The next two weeks passed by slowly. Sango, Jakku, and Lee spent almost all of their time nursing Sasuke back to health - or at least away from death's door. Jakku had healed all of the broken bones and most of the cuts. However, the deep gash through his stomach and back took much more time and chakra, so it was still healing, although no longer bleeding.

Since Lee still had missions and Jakku was needed at the hospital (he was a master surgeon, after all) Sango did much of the aftercare. It was terribly hard work. The bloody bandages on his abdomen had to be changed every two hours round-the-clock, and the wound cleaned. She also had to administer fluids and antibiotics to him even though he hadn't opened his eyes once since that first day. She hardly got any sleep.

"Preparation for parenthood, I guess," she sighed. Sometimes if he groaned or sobbed in his sleep, Sango would gently stroke his hair as she would a sick child. That's what he seemed like to her. But she always had a strange feeling that she should tell Naruto and Sakura about this.

On the last day of week two her chance finally came. It was evening, and the sky was rose-colored and peaceful. Sango had fallen asleep in a chair beside his bed, but she woke when she heard someone moving beside her. With a small sigh, Sasuke opened his eyes, slowly taking in the room he was in. His eyes rested on Sango.

"Where... am I?" he said dazedly. "Who are you?"

"You're in my house," Sango explained, "right in the center of Konoha." Sasuke's face paled a bit. "And I'm Sango Hitarashi, jonin and taijutsu master."

"Taijutsu... that's who you remind me of! Rock Lee..."

"Interesting..." Sango said with a grin. "Because it just so happens that he's my husband."

"Really? Sasuke asked, grinning himself. "Who would've thought Bushy Brow could..."

"But enough about that," Sango cut in, "how do you feel?"

"Fine now."

"Good, because now that you do, you can be checked into Konoha Hospital."

"..."

"..."

"Doesn't... Sakura work as a medic?"

"Yes. And she's been waiting for you."

"... I..." Sasuke whispered, his face darkening. "Why... Why do I... always..." He paused, remembering that Sango was there. He smirked coldly.

"What?" said Sango.

"Nothing. It's nothing such a low-level shinobi would understand. You and your softhearted friends know nothing of pain." Sango froze.

"Oh?" she said quietly. "We don't, huh?" Now her anger was coming to a boil. Her hands clenched into tight fists. She whirled to face him, punching the wall and busting the door off of its hinges. "Has power really made you that arrogant?! Who the hell do you think you are?!" she screamed. "All the time and worry spent on you, all the pain YOU caused us yourself, and you have the nerve to call us low-level and soft?! Well you're damn right we're low-level compared to you! But if this is what power turns people into, I'd rather die than be anything like the 'great' Sasuke Uchiha!"

She turned away from him, snatching up his katana. Her hand clenched angrily around it, and she threw it over her shoulder without looking. It stuck up to the hilt into the wall less than a millimeter above his collarbone. Sango spoke without looking at him.

"Maybe I should've let you die! All you ever do is turn away the people who care about you! So what if your childhood was painful? Ours were too, thanks to you and your 'master!' I'm through with you. Maybe there's still someone you can lean on, if you haven't killed them already! And by the way," she said with more venom in her voice than anyone had ever heard from her, "I was willing to give you a second chance even though the girl you almost killed here five years ago... was one of my best friends!"

Sasuke looked a bit shocked, but said nothing.

"Why don't you go see if your old 'friends' will take you back?" Sango whispered. "I don't care what you do, just get out of my house!" She turned as she heard a rustle from the bed. The window was now open, and Sasuke was gone. Sango suddenly felt weak. Her heart ached with anger and pity. Gripping the door frame, she slowly dropped to her knees and sobbed.