Long time no see friends. It's been a while, hasn't it? After much discussion, I have returned after a long hiatus to finish this story. I'm determined to have this story as the first one I plan to complete from start to finish. I have plans for a sequel but to get there, we gotta finish the first one, am I right? Thank you for your patience, I hope you enjoy and thank you for sticking with me. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.

Chapter Twenty-Six

My fingers are trembling as I bring the cigarette to my equally nervous lips. A strange yet familiar hand reaches out from the darkness, lighting the end for me as I take a hard pull. The trembling stops and in spite of the smoke steady filling my lungs, for the first time in a while, I'm able to breathe.

Even in the dark, I can see my breath and the smoke as it stirs together in front of my eyes — fleeting, taunting.

"You must be in a pretty bad spot if you're coming to see me," my company finally says, shoving her lighter into her back pocket. I opt not to reply to her comment, feeling no need to confirm what we both already knew to be true. Instead, I lower the cigarette just enough to take in her appearance. Same golden eyes that seemed to see through everything and that pixie blue hair that always made her stand out in a crowd.

"You haven't changed a bit, Fu," I comment softly.

She scoffs and although her look is stern, there's a hint of playfulness in her tone. "Neither have you apparently considering you still have that annoying habit of not answering my questions." The jab is direct but her tone isn't at all hostile. Besides, she and I both knew that I wouldn't come this way if I didn't want to get something off my chest and Fu had always been an unbiased perspective and that was something I definitely needed right now.

Even still, while I know what I need to stay, I can't bring myself to say the words out loud . Fu's always been good at reading me but this time, she won't give me the luxury of sparing my feelings. If I wanted her help, I'd have to help myself first and that meant admitting out loud why exactly I was here.

In an unsteady breath, I ask, "Do you think that everything happens for a reason…the good and the bad?"

She nods and leans against the wall, arms folded over her chest.

"Do you think that sometimes…that sometimes the reason is us?"

"Explain."

I drag my nails along my neck at the frustration of it all, taking a long drag of my cigarette before flicking it into the snow. "Fuck…I don't know h–"

"You do know how, Sakura." She interjects. "I'm not going to coddle you like the other girls you've been hanging out with. You've already started to say it so you must know how to explain it. Go on."

She wasn't pulling any punches with me today and while I needed it, it didn't make saying the words any easier.

"Whenever people say everything happens for a reason, it sounds like such a cop out response. It's dismissive or just a scapegoat to put it under the guise of divine intervention or some shit, ya know? But…what if the reason is just us. Like maybe we did some incredibly messed up thing and now it's just the consequences of our actions catching up with us."

"Do you feel that what's happening to you now is because of something you did?" Fu asks genuinely.

"Truthfully, I don't but I mean that's gotta be the only reason, right?"

"Depends."

I can't help but roll my eyes. "Another cop out answer—-"

"Knock it off, Sakura." She lectures quickly. "It's the truth. If everything does indeed happen for a reason, the reason itself doesn't matter. Trying to dig too deep into the hows and whys is only going to put you even further into your head than you already are."

"It does matter if I need to try to fix it!" My reply is equally stern and even I can't help but flinch at my tone.

The backdoor leading from the bar opens. A boy around our age darts his head out, obviously looking for Fu. She whistles to catch his attention and the boy's tense frame relaxes upon seeing her. He makes his way over to whisper something into her ear. She responds back with an equally silent message and the boy nods, leaving us alone once more.

"Maybe whatever it is, doesn't need to be fixed. Sounds like you're so desperately trying to be a hero is a story that's not a fairytale."

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning…that maybe there isn't going to be a happy ending this time, Sakura."

Her answer isn't what I want to hear and that alone frustrates me because I know that she's probably right. But I can't not try. I can't just sit here and pretend that everything will work itself out for the better because I earnestly don't think that it will. It was far more complex than a simple, live and let live situation.

My fingers clench the fabric of my jeans, my grip tightening. "Can I trust you with this?"

"You wouldn't have come here otherwise," she replies calmly.

She's right. With quite literally nothing left to lose, I take in a breath and release everything that I've been bottling up.

Everything about Ino and me. All of the good, the bad and the ugly. I told her about all the fights, the breakups, and everything in between. I told her any and everything that brought me to the current and utter dilemma that had been plaguing me for the past few hours. It was the very reason that I had driven the near hour trip at three in the morning just to speak with Fu.

While not to my surprise but certainly to my relief, Fu didn't look the least bit shocked by my story. Instead, there was a twinge of pity and although I didn't care for that either, it was a better alternative to being mocked and judged over the horrible fact that I was all bent out of shape over a single girl.

"So you're stuck," Fu states but there's a small inflection that indicates a question. I nod and lock my eyes with her own. An exhausted sigh breaches her lips as she takes a moment to ponder her words carefully. "When we're stuck, it's usually because we're trying to come to terms with a realization that we already know but just don't want to accept. Since you came to see me, that tells me that you already know what that realization is."

My jaw tightens and just the thought of speaking the words out loud frightens me but I know Fu won't let me leave until I say it.

"Well?"

"I…I don't think Ino and I should keep this up anymore."

My heart sinks into my stomach and it takes everything in me to not throw up everything I've consumed in the past twenty-four hours. I'm not done yet, it would seem, as Fu takes it a step further.

"Why? You still love her don't you?"

"More than anything," I admit without hesitation. "That much hasn't changed."

"So what has?"

"She's changed. Or maybe…maybe I just never really knew her to begin with. She says all these things when we're alone together but I'm tired. Tired of tripping over a girl that I know I can't have. It doesn't matter what we do behind closed doors when I'm always going to be the one trapped behind them. It all sounds so fucking childish doesn't it? Like I'm just some petty fling that can't get over the fact that I'm always going to be watching from the sidelines." I can't help the broken laugh that escapes.

"If you were anyone else, I'd be inclined to say yes."

"But since it's me?"

"But since it's you…I know better. You know my stance, Sakura. I couldn't care for the royal family either way but for her to have this much of an effect on you, I'd be hard pressed to dismiss it as some trivial crush. You love her and despite the fact that you're here telling me this, I think that she loves you too. You're too smart to get mixed up in a long winded thing like this over a one night stand."

I roll my eyes at the underhanded compliment but her neutrality keeps me engaged a bit longer.

"That being said," she begins hesitantly, "It's not exactly a healthy relationship. None of them are ever perfect but the longer you hold off on ending things, it's only going to prolong the inevitable. I'm sure the two of you already had some sort of cliched conversation about how the two of you will make it work somehow. It's a nice sentiment but how long is that really going to be feasible? You can only sweep something under the rug so much until it's impossible to ignore the obvious mess that's building under the surface."

My phone suddenly vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and immediately scowl at the message before shoving it in my pocket once more.

"Is that her?"

"Yeah."

The back door to the bar opens once more and Fu tosses a knowing look towards the boy from before. Pushing off the wall, she steps over and hands me the remaining pack of her cigarettes. "You should get going. The sooner you tell her, the better it'll be for you both. Spare yourself some heartbreak later by doing what you need to do now."

"Yeah, thanks," I say weakly and take the pack from her. She gives my shoulder a good squeeze before turning on her heel and disappearing behind the door. Reluctantly, I fish the keys from my pocket and make my way back to my car, preparing the silent drive home.

The trip isn't nearly as long as I would've hoped as the complex comes into view. The light is off inside but I know fully well that she's inside waiting for me. Each flight of stairs makes my heart beat faster until I'm at the door and I can feel it echoing in my ear. I twist the handle and push my way inside. The guilt I feel when our eyes meet and upon seeing the relief written there makes me wish I would've stayed in the car a while longer.

Immediately, she throws her arms around me, an unsteady breath tickling my neck. I can't find it in me to return her embrace so instead I stand there while she latches on tighter.

"I woke up and you weren't here," she whispers into my neck and I can't help but tense. She takes a breath and I know she can smell the cigarette smell lingering on me. We both pull away and I brace myself for the question that comes next.

"Where were you?"

Avoiding her gaze, I lie quickly. "I couldn't sleep, so I went for a quick drive outside the city to tire me out." Her gaze is skeptical but I try my best to stick to the story. With good timing, an unplanned yawn rumbles my chest. It seems to have squashed any suspicion for the time being.

"Did you have to grab a smoke too?" She adds just low enough for me to hear.

I raise my brow and she quickly averts her gaze from me. "It was just one," I mumble back.

"Sorry," she quickly dismisses, "I shouldn't have brought it up. I just meant…you could've woken me up, y'know? I wouldn't have minded." Her eyes slowly flicker back to my own as she steps closer, "Guess I didn't tire you out enough last night, huh?" Her laugh is small yet genuine but for some reason, it doesn't have the same effect as before.

"Guess not," I comment dryly, making my way towards the bedroom.

Perhaps she doesn't notice my tone as she proceeds to follow me, shutting the door behind us. When I turn to face her, her hands are at my waist as she pushes me lightly onto the bed. "Let me make it up to you then," she breathes and situates herself in my lap.

Under normal circumstances, I would've given in and indulged in her mischievous temptations.

But now? I didn't want to be anywhere near her. Every gentle rock of her hips, every time her lips skimmed my ear, I could feel my irritation building in my chest. "I'm not in the mood," I say, my hand grabbing her waist to keep her still.

Unfortunately for me, my tone isn't nearly as persuasive as I intend and she teases her lips against my skin yet again. "So let me help you," she all but purrs in my ear and for some reason, it's really starting to get under my skin.

"I'm serious, Ino."

"So am I, Sakura," the way she says my name forces me to grit my teeth.

She's not taking me seriously. She never took me seriously. Not me or any of this. Everything was always a game with her, and it was never a matter of if I'd give in but rather a simple matter of when. She liked to torture me. She loved pulling me along because she knew I would always submit to her in the end.

My mind flashed back to the very first night that we had fooled around. All the pretty words she whispered that I so desperately wanted to believe were blowing up right in front of my face. All the baiting about wanting me to take charge and have her submit to me was a lie. She played me to get what she wanted and I was foolish enough to believe that I wanted it to. She was cunning and selfish just like the rest of them and I continued to convince myself that she wasn't. She would always get what she wanted in the end because that's just how the game was meant to be played and had I been more cautious, I would've never played to begin with.

And like some sort of metaphorical light bulb going off, the second her lips brush against my own, it all clicks and I all but shove her off of me.

"The hell!" She hisses, stumbling back and fixing me with a cold look.

"I told you to stop," I snap back with a rage that's boiling over in waves, "I said I wasn't in the mood and you decide to do what you want just like you always do! Isn't that right, Princess?" The word is dripping with venom as I recall Kiba's stupidly smug face whenever he called her that, only adding more fuel to the fire.

"Excuse me? I'm sorry if I thought you were just playing around."

"Right. Right…because everything is just one giant game to you, isn't it?"

"What the hell, Sakura! Where's all of this coming from? I don't understand you at all right now."

I laugh darkly, my tongue running over my lower lip before I carefully drag it between my teeth. "No, no I suppose you don't. You never did to begin with, did you? But that's alright because I understand you perfectly."

She takes a challenging step forward and her lips pull tight. "If you're trying to make a point then I'd suggest you say it. You're starting to tick me off."

"And if I don't?" I take a step forward. "What are you gonna do Princess?" The pet name causes her to recoil, taking a shaky step back.

Her tone softens a little, "Don't call me that."

"Or what? You'll get Daddy to come and break my other arm because I hurt your feelings," I tease bitterly, taking another step forward when she backs away.

"I didn't tell him to do that," she quickly chimes back, now even further on the defensive. "I didn't want you to get hurt."

"Well we're a little too late for that but I'm not surprised you didn't notice."

"I thought about you the ent—"

"Spare me the bullshit Ino!"

"It's not b—"

"You expect me to believe that in those weeks we were separated, that you were thinking about me," I practically spit out, my fist slamming into the wall and caging her in. I get a sort of sick satisfaction watching her flinch beneath me, her eyes shut tight as she bites her lip. "You expect me to believe that and yet your number was changed and I didn't hear from you not once during that time. But you sure as hell can send your friends to do your dirty work and check in on me but you couldn't give me the time of day!"

"I thought I was helping you, Sakura…"

"You were helping yourself," I snatch her chin and force her eyes to my own, "You did the bare minimum to make yourself feel better. While I was spiraling and killing my self thinking about you, you were worrying about yourself. Like always."

"I was busy," Ino bites back, shoving me away just enough to give her some headspace to put together her next lie.

But I'm ruthless and angry and I'm already prepared for the next round. Without warning, I ask boldly, "How many times did you and Kiba fuck around while I was out of the picture, hmm?"

Her eyes are wide and no matter how quickly she tries to disguise her look, I already knew the truth. Panic sets in and her eyes begin to water out of the sheer frustration. Again, her pain is cathartic for me in just knowing that she finally starts to feel a fraction of my own hurt.

"Sakura…I…he wanted to—"

"Did he force himself on you?"

"…no…"

"So it was mutual?"

"Stop…please…It didn't mean anything," she begs but I don't listen

"I know it didn't but it sure as hell felt good to get what you wanted, yet again. Didn't it?To push off your own problems onto someone else. Maybe it wasn't just Kiba. Hell, maybe you didn't have time to think about me while you were busy hopping from one d—"

The slap comes swiftly, the sound echoing through the silence of the apartment.

She's breathing heavily, tears racing down her cheeks. I don't console her but instead I simply watch as she falls apart in front of me. "You want so badly to play the victim, Ino, but the truth is that no matter how much you try to deny it, you're just like him."

"I'm not…," she chokes out, shaking her head furiously.

I pause. "No, you're right. You're even worse than he is. At least he doesn't pretend. He knows what he is. You, on the other hand, know what you are but you're just so hung up on getting what you want that you'll step on everyone else to get there. You're worse because you know what you are and yet you continue to lie to everyone else. But hey, you're damn good at it, I'll give you that. You had me going for a while there."

She collapses onto the bed, eyes red and swollen as she stares through the floor. Hands in my pocket, I step closer, watching as her eyes slowly work their way up to stare at my own.

"Like father, like daughter huh?" I start calmly, my rage faltering and fading to a feeling of apathy. "You certainly live up to your name. I suppose I can't fault you for being who you are. Even so, you can continue fooling everyone else but you and I are done. I'll finish up this job and then you can go back to doing whatever the hell you want. You won't be my problem anymore."

I rub my hand against my burning cheek and turn to leave the room. Exhaustion comes in droves and with the burden now lifted, I feel like I can finally rest. That is, of course, until my phone begins to vibrate furiously inside my pocket. I glance at the name and put it on speaker.

"Kakashi, this isn't a good time. Can it w—"

"Sakura. Lord Inoichi is dead."

His words cut through the silence like a knife. I can't bring myself to say anything. Instead, I slowly lift my eyes from my phone and look over my shoulder. In spite of all the relief I felt at watching her suffer before, I couldn't help but feel what was left of my heart shatter when I saw the look on Ino's face.