Hey my lovies,
Well this is the new chapter.
A day early.
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By reviewing.
It keeps the updates coming (:
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Author: xWrittenInBlood
The most amazing Beta: Destroyed Illusions
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"Something's getting in the way. Something's just about to break.
I will try to find my place."
Diary of Jane - Breaking Benjamin.
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Chapter Five.
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Sakura fell on her bed. Tears pouring from her eyes, she clutched her pillow to her chest.
"Why is it.. We're faced with all these problems?" She sobbed into the pillow, a trail of black eye make up staining her pillow.
"Other people have problems too." A voice mumbled. Shikamaru.
"But why?" She choked on the air in her throat before burying her face in the pillow once again.
She felt the bed dip, Shikamaru's hand gently tugged the tangles out of her pink locks.
"Because that's just life. We're all dealt a troublesome life. We have to make mistakes in order to find out where we belong. Why do you think we live, Sakura?" He asked her, his voice barely above a whisper.
"..." He received no answer. So he continued talking.
"Each of us are important to at least one person in this world." He paused. His hand stopped combing through her hair. He froze.
Sakura flipped herself over, looking up into Shikamaru's dark eyes.
"Uhh, forget it. This cheering you up thing is such a drag." He looked away. She smiled, leaning into him.
"For the record, it worked."
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"I will give you this," Neji held up a 20 pack of cigarettes. "If you come to school. Today. Right now."
Sakura weighed her options. Was a day worth of school worth cigarettes? It was school.
She sighed, snatching the rectangular object, tearing at the plastic packaging and sticking her 'Death Stick' between her lips. "I fucking
hate you." She hissed, throwing the packet in her school bag, before throwing that over her shoulder and walking out the door.
"Smoking kills!" Neji yelled out sarcastically.
"That's the point!" She yelled back.
Some things just never changed.
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"Haruno!"
"Kurenai!"
Kurenai growled under her breath. "Will you ever pay attention, Sakura?" She asked sweetly through gritted teeth.
"I have a short attention span." She shrugged, fingering the cigarette packet in her bag.
She wasn't addicted to smoking, she just liked to do it. I mean, everyone has to die of something, right?
Neji nudged her hard in the ribs, she winced. "The fuck?" She hissed at him, leaning over to tug on his long hair. He simply swatted her hand away.
"For once, Sakura, can you not get in trouble?" He asked as if he were talking to a mere child.
"Don't patronize me."
"Are you two done?" Kurenai asked with a glare.
"Not yet." Sakura answered quickly. "You owe me for not biting your throat out right now."
"You're still saying that? I know you wouldn't."
"You really wanna test that theory?" She raised an eye brow, and was met with silence. She looked up to Kurenai. "Finished now." She smiled sickly sweet.
Not knowing why, Sakura turned her head to the other side of the classroom. Sasuke was looking at her. She smiled, waving a little. She didn't see him blush from the shadow cast over his face, but he smiled a little and waved back.
Turning back in her seat, she felt a warmth spread through her.
Kind of awkwardly, Sakura adjusted in her seat, trying to shake the warmth off.
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"We have got to stop meeting like this." Sakura accused the onyx eyed boy whom had just sat on the swing next to hers.
He mumbled, "Why? It's the only time I can ever talk to you."
True.
"Am I that.." She searched for a word. "Unapproachable?" Was she that scary? Intimidating?
Sensing her thoughts, he quickly realized his mistake. "School makes me nervous." He blurted. Keep going, don't sound like such an idiot, idiot!"Uhh.. Yeah. I just do the work. I don't really socialize." Way to make yourself look like a loner. You fail. He inwardly sighed.
"Hmm.. Neither do I. I only went today because Neji is an ass." She looked into the distance, and Sasuke felt that familiar rush of jealousy flow through him. He tightened his hold on the chains. Like I would ever be good enough for her, anyway.
"You know.." Sakura started. "I think we could have been good friends. If I was another person."
Sasuke looked at her alarmed. "What's wrong with how you are?"
She folded her hands neatly in her lap. "Truth is, I don't want to bring you into my freak-zone I call a life." She looked over at him, her
eyes piercing through his own with such a cold stare, he almost flinched. His heart sank at having this look pointed at him.
He looked away, not being able to stand the weight of the stare. "Maybe I could help.."
Her voice was quiet now. "You think people haven't tried before?" She hesitated, before talking again. "Why do you think Neji and Shikamaru don't live with their families?"
He didn't know where he found the courage. But he reached for her hand, and held it in his. "Then I've got nothing to lose, have I?"
She looked at him. Carefully reading every detail in his body language, scanning hi eyes. Looking for any sign of a lie. She found none, eventually giving up.
"Thank you.."
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"So, I've made a new friend." Sakura announced from her position. She was currently between her two boys, lying on Shikamaru's bed.
Neji looked over at her, raising a thin eyebrow. "Who?" He asked quietly, trying not to wake the sleeping genius to her left. She didn't know why he bothered. They could clash symbols next to his ears and he wouldn't wake up.
"Sasuke Uchiha." She stated clearly. Neji's eyes narrowed.
"Itachi's younger brother?" He asked, his voice sharp.
She remembered Sasuke talking about his brother. "Yes."
"Oh. Great. Another stuck up asshole."
"You mean you, Neji? Hate to break it to you, but Sasuke isn't an asshole." She narrowed her eyes. Neji sighed, averting his gaze.
"Itachi is a few years older than me-"
"Us."
"I'm older than you, Sakura." She shrugged at this. She was the youngest of their group. Neji continued, "He was the smartest guy to enter high school. Finished early, took all AP classes. He made Shikamaru look stupid."
"You're just as smart as Shika, you know."
He shifted his gaze again, a sign his self-consciousness was setting in again. I guess living in a place that demands perfection, your self-esteem would drop dramatically.
She leaned her head on his shoulder, but said nothing.
He smiled as small smile. "You know, I haven't cut today." He nudged her. Sakura smiled.
He had enough scars already.
Almost as much as her.
"That's great!" She threw her arms around his neck in a hug. He laughed, hugging her back.
"Guys.. Shut up." Shikamaru mumbled, one of his arms flailing the bed, looking for something to hit. "Such a drag..."
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"-does nothing! He will not amount to anything in his life!" This was his father's voice.
"Shut up!" Sasuke yelled angrily, tears brimming his eyes.
His parents looked up the stairs, where their youngest child stood, his tall body shaking, fists balled at his sides. But he was going to be strong.
"Boy," His father hissed dangerously. "Do not speak to your parents like that." He threatened.
Sasuke closed his eyes tightly. "Just shut up! Why? Why do you both hate me so much? What did I do wrong? I try my hardest to please you!"
Fugaku chuckled darkly, walking up the stairs toward Sasuke.
Flee. Run away. Run fast. Don't look back. It all ran through his mind, but he stupidly stood his ground. Run, run now!
He didn't.
But he should have.
Fugaku pulled back his fist, connecting it with Sasuke's gut. Sasuke winced, grunting against the blow, but didn't have much time to think about it.
He was falling.
Down the stairs.
He heard a scream, then a crack.
That's when the darkness came.
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"Fugaku, what have you done?" Mikoto hissed, running to her son's side.
The man in question shrugged. "What needed to be done." He looked at his wife. "He is the center of our problems."
Mikoto thought for a while, brushing the hair out of her son's face.
Was he really the center of their problems? She shook her head.
She realized it now.
When had they become so corrupted? The only time they talked was when they were arguing about their son.
All of the things she had said, just for her husband to talk to her.
She had lied through her teeth, sacrificing her love for her son for the love of her husband.
She was so selfish.
So blind.
"I hate you," She hissed, looking away from Sasuke's face, toward Fugaku. She shook her head, tears falling through the air. "Look at what we've become, Fugaku! Look at our son!" She demanded.
But he didn't.
Instead, he turned. And he left the room. He left his son. He left his wife. He left their house.
Mikoto sobbed over her son, carefully trying to pull him to a stand. "Sasuke," She choked, but continued talking. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. Come on, stand up. We need to check your wrist."
Sasuke mumbled, slowly blinking his eyes.
"Mom?" He asked carefully. He felt her arms around him, and that sincere look on her face. It couldn't be directed at him.
It had to be a dream.
Yet, he smiled.
"I'm so sorry, Sasuke." She sobbed again, waking Sasuke fully.
"It's not a dream?" He asked, reaching out and touching her hair.
"Be careful, son. I think your wrist is broken. We need to get a doctor to look at it."
"Why?" Sasuke suddenly pulled his hand back, glaring at the woman. He threw himself out of her grasp, landing harshly on the ground.
The pain in his wrist forgotten. The emotional pain was worse. "Why do you care? You hate me!" He yelled. "And I hate you!"
Mikoto smiled sadly, the tears streamed down her lightly tan skin. "I know you do." She closed her eyes, her heart breaking all over again. "You have every right. But you must know how deeply sorry I am, Sasuke."
Sasuke said nothing, closing his eyes to block her out. She had hurt him so badly, he couldn't let her do it again.
She had never apologized before.
He didn't know what to believe.
He was fragile.
This was all too much.
He got up, and he ran.
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Intense, huh?
I feel I rushed the Mikoto/Sasuke bonding scene, but I really wanted to mend that relationship.
I guess she just has to realize it might be a little harder than expected.
Anyway, please review!