A/N: OMG I could not believe when I got positive reviews for this! So I
just had to update. Things really start moving and there is some tender
moments between two star crossed lovers. Thanks to everyone who reviewed I
hope you enjoy reading this chapter. ^_^
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did Sakura would forget about Sasuke and get with Neji.
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CHAPTER TWO
Sasuke was taken aback. He stared at the couple sitting across from him. Neji's arm was around Sakura possessively. Neji eyed Sasuke with a glare of arrogance as if to say 'She's mine. Remember that'
This can't be true Sakura and Neji? Neji! I can't believe it. Sasuke thought
It finally came to Sasuke's attention that Sakura was wearing an engagement ring. It sparkled, shined, and was prismatic.
Why didn't I realize this before? Sasuke thought
Sasuke could have made a complete and total ass of himself if he had proposed to Sakura. He had taken Sakura for granted and now she was gone. Gone into the arms of his unspoken rival Neji. He was taking too long to say something if he didn't Sakura would assume he was hurt by the news.
"When is the wedding?" Sasuke had finally managed to say overcoming the ball of emotion in his throat. He drank some more tea and regained his cold as steel composure.
"Well in a week. The ceremony and reception will be held Great Hall in the Hyuga residence." Sakura told him gazing down at her now lukewarm tea. She realized this situation was beyond uncomfortable. Sakura was dreading each minute she had to look at Sasuke and Neji was not making the situation any better.
"Why don't you come to the wedding? After all you are practically family." Neji suggested to Sasuke with a deceitful smirk on his face.
"Sure why not. But I don't know if I would consider myself family to you" Sasuke replied know that he had won a small battle with Neji. Sasuke had a feeling that Neji was expecting to reject his invitation.
"Well didn't you know the Uchiha clan came about from genetic variation in the Hyuga family? This makes you a far distance cousin so to speak." Neji informed Sasuke still with that self-righteous expression plastered to his face.
Sasuke's mind raced really this knowledge made a various possibilities for his future. Maybe hopes for restoration were within his grasps. Maybe to get what he wanted had to take a risk like in battle. He gulped the last of his tea and placed some money on the table. "Well I think I'll be going now I'm feeling kind of worn out. And congratulations on your marriage" Sasuke lied and stepped out of the booth. He made his way to the exit and pasted other couples on his way out: Ino and Shikamaru, Ten Ten and Rock Lee, and Hinata and Naruto.
What the hell was going on.I guess everyone's got somebody but me.
"Sasuke!" Naruto flagged him down to where he and Hinata were sitting. Sasuke sighed and went over to see what the hyperactive shinobi wanted.
"Hey Sasuke what's up?" Naruto inquired to his comrade. "Nothing much, you?" Sasuke replied while staring at Hinata quizzically. Hinata was dressed in the standard leaf uniform except her uniform had red crosses on the shoulders signifying she was a medic. Her dark long hair cascaded down the sides of her face framing it. Hinata's white eyes darted over in his direction meeting his gaze. Her glance quickly retreated and she hid behind her hair.
"Ano sa, ano sa are you even listening to me Sasuke?" Naruto asked grabbing Sasuke's attention.
"Hn?" Sasuke grunted
"Is something wrong?"
"No. Just a little tired that's all." Sasuke replied he was trying to keep his answers short and sweet so Naruto would get the message he wasn't in the talking mood. But obviously this wasn't working because Naruto continued his incessant chatter.
Just then an angry Sakura blazed by them in a rush with Neji hot on her trail.
"Trouble in paradise Neji-chan?" Teased Naruto smirking at Neji. A pair of white eyes glared at him fiercely and Neji continued to follow Sakura.
"You shouldn't tease Neji-nii-san like that Naruto-kun. He isn't one to take such things lightly." Hinata said looking down tenting her fingers nervously. She hadn't meant to be so shy she was always comfortable around Naruto. But Sasuke giving her a distressing feeling. It was like he was carrying a dark presence with him. She snuck another quick peak at Sasuke from behind the shelter of he hair.
Yes there was something wrong there Hinata thought to herself.
"You worry too much Hinata-chan. With a guy like Neji those thing just roll off his back." Naruto said flashing his infamous fox like smile.
"Well I better be going now. See you guys later". Sasuke stated as he began to walk out the door.
"Bye Sasuke-san" Hinata spoke softy
"Ja ne Sasuke" Naruto bellowed to his rival and friend.
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Sakura walked hurriedly across the ninja academy's courtyard. She didn't know exactly where she was going but she new as long as Neji wasn't there she would be fine.
"Sakura, Sakura where are you going?" Neji called from behind. "Away from you!" was Sakura's angry reply as she flopped down on the bench and sulked.
Normally Neji would have walked away not caring about what she was feeling. But Sakura and he had grown together in a way that he never thought possible. She was making him soft and Neji really did not like showing too much emotion he felt it was a sign of vulnerability and weakness. Neji took a seat beside Sakura on the bench.
"Sakura what's wrong?" Neji asked turning to her awaiting answer.
"What's wrong? What's wrong? Well you tell me Mr. Hyuga!" Sakura spat "Not only do you come in unannounced to see me even though you promise to not to come so I could speak to Sasuke alone. Then you act all macho and arrogant as if I was some prize that you beat Sasuke out for! Then on top of all that you invite him to the bloody wedding! She took a breath and looked up to the sky and said "Kami, why do I love this man?"
They sat in silence for a while it was filled with the same discomfort there had been at the ramen shop.
"Look Sakura the only reason I came was to make sure was to give you support. I know it must have been hard to tell Sasuke something like this." Neji told Sakura once he felt that she had calmed down enough.
"Oh cut the crap" Sakura retorted "Obvious you don't trust me." "I trust you it's him I don't trust." Replied Neji crossing his arms and sliding further back into the bench.
"You know when I was with Sasuke long ago before he left the Konoha. He never seemed to really acknowledge my presence. I felt like a third wheel in our own relationship. He never seemed to listen or care about my feelings. Sakura confessed looking up to meet Neji's gaze "You can be assured I'll never go back to that I want you to trust me Neji. All I really want is you attention and respect. I just want to be close to you only you"
Neji pulled Sakura close and they sat holding each other for a long while.
"I'm sorry" Neji whispered finally overcoming his pride some how saying the words wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. It seemed to relieve the slight tension in the air. Sakura closed her eyes recalling the hurt look on Sasuke's face when she told him about the marriage.
Why should you feel so bad? Sakura thought to herself. Sasuke has put though worse it's about time he felt a fraction of pain he has dealt to you.
Sakura looked up at Neji smiling she knew everything would be okay she promised herself that she wouldn't worry about Sasuke anymore just about the man she held in her arms
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Sasuke entered his apartment it was dark and cool just the way he liked it. He stepped into the living room and took a seat in a stiff arm chair. Sasuke slipped off his sandals and removed the bandages around his calves. He knew he should get up and shower but fatigue took Sasuke over and he sunk in further into the armchair.
A pair of dark eyes faced Sasuke staring at him as if they could see into his soul. Sasuke could not take his eyes away. There was something painfully familiar about these eyes. Suddenly it hit him. It was Sasuke's demon self the part of himself which he struggled to bury. The demon was a carbon copy of Sasuke the only difference was that Orochimaru's curse was imprinted on the demon's body. They stood staring at each other in the void of Sasuke's mind waiting for the first move to be made.
"You sicken me you know that" the demon spoke angrily "You just sit back and watch that white eyed freak put his hands all over your woman!"
Sasuke stayed silent he didn't know what to think. A part of him felt that he should leave Sakura to Neji and forget about her. But another part of him wanted to kill both Neji and Sakura for being happy together.
"I know but there isn't much I can do their wedding is a week away. There is no way I can stop them." Sasuke replied "It just isn't possible I can't get Sakura back. So I want her to be happy even if it's not with me. "
"You fool! What a bunch of crap. That's the type of attitude that got you in the situation." Yelled the demon "Look if you don't look out for you no one will. All your so called friends are backstabbers make them suffer!"
"No, no, you're wrong my friends would never backstab me!" Sasuke shouted
"Ha! Yeah right everyone knew you and Sakura were together. Neji disrespected you a moved in on your territory while you were away. And Sakura didn't give a second thought about you before shacking up with olde white eyes. Oh and Naruto your so called best friend just about allowed every Tom, Dick, and Harry try their luck with your woman." The demon retorted "They have made a fool of you face it!"
Yes. Yes the demon was right Sasuke thought to himself. Sakura couldn't care less about me. The stupid whore just pushed me aside as if I was nothing. and Naruto he'll pay for standing back and watching. They'll all pay for being happy. Each and every last one!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did Sakura would forget about Sasuke and get with Neji.
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CHAPTER TWO
Sasuke was taken aback. He stared at the couple sitting across from him. Neji's arm was around Sakura possessively. Neji eyed Sasuke with a glare of arrogance as if to say 'She's mine. Remember that'
This can't be true Sakura and Neji? Neji! I can't believe it. Sasuke thought
It finally came to Sasuke's attention that Sakura was wearing an engagement ring. It sparkled, shined, and was prismatic.
Why didn't I realize this before? Sasuke thought
Sasuke could have made a complete and total ass of himself if he had proposed to Sakura. He had taken Sakura for granted and now she was gone. Gone into the arms of his unspoken rival Neji. He was taking too long to say something if he didn't Sakura would assume he was hurt by the news.
"When is the wedding?" Sasuke had finally managed to say overcoming the ball of emotion in his throat. He drank some more tea and regained his cold as steel composure.
"Well in a week. The ceremony and reception will be held Great Hall in the Hyuga residence." Sakura told him gazing down at her now lukewarm tea. She realized this situation was beyond uncomfortable. Sakura was dreading each minute she had to look at Sasuke and Neji was not making the situation any better.
"Why don't you come to the wedding? After all you are practically family." Neji suggested to Sasuke with a deceitful smirk on his face.
"Sure why not. But I don't know if I would consider myself family to you" Sasuke replied know that he had won a small battle with Neji. Sasuke had a feeling that Neji was expecting to reject his invitation.
"Well didn't you know the Uchiha clan came about from genetic variation in the Hyuga family? This makes you a far distance cousin so to speak." Neji informed Sasuke still with that self-righteous expression plastered to his face.
Sasuke's mind raced really this knowledge made a various possibilities for his future. Maybe hopes for restoration were within his grasps. Maybe to get what he wanted had to take a risk like in battle. He gulped the last of his tea and placed some money on the table. "Well I think I'll be going now I'm feeling kind of worn out. And congratulations on your marriage" Sasuke lied and stepped out of the booth. He made his way to the exit and pasted other couples on his way out: Ino and Shikamaru, Ten Ten and Rock Lee, and Hinata and Naruto.
What the hell was going on.I guess everyone's got somebody but me.
"Sasuke!" Naruto flagged him down to where he and Hinata were sitting. Sasuke sighed and went over to see what the hyperactive shinobi wanted.
"Hey Sasuke what's up?" Naruto inquired to his comrade. "Nothing much, you?" Sasuke replied while staring at Hinata quizzically. Hinata was dressed in the standard leaf uniform except her uniform had red crosses on the shoulders signifying she was a medic. Her dark long hair cascaded down the sides of her face framing it. Hinata's white eyes darted over in his direction meeting his gaze. Her glance quickly retreated and she hid behind her hair.
"Ano sa, ano sa are you even listening to me Sasuke?" Naruto asked grabbing Sasuke's attention.
"Hn?" Sasuke grunted
"Is something wrong?"
"No. Just a little tired that's all." Sasuke replied he was trying to keep his answers short and sweet so Naruto would get the message he wasn't in the talking mood. But obviously this wasn't working because Naruto continued his incessant chatter.
Just then an angry Sakura blazed by them in a rush with Neji hot on her trail.
"Trouble in paradise Neji-chan?" Teased Naruto smirking at Neji. A pair of white eyes glared at him fiercely and Neji continued to follow Sakura.
"You shouldn't tease Neji-nii-san like that Naruto-kun. He isn't one to take such things lightly." Hinata said looking down tenting her fingers nervously. She hadn't meant to be so shy she was always comfortable around Naruto. But Sasuke giving her a distressing feeling. It was like he was carrying a dark presence with him. She snuck another quick peak at Sasuke from behind the shelter of he hair.
Yes there was something wrong there Hinata thought to herself.
"You worry too much Hinata-chan. With a guy like Neji those thing just roll off his back." Naruto said flashing his infamous fox like smile.
"Well I better be going now. See you guys later". Sasuke stated as he began to walk out the door.
"Bye Sasuke-san" Hinata spoke softy
"Ja ne Sasuke" Naruto bellowed to his rival and friend.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*
Sakura walked hurriedly across the ninja academy's courtyard. She didn't know exactly where she was going but she new as long as Neji wasn't there she would be fine.
"Sakura, Sakura where are you going?" Neji called from behind. "Away from you!" was Sakura's angry reply as she flopped down on the bench and sulked.
Normally Neji would have walked away not caring about what she was feeling. But Sakura and he had grown together in a way that he never thought possible. She was making him soft and Neji really did not like showing too much emotion he felt it was a sign of vulnerability and weakness. Neji took a seat beside Sakura on the bench.
"Sakura what's wrong?" Neji asked turning to her awaiting answer.
"What's wrong? What's wrong? Well you tell me Mr. Hyuga!" Sakura spat "Not only do you come in unannounced to see me even though you promise to not to come so I could speak to Sasuke alone. Then you act all macho and arrogant as if I was some prize that you beat Sasuke out for! Then on top of all that you invite him to the bloody wedding! She took a breath and looked up to the sky and said "Kami, why do I love this man?"
They sat in silence for a while it was filled with the same discomfort there had been at the ramen shop.
"Look Sakura the only reason I came was to make sure was to give you support. I know it must have been hard to tell Sasuke something like this." Neji told Sakura once he felt that she had calmed down enough.
"Oh cut the crap" Sakura retorted "Obvious you don't trust me." "I trust you it's him I don't trust." Replied Neji crossing his arms and sliding further back into the bench.
"You know when I was with Sasuke long ago before he left the Konoha. He never seemed to really acknowledge my presence. I felt like a third wheel in our own relationship. He never seemed to listen or care about my feelings. Sakura confessed looking up to meet Neji's gaze "You can be assured I'll never go back to that I want you to trust me Neji. All I really want is you attention and respect. I just want to be close to you only you"
Neji pulled Sakura close and they sat holding each other for a long while.
"I'm sorry" Neji whispered finally overcoming his pride some how saying the words wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. It seemed to relieve the slight tension in the air. Sakura closed her eyes recalling the hurt look on Sasuke's face when she told him about the marriage.
Why should you feel so bad? Sakura thought to herself. Sasuke has put though worse it's about time he felt a fraction of pain he has dealt to you.
Sakura looked up at Neji smiling she knew everything would be okay she promised herself that she wouldn't worry about Sasuke anymore just about the man she held in her arms
*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sasuke entered his apartment it was dark and cool just the way he liked it. He stepped into the living room and took a seat in a stiff arm chair. Sasuke slipped off his sandals and removed the bandages around his calves. He knew he should get up and shower but fatigue took Sasuke over and he sunk in further into the armchair.
A pair of dark eyes faced Sasuke staring at him as if they could see into his soul. Sasuke could not take his eyes away. There was something painfully familiar about these eyes. Suddenly it hit him. It was Sasuke's demon self the part of himself which he struggled to bury. The demon was a carbon copy of Sasuke the only difference was that Orochimaru's curse was imprinted on the demon's body. They stood staring at each other in the void of Sasuke's mind waiting for the first move to be made.
"You sicken me you know that" the demon spoke angrily "You just sit back and watch that white eyed freak put his hands all over your woman!"
Sasuke stayed silent he didn't know what to think. A part of him felt that he should leave Sakura to Neji and forget about her. But another part of him wanted to kill both Neji and Sakura for being happy together.
"I know but there isn't much I can do their wedding is a week away. There is no way I can stop them." Sasuke replied "It just isn't possible I can't get Sakura back. So I want her to be happy even if it's not with me. "
"You fool! What a bunch of crap. That's the type of attitude that got you in the situation." Yelled the demon "Look if you don't look out for you no one will. All your so called friends are backstabbers make them suffer!"
"No, no, you're wrong my friends would never backstab me!" Sasuke shouted
"Ha! Yeah right everyone knew you and Sakura were together. Neji disrespected you a moved in on your territory while you were away. And Sakura didn't give a second thought about you before shacking up with olde white eyes. Oh and Naruto your so called best friend just about allowed every Tom, Dick, and Harry try their luck with your woman." The demon retorted "They have made a fool of you face it!"
Yes. Yes the demon was right Sasuke thought to himself. Sakura couldn't care less about me. The stupid whore just pushed me aside as if I was nothing. and Naruto he'll pay for standing back and watching. They'll all pay for being happy. Each and every last one!