A/N- You guys are going to flip.

DISCLAIMER - I do not own Naruto

I went down my steps as quietly as possible, praying my parents wouldn't wake up. Summer or not, they would flip if they woke up and didn't see me in my room. There was always the Ino excuse, they already know if something went wrong with her no one would be able to stop me, but that can only work so many times before they become suspicious of me and her.

And I'd rather keep our relationship a secret from them, just for a little longer.

My heart was pounding as I tiptoed over to the front door, but the anxiousness wasn't from the thoughts of getting caught, but from the thoughts of Sasuke coming over. My request was just random hope for conversation, a praying chance that he wouldn't hang up on me if I just kept talking. I didn't expect him to say yes, and I didn't want him to.

Sasuke has been so different, so changed, that I couldn't predict what would happen once he came over. Would he be friendly and pretend nothing has changed between us, just like he usually did before I pissed him off. Or would he be angry from the start, demanding to know why I was asking for him to come over when I knew what was going on.

Either out come was scary to think about, because either way it was dangerous. Us acting normal could only end horrible. Us going at it as soon as we saw each other would also end up horrible. There was no safe ground between us anymore, and I didn't like that. At all.

As I stood outside, waiting for Sasuke, I think about how we've been friends since we were children. How, from day one, he ignored me and pushed me away. Then, from day two, accepted me and overall allowed me to be in his daily life. He made me vital, important, which was why he could never stand me mad at him. In turn, I made him vital, important, which was way I was destroying myself over this whole ordeal.

This shouldn't be what has become of us. This shouldn't be happening. I tell myself this over and over as the memories of our first kiss replays in my head. I drill it to myself as I think of me slapping Sasuke. And as he pulls up to the curb on the other side of the street, taking his keys out of the ignition and sliding out of his jeep, I argue on what to do.

Do I stand my ground and go at it as soon as he walks up, demanding what his problem was with me or the world. Or do I weaken to comforting him and allowing him to realize that I'm still the same Sakura I was so many years ago.

He walks up to me, keys in his fist and eyes to the ground, his face looking so tired, so worn. Just glancing at his eyes cause my heart to soften, and I automatically know which route to take.

"So, what did you need?" he asks, shoving his fist with the key in his pocket and finally lifting his gaze to mine.

Staring at him, I stand there for a moment silently. His eyes looked exhausted, as if he hadn't slept well in days. His face holds a constant frown, as if his signature smirk was gone forever. Finally, his posture, which used to be nice and straight, was slumped and sagged.

Pathetic.

My lip curls into a snarl and my eyes turn into a glare, "What the hell is with you?" I demand, my anger flaring to it's peak.

Blinking, surprised by the aggressiveness, he takes a moment to answer, but not too long, instantly his anger rose at well, "What did you just say?"

"You heard me!" I yell out, but quickly shush into a hushed whispered, "have you seen yourself recently? You looked like you mother has died."

"My mother is perfectly alive and well," he answered with a growl, "look, I didn't come all the way over here jus to fight."

"I know. Which is why we will make this short," I look him dead in the eyes, anger still burning like an inferno.

Sasuke waits patiently, as if he could take anything I could throw on him. It might look tough to some people, but it's actually him being very weak. If he was strong, he would be fighting back like he normally would. If he was tough, he wouldn't just take it. No, if he wasn't acting like some pitiful kicked puppy, I wouldn't be having the say so right now.

"You've heard it before, but I don't think you understood me, and maybe that was because after only a short while, I dissolved my ultimatum and went to speak to you again. So, let's do this again." I take a breath, then say as harshly as I could, "get over it. Whatever it is, get over it. It can't be that bad, it can't be that horrible, for you to go around acting like some weak bitch that's been getting kicked all of her life-"

"Like you know what's going on!" he roars, life finally kicking back into him, "Like you understand what I'm so upset about!"

"When I saw you get out of that jeep, I decided I no longer care what the hell happened."

"Fuck you, Sakura!"

He starts to turn, but I grab his wrist, "I don't care what happened, but I do care about how you're feeling. I want you to get over this, whatever it is, because it's kicking your fucking ass and it shouldn't be. The Sasuke I know-"

"And what Sasuke do you think you know?" he questions, turning around and snatching his wrist away, "What Sasuke do you think you've got all figured out, because it isn't me Sakura. You don't know shit."

"Here you go," I say with a roll of my eyes, "the whole 'my life is a living hell' routine. Just don't Sasuke."

He starts to laugh now, shaking his head, "Fine, I'll save it then. I'm fucking out of here."

"And here comes the storming off. Little Sasuke is running from his problems," I chuckle, watching his retreating figure, "honestly, what's new about you. Why can't you just over come whatever the hell this is."

Suddenly, as I was walking behind him, he turns around. He does it so quickly, so smoothly, that I practically run right into him. So, I walked right into the middle of his hands, and that's when he grabbed my arms and squeezed them tight.

Wincing in pain, my heart starts to beat in panic as I start to become slightly afraid. Shaking me, eyes looking consumed in anger, he yells at the top of his lungs in my face, "because my problem is you!"

For the first time, I was stunned into silence. Maybe it was his roar or his nails digging in my skin, it could have very well had been his inferno for eyes, but I couldn't seem to respond. So, instead, I stared at him wide eyed in shocked and muted in fear.

Then, he blinked, and all the rage cleared from him. He looked me over, as if he was seeing me for the first time, the let go of me quickly and took a step back.

He was back to his self, back to being sane, because I was sure I had just witnessed Sasuke losing his mind. Slowly his anger came simmering back, hot and radiant as ever. This time, though, he seemed to keep it in check.

"Let me tell you of a story about a boy, that's right a boy, who fell in love." he growled harshly, staring at me so intensely that I couldn't look away, "This boy, as tragic as it is, didn't realize it until the last minute, until it was too late. Still pure, still understanding the world, he decided it was best if he kept it to himself. A secret no one would ever know about if he never told. Thing is, this girl he fell so deeply for, she made it extremely hard."

My heart slowly hammered as I slowly came to understand.

"She was always around, always wanting comfort. She was just so needy, just like a child. The boy didn't mind though, not at all, he loved taking care of her, she was like a sister to him. The trouble came, though, when he started to realize his pureness was slowly dissolving and he himself was changing."

My breaths are shallow as I continue to sit and listen, unable to speak.

"No longer was everything okay, no not at all. Suddenly, he was thinking of ways to destroy everything that was in his way, everything that was keeping himself away from the one girl he loved. He thought of tearing apart everything just for his own gain, just for his personal pleasure of calling that girl his."

He paused, his face crumbling and his anger slowly melting away.

"He would do things that were out of character, so out of character that he scared himself. Soon after that, he made mistakes, too many mistakes, and he slowly started losing his grip on the girl he loved and his old self. Agonizingly slowly, he started to lose everything."

"But out of the darkness came apathy, and abruptly he no longer cared. If everything was going to go to hell, then he might as well embrace it. But his best friend, noticing the changed, brought the boy back and showed him the truth."

"The boy would never be able to have the girl. The girl will never want the boy. And the world will continue spinning no matter what happens."

Then, with a small smile lifting his facial expression, he said softly, "and life goes on."

With that, he turned around and walked towards his jeep, "now you know," he spoke, taking out his keys, "now everything is out, but it's all too late now. I gave up, completely, and it no longer matters."

I watched as he walked away, tears stinging my eyes as stood there, not knowing what else to do.

Before he made it all the way to the drivers side, he turned around with the old Sasuke smirk on his face, "but don't worry, Sakura. You haven't lost me, honest. I'll come back around when I'm strong enough to face what you do to me. Right now, it scares me how much you change me. I'm sorry, though, for taking this long to tell you everything that was wrong with me."

Then, with a chuckle and a shrug, he gave me a real smile. Not a smirk, not a forced one, just a simple happy smile, and then said, "but you know me. I've always been an idiot."

I stood there silently as I watched him pull off and leave.

X

Ino opened the door with the smile, maybe already assuming it was me. One look at my face though, made smile flatter and had her happy demeanor shifting to worry. She opened her mouth to ask, to question what was wrong, but to save us both I shook my head and mutely entered her home.

I didn't speak a word, I had been mute since Sasuke left, which was two hours ago. I had walked to Ino's to think, but it was like my mind was wiped of everything as I shuffled my way down the streets. I didn't know what to do, my body was moving on it's own. Me, in the mind, in my heart- me as a whole has completely shut down.

It was almost as if there was nothing left.

I walked up Ino's stairs, watching my feet as I took them slowly, and tried not to focus on the void that was draining me dry. I tried to think of anything else but the suffocating loneliness that I was feeling. And while I listened for Ino, waiting for her to follow as I knew she would, I tried to imagine that two hours ago Sasuke hadn't just left my life.

That Sasuke was still there, smirking, telling me that he was always here whenever I needed him.

I opened Ino's door, and as if the weight of the world was suddenly placed on my shoulders, I collapsed on Ino's bed and curled into a ball. Ino's quiet footsteps came seconds later, and I closed my eyes tight when I heard the door shut. She carefully crawled to where I was then gently grabbed my head and placed it on her lap.

Then, quietly, she played with my hair, softly rubbing my scalp and running her fingers through the wisps of hair that were tossed everywhere.

"Sasuke left," I mumble, opening my eyes slowly.

"To where, Sakura?" Ino asked hardly above a whisper.

"I don't know." I admit, curling into a tighter ball. The thought caused pain, I really didn't know where he left to. He's just gone. Maybe forever.

"Well, he will be back," Ino promised me tenderly, leaning down and kissing my forehead.

"He won't be," countering her comforting words, "because he doesn't want to love me anymore. He wants to get over me."

"He can't stay away from you Sakura. No one can."

"He's gone for a long time, and I don't think I can handle without him," I closed my eyes, my heart feeling like it was being ripped to pieces.

"Why?" she whispers, this time looking directly down to me, "I can't fill the emptiness he's left?"

"No one but him can fill the emptiness he left," I inform her, "he is the only one who can fit it right."

"A puzzle," Ino thought aloud, still running her fingers through my hair, "is that how you think of your heart?"

"A puzzle with a single missing piece."

'

"He completes the picture."

It wasn't a question, but I shook my head anyway, "No, he completes me."

"Sakura stop." Ino said finally, having enough.

But I didn't want to sugar coat anything anymore. I didn't want to hide from the truth. He completed me and held me together every single time I was on the brink of crumbling apart. He was the first person I spoke about myself to without feeling guilty or selfish afterwards. Sasuke, honestly, was so much apart of me and I didn't even know until now.

"If you think it's my fault just say it." the comforting tone was still there, but I knew Ino was feeling guilty.

I didn't say anything. She might have very well been the cause of everything. In reality, it could have been her that drove Sasuke away, not me. If she weren't around, if she had stayed gone, maybe it would be Sasuke's lap I'd be resting my head on. Maybe it would be Sasuke stroking my hair.

If me and Ino would have never happened, Sasuke would still be here.

But I couldn't force myself to feel that way.

"I don't blame you," I whisper, speaking honestly, "I don't blame you at all."

"You don't have to lie for me," she pressed gently, but I was tearing her into pieces. I was shredding her with every tear that leaked out, which had just slowly started to flow. I wasn't lying though, I didn't blame her, I couldn't blame her. My mind rejected the whole idea of holding Ino responsible. My mind also rejected the idea of regretting this realationship.

Turning my head, I look up at Ino. Tears rolling down my face, eyes blurry, I watch her steadily as I see Ino for who she really was.

She was my world, my life. She was what kept me sane, what grounded me. Her blue eyes always shimmered, her smile always warm and radiant. Her touch gentle and comforting, her voice beautiful and soothing.

While I felt so broken without Sasuke, while I felt like I couldn't fight this darkness that had managed to engulf me, I knew it would be so much worse if I had lost Ino as well. Sasuke is gone, but Ino is still by my side.

"I'm serious Ino," I tell her softly, lifting my hand and carefully pulling her gaze to me. Looking deep into her eyes I continued, "I don't think it's your fault. I'm just…so sad…" I paused, choking down a sob that almost escaped. Taking a breath, I tried again, "but everything would be so much worse if you weren't here with me."

Her deep blue eyes stared into mine, trying to find truth from what I was saying.

"And I know it's selfish, I know I'm only thinking of myself," I struggle, my gaze wavering, "but you can't leave me. You just can't… I couldn't lose you along with him. I know this is coming out wrong, I know I sound so- so- selfish," I spat the last part out, "but I need you, now more than ever. Please. Please don't leave me. I couldn't handle it, I couldn't handle being alone. I can't handle losing someone else. It hurts."

I was bawling now, sobbing and trying to speak to her. She probably wasn't understanding what I was saying, she probably still trying to grasp how selfish I was being, but I kept going, "It hur-hurts so bad. I fe-feel like I- I can't e-e-even breathe right. This is s-so stupid!"

I was growing frustrated now, angry at myself for letting a single person hurt me so severely. Angry that I was crying over just one guy. Angry that I was being so selfish!

There were so many things wrong, so many things I wasn't doing right. I felt like an idiot, like I deserved everything that was happening to me, because I was being so self centered, like I have been for so long now. I had been so wrapped up in myself that I actually lost someone.

A friend.

A best friend.

And now I was graveling to Ino to not leave me, because it hurt too much to lose him. I was such a stupid child. Such a-

"Stop, Sakura." Ino said firmly, grabbing me awkwardly and forcing me to sit up, "stop crying."

I sat up, wiping my eyes as I hiccupped, struggling not to sob again. As more and more tears flowed, I ended up just covering my face, trying to muffle the sniffles I was making. Ino's arms embraced me, and as they did I instantly I felt her warmth as she squeezed me tightly.

"I'm not Sasuke," I listened to Ino's whisper as she continued to speak comfortingly and firmly at the same time, "I won't leave you. Ever. I know you need me, and I know you can't handle losing me. So, you won't have to. I'll make sure I'll stay with you until you no longer want me around, and even then, I won't let go."

A sob slipped as I pressed my face against her shoulder.

"You can be selfish with me. You can beg from me whenever you want. You can cry to me whenever you feel like it," she continued, her hold on me never loosening, "so don't think you are being self centered. I'm your girlfriend, and I will continue to support you and hold you whenever you break down."

There was a pause as she let me sink everything in.

She was never going to leave me. She would never think I was being selfish. She would continue to be there, always.

"Alright?" she asked sternly, pulling back to look at my face.

Looking at my lap, wiping my eyes with another hiccup, I nodded.

"So stop crying, Sakura. I'll make sure you'll make it through this."

Then she grabbed my chin and lightly pushed it up, forcing me to look at her. Even with the tears blurring my vision, I could see her looking at me solemnly, waiting for my tears to stop. I tried to force my tears away by wiping my eyes again.

"I feel like such a child." I told her in a murmur.

"Mm," Ino mumbled, leaning forward as she pulled me forward with her, "you can be a child with me too, Sakura. I will take care of you."

She kissed me softly before pulling away and wiping my tear streaked face.

"This is so stupid," I grumbled as I pulled my face away from her hand, wiping my own tears and feeling miserable, "I can't believe I'm crying this much."

"Your best friend just put you on hold," Ino argued as she watched me patiently, "I don't think you are over reacting about this."

Sighing, and finally getting my breathing in check, I shift away from her. No matter what she said, I still felt uber embarrassed about my snoting session. I was probably hardly making sense, and the tears and sobs. So stupid.

"I know you were more comfortable with Sasuke, but honestly, do you think I'm judging you right now?" I heard Ino ask as I got up from her bed, feeling as if I needed some type of walk to cool down.

Her question knotted my stomach. Frowning, I looked down at my shoes thinking, So what if I am?

"You are so ridiculous you know that," Ino said with a sigh, climbing to the edge of the bed, "and you are the same as ever."

Glancing back at her, I couldn't help but asking, "How so?"

"Ever since we were little, you had this thing about being selfless," when she saw my frown of confusion she rolled her eyes, "don't tell me you don't remember? You never liked to tell me about what was wrong with you, and even though you never told me why, I knew it was because you didn't want to be self centered. You never took anything that wasn't forced on you, ie being presents and free things, you had this thing of being too polite. And you would literally give the clothes off you're back to someone who looked like they needed it, they never had to ask."

Scrunching my eyebrows together, I opened my mouth to disagree. Ino, though, saw it coming, and with a stern glare she cut me off, "Just don't Sakura. Me of all people would know what type of person you are. So, it makes it extra amazing that you like me."

I only had time to look at her even more confused before she continued.

"I never have a problem telling you about my problems. I never worry about sounding selfish. I only give when people ask, and if someone offered me something I would take it without thought. You think you're unforgivable for crying to me? I would hate to imagine what you think of me."

I opened my mouth to assure her that I didn't think anything negative about her, that she was absolutely perfect to me, but I stopped when I saw her small smile. Confused even more I cautiously asked, "what is you're point?"

She leaned forward and grabbed my hand with both of hers. Tugging gently, she pulled me towards her, and with each step I took she leaned back, never taking her eyes off of mine, "my point is that to me, Sakura, you are a saint. So when you cry to me, it's a real treat." she smiled even more at my frown, "not because I like seeing you cry, no that's always heart breaking. I say it's a treat because you don't do it often, you don't come to me about you're problems anymore, especially since we've gone out. Just," she paused, thinking about her next words, " I just wish that you would come to me more often. I want to be the one who takes care of you and comforts you when you need it. I want to be the one to see you when you are vulnerable and sad. I want to be the Sasuke."

Ino was laying on her back as she looked up at me, both of her hands still on mine. Her smile was slightly sad and her eyes searched mine as she spoke her next words without any remorse, "he wasn't right for the job. Unlike him, I would never leave you when you need me, no matter what happens."

Looking back on it now, that's when me and Ino became truly serious. That night was the only time I had allowed anyone other than Sasuke to see me at my lowest. I had come to the realization that this might be the only person I could ever come to who would always be there, no matter what happens.

Sasuke might have been the only person I had allowed to see my true self at my rawest points.

But he was also only my best friend.

This was my life, my lover, my other half.

So when I carefully climbed on top of her and looked down at her with a small smile before kissing her once tenderly and nodded.

I agreed to give myself to her completely.

Epilogue

I stood next to Ino silently with a smile, holding her hand to make sure she knew I was still there supporting her. Ino, on the other hand, looked fierce and confident, as if she were about to take on a whole army by herself.

But it wasn't an army. It was just our closest friends.

They were all sitting in Naruto's living room, some on the couch some standing up, all looking at us expectedly. Kiba was sitting next to Hinata. Shikamaru was with Choji. Neji and Tenten were standing in the corner, along with Shino and Lee.

I'm sure Ino could feel each and every eye that were on her.

Suppressing a chuckle with a small smile, I give her hand a squeeze. At that moment Naruto walked in, a small smile on his face as well as he passed us by, "Right well, I'm thinking everyone is here, so we can start."

I nod but Ino practically shouts, "Right! We have something to tell you!"

I couldn't suppress my laugh this time. A giggle slipped past my lips, which was quickly covered by me clearing my throat when Ino looked at me with a glare. I avoided her eyes as I looked to the left, rubbing my neck at the same time. After a moment, she started again, "We gathered you here today to tell you something really important!"

I looked back at the crowd, who was all looking at Ino with curiosity. It was only Kiba who looked as amused as I was. When he caught my eye, he winked.

"It's about me and Sakura! And what's been going on with us for four months now."

I watched as Hinata gave Kiba a hard elbow in the rib, shushing him as he laughed quietly. Ino, who didn't notice, took a deep breath and paused, as if struggling to get the words out. When she finally centered herself, she glared at the crowd with such confidence that I could have sworn her eyes were being engulfed by flames.

Then, after a very long suspense filled pause, she shouted, "Me and Sakura go out!"

There was a moment of silence, pin dropping silence, that had Ino squeezing my hand in nervousness.

Then Kiba burst out into historical laughter.

Ino glared at him with intent to kill.

"Kiba!" Hinata scowled with a hard look, "stop it, she's really nervous."

"You can't tell me the look on her face isn't hilarious!" Kiba choked out with another howl of laughter, "she looks like she's about to shit her-"

This time Ino took a step with a first rising.

"Ok that's enough of that," Shikamaru stepped in wisely, giving Kiba a weary, but amused, glance.

"I'm so excited!" Tenten squealed as she bounced towards us, giving Ino a hug, "how long were you going to keep us waiting!"

Ino's expression was confused, but I only rolled my eyes, "They knew all along, Ino," I explain to her, laughing when she looked shocked, "they probably knew by, like, week two."

"Week one," Neji corrected, walking over with a small smile, "honestly, how could we not?"

I smiled at him and gave him a hug as he opened his arms, "Congratulations."

"Thank you," I said sincerely, "I'm glad everyone's ok with it."

"It's not like we would have cared!" Kiba said, standing up and giving me a bear squeeze, "you guys have been all over each other since day one. I expected it all along."

"Be nice," Hinata said softly before giving me a light squeeze and walking over to Ino to do the same.

Shino and Lee came out of their spot. Lee was grinning, while Shino held a small smile. Shino, who doesn't like hugs, only held out his hand in a hand shake before mumbling congrats, while Lee took me in a warm embrace and practically bounced around, "I'm so happy for you guys! Youthful love is always so much fun!"

"She seriously looked like she was about to shit herself," I heard Kiba mumble beside me to Naruto, who chuckled and shook his head.

"Well this was completely pointless," Ino groaned out in defeat, "here I was thinking I accomplished something."

"Not exactly," I correct, "least you had the courage to tell them."

"And that's all that matters," Choji agreed, giving Ino a hug, "now, not to ruin the mood, but I heard food was going to be here."

"Yeah, we are having a barbeque in the back," Naruto said, nodding towards the back door, "it'd be great if you went ahead and fired that thing up."

"Hell yes." was Choji's only reply before heading towards the backyard.

Ino followed the crowd, which was following Choji to the back. Me and Naruto, on the other hand, hung around, and when Naruto went towards the kitchen to grab one of the coolers, I moved to help also.

"Sasuke was busy," Naruto mumbled to me as I heaved the ice cold cooler.

I shivered, but it wasn't because some of the cold sweat from the cooler brushed against me, "Not like I expected him to come." I answered with a little more spite than I had meant to

"He'll come around," Naruto assured.

But I only shook my head as we opened the door and walked out to the backyard. It was bright, the sun was beaming down, and I watched over all my friends as the mingled and talked. Ino was with Hinata and Tenten, who were obviously gossiping. The rest of the boys gathered, planning a game of volleyball.

It was all so heart warming.

But someone was missing, and every event that contained the slightest of happiness would continue to have a shade of darkness until the missing piece decided to show up again.

Seeing as it was a month now, though, it seemed slightly futile.

"Hey, Killer, come over here."

Ino's voice broke me out of my trance, and with a smile, I took a step towards her and let my worries slither away to the back of my mind. And as I wrapped my arms around Ino's waist, grinning as she kissed my cheek and went back to talking to Tenten and Hinata, I assured myself that I didn't regret how anything played out.

I had Ino. What else mattered?

The End

No mushy ending? Yes, that's right. I never did well with mushy stuff and, well, half the chapter had Sakura bawling so. Good enough? No, of course not. So, after much thought, because I knew I was going to end this story soon, I decided on a book to make a story 2! Yeah, it isn't a book two because, you know, it's technically not a book. Anyway. You guys are going to love it, seriously. I have so much hope for it! It's gonna be even more drama, even more fights! EVEN MORE DRAMA.

God I love drama.

Thank you everyone for reading. You have been an absolute joy to have around. To everyone who stuck with me from the very beginning, from the 6 long updates and random toss asides, your amazing. To everyone who found this story and commented throughout every chapter they read, you rock. And to the people who stumbled across this story and fell in love, I'm happy I could make it happen.

You guys, honestly, made this ride worth it.

Shycadet does, and always, will love you all.

Out.