A.N.: Thank you so much guys for those reviews! Your reviews serve as an inspiration to me and it also makes me EXTREMELY happy! Keep on reading and reviewing and thank you all for the support! MUWAH!
School is about to start this Monday and I think I'm going to finish this one first and then I'll continue my other story entitled 'Stellar Cascade"… it only has one chapter… but I promise I'll update that story…
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
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Neji opened his eyes only to see everything in white. His left wrist felt painful and recollected all of his memories concerning what he just did.
'Am… I dead?'
He could hear some voices beside him but everything was still in a blur. When his eyes had adjusted and he would see clearly, he saw Ran, Naruto, Shikamaru and his mother beside him, all of them wearing worried expressions on their faces.
"Neji-kun! You okay?" Ran asked, running to his side. Neji closed his eyes for a while then reopened them once again. His head was throbbing as well.
"Wha—what happened?" He asked, his voice hoarse.
"What were you thinking! You almost died man!" Naruto hissed.
"You committed suicide but failed." Shikamaru replied calmly, but he was still worried. Neji blinked a few times then turned his head to the side only to see his mother crying out of happiness.
"Oh Neji! I'm so glad you're okay!" She wailed, hugging him. Neji winced in pain.
"Mom… that hurts." He mumbled, loud enough for his mother to hear it. His mother apologized as she let go of him and blew her nose on a piece of tissue in her hands. Neji sweat dropped anime style.
"You got us all worried Neji-kun!" Ran said, breathless. Neji's eyebrows met when he saw Ran and felt the urge to strangle her. She was the main reason, aside from Sakura, why he committed suicide!
Half of him was happy and thankful that his mom saved him and half of him was mad at his mother as well because she saved him (Get it?). He wanted to die yet he wanted to live. He was inwardly confused because of this… he didn't know what he wanted. To live or to die?
"How long have I been unconscious?"
"Dude, you've been unconscious for about one day. We were all so worried. Your mom was the one who told us the news." Naruto said, pointing his mom with his thumb. Neji remembered his dad.
"Mom, where's dad?"
Setsuko smiled.
"He visited you earlier but he had to leave because he still has a meeting… he said you're so stupid… but I know your dad was worried. Any parent in its right mind would." Setsuko gave him a re assuring smile as Neji's grip on the blankets tightened in anger.
"Does Sakura know about this?" And with his question, Ran scowled.
"Don't think about that girl Neji-kun… I'm here!" Ran said happily as Naruto and Shikamaru gave her a glare.
'Stupid woman… doesn't she know she's one of the reason why he did this!'
Neji gave her a death glare.
"I DON'T NEED YOU! YOU'RE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I DID THIS!" He yelled furiously as Shikamaru helped Neji sit up on his bed. Ran felt teary-eyed.
"I think it'll be prudent for you to leave Neji alone for now…" Naruto told her. Ran looked like she was just slapped in the face as she grabbed her purse from the table and stormed away, slamming the door shut. Naruto smirked.
"Neji… why do you have to do this? I mean, you can't get away from things just by committing suicide." Setsuko sat down on the chair that Shikamaru offered. Neji looked down as he clenched his fist. His hair covering his eyes.
"I didn't know what to do… I felt so helpless…" Neji whispered.
"And about your question earlier… I told Sakura-chan about this and I don't know what happened but it seems she has dropped the phone. After that, all I could hear was a male voice and her… sobbing."
"Male voice?" Naruto and Shikamaru echoed. Setsuko nodded as Neji's eyebrows met as he turned livid in anger.
'Sasuke was in her house!'
"What did the voice say?" Neji asked, turning to face his mother while looking furious.
"He called out Sakura's name and asked her if she would visit you but she said no… she won't visit you… I don't know what the reason is though because I decided to hang up." Setsuko said as Neji's eyes widened and looked away, wearing a pained expression.
"Now why won't Sakura visit him? It's not like she doesn't care of Neji anymore does she?" Naruto asked, confused as he placed his hands behind his head while staring blankly at the ceiling. Shikamaru fell deep in thought as he crossed his arms.
"Maybe because of Ran and your dad… maybe she doesn't want some trouble that's why she decided not to visit you." Shikamaru guessed. Neji looked at him.
----
"Sakura, you okay now?" Sasuke asked, sitting down beside Sakura in the couch. Sakura nodded. Her eyes were swollen and she was holding a tissue in her hand, her pink hair covered her eyes. Sasuke eyes the crumpled tissues in front of her.
'Neji…? Why did you do this?'
"If we would visit him, we would only make him feel worse…" Sakura sounded, her voice hoarse as she threw the tissue from her hand into the coffee table while leaning on the couch and gave out a heavy burdened sigh.
"What should we do then?"
"What we'll do? We'll do nothing." Sakura said, looking at him. Sasuke sighed as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and made her lean her head on his shoulder. Sasuke rubbed his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. Sakura clenched Sasuke's shirt.
"Sasuke-kun…"
"Sssh… Neji's going to be fine Sakura. I know him… he's strong. He would get over this soon." Sasuke whispered, kissing her fragrant hair. Sakura closed her eyes tightly.
"I feel so heavy Sasuke-kun… I think he did that because of me…" Sakura mumbled in his shirt.
"No he didn't. Maybe because of Ran."
"Ran?"
Sasuke nodded as he gave her a small smile.
"Ran… you know. He's going to be married to that bitch…" Sasuke said, feeling a deep weight fall upon his shoulders because Sakura was crying hysterically over Neji a few minutes ago. Hey… who could blame him? He was jealous.
----
Neji just couldn't feel any lower… Sakura and Sasuke are together, Sakura won't even bother visiting him… ARGH!
"Neji…?" His mom interrupted him from his train of thoughts. Neji turned as he faced his mother and noticed that she was wearing an enthusiastic and excited expression.
"Yes mom?"
"Don't worry dear… I know how to persuade your father for you not to marry Ran. Don't worry… okay? You won't be miserable for the rest of your life. Trust me." Setsuko said as she stood up and kissed his forehead before bidding good bye to Naruto and Shikamaru and left.
"What did she mean?" Neji mumbled to himself while eyeing the door.
"She's one heck of a mother. She's awesome!" Naruto said happily as he searched the bag of groceries that the servant carried earlier for him. After a few minutes of desperate searching, he slumped back at the couch with a disappointed face.
"Aww… no ramen."
"Baka, you do know that those foods are for Neji… not for you." Shikamaru whacked him in the head. Neji just smirked. At least, he has his friends who can cheer him up.
"You can ask for ramen at the guard outside. They will contact the servants and just bring it here." Neji said, pointing the door with his thumb. Two guards in black were standing like a statue outside the door for Neji's safety. Naruto jumped up and zoomed to the guards and practically yelled at them that he wanted some ramen.
Neji sighed.
"Damn, he's so rude." Neji cursed, as he caught the apple that Shikamaru just threw to him. He glanced at the apple and remembered the time when Sakura was in the hospital and both he and Sasuke freaked out when she ate the apple without even washing it.
"Sigh…"Neji absentmindedly took a bit and glanced at the window.
'I wonder what she is doing right now… probably with Sasuke.'
"Thinking of Sakura again?" Shikamaru asked, looking at the window as well. Neji took another bite and didn't even bother answering his question. Naruto sat down at the couch beside Shikamaru and found a bag of potato chips.
Neji eyed the bag of chips.
'Those are the same kind of chips that I had given to Sakura when we were on top of a hill… damn… I always remember her! Come on Neji! Stop thinking about her! She's just making you feel worse! You got to move on!' Neji thought to himself.
30 minutes later…
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Naruto was the one who answered the phone as the servant angrily pushed the bag of ramen to him, bowed to Neji, and gave one last glare to Naruto before slamming the door shut. Neji chuckled.
"She's mad."
"YOSH! RAMEN!" Naruto yelled happily as he hurriedly walked towards the small kitchen and took out one cup of ramen. Shikamaru shook his head in annoyance while Neji continued to eat the apple and at the same time, watching Naruto with amusement.
"You're such an idiot."
"Eh?" Naruto turned his head.
"Nothing." Neji replied, taking another bite. Naruto went back to the couch and pulled out a pair of chopsticks and continued to eat noisily. Shikamaru stared at him in disgust.
"I think we should send you to a finishing school." Shikamaru suggested, inching away from Naruto. Neji smiled.
"Nah, his teacher would end up ripping her hair apart because of his idiocy. What he needs is some military training. THAT would work." Neji replied amusingly. Naruto stared at both of them with his mouth full of ramen and gave one great gulp.
"Military training? Tch. As if."
"Yeah Neji, even a general himself can't handle him. He's just too annoying, too hyper… too stupid… too…"
"Continue that and I'll punch you." Naruto warned gently, slurping some noodles.
"Who was the one whose ass got kicked back at the sparring match?" Neji asked, while taking another bite. Naruto glared at Shikamaru, who scratched his head in annoyance.
"Oh come on. Get over it. You've lost Naruto."
"Just wait." Naruto protested as he continued on eating. Shikamaru leaned on the couch as he closed his eyes while sighing in relief. Neji threw the apple at the nearby trash bin and drank a glass of water.
"Yo Naruto, give me one bag of chips." He called out as Naruto absentmindedly took out one bag of chips before throwing it to him. Neji mumbled a small 'thanks' before opening it.
---
Sakura was reading one of her favorite books in the living room, waiting for Sasuke to come out of her room. Sasuke decided to go home and he was currently changing.
When Sakura heard some footsteps coming down the stairs, she stood up and closed the book while eyeing the handsome raven-haired Uchiha. Sasuke gave her one of his genuine smiles before heading out to the door.
Sasuke stopped. Sakura looked over his shoulder to see why he stopped as her eyes widened.
"Setsuko-san!" Sakura gasped. Setsuko gave her a bow as she eyed Sasuke, who was standing like a statue.
"Good evening Sasuke-kun." Setsuko gave him a small bow as he nodded.
"Good evening." He replied quietly. Sakura went in front of him.
"Good evening Setsuko-san! What brings you here?" She asked happily. Setsuko gave her a bow and looked up at her.
"Good evening… Lady Sakura."
Sakura eyed her.
"W-What did you just call me?" Sakura asked, dumb founded. Setsuko smiled.
"Can I talk to both of you for a while? If that's okay…"
Sasuke and Sakura looked at each other.
"S-Sure… come in Setsuko-san." Sakura said, stepping aside so that she could come in. Sasuke and Sakura followed suit as they sat down at the living room.
"But before that Setsuko-san—"
"No… don't call me Setsuko-san… just Setsuko…"
Sakura had a nervous expression on her face while Sasuke looked extremely puzzled.
'What's up with the Lady Sakura thingy?'
"Oookkaayyy… Setsuko… do you want tea? Soda? Lemonade? Juice?" She asked, standing up. Setsuko just raised her hand.
"No… no don't bother Lady Sakura… I'm fine." Setsuko replied… Sakura sat down. Setsuko gave another smile as she pulled out something from her bag and it was a thick folder. She reached it out to the nervous and puzzled Sakura as she opened it, with Sasuke looking at the folder as well.
After 40 seconds of reading… Sasuke went paler (if that's even possible) and Sakura gave a slight gasp.
"I know who you really are Lady Sakura. Why hide the truth?" Setsuko asked. Sasuke eyed Sakura with absolute shock.
"You're—a…"
"Setsuko… did you hack the main archives of the country just to find out my real identity? And may I ask what the reason is?" Sakura asked, giving her a worried glare.
"Sakura! Why didn't you tell me before!" Sasuke asked, completely horrified. Sakura faced him.
"I'm sorry about this Sasuke-kun but I have my reasons. I'm going to tell you later okay?" Sakura said as she tried to calm Sasuke down. If Sasuke had a heart problem, he would've had a heart attack already. This was too shocking.
"Yes I did hack the main archives… I want to find a way to stop Neji and Ran's marriage Lady Sakura… please… if you could just tell Hizashi-san about this… he could stop the wedding and maybe even let you replace Ran."
"Setsuko…"
Setsuko fell to her knees, placed both of her hands in front and bowed down as her forehead reached her hands. Sakura stood up.
"I beg you Lady Sakura. I don't want my Neji to become miserable for the rest of his life." She pleaded, already teary-eyed.
"Sakura… why did you hide this from us!" Sasuke asked, standing up as well.
"I'm sorry about this Sasuke-kun but there has been a problem between my grand father and my parents… I'll explain all the details later…"
"Does Ino and the others know?"
"No they don't. I'm so sorry Sasuke-kun…" Sakura said, helping Setsuko sit up. Both of them were shocked to see Setsuko already sobbing.
"I beg you Lady Sakura… only you can cancel the marriage." Setsuko pleaded. Sakura looked at Sasuke worriedly as his expression relaxed a little bit. There was a long moment of silence until Sasuke broke the ice with a heavy sigh.
"Sakura, tell me… do you still love him? Don't worry… whatever your answer is, I would accept it. I just wanna know." Sasuke asked. Sakura looked down.
"I…"
"I want you to be happy Sakura. And if you're going to be happy with Neji, so be it." Sasuke said, kneeling down beside her and patting her head. Sakura's eyes lit up.
"Sasuke-kun… do… do you really mean it?"
"Yes I do. What's important is that you follow your heart… your heart wants Neji… not me." Sasuke said, giving her a gentle stare. Sakura became teary eyed as she hugged him.
"Thank you Sasuke-kun… thank you so much…"
'I love you Sakura… that's why I'm doing this… even though it's extremely painful for me to do so…'
"Sasuke-kun… you're so kind." Setsuko said, as Sasuke offered her a handkerchief.
"Come on. Let's go to Hizashi-san to cancel this marriage." Sasuke said, helping Setsuko stand up as Sakura stared at him in admiration.
'Sasuke… you're so kind… you're willing to give up even your own love just for the sake of others…'
"Setsuko?"
"Yes Lady Sakura?" Setsuko looked at her. Sakura gave her a smile.
"Could you go ahead to the car. I need some time alone with Sasuke for a while." Sakura asked as Setsuko nodded and left the house. Sasuke looked at her.
"Sasuke-kun, I can't believe you're doing this…"
"I love you Sakura… that's why I'm doing this…" Sasuke smiled at her before shoving his hands to his pockets. He can't bear looking at her right now. Everything was just too painful…
"At least I had you even just for a while…" He added, his voice merely inches from cracking. Sakura approached him and hugged him at his back…
"Sasuke-kun… you don't know how much this means to me… I'll be forever in your debt… thank you so much." She whispered, crying. Sasuke shut his eyes tightly to stop himself from crying as well. Uchiha Sasuke doesn't cry… and that's it.
"Even from the start, I knew you're just temporary in my life. I know I can't beat Neji… but Sakura, thank you for giving me the chance of loving you… even just for a while." Sasuke mumbled, loud enough for her to hear.
"But before I let you go… can I have one last kiss?" He asked, turning around. Sakura nodded as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.
Sasuke didn't want the kiss to end. Because after this, she would be gone…
Gone forever. And he won't be able to have her…
A tear ran down on his cheek.
When they finished, Sakura saw the tears forming in his eyes as she glanced at him worriedly. Sasuke held her hand.
"Before I let you go… I wanna say I love you and thank you very much… my Sakura… I hope you'll be happy for the rest of your life with Neji…" Sasuke said, as he bent down and kissed her forehead. Sakura gave him one last hug.
"Oh Sasuke-kun…" Sakura said.
After ten whole minutes… they let go of each other as Sasuke wiped the tears from her eyes and gave her a gentle smile.
"Come on, let's cancel this marriage." He said before wrapping his arms around her waist and headed to the door.
----
"What is she doing here?" Hizashi growled as Sakura entered the office with a brave expression on her face followed by Setsuko and Sasuke.
"Hizashi, I want you to cancel the marriage and let me replace Ran's place as Neji's bride." Sakura ordered. Hizashi gave a surprised glare.
"And who are you to order me around like that?" he asked, furious. Sasuke stepped up.
"Hizashi-san, Haruno Sakura is the only heir and grand daughter of the richest man in this country, Kobayashi Zaibatsu…"
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A.N.: Well that's it! You guys already know who Sakura really is but don't think that I'm going to end this story just like that… Ran is still around… Hmmm… I wonder what she'll do… And also, poor Sasuke… Sorry if this happened sasusaku fans but please understand that this is a nejiXsaku story… I'm so sorry if you're mad…
Read and review!
E.I.