If you have it, I'd suggest you listen to 'Arms of an Angel' by Sarah McLachlan during this chapter. If you don't have it, then don't worry :) I was going to post tomorrow, but I figured that you guys have probably finished your cookies and those pitchforks are looking especially sharp... I'll just run away now and let you read :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor the song Arms of an Angel by Sarah McLachlan (If that's not the name of it, then I'm sorry :S)

Sakura quickly realised that the screaming was hers, and ran forward to catch Aya as she fell. She could tell that she was in excruciating pain, and hated herself that she had caused this. She had killed her friend. It was all her fault.

Sakura looked up at Karin, absolute loathing in her eyes.

"That looks like it hurts. Maybe you should work on your aim," Karin said nonchalantly.

Sakura stood up, facing Karin, hatred and malice and bloodlust seething through her veins. She knocked the kunai that Karin was holding from her hands, and pinned her against the wall. She wanted this bitch dead, and she wanted it to be painful. Sakura punched Karin in the gut, bruising many of her organs and breaking four ribs. Karin screamed in pain, tears forming in her eyes.

Sakura put her mouth up next to Karin's ear. "That was for killing my baby," she whispered, hatred entwining itself in her voice. "And this is for Aya." She summoned up a powerful wave of Chakra into her hand, and punched Karin in the gut, forcing the deadly Chakra to pulse through Karin's body. She put her mouth next to Karin's ear again. "That is a Forbidden Jutsu, one that I came across by mistake and hoped to never use. Over the next hour, your bones will slowly disintegrate, until you are no more than a puddle of tissue, blood and muscle on the floor. There is no way to reverse this." She let go of Karin, and the woman sunk to the floor, before she went back over to Aya.

Aya was lying down, coughing up blood. "Aya, forgive me, I am so sorry." She felt tears well up, but she didn't give a shit about her promise anymore. She let them fall. "I'm going to see if I can heal you." She knew that she couldn't, but she didn't care. She would give it everything she had. Blue light enveloped her hands and she felt Aya's stomach and chest, wincing at the damage. There was nothing she could do anymore, except ease the pain. She sent gentle waves of soothing Chakra into Aya's body and felt Aya slowly relax as the pain faded.

"Sakura, it's alright," Aya said softly, cupping Sakura's cheek. "I'm not afraid. I'll be able to see Masa soon. I'm going somewhere to be happy." Aya's eyes were dry, and she had a small smile on her angelic face.

Sakura gently picked the girl up and took her outside. She didn't want Aya to be locked up in her final moments. She set her down in the grass. The moonlight danced like pearl butterflies on Aya's face, caressing her like soft baby kisses. The wind carried the scent of the ocean and the sound of waves breaking, a mellifluous lullaby singing Aya softly to sleep.

"Aya… Please forgive me for not coming back earlier. Arigato… Arigato for everything you've given me." Her tears were coming faster now and she wanted nothing more than to fall into a heap and weep.

Aya smiled at her. "Don't cry, Sakura Chan. I don't like it when you cry." She wiped some of the tears away. "I want to thank you, Sakura, for being my friend, and for pulling me back from the darkness. Thank you for that." She caught sight of the necklace that Sakura was wearing. "You still have my necklace." She smiled a genuine smile and lightly touched it. "Masa was right: We will be with each other forever." She coughed and some more blood came out of her mouth. Sakura quickly wiped it away.

Aya turned her face to the side, her breath becoming shallow. She picked one of the flowers that were growing beside her. "Sakura, these flowers… They use to… To grow in my… My village. We'd use them to… To make the necklaces… With the little girls…" She brought the flower up to her nose and breathed in, before handing it to Sakura. "Do… Do you think that there will be… Be flowers there?" She asked innocently, her amethyst eyes betraying her fear.

Sakura took the flower in her hand, and wove it through Aya's hair. Sakura was finding it difficult to see through her tears. "I'm sure that there will be thousands of flowers there, Aya. Just for you."

Aya smiled and closed her eyes. "That's good. I'd… I'd really like to make a… A flower necklace again… And… And cook some rice… For the village… I'd… I'd love to… To give Masa a… A flower…" Aya's hand grew slack, and her breath faded on the wind. A light breeze whispered through Sakura's hair, and she felt Aya's laugh dancing with it, the most beautiful chime floating away, like her spirit, soaring into the arms of her beloved Masa, into a timeless light where nobody would ever hurt her again.

Sakura refused to let go of Aya's hand. "I'm sure that Masa would love for you to give him a flower, Aya." Her tears fell thick and fast onto Aya's body. She felt someone walk up behind her, and could tell it was Sasuke. Sasuke gently pulled Sakura's weeping form against his chest, stroking her arm, kissing her brow and cheeks, sometimes her lips, whispering comforting words of nonsense, letting her cry for her loss.

It took many hours for Sakura to compose herself enough to move, and by that time the sun was rising above the horizon. Sakura quickly healed Sasuke's arm, and Sasuke gently lifted Aya's body into his arms, carrying her the whole way back to Konoha. Not a word was exchanged between Sakura and Sasuke, but there wasn't really anything to say. Sasuke knew how it felt to have someone precious to you die, and he knew that Sakura wouldn't want anyone to talk to her about it. If she wanted to talk about it, she would in her own time. In the meantime, just his presence would be enough.

They walked back into Konoha, and no one dared to bother them. Sakura ordered a beautiful funeral be made for Aya, and that's what happened. Aya was dressed in a simple but elegant light purple and silver kimono, with pink flowers and butterflies printed over it. Sasuke payed for the funeral, and so all expenses were covered.

Sakura made sure that everyone brought as many flowers as possible, with dark crimson roses being the main ones. The casket was hand carved mahogany wood, with flowers and vines carved around the outside. Sakura's only regret was that they couldn't bury Aya in her home village, but finding it would prove a near impossible task, seeing as many small towns were always under attack from Orochimaru, and Aya had never said what the name of her town was.

There were only a few people at the funeral; close friends of Sakura's. There was Sasuke, of course, Naruto and Hinata, Tsunade, Kakashi, Ino, Sai, Lee, Yamato, Choji, Shino, Shikamaru, Kiba, Cho and Aika. Even though Sakura hadn't known Cho and Aika as long as everyone else, they, like Aya, were tied in with her disappearance all those months ago. It only felt right to invite them.

Sakura walked in front of the group. "Thank you for coming today, even though only Sasuke knew Aya personally. Aya was a girl that I met during my kidnap. Something that I did not tell any of you, was that I was captured by Orochimaru. Aya had lost her family, her friends, and her lover to Orochimaru's villainous desires. And yet, she was one of the most beautiful, kindest, most caring and funniest people you could ever meet. She was my friend, and she will forever remain my friend. She made some of the darkest times of my life shine brightly. She was like a star, always shining, and never fading. I'll miss her with all my heart, and I'm glad that she died free from chains and cages." Sakura couldn't say anymore, and walked off the stage into Sasuke's embrace.

Aika walked out the front next. "I'm sorry I didn't get to meet you, and I'm glad that you are in a happy place. Thank you for everything you did for Sakura." She said, looking at the casket. She looked up at the people before her. "I was asked to sing today. I don't know if it will do Aya justice, but I hope that it will be acceptable." She closed her eyes, and started to sing.

'Spend all your time waiting for that second chance.
For the break that will make it okay.
There's always some reason to feel not good enough.
And it's hard at the end of the day.
I need some distraction, oh beautiful release.
Memories seep from my veins.
They may be empty, and weightless and maybe,
I'll find some peace tonight.

In the arms of an angel.
Fly away from here.
From this dark, cold hotel room,
And the endlessness that you fear.
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of an angel
May you find some comfort here.

You're in the arms of an angel.
May you find your comfort there.'

Far above, in the velvet of the heavens, the stars shone a little brighter, welcoming the angel into their light.

Yeah, I cried while writing this :( P.s. I love that song :) I can't believe that there is only one more chapter to go! I'm going to start crying all over again! Not much to say, really. Sorry it took me a while to update, and sorry this chapter was a tad on the short side :S And dark crimson roses apparently mean 'mourning', so that's why they were used. I'm not putting a preview up for the last chapter, so you'll have to wait and see what happens :) That's all I can think of to say, so you could leave me a review, or not leave me a review, whatever you'd prefer (you know what I'd prefer, though ;) and I hope to have you back next time :)