DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN NARUTO. HENCE WHY THIS IS ON A FANFICTION SITE.

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Sakura sighed and flopped back on Sasuke's lush goosefeather mattress.

He'd been summoned to dinner only an hour after she'd arrived and she'd been cooped up in his room for a half hour now.

She wouldn't have been quite so bored if he had some books or something in his room, but all there was was a bed (that she was currently occupying), a desk (she didn't think it would be right to invade his privacy by investigating the contents of the drawers), and a chest of drawers (same as the desk).

Which meant there was absolutely nothing to do.

Even the view of the garden outside was boring. They'd only planted tulips by his window, and besides that, it was dark out. There was nothing to see. A man had gone by the window earlier, lighting lanterns that were scattered around the house and gardens. She'd had to hide under the window to avoid being seen.

"Sooo borrrrredddd." she moaned, punching the mattress then sitting up very abruptly.

Footsteps were coming her way very quickly.

She squeaked, slid off the bed, and scrambled under it just as the door swung open.

"Sakura? Where are you?" Sasuke's feet appeared by the edge of the bed, and she crawled out slowly.

"Sorry, I thought you might be someone else."

"Right. Anyway, I brought you some food because I knew you hadn't eaten yet." Sasuke held out a plate of food that held a large piece of baked chicken breast, and noodles slathered in tomato sauce. It was still steaming, which surprised her more than the fact that he'd gotten her food.

"Thank... you?" Sakura wasn't quite sure what to do.

"That's it? Maybe I shouldn't have brought you food after all." his smile told her he was joking.

"No, no, it's great." she gave him her own smile in return. "It's just that you never struck me as the kind who'd go out on a limb for someone."

"Normally, I wouldn't do this for a slave, but seeing as you're my slave, I want you in good shape." He sat down carefully on the edge of the bed beside her.

"Thanks, Sasuke."

She took the plate and Sasuke fell back slowly onto his bed, arms spread wide, as if he were going to make a snowangel.

"Just out of curiosity, are these leftovers?" she asked, a mischievous grin appearing on her face.

"No, I had the cook make some food up because I said I'd want a snack later." he raised one eyebrow, questioning her without words.

"I see. No leftovers for your slave, huh?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" his arms were folded across his chest, he almost looked like he was resting.

"Nothing."

He really isn't all that bad, she decided, biting into the juicy meat.

---

Sasuke was still awake.

The moon had risen and was already at its apex and he was still awake.

Sakura was not.

She'd fallen asleep only a few minutes ago, sitting with her back to the wall.

He smiled with amusement as her head lolled loosely and her mouth hung open. She had pulled her legs up to her chest and was resting her forearms on her knees while she braced herself in the corner. Briefly, he wondered how she could sleep like that before he remembered she'd been on the streets when he met her.

She was such an interesting girl. More interesting than the girls Itachi brought home at least. He hated them and the way they gawped at him because he was the Uchiha heir. They seemed to think he was scary because of that and would shriek any time he came near. Because of that, he'd assumed all women were annoying and stupid.

Sakura had proved him wrong.

Which really wasn't such a bad thing.

She had made him wonder though, why she had looked so torn earlier, standing at his window. He hadn't thought anyone could show an emotion like that.

He frowned to himself at the thought and rolled onto his back, folding his hands across his chest. She'd forced him to lie in bed under the silk covers so that he'd have an easier time sleeping, but it hadn't helped any.

The moonshine was blocked for a moment by a passing cloud and his already tired eyes began to grow heavy in the near darkness.

By the time the cloud fully passed the moon, he was deep in his dreams.

---

Sakura woke two hours before dawn, as was her habit. Naruto was always awake at this hour, and she'd eventually developed his habit as well. Noone else wanted to be up that early, so it was usually just her and Naruto in the kitchen in the morning, eating whatever they'd been able to cook or steal.

Mist encased the entire outside world and made her shiver with cold.

Her mouth tasted sour, as if she'd just thrown up, but that was fine, she convinced herself.

She glanced over at Sasuke, fast asleep on his bed, then sighed.

Her breath came out in a puff of white.

She found a quill, inkpot, and scrap of paper in his desk and left him a quick note:

'Be back at noon.'

She hated to leave him, but she'd been away from Naruto and the gang long enough. She'd make it up to him later.

He stirred, even as she gave him one last longing glance.

She left the note on his desk in plain sight then left via the window.

---

She made it outside the compound without difficulty then made her way to the riverfront docks.

Naruto was waiting for her in their yellow house.

"Where were you? We were all worried!" he yelled.

"Nowhere, I just didn't feel like coming home last night." Sakura brushed him off then went to the kitchen, hoping to make herself some breakfast.

"Sakura, why won't you talk to me?" Naruto asked, following her.

"Because nothing happened. Now leave me alone, will you?" she snapped.

A wave of nausea hit her but she ignored it, blaming it on the rich fare she'd dined on last night.

"That's not fair, Sakura."

She ignored him and pulled a loaf of bread from the cabinet. This she ripped a piece from and ate.

It wasn't nearly as good as the food she'd eaten last night.

It made her want to throw up.

And she did, not being able to bear the taste in her mouth.

Something's wrong...

Her world was beginning to spin crazily, colors mixing in odd combinations.

"Naruto..."

Her breaths were coming in shallow gasps as she fought to keep herself upright.

Her legs gave in and she sat down hard on the floor.

"What the hell? What's wrong, Sakura?"

"I don't know. I shouldn't have gotten sick like that." she wiped her mouth with a trembling hand then clasped her hands tightly together. Her hands and arms were shaking and she let them.

"What did you eat yesterday?" Naruto demanded, kneeling by her.

"Nothing that should have made me sick." she told him, clamping a hand to her mouth and standing shakily.

She barely made it to the sink again.

"What. Did. You. Eat." His hands were on her shoulders, his blue eyes searching her green for answers.

"Chicken and noodles." Sakura admitted, supporting herself on the edge of the counter. Her legs were shaking as well as her hands and arms.

Her vision swam and she gripped the counter even more tightly, fighting gravity.

"Sakura? Sakura!"

Naruto's face disappeared in the blackness that swallowed her whole.

---

"Did you give it to him?"

"Yes. He asked for some food for a snack and I slipped it in. Now, please, let my family go. My daughter, she has a condition-"

"I don't give a damn about your family, old man. You'll get them back just as soon as he is dead. Which should be in a day or so."

"Please, I did as you asked-"

"Just wait. If he isn't dead by then, your family is history. Got it?"

"Yes."

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A/N: R&R please!