Heyyas! I'm sorry it took so long and I'm sorry it's so short, but anyways, enjoy and tell me what you think.

Ino POV

PG-13

NOT MINE. (Do I have to say this?)

Chapter 8
"Don't go. I don't want you to be alone."

Her words stuck to my mind. I couldn't forget the expression on her face. My heart pounded painfully as though it wanted to tell me something, but I must be too ignorant to understand because its words are not clear to me.

After Yondaime and a couple of the assistants of his were done poking and prodding at me, I was let by myself for a moment of peace. But, peace was not what I would be granted over-all in my situation. I was tormented on the inside by questions and feelings I didn't know the answers to. And worse, at the far corner of my mind, that girl's pained expression, from when I told her she was a part of my imagination, haunted me. Every time I tried not to think of her, my chest hurt. A sharp, fire-like pain jabbed at my heart. I wanted to cry.

But, why is she having this much of an effect on me? Were we really good friends as I've been told?

We had to be. No one could give such a passionate speech.

"You are my best friend! I stood up for you! I yelled at my own mother for you! I've protected you from her hatred! Now don't tell me I'm part of your imagination! I'm real! You're real! And we will face reality side-by-side like BEST FRIENDS SHOULD!"

I shuddered, remembering the intensity of it.

I've got to see her again. I must. I need to know everything about her and me and our friendship. I need to know. Please!

The door opened slowly and Yondaime entered. "Please follow me, Ino. We're going to Sakura to discuss what will happen to you. Don't worry. Everything should turn out for the best." I nodded, and left the dull little room. But on the inside, I was joyous to be going back to Sakura. I trailed behind Yondaime eagerly to see the strawberry-blonde girl again.

Sakura sat by herself, facing the window. Her green-eyes were off in space and she said nothing to our entrance. Yondaime announced calmly, "Sakura, your mom gave me her number before she left. I'm going to go call her. I'll be right back. Ino, you just sit tight."

He always seems to be leaving.

The silence was deafening. I muttered a meager 'hi' to Sakura, but no reply. I slumped against the wall waiting impatiently for Yondaime to get back. Although I showed no evidence of it on my face, I felt like bursting in tears for the fact Sakura did not answer me. I crossed my arms over my chest and huffed. "He'd better get back here soon."

Finally, Sakura made some show of life and mumbled barely audible, "Yeah."

I felt somewhat better hearing at least something from her. But I decided not to say anything else; she seemed really in thought and I'd guess she doesn't want any disturbance.

I heard footsteps outside the door. They paused and soon after the door opened with Yondaime, smiling as usual. "Here's the deal, girls."

Sakura turned around, as did I. We both stared at him, eager to hear what'll happen to me.

"Ok, well, since I guess Inos' parents are unavailable, Ino will be staying with you Sakura, until further notice. Ino will have to come back here monthly to check up. I would say weekly, but I think monthly will be just fine. Sakuras' mom has agreed, although reluctantly, to keep and care for Ino until we get notice from her parents or relatives. Are you two ok with this?" Oddly enough, we both agreed in unison. Yondaime smiled again, bigger, and said, "Ok then. Now Ms. Haruno will not be able to come here until the morning to pick you two up, so we have a waiting room with cots for those who sleep here. Follow me. Oh and Sakura, here are the crutches you will be using till your leg heals up."

He led us to a room with just exactly as he described, "a waiting room with cots".

"Right now the time is just after 7. Lights go out in here around 9, well not really out. But they go dim for people to sleep. Sometime soon, I'll send a nurse with dinner for you two. Now go pick a cot and rest, you've had a long day." Said Yondaime as he went off to tend to some other patient.

There were around three other people in the room, but not one of them acknowledged our existence. We found two cots next to each other furthest back on the room. Not a soul lay nearby them. I helped Sakura down and set the crutches by her on the floor between us. And as Yondaime had said, not five minutes later, did a nurse enter the room with a cart full of plates of food for everyone in the room. Everyone got up to get their food and ate while the nurse waited to take our plates away. No one said anything but a few 'thank you's. When everyone finished the nurse left with the empty plates and closed the door behind her.

Sakura and I had eaten the fastest and finished first. It must have looked like we were in competition with each other, and it felt that way to me. I felt like I had done everything in a friendly competition with her. The feeling was so warm and assuring in a way.

We sat in silence for a good hour. I was the first one to speak.

"So, um, tell me about me, and, um, you, and the stuff that we've been through. How long have we known each other?"

She seemed to snap out of her thoughts sharply when I spoke. She smiled warmly, "Sure." Immediately, my heart lifted happily. Sakura began to speak of me, telling me tales of our friendship. The way she spoke of me was as though I were her idol. She made me out to be a goddess with every time she mentioned me.

I know I am quite vulnerable with this amnesia of mine, but whenever I'm with this girl, I feel secure and feel like I can take on anything.

Yet, I don't know what's out there for me to take, so maybe I can't take on anything.

Luckily, I'm not alone…

I have Sakura here with me.

TBC…
WARNING: If any of you think you know about the Gaara/Sakura thing, TRUST ME, it's not what you think. (I'll leave it at that.) I'm a very tricky person.

Anyways, I have learned how to spell orphanage. And I have discovered that I have multiple errors in my story. Sorry about that, I just dislike rereading my stories. What I need is an editor, sorta. Or is it called a beta reader? Whatever I need someone who is online all the time and is very good at catching spelling errors and word errors. I need that person to read the chapter I e-mail and to send it back ASAP pointing out my errors. But this person needs to be fast so I can get my story out. I don't mean to be putting pressure. So if anyone would like to take this job, please e-mail me. And hopefully my errors and stuff will lessen. (Also, this person must be open-minded to any and all couplings and will not tell me to add stuff in the chapter that I send them. I write my chapters according to the reviews I'm given, but I do not rewrite stuff, I just fix errors.)

Reviews:

Orrin: ORRIN-CHAN! You reviewed my story:chibi face: You really think I've improved as I writer? You're too kind! Ramune for you, Orrin-chan.

Kiki-chan: Yeah, you should update your own stories too. YISH! How are you! Actually, my mom is even meaner than Sakura's mom. But Saku's mom is based on my friends mom who hates me for no reason I know of. I tend to base my characters on people. Don't burn the Naruto books! Who cares if the real Saku isn't that great? Cooler than sliced cheese:raises eyebrow: About Gaara, read warning above and wait for the next chapter and so forth. Chibi Saku plush for you, Kiki-chan.

Spork ai: LOL, why would I make him do that? Anyway, read Gaara warning above and wait for next time we see Gaara. Yeah they do make a cute couple, but they're still gonna fight a lot. Just wait. :evil malicious grin: How is this a soap opera? Oh, I see. Hey my moms worse than Saku's mom, but I haven't run away. :shrug: I love reading your reviews, pocky for you.

Yugi-obsessed: I know I just wanna huggle them too. I updated now you review. Cookies for you.

Vampire Toy: If you're reading this… THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU for putting me on your C2 community! I feel so honored. Loads of candy for you!

Now, um, hey, wait till next chapter and review so it happens sooner.