• 1-The Accident
• 2-Chaos
• 3-Enlightenment
• 4-Moonlight Kisses
• 5-Stolen Afternoon
• 6-Complications
• 7-The Trouble In Sunagakure
• 8-Kazekage's Ails
• 9-Midnight Interlude
• 10-Harsh Light of Day
• 11-Progression/Regression
• 12-Returning Home
• 13-Coming to Terms
• 14-Solutions and Problems
• 15-Stress and Tension
• 16-Into the Fire
• 17-Actions Speak Louder than Words
• 18-Truth and Consequences
• 19-Passive Aggressive
• 20-Konoha On Fire
• 21-All for One
• 22-Aftermath
• 23-Comfort
• 24-Necessary Clarification
• 25-Rays of Hope
• 26-Preparation
• 27-Honesty
• 28-Rumination
• 29-Resolutions

~~~~~

“Sakura, open up!” a female voice shouted, banging furiously on the door. The four people seated throughout the living room looked up in surprise. Sasuke groaned loudly. “Sakura!”

Naruto jumped up, pulling open the door to allow Ino to march on through, Shikamaru sauntering in behind her.

Ino’s pale blue eyes took in all the faces in the room before settling on her target. “Sakura, what the hell were you thinking!? You could have killed yourself!”

Neji raised his eyebrows in mild surprise. He knew Sakura had overdone it yesterday, but to say she would have killed herself was a bit of a stretch. Sasuke rolled his eyes, while Shikamaru looked around the room with apologetic resignation.

“Ino, it wasn’t that bad,” Sakura replied. “Honestly, you make it sound like I jumped off a cliff or something.”

“Well, just so you know,” she continued in her trademark ‘I-know-it-all’ tone, “everyone at the hospital is talking about you and how amazing you are! I had a checkup with Shizune this morning and she was going on and on about how you did such a phenomenal job with saving Kakashi, and that even she couldn’t do what you did until her seventh year of training with Tsunade-sama. So apparently you’re this big shot prodigy now.”

“Then why would you be worried that I nearly killed myself?”

“Because she said that you’d fainted and were unconscious for hours, meaning you seriously overdid it and that was stupid.”

“I can’t believe you are lecturing me about being stupid,” Sakura muttered. “It’s not like you wouldn’t have done the same thing, so shut up. How are you feeling?”

“Fine.” She looked around the room for available space. Sakura was sitting in her arm chair, Neji on one of the arms. Sasuke was sitting alone in the middle of the sofa. “Sasuke, move over,” she demanded bluntly. Sasuke glared at her in annoyance before shifting over slightly. “Seriously, move!” She sat down next to him before leaning hard into him, forcing him to move. “Shika, come sit.”

Shikamaru sighed before doing as he was told. Naruto dragged in a chair from the kitchen.

“So, hi Neji,” Ino said, a big grin on her face. She winked at Sakura.

“Ino,” he nodded, “glad to hear you’re doing better.”

“Yep. So…” she looked around the room, “am I interrupting something?”

“Nope,” Naruto answered. “Hinata-chan just left after lunch, so we’re just… sitting here,” he finished lamely.

“Oh. Fun.”

“Isn’t it?” Sakura said with a laugh.

Secretly, she was rather glad Ino was there to break the tension. She was getting annoyed with both Sasuke and Neji, glaring and brooding and emitting bad vibes all around. She noted, much to her irritation, that Sasuke’s arms were folded tightly across his chest while he glared at pretty much everyone. ‘Why don’t you just go home then!?’ Inner Sakura screamed.

Shikamaru’s eyes met Neji’s. He shifted his eyes in the direction of Sasuke before swinging back to Neji, his eyebrows furrowing. Neji nodded. He turned to Sakura, “Do you mind if Shikamaru and I have a word in your room?”

“Go ahead,” she said. She assumed they needed to discuss something pertaining to the meetings with Tsunade.

He kissed the top of Sakura’s head as he rose; Shikamaru followed him into her bedroom, closing the door behind him.

“Do you know anything about why he’s back?” Shikamaru asked.

“Nothing. I’ve already asked Tsunade-sama about it, but she won’t tell me anything. Said it’s classified.”

“No one seems to know anything. From the way everyone is acting, it’s as though he never defected at all.”

“I’ve noticed that as well. How long has he been back?”

“Two weeks, I think.”

“And after everything that happened, no one finds it even a little odd that he’s suddenly back?”

“My guess is that those that knew about Sasuke leaving in the first place simply trust Tsunade-sama as to allowing him back. If the reason is good enough for her to trust him, then everyone else would trust her judgment, if not him personally.”

“You don’t really buy that,” Neji stated.

“He arrived shortly after we received word of Sunagakure’s problems.”

“Not a coincidence?”

“If it’s not, then Tsunade-sama hasn’t been entirely forthcoming with us.”

“And if it is?”

“Then we’re back at the start.” Shikamaru sighed, “This is troublesome.”

* * * * *

“You two are cute together,” Ino said with a wicked grin. Sakura smiled, casting a nervous glance at Sasuke. “And I’m sure you,” she continued, turning to Sasuke, “must be thrilled now that your fan club has been disbanded.”

Sasuke merely “tched” in annoyed response. He stood up. “I’ll see you later,” he muttered to Sakura, heading out the door.

“Well that was rude,” Ino said indignantly.

“Sasuke’s… well… yeah,” Naruto said, his attempt at an explanation failing midway. “I should probably get going to, if you don’t mind, Sakura-chan.”

Sakura knew he was going to go after Sasuke, which was fine with her. Why Sasuke was acting the way he was, she didn’t really know or understand, but if Naruto could smooth things over, it would be one less thing she would have to deal with. “Go. I’ll see you later.”

“Bye!” He dashed out.

Ino turned her eyes to Sakura. “I have to admit, I was surprised to see him here. How are you handling it?”

“Fine,” Sakura said with a shrug. “It’s strange, having him back, but I’m still glad.”

“Okay,” Ino said, dropping the subject.

Neji and Shikamaru re-emerged. “Sasuke and Naruto left?” Neji asked.

“Just a minute ago,” Sakura informed them.

“Ino, we should get going. Asuma wanted us to meet this evening.”

“Alright then,” she said, getting up and giving Sakura a hug. “See you tomorrow, okay?”

“Of course.”

Neji and Shikamaru exchanged a look before he and Ino left. Neji turned his attention to Sakura. “How are you feeling?”

“I wish everyone would stop asking me that,” she said with a smile. “I’m fine, honestly. I’d really just like to go see Kakashi-sensei.”

“Are you up to it?”

“Yes.”

“Then go get dressed.”

* * * * *

“Kakashi-sensei?” Sakura said quietly as she rapped lightly on the open door.

“Sakura,” he said cheerfully, his smile obvious, albeit hidden behind that infernal mask. “Just the medic I’ve been hoping to see. I hear you’re a real hero.”

“No,” she replied shyly. “Nothing of the sort.”

“That’s not what I’ve been told.”

“Whatever you’ve been told are all lies.”

“You’re the liar, and you’re bad at it. You need to work on that.”

Sakura smiled, stepping up to him and lifting up his shirt to check the wound, which was still red, but completely healed. “Looks good.”

“So I’m told.” Sakura pulled up a chair next to the bed. “And how are you?”

“Fine,” she said with a smile. “Everyone is babying me and it’s driving me insane.”

“I could guess as much,” he replied with a chuckle. “I’m surprised to see you up and about already.”

“Well I’m so used to storing up chakra unconsciously, I seem to heal a lot faster. When my chakra gets depleted, I rest, but my chakra starts building up again very quickly.”

“Mmm,” Kakashi murmured. “Perfect chakra control does that, I guess.” Sakura shrugged indifferently. “Is he just going to lurk around outside, or is he going to come in?”

“Neji?” Sakura asked, startled.

“If you would like,” Neji answered, appearing in the doorway. Kakashi motioned with a tilt of his head for him to enter.

“What happened has something to do with that mission you two had in Suna,” he surmised, now all business.

Sakura’s reaction was one of surprise; Neji, however, nodded. “It’s fair to assume so, yes.”

What little of Kakashi’s expression that could be seen looked pensive. “Interesting.”

“Kakashi-sensei! You’re awake!” Naruto shouted, bounding in happily.

“Yo.”

“Sakura-chan did a good job, didn’t she?”

“Yep.”

Naruto narrowed his eyes, clearly thinking a simple ‘yep’ was not nearly enough praise. “That’s it? That’s all she gets for saving your life!?”

He beamed from under his mask. Sakura laughed, exchanging a look with Neji. Kakashi’s eyebrow raised.

“That’s not fair!” Naruto whined. “You should be, like, thanking her or something! She worked really hard to save your ass!”

“Naruto, it’s fine,” Sakura giggled. “He already did. Anyway, don’t badger him. He needs rest.” She swung her head back to Kakashi. “Speaking of which, we should let you get some. I just wanted to stop by and see how you were.”

“I’ll live. Thanks to you,” he said with genuine appreciation.

“We’ll come see you tomorrow, Kakashi-sensei!” Naruto waved as he followed Neji and Sakura out. “Come on, Hinata-chan said she’d meet us for dinner!”

“Are you up for it?” Neji asked Sakura.

“Yeah, for a bit.”

“Yay!”

* * * * *

“So I start training with her the day after tomorrow,” Hinata informed them.

Sakura passed the remainder of her dumplings to Neji, who removed one while Naruto dived for another, shoving it into his mouth. “That’s good, though,” he said, his mouth full.

“Naruto, that’s disgusting,” Sakura chided, although used to it.

“It’s as I expected,” Neji said quietly. “She wants to train medic-nins. She’s expecting trouble.”

“How could she not be,” Sakura stated, “given everything that’s happened. We’ve always had a shortage of medics. Think about the lives lost the last time Konoha was attacked. Sure, Shishou is here now, but we can’t rely solely on her. And Shizune and I are only two people.”

“My chakra control, it isn’t perfect like yours,” Hinata murmured quietly to Sakura.

“No, but it’s better than average, which is good enough given the circumstances. Your chakra control has to be good in order to use juuken. Plus you possess Byakugan, giving you an advantage. You won’t have to put chakra in to scan the damage before repairing. You’ll be able to see it and start straight away.”

Hinata nodded thoughtfully.

“I can train with you tonight and tomorrow, if you wish,” Neji offered, snatching the last dumpling out of Naruto’s grasp. Naruto groaned.

She nodded again, “I would like that.”

Neji cast a sidelong glance at Sakura. “I’ll be fine.”

“I can stay with Sakura-chan tonight,” Naruto offered.

“I’ll be fine. Seriously! If I’m well enough to be out here with you guys, I’ll be alright,” Sakura said with mock exasperation.

“Well I’ll take you home at least,” Naruto said, “and you’re not arguing with me on that.”

“Fine.”

“But I promise I’ll spend tomorrow night with you, Hinata-chan,” Naruto said to her. Hinata turned bright red.

‘Are they…’ Neji wondered, his eyes narrowing slightly, but stopped himself, ‘so what if they are? It’s not like you’re not, so don’t be a hypocrite.’ Still, his having a sex life and knowing his younger cousin had one were two different things.

“Well, that being said,” Sakura said, standing, “I’m getting pretty tired again. I’m going to head home.” She leaned down, kissing Neji gently. “See you all tomorrow then. Goodnight!”

“Wait, Sakura-chan, I’m coming with!” Naruto shouted. He gave Hinata a quick kiss before running after Sakura.

“He really loves her,” Hinata said quietly.

Neji tilted his head. “Does that bother you?”

“No,” she shook her head. “But he’s got a very special relationship with her. My teammates and I are close, but not like that. I think it’s because of what they suffered. I couldn’t imagine what that’s like.” Neji knew exactly what she was talking about. “Does it bother you?” she asked.

“I thought it did, at first, but not now. I understand their relationship, and I respect it. I would never interfere with that.”

“You love her, don’t you,” she stated.

Neji considered this. He had not actually used the word regarding Sakura, but Hinata was right. “Yes. I do.”

Hinata nodded. “She loves you too.” Neji smirked. “It’s obvious, Nii-san, every time she looks at you. Even Naruto-kun said so. He said he hasn’t seen her this happy in a very long time.”

Neji managed to keep his expression passive, but inside, his heart was soaring.

* * * * *

Sakura awoke to Naruto's loud snores, coming from the living room. The lights were still on. She got up to turn off the lights in the hall and shut the door when she sensed another chakra signature. She threw on her robe and walked down the hall into the main room.

Naruto was sprawled out on the sofa, sound asleep; Sasuke was sitting in the chair, reading a book he likely pulled from her shelves. His eyes raised from the book to her as she entered.

"Sasuke? What are you doing here?"

A slight smirk graced his handsome features. "The idiot here overdid it a bit today when we sparred. He passed out about an hour ago. I figured I would stay in case there was anything you needed, so you could both get some rest."

"Oh," she said, mildly surprised. 'That's unusually thoughtful of him,' she mused. 'It'd be one thing if we were on a mission, but now?'

She had to stop and remind herself that this was no longer the old Sasuke she knew years ago. This was the new Sasuke, the Sasuke that's been amazingly considerate and attentive to both her and Naruto, the Sasuke that seems to give a damn. 'Uchiha Sasuke, new and improved, now with a beating heart included!' Inner Sakura screeched. Sakura bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud.

"Something wrong?" Sasuke asked.

"No," she replied quickly, shaking her head. "Not a thing." Her eyes settled on the book in his hands. "What are you reading?"

He lifted up the book so that she could see the jacket. Whispers of the Fallen. "That's one of my favorites."

"I never would have guessed that you liked serious literature," he said honestly.

"Why is that?" Sakura asked curiously.

"I just assumed you'd read those trashy romance novels."

Sakura couldn't contain a smile. "Well, back when you first knew me, I did. But I'm not as naïve as I was then. I know now that love isn't just passion and desire; it takes work. It's hard. At times, it's even painful." She laughed, "I guess being disillusioned made me lose my taste for them."

Sasuke studied her intently, as though fascinated by her. "So now you prefer novels that make you cry?"

"What makes you think that book makes me cry?"

"Doesn't it?" he asked with one eyebrow raised.

Sakura smiled coyly, "Ah, that, you will never know."

It was evident from Sasuke's expression he believed himself right, however Sakura remained smug, not about to let him know one way or another. He said quietly, "The scene in which Kishimoto slays his lover in order to save his brother is particularly moving."

"Yes, it is. It's my favorite part of- wait, you've read it before?" she asked surprised. "It only just came out last... year..." her voice trailed off. "Oh."

Sasuke smirked in mock sarcasm. "I don't know what you believed, Sakura, but I certainly wasn't locked up in some cell, never to see the light of day. I spent most of my time training, and when I wasn't training, I would read."

Sakura was unsure of what to say. She wanted to know what happened to Sasuke while he was in Sound, as she had wondered about it, dreamed about it, spent countless hours worrying about whether or not he was okay, and yet she was afraid to bring it up and ruin the amicable mood between them.

"Anyway," Sasuke said, his eyes still on Sakura, "the sequel should be out soon. It should be interesting."

'If you were looking to seize the moment Sakura, that was just it,' she thought, annoyed with herself. The opportunity had been lost. She sighed, "Yes, I expect it will be." Her eyes settled on the clock on the bookcase shelf, which read 3:42 a.m. "I'm going to go back to bed, if you don't mind. And seriously, Sasuke, I'm fine, you don't have to stay."

"I'll see you in the morning," he replied, giving her a long last look before raising the book back to eye level.

* * * * *

“Sakura!” Neji screamed with all his might through the chaos. Shinobi fighting shinobi, as far as the eye could see, yet Neji’s chakra enhanced eyes found the one he sought. She was bent over, her back to him; she was trying to heal someone. She couldn’t see the danger behind her, growing closer. “SAKURA!”

Neji’s white eyes shot open, looking through the darkness surrounding him. Everything was quiet, in its place. There was no danger, no death, only the small bedroom he had known since birth and the dim light from the waning quarter moon casting eerie shadows his eyes could easily see through.

Neji closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. Upon opening them again, his vision returned to normal, his bloodline limit once again dormant. He was still unsettled by the vivid imagery of the dream. He was certain that had he not woken when he did, he would have witnessed Sakura’s death.

A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. “Yes?” he said quietly.

Hinata slid the door open and stepped in. “Are you alright, Nii-san?” she asked with concern. “I heard you shout.”

Neji bristled at this. Had Hiashi heard, he would certainly ask in the morning, questioning Neji’s mettle and nerves. Surely a genius bearing the name Hyuuga shouldn’t awaken screaming over some foolish dream.

“Yes, Hinata-sama, I’m fine,” he sighed with resignation.

Rather than waiting for an invitation, Hinata edged toward Neji’s bed before sitting down next to him. “You’ve been uneasy lately,” she said quietly. Neji sighed. She continued, “Although I’m not sure if the reason is because of the threat of attack or because of the situation with Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke.”

Neji twitched angrily at the mention of Sasuke, but said nothing. His eyes met his cousins. “I was dreaming about an attack on Konoha, but it wasn’t a normal dream. It was more vivid, more intense. In the midst of all the fighting and chaos, I saw Sakura about to be killed.”

“I see,” Hinata nodded. Something in her usually shy and quiet tone made Neji take note. He looked at her quizzically, waiting for further explanation. “You’re afraid of losing her,” she said simply.

“Hinata-sama,” Neji said, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice, “being afraid of losing someone and seeing that someone that you love about to be killed in front of you are two very different things.”

Hinata tilted her head as though to concede the point, but continued, “Dreams are sometimes the mind’s way of coping with things we can’t cope with consciously. The threat of attack is real, and weighs on your mind. You perceive the threat of losing Sakura as real as well, even if for no other reason than Sasuke’s return, as we all know how Sakura felt about him. Perhaps your mind has joined these two pressing matters into something you could understand. The attack, and losing Sakura. Watching her die, after all, is a form of losing her.”

Neji looked at his cousin with surprise. He’d never realized how truly astute Hinata was in such matters. “What you say does make sense.”

“Go to her,” Hinata said.

“It’s late. I will see her tomorrow.”

“Neji-nii-san,” Hinata said forcefully, “go to her. You need her. And she loves you. She would want you with her.”

Hinata, usually so passive and gentle, looked at him intensely. “I will see you in the morning when you come home to train with me.”

Neji found himself smiling. “Thank you, Hinata-sama.” She grinned back, her usual demeanor returning. She squeezed his hand before getting up and walking out.

Neji quickly dressed and left.

* * * * *

Neji slipped quietly through Sakura’s window. He found her sprawled gracefully across her bed, her eyes staring up at the ceiling. As he entered, she turned to face him. “Neji-kun!” she whispered excitedly, “What are you doing here?”

“I couldn’t sleep, and apparently neither could you,” he smiled, removing his clothing and slipping into bed with her. She immediately pushed herself into his embrace, kissing him.

“I’m so glad you’re here.”

Sakura kissed him once more, this time more deeply, leaving him breathless. When she pulled away, Neji looked into her eyes, seeing her desire, and her love.

Sakura’s fingertips danced over his cheek. She kissed his lips softly before making her way down his neck, her lips brushing feather-light kisses on the tender skin.

Neji surrendered himself to her delicate attentions, as she now rained soft kisses on his chest. He squirmed slightly as she flicked her tongue over a nipple. She laughed breathily before taking it into her mouth, sucking gently, nipping him before tracing kisses back up to his lips.

Neji captured them in his own, his arms encircling her in a tight embrace. He kissed her hard, deeply, his desire for her overtaking him.

He pulled Sakura up, sitting her on top of him. In one deft movement, her nightdress was gone. He pulled her back down to him, taking her right breast into his mouth, his left hand finding and kneading its twin. Sakura moaned softly, encouraging him. He switched.

Sakura ran her hand down Neji’s chest to the waistband of his boxers, pushing them down. She fingered his length gently, causing him to shiver.

Neji’s own fingers found Sakura’s center. He toyed with her clit for only a moment before slipping his digits into her. Sakura bit her lip as he pushed in and out of her. Her hand gripped his member, pulling in a fast motion, matching the speed with which he assailed her.

Sakura could feel her climax building and pulled herself off his hand. He looked up at her in confusion. She smiled, sliding down to straddle his legs before taking him into her mouth.

“Sakura…” Neji moaned, his hand tangling itself in her hair.

Sakura, driven by the throaty moans emanating from her lover, ran her tongue over the head, tracing small circles, then from the base to the head of the sensitive underside before finally taking him fully into her mouth once more. She could feel Neji’s hand in her hair, massaging her scalp as he lost himself to her ministrations. “Sakura…”

He could feel the familiar burning in his stomach, and it took all his self control to pull her back up. Her eyes met his; she nodded. She positioned herself over him, then lowered, impaling herself on him in one swift motion. She bit her lip to keep from crying out.

Neji’s hands found Sakura’s hips, helping her set a rhythm as she rode him, her small, pert breasts bouncing in stride. He pulled her body down on him, her chest flush with his, and kissed her again. Her hand tangled into his coffee lochs.

She pulled back to look at him, staring into his eyes, silver in the moonlight. “Neji…”

He drove into her once more, hitting that spot in Sakura that made her whole being shudder. Again and again he drove into her, sending her over the edge until she saw white lights. “Neji!” she moaned hoarsely, biting her lip hard to silence herself.

“Sakura-” his own orgasm hit just as she finished riding hers. As soon as his own subsided, she slumped onto him, both totally spent.

They were quiet long moments, content to just be in one another’s arms. Sakura propped herself up to look at him once more. Their eyes met and she smiled, kissing him before rolling off of him, onto her side. She threw her arm possessively over his chest, her leg over his own legs, as his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders. Her hair softly tickled his cheek.

“Sakura…” he whispered after a long while, wondering if she was still awake.

“Mm?’ she replied sleepily.

“I love you.”

She did not reply, but squeezed him more tightly, already lost in her dreams. Neji smiled, kissing her head, and willing himself to fall asleep.

* * * * *

Sakura awoke to knocking at her door. Neji was still asleep. She pried herself out of his embrace and immediately began searching for her nightdress. “Just a minute!” she said quietly.

Grabbing her robe instead, she slipped it onto her naked body and opened the door a crack. “Sasuke!”

“Naruto already left. I was wondering if there was anything else you needed before I take off as well.”

Sakura smiled. ‘That’s really considerate of him…’ “No, I’m fine, but thanks for asking. You did get some sleep last night, right?”

“A bit.” Sasuke inched forward, clearly trying to peer over Sakura’s shoulder into her room. “Who’s in there?” Sakura tried to feign ignorance, putting on her best confused expression; she knew it was failing miserably. “There’s another chakra presence in your room,” he stated.

She sighed. “Neji.”

Despite his best efforts to remain indifferent, Sakura saw the shadow pass his face, changing his entire demeanor. She was surprised, however, to see his hands ball into fists at his side. “I see,” he replied tightly.

Sakura was about to ask what his problem with Neji was when Neji appeared next to her, his arm wrapping around her waist. “Sasuke. I didn’t realize you were here.” He kissed Sakura’s cheek, murmuring, “Morning.”

Sasuke turned and stormed off down the hall. Sakura gave Neji a hopeless look and went after him. “Sasuke!” she shouted as his hand reached for the knob of her front door.

He turned, his dark eyes full of anger. “I have to go. I’ll see you later.” He was gone before Sakura’s eyes saw anything.

“Everything okay?” Neji asked, appearing in the living room, fully clothed.

“He… I don’t know,” she shook her head. “Look, I understand why you don’t like him. I can’t say that I blame you. He wasn’t your teammate, and he has to earn back the trust of all the people he hurt when he left, especially you since you almost lost your life because of him. I get that. But I don’t understand what his problem is. And every single time you two are in the same room together, I feel like I’m getting pulled in different directions.”

She sighed, collecting her thoughts. Neji listened intently as she continued, “I have loyalties to you; you’re my boyfriend and you know how much I care for you. But I also have loyalties to him. He’s still my teammate and my friend, and sad as it is, I’m one of the only people in this world he ever even remotely let in past his hard exterior. Yes, he betrayed that trust and loyalty, but he’s trying to make amends and I give him credit for that. But when you two are together, clearly loathing each other, it puts me in a really bad position. I shouldn’t feel like I have to choose between you.”

“No one is asking you to,” Neji said gently. He reached forward, cupping her cheek in his palm. “I would never put you in that position.”

Sakura looked up at him, her eyes sad. “By antagonizing him, you are.” Neji’s eyes widened. “I know it’s not fair of me to ask this Neji-kun, but I am. Please, be the bigger person. For me.”

Neji stared at her, taking in her hair, her lips, her cheeks, her eyes. He knew she was right; he was antagonizing the Uchiha. He just never realized how it would affect her, and he wasn’t so churlish and immature as to continue now knowing it was hurting her. “You’re right,” he said quietly, holding her gaze. “I’m sorry. I won’t put you in that position again.”

Sakura sighed her relief, “Thank you, Neji-kun.” Her palm found his cheek and she pulled him to her, kissing him. “Thank you.”

“I have to go. I’ll see you later.”

Sakura nodded, smiling. Neji turned and stole another kiss before walking out.

* * * * *

“Sorry, Sakura-chan!” Naruto apologized, scrambling around his small apartment to find something or other. “I’m on my way out. Promised I’d meet Kiba this afternoon to go over some stuff. I can meet you later if you want.”

Sakura shook her head. “No, it’s okay. You’re supposed to be meeting Hinata tonight, and it’s not so important that you should cancel.”

“Are you sure? Hinata-chan wouldn’t mind. Ah, there it is.” He reached under the sofa, pulling out his shuriken pouch. “So it’s not a problem.”

“Honestly Naruto, it’s fine. Please don’t worry about it.”

Naruto stopped running around the room and just looked at Sakura. He held his arms out and let her walk into them. “I know things haven’t been easy, having Sasuke back and all. It’s been strange for all of us, but I’m sure things will get better.”

Sakura smiled. ‘He’s totally clueless…’ she knew, but that was okay. Just the fact that he would stop what he was doing and hold her for a few moments was enough.

“I love you Sakura-chan,” he said quietly.

“I love you too, Naruto, so much.”

He pulled back to look at her. “Things will get better. And if they don’t, I’ll make them!”

Naruto’s silly lopsided grin made her grin as well. “Well if nothing else, you know how to make me feel better!” she laughed.

“I try.” He glanced at the clock. “Ooh, I’m late!”

Sakura headed out the door, waiting for Naruto to follow her. “Catch you later, Sakura-chan! Bye!”

She gave him a small wave, watching him take off. She sighed. “Well girl, guess we’re on our own.”

She walked a while, her steps finding her at the hospital. Kakashi…

She headed up to his room, was redirected to a new room as he’d been moved, and finally walked in. The jounin was nose deep in the latest installment of Icha Icha Something-or-other. She knocked on the door. “Oh, Sakura!” he said with a smile. He dog-eared the page and set the book down. “How’s my favorite kunoichi doing today?”

“I’m well, Sensei, and you?”

“Good. Hokage-sama tells me I’ll be fit to go home tomorrow, yet still confined to rest for the next week. Makes for a very boring few days. As you can see, Naruto stopped by with a gift.” He held up the book.

“And how is it, you old pervert?”

“Who is the greater pervert? The pervert that reads, the pervert that supplies the read, or the pervert who writes the read? I’m fairly innocent in the greater scheme of things.”

“Right…” Sakura laughed. She took a seat next to the bed. “So aside from total, utter boredom, you’re doing well?”

“Yep,” he nodded. She could feel his exposed eye studying her. “But you’re not.”

Sakura smiled. “Just stressed out, Kakashi-sensei. That’s all.” Kakashi said nothing; he continued to stare at her intently. She gave him a puzzled look. “What?”

“Well I was assuming you wanted to talk about it.”

“Oh,” Sakura blinked. “Well, I don’t want to bore you, and it’s really not that important.”

“It’s important enough that it’s causing you stress that you don’t need. You know that affects your abilities as a-”

“Yes, I know,” she cut him off. She knew the speech by heart. “It’s stupid really.”

“It’s Sasuke.”

Sakura turned wide eyes to him. ‘Nothing gets past him.’ “Partly. Neji dislikes Sasuke. I can’t blame him, but it isn’t easy. And for whatever reason, Sasuke despises Neji. The two of them deliberately antagonize each other. I feel like I’m stuck in the middle of it, and I don’t know what I should do.”

Kakashi nodded. “Well the situation won’t be resolved until the issue they’re fighting over is resolved.”

“That’s the problem, Kakashi-sensei. I don’t know what they’re fighting over. Neji dislikes Sasuke for betraying the village, and me and Naruto. I don’t know why Sasuke hates Neji so much. I mean I know the Uchiha’s and Hyuuga’s used to have some weird rivalry, but I thought that died with… well, you know. Neither of them seems to want to work out their issues, leaving me stuck in the middle of the whole mess.”

“Yep. You’re stuck. In the middle. Of the mess. I’m sure whatever they’re fighting about will become apparent in time.”

“And in the meantime I just deal, right?” she said with a smile.

“Yep.”

“That’s what I thought you’d say.”

* * * * *

Sakura looked up from Whispers of the Fallen to the window, seeing the dark grey sky fading into the inky blue-black of night. She sighed. Neji would likely be staying at the Hyuuga estate for the night, ‘Unless he comes sneaking into my room again tonight…’ she thought with a smirk. Though likely, he’d want to help Hinata until her training in the morning.

She’d stopped by the Yamanaka flower shop to see Ino, but the influx of customers made talking difficult, and though Ino promised to stop by later, she hadn’t. Sakura figured it was most likely because she was tired out and didn’t want to disturb her.

Sakura sighed, turning back to her book, skipping ahead to her favorite part.

“Kishimoto-kun,” Makoto whispered, “I had to. He killed my brother. Can’t you understand how my father would want justice? You can’t fault me for this!”

He stood rooted to the spot, his hands balled into fists, his eyes staring past Makoto to Kazumo, locked behind the cell door. It was true, Kazumo had killed Regatsmaru, although the circumstances were not so clear. Kishimoto knew in his heart that his brother was innocent, but there was no proof, and in a few short hours, Kazumo would cease to exist.

“Give me the key,” he said softly, holding out his hand to Makoto.

Her eyes widened. “You can’t be serious.”

“The key, Mako.”

“Kishimoto-kun, you can’t ask me to do this!” she exclaimed. “I love you, but…”

“You will not kill my brother for the loss of yours.”

“I would do anything for you,” she cried, “anything, but you cannot ask me to do this! Please! If you love me at all, don’t ask me this!”

“Makoto… the key. Now.”

Makoto’s eyes flashed, the beautiful features Kishimoto once loved so well twisting into hideous fury. “Guards!” she screamed.

The blade met no resistance as it slid through her. Her eyes widened as she stared at him, her face inches from his own, falling into his arms. His fingers tightened around the hilt of the blade, pulling it from her before easing her to the ground. Kishimoto stared at her, visions of every moment they’d spent together, every lazy morning in bed, every sunlit afternoon, every walk through the sand, every gaze into her beautiful deep eyes… flashing before him in a frenzy of devastation. His hand gripped hers as he watched the life ebb away from her.

“How could you?” she whispered, tears rolling down her pained face. “I gave you everything…”

“You tried to take away the one thing I can’t live without,” he replied softly.

“I lo…” her voice trailed off, her eyes closing one final time.

Kishimoto wrenched his arms from her, loosing the key tied around her neck. His eyes met Kazumo’s as he unlocked the cell.

Kazumo embraced his brother, giving him all the strength he had. “Blood of my blood, we must leave this place.”

Kishimoto nodded, taking one last look at his slain lover before following his brother into the night…

A knock at the door startled Sakura, bringing her back to reality. “Just a moment!” she cried, hastily wiping away the tears she hadn’t been aware were falling.

She slowly got up and opened the door. “Sasuke!”

Sasuke’s look of boredom shifted to one of concern at seeing her tears. “Are you alright?”

She nodded, smiling sheepishly. “I’m sorry, come in.” She stepped out of the way, allowing him to enter before closing the door behind him. Sakura rubbed at her eyes.

Sasuke’s keen eyes scanned the room, spotting the book lying open on the arm chair. He turned to Sakura and smirked. “I see.”

“What?” she asked, puzzled. He tilted his head to the book and back to her. “Oh.” She scowled playfully. “Yes, I’ve been sitting here crying because of that stupid book.”

He gave her a telling ‘I knew it’ look, his dark eyes mischievous.

Sakura rolled her eyes, laughing. “But seriously, what brings you by?”

His smirk slowly faded, replaced by a frown. He took a deep breath. “I… um…”

“Sasuke?” It wasn’t like him to stutter or trip over his words. She put her hand on his arm, trying to be reassuring. “What is it?”

“Sakura… I…”

Powerful arms wrapped around Sakura, pulling her to Sasuke’s chest. She looked up at him in confusion only to feel his lips crush down upon hers in a fierce kiss.

~~~~~


A/N: Our heroine is now caught between two exceptional, strong and passionate men! What will happen? Whom will she choose? Stay tuned next time on “Forgetting Sasuke.”

You know the drill. R&R people. *Hugs* to you all.