Naruko P.O.V

An awkward silence surrounded Gaara and me as he walked me to my apartment. Even though we had left things more or less okay, it was still awkward. But he was my friend, so I had to try and revive what we had before.

"So...how's everything?" I asked awkwardly.

"Uh...not bad...How're you and Sasuke?"

I felt my heart tighten in guilt at the mention of his name. "I love him...We're really happy right now...I'm happy..." I then stopped walking to look at him sadly. "Gaara, I'm so sorry...For everything I did, and I know no amount of apology can undo what I did, but I'm truly sorry..."

He smiled sadly as he reached over to hold my hand. "I know you are. It's not just your fault...It's also mine..."

"Huh?! How is any of this your fault?!" I yelled in shock at his response.

He sighed, turning his gaze away from me. "I knew you didn't have the same feelings for me, but I still tried to be with you...I just thought, maybe, just maybe, I would have a chance if you spent more time with me..."

"Gaara..." This is a mess...

"Naruko, it's going to take me a while to get over you-"

My eyes quickly shifted to the ground in guilt. 

"-But I don't want to lose what we had...You were my first friend..."

 He smiled weakly as I returned it. I opened my arms, commanding him to hug me. "Bring it in."

"You'll always have a place in my heart," he whispered while holding me dearly.

"...we'll always be friends."

As we stood there, I could feel his tears fall against my hair. Words were not needed to express how we were feeling. Our bond as jinjuriki was stronger than most. Knowing that we had each other at that moment, was all we needed.

We'll always be friends...forever and always.

***

We were approaching my apartment, laughing as we took each step. I stood before the stairs to my apartment, saying my last goodbyes to my friend.  

"When are you coming back?" I asked.

"Maybe in a month or so. I have to get back to the village to finish up some work."

I crossed my arms, disappointed by the fact that he was always working. "Is being Kazekage really that much work?"

He nodded his head. "You'll see in a few years."

"Believe it."

I sighed in relief, slowly but surely, we were going to fine. "Hopefully, we'll see each other soon," I said with a smile, "If not, hit me up through Kurama," I added playfully.

He chuckled while beginning to walk away. "I will."

I watched him walk away, waiting until he was out of sight before I went upstairs. We're getting there...Oh-Sasuke!

A smile consumed my face as I thought about him. I sprinted up the stairs to see him, but as I approached my door, I saw him standing outside, waiting for me.

"Sasuke!" I yelled happily, running to wrap my arms around him. My embrace was wholehearted, and I couldn't wait to feel his arms around me. But as I waited for him to return it, it never came. He was as stiff as a board and lifeless like the dead.

Huh? Is it just me or is he acting weird?

"Sasuke? Is everything okay?" I asked worriedly.

He looked at me with cold eyes that sent shivers down my spine. 

What's going on...? The last time he looked at me like that was four years ago...

"Naruko," he spat coldly, "Where were you all day?"

"Oh, I was with Sakura-chan all day, and then-"

"Sakura? Then why did I just see you with Gaara?"

"Because I met him on my way home with Sakura-chan," I replied slightly annoyed, "What's with all the questions, Sasuke?"  

He crossed his arms angrily, looking at me with a bothered expression. "Naruko, I'm going to give you one chance to tell me the truth. Where were you all day today?"

What the hell?!

I grew angry with his attitude. "I already told you I was out with Sakura-chan. I only met Gaara on my way home, and we stopped to talk. Ask Sakura-chan, she was with me!"

"Are you lying to me?"

"Huh?! Why would I lie to you?"

"Is there something you're not telling me?"

"Sasuke, what the hell are you talking about?!"

He clicked his tongue and looked at the ground. "What did you talk about with Gaara?"

Why does he want to know? What's up with all these questions?! It's like he's interrogating me! 

"Does it matter what we talked about?! I'm your girlfriend, and you're supposed to trust me! So why're you asking me all these weird questions? Do you think I'm cheating on you with the guy I dropped for you?!"

"I don't know what to think Naruko! The stories aren't lining up!"

"What stories?! What the fuck are you talking about, Sasuke?!"

He looked at me angrily as tears formed in his eyes. "Do you trust me?"

"Huh? Of course, I do!"

"Do you trust me more than Sakura?"

I stayed silent for a moment before speaking. "Look Sasuke...Sakura-chan and I-"

"I knew it...You don't trust me like you trust her..."

"No, Sasuke-"

"Is that why you never want to tell me where you're going? Why you always want to have boundaries even after being together? Naruko...I thought you trusted me...loved me...Now, what am I suppose to think?"

The warm blood that ran through me quickly turned cold. "Sasuke, I do love you and trust you...It's just-"

"Just what?" he spat angrily.

His tone of voice angered me, bringing words from the darkest place in my heart. "You were gone for four freaking years Sasuke! While I tried to get you back, Sakura-chan was by my side. Not you. So tell me, Sasuke. How am I supposed to trust you after what you did to me all those years?! How do I know you're not going to run away and leave me again?!"

The color of his skin turned white from the shock. "I-"

 "'I' what, Sasuke?! There's no excuse. You choose power over us...So before accusing me of having so little trust in you, why don't you re-evaluate yourself?!"

As I watched a tear slip down his cheek, regret filled my heart. What have I done...?

"So that's it..." he began, "We have no trust in each other..."

I felt my heart drop at his words. "N-no! It's just...trust takes time-"

"How long do I have to wait until you can trust me?"

"Sasuke-"

"How long, Naruko?"

I held my arms close to my chest. "I...I don't know..."

"How don't you know?" he persisted.

 "Look Sasuke, you've only recently come back to the village...I know you've changed--we've changed--but I just need some time to trust you like Sakura-chan...She's been there for me longer than you have. I promise, as we grow, our trust will too."

He sighed, looking away from my direction. "Naruko...I just need to know...would you ever hide something from me and only tell Sakura about it?"

I nodded my head as I thought back to all the conservation Sakura and I had. Sakura is who I go to for advice on him. There are some conversations I rather have with her than him--or any guy in general. 

His expression darkened. Quickly, he wiped the tears from his face and looked away. "If I could turn back time, I would...I should have gone back to you sooner...I'm sorry, Naruko." 

What seemed like simple words came off as a violent goodbye.

"Sasuke...what're you saying?"

"Naruko...It's over."

What...?

I felt my eyes begin to fill with tears as my heart began to crumble. "Wh-what do you mean? Sasuke, why...?"

He looked away from my direction and walked into the apartment. Desperate to stop him, I chased after him. However, when I reached the doorway,  his stuff was packed up as if he was waiting to leave this whole time.

"Sasuke, why is your stuff packed? You can't be serious?!"

He picked up his bags and walked past me like if I didn't even exist.

"I'll be back tomorrow to pick up my furniture."

He was walking out the door, but I couldn't let him leave. I ran behind him and quickly grabbed ahold of his bag, stopping him from moving.

Why is he doing this?! Why is he suddenly leaving?! None of this makes any sense!

"Sasuke, why...?! Why're you leaving me?! What did I do to make you feel like this?! I thought we were happy?!"

Tears were streaming down my face and the pieces of my heart continued to fall like my tears.

"Naruko...you know why."

"No...no I don't! Please tell me! Why won't you tell me?!"

He groaned angrily as he pushed me away, causing me to land on the floor in pain. "Sasuke...why...?"

He looked at me with cold, hateful eyes, which shattered my heart.

"Tomorrow morning I will be asking Lady Tsunade to null our marriage. We will divorce and not have anything to do with each other after we separate. I don't ever want to see you again."

He turned around angrily, walking away.

Divorce? Separate? No...this can't be..!

I quickly stood back up, ran up to him, and wrapped my arms around him, embracing him from behind as I cried out his name. "Sasuke, please don't go! I love you!"

I was crying in screams. Tears and mucous rolled down my face as I buried my face into his broad back. "Please Sasuke, don't leave me! I promise I'll learn to trust you quickly! I promise, so please don't leave me! I love you, Sasuke! I love you so much! Please, don't leave me!"

He was silent as the sounds of my cries echoed through the hall.

"Get off me."

"No..."

"I said get off me."

I began to cry harder as I tightened my embrace around him. "No! I'm not letting you go!"

"Naruko!"

His shout made my world shatter. In fear, I slowly began to let go. Sasuke...what happened?

He fixed his bag on his shoulder and continued to walk away, not looking back at me, not even once.

"Sasuke...please don't leave...I love you..."

He continued to walk down the stairs, not batting an eye in my direction.

"Goodbye Naruko."

And with those words, he left me on my knees, crying madly as I watched him walk away. I was helpless, and nothing I said or did would make him come back to me. It was just as before; he left me broken. 

Why?! What did I do wrong?! Why Sasuke?! Why?!

He was no longer mine, but a person that my heart would unfortunately always belong to.