Sacred Flower

I can’t believe I finished my work so fast and now I have plenty of free time to write!! Oh, and I’m super-sorry that I kinda made Sasuke a big softie so… *runs away*

Well, here’s the next chapter!

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Sasuke and Sakura got home and just hung out for awhile. They’d sit next to each other and relax while the TV was playing in the background. Sakura’s head rested on Sasuke’s left shoulder and he rested his head on her head. Sasuke’s left hand was on top of her right fist, stroking her knuckles with his thumb. It felt soothing, yet arousing in a way. They sat there for hours until Sakura’s stomach rumbled.

“Uhh…maybe I should make some tea,” she spoke up. “Okay, I’ll go make dinner,” replied Sasuke. Sakura prepared tea for the both of them and Sasuke made rice balls. They both settled back on the couch and ate their meal while still watching TV. Every once in a while, they’d both catch each other’s gazes and smile. After finishing up their food, Sakura helped Sasuke with the dishes, as usual.

“Sasuke, I’m really tired. I think I’ll just go to bed.” Sakura started to make her way to the bedroom when Sasuke caught her wrist.

“Do you…want some company in that cold and lonesome bed?” he asked. Sakura smiled while she racked her brain to think of a possible answer to leave her alone for the night while not making it look suspicious.

“Sasuke, I’m a big girl now. I’m not afraid of the dark and I don’t need a bodyguard for the boogeyman under the bed. I’ll be alright and you’ll be in the next room.” Sadly, Sasuke nodded and didn’t join her in bed that night. He just didn’t want to disturb her and intrude on her privacy. Who was he to just jump into bed with her when she didn’t want him to be?

“Alright then,” he replied. Even though Sasuke would leave her alone and sleep on the couch that night, he followed her into the room to tuck her in and kiss her goodnight.

“Oh, Sasuke, could you get me a glass of water? I’m really thirsty.” Sasuke smiled. “Sure.” Sasuke left the room for a brief period of time and came back with a glass of water in his hand. Sakura gulped down a bit of the glass and placed it on the nightstand.

“Thank you. Goodnight.” Sakura laid down on the bed while Sasuke tucked her in and kiss her goodnight.

“Goodnight Sakura.” Sakura seemed to fall asleep instantly and he turned out the lights before leaving and closing the door behind him.

Sasuke re-entered the living room and settled into the couch after turning out all the lights. Knowing that Sakura would be safe with him, he fell asleep in the darkness, dreaming of their future together.

Meanwhile, Sakura pretended to fall asleep to get Sasuke out of the room. She purposely slowed down her breathing and tried to look natural enough for him to leave her. Sakura pulled out the bottle of green pills Tsunade had given her earlier in the day.

“Take one every night. If anything feels wrong, notify me immediately,” said Tsunade’s voice which echoed in Sakura’s mind. Sakura held the bottle close to her heart. She thought about the moments where she would be waiting for this day. Waiting for the day that Sasuke would come back and profess his love for her and ask her to marry him and bear his children. Without the ability that every other woman has, how could she face Sasuke? The flashbacks from her past caught up with her, reminding her of why she was doing this.

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“Sasuke!” called a 12 year old Sakura. “Sasuke!” Sasuke turned around with an obvious face of annoyance.

“What now?” he said, irritated by the pink-haired girl.

“I…well, umm…would you like to grab something to eat with-” She didn’t even get to finish her sentence when he brushed her off.

“No.” With that, he turned and walked away. Poor little Sakura felt hurt. She only wanted to see Sasuke happy. She had already decided that she would marry him one day but it all seemed like a silly little fantasy of a 12 year old girl.

~~~~~

A few months later, Sakura was at the ripe age of 13. She was a strong and reliable ninja, even if Sasuke didn’t believe that she was one. It was the day that Sasuke took up Orochimaru’s offer of power and vengeance.

“Please Sasuke,” she had begged, “don’t go. I-I love you! Please don’t leave me!” Sasuke looked deep into her eyes that night.

“Sakura…thank you.” Before she saw him leave, he knocked her unconscious and disappeared into the night. Team 7 was no longer Team 7 without Sasuke in it.

~~~~~

Sakura was now at the age of 17 where girls would explore the opposite sex. She would never look at any man in a lustful perspective because her heart yearned for only one man. She was talking to Tsunade about an issue in the medical field when the door burst open.

“Don’t you have any decency? The Hokage’s busy right-” Sakura stopped yelling when she realized who it was standing in the doorframe. There was Sasuke, fully matured, walking towards her. Sakura froze in her spot.

‘Oh my God, he’s coming to me!’ Sasuke walked closer and closer and then…he passed her. He walked right by her and plopped down a gruesome image onto the Hokage’s desk. There it was, the decapitated head of that monster Orochimaru. Sasuke redeemed himself by decapitating a feared enemy of the Land of Fire. Sasuke was admitted back into Konoha and Team 7 became what it used to be three years ago.

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‘Would I really risk it all for him?’ she thought. She quietly opened the bottle and took out a small green pill. She popped it into her mouth and swallowed it down with the remaining glass of water on the nightstand. Sakura laid back down on the bed again.

“Goodnight Sasuke,” she whispered. Soon, she succumbed to the darkness and fell asleep.

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The next morning, Sasuke was the first to wake up that bright and early morning. He proceeded to make breakfast, some soft-boiled eggs, toast, juice and everything else in between. After he was finished, he went to go wake Sakura. He gently knocked on the door. There was no answer.

“Sakura?” he called. “Are you awake?” He pushed the door opened and he saw her angelic face, peacefully asleep with a small smile plastered over her face. The clock in the room read 11:52 am. ‘Wow, Sakura’s been asleep for more than 12 hours now.’

Feeling a little worried, Sasuke decided to wake her up. He gently pushed her, telling her to wake up.

“Sakura, it’s me, Sasuke. Wake up sleeping beauty. Sakura!” Sakura stirred out of her sleep and sat up.

“Huh? What’s going on?” She felt like her energy has been depleted, even though she had more than 12 hours of sleep.

“It’s time for you to wake up. I made us breakfast but because you were asleep for so long, it’s cold and now it’s called brunch.” Sakura smiled.

“Thank you Sasuke, but somehow, I still feel tired.” Sasuke ran out of the room and brought her breakfast in a tray.

“Here’s a crappy breakfast in bed,” said Sasuke. “If you don’t have the energy to get to breakfast, then breakfast will have to come to you. Maybe this is the little pick-me-up you need to feel fully energized.”

Sakura took the smallest bites possible. She didn’t have the energy to even stay awake, let alone move. Sasuke noticed her lack of energy and suggested an activity to get her moving and energetic.

“Sakura, would you like to take a walk outside? Maybe the fresh air will do you some good.” Sakura smiled and nodded.

“Sure, I’d love to talk a walk…but…could you help me get dressed? I don’t feel strong enough to dress myself.” Sasuke blushed a little bit but he complied. He helped her snap on a lacy red bra and lacy red panties to match. He slipped of her red training dress. Sakura tried to get out of bed but she stumbled…she stumbled right into Sasuke’s arms.

He helped her stand up and they both locked eyes. They were staring deep into the other person’s soul. Sakura found her love for him reflected back in his eyes. Sasuke froze for a minute before he helped Sakura stand on her own two feet. Sakura didn’t take more than a step before she fell again.

“Whoa, easy there,” assured Sasuke. “Just lean on me. Don’t stress yourself.” Sakura leaned on him as she was told to support herself. “Thanks Sasuke.” ‘Why do I feel so weird?’ she thought. ‘Why do I feel so…helpless? So weak?’ Slowly, Sasuke helped her put her shoes on and walked her out the door.

They walked around the village streets for awhile until Sakura was so tired that they had to find a bench to sit on.

“Sakura…are you okay? Is something going on?” Sakura contemplated about telling him the green pills she kept concealed in the pillowcase.

“Well, no Sasuke. Why would you think something’s going on?” Sasuke frowned a little and explained his evidence.

“Well, you’ve slept more than 12 hours last night and you’re as tired as I am after training. You haven’t been training since…” he trailed off. “I know Sasuke, but I don’t know what’s wrong,” she answered.

‘What’s wrong with her? How could she be sick?’ thought Sasuke. If he had gotten her sick, he would definitely not know the cure for it. The both of them were out for hours, not really knowing what they were doing. Sasuke kept contemplating a few things in his head while trying to figure out what was wrong with Sakura.

‘Should I ask her tonight? How will she react? Will she reject me?’

‘If she does reject you, she has good reason to. YOU left her for a little more than three years. YOU told her off really harshly in the past. YOU-’

‘Geez, I know, I know.’ Sasuke stopped battling with himself and turned his attention towards Sakura, who seemed to doze in and out of consciousness.

“Sakura, let’s find you something to eat.” Sakura looked up at him with weary eyes. She hasn’t done much in the day and yet she was exhausted. What was wrong with her?

“Sure, let’s find something to eat. I feel like all my energy has been drained.” They both entered a local tea house for some tea and cake. Sakura barely took a nibble off of her cake, and she barely sipped a drop of her tea.

“Sakura, are you sure nothing is wrong?” asked Sasuke. Sakura smiled at his concern for her. “Yes, I’m sure that nothing’s wrong.” Although she put up a good act, she had possible ideas of what was really wrong.

‘Maybe it’s that pill. Tsunade said that she hasn’t tested it yet. Maybe…it’s stealing my energy,’ she thought. She shook it right out of her head. ‘No…It’s helping me. It has to.’

After they were finished, which took a long time seeing that Sakura barely ate, they both took another walk. The sun was already starting to set and they both sat on the rooftops to watch it. Because of Sakura’s weakened state, Sasuke had to carry her on his back and jump to the rooftop. Sakura couldn’t sit up properly so Sasuke had to sit behind her, his legs on either side of her and let her lean back on him. They were both watching the beautiful sunset, watching it slowly descend and bring the night when Sasuke brought up another battle within him.

‘Should I ask her now?’ Sasuke finally mustered up the courage to ask.

“Sakura…” he started. Sakura turned around slightly to let him know that he has her attention.

“Sakura, we’ve been together a lot these past couple of weeks. I…I’ve been feeling something that I’ve never felt before my entire life and you brought it out in me.” Sakura’s eyes soften at his gentle tone and she could hear the fear within his voice. ‘Fear of what?’ she asked herself. ‘Fear of…loving me?’

“Sakura,” he continued, “I…I love you.” Sakura’s heart nearly stopped. He said those three little words, those eight little letters, with such intensity that it threw her into overwhelming shock.

“I’m sorry for turning you away in the past, I just…I didn’t want my brother to know that I loved you back then, and I didn’t want him to hurt you. I’m sorry. Will you…be with me?” Sakura still didn’t answer back to him. She was frozen. She could hear her heart hammering in her chest and she could feel the blood rush through her veins. Sakura’s silence got Sasuke thinking.

‘Is she quiet because she doesn’t love me back? What about the time that night…’ His mind drifted towards the night they had first made love. Her words echoed through his mind. “I love you,” she had said. Those words she said that night echoed in his mind.

‘Was that just a fluke? Did she only say that because we…’ Sasuke gulped audibly and he was sure that Sakura could see his throat tremble.

“Sakura…if you don’t feel the same way, I understand. I know I said horrible things to you but that was to-” Sasuke didn’t get to finish his sentence when Sakura silenced him with a kiss. Sasuke was thrown into surprise. He didn’t return the kiss because he thought that this was just a dream.

‘She…she’s…’ Sakura broke the kiss and looked into those onyx eyes. “Sasuke…I love you too.” They both kissed again, passion and love was evident in their kiss. Somehow, the sunset seemed to created an ethereal glow to them both. Sasuke held her close to him, wanting more of her taste. Before they both got to finish their kiss, Sakura collapsed.

“Sakura? Are you okay? Sakura!? SAKURA!!” Sasuke was panicking. ‘Something’s wrong with her. What’s wrong with her!? Why am I such a failure!? I’ve lost her to Itachi and now some…disease!?’ Sasuke carried her and rushed his way to the Hokage’s office.

Sasuke kicked down the door as soon as he arrived. Shizune had tried to stop him, or at least slow him down, but who could control an Uchiha? Tsunade took one look at Sasuke and the pale Sakura in his arms.

“What happened to her!?” she burst out. “I don’t know. We were just watching the sunset and she…collapsed,” answered Sasuke. Tsunade placed Sakura on her desk after she cleared the desk. “Shizune! Call a doctor!” she ordered. Tsunade was checking her vital signs.

“Heart rate…52 beats a minute. Blood pressure…low. Breathing pattern…normal…” she mumbled to herself. ‘Is it…that stupid pill?’ Tsunade asked herself.

‘Is that pill causing her to be sick? Why did I even bring it up? I should’ve tested it first and see if it’s safe to use. Why did I do that!? Why…why does Sakura have to suffer for my mistakes?’

“Hokage, is Sakura going to be alright?” asked Sasuke. The fear was apparent in his voice and Tsunade wasn’t sure if she would sound as confident as she wanted to be.

“Sasuke…I’m not sure. She could be, but I don’t know for sure. All I can say is that she needs medical attention immediately.” Sasuke nodded and followed Tsunade and Shizune, who had gotten a stretcher for Sakura.

Shizune and Tsunade placed her on a hospital bed. Doctors and nurses rushed to help her. “Young man, you need to stay in the waiting room for your friend,” said a nurse.

“But miss, I need to-” The young nurse interrupted him and sent him on his way. “Please, just go. If we’re distracted by you, we won’t be able to help her.” Sasuke sighed and made his way towards the waiting room.

He waited and waited for what seemed to be forever, until Tsunade came out with a flow of nurses behind her. The nurses rushed off in every direction, leaving them alone.

“Sasuke, Sakura is in stable condition now. I’ve granted you permission to stay with her until her awakening.” Sasuke nodded and made his way to Sakura’s room. He stopped and turned around.

“What’s the problem with her?” he asked. Tsunade sighed. “We don’t know. It seems like something is feeding off of her life energy. That’s all I can tell you.” Sasuke nodded again made entered her room.

The room was deadly silent, except for the beeping of the machine that shows her heart rate. Sasuke sat down in the nearest chair and held her hand.

“I’m sorry for failing you again Sakura. Can you hear me? I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you from this too. I’m sorry I failed you.” Sasuke thought his voice would penetrate her comatose-like state. He longed for a response from her, but all that he heard were those stupid little beeps. Sasuke’s chest tightened. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing another person he loved.

“Please,” he begged, “please come back to me.” Sasuke knew that his pleas were useless but he had to try. He had to try to save the last person in the world he could possibly love. He had to try to reach Sakura.

Sakura felt trapped. She could hear all the voices buzzing around her. ‘Why can’t I move? Why can’t I respond? Why can’t I open my eyes!?’ Her body was in full panic mode now. “Shizune!” she heard. Sakura recognized it as Tsunade’s voice. Another voice was heard in her mind.

“Hokage, is Sakura going to be alright?” It was Sasuke’s voice! Sakura wanted to wake up and tell him that she was fine, but her body refused to obey her. ‘What’s going on?’ she asked herself. ‘Why isn’t my body moving?’

Sakura was trapped within her own body and she was scared to death. ‘Am I trapped in here forever?’ Surrounded in darkness, Sakura was afraid. She was afraid that she’d never see Sasuke again, although she could hear his voice. She heard somebody talking, but it was kind of like a gentle whisper.

“I’m sorry for failing you again Sakura. Can you hear me?” said the voice. Sakura wanted to throw her arms around Sasuke’s neck but she couldn’t move her body.

‘Oh Sasuke,’ she thought. ‘I can hear you, but I hope you could hear me.’ Sasuke held her hand the entire time he was there and he fell asleep, clutching onto her hand. What Sakura did while he was sleeping was that she gently squeezed his hand. She had regained some of her strength to squeeze his hand but she didn’t have enough strength to wake up and let him know that she was fine. Sasuke slept with his head on the bed while in a sitting position on the chair. Together, they slept, hand in hand.

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Ooh, I wonder what will happen next! Oh well, until I have time to write again! Plz R&R!~