Summary: Between gang fights, rival schools, and bloodlust, there's hardly anyone that you can trust these days, except for one person: the doctor. No one has ever seen the doctor face to face, but that doesn't stop them from trusting the doctor with their lives.
Shinobi had three places - well, now four - where they felt safe in: their meeting house, their actual house, the Kunoichi's meetinghouse, and the doctor's house.
The first place, of course, was where they held all of their meetings at. However, the meetinghouse was something of a mock meetinghouse. They usually planned out everything they needed at their actual house in the basement that Shikamaru had custom built and altered. The meetinghouse was just for show in case someone was trying to eavesdrop on their plans. They were usually just hoaxes and fake plans that would end up infuriating the enemy. It always worked.
The Kunoichi meetinghouse, on the other hand, was the real thing. No one else besides Kunoichi and Shinobi members knew of the meetinghouse location because the females would always manage to cover it up somehow. It might have something to do with their informant, Yuuhi Kurenai. She was a specialist in illusions and tricking people into seeing what wasn't there. She was also married to Sarutobi Asuma - Shinobi's informant and confidant to Shikamaru and Chouji before he passed away.
Shinobi and Kunoichi often collaborated together on missions and shared whatever information they had, except for one thing: their identities. The only person in Kunoichi that they knew of was TenTen, and that was only because she and Neji were the link between the two gangs. Kunoichi was fiercely feminine and independent of males. Sure, they worked with Shinobi from time to time, but often more than not, they seemed reluctant.
Shinobi, though, could never figure out where the Kunoichi house was. Even Shikamaru was at a loss for its location. They weren't doing it in hope of turning against the gang, on the contrary. They were doing it out of curiosity. After all, the Kunoichi knew the location of both their meeting place (no matter how fake it was) and their actual house.
However, after a few dozen failed attempts, they let the Kunoichi keep another secret.
Now they had the doctor's house where they could send their injured, weary, and near-dead. They could only hope that the house and its occupants would not turn against them.
After everyone had arrived back at the house safe and sound, they began to discuss the recent turn of events.
"Well, teme and I agreed that the doctor was probably a male," Naruto began to say.
"Dobe, leave me out of it. I didn't agree to anything," Sasuke scoffed as Naruto glared at his so-called best friend who wouldn't even have his back.
"I think that the doctor's a chick, and a hot one at that," Kiba interjected.
"Kiba, you are so gross," Naruto replied.
"It doesn't matter the gender of the doctor. What matters is what we're going to do now that the doctor is our... 'ally' so to speak," spoke Neji.
"Exactly. Did anyone gather anything about the doctor, besides the possible gender," Sasuke added after seeing both Naruto and Kiba raising their hands and opening their mouths to answer.
"The only thing I noticed were the green eyes and the small form," noted Sai.
Shino nodded with his statement and said, "The eyes are very similar to Gaara-san."
"You don't think that it could be Gaara do you?" questioned Naruto.
"Baka, Gaara would rather harm than heal," reprimanded Neji.
"The small form could indicate that the person is a female," supplied Shikamaru, "either that or a very small male."
"Chouji, you met the doctor before, right? Can't you tell us?" asked Kiba.
Chouji's brows drew together. He knew that the doctor swore him to secrecy and really, the doctor was his friend too. On the other hand, these seven boys were his closest and best friends.
"Guys... you know that I'm not suppose to say, and you're not suppose to ask," answered Chouji. "Besides you really, really don't want to know," Chouji said in a sense of finality.
"Really? But, why? It's someone from another gang, isn't it? I knew it was too good to be true!" yelled Naruto.
"Naruto, calm yourself," scolded Sasuke. "Chouji... it's someone we all know, isn't it?"
Chouji couldn't bring himself to look Sasuke in the eyes; couldn't bring himself to answer. Shikamaru hadn't wanted to question him on their journey walk to save Chouji this awkwardness. But he inwardly knew that they would raise the question anyway once they arrived.
Chouji really didn't want to answer. How could he betray someone who saved his life and his livelihood over and over again? However, Chouji's lack of answer was enough of an answer.
"I see," Sasuke said solemnly. "It's her, isn't it?"
"Her?! See, I told you that it was a chick!" Kiba shouted out as Naruto deflated.
Chouji finally looked up and met Sasuke's eyes. "Hai."
Then slowly, Neji, Sai, Shino, and Shikamaru figured out who they were talking about.
"So... that's what happened to her. I'm glad that Hinata-sama is in good hands," Neji said.
"I was starting to worry that she'd get into more trouble, I guess I was right after all," Sai added with one of his fake smiles.
"Hm... it does make sense," Shino mused.
"She just had to be troublesome again, didn't she," Shikamaru sighed.
"But why didn't she say anything when she saw us though? And where has she been all this time?" asked Sai as he looked to Sasuke.
However, Sasuke kept his head down as his bangs covered his face. He placed his fingers, interlaced, beneath his chin and began to think.
Naruto and Kiba could just look on without a clue because no one bothered to clue them in.
"Er, guys?" Kiba started to ask, "Who are you talking about?"
Naruto was curious too, since his idea of a male doctor was already killed.
"Dickless, can't you tell?"
Naruto scowled at the nickname but shook his head no.
"Haven't you wondered where Ugly has been lately?"
Slowly, recognition showed on both Naruto and Kiba's face. Naruto showed more shock and disbelief while Kiba was just plain embarrassment for thinking of that way of her.
"...Sakura-chan?"
"Now Haku, I just finished stitching your side up so please try not to move too much, alright?"
"Hai, Kyuusaisha-sama. Arigato."
"Think nothing of it," then the figure left the room that Haku occupied.
The figure stood outside the door for a moment contemplating the role that this 'doctor' now took. It hadn't always been this complicated. Before it was just a whim, a dream to help others, and now it escalated this far.
Taking a deep breath, the figure - clad in a black robe that covered the entire body and even dragged a bit on the floor, a scarf that covered the lower portion of the face, and a large hat covering the upper portion - promptly climbed the stairs to see how Hanabi-chan was doing.
Tonight wasn't as bad as previous ones where no one could get any sleep and was running back and forth between rooms.
If only...
The figure passed doors with engravings of a pig, a sun, and clouds until finally reaching a door with an engraving of fireworks on the door. Not bothering to knock, the figure simply walked in and approached the bed where Hanabi was reading another book.
(AN: Ino means pig, Hinata means something like sunrise, Ten meant heaven, and Hanabi meant fireworks. TenTen was actually a phrase and a picture just couldn't describe it)
"Hanabi-chan, are you feeling better now?" the figure questioned in a soft voice, though not as soft as Hinata-chan's.
"Hai! I'll be able to help you again tomorrow," Hanabi beamed.
The figure's eyes softened at the adopted little sister and replied, "Good, I miss your cheerfulness down there. Oh, and I have news for you."
"What is it, what is it?" the immature part of Hanabi surfaced as well as her curiosity at the news.
"Do you remember your nii-san? Hyuuga Neji?"
"Oh... only a little bit. Sometimes when Hinata-nee-chan tells me stories of the family, he's in it too. She told me once when she wanted found a mother bird being chased by a cat, she begged Neji-nii-san to save it and he did!
"Hinata-nee-chan told me that that was probably one of the nicest things that she ever saw him do," Hanabi recited.
If only...
The figure laughed at Hanabi's enthusiasm and asked, "Well, do you know who came here today?"
Hanabi shook her head and couldn't find it in herself to connect the dots together.
"Your nii-san was here while you were sleeping. He promised that he would visit again tomorrow to see you," the figure reported with a straight back and earnest eyes.
"Really?! Nii-san was here?! NO WAY!" Hanabi exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement. "What was he like? Tell me pleaseee?" Hanabi begged.
Hanabi heard a small giggle and saw her nee-chan at the doorway. "Hinata-nee-chan! Is it true? Was Neji-nii-san here? Oh, please tell me; I want to know everything!"
"Hinata, I'll leave you to tell the details, OK?"
If only...
Hinata nodded as the figure, as her kyuusaisha, left. Hinata went over to Hanabi's bed and began to retell the adventures of earlier that night.
As the figure stood outside the door contemplating, Ino bounded up the stairs in a hurry.
"There you are! I was wondering where you were. They're here. Again."
The figure quirked an eyebrow when Ino said 'again.' That could only mean that either Shinobi was here, or the members Kunoichi.
"Very well, which room did you tell them to meet me in?"
"Well... that's the thing. They're outside waiting for you."
The eyebrow went even higher. "And who exactly is waiting for me?"
Ino fidgeted a little before she slowly answered, "Um... well... Shinobi is, and TenTen too. And the thing is, they didn't ask for Kyuusaisha."
"Who did they ask for?"
"They only said... tell her to come down and talk to us."
The figured gave a long exhale before motioning Ino to follow.
"Do you think we should have Hinata and Hanabi come with us since... you know..." Ino trailed off.
Ino was right. If anything, they should all go out and confront them. Honestly, it was tiring trying to evade them all the time. Secrets were hard and tiring to keep. It would be better to let it out now, right? 'Hopefully.'
If only...
Ino went back and asked both Hinata and Hanabi to come downstairs with her. They followed the black clad figure until they were near the living room, or rather, the waiting room.
"Are you sure... you want to do this?" Hinata asked.
"It's now or never, right? Maybe TenTen will make this easier," answered the figure.
Hanabi was waiting in anticipation in finally meeting Shinobi and her nii-san. She never actually knew Neji-nii-san, just what Hinata could tell her. She was far too young to remember much when they had left so suddenly.
Hinata was nervous as to what her nii-san would say to this. Neji-nii-san had always looked out for her, whether or not he wanted to, and she wasn't sure if he approved of this. Wasn't sure if he would look down at her with disappointment or look at her with pride. She was sure that it wouldn't be the latter. There was nothing to be proud about.
Ino was putting on a brave front, but inwardly she wondered what Chouji would think of this. Sure, he saw Kyuusaisha's face before... but still. This was epic news. No one was ever supposed to find out. It was their secret - Hinata, Hanabi, and hers. Being the girls that they were, keeping secrets could prove to be very difficult, but they kept it nonetheless. And now they were going to blurt it out in such an unceremonious way?
True, they never did plan if and when they would reveal the truth... so this made it all the more nerve wrecking. 'Okaa-san, what would you say to me now?'
The figure that stood at the forefront stood there motionless for a moment before turning around to address the three females.
If only...
"You know how serious this is. We never expected that this would happen, least of all, now. For all we know, they are referring to Hinata and Hanabi and Neji is just extra anxious to see you again."
Hinata and Hanabi shared a look at the possibility of it all. They missed their Neji-nii-san as well.
"That being said, I think the first think that should be addressed if your reunion with your nii-san, OK?" the figure asked with a smile laced in the tone.
"However, besides that, do not say a word as to what goes on around here. I will decide how much they will be allowed to know."
Then, without another word, the figure turned around, walked into the living room, and waited for the Shinobi's judgment.
If only...
"Are you guys sure that this is a good idea?" asked Kiba.
"Yes. We need to confirm our findings," answered Shino.
"But did you guys need to drag ME along?!" screamed a frustrated TenTen.
Honestly, couldn't a girl go to the grocery store to buy some ingredients to make tempura without being manhandled?! 'They weren't even nice enough to ask me if I wanted to go. They just demanded that I follow them, and I really don't have a good feeling about this,' thought TenTen.
"Of course we did, woman," replied Neji.
TenTen then proceeded to glare at her 'best friend.' Considering that it was he who dragged her here, she wasn't very happy with him at the moment.
"Would you guys settle down? I'm sure that they'll be at any moment," commented Shikamaru.
Chouji was fidgeting in this seat between Shikamaru and Shino. He couldn't find it in himself to deter them from their goal because he didn't know how. Like he said, he was really bad at thinking on his feet. He just mindlessly followed his teammates while trying to convince himself that the doctor would not punish him. It wasn't his fault, after all. His teammates were awfully smart for boys. And then, a thought struck him.
'What if the doctor thinks that I only asked for the favor so that it would lead to this? That wouldn't happen... right? Out of everyone, the doctor should know that I'm absolutely horrible at lying, and thinking. Oh but... the doctor does have a nasty temper half of the time. I'm in deep shit, aren't I? Oh crud. Damn, damn, damn.'
Shikamaru could see Chouji wrestling with himself and couldn't decide on being amused or guilty. Perhaps he should have warned Chouji of the very possible encounter once they were home. Perhaps he could have helped Chouji devise some sort of plan to avoid this altogether. Maybe.
All the while, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sai sat in silence and waited for the arrival of the doctor and the three, maybe five this time?, nurses.
Naruto wasn't used to sitting down in one place for a long period of time. Especially right now. Not with the news that the others just gave him. Could it be true? Could it be...?
Sai wasn't even drawing. His face showed no glimpse of his fake smile but rather a straight line. Naruto and Sasuke could tell that Sai was deep in thought. The only time that Sai was feeling something was the only time that his face wouldn't show anything.
Sasuke, on the other hand, just stared blankly at the wall opposite of his seat acting bored and too cool as always. It didn't seem like the situation was affecting him at all, but Naruto knew better. He definitely knew better. He wasn't sure what caused Sasuke to act the way he did, but it was something that he'd never forget.
Naruto shook his head to clear himself of the memory when he felt that someone else, someone new was in the room with the Shinobi (plus TenTen).
That was when Sasuke finally snapped his eyes up and finally showed some emotion, even if it was a small one and even if Naruto was the only one who could tell. Sasuke was... worried and quite possibly remorseful as he stared into the figure's green eyes.
If only...
The room was silent with the appearance of the four figures. Hanabi was the first person to break the stillness of the room as she lunged at Neji and tackled him into a hug.
Kiba was slightly squished as Hanabi kind of shoved into him as well to hug Neji, but he wouldn't have interrupted this moment for all the money in the world. Not when Neji was this happy; happier than he's ever seen him before.
"Hanabi-chan..?" Neji whispered out, clutching onto his baby cousin.
"Neji-nii-san! Hinata-nee-chan, it's him! It's really him!" Hanabi cried out with small tears in the corner of her eyes.
Hinata began slightly tearing up too as she watched her younger sister embrace their cousin who acted more like their older brother, and someone uncle, to them. She couldn't help the smile that crept onto her face as she looked on at the scene. She already had her 'reunion' with nii-san, it was Hanabi's turn.
Then, a movement near the two caught her attention. Her eyes widened as she looked at the familiar face of her first best friend - that wasn't related by blood.
"...Shino?" Hinata whispered out.
Shino stood and slightly nodded his head, "Hinata-sama, it's been a while, hasn't it?"
This time, Hinata really did begin crying and quickly walked over to Shino and hugged him.
Now this was a surprise to every male in the room. Neji was hugging this young girl as if letting go would kill him and he was smiling. Hyuuga Neji was smiling! OK, it was a tiny smile and had traces of a smirk, but he was truly happy.
Then, you have Shino actually touching, no hugging, a girl who was hugging him back. You couldn't actually see Shino's face, save for his nose, but anyone could tell that he was happy to see Hinata again.
At the doorway, both of the figures smiled at the sight of their friends so happy and couldn't help but feel happy for them too.
If only...
'They deserve this more than anyone,' thought Ino.
No one wanted to break the happiness that practically glowed from the four teens and everyone was content to let them have their moment. Slowly, Hinata pulled back and smiled so brightly at Shino that you could actually see his corners of his mouth over his trench coat.
(AN: I forgot to mention that, didn't I? Well, as well as the slack, tie, dress shirt, and jacket, Shino wears a black trench coat because he's too uber cool to not have one.)
"Shino...?" Hinata started.
"Hai, Hinata-san?"
"Did you ever build me that swing set?" Hinata asked as she looked up at Shino with a smile on her face.
"Hai, Hinata-san. It's in the backyard."
'So that's why he insisted on building it,' the members of Shinobi thought.
"Nii-san, you're not going to leave are you?" asked Hanabi with wide, puppy-dog-ish eyes.
Neji chuckled as he ruffled Hanabi's hair and answered, "Never again, Hanabi-sama."
"Good, because then I'd have to hurt you," Hanabi replied with mock seriousness that caused the entire room to burst into laughs, giggles, or silent chuckles.
"Neji! Why didn't you tell me that your cousin was so cute?!" Naruto exclaimed as he stood close to Hinata and tried to get a peek at her face since she was hiding in Shino's hug.
"Uzumaki. Step. Away. Now," the voices of Shino and Neji commanded.
Cowering in fear, Naruto quickly took his seat next to Sasuke and Sai again.
If only...
Sasuke quietly cleared his throat, but it managed to get everyone's attention. Hinata quickly went to stand by Ino again with a red blush on her face, but Hanabi stubbornly refused to leave Neji's side. She yelled that, "Now that I found him, I dare any one of you to try to take him away from me!"
Hinata could only smile and shake her head at her younger sister's antics, but Neji and Kiba were content in making room for her to sit down with them.
Then, all gazes landed on the figure still standing in the doorway. Chouji, being nervous as he was, tried to speak.
"Um... Kyuusaisha-sama, I know that this looks bad but... honestly, I didn't say a thing! They just figured-"
"Chouji, I know," the figure interrupted in the same soft voice. "It's OK, you don't have to pain yourself over this anymore."
At the reassurance, Chouji immediately felt better that the doctor did not think that he betrayed the rules of the home. He really didn't feel like dying just quite yet. At least not until he saw that he and Ino were married and had at least two rascals running around their house with Shikamaru and hopefully Temari visiting their home with their own kids.
"I suppose you came here to interrogate me again?" the figure asked.
No one said anything for the longest time. They just... stared.
If only, if only, if only...
"Well, if you have no business with then then I will take my leave. I do have other patients in this house, after all," the doctor stated and began to leave until Sasuke spoke up.
"Now, now. We were just trying to get in a dramatic pause," at Sasuke's voice, the figure stopped to listen to what he had to say.
"Must you run all the time... Sakura-chan?"
Everyone stilled to see what would happen now. Could this really be...?
Even Ino, Hinata, Hanabi, and TenTen looked to see what the owner of the house would do now. Anxiety filled everyone as the figure turned around to look at Sasuke.
"Why Uchiha-san, I never thought that you would be someone who used such... affectionate suffixes," the figure replied. "However, I am slightly surprised and curious as to the name. Sakura, was it? Do I really look like a Sakura to you?"
At least the voice now sounded like it had a gender. It definitely sounded feminine now, even if it might be due to the male's imagination since they all thought it was Sakura.
'No,' they all wanted to answer. 'You look and act nothing like the Sakura we used to know. Are we still so sure...?'
However, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sai knew that this was their Sakura-chan. It couldn't be anyone else. Sure, this Sakura was slightly - OK, very - different from the old Sakura, but that didn't mean that it wasn't her.
Sai could admit that those green eyes... those green eyes that used to exhibit every single emotion that he never could... weren't the same anymore. They didn't shine like they used to. They didn't look like they used to. They didn't feel like they used to. And he hated it with every fiber of his being. He knew hate very well, and he hated the lack of feeling in her eyes right now.
Naruto could admit that this sounded nothing like his Sakura-chan. No, Sakura-chan would never speak like that. Sure, she had a really, really big vocabulary and used big words so often that he was compelled to buy an electronic dictionary and carry it around with him. But this... this was different. The words that she was using sounded so cold. Even during their meeting previously this day, she didn't sound this... cruel? Harsh? Lifeless? 'Sakura-chan... what happened to you? What happened to us?'
Sasuke could admit a lot of things in his life. He could admit that Naruto was his best friend and Sai was a close second. He could admit that he respected the Hyuuga even though clan rivalry dictated that he shouldn't. He could admit that he was not as smart as Shikamaru, but was at least smarter than Naruto and Kiba. Now, he had a difficult time admitting that this was Sakura. He tried to convince himself that somewhere underneath all that black, there was still the same Sakura that he knew. The same Sakura that would mother and baby he, Naruto, and Sai. The same Sakura that would keep their friendship intact with a simple smile or spontaneous idea to have a picnic in the middle of November. Where was that Sakura now?
If only...
"Sakura-chan... it's really you... isn't it? C'mon, this isn't funny anymore," Naruto pleaded with his eyes for her to come back to him; to come back to them: her boys. How could she have abandoned them like this without a word?
Yes, he, Sai, and Sasuke had noticed when the only female in their group was missing. They had gone to her house and nothing seemed amiss. Sakura had a roommate that they never bothered to meet, and never had. They thought that perhaps she had to go somewhere business or school related and had to leave in such a hurry that she couldn't tell them.
They had waited for her return for months. Waited to see if she sent them a letter, an e-mail, even a text. But there was nothing. They considered that maybe she just left them because she had wanted to.
Then, they slowly stopped counting the days that she was gone. With all of the gang activity that soon took over their lives, they began to forgot the piece of humanity that held them all together. How long had it been now? A year? Two at the most? How did they survive so long without their Sakura-chan?
"Uzumaki-san, what is it that you want from me?" the voice asked icily.
Naruto winced at the tone. No, his Sakura-chan wasn't suppose to sound so cold. That was teme's job. She was suppose to be the warmth. Yes, he was often the excited one out of the group, but it was her that he drew it from.
"Sakura-chan, stop joking around. It's us, it's me... Naruto, don't you remember?" Naruto was on the verge of begging for her to remember him. To be how she used to be.
Hinata and Ino looked at Naruto with sympathy as he tried to convince their best friend to... what? Be normal?
"Naruto... please, stop," TenTen whispered out.
Everyone looked at TenTen to see why she would ask him to do such a thing.
TenTen avoided their gazes and looked at the stiff figure, pleading with her own eyes. "Don't you think it's time?"
Ino and Hinata wanted to reveal everything as well. Hanabi was in the dark for most of it and wasn't involved in a lot of their 'adult' discussions, so all she could do is see how this played out.
Neji was trying to draw comfort from Hanabi while Kiba and Shino shared a look that spoke of how curious they were. Shikamaru glanced at Chouji to see how he was handling all of this and Chouji just stared at his palms while in deep concentration.
Sasuke had a hard look on the figure and Sai was trying to sort out his feelings, or actually, pick the most appropriate one right now and name it. Naruto was still pleading with the figure to say, 'yes, Naruto, I'm still your old Sakura-chan. Let's go get some ramen, OK?'
The figure squeezed their eyes shut and seemed to be contemplating the next best move. Upon opening, those eyes looked into TenTen's warm, motherly dark brown eyes for her consent. This wasn't just one person's secret; it was all of theirs.
TenTen knew what was needed of her right now. She nodded her head and gave a smile as encouragement.
Looking to the left at Hinata, Hinata reached out and squeezed her hands against the other to offere reassurance.
On the right, Ino's stare lasted a bit longer because they were best friends and if anyone knew the figure, it would be Ino. Ino had a firm set jaw and gazed into the eyes of her best friend. She knew that no matter what, she'd stick to the decision because her best friend deemed that it was for the best. Her best friend never failed her before, and wouldn't begin to now.
If only, I could...
The figure slowly reached for the the string that held the cloak together and pulled hard on it once so that it fell onto the floor. Underneath the cloak, was obviously the body of a female wearing a form fitting olive long-sleeve shirt and slightly tight jeans. Next, the girl unwound the scarf and let it fall onto the floor. However, she had her head bowed and no one could get a clear look at her face. Finally, she reached for the hat adorning her head and threw it on top of the cloak.
The shock of pink hair that sat atop of the head was all the proof that they needed: this was indeed Sakura.
Then, she slowly lifted her head up and a collective gasp filled the room. Ino, Hinata, and TenTen looked away in respect while Hanabi didn't show a reaction at all. This face wasn't new to her; she saw it everyday for the past couple years. Why was it that everyone else reacted so differently?
It was because, besides the familiar short pink hair, big green eyes, and small mouth, scars littered Sakura's face. Her left cheek alone bore three ugly scars while another covered her forehead. Burn marks could be seen on her neck and probably reached an expanse beneath her shirt. Those green eyes... oh, those green eyes weren't the same anymore.
Sai could see it now. Those green eyes were haunted by a memory that Sakura didn't want to remember anymore. Those green eyes shined with hatred, but towards who he wasn't sure. Those green eyes would never be the same.
Everyone remained quiet and drank in the sight of Haruno Sakura. Once best friend to Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, and Kara Sai. Once the only female to have the power to make all three males fall under her powress and smile while doing it. Once the only person who each male loved more than themselves and each other.
Sakura closed her eyes to regain her composure and reopened them to address the crowd that was assembled in front of her.
If only I could...
"Yes, my name is indeed Haruno Sakura. Leader of the notorious female gang Kunoichi. Healer of this house. Are you satisfied now?" she asked no one directly, but each male felt as though she was only addressing them.
'Sakura... what on earth happened to you?' Shikamaru asked himself.
'I'm sorry it had to be this way, Sakura,' Chouji lamented.
'You were always... why did this happen to you?' Neji wondered.
Hanabi looked around the room at all of the sad faces. She didn't quite understand the cause, but she knew well enough to keep quiet.
'Sakura, this wasn't supposed to happen to you. Out of everyone out there, never you,' Kiba thought with remorse.
'Sakura-san...who would do such a thing?' Shino asked himself.
'Sakura-chan... I'll kill whoever did that to you!' Naruto swore.
Ino and Hinata were trying not to tear up. They should be used to it by now, but they didn't draw any comfort from that.
'I don't understand... all those books said that the good person always won, right Sakura? Why did you lose?' Sai helplessly wondered.
'Sakura... this is all... my fault,' Sasuke decided with finality.
Sakura closed her eyes and let it all sink it.
If only I could... start living again.
27 January 2008