Chapter 06

She inhaled deep and closed her eyes. She bends her knees to balanced herself. Deep inside, she molded and manipulated her chakra with perfect ease. She was good at it; everyone dubbed her as the girl with perfect chakra control. Sometimes it annoys her to the core. She's annoyed with herself. Because it was the only thing she was good at. Truly, it was the exact requirements to be a great medic, but everyone without a 'perfect chakra control' can be an iryu-nin. Her only consolation though is that aside from being the medic, she also possessed monster strength, that's not so typical for a little girl like her. Not all iryu-nin can do that. She was the only one among the kunoichi in her generation who could do that. And she's the second in the history. Her Shishou, Tsunade-sama was the first, and her mentor. Everything she is was molded by her Shishou. Thinking back on Team 7, she thought she was the bad tomato in the group. Her sensei, Kakashi was a typical genius, and is a living legend. Naruto had a kyuubi, and a great lineage from the Uzumaki and the Fourth. Sasuke is from Uchiha with the greatest bloodline the world had ever known and Sai…well, he's Sai, an ANBU in the root division. That's an unfair achievement. What about her? No clan, no bloodline, no great lineage. Though everyone told her, she was a second Tsunade, she doesn't par with Naruto or Sasuke who, themselves were also under the tutelage of the Sannin, Jiraiya and Orochimaru respectively. She was just Sakura. And her only trophy is her huge forehead with her brain.

It was not typical of her to put down herself like this. But the world is unfair and cruel. She tried so hard, so very hard just to cope up with her team mates. In fact, among her team mates, she sees herself as the only one who was lagging behind, feeling so useless at times. Behind that smile and sweet face lies a sad and frail little girl who was frustrated to catch up with the world. So without many options on what the heck to do, she had decided to put herself on the thing she thought that could help and benefit them all. She sighed. It's no use mopping around like this. She thought.

With leather gloved hands, she directed her chakra into it. She opened her eyes and exhaled sharply as her fisted hands drove directly into a large oak tree. It was a fairly 8 meters in diameter, and she just split the tree into half with one hand. The sturdy tree falls slowly, creaking and breaking smaller branches on its way as it gave a loud thud on its final destination on the ground. The impact disturbed the nocturnal animals, making the owls and birds flying off in the inky sky, howling in the chilly air as if cursing the person who disturbed their sanctuary. The smaller rodents and mammals on the ground scurried away frantically. She sighed again. Her hands fall on her side.

She looked at the cabin. She could see the lighted windows from where she was standing. She was at the large clearing located behind the cabin. She discovered it awhile ago while she was mindlessly walking out from that place. And it was only 3am in the morning. And sleep was avoiding her. Well, who could sleep with the sudden situation that befalls her that night?

I'm doomed. The gods must be enjoying torturing me right now. Fuck with the fates and their threads. I hate this day! Her thought lingered back to the incident that happened awhile ago.

Sasuke is in her cabin.

It was the cause why her mind was in turmoil. Everything was like calm water suddenly disturbed and then suddenly, it creates ripples on its surface. She didn't know what to think. So she decided to step out from the cabin and walked aimlessly. Her feet brought her to this clearing.

She was caught off-guard in that situation. She even thought she had forgotten to breathe when she saw him, thinking that her mind must have been playing tricks on her. But he was there. He was not an illusion. And his scent was clinging on her skin.

She grunted in frustration.

"S-Sasuke…kun…" her lips quiver. Her heart was beating so fast, she feared it will leap out from her throat. It feels like a thousand needles had been pricked on her skull that moment. She had troubled breathing but she managed to execute an inhale and exhale through her mouth or else her brain will be playing tricks on her. She could pass out if she forgot to function properly.

She managed to flick the switch on. The room was basked in the light. The mess in the room did little to register on her mind or that she was only wearing a fluffy pastel pink towel hugging around her body or her hair was disheveled and that some of it were sticking silly on her face down to her creamy bare shoulders. Her mind was focused on the intruder that night…the man Konoha had been looking for the last years.

He hadn't changed. Did he? No, it must be that annoying smirk on his mouth or that emotionless eyes that's so dark it feels like it could suck you whole. It was like a black hole. That part of him so agonizingly beautiful little expressions, if you could even call it like that, were the things that hadn't change. He's still the overly arrogant and conceited Uchiha she had known since she was 12, that little boy that was imprinted on her memories forever. But the person, who gave a scrutinizing look on her, he's definitely become a man. He's so tall; she could barely reach around his shoulder. His skin, fair and smooth, she wondered what it would feel to touch him. His hair, as black as a raven's, was still sticking out like a chicken's butt. She wondered if it was hereditary, being an Uchiha must have a spiky hairs, and that must have been the reason why Itachi grew his hair long to avoid such display of wayward spiky hairs. Sasuke's side bangs was still long though, and he maintained it long enough to reach his chin. His brows, perfectly aligned straight to a curve, more neat than a woman's, she thought she saw it rose a few millimeters as she looked at him. His nose, the bridge perfectly arrogant and beautiful, gave off an air of nobility. And his mouth…Kami-sama, her throat went dry as her eyes went to his mouth. It must have been the most gorgeous mouth she'd ever seen these years. Thin, luscious and beautiful, clamped tightly. She wondered how many had touched and kissed that mouth of his. How would it feel to kiss him?

She must have been staring on his mouth long enough that she saw the corner of it rose to a smirk again. Her eyes dashed quickly to his eyes, trying to hide guilt, like a kid who's been caught doing mischievous things. She saw his right brows raised a curve, as if telling her he had caught what she's been doing for a while now. She composed herself and gave him a scowl.

"W-What are you doing here?" She reprimanded herself for almost stammering. She needs to remind herself not to get lost. She had prepared herself for this moment right? She told herself that she had moved on, and that Uchiha Sasuke is a subject of her past. She shouldn't be troubled with his mere presence right? She had already conditioned herself, her mind and heart that she had already get-over with him.

But it was harder than she thought. She tried to bite her inner cheeks to stop her teeth from quivering. The windows were closed but she filled chilly she don't know why. She clenched her jaw as Sasuke moved one step behind, so slowly as if assessing her move.

"Sakura," he called her. Just her name coming from his mouth in his cold baritone voice that was so melodious to her ear was enough to sent chills down her spine. She jerked as a reaction. He was looking intently at her now, his eyes, void of any emotions, was scrutinizing her whole, from her head down to her eyes, her nose, his eyes lingered much longer on her opened mouth. She closed her mouth and stepped closer the door behind her. He was doing exactly what she was doing a while ago! The jerk!

Then his eyes travelled down further…to her protruding chest covered with a towel. And she was suddenly aware of what she was wearing right now. Nothing except the towel! Her right arm went to her chest trying to cover it. Her brows scrunch together, giving him a death glare. His eyes snapped back into her eyes. He tilted his head giving her a smug smirk and a snort.

He's still a conceited bastard, she thought.

But deep inside her, she was curious as to what's on his mind upon seeing her right now. Did he appreciate what he sees? Did he like what he sees? Fuck it, why am I expecting something from this asshole?

They haven't seen each other for nearly three years. True, she had seen how much he had grown, and wasn't expecting him to be that beautiful so much it hurts her ego and as a woman but she too had changed. At least, the thing she wanted the most was an approval from the man she valued the most in the world. Wait what? Erase that!

There was no way she could read his expression though. Because Uchiha Sasuke was one walking block of ice and he lived up to his reputation up till now not showing any emotion. There was no way of telling what's on his mind. And she was feeling stupid in front of him.

So with a sigh, she removed her arms around her chest. The hell she cared about what Uchiha Sasuke thought about her this minute? The hell with him scrutinizing how she looked right now. Why would she be so conscious before him? Because in the end, she doesn't care either, and it does not matter anymore, she didn't want to know what he thought and it's not important this moment. They've known each other yet they were estranged at the same time. So with confidence, she stood in front of him.

And she was staring at him, ready to rain him down with an earful of insults and a chunk of her mind. But just like in movies, she saw him gasp and he was falling on his knees, so slow, she even had the time to think he was kneeling for her. Her eyes wide with shocked as she realized she was really falling on his knees. She saw him close his eyes as he continued to fall on the floor. He's losing consciousness? Why? Before he could kiss the floor, she already caught him on her arms; suddenly conscious on the closeness of their bodies. His face falls on her bare shoulder and he was breathing hot air on her skin, which made her jerk his head off and made him lie down on the floor. He was heavy, well he's a full grown man. So she looked at him and checked what's wrong. He was breathing heavily and sweat had formed on his forehead. And she finally saw that his dark shirt was dripping with blood. He's injured? And he was standing awhile ago like he was not suffering from this injury? Uhg, typical of an asshole like him!

"Hey," she tapped his face. She felt his skin hot. He was running a fever. He answered with a grunt. There was no way he could answer her right now.

She was kneeling before him, slumped back as she stared on the man before her. Dumbstruck on her situation, she looked on his face. It was kind of distorted with whatever uncomfortable feeling he had right now. His brows were scrunch up together, and he was shivering. She saw him gritted his teeth as the muscles on his jaw cringed. He was so vulnerable right now. There are a lot things running on her mind this moment, and one particular of them was her chance to kill him, or to drag his sorry ass back in Konoha. She heaved a loud sigh; feeling like the world had just been deposited on her shoulder. Suddenly feeling wary, the whole day travel to this village finally taking its toll on her body, thinking about the experiment she was supposed to conduct the time she finished her shower, and now the situation in front of her. She brought a hand to her face, brushing it as wary painted on her beautiful fragile face, slipping it on her pink tresses.

"What am I gonna do, Sasuke?" she whispered, more to herself than to him. She bit her lower lip. There was clogging on her throat and she suppressed it back. This is no time to be emotional. But she wanted to mock this chance meeting. And she wanted to spit on the thing called destiny. It was ironic really, here she was, thinking just only yesterday about him, telling herself she had gotten over him, and now he was here in front of him in all his glorious vulnerability dancing on her hands. The good part? She is still in love with him, after all of these years. And she just confirmed it awhile ago!

What should she do then? Kami, I hate you…why me? She groaned. She slapped both of her face. Get a grip Sakura!

"There's a dying man in front of you Sakura, so as a medic, it's only natural to help him, nothing more, nothing less!" she mumbled loudly as she checked his pulse, "a doctor will help anyone and does not discriminate. So, this is your duty as a doctor!"

She felt like an idiot, trying to convince herself with her mumbling, reciting those logical lines. And she is an idiot for she knows that it's a lie. Well not entirely, because deep inside there was a part of her that wanted to help him.

Who is she lying to? She was a Konoha nin. And her loyalty to Konoha comes first before anything else. Her hand stopped midway around his chest upon that realization. She almost forgot that Sasuke was a wanted man. And helping him now would be considered a treachery towards Konoha. She gulped an air. It never crossed her mind to taint her loyalty towards Konoha. It horrified her but everything else melted behind when she glanced at his face. He was the man he loves and she will be selfish just this time. Nobody will know. And she will leave it like that. But what would she do after this? Will she send a report back to Konoha telling them Uchiha Sasuke was on the Firefly Village?

She looked at his face once again and noticed that he was pale. She has to do something soon. Grudgingly, she checks his system. "You owe me this one, Uchiha!" she growled.

He was still unconscious. She worked first by checking his pulse and the pupil on his eyes. "He's been poisoned," she mumbled, then opened his mouth. She saw the muscles on his arms jerk off "Strychnine poisoning. How did someone get it to him?" She frowned. The one who poisoned him must be an exceptional kind of nin. Either that or Sasuke had become rusty. But she doubts it was the latter. Uchiha Sasuke was good. He's a genius. He wouldn't be branded an S-Class criminal without the proof that he's that dangerous. She tried to poison him before right? And at that time, he was not on his perfect condition. He had given her handicapped but she was almost killed. Sasuke had the intention to kill her on that bridge. She snorted upon remembering that foolish episode of her life. If it wasn't for Naruto coming at the right moment, she would be rotting right now six feet under. She looked on his face, "an eye for an eye, I could kill you right now. That or I will let the poison kill you eventually," She shook her head with the idea. She noticed the pool of blood staining down his shirt. She gripped it and tore it open to see a gash on his left abdomen. Her mouth agape, she might be working on him the whole night!

So with enhanced chakra, she dragged him off to the lab downstairs, grabbing her bag with her while still holding the knot that joined the towel on her chest. It might fall anytime, and even though Sasuke was unconscious, it's better to be on the safe side. She cursed. "Fuckin' Uchiha, we haven't met for almost 3 years and this is what you do to me!"

Huffing, they reached the lab. She laid him slowly on the single cot. She grabbed her red silk robe and put it around her, removing the towel. It's better to move with these than on her towel. She grabbed a band and put her long uncombed damp hair on a knot. She approached him and tore open his black shirt. She worked on the poison first, grabbing a syringe from her bag and injected it on his arm. It's painkiller. Strychnine poisoning will cause convulsion and spasm and those were painful. The enemy must have given him a fatal dosage; still it amazed her that he survived this long. She must perform decontamination as soon as possible.

So with haste, she grabbed a medium sized basin, fill it in with water and a pail. She checked the shelves and grabbed one large jar filled with black powdery thing. It's an activated charcoal. She mixes it with the water. She's going to perform toxic adsorption, much the same as what she did when Kankuro was poisoned in Suna. Strychnine toxic will be adsorbed with the activated carbon. So she approached Sasuke, grabbed a few towels and tied his arms on the bed. There will be a lot of thrashing and this time, there will be no one who can help her to restrain him. Well she hoped he won't be thrashing that much like what Kankuro did. The one that hit Kankuro was metal-based poison, and extracting them from his body was really painful. Nonetheless, it was still poison and are life-threatening.

She tilted him on his right side. She's going to insert the solution through his wound. Most Strychnine poison will accumulate on the gastric system and will eventually make its way on the central nervous system, attacking the nerves on the spine. That is, if it was taken orally, but with Sasuke's case, it was injected.

So with concentrated chakra molding the water solution into a ball on her left palm, she began the painstaking procedure, inserting the liquid solution through the gash on his abdomen slowly and carefully, concentrating on adsorbing the toxic on his organs, then pushes it out on the gash behind him. Sasuke didn't thrash violently, but she saw him winced, and gritted his teeth. With the ball of solution on her right palm, she discarded it on the pail beside her. She performs it again five times more. When she checked the level of toxicity was in manageable degree and can be treated more later, she closed the gash on his abdomen.

She then proceeds to wrap him up and attached some intravenous fluids down his left arm. She popped two blood replenishing pills from her bag and approached Sasuke's bed. The guy has been so pale and she needs to shove the pills down his throat.

"Sasuke, wake up," she shook him. He groaned, "You need to take this, and then you can rest,"

She didn't know if he recognized her or his current situation, but he opened his eyes, half-lidded. She knows that he was still disoriented. It was the poison's effect. But his alertness was still there. He stiffened upon seeing her, his hand jerking off looking and grabbing the sheets. Maybe he was looking for his kusanagi, which she had set aside his bed. "It's me," she said in a flat voice, face devoid of any emotion. He relaxed a bit, eyes scanning the area. "Take this," she said, and his eyes shot back at her, cold and irritated. She quirked an eyebrow and shove the pills down his hands. He looked at it with query. She rolled her eyes and sighed exasperatedly. "Blood replenishing pills," she said flatly. He shot her with death glares. Jade orbs were more than welcome to bestow him an icy glare too. So with an obvious unenthusiastic motion, he tried to get up, snatching the pills from his hands weakly. She snorted which earned her another glower from him. She helped him though, lifting his head enough as he popped the pills into his mouth. She was the one who grabbed the glass of water from the side table and helped him drink it up. After that, he settled back on the bed, and before unconsciousness claimed him again, his eyes darted on Sakura's back.

The last thing on his mind wondered on the scent of jasmine and strawberry he had smelled from her.

Sakura was exhausted. She hadn't had a decent break since she came in the village. She huffed, releasing all her tensions building up since he came. She glanced at her patient, now sleeping on the cot. She still couldn't believed that Sasuke was there, sleeping just a few inches from where she stands. She had just experienced an intense battle with him, a battle with her turbulent emotions at stake, swirling and resurfacing one after another. It's taking a toll on her, and facing with him already drained half of her life. Thinking about the next few days facing him is a dreading task she had to face soon. "I wished that the next time he opened his eyes, he'll be gone, like he never came…like he was never here in the first place," she murmurs, her head hanging on her shoulders.

Did she really wished that? Hell no, but she hoped that it was one of those things where it was not an option but a decided matter. Back when they were 12, he decided to leave her when his options were laid before him, yet he had decided to leave. She wished it could be that simple now, in this situation. Where she can decide that he should be gone the next time she stepped into this lab. Because this moment, all the determination and courage she had put up in the past years, are slowly crumbling away. And the wall she had deliberately built up as her defense against him, much to her disgust, was not as sturdy and well-built as she had thought it would be. Because right this moment, it was as fragile and delicate as a thin sheet of ice, ready to shatter and break her apart. With another glance towards him, she threaded back to her room. It was a complete mess with the broken bed still lying in the center of the room. She had to do some explanation to old Minoru tomorrow about the bed. Grabbing the rest of her luggage, she went to the other room and decided to use it instead. Locking the door then setting her bags down the floor, she walked towards the bathroom, decided to wash herself once more. She stripped out from the robe, and went under the warm shower. At least it helped loosen up her tired muscles and soothe away her tensions. Thinking her position right now, she was contemplating about what to do. She laid her forehead on the cold tile, closing her eyes. She growled. Thinking right now will only bring her headache. She finished her shower, dried herself and slipped on her under wears. She decided to put on her red sleeveless tunic and pair it up with cycling shorts.

She had decided to take a walk as a breather. She was getting suffocated. That's when she found herself smashing the large oak tree in the clearing a few hundred meters behind the cabin. It was still dark, the moon hanging in the inky sky. The air was chilly, probably caused by the recent rain. The surrounding was giving off the scent of pine and earth. She inhaled and exhaled. She then walks towards a large protruding bolder a few feet away. She sit on it and falls on a deep thinking.

"Naruto, if you were here, what would you do?" she mumbled. She looked in the sky, "the truth is, I'm scared."

It was a long silence after that, the croaking of the frogs and the cooing of the owls, breaking the deepening silence around. She then decided that no one can answer her and this is something she had to face head on, no matter how much she wants to avoid it. So with that conclusion she march her way back to the cabin.

TBC