Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine and will never be

Sakura's POV

I peeked around the horror book case making sure the coast was clear. I guess you can say I am hiding in the library from Sasuke since the sleepover me and Sasuke have hung out more and now? Well like I said I'm hiding, well not from him, just from everyone. I sat down in the horror isle in the far end of the school library. I pulled out my small sketchbook and began to doodle. I will admit our friendship had come back on track and my personal emotions resurfacing for him have sent me into hiding because I don't desire to ruin something so good. 'Man am I tired.' I thought as I yawned and stretched 'I need to sleep more.' I yawned once more and leaned against the wall letting my mind drift.

I could hear the person at the computers typing and the one pulling books off the shelf then nothing as I drifted off. It was darkness pure and utter darkness I walked forward and paused as the darkness became light and I stood on the lake once more I looked at the shore line where the 8 year old Sasuke and me were playing with the 13 year old Shinra and Itachi. The boys wanted to ride the water skis and me and Sasuke wanted to go to.

I smiled "If I hadn't gone you'd be here." I was holding on tightly as they took off racing. I had fun and we were laughing to be honest it was as though nothing in this world could go wrong till he turned to sharp and I flew off and I watched as I splashed about before sinking below the water. I could feel the suffocation of water flooding my lungs. Shinra stopped and Dove in "You never could swim." I laughed a sad laugh as little me came up splashing about before Itachi pulled me up leaving me with Sasuke as he realized Shira never surfaced.

"Why did you have to get your foot stuck?" I asked as the water rippled and Itachi came up alone fear written on his face before he began to shout for help once more diving under "You were wearing the shoes I bought you and when you sank under they got caught in the tall grass and I had to push down to cut you free." I looked at tiny me's feet and there were the white sandals with cherry blossom buckles.

Then Itachi resurfaced with Shinra and in minutes he had Shinra on the other jet ski and ordering Sasuke to wait there. I remember looking at Shinra and he looked asleep. Itachi drove off to shore yelling and in the distance he laid my brother down and began to do CPR. I remember I thought he had kissed my brother and from a distance I turned and watched as our parents came out in a frantic run.

Sasuke had been studying the ski and after a moment turned it on and had me sit in front of him as he stood behind me and took us to shore Mom they were still doing it and The Uchiha's came over to us and Mikoto held us both before taking us inside. The ambulance arrived 30 minutes later "Why didn't you leave me? If I died instead all of you would be alive. You'd be alive, the car accident wouldn't have happened and Saiya wouldn't have been paralyzed and could have kids at that and she wouldn't have given up and left me behind."

That ghostly hand touched my shoulder "I am supposed to protect you with all my life." I cried and then jumped as the bell rang signaling break was over I looked Sasuke dead in the face, which was very close to mine. "You're finally woke up." I turned red "You're very close." He smirked "Can't yell in the library so I had to get close and whisper." I raised a brow "How'd you find me?" he smiled I needed a book an found you passed out.

He grabbed the chair in front of me and straddled it, leaning it forward with the back facing me "You still dream about it don't you?" I was shocked by the seriousness of the question. "It doesn't matter." I said as I stood to grab my things "It wasn't your fault." I froze and looked at him knowing he was right "Had I died the world would be better." I turned and walked away heading for my next period.

Sasuke's POV

I thought it was funny to watch her avoid me and I was sitting on the roof top with the guys looking out over the school and town when Menma came back with Naruto who was dancing back and forth on his feet from as they laughed about whatever Menma had said "Menma. Dobe." I greeted as they sat down "Dude Kotori is so adorable she loves us!" Menma smirked "Mostly me." Naruto glared at him befoe punching his arm "She likes us equally."

Menma smiled "Hey have you finished your assignment I mean school is almost out and all." I nodded "we finished weeks ago." They shook their heads "Figures. I mean normally she's working in the library not sleeping." Naruto laughed I glanced at him before looking out at the scenery "Speaking of the library I need to pick up a book." I stood and headed to the door "What! We just got here!" Naruto whined and I smiled knowing they couldn't see it "I'll see you in next period dobe." I opened the door and descended the steps making my way to the library and upon arrival you couldn't see her but I knew where the best place for a nap was in here and went to the table by the horror section and sure enough a sleeping Sakura was there leaning against the wall.

I walked closer and she mumbled "Why…" then she shifted before settling. I looked at her and pondered how someone so young could still smile, run the hospital and attend school. She has always been my world and I won't admit it. The day she flew off into the water I almost dove in after her but I had just barely learned to swim I couldn't save her then. I think I denied these feelings after she began to pull away and avoid me then all together stopped being my friend.

Her eye lids fluttered gently and I wanted nothing more than to capture this image on a canvas. I called her name out and she remained asleep I gently touched her shoulder "Sakura." She remained still and deep in her dream I gently brought my finger up and traced her lips which I had the pleasure of kissing once when she was asleep before the Shinra incident only Itachi knows.

I looked around and slowly leaned forward placing a gentle kiss upon her lips before I leaned back and mental cursed and I almost jumped when the bell ran and her eyes shot open. WE carried on small talk after that then she stood to leave "Had I died the world would be better." She stormed of leaving an ache in my chest "My world wouldn't be."

I pulled up just as Itachi sped off and I looked to the door to see Mom rubbing her temples "Mom?" I asked as I approached her she looked at me "Your father has someone here he'd like you to meet sweet heart." I nodded realizing Dad must have pissed Itachi off with this stunt again. As I entered the living room I looked confusingly at the young boy sitting across from my dad, he had to be no older than me.

"Hey dad." I looked at the pale boy "Hello I'm Sai and I'm here upon request from your parents." I held my hand out and we shook "What's this about?" he looked at me and slid a folder to me "These were sent to the Rei's Oasis Of Talent, a private school, by your parents and our school would like to enroll you coming this next school year."

I looked at my dad then mom who stood beside me smiling knowing I had wanted to go to this school since I first started to paint. "How long do I have to make my decision?" he smiled "As soon as possible was my hopes but if you want to take time to think it over I shall give you till the last day of school." I had 3 weeks to make up my mind.

Sakura's POV

We presented our assignment and with flying colors we passed. I was waiting to see his art picture since our assignment was to do a picture on what or who our muse was or is. My image was the cherry blossom tree with the single blossom left and the three petals and one bump that looked like a falling flower near the bottom. I was so ready for school to be over. I looked at Sasuke who was holding up my sketch book "Hey!" he laughed and pulled it out of my grasp.

I sat back and pouted. Since the library incident 3 weeks ago I gave up on hiding from him and I ended up hanging out with the guys on the roof during lunch and I brought a whole bag of homemade cookies for Shukaku since Sasuke told me why that butt head didn't like me so I was practically best friends with the evil side of Gaara and just friends with Gaara. Today was going to be the final day before school got out and we were free for the summer.

As the day went on finally we got to art class where everyone showcased their art and I looked at Sasuke's canvas that had intense green eyes staring out and the rest was a swarm of grays and blacks making up the hair and small portions of skin that surrounded the eyes "Okay Sakura what is yours called?" I looked at Kurenai who looked at my work "The last blossom on the Sakura tree" she hugged me "They inspire you even now." I nodded.

She stepped back and finally when it came to Sasuke she looked at it with a smile and proud eyes "What intense emotion you caught with in this." She said and he looked at it "The world is told within." He said "What a fitting name." she mumbled she patted his shoulder. I looked at his picture and smiled, 'his muse….'

I stood in front of the door leading to the roof a note grasped within my hand. With a steadying breath I walked out and looked around "Phew I came early." I walked to the edge and looked out at the kids running off campus cheering and tossing papers around. I smiled at the thought of a well used summer vacation "I told you I'd see you again."

I froze before turning around to see Sasuke "YOU!" he smirked "I thought I should tell you who saved you. I gasped at him then she turned red "Why didn't you tell me then it was you!" he gave a soft laugh "I also returned your glasses." I stared at him not sure whether to be upset or happy "I swear you've always been like this." He gave an actual smile "I'm leaving." I nodded "Well school is over we have to leave." "No. I mean Kohonagakure."

I looked at him for a long time before turning around and putting my back to him "For how long?" he was quiet "Congrats Sasuke I mean it and I hope you have tons of fun and don't be antisocial because you have a huge problem with that." "Sakura I want to ask you something." I glanced over my shoulder and looked at him "Yeah?" He looked beyond me into the horizon "Will you care for Mugen in my place?"

"Of course." I couldn't help it and hugged him "When do you leave?" he slowly rested his hand on my head ruffling my hair "As soon as I'm done here which means the guys are surrounding my car right now." I stepped back smiled "Then let's see you off." I headed down of and knowing he was behind me the whole way. As I ran out and the boys came into view I waved and turned waving at Sasuke who came out not long after me.

"So the leader of the Onyx Vipers is leaving us." Menma said as he nudged Sasuke with his fist and Sasuke nodded "I already appointed Neji my position till my return." They all looked at Neji then said their goodbyes and right before he got in his car I punched his left arm hard. "What was that for!?" he yelled and I smiled "Blood in blood out, isn't that what you said?" he nodded "That's quite the memory you have there." I smiled and stepped back "Sakura," I looked at him "Yeah?" he gave as small smile "Thank you."

Those were his final words to me as he drove away from all of us as the others began to say bye and part there ways before summer vacation I found myself standing there alone.