Title: When the Fire Burned Out

Description: Sakura is crushed after the second loss of Sasuke, but she won't let anyone see the pain besides her best friend Sai. When her next mission leads her through a crash course of love, then to the pain she's been avoiding, can she depend on her friends to lead her back to sanity?

Rating: M. For sex and some violence.

Disclaimer: The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage, I don't own it, P!ATD does.

Quick recap:

"Good as new." I paused for a second, "Did…Did you guys catch Sasuke?" I asked nervously.

"Yeah. He's in custody with Ibiki, in an iron cell, tied down with chakra ropes, along with chains. He's not going anywhere." Naruto said smiling. I nodded.

"So. How long am I going to be in here?" I demanded.

"A few weeks young lady." The nurse said sharply, "That stunt you pulled didn't help you get out of here quicker either." I sighed and laid my head against the bed.

"This sucks." I muttered, shaking my head. "Not cool. I'm perfectly fine!" Sai snickered.

"You sound like Naruto." He laughed, "Always complaining." I shook my head.

"Nothing like that. I've got people, Tsunade will bail me out." I smiled at the nurse, "You should be on my side too. I know how much I can handle, I work here." She shook her head and walked out of the room. "Whatever…" I turned to Naruto and winked. "I never liked her anyway."

***

6 weeks later

I hadn't seen Gaara in five weeks. I was, for the lack of a better word, going crazy. The week Gaara and I had spent in the hospital, I spent everyday in his room, talking for countless hours. Then after he was released, he had to return to Suna. His parting words, more like a parting ramble, were: "I'll see you in a month or so. For the ball thing, if you still want to go. I'll um…Notify Tsunade of the exact date…It's supposed to be really formal…Tsunade's coming the night before…You should too…We should match…" He rambled on. I nodded laughing.

"Gaara, I get it." I gave him a small kiss on the cheek, leaving him blushing as he got into the carriage with Kankuro and Temari.

That had been six weeks ago, and I had just been called to Tsunade-Sama's office. Ino, Hinata, Shikamaru, and Naruto were already there. I smiled at them, before joining the line in front of Tsunade's desk.

"The Kazekage has informed me, that the dance you all have been invited to, is taking place the day after tomorrow. We will leave in a carriage tomorrow at 6am. Clothes and supplies will be provided there." Tsunade informed us. A few minutes later we were dismissed. We all walked down to the local ramen bar together.

When we sat down, I turned to look at Naruto and Hinata.
"So how are you two doing?" I asked, looking at their hands, wrapped together under the counter. Hinata's face turned bright red, while Naruto looked down at her and smiled.

"Great?" Naruto asked, cocking his head at her. She nodded with a small smile on her face.

"That's fantastic!" I exclaimed, happy that they were happy. Ino groaned loudly.

"At least your boyfriend isn't in a different country!" Ino said loudly. Both Shikamaru and I gave her a dirty look. "Well, your boyfriend's a psychopathic killer. And, he's scary." I frowned at her, as did Naruto.

"Gaara's a really nice guy." I said defensively. "And, you shouldn't bad mouth a Kazekage."

"Yeah!" Naruto said, backing me up, "If Tsunade-Sama heard you talking like that..." Hinata nodded slowly, a new blush crossed her face.

"Gaara seems pretty cool." Shikamaru added, smiling at the dirty look on Ino's face.

"Whatever." Ino sighed, eating her ramen. I did the same, finishing the meal in silence.

"Do you guys want to go shopping with me?" Ino asked, before we parted ways.

"No thanks." Shikamaru said quickly, Naruto also declined.

"I'll go." Hinata said softly.

"I think I'll pass." I said, she shrugged.

"Your loss." Ino mumbled, grabbing Hinata by the wrist. "Come on, let's go." I shrugged and turned to Naruto and Shikamaru.

"Wanna hang out?" I asked, smiling at the two. They both shrugged and I followed them quietly.

"So, Sakura. You really like Gaara huh?" Naruto asked, walking behind Shikamaru. I smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, I do." I admitted, smiling at him.

"That's good." Naruto said, I cocked my head. "He needs someone like you." I blushed.

"That's…really nice." I said softly. Naruto smiled.

"Deep, I know." I laughed, pushing him softly. I noticed Shikamaru had led us to a clearing, and laid down in the grass. I followed suit, Naruto on my other side.

"Clouds are so pretty." I said quietly. Shikamaru nodded.

"I spend a lot of my free time out here." He sighed, "Now that Asuma's gone." I sighed too, as did Naruto.

We must have been there for a few hours before I finally sat up. I shook Naruto awake quickly.

"I should get home…" I said, before wishing them goodbye. I walked home slowly, opening the door with the spare key.

"Hey Sakura!" My mom exclaimed, giving me a hug. "Are you going to bed?" She asked, as I walked up the stairs.

"Yeah, I have to get up early." I yawned dramatically. She raised an eyebrow at me. "I'm going to Suna."

"Why?" She frowned, "Another mission?"

"A date actually…with the Kazekage." She smiled.

"You're going on a date? With the Kazekage? That's amazing!" She exclaimed. I laughed. "Night then."

"Night."

***
(I was going to end it here, the chapter I mean, but I'll keep going, it's only three pages so far. XD)

***

I couldn't move, my lips were open in a perfect circle of horror as Sasuke stood over Gaara's bleeding body.

"What did you do?" I screamed, dropping to my knees, head bowed. I began to sob uncontrollably. "Why?" I whispered. Sasuke stalked towards me, taking my head in his hands.

"Now, we can be together…forever."

***

I awoke with a start, shaking uncontrollably. I jumped out of bed and walked into the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face. I looked at the clock. It was only five, I was up a half hour early. I took a shower and changed into a black hoodie and jeans. It was 5:30 now. I fidgeted around the house for a few minutes before walking to Ino's. Shikamaru and her were sitting on her front porch.

"Hey guys." I called out, shaking off the dream. "What's up?"

"I'm like sooo excited!" Ino said, a huge smile on her face,

"I'm tired." Shikamaru yawned. I laughed.

"I figured." I said, sitting down beside them. I started singing quietly to myself, while waiting for the carriage to arrive.

Sit tight, I'm going to need you to keep time,
Just snap, snap, snap your fingers for me.
Good now we're making some progress,

Come on just tap, tap, tap your toes to the best

And I believe,

This may call for a proper introduction,
And, well don't you see?

I'm the narrator, and this is just the prologue.

"Sakura." Shikamaru said, "You have a beautiful voice." I laughed.

"Naw, you're just tired. But thanks." I smiled at him as the carriage pulled up. Naruto, Tsunade, Jiraya, and Hinata were already inside. We piled in with them, and then we started our journey.

***

The ride to Suna, was long, but we arrived around 3pm. Kankuro greeted us outside the huge house. After a heavy make out session with Ino, we were led inside.

"Temari and Gaara are in a meeting." He informed us, "Temari already picked out your rooms, follow me." Kankuro dropped Ino off in a room that connected to his, Hinata and Naruto also got connecting rooms. Shikamaru was lead to a bathroom off the side of Temari's and then Kankuro led me into a gorgeous room lined with red velvet. He pulled open a curtain that led into another huge room. It was painted green with silver and black swirled trim. I looked behind me, seeing Kankuro was gone. I walked over and sat on the bed, noticing a note, written in an elegant script.

'Sakura, I can't wait to see you.
Everything in the closet and drawers is for you.
–Gaara.'

I smiled at the note, before walking over to the closet. I opened the doors, and a small gasp escaped my lips.

***

Et, fin.

For the chapter at least. :]
What do y'all think?

2 more chapters I'm guessing.
:'[