First of all, thanks for all the reviews! They're really encouraging!

Fireblazie - Huh, you're right. It does resemble Inuyasha, although my inspiration came more from Philip Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy and angsty Sasuke manga moments.

Ayumu-in-blue – ;; I don't really think Sakura is weak either. Just… a bit… passive? She never seems to do much in battle unless pushed to her limit. Not that that's a bad thing. It's a big improvement from how she was in the beginning. Now, of course, I can definitely see why you think she's strong. In any case, thanks for the constructive criticism. I will try to work more on her characterization. Also, ah… your review made me realize that the prologue may have contained a certain spoiler so, falls to knees and apologizes GOMEN, MINNA! And…um… rushes off to stick on a spoiler warning

SPOILER WARNING! Takes place after chapter 180 of the MANGA!

And while I'm busy sticking up stuff… Here's the famous disclaimer that says that Naruto and all related characters don't belong to me. sob .

And now, in return for your patience, the story!

The Land of Shadows

They had to wait until night. The jutsu could only be performed in the dark.

Sasuke sat quietly in the corner of the burial hut where Sakura's body was being held.

Naruto laid a few feet away, beneath a red, cotton blanket that Sasuke had managed to find. His wounds had been more serious than anyone had thought. Six hours later, though the bleeding had stopped, he was still sound asleep. But there was an unsettling frown on the boy's face and his eyebrows were knit together in distress. It didn't seem like he was having pleasant dreams.

Not that anyone could blame him.

Sasuke switched his attention to Tsunade. Surrounded by various bowls and materials, she was lighting candles.

But their glow was not gold but a light green that could signify life or death. For Sasuke, it reminded him of the color of Sakura's eyes.

Sasuke mused over the information Tsunade had given him, trying to prepare himself for what laid ahead.

This jutsu was neither offensive nor defensive, the Fifth Hokage had said. Rather, it had been invented by a man who had lost his son to illness. For all his strength and power as a ninja, he had been devastated by his loss and had spent the rest of his life searching for a way to see him again. Of course, in Sasuke's opinion, the easiest way would have been suicide. But that must not have appealed much to the man for he had opted for a jutsu instead and had recorded his findings in the scroll that was currently in Tsunade's hand.

As it turned out, there wasn't much to record.

Only the process, which involved special candles, a mixture of dream-inducing herbs, chanting, blood, and other wonderfully morbid elements. And a brief warning, written before the man finally left the world for good. He had managed to see his son twice before he died, falling into a deep, deep slumber that would only cease once his soul rejoined his body. On his third try, the jutsu had completely severed the two and he had never woken up again. His body had been buried accordingly, next to the grave of his beloved child.

Sasuke had felt this last bit of information was less than encouraging but according to Tsunade, she was compelled to tell him because, well, what if he didn't return? There was a limited amount of time a person could survive outside their physical forms, after all.

Then bury me, he had said, disturbed by the idea but understanding that it was not completely impossible.

Where?

Next to Sakura.

…Not next to his parents, to his family, to his clan members. In the darkness, Sasuke wondered why he had said that.

Kakashi was looking at him. The ninja could not move far for it was his chakra sustaining the remaining parts of her soul.

When their gazes met, student and teacher, Sasuke found his own guilt mirrored in the other's eyes. It lasted only an instant before each glanced away. Words had never been essential between them and in those few seconds, communication of a more meaningful kind had been achieved.

"A soul can survive outside the body for three days at the most before disappearing for good. You have two days at the most to bring her back and if you can't, three days to come back yourself. Good luck, Sasuke-kun."

But oddly enough, it was from Kakashi's words that he unconsciously drew comfort. "Naruto and I are counting on you," he said simply.

"Aa," said Sasuke, laying down, fighting his nervousness and replacing it with all the calm he could muster.

Something dripped on his face and then Tsunade stood up, sprinkling the substance over his entire body.

It was her blood. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw it make its way down his skin, redder and darker than his Sharingan.

It was a memory of Sakura and raindrops that he thought of while the Fifth Hokage chanted. As words flowed around and around, he could only think of that day when everything seemed to be crying. She had been so sad then…

Then as the light of the candles seem to flicker in and out even though his eyes were wide open, he recalled the warning on the scroll, last written words from the man who had given everything just to see his precious person again.

Love is death.

Then he saw the walls upon which the shadows were dancing and the black forms writhed in merriment, beckoning him.

"Sasuke-kun, are you still here?" The voice of the Fifth Hokage was distant, blurred. He could not see her or Kakashi. Only the shadows and they were laughing.

Foolish boy. Foolishfoolishfoolish…

He drew in a breath and everything vanished.

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

They were standing in the alley and she was trying to keep him, "I love you with all my heart!"

They were in the hospital and she was letting him go, "I want you to have something…"

They were eating ramen and she was laughing, "Sasuke-kun…"

They were standing in the rain and she was crying, "Sasuke-kun…"

They were standing in the sun and she was smiling, "Me and Naruto, we'll be back soon and when we do, let's go get ramen, neh? Good-bye, Sasuke-kun!"

Good-bye, Sasuke-kun…

He woke up in the Land of the Dead with red eyes.