I am so so so so so so so sorrrrryyyy that this chapter is so late! School has been hectic and I just haven't had time to write. I'm so sorry! 😔 Please forgive.
I have an essay coming up in English so the next update will be delayed as well. I'm sorry, blame school!
I do turn eighteen in 13 days, though ☺ So there's something to celebrate lol my boyfriend and I also celebrated our two and a half years just the other day 😘 yay!
But here's the next chapter! And yes! I have kept up with the Naruto chapters and episodes, that is one thing I managed to make happen.
Vote, comment, follow, like! Thanks!
~Kei-chan 🎀💗💋

Chapter Ten:
Flickering

The sun shone brightly through the small window and lit my face. I groaned, rubbing my eyes, then rolled over into Sasuke's chest. I smiled as the memories came rushing back into my mind of last night. I curled into his chest and sighed.
He wants to marry me, I remembered. Looking at his still sleeping figure, I took in every detail of his face. His smooth skin, rounded eyelids, puckering lips, slender nose, and strong jaw line. When he was sleeping, his entire figure seemed at ease. Chest lifting up and down, arms dangling, one at his head and one over me. You're so beautiful even when you don't know it, I thought.
"Good morning!" Naruto's loud mouth burst into the room.
Sasuke immediately shot his eyes open and he sat up, knocking me into the floor.
"Ow," I grumbled, rubbing my side. "Naruto! You idiot."
"Baka! Look what you did, dobe," Sasuke yelled, quickly helping me up off the floor. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," I nodded. "But he's not! What was so important you had to come busting in here like that!?"
"Oh, granny called and said that Sai is awake," Naruto laughed. "Said for you to call her when you woke up."
"Naruto, get out," Sasuke murmured, still tired and grumpy. "Sakura, are you sure you're alright?"
"Fine, fine." Naruto put his hands up and exited the room.
"I'm okay, really," I smiled and touched his arm. "Are you okay?"
"I'm not the one who fell in the floor," Sasuke cracked, running his fingers through his hair. "Did you hit your side?"
"Yeah, but I'm okay," I smiled, and wrapped my arms around his waist. "Did you sleep good?"
"Hn," He mumbled, laying his head on top of mine. "I love you."
"I love you, too," I smiled. "I have to call Tsunade-sama!"
I let go of Sasuke and grabbed for my phone. My battery was flashing, but I ignored it and continued to call her.
"Hello?" She answered, obviously still hungover.
"Hey, Naruto said you told me to call?"
"Yeah, Sai's awake," She answered. "You need to go talk to him. He's at ICU, on third floor."
"Okay, bye." I said, hanging up the phone before she started to gripe about me waking her up early. "Sasuke?"
I turned around to an empty room. He must have went to the bathroom or something.
Setting back down on the bed, I stretched my arms out and yawned. I glanced over at the dryer and noticed the small ring box still setting there. I smiled, feeling giddy all over again. I'm going to marry Sasuke Uchiha! I giggled. My childhood dream is going to come true, mom!
I'm going to live happily ever after as soon as my dad gives us a blessing!
I stopped short and felt suddenly guilty. I'm such an awful person. My dad's missing and I'm celebrating a nonexistent engagement. I should be doing something! But what can I do besides talk to Sai? He probably doesn't even remember anything.
I frowned, touching the soft satin box. My fingers yearned to open it and glance at the beauty set inside of it, but my mind went against it. I will not look at the ring again until it's on my finger!, I decided.
"What are you doing?" Sasuke asked, setting down beside of me.
"Nothing," I smiled, taking the cup of tea he offered me. "I have to go visit Sai today."
"I figured we'd go after we eat breakfast," Sasuke admitted, taking a sip from his cup. "And get dressed."
I looked down at my thin camisole and pajama pants then laughed, "Of course!"
"But I have one request," Sasuke put his hand up.
"Huh?" I raised my eyebrow.
"Let me help you change clothes," Sasuke winked. "SakUrA."
"Uh, how about no?" I laughed. "Now get out so I can change."
I shooed Sasuke out of the room and then threw my regular attire on. I slowly made my way down the hall and located Sasuke and Naruto setting together at the island eating cereal.
"Yo!" Naruto greeted me. "Grab you a bowl an join us, Sakura-chan!"
I did as he said and took the seat across from Sasuke. He was intensely staring at a floating cornflake while poking it with his spoon.
"What are you doing?" I asked, with a teasing laugh.
"Oh, he does that when he's still in his sleep," Naruto answered. "You should see him when we first get back from a mission, he's ravenously depressing. It sounds strange, but it's true. He eats as much as a horse, but is as slow as a donkey."
"Shut up, dobe," Sasuke growled, menacingly. "I'm not slow."
"Whatever, teme." Naruto mumbled, gulping down a carton of milk.
"What are doing today, Naruto?" I asked him, pouring sugar into my cereal.
"I am spending the day with Hinata," He answered. "What about you? Are you going to go talk to Sai?"
I nodded, taking a spoon full of cereal.
"When I come home tonight, are you guys going to be freaky like you were last night?" Naruto asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Naruto." Sasuke warned.
"No," I answered, surprisingly laughing. "Hopefully I'll find my dad by this evening with any luck from Sai."
"Aw, so no more estranged nights with teme?" Naruto laughed.
"No, there'll be more just in the later future," I informed him. "For now I need to be with my dad."
"When you find him?" Naruto added.
"Yes, when I find him." I nodded, continuing to eat my cereal.
Because I will find you, dad.

The hospital was the buzzing hive it always has been when Sasuke and I made our way inside. Ria was setting at the main desk instead of my private one for once and looked aggravated as she picked at her emergency headset.
"Hey, Rai," I greeted her. "What's up?"
"Nothing," She mumbled. "Getting pissed off with these rude ass patients. Hurry up and come back to work so all I have to do is set appointments and give prescriptions. This sucks."
"Looks like you're having loads of fun," I laughed. "I need to know Sai's room number."
"He is in room 228 on the I. C. U. floor," Ria said, her quick fingers flying over the keyboard. "Have fun."
"Thanks." I told her as Sasuke and I walked into the elevator next to her temporary desk.
The I. C. U. was filled faintly of antiseptic and the metallic smell of blood. In one room we passed a man laid with his arm cut open and blood gushing through as a nurse tried to force a clot. I remembered how much I hated working in the I. C. U. as another nurse sat at the front desk, dark circles under his eyes and shaky hands filing papers.
Sai's room was at the end of the hallway and shut up tight with a large wooden door. He obviously didn't like it here either.
I knocked on the door and Ino answered. She looked tired and stressed with her pale cheeks.
"Hey," She smiled and hugged me. "Come on in."
Sasuke and I made our way inside where Sai sat up in the bed with a large bandage wrapped around his head and Captain Yamato talking to him. He waved with a bandaged arm, motioning me towards him.
"Ouch, what's wrong with you?" I asked, tapping his forehead.
"I have a concussion and a Subdural Hematoma," He said, slowly with a small slur. "And I also have a broken hand and a hair line fracture on my Ulna."
"So a slight brain bleed and a few bumps?" I laughed. "Ah, you'll get better quicker than ya think."
"I hope he does," Yamato stated. "We have a big mission next month and need him with me."
"He'll be ready to go, don't worry," I promised him. "It'll take him a bit to get rebalanced, but he'll get the hang of it soon enough."
"Well, I hope you get better," Yamato said, standing up. "But I got to get going, ANBU exams start next week and I'm suppose to help make the written part. I expect to see you there, Mr. Uchiha?"
"I plan on it," Sasuke told him.
"Have you been studying?"
"Yes," Sasuke nodded. "I still have some issues with Physiology, but I'll get it."
"Just study and you'll do fine. You don't need to train that much because you're already guaranteed there," Yamato smiled. "But I with you good luck and I'll see you later Sai. Have a good day, Sakura, Ino."
"You, too." I told him as he left the room.
"They had a bomb," Sai immediately blurts out when Yamato is out of hearing range. "And your father."
"Do you know where they were going?" I asked.
"No," Sai shook his head. "I didn't hear that part, but I do know that they knew Jolly. The woman called him Franz, though."
"I believe the woman is his mother," I told him. "And the man, I'm not so sure. Maybe his brother? He's far too young to be his dad. Was my dad hurt?"
"No, he was wearing a cloak," Sai said. "And his body and face were both completely covered."
"How did they get you down so quickly?" I asked.
"That guy hit me with a box over my head and I was out like a light," Sai snapped his fingers. "I noticed that the box had USB ports on it though and I think it was the bomb."
"That kind of bomb would take a huge amount of power to even calibrate," Sasuke said. "It's a Synthesizing Nuclear Bomb. It has a high altitude of power intake in order to calibrate to specific coordinates and blow those coordinates up basically."
"Why would they need my dad there if there going to blow something-" I stopped realizing why. "Oh my god! This is all about revenge! This is the revenge they're taking out on me! They're going to kill my dad!"
"Sakura, calm down," Sasuke touched my shoulder. "We don't know that."
"Sasuke, it all makes sense!" I argued. "Why else would they take him with them to go bomb someplace!?"
"To try and draw us out," Sasuke said. "They don't just want you, they want us all. These people are smart, they know how to work us. If they get you, they know they have us all."
"But what about Sai?"
"They thought they killed me when they left," Sai replied. "The hit on my head kind of have me temporary paralysis from my shock and I guess they just thought my stillness meant death."
"Dumbasses," Ino muttered. "These people obviously have no clue what they're getting themselves in to."
"No doubt about that," Sai agreed. "I'm sorry that this gets you no closer to your dad, but at least it can give us a bit of forewarning."
"Have you told Tsunade-sama?" I asked.
"Yes, they're investigating it," Sai answered. "They haven't told me anything else since then."
"Okay," I nodded. "Is there anything else you can tell me?"
"I'm sorry, not really," He shook his head. "I wish I could be more of a help."
"It's fine. Thank you," I rose from my seat and turned towards the door. "I need to go now. I hope you feel better."
"Sakura?" Ino asked, as I ignored her and walked out the door.
"Excuse us." I heard Sasuke say right after I shut the door.
I could hear a ringing in my ears like never before and my throat felt hollow for once in my life. I had no clue what to say or think, I felt empty and hopeless. I just want my dad.
I could feel hot tears well up and spill over. My throat felt swollen suddenly as I began to sob.
"Sakura," I heard Sasuke say through the ringing as his strong arms engulfed me. "I'm right here. You're okay."
I felt sick suddenly with heat and a strange exhaustion as I fell into his chest and shut my eyes.

I could hear the rattling of pots and pans in my sleep as the room became clear around me. I was laying in Sasuke's small bed, facing the tiny window as my ears picked up the banging louder.
I groaned and rose from the bed slowly, to not fall off of it. I rubbed my puffy face, swollen from crying, and stood up.
I remembered passing out at the hospital and visions of Sasuke carrying me through the village flashed through my head.
"Sasuke?" I croaked, my throat dry.
"I didn't mean to wake you," He said, popping his head in the room. "I was putting the dishes away."
"It's okay," I muttered, setting back down on the edge of the bed. "I needed to get up anyways."
"How are you feeling?" He asked, pulling my chin up to look at me. "Does your head hurt? Are you hungry?"
"I'm fine, just thirsty," I replied with a smile. "Can you get me something to drink please?"
"No problem," He kissed my forehead. "I'll be right back."
Sasuke left the room and I glanced back out the window. The street light was flickering, making the beam dimmer than usual.
I shook my head, trying to rid of the dizziness it created as Sasuke returned with a glass of ice water.
"Here you go," He handed it to me along with some Tylenol. "This is for your fever. I think you're getting too stressed. Maybe you should eat something and take a long shower."
"That sounds nice," I nodded. "Maybe you could join me."
"I would, but I already took mine," Sasuke smiled. "Sorry."
"Come on, it won't hurt to take another," I winked. "I'm just kidding. It's probably best that I try to relax for a bit. It's just hard to do so when I'm so worried about my dad, ya know? I just feel like my heads going to explode."
"I'm sorry," Sasuke replied, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into his chest. "I love you."
"I love you more," I smiled. "Maybe you can help me forget, again?"
I felt him smile against my cheek and then leaned forward to kiss me. I had to remind myself to breath as he pushed me back onto the bed and ran his hands down my body. I shivered when his lips moved from my ear to my shoulder. I opened my eyes and looked at the light produced from the hallway as it blinked off and on. Ignoring it, I rolled over on top of him and planted my lips on his. Looking down at his face, the sliver of light from the window flicked onto his onyx eyes.
Then it hit me.
"The lights!" I said, jumping up. "The lights!"
"What?" Sasuke asked, leaning up on the bed.
"The lights are flickering!" I pointed to the hallway.
"So?" He raised his eyebrow. "It's probably just the plant lacking on their jobs."
"No!" I protested. "It's those two calibrating the bomb! The power plant is the only place with enough energy to power it! It'll probably take all of the village's power, but it would work."
"What?" Sasuke stood up. "Then what so we do?"
"I go get my dad," I told him. "You go tell Tsunade and have reinforcements sent."
"No," Sasuke grabbed my arm. "I go with you and I text Naruto to get reinforcements. I am not going to allow you to be by yourself with those people."
"Fine, but we need to go," I said, grabbing my weapons from my bag. The lights shut off and the sound of the coolant system started to whine down. "Like now."