Sorry for the late update, but I'm still juggling the whole high school thing. I got a 3.5! I'm so happy! Lalalalala!

Disclaimer: Don't own.


Ch.28: Choices Between the Void

It's been three weeks since the incident. Sakura was still in critical condition. Kakashi looked wistfully over to the empty bed next to her 'At least she's okay.'

Ayame had been released last week after physical therapy; Sasuke and Naruto were assigned to be her bodyguards. They still hadn't found Yumi, but they were going to. No one messed with Konoha and got away with it.

Visits had slowed to a steady rate, but there weren't any today due to the storm that was currently pounding the village. Kakashi smirked. 'Looks like I'm not the only sad one today.' He looked at his pink-haired angel. Her cheeks were sunken and her hair lost some of its luster, a shadow of her former self, but he still thought she was beyond words. He squeezed her hand and sighed. "I wonder what's going on in your mind…." he whispered.

With Sakura…..

Sakura's shoulders sank as she heavily sighed. 'I've been here for three weeks and I still have no clue as to where I am.'

Sakura lied down on the plane beneath her. "It's so dark here, it's like I'm in a black hole." She drew small circles with her finger on the ground. 'I'm so weak, no wonder I don't know where I am. I'm a failure as a kunoichi and a friend. That's why Sasuke and Naruto have to save me all the time. That's why I couldn't stop Ayame from getting hurt. That's why Kakashi deserves someone better than me.'

Sakura sighed despairingly. "I give up."

All of a sudden, a bright light appeared in front of her. Sakura propped herself up on her elbows. "Nani?" The light erupted and she shielded her eyes. The light dulled and she put down her arm and gasped. It was a vision of lush meadow with a stream and a large sakura tree. Sakura helped herself up and tentatively put her hand out. Her hand was absorbed into the vision. 'A parallel dimension?'

She smiled dreamily. 'It's so warm.' With half-lidded eyes, she smiled. "I guess this is it." She drew breath and walked through the barrier into the meadow.

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The sun was out now. Naruto and Sasuke were in the park walking when Naruto froze suddenly. "Teme?"

"Yeah, I felt it too. Something's wrong. We better get to the hospital." Naruto nodded and the two men sped off towards the hospital.

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Kakashi woke up to the screeching of a machine. 'Must of dozed off. What's with the screeching machine?'

"Wait." Kakashi lifted his gaze to the heart monitor only to see one of the most dreadful sights in a hospital; a flat line. "No." he whispered. He pressed both hands into his hair. "No. No. No!" He took Sakura's hand and squeezed it. "Sakura? Wake up. Please? Sakura?"

No response. Tears welled up in his eyes. He gently shook Sakura's shoulder. "Sakura, wake up. You're scaring me."

Still nothing.

He shook harder, causing the oxygen mask to slip off. "Sakura, this isn't funny. Come on, wake up!" He exclaimed. He held her face in his hands. "Sakura, you can't leave me. I need you. Don't leave me alone. Don't you dare leave me alone!" he yelled as the tears started to slip down his face. "Don't leave me." he whispered to her while tears fell freely down his face. He held her body to his.

"SAKURA!"


Sakura had just finished passing through the barrier and made it to the other side when she felt a surge of electricity pass through her. She froze. 'It's nothing, just my imagination.'

She took a few steps towards the tree when she heard something. "SAKURA!"

She whipped her head around. "Kakashi?!" She ran back to the barrier when she saw a vision of Kakashi holding a limp body in his arms crying. Her hand trembled as she reached toward the sight. Her eyes focused and her hand flew to her mouth. Tears rained down her cheeks. 'It's me.'

She pressed her hand against the barrier, trying to press through. 'My hand's not moving!' She pressed harder, she even used her chakra and couldn't penetrate the barrier. She started to sob and pounded the barrier. "Kakashi! I changed my mind! I want to go back! Kakashi! Kakashi! Let me go back! Kakashi! I love you! I NEED YOU!" she screamed.

The barrier and the meadow shattered into pieces of glass, knocking her to the ground. They floated around her unconscious body and began to spin rapidly. Her body lifted up. The shards twirled faster, a white glow emerged from Sakura's body. The glass spun faster and faster; a light exploded, and then, darkness.

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Sasuke and Naruto erupted through the door to see the window open, the curtain billowing in the sunny breeze. The duo turned to the bed, abject horror in their eyes. They watched in shock as their teacher cradled the limp body of their dead teammate to his chest.

Naruto stepped forward, but Sasuke held him back. Naruto looked back confusedly, but Sasuke looked at him sternly, his eyes saying leave-him-alone-for-now. Naruto nodded and watched his teacher desperately cling to her small form.

Kakashi kissed her forehead and lips while tears fell down his face. He separated them for a minute and looked sadly into her pale face. He smoothed the hair from her face. "I'm so sorry, Sakura. I should have done a better job at protecting you."

I love you.

He felt a frail hand cup his face and leaned into it. Shocked gasps rang through the room. Kakashi slowly opened his eyes, only to have them bug out. "S-s-s-s"

A finger shushed him. "Apology accepted."

Kakashi drank in the sight of the woman before him. Her pink hair, her bright, green eyes, her beautiful smile, the one on her face for him. "We were all wrong. Heaven isn't pearly gates and angels. It's a meadow with a sakura tree." She smiled. Kakashi half-cried and half-laughed and enveloped her into his arms. "You're back. You're really back."

Sakura laid her head on his shoulder. "And I'm staying."

Naruto couldn't contain it anymore and screamed. "Sakura-chan!!!!!" He pounced on her and smothered her in a hug. She giggled. "Ow! Okay, Naruto! I know you're happy to see me, but can you stop crushing my ribs?"

Naruto blushed hotly and let go. Sasuke smiled warmly and walked over. He sat next to her. Sakura smiled back and cupped his cheek. "Hi Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke smirked at his fond nickname. "Next time you do that, me and Naruto are coming after you."

Sakura raised her brow skeptically while Sasuke smirked back. They broke out into a fit of laughter and embraced each other. "Don't freak us out like that, ne? We were really scared. I was scared." he whispered against her ear.

He felt Sakura nod against him. He separated from here and looked her straight in the eye. "Good, so don't ever do that again." He pecked her cheek. "Good to have you back." Sakura giggled and Sasuke and Naruto went to tell a doctor and go tell everyone else the good news.

Sakura stifled her giggles and turned toward her lover who looked at her with a measured gaze. "What?" she asked.

"It's just….you're alive and awake. I thought I'd never see you smile or laugh again. I can barely believe it."

Sakura bent over and patted his knee. "Well, you better. I'm staying and that's final."

Kakashi did his signature eye-crease and chuckled. "I do." He looked her in the eye. She stared back confusedly. "So," he asked, "what's heaven really like then?"

She giggled. "Only if you tell me what happened while I was gone." Kakashi clasped her hands in his. "Deal." and began to talk for the first time in a long while.

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"WHAT?!" They all exclaimed.

"Yup, Sakura-chan is awake and alive!"

"Naruto, you better not be lying or I swear I'll-"

"Tsunade-sama, he's not lying. She just woke up a few minutes ago." stated Sasuke.

Saita sank dumbly in a chair in silence and suddenly broke into a fit of hysterical laughter. "Nani?" said Keiko.

"Haha. I'm just…Hahaha…so….haha….happy! She's….haha…alright!"

Keiko broke into a grin. "You know…we should have a party." she suggested.

"When?" asked Kiba, Ayame, Genma, and Anko.

"Hmmm…maybe the 28th?" suggested Ino. Saita tapped his chin in thought.

Hinata looked worriedly at him. "Are you alright, Saita-san?"

"I'm fine, Hinata-san, but that date sounds familiar."

Keiko slapped her head. "That's our wedding date! Baka! I forgot all about it cuz of that fucking bitch Yumi. I'll call them right now and…"

"Don't touch that phone." screamed Ino.

"What now?" asked Kiba.

"I get where she's coming from." stated Shino.

"Care to explain?" asked Iruka. "We'll hold a surprise party for Sakura in lieu of the wedding. It's the perfect cover and you guys can still get that wedding." explained Tenten.

"We wouldn't want to waste a perfectly good dress." smiled Shizune.

"Or have you lose your deposit." yawned Shikamaru.

"Or that food." said Chouji.

Saita and Keiko both nodded. "Then it's settled."

"For the blossom of Konoha! To the beloved flower of our hearts and source of our youth! Let's hear it for Sakura!" screamed Lee. Surprisingly enough, they all cheered, even Shino, Neji, and Sasuke.

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I'm finally done with this chapter!! Yay! (dances around room) This fic is almost done. Sorry guys, but it has to end sooner or later. I didn't kill Sakura so you better review!