The Cut That Always Bleeds

Summary: She will always be the cut that always bleeds. He will always let her. Hinata endures, Sasuke knows she doesn't have to. Here's why exes should remain in the past.

Pairing: Naruto x Hinata x Sakura , Eventual Sasuke x Hinata

World: Alternate Universe, Modern Era without special abilities

I own nothing.

A/N: Thank you for all your love! I had a hard time with this chapter, to be honest.. I had to re-write it twice HUHU.

Also, I apologize I think I need to make clarifications, I know the timeline is quite confusing but I hope to clarify it as I go along but just the same: In the first chapter, Naruto and Hinata have been together for 2 years already and Sakura and Hina's meeting (in the first and 2nd chapter) was a year before the Cloud exchange program. I'll try to make the timeline more clearly next time!


Five.

It was the most bitter taste of sake she has ever tasted. To think sake, as they are, are supposed to be sweet and to be enjoyed. She was not enjoying it. But she swallowed just the same. Her eyes scanned the room, disregarding the roaring laughs and the clinking of glasses. The room, to be honest, was big and spacious, it was airy and adorned with old vintage and Western design - very very Yamanaka, she mused.

"Sakura.. Hey, Sakura!"

Ino.

"Are you okay? You seemed spaced out?" Sakura blinks and feigns a laugh then looks over at the expectant eyes around the room and found a warm pair of blues, she smiles.

"I think.. I think this sake has already reached my veins"

"It's quite strong" Shikamaru nods while Choji pours him another cup full, "So, you were saying? Naruto?" He continues, his attention going back to the loud blonde.

"Ah, well... I forg- OH! Oh yeah, I was saying.. I'm proposing to her when she comes home next month. I think... I think we're there already. I well, " he laughs sheepishly and looks at a very surprised and happy Ino, "I bought a ring already! I was able to save up this year and her dad already gave me his blessing" His hands reaches out to scratch his cheeks and smiles at the boys.

Choji gasps comically, "You even talked to her dad? I thought he was a bit.. snobbish?"

Naruto laughs, "He is.. well.. was! But he warmed up to me you know. He's a pudding when it comes to Hina and Hanabi-chan"

His smiles and laughs reaching his eyes as Ino and the others gush their congratulations and 'I can't believe it's'

And when his blues land on her expectant greens... Sakura remembers the outline of the room, the whites, the drapes, the open windows, the air - and yet, she suddenly forgets how to breathe.

.

.

The beer is cold and wet in his big tan hands, his blonde short hair dancing through the winds as he looks over the beach. Peace. He felt at peace. Naruto smiles as he looks over the lights and the stars littering the dark blue sky. Oh and the moon. Hinata loves the moon.

It was a random night with all of them, as rare as it is, free for a sleepover. It was just like how it was when they were younger - only more mature now. It felt good that they were able to catch up with the daily updates of each other's lives.

Shikamaru has already landed a job as a political analyst, Choji is already an intern in a restaurant and is being trained to be the next sous chef, Ino is to take over her family business at the blooming flower shops that never stopped expanding and franchising and Sakura was headed for medical school. It was just like yesterday that the five of them were merely snotty kids who would give their parents headaches when they convene as a group. Naruto smiles at the memory, time flies so soon.. and here he is, thinking about the next big step? Who would have thought?

The screen door behind him opens and reveals a cold Sakura, clutching on to her dear jacket as the sea breeze attacks her already pale face.

"I... I think I owe our favorite fireman a congratulations?" She offers a smile.

"Thanks, Sakura. I mean it" He smiles, his smile still reaching his eyes and suddenly her heart aches again as if being gripped on by a gorilla on a rage. "Isn't.. Isn't it too soon, though?"

Naruto blinks at her as if expecting an explanation - so she continues, edging her way into the railings of the veranda. The place is so good, beautiful and peaceful. At least the place is, she thinks. She sighs and smiles again, "I mean.. I mean, you know we just graduated a year ago. We're just in our twenties, I mean.. look" Her brows furrows knowing she wasn't making much sense. She laughs and breathes in.

"I have nothing against Hinata-chan, you know. I.. I really think she's great. She is superb, I mean when I met her a year ago at the uh the grill?" Naruto nods, "Yeah the barbecue grill we had? I was.. I got really insecure, she looks like a doll and and I have no idea how you landed a girl like her you know and I know..." she breathes again, hoping not to choke on her words, "I know you're happy and you shouldn't let a girl like her go. I mean what are the chances you'll find a better one?"

Naruto looks at her again this time as if she has grown two heads, "..so?"

"So, Naruto.. Naruto, as a friend. Maybe you need to think this over, you know? You're young, we're young. Heck we're just 24! What do you know about marriage at this age?" Sakura laughs awkwardly as she diverts her gaze on to the silent splashing of the water on the beach - suddenly jealous of how sure the water was to meet the sand and the rocks like how the sun is set to rise in the morning and the moon at night.

"I don't.. you know you're right. I don't.. I don't know anything about marriage." He mutters, Sakura blushes and curses herself, forgetting his background.

"I mean, I never grew up with parents you know. But I have a vision of my future and ever since I met Hinata, it has always been with her." He smiles at the beach again, refusing to meet her greens, "I know I'm young, we're young. But if you're sure, why wait? Right?"

"Right" She laughs. Sakura courageously steps closer, her hands on his strong forearm. When had he gotten this tall and big?

"What is it, Sakura?"

"I think.. I think I'm drunk, Naruto. Maybe this is the sake talking but...but there's a part of me hoping you'd think about this a thousand times and a thousand more and maybe... maybe you'll think of me"

It was his turn to forget how to breathe.

.

.

.

She turns out to have a boyfriend, Sasuke finds out after a couple of days of researching with her. It was a little bit of a kick in the shin but to be honest, he was not surprised seeing Hinata as she is. Beautiful, sophisticated and well.. her. Whats worse, in his opinion, is how in love the girl is with her boyfriend. She won't even stop talking about him! It was as if a wake up call on his part, jealousy if you call it that, wanting to have that special space in someone else as genuine as Hinata has for this Naruto guy.

"So, say this fish cake guy" Sasuke smirks, earning a gasp and a giggle from Hinata, "is he also in your grad school?"

Hinata wipes off warm tea from her lips before turning to the hooded man beside her. She shook her head in the negative, "He's a firefighter," she smiles.

He nods, looking at the night lights over them while they sat on the swing. "How noble...He must be a big guy for that kind of job, right?"

"H-hai, he's... he's well, he's strong and quite a size"

Sasuke smirks, "Jacked up, huh?"

Hinata blushes and gapes at Sasuke, shaking her head, not like that!

"So... Not to be rude but how does that work? Your family is quite known, apparently, in your business and you're with a fireman? Is your dad livid or something? I mean usually they'd expect someone in line with the business or what not"

Hinata shakes her head, "Daddy-"

Sasuke snorts, "Just who calls their dad daddy nowadays! Are you like a spoiled brat or something?" He earns another frustrated grunt followed by a fleeting laugh

"I mean my dad," She watches him smirk, "He used to think that way but you know.. Naruto and I, we've been together for two years now and I think he has given up from trying to break us apart" She chuckes, her breath fogging up in the cold night air.

"He tried?"

"Oh yes but not badly, he used to comment a lot but.. I think, I think Naruto-kun charmed him. He has his way"

"By being... jacked up?" She blushes red again like a blot of ink flowing through white white paper.

Sasuke lets out a low chuckle, his hand moving forward landing on her head making a mess over her well brushed bangs. "You're so funny when you blush like that.. You remind me tomatoes." He says, retreating his hand and looking over at their friends who are now coming out of the cafe.

Hinata giggles lowly, looking where he is looking, waving a gloved hand at TenTen who showed her a box full of cinnamon buns. Without warning, Hinata ran to TenTen getting the box in delight and then holding the girl in buns' arm in full happy blush.

Yeah. Tomatoes.

He likes tomatoes.

.

.

It was a long long night and all she wanted to do was plop on her hotel bed and follow the sheep to wonderland but life had other plans. Hinata sat on the edge of the bath tub and waits for her call to go through. It was a long long day and even longer night with the additional research and all and suddenly she finds it her turn to forget replying to his messages. He had sent pictures of their group laughing, smiling and drinking sake at Ino's place the other day and until now they hadn't had a decent conversation on how it turned out. He also had been quite busy save for their usual how are you's and I miss you's... Hinata sighs. Two and a half more weeks and she would be home! It wasn't as if she was complaining staying in this beautiful beautiful Cloud but she hasn't been away from Naruto this long and well, she was kind of homesick too.

The call finally connected, Hinata fixed her wet hair and the towel around her chest, smiling at the camera

"Hina-hime! Oh wow, we're both fresh!" He laughs, plopping on his old bed and unwashed bedsheets freshly showered, earning a jealous smile from the also very tired Hinata.

"I just got home, there was an emergency so I had to rush when you were calling this afternoon. Oh, still in the bathroom? The signal is really bad in your bed eh?"

"Oh..yeah the connection isn't so good in there so hmmm...I hope the emergency wasn't so bad?"

"Nope, it was manageable..."

"Hina... can't wait for you to come home, I miss you. It's" he sighs behind the camera, massaging his wet scalp as he looks over the phone, "It's so different when you're not here. I get...confused"

"I know, Naru-kun.. I'll go home soon" she smiles, angling her face nearer the camera with her glasses fogging from the after bath heat.

"I love you, Hina-hime"

"Hai, I love you too Naru-kun" She smiles again, her tiredness suddenly gone and all she could feel was the giddy feeling of a teenager

"Promise me, Hime?"

"Promise"


A/N: Please leave some love. I'll try to make better chapter next time and maybe longer.