A/N: Hey everyone! Mariegurl here! Sorry that this is such a short chapter. I think the next few ones are going to be short, if I remember correctly. It is all helping build up to the next major plot point, all leading to an epic finale that I am currently writing. Okay please enjoy this chapter. And special thanks go out to scarecrow09 and XxXRememberMeXxX who have reviewed every chapter I have posted lately. You guys rock! Wanna be as awesome as these two? Then you have to read and review! Okay now on with the chapter! As always, I don't own Naruto. Thanks for reminding me.

Chapter Twenty-Two: A Healing Wound

That night, Sakura sat down with her mother and told her everything. At the end of it all, they both were in tears, hugging each other. It felt really good for Sakura to get that all off of her chest. It didn't feel like she was carrying this heavy burden alone anymore. It felt as if she had a little more help with carrying the load. Even though it was a little help, it was still more than she had to begin with, and for that she was thankful.

Meanwhile is Sasuke's room, Alice was updating him on the latest news on Sakura, as well as scolding him.

"How could you keep her cutting a secret from everyone for this long? You do realize that she tried to kill herself today! I mean yeah, sure it was over-dramatic, but the point is that she tried to! It was her cry for help!"

"I know, I know! You don't think that I feel like shit right now? I should've been there. I should've protected her from herself. I feel terrible Tsukiko, so please stop yelling at me," said Sasuke.

"Wow…you really do like her, don't you?"

"What? What gave you that idea?"

"Well, for one you're beating yourself up over this."

"Wouldn't you if you knew a person was harming him/herself, but you didn't tell anyone?"

"Point taken."

"Exactly. Now get out of my room. I'm tired and I want to go to bed."

"Fine. Goodnight Sasuke-nii-san."

"Night Tsukiko."

Sasuke kept on tossing and turning in his sleep. Alice's words burning into his head. He truly felt really bad. Sasuke knew everything, and yet he didn't tell a soul. Why? He thought that in time she would just tell everyone on her own. That it wasn't his problem. But all that false hope got him nowhere. It didn't help Sakura at all. Frustrated, Sasuke got out of bed and walked to Sakura's room. Quietly, he knocked on the door. He waited a few moments and then knocked again.

"Who is it?" whispered Sakura.

"It's me, can I come in? We need to talk." She opened her door and Sasuke came in. Sakura studied Sasuke as he awkwardly sat down on the edge of her bed.

"What is it Sasuke? Do you realize how late it is? I got a meeting with Tsunade in the morning and I don't want to look half dead for it. So if you don't mind."

"Why did you try to kill yourself Sakura?"

Sakura then stopped in her tracks. She wasn't expecting him to ask her that question yet. She was thinking that he would much later. But, with the way things had been going on lately, it was stupid of her not to expect the unexpected.

"So nice night, eh Sasuke?"

"Don't change the subject Sakura. I asked you a question and I really would like an answer."

Sakura sighed and then sat next to Sasuke on her bed. She adverted her gaze away from him, trying to figure out how to explain it all to him. Still not sure about her words, she began to speak.

"Alright Sasuke, you want the truth? Well here it is. I realized how broken I had become. I was someone that couldn't be fixed. I felt like, and still feel like, that I am worthless and unwanted. Do you know how long it has been since I've felt the loving warmth of another? It's been eight years Sasuke. Eight long, painful years. So why not kill myself? It was a great plan at the time…I still think it's a great plan."

"Sakura, if you killed yourself, do you realize how broken hearted you would've left people? There are so many people that care about you, love you even! And so what if your father and my jealous fangirls tried to break you down. The important thing is that you survived. You survived all that pain and now you have a support group to help you mend yourself back together again."

"Sasuke, I don't want to sound desperate, but would you…I mean could you be apart of that support group?" Sasuke smiled a genuine smile at Sakura and then took her hand in his.

"Sakura, I'll be the heart and soul of it."

Sasuke and Sakura stayed in Sakura's room just holding each others hand. Sakura eventually fell asleep, so Sasuke tucked her into bed and went back to his own room, falling asleep with ease. This was only the beginning for Sakura, as well as for Sasuke. Together they would mend the wound until it was completely healed. Yes, it was going to be completely gone as time went on, only to be replaced by love and happiness. After all, doesn't everyone deserve that?

A/N: Well there was some SasuSaku fluff for you there, even though it was a little bit. I love how there relationship grows. It's so genuine and real, unlike with some of the fanfics I have read in the past. Okay well Please review! And thanks for reading! Stay tuned for the next chapter. Until next time!

Ja'ne,

Mariegurl