Authors note:

The Final Chapter of my mini story. I do hope it makes you cry, it's what i was aiming for. :)

Standard disclaimer applied.

F

R

O

Z

E

N


"Some memories are frozen within time itself, So that you can always remember them."

No matter how much pain is inflict on you.
Because,
not all memories are happy ones.

[[Chapter 2]]

-

-

-

Sakura woke up and saw the empty space in her bed; Sasuke must have gotten up early and left.

She sighed as she grabbed her robe and padded down stairs. As she reached the last step she could see the kitchen she could see who was inside the kitchen, she was shocked as her mouth opened but, nothing came out. She gulped, pausing on the stair trying to move forward, her one of her hand trembled, while the other one was clutching the railing.

"Sakura?" he called. It only made it harder to move.

Harder to breathe

her heart beat increased, blood flowing fast. Pulse racing.

-

-

"H-Hai?" she managed to say, with great effort. The words cracking as they left her mouth.

"Come here for a minute." He asked.

Such simple words for a simple task. Why was it so hard, why? She knew why. But admitting it was not what she wanted.

How could she.

She hated herself.
She was a terrible, terrible person.

"You cheating WHORE!"

"What?" she squeaked? Her eyes tearing up her stomach aching.

"Hm? I didn't say anything sweetie."

"Oh, ahahaha." She laughed awkwardly and she sat down at the table right across from him. She looked up to his face, such a relaxed expression.

It frightened her.

"What's on your mind?" she asked, as he put a cup of coffee in front of her. She slowly reached out for it, and grabbed sugar and milk and poured it in. Coffee, in Sakura's opinion wasn't good until you added sugar and milk, she liked it sweet.

"It's about, Sasuke."

Thump
Thump
Thump

Thum-

Her heart stopped. She dropped the spoon that was in her hand.

Mind froze.

I'm drowning.

I-I can't breathe.

There's No air.

"S-Sasuke?" she managed to utter his name to him. "What about him?" her eyes widened.

"Sakura, there's," he looked away. He couldn't face her. If there was one thing to avoid talking to Sakura about, it was Sasuke.

He turned his head away, his blue eyes staring away from hers. Avoiding her gaze.

This wasn't good, Not good at all

he was hiding something;

Something terrible

"Where is he?" the guilt had leaked away, she was now only worried about him.

Only him.

"Sakura." He turned to her, his eyes and head tilled to the ground in shame.

Shame?

She was confused.

It should be me…
I should be. I should be the one…

"He left on the ANBU S ranked mission this morning."

That's why he left so early. But, he said he'd be staying longer…that I get to him to myself for a week at most.

"When did you tell him about the mission, didn't he just get back?"

"Yes, he got back this morning, look-"

"Why?" she croaked. She knew about that mission, that mission was fatal, deadly.

"He's a great ninja Sakura; you know he will come back- I know he will! He will always come back to you."

He will always.
Always come back, to you.

The words rung in her head, repeatedly. She started crying, she couldn't stop. The tears started flowing from her green eyes. And Naruto bowed his head in shame.

He knew he shouldn't have picked Sasuke, he didn't want to. He asked him, told him he could refuse but, he- he insisted.

Why, was all Naruto wanted to know.
Why did he leave her sad like this.

On a mission that had a success rate of 10%
it was suicidal.

Naruto didn't talk to Sakura after that morning; she was sulking in her room

3 day's passed.

She hardly ate. Hardly slept.
She was depressed, and there was nothing he could do. His Sakura wasn't smiling.
He looked at her, caressed her face, and looked into her lifeless green eyes,

"I promised, I'd always make you smile."

She didn't move, didn't look up, she sat there as motionless as ever.

"And I will make you smile."

I promise. As he kissed her cheek.

I always wanted what was best. For you.
I always wanted to make you smile. For you.
I wanted to be your flame, your spark.

But I realized.
That I couldn't
I could never.

not matter what.

Only he.

Only he could do everything I wanted.

And when I couldn't give you him, I tired everything in my power to make it possible. Even if it was for a day, an hour. A moment was all you needed.

I'd turn the other way.

I'd let the tears fall, let you break my heart into little pieces, for you.

So you'd smile. So, you'd be happy. So… you could have, half of what you dreamed so long for.

I gave it all away, for you.

And I won't regret it.

A week had passed.

Sakura was still the same, still depressed.

He's gone;

gone forever.

Naruto had disappeared that day, and I couldn't care. He probably had things to take care of, more important things, after all the city depended on him to be there for him. She tried eating, but she couldn't eat to much, she wasn't hungry.

A week & A half.

Ino had stopped by to see what was up, I hadn't gone to work, which was unusual. I had called in sick, she laughed and said to cheer up, Naruto would be back in a week from his mission and I shouldn't be so sad. She took me shopping, but I was uninterested. There was nothing I wanted; I couldn't buy what I really wanted.

"Hey, Sakura." Ino asked, as we sat down for ice-cream, it was the only thing I could eat.

"I've never seen you this, depressed before. Usually you're happy as can be."

He was my secret.

My (our) dirty little secret;

I never told anyone.

Not a soul.

His life was on the line.

"It's not just Naruto." I caved in.

"What?" she asked, "Who else are you worried ab-" she froze in her sentence.

"You're worried about Sasuke!" she asked.

She said his name so fast, without a care in the world. She didn't know how much he meant to me.

"Why in the world would you be worried about him?"

"He was my teammate Ino; of course I'd be worried about them." I spouted truthful lies. "There both gone, and it troubles me."

She looked at me, worried; she believed it, "I guess I understand." She looked across from me, "It's just that, after the conditions Tsunade gave when he 'came' back, that you'd just forget about him."

"I'd never." Sakura tried to calm herself down, "forget about him."

"But, Sakura, Your not allowed to even talk to him, unless if he's injured or, if your on a mission with him, other then that all contact between you too is cut off."

"Don't remind me." She angrily said.

"It was for the best." Ino looked at her, "She wanted to protect you."

A month had past.

I was better than before, I went to work and tried to forget, but it was hard.

I couldn't.

He was all I thought about.

3 months.

-
-

And my world came crashing down.

They team had come back. Half of the team, when I saw Naruto, I looked passed him, I looked and looked but, I didn't see him. I fell to the ground, he caught me, and I cried all over again.

"He's gone." I sob, "He's gone."

// do this for me, please?
No, I won't. Don't do this!
I have to, I must.
It's all for her. I'm not going to let you die.
Please, she loved you more,
no she always loved you
you're all she talks about Naruto!//

he held her ask she sob, carried her to a little place. It took hours, but she didn't say anything just sob in his arms.

As she looked at the grave she sat there confused.

//don't flatter me, don't lie. //

Rest in peace

Uzumaki Naruto

//she always loved you. //

she stopped only to look where they were, she paused as she saw the tombstone.

And she looked up to him, tears in her eyes,

"Where is he?"

he paused and let her down, and he took a piece a paper and read to her,

"When I asked you to marry me, when I gave you everything you wanted. I knew it was never enough, I knew I couldn't give you everything you truly wanted.

And when I told you the only way to see him, was to marry me, you agreed.

You did what ever it took to be with even an inch closer to him.

And even if he was ever caught talking with you, he'd be killed, he took that risk. He loved you that much. That he'd risk it all for one night. For one kiss, for one smile, for you. "

He paused, "I did it for you Sakura, always for you. Even if you never loved me."

Sasuke appeared behind her, "The jutsu will only last for a while longer, say your last goodbyes, Sakura, he won't be coming back."

"Naruto, I did love you. I loved you more than anyone." She said as she walked forward touching his slowly fading hand,

"I love you too Sakura."

"I liked marrying you, you were a wonderful husband." A tear leaked from her eyes again.

"Sakura, I didn't die without purpose, I died giving you everything you want."

"Thank you Naruto, I know, you gave me everything and I- I gave you nothing"

He smiled as he faded away. "You gave me something, something I could never ask for, a beautiful lie." he voice fading in the wind.

is it okay to lie.
To the ones you love
to make them happy?

Right?

Because I told one hell of a lie, just then, and seeing him smile, made it all worth it.

i don't regret it.

As he faded she fell and sobbed harder then ever.

He truly was gone.

But he gave her everything she wanted.

he gave her Sasuke, the man who she loved.

"Sasuke" she asked, her voice trembling and tired from all her crying.

"Hm?"

"Can we add, something to his tombstone?"

He smiled.

Rest in peace.

Uzumaki Naruto;
The strongest ninja.
A great friend.

The man who could make anyone smile.
and give it all for those he loved. Thank-you.

because i can't change, what's in my heart. I tried to do it, i tried to love you, but, He's all i wanted. He's my world.

There! Mini Christmas gift story complete!

Love you lots!

And now, I'm off to complete indulge. I'll update soon, don't kill me.