It hurt.

It hurt like hell.

His heart was heavy and the world felt as though it was spinning on its axis.

He knew she meant every word she said.
He knew she would end her life before she ever allowed someone else to control her.

To make her hurt or kill those she loved most.

The heaviness in his chest was driving him crazy.

He was filled with so much relief when she had finally woken up..

But then dread quickly followed, he knew that look..

He knew those eyes..

He knew her.

It hurt like hell sometimes, and he wished that he didn't know her so well. But he did and he knew it was just the pain saying that.

The simple truth of the matter was that he loved her.

He loved her so damned much that it made it hard to breath, or think, or eat.

He was becoming a shell without her. He almost forgot what it was to be without her, and he didn't seem to care one bit. No, she did not define his life, and he did not live for her, but she was so much a big part of his heart..

That without her, he didn't know if he even had one anymore.

"You have got to stop doing this to yourself, Shika.." Ino whispered softly, her arms engulfing him as she brought him into a hug..

And then, it was as though a damn broke.

His anger, hurt, pain.. Everything came out and he finally exploded.

"No! You don't fucking understand!" He shouted, surprise painting his long time friend's face. "You don't fucking get it. No one does. I'm fucking in love with her. I love her with every breath in my body and every fiber in my being. I want to marry that woman. If she bleeds, I bleed, when she hurts, I hurt.. My world brightens when I see her smile.. And the world falls apart when she's down.. You don't get it. No one get's it.." His words died out as he fell to his knees, tears slipping down his cheeks, I don't know what to do.. For the first time in my life, I don't know what the fuck to do. I'm supposed to be a genius. I'm supposed to be able to figure this shit out, but here I am, useless.."

"Enough.." Her voice was soft at first, "Enough, goddammit!" Ino's voice was poisonous and she was seething, "Sakura is not some weak child! She does not need to be saved. She does not need us to save her. She doesn't need you to save her, and I very much doubt she'll be happy to hear about this pathetic little tantrum you are throwing!" Ino threw her hands up in the air. She stared down her teammate and watched as he stared right back. Slowly, her eyes softened, "She loved you, you idiot. She loves all of us, but she's in love with you. Sakura has always and will always do whatever it takes to keep those she loves safe. Even if it means putting herself on the front lines. This will not defeat her. They will not defeat her. And we will be there when the battle begins and we will be there when it ends. We figure this out. But first, you need to get your shit together and stop this goddamned pity party you've been throwing yourself lately. This is not healthy in the least and when Sakura is back, I'm sure she will be equally disappointed. Get your big boy boxers on and let's figure out a way to help our girl." Ino smiled, earning a slow nod from the Nara.

As they walked towards the usual meeting place with everyone, he turned to her and smiled a little, "Thanks, Ino.. I needed that."

"Well, duh. That's what family is for." She stuck her tongue out then smiled as well. "Shisui is right, we all love her. She's our family just as much as we are her's."

*.*.*.*

"You have come home.." The words were soft, like a lover caressing the beauty of the heart they wished to capture. She stared at him, emerald eyes cold stone gems gleaming beneath the dim light. "Oh, don't be so angry. I won't hurt you or your precious people, but I will make sure those who doubted us will pay. They will bow before you and they will know true pain." Danzo smirked, his cold fingers caressing her warm cheek. She winced at the contact. She was doing this for her people, "I will do whatever you demand as long as my people are not harmed." Sakura said emotionlessly.

"Of course, my love." Danzo licked his lips, he was enamored by the girl, and he was unsure how that could be, but he did not care. He knew her heart belonged to another, but he would change that with time. She was his, and she would have no choice but to submit to his will.

From behind them, a man shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Who is that?" Sakura asked, her eyes flickering over to the broad shouldered man, hidden by the darkness of shadows and his cloak. "Him? Oh, don't worry about him. He's just an insurance, in case you and I need back up."

"You mean in case I need back up?" Sakura shot back.

"No, my love, I mean us. I will not ask of you what I myself will not do." Danzo shrugged, turning to the man in the corner, "Until it is time to go, we must prepare. He will lead you to your room, rest my love.. You will need it."

And just like that, Sakura was left alone with the man.

She followed him silently as he walked through the corridors, only to stop at a door towards the end. Opening the door, he gave her room to move through the threshold. It was actually breath taking, the room she was assigned. The walls were a pale pink, almost white. There was a queen sized bed in the middle of the room with a canopy stationed above it, the covers beneath the big quilt the same color as the walls while the quilt its self was a darker pink, but still shades light from being anything near dark. There were wooden dressers, white in color and a white wooden chest at the foot of the bed. "He loves you, my dear... Don't get used to this room, once we are done, he will give you the treasures of the world." Before Sakura could ask anything, the world went black.