Holding Her Last Breath: Just 3 Days

Hello again ! I've recently become a beta-reader for another one of my beloved readers (sasusaku779, creator of Because Accidents Never Happen)!! Even though this particular fic was her first (she's still working on it), her chapter lengths rival MINE (I write a lot.) and it's quite well-written w.

So, when you aren't reading this or busy, please drop by and read her multi-chaptered, AU, SasuxSaku fic and give her some support!! . But now that that's introduced, I must ask:

If you're reading this author notes, and find yourself thinking, "what the HELL is a beta-reader?! Is it like…someone who reads megabites and whatnot?! THAT'S COOL!!" I'm here to tell you that no, We're authors/readers on this site that help fellow fanfic…ers when they need help with proofreading, editing, story ideas, a co-writer (someone who'll help you write a story with you), just overall support (like rallying XD), ect.

So now, if you're reading this, and find yourself saying, "Gotcha…heh-HEY! I need one of those!" Simply click on my name (which is bolded in blue at the top). You'll be directed to my profile. There's a bottom at the top that says. "Send message". Click that and tell me what's up. I'll be more than happy to help you anytime :)!

Note: Sasuke will probably be a little OOC. Gomen!

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After the snowball fight had been broken up he, with the company of Naruto (Hinata went home with her cousin and his family), walked back to the Uchiha mansion .

"Good luck with Sakura-chan, teme! Naruto had told him with a goofy grin. Sasuke scoffed. "I don't need luck." he replied. The blonde snickered. "Just 'cause she loves you doesn't mean she won't try and drug your food if you piss her off…Sakura-chan's scarier than you teme."

Sasuke snorted. "You have a point, dobe." he replied but frowned when Naruto elbowed him in the stomach and grinned "Try not to keep all of Konoha awake tonight."

"Hn. I'll keep that in mind, dobe." he replied before Naruto ran off direction of the Hyuuga mansion. Sasuke chuckled quietly when he remembered the conversation as he leaned against the wall beside the front door of his fabulously large Uchiha home-err mansion.

But then sighed impatiently as he waited (outside) for Sakura to return home. What the hell was taking her so long? Did it take Tsunade that long to tell her about her mission briefing?? But his thoughts were interrupted when a voice called out to him.

"Sasuke-kun?"

It made his eyes snap open. Sasuke pushed himself off the wall so he towered over the woman; standing a little more than two feet over her. Sakura studied his features with a puzzled expression, and found that his cheek and nose were a rosy pink color.

Emerald eyes grew wide and she touched his face with the back of her hand as she tried to hide a smile. "Sasuke-kun…did you wait out here all this time for me?" she asked him softly. Obsidian eyes gazed at her intently. "Aah."

Sakura gave him a bright smile. "Sasuke-kun that's so sweet of you!"

Sasuke was about to scoff and give her an arrogant smirk when Sakura pushed him inside. "Come on baka Uchiha." she told him playfully as Sasuke peered at her from over his shoulder. His dark eyes narrowed at her. "Baka?" he repeated as the two took off their jackets and shoes.

"It's the middle of winter, Sasuke-kun. Do you want to catch a cold?" Sakura scolded him gently as they entered the main part of the house. To silence her, Sasuke spun around and bent down to kiss her.

Sakura grabbed a handful of his shirt while the other moved behind his neck. Sasuke mentally smirked. 'Works every time.' he thought. But just as he was about to grab hold of her waist and deepen the kiss Sakura slipped out of his arms and walked in the direction of their bedroom.

Sasuke frowned but followed her. He found her on the floor. Half of her body was inside the closet as she rummaged around for something. A few minutes later she emerged with an old satchel. Absently she emptied the contents and sat cross legged on the floor. It held a few shuriken, explosive notes, and antidotes for poison.

"You didn't save her Sasuke. It wasn't enough."

Damn. He had almost forgot about the mission (she was going to die on) and the fact that he didn't save her (because a certain shinigami was a bitch).

When Sakura looked up, she realized Sasuke was sitting across from her and wore a hard expression. Puzzled emerald eyes gazed at him. "Sasuke-kun?"

"I don't want you to go." the man told her seriously. Sakura blinked before realizing what he meant. He was talking about the mission.

Sakura laughed dismissively before reaching for the two shuriken in front of her. "Stubborn much, Sasuke-kun-"but her voice trailed off when he grabbed her wrist. Once again, emerald orbs found themselves staring into deep charcoal colored ones.

"I'm serious." he replied without letting go of her wrist. A tiny smile curled at her lips. His expression seemed to say, "I'm worried about you". Which was entirely different from his normal, emotionless one.

Sakura brought his hand up to her mouth and kissed it gently. "I know." she replied as she lowered it back down. "But it's too late to cancel-"

"It's never too late."

Emerald eyes closed, as if she were contemplating something in her head. Gently, she pulled her hand back and rose. "Sasuke-kun, I'm not backing down. You know how I feel about this."

Sasuke growled. Sometimes he wished Sakura wasn't as stubborn as she was. That was something she had picked up from both him and Naruto. But he tensed when Sakura walked behind him and wrapped her arms around his torso. Her chin rested on his shoulder as she spoke. "Tsunade-sama told me that there's a 40 possibility that He won't show up tonight. It's only a scouting mission, not solo like I hoped. Besides, I have two backup squads if I run into him and we fight."

"And if it's not enough?" Sasuke asked gruffly without looking back at her. He couldn't bear to stare into those emerald eyes. He didn't want to see the image of her bloody and beaten again, nor did he want to face the realization that her life was slowly slipping out of his grasp.

Sakura buried her face into his neck. "We'll be fine, Sasuke-kun. I'm a big girl, ne? ANBU even." after kissing him on the cheek she pulled away and went back to her closet to change into her ANBU uniform.

But as she pulled on her pants she felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her waist and pulled her close. "Let me come." he asked in a hushed whisper. Sakura turned to look at him with a smile. He just wasn't going to give up. "My team's already set up, Sasuke-kun."

As Sasuke frowned, she slipped out of his grasp while strapping her kunai pouch to her thigh. Sakura tied her headband tightly around her arm, since it wasn't visible with her mask on. But as she grabbed the mask which was located under their couch, Sasuke arm.

Though he didn't utter a word, Sakura knew that this was his last attempt to keep her in the house. A smile curled at her lips as she turned around to face him. "Sasuke-kun, I'm not-"

"We can…wedding plan." Sasuke offered, though seeming a little reluctant. He had helped Naruto go tux shopping since he was the best man, and dreaded every minute of it.

Sakura turned fully around and gave him a bright smile, the smile that she only showed him. She put a hand to his cheek, as if trying to smooth out his hardened features. "Nice try."

Sasuke scrunched his face in frustration. What else could he do? He had tried to persuade her, stop her, distract her…even offer to come along…but nothing was working. It was as if…

Sakura were impossible to save.

Sakura's words brought him out of his thoughts. "We can do that when I get back. I'll even make you some hot tomato soup!" she grinned. YetSasuke winced as he looked into her emerald eyes. 'You won't be able to if I can save you, Sakura!' he thought in frustration. He was going to lose her again…

"Can I die…in yours arms, Sasuke-kun?"

Noticing his facial expression, Sakura laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, standing on tip toes to kiss his nose. "Don't give me that look. You act like this is the last time you're going to see me, Sasuke-kun!" she told him playfully.

Sasuke's expression didn't lighten. The images began to play in his mind again. The eyes that screamed, "I'll be dead by morning." or the bloodied crumpled figure in his arms that shook her head and seemed to say, "Please don't save me"…

"Sakura you don't-"but he was cut off when she gave him a soft kiss. "I'll come back to you. I promise." and with that, she put on her mask, shoes and cloak and disappeared into the night.

"Saku…SAKURA!!" he yelled after her.

"Arigato…for caring…"

He had to go after her. He had to stop this from happening…

But just as he was about to leave the door shut on him. When he tried to open it, the door wouldn't budge. Obsidian eyes widened with outrage as he looked down at the lock; it was untouched.

"What-"Sasuke began. But a voice behind him made his blood run cold.

"Times up, Sasuke."

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When Sakura reached Konoha's entrance, she was greeted by 3 ANBU, standing in a straight line for her.

"Sakura-sama, two groups of four are stationed 50 meters apart from each other." said the man wearing a duck like ANBU mask. He stood in the middle. "They will be the backup squadrons when the enemy is in sight." said the man on the left. He wore a mask that resembled a bear.

Sakura frowned through her bird-like mask that Naruto recommended itbefore becoming a candidate for becoming Hokage.

"Well…you're kinda like a bird, Sakura-chan." the blonde had said with a goofy smile. Emerald eyes blinked twice before looking at him with a puzzled expression. "How?" she asked. The man's smile turned into a fox-like grin as he scratched his head.

"Hehe…well bird's look innocent and carefree…but if you make them mad they can get scary and their pecks really hurt." Naruto explained sheepishly Sakura had thought the analogy was so funny she had accepted.

Naruto had chosen the original; a kitsune mask. Sasuke, when he was awarded the title, chose the wolf-like one (also recommended by Naruto since he was a loner like a wolf),

" And you three?" she asked emotionlessly. One of the ANBU rules were not to show emotion, To be calm and collected at all times, and to never, ever take off their masks, for their identities were confidential. If any enemy were to figure out their identity, their friends, family and fellow comrades could be in danger.

"We are to accompany you. Hokage-sama's orders." the one on the right answered coolly. His mask was a badger. Brows furrowed behind her mask as she nodded. 'Does Tsunade-sama trust me that little?' she thought furiously as they began to move.

But a smirk curled at her lips as she thought about her smug, blonde master. Even though Tsunade was well aware that Sakura didn't need backup, the Go-daime wished to question him. 'So these 3 are here to make sure I don't kill him…' she mused.

But Inner Sakura was enraged. 'WHAT ARE WE, 12?! WHAT THE HELL IS TSUNADE THINKING?! WE DON'T NEED BABYSITTERS SHANNARO!' She yelled loudly.

Sakura touched her stomach subconsciously as a smile curled at her lips as she thought of Sasuke holding their baby in his arms. 'If Tenten and Ino are right I won't start showing for a few months. But even so, I can't afford to take in too much injury and use up too much chakra.'

But as Sakura thought about this, she wiped the smile off her face and clenched her fists If Kabuto were left alive and somehow escaped before or after questioning, he posed as a threat to the next Uchiha heir and his family. 'Forgive me, Tsunade-sama. But I'm afraid that I won't be bringing Him back for questioning…I have to kill him so our child can live on without any enemies…'

"Yakushi Kabuto…your life ends tonight." Sakura declared under her breath as raged flowed through her as she ran. But something inside told her, that something was wrong. That it wasn't going to be so easy…

And it began to bother her.

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Sasuke turned around to see Inari looking down, brooding against a wall as she held her arms. Her golden eyes refused to cast upward, as if she were expecting the worst. Shimori stood beside her. In her right hand she clutched a long, black scythe that reflected ominously in the moonlight.

And even though the black cloak she wore hid her body and her face, the creepy smile on her face was visible.

Sasuke said nothing as he tried the door again; it wouldn't budge. Then he ran down to the nearest window which didn't move either. Was he a prisoner in his own house?

As a last resort, he began to form a hand sign to teleport him out of the house.

"I'm sorry Sasuke, but we can't let you out of this house. Not until Shimori goes to reap Sakura's soul." Inari breathed. Sasuke activated his Sharingan as he stared at the two murderously. "I won't let you."

The angel chewed on her lip as the small girl let out a bone-chilling laugh yet the expression she wore looked as if the laugh never came from her throat. "You had 3 days to impress me, nii-san and you failed…You have no more time left, Uchiha Sasuke-kun." she whispered.

"…Don't fuck with me." Sasuke growled under his breath as he stared down the shinigami.

Shimori frowned at this. "…How dare you…do you know what I can do?"

"I could care less." he interjected icily. Surprised, Inari looked up while Shimori gave an unnerving laugh. "Such impotent behavior…it's unsightly for an Uchiha…" she raised her head, but didn't pull back her hood. "Tell me, Uchiha Sasuke-kun…why do you go so far for one woman when you can have anyone you desire?"

Sasuke gritted his teeth. "The only woman I want- the only woman I need is Sakura!" Sasuke replied. Inari's eyes widened at his words.

Emotion filled Inari's face, as if she were holding back tears. Because this, was the first time he was truly saying what was on his mind. It- was almost as if he were a different person, or the Sasuke the world had made him out to be…wasn't there.

"Are you saying you're refusing to let her go? " Shimori asked eerily. "That you would hold onto her last breath?"

"Aah." he replied as his Sharingan eyes stared her down, without fear of death or hesitation. The angel noticed this as she began to chew on her lip more vigorously. Sasuke truly didn't care what the Grim Reaper was capable of.

Inari looked up before letting out a sigh. "Sasuke…how much…do you love Haruno Sakura?" she asked quietly. Sasuke saw the outrage emanating from her.

"Inari…what are you do-"

"Would you do anything for her?" she finished. Her face no longer held any emotion as she stared deep into his eyes. Sasuke clenched his fists as his features tightened. "Aah."

"Even…" the angel murmured. "if it cost you your life?"

And with this a handsome smirk appeared on Sasuke's features.

-

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Sakura and her comrades found themselves in an open area of the forest. No enemy was in sight, yet Sakura was on edge as she closed her eyes.

'The air is stale here…like someone was-' emerald eyes opened slowly. "You three…I'm the leader of this team, right?" she asked softly, without turning around to look at them.

"That is correct, Sakura-sama." the three said in union. "I see. Then I order all of you to get out of this area. As far and as quickly as you can within a 30 second time limit." she ordered sternly.

The three began to look at each other in confusion until Sakura swiveled her head around and yelled at them to move. With reluctance, the three disappeared.

But as they did a relieved smile curled at her lips. 'At least those three are safe.' she thought before she murmured 5 taunting words under her breath and put on her gloves.

"Come and get me…bastard."

And as she took a step forward, hundreds of kunai began to sail over the trees and in her direction.

-

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"Would you do anything for Sakura…even if it cost you your life?" Inari asked him as a handsome smirk appeared on Sasuke's features. "The answer's obvious." he explained, which surprised the angel. She had been expecting a one-worded answer from the stiff Uchiha.

With crimson eyes that seemed to glow true Sasuke continued. "Life has no meaning without her."

For a few seconds the angel looked at him before shutting her golden eyes. Pleased, her mouth curled slightly upward as her eyes flickered to the door. To Sasuke's surprise, it opened. "Time is running out." she told with softly. Though the smile no longer showed in her expression, her eyes glowed with a new light.

With a nod in thanks Sasuke hurried out the door. Shimori looked at her in rage. "Inari…you don't know what you just did…" she hissed at her as the aura around her began to glow a blood red.

Inari closed her eyes as she hugged her elbows again. "Yes, I do." she paused to open them before continuing."And I'll deal with the consequences later- if any."

With scowl the shinigami disappeared into a dark vortex. As she left Inari smiled lightly. "Akami, Kai, I know you're watching."

Instantaneously the two appeared from inside the walls. Akami grinned while Kai, who was now in human form, smirked. The man focused on Inari with his strong viridescent eyes before he spoke. "Your excuse for helping him?" he asked in a low tone.

"I can answer that." Akami primly as she jumped beside Inari. "When Inari was asking him if he would do anything for Sakura, even give his own life, I looked into his heart."

"And?" Kai asked as he narrowed his eyes at them. "And," Akami began, "I didn't see any hesitation. No wavering…he really must love this Haruno Sakura girl." she sighed dreamily. As if the idea of love fascinated her.

"Which means that's a love worth saving. A love that conquers death itself." Inari replied as she stared out the open door. Kai ran a hand through ridiculously midnight black hair before letting out a sigh. "Shimori will return. You know that, Inari." he explained sternly.

Golden eyes gazed into viridian ones before shielding them from the world once more. "Yes. But Sasuke is strongest…with Sakura by his side." she responded in a soft whisper. "So I have faith in them; in their love."

'We all do. Don't let Sakura down, Sasuke.'

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As hundreds of kunai sailed in her direction, Sakura smirked behind her mask before kicking the ground at an angle. A large piece of the ground was uprooted. Effortlessly, the pink haired kunoichi grabbed and hurled it in the direction of the kunai; using it as a shield as she made her way over to the source.

But what she found made her breathing hitch. Four bodies hung from the trees, each having identical wounds; large, bleeding holes where the abdomen had been. The identities belonged to the first backup squadron.

Sakura clenched her fists. 'They were used to launch the kunai…' she thought as she pulled out an explosive attached to a kunai. 'I'll avenge you all.' and with this, she shot the kunai to a nearby tree behind her.

Without turning around she heard it explode, revealing a man with an unnerving grin. His spectacles reflecting the moon ominously as he adjusted them. "I hid my chakra perfectly yet you still discovered me, cherry blossom of Konoha." he praised as Sakura turned around to face him.

"Don't patronize me." She spat. It made the man grin even wider. "Such malicious behavior. " he replied mockingly.

Sakura gave an empty laugh as she clenched her fists. "Don't expect and mercy from me. Not after what you did." she responded before running towards him. But just as he was about to block, the kunoichi appeared behind him.

But at the last minute Kabuto moved to the right, barely avoiding the chakra filled punch that had created a crater in his place. With a smirk he focused his eyes on the kunoichi behind the mask.

"I'd expect nothing less of Tsunade's apprentice." he chuckled. "But I had to lure you out somehow."

'Lure?' Sakura thought suspiciously before disappearing from view. She reappeared crouching at his feet. "You don't deserve to say her name!" she snarled before kicking him upward.

Kabuto hit a tree which shattered into two parts from the momentum. Wood chards broke off and dug into his back asn crimson liquid dripped fell down the corners of his mouth. An evil grin appeared on his face. 'With a single kick she's shattered two of my ribs…perhaps the cherry blossom's surpassed Tsunade herself…' he thought before standing.

He placed a hand on his stomach to heal himself, but as he did Sakura appeared before him and grabbed his throat. "You weren't worth the trouble." Sakura scoffed as she began to tighten the grip on his neck.

"M-Matte…I came to talk." Kabuto spoke as he grabbed the wrist holding his neck. Sakura drew a kunai up to his neck before releasing her grip. "Explain." she replied threateningly.

"I want you to join me." Kabuto replied stiffly. Sakura looked at him from behind her mask with narrowed eyes. "I don't want anything you have to offer."

"But with your strength and talent and my experience we can take over the world! You'd be feared and desired world-wide!" Kabuto exclaimed. Sakura began to chuckle, which made him frown.

"You really are no better than Orochimaru." Sakura replied smugly as she pressed the kunai more into his neck. "I have no intention of betraying my village for you."

Kabuto then gave an evil laugh as he adjusted his glasses. "Looks like you're not as persuadable as Sasuke." he retorted. Sakura frowned behind her mask. "What did you say?!"

"Oh, gomen na sai. I must have hit a nerve. You are the Uchiha's whore."

Rage flowed through Sakura as she took the kunai from his neck and plunged it into his stomach. But as blood spilled from his mouth, an evil grin also appeared. "I'm afraid your life ends here, little blossom." he replied.

Emerald eyes widened Kabuto's face dissolved, revealing the corpse of one of her comrades. In one quick movement, the corpse plunged a kunai into Sakura's back. Instantaneously an explosive note on his chest was activated, causing it to explode.

After letting out a cry of pain and being thrown back onto the ground Sakura rolled several feet back before falling flat on her stomach. Her ANBU mask shattered as she pulled herself up shakily. Blood dripped from various cuts on her arms on body. Most of her cloak and bits of her shirt and pants had been blown off, yet her face, expect for a few bruises and cuts from the impact was in tact.

Sakura pulled out the kunai embedded in her back with one swipe and watched the droplets of blood stain the snow. 'Kuso…a stab wound 2 cm from the spinal cord…temporary paralysis…I was careless.' Sakura thought as she forced herself to stand. But as she did, a kunai flung from the trees; grazing her shoulder cropping off most of her long pink locks that had fallen on the right side of her body.

Kabuto leaped from the trees and walked over to her. He touched her face tenderly, yet the expression she wore was of pure disgust. "I'll have to kill you if you refuse my offer. And I prefer not to let such beauty and talent go to waste."

"If…you're going to kill me…go ahead and do it!" Sakura hissed between labored breathing. Kabuto frowned. "What a shame." he replied as he leaped back and flung explosive notes onto the corpse, who began to stagger back over to the kneeling kunoichi.

The medic adjusted his glasses before grinning evilly again. "You could've had everything you ever wanted." he explained smugly as she glowered at him. "I…have everything I want!" Sakura managed.

Kabuto narrowed his eyes at her. Her eyes held the same look that Tsunade had when he fought her. It made him smirk. "It appears you obtained more than just her strength and experience. Take her stubbornness to your grave!" he laughed as Sakura stared down at the snow and closed her emerald eyes.

'Sasuke-kun…Gomen…ne…' she began to think. But before she did, she caught a glimpse of raven hair. Kabuto suddenly crumpled to the ground as blood seeped out of his now broken neck. Sakura's eyes widened as something yelled her name and pushed her out of harm's way. The raven blur was then lost in the explosion as he caught the bomb-like corpse; taking the hit for her.

The explosion echoed and reverberated through the night. But the blood-curdling scream Sakura let escape her throat seemed louder.

"Sasuke-kun…SASUKE-KUN!!"

'Sakura…at least…your safe.'

TBC

XD Cliffy. I'm actually contemplating if I'm satisfied with the ending of this chapter because I actually had this chapter pretty much completed a couple days ago, but my laptop shut down on me and deleted half of the editing I did, so I had to RE-rewrite this. It was quite aggravating.

So I'm pushed back a day or so from my plans, but the next upload will be soon. It will break your heart yet mend it all together …I think.

Don't hold your breath…

xxasukachanxx