Chapter Six

A few days later, after I had talked to Ino and Shikamaru, and she had returned to her place, Naruto and I took Sasuke to see Sumaji. I think Sasuke mostly wanted to catch up with the two of them, although he did seem to be very happy about the baby.

We talked with Ino and Shikamaru for most of the time. Sasuke explained what had happened, and we got the initial reaction from Shikamaru at first. He was distrustful of Sasuke, then got more used to him, and there it was – they were friends.

Another example of just how much Sasuke had changed.

Anyway, we left around noon and went out to have lunch together. Naruto was strangely quiet, but Sasuke made up for him.

"That's so weird, I just seriously cannot get over how weird that is, I mean, I never really saw Ino as growing up, and I definitely never saw her as a mother."

I laughed. "That's the same thing I said when I heard."

He smiled at me. "This is so cool. It's like, I was taken out of time for fifteen years, and suddenly I'm launched back in, and here's all this happening, and I – I don't know, it's just awesome."

I looked at him, smiling.

"So Sasuke," I said. "I wanted to ask you…is there any really specific reason you came back?"

He looked at me for a moment, then shrugged. "I don't know, honestly. I was just done with everything that had happened, and, I think I wanted to be a kid again, and I thought if I came back here, where I grew up, then I might have a chance-"

"Wait, Sasuke," I said, grinning. "You didn't grow up here. You spent more time wandering around randomly than living here."

He laughed and shrugged. "I guess so. But still, this is my hometown. Where I was born – where my, however brief, childhood was spent."

I suddenly remembered something Naruto had told me about. It was silent for a moment, then I asked softly, "Did you ever get him? Your brother?"

He stiffened slightly.

"He was dead by the time I found him," he said harshly. "It was a few years after I left. I don't know who killed him. I've heard people say that he actually killed himself. I don't know. But I couldn't come back. My dream, my goal, the one thing I was living for was finished. And I didn't even do anything."

I took his hand.

"That's so sad, Sasuke," I said. "You didn't even get to talk to him?"

"I didn't need to talk to him," he said coldly. "I needed to kill him."

"Why? You killed lots of people, people I love, and yet I don't need to kill you."

"I didn't kill everyone."

"And that makes it any better?"

He sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"No, it doesn't. But it's different with him, you know? He was my own brother."

"You were a brother to me."

I had almost forgotten Naruto was there. He was staring into his cup of tea, his brow furrowed, thinking hard. Sasuke stared at him for a moment, then shrugged.

"But you weren't flesh and blood. I don't think you can quite understand what he put me through. I lost everything. Naruto, no offense, but you never really had anything, and Sakura…well, you've always had Naruto."

"Still. If you needed to kill your brother, why is it that Naruto or I don't have to kill you?"

"Because you aren't like me," he said. "You were never like me. I always had to do something, nothing was ever enough."

"Sasuke," I said. "You have a terrible life."

"Thanks," he said, with a small smile.

Ino and Shikamaru set the date for the wedding as about a month later. Like she had told me, Ino just wanted it done.

Everyone was so excited for her; being as small a village as we are, a marriage is usually something that pretty much everyone knows about. Ino was getting her own little scandal, marrying after she had had their baby, but for the most part, everyone was just glad they were finally officially getting together.

The night before the wedding, Naruto and Sasuke left early for Shikamaru's bachelor party (Ino had decided she just wanted to be with her family). I was alone in the house, trying on my bridesmaid dress, trying to fix my hair into something that actually looked good.

Eventually, though, I flopped down on Naruto and I's bed and read a random cliché romance novel until I fell asleep.

I woke up when the boys came in through the front door. It was pretty late, and Sasuke was clutching his head.

"Hey guys," I said. "Have fun?"

Sasuke mumbled something and fell down on the couch. Naruto smiled slightly and followed me back into our room. "I think he had a little much to drink."

"Ah," I said, smiling. "So, what'd you do?"

"Eh, the usual," he said, shrugging. "Lots of alcohol, loud music, games…it was alright."

"Aw, you're such a party pooper," I said, laughing. "Did Sasuke like it?"

Naruto smiled and shook his head. "He liked it too much. He's a pretty good dancer, though."

"No!" I said. "Sasuke! A good dancer! Who'd have guessed?"

Naruto laughed.

"I think Shikamaru ditched us around ten. Everyone kept partying though, they were having way too much fun."

Not much later, we got to sleep.

The next day, the real fun began.

I was the maid of honor, with Hinata and Tenten as bridesmaids. Chouji was Shikamaru's best man, and Naruto was one of the groomsmen.

The ceremony was simple enough, but Ino was absolutely glowing – I've never seen her more happy. She did indeed hold Sumaji through the whole thing, and the whole party let out a collective 'aww' when she and Shikamaru kissed. The reception was even more beautiful – it was completely perfect.

And then we went home.

Well, Naruto said he was going to stay a little later and help clean up. I gave him a kiss and left.

Sasuke was reading something, and when I entered, he looked at me once, then did a double take.

"Where's Naruto?" he asked casually.

"He's still at the wedding. My feet are killing me, I've been in stilettos all day," I said nonchalantly, sitting down and slipping off my shoes.

"Ah. Did you have a good time?" he asked.

I laughed. "Yes, it was wonderful…" I paused, then continued, "You know, I'm really surprised."

"Surprised?"

"Oh yeah. I always thought it would be Naruto and I first. I don't know, it seemed to make sense that Ino would be my maid of honor first. It's just weird."

He nodded vaguely.

"So what are you reading?" I asked, scooting a little closer to him to peek over his shoulder at the book.

He shrugged. "Nothing much."

Before he could say anything more, a cat loudly began to mewl at the window. I whipped around (I hate cats) and accidently knocked Sasuke's book out of his hands.

When I turned back, I automatically bent down to pick it up, but so did he. We ended up bumping heads, and neither of us actually got to the book.

Instead, we ended up look at each other, out faces a quarter of an inch apart. The intensity of his gaze made me want to look away, but I just kept looking at him.

And then, for some reason, I kissed him.

And he kissed me back.

All the time I was kissing him, I kept thinking, this is wrong, this is wrong, I love Naruto, not Sasuke, what am I doing, I'm screwing up…

I was going to stop in a moment, I seriously was. I was going to stop, and tell Sasuke this was wrong, and that I was not going to do this.

But then the door opened.

I suddenly was aware that I was sitting on top of Sasuke, and that his hands were under my dress, and my hands had snaked up to press against his chest.

All this in the nanosecond it took me to look up and see Naruto standing in the doorway, looking stunned.

I could not move a muscle. I don't think I even registered this was happening.

Naruto spread his hands out. "What is this?"

I opened my mouth to say something, but I couldn't, until I felt Sasuke's hand move under my dress. I was off him in a second, but before I said anything, Naruto was over there, and he grabbed Sasuke by the collar and wrenched him off the couch.

"Get out," he said, shoving him towards to door.

"Where am I supposed to go?"

"I don't care!" screamed Naruto. He closed his eyes, shook his head and took a deep breath. "I don't give a damn, Sasuke. Just get out of this house."

Sasuke looked at me pleadingly. I opened my mouth again, but, suddenly, Naruto hit him. He punched him, hard in the jaw, then pointed to the door.

"Get. Out."

Sasuke stood still for a moment, then swung the door open and stormed out, slamming it behind him.

Naruto just stared at the door for a while, then finally turned to face me.

"Naruto," I said. "I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me, it just happened, and I was going to stop, I was, I was going to tell him that I loved you and only you, and that's true, I could not love you more, and I-"

Naruto, his eyes closed, held up a hand to silence me.

"I don't care. I know what I saw. And I know that you didn't even move when I walked in. You didn't say anything. Then, when he finally left, then you talked to me. What am I supposed to get from that?"

My vision blurred with tears.

"No – I'm sorry, I know it looks bad, but I just made a mistake-"

"I know you made a mistake," he said, opening his eyes. "But it was a big mistake, Sakura. And if you're going to make it again-"

"I'm not, I swear, I don't know what came over me-"

"Let me finish. If you're going to make another mistake, then maybe we need a little time. You know, just to…to see other people."

Even as he spoke, the words wrenched my heart out.

"I love you." His voice cracked. "I have heard you say you love me too. But that…that was too far with Sasuke. I trusted you. And, for some strange reason, I trusted him too."

"Naruto-"

"Stop it, Sakura," he said. His tone sounded angry, but if those were actual tears in his eyes, then he felt differently than his voice suggested. "Isn't this what you wanted? To be able to just be yourself with him again? To touch him again?"

"No – no-"

"Do you know what I just saw, Sakura? I saw the only woman I have ever loved, the woman I gave my all to, the woman who had told me again and again that she loved me, I saw her with another man. Not just any man either, hah, but Sasuke Uchiha. The one person who took away everything from me…now he's taken away you."

"Naruto," I pleaded. "Please stop it, please…it wasn't how it looked, I swear…please listen to me."

"I'm sick of listening, Sakura! I'm sick and tired of listening to people, I need to do something now…"

He stared at me for a moment, then turned around and began to walk away.

"Wait!"

I caught his arm.

"Naruto please…"

He stopped. I put one hand on his back.

"Don't go."

He shrugged me off.

"I'll come back for my things."

And walked out of the door.

I stood there, shocked, staring at the door.

How could this be happening? Naruto and I, we never had fights, never… this was impossible. It was always so easy, so perfect, so great with him…

Stupid Sasuke! This was entirely his fault. If he could have just contained himself, then I could have contained myself, and I wouldn't even be in this whole mess.

Yes you would, said a small voice in the back of my mind. You kissed him first.

I heaved a huge sigh and flopped down on the couch, my eyes closed, just laying there.

But no. This was where Sasuke had slept, this was where he and I had messed up, the very thought of it made me nauseous…

I sprang back up and, knowing that I couldn't go to Naruto and I's room because it just wouldn't feel right without him, I sat at the kitchen table, crying.

I'm such an idiot, I thought. I love him. I love Naruto. What could have possibly compelled me to Sasuke? Was it because I had liked him as a child, and somehow some part of that had spilled over to now? My mind began to come up with rational reasons – that I was so tired from the day, that I had had a little too much to drink, I was bored, I somehow confused him with Naruto-

But I knew it wasn't right. None of these were right.

What is wrong with me?

I eventually fell asleep at the table, my head resting on my hands.

Naruto must have come back to get his stuff while I was still asleep, because when I woke up most of his belongings were gone. I slowly got up and meandered into our bedroom, where a small pile of things were left in the middle of the bed.

Pictures. A small collection of the poems he used to write me. Gifts…trinkets he had bought me whenever we came across something so hilariously artificial we couldn't let it pass. A hair ribbon…from our first kiss.

And, in the center of it all, a ring.

I picked it up. There was a note under it.

'I was going to. Tonight. I'm sorry.'

I stared at it.

…Naruto was going to…

Tonight?

I closed my eyes, thinking about how much of a huge idiot I was.

A few days passed. I didn't hear from either Naruto or Sasuke. I didn't really talk to anyone, but I tried to stay out of the house as much as possible. I didn't think I could take being in there too long.

A couple days after that, someone stopped me while I was walking back to the house, pretty late in the evening. Hinata, carrying some grocery bags, paused to talk to me with a concerned look on her face.

"Sakura," she said. "How are you?"

I shrugged. "Alright."

She nodded vaguely. "Kiba says he saw Naruto this morning."

"Really."

"Yes…he told me Naruto says you two aren't doing so well. Something about Sasuke Uchiha…?"

I sighed and nodded. "True."

"Well, how are you holding up? Is it that bad?"

I nodded again. "It's pretty bad. I made a stupid mistake-"

She made a face. "Oh. Yes, I thought it was something like that."

"What?"

"Well, there would be no other reason for you two to have a fight," she said reasonably. "You are perfect for him, and he is perfect for you."

I smiled weakly. "Thanks Hinata."

She was silent for a moment, then she added, "Kiba convinced him to talk to you. I don't know when or how he feels about it, but I'm sure that what needs to happen."

She gave me a one-armed hug and continued on her way.

I sighed.

And my cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Where are you?" asked Naruto's familiar voice.

"Out," I replied, slightly shocked at the timing and suddenness.

"Can I meet you at the house?"

"Uh…yes," I said uncertainly.

"Good."

"Naruto-"

He hung up.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the phone, then continued home. Naruto was already there when I opened the door.

He stood up, strode over to me and put his arms around me.

"Man," he murmured. "I came thisclose to forgetting how good it feels to touch you."

I smiled in spite of myself and returned to embrace.

"I'm sorry," he continued. "I never should have walked out on you, I was jealous, and stupid…"

"No," I said. "You were completely rational. It's my fault."

He stood there silently, holding me.

"I'm sorry too," I said softly. "I don't know, maybe I was just being an idiot…I don't want to see him again, Naruto. I don't want to have anything to do with Sasuke ever again."

"Hmm," he replied gently. "That might be a problem." At my look, he smiled a tiny smile and said, "I'm not sure how I can explain this to you…but here you go. I still see Sasuke as a brother, for some odd reason. Someone I can't part with, someone who'll always be a part of me, no matter what happens. A friend, I wouldn't have been able to forgive. A brother, I have to."

"After what happened? I don't even trust myself with him."

Naruto shrugged. "I think it was a mistake. I think you deserve another chance."

"I don't deserve anything from you."

He smiled and held me again. "I also think that that's my decision, Sakura."

I couldn't hold back a smile.

I paused for a moment, then said, "I have something of yours."

Taking his hand, I pressed the ring into it. He frowned for a moment, then smiled.

"Oh Sakura," he muttered. "This isn't mine. Not anymore."

"…what?"

Still holding my hand, he slid down to one knee.

"Oh my God," I said, putting a hand to my forehead. "Naruto…oh my God."

He laughed and said, quietly, "Sakura Haruno…will you marry me?"

Tears quickly coming to my eyes, I pressed a hand against my mouth and nodded.

Naruto slipped the ring on my finger.

I let out a little sob of joy as Naruto straightened up to kiss me again. "I figure," he said. "That if we can get through this, we can get through anything."

I nodded, still half-shocked, half-ecstatic.

"That was sudden," I said finally, still in his arms. He laughed.

"No, it wasn't. I've been tried to pluck up the courage to say those four words to you for almost a month now. I was going to ask you when we got to the beach – remember, before Sasuke came – and then when that didn't work, it felt weird to ask with him in the house."

I smiled. "Well, I should have figured it out."

"Nah," he said. "I thought I was being pretty subtle."

I laughed. "All my friends thought you couldn't have been more obvious."

He laughed again, then kissed my lips, then my face, then my neck. My arms around his neck, we stumbled to the bedroom, then toppled onto the bed, and it felt like we were eighteen again, and starting all over, it felt like our first time…

Early that next morning, when we were still half asleep, but tangled up in each other, he put his lips close to my ear and whispered, "You know I just want you to be happy, baby."

I smiled and took his hand.

"I am happy."

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Okay, yeah, you can pretty much consider this the end of the story. I doubt I'll ever really write more, because, you know, I don't actually watch Naruto anymore (or even like it, for that matter).

Buuuuuut, if you beg enough in your reviews, I MIGHT write a LITTLE more. Maybe an epilogue...lol.