Tsunade was terrified because she knew that Sasuke was going to come for private therapy sessions at her house today. She thought it would be okay because these types of patients only came over when Sakura was at school but then Sakura got the flu and had to stay in bed.

Tsunade chewed her lip. She could not allow Sasuke to come into to contact with Sakura. Not only was it dangerous for him but also for Sakura, especially for Sakura. Every time Tsunade saw Sasuke, a shiver would go down her spine. This boy, if such as casual term still fit, unnerved her. Whenever she cut just a tiny glimpse of those obsidian eyes she was struck with the thought that he was soulless. He was completely empty, a walking corpse, a single being who had been so consumed with hatred that it had left him hollow.

A part of Tsunade thought that he deserved to die.

So Tsunade put Sakura to bed and told her to stay in her room. She looked at her watch and grimaced. There was barely five minutes before Sasuke was about to come to his appointment. The interns were never late in transported a patient so she hurried to the door.

The door bell rung and Tsunade quickly opened the door. A tall, burly intern pushed Sasuke into the cottage.

"He tried to escape," Said the intern.

Tsunade looked at Sasuke then at the Intern and said, "Why?"

"I can't come back here," Sasuke shouted. His voice was sharp and biting as he glared at Tsunade.

She gave Sasuke an even sharper looked,

"Why not?" she snapped.

Sasuke didn't say anything. He just looked around feverishly as if he was looking for something that was not there.

"Sit down, Sasuke," Tsunade said politely.

"I don't need any therapy," Sasuke growled back at her.

"You shot your older brother in a crowd of more than thirty people," Tsunade said bluntly, "You need help,"

Sasuke smirked, "You don't understand,"

"Then you should explain," Tsunade said softly and indicating to her lounge where he could take a seat. Sasuke hesitated, glared at her again, and then went and sat on the plushy couch.

Tsunade turned around to speak to the intern, "Thank you for bringing him from the main building,"

The intern scowled, "I don't understand why you insist on doing private sessions in your home,"

Tsunade laughed bitterly, "I don't. Some idiots on the council think that it's a good idea for some of the younger patients to see a bit of a 'normal' home environment every once in a while. Do you really think I want someone as dangerous as Sasuke in this house with my daughter?"

With that, Tsunade was reminded of Sasuke and she spun around only to find that he wasn't there anymore.

"Shit! You can go now," She spat at the intern who left very quickly.

Tsunade swept through the cottage, looking everywhere for Sasuke. With a pounding heart she was finally forced to look in Sakura's room and that's where she found him. Of course that was where he would be.

"What are you doing in here?" she said in a harsh whisper, "You're not allowed to talk to her. She's not like-,"

She stopped. For a moment, she thought Sasuke might be crying. He was shaking slightly and his fists were clenched but when he turned around, showing his face, Tsunade saw that his face was contorted in anger.

"She's dead," He barely managed to say.

Tsunade quickly looked at her sleeping daughter and saw her quite obviously breathing soundly. Tsunade wondered how Sasuke had missed that and then she realized it was because he had expected it. Through his eyes everyone was dead, everyone was always leaving him.

"No, Sasuke, she's not dead. She's only sleeping," Tsunade explained in a softer tone.

Sasuke frowned and looked at her again. He stared at her sleeping form until he was satisfied that she was breathing. For a moment, his features relaxed then he immediately scowled again,

"What type of person has pink hair?" he growled.

Tsunade laughed, oddly nervous, then said, "Sasuke, let's go have our session. Leave her to sleep,"

"I can't leave," Sasuke said, "If I leave, she might die,"

"Sasuke… she's not going to die,"

"Everybody dies,"

He stretched forward and motioned to touch her face but Tsunade grabbed his arm with lightning fast reflexes.

"No," She said sternly like she was scolding a puppy.

Sasuke glared at her and ripped his arm from her grip.

"Don't touch me!" He shouted.

Sakura groaned, shifting slightly as she began to wake up.

"Sasuke, come quickly, before she wakes up and sees you," Tsunade said urgently.

But Sasuke just grinned and said,

"I want her to see me,"

Sakura opened her emerald eyes. She gasped and jerked awake completely when she saw Sasuke staring down at her. She sat up quickly, clutching her blankets to her chest, staring at Sasuke. All he could think about was the way her pink hair stood up at the back, ruffled from sleep.

"It's… you?" Sakura said, smiling suddenly.

'Okay, Sasuke that's enough," Tsunade said and pulled at his arm again.

Sasuke turned around slowly and glowered at her. Tsunade found herself crumbling beneath the power of his gaze.

"I thought I told you not to touch me," He growled.

Tsunade removed her arm so quickly it was as if he had burned her.

"Leave," Sasuke said.

Tsunade opened her mouth to speak. She looked at her daughter and back at the intimidating Uchiha.

"You're the one that needs to leave, Sasuke," She said sternly.

Sasuke grabbed her arm and swiftly pushed out of the room and locked the door. Tsunade proceeded to slammed her fists against the door but Sasuke ignored her, his attention was now completely on Sakura.

Her eyes followed him as he moved towards her and sat beside her on the bed.

"I'm sorry," He said suddenly.

"You should probably let my mom in," Sakura said in a shy voice.

"I can't do that,"

"Why?"

Sasuke leaned back on the bed then he put his hand in her shoulder and pulled her to his chest. Sakura fell slightly awkward there, pressed against him while he held her so tightly when they had never spoken again but there was also a sort of underlying comfort that she could not describe.

"If I open the door, they'll take me back," He said.

"To the hospital?"

Sasuke nodded.

Sakura was a little surprised. It had somehow never crossed her mind that the hospital might not be a pleasant place. In her mind, it was the perfect place for rehabilitation but the hesitation in Sasuke voice made her realize otherwise.

He ran his fingers through her finger hair.

"Your hair is ridiculous," he snapped suddenly.

Sakura tried to shift away. She simultaneously wanted him to stay and for him to go but he just tightened his grip on her and wouldn't release her.

"Couldn't I just stay here?" He asked.

Sakura wanted to explain that he was a patient, a dangerous one, and if he stayed then it would only be worse later on. She wanted to tell him that she feared that if he stayed then he might find the urge to set himself on fire and that terrible expression of self-destruction would kill them both. She wanted to tell him to leave, that he was scaring her, that if he didn't leave now she would scream and her mother would get help and they would drag him out and punish him. She wanted to tell him that staying with her would only make it worse. She wanted to tell him all these things but instead she said,

"Of course you can stay,"

He didn't say anything. He just wrapped his arm even tighter around her. He rested her cheek against her hair and Sakura thought she felt his lips brush the top of her head.

They stayed like that for a second. Sasuke felt safe with her small, warm body pressed against his. He wanted to keep this feeling of sanctuary as long as possible. He wanted her to feel safe too, with him. He didn't want to be dangerous but he wasn't sure if it was something he could control. He could already feel his mind screaming at him, tearing itself apart, to release what was trapped itself.

You are not allowed to love, Sasuke. Set yourself on fire.

There was a louder knocking at the door that grabbed Sasuke's attention. They both sat up when they heard a gruff voice shout,

"Sasuke Uchiha! Release the hostage and come out of the room with your hands up!"

"She's not a hostage!" Sasuke screamed loudly at the door.

Sakura placed a delicate hand on his shoulder, grabbing Sasuke's attention. He looked back at her and was immediately trapped in her emerald eyes.

"Sasuke, he's probably and intern. They are trained for this sort of thing. He'll break open the door and drag you out of her. He might even drug you. Maybe you should just go with him peacefully,"

Sasuke stared at her. What she said made him hate her. Sakura could see his annoyance written on his face.

"I just… don't want you to get hurt," she said timidly.

Sasuke smiled. He shook his head, "I have a better idea,"

He stood up and walked to the window. All the windows in Sakura's room was locked for security reasons but Sasuke just punched it until it shattered, not caring that it cut his knuckles and his wrist and made blood pour around his hand like a red, netted glove. Sakura jumped at the sound of the shattering glass and covered her eyes. The people on the other side of the door froze.

"Uchiha! Stop whatever you're doing and open the door,"

Sasuke ignored them dutifully and walked over to Sakura. Without saying anything, he picked her up and cradled her to his chest. She looked up at him, unable to suppress the mixed fear and awe she was feeling.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"I'm kidnapping you,"