Chapter 3:
Who was this woman? Sakura scanned her form.
She was pretty, but had a dark essence surrounding her.
"Are you not Sakura Haruno?" The woman snipped.
"Yes, I am."
"Then you should know of Sasuke Uchiha, your old teammate."
Sakura's eyes widened as the woman preceded to tell her about his condition. She couldn't believe it, he was out there all this time, fighting to survive. The woman turned from her then. Casting one more glance over her shoulder, she spoke,
"Are you coming or not?"
"Hold on, let me gather my things!" Sakura left the door open and ran to get dressed in her shinobi attire and her medical bag. She knew if she left the village without ample reason or being assigned to a mission, it could be considered as treason. Sakura smiled softly; it didnt matter, her beloved needed her. They snuck out of the village pretty easily, and started to hop from tree to tree at a fast pace. Sakuras mind started to race with all the possibilities of illnesses he could have and formulated antibiotics in her head.
Prison gates won't open up for me
On these hands and knees I'm crawlin'
Oh, I reach for you
Sasuke fell from his bed onto the floor, and groaned in pain.
His fever had come back with a vengeance. Turning his head slightly, he vomited onto the wooden floor. Gasping, he tried to maintain control of his body. How long ago did Karin leave? Would Sakura really come?
He needed her, now more than ever.
Sakura He croaked and reached out into the darkness.
Sasuke-kun?
There she was, beautiful and perfect. She glowed within his darkness and smiled. Extending her hand, he took it. Pulling him into a hug, she held him. Kissing the crown of his head, she whispered soothing words. Closing his tired eyes, he allowed himself to dream of a time where she was his and only his.
Sasuke had officially gone delirious.
Well I'm terrified of these four walls
These iron bars can't hold my soul in
All I need is you
Sasukes iron heart started to rust and break. He couldn't fight all these emotions that surged up and took a hold of him. Even in his sick state, he lifted his head and kissed those soft plump lips that belonged to his Sakura. His image of her disappeared then and left him alone with only his soul to keep him company.
Dammit! Sasuke again brought down his fist, but this time on the wooden floor.
He wanted her so badly.
Sasuke made a silent promise of his own; if she came to save him, hed do anything to keep her with him. He would not allow her to leave him ever again. The Uchiha had been a downright fool to toss her feelings aside all this time, and now he lived to regret it. Resting on his back, he shivered slightly at the cool wood, and with his fever still raging it didnt help being on the cold floor. Sadly, he was too weak to move anymore.
Come please I'm callin'
And oh I scream for you
Hurry I'm fallin', I'm fallin'
"Sakura please," He whispered, "forgive me."
"Forgive you for what Sasuke-kun?" A voice sounded in the darkness. It was her voice.
"For being a fool," Sasuke turned his head and awaited for his image of her to appear again, only it didn't.
"Sasuke-kun, you never were a fool." A soft hand descended onto his forehead.
Startled, his eyes widened. It couldn't be her!
Sakura giggled at his bewildered expression.
She was very worried about his current state. Not only did he have a high fever, but had vomited (by the looks of it), and he looked like death warmed over. Concentrating, a green glow emitted from her palm onto his forehead. Sasuke gasped in relief as his fever started to ebb.
"S-sakura is it you?" He whispered desperately, as if not believing she was beside him.
"No, it's Naruto," She threw her voice to mock Narutos, then laughed.
"It's not funny," Sasuke frowned.
"I guess not," she replied, "but why won't you look at me when I talk to you?"
Sasuke turned his head fully away then.
"Oh, Sasuke! I'm so sorry I didn't realize.." She swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Didn't realize what?"
"You're blind." She managed to say.
He could feel something wet hit his cheek.
She was crying for him.
Always quick to cry, eh Sakura-chan?
She remembered Narutos words.
Turning to the woman who stood in the doorway, she said, Help me put him back in bed.
Sipping on some hot tea, she watched Sasuke sleep.
Her Sasuke-kun.
"Will he get better?" Karins speculative red eyes raked his still form.
"I reduced his fever, though I need to gather some herbs to make some medicine before he can recover completely."
Handing a herbal list to the red haired woman, Sakura asked her to gather them with haste. Karin nodded and exited the room without a backward glance. Placing the hot tea cup down on the beside table, she pressed her hand to his forehead.
"Sakura.. Is that you?" He reached up blindly and grasped the small hand in question.
"Yes," Sakuras throaty answer made him smile slightly.
Bringing her hand up to his lips, he kissed each finger gently.
Stunned by the gentleness of the S-ranked missing-nin, Sakura held herself very still.
"Do not fear me, Sakura."
"I won't Sasuke-kun," Sakura smiled.
For the first time since he had left her on that night, he smiled.
Sakura's heart skipped a beat.
A comfortable silence followed, until she realized he drifted off to sleep, still holding her hand.
Moments later, Karin opened the door, in her hand was a basket.
"I have the herbs you need to help heal Sasuke."
"That was fast," Sakura commented as she stood to take the herbs from the woman.
"This mountain region is small and the plants were in abundance. And I was not fast, I have been gone for over two hours," Karin remarked.
Had it really been that long? Sakura smiled gently.
When you are with someone you love, time has no meaning.
Sakuras smile faded and gave way to a determined woman who was going to save her beloved.
Her Sasuke-kun.
End Chapter