Hey all! I'm doing my best to not type faster than my brain works, Thank god for spell checkers! I promise you two things with this fic, firstly, that this time I WILL explain what's going on with Sakura, and secondly, that I won't forget another disclaimer! I actually had a friend say that the only part of my fics she read was the disclaimers, as they're apparently that amusing and the thought of my lemons was a bit too much for her. She kept imagining me as the girl, and apparently threw up afterwards.

Gomen, Micheru!

Also, The first few chapters will be a little dark. That hopefully won't last too incredibly long.

Chapter 1

Sakura woke with a start, her eyes twitching around the room, terror still filled her head. She looked around, hoping that this was all fake, that it was a genjutsu, and that it wasn't really a year since she'd...

He ran to the bathroom, throwing up whatever she'd eaten the night before. Her head was spinning so quickly she could have been calmer on the tilt a whirl of doom. She vaguely remembered the last year, a blur of tears, of feeling herself delve farther than she'd ever imagine to darkness. After all that time they'd fought so hard to bring him back, she never would have imagined that she'd survive this long without the hopes for him. He was dead, and she was alive, no matter what the ones who knew her said. She was here without him.

Her sobs seemed to scream from her throat, the echo in the small room was deafening. It wasn't fair! It just wasn't fair...

She stayed like that nearly the whole day. Screamed cries in her bathroom, as she didn't have the strength to stand. She knew that Naruto, Sai and Kakashi had come by, that they had heard her and left without a word, but she didn't care. She just didn't care anymore. It was evident in the fact that she'd been hospitalized at least once a month for passing out due to the fact that she regularly forgot to eat. She'd become thin and frail, barely a shell of the bright, young, inspired student that she used to be. It wasn't until about four that she stood, only enough to brush her teeth and go back to bed. She wasn't going anywhere today, they couldn't make her.

She woke early the next morning, rolling from her bed and sighed, headed to the bathroom. She had to see them today or else they'd come by and drag her out, if even in her 'jammies.

She headed to the shrine, then past it to the place that kept him forever young, forever still... She knew now why Kakashi was always late. She'd seen him here so many times, looking at the name Obito on the monolith, and it made her want to laugh. He'd finally died, Kakashi killed him. All those years that he'd wasted here, and now he came to share a drink with Asuma, telling him about his beautiful little girl.

Sakura traced her fingers over the name on the marker. Uchiha Sasuke. She smiled, thinking over the fun that they'd had, the times that she'd cried over him, the day that he'd left and had chosen this fate for himself. She wanted to prove her worth, and she did. She proved that she was enough to kill one of the most sought after kekkei genkai. The whole clan rested on his shoulders and now it was her burden to bear. "Sasuke, I'm so sorry..."

You did it yourself, so stop moping. You're not human enough to hold the emotion that you portray.

Sakura sighed at the inner voice and nodded. It was true and she knew it. She wasn't human. She was something far worse. She stood, her fingers lovingly caressing the corner of the marble as she turned to walk away. She froze at the faces that looked at her. "I knew you'd be here." Naruto nearly whispered, walking up and pulling her in for a hug. She sighed, turning again to the marker and shook her head. "Naruto, what have I become..." She whimpered as the voice answered. 'you're a demon. A monster. Don't try and fool yourself. You're more of a demon than Naruto.' Sakura sighed and nodded, turning and looking again at the sunshine that seemed to erupt over the headband of the young man beside her. She looked down to the sky blue of his eyes, noticing the look of something that unsettled him. "Sakura, we have a mission." She nodded and turned back to the marker. "I'll be back soon."

It was a little later that day that she jumped from tree to tree. Naruto kept his eyes on her as they ran. She didn't wear the red anymore. Not since that day. She wore black now, as it didn't show the blood that the red did. No matter who's blood it was it reminded her of his.

Her black pants and shirt were loose, like the outfits that Kakashi wore, only without the green jonin jacket to accompany. The kunai were strapped tightly to her leg and she kept her and on it, holding them silent as they ran. They couldn't be seen. She didn't want to be seen. Not today. Not yesterday. Maybe tomorrow she'd feel up to it, but he didn't want anyone to see her. She knew that Naruto kept his eyes on her, and that Sai kept looking at her, as if he trying to figure something out. There was only one way to deal with this, and she'd been at it for about a year. Just close yourself off. Don't let it out. There's one day a year that she reserved for showing her emotion, her pains, and that was yesterday. Today, she would be a wall. No matter how hard you tried, it didn't show it's weakness, it's pain, unless it was broken. Sakura shook her head a little at the thought. You are broken. Who are you trying to fool? She froze from her branch, holding out her hand to alert the others.

Below them were the team that they were supposed to... dissuade from entering Konoha. Kakashi jumped down before them as the others scattered to the corners. "Are you from the mist?" Kakashi asked calmly and the leader of the team grinned, pulling out his kitana. It dropped nearly instantly and he turned, noticing the pink hair of the kunoichi leaning against the tree behind him. Kakashi frowned. She was supposed to stay hidden. She leaned back, putting another senbon in her teeth, before sighing, bored. "You two are going to stop us, huh?" The group of six laughed and as the leader jumped at her Sakura blew, shooting the senbon through his eye, through to the back of his skull. She heard the small familiar ping of metal shooting through brain matter and looked up as the rest of the team froze, seeing the blood and gray ooze from the man's head. They were even more surprised that Sakura, this cute little girl's response was to get another senbon and wait.

They turned to Kakashi and shook their heads. "We'll head back." The second, now first, nearly whimpered before turning and running as fast as they could. It had been about a day out, and Sakura knew that after an hour or so they'd be sleeping under the stars. At least she'd be able to say hi to Sasuke again tomorrow.

"Kakashi!" They turned, seeing a familiar face rushing towards them, first smiling at the senbon hanging from Sakura's lip and then to the body before them. "Fuck! Kakashi, what did you do to him?!" Kakashi shook his head as Genma noticed the senbon protruding from his face. The man stepped back, suddenly noticing the light didn't seem to meet her eyes in the sunshiny day. He cocked his head, noticing the oddity as it shone brightly in everyone else's eye. "We're on another mission. We got this just after you left, and Tsunade felt that we should take it." Kakashi's eyebrow lifted lightly. "We?" Genma nodded, handing the scroll to the older nin. "Yeah, we. I'm on this mission too." Kakashi looked over the scroll and frowned. "This is an S class. It's nearly suicidal. I can't agree to this, not with them." He looked over to Sai, Naruto then Sakura. Sakura raised her hand. "I'm in." Naruto looked over at her nervously, Sai nodded lightly. "Me too."

Aw! Now you're trying to commit suicide for your country! How cute! Maybe you'll end up next to him before Ino can. Sakura frowned, shaking the voice from her head. It used to tell her inner most thought, but over the last year it became disfigured, mocking and seemed to keep her in check, but this time she wasn't going to listen. "Where are we going?" Kakashi looked over the scroll. "It's about half a day to the north east. A small village has taken some of the artifacts from the Hokage's castle. They're asking a ransom, but it looks like Tsunade doesn't want to give it to them."

"The lost village?" Sakura looked at the copy nin and he nodded. "Yes, very good. Now, Naruto, you and Genma head back." Genma frowned, glaring at him. "Kakashi, I'm going. I didn't come a day away from the village to walk Naruto back. It's clear out, and he'll be fine on his own."

"He can barely find his way out of his apartment. If I send him back alone we may never see him again." Naruto frowned. "Kakashi sensei, I'm not that bad..." He knew that he was, and it was evident on his face. "Fine." Kakashi whipped out his scroll from his first left breast pocket, biting his thumb and pressing it to the center in a second. "Pakkun, Take Naruto to the Hokage. He has to tell her that the first mission was completed, and we're headed on the second." She spoke this more to Naruto than to the poor dog, who sighed and looked over at the blonde. "I may not be able to sniff my way back. This kid's so full of Ramen seasoning that it's coming out of his pores. I'll do my best." Naruto frowned at the dog and they nodded, headed their separate directions.

They stopped to sleep about three hours later, knowing that by now Naruto was probably holding Pakkun while still running. They pulled out their bed rolls and slept under the stars, no fire or tents.

The next morning they ate quickly, packed and headed out.

It was about six hours later that they came upon the small village and Sakura looked down at it. It didn't look like anything more than a house. This was a really small village. "The buildings are all hidden underground, like an underground mall or something. Sakura waited instruction, Sai and Genma beside her. "We head in through this hidden passage." Kakashi held out a map and they looked over the structure, trying their best to memorize it. Sakura knew that the map was incomplete, but didn't know how she had any idea, nodding. "Do we know where the items are?" Kakashi frowned. "It should be in one of these two rooms." He pointed to two rooms in the back, causing a nod from everyone. "We stay together. If any of us are discovered, there's more of a chance of survival if we're together, as there's really no way to escape and anyone else will be found out nearly instantly." They nodded and Kakashi raised his hand as he flipped the scroll closed, throwing it into his bag. "Go."

The adrenaline hit her before she even had the chance to step. They flew to the south corner, quickly finding the hidden door and running in. They froze as they looked around, seeing the place was a bit larger than the map showed. The people weren't everywhere, a small child here, a nin there, and they were pretty much able to keep at bay. When they reached the room before the two they found a secretary watching over the rooms and Kakashi nodded, stepping out to her. "Excuse me." The woman looked up startled, but was instantly caught in Kakashi's eye, falling to the desk before her. Kakashi motioned his hands that Sai and Sakura were to head to the left room and he and Genma were to head to the other. They did what they were told quickly.

Sakura closed the door behind her. She turned, looking around, seeing no guards and stepped forwards, looking for anything that had the Konoha leaf on it. It wasn't long till she found it. Two small boxes and a scroll which were easily stowed in her bag. She pointed and Sai nodded, knowing what was happening. They eased to the door, opening it a crack to see a woman standing at the desk, calling for backup for a possible break in. They'd been found. Sakura shrugged, punching down the wall between them and the others. "We've been found. Let's go." Kakashi's eye widened at the words, as did Genma's but Sakura was the pillar of indifference and turned to the door, punching it hard enough to render the visiting nin unconscious, if she was lucky. They ran at this point, noticing the crowd of nin that were examining the door at the other side, Kakashi grabbed her arm and pulled her over to a door at the side, the others following. "They're covering the door. We can't get out." Sakura turned around, seeing the walkway behind them. "This way." She whispered before dashing off. They followed, not seeing any other way than to hope that this was better than death at the hands of the nin outside.

Sakura ran ahead, the corridor eventually breaking to a fork. Kakashi sighed. "This isn't on the map. I don't know which way to go, if any." Sakura felt an odd air of familiarity here, but didn't have time to be too curious about it. Left. She nodded and ran ahead, the others catching up to her after a second. "Why this way?" Genma asked and Sakura smiled back at him. "Just doing what the voice in my head tells me." Genma swallowed hard, letting Sai get between them. There were a few forks after that, but the voice spoke as soon as they'd gotten to them, Sakura didn't stop for a second. They were a little surprised when after the fifth fork there was a small door. It's the exit. Run. Sakura nodded and threw open the door, headed out to the sunlight. They were far enough away after an hour that they stopped to catch their breath. Kakashi stared at her, far beyond curious and unable to keep his headband down. "Sakura, how did you know how to get out? That was nearly a maze." Sakura shrugged, pointing at her head. "It's a girl's intuition. You should pay more attention to it." His face turned to nearly a snarl at the remark, not at her, but the way she seemed to not even care about any of this. She patted her bag and looked up. "Oh, by the way, mission was a success. We can head back." Kakashi had no intention of headed back, even if they hadn't found the items.

"Sakura, don't play with us. How did you know which way to go?" Sakura shrugged. "As I told Genma, just doing what the voice in my head told me." Kakashi jumped up, the Sharingan in his head spinning faster and faster as he tried to see anything that wasn't there before. "You've never seen anything of interest in me before, don't start up now." Sakura frowned, the eyes seemed to carve further into her shortening patience. She stood and took off towards the village at light speed.

They were there just after nightfall the following night. They stood before the Hokage, the items laid out neatly at her desk. "You all did very well. I was actually surprised that you were able to get them." Kakashi frowned, looking over at Sakura wearily for about the tenth time that day. "We wouldn't have made it if it weren't for the voice in Sakura's head." Tsunade smiled up at him, noticing the serious look on his face. "What, that wasn't a joke?" She looked over at Sakura who shrugged. "I've always had it. It's my women's intuition, that's all." Tsunade nodded, shrugging. Though her intuition had told her many things no one had ever referred to it as a voice in her head. Either way, it worked. "Sakura, good going. Not enough men believe in the power of women's intuition." Sakura nearly smiled, knowing she'd won the fight about the voice right then and there. "Hai, Sensei. Men..." Tsunade grinned, waving her hand in dismissal. Sakura nodded and turned, as did Sai. Sakura turned, seeing Kakashi and Genma step towards her desk instead and shrugged. It wasn't her fight anymore, and she had a marker to visit.

It was the next day that Sakura awoke early, Kakashi at her door. "We need to talk." His tone was more forceful than she'd ever heard and if she wasn't so pissed to be dragged out of bed this early for a 'chat' then she would have been downright terrified. "What is it?"

"That voice you talked about, your intuition, you've always had it?" Sakura nodded. "It's my inner voice. It used to say everything that I was to afraid to say out loud. Now, I don't care what others think about me, or what I say. Now it speaks differently." Kakashi noticed the dark aura that seemed to surround her at those words. The voice wasn't a good thing anymore and he knew it. "Sakura, what does it say?" She turned, now downright terrifying. "What in the hell does it matter to you? You don't really care! You just want to know how I knew something that you don't!"

"Sakura! It's not-" Kakashi stepped back, the aura around her darkening, the circles under her eyes deepening. She was almost inhuman like this. "Yes, Kakashi! I always knew that you didn't like me much, not as powerful as Naruto, Not as strong as..." She froze, the name nearly escaped her lip, but she stopped instead. "Get out." Kakashi sighed, trying to figure out what to do to get her to open up. "Sakura, if you want to talk, if you want to relive the old days, Anything, please, call me." He turned, headed out of the door. He knew better than to risk his existence in this situation. He stopped just off of the stairs that led down from her floor and stopped, barely able to keep himself still. He was nearly shaking. She didn't realize how hard it was for him as well. She wasn't the only one who lost Sasuke, He was just as attached to him, just not in the same way. Kakashi knew that he would never have children, Sasuke was the one he'd chosen. The one he taught his techniques to. Sasuke was like a son to him.

He lost one child, and he began to fear now that he was about to lose a second one. He had to do something. They had to get her back from this before it killed her. For a second he was tempted to go up and use his Sharingan to alter her memories, To make it that Sasuke left for a trip or something, and that he was still alive somewhere. He sighed, pressing his fingers to his forehead, as if hiding his eyes. He had to do something...

It was only a second before he was at Tsunade's door. Tsunade looked up at him, frowning. "I told you to give me until ten. It's barely eight, Kakashi." Kakashi nodded, but the seriousness on his face changed the mind of the older nin in kicking him out. "What's wrong?"

"Sakura's getting darker. Tsunade, I've never seen her this bad. It keeps getting worse. Every time I see her she's slipped a little further away from us. I'm getting to the point of fear that she'll die..." This wasn't what the older nin had wanted to hear. "I almost used my Sharingan to change her memories, that he was still alive somewhere, but I really couldn't take something like that away from her, the last farewell to her first love. I don't know what to do though." Tsunade shrugged, returning her look to the paper. "Well, either we can drug her, or we can try and use some form of chakra therapy." She looked up, her look now a bit devious. "Or we can send you out to look for a holy grail. Don't think that it would do much good if you don't find something within fifty years or so, though." Kakashi frowned. "Chakra therapy... that might actually work... When can you do it?" Kakashi was looking a bit more hopeful than Tsunade could have thought and her eyes widened at the look of fear in his eyes. "Is she really that bad?" Kakashi nodded, turning away slightly, looking down at the floor. Tsunade nodded. "In that case, there's someone else here who's better at it than me. Let me get him." Kakashi nodded. By this time he was ready to try anything to get his sweet Sakura back, anything but this demonic entity that she'd become.

He was surprised when Tsunade came in a few minutes later with Neji. "Kakashi-san." He nodded as pleasantly as he could, while Kakashi did the same in turn. "Neji." They both turned to Tsunade who looked over at them and began scribbling down a message as fast as she could. "Give this to her, she'll know that she can't fight me." Kakashi wondered at this remark, as it didn't seem as if Sakura cared much about anything anymore. "Neji, report to me afterwards, tell me anything you see, anything out of the ordinary, anything at all that you can about the situation." Neji nodded and turned to Kakashi, figuring he had some clue here as to what was going on. Kakashi waved for Neji to follow and they flew from the window as it was faster.

Nya nya!! Yes, I stopped there! Muahahahahaha!! I'm going to begin on the next chappy as soon as I have this one up though, so I'm hoping to get it out either tonight, or tomorrow morning!

(By the way, the random cheery picking at the end is due to Love Shine, the DDR song! I love this song!!)

Laterz all!

jasminflower69