On The Same Path [SasuxSaku]

Chatper 8: Only in Konoha?

~ Sakura's POV

I blinked a few times before adjusting my eyes to the bright light streaming through the windows. I tried to sit up, but for some reason, I felt too weak to do so. What was going on? What had happened? What was this room?

"Sakura, how are you feeling now?"

I rubbed my eyes and looked up suddenly at the man who had risen from his chair and knelt beside me on the floor.

"What happened? We were in the forest... it was raining..."

The sun was shining brightly through the windows. Were we still in Amegakure?

"Sunshine is rare in Amegakure, but it does come in once in a while. Sakura, the insects you collected - it seems you got bitten by them. We had to bring you back to the inn and wait for you to recover."

"What do you mean by wait for me? How long ago was that? Who healed me? I can't believe I was so reckless, I was so sure I was careful!"

"Yuu healed you. I helped... I had to use the genjutsu to get the cure from you. Sakura... I..."

"Cure? There's no known cure! That's why I was collecting the insects for my research! Unless, of course, you burn them... wait—" Realization dawned on me. "You healed me with the Chidori, didn't you? You said you used genjutsu to get the cure. I'm sure I shared that with you."

Sasuke looked as though he had been afraid of this—of me finding out that he had used Chidori on me. The last time he had used Chidori, he had tried to kill me, and the last time he had used genjutsu on me... well, let's just say it wasn't one of our better memories.

"Sakura, I..."

"Arigato, Sasuke-kun, for saving my life," I said, cutting him off before he could come to any other conclusion. His face visibly relaxed at the sound of my words.

"Wait! How long ago was this? Where is Yuu?! We have to continue the mission!" I almost shouted as I tried to get up, but my body completely betrayed me. I would have fallen face-first if Sasuke hadn't quickly caught me with his one arm.

Once the dizziness passed, I realized just how close our bodies were and immediately turned red. Sasuke, however, seemed completely nonchalant about the whole situation and simply helped me sit properly on my futon. He frowned slightly, though I couldn't tell whether it was out of worry or disappointment.

"I asked Yuu to continue with the mission and informed Kakashi about the situation," Sasuke said. "Yuu will have a report ready for you once we reach Suna, so you won't have to waste time on the initial research. It's been three days since the incident."

"Three days?!" I exclaimed. "Three days?! Sasuke, we need to leave now! There are people relying on me—"

"There's nothing you can do to help them if you're not even in a position to heal yourself."

"Oh, but you're wrong there! I can absolutely heal myself! I am a disciple of Lady Tsunade—" With that, I immediately began channeling my healing chakra.

Suddenly, everything went dark again.

***

I blinked my eyes open again. This time, a single candle flickered in one corner of the room. From the sound of it, the rain had returned, and darkness had settled outside.

I rubbed my eyes and saw Sasuke sitting on the floor beside me, a faintly amused look in his eyes, as though he found some sort of humor in the whole situation. His back rested against the wall; he was probably trying to get some rest himself. The knot in my stomach tightened, making me feel a hundred times worse as the full extent of the mess I had created sank in.