The Strange Power
Chapter 3: Sasuke's Nightmare

Previously...

Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, walked over and placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder.

"Sakura, take him back to your house and give him this medicine to help him sleep." she said, handing Sakura a small bottle. Sakura nodded and stood, placing Sasuke on her back.

Presently...
Sakura's P.O.V.

Sakura walked back to her house slowly, Sasuke on her back. 'Poor Sasuke-kun...' she thought, sadly. 'What does he have now?'

After a few minutes of walking, they arrived back at Sakura's house. Sakura opened the door and went inside, shutting it behind her. She felt trembling on her back, and assumed that Sasuke was still grieving, as she sat him on the bed.

She sat down next to him and pulled him into a tight embrace, his head resting against her shoulder. Sasuke's eyes were shut, but Sakura knew he was still awake. She slowly rocked him back and forth, trying to calm him enough so that he could take the medicine.

"It's alright, Sasuke-kun." she said, soothingly, brushing his bangs out of his face. Sasuke opened his eyes and looked up at her. Sakura had never seen a gaze so haunted by sadness and pain.

"H-How can it be alright?" he asked softly, his voice shaky. "I l-lost everything." he turned his head so that his face was pressed against Sakura's chest.

"I know, but you're welcome to stay here if you want, okay?" Sakura asked. Sasuke nodded slowly and Sakura laid him down and covered him up with a blanket.

"Sasuke-kun, you need to take this medicine." she said, holding up the bottle. "It'll help you sleep, though I can't guarantee if it'll work. You are an Uchiha after all."

"Okay." Sasuke said, and Sakura poured the right amount into the cap. She gave it to Sasuke and he swallowed it quickly to get it over with. He hated medicine.

After a few minutes, Sasuke's eyes started to feel heavy, as he watched Sakura slide underneath the covers with him. She pulled him against her chest in a comfortable position and stroked his hair, helping him fall asleep easily.

Sakura watched as Sasuke's eyes slid shut, gently stroking his hair and whispering comforting words to him. After a few minutes of watching him sleep, Sakura's eyes started to feel heavy and it wasn't long before she fell asleep.

A few hours later...

Sakura awoke to trembling on her back. She blinked open her eyes, realizing it was still pitch black in the room. She groped for the bedside lamp switch, and when she found it, she flicked it on. That's when she became aware of small whimpering noises. She turned her body, to face Sasuke. She immediately gasped when she realized the shivering and whimpering was coming from him. She sat up quickly, instantly seeing what was wrong with him. Sasuke was facing her, his eyes squeezed shut tightly. He was pressed closely to Sakura, and he was curled into a small ball, the blanket abandoned on the ground below his feet. 'He must have kicked it off in his sleep.' she thought.

But why was he acting so… scared? He was curled tightly into a ball. And whimpering definitely wasn't like Sasuke. He must've been having a nightmare.

His whimpering increased, and he eventually started shuddering. Then, he let out a muffled scream, and he flinched, tucking himself into an even tighter ball that looked almost painful and covering his head with his hands. He started to hyperventilate, and sweat poured from his body. A muddled moan escaped from his lips, then a loud, pained whimper came out.

"No…" He whispered, barely audible.

Sakura got worried as he tried to cover his head more.

"Sasuke-kun..." Sakura whispered, trying to wake him up from the nightmare he was having. No luck.

She started to shake him. "Sasuke-kun!" Sasuke's eyes flew open, as he let out a gasp of surprise, still taking in his surroundings. He couldn't tell if he was still in the nightmare or not. He gasped, his screams still muffled as he covered his head again.

"No!" he screamed.

"Sasuke-kun, it's alright!" Sakura said, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him close.

"Just calm down..." she said over and over. He screamed when he felt arms go around him, but stopped when he recognized who it was. His screaming stopped, but he was still trembling uncontrollably and tears were flowing from his eyes.

After a few minutes of comforting him Sakura dared to ask, "Sasuke-kun, what did you dream about?"

"The fire." he said, crying silently and soaking Sakura's neck. Sakura didn't say anything, but gently started rocking Sasuke, trying to get him to calm down.

They sat like that for the next 15 minutes, Sakura gently rocking Sasuke while he cried quietly. Eventually, he fell asleep to the gentle rocking and Sakura's voice, telling him over and over that it would be alright.

Sakura watched him sleep for a few minutes before her eyes started to feel heavy. Before she fell asleep she leaned over and gently kissed Sasuke on the forehead. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I promise." she whispered before falling into a dreamless sleep.

To be continued...
I hope you all liked it!
Chapter 3 coming soon!