Author's note: Here we are at the end. This has been a project i enjoyed quite a bit. I'm glad to finish this one off though, so i can focus on my other WIPS. I hope you all enjoyed the ride, and if you ever find yourself in Kure beach eat some ice cream while sitting out on the sand and let the magic in.

Xoxo

Catstclaire

Year 18 pt2

Sasuke drove the speed limit the majority of the way. The only time during the trip he went over the limit was when Sakura needed a pee break.

"That was so weird!" She said storming back into the jeep, he laughed.

She tossed her smooth legs up onto the dash, and Sasuke buckled her back in.

"You peed when you were alive didn't you?"

"Yeah but after 6 years...i can't even describe how weird that felt."

Then Sakura scrunched her nose. "I think i'm hungry." Sasuke slid out of the gas station and drove over to a dinner in the parking lot over.

"Order whatever you want." He threw his credit card down on the table.

"You know if i actually had money i probably would have been offended that you would just assume i would let you pay."

"No doubt." Sakura was a feminist through and through. He learned that early on. She wouldn't have minded little things like a bouquet of flowers, but she was not the type to let someone splurge on her. She grew up with parents who had a modest income, and Sasuke imagined she didn't even like them to spend money on her. He grinned watching her slide into the booth, because she didn't have money and so Sasuke got the extraordinary gift of spoiling her for the next 20 something hours.

Their waitress showed up, and Sakura would try her very first crab leg that night.

"You kids wanna start off with a seafood platter?" The waitress hawked out her hip, and wiped at her face with the back of her hand. She smelled faintly of menthols.

Sakura never tried seafood before apparently which Sasuke couldn't believe since she grew up in Kure.

"Never?"

"Never. The animals still have faces, and i-" She shook her head like a wet dog. "Nope can't."

"Everyone loves seafood." Sasuke told her attempting to sell her on the idea of trying it. When would she ever get another chance after all?

He looked at the waitress who aided him in the argument. "You'll like it."

She said no again, but then he dared her to try some. She glared but accepted the challenge.

When the food came out the waitress stuck around to see her reaction because it had been such a fuss.

Sasuke cracked the crab for her, and she pulled a piece of meant to slip onto her tongue. She immediately spat it out of course.

"It's to slimy."

Sasuke acknowledged it might not be for everyone afterall. He laughed.

Sasuke poked at his food with little interest but still stuffed himself until he was full. He didn't want to waste a second being hungry later. Just in case.

The last thing the waitress brought out was a chocolate cream pie which Sakura deemed as the best pie she had in her entire life. She twirled a finger into the whipped topping, and licked it clean. Sasuke's eye twitched, because did she ever realize how mind numbingly hot she was?

After Sasuke paid their bill they loaded back up into the jeep.

Sasuke stopped off at a thrift store, and Sakura picked out a pair of jeans and a black tshirt. She trashed the Kimono in the stores dressing room, but it didn't stay there they both watched it twinkle out of existence next to a moldy banana peel.

"Do you think that's what will happen-" Her eyebrows rose quickly, then she clamped her mouth shut tight without finishing her sentence.

He still knew what she was going to say anyways and he hid his grimace. Do you think that's what will happen to me when i move on? It was odd for Sasuke to look at her for a few minutes. He didn't know how to assuage the worry evident on her face. He had hardly seen her in anything but that kimono, and every-time he looked at her in the new clothes it was like looking at a new person.

They made great time to the concert even though it was a quiet ride the rest of the way. They were both nervous and anxious about what was to come. What they wouldn't be able to put off much longer. Their goodbye.

A worker took their tickets and pointed them to their seats. The concert was outdoors but Sasuke had paid extra for seats, so they could be near the front. He wanted Sakura to see every second of the show he wanted her to have the best time possible. He shook off his dread and worry, and it seemed to help her get to a happier place as they walked along the grass.

A girl that crossed their paths shouted out to her friends how 'cute that couple over there' was, with Sakura and Sasuke being the couple in question. It was nearly dark out, and music was playing so loud Sasuke's ears ached a bit but he didn't care. Everyone was standing in front of their chairs so they did to. He pulled her close until her head was under his chin, he wrapped his arms over her chest. He let himself pretend just for that span of time, that this was a common occurrence that he had taken Sakura to concerts and dates before. He let himself pretend there would be plenty of time for many more concerts and dates. He pretended that it was not their last night together. He could deal with a broken heart later, but right now he needed to be in the moment with her.

He kissed her. He felt her relax against him, and he knew she was also ignoring reality.

The stage lights dimmed, and smoke filled the air from a machine. The band clambered out onto the stage with a palpable amount of energy.

Sakura gripped Sasuke's hand. Her eyes were bright and reflected the wave of colors from a nearby strobe light.

Sasuke held his breath. There was a quiet pause then the drummer started up a count down.

One.

Two.

Three.

Then the music started.

Sasuke got sucked up into the melody immediately. Sakura moved to the music, and he couldn't help but to tap a foot along to it. The smile on his own face growing wide.

"Come on." Sakura tugged him along behind her closer to the stage. Then when they got barely 2 rows from the stage they had to pause because the stream of people was so tight.

Sasuke scooped her up with one arm and swung her around until she was piggy back.

"Climb up my shoulders." He told her.

She nestled herself into a perched position. Her feet dangling down across his chest, and her hands holding onto his shoulders for purchase.

The song turned darker and smoother as it went along.

'You have stolen..'

Sasuke watched the goosebumps break out over her ankles as the chorus went on.

'my heart.'

And that was how they spent the concert Sakura riding on Sasuke's shoulders like a kid. They got stared at, but they were in their own little world. They were the only people alive there, everyone else in that crowd were the ghosts.

All those years Sasuke had dreamed of being here with her, those thoughts paled in comparison to the actual thing. In his dizziest daydream he never could have imagined it as being as amazing as it was.

The songs were fire. They shared a soda, and bag of popcorn. They chatted with the people around them. They sang along to the songs. It was how every red blooded American kid should spend at least one day out of their summer.

Hours passed, and when the smoke started fading, and the concert ended Sasuke bit into his lip because he remembered there wasn't much time left with Sakura. She gave a guy at a stand 20 bucks, and pulled a long sleeve band hoodie over herself. It had gotten chillier as the night went on. It had the band logo, and Sasuke was sure nothing would ever make him as happy as watching her face light up during the show that night.

They were walking back to the jeep when she asked if they were headed back to Kure since it was already so late, and she knew he was probably exhausted.

"If peeing was weird sleeping's gonna be weirder." She commented.

"I got us a hotel."

Sasuke twirled his car keys, and kept his walking pace as he looked over at her devilishly.

"Sakura i'm not planning on sleeping at all tonight. Not in Kure, and definitely not in the hotel."

She stopped walking. The phrase 'deer caught in headlights' went through his head.

He wasn't going to lose a single second of the time he had left with her. Sleep be damned.

It took a few wide eyed blinks for her brain to catch up to his words.

He slowed his pace as she caught up.

"If we're not sleeping tonight what are we going to be doing all night?"

Sasuke answered shamelessly running his eyes up and down her body. "I've got some ideas." Her face turned beet red, and a little smirk tugged at her lips.

...

When they got to their room, Sakura said she wanted a quick shower. He waited for her with baited breath. A thin layer of perspiration coming off of him in anticipation.

"This is it." He mumbled to himself. When he had discussed with Itachi many months back the things he thought could be holding Sakura back from moving on this was the biggest one he could think of. Nobody should have to die a virgin. It was one of many of life's rights of passage. Sakura was already seemingly at peace with what happened to her, and she wasn't angry at anyone anymore. Sasuke guessed what she really needed to be able to move on were experiences. Experiences she never got before. To go on a road trip. A concert. A lame date at a diner. He was trying his best to squeeze as much as he possibly could into this one day.

While she was in the shower Sasuke went to the hotel lobby and bought 2 coffees. He chugged his and headed back to their room.

The water wasn't running, but she was still in the bathroom.

"Sasuke?" She called to him with the door between them and her voice muffled.

"Yeah?"

"Can you-" she paused. "are you naked already?"

He laughed. "Thought i would wait for you for that."

Sasuke sat on the covers. "Take your time. There's no rush."

It was a minute later when she finally made her entrance.

Sakura came out of the bathroom, crawled into bed with surprising grace. She was nervous, but still incredibly brave like always. She smelled inviting, and her touch was warm. Her legs moved surely, and freely to settle over his hips.

They peeled each other's clothes off slowly, and carefully. She kissed his collarbones sweetly, and tenderly whispering 'i love you' as she went. With every touch from her he relaxed more and more. When they were both properly naked Sasuke fumbled with the sheets, and pulled her securely against him.

The entire act was slow, and patient. Neither of them had much idea of how 'it' worked. They were both virgins, and it showed.

It didn't last a long time like some of the guys bragged about from his high school. Sakura didn't seem to mind though.

It was passionate, and gentle. Everything he always expected it would be with her.

"I love you." He muttered into her skin as he kissed it, and held her close when it was over.

He wished they could lie there like that forever.

...

"Let's go for a little walk." Sakura shook him gently awake from on top of him.

They had spent the rest of the evening talking, and watching trash tv together. They also had sex once more. They attempted to keep each other awake. Then at some point when they couldn't fight sleep anymore they had gone under for a few hours.

He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, and checked the time. 5:00am. It had been 15 hours since he pulled Sakura back to the living world that thought was so staggering he gripped her even tighter. He buried his face into her.

"Hey." She coddled him. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere. Not yet." She nuzzled his nose playfully, but he couldn't ignore the pit in his stomach as she rolled off him.

They dressed in silence. Sasuke checked them out at the front desk, and they made their way out on to the street. They took a side path that led to a view of the ocean. It wasn't their beach, but it was still a beach.

...

"I'm fading."

Sasuke blinked at her. "No we should have- not yet. Please not yet." He pulled her close to his chest, and she's losing the warmth in her he can feel it. He rubbed her arms like he could rub the life back into her.

She tugged his shirt. "You gave me so much. Do you know that?" He clenched his hands. "The summers i spent with you, and just now here with you-" Sakura kissed him. "Thank you."

"For what?" He didn't feel like it was very special at all, all he'd been able to give her were some summers in a dried up old sea town, and a single concert. He wanted to give her so much more. Maybe to travel the world or- "I don't want to lose you."

"Thank you for the bike rides, and walks, and the flower crowns, the ice cream, for being my friend. For every second you gave me, and every moment you thought of me in between." She laced their fingers together. "I'll make you a promise. Whatever it is after, i'll wait for you. I'll save you a slice of paradise. Won't that be nice." She hummed into his ear.

Sakura gave a fluttering of kisses to his jaw.

"You knew this would happen eventually. It's better this way we both know that."

"I was wrong I can't."

"Sas. Look at me."

He opened his eyes and she was everything he always wanted. He knew he would never love anyone like he loved her. How could he say goodbye?

"I love you." He admitted. "More than anything."

"Someday. You'll remember this moment, and when you do i hope it makes you smile instead of cry." Then she smoothed the frown lines on his face and kissed him so tenderly he choked up. "I love you. Always, and forever even after i'm gone with this wind."

A breeze swelled up around them, and the trees across the way swung with it. It was like magic catching in the air, coming to take Sakura back. He forced his hands to unclench as every cell in his body writhed against the motion. But he had to- he had to let her go. She wasn't a part of this world anymore and she hadn't been for a long time.

She undoes the pendant around her throat, and he felt it as she fastened it around him. She was giving it back to him.

A bright light surrounded them. She was no more than a phantom now, and she faded out with the dying of that magical light. The sun was only a sliver in the sky behind her. Her skins became transparent, and glimmering tears slid down her cheek. The last curve of her delicate smile is still etched onto her lips, and her green eyes were tilted up searching a world beyond that Sasuke couldn't see. One moment she was there cotton candy hair fluttering in the wind, and in the next moment there's nothing left to prove she was ever there except the pendant around his neck.

Sasuke wrenched the pendant off from himself, and he threw it into the ocean with a screaming howl of pain. Then he scrambled after it when he realized what he had done. He cradled it because it was precious. It was all he would have left to remind him of her.

He stared out at the ocean for a long time when she left. Not moving, barely breathing. Just letting himself cry and feel, and absorb what he'd lost.

When he finally stopped crying the stars were still out, and he could have sworn there was one in particular that shined just a bit brighter up there than he had seen it before.

"You better save me a slice of that paradise, Sak." He muttered to no one, and then he left the beach.

He didn't know it then but he would never step another foot on a beach so long as he lived.

...

There was a kid sitting on Sakura's front porch. Moving boxes were stacked behind him, and a truck parked across the street. The house must finally have been sold.

"Hey." The kid greeted. He walked over to his side of the fence while Sasuke tried to fish the keys to Gran's out of his pocket. The kid had brown hair, and a dopey looking cap on.

Sasuke didn't feel up to it so instead of greeting him back he went inside to pack up his things. When he got everything of worth, he went back to sit on the front porch and wait for Itachi to show up.

The kid was still outside. He was inspecting the flower crowns on the fence, and one of them withered beneath his fingers as he tried to pick it up. Sasuke glowered at him. It felt like a sharp jab to his chest, a jarring reminder she was really gone for good.

"Don't touch those." Sasuke hissed at him, and idly wondered where his parents were.

"Oh sorry, i thought maybe i could wear it but it broke."

"It's because they've been there for years. They're to brittle to handle, if you do you'll ruin them."

The kid frowned. Then looked over Sasuke with his duffle on the porch.

"So this place is as boring as i thought?" The kid kicked at the grass under his feet in a defeated sort of way. "My parents are liars."

The wind picked up, and a gentle breeze blew around him. The past felt like it was reaching out to him. Sasuke smiled despite himself. He had said something very similar to Sakura 6 years ago.

Kure beach was full of surprises, and magic Sasuke could spend an entire lifetime trying to dissect, and still he would never come close to understanding how exactly the universe worked.

Sometimes he guessed though the universe put people right where they needed to be.

"They tell you what a wonderland Kure was? How there's a million things to do, and every second here is filled to the brim with magic?" Sasuke parroted back exactly what he remembered Sakura saying to him all that time ago. She'd been picking lavender, and they hadn't yet loved each other, but that had been the start of everything.

"Yeah. Something like that."

"Yeah, well it's all true." Sasuke admitted. He was smiling at the kid and then he was looking up towards the sky, knowing that wherever she was she was thinking of him to. "Kure is magical, you just have to look for it. It's in the air, the sand, the flowers even."

The kid seemed pleased with that.

"What's your favorite thing to do here?"

"There's a wildflower field down the road." Sasuke could hear Itachi's car in the distance. "That's where those crowns on the fence came from." He picked his duffle up and slung it over his shoulder.

The kid nodded thoughtfully. "Thanks i'll check it out when my dad gets my bike out later." Itachi pulled up. "You going to be around any this summer?"

"No, sorry kid." Sasuke waved at Itachi who popped the trunk to his car. Sasuke shrugged the duffle in. "My brother and i- we have plans this summer. Our family's got this special talent, and i figure it's my turn to share the wealth."

The kid laughed. "Are you like acrobats or something? You don't look very flexible."

"Yeah sure, something like that."

"That's pretty cool, you guys got stage names?"

"That's Dean. He knows way more than me." Sasuke gestured towards Itachi who was giving him weird looks from the drivers seat. "So i guess i'm Sam."

Sasuke closed the trunk, then he took one more look around Kure. He let the salty air fill up his lungs. He savored it like never before.

"Hope you have a good summer. See you around kid."

Sasuke pulled open the passenger side and slid in.

Itachi didn't say much of anything about the exchange he just witnessed between him and the neighbor boy at first. They got about 10 minutes down the road, then he pulled a case out of the glovebox, and smiled at Sasuke slyly.

"So i'm Dean, huh?" Itachi pushed a CD into the car's stereo system, and Sasuke couldn't help but to bust out laughing when he heard the melody of the song kick up.

"Carry on my wayward son?" Sasuke asked as he continued to laugh. "Really, Itachi?"

"I thought it would be fitting for our road trip. Don't you?"

"Yeah. It's perfect."

He grasped the triangle pendant at his neck. The song really was perfect.

What was Sasuke doing if not 'carrying on' with his life, after Sakura?

The end