Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto characters, plot, etc.

And the drama ensues for the two prisoners..

Chapter 16

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Sakura...

The cold, merciless floor numbed her back, and her wounds ached with a dull but persistent pain.

In the shadows of the cell, a tear slid down Sakura's face as she fought to rest and to sleep.

She had taken on more difficult missions in the past, and she had survived so many encounters where survival didn't seem possible.

Yet somehow… right now, right here, she felt more scared than she had ever remembered.

What is it about this mission?

Is it because I expected to have Naruto, Kakashi and Sai around me, instead of Sasuke? Sakura bit her lip. Is it because I expected Naruto to save me, or Kakashi to have a back-up plan, or for Sai to provide logical solutions to counter my emtions?

All of a sudden, she missed home. So much. A wave of fear washed over her.

But here. Sakura said to herself. I feel completely alone.

Maybe I am the weak one, and I was just relying on others to cover for me and help me all this time.

And suddenly, she remembered what home smelled like. What udon noodle soup smelled like. What the colours of her memories were. She wanted to feel the sunshine.

And to feel safe.

Sakura felt something wet brush against her hand. She realized it was tears.

Her tears.

She was sobbing into the palm of her hand.

Silently.

Soundless sobs.

Just like when she was very, very young, when she was hiding behind the lockers in Ninja Academy. The sobs she cried silently, alone, after the girls from the academy pulled on her strange-coloured hair, and kicked her shins.

She hadn't felt so alone in ages. And she hadn't even realized, but it was slowly breaking her down.

Her mental barrier, which she took so long to perfect, at least on the outside, was shattering. The steady progress she made over the years by telling herself she was worthy, that she was strong, that she was able… was fading like the faint edges of the sunset.

The demons of insecurity, fear, self-loathing, which had been long kept away by her own strength, were being fed on Madame's threat, her wounds, her helplessness, and Sasuke's reappearance.

A white sliver glimmered in Sakura's eyes. Sasuke. She felt her fear building up at his name. He is the reason I feel so weak. Her hand slowly closed over a kunai beside the haystack. If I can rid of him, I will no longer feel so weak and helpless. All these feelings… they hurt. And they're returning because of him.

An icy white was beginning to spread over her large, green eyes. Her eyes and mouth began to glow faint silver, and her grip on the kunai tightened.

I'm going to kill Sasuke. I have to kill him to stay sane. Blood. His blood. Dripping over the kunai.. then she will be free.

As she slowly stood up, and walked over to where she knew he slept, Sakura could no longer feel her legs.

She edged closer and closer to his figure, lying the darkness on the cold, hard floor. Sakura raised her arm, kunai in hand, her mind as blank and icy as the cold look in her eyes.

A thought flashed through her mind. Why does even he look innocent in his sleep? She wondered.

His eyebrows furrowed, and he tightened his hand. Locks of dark, unkempt hair stuck to his forehead.

He frowned again, opened his lips, and he whispered, "Sa…kura."

Pure green eyes widened in shock.

Her hand on the kunai tightened, and Sakura felt an invisible force come from within her, forcing her to stab the kunai toward his sleeping figure.

Sakura knew this wasn't her. But she couldn't open her mouth, and by now it was too late to scream to warn him.

She felt her hand with the kunai slice down… and closed her eyes.

…..

Sasuke bolted up, acting on instinct into a defensive stance. In the darkness, his keen eyes fixed on a small figure beside him.

Sakura?...

She was hunched over beside him, her pink-hair covering her face. Even with his eyes, Sasuke could not see his face.

What's wrong?

He felt liquid, warm liquid seeping through the sleeve of his shirt. His eyes opened wide in alarm, and he carefully lifted Sakura's arm.

A large, open kunai wound was etched across her arm. The kunai was held in her other hand. Her blood.. Sakura's blood was seeping through his sleeve, staining it a shade of shadow darker than the rest.

She stabbed her own arm.

Slowly, she lifted her head.

Both her eyes were glowing bright silver.

Sasuke froze.

He blinked, staring at her eyes. And he realized who the kunai was for.

A similar picture from the scroll he had come across returned. "Eventually mind control takes over the victim. Once their mind breaks, their body will decay slowly." Kabuto described with a cold smile on his face.

Shit. Sasuke looked around him. He slipped off his shirt hastily, and draped it around her small frame. He stopped as he grazed her arms.

They felt as cold as ice.

Quickly, he tore off a piece of clothing, binding it around her arm to stop her from losing more blood. But it wasn't enough. In addition to blood loss, he knew Madame was involved.

He could sense Sakura's chakra dwindling, and her body temperature was dropping.

Sasuke growled in frustration. He glanced around, and collected stacks of straw from around him, piling it around Sakura's limp figure.

"Sakura!" He patted her face. No response.

He paused. Glanced around the cell. And let out a soft sigh.

He picked up her limp frame from the ground, and wrapped his frame around her.

She felt like ice.

He covered them in piles of straw, as he sat against the wall, holding Sakura's limp figure tightly against his chest.

His fingers grazed over the distinct scars on her back. He remembered their origin, because they used to belong on his back. They were the remains of her transfer jutsu. That night she saved his life.

And sealed her own fate.

Sasuke gritted his teeth, glaring down on the ground. Stupid. He closed his eyes slowly.

When he opened his eyes, his gaze was blank once again. He fixed his eyes on the opposite wall, and his mind cleared once more.

But memories he actively buried deeper and deeper returned to haunt him.

It has been a long time since has held anyone so close. It felt strange and awkward, but somehow … snug. He remembered watching the sun rise with this girl, and Naruto by his side. The feeling of lying with both hands clasped behind his head on the ground. Feeling sunlight on his face, and feeling as if he was free from everything.

Laughter.

A memory of dark hair flashed across his mind, and Sasuke's eyes suddenly returned to their dull, vapid glance. Itachi.

He appeared disinterested in the world once more. I still have use for her. She can't die yet.

Sasuke returned to staring at the opposite wall. But he subconsciously held Sakura tighter.

The cell was still dark and cold.

Sakura's eyes snapped open. As she sat up, she felt someone stopped her.

She flinched as she glanced up.

Sasuke's voice came from beside her. "Don't move." He ordered quietly, eyes still closed.

Sakura's eyes darted between him and the wall, unsure. Why was Sasuke holding her?

Then she remembered. Sakura blushed.

"Sasuke—"

"Your body temperature was dangerously low. After mind control, your body will decay slowly. This is only the beginning." He said quietly.

He opened his eyes. "Don't thank me."

Sakura grew silent. She began to remember the voice in her head, commanding her and taking control of her actions. The icy cold that seeped into her mind. The new ache of the wound on her wrist.

She remembered watching him say her name. "Sa…kura." Why did it make her break out of Madame's grip?

She sat in silence, in the arms of the mans she dreamed about in her teenage years. Yet, this time there was no elaborate scheme, unlike her dreams. It was a cold, dark cell. And she was going to die. And she tried to kill him. And instead of killing her, Sasuke Uchiha showed mercy. And he … helped her.

Sakura bit her lip, as she began to feel a faint stinging in her eyes.

"The truth is.." His deep voice seemed to echo in the cell. Sasuke paused. "Death isn't far away for neither of us." He said quietly. "I'll make a deal with you."

Sakura didn't move, but her eyes glanced toward the source of his voice.

"If you make it out alive, don't ever tell anyone you saw me die."

She blinked.

"Is this some bullshit honour system I have to care about?" Sakura mumbled. "It's not as if I'll make it out anyway, Uchiha bastard."

He smirked. "Someone might think a weak ninja like you killed me."

Sakura stared at him, and realized he was joking. She let out a small laugh of wonder, and disbelief.

She was surprised to hear her own laughter. She glanced down, and realized the fear that has paralyzed her for the past few days was no longer there.

The stinging in her eyes grew stronger, and she blinked back tears.

Sasuke felt a change in Sakura's energy. He was about to analyze it further when suddenly, he flinched when she hugged him.

She buried her head into his chest, and he sat there, motionless as he felt her sob quietly. Dumbfolded, he let out a slow breath, his eyes fixed on the wall across from him.

They sat like that for minutes as he froze, unsure of his movements.

"Sasuke." She whispered.

He glanced down toward her voice.

"I've decided." Sakura paused. "I would rather die than be part of her scheme to destroy Konoha. I wish I could save you, but I can't."

He glanced back up toward the wall, and didn't say anything.

Sakura sat up, and brushed the tears hastily from her eyes. "Thank you. I really… can't thank you enough for what you did." She glanced away. "But I won't ask, and I won't try to guess this time." She swallowed slowly.

"Why must it be you, who makes everything feel okay?" She smiled faintly. "In the end, no matter what anyone else did, it was still you." She glanced down. "It was always you." She bit her lip. "But I'm sorry. I'm going to tell Madame no."

Sasuke raised his head. "You're going to tell her no."

She stood up, and slowly backed away from him. "I'm going to tell her no. Sorry Sasuke. You're not enough leverage for me to betray my country."

He stared hard at her.

The silence that ensued between them was long.

"You've changed." He said finally. And paused. "But it was always your decision." He let out a faint smirk. "Who knew even you could get stronger."

He hesitated for a second, before standing up to walk toward her.

Sakura backed away a step, confused at his reaction. "You're not… going to harm me for refusing to save your life…right?"

"Instead, I've decided…" He walked toward her, invading her personal space. "Why don't we take advantage of the time we both have left?" His breath was suddenly very close to her face.

Sakura blinked, completely caught off guard. Her eyes widened and her breath quickened as she froze in place.

Sasuke suddenly smirked. "I'm kidding. Merely wanted my shirt back. Your temperature is back to normal now." He threw the cloth of her shoulders and slipped it back on. "Chilly in here." He grumbled as he stalked back to his side of the cell.

(...)

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A/N: It's only been so long between updates because through my worldly experiences, I've often lost sight of the value of doing small things that aren't productive but makes one feel good. Maybe in the end, it is all a lie. It is not getting good grades, or having more friends, or being more yolo, that makes someone truly content and grateful with what they have. Being overall content can come from many small, daily choices. And I promise to finish this story, although I have no idea how it will end at this point.

So if anyone at all gets even a slight kick out of the above apologetically cheesy scene, I will feel pretty cool. I hope your day goes lovely and well, and you can also find more small things which can cheer you up at different times.