Sakura rushed back home, happiness slowly fading as she entered the doors, anxiety taking over, followed by complete and utter loss of control as Miruko appeared before her with a strangely knowing smile on his gentle face.

"Oh, my god, I am so sorry, Miruko, I lied, I know, I did go and visit—"

"I know, Sakura." He said softly.

"Wh-what? I mean, I just had to…I'm so sorry." She whispered, feeling unbearable guilty.

Silence encompassed both of them, something she was starting to hate.

Miruko took her hands in his, and patted them reassuringly.

"I've come to terms with what has become of something that I thought was perfect, isn't so perfect at all."

She felt tears prick her eyes.

"Maybe it was too perfect. Ever since he came into the picture, things have changed."

She felt like changing her mind.

"Not that I resent him. In fact…I quite admire him."

She looked at him through watery eyes, mouth agape.

He shook his head, grinning, failing to conceal palpable sadness, tears of his own pooling behind his glasses.

"Enough of this. One goodbye hug for Miruko before you leave?"

He gave her puppy eyes.

"They never fail you." She half laughed, throwing her arms around him and wiping her tears on the shoulder of his shirt.

Pulling away was more than just physical.

She felt it in her heart, in the pit of her stomach.

Like a valued, loved possession, being tossed into a burning pit of fire, right before your eyes, only to watch it disintegrate into dust.

Things you can never get back.

"Go to him. I know you love him." Miruko said, smiling down at a panicking Sakura.

"But I love you, Miruko—" She said, bewildered, as she wringed her hands nervously, her heart beating faster.

"And I love you, too, Sakura, but you love me in a way that can only last until death. The way you love Sasuke is the kind of love that will last forever."

The wisdom in his words overwhelmed her, and she knew that, once she took her foot out of this house, there would be no returning, and if she stayed, there would be no going back.

She gulped.

"But—"

"GO!"

Taking one last glance at Miruko, Sakura ran, all the way back to Sasuke, bursting into his house.

"Sasuke!" She cried. He stopped what he was doing, but didn't turn around.

"What do you want, Sakura?" He asked monotonously.

"I just wanted to say…to say…I love you, and…ano…it's you."

He turned around, and, instead of seeing a happy, relieved expression, he was glaring as he walked towards her.

"What, because Miruko said it was okay?"

"N-no…" She stuttered.

"Then what is it, huh? What's changed your mind?" Her gripped her chin tightly and jerked it up, forcing her to look into his eyes.

After a moment of silence, she dared reply.

"What changed yours?" She whispered. Her eyes dropped to the ground.

Sasuke fell still. What was he to say?

"I—I…it…well…you did." He let his hand fell limp to his side, suddenly unsure of what to do. They were both quiet, not moving. Finally, Sasuke cleared his throat and looked to the ceiling, squinting.

Inner Sakura glared in impatience.

What is he, inspecting the lint?

Sakura raised her eyes and glowered at him, going through a sudden attitude change.

"Are you going to kiss me or not?"

"Wh-what?" He looked back down at her, an eyebrow raised in question.

"Are. You. Going. To. Kiss. Me. Because if you're not—"

Sasuke cut her off and pressed his lips to hers, eager at her blatant invitation. The feel of her warm ones against his slightly cooler ones, the sound of her barely audible whimper, the way her body seemed to fit perfectly against his own, how just holding her was enough to make him eternally happy; set off a chain of reactions that would be altogether indecent to record.

But they knew that, if they could have before, would have fastforwarded to this ending long before things continued…

…so that they could start their new beginning.

-----------------------------------------

Holy shit, man.

It's over!

Almost.

AlternateEndings.