AN: So, this is my old "A Favor." However, like I said, this would be under major reconstruction, because I wanted to change the tone of this story. I always intended it to be more light-hearted, so I didn't want it to seem so dramatic. Also, hopefully the writing is better too!

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A NaruSaku Fanfiction
Author: wubbzy
Count: 1297

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Always and Forever

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Where you can't promise always and forever.

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Prologue: Always

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Always.

Always was something Sakura loved the idea of. She never enjoyed big changes. She didn't like the idea of getting a new teammate initially, she didn't particularly like the fact that she lived at the hospital, and don't get her started on the big change team seven went through because of Sasuke…

She never particularly liked those kinds of changes, but she supposed if she thought about it in some weird, philosophical way, those changes happened for the better.

Although she initially did not like the new addition to team seven, Sai, she grew to tolerate him. He also became someone of importance to her. His inability to understand basic human situations was something she was determined to help him overcome.

Changes in shift at the hospital left her exhausted, more so than the missions she was assigned to with her team. She found that odd, especially since she'd been assigned S-rank missions in the past. Missions could tire her out, but the hospital was a different kind of worn out. At times she'd find herself staying longer, because some shinobi would come into the emergency department with a stab wound, or poisoned, or even with limbs torn from their body. The life of a medic at the hospital was very challenging and exhausting, considering each life would be on her shoulders. She had to give it her all for every single patient that was rolled into her department, because she had to constantly tell herself that she tried her best to save her patient's life. That's the only way she would be able to live with herself.

Because of this, however, she was constantly at the hospital, weary, and sleep deprived for the most part. It was a change that was damaging her health, which she didn't like to take notice of, though. She saw this as more of a good thing that she was there to make sure she could help each patient. She was sure, that some of the Shinobi would be dead if it wasn't for her skills.

They needed her there.

Everyone knew the story of how Sasuke left, sadly. But, with Sasuke's departure, however, she decided to step up as a kunoichi and train under Tsunade. That was how she even became a medic ninja in the first place. That was how she became stronger. She couldn't have Naruto doing everything on his own, which, she duly noted, was a change she encouraged.

Naruto…

Naruto was always a constant in her life. He was always there, whether she liked it or not. At least, he was. Now, she was so busy at the hospital, they barely got to see each other. Naruto, of course, found a way around that, by meeting her after work, almost every night she was at the hospital.

The feeling was pleasant, seeing him outside the hospital, waiting for her to get off. At first she wondered if he had anything better to do, but then he gave her such a bad excuse of making sure she was safe during her walk home. She thought that was ridiculous, and called him an idiot, because she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.

"You caught me, Sakura-chan," he confessed. "Truth is, I just missed you. We never see each other anymore."

"Well, that's a better answer at least," she said, and continued to walk down the path towards her home, with Naruto right beside her.

That particular memory made her smile, because she missed him too. She was happy that he took the initiative to make the time to talk to her. She would have gotten very lonely otherwise.

From that day, he'd walk her home almost every night.

Until the day he stopped. She waited for him, because she didn't just assume he'd walk her home, she expected him to be standing right outside the hospital, by the light post.

She rationalized this, however, understanding that just because she was working at the hospital a lot more lately, didn't mean Naruto would stop going on missions. However, he usually warned her when he would go on missions, and was unable to be there.

She smiled at a particular memory where the rain was pouring extra hard, yet he was still at the same spot. She called him an idiot then, because he could have just as easily went into the hospital to dry off. He quickly dismissed that, saying he was perfectly fine, until of course, he began to sneeze.

Idiot… she thought with a smile. She remembered when he was the one concerned for her, taking off his jacket and covering her head with it. She had reminded him that he was the one sneezing, and he needed that orange jacket more than she did.

But he never listened when it came to such matters like his health, to her dismay.

Either way, she enjoyed the times she had with the idiot, and wished things wouldn't have changed so abruptly.

She didn't like change, especially when it dealt with Naruto.

That's why, when he suddenly stopped coming to walk her home, it made her uneasy.

That was exactly why, tonight - after so long, she was determined to understand why he hasn't been around.

She was done with her shift, and although her muscles ached, she made an effort to go through the center of Konoha, where life exploded at this time of night. This was the time where the restaurants were packed with people, where she even heard music coming from bars. All this would have sparked Sakura's interest, taking in all the delightful smells and her ears listening to the harmonious symphonies that seemed to be playing at this time.

Sakura, however, was too focused to really pay attention to what was going on in the background. She was on a mission, her eyes fixed on spotting one person, her ears opened to only one person's voice. Her thoughts were consumed on where the person she was looking for might be. Of course, she already had a place in mind, knowing that would be the only location she'd find him.

Ichiraku's.

A smile soon formed, noticing an orange jacket with a spiral on the back.

His orange jacket.

Relief ran through her muscles as she made her way towards the stand. She could hear his voice, with his laughter filling the air.

Something felt off, however. Someone was there, laughing right along with him. It wasn't the laughter of a man, but a woman. Not just any woman, but her best friend, Ino.

"Oh man, I'm full."

"I'm just glad I didn't offer to treat."

"I already told you I'm treating anyways! It's the least I could do!"

"You don't have to constantly thank me, you know. Although, it'd be nice if a girl can get walked home once in a while."

"Sorry about last time, haha. I was in a rush. Don't want to keep Baa-chan waiting too long." Both stood up from their seats, and walked towards Ino's house. Sakura was standing in the shadows, concealing her chakra, in case either sensed her.

This was different. No, not only was this different, this was unusual.

She doesn't remember a time Naruto and Ino ever went out to eat on their own. Usually, someone else like Shikamaru or Choji or herself, would accompany them.

No, this wasn't only unusual, this was strange.

This was definitely a change. A change that Sakura was not used to.

This was a change Sakura didn't particularly like, either. As much as Sakura did not like this change of events, she was more curious than anything else to understand what exactly was going on.

Whatever was going on with those two, she didn't understand why, but she desperately needed to find out. She knew, she would get to the bottom of this.

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AN: Prologue, done! Hopefully with much better writing! Let me know what y'all think!