Karaoke Night Chapter 6, a naruto fanfic

AN: Hey, it's me, back from the dead. Sorry about the whole update thing—and I started out so well! Anyway, thanks to

--cherryluver19

--xXxjustbecausexXx

--Shoten Shinzui (I didn't like Taylor Swift, either, until I heard the album these songs were on…I was just listening to it, and I could pick out which song was most appropriate for each girl. It was kind of an epiphany moment.)

--Rosabelle the Sarcastic

--RealBookAholic (please elaborate—wrong how?)

--Musik Drache

--Hikari-letal-blood

--hazeymist (yeah, honestly, I don't even know why I'm stuck on KibaIno, I just find it easier to write than SaiIno)

--IcyMysticWarrior

--SasuSaku707

-- .princess.-

--Tobi'sgoodgirllovesSasuSaku (patience, I promise you will like the ending :3)

for reviewing the last chapter, you guys ROCK! I know none of you like the cliffy, so here it is, the song you've all been waiting for…SASUSAKU! w00t!

Karaoke Night, Chapter 6: Done/White Horse

Sasuke closed his eyes after Ino's applause died down. As his friends had said, only Sakura hadn't performed yet, but Sasuke was pretty confident he knew what she would sing about. Something about him—blaming him, begging him, worshipping him, something along those lines. It flattered his still-ample ego to think of her attached to him for all these years, but Sakura meant more to Sasuke than she used to.

While with Orochimaru, he'd buried every feeling, every emotion to hide his disgust of his teacher and some of the techniques Orochimaru employed; it was all worth it if he killed Itachi, after all. Then, after Itachi's death, he'd allowed his emotions to resurface, and an ache had rooted in Sasuke's chest. He'd put it down to his desire to destroy the Leaf Village…until he'd seen Sakura again. The vague ache had sharpened, burned, and demanded to be closer to her. If he was honest with himself, Sasuke could eventually admit that he'd been overwhelmed by his need for his ravishing female teammate.

Not that Sakura knew anything about his feelings for her. Even though Sasuke knew she still cared for him romantically, he'd never revealed his own attachment to her. He reasoned that Sakura was kidding herself, that after all this time and all he'd done, there was no way she could really love him. What had he done to deserve someone like her, anyway? She was brilliant, beautiful, fiery, powerful, compassionate, and patient when Naruto wasn't around. He was deceitful, dark-hearted, egotistical, traitorous, and mean.

There was no way in hell she felt as strongly about him as he did about her.

The MC interrupted his depressing train of thought. "Okay, ladies and gents, the Challenge is almost over! Only one talented kunoichi left to go! So, without further ado, give it up for the Leaf Village's loveliest cherry blossom, SAKURA HARUNO!!!!!!!!"

Sasuke kept his eyes shut as the rest of the club cheered, so he couldn't see the glares his friends shot in his direction. They were of the mind that he should pay better attention at a time like this.

"Hey, everybody," Sakura said into the mic. "Um, you guys are too drunk to remember what happens tonight, right?" she asked as she herself blinked owlishly and swayed unsteadily on her feet.

"HELL YES!" someone yelled. The rest of the club supported the sentiment. Sasuke cracked open an eyelid, intrigued.

"Well, in that case, I'd like to make an announcement," Sakura went on. "I'm leaving the Leaf Village. Tomorrow."

Sasuke's entire body went on high alert. He didn't notice the shocked looks and whispers circulating through the karaoke club, barely registered the lack of shock on the faces of Hinata, Ino, Tenten, and Temari. All that mattered was the mussed-up, intoxicated beauty onstage. Neji, Shikamaru, and Kiba looked from Sakura, to Sasuke, to each other in panicked movements. Naruto slumped in his seat, covering his eyes with one hand in a gesture of despairing weariness.

"That being said," Sakura continued. "This song should help explain why."

A single word ran through Sasuke's usually articulate brain. Idiot.

Sakura Haruno was done. Done with a capital D-O-N-E. She'd only ever loved one man her entire life—a man who'd ignored her, disregarded her, betrayed her, and returned to haunt her. She seemed to see him everywhere these days; his newfound sense of decency compelled him to spend friendly amounts of time with her, Naruto, Kakashi, and even Sai. But that was all he was: friendly. He had to know how she still felt—hell, the whole Village knew—but he remained purely platonic.

A small part of her whispered that she'd hoped he'd come back for her. After that day, when he'd thanked her and left her unconscious on that bench…she could've sworn something passed between them, even at that tender age. All these years later, they were both nineteen and single, but the only perceptible change in their relationship was Sasuke's overall increase in warmth.

Well, fine. She'd waited. That was all she seemed to do with him. She waited for him to return to the Village, she waited for him to address the feelings she knew she'd made so public…and then Sakura realized. She was doing exactly what she'd done as a genin. And she'd sworn a vow that she'd never be that weak again, that she'd never depend on others to protect her. That vow included protecting her heart, the way her male teammates were still prone to doing.

Sakura was done with being weak and dependent. She was done with waiting.

The opening of the song was a lone guitar, mournfully strumming along. The rich tones of a cello added an appropriately poignant sound.

Say you're sorry, that face of an angel 

Comes out just when you need it to 

As I paced back and forth all this time 

Cause I honestly believed in you  

And look where that belief had gotten her: alone and miserable. She'd worried about him for years, had risked her life multiple times to try and save him, had compelled Naruto to risk his life even more times than she had hers, and he thought he could make all of that hurt and guilt evaporate with a simple apology? Maybe it was good enough for Naruto and the Village, but it wasn't good enough for her.

Holding on, the days drag on 

Stupid girl, I should've known 

I should've known  

And yet, who is truly rational when it comes to love?

I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairy tale 

I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet 

Lead her up the stairwell  

This ain't Hollywood, this is a small town 

I was a dreamer before you went and let me down 

Now it's too late for you and your white horse to come around  

Not that Sasuke would ever break out a white horse of his own. But even if he had…ah, hell, she'd probably run right back to him. Stupid, she chided herself.

Baby I was naive, got lost in your eyes 

And never really had a chance

My mistake, I didn't know to be in love

You had to fight to have to upper hand

I had so many dreams about you and me 

Happy endings, now I know  

The tears stung in Sakura's throat and eyes, but she held them back mercilessly. So what if that stanza was so true it physically hurt her heart to sing it?

I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairy tale 

I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet 

Lead her up the stairwell  

This ain't Hollywood, this is a small town 

I was a dreamer before you went and let me down 

Now it's too late for you and your white horse, to come around  

And there you are on your knees 

Begging for forgiveness, begging for me 

Just like I always wanted—but I'm so sorry  

Psh, yeah right. She only wished she could give herself the satisfaction of refusing the unconquerable Sasuke Uchiha. She wished that he would break down and get on his knees in the first place. To be wanted, needed by him was her greatest desire…

Cause I'm not your princess, this ain't a fairytale 

I'm gonna find someone someday who might actually treat me well 

This is a big world, that was a small town 

They're in my rearview mirror disappearing now  

Sakura knew that the somebody she sang about was a hollow threat. No one would, could, or even should fill the hole in her heart she reserved for Sasuke. She knew it even as she sang her defiance and rejection of the man in question.

And it's too late for you and your white horse 

Now it's too late for you and your white horse to catch me now  

Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa 

Try and catch me now 

Oh, it's too late to catch me now

Sakura closed her eyes briefly as the cello on the recording emitted a final, reverberating note, before descending the stage. She wove her way through the crowd, her jade green eyes reddened but dry, and all but threw herself on Hinata and Ino. Four pairs of feminine hands soothed her back and hair as she mastered her control over the flood of tears. Not a single drop escaped her grip, though the burning ache in her throat rendered her totally unable to speak.

"…"

"…do you think he passed out or something?"

"His eyes are open."

"Is he even breathing?"

"Maybe he's gone catatonic."

"In English, smarty-pants?"

"It means he's basically shut down under shock, Naruto. Speaking of which, you didn't seem surprised at Sakura's announcement."

"Yeah, Neji, I know. I mean, I knew—I mean, she told me she was leaving a week ago."

"Stupid blond ninja say what?!"

"I'm not stupid, dog breath, I just couldn't talk her out of it. When she sets her mind to something, she has a stubborn streak like you wouldn't believe. She's already convinced Granny to let her go and everything."

"So, she won't be a missing-nin? Hallelujah."

"My thoughts exactly, Shikamaru. My thoughts exactly."

"Hey, guys, I think he's coming around. Akamaru, help him out with that."

"…"

"…Kiba, why is your dog slobbering all over my katana hand? Never mind, I don't want to know. If you'll excuse me, gentleman, I have somewhere to be." And Sasuke stood up and strode purposefully toward the girls' table, his Uchiha pride and emotionless mask shattering like brittle glass.

Shikamaru looked at Naruto, Neji, and Kiba. "C'mon. We better go make sure he doesn't hurt anyone."

"Including himself," Naruto added. The four young shinobi sprang out of their seats and followed their friend.

She will not leave. That was all he could think. I won't let her leave. Kami, please don't let her leave.

AN: Another cliffy! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Review or I'll tell Sasuke that you gave Sakura the idea to leave!