Now

Indra's summon is just as majestic as she remembers. Had it not been for the return of her memories, the elephant's gigantic size may have taken her aback. Sakura learns to once again appreciate every wrinkle on Airvata's skin, every chakra pulse that distinguishes the summon from a normal animal, and the way that its master affectionately rubs his hand on its trunk.

"It is about time that we revisit all of the memories we shared together," Indra's deep voice calls her. "I have kept all of our precious places intact, and waited for you to see them."

She feels drawn to the man, and her feet move at their own pace. Sakura is entranced by this new (or rather, ancient) layer of memories in her mind. Once she climbs onto Airvata's back, she does not feel the discomfort of the first time riding an elephant. In fact, it feels like she has done this many times before and her body, her skin, is used to the rough feeling of Airvata.

A pair of arms snake around her waist as the summon begins to walk forward. It is almost like a dream. The sound of the seashore becomes faint as they venture into mountainous territory.

"I have done this before," she confesses in a whisper more to herself than to Indra.

Nonetheless, he catches on to her words and continues with her thought. "You will become more familiar with the sensation. Everything may look new to your eyes, but you have seen it all before in your past life." Indra's lips get closer to her ear. So close that shivers rush down her arms and legs. "Do not feel afraid from revisiting all of this place. Let it sink in, appreciate it as if it was the first time all over again, let your body and mind remember who you truly are."

The elephant's heavy footsteps vibrate on Sakura's skin. Indra's arms are tightly wrapped around her waist, his imposing stature still present even though they are both sitting.

Let your body and mind remember who you are.

Her veins, her heartbeat, every part of her internalizes those words as her eyes encounter landscapes that were long lost in her reality. The way the breeze lets the cherry blossoms fly and the smell of fresh wood comforts her. Sakura slowly remembers every detail of the trees that surrounded the castle in her past life. How she would often meditate when she had too much in her mind. How the petals blended in with her hair, making it look significantly longer than it was. The sensation of royal silk robes decorating her body as she walks up the steps leading to a land of pink coloured trees.

Sakura's perspective has changed though her eyes remain the same.

Indra remains quiet while his companion observes every detail of their small parade. He wishes he would see Sakura's expression as they go down this memory lane, one that reminds him of the special moments he shared with his late wife and see her beautiful expressions once again. She is here now, slowly coming back to him, both physically and mentally.

They make their way down towards a small pond, when Airvata gets down on his knees to facilitate their descent into solid ground. When Sakura lands her feet on the soft soil, she finds a familiar sensation brushing her shoulders. With doubt and curiosity as to what it is, she walks towards the quiet pond wile the blossom petals continue to fall. She kneels down to look at her reflection in the water, and almost falls backwards.

"My hair!" she exclaims, holding on to a piece of long rose coloured locks. "How has it grown so much?"

Sakura turns to Indra, looking for an answer. He simply kneels down beside her and lightly brushes his fingers through the strands.

"Your body is finally accepting your original appearance," he answers. "Your hair was very long, a symbol of your royal bloodline."

Her head feels slightly heavier with her hair past her waist, and Sakura has to turn back to the pond to stare in detail. Long gone are the days of her shoulder-length statement. She still remembers the last time Ino cut it; it was for Naruto and Hinata's wedding. It brings a pang to her chest to think about it, to know that she will never see them again.

However, what hurts the most is that she cannot remember much of her friendship with Ino. She tries to trace back into her memories, but they appear to have vanished from her mind. She knows she has friends and parents and loved ones, but somehow their faces are no longer ingrained behind her eyes. Sakura looks down at her hands and arms, finally noticing that all of her battle scars and callouses have vanished from her skin too.

She is transforming, slowly, from Konohagakure's top medical ninja into...

"I'm turning into her."

If it weren't for Indra's hand interlacing with hers, she would have forgotten of the place where she is. "Do not be scared. This is your fate, our story finally coming in full circle. Come."

He helps her get back on her feet and takes her to Airvata. The majestic summon marches down the forest into the sandy beaches, all the while Sakura stares at the renewed smoothness of her skin. It almost looks as if it was glowing. As if her skin cells were replaced with those of a newborn.

Once the sound of the ocean gets back in her ears, Sakura turns her eyes to the horizon. She sits still on Airvata's back and watches the sun hide in the water. This is the first time she has truly watched a sunset since she arrived in Indra's castle and looks back on the time she has spent here. How long has it really been? Was she even kidnapped if he claims that they are meant to be together? It is all blurred lines; memories of her past life are gradually taking priority while her life as a kunoichi is slowly vanishing.

And she feels numb about it now. The sadness of not remembering her home is gone. Her emotions have no input on what is happening to her, and Sakura is just letting it pass because it feels right. Indra has shown her enough evidence to know that he isn't an opponent. In fact, he is much more than just another shinobi.

"We will renew our vows," Indra announces beside her ear. He laces their hands together and she squeezes them. "It has been a while, don't you think that it time that we start our new life together in matrimony?"

She closes her eyes, letting the motions and words pass through her. Sakura tilts her head backwards, placing in on his strong chest. "And when will that time come?"

"When enough moons pass to declare your twentieth year of life."

Then

Sasuke's lips crash against hers, making her forget about the thoughts plaguing her mind. He separates them for to take a short breath, but has them dancing on her mouth before she is even able to inhale any air. Sakura does not care, though. No, right now, all of her concentration goes towards the strong hand holding her back, the way that Sasuke's torso fits against hers and how everything is pounding within her.

And she does not want it to stop.

It must be the effect of all the pent up emotions they have been carrying for an undefined amount of time. Sasuke cannot remember when he started to feel this way about Sakura. Or when he began to dream about her smile, her laugh, the curiosity of how smooth her skin is. He wants to say her name, but no word makes it past his voice. There are still some things that he needs to solidify within his own mind before explaining himself to Sakura.

But now, now he just wants to throw everything out the window and just live. Sasuke wants to forget about his illness, the growing concern weighing on his shoulders, the argument he had abruptly paused with his physical instinct. Right now all that matters to him is Sakura. And the feeling of finally belonging somewhere that is more permanent than a house or a village.

Her breathing is heavy. "Sasuke-kun, I..."

He shuts her up with another kiss. Sakura, so invested on trying to keep her hands from trembling while she holds on to Sasuke's shoulders, does not notice when he takes off her lab coat and their knees are touching the ground. Her legs had given out, all of the strength channeled towards the core of her body. Her hands travel to his face, cup his cheeks, trying to find a way of bringing him closer because he still feels so far away.

She puts one hand in her pocket and finds what she needs. "Here," she pants, "take these."

Sasuke notices it when Sakura presents him with two white pills. Her fingers, the palm of her hand, and her whole arm are trembling. He cannot pinpoint as to why, but he begins to formulate a question when she avoids making eye contact.

"Sakura, what-"

"They are supposed to calm down your attacks, that's all. I wanted to give them to you back in the hideout, but you had to be you and storm off before I could be of any help," Sakura rushes the words out of her swollen lips. After Sasuke takes them, she hides her hand behind her head but makes no attempt at getting up from her knees.

Sasuke swallows the pills with difficulty due to his thirst, but can feel the effects almost immediately. He feels the rush of energy coming back to him. It's not back to the same level as before, but it will do for now. Sakura worked on them while he was unconscious, he concludes, and there is still much that he needs to try with this brief return of power.

But not before he is finishes what he has started.

The way her eyes shine under this moonlight, so innocent, bring back that rush of adrenaline through his veins. The trembling continues, he notices. She is nervous, just as he is. He does not know what will happen next, if they both will still be alive by the end of this mission, or if the sunrise will hide this moment away.

This may be the last moment they get to be alone and together, before facing reality. And if it is so, Sasuke does not want to leave this world without sharing every part of him with her.

"Sakura."

Maybe she is nervous because of the ambiguity of their situation. Neither of them know what they truly are at this point. They are teammates, yes, but more than just simple friends or comrades.

"Sakura." He gets closer, his knees touching hers and his hand cupping her cheek. "Don't move."

His kiss is softer now. There is still that hint of desperation that Sakura can taste in his touch, but he conceals it with every careful move. She plays with his mouth, nibbling on his bottom lip, exploring his reactions to the little things she does.

They find themselves lying on the ground without separating their lips, Sasuke hovering over Sakura like a protective hawk. Neither of them move from their positions for a while, embracing one another. She wants to take her time caring for Sasuke for this may be the last time she does. She wants to remember every inch of his body, every black hair in his head, the circles on his Rinnegan, everything that makes him unique.

The heat grows in her core, making it uncomfortable with all the layers of clothing she is wearing. Sakura finds that Sasuke feels the same way when he starts to fiddle with the hem of her shirt. She gives him one last peck before settling her hands on his shirt and pulling it up, unclothing his upper half. The way that his chest rises and falls with every heavy breath, and his toned muscles connect to his arms and core, reveal to Sakura that Sasuke is not seeing her as a teammate or a comrade.

He is finally seeing her as more than a mere friend. Sasuke may never say it, but he now sees her as-

"I'll help you with that. Your fingers are trembling too, huh?"

-a woman.

Now

Naruto's voice barely registers in his ears.

"You keep talkin' about this portal thing."

Sasuke remembers it. He remembers every detail of the last time he saw Sakura; how the space between him and them opened up in little block pieces like Kaguya's dimensions, leading his ancestor and teammate to another reality, almost inaccessible to him. Sakura's screeching voice still resonates, the way that his name bled out of her throat like hers did from his.

"The answer is in Sasuke's Rinnegan," Asura informs them.

Sasuke hears the Ōtsutsuki's steps get closer. Naruto's stance tense, fully aware of Asura's proximity to his weakened best friend. A part of him isn't trustful of his ancestor. With his staff, Asura moves Sasuke's hair until his Rinnegan is in full sight.

"You can transport from one dimension to another with this," he explains. "It takes a toll on your chakra, yes, but it is our best bet at getting Sakura back."

He remembers how, before this damned sickness took over his body, he would practice skipping through Kaguya's dimensions. To think that Indra, his ancestor, had enough prowess to create his own utopia gives Sasuke another reason to believe that he shares many similarities with the almost deity. Indra has the chance of taking everything away from him, to replace him in Sakura's life by weakening his abilities and his significance.

And it makes him uncomfortable, uncertain of what he will find when he crosses the portal. Of what Sakura might become after all this wasted time.

It is as if Indra had laid out his plan and set it to motion, manipulating their directions without physically moving the pieces. First, he lands on Earth. Then he begins to take Sasuke's chakra. In one way or another, Indra must have figured out that he would reach Sakura, whether it was through Sasuke himself or other means. Now that he is in a separate dimension with her, Indra just has to wait until Sasuke is weak enough to die and be forgotten. That way, he may live with a Sakura that will soon be the vessel for the memory of his dead wife.

"My older brother is not aware that I have followed him from the moon. He believes I am still dormant and ignorant of his plan."

But Indra does not know of their trump card. This is Sasuke's only chance of getting his home —his Sakura— back to where she belongs. Back home.

Naruto is the first to talk. "If it means that Sasuke dies—"

"Do it," he interrupts. Sasuke can feel the weight of his sword across his back in spite of how light it can be. He feels the weight on his shoulders too, that of sacrificing it all for the one he values.

Like Itachi, he muses. Itachi sacrificed everybody, everything, for Sasuke. Now it is his turn to sacrifice what he has left —his own life— for Sakura.

"But, Sasuke—"

"Naruto," his right eye is back to its flaming red. It immensely drains him to keep his Sharingan activated, but his best friend understands determination by actions better than by words.

Sasuke turns back to Asura, a towering figure over the two young men. He begins to see the similarities between Asura and Indra; the way they stand, the same powerful, ancient chakra. He may not fully trust Naruto's ancestor, but his options are limited, and receiving some of Asura's chakra will be beneficial for their mission.

"Uchiha Sasuke, come closer."

Once again, Asura extends his staff. He closes his eyes, his chakra visibly manifesting around him until it covers the outline of his body and artifact. It is or a vibrant blue, powerful enough to intimidate even the strongest of shinobi. Sasuke struggles to take his first step to the Ōtsutsuki heir. He almost falls back on his knees if it wasn't for Naruto's artificial arm holding on to his left elbow. His breathing gets heavier, his vision slightly blurry by the effects of the Sharingan.

But Sasuke does not stop. With the help of Naruto, he reaches for the tip of Asura's staff and lets the chakra flow into his body. He feels his muscles restrengthen, his lungs clear up, the power return to his eyes. Sasuke gradually comes back to his old self. His back is no longer slightly hunched and his legs have regained their muscles. His level of stamina increases.

His eyes. Everything. Everything is clearer.

Naruto lets go of his elbow and takes a step back. He can feel Sasuke's original prowess return too, and he feels empowered by the hope of getting back his other best friend. They are team 7, the second Sannin, the siblings he grew to love before marrying Hinata. Naruto was willing to die for Sasuke, and he is just as willing to die for Sakura.

Asura's chakra goes back into his body, having given most of it to the Uchiha. "You mustn't forget that time runs differently in my brother's dimension. It could be that a day, or a month, has passed since Sakura's abduction. Be prepared to face whatever you encounter. Sasuke, you may not like what you see, but do not forget your goal."

He never forgets his goals.

"Now, we may open the portal."

Asura cuts across the room with his staff, creating a visible line out of thin air. Sasuke focuses his Sharingan and Rinnegan into the thin line until it shifts into a large, black rectangle. The portal, just as Sasuke remembers, at first seems to lead into nothingness. He senses Naruto's Sage mode activate, his best friend ready to jump into the portal at the right time.

Sasuke concentrates as hard as he can, his eyes pasted into the black portal, trying to sense for a sign that leads him into Indra's reality. Dimensions begin to swift through the portal like a strong wave of wind, the changing temperatures and landscapes passing by so fast that they blur into an abstract image.

Then he finds it. He senses her, a vague sign of the intricate, perfect weave of chakra that runs through her veins. He could recognize it from a thousand miles.

"She's over there!" Naruto screams.

Sasuke hears the waves of the sea hitting the shore and sees a long mountain range.

He doesn't think twice when he jumps into the portal, followed by Naruto.

Then

She helps him pull down the zipper in the middle of her top. Sasuke exposes her chest bindings and pale, defined stomach, and traces every line in her abdomen with the tip of his fingers as if she is his most delicate flower. He hovers his hand over her breasts, all too aware of them. Sakura takes it and places it on top of her left side.

"Can you feel it?" It's beating this fast because of you. "I can feel yours too." She kisses the left side of his chest and feels the quick bathump of his heart.

You're still here, Sasuke-kun.

Sasuke's hands move on to unwrap her chest bindings, now fully revealing her to the moon and his eyes. He engraves in his memory the way that she reacts to his touches. How she closes her eyes when he massages one of her breasts or how she catches her breath when he kisses her neck. He feels his core harden, almost frustrating him for all of this anticipation.

Sakura pulls down his loose slacks, completely uncovering him from her. Her eyes travel to every inch of his body before her lips crash back with his and he is fully flush against her. His burning desire increases when she undoes her pink skirt and lets it roll down her legs, along with everything else. The air feels cold, but when their bodies connect, Sakura feels the heat return to her.

Sasuke, now positioned between her legs, looks straight into her eyes. "Don't stop," she says, giving him another kiss. I love you.

He doesn't stop. Not when he goes in, or when she moans his name with her sweet, sweet voice. Sakura digs her nails on his back until she gets over the pain, and Sasuke does not mind the stinging that remains in his skin. Her lips shiver as they travel to his neck, sending more jolts to his core and he thrusts harder. He groans when her tongue draws patterns. When her hands guide his hips and her hips move along.

This... this roller coaster of emotions is a ride he does not want to get off. The feeling builds his strength while going up, increasing his speed in descend until he hits the ground and does it all over again.

He wants to take her, all of her, into a different everything.

A place where it is only the two of them, a time that is right for them, where this feeling of finally belonging to someone does not go away.

Now

She finds herself all alone in her bedchambers. The sun is already down, and her night gown covers enough of her skin to let her sleep without feeling too warm or too cold. Sakura still does not know what Indra does when she is supposed to be sleeping, and can only guess that he retrieves to his own bed to rest for the night.

Her hair is now longer than it has ever been before, and she cannot stop running her fingers through her tresses. She also cannot stop running through her thoughts like a marathon. Her friends' faces are now blurs; Ino's would-be reaction to Sakura's new look is replaced with a question mark; her parents' comfort seems to have never existed; the missions she completed with Naruto and Sai have never happened.

It is all grey matter, a numb sensation that prevents her from looking back to a life that is no longer hers.

However, the only exception is a pair of mismatched eyes, dark hair, and a strength beyond normal. One sole hand in a deformed body, which belong to the beautiful person she has claimed to love since childhood. Sakura still remembers Sasuke and the pain that came along with that love. Maybe it was destiny. He is Indra's reincarnation and she Indra's wife. And her love for Sasuke was destined to be an error, a small flaw that would lead to the reunion of their original selves.

With her reunion to Indra, the cycle of tragic love that has existed in all of their lives would end. She would no longer have to suffer loving a man that only hurts her.

By renewing her vows, and once again becoming the woman she has always been, Sakura will surely find the happiness she deserves. And Sasuke will not be part of it. It is best to erase him from her mind, just like everything else. Her life has always belonged to Indra and only him. Sasuke is just another path to lead her to the place where she belongs. He and all the pain he's cause will soon be gone.

But if it is meant to be this way, then why does she have to clutch her chest to stop the pain in her heart?

I'm baaack! Did y'all miss me? I missed you too, I really did. Sorry for the delay. Life gets in the way, you know.

Shit always goes down in these chapters, and it keeps me going like you have no idea. So now we have Sakura adopting Indrani's image and memories, slowly becoming her, while Sasuke and Naruto are crossing dimensions to find her and save her. And the then timeline is pretty self explanatory: Sasuke comes to terms with his feelings, and neither of them know if tomorrow will come or not. I'm pleased with how it turned out.

Chapter 14 will bring more development into the story. We're getting closer to the point where the two timelines connect!

And that's all I have to say about it. Thank you for your support.

So until next time! Love you all.

Sincerely,

MSM

Pd: What other platform do you suggest for this story? I want to publish it in other places too.