Normal

"Speech"

Thought

Kyuubi

Warnings: I do not own Naruto (Never have, never will.). Rated "M" for language and adult situations

Chapter 47: Love in the Ethereal

Myra senses passed the chilling cold to the faint glimmer she had seen. Her eyes shot open when she reached the faint light in Sasuke's heart. It was the last thing keeping him going. The last reason he wanted to live on. It was that hope that once everything was said and done, he could go home and she would still be there waiting for him. It served his self centered nature to think that, but the light of that hope had kept the darkness that was consuming his soul from completely taking over.

He loved her. Sasuke loved Sakura. Myra started to cry because he had denied it for so long it hurt him to even think about her. She removed her hand from his shoulder and dropped to the ground in tears. "Oh God Sasuke… I'm sorry." She looked up at him with tears streaming down her face.

Sasuke didn't turn around to Myra. He couldn't. He was fighting back the tears and the pain as well. DAMN this place. It confused and overwhelmed his senses. There was no rational thought here, only emotions and dreams. But he could have his dreams here. He could have Sakura here. And maybe he could tell her here.

Sasuke's voice was strained. "Bring her here and put her on the bench. I have some unfinished business."

Myra sniffled and nodded. "Word of caution, you must maintain that this is a dream. She's a smart one and might figure it out. If she does, and wakes up, we could have a very serious problem on our hands."

"Do you have to stay?" His voice was a whisper.

"Unfortunately I do. I am your conduit to Sakura. I wish I could give you some privacy, I really do. But there isn't a way around that." Myra stood up giving him an understanding smile. "Don't worry lover boy, I will keep my distance, until you have to leave. You ready?"

"Hn."

Myra shook her head. "Here goes. Remember, this is a dream." Myra's figure shimmered out of sight. A few moments later, Sasuke watched as Sakura's form appeared sitting on the bench. She was dressed the outfit he had last seen her in; the red shirt, the matching pink skirt over black shorts, and the black heeled sandals. She had kept her hair short for all this time. Sasuke had never had the chance to tell her he liked it that way.

Sakura sat on the bench like she had so many nights. Staring at the moon, wondering where he was and what he was doing. She felt a wave of peace come over her. Sasuke was safe and it was something deep down that told her was. She felt the cool night breeze against her skin and she closed her eyes, allowing the wind to caress her. She could swear she felt his hand touch her face. She pretended that it was his hand on her cheek. "Oh, Sasuke." She muttered to herself.

Sakura sighed and opened her eyes to look into a pair of dark onyx eyes. Sasuke had sat next to her on the bench. Her breath caught in her throat. She opened her lips to say something and found that she couldn't. Sasuke had captured her lips with his. This most certainly was a dream, she thought. But what a wonderful dream it was.

They broke the kiss and Sakura just stared at Sasuke. "You're here?" She put her hand on his cheek. He felt cold, but warm at the same time. He felt real, yet so far away.

"For now." He put his forehead against hers.

"This is a dream right?" Sakura whispered.

"Yes." He answered her softly.

"I don't want it to end." She closed her eyes again.

"It has to."

She pushed him back to look at him properly. Tears started to fall from her eyes. "Why? It's a dream. Dreams don't have to end."

"You have to wake up eventually Sakura." His eyes told her that he didn't want the dream to end either.

Sakura took a deep breath to calm her tears. "Then I don't ever want to wake up."

Sasuke pulled her into a deep embrace. "Shhh… Don't worry about it right now." He stroked her hair down her back as if it was the most natural thing to be doing.

0 – 0 – 0

Myra had shimmer to the top of the trees and was watching the two. She conjured some popcorn and settled in to watch the tragic romance unfold before her. It wasn't something she really wanted to watch, especially if things got hot and steamy. Of course, it would only mean she would crave the attentions of a certain blonde later. Myra shook her head and kept Naruto out of her thoughts. The last thing she needed is for the Fox to feel her call out to him.

"What exactly are you doing?" Her father's voice nearly startled her out of the tree. Popcorn went flying everywhere and Myra was face to face with her angry looking father.

"Uh… Hi dad… Just… Um… Oh crap…" Myra gave her father a very weak smile.

"I asked a question young lady, what are you doing?" He was standing on the same limb she was sitting on. He crossed his arms and glowered at her.

"Just reuniting old friends." She answered hurriedly. "Is there a problem with that?"

"It is, when one of them is a highly dangerous and sought after missing nin of Konoha." His voice was a little loud and he kept his glower.

"Shhh… Not so loud. Sakura really thinks she dreaming and I would like to keep it that way."

"Well you had best tell him to end it now. Naruto is coming off watch. I came here to warn you." He turned his back.

"What?" Myra was shocked.

"Edgar and Poe say you talking to Sasuke, is a good thing for now… I suppose you can track him too?" He had lowered his voice, but he still sounded disappointed. Myra didn't answer, she just nodded.

Rai let out a deep sigh. "I promise I won't tell the Hokage of this until I find it is necessary."

"No… Swear you will come and ask me FIRST before you tell ANYONE. And then you and I will confess together." Myra looked at her father seriously.

Rai shook his head and chuckled. "You sure didn't leave me any loop holes."

"I know the rules of the Ethereal just as well as you do. Remember, you taught them to me." Myra crossed her arms.

"Yes, but Edgar taught you how to manipulate them."

"I do not manipulate them… I bend them without breaking them." Myra smirked.

The elder Ravenheart sighed. "I swear I will ask you first before I tell anyone that you can speak with, have spoken to, and can track Sasuke Uchiha."

"And I swear that after we discuss the situation and I find it necessary, I will go with you to confess my transgression to the Hokage." Myra smirked.

"You little cheat." Rai scowled.

"What is said is said… Pax?" Myra held out her hand.

Rai took her hand begrudgingly and shook it. "Pax… Now send him back to where ever it is before the Fox boy gets to close and notices."

"Yes Father." Myra watched her father shimmer out of the dreamscape.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Sakura's head was lying peacefully on Sasuke's lap. Sasuke was still stroking her hair and being content with the world. He went on guard the moment he felt Myra come near. He couldn't see her, but he could feel her.

"You have to let her go now." Myra's voice echoed from everywhere.

Sasuke stopped and Sakura sat up. The pink haired girl looked at Sasuke with very sad green eyes. "No… Not yet, you just got here." The girl pleaded.

"There will be other dreams Sakura." A glowing purple light floated from the trees and hovered above the pair. "This is a dream and dreams are what you make of them." The glowing orb pulsated with each word.

"I don't want to go yet." Sasuke glared at the glowing ball.

"I'm sorry Sasuke." Myra's disembodied voice sounded sad. "You have the chance to tell her, so tell her quickly."

Sasuke stood up pulling Sakura with him. He pulled her into his arms and held on for dear life. "I love you Sakura." And then he kissed her.

Tears streamed down Sakura's face. This was definitely the best dream she ever had and would not soon forget. When the two broke apart, Sakura gazed into the dark pools of onyx. "And I will always love you Sasuke."

He held her close again feeling the warmth that she was for him. He had denied it for so long. Now Sasuke had admitted it to himself and to her. The weight was off his chest and he found it easier to breath.

The glowing purple orb hovered before Sakura's closed eyes. "Back to YOUR dreams my friend." Sakura's form faded from Sasuke's arms. When it had finally faded his arms went limp at his sides.

Myra reformed herself as the person he knew. She just stood there waiting for him to turn. His glimmer was brighter now. More like a small flame that was getting brighter. Myra smiled inwardly. "I told you, tomorrow at the lake. Keep your chakra suppressed and you may catch a glimpse."

"I finally told her." Sasuke sounded so lonely.

"I know Sasuke. I know."

"But she thinks it was just a dream." He turned to her.

"And to her it was. A wonderful dream where her Sasuke told her he loved her." Myra smiled. "But you have to go now and quickly."

"Do you have to hit me?" Sasuke stood in front of Myra.

"Well, if you want to wake you up, yes; if you want to return to your nightmare, no." Myra smirked.

"Hn." He had regained his cold demeanor. "Better hit me…" He braced himself.

Myra snickered. "Stay safe and say hello to Jugo for me." She reached back and slapped him fairly lightly, but hard enough to wake him from his sleep. He was blinking up at the moon at its peak in the sky, rubbing the spot where Myra had slapped him. He breathed in a sigh of relief and actually felt calm again.