Wow I am on a roll with this story. Being sick had definite advantages. Maybe I will be compelled to get another chapter out today but if not today most likely tomorrow. I love this story and I hope you do too. Thanks to all of you who are reading the story it makes me happy when I check to see how many people have been reading. Keep making me happy!!!

Happy Halloween!!!! Have fun trick or treating. I get to stay home and eat soup. I can't even to the party I was going to go to!!

Disclaimer: don't own Naruto sorry people. But definitely own the plot line that you guys like reading.

Chapter 10

The world froze. The scrolls came to stop after rolling away from her. The room's occupants hung their heads seeing the defeat in her eyes. Time itself seemed to stop reveling in moment that would be unforgettable. Her body began to shake. The hands on her shoulders tightened as if trying to stop the shaking that had taken over. "No." she breathed. "no it can't be. He....he promised." Naruto looked down at the girl in front of him. He could see the tears beginning to line her eyes waiting to boil over and cascade down her face. "Sakura." he whispered softly. "NO!" she shouted. "he can't be.....dead. He promised he would come back. He promised. He said he would come back to me." her voice going from loud to soft. Naruto drew the girl into a hug. He felt her shoulders begin to shake violently and the wetness that began to soak into his shirt. She clung to him as she sobbed violently. Her breath became ragged as she tried to gulp air into her lungs.

"Naruto." Tsunade's voice broke. "take her home." Naruto nodded and picked Sakura bridal style and left the room. The other three shinobi watching their friend carry his teammate out of the room. Kiba began to pick up the scrolls Sakura had dropped. He laid them on the desk. Tsunade had sunk into her chair as if wanting to disappear. She flicked her wrist letting the shinobi know they could leave. The three exited the room. Neji took one last glance at the Hokage who had her elbows perched on the desk and had he face in her hands. Neji slowly closed the door knowing it was closed when he heard the 'click'.

Tsunade sat there. Her mind blank not thinking of anything. She felt bad for her apprentice. She had gone through so much already and now this had to happen. She couldn't help not thinking that the death of Ryu was indeed caused by his own village. She would put the alliance on hold until the murderers' were caught and brought to justice. She could only think that the killers were the two idiots that had been with him when he returned the last time. She buried her face in her hands wishing none of this had ever happened.

Naruto carried the petite, fragile girl back to her apartment. Her sobs had calmed down but he could still feel her trembling and silently crying. He shifted the girl in his arms when he opened the door to her apartment. He made his way to her room where he gently laid her on her bed. She had fallen asleep. Her cheeks still glistened with the tears that she had shed. He looked at her. Her face seemed serene. He kissed her forehead as a brother does to a sister. He put a blanket over her and left the room closing the door behind him. He walked down the stairs. He looked over at mantle that held pictures. He walked over to the mantle. He saw the original team seven picture, the new one that included Sai and Yamato. Then he saw several other pictures. Some of them were of Sakura and him and then the majority of them consisted of Sakura with Ryu. He looked at her smile. It was her true smile. The smile that had been gone until Ryu came into her life. His own smile disappeared as he thought about the man that had brought light and love to Sakura's life. He had entered her life so silently and quickly and left it exactly the same way. Quickly. He felt a tear make its way down his face as he thought about the man that had stolen Sakura's heart for the second time. 'Ryu. Why did you have to leave her?'

Ino had no idea why she was being summoned to the Hokage's office so late at night. She entered the office after knocking twice. She immediately noticed how distraught the Hokage was. "Tsunade-sama?" Ino inquired. Tsunade looked at the blond woman. "Ah, Ino. I wanted to talk to you about some thing. What I am about to say to you is right now confidential but I want you to know as Sakura will need you to be with her." "Sakura? Tsunade-sama what's wrong?" Tsunade looked her right in the eye. "Ino, a team I sent out on a mission found Ryu dead. They brought his body back here. Sakura found out a little while ago." Ino gasped at the news. "Sakura." Tsunade nodded. "Naruto took her home but she is not going to be in a good condition tomorrow. I need you to help her out. She is going to be hurting." "Hai, Tsunade. I will head over to her apartment in the morning." "Also I have asked Naruto to go over to his apartment and clean it up. I want you to go with him." "Hai, I will." "That is all Ino." Ino nodded her head and left the office. 'Poor Sakura.' she thought as she left the building.

Sakura woke up the next morning. Her mind replayed the scene last night. She curled herself into a ball and silently began to cry again. She gripped the sheets as the silent cries turned into sobs that racked her body. She buried her face into the pillows of her bed.

Once she had calmed down a little she made her way down the stairs to settle herself on her couch. She was wrapped up in a blanket and held the most recent picture of her and Ryu together. Her mind replayed the most cherished memories she had with him.

*flashback*

She knocked on the door as she always did. She heard voices inside the room but not one that told her not to come in. She opened the door and stepped into the room. She saw an unfamiliar man talking to her shishou. The man stopped when he heard the door open. Tsunade motioned for him to continue and for Sakura to come and drop off the scrolls which she held. The man resumed talking. Sakura noted that the voice was nice. It was a deep voice but soothing to hear. She didn't pay attention to what he was saying. She placed the scrolls on the desk Tsunade sat at. She looked up to see the man's face. She looked up and noticed the man looking at her while Tsunade talked to him. He smiled slightly at her. She blushed and left the room after organizing the scrolls.

She had walked about twenty-paces from the office when she heard the door open and close. "Wait!" she heard a man's voice call out. She turned her head and saw the man coming towards her. "Yes?" she had asked innocently enough. "What is your name?" "Sakura, Haruno Sakura." "That's a beautiful name Sakura. I'm Ryu, Taheshi Ryu. I am from the Village Hidden in the Rocks." He bowed before her. Sakura slightly giggled. "Ryu it is nice to meet you." Ryu grinned a broad grin. "Why thank you. The same here."

*end flashback*

Tears started to leak through her closed eyelids.

*flashback*

Sakura was walking towards her apartment when she heard a voice call her name. "Sakura!" She turned and looked around. She saw a man running towards her. "Ryu?" she called. The said man stopped a few feet away and started to walk towards her. "Hey Sakura." "Ryu, what are you doing here?" "Oh, well I had to return to give another scroll to the Hokage. You know since I am the messenger." Sakura nodded her head. She started walking again. "Sakura." he made his way next to her side. "I am going to be living here. The Tsuchikage thought it would be a good idea to have a diplomat live here in Konoha." "That's nice." "Sakura, I want to get to know you better." He grabbed her elbow and swung her gently around to face him. "Ryu, I'm sorry but I am not ready for a relationship. I'm sorry." She got her arm back and ran towards her apartment. Ryu just looked after her.

*end flashback*

'he was so patient with me.' more tears fell from her eyes.

*flashback*

"Come on Sakura. Get over Sasuke and get on with your life." cried Ino. She was flipping out. "Sakura, you have a nice man wanting to get to know you and all you do is push him away." Sakura was looking at her hands in her lap as she sat cross legged on Ino's bed. "I can't Ino. I'm not ready." "Thats bullcrap Sakura. We both know it is." Sakura looked up at her friend who was pacing the room. "YOU need to get off your butt and move on with your life. YOU are holding yourself back from soemthing that is great." Ino took a breath. "Come on. Give the guy a chance. Its not everyday that a shinobi comes to live in Konoha and wants to go out with you." Ino sat next to her on the bed. "Give your heart another chance. He isn't Sasuke. He is a nice guy who cares for you." Sakura couldn't help herself but launch herself into Ino's arms and begin to cry. "I want to move on but it is so hard." "Ino rubbed her back. "Sakura, you are strong despite what people may say. Give Ryu a chance. Maybe he can heal what's broken." Sakura nodded and gave a smile.

*end flashback*

'Thank you Ino for helping me get the courage to go out with him.'

*flashback*

She saw Ryu standing outside the Hokage's office. She took a deep breath and made her way towards him. He saw her approaching. He gave a smile. "Sakura, I...." Sakura stopped him. "Ryu I am sorry for the way I behaved the other day. It was rude of me and I wanted to let you know that I want to get to know you too." Ryu gazed down at the woman in front of him. "Well then. Sakura would you like to go on a date with me?" "Sakura looked up into his dark blue eyes. "Yes, I would like to go on a date with you."

*end flashback*

'He always forgave me so easily.'

*flashback*

Ryu was walking her back to her apartment. They stopped when they reached the door. Sakura turned to face him. Ryu was standing there so calmly. "Sakura, I wanted to ask you something." "Yes?" Sakura looked up into his face trying to read his eyes. "Sakura, I know that you might not be ready for a relationship yet but I have to ask. Sakura would you be my girlfriend?" Sakura smiled. "Yes, I would like to be your girlfriend." Ryu sighed deeply. "Thank you. You have no idea how painful that was." Sakura smiled and hugged him which he in turn hugged her back. They pulled away. Gently Ryu cupped his hands on her cheeks and slowly descended his head. He lightly kissed her on the lips. He lifted his head and gazed down on her. She looked up at him re-opening her eyes. "thank you." she whispered.

*end flashback*

'he was so gentle with me. As if I would break at any moment.'

*flashback*

He looked at her. Their eyes clashing. "Sakura, what if I asked you to marry me?" she blinked. 'is he asking me to marry him?' "That depends. Was he asking to know if I could or if I will?" "If you will." a smiled appeared on her lips. "Then that would have to be a yes." He smiled. "Then Sakura will you marry me?" "Yes." he kissed her. A gentle passionate kiss. They broke away slightly. "I have something for you." His hand reached into a pocket and brougth out a little black box. He opened the lid and there was a ring. It had a clear diamond on it. It was small but elegant. He took it out of the box and slid it onto her finger. He kissed her hand where the finger was at before he kissed her again. It was a passionate kiss. He licked her bottom lip and her mouth opened. The kiss grew. Sakura loved the feelings she was feeling. No one had ever made her feel so special. She felt Ryu's arm encircle her small form deepening the kiss still. They broke for air. Each looking into each other's eyes. "Aishiteru Sakura." As they kissed again the fireworks began.

*end flashback*

'he loved me like no other.'

Sakura couldn't help but break down in heart wrenching sobs. The man she loved. The man she was ready to begin a life with. He was gone. He was gone from her. Never to return. He had left her behind in this world. She felt so alone. So empty. She couldn't stand the emptiness she felt. She curled herself into an even tighter ball and fell asleep clutching the picture to her chest wishing it wasn't real. Wishing that Ryu would walk through the door any second and scoop her up in his arms. That he would whisper sweet words to her. To make her laugh. To make her smile. To mend her shattered heart. To be there for her as he had been for the past year and a half. The happiest time of her life. The moments she never wanted to forget because if she did she would lose her mind. She would lose her shattered hear to nothing but the darkness.

'you said you wouldn't be like him.'

Whaaahhh!!!!!!! Oh man was that a heart wrencher to write. Sorry that it is shorter than usual. Next chapter will be better and longer. I have some good ideas for the next chapter (I think).

Happy Halloween

Trick or review!!!!

Later!!!