A/N: Well, this is my second one-shot. It has the same title, different plot. However, it still has the same moral as the one-shot before. The story just popped into my head. It
bears a few similarities to my first one-shot, but it still has a different plot. Be warn, there is a character death in the end. It may or may not be a tear jerker… either way, be prepared.
The story may seem a bit angst and gloomy, but if you like it, you like it. If you don't like it then you don't like it. Every fairytale does not have a happy ending.
Disclaimer: No, I do not own Naruto, or any of the characters used in my story.
As eighteen year olds, Sakura, Ino, Tenten, and Hinata prepare to exit the grounds in which they have found happiness and grief. It was that time of year again. The time where parents, relatives, and friends bear witness to their greatest creations as it is being acknowledged to all those present.
Sakura sat nervously, drumming her hands to the armrests. She was nervous as heck. It was just an amount of time before her name is called and she would have to walk up there, in front of everyone to get her diploma.
That dreaded thing took four friggin years to get, Sakura thought about her high school diploma.
"Haruno Sakura," said the MC. Sakura slowly walked up onto the stage. She smiled anxiously, and reached forward for her diploma. As she took hold of the paper, a huge applause and cheers met her ears. She smiled back at the crowd and went to her seat.
Sakura, Tenten, Ino, and Hinata sat, hand in hand, teary eyed, as they listened to the guest speaker deliver his message of encouragement. Sakura looked around and saw Naruto sobbing, a bored Shikamaru, Neji sat there stiffly eyeing the stage as if it were to eat him alive, and Sasuke sitting with his face in his palm. Sakura smiled sadly. She was suppose to tell Sasuke how she really felt about him before the year ended, however, it came as an impossibility as they found out that he was going out with the new transfer student.
Uchiha Sasuke and Matsui Karin were named 'Couple of the Year'. Their picture even proved how well they mesh together. Unfortunately Naruto wasn't named 'Class Clown' Sai had managed to win that award. However, as a surprise, he got labeled 'Most Likely to Attend College'. Sakura got the 'Most Likely to Succeed' award, Ino received the 'Fashionista of the Year' award, and, ironically, Tenten was labeled 'Babe of the Year'. The others didn't want to be included because they all knew how it was competing for the ever-popular high school labels was.
As a graduation get-together, the group decided to meet up at Naruto's favorite place, Ichiraku's. It was sort of weird considering Karin was with them. They never really got along. They all knew how Sakura felt about Sasuke, and in a way they thought that Sasuke had betrayed them by hurting Sakura.
They were all smiling and having fun. Naruto made them laugh like there was no tomorrow. Sasuke was dragged to a secluded area by Karin, leaving the rest by themselves. The girls were having their own conversation, while the guys just talked about Halo 3.
"I can't believe high school is actually over," said Tenten.
"I know what you mean," states Ino.
Hinata and Sakura smiled and nodded.
"Gosh, the next thing you know, we will be in a wheel chair, standing beside one of your coffins," said Ino. She always was known for thinking ahead, more like fifty years ahead.
"Heh, well, I know one thing for sure, I want you guys to be all there before I take my last breath. I mean I want to make sure that when I die, the last people that are forever imprinted into my mind are you guys," said Sakura.
"Aww, Forehead, I want you to be there by my side, too," said Ino. She placed her right hand over her heart, as an act of being emotionally affected by Sakura's words.
"Have you ever thought, that maybe if one of you guys dies, then they won't be by your bedside while you're dying?" said Tenten.
Present Day. . .
"Hey, guys, I have to run by the library tonight so I will be a little bit late. Is that okay with you guys?" asked Sakura.
It was one of Sakura's and her friends' planned get-togethers, since most of them goes to school that are pretty close.
"Yeah, yeah, Forehead, just be sure to be here. I don't want to be with Karin, alone, after what happened the last time she came here," said Ino. She remembered how she got into a huge fight with Karin, getting Sasuke involved and almost everybody. If it weren't for Sakura to break up the verbal fight, it would have resulted in someone taking a trip to the hospital. For fact, Sakura knew it wasn't going to be Ino.
"You do know how important it is for Karin that you be here tonight, I'm running out of places to hide the bodies," said Ino, chuckling. Sakura laughed along as well.
"Yeah, but if by some chance, that the knife accidentally slips, don't hide her under my bed," said Sakura, giggling.
"That's not a pretty bad idea," said Ino.
"Okay then, well till tonight, Piggy," said Sakura.
"Right back at you," said Sakura as she waved at Ino and closed the door behind her.
Ino looked worriedly at her best friend. She knew Sakura was hurting deep inside. She may act otherwise, but her eyes deceive her. Sakura has put on the 'Happy-for-you' act with Sasuke since they had planned the gatherings two years ago. She knew the whole history between Sasuke and Sakura.
They had been acquaintances since junior high. Upon entering high school, an incident happened in which Sasuke came to Sakura's rescue. Ever since then, they became really close friends. They even became best friends at the most. Before Karin transferred to Konoha High, Sasuke and Sakura had a brief relationship. They were really close, and Sakura was happy, Sasuke was happy. It wasn't until Karin arrived that everything went downhill from there. It seemed that Karin had tricked Sasuke into having a one-night stand with her, and scamming Sakura so that she would walk in on them.
It took exactly four months of begging, and one to follow after to get Sakura to finally forgive him. After that, everybody started to hang out with him. And when it looked like things were finally going back to the way they were, Sasuke revealed to the whole group that he was going out with Karin.
At first everybody was shocked to hear the news and wanted nothing to do with Sasuke. However, Sakura convinced them to turn the other cheek. She loved to find the good in people, and Karin supposedly had a good side to her as well.
How wrong they were.
Within the two years after high school, Sasuke and Karin have had troubles with their relationship. He had caught her cheating on him once; she broke up with him twice for another guy, and she went back to Sasuke, all sobbing, saying things like 'she should have never left him and what not'.
In that time of Sasuke and Karin's break-up, Sasuke would always turn to Sakura. And Sakura would always pick up the pieces of his heart, only to hand it over to Karin to have it broken again. She has tried to convince him to leave her, but he would shout at her and tell her that she knew nothing of true love.
How wrong he was.
It was a quarter past ten and Sakura was making her way down an alley trying to make it to Tenten's apartment. It was a tradition that each gathering be held at someone in the group's apartment. She was searching her bag for her cell phone when she felt a hand grab her waist and another hand over her mouth.
She then was dragged into an isolated alleyway that was blocked at the other side.
"Give me your money, NOW!" said the perpetrator. He was holding her at arms length with a gun pointing directly at her.
Sakura was fumbling with her bag. She kept on looking up at the robber and back at her bag.
Where is that purse, thought Sakura. She was searching in all the corners of her bag, and still it seems like her purse was nowhere to be felt or seen.
"COME ON!! GIVE ME YOUR MONEY NOW!!" screamed the robber. It seems like Sakura just panicked more and more. She was praying that someone was passing through and saw her.
Someone please help me, thought Sakura.
The robber's patience was wearing thin as he was tapping his foot against the hard cement. He kept on glancing at the entry/exit way just in case someone might catch him in the act. He looked at the scared girl as she threw her things on the ground, searching for that one thing.
That was it. The perpetrator has had enough. He snatched her bag and dumped all her belongings on the ground. Her baby blue and lavender chic purse came tumbling out. He grabbed the purse and looked at the shaking Sakura. He grinned deviously and brought his gun up, pointing at her heart.
"Sorry, toots, but you took forever," and with that said, the robber had a bit of decency to lower his aim, shooting her in the stomach. He ran and glanced back and then continued on. Sakura, on the other hand, held onto where the perpetrator had just shot. An immense amount of pain surged through her body. She was sprawled on the cold, hard cement as she fought for her life.
With the others…
"Sasuke? Where is Karin?" asked Tenten, as she held the door open for him, motioning for him to come in. Sasuke had shown up by himself.
Tenten later regretted asking the question as Sasuke semi-glared at her and then at nothing. She knew Karin must've done something wrong, or else she would have been here, with Sasuke, whether she liked it or not.
He didn't reply to her question and continued to make his way to the couch where Naruto, Shikamaru had occupied. Neji was sitting at the table, and Ino was in the kitchen with Hinata.
So where is Sakura? thought Sasuke to himself.
"Okay, Sakura said that she was going to be a little bit late cause she had to get a book from the library –," Ino stopped midway as she looked for a familiar red-head. The one she had loathe since the day she took Sasuke away from Sakura.
"Where is Karin?" asked Ino. As a response, Sasuke glared at her.
"Oh, like you would care," whispered Sasuke, even though he was sure that they had all heard him.
"And what is that suppose to mean?" asked Ino. Ino was short-tempered, and saying things such as 'like you would care' can easily tick her off.
"Oh, come one, Ino. You have had it out for Karin since Kami-knows-when," replied an angered Sasuke. Shikamaru quickly got up and went to Ino, to try and soothe her.
"You know what Uchiha, fuck you!" screamed Ino. She was about to leave when Tenten got up and grabbed her hand.
"Please, don't do this," said Tenten, "for Sakura's sake."
Ino calmed herself down and sat at the dinning table, opposite from Tenten and Neji's side. As silence reigned upon them, all they could do was stare at each for a short amount of time. They glanced from one to the other, all not knowing what to say. They were afraid that if they were to say something, something bad will be the cause of it. And it always has.
As they sat there, Sasuke's phone rang and he looked at the Caller I.D.
It was Karin.
"Hello?" asked Sasuke into the phone.
"Sasuke-kun, I need your help," said Karin.
Sasuke immediately shot up from his seat.
"Where are you?" asked Sasuke, not even bothering to ask why she needed help.
By this time, Naruto and the rest of the crew were curious as to why Sasuke had abruptly shot out of his seat.
By the time he hung up, he went to the door only to have Tenten stop him.
"What's the matter?" asked Tenten.
"Karin needs help," replied Sasuke.
"We'll come, too," said Tenten. She motioned for the guys to come. Neji, Shikamaru got up and went outside. Naruto was helping Hinata wrap up the food for when they come back. Ino just sat there glaring at mostly nothing.
"Ino, please, not for Karin, but for Sakura," said Tenten. Ino did not reply but remained looking at her.
"Look at it this way, this can be a way to mend your ways with Sasuke," stated Tenten.
Hinata had already made her way out of the apartment to her own car. Naruto had told her to go on ahead while he calls up Sakura and tell her where they were going, just in case. However, before he had gotten to the phone, Tenten and Ino had to move.
Ino got out of her seat and stomped her way to the car, with Tenten following. Naruto sat there feeling something bad. He didn't like the feeling. It obviously signified something bad was happening. He shrugged it off and made his way to the door, forgetting to call Sakura.
With Sakura…
A couple of minutes had already passed by and Sakura was in unbearable pain as she tried to reach out for her phone. She finally got it and dialed the only person that came to her mind, Sasuke.
After calling his number, she waited in pain as she heard the ringing.
"Hello," said Sasuke, annoyingly.
"Sasuke-kun, I need - ," Sakura didn't have enough time as she was cut off by Sasuke.
"Call Ino, I have to go," said Sasuke as he hung up.
Sakura gripped the phone as she heard a beep on the other line.
Help, thought Sakura.
Ino! She was going to call up Ino. She dialed in her number and waited for Ino to answer.
"HELLO!" screamed Ino.
"Ino, I - ," Sakura again was cut off before she could finish.
"LOOK SAKURA, TELL IT TO SOMEONE WHO CARES, OKAY?" and with that Ino hung up.
"Wait, Ino - ," said Sakura. Immediately she turned to her side and started to cough out blood. She was bleeding internally and needed immediate medical attention.
She used what was left of her energy to call the police. Why she didn't call them first was even a mystery to her. She guessed that maybe she wanted to hear their voices, or maybe she felt guilty about not showing up. Whatever the reason, it would cause her eventually.
With Ino and her friends…
"Okay, that was a total waste of my time," said Ino as she stormed back into the apartment. "I knew she was stupid, but this tops it all, honey," said Ino into nothing while flailing her arms around.
"Okay, so a sprained ankle didn't really scream emergency, but at least you and Sasuke are on speaking terms. You know how it would be for Sakura if she found out that two of her many best friends weren't talking to each other," said Tenten.
"She is right Ino-chan, Sakura would be worried and sad," said Hinata.
They all gathered at Tenten's living room as the rest of the guys were about to join them. Sasuke was with them, and ill-fatedly, Karin decided to join them on her own accord.
She told them that she was pushed by an unknown passer-by as she was blowing off some steam after her and Sasuke fought. Liar, everybody thought. Sasuke even thought the same thing based on her attire. She wasn't wearing the same thing that she wore when they fought. It looked like she was going to go out….on a date. He let it slip for now. He took his seat and Karin followed, she sat in the front of him. She even had the audacity to bring one of his arms in front of her and wrapped them around her waist. Everybody looked at her oddly earning a glare from Sasuke.
Naruto had been the last to enter and noticed that Sakura was nowhere in sight of the apartment. He was about to call her cell when his phone started ringing.
He answered it nervously, having that bad feeling surge through his body, again. Something definitely was not right.
"May I please speak to Uzumaki Naruto," said the person on the other line.
"This is him," replied Naruto.
"Mr. Uzumaki, you are listed as one of Haruno Sakura's emergency contact, and we just wanted to let you know that she in the KMC (Konoha Medical Center) in critical condition."
Naruto did not reply but dashed out of the apartment only to earn quizzical gazes from his friends. They shrugged it off, knowing Naruto; it must've been something unimportant.
Naruto immediately got into his car and dashed off, heading for the hospital.
Hang on, Sakura-chan, thought Naruto.
Within a few minutes, he got there. He went up to the medic that was occupied with typing in information.
"Hi, ugh, I'm looking for a Haruno Sakura," said Naruto frantically.
"ICU, sweetie," replied the medic without looking up, but pointed where the ICU was located.
Naruto ran for the ICU and asked for Sakura. The doctors wouldn't let him see her without filling out a few papers first. It took a couple of minutes, but he was finally done. The doctors had permitted him to see her for only a couple of minutes before he has to leave so that she could get some rest.
Naruto nervously walked up to her room. His senses were all blocked from the real world. It seemed like the only thing that was existent was the sound of a heart monitor.
Beep---BEEP---beep
What he saw next broke his heart. His eyes wear filled with tears as he stepped into Sakura's hospital room. She had a tubes going in and out of her, machines surrounded her, and she looked pale.
Naruto slowly walked to her bedside and looked at the heart monitor. He looked over her pale form and over to the IV injected into her body, and over the bag of blood that was being transferred into her body. It seems like everything was stable.
Sakura slowly opened up her eyes and saw Naruto standing within a couple from her. She smiled weakly at him and tried with all her might to hold his hand. Naruto saw this and grabbed her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. Tears slowly made their way down Naruto's face.
"You know something, Sakura, white doesn't compliment your facial features," said Naruto. Sakura ended up laughing at his silly remark.
She coughed a bit and said, "Tell me about it."
Naruto smiled in return.
"Why didn't you call me? We went to save Karin from a friggin sprained ankle because some homophobic guy thought she looked like a drag queen from putting on so much make-up," said Naruto.
Sakura tried to laugh, but held her stomach because of the pain.
"Oh, sorry," said Naruto, caressing her arm, "you should get some rest."
There was a short pause before Sakura decided to break the silence.
"I…I called Sasuke (cough) and Ino," said Sakura.
"What?!" yelled Naruto, "and they didn't bother to come to your rescue?" asked Naruto unbelievingly.
"Well…(cough) they seemed…busy at the moment," said Sakura.
Tears began to form in his eyes again, as he looked down at his pink-haired best friend.
She'll never stop suffering, thought Naruto.
"Naruto… please promise me," said Sakura, earning a confused look from Naruto.
"Don't tell… them about this…please," pleaded Sakura through the tears.
"But Sakura-chan-," said Naruto.
"Please," was all that Sakura said. Her eyes filled with sadness and grief. She was pleading him. As a response, Naruto nodded back at her.
♪ Oh how…you make me feel ♪ sang Sakura.
♪ It…just… makes me wanna squeal ♪
♪ And the way you look so ravishing ♪ Joined in Naruto, although it was hard for both of them to sing considering the tears and the way their voices sounded a bit hoarse.
♪ It's just an amount of time ♪ continued Naruto. ♪ And I'll be digging in ♪
♪ Dun, dun, dun … dundunduh…♪
♪ Ramen…..oh, oh, ramen ♪ they sang in unison. Naruto was squeezing Sakura's hand. He failed to notice the heart monitor, because if he did, then he would know that the beeping were starting to slow down within each beat.
It was a stupid ramen song that Naruto came up with when Sasuke bought him five boxes of ramens, and he also sang it to annoy Sasuke. Naruto smiled as he looked down at Sakura, her eyes seem droopy. He suddenly remembered something. He quickly pulled out his wallet and pulled out a picture. He took a brief look at it and looked at Sakura.
"Hey, Saku-chan, look, remember this?" asked Naruto as he pointed at the picture. It was a picture of them during a Halloween event at their University. Naruto dressed up as a cup of ramen, which came as no surprise. Tenten looked like a geisha, with the whole robe and make-up, Neji was clad in ninja attire, Ino was dressed as a she-Devil, with a red dress and a fork tail. Sasuke was in all black and had fangs showing. Hinata was dressed as a Cleopatra, with her arms in bangles and head in a beautiful gold chain that went around. Sakura was in a white halter dress that reached above her knees and white, glittery wings. She was an angel.
Sakura laughed and coughed.
"I (cough)… haven't heard you…(gasp) call me Saku-chan since we were in grade…school," said Sakura. Her grasp on Naruto's hand was starting to loosen. Naruto saw this and tried to hold onto longer for if he were to let go, she would be gone from his life and his friends' life forever, which was the case at hand.
"Sakura, you have to hang on," pleaded Naruto.
"Naruto …(cough)… thank you," said Sakura as she slowly closed her eyes and drifted into a deep slumber.
Naruto couldn't hear the beeping of the heart monitor, except a long beep that didn't seem to end.
As the nurses rush in, Naruto stood glue to the ground. He couldn't do anything. He took one look at Sakura and decided to go for a walk. He didn't care anymore. The one person that held them all together had died because they all rushed to that, that, that thing. Naruto knew he couldn't blame Karin, but still, it was because of her that Sakura had died. Sasuke would have been rushing to Sakura instead of her. He, too, forgot to call her, and if he did, he could've saved her. He should have, was all that went through his confused mind.
Five hours have passed by and it was four something in the morning. Naruto finally made his way to his apartment and found no trace of Hinata there.
She must've slept over at Tenten's, thought Naruto.
He finally made his way over to Tenten's apartment, only to hear laughter coming from it.
It's funny, Naruto thought, how care-free they can be, when one of their best friends just died last night.
Naruto shook all evidence that may look suspicious to them. His eyes were still red from crying and were a bit puffy.
He knocked on the door and waited for somebody to answer it. The door opened and it was Hinata.
"Naruto-kun? Where have you been?," asked a worried Hinata.
Naruto did not reply but almost hugged the living daylights out of Hinata. He brought her close and whispered, "I love you," into her ear. As a response, she blushed and kissed him lightly on the lips before dragging him to the living room.
When he got there, he saw Karin in Sasuke's arms. He felt angry, disgusted, sad, remorse, and most of all, grief. Tears were threatening to fall again, but he held them back. He sat down at the table chairs and beckoned Hinata to come. As soon as she was in front of him, he pulled her into her laps.
"Naruto, do you know where Sakura is?" asked Ino.
Naruto stiffen when asked the question. He had promised Sakura, and he was the type to never go back on his word.
"Naruto-kun?" asked Hinata, as she brought forth a hand to feel his temperature.
"The dobe probably ran out of brain cells," said Sasuke.
Naruto felt his anger burn deep within him.
"And now he is deaf," said Sasuke. Karin giggled along as well.
That was the last straw.
Sorry Saku-chan, thought Naruto. He gently pushed Hinata off of him and helped her carefully down. After that, he walked up to Sasuke and grabbed him by the collar. Hinata and the guys were trying to hold him down.
"You guys wanna know where she is?" asked Naruto again as he held Sasuke up by the collar.
"You are deaf," said Sasuke.
Naruto retracted his arm and punched Sasuke in the face making him topple over the couch. Sasuke got up and was about to reach for Naruto, however, stopped halfway when he heard Naruto speak.
"She's at a someplace safe," said Naruto.
Sasuke felt his anger increase as Naruto gave him a general answer to the question.
"Why?" asked Naruto looking at everybody, glaring at Sasuke, Karin, and Ino.
Naruto chuckled a little and said, "Because she's dead."
Sasuke lunged toward Naruto unable to take it anymore. He held up Naruto as he looked at him. He brought back his hand and somehow, he couldn't deliver the final blow.
"Come on, Sasuke, she is not here anymore," said Naruto, "Punch me. Isn't that what you always wanted? Come on, it's not like she is going to walk through that door any minute now."
"Shut up!" yelled Sasuke.
"Why? I mean even though she did call you…and Ino… all we could think of was saving this fake here," stated Naruto as he pointed Karin. Karin gasped.
"Sasuke-kun, are you going to let him talk to me like that?" asked Karin, with puppy eyes.
"Shut up," said Sasuke once again.
"Naruto, stop saying stupid shit, I just wanna know where Sakura is," said Ino.
"And I already told you where she is," said Naruto.
He was dropped to the ground and started to get up. He needed to get out of the place. He walked to the door and opened it, but did not step out.
"If you want proof, go to the hospital," said Naruto, but concluded, "Saku-chan didn't die because she got shot, or because she lost a lot of blood," there was a long pause as Naruto sniffed and held his head up.
"She died of a broken heart."
With that said, Naruto walked out as Ino ran to her room with Shikamaru following close. The whole group was confused, but they wanted answers. After a while Ino came rushing out and went to grab her jacket from the coat rack. She looked at everybody and glared.
"Are you coming or not?" asked Ino as she went outside.
They didn't have to answer her because, thanks to an unspoken bond, they knew she was going to go to the hospital. Everybody had follow close behind.
Karin remained seated and when she saw that Sasuke was about to go out, she went and pull him back.
"Don't tell me you are going, too?" asked Karin. "I mean maybe this is all a joke and Sakura is just doing it so that she can get you back."
"Karin, let go. I have to go see Sakura," said Sasuke.
"Wha- Why?" asked Karin.
"Because-," replied Sasuke.
"Because what?" Karin asked again.
Sasuke didn't bother to answer that and walked out the door, out of the apartment, and out on her.
They arrived at the hospital no later than a couple of minutes. They were met with a few complications seeing how not all of them could get any information on her. Luckily, Sasuke stepped in and informed the doctors about their future in the medical business if they did not show them where she was because he was an Uchiha.
The doctors immediately apologized and informed a nurse to guide them to where Sakura was. They started getting more nervous as they passed certain rooms and mostly all of them were for patients. The passed a filing room and it started to get cold. They were finally made it t their destination. The nurse motioned for them to come in and they complied. As soon as they saw it, their greatest fear was suddenly realized.
The nurse went to a certain box and slowly pulled it out. Out of the box, came a paled body with beautiful, luscious pink hair that was sprawled about her shoulders.
Ino ran out of the room only to have her boyfriend follow after her. Tenten was on the floor crying and Hinata stayed still, not knowing whether to be confused or to be overwhelmed. Neji was stuck there trying to console his girlfriend, and his cousin. Sasuke stayed in his same spot.
Sasuke slowly approached Sakura's body and stared at it for a really long time. He was wishing that she would open her eyes so he can see those stunning green eyes. The ones that would look at him with love and happiness…..and sadness and heartache. He kept on telling himself that this was just a dream and that he would wake up soon. Soon he kept telling himself. He looked back at everybody and walked out of the room.
It's over, it just took them a little bit late to realize it.
As Sakura's final wish, she wanted her body to be cremated. Naruto made his way to Sakura's apartment and was about to open the door when he realized that it was open. He walked in the apartment, seeing if someone was breaking in to Sakura's apartment. He walked into the living room to see none other that Uchiha Sasuke standing at Sakura's desk, looking at a picture.
Naruto came within a few feet of Sasuke and saw the picture. There were two pictures in his hand. One was a picture of them when they were twelve. It was a Halloween party and Naruto forced Sasuke to go and Sakura joined them at the party. She was always smiling. The other picture was a picture of Sasuke with his arms wrapped around Sakura, while sitting under a Cherry Blossom tree. She was smiling, while he was smirking. It was during the time that they went out.
Naruto stood still and he coughed a bit to let Sasuke know that he was in the apartment. Sasuke already knew.
Slowly Sasuke turned and looked at Naruto in the face. His eyes were a bit red and clothes looked messy, like he slept in them.
"It's probably for the best," said Naruto, although, it pained him to say it.
Sasuke did not reply but rather glared at him.
"You as well as I know that she was suffering. You, on the other hand, chose to ignore it," said Naruto, "besides she would have wanted us to be happy."
"Are you happy?" asked Sasuke looking back at the pictures.
"That she is safe? Maybe. That she is gone? No," replied Naruto as he sat at one of the chairs.
One month later, the whole group reunited. Sasuke had all taken them on his jet. Their destination? Sakura's favorite place.
It took a few hours, but they finally made it.
Hawaii looked even beautiful than anyone could imagine. This was Sakura's favorite place. She had been there twice to visit a few family members and immediately fell in love with the place. Sasuke had a cruise ship waiting for them when they arrived.
The ship stopped in the middle of the ocean with nothing in sight, except for a beautiful sunset. The group gathered at the front of the boat and looked out into the beautiful sea. They all took some of Sakura's ashes and one by one, as they said a few words about Sakura, they threw her ashes into the sea. The sun was slowly setting, signifying the ending of a beautiful day, the end of a chapter for some, and the end of the journey for many.
Later on that night, the group was gathered around a bonfire that was made on the deck of the ship and made s'mores. It was one of Sakura's favorite. They were talking about the stupid things they had all done when they were little kids. The crazy things they did with Sakura, Sakura did, and Sakura made them do. It was weird at first when Sasuke joined in, but in the end, Sakura would have been so happy.
Sakura's spirit stood a few feet from them enjoying the view. In the end, they may have not been there in person, but they were there in spirit. She looked at them while they were listening to Naruto tell them about one of their jokes they did when they were twelve.
He was telling them about the time him, Sakura, and Sasuke were trying to see Kakashi's true face when he refused to remove that piece of cloth that he hid his face with for as long as they have known him. They were unsuccessful in their attempts, but the experience was worth the while.
Sakura softly laughed, and Sasuke could have sworn that he heard Sakura laugh.
It was time, time for Sakura to go. She looked at them gratefully, and thanked each one of them. She looked at Sasuke and slowly approached him. She slowly caressed his cheek and kissed him on the cheek. She bid them farewell and disappeared as she walked out into the ocean.
Sasuke brought his hand and caressed his cheek. He looked out into the ocean and smiled.
I'll always be with you guys, mind, body, heart and soul.
When you're gone
The pieces of my heart are missing you
When you're gone
The face I came to know is missing too
And when you're gone
The words I need to hear to always get me through the day
And make it OK
I miss you
A/N: Well, there you have it. School starts in another week and I have to get ready because it is going to be my last year in high school. The stanza at the bottom are part of the lyrics for Avril Lavigne's song "When You're Gone".
I just found out that my best friend's/sister's uncle died, by committing suicide. She is my bestie and I wish her well.
XX SORRY FOR ANY GRAMMATICAL OR SPELLING ERRORSXX
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