From Wells and Scrolls
Written for HalfBlackWolfDemon for the prompt "Special Summoning Technique"

Unfortunately, the world and time does not stop simply because there is peace or chances for happy lives. Naruto and Hinata had been official for only two months when Tsunade called him in for a meeting with Sasuke and Shikamaru. There was nothing new about that as missions still came in and teams would be sent out within a day. But Sakura knew something was wrong when the meeting went on for more than an hour, and then when she didn't see any of them until that night.

She nearly whacked Naruto in the face with a frying pan when he swung into her kitchen through the window, and missed impaling Sasuke with a steak knife by centimeters. "Just because we're ninja doesn't mean you can just break in here whenever you feel like it!"

"But Sakura-chan," Naruto whined, "how else are we supposed to come see you and tell you the news?"

She didn't like the sound of that and narrowed her eyes at them. Specifically Sasuke. If he didn't want to tell her on his own, then she didn't trust whatever news they were bringing. "There's something called a door. I swear, Kagome and Hinata are the only two who know how to use one."

That had Naruto smiling big and rubbing the back of his head, but she knew better. Even Sasuke looked away, but she knew it had to be big for both of them to be putting on such a show. They had grown up together, even if they didn't really, so she knew their tells better than she knew her own.

"OK… Now you both are worrying me."

Sasuke looked over to Naruto, and she did the same, crossing her arms over her chest. But Naruto didn't meet her eyes, and instead gazed out the window. The fact that it was the window facing the direction of Kagome's apartment didn't escape her, but she filed it away for later.

Then he looked over at her, smiled brightly and so honestly that it hurt her heart. "I've gotta go tell Hinata, so… Tell Kagome for me, OK. I can't do it." And then he leapt out of her window into the night again.

Her eyebrows furrowed and she glared at Sasuke. "What happened?"

He sighed and pulled the knife out of the wall next to him. "We have a long-term mission."

Sakura sighed for what had to be the twentieth time that morning, and she had only been awake for an hour. It had been so easy last night to find the courage to walk across the street to Kagome's apartment and to plan in her head what she was going to say, how the conversation was going to go. But… Reality was different.

With one last deep breath, Sakura knocked on her door and waited for Kagome to answer. Her summon's face brightened when she first opened the door to see her, but when her eyes dropped down to the food and coffee, she frowned. But even still, she opened the door wider for Sakura to enter.

"What's wrong? You only drink coffee when you're upset." Kagome broke the silence first, once they were settled at her kotatsu.

Yet again, Sakura sighed. She didn't even remember how they got settled with all the stress on her. "Sasuke left this morning."

"Oh? He'll be back soon, you know."

"If only," Sakura muttered before she could stop herself. They weren't on a normal mission. When Kagome made a noise of confusion, she set down her coffee. "They went on a long-term mission. It's just a diplomatic mission. But they don't expect to be back for at least a year."

She watched Kagome set down her cup as well and stare at the table. "They?" she asked, but they both knew she already knew the answer.

"Sasuke, Naruto, and Shikamaru."

"Oh," she said, her voice small. Then she looked up and smiled, and it was so sad even though she tried to seem happy. She reached across the table and grabbed Sakura's hand, even though she felt it should be the other way around. "I'm sorry… I know—"

"It's not your fault. It's mine, after all," Sakura quickly reassured her. She turned their hands around, so she was holding Kagome's hand and squeezed it. "I'm just sorry Shikamaru had to take my place."

That had been a cost she hadn't been prepared to pay when they found that summoning scroll. Right now, in this moment as she was the one left behind again, she could remember that conversation between Tsunade, Kagome and herself like it happened days ago and not months.

"Even still, I'm sorry." Kagome smiled. "You should be out there, on missions and by their side, instead of confined to a village like me. We're just not the homemaker types," she tried to joke.

And Sakura chuckled. "True, but… I don't think I would trade this friendship for anything. It's worth it."

'To summon anything, it uses chakra. So long as you have chakra for it to draw upon, a summon can exist indefinitely in either our world or their own. But it's dangerous to let that happen because you can both die. That's why we cancel summonings before our chakra runs out. Or so it is with normal summonings. If your chakra runs out, Sakura, she could likely die. But we have no way of undoing a reverse summoning. Until we can figure it out, you can't do anything that would use your chakra, Sakura.'

'We'll figure this out without you both dying. That's why I have to ask that you both not leave the village. This is…a very delicate situation that we don't know what will happen. I'm so sorry.'

"One day, before you know it," Kagome said, pulling Sakura from her memories, "they'll have this figured out. And you'll be able to go on missions with him again."

"But what about you?" With the way things were going (or rather, not going) between Naruto and her, she had a feeling that home wasn't the other two worlds she was once trying to decide between. She felt bad for the young woman she summoned, for giving her another world she might have to say goodbye to, and another dilemma of the heart to try and figure out.

But Kagome only shrugged. "I gave up a while ago trying to figure out what the world—any world—had in store for me. It's easier to make it up as I go."

"What about…Naruto?"

Sakura watched as the smile slipped from her face and she looked away. For the first time since she first reached out to comfort her, Kagome slipped her hand away as well. "He's happy. And I'm happy for them. Anyway, wouldn't you much rather talk about what you're going to do with all your newfound free time. You'll need a hobby."

She shook her head and smiled. Kagome had a way of deflecting conversations and pain that made Sakura envious at times. It was a useful skill, even though she recognized it for what it was. Just this once, she allowed Kagome to get away with it. While this wasn't how she expected this conversation to go, Sakura liked how it ended. On a good note of hobbies and shopping dates and possible girly sleepovers.

I hope this chapter answered many questions you all have had for a few chapters! And that you all enjoyed it as well. Thank you again for all your lovely reviews, faves and alerts!