(A/N Because I'm so nice 😜😘 and love you all)

"Sasuke, where are you going? You logged out so early!" Naruto ran after Sasuke the next day after school.

"I need to go see someone." Sasuke looked over his shoulder as Naruto tried to catch up to him, "you don't have to come, it's just near Sagamihara and Shibuya."

"Nah, I'm coming. I've got nothing better to do." Naruto chuckled, "and Hinata's not online until after her family thing. Same goes for Neji. And Shikamaru doesn't feel like clearing a dungeon let alone a level today."

"What about Kiba?"

"He has to take Akamaru to the vet." Naruto pointed a finger at Sasuke, "can't make me get out of this one."

"Fine, whatever."

The two boys walked down the sidewalk until Sasuke caught sight of the hospital.

Yokohama Kohoku General Hospital... Sasuke looked at Naruto.

"Who's here?"

"Crystalee."

"Who?"

"She's the girl on the other end of that communication crystal." Sasuke looked up at the building, "she gave me this number, which is, apparently, her 'special patient' ID."

"Special patient?" Naruto tapped his chin, "oh well, only one way to find out. Let's go in."

The two walked through the doors and made their way to the front desk, "hello, uh, we're here to see a patient."

"Alright, can I have a name?"

"Well, you see, we met in-game, but we think her name might be Crystalee. She's a special patient with the ID 3282007?"

"Yes, we have a patient in our care by that name and code." The woman typed something into her computer, "are you related to her at all? Uh, brother?"

"No."

"Okay." The receptionist looked about eighteen, and Sasuke noticed her eyes lingered on him a little longer than normal, "you can go up to see her."

"Thank you." Sasuke nodded as she stood up.

"You'll need these." She pulled out a couple of name tags. She handed one to Naruto and the other to Sasuke, "please follow me."

Naruto giggled childishly as she passed and Sasuke instinctively elbowed him in the stomach. The elevator-ride up was awkward and spent in silence. Until they somehow reached the top floor. They stepped out and walked down until they reached a wooden door. The receptionist knocked, and after a few seconds, a man poked his head out, "can I help you?"

"Yes, these two gentlemen wish to visit 3282007."

"Ah, um, we didn't think anyone knew about her."

"What do you mean?" Sasuke peered his eyes, "doesn't she have family?"

"Uh..." The man pursed his lips and stepped out, shutting the door behind him, "thank you, Eve. You can go back to your post downstairs. I'll take it from here."

"Alright, Doctor." She nodded. As she passed Sasuke, she set something into his pant pocket. He picked it up and opened it to find a phone number. He looked off after her and she winked at him before leaving.

Did she unbutton her top shirt buttons while we were... Sasuke stared at her, then shook his head as he folded the paper back up and shoved it absentmindedly into his pocket.

"So how did you find her?"

"We met her in a game." Sasuke crossed his arms, "what's the problem?"

"She's not an ordinary patient. You see, a few years ago, we had our first patient here diagnosed with AIDs, her name was Yuuki Konno. She was hospitalized in this very hospital and was the first to test out our device called the Medicuboid."

"That sounds really complicated..." Naruto scratched his head.

"So your name, Doctor?"

"Doctor Kurahashi." He bowed, "nice to meet you."

"Sasuke Uchiha." Sasuke bowed, "and this is Naruto Uzumaki."

"And you've met, ah, what's her avatar name? Crystalee?"

"Not in person. At least I've heard from her. Naruto hasn't."

"So she knows who you are."

"Yes."

"Okay, then come this way." Dr. Kurahashi opened the door and led them inside, "you see, we weren't planning to use the Medicuboid after Ms. Konno passed. But when Crystalee found this device, she pleaded with me to let her use it. She's been in it 24/7 for one whole year, now."

"What does she have?" Sasuke questioned.

"Terminal cancer. She's been diagnosed with it since she was ten. Her parents had already died from various illnesses, and that was when she was eight. She was being taken care of by her uncle, but he'd abused her and used her. So she was brought here, and she's lived here all her life."

Sasuke and Naruto stopped and stared at the girl on the other side of the glass.

"She's..."

"She has to be put in a separate room for the process." Dr. Kurahashi explained, "it's rare she's had visitors, but..."

"Sasuke?!"

A voice over the speaker in the room called.

"Crystalee?" Sasuke peered through the glass at the girl. She hadn't moved, but the Medicuboid device over her head indicated she was speaking, "Crystalee! Yeah it's us."

"Yes, I see that." the same voice Sasuke had heard in the game was speaking to him right then and there, "and you're Naruto?"

"Y-yeah..." Naruto stared at the girl, "she looks so weak and frail..."

"She hasn't been out of this room in a year. She can't get the exercise she needs, she's always in pain. The cancer is slowly killing her every day. But when she's in the device, she's in full health in the game and she's always online. The only time I could really see her in action is online."

"Crystalee..." Sasuke looked at her, "that's your avatar name."

"Well, yeah. I haven't really gone by my real name in a while." Crystalee chuckled, "I've almost completely forgotten it... If I didn't have a post-it right here of what my real name is. Everyone in the hospital knows me as Crystalee."

"So... Now that we found you, what's your real name?"

"I don't want you using it, though." Crystalee warned with a bit of amusement in her voice.

"Okay, fine. Whatever."

"Sakura Haruno."

Sakura... Sasuke caught a glimpse of her hair under the machine. It was a soft cherry blossom pink.

"Wow." Naruto grinned.

"I know, it's an ugly name." The voice laughed.

"Are you kidding?" Naruto chuckled, "It's an awesome name! I'm surprised you'd rather go by Crystalee!"

"Yes, well..." Crystalee chuckled, "it's complicated."

"Um..." Sasuke looked at the ground, "when will you be online, next?"

"Well, Sasuke." Crystalee began, "you remember, I told you I'm rarely online? Well, truth is, I'm always online. It's the only place I can go that's close to the real world. I wasn't lying that I can speak on the communication crystal offline, though. With the Medicuboid, I can communicate online and offline. This machine is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. I couldn't thank Dr. K. enough."

"Well..." Dr. Kurahashi rubbed his elbows, "I did warn you of the risks."

"Yes, yes, I know." Crystalee giggled, "anyways, it was definitely a pleasure meeting you both!"

"Yeah." Naruto smiled, "I want to meet you online, though!"

"Don't worry. I'll send you a direct message." Crystalee beamed, "you too, Sasuke. Got it?"

"Yeah. Sure." Sasuke smiled.

Naruto made his way to the door and Dr. Kurahashi went to see him out. Sasuke stood back and still looked at the girl.

"You okay, Sasuke?"

"Sakura... It's a nice name." Sasuke chuckled.

"Don't call me that... It's Crystalee now." She sighed, "listen, you're the one that obtained the communication crystal. I wanna meet you first. Okay?"

Sasuke smiled, "yeah."

"I'll see you soon, then." Sasuke could practically hear the smile on Crystalee's face. He smirked as he touched the glass one last time, then walked out into the hallway and shut the door behind him.

Sasuke... Crystalee repeated the name as she ran her fingers through her pink hair. She looked out through the device and smiled to herself. Even though her physical body couldn't move or do anything, in the device, she was her own avatar that functioned all on its own. She sat cross-legged before the giant screen before her that displayed what was going on in her surroundings. Crystalee gazed out at where Sasuke and Naruto were.

"I haven't had visitors like this in a while." Crystalee said as Dr. Kurahashi rejoined her, "did you tell them about me?"

"Hm." he smirked, "I overheard your conversation in the game. I was there. And I gave him your ID."

"Well..." Crystalee chuckled, "I don't know if I should kill you or thank you."

"Either way." Dr. Kurahashi held his hands behind his head and propped his legs up on the table, "you're still glad to have met them, right? You should make more friends while you're here, you know."

"No." Crystalee gripped her knees, "if I make any close relations like that, when my time comes, I'll leave them in pain. That's why I can't make any close relations with anyone."

"Crystalee, you need to change that mindset. Maybe your condition will improve if you enjoyed yourself more."

"It's hard to do that... I don't want them to suffer..." She bent her head back and shut her eyes, "I'll think on it. But I definitely still want to meet Sasuke in the game, you can count on that."

"Yep." Dr. Kurahashi nodded, "I'm heading home, now. If you need anything, give me a call, got it?"

"Yeah." Crystalee nodded, not that he could see her, though, "thank you for everything, Dr. Kurahashi."

"You're welcome." He smiled and nodded as he left and silently shut the door behind him.

All the lights went out, and as Crystalee leaned back to lie down, she couldn't get rid of that memory of meeting Sasuke. She didn't want to make friends, it would only make her leaving more painful for all of them. But at the same time, she would do anything to meet them again. She slowly shut her eyes and dreamed of that virtual world she'd lived in for a long time, only this time, Sasuke was in it.