In The Hereafter

(A/N: I know that I have a few open projects at the moment, but I started this adventure one day and it wouldn't leave me alone. I've never done a crossover before, so please, if it's not cannon don't kill me. There will be a few changes along the way, nothing major – just a few things to fit the story and time-line better. I apologize in advance if it's confusing, I'll be sure to explain a few things as best as I can. So, without further delay, here goes nothing. This story was inspired by the songs Our Farewell by Within Temptation and Guardian Angel by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Bleach in any way, shape or form.

Summary: Have you ever wondered what happens when you die? Do you go to Heaven? Hell? Purgatory? Or somewhere else entirely? Sakura is about to find out. Join her on the quest to find the peace and love she was so denied in life... in the hereafter.

~xxx~

An explosion rocked the forest during the late afternoon hours, birds scattered from the trees as the blast shook the surrounding foliage. Two figures stood, locked in a battle of wills and strength, as the dust and debris settled around them. The smaller of the two was panting, favoring her left leg while the other, taller figure glared crimson as he tried to overpower the other.

"What's the matter, Sasuke? Tired already?" mocked the woman with a smirk as she summoned enough chakra to her arms and forced him away. They flipped away from each other, landing on either side of a large crater she had created with her foot. Sasuke scanned the wreckage they made with their fighting and smirked.

"Hn," he grunted, adjusting his katana with broken and bruised fingers. "You've grown stronger, Sakura." she rolled her eyes at him while healing a large gash across her abdomen. "Strong enough to be my wife and restore my clan."

"I will not be your broodmare!" Sakura yelled across the crater, her words echoing back like a haunting mantra. Five years of her life wasted on bringing him back and when he does return, he tries to kill her then tells her that she's worthy of being nothing more than a baby factory! There was something completely wrong with this picture. This wasn't how things were supposed to be. She was so naïve to believe he would come home and love her as she did him. And now it was all too late of a realization for her and the man who stood before her. "Go to hell, Sasuke, I want nothing to do with you!"

Sasuke vanished in thin air, reappearing behind Sakura with a kunai pressed to her back.

"A good wife obeys her husband with unquestioned faith, love and devotion."

"I'm not your wife," she spat, turning her head to look at him with hard emerald eyes. "And I am far from submissive. If you can't give me what I need – what I deserve – then there is no point to this conversation. Love isn't something you throw around, Uchiha, it's more than that. I can't marry someone who won't love me back!"

"Don't push it, Sakura," Sasuke told her, his tone was cold and clipped as he spoke. "You'll just have to deal with it. Now, stop this foolishness and return to the village with me." Sakura limped as she turned her body towards him, slapping away his outstretched hand with a growl.

"I am not a tape recorder, I will not repeat myself." she backed away from him slowly as he watched her with cold, calculating crimson eyes. "I'm willing to bet that if your brother promised me something, he'd make good on that promise and then some." something in his gaze sharpened as he snarled at her.

"Don't you dare talk about Itachi," he took a step toward her, Sharingan swirling menacingly. "You don't know a damn thing about him."

"I know a lot more than you think. Hell, the whole village knows the truth. Itachi-san was a genius, a phenomenal Shinobi and a hero... but above all, he was a good man." she told him with a sneer. "He gave up so much for you, gave you the peace you needed with his death and all you've done was sully your family name in return." in her five year quest to bring Sasuke home, Sakura had a run-in with the older Uchiha out in Snow Country. Stuck in a cabin together during a blizzard for two solid weeks, the pair had actually engaged in civil conversation in which they had become friends. And no more than three months later, Sasuke took that friendship away – even though she knew it would happen eventually.

"How dare you speak as if you knew him." growled Sasuke.

"As a matter of fact, I did." she shot back defiantly, "And let me tell you something; you will never be half the man he was!" that was the straw that broke the camel's back. One second there was almost ten feet of space between them and the next... Sasuke's Chidori infused hand was in her chest, squeezing her heart. Sakura gasped for breath, trying desperately to fill her collapsed lungs with air. Shaking hands grasped his arm as Sasuke eased her dieing body to the ground. Blood bubbled over her lips and down her chin as she coughed.

"You loved him, didn't you?" asked Sasuke, his eyes changing form the normal Sharingan to Mangekyou in an instant. "Answer me!"

"N-no..." she wheezed. "It was... always you. I love... only you... Sasuke-kun." her epitaph written, Sakura gave him one last warm, bloody smile before exhaling softly for the last time. Her body went limp in his lap, blood soaking his clothing while Sasuke sat there wide-eyed and shocked to the core. Her last words sank in slowly as the gravity of what had just transpired left him feeling cold, empty and lost.

"Sakura-chan! Sasuke-teme!" came a call from off in the distance.

~xxx~

It was the strangest feeling; like laying on a soft mattress and floating at the same time. Sakura's eyes opened to the bright blue sky she knew and loved. What happened? Movement caught her attention from the corner of her eye and she turned to see what it was. Sasuke sat hunched over with his back to her, shoulders shaking slightly. It all came back to her as she rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand.

"Sakura-chan! Sasuke!"

Her head snapped in the direction of Naruto's voice.

'Oh, now he shows up,' she thought with a sigh. Naruto came hurtling through the trees a moment later, landing a few feet away from Sasuke. Kakashi, Ino, Sai and Yamato joined him seconds later, all looking horrified as their gazes fell on Sasuke.

"Oh, come on guys, I didn't beat him up too bad." there was a long pause. "Or did I?"

"S-Sakura-chan..." Naruto whispered. He took a step forward, one hand held out as it to touch her... but then she noticed something strange – they were looking at Sasuke, not her.

"Uh... guys? I'm right here." but no one seemed to hear her. Curious, Sakura turned her gaze back to Sasuke – and annoyed that they seemed to be ignoring her. Sitting up slowly, she noticed that he was holding something; a person. Sakura shot to her feet, hands ready to heal... only no chakra came. She paid no mind to that though, chalking it up to chakra depletion and stepped around him for a better look. The sight that met her eyes made her stop cold in her tracks.

It was her body he was holding... but how was that possible? That had to be a clone and Sasuke was playing a joke, (a pretty damn elaborate one to cast a genjutsu over her so no one could hear or see her) but that didn't make any sense. Why would he do such a thing and wouldn't someone acknowledge her (if it was a genjutsu Kakashi's Sharingan would have spotted it)? Hell, she was standing right there. Sakura looked down at her hands and gasped comically. They were see-through! Scanning her body, she found the rest to be like her hands and there was an odd chain attached to her chest.

"Am I dead?" she asked herself as Naruto finally overcame his shock.

"Sakura-chan!" he rushed forward and through Sakura's spirit to get to Sasuke. That proved it. She was really dead and looking at her body.

"Oh, Kami-sama." chocked Ino, turning and burying her face into Sai's shoulder who awkwardly held the blonde while tears soaked his shirt and his own tears stained his face. Kakashi and Yamato hung their heads in grief while Naruto sobbed, prying Sakura's cooling corpse from Sasuke's grip.

"How could you, Sasuke?" cried the blonde, cradling the rosette's body gently and brushing blood-stained locks away from her face. "She loved you so much. How could you?" Naruto shouted, holding the body in his arms closer to his chest. Sakura couldn't take it anymore – the pain that emanated from her friends... she just couldn't stand it. So, she did the only logical thing her mind could think of – she bolted, running into the forest with tears in her eyes. Time... Sakura needed time to think, time to accept all that had happened and adjust to this new situation.

~xxx~

Night had fallen quickly over Konoha, the streets were oddly quiet as news of Sakura's death spread like wildfire through the village. Of course, it didn't help that her body had been paraded down the main street of the village by a crying Naruto, followed closely by a restrained Sasuke with his head hung low. He was escorted by Kakashi and Yamato, both holding one of Sasuke's arms. They were followed up by Ino, who was crying hysterically, and Sai, who was trying his best to comfort her... but it didn't seem to be working.

Tsunade had rushed out of her office to see what all of the commotion was about. She stopped upon seeing Naruto with a bloody and limp Sakura in his arms. With hands glowing green, Tsunade rushed forward to inspect the damage. A crowd had gathered to await the verdict. In the middle of the street, for all to hear, Haruno Sakura was pronounced dead.

Atop the Hokage monument, Sakura sat with her legs pulled up to her chest, her tears long since dried up. She had come to terms with the fact that she was no longer among the living and began to ponder the future. What was she supposed to do now? Wasn't there supposed to be some sort of bright light that comes to take her to... where ever she was supposed to go? Was she doomed to wander the countryside as a specter for all eternity?

"Well, if that's the case... I guess I should check on everyone and figure out a way to to tell them that I'm alright." she told herself as she stood. Sakura glanced down at her person and placed a hand over her heart. She felt so alone at the moment, it made her hesitate from moving her feet. Just then, a loud, inhuman roar pierced the night... and it terrified her. Sakura spun around, looking toward the forest for a sign of the thing that made the sound. Another roar echoed around her – it was closer than the last one. With no weapons and next to nothing for chakra, Sakura figured she would have to defend herself with just her fists.

Wait – could she even fight as a ghost?

From the trees emerged a beast like nothing she had ever seen before. It was easily five times her size with six legs, black skin and what looked like a white and red stripped mask for a face. The tail of the beast alone was as long as she was tall. Sakura found herself caught between terrified and amazed that this creature even existed. It reminded her of the scorpions she had seen in Suna, many years ago.

"It took me a while to track you down, girl." holy shit... it spoke, Sakura thought while taking a small step backward. "Now, let's make this simple – you just stay right there and let me devour you, then I'll be on my way." Sakura tensed, eyes wide. What did it just say? She was not given the opportunity to question as the thing shot toward her. Sakura dodged the beast and flipped away, sliding to a halt as the creature scuttled to a stop, using all six legs and tail to halt it's hulking mass, and turned in her direction with jerky movements. "Dammit! I said stay put!"

"Sorry pal, but I didn't agree to anything. If you really want this meal, you'll just have to work for it." quipped Sakura before making a dash to the right, circling in a wide arc while looking for an opening. It's tail flicked toward her but she avoided it and rocketed forward. With a twist of the hips, Sakura sent a mighty kick to the beast's side. It connected with a loud cracking sound as the creature roared in protest (and Sakura thanked the heavens that her strength hadn't suffered at all). The thing was sent flying to the edge of the forest. Slowly, the masked creature-thing (or whatever it was) stood on all six legs and howled at her.

"You little bitch! I'll kill you for that," it hissed. "That was a lucky shot, it won't happen again."

"Oh?" Sakura smiled sweetly, crouching gracefully and preparing to make her move. "Care to test that theory?" it laughed at her.

"Prepare to be eaten!" they moved in unison, dashing forward on a head-on collision course. At the last possible moment, Sakura jumped into the air and forced her last remaining vestiges of chakra into her right fist.

"Shannaro!" her fist connected with the exact center of the creature's white face with enough force to displace the air around them. Sakura moved away quickly while the beast stood stock still. Then a crack appeared in the mask causing the six-legged, hulking monster to roar in agony before the mask shattered completely. With a narrowed gaze, she watched the beast disintegrate into nothing. Breathing a sigh of relief, Sakura's body relaxed before she crumpled to the ground in exhaustion. She blinked up at the night sky, tired, panting and parched... Sakura began to laugh. She did it, she beat that thing – whatever it was.

"You are either very brave or very stupid, Sakura-san." came a voice, a very familiar voice. Sakura's head snapped up, turning her surprised gaze to the left.

"Itachi-san...?" gaping like a fish, Sakura stood while eying the man before her. He looked the same from when she last saw him; long raven-colored hair tied at the nape of the neck, dark eyes gleaming with intelligence that marked him a genius, and he still wore the necklace given to him by his mother. But his clothes were so different. His Akatsuki issued clothes were replaced with a black set of yukata and hamaka pants and a long, white haori coat. There was a katana strapped to his hip (and, from what she could see, that was the only weapon on him) with black cord around the handle. "Is that really you, Itachi-san?" the raven-haired man nodded in the positive as another figure appeared next to Itachi. The newcomer had short, unruly black hair, scars running down the the left side of his cheek as well as a tattoo of '69' on the cheekbone. He wore similar clothes, minus the haori, and his sleeves were rolled up to the shoulder.

"I see you got rid of the Hollow, Uchiha-taichou." the man said, paying no mind to Sakura... who stood a few feet away.

"But I didn't, Hisagi-san." Itachi spoke, smirking at the confused lieutenant. "She did it all on her own," Hisagi turned to look at Sakura. "With her bear hands." he added as his smirk grew wider. Said lieutenant blinked rapidly while Sakura held up a peace sign with a crooked smile.

"Uh, hi... I guess." she said, shrugging her shoulders. "Well, I wasn't just going to let that... thing... eat me. You should know by now, Itachi-san, I won't go down without a fight." Hisagi blinked again, looking from Sakura to his captain and back.

"Do you two know each other?"

"We were friends back in the day." answered Sakura.

"Yes, stuck in a cabin during a blizzard for a couple of weeks can either drive you insane or make people the best of friends." confirmed Itachi as he reached into his haori and pulled out a little black butterfly.

"Hey, um... I don't want to sound rude or anything but... just what the hell is going on? I know I'm dead – I got that much already – but what happens next?"

"Hisagi-san, please explain to Sakura-san while I report this to Soutaichou-dono." with a nod, Hisagi explained the process of exercising a soul and that she would most likely be reborn instead of sent as a whole due to her lack of reiatsu.

"Can I, at least, say goodbye to everyone before we go?" she asked, pleading eyes on Itachi. If she truly was going to wake up tomorrow and not remember anyone, she wanted to have closure by say goodbye to her precious people.

"Unfortunately, we do not have the time to go to every house in Konoha," Itachi replied with a sigh – she growled at him which sounded very much like 'you know what the hell I mean, Uchiha!'. "But you may pass a message along through someone; Tsunade-sama perhaps."

"She should still be in her office." commented Sakura as she turned ans lead the way down the mountain.

They entered Tsunade's office through one of the large bay windows (old habits die hard... er...) and found the blonde asleep at her desk, sake bottles scattered around the room.

"Dear Kami, she's hammered." Sakura whispered,eying the wrecked room in shock.

"Excellent, this makes things a little easier." Itachi reached for his zanpakuto and pointed it toward Tsunade.

"What in the world do you think you're doing?!" she whisper/shouted, glaring at her friend.

"You'll see." he told her with his trademark smirk. Sakura, in turn, crossed her arms and tapped her foot on the hardwood flood while scowling. "Tsukuyomi." there was a pulse of light from the sword and the room went black.

~xxx~

Tsunade awoke with a start in the early morning hours, blinking rapidly and panting from the dream she had. With a sigh, Tsunade rubbed her face with her hands, smearing mascara on her cheeks as she leaned back in her chair. A cool breeze swept through the office, carrying the sweet sent of Sakura's vanilla and plum blossom perfume.

"They really were here." pausing long enough to gather her wits, Tsunade briefly wondered if the others would think she was nuts – or still drunk – when she tells them about this. "Shizune, get in here!" the door opened abruptly, revealing a somber looking, dark-haired woman holding a pig.

"Yes, Milady?" she asked, sniffing slightly.

"Get Team Kakashi in here immediately – that little Uchiha brat, too." Tsunade spoke, voice slightly rough from sleep. "Bring me a glass of water while you're at it." Shizune stood dumbfounded for a moment before exiting the room with a quick nod. While Shizune was busy, Tsunade busied herself with picking up her office and called for a chunin to retrieve Yamanaka Ino from home. She sat back down with a sigh, rubbing her temples to ease a growing headache. "It's going to be one of those days, can feel it."

The first to arrive was Yamato – no surprise there – then Shizune and Sai (she asked Shizune to stay and listen to what needed to be said). Sasuke was escorted in next with a snarling and obviously pissed Ino right behind him. Naruto and Kakashi filed in last, both standing as far away from Sasuke as possible.

"What's the deal, Baa-chan?" taking a sip of the water that Shizune had given her and leveled the room with a look that clearly said she would not tolerate any interruption.

"What I'm about to tell you may sound impossible – even crazy – but I can assure you that it is true." the room grew still at her words. "Last night... Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Itachi visited me in my dream."

"You're right; that is crazy." Sasuke snarled from his seat as he strained against the chakra bonds that kept him strapped in place.

"Shut up and listen to what I have to tell you!" snapped the Hokage, slapping her hands down on the desk and cracking it in half. After a pause, Tsunade took a calming breath and released it slowly. "The room was dark..."

~dream~

The room was dark except for a lit candle on the round table. Tsunade, who was seated at said table, absently ran her fingers over the flame until the soft patter of footsteps made her stop and look up. From the murky, black shadows emerged Uchiha Itachi. He bowed politely to her before stepping closer.

"Hokage-sama." he greeted.

"Uchiha." Tsunade said back, confused.

"You are wondering why I am here, I assume." at her nod he continued. "I have someone here who wishes to speak with you." he turned, gesturing into the darkness. Hesitant steps sounded in the room until a spot of pink could be seen.

"Is this some sort of hallucination?" Tsunade growled. Even in her dreams, Sakura's death haunted her.

"No, Shishou... it's really me. Well, my spirit anyway." Sakura said with a shrug.

"We do not have much time, Sakura-san. I'll leave you to it then." Itachi excused himself and disappeared back into the shadows. Sakura wrung her hands around the hem of her torn shirt, biting her lip.

"Sakura, come sit with me." the busty blonde motioned to the chair next to her. The roseate slowly moved to sit by her mentor.

"Shishou, I... I couldn't leave without saying goodbye. I'm so sorry things turned out the way they did and... and..." Sakura was cut off by a chocked sob, her head fell into her hands and her shoulders shook with every ragged breath. Tsunade raised a hand and went to place it on Sakura's shoulder but it went through the crying girl. It broke Tsunade's heart to see her apprentice – and, by all rights, daughter – in such a state and being unable to comfort her made it hurt all the more.

"Why don't you tell me how it is that you and the Uchiha brat are so buddy-buddy." Sakura snorted through her tears, smiling despite the situation.

"Remember those two weeks I was stuck in a cabin?" Tsunade nodded. "Yeah, well... I didn't mention that I was stuck with Itachi-san." the blonde tsked her apprentice.

"You two didn't -"

"No! It's not like that, Shishou, I swear!" Sakura defended immediately. "We became friends during that time and it didn't happen all at once like with Naruto and all the people he knows." Tsunade was snickering now.

"Oh? Then what did it take for the two of you to become friends?"

"A few games of 'Go Fish' and a frying pan to the forehead." they were both laughing until Itachi appeared and cleared his throat.

"Sakura," he said in warning.

"Right, sorry. Time crunch." Sakura held up her hands before turning serious. Itachi disappeared once more into the darkness. "Shishou, would you be willing to pass on a few messages for me?"

"Of course." Sakura took a deep breath.

"First is for Shizune-senpai. Tell her that she and Genma are going to have a great life together filled with lots of beautiful babies if she would just give the poor man a chance!" if Sakura hadn't been so serious, Tsunade would have laughed. "Next is Sai; he needs to stop reading and get out more. There's only so much a book can teach you, the rest is learned through trial and error. For Ino-pig... I want her to know that I still have the ribbon she gave me, and if she looks in my closet she will find a white box full of pictures I know she'll want to have." Sakura paused for a moment to collect herself, things were getting more difficult to say.

"For Yamato, his w-welcome home gift is on my kitchen counter and the book he let me barrow is in my living room. K-Kakashi-sensei..." the roseate bit her lip to keep the harsh sob at bay, "Kakashi-sensei has been like a father to me and he needs to know that he'll always be in my heart. I hope that the next time I see him, he'll let me call him 'Otou-san'." now Tsunade was swiping moisture from her eyes as she listened to her former student pour her heart out.

"Kami, Naruto... I don't even know where to begin." Sakura said with a wet chuckle. "Well, I hope he finally asks Hinata-chan out. She loves him so much, and she's been battling her father's matches just waiting on Naruto. I'm absolutely positive that Naruto will make an excellent Hokage and I will try my hardest to make my presence known when that day comes. I don't want him to feel like I've abandoned him.

"Finally, Sasuke-kun. I just want him to be happy, that's all I ever wanted for him... but he needs to realize that love only lasts so long and can only get you so far. If he isn't willing to work for it, he won't find what he needs." she paused for a second. "And I don't blame him for what he did. I'm partly responsible for my current state... and I'll still love him no matter what. Just... just let him know that even though I'm gone, it doesn't make him any less than my friend and brother but lovers is something we couldn't have been even if he had stayed and I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise." as she finished, Sakura began to feel tired and was already half asleep by the time she turned her head to look for Itachi.

"It's time to go, Sakura-san."

"Hai, Itachi-san." the pink-haired specter faced Tsunade one last time. "Goodbye, Shishou. I love you all so much and I'm going to miss you terribly." and just like snow in the wind, Sakura's spirit disappeared in a soft breeze of glowing, white flakes. Tsunade stared at the space where Sakura once sat with a sad look on her face, fighting back tears.

"I apologize for her sudden departure, Hokage-sama." said Itachi while walking to stand before Tsunade. "She didn't have enough chakra left for a proper farewell."

"I suppose I should thank you for allowing her the opportunity."

"That will not be necessary." Tsunade raised a fine brow in question. "All I wish in return is to inform Sasuke that the opportunity for a fresh start is still open to him. Being foolish and squandering his second chance will earn him nothing but pain. His actions against Sakura-san were unfounded and stupid." the candle blew out, casting the room in complete darkness.

~end dream~

"That's when I woke up this morning." the room was silent, save the occasional sniffle.

"That's our Sakura-chan, always thinking of others before herself." Naruto sighed. "So, now what?"

"We honor Sakura's wishes." Ino spoke, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "But what do we do about him?" she questioned, jabbing a finger toward Sasuke (who sat there with his head bowed and shoulders slumped in resignation). Tsunade thought for a few moments before turning an icy glare on the last Uchiha.

"You have friends in high places, boy." she said with authority, causing Sasuke to look up at her. "They want you to live – redeem yourself – and you're going to do just that... with a few stipulations."

~xxx~

Unohana Retsu walked calmly down the halls of the hospital with long, even strides, keeping her excitement hidden from others. There was another spirit from the Shinobi world here. In her barracks. Rarely, if ever, did new Shinigami come from other places outside of the principle world (then again, the Shinobi sector was relatively new to the Shinigami). First, about eighteen years ago (in physical world time) two people appeared out of the blue – one a red-haired woman and the other was a blonde male – claiming to remember their past and were able to perform feats most Shinigami captains couldn't even dream of. Over the years, as the cleaner worked to sync the Shinobi world with the principle world and Soul Society times, more from that realm appeared (some with knowledge of their former life and others without, having been reborn in the Rukongai District).

Then Uchiha Itachi appeared. He had been an anomaly – showing up in bloody clothes and more skill in his pinky finger than Kuchiki Byakuya could shake a fist at. Unohana absently wondered if this new soul would be just like Itachi. Would he or she be the strong, silent type? Was this person as skilled as the newest captain of the Gotei 13? Now, all of Seireitei was buzzing with news of another Shinobi in their mists. Even the Captain-Commander was interested in meeting the new arrival.

"I swear to Kami, Itachi, if you don't leave the room and let me change my clothes, I'm going to shove your face so far into the ground, you'll be shitting bricks for weeks!" well, that answered two questions. The former Shinobi was woman and she was very... lively. Unohana turned the corner to find members of her division lurking by the doorway. She shooed them away in time to hear Itachi's reply.

"It isn't as if I haven't seen you naked before."

'Maybe I should leave them alone for a little while.' the fourth division captain thought while standing by the door.

"That was a completely different situation, Uchiha! This is hardly proper." growled the girl.

"You can hardly sit up, yet you wish to change your clothes?"

"Yes."

"Then let me help you."

"No!"

"Sakura, stop being difficult."

"Then get me a female nurse!" Unohana could have died laughing when she heard Itachi sigh in defeat and mutter a distant 'fine'. This was a side of the ninth division captain she was sure no one had ever seen – or heard – before. Deciding it was time to step in, the dark-haired captain knocked on the door and walked in. Cowering on the bed, holding a tattered shirt to her chest, was a pink-haired, green-eyed young lady who was glaring daggers at the impassive Uchiha.

"I can take over from here, Uchiha-taichou. She's in good hands." Itachi turned to face the soft-spoken captain.

"Thank you, Unohana-taichou." he turned back to Sakura and smirked. "Behave yourself, Sakura."

"Whatever! Just go, Itachi." she scowled. Chuckling to himself, Itachi left the women alone, closing the door behind him with a soft click. Once he was gone, Sakura sagged in relief, giving a wane smile to the new person in the room. "Sorry for disturbing the peace... I just didn't want him to see the new scar I acquired."

"It's fine, Sakura-san. There's no need to worry about that." Unohana said as she helped Sakura out of her blood-stained clothes. The girl was as fit as a fiddle; lean muscle lined her small, pale frame. There was a four inch long scar under her bellybutton, angled downward. With little effort, Sakura's shirt came off and Unohana nearly dropped the cloth in her hands. An ugly, fresh scar sat in the middle of her chest with what looked like electrical burns around it. This was obviously how she died. "I can remove that... if you want." Sakura shook her head in the negative.

"No, it's fine the way it is. It'll remind me to be more careful next time." she heaved a sigh, casting her eyes to her lap. "When it's time... I'll remove it myself."

(A/N: So... what do you think? Continue? Stop right there? Review and let me know. Sorry for any mistakes, I'll be sure to fix them if you guys spot any. Much love!)