Warning: Foul language, violence
Disclaimer: Naruto and Co, are owned by their respective company and author, I only own this piece of writing.
A loud slam was heard in the middle of the café. Everyone stopped as they faced the source of the loud disruption. A couple was sitting at a table near the window of the café. Some continued on with what they were doing, but the others got their curiosity piqued by the arguing couple. Though the two were not arguing loudly just the way the girl was hunched over, body trembling and both fist at the table they were at the edge of their seats wanting to see what would happen next. Sasuke ignores all the attention they were getting, as he stares down at his girlfriend. Well, soon to be ex-girlfriend. He was surprised that the table didn't break from the sheer amount of force she put into her slam. His hand reached out, the onlookers held their breath but was disappointed that all he did was pick up his cup of coffee to drink.
Sasuke could care less as the whispers of the other patrons immediately pictures him as the bad guy here. He just wants to end this whole charade.
"How dare you." She seethes. Her face getting red from anger and tears streaming down her face. Dripping. Her makeup is getting ruined but it doesn't matter now. No, these past few days have been one disappointment after the other with Sasuke. She had tried to be patient with him and gave him plenty of chances, but just outright telling her to break up after giving her coffee is just cruel.
Sasuke watches her trembling figure. This is not a metaphor of someone small, trembling, no. Sakura isn't that fragile. No. Her trembling is from her holding back her anger to him. Biting her tongue from lashing out and actually fighting him. She is not a pushover, far from it. But being with him she is. Being with him will just break her further from herself.
An old habit of muttering came back. Bringing her thumb to her finger she bit them as her thoughts ran a mile per second. Her stiff shoulders were making her hunch over as she kept on muttering. Other than certain exclamations, Sakura has never been herself when with him. Both of them were not able to be themselves with each other. They were just trapping themselves in this relationship. She needs someone that will appreciate her efforts and give praise. While him? He wants, needs someone else opposite of her. And this is why they will not last long in his opinion.
Waiting patiently for her to continue, Sasuke mentally sighs as he could only imagine how cold and cruel he will need to be.
"I love you!" She burst out.
Why does she need to clarify her obsession?
"And I know deep down inside you, you also care for me, even if it is just a little. So don't you dare give up on us!" Her fist slams on the table again. Making the plates and cups clatter.
"Sakura..-" he was cut off.
"I have done everything to be good to you! Worked hard to change myself to be better for you. Can't you see that?"
Face down, and curling in on oneself, Sakura whispers. "Can't you see me?"
A stretch of silence falls upon them, like the whole room was holding their breath, awaiting his reply. Sasuke closes his eyes and finally puts his coffee down. It's not about giving up, it's about knowing when to take a break.
"I do see you Sakura," He starts, making the other look up at him with a sliver of hope. "But our relationship needs to end."
"Why?!" She cuts him off, again. "Explain to me why this needs to end? Isn't my feelings enough for the both of us? Don't I show it enough?"
"Always, and this is why we need to break up. I'm trying to explain, Sakura, please just let me, I'm really trying to make this as tolerable as possible."
"Tolerable?! What the fuck do you need to tolerate in our relationship? Is it so hard to be with me?!"
"For one yes, when you keep cutting me off." He glares sharply at her, making her bite her lips. "Our relationship is nothing but a series of pushes. And about how much control we have on each other. And it's getting tiring to always fight for some breathing room. There is also-"
"Well we won't have to fight if we both reach a middle ground." again with the cutting.
"We can never fucking compromise, Sakura. That is what I mean about trying to tolerate our relationship."
"Wha-What do you mean, Sasuke-kun?"
He looks straight at her, "Are you willing to hit me?"
Her eyes widened as she sputtered. "Wh-why would I hit you?"
Sasuke just shrugs his shoulders as he takes a sip of coffee, slowly putting the cup back down on the table.
"Because I'm breaking up with you? Because I hurt you? And because you tend to hit all my other friends for stupid reasons, yet when I deserve it you easily forgive me. Are you finally willing to let me explain?"
Sasuke gave her a pointed glare, daring her to interrupt him again. Which she took.
"You already fucking did, didn't you?" She said sardonically. "Or do you still need to speak after implying that I'm violent. What the fuck, Sasuke! How could you think that I would just randomly hit your friends for no fucking reason? Is it fun to assume your girlfriend as some fucking psychopath?"
"Funny coming from the one who assumes everything I do and starts all these shit."
"You fucking asshole. You were the one going behind my back to another girl."
"I fucking told you, I had to bring her to the hospital. You know that. Don't fucking pit this around me for just missing one fucking phone call."
The two were fuming as they glared at each other. Bystanders were watching them intently, like some sort of K-drama happening in front of them. Arguing was tiring. This will not end it was a vicious cycle for the two of them, they just don't fit.
"What happened to us?" with a sad, angry tone. Again with the cycle of guilt, there is nothing nostalgic in their relationship.
"It had been a mistake." Well that fucking hurt. "I was drunk and depressed, and you offered to be a substitute. I regret letting it drag on."
"Is it because of her?" Sakura's heart bled to ask, but she already knew the answer when she heard his resigned sigh.
"It has always been her even before we got together, Sakura. You know that." Yes, she did. She was just in denial of it all. Oh, how easy it is for her to misconstrue reality when it is not to her liking.
"Our relationship needs to fucking end, Sakura. If we continue this, we'll just keep hurting each other until we try to kill each other. Just, listen to me for once."
He was so tired of fighting, so tired of faking that what they have can lead to love. They started out as a convenience and now it's just pulling them back.
"Can't it be fixed?" She tried again, this persistence of hers was something he had to admire. But for the sake of themselves he needs to put his foot down.
"It's too broken to fix. Respect yourself more Sakura, and just let go of us. It is better for us."
Without a word, Sakura stood up and left. She had had enough humiliation.
"I'm sorry." He says after she was out of earshot, but patrons who were nearby heard. Some even had tears and were glaring at Sasuke. He didn't care, he was finally free but was left wounded with guilt.
Sasuke cleaned up their mess, and went back to his apartment. He has said his peace, and just hopes Sakura finds hers.
For now, he just wants to find his happiness.
•• •• •• •• ••
It was after lunch when Sasuke finally arrived home, he had been wandering around the area to relax himself after his confrontation with his ex. When he entered, there was no loud welcoming from his two energetic idiots.
Have they left already? They wouldn't have, their stuff was still littered around the living room.
But their lack of presence didn't disturb him as much as how eerily quiet the apartment was.
Has his brother left for work already? Where are the girls?
Worried. Sasuke quickly checked in the rooms of the apartment.
No one.
Not a single person was home.
It shouldn't come out as weird. Since everyone was a grown adult that didn't need supervision. But something was not right. There was no call, no text.
Nothing.
A heavy feeling set in his stomach as he scanned the place for anything. Any clues of what might have happened. Maybe they were trying to surprise him? Was his feeble attempt of reassuring himself.
He hates surprises.
On the dining table were some of the leftovers from breakfast. It looked like some were even left half eaten on the table. The crumbs were littered around it. The heavy feeling doubled as Sasuke held his breath.
Itachi wouldn't leave that out before he left, they were both neat freaks.
He quickly went to his room. His bed was a mess. Like someone had been jumping and kicking his sheets and pillows about. The lights were still on and a misshapen pillow caught his eye. He walked towards it. That pillow was the one he got with Hinata, it was for her to use when she visits. She would hug it to herself whenever she was nervous, or when she was shy, or when they watched scary movies. Sasuke didn't know why this particular pillow caught his eye. Hinata had used it when she slept to recover. So it shouldn't be weird. But why was this misshapen pillow making his heart squeeze tight?
He got closer to it and saw.
There.
At the top half, were large wet spots all over the pillow case.
Turning around to look across from him, laid another innocent pillow. Next to it was his now broken alarm clock. There was a small scratch mark on the wall above the clock.
He couldn't breathe.
Sasuke went back out to the living room.
Something was nagging him.
Something he overlooked when he first scanned the living room.
The first thing people would see when they walk out of the hallway was the living room couch. The couch where he remembered Shikamaru took over to sleep before he had left. His lazy friend that couldn't bother moving from a spot for a whole day, if he could. That when he slept, he would sleep like a mountain. The lazy friend that any circumstances wouldn't lose sleep over anything even an apocalypse.
So where is he?
Sasuke looked over to the office table, the computer was still there. Still open from when they last worked on it. But around it was just empty space. Just empty
The phones were gone.
•• •• •• •• ••
Hinata was dressed in nothing but a simple dress. Her sister had brought her a change of clothing that morning, but it seems so long ago since she left them at the apartment. A migraine hit her as she clutched her head with a thump. Bringing down her hands, she forgot she was holding on to something. But at least the little bump made her forget about her migraine.
It was cold tonight, the wind blew hard around her. She was standing at an empty parking lot next to a mall. Which was already closed. Not surprising since it is already midnight there. She waited under one of the lampposts in the parking lot. At least there was still light out. Hanabi must be really worried, but she immediately shook off that thought. No, she must be disappointed knowing that her sister was so weak to defend herself and now...
She hugs herself to hold back the sob that threatened to come out.
This will be the last time.
The sound of the engine indicated that a car was coming closer. Headlights flashed from the left side, where the entrance was. The car stopped in front of her, as the source of all her pain stepped out. The man walked with a slight limp as his driver helped him out of the car. He looked heavily bruised, yet he still looked like that sad man that sat beside her.
Yes, this will be the last time.
Hinata stood straight as she faced Toshi. She breathed in to calm her beating heart.
"Toshiyuki-kun."
"Hinata."
Before he could even step closer, her hand rose to finally show what she had been holding onto. His eyes widened as his driver / bodyguard took a stance beside him, which Toshiyuki stopped. Pointing at him, Hinata held her father's emergency gun securely in her hands. She was taught how to use and hold it. And he knew that too.
"I just want answers, Toshiyuki-kun." Speaking softly, her stammers lessened. It might also be because of the heaviness of the situation they are in, especially when she literally brought a gun.
He nods to her, for her to continue.
"Why?"
It was a simple question, but it meant so much between them. He knew, but he was not able to answer.
"Why me? Why did you act like a friend but hurt me? How could you do something like that to me without remorse? Tell me!" She yelled out. Her hands were shaking as the weight of the gun felt all the more real. The tears never stopped flowing since she started asking.
"Hinata, please put the gun down." That just made her even more frustrated.
"Just answer me, God Dammit! Why? Why?! WHY?!" She screamed.
"I will answer, just calm down."
"You have no right to tell me to fucking calm down when I'm pregnant!" She seethes, her anger and frustration showing with every harsh breath she took.
"Wh-what?" The shock was like a punch in the chest, he shouldn't be surprised by it but he thought he made sure she took her pills regularly.
His shock expression infuriated her even more.
"Start fucking talking Toshiyuki! This is what you have done to me, don't you dare act fucking surprised!"
"When? How?"
Staying angry was draining her as she finally put down the gun. This hatred is not her, it's so very dark. She is just so tired of the fear and the shame already Hinata just wants it all to end.
"Itachi said it's a week old." She whispers, looking down at her stomach. "Can you believe it Toshiyuki-kun? That a life can be made even through fear and pain?" Looking back up with him, with even more tears in her pale eyes.
Toshi gulped as dread set in his core. It's all his fault. He was a monster to do such a thing to such a fragile person. He knew that, but even as he looks at Hinata's broken self his tongue was still tied and it was hard to make a sound. He was a coward.
"Ne, Toshiyuki-kun." Her soft voice snapped him out of his shame. "I'm so conflicted right now. My head keeps pounding and pounding. It keeps saying that I can't let this baby be. That it will be so hard on me, on my soul. I'll be so conflicted because deep down I know I will love it. Even when it was born from my fear, my pain and my weakness. I know that I'll be conflicted with the feeling of loving it, and hating you."
It was a stab in the heart as the guilt drowned his every pore. What has he done?
"They suggested getting rid of the baby, but Toshiyuki-kun" her eyes blankly stared back at him as she went on. The feeling of dread intensified as she used the gun to rub her belly. "This is my baby, My little baby. I can't let it go."
Panicked, he slowly and softly tried getting closer. Should he distract her? No she might do something rash. The gun was too close to her body, he didn't know what else to do.
"So I decided," with determination, she brought the gun up to the middle of her chest. Pointing at herself. "That this is the problem, and I'll just have to get rid of it."
"HINATA!"
Warning: Another Cliffhanger
A/N:
Embarrassing. Took me this long for such a short length. But conveying emotions is hard. It was hard to really put on those two kinds of mindset. To top off that I've been busy with work. I wasn't even able to put up my halloween themed oneshot for Sasuhina E.
But it is how I write. I hope I conveyed their mindset well, and was also able to convey the other. This story really just keeps deviating from it's original lines. I kinda have a love hate relationship with this here story since angst is usually not my cup of tea to write because of how deep the emotions are.
I just want to thank all those who have been patiently waiting and reviewing. Also sorry, I didn't have time to name this chapter, which was supposed to be Chapter 9 since I don't consider the monologue a chapter.
