Happy! Happy! Happy!
Disclaimer: Contrary to popular belief, I don't own Naruto D:

_Konoha Hospital_
He woke up, slowly turning in the bed he was resting in, he presumed he was at the hospital due to how familiar the surrounding looked to him even in what was a pitch black dark with only the little light that could squeeze in through the rolled down as far as it would go, the room felt lonely…was he alone? He hadn't manage to actually open his eyes properly to have a good luck around, as in instinct he stretched his arms up past his head and forced the two seals over his eyes open.

"So your finally awake …Naruto-kun" a sweet voice soothed his loneliness. He recognised the voice, it wasn't Hinata despite his initial thought due to the added 'kun' at the end of his name, but it sounded similar to Sakura's voice but had a feeling it wasn't her either.

He turned his head to rest on his left cheek and saw a tired looking yet elegant pair of sparkling caring sapphire lighting up the girl's slight tanned skin accompanied by the stunning blonde locks that fell down her back and across the left side of her face. Out of instinct she rests her right hand on his cheek and softly stroked it slowly bringing her hands over hid whiskered features.

"I-Ino-chan…?" He recognized and wondered what was going on, she was the last person he expected to be here, in fact what was she doing he thought and decided to voice his thoughts
"W-what are you doing here?" the words left his mouth softly as he felt his face warming at her hand stroking his cheek and brought his own hand to meet where he'd just been touched.

She snapped back to reality and looked at what she was doing, she did her best to fight her embarrassment and quickly pulled her hand away
"D-Don't get the wrong idea! I'm just here on orders! ...uh yeah, Tsunade made me stay and watch over you, that's it! I had to stay over due to how Sakura….well you know" she spoke fast with panic trying to cover her own actions but slowed and talked softly at the mention of Sakura knowing how it pained Naruto.
It was true Tsunade asked her to stay an hour to make sure his condition stabilised yet she had stayed for seven hours watching him tug against his thin blanket and roll over with the cutest look on his face …wait 'Cutest? 'She thought 'ha-ha I meant the funniest face, jeez I must be more tired than I thought' she confirmed with herself 'why did u stroke his cheek then? ...huh!' she argued with herself '…well …it was a kind thing to do so he knew there was some one here for him! …that's all' she thought half pleased with her argument.

Naruto's eyes looked away from her and towards the far wall, he knew her vision fixed on his eyes looking away from her but he didn't care. 'So I should be alone after all it was just orders keeping some one here with me, although it was nice of baa-chan to try' he softly placed his hand on hers, her eyes widened and didn't know what to expect next, but it was carefully lifted from his soft, bruised face and left hanging in the air closer to her. He rolled over facing away from her.

"Thank you Ino-chan, but you don't have to stay any longer, I'll make sure baa-chan knows you followed her orders." he said kindly trying his best not to sound hurt by his loneliness. She didn't know what to say now, she knew that she'd hurt him.

"Naruto…I, It's okay … I'll stay and look after you, I am a med-nin too after all!" she said uncertain, trying to reassure him that she didn't want to leave without giving herself away that she wanted to stay for him. He wrenched his hand into his stomach and clutched it hard as he felt a wave of guilt and sorrow fill over him no longer feeling embarrassed to talk to her.
"You don't have to do that…I don't deserve that" he wept and paused only to continue after gasp for air as tears strolled down his face "I deserve to be alone…I made myself alone, I took away the person who cured my loneliness with my own hands…so it's only right that without the medicine the disease comes back in strength." He said unforgivingly giving himself a verbal and mental beating; he shifted his weight to face her again tears flooding his face.

Ino's perfect blue orbs were now fighting back tears as they welled up in her eyes; she shook her head violently at him.
"Your wrong!" why was he thinking this way "You of all of us!" she wept pleading to him disagreeing with his thoughts
"You of all of us shouldn't be alone! You should be hap—"
"I killed him Ino-chan…" he said weakly cutting her off at the word he felt he shouldn't get to hear

"I killed him! He pleaded with me to end his life! And I took it from him! He was a hero too! I know that he must have had something to do with the fall of Kabuto I could feel it! Yet I came back the only one of us alive…why should one hero have to be sacrificed for other to continue!... This is the punishment of loneliness that I will accept." He argued throwing tears across his face as he clenched his eyes and shook his head during his own speech declaring his guilt.
She brought her hand to her mouth gasping and preventing sounds from leaving her mouth as the damn broke and the water sprung from her eyes across her slightly tanned delicate skin
"What happened! You can tell me about it" she took his hands in hers and gently squeezed.

Naruto told her off his battle with Tobi and the Uchiha that appeared before him she shook her and smiled rejecting his past speech how could of he thought of himself so badly, so suddenly, she wouldn't accept it!
"Don't you see! You're our hero; you ended the war and saved everyone! You're his hero! He had a final wish and bestowed it on you…the last person that he'd see with those eyes that lead his fate! You saved him from himself- you gave him his final moment of happiness …savedhim from the dark!" she pleaded with all she had giving her all to persuade him clutching heavily to his hands with her own.

"I-Ino…I'm sorry"
"you don't have anything to be sorry for! Baka!"…."I should be thanking you for everything!" she interrupted fearing he would go against his words again. He slipped his hands out from hers and shot out of the bed standing close to the window she saw his intentions before she could muster the strength to follow him the plain white curtains were swaying with the new found force of the wind and he was no longer in the room.
"Naruto!" she screamed loud enough to wake the other patients "I Know where you live! Baka!" she screamed out of the window pushing herself upper body out of it, her hands on the windowsill supporting her from falling.

The rain was still heavily falling since earlier In the day she ran down through the stairs and through the main doors 'no one gets away from Yamanaka Ino that easily!' she declared to herself running towards his apartment. She caught a glimpse of a figure, it looked lifeless, arms hung down past it's thighs, as it's legs hung from the building it was sat on the rain pelting against the figure with no effect, it sat there taking the punishment of falling droplets that weren't slowing the onslaught against it body. The building that the figure was loosely sat on – close to falling from, was Hokage tower – she didn't want it to be him, he looked so…broken.

She ran to the building as fast her legs would take her and jumped up the building not sparing the time of day for the stairs that granted access also, she stood on the same rooftop of the figure now feeling the dull atmosphere that surrounded the person it was like there was no feeling at all, the figure was merely sitting there as a way to at least feel like they were crying – with the rain free falling down their face, as they could no longer force out real tears. Her heart sank, shockwaves ran through her mind working her body into overdrive free of her mental control anymore, she almost flew to him and slammed herself down next to him looking at his face from the side.

_Hokage Tower_

There was no expression on his face, nothing within him anymore, his usual warmth faded –dissolved, evaporated like it was never there to begin with. Gone without a trace, he said nothing knowing she was there. She couldn't fight it anymore she hurled her arms around his drenched body the light T-shirt was the only thing he was wearing leaving his trademark jacket at the hospital not spending the time to pick it up. She clutched him tighter trying to get a response to her affection, she wanted him to fall into her hug and to know that it would be okay, but he sat there with merely extra weight attached to him – still lifeless staring towards nothing , like he was empty.

He let his neck surrender, his face left to face the might of the falling rain full force, looking towards the dark sky – there was no stars, only dark clouds that displayed the feeling of his heart the wind blew strongly through his blonde locks, but it was as he didn't even feel the terrible weather around him until finally he spoke to the one clutched to him.

"Am I being selfish?" he muttered without feeling, her eyes widened in confusion, her tears already mixed with the rain she wouldn't be afraid of shedding more. She couldn't find the meaning behind is newly brought on question.

"…Would my death be too much for me to ask?" still motionless , no feeling emitting from his blunt words she shook him violently wanting him to stop all of this and just be the Naruto she knew, the Naruto she liked…the Naruto she might have really liked.
"…would it be too much to ask of my friends to accept?" he said sending to despair to any who heard it.
"Naruto!" she slammed his head against her shoulder with no resistance at all still continuing his haunting speeches.
"Would I be able to see them?" he questioned expecting an answer.
"See who! What are you talking about!" she shrieked in heartache it was so painful how did this – why did this happen to him? It was cruel; he didn't deserve any of it!
"Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, Jiraiya, and Sasuke Uchiha…my family… would I see them?" He wallowed miserably, how could she answer such a thing? … Recognizing the name Minato Namikaze, the fourth Hokage, could it be that it was Naruto's father? She looked down to check the resemblance… no doubt about it- it had to be, she picked him up- refusing to accept this any longer and took him to his apartment. She commanded he changed his clothes – putting up no fight he obeyed, and then slumped against his bed, exhausted he fell into a deep sleep.

Ino made herself at home in the spare room closer to the exit, she'd locked his window and taken the key with her to prevent him leaving that way, she made sure she'd be able to hear him if he were to get up. She slumped her back against the open framed window ledge, allowing her to sit on it – peering out into the night 'it's like Naruto has power over the weather forcing it to display him emotions' she thought to herself , restless her eyes closed fearing the sleep that was fast approaching she only hoped things would change by morning… she didn't want to be in the room by herself – she wanted to be in hisroom clinging to him until his smile returned and that's what she decided she'd do. She stood proudly lightly kicking the door to open and walked silently down the hallway to his room.

He wasn't asleep; he was sat upright against the wall, pain in his eyes, dark rings setting below them, she placed herself next to him – much more responsive he weakly fell against her seeking comfort, she pulled him in between her legs and wrapped herself around him resting his head against her neck while stroking his blond locks softly, it wasn't long before the two fell asleep.

_Konoha K.I.A Building_

She clung to the body that laid across her lap, her eyes imitating the weather, producing her own rain only to fall without hesitation onto the man who she held so tightly, her cherry blossom hair shrouding some of her few was quickly ushered away every time to see his face with her full capable attention.

She nuzzled her head against his neck still clamped to him
"Sah…suuh...keh…" she wallowed squeezing out her name in between gasps of her she used only like coal to a fire, giving extra fuel to her falling tears. Several ANBU members arrived and tried to ease her from the body, which she didn't take kindly
"No! Please! Don't make me go! I won't!" She shrieked, nearly screaming at the ANBU who continued to tug her away from the body. She shook her violently and denied any thought of leaving.
"Sakura!" bellowed the Hokage, echoing around the room the powerful voice reached even the pink haired kunoichi in her current state.

"Go home." She said bluntly to her apprentice. It wasn't healthy, clinging like that to one who couldn't feel, hear, or even breathe any longer. Sakura looked at her, stopping the flow of tears, her lips still trembling barely taking the tip to be together as they shook. She was slowly pulled from her feet and escorted home.
She saw a figure sitting upon the Hokage tower, she didn't care though, she didn't care about anything but Sasuke in this moment of time…until the thought of the lifeless figure and the tower that he sat on reminded her of her own pain, and of her other team mate and his dream.
She thanked the squad that escorted her home, and took out her key imitating that she'd be going inside, the left in flash of smoke, and she quickly withdrew the key from the lock, and ran towards the hospital.

She knew he was in a bad condition 'who knows he might already be dead' she thought coldly, but the thought didn't faze her as if she truly expected it, she didn't even think about him until a little while ago it would serve her right, she'd deserve the pain of his loss for ignoring him, the one who was alive, her otherguy, she didn't think much other than him other than being a friend to her and a good team mate even know he'd saved her countless times – she did acknowledge him as her closest friend and her saviour.

_Konoha Hospital_

she arrived at the hospital room he was staying in, easily gaining access to the room due to her position and the ranking was given during the war as a med-nin. She slid open the clinically white door as quietly as she could manage, she didn't want to wake him, if it was even possible that he'd be able to wake up again- her thoughts were low, it was horrible but she almost wanted it to be true, for her own punishment.

The door was wide open, and she glanced to where he should be laid, empty – the bed was well made and tidy almost as he'd been removed from the room he was occupying. His torn jacket hung from the wall – no longer as iconic, no longer could she imagine him smiling while wearing it, instead she viewed him wearing it displaying power, his wounds not slowing him, bringing an end to any enemies that may foolishly get in his way- 'including Sasuke' letting the cold thoughts arise again.

She snapped back and began to worry if he really was taken away from the room, maybe that's why she was made to leave the K.I.A room so quickly, he must have been taken there and she was made to leave so she didn't have to witness him being brought in. His smile suddenly appeared as in her mind she saw him being stretchered into the room full of other deceased ninja a smile still lightly plastered across his now cold lips. She lent on the window sill gazing out of it
"…Naruto…" she whispered, but couldn't help to avert her view to the figure now being merged with a new second figure on top of the building…it didn't look like a happy occasion for whoever they were either. '…War brings too much pain' she thought.

'Naruto heals quickly though…yeah!... he may have been dismissed quickly but left his jacket as it was in no wearable condition!' she turned to his jacket, too see his headband sporting many rips but still intact barely, still displaying the Konoha leaf symbol proudly and his battle shred boots that didn't even give over the appearance of boots anymore, they'd completely lost their shape with holes in the bottom clearly evident and the little material was blood stained. 'Maybe he's at his apartment' she wondered and without letting doubt fill her mind she left towards it.

_Naruto's Apartment Block_

it was early in the morning but she had no thoughts of not continuing up the flight of stairs towards her team mates home, she hurried herself wanting to have relief that he was okay …or dreading the opposite, she slowed again. She reached the door, heart thumping her arm decided to do the same braying at the door that belonged to Naruto, her heart pleaded that he came to the door, her mind drifted to the image of him opening the door in his pyjamas half asleep then suddenly waking up and greeting her as best he could naming 'S-Sakura-chan' before wanting her to come in her mind melted at the thought of it…'that'd be too good to be true' she thought to herself.

There was no answer at the door; pounding it again she couldn't leave without an answer so easily… still no answer, she didn't want to be forced to do this but that blonde idiot is either still asleep or not in his home and she didn't like either of those answers. She barged the door open with her shoulder, and caught it by the handle before it hit the wall making any extra noise.
There was no one in the first rooms she saw, he must be asleep after all…she slowly approached the bed room fearing the worst , her heart beating like the beat of a dance song , it felt as if it was about to explode. She took a deep breath. Carefully placed her hand on the doorknob she pushed it forward. Revealing more, more and more still of the room before her, not daring enough to slam it open in case the room was empty.

Her heart let out a seismic wave, he was here but, he was not alone. She saw her closest female friend ensnared around him sleeping peacefully, she wanted to bellow out in rage, she wanted to ruin the moment yet she didn't. She clenched her fists after examining the posture of her female friend and moved her eyes back to Naruto. She was wrong. How could she have thought that?

He was awake. Wide awake wouldn't be correct however, bags settling under his blank eyes the lust worthy blue orbs had been reduced to pain inspiring mirrors of the soul, his arms weren't around Ino and hadn't been for some hours, he reverted to the pose he sat at on the Hokage Tower. Lifeless and broken, body parts loosely hanging but this time he had another blond wrapped around him. His lips were trembling making a noise similar to that of shivering.

The cherry blossom felt the tears welling up in her eyes at the site of her defeated hero, it crushed her. It was by no means what she expected, sure he was upset outside of the headquarters but…this was Naruto… nothing could keep him down, she then remembered how he looked right after Jiraiya had died… had It finally became too much? She put her foot forward too approach him. But his body recoiled at the site.

"S-s-s-Stay a-way!" he said , hurt in his voice as he thrashed for her to come near him waking the blonde next to him, "D-Don't look!" he said hiding his face against Ino's neck trying to avert her gaze. Ino quickly woken up fully to see Naruto burying his face against her neck, she cradled him in her arms and saw the site of the cherry blossom in front of her.
"Sakura! Thank Goodness you're here!" she said with high hopes only to be quickly interrupted by the more experienced med-nin
"What's going on here" she demanded with her eyebrow twitching "…why does he keep saying that, just like earlier when he came back towards the hea—"

"Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Naruto suddenly interrupted loudly not wanting to hear the memory, grasping at the sides of his head like they were about to explode. Ino pulled her arm across his head so that it covered his ears; he relaxed into her one more. Sakura was silent, but seen the move of her fellow kunoichi.
"What the hell are you doing!" she questioned angrily to the blond female across the room
"I can't believe you do something like this! …You don't even like him! But as soon as he's a hero you're snuggled up to him at early hours while he suffers!" She whispered angrily trying not to un-nerve Naruto once again.
"Wake up Sakura!" the blond haired kunoichi announced "You know I was sent to make sure he was okay by the Hokage! … But he abandoned the hospital and sat on the Hokage tower, alone; in the rain it was horrible! I couldn't just leave him there!" she whispered back with the same force before continuing "I brought him here and he wouldn't sleep, so I sat next to him and he did the same as he is doing now! So I comforted him …okay!...besides… no one said that I didn't like him."
Sakura's eyes turned to rage 'oh so I see what's going on' she thought 'she thought she'd bag him while he's vulnerable.' Sakura thought far more concerned with what the two may have been doing rather than Naruto's state.

"So that's what's happened here, you do like him…grabbing him while vulnerable…eh? Ino." She looked in disgust at the blond that sat before her.
"What the hell is wrong with you! Look at him! You're sick!" the blonde announced startling the cherry blossom girl. 'She's right! What was I thinking, I don't know what came over me …it's just…I've already lost one of them.'
"You're being driven mad by your jealousy of the situation! You want the both to yourself! Yet you've been with Sasuke all this time haven't you? … If it wasn't for me then he'd of been alone in the hospital, alone again! Not that you care as long as heis anywhere close to you! When will you grow up!" Ino scolded, she was infuriated with the girl she had known for so long "You don't know what happened while you were with Sasuke! …The things he said, they were so sad!"

Ino went on to tell the pink haired girl the events of the night and everything Naruto had done and said it pained Sakura dearly that while he was suffering so badly, she would rather be clung to a dead body than help him. Naruto squirmed in Ino's arms a little lifting his head slightly to whisper something only she could here.

"No she's not mad at you…Naruto" …
"She doesn't think that",
"She doesn't blame you Naruto",
"I told her that he asked for it…You granted his wish, you saved him remember?"
"I know it hurts…its okay … I'm here"
"I won't, I'll stay the night if you don't want to be alone."
"You don't deserve to be alone…Baka"

Ino was answering to Naruto's whispers softly in a kind, caring voice, only for Sakura to watch in disbelief…she really was comforting him…more than what she had ever done for him... all she'd done has broken his heart, hit him, insult him and bring him down…not to mention endanger his life for her own safety. She smiled a weak smile at Ino.
"I can see he's in good hands, I'm not needed here. Take care of him for me" she said turning to leave. As she did she looked back to Naruto, hidden into Ino's neck …away from her. She turned to leave again.
"I-I'm Sorry Sakura-chan" he said quietly "I didn't want too! ...He made me –"he wept not be able to finish the last line. She let tears fall silently down her pale skin that promise she made him take has been thing to leave him broken. 'He's lost Sasuke, but he can't stand the sight of me, he fears how I'll re-act to him about it…he doesn't want the pain it could cause him. He thinks he's lost two of his team mates.' She thought to herself, turning the handle to exit the room.

"Thank you , Naruto-kun, for bringing him back to me…I know that was the only reason you carried him all that way, other than to give him a proper burial…I'm sorry!" she daren't face him as she cried under her breath. She decided to make her swift exit and ran from the apartment once clear of his bedroom where theylaid together.

Author's Notes: I tried to drop in some happier moments …that didn't go to well D:

it's all pretty gloomy at the moment, but well I'm happy with it , I mean a lot of fanfics Sasuke kind of just dies, and that's that. Seeing how important their bond is in the show I wanted to give a few chapters dedicated to around the whole event.

Please Review and drop any criticism and opinions and as usual constructive criticism will be heartily accepted :3 …oh and one think I don't want to get reviews as about pairings, what happens , happens I'm not quite sure which to include yet …but don't think NaruHina will be an option for me, she's just too shy :x .