Chapter Two
Author: Moi

Inspiration:I was staring outside, not really wanting to go to sleep. It was raining. I like the rain. But as I tooka look at the moon, it was a 3/4 moon, and it looked really amazingwith the rain kind of darkening it. It reminded me that I had work to do. --;;

Sakura walked down the hallways, from Tsunade's office. Whether or not she was the Hokage, she couldn't stop thinking of her as simply her old sensei. The same as Kakashi. Both of them were on her bad side right now. She looked up, and punched the door. It swung open.

"Damn you, Sasuke. Making my life so…twisted, even after you're dead." She hit her head against the door. "Now I wish that I had killed you…" she immediately regretted her words. She knew that she wouldn't have, for the world and his hand in marriage. But Kakashi had simply…done it. She thought about that, as she walked along the road. Her head down, her brow creased. There was something to think about here. Naruto died for Sasuke.

It had always been that way. Naruto would be pinned to the ground, wall, trees, etc. Sasuke and Naruto were competitive spirits.

"Damn you, Sasuke, why the hell did you do that? I could handle myself!" Naruto was slung over Sakura's shoulder. The pink-haired gennin grunted.

"Don't forget to support yourself a little bit, Naruto," she wasn't mad at him though. He had attempted to save her. It had just turned out that it slowed him down doing so. So, dun duna duh! Sasuke came to the rescue! Of course. But right now, all she could think about was how heavy Naruto was.

"You were in trouble, dobe. Just admit it. You're dead-last, and it seems you always will be," Sasuke smirked. Sakura swooned. He was SO cute.

"CUT IT OUT! DON'T CALL ME THAT, CHICKEN!" Kakashi walked a little bit ahead. He pretended not to know the kitsune.

"Then stop acting like one, dobe."

"Chicken!"

"Dead-last."

Sakura sighed. "Calm down, Naruto. Screaming doesn't help control your chakra."

Naruto smirked. "But don't worry, I'll take you down, Sasuke. Count on it." Sasuke smirked, but smiled slightly and looked at the kitsune out of the corner of his eyes.

"I will."

Sakura looked up at the buildings around her. They were getting smaller as she crossed into the suburbs of the town. She saw her favorite resting point. When she had been a gennin still, she had hid here when she felt weak, or incapable. Now she stayed here when she needed, simply, some time alone. She hopped up to sit on a branch.

The moon was rising. A blue moon.

"Odd," she whispered to herself. She thought about it. I thought those only showed up in, well, once in a blue moon. Rarely, at least.

But this is a special occasion, Sakura. Sakura jumped, and nearly fell off her branch. Someone read her thoughts. Waitta minute. Someone was there. She whirled around, getting up into a crouch, and pulling out a kunai knife. The other person smirked.

Why are you getting so wound up, Sakura? Sakura gasped. A faded image of someone sat beside her.

"Sa…Sasuke-kun?" He reached out and pressed one finger against her lips, to keep her from screaming. He glared at her, though not very intensely.

I can hear you fine when you whisper. Calm down. Sakura nodded, biting her lip.

"But…Sasuke-kun…I thought you were…" Sasuke nodded.

Don't avoid using the word 'dead'. It's annoying. Sakura started smile slowly. Then, she smiled fully, and tried to hug the image of her dead teammate. She went right through him. And fell out of the tree. Sasuke watched her fall, and a smile made its way across his features. Slightly.

Later on, Sakura talked to Sasuke from the ground, with him sitting in the tree branch above her.

"You're dead…"

No shit.

"That's not what I meant. I was trying to ask you, if you're dead, then how are you talking to me now?" She looked up at the stars. The Blue Moon was casting an eerie light across the rooftops of the town. Sasuke looked out on the town as well, thinking about his answer.

I don't know. I guess I didn't want to. I wasn't done yet. Sakura looked up at him.

"That can't be it, though! You were such an empty soul, after…after…" She choked on the words. Like someone had their fist shoved down her throat.

You're avoiding the word again, aren't you? Sakura nodded. Then spat it out.

"After Naruto died fighting! You were empty. You wouldn't speak, listen, and in the end, that's what killed you!" Tears started to fill up her eyes. "Kakashi was only able to sneak up on you, because you were so vacant…"

He would've been able to kill me anyways. He's that good.

"It still wouldn't have happened if you'd just gotten over him!" She regretted her words. And saying it so loud. Some lights in the houses nearby started to flick on, and she could see them through the windows. Sasuke glared out at nothingness.

…I don't know then. Sakura looked up. What had he said?

"Sa…suke?" He was looking at something she couldn't see, and was keeping pretty much quiet. Then he snapped.

I don't know, damn it! He went and killed himself. And I was left to think about it. Why the hell did I get so…so pathetic, over him!" He was looking down at one of his hands. He clenched, and unclenched his fist. He looked up, and Sakura was sitting right beside him.

"It's okay…" Her eyes shone with her tears, unshed. "I'm just glad you came. I might have ended up like you, over your death, and his." She started to cry, softly, but smiling. Sasuke looked somewhat stunned. Sakura's head started to droop, and Sasuke felt her head touch his shoulder. He formed it completely, using all of his dead chakra to try and solidify himself. He couldn't completely, but she was able to rest her head on him. Sasuke looked away, downwards. But he said nothing. Sakura mumbled slightly. He only just heard her words.

"Wh…why did you…have to...?"He knew what else she would say. She didn't need to say it. He let her cry in silence. This was a quiet moment, and he wouldn't disturb it for the world. He understood the pain of death.

For he was dead, wasn't he?

-Later on-

Sakura yawned, and got up slowly. The chuunin rubbed her eyes, and looked around. She was underneath the tree, still, but the dawning sun peeked over the Hokage Monument, and got in her eyes. They watered slightly, and she noticed suddenly that she was alone. Sakura looked around, and confirmed her suspicions. Sasuke was gone. She sat up, and held her knees to her chest.

Well…I guess he couldn't have stayed forever. Or…" she thought about another, more likely but less pleasant possibility. Or maybe I was dreaming the whole time. She stood up, slightly put out. But she still felt better. Now, she knew that Sasuke didn't want t die. Maybe that meant that he came back because of her. She doubted it as soon as she thought it.

She sighed. But it did mean that she could take out her anger on Karachi. She went to clean herself up, grab something to eat, and most importantly, find her ex-sensei.

The people who worked at Chewer recognized her, and immediately noticed that she was feeling more like herself. She had that angered look again. She hadn't since Naruto had been their to annoy her. They smiled, and served the meal, happy she was getting over the past.