but I'm sure they are not about to fall off anytime soon."

He smirked before raising a perfect shoulder beneath his expensive looking grey sweater. "What were you doing anyways? Don't tell me you went running." His lips twitched. "Again?"

"No!" She lied, defensively.

"Right." He answered before disappearing into the next room. Clearly, he didn't believe her. Sakura seated herself onto the lush carpet of what appeared to be a den.

There were no decorations in sight. Just an exceptionally well made couch that appeared to have never been sat on and a small fireplace adorned the room. Exhausted,she rested her head against one of the seats and draped a blanket over herself that had been covering the back of the sofa. It was rather nice to feel the comfort of the fire encase her, even if it wouldn't last long.

Sasuke walked back into the room, except this time he was accompanied by a mug of something that might have been tea. With a small grunt, he placed it in front of her.

The pink-haired medic blinked twice and then turned to look at him questioningly. "Just drink it," was his answer. Hesitantly, she sniffed, and then cringed when he glared. Maybe she was being silly, it's not like he had much to gain if he poisoned her.

Determined to wipe the stupid smirk from his lips, she took a huge gulp. "Ow!" The hot liquid burned her tongue and then her throat as she had no choice but to swallow it. Turning towards Sasuke, she expected to find him rolling on the floor laughing.

He wasn't rolling on the floor, but he was laughing. Angry, she dismissed the pain and downed the entire mug in a long drink. When he didn't shut up, she felt as if she might explode.

So, it was a surprise when she felt the mug crack and then slide into two jagged pieces. Glancing up at him, she noted with a hint of smugness that he had stopped.

"Sorry."

He didn't answer. Silently he removed the broken pieces from her hand and went to dispose of what was left of his mug.

The guilt began to settle in as the anger suddenly felt really immature. "Really, I am sorry," she apologized when he took a seat next to her on the floor.

"That was my mother's," he mumbled quietly.

Immense guilt – ten times worse than what she had just been feeling like – washed through her. She was horrible! That had been Uchiha Mikoto's and she had just destroyed it.

"Oh…Sasuke-"

When he turned to look at her, she expected him to be furious. Except, he wasn't. His normally bleak eyes sparked with a teasing light. Unable to help herself, her eyes watched as his lips, moist from his tongue, parted into a smirk that resembled a small smile.

"I'm joking."He laughed quietly at her floundering expression.

Illuminated by the firelight, his hair was stained to an almost blue color. His beauty was the kind that was startling yet cold. But, sitting next to her with an almost smile; she could see the man he might have been – if not haunted by death.

Her eyes moved of their own accord across his face as his lips trembled with laughter. Was her staring not obvious? She certainly hoped not. His sudden humanness was like a glossy new plaything; she just wanted to touch without disturbing the wrapping.

Her voice seemed to find her much faster than she would have liked. "Oh? I didn't know you could. Isn't that bad though? When someone cannot differentiate between when you're joking and when you aren't?"

He snorted. "Quit being the Hokage's apprentice for one second and just be you. Or are you always such an analyst?"

"Pretty much. Are you always such an optimist?" She teased, grinning. Of course he was the complete opposite of an optimist. He was neither hopeful nor idealistically happy.

He turned towards the flickering flames, hiding the trace of a smile. "Pretty much."

Sakura yawned, in spite of herself. She felt his gaze as his eyes shifted to the side to watch her tired form. "Go to sleep already," he murmured. She chuckled quietly to herself at his words. "I thought you didn't want me to stay and look," They both turned to face the side of the room that held a large bay window. The curtains were parted enough for them to make out the soft billowing of snow. "It's not coming down as hard."

"It's still too cold."

She raised an eyebrow. "Or are you just craving my company and you don't want me to go? I mean, if I were you I wouldn't want me to go either," she joked.

The kunoichi expected him to lash out at her teasing. Surely, his good mood could only last so long. But instead, he opted for rolling his eyes. "Shut up, Sakura."

Inconspicuously, she pretended to cough as the overpowering need to yawn arose.

Minutes later – or what felt like minutes later – she was being shaken into awareness. The groan that left her mouth was somewhat muffled by the cushion she buried her face in. The incessant pushing continued even when she swatted her hands.

"Go away." Sasuke disregarded her, snatching the blanket off as he went. She hissed as cold air hit her sensitive body.

"Ass."

Ignoring her, he pulled her to her feet. "Get up."

All sleep was abandoned at his words. "Why?" Was he kicking her out already? And to think, she was just starting to think of him as a human with an actual soul.

"Telephone," he answered.

"Please, don't let me push you for details," she sneered.

He simply thrust the receiver to her ear. On the other end she could make out the sound of papers being shuffled. "Hello?"

"Ah, get your happy little behind here ASAP," Tsunade barked through the phone.

"Huh?"

"Training session. Seven o'clock sharp. Any of that sound familiar?"

Sakura swore loudly, her eyes darting to the clock in the hallway. Sure enough it was a few minutes after seven. She had no idea that she had fallen asleep for that long, much less in this house.

"I'll be right over."

"And I'll be waiting. Something that I don't do often and you should heed, starting right now." She chuckled mischievously. "And once you arrive, you can tell me why I had to call all of your friends to see where you were and by chance – I finally decide to call the last person I would ever think of calling. And what does he tell me? You stayed the night. Fun stuff I bet." She howled with laughter.

Irritated, Sakura pressed the end button. The pink haired nin dropped the phone back into his waiting hands before raking a hand through her disheveled locks.

As if knowing what she desired, Sasuke pointed to the hallway and mumbled, "Fourth door on the right."

"But I don't have any clothes…"

He shook his head before stalking back into the kitchen.

His bathroom was simple and like the rest of his house – clean and seemingly unused. A pile of clothes waited for her on the marble counter and the water was already running. In a span of ten minutes, she was out of the shower and dressed.

The reflection in the mirror depicted a woman wearing a simple grey blouse and slacks. And to her surprise, they fit. He had also supplied her with underwear; the bra just a little too tight.

Once dressed in her coat and scarf, she turned to thank him for his kindness, however strange it might have been.

He was right behind her, his expression not exactly cold, but more aloof. "Well, thanks. I never meant to fall asleep on you. I must be terrible company," she grinned sheepishly.

He considered that for a moment. "Besides the snoring – it doesn't matter."

"I so do not snore!" It took her an instant to realize that he was teasing her, or at least she hoped he was.

"Thanks for the clothes although Sasuke, I must admit, I never pegged you for one to keep a lot of women around." However jokingly put, she couldn't help but feel a bit sour at the prospect.

He must have kept plenty of women around because the clothes she was currently wearing were very feminine. He merely gave her a strange look, his black hair falling into his eyes.

"My mother."

Confused, Sakura blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Those were my mother's things," He said plainly. "I had to move most of her things so I could fix the house," His voice was now rather brusque, his shoulders squared.

"I didn't mean-"

The curt look he fixed her with stopped her short. "I think you should leave now." Sakura tried her best to not cringe at his bluntness. She apologized again before pivoting on her heel.

Behind her, the door was closed quietly.

Whoever claimed rigorous exercises were the key to being physically fit, was a fool. Tsunade had probably ordered Sakura to do every work out in existence and then some.

Her hands, weak from hitting weights, yanked her apartment door open with more force than necessary. Sakura dragged her body towards the bathroom, hoping that the water would be hot enough to rinse away all of the sweat and grime.

Once finished, she pulled her hair out of her face, and collapsed onto her bed. Training with Tsunade was just as terrifying as it had been on her very first day. For hours, Tsunade had just about made her pull almost all of the muscles in her body – some of which she hadn't known existed.

Her thoughts, however, lingered on her latest blunder. She had offended him. Of that she was sure. Damn her huge mouth for ruining everything. But what was she supposed to think? How many grown men still kept their mother's clothes? But how many men had lost their mothers to their own brother?

It was heartbreaking in a way. He had been so at ease with her and then like someone had just pressed rewind, he had reverted back into his usual self. Cold and all.

At any rate, it was none of her business if he decided to keep women around. And it was most definitely not her place to assume as such. But she was just a little interested. If he did keep women around, then what exactly was his type? Probably inhumanly exquisite females that could keep their mouths shut when they were supposed to.

Snorting at the thought, she rolled over.

With his back to the destruction, he turned to look. Behind him, pearlescent light bathed his form.

His face was cruel and twisted when he said, "Foolish little brother, if you want to kill me, despise me, hate me. Run, run…cling to life and survive in an unsightly way. Then someday, when you have these same eyes," Red and black warped together into a vortex of murder. "Come to me."

Wheezing heavily, Sakura shot upwards as her right hand outstretched for something. Realizing that the danger had only been in her dream, she let it fall back to the bed.

Her shoulders heaved profoundly as she wept. The emotions – betrayal, longing, hate, and sorrow- coursed through her system with frenzied vitality. Never had she felt something so physically powerful. She did not know how to handle it. Because she knew…they weren't hers. The feelings. The tears.

It was too unnatural, too strong. Her dream had been so real. She watched it all as if she had been there. Yes, he had spoken…as if he were speaking directly to her. It was terrifying.

It felt like a memory even though she had none of him. No, it was something more than that. A nightmare.

Uchiha Itachi.

Choking down a sob, she stumbled from her bed and towards the hallway. She dug into the first drawer in her end table and pulled out a frayed piece of paper. Her fingers were clumsy against the key pad of her phone as she dialed the number that was scrawled in the corner.

"Hello?" A gruff voice answered. "I don't appreciate prank calls-"

"Akemi-san…" The doctor that had previously tried to help her was now her only option. "Something's wrong with me."

TBC

A/N: As a reminder, Akemi would be the doctor from chapter three who attempted to help Sakura. In response to my absence, let me just say it has been a very troubling time for me. Ironically enough, my aunt had fallen into a level of unconsciousness for several days – almost falling into a coma. And to think it was caused by head trauma from falling in the shower. Now, I can't take a shower without being weary of it. LOL.

Thankfully she's fine. I just find that ironic. Sorry for rambling…any who thanks for the lovely reviews. It is safe to say that I definitely know how I want this fic to end and I have even written several chapters ahead of schedule. Next update should be uploaded fairly quickly. In response to those who asked, the sequel for Missioning With You should be up in a couple of days. It's still untitled. LMAO.

Ciao.

Surmise