Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, cause if I did this would so happen! But I do own any original characters and the plot.

Pairings: GaaraxSakura, TemarixOC, KankuroxOC

Bold, italisize talk is Inner Sakura, while regular italisize is Sakura's own thoughts.

The Hospital

"Gaara?" Temari said questionably. She walked over to his chair and gasped. Spinning the chair around it was empty with only the white and blue robes of the Kazekage laying on it. Sakura looked over at Temari who groaned shaking her head in disappointment. "I'm sorry, Sakura. He was here a few minutes ago," Temari paused for a moment. She tapped her chin in deep thought, but she couldn't think of where her younger brother could go. "Let's just head over to the hospital, maybe we'll run into him." Temari walked away from the Kazekage's desk and placed a gentle hand on Sakura's shoulder.

"Sure." Sakura nodded. They both scurried out of the room and into the windowed hallway. Temari lead the way and Sakura followed behind her staring out the windows at the village below. When they got to the stairs, Sakura bumped into Temari who had stopped walking suddenly. Stumbling back Sakura looked over Temari's shoulder seeing none other than, Kankuro.

"Oh so you've arrived," Kankuro said with a coy smile. Sakura raised an eyebrow, curious, because of the tone of his voice and that coy smile. The blonde before her rolled her eyes at her brother. From the looks of it Kankuro didn't change much, he still wore that purple face paint, his clothing was still solid black, and he was still tall. The only thing that really looked different about him was his age. Now he wasn't a teenage boy, but more like an older pervert.

"Don't you have a girlfriend?" Temari asked. Kankuro snickered and placed his hands behind his head. "Stop staring at Sakura like she's a piece of meat!" Temari snapped and Kankuro blushed, but it was hardly noticeable with all that purple paint slathered on his face.

"Calm down, Temari," Kankuro said holding his hands up in defense. Temari snorted shaking her head and turned back to Sakura who just shrugged her shoulders. "Gaara had to do something, he'll meet you guys at the hospital," Kankuro informed the two kunoichi.

"Great, we're heading that way anyways." Temari gestured for Sakura to follow. They walked past Kankuro, who looked Sakura over. He chuckled to himself not believing that was the same girl who had defeated Sasori with the help of Lady Chiyo. It had been quite a while since he saw her she grew up beautifully.

"Since when did he become a pervert?" Sakura asked with a little laugh. Temari turned to Sakura and laughed as well.

"Oh he's always been that way," Temari explained waving the matter off. "He's just more up front about it now." Sakura giggled finding it a little cute.

The hospital stood tall with massive sandy colored walls and many crystal like windows. Sakura and Temari stopped before the hospital entrance staring at it. For the next month Sakura would be here, teaching and helping the medic ninja. Walking up the front steps Temari held the door open for Sakura.

The setup was quite similar to Konoha's hospital. Linoleum checkered floors, endless white wall corridors, and nurses running everywhere. Sakura took in the crisp, lemon clean smell of the hospital, and smiled happily. It was going to be a nice change of scenery, she may have doubted her choice on her way over, but now it seemed clear. "Its almost like home." Sakura looked to Temari who smiled.

"That's good cause this is going to be your home for a while." Temari looked around the bustling hospital lobby. Children were clinging to their mothers, begging to go back home, nurses were writing things on their clipboards, the elderly and injured lounged near the windows watching the world outside. It took a special person to be able to stay in the hospital and look after the sick and wounded.

"Doctor!" a nurse in a white suit shouted as she ran from the emergency wing. Sakura turned to the woman's sudden outburst as she went to a doctor with chestnut colored hair and warm hazel eyes. "It's Shiori, sir, she's not in her room!" The doctor looked surprised and quickly rushed through the doors with the nurse in pursuit.

"What's going on?" Sakura wondered aloud.

"Come on!" Temari shouted rushing down the hallway. Sakura followed behind seeing Temari quickly turn into a room at the end of the hallway. Skidding to a stop Sakura walked into the room. The doctor, nurse, and Temari's back were to her as they stared at the empty bed and opened window. A breeze blew in causing Sakura's pink hair to fly back. Her deep green eyes blinked a few times as she study the bland room. No pictures on the walls, not much for color, blue bed sheets, and simple beige colored drapes for the window.

No wonder she took off, this place looks like a loony bin! Inner Sakura snapped.

I wonder what's wrong with her. Leaving a person in such a dull room, it must be awful. Sakura walked over to the small table beside the bed. There was an empty flower vase along with a tattered up journal. Picking it up Sakura fingered through the pages, there was nothing written in it. When she got to the middle of it Sakura found a picture of a village. Pulling it out she studied it carefully, it was faded, the edges were burnt up, and there was absolutely no one in the image. There were only village shacks and old carts beside them. It looked like it was taken during an early morning a very long time ago.

"We must find her," the doctor said turning to the three women in the room. "In her condition…she could die if we don't find her before nightfall." Sakura's eyes widened at his words. Nightfall was only three hours away, but not only that what was wrong with this girl.

"Yes sir!" the nurse exclaimed and quickly rushed out of the room to alert the medic ninja.

"Who is this Shiori person?" Sakura asked curiously as she put the picture back into the journal. Placing it back on the table she turned around to face Temari and the doctor.

"She's the daughter of a feudal lord who we do business with," Temari explained. "It was a very small village. In the past months Shiori's people have become very sick. Nearly everyone has died, including the feudal lord," Temari paused looking out the window. "Our medical ninja brought her here to try and find a cure, but no success."

Sakura hesitated for a moment, but asked, "Aren't you all afraid that the sickness could spread to your own village?"

"That's the thing," the doctor spoke up. "The sickness doesn't spread easily, it just kills quickly. We've made progress on Shiori's condition, enough to slow it, but not stop it. She needs constant medication or she'll die."

I have changed the story line a bit, so the other pairings I had previously have been changed. It'll be only slight pairings with Naruto and the gang now.

So the ending...somewhat of a cliffhanger...not really, thank you all for the comments and support! Keep the love coming.

-Mai