Sakura dances around her enemy, head cool and even. She is in battle mode and her mind feels remote and distant. Suddenly her left arm goes curiously numb before a sensation equivalent to emptiness rips through her chest, leaving her broken and dry.
Her distraction costs her as the Kumo nin rams a sword into her other shoulder but Sakura isn't paying attention.
She lashes out at her enemy, killing him instantly before Shunshining away, blade still lodged in her body.
There is only one thought on her mind.
"Madara," she whispers.
Something…someone…maybe the thing in this universe that gave her a Soulmark guides her in Madara's direction.
She arrives, catching sight of him riddled with weapons sticking out of him from all angles.
Sakura's mind goes blank as she destroys those who surround him. There is a fluttering sensation, a throbbing in her Soulmark that scares her.
It is Madara's heartbeat.
And it grows ever weaker and erratic.
Sakura kneels at his side, hands shaking even as they glow with blue energy as she forces her chakra through him.
"C'mon," she mutters, "C'mon."
She knows how dangerous this is, still immersed in the battle as they are. She doesn't care though. She has only one damn thing in this world that she can truly call her own and he is bleeding out on her.
"I have you covered," Mito shouts, slapping a seal on the ground. Sakura doesn't even know when she arrived. "Madara took a blow meant for Hashirama."
Sakura doesn't respond, focus entirely on the man on the ground before her. She can feel her chakra fluctuating, nearing its end. Sakura releases her seal, pouring more chakra into his body.
"You can't die on me," Sakura says, gaze blurring as tears pour hot and thick down her soot-streaked face. "We have a whole lifetime still to get to know each other. I still don't know what your favorite food is. Or the…or the exact color of your eyes," Sakura's breath hitches on a sob, "Damn it Madara, you're too stubborn to die here!"
Sakura does not notice as her Soulmark begins to beat strong and steady; a reflection of Madara's heart. She does not notice the weapons fall from his body, leaving him unmarred and unscarred. She does not notice his eyes begin to flutter. She just keeps pouring chakra into him.
"Hey," he says weakly, trying to sit up before wincing and laying down once more. "What happened?"
"You're an idiot," Sakura replies, throwing her arms around him. "I thought I lost you."
Madara's hand comes up to her back, rubbing in tired circles. "Never. I'm yours."
Sakura weeps still, from relief now. She litters his face with light kisses, brushing his temples, his cheeks, his chin.
Madara chuckles. "If this is how I'm greeted, I'll try to die more often."
"No," Sakura says firmly, grabbing his chin, "I expect a full lifetime together."
"Sounds perfect," he replies, hands cupping her face as she leans down to kiss him fiercely.
"That's great and all," Mito says, fighting off more enemies, "but we are still at war you know."
Sakura and Madara exchange smirks before Sakura pulls him to his feet.
"Don't worry Mito," Madara says, arms squeezing Sakura for the briefest of moments. His eyes bleed red. "We'll take care of it."
