She was cold.
Shivering, sweat soaking her clothing and her eyes too heavy to open, like led they weighed heavily.

"Somethings wrong. I don't think she's sick, there's something else going on." Murmured Shikamaru from beside the bed ridden rosette, this reminded him all too much of the time she had pneumonia.

Ino rubbed his shoulder in sympathy, she too was worried about the medic, her best friend. "She will be okay, she's too stubborn to stay down for too long.." she tried softly. Truth was, she was scared to death. Tsunade had been by, she checked on Sakura and had no answers as to what was happening. The day after their impromptu meeting due to her dream, she went into a right out fever and was catatonic.

Her body was burning with fever, sweat coating her like a second skin and her hair stuck to her face and neck. She groaned from time to time but she was unresponsive other wise. This had been going on for about four days now. Everyone was on edge, this was much more than coincidence.

A knock at the door brought their thoughts around. "How is she?" Naruto asked softly. Behind him stood Sasuke, Kakashi, and Shisui.

"I don't know. Nothing has changed, not good nor bad.. nothing at all." Shikamaru growled out of pure frustration. All their eyes landed on the rosette, worry etched on everyone's face.

She felt... weightless.

The world around her was pitched black and she felt as though the world was endless. She didn't know where she was but she remembered getting there. The voices came back full force and tried to bring her out. She refused the call and inner pulled her here to keep her from going insane with the pushing she felt. It was relentless.

She could feel the worry of those around her, she could hear them, albeit their words were muddled. She knew they were there but didn't have the strength to respond. She was so tired. She was tired of fighting. Of searching. Of waiting. She was tired of the calling and the whispers..

She just.. wanted to rest.

Then, she heard it, clear as day.

"I'm sorry.." The voice said softly, "I'm sorry for all the terrible things I have said.. all the things that I've done to you. I didn't see it then, and I am such an idiot. I didn't return your affections, I didn't deserve all it. Your love was undying, unwavering.. and you offered me the world on a silver platter and I smacked you in the face with it."

His voice trembling, he pushed on. "I don't know how I didn't see it... and now I've missed my chance.. that Nara truly is the smartest of our generation. He was able to see you.. while I turned a blind eye.."

Her heart constricted at the words, "Dammit, Sakura.. I fucking love you. I love you so much it hurts to breathe and think and eat.. I love you so much that I hate you sometimes.. you said you'd love me forever and I tore it to pieces.. I don't deserve you and you're with someone who finally does. "

She knew, somewhere in her consciousness, that the lone Uchiha was crying. She could feel his hand on hers, begging for her. "I'm so sorry.. please forgive me. It's been three weeks now and you haven't woken up. Everyone is sick worrying over you. Nara looks like he's knocking on death's door.. he won't eat or sleep, he's always here. He loves you Sakura. He needs you.. they all need you..

I need you."

She felt heavy, like her heart didn't know what to do. Weren't those the words she would have killed to hear so long ago? This wasn't love she felt now, no, her heart was reserved for the lazy Nara.. but she did love Sasuke, not in the way he needed now, but in a way she could only give.

He was right, he didn't deserve any place in her heart for all he had said and done to her, but he was one of her boys.. and even after all the pain and suffering she endured at their hands, they were still her boys and she could never hate them.. not without hating herself first. They weren't the only ones to blame for her weakness when she was younger.

She wanted to yell at him.. she wanted to tell him everything she felt.. but she was too tired.

*.*.*.

" Sakura.."

The voice was a whisper.

"Sakura... it's time to get up.."

She didn't want to. She was still so tired.

She knew in the back of head the voice was right, but she just needed some more time.

"Get up!" The voice wasn't a whisper anymore and it wasn't as kind.

Whatever it was made her eyes snap open. There was a cloaked figure above her. "Much better." It murmured before disappearing. There was a collective gasp. Sitting up slowly, Sakura groaned and narrowed her eyes at the bright intruding light.

"Sak...Sakura?" The voice was almost hesitant.

"Mhm.." she murmured as she got her bearings. A body was launched at her.

"You stupid, stupid, beautiful girl!" Then there were tears. Emerald eyes took in blonde hair. A small smile formed as she realized they weren't alone.

"What happened?" She asked softly.

"What happened? What happened?!" She all but screeched.

A wince came from the rosette.

"Enough, Ino." Came Shikamaru's voice.

"You almost died! You've been catatonic for the last two months and just right now you flat lined!" Ino cried.

Sakura's eyes went wide, all of the make shift team was there as well as Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Kakashi.

"Why is everyone here?" She asked.

Then they went quiet.

"We were drawn out to you.. apparently we all had a feeling you needed us.. so, here we are." Came Neji's voice next. Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Did anyone see that... when I woke up?"

Now everyone looked concerned.

"There was someone else here.. they woke me up.."

"No one else was here, Sakura.." her eyes widened a bit at the news.

"We have to find him.. soon.. like soon.." her voice was urgent.

"No, you need to get better first." Tsunade was firm, her eyes angry but soft at the same time. She had been worried sick about her apprentice, she was the daughter she wished she could have.

"No." Sakura said firmly, "We have to kill Danzo. He's plotting something I will be damned if he gets away with it. I will not allow him to make me a puppet. Whatever he thinks is going to happen, I refuse to play into it." Her voice was a growl and everyone watched as coils of orange slowly slipped from her, the Hyuuga's byakugan turned on immediately as well as all three ( and a half, if you count Kakashi's) Sharingan activated.

"Sakura.."

"No!" There were tears coming now, "I know what he wants! I refuse it. I refuse to be a pawn. I will not allow him control." Her voice grew hoarse, "None of you understand. None of you know what it's like to have all of these things in your head, playing with your mind, heart, and soul. Not one of you! You don't fucking get it!" Her voice rose and the orange became more prominent. "He wants to use me as his weapon! He wants to make me kill you!" Her eyes were bright orange now, hurt and outrage in her voice, "I refuse to kill those I love, even if it means ending my own life to stop it."

"Sakura, don't say such things!" Ino cried.

"No!" Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi had seen the look in her eyes before, the last time when she disappeared and left them on the training fields.

She walked slowly to Shikamaru, kissed him gently and smiled softly, "I love you."

"I love you too." He said, the passion in his words obvious.

"I promise, I will marry you.." everyone's eyes went wide that this. "Please, forgive me.."

"Wha.." before anyone could stop her, Sakura was gone in a flurry of cherry blossoms.

"No!" Shikamaru growled, pushing past all the bodies in the room, only to be stopped by Shisui, "We need to make a plan. We all love her, we need to be smart to not get anyone killed, her nor us."

Shikamaru nodded, he was numb.

"Right, let's get to it." Tsunade finally said.

"I thought you weren't going to get involved." Orochimaru smirked.

"Fuck that, the elders can suck my ass. Let's go to my office." There was no room for argument left.

*.*.*.*

"Ah, our cherry blossom is on her way, guess it won't be too much longer."

*.*.*.*

Author's note: I apologize for posting so late and this being Uber short. I've been dealing with a lot of stress lately so I apologize for that. I will try to make my next chapter a little bit longer. Thank you all for your support. Enjoy.

Much love.