Chapter 7 | Her Decision

Despite its vibrant beams, the crescent moon seemed to barely light the night sky. Even the countless stars hanging above were faintly blinking. The air was cold. Sasuke had been waiting outside the hospital since sunset, remembering her shift usually ended by then. Her failure to show up at that time had distressed him, but he remained patient.

"Once I start my training, I'll forget about him completely." echoed throughout his mind.

How could she say that? Sasuke thought, his heart sinking as the scene replayed in his mind, I can't imagine myself forgetting her.

"I had a feeling you'd be here," Sakura said from behind, startling the Uchiha. He turned around, and the sight of his beloved struck him deeply. Her eyes weren't glowing, but rather a shallow emerald that had trouble keeping their gaze on him. She was frowning, her entire face encapsulated in sorrow. He moved closer to hug her, but she quickly stepped back. He didn't know what to say.

"I know you were in the classroom from before," Sakura confessed, "Ino forgot to delete the false text she sent to you." She waited for a reaction before continuing, and receiving none from her lover urged her to keep speaking.

"I just wanted you to know that it's okay. I'm... okay. I just... I wished you would have told me you weren't happy with me... or that you were happier with her, or..." Feeling tears starting to escape her, she paused, and angrily wiped the drops away before they could fall to her cheeks. "In the end... what matters most to me is your happiness. Because you are, or were, a really important part of my life and I want you to be with someone who makes you feel the way I feel about you."

Sakura had stopped again, her body trembling uneasily and her face almost parallel to the ground. Sasuke couldn't move. Every word she said struck him like a dagger. Watching her fall apart before him cracked his walls. He was starting to break just as much as she was, and that feeling paralyzed him. She gradually rose, her tear stained face bearing a forced smile.

"Thank you for everything, Sasuke." She said softly. After failing to receive another reaction, Sakura felt it was best to leave. Her steps were slow, but quickened in speed as soon as she had passed him. She dared not to look back, in fear of seeing he had already left, unmoved by her final goodbye. The hours of work she underwent from the hospital had finally begun to have an effect on her. Her velocity slowed, and the weight of her heart caused her to stop entirely in the middle of the barren street. It was there she allowed herself to break completely. The tears she had been holding back were left to fall freely from her eyes. She tilted her head towards the crescent moon, and stared in silence. Sasuke appeared behind her.

"I made a mistake." He faintly said.

"Cheating isn't a mistake." She countered quietly.

"I should have told you first," He admitted, "I'm sorry."

"I already forgave you." She started walking away again, only for him to reappear in front of her.

"Please let me explain." Sasuke said, not allowing her to pass.

"I'd rather you not tell me about how you started developing feelings for a girl who made feel like shit. I really don't want to hear how less annoying she is than me, and how you couldn't help but be attracted to her temperament because it reflects yours. I'd rather-" Seeing his arm raise from his side in an attempt to touch her, Sakura swiftly grabbed his arm, turned, and threw him down the street. He landed hard in the dirt, and watched the powerful ninja reappear in front of him before he could stand.

"Could you fucking not, Uchiha?! I'm trying really hard to keep calm about everything, and you're still acting like I'm going to go home with you." Sakura seethed, tears still visible from the corner of her eyes.

"All I'm asking is for you to listen to me for one second!" Sasuke shouted, equally hurt. Sakura unclenched her fist.

"Fine, but stay down." She allowed.

"Yume's the one you should be throwing into the ground." Sasuke admitted.

"Yume-chan? What are you talking about?" Sakura questioned, doubting him.

"I overheard her conversation with Haruhi after the third meeting, and she said she was going to destroy you by stealing me away. She said she knew I couldn't be swayed one way or another, so she's been secretly ingraining a genjutsu technique on me, but I've been blocking it since day one. She's responsible for Ino and Shikamaru's break too, but I couldn't prevent that." Sasuke explained.

"Then what were you doing when you kissed her?" Sakura asked, still suspicious.

"I never kissed her. I was only going to so she'd believe her plan was working because I wanted revenge for the way she made you feel, but I couldn't do it." Sasuke answered.

"Why didn't you tell me?! I-"

"Because you wouldn't want to hurt her. You'd let her off with some lousy talk!" Sasuke retorted.

"Because maybe she just needs a talking to instead of a social beating! People don't need to be broken to learn, Sasuke!" Sakura countered angrily.

"She does! You gave her a chance to change, and did she? No, she went out and tried to break you." Sasuke retaliated, "Besides, why are you getting mad at me for not telling you? You didn't tell me you were leaving after graduation!"

"I didn't tell you because I wasn't sure I was even going!" Sakura shouted. "I was going to talk to you about it, but we've been preparing for the festival. I didn't want to add any more stress in either of our lives."

Realizing he was the one at fault, Sasuke remained silent.

"You really hurt me..." Sakura faintly said, her anger fading rapidly into despair, "I thought you respected me enough to tell me things when they're as important as this."

"I do respect you, I just... I'm sorry." He said. Sakura didn't reply. The two of them didn't speak for a few heartbeats as they contemplated their relationship.

"I forgive you," Sakura said, "But I just can't be with you right now."

"What? Are you breaking up with me?" Sasuke asked, truly shocked.

"I don't know... I want to fix this, and what's worse is I know we can. But out of all the things I'm trying to balance in my life, I just don't think I can handle us at this time." Sakura explained. Her tears had run out, the feeling of numbness overcoming her.

"Sakura-chan..." He murmured.

"I'm sorry. It's late, and I'm going to leave now... If you really love me, please give me my space." The pink haired ninja said, and abruptly disappeared.

Sasuke lay down further in the hole he had been thrown in. He stared at the night sky above him in disbelief of the events that had just occurred.

"You idiot." He breathed to himself, sighing.

Hey! You can't just give up on her like that! Inner Sasuke boomed.

"Who said I was giving up?" Sasuke asked aloud.

Don't argue with me, I'm your inner voice. I know all your thoughts, and for a second you thought about giving up on your dream girl. Inner Sasuke retorted.

"Hn," Sasuke grunted, annoyed.

Don't give me that sass either. Now hurry up and think of how you're going to fix this ugly mess. Inner Sasuke ordered.

There was silence before Sasuke's thoughts became active again. Ask Naruto, Inner Sasuke whispered.

"You have got to be kidding me," Sasuke muttered.

You know we aren't. His inner replied sternly.

Sasuke slowly rose from the ground, and began walking to his dorm. He noticed the lights were still on once he entered the room and was surprised to find a folded arm Naruto waiting for him.

"Ino texted me everything a few minutes ago," Naruto explained, evidently crossed at his best friend. "How could you do that to Sakura-chan?"

"Look," Sasuke said, "I know I messed up, so could you not rub it in? I was actually going to ask for your advice..."

"Really?" Naruto asked excitedly. "With this being the second love case this week, I'm feeling like a love-kage!"

"Second? Who's the first?" Sasuke asked.

"Hmmm... I wasn't going to tell you since it's a secret, but since it concerns your situation too, I might as we-"

"Just get on with it!" Sasuke snapped.

"Hiro-kun. Hina-chan and I just finished telling him how he could get closer to Yume-chan." Naruto replied.

"So he likes her? Weird." Sasuke mumbled.

"Hey, just because Yume-chan isn't the best person around, doesn't mean she isn't worthy of love. I mean, she's really insecure, and that's what probably lead to her targeting Sakura-chan in the first place." Naruto said.

"Being insecure isn't an excuse," Sasuke retorted.

"Yeah, well... The way I see it, everyone is worthy of love. But you're right, she needs to take responsibility of her actions." Naruto declared.

"So tell me, 'love-kage', how can I fix things with Sakura-chan?" Sasuke asked, growing impatient.

"Well, if phase one of Operation Yiro works out, then Hiro-kun should be with Yume-chan for most of the festival. We planned it so he'd approach her when she was with her friend, and ask them if they wanted to hang with a group during the festival. Her friend, being the more outgoing one, would convince her to join.

"If that works, then Yume wouldn't be so focused on you, and you would have the freedom to be with Sakura-chan." Naruto described.

"But I don't want to wait a whole week to fix things," Sasuke mentioned. "What if it's too late?"

"Sakura-chan wouldn't move on from you in just a week. You guys have been together for a long time. Besides, I really think you should give her the space she needs. With everything she has to juggle in this last week of school, I think she deserves the time away from you," Naruto responded, "And if anything- distance makes the heart grow fonder."

"Hn. You're probably right," Sasuke admitted, the last few words of Naruto's advice resonating in his mind.

"Of course I am! I'm love-kage after all," Naruto declared proudly, "But Sasuke-kun? What are you going to do with Yume? I know you want revenge, but do you really think that's what's best now?"

"She needs to pay for what she's done, there's no arguing that," Sasuke warned, "Maybe not in the way I initially planned, but I'm not letting her get away with this."

"Well, whatever you end up doing, just don't make it something you'll regret." Naruto advised, as he turned off the light and lay back on his bed.

Sasuke retired to his bed as well, and lay with a heavy sigh. "Naruto," He softly spoke.

"Yeah?"

"It still hurts."

Naruto folded his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling. "Don't worry, Sasuke-kun. Everything will turn out right in the end." He assured.

"Hn." Sasuke grunted, and turned on his side. The two quietly drifted into sleep.