A/N: Sorry for the late update! I'm pretty busy on weekdays and I only have time to write on weekends. Worst, something went wrong with my laptop and I lost almost all my files and I have to re-type this chapter all over again.

Anyway, thanks for the reviews and I'm hoping that you'll enjoy this chapter too.

Read and enjoy!

oOo

Chapter 11

Two weeks have passed uneventfully yet Sasuke had still not returned to their house. She still sees him around Konoha but she tries to avoid him as much as possible. Naruto had noticed it too because she kept declining his usual invitation to have their group lunch together.

"Ah, lover's quarrel again," chuckled Kakashi when she declined again one afternoon.

Naruto's blue eyes widened and he turned to Sasuke who was standing alone at the end of the hallway. "Hey, Teme! What's the problem with the two of you?"

Sasuke threw him a glare and as he did so, their eyes met and he looked away quickly and left.

"Nah, it's their problem," said Kakashi. "We should not meddle. Don't worry, they'll eventually come back in terms again."

"Fine," grumbled Naruto. He turned to Sakura with hopeful eyes. "Can the two of you fix it today? Seriously, it's bothering me already."

Sakura wanted to tell him that it's not as easy as it looked and it was not a simple quarrel. Nevertheless, she just gave a shrug and a nod. "We'll try."

Naruto broke into a big smile and hugged her back. "Good, we'll expect you tomorrow."

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled as he smiled at her and patted her head. "Take care."

"If it could only be that simple," whispered Sakura as she watched the two leave the school hallway.

Her class had already ended an hour ago and what she told Naruto was that she still has another class in a few hours was a lie and they've easily seen through her lie. She just really can't bear to be around Sasuke now.

It was still early but she decided to go home and curl up on bed. She hugged his pillow close to her body and inhaled the remains of his familiar scent on the fabric. Not enough, she rested her cheeks against the fabric, trying to remember the last time he slept on it.

What will happen to them now?

Who would give way?

He wanted her to give up her career and be a full-time housewife as was the custom of the Uchiha clan. Well, she did not study and train for years just to become a housewife and satisfy his selfish desire to adhere to his late clan's culture and tradition.

Granted that she will do as he wishes and resign from being a shinobi, what will be her future like? She imagined herself ten to fifteen years now and pictured herself wearing a kitchen apron, cooking and attending to half a dozen Uchiha kids while Naruto, Sasuk and Kakashi and their friends continue to go on missions and fulfill their duties as shinobis of Konoha.

It's not that she does not like children because like every girl, she dreams of having her own child someday. But she is also a career-oriented type of woman who loves to work around people. Work boosts her self-esteem and it's only where she feels important and needed.

She suddenly remembered her childhood rivalry with Ino. Back then, she was already pushing herself hard to make sure she's better than Ino and get Sasuke's attention. Eventually, she learned to love being a shinobi and constantly tries to stretch herself to the limit.

The night when Sasuke left Konoha and she begged for him to take her with him, she was willing to throw everything for him - Konoha, her friends and family. Years passed and they met once again, that time as enemies and she had learned the painful truth he did not think twice of killing her.

It had also proven that despite her feelings for him, she would not betray Konoha for him. As a Konoha shinobi, she have sworn her loyalty and life to the village and its people.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Sakura decided to block all thoughts of him and sleep. For an hour or so, she was lulled into a hazy state of semi-consciousness. Her mind drifting lazily across nothing and a string of various disembodied thoughts.

"Please don't compare me to your mother. I can never be her."

"You are now an Uchiha and if you still don't want to accept the duties and responsibilities that comes with it, there is only one way."

There is only one way?

What does that means?

"You wouldn't want to know," said Inner Sakura, floating lazily across her mind.

"Why?"

Sakura's eyes fluttered open as she realized what Inner Sakura means.

"...there is only one way."

Sasuke won't change his decision and knowing how much she cares for him, he was using it to get what he wants. And if still don't want to agree with him, there is only one way for both of them to get out of this problem. And he was daring her to initiate it or else, he would be the one to initiate it.

A divorce.

oOo

"Are you really sure about this?" Tsunade asked, her eyes filled with sadness and at the same time, hope that Sakura will change her mind.

Sakura just gave the Hokage a weak, sad smile. "Thank you, Tsunade-sama."

The trip towards the Uchiha grounds took a almost two hours by foot. From the outside, the Uchiha grounds looked like any other clan's residence with its long walls enclosing the whole property and the clan's emblem emblazoned proudly on the entrance's archway.

But once inside the Uchiha grounds, it was like stepping inside a cemetery. It was eerily quiet that you could almost hear the her own rhythmic breathing. The Uchiha houses have long lost their splendor over years of neglect and weather changes. The wall paints were stripped down in layers while some have paled in color. Marks of the infamous Uchiha massacre were still quite visible if one would look closely as evidenced by the scratches on the walls, broken windows and almost invisible splotches of dried blood in the verandas and walls.

It was not hard to find Sasuke's house. His father had been the leader of the Uchiha clan and the chief of Konoha Police Military and therefore, had the largest house in the area. The architecture of the house was simple yet classic mirroring the status and authority of the people who once lived on it.

Sakura did not dare enter the house and remained contented to sit and wait at the porch. She would wait for him here. As expected, after just more than an hour, Sasuke arrived. Her eyes went up to discern his approaching figure and she walked to meet him halfway. She had not seen him for several days and now that she had come face to face with him, she was quite shocked to see the drastic change in his physical features.

He looked every inch exhausted. There were large, dark circles under his eyes and his pale skin has a tinge of sallowness in it. His broad shoulders were slightly hunched and his eyes looked tired.

"Sasuke," she spoke his name tentatively. She suddenly felt a rush of warmth upon this and an urge to care for him came instantly to her.

Sasuke's dark, fathomless eyes lingered on her for a few seconds then focused to the folder she was holding.

"Let's talk inside," he said, walking past her.

Sakura followed him inside and although she had visited the house a couple of times in the past together with Naruto and Kakashi, she was still not comfortable being inside it. Every corner resonates loneliness and she could not just imagine how Sasuke managed to live in it alone for more than a decade. It had been years but the infamous Uchiha massacre would be forever etched in the pages of Konoha's history.

"Good thing that you finally realized my point," said Sasuke, turning on the lights.

Sakura wanted to retort something but just decided that the file should do the talking for her and just replied with something vague. "Yes, in a way."

Sasuke took the folder and opened it lazily as if he wanted to get done with it. As she expected,

Sasuke's eyes widened in surprise and he immediately reacted in anger.

"What's the meaning of this?" Sasuke demanded, throwing the folder across the table.

Unperturbed, Sakura looked at him without any reaction. "It's clearly written there."

"You can't do this!" He shouted at her.

"You made me do it," she retorted back.

Sasuke cursed under his breath and she heard him mutter something like, "This is a disgrace to me..."

"It's always been about you," said Sakura.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm tired of submitting to all of your demands, Sasuke." Sakura looked at him evenly. "You perfectly know that I care for you sincerely yet you always chose to take it for granted."

"We have an agreement about this."

"Yes, I know," said Sakura. "I agreed to be your wife to help you revive your clan. I already sacrificed my pride and dignity on such a ridiculous agreement and yet you still wanted to take one of the few things that makes me happy and feel worthy of?"

"Then you should have not agreed in the first place!" Sasuke spat out bitterly.

"I should have not agreed to it that's why I realized that as early as now, I should free myself from you before I lose everything that defines me." Sakura heaved a sigh as she continued. "I know that you did not reciprocate any feelings for me at all but I've been hoping someday that you will."

Sasuke did not say anything and Sakura continued.

"And you know the worst part? You never even cared for me as your wife. You even left me when you knew perfectly well that I am just a month away from producing your desired heir."

"I did not..." Sasuke abruptly said but stopped short of continuing his sentence.

Sakura looked at him, expecting a reasonable explanation or something like a truce that he would try to do things better between them.

A long painful stretch of silence encompassed them.

"Fine," she muttered in frustration. She picked up the discarded folder and placed it on the table.

"I will leave this file to you and if you want to talk to me, you know where to reach me. Otherwise, please bring it on next week and let's meet at the Hokage's office."

Sasuke did not reply but he looked definitely furious. She was about to leave when he spoke again.

"You want it?" His voice sounded cold and cruel.

Sakura turned to look at him.

"Then I'll give what you want."

He picked the folder, took a pen, quickly scanned every page with his eyes and signed hastily on every page. Afterwards, he handed it back to her.

With shaking hands, Sakura received the folder and held on it tightly and spoke with a feigned cool, neutral voice. "Good. Makes things easier for both of us."

And as fast as she can, she left his house.

oOo

Unable to control his anger anymore, Sasuke kicked the wooden table and began throwing everything within his reach. Soon, the room was in a total mess with scattered splints of wood, shards of glass and porcelain.

Realizing that he ruined the receiving room of his parent's house, he went outside and started venting out his frustration to his weapons: throwing kunais, shurikens and katanas on practice targets with unnerving strength and accuracy.

What had he done?

He just signed the papers and agreed to for a divorce. Next week, they would face Tsunade, have some sort of mini-trial and discussion of legal matters and everything would be over between them.

If his parents or relatives were alive, they would be ashamed of him. He would be the first Uchiha to have a divorce and it proves that he is a failure.

Then, he would live again at the Uchiha grounds like he used to in the past years. The thought of being alone again every night depressed him.

It should not make any difference because he had been living alone for almost half of his life, right?

Yet, he had been quite used to have a companion around the house. He enjoyed her company for the past months. He would definitely miss to have someone with him. Someone who talks to him even when he does not talk much. Someone who prepares food and fixes his things every morning. And someone who really cares about him.

He wanted to tell her badly a while ago that he did not really abandon her "entirely." Since he left their house, he had always been guarding her every night till dawn, watching her from behind the thick foliage of trees from afar, ensuring that she is safe and sound. And as soon as she wakes up, he leaves his spot and goes back to the Uchiha grounds or some other place to get a few precious hours of sleep. He was lucky if he did not have any scheduled meeting or shinobi tasks to do.

Yet, to explain these things to her is futile. Besides, she had already filed for a divorce and he doubted that his explanation would make a difference at all.

What she said were all true. She really cared for him and he had always taken her for granted. It's not that he did not really care for her, maybe he just don't know how to show it. He had grown up focused on important tasks. Being romantic was never in his dictionary. He also thought that she would always be there for him, waiting patiently like she used to, that she would never leave his side.

After the following week, they would soon part ways. They would have visiting arrangements regarding the child. Soon, she would find another man whom she'll marry. That asshole guy who sent her flowers would surely seize the opportunity to woo her again. It would not be difficult for her to find another man. She was beautiful, intelligent and skilled. She would have a string of suitors in no time.

The thought of her in the arms of another man enraged him again. He clenched the kunai handle tightly that his knuckles turned white from the lack of blood supply. Yet, a voice inside his mind told him that if it would make her happy, then he should just accept it and move on.

Even though it pained him, he had to accept to himself that he made the right decision of setting her free.

oOo

It took her immense will power and determination to control the raging emotions inside her and maintan a normal, happy facade as she walked home. But the moment she reached the confines of the house, she just broke down and cried. The dam of emotions she had been forcefully trying to control just gave up and it was difficult to get hold of it now that the dam had broken.

He did not even think twice of signing the papers! Like it was just any piece of worthless document...

But she was the one who filed for it; hence, she should be prepared for the outcome. It has only two possibilities, it's either they would reunite or they would separate.

She was prepared for the second possibility but never had she imagined that he would decide that fast! Its as if she's not a big loss to him and he can easily replace her.

All these months that they lived together, had he not really learn to love her as a woman?

Maybe he cared for her just as much as a friend and a teammate and that's all he could give.

Maybe if she agreed to throw down her career and live forever with him, she would just be his wife. Someone for show and legal purposes only. Someone who would always be by his side to follow his wishes and produce Sharingan bearers. Perhaps, even in a million years, he would never reciprocate her feelings.

By the end of the following week, she would be Haruno Sakura again and news of Sasuke being single would spread across the Konoha. Lots of girls and women would surely take advantage of this and all Sasuke has to do is to choose from them. He would eventually marry another woman and have a family with her. He needs to revive his clan no matter what happens.

And yes, how could she forget about Team 7?

Their divorce would definitely affect the team's harmony and camaraderie. And whether Naruto likes it or not, it would take her more than a just a year to work with Sasuke again without any emotional attachments. Their divorce would shatter their team.

Sakura lost count of the hours she had been crying and eventually fell asleep on the floor. She had been so exhausted and emotionally drained that she did not hear the muffled footsteps coming near her.

Her basic instincts immediately plucked up and she immediately reached for a kunai and threw it across the direction of the unknown presence. It was dark and she could not see the foreign presence but she can definitely hear it approaching her slowly. She heard her kunai clashed against with something metal.

She gritted her teeth in annoyance. Her kunai was deflected.

Almost immediately, she encrounched in a defensive position, trying to maintain her balance.

Whoever it is, the best she can do is defend her self and the child within her.

The pale moonlight finally gave her the image of the unknown person and her eyes widened in alarm and fear.

Not for herself but fear for the safety of the unborn child inside her.

Her voice croaked out hoarsely as she spoke out, "Who are you?"

oOo

Sasuke woke up again for the nth time. He just can't sleep. he felt jittery and restless like there was something he needs to do. Perhaps his body had already been accustomed on being awake and alert for almost two weeks staright that it was difficult to readjust his body clock again.

A thick poof of white cloud suddenly appeared on his windowsill followed by a loud voice.

"OI! SASUKE!" Naruto popped into his windowsill, banging the walls to wake him up. "OI, SASUKE!"

"I'm already awake, idiot," replied Sasuke gruffly, jerking up to a sitting position. "What brings you here?"

"Didn't you know?" Naruto asked, his face annoyed. "Sakura is missing!"

"What do you mean missing?" Sasuke asked. Did she leave their house again and went somewhere else?

Fear gripped every nerve of his being as Naruto answered, looking grim. "She was abducted."

oOo

A/N: Watch out for the succeeding chapters and I'll try to update as fast as my time permits me!

PLEASE REVIEW!