Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Prologue
"He isn't coming back, Sakura-chan."
"He is! He will! He – oh, you know that he'll come back someday, Naruto! He isn't…he isn't dead, you know he isn't!"
"No, I know he won't. Why can't you just accept that he won't, Sakura-chan, and go on? Your life doesn't circulate around him! He's not the sun in your solar system, you know!"
Sakura's eyes filled with tears. "How can you say so, Naruto? Have you forgotten all about our friendship?"
Naruto returned her gaze with sadness. "I haven't, Sakura-chan. But your feelings for Sasuke… they aren't just friendship, I know it. And you know too. So does he."
"What do you want me to do, then?" she wailed. "I love him! I've done so for years, I can't just let go now because he's not around!"
"You're wrong." Naruto grasped her shoulders. "You're wrong, Sakura-chan. You should let go now because he's not around. Not the other way around. Don't you realize how meaningless all this is?"
"How can you call it meaningless? Just because you've never felt love for anyone, Naruto, doesn't mean you've the right to call other people's feelings meaningless!"
"Just like you don't have the right to say I haven't been in love. I have. I am." Naruto looked now even sadder than before.
"With whom?" she whispered, tears trickling down her cheeks. "With whom, Naruto? Do you even understand? It isn't a crush, Naruto! You've been crushing on me, right, but it isn't the same!"
"It isn't a crush." Naruto looked straight into her eyes with a piercing stare. "It isn't a crush, Sakura-chan."
"What're you talking about?"
"I…"
His voice seemed to ring in the silence of the night by the lake. Sakura would remember this moment for years afterwards, as she looked at him with widening eyes.
"… love you, Sakura."
I'm very bad. I know it. e.e; I know I'm supposed to update This Is Not My First Time, or In Love With The Enemy, or some other fic that has already been published, but this idea wouldn't leave my head! I've currently got Writer's Block on every single fic except this one, and it's really troublesome (and I mean it XD) because each time I get started and I can feel the Writer's Block easen a little, my mom shows up by the computer and nags about homework and tests. Lately, the school has been showering me with work, but this week I'm a liiiittle bit free so I'll try to get my ass off the chair by the desk in my room and move it here and work on my fanfics instead x.x; Gomen nasai! I promise to update the other fics as soon as possible.
However, I still hope you can enjoy this one. The love 'triangle' is a bit complicated - I hope you'll understand by later. XD For those who're used to my more humoristic and fluffy fanfics, I warn you, this one contains very little fluff and much drama. But lately my life has also been a dramatic rollercoaster, so I guess this fits pretty well. (Also, unlike This Is Not My First Time which is kind of predictable who'll end with who, this is a bit more unpredictable. :P Or so I hope.)
Sneak Preview of Next Chapter: Secret Love"Tsunade-sama, what're you talking about?"
"Sakura, I'm talking about your feelings. Are you really sure you want to marry Naruto?"
"What do you mean?" She laughed. "Of course I'm sure. There's a reason I accepted his proposal. I... love him."
Tsunade's eyes pierced into hers like a hawk's. "Sakura, be honest to yourself. For once."