Hello! I am so so sorry! I havn't updated in literally three months! Again I'm super sorry! A HUGE thank-you to Lady Yori, CheshireWolf16, Imateenwolfluva, xFlipJamsx, and all the guests who have reviewed! You guys make me so happy! And wow! 20 chapters! I didn't think this story would last this long! Now on to the story!

Sasuke's thoughts

Sakura's thoughts

Emphasis

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Previously on Sakura Is Broken:

Sakura smiled, maybe things were looking up. Later that evening everyone was sitting or laying by the fire. no one was talking, there was just a comfortable silence. ''Look!'' Sakura said pointing to a faint glow, ''It's fireflies! I haven't seen any since I was twelve!'' Sakura smiled and closed her eyes, soon enough everything would be back to the way it once was, back to normal. Or so she thought.

In the morning Sakura deemed Suigetsu's foot healed enough to walk. "He can't jump and he shouldn't run so it looks like we're traveling like normal people today." Sakura announced after looking over Suigetsu. "We won't get as far but at least we're moving." Karin sighed. "Why'd you have to do a stupid thing like fall out of a tree?" Karin sniped at Suigetsu, who in turn glared and replied with a annoyed, "Like it was my fault!" Sasuke gave both a deadly glare. "Stop your bickering and move out" he said in a gruff voice that promised punishment if not obeyed. Jugo and Sakura sighed in relief when Sasuke's unsaid threat shut the arguing couple up.

Sakura grabbed her bag and made to lift it on her shoulder when suddenly she threw it as far as she could. It impressively sailed over a large hill and out of sight. "Throw your packs away!" She yelled as she grabbed Sasuke's bag out of his hand and threw that away too. "Sakura. What do you think you're doing?" Sasuke bit out angrily. "Throw away your packs they have poison on them!" Sakura yelled again still throwing packs till only Jugo's was left. She grabbed Jugo's pack and tossed it away but still close enough to see it clearly. "What do you mean poison?!" Karin shrieked. "Yes. Please explain why you threw our packs with almost all of our supplies away?" Sasuke asked, clearly angry. "Those packs had poison on them. Someone must have put it on while we were sleeping last night." Sakura explained. She went and carefully grabbed Jugo's pack by one strap and lifted it up to show the group. She pointed to a fine white powder just barely visible. "Look but don't touch, and make sure you don't breathe any in." They all stared at the white patch on the bag. "What is it?" Sasuke asked, "Devil's breath. Its odorless, tasteless, and almost invisible. If someone were to breathe it in or even directly touch it they would be killed almost immediately. Its the perfect assassin poison." Sakura explained. "But what doesn't make sense is how someone knew where we were. We've been covering our tracks the whole time." Jugo nodded solemnly, "Thank you Sakura, without you we would all be dead." He said quietly. "Yes thank you Sakura" Sasuke said quickly, "We appreciate your skill." Karin looked into the forest, "So all we know for sure is that we have someone who wants us dead that leaves no trace behind and uses poison." Sasuke took a step towards the forest, "We can't dwell on it. We need to keep moving." Sakura nodded, "Sasuke's right. We don't know how this happened and standing around won't help anything. All we can do is keep moving and keep an eye out for anything suspicious."

And with that conclusion the group started off. Jugo stayed towards the back of the troupe. He gently rubbed a spot on the back of his neck where the pack had touched his bare skin when he put it on. He resolved to stay quiet about it. Sakura hadn't mentioned a cure and saying something now would only slow them down. If he was going to die he was going to die protecting her.

"That was terrifying." Sakura thought. "Somehow someone snuck into the camp and put poison on the bags. I just barely saw the poison in time. What if I'm not fast enough next time? What if someone dies? What if Sasuke dies? not that I'm especially worried about him. I just don't want any of my comrades dying." Still, Sakura couldn't shake the feeling of absolute dread and terror that bubbled up when she saw Sasuke holding the poisoned bag. Sakura shuddered. Best not to think about it she decided.

When the sun began to set they made camp. "We need to take watch shifts. I'll go first." Sasuke announced when everyone was settled in. After a long day of walking there wasn't much argument. Sakura watched as Sasuke settled in by the trunk of a tree. As the sun was setting Sakura decided to go over there. She plopped herself down beside him slightly startling him. "Why are you here? you should be getting to sleep." Sasuke asked, but he didn't sound like he was telling her to leave so she stood her ground. "I thought you might want some company." Sakura said, her eyes glued to the purple and red colors staining the sky like someone had dragged a paint brush along it. "Hn" Sasuke grunted as he watched the sunset slowly fade into dark. "Look Sasuke-Kun the first star!" Sakura said all of a sudden. Sasuke Started, "What?" He asked. "I said there's the first star!" Sakura repeated, "No, you called me Sasuke-Kun." Sasuke said a slight smile on his face hidden by the shadows. Sakura blushed, "Sorry" she mumbled. "No, it was... cute." Sasuke said a light blush brushing his cheeks, Sakura smiled, "Thank you, I think you're cute too." Sasuke blushed even darker and Sakura giggled.

This is nice. she decided as Sasuke pulled his cloak around her saying it was getting cold. If she tried hard enough she could almost forget about Orochimaru in times like these. Times where the world seems at peace and things like pain and revenge are but a distant memory. What would it be like, Sakura wondered. If she had been able to stop Sasuke that night. Would it have changed anything? destiny had a funny way of always getting its way no matter what. But maybe if she could have stopped him then none of this would have happened, maybe it still would. But it was too late for maybe's and too soon for what if's. Tomorrow morning the pain would be real again and revenge would be fresh on her mind. But for now it was enough to sink into Sasuke's side as the warmth of his cloak covered her, it was enough to barely feel the feather light kiss placed on her forehead as she drifted into another world of sleep and dreams. It was enough to know that she wasn't alone in the world tonight. It was simply enough.

The next morning Jugo woke up covered in a cold sweat. The pain of the poison was more than he had anticipated. The cursed blood flowing through his veins prevented immediate death but it was painful enough for him to wish for one. He knew he wouldn't last the week and every breath was like daggers driven into his chest. It was barely morning, so he thought he could get away with going on a walk by himself but when he left his tent, one of the only things they still was greeted with the sight of a sleeping Sakura snuggled under Sasuke's cloak as he sat awake under the tree.

Sasuke caught sight of the orange haired giant and got up and walked towards him. "I need to talk to you." Jugo said as soon as Sasuke was within hearing range. Sasuke paled slightly, "It's not like that." Sasuke tried to explain glancing at the still sleeping Sakura. "Not about that" Jugo replied motioning for Sasuke to follow him. They walked together into the forest for a little while when suddenly Jugo turned around, "I got poisoned from the bags and I'll be dead before the end of the week." He said looking Sasuke dead in the eye. "What?" Sasuke responded confused, "Are you sure?" Jugo snorted softly and pulled down his shirt collar so Sasuke could see the red, blotchy, swollen skin surrounding what looked like a series of punctures. "Then why are we here? you should be talking to Sakura! you know, the medic." Sasuke exclaimed walking towards the way they came. Sasuke felt a tug on his sleeve holding him back. He turned around and saw Jugo holding his sleeve. "There's no cure." Jugo said gently, as if he explaining to a child why their pet fish was floating belly up. "Kami, Jugo what do you want me to do?" Sasuke asked in shock. "All I want is for you to make sure Sakura stays safe. Thats it. She's been through more than she would deserve in 50 lifetimes! So just make sure she gets what she needs." Jugo gasped for breath at the end of this announcement. The pain throughout his body becoming increasingly unbearable. "I swear I will." Sasuke said solemnly locking eyes with Jugo. "Until the day I die I swear I will." Jugo smiled and reached out a hand to Sasuke to shake hands. "Thats all I ask. Just please don't tell Sakura."

Jugo straightened out and with some help from Sasuke made his way back from camp. When they got back Sakura, Karin and Suigetsu were already cleaning up the camp and packing up. "Where did you go?" Karin asked, "We were worried that you got murdered." Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Now how about breakfast?" Suigetsu asked.

About a half hour later they started off again. "Just one more day of medical ninjutsu and then I can do stuff normally right Saka-chan?" Suigetsu asked "Thats right, and then we can pick up the pace. But over do it today and it will be even longer" Sakura warned. "All right all right I get it" Suigetsu sighed folding his arms behind his head, "Be safe, don't break any bones, don't get in anymore fights with Karin, Blah blah blah" An arrow shot into a tree in front of him, Karin looked in that direction, "AMBUSH!" She yelled as a band of men came storming through the trees firing arrows and swinging clubs and swords. "There are about 200 of them Sakura called through the noise." her voice calm and strong, "Suigetsu get in the back, no fights remember?" Sakura ordered. "Damn it!" Suigetsu cursed as he made his way to the back.

Sasuke took out the front row with his Katana. Sakura Punched the ground and sent the three rows back flying. Jugo took a step forward but in an instint was against a trying panting for breath. Sakura punched another guy into a tree while Sasuke took out two more. Sakura looked at Sasuke and Karin will swear till her dying day that they communicated telepathically in that instant. Sakura jumped forward and slammed her fist into the ground knocking the enemy off their feet so Sasuke could leap over her and cut through as many men as he could while most of them were off there feet. Jugo smiled even as he could feel his life force draining away. How those two missed it was beyond him, but he knew they were perfect for each other. Seeing the way that they moved together was like watching a dance. Two partners equally giving and taking, feeding off each others energy. It was magical. Jugo knew he made the right choice in asking Sasuke to protect Sakura, not that she needed it.

The bandit leader watched from the trees as his men were slaughtered by a couple of Teenagers When the client warned him not to take them lightly he laughed but brought 200 men anyway. He would fulfill his mission though. Even if he couldn't get the rest of them he would get his main target. The girl with the pink hair was going to die today.

Sasuke didn't even see it happen, One minute Sakura was standing beside him and the next minute there was a flash of orange and Sakura was on the ground. Jugo was behind him with an arrow sticking out of his chest. Jugo fell to his knees with a sickening crunch. Sasuke saw a man standing behind some trees with a bow in his hand. Also clearly surprised by this turn of events. But before he could move his hand to draw another arrow he was dead, killed by Sasuke's blade. By now Suigetsu and Karin were crowded around Jugo. Sasuke stood off to the side, knowing Jugo had said all he wanted to say to him. Sakura was crying. Tears running down her cheeks as she tried in vain to heal him. Jugo gently brought her hand away from the arrow. "You can't save me." He said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yes I can. I can, you just have to let me I can-." Sakura's voice broke as she reached for his chest again only to have her hands moved again, "No you can't...The Poison..." Jugo whispered as he pulled down his collar to reveal where the poison entered his bloodstream. Sakura broke down in tears anew. Sasuke knelt by her. Jugo mouthed Take care of her to him. Sasuke nodded, but Jugo continued, And let her take care of you Sasuke was surprised to find tears prickling behind his eyes as he nodded again. "Sakura, It.. ... you...fault kay? I'll see you later..." Jugo said as his eyelids began to droop. "Jugo don't you dare! I can still save you! Just don't leave! okay? Please.. please don't leave me..." Sakura sobbed "Take... Care... Of Sasuke...kay... He needs all the help he can get..." Jugo mumbled as he smiled at her and closed his eyes for the last time. Sakura eventually stopped crying. She looked up at Sasuke, who hadn't moved from her side. With watery eyes. "I'm really a terrible ninja. She said, people die all the time. Its not supposed to affect me like this... I'm not supposed to cry Damn it!" Sasuke grabbed her in a slightly awkward side hug, "You can cry if you need to. its okay." he said gruffly. "No. I'm sick of crying. Its time to bury him."

Ta-Da! I hope this super long chapter make up for being gone so long! I love you guys! Tell me what you think in a review or PM!

-GaaraLove4-Ever