Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
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♥ Chapter XXIII: Sayounara ♥
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"But my most beloved cherry blossom..."
"I'm sorry, James." Sakura sighed. "I've had a... uh... pretty good time with you, but I'm sorry, I'll have to break up."
"But Sakura-chan! Haven't you heard of long-distance relationships?"
"I have", Sakura sighed once more, "But I'm sorry, James... really sorry. Gomen, I've no feelings for you."
"How could you break my heart this way, Sakura? I thought you loved me!"
"Uh, I... tried to, but it didn't really... work." She forced a smile. "Gomen, James. I'm sure we could've had a better time together, but I don't think our relationship would survive such a distance like this... maybe it could if we had had more time together. Maybe... I could've fallen in love with you then..."
"But Sakura-chan..."
"I'm sorry, James, but we're late for class. Ja ne", she said hastily and walked away. (A/N: Yeah, I know, Sakura is kind of mean here, even though James is perverted and all, but admit it – you guys all longed to see them break up! XD Me too!)
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"C'mon, Sakura, we're the best of friends, aren't we? Can't you tell me, just me, why you're leaving?" Tenten asked desperately. Damn, I knew it'd get troublesome when I got the ticket saying 'You do it'. Gee, I sound like Shikamaru. But it is troublesome.
"I just decided to", Sakura responded with a little smile as she chewed on some onigiri. But her eyes didn't meet Tenten's.
"I don't believe you, Sakura! You've other reasons, don't you? Is it... is it Sasuke's fault? It is, isn't it?"
"Well..." Sakura tilted her head, but refused to meet Tenten's intent look, "I admit that I'm mad with Sasuke. But it's not because of that I'm leaving."
"What is it, then?" Tenten looked, and was, honestly desperate now. "C'mon, Sakura! Tell me!"
"It's just that... oh, I don't know, Tenten..."
"You know! You know, you just don't want to tell me! But you can trust me, Sakura, you really can! Please, tell me! Is it because of Kari? Or Cindy? Or Sasuke? Or all three of them?"
"Actually..."
"If it is, just ignore them, Sakura! Stay here! You'll be happier here!"
"Tenten..."
"C'mon, you've been through more difficult than this, haven't you? I mean, you were attacked by James! And you survived it!"
"But..."
"And this time it's not Sasuke supporting you... it's us! All of us, Sakura! And we promise, in a matter of time, Cindy will go away –"
"No matter how much I wish that was true, I must unfortunately say it's a false statement, Tenten", Sakura interrupted her with a sad smile. And this time, her eyes met Tenten's, which looked slightly shocked. "I overheard Cindy saying, not a long time ago, that she'd stay here... for Sasuke-kun's sake."
"Sasuke...?" Tenten repeated in a mere whisper. "Sakura, you..."
"Tenten, I can't stand it anymore." Sakura's eyes were filled with tears, and a droplet escaped her left eye. "I can't stand seeing them together, day after day. It's just too much for me. I can't take it."
And without giving Tenten the slightest time to answer, Sakura rose from her chair and walked away without even bothering to eat up the rest of her lunch.
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"No."
"Sasuke, listen –"
"Tenten, I told you no. A no is a no."
Tenten furrowed her eyebrows and frowned in a most menacing way. Her face looked like a warning sign saying 'don't-you-no-me-Uchiha-if-you-don't-want-to-die-young'. "Sasuke, I thought Sakura was your friend? Or was the horrible thing Cindy the witch said true?"
To her surprise, Sasuke didn't even respond to her insult about Cindy. Instead, he replied, "Tenten, she'd only get mad if I did."
"Sasuke, this is serious!" Tenten blurted out, stomping her foot in her ground impatiently. Sasuke knew this was a warning signal that Tenten was beginning to lose her temper. And believe me, not even Neji would want to challenge Tenten's deepest wrath. "Sakura is going to Tokyo today and she has even told her parents that she's coming and all! Can't you just become as cool as the damn SUFC think you are and ask her to stay? Is that so difficult?"
"I've told you, Tenten", Sasuke answered calmly, "She'll only get mad –"
"She wouldn't, you idiot! Don't you realize the fact she's leaving is because of you?"
"Yes, but would it help if I just apologized and asked her to stay?" Sasuke put on a sarcastic expression and said in a high-pitched voice: "'Oh sorry, Sakura, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, please stay.' You don't think she'd kill me right on the spot?"
"I don't care about if you're alive or dead, Uchiha", Tenten hissed through gritted teeth, giving him the infamous Tenten Death Glare (A/N: That'd have made this fanfiction rated M if I described it too clearly xP Just kidding.). "But don't you even know why she's leaving?"
"Yes", he replied bluntly.
"No, you don't!" she shrieked, losing her temper. "You don't, you idiot!"
"Tell me then", he said, giving her his Uchiha Death Glare, which of course, as expected, didn't scare Tenten at all.
"Because", she hissed, emphasizing every word, "she's jealous."
Sasuke's world began spinning at this statement.
I love her...
... and she's jealous...
... that means...
... she...
With an abrupt movement, he had arisen from his chair. "When did you say she'd leave? When?"
"This afternoon", Tenten replied dryly. "4:25 pm."
Sasuke looked at his wristwatch. It was 3:50 pm.
And they were at least an hour away from the airport.
Tsukiko: Nyahahahahah XD Cliiiiffy X3 Gomen about the short chapter, but that was just because I wanted to leave you all wondering what was going to happen next. XD Yes, I'm an evil author... -munches on chocolate-
Inner Tsukiko: That is MY chocolate bar, you evil woman! ;.;
Tsukiko: ... I know. XD Anyway, schoolwork (hoooorrible English essay and hooorrible tests and hooorrible history project...) has been occupying my free time lately, so I've not been working that much on my fanfics, sorry o.x; Thankfully, the next update will occur during the "November holidays", which is a week long, giving me lots of free time to go shopping and write fanfics. :) Next update will come next weekend, whether it'll be on Saturday or Sunday I'm unsure xD; Ja ne!
BONUS EVENT!
As apology for all delays, I'm planning something VEEERY special (and evil, mwahahah XD)! It is not fully planned yet, but I've at least scheduled that it WILL come! Can you guess what it is before the twenty-fifth chapter? There'll be prizes!
If you can guess what pairing it'll be in the special thing, you'll get ANOTHER bonus character:D The first to guess receives first place, second the second place, etc.
First place: Bonus character in one of my fics (you'll not be able to control it, but you'll be able to design one, however, you can't decide that it'll have any superpowers or be any of the original characters' children/friends/boyfriends/girlfriends/etc, or in which fic. XD I'll tell you which it is later, but you'll be able to customize personality, looks, etc. And even though you can't claim it has had "direct contact" with one of the original characters, you can for example make it one of Sasuke's fans, if the fic it'll be in has Sasuke's fanclub in it.)
Second place: Customize Itachi's and Shizuka's child (Since Shizuka will be Itachi's girlfriend/fiancée in some of my upcoming fics, you'll be able to customize their child in one of them!)
Third place: Pairing in oneshot (Choose whatever pairing you want (ANYTHING except any sensei x any pupil, incest, shounen/shoujo-ai... gomen nasai x.x) and I'll write a oneshot about it:) What the fic will be about is up to me, though. XD)
Reviews Corner (OMFG, we're reaching 500 reviews, folks! XD 500 reviews!!! FIVE HUNDRED! -dances- Arigatou gozaimasu, everyone! I love y'all, so KEEP ON REVIEWING!)
By the way... WHO'S THE 400TH AND 300TH REVIEWER??? Anybody who bothers to find out will receive a bonus chapter as well... (Please, please, PLEASE... DON'T DEDICATE IT TO NARUHINA! xD; I know there has been minimal NaruHina in these chapters, but in the bonus chapters there'll be very much NaruHina (and also KakaKure)... also, the one who bothers to find out will also get to request two pairings in his/hers bonus chapter instead of just one:3)
And also, gomen nasai, guys, but I won't answer ALL your reviews from now on :( Otherwise that'll just delay the fic...
Many thanks to:
MistressBlossom
everlasting memories
tiffanylicis: Actually, Hikari's plan was to keep Sasuke away from Sakura, since she knew Cindy was only here temporarily, she was hoping that'd crush Sakura's and Sasuke's relationship, and then when Cindy left, she'd be free to take Sasuke. XD;
nickygirl
Merridaine
Crazy Gal42: Yeah, actually I do :D I love Fruits Basket! I can't wait to get my monthly allowance so I can buy a new volume of it (I've already read the 6 volumes I have so many times that I'm getting tired of them xD). Heh, she might, she might not... you never know with me xP If you knew what I was planning you'd probably go WHAT? xD; I'm doing a little bit better, I'm down practically everyday (it hurts so bad to not I can't see him in school or talk to him before/after school), but otherwise it's okay :) Besides, I get to people who know him everyday, so it's better to be cheerful and keep everybody else cheerful as well, since otherwise it'd be like... clawing in still hurting scars...
Hanyue-Chan
Claud-kun
arubadiamond
hushhushyou: Actually, that depends on the bonus chapter requesters xP The bonus chapters don't necessarily have to be dedicated to a couple, it can be dedicated to a specific event/character as well, which means that if somebody decides to dedicate a bonus chapter to Kari, she'll appear, but otherwise, the answer is no :)
Ur2tRoUbLeSoMe90
frienz4ever
rosesRred16
P-Prince: Thanks, I feel a little better now :)
cherryblossom9496: Well, I'm STILL working on the 25th chapter (it's gonna be a huge one x.x; actually it's the hugest chapter in the fic so far o.O) but I'll try to finish it as fast as I can since we're approaching it xD;
yankeesfan726
animedreamerz05
pinkicing101
silverdragon994
rebel-girl
lilrockinprincess
rainingblood666
bunnyandpuppylover: Hahah, I wonder if he'll have the time to do that xDDD
xrose45623: No need to be sorry, new and old reviewers are just as welcome :D
Suki dah Turdle: Yeah, I love Paris too! n.n I really hope that me and my family will go there again, even though I doubt we will ;o; Nooo! I want to go to Paris! e.e
els1324: They can be together since they're not related by blood XD In fact, I think the same thing happened with my distant relatives or something... I don't know if I'm related to the sisters or the brothers, but anyway, there was this guy who married a girl, and then their siblings met and the guy's brother married the girl's sister, which I think is fully legal since they're not related xD
ShiokuXRose
Aria's star: Don't worry, it is NOT the last chapter since I stated when I was going to update next xD And thanks, I'm feeling a bit better now n.n
physco-muffin
themangaloverofdoom
Latilen: I share your pain, I'm drowning in a sea of homework too ;.; That is the reason why I can't update so fast and why I updated every three days during the summer holidays x.x
MELCAR16
CrAzY-SiLLy-Me: Oh my god, you've read my mind! XD I'm just kidding. You've very good imagination, though n.n
kawaii chibi sasuke luver: Lol, actually I got the name from this site with Japanese names (I forgot what it was called), but maybe DN Angel did play a little role there since I was wondering what I was going to name her boyfriend and I had DN Angel volume 11 on my desk XD Death Note? o.O Hmm, I've heard about it somewhere... is it good?
Fading Nightmares
pilar-ayesha: No, it's okay... but is something wrong? u.u You sound a bit... sad...
inner soul
Kawaii IceCream: No, it's okay, keep complaining if you like XD And I'm glad you liked the chapter so much, thanks for the long review! n.n
jami16
Green Animelover
werwolfofkonoha: Dense as a... as a... duck? XD Or a... cow? No, I'm insulting myself! T.T I'm not dense! -cries- OK, I'm done too. XD
ruichi: Send the link, please:D
Cunning Angel
Blackieismybaby: Noo! If you knock out James and not Kari, she'll be all left alone... heartbroken... T.T (Kari: WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, WOMAN?!) I'm talking about... stuff... XD (James: I AM NOT IN LOVE WITH HIKARI!) Who said you were? I said that she was in love with YOU... (James & Kari: JUST SHUT UP!) XDD
Yukiru a.k.a. ninja
x-an-angel-cries-x: Nope, they're not together... yet XD And they'll be together pretty soon :)
smileforme x3
naruto-fan001
MidnightMoon93: Tomatoes rock. X3 Sorry about the random comment XD
Argh, I hate not answering all reviews! T.T But answering them all would delay this fic with maybe an entire day or two, depending on the size of my pile of homework x.x; I just feel so ungrateful not being able to say 'thanks' to everybody. Anyhow, you should all know I LOVE Y'ALL and I'm grateful for ALL the reviews I get! n.n You don't how honored I feel, every little 'great chapter', 'good story, 'update soon', etc, makes me feel so happy!
Sneak Preview on Next Chapter: Perfect Moment
"You said what? You said when? You said where?" Sasuke spat right in the face of the poor airhost.
"Uh, monsieur Uchiha", he grinned anxiously, "Unfortunately, the flight to Tokyo has been moved to Gate 13A –"
"Gate 13A?! GODDAMMIT!" Sasuke swore and ran off again.