Disclaimer: If I owned the stupid show, it'd be much less popular.


Chapter One

"Sakura, don't tell me you're visiting him again.."

I quickly stopped at my tracks as I hesitantly turned to see a familiar blond girl, frowning upon me.

She sighed as she stepped towards me and I glanced away, avoiding eye-contact.

"It's really great that you care about him and all, but every day, you get your hopes up too high.."

"I don't," I lied, snapping at her as I quickly scowled at her.

Who does she think she is? I'm not getting my hopes up too high.. I'm just visiting him.. is that so wrong? He is my teammate, after all, isn't he?

But as soon as I snapped at her, I regretted it. I had promised myself not to argue with her anymore.

This seemed to be a routine that went on every single day, and it was a rather annoying routine. I would be passing by her flower shop – it was the only way to get to the hospital – and she would see me passing by, stop me, nag at me about visiting him way too often when he wasn't even awake. And I would get annoyed, and tell her that she didn't understand and that he's my teammate, and I'd ask her, how would you feel if Shikamaru or Chouji was in a coma like Naruto? And then she'd get mad at me for bringing up such a question. She'd get mad at me for she'd think that I was saying that she didn't care about her teammates enough even though that wasn't my point.

Ino rolled her sapphire eyes as she folded her arms across her chest.

"Ino," I sighed as I glanced at the ground. "Just leave me alone.."

"I'm worried about you, Sakura.." Ino muttered.

There's nothing to be worried about! I wanted to scream at her, but I didn't. I kept my mouth shut which I was able to do much better than I used to. Ever since Naruto went into coma, ever since people – especially Ino – started nagging me constantly, I learned to just argue back in my head now. It was a lesson learned much later.

I sighed as I ignored her and continued on my way to the hospital. She didn't follow me or call my name, which I was relieved about.

All I wanted right now was to see Naruto, even if he was motionless, even if he wasn't smiling like the idiot I knew, even if he was just.. lying there, not at all like the energetic Naruto who always had to be doing some -

I quickly shook my head. If I thought about him too much.. if I thought about the past, our memories, my memories of him too much, I'd break down.. again, and Ino would be able to see for I only walked a few steps away and she'd come to me, help me, lecture me.

I sighed as I finally reached the hospital and walked inside. The familiar nurses and medics knowingly nodded and waved at me as I walked and waved back back at them.

I had visited here so many times, I could simply go to Naruto's room with my eyes closed.

As soon as I reached his room, I placed a hand on the familiar metal knob and turned it as I pushed the door aside.

I admit, a part of me hoped and wished to see him sitting up, grinning up at me. A part of me hoped and wished that he'd jump out of bed and run towards me and shout, hey Sakura-chan! Like he always did.. like he used to.

But of course, my hopes and wishes were shattered by disappointment as I found him lying as still as a statue on his bed, sleeping soundly and quietly.

I closed the door behind me and walked over to his bed as I took a seat out from underneath the bed and stroked his ruffled blond hair which was cleansed and rough.

I gazed at his face which was covered in small bandages.

I lightly placed a hand on his face, and traced his eyelids, eyebrows, nose, lips..

It was something I did every day, secretly. I'd never, ever admit of doing this to anyone, and I wouldn't be caught dead doing it, either. It wasn't that embarrassing, but it was for me especially since this was more of something Naruto would do.

I heaved a deep sigh as I finally took his hand and continued to gaze at his still, silent face again.

"Naruto.." I mumbled, forcing a smile. "I came again.."

Silence.

I swallowed as I continued to force the pained smile. "Ino-pig's still nagging at me about visiting you every day.. but I really want to see you, and I guess you don't mind, right?"

I forced a chuckle in the silent room.

"If I were you, and you were me, you'd do the same for me.. right?"

I continued. "Of course you would.. you're Naruto Uzumaki, after all..of course you'd visit me every day.."

I paused.

"..And since you're Naruto Uzumaki.. you – you have to come back soon, don't you?" I could hear my voice shaking now. "Since.. since you're Naruto.. Naruto Uzumaki.. you – you have to come back.. you – you're not planning on staying like this forever, are you?!"

Stubborn tears ran down my face.

"Answer me, idiot.." I hissed as I finally broke down completely and tightened my grip on his hand as I covered my face in his blankets.

I sobbed.. and sobbed.. and sobbed.

And I was glad no one was there to see me.

Idiot.. I thought to myself as the tears continued to roll down. I thought you were through with crying.. stop crying, idiot. Stop crying! You're strong, remember?! You have to show them – even Naruto – that you're strong enough for this.. idiot, stop crying.

"I – I'm not crying," I lied, stammering a little as I blinked away the silent teardrops. "Don't worry, Naruto.. I'm not crying.."

And to prove my point, I glanced up from his blankets, and cracked a forced grin at him.

I sighed as I wished and longed for his eyes to flutter open, and smile at me. I longed for his warm arms to wrap around me and for him to whisper, "It's okay, Sakura-chan.. it's okay.. I'm here.." and to continue whisper reassuring things like he always did.

He was always there for me.

And now – now, he wasn't.

I felt so blind without him.

Beep.. beep.. beep..

I instantly shot up as I heard the quiet beeping sound of the movement detector and saw his fingers and eyebrows twitch a little.

My eyes widened and everything happened so quickly the next moment.

I remember from a blur that I jumped out of my seat and ran to the doorway and hollered oh so loudly for a doctor, a medic, anyone to come and check for he was awake.

Awake!

Awake.. Naruto's awake!

The same thought continued to race through my mind.

I also remember then a medic and a nurse quickly rushing into the room and checking over him as I just stood there at the doorway, in utter shock, my heart pounding loudly.

"Sakura-san? Sakura-san, he's awake," the medic cheered as she smiled at me.

Tears sprang up to my eyes as I quickly ran to his bed and held his hand tightly as his tired cerulean eyes – I didn't realize how much I missed his eyes until I saw them! - slowly traveled to me as I frantically cried with joy and whispered, "Naruto.. oh, Naruto.. oh my God.. you idiot.. you freaking idiot.."

I continued to whisper idiotic nonsense at him, and I continued to say his name over and over, as he blankly stared at me.

I waited for him to smile at me, reassure me, and say hoarsely, "cut it out, Sakura-chan.. I'm fine, can't you see?"

But he didn't.

He merely stared at me with blank, glossed eyes.

"..Naruto?" I finally questioned, my eyes frantically looking all over his face.

He finally opened his mouth to speak, at which I got excited at, thinking that he'd finally say something to me.. Finally crack a smile at me, and reassure me or say some stupid joke.

"Who.. are you?" He asked, instead.