Bam! This is the end guys, tragic, I know. But I just need to polish up one extra chapter tying up Siugetsu and Karin's story, so stick around for that! This was my favorite chapter to write.

~*SAKURA*~

So I was back where I started. Watching chick-flicks on my couch. I was stuffing my face with more popcorn when I heard a knock on the door. Impressed that someone bothered to knock, I rewarded them by exerting the effort to get up and let them in. It was Ino, standing there in all her stunning glory. I didn't even bother saying anything, just walked back to my seat, expecting her to follow. She gingerly sat herself on the remaining couch space. I found it comical how cautious she was being. She was Ino, and was supposed to be rash and careless and loud.

"How are you feeling?" She asked. I just gave her one of those looks that said "what do you think?" She grinned a bit. "Okay, bad question."

"Honestly? I feel tired. I'm fed up. I can't deal with it anymore." I answered, stuffing my face again.

"I don't even know what happened. I just know you and Sasuke got into a bad fight in the library. No one knows much else."

I finished swallowing my popcorn before breaking the news. "I slept with Sasuke Friday night. He was too drunk to remember."

Ino's eyes bugged out of her head, her voice reaching ultrasonic levels. "What?"

I gave a small smile. "I know. I mean, I don't regret it, but I just keep screwing myself over by him. I've given up. For real this time. I can't stand it anymore. I keep hoping and—it hurts."

She looked like she was still processing the piece of gossip, not sure how to take it. "My God. I mean—damn. Really? So you guys are just going to be friends now or—"

I shook my head. "I can't. I tried that. Didn't work out very well. He's out of my life forever."

"Maybe it's for the best. He's been a real jerk lately. I don't know why he's been in such a bad mood, but someone needs to slap sense into him. And you still have Kankuro, right?"

I shook my head again and her jaw dropped. "Why not, what happened?"

I gave her a funny look. "I slept with Sasuke."

She smiled kind of sheepishly. "Oh, right."

I grabbed a hand full of popcorn, then offered the bowl to Ino who did the same. We raised our popcorn in the air. "To leaving it behind." I toasted before knocking our knuckles together and simultaneously stuffing our faces. At least I still had friends.

~*SASUKE*~

The door swung open, only for a second, before she tried to slam it in my face. That second was all it took for me to stick my foot in between it and the door frame. I clasped the door's edge and forced it open, though she tried to hold me back. I was quarterback of the football team and she barely passed gym. When she realized she didn't have a chance she whipped around and took off. I followed her up her stairs, feet pounding hard against the steps. I was almost close enough to grab her wrist when she abruptly twisted into her bathroom and slammed the door. I heard the lock click into place and I turned around, slowing to a jog, backtracking a few steps before coming to a complete stop.

I ran my fingers through my hair, pushing it out of my face, wondering if I should even be there. I didn't want this all to blow up in my face. But with Sakura upset and our friendship in ruins with the chance to fix it, I wasn't really in a place to put my pride first. This wasn't a minefield anymore; everything had detonated. What did I have to lose besides another chance? Something told me this was my last one.

I turned around again walking back and rapping twice on the door. Sakura's voice burst through it, a resounding chorus of, "LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA." I threw my head back in exasperation smoothing my hair back again, this time with both palms, turning to face the wall opposite the bathroom door. I swiveled to rest my back on it, sliding to the floor. I clasped my hands and waited for her to stop, but she never did. I could easily picture it; her eyes squeezed shut, palms covering her ears, like a child in all their immature glory. I normally wouldn't mind that much—it was actually kind of cute. To me the behavior made her seem all the more alive, you know? Like the raw energy of her personality bubbled right under her skin. She was animated and dramatic which is why I loved her. So I was patient. Hell, I waited years, what was a few minutes in the grand scheme of things?

Eventually, the hallway fell quiet. The silence vibrated between us before I broke it, my voice deceptively casual. "I love you, you know."

The lock was hurriedly undone and the doorknob turned, revealing a face guarded, yet still susceptible. "Really?"

I found her eyes, both mine and hers unflinching. We both knew now there was nothing to be lost. "I tried to tell you. You wouldn't let me."

She was in a sort of stupor. I almost started panicking. What if she wouldn't believe me? What if she decided I was messing with her? What if she hated me for it? She was the type to do that sort of thing.

Mentally, I set my jaw and buckled up. It was irrational to feel so vulnerable with nothing to lose, but I guess that's what made me vulnerable. If she didn't believe me I'd make her believe. I'd sit in that hallway forever. She called me a liar.

"You know you don't have to go this far. I've watched you forever. I'd have noticed if you felt the same." She argued. I stood up and paced over to where she stood. I inhaled deeply, preparing myself for the difficult admission of weakness. I tilted her chin up I bowed down so we stood nose to nose, breath to breath.

"I know. It was hard for me to hope too." I said. She froze, whether in shock, awe, or defense, I had no clue, but it was obvious she wasn't going to make the first move. I cupped her left cheek, my fingertips resting lightly over her ear. I leaned in, taking her lips. They molded into mine, eventually moving to relax the tenseness in her body. Her torso arched back, her arms wrapped around my neck to keep herself somewhat upright. I bowed my head down, following her lead. It seemed a premonition for how the rest of our relationship was going to play out. When we pulled apart, I lifted her back up again and she unconsciously licked her lips. It was dead sexy.

"Still unconvinced? Because I can be a lot more convincing if I have to be." I smirked, insecurities vanished.

"Ooh, I didn't know you had this playful side." She teased, but she was grinning her face off like an idiot. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I tried to turn on the intensity. "How much is it going to take to convince you?"

"I don't know," She said, eyes sultry and playful. "I kind of want to see you beg."

"I don't do begging." There was only so much pride I was willing to sacrifice in one day. "I am, however, interested on seeing how far I can push before I have you begging me to stop."

She planted one on me without warning. It was a lot swifter and with less tongue than the previous kiss, but still hot as hell. She pulled away mischievously and batted her lashes. "I could live with that."

~*SAKURA*~

"Ask," Kiba commanded, shoving Naruto's arm. Naruto shot him a peeved look and shoved him back.

"You ask," he said. I rolled my eyes, taking a bite from my sandwich. For once, I wished for a peaceful lunch without the ceaseless bickering that accompanies the presence of teenage boys.

"Ask me what?" I finally questioned, saving them the trouble. The two exchanged glances.

"You broke up with Kankuro, right?" Kiba wondered. I blinked, uncertain as to why it was such a difficult question to ask.

"Yeah, I told you that. Why?" I said quizzically. The two grinned and Sasuke smirked. I shot them a suspicious look and theorized what they knew that I didn't.

"Then where'd you get the hickey?" Naruto asked. I raised my eyebrows and my cheeks heated.

"I don't have a hickey," I defended myself, voice raising an octave.

"Holy shit!" Ino chimed in. "You've been holding out on me."

"I do not have a hickey," I insisted, narrowing my eyes.

"You so do!" Ino brushed her fingertips over a spot on my neck. "It's right here."

I snapped my glare over to Sasuke who sat across from me looking perfectly smug. "You bastard!" I accused as I tried to kick him in the shin. Instead, Kiba yelped in pain. Whoops.

"Omigod, no way!" Ino squealed, way too excited and obviously unsympathetic to my injuring her boyfriend. "I can't believe you didn't tell me! You said you gave up on him! Are you to together now? Are you in looove?"

"Omigod, shut up." I elbowed her to keep her quite.

"Holy shit," Naruto said, attacking Sasuke. "You have emotions? I thought you were gay."

"Shut up," Sasuke snapped, then caught my eye.

"I really hate you," I told him.

He stared with a sensuality that planted kisses all over. "I hate you too."

And so concludes the longest story I've been able to finish (I have a short attention span). Good ending, I hope? Tell me what you think, and stick around to see what happens to my hints at Suigetsu and Karin.

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