I'm Letting You Go


A week passed since Karin's confession.

This time, it was Sasuke who was avoiding Sakura. Sakura wondered why he hadn't at least called her or something to check up on her. Was something wrong?

...did something happen with Karin?

She couldn't help but shake off the feeling that there was something more between them. She couldn't get Sasuke's look towards Karin off from her mind.

Sakura looked over at the time...it was 8 AM. Letting out a small yawn, she sat up and lifted the blankets away. Her eyes averted to her cell phone and she had the urge to call Sasuke. But...she didn't want to bother him.

Sakura hesitantly reached over to her phone, but then quickly withdrew back. "I should just visit him."


Sasuke just woke up and was cooking breakfast. He wondered what Sakura was doing right now...he missed her.

Did she even care that he didn't contact her for a whole week? Probably not.

"I should go see how she's doing. Well, not that she needs me there anyways." He muttered to himself. Karin's words stuck in his mind. If she doesn't love him back, what's the point?

Sasuke shook his head and set the table for himself. He sat down and poked at his food. He honestly didn't know what to do. It was either choosing the past and making it better, or choosing the present and hope for the future.

Sasuke knew he shouldn't be dwelling in the past, but he knew he'd always feel something for Karin, too. She was his first crush, his first real love, his first true bestfriend.

But then, there's Sakura, again. He can see their relationship progressing, even though it was very slow. He knew she needed time. And he already promised himself he'd only leave her if she told him to.

"Damn it. What the hell am I supposed to do?" He sighed in frustration.

He was suddenly pulled out of his thoughts when someone knocked on the front door. He got up and walked over to open it and was surprised when he saw Sakura standing outside.

"...what are you doing here?" He blurted out.

"Just...wanted to see you." Sakura replied quietly.

That was new. She wanted to see him? Sasuke was a bit happy she actually came. So she really did care. He stepped aside, insisting that she'd come in.

Sakura walked into the house. "Is everything ok?"

"Yea, of course. Why?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

"It's been a week." Sakura stated obviously.

"Oh...yea...I just needed to clear my mind on some things. I was going to come see you after breakfast."

Sakura noticed he was a bit distant. "Did everything go ok at the hangout with Karin?" She dared to ask.

Sasuke couldn't tell her the truth. But then again, would it even matter to her? Would she care that he and Karin had feelings for each other back then? Would she care that Karin confessed to him?

Sasuke let out a deep sigh and averted his eyes down. "Actually, I need to tell you something." He knew that keeping secrets in a relationship was wrong. He couldn't hide this from Sakura, whether she cared or not.

Sakura didn't know why, but she was feeling nervous. He was making her doubts rise even more.

"Back in high school, Karin and I really were best friends. But, the truth is, I was in love with her." Sasuke didn't dare to look up at her. "And last week, she...she confronted me about dating you..."

Sakura narrowed her eyes at that statement. She was disliking Karin more and more.

"She told me that she had feelings for me. And, that she wanted me..." He hesitated a bit. "...she wanted me to leave you, to go to her."

Sakura felt that weird, uncomfortable feeling in her chest again. "It seems like you're making it a bigger deal than it is, Sasuke." She stated quietly.

Sasuke finally looked up at her. He knew it. She really didn't even think much of it.

"You're dating me. So why is that affecting you? Do you still have feelings for her?" Sakura was feeling angrier by the minute.

"I honestly can't say that I don't. I know I'll always have a special place for her in my heart. And, if I go back to her...there would be nothing to come between us again."

Sakura was kind of in disbelief. Was he really considering the idea of going back to Karin? "Why are you dwelling in your past? Why should that affect you now, after so many years? Shouldn't you move on..." Sakura immediately stopped herself when she realized what she was saying. Why should she have the right to tell him to move on, when she was still stuck on Naruto? He was always patient with her, but here she was, getting angry and raising her voice at him.

Sasuke couldn't believe this. She was...she was mad at him. This was the first time he ever saw her get angry.

Sakura just stood there, without saying anything else. In a sense, Sasuke should be having hard time with this. She knew very well that he loved her...but the fact that his first love was willing to start over with him, she knew it was hard to resist that idea. And thinking about it, Sakura knew he'd be happier with Karin, than with her. And it wasn't her choice to choose who he wanted to be with.

"If...if you're really considering breaking up with me, to be with her...I won't stop you." Sakura calmed down and gazed at him. She needed to stop this. She needed to stop taking advantage of him, especially out of her own selfishness.

Sasuke looked back into her beautiful emerald eyes in surprise. "You won't stop me?"

Sakura didn't think this day would come, but it came sooner than expected. The day she would ask him to finally leave her. "Sasuke. You said you'd never leave me, unless I told you so."

He was panicking. Was she really going to break up with him right now? He was always prepared for that, but right now...right now, he was honestly scared. Was this really it...?

"So, right now, I'm telling you...to leave me." Sakura finally said it. She expected to feel a huge weight lifted off her shoulders, but her heart felt heavier than ever. Sakura didn't understand. She was letting him go. She was letting him be happy...but it didn't feel right. 'I'm feeling guilty again. That's all there is.' She thought to herself.

At that moment, Sasuke felt himself go numb. He couldn't even say anything. He couldn't even look at her.

Sakura sighed and took a step back. "From now on, please be happy. Whether it's with Karin, or not...just be with someone who isn't like me. I don't want hurt you anymore." She took one last gaze at him and once again felt that strange heartbeat when he raised his head and locked his eyes on hers.

"Sakura..." That was all that he could call out. She told him to leave her. And he promised he would do what she said, with no objections. He could only watch as she finally turned around, went out the door, and slammed it shut behind her.


Sakura stepped on the gas, going very well over the speed limit. She didn't care. She felt angry, hurt, and unsatisfied.

Why?

Why didn't she feel relieved?

Sakura's lips quivered and for the longest time since Naruto's death, she felt like crying again. The thought of Sasuke laughing happily with Karin...the thought of them together, she clearly hated it.

But why the hell did she hate it when she's told herself so many times that she doesn't even love Sasuke?

Sakura swerved her car to the side of the road and stepped harshly on the break. She buried her face into her palms and took a deep breath, but she couldn't stop the urge to cry. She let out frustrated, quiet sob when she felt the tears blurring her vision.

Was she feeling like this because...because she really did like Sasuke more than she expected?

It was a like slap to her face. She closed her eyes tightly when all the memories of him flashed through her mind. He loved her so much. He was always so patient with her. He was always hurting because of her.

And she acted like it was all normal without even realizing her own feelings. She was too caught up in the past that she couldn't even see who was right in front of her.

Mourning and regretting over Naruto won't bring him back. She was just stuck and spinning in her own devastation, and it took up to the last moment when she lost Sasuke, to realize that she also lost something that could've been so beautiful.

"What am I supposed to do...without him, now...?" Sakura hated herself right now. If only she could've realized her feelings sooner. If only she wasn't being so stubborn and stuck on something that was in the past, she could've been truly happy with Sasuke. And...she knew Naruto wanted her to be happy, too.

But what could she do now? Sasuke would be with Karin, now. She lost her chances.

"I...deserve this..."


Neji was the first person that received Sasuke's call about the breakup.

He was sitting on the couch, wondering if Sakura was ok. He was pissed at Sasuke when Sasuke mentioned getting back with Karin. And he was mad that Karin would just come after four years and just jeopardize Sasuke's relationship like that.

But he wondered if Sakura really cared or not. She never really showed interest in Sasuke, but he could see her slowly getting used to being with Naruto. He took out his cell phone and decided to call her.

"...Hello...?"

Neji's eyes widened when he recognized that tone. "Sakura, are you crying?"

"...no..."

"Sakura, seriously, are you ok? Sasuke just called me. He said you broke up with him because he told you about what Karin did. Are you really ok with letting him go like that?"

"You're always scolding me about playing with Sasuke's feelings. I finally let him go, so you should be happy, Neji."

"Well, yea, but...Sakura, did you honestly not feel anything towards him?"

There was only silence on the other line. Neji waited for a couple of moments...but she didn't answer.

"Sakura?"

"...I deserve this, Neji. It doesn't matter if I like him or not now. He'll be happy, and...and I'll be ok. Don't worry about me."

She hung up. Neji closed his phone and narrowed his eyes. So that meant...she really did like him. If she was letting him go for his happiness, that clearly meant she came to realize her own feelings.

"It's about time you did, Sakura. But you did it a little too late..." Neji sighed. Sasuke better not get together with Karin. She was already dating someone else, too.

"Tch. Sasuke and Karin...they're both selfish. They're only doing it for their own benefit."


When Sakura got home, she laid down on the couch and stared into space. There was nothing she could do now.

She brought her hand up and gazed at her wedding ring. She hesitated, but slowly slid it off her finger. It didn't even have any meaning anymore. The moment Naruto died, their marriage did, also. "I shouldn't...dwell in the past anymore."

She was going to start fresh. She wasn't going to be depressed and pitiful anymore. She needed to be strong and this time, she knew she had to look at life more positively.

She definitely wasn't going to lose anything anymore.


Yep. They're officially over. Sakura's gonna go on a little journey to find herself again.

But no worries about their relationship, I can assure you that. There's more to come ;D

Review and tell me your thoughts and any ideas for the next chapter!