Disclaimer: Naruto and all its characters do not belong to me.

Note: This is how I believe Sakura felt when Sasuke said goodbye and when she found him again after 3 years. For all Sasu-Saku fans out there. Appreciate reviews, please.

SAKURA'S THOUGHTS

By: rivendell88

"Thank you."

Those fateful words. They had spelled both sadness and pain for her.

Sadness because he was leaving them. Leaving her.

Pain because in spite of all that she had done, all that she had shown – she still meant little to him.

Ahhh. Nothing can be more painful. It was like losing a vital part of your body, leaving you incomplete and bereft.

If only this pain will go away soon. She prayed that it will be soon.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Sakura."

After three years, hearing his voice at last, speaking her name. It all seemed unreal to her. Like a dream.

For too long, she had lived in a limbo-like state. The training that she had endured - learning all that she could, improving her skills, increasing her strength. All in the hope of finding him again.

Everything was for him. Every action, every waking thought, every beat of her heart. Only for him.

She had waited for this moment.. Yet, she felt no happiness, no surge of joy at this meeting.

What was this feeling?

And then, it came to her. Fear.

"Fear? Why should I be afraid? He is someone dear, not someone that I should be afraid of."

But it was a different kind of fear. Not the fear of being hurt physically nor the fear of being killed (Yes, he may have no qualms of killing her now.).

It was the fear of failure. Failure in her quest to bring him back. In spite of all her efforts, she was still powerless. He was now beyond her reach. What was unattainable then, seemed impossible now.

He was looking down at her. His eyes unfathomable.

"No! Stop it!" She mentally shook herself. "Why am I suddenly giving up? I will not only be failing myself but him as well."

She gazed up at him. And in those few moments that her jade-green eyes met his onyx-black ones, realization came in.

"He needs me! He doesn't know it yet but I know he needs my help. I am his salvation, his escape from whatever hell he is trapped in. And because of this, I will not weaken. "

Somehow… yes, somehow, she will save him. Her Sasuke.