Beta-reader: Terror-Of-The-Crimson-Night

Chapter: Four – Stand Beside Me

Type: Story – Incomplete

Word Count: 1,737

Disclaimer: If you have heard it before this than it's not mine, if you haven't then it is mine.

Note: Myaku's input will be in bold and Sakura's replies will be in italics.

..:Xx0o0xX:..

"Sakura?" Naruto asked, something must have told him something is wrong.

But I didn't answer; I simply repeatedly hit my forehead against the window. How could I have messed up so completely? Why didn't it click sooner to fight back? There was finally a possibility, no matter how slim, of Sasuke-san actually returning!

And now I'd gone and got myself in trouble. How – I hit my forehead against the window – damn – and again – smart – and again.

Suddenly there was a hand on my shoulder, yanking me away from the window.

Sasuke-san.

Then I realized the butterfly was still there. So, "Understood." And it was gone.

"Understood? What? Are you replying to the nurse? Sakura, that's no reason bang your forehead on the glass."

I shook my head, "No, the butterfly." Now he looked even more confused. I stepped back till I was seated on the edge of my hospital bed. "Remember, how what I told you guys about yesterday? That type of butterfly is the messengers."

Sasuke-san raised an eyebrow, while Naruto blinked, "butterflies? As messengers?

I nodded.

"Okay then what was the message?"

I stayed silent. What would they say? Would they fight it? "I have to go back." I whispered.

Naruto looked stunned, while Sasuke-san scowled. Yeah, I still don't get why he cares. "What do you mean, 'go back'?" Sasuke-san demanded. See, it's almost like he actually cares. Tch, it's probably just a front.

"You can't just leave, Sakura." Naruto added in.

"I don't have a choice." I muttered in the same sullen tone.

"Yes you do." The blonde retorted.

"If Shishou told you that you had to do something, would you really say no to her?" I growled at the blonde, feeling helpless.

The full magnitude of how badly I'd screwed up was finally setting in. Madara is still out there. Naruto still has the Kyuubi sealed inside him. Akatsuki is still a problem. I'm still needed here. I've really screwed up this time.

"Well…" Naruto trailed off giving no specific yes or no. But I still took it as a no.

"That's what I thought." I was still snapping and snarling. I shouldn't though, it's not their fault. It's mine. And I shouldn't be taking it out on them. But I can't help it. I feel so helpless and like such a screw up.

"Sakura." Sasuke-san growled warningly.

I sighed. "Sorry."

"That Captain-Commander person that you mentioned…" Sasuke-san started, I knew the question implied: Was he the one who sent for me?

I nodded in confirmation.

"Why?" Naruto asked.

"I screwed up. That's why."

"So what? Everyone screws up at one point or another." Naruto growled, and as much as I wanted those words to comfort me, I knew they wouldn't.

"Really?" I asked in return.

Naruto nodded vigorously, "Sure Sakura"

Sasuke-san though, he caught on. "What aren't you telling us, Sakura?"

"I thought that was plain to see. I'm a former captain; do you realize that my losing to a novice hollow is like a jonin losing to an academy student?" And that's why Naruto's comforting words would only be a false sense of security right now. Sasuke-san sucked in a sharp breath and for the first time in a long time, Naruto was speechless, he couldn't find one soothing thing to say. "Now do you see just how badly I screwed up?"

Naruto nodded.

Sasuke-san though, "So you're just going to leave?"

My head shot up from its lowered position, and instantly met barely concealed rage filled onyx eyes. Maybe, just maybe he does care… I snorted inwardly, a bit late for that now, huh Sasuke?

Still I nodded my head "It's not like I can't not leave."

Naruto cocked his head, "And why the hell not?"

"They sent a captain to get me."

"Oh. Do you think could win?"

I shook my head, "I don't know, and I won't find out. It's Kuchiki, Byakuya. I won't fight him. It'd be like asking me to fight you guys."

"Okay, then if you can't stay." Never-say-die, never-give-up blondie say what? Even Sasuke was looking at him incredulously. But Naruto wasn't done yet. "That means we'll just have to go with you."

…What? He can't be serious. I was just about to respond when I was cut off. "Go where?" Kakashi-senpai interjected.

"Ummmm….Sakura, what was it called again?"

"Soul Society." I answered, not even thinking about it.

How can he think it'll be that easy? I can't just bring them with me! I'm not a captain, so I can't make that decision anymore.

~Byakuya can though.~

No way. I can't believe this. Myaku has never sided with any but Byakuya and I. Only people he deems safe and even good for me to be around me. If that makes any sense. But he had. Really, I can only take so many surprises before my brain starts leaking.

Kakashi-senpai blinked then sighed, "We'll have to talk to Hokage-sama first, you know?" What?! Sasuke and Naruto nodded.

"We can send her a note." Sasuke suggested.

All of them are okay with this idea?! I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but nothing came out. So I shut my mouth then tried again. Still no sound came out. Finally, not daring to try a third time, I allowed myself to fall backwards so that I was flat on my back looking at the ever-so-white ceiling above me.

This is a dream. It has to be. There's no other way to explain how…oddly things are going. Or if that's even the right word. I don't think my brain's working properly to figure this out. Hell, it's hardly even sinking in. And I'm a part of the situation!

Too much. This is just way too much for me to even consider handling. I heard Myaku laugh in my mind, his sword vibrating slightly with his mirth.

Yeah, okay, just keep laughing. Some help you are.

Again Myaku laughed and his sword humming with it. ~Have a little faith, will ya?~

I sighed. "Shut up, Myaku." Then I proceeded to set up once more.

I hadn't realized I'd said this aloud instead of in my head until Naruto stared quizzically at me – in fact all three did – while asking, "What?" Oh yeah. I still hadn't told them that not only does a zanpakotu have a name and is it's own being, but it can also communicate with its partner. Oops.

"Um. You remember how I said zanpakotu are basically their own person?"

"Don't tell me, you can also communicate with them, can't you?" Sasuke asked, catching on immediately.

I nodded sheepishly. "That about sums it up."

Kakashi-senpai shook his head, "And you were supposed to be the normal one."

I couldn't help laugh at that. Naruto did too. While it seemed that Sasuke and Myaku snorted at the exact same time.

…Odd.

"Okay, as much as I appreciate it. There's no guarantee that you guys can actually come."

Naruto frowned, "And why not?"

"Because, I'm not captain anymore, honestly I don't know what I am, but that's not my decision. If Byakuya says no..."

"But if he says yes?" Naruto countered, being ever the optimist that he's always been.

"Then you have to figure out how to make Captain-Commander say yes."

"No problem." Sasuke stated confidently and Naruto nodded with him.

I opened my mouth to tell them they are both idiots, because honestly, that's exactly what they are, but I was cut off. Again. This time though, not by someone else's words, nope, it was by two rice paper doors. A circular one in front and a rectangular one behind it.

That's gates to Soul Society.

When said gates opened, the door sliding to the side, Byakuya and all his glory stood there. Wow, he looked different. Then I smacked myself inwardly, I haven't seen him in how long, and that's my first thought? Nice, Sakura, real nice.

~stay focused, will ya?~

I hardly heard his growl. My attention was fully on Byakuya as he moved forward swiftly. What is he doing? And a second later my answer came: he tugged me up and off the bed and straight into his torso. Then he wrapped his arms around me. Kuchiki, Byakuya was hugging me. It took a second for that thought to register before I smiled and moved to embrace him, curling my arms around his neck and standing on my tiptoes.

After a moment we parted.

I, of course, was speechless. I was so sure he hated me. He hadn't wanted me to take this mission to the Shinobi World in the first place, and I'd still done it. But it seems that he doesn't hate me. That didn't mean I knew how to respond just yet either.

So he took the initiative, "it's been a while."

And again I was smiling. He always knew just what to say when I was speechless. I nodded, "It sure has. It's good to see you."

He nodded in turn "It's good to see you as well."

I took a breath and a leap of faith while I was at it. I turned to my team. "These are Uzumaki, Naruto, Hatake, Kakashi and Uchiha, Sasuke. They have just recently learned of my being a shinigami and would like to accompany me to Soul Society."

Byakuya analyzed them for a few moments then looked to me. "Are you alright with that?" When I nodded he went silent eyeing me. Then after what seemed like forever, he nodded, "That is fine with me."

"Told you, Sakura" Naruto exclaimed his face bright with excitement. His loudness had earned him a whack on the head and a glare courtesy of Sasuke. Idiot.

I smiled any way, then I turned to Byakuya, "I suppose we should get going then, ne?"

The tall, mysterious seeming man rolled his breath taking eyes and nodded heading for the gate.

Home. I was finally going home. Wow, how long has it been since I've been able to say that? The sword at my hip hummed and I heard Myaku laugh, ~forever, Petal, forever~

I smiled, sure does seem like it.

My apologies for the long gap in the update. I finished it not to long after posting chapter three, but my beta took so long that I forgot I even sent it to him. Oh well. I hope you liked it. Review please. Criticism is forever welcome.