By Shiroihato

(Chapter 6: Faded Photographs)

Sakura, sighed, and pulled her scarf over her face. While it was warmer than it had been the day before, it was sill cold outside, however unusual that was for Konoha. She ambled slowly down the street, turning her head to the side when she heard angry yelling. Looking over h shoulder, she saw Ino pacing furiously, chewing someone out over the phone. Kakeru was trying to calm her down, but it wasn't working.

"I don't care about the cost or the season or the difficulty, just get the..." here she stopped, seeing Sakura. Bashfully, she waved, and walked back inside the flower shop, Kakeru in tow.

The pink haired girl laughed softly, and then kept walking.

"Ino will always be Ino," she murmured as she dropped small white envelope in the mailbox. Checking her watch, she realized she had about three hours until she had to go to the hospital.

"Perfect..."

----break

Anko let Sakura into Kakashi's apartment with a worried look on her face.

"He's still not really himself, kid. Sakura, don't be surprised if he's..." the black-haired kunoichi tried to find a way to phrase things without cussing; she knew Sakura probably didn't want to hear that at the moment, " ...unresponsive."

"Don't worry, neesan."

Quietly, the Haruno slipped into Kakashi's bedroom. She looked around her at the faded photos, dust covered scrolls, and dirty laundry that lie in piles on the floor. She shivered.

"Kakashi-sensei?"

The silver haired man blinked, but that was the only sign of recognition he gave her. She sat down gingerly on the foot of his bed.

He looked at her quickly, and then looked away.

"Sakura." he grunted.

Silently, she slipped her arms around him. His eyes widened.

"Kakashi-sensei," she said softly, "please, talk to me. Anko's worried about you, so am I. Kakashi-tousan?"

"The surgery," he managed, "it's today, isn't it." Before she could reply, he continued. "Sakura, why didn't you tell me."

She looked at him with the same wistful smile from the hospital.

"Because there wasn't any use in two of us being scared about something no one can change...that's what I told myself, anyways. I probably made the wrong choice...I seem to do that lot."

Wordlessly, he hugged her, letting the tears fall from her eyes. Hi student, dying... it wasn't something he wanted to come terms with... but, maybe...maybe Anko was right after all. He needed to pull himself together, for her sake.

"Watashi no Musume", he whispered, "Watashi no manamasume"

Anko gently shut the door. Those words... in that tone of voice...

Watashi no muzume

My daughter

Watashi no manamusume

My precious daughter

------break

Naruto and Kakashi sat silently in the waiting room.

How long could this surgery of Sakura's possibly take-

and then they saw Tsunade. The sannin's face was grim.

"How.." both men started, but Tunade cut them off.

"The operation didn't work..." she sighed, "it didn't work at all. I- We nearly lost her several times, and she's going to need a chakra transfusion. Other than that, she's okay... but when she wakes up, she'll be depressed."

The woman's brow furrowed.

"There's something else," Kakashi said. It wasn't a question.

"I'm not...entirely certain how this will affect her."

"But you just said it didn't work!" exclaimed Naruto.

"We're going to have to watch her closely for the next moth or so. Her body's guard is down. She'll be prone to attacks. Very prone."

----break

( December 23)

Naruto's eyes scanned the page he had taken from Sakura's diary quickly. His hands shook, and he almost dropped the newspaper he was using to hide it.

"Faded Photographs" she had written, "By H.S."

"Faces floating

past, smiling

like the faded

photographs dotting my

living room

I smile weakly

back and force

myself to wake

from this reoccurring

dream, trembling

-memory

-haunting

coursing through my veins

such a subtle poison

blood of my

ancestors

a gift

or is it?

fading slowly

'till I am

just another faded

photograph, smiling

emptily back at you

He shuddered. He didn't like the tone of the poem. It wasn't a topic he particularly wanted to explore. A voice startled him from his thoughts.

"Naruto," Sakura asked softly.

"What is it?" the blonde looked at her.

"I...I don't feel.."

Abruptly, she stopped talking. her hand latching onto his arm, as she started struggling to breath.

Naruto cursed under his breath, dropping the papers and reaching into his pocket. He had started carrying her pills with him now. He pried away her bloodied hand and forced it between her lips. His arms encircled her waist, waiting for her to stop writhing.

"Naruto!" Ayame sounded afraid, "What's going on?! Should I go get a medic?!"

The Uzumaki boy ignored her, as Sakura began to violently jerk. Frightened passerby started yelling, but he blocked them out.

"Na..." the kunoichi gasped, "-ruto ...Tsunad..." she collapsed unconscious. Immediately, he dropped to his knees, still holding her, and took her pulse, only to find there wasn't one."

"TSUNADE," he screamed as he picked her up bridal style and ran in the direction of the hospital.

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