Title: A Matter of Ignorance

Summary: Taking a plunge into the deep end has its risks. But sometimes, those risks have big payoffs.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Prompt: Drowning

Warnings: K+ (for the use of a single swear word)

Comments: Ending inspired by a Chinese movie… Don't remember the name, but the scene was absolutely adorable. OTL

Surprisingly, Sakura's last thoughts were in no way related to Sasuke-kun. Or, perhaps they were, because really, she was quite bitter about this whole drowning thing and the fact that it didn't afford her an opportunity to contemplate her still undefined relationship with Sasuke-kun.

Instead, here she was, being dragged to the bottom of the lake, and all she could think about was how tragic it was that pockets of ignorance still existed in this world.

Seriously, who accuses a medic of witchcraft anymore?

Sakura had lost count of the time she'd been under, but her lungs were burning, her head pounded, and she fought desperately to keep what little air she had left in. Still, the small trail of bubbles marking her descent was not promising.

She was going to die, all because some backwards villagers saw her extract poison from a sick young man and believed she was summoning demons.

She snorted, only to realize that the move had just depleted her air by 25%.

Well, shit.

This wasn't supposed to happen! Oh, the possibility that she might die had presented itself countless of times throughout her life. It came with being a kunoichi, but she had always expected herself to go out with a bang, taking down as many enemies as she could for some noble cause or something. And she'd even had her perfect "last thought," as shallow as it sounded: "Wait for me, Sasuke-kun." But instead, as the heavy stones dragged her further down, as her lungs gave up and released her final breath, as the darkness began to blanket her vision, and as something long wrapped around her numbed torso, all she could think was, "Those damn villagers."

Someone was yelling her name obnoxiously. And there was an irritating, rhythmic pressure being applied to her chest. But when she opened her mouth to tell her two idiots to knock it off, her lungs screamed in protest. Water gushed out in place of words, and she coughed violently, spitting out more water. Her lungs still burned, and she took in great gulps of air, soothing them.

"SAKURA-CHAN!" She flinched, preparing herself for the tackle that never came. When she finally looked up, her eyes widened to see Naruto restrained by a pair of large snakes. Her eyes swept the area until they landed on the pair's summoner. Sasuke was kneeling next to her, eyes examining her intently.

"Sasuke-kun," she rasped. "Naruto is turning purple."

"Hn." He flicked his hand, and the snakes relented slightly.

"Oi oi oi! Ya know! Bastard, let me go!" Naruto protested immediately.

"Not if you're going to attack Sakura."

"I wasn't going to attack Sakura-chan, ya know!"

"Yes you were."

"No I wasn't!"

"Yes you were."

"No, I wasn't!"

"Calm down first, Dobe, then I'll let you go."

"Teme," Naruto growled, but he calmed, muscles relaxing against the snakes' coils.

"Wh-what happened?" Sakura asked.

"Naruto sensed you were in trouble through his sage mode when the villagers threw you into the water," Sasuke deadpanned. "By the time we arrived, you were too far away for us to reach you, so I summoned two snakes to get you."

Could it have been less romantic? Sakura bemoaned in her mind. Aloud, she said, "Th-thank you, Sasuke-kun, Naruto."

"Why were those villagers after you anyway, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked.

"It doesn't matter," Sasuke shot back. Sakura squeaked when she felt something heavy wrap around her. It was Sasuke's cloak, and Sasuke had his arms around her as he adjusted the buttons. "She's freezing. We need to get a move on it. Sakura, climb onto my back. That way we can move faster."

Stunned, by her recent near drowning or by this new Sasuke-kun Sakura wasn't sure, she followed his instructions mechanically, looping her arms around his neck before latching onto his waist with her legs.

"Oi, why do you get to give Sakura-chan a piggy-back ride?" she heard Naruto ask.

"Tch, shut up dobe."

Sasuke was nice and warm though, and his back, though hard and wiry, was infinitely more comfortable than the ground. She found a slight dip where his neck and shoulder met and rest her head there, listening to his even heartbeat. It soothed her jittery nerves.

He was so comfortable, and she loved him so much in that moment. She wanted to savor it and never let go.

"Oi, Sakura," he said quietly a little while later. "Are you strong enough to stand on your own?"

She shook her head, a silly, impish grin spreading across her face, and tightened her limbs around him. She was glad he couldn't see her face right now, or else he'd drop her instantly.

But really, it's too bad she couldn't see his face, because she would've blushed to see the smirk that crossed it at her silent no.