Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective author. The original characters and plot are the property of Masashi Kishimoto. No copyright infringement is intended.

I probably look rather dumb right now – just staring blindly ahead of me. Ino's looking at me pretty nervously; I'd be nervous too…if it were me in her position, though I doubt that is likely to happen. I've only had sex with a man once in my life and don't plan to do such a thing again.

"Naruto's a client of mine now…" I say distractedly – continuing what I was stating before she ruined everything - but Ino seems to know what this means; she knows I won't broach this subject at all. And I don't plan to. As far as I'm concerned she can do whatever she pleases with whoever she pleases…if I was just some silly little experiment of hers then she can get fucked by whatever she wants. I notice that my hands are shaking and clasp them together, hoping that she hasn't noticed.

I let an empty chuckle pass my lips. "Now I can help them both at the same time…you know, maybe this will help them…"

"Mijime." She interrupts me in a small voice and I peel my eyes away from my hands to meet her wide frantic blue pools – it's almost as if she expects me to yell at her. She should know me better. We stare at each other for a while before she starts telling me that everything isn't what I think it is, I almost stay to listen, but then the pain kicks in and I dash away through the building as fast as my legs can carry me. I know she can catch me if she wants to…but she doesn't follow me. This makes the pain more unbearable.

And then I'm running…the buildings and trees whiz past me in dazed, misty hues. The light glow from the moon is all that eliminates Konoha at night and I'm glad; this way even I don't have to acknowledge the wetness on my cheeks. I break free of the dreary, empty roads and dash along a muddy path, wet with mossy puddles. On my way my foot slips and I fall to my knees on the cold cobbles, it digs into my flesh and I groan at the feeling. But I pick myself up calmly and continue at a slower pace, conscious now of the slosh beneath my feet.

It takes me minutes more to reach my shitty little house. I love this house; it has been in my family for a long time and is one of the only reminders I have of my parents. I push the door open and swing it shut, kicking the bottom to make sure it stays closed; the lock doesn't work. I take my time as I make my way into the bedroom…I'm just trying to bide time; as soon as I hit the sheets my mind will fill with realization and I'll be crying all night. I don't want to do that. There isn't much that will make me cry and I don't plan to let some cheating bimbo ruin my mood.

This is when I realize – as I lay myself down – I'm probably not the one whose been cheated. It's more than likely that Ino has been the girlfriend of whomever for a lot longer than she's been seeing me. It hurts as the new information sinks in and, lying here, where we've both been time and time again, together, I know that trying to sleep is futile anyways. Nevertheless I heave myself up, grabbing the duvet and pillows as I go, and wander down the hall back towards the small living room. The floor boards creak below my feet like a tree in a storm and I wonder briefly if I should let Sasuke fix them. The few times he's visited this shack he's reminded me that he could fix it up no problem, but I like it this way.

I try to keep my mind fixated on other things while I lay on my old sofa, but the more active I keep my mind the more my body screams for sleep. Yet whenever I let myself drift out of consciousness I remember all the things she's said to me…the things we've done and the way she always seemed so genuine around me. The way she never seemed to be around everyone else. Not even her best friend Sakura would get to see the real her. Not often anyway.

And today…she had seemed so…eager; desperate and wanting of me. It was the first time she had taken the initiative and kissed me. I was always the first to make a move and she always followed. She'd told me…that she wanted to be with me. I remember how happy I'd felt in her arms, how free and calm I could be with her. Then I remember how she'd left so suddenly afterwards and I can't help but wonder…was it him she was going to? Damn! Argh! This is so not helping!

Desperation pushes me to think of events that might, hopefully, redirect my mood. Sasuke had said something before he left for his mission – my thoughts try to remind me of Ino's participation in said mission, but I block them out - about a party for Naruto, and, though I haven't spoken to him since he returned, it's probably still set for the day after…today? So tomorrow really, since I'm more than certain it must be early morning by now. This is good news then…in about 24 hours I can start helping Sasuke prepare things.

My mind stops dead in its tracks at that thought; Ino will be helping as well. Damn…I really don't feel like seeing her face again, and if I can help it; ever! Wow; I'm probably really screwed since I work in the Hokage tower where she'll likely be passing by often. Life really does suck…and I used to wonder why all my clients were depressed idiotic bums.

There is a brief banging at my door before I hear the obvious snaps and pops of the hinge twisting around. You can't knock at my door without opening it…unless you hold the handle that is which my uninvited guest seems too preoccupied to do.

I really can't be bothered going to get it so I just lay and listen as the visitor lets themselves in. How polite. My sarcasm genuinely concerns me. I've never been a bitter person and more often than not I take things very calmly. Strange that she seems to have had an effect on me. I hear the footsteps enter the room and look towards the door to see a tattered and bloody Sasuke standing in the doorway. Speak of the devil.

"Well, look who it is? Welcome to my lovely abode. Don't bother complaining about my house again, especially since you've invited yourself in so rudely. Though I must say it's quite the coincidence you know…I was just thinking about you and your 'dobe'." I don't know why I choose to say so much, I must be clinging to the distraction, though strangely enough my words cause a pained, almost haunted look to flicker on my favorite clients face right before he dips his head. He must be trying to push me out of his head. He doesn't succeed. Being a psychiatrist has its perks; I'm extraordinarily good at reading people.

I sigh heavily before pulling myself to sit and patting the space beside me, disregarding the unclean state of him in favor of helping him out; it isn't the first time he's vented his frustrations through brutal training before seeing me. He moves fluently and I only notice the slight stiffness in his shoulders – definitely not from his injuries - because I'm trained to notice these things. Sadly.

"I can't be your shrink tonight, Sasuke." I say to him lowly, and I can't, I'm in no frame of mind to be giving advice on other's love life. "But I will try to listen and…understand. Though that's unlikely since I'm speaking to you." I close my eyes and try to clear my head before I explode; I know he is struggling for words; he's never been a talker; I get most of my work done through guesses.

"What did you do this time, Sasuke?" Because I know he's done something. He always does something. He's a masochist - emotionally. An emotional masochist that sadly needs to damage others in his quest for pain. I shouldn't be judgmental though, I don't expect my clients to be completely sane, and Uchiha Sasuke definitely isn't. I wish it wasn't true but the boy really is messed up in the head; he can't process things normally any more, and I have read his background and I do have a very good idea when – and why - that happened, and it is something that I can help him through. Though it will take time. He's more damaged than most of the people I see. It's really a good thing I like him; He's lucky; I know for a fact that most people don't.

"Uh…I…I…" He stutters for a few moments more before I worry about his health. This is certainly not the Sasuke I'm used to seeing, in fact…He looks a little sick, perhaps I should get him to a toilet. I'm not too fussed about having dirt in my home but vomit is off limits. It smells and I would have to clean it up. I place a hand on his shoulder, trying to urge him up so that he can make his way to the bathroom, when I catch sight of something glistening on his face and freeze in my movements.

Deciding that it is probably in my best interests not to let the boy know what I've seen – the fact that his head is tucked so close to his chest proves he'd rather no one saw him like this – I clamber up from my makeshift sofa-bed and trod along to the small kitchen at the back of my house. Sasuke ignores me for the most part, but it seems he has found his voice as he murmurs words I'm not too willing to believe.

"It's over."

My footsteps falter and my hands clench, but hitting him will do no good now. The damage caused by this will not be fixed by my fury. So I continue, if a little faster, on my journey to the kitchen. Once there I rest myself against the cabinets and sink to the ground with a gentle thud. At least now I have something to take my mind off of Ino…I'd always hoped that things would not come to this. I had tried to persuade him so many times that leaving his boyfriends was simply a bad idea. He was adamant that he needed to revive his clan.

I groaned into my knees. As much as I wanted to sympathize with the boy I simply couldn't. Not right now at least. Perhaps if certain things had not unfolded tonight then maybe I could have tried to look at things from his perspective. But right now I could only see through my eyes, and I knew that somewhere at the other side of Konoha, in the Uchiha estate, there were eyes that could see the same things I could. I knew as soon as this revelation hit me that I couldn't stay here. If I did I would be tempted to take a kitchen knife to Mr. Uchiha's throat, and knowing him he might let me - that would help nobody.

I'd need to say a few things first though, baring in mind my temper at the moment isn't too safe for him, he'll probably take everything I'm about to say in stride before I have to leave. Thankfully. I don't know what'll happen if he doesn't.

''…kill him! Set me free and I'll rip his fucking throat out! Let me give you my power and we can…' Naruto frowned; a pillow smothered his howl of frustration as he lay in bed. Kyuubi would not shut up! All Naruto wanted was the sleep! He really didn't want to be awake much longer because the more he heard these ridiculous proposals the more he wanted to carry them out. For some reason Naruto had been sure he'd feel more heartbroken when Sasuke finally broke it off. But the sharp pain he'd felt when Sasuke walked out the door had immediately been replaced with fury – a fury that Kyuubi backed up enthusiastically.

How dare he, though! The bastard had the nerve to cheat on him! Uchiha fucking Sasuke had the guts to cheat on Him! Naruto Uzumaki…practically a walking sex god!

Okay, so maybe he wasn't as great as he'd always thought…and Sasuke had always been so sure he was better in every way shape and form. But now was not the time to be dwelling on that bastard, as long as Naruto could keep the tears that burned behind his eyelids from bursting free then he'd be fine.

"Kyuubi!" He roared at the top of his lungs, hoping to somehow break through her insistent tantrum. He used to hate Kyuubi, and this way why; before they'd began to associate better and talk civilly the only time the demon had spoken was to slate him and push for control, which, of course, he never gave. Nowadays he and Kyuubi often swapped leading roles, though he still found her much too vicious, she got the job done in her own way. Not that he slacked off…he only let her take control when she was especially insistent or if he was tired – completely for his own convenience of course.

'What?!' The deep baritone pounded in his skull, Kyuubi really was much calmer as a woman.

'Instead of trying to get me to…to hurt…' wow, it was harder to say the name than he'd thought, 'instead of trying to make me do something I'll regret, why don't you explain how you managed to get me p-pregnant?'

'Argh…For that lousy bastard! I shouldn't have even bothered…' He should have known this approach wouldn't work, but he was in no mood to think up any other distractions for her to play with. Naruto once again tried in vain to tune her out. He knew it was his fault she was so angry. The anger belonged to him. Kyuubi was really helping him – stealing all the pain so that he only felt numb.

He tried to focus on distant sounds, outside his mind, but found that the only noise in the room was the ticking of his bedside clock. Oh no, he reminded himself, that wasn't his bedside clock. This wouldn't be his house much longer either, what did he have? One day? Great…he should probably trash the place, see how the asshole likes that.

Just then though, a rather horrifying thing happened. Naruto realized he was not alone in the room. There was a shadow against the wall. He knew immediately that the intruder was a woman – the curves proved that much – but such information was insignificant. He had not noticed someone sneaking into the house…not only that but upon further inspection he noticed this girl was only a civilian; her chakra level was way to low for that of a trained ninja.

"What the fuck are you doing in my house?!" Naruto ignored the fact that it wasn't his house at all; this stranger didn't need to know that.

"I'm sorry…" Her voice was meek and shaky, as if on the verge of tears, "The door was unlocked and I…I just really needed someone to talk to." Her voice broke at the end and Naruto finally made the connection. This was Mijime. It didn't take her long to stumble over to the bed and throw herself at him. He caught her skillfully as she collapsed against him, her tears uncontrollable but her noise well contained.

She made little sound as she lay against him and wept, and although the blond had no idea what had upset her, he found himself comforted by her presence. Although he'd only known her a small time, she'd seemed very kind, not that he'd been paying attention, but she'd made a point of being nice and treating him with equality.

He didn't notice when his body unconsciously pulled her under the covers with him, or when they let themselves fall asleep. Neither of them managed to break away from their troubles, but at least sleep brought a simple silence from the chaos.

The morning brought a bright, near blinding light shining on Naruto's face and waking him from a restless sleep. The empty bed coupled with the gorgeous smell wafting through the mansion told him that Mijime had already risen. He grumbled to himself lightly, trying to discover a reason to crawl from the warm sheets. Eventually though, he found that reason when he remembered that hosts are supposed to treat guests to breakfast and make sure they were entertained; his 'guest' was downstairs coking herself breakfast – and him too, he hoped – with no entertainment whatsoever. Nice.

Making his way downstairs he couldn't help to sniff at the air, his Kyuubi senses strengthening the smell until he thought he'd drown in the tempting vapors. It smelled like eggs and rice mostly, like he expected of breakfast. He hoped she could cook; he didn't want her to waste effort if he didn't eat it.

Though, as he walked into the kitchen to see Mijime dashing around the kitchen in a calm flurry and the small dishes already laid out on the breakfast bar in the centre of the room, he had to smile; it looked great! From what he could see she had prepared some miso soup, along with a bowl of freshly boiled rice with small chunks of grilled fish, a simmered dish that he didn't recognize and also tamagoyaki, he saw as she turned and placed the remaining dishes down before she sat down herself. Yeh, just the traditional breakfast stuff, but she'd made it look gorgeous.

"Wow…I didn't know you could cook." He said, feeling silly after he thought about it. Of course he didn't know that, he barely knew the girl – Speaking of which…

"Why did you come here last night anyways?" he said before she had time to reply to his first train of thought. Though his words were harsh – he couldn't help it, Kyuubi was quiet but she was still stealing his feelings, even the normal ones – Naruto meant well and the dark haired beauty seemed to realize that.

She blushed deeply, glancing down at her fingers as she picked at her food – Naruto knew the feeling…he wasn't very hungry either, though the food was nice, not as nice as it looked but not horrible. "I…I'm sorry about that," she giggled nervously. "I'm really not like that normally…And I'm not just saying that either; I really never cry." For some reason Naruto believed her, despite the scene she had caused last night. "And I wouldn't normally have come here but… I just didn't know who else to go to…" Her voice broke off as she laughed that uneasy laugh again.

"What happened?" I asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"

This time her laugh was real – if only a little mocking. "Look at me, here I am about to get advice from someone, hah! I'm the psychiatrist!" Naruto couldn't help but smile with her; she had something about her that made you want to be happy.

"Well," she started, looking away. "It's my…partner…or at least she was." She took a swift glance up at the jinchuuriki's face, not that she felt he would be disgusted at a same-sex relationship – he was in one himself. Well, he was. "She told me last night that she's pregnant. Heh, she probably thought it was the smartest way to drop me like the garbage I am to her." Her tone turned biter and Naruto sighed, he knew the feeling. Strangely enough, the blond hadn't taken long to figure out that, of course, lesbians couldn't produce children - the other one had been with a guy.

"I know how you feel." Because he did. Absolutely. At least, he had, before Kyuubi had taken it upon herself to shield him from it. It wouldn't last though, he would have to deal with it sooner or later; you couldn't get over something unless you faced it.

"You do?" She sounded confused, which confused Naruto as well. Then he remembered, 'oh yeh…she doesn't know about…Sasuke.' Ouch, Kyuubi couldn't stop the pain from flooding his senses when he thought about it.

"Naruto?" Her voice cut through his troubling thoughts, thankfully.

"Sorry…Sasuke ended it last night. There was someone else. I guess he wanted to find a girl before he left me." He tried not to think about it as he spoke, but it was hard. He knew his expression was giving him away; set in a permanent grimace as he tried to shrug it off. Mijime was too shocked to notice as she stared at him with frown on her pretty face.

"How do you know?" She asked - confusion apparent in her voice, "did Sasuke tell you that?" And then suddenly an anger Naruto didn't understand filled her expression and the blond could only stare, trying to understand why she was so mad.

"No…well, yeh he did…He didn't deny it anyways." It was getting harder and harder to talk about this; Mijime's curiosity was costing him. "Iruka-sensei said that he'd over heard a conversation with some girl that was going on about her dates with Sasuke. And he's been sneaking out and stuff…I didn't want to…Didn't think he would…" Naruto trailed off, his voice had begun to break and he wouldn't embarrass himself by crying over that jerk.

A groan made his eyes – which had redirected themselves to his unfinished breakfast – turn back to his audience. She had her face in her hands and was laughing again, though this time it was even stranger; like a giggle you'd expect from someone insane. Before he could ask her what had gotten into her, she snapped her head up and her eyes were filled with something Naruto didn't understand.

"It makes so much sense now." She remembered the strange things he'd said early in the morning '"I can't hurt him any more."…"You should have seen him, Mijime, he was being insecure, he really believed…urgh!" I didn't understand then, he was talking about this. He didn't even realize it was me…that there was reason for Naruto to feel that way. Even though I've told him countless times to tell him about the sessions…this just gets worse and worse.'

"Sasuke's isn't cheating on you." She said bluntly, as if she knew everything. Naruto was about to interrupt her but she spoke too fast. "I'm the girl." And Naruto froze…his brain locking down further as Kyuubi restrained his emotions. 'No…' But he could still hear her talking – why was she still talking? Why wasn't she dead yet…oh yeh, because his body had stopped working too. He wasn't even breathing. Mijime continued regardless and Naruto found himself completely confused by her explanation.

"I've been seeing him for a few months now. Ino," she spat the name "was the one who introduced me to him, said he was really messed up. She was right, he's one of the worst clients I've had, and I've had bad. To begin with he was very reluctant, but after a while he softened up. I think he depends on the sessions now; it's helping him. I did tell him to let you know he had a shrink, but you know how full of pride he is, he didn't want to seem weak to you – didn't want you to know that he was unstable in any way I guess. Sorry for the misunderstanding…I was under the impression he planned to tell you on your birthday but…" It was probably best not to continue this subject; she could see how much this hurt him.

Naruto however, had different thoughts. He certainly would be continuing the conversation. But not with Mijime. "Excuse me," he said and left the room, walking through the house until he reached the bedroom again and curling up in the sheets. He might have felt a little guilty for leaving the rest of Mijime's breakfast had his mind not been so full of this new information.

Damn…this was going to take some time to grasp.

Hinata hated being pampered like this. Neji really shouldn't spoil her so. Besides, giving her all that money was pointless when she made enough of her own for the necessities. 'But he doesn't want me to buy necessities' she reminded herself as she stepped grudgingly into the jewelers store. 'He wants me to buy luxuries' As if she didn't get enough of those from Kiba. When was she ever going to have the time to wear the jewelry she already had. Let alone adding to the stock.

Nevertheless she wondered through the store, marveling at the style and lushness of the décor, the jewelry was sparkling and lovely too but she found it hard to marvel at such things when she knew where they came from. But her family expected her to have glorious things like diamonds – blood diamonds – to make her look pretty. Kiba never given her diamonds…he gave her other things, things that were deemed uninteresting and cheap to her family.

Like a bracelet he had given her for her last Christmas. It had been really precious, a small thin string with little pendants on it. They were hand carved by her boyfriend and were all different – mostly dog related, but they were awfully sweet. She'd gotten to wear it for six whole days until her father had spotted it and torn it from her dainty wrist. Kiba'd said it was nothing, that he'd make her another one, which he did, but that wasn't the point; she could never wear it for fear that it would be destroyed.

As Hinata continued to wander through the shop, her eyes sweeping over the pieces swiftly and dazed, she spotted someone she never thought she'd see in a jewelry store. Uchiha Sasuke. He was standing at the counter and discussing something with the sales assistant, who was taking detailed notes on a pad, she noticed with curiosity. What was he doing here?

It wasn't until the man serving him – an older man with a small, roughly carved beard and warm eyes – had receded to the back of the store that she managed to command her body in his direction. Nervousness took hold of her immediately. What if the boy glared at her…or if he told her to go away in front of all these people.

There was only one other lady in the shop.

"S-Sasuke-kun…" She began, but was startled enough to jump away slightly as he turned towards her promptly. He collected his previously shocked face instantaneously – shock and some other emotion she was sure had been swimming in his eyes – but nothing could get passed her eyes. She wouldn't say anything, of course.

"What a-are you doing h-here, Sasuke-kun?" She always tried to improve her stutter but it didn't help to try with someone as impassive as the male in front of her. She always felt extremely agitated – more so than usual – when she was around him, at least he relaxed when Naruto was around.

"Just having a look while I wait for 'Property Purchasers' to finish." He answered swiftly, looking back behind the counter as the sales man returned. Hinata watched disquisitively as Sasuke signed a few papers before signing what looked something like a cheque – Hinata wouldn't know, it was uncommon for Ninja to use cheques since they spent money so readily, making it impossible to save anything – during which time the man behind the desk inquired in a warm voice 'So…whose the lucky lady?' Sasuke had ignored him as he signed the last of the papers, bid Hinata a hasty goodbye – the fact that he deliberately avoided eye contact as he did so did not go unnoticed - and darted out of the store with a fancily wrapped box and bag in hand.

Hinata couldn't help following to the window to watch him walk away. She knew that Property Purchasers was located right next door to this jewelers, she had guessed that was why Sasuke had taken a look round here whilst waiting, but as she watched him walk further and further up the road, it became apparent that he had no intention of stepping foot inside that place.

'Look, you need to sort this out. No more! You need to get this finished! You have to decide what you're going to do. Right now. Just think about your options before doing anything that will ruin both your lives, for Kami's sake! And once your sure that you're doing this for reasons that fit your wishes – yes, yours! Not someone else's – then you can walk right on out of here and do whatever it is you decide to do.'

…

'Don't you dare do something that will cause more damage than has already been done unless you're sure it is best. And I mean for everyone! Because I know for a fact that my fucking parents are not fretting over me having children – they are more interested in me having a happy life! They always were! If your parents aren't then I don't even know why you're so determined to please them!'

Ok. So I hope you guys are happy. =D My little twist has been unraveled. Some came real close to guessing!! But I think I lost a few readers with this little plot bunny. Oh dear…

Thankies for reading, I hope you enjoyed!

Xx..xX