I know I haven't replied to any comments on the previous chapter I know, and I'm sorry; I'm busy and figured you'd rather I wrote up a new chapter instead :)

Read away!

P.S. You gaiz are so going to love this chapter!! :D

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I threw my head back against the wall again, bored and depressed. It was my only entertainment until I was recovered enough to get out of bed- well, not literally get out of bed- and since it had only been two days since my operation, that wouldn't be any time soon. I felt disgusting, and had to have help to bathe. So I felt disgusting, and pathetic.

I heard someone push open the door to my room, and pretended to sleep, not wanting to talk to anybody. Apparently, I'm not very good at acting.

"Baka, I know you're awake." Sasuke spoke softly, and I frowned, keeping my eyes closed.

"Baka, I don't care." I replied, folding my arms over my chest. I heard him sigh, and a squeak as he pulled the chair up next to my bed.

I felt him poke my arm lightly, "Haven't you ignored me long enough?"

This caught my attention. I opened my eyes to frown at him, only to be startled by how close his head was to mine.

Trying to keep my cool, I said haughtily, "You're the one that was saying stupid things."

Realising the implications of what I had said, Sasuke leaned back, eyes wide, while I blushed slightly. He then smiled thinly, resting his chin on his palm. I was surprised by how relaxed he was.

"I thought it would be better this way," he mumbled, leaving me unsure of whether I was supposed to hear or not as he rubbed his face, "But I can't seem to keep away, anyway."

(HHAHA THIS IS SO TWILIGHT XD)

I turned my head away, frowning, "Why are you here, anyway?"

"Kakashi sent me to check on you." he said, then muttered, "I'm beginning to think that he knew I would end up like this."

This confused me, "Like what?"

And of course, that had to be the one question that the answer to would make me, of all people, feel awkward. Sasuke released a long sigh, muttering something about regretting this, then stood and planted one hand on either side of my head. He leaned so close that our noses were touching and whispered,

"Just stop ignoring me, okay? I'm sorry."

Blinking at him and flushing, I shrank back into the pillows, "O-okay..."

After staring at me a moment, shocked, a smirk spread over his face.

"Does this make you feel awkward, Sachi?" he asked somewhat gleefully, and I scowled.

"No!" I answered quickly, not liking how suddenly our roles had reversed. Usually it was me making him feel awkward. I huffed, "Hello, injured person here! Get offa me!"

I batted at him with my hands until he moved away, though he still looked extremely pleased with himself, so I scowled even more, "You're lucky I didn't headbutt you."

"No, you were too busy blushing." he pointed out with a smirk. I hid my still pink face in my hands.

"Go away..." I groaned, and it was silent for just long enough that I worried that he had gone, until I felt a hand catch my own, gently prying it from my eyes and then holding onto it. I stared at Sasuke, as a blush almost identical to my own rose to his cheeks, while he laced the fingers of one hand between my own and placed his other hand on the back of mine, like a warm envelope around my entire hand.

His gaze met mine, sort of anxious. "Y-you don't mind, do you?"

"N-no... it's... warm..." I mumbled, embarassed, looking away, but not before catching the relief in his eyes.

"Your hands are really cold." he replied, sounding just as embarassed as me. I mused slightly over how when Naruto held my hand, I didn't feel embarassed in the slightest, but when Sasuke did, my heart raced, my skin flushed, and I couldn't meet his eyes. I bit my lip and gave his hand a small squeeze.

His answering smile was nothing short of dazzling, freezing my lungs for so long that I had to gasp for air. When Sasuke looked at me questioningly, I blushed and looked away, mumbling "Your smile."

Fortunately, this didn't only embarass me. The further reddening on his cheeks was my consolation.

- - -

After that, Sasuke came to see me every day, usually for only an hour because of his training, but that was enough for my days to soon revolve around him. It wasn't my fault, really, since there was nothing else in my boring hospital room to entertain me, so my whole day became waiting for Sasuke to arrive through the window (which aggravated me no end because he didn't schedule a time to arrive), then talking to Sasuke, and then thinking about what I spoke to Sasuke about and anticipating tomorrow's visit. I'd never had my life so consumed by another person before, and I couldn't help but wonder why that was. Sasuke was my friend, yes, but normal people don't become so... obsessed with their friends. No, that was wrong. I wasn't obsessed with him, but it was something akin to that. I discovered that lately, I was thinking a lot about what Sasuke must be going through in his training. I'd seen the shape he turned up in sometimes, terribly scratched up and all but collapsing into the chair in my room. No, it wasn't thinking. It was worrying.

"Sachiko-san, you have a visitor." the nurse poked her head around the door. I nodded, signalling for her to send them in, my hopes not rising. I knew it wasn't Sasuke; he always came in through the window. I didn't quite know why, but he did. Perhaps it makes him feel more ninja-ish.

"Ohayo, Sachiko-chan." Ino said softly, smiling as she entered. I smiled in return, fidgeting, and she laughed, "Well, you look happier! If not a little antsy."

I immediately stopped fidgeting, thinking about what she'd said. Was I happier? "I feel happier."

"I'm glad." she grinned, coming over and poking me on the arm, "You had us all really worried."

"Sorry." I mumbled, unable to force down my smile.

We talked about meaningless things for a while, and she gave me my birthday present of a new sketchbook, before my mind wandered back to my previous confusion.

"Ne, Ino-chan?" she looked up from where she was arranging the Snapdragons on my bedside table.

"What is it?" she asked as she plucked out a withered flower. I turned my head back to the ceiling.

"There's this boy..."

"Aha! Say no more! I think I know who you're talking about." she said, turning to me, eyes alight, triumphant grin a mile wide.

I blinked, "Wha-?"

She sat down in the cahir and folded her arms, looking very pleased with herself, "Let me guess- your heart beats faster every time you see him, he makes you blush easier than anyone else, he's all you can think about?"

I stared at her, before bringing my hand up to clasp my shirt over my chest.

"Yes." I whispered, "What does it mean?"

"That's easy!" she exclaimed, then squealed, "You're in love!"

My heart stoppped dead at that moment, "What?!" the muscle then kicked into gear twice as fast, my face colouring, "B-but- how- when- what?!"

"Aw, this is so adorable! My little sister is in love!" Ino exclaimed, "So that's the reason you're so happy all of a sudden!"

While Ino celebrated some imaginary victory, I frowned at the ceiling, a hand over my erratically beating heart. Was this what love felt like? I'd only known familial love in my life, so how could I know for sure?

It couldn't be. Maybe I had a weeny crush on Sasuke, but it certainly wasn't love. It was way too soon for that.

"Soooo?! Who is it?" my sister asked excitedly, and I blushed more, shaking my head. She whined, "Aw, come on! You can tell me!!"

I kept my mouth stubbornly shut, and she bothered me about it for a while, but since she was the same old impatient Ino, she soon gave up. I glanced at her confusedly.

"Wait, how did you know?"

"Know what?" she replied in confusion.

"What I was feeling." I answered, and she sighed dreamily.

"Because that's how I feel about Sasuke-kun." she told me, and I froze where I lay.

"Oh, u-um, right, w-well, I should get some sleep now." I yawned the most realistic I could manage, "All this... laying here... is making me tired."

Surprise and hurt flitted across her expression, and I avoided her gaze, "Oh, okay. Well, get better, yeah?"

"Yeah." I mumbled, as she finally left, then sighed.

What had I gotten myself into?

- - -

When Sasuke came through the window again later that day, I felt more awkward and odd than ever. As per usual, he took my hand, a gesture I had grown accustomed to.

"Hi." I mumbled shyly, and he startled me by chuckling.

"Y'know, I don't think I'll ever get used to the quieter you." he commented, and I glared at him playfully.

"Says you, what happened to the stoic, closet-pervert Uchiha from a few weeks ago?" I retorted, and he huffed indignantly.

"I am not a closet pervert!" he exclaimed, and I laughed.

"Okay, you're just a regular pervert!" I spluttered, stomach hurting. I hadn't laughed like this in so long.

Noticing Sasuke's silence, I looked up to see him gazing around the room with a puzzled look on his face. I frowned, and asked, "What is it?"

"There's something different about this room since yesterday..." he muttered, scanning every area. I blinked, then made a noise of understanding.

"Oh! It's probably my new sketchbook on the table. Ino gave it to me when she stopped by earlier." he went over and picked the book up, reading the inscription on the front.

"It's your birthday today?" he asked, and I nodded as best I could.

"Yeah. I'm twelve." I said, and he placed the book down.

"And you're spending it in the hospital..." He muttered under his breath. I said nothing.

After a while, I perked up, an idea forming in my mind. "Hey, I know what you can give me for my birthday, since you forgot~" I said teasingly. He scowled.

"I didn't know in the first place!" he exclaimed, and I batted my hand dismissively.

"Hush. Aaanyway, you could take me out somewhere." I said, "Anywhere, I just want to get out of the hospital."

Sasuke frowned, "No. That's a really bad idea, Sachi."

"Psh! It'll be fine, you can carry me out of the window and we'll be back before anyone notices."

"That's not the point! You fractured your spine, Sachi! You shouldn't be going anywhere yet!"

I scowled, "But it's so boring just laying here in this stuffy room! I want to breathe air! Air that hasn't been tainted by hospital-y smells!"

"But Sachi-"

"Nope! Not talking to you until you free me from my prison!" I exclaimed, folding my arms and shutting my eyes.

I heard Sasuke grunt in exasperation after a few minutes of pacing, and he scooped me up carefully, causing a cold feeling to run over my arms. He then leapt out of the open window as I squealed and clung onto him, laughing at the rush of the warm early Summer air in my face. The whole season had changed since the last time I had been outside. i had forgotten how blue the sky was, how vibrantly coloured the world seemed to be in the late afternoon light. I quickly arranged my hands into seals that I felt I had not used in a long time (although it had actually only been about five months) and sent my almost-clone back to sit in my room. The trick was, she could walk, and I envied her for it.

Of course, if anyone tried to touch my clone, their hand would go straight through since she wasn't solid, but at that moment, I simply didn't care. I was outside, and I was moving.

Sasuke ran with me into the trees, saying nothing as laughter of pure, unbridled delight escaped my lips. I was an active person, and hated being stuck in that bed, and sometimes wondered if I wouldn't be past the brink of insanity by now, had it not been for my visitors. But, as I had that thought, my mind was on one particular visitor, and my cheeks flushed anew.

"Ano, Sasuke." I mumbled, and aforementioned raven looked down at me with stern eyes; he didn't approve of what I was doing, and no doubt even more so that he was letting me do it. "Thank you for doing this." I averted my gazed, shamefaced, "I'm sorry that you might get into trouble."

He tsked, "Baka, I don't care about that." his voice became gruff, and he looked away, "I'm worried that you might be hurt even more. And that it'll be my fault."

I glared at him, "Don't! If I get hurt it's my fault, and nobody else's! Just as it was last time!"

His eyes were agonised with guilt as he looked back at me, "But if I hadn't got knocked out back in the forest, then none of this would have happened! You would still be walking and happy, because I would have protected you like I told myself I would!"

I remained speechless, staring at him as he continued to breathe hard from his rant. I didn't even notice we had stopped, but I did notice the pink on his cheeks. It didn't stop him, though.

"I swear, Sachiko, nothing like this will ever happen again! I promise I will protect you with my life!" he promised, eyes fierce, warm... loving. My heart pounded- had Ino been right?

"Sasuke, don't be ridiculous-"

"No, it's not ridiculous! You have no idea- no idea how scary it was to see you all broken in the arms of that Gaara! It made me sick!" his tone grew almost wild, "I never want to see you like that again!"

"What... what are you saying?" I breathed, and his eyes widened, and he leaned back from where he had gradually been getting closer.

"I just... I care about you. Don't get hurt again." he mumbled, starting to walk again. I was strangely disappointed by his answer, and stared into the distance as he picked up speed.

"Yeouch!" I exclaimed suddenly as I felt a sharp, slicing pain. Sasuke jumped.

"What?! Where do you hurt?! I knew this would happen!" he panicked, while I just pulled my- now extremely skinny- calf round with my hand, staring at the thin line of blood across it. I blinked for a moment before a huge grin crossed my face.

"I felt something in my calf..." I whispered, before shouting to Sasuke, joyfully, "I felt something in my calf!! My legs aren't numb anymore!"

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