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

Chapter Eleven: Sanctuary

Your mind's in disturbia
It's like the darkness is the light
Disturbia
Am I scaring you tonight?
Your mind's in disturbia
Ain't used to what you like
Disturbia
Disturbia

Sasuke looked around, searching for another screen. He needed to speed this up. He didn't know hiw much longer he had, but he knew his time was getting thin. Kakashi would have to pull him out soon, whether he saved Sakura or not, and Sasuke didn't want her to leave. In the few months since her arrival she had ruined his relationship, trashed his reputation, forced him to reap the souls of children and regular people who seemed too young to die, and turned him into her personal play thing. However, he had a growing suspicion that if he could help her move foreword from these dark memories maybe she'd behave more sweetly. Maybe she'd be a little more like the Sakura from her memories before death. He blinked and smiled slightly when he spotted a window of opportunity.

Sakura was wearing the medieval gown from Kakashi's first memory of her. She walked beside a boy with unruly chocolate hair. His eyes were a matching shade, but were soft on Sakura. She sighed and walked beside him. He wore a nice prince-like outfit. He had a little white dog lounging on his shoulder and a simple silver crown in his hand. "Tell me, Brother Kiba, why am I forced to do your tasks for you?" She asked with a soft sigh. She looked…Sad, dare Sasuke say. (AN: Tee hee. Alliteration.)

The boy merely snickered at her. "Because, my dearest Sister, you are older than me. Besides, this new soul might catch your interest. He killed himself because his mother killed his fiancé. You are the oldest princess, oldest royal blood in general, so you should gain social skills." He hummed, placing the crown atop Sakura's head. Her eyes widened slightly. He bowed, took her hand and kissed it. His little pup let out a bark. "See? Even Akamaru agrees that you need to make some friends. It'll help you later when you choose a mortal man to marry and have children with down here." He stated merely before raising, bowing, and leaving her.

Sakura plucked the crown from her head and rolled her eyes. "Be more social, huh?" She asked softly, turning it in her hands. She then threw the crown into a nearby lava pit. A large plume of dark smoke erupted in retaliation to the foreign object. "I need no friends or children or husband to make me whole, Dearest Brother. I just need my hate, my scythe, and my own stone heart to make the Underworld run as it should! I need no other person to dictate me! I'll never let my control slip away from me again!" She yelled harshly at the pit. A magma bubble popped in response. She shook her head and growled. "Very well, then. Best go great this new comer and hope he isn't completely daffy." She mumbled bitterly before turning on her heels and walking off. As she left, the screen faded away.

Sasuke perked up when he smelt smoke. He turned his head and spotted a fire a far ways off from him. His eyes widened, wondering how a fire could be set in someone's mind. Unless Sakura was becoming a ghost. Sasuke growled and took off running, clenching the fan he held between his fingers. He forgot it was there, and still didn't notice, as he charged forward. He also failed to notice the silver stream of dust following him intently.

-Sasuke's Room-

Kakashi sighed as he looked at the clock. A quarter until midnight. At midnight he'd have to recall Sasuke from Sakura's mind and hope for the best. Sai was perched in the window, watching the outside world. "So the ghost you saw was called Minako?" He asked softly. Kakashi raised a brow, surprised that Sai was so curious suddenly.

"Yes, that is correct. Why do you care?" He asked bluntly. Sai froze up then sighed. Slowly realization hit Kakashi in the face like a sack of potatoes. "You knew them when they were alive, didn't you? Sakura-Sama and that ghost Minako?" Kakashi demanded. Sai let out a small sigh before nodding.

"I was the reason they both died, actually."

-Sakura's Mind-

When Sasuke reached the flames he was frozen in his place. There, in the center being licked at by the devious flames, was Sakura. She was still a demon, which showed that the transformation hadn't started to long ago. "It won't matter. If I'm a ghost I suffer alone, if I remain a demon I suffer alone. I'll never be freed of these chains." She murmured. As if on cue chains shot up from the ground and began weaving over her body. She let them, eyes half open and blank.

Sasuke felt a small sensation known as panic crawling up his spine. What if he couldn't save her? What if he failed? He shook his head. 'No! I have to save her! I'm the only one who can!' He thought, coaxing himself to ignore the negativity that still sat on the edge of his mind. "Sakura!" He screamed. It was no use. The crackling of the flames was too loud for her to hear him. "What do I-?" He began but suddenly noticed the fan in his fist. Could this be his way to help her? He gulped and looked between the paper fan and nasty flames.

He finally reached his resolve and nodded. He lifted the fan and swung, surprised to see the flames part for him. He dropped the fan and darted in without thinking twice. He grabbed on to her, holding her head against his chest. She was still limp. The flames licked at him, burning him. He didn't make a sound but winced slightly. "Sakura, snap out of it!" He snapped as loudly as he could.

Her eyes widened, returning to normal. "Sasuke?" She asked slowly, looking up at him. The chains slowly began to rust and fall apart. The flames began to die down. "Sasuke, why? How?" She stumbled, looking at him in pure shock. He smiled and gently tucked her head under his chin, burrowing his face deeply into her hair and inhaling her sweet scent. She blushed slightly but nuzzled him, clenching on to the fabric of his shirt.

The wisp of silver following Sasuke materialized, revealing to be Ghost Sakura. Both Sakura's stared at each other, one in shock and the other with soft eyes. Sasuke perked up and looked between them. Demon slowly walked away from him. She paused in front of Ghost, the two looking at each other. "I guess it's time I accepted you." Demon mumbled. Ghost smiled and nodded. The two closed their eyes and reached out, interlocking their fingers. Both glowed but Ghost Sakura began to disappear. She turned into a gold mist this time, disappearing into Sakura's heart. Sasuke smiled but when he blinked he opened his eyes in his human body.

He looked around. Kakashi was glaring daggers at Sai, whom looked out at the landscape with sorrowful eyes. He twitched and looked back when he heard a soft shuffling. Sakura sat up in his bed, eyes half open. She blinked, shook her head, and then looked at him. She grinned. "It's going to take more than that to get rid of me." She beamed before being attacked by Kakashi, Tonny and Tanny. She giggled and smiled at them. Sasuke looked back over at Sai before he heard Sakura speak. "I need to take care of some things down below. I'll see you at school." She hummed, now standing beside Sasuke. He looked at her and nodded.

He yanked her down and kissed her. She leaned into it, face dusted with a pale pink. "Be safe." He murmured. She smiled and nodded. In a puff of smoke all the demons in his room disappeared, leaving him alone.

"Good night Sasuke!" Mayumi called. He stretched, smirked and nodded. He turned out the light, flopped on his bed, and drifted into a dreamless sleep.

-The Next Day-

Karin gaped at Sasuke as if he was crazy. In fact, half his class was looking at him like that. "You heard me Karin. I'm engaged to Sakura and, to be brutally honest, she's actually a much better person than you." He stated flatly. Karin's cult murmured to each other and slowly edged away from her. The door opened and in walked everybody's favorite pink haired transfer student. Sasuke smirked at her.

"My my Karin-Chan, mocking fish is quite impolite." She sighed, walking over and pushing Karin's chin up to shut her mouth. The class room erupted into laughter. Karin, not being used to being mocked like that, ran off crying. "Ever touch my Sasuke-Kun again and I'll kick your ass Karin." She mumbled softly before taking her seat. Sasuke slipped in beside her and kissed her right in front of every one else. Karin's cult suddenly formed around Sakura, trying to make her choose her right hand gals. "Hinata-Chan, Temari-Chan, please help these girls realize their spots." She hummed merrily. Hinata and Temari took their spots to Sakura's right and left, amking sure these girls understood. Sulking and aggravated, the other retreated to their assigned seats as the teacher walked in. "After school can you come with me to take care of some thing, Sasuke-Kun?" Sakura whispered to him. He smiled.

"What are boyfriends for?"

-After School-

Sakura and Sasuke took a cab down town, to the cemetery. Sasuke groaned, wondering why Sakura wanted to return to the place that had just caused them all that trouble. Sakura led him through the tombstones to the very back, where the weeping of the ghost could be heard. Sasuke growled, not wanting Sakura to be here. He was about to reach out and grab her hand when she turned to her Demon form. She smiled at him and walked forward, approaching Minako. "Mina-Chan, it's me." She whispered, kneeling beside her.

The ghost fell silent and looked at her. "Sakura." She whispered softly before throwing her arms around her neck. "Sakura, please forgive me! I-I was stupid! I never should have-I should have believed-Oh Sakura!" She sobbed, hiding her face in Sakura's shoulder. A sad smile came to Sakura's lips and she gently tilted her old friends face up.

I think I forgot something over these years…

"It's time for you to move on, Minako. You must forge on, repent for your sins, and make your future brighter. I can't be with you always, but I will always be hoping for the best. You are sincerely and honestly forgiven, Minako." She stated. Mina's eyes widened then she smiled and more tears fell. She nodded and disappeared just like Ghost Sakura had. Sasuke watched Sakura, resisting the urge to yell at her. She looked back at him and smiled. "You're angry with me, aren't you?" She asked. He walked over and draped an arm over her shoulders, gently resting his head atop hers. She blinked.

"You must have had your reasons, right?" He asked calmly. Sakura smiled and cuddled closer to him. She nodded and he lightly kissed the top of her head.

"If not for Minako's greed I never would have met you, Sasuke-Kun. And that is simply the greatest gift a friend could give." She mused. Sasuke tilted her head up and kissed her again. Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself closer to him and letting her fingers tread through his ebony locks. One of Sasuke's arms was wrapped around her waist while his other hand caressed the side of her face.

I forgot that I had hopes and dreams. You simply pushed me in the right direction, even though neither of us knew it. And for that, I'll always be grateful.

TBC

Well, that ends Sakura's past. But there will be more. What will happen next? Until then!