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Standard Disclaimers Apply

The First Hour: Beginning

The familiar landscape was nostalgic to her senses.

She was back in the realm of the Tsukuyomi.

Unlike the first time she had been brought into this mysterious world, the ground and trees have already been blessed with colour. It was a small tweak he had made last time to spike up the illusion. It was a little gift just for her, and he remembered that.

Sakura glanced down and was not surprised to see her arms empty. The body she had previously been holding onto had moved to stand behind her, towering over her crouching form.

"Welcome back," he murmurs, lips barely moving.

With a sad smile, she replies, "I'm back."

The Second Hour: Reunion

He is unscathed in this world, a true lie in comparison to his body in the real world. He hides his scars and wounds because he does not want to concern her any further. After all, he was dying. It wouldn't be very pleasant to see his fatal injuries for a whole "seventy-two hours" before finally seeing death fall upon him. It would be agonizing for her.

She is a little pleased that he hid them, but she is angry at the same time. Seeing him so healthy like this makes her think their reunion would last forever.

But it won't, and she wants to yell at him, punch him, kick him for deceiving her like this.

The Third Hour: Brother

"We just met each other again," she mutters, biting back any sudden outbursts that could ruin their encounter.

"I know." For a dying man, his voice seemed calm.

"So why?" She couldn't hold it back as her voice cracked with desperation.

"It was inevitable." His answer caused her to seethe in anger.

"How do you think dying would ever solve the problem?"

"I had no choice. It was either the village or myself who suffered his wrath."

"And so you chose yourself."

"I considered my ANBU position above all others...Perhaps I fail as an older brother."

At that, she sighed. "No."

"No?" He didn't normally like having people defy him, but she was different. She was special, so he wanted to hear her out.

"No. You protected him. I think you are a wonderful older brother."

And she's never seen him smile so genuinely before.

The Fourth Hour: Bittersweet

She stares at him as if he would disappear any second.

"Why are you giving me such a look, Sakura?" he questions, voice mischievous.

She glares at him in order to hide the surprise of hearing him say her name again. It was both pleasing yet mournful to the ear. Just the thought of not being able to hear his voice again frustrates her.

"No reason."

"I'm not going yet."

"W-what?"

He steps closer to her and brushes the back of his fingers against her cheek warmly, reassuringly.

"I'm still here, so don't think about anything sad. Just focus on me."

That might be the most bittersweet thing he has ever said.

The Fifth Hour: Uchiha

"Why don't you tell me how you have been?"

"Me?"

He gives her a look that questions her sanity, one that says "who else?"

"Well…the usual. Missions, hospital shifts, training…"

"Did anything happen after last time?"

She tilts her head to the side, wondering what he means by that, before remembering her conversation with Tsunade.

"When I told her you found out about the…secret mission, she just smiled as if she knew it would happen. Of course, she was…a little…mad that you didn't come back, but she just shrugged it off while muttering 'Uchihas…'"

"There's nothing wrong with being an Uchiha," he deadpanned.

She looked at him, calculating her response and challenging him in her own little way. He stared back, not willing to back down.

"Of course," she finally smirked.

It was a fleeting moment of playfulness, and probably a fake one too, but it was the only chance they had to grasp what little happiness they had left.

The Sixth Hour: Mission

"So what secret mission are you on this time?"

That pulled her spirits back down, and the playful smile she previously wore lowered into a thin line of indifference.

"'To retrieve the corpse of Uchiha Itachi'."

He didn't seem surprised.

"Is that it?"

"'And to bring back Uchiha Sasuke'."

"Relaying top-secret information to me seems to be a habit of yours, Sakura."

"I've said it before: You are not my enemy. Besides, you've probably already felt our presences long before."

He didn't deny that fact, because he absolutely loved it when she knew so much about him and his abilities. "It was very kind of you to leave your team and rush to me."

"If I was going at their pace, you'd be dead by the time I arrived…and I wouldn't want that."

He never did like her depressed expression; it took away from her fiery spirit.

"Come." He grabs her hand and starts pulling her away.

"Where are we going?"

He turned back slightly to satisfy her inquiry. "To the garden."

A/N: Why do teachers love to assign everything at the same time? :) Anyway, so sorry about the late update! Each chapter will contain 6 "hours" from now on. This is just so that the numbers work out in the end. :D Thanks for reading! Looking forward to reviews!