Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I do own the plot, along with some members of the cast.

Chapter Seven: Halted

Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum

Sakura's fingers drifted through her hair, pulling out a knot. She was still sleepy. Her head was pounding, and the sunlight pooling from the curtains in Sasuke's room were making it even worse. She pulled one pillow over her head as the door opened, Sasuke walking in with a towel around his waist. "I don't get it. You're already dead, aren't you? How can you get sick?" He asked, using another towel to dry his hair. Sakura let out a small groan. She moved the pillow and looked at Sasuke's well defined chest. A small purring noise vibrated from her throat. Sasuke looked over, spotted her gazing, then rushed into his closet with a flushed face. "And you wonder why I hate taking showers in the mornings after you stay over?" He yelled from the closet.

A small snicker resounded from Sakura. She sat up and watched Sasuke exit, fully clothed. She sighed, looking at him. She snapped her fingers and turned back into her human form. She was not in her school uniform, however. Kakashi had given her an upgrade pendant, which changed her outfit in accordance with her needs. She now wore a pair of dark blue Capri's with a golden dragon embroidery up from the end up to her knee of the left side. A short sleeved white tee with the word 'Sweetie' in silver glitter went with it. A pair of white tennis shoes would be waiting by the front door for her. Sadly, her headache got even worse because of her current form. "I'm not sick. If I stay human for too long my memories will return. Then I'll be trapped as my old self in ghost form. I'll haunt the place I tied at and I'll be the death of any who get to close. Ghosts are a complete annoyance to the Underworld and Heaven." She mumbled softly.

Sasuke sat beside her and quirked an eyebrow. He was wearing a long sleeve white shirt with a short sleeved blue top above it. He also wore a pair of regular blue jeans he'd cut at the knees. "So ghosts are viewed as a threat every where?" He asked. Sakura nodded, stood, and walked over to Sasuke's desk. She opened the book, flipped it open, and pointed.

"Sadly, yes. Ghosts are just wrathful illusions. They become one with the elements and cause nothing but death and sorrow. There is no such thing as a good ghost." She stated softly, her eyes narrowing on the page. "Ghosts…Are just illusions created by powerful emotions. It's something you'll need to learn to handle." She mumbled. There was a small humming noise and both looked toward the window to see Kakashi hovering there. "Hello, Kakashi. Are you taking Sasuke out for another reaping?" She asked.

Kakashi shook his head and looked at her more sternly. "You might actually want to come by for this. It has to do with the topic you were just discussing so…" He trailed and Sakura froze up. She shook her head rapidly and grabbed her head with her hands. "I know you don't want to but you have to come. It's your duty as his fiancé to stand beside him." Kakashi lectured softly. Sasuke watched them and wondered what was going on exactly.

Sasuke blinked slightly as Kakashi handed him a little white pill like the first time. "I need to be in reaper form for this?" He asked. Kakashi nodded and he plopped the little round pill into his mouth. It only took a second, and Sakura caught his human body as it feel limp toward the ground. "If Sakura's coming with us, who will watch my body to make sure Mayumi and Itachi don't mess with it?" He asked worriedly.

"We plan everything before we act, Sasuke. Sai will stay here in Sakura's stead and watch. If one of them comes up, he'll use his powers to distract them. That way, until you can return to it, your body will be left at rest." Kakashi explained. Sasuke nodded as he repositioned his hat. He smirked as he watched Sakura, now in her regular form, lean over to set his body up.

"So you like panties with little pink bunny rabbits on them?" He asked. Sakura sat up, squeaked, and glared at him. "Hey, you tried to watch me dressing so it's only fair I can taunt you a little." He stated with that devilish grin. Sakura looked away quickly, her face a light pink. 'She looks really cute when she's acting like a normal teenage girl.' He thought to himself before he followed Kakashi. Sakura was close behind, glaring at the sun.

Sasuke wasn't surprised when Kakashi led them to an old cemetery. "Looking for ghosts in a cemetery? Seems a little cliché to me." Sasuke mocked. Sakura shot him a harsh look and walked ahead of him, latching on to Kakashi's arm. Sasuke blinked a little, suddenly worried about her. 'Did I say something wrong?' He wondered. The two began speaking in French.

"Are you okay, Sakura? You look like you might be ill." Kakashi murmured to her. Sakura whimpered, lightly placing her other hand on her head. "Are your head aches getting worse? Your father warned you what would happen if they got too bad."

Sakura looked up at him. "Don't lecture me, Kakashi. I know what I'm doing and I'm doing it the way I know how to." She hissed. Kakashi sighed, looking ahead. Usually Sakura didn't speak in circles like that and it was worrying him that she was. They walked toward an older tombstone and Sasuke blinked. He could see the misty form of a young woman. She was wearing an old fashioned kimono, made of silk he guessed, in a shade of crimson. She had long red hair. Half of it fell over her shoulders and the other half was up in a messy bun with a pair of old white chopsticks. She was screaming and sobbing. "My best friend! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" She shrieked hysterically. The wind picked up and howled with her screams. She sounded almost identical to Karin.

Sasuke gulped and looked at Kakashi. The older man nodded and he slowly approached. 'E-Excuse, me, miss, but are you okay?" He asked frightfully. Slowly, she looked over and she looked almost identical to Karin without her glasses. Her face was dirty with mud and dried blood. There was only a long trail of naked flash on her face from where her tears had fallen.

Sakura's stomach churned. She felt as if Sasuke was in danger around this horrid spirit. She fled from Kakashi's arm and to Sasuke. "Sasuke-Kun!" She cried and latched on to him. The ghost looked at Sakura with wide eyes. Sakura looked at Sasuke then the ghost.

"Sakura-Chan?' She called softly, the wind dying away and her voice almost inaudible. Sakura felt that throb again. 'Just run away, Sa-ku-ra! He'll never love you anyway!' Sakura whimpered, dropping to her knees. Her head felt like it was splitting open. It hurt so much. 'We were best friends. The minute you decided that you loved him, you became my worst enemy Sakura.' 'Sakura, don't! I'm sorry! I can't loose you too Sakura, not you! Don't you dare! Please don't die on me! DON'T DIE ON ME!!' Sakura screamed in pain, flinging herself against the stone tablet right in front of the ghost. She laid there, her eyes glazed over, staring into nothing. It was then Sasuke, rushing to her aid, spotted the tombstones owner. Haruno Sakura. 1858-1875. Sasuke knelt down, hearing Sakura whisper something.

"Pretty little katana, end my pointless suffering."

TBC

Next chapter will be all about Human Sakura! Until then!