Promise

Disclaimer- I do not own Naruto or anything related.

A/N: OMG I can’t believe I wrote this.... But before anyone gets mad I am almost done with the next chapter of Deception. In fact I wrote this fic as a way to say I am sorry for taking so long and to hold you over before I get chapter... 13 I think... up.

Anywho I hope you enjoy.

Big thanks go out to my mom who beta read it for me... Big suprise there... although she read the under PG rated parts... I added the M stuff after. Hehe....

Also a big thanks to my kitty Florence for keeping company while writing. Big hugs and kisses to her.

Enjoy and please review!

Note: This story is unrelated to "Deception" So you do not need to read Deception to understand it, but if you like this oneshot then feel free to look up my ongoing fic too. ^_^


Promise


The rolling hills played with the wind, their green grass swaying to and fro in a dance only nature knew. It was the epitome of spring as Sakura knew it. Everything seemed to come to life after the cold, harsh winter. Celebrating in the welcoming warmth of the coming summer.

Her gaze was drawn upward, at the bright moon in the day sky. It was a beautiful sight, its splendor placed among the blue clear sky. Calm seemed to radiate off of her as a comforting sigh escaped parted lips.

She would come here often, to this place of her childhood. It was here where she would sit alone and find refuge from the taunts and jeers that she had faced when she was still young. It was her place of solitude, a place where she could be alone to think.

Yet the loneliness only added to her suffering. Those days were now gone, replaced with ones that were filled with happiness and friends.

Times were still rough and she was often tempted to come here and mull over her troubles, but she had been strong and faced them without second thought. Many of her choices had been hard ones and many she had regretted.

Life was like that though, it was a fact she had learned long ago, as she watched the one she loved pass beyond her reach. She had watched Sasuke go, letting him walk out of her life forever. He was indeed a fool, blinded by his own anger and sorrow.

She pitied him and the life he had chosen for himself. A life that was wasted all for nothing. All that he ever strived for was taken away from him by the same snake that he had sought out. Sakura remembered that day clearly. He had looked upon her with eyes that were not his own; snake like and sinister. The memory alone sent chills down her spine.

At that moment she knew all hope for him had died, never again would she wish for his safe return. It was a wish that would forever remain impossible, he was once again gone, and out of her reach and anybody else’s. Not even Naruto would be able to save him, the serpent finally had him in his eternal coils.

In that point in time Itachi had been among them. At that moment his appearance had been a shock to all who had witnessed the event. It wouldn’t be until later that she would find out the truth.

Despite who he was, his presence was a blessing. The konoha forces had already been fighting for longer than she could count. Everyone was at their limit, their chakra running low, and wounds causing pain and agony, even death.

Sakura remembered watching in horror and awe as the two brothers engaged in battle for one final time. Despite her inner wishes, deep down she knew who the winner had to be. Sasuke was beyond help. In fact Sakura was unsure if Sasuke even still existed within that body now. His life had ended the moment Orochimaru was finally able to claim the body he had desired for so long.

The battle raged on, each member throwing punches and kicks in close combat. Each body moved fluidly dodging the oncoming attacks. It was a deadly dance, one wrong move would mean your life. Yet it was still a stunning sight. Never had Sakura seen two people face each other with such unimaginable passion and hate. No that was wrong, Itachi’s face was void of any emotion, he didn’t even seem to be breaking a sweat.

As soon as it had started it had ended. All Sakura could remember was her chocked cry as she watched her teammate, her crush, and her friend fall to the ground. She watched as tears welled up in her eyes, her willpower forcing them away. She would not cry, it was a promise to herself that she would not break. She would show strength, in the face of disaster, and be the steady column that her friends could lean on.

Even that thought did not keep her from running to his side, not even Itachi himself would keep her from being by him in his final moments.

The tears threatened to show themselves once again as her emerald gaze fell upon the now broken man before her. His eyes now lacked the venom that they had, more importantly they were his eyes, not the monster that resided within him. Before her laid the Uchiha Sasuke, the boy she had grown to know and to love.

His dimming eyes fell upon her, happiness filling them for a fraction of a moment. It was a sight that made Sakura’s heart break. She held his hand in hers and he offered her a weak smile. That smile alone was enough for Sakura, it showed that he cared and in some way it made everything little better. Everything had not all been in vain.

Itachi stood watching, as Sakura paid him no mind, or that was the case until Sasuke spoke a name, one she had never heard void of anger or detest.

The older Uchiha looked down as his name was called through cold lips. He did not move only listened, that seemed to be enough for Sasuke since he spoke his last words to his brother. They were a plea, a plea to watch over the one he held most dear. Such a request felt so foreign when said from its speakers mouth. Itachi even looked taken back by the sudden request, yet something flickered through those emotionless eyes that made Sakura take a double look.

Was that tenderness she saw, sadness perhaps, or was it merely her imagination. For that moment she wished it so. Maybe things were finally well between the brothers in their last moment together. Could it be possible for them to finally understand each other and their actions. Probably not, but it was an idea that Sakura would hold on too in hopes that it would prove true.

Sasuke looked so peaceful now, as rain began to fall. The heavens wept for a man that lived and died for vengeance. Each rain drop would attempt to clean his tainted skin so that he might be cleansed of all his sins. It seemed even the rain pitied him. But, all was done, and he had made his own choices in life. Sasuke chose this fate and Sakura would not hate him for it.

Those who were still conscious gathered around, weeping for the youngest Uchiha. Sakura remembered Naruto as he dropped by his friends side. The bond that they held went so much deeper than one held by two friends. They were brothers through and through. That was also the first time she saw Naruto completely broken. It would be days later before he would even speak to another person whether friend or stranger.

The return home had seemed the hardest but it was nothing compared to the events to come.

- - - - - - - - - -

Konoha had been quiet that day. No one spoke, even the animals seemed to be mourning.

The funeral had been held beneath the protective gazes of the Hokages both past and present. The whole town had come to witness the final goodbye to a proud and respected shinobi.

Tears were wept and words were said, but somehow it did nothing to ease the pain away. To Sakura it was only the beginning of a long healing process, sadly though she knew that some may never truly heal.

As the ceremony came to an end, she became suddenly aware of a presence that caused a calm wave to wash over her. In that moment she knew all was going to be ok, for he was here.

- - - - - - - - - -

In the months to come Sakura would learn that Sasuke’s last words had not fallen on deaf ears.

At first she had been wary, but as time passed she had grown accustomed to having his presence near her. It was a comforting thought and she soon wondered if she would ever be able to live with out it.

He was the one that had helped her from being consumed by despair, not over Sasuke’s death but over the effect it had on Naruto. The usually bubbly blond was now quiet and with drawn. He would only talk to either Sakura or Kakashi and would spend his hour locked within his apartment mourning over a part of him that had been violently torn away.

It broke Sakura’s heart and she too almost fell into the same vast despair.

But he was there, and even though he always kept his distance, he gave her strength to make it through these hard times.

- - - - - - - - - -

It was the day Sakura had broken her inner vow that he finally showed himself to her. Whether he did it for comfort or for pity she did not know, but he held her as her tears fell down. She had finally lost the last person that meant something to her.

Naruto’s pain had been beyond healing, and in the end he found it easier to rid himself of his suffering by taking his own life.

The event had nearly broken Sakura, this time beyond repair. Yet somehow he again had saved her.

He was her savior, her life line.

In that moment she knew that she really would die without him.

- - - - - - - - - -

The moon had been high in the sky at that time, for it was the only thing to bear witness to the forbidden love that had transpired on that calm night.

Their bodies moved together as one being in a show of the utmost passion.

Sweet nothings and moans could be heard amongst the quiet sounds of the forest around them.

For Sakura, it was as if she was engaging in a taboo act. Being with the man above her was a betrayal, not only to the village she called home but to the people she had once loved above all else.

Yet she needed this. It was a way to prove that she was alive and was needed in some form. It was a happiness of sorts that flowed through her as she reached her limit.

Chills racked her body as her climax took hold, bringing her to a higher level of pleasure.

He too came soon after, releasing his seed within her.

The two bodies laid there together in the soft grass as they came down from their high.

It was an amazing thing and Sakura would not forget this night. It was the night that she realized that she was still need on this earth.

She needed to be here for him as much as he needed to be here for her.

- - - - - - - - - -

A soft wind picked up again and dragged her from her memories. Yes much had happened, and she couldn’t say she regretted some of it. Now as she looked out over the whisking grass, she knew that all was right.

She could finally come here, to this place and not dwell on her loneliness, for she had him, a pillar of support and strength. Bound to her by an inner promise that he had made to the last of his kin.

For that she was grateful, because of him she was able to go on living and once again she was able to love. Without him she would have been lost, on an endless road of darkness and sorrow. Yet he had been her light that she could confide in, she knew he would always be there, even when she could not see him.

That alone gave her comfort.

Looking to her side, she watched the man that sat next to her. His eyes studying her in mild interest. At one point in time it would have been rare to see this man’s eyes as they are now. No longer did they hold a cold glare, but a warm affection that was only directed towards her.

It was a turn of events that some would have thought impossible for the last Uchiha, but those who knew the truth behind the matter only shrugged it off as one of those things.

Letting one last sigh pass her lips, Sakura boosted herself up and turned towards the source of her happiness.

“Shall we go?” She smiled one of those smiles that were only for him, one of those little things she did to show she cared.

He gave a curt nod before standing.

They would go on living life as it came. As long as they had each other they could face anything that the world could throw at them.

Together forever entwined in a promise that would never be broken.

-The End-

A/N- Ok after much thought I decided that I might do a little sequel one shot to this... it will be sad and might bring a tear to your eye... but yeah... It will be ItaSaku yet again, so if you want me to write it then please tell me to do so....

Also for those of you confused, Itachi is with Sakura at the end... he is keeping to Sasuke's last wish of watching over Sakura... Why Sasuke said that I do not know he just did... I guess you could say he had feelings for her all along...

Anyway please Review... I love feedback !!!