Heyyyy guys!

Just a quick 5-chapter-at-the-most story. Not my usual multi-chapter saga, just a fun (read: traumatizing) little fic. ;)

"No."

She sighed. "I knew you'd say that, you stubborn ass. But that's the thing—you can't say no when someone breaks up with you. It's not your choice. But I should have known you wouldn't understand that."

Madara's dark eyes narrowed. "I think you're the one who doesn't understand."

Haruno Sakura knew that she understood perfectly; it was Madara who didn't. Yes, Uchiha Madara, Japanese business tycoon to rival the American Bill Gates, was her boyfriend of three and a half years. Or, well, he had been. Until now. About thirty seconds ago, actually.

She'd known he wouldn't take it well, but that was really the root of the problem, wasn't it? He was invested in a way she wasn't. He wanted marriage, family, children—she didn't. Not yet, and not with him. It almost hurt her to think it, a sharp pain caused by the deepest of pity. She hurt for him like she was the one being broken up with—because she knew just how much he cared. She cared, too. But their lives were heading in different directions, and he wanted things from her that she didn't, wanted things for her that she didn't agree with.

He wanted a housewife. He wanted a woman to stay and home and take care of the children, to be a matriarch. But Sakura didn't want that, and never had, and because of that, they almost hadn't gotten together in the first place. But with urging from his younger brother and her own undeniable attraction, she'd taken the leap. He'd already been under for a while, then.

And for a while, it had worked. Up until six months ago, Sakura had actually convinced herself that she could be what Madara wanted. It wouldn't be so bad to stay at home with future children, would it? It wouldn't be so bad. He'd had people to help with the chores around the house; all she had to do was raise the children. Greet him when he came home. Spend time with him when they had a minute.

But then Duke University in America wanted to take her on as a research partner. They had a new theory on breast cancer, which was Sakura's specialization, and they wanted her to be a part of the team on recommendation of her mentor, Senju Tsunade.

It wasn't the kind of opportunity she could pass up. Without telling Madara, she'd accepted. For six months she had dithered with him, keeping her secret and trying to find a way to break it to him. But the deadline to make accommodations had come and gone, and she'd found herself with an empty apartment in the United States waiting for her. It was furnished already, and her personal belongings had been shipped off yesterday.

Her flight was in three days. Feeling terrible about the deception, she'd told him about it over dinner, and ended with the clincher: she was leaving on Wednesday, and she wouldn't be coming back for a long time.

No bullshit about seeing other people. Sakura wasn't planning on dating when she got to America. She could really carve her place out in the international medical community with this opportunity, and with it had come the realization that she would never be happy if she was a housewife. She admired the women who did it, including her own mother, but it wasn't for her. She had a very specific dream to reach for, and being a stay-at-home mom wouldn't reach it for her.

She was shaken from her thoughts when Madara's hot fingertips caressed her cheek. "You're not leaving, Sakura."

She pulled back, lips pursed and brow furrowed. "I've told you how much I hate it when you order me around before, Madara," she said. "And you really can't do anything about it. My flight is already scheduled."

His eyes were heated and cold at the same time. "How long did you say you've had this planned?"

Sakura swallowed. There wasn't going to be getting around her own guilt, that was certain. She knew she'd regret keeping her secret for the rest of her life, no matter how things panned out here. It wasn't like her. "Six months," she said, willing her voice not to waver. Madara scented weakness like a shark scented blood in the water. "It's set in stone, Madara. There's nothing you can do."

"Is that so?" he replied idly, reaching further forward to tuck a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. She took a full step backward this time.

"Stop doing that," she ordered, belatedly slapping his hand away. His nostrils flared, a sign of impending anger. "I think I should leave." She hadn't even come inside the house all the way, really. They were standing in the foyer of the gigantic mansion Madara called home, where he had come to greet in her lieu of his butler since she'd said it was important. Sakura clutched her purse tightly with her left hand.

"No," he said silkily. "I don't think you'll be leaving at all."

Sakura barked a laugh. "Yeah? You're just going to keep me here? Tie me up, keep me in your basement? I don't think so, Madara."

Quick as a viper, the hand that had reached to caress her face shot out and gripped her bicep, yanking her towards him.

But Sakura wasn't a slouch herself, and she had used to take martial arts as a hobby. With equal finesse, she dislodged his grip and shoved him away, though apparently not hard enough as he hadn't been moved a single centimeter. It was probably the guilt, making her use less than her full strength.

She didn't want to hurt him any more than she already had, after all.

But, she realized, he didn't look hurt at all. His lips were quirked into a smile, but it was of a sinister sort, not the kind she was used to seeing on him. His eyes, usually the most telling part of his face, though—they were dead. Not hurting, not sad, not angry.

Dead.

Against her will, a jolt of fear shot down her spine.

Sakura took a healthily large step towards the door. "Goodbye, Madara."

She turned to reach for the handle, but that was her mistake: turning her back on him.

Abruptly, her body was yanked backwards into his hard chest, right hand pulled away from her body.

"What the hell-"

She felt the arm around her waist release her and for a moment she felt relief, then saw a syringe full of clear fluid going for the inside of her elbow.

"Madara, what-!"

The needle pierced skin uncomfortably, making her feel vaguely nauseated—she was great at putting needles in other people, but herself, not so much—and then felt cold liquid fill her arm.

His aim was sloppy, and there was no doubt that the vein would soon collapse, but not soon enough to prevent the drug from entering her bloodstream.

"Madara!" she screeched, flailing to get away from him. He released her just in time for the head rush to hit her.

Sedatives.

Her vision wavered.

"Ma-Mada-…."

She fell, and the last thing she knew was the breath leaving her lungs from hitting the floor.

Second chapter written already. I'm working on Bloody Kisses tonight (although I won't promise a chapter to come of it) as well as the third chapter of this. Anyways, leaving reviews always help with motivation! :D