I just want to let everyone know your comments are appreciated.
And I am taking in all of your suggestions.
Please be patient and let it unfold.
I promise...(well hope)...you won't find it disappointing.
:)

Chapter Three:
How It's Gonna Be

"You want a piece of me?"

He slowly opened his eyes, feeling the thin blanket draped over him...the soft pillow underneath his head. The white...white...room. The smell of medicine and soft chatter of nurses in the hallway.

Go figure. That's what happens when somebody gets knocked out. They end up in a hospital somewhere for some damn reason. Not that he could remember much...but as time went by...he could. It slowly all came back.

For the next hour...he laid in the bed with his eyes closed, listening to the nurses walk in and out...and the ones in the hallway. Most of them gossiped about people in the village. Some talked about him returning... some talked about the recent new with Akatsuki...but most of it...most of all that annoying talk...

...was about Sakura.

Oh, Sakura's doing so well! She's grown up to be quite the young lady! She's going to be 17 real soon! She's doing great working here! She's so beautiful! She's got such a bright future!

Sakura...Sakura...Sakura...

Well- fuck you Sakura!

That was the last person he wanted to think about right now. It was her fault! She was the whole reason he was here!!! But whatever...too bad she was the person he just had to end up seeing next.

About an hour after he woke up...he heard some footsteps nearing his door. Soon, it slowly opened and he heard somebody walk in. His eyes were closed, but he slowly opened them and watched as none other than Sakura walked over by the window and sat in the chair, resting her elbow on the ledge. She laid her chin in her palm and stared out into the blue sky. It was a pretty peaceful day...but her expression wasn't so peaceful. Apparently, she wasn't on duty. She was wearing a long sleeve red shirt and a short white skirt. Her hair was tied up into a messy bun, and she looked kind of ragged. He guessed she hadn't gotten much sleep.

They just sat there for a while, her staring into the sky. He slowly sat up a bit and leaned his back against the wall. He looked off in the opposite direction of her, leaning his head against the wall as well. He was sick of just staring at her. And he decided to break the silence.

"I hear you're doing really well." He said calmly, in a very non-threatening tone. He was simply in her territory now. He couldn't really fight back. And he was curious as to how he got here. And what was all going on.

But none the less...his voice came out mockingly.

"Don't ask me. Let me tell you." Her voice was firm.

Silence.

"I'll wipe you from my life." She finished.

But he found no threat in that. "Don't think I'll be crushed." He replied, still looking off in the opposite direction. The corner of his lips raised slightly.

Silence.

Whatever...why not make this interesting?

"I can't believe it's really you. Been so long..." He said, his voice growing softer.

But her face remained emotionless.

More silence.

"I'm not falling for your game."

Her voice was growing slightly irritated. But he could only find it amusing. A small smirk crawled onto his lips. He was ready to play.

"Girls like you never change."

Now her eyes started narrowing. It was hard to keep calm with somebody like him testing your patience and riding on your every nerve.

"Why are you here?" He asked, now looking at her. "I don't want you here." His eyes narrowed as well, smirk fading very slowly.

She looked at him too, a glare enchanting her face. "I don't care what you want. I don't care about you."

That was such a lie. And the funny thing...was that they both knew it.

"Then why are you here?"

Silence.

A victorious grin took over his face. "You do care. Don't lie to me."

She instantly clenched her teeth together tightly, very upset with his words. Who was he to think he had all the answers? Damn, he was way too arrogant. "Keep telling yourself that, but I don't care!" She shouted angrily.

He only continued to look at her with amusement. "Fine. Then why am I here?"

Excuse me...but, wasn't she going to be the one asking the questions? After all...she had come in here to get some answers. But she just didn't know what to ask him anymore. What did she really want to know?

Oh yeah- everything.

Silence.

She looked away. Now his grin faded, and his face turned into a sour expression. He hated when she ignored him. But you know what he hated more? Her not bothering to address him at all. She wouldn't even say his name! Very irritating.

"Answer me." He demanded.

She shook her head softly. "And if I don't want to? What...will you hurt me?" She asked smartly.

He was really starting to hate her now. Wow...what a-

"I want to hurt you just to hear you screaming my name." He said sharply, causing her to look back at him, a slightly shocked expression on her face. She didn't actually think it bothered him that much. But apparently she was wrong.

"You're not the Sasuke I knew." She said angrily, standing up. Her throat was tightening and it was getting hard to breath. But whatever...she had to let him know his place. She'd have to face him eventually. It was now or never.

He shook his head. "You never knew me."

All of a sudden it felt like her heart was dropping into her stomach. "What are you saying?!" She said, taking a step toward him. He looked back at her, realizing he had her riled up. Right where he wanted her. And right now...he just wanted out of this dump of a village. So he needed to get out somehow...And as he looked at her...he seen something very familiar hanging around her neck. Something he could use to his advantage. Something to break her.

It was that necklace. The one he had gave her the day he left. She claims she doesn't care...yet she still wears that? What a horrible liar. She probably doesn't even know I've noticed it.

He needed to break her- and fast- if I wanted to get out of here.

So, step number one...

"Oh, Sakura...seeing me again must really bother you. You look flustered"

Her eyes widened. She didn't understand where this was going. He was so...different now.

"You say you don't care. But I just don't believe it." He said again, pulling the sheets off him and standing up. He looked down on her, noticing that she was shaking slightly. Was it from fear?

"I don't." She muttered quietly. Insecurity was all over her words. She took a small step toward the door. This was a dangerous situation. He was flat out...dangerous. Maybe she could escape slowly. But her body just didn't respond to that, and she started walking to the door, ignoring him standing there. But no, he just wouldn't have that. Once she reached about a step behind him, he grabbed her arm viciously and pulled her back onto the floor. Her back hit the cold surface hard and despite her trying to hold her head up, she knocked her head on the ground as well. Her eyes were closed tightly, and she was hoping he'd just leave her be...but as if throwing her down wasn't good enough, she felt her arms get pinned up beside her head so her hands were even with her ears. His hands were choking her wrists, and she felt his knees lock her in around her hips. So he was basically straddling her. Great. Just what she needed. On top of all that...she was beginning to get a splitting headache.

Her eyes shot open and she immediately glared at him, trying to make him understand she was nobody to mess with. But that wasn't working. He only grinned down at her with that...sick...evil...twisted smirk. Ugh...it made her so pissed. He leaned his head down a bit so his bangs hung down over his face.

"Face it. I have you in between my legs and you love it."

Ah, so that's how he wanted to play. And as much as she realized it...she just couldn't stop herself from getting all flustered. Why was she losing her self control?

"Shut up. That's not true." She snapped angrily, watching him shake his head softly.

"It is. You'd love to just kiss me right now, wouldn't you?" He said tauntingly, raising an eyebrow. He leaned his head down a little further. He loved teasing her.

Sakura's face immediately turned red and she swallowed hard. "No. No I would not." Yeah, he was secretly getting the best of her. But her words were firm...showing no sign that he had her.

"But it's me. Sasuke Uchiha. You'd love to have any kind of contact with me. Wouldn't you just love to sleep with me, Sa-ku-ra?" Okay, so his method wasn't even close to fair...and he knew that. But it was one way to get her riled up. And it was working so well.

Her mouth fell open, breathing coming to a complete stop. Okay...so now it was obvious.

"Why not? We're already in position. I'm on top and everything." His grin widened, showing his teeth. The malicious glint sparkled in his eyes. Damn those eyes. Damn that smirk. Damn him...period. "Just let me help you with those clothes."

He let out a small, evil laugh and she felt herself melt. This wasn't good. Not good.

"Here...just relax." He said, releasing his grip on one of her wrists. He could see her tensing up. She wanted so much to just slap him right now...but as his fingers slowly made contact on the base of her neck...she started to feel numb. He wasn't really going to try anything, was he? And his fingers slowly moved down until they reached the tip of her cleavage over her shirt.

Right where the necklace emblem was.

"Close your eyes, Sakura." He whispered.

She didn't want to...but she just couldn't stop herself. Her eyes drifted closed, much to her dismay. But it wasn't what she had expected. Not even close.

Sasuke grabbed the Uchiha symbled-necklace and ripped it off her neck. Her eyes shot open instantly, but he was just too quick. He stuffed it in his pocket and slammed his hand back on her wrist.

She found herself at a loss of words. "I-I..you..j-just...what the fuck!" She was just so angry! That stupid little...he gave that to her. It was hers!!!

He smirked back down at her. "You didn't actually think I was serious, did you? I thought you didn't care...but you did exactly what I said." Step one, complete.

Now she was downright pissed.

"You damn...bastard! I can't stand you...I hope you-"

And all of a sudden a nurse walked in through the door, completely unaware of what was going on. "Sakura, I-" And she gasped, dropping the clipboard on the ground. She backed into the half open door, eyes wide. Sasuke glanced at the nurse and then back at Sakura.

"O-oh my gosh...I'm...were you...i-in the middle of something..." The nurse stuttered, blushing heavily.

And as Sakura started to say 'no'...Sasuke interrupted her. "Yeah, kinda."

She instantly gave him the dirtiest glare she could muster.

"Why don't you give us some privacy?" Sasuke asked seductively, and in an instant the nurse ran out of the room, leaving Sakura alone with this...fiend.

"Let me go." She demanded.

"Does Tsunade know about that wound?" He glanced at her stomach and then back to her eyes.

"No." She was willing to tell him anything he wanted, at least, for now. Right now she was just desperate to be free. He was destroying any piece of her right mind she had left.

"What does she think about me being back?"

"She thinks you came of your own free will. There's no punishment. No nothing. I told her absolutely nothing." She replied, sounding breathless.

Just tell him what he wants to hear! He'll leave you alone. Then you can get away. THEN you can tell the Hokage what REALLY happened.

Truth was, when she told Tsunade about Sasuke coming home...she left out him stabbing her...and being a complete ass...and, well pretty much everything. She made up her own little story. Just to save him! How stupid...

Sasuke only nodded. "Good." He said calmly. He smiled down at her as she bit her lip.

That sick smile.

She just needed to be away from him!!! Was that so much to ask?!

"Thanks for the necklace. I wanted that back." He said, removing his grip on her wrists and then slowly standing up. Once he was off her completely, she jumped up as fast as she could. She stared at him for a quick second and then exhaled a deep breath. Really, at first...she didn't know what to do. She was still kind of in shock.

"Go to hell. I hate you." She murmured under her breath, sidestepping him and rushing out of the room. She cut off a nurse who gasped as Sakura walked by. "Take care of that patient! I think he needs a few dozen shots in his ass!" She shouted at the nurse, quickly walking down the hallway.

Sasuke only smirked as he heard her vicious words ringing through the hallway.

Step two, complete.

Now to just get the hell out of here.

And as if the day just couldn't get any worse...she stormed through the town hall, letting everybody know she was damn pissed. She wanted to go to Tsunade right away and tell her that Sasuke was an ass and needed to be killed. She literally wanted to say that. So everybody Sakura passed just glanced and her and backed out of her way. She was in no mood. No mood at all. And everybody knew what could come of her or the Hokage when they were in a bad mood.

Bad things. Very bad things.

Things had just been getting too complicated. She was on too many missions, no time at home...too much working at the hospital...personal problems...and for one...being in the ANBU was just too stressful.

Especially her teams.

She had basically two main squads she went on missions with. One squad, she didn't mind so much. It was Naruto and a boy named Taru on that squad. It was the other squad she didn't like.

She was with Sai, a former teammate from about two years ago. They had traveled together to find Sasuke at one point...and she had actually grown not to mind him so much. It was just the other person she didn't like. She didn't know how she had gotten placed on the same squad as this person but...she knew arguing with Tsuande about it would only upset her, so she just stomached the other teammate.

And it was none other than Kalei Hitsuchi.

She had only gone on maybe 3 missions with her...because right after Sasuke had left the village a few months ago...she had left for the Sand village. Nobody was sure why really she stayed so long...but she ended up staying down there for about 6 months. So Sakura had spent the last...almost 6 months...on missions with Kalei and her other squad. They never really had a lot of missions together because most of the time, Kalei was busy. When she returned from the Sand Village, she had brought her little sister back as well.

It was strange though. They only argued sometimes. After Sasuke's leave...Kalei became very quiet. She didn't talk much...and she hated arguing. She didn't really like being touched...and she always seemed really...emotionless. Almost like Sasuke. She hated being wrong and was quick to tell you exactly what was on her mind. She barely ever slept...and her phobia of that rain had increased. She wouldn't even go outside if it was raining...or suppose to rain. She treated it like death. It was weird.

But most of all...it was strange. Very, very strange. And that was what bugged her the most. Sakura had spent the last months trying to get over Sasuke...but every time she seen Kalei...she thought of him. She remembered one argument she had with Kalei that happened to be about Sasuke. It wasn't exactly all that bad but...it really just stuck with her. But at the same time...it was motivation. Really, it was hard to describe.

"Kalei...can we please just move on?"

"From what..."

"The weird Sasuke thing that's keeping us from...being friends."

"That's over already."

"Then why are you so...angry toward me?"

"It's not just you. I don't care about you..."

"I'm not stupid...I know this has to do with Sasuke...why else-"


"Sakura...he's gone...and never coming back. I'm over it. And you should be too."

"What do you mean he's never coming back?"

"It's something you just know..."

"I don't believe it."

"You'll learn with time."

And ever since that conversation...she had sworn to herself that she would attempt to move on. It was no life...sitting around and waiting for him. For once...Kalei was right.

Besides...it was such a waste. She never thought she'd see him again. I mean...what were the chances? And she never thought he'd change so much. Why was he being so...different? Distant and rude? He left...so nice! She just couldn't understand the drastic change. Nothing made sense. And she was scared to ask. Maybe it wasn't even her business. But...what could have possibly occurred that would...screw him up so much? Along with this new little 'illness'. I mean...what the hell is that? Why's this all so confusing?

She reached the Hokage's office door and took a deep breathe...completely ready to rant and rave. But as she opened the door and stormed in, she ended up stopping dead in her tracks.

She wasn't really prepared for what she saw. Actually...it was the worst thing she could have ever imagined. There Tsunade was...crying into Naruto's chest. She was sitting in her chair, turned toward a silently crying Naruto. But she wasn't just crying...she was bawling. Sakura's eyes widened and she immediately realized something was terribly wrong. Tsunade didn't just randomly cry. She wasn't that type of person. Naruto slowly looked up at Sakura with red, puffy eyes.

"N-Naruto..." Sakura stammered. Tsunade slowly pulled away from Naruto and looked over to Sakura. Just then, Sakura heard somebody...Shizune...walk up behind her. Sakura glanced at her and then back to Tsunade, who buried her head back in Naruto's chest.

"What happened...what happened, Shizune?" Sakura asked, her voice trembling. Shizune sighed and a tear rolled down her cheek. Okay...she rarely ever seen Shizune cry either. This is not good.

"We just received information from the Hidden Rain Village that Master Jiraiya..." Her voice trailed off. Sakura's mouth went dry instantly. This was really not good.

Please no. Please no. Jiraiya had gone off to the Hidden Rain Village to hopefully meet up with Pein, a big Akatsuki leader...but that had been a while ago...and they hadn't heard back from him.

"They found his body. He's dead." Shizune finished, and after a minute, slowly started walking ahead past Sakura.

Sakura's whole body started trembling and she looked back over to Tsunade. Shizune walked up and whispered something in Naruto's ear. She then bent down and hugged the Hokage. But...Sakura found herself completely speechless. There was nothing she could say. There was nothing she could do. She was completely helpless. She watched as Naruto slowly released Tsunade and turned to face Sakura. His eyes then traveled to the left of Sakura, surprising her. She slowly looked over too, to see Kalei leaning against the wall, staring at Naruto. Sakura hadn't even noticed she was there!! Her face was completely emotionless as well. Almost like she didn't even care. But that couldn't be true...because she was here. She then looked back at Naruto who was walking up to her.

She quickly threw her arms around him and felt her eyes start stinging. She knew she was going to cry. She didn't want to...but she knew she was going to. She didn't know what hurt worse, losing Jiraiya...or just seeing Naruto like this. Over the past year...her and Naruto had become very close. They were kind of each other's hope. The shoulder they could cry on. They had really grown together. And seeing him in pain...put her in unbelievable pain as well.

"Oh, Sakura...the pervy sage...he's...he's..." His voice was cracking and Sakura tightened her embrace.

"Shhhh, Naruto. I'm right here." She whispered, feeling him sob. She hated when Naruto wasn't his cheerful self. And he hadn't been all that much recently...because him and Kalei hadn't been exactly 'getting along'.

After she had returned from the sound village...she was always very distant...never wanting to talk to him or be with him. And whenever they were together, she always seemed tired. Sick...she hadn't exactly been healthy. She always worse long sleeve clothes as well...like she was cold all the time. It was really strange. So he would worry about her day in and day out...and he'd worry about Tsunade as well. With everything going on...the pressure was all on her shoulders. He didn't know how much she could take...and he was running himself ragged.

And there was nothing she could do. That was the worst part.

"S-Sakura...he's gone. I...can't...b-believe it...I..."

"Naruto...Naruto...I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. Nobodies leaving anymore." She said pulling back. She looked him in the eye, feeling tears fall down her cheeks. She bit her lip and wiped away a tear falling from his cheek. She couldn't say 'it's going to be alright'...because in all honesty...it wasn't. So that really left nothing to say.

"Naruto."

They both glanced over to see Kalei standing by them. Her face was somewhat sad, but not completely depressed. Which upset Sakura a bit. She could at least pretend she cared. Was that so much to ask?

"Go. I'll come see you in the morning. Please get some rest." Sakura said, trying to smile. Naruto hugged her quickly again and then nodded.

"Please, S-sakura. Watch Grandma Tsunade...I'm so w-worried about her." He said, his voice shaky.

Sakura nodded and Naruto walked over to Kalei. She laced her fingers with his and slowly led him out the door. Sakura only watched, noticing how Kalei's expression never changed.

Strange.

But she slowly turned back to Tsunade, seeing her wipe her eyes...and a sake bottle on the corner of her desk. She knew what Tsunade would be doing tonight. And it wasn't good.

Sakura wiped her eyes and approached the desk, realizing that now...was not the time to vent about her problems with Sasuke. She had a lot more on her plate. She needed to be that strong kunoichi she claimed she was. And Sasuke...well, in her mind...

He was nothing compared to this.

Next Chapter

What's Left To Turn To