Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!

Story Title: True Love

Chapter 15: Guardian Angel

.: Start :.

Yuukie had fainted after Tsunade had announced that her mother was dead. How could this happen? Why did this have to happen? Her mother was the only one left in her life. If this happens, she'll have to move back to Snow Country with her uncle and Daisuke… She wanted to die right then right now. She couldn't move back with that family and it would mean seeing Daisuke again. She didn't even want to face him, much less live with him.

If she fainted why did the wooden floor feel so soft? It's like she was floating in a bed of air. It felt so warm. Why is she thinking about herself? Her mother just died! Wake up her mind yelled at her and she did just that.

Yuukie woke with a start on her own bed, sweating. Naruto was there looking at her strangely. Naruto tried to talk to her but she ignored him and went out of her room. She ran desperately to her mother's room. It was just a dream wasn't it? Her mum wasn't dead, she's sleeping in her room. She promised to go to the gardens with her!

Yuukie stopped dead and clutched her chest, her breathing was uneven and soon she was gasping for air. Her head was spinning but she must see her mother. She heard footsteps behind her and someone was yelling her name but she didn't care. She needed to see her mother! She steadily got up and used the wall to support her walking. She took two steps and her breathing stopped. She lay there suffocating and was picked up and rushed back to her room.

"No!" She choked out. "M-mother!"

"Stop talking! Relax and breathe, Yuukie-chan!" Naruto yelled but Yuukie was once again knocked out from consciousness.

When an oxygen mask was finally placed on her face Yuukie woke up. She had attempted to try and run to her mother again but she was strapped down. She struggled but it was no use. Her wrists and ankles were tied down on the bed.

"Sorry Yuukie-chan but you have to relax and calm down if you want to attend your mother's funeral at four." Naruto said. "I'm sorry for your mother's death Yuukie-chan but there's nothing we can do. You shouldn't beat yourself up."

"Naruto-kun, please let me go. You like me don't you? If you really do let me go to my mother's room. Please? Please untie me." Yuukie pleaded. "Let me see that my mother is still alive. She's not dead! I can prove it, just untie me and I can show you! Everyone's lying! She's alive! She's not dead! She promised to go to the garden with me today." She let out a hysterical laugh. "Yuukie and mum are going to the garden today." Yuukie said in a singsong voice. She was on crack! Naruto never knew that the death of her mother would affect her this much.

"Yuukie-chan, listen to me! She's dead! Just let it go!"

"She's not dead! She's not dead!" She said over and over again. Tears fell from her red eyes. "She's not dead!"

After three hours Yuukie had finally calmed down. But her state was still unstable, so Naruto was her guide from now on. Even for walking she needed help since she kept on bumping into things. She changed into a black kimono and was ready to face the reality that her mother had died. She was going to attend the funeral with a straight face.

"Yuukie-chan? You okay in there?" Naruto asked, knocking the door softly. "Are you ready yet? It's about to start."

"I'm fine and I'm nearly done, just a few more seconds and I'll be out."

"Okay." Naruto's voice was head from the other side of the door.

Yuukie face the mirror one last time and headed to the door. She was about to reach the doorknob but pulled back her hand. She can't do this! But… if she didn't attend the funeral, she'll never see her mother's face ever again. Yuukie took a deep breath and opened the door.

"You ready Yuukie-chan?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah."

Naruto led the way to the cemetery. Most of her mother's friends were there but there was no sign of her family. She walked past the crowd to the front right beside her mother's casket. She looked at her mother's face one last time before closing the lid. The elders lowered the coffin to the hard and cold ground as tears welled up in her eyes.

A hand rested on her shoulder. "It's okay Yuukie-chan, we're here." Sakura said soothingly, the others behind her nodded. Yuukie couldn't even manage a smile to say thank you.

When they had buried Hana's coffin, everyone said their prayers. After the prayer was said, Ino handed Yuukie a bouquet of the finest flowers in her flower shop. Yuukie placed the bouquet on Hana's grave and hot tears made their way to her cheeks.

A few group of people made their way to the front towards Yuukie. "Uncle?" Yuukie said startled that he would actually come.

"Surprised to see me?" He asked and the teen nodded. "Even though she was an outcast Yuukie, she is still my flesh and blood, Hana my youngest sister will always be part of the Suichi family."

"Is there a Sanada Yuukie here, daughter to Sanada Hana?" Someone called out from the crowd.

"Yes. I'm Sanada Yuukie." Yuukie said raising her hand.

"Your mother left this for you." He said handing out a scroll to Yuukie. "And are you Suichi Takashi?" He asked Yuukie's uncle. "Eldest brother of Suichi Hana?"

"Yes." Takashi answered. The elder nodded and handed him another scroll.

The ceremony ended an hour later but Yuukie and the rest of her family were still there. Sakura and her girlfriends and even Naruto were still there. Yuukie's family was taking to her so they didn't want to interfere with the Suichi family's business. When they finally left Naruto and Sakura approached her.

"Yuukie-chan, it's getting late. We'd better go. Do you want to stay at my house for a few days?" Sakura offered.

Yuukie shook her head. "No. No thanks. I'm fine. You can go home if you want to, I'm just going to stay here for a while longer." She said sitting next to the grave.

"But Yuukie-chan, it's almost night time are you sure you'll be alright?"

"I'll be fine Naruto-kun. Just go and head home I'll see you tomorrow."

"Well okay. Since you said that you're fine. See you tomorrow okay?"

"Okay. Maybe at Ichiraku, if not you'll know where to find me right?"

"Right. Take care of yourself Yuukie-chan, don't beat yourself up. It's not your fault."

"I will." Was the short reply.

A half hour passed and Yuukie was still at the cemetery. The sky was turning dark, not because of nightfall but because of the falling snow. When the clouds burst Yuukie did the same thing. Her tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably. Why is she crying this much?

' I hate you!'

'Yuukie!'

'Your marriage has been arranged. We can't change anything. Not to mention that Daisuke's family had already paid the sum. 1,500,000 gold pieces is a hefty sum Yuukie. You must and you will marry Daisuke.'

'So that's it! I'm just some toy you can do whatever you please to do with? Am I nothing to you? Is this how you all look down on me? And I can't believe that these words came out of your mouth mother!'

All of the words rang in her head and she was afraid. She was afraid to face this grave without hearing her late mother's voice in her head! And when she is afraid she did what she did best. Run… Running away from her problems. That's what she was… A coward.

And that's what she did run away with tears in her eyes. Not knowing or even cared where she was going. The puddles of melted snow splashed as she stepped on them. Not many people were out so she wouldn't worry about bumping onto someone. She slipped on some ice and fell on the ground.

Her ankle felt as thought it was pierced with pins and needles. So she just stayed there on the wet ground, getting soaked with deep snow, drenching her clothes. The gods are cursing her right now. She's cold and wet like a stray dog. Why did her life have to be like this? All the ones she loved were now gone. Who's next? Her?

The fall of snow seemed to have stopped since there weren't any more snow falling down on her head but she saw that her surroundings were still snowing. Was it a miracle? She looked up and there he was holding an umbrella over of her head. Sasuke…

"You're such an idiot to play in the cold snow."

Yuukie hugged Sasuke and his eyes widen in surprise just for a second. He dropped the umbrella and they were knocked down to the deep snow from the impact with him flat on his back with Yuukie on top of him. This girl was just impossible to take care of yet, Sasuke didn't push her away. (1)

"Sasuke…"

"Hn. Idiot."

Sasuke never did let the girl go, even now. He is sitting on his bed still holding the teen that hugged her while they were outside in the snow. She was exhausted either from her tantrum in denial that her mother was dead or by today's events. Sasuke had carried her all the way to his house. There weren't any people on the streets because of the weather so they wouldn't know that the Uchiha Sasuke carried a girl all the way to his household. He would send her to her own home but the door was locked.

Why did this idiot (as Sasuke would say) hug him? He was so surprised at the action but it felt nice and warm to be hugged. This feeling went back to his early years. And why isn't he letting her go? Is it because she wouldn't let go or he didn't want to wake her up or was it something else?

Sasuke shook his head. What was he thinking? But still… Maybe he should put her on the bed, his arms are getting a little numb. But before he could do so, something sweet filled his nostrils; a mixed smell of chamomile, meadowsweet and blue raspberries. Is this what Naruto meant by him knowing her scent? It was so sweet that he could taste it.

Sasuke shook his head once more to make him wake up from the trance of the perfume. He laid Yuukie on the bed. He then remembered that she and himself were still wet. Great, now his bed is all wet. Way to go Sasuke, his mind yelled at him.

"I should change, I wouldn't want to risk getting sick." He said to himself.

.: Yuukie's dream and flashback :.

"Yuukie, it says here in your mother's will that you don't want to marry Daisuke even though you were already arranged to be married with him and even more, you're wedding ceremony is in 10 days from now?"

"Yes uncle, it's true."

"You're breaking a lot of rules, Yuukie. You might end up as your mother."

"I'll take that chance uncle."

"You must really hate him. Why?" Takashi asked.

"He tried to murder mother and I never loved him… I was just pretending because he saved my life, I only thought of it as a debt to be repaid. But I was wrong uncle, I should follow my own heart."

"Is that the only reason? Daisuke told me that you were just nervous."

"No. He's lying."

"Are you saying that Takeshi Daisuke, a son of a nobleman, the one who paid 1,500,000 gold pieces for you is lying?"

"Yes."

"How can you be this disobedient? Is it because you're living here in this country that made you this way? Well you're going to move back to Snow Country with us and your marriage has been reschedule by Daisuke's will. You will be wed when you're 18, Daisuke said that you'll be more mature at this age. See how he understands? You should be glad that he even showed interest in you much less want to marry you. By the way, when you're living at Snow Country you will be living with Daisuke's family since you're still his fiancé and all."

"No." Yuukie said a little too quickly and her uncle's face showed anger. "Uncle I don't want to be married to him period!"

"You must and you will and I don't want that attitude coming from you when we get home! How would the Takeshi family think of us?"

"But uncle!" Yuukie protested.

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me Yuukie!"

.: End of dream and flashback :.

Yuukie woke up with a start, she was sweating. Wait how can sweat be this cold? This was moisture, very cold water. But since when did she play in the snow? As she recalled back her thoughts, the door to the bathroom opened. Sasuke came out fully dressed and she remembered.

"Oh Sasuke-san, Well uhh… Thanks I guess… I'm not exactly sure why but thanks anyway." She said standing up and headed for the door.

"And where are you going?" Sasuke asked.

"Well back to my place. I have to pack, I'm leaving."

"Leaving? You aren't going to run away because of your mother's death are you?" Sasuke asked.

"No. I'm leaving Konoha because I have to move back to Snow Country with my family and Daisuke. It was nice having friends, say goodbye to Naruto and the others for me."

"Don't treat me as though I'm your personal messenger boy! And you are not leaving Konoha!"

Yuukie looked at him surprised to hear that he didn't want to leave. "Excuse me?"

"What do I look like, a tape recorder? I said you are not leaving Konoha, not now at least. It's a blizzard out there and you can get sick again. And you're soaking wet, you'll catch a cold the second you step out of the front door."

"But I can't!" Yes, she can't stay here! If her family finds out that she'd been staying at another man's house she'll be in deep trouble! Sure once is fine but twice? She's gone way out of the line!

"No buts or I'll kick your butt into the cold showers!"

"I really shouldn't stay. My family, if they found out I'll be in trouble. I can't stay."

"So? Aren't you already in big trouble for hugging me on the streets, in the snow and falling on our backs with you on me?" Sasuke said reminding her with a smirk.

Yuukie blushed so hard; she looked like a tomato that had gotten sunburned! "Uhh…"

"See? Now go change while I make something warm."

"Sasuke-san? I don't have anything to change into."

"Just grab one of my shirts."

"I don't think that I'll even fit. You're a year older than me and I'm a girl Sasuke."

"And what do you want me to do about it? Do you see any other female in this house?" Yuukie shook her head. "I didn't think so." He said leaving the room.

Yuukie opened one drawer and shut it back really quickly, wrong drawer. (3) She opened the next drawer and took out a shirt and trousers. She really wouldn't fit in this; it's much too big but she'll try it anyway. Yuukie came out later wearing the oversized shirt and trousers. The collar of the shirt kept on exposing her shoulder and the pants weren't even to her waistline.

"Uhh… Sasuke-san?" She called out but no answer.

She went out of the bathroom and saw that a yukata was lying on Sasuke's bed. Was this for her? It had better because these clothes really don't fit. She took the yukata and went back to the bathroom to change. She came out later and it fit, it was a little loose and long but she's not complaining. She went downstairs to the kitchen and saw Sasuke bringing two plates of soup to the dining room.

"I see that my mother's old yukata fits you after all."

"It's a little big but it'll do. At least it's better than your clothes, they're much too big."

"Well, eat up." Sasuke said placing the plates on the dining table.

"Uhh…"

"Don't tell me that you're giving me that 'I'm too full to eat' crap of an excuse."

"Looks delicious." She said sitting down obediently at Sasuke's glare.

It was quite cold in the Uchiha household. The blizzard covered the windows with snow. But this was nothing Yuukie thought compared to the weather at Snow Country. Urgh… The thought of the name sent shivers up her spine. Both of them are sitting at the dining table eating their dinner quietly but halfway through it, Sasuke spoke up.

"Here I think you should read this." He said throwing her the scroll of her mother's will. "The contents are rather amusing but for you it might be very surprising."

"You read my mother's will? This was for me you weren't supposed to read it!"

"I wasn't? Then why was it addressed to me then?" Sasuke asked raising an eyebrow.

Yuukie looked at it and it was addressed to Sasuke but how?

"This was delivered to me this morning yours are in the living room and no I didn't read it." Sasuke said. "Go on ahead I think she wanted you to read it."

Yuukie looked at Sasuke doubtfully and opened the scroll.

Uchiha Sasuke, a son of a close friend of my husband and I.

I, Sanada Hana will leave this world soon and I will not regret on what I will tell you. I hope you understand that I value my daughter more than my life. I would like her to be safe and well after I die and I want you to be responsible for that.

Think of it as a last request from one of your father's friend. She wouldn't be much of a burden. You don't have to feed her and give her money. No, that would be too much to ask. Just look after her for me.

She might be unhappy at times and maybe after my death she would be asked to move back to Snow Country with my brother. Do anything you can do to stop her. I would like her to stay here in Konoha where she will be under your supervision and here is where she feels welcomed.

I highly appreciate if you agree to be her guardian.

Sincerely,

Hana

Attached to the letter was something else. It was somewhat like a form, typed and a few were hand written.

I, Sanada Hana hereby place my child Sanada Yuukie under the guardian of Uchiha Sasuke. After all the people above have signed this form, all words on this form will be legal.

And underneath the form was Hana's signature and even Sasuke's! There was still a line for Yuukie to sign.

Yuukie glanced up at Sasuke who had his normal expressionless character on his face. "You agreed to it?" She asked.

"Yes." Came the curt reply.

"Why?" Yuukie asked.

"Didn't your mother already explain that? So, are you going to sign in agreement?"

Yuukie was speechless and she reread the whole scroll and rolled it back up. "I don't know. If I sign this I will be under your supervision and I could stay here in Konoha with you and my newly found friends but if I don't I will have move back to Snow Country and live with Daisuke for the rest of my life."

"Isn't it easy for you to answer, you don't exactly want to go back to Snow Country, right?"

"I-I don't know. I'll just think about it later… Umm… Excuse me." She said leaving the dining room with her bowl and glass. She washed the glass and bowl and dried her hands. She then went out of the kitchen and went to the living room to read her mother's will which was addressed to her.

My dearest daughter Sanada Yuukie.

I apologise for leaving this world and leaving you alone with the family curse. But don't worry; your guardian angel will be there soon. Your marriage might be arranged to another date or year but I must tell you that if you don't want to be married to Daisuke you'd better find someone soon but don't make the same mistake as before, find someone who truly loves you for who you are.

I also apologise that I have nothing left in my possession to give you but you might fine some of my old treasuries interesting, you may keep them. Find a suitable job and don't fall ill. And always remember that I'll always be watching over you.

Hana.

"Ah… I'm crying again?" Yuukie asked herself as she touched her wet cheek. "Find a suitor before 18 huh? Must be rich too. Looks like I'll be stuck with Daisuke after all. I can't believe that I actually thought that I could get away from it."

"Why do you easily give up Sanada?" Sasuke asked startling Yuukie. He was resting his back on the doorframe with crossed arms. "If you sign, you'll still have three years to spend in Konoha."

"Two years." Yuukie corrected him. "I'm going to be 16 soon."

"Still it's better than living with that asshole for the rest of your life." Sasuke said approaching the girl and handing him the scroll. "So, what's it going to be? All the answers are with you."

"Do you have a pen?" Yuukie asked.

.: End :.

A/n: I'm sorry for any misspelled words or any grammar mistakes. If there were OOCness, which I admit that there are please, please forgive because if they were too in character, this fic would not exist!

I apologise deeply because I didn't updated for so long! The first reason was because my laptop was busted and it had to be repaired. When it was fixed in was in examination month! So, I had to study!

Please don't think that I don't care for you guys! Don't abandon me! (I'm being pathetic) So how about it guys? Will you forgive me?

Just wanted to make a moment here to give you a taste of what's coming. (1)

It's been a while right guys? I was totally absorbed with work! I'm proud to sat that my PMB's went well. I got 2 distinctions and 7 credits, yay me! Who said that the 10th grade was easy? I got in charge of everything this year! The teachers kept putting me in every competition imaginable! I'm now a prefect… (Urgh, I'm not exactly the responsible type) and also the Chief Editor of the newspaper of my school! I can't even find the time to write my own stories!

I missed writing so much that I found the time to squeeze in for writing this chapter. Maybe I'll post twice a month if I have the time. I will not leave you guys hanging, I promise! I WILL finish this story no matter what.

I know doesn't allow replies to reviewers anymore but this is important. Blue Savage sent me a few questions which I would like to tell the answer to everyone so all of you wouldn't get all confused and hate the story. (I'll edit it someday) You guys can check up her questions in the reviews.

To answer question one I would first like to apologise deeply for making you guys very confused. You see since chapter 11 I sort of changed the line of the story. In chapter 11, it was supposed to be a moment with Sasuke and Yuukie but I felt it was too early and way OOC of Sasuke. So everything changed, hope you don't mind. I would say that Yuukie's character changed because of Sasuke and the others. As for Daisuke's change of attitude, it's because of his training.

Number two… Yeah about that part I'm sure you're all VERY confuse and once again I apologise! Remember when I said I changed the plot of the story? This is one part of it. Daisuke WAS supposed to be her boyfriend but I thought I would twist it in someway that he should be her fiancé. He told her that he was seeing someone else because he didn't want to think of her during his training and since she kept sending him letters, he had to stop it. Further explanation will be in further chapters. Don't worry I will explain in great detail to not get you confused!

Number three. Yup, it's sort of fake love on Yuukie's part. Daisuke does love her in a very possessive and harsh way. Yuukie well… I'll spoil the story if I tell you everything so you just have to wait.

Number four. To Blue Savage: I'm really sorry if you got disappointed but as I've said I changed a lot in my story. Once again I'm really, really sorry. I hope you would still continue to read my fic.

As I've said, all I can say is that his personality changed due to his training.

And to everyone… Don't worry about the fluffy moments I've taken care of that. All I can say is that there's a twist and I hope you like it

I have never apologised this much on a chapter! Oh yeah, I've turned 15 already! Yeah!

Lastly I would like to thank you all for reviewing. I admit that I cried reading your reviews and couldn't find time to reply or write the story… THANKS SO MUCH EVERYONE!

Much love,

Neogem…