I will follow you through the ends of times

Sasuke leaves one summer night and never turns back. Sakura watches him leave one summer night and has been waiting for him since then. The equation never matches because you can't bring someone back or find them when they don't want to be found. 7 years pass like that. She waits for him for the first four years,earnestly and heartily. Year five and she's lost some of her hope. Year six and she thinks she's finally able to move on. Year seven and she's relieved of him,She finally gets to breathe without breaking apart. There's a cute boy in her hospital.He's her colleague and they've talked a bunch of times and she finds his company quite pleasant.He makes her laugh,watches her with a twinkle in his eyes and if Sasuke makes a presence in her mind she pushes him back and moves forward because now she can.He's nothing,just a boy from her nightmares. He askes her out one weekday and they agree on a Saturday.But before Saturday rolls on,she's summoned to be sent on a seminar.A one day event with a short speech from her and she promises him she'll be back before the next day.They part with shy smiles and blushes and she's giddy because she finally gets to go on a date,for the first time in her life! Except she never quite makes it back because while she was returning she's struck hard from behind and she loses consciousness.Before collapsing she's utterly confused because how could she not sense someone behind her. Opening her eyes and moving her head seems to be the most difficult task at present.Her head hurts so much and her tongue feels like sand in her mouth.Her throat is parched and when she tries to move her hand...are these chains? A slight cry escapes her mouth and she senses a motion in her periphery.A tilt of her head and she sees something she was never,in a million years,prepared to see. "Long time no see,hn?" It takes her a bit to realise that she's chained to a chair and her mouth is gagged and Sasuke Uchiha is standing before her.A noise leaves her mouth and then she realizes there are other people. A red haired girl standing behind him currently glaring at her.Another man lounging in the corner next to a big orange haired man. Sasuke looks so emotionless just like he always does. She's quite for a moment and then she tries to get herself free but my god why are these chains so tight?Someone laughs mockingly at her vain attempt,but she ignores them and continues her efforts. "You can quit Sakura,it's no use".Sasuke addresses her and then her mouthgag is snatched from her mouth and she's coughing.She heaves a laugh. "Why am i here Sasuke?" "Because you're going to help us" "And why would i do that" "Because you don't have any other choice" She stares at him for a moment and then spits in his direction.The sound of a slap reverberates in the small room and s**t her lip is busted. "Watch your tone,you weren't invited here princess" There's so much venom in that woman's voice.She silently promises herself she'll get her back for the slap. Sasuke remains passive as always. "We are moving south from here and you're accompanying us and then you are going to help us treat a patient.You help us and I will let you walk away from here alive.otherwise I won't be responsible for what happens to you." "You think you can kidnap me out of f*****g nowhere and demand my 'help' and I will do as you say?You think it's that easy to kill me?I'm not thirteen anymore.You don't know me at all" "Exaxtly Sakura!you don't know me as well.You don't know the things I'm capable of doing.And I won't be giving you any favours just because we were teammates before." "Of course!how typical of you Sasuke.Betraying and leaving behind friends.Something you're already an expert in." "Shut up!"The red haired woman snarls at her and again moves to hit her but this time sasuke stops her. "Karin" "But Sasuke let me silence her-" "I can handle her" Sakura barks a laugh at this."You think he's going to stay loyal to you?You think he's going to be there for you?always?Wait till he gets the next best offer and see how easily he leaves you". "Are you done?I don't have time to deal with you all day.We are moving shortly so get ready" He leaves after that along with his members and she's left in dark. When she was younger she used to think she should cherish the people around her,her family and her friends.Because many,like Sasuke and Naruto,hadn't any and she should be grateful for what she has.And for the longest of times she held onto that notion.Her mother would belittle her every waking moment for not being good enough and pretty enough and not confident,in her younger days.To not being able to move on from one guy and never securing a date or being so invested in her career.She would wake up to clattering of pots and pan and listen to her grumble about how sakura is throwing her life away.Coming home to her mother frowning at her disheveled state.There were so many days she wished her mother would appreciate her for once.Support her for once and emphasize with her.But wishes in Sakura's life had never been good for her so she would tell herself she should be grateful for all that she has. Friends,like Ino and Naruto and Shikamaru and sometimes Sai,she was so grateful of them.But there were times when she would listen to one of them talking about how she was so selfish for loving a boy like Sasuke and making Naruto go through trouble because of her.And even though sweet,sweet Naruto never says anything to her.Sakura has been feeling guilty infront of him for the longest of time.Why couldn't she reciprocate his feelings?Why did she have to fall in love with Sasuke?Why is Naruto in love with her and not Hinata who adores him and it hurts her that her presence is hurting a friend.Giving someone that same pain she's going through. But still Sakura feels grateful everyday because she has nothing else to hold on to.She'll go on dates and meet other people and make them happy.Maybe then she would be cherished.Getting kidn*pped by Sakura of all the people was never in her plans.And what's wierdest of all is,that she feels as if she's finally breathing.There's no one with her.They brought her to an abandoned facility and she tried to run away several times,but everytime he would catch her. The last time she tried to run she was caught by all of them pretty early.Sasuke was so vicious to her then.He pushed her away and barked at her to run wherever she wants.He wouldn't care if she dies.She took the opportunity and ran.As fast as she could.But she realized he was right because there was nothing out there except a desert no water no food no directions.Without a map she was useless She came back running to them and she was crying so heavily.He told her they were in another country and there was no way she could escape from here without him so either she helps him or he'll let her rot here.That was her last escape attempt. She stays in a separate room and one of them comes to check up on her occasionally.When she was first given food she threw away everything.But they brought her food everytime until Sasuke ordered them to stop giving her food because they didn't have ration to waste on her.She stayed in her for one day until she came out(they stopped locking the door after she stopped escaping) and asked the orange guy(she learns his name his Jugo and he named himself)if he had anything to eat.He was kind enough to fix her meal and she ate there in silence with him because sitting alone in that room was driving her insane. They travel at a slow pace and the world is strange because at first it was desert and now they're passing through planes.There's no grass and the sand is white.The air feels salty.One day she's sitting at a rock and they're fixing their weapons and gear, sasuke is off to somewhere and karin is packing their luggage while Jugo and Suigetsu are lazzing around.She sees a crab creeping towards Jugo and before she knows it she has killed the insect.To say she was surprised would be an understatement. "What the f**k?!"Its Suigetsu who shouts and briefly she notices he looks just as surprised as her.Even karin has dropped what she was doing and is staring at her as if she has grown two heads. "Did you just saved him?!Your kidnapper?Who the hell saves their own kidnapper!!" "Apparently her" "Why did you that?"He asks her incredulously. "I don't know" "You don't know?"Karin raises and eyebrow at her. "We should get going"Sasuke comes out of no where and addresses them all.He doesn't even stop to regard the scene. "Sasuke look!She's mental.I think we should leave her here"Suigetsu still can't wrap his mind around the situation.Jugo and karin have already started moving. "Do you want me to leave you here instead?" "Nah I'm good.Besides it's not like she's gonna be with us forever anyway.Anyway thanks pinky!" Sakura stares at him and then gets off the rock.She's dusting her hands on her skirt when she moves past Gus and hears him "Thank you Sakura" She doesn't turn back to see him because one person won't absolve her of the guilt over the countless lives she didn't save.Its never going to be enough. Sakura spends her days sitting outside,soaking the sun and air.While everyone of them goes along their business she sits outside and stares at nothing.Yet it is everything.She hasn't felt this liberating since so long.It seems like it's been decades since she saw the sun.She never talks to anyone.Just sits there and stares at the sky and does what they tell her to do.She used to think she would die if she loses one more of her precious people but she's realizing she lost herself.And for the first time being away from everyone is so comforting.No one to criticize her or judge her.She hasn't felt this free since long. Jugo has been extra nice to her after that incident.He brings her sweet berries or fruits if he finds them.Tells her to watch her step.Asks her what she wants to eat and sometimes tells her small stories.She sits there with him and listens to what he has to offer and his voice is like white rain to her.One day he brings a cat who is limping,to her.She ties a stick to its leg and he lets the animal go.They watch the cat limping around when he says, "You are a good person,Jugo" She thinks am i?but she stays quite. "I'm saying this because only a few people have shown kindness to someone like me.Sasuke saved me and I'm indebted to him since then.Suigetsu and karin are my only friends.And besides Sasuke you're the only person was kind to me.I don't have anything else to offer you but I want to tell you that I'll be loyal to you and I'll help you when you need me." "Where are we going Jugo?" "I'm sorry I can't tell you that Sasuke told me not to.Ask something else" "I don't know what to ask" "Do you not want anything?any wish?" "I stopped wishing" "Why?" "Because they never came true.So i stopped.A while ago" "But what if it wasn't their time to be fulfilled.And they do come true when their time comes?" She stares at him and thinks how a boy born and raised in the wild has still so much heart,so much more than hers. She's sitting on the grass,again.Her hair has gotten longer and she hasn't cut them.She's lost count of the days now.The air runs through her hair and it feels nice. Somewhere in the distance Suigetsu and karin are busy fussing over the ingredients in the kitchen.Sasuke's team is quite organised they take turns cooking everyday and managing the latrines.Today it's karin's duty but Suigetsu is busy minding her business just like he always does.A few feet from her Jugo is lying on the grass.His eyes are closed and he might be asleep.Sasuke sits by a tree.One leg raised and his arm propped on his knee while the other lies straight in front of him.His face is turned away from her,towards the sun.Sakura stares at him and thinks how somethings will always remain the same no matter what.She thinks back to her school days when they all used to be together.Something she rarely does now.And she thinks today almost feels like that time.Everything is the same yet so so different.Yet her and Sasuke are the constants. She hugs her knees to her chest.Hiding her heart.But it's a loosing battle from the start but years of practice have made this her habit.Shrinking into herself to protect whatever is left of it.She thinks one day it will be so broken that she won't be able to live anymore.She would be liberated then.forever and ever.No more heart aches and no more tears.What a scene it will be. One day she's bored so she tells Jugo that she'll cook tonight.Working long shifts in hospital never allowed her to cook freely and usually ate in the cafeteria or had frozen food at home.But seeing them make fresh food everyday prompts her to cook as well.She asks him to catch her fish.And then she makes a simple dish.fried fish and boiled rice.Something her father loved to make .Her hair keep getting in her way but she's so happy.They all eat sitting by the fire and Sakura thinks if she gets to live like this everyday she may give up going back ever again.