Disclaimer: I don't own it. Please don't sue.

His Decision

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Everyone was too surprised to say anything.

"Well? Aren't you guys going to congratulate us?" Ino said still looking directly at Sakura.

All of them expertly closed their wide-open jaws and muttered a vigorous congratulation.

Everyone that is, except for Sakura.

She remained quiet, looking slightly speechless.

"Hello…Earth to forehead girl? Aren't you going to congrats us?"

She looked up in amazement and uttered a tiny apology and quickly looked down at her food, like she was too ashamed to stare into her eyes…

With a fake smile she looked up at Ino's eager face and tried to block out all the unfriendly thoughts that were running through her head. She composed all of her mental training into not crying at this point. She took at deep gulp and practically beamed at the attractive blonde. "Yea… Congratulation Ino, Sasuke." She didn't look at him at all. "I hope the best for you two."

It was one of the most hurtful things she had ever had to say and it was one of the saddest things anyone has ever heard.

"Jeez… Thanks forehead girl, it means a lot," Ino said arrogantly as she sat down by Sasuke-kun's side, moving her seat ever so closely towards him as if wanting to rub it in even more. "I mean, here I am winning the guy of our dreams and you actually have the nerve to congratulate me, you really are something Sakura," she boasted proudly.

Everyone was looking to Ino from Sakura to Sasuke. They were all waiting for the tornado that was sure to come as the form of a very pissed off Haruno Sakura.

They all closed their eyes and held their breath.

…1…

…2…

Any second now…

…3…

Any second…

…4…

Just any second…

…5…

When nothing happened they all slowly opened their eyes and braved for the disaster.

Instead of a hurricane they were met by a gently breeze.

"Yeah… right. You won Ino, you really did win. You successfully beat me." She sure had grown up quite a bit, something as petty as this wasn't going to get to her. "Looks like you successfully ensnarled the Uchiha." Sakura laughed playfully.

Ino's daring expression soon turned to one in astonishment. She looked as if Sakura had slapped her than congratulate her. She was shocked. She expected Sakura to have a fit and run out the restaurant pronto – crying her eyes out.

This was… most unexpected.

"Well… Shouldn't you two order? We have a lot to talk about Ino-pig," she winked, breaking Ino from her thoughts. She quickly snuck a glace at her beloved Sasuke-kun, the one who unknowingly broke her heart for the second time straight.

She felt her eyes soften and felt her heart wrench just at the sight of him. He looked the same… but yet different.

'He had changed…'

He was still oblivious about the way he made her feel… it was either he knew or he just didn't care.

She smirked at this. 'He probably just doesn't care…' She fought back tears at this thought.

How stupid she was to think that she had gotten over him, especially so quickly. She really did love him, even after all this time. The distance put between them just made her love for him grow into deeper heights. She loves him. She always did… That was the real reason why she never bothered dating anyone else, the reason she was single for all those years… The reason she had turned him down.

'He found love… I should be happy for him.'

She tried to be… She really did, but the truth was that she just wasn't.

The fact if the matter is that Sakura really wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. She needed air, the room somehow just got stuffier. She found it very hard to concentrate and was well aware that her hand shook every so often. She gave one small sniffle, which did not go unnoticed by one very protective Hyuuga.

Of course he had picked Ino over her. Ino was picture perfect. She was clearly the better pick. Ino was mature; she developed curves and a killer body. Her platinum blonde hair was brushed out and tied up in a high ponytail just like before and she wore tight fitting clothes that hugged at her body.

She was a way better choice than Sakura.

She was stronger, prettier, braver… she came from an honored family… and was one of the most sought out women in Konoha.

Sakura just didn't compare to her.

She too was strong, pretty, and hell, she was even brave – but she would never be what Ino was. She didn't really know what the difference was between them – them being roughly around the same size and rank, but there was something about her that made Sakura look incredibility small… or so she thought.

"Oh…Sasukee-kunn let me help you with that."

Sakura inertly cringed at her loud obnoxious voice. If she had to sit there and endure one more hour of 'Sasuke-kun's' and loud squeaks of concerns pointed at his direction, she would lose it.

Everyone congratulated the pair and the men gave Sasuke quick pats on the back and loud 'You go man!' type of shouts, (you know… the thing guys usually do…). The lone Uchiha merely grunted and ordered while ignoring all the praise he was getting.

Ino on the other hand was making the best out of the situation. She did not want to stop talking about it. She would casually roll her ring finger around, making the stunning diamond glitter in the sunlight and positioned it openly on her hand so that anyone who came three feet of her would not miss it. The rock was frigging huge!

Sakura couldn't help but feel a bit jealous. She knew she shouldn't be but she was, she just couldn't help it. The green monster had taken the best of her, and Ino was just tempting it to come out and play.

"I just can't believe that your getting married! I always thought that Hinata would be the first!" A brown-haired woman named Tenten assumed excitedly, eagerly staring at the gigantic rock.

"I am happy for you Ino-san," a petite shorthaired woman said.

"Thanks Tenten, Hinata, Forehead girl."

"No problem"

"Your welcome."

"Hmm…"

The excited blonde grinned and started to make wedding arrangements. "Well… I haven't decided on the number of bridesmaids yet, but you guys are definitely going to be there."

"Oh really? I would love to!" Tenten shrieked with joy. "I've never been in a wedding before."

"It would be an honor to be in the wedding."

"Terrific, just terrific," the soon-to-be-bride grinned happily."And so the wedding will be in a month and we will have - "

"What?" Sakura practically yelled. She seemed to have zoned out on the blonde and missed out on the details of the upcoming wedding.

"We will have roses there. For the love of god Forehead, pay attention!" The blonde scolded. She did not want anything to go wrong on her wedding day.

"No, what did you say before that." Sakura said sheepishly.

"Oh… the wedding will be in a month."

"What?"

"Oh for god sakes, THE WEDDING WILL BE HELD IN A MONTH!" The fuming woman screamed.

"A month?" Sakura choked, "don't you think that is a bit…unreasonable?"

The blonde gave the pink head a careful gaze. "Yes." She stated, "In fact, I think that that is too late, your absolutely right Forehead girl, the wedding should be in 2 weeks."

Sakura was left dumbfounded… 'That is not what I meant…'

"In fact… I was hoping that you would be my maid of honor Sakura, you're my best friend after all."

Sakura nearly gasped at this, her…The maid of honor? She was slowly assessing the farfetched idea. What an awful predicament she was in.

'I can't say no… Then she would think that I still love him… Which I do… But I can't tell her that! I don't want to ruin the wedding.'

She already knew what she had to do. With a heavy heart Sakura plastered on her fake smile and readily accepted. "Of course I will be your maid of honor – you're my best friend after all."

Ino's smile shone brightly at Sakura. To her amazement, Sakura noticed that this smile was so much different from all the previous ones she had given.

This was Ino's true smile.

'What was going on?'

"Thanks Sakura-Chan, it means a lot to me to hear you say that." Ino was tearing at the sides and Sakura herself was heartbroken just staring at the weeping woman in front of her.

Something was wrong, and Ino needed her best friend at the moment. She felt terrible at the fact that she was seriously debating whether or not to even attend the wedding at first. Ino needed her best friend right now, and Sakura was here.

She wasn't going to let her down.

All of a sudden Sakura was engulfed into a tight hug. It took her off guard and she kindly patted her back. "We'll talk later," she whispered delicately into her ear. She saw Ino's eyes widen and she slowly nodded.

Only a real best friend knew when something was wrong, no matter how hard the other worked to cover it up. They weren't best friends for nothing you know.

They broke apart and this time, Sakura made a vow to really try to be happy for her best friend, no matter how much of a show-off she was.

Ino started to wipe away all the excess tears that escaped and muttered a curse about her running mascara.

Sakura gave off a small chuckle and carefully looked at her mixed up best friend, giving her a reassuring smile, glad that she was there.

'Don't worry Ino-Chan, you don't have to worry, I won't ruin your wedding day.'

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

She was walking towards him, trying to make as much noise as possible to indicate her arrival.

She sat down next to him and gave him a small smile. He merely regarded her and went back to his brooding. Her face fell from his cruel ignorance. He still thought of her as nothing more than a dense little child who still held an infatuation over him. This bothered her.

"Hey"

He glanced at her.

"Ah"

She secretly grinned at his response. Maybe he didn't change that much…

She swung her legs at the side of the bridge. "So…" She wanted to congratulate him and tell him that she accepted his decision; after all, she was still his teammate and regarded him as one of her closest friends even if he didn't. "Your getting married…"

"Leave me alone." His words meant to cut deep.

"But… I…"

"Go bother someone else."

Her eyes widen. "I was just was going to - "

"I don't need to hear your stupid declaration of love."

She was rendered speechless. Did he really think that lowly of her?

"Or your insignificant prospects of 'us'."

She remained quiet, staring at her hands.

"Do not think that anything you say will stop me from marrying her. Do not embarrass yourself."

"Sasuke…"

He glared at her. "I do not love you, and I never will."

She was practically weeping on the inside. There was a moment of silence before she answered, "I know," she said sadly, "I guess it is just time to grow up… right?"

He said nothing, and didn't even seem to have heard her.

She smiled weakly; she knew better then to think that he had gone deaf. He heard her; he just didn't care.

"That's why you're marrying her… right?"

He glared at her and a slight irritated sound ran through his throat. "I do not love her," he finally admitted.

Her mouth dropped open and a stunned expression took over her face. "Then why are you marrying her?"

His gaze tightened. His eyes narrowed slightly as if it was bothersome just to answer her. "I am marrying her because she is not you."

She felt her heart practically break again. How could he be so cruel?

She looked up at him and gave him another weak smile. "I came here not to bother you or smother you in hugs and kisses but rather… I came here to congratulate you." She fluttered her eyelashes a couple of times trying to hold back the tears that threatened to drown her face. "I just wanted to tell you that I accept your decision and will no longer bother you."

"I will never love someone like you." he directed to her in a soft, slow, whisper, intending to hurt her spirit. It was the last thing she heard from him before he disappeared from beside her in a puff of smoke.

Now that he was gone, she finally allowed the tears to leak gradually down her face.

'But I will always love you… Sasuke-kun.'

She stared off across the horizon, the wind playing gleefully with her hair.

It was time for her to forget about him.

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Bunny POWER!