So there will be one more chapter. I guess you can call it the Epilogue. I know I'm dragging this out, I feel it too.
Moving week is this week, my own apartment! I can't wait! Hope you all Enjoy this, I put a ton of work in it.
Chapter 42 Final Goodbye
Before we turn out the lights and close our eyes I'll tell you a secret I've held all my life. I'ts you that I live for, and for you I'd die. So I'll lay here with you till the final goodbye
-00-
Naruto was asleep beside her when consciousness finally awakened her. Her eyes were wide, gazing all around the small hospital room. She moved her head back and forth, trying to see if Sasuke was any where around but she knew she was kidding herself. Tears swelled in her gaze and she tightened her lips to keep the sobs at bay. She had failed she knew. She had not been strong enough to keep Sasuke from dying. She had not been strong enough to help.
The curtains to the room were open, revealing the dark night sky. No light shined tonight in the event of a new moon. Only the stars blinked in their lonely heaven.
Sakura put a shaking hand over her mouth, another attempt to quell the cries that were threatening, her chest tight in the emotional pain as her heart broke once again. She had loved him with all that she had and it had not been enough. Now he was gone, and never would she be able to see his gorgeous face, or feel his smooth skin, or hear his deep voice. It was gone, all of it, and it was too much to bare.
She swallowed, but her cries were shoving to the forefront of her voice. She wanted to run, to scream, to die, but any noise and Naruto would be wakened. She could deal with the loss of Sasuke on her own, but if Naruto woke, she would break into a thousand pieces.
Him waking, though, was an inevitability. He blinked upon the movement next him, groaning with a yawn.
Sakura quickly rubbed the wetness from her face, grimacing at the pain. Her hands were wrapped tight in gauze from the external injuries she had received. Her shoulders ached with the tightness her sobs were bringing and she tried her best to relax before he noticed.
"Sakura-chan." He whimpered, resting his head back down, his eyes shut, his hand reaching out to grasp hers. When she flexed back his eyes snapped open and he quickly stood, the chair scraping against the ground loudly in the silence of the hospital room. "Sakura-chan?" He questioned with a smile, "You're awake."
"Naruto." She whispered, swallowing again, hating the pathetic tone of her voice. "How long have I been out?"
"A week." He sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand tighter, afraid to let go.
"Is everyone okay?"
"You should be worried about your self. Tsunade-baa-chan is not happy." He gave her a lopsided smile but it faded and his eyes dropped. "You almost died."
"I know. I thought I would."
He shook his head, eyes squeezing tight. "I was never madder in my whole life."
"Gomen, Naruto-kun. I had to try." tears were pulling at her eyes again and she looked away from him, biting her lip, stiffening her hold on his hand. "But once again I failed."
"You failed? Yeah, there's plenty of that going around." He left her side to stand at the window, trying to ignore her questioning gaze. He was unsure if he wanted to tell her, if he needed to tell her. But he knew, it would be found out sooner or later, it would be better if he was the one to tell her. "Sakura-chan….I was the one who stabbed him."
"Nani?" Sakura shook her head vehemently forcing herself to sit up in bed, clenching the sheets in desperation. "That can't be true."
Naruto turned with a pitiful smile on his lips, his eyes knit in his sorrow, "It's true. I didn't mean for it to happen. I swear, Sakura. You have to believe me. Sasuke had thrown the sword to the side, and I knew what that meant. He was leaving it up to me. So I grabbed it and came from behind and stabbed Itachi through the back. And Sasuke…He stepped into it. I didn't know he was going to do it. I couldn't stop."
Sakura closed her eyes, holding her hands to her chest as she listened to Naruto's pleading voice. So Sasuke had wanted to die with his brother. Oh, how that brought anger into her heart. To give up, right at the end after years of sacrifice! Sakura bit her lip and turned her gaze to meet Naruto's imploring expression. She smiled softly, reassuring. "I don't blame you, Naruto."
She didn't know how she was doing it. The love of her life dead and she was still able to hold herself together for him. Inside there was nothing left but a broken heart still ripping. Perhaps it was the anger that kept it all down. The rage Sasuke will never have to hear.
"Really?" He stepped toward her, eyes wide with desperation.
"Really." She gasped when he hugged her suddenly but she smiled and patted his arm, unable to reach her arms up any further. She looked to the window, tears piling in her eyes and she was relieved when he pulled away or she might have surrendered to the pain "Will you take me to him, Naruto?" She wanted to see the grave. She needed to. Saying goodbye was all that was left.
"Hai." He disappeared to get a wheelchair.
-00-----
It was a section that had been boarded off and closed up for the past ten years. Sasuke had ordered them to do so when he was just eight years old. They past by empty shops that were rotted and falling apart, straight to the back where all the victims and past ancestors had been buried. The stone walk was ill kept, everything was over grown and broken.
Sakura sucked in her breathe, her hand gripping Naruto's that pushed behind her and he stopped the wheelchair, bending down to whisper in his ear, "It worked, Sakura-chan. You saved him." He was smiling she could hear but unable to tear her eyes away from the figure sitting on the dirt ground twenty feet away from them.
Sasuke faced the three graves in front of him, slowly turning his head to find Sakura and Naruto there. Naruto was grinning, and Sakura seemed unable to express emotion. He turned away from them. He fingered the freshly dug dirt where his brother now rested. His parents graves had grass blooming over theirs and fresh flowers that he had brought along the way.
It had been so long since he had visited their graves. He had stayed here since he woke alive in the hospital unit. It had been raining like it had on the day he woke after his clan had been massacred. But it had been different this time around. Naruto had been sitting between them, himself and Sakura. Holding both their hands, fast asleep.
Naruto moved the chair behind Sasuke and patted Sakura's shoulder, "I'll be back soon." She nodded and smiled to him, thanking him silently.
It was silent. She watched Sasuke with wide green eyes, wanting to hear his voice, to know he was okay, to find out what he was thinking. The wind blew and upon the horizon the sun was just beginning to rise, lighting the sky an orange hue. She wanted to speak but what could she say?
"Why?" Sasuke's voice sounded and he refused to turn to her. "Why did you save me?"
It was hard to hear the anger. But she was just happy he was alive. Nothing he could say could ruin that for her. "You know the answer to that."
"I didn't want to be here. I wanted to die."
"Sasuke--"
"I am it, Sakura!" He snapped to his feet finally facing her with wide black eyes. "I am alone now!"
"You're not alone!"
"Don't give me that shit! My family is dead. I have no one! I have nothing to live for anymore! I achieved my goal! Death is all that was left for me!"
"It doesn't have to be that way!"
Sasuke shook his head, disgust reflected in his eyes, "You are searching for a perfect ending…still." He placed hands on both sides of the chair, leaning to be even with her face, nearly touching nose to nose, "I don't love you." Her eyes darted to the side for only moment at that admission. Her brows knit when she saw ANBU drop from the trees. She directed her tearful gaze back to him. "I will never. My heart, lies in that ground with my otosan. My okasan, and now, my onii-san. It's where I'm suppose to be." He pushed himself away, glancing to his right, catching sight of the ANBU and then to his left, where another pair stood. He brought his black gaze back down to her, "What kind of life am I to have now?"
Naruto touched her shoulder, "What kind of life?" Sakura watched Sasuke snap his head away, as if ashamed of that admittance. "How about a life with us? Couldn't be as bad as living with Orochimaru."
"You don't know anything."
"I knew Orochimaru enough." Naruto fought back. "Give us a chance, Sasuke. We're all that you got now."
Sasuke disappeared without further rebuttal. The ANBU popped from existence as well.
Sakura rubbed away the tear that fell from her cheek and turned to Naruto with a smile. He tried to mimic but it was weak, he knew. "Let's go back." He pushed on the bars, allowing silence to pass between them.
--00--
Neji had his arms folded and kept his pace disregarding his partner's constant falling behind. He pretended not to care and ignored the whole situation but they were now getting closer to his clan's entrance and the nervousness was taking a hold of him too.
"Will you hold on a minute?" TenTen ordered harshly readjusting her adjusted kimono shirt. She reached down to re-strap her sandal then ran up to Neji's side once again.
He sighed and hadn't stopped despite her rant. This had been going on since they left her apartment. If she wasn't ready yet he didn't give a damn. "We are going to be late." He bit sharply. That's all he needed. To be late to their first family breakfast.
She cursed at him and mumbled under her breath but hurried beside him nonetheless. Normally she would have been just fine wearing what she was. A kimono top and a silk pant suit. She thankfully didn't have to wear a dress like she first feared. But nothing was fitting her well right now. Everything seemed to bulky and then some parts of it were too tight. What if she wasn't dressed nice enough? What if it was too boyish? She should have worn a dress. But that wasn't her style. She wasn't going to be fake for these people. But these people are Neji's family. They had to accept her. She needed their acceptance. Or did she---
TenTen growled and stomped her foot right in front of the entrance to the Hyuuga Compound. The guards looked at her funny but she stayed right where she was until Neji finally turned to her. "I can't do this." She promptly swung around.
Neji was before her, his speed startling her. He glared hard with his lavender eyes. Her brows knit pleading yet he was unrelenting. TenTen dropped her head and faced the doors once again.
Despite this being a overly stressful situation, Neji was relieved of the simplicity of it. The constant battle between them, breaking up with her, finding out she's pregnant, losing said baby, the distance TenTen created, and then worst of all, nearly losing TenTen herself to Itachi's murderous world. It had been a hellish couple of months.
Nothing seemed too hard but Neji wasn't that optimistic. TenTen had nightmares. She wouldn't talk to him about it but her continuous sleepless nights weren't healthy. However, she was allowing him to ease her problems either with training on the battleground, or training in the bedroom. Which was proof that they were growing together. She was allowing him, and he was willing.
Now if they could just get through breakfast with his family, perhaps the future won't be as troubling. If it is though, Neji's willing to fight it. As long as TenTen hurry's her ass up before they're late.
--00-
Twice in one week, Sakura found herself in a graveyard. Tears were already falling as she sat in her wheel chair alone. Without the use of her damaged arms, she managed to scoot herself out of the seat and dropped to her knees upon the freshly dug up dirt. Her hand strained, reaching up shaking, graced the kanji symbols that spelt out a name. A sob broke her lips and her forehead rested upon the ground. She shook her head with a bitter smile. "Kiba." She whimpered. "This isn't the way to get Hinata's love, baka." Her body shook in convulsions, "Who's going to heal my heart now? Why didn't you wait for me to heal yours? Baka."
The pain had never been so great. Her body collapsed against the dirt, curling into the creases trying to get as close to him as possible. The regrets piled on like the layers of earth that covered him. Her abandonment had helped neither of them. Had she never left, they could have gone on forever pretending. It would have been the best ending to their tragic stories.
A soft whine alerted her she was no longer alone. She reached out a weak hand and felt the touch of Akamaru's cold nose sniff into her palm. She rolled to her side, pulling him into her face and cried against his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Akamaru. I should have been there. I'm so sorry." He whined pulling back to lick her face, cleaning away the tears and dirt. She giggled in spite of herself. "You poor boy." She kissed him back which in turn he responded with urgency and love, licking and snorting, tickling her ear and neck making her squirm and laugh.
A throat cleared, halting their momentary happiness and both beast and woman looked over and spotted Kiba's mother staring down at them. Sakura hurried to sit up, Akamaru quickly going to woman's side and lying down. Sakura bowed low deeply out of respect, disgusted that she was caught rolling on her son's grave. "I'm sorry for your loss." She got out, the tears already clogging her throat again.
Sakura's relationship with Kiba's mother was terrible at best. So she prepared herself mentally what insults would come her way. "It is not only my loss."
Sakura's heart tightened. It meant much to her that his mother would say something as that. She bowed deeper before straightening and meeting the woman's diamond eyes. The sight however was too much. Kiba reflected so much in her face.
The older ninja kneeled down beside the dog that laid out on the ground. "It's the first time his tail has wagged since the return." Sakura forced a smile but it fell quickly. "When my son returned home without you, I quickly realized how much you meant to him. I never knew how deep his pain was but without you, it was quite obvious. For that. I respect you--"
"Don't please," Sakura groaned. "I don't deserve anything."
"Will you not let me make amends now for the sake of my dead son?" Sakura bowed her head. "I've said horrible things all on the basis that you are clanless. It was wrong of me to think you were no good for him when you were everything I wanted him to have. As an apology, And a way to honor a silent plea from my son. I wish you to take Akamaru."
The dog lifted his head, his big eyes going to his master with a begging question. She smiled, "Go. It's what you want." Akamaru got to his feet, nudged her hand in thanks and then ran to Sakura kissing her fingers when she reached for him.
Sakura looked up to her, "Arigato." She wiped the wetness from her cheek.
"No more tears for him. He died doing what he loved. Will you dishonor him?" Sakura tightened upon that thought. She straightened her spine, gazed up to his mother and nodded her head, thanking her as her eyes dried.
A smile was given. "Your strength is what he always valued in you. It is why Akamaru wants to be by your side. Don't lose it now when it is needed most." Kiba's mother turned sharply on her heal and left the two to her son's grave.
Sakura looked down at her new partner. He tilted his head to the side questionably. "I bet you haven't eaten." He whined bowing his head. "Kiba wouldn't want you wasting away." She patted his head, her gaze resting on the tombstone. When the wind blew her hair aside, she knew those words were meant for her as well.
-00-
Ino blinked awake. The light nearly blinding her and she put a weak hand up in front of her eyes to block the sunlight shining through the window. Her brows knit however upon finding the small needle taped to the back of her hand. She sat up with a quick breath, in shock to find herself in the familiar hospital. She looked down at herself, dressed in a hospital gown, a blanket covering her legs. She flung it off her, inspecting with her shaking hands but found no wounds present and she breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's about time." The male grumbled and she flung her eyes in surprise finding Shikamaru stretching dramatically with a wide yawn.
"I'm home?" She whispered, and tears were already shining in her orbs.
He smiled lopsidedly and nodded. "Been home for awhile now."
Her brows knit, "How long?"
"About a month."
"Nani?" She nearly hollered, her eyes bug eyed in shock. She dropped her body back against the bed, her palm resting on her forehead to ease the swelling pain in her head. Tears began to pull at her gaze. "Tell me they all made it out okay?"
"Let me go get a doctor or something." He mumbled but the grip that was suddenly on his wrist stalled him. He sighed, sticking his free hand in his pocket. For awhile he gazed at the room but her eyes were forcing him to rest his own on hers finally. "Kiba…" He shook his head.
Her fingers fell and her eyes squeezed shut as tears dripped down her cheeks. She swallowed harshly, her lips trembling. "I tried to stop him…"
"He was always stubborn…"
"He was so careless…"
"He had nothing to lose…"
Ino gazed out of the window, Shikamaru's body was barely in her line of sight but she could see his eyes on her. "None of us did. That was the point."
Shikamaru turned his back, sticking his now free hand in his pocket as well, "baka." He bit darkly taking a few steps to the exit but Ino called his name softly and he had to stop.
"Why are you here?"
"Now I need a reason?"
"I've been in coma for a month. You can't just tell me it was a coincidence I woke up with someone here."
"Asuma-sensei, Choji and I have been taking shifts along with your parents."
"For a month?" He nodded stiffly. "Is something wrong with me, Shikamaru?"
"I'll get a doctor."
"Tell me. I'd much rather hear it from someone I know."
"I don't know the details."
"A Strategist that doesn't know the details?"
"They can explain it better."
"Tell me now and stop scaring the shit out of me."
"Why did you go?"
"Answer my question first."
"Three years, you couldn't tell me."
"You're the one who walked away from me, okay. I'm not good at rejection."
"It wasn't rejection."
"What do you call it then."
"You agreed with me."
"You said it first."
"I gave you many chances. You never once indicated--"
"Neither did you. Gomen, okay? I'm stupid, I'm too late, I get it. I'll get over it. Now tell me what's wrong with me."
"Tell me why you left?"
"Isn't it obvious? I didn't want to see you with her."
"I thought I'd get a chance to talk to you again."
"Well, we're talking now."
"Nevermind."
"You're walking away after all that?"
"You did."
"Kuso, Shikamaru. What do you want me to say? That I'm in love with you? Well there, I'm in love with you. And I have been since you first called me "Mendokuse Onna." I love it when you call me that, my knees shake, I can't breath, I'm in love with you. There, now walk out, like I know you'll do, and go to her."
When Shikamaru turned, Ino caught sight of the smirk upon his lips. Her heart raced in her chest as she stared at him, praying that he would just walk away and not make this any harder for her. What more could he want? She really had nothing left to give.
"Temari and I broke up."
Her breath sucked in. "Why?"
He shrugged. "She was too bossy." A smile cracked on Ino's chapped lips but he could tell she still didn't understand. Shikamaru shook his head with aggravation. "Do I have to spell out for you. I'm here, aren't I?"
Ino's eyes searched his. She remembered something so similar and the memory came up in an instant.
"I'll tell you something, but you can't tell her or she'll probably break up with. After you were taken, Choji and I had already decided to come after you. I told her, and she told me to choose. Between you and her." When she still hadn't figured it out, Shikamaru rolled his eyes whispering 'Mendokuse' under his breath, "I came, didn't I."
He chose her then. He chose her now.
Ino's lips drew wider in a bright and shining smile.
00-00
So I said last chapter, I lied. Thought I could do it, but Sasuke's and Sakura's relationship is proving to be difficult for me to fix. So there will be one more coming up and it is all Sakura and Sasuke, with Naruto, of course.