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Forgetting Sasuke	By : CutieSakura Category: Naruto > General Views: 1229 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 17
- 18
- 19
Disclaimer: Not mine.
~~~~~~
�She just seemed upset, that�s all,� Naruto shrugged. His hands played in Hinata�s hair. Neji listened intently, watching them. �Neji, I know Sasuke�s a dick, he always has been, but don�t let that get to you. He�s just a bit jealous because he feels like you�ve replaced him. You and I are friends and we train together sometimes, and Sakura-chan�s in love with you now, so� but he�ll get over it. Just make sure Sakura-chan doesn�t stress herself about it too much.�
Neji nodded. �Naruto�s a lot more astute than anyone realizes,� he mused. And if Naruto�s assessment of the situation was correct, he had nothing to worry about anyway. The Uchiha would get over it once he realized his team was still his team and Neji wasn�t infringing on his territory. �As for Sakura, he never wanted her anyway, so that isn�t even an issue.�
He actually felt a bit stupid, having acted so childishly that morning to push the Uchiha�s buttons, and for no reason at all. Neji felt even more the ass for getting Sakura upset about the situation when there really wasn�t a situation to have to deal with. �Thanks for letting me know, Naruto. Your insight is quite helpful.�
�Sure. Like I said, I�m pretty busy over the next few days and I don�t want Sakura-chan stressing out more than she needs to. So look after her, okay?�
�I�m sure I can manage that.�
* * * * *
Sakura pulled back, gaping at Sasuke in complete and utter shock. �Sasuke! I� you�� she faltered, �what are you doing?�
She was still acutely aware of his hands gripping her biceps; his dark eyes bore into hers. He said quietly, �It should be obvious.�
�Obvious?� she echoed. �Sasuke, you just� you kissed me! What the hell are you thinking?�
Sasuke pulled her to him, leaning in to kiss her once more. Sakura�s hands flew up to his chest and shoved. �Sasuke, no!�
�Sakura�� he whispered in that low, sultry tone she loved once upon a time, �I want you.�
Sakura pried herself completely out of his grasp. �No,� she muttered, shaking her head. She turned and began pacing. �This isn�t happening� this is crazy-�
�Sakura.� Sasuke�s hands were on her once more, spinning her around to face him. �Stop.� Sakura raised her gaze to meet his, half afraid of what she would see. His hand went to her cheek. She swallowed hard. �This is what you�ve always wanted,� he said softly, his eyes locked on hers, �from that very first day. For me to be here like this, wanting you, kissing you. I know I treated your feelings callously in the past, but things have changed. I have changed. And I realize now what�s important to me, and what I want.�
�Is this real?� Sakura wondered, �Am I dreaming? This can�t really be happening. Not Sasuke. Not now. He��
Sasuke leaned in closer, his mouth next to her ear, �You told me once you loved me, that you would do anything to make me happy. I�m ready for that now. You are what will make me happy.�
A strangled cry escaped her throat. Sakura�s head was spinning, the room spinning with her. Sasuke�s eyes met hers once more before he kissed her gently. Sakura found herself responding, his lips soft and sweet on hers as he deftly parted them, gaining access to her mouth, kissing her more deeply.
�This is what I�ve always wanted�� she thought, melting into Sasuke�s arms, Sasuke�s kiss. Her hand slipped behind his neck, into his hair, coarse and rough, �Not soft like Neji�s� Neji��
�Sasuke, I� I can�t,� Sakura cried, pulling away, turning from him. �I�m sorry. Too much has changed. I�m with Neji! I care about him. I can�t just leave him because you�ve come back.�
Sasuke�s beautiful black eyes studied her. �You shouldn�t stay with someone out of pity, Sakura. Hyuuga�s not stupid. He�ll understand. You love me.� He stepped forward, reaching for her.
Sakura jerked away. �Sasuke��
His eyes narrowed. �You told me, Sakura, that night, you told me that you loved me. You can�t take that back.�
�Sasuke, that was years ago! I was twelve and desperate to make you stay!�
His features twisted into that angry scowl she knew all to well. �You mean to say that you-�
�I meant it!� she cried, interrupting him. Her voice lowered to a whisper, �I meant every word. And I still love you, Sasuke. God help me, I always will.�
Sasuke had her in his arms before she even saw him move. He kissed her again, hungrily. Gently she broke the kiss, but did not pull out of his embrace.
His dark eyes stared at her, full of more emotion now than she had ever seen before. �Sasuke, I do love you,� she said softly, �but I�m not in love with you.�
Sasuke nodded, averting his eyes from her. �But you are with Hyuuga.� It was a statement. He met her gaze, glaring hard at her.
�I�� Sakura faltered. �Am I?� she wondered. �I think I am. I�ve never felt this way about anyone before. He�s good to me, he makes me happy. I can�t wait to see him every day. I have to be.� Her eyes met his. �I�� her voice died on her lips, seeing Sasuke�s expression. There was no sadness, no disappointment, only rage. She whispered, �Sasuke?�
�You can�t tell someone you love him and then take it back,� he said, his voice tight. �You can�t give that love to someone else.�
�Sasuke, I��
Sasuke wasn�t even looking at her anymore. His hands were digging painfully into her arms. She thought she heard him mutter something about �mine,� but wasn�t sure. �Sasuke?�
He turned to her, his grip an iron vice on her. He kissed her hard. Sakura tried to pull away but had no leverage. Sasuke finally broke the kiss and disappeared.
Sakura sank to the ground, a jumble of more emotions than she could possibly deal with, and began to cry.
* * * * *
Naruto and Hinata had gone to bed a while ago. Neji was out in the garden, meditating in the moonlight. His legs were crossed, his hands resting on his knees. His torso was bare, his hair cascading about his shoulders, rustling gently in the calm breeze.
His thoughts drifted between the many pressing matters weighing on his mind. The last two days, since the attack on Hatake Kakashi�s squad, had been relatively quiet. He wasn�t sure if this was good or bad. He wondered how Sunagakure was faring, or if Shikamaru had found out any information regarding Uchiha Sasuke�s return.
Neji sighed. Talking with Naruto had eased his mind a great deal regarding that whole situation. Naruto�s ability to hear out everyone and not take sides was amazing. Granted, the blond still considered the Uchiha to be like a brother to him, but he and Neji had become quite close during Uchiha�s time away. �Of course there�s only one side he would ever take,� Neji knew, �and that�s Sakura�s.�
It was obvious Hinata-sama was in love with him, just as it was obvious how he felt about her. He wondered though if he and Hinata could be as important to Sakura and Naruto as they were to each other. �It�s a different kind of relationship,� he reminded himself. The feelings of jealousy were no longer there, just the hope that he might one day breach that wall and know Sakura on that most intimate level.
He sensed the chakra presence immediately, activating his bloodline limit. �I already see you. Come out.�
Neji stood and turned to face the intruder. Uchiha Sasuke stepped out of the shadows. �Uchiha?�
Neji noted in surprise the look in the Uchiha�s blood red eyes.
�She�s mine,� he growled. �Sakura. Is. Mine.�
Neji blinked, and then blinked again. �You�re serious, aren�t you?� Seeing the Uchiha�s shoulders tense, his hands balling into fists were evidence enough. �Let me enlighten you Uchiha. You don�t own people.� He waited just a beat before adding, �Least of all her.�
Sasuke flew at him with lightning speed. Neji dodged the fist by inches. Sasuke swung again, Neji catching the fist in his hand. The force of the blow sent him skidding back. He ducked, feeling the fabric of Sasuke�s pant leg graze his ear before immediately raising his left arm to block another fist.
�He�s too fast,� Neji realized, �I can�t get on the offensive. I can�t even start kaiten!� He continued to block Sasuke�s onslaught as best he could. The Uchiha was raining blows upon him and he couldn�t block them all. Neji leaned back again as Uchiha�s fist swung at his eye. At the same moment, he felt pain in his ribs where Sasuke�s knee made contact.
A kick sent Neji straight into the air. �He�s shadow dancing me�� he assessed quickly. Neji spun himself around before Sasuke could get underneath of him. He got himself down to the ground quickly, taking stance for his offensive divine sixty-four strikes juuken.
Uchiha stood across from him, not even remotely winded, his sharingan blazing in the dim light. Neji assessed him with his own bloodline limit, angry at being disturbed, angry at being attacked, and furious that the Uchiha would have the gall to stand in front of him and say Sakura was his.
Neji stared hard at him. �I�m giving you one chance, Uchiha, one chance to walk away before I kill you.�
He smirked, a condescending �Hn,� audible.
�So be it.�
Blood red eyes stared into white ones as the two watched each other perform the necessary seals for their ninjutsus. Neji�s mind tried to remember what jutsu Sasuke�s sequence was for, but didn�t look familiar; his own hands executed his seals from habit and memory.
Neji crouched into his stance, chakra flowing through him, ready to shut down the damnable Uchiha once and for all. His eyes widened as he saw blue chakra visible in the Uchiha�s hand.
�Chidori!� Sasuke said with a smirk, rushing at Neji with incredible speed.
�I can�t use juuken� not against that� he�ll go right through me.� Neji watched with careful eyes as Sasuke approached. Moving at just the right moment �But his eyes will calculate that�� he realized. If he got underneath him, he could get behind him and use juuken from behind, �at the spine��
Uchiha charged him; Neji waited, waited-
�What the hell are you doing!?� a voice screamed angrily.
An orange flash was suddenly between Neji and the now immobile Uchiha. Neji�s sharp eyes saw Naruto�s hand around Uchiha�s wrist in a grip fit to break; the chidori was slowly ebbing away.
�Stay out of this, Naruto!� Sasuke growled in fury, his eyes looking over Naruto�s shoulder, still locked on Neji.
�Sasuke!� Naruto said menacingly, turning completely to face Uchiha, his back to Neji. �Stop it! I�m not about to let you kill Neji or anyone else, and you�re fucking insane if you think otherwise.�
Neji couldn�t help his surprise at hearing Naruto curse in such a fashion, though he remained silent. He caught sight of his cousin standing by the house, her hands drawn up to her chest in terror. He fought the instinct to go to her. He kept his focus on the two in front of him.
�This is none of your business, Naruto. I�m warning-�
Naruto punched Sasuke with a sharp left hook. �No, I�m warning you. One word and Tsunade-baa-chan�s here in a flash along with all of ANBU and you can forget about your little homecoming deal because you�ll either be spending the rest of your natural fucking life in shinobi prison or dead.�
Neji�s chakra infused eyes saw Sasuke�s chakra flow start to slow and even, his eyes fade back into black. They refocused on Naruto. He wrenched his hand out of Naruto�s grasp, glaring in angry defiance, though his actions admitted defeat.
Naruto turned sideways to see Neji. �I�m fine,� said Neji before Naruto even asked. In truth, he could feel three ribs broken, but it was nothing Sakura, or Hinata-sama for that matter, couldn�t easily repair.
�What the hell happened?� Naruto asked, crossing his arms over his chest as though to scold them.
Neji kept the smile of the absurdity of it to himself; this was not the time. He dispelled his seal, feeling the chakra veins fade away and his vision return to normal. He waited a moment, allowing the Uchiha time to say something, though the ungrateful bastard did not take the opportunity.
Neji sighed. �Apparently Uchiha is under the impression that people are property and feels I�ve stolen a possession of his.�
�This is about Sakura-chan?� Naruto asked in a tight voice, directing his look to Sasuke.
Sasuke stared into the trees, his arms folded across his chest, his jaw locked tightly.
�Sasuke? Is it?� Naruto persisted.
He turned his head sharply in their direction, although Neji could tell the look was directed at him. �She loves me.�
Naruto shook his head in exasperation. �She loves Neji. She�s with Neji.�
Neji never felt more grateful to Naruto than that moment.
Naruto, however, continued, �If she changes her mind and decides she wants to be with you, that�s all well and good, but it�s her decision. Not yours.� He glanced at Neji, �And not yours either.�
The remarkable sensation of solid ground dissolving into thin air overtook Neji, leaving him freefalling into oblivion and helpless to stop it. He stared at Naruto in surprise, feeling betrayed.
�Sakura-chan will make up her own mind about what and who she wants when she�s ready to do it. Trying to kill each other isn�t going to do anything except thoroughly piss her off, to the point that she�d want nothing to do with either of you, and frankly I can�t say I�d blame her.�
Naruto turned to address Neji solely, �I know you didn�t start this, and Sakura-chan will know as much when I talk to her, but I think she should hear about this from you first.�
Neji gave Naruto an icy glare. He did not appreciate being spoken to as a child in any situation, let alone this in particular, especially not by Uzumaki Naruto. �I�ll bring it to her attention when I see fit,� he replied coolly. �In the meantime, I�m leaving.� He could see Hinata heading towards him, but he put his hand up and stopped her. Two quick hand seals and he vanished.
* * * * *
Sakura headed over to the Hyuuga estate. It had taken an hour, but she finally managed to put herself together enough to talk to Neji. �He has to know what happened. I�m not keeping this from him. I�ll tell him right away and we�ll deal with it.�
Her internal clock told her it was somewhere around one A.M., but it didn�t matter. Her only concern was getting to Neji, telling him what happened, telling him that it didn�t matter, nothing mattered because all she wanted was him.
�It�s true�� she thought, amazed at the utter relief she felt, �Sasuke kissed me. Sasuke kissed me and all I wanted was Neji. I love him.�
Sakura came upon the estate, surprised to find the front gate open. She tentatively walked through, her ninja senses alert to the slightest disturbance. Her eyes darted back and forth across the empty courtyard. �Nothing�� and yet things did not sit well with her. Things were too quiet.
Her footsteps led her to the garden, which Neji�s room was near. She found Hinata curled up on the porch, her knees drawn up to her chest with her arms wrapped tightly around them.
�Hinata-chan!� she exclaimed, rushing over. �What�s wrong? Are you alright?�
Hinata looked up at her with large eyes. �Sakura!� she said, dazed.
�Hinata,� Sakura said forcefully, �what�s wrong?�
The girl shook her head. �I� Neji� he said he�d tell you when-�
Sakura�s heart clenched at Neji�s name. �What about Neji? Hinata! Tell me!�
She shook her head again. �They said��
�Who said? Hinata, what is going on?� Hinata�s wide light eyes met Sakura�s; she burst into tears. �Talk to me!� Sakura demanded, now more worried about her well being than Neji�s, whom she knew could take care of himself. �Hinata��
�You should go home,� she whispered, meeting Sakura�s gaze once more. �Neji will be looking for you.�
�Hinata, I�m worried about you. What�s happened to get you so upset?�
�There was� a fight,� she finally caved. She bit her lip nervously. �I�ve never seen him so angry��
�Who fought?� Sakura asked, confused, �who�s angry?�
�Naruto-kun.�
Sakura�s eyes widened. �What happened with Naruto?�
�He broke up the fight.� She shook her head. �I�ve never seen him like that; he was furious.�
�Who fought?� Sakura asked again, trying to keep from getting too exasperated with the soft-spoken, scared girl. �Hinata, tell me.�
�Sakura,� she heard from nearby. She cringed at the sound of his voice.
�What are you doing here?� she demanded, glaring at Sasuke, surprised to see him cut and bloody. Naruto�s head peeked out from around him, also looking bruised and battered.
She quickly forgot Hinata and leapt to her feet, rushing past Sasuke right to Naruto. �Naruto, what happened?�
He shook his head, wincing, then put on his signature smile. Hinata jumped up, throwing herself at Naruto. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, but his eyes stayed on Sakura. �Don�t worry, Sakura-chan, it�s nothing.�
Sakura�s features twisted up in fury. �Someone had better tell me what the hell is going on, and they had better do it now.�
�Neji and I got into a fight,� Sasuke said, his black eyes piercing into hers. �I started it. Naruto broke it up.�
Sakura looked to Naruto, who was glaring at Sasuke. His blue eyes met his then shifted, meeting hers. �Sakura-chan, it-�
Sakura angrily cried, �Bastard!� punching Sasuke in the face. Sasuke, having already taken a beating, collapsed. She caught him in her arms, going to her knees with his weight.
�I know,� he said softly, his hand fisted in the material on her shoulder, holding himself up to look her in the eyes. �I�m sorry.�
�Sakura-chan?� Naruto said tentatively.
�How bad are your wounds?� she asked Naruto, her eyes still on Sasuke.
�Not bad. I heal fast, so worry about him. He definitely came off worse.�
�And Neji?� she asked, lifting her eyes to meet Naruto�s.
�I think he�s fine. He took off right after I� interfered.�
�I see.� She turned back to Sasuke. He was still watching her intently, although his pain was evident in his expression. �I need to get him home.�
�I�ll help you,� he said, pulling out of Hinata�s desperate embrace.
�It�s fine. I�ll handle it. You stay here with Hinata.� She could see the relief in the Hyuuga girl�s eyes in sharp contrast to the doubt in Naruto�s. �Really, Naruto, I�ll be fine. Stay with Hinata. She�ll be able to look after your wounds. And when either of you see Neji, tell him I need to speak with him.�
Sakura helped Sasuke to his feet. She wrapped his arm around her shoulders, performed two seals and disappeared with him.
* * * * *
Neji stared up at the stars, fighting feelings of anger. �It�s not Sakura�s fault�� he thought quietly. �She didn�t cause this. Uchiha�s jealous, insane. He�s got no reason to think Sakura... What if he does have a reason? What if something happened?� Neji scolded himself, �No, she would never. She loves me� but she�s never actually said it. Not once. Not once has she ever actually said she loves me. Cares for, likes, desires, but not loves.�
It was impossible to forget the day that started it all between himself and Sakura. Finding her, injured, in the clearing, crying over Uchiha Sasuke. �Even then� and now he�s back. She�s loved him for years, has professed her love over and over, and now he�s here and he wants her. Her dream� he�s what she�s always wanted. I was only ever a poor substitute. I just convinced myself she loves me because it�s what I wanted to believe. It was a lie.�
That knowledge made Neji feel sick. �Sakura�� he whispered into the night.
* * * * *
�Sakura, I-�
�Lie back and shut up,� Sakura said firmly. She pushed him back onto the bed, tearing what was left of his shirt off him completely. His dark eyes sought out hers as she poured her chakra into him. She made a pointed effort to keep her eyes on his chest. �I won�t give him the satisfaction of looking at him. I�m too angry right now, and he doesn�t deserve it.�
She could feel his eyes on her as she continued healing the various cuts and bruises. She felt two ribs out of place, and viciously set them without numbing him first.
He grunted in pain, his hand finding hers and squeezing. �That was bitchy,� Sakura chided herself. She wrapped her fingers around his hand, finally looking him in the eyes.
�Sakura,� he said slowly, �I�m sorry.� His obsidian eyes conveyed the sincerity of his comment.
Sakura sighed. �I appreciate that you�re sorry, but I�m not going to tell you everything is okay. It�s not. Far from it. Sasuke, what you did��
�I know.� He pulled her hand to his chest. His eyes locked on hers. �There�s no excuse. The only thing I can say is that I�� he took a deep breath, �I care for you, and I didn�t react well to hearing you don�t feel the same way about me.�
�Sasuke�� Sakura sighed, �did you even listen to what I said? I do care for you, a great deal, and you�re an idiot if you don�t know that. What you mean is that-�
�Sakura, I understand,� he said calmly, �I won�t try to come between you and Neji again. I won�t interfere with your happiness. Not after I�ve caused you so much pain.� Keeping his eyes locked with hers, he squeezed her hand.
Sakura felt her eyes fill with tears in spite of herself. She whispered, �Sasuke��
He reached up, brushing her tears aside, resting his palm against her cheek. Sakura could make out the faintest smile on his lips.
* * * * *
�I had a feeling you�d be here.�
Neji�s eyes shot open; he was on his feet instantly, his ninja senses tingling with another chakra presence.
�Calm down, Neji,� her sweet voice said, �it�s just me.�
Tenten stepped out of the shadows. Neji sighed, sinking back to the ground. �What are you doing here?�
�I could ask you the same thing,� replied Tenten. She sat down next to him. �You weren�t at your house, so I figured you�d be here. I haven�t seen you in a while.�
�Been busy,� Neji said tersely.
Tenten followed his gaze out into the darkness of the forest. �So busy that you haven�t been able to spare five minutes for me or Lee. That�s not like you, Neji. And now you�re out here in the dead of night. Neji, you haven�t done this in years. What�s up?�
�Nothing.�
�You�re a horrible liar.� She put her hand on his shoulder, �Look at me.� Neji grudgingly turned to face her. �What is going on with you?�
�My last mission,� Neji shook his head, �it�s complicated.�
�It wouldn�t have anything to do with Haruno Sakura, would it?� Tenten said coyly.
Neji turned to her in surprise, �What do you know about it?�
�Honestly Neji, for a guy who sees everything, you really miss a lot. Everyone knows. We all know about you and Sakura, and we�re all worried about you. Uchiha Sasuke came back days before the two of you, and I know a little about the history there.� She gave his shoulder a squeeze. �I just don�t want to see you get hurt. And considering that you�re sitting here of all places, alone, in the middle of the night, I kind of have the feeling that things aren�t okay.�
�What�s going on with you?� asked Neji. �What brings you out here this late?�
�Don�t change the subject,� Tenten retorted.
Neji sighed. �Things aren�t okay, Ten. She�s always loved him, for years, forever. Now he�s shown up after all this time and he�s intent on winning her over. I can�t compete with that.�
�You�re telling me you�re giving up?� asked Tenten.
�I�m not saying that!� said Neji quickly. He sighed. �He showed up at my house tonight. Tried to beat the hell out of me.�
�What?� she exclaimed.
�Yeah. Naruto broke it up before it really got started, then started preaching that Sakura�s got a decision to make and we both need to back off and let her make it.�
Tenten sighed, �That sucks.�
�Hn.�
�So have you talked to her?�
He shook his head, �Not yet. I needed to cool off before I see her.�
�Makes sense.� Tenten wrapped her arm around Neji�s waist, resting her head on his shoulder. �Just don�t wait too long.�
* * * * *
Sakura stared up at the ceiling of her room. Everything looked distorted, as though she were in some foreign place. Light poured in through the windows, serving more to anger her than soothe her.
She remembered coming home last night, after getting Sasuke home. �How can a person feel so good and so miserably unhappy at the same time?� she had to wonder. Sasuke had opened up to her, had been open, honest, sincere. More importantly than anything else, he had been sincere. It was all she�d ever wanted from him.
And yet despite everything, she was miserable. She hadn�t been able to find Neji after leaving Sasuke�s. Despite her best efforts, she hadn�t been able to find him, to talk to him, to set things right, to tell him that he was all she wanted. �To tell him that I love him��
Sakura stretched, feeling her neck crack unpleasantly. �Getting out of bed is proving harder than I�d thought.�
* * * * *
Neji stared up at the ceiling of his room. It had been a late night with Tenten. They�d stayed up talking until morning light started peeking on the horizon. It was just as they�d used to do as genin, in those rare moments Neji would choose to open up.
She was happy with Lee. It made him feel like an ass, knowing he hadn�t been as attentive to them as he should have. He�d been so wrapped up in all the drama with Sakura that he hadn�t even gone to see his teammates since his return from Sunagakure.
Tenten had had feelings for him for a long time, but Neji just couldn�t make himself feel the same. Lee had had that rather pathetic crush on Sakura for ages, but was happy to settle for just her friendship. When Tenten and Lee finally turned to each other, everything clicked. Lee was happy, and Tenten was happier than he�d ever seen her. It helped to know that.
She�d sought him out, knowing about his situation, and knowing him well enough to know how he�d be handling it. Tenten knew he�d need to talk. �She�s my Naruto,� Neji thought with a sardonic smirk. It hurt, thinking about Naruto, which inevitably made him think of her.
Sakura. Would she choose him? Was he enough? Or would she choose Sasuke, the man she�d always wanted who now wanted her too? He sighed her name. Sleep was not going to come.
* * * * *
�Nii-san?�
Neji had finally managed to drift off to some semblance of sleep when the knock at the door interrupted. �Yes?�
�There�s, um, someone�s here to see you. If you want,� he heard Hinata ramble through the closed door.
�Alright.� He sighed, stretching as he stood up. He dressed quickly and headed out to the main room.
Sunlight streaming in through the windows cast an angelic glow around her, making her pink tresses glitter like jewels. Seeing her made his heart ache. �Sakura.�
�Neji!� she said, throwing herself into him, causing pain to his injured ribs. �You�re okay! I know about the fight! It�s not your fault! I was trying to find you last night to�� her voice trailed off, realizing her arms were wrapped tightly around him, but his were not around her. She pulled away. �Neji?�
�Sakura�� She stepped back, her eyes wide in confusion and fear.
�Neji� what is this?�
�Sakura, I��
The uncertainty she exuded moments before was replaced. Her expression was cold.
�Just tell me,� she said, her voice hard, unforgiving. Her tone surprised Neji. He stepped towards her, feeling hurt as she stepped away. �Don�t.�
�Sakura, you need to figure out what you want.�
�Sasuke kissed me, Neji,� said Sakura. His rigid expression faltered; she could see the pain written across his features. �He kissed me, and all I could think of was you, and that I wanted to be with you!�
�He kissed you?�
�Yes. I went to find you, to tell you, because I didn�t want to keep anything from you and I didn�t want another misunderstanding like the last one. I got here and you were gone. Sasuke told me about the fight and Naruto told me what happened and that you�d gone off. I had to help Sasuke home and then I spent-�
�You took him home?� Neji felt as though the room were spinning.
�He was injured! He and Naruto beat the hell out of each other and he could barely stand up! Hinata looked after Naruto. Someone had to get him home because he wasn�t going to make it on his own. As soon as I got him there, I went to find you. God, I was out most of the night trying to find you, Neji!�
�Did you kiss him back?�
Sakura was caught off guard by the question. She blinked. �What?�
�You said Uchiha kissed you,� Neji said, trying to keep his voice under control. �Did you kiss him back?�
�Neji� I don�t think that�s-�
�That�s evidence enough,� he thought bitterly, �she won�t answer the question.� �Forget it, Sakura.�
�No, I won�t just forget it! You want to know? Yes, I kissed him back. I had to! There was a part of my soul that had loved him forever and I had to kiss him back in order to put that to rest!� Sakura saw him turn his head away. She stepped forward, tentatively putting her hand on his arm. �Did you even hear the part when I said the only thing I could think of was finding you and telling you how much I-�
Neji jerked away. �Don�t.�
�Don�t what?� she asked softly, drawing her hands up to chest, tears now falling freely. �Don�t tell you how I feel?�
�Sakura, I can�t do this right now,� Neji said tightly. He fought with all his strength to keep his own tears from falling.
�Neji��
He blinked, taking a deep breath. He pulled his shoulders back, standing up straighter. �I need some time.�
�Time?�
�I need space to deal with all of this, and you need�� He took another breath to steady himself. �You need to figure out what you want, and-�
�Neji, I want-�
�I need to do the same,� he finished loudly, making certain she heard him.
Sakura�s eyes widened, a tiny gasp escaping her parted lips. �Oh.� She blinked rapidly, nodding her head. She swallowed. �Okay� I understand�� Sakura turned away, heading towards the door.
�That�s not what I meant�� Neji thought desperately. He ran to stop her, �Sakura, I-�
�I have to go,� she replied automatically, pulling away from him, her eyes darting to and fro. �I have to-�
�Sakura!� Neji said firmly, grabbing her, turning her to face him. �Sakura��
�No!� she shouted, her eyes meeting his. Her beautiful face was stained with tears; she was openly crying. �Neji, let go of me. I have to go!�
�Not like this,� he said softly, once more fighting back his own emotions.
�This is what you want!� she screamed, pounding her fists on his chest. �You no longer have a right to expect me to stay!�
�Sakura�� he choked, trying to pull her into an embrace.
Sakura gathered chakra into her hands, shoving Neji away. He stumbled, catching his balance just before careening into the wall. She fought for control, taking a deep breath, �You can take all the time you need. We can talk when you are ready.�
She fled before he could stop her again.
Neji stood rooted to the spot, staring at the doorway Sakura had just run through. His head was swimming with thoughts and emotions he couldn�t control.
A door opened. Naruto stood there, his clear blue eyes looking at Neji with disdain. Neji parted his lips, about to say something but Naruto turned away before he could form the words, going out the main door after Sakura.
~~~~~

A/N:Hey guys! See, it didn�t take me a full month to update. Go me! Anyway, you know the drill. ^__^
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Forgetting Sasuke