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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.

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Disclaimer: I don�t own Naruto.
~~~~~
Neji wandered through the village, not really feeling like returning home, but not necessarily having anywhere else to go.
�Sakura slept with Sasuke�� he thought. She hadn�t come out and actually said it, but it was very directly implied. It cut deep. It hurt. To know she had been with someone else in such an intimate way was painful. �Yet the circumstances were extenuating,� he reasoned, �and blame or not, I wasn�t there when she needed me to be.�
Rationalizing why it had happened, and admitting his own part in it, did not make it any less difficult to swallow. Yet he�d said that he still wanted to try, and having time to think on everything, he knew he meant it.
�She said she loves me.� It was a far cry from how he�d wished to hear her say it, but it had been said. The statement was out in the open. �Sakura said she loves me.�
It was a shinobi�s world. Things like love were fragile and precious; one never knew when one might lose them. �Lee and Tenten,� he thought, �they found love, and had it torn away from them. Ten�s in unimaginable pain, and yet I know she would do it all over again because their love was worth it.�
He had hurt Sakura; she had hurt him. It wasn�t right, nor necessarily fair, �But I love her. If I�m what she wants, then we�ll fight to make it work. I�ll prove to her that we can work.�
The darkened street dimmed further as clouds crossed the moon�s path. He sighed, feeling isolated and alone. �The three people I would talk to about this, I can�t talk to.� Not to say that he wasn�t happy that Naruto was alive and well, and not just for Hinata�s sake. Still, it was evident that Hinata was going to be unavailable for a while. �I can�t talk to Ten about this, not right now, and Lee��
He had only ever lost one person close to him before. �Father�� he remembered. Even at such a young age, he�d held no misconceptions, understanding the meaning of death. One death had determined his outlook on life, his attitudes, his prejudices, �The death that fuelled my hatred for so long.�
It amazed Neji how differently he was affected by each. His father�s death brought him nothing but rage and hatred; Lee�s brought him only sadness and sorrow. �Just once, I should have�� but it didn�t matter. �Lee��
Lee had loved Sakura, he knew. Despite his initial crush on her, they had developed a special bond and cared quite deeply for one another, though it was never overt. Lee had been happy for him when he�d heard the news. ��Neji, my rival, you have won the heart of Sakura-san, whom I hold in highest esteem! While my one true love is Tenten, I must warn you that if you cause Sakura-san any pain, I won�t go easy on you!��
Neji sighed. �I�m going to miss that.�
The clouds shifted again, allowing moonlight to spill back into the street. He could see a silhouetted figure approaching. Sensing no danger, he repressed the urge to use his bloodline limit. As the figure neared, he felt familiar chakra.
�Neji.�
�Of course it would Uchiha of all people,� Neji thought bitterly, setting a neutral expression on his face. He replied, �Sasuke.�
Neji immediately sensed the other man�s agitation; he remained indifferent. Sasuke approached, stepping out of the shadows, the moonlight illuminating his fair complexion. �It�s late.�
�Yes.� He paused, waiting for Sasuke to say something more, but he didn�t. Neji asked, �How is Naruto?�
�Missing.�
The statement caught Neji off guard. He tried to remain passive. �How so?�
�There�s a kage bunshin sleeping in my guest room with your cousin.�
Neji tried to keep from smirking. �Interesting.�
�Hn.� Sasuke looked as though he had more to say, and Neji waited for him to say it. �Have you seen Sakura?�
�Perhaps,� Neji replied, not caring to discuss Sakura with Uchiha, �why do you ask?�
Sasuke tched in annoyance, as though the answer were the most obvious thing in the world. �I assume that since Sakura never returned to my house, and since Naruto is missing, the two of them are most likely together.�
�Then why worry about either?� Neji asked. It was a stupid question, he knew, but he found himself curious nonetheless as to why he would be out here in the middle of the night looking for two people Sasuke knew could take care of themselves. And if his concern was Naruto�s weakened state, well Sakura was more than capable of looking after him.
�Because they�re my team, and they�ve both been through a lot,� Sasuke replied rather pointedly.
Neji couldn�t help but feel that, pertaining to Sakura at least, the statement was a deliberate jibe. �He�s baiting you,� he knew, �trying to pick a fight.� The outcome would be obvious, and considering the conversation he�d had with Sakura not two hours prior, fighting with Sasuke would serve only to cause more tension.
�Of course,� Neji said smoothly, dismissing the comment entirely. �I would suggest checking Sakura�s home. If Naruto were waiting for her, that�s where he would be.�
�I�ve been there already,� Sasuke retorted testily, as though Neji were insulting his intelligence.
�How long ago?�
�Two hours.� The anger burning in the Uchiha�s dark eyes did not go lost on Neji.
�Sakura wasn�t home two hours ago,� he replied. �She most likely arrived only in the last half hour or so.�
Sasuke�s eyes narrowed. �I see.�
�It�s just a suggestion, Sasuke. Take it or leave it.�
Sasuke stared at Neji a long moment, clearly trying to decide upon which course of action he wanted to take. Finally he nodded tersely to Neji, taking off into the darkness, leaving Neji standing alone in the street. �Her choice, her decision. I can only hope��
* * * * *
Sakura�s eyes flew open, immediately sensing the chakra presence at her bedroom window that woke her from a sound sleep. She turned to see Sasuke there.
Her brow furrowed in confusion. Sasuke wanted to be let in. She pointed toward her bedroom door, indicating he should come round to the front. Sakura got up, careful not to wake Naruto, and went down the hall, pulling the door open.
�Sas-�
�You said you were coming back to my place.�
Sakura was surprised at his harsh tone. �I was tired, and I figured Naruto was fine with you, so I-�
�Well obviously he left.�
�Obviously,� she replied, turning to sit on the sofa, sighing. �So why are you so upset? Because I came home and Naruto came here?�
�He shouldn�t have snuck out. He�s supposed to be resting and he was put in our care for a reason,� Sasuke muttered.
�I agree with you completely. Not letting you know was thoughtless and reckless.�
He locked his dark eyes with hers, �And you should have told me you were going out to meet Neji.�
Sakura controlled her surprise. �I didn�t go out to �meet Neji.� I just happened to run into him while I was out and we had things we needed to discuss.�
�You told him.�
The �about us,� though unspoken, was not lost on her. �Yes.�
Sasuke shocked her by approaching her and kissing her deeply. Sakura pulled away. �Sasuke��
His eyes narrowed. �What aren�t you telling me?�
Sakura sighed. �Sasuke, I love you very much. But I still love Neji and-�
�You-�
�Sakura-chan?� asked Naruto sleepily as he entered. �Sasuke.�
�You had no business sneaking out the way you did, idiot!� Sasuke railed at him.
�Shut up, bastard! I had things I needed to talk to Sakura-chan about and-�
�It doesn�t matter,� Sakura cut him off, �it-�
�It does matter!� Sasuke yelled angrily. �I�m still a part of this team too! Since I�ve been back, it�s been Naruto and Sakura, Sakura and Naruto. It�s like I�m not even here! Like I don�t even exist! Do you really care that little?�
�Sasuke�� Naruto�s voice trailed off, shocked by Sasuke�s outburst.
�How could you say that?� Sakura whispered. �After everything that�s happened, how could you even think that?�
�Let�s examine the facts, Sakura,� he said angrily, his black eyes fixed on her, �the only time you even paid me the least bit of attention was when you thought Naruto was dead. You�ve been wrapped up in Neji and Naruto, and you only even bothered to make time for me when you couldn�t have either of them.�
�That�s not-�
�You bast-�
�And you, Naruto!� he yelled, turning on the blond, �Spending all your damn time with Hinata, or training, chasing after me to talk only when I�ve gotten angry about something, only to placate me. We�re not friends! We�re not a team! We�re-�
Sakura smacked Sasuke hard across the face. �You�re an idiot. If we didn�t love you, if we didn�t care, why would we have bothered with you at all?
�Let me remind you Sasuke that you left! You betrayed us! Naruto and I were devastated, and it took us years to pick up the pieces!�
�Sakura-chan��
�No!� she said angrily at Naruto, �He doesn�t get let off the hook this easily! If Sasuke�s going to stand here and bitch about our lack of functioning teamwork, then the only one he should be pointing his finger at is himself!� She spun back to Sasuke, �You showed up here with this attitude as though you expected everything to be okay! To be the same at it always was! It�s not! It can�t be! You hurt us too deeply!�
Sakura lost her steam seeing the sad look on Naruto�s face, and the remorseful expression on Sasuke�s. �Our relationships have changed, Sasuke,� she continued softly. �It doesn�t mean that we don�t want you, we do, more than anything� it�s just� we�re trying too.�
Naruto slipped up behind Sakura, putting his arm around her. The two of them stood, staring at Sasuke for long moments while he processed everything she�d said.
�You�re right,� he finally said, breaking the awkward silence. He met both their gazes, sighing, �I was unfair in my expectations of you. I�m� sorry.�
Naruto stepped forward, grabbing Sasuke�s wrist and yanking him over to them. Sakura and Naruto both wrapped their arms around him. Naruto flashed a grin, �See? We both still love you, even despite the fact that you�re a bastard.�
Sasuke looked to him with wide eyes before he snickered, shaking his head. Naruto was astute enough to catch the change in Sasuke�s eyes as he looked at Sakura. He pulled away. �Sakura-chan, I�m going to go back to bed I think,� he said rather pointedly. She nodded, kissing his cheek. ��Night, Sasuke.�
��Night.� They both watched him go. Sasuke turned back to Sakura.
They stared at each other long moments before Sakura finally said, �You were right.�
�What?�
�What you said, that I didn�t really make time for you. That it was all about Neji and Naruto. You were right. And I�m sorry.�
�It wasn�t fair of me to say that.�
�It doesn�t make it any less true,� she whispered. Sasuke stepped forward, kissing her lightly. �Sasuke��
�You want time,� he said astutely.
Sakura nodded, lifting her eyes to meet his. �I never meant for this situation to get so out of control. So much has happened between Neji and me, between you and me, and I just need some time to sort out my feelings. I don�t want to hurt you any more than you already have been, Sasuke.�
He sighed, looking away. �I told you if you wanted him, I wouldn�t stand in your way. I mean that. I wouldn�t like it, but I�d live with it.� He turned to meet her eyes once more, �I don�t want to hurt you anymore either.�
�Thank you, Sasuke.�
He smiled slightly. �I should get back.�
�Sasuke��
�Hinata�s going to be upset when she wakes up and finds the idiot�s not there.�
�Ah.�
Sasuke surprised her by taking her into his arms. �I want you Sakura,� he whispered against the shell of her ear, �but I want you to be happy.�
Sakura stared up at him with wide eyes. He leaned down, kissing her softly before disappearing an instant later.
* * * * *
Three days had passed, three glorious days in which she hadn�t seen Neji or Sasuke once. Sakura stretched leisurely in her bed. She�d done little the last few days with the exception of training with Naruto (who had made sure Sasuke stayed far away), done rounds at the hospital, and met with Ino for lunch.
She felt like she finally had time to herself, time to think, time to talk with Ino and get her best girl friend�s lack of advice (�You�ve loved Sasuke forever, but you love Neji now. But Sasuke loves you now, and so does Neji, so really� you�re going to have to do what your heart tells you��), and yet she found all she could think about was her current situation.
To a large extent, she felt guilty, worrying about the conflicted state of her love life when the village was trying to rebuild itself, while friends were mourning lost loved ones. She herself still grieved for Lee. Yet at the same time, she realized how hard the situation was on Neji, and Sasuke had always been a delicate matter. �By pushing the issue aside, I�d only end up hurting them even more, making this already shitty situation even worse.�
She sighed. �Is it possible for selfishness to stem from selflessness?� The thought made her head hurt.
She looked over at the clock and was shocked to see it was quarter of eleven. �Damn�� she muttered. She rolled out of bed, resolving to take a shower and head out to meet Naruto for lunch.
Just as the water started running, she heard a knock at her front door. She grabbed her robe, wrapping it tightly around her before opening the door. �Delivery for Haruno Sakura.�
�Oh!� she gasped, surprised to see a flower runner for the Yamanaka�s standing in front of her with a small vase containing a single red rose. �Um� thank you,� she said graciously, taking the vase from the nervous young man.
�This was with it.� He handed her a note card before disappearing before she could say another word.
She opened it, seeing the familiar script that read, �I miss you.�
�Neji.�
* * * * *
Neji gasped, out of breath. He�d taken his aggression out by training with all his strength and found himself more than a little winded.
�Pretty hard core there, Neji,� said Naruto, stepping through the trees into the clearing. �Taking out some issues?�
�Something like that,� he replied. He sat down, leaning against a tree, looking up to Naruto. �How�re you feeling?�
�Good as new,� Naruto said. �I heal fast.�
�So I�ve heard. I haven�t seen Hinata-sama around lately. Keeping her occupied?�
Naruto simply grinned in answer. It was only moments though, Neji noticed, before the trademark smile was replaced by Naruto�s more serious expression. �There�s something I need to say, Neji.�
Neji sighed, waiting for the inevitable. He was about to get lectured by Uzumaki Naruto on Sakura and Sasuke, teammates, friends, she loved him, he wanted her, it was destined�
�I meant what I said,� Naruto started, �when you and Sasuke fought. It�s Sakura-chan�s decision.�
�Naruto, I know th-�
�But I hope she chooses you.�
�What?� Neji gaped.
�Sakura-chan will never have to wonder how you feel. You�ll never leave her, and you�ll never hurt her, not like� Sasuke�s still my best friend, but� he�s not right for her. I hope she chooses you.�
Neji could only nod. �Thank you, Naruto. Your saying that means more than I can say.�
Naruto smiled, nodding. �I�ve got to go. Catch you later.�
The blond took off, leaving Neji smiling, and yearning for Sakura more than ever.
* * * * *
�I love you so much!� she cried to him in the darkness. He looked so handsome in the moonlight as she stood pouring her soul out to him.
Nothing she could say or do would keep him from leaving. She knew it was a dream, that she was reliving a memory, but she couldn�t break free of it, couldn�t wake up.
Sasuke turned, saying, �I miss you,� only it was Neji�s voice she heard.
She blinked. Sasuke looked at her with concern. �What?� he asked, his voice his own again.
�Sasuke� you won�t��
Sasuke replied, �I�ll never hurt you.� He stepped forward, and she knew he was about to kiss her. She closed her eyes; he whispered against her ear, �I love you,� in Neji�s voice.
Her eyes shot open, she pushed him away, confused to find it was Neji in front of her. �Neji?�
�Sakura��
Sakura�s eyes shot open; she stared around her dark room, breathing heavily. She jumped from her bed, dressed quickly and left.
~~~~~

A/N: I�m so sorry it took me so long to get this done! I�ve had so much going on, but things have calmed down and I�m looking forward to concluding this! Hope you all enjoyed!
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Forgetting Sasuke