Okay, first things first, I'm not dead, second.......... I'm SOOOORRRRRRYYYY!!!!!!!!!
I can't believe how fast time has flown by since my last update; I'm ashamed of myself that I let this happen. But, it being my first year college and me picking the 4 subjects with really heavy coursework, I just haven't had the time for anything really. My life is just like sleep, eat and work and that's all. Which is why I'm soooo looking forward to my study leave, FOUR weeks off for TWO exams (I've already done 2 :P). Anyway, enough of my banter, I hope you enjoy the new chapter xxx

Chapter 9: Healing

"Sorry Sasuke, I thought you were someone else" apologised Sakura as she placed a bandage around his head

He sighed softly "My brother...."

Sasuke felt her tense beside him.

"It doesn't matter" she stuttered

"What is it about him that attracts you to him?"

Sakura's face flushed "I never said I was attracted to him!"

"Why else would you of stayed with him for so long?"

"Sasuke, please try to understand this: it was heal him or die" she lied

"I know you Sakura; you would've found a loophole"

"I'm not sure I know myself right now...."

"Sakura...." his voice was softer

"Sorry Sasuke, but there are things even you wouldn't understand"

But as she went to leave, Sasuke grabbed her wrist and pulled her back onto his lap.

"Then make me understand"

"I...Can't"

"Why not?"

"I just can't, Sasuke let me go!"

Sasuke's grip on her thighs was as strong as iron and she realised her struggling was in vain. Sakura flinched as she felt Sasuke's lips on her shoulder. Slowly, he moved along her collar bone and nipped her skin. An involuntary gasp left Sakura's mouth as she felt the pressure on her bone.

"Sas...Sasuke..."

"Yessss?"

He felt her shiver as he licked the sensitive skin where he had just bitten.

"Why are you doing this now?" she breathed

Sasuke blinked at her in surprise, he wasn't expecting that sort of question.

"What-"

"We need to talk"

Sakura was looking straight ahead of her now, her small fists were scrunched up atop Sasuke's, he could literally feel the tension radiating off her.

"A walk then?"

She nodded and stood, allowing Sasuke to stand and lead the way out of the bathroom. As she passed the bedroom, Sakura looked over to the bed where Karin lay, fast asleep.

Slipping on one of Sasuke's jumpers, she quickly pulled on a pair of jeans which Sasuke handed her and what she assumed where Karin's. Placing her feet in her shoes, she glanced at Sasuke, who she could tell was already dressed.

He nodded and opened the door for her. Closing it quietly behind him, making sure he wouldn't wake Karin.

The two of them walked along the empty streets of Konoha, no one was about and the silence as relaxing.

"Where is everyone?" asked Sakura feeling no chakra's other than hers and Sasuke's

Sasuke looked at her quizzically "its 3am..."

"Oh...."

"Why would anyone be out at this time?"

"Sorry. But I don't usually wake up in the middle of the night, punch a guy then go for a walk"

Sasuke chuckled and Sakura stared at him, noticing her look he smirked.

"What?"

"Okay, what is wrong with you?"

"Huh?"

"Throughout all the years I've known you, there was never a time where you cracked an emotion"

Sasuke's eyes saddened 'none that you saw anyways....'

"And now you smile, heck you just laughed! I just don't get it, what's changed?"

"I realised....just how much you mean to me"

Sakura stood still, frozen by his words.

"Sakura? Are you okay?"

When she didn't respond, he grew panicky and stood in front of her. Her eyes were wide like she was scared; and she was staring right at him, but not him himself, but what was behind him, like he wasn't really there at all.

He put his hand to her neck to feel her pulse, it was still beating and his touch seemed to pull her from her daze. Sasuke looked at her; she seemed different from a few minutes ago.

"Sasuke....?" she gasped

"What happened?"

Still she continued to stare at him, like she couldn't quite grasp that he was actually there.

"Sakura-"

She cut him off "you have a bruise on your forehead"

Sasuke stared at her in disbelief "what did you just say?"

"You have a bruise....right there" she said as she poked it

"OW!" growled Sasuke grabbing his forehead in pain

"Sorry, I didn't think you were real. Am I not still asleep then?"

"Sakura, you're awake"

"But that means...."

"You can see me?"

Sakura nodded.

"What about this.....this.....and this?" he asked waving his hand in random directions

He watched as her eyes followed his every movement, only then did he notice her eyes seemed a lot clearer than they had been yesterday night.

"I can see!"

Sasuke let out a grunt as Sakura hugged him suddenly.

"I can see...."

Her voice was quieter now, he noticed her breathing hitch and realised she was crying. Hugging her back just as tightly, he tried to sooth her by gently stroking her hair.

"I can see..." she muttered before sleep claimed her

"I guess we'll talk another time" he smiled as he picked her up and made his way back to his apartment.

Taking one last glance at Sakura, he smiled again.

"I'll be back soon"

Then he was gone in a puff of smoke.

-_-_-_-A good few hours later-_-_-_-

Sakura yawned and stretched her arms out.

"Finally awake huh?"

Sakura looked towards the voice to find Karin looking at her through the doorway.

"I see you got your eyesight back earlier than you predicted"

There was something in Karin's voice that Sakura couldn't quite put her finger on, was it disapproval? Did Karin not want her to have her eyesight back just yet?

"Karin? Is something wrong?"

She looked at her, pushing her glasses up as she sighed.

"Has anything changed now?"

Sakura caught on to what she meant and her eyes narrowed.

"No"

Karin nodded and walked away to the living room where she sat and closed her eyes. Feeling a lack of warmth, Sakura looked at her wrist. The chakra band was still there, but barely visible and there was no string attached. Picking herself up, Sakura realised she was back in her PJs.

"Hey Karin?"

"Hm?"

She opened an eye as Sakura approached her.

"Did you change me back into my PJs?"

Karin gave her a weird look "you've changed since last night?"

Sakura thought over her answer until she finally understood. Sasuke had changed her clothes.

"Are you okay? You've gone all red" asked Karin

Sakura looked at her "I'm fine....where's Sasuke?

"He's probably gone to see Naruto. He was gone before I woke up"

"That's odd"

"What is?"

Sakura held up her wrist "there's no string anymore"

"That's weird. He probably trusts you not to run away anymore"

"Well I can't..... Not yet anyway"

"Hm?"

"I'm going to force him to tell me how to heal this damn scar before I leave. It's such a pain in the-"

"I'm back"

"Hi Sasuke" both girls chimed nervously

He eyes them both suspiciously "What's going on?"

"N-nothing" they stuttered

"Where did you go?" Sakura quickly asked

"To see Naruto"

Karin threw Sakura a told you so look, but meant it in a nice way.

Sakura nodded "That was nice of him"

"You know, your attitude has changed a lot since yesterday"

"Guess it was just stress from being blind" she lied

"Any idea how they healed so quickly?"

She shrugged "My only guess is that the effect from the Sharingan wore off"

"Do you still need my chakra?"

Sakura nodded again "I'm almost running on empty and..."

"And?"

"And I want to heal the scar"

"I don't know if I can Sakura..."

The mood immediately shifted to a tense one as Sakura glared at the raven haired ninja.

"You will teach me how to heal this scar, or I will scrape it off with a kunai"

"Okay" he said quickly "I'll try"

Sakura calmed slightly "That's better"

-_-_-_-_-_-

"Sasuke, why are we up here?" Sakura asked as she and the raven haired teen walked along the grass beneath the huge waterfall

"It's peaceful, we can concentrate better here"

She nodded and continued to follow him. Sasuke led her to the water's edge and looked at the waterfall.

"What now Sasuke?"

He smirked at her "follow me"

With that he took her hand and pulled her along as he raced over the water's surface. It was then Sakura realised he was heading straight for the rushing water.

"Sasuke! The waterfall!!"

"Hold your breath!"

She didn't have time to make any other choice, because as soon as she had taken a breath of air; Sasuke jumped and dived underwater, taking her with him as well.

Sakura felt the pounding water on her back as Sasuke pulled her up to swim alongside him; she mentally glared at him as he smirked at her.

'He could've at least told me to dress for swimming'

The two of them swam for a few more minutes and Sakura could tell they were way past the waterfall as the water here was a lot calmer.

'Where is he taking me?' she pondered as she glanced at him

He then began to swim upwards; Sakura kicked harder and broke the surface first. She coughed a few times before looking around; well at least she tried to. She heard Sasuke come up and grabbed hold of him, closing her eyes in the process.

"Sakura?"

"It's dark" she muttered

"Don't tell me you're afraid of the dark?"

He felt her nod against his chest.

'It's just like water, you can't catch it' she thought to herself as he grip on Sasuke tightened

"C'mon scaredy cat"

Sakura let him pull her through the water until she found the edge and climbed up, rubbing her arms to make herself warmer.

"Katon no Jutsu"

Then suddenly there was light, and Sakura's eyes were as wide as footballs. They were in a cave, and it was sparkly.

"What are those?"

Sasuke looked from Sakura to the walls she was looking at.

"Those are crystals formed by the constant running water and steam"

"They're beautiful.....what steam?"

He pointed to a large pool in the centre of the cave. Sakura "ooohed" and walked over to it, putting her finger in the water but withdrew it immediately.

"It's cold" she pouted

"It won't be for long"

She watched as he walked over to the wall behind the pool and placed his hand on it. After a few moments he stepped back and performed a few hand seals, igniting his fire technique again. A thin line of fire shot from his mouth and into a small hole in the wall. A few minutes passed by and Sasuke kept the fire going, Sakura felt the room get hotter and looked over at the pool where steam was now rising.

"How did you do that?" she asked placing her hand in the now warm pool

Sasuke shut his mouth, stopping the fire and placed a rock in the gap to trap the heat.

"There are pipes that run through the walls and underground. Some of them are connected to that pool"

"That's really clever, but what is this place?"

"It's somewhere I can go when I want to be alone. The water in the pool also has some sort of ingredient that helps healing"

"Sounds absurd" scoffed Sakura

"Oh it's not, because I specifically requested the ingredients from Tsunade herself"

"What Tsunade?"

He nodded "When I first returned I asked her if there was some place I could go if I wanted to relax or heal by myself. She gave me a bag of herbs and told me to come here. Then I did the place up a bit"

"It's amazing"

"So this water should help the scar heal"

Sakura smiled and touched his arm.

"What?"

"I think its sweet you're going to such an extent just to help me"

Placing both his hands on her shoulders, his face turned to sadness.

"It's my fault. I broke you, so it's my responsibility to fix you"

"Sasuke...."

Sakura was at a loss for words, she felt herself being drawn into his black orbs.

'No! This wasn't supposed to happen! I'm not supposed to fall for him again, not after everything I've been through!'

While she was screaming at herself inside her head, she found she just couldn't pull away from his touch, so she knew she had to make him pull away from her.

"So, about this healing then?" she muttered

Sasuke's hands dropped to his sides and he nodded.

"The towels are over there" he pointed and led the way over to them

He handed Sakura one then grabbed one himself.

"Turn around and don't look" she ordered

Sasuke smirked at her before turning round. He could hear the sound of her wet clothes slapping against the rocks as she removed them from her body.

"Okay, I'm done"

Sasuke turned and instantly felt the heat rush to his lower half. The towel only came down to her mid-thigh and it hugged her body nicely.

"Okay, go get in the pool and warm up"

Sakura nodded making her way past him.

"Oh and Sakura?"

She turned "hm?"

A huge smirk spread out across his face "don't look"

Sakura felt her cheeks heat up, but knew she couldn't let him see her embarrassment. So turning around and holding her head high she scoffed at him.

"Don't flatter yourself Uchiha"

With that, she slipped into the pool and rested her head on a rock.

Closing her eyes she let out a long sigh "oh this feels so good"

"Glad you think so"

She heard a small splash and opened one eye to see Sasuke's torso go underwater. She then stared at his head floating above the water and tried to suppress a giggle.

He frowned "what?"

"DUCK BUTT!!"

She couldn't hold it back any longer. Sakura closed her eyes and full out laughed in his face, splashing water everywhere at the same time.

-_-_-_-_-_-

Karin hummed quietly to herself as she watered a vase of flowers she had recently bought from Ino's flower shop.

"I gotta hand it to the Yamanaka's; they really know what they're doing"

She was so occupied with that she was doing she failed to notice the intruder enter her home, until it was too late. He had her pinned by the throat up against the wall in a matter of seconds, the glass vase falling and smashing on the ground.

"Y.....you....it was true......she healed your eyes" she managed to choke out as she slammed her eyes shut

"And what a marvellous job she did. Now, where is my little medic?"

"I....I don't know"

"Tell me or I'll make you open your eyes"

Karin gasped quietly as she remembered something from the previous day.

-­_-_-Flashback-_-_-

"So you did want his attention?"

"Well I guess, but not in the way I used to. I'd admired him for so long, I just wanted him to see me for who I really am" she paused and took a breath "And the only way to do that was to leave and become stronger by myself"

"And what about Itachi?"

"What about him?"

"Did you really heal his eyes?"

"To an extent, yes"

"To an extent? Why not completely?"

"I ran out of chakra and became temporarily blind"

-_-_-End Flashback-_-_-

"You aren't completely healed"

Itachi's eyes narrowed "So?"

"So you can't use your Mankekyou, you can't torture me in your sick little world"

"True, but I can torture you right here can't I?"

Karin gulped, she knew he was right and he knew it too. But she really didn't know where Sasuke and Sakura were at the present time, they had disappeared without saying anything to her.

'Oh this cannot be happening to me....'

Then her world went black.

--

Itachi looked at the frail girl on the floor. He hadn't killed her, just knocked her unconscious. Killing her would alert the guards, but if he hadn't of knocked her out she would've alerted the guards anyway. So in his eyes, they had both been relieved of something. She still had her life, and he was still undetected by everyone.

"I will find you Sakura"

Then he was gone from the apartment, scouting the whole of Konoha in various disguises.

-_-_-_-_-_-

"Okay Sasuke, tell me how this healing works then"

"You're not going to like the first bit" he sighed

"Why?"

In an instant, the towel from around her body was now in his hands.

"Perv!!! Give it back!"

"I told you that you wouldn't like the first bit. Look, if it makes you feel any better, I have to take my towel off to" he said as he threw both towels to the side.

Sakura sunk her body lower into the water 'Thank god this water is so steamy'

"Better?"

"Kind of, but why do we have to be naked?"

"So my chakra doesn't confuse our towels for your skin"

Sakura grumbled underwater making bubbles by her mouth.

"Okay, turn around"

Sakura did as she was told and turned so her back was facing Sasuke. When she heard him growl she looked back at him over her shoulder.

"What's wrong?"

He placed his hands on her back gently and lightly rubbed the scar.

"Did it hurt?"

She wanted to snap at him and say 'yes it nearly killed me and it's all your fault!!' but then she remembered what Karin had said about him being out for a week afterwards because he was trying not to lose control and kill her.

So instead she sighed "Kind of"

"...I'm sorry..."

"I know Sasuke....I know"

-_-_-_-_-

"Well hello there little child, how may I help you?" gleamed the blonde Hokage from across his desk

"Do you know where Sasuke-San is?" the small black haired boy answered

"Why do you want him?"

"I have a message for him from Karin-Chan"

"Ah, well my guess is he may be at the Great Waterfall"

"Hai Hokage-Sama"

The little boy nodded and ran from the room. Glancing back his eyes burned red as he smirked.

'That was just too easy'

As he ran through the thick forest which led to the waterfall, his body grew taller and leaner and his hair grew longer.

Soon, he was standing at the edge of the forest looking at the huge waterfall.

Tying his hair back into its usual small pony tail he chuckled "too easy"

-_-_-_-_-

"Okay, now concentrate your chakra on your back"

Sakura nodded and urged her chakra to her back. When Sasuke saw the green glow in-between her shoulder blades and along her spine, he pulled away slightly and performed a few hand signs.

"Sakura, don't panic, just concentrate"

"What? Why?"

"Just trust me"

The final hand sign

"Chidori!"

Sakura's eyes shot open and her breathing became erratic.

"Sakura calm down, I'm not going to hurt you"

"Then why Chidori?"

"The electricity will boost your healing chakra and re-new the nerves in your back"

"Are you sure this is safe?"

"Yeah..."

"Why do you sound so unsure?"

"I've never done this on such a big wound"

"What?!"

"But it'll just take a little bit longer, that's all"

"Okay..."

"You ready?"

Sakura gulped "uh huh"

"Good, just concentrate"

She attempted to calm herself, shoving all the thoughts of a painful electric attack to the back of her mind. It surprised her so much when his hands touched her back and it didn't hurt she let out a gasp.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, it feels....tingly"

Sasuke smiled "Then its working"

"I'm relieved" mumbled Sakura

"Hm?"

"I was scared you'd hurt me again"

"Sakura, I have no intention of doing that ever again"

"But, what about Karin?"

"I tried to replace you with her, but let's face it, she's not you. She is nothing compared to the real Sakura"

They both fell into an awkward silence. The only sound was a small sizzling noise coming from the small Chidori.

"Are you staying?"

Sakura looked at the water, trying to decide herself.

"I guess" she said still unsure

"It's good to have you back"

"Yeah...." she whispered weakly

'I need to get away from here before this heartache kills me...'

An hour passed and she had decided. She was leaving again. She was leaving her friends. She was leaving this new, kind Sasuke. She was leaving and not looking back. But was she doing this for her sake, or theirs?

"How're you holding up?"

"I'm alright"

"It's healing nicely, it's almost done now"

"Good"

"Sakura, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, I guess"

"What would you say if I asked you to stay with me?"

"What?"

"Stay with me, please"

"Sasuke, I...." she as at a loss for words again

'Itachi get me out of here!'

The next thing that made her gasp out loud was the silky smooth voice in her head.

'My pleasure'

Then the explosion happened.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Well, that's the end of this chapter. I hope you all enjoyed and I hope it makes up for my lack of updating; I'll try to get more up soon. Oh and Happy (late) Easter everyone!

Until next time xxx