Us Again(Sequel to SasuSaku High School)

Chapter 17: Awakening (2/3)

Sasuke woke up long before the sunrise. He had always been an early bird — or hawk, as Naruro liked to call him — but today he felt especially vigilant.

It might have been out of guilt and shame from spilling like wine in front of Sakura. Tearing his sack of secrets and throwing them like coins at her made him feel naked. He wasn't used to voicing his feelings. Mostly because even he couldn't understand them.

But with Sakura... everything was different.
She was his keeper, only person who he could be completely honest and never get an ounce or judgement in return. Yet, when he confessed his feelings in that damned hotel room, she chose to walk away. Stomp over the heart he laid bare for her and crush it with her heels.

Sasuke couldn't fault her. He deserved as much. But it didn't stop his heart from aching. Or whatever was left of it.

After lying in his bed and staring at the ceiling as if it may fix his rising problems, Sasuke got out of it, cleaned up and stalked into the kitchens. A maid greeted him there, asking what he may desire. She couldn't grant his heart's desire, so Sasuke settled with a cup of coffee and something to satisfy his hunger.

Pathetic. That's what he'd become. But he would crawl and butcher his gigantic ego if he'd get the love of his life back.

He ate and devoured his coffee in a single gulp before setting his gaze on the snow-covered field outside and wandered off. He required some peace and quiet before Naruto woke up and decided drag him somewhere.

Others would join him and Sasuke'd rather gauge his eyes before he'd watch that red haired prick snake his arms around Sakura.

When they arrived here and he witnessed the two of them kissing, Sasuke wished the ground would split open and devour him. Every night he wished it was Sakura lying next to him; kissing him. Even dreamt about it, but it never came true.

He sighed. His mind was plagued by her enough. He had other problems too.

Like his father pestering him about a new business deal. Sasuke didn't want to take it. It felt like it would cause more trouble than do good. Even their investors voted against it, but Fugaku claimed it would benefit the Uchiha Corp. In a way, it might, but they'd have to be careful on how to approach the other party. Kenzo Yoshida was a skilled businessman and even rotten person. He would sell his soul for money, and he would do his best to gain as much profit from this deal as possible. Sasuke had to be more vigilant with him.

He cursed when he realized how far he'd crept from the hotel. If he hadn't almost slipped on the frozen ground, he'd probably never snap from his daze. He glanced ahead and saw the piles of snow basked among the forest. He ought to get back, walking further, in this weather, would be a suicide.

As he turned back, his onyx eyes espied something in the white atmosphere. Something teal and big rested on top of the snow, like a gem in a crown. Sasuke approached it, wary of what might be, but his lips parted with a gasp when he realized who laid in the snow.

It was Sakura!

And she was freezing. Her face was the same color as the snow around her, but her lips were tinted blue. How long had she been here?

"Sakura! Sakura, can you hear me?" He asked frantically, though received no answer. He checked for pulse and sighed from relief when he felt one. However, it was weak. She needed help, immediately.

Gently, he wrapped his hands around her body and picked her up. She didn't stir but her left shoulder hang down lifelessly. Where did she hurt it? Sasuke slid his hand and secured her arm while bringing her body closer to his chest. She needed warmth.