Damn...the world began spinning, and suddenly, he was unaware just how hard he was shivering. He wretched as blood spat forth from his mouth. The fever had been there from the start, as well as the pain in his chest, but the blood? What is happening to me...

He reached up to wipe the blood from where it dripped down his chin. Yet right as he had, another coughing spell overtook him, leaving him exhausted. He stumbled forward in agony, miserable from fighting this since the war ended. There's always something to fight...

Painfully he remembered the blood that gushed out of his nii'san's mouth -

He pushed the painful thoughts of his brother away, only as a chilly gust of wind overtook him, chilling him to the bone. Slowly the sky began to pour forth its fury, and gradually the raindrops hit him like needles. He hacked blood again, struggling to stand. Is this the end...?

...

"Sakura, take a break, OK? I haven't seen such dark bags under your eyes since you were under my training."

Tsunade's voice was firm and laced with concern. The older woman had been checking on her previous apprentice weekly, although these days she seemed to frequent the hospital as if suspicious of Sakura's chakra levels. Sakura could smell the alcohol on her breath.

"Just one more report, and then I'm done," Sakura lied, smiling. There's only 12 more to go... The blonde, stately woman eyed her suspiciously.

"I'm serious, Sakura. You, especially as medical personnel, should know the consequences of no sleeping."

And I also know the consequences of drinking so much alcohol...

"Sakura?"

"Oh, y-yeah! Sorry!"

"That's it. I am putting you on probation."

"WHAT?!"

"You're working yourself to death and - "

"No, Sensei, you can't do this!"

"The fact that you called me Sensei gives me a picture of your mental integrity. You're not to return to work until you've had a few night's rest - "

"You can't do this to me!"

"Oh yes, I can. Don't make me do something reckless to prove my point."

Reckless...the word jogged her memory of a simpler time, when Sakura was the apprentice, constantly trying to tip-toe around the volatile teacher.

"Really, you think you can scare me into avoiding work?"

"Would you like me to inform the Hokage that I believe you are unfit to do your job?"

"Tsunade - "

"Go home."

Sakura had shown her weakness. This argument was futile. This was defeat.

...

Sakura slung her bag lazily over her shoulder as she slowly trudged home. She had been working so hard she hadn't realized just how much Konoha had changed. The streets were now bustling with men, women, and children. Lights were strung across many of the windows and the whole city seemed aglow with newfound hope and determination. All inherited from the ever boisterous -

" Sakura-chan!"

Speak of the devil.

"Naruto!" Sakura smiled at him, "Long time no see!"

"Yeah, if you'd stop cooping yourself up in the hospital, maybe I'd be able to find you!"

Sakura ducked, ashamedly.

"I'm off to catch dinner with Hinata," she couldn't help but admire the way he beamed when he spoke of his new wife, "But I'd like to catch up. Let's eat at Ichiraku sometime, okay?" Naruto nudged her gently.

"Okay."

"Promise?"

"Promise!"

"Okay, bye Sakura-chan!"

And with that, he was gone. Sakura smiled, happy for her teammate and Hinata. They truly belonged together.

It reminded her of a certain man -

Don't, her insides reminded her it'll hurt too much.

She sprinted toward her apartment.

...

Exhaustedly, Sakura let her bag slide off her back and hit the floor.

Wow...it actually has been a while since I was home.

Her home was spotless, not because of incessant cleaning but due to her constant absence.

The pinkette climbed her staircase, showered, and crawled in bed. The moon was full, and it reminded her of the way his Rinnegan circled around his eye -

Damn it.

Sakura couldn't deny the fact she thought about him every day...wondered how he was doing, where he was, if he was getting enough to eat, if he was healthy, if he was happy...if he had found another woman...She laughed at herself for even thinking the thought. If it brought him happiness, then she would be happy too, even if it was painful...

She hoped he was well, and that somehow, his journey of redemption had brought him more peace than he possessed before.

She closed her eyes and sighed, tired of waiting. She longed for the few days she had spent with him and Naruto in the hospital. Before he vanished, again...

Her weary eyes, dry from working four nights in a row, began to shut and before she knew it, she was fast asleep.

...

A deep voice, much too close to her sleeping form, woke her.