Special shout out to xrawrapandax, whose reviews made my day! Only seriously.

Oh and Kiwi-chann should know I love her 'cause my kitten is named Kiwi. She'd tiny and fuzzy and brown with big pistachio-colored eyes, so she looks like a kiwi. Plus, the friend who came up with the name gave me this sob story about how they named a baby bunny with the same coloring kiwi, but it was too young and died without its mommy. So, I had to name it kiwi.

~*SASUKE*~

My hands clenched around my steering wheel. My knuckles were burning white. Focus on that. Concentrate on how the bone was about to break through the skin. I didn't want to think about what I saw. I clenched my jaw and let go of the wheel, only to steer my way out of that place. I kept driving, trying to think only about minor landmarks, the street signs, the cars people were driving. Still, something sour was curdling in my gut. The image kept popping up, darkening my mood. Kankuro, taking Sakura in his arms, kissing her full on the lips. Sakura, kissing back. Her head on his chest. Him holding her close.

I convinced myself to drive around town one more time. Go where she goes once more and quit it. So I checked the library. She'd consider moving in if it was allowed. I didn't even get out of my car before the display of affection assaulted me through the windshield. She'd kissed other guys before, and, yeah, I'd gotten jealous. But they were always no one she cared about, not a close friend like Kankuro. It was never sweet and sincere like that. She never smiled against their mouths like that. Something was withering and rotting black inside. Maybe the hope I'd been harboring the past few days. Jealousy was seething. Self-hatred was churning.

I parked outside my house, yanking the key out of the ignition, and slamming the car and front doors with unnecessary force. I deposited my keys on the counter before I started pacing around my kitchen. "Dammit." I pushed my hair out of my face with my fingertips. "Fuck it. Fuckin' goddamn." I eventually rested my elbows on the counter, burying my face I my palms. "That should be me." The thought repeated itself in my mind. That should be me.

"Something wrong, little brother?" A voice came from behind me. I stiffened before dragging my face up through my hands and reluctantly turning to face Itachi. Only my brother could hold that degree of perpetual smugness in his tone.

"Hn," I said, acknowledging his presence, but not his question. He smirked at me. I'd never admit it, but it sort of intimidated me when he did that. He looked like the asshole who thought he had all the answers to life. What's worse, he usually did.

He leaned against the table, looking superior. "This isn't about Sakura again is it?"

"What?" I asked, my response probably sounding a lot more zealous than it should.

Itachi rolled his eyes. "You're my little brother. I can see right through you." He picked an apple from the bowl of fruit my mother leaves out on the table. "What did you do now?"

"Nothing," I said harshly. "Because I don't like her."

"I never said you did." Itachi stood up straight again. "But you're going to lose your chance if you keep acting like such a pussy."

Itachi exited the room and I buried my face in my hands again. I hated his advice. It was always right. He needs to give it sooner.

~*SAKURA*~

I took a deep breath. It was meant to be cleansing, but it wasn't doing much for the dread that seemed to possess me. My hands were trembling again. Come on, Sakura, you needed to grow a pair. What was I going to do, drop out of school for some boy? I was a thousand times more responsible than that. Unfortunately, that didn't make me any less of a wimp. I didn't know what I was afraid of. So I might lose a friend. Friends don't last forever. I couldn't have expected to pine after him until I'd morphed into the crazy cat lady. So what if it would break my heart and crush my soul? People have lived through worse. However, that didn't ease my suffering. In fact, as I approached the school, I was considering throwing myself in front of a bus. Seriously.

I found Sasuke at his locker. Thankfully, he didn't see me first, so I had time to smooth my hair back and mentally prepare myself. I persuaded my feet to move forward, telling myself I'd be relieved when it was all over. I clutched my books to my chest, hoping maybe they'd protect me, which was silly at best. The worst he could do was laugh in my face, and a whole stack of books couldn't stop that from punching me in the stomach.

I swallowed before speaking. "Hey."

He looked over at me, seeming mildly surprised, which was unsettling. Actual emotion was never a good sign coming from him. "Hey. You all right?"

I discreetly looked around. With all the drama going around, we'd gathered some viewers. "Yeah, I'm fine. Why?"

"You've been out." He stated simply. Terse as always.

"Yeah, I know." I took another breath. I was suddenly feeling low on oxygen. "Um, about that rumor that's been going around. About me, uh… liking you."

I bit my lip, nervously, hunching in on myself. I was such a chicken. Sasuke put his final book in his locker and slammed the door shut before saying anything. "It's a rumor, Sakura. I don't care."

He walked away, leaving me dumbstruck. He was willing to ignore it. Something about his response mad him seem kind of pissed, but we were still cool. It was more that I could even have hoped for. I marveled at my luck, watching him go. A miracle.

So why did I feel deflated?

~*SASUKE*~

"Hey, Kankuro," Ino greeted as he walked into Ihop with his arm possessively wrapped around Sakura's waist. Her cheeks colored a bit when I looked at her and she adverted her eyes. I tried my utmost not to seethe.

"Hey," he grinned back. What pissed me off most about him was that I couldn't punch him in the face. He was actually a good guy and probably better for Sakura than I was.

"What are you doing here?" Ino wondered, voice heavy with suggestion.

"Sakura invited me." He turned his head so he could stare into Sakura's eyes. Gag.

"So are you two, like…." Ino countered. Instead of answering, Kankuro planted one on Sakura. She complied, forming to him like clay. Ino and Kiba cat-called while I imagined bashing my head in. My friend's apparent approval made me feel even worse for wishing him road kill on the highway. Except for Karin. She frowned a little, but otherwise did nothing to show either support or disapproval.

The couple took their seats at our table and proceeded to flawlessly melt into our group. I wish I could say Kankuro was anything other than charming and likeable. Only every once and a while he would he catch my eye with slight condescension and distaste. It took all my self-control to refrain from kicking the son of a bitch in the shin.

And so it went on. For weeks I had to endure the perfect couple pop in and out of my life while debating if I should buy some pills to pop in with them.

He so stupid.