Notes: I wasn't dead; I was just busy D: But now I'm back :D

Disclaimer: This is just fanfiction.

Chapter twelve

More bad news

Ino threw herself on her comfy bed as the door of her bedroom closed behind her with a soft click. She didn't realize before, but she was already crying and shaking uncontrollably. In other situation, she would have thought: "C'mon, stop crying! He was just a boy!" But Sai wasn't just a boy, she remembered as she started crying harder. Sai was her everything.

Suddenly, a song started playing, and she realized it was coming from her cell phone. Slowly, as if her body weighed too much, Ino stood up and picked up the schoolbag she had thrown violently to the floor. She took out the cellphone and read the screen. It was Sakura.

Ino pressed the talk button and put the phone against her ear. She sniffed and said with a husky voice, "Hello?"

"…You've been crying," Sakura said, her voice soft, and Ino could imagine the worried expression on her face.

Despite her mood, she smiled slightly. "Did you just call me to tell me something I already know?"

"No, I'm sorry. It's just that… well, I'm surprised."

"I'm surprised too." Ino threw the schoolbag on the floor and sat on the edge of her bed. "I've cried for boys before, but not this much. I… I really can't believe how much this hurts me."

"I can't believe it, either," Sakura replied. "But, anyways, let's change the subject. I don't want to hear your loud crying anymore."

Both girls laughed a little. Ino felt proud and happy, because for that little moment, she had forgot about her misery. Friendship always fixes what love destroyed, Ino thought with a small smile.

"So," she said, undoing her ponytail with her free hand, "why did you call me?"

"Principally, because I wanted to know how you're doing," Sakura said.

"Well, I'm doing fine. My heart is broken, but it's, you know, okay. I guess."

Sakura chuckled a little. "No matter what, you're still the same old Ino-pig."

Ino sighed. "I'm trying… Anyways, why else did you call me?"

"Well…" She paused and then sighed deeply. "I'm feeling kid of… confused. And guilty. And sad."

Ino frowned slightly. "Why? What happened? Hey, is it because of Hinata?" She sighed. "Listen, Forehead, I feel sad too, but she'll be okay–"

"That's not it," Sakura interrupted. "I mean, I do miss her and everything, but that's not it. Something… something happened with Sasuke. Well, actually, two things happened."

Ino's blue eyes widened. Did he break up with her?, was her first thought, and she panicked for a second. She didn't want her best friend's heart to be as broken as hers. But then she thought more about it, and realized that if that was the case, then Sakura wouldn't be sounding so okay; she would be crying and screaming and probably about to kill herself. Ino knew her.

"What happened, Sakura?" Ino asked, sincerely worried and curious.

"Well, we talked," Sakura started, "about Karin. Remember that he told me he didn't love Karin even though they were dating, and I was so freaking confused that I almost cried?"

Ino pursed her lips at the memory. "You did cry, actually."

"Whatever…" Sakura sighed. "Well, he told me the reason why he was still with her even though he hated her. He said she made him believe she was pregnant."

Ino gasped. "What a bitch! I didn't believe she would be able to get that far…. Oh, hey, but does that mean they did, you know… it?"

"Yeah," the pink haired girl replied, sounding kind of angry. "They did. But when we made the spell and Sasuke fell in love with me, he broke up with her, believing he could take care of his baby without necessarily being with Karin. That was when she told him she lied about it."

"Oh my God…" Ino whispered. "That's pretty shocking. How could she do that? You don't play with that kind of stuff."

"I know… But anyways, I didn't actually want to tell you this just to talk shit about Karin. I tell you this because… well, it kind of made me realize that we… kind of forced the guys. I mean, if I hadn't made Sasuke love me, he would still be with Karin right now. The decision he made was good, but it was only because of Kim and the magic."

"But what do you mean with forced?" Ino asked, suddenly exasperated. "We didn't threaten them or anything."

"No," Sakura said, "we didn't do anything. Kim did. Because of her, they love us. So it's kind of a… shallow love, as if they were hypnotized or something, I don't know." Her voice started shaking. "Ino, I think they don't love us. I mean, they don't actually love us; it isn't something pure and sincere, as it's supposed to be. We… we didn't do something very different of what Karin did."

"Don't say that!" Ino shouted, suddenly forgetting her sadness and feeling very furious. "We're nothing like that slut! I mean, we kind of – yeah, forced them to love us, but…"

She didn't know what to say next. She was still very shocked and confused, because she had never thought about it that way before. What if Sai didn't actually love her? What if it was something shallow, as Sakura said? What if everything were just lies?

"Lies," Ino finally murmured, and she found herself crying again. "It all had been just lies. Every hug, every kiss, every touch, every word… they were lies. Shallow. Fake. But still, they meant everything to us. They felt real."

Ino heard Sakura sobbing. She was about to tell her something to calm her down a little, when she sniffed. "You're right," she said, and Ino could also hear she was smiling despite her tears. "They felt real. But they were not."

Ino sighed deeply. She threw herself back to lie on her back, staring at the ceiling. She and Sakura were quiet for a long moment, each one deep in thought, until Sakura broke the silence.

"Maybe they have fallen in love with us," she said, her voice full of hope. "Maybe they were forced at first, but they got to know us and they… you know, they liked us, and now they sincerely love us. You know what I mean…?"

"…Yeah, I know what you mean." Ino closed her eyes tightly, and, although she was unsure of it, she said, "Maybe you're right."

The next day, Ino forced herself to get up from bed and get ready for school. My life won't end because of him, she told herself. No matter how much it hurts, I have to continue with my life. But no matter how much she wanted to be the same Ino she used to be, she just didn't feel like wanting to get her hair and her make-up done as she used to. She didn't have to look beautiful for someone anymore, anyways.

When she arrived to the school, with her hair pulled into a messy bun and without a single drop of makeup on her pale face, she forgot about her appearance and felt glad there was finally good news in her life.

"You're meeting Neji's family tomorrow night!"

TenTen nodded happily. "Can you believe it?"

Ino smiled sincerely. "I'm so glad for you, TenTen. And thanks for giving me good news; right now I really need them."

TenTen's smile widened. "You're welcome. But you have to thank me in some other way."

The blonde raised an eyebrow. "What do you want?"

TenTen blushed. "Well, you know how the Hyuuga family is, and I'm very nervous because I want them to like me, but... I have no idea what to wear."

Ino's smile came back. "Are you serious? That's like making me another favor! I love shopping, and that's actually going to make me happier."

TenTen giggled. "Then I'll see you after school, alright?"

"Alright," Ino agreed, nodding, feeling very excited. Shopping is the best medicine to heal a girl's broken heart, after all.

Sasuke was tapping his fingertips against his desk. He wasn't paying attention to the teacher; his mind was somewhere else. Naruto, who was sitting behind him, patted his shoulder, and Sasuke turned his head to a side and looked at his best friend from the corner of his eye.

"What?" Sasuke asked in a low voice.

"Are you okay?" Naruto whispered, frowning.

Sasuke turned his head and sighed tiredly. "Yes, I'm fine," he said. He hated how much Naruto knew him, and that he always knew when he was upset. Couldn't he just leave him alone for once?

The bell rang and the teacher dismissed the class. Sasuke packed his stuff slowly, like he didn't want to go yet. And, again, Naruto noticed that.

The blond stood in front of Sasuke as he stood up from his seat. "What's wrong, Sasuke?" Naruto demanded.

"It's none of your business, stupid," Sasuke hissed, glaring at him.

Naruto glared back. "Of course it's my business, jerk. You're my best friend!"

"Unfortunately," Sasuke murmured as he grabbed Naruto's shoulder and pushed him away. He continued walking towards the door, with Naruto yelling behind him.

As he reached the door, a familiar face appeared right in front of him. "Sakura…" Sasuke said, not surprised, but disappointed. He did expect her to be there as soon as his class finished. That kind of things had happened for two weeks now; he was kind of getting used to it, and really annoyed.

"Hi," she said, smiling happily. She linked her arm with his and they continued walking. "How was your class?" she asked casually.

Sasuke sighed. "Fine, I guess."

"Oh, good! Hey, I was wondering if-"

"SASUKE, YOU BASTARD! COME BACK RIGHT NOW!" Naruto yelled from the classroom's door.

Sakura glanced behind them, looking surprised and kind of scared of Naruto's anger, and then looked up to her boyfriend. His face was serene and emotionless. "You're not going to go back?" she asked.

"No," Sasuke stated blankly. "I already know what he wants."

Sakura blinked, confused. "But…"

"I KNOW YOU HEARD ME, JERK! DO NOT IGNORE ME OR I'M GOING TO-!"

"…He sounds kind of angry," she finished, glancing behind them again. "And he's attracting too much attention. Look, everyone is looking at him strangely!"

Sasuke glanced behind him for a moment. Indeed, everyone passing by was staring at the blond cursing and yelling in front of the Chemistry classroom."It's okay," Sasuke told her. "He's used to it."

Sakura stopped walking, pulling Sasuke with her. "Sasuke," she started, looking serious. "Don't be a jerk with your best friend. I agree, he's a loud idiot, but he worries about you. Don't be so mean."

That was it. Sasuke couldn't stand it anymore. First, she wanted to know about everything he did; then, she started acting like his bodyguard. And now she wanted to tell him what to do?

"Okay, stop it already," Sasuke said, frowning and giving her the stop-being-so-stupid look.

Sakura looked confused, something that annoyed him even more. "What are you talking about?"

Like hell she didn't know. "You're…" He stopped himself and sighed, trying not to get too angry and hurt her feelings really hard. "You're acting strange, Sakura. And I don't like it. Could you please tell me what made you change so suddenly?" And then, something seemed to click in his mind. "Don't tell me it's because of what I told you about Karin."

"What? No!" the girl replied, shaking her head. "I'm totally over it. Besides, why should I care if you say it meant nothing for you?" Then she smirked in that way that made Sasuke's insides melt and took his hands. "Anyways, my parents are visiting my grandma and they won't be coming back until tomorrow morning. My house is going to be alone for a really long time, so…"

He got what she was trying to say, and even though he was dying to say yes and stay with her for the whole afternoon – and maybe the whole night – he was not stupid, and he wouldn't fall for that one. He knew she was just changing the subject.

He shook his head, ignoring his real desires. "Answer me, Sakura."

Sakura's smirk disappeared and she stared into his eyes, clearly nervous. That only made Sasuke more intrigued to know what she was up to.

"I…" she started, "I don't know what you mean. I'm the same as always. Maybe you're the one who's changing and you don't realize…"

He shook his head again. "No, no, I'm not the one who's hiding something in here. You know I tell you everything and that I've never lied to you."

"I know it…" Sakura looked down and seemed to be at the verge of tears, but he couldn't stop – not now.

"Sakura, I love you." It was hard for him to say that, because it was the first time he did it, but he needed her to know it, no matter what. "But, lately, I've been feeling like I don't know you anymore, and I don't think we should keep this going like this."

Her whole body seemed to freeze then. "What do you mean with 'this'?" she asked, her voice shaking and her lower lip trembling. "You mean you and me? Are you..." She held back a sob. "Are you, like, breaking up with me?"

Sasuke didn't say anything. He could do nothing but stare at her and wish things would be different.

Sakura let that sob go. "Alright… I understand. If that's what you want…"

"It's not what I want…"

She ignored him. "Then there's nothing I can do to stop you." She turned around and walked away – or actually ran away. Her footsteps were too fast, but that was maybe because she wanted to get as far as possible from him now, because now she… she hated him.

Sasuke let go of the breath he was holding and ran a hand through his dark locks. He felt so tired… completely exhausted. He just felt like going home and sleep until the next day, in an attempt to not think about her – to not get too sad.

Sighing again, he turned around, and hoped that wasn't going to be the last time she talked to him.

TenTen and Ino were shopping the whole afternoon. And it was one of the hardest times Ino had ever had shopping. She had nice tastes – everyone said that, she wasn't just being arrogant – but TenTen… well, let's say she didn't have enough experience on fashion.

"This?" Ino asked, cringing at the sight of a weird-green dress that not even her grandmother would've dared to wear.

"Yeah." TenTen seemed one hundred percent sure that it was the kind of dress that would give a good impression to Neji's family. "It's pretty, isn't it?"

"Uhh… yeah, but not pretty enough." Ino threw away the horrible dress, wondering who dared to desing that crap and sell it to the people. "Hey, why don't you let me choose? You'll like my choices better."

"Okay," the brunette shrugged. "But please don't choose some slutty dress, alright? I don't want Neji's parents to think I'm someone I'm definitely not."

And with that dress that you chose before they wouldn't think that?, Ino thought, but just nodded and pushed her friend out of the store to go to another one.

At the end of the day, the girls went home with a beautiful pink dress, strapless, but discreet enough – just perfect to meet your boyfriend's family, as Ino described it. Ino stayed in TenTen's house a little longer, to show her what makeup she should wear and the hairstyle that would look good with her new dress.

Just when the sky was getting dark, Ino decided it was time for her to go home.

"Thanks for today, Ino," TenTen told her at the door.

"It's nothing." Ino smiled. "It was good for me too, anyways. Shopping made me forget about my depression."

TenTen smiled sadly. "I almost forgot about that."

"Yeah, me too." The blonde shook her head, not wanting to remember it right now. "Anyways, see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, bye."

Ino's house wasn't too far away from TenTen's, so she decided she could walk. The streets were kind of crowded anyways, so it wasn't dangerous. Besides, she liked walking through the streets at night. The fresh smell of the night made her feel relaxed; it made her forget, something she desperately needed right now.

Out of nowhere, she felt like taking out her cell phone, just four blocks away from her house. When she opened it, she saw the screen and gasped. It said that Sakura had called her twenty one times and left her thirteen messages. Worried, Ino read one of the messages, and she stopped walking.

Ino, he did it. He broke up with me. And I think I was right about what I told you before. I think they aren't forced to love us anymore; they do love us now. But seems like I screwed it up.

Panicking, Ino read another message, and another, and another.

It was my entire fault. He got tired of me; I was too clingy. I was too fucking insecure to realize that he did love me, in spite of the spell and all the other crap. I'm so stupid!

Ino, I need you. The pain in my chest is so fucking unbearable… I hope you can save me. I guess I just need to talk; to let it out. Please call me or come to my house.

I wish I would go back in time. I wish I would've never done the things I did. I wish… I would've never born. Life lost its sense now that he hates me. I feel very lonely.

"Oh, my God," Ino whispered, and felt her eyes watering. Why in the world did she ignore her cell phone for so long? Sakura needed her, and she left her alone for too long now. What if she already did something reckless? Ino would never forgive herself.

She turned around and started running, not caring Sakura's house was almost fifteen blocks away from where she was.

It was almost ten o'clock, and Sakura was supposed to be sleeping by now. She needed her eight hours of sleep. But tonight… tonight she gave a damn about everything. She was too focused on her grief, too miserable to care about stupid things like sleeping. She was too fucked up.

Locked in her room, she had spent the whole afternoon crying, laying on her bed with her pajamas on, and with a pile of dirty tissues by her left. Her head ached and her eyes burned; she had cried too much. But she just couldn't stop it.

She felt something inside her chest, hurting her, begging her to be freed. Sakura cried and cried, sobbed and sobbed, screamed and screamed… but the pain just wouldn't go away. The thing inside of her couldn't escape, and she just realized the thing was her heart – her broken heart begging to stop the pain, to be healed. But that was impossible.

Suddenly, someone knocked at her door. She guessed it was her mom again, trying to know what was wrong. And it was her mom, but she wasn't trying to talk to her. Sakura's mom was there to tell her Ino had come.

Sakura jumped off her bed and ran downstairs. She saw her best friend standing in the living room, waiting for Sakura's mom, and Sakura ran to her arms.

She hugged her tightly. "Ino," she sobbed, feeling very thankful.

"It's okay…" Ino murmured, hugging her back, and Sakura was surprised to realize they were both crying.

Best friends did share feelings, after all.

Notes: Yeah, best friends do share feelings. When I'm sad, happy, bored or angry, my bf feels the same way, and it's so weird that it's awesome :D REVIEW IF YOU LOVE YOUR BF TOO! :3