The G-revolutions were still at the park when they came back from the Academy. Sakura sat on a bench telling Kenny more about shinobi and Hilary had gone off somewhere with Kai to talk with him alone; perhaps to confess. She giggled at the thought. Alexis had chosen to stay at Duel Academy with Zane until he recovered although she promised to rejoin them as soon as there was any word on Sasuke. She had used some medical jutsus on him so it would not be long before he was okay again. As long as he was careful, his heart would not be a problem.
Her curiosity getting the better of her, Sakura finished her conversation with the Chief and headed off in the direction Kai and Hilary had taken; the temptation was too great, she could not take it anymore. She just had to see what those two were up to.
It did not take long to find them. They stood side by side, leaning on the metal railings on a platform that overlooked the sea. Sakura hid in some shrubbery not far from them, using her ninja skills to conceal her presence.
They were quiet for a while. Neither of them moved. The light breeze tousled their hair, made Kai's long white scarf billow slightly, lifted the hem of Hilary's black dress, swirled cherry blossoms from the trees. They seemed so comfortable, so at peace with each other.
Hilary spoke. "Kai, there's something important I need to tell you."
"Hn. Go ahead," was his nonchalant reply, though Sakura could see he was listening closely.
"You are so much more than a team-mate and friend to me," the brunette told him. "You've been there when no one else was and in return I've done the same so…I want to take things further." She turned and faced him, grasped the short sleeves of his black jacket tightly. Ruby bore into amethyst. "It's because I…I love you."
A pause followed. His amethyst eyes stared deep into her ruby pools, as if searching for something. It was such a penetrating, intoxicating gaze that Hilary averted hers from his; he had never looked at her like that before. Nor anyone else for that matter.
She had seen something in those purple orbs prior to breaking his stare, something which both thrilled and terrified her. Something she could not put a name to yet it was as palpable as the gaze that remained upon her. She stared hard at the ground, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks beneath such close scrutiny, fighting down the urge to break the silence. Come on, say something. I've done my part. I've told you my feelings…now it's up to you.
"Hilary…"
Her heart quickened at the sound of her name falling from his lips. She did not dare to look up, feeling his hands grasp her shoulders. Gentle but firm, they pulled her to him and her head rested against his chest. The unexpected show of affection and close physical proximity made her gasp.
"Hn." He closed his eyes and smirked at her reaction.
Hilary glanced up, her blush deepening. "So…what do you say?" she managed to ask.
"Hn." His smirk broadened. "Let's do it."
She threw her arms around him and his response told her everything she needed to know. Her feelings were not unrequited. Their relationship had gone even further than she had imagined and from here on out, things would only get better.
Sakura smiled at them. I'm glad it turned out good for you, Hilary. I know you and Kai will do well together.
Some days later, a shinobi wearing a dark blue headband bearing the same leaf symbol as Sakura's arrived in Bay City. The G-revolutions were startled by the ninja's sudden appearance at the Granger dojo - he had materialised out of thin air with a puff of white smoke. They watched curiously as he took Sakura aside and spoke with her in urgent tones.
"Sasuke Uchiha was brought to Konoha by Naruto Uzumaki early this morning," he informed her. "They were both exhausted and injured, the Uchiha more so. Tsunade said you're to come back to the village immediately - you're needed at the hospital."
The magenta-haired kunoichi could only nod numbly. She could not trust her voice. She prepared to perform the justu that would take them to the village, her gloved hands poised to form the first hand sign whilst the other ninja told the onlookers that she was going back home.
He cast her a brief glance and on that signal her hands made signs so fast they were a blur. Before anybody could move, the shinobi vanished, leaving only white smoke in their wake.
They appeared in some woodland not far from the Leaf village and leaped from bough to bough with incredible speed and agility. Sakura's short pink hair was whipped back by the force of the wind whistling past them. Her heart was going a mile a minute and her mind raced. She could hardly believe it; Sasuke was back. He had returned to Konoha. Naruto had kept his promise to her.
But getting called back like that to be at the hospital meant one thing: there was an emergency. She hoped it did not involve any of her friends and her current and former team-mates least of all yet she could not dismiss the fear of being wrong clenching at her heart. Sasuke, Naruto…please be okay.
As soon as she reached the hospital, Sakura hastily grabbed her white coat from its peg in her office and threw it on in mid-run, not bothering to change into the rest of her medical uniform. Tsunade met her on the way to the emergency room and filled her in on the situation.
When Sasuke had been brought in, his injuries had been grave. Nurses, medics, specialist medical ninjas and even she herself had been trying for the last few hours to treat him but his condition was deteriorating and he was near death. She listed his injuries; some broken bones, many mortal wounds, severe blood loss, internal bleeding.
"Is Naruto okay?" Sakura asked, anxious after hearing that Sasuke was in such a terrible state.
The Hokage nodded. "His injuries weren't as serious; he'll recover in no time thanks to that nine-tailed fox inside him. He's asleep at the moment and doesn't know what's going on. There's no doubt he'll want to know when he wakes up though."
The unspoken implication of her words hung in the air. Sasuke's fate is in your hands now. Nobody wants to be the one to tell him if you fail.
Sakura set her jaw as she entered the emergency room. I won't. Even if I put my life on the line in the process, I will save you. I couldn't in the past but today that'll change. I'll make up for all the times I failed. For Naruto…for me…for you.