Stand by Me

Chapter One - With Eyes Wide Shut

''If God takes me before you...I just want you to know - I love you.''

''Naruto. Stop.'' Shizune said, the fatigue in her voice matched her eyes equally.

Naruto's eyes widened and his expression changed, confusion replaced determination.

''But Shizu-''

''Naruto! Stop it!'' Shizune screamed, a shaking hand coming down on the large wooden desk that was Tsunade's not two weeks before.

Naruto's jaw snapped shut with a soft clap of teeth, his eyes remained the same - demanding an explanation.

''If Sakura is alive-'' she began but Naruto's eyes widened.

'''If Sakura is alive' what the hell?'' he interrupted.

''If Sakura is alive then she'll return here. We don't have the time or resources to continue searching for her.''

His blue eyes dulled and narrowed. ''This is Sakura-chan we're talking about, do you realize what you're saying.'' it wasn't a question, they both knew exactly what she was saying.

Shizune's face darkened. ''Without a Hokage, Konoha might as well be finished. You know what happened in the other villages, and they had Kage! We don't! We need to use the time we have to regroup! Do you understand?'' she said slowly, never looking away from him.

''Then you be Hokage! I don't care! But I'm not giving up on Sakura-chan!''

Shizune sighed and closed her eyes tightly. ''As acting Hokage...I order you to stay in the village.''

There was a tight, thick silence in which she only heard Naruto's breathing increasing.

''Im not asking you to give up on her, I'm only asking that you realize that defending Konoha is more important right now. We need you.''

Naruto said nothing, but his heavy footsteps echoed to the door, he didn't hesitate, he stepped out and slammed it behind him.

x-x-x-x-

''What were you doing out there?'' the strong voice demanded.

Out where...? What was he talking about? Who...who is he...?

So familiar...

So close...

''Sakura! Look at me!'' the same familiar demanding tone.

She registered sounds...of a battle, close, but just out of reach.

''Focus!''

Her green eyes snapped open and she had to blink a few times to focus her vision.

''S...Sasuke-kun.'' her voice sounded weak and breathless.

''Where is Naruto?''

Naruto...Naruto...

Sakura pulled in a sharp breath and a searing pain shot through her chest.

''M-Madara...has...him.'' she mumbled through clenched teeth.
Sasuke cursed.

Sakura couldn't remember why she was in such pain or what exactly she was doing there, but Sasuke was here and at that incoherent moment, she felt content.

''Sasuke-kun...'' she whispered.

What was he doing? She couldn't tell.

He came into her vision. ''What?'' his voice was soft, and so unlike himself as he crouched next to her.

''Will you...save him for me?'' she asked, tiredness seeping into his voice.

Confusion passed over his face. ''Sakura I-''

''Sasuke-kun...'' she reached up, with heavy effort, a shaky, bloody hand came up to his cheek and he flinched as she touched him, but didn't pull away.

''Promise me...save him...save Naruto.''

A terrible vulnerability looked down at her.

He nodded slowly. ''I promise.''

Slowly she smiled. ''Ok. That's good. I'm going to sleep now, ok Sasuke-kun?''

''No, no, Sakura you need to stay awake.'' Sasuke's eyes were wide with panic now and Sakura frowned.

''But I'm so tired, let me sleep, Sasuke-kun, please?'' the pain was gone now, she only felt numb and so tired, her heavy eyelids drooped.

She heard him swallow. ''Sakura...please...'' Sasuke saying please? It must be the end of the world.

''Night, Sasuke-kun, I love you...''

She felt his hand cover hers and as she closed her eyes she was sure she mistook the tears on his cheeks.

Sakura opened her eyes slowly. It was dark all around her, except for a bit of light shining in somewhere behind her. The room smelled earthy and a bit spicey. With great effort she turned her stiff neck, the muscles crying under the new movement. The room was lined with shelves filled with books, spices, alcohol and canned foods. No windows. There was a rhythmic thumping all around her, it rattled the shelves, and she could just feel the vibrations. Sakura figured it had to be music, playing somewhere...above this room probably.

The surface she was laying on was hard. A table, maybe?

Sakura took a deep, steady breath and tried to sit up, pain shot up her torso and she staggered back down.

Ok, getting up wasn't an option. The music suggested that there was at the very least one person up there.

But Sakura was afraid. Afraid of hearing what she'd missed, and how long she'd been unconscious.

Mostly, she was afraid of hearing how the war turned out.

Sakura forced those thoughts away. She wouldn't think of that. She wouldn't think of it as a possibility.

So many other questions ran through her head. Where was she? How did she get here?

But she knew that, didn't she? He brought her here. He, who spoke softly, gently to her for the first time. Who seemed to truly care.

Sasuke-kun.

The moment she thought his name, a sharp pain shot through her skull and Sakura let out a yelp at the pain.

There was a crash and a gasp and the footsteps came running towards Sakura. Soft thumps on the floor suggested someone small...young.

A head came into view. A girl with big brown eyes, soft features and long black hair, no older that eight years old maybe.

''Oh my god! You're awake!'' she gasped, and tears filled her eyes.

''Who...who are you?'' Sakura asked, her voice raspy from disuse, a scratchy, husky sound.

''Im...'' she sniffed and smiled, wiping at her tears as she spoke, ''Elani, oh- I thought you'd never wake up.''

''Whe-'' Sakura's voice died and Elani moved away, only to appear a second later.

A straw pressed between Sakura's lips. She froze, her eyes wide with suspicion.

''Its just water.'' Elani assured her.

After another moment of hesitation, Sakura pulled a little water into her mouth and tested it gently. Once she was sure it was just water, she took greedy gulps, slurping it down her throat hurriedly until there was nothing left.

Sakura cleared her throat. ''Where am I?''

Elani opened her mouth, but a door slammed somewhere and her eyes widened.

''Woke up, did she?'' came an older woman's voice.

Amtheyst eyes came into view, with hair to match with pointed, regal features and full lips.

''Welcome back to the land of the living, kid.'' she said seriously, her eyes scanning over Sakura.

''I was just about to give up, two weeks out is a long time.'' she continued.

''T-Two weeks?'' Sakura sputtered.

The woman was unamused. ''Yeah. Lets hope you adjust quick, kid.''

''Adjust to...what?''

A feeling of horror set into Sakura's very bones.

Amtheyst eyes met Sakura's green, a deep serious in them.

''Madara won. Sorry, condolences and all that.'' she said and held Sakura's gaze for only a second more.

Sakura bit down on her tongue, hard enough to draw blood. She wasn't gonna think about that now.

''Where is this?'' Sakura asked, her voice breaking slightly.

''You're safe, kid, no worries.''

Sakura turned her eyes back to the woman. ''And you are?''

She smirked. ''Kalika.''

''And why am I here?'' Sakura tried to sit up again and this time, Elani supported her by propping pillows up behind her.

''I owed a...someone a favor.'' Kalika said with a roll of her eyes.

Sakura was about to ask more but Kalika shook her head. ''Rest up. I'll be back later. Elani, take care of her.'' and then she disappeared behind the corner.

The young girl smiled at Sakura.

''Sakura-san, let me look at your injuries.''

But Sakura wasn't listening. Madara...won. The full force of the statement hit her. The war was over. They had lost...and Naruto...and Naruto...

A sob escaped her lips, and then another and then she couldn't stop her tears.

''Oh...oh no, Sakura-san, what is it? Are you in pain?'' Elani asked, but Sakura barely heard her.

Naruto...Naruto...Naruto...Naruto...Naruto...NARUTO!

She screamed. He couldn't be...dead.

Another terrible scream left her throat.

Two hands landed on either side of her face.

''Sakura! Focus!''

Sasuke-kun...? You promised...you promised you'd save him...

''Sakura! Look at me!''

Sakura's eyes snapped open, and for a moment, she saw Sasuke's dark ones staring back at her, but they faded to big brown peepers looking into hers. Elani.

''Sleep, Sakura-san, I'll wake you up in the morning.''

For a moment, Sakura wanted to fight it, but before she could a heavy dreariness took her over and she fell into unconsciousness.

When Sakura awoke again she felt oddly pain free and she could breathe without the strain. She looked around and realized she was still in the same room. There was a dull, empty ache in her chest, one she couldn't heal.

Sakura bit down on her lower lip.

''Sakura-san? You're awake?''

Sakura opened her eyes to see Elani hovering over her with wide, worried eyes.

''I am.'' she answered slowly.

Elani didn't ask if she was feeling ok, she just gave Sakura a sad smile.

''Sakura-san, can you move your arms?''

Sakura tried once, but her muscles were lame from not being used and flopped back down on the table. The second try went better and at the third she'd lifted them all the way.

''That's good, what about summoning chakra?'' Elani urged, feeling a little excited.

Sakura tried and her hand was enveloped by a green glow and she gave Elani a small smile and a nod.

''Do you think you can heal?'' Elani asked. ''Im no medical ninja, but I do know about traditional medicines, so I used leaves and spices as much as I could, but chakra would heal it faster.''

Sakura nodded. ''I can try, but I need to see the wounds to assess the damages properly.''

Elani nodded eagerly. ''Let me clean them quickly and then we can do that, kay?'' she didn't wait for an answer as she pulled the bandages from Sakura's body and began cleaning her remedies out.

The pain began to return in folds as Elani removed whatever she'd put on.

The girl looked so much older than she truly was, Sakura knew that this girl must have grown up fast, and that she knew the horrors of the world and lived it.

''All done!'' she announced and disappeared, before coming back a second later with medium sized mirror in a wooden frame.

''Will this do?'' Elani asked and Sakura nodded. ''Start at the worst one, ok?'' she informed the younger girl who nodded.

Elani propped Sakura up on some pillows, the pain was excruciating, every minor movement felt like a kunai stabbing into her repeatedly.

Once she was in a semi-comfortable position, Elani held the mirror a bit away from Sakura's hip.

Right between her ribs and her hip bone was a long, wide and deep gash, it was seared at the edges, almost burned.

''Elani, what did you use on this?''

The girl gave a name that Sakura didn't recognize and Elani gave a sheepish smile. ''Its imported...and not very legal.''

Sakura frowned. ''So its very illegal.''

''Well...yep, but it works good.''

''Ok...'' Sakura smiled, ''What does it do?''

''Seals wounds up in no time, or it usually does, but I've never used it on a wound so big and lethal like this one.''

''Is this burnt part a side effect?'' Sakura asked pointing in the mirror at the reflection of her wound.

Elani shook her head fiercely. ''No, no! Side effects are...drowsiness, hallucinations, throwing up...um, and that's the main ones, but you were asleep and I only usually have to use it once so Kalika-sama said I'd better not use it again.''

''So...it was burnt like this before you touched me?''

Elani nodded. ''Sure was.''

Sakura fell silent. Who the hell was she fighting? That Jutsu was probably A-rank, maybe. Her eyes fell back on the gash, it was healable, but would take a lot of chakra.

''Is this the worst one, Elani-chan?''

Said girl nodded. ''There's one similar one on your leg,'' she pointed to the area, ''Here and the rest aren't that serious.''

Sakura nodded and did a few hand seals, her hand began to glow and Elani took it to the wound. Slowly, it began to heal up from it inside out. Sakura watched Elani's shocked and fascinated expression as her big brown eyes stared at what was happening.

''Wow...'' the girl breathed. ''That's amazing!''

Sakura smiled at her.

The healing took about 20 minutes and her chakra was just about depleted.

''You should continue later, after you've rested, ok?''

Sakura nodded.

Elani fell silent, but she didn't look away from Sakura.

''Something on your mind, Elani-chan?''

''Um...Im sorry...about Naruto.''

Sakura's eyes widened.

''You said his name...while you were crying.''

Hearing someone else say it, confirm it...made it all so...final.

The pain in Sakura's chest swelled, and she found it hard to breathe.

''Are you hungry?'' Elani asked suddenly and Sakura found that she was.

''I can fix you some...Ramen?''

Sakura's eyes widened and she stopped breathing, tears welled up in her eyes. Elani gasped. ''Im sorry Sakura-san!'' she immediately apologized without knowing what went wrong.

''Should I make you something else?''

''No no...'' she said hoarsely, ''Ramen...Ramens great.''

Elani nodded and ducked out of the room, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

Sakura just started at the off-white walls as she waited for Elani. She couldn't imagine life without her family. Team 7. What would happen now? How would she go on without Naruto, whose always been there for her. And what of Kakashi-sensei? And...Sasuke-kun?

Sakura knew she needed to get answers as soon as possible. So she sat up and began to heal the rest of her wounds as well as she could. Elani came back a few minutes later and Sakura ate the meal slowly, trying not to think much about it, but she failed and cried some more.

When Elani took away the bowel, Sakura laid there for a while, gathering the courage. Slowly, she threw a leg off the table. She hadn't had enough chakra to heal all her wounds but Elani patched and bandaged what Sakura hadn't been able to heal.

Sakura threw her other leg off. So far so good. The pain was...slightly bareable. She grinded her teeth as she hopped off the table.

Her legs felt numb and were only coming back to life, giving her pins and needles. The feeling made Sakura giggle slightly, but she shook it off and walked around the corner slowly. On a small table was a long, curly blonde wig. A yellow post-it note was stuck to it and had Sakura's name in a elegant script.

Sakura pulled the post-it off and threw the wig on.

It fell to well past her shoulders and she made sure all her pink locks were tucked inside before she opened the door and stepped into a cool hall. There were about four doors on either side of the yellow walls. Sakura made her way past them, to the door at the end of the hall. She moved slowly, not wanting to aggravate her wounds. One of the doors opened and a girl with sandy brown hair stepped out.

''I haven't seen ya around before.'' she said with a small smile and Sakura frowned.

She was wearing a small leather...dress? Was that even a dress? It made an X over her chest and exposed a lot of skin.

''You a Shinobi? You look like a Shinobi. It isn't a good profession to find yourself in these days.'' she said, a sarcastic look overtaking her face as she started down at Sakura, being at least a head taller.

''And why is that?'' Sakura asked, using the same tone that the girl had used with her.

''Madara-sama's killin em all off, its his ultimatum - play dead or die.''

Sakura kept her face neutral. Play dead or die ... stop being a Shinobi or die, huh...

''Nima, leave her alone!'' A girl with bright pink hair - decorated with stars - stepped between them.

''Whatever this is lame anyway.'' the one called Nima flipped her hair over her shoulder and twitched off.

''Sorry about here, she's just...mean. You must be the new recruit.''

Sakura gave a stiff nod, she wasn't sure what else to do...recruit for what?

The girl nodded. ''Welcome Akaya, I'm Ria, its nice to meet you.''

Sakura didn't correct her but she did shake her hand.

''What was...Nima talking about?''

Ria's face darkened. ''After he won...Madara,'' she paused and cleared her throat, ''Madara-sama, sent out a message - threat whatever, no one knows exactly why, but all Shinobi were to put down their weapons and forehead protectors, anyone caught engaging in any Shinobi activity would be killed, and he wasn't kidding, he took out Water and Rock first, Fire wouldve been next but without a Hokage, I mean, they're not much of a threat, the other villages have been quiet, but I'm pretty sure they're just being very secretive about it.''

''Wait! What do you mean Konoha has no Hokage!'' Sakura demanded, her eyes wide, her hands shook as she grabbed the girl's shoulders.

Ria looked startled. ''Akaya...what-''

''Answer me!'' Sakura ordered not missing a beat.

''T-Their Hokage, the female...she...she disappeared during the final battle, that's all I know! I swear!''

Sakura swallowed and let go of Ria's shoulders.

''You better come with me,'' the voice came from behind Ria and Sakura looked around to see Kalika.

Sakura sat down on one of the two small armchairs in front if Kalika's wooden desk. The room was bare with the same yellow walls as before. No pictures on them. No windows. Just the desk and chairs, the former being messy with various scrolls, papers and folders.

Kalika took out two small cups from her desk and poured something into both of them. She threw hers back and refilled her cup immediately.

Sakura reluctantly sniffed it. It smelled like sake. She was about to protest but Kalika put a hand up.

''Drink. Its no problem.''

Sakura took a small sip and swallowed immediately it was warm going down and seemed to scratch down her throat. Sakura exploded in a fit of coughs and Kalika laughed, throwing her head back.

When Sakura calmed down she took another small sip and simply chocked a little. It definitely tasted better the second time.

When she looked up, Kalika's amtheyst eyes were serious.

''I need some answers.'' Sakura said slowly, cautiously.

''Alright, kid.''

''Start at the beginning.'' Sakura asked using the same cautiousness. She had to remind herself - she didn't know this woman and what she was capable of.

Kalika laughed humourlessly. ''Which one?''

Sakura frowned. ''The final battle.''

''I don't know much about that, kid.'' Kalika took another sip of her sake and watched Sakura over the brim of the cup.

''What about what you do know?''

''I only found this out after everything went down - the Kyuubi, the Hokage, Hatake Kakashi, you and Uchiha Sasuke participated in the battle. I know that Uchiha Sasuke and Hatake Kakashi made it out of the battle alive, no one knows what happened to them though. They haven't been seen since.''

''And what of the Hokage?'' Sakura dreaded the answer, she didn't know if she could handle losing her mentor and best friend.

''No one saw her after the battle, shes being assumed dead, same with the Kyuubi kid.''

Sakura swallowed thickly. ''How...'' she cleared the throat, ''How did I get here?''

Kalika lifted an eyebrow, ''I thought you knew, well ok, Uchiha Sasuke brought you to me.''

Sakura's heart began to beat faster. ''To heal my wounds.''

''Actually kid, you were already dead.''

...

''Excuse me?''

Kalika shook her head. ''Its a forbidden Jutsu and only I'm able to do it. I can bring a corpse back to life, but there's a time limit, you'd almost passed it when he brought you to me.'' she laughed, ''I've never seen that brat hold anything so close to his body, expect maybe a weapon, and he didn't want to let anyone take you either. He just put you down at that table and looked over you and said 'I'm collecting that debt.' and then he disappeared.'' Kalika ended with a frown and shook her head before she muttered the words 'fucking brat' under her breath.

''I...I...died...'' Sakura whispered breathlessly.

''Yeah, and apparently the Uchiha couldn't live without you.''

That didn't sound right and Sakura said nothing of it.

''What debt...?'' Sakura asked numbly.

Kalika paused. ''I guess its ok to tell you. I told him if he killed Orochimaru, I would owe him. The only reason Orochimaru kept me around was because of the Jutsu. I wanted out.''

When Sakura said nothing Kalika continued.

''Anyway, a few days after the final battle Madara announced that Shinobi were to be no more, or he'd kill every last one of em, Wind and Fire obeyed immediately, though I believe Fire didn't have a real choice. Mizu and Rock? The moment Madara got suspicious, he sent his private guard to take them out.''

''His private guard?'' Sakura asked.

''No one knows who they are, but they are basically a modified Akatsuki. Except there are a lot more and they only answer to him.''

Sakura's hands were shaking and she swallowed thickly. This...just couldn't be happening.

''They wear black masks, with a red line down the middle, and all-black cloaks.''

Sakura just nodded, taking the information in. ''I have to go home...'' Sakura whispered.

''That's as much as I know at any rate.'' she said to Sakura, ''Elani!'' she called and a second later the door opened and said girl's head popped in, she saw Sakura and a smiled sadly.

''Elani, tell the staff that their-shifts-are-over.'' Kalika pronounced each word slowly and Elani's eyes widened and she ducked out.

Kalika stood up and kicked her chair out of the way. She bent down and their was a series of beeps before she stood up and tossed a thick wad of money at Sakura.

''Kalika-sama...I-''

''Don't. Just making sure I don't owe that brat anything.''

Sakura nodded and accepted the money.

''The wig you're wearing is also illegal, it reacts to your chakra, makes the hair look more alive. You can also change the color. Thought I'd mention it.''

Sakura touched the hair tentatively, it did feel more real than before.

''You might also want to wash your face, and take this.'' Kalika handed Sakura a cloak and mentioned to a door behind her.

Sakura thanked her and ducked into the bathroom. It was small, there was a small shower, toilet, basin and mirror. Sakura stopped in front of the mirror. She looked...pale and she'd lost weight. Her medical opinion would not advise traveling. But, really, like anyone listens to that. Her face was dirty and had dried blood on her cheeks, the same with her neck and shoulders. Her clothes were torn and also bloodied up. She reached in and opened the cold tap, wetting her hands first and then cupping them, gathering water before she splashed it over her face, rubbing the sweat, dirt and blood off. Once she was satisfied, she began working on her neck and shoulders and then her arms.

She dried off with the blue towel and the threw on the cloak. She didn't recognize herself in the mirror and maybe the was a good thing.

Sakura stepped out of the bathroom. ''Kalika-sama, one more question.''

Kalika looked up from packing her bag. ''Shoot.''

''Do you know where Sasuke-kun went?''

Kalika blinked. ''You can do so much better, kid.''

Sakura felt herself scowl. ''Do you know?''

Sakura's expression made Kalika laugh. ''No, he just...disappeared.'' she said seriously. There was a knock on the office door.

It was Elani.

''Kalika-sama, everyone got out ok.''

Kalika nodded and grabbed a cloak for herself and a smaller one for Elani.

''Sakura, two more things, first - Madara is looking for you. He's been dropping your name more than often, rumour has it he wants you dead - but then again, that's just a rumour.''

Sakura's eyes widened. Kalika waited a beat before she continued, ''Secondly, a lot has changed in two weeks, the world as you know it is gone. Trust no one, don't let anyone see your weakness, don't give anyone an opening. You're alone in this world. Friend or no, its about survival.''

Sakura clenched her fists at her sides...had so much really changed?

''I'll keep that in mind.''

Kalika nodded and pulled on her cloak as Elani did the same. ''Im abandoning this place, its going up in flames in about 10 minutes, I suggest you get out before then.''

''Take care of yourself, Sakura-san.'' Elani said with a smile.

''You too Elani-chan, and Kalika too.''

Kalika, hand on the doorknob, turned to Sakura. ''And kid, I hope never see you again.''

They both knew what she meant. Sakura was sure she didn't want to die again.

''Likewise.''