(Happy ending) Where Sasuke actually died during the Uchiha Massacre, he ended up becoming a ghost haunting his home. Sakura is only person who can see him.

Written, read, posted - unedited.

xxx

The Uchiha Compound has always been empty, ever since Sakura was a small girl.

She can still remember as clear as day the very first time that she ventured into the dilapidated housing district. Her parents were stationed by the cleaning committee to get the place back in order, but her ryoshin wouldn't let her go.

Of course, that made Sakura curious and made her want to know why.

Many years before…

The academy has permitted the children to participate in free time and Sakura is making the most of it.

Her okaa-san said that she is never allowed to come here, but that only spurns the youth forward, straight through the tall scary gates and yellow tape.

This isn't so bad. She thinks, as she strolls carefully through the streets of the estate. It is eerily empty, but there are no monsters or bad things like she supposed. The way her parents acted when she asked made it seem like this was the worst place in the world.

Gazing around at all of the houses, the biggest and most impressive catches her eye and the pinkette wonders what it looked like in its prime. Walking closer, at a faster pace, the 11 year old student climbs the creaky wooden steps. Only stopping to marvel and the gigantic red and white painting on the wall.

The only reason that place is still in Konoha Sakura-chan is because it is a heritage zone…Her mother's voice rings through her head and the girl nods at the thought. Even though she knows nothing of this place, the kunoichi to be is happy that Konoha are unable to destroy it. It would be a shame to let such beauty go.

Strolling along the engawa, a shiver runs down her spine and the hair on her arms stands up.

"Chilly." She says, rubbing her arms. But she doesn't sense any danger, or much of anything.

Walking passed an open bedroom, something tells Sakura to stay away from there, and so she does. Instead, she walks into a large main area filled with dusty furniture, paintings and photo's.

"Wow…" The girl whispers, stepping close to the large family portrait on the center wall. She isn't sure how old it is, but the entire family upon the canvas is beautiful. Especially…

"What are you doing here?" A voice sounds and Sakura whips around quickly, to come face to face with a boy about her age.

"You." She stutters, turning to look at the painting behind her. "You're him." Sakura murmurs, and as she takes in his appearance, she realises why.

The boy with ink black hair and too pale skin, lovely onyx eyes…He's dead.

"A ghost." She whispers, but instead of shying away, Sakura steps closer.

"You aren't afraid of me." The boy observes with this harsh intensity that doesn't match the painting him at all.

What happened to you? She thinks, staring back at his abrasive black orbs.

"My onii-san wouldn't kill my family, and so another did. I don't know why and I don't know where they are…why I'm still here." He says factually, without any emotion and Sakura realises that she spoke her previous thoughts aloud.

Oh…

"What's your name?" She asks instead, and his head cocks to the side, gaze slightly curious.

"Why are you not afraid?" He sounds somewhat terse, "Sasuke. Uchiha Sasuke."

"I don't know." Sakura shakes her head, "I'm sorry about what happened though."

"It's fine. I might look like I am your age, but I died years ago. When I was 8."

"Then why -" She begins, but he cuts her off. His hands are pocketed and although he gleams with a strange glow, Sasuke looks just as real as her.

"Do I age?" He finishes. "Who knows…I think that it is because my mind ages, my soul that is trapped here."

She nods in understanding, before another question enters her curious mind. "Why are you trapped?"

"I'm not sure." He responds before turning and walking in the opposite direction.

"What's your name?" Sasuke intones with a certain air of finality and emerald widen in surprise.

"Sakura. Haruno Sakura." She stammers to his cocked gaze.

"Visit me again. Sakura." Sasuke murmurs and as he retreats, his form slowly melts into the house, gone from sight.

Still, the girl says to thin air - "Okay."

The present, six years later…

"What are you thinking?" Sasuke asks and Sakura turns to look up at her friend. The 17 year old boy gazes down from her side and if she didn't know that he is a ghost, she would assume him to be real.

"You." She smiles, "The first time I came here." The pinkette explains.

She is sitting upon the very same wooden floor, in almost the same spot as her first time in the main house. Only now, the house looks much nicer, all thanks to her homely touch.

At Sasuke's request, the photos were taken away, and the portrait as well. The furniture is clean and the house smells nice. This is her secret place…

"You're wasting your time with me you know. I can't ever be with you." Sasuke replies, referring to a conversation they have had many times.

His form is just as big as hers now, bigger. Though his clothes are the same, only now fitting to his size. His eyes are just as intense and Sakura thinks of his special ability.

Something that Sasuke says only works on her…

Which makes sense since she is the only one who can see him. She would think that she is crazy, but there has been too much proof over the years.

"I don't care. I love you." Sakura refutes strongly for the millionth time, and the ghost teen is close. Sitting upon the wooden floor with her, watching with those deep obsidian eyes.

"Sasuke-kun…" She begins. "I want to see you." Sakura whispers, glancing downward. Her arms are wrapped around her knees where her cheek rests and she closes her eyes.

There is a pause and Sasuke doesn't reply.

"Sakura." He addresses after a long moment and her green flash open, looking up at him.

Familiar red and black kaleidoscope stare back at her and she has enough time to imagine what they would look like if he were completely solid. Then the dulled gleaming crimson begins to spin rapidly and Sakura is lost…In a world of red.

When she comes to, Sasuke is before her, standing an inch or so away.

"I love you too." He murmurs, and she can feel his fingers against her cheek now. Why does this work on only her?

"What about when I'm old?" She questions with worried viridian and his firm expression doesn't falter.

"Even then. I stayed on this plane because of the massacre and when I moved on from it, my soul had already connected to you." His voice is stoic and emotionless, but the onyx that he shows in this world is so full and real.

Unable to stop herself, the tears slowly welling break free silently and in the next moment, Sasuke is kissing her.

Haruno Sakura is in love with a ghost, there is no other for her…

Even if they can only share moments at a time in a world with a red sky and a golden moon, it's enough to make her feel whole.

One day she and Sasuke will move on from this world together.

Until then there is this…

xxx

a/n

I am updating all of my multi chapters once before National Novel Writing Month, for all fandoms. Then from Nov 1 to Nov 30 I will be writing my novel for the competition. From Dec I have leave and will be getting into everything again :) RL is too consuming sometimes.

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Prompting Promptly is COMPLETELY unedited, and will be fixed once nanowrimo is over.