Chapter 3

"I missed you, Sakura. It has been a long time hasn't it? I have been waiting for the day for us to see each other again, friend."

"What are you talking about? We just eat 3 minutes ago!" Sakura laughed softly. "Are you and Ichigo playing some kind of sick joke on me?! It's not funny! Tell him to come out. I want to see him." Ichigo, as far as Sakura can remember, was always like that. He's always serious so when he tries to make a joke, nobody gets it or it just comes out corny.

The lady just held her hand. "Sakura, it's me. You just don't recognize me but it is me."

Sakura shook her head. "Can you please stop that? It's not funny anymore." The woman in front of her is a wack! Ichigo is a guy. When they were still dating, he always goes to men's restroom. It's just impossible. Sakura admits that she is feeling insecure with this wacko in front of her but she can't be who she claims to be.

The lady sat down in front of Sakura while tears are forming around her eyes. "Sakura, I'm going to explain to you what happened from the beginning. I hope you'll understand," she sighed. "I had a sex change two years ago. I can't bring myself to admit it to you because even my own family can't accept it. I can't tell you through phone or e-mail. I wanted to tell you personally so you can understand it more. See, my eyes are still the same. Look," she cupped Sakura's cheeks and stared into her emerald eyes.

Sakura stared back. It's the same gentle eyes she fell in love with years ago. The same eyes! "I-i-chigo? Ichigo!" Tears started falling down her face. "How? Since when?"

"It's me. I didn't tell you then because I, myself, couldn't admit that I'm gay. The time when I asked you to be my girl, I just did that so that I can prove to myself that I'm 100 man. Maybe I was just confused and thought that you could help me.

"I was fighting with myself. I tried so hard to believe that I'm not gay. I didn't succeed. In the end, I decided to have a sex change and accept the truth. Sakura, it felt so good! It's as if I was unleashed! Like it's the first time I was really alive! Please understand, Sakura. I know I used you. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. Please understand."

Sakura bit her lower lip as the pain stabbed her chest continuously. "Yeah, I understand. I just wish you could have told me sooner. That way, I didn't have to keep my hopes up. I just wish you didn't have to lead me on."

Sakura stood up and walked out the restaurant hastily, not caring the looks people are giving her. She didn't care which direction her feet would take her. She just wanted to be away from that horrid place. It's as if her world has fallen apart. She's just a one big joke. Like the whole world is laughing at her. All she ever wanted was to get married and live a normal life with her happy family. Her dreams of such are crushed.

Whatever will happen to her tonight, it will be Ichigo's fault.

Meanwhile, Sasuke is celebrating with his former friends from high school. The same people are his colleagues from work. They are celebrating for two reasons: Naruto's engagement and the deal they just closed. Their construction firm was given the project of making a new theme park.

"Cheers!" they howled as their classes clinked together.

"Don't get so worked up yet. It's just the beginning," Sasuke said. It's not easy to compete with other well known companies who has been in the business longer than theirs.

Kiba elbowed him. "Don't be so serious, man! We're here to celebrate! It's a big accomplishment so shut up and drink! Jesus! Can't you stop being so negative!"

"Leave him alone Kiba!" Naruto spoke. "You know he's cranky because he doesn't hae a woman. Don't make Mr. Single feel worst."

"Yeah! Loosen up, Sasuke-kun! You're all work and no play. Get a woman. Look at us, we have a diversion after a long tiring day of work."

Sasuke just shook his head. Sometimes he blames himself for his influence on his friends. If he wasn't such a player then, they wouldn't be like this. Sasuke doesn't have any plans to be in a relationship yet, he just started his business. But if he does start one, he would make sure he won't play with the woman. He's already twenty-six. If he finds the right lady, she wouldn't be a fling but a commitment; the one whom he will face the altar with.

As he as lost in his thoughts, his eyes caught a figure sitting on a bar stool not very far. He's intrigued by the long hair covering her bare back. He always prefers the type with long hair. But this one is different. For some reason he recognize the hair but because of the dim light he can't make out to whom it belongs to. Sasuke decided to see for himself. "Excuse me guys. Something caught my eye."

"Is it a woman?" Chouji teased.

He just answered him with a sly smile and left. It's been too long since he lost his interest on the opposite sex. This one perked him up. He promised himself that his business is his main priority. There are times when he gets tempted but he fights it off. It looks like he would fail this time.

Sasuke walked towards the bar without taking his eyes off her. He needs to know her name. The bartender approached him and he just said brandy. He took a peek at the person who has intrigued him; and DAMN she's fine! She has beautiful eyes; red lips; her creamy skin that stood out because of her dark green outfit that emphasized her curves.

He kept ogling her and she didn't seem to notice or just didn't care. She drank tequila and asked for another one and another one then she burped. She didn't care. It's obvious that she wants to drown her self with the alcohol. Her problem must be awful. Her tear stains are apparent. Maybe she got dumped. But who would be the big idiot that would dump this beauty?

"Miss, are you alone?" Sasuke decided to talk to her.

"Isn't it obvious or are you just blind?" she answered irritatingly. "Do you see anyone else around me?

He didn't know whether to laugh or to be upset by her attitude. Except for Sakura, it's very rare for females to talk to him that way. She didn't even bother to look at him after he used his 'ultimate-voice-that-chicks-dig'. Maybe he's losing his touch? No. He would not give up! He would die of shame if he could not attract this woman. A drunk woman. "May I join you then?"

"Whatever," This time she looked at him. Her eyes lit up and laughed. "Sasuke, my friend!"

He was surprised when she gave him a hug. It maybe quick and simple but it was enough to wake him up. Who is she? How does she know him? Wait, no. Scratch that. Who wouldn't know him? "Miss, sorry. I don't know…"

She raised her left eyebrow and pouted. "'Miss'? Don't you know me? We're very close!" she joined both of her index fingers together. "We're this close! Maybe even closer! What a delight, no?"

"I don't even know you."

If she is this beautiful, then it would be impossible to forget her. He can't even name most of his past girlfriends! So where did he meet her?

She laughed again. "You're stupid, you know that? It's me. I', the reason why you have an ugly hand," she took his hand and traced the scar. "See? That's my teeth biting your hand. Although, you can't tell that it's my teeth now. I was seven years old then, you see. Do you want me to demonstrate to you how I did that? You know, refresh your memory? But, I would leave a bigger scar now, is that ok?"

Sasuke stared at his hand as flashbacks of how he was hospitalized came to his mind, "Sakura?" he asked, unbelievably.

"BINGO! That's me!" she let go of his hand and stood up making a 'V' sign with her hand and sat back down. She grabbed another shot of tequila, finished it and ordered for another one. "Maybe you should stop drinking, Sasuke. You don't even recognize me. You're drunk! Oh well, doesn't matter!" she raised her glass to his. "Cheers!" Sakura then chugged the whole glass down.

Sasuke was too stunned as Sakura ordered some more. She looks so different. So sophisticated. If it was brighter then he would have recognized her pink hair. The dim lights made her hair look brown. He drank his brandy and called for another one. That's all he could do: resist the temptation she's giving. She looked so seductive. "What are you doing here? Getting your self drunk?"

"I'm not getting my self drunk! Stop accusing me!" she slurred. "Just…celebrating."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "You're getting your self drunk! That's dangerous!" Sakura is too drunk to notice the malicious stares the males are giving her around the bar. It's not good for her to drink alone. She didn't' think of the danger it would cause her if she won't stop.

Sasuke snatched her glass away. "Stop it, Sakura! Your not being yourself."

Sakura grabbed her drink back angrily. "This is mine! If you want one then order yourself," she turned to the bartender. "Hey you! Hot bartender, give this guy tequila. He's snatching mine. Give me another one, too! Be good and bring it fast. IF you're lucky, I might give you good tip."

The bartender smirked. "Sure thing."

"What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you acting like that?!" he turned to the bartender. "Cancel that. Don't give her anymore alcohol. Here's money. Go wipe goblets or something."

The Sakura he knows is not the kind who gets herself drunk and goes club hopping alone and flirt with a 'not-hot' bartender!

"Ichigo tricked me," she sobbed.

He wanted to tell her "I told you so". She didn't listen to him and look at her. The truth is, he doesn't have the slightest idea that what he was saying would come true. That Ichigo wouldn't marry her. He was just kidding. Sasuke felt guilty. Maybe he jinxed Sakura.

Tears are falling down her cheeks. One of the things he hates is seeing a girl cry. He felt somewhat responsible. He was always teasing her that she would be alone for the rest of her life. It would be his fault if that would ever come true.

"Did you know that I prepared myself for this night?" she spoke. "I wanted him to be the first person with me on my birthday night. I expected him to propose to me. That's the only reason I could think of on why he came back. I was waiting for him in the restaurant. Then a lady came and asked if I'm Sakura. And it turned out that she's …" more tears fell. She can't continue speaking. The pain was too much and besides the hiccups was bad.

"His girlfriend?"

She shook her head.

"Wife?"

She sobbed more. "NO!"

"Well then, what's the reason he can't marry you? Who's the lady anyway? Is she hot?" he tried to make a joke.

"She's Ichigo," Sakura whispered loud enough for Sasuke to hear.

"So..you mean.."

She cried harder. "He's not Ichigo anymore! He's – No! She- She's even prettier than me! HELL! She had sex change! Do you know what that is? Huh? It means she changed her sex organ! Ichigo cut of his 'twinkie'! He became a She! A HeSh! What the hell!"

He gave her a comforting embrace despite the fact that he's a bit disturbed by the 'cut-twinkie' thing. Ouch! "Hush, now. Everything will be okay."

"Okay?" she shrieked. "What 'okay'? any minute now I'll be twenty-five! I'm officially going to be an old maid! YOU should be happy! Isn't that what you've been wanting? You wanted that from the beginning! You don't want me to be happy!" she cried more and more.

He felt a stab of more guilt in his chest. "That's not true. Besides, I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Give me tissue." Sasuke obliged. Sakura blew her nose and took a deep breath then smiled. "You didn't hurt me. You wanted to open my eyes to the truth. I should be thanking you. I mean, who would want to be stuck with me? I'm ugly. I have a super natural forehead!"

Sasuke cupped her wet face and dried her tears. "You're not ugly. You just don't know how to be beautiful." He was the first one who saw her true beauty and he felt like proposing to her right here, right now. IT felt like a kick in the gut. He felt like hiding her from the world so that others won't see her. He suddenly felt possessive. "You are beautiful, Sakura."

Sakura closed her eyes as Sasuke held her face. "Am I really?" she slowly opened her eyes. "Well then, do you like me, Sasuke?"

His throat feels so dry. Sasuke felt like he is being cut in half. He doesn't know what to say. If he answered yes, maybe he can't control what would happen next. "Sakura…"

She turned away from him in a form like she got burned. "Maybe you're also gay like Ichigo. That's why you don't like me. Is there really an alive, single, straight guy left in this world? They're like Dodos! Extinct! Or maybe endangered. No, extinct. You're gay, too."

"I am not gay!" he hollered.

Sakura looked at him straight to the eye. "Yeah? Prove it."

Chapter 3: Extinct

Kimbie