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This was a beast of a chapter to write…. Here goes!

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'Hey Sasuke…Do you think we can ever be happy… Happy like Naruto and Hinata?'

Those words played in his mind over and over like a broken record player. Right now he was supposing to be organising a joint mission with Sand ANBU but no matter how he tried, his mind couldn't focus on anything apart from Sakura's drunken outburst. Originally he planned to speak with her in the morning but after watching her drunken slumber, he decided against waking her.

'Yo.' Sasuke's eyes darted to the door frame of his office. Leaning against the frame casually was his old teacher Kakashi.

What does he want?

Kakashi wasn't sure how to handle the situation. Ino caught him off guard when she spoke about her concerns, maybe he was getting soft in his old age or something? Regardless of why Ino had specifically chosen him, Kakashi believed he really was the most unsuitable person for this kind of stuff, since personal affairs were not his cup of tea and he went out of his way to avoid people most of the time.

'What do you want Kakashi?' Sasuke's tone was harsh and blunt as usual.

Ah, he isn't going to make this easy for me… Really, I wonder how the other ANBU even put up with him…

Kakashi sighed and jokingly replied 'that's no way to talk to your sensei.'

'Former…sensei.' Sasuke ensured the first word was heard prominently.

Moving into the room and closing the door behind him, Kakashi knew Sasuke's bad attitude was all front. It always had been. Looking at Sasuke he could see the Uchiha was clearly exhausted, the tired lines creased onto his face made him strongly resemble his older brother. Initially Kakashi had come to confront Sasuke but looking at the miserable expression of Sasuke's face made his confrontational stance fall away. Clearly, Sasuke and Sakura were as equally as miserable as each other.

'Sasuke, Sakura is depressed.'

Well, there isn't any other way of saying it….I just have to avoid saying things in a way which will make Sasuke defensive…

'I don't want to know what has gone on between the both of you. Frankly, it's none of my business. All I am concerned with is the wellbeing of my students. Sakura is not well, I've seen her drinking and I have more than enough reason to believe she may be drinking every day.'

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, propping up his elbows on his desk his face up was covered up to his eyes. He hadn't realised Kakashi had visited his house, more than once it seemed.

'Are you saying Sakura is an alcoholic?' Sasuke seemed surprising calm.

'No. Not an alcoholic.' Kakashi tried his best to make sure his points were coming across as accurately as possible. 'Sakura… uses the drink as a coping mechanism for past trauma. She isn't addicted to the substance itself but uses it as a form of release.'

What happened next truly shocked Kakashi, he had braced himself for verbal if not physical assault, basically anything apart from this. Sasuke let out a deep sigh of what sounded like defeat and his shoulders appeared as if all the strength had drained from them as his arms lifelessly dropped down to his sides. Sasuke looked so miserable in this moment that anyone would have felt sorry for him.

'I know...about the drinking.' Followed the very soft response.

'Sorry?' Kakashi took a double take. Did he really just hear those words coming from Sasuke?

Sasuke turned his head around so he was looking outside the window, unable to meet Kakashi's gaze.

'I know about it. I've known from the beginning.'

'…But you've done nothing about it.' Despite originally telling himself not to get angry Kakashi felt his temper rising anyway, why was Sasuke so calm about this? 'You was just going to let her drink herself to death?'

'No. I've been trying-' It sounded like a half assed excuse, Sasuke still was staring out of the window.

Kakashi couldn't avoid cutting Sasuke off. 'What have you been trying exactly? Keeping her trapped in your house? Do you think that's healthy or normal? I've seen it Sasuke, you're doing everything for her while keeping her cooped up in your house like a prisoner. That's no way to help anybody.'

No, getting angry at Sasuke won't help Sakura's situation. Calm down Kakashi…

Realising he had been too harsh with this words, Kakashi changed the tone of his voice and what he was saying. From a different perspective he could understand why Sasuke had chosen to act the way he had been. 'Sasuke I understand you've been doing almost everything for her. I know you may perceive this to a kind and loving action but the truth is your killing her with kindness.'

There was an unbearable moment of pause between the two males. Still unable to look at Kakashi, Sasuke finally admitted 'I don't know what to do anymore. I've been trying to improve things but… without many results. I thought perhaps with time but maybe it's gone too far already.'

Kakashi immediately understood why Sasuke was unable to look at him in the face. He was ashamed. Ashamed he had not and could not stop Sakura's drinking. For the first time ever Sasuke was openly admitting to failure, it was a painful thing to do and it took great courage. Indeed, Sasuke had truly grown up from his arrogant teenage self.

'So…' Sasuke finally turned his head away from the window to look Kakashi in the eye, 'what do you think I should do?'

Kakashi was touched Sasuke had even asked. He hadn't spent much time with his former pupil since his return to Konoha, only now was Kakashi appreciating the change in Sasuke's personality he hadn't ever noticed before.

'I don't think the both of us can appreciate what it is like waking up with five years passed. Sakura has lost her sense of self because the things she associated with her being are changed or gone. So she must find her own place in the world again. Only until she finds her purpose and her meaning in this world can she confront her issues with the past and move on with her life.'

Sasuke completely understood the implications of what Kakashi said. Sakura wouldn't be able to move on if he was a continued presence in her life. But that meant…

'If you want Sakura to be happy… Then you know what to do.'

Who knew words could be so terrible?

'I…' Sasuke was at a loss for words. 'I won't let her go.'

It wasn't fair. He had spent so many years looking after her. At first, it was true; he wanted a happy family only to fulfil his promise to Itachi. But as time passed Sasuke felt true yearning for a complete family again. There were still so many things he had to make up for. But now Kakashi was telling him to just let her leave? Let her go or otherwise she will drink herself to death? Life was so merciless.

'Sasuke,' Kakashi sighed, truly he felt sadness for him. 'If you truly love someone, then you'll set them free.'

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Sasuke had been acting funny the last few couple of days, it was so obvious even Sakura had noticed it. Almost as if he was… avoiding her. Maybe in the beginning Sakura would have preferred it that way, but now she felt slightly lonely without his presence around. Perhaps she had unknowingly said something which upset him but either way his change of behaviour confused her. In her gut Sakura knew trouble was brewing but rather than face reality instead told herself she was just imagining things.

Holding a bottle of vodka in her lap while sitting on the sofa in the living room Sakura wasn't even sure why she had taken it in the first place. Her mind told her she was relying on drink too much nowadays and she was going to have to stop. Completely lost in thoughts, she didn't hear the footsteps behind her coming closer.

'Do I disgust you so much you are unable to be in the same house as me sober?'

Immediately jolting around to see Sasuke standing by the sofa, she was completely shocked by his words. Disgust… Sober… Where was all this coming from?

'I don't understand…'

The angry glint in his eye seemed to have increased as he glanced at the bottle in her hands; he spoke in a dangerously low tone 'I'm talking about your drinking problem.'

'Oh this?' Laughing nervously, she moved the bottle out of her hand on the table. 'I just found this lying around somewhere…' Her face was getting hot with nervousness. There wasn't any way he could know about her drinking, she had been so careful all this time.

'Don't lie to me. I'm not stupid.'

Terrified he had actually found out, all Sakura could do was resort to lies and denial. Her throat was starting to dry up from fear. She didn't want to truth to come out, it was all too soon.

'You're wrong. I'm not lying.'

'Oh?' Sasuke walked forward to grab Sakura's wrist, pulling her off the sofa. Roughly he led into the direction of the kitchen.

'Sasuke… You're hurting me…' She moaned about the pressure he was putting on her wrist but Sasuke ignored her.

Finally making their way into the kitchen Sasuke roughly let of Sakura's wrist and the force of it knocked her onto the floor.

'So there's this,' his tone was calm but it was of pure rage, holding the bottle in his hand he dropped it so the glass shattered all across the floor. 'And this one,' Sakura looked on with dread as he was violently taking each individual bottle and smashing it on the floor. Each time a bottle smashed, Sasuke's temper progressively got worse and worse.

He knew about it all along, all of my hiding places…

Sakura felt sick inside, it was as if someone literally tore her chest open and everyone could see all of her deepest darkest secrets. The smashing sound was almost physically painful to her; each smash was a bottle she had depended on. Looking at the floor covered in broken glass, she started to edge into the corner of the room. She was frightened.

Sasuke hadn't seemed to notice Sakura shuffling back and just carried on unleashing his anger on the bottles. 'How could I forget about this one!'

Smash, smash, smash….

'Sasuke…please…' Sakura whimpered 'I'm sorry….' She just wanted him to stop.

Another loud smash rung in her ears.

'And I haven't even started with any of the other rooms have I!' Sasuke roared out finally looking at her.

The look of rage in his eyes was an expression Sakura hadn't seen in a long time. It brought back all the memories she spent at Sound, she needed to get away and get away now. Sasuke was walking towards her, the crunch sound he made while stepping over glass made her skin crawl. Now he towered above her, staring with psychotic eyes.

'So tell me, do you have a problem?' He said in a dark tone.

'No!' She gasped out in between tears.

Bending over her, he grabbed her left shoulder roughly shaking her. 'Admit it Sakura! Enough lies!'

'I don't!' It was difficult to talk while being shaken. 'Stop!' Feeling she just had to get away, using all of her strength she managed to tear herself away from his grasp. Quickly she shuffled from the corner into the middle of the kitchen. But suddenly Sakura felt a sharp pain in her hands and the bottom of her legs. Looking to see why she was in pain, she looked down to see shards of glass stuck in her hands and legs.

I had forgotten about the smashed glass…

The kitchen floor now was covered in broken glass, yellow liquid and now a red liquid. It was the blood from her cuts leaking all over the floor. From the corner of her eye, she saw Sasuke walking towards her but stopped before he got too close.

Sasuke had lost the angry expression and instead looked concerned. 'I'm sorry…' He started to mumble 'I didn't mean to…' Raising his hand to cover his face in frustration, he admitted. 'I went too far.'

Not getting any response from Sakura, he said 'Go and sit in the living room. I'll bring the necessary items for your wounds.'

Slowing getting up, Sakura made her way into the living room as Sasuke had told her. Things had become so messy. When did he realise about her drinking? Was this why he had been acting so funny lately? Sitting down she winced as felt the shards of glass go deeper into her leg. She just hadn't noticed where all the glass was. Soon enough Sasuke was sitting by her with cotton buds, antibiotic cream and plasters in his hand.

Turning her around so she was laying front side on the settee, Sasuke laid her legs across his lap. Gently he started to pick out the bits of glass from her leg. Sakura couldn't stop hissing from the pain of it.

'I'll have to use the cream to stop infections, it will sting.'

In an attempt to lighten the situation, Sakura laughed 'I used to be a medical ninja you know.' She felt so pathetic right now; it was as if nothing she ever did was right. It was strange lying there feeling Sasuke massage the cream into her legs.

'I need to do your hands now.' Turning over Sakura sat up, so her legs were still on his lap. Looking at her tear stained face, he moved his left hand to wipe the tears off her face. 'Don't cry anymore. You don't need to cry.'

Feeling a blush creep onto her face, she simply whispered 'ok.' Her heart had been touched by Sasuke's kindness. Taking her left hand into his, Sasuke started to gently pick out the glass, cream the hand and soothingly wrap the palm of her hand with bandages.

'Sakura. Tell me what you want.' He said while picking out the glass in her right hand.

'What do you mean?'

'In life, what is it that you want?'

What do I want? I don't even know…

'I haven't really thought about it Sasuke.' It was the most honest response she could give. 'But… you're right; I think I do have a problem.'

Sasuke didn't look at her but kept focusing on her hand. 'You are unhappy here.'

Sakura couldn't look at Sasuke's face any more, after a few moments she bitterly responded 'I'm just generally unhappy.'

'….I think you need to leave.' After saying the last word, Sakura was sure she felt him wrap the bandage tighter.

Sakura was absolutely speechless. 'You're…' For a minute she was completely unable to finish her sentence. 'You're kicking me out?'

'No, it isn't like that. I have an apartment where you can stay.' Moving his hand so that he was holding her face, he continued. 'It's for your happiness.'

It was impossible to fight the truth. So she accepted his words. But she had one thing on her mind, the only thing she had ever thought about 'what about Keizo?'

'For now Keizo will stay with me.' His eyes narrowed. 'Until you sort your problems out.'

Knowing obviously what Sasuke meant by problem, she had no choice but to accept those terms. It probably was for the best anyway. Deep down she knew Sasuke was a much better father than she had ever been as a mother to Keizo.

'Fine' she quietly murmured.

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It had been a strange past two hours, she was packing her items away in suitcases and Sasuke had been helping her to do so. Everything was strangely calm. Sakura was worried about the next stage in her life but in other ways she was excited too. Life would start again, her new life. While she was packing Sasuke had said something which touched her heart.

'No matter what happens you will always be the mother of my child.'

Only then had she really appreciated all the things Sasuke had done for her. Since she had awoken from her coma, he only had been looking out of her, albeit in his own special kind of way. She wasn't sure how moving away would change their relationship but she was grateful to him for letting her leave so easily. Walking up to him while he was tying up a suitcase, she quickly kissed him on the cheek while saying 'Sasuke, thank you.' She could have sworn he went slightly red for a second but his usual stoic personality returned.

'Well that's everything, are you sure you can carry it all?' Now they were both standing outside the front of the house.

'Mummy?' Keizo had just returned from school.

Sasuke internally groaned inside, Keizo wasn't supposed to come home yet. Shit. He had miscalculated completely. Now his son would have to watch his mother leaving, this would be a difficult situation.

'What's with all the suitcases? Are you going somewhere mummy?' He was being his usual chirpy self.

'Keizo.I-' Any happiness Sakura once had flew immediately into the wind, she couldn't help but feel what she was doing was abandoning her son. 'Yes. I'm leaving.'

'You should have said before mummy. Is it like one of daddy's missions? I hope you come back really soon.' His childhood innocence was heartbreaking.

'I won't be coming back.'

'Why mummy?' Keizo's happy expression completely left his face as he worked out the connection between his mother's last words and all the suitcases that his father was holding.

As a child Keizo didn't understand the reason behind his mother's silence, so he kept pushing the question. 'Why? Why?' He kept repeating.

Growing angry at Sakura's lack of response, Keizo flew into a rage. 'You said at the wedding I was your everything-'

'You are, you are.' She walked up to him crying; somehow she would make him understand none of this was his fault. She wasn't leaving because she loved him any less.

'Then why are you leaving! Are me and daddy not good enough for you?' Even Sasuke had never heard his son shouting like this. He wanted to get involved but Sakura ultimately would only see it as interfering.

'Keizo, it isn't-'As she tried to put her arms around him for an embrace, he quickly smacked her hand back.

'Mother's are supposed to live with their families! You're a bad person! I hate you! I never want to see you again!' He screamed.

'Keizo!' She screamed as he ran into the house.

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she looked up with tear filled eyes to see Sasuke looking concerned. 'Don't worry. He will calm down. I'll talk to him.'

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Walking to the apartment was like a walk of shame, almost everyone on the street had been staring at them. Sakura knew they all would be gossiping about it. Konoha was a small place; everybody knew everybody and any bit of gossip were received with glee by the ladies. She opened the door to the apartment; it was completely furnished. Only then did it click in Sakura's mind why Sasuke had been acting funny this past week, he probably had been organising this all along. After directly seeing the apartment the reality of it all seemed to have sunk in.

Am I doing the right thing? Should I have stayed with Sasuke after all?

Unknowingly to Sakura, Sasuke was also expressing the same reservations in his mind.

Am I doing the right thing? What if Kakashi is wrong?

After Sasuke helped with putting her stuff away, he handed her the key to the apartment. They stood awkwardly together for a bit, until she escorted Sasuke to the door.

'If you need anything-'

'Yes, yes. I know where you are.'

'Goodbye Sakura.' His words almost made her start to cry again.

'Goodbye Sasuke.' Did she see sadness in his onyx eyes or was it just her imagination? But within seconds he was gone.

Slowly closing the door, Sakura sunk onto the ground and leant on the door in depression. The silence of the room made the noise coming from the corridor deafening. Sasuke still was considered a ladies man and the best looking male in Konoha it seemed. But why did this make Sakura so much more upset? They were welcome to him, right? Right now, all she wished was that there was a hole in the earth somewhere that would swallow her up. She felt so ashamed, all those people staring at her, like if she had failed.

She could faintly hear the voice of a loud mouthed girl somewhere down the corridor of the apartment block 'Well ladies! Looks like Sasuke Uchiha is back on the market!' Her statement was quickly followed by a chorus of girl's sighing.

If life was not shit enough...

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Originally he had promised himself he wouldn't come over to the apartment... ever. But yet somehow Sasuke managed to find himself in the apartment by a kind of mysterious magic. At first it was multiple times a day but his colleagues at ANBU had started to get suspicious, so painfully he would only come in the evenings to check up on her. His mind told him not to do it, to just leave the girl alone once and for all but his feet never listened. Sakura was an addiction to him.

But of course, Sasuke would never admit that to himself. No, the only reason he visited was to make sure Sakura hadn't done anything stupid. He really didn't want the trouble of telling Keizo his mother was injured or even dead. No, as the head of ANBU Sasuke had more than enough problems without adding personal ones on top.

Knowingly, he was right to check on her. Since her arrival in the apartment, Sakura's drinking had seemed to take a turn for the worse.

Just look at you…

His eyes drifted to Sakura's form, lying on the cold kitchen floor in a foetal position, her long hair had completely covered her face. Her red dress had ridden all the way up her bottom to her chest so her white pants were fully on display. Different kinds of bottles were scattered all across the floor. Truly she was a mess, but a beautiful one. The way Sakura looked like a broken doll instinctively made him want to pick up all the broken pieces and put them back together to make her whole again. But there was nothing he could possibly do and he knew it. Sakura was the only person who could drag herself out of her misery.

So why was he carrying her to bed if he wasn't supposed to be getting involved? Maybe it was just a habit, after spending five years looking after her it would be strange if he just left her there, right? Well, whatever the excuses, gently he placed her in bed softly pulling her dress down to maintain her dignity.

Walking back into the kitchen to pick up all the bottles across the floor sadness overcame him. Every single one of those bottles was a personal insult to him. A forceful remind of his failings in life.

This is the last time. I won't come here again…

Although something in his heart told him it might not be true after all.

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It took me ages to write this, so if you could leave me a review I would really really love you!

Do you think Sasuke did the right thing?

I wonder what will happen now they live in two different places? Surprise, surprises!