~Epilogue~

As evening came and the moon had risen high in the night sky, the white-haired youth opened the window as quietly as he could be. He stepped into the bedroom, standing still as he caught sight of the sleeping girl. He glanced down at the floor, biting his bottom lip as he thought what to say or if he should even wake her. Kagenashi, his living some many greats-uncle, gave him only enough time visit one person... and he chose Sakura.

She was so peaceful as she slept and he began to have second thoughts. He shook his head and turned around, stepping up onto the window sill and it creaked. The youth winced and cursed silently under his breath. He heard movement behind him as the pink-haired girl stirred, waking from her sleep a little.

"Mm...? Who...?" Sakura sat up a little, rubbing the back of her hand against her cheekbone. She blinked, her eye-sight adjusting to the dark as she tiredly looked towards her open window. The pink-haired girl gasped, sitting up right as she recognized the crimson eyes that belonged to the white-haired youth. "Yo...ru?"

She shook her head, thinking she was still asleep, dreaming that Yoru was awake and standing in her room. With a soft, barely audible sigh Yoru stepped back from the window and faced her. "I... wasn't trying to wake you..." he mumbled.

He semi-turned away from her, bringing his hand up to his chest as it constricted painfully at the thought of saying goodbye. He shut his eyes as he turned his head away from her being able to see the tears.

"I came to... to say goodbye." he managed to keep his voice from cracking. He shook his head, nearly laughing at the stupidity of his actions of coming in her window while she slept. "This is weird... I shouldn't have-!"

Sakura's heart thudded against her chest, she quickly threw back the covers and hugged Yoru. Her actions startled the youth, but he quickly recovered as he lifted his hand up hesitantly up, but he didn't touch her.

"Please... don't go... not you too..." she murmured against his chest.

Pain tore at Yoru, he heard of Sasuke leaving the village some nights ago. Then Naruto left with a man named Jiraiya that he never heard of. Now, he was here... telling the girl he loved, but couldn't confess out of fear, that he was leaving too. He was also leaving his foster father, Kakashi, all alone again. He wanted to see the white-haired jounin, too. Yoru placed his hands on her shoulders, pushing her away a little.

"I'm sorry... I have to..." he said.

Sakura lifted her head up, but before she could say anything else she caught sight of Yoru's tears. The pink-haired girl lifted her hand up to his cheek, brushing away the tears that lingered there and made him look at her. Yoru looked down at her, her green eyes full of pain and another emotion he hadn't quite understood until now. Both genin stood there for a long moment, just looking at each other.

Yoru pulled her closer into another hug, trying to keep himself calm again. Sakura wrapped her arms around his torso, feeling the little tremors that coursed through his body. Even though their time in knowing each other was short, she felt like she knew him a little longer than before. Sakura closed her eyes, remember the night he had left his window open. For her to come to him if she needed a friend... and he had given her just that and more, but she had been so oblivious to see it.

The two stood there for the longest moment, just holding each other for the final goodbye Yoru came to give. If he had came here instead of just leaving then Sakura began to finally understand... She felt her eyes sting with her own tears that began to fall. Yoru's been there for me even when I selfishly worried about Sasuke other than he and Naruto...

"Sakura..." Yoru whispered her name and she held onto him a little tighter, believing that the words that followed it where ones of goodbye. "I love you."

Her green eyes opened wide and she stood there unmoving when her heart skipped a beat. She pulled back a little and Yoru let her, not knowing what the reaction he would get from his words. He stared down at her then shut his eyes when Sakura moved, thinking she might hit him. Instead, he was shocked when she kissed him instead. He blinked then wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing back.

They finally broke the small kiss and Yoru pressed his forehead against her's, his eyes closed.

"I have to go." he murmured.

Sakura nodded her head, both reluctantly pulling away from each other. As Yoru was climbing out of the window and nearly past the bottom of it, Sakura moved to it and called out the white-haired youth's name. Yoru stopped in mid-climb, tilting his head up. Sakura leaned out the window a little more, Yoru pulled himself up more until their noses touched. He tilted his head to the side a little more and initiated the second kiss, this time taking her by surprise.

"My promise to you." he whispered, "I will come back to you."

A blush dusted her cheeks and Yoru jumped down into the small alley between their homes. He lifted his hand up in farewell to her as he walked a little backwards. Yoru turned around and moved like a shimmer. At the village gates, Kagenashi awaited his brother's descendent with the two present Anbu. Yoru appeared with his packed satchel he had placed beneath Sakura's window before climbing up to it.

"Have you said your goodbyes to the one you chose?" the middle-aged appearing elder spoke.

Yoru nodded his head and with that they started their journey. Hanging back a little, Yoru glanced down and brought his hand up to his face. He pulled on his mask as he smiled softly thinking about his first kiss with Sakura and the promise made to her.

I promise you... I'll come back stronger than ever to protect you.

~Fin~