Chapter 6

Naruto complemented Sakura on the delicious dinner that she had prepared. She wasn't always that good at it. After she got back from Indonesia, she started to take culinary classes. When she had just about finished moving in to the apartment that her father had bought her, she had eaten instant food for a whole week. Realizing that it was unhealthy for both herself and Naruto, she registered for cooking class. Naruto could still vaguely remember the taste of the burnt food on his tongue but he had forced it down to please her. When he suffered from a bad case of food poisoning because of her, she worked really hard to improve on her cooking. He was only happy back then to be a part of her life in anyway and to be of any help.

As he was helping her clean up, he wanted to tell her about his recent interest. "So, Kiba told me about this gym that's well known for Muay Thai and I went along with him and joined. It's really a captivating sport! The gym is open until late at night so it's great for my work schedule."

"You never told me that you had an interest in fighting." Sakura said trying to keep herself from telling him that it was a bad idea.

He shrugged "I didn't, I just wanted to give it a try."

She wanted to tell him not to, that she was worried he would get hurt. But that would probably get him thinking of proving her wrong so she said instead "Yeah, why not? You might find that you don't like it." That was what she hoped anyway and Naruto had caught wind of it.

"And what if I do? Would you disapprove?" he asked as he put his full attention on her.

She was struggling not to get angry as she said "Do you always have to follow Kiba into everything?" Naruto only gave her a questioning look. "I mean when he wanted to be a mechanic, you also enrolled along with him. You two live in the same building and now this…do you idolize him or something?"

Naruto gave a smirk "That's the last thing I'd ever do in the world. Kiba and I have known each other for so long it's only natural that our interests overlap. But I didn't think that you would be this against it! Is it just Kiba or are you only against the fighting?"

She thought about this diligently before replying. "I'm not sure…I just feel like you're always following someone else's lead. Like in high school you worked really hard at track only because of Sasuke-kun and now at this because of Kiba. I don't know if you're forgetting but Kiba is from a rich family and if he is ever over this rebellious phase of his, he just might go back to them.

"What I'm trying to say Naruto is that you don't have anything of that sort to fall back on." She noticed the look on Naruto's face and tried to say it another way. "So should you really be spending time on things like this? I just feel you have better potential than that Naruto!"

"No I don't!" he argued "The only thing that I've ever been good for is my physical strength. You're the one with the brains Sakura-chan."

Sakura regarded him for a moment and shook her head. "You really don't know you're self Naruto!" She decided to give the matter time, she knew better than to tell Naruto what to do. He's a man who could make his own decisions but she worried that he was still much too naïve. He was always picking up an interest but his whimsical thinking of trying to have everything too quickly had kept him from committing to anything long-term. She supposed it was one of the reasons he only finished three years at a community college under a certificate program to become a mechanic. She only wished that he would find an interest on something that put him at a higher career path.

As she was almost done tidying up a thought came to her and she hit her forehead with her palm. "I can't believe that I forgot to finish the essay that's due tomorrow! Sorry Naruto, guess I'll have to skip the movie." She said as she got out her laptop.

"That's alright." He answered as he watched her scurrying to get her assignments out. He took out his guitar and sat on the living room floor across from where she sat on the couch typing away. "I'll just give you some background music."

She turned very quickly to tell him "Ah, arigatou!" and turned back to her work as he filled the air with soft acoustic music. In just about forty five minutes she was done and stretching her arms "Perfect, I'll just edit in the morning."

"You only have a year left of school right?" he asked as he watched her put her computer away.

"Yeah, I'll be able to start my residency right after that. It's a bit nerve racking to think of though, I keep on wondering if I'll make a good doctor or not."

"You'll be great!" he reassured her "Hey, are you still thinking about doing the volunteer service work?"

She turned to him with a smile "You still remember that?" He wanted to say that he held on to her every word but decided against it. "Well of course, that's the reason I wanted to be a doctor in the first place. Although this time I would probably be stationed at a place for longer periods of time."

"How long?" he asked concerned

"Maybe two to two and a half years, I'm not really sure. Why?" she asked as she noticed that he had stopped strumming on the guitar.

"Just that I won't be able to see you for that long." He said looking away from her. She was taken aback as she realized that she hadn't thought of that before.

"Naruto…" she only called noticing how dejected he looked. But he hid it quickly and put on a grin for her.

"Ah, don't worry about me Sakura-chan! This is what you've wanted to do for a long time." 'Who am I to stand in your way?' he thought as he started to play again. "I have a song for you!"

"You do?" she asked as she hugged one of the pillows from the couch to her chest. She loved the fact that he only sang for her. And she couldn't explain how handsome he was when he played on his guitar; it was enough to make her blush.

As soon as he played the familiar tune and sang the first line of the lyrics "See the pyramids along the Nile…"

She asked "Hey isn't that from Shrek? I can't believe you're singing me a song from a children's movie!" she teased.

"Shh!" he scolded "This is not originally from Shrek…it was written by Bob Dylan. Although if I tried to sing this like him it would sound like this…" He made his voice nasally and high as he sang the first part again.

Sakura laughed at his silliness "Alright you've made your point…go ahead."

Naruto started over again as he sang Jason Wade's cover of Bob Dylan's "You belong to me." If Sakura was amused at first, she wasn't now as she felt herself slowly falling into his singing.

"See the market place in old Algiers

Send me photographs and Souvenirs,

Just remember when a dream appears,

You belong to me!

Oh, I'll be so alone without you!

Maybe you'll be lonesome too…

Fly the ocean in a silver plane,

See the jungle when it's wet with rain.

Just remember till you're home again

You belong to me!"

He smiled at how intensely she was looking at him. "If only you belonged to me, Sakura-chan."

She felt her heart skip a beat as he said so. She knew what he was trying to say, that no matter where it was that she went in search of her dreams, he wanted her to belong to him. But he was too afraid to say so and was trying to convey it through a song. He was so selfless, she thought as she found herself caught up in him. She wanted to reach over and run her fingers through his unruly blonde hair. His blue eyes shined with passion as he softly sang making him look undeniably handsome to her. It was like he was playing with her heart strings and not the guitar's. She felt this unbearable wanting to caress his face and kiss his sweet mouth. A blush came over her face as she realized her thoughts. What was wrong with her? Why was she thinking this way about him?

"Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked as he noticed her go quiet.

"Huh…say Naruto have you uh given that guitar a name?" She asked in an attempt to rid herself of the thoughts.

"Hmm no, but if I were to I'd probably call it Sakura-chan!" he answered enthusiastically

"What?" she asked wondering where that came from?

"Well you know, for musicians their instruments are almost like their lovers. It's an intimate relationship." He said as he ran his fingers over the strings.

Sakura blushed as she noticed the strange look on his face as he stroked the chords. "You pervert!" she exclaimed as she hit him with the pillow she was hugging.

"Sakura-chan I didn't mean it like that I swear!" he said as he tried to dodge the attacks but Sakura didn't relent. She had his back on the carpeted floor as she kept on whacking him on his face.

"Then what was that strange look you had baka?" She asked in between hits.

He finally grabbed at her wrists. "I meant a spiritual relationship Sakura-chan, why won't you believe me? I love you in spirit and not in body so I know that it's more intimate and lasting. I wouldn't name it anything else!"

Sakura stared at him as he tried to catch his breath beneath her and realized that she was straddling him. When she noticed a beautiful grin spread across his face the previous feelings of wanting to hold him and kiss him had intensified. "Aren't you the one with their mind in the gutter?" Naruto asked cheekily.

Her heart raced, was he reading her mind? She shook herself from her thoughts and said "Naruto!" in a warning tone.

He only chuckled and said "Okay, I'm sorry! I forgot how strong you were."

She playfully punched him on his shoulders.

He got up from his place on the floor and rubbed his eyes before asking "Can I sleep here Sakura-chan? It's too lonely at my place!" he pouted at her.

"Yeah…no problem!" she answered reluctantly trying to sound nonchalant when she was actually a bundle of nerves inside. How could she sleep with him here and these strange thoughts in her head? As if that weren't enough, he went straight into her bedroom and plopped down on her bed. He took off his t-shirt and only kept his white beater on that gave her a good view of his shapely muscles and lean waist.

"Aren't you coming?" he asked as he patted the pillow next to him.

Her face was twitching from disbelief as she stared at him from the door way. Was he trying to seduce her today? If anyone knew that they slept in the same bed they were bound to misunderstand. But she supposed that his behavior wasn't any different from usual and it was her that was strange. She hadn't felt uncomfortable before to share her bed with him but today…

Trying not to seem that awkward she said "Maybe I should finish editing that essay…you know…incase I might over sleep."

Naruto only rested his head against the pillow and answered "Alright but don't stay up too long…you'll feel really tried the rest of tomorrow."

She only turned away from him and got to work on that essay again, anything to keep her from thinking of attacking Naruto. When she finished another hour or so later and turned off the lights to walk to her bedroom, she found Naruto fast asleep.

He seemed so childlike when he slept…he almost seemed like a teenager. If she thought about it, in the five years since high school, Naruto seemed to stay the same in personality, childlike and innocent. It broke her heart to think of someone else getting to see him this way. The thought she had been trying to avoid from the time he had been singing was 'What if you were mine and only mine?'

Her reluctance from starting a real relationship with Naruto left her questioning, what if someone else were to snatch him away? He had no idea how sweet and handsome he really was and it worried her that some other girl would actually realize that. The thought that he would grace some other girl with that beautiful smile of his… that he would sing touching songs for another or actually be happy with someone else had her chest tightening and her breathing was becoming painful.

She ran her fingers through his hair in the way that she wanted to and inched her face closer to his lips wanting so badly to touch them with hers. A tear escaped her eyes and fell on his cheek. "What if…what if I'm falling for you Naruto?" she whispered to his sleeping form.

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Two weeks later Sakura had just clocked out of work and was walking out of the lobby of the hospital when she noticed Kiba at one of the vending machines. "What are you doing here Kiba?"

He jumped as he heard her voice from behind him. "Shit Sakura, don't sneak up on me like that!"

Sakura only gave him a questioning look. "I didn't know you were of the faintest heart."

Kiba ignored that comment "I'm actually here for Naruto."

Sakura felt her pulse race "Naruto?"

She rushed to the emergency room waiting area to look for Naruto when she heard Kiba tell her that he had to get stitches. She didn't even listen to the rest of what he had to say, she just wanted to know he was okay. She spotted his blond hair as he finished some paper work that a nurse had handed him. "Naruto?" she called out to him and saw his back stiffen at the sound of her voice.

"Sakura-chan!" he turned to her slowly. That was when she noticed the stitches around his left eyebrow and some more to the right side of his mouth. She was immediately at his side as she reached up with her fingers to touch his wounds.

He flinched at the pain that came along with her touch and saw the look of concern in her eyes. "How did this happen?"

"It kind of got serious when I was having a practice match." He answered cautiously knowing that she would probably throw a fit.

He was right on mark as he saw the flash of anger instantly at his admission. "Naruto! What the hell were you thinking? A practice match, don't tell me that you're seriously getting yourself into this dangerous sport?!"

"Don't worry Sakura-chan; it's not like this is something that will happen every day! I lost my guard only for a minute and that damned guy…" he stopped midsentence as he noticed the glare that she threw at him. She stared at the areas of stitches and his swollen flesh. "It's not as bad as it looks!" He tried to reassure her.

She softly rested her palms on his cheeks and brought his face down to her eye level. Naruto was caught in her soft but worried gaze. "Just what are you doing, Naruto? Why are you risking your body this way? What if you seriously get hurt?"

He reached up and thumbed the back for her hands in an effort to calm her. He loved her closeness and concern over him. It was something that no one had done for him before. "These injuries are nothing! My body is as tough as a rock, there isn't any wound on it that won't heal. And besides it is hardly anything precious to be careful with."

She was appalled at his words…it wasn't her imagination; she had once noted this before. Did Naruto really put such low importance on himself? If she thought about it, it wasn't only limited to his health but extended towards all parts of his life. He didn't aim too high with grades for as long as she had known him, was content with his current job as a mechanic and that small apartment in that run down building. He had that same attitude with relationships as he was only happy to be around her despite his sacrifices for her. He hardly ever asked for more. And on those rare times he did, he always backed down when he noticed the slightest bit of distress from her.

Why did he do this to himself? Was he a masochist of some sort that he welcomed pain in his life? When he noticed the way she stared him diligently he put on his masking grin. It was the façade that was full of confidence and an untroubled look he had perfected. "I'm fine Sakura-chan! Go home and rest. Didn't you just get off of work?" She could see right through it now, she knew him better. But she relented for the moment because he too could be stubborn when he wanted to be.

"Alright, but you better not get into another fight Naruto! Cause those wounds won't compare to the beating I'll give you!" She warned him

He put up his hands in defense "I swear I won't!"

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Sakura returned to her apartment and put some water to boil on her stove for that relaxing orange tea that she had gotten on her last visit to the supermarket. When she had stripped down to just a tee shirt and underwear, her door bell abruptly rang. Hoping that it wasn't Ino again who usually dropped in late at night without warning but when she checked through the door she was shocked to find Hyuuga Hinata.

"Hinata-san?" Sakura asked as she opened the door to the uninvited guest.

Hinata was as bashful as Sakura had always remembered her to be. "I'm very sorry for dropping in so late Sakura-san. I took the last train to Tokyo and just checked in at the hotel then headed straight here."

"That's alright, I'm used to people showing up abruptly…why don't you come in?" Sakura said as she stepped aside to allow her entrance. "I was just about to have some tea, would you like some?" She offered as Hinata had taken a seat on her living room couch.

"Yes, thank you!" was the reply. Sakura watched from her place in the kitchen as Hinata looked around her place. She felt humbled knowing that Hinata belonged to the prominent Hyuuga family. But it made her more curious as to why the woman was here.

When Sakura handed the cup of tea and placed some snacks down for her, Hinata politely thanked her. As Sakura observed her, she noticed how meticulous the woman before her was. The way she held her tea cup and drank, her manner of sitting; everything about her felt as if it was rigorously practiced to perfection. But Sakura guessed that it was necessary for Hinata to project such an image as she was the heir to the Hyuuga conglomerate. "So what brings you here to Tokyo? The last I heard from Neji about you, he said that you were a published children's book artist in Kyoto."

Hinata placed her tea cup down "Yes, I'm actually here to meet with a publishing company that was interested in my work so I'll be in the city for a week and a half." Sakura nodded at her answer and there was an awkward silence settling in between them. "I know I probably look strange to you Sakura-san for suddenly coming to visit you when we were never close nor did we talk much in our high school days but I had to talk to you as soon as I could." Hinata was staring at her cup and Sakura only waited for her to continue. "You see, Sakura-san I have a bit of a dilemma. My father wants me to get married by the end of the year. He has ordered me to return to the Hyuuga estate by next week for my arranged marriage meeting. Can you believe that? He's ordered me like a little child as if I don't have a will of my own, as if I don't have my own dreams or my career."

Sakura listened to the girl in front of her with sympathy. She had always done things her own way so she felt for Hinata who constantly was pressured by her father. "And you know the funniest thing…he said that since I'm not worthy of taking over the business he will have to find someone willing to accept the likes of me. All I've always been was an object to him, and now he wants to sell me off in marriage to whoever will bring the greatest merit to the Hyuuga group."

Sakura still didn't understand where she came in to play in all of this. "I don't mean to be rude Hinata-san but what does all this have to do with me I mean I do feel that it isn't fair to you to be forced into marriage…"

Hinata continued "The reason I'm here is because of Naruto-kun…"

In the ten years that Sakura had known Naruto, she had never heard another girl call his name with as much affection as she had just heard. And she suddenly felt dread at why Hinata was really here. "What…what do you mean?" she felt herself stutter.

"Neji-nii-san was the one who told me that you two were really close and gave me your address. I didn't want to tell him why it was that I wanted to find Naruto-kun so instead I asked for you. I thought that since you know him so well that I could ask you for advice." She had a blush on her face as she looked at Sakura "I'm too much of a coward Sakura-san! I was too afraid to tell Naruto-kun that I've liked him since so long ago. I've carried this unrequited love within my heart everyday for the last nine years like a fool. But this time I want to face both my feelings and Naruto-kun head on."

"If it's him I could have courage to stand up to my dad, if it's him I could follow my dreams without any fears. Watching him had always given me strength…given me hope. Won't you help me Sakura-san?" Hinata grabbed Sakura's left hand and pleaded. "Is there any hope for me? Do you think he will accept someone like me?"

"I…I wouldn't really know Hinata-san!" Sakura had managed to say; still feeling shocked by the revelation.

"But you're his best friend Sakura-san, you should probably know of his tastes."

Her heart was pounding loudly in her ears as she hesitantly heard herself say "Naruto is more loving and down to earth than anyone I know. If you tell him how you feel…I doubt he'll turn you away."

She could see the hope in Hinata's eyes…and she hated herself for being the one to spark it. "You don't how heavy my heart has been these past couple of weeks Sakura-san. I can't imagine myself with anyone other than Naruto-kun. He has been my pillar of inspiration and hope for as long as I could remember. Not to mention that he is also my first love. I have always longed to give him the happiness that he never got…longed to shower him with the love that he hasn't received. Perhaps you know better than anyone of his loneliness and how everyone hated him in our hometown for his background. I want to take care of him now, I want to build my future with him…I feel I have the courage now."

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Sakura couldn't sleep for a couple of nights as she thought about everything Hinata had told her. If she thought back to her high school days with Sasuke and Naruto, where as Sasuke always wanted to be left alone it was Naruto who tried his best to get attention. She had only joined the track team when she found out that Sasuke was a member. Because the elementary school in Konoha was an all-girls school, she was excited to be attending middle school which was co-ed. It was in her second year that she had met Sasuke as he moved back to Konoha after the tragedy of his family and his release from the hospital.

His brother Itachi had suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and in a bout of insanity had slain his whole family. Sasuke was the only survivor. He was always aloof and she couldn't remember if she had ever really seen him smile. But regardless she was drawn to him to the point that she was almost completely blind towards Naruto. He used to seem obnoxious to her with his loud voice and loud laughter. Everything about him was exaggerated and full of energy. But she had never paid enough attention to him to know of the girls that might have been in love with.

She didn't think that there ever really was a girl that would like him if they knew of his past. That he was the son of serial rapist who had actually killed two of his victims. Naruto had also come about when one of the victims had decided to keep him instead of going through an abortion. After she gave birth to him, she left him at the orphanage and fled Konoha to never come back. It was her who had identified her attacker and had gotten him arrested. The investigation had resulted in the finding of the two bodies. His father was sentenced to death and executed before he was even born.

The public eye was cruel; they weren't kind to Naruto's mother as she started showing, whispering all sorts of maliciousness behind her back despite the courage it took for her to come forward and press charges. Naruto had never seen his own mother's face and it made Sakura wonder about the depth of the wounds in his heart. She had once in her childish immaturity had mocked him because of his lack of parents and structure as the reason behind his behavior. But she had heard the harsh scolding from Sasuke for those words and it left her thinking twice.

Naruto had gone through most of his life alone; he only had Iruka-sensei by his side until he was twelve years old. Iruka-sensei had gotten married that year and resigned from the orphanage. To think that he had so many losses in his life what would he think if he knew of the girls that were secretly in love with him. Especially someone like Hyuuga Hinata who was like a princess. Would he be happy? Would he get over his infatuation with Sakura? Would he…God, the questions were tearing her mind apart! Why had she said that to Hinata? Why the hell did she have to sound encouraging? Would she be able to give Naruto away just like that?

She looked over at her alarm clock that was now blaring 3:15 in the morning. Letting out a cry of frustration she buried her head under her pillow but the words of Hinata 'I want to take care of him now' was still resounding loudly in her head.

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Sakura could barely stay awake through the lectures later that morning as a headache hammered away at her. She was through with the last class before her two hour break. She thought maybe she could doze off in the library and just skip lunch altogether. She barely had an appetite as she mulled over the thoughts from the early morning hours. And due to her cranky nature as of the moment she was internally bad mouthing Hinata. The girl absolutely had no manners…to suddenly show up without warning and then laid the bomb about how she's been in love with Naruto.

Well…too bad for her because he wasn't interested. Why if Sakura wanted Naruto would be at her back and call. He had always been in love with her and no one would change that. She pressed her temples as her headache was pounding harder. The restless thought process was only making her more ill. 'What am I doing? This inner turmoil is getting me nowhere!'

"Sakura-chan!" she heard Naruto's voice call from behind her. She turned to find him jogging towards her. He was catching his breath as he reached her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked surprised at his appearance.

"You have a break right now don't you? Have lunch with me…it seems like so long since we've really seen each other."

"It hasn't even been a week." She reminded but before he could say anything another voice had interjected.

"Ah you must be Uzumaki-san!" was the voice of Yakushi Kabuto from behind him.

"Yes, that's me!" Naruto replied as he turned to see the wretched man who had the guts to ask his Sakura-chan out. He had taken that opportunity to put his arms around Sakura who looked at him and noticed his stiffness.

"Well congratulations are in order…" he said almost mockingly and Naruto looked at him questioningly "Ah…aren't you too seeing each other? That was the impression Sakura-san had given me." He was challenging.

Naruto didn't even bat an eyelash. "Yes we are…I've been in love with her for a long time and I'm only fortunate that she has accepted."

Sakura watched Naruto speak those lies so confidently and was surprised by him. "Then…I'll just be on my way. I don't want to keep you two." Kabuto said as he walked away from them without the smug look that he had on previously.

"Sorry Naruto…I didn't mean to involve you in all this…" she was trying to explain to him.

"It's alright Sakura-Chan! I know my place and that you were only trying to avoid that creep. I'm not going to get my hopes up…" As he said this Sakura caught the fleeting look of disappointment or maybe it was sadness in his eyes. But it was gone as soon as it was there and he pulled on his grin "Come on lets go eat!" he said as he pulled her along to a hibachi place that had some good lunch specials.

Sakura thought about the way Naruto looked as he told her that he wasn't going to get his hopes up and felt an annoyance coming over her. Why was he so hopeless? Why didn't he persist with asking her out…why didn't he give her an opportunity to say yes without having to spell everything out for him. And that was when the realization dawned on her…she was crippling Naruto day by day. While he waited on her to fall in love with him, he was giving up many opportunities to stay by her side. There was a bitter aftertaste to that thought.

The lively atmosphere of the restaurant was only serving to make her more agitated. Naruto happily ate in front of her and chatted in between chewing his food about his improvements at Muay Thai. All she could do was notice the wounds on his face. He hadn't had the stitches removed yet and the swelling in his face barely healed. The black and blue of his skin made her want to reach out and caress him.

"Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked and she flinched.

"Yeah?"

"You haven't touched your food. " He motioned towards her plate. "You're not skipping your meals again are you?" he asked as he watched her suspiciously.

"I've lost my appetite just by looking at you." She said as she looked away from him

Naruto dropped his chopsticks at her words, all signs of mirth vanished. He touched his face and felt the bumps, realizing what it was that she was staring at the whole time. "Do they look that hideous still…they'll be gone in a few days…you'll see!"

She turned to him with a sharp glare "It won't be long before they are replaced with new ones…you're serious about this fighting crap aren't you?"

"Well…I" Naruto stuttered being taken aback.

"I don't get it Naruto…do you really just want to throw your life away? What happened to you? Is it…is it because of me that you're going about you're days like this?" she was now demanding from him.

"Sakura-chan…" he said looking around him trying to remind her that they were in public.

"What? Do my words sound too harsh for you?" she was still keeping it up. "Then maybe you should think about getting a proper job and working hard towards something that isn't frivolous!"

Naruto looked at her eyes that were filled with anger and wondered what was really wrong. She had looked tired to him and agitated. He had known to read her well so he didn't understand where this outburst was coming from. "Is something wrong…did I do something to make you angry Sakura-chan?"

She couldn't believe that he was still being nice to her. He was still worried about her when she was outright being mean. It irritated her that he didn't have enough of a pride to tell her to watch her words. She realized that she had to do this…she had to push him away…had to make him realize how terrible she was and how he didn't treat his self right. "Are you not even listening? I'm telling you that you're wasting your time!" she was a bit reluctant as she said "And that you're also wasting mine's as well when you're always looking for me. If you spent even half of that time on you…then just maybe you'd have already made something of yourself!" she spat before she slapped some bills down on the table and walked out on him.

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Sakura walked up the stairs to her place dejectedly. She couldn't think of anything the rest of the day at school and work but her words to Naruto. Wasn't there a better way to tell him that wouldn't involve hurting his feelings? She felt absolutely useless as she realized the only thing that she had ever given him was pain. That was when she noticed him waiting at her door steps.

His eyes were mixed with both fear and anticipation as he looked at her. "Sakura-Chan…" he whispered.

She felt an aching. Why does he still come around no matter how bad she is to him? "How long have you been waiting?" she asked

"That doesn't matter…" he said as he stuffed his hands into his pockets and stared at the floor. "What's really the matter Sakura-Chan? I haven't seen you look so fierce before…it's almost like you're telling me something else through your words…telling me that you need me to understand something important."

He amazed her by how he saw right through her. Maybe it was inevitable since they knew each other for a more than a decade. But she had to do this she told herself so she hardened her eyes.

"Then don't go deeper than the meaning of my words. Because I've been thinking about this for a while now. I think the only reason you're living the way you are now is because of me…because you want to watch over me. I'm feeling suffocated from that!" she said as she held her head. Naruto snapped his head towards her at those words…the pain evident in his eyes. "I can take care of myself without you always hovering over me…its annoying! I don't think even you realize that you're holding yourself back because of me. I really hate this self sacrifice that you're doing for me Naruto…and I'm tired of people telling me that I lead you on!"

Naruto was trying hard to swallow at the lump that was forming in his throat "Then what it is that you want me to do?" he asked

"I'm saying that we shouldn't see each other so much. Maybe even avoid each other for a while for you to get yourself together. Enough of this nonsense with fighting and maybe even registering back to school. I don't know I shouldn't be the one to decide for you but I also can stand around watching you go on like this." Naruto listen to her words that were like thorns to him. Did she know what she was doing to him? He felt his hurt giving way to anger as she continued.

"What's really funny is that I'm asking this break from you when we're not even going out or even remotely close to that. But all I know is that it'll be good for you…" She was startled in between talking as she heard the loud thud of Naruto's fist against wall next to her door. She watched him in fear as she saw his whole body trembling.

"Don't! Don't give me that shit of it's for my own good!" he whispered harshly at her. When he turned to her, did she notice the burning anger in his eyes. "Do I suffocate you with my presence? If you're that tired of me then why did you tell me not to leave you?" he shouted at her. "Why don't you ever say what you really mean?"

He was scaring her as the tears were filling her eyes, threatening to fall anytime and give her away. "I mean it this time!" she said as she looked away from him before he could see the truth in her eyes.

"Fine!" he said as his face darkened in a way that was so unlike him. "If that's what you want then I'll disappear for you!" Before she could even look at him he was already past her with an unnatural speed. And as she turned her body to the direction he was headed all she caught was a glimpse of his blonde hair as he treaded down the stair case.

The tears she had been holding in were now cascading down her face. 'He's gone!' She thought as she was engulfed in the silence of her apartment building's corridor. It was utter quiet in her world as if time itself had stopped and the beating of her heart was awfully loud in her ears. She asked herself 'What have I done?'

Wind797: Please read my profile for the apology note to this chapter.