I - The First Time. And Then Again.

The first time she could remember seeing him, it had just been her and Sasuke.

They were jonin, returning from a mission that had taken place in Iwa. On their return, journeying through the forests, they stopped to make camp, a little ways from a nearby stream. She offered to take first watch, which he agreed to. But she knew the Uchiha man at this point. Even if Naruto and Kakashi all offered to take first watch while he slept, he would remain awake. So, she stood from their perch in the trees. "I'm going to get more water. We're low."

"Be careful," he said, eyes still closed with his sword braced against his shoulder. A habitual comment more meant to reassure that he would be her backup if necessary.

She jumped through the trees, only seconds to the stream. She and Sasuke didn't end up together, like she had hoped, even after he apologized for his actions, even after she made those prosthetics with Tsunade for him and Naruto. In fact, the blonde was the very reason the Uchiha had wanted to return to Konoha. And she had no doubt that the blonde was anxiously awaiting their return now.

Ino had asked how she felt about this development. Sakura assumed she would feel angry, or hurt, or some form of betrayal at this. But she saw how happy her two boys were. And that's all that mattered to her in the long run. So, it was fine with her. She'd gotten over her affection for the brooding male.

And, at this point, she'd made her peace with the fact that she would remain alone too, if that's how the fates decided her path would lead. It was quite possible she would never find love. Most men didn't want a woman who was stronger than them and who could crush mountains with her fingers alone. She'd had a couple of romps with other men in the village, Genma, and even Kiba. But none panned out to anything worthwhile. Currently, she was trying her hand with Kakashi after they both a very vulnerable and very passionate half-drunken night in the Hokage Office. And a couple of other passionate nights in his office.

She reached the stream and quietly filled the canteens. The night was still, with a few crickets singing their songs to one another. The half moon reflected across the ripples and waves as the stream laser over the rocks.

"It is dangerous to be here alone."

Sakura's head whipped around. A tall, pale man stood next to a large yorishiro tree behind her, marked by a tiny shrine at its base. The man work black traditional garments and a white sleeveless jacket over it. His hair was long and black, just falling over his shoulders. A katana was strapped to his left hip. "Oh? And what makes you so sure it's dangerous for me?"

He stared.

"You have a lot of guts to announce your presence." Her hand touched the lunar strapped to her thigh. She hasn't heard him step into the clearing, much less sense his presence. Where was Sasuke? "Are you here to attack me?"

"You can see me?"

She raised a brow. "Of course I can see you."

"I see." He turned his back to her. "Perhaps we will be seeing each other again."

He tilted his head to the side, avoiding two lunar thrown at him. He glanced back to see her glaring, crouched in a fighting stand. "If you think I'm letting you go without a fight so you can ambush me later, you've got another thing coming."

"You misunderstand. I am not your enemy."

"Then what are you?"

"…We shall see." And then he disappeared in a flash. No smoke, no dissipation of his presence. Just an image of a person, gone. Sakura tilted her head back to look at the night sky. Should she tell Sasuke?

"Ne, Sasuke-kun?"

He raised a brow in acknowledgment, eyes still closed.

"Did you sense anything nearby?"

Now his eyes opened, looking vacantly ahead. No doubt he was extending his senses. She wondered if his Rinnegan could sense anything. But he looked up at her in askance.

Sakura rubbed the back of her head, chuckling softly. "I'm sure it was nothing. Probably just my imagination."

"Sakura."

"Honestly, Sasuke. I think I just need to rest my brain for a bit. Mind switching watch?"

He tried to stare her down. But she was too good at ignoring his brooding looks. He gave up when she settled into the tree across the path from him.

\/\/\/

The second time they saw each other, he had come to perform a soul burial on her, two years later, at the same stream where they first met.

He followed the sounds of her screams and sobs. Her soul knelt next to her body, which leaned back against a tree, chin against her chest, and her companion laid in her lap.

"Woman," he called.

Slowly, she lifted her head, tears smudged across her cheeks, neck, and hands. Her emerald orbs seemed lost and broken, widening at his appearance. "You… Why are you here?"

He glanced at the bodies before looking at her again. "Do you understand what has happened to you?"

She looked back down at her lap. "Yes. I just… Sasuke… he…"

He waited.

"I watched… the Gates of Hell… He begged me…"

"Your companion's soul was dark. He was never destined to come where you will be going."

"What do you mean? I… I can't leave yet. I have to…"

He regarded her pleading emerald orbs as she sat on her knees. "What could you so now when you are no longer alive?"

Her sorrowful eyes turned fierce as she regarded him and stood to face him. "You have to help me do one last thing. If you can, then I'll go with you, wherever you want to take me."

"Why should I offer my assistance?"

"You're here for a specific reason." Her hand gripped the chain that was nestled between her breasts. "I wasn't taken to Hell. But this broken chain is here for a reason. I doubt you want to deal with whatever happens to me when it disappears."

She was smarter than she looked, to him. She had only been dead for a matter of hours. And yet, she had deduced certain facts about her afterlife so quickly. "…Very well."

\/\/\/

Naruto sobbed as he hugged the Memorial Stone in the pouring rain. Kakashi rested a hand on his shoulder, squeezing to hide his own tears. Sai stood off to the side, his face a strange mixture of sadness and confusion. Their names had been freshly inscribed on the stone.

They didn't know, hadn't known until it was too late.

The only indication had been of the black and red headbands someone had left with one of the front gate guards. There was also a note, apologizing to both Kakashi and Naruto about not being able to make it back. Kakashi had sent out a squad of ANBU to find their bodies. But a passing tradesman had seen their bodies and knew exactly who they were from the stories. He had loaded their bodies onto his cart, wrapping their bodies in protective cloths, and carted them to the ninja village.

How were they supposed to live with this? Move on from this?

Sakura stood off in the grass with the man standing behind her somewhere. She couldn't feel the rain anymore, couldn't touch her companions. Her attempts to touch their hands or shoulders. Kakashi might have tried to put on a brave front for Naruto. But she had seen him when he hid in his apartment.

Never, in all her years of knowing the grey-haired man, had she ever seen him lose control of his emotions. All she could do was sit next to him, hoping she could will some of her calm and love to him.

"Woman," the man called softly.

"You said I could stay twenty-four hours after the funeral," she said over her shoulder.

"There is no need for you to remain."

She glared at him over her shoulder. "Do you do this to every soul you encounter? Or is it just me?"

He said nothing.

"Wherever you're from, I'm sure you have a family of some sort." She looked back at three of her men. "And I have parents too who are no doubt mourning. But… these three, and the one I lost… they're so important to me. If our positions were reversed, I would hope that they would be able to stand by us in this time."

"Your chain will continue to deteriorate the more time you spend here."

"I know. That's why I asked for twenty-four hours."