By My Side
Disclaimer: I wish I did own Naruto, but sadly I don't
Chapter 4--
Shikamaru walked down the hall, hands in pockets, to the very last room in the house. When he came upon the door, he found it open. The brunette looked inside to see his blonde friend singing into her hairbrush. He remained silent as she sang, not wanting to disturb her. The lazy brunette watched her twirl, her blonde hair dancing behind her. He wished for only a few minutes he could be the one she wanted. But even as hard as he tried, Shikamaru could never amount to the one Ino wanted. Uchiha Sasuke had all the things a guy could want and more. Shikamaru, if he was right in the head, would've given up on Ino. But he wouldn't. He loved her too much to give up right now. He tapped on the door, the hollow sound echoed through the blonde's room, disturbing the girl and her singing. She turned to him and asked, "How long have you been there?"
The blonde secretly hoped that he hadn't been there very long. "Long enough," the brunette said shrugging. He plopped on her bed, the books and make-up falling off, smiling lazily. He stared at his best friend's murderous expression and smirked. Ticking her off was his #1 reason for living. She bent over, hair falling in her eyes, and picked the face products up.
"Stupid, lazy baka!" Ino mumbled, absolutely ticked off. She sat down slowly on the bed next to Shikamaru, beauty supplies in hand. Shikamaru opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was a yawn. The spiky haired brunette then asked, "What's with all the garbage?" Blue eyes followed the brunette's finger. He was pointing at the make-up that was upon her lap. Ino sighed and muttered inaudibly, "It's so I can look my best for Sasuke." Shikamaru's smirk faded into a frown. He heard her, barely. Again with the Uchiha. "What's so great about him, anyways?" Ino got a dazed look on her face and fell backwards on her bed, blonde locks scattering across the sheets. She brought her hands to her heart and started the list, "His beautiful black eyes."
Shikamaru made a face and muttered, "That's not even normal and it makes him look as if he has no soul. But I wouldn't put it past him." Ino ignored him and continued, "That blue-black hair of his." Shikamaru interrupted by stating, "It's in the shape of a chicken!" Ino glared at him. "What would you know anyways, Shikamaru!" Shikamaru shrugged watching Ino sit up straight. "I mean he's a great guy and all, Ino, but it seems to me that looks are all that's important." Ino glared at him causing Shikamaru to change the topic, "Why do you want me here anyways?"
Ino went red and stumbled on her words, "Do you remember when we were little, how you used to tell us all those stories?" Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, "Yeah." The red in her cheeks faded slightly, "Well, tell me one. You've had eight years to come up with a great one!" Shikamaru smiled as the blonde female leaned in, listening intently, as he opened his mouth to speak
XxXxXxX
Naruto slurped down his fifth bowl of ramen that day. It may seem like a lot, but it was far from his regular amount. He didn't know what it was that was bothering him, but it was along the lines of Sakura and Sasuke. A soft giggle from behind him interrupted his thoughts. He turned to see the shy Hyuuga. She smiled at him, pink fresh on her cheeks, as offered her a seat. "Hey, Hinata! Want to join me for some ramen!" The girl nodded, whole face red. The cerulean eyed boy then noticed the book in Hinata's small hands. "What's that?" Hinata looked at the small notebook and smiled, saying, "I write. Want to se some of my work?" The blonde nodded grabbing the book from her.
XxXxXxX
"UCHIHA SASUKE!"
The dark haired boy was tackled to the ground by the frustrated strawberry lover. They rolled around on the lawn, grass sticking in their hair, the girl pounding on the onyx eyed teen. "WHY DID YOU DO THAT!" She pinned him to the ground, screaming at Sasuke. He smirked and said, "I didn't think that you would want to go with fuzzy eyebrows." That earned him a slap and then a glare, "I told you not to call fuzzy- I mean Lee that! And you didn't have the right to tell him off!" The boy shrugged, squirming and trying to get away from the pink haired princess. "Hn. He asks you everyday, it's not like he's gonna stop anytime soon." Sakura sighed and stood up. Sasuke waited for her to offer him a hand but it never came, so he got up on his own and dusted himself off. "I hate you now, you know." Sakura said, arms crossed over her chest. Sasuke rolled his eyes, sighing dramatically, he ran and knocked both of them to the ground.
"Ahem." They looked up to see their blond haired friend, Naruto and the shy Hinata. "If you two are done with your little 'session' here, I'd like to tell you that nobody wants to see you make-out in public." Naruto gave the two a goofy grin as he and Hinata sat down on the porch steps waiting for their friends. Both teens stood, grass stuck in their hair and their clothes, and walked over to the porch swing. A few minutes later Neji, Ten-Ten, Shikamaru, and Ino decided to come over.
Sasuke sat silent, thinking of ways to get back at the pink haired girl beside him. He smirked before pulling up a random newspaper. He was planning to kiss her cheek. Well, it would've worked if she hadn't turned and he ended up kissing her lips. Shocked the dark haired teen dropped the paper, letting everyone else witness this. What's bad enough , he just had to go and continue the kiss. Sasuke had entered hell.
"'Suke, you got some 'splaining to do!" Naruto said, grinning, and shaking his finger at them. Sakura pushed Sasuke off of her, blush evident on her face. "It's not what you think, Naruto!" Sasuke said calmly, blush spreading across his pale face. Ino shook her head, she'd seen too much and she needed to get out, so she ran. "Ino! Wait!" Sakura called out to her best friend. Shikamaru punched Sasuke and said, "You jerk! Damn you!" . The spiky haired boy then ran after his blond companion. Ten-Ten looked at everyone, then at the two 'naughty' children, "What exactly is going on between you two?"
XxXxXxX
"Ino?" Shikamaru looked around everywhere, searching for the blonde, and now finally, he'd found her. He looked up to see the girl on her roof. She didn't move when he climbed up and sat next to her. The brunette smiled, cloud watching, as the wind brushed passed the two. Ino's long, blond hair brushed his shoulder, knocking him out of his reverie and bringing him back to Earth. "Ino?" This time the girl looked up at him, tears quickly flowing down her cheeks from her big blue eyes. That's what he fell for, those beautiful eyes that showed so much emotion. He placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it lightly. Shikamaru didn't want to tell her she was wrong when it came to Sasuke, she'd find out that for herself one day. All he could do was support and watch her back, so he pulled her closer into an embrace, and calmed her down by rubbing her back. "Thank you, Shika."
XxXxXxX
Sasuke placed his hands behind his head, thinking about what had happened. Sakura and the dark eyed boy were thrown a series of questions from all their friends. Some were meant to be jokes and others were a little more serious, but all of them ticked him off. Sakura was in his room at the moment, also trying to digest all the things that had happened. He sat up, on his bed, and cocked an eyebrow at his pink haired, strawberry lover friend. She seemed to be lost in thought for a moment then the next thing you know, she grinning like an idiot. "Hey, Sasuke, can I ask you for a favor?" He shouldn't have said yes. That was a huge mistake.
"C'mon, Sasuke, it's only one more thing," Sakura explained to the black haired boy that was piled up with shopping bags. "Get it yourself." He muttered coldly, watching her lip quiver he sighed, "You can't make me go in there. There is no way in hell that I'll step foot in here!" Sakura tugged on the boy's sleeves, causing him to look at her pouting face.
They were standing outside a lingerie store and Sakura had begged Sasuke to go in and buy her a simple pair of underwear while she ran over to the food court and got them some drinks. He'd refused, of course, and also tried to reason her into letting him buy the food, but she was stubborn and was probably getting him back for the scene earlier. Sighing, Sasuke gave up and stalked into the store, glaring at everyone, unaware of the black haired teen who was now flirting with Sakura.
XxXxXxX
Sasuke stomped through the store, going to the back so he wouldn't be seen. He'd never hear the end of it if Neji, Itachi or Naruto, especially Neji, if they found out he was in a lingerie store. After a few minutes of browsing and just looking he ran into someone, a someone who he had expected to be there. The silver haired teen, Hatake Kakashi. "Oh, hey, Sasuke! What are you doing here? Buying something nice for Sakura to wear that'll please you." Sasuke glared, Kakashi was the biggest pervert and the ideas of himself and Sakura were kind of sickening. "Actually, I was dared to come here by Neji and Naruto. They're outside waiting for me. What are you doing here?" He knew he was lying, but if he had said it was Sakura's doing, he'd never hear the end of it from Itachi and his buddies. Kakashi turned red and muttered something under his breath that Sasuke didn't hear. Kakashi then waved and walked, rather ran, off. A few minutes later, it dawned on Sasuke. "Why am I doing this?" He then walked out of the shop as fast he could.
XxXxXxX
"Well, thank you so much, Rock Lee." She smiled, holding her gift tightly to her chest. Lee nodded and bent down to kiss her cheek. At that exact moment Sasuke came out of the store, red tinged his cheeks slightly, and he got a good look at Sakura and Lee's moment. "Sakura?" He called out quietly. The said girl and the thick eye browed boy turned to him, shocked Sakura dropped the gift, and both watched as Sasuke turned on his heel and left the mall. "Sa-Su-Ke! " He didn't slow down when Sakura ran up to him, the rain was coming down lightly, making Sasuke's hair fall down a little. He faced her and she took that as an opportunity to speak to him, "Sasuke, what's your problem! It was just a kiss and it didn't mean anything. Besides, it's not like it would mean anything to you either." Sasuke glared, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and turned his back to her stating calmly, "It does mean something to me. Because I-I don't want to see you with anyone else. Because I… I love you!" Sasuke waited a few seconds but then left. Sakura was shocked, she'd been his best friend forever but for some reason she hadn't even known. She put her hands over her face, letting the rain wash over her and completely drench her even further. She shifted her purse onto her shoulder and ran towards her house.
XxXxXxX
Sasuke walked into the house, slamming the door behind him, and getting Itachi's attention. "Hey, Sasuke, I was about to leave with the guys. Do you want to go?" Sasuke didn't think twice, a habit that often got him in trouble, and answered calmly, "Sure."
Sakura didn't make it in time. When she knocked on the door to the Uchiha's house, she learned that Sasuke went out with Itachi and his friends: Kabuto, Iruka, and Kakashi. She then decided to invite Ino and the other girls over while she waited.
"Oh! Look, forehead girl, there's a quiz that I think that you should see!" Sakura looked over to the magazine Ino held. The quiz was titled 'Are You and Your Best Guy Friend More Than Just Friends?'. Sakura cocked a delicate brow as Ten-Ten read out the first question. The pink haired girl was about to answer but the phone rang. "Hello? Hey, Mrs. Uchiha!" The strawberry loving girl dropped the phone, innocent green eyes widened. She couldn't, as much as she tried, comprehend what she had heard. An accident, Sasuke and Itachi, hospital. It didn't fit at all.
Sakura rushed out of her room, her friends trailing after her. "Wait, Sakura, we're coming too."
XxXxXxX
Sakura leaned against the white, brick wall. These few minutes of waiting were like hours to her. The Uchiha's were inside Itachi's room right now, since Sasuke hadn't regained conscious yet. She beat her head against the wall waiting for Sasuke. "Ms. Sakura, Sasuke would like to see you now." The pink haired teen walked hesitantly inside the room, not wanting to think about Sasuke's condition…
tbc…
A/N: To tell you the truth, I love Rock Lee, and I didn't mean to bash him in this chapter, he's a cool character and he fit in with the idea and story. Now I'm not a LeeSaku fanatic at all, I despise the couple, but I like 'em as friends. So if you hate me now I am sorry, but please don't flame me. Thanks for the reviewers whose ideas I posted in this chapter. Thank you all so much! I'm also pleased to tell you that I'm going to write both endings, PLUS a third in which NEITHER OF THE UCHIHAS DIE! And I'm so thankful to all of you reviewers! That is why, due to your requests, I made the third alternate ending after all. And if you want more NejiTen and NaruHina fluff you'll have to help me out, I can't think of anything really. I want to thank all of you individually for your support for my third chapter.
Tuts04- Thank you! That means soooo much to me! And I like that idea and, as you read, had something sort of similar in mind cackles maliciously
Babyblue angel- I'm gonna continue this one and might write another fic just for all the wonderful reviewers! And at the end of one of my chapters I think I could squeeze that in hint hint
Kawaii-Hisui- Thank you, I really needed to hear that! Thanks for reviewing all the chapters! And yep I need an editor. I think I can't spell worth a flip.
Liqice76- Thanks for telling me what couples you want and thank you for complimenting me! I think I'm gonna cry!
Harukakanata- I know how you feel. My cousin died just last year and I thought that I wouldn't be able to write anymore. And due to your review (AND OTHERS!) I'm deciding to make another chapter in which neither die. And I'm sorry about your grandma. Hope you're doing well!
Someone- I'll try not to depress you 'cause that would make me sad. Love ya!
LadyoftheMists- They do sound sad. And thanks for telling me what couples you want. It helped a lot!
Becky- Thank you and I will!
Lone Sakura- They are both quite sad, aren't they? And since a lot of people didn't like either of them I made one in which they don't die on us! But in all three of them Ka-- oops I was about to spoil the only person who dies in all three!
Purerandomness- Once I wrote down the ideas of the two dying, I was like 'what the! I'm killing off the main character and his brother'. But they both were pretty okay written, so I just decided to use them.
Sasukegirl5991- I don't want Sasuke to die, either! I was in a bad mood when I came up with that. Thanks for complimenting me! Wuv U Bunches!
Gothbrat- I can do that! Major fluff here we come!
A/N: That was the answers/responses from the chapter three reviewing… sorry if I left you out! But about the alternate endings, like I said there will be another and all three will be posted. I don't know in what order but please review each of them, even the Sasuke death chapter, please! Oh, and before I forget, I'm writing another Naruto fiction, but it won't be published until I finish this story and my Digimon story 'Unwell'. I need a title for it so I'm gonna let you decide and I'll pick the best. Sakura and Sasuke are the main characters with some big issues but Ino's is kind of big so I typed hers for you to see. Here's a preview so you know what it's about:
Sakura's problem-
She walked down the street hurriedly. She didn't know where she was but she had to get away from home. She stumbled and bumped into people lost in thoughts and completely drunk. Her father's bimbo-of-the-week was in her mother's kitchen, using her mother's things. She clenched her fists, knuckles turning white. Pink locks fell into her face, blocking her already blurry vision. She knocked into someone, falling hard on the person's chest. "Sakura?" She knew that voice. It belonged to one of the only people that actually understood her, but so many things ran through her mind it was so hard to figure out who it was. The pink haired girl became weaker, lids feeling heavier now. The last thing that actually registered in her mind, before she collapsed onto the person entirely, was: Sasuke.
Ino's Problem:
This couldn't be happening to her. Not now. She wouldn't nor couldn't handle this now. Tears slid down her face as she looked at the results once more. What would everyone think? Would they leave her? What about Shikamaru? The blonde pulled at her hair in frustration. Her slim face reddened from the constant crying. How would she break the news. Blue eyes with a tint of purple closed tightly, fresh tears forming on the tips. "Ino, are you okay?" She looked at her pink haired friend. Her best friend stared closely in her eyes, and Ino knew that Sakura had it all figured out. "Have you told him yet?" She croaked out looking at the small device on ino's desk.
Sasuke's Problem:
He heard the rustling of his sheets. He then felt something soft brush against his cheek. At first he thought that it was the stray cat his mom had let come in whenever it felt like it. Then he remembered the pink haired girl in the other room. He opened his right eye to find said girl on the edge of his bed. She was leaning over him, hair brushing against his cheek, smiling. "Hey, Sasuke!" She greeted warmly, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear. "Thanks for letting me stay here." He sat up, face level with hers, "Whatever." So once again, in front of her sat the one, the only human ice cube, Uchiha Sasuke. She frowned disappointedly and told him, "Your mom said that breakfast will be ready in a few minutes so get up and get dressed." Sasuke slid off the bed and looked at her, "Do you mind?" Sakura stuck out her tongue and replied, "There's a bathroom. Use it!" Obsidian orbs stared at the strawberry girl, "It's my house! You leave!" And thus led to the usual bickering of the green eyed Haruno and the pretty boy Uchiha. Only this time, they were arguing about where to change clothes…
A/N: Those are some random scenes I thought you might like. Each person in it has a different problem: Sakura's problem is her dad, Ino's problem is her current condition, and Sasuke's problem is the lovable pink haired girl we all know. Please help me with the title because I really need a nice one that fits and mine suck --'