Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Taking Your Life Back ❯ Break Ups and Revelations ( Chapter 23 )

Oh man, I'm sorry for this one. I got a new computer, and it's a lot faster, but it didn't have the wireless internet card, so we needed to go buy one, and they're 50 dollars, I think. So sorry for being really late on this, umm, I think I might end this at 25. Just got to pull it all together somehow, and it's okay, it's a happy ending, less you all kill me. I know how homicidal some of you are, so I took that into consideration. I'll be making chapters a bit longer due to the 2-chapter cut back, but other than that, I've got it in the bag! See ya'll in the end!

 

---

 

Soft caresses drifted agonizingly slow down my back, under the soft plush black sheets. I nuzzled my cheek into the feathery down pillow beneath my head, barely conscious, curling my legs slowly into me. I could hear myself moan out in my drowsiness, and the fingers along my spine danced. Their dance was beautiful, while I couldn't' see it, and it felt so warm to my cold skin. I lifted my head up barely an inch before it dropped back down, fatigue still upon me in my early rise. I heard a shifting beside me, and a shadow descended upon my lightly drooped eyelids. Breath hissed in my ear lowly while soft sleek hair dropped to the nape of my neck to tickle it. I shivered with another moan, my hands tightening on the pillow. What was this phantom doing? Getting a moan or two out of me is easy, why go to lengths? The breath in my ear took on a tone, light, as if it hadn't changed in timbre. But it spoke to me.

 

“...I still love you...”

 

I jerked my head up despite the protest my body gave, and opening my eyes, I saw nothing.

 

---

 

Itachi sat on the table, face down, swirling the spoon round and round in the coffee carelessly. A melting bag of ice lay upon his still head, and his eyes were closed. Save the twirling of his hands as he stirred his coffee, I would have thought he was sleeping. I stepped out into the kitchen, taking a long pause to try and find my voice. I clutched the hem of my shirt as my trembling voice spoke for the first time this week.

 

“...W-Where is Sasuke?” I uttered out slowly. His eyelids sprang open for a moment to analyze me before dropping to their regular glaring size. His lips curled to me, slowly lifting his head from the table.

 

“...He just left a moment ago. He seemed determined to get to school, or to escape you. Either one I can believe.”

 

I frowned at him, shifting my backpack on my shoulders angrily. He only smiled and waved his hand to the door.

 

“...I'd start walking, if I were you,” he called out sinisterly. I shivered, hearing the threat in his voice as I stepped hurriedly to the door. I knew better than to stay here with him. But what about Sasuke?

 

I'd just have to find out.

 

---

 

I stood in front of the door, staring at the glass paneling dumbly. I knew what this day brought; I knew that this was just another day of hurt. My body warned me, day and night, that school was now officially a cause of death. It was a term I would never use lightly again. I took a deep breath, gripping my backpack tightly. This would go away, I thought, all this fighting will end eventually. Their hate will subside...Maybe.

 

Doubt raced through me at top speed as I clutched the door handles and flung them open. The first time I had done this was with Sasuke, and now, he wasn't there. His car was parked close to the entrance, why he had left without me, I still didn't know. Truth be told, I kept telling myself he was getting tired of me, getting tired of my depressing antics. While that was most likely the case, another part of me told me he was the only one for me, and I the same. If I had the courage to open that door, then I had the courage to go a day without Sasuke holding my hand through it. I stood bravely at the stairs. Eyes turned to me, and I winced at the attention. But as soon as it came,

 

It was gone.

 

I watched as they all turned away, ignoring me like they had before this ordeal. I stared incredulously at their now visible backs, their threatening gaze dissipating. Trying to catch my unbelievably relieved breath, I didn't even notice the two before me.

 

“...Hello, Naruto-kun...”

 

I looked down the set of stairs at her, and the one she attached to her arm. The breath I had caught immediately fled me, watching him turn away and refuse to meet my eyes. Sakura smiled, jerking Sasuke's arm in hers.

 

“Good morning, did you sleep well?” she asked sweetly. I didn't answer; I couldn't answer! I opened my mouth to speak, but everything had left me.

 

...He...

 

...How could...

 

“Did you hear about the dance tonight, Naruto? It's going to be huge!” she squealed, and I could only watch as she ran tender pale fingers over Sasuke's arm, the arm still clasped over hers. He didn't look at me. He wouldn't look at me. I stood frozen, watching as he didn't flinch, shift, or retract to her doings. I felt my legs shake.

 

...I...

 

...Wasn't good enough...

 

Sasuke's eyes stayed with the wall to his right, and his wonderful lips remained strained to their fine line. Sakura was practically groping him in front of me, and he...Was allowing it.

 

My mouth was opening and closing, much like a fish, still trying to find the voice I had used just that morning. Sakura's smile got wider and wider with every attempt.

 

“Sasuke said he'd go with me! You should find a sweet girl to go with you!” she then gasped, dainty ring-clad fingers hovering over her mouth, “It'd be like a double date!”

 

It was hard to find something of me that wasn't trembling, now. My eyes were welling in tears, and she appeared to have noticed, seeing as her smile had morphed to a Cheshire cat grin. Sasuke glanced at me once before returning to the wall, eyes even more defined and a frown marring those lips I had once loved, wanted to love, and still loved. The hot moisture dripped so slowly down my cheeks; it cooled to tickle the skin. Tears continued, and I had no use to rub them away. I was crying, and I had to admit it.

 

I had never been dumped before, seeing as I hadn't ever been with anyone else.

 

So this was how it feels.

 

She giggled, jerking Sasuke's arm closer to her waist. He made no protest, not even his usual affirmative grunt.

 

“...Oh, I think it's class time! See you there, Naruto!” she purred as she turned, dragging Sasuke along lightly. At the moment she turned, Sasuke looked at me dead-on, black eyes bearing into me, burning like the coals they were. Did he hate me? Was I not good enough? Did I do something wrong?

 

...Was I nothing but trash?

 

As he turned away as well, and they were left to be the last two to file into the classes, I clenched my fists and finally screamed out my crying protests.

 

“FINE!!!” I screeched, my lungs dying, my throat bleeding. Tears continued to come without my knowledge nor care, and I only continued to scream. “I NEVER LOVED YOU ANYWAY!!!!”

 

With those words, Sakura's smile brightened tenfold, and running into the classroom with a wide-eyed Sasuke, I as left alone to drop to my knees,

 

And cry hysterically in self-pity.

---

 

Just seeing him like that made me want to blow my entire cover and embrace him and apologize over and over again.

 

But for him, I wouldn't. Doing this was helping him.

 

If I went to the dance with Sakura, she'd hush down the Naruto bashing completely.

 

Simple as that sounded, and as easy as I thought it would be, it still came back to bite me as I watched him break down and cry, screaming out the words I never wanted him to say, the words I never wanted to hear said. I knew he was only being hysterical, only acting on instincts and broken emotions, but my heart felt it differently. As I was dragged into class, I watched as he sobbed so terrifyingly loud, it hurt my ears. Right now, I couldn't help him. I had caused it. But this was all for him, I reminded myself, that I was going through this so he wouldn't be picked on or hurt anymore. If I could find a way to tell him, I would, but with Sakura always around, it was harder than I thought it would be. She jumped at the chance to even stand by me, and now it was like she had attached herself to my skin. No, I didn't like it. Of course I didn't. But I was determined, and like hell I'd run away.

 

She dragged me to a seat beside her, cooing at me relentlessly. All the other students watched suspiciously as she flushed her hands all over me, and I sat there taking it.

 

“But what happened to Naruto?”

 

“Probably got his ass dumped.”

 

“Sasuke got dumped?”

 

“Of course not, stupid, no one dumps an Uchiha.”

 

“I knew that stupid brat was no good.”

 

“He should have seen it coming.”

 

“Now he's got Sakura.”

 

“How lucky, neh?”

 

I scowled at the scattered voices. They knew nothing; nothing! I was doing this for HIM!

 

I was trembling with anger at that point, and Sakura's faint voice asked me the matter. I didn't answer, as my focus was poised to the door. Of course Naruto hadn't come to class yet; He was still crying out in the halls. I doubt he'd even have the courage to come to class, with his eyes all red and the tears continuing to pour forth. His fellow students had been forced to hide their hate for Naruto's sexuality, but finding him sniveling in his heart wrenching state, they'd have a new reason to make fun of him.

 

YOU WERE DUMPED BY THE UCHIHA!

 

I flinched at the idea, and Sakura attempted at comfort once again, but the door swung open abruptly. Suddenly I felt the urge to run out the opened door to him, and I stood, but then I took notice that it was not Naruto, but Kakashi. He smiled at me through his obscurely masked face, and I frowned.

 

“...Happy to see me, aren't you, Sasuke?” he purred. I growled in answer and he only looked around the room.

 

“...Where's Naruto?” he called out. Everyone was silent, and my frown deepened.

 

“...You didn't see him out there, Kakashi?” I asked. The lips hidden behind the mask defined to a frown matching my own at the lack of honorifics I had not used for him. I had never given respect to a teacher, and I wasn't planning on doing so now. I waited for an answer.

 

“...No I didn't. Should I have?”

 

I paused a moment before shaking my head and sitting back down. Sakura was immediately on my case, whispering hoarsely in my ear.

 

“Play it cool, stupid, your blowing your cover!” I once again scowled, pleading to god that I wouldn't have to endure this girl any longer. She hooked her arm with mine lacing my fingers with hers. I jerked it away quickly, and she frowned angrily.

 

“...Let me lace your fingers!” she whispered. I turned away.

 

“...That wasn't part of the deal,” I answered just as quietly. She huffed, twisting my wrist painfully, being the strong little thing she was, until I gave and let her do as she wished. My hand grew sweaty quickly, and I easily slipped it out of its hold, only to have it taken once again. I sighed in defeat, and Sakura cooed in delight.

 

The way things were going, she was going to get what she wanted.

 

---

 

I didn't think it would hurt so much.

 

I thought it would be like the first time, when I was the one to break it off. I thought I'd feel like I did that day when I ran away from him, as I had assumed for good. But that turned tail when he showed up to save me, to tell me he loved me. I thought everything would be perfect.

 

I wiped my eyes once again and a sniffle resounded. I didn't even know why I had come to school, or why I was still at school, crying in a currently unused classroom. I'd be kicked out when next hour came in to flood the room, and where else could I go? I had no home now. I never had anything to live for, no immediate family to go cry to. All I had was Jiraiya, and god only knew where he was. I wouldn't even want to see the stupid bastard, and he wouldn't want to see me either, so not like it mattered. I was alone again.

 

My vision became blurry as I fisted away another round of crying. I was tired of crying all the time. But it wasn't like I had anything else. Before I had met Sasuke, I cried all the time. For my parents, Jiraiya, and my lame ass life, I'd cry. I didn't get me anywhere, and I was only left with a day's worth of relief, but atleast it was something. When I came to high school, I had calmed down to a point where I actually seemed intimidating. Meeting Sasuke reverted all of that, of course. Maybe it was his dominance over me that made me the way I am, that I found someone who would stand up to my intimidations, and Sasuke had loved every second of it. He got a kick out of me being strong, and that was the downfall, I'm sure.

 

I swung my legs over one of the desks, letting them dangle lamely in front of me.

 

...So I get ahead of myself for one second, and it comes to this...

 

I smiled to myself as I eyed the corkboard next to the door, an advertisement for the dance hanging above it in big letters.

 

...If I was going down, he was coming with me.

 

---

 

Lunch came quickly, and with Naruto to my knowledge still gone, I had time for Kiba. We had made the roof our lunch grounds, and even though me rarely even ate during this time, we'd lie on the cold cement and stare up into the clouds, a habit I had apparently passed down to him. I hissed out a sigh from between my teeth, and his lips quirked.

 

“...So how are you, neh?” he asked quietly, blinking slowly to the blue skies. I smiled myself, eyes closed.

 

“...Never better...Thank you.”

 

He knew what I was saying, as his smile turned to a grin. He glanced at me before looking up again.

 

“...So glad,” he answered, “...Excited?”

 

“...I can't believe you'd ask me that,” I answered through the chuckle. He laughed too, and I began to wonder if I was growing on him more than I thought.

 

“I know, I'm excited for you too,” he said. I blinked up as a cloud drifted past another.

 

“...So who are you going with?” It was an innocent enough question.

 

“...Hinata,” he said, grin big as ever. I frowned.

 

“...Neji's little cousin? Is that very wise? He'd kill you in a second. And isn't she the one with the crush on Naruto?”

 

Kiba pulled the hands resting behind his head up above him to emphasize his loud groan of annoyance.

 

“Do you ALWAYS have to be such a pessimist when it comes to my affairs?”

 

“Yes,” I smiled out. He smirked, throwing down his arms with a slap as they hit the pavement, returning to his sky.

 

“...Well you know, Hinata gave up on Naruto when she heard Sakura tell everyone about Naruto and Sasuke.”

 

I turned to him abruptly.

 

“...When did this happen?” I asked. He blinked innocently at me.

 

“...Yesterday. You mean you didn't hear? Jesus, Shika, it was the biggest thing ever in the school's history, I swear. When they came to school, everyone was staring at them and calling Naruto names and stuff. He almost got beat up, too, if it hadn't been for Mr. Black-belt Uchiha kicking ass and taking names.”

 

I realized my mouth was open, but I didn't take mind. Naruto was back.

 

“...What? I thought he ran away!”

 

“Sasuke chased him down, apparently. He came back yesterday, but with the way everything was going, I wouldn't be surprised if he ran away again. Especially now that Sakura forced Sasuke to take her to the dance. I think the deal was if he took her, then she'd tell everyone to shut the fuck up, and you know just how well she could pull that one off. Poor little guy.”

 

I twirled around to push my palms against the ground and stare down at his still laying self. He questioned.

 

“...What?”

 

“...Is he here today?”

 

“...I think so, why?”

 

Unfortunately for him, I was already barreling down the rooftop stairs and smiling like a madman. I was going to find myself a fox boy.