Morning Musings.

By Shi Aijin

This is a one-shot of Sakura Haruno on a random morning during the Shinobi War. I do not own Naruto or its' characters, I'm just borrowing them….Enjoy!

I open my eyes and look around; again I've fallen asleep on my desk. At least someone was nice enough this time to put a blanket around me. It feels weird to have a small time of quite, no one rushing about or someone's life in the balance. I stand and stretch, looking around and catching myself in the mirror.

I'm surprised to see the tired face in the mirror, is that really me? It seems all I ever do now is run around and heal as best I can. I love my job, but sometimes the stress is so overwhelming that I just want to run and hide.

I like saving lives and knowing that I make a difference, but sometimes I wonder if I had been serious when I told Sasuke that I wanted to abandon the leaf…what would I be doing now? Where would we have ended up? I know he tried to use chidori, but baring that…

I shake my head, trying to rid myself of these thoughts. I grab my clothes, bathing necessities and a towel and head to the shower tent. For once no one is here and I can bathe in peace. Quickly stripping off my dirty clothes I shower under the warm water and my thoughts come flying back to me.

I want to save Sasuke, I know he isn't a bad guy and from what Naruto told me about Itachi, he believes Sasuke can still be saved. I want to help and I want to bring back Sasuke, I know it won't be the same as when we were children, but then it's natural to grow. I hope though, that we can have a relationship, but I can be realistic…I hope.

Finishing quickly, I head back to my tent and dress, taking care to for once brush through my growing hair and making two tight braids. I store my belongings back under my bed and I see IT. Sitting on my bed, I pull out my photo book. Looking though all the pictures brings back bitter sweet memories. There are pictures from when Ino and I are small, academy, Team 7 when were first started, pictures as we all grew older. I look at the last picture though in the book, it always makes my heart go flip-flop.

There is a picture of Sasuke and me, when we met at the matsuri festival. I don't know who took it or how, but the look on our faces of seeing each other in such a random town…it was a pleasant surprise to say the least. He dressed in a yakata and me in mine. He pressed me up against the wall and the kiss…there was more but remembering now would hurt and I've work to do.

Putting the picture away, I promise myself that I will save you Sasuke, I want to save your life.