Many might ask… Is this THE LAST CHAPTER?
The answer lies on your hands (and EYES, literally).
Chapter Thirty-six
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Sakura shook her head. She thought what she was thinking was just made in her head, and she just sees things. Upon arriving, she slowly opened the door of her apartment, sighing.
"I'm home!" she called out. "Mom?"
Sakura looked around the living room. She noticed the cups of tea on the table. "Did somebody come? Did you have a visitor?"
"No, he's not my visitor." Her mother said. Sakura helped her in cleaning the table.
"Is it dad's?"
"Not either." Her mother smiled at her mysteriously.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Sakura asked. "Is there anything wrong?"
"Stop asking questions, Sakura…" her mom replied softly. "Tell me, were you enjoying your high school life while we were away?"
Sakura was blushing, and she cannot answer her directly. "What do you want to tell me?" Sakura asked.
"There was a dashing guy who came her just a while ago…" her mom began, smiling at her. "And he was looking for you."
Dashing guy? Gaara? Naruto? No, it can't be Naruto… but who else?
"Tell me how he looks like, mom,"
"Well," Sakura's mom refreshed her memories. "His hair is black and his eyes too. He has a well-built body, and he looks tried."
Black hair… black eyes… well-built body… that could only be… Sasuke-kun!
"No Way!" Sakura yelled. "Mom, I don't… know… someone… like…"
"… His name by the way is Uchiha Sasuke." Her mom continued. Then she was bewildered by the mixed emotions and confusion stated on her daughter's face. Her expression is half-believing and half-confused.
"No… that's… that can't be!"
"And what do you think I saw, a ghost?" her mom asked. "Oh my goodness…"
"But how?" Sakura asked herself. "This is insane!"
"Sakura, what's wrong with you?"
"Sasuke-kun! He has returned for me!" Sakura said, almost crying. Then she recalled the car she saw on the streets, and then…
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Sasuke was on his house already. A while ago, he was still sleeping. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw his mother, their butler, some maids… and his room's interior. He felt indifferent at first, but when he recalled the events a while ago, his consciousness returned immediately. His expression was unexplainable, that it may be fear, anger, or confusion. As he looks at his right side, his mother is there, patiently staring at him.
"Mom?"
"Sasuke!" his mother exclaimed, hugging him tight. She never did that before in Sasuke's memories. His parents rarely show affection, but deep inside him, he feels so glad.
"I thought you're not going to wake up again!" she continued.
He realized something. His real purpose of getting out of the hospital immediately. The news article--- it affected him so much that he wanted to see Sakura badly. He wanted to explain to her. She might think he's giving up on her. If only he could just let this go… He looked at his mom directly after she let go of him.
"Mom, why did you let that happen?" he asked her out of the blue without pondering about it.
"What is it?" her voice reflected confusion, as she sees his son's brows intersect. From the way he asked her, she knew that he was angry.
"The engagement involving me and Ino!" he tried to calm down, but he simply can't. "You all know I do not want it. Why did you let it to be announced publicly?"
Everyone in his room was surprised that he knew it already. His mom shook her head. Sasuke cannot understand his mother's gestures. She looked at him, and sighed.
"I want you to decide for yourself, but how can we all act in accordance with that?" her mom explained. "I cannot just tell your father to stop. Remember that wives submit to the decisions of their husbands… I have nothing against it!"
Sasuke looked down. He clutched the bed sheet. "Maybe there's another way…" he said. And then he got off his bed and he went out of the room. His mother was just watching him go, wondering on how he could deal with it.
Sasuke opened the door of his father's room without further notice. He scanned the room and found his father staring at him.
"So you're awake now," his father began in a low voice. "Why did you get out of the hospital without the doctor's permit? You're not yet fine."
"Really? I did that because you have something to explain!" he yelled, getting closer to him. "I don't want to stay there either."
"Why is it like that?"
Sasuke looked around and found the newspaper containing the article about his engagement.
"I'm too young to marry." He said. "And if I remain in the hospital, many things might change without my consent. Who knows, if I returned here after a few days more, you all might waiting for me to sign a marriage contract!"
"Who says you'll get married right away?" his father chuckled. "We're just securing your future, that's all. When you're already tied to Ino, you can't do the things you used to do. Then you'll be in the right path."
"No. I will just get worse." He murmured.
"You don't know what's right for you since you're just 18." His father said. "You should just obey."
"You don't understand me!"
"Who understands you? Your friends? Yourself?" his father asked him. "You still need guidance from your elders. I don't want to interfere, but on the way you're doing things, you won't succeed. You won't be worthy to be the next company president."
"I promise to change! Just don't continue the engagement. Cancel it!" Sasuke pleaded.
"No. Ino will be very good for you. She can possibly make you change."
"That's not true! You have a very narrow perception about me compared to aniki!"
"Then if you don't like what I want, try going to your understanding brother at New York. Then leave Japan immediately."
"No way!" he yelled.
"He understands you, right? I guess you just have two options. Engagement or study abroad." His father ended. "I have nothing else to bargain."
Sasuke stormed off the room. His father sighed.
"That is how much he'd grown… he'd become more stubborn." He said.
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"Ino wanted me to take Sakura out of Tokyo. That was our deal. But when I became a part of Sakura's life, I met the real Sakura. I started to be dubious whether I'll continue it or not. I cannot hurt her anymore because I like her. So… I just decided to hurt Sasuke… because… he's the real reason why I agreed with Ino." Shino said.
"You did not think first about what Sakura might feel!" Naruto cried.
"That was my fault. In the end, I knew that Uchiha really loves Sakura with all his heart and soul. You see, I threatened him that I will kill her if he would not come to the warehouse. He even told everyone that he's willing to die for her." Shino answered.
"No. its Ms. Yamanaka's entire fault." Gaara began "Thanks again for your time, Mr. Aburame."
"But Gaara---" Naruto insisted.
"Naruto, what's important is for us to know who planned it, right? I think if Ino didn't make a deal with Shino, he won't avenge to Sasuke." Gaara said. "Now we need to make sure Sasuke will know this."
Gaara came out of the hospital. Temari was waiting outside. "You were right. Ino wasn't lying. Sasuke is out of the hospital." He said.
"We better call him." Temari said.
"Right. You guys better go home." Gaara told Hinata, Naruto and Keiko. "I'll take care of the rest. Thanks for your help."
"No need to thank us!" Keiko said. "We really have the initiative to help, right guys?"
Hinata and Naruto nodded.
Gaara smiled at them, "I hope it will turn out right." He whispered.
While they are on their way home, Gaara was trying to call Sasuke. But the maid who answered told him that he was resting on his room. Gaara thought that he's still weak from the incident. Suddenly, the thought of Sasuke knowing about the announced engagement came to his mind.
"I hope he does not know it yet…" he thought "or else…"
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"Young master, open the door!" Kouji shouted. "Hurry up, get the key!" he told the frantic maid, and she immediately ran to get the key of his room. After some time, they got the chance to open it. Sasuke's worried mom entered his room first, and they were relieved to know that he's just looking by the window of his room.
"Why are you so nervous about what I do? Aren't you all used that I lock my door?" Sasuke faced them, arms crossed. "Or maybe, you think I'm insane to do some terrible things…"
"It's not that, Sasuke. We just want to make sure you're okay!" his mother said.
"Don't mind me. You haven't considered me anyway."
"What do you mean?"
"Isn't it true that you just decide what's for me, what's right?" he sneered.
His mother sadly came out of the room. The rest of the maids and their butler followed. Sasuke watched them go, one by one, disappointedly. He didn't want to tell his mom those words, but they are pushing him to his limits.
His thoughts returned to Sakura. He wanted to tell her about everything. She might have heard of the engagement too. Sasuke wanted to see her… but he could only wait for tomorrow.
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"I'm going!" Sakura said. "When I return, I'll help in packing our things mom."
"Isn't it too early? Okay, take care of yourself." Her mother reminded her. "Go home early, okay?"
"Yes, mom."
Sakura looked at the bright morning sun. It was really wonderful, and its rays reaches out to the houses in the city. She took this opportunity to go to the rooftop early in the morning, while no one is around. This morning is perfect. And maybe, this will be the last time she'd ever see the sun at Tokyo.
As Sakura refreshed her memories of the past months, her thoughts returned to her first time at the rooftop. The rest of the students know the rooftop as one of the finest place. However, it is also known to be feared because of someone who always stays there. The feared influential person at school. None other than Uchiha Sasuke.
She didn't know someone else was there, in a corner. She didn't notice HIM. She stepped at the trellis and then sat at the terrace. She feels the autumn wind blowing and looks at the leaves flying with it. Maple-colored ones. She got one with her hand.
"This is life," she said in the air, "I
HOPE MY PARENTS WILL COME BACK!" She sighed after shouting.
"…as if they'll hear me,"
"That's not life if you fall down," a cold voice somewhat familiar to Sakura said. She looked back, and she was surprised.
"NE!" she exclaimed. "I didn't thought that there's someone here,"
He shrugged. It was her seatmate, Uchiha Sasuke. He went beside her. "So, you really want to fall down ain't you?"
Sakura suppressed a tear. "I should not cry anymore…" she said to herself.
It's the day before the winter break. It's time to gather all the things left in the locker. The time to arrange all stuff since its Saturday and a half-day. Because of that, everyone's busy. Naruto might be working for the next issue of the school newspaper. Hinata-chan is surely here at school and getting ready to tidy her locker. I wonder what Keiko-chan's doing right now. I bet she's still reading a fashion magazine. She might get late again!
Sakura finally arrived where her locker is located. Several memories flooded through her mind, though she tried not to remember them. Her sight came to her right hand as she opens her locker. On her ring finger is the friendship ring Sasuke gave her. It is precious for Sasuke, because it was passed on to him. For the past months, she just knows she keeps it for him though he said that it was hers.
She eventually removed it from her finger, and she sighed. "How could I return this to him?" she asked herself.
Suddenly…
"Sakura!"
She heard that voice, and that call made her look at the direction it's coming from. She was dumbfounded to see it was Sasuke standing in front of her. He came closer to her and he hugged her as if he'll never let her go. The time seemed to stop… and Sakura cannot say a word.
Sasuke freed her, looking at her emerald eyes with his anxious look. "Sakura, wait. Let's talk… don't… don't leave…"
She was shocked to hear from him her departure. From that, she concluded that he truly came to her house that afternoon. She smiled brightly, and then she lightly shook her head, making Sasuke more worried. He decided to continue what he wanted to say, whether she likes it or not.
"Why do you have to lie about that? Why on the first place you didn't tell me about your departure?"
Sakura averted from his gaze. "I don't want it to hurt more." Her tears began to fall again.
"Now you're crying," he began. "I thought you were a tough girl? I thought you'll always be… isn't it that you defeated me?"
Sakura stepped backwards. He grabbed her hand instinctively and he held it tight.
"Listen. I hate to see you like that--- to see you looking vulnerable makes me weak as well…" he replied.
She freed herself from his grasp. "Yes, I am really vulnerable. And you know what? The reason behind that is always… you."
"Sakura…"
"I'm so sorry for having you suffered under great pain. I guess we just have to live the way that is really for us. Our normal lives before we met."
"Even though you hurt me a thousand times, I'll still love you," he admitted. Sakura shook her head vehemently.
"If we are not destined to be together, then---"
"There's no such thing as destiny!" he retorted. "Man decides for his own life!"
"Fine!" Sakura answered haughtily. "And so I decide for us to separate."
She looked at him with the same eyes as before, that raging look. He felt some fear within him, but he was able to overcome it.
"Let's face it, Sasuke. We can't be together!"
"No, Sakura. Don't say that." He said softly, "how many times do I have to say this? Haven't I told you before? I love you."
(Sasuke begging mode)
"Yes, I believe you. I knew it," she replied. "I feel the same way, but---"
She hands him something. When Sasuke looked at it, it was the ring he had given her. He slowly drew out his hand from his pocket to get it.
"I guess it's not really for us. Love's not for us, Sasuke-kun. Goodbye…"
She turned back after that, and she walked as fast as she could. While Sasuke, he stood frozen on the spot without a word. He remains calm as he watches Sakura leave…
"If you think it's the right thing, then I should decide for myself too." He whispered in the air.
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Gaara had already arrived at school. He had already called at the Uchiha mansion, but according to them, Sasuke is nowhere to be found that morning.
"Where could he be?" he asked himself. "did he meet Sakura or what?"
As he walks towards the locker area, he sees Sakura hurrying up. He felt something unusual about her. He decided not to disturb her, and he continued walking to his locker. He has few things there, since he arrived just about some weeks ago. After checking it, he noticed some odd figure on the rear corner of the locker area.
(He's somewhat like a detective again,)
"What's----"
The figure moved.
"Yikes!" he yelled. Luckily, no one's there… except…
"What are you doing here, huh? Why did you disturb… ME!" Sasuke grabbed his collar. He stopped as soon as he recognized the person. He let go of him.
"Gaara?"
"S-Sasuke… it's me!" he cried softly.
"Sorry," he mumbled, quite embarrassed.
"Sasuke! I'm glad to see you fine!" he exclaimed. Gaara turned serious once more. "right. I have something to tell you."
"What's it?" Sasuke asked…
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A.n.n.o.u.n.c.e.m.e.n.t.s
This is a long chapter. The reason why I updated this late is my arrival from vacation and my review for college. It's tough. And from that, I also realized my common errors in this fanfic.
I REALLY SUCK AT GRAMMAR and STYLE! AND I ADMIT IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY…
I need to study more! Haha. I used to sleep at my grammar classes since 1st year till 3rd year. It's my fault. Anyway, the portions where I typed using notepad and html codes were edited. (Chapters 1-7) I typed using notepad and html codes because my MS word malfunctioned last year. I typed 15 chapters using that! (cries)
If you noticed, I placed this: ---------- already. The spacing there confuses me when I read it once more. And everything confused me. So I decided to reread and analyze SOME chapters.
I tell you it's not perfect, but I hope it improved. You can check it if you want… but don't flame me!
WAIT FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER. Thanks.