Those three days passed by swiftly and Sakura really hadn't been able to heal Mikoto. The village was still in shambles and while Saku helped with the general clean up Sakura was needed in the hospital. This, of course, wasn't the reason why Sakura hadn't been able to heal her. She had discovered the source of the woman's problems. It was her lungs. They were an absolute mess.

She had cystic fibrosis. It was amazing that the woman was still alive seeming as though the life expectancy for people who contracted the disease was usually about thirty seven years.

The truth was that Mikoto couldn't be healed. If she had detected it earlier then perhaps she could have had a lung transplant but it was too late for such things. The woman had already developed several of the negative symptoms associated with the disease. Arthritis, osteoporosis...it explained so much about why the woman gave off the feel of an old woman when with a shinobi background she should technically be very healthy. However technicalities had to be thrown out the window in this case because Mikoto was dying. Not only was she dying but she was dying slowly and agonizingly. There were things that Sakura could do to ease her suffering but that was about it. And from what she had learned from Mikoto they were things that the woman was already doing.

Sakura had no idea how she Sasuke was going to deal with this information. Mikoto had asked her not to tell her children and she couldn't because of doctor/patient confidentiality but she wasn't sure that her Sasuke would let that slide. She had broken all sorts of rules for him before why would now be any different? There was a simple answer to that question.

She didn't want to see him suffer any more than what he already had.

:::

"You're troubled." Sakura looked up into Itachi's worried eyes and smiled slightly. She ran her hands through her hair before saying, "That's sort of become my lot in life." He found her in the office that she now shared with Saku. It should've have been too small for two people to work in together but they managed rather successfully. It was probably a case of great minds thinking alike.

She was glad to see Itachi even though she should have been working, but she needed a moment to reign in her unruly thoughts. She wondered if she'd be successful in that as well.

"That's only because you try to carry the burden on your shoulders alone." Sakura opened her mouth to say that wasn't true at all. However that wasn't quite true anymore. When she was in her own world she always had Kakashi to confide in, to help her. However this was one situation that she could never trouble anyone, not even Kakashi, with. Patient confidentiality was something that had been drilled into her brain by her teacher. With this particular case even if she didn't say any names she was afraid that Itachi would pick up on who exactly she was talking about and that she couldn't do.

"Just knowing you're here is enough." Sakura said with a smile that was more genuine than the first. "How are things in the village?"

"Does it matter?" The question initially seemed cold and callous but Sakura knew what he meant. All the work that was put into the village would be negated once Sasuke returned. Because he would return-that was something that she never doubted for a second.

"Of course it does. Look, I know Sasuke is bound to come back but he knows the consequences. He won't endanger this world more than what he feels necessary."

"And who gave him the right to judge what is and is not necessary? Lives have been lost."

Sakura looked away. She knew that better than he did. She was there when the light faded from the majority of their eyes. She carried that guilt in her heart. She knew that she should have dealt with Sasuke on this issue when he first discovered this world. She had been well aware of what his reaction would be and what the consequences of his actions were. Sakura was too soft where he was concerned. Her Kakashi had told her that once and she hadn't believed him. Now she did. "Sakura, I've developed a plan to deal with this once and for all…but you have to make a decision first."

Sakura paled at the serious note in his voice. She didn't think she was going to like what he was going to say at all.

"What do you mean? What decision?" Itachi shook his head.

"We'll speak on that later. All you need to know is that you have to go back to your world."

"But—"

"I know…the risk to you, but I know something now that I didn't know before. Your Sasuke will not allow anything to happen to you."

"They could be lying in wait to ambush me the second I walk through that rift."

"I know that Sakura. That's why we'll wait. We'll wait to your Sasuke comes here and then we'll force him back through."

"That's madness. Sasuke doesn't work that way. You can't just—"

"Sakura, I need you to put aside your preconceived notions for a moment but more than that I need you to trust me. Can you do that?"

Sakura was scared. There were so many ways that this could go wrong and the fallout could be astronomical. And yet Sakura couldn't help but look at the self-assured man in front of her and felt some of her anxiety ease.

Yes, things could go wrong but things could go right. That was just the way of life. There were no certainties. That was something that she had learned just by meeting him.

"Yes, I can do that."

"Good. This is what I want you to do."

:::

"Itachi wants us to meet him at his home tonight." Kakashi began, causing Saku to meet his gaze curiously. They had just finished their part of the clean up as relief for them had arrived. He had just changed directions to lead them both in the direction of the Uchiha District, and at her puzzlement he answered the unasked question. "He has a plan and he may need the both of us to enact it."

"Well, what is it?" Saku asked sensing that Kakashi already knew but Kakashi just shook his head.

"He'll tell you once you get there."

"At least tell me this then. Is it a plan I'll agree to?"

"Maybe." Kakashi said with a shrug of his shoulders, slipping his hands into his pockets. Saku rolled her eyes at his ambiguous answer.

"Will I like it?"

Kakashi glanced at her and she knew that the answer to that question was a 'no'. Saku groaned predicting that her evening was about to go the hell in a hand basket. They arrived at Itachi's home almost too soon for Saku's taste. She liked having the quiet time alone with Kakashi and she was not looking forward to the upcoming conversation.

It was Itachi who let them in with a nod at both of them before having them follow him. Saku immediately glanced at Sakura who looked pale. The alter kunoichi knew immediately that this was going to be a bad idea and really just wanted to get things over with.

"Okay so what's the plan?" Saku stated looking directly at Itachi. She wanted to cut to the chase because frankly she was sick of this whole situation and she had a feeling a lot of other people were too.

"Sakura goes home."

Saku blinked and then looked at Sakura thinking that maybe she had misjudged the whole situation. Perhaps Sakura's pallor had more to do with her impending separation from her intended than fear of what would happen with Itachi's plan. She was beginning to think that Sakura really loved Itachi. A part of her was glad because of that-probably because it alleviated a large part of her guilt. Another part of her worried because if she wasn't a match for Itachi then why would a counterpart of her be? Saku slightly shook her head and pushed aside those worries because different circumstances had shaped them into two different people who made different decisions.

"Sakura can't go home. She's supposed to marry you. You know the Clan will cause an uproar if they feel they were slighted by anyone even loosely connected to the Senju Clan."

"Of that I'm well aware." Itachi assured. "That is why it's not a permanent solution but rather a diversion. The fact is that this Sasuke is going to find out that my mother is dying." Saku saw Sakura flinch and wondered how Itachi had come about that information. Had Sakura told him? That didn't seem likely. So…how? "And that there is nothing that anyone can do to save her. It would be better for him to find this out in his own world. Where he can be…comforted by his own team."

"He's not just going to waltz back to his own dimension peacefully." Saku said.

"And that is why I need the two of you."

And that was when Saku realized that 'it' was going to hit the fan.

:::

Sakura looked around the room at her companions who looked resigned to the route they were about to take. So she made a valiant effort to steady her nerves and just go with the flow of things. "If we're going to do this we have to do it now. Sasuke told me he was going to return in three days and if Sasuke is anything it's punctual." Sakura said glancing at Itachi whose eyes steeled in resolve.

"Then we move now. We know the damage that will occur once he crosses the veil. Sakura and I will go into the other dimension to intercept him. If he gets past us then Hatake and Saku stop him and drive him back. But truthfully, I don't think he will make it past us. Your presence is just a precaution."

"Why is that?" Saku inquired.

His answer was so simple Sakura wondered why she hadn't thought of it before he did. "It's because he trusts Sakura."

:::

The sun was starting to set and Sasuke had yet to make an appearance. The four of them stood in the field of flowers and waited in tense anticipation. Itachi stood in front of them all while Sakura and Saku stood behind him. Kakashi took the rear and remained silent as he had for majority of the evening. Sakura had no idea what was wrong with him, but she had too much on her mind to dwell on it.

She was the first one to spot him. She had never watched anyone come to the veil before, and realized that it was an awesome sight. His body shimmered in shades of black and white and red before suddenly becoming visible to her. Before she could stop herself she cried out his name, "Sasuke!"

Then he solidified and his head automatically turned in her direction. That was when Itachi rushed him with Sakura following close behind. Sasuke's eyes flashed red and rage covered his face and for a moment, no, maybe more than a moment, Sakura felt fear. They had made him angry, and that wasn't the way to get him to see reason.

Instinct drove Sasuke back into their home-world and it was that instinct that saved the world Itachi had come from. The two exchanged blows with a speed that Sakura could barely keep up with. It was Sharingan against Sharingan and Sakura didn't know who was stronger. She had never seen Itachi in battle before –at least not this Itachi. On her own she couldn't even begin to guess who would be the winner and either way she didn't want either of them hurt.

They had accomplished their goal. They were back in her home world. So to keep either of them from killing the other she was left her with one option. She had to stop the fight.

She had promised herself that she would never do something as foolish as jump in between another fight again. What help would she be to anyone dead? No, she wasn't that stupid anymore—or so she liked to think.

She wanted to call out to them and tell them not to fight but that would be a distraction which could cause one of them to be hurt or perhaps killed, and that was something that she wasn't willing to let happen. She was running out of time and out of options.

She hated being helpless.

Then she came up with a solution that would only give her seconds, but seconds were all she needed. Sakura's fingers began to move rapidly in a jutsu that she had never used in live combat. There was a reason for that. She didn't have the chakra reserves to use it and not pass out from chakra exhaustion afterwards but that wasn't a good enough reason not to do it.

If chakra exhaustion would keep two of the most important people in her life alive and uninjured then it was worth it.

The earth rumbled beneath their feet but neither man was thrown off in their attack of the other because of it. Sakura didn't expect anything different which was something that she would play to her advantage. Perhaps they thought it was one of the earthquakes that had become so common in both worlds and that it was of no consequence.

A grim smile danced across Sakura's lips as she played her trump card.

The earth split open and roots and vines whipped through the air upwards and directly towards Itachi and Sasuke. Perspiration slid down Sakura's face and into her eyes and she fought to keep from completely blacking out until her task was completed. She had seconds to see Sasuke and Itachi encased in her would-be trap. Nature itself held them captive and it was a sight that was marvelous. She wished Sai were here to capture the moment. He so loved when anyone got the upper hand on Sasuke.

She called out to her teammate whose red eyes turned to her his head being the only portion of his body that could move. She knew all he really needed was those eyes to hurt her if he truly wanted to but he didn't take such an action. Instead, he waited silently and patiently—almost too patiently for her to speak.

"Sasuke please!" Sakura called out her breath coming in pants, "I need to talk to you before—" She was too late. She couldn't manage to say another word. Black spots danced before her eyes that soon rolled to the back of her head as she began to fall backwards. Her technique released its captives and she found herself in a pair of strong arms. She didn't know who held her. All she could really see was a dark hair and that was all that really mattered because regardless she knew she was now safe.

:::

Sakura opened her eyes to find Sasuke staring down at her. "Idiot. You know you can't use that technique properly." A tried smile graced Sakura's lips. It took her a moment or two to figure out exactly where she was and to recall what exactly had happened. She felt like someone had placed a ton of bricks on her head and then beat her with a bat.

"I know, but it was the only way I could think of to-"

"Stop me from seeing my family." Sakura frowned. She should have known that he would leap to that conclusion. She had thought he trusted her a bit more than that but apparently not…or maybe it was because trust and Sasuke, despite what Itachi believe, just didn't go together. Still it didn't stop her from feeling righteous indignation.

"You know that's not true." Sasuke raised a brow and Sakura flushed with anger at his disbelief. "What good would seeing your family do, if in the end you just killed them with your sheer presence? I needed to talk to you and make arrangements before you did that you big asshole!"

It was only a brief second but Sakura saw that she had stunned him and made an effort to calm down especially since her head started to spin at her outburst. Sakura's stomach rolled and for a moment or two she was certain she was going to vomit but somehow she managed not to toss her cookies.

"Do you need to go to the hospital?" Sasuke asked somberly. The mild concern in his voice melted a bit of her ire causing Sakura to sigh and close her eyes briefly.

"No. I'll be fine with a bit of rest…where is Itachi?"

"I am here." Sakura turned and looked to see Itachi standing in a dark corner of Sasuke's bedroom. She was relieved to find that they hadn't killed each other while she was unconscious.

"Good." Sakura said before falling into a dreamless sleep.

:::

Several hours later Sakura was feeling a lot better but wasn't completely one hundred percent. Itachi carried her into Sasuke's living room so they could have the discussion that had been planned.

Sakura glanced back and forth between Itachi and Sasuke. Since Itachi had said that he wished to be the one to talk to the younger Uchiha the silence was unnerving even for her. Sakura chose to stand despite Itachi's protests that she remain seated but that wasn't possible. The Uchiha brothers sat across from each other. She knew that sitting at either of their sides would be tantamount to taking sides in their minds and she would not put herself in that position.

"Sakura, do you want to tell him or should I?" Sakura glanced at Itachi confused since he had been the one to tell her that he would be the one to speak. Was this some sort of tactic…? No, he wanted her to tell him about their mother. Everything else would come from him. Sakura sighed.

"You're overly familiar with her name." Sasuke said and Sakura paled and chose to avoid looking at either man until she had composed herself. Sasuke was possessive. In his mind she belonged to him…well, if she were honest for a while she shared the sentiment. Sasuke as hers…but so were Kakashi and Naruto.

"Yes. I am." Itachi replied and fell silent and Sakura knew that he was waiting for the answer to her question.

"I'll tell him." A brow on Sasuke's face rose slowly and Sakura chose that moment to sit down at Sasuke's side. She would have taken his hand in hers but she didn't want to embarrass herself when he pulled away. "Sasuke…your mother has been very ill for a long time now." Sakura watched his face to see it blank. Sakura sighed knowing that despite himself Sasuke had the utmost confidence in her abilities as a healer and even though she knew that it was no fault of her own she still felt like she had failed him. "Her disease is a congenital abnormality and because it has gone on so long...there are no treatments available to her that she isn't already using to prolong her life."

The silence was an uneasy one and Sakura couldn't help herself. She cried. She shed the tears that she knew Sasuke wouldn't or rather, couldn't shed. He rose to his feet with the intention to leave but Sakura leapt to her feet and wrapped her arms around his waist holding him tightly to her. There were no words that she could say that would make him feel better, there was nothing she could do, so she would hold him.

She'd hold him until he pushed her away.

If he hadn't been in her arms she wouldn't have noticed that he was trembling.

She held him tighter.

If her head hadn't been pressed closely to his back she wouldn't have heard his heart breaking.

She cried harder.

If he hadn't reached and lightly rested his hands on top of hers she would have noticed Itachi leave.

:::

Sometime later Sasuke pulled away from Sakura and turned at looked down at her upturned face. He reached down and let his hand touch her face, brushing away a tear with his thumb before bringing it too his lips to taste the saltiness.

It should have seemed odd to Sakura but it didn't. Sometimes Sakura wondered if she was as insane as people thought Sasuke was.

"You're foolish. You always have been." Sakura shrugged off his words.

"I let you down. I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter. I'll spend the remainder of her days at her side."

"Sasuke about that…" His face took on a dangerous light but Sakura addressed it immediately, "You know I respect your decision even if it isn't wise. You seem to forget that I was the one who wanted to go with you when you left the Leaf."

"Proving my point about your foolishness."

"Irrelevant." It was then that Sakura noticed that Itachi was gone.

Sasuke, noting her puzzled look, said, "He left some time ago." Her face darkened. "What is he to you?"

Sakura's breath hitched. She hadn't expected that question although it was rather foolish that she hadn't. He would have been stupid not to notice even though she had tried to hide it.

"I'm going to marry him."

Sasuke froze and Sakura squeezed her eyes shut and bit her bottom lip. She felt Sasuke's hand in her hair and it wasn't the least bit soothing. "You're mine Sa-ku-ra." She didn't refute his claim.

"Then you'll have to make a choice." The smooth calming voice of Uchiha Itachi interrupted their conversation. Sakura would have taken a step back but Sasuke reached out and grabbed her arm preventing her from moving. Instead, she glanced over at her shoulder at Itachi who had suddenly rejoined them. His ability to appear and disappear was rather unnerving.

"Get behind me, Sakura." Sasuke ordered and Sakura obeyed. Itachi's eyes flickered over to Sakura who moved behind Sasuke but peered behind him to look in Itachi's eyes. She mouthed the words 'be careful'. She knew Itachi saw her but he made no movement to indicate this was so.

"You're not welcome here. Get out."

"If I leave, I'm taking Sakura with me."

Sasuke twitched almost imperceptibly but Sakura caught it and almost threw her arms around him once more to keep another fight from starting but she held herself in check. This turned out to be a good thing because Sasuke apparently had second thoughts about his actions.

"You think she will go with you?" A trace of amusement entered Sasuke's tone that shocked Sakura. Sasuke was never amused.

"I know she will." Itachi replied and Sakura really wished the conversation wasn't headed the way it was but it was inevitable.

"Sakura?" His whole tone as asking the question as to whether or not Itachi's words were truth. And she truly didn't want to answer that question. He had already, even if he hid it well, had his faith in her shaken. She didn't want to completely destroy it because if push came to shove…

Sakura looked at Itachi who raised a brow reminiscent to a way that she had seen on Sasuke's face several times. And so Sakura did what any sane person would do in the same situation.

She avoided the issue.

"The point is not whether I will stay with you or go with Itachi. The point is that the Clan needs to be rebuilt in this world. You can leave and go to the alter dimension to be with your family but you can't go back and forth. None of us can or both worlds will die.

"You have a duty to rebuild the Clan—"

"I know my duty." Sasuke said coldly but Sakura forged ahead.

"But you have a right to know your family. A right that was denied you by your older brother."

No one spoke ill of Sasuke's brother in his presence. He had almost killed people because of it. Yet that is what Sakura had done because whether Sasuke wanted to or not he needed to hear the truth. He had to face it. His brother was not a martyr. He was a fool.

"Itachi had no choice. This village forced him—"

"He did have a choice! That man standing right over there is proof that where there is a will there is a way! Your brother took the coward's way out and you paid for it! You have suffered all your life for it and I don't want to see it anymore! I want you to be happy! So damn it Sasuke just go but you can't come back once you leave. The life you have here will be over. You won't have Kakashi or Naruto but most importantly you won't have me. Because if you go then Itachi has to stay. The Leaf needs the Uchiha Clan and Itachi needs me to rebuild it."

There was a long moment of silence where Sasuke processed her words. In those moments he was an open book which was a rarity that Sakura basked in. He wanted to go. He wanted to leave this world so badly he could taste it. He didn't care whether or not he left them behind. He probably wouldn't even miss—

No she was wrong. This was simply a moment of temptation. His eyes which had gone slightly out of focus sharpened on her face.

"Now is not the time for this discussion. Whether I decide to leave or stay is of no consequence right now since nothing will occur until Danzo has been dealt with." Sakura let out a sigh of relief knowing that she had returned in time to stop them from doing something stupid. With Itachi's plan she had completely forgotten about it all. "Although I have heard through the rumor mill that Root ninja have been disappearing."

Sakura groaned. It didn't take a genius to figure out what happened to them. She needed to talk to Kakashi as soon as possible because talking to Sasuke would get her nowhere.

"You shouldn't have come back right now Sakura. It's dangerous. Go back and I will retrieve you when it is safe."

"No. I'm not leaving. Someone has to talk some sense into your knuckleheads. Does Naruto know about this?"

Sasuke didn't answer and that was an answer in and of itself.