Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto.
No copyright infringement intended.
A Fabian Policy
by platform-shoes12
.
.PROLOGUE.
.
Five years ago…
.
"You're what?!"
.
The clouds looked vengeful. It was gray and heavy and it cried angry tears.
.
"Sakura, I—"
.
Then the wind blew—it was bitter and howling.
Could it be that the earth was trying to commiserate with what was happening?
.
"Why, Sasuke-kun? Why are you leaving?"
She was confused and hurt. She wanted answers. She wanted to know. Why is this happening now? Of all times, why now?
.
"We discussed this before!"The man snapped and she flinched. He cannot understand why she's acting like this. She said she'd understand. She said it is okay. And now she's acting like a victim—like he's betraying her all of a sudden. Didn't she promise she'd support him?
.
"Are you leaving because of me?" Her voice broke and her eyes watered.
.
"No, I—"
.
"Are you regretting your decision to stay with me?"
.
"No, Sakura…I'm—"
.
"You don't love me, do you? That's why you're leaving." Kami, why can't she let him finish talking? He ran a hand through his hair. She's being childish.
.
.
"Stop it."He gritted out. This pointless conversation has gone on long enough.
.
"I never took you for a liar, Sasuke-kun. I thought…I thought…"Her shoulders shook as she tried to keep her sobs at bay.
.
"Look, Sakura. I love you. But you know from the very start of this relationship that this time will come! We talked about this. You said you'd understand!"
.
He was starting to lose his cool. This was supposed to be an easy farewell. She was supposed to kiss him and wish him luck. Not this. She wasn't supposed to hold him back. He was exasperated and it started to show on his face.
.
"I do understand!" she retorted, "You have your goals…you have your plans. And none of it includes me, apparently! I thought I'm reason enough for you to stay."
.
Why can't he understand? She was acting like this because she was scared! It's not about her at all. She would let him leave for his vengeance any other time, just not now. Not when she needed him the most. And she can't tell him she's scared because he's bound to ask why. This was hardly the setting she'd imagined when she told him what she was sure to be a good news!
The man reached for the woman in an attempt to pacify her…
.
"Sakura—"
His voice begged her to understand.
.
"Why?"
The woman began to sob…but she didn't push him away. Maybe if she'd just let him touch her, he'll remember what he's leaving behind. Maybe he'd realize that she's more important than hunting his brother down. Maybe this time, love will conquer all—like what she'd read from that pocketbook her best friend lent her. Maybe...
.
"Don't make me choose between you and my goals. You know that I won't do that."
.
And with that came the horrible realization.
"You already did…you already did…"He has chosen. And the choice wasn't her.
The man embraced her sagging form…if only to keep her standing.
.
"Please, Sakura—please understand—"He tried his best to make her see reason. He has to leave. His informants have finally sighted his brother. He can't afford to be wasting time like this.
.
"I can't really stop you now, can I? No matter what I do, I can't stop you."The resignation in her voice was apparent.
.
"You can't. I'm sorry. Just take care of yourself, okay? Promise me you will." And he was flooded with relief. She finally understood.
.
"…" She didn't answer. What was she supposed to say?
.
"Look, if anything bad happens to you when I'm gone, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."
She stiffened at those words and pulled away from him. Her eyes hardened and narrowed. He tried to reach for her again but she slapped his hands away.
"I hope you would."She gritted out. "I hope you'll never forgive yourself, you bastard."
.
.
And she ran away. She couldn't bear to be close to him and know that all of it was temporary. He was hurting her damn it.
.
He sighed and ran after her and knocked her out before she could go further. She was in no condition to go run back to their house. Who knows what else she'd do if left to her own devices with the mood she's having? He carried her to their house, left her on their bed, and left thru the window.
.
.
He was gone.
I'm Haruno Sakura. I have pink hair and jade green eyes. I'm twenty-two and a proud single-mommy of four-year old Haruno Mikomi. And this…
…is the story of my screwed-up life.
TBC
Platform-shoes12's note: I decided to continue writing again now that I'm done with university life. I'm a certified statistician now, yehey!
I hope you enjoyed this. This is another re-write. I just decided this story has to follow another direction if I am to escape the block that has so mercilessly trapped me. Expect to have the plot a little different than before.