He's dying in her arms.

Her vibrant emerald eyes, which are normally filled with joy are now filled with tears threatening to spill. She watches as he gasps for air and squirms in pain. Her hands are glowing green, trying to close the gash in his torso and back from where the sword had entered his body. But her hands stop their glow, as she runs out of chakra. They are stained red with his blood.

Her tears freely flow as they make their way down her dirt speckled face. They had been ambushed on their way back to Konoha after the completion of their mission. As a result, she watches the colour and warmth drain from his body.

"Sakura."

Her glassy emerald eyes meets his. His onyx eyes are slowly starting to lose their shine.

"Shh, don't speak. It's going to be okay. It's going to be okay," she chants hoping that it may actually be okay. But she knows better. She's been in many situations like this before and never has it been okay.

He parts his pale lips, trying to speak, but all that comes out is blood as he coughs. She rakes her brain trying to think of another way to save him, but she's coming up blank.

She lets out the breath she wasn't aware she was holding and starts to form hand signs and places her hands back on his wound.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke. It's going to be okay, I promise. It was my fault this happened so let me …" she closes her eyes remembering how he pushed her out of the way as the blade was aimed right for her back. She smiles through her tears, "let me save you."

He hadn't recognized the hand signs she performed, but as he saw her Yin seal activate, wrapping around her arms and descending onto him, he knew what she was going to do.

"No Sakura," he manages to say before coughing up more blood. "Stop, you'll-"

"I know," she mumbles, faking a soft smile as if to tell him everything will be okay.

"I don't … deserve this. Let me die."

She releases the chakra from her Yin. Her blood stained hands begins to glow green again, but with more intensity than before.

"You don't deserve to die, Sasuke. You deserve to be happy and to be loved. You deserve to be bathed in light, not submerged in darkness." She inhales deeply before continuing, meeting his eyes, "I love you, Sasuke. I love you so much that if you were to die right here in my arms, not a day would go by where I wouldn't blame myself. Just let me do this … for you."

He's starting to find it easier to breathe. He could feel the warmth creep back into his body as if a blanket was placed over him. But it wasn't a blanket that was bringing back his life, it was her's.

"My happiness should not mean you sacrificing yourself for me."

"That's the thing, Sasuke. I don't see myself sacrificing my life for yours. I am simply giving you a second chance to be happy because I love you."

He desperately tries to wiggle out from under her hands, but it was too late, the damage has been done. He notes how quickly her jutsu has taken effect on her body. Her vibrant green eyes are starting to go dull, and her lips and cheek are rapidly losing their rosiness. Her hands on his healed torso are becoming cold.

The black markings finally recede from his body and makes their way back to her Yin seal. Her dull green eyes met with his one last time as she collapses on the hard ground. His eyes widen with shock as he swiftly sat up, taking her into his arms. His hand tries desperately to find her pulse while his eyes scan her body with worry and fear to look for any sign of life, but he found none. He tightens his grip around her, bringing her to his chest while he buries his face into her sweat clad neck. He tightly shuts his eyes trying desperately to fight back his tears.

"But I didn't need a second chance to be happy, when you were already my reason."