Let's live for Hope

Kohaku: hey guys I'm back

Sasuke: what took you so long?

Kohaku: it hasn't been that long

Sasuke: I won three games of strip poker against Sakura, Naruto, and Kakashi

Kohaku: wait, you even got Kakashi to play strip poker with you guys

Sakura: yes

Kohaku: alright on with the story

Ch. 2

I never thought life would suck this bad. I mean I understand that I lost my family and all but isn't the misery supposed to stop at some point?

I wouldn't think so.

Stupid voice I thought I got rid of you.

Yea that's the thing, you thought. Very bad for you, or is that Naruto.

That's Naruto idiot.

Dude you just called yourself an idiot.

SHUT UP ALREADY!

Fine I'm leaving, don't come crying to me if things go bad again.

The voice in the back of my head was finally gone. I should give him a name besides inner Sasuke, how about Jo, or bob.

Hell freaking no.

I thought you were gone.

Again you thought.

Go away.

Fine, fine I'm goin.

Ahh, finally some peace and quiet.

That morning I decided to walk around the village that I would be staying in. There wasn't much, there was a hospital but half of the building was collapsed from the years of weather abuse. There was a hotel that also served as a restaurant. However, it was falling apart so no one was aloud on the upper levels of the building. There were also some houses surrounding all of this but also they were decaying because they had been standing there so long.

Overall the village was a complete dump. But something had drawn me here and something else had made me stay. I was determined to find the cause of both.

Although the village was completely wasted there were still some children playing happily.

How can they be happy when they live like this?

I half expected the voice to answer but after awhile there was nothing. I guess I shouldn't have been so mean earlier. I sat there and watched as the children played their game with a kick ball.

Maybe they are happy because they have each other.

Oh there you are.

You were just standing there like an idiot so I figured I might as well give you an answer.

Though the comment was meant to be an insult I smiled anyway. It made me feel like I belonged somewhere I guess, if that makes any sense what-so-ever. I don't actually thing it does, but oh well.

I started thinking about the past as I started walking again. About the dream last night, do I truly love Sakura? Or is it something else?

You never know, just let nature take its course.

"But what if it doesn't happen the way I want it too? What if I never see her again?" I said in what I thought was a whisper.

"Then find a way. If you truly want to see this girl then find her yourself." Said a voice directly behind me, I was a bit startled but I got over it quickly.

"Who are you and what do you want with me old man?" I said harshly

"Well now, temper, temper, I was just giving you some advice and you can just call me Jii-chan." I looked at him strangely

"Why would you help me?"

"This is all that we villagers have. I helped you because you shouldn't make the same mistake so many others did before you. Will you give up on this girl or will you go looking for her?"

He does have a point; you don't want to lose her again do you?

But what if she is already out of my reach?

Then keep running till you catch her.

"Thank you." I said quickly as I ran off to the field where I usually go to think.

As I ran I kept asking myself if I should go after her or just give up like I should have done three years ago. Like I gave up on destroying Konoha? It was for her.

Sasuke you expect too much of yourself

My mother's voice rang in my head.

You need to work to get what you want, but sometimes the pieces will just wall into place.

My father was a wise man that is for sure.

Sasuke, not everyone will be there to help you all the time as much as we may want to. Just ask yourself what you want and what you want to do about it. Don't sit back on the sidelines as I did. Now I am paying for it.

An image of my brother Itachi flashed into my head, then an image of his wife, Kohaku, and his son, Itayu. I never actually got to see them as a happy family. I didn't want to see it because I knew that I would never have what they have. My brother left the village a long time ago. It drove Kohaku to near insanity when he was gone. I don't think she would have survived if not for Itayu.

Then I saw a flash of pink cross me, the smell of cherry blossoms flowing in a spring breeze. She wasn't there, I knew that much, but I could dream right, just as I did so many times before.

However this was not a dream. It was reality, and reality never happened the same as a dream. In a dream you could plan everything out, but in reality everything is unexpected.

I knew I wasn't dreaming because I heard the slight gasp from behind me and I knew, with all my heart I knew, that it was her.

"Sasuke-kun." She was wide-eyed as she softly said my name. Surely from shock I would presume.

I turned around to face her, I was slow and cautious in case this was a dream and I woke up. But it wasn't a dream and I knew that because she was reacting just as I would expect her to after months of not seeing each other.

"Sakura" I said softly before she fell to the ground in tears, eventually she cried herself to sleep.

"My love." I said before I picked her up bridal style and took her to my home so she would be safe.

Kohaku: I don't really like that ending

Sasuke: why?

Kohaku: I don't know I want to change it but at the same time I don't

Sasuke: just keep it the way it is I like it

Kohaku: next chapter: Sakura's back, what will Sasuke do?

Sasuke: love her, marry her, have her bear my children

Kohaku: wow perverted much

Sakura: Yay I finally came, see you in the next chapter.