Chapter Three- Grief and Relief

"Why didn't he tell me? Why didn't he tell us?" Sakura whimpered into the phone she held.

"Hell if I know." Naruto grumbled from the other side. Sakura had just finished telling him what she found out and needless to say he was angry.

"I mean…a flu I can understand…that's what he always does…but something like this? What reason could there be for keeping us in the dark on something so big?"

"Damn it, that Teme…I really don't know." Naruto responded.

Sakura let out a shaky sigh. "Sorry if I'm…venting or something…if it's annoying I'll go."

Sakura could almost imagine the smile Naruto probably had on his face as he spoke. "Hey, that's what best friends do; we listen to each other, especially if they're sad."

Sakura smiled lightly. "Yeah…you're right."

"Well…I'm gonna go leave him a very rude voice mail right now that'll have him regretting what he did, so I'll see you at school."

"Right…I'll see you." Sakura replied, and then hung up the phone.

Sakura put down the phone and stood there for a moment. Her eyes began to swim with tears again.

"Sasuke…why? Why did you leave us without a word? Why?"

'"'"'"'"

Sakura sat in her History class with a dazed expression. All of her work was finished, and while this gave her some free time, it also gave her an opening where Sasuke began to plague her thoughts. She didn't cry this time, mostly because she had already cried enough, but also because she didn't want to break down in a classroom.

"I still don't understand…why did he hide something so big from us? Why did he decide to leave us in the dark? Why…?"

"Spacing out?"

Sakura snapped out of her thoughts at the voice. She looked up, Neji stood over her. They also shared a History class.

"Huh…oh…." Sakura breathed.

Neji swerved around the table and sat in the chair next to Sakura. "Is something wrong?" He asked as he took the seat.

Sakura gazed at Neji for a moment as he spoke, but then averted her gaze and shifted it to the table in front of her. She contemplated whether or not she should really tell Neji about the Sasuke deal, she didn't want to sound like she was just preaching her emotions to him.

Neji seemed to understand the mental conflict she was having. "You know…I'm open to listen. I'm a pretty patient and understanding person."

Sakura lifted her head and looked back at Neji; her eyes portrayed her mixed emotions. "We…found out where Sasuke disappeared to…."

Neji looked at her curiously, silently urging her to go on.

Sakura shifted her gaze away again. "He…he moved away…and he…didn't tell us."

Sakura couldn't see Neji's face, so she couldn't tell how he reacted at all to the news. He just sat there silently, not saying a word.

Finally he spoke. "Well…sounds like he's just a horrible guy…not telling his best friends something so important."

Sakura shook her head. "I know…I know I should think he's terrible for doing what he did…but I just can't…all I feel is sadness…."

Neji reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. Sakura looked up when she felt the contact, and met Neji's soft gaze.

"It's alright…you're just going through the grieving process. You'll heal with time."

Sakura continued to gaze up at Neji, even after he had looked away. Finally she smiled weakly. "Thank you…." She muttered.

"What?" Neji inquired.

Sakura shook her head. "Nothing…. You're right…."

'"'"'"'"

Sakura and Neji walked along the side of the road, school was out and they were heading home.

"So Naruto's pretty bent out of shape, too," Sakura finished, and let out a deep sigh. She had just finished explaining everything to Neji.

"It'll be alright. Just give it some time, and maybe someday he'll pick up a phone and explain to you guys why he did what he did." Neji stated in a soothing tone.

Sakura looked forward down the road and nodded her head. "I hope…."

"You know…if you ever need just someone to talk to about things like this, I'll be willing to listen." Neji said comfortingly.

Sakura felt her cheeks grow a little pink at the sudden, comforting declaration. "Oh, but I don't want you to think I'm annoying or anything….or a burden."

"Why would I think you're a burden or annoying?"

Sakura was caught off for a moment at the question, and shifted her gaze down to the books she held in her arms. "Well…you know…normally guys don't like listening to girls banter on and on about some problem they're having…and so they start thinking they're annoying."

Neji shook his head. "I don't see why you would think that. Maybe you're just thinking of the wrong people. We're friends right? We listen to each other when something's bothering one of us."

Sakura looked back up at Neji as Naruto's words from earlier played through her head. He had said almost the exact same thing.

"…Thanks…." Sakura muttered.

"Thanks for what?" Neji asked.

"Thanks for…being so nice. I mean, we barely even know each other and you're still doing so much for me."

Neji smiled kindly. "It's nothing; it's what comes naturally when you have a friend."

"I know…I just wish I had a better way to express how thankful I am."

"You don't have to do anything." Neji responded. "Just knowing that I'm helping is good enough."

Sakura nearly blushed. Only Naruto and Sasuke had ever been this nice to her, it felt sort of odd, but also great to know there was another person there to help and comfort her when things get rough.

The two suddenly stopped in front of Sakura's house.

"Well, this is my stop…thank you again Neji." Sakura beamed.

"Yeah, but again, it's nothing. It's what friends are for."

Sakura nodded her head. "Right…well…see you at school."

Sakura began to turn away, but Neji suddenly called after her. "Wait a second, Sakura."

Sakura stopped and swiveled around to face him. "Uh…yes?"

Neji smirked. "If you ever need someone to talk to face-to-face and we're not in school, or just if you ever want to hang out…I'm right down the road. I'm just six houses down."

Now Sakura did slightly blush. She had only ever been over to two boys houses before, and that was Sasuke's and Naruto's, the sudden invite threw her off a little.

"Oh…well…." Sakura stammered. "S-sure…thank you."

"You really need to stop saying thank you, it's not necessary. It's a simple act of kindness."

Sakura fidgeted with the end of her shirt. "Oh…okay…tha—uh…I'll see you later then."

Neji nodded. "I'll see you later."

With that Neji turned and continued on his way down the road. Sakura stood there in her front yard for a couple of seconds until she too turned back around and went for the front door of her house.

Sakura opened the front door, and was suddenly met by the face of her mother.

"Oh, hey mom," Sakura greeted.

Sakura's mother suddenly grinned slyly. "So who was that older boy?"

Sakura blushed a little, knowing her mother's thoughts. "Mom, it's not like that! He's a friend from a few of my advanced classes."

Her mother's grin faltered a little. "Oh, well alright. Is he starting to become a special friend?"

Sakura shook her head exasperatedly. "Mom, you and your fantasies. He's a very nice guy, but it's nothing like that." With that Sakura walked past her mother towards the stairs to go up to her room.

Sakura entered her room, put down her books, and sat down on her bed.

"Mom's so crazy…." Sakura sighed.

Sakura's thoughts strayed back to what Neji had offered her before she went inside. "If you ever need someone to talk to face-to-face and we're not in school, or just if you ever want to hang out…I'm right down the road."

Sakura smiled lightly. In such a short amount of time Neji had grown into such a good friend. He actually did remind her quite a bit of Sasuke with how beneath his silent exterior laid a kind person.

"Neji Hyuga huh…who'd have thought…?"

And chapter three has come to a close! People really seem to be liking this story. And now that my other two stories are done with I can focus on this one! Of course lately I have been doing some oneshot work. How long has it been since I published an oneshot? I mean really. Just yesterday I came up with a pretty good one though! But right now there's this really tiny aspect of it I'm stuck on in the actual writing…it's like the little pebble that's keeping a big wheel from turning. I should be able to come up with something soon, though. I have so many ideas but not enough inspiration to get them all through right now! It's killing me man…. And there are only a few days left to my break! What's a writer to do? I may start writing chapters in advanced and then stocking up on those so I can still keep a steady stream flowing, but my want to get things done and out kinda stops me…we shall just have to see! Till my next update!