Disclaimer: Naruto and all its respective characters do not belong to me.
"If only I could make you mine…" he murmured.
Naruto shifted his hold so he could reach out with his right hand to stroke her cheek. He used his thumb to try to wipe away some of the blood that was smeared across her pale skin.
"If only I could make you mine, I wouldn't let you shed another tear of sorrow," he thought.
Naruto stared at her closed eyelids, behind which hid the pale green irises he would never have the opportunity to gaze into again. To feel the comfort from the caring he saw within them.
"If only I could make you mine, I'd never let you go," he thought.
Naruto once again held her limp body close to his. Nothing else mattered right now, except this moment.
"If only I could make you mine, I would write your name in the heavens," he thought.
Naruto lifted his gaze from her serene countenance to scream out his pain. His fury. His loss. To the starry sky above them.
"If only I could make you mine, but it's too late now. However, I want you to know, I was always yours," he murmured to the dead corpse lying in his weak arms.
"I will avenge her," Naruto heard from behind him, the male voice of his former teammate.
"What do you care?" Naruto yelled back at him. "You haven't been around. You don't know her anymore."
Sasuke set his jaw, but made no sign of attempting a reply. Naruto carefully lifted up Sakura's light body and carried her over to a nearby pine tree. He gently set her down under its protection where she could lifelessly wait for their return. The return of the two teammates she had wanted to protect, and had with her life.
"Her death won't be wasted," Sasuke finally ventured, breaking the silence that was commemorating her death. "But we have to leave now if we're going to catch up with him."
Naruto simply nodded as he stood up and turned around. His back now faced her form that was propped up against the trunk, her head tilted slightly to one side, almost as if she were curious of the feelings of the two boys in front of her.
Both of Naruto's fists were clenched tightly, tiny streams of blood beginning to trickle from where his growing fingernails dug into his palms.
Sasuke glanced sideways at him before commenting plainly, "That won't do her any good. That won't bring her back. Save it for when we confront him if you're going to use it."
Blue once again filled the space of the boy's eyes as Sasuke removed his projection from Naruto's mentalscape.
Far away from there, Konoha slept peacefully. But interrupting the tranquility of the night, a strong wind blew through the village, carrying away on its wings the petals of the remaining cherry blossoms that had persevered until the very end of their season.
"Let's go," Sasuke urged strongly. And the two boys left behind their fleeting cherry blossom, whose existence had been so precious. And that comprehension rose up stark against the closing of the duration of her season.
A/N: This was my first attempt at a one-shot, so I hope it turned out well. I want to submit this into a fanfiction contest, so I'd really appreciate reviews and especially constructive criticism! Thanks!
Also, check out my profile page for a song I used as inspiration to help set the mood for this fic.