Kumiko: Hey Everyone, I'm going to stop the voting now. I'm really sorry. I'm waiting for the envelope that is delivered by…Naruto Uzumaki of course! He should be here any time now…

Naruto: Sorry I'm late, I got lost…


Kumiko: It's alright. Let me just open the envelope

Naruto: Can I open it?

Kumiko: uh…sure go ahead.

Naruto: Opens envelope… The winner is…

Kumiko: Looks over Naruto's shoulder

Naruto & Kumiko: NEJI HYUUGA!!!

Kumiko: Neji- 21 votes (Hell yea!)

Sasuke- 17 votes

Sai- 1 vote (Sorry Sai)

Gaara- 4 votes

Kankuro- 3 votes

So this story is going to end up as a SakuXNeji fic. But there will be a little GaaraXSakura moment in the story, and maybe a SasuXSaku moment too. Who knows? I want to thank everyone that has supported me through this story and the people that had reviewed. It made me feel so happy! So let's continue with the story shall we…

Chapter 11

"Okay, just one more person to check on, then I'm done for the day!" said Sakura as she entered the last room on her list. "Let's see…Lani Manaka?" said Sakura out loud. She looked to see a child, probably around 9 or 10.

"Hello, I'm going to be your doctor for the month. I'm Sakura Haruno"

"Hello, I'm Lani!" said Lani smiling at her. She had black hair with blue highlights and dark blue eyes. Lani's eyes soon widened. "Wow, you have pink hair! Did you die your hair?" asked Lani as she went to the end of her bed.

Sakura let out a laugh. "Um…no, it's natural. I got it from my mom" said Sakura smiling.

"Well, it works for you. You look like a cherry blossom I saw before!" said Lani smiling.

Sakura looked out of the window in the room. How could anyone see a cherry blossom here in Suna? Before Sakura could say anything Lani continued.

"I remember going to Konoha with my parents. We went to a spring festival and I saw lots of cherry blossom trees! They were so pretty!"

"Oh so you've been to Konoha before?"

"Yup, I wish I could visit there again." said Lani going to the window. Sakura sat down on the bed.

"Then why don't you just ask your parents to go on a trip some time?" Lani soon became quiet.

"I can't…" Sakura looked at her. Lani turned to face Sakura. "They're dead…" Sakura's eyes widened.

"D-dead?!" Lani nodded.

"Yeah…they died because of me…" said Lani. "You see, I have a disease in my throat. I think it was called Sarcoma or something. My mom said that it was a rare disease. Anyways, I wanted to perform for the winter festival that's coming up at Konoha, but my doctor said I can't because the disease made my throat hurt and I have to talk softly. My dad wanted me to have this operation. But if I take this operation, I can't sing anymore because they would remove my vocal cords…" said Lani. "My dad and mom got into a fight over me. My dad left one night, and when he came back, he killed my mom. But my sensei killed my dad when he tried to hurt me."

Sakura's eyes widened as she fell on her knees and pulled Lani into a hug.

"Sakura-neechan, are you alright?" asked Lani. Sakura just nodded.

"I know how you feel. I'm going through the same thing too. My parents died because of me. I also have the disease but it's has already grown worse. I have till the end of December. I also want to perform at the winter festival. I know exactly what you're going through…" said Sakura. Lani's eyes widened.

"We're the same…" said Lani as she hugged Sakura.

Outside the room a certain person was listening to their conversation.

"Sakura…" said the person sadly.

"Temari, where are you?" called Ino. Temari looked down the hall to see Ino looking for her.

"I'm right here!" said Temari as she went up to Ino.

"There you are, I've been looking for you!" said Ino. Temari didn't say anything until they reached the other girls.

"Why didn't you guys tell me?" asked Temari. Tenten looked at her.

"What do you mean?" asked Hinata.

"Sakura's dying and you guys didn't even tell me…" said Temari. The girls didn't say anything as they felt guilty.

"One of my friends is dying and no one even bothered to tell me? Answer me!" said Temari. She was getting pissed at them.

"Because Sakura is scared!" yelled Ino. "She scared that she's going to die! She's always putting on a smile even though she's scared and in pain, helping people even though she's the one who needs the help. She doesn't want anyone treating her differently…"

"How long has she had it?" asked Temari.

"She had it when she was around 9 or 10…" said Ino.

"Isn't there anything we can do?"

"There's nothing, except her having an operation. But she has a small chance of survival. She was supposed to take it when she was younger but she refused. You know how stubborn she is. Besides, she wants to perform at the winter concert coming up and that's her dream and promise she made to her mom. Being able to sing in front of everyone she cares about." No one said anything after that.

"You know, I'm scared. I mean think about it. What will it be like without Sakura in our lives…?" asked Hinata.

"I…I just don't know…" said Tenten as she looked away. Hinata frowned as she walked out of the room. She went to Lani's room as she poked her head in.

"Hey Sakura…" said Hinata. In the room, Lani was on her bed lying down as Sakura was doing a certain hand seal.

"What are you do?" asked Hinata as she watched. Sakura smiled at Hinata.

"She's just like me. She has the disease too so I'm going to try something. Don't tell anyone okay Hinata…" She nodded as Sakura continued.

"Well you see, I was researching the disease. Lani's had just started, so she has a good chance of survival. Hinata, I need you to help me see where the tumor is okay?"

"But Sakura, what about your"

"My charka, well Lani needs my help. So I'll do it. Don't worry about me." said Sakura smiling. "Don't worry Lani, I'll make sure you'll survive this operation." Lani looked at her, before she nodded. Sakura had a few medics come in to help her.

Sakura took a deep breath as Hinata activated her Byakugan. Sakura had set up everything needed for the operation as she put Lani to sleep with sleeping gas as she started the operation.

"Let's begin!" said Sakura. The medics nodded as Hinata began telling Sakura where to move her hands.

"Sakura, move your hands to the right…no more...okay…there!" said Hinata as Sakura found the spot where the tumor was. Sakura began to slowly take the tumor out piece by piece, with out removing the vocal cords, which took about an hour or two. Soon Sakura did one long hand seal as she let a large amount of charka out of her hand. Soon Sakura backed away wobbly.

"Sakura!" said Hinata. Sakura began coughing. One of the medics rushed to her.

'Sakura-san, are you okay?" asked a medic. Sakura's vision became blurry as she fell to the floor.

"SAKURA!" yelled Hinata as she ran to get Temari and the girls.

-------------------------------------

"Sakura is what?!" asked Gaara as he looked into the eyes of Lio.

"It's true sir, Sakura-san is in the hospital." said Lio. Gaara got up and headed to the door.

"Gaara-sama, where are you going?"

"…" said Gaara as he closed the door behind him. Lio sighed.

"How troublesome…" said Lio before leaving the room himself.

-----------------------

"You there!" called out Gaara. The medic turned around.

"Oh Kazekage-sama, how may I help you?"

"What room is Sakura Haruno in?" asked Gaara.

"Sakura Haruno? Hm…"

"She's has pink hair and green eyes" said Gaara tapping his foot.

"Oh, she's in room 219!' said the nurse with a smile. Gaara cringed at the sight. She had missing teeth and black stuff around her teeth that was still there. Gaara immediately ran away.

He entered the room and found Sakura sleeping. What happened to her? She looked pale.

He got closer as he studied her. She looked peaceful. A few hair stands fell over her eyes. Gaara moved the strands away from her face.

"Sakura…" Gaara whispered.

"Hn…G-Gaara?" said Sakura. Gaara looked up to see Sakura awake. "Hey…" said Sakura as she smiled at him. Gaara felt his cheeks get warm.

"Um…how are you feeling?" asked Gaara. He was feeling uncomfortable.

"I'm fine. How's Lani?" asked Sakura.

"She's doing fine thanks to you…" said a voice. The two looked to see Temari smiling at them.

"You did it Sakura! You stopped the disease, she doesn't have it anymore…" said Temari. "But you gave us all a scare back there. We thought that you-"Temari stopped as she noticed that Gaara was there.

"Oh anyways, you and the girls are invited to Suna's ball. It will be in the end of this month. We also invited everyone else in Konoha." said Temari. Sakura smiled. But, would Neji even talk to her?

"Thanks." said Sakura

"Oh and it's a costume party, so you have to dress up, since it's going to be on the day of Halloween." said Temari.

"Of course…" said Sakura. Just two more months until December. Soon a nurse came in.

"Sakura, you're able to leave the hospital." She said smiling.

"Okay." Soon the nurse and Temari left the room. But before Temari did she noticed that Gaara was acting a bit different around Sakura.

"Hey Gaara…" Gaara looked up at his sister. "Take care of Sakura for me…" said Temari winking at her brother. Sakura giggled.

"Well come on, Gaara, let's visit Lani!" said Sakura getting up. Gaara got up after her. Sakura turned around to see that Gaara was way behind her.

"Gaara, you move like an old lady, come on!" said Sakura as she grabbed Gaara's hand. Gaara's cheeks turned pink. The two entered a room.

"Sakura-neechan!" said Lani as she saw a familiar pink haired girl enter the room. She then saw a familiar red haired guy behind her.

"You know the Hokage?" asked Lani. Sakura nodded.

"Yup. Me and Gaara are good friends." said Sakura hugging Gaara, making him blush more. Lani laughed.

"You're making the Hokage blush!" said Lani. Sakura blinked.

"I am?" she looked at Gaara to see that there was a tint of pink on his cheeks. "He probably isn't used to having people touch him a lot…" said Sakura letting go of Gaara. Gaara frowned as Sakura let him go. "So how are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling good. Look I still have my vocal cords and I can talk louder!" said Lani dancing around the room. Soon she ran up to Sakura. "Thank you so much Sakura-neechan!" Sakura smiled at Lani.

"I promised you'd survive this operation!" said Sakura. "I think you're able to sing at the Winter Festival." Sakura said as she ruffled Lani's hair.

"Really?" asked Lani as her dark blue eyes widened with happiness.

"Yup, in fact, I'm going to make sure you're able to sing at the concert!" said Sakura. Lani smiled at her but then frowned.

"What about you Sakura-neechan?" asked Lani. Sakura looked at her. "Are you going to be able to sing?" Sakura didn't say anything for a bit. Soon Sakura smiled.

"Of course I will…" said Sakura. But she wasn't sure.

"Promise?!" said Lani sticking out her pinky. Sakura smiled.

"I promise…" said Sakura.