Because I haven't updated in such a long time, I decided to do two chapters at once! Marvel, people, marvel! Anyways, Sakura will prolly be entering the picture soon...

Chapter 13: The Right Direction

The road was just as he left it. With the exception of a few shaking willow trees, it was lifeless, endless, and unbelievably dull.

He had no idea what his destination was, only that it was wherever Sakura was. Similarly, he moved forward because that was the only direction available to him.

His ignorance frustrated him and after walking for hours without any clear progress – for it seemed that he was only passing the same colorless scenery over and over again - he could feel panic gaining on him.

If only there was a map or some other means to find his way around, Sasuke thought bitterly about the impossible. No one alive would have a guide to the Land of the Dead. Yet, he couldn't help but feel that if he knew just a little more about this godforsaken place, surely he would be able to find his way to Sakura….

Or if there was someone to give him the information. That would be equally helpful. Damn, where was that bastard shadow when you needed him…

"Yo."

Unlike Haku, this stranger did not emerge from behind the veil of a willow tree. Rather, he sat in plain view, back against the trunk of a knarled tree as if resting.

Sasuke blinked, startled by his own luck. Odd, he hadn't noticed this guy's appearance. He must have been too caught up in his own anxiousness to notice.

Kakashi?

The voice had been laid-back and relaxed like his teacher's.

No, Kakashi wasn't here. And he didn't have spiked black hair. Nor did Kakashi look like he was eighteen. Lazily, the teenager opened one eye, "You lost, boy?"

Though it irked him slightly to be called a boy by someone who looked no older than him, Sasuke didn't bother to disagree and said bluntly, "I'm looking for a girl."

"Tch… aren't we all?" sighed the stranger, dreamy-eyed, "Man, I wish I had a girl…"

"I don't mean like that," Sasuke muttered, immediately annoyed. His hurry was making him short-tempered, but he tried to maintain the polite, cool tone in his voice, "She has pink hair. If you can tell me… I want to know where she is."

"Pink hair? Yare, yare… That's a strange color…"

Sasuke tried not to look too strained, "Well?"

"I don't think I've ever seen a girl with pink hair before."

"…Oh." This time, Sasuke turned away so that the stranger wouldn't see how upset he was.

Yet, he must have conveyed a bit of his disappointment for the teenager cleared his throat and said, discarding his slothful tone for something more serious, "Is this someone you care about?"

Sasuke's eyes darkened with emotion, but he remained silent. Somehow, it was still hard for him to admit his feelings. It always had been, maybe always would be.

"If it is, I can tell you how to find her."

There was a promise in that. He had to take the chance. In a hoarse voice, almost too timid to be his own, he said, "She's…"

"Your girlfriend? Your wife? Your loooooover?" the stranger suggested in a ridiculously amused voice.

He scowled. Something about this guy reminded him too much about Kakashi, even though the two looked nothing alike. Kakashi's face was more slim and without expression until he chose to convey whatever it was he felt. And the eyes of the infamous Copy Ninja were almost always tired.

This person, though, had dark eyes. They were black like his own and at the same time, bright with some sort of inner light. Like Naruto, Sasuke thought.

"…my teammate."

At that, something changed in that young, teasing face. It acquired a calm understanding that made it seem older and wiser, "Ahhh, a teammate… Yes, those are important."

"Do you know where I can find her?"

"The roads of the Land of the Dead have no end. Everyone starts at the same place, walking in hopes of reaching a destination. If you're stupid, you'll wander on and on forever or until you end up as a tree. If you're smart, you'll give up after a few days, wishing to be with those you love."

Sasuke listened intently and then realizing that the stranger had fallen quiet, pressed, "And?"

"And that's where you'll find her."

"What?"

"There are no real roads in the Land of the Dead. There is only the knowledge of where you want to be once you are here." The stranger fixed his intelligent gaze on Sasuke, "If you need me to explain it again, then maybe you haven't wandered enough."

But Sasuke had and something in his soul told him that he could wander no longer in this cold, empty land.

"There's no need," he said, finally, as the wheels in his head turned and realization hit, "I understand." He turned, back to the figure that had given him the answer he needed, ready to leave, "Arigatou, um…"

"Obito. My name's Obito."

The name sounded oddly familiar though Sasuke couldn't exactly place it.

"Uchiha Obito."

He started and turned back in surprise, "Uchiha?"

But the raven-haired, grinning Obito was gone.

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Everything will be okay…

…Who had said that? Had it even been spoken aloud or was she so lonely that she was just imagining things?

"Ahem."

She turned, surprised to see another person here. Instinct had told her it was her fate now to be alone. Yet, here was company, standing across from her with a look of arrogance in black eyes. How strange. Her curiosity compelled her to ask,

"Who are you?"

He smirked, a prince of smooth skin and luxuriously black hair that took her hand, pressed soft lips to it, and whispered a name she felt she had known all her life, "Sasuke."

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He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and thought of her.

Haruno Sakura. Chuunin at fourteen. Ready to take the Jounin exam at sixteen though she still had quite a few doubts. Perfect chakra control, though her stamina was only average. Average in some ninjutsu, though she excelled so well in certain ones that once she even managed to counter Neji's Kaiten to the Hyuuga's great dismay. Above average in taijutsu, thanks to the guidance of a certain Rock Lee, though once she feared hand-to-hand fighting. A master at genjutsu and steadily improving under the strict hand of jounin Kurenai

And quite the medic. Perhaps, the most talented young medic next to jounin Hyuuga Hinata.

He opened his eyes to find himself in the same position. There was no pink hair to be seen.

Sasuke frowned. He wasn't doing it right. Obito's words implied that he only had to think of her to find her. So he had thought of her in the light of praise, given now the official acknowledgement of her abilities that her training had warranted long ago. What else was needed?

But even as he thought this, a part of him knew. He was still trying to keep her away. It was a defense mechanism, really. He didn't want her to get hurt, didn't want her to be touched by the darkness that was so deep within him. And at the same time, he didn't want to hurt because Itachi had taught him that too much love could be the most painful thing in the world. To long, to hope for something that was not revenge but a flesh and blood, breathing person was dangerous. More risky than any A-class mission ever could be.

Yet, he did long and hope for her. Her presence soothed him more than anyone else's ever did. Sakura was… well, he had told his parents, hadn't he?

Let's try this again.

Haruno Sakura. The silly child that once thought they could have a happy ending. The one he had made cry over and over again. The kunoichi who mastered one of the First's Genjutsu techniques quicker than even he could, but who could not bear to use it, who he wrongly thought was weak.

The sweet, amusing girl entering into womanhood that knew now that a happy ending for them wasn't possible and yet, remained the only one who was willing to cry for him.

Where are you? I need to see you…

When he opened his eyes again, he was in a field of flowers.

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Hmmm, I know I've given a lot of detail on Sakura's ninja skills but that's because I'm planning on doing a sequel to this fic that involves more... action? I'm still kinda hesitant, so I'm thinking about letting you guys decide once the epilogue is out. (It's already written, actually. I hope you guys won't hate me once you read it. )

Mmm, what else... more twists up ahead.... I noticed I've made Sasuke more softer, but I guess that's because noone else is around to watch him act that way; if you read the manga, right before he leaves, the decision is harder and more emotional than he lets on when Sakura confronts him... thus, GASP, in this fic, he DOES have feelings... and I DO think he has them for Sakura, but hell, it's all open to interpretation....

Anyways, please review. (Thank you, Neptune47! Your comments are greatly appreciated and are very encouraging!) Likewise, any feedback is welcome.

Next Chapter: The Other Sasuke