A/N: Thank you for some of the comments! I greatly appreciate them!

LittleWolfBlossom: Thanks for the comment, and yes, I'll keep updating this fic as much as I can. It's not even close to finishing mwahahaha...

AkatsukiBlaze: Thanks a lot! I know you're anticipating for the SasuxSaku moment, and believe me, it will come soon...so hang tight!

Anyway, this chapter is going to have a miniature songfic feature in it. I hope you enjoy it!

xoxoxoxox

A few days passed by, and it was now a Friday. Sakura was in the kitchen, busying herself by cooking udon. It was noontime, and she had nothing to do. She decided to just stay in her apartment and relax. The last few days have been hectic for her. First encountering many of her friends, Kiba offering that "blind date" deal, vigorously training at the forest, Lee attempting to flirt with her once again, going on a much needed shopping spree with Ino, playing Shougi with Shikamaru, spending time at the Hyuuga compound to have girl talk with Hinata and Ten-Ten, Shizune asking her what type of wedding kimono she should buy for her and Genma's wedding, eating sushi with Kakashi and Anko, and so many more. Sakura felt like she needed a break from her so-called "life."

She hummed a beautiful tune as she was cooking her udon in the pot, while glancing at the television in the living room. Once she finished cooking, she turned off the stove and got a bowl to put some udon soup in. She walked towards the dining table in the living room and proceeded to eat her lunch. She had a sudden urge to go to the restroom and walked towards the one in the hall.

As she walked in and sat herself on the toilet to relieve herself, she glanced at the Gloomy Bear calendar in front of her on the wall. Hmm, what's the date today? As she checked, her jaded orbs widened and a gasp escaped from her lips. She nearly fell off the toilet seat. Oh my god, today is July 23rd: HIS birthday…

After she finished urinating, she hastily cleaned herself and washed her hands. No, I can't think about him again! Sakura, you promised yourself you wouldn't!

She hastily walked out of the restroom and walked back to the dining table to continue eating. As she kept eating, she glanced at the television. What she saw nearly made her drop her chopsticks into the soup.

Japanese pop singer, Ayumi Hamasaki, was on the television and her music video for "Still Alone" (English translation) was playing. Sakura knew very well what that song is, for she liked it very much, especially the fact that it relates to her current emotional predicament. Geez, what an opportune moment for this song to play right now, after reading that damn calendar!

She glued her eyes to the television and halted her eating. She heard the lyrics singing to her ears.

(English translation)

Where are you walking,
what are you staring at now?
Are you still chasing that dream
you once told me about?

A soft expression glazed on her face, as she saw an emotional Ayumi confronting her lover in the music video. The first verse quickly struck a chord in Sakura's heart…

I loved your face that
seemed to tell the future.

Sakura's lips started to turn downward…

For you to protect that dream,
I couldn't be with you.

Her vision started to become blurry as she felt liquid form in her eyes. She could barely see the music video anymore. All she heard were the haunting lyrics that Ayumi sang out.

When you stood here
and watched the scenery,
how much anxiety and confusion
did you battle with?

Sakura eyes couldn't contain the liquid any longer. She blinked a couple times and tears started to descend her soft cheeks.

I've learned a lot
from being alone.

Her vision became clear again after releasing some of her tears. She could see Ayumi having a crying fit on the ground and the sound of agony in her voice while singing the eerie words from her heart. Sakura felt more warm liquid form in her emerald orbs, as that simple verse struck her even harder.

As long as you didn't let go of my hand,
I felt like I could do anything.

More tears descended upon her cheeks. She wiped them away with the back of her right hand. Her mind started to become hazy, as blurriness overcame her vision because of the tears filling up in her beautiful round eyes.

When we walked along the same path
I believed without a single doubt.

She wiped out more tears from her eyes and looked at the music video again. She continued to see a suffering Ayumi all by herself, wondering why her lover left her with a broken heart that would take until the end of time to mend. Sakura's warm tears flowed out like a waterfall and she imagined herself being in Ayumi's position. She personally thought this song and music video was a mini biography about her own life!

But even so, why...?

Yeah, Sasuke-kun, why? Why do you do this to me? You leave me and break my heart into a million pieces? Why? Sakura's tears never ceased falling from her eyes.

She decided that it was too much to take and grabbed the remote to turn off the television. Sakura ran to the kitchen and grabbed some napkins. She rubbed away the tears that stained her porcelain face. She looked at the mirror and saw that her eyes were swollen and red. I need to stop getting so damn emotional! I hate being so sensitive! I told myself I would become emotionally stronger! What the hell is wrong with me!

Yeah! What the hell is wrong with you, you damn cry baby! Stop crying! Inner Sakura once again butted in.

Sakura cringed at herself and proceeded to walk back to the dining table to continue eating her udon. I can't believe I let a measly song sink into my heart like that. 'You' still affect me even on your birthday, and you're not even here! She dunked her chopsticks into the soup and scooped up the noodles to eat.

Maybe that blind date with Yasashiku-san wouldn't be so bad after all. I probably need it anyways. I'm such a wreck right now! Like what Kiba-san said, maybe something will happen between us. Sakura formed a small smile as she was eating.

As she finished eating and washed the dishes, another sneeze escaped from her. Fuck! Not again! I think I should soothe myself by drinking sake…

She walked towards one of the cupboards and opened it. She sifted through various products until she found what she was looking for at the very back of the cupboard. She slowly cleared the path to take out the hidden sake bottle. I guess Kaka-sensei's gift would come in handy in situations like this…

She twisted the bottle cap open and poured a shot for herself in a little saucer. She took the saucer and quickly downed her first shot. She squinted and shook her head, since it has been months since she last consumed alcohol. Even though she was still considered young to consume alcohol, that didn't stop her from drinking with her colleagues at parties and other social functions. She continued to pour more and more sake into the saucer, until she drank about 6 shots. Since she's a light-weight, Sakura started to feel the effects of the alcohol.

She stumbled towards her couch in the living room and curled herself on it. She grabbed a pillow and clutched it close to her chest. She rested her head on top of the pillow and started to drift into a drunken oblivion. Her emerald orbs started to glaze over and a stoic expression started to appear on her face.

"Happy birthday, Sasuke-kun…" Sakura whispered through her drunken demeanor. She passed out shortly there after.

About 40 minutes later, she immediately woke up and felt her lunch shoot up to her throat. She bolted to the restroom to vomit out the contents.

"I…feel…like…utter…SHIT…" Sakura wailed as she sprawled her upper body on top of the toilet seat. She felt more nauseated and threw up into the toilet once again.

Riiinnnggggggg.

She heard her telephone ring. Still in her drunken haze, she was too woozy to get up and pick up the phone call.

Riiinnnggggggg.

Dammit! Leave me alone! I'm fuckin' drunk right now…

Riiinnnggggggg.

Bah! I'll just let them leave a voice message!

Riiinnnggggggg.

"Hello! You have reached Sakura Haruno's phone. Sorry I'm not home at the moment, so please leave a message after the beep and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Ja ne!" Sakura heard her voice message play.

BEEP.

"Sakura, this is the Godaime! I'm sorry to cut your vacation short, but I have an urgent ANBU mission that I must assign to you and your squad. Please come to my office ASAP once you get this. I hope you're doing well right now! Ja ne, dear!"

BEEP.

Oh God, are you serious? Sakura and proceeded to stand up and washed her face in the sink. She was wobbling a little bit, but she managed to stumble to the living room. She decided that she still wasn't in good condition to attend the Godaime's office, so she decided to get a glass a water to calm herself down.

Shortly there after, she passed out once again on the couch.

Disclaimer: "Still Alone" is a copyrighted song by Japanese singer, Ayumi Hamasaki. She is an actual singer in the real universe, if any of you don't know. I had a suggestion from one of the readers that I should disclaim her song, and I thought that was a wise idea. So voila!