WELCOME! Guys, I KNOW that this update is way passed over-due and I'm so sorry about that. I was going through a serious amount writing troubles, honestly BUT I am working on it and I promise more frequent updates to get this show right back on the road. This won't ever happen again, I promise but just know, I haven't forgotten about this! PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR TAKING SO LONG! :'(

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Title:Natsu no kōri no Fuyu Kasai (winter's fire summer's ice)

Standard Disclaimer Applied

I formally apologize for any grammatical errors. Being my own editor and writer among other things is hard.

[Chapter Thirty Eight]

Sakura walked down the halls feeling like everything was going to collapse in on her. Books hugged to her chest, hair in a ponytail swishing behind her and Naruto, like a body guard walking next to her hands in his pockets. They were walking alone this morning and even with everyone hustled and huddled in the hall, she felt like the corridors were desolate.

She glanced at Naruto for the millionth time just to make sure he was there and that she wasn't walking alone. She didn't see the halls the same anymore, not the way they used to be. They were different, everyone around her was different and the atmosphere was different.

Memories flashed through her mind to the very same halls where she'd first seen Hinata have a vision, the same halls were Tami attacked her in front of everyone and Sasuke brought her to the hospital, the same halls she'd been brought to the nurses office in and the very same halls she and Sasuke had their first misunderstanding. The white tiles with flesh and skin spread out everywhere, students watching them with scrutinizing eyes.

Over the last couple of days, she'd been dealing with some heavy demons. Her mind kept replying the highlights of the journey she had taken. It had spilled so many things on her plate that she hadn't been expecting and Sasuke well; he didn't have time for her right now. She wasn't offended; she knew that whatever he and Kurenai spoke about after she left had been extremely important. He had been in there for hours. She knew he had a lot of things to do and get done- things that were best kept from her. She did trust his judgment.

She was glad somewhat about his absence. Partly since after what had happened between them in the forest, she didn't know how to act around him very well. She was always nervous and fluttery more than usual, her stomach filled with twice as many knots that they always did, her cheeks flushed until pain and she didn't know what to expect. She didn't want to start feeling used and even though she knew he wasn't using her, she didn't know if he would start. She didn't know if he would now always expect that from her, if it was all he wanted now. She had no way of knowing and it seemed rude to ask.

Another reason was from feeling like slut and then because she was dealing with mental after effects of him biting out her neck in the heat of the moment. Granted she had many more tiring things but they were useless to think about and well, she just couldn't stop thinking about this. How she had felt, she had never thought anything in life every felt so overwhelmingly wonderful. When she came home flooded with emotions and exhausted she couldn't stop feeling like she'd done some heinous crime. She couldn't stop feeling like some slut and like she'd just proven everyone who'd every called her a whore right. Naruto told her it was the 'bottom drop effect'.

Naruto dropped his arm around Sakura's shoulder and nestled his head in her hair for a moment before kissing her temple. "So, this is about what happened between you and Sasuke yesterday isn't it?" He asked in a warm voice like summer breeze on the beach.

His voice was one completely opposite of Sasuke's. His voice was full of emotion, as if it had every single one of them in there. His was warm, soothing and as if it spoke the language of the heart. No wonder they were best friends, Yin and Yang.

They had returned to town and were now loitering at the first home Sasuke had brought her to. The one without the furnished yet desolate second floor and Sasuke was having an important discussion with his Knights, including Gaara. Hinata was also present in the room next to his bedroom door. She didn't really want to be in there. Not only was she tired, even after Krystal had fixed her up but her mind was racing with thoughts. It had been such a long day yesterday, full of so much chaos and truths and confessions she just hadn't let it all sink in. Right now, she was reflecting on her slutty ways and she was feeling pretty bad. She'd been treated as a toy almost her entire life, put down for just that much longer and downgraded. She felt like a slut. No way around it. All she was doing now was proving herself and everyone else right. What if Sasuke didn't want her after all this was said and done?

Sakura stared at him. Stunned. "How do you know what happened?"

He smiled, his sea blue eyes getting even bluer than they were before. There was just something about him. "I'm not as clueless as you think. I'm very observant and well, you weren't very quiet."

She looked down and knotted her fingers together. Her cheeks flushed with color and for a mere moment she felt like she would pass out. "I'm so sorry."

"Why are you doing this to yourself? Why do you keep telling yourself these ridiculous things?" He asked her, turning her to face him. "Look at me. You always do that too, do you think I don't notice? Honestly, I'm not stupid."

She swallowed.

"Sakura-Chan, look at me when I'm talking to you." He said. Her eyes trailed up. "All he did was bite your neck," he said easily.

She didn't want to but she laughed. "Don't say it like that."

"That's all he did. All he did was take a bite out of your neck and I'm sure neck-biting like thatisn't a thing. Really, I know sluts Sakura-chan, take my word for it," he said.

"It's just I really feel like I'm proving them right." She said waving her hands. "You know what I mean?"

"But you're not." He said. "Let's put things into perspective then, shall we? We can both rationalize and work this out,"

"When did you get so wise?" she teased.

He shrugged. "I don't particularly like being serious but that doesn't mean I'm incapable of it. If you know what I mean."

"Alright sure, show me some logic perspective Professor Uzumaki."

He laughed. "Let's look at the characteristics that 'make' a whore or a slut or a skank or any other related words that you women so love to use on each other. Pretend I'm reading off a list or some shit. How many boyfriends have you had?"

She blinked. "Well one, I mean it's just Sasuke really."

He nodded. "How many men have you ever kissed?"

Her brows furred. Sakura realized where he was going with this. "Just Sasuke."

"How many men have you slept with?"

Her eyes widened. "I've never slept with anyone, not even Sasuke!"

"Right. How many boyfriends have you stolen? How many cocks have you sucked? How many times have you fought for a man? How many times have you been pregnant before leaving high school? How many porn videos have you been on? How many teachers at our school have you had sex with? How many class rooms, closets and school bathrooms have you fucked in? Do you see where I'm going with this or should I continue?"

"I understand what you're saying and I know where you're going with this but-"

"And I understand too what you're saying to me," he said draping his hand around her shoulder again. "I know, people say all these things about you and pleasure is tangled in these things that they say, so when you do feel pleasure, you feel associated with these terms. It's normal –let me just make this clear- it is normal to feel like this for the first time. Even girls that have never been picked on or bullied for some reason after feeling any form of pleasure, they feel dirty, it's the 'bottom drop effect' for lack of a better phrase. The key is to understand that you're not any of these simply because you feel pleasure and gratification from something. I'm sure you don't think Ino is a slut –and she's not a virgin, we both know this." he rationalized.

"What if…you know?" she fumbled for words because it seemed stupid to say it out loud.

He laughed and hugged her tighter. This time his laughter was deep reminding her of the deepness and darkness of Sasuke's chuckle. His laughter was almost like that of a man talking to a child who hardly knew better and had irrational and ridiculous fears. It was a disarming laugh making Sakura for a split second feel like a fool- in a good way. She glanced up at him and smiled. He was making her feel better already.

"Are you kidding me right now? Sakura-Chan, you're too fucking awesome and wonderful to not have even the slightest drop of confidence, even if it's not about you, did you know that? So, what if he doesn't want you anymore because you've established now that you're a hardcore slut, right?"

She slapped him on the arm. "Don't say it like that! Are you even taking this seriously!?"

"Of course I'm taking this seriously, this is my serious face, can't you tell?" he said grinning. "Honestly, serious isn't my thing. Besides, you don't want to see me serious, it's not really inviting to the ladies. Don't lose track of what we're talking about. Come on answer me."

"Well yeah."

"You're so retarded, did you know that?"

She gapped at him. "What? Did you of all people just call me retarded?"

"I mean really, now with you thinking that, what evidence do you have to support this? None really because there isn't any and you're simply over thinking. If he didn't want anything to do with you, you wouldn't be here and in retrospect of this being my friend for more years than –I hate to point this out- you will probably ever exist, if he didn't get to bite your neck from the first time he met you he would have been done with you. We both know this. Like, shit, Sakura-Chan, come on." He groaned hanging his head.

"I know it sounds stupid, honestly I know that. I mean, that's why I haven't said anything to him about it because hearing it now; I know it's ridiculous but that's just how I feel. I know he gives me no reason to doubt him-"

"Blah, blah blah." He interrupted. "That's all it is, blah blah. Like who gives a fuck what these thirsty girls think? They only talk shit because you're where they dream of being, they want to be you, they want Sasuke biting out their necks and it's not happening. Jealousy and envy are killer feelings; they make up the ugliest people in the world. Not because they say these things means you must make yourself miserable just to prove them wrong. It doesn't mean that you should sacrifice self happiness, pleasure and satisfaction just to prove to them that maybe you're not who they think you are. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"If you were fucking down this whole school, what difference would it make?"

Sakura doubled back. "What?"

"How different would they treat you then than they are now? Being a saint or a sinner doesn't matter when it comes to hate. So what if you prove them right? I'm pretty sure that they're not virgins and all this bullshit they penalize you for. As long as you're happy, who cares? Those who care about you won't judge you; I won't judge you for doing what makes you happy because that's all I want. All I want is for you to be happy because you deserve it. Those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind, trust me." he said.

That conversation had saved her from plunging deeper into the hole she'd been going into. She tugged on his sleeve and he looked at her curiously. For the most part of today she noticed how solemn he had been, something very odd to notice because he was usually the sunshine. He wasn't in a good mood.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

He nodded, lips pressed together and his face set in a hard line. "I'm fine," he said before smiling.

They paused at their home room class room. He looked inside and leaned against the door frame. He gestured his head to her seat in the back. He was on babysitting duty. He sighed and patted her head.

"I've idled enough time, I need to get back," he said giving her a big hug.

"No, wait," she said grasping his arm, "at least tell me something, anything. What's wrong?"

He sighed and deflated. "Let's just say I can't have anyone I'm practically in love with."

"What? Naruto what happened?"

He laughed. "Everyone's got a boyfriend these days Sakura-Chan. Even the single ones." He enveloped her again. "Relax your little head, I'm fine."

She held on to him tightly with her free arm, inhaling his wonderfully positive and beautiful sea breeze sent. His body was hard and firm, shoulders wide enough to swallow her up and he did, chin resting on her forehead. She didn't care who saw them, something was wrong with him and he needed this hug. She felt him sigh against her and she knew he too had to be stressed but there was something –she knew- heavy weighing him down. He released her and smiled at her. She knew it was fake. For the first time she knew what it felt like to be on the other side of a fake smile and it killed her to see it coming from someone she loved.

Sakura waved and watched Naruto saunter down the halls. He wasn't coming to class. She thought he would have been staying. She wondered what they were talking about in those meetings; she got the vibe that Naruto really didn't want to be a part of it but had no choice. She stood there staring down the halls until she couldn't see him anymore, only the sole memory of knowing that he'd just walked down them.

Sakura turned and headed to her seat at the back now screaming with silence. Even with all the eyes on her she felt so alone and cold when she noticed all the empty seats around her. These were seats that would be empty for a long time if she still refused to attend those meetings- meetings that she probably needed to be at. Her heart sank a little bit, just enough for her to notice how much she loved their company, regardless of the arguments they all have been getting into lately.

Delilah came in with a fairly good mood and started taking the register without a hitch. Ino was late and Sakura almost squirmed in her seat. Ino might be a drama queen but she wasn't usually late for school. The bell for classes to begin had yet to ring and Delilah walked out to go to the staff room. Sakura looked at the clock. They had ten minutes until classes started.

Ino came in her with hair in a messy pony with a band tied around her hair, nerd glasses with sneakers, a blue high waist skirt and a black and white polka dot tank top tucked into the skirt. Ino scanned the room like she always did, spotted Sakura and bounced over to her taking Naruto's seat without question.

Ino turned and eyed Sakura up and down. "So, I was thinking popcorn, movies and maybe baking if you're up for it." she said hopefully.

Sakura smiled. "Totally on the baking and you're sure your mom isn't tired of me?"

"If she was home, I don't think so." Ino said. "Besides, the only time we spend time together is when you come over and it's a fun time,"

"I just don't know about this, it's her second time and she hasn't said anything to me. It's been three weeks. It's not going well."

"You must be blind. I don't want to admit it and I think this is a bad idea –and I will always think this is a bad idea and Sasuke and everyone else with half a brain will agree this is a bad idea- but I have to say, it's going well."

"How would you know that?"

"Because I know everything, duh. No really, if he was as wackoo as before and such bad news as he's always been, she'd totally tell you hands down. She'd tell you that there is no hope for being around your father, that he is an emotional loser –and he is-, that he's a bad man –and he is-, that he should be in prison –which he should be- and that, really, it's not a good idea –which it isn't."

"Ino-"

"How-ev-er," she said with emphasis using her index finger to get her point across, "she didn't do that because your ratchet ass wanna be daddy is putting up a front and he's doing a good job at it to get in her favor. But Rin is no fool, she knows this could be a huge disaster and that you're putting your trust in her 100% and she cannot fail you. So, why talk about it when she's not 100% sure about it being a good idea? She's taking the time out as your guardian to get this shit right, hence the surprise visit to his place for the next five days – she is so privileged to be able to do that. She's dropping in unannounced I bet, when he has no time to prepare who he wants to be, that's a good way to handle this. This entire thing being a bad idea as I mentioned prior to this," she said matter of factly.

Sakura slumped. "It's not a bad idea as you're making it out to be. I know it's a risky thing and I didn't ask her to do this for me and I never said I wanted to go and have cake with him and reminisce on the memories we don't have,"

Ino winced. "How many times have we talked about this? That's not the point." She said as she started to get a tiny bit upset.

"Then what's the point?" She asked her edging a little.

"The point is you're giving him the chance to offer you cake and therefore have planted the idea in his head that you might actually agree to have it with him. That gives him leverage and I'm not saying that you should hate him but Sakura; it's obvious that he is a bad person. He's a bad person that you should not get involved with."

"Everyone can change," she said her voice strained against Ino's voice of reason.

Ino was right, without a doubt and Sakura knew that her best friend was right. Ino wasn't afraid to tell it like it was and this was how the situation was set out before them. Sakura felt now that her hope had been stupid.

Ino's eyes darkened. "Everyone can change sure but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be penalized for their wrongs. A man can regret a murder down to his soul but it doesn't change the fact he's a murderer and that he took a life. Not because he's sorry means he shouldn't go to prison and pay the price. Everyone can change Sakura but not everyone wants to."

Sakura looked down. "Ino, I don't have any parents. Maybe I can't but I just want to say that I've tried to fix this. Don't you see that?"

"Of course I see that! Sakura that man isn't the kind of parent you want. It's better to be an orphan than live with someone who makes you want to end your own life; don't you see you're better off without him? He's poison to you! Why are we here?" Ino asked lowering her voice because people were staring even Atona. "Why did we come here? Why did I bust my ass and shed sweat and tears to get you here? Why?"

"Ino, don't do this," she said.

"No, you don't do this. Don't you dare." she snapped. "Sakura, why did we come here?"

"So that I could get better,"

"Bullshit and you know it. That is not why we came here. We came here so that you could get away from him and live with someone who actually cared about you. Granted it's been fucked and it hasn't been smooth but that is why we came here. Why, just tell me, why do you want to go right back to the very same reason why you had to run to this town in the first place?"

"So what am I supposed to do?" She asked looking into Ino's eyes searching for something. She'd been putting this entire thing in the back of her mind until Rin just up and left this morning only leaving a little note on the fridge that this was a spontaneous trip and she'd be back in three days. "What am I supposed to do then?"

"Stop setting yourself up get hurt when you know you can't fix the broken pieces because all you're going to end up with is more scars." Ino said just as the bell rang.

Ino grabbed her stuff and stormed out of the classroom. Sakura watched her go, stung by Ino's words. Sakura wiped the tears with a shaky hand and took a deep breath. At the front, Atona was watching her with such intent Sakura felt exposed. She grabbed her things and made her way out of the classroom. They all had the same classes; Sakura didn't know where Ino thought she was going.

Sakura made her way to all her classes before lunch and sat next to Ino like they always did. This time, Ino didn't say anything through class and Sakura could hardly focus on whatever their Literature teacher was babbling about. Somewhere inside she felt bad. If anyone had to put up with her and all her bullshit it had to be Ino, all the time and every time. She understood where Ino was coming from and she understood that Ino couldn't understand. No one really would, it was just how she felt somewhere that… she didn't even know.

There were bigger things on their plate than this, they both knew that but even then, Sakura and Ino hadn't had a 'talk' in a very long time. She didn't want to end it but their relationship has been on thin ice for a while now and she felt that soon, it would break. They walked out of the class and both headed to bathroom on the far west of the school. Usually at lunch it was the least occupied by most of the school population and it was far more sterile at this time of day.

Sakura told Ino she was going to pee and closed the stall door. She heard Ino's purse open and the pop of the lip gloss. Sakura sat down on the toilet top and slumped.

"Okay, so maybe I shouldn't have said it like that." Ino called from outside the stall. "I'm sorry." She said as her hand fell over the top of the stall. "I know you're not using the toilet Forehead."

Sakura laughed and grasped Ino's hand. "I know this isn't easy for you," Sakura whispered, "and I'm sorry. I know that I'm hard to deal with."

"Sakura, I just don't want you to get hurt again, I think he's better left alone. You haven't given yourself enough time. Three months is not nearly enough, you and I both know you're not ready."

Sakura opened the bathroom stall. "I know," She said going to the sink to wash her hands even though she hadn't used the toilet.

She did know all these things and even though she didn't ask Rin to do this, she couldn't help have hope. She couldn't stop herself from hoping that maybe somewhere he was actually sorry for all he had done, even remotely. He had done so many things to her, shortened her life by decades but she just wanted to know that the one person that was supposed to be a guarantee on the people who loved her, actually did. He was her father and she owed him thanks for the life that she had, no matter what he had done. If it wasn't for him she wouldn't have been here, she wouldn't have met Sasuke and he didn't have to send her to school before she moved here but he still sent her.

Ino's phone rang and Sakura leaned on the sink and watched her answer. She didn't know how they became close friends but they just had but Ino really just didn't understand. Her face changed to almost a sneer.

"Oh you don't intend to talk to her like that do you?" Ino asked venomously. "You must have lost your damn mind, you better act right." She said before handing Sakura the phone.

She took it with a puzzled look on her face. "Hello?" she asked.

"Sweetheart," His voice almost cooed. "Do you plan to come to the meeting tonight?" Sasuke asked.

As sweet as his voice was, Sakura knew he was frustrated and she was probably the cause. Her face knotted and she slumped against the sink.

"Sasuke…" she trailed off. She couldn't be doing this, she had to suck this shit up and stop holding them back. That's what she'd been doing by not going to these meetings; she couldn't act like she wasn't important in this when she was. "Of course." She said smiling even though he couldn't see it.

"And do you intend to stop avoiding me?" he asked again.

"I haven't been-" she cut herself off and sighed. "Yes." She said reluctantly.

Silence filled the spaces between them and she could picture Sasuke's frustrated face on the other end. She heard his slow, steady breathing then he sighed. She could see the lines easing out from his brows, the smoothness surrounding his face then with eyes like atom bombs. She was avoiding him even though she knew she didn't have to.

"Alright, I'll pick you up after school." And with that the line went dead.

She slumped against the sink. "Can't I just do one thing right?" she muttered under her breath.

Ino took the phone and grabbed her hand. "You're so over dramatic," She said, "what have you done so horribly wrong now?"

"It's complicated."

Ino laughed. "Complicated my ass." She snorted. "You know, I'm going to tell you something, the best advice you'll ever get. You're going to want to pay me after I tell you. Every action causes a reaction, so whether you went left or right, something–unplanned and probably not pleasing- still would have happened and life is a fifty fifty pot. You could have done something right but at the exact same time you still would be doing something wrong. So why Forehead, dwell on such –as you put it- complicated matters?"

She smiled. "Everyone is getting so smart all of a sudden, what's going on around here?"

"I feel like you're insinuating that I was stupid before and that's not cool. I'm just saying, you're so out of it today and as your best friend, I've got to do what I can."

So much had happened since the last time she saw Sasuke she just…well everyone inside her head knew how it was. They went to the cafeteria where they sat with Tenten who –like all of them- seemed out of it today as well. She'd gotten the same phone call that Sakura had, she was invited to the meeting tonight and obviously, just like Ino, she didn't want to go either.

"Oh," she sat up suddenly face red with rage from the desk, "this isn't my fault. Clearly and obviously, we all have business to deal with later at Sasuke's house, whatever the fuck that means. I'm merely a listener and an observer, I don't have any weird things happening to me, I don't see where he thinks he can order me around."

"You bent the chair," Sakura offered eating the third apple she had before her.

For some estrange reason she missed Sasuke being next to her to take it without warning and take a bite. Something as simple as having him take a bite out of her apple, maybe insignificant, seemed oddly important now as she ate it without him.

"And almost smashed their table in half when you got into that argument with Neji, sorry but you're in this just like the rest of us." Ino said with a shrug. "What a bummer though,"

"It can be like a slumber party," Sakura offered, "just…with everyone."

It was started to dawn on her just how much of a mess everyone was in. Slowly but surely it was dawning on her, the gravity of the situation as she sat there. They were in a deep pot of something they themselves hardly even really understood.

"It's cute that you try so hard to be positive." Tenten said in a dead panned voice.

"I'm not looking forward to this, being around all you is just always fucking awful and I end up with bald spots and busted lips and scratches and I can never see anything and my head explodes and it's just…Christ."

"No need to be sour about it. Besides, Sakura just said it can still be a slumber party and you get to see your boyfriend." Tenten said forcing a smile and giving her the thumbs up.

Sakura laughed. "Nice effort Tenten," She praised.

"Speaking of boyfriends," Ino said, "Why is it that you have not swallowed your pride and spoken to Neji? He literally just called you to give you this oh so cherry news."

Tenten fluttered for a moment taken off guard by the sudden question. Ino was never one to value tack Sakura reminded herself. Sakura wanted to know when Tenten was going to work on that but unlike Ino; Sakura just didn't think it was her place. Tenten would come to them when she was ready. Clearly, Ino couldn't wait any longer. Granted, things have been tense lately since they returned from the road trip and Tenten was more evasive than ever. It wasn't hard to ignore the vibe. Sakura waited.

Tenten hesitated. Her mouth opened but nothing came out, then it opened again and still nothing. "Wh…well… I mean…I don't know what you're talking about." She said finally. "Things aren't easy and all black and white here."

"Yeah, I know that but girl, come on."

"What she means Tenten," Sakura interrupted quickly with her tenderness, "is that not talking to him won't really clear things up or fix it. Not dealing with it doesn't make it any less hard, you know?"

Tenten slumped. "I know that of course but I mean I just can't. This –everything in general- is a lot to handle. I'm not his type, I'm a mom, I have other responsibilities that take priority over me sorting things out with him."

"So that's the excuse you're using? You have a son so you can't fix every other broken relationship that you have?" Ino asked casually. "I mean, I know we're not the best of friends but we've been here for you and all these things you know. And, given recent events, I believe the smart thing to do is to work it out."

"Ino, how am I supposed to be in a relationship with someone that's not even human?" Tenten almost snapped.

Sakura suddenly started holding her breath. "Sakura's boyfriend isn't human and she makes it work," she shrugged.

"That's not the same thing, Sakura's different, she's otherworldly too so she doesn't count I don't really think you get what this is all about. This isn't just about us being together it's way more complicated than that."

"Let me break this down," Ino said, "If we're talking about different. Sakura is human, she is terminally ill, unlike you she can't even have children and the pains that come with that is worse than giving birth, she goes to the hospital every single week, she has more than one soul living inside of her and she can make it fucking work with her demon boyfriend. If she can fucking do it, I don't see why you can't. Her life is way more complicated than yours." She snapped.

Tenten seemed to deflate. Sakura leaned over instantly and grabbed Tenten's hand without missing a beat. "She doesn't mean it like that;" she said quickly, "What she is saying Tenten, is that it is your choice whether or not you want to fix it. I know it's hard but you're just going to have find even two minutes to try. It won't fix itself and even though you think no one notices I do. I know how much this entire thing is hurting you."

"He won't even talk to me. I've tried."

"Well," Ino shrugged, "now you know how he felt when he tried to get your attention. You'll be seeing him today, try harder. You never know how things can turn out if you don't sort this out. You don't know what kind of sacrifices he's making for you and what he's all about. The only thing you have to lose is the idea that no one wants you, you don't know what he's giving up." She said looking at Tenten frankly.

Sakura sighed and looked at Ino. "That was a terrible, terrible thing to say," she pointed out, "you must apologize to Tenten."

Ino laughed. "I know it was but someone has to say it, besides, my point is just that she can do it. I didn't mean it any other way you're thinking about taking it, I'm just saying, if you really want something to work it requires some effort."

~O~

~O~

"This is going to hurt." Sasuke said looking down at Sakura as she lay there on the slab.

This is not what she expected when he asked her to come to the meeting tonight, not in the least. Everyone was watching her and Krystal was here and for the first time she looked pretty nervous.

Sakura didn't want to do this; she didn't want to feel any more pain and broken bones and ripping of lungs. She didn't want the agony, the ear splitting fire up her spine and pealing of her skin. She was so afraid she couldn't hold back the tears. From he said it would hurt, she damn well knew it would. She really…really didn't want to do this but she understood the fact that she just had to.

His eyes softened and he rested his head on hers. "Jesus," he muttered, "I know you don't want to do this. I don't want to do this either," He said, his lips hovering above hers.

Her lips trembled. No one could understand the fear of this. When they happened without warning, there was nothing she could do about it, she wasn't expecting it but now she knew what was coming. She didn't want to go through it like everything else she went through. She didn't want to cry but the sob came without her consent.

He held her face and kissed her. "You'll be fine," he whispered.

She shook her head. "You're lying,"

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She had no choice, no matter how much she didn't want to do this, she simply had to. This was her role in all of this, this was how she could help and she just had to do it. Sasuke was going begin to Soul Pass her, something Naruto had told him to do to her a very long time ago; something he had consciously –until this point- decided not to do.

Soul passing, as Sasuke had told her was when he 'investigated' the spiritual realm inside of her body. At least what's what he told everyone but she knew his true motive. The girl inside her head had information- the girl inside her head was one of them. If there was anyone who would be able to help them locate the Goddess, it would be her. Sakura just hadn't heard from her in a while, her inner wouldn't come out to talk to her about this. Now, this was their only choice.

It was something he had never done, never wanted to do due to how painful it could be and how it could affect her. It would be him, determining how many souls were inside of her –if he could- and pulling strands of history. Frankly, Sasuke wasn't even sure that he could do it which was why Hinata, Neji and Krystal were about to help him. He rest his palm right above her heart, she was trembling.

"Take a deep breath," he told her, "don't let it go until I tell you to."

Sakura sucked in a wad of air. Krystal held her head, Hinata's cold hands rested atop of Sakura's hands on her stomach and Neji held her feet, his palms extremely warm.

"Let it out,"

The moment Sakura did the chanting began but before she could register anything, her back snapped in about three places, wrenching her body in a disfigured shape. Her scream was a high shrill loud enough to shatter glass as her body pulsated. Sakura gasped with the sob but nothing came in, she felt as if she was in a vacuum, strangling. Her chest tightened painfully as her body rose and her right knee popped out of socket to bend at a right angle. Her left ankle snapped and her eyes shot opened as she drowned in midair.

The sun was blinding and the water flaming hot as it burnt her skin. A hand was holding hers but Sakura couldn't see as the water rained down on her. She couldn't open her eyes but the hand gripped hers, desperate to save her made some sort of assurance run through her that it wouldn't let her go. She challenged the water coming down on her burning away her flesh.

Who wanted to save her? She couldn't think of anyone who would burn their skin with hers to save her. She wasn't worthy, she wasn't good enough. She tried to prey his hand away and paused, water washing down into her mouth. How did she know this person was a he? She looked up, water beating down on her, burning the inner parts of her eyes. She could barely make him out, water running down into her nose, drowning her.

"Don't let go," his voice was desperate, afraid for her and she suddenly felt inside of her collapse.

She'd never heard so much emotion contorted in his voice before but she knew it, even underwater with her lungs filling up with this hot water and her ears clogged. Forgetting the last time she was with him, she grasped onto his hand with the other, her mouth open in silent screams.

"Krystal…" His voice was cracked, breaking, his will and power waning.

He couldn't do this. He was killing her; he couldn't do this knowing he was the one causing her screams. Her voice was wet with blood, coated with the tide of pain. His heart was breaking.

"Don't stop!" She shouted over Sakura's blood wrenched screams, demon blood leaking from her eyes, nose and mouth.

There was a disgustingly sickening sound as Sakura's chest began to almost grind open. Heat burnt through her blouse until it was completely gone. Sasuke could hear the bones crushing as her chest started to rip open like an apocalyptic crack in the road. He bit down on his lips to fight himself, pushing himself on. He watched the split down her chest got wider, blood gushing out.

Hinata and Neji held their ground, hands on Sakura as her body seemed to collapse in on itself, the color fading from her hair until the screams suddenly stopped. They looked up and Hinata fluttered in horror. Her mouth was open, face contorted but no sound came out anymore, her eyes hauntingly blood shut and wide open.

Black blood started to leak from her temples and Sasuke saw as red blood, human blood drip from his nose onto the slab. He was bleeding her blood, he knew that just as she was bleeding his, frozen by pain. He couldn't stop, he knew that too.

She gasped, coughing up the hot water when she hit the ground above. She lay on her back, water spilling from her eyes, nose and mouth as she choked. She couldn't see anything but she knew she wasn't lying on sand. Where was she?

The sun shun in her eyes, blinding her. She groaned coughing and his head hovered above hers then, hair damp and tangled, eyes swimming with dread. She didn't know he was capable of such emotion. His hands touched her face.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice warm unlike its usual coldness. "I'm sorry,"

Her hand fell atop of his and her eyes closed. Her breathing was heavy, desperate. She wasn't angry; she had missed him too much to be. She had thought he would never open the door again and that she would never see him. She thought she would never speak to him again; never feel such a homey feeling ever again.

"It's…okay." She croaked. "Where am I?" she asked turning her head to look around it.

She was away from the beach; she was deeper inland, in the jungle that had been lined by the coconut trees. As her hearing returned slowly she could hear the rushing of water, heavy and loud, abundant and powerful. She turned her head to the other side and it was then she realized they were right above the water fall. He'd saved her from drowning.

She took a deep breath, air filling her lungs and she felt safe with him hovering above her, touching her face. She didn't feel like she was going to die.

He pulled her to her feet and she rested on him and it didn't seem to bother him that he was supporting most of her weight. She didn't ask but she knew they were headed back to the beach. She didn't understand how she got to that water fall, she didn't know how she got so deep inside this island and she didn't know why he saved her.

She wanted to ask but she felt as if she shouldn't. She wanted to know why he saved her when he had once tried to kill her. Why he saved her when he shut her out for so long wouldn't even crack the doors that lead her to him. She didn't ask because she just felt like soon, he was going to tell her.

"I had no choice," he said then, voice returned to its ice cold consistency. "Do you understand?"

She didn't know how but she did understand him and she did forgive him. She wasn't mad, she had never been mad at him for what he had done to her the last time they had been together. He had tried to save her, to tell her but she never listened. He had no choice, she believed him.

She knotted her hands into his as they walked stride by stride and she looked up at the side of his face. She enjoyed being here with him, her hand in his with his comfort and affection. She didn't know it was possible to feel so at home with someone, so comfortable and carefree. There was nowhere else she would rather be than here.

"Sasuke, you have to hurry! She's travelling too far!" Hinata screamed breathless.

"She can handle it," He said his hands pressing down inside of her body as if he intended to crush her heart.

She seemed all but dead as she levitated a little above the slab, hair fanned out around her as if she was drowning, blood leaking from every possibly wound. It was leaking even from her ears as her eyes opened wide in complete and utter horror. Her heart was beating, his hand was literally resting on top of it, he could feel it. He wasn't going to put her through this and not even finish. They were finishing this in one go. She was strong enough. She could last. She had to. He was so close.

He felt like his muscles were being torn from his bone, eyes blazing and throbbing with the pain that shot through his skull. His skin was already colored from his curse mark, he couldn't stop it. He had to finish this.

They paused under a tree and he enveloped her in his arms. This was paradise, it really was. However, he was there one minute and gone the next. Her eyes shot open to see his body flying across from her, hands outstretched to her.

"Sakura!"

Fear seized her like never before.

"No!"

A scream that shattered Sasuke's windows left Sakura's lips before her body hit the slab with a loud thud, denting into it. Sasuke staggered back, a hand flew to his chest as blood splatters came from his mouth before he hit the floor.

Krystal blinked. It was over. "Hinata get him! Get him!" She yelled, ignoring the broken glass as grabbed and sheet and draped over Sakura's body.

This was where she couldn't fail either of them. As much of a good witch she was, she had her work cut out for her as she grabbed crystals from the floor, positioning them around the slab. She had to get Sakura back from wherever her soul was travelling. Regardless of the consequences, Krystal had to bring both of them back before she ran out of time.

There you have it guys! Next update coming really really soon and that's a promise. I've started college now so I have more workload but I promise the updates will be more frequent! I know this is late but I hope everyone has had a good back to school this year, that your job is not so bad anymore and that your summer was more than worth it! BE HAPPY AND ALWAYS REMEMBER TO SMILE GUYS!

Endless Love Until Next Time,

D.V