Thanks for the reviews!!! Here's another chappie!

Shattered

Changing

She worked hard into the night, healing until her body ran out of energy. Sweat glistened on her arms and face at the strain to become a better healer. Her emerald eyes narrowed in determination at the quickly fading patient gasping on the bed in front of her.

"Come on Sakura! You can do this!" Tsunade whispered harshly yet encouragingly.

The pinkette willed to heal the wounded and finally, with much relief, the wound closed up with no visible damage. She had healed the toughest one yet. Sakura took a step back and wiped the sweat of her brow as she examined the unconscious patient.

"He'll be fine Sakura, go get some rest before your shift tomorrow," Tsunade said with a gentle pat on the back.

Sakura sleepily obeyed her Sensei and left the building with a sluggish drawl in her step. She yawned deeply as she walked down the dark and empty streets of the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

She saw an image flit in her vision and she rubbed her eyes fiercely. She recognized the symptoms of severe fatigue. She was having hallucinations from sleep deprivation and she didn't want to see anything that would break her concentration of not being a burden to her team.

Her steps quickened as the image became more pronounced. Tears threatened to overflow as she turned onto the street to her house. Her small sprint turned into a full out run as she tried to block out the image.

His shiny black hair framed his serene face. His onyx eyes bore deep into her emerald ones as she reached for the sliding door into her house. She let out a gasp of desperation, she felt her heart throb painfully.

"I don't want to love you but I can't help it!" She sobbed as she entered her house. She slammed the door shut and raced up to her room. The image burned into her eyelids when she closed her eyes shut and she cried out again hopelessly.

"Sasuke…I can't do this…" she whispered as she fell to her knees.

The image of the serene Sasuke faded as slumber graciously took over the poor girl. Her breathing deepened as she relaxed and slipped into her own world of comfort and freedom. The only time of the day she can be without pain, worry, and fear.

--

He stood shaking, his bare back covered in sweat with the effort of trying a new jutsu. His dark, cold eyes narrowed in the failure of completing the jutsu his Sensei had taught him.

"Do it until you can show it to me with perfection," his Sensei hissed and left the room. The room was covered in purple swirls, like snakes decorating the wall. He snarled in frustration and punched that same wall, leaving an indent.

"I will kill you Itachi!" He snarled.

He slid to the floor panting, weariness finally catching up with him. He hit his head against the wall slightly and let it rest there as he let his thought drift. They drifted to a certain pinkette smiling adoringly up at him after he had just saved her from immanent death. Her emerald eyes shone like the real gems only the rich and royal wore and sparkled like the waterfalls. She was so innocent and gentle, not cut out for a ninja, but she tried. Her determination sparked sympathy in his heart once a lone time ago and he vowed to protect her on any mission. He had failed when they had tried to become Chounin, he had never let that one go…but he had once cared for her…and he had to let her go for revenge.

He always thought it hadn't been worth it, but the image of his brother always quieted the thoughts referring back to Konoha. His masked red stare that overpowered him and seemed to search out his mind, leaving him defenseless, open, and his power that never seemed to end.

No matter how many times he had wished that he could feel her soft hair one more time, see her gorgeous smile, that silent stare always kept him on track. One day, one day he would go back to her and hopefully she would take him back. If she loved him, she would take him back and he would make it up to her, somehow…

He climbed back to his feet shakily and focused on those eyes. He had to distract himself so he could complete his mission. He made the hand signs and once again focused on those red eyes that seemed to challenge him every waking moment.

"I miss you Sakura."

There was a loud crash as the jutsu failed once again, but she was out of his mind for good. His focus was completely intent and never did it stray again to the ninja girl that never betrayed him.