Author Note: Hey guys, this is the last chapter. I took a while due to a laptop switch which involved me losing files. So I had to essentially rewrite this ending. I hope you guys enjoy it as I left it both open but answered a few questions. The ending is sort of happy I guess, never been a happy ending fan myself. I recommend reading this and listening to 'Sacrifice' on the soundtrack to the movie Guardians of the Galaxy. (Saw the movie and I greatly enjoyed it. ) The music to that movie helped me write this chapter easier, but 'Sacrifice' is by far my muse for this chapter.

-Kitsune

Thanks to the following who favorited or started following my story: RadiantFox, I Push Teachers into Lockers, Peranora, Lowism, Chewy Paper, XSTEELCOBRAX, FireCrystal1092, kurathedog, Belle of Ponderosa, deeutza0079, Taromaru, SkySkittles20, Shadow2700, Nyght elf, jack3160, Raidon123, Reemikz, FOXJ NS 4EVER, makinnasty1, XWF1000, SanadaTenchi, GoldenMoon1997, 170405, Shadowwitch042190, Cruxis' Kingdom Heart Cherubim, Verdigurl, H1dnomrah, LuckyKittens, Raptor2001, SOulWindWALKER, Demonic girl111, 02breanna and UZUMAKI NARUTO-KUN7

Reviews:

mr grimjaw: Thanks!

gunslayer12: You will find out at the end of this chapter. :)

narusaku143: Happy endings are my thing really, but I tried to make it end on a somewhat positive note.

Tsukinokaba: LOL glad you thought it was cute. Here's your last chapter.

shika the troublesome: Eh I wouldn't say Sakura failed. I set it up to leave people filling in the blanks on their own. Naruto's memories are a different story though. Thanks for the review.

gohan108: Glad you liked it.

The Keeper of Worlds: Thank you!

Raidon123: glad you like it! :) Enjoy the ending.

SuomiTytt: No tears! Smile please. ;)

Peranora: Thank you for the review. I'm happy to see you liked it that much. Here is your final chapter.

SOulWindWALKER: Thank you!

Demonic girl111: Couldn't let Naruto get off scotch clean. ;) Here is your last chapter.

Chapter Eight: He Knew

There were pictures all over the place that had been taken during her life time. There was the time she and team seven went after the cat and in the end they caught it, however a certain someone was covered in scratch marks. There was the other time when before the war, Ino had come up from behind her and snapped a picture of both her and the blond helping to take boxes to the war tent. All of these memories laid in her apartment, slowly collecting dust as no one had truly been home since right after the war.

Sakura gathered all the loose pictures and collected them into her hands before placing them in a neat and tidy pile. That pile was then tossed in a box to be hidden. Her eyes quickly darted from left to right to up and down. She had to clean her dreadfully disgusting apartment. Lately, more like after the war Sakura never walked in to her house unless she really needed some clothes. For most of her time since, she had been staying at the hospital or at her parent's. She had bought the place after the war in hopes of starting off fresh with her life seeing as things had come to a rather open close for her. If the rosette had been able to see what her life was like now she probably would never have bought the apartment, but for the first time in a long while the apartment had an actual need which reassured Sakura that she had made the right move all those months ago.

She quickened her pace as she ran all over her small apartment and began to clean off any dust, while also attempting to tidy everything so that it would seem she had her life together. Sakura was so deep in thought that as she went to open the windows and pull back the curtains she had failed to hear the faint knocking at her door.

Large emerald eyes widened as she raced for the door. Before she could open it though, she took a deep breath to seem as if she was expecting anyone. Gently opening the worn wooden door she was met with large bright blue eyes and long bright blond hair that would make even the most successful of models cringe with jealousy.

"Hey Ino…" the rosette sighed out before turning around to go back into her cleaning.

Ino stayed ever so still with a blank face. From atop of her head a large nerve began to swell in an attempt to pop. "Hey Ino… That's all you could muster?!" the girl hissed out as she walked in and nearly broke down coughing from all the dust that was flying.

"Well you clean up fast." The blond girl pointed out as she came to look around at the familiar place.

Sakura gave a quick nod but then went back to polishing and organizing her book shelf.

Feeling out of place the girl began to grin as she went into the kitchen and began to look at all the newly stocked foods including some that the rosette would probably never eat. "So I guess all this cleaning is for your future roommate?" she asked while going through the rosette's cabinets to find something to eat.

"Yeah." Sakura responded

Ino opened the cabinets and then sighed. From left to right on the lowest shelf, the entire shelf was stocked full of ramen. A grin lightly graced her face as she went to close it. Excitement was something her friend seemed rather good at hiding at the moment. However a new question dawned on the girl's mind which made her face crinkle from ear to ear with a smile.

Walking around the wall divider in the room that helped to separate the small kitchen and the decently sized living room the blond came to lean against the wall. She eyed her friend and then went to look away at something else.

"Where is this new roommate gonna sleep since you only have one bedroom in this place." Ino pointed out.

Sakura froze in her place for a second. For a few seconds the only thought that came to her mind was as to how Ino knew of her only one bedroom situation, however it dawned on her that the blond had recommended this place when she was looking for apartments months ago. But the sleeping situation did shock her. Turning her head to face her friend Sakura composed herself and then went back to finishing her adjusting of the living area.

"My couch is where they can sleep." She pointed out before going back towards her bedroom.

Ino followed suit and began looking around. Sakura really could clean fast if she needed to. The blond could only assume that after living with a woman like Sakura's mom, you had to get stuff done in a moment's notice at times.

Sakura's bedroom was nothing special. It had the usual pieces of furniture, a bed, a dresser, a mirror, and a book shelf. Ino felt bored in the room as it seemed like this whole apartment was nothing more than just a demo, that people would come to when looking for a place to live. Had her friend really not lived in this place that much?

"What about Sasuke-kun?" the blond muttered out

"What about him?" Sakura responded while sitting down on her bed. Her hair had started to get in her face lately as she hadn't really cut it in a while. The long pink strands reached almost to her mid back while the hair around her forehead was almost making long bangs at this point. The rosette gently twisted her hair and began to pull it back from her face.

"Well you know, is he going to come and help?" Ino asked as she came to her friend's side and began collecting the long rosy locks in an attempt to put them into a bun.

"I don't know… I haven't really talked to him since Naruto woke up three months ago. All I know is that they released him on terms." She explained while making the most flustered faces as Ino tugged on her head. "Do you think you could pull my hair any harder?"

"Do you really want me to answer that question?" Ino mused while twisting the girl's hair and forming what could be considered a very messy bun. "I saw Sasuke the other day walking out of the hospital so I figured he and Naruto were back on good terms, which is why I was wondering."

Sakura just sighed and looked off. Sure Sasuke and Naruto were closer but that was only because of how things were at the moment. Deep in the back of her mind Sakura knew that good terms weren't always going to be the case with those two.

Being brought from her daze Sakura looked up at her nightstand to read the small little numbers on her clock. The time read that of 2:09 pm which told her it was time to go.

"Ino, I gotta head out."

"Picking up your roomy?"

"Of course, like he could find where I lived without my help." Sakura meant for that to be somewhat of a joke, yet it wasn't necessarily untrue.

Ino grinned as she rose from the bed. "I'll see you later then."

xXx

She walked down the all too familiar hallway only to stop at that single door number that read 145. Her heart beat increased as she reached for the handle.

He was so close yet so far. Part of her felt she was going to shatter as she knew that starting today she had to be brave, wise, and responsible for not only herself but for him as well.

Pulling the handle she moved it to open the door and was met with two large sapphire eyes. They stared at her as if they had finally found the light.

Sakura stepped into the room with a bag hanging over her shoulder. She smiled as she stared at his cute whisker scarred face.

"How are you doing today, Naruto?" the rosette asked as she walked in towards his bed.

The blond grinned a cheeky grin at her question as he stretched up to relieve any tension in his back.

"I'm doing pretty good! How about you Sakura-chan? Do I get to finally go home today?" he asked as he leaned towards her with those large and questioning blue eyes.

Sakura who sat down in the chair next to his bed side looked down and gently smiled. "I'm doing fine." She explained silently while pushing some hair back. Looking up at him she reached out for his hand and grasped it.

"You get to leave here finally, but you are going to have to stay with me for a while."

Naruto stared at her with a beat red face. "I have to stay with you?!" he asked with a curious face.

Sakura gently nodded. "Yes, you are going to stay with me until you have recovered enough."

The blond turned his head at her comment and frowned. His eyes directly went to the window that shimmered morning life. The phrase she had spoken stung him like a thousand knives. His heart tightened as the feeling of being lost washed over him.

"You mean until I get my memory back…" he finally muttered out as he turned to look her in the eyes.

Her soul felt pierced as he looked into hers like she were a book that could be read at any good moment.

"Yes… Lady Tsunade believes that you will recover all that has been lost. We just need to wait and see you know?"

"But what happens if I DON'T!?" he asked out in fear.

She gently grinned at his fear, "Then we will continue to build new memories and try our best to just hold on to what we have. I don't want to ever lose you again, so no matter what I'm gonna always be with you." She bluntly stated as she got up and went to him.

She pulled him into a tight embrace. Slowly her body began to shake until eventually she grew violent in shaking. Hot moist tears fell from her emerald eyes onto soft blond locks. "Everything is going to be fine, I promise!" she cried out into his warmth.

Naruto sat ever so still and returned her embrace. He could tell she was afraid. He had lost all of which he had tried so hard to obtain.

Yet somehow in all of the darkness of what had happened his soul felt free. Pushing his face into the crook of her pale neck he gently smelled her hair which had the faintest scent of strawberries in milk. He would never let go of her even if his memories returned and held a view of distaste for her.

Sakura finally pulled from him and grinned. Tears softly rolled down her swollen red eyes as she looked at him. Here she was crying again when she had sworn to herself that she would never do so in his presence again.

The blond smiled and gently reached to wipe the fear from her eyes. "Ramen then?" he quickly inserted to try and lighten the mood.

Sakura just froze at the remark and sighed… Right when all things seemed tense, same old Naruto knew how to make things ever so odd that life was somehow brighter.

"Hmpf, sure."

xXx

She had made herself recline into the visitor's seat in the hospital room. Her hands held onto a small journal that she seemed to remember having for longer than she wanted to admit. There were stories in here that would make any friend of hers laugh at how childish she was. However as she neared the end of the journal she came to the last blank page. Her mind was stopped as the words she had written seemed to have need for a conclusion, but none would arise.

'If I said this was going to be a story of true love and happiness, then you could call me a liar. My time with Naruto had come to an end and a beginning. I personally believe that all the bad things that had happened to him were rewarded in these single moments of fleeting memories, but no matter what I will continue to stand by his side.'

"Sakura-chan?" a voice called out stunning the rosette from her stupor as she looked up from her journal.

Her eyes went directly to the blond man before her who was finally up and walking with normal clothes on and not those stupid hospital gowns.

"Oh I'm sorry I just got to into my writings." She cautiously joked out as she came to her feet.

Naruto raised and eye brow and grinned wickedly, "So what are you writing then?"

Sakura just grinned and rolled her eyes, "None of your business. It's a surprise is all I can say." She giggled out.

The blond just slumped his shoulders and groaned.

Sakura for a second couldn't help but eye him a tad more. "Your hair needs to get cut I think, tad bit too long don't you think?"

Reaching up to touch his hair he pulled down a section of his bangs and began to laugh a tad. The hair easily reached past his eyes, probably why he had started to pull his hair to the side. "Yeah I think you have a point, however I believe you are in the same boat, your hair is really long too." He pointed out shocking Sakura.

The rosette grasped her hair that went to her mid back and began to grin. "You don't like my hair?"

Naruto reached out to gently touch her forehead and grinned as he pushed some of her long banks that had begun to turn into a side bang style back. He gently poked her forehead with his thumb as he began to eye the deep blue diamond. "I like your hair long or short I just wish I could see your forehead more. It's too pretty to hide." He explained.

Her face instantly flared up into the color of scarlet red as she pulled from him and began to reach up and walk towards the door.

"Thanks." She finally mustered out when she stopped a few feet from him. Naruto just looked at her back and grinned.

"Come on Naruto." Sakura spoke out, breaking the silence. She reached for his large hand and grasped it tightly. For a second Sakura was caught off guard by her actions. She had acted so naturally that it was weird.

He just smiled even wider as she reached for him and returned the gesture. The both of them simply walked down the linoleum tiled floors hand in hand without a care in the world.

As they finally walked outside a sliver of red caught the blond's eye causing him to stop.

Puzzled, the rosette just looked at him as his hand gently reached up towards the fluttering object from above.

It fell patiently into his bronzed hand and there it rested, never to move again.

It was a single red feather.

"So familiar." The man muttered as he carefully eyed the object.

From out of the distance old friends waved as they stood at the hospital entrance awaiting the arrival the woken up friend.

Naruto gently eyed them and smiled. It was hard to say that the rookie nine was truly the rookie nine that he as a child had grown up with and so many questions buzzed in his head as he looked everyone in the eyes.

There were friends missing and new ones to be met and through it all Naruto tightened his grasp on Sakura's hand.

Sakura went wide eyed at first from his tightening grip but all the same responded it.

"Perhaps greetings should be put aside?" She asked while looking at him from out of the corner of her eye as they approached the crew.

"No…" He muttered out causing her to go breathless for a mere second.

"I may not know some of these faces and wonder where some of them are but I can tell just by looking at them that they mean no harm and are truly my friends." His words were golden acting like a ray of light in total darkness to the rosettes eyes as she walked with him.

Stopping abruptly in his steps the blond pulled the rosette towards him and gently peered into her eyes. It was here that Sakura finally realized the height distance between them. Her face began to hold a gentle coloring of red on her cheeks as he drew closer to her porcelain face. Only a few inches away from her he grinned. "Just promise me that you won't leave my side." He whispered to her.

Sakura stared into his deep cerulean eyes and grinned. "Of course."

As the blond slowly approached the crowd at the gates and was greeted with the most crazed hugs by some of his best friends the rosette kept to her word and dared not to truly leave his side while standing at a distance.

This was his crowed and his time to truly warm up again. Yet as she stood just a mere two steps behind him a hand grazed her shoulder causing her to stir from her daze.

It had been none other than Sasuke who merely came to her side with a 'Hn' in his movements. He dared not to truly look at her, but at the blond who was currently getting hugged by a very happy Rock Lee.

"You do realize he will one day wake up and see us for who we really are and not for who we have deceived him into believing we are." The man calmly pointed out.

Sakura dared not to flinch but merely grinned. "Perhaps…. His memory ends right after the chunin exams a few days before you left." Her eyes never left Naruto as he began to slowly pull away from her a little more and go look closer at the newfound relationship between some certain friends of his.

"Who wouldn't feel disgust after you abandoned all of us" the rosette finally hissed out from under her breath causing the Uchiha to freeze for a second.

"Who said I wanted his approval…"

Sakura could tell that she had struck a nerve. It was sort of satisfying seeing as she still held a small grudge against him, but this wasn't really like her. Perhaps Sakura just wanted to protect the blond from any pain if possible.

"I honestly hope he doesn't recover much more…" Sakura sighed out.

Sasuke just rolled his eyes and went towards the moron. "I hope you're right."

She merely stared at them and just grinned. After a few moments the blond waved to her as a sign of him saying come here and be with me. She had to stop herself for a second before she raced into that dreamy world that she had dreamt of for the longest time. However a smile graced her face as she came to him.

This was no fairy tale, but just simply a rare occurrence of what ifs.

Yet all Sakura could simply think while he tightly embraced her was these four words,

'He felt like home'

And that's all that ever mattered to her now.

xXx

When the greetings had passed and the rookie nine had thrown their small party Sakura and Naruto officially went home or at least back to the rosette's place. There was no real talking during their walk as neither one of them knew what to say. Naruto probably could have mentioned how much everything had changed but he had decided against it as Sakura was more than likely already more aware of it than him.

When the apartment neared and the door opened the blond froze. "You live by yourself?" he asked

"Yes, I moved out about a year ago." The girl admitted.

Naruto came to slowly float around the room, taking in all of her belongings and essential living habits. Sakura was one of his best friends and never once in all of his time had he ever really seen how she lived. Often it was said that to really know a person you have to see who they are in their homes.

The blond grazed the shelves with his fingers and frowned. "Where are you pictures?"

Sakura froze as that topic was touchy at the moment. "I have them in boxes." She explained.

Naruto came to look at her from over his shoulder and frowned. "Why hide them?"

"Because they have memories in them that I don't think you should see just yet."

The blond froze at her words and looked away. "Well that's rather dumb."

Sakura raised her eyebrow and began to frown. "I just don't want you to hurt yourself remembering too much at once. You remember what happened last time don't you?" she explained hitting him in nerve.

Sure he remembered that week. He decided to lock himself up in his hospital room after finding out that Neji had died thanks to one of the rookie nine blurting it out. Sakura and Sasuke sat by his door for hours waiting for him to let someone in. When the door was finally opened only Sasuke was allowed in making Sakura furious. The blonds intentions however had reason as he had whispered to Sasuke that he didn't want to have Sakura see him in his current state. Still the rosette was greatly pissed about it.

Naruto just sighed and began to nudge her with his arm. "Please show me?" he begged. Sakura began to feel pressured beyond belief. A thought came to her mind though as he continued to beg like a child. With a sigh the girl caved and knew what she had to do.

Finally she went into her room and came back out with three pictures. "Here, I'll make you a deal everyday I'll show you three new pictures. Ok?" she asked out

The blond grinned a toothy grin and took the three pictures into his hands.

The first picture was rather simple as it was of Sakura, Sasuke, and him during their mission to the land of snow. All three of them were huddling next to each other as a way of fighting out the cold. The next picture was of Sakura, she was grinned while in the background Naruto could see himself with Sasuke arguing about something stupid he imagined.

The final picture was something a little bit different. He was no longer a twelve year old in this picture. Naruto and Sakura both appeared to be a few years older and bother were smiling in the camera while Sai had somehow decided to poke the top part of his head in at the bottom. Naruto frowned however as something felt off.

"Who took this picture?" he asked while pointing to the last one.

"Yamato- sensei." She responded

"Where is Sasuke?"

"Not there…"

Naruto for the longest time just stared at the picture and began to frown only to then smile. "Guess he was too angsty to party with us." He finally spoke out.

Sakura just hesitantly nodded while going to her kitchen. "I guess so."

xXx

The remainder of the night went smoothly as Naruto and Sakura bonded more while talking about the most stupid of things. At one point Sakura had decided to cut the blond's hair giving him a newish look as never before had he allowed his hair to be so short. The rosette promised she would ask Ino the next day about her hair too.

In the end it wasn't a night of revelations or deep meaning like some people thought they were going to share. Instead it was just simply a night of having an old friend who meant more to Sakura than she was willing to admit.

As sunrise came into view the two of them just sat quietly on top of her apartment complex. They had watched stars fade and were now watching the moon disappear behind the brilliant sun.

"Sakura-chan.." he muttered out as they sat next to each other all close.

"hmm?" she asked while looking at the sky.

"Thank you." He muttered out while snaking an arm around her to pull her close towards him. Sakura was caught off guard by his short response and fell into him as he pulled her close. Gently he pecked the top of her head and began to giggle.

Sakura pulled away slowly and looked at him with the most questioning of eyes.

"What?" he joked out while holding his hands up as if in defeat.

"You missed." She muttered out with a blush hitting her face.

"Nah I didn't."

"You liar!" she retorted with a grin.

"I never miss. I just take things slow like promises."

Her eyes went wide at his comment and then slowly softened.

He knew.

Story end

Author's note: It's over! I hope you all enjoyed this last chapter. Thanks for sticking with it! Feel free to leave a review if you like. My next story will be a one-shot for Naruto. :)

WiseKitsune