Date: 7/16/13
Rating: T
Genre: Drama, Romance
Prompt: Sakura finds traces of drugs in Sasuke's body when she's healing him after the war, remnants of his time with Orochimaru. She gets worried that he might not be acting in his right mind and Sasuke tries to convince her he is.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Sakura blinked, her eyes turning upward to the man whose puzzled expression now matched her own. She took her hand off his chest. "Like what?"

"Like you've found something wrong." Sasuke eyed her suspiciously. "Is something wrong?"

"No, of course not, Sasuke-kun," she said, feigning cheerfulness, turning around so she wouldn't have to face him. She quickly reached for his clipboard and began scribbling nonsense onto his file. She sighed; when it came to people who knew her, really knew her, she was always such a terrible liar. But, she hoped, stealing a glance at Sasuke who remained sitting on the examination table, maybe he wouldn't notice.

It was just a scant amount, just barely perceptible, but she felt it. There was something in floating around Sasuke's system, something foreign, something that shouldn't have been there. Drugs. She bit her lip. Obviously, he wasn't taking anything now; her check-up proved that. What she found must have been remnants from whatever he took while under Orochimaru's care. However, she wasn't naïve. The drugs, even as minute as it was, could still be affecting his system, could still hold some power over him. Sure, Sasuke fought on their side now, but what about tomorrow? Or the day after that? Sakura shivered at the thought.

"Good," she suddenly heard him say, tearing her away from her thoughts, her fears, "then I'm going to leave now."

"No!" she exclaimed, dropping the clipboard and grabbing onto Sasuke's arm, instinctively pumping chakra to her hand so he couldn't pull away. He raised his brow, his expression one of confusion and discomfort. "Uh, I mean," she said awkwardly, loosening her grip and pulling him away from the medical tent's exit. "I'm not finished, yet—with your check-up." She cleared her throat. "Yeah."

Sasuke rolled his eyes, but nevertheless allowed himself to be dragged back onto the examination table. And though he remained silent as he followed her instructions, he knew Sakura was hiding something. What it was exactly, he couldn't guess, but judging from the way she refused to look him in the eye, Sasuke knew it had to be important. But, for the time being, he went along with whatever game she was playing, thinking Sakura would tell him what was bothering her eventually.

However, after the second hour had passed—with no progress whatsoever—Sasuke finally decided that enough was enough. "Sakura, stop," he said, the exasperation clear in his tone, "You're not doing anything."

She finally looked up from the clipboard, her eyes wide, her expression taking on the semblance of innocence. "What are you talking about, Sasuke-kun? This is very important work I'm doing," she said, almost pretentiously, "You've been gone from the village for a long time now, and we need to redo your file all over again."

But Sasuke wasn't stupid. Rolling his eyes, he took the clipboard away from Sakura, quickly glancing at her "notes"—doodles of nonsense and flowers and her punching—was that supposed to be him? He shook his head and huffed. This proved it; she was hiding something. "I'm sure the village doesn't need to know what I do in my free time when it's raining, or what my favorite color is, or whether or not I wear boxers or briefs." He crossed his arms. "So tell me why you won't let me leave."

Sakura bit her lip, avoiding Sasuke's sharp gaze, but even as she stared at the ground, she could feel his eyes burning holes into her body. And when she couldn't take it anymore, she caved. "Okay, fine," she said, sighing as she looked up, "I won't let you leave because I want to keep an eye on you."

"Why?"

"I—I'm not sure if you're acting in the right state of mind."

"What?"

"Or if you are," she continued meekly, "I'm not sure for how long." She sighed, aware of the look Sasuke was giving her—stunned, appalled, insulted. "Just let me explain. I found traces of a foreign substance in your system, and I know it's probably from the drugs you took while you were with Orochimaru, right?" He didn't answer, but she didn't need him to. "Whatever, I know I'm right, so I can't let you leave, not until I'm sure you're okay."

But he couldn't believe it—of all things, of all times. Sasuke ran a hand through his hair and let out a slow exhale. "Sakura," he said evenly, fighting to stay patient, "it's been months since I've touched anything Orochimaru gave me. And what I took then, it hasn't affected me since." He stood up from the examination table and held the clipboard out to her. "Stop worrying about me. I'm fine."

However, before Sasuke could even take a step forward Sakura slapped the clipboard from his hand, and he saw fire—in her eyes, in her spirit, in her soul. "You're kidding, right?" she asked indignantly; though, it didn't sound like a question. "Maybe it won't affect you today, or tomorrow, or the day after that. But I don't know what the hell you took from him. So don't tell me you're fine because whatever it was, it's still in you're body. And if you honestly expect me to ever, ever, stop worrying about you, Sasuke-kun, then—then—"

And just like that, the fire was extinguished. Tears.

She turned away. "Just forget it," she said, shoulders slumped forward, arms crossed, defeated. "You can go."

But Sasuke didn't go. How could he? And while he didn't know exactly what to do, he did the only thing he could. Placing a hand on her shoulder, Sasuke gently turned Sakura around so she was facing him. However, she refused to look at him. He sighed, taking her into his arms, hearing the small gasp escape from her lips. "Sakura," he said slowly, "you, you just have to trust me."

"But what if you leave again?" she asked into his shoulder, her breath tickling his neck, "What if—"

"What if I don't?"

Sasuke felt her stiffen. "I—I hadn't thought about that." Sakura pulled away, tears still in her eyes. "I just want to be sure, Sasuke-kun."

"Sakura, I highly doubt either you or Naruto would let me get as far as Suna if I even tried to leave again."

She laughed. "That's true."

"So is this check-up over?"

"Yes," she said, smiling, pulling away to wipe the tears away from her cheeks, "you're finally free to leave, Sasuke-kun." Nodding, he finally released her from his embrace and turned to exit the tent. However, before he could leave, Sakura had one last question. "So which is it?"

He turned his head. "Which is what?"

"Boxers or briefs?"