Sorry I didn't get this up as soon as the other ones. I've been busy lately. Anyways, I hope you all like this chapter, and I'm looking forward to any comments or questions. Please review. It means -so- much! Keep reading:)
Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-one: The Sorrow Of Parting

"Cause I'm feeling lost when I'm in your arms. The reasons are gone for why I was holding on to you."

"Is something wrong?"

Yes.

Silence.

"Hn." His reply.

"Look at me."

Honestly, he couldn't. It was wrong. He was upset about Kalei kissing Naruto. And he wasn't sure exactly why. But he could only take a guess. He was jealous...because he wanted her to love him. Not Naruto. And what Sasuke wanted wasn't fair to Sakura.

He sighed, making her slightly angry. Sakura grabbed Sasuke's jaw and forcefully turned his head to look at her. His eyes narrowed, and his face twisted into a glare.

Sakura had gone over to Sasuke's house to attempt talking to him about what she would say to Tsunade about him leaving, but when she arrived...he was in a bad mood. He wouldn't look at her, and barely spoke to her. It was infuriating. They were sitting on Sasuke's bed. She had walked up into his room to find him still sleeping. And she couldn't exactly complain. He was in a white tank top and dark blue baggy pants...which made him look pretty hot. She had been there for only about 20 minutes...but the way things were going...it had felt like 20 hours.

"Sakura, you're annoying me."

"Sasuke, you're angering me."

And she could only guess why he was in a bad mood. She knew what today was. It was Kalei's last day of watching him. After this, he probably wouldn't see her for a long while. She'd be off on missions, and sooner than ever, he'd be leaving to find Itachi. She knew this would probably all in all, upset him.

He rolled his eyes at her remark.

"Please tell me whats wrong." She gave him a pouty puppy dog look, hopefully to lighten up the situation a little.

And it did. It was small, but a smirk crept onto his lips. I'll just forget Kalei for now.

He peeled off Sakura's fingers that were seizing his jaw.

"You know...you're on my bed." He mumbled seductively. Sakura looked down and back up again, reality hitting her.

She shrugged, a smile forming on her face. "So?"

He needed to shake off this stupid feeling. His 'bad mood'. And maybe seeing Sakura would help him. After all...she was the one he had promised to come back to...not Kalei.

"That's dangerous." He whispered, pushing her arm behind her and leaning forward.

Sakura giggled softly. "I like dangerous."

He leaned forward, causing her to lay back on his mattress. He placed his hands on either side of her body and positioned himself so he was holding himself up over top of her.

She just stared into his eyes. His cold, onyx eyes. The same eyes she fell in love with years ago.

"We haven't tried this." His smirk growing. Sakura blinked thrice, a blush creeping across her face.

Oh god. Was he thinking what she thought he was thinking? He obviously didn't lay her out in this position for nothing.

His hand inched in closer to her arm, and he lowered his head, leaving his bangs just lightly brushing over her face. He could smell her breath, the sweet sent of vanilla.

"What happened to your bad mood?"

He slowly traced his fingers on the outside of her shirt, up to her belly button. Chills shot through her body, making her shiver underneath him.

He smirked. "Changed."

"What changed it?" She whispered.

He slowly brought his hand down a bit and slipped it under her shirt, not moving it from her stomach. His thumb gently running over her smooth skin made her gasp quietly.

"Realizing you were on my bed, and practically inviting me."

She bit her lip and giggled. "Inviting you to do what exactly?"

His groaned a bit, his smirk never leaving his face. "I'll show you..."

And his hand started moving up slowly...

And he slowly dipped his head down to capture her lips...

But before he could, when his face reached within an inch of her's...his bedroom door opened, halting his every movement, and halting Sakura's breath.

"Oh...my...god. I am...so...s-sorry..."

Kalei had walked in...on what could possibly be the most embarrassing moment of Sakura's life.

Kalei quickly covered her mouth and searched the room, hoping to find some sort of escape. But there was nothing. She started blushing, totally embarrassed.

Sasuke looked up at her, eyes wide. This had to be awkward for her. Just like it was awkward for him the other night.

Sakura swallowed hard.

"I...oh...umm...just keep...doing what you were doing. I...ahhhh." She quickly turned around and ran off, her footsteps down the steps audible.

Quickly Sasuke stood up, but stopped dead in his tracks before leaving the room. He wanted to chase after Kalei. To talk to her. But he couldn't. Sakura was right there. Literally...right behind him, now sitting up on the bed. Sasuke slowly turned around and seen her, her face down to the floor...a disappointed look on her face. A rejected look.

"Sakura."

She looked up at him, eyes despondent. "Go."

His eyes widened as a small, clearly fake, smile crept onto her face.

"Go after her."

"Sakura."

His voice was low...unsure.

She shook her head softly. "No, it's alright. I understand."

Silence.

He just looked at her.

"Go, you can tell me all about it later..." She mumbled quietly, shrugging.

"I will." He said quickly, making her eyes widen.

He didn't want to make Sakura feel like his decision about her was wavering. Then again...it somewhat was. He apparently cared about her, no doubt. But he needed to clear things up with Kalei...or he could never get over this feeling.

"I will." He repeated, his voice reassuring.

Sakura nodded and stood up. "She probably hasn't gotten far. I'm just going to go home." She nodded her head toward the window. "I'll just leave...uh...this way."

Sasuke nodded once again and started to walk out the door. As Sakura starting heading toward the window, she heard his voice...

"Thank you, Sakura."

Though it was faint, she could hear it. She turned around to say something, but he was already gone.

Was that really how it was going to be? Before she could get anywhere with him...he'd be gone. That's how it would be. At least...until he returned from killing Itachi. And that was understandable. That was his goal. First priority. She couldn't expect to come between him and his revenge. That would be selfish. So she would wait.

After all, she had waited this long. What's a little longer?

It's not like he'd come back a different person...

Right...?

"Kalei!"

She stopped and turned around, shaking her head and waving her hands in front of her. He had caught up with her just outside of the Academy park.

"I didn't mean to, honest! Complete accident. Like, seriously-"

"Kalei."

"That was probably really awkward. I should have knocked...I just-"

"Kalei."

"I'm super serious here...so sorry, Sasuke...so-"

"Kalei!" He slammed his hand over her mouth, shutting her up...and probably hurting her a bit. She blinked a couple of times, letting everything sink in.

Any second now...

She pushed his hand off her mouth and glared at him. "Why the hell did you do that!? That hurt, bastard."

"You wouldn't shut up."

Way to be blunt. She growled at him and bit her lip.

"I was just apologizing...it was..."

"Awkward." He finished, her eyes widening. He was clearly speaking for himself now. "Seeing something you don't want to see."

After a second of processing his words, she nodded. Curious way to put it...but nonetheless true.

The sound of the wind blowing the swings resounded through the air, making the silence awkward. Very awkward.

"So...I take it everything's working with you two. You're happy?" She muttered, her eyes petulant.

"I said I wanted you...to be with who makes you happy...a-and that's still true but...I...I just want you to know...I care about you so much! I just want you to be happy..."

Was he? Was he actually satisfied?

"Maybe."

A questioning look poured into her features.

"So this is it?" He said once more, getting her attention.

She was in her ANBU uniform, her mask tied onto her belt. Apparently, she had kept her promise about not wearing it in front of him. That promise long ago.

"Is what it?"

"The last night."

He didn't mean to make it sound so dreary, like they'd never see each other again. But in all reality...they might not. At least not for a very, very long time.

She frowned. "I don't get it." She spoke, looking away.

His eyes narrowed. "I won't see you again, and that's all you can say? Don't you care?" His voice was slightly shaky, his mouth going dry. This conversation was upsetting him.

She looked back at him, a distraught look on her face. "Of course I care. Don't be so stupid, Uchiha."

Uchiha. That's how she had first addressed him when they had met.

"But...things have changed." She finished, clenching her fists at her sides.

His chest started burning. "What things?" He asked, his attitude creeping into his voice. He knew well what things had changed.

She eyed him curiously and then sighed. "You're with Sakura. I can't compete with her." Her voice was melancholy. "I just...need someone like..."

"Naruto."

Her breath froze in her chest. No way. How did he...?

"W-why would..."

"He's strong." He cut her off.

She let out a nervous laugh. "Y-yeah...he is..."

"And he'd protect you. And be there."

"Kalei...I can't make the rain stop...but I can be right here."

Her gaze drifted to the floor. She knew he knew about her and Naruto...even if he wouldn't straight up come out and say it.

"Yes. He would." She said, her voice somber.

He watched her expression change. Relax.

"Sasuke..."

She looked up. Their eyes met.

"How I feel about you...that won't change."

His eyes widened, and he felt them burning. Damn, he hated how her and Sakura could do this to him. It was so...annoying. And one question plagued his mind.

Why? Why would you still care about me after all this?

"It's because we know the suffering. Because we know the loss of sanity, and yet...know strength." She answered his question, as if she had read his mind. And her answer...was somewhat convincing. Yet...

"Strength..." He mumbled to himself, quite inaudible.

"Strength is something you choose, Sasuke. But I believe..." A sad smile lept onto her face, her bottom lip trembling. "I believe...we chose it the wrong way."

He swallowed hard. She meant choosing to be alone, didn't she. And despite as many times as he was told that...this was coming from somebody who actually knew. Who actually understood.

"I asked Sakura once...what she thought about the rain." He said firmly, noticing Kalei's expression show a hint of curiosity.

"She said that 'anyone who says sunshine brings happiness...has never danced in the rain'."

Kalei bit her lip.

"It sounds stupid. She said she heard it somewhere." He said, looking off to the side. He ran a hand through his hair.

Kalei's hearts started beating faster. Why did he bother asking Sakura about the rain?

"But she believes it." He finished, his eyes looking distant.

Kalei nodded. She found herself speechless. What could she say? Her and Sakura had lead different lives. They had different views. Different experiences.

"I'm sorry about this last month. I think it was a mistake." She said quickly, her eyes tearing up.

Sasuke turned to look back at her. Her words hit him like a slap in the face.

"After you leave-you'll forget. If you go and find Itachi...and drown yourself in insanity one more time...you'll lose yourself." Her lip began trembling again. Her expression turned wary. Scared.

Sasuke knew this. But what choice did he have? He had already come so far. There was no going back now. No giving up.

"You build those walls back up again...and they might not be able to be broken." She took a step toward him. "Everything. Me...you'll forget. That's what happens when you're alone. You forget..." Her voice was shaky.

"I won't forget you." He said quickly as she took a few more steps toward him. "I won't. I can't. I told you that."

"I mean, you'll forget it anyways...right after my assignment of watching you is over." She said, looking up into the sky again. She laid back and sighed.

"Forget your name? That would mean forgetting you all together." Sasuke said, lifting his head to stare up into the sky.

"I can't forget you. You've already annoyed me way to much." He said quietly. He heard a giggled from the girl beside him and he smirked.

"Well, is that good?"

"That I won't forget you?"

"Yes."

"I'd personally like to. I don't make a habit of talking to annoying girls."

Yes, she remembered.

Her breathing became staggered as she tried to hold back her sobs.

"There are two things that will always make me remember...everything here in this village."

The tears fell from her eyes, soaking her skin.

"Cherry blossoms...and the rain."

She took in one last deep breath, and wiped away her tears. She quickly and roughly pushed herself against him, and wrapped her arms around his back, holding on tightly.

He rested one palm on her back and closed his eyes.

Leaving the village meant leaving everyone who cared. Everyone he cared for. Everything important. And he was willing to risk that. But why? He felt the sharingan flaring behind his eyelids as mental images of his brother came to his mind. The massacre. The pain. The isolation. All of it. Why would he risk something as important as leaving his life behind in the village?

Because he was already submerged into insanity.

And he could never get out.

"Naruto."

"K-Kalei?"

Naruto was sitting on the dock of the lake outside of the Uchiha estate when Kalei decided to join him.

"You scared me." He said, laughing slightly. She smiled and put her hands behind her back.

They hadn't really talked since they had kissed. She was afraid it would be awkward...and Naruto was surprised with himself for even doing that. But then again it was Naruto. He was just full of surprises.

"Mind if i join you?" She asked sweetly, sitting down beside him. He shook his head and looked out at the waters. It was the same lake where Sasuke had kissed Sakura, and ultimately made the decision of allowing his feelings for her, even if he never openly admitted it.

She sighed heavily, causing Naruto to look at her.

"You okay?" He asked quietly. She scratched her head and nodded.

"Just a lot on my mind."

Naruto started snickering. "Maybe you should go grab some flowers and litter this lake with petals." His remark made her smile. He was referring to when he had ran into her the day at the pond, when she was counting off the reasons she hated Sasuke.

Sure, she remembered that day clearly.

"I hate him. I hate Sasuke Uchiha." She muttered angrily.

"Hehehe...wow, you're talking to yourself. You okay?"

"Naruto Uzumaki, right?" She asked quietly. He scratched his head and smiled at her.

"Yep, that's me!" He shouted happily, as he walked up beside her. He glanced at the pond and back at her. "What's with destroying the flowers?"

Kalei sighed and pulled the last petal off of the flower in her hand. She dropped the stem and casted the petal into the water. "I'm angry."

Naruto chuckled. "I can tell."

"And since you already heard me confess my hatred for him...each petal represents one reason why I hate Sasuke Uchiha." She said in a monotone voice.

Naruto sat down beside her and sighed. "I bet...you're Kalei."

She smiled, remembering that day. That was when she had met him.

Funny how she could have been so wrong about her feelings that day.

Why? Why did this all have to end? She knew very well that she'd be off on missions as soon as this one ended. She'd see less and less of Sasuke and Naruto. Soon her life would be back to normal. That feeling of being alone. She was dreading it.

"No, I think...I'm okay." She said, looking out at the water. Naruto followed her gaze and examined the ripples. They were peaceful.

"Well...no offense...but anything related to him in any way...is just automatically on my hate list right now." She said, brushing off her pants.

Naruto groaned. "That's not fair. I'm nothing like him. I'm everything he's not!"

Kalei smirked.

"Well, then I can say off the bat that you're everything I like." She said, turning around and walking away.

"Maybe, me being in ANBU means I'll see more of you." Naruto said solemnly, breaking through Kalei's thoughts.

A smile drifted over her face. "I'd...like that."

Naruto looked at her, a frown taking over his face. He knew what she was thinking about. Or more so...who she was thinking about.

"Don't forget him."

Her eyes widened and she whipped her head to look at him. Their eyes met instantly.

"Don't forget him. It's not right. I'm willing to wait." He said, a grin forming from his lips.

Kalei swallowed hard.

She wouldn't forget him. She couldn't. And Naruto understood that. He understood well, because he was there with her from the start of it all.

She slowly scooted closer to him, and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I might...fall asleep like this." She whispered, closing her eyes.

Naruto put his arm around her waist and leaned his head on hers. "I might be okay with that." He whispered back, as the ripples lightly splashed by the dock.

"So, everything went okay?"

"Hn."

Sakura and Sasuke were standing on the road atop the hill by the dock, watching Naruto and Kalei quietly. Maybe it was wrong to spy, by after what Sasuke had told Sakura about Naruto and Kalei...she was curious. Seeing was believing, after all.

"And your okay?" Sakura asked quietly, looking up at Sasuke.

He nodded as the gentle breeze ruffled through his hair.

He knew he wouldn't forget Kalei. After all...she was the only one he knew...that had broken into him so fast. Their pasts were similar. Their feelings...the same. Funny how just one person can make you question everything you've worked for...everything you've believed in. If you ever thought having one person like that with you was hard...Sasuke had two.

Sakura smiled and looked back at the two on the dock. "You know...it's funny. Ironic actually...that they are at the same spot where...we first kissed." She whispered very quietly.

A small smirk crept onto Sasuke's face, his eyes never leaving Kalei in Naruto's arms.

"It's not ironic."

Sakura's eyes widened, her gaze still on Naruto and Kalei as well.

"I told them both to go here."

Sakura felt Sasuke's fingers lace with hers by her side. The warmth crept through her body, making her relaxed. Though his eyes were cold...his hands were warm.

And his heart was apparently getting there.

He wanted Kalei to be happy. To be able to live the life...that he never would. And despite the pain he was feeling about this being the last time he'd see Kalei for a long while...he was relieved...that she found someone to take his place when he left the village. Someone to care about Kalei and be there for her...like he never could.

Sakura smiled with Sasuke's words as he spoke...

"Apparently...good things happen here." His voice was soft and gentle as he whispered.

He realized that the one who can destroy you, is ultimately the one that can save you...

And he had given that power to Sakura long ago.

Next Chapter: The Power To Forget