Okay...I'm sure I've said this on a number of occasions, but the age is not important. Of course, everyone knows there is a legal age, but not everyone waits till that time. The point was that Sakura loved Naruto enough to...well...give it up. I'm tired of people taking the action and not the symbolism. Really. If I get ONE more person say something about this, I think I'll just stop writing. I'm that tired. I have, like, 13 or 14 other stories to work on. Also nearly 10 other ones I'm trying to release. My computer screws up. I NEVER post a chapter without reviewing it at least 10 times per day over a two-week period. Why, because I try to make it either as realistic or as simply as I can so everyone can understand. But the last thing I need is someone else questioning the age. If I read it again, I think I'll just sleep throughout the day so I don't have enough time to do these stories. You know, I get up at 5 every day? That was the time I had to get up for school, and I still do through the summer. Since I have nearly 20 stories, released and not, I try to divide my time between them. I like to make two chapters per story everyday. Then I have that stupid checking rule. So when I don't post for a long time, it's because another, more in demand story, is being prompted from me. I do love reviews and having readers, so I won't stop writing till I go to college, so I have to finish my stories soon! So, in short, I'm just TIRED of it. I know it's a natural response to young kids doing this, but please...don't put it in a review.

P.S: It was rated M for a reason! You were asking for it when you clicked on it! I would be a lot angrier, but I'm listening to a mixed play list of Dir En Grey, Alice Nine, Evanescence, and RADWIMPS right now, so I'm calm. Music calms the savage beast.

…………………………………………………

A Single Flower

Sakura

I closed my eyes as I hopelessly waited what was to come…

"Sakura…Sakura-chan…"

I heard whimpering. I slowly opened my eyes to see Sasuke's face buried into my chest. I could feel tears slide down my skin.

"Sasuke-kun?"

"Why does everyone I love disappear…?" He whispered more to himself than me.

I struggled to lift myself up, "Well…you aren't exactly the 'warm' type."

He looked up at me. It was the first time I saw tears in his eyes. I felt a pang in my heart as I felt remorse settle in.

"Sasuke-kun…I still like you, but…I love Naruto."

"Naruto…it's always Naruto and Itachi! When has it ever been me?!" He stood up, angry that I saw him frail.

I watched him remove the straps on me and hand me some kunai. He took a step back and let me put them in a weapon bag.

"Sasuke...why are you…!" I wasn't prepared for his attack. He came at me so fast, I didn't even know what hit me.

"Damn!" I hit the wall behind me hard. I fell to the floor with a thump.

"Sasuke! What are you-!" This time I saw his movements, and I quickly ducked. His hand went through the wooden wall.

"If I can't have you…" He began, meanwhile turning to attack me, "THEN NOBODY WILL!"

I dodge each attack smoothly. I saw killing intent in his eyes. I couldn't make myself attack him. A part of me still liked him…maybe even loved him.

Suddenly, I saw his hands begin a jutsu. "Crap!" I had no time to counter-attack, so I quickly ran out of the wooden house. I turned to see it was actually a hut of some sort. It looked like it wasn't made too long ago.

"FIRE-STYLE JUTSU!" I saw the hut go up in flames. I shielded my eyes from debris.

"SASUKE-KUN!" I screamed. Without thinking, I ran into the burning hut. I looked around for my teammate.

"Sasuke! Sasuke!" I yelled and coughed. Finally I saw a body lying in the corner of the room. "Don't worry! I got you!" I cried. I lifted him up effortlessly and carried him outside.

Naruto

"Ah!" I slurped, "Nothing like Ramen in the morning!"

I emptied the bowl, then put it back down with a satisfied sigh. "This is the best ramen in the world, old man!"

"Nothing but the best for my best customer." He responded with a smile.

I began to say something else, but I noticed a cloud of smoke forming in the sky.

"Hey!" I cried, "Something's burning!"

I got out of my seat and began running towards it.

"Hey!" The old man yelled after me, "You forgot to pay!"

……………………………………….

I ended up outside the Konoha gates. Though I had no idea what I was running towards, my sight never wavered from the building cloud of smoke.

Suddenly, I noticed something pink in the distance. It could only be one person.

"Sakura-chan!" I called, "Sakura! Are you okay!" She didn't seem to hear me. I came closer and closer.

"Sakura! Can you hear me?!" I called again. Finally I was close enough to see she was fine…but she was holding a body in her lap.

I felt my body freeze as she looked at me with a solemn expression.

"He's my teammate…" she said in a monotone voice I never heard before. "He's my friend…and I let him down…" The flickering flames cast an eerie glow on her dust-covered face.

She lifted the body for me to see. I gasped as I stared back at Sasuke Uchiha.

Kakashi

"I'm sure he'll be fine." I assured Sakura and Naruto. We were in the hospital. Sasuke was in a bad condition, but nothing that couldn't be fixed.

"He shouldn't have left the hospital so early. He was still weak from the fight with Naruto." I continued, looking at the sleeping child. All the anger was gone from the Uchiha's face.

"Now...there's a bigger matter I'm wondering about." I gave the two ninjas a cold stare. Both of them blushed immediately.

"You know what I'm talking about then?"

Both nodded, but Sakura spoke, "I'm sorry, Kakashi-sensei…I didn't really think about it too hard…"

"You're only 12…it's odd that you thought about it at all…"

"I know, but…I never loved someone the way I love Naruto. I don't think I could have chosen any better time…"

I looked at them with scrutinizing eyes. "Well, it has already been done…but I still can't say I approve…."

Both nodded again. They understood their error, but I knew that if given the chance, they would do it again.

Finally I sighed, "It's something you have to live with for the rest of your life…whether it's a burden or not is not in my jurisdiction."

Sakura

We watched Kakashi exit the room. Though I understood what he was saying, I still couldn't feel any remorse for it.

"Let's go, Sakura." Naruto said, heading for the door.

I shook my head, "No…I think I'll stay here…"

Naruto looked at me. Then he shrugged and said, "Okay. See you later then."

I nodded and watched him exit the room. Then I turned back to Sasuke.

"Sasuke-kun…" I whispered. I sat in the chair next to his bed and stroked his hair. "You look so peaceful when your asleep…" I mused.

Suddenly, I felt my heart beat quicken. The same way it used to…the way it does now for Naruto.

Before I knew what I was doing, I bent over the bed until my face was right above his. I could feel his breath on my skin. "Sasuke…" I kissed him. Before anything in my mind could even tell me no, I kissed him.

"Oh!" I quickly stood up and covered my mouth, "Oh no!"

I began to sob. Not only because I kissed him, but because I knew I would do it again.

"Oh Sasuke-kun! I'm so confused!" I fell back into the chair and cried on his bed. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my head. I looked up and saw Sasuke looking at me.

"Sakura…" He said softly.

"Sasuke!" I cried, "It's not what you think! I love Naruto!"

He chuckled, "You don't even sound sure of yourself."

I looked away from him. He was right. I wasn't sure.

I felt his sit up. "Sasuke, you shouldn't exert your-!" He silenced me with his lips. For some reason, I made no protests.

"Who do you love?" He asked.

I thought, "I love…Naruto…"

"Do you?"

I nodded unsurely. It made him smile.

"Sakura…Sakura…Sakura…" He said shaking his head, "I think you'll always remain a single flower."

This is the end of A Single Flower, but I'm starting a sequel called "Sakura Matsuri" which means Cherry Blossom Festival. It'll be held when they're older. I should be posting the first chapter right after this, so tune in.