The closer she got, the further away they seemed to be; two distance shapes gradually blurring into one, and every step toward them a reminder of the gap that lay between.
And times like these, when she couldn't catch up, when she couldn't be part of what they had, were the worst regrets she would ever have to carry, because she had always known they'd leave her behind someday, but foolishly kept hope all the same.
It was easier than letting go, but hurt her far more as a consequence; Sakura could live with pain, she couldn't live without her boys. Every day she could still call them 'mine' was enough of a victory for her to keep holding on.
Naruto's knuckles met Sasuke's somewhere between Sakura's lungs.
The soft thudding against the outside of their fists the only indication she was still alive. They'd been an inch away from giving her a painless death, and now... warm liquid rushed around their palms; caressed the skin of their wrists.
"Sakura!" Naruto was mortified.
It had happened too quickly, they couldn't have stopped themselves— It was her own fault. The scenarios were all the same; they'd been aiming for each other, she had gotten in the way.
Sasuke would not feel guilty over this. He would not. It was an accident.
She had gotten in the way.
"S-Sakura! Sakura-chan, I'm sorry!" The blond was now trying to pull his hand out from the left side of her body without hurting her more than they had already.
"Stop it, you idiot. Do you want her to die?"
"Shut up, bastar—!"
"D-don't." Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Sakura?"
"Don't."
She closed her eyes then, and all three of them could feel the tremor coming from her knees. It was obvious she was in a battle against something more powerful than anything they had ever faced together as a team and she was losing; an awareness crawling up her spine. They wouldn't be able to stay like this forever.
Soon, Sakura wouldn't be able to hold herself up and Naruto and Sasuke would have to let her go.
She'd bleed out either way, eventually.
