Ripples

Chapter 10

                        Compassion

The battle took a lot less time than Sakura would have expected. It seemed barely five minutes had passed before Sasuke and Suigetsu were standing among a mass of fallen foes, both smirking as they sheathed their blades.

"I'll look for the key!" Karin announced, shoving Sakura towards the males as she made for the open entrance.

Sasuke caught Sakura as she fell against him, and couldn't help smirking at her muttering of, "I'm not a damn football, quit tossing me around like one!"

"I found it!" came Karin's yell from within the base a few moments later. She came out brandishing a small ring of brass keys, which Sakura assumed she'd taken from a guard's body.

They entered the hideout, and Sakura's first thought was of a hospital. The stone was cleanly, precisely cut, not the usual rough-hewn walls of the other bases she'd been in. And this one had electric lights positioned at even, frequent intervals along the ceiling.

They came to hallway crossing their own, and here Sasuke stopped. "Karin, you have to lead the way."

"Why are you bossing us around like this, Sasuke?" she complained.

"Because he's a jerk with a stick so far up his ass he can probably taste it in his throat," Sakura muttered.

Suigetsu roared with laughter. "Well, she's certainly got your number, hasn't she, Sasuke?"

Because she was resting against Sasuke's chest, Sakura couldn't see his expression, but she was willing to bet he was scowling.

"You can't talk about Sasuke like that!" Karin screeched.

Sakura grimaced, not having the energy for an argument.

"Leave her alone," Sasuke ordered, a touch of true irritation in his voice. "Which way?"

"That way," Karin said, pointing to the right corridor.

Suigetsu turned first, but when Sasuke made to do the same Karin's arm shot out, blocking his path.

"This way," she whispered, nudging him in the direction of the forward corridor. "You can just leave the girl here – she'll be fine..."

Sakura's brain felt like a limp dishrag, but she knew what Karin was trying to do. She suspected (well, she knew, judging by those doe-eyed looks) that Karin had a crush on Sasuke – she was trying to get him alone.

So Sakura raised her voice, just enough to get the attention of the white-haired man who was walking in the wrong direction. "Suigetsu!"

He turned, saw Karin trying to nudge Sasuke (and Sakura in his arms) in another direction, and gave a very unpleasant grin as he retraced his steps. "I suppose I should have expected something like this from a bitch like you."

Sakura paid their argument no attention – she was gingerly testing the strength of her legs as she slowly moved away from Sasuke. She was grateful that they seemed ready to support her on their own now, even though she doubted she'd be able to move particularly fast.

She realised Sasuke was watching her carefully and she looked up, ready to screech that she wasn't in any condition to escape...but the words died in her throat at the expression on his face. He wasn't watching her like a guard watching a prisoner...he was watching her as though he needed to make sure she was steady on her legs, as though he needed reassurance that she was recovering.