"Something on your mind, little brother?"

I rolled over onto my side without a glance toward the doorway. "Not now, Itachi."

He hummed low in his throat. "Well," he said, "maybe this will help."

I closed my eyes, and I felt the edge of my bed depress as Itachi sat down. With a sigh I finally sat up. It took me a few moments to absorb the fact that a black cat was curled up in my older brother's lap.

"Another one?"

"I found him outside," Itachi said. He ran long fingers down the cat's back, and it began to purr appreciatively, slowly blinking its large blue eyes. "He doesn't have any tags, but he looks well-fed."

"So he belongs to someone?" With some degree of hesitation, I extended my hand to stroke the cat's head. He butted my palm, still purring.

Itachi shrugged slightly. "One can only assume. Strays aren't normally this friendly."

"You would know," I remarked dryly. Ever since we were kids, Itachi had always been partial to cats. He'd let me tag along to a pet store run by a woman so old it was a wonder what held her together; she dressed in a getup of a cat nose and ears to match. That began Itachi's streak of bringing home numerous strays he would find around the area. Dad hated it-then again, he hated most things-but Mom didn't seem to mind. "Itachi the Cat Whisperer," she would jokingly call him. But she never let him keep any of them for long.

Itachi scratched the cat behind his ears in silence for a few moments. "If you want to talk, let me know," he said finally. He stood and set the animal down on the bed, where he proceeded to curl up and close his eyes. Itachi's lips turned up slightly at the corners; he poked my forehead with his index and middle fingers, then ruffled my hair and left the room.

As I flattened my mused hair, I couldn't help but watch the cat. He seemed aware of my gaze, and raised his head to peer at me, barely blinking. His tail slowly lashed back and forth across my bedspread. I held out my hand so that the tips of my fingers hovered inches from his nose; he leaned forward and briefly sniffed them, then resumed purring.

"Looks like he likes you," came Itachi's voice from the doorway. "Mom told me to let you know that Sakura's here."

I closed my eyes for a brief moment. "Of course she is."

Itachi raised one eyebrow. "I can tell her that you're busy, if you'd like."

Tempting. So very tempting. But that wasn't going to fix anything. "No," I muttered, running my fingers lightly over the cat's silky ears, and sighed. "I'll handle it."

"All right." Itachi stood there for another few seconds, hands in the pockets of his sweatpants, face as calm and composed as ever. Then he let out a breath through his nose and disappeared down the hall, only to be replaced by Sakura moments later. Immediately my stomach dropped.

"Hey, Sasuke." The sound of the dejection in her voice made me wince internally. Her jade eyes were downcast; she wouldn't look at me, staring intently at her pale hands laced in front of her. "I thought talking would be better in person this time."

I didn't say anything. Instead I gestured for her to take a seat beside me, though I was hardly surprised when she opted for the desk chair. Her eyes wandered to the picture frame propped up on my desk: Tenten clinging to my back as she commanded me to give her a piggy-back ride, and myself scowling unpleasantly at the camera. Sakura's face betrayed nothing, and for awhile neither of us said a word. The silence was thick and heavy.

"Where'd the cat come from?" she asked finally.

I glanced over at the sleeping creature. "Itachi found him outside. You know how he is."

Sakura giggled softly, and my stomach shifted in a way that I could only describe as uncomfortable. The noise was suddenly grating on my ears, and I could tell she was simply trying to lighten the mood before she delivered what she really came here for.

I was right. "I think," she began after a deep breath, "and I know you don't want to hear this again, but-"

"Then don't say it," I interrupted her sharply.

"Sasuke." Her eyes now lifted to my face. "Please. Don't make this any harder than it has to be."

A numb feeling began to work its way through my insides. "Not this again. How many times do I-"

"Please, listen," she sighed. She rested her hands on her thighs, picking at the nails erratically. She had a habit of doing that when she was nervous or upset. "I'm not an idiot, Sasuke. We both know this has been going on long enough."

"And I keep telling you that nothing is wrong." I closed my eyes, trying desperately to harness the rage of emotions building up in my chest. I worked my jaw. "Nothing is going on with Tenten. Nothing." It was almost the truth. But it wasn't enough for her.

Sakura smiled, but there was no happiness in the gesture. "I don't want any lies between us. You've been distant ever since you talked with Tenten. Don't think I haven't noticed, Sasuke-I know you better than you think I do. I just want the truth."

I leaned my forehead against my clenched fist and willed myself to remain calm. She wanted me to tell the truth. Even if it meant reaching inside, taking her heart in my hands, and crushing it like a wounded animal. It had been so easy, back when we were younger, to hurt her. Her continued advances; my fervent, ceaseless refusals. It hardly mattered to me in those days. A twelve-year-old kid, a boy no less, hardly had the time to care about dates, or dances, or handmade valentines and long love letters. I was more concerned about school, trying to be better than Itachi, spending time with Tenten. Yet somewhere along the way, I'd grown dependent on Sakura, her love. No matter what I said, no matter what I did, it would always be there. She would keep waiting, a constant force in the background for me to fall back on.

Yes, it had been so easy to hurt her back then, literal child's play. Now it was the one thing I hated to do most, yet was unable to stop doing, and I suddenly wondered if her love would be there this time.

Because I was in love with my best friend, and she knew it.

"Fine," I found myself saying, and my voice sounded far away. Every time I tried to formulate a response, I mentally choked on the words: they sounded weak, unsavory. Was there really any way to deliver something like this without inflicting pain? She sat there, waiting, and her jade eyes remained trained on my face with intent focus. I let my gaze wander over her; her smooth fair skin, slim wrists and small hands, pale pink nails that matched her hair.

She was beautiful, and I could hardly stand the sight of her.

"You're right," I finally forced out through numb lips, but to my relief my voice didn't falter. Sakura's eyes closed, and when they reopened they shimmered with a film of glossy tears. Each word seemed to pummel her like a physical blow. "You're right. But I made the choice I did for you, to fix this."

"I know you did," Sakura said, and she sounded remarkably calm. "But the entire point is that you never should've felt the need to. It was my fault for being so jealous, and for drawing this out." She looked down at her hands, then back at me. "And I understand why you lied."

Of course she did. Frustration simmered beneath my skin. Sakura was always too understanding for her own good when it came to me. She never got angry when I lied, never yelled or shouted. I was at fault here; we both knew it. But she refused to take up arms against me. I wanted her to scream, to throw something at me, to beat me with her fists. I would have welcomed it. This, this tearful, soft-spoken understanding and amicability, was somehow so much worse than all of those. It was enough to make me sick.

But she was smart. No girl would want to stay with someone if they considered themselves second best. "Do you deny it now?" she asked.

"No."

"You love Tenten?"

The word seemed almost ripped from my mouth. But she wanted honesty, and I would damn well deliver it. "Yes."

"And you don't love me." It was more a statement than a question, yet I couldn't bring myself to summon any sort of response. I couldn't say that I loved her; she knew that, and was well aware of it. Not once had I echoed those words to her. I simply looked at her. That seemed to be answer enough.

"I thought as much," she said quietly. She got to her feet, blinking rapidly.

"So, that's it, then?" I looked at her, at the shimmering trails on her cheeks. "We're done?"

"What else would you have me do?" She threw up her hands; now she was becoming frustrated. "I told you before, Sasuke. I'm not going to compete with Tenten. I shouldn't have to." She took a breath and let it out in a short huff, and was noticeably calmer as she continued, "'Please. I think it's best that we break up."

I had been expecting it, but I still felt the harsh impact of the words as they settled in. "We can work through this." I felt as though I were saying so out of obligation. The words felt meaningless, empty.

She shook her head and wiped at her cheeks. "I don't think so, Sasuke. This is what's best, for right now."

She was right, of course. I had no idea what to say as she walked to the door. "Sorry"? That wouldn't cut it by a mile. I only sat there, motionless-with shock or something else, I had no idea-and watched her walk out without so much as a backward glance, her back straight and strides even.

It was over. Done. Part of me felt completely detached, floating in a haze. The other was inexplicably relieved, as though a great weight had been removed from my body. I had never completely understood the feeling one experienced upon being newly single, untethered from the bonds of a relationship that I hadn't realized had become so unwanted. Sakura had nothing to do with it. She was kind, gentle, passionate; she deserved someone worthy of that kindness, that gentle yet fiercely burning love.

The kind of love that I felt for Tenten.

Tenten.

I didn't even realize I was on my feet until I was at the door with Itachi blocking my way. He simply looked at me with his black eyes, identical to my own. "What are you doing?" I demanded.

He cocked an eyebrow. "I could ask you the same thing." Before I could open my mouth with some smart retort, he said, "I know you, Sasuke. And I know what you're thinking. It's not a good idea."

"What do you know about it?" I scoffed, striding to my closet to grab a jacket.

"Sasuke," he sighed. "Listen to me. Sakura's barely left, and you're running off to Tenten. What kind of respect does that show for her?"

I didn't reply. I stood there in front of the closet, rain jacket gripped tightly in my hands. With a surge of fury I whirled around and threw it across the room; it fell in a fluttering heap near my desk, startling the cat. He blinked reproachfully before settling back down to sleep.

"So you heard," I said in a clipped tone. "Good to know you're eavesdropping on my conversations."

Itachi merely held up his hands. "You didn't close the door. My room is right there. Your fault, little brother." His calm tone only infuriated me more. He went to sit on my bed near the cat, and gestured to the space beside him. Begrudgingly I obeyed. "Sasuke, listen. I don't think it's a good idea to tell Tenten how you feel. Not yet."

"Because of Sakura," I said with a heavy feeling in my stomach.

He nodded. "Yes. You are very lucky-very few girls would have been so understanding of your feelings for Tenten. Don't inflict any more pain on her by slapping her in the face with it."

"So, what, I can't be friends with Tenten anymore?"

"I'm saying," Itachi said slowly, "give it time." When I only sat there in stony silence, he sighed. "You realize that telling her how you feel could damage the relationship you have already."

"I know."

"And you're willing to take that risk?"

I sat there, and I realized that I didn't know. Her rejection could mean the end of everything. But the thought of her reciprocation plagued me, enticing as a mirage. "What would you do?" I asked.

Itachi was quiet for a long moment. "I can't decide this for you, Sasuke. Despite all I've said, I wouldn't stop you from running out of here right now. Because that would be your choice." He looked at me. "This needs to be your choice."

I passed a hand through my hair and sighed softly. He was right, as always. "I'm afraid to make the wrong one. Look what's happened already."

"Everyone is scared of making decisions, Sasuke." Itachi scooped the cat into his arms; he curled up into a purring ball on his lap, blinking slowly. "But you still have to make one. You won't ever know unless you try." He ran his fingers lightly over the cat's ears and began scratching the underside of his chin. Then he looked back at me and made a noise in his throat that sounded suspiciously like a laugh.

I raised an eyebrow. "Something funny?"

"For the first time in quite a long while," Itachi said, "you seem to be unsure of yourself, little brother. It's surprising."

I sat motionlessly beside him, staring into space. Images of Sakura's face flashed through my mind, followed by Tenten's, then Sakura's, then Tenten's again. Over and over and over, until I thought my head was going to split open with the pressure. Finally I stood up and went to pick up my jacket, still lying in a heap on the floor. Stay or go? it seemed to ask.

You seem to be unsure of yourself...It's surprising. Well, he wasn't the only one who was surprised.

"Dammit." I draped the jacket over the back of my desk chair and rubbed my forehead. Feelings for Tenten aside, there was no denying that Sakura had made me happy. Her presence was something I had grown used to. But in trying to fix things between us, I ultimately ended them. Pushing Tenten away had resulted in me doing the same to Sakura.

I couldn't help it. I was in love with Tenten, and I couldn't help it. I'd sacrificed one girl's love for the mere hope of another. When the fuck had I started letting my emotions get such an upper hand over my logic?

"No matter what you decide to do from here on out, I'll support you," Itachi said from behind me. "It's not a crime to be in love. Nor is it a crime to tell someone the truth, even when it may hurt them." He paused. "Or you."

I turned to face him. "You seem to know an awful lot about this."

He only smiled. "Let's just say I've picked up a few things over the years," he said.

After he left, I sat on my bed with the cat, watching him sleep. I almost didn't register the sound of my phone buzzing atop my desk and sprang up to answer it.

"Hello?"

"I just got off the phone with Sakura. Finally did it, huh?"

"Ino," I said, patience straining. "I'm hardly in the mood."

"Don't get your panties in a wad, Sasuke. Sheesh. I'm calling to say good job."

I blinked. "Good job? Why the hell-"

"Because now you can stop moping around like a kid who's lost his puppy and tell Tenten how you feel. Which I was totally right about, by the way."

I pinched the bridge of my nose between thumb and forefinger. Sakura had been keeping Ino well-informed throughout this entire ordeal, no surprise. "Ino, this is really none of your business."

"Oh, you'd be surprised, lover boy," Ino replied. "I recommend you tell her sooner rather than later, because it looks like you've got some competition."

My stomach dropped uncomfortably. "What do you mean, competition?"

"Does the name Neji Hyuga ring any bells?"

I opened my mouth to respond when I suddenly put a face to the name. And put that face next to Tenten's. "What about him?" I managed to say between my teeth.

"Well, I don't know if you've noticed, but they've been spending quite a bit of time together," Ino said casually, as though discussing the weather.

My stomach clenched. "Why are you telling me this?" I asked. Shouldn't she be tearing into me for what happened with Sakura? Didn't girls normally do that? I shook the thoughts away-not important.

"Because she misses you, idiot. She and I have been talking, and more often than not the topic of conversation is you."

"Oh." I leaned back against the desk, switching the phone to my other ear. Ino was baiting me and I knew it. However, I wasn't going to bite. "What do you suggest I do, apologize?"

"Oh, goodness, no," Ino replied, sarcasm practically dripping from the words. "Apologize? No way!"

"Not in the mood, Ino," I repeated in dangerous tones.

"All right, all right. Yes, apologize. Beg. Grovel. Whatever, I don't care. All I'm saying is that if you want to be with her-and I reiterate-I'd tell her sooner rather than later." Her voice became faint as she yelled something unintelligible before returning to normal volume. "Dinner time, gotta go. See you Monday!"

"Wait, Ino-" Beepbeepbeep. I tossed the phone onto my bed in frustration. The cat meowed, startled. "Sorry," I muttered. I sat down beside him and ran my hands through my hair.

...if you want to be with her, I suggest you tell her sooner...

...give it time...

...it looks like you've got some competition...

This needs to be your choice...

Itachi's voice merged with Ino's, and together they swirled like a tornado in my head. Two people, two sets of advice. Perfect.

Does the name Neji Hyuga ring any bells?

Neji Hyuga. How many times had I seen him with Tenten? Sitting with her in class, at lunch, walking in the halls, talking in the front lot? Now it seemed so painfully obvious.

What do I care? It's what I deserve, casting her off the way I did. Obviously the universe was trying to tell me something. In all the years that Tenten and I had been friends, she had never once voiced anything regarding boys. As far as she and I were concerned, she was just "one of the guys" as Kiba put it. And that was that.

Could all of that change so quickly? I couldn't bring myself to answer.