A/N: Honestly, I'm liking this version of mistakes much more than the original. I feel like I rushed things the first time around and want to do things right this time. Please give me suggestions as to how I can improve this story or my style of writing.

A Quick Guide:

The Goddess speaks

The past or a poem

The present

"Dialogue"

'Thoughts`

"Why do you love him?" Sakura stared into her cup, unwilling to look into her grandmother's eyes. A year ago she could've talked any ones ear off about how perfect Sasuke was, how wonderful he was, how lucky she was to have him. Now no words would come to her. She still wanted him. She knew that the belonged together. Why had the words fled from her?

Was it because the thought of him caused her heart to ache?

The silence stretched on until a voice she was sure couldn't be heard whispered:

"I don't know."

In the darkness, wind blows, pulling Autumn's leaves from the trees they called home. Together they dance like lovers in the night, only to be separated by silence. A lake sits calm in the middle of it all, content to enjoy cool evening quietly. In the distance, a feral roar sounded, working the gentle wind into a frenzy, tearing away the peace and quiet. If one dared, they could hear the screams of despair within the demons cry, smell the coppery scent of blood, feel the pain of true loss and terror...

A single crimson leaf fell upon the lake, distorting it's still face.

In a village not to far, a child is born. His soft blue eyes have just barley opened yet he stares up at his mother and father lovingly, completely oblivious of the chaos outside. He is too young to know that this is the fist and last time he will see them,what hardships shall befall. Now, in this moment, he knows only his mothers warmth and his fathers kind voice.

He is innocent.

In the whisper of the wind

My voice calls to you alone...

In life, it is rare for one to meet their soul mate, and even rarer for them to be together, yet their they were, together in the small clearing surrounded by trees and silence, not far from them is a simple white house their fingers intertwined. In times like this no words were needed, they spoke in knowing smiles and loaded glances; a simple kiss between them was worth more than a thousand words.

"Oku-san, have you missed me?" He whispered, his lover only smiled and touched his cheek. In his eyes their was a kind of light that warmed the ravens heart. It only his eyes that see down into the core of his being, laying all secrets bare.

"How long will you stay with me, Danna?" The angel's voice was soft, barely louder than a whisper.

"Two weeks." The angel stood silently, releasing lovers hand. He walked over to the little house without a spare glance, the raven followed soon after, mindful to leave a bit of space between.

"Sasuke," the angel looked back at him for moment an odd expression on his face. The wind blew around them, a silent warning in the night.

"You should stay a little longer this time, just an extra day." Onyx met sapphire.

She will soon learn the truth.

Sakura was a wonderful wife, but she wasn't right for him; she never was. Even with all her beauty and kindness she would never be what Sasuke wanted in a lover. The rosette was too compliant, to yielding. All he had to do was ask and he'd have whatever he wanted from her.

It disgusted him.

Despite this, he could not hate her. She was a woman who'd never been allowed to be her own person. No matter what it was, someone always found some way to manipulate her. The only feeling he could conjure up in his heart was pity. She'd been used and abused her whole life by almost everyone.

But he tried. He tried so hard to make himself love her.

He wanted to be a good husband to her, just like his lover wanted him to, he wanted to fall into domestic tranquility with her. Give up being a shinobi and settle down with a few kids.

But it'd be cruel to both Sakura and himself if he'd done that. To fake a pure emotion such as love would be a true crime. Even so, even so, from the first day he met her in his father's study he knew she deserved something more, something better, than the life she'd been given.

She is a lonely child, it seems. Since she was very young her shyness was painfully noticeable. It wasn't always like that though, at first she was an adventurous, inquisitive, bundle of energy. She was ready fro anything and everything, a true child of the Leaf.

Then one hot summer day, that fire, that life was extinguished.

Noriko was tired, she'd been up all night organizing her husbands books, cooking, and cleaning the house. Her husband was gone for the week on business, leaving her alone with and energetic four-year old who'd yet to learn self control. She couldn't even send the child to her mother who refused to speak to her until she'd "get her act together".

Sakura tugged at her dress, asking question after question about her father, her grandmother and anything else that came to mind. The child's eyes were wide with curiosity as she babbled endlessly. Noriko's frayed nerves couldn't take it, there was a ringing in her ears that warned of a coming migraine, and for a moment there was blackness.

When the woman returned to herself the toddler was on the floor crying pitifully with a small hand pressed against her red some reason she felt no shame for what she had done.

"Go to your room. Don't come out until I fetch you."

For a time she had peace.

"I've been watching over you since the day I died Sakura. Do you know what I've seen in those days? I've seen you, my intelligent, beautiful granddaughter lower herself to please a selfish mother and bend over backwards for a useless husband." Tears welled up in her eyes ,she couldn't look at her grandmother.

"Oba-san..."

"You've given up your own happiness to serve them. Your greedy mother only wanted the money your marriage would bring and your husband," the old woman let out a hollow laugh," he never even wanted you."

"Oba-san! Please don't speak so poorly of them. You don't understand, you don't understand any of this! Mother is a good woman who only wants the best for me! Sasuke is the best husband a woman could ask for!" Sachiko stood glaring down at her granddaughter. Another bitter, hollow laugh.

""Please don't speak poorly of them,' 'Mother only wanted the best for me,' 'Sasuke is the best husband', are you honestly that naive? Do you really believe their deceit? I could forgive you for believing in your worthless mother but not your husband. You have to see, no one is that blind. There no excuse for allowing him to mistreat in that way." The old woman growled in frustration while Sakura cried loud hopeless sobs. It was such a pitiful site.

"Are you really so upset that I speak ill of him, or are you distraught over what you know to be true?"

'Oba-san... please, oba-san don't do this, don't say it.'

"Is it because you no longer love him?" It was as though she'd been struck by a boulder in that moment, her mouth went dry and her chest felt tight," Is that why you couldn't me a reason for loving him?"

Sachiko sighed sadly, shaking her head," How often does Sasuke go on missions? They're usually high ranked right? Probably to far off lands where he mustn't make and contact with you." Sakura felt like she was choking. The pain was so intense. How could her grandmother say these things, these cruel, cruel things to her? How could she hurt her like this?

"And you never look at his pay stubs, you simply accept what ever he says. Even if he's gone for a month you don't question him. Haven't you ever thought of how strange it is for one shinobi to have so many long missions so often?"

"He's a great ninja. He just wants to protect the village and make me proud..."

"He's a man, and a man can lie as much as he needs to get what he wants." She kneeled down beside the rosette taking her hand. For long while they stayed like that, not speaking, still in the silence. It was obvious what the woman was trying to say, despite her bluntness she still trying to protect Sakura.

She will soon learn the truth.

Sakura-chan, why must you be so ungrateful? I've allowed you a chance to save your life, to become Haruno Sakura. Yet you still wish to go back to him. Can you not understand? Are you really so foolish as refuse a Goddess's grace? I know all about you Sakura-chan, so please don't insult me. Take my gift graciously, heed your grandmother's warning. If you refuse this opportunity then your fate is no longer in my hands...