No Need for Love

C h a p t e r 32 - Absence of Light

3rd person P.O.V

Sasuke's eyes lids open slowly to reveal his pupils going in and out of focus. He blinks repeatedly, waiting for his vision to clear. Once it does he sits up, quickly catching the attention of his other two team mates. A small gasp is heard before Sasuke feels someone embrace him.

"I'm so glad, you're finally awake." Sakura mumbles as she begins to tear up.

Sasuke doesn't respond, his only action involves removing Sakura's arms from around his neck. There's only one person Sasuke wants, and she's isn't there. Memories of (Name) flash across his mind and he remembers. Their embrace...their kiss. He looks up at Naruto who sits across the room.

"Where am I?"

"Hospital." Naruto answers shortly. "We found you in the middle of the road, unconscious."

"She's gone isn't she?"

Naruto remains silent, only offering Sasuke a look of sorrow.

"Where is she?" He demands.

"S-Sasuke she-"

"Where Naruto."

"I don't know! She just left all of sudden... This is all she left behind." Naruto finishes while passing the letter to Sasuke.

Sasuke stares at the paper momentarily before snatching it from Naruto's hand. He quickly reads the letter before looking back at the blonde.

"Where's Kakashi sensei?"

"He's with the hokage. They're trying to decide what to do." Naruto answers slowly.

As soon as he finishes talking, Sasuke begins lifting himself out of bed. The sudden action alarms both his team mates.

"Where are you going?"

"You should take it easy." Both Naruto and Sakura say simultaneously.

"How long have I been here?" Sasuke asks, completely disregarding their previous questions.

Naruto's concern for Sasuke gradually becomes more apparent. He's worried for (Name) just as much as anyone, but Sasuke doesn't seem to care or even want to be aware of his condition. Despite this passing thought, Naruto still answers.

"Not too long, about a day."

Sasuke takes in the information without responding back. He moves about in the room attempting to gather his things. Everyone remains silent as he does so. Naruto and Sakura look at one another anxiously. Doing so, they begin to communicate with their eyes. Sakura shows Naruto a face of concern before shifting her eyes in Sasuke's direction. Naruto understands this as "What should we do?" Without an answer to her question, he simply shrugs his shoulders in hopelessness. Sakura in turn receives this as an "I don't know." Naruto breaks their eye contact deciding to speak with Sasuke once again.

"We know you're worried Sasuke. We all are, but you really should take it easy. We don't know what other effects that genjutsu could've had on you."

Sasuke stills hearing this new piece of information. "What genjutsu?" He inquires, suddenly curious.

"Well, we don't know. The doctor said it was one they had never seen before. Since we don't know what happened to you, we don't know who's behind it." Sakura informs.

Naruto decides to persist, hoping to get something, anything out of Sasuke. "Do you remember what happened?"

Sasuke answers with a short "No." and exits the room.

He strides through the hall leaving his team behind. Sasuke walks out the hospital with both confusion and purpose.

'I know it was you (Name). I wouldn't forget, how could I? It must've been serious if it forced her to go to such lengths.'

Sasuke unlocks and opens the door to his home before entering. He removes his shoes and settles down at a near by table, (Name)'s letter still in his hand. Sasuke stares at the wall, trying to discover the motive behind (Name)'s actions.

'To think she had a genjutsu like that right up her sleeve. I had no idea she even casted it. It must've been we... *Sigh* I need to stop underestimating her.'

Lifting his arm, Sasuke unfolds the now crumpled paper. Like this he sits, dragging his eyes across (Name)'s words, over and over again. Although trivial and repetitive, Sasuke searches for answer to her disappearance.

"...it's something I have to take care of."

'(Name), what did you mean? What do you have to do?'

The question of (Name)'s whereabouts remains a lingering thought in Sasuke's restless mind. He doesn't know what's happened to her, but he's determined to find out at all costs. Although hard to admit, deep down Sasuke knows he needs her. With his lose of many loved ones, she's become his shinny beacon of hope. The only thing that's kept his dark past from engulfing him. Afraid of losing not only (Name) but himself as well, Sasuke vows to find her. He vows to find his source of light before it's too late.