Have faith, child, here's an iris.
Give it to your father and worship the Lord.
Hope, child, here's a daffodil.
Give it to you mother, help carry her load.
Love, child, here's a rose.
Give it to your lover and never let go.
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My Sun, My Everlasting
It is early evening and the sun is bright in the sky. It is close to sunset.
Shadows flicker as two figures rest on the grassy field.
A cute, small girl with beautiful, long pink hair sits in the grass, pulling happily at the grass and flowers. She looks up toward her blonde-haired friend, smiling radiantly, and holds up a flower to him. He returns her smile, albeit a bit sadly and accepts the flower. She flashes him another grin and resumes picking flowers.
Naruto gazes down at his best friend and reaches down to softly tuck her fly away strands of hair behind her ear. She glances up at him and grins hesitantly before shying away, uncomfortable. She moves onto a new patch of flowers.
The boy is kind, but he is not her sun, no matter how radiant and joyful he is, no matter how much light he shines, there is someone else who will always feel warmer to her.
My beautiful sun
She cooed softly, looking up at the sky, glancing at the sun.
The picture of something red, three tadpoles. Raven locks. The frame is dark, but the picture is bright.
Warm. Light. Like the sun.
She flops down gracefully onto the soft grass, enjoying the tickle of their soft green strands and feeling her hair flow gently with the mild wind. She stares up at the sky, the colors turning dark blue, light red, orange. The sight is truly beautiful.
The sun is here and she heeds Naruto's warning not to look directly at the sun. She frowned grumpily a bit, wanting to see its light, its beauty.
She raises her hand slowly, moving it directly over her view of the sun. She moves her hand this way and that, fingers slightly spread apart, slowly, softly, seeing the rays of sunshine seep through and shine on her.
The colors dance and the rays warm her.
She turns her palm toward her, her fingers curved but separated. She smiles tenderly as the sunlight pushes through. Sparkles of soft light, sparks of remembrance, feelings like bittersweet.
She closes her eyes, feeling the warmth on her lids, seeing the faint red yellow. Her eyes squint lightly as she feels something poke at her mind.
I love you
She lies still, sinking, feeling, crying inside for some unknown reason. Her heart pricks unpleasantly every time she feels the sun, sees the sunset, sunrise, sunshine. But she cannot stop. She wants, she hopes for whatever she is waiting for to come and rescue her.
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If your love is so strong, how can it be forgotten when I'm gone?
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Naruto looks at the flower he has given by her and finds that it is an everlasting flower. Plain and pretty in both ways. He smiles humorlessly. He found it ironic that she would always pick everlastings. After all, they were supposed to symbolize never-ending memories.
His eyes hardened as he remembered how Sasuke had left them for his revenge. The nine-tailed host felt his anger flaring up every time he thought about it. He hated Sasuke for what he had done,
How could he have left us?
We loved him and…
Even though Naruto wanted to deny it, he knew that Sasuke had loved them too. Which had made him a bigger bastard for leaving them.
Naruto had failed to bring him back and he hated that he could not make Sakura feel any better. She had started fading. He laughed bitterly at himself. Naruto and Sakura had different ways of handling it. Naruto would train and Sakura…
She had almost drowned in her tears and after she had stopped crying, she had stopped speaking. After she had stopped speaking, she had stopped feeling. And after she had stopped feeling, she had stopped remembering.
No one had been able to do anything. Tsunade tried her best but Sakura's mind was well protected and it would not let Tsunade tweak with it. It was intent on staying happy, not knowing, not feeling.
In the end, the only way she could forget the pain was to forget everything.
14 months after Sasuke had left, Sakura had completely forgotten everything. After 6 months of hoping and waiting, her memories did not seem to be coming back.
Naruto had no idea grief could be so powerful. Either grief or love he wasn't sure.
He watched as Sakura lay there, blissfully unaware, not feeling any sadness. Naruto could not decide whether to be happy or sad for her.
Today, Tsunade had informed him that Sakura's mind was deteriorating. Already, she had reverted to acting like a small, innocent child. The Hokage had given her 6 months before she would slip into a coma and then inevitably die.
The blonde-haired youth turned away from her, facing away from the sun. There, his eyes were covered by shadows and no one could see the tears leaking from them.
When he opens his eyes, they are determined and hard as diamonds, his blue eyes burning.
I can't save you, Sakura-chan, but Sasuke can.
He painfully pushes back his tormented feelings and forces himself to walk away from the girl he loves. He will leave now before he gets hurt. He will go now, before she can leave him and leave him even more broken than he is now.
His steps falter as he hears her wind-chime laughter fill his ears. Her happiness, so dear to him. He closes his eyes and revels in the sound for a while.
Then he resumes his pace.
You will not break me.
Bye, Sakura-chan.
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My darling dear, I wish you happy. Feel the sunshine and think of me. Drink in my warmth and sleep pleasantly.
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But she turns to see him leaving at she cries out in fear.
"Naruto!"
He is tempted to whirl around to see if she had remembered but then he resists. But he has hope now, for at least she knows.
You are important to me
He resumes his steps and she does not call again. She silently watches as his form disappears in the distance.
A small prick, a small sliver of brightness, a window of light.
Don't leave me
She watches silently still, afraid to call out, afraid to not. She strokes the everlastings in her hand lovingly. Somehow, something is calling and she is remembering…something.
Confused.
His lips tilt up slightly, feeling her gaze on his back.
Even though it kills me inside to see you like this, I want you to live. I want you to last. Like the everlastings.
Their color will not fade for years.
Please, Sakura, won't you do the same?
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You're sweet, like honeydew on a morning's dawn, a drop of honey in sugarless tea, like bittersweet.
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Naruto had left.
And today he comes back.
And it's not just Naruto.
The prince has come to take his princess.
2 months have passed and I'm coming home, coming home to home sweet home. My dear, please don't be sad, my dear, welcome me back.
Sasuke-kun.
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Through dark times like these, I wonder, is it light that you see? In your shadowed eyes, your light is me.
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Naruto had somehow, somehow defeated Sasuke. Sasuke had not wanted to return to Konoha, he had still not succeeded in killing Itachi though he had succeeded in ridding the world of Orochimaru. He would have rid the world of Naruto also, but something in his heart had made him stop.
Sasuke.
Sasuke-teme!
Sasuke-kun!
He could not kill his brother. He could not hurt family.
And Naruto was strong now. He would not hold him back. He had defeated him. In Sasuke's moment of hesitation, Naruto had taken the chance and disarmed him, paralyzed him, and talked to him.
Sakura's dying.
Sasuke's expression had been murderous and he had managed to break Naruto's hold on him immediately.
"What?" he had hissed, grabbing Naruto roughly.
Sakura's dying.
Naruto had looked at him with sad sad eyes.
"Why?" he had shouted, furious, shaking his friend violently.
Naruto had only stared at him, his eyes conveying silent, painful, forbidden words.
Sasuke had felt something poke at his heart. He had realized with a sinking realization,
She's dying
And it's your fault.
"Come home, Sasuke."
I love you
Sasuke had turn and fled out of sight so fast that when Naruto blinked, he was gone. Naruto was scared at first he was running away. But, later, he realized…
Sasuke's headed home…
And they had come home.
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My home is with you, my love, but, the door to your heart gives me a goodbye kiss. Will you abandon me now and leave me homeless?
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Sasuke pushed past the guards and would have speared them all through with his chidori if Naruto hadn't stopped them. Sasuke's glare was furious and his eyes were burning crimson, his sharigan spinning wildly. He pushed past the crowd rudely and was headed directly for the hospital when Naruto put a hand on his shoulder.
Sasuke whirled on him, his eyes like those of a madman, unable to stop burning. Naruto did not flinch back.
"She's not there."
Naruto felt himself being lifted off the ground. He stared down into furious crimson eyes.
"Where is she?" Sasuke ground out. Naruto's eyes widened at the emotion behind his words, his actions. Sasuke also stiffened in surprise, seeing the questioning in Naruto's. He calmed himself and let the boy down.
Naruto led Sasuke to her favorite place.
The blonde haired boy sighed in relief. He spotted Sakura-chan there, bending down to a patch of flowers, where she always was at this time of day.
Of course. It was the perfect place. To sit and bask under the sun.
She loved the sun.
Naruto swiveled his head and saw Hinata in the distance, keeping watch over her dear friend, though unable to stay near to her. Sakura would only let Naruto near her.
He heard Sasuke next to him inhale sharply. Then he heard Sasuke hit the ground. Naruto turned anxiously.
"Teme?"
Sasuke's head was bent to the ground, on his knees. The sight was almost hilarious. It was like he was begging.
The boy clenched his eyes tightly shut.
"Teme?" Naruto asked again, confused.
Sasuke jerked his head suddenly, still closing his eyes. He had seen her chakra with his sharigan. Her energy flow was a mess, the once neatly, woven strands now a limp bundle. Her chakra no longer pulsed with rhythm, it was uneven and weak. He could see them fading, the strands growing shorter.
When they finally shrink to nothing…
He shuddered at the thought. When he reopened his eyes, they were onyx, the color of cold black night, so different from the warm, bright sun Sakura loved.
He slowly stood up and Naruto saw his eyes. Naruto felt his heart pull unpleasantly a little when he saw the emotions barely contained in his friend's eyes. They were fastened to the small girl in the distance.
He could tell that Sasuke loved her.
"Her chakra, her body, her mind…they're all deteriorating," Sasuke said in a soft voice.
Naruto nodded.
Sasuke's eyes never left Sakura.
Naruto went ahead and after a moment of silence, Sasuke followed.
His steps were heavy, slow. Like he was running in a nightmare, unable to raise his knees high and his eyes were trained on the distance.
But unlike a nightmare, he was getting closer and closer and he could see more of Sakura, see more of her sickness. Even though her back was turned to them, he could see the slump of her shoulders, like she couldn't bear an imaginary burden, and her arms were frighteningly thin and pale.
Her height, still short, it was like she had not grown at all.
When she turned around, his mind almost exploded with what he was seeing and he was confused greatly.
When she had first turned around, she had seen Naruto. Sasuke saw that her eyes were bright, happy, radiant. She was holding flowers in her hands. When she had caught sight of Naruto, she had shrieked in pure joy, her eyes widening and shining, her lips curving up in a beautiful smile. Even though there were bags under her eyes, her expression was blissful.
"Naruto!"
Sasuke's heart did a twist and flip. Her voice, still sweet and musical, loving. Why did she not call his name like that, he wondered.
She had missed Naruto so much and made to run to him. Then, she caught sight of him.
Before she had turned around, she had felt different, like in some way, before, she was missing something and now she was complete. It confused her greatly.
Now that she had turned and seen, something in the back of her mind whispered, felt, cried.
I love you
Something in her chest pounded violently against her swollen heart.
She immediately shied away from the boys, the flowers dropping from her hold, and she backed away suddenly, tripping over her own, long dress.
She shut her eyes, expecting to feel hard ground but instead, she felt something very hard but warm engulf her.
She looked up into dark black eyes and felt like somehow, before she was cold and now she was warm. She stilled for a moment, just looking up at the beautiful strange boy who made her feel different and then softly raised her hand, reaching for his face.
Sasuke stilled, watching her, her eyes confusing him. They were filled with wonder, question, and confusion. But he could not find love.
He remained staring down at her, holding her gently, his grip unconsciously tightening as he felt how light she was, how fragile she was. He did not speak for fear her eyes would leave him, that she would turn away and hate him for leaving her. He felt her soft hands touch his face and he did not flinch away, even though her touch was cold.
Sakura sighed softly and pressed all her hand to his cheek, reveling in his warmth. Her confused expression turned blissful and tranquil, her eyes slowly warming to him.
"Beautiful," she says softly.
Sasuke's lips tilt up at the slightest angle.
"What's your name, mister?" she asked expectantly.
Sasuke's smile dropped and his eyes widened. Against his will, his head swiveled to Naruto, asking for an explanation. Naruto stared at Sasuke sadly.
"She lost her memories…her mind, it's fading," he said softly, sadly.
Plink plink dink
He feels his heart shattering.
He slowly turns to look up at the beautiful girl smiling up at him. He swallows slowly as her expression turns confused, her smile disappearing.
"You do not…remember me?" he asked.
She stares up at him for her moment, her eyes verdant, bright. They seem to dull for just a fleeting moment until she grins again.
"My name is Sakura!"
She twists around slightly and he tightens his hold on her until he realizes she's trying to point to Naruto. He shifts her slightly in his arms to let her.
"That's Naruto-kun! He's my best friend! Who are you?" she asked excitedly.
Sasuke keeps looking at her. "You do not remember me," he says flatly. His expression turns frigid, his gaze hard and cold. He is crushed. She only stares up at him, smiling, waiting.
He sets her down suddenly, his hands lingering for only just a short sweet moment to make sure she is steady, and starts to walk away.
She sees him turn his back to her and something hits her mind with the force of a bowling ball.
Sasuke-kun!
He whirled around, surprised. He looked at Naruto to make sure he isn't dreaming and sees that Naruto is wearing the same expression; shock.
He strides quickly toward her and takes her arm, gently.
"Sakura?" he asks.
She looks up at him, surprised. "Yes?" she says softly.
He looks at her confusedly. "You said my name," he says slowly. "You said my name," he repeats, his grip on her arm tightening.
She does not feel it, staring up at him confusedly. She had not realized she had called his name out loud.
"I don't know your name," she said, confused.
Naruto looks alarmed and quickly comes over to them, putting a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. Sasuke realized how tightly he was gripping her and immediately let go. She stumbled back uncertainly and the two stepped forward as one, concerned.
She steadied herself and them flashed them a bright smile and then bent down to pick up the fallen everlasting flowers.
She held one out to Sasuke.
"Please, will you be my friend?" she asks innocently.
He stares at her and he can't deny, his heart is breaking. And like Naruto, he wants to leave before she can break it completely.
But he knows he can never leave again if she calls him back.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls something out. He unwraps the shiny, bright wrapper and reveals to her something small and dark. He takes her small, cold hand and drops it into hers.
She looks at it and discovers it's a piece of chocolate. Her eyes widen and she licks her lips unconsciously, smelling the sweet scent.
She looks up at Sasuke.
"I got it at a market where I was traveling," he said. He motions for her to try it.
Naruto watches in amazed silence. The pink-haired girl slowly lifts the piece of chocolate to her mouth and bites off a small piece. Her eyes slowly slip shut as she enjoys the bittersweet scent of the dark chocolate. It tastes good. It has been so long since she has wanted to eat more.
She feels that the chocolate is much like the boy who gave it to her. Dark, but sweet in the inside with a touch of bitterness. But like chocolate, he can be melted by warmth.
When she is finished, she opens her eyes and it is only Naruto standing there, the everlasting flower still in her hand.
And that feeling that something was missing returned, crushing her and she bowed over, feeling cold for some reason. She ignored Naruto's anxious words and fluttering hands and concentrated instead on the hum of long lost memories.
Sasuke-kun
She focuses on the image of raven hair and crimson eyes and feels her mind drift slowly into black.
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The sun never leaves. It's constant, there, everyday. Even when it rains, when clouds block it from sight, I know it's there, watching, waiting, loving me.
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"Why did you leave, teme?" Naruto asked, frustrated.
Sasuke grunted, not answering.
Naruto, desperate, grabs on to his arms. "I brought you back here to save her, Sasuke-teme! I brought you back here so you could help her!" he screams, angry at Sasuke.
Sasuke pierced him with a deadly look. "She does not remember me. If she forgot me, it must be because she wanted to," he says coldly, unfeeling.
Numb.
Naruto stares at him in outrage. "YOU LEFT HER!"
Sasuke flinches then resumes his cold mask. He keeps on walking, shrugging Naruto's arm off him.
Naruto stands there, frozen in anger, frustration, desperation and grief. He cries tears unashamedly.
"You're a coward, you fucking bastard," he said, his voice shaking.
"You love her, yet you won't help her."
Sasuke stops but does not answer, his back still turned to Naruto.
"She needs you! She's going to die," Naruto said, his voice breaking.
"You're just going to stand by and do nothing?"
Sasuke shuts his eyes. "Dobe," he murmurs. He feels his heart cannot take anymore. He does not want to get hurt.
Naruto does not hear him. "This is all your fault! You made her like this! FIX HER!" Naruto rages, furious beyond belief.
It's all your fault
Sasuke is silent for a while and then resumes walking, his pace slow and steady. He throws a glance behind his back. "I'm leaving tonight," he announces.
Naruto feels his hands shaking, wanting to strangle him. He shakes violently from rage, wanting, hoping, waiting. And then, suddenly, he gives up. His strength leaves him and his hope abandons him. He throws an arm over his eyes and takes a deep breath.
He is so tired.
"Whatever, man. I tried and I'm tired of doing this shit. You're still a bastard who doesn't care about anyone but himself."
"So what if you get hurt? If that's what it takes to save Sakura-chan, I'd kill myself a hundred times over."
"You know how much you hurt Sakura-chan?" Naruto tries one more time.
Sasuke's footsteps falter and then resumes.
Naruto shakes his head. He watches his best friend walk away, his blue eyes pained.
"Sorry, Sakura-chan. I tried."
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Love can be so painful, so perfect, so bittersweet. Please, if you will, fall in love with me. I will make your knees weak, your pain leave, your dreams sweet.
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He walked slowly, every step bringing him closer to leaving, every step bringing him farther away, farther away.
Sakura
His hands clench into fists. He wanted so much for her to remember, for her to live, for her to love him. He closed his eyes, willing him to walk out of the gates of Konoha.
Suddenly, he heard a rustling and he activated his sharigan, twisting to the side, his eyes widening, recognizing the chakra.
"Mister, where are you going?" Sakura asked, struggling to climb out of the bushes. Before she could trip over the stubborn roots, Sasuke was there, lifting her effortlessly out.
"Sakura, what are you doing?" he asked, concerned that her breathing was uneven and set her down gently.
She huffed and puffed for a while, her hands on her knees and he put his hand softly on her shoulder and bent down to look at her. When she glanced up into his eyes, she gasped.
Crimson eyes with 3 tadpoles.
Sasuke-kun!
Don't leave!
…love you
…..love
She gave a soft yelp and fell back but before she could hit the ground, he was there supporting her again. He looked at her, alarmed.
"Are you okay?" he asked. He wanted to slap himself in the head. Of course she was not okay. He quickly scooped her up.
He felt her small hands grasp onto his shirt and looked down at her as she tugged on it.
"Mister, please don't leave. Naruto-kun will leave again," she said pleadingly, looking up at him with soulful eyes.
His heart stuttered to a stop as he looked into her eyes, then it resumed beating, painfully, heartbreakingly.
I cannot leave when you call me back.
She tugged on his shirt again. "Please don't leave," she pleaded softly.
Don't leave!
I…love…
He shut his eyes, refusing to give in, turning his head away. His eyes shot open when he felt her cold hand cup his cheek for the second time that day. He turned back to look down at her.
She stared intently up at his crimson eyes.
"Mister…you're eyes weren't like that before," she said, confused.
He understood immediately and shut his eyes, then reopening them without the sharigan. She gasped in surprise. She poked curiously around his face, feeling and touching, her caresses soothing but chilling. He closed his eyes, letting himself go, reveling in her touch.
"Who are you?" she whispered and his eyes opened, staring intently into her jade ones.
She found that she could not breathe, even though, she felt complete. They stayed like that for what seemed like eternity but she did not mind. She only wanted to keep looking at those dark eyes and loose herself in sweet dreams. Slowly, against her will, her eyes started to drip shut. She was exhausted from making the trip to the gates of Konoha.
Somehow, she had not known why, she had wanted to come here.
She had remembered something, a feeling of loss, a painful sensation, something she was not used to. And she had been lured here by it.
And had come across this beautiful boy.
Sasuke noticed her becoming more tired and her eyelids slowly dripping shut. He quickly started for the hospital, making sure to keep his pace even and smooth, trying not to jostle her.
She shivered a bit with the breeze that blew by and her hair whipped gently around her. Her complexion was too pale, even in the dark he could tell. Her hands, too cold, meaning her body was trying to reserve heat. The bags under her eyes, signifying she did not rest well, and the thinness. He blanched. Naruto had said she did not like to eat. She was too thin. In the dim light, Sasuke could tell how fast death was approaching.
Naruto had said a few months.
Her hands were resting lightly on his chest, warming them. She smiled.
This boy, so much like her sun.
Is he the one?
She shook herself more awake and alert and surprised him by wrapping her arms around his neck and clinging tightly to him.
"Please, mister, promise me you won't leave?"
Sasuke looked down at her with a pained expression. Naruto was right. She needed him desperately.
He said nothing but changed his course.
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Your warmth melts my cold heart slowly and I feel hope for once in my life. You, my dear, are my light, my lovely guide. Stay with my all day, all night.
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By the time he had reached the Uchiha mansion, Sakura was still clinging to consciousness, refusing to sleep. Sasuke had told her to sleep but she had been unwilling, wanting to watch this boy who warmed her.
Inside, he set her gently down on the couch. When he made to pull away, she clung on to him. Surprised, he looked down at her questioningly. She was staring at his eyes again.
"Mister, can you change your eyes again please?"
He stared for a moment then complied. This time, without closing his eyes, they slowly bled crimson and the three black tadpoles whirled around until they stopped and his orbs rested lightly on her tired face.
He watched as several emotions passed through her face, each one fleeting, each one prominent, each one confusing him more. He waited.
His eyes widened as he saw her mouth move.
"Sasuke-kun."
No sound came out but he understood.
He grew alarmed when her eyes started to slip shut and he caught her as she slumped against him, finally falling asleep. After a moment of shock, he gently picked her up and carried her to his room, setting her softly down on the bed.
Tenderly, he pried her fingers loose from his shirt and set them down gently by her sides. She did not stir, lying limp and still.
Slowly he took off her sandals and slipped her under the covers, tucking her in tightly, trying to keep her warm.
When he was finished, he turned to pull up a chair but the chair skidded sharply against the floor, making a huge screeching noise when he accidently put too much force into it, hearing Sakura say his name.
He whirled around, seeing that she was still asleep. He bent down next to her and hesitantly put his hand on her forehead, tenderly smoothing out the frown lines in her sleep.
"You said my name," he said, quietly.
She shifted slightly, moving uncomfortably, and then slowly opening her eyes.
Sasuke bit back a curse.
Sakura stared then her eyes widened. Her hands shot out quickly and grabbed the neck of his shirt, drawing him closer. Her eyes were wild and he went closer to her, trying to calm her.
"Don't leave me, Sasuke-kun," she said breathlessly.
His mouth opened, and he couldn't believe. "You…remember me?"
Sasuke watched as her expression turned sad for the first time he had seen her today. She looked away.
"I…I'm sorry, I only remember your name."
Sasuke stares down at her, his hopeful expression gone, in its place, a pained mask. She glances up and is shocked to see it and he quickly resumes a blank look.
She swallows and then tries again. "Please, stay. Maybe…I can remember…Sasuke-kun."
Her words, her voice, her touch. They bring painful memories back. He does not know if he wants to stay.
If he stayed and she did not remember, he would be heartbroken. But she seemed to listen to him. Naruto had told him that Hinata had told him his piece of chocolate was the first thing she had eaten in 4 days. Maybe…maybe he could save her.
Even if it meant he could get his heart broken.
I love you
Do you…love me?
He gently freed himself from her grasp and watched her expression turn panicked. He smiled a little, seeing how much she wanted him and it warmed his heart fractionally.
"Go to sleep, Sakura, and I promise to be here when you wake up," he said with uncharacteristic gentleness.
She watched him for a moment more then smiled tiredly. Slowly, she sank back into the covers and her eyes closed in no time.
"Thank you, Sasuke-kun," she whispered.
He heard and felt his heart stutter, beat, and crack.
He bent down and softly skimmed his lips over her smooth forehead, tucking her in once more.
I will try my best to save you, Sakura.
Because you tried your best to save me.
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I don't know if you'll remember again, but I hope that you'll do. Believe in me, I tell the truth, when I say I love you.