Last Flicker of Light

They immediately brought Sakura to the hospital. Master Tsunade and Master Makoto did their best to make Sakura's body and mind calm down.

Neji and Sasuke waited outside. Shino and Kiba went back to their respective homes because they were too tired already. Neji wanted to beat Sasuke to pieces but he knew that it wasn't going to do any good for Sakura so he faithfully waited beside him.

Master Makoto came out of the room and said, "She's calm and you may come inside to see her." Sasuke and Neji followed her inside.

The room was dark and only a candle served as the light. Sakura was sleeping. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing normally. Sasuke caressed her face and kissed her forehead. "I'm glad you're okay now."

"That's not true, Uchiha." Master Tsunade said, "She is not okay." Sasuke looked at her. Master Tsunade continued, "You stopped the completion of the Rituals of Transformation. You're lucky that she's not dead. She could've died!"

Master Makoto said, "She can never be alright in that state. Her eyes will never be able to be a full Sharinggan thanks to your interference. And so doing, she will never be able to open her eyes anymore." She paused and continued, "The only way to cure her is to reverse the rituals and make her forget everything about you and the Rituals."

Master Tsunade continued, "We knew this could happen so I asked Neji and the others to look for the ingredients to reverse the Rituals of Transformation. Once she's back to the way she was, she can undergo serious trauma because of the pain she experienced in that ritual. You don't know what one sees during those rituals. Do you want her to be afraid of you?"

Sasuke shook her head. "I wouldn't want that to happen."

Neji looked at Sakura. "I got the ingredients so change her back." Neji wanted her to be okay. He felt so sad that she was in that state.

"We can do that." Master Makoto said, "Of course, it's for Uchiha to decide."

Sasuke answered, "Of course I want her back to the way she was. But…." He looked at her, "I don't want to see her in pain. I don't want to hear her screams…"

Master Makoto answered, "Well, we can always make her drink this potion that causes the drinker to forget her latest and most painful experience." She even added, "I made it myself. There are no side effects. Trust me."

"However," Master Tsunade said, "This would that it is also possible that she'll forget that you came back. When you came back, I believe you brought more pain and sadness to her rather than happiness."

Inside, Neji pitied Sasuke. He was relieved that he, the Byakugan user, didn't have to make such decisions. If he was on Sasuke's place, he'd say he wanted Sakura to forget. But Neji didn't know if Sasuke wanted to part once again with the cherry blossom.

Sasuke sighed and said, "Well, if that is so, so be it."

Neji looked at him. What? He decided to let her go?

Master Tsunade patted him at the back. "Good decision. We can start right away."

"Now, now, Tsunade," Master Makoto said, "We can't do it right away. Why don't we go and prepare for it? After all, I don't have my potion yet." She gripped her sister's shoulder and started dragging her out of the room. "Neji," She called, "Come with us. We need your help."

Neji nodded and started to go. In fact, he knew what was really going on. Master Makoto wanted Sasuke to talk to Sakura one last time.

-----Outside the room….

"What was that for, Makoto?" Master Tsunade asked her sister with great annoyance. "The potion is ready and the preparation only takes seconds so why do we have to leave the room?"

Master Makoto sighed. "YOU are not the one who's going to lose someone you care for in the whole wide world." She added, "After all, I saw her flinch."

Neji heard Master Makoto and his suspicion was right. She did want both of them to talk in private.

------Inside the room….

Sasuke watched the door close. The light illuminated on her porcelain face. He memorized her peaceful face, her beautiful cotton candy pink hair, her beautiful lips, and her exquisite nose. But he regretted never being able to see her jade orbs once again.

Sasuke touched her soft face. "Sakura… I'm so sorry."

Suddenly, he heard her say weakly, "You don't have to be sorry… I wanted this, remember?" She tried to open her eyes but there was no avail. She couldn't open them because of the pain. Instead, she reached for his hand. "Sasuke…"

"Sakura…" He immediately held her hand. "I'm really sorry." A tear slid from his face.

"Sasuke…" Sakura said, "Don't make me forget you… Please… I don't want to lose you again." Once again, she tried to open her eyes. Her eyes were halfway open but all she could see were blurred images.

Sasuke stared at her eyes. They were blood red instead of jade green. I caused her this pain... "I can't do that, Sakura." Sasuke paused when he saw a red-colored tear drop from his cherry blossom's eyes. "All I did was make you cry. Please, you must forget doing the ritual and maybe, forget seeing me once again."

"No…" Sakura reasoned, "You brought back happiness to me. Our love has gone through thick and thin…" She held this hand near her heart. "See? I'm alive, right? We can survive through this if we work together…" She could feel that Sasuke had already made up his mind. A red tear slid down her face. She faintly whispered, "Don't leave me again, Sasuke."

"I have to." Sasuke whispered, "It's for your own sake." He took his hand from her hand. More red tears slid down her face. Sasuke wiped them away then he realized that it wasn't tears he wiped; however, it was blood. Blood was coming down of her blood red eyes now. He finally felt that he's making the right decision.

He was about to go when she said, "Wait." He turned back and looked at her. "Kiss me and say 'I love you' one last time."

Sasuke walked toward her. He titled her head with care. Their lips met and the kiss was bitter. After a few seconds, their lips parted. He softly whispered in her ear, "I love you, my cherry blossom." Another tear slid down his face.

He stood straight and walked away. He didn't bother to look back at her.

She wanted to run towards him – to hug him again, to stop him. But she was immobile. All she could do was cry – shed blood instead of tears. Suddenly, the whole room went black for the last flicker of light had died.

-----

Author's Notes: I know it's too short. But like I said, this is the saddest chapter.

I'm sad too. Only one person reviewed for Chapter 7. Thank you Gaararocksyay.

I hope you loved this chapter.

I already have the plans for the following chapters.

Chapter 8 will be about the reversal. Working on it

Chapter 9 will be about Naruto and Hinata's wedding day. I had the perfect storyline for this one in my head.

Chapter 10/Epilogue will be the dramatic ending. I am certain of one thing about this chapter. It shall be called: "Close to the End"

Please Review and please don't forget to add this into your Story Alert list so that you'd know when I updated.