Burnt

''I am telling you I won't marry her! I can't!'' Sasuke shouted, walking in rounds around his room.

''Shush, honey. She will hear us!'' his mum whispered, pressing a finger on her lips.

''Oh, please! Do you think I care what she thinks right now?'' Sasuke yelled, before he stumbled over a thrown object on the floor.

''In the state you are, no, I don't think you do. But you will still wake her up. And she's pregnant. Drunk or not, I demand you to be careful with that, Sasuke Uchiha. I understand you needed to break out and go out to vent with your old friend, but drinking so much…you never used to do this, no matter how bad things were. You've changed, Sasuke. You need more discipline. From now on, I forbid you to go out with him again. I never liked the influence he had on you.'' His mother whispered, disapprovingly.

''Discipline what? You realize how old I am, right?'' Sasuke said menancigly as he approached her.

''And Naruto isn't just a random friend that you can separate me from at your whim. He is a part of my life, either you like it or not. You may not like the influence he has on me, but I do. So, you got no room to talk here. Now, get out of my room.''Sasuke yelled in a drunken way.

His mother rolled her eyes and walked out slowly.

''I know you, Sasuke. This is just your drunken self talking. In the morning, you will go back to the sweet obedient son I know so well.'' She said in a melancholical manner and closed the door behind her softly.

''Get lost.'' Sasuke said, as he kicked the base of his bed with fury.

''Condemning me to a fate like that. With a person I can't make myself feel nothing for. You sure are the best mum in the world. You tyran. I wish dad was alive to see what this family has turned into. No, no. It's better he's dead. He'd hate what we are now. Wouldn't you, dad?'' Sasuke broke into a hysterical laughter, but then he lost his balance and sat on his bed in a clumsy way, looking spaced into the void.

After some minutes spent in complete silence, he fell asleep.

''No, there's nothing wrong with me, sweety. It's just…Are you sure I can tell you? I know you got your own stuff to deal with.'' Naruto said, holding the cell phone close to him, under his bed's covers.

''Well, you know the whole story about Sasuke, right? So yeah, you can't imagine how happy I felt when I learnt he was found, safe and sound. So first thing I did was to go visit him at his mansion. His fiancé let me in. Then I saw Sasuke. He hasn't changed all that much, ya know. He seemed relieved to see me but as if something was burdening him. I asked him to go out for beers, we had a lot to talk about. So, we did. And after some alcohol, he ended up confessing to me something really big.'' Naruto took a deep breath. His voice sounded sad.

''What, honey? Is it bad?''Hinata whispered on the other end of the phone.

''Well, yes. Nao, his fiance' is pregnant with his kid. It turns out he doesn't have a choice but to marry her in less than a week.''Naruto said after releashing a held breath.

''Really? It's a bit soon for marriage, I guess. But it's still his choice, right?'' Hinata said, not sure if she had understood the big deal about it. At least, in the Hyuga family, people used to get married at a young age, so it seemed normal to her.

''That's the thing. It's not entirely his choice. He went steady with Nao, thinking he would harbor feelings with her by time, but he failed. He realized that he can't love her, after the time they had spent on that deserted island. He told her he wanted to break up with her on their way back to Konoha. But then, he learnt that she was pregnant.

So now, he can't back off. He says he feels trapped. I don't know. I feel sorry for him. He was never a genuinely happy guy, you know. I believe the only people he truly cared for was his family, me and a girl somewhere back in High school. Sasuke is that kind of person. He has a small heart, but it's a faithful one.'' Naruto finished, in a sad tone.

''Oh my, this is horrible. I understand how he feels. I have been suppressed by my family all the time, till now. It hurts when they press you to be with someone you don't want to. And it hurts when they wont let you be with the one you really love.'' Hinata whispered, her voice breaking.

''About that, Hina…I am sorry that all this causes so much stress to you. I understand that your heart can't take the stress of a secret relationship with me anymore. But I have to tell you, I won't let go. I may sound selfish but I don't want and I can't let go.'' Naruto said, determined.

''Naruto, you're moving me. I feel the same way. After all that we've been through, we are still together. I never thought you'd still love me by the time we had both finished our universities. And then, I met you randomly one day at Konoha, and then…then I realized I couldn't be without you. That's why I accepted to make one more try with you. But I am afraid. If my family finds out about us, again, they will disown me. That's what father said when he warned me back then. I don't care if I get disowned. I love you more than my family's money. But on the other hand, I hate letting down my parents all the time.'' Hinata whispered among tears.

''Hina, it's your life. You should be the one to feel let down by them.. They should love you and respect your personality and the choices you make in life. If they can't do even that, then why should you care of what they think?''

''Oh, uhm, hun, I am sorry but I have to hang up. I am hearing foot steps. Good night.'' Hina's low stressed voice was heard and then the line went dead before Naruto even had the time to form a reply.

Naruto sighed and kissed his cell phone.

''Good night, little bird.'' He whispered and then left the phone on his bed stand.

''Honey, your friends came to see you. They are waiting downstairs.'' Claris said, peering her head into Sakura's room.

As soon as Ino and Hinata had learnt about Sakura returning, they had called at her house to ask about her and Sakura's mom invited them over, thinking it'd be a good idea for Sakura's memories to be awoken.

She had warned the girls about her memory problem, so they knew how to treat her. But as it turned out, Sakura remembered them.

''I am coming, mum.'' Sakura said with a wide smile on her face. Her mother walked back down and Sakura put a robe around her. She brushed her hair and walked hurried down the stairs.

She walked unsure towards the living room. She still remembered her best high school friends, but it was a bit awkward to see them after all this time. She remembered she had to say good bye to them in an abrupt way that didn't leave much time to settle things completely among them. But the fact that they were there, to see her, meant they didn't hold any bad feelings, right?

She stepped into the living room, staring agape at the two beautiful girls sitting on the couch. The memories brought tears on her eyes that she held back under great self control.

''Girls…'' her voice faded when the two young ladies turned around to look at her.

''Sakura!''

''Oh my god!''

They stood up, both yelling in excitement, as they ran towards their old best friend and hugged her.

Sakura immediately felt more at ease and returned the hug.

Ino pulled back and looked at her. Hinata did the same, smiling sweetly at Sakura.

''Sakura Haruno, how could you not call us even once during all these years? Is that what a best friend does?'' Ino started nagging.

''That's typical Ino, alright.'' Sakura giggled. She remembered very well of Ino's nagging and lecturing habbit since high school. She had come to find it funny with the time.

''Ino, is this the first thing you got to say at her? Give her a break.'' Hinata told Ino off in a soft tone, then turned her eyes to Sakura. She had an apologetic look on her face.

''Don't worry, Hina. I don't mind it, anymore. Actually, I missed her nagging. I missed you, guys.'' She said, hugging again her friends.

''We missed you, too, silly.'' Ino said in the verge of tears.

''Still, all this time and not one call! How you think it felt for us?''

''Ino!'' Hinata interrupted her, ticked off.

''It's ok, Hina. Ino's right. I should have called.''

''We didn't call you, either, though. So, we're even. So, Ino really has no room to talk.'' Hina said, looking at both girls.

''Nevermind that, though. It's the past. Come, take a sit.'' Sakura smiled reassuringly, as all three walked back to the couch and sat down.

Her mother came in and brought some cookies, leaving them on the small table in front of the girls.

''So, girls, do you plan on going out? It'd be a good idea, for Sakura to take in some fresh air. I bet you have missed Konoha, hun.'' Claris said, then turning to her daughter.

''I really don't mind, mum. I am happy just to be with my friends.'' She said, chewing on a cookie.

''I do mind, though! I didn't come all this way to your house, so we spent the afternoon inside.'' Ino said, annoyed.

''I am sorry, Miss Claris, not trying to be rude.'' She said then, averting her gaze to Sakura's mum.

''Oh, don't worry, hun. I know what you mean.'' Claris said as she walked off slowly to her office to settle some papers.

''Actually, Sakura-chan, we had plans. I told Ino to let you choose, in case you didn't feel like going out. But as you see, she can't be discreet about it.'' Hinata said, giggling.

''It's fine. Hahaha. I don't mind going out. I admit I want to see Konoha, walk around those familiar streets, places, shops…ya know.'' Sakura said slowly.

''It's settled then. What do you say? Me and Hina thought it'd be a good idea to spend the afternoon at Rilley's. Remember it? That fast food we used to hang out a lot, during High school.'' Ino said, happily.

''What I do remember about it is that it had some tasty food over there. So,… let's go!'' Sakura laughed.

Hinata noded shyly as she bited on her chocolate cookie.

Uchiha mansion

''Mother, I don't remember a lot about last night but knowing me, I must have said stuff I would regret later on. So, I apologize if I said something improper.'' Sasuke said to her his mother, lying. Strangely enough, he wasn't too drunk last night to not remember anything. He remembered more or less what he had said and now he felt irresponsible for it.

''You said nothing more and nothing less than the truth, son. But apology accepted. You shouldn't yell at your old woman, though. She loves ya more than her life. Anything I do, I do it for your own good.'' The woman said, as she ran a hand through her son's hair in a carefree manner.

''Regardless, the reason I came to talk to you is that I want to tell you that I am ready to take on my own responsibilities. I thought of it well, and I want my marriage to be arranged for this Sunday.'' Sasuke said in a the most serious tone his mother had ever heard coming from him.

His mother looked at him agape for some seconds. It was a bit stunning how he had recovered so soon, but knowing him, she shouldn't be that surprised. Above all, Sasuke was a man of his duty, he had taken this from his father. She knew he'd become sacrifice for the people he loved, his family, without much thought. And there he was now, offering his life in the altar of his family's prestige.

She regained her composure and coughed briefly to clear her throat.

''Oh my, Sasuke. I am glad you realized your priorities. I am proud of you, son.'' She said, patting his shoulder with her thin hand.

She wouldn't force her son to marry that Nao girl by all means, which she didn't like either way for some reason. She could tell he couldn't stand her presence. But now that the girl was pregnant from him, as a woman herself, she felt that her son had to stand by Nao's side and be that kid's father.

''Is Nao back from shopping?'' Sasuke asked, sighing silently.

''Yes, dear. She just got back. She's upstairs. Want me to call her?''

''No, I will go tell her myself.'' Sasuke replied dryly.

There was something in his attitude that scared her, though. That look in his eyes…so empty. Sasuke had changed abruptly.

And indeed, he had. After thinking deeply about the situation he was in, he remembered how alone he felt, how weird and hurt because he grew up for the most of his childhood without a father. He didn't want his baby to ever have to feel the same way. So, he convinced himself to marry with Nao and help her raise their kid. But still marrying to someone he despised was a tormenting thought for him. He knew though that he had to toughen up for that kid. He decided to shut off his heart and take on his responsibilities, even if it was hard.

''Oh my my, Sakura, stop eating as if you haven't eaten for one hundred years. It's so not elegant!'' Ino exclaimed, watching Sakura taking greedy bites from her hamburger.

'' Chew min chew own zness.'' Sakura said while she chewed on her food.

Hinata watched them amused, as she drank her cola.

''Well, Hina, what's so funny about this? She might lose her fans, if they see her being so ungirly like that. Am I wrong?'' Ino said, turning annoyed to Ino.

''Gee, Ino, you need to relax. It's a fast food. We came here to eat, not to find boy friends.'' Hinata said giggling.

''Zhi ish iight.'' Sakura said, causing Hinata to giggle once more, amused.

'' Whatever, you two are a lost case. You don't know how important elegance is, at all times.'' Ino said, looking at her nails.

Sakura drank her cola, looking at Ino, trying to think off a come back.

But she failed, so instead, she burped.

''That's my answer.'' Sakura said, wiping her mouth off.

Hinata broke into laughters .

''How distasteful…''Ino said as she tried to regain her composure but it was too late. She soon broke into laughters, as well.

Once the laughters had died, Ino said.

''Well, now that we calmed down, I think Hinata has to tell you something, Sak.'' Ino said rubbying her hands.

''It's first gossip material.'' She said in a devilish grin, eying Hinata sheepishly.

''Uhm, about that, I don't really think it's that important.'' Hinata did uneasy, predicting Sakura's reaction to it.( WN:If you remember at Karma, Hinata was the only one who had sensed something about Sakura loving Sasuke, even if Sakura hadn't told Ino and Hinata about her feelings and story with Sasuke)

''Of course, it is! Oh come on, Hinata! It's Sasuke Uchiha we're talking about!'' Ino said impatiently clapping her hands.

Sakura froze at the mention of his name.

''Sasuke…Uchiha?'' she asked, feeling akward.

''What about him?'' she asked, curiosity and fear embracing her heart.

''You see, Naruto, well, Naruto and I are still secretly dating. And last night that we talked, he told me about it.'' Hinata said unsure.

''About what?'' Sakura asked, fearing the worst. She hadn't asked and she didn't know if Sasuke was fine and healthy after the hospital, and her worries now became bigger.

''Sasuke is getting married in less than a week.'' Hinata whispered, averting her gaze from Sakura to the table.

Sakura's cup of coke fell from her hands and spilled on the table. The liquid remaining wasn't much, so the girls didn't bother to clean the mess.

''Ha, I told you it was big!'' Ino exclaimed excited.

''But that isn't all! Tell her, Hinata!'' Ino pushed Hinata on the shoulder softly.

''Well, Ino, it isn't my case to talk about that stuff, you see...'' Hinata said, already feeling sorry for Sakura. From her reaction, she knew her instinct had been right. Sakura did feel things for Sasuke.

''Oh, Hinata, stop being boring, will you? '' Ino said annoyed.

Sakura tried to find her words, even if her heart was aching.

Calm down, girl. Courage. Don't show them your true feelings. It's not worth it. You knew that this'd happen sooner or later, didn't you? He had introduced you to her, on that plane. You knew it…it's alright. Sakura thought inside her, clenching her fists tightly, under the table.

''…So early?'' Sakura's low voice was heard. Even despite what she told herself, she couldn't control her words.

''That's the best part about it, now now, Saku-chan! The girl is pregnant! Oh my god, who would have thought that Sasuke Uchiha…'' Ino kept blubbering but Sakura had already blocked her out after the word pregnant.

She couldn't control herself anymore, her eyes felt watery and the food inside her stomach felt like a heavy dirty stone doing rounds and rounds. The noises around her caused her a big headache. She felt dizzy and her heart started pounding hard in her chest, making her feel as if it'd jump out any moment, as sick of her life as she was.

''Oh, shut up finally, Ino, will ya?'' Hinata interrupted Ino's blubbering annoyed, alarmed by Sakura's strange reaction.

''Hinata, I am not doing anything wrong! I mean…just wow.'' Ino said not understanding.

''At least, don't tell anyone else about it, both of you. Naruto told me to keep it a secret. And most of all, you Ino. I know you love gossips but this time get a hold of yourself, please.'' Hinata whispered, looking at her drink.

''Oh, you silly goose. I may gossip a lot but you know I am very reliable. Don't worry.'' Ino said waving her hand as if Hinata had said something ridiculous.

Sakura couldn't take any more of this. At once, she stood up and ran to the toilet like a bullet, leaving Ino and Hinata back to wonder what on earth had just happened to her.

The girls watched worried as Sakura vanished behind the bathroom door.

''What got to her?'' Ino asked, stunned.

''Maybe it's the food? It's not the first time this has happened here, ya know.'' Hinata said, not really understanding herself. Sure, Sakura feeling kind of off at the hearing of the news was understandable if she felt things for Sasuke once. But her overeacting like that…Now this was strange. Hinata wondered just how much she really knew about Sakura.

''I'll go check on her.'' Hinata said, as she stood up and walked to the bathroom fast.

Ino sat back pensive, wondering why it had turned out that way.

Inside the bathroom, Sakura had reached for the first toilet she found and she puked the consumed food in it, holding herself from the side walls.

Gladly, she had finished by the time Hinata was standing out of the toilet.

''Sakura, are you okay, hun?'' she asked worried.

Sakura wipped her mouth clean and coughed, trying to regain her balance.

Her afternoon had been messed up, though. She wanted to go home and be left alone so much.

''I am fine. Don't worry. Hahah. Nature's call.'' She said, walking out of the toilet, after fixing her dress.

Hinata eyed her suspiciously.

Sakura was too absorbed in her own thoughts to notice the look Hinata was giving her.

She washed her hands and face and dried them. She looked at the mirror to fix her hair. She got shocked by how pale and worn out she looked. Now, yes, that she hurried to go home.

''Let's go.'' She said and walked out of the bathrooms under Hinata's intense stare.

Hinata sighed and followed her sillently.

''Aaron Haruno, don't be too late, okay? I've already made dinner and Sakura should be back anytime now.'' Claris lectured her ex husband, holding the phone on one hand and doing chores with the other.

''Don't worry, Claris. I won't be late. There was some delay on the airport, due to random immigrant checks but I am on my way home. I should be there by less than 30 minutes.'' Sakura's dad said reassuringly.

''Well, if you say so. Call me when you're here, then. I need to call some patients in the meantime. Talk to you later.'' Claris said.

''Alright, see ya.'' Aaron said and hanged up at the same time as his ex wife.

At the same time, the door bell rang. It was Sakura.

Uchiha mansion

Sasuke rubbed his head in annoyance at the loud voice of his future wife, coming from her room. He had just announced her the date of their wedding and now she was ''singing in cheerful melodies'' the happy news to her parents via phone.

He opened a shelf and took out a small wooden memento box he used to place valuable for him stuff inside.

He opened it and took in his hands a small wrinkled white paper, very meticusly folded.

He sat on his bed's side, his heart pounding strongly inside his chest.

He brought the paper close to his face slowly and stared at it in great dilemma. Then he slowly unfolded it and straightened the page out and fine.

He took a deep breath and looked at the writing. It was a letter. A letter he had wrote himself, when he returned to his mansion after the hospital. It was a letter he planned to give to the one he loved: Sakura.

But now it was too late. Right after the composing off that letter, he had came to learn about Nao's pregnancy. And now he wished he had never written it. Because it was painful even to read it, anymore, knowing he would never be able to be with Sakura again. Not after this.

''Dear Sakura,

It's Sasuke. In case you remembered me and in case you did receive this letter, there's something I have to tell you.

First of all, I am sorry. For everything. I know I have said it countless times in the past to you,-if you remember- but I'll say it once more. Because whenever I say it, I get the feeling you will never forgive me, despite what you said.

Last time we talked, there was a man who claimed that he was your lover. For some reason, I refused to believe that. The doctors said you would recover your memory soon. So now, I can ask you: Is it true, Sakura? Who was that person to you?

But what am I doing, asking you such a thing with this letter? I guess I was never good at expressing my feelings. For that reason, I will try to keep this short and to the point:

You remember when I introduced you to my fiance', don't you? Well, after the time we spent on that island, I realized I couldn't love her. I was with her merely out of profit reasons. Something you wouldn't understand, since you're pure.

I also realized that I still love you. And that I'd rather be alone for a whole lifetime than not with you. But I don't want to spend my lifetime alone.

So, Sakura Haruno, I took the courage to write this to you and ask you: Will you give me another chance?

Yours,

Sasuke Uchiha.

PS: Please, reply.''

After one last painful read, Sasuke sighed heavily and threw the paper into the small metallic bin he had placed in front of his feet. Then he light a match and set the letter on fire.

R&R, plox!

Thank you to me reviewers! I am loving your support. Thanks from my heart. It's what keeps me going.