"Hold the door! Hold the door!" Ino shouted, running down the stairs two at a time fluidly despite the heels. She slipped past the two doors stealthily as a beep sounded over her head and the doors began to automatically close, void of any obstacles this time.

She found herself pressed flush against the many bodies of the already crowded train cart. But she smiled. "Hah, thanks," she said, to anyone and everyone near the doors as she checked on the state of her blouse and skirt. Quickly after, she looked about, searching for a pole to hold before the train could start its mechanical waver on its tracks.

But her eyes caught those of another she recognized as ones she had stared into long ago once before.

His name slipped past her lips before she could gather herself. "Sasuke..." Then the train began to move, thrusting her into a fit of squeals and desperate grabs for stronghold.

He steadied her by the elbow and nodded his head in acknowledgement. "Ino," he said and his lips tugged upward slightly, just enough for her to notice. "It's nice to see you again. You look good."

She held onto his arm. "Yeah. Uherm you do too… it's been a while. I thought you transferred into a university in another country…"

"I did, but my father's law firm is here, thought it was better to return and work." He said, looking away from her face and off into the distance, almost reminiscing.

Noticing that this was just a dead end with him, she nodded her head, willing herself into memories as well. But she caught herself staring at his impeccable profile.

Despite the many years apart, the man still hadn't look like he had aged one bit. Okay, maybe his face had slimmed down a little bit, stripping away to reveal masculine features. But his posture and aura still represented those of a person fresh out of high school, ready to see the wide expanse of the world. His posture and aura might have seemed at peace, but the stuck, lost, and devastated look in his eyes showed otherwise.

The man was stuck in a miserable place in life.

And, looking at the mask over his countenance, she couldn't help but wonder about all the what-ifs.

But he broke through her spell when he squeezed the fingers of her hand gently, asking, "Do you still get off the same stop?"

It was like her ears weren't used to picking up his voice for such a long time so it took a strange moment for her to comprehend the movement of his mouths and a few phrases she had managed to grasp over the sound of the moving train. But eventually, she responded with a small nod only to be returned with an inkling of a smile and words she had heard too many times before: "I'll walk you home."

She felt like a high-school girl all over again with all the small touches and cliché offers. And even thought it was best not to get used to his sudden presence, Ino couldn't help but let a pretty pink dust her cheeks and her heart thud like it had in the past.

But she kept her composure in front of him and continued the remainder of the train ride in a steady, professional conversation with the tall, dark-haired man. And it continued in this manner, exchanging small stories and catching up on each other's lives until the pair finally reached Ino's doorstep.

By then she had fished a round set of keys from her purse and had been running a hand through her hair at their startling end when he broke off mid-sentence and took a strong grip on her shoulders. Then, in actions similar to their abrupt first kiss together, he pressed his lips against hers, kissing, hoping for a response.

There were a few seconds of hesitation. He could feel it. She could feel it too.

Then she replied with both arms pushing him away from her and bit her lip in distress. He caught himself on the railing and steadied himself once more before taking a few steps back toward her. Ino moved away, creating an awkward dance between them.

"Sasuke, we really can't," she muttered under her breath. "We're not good to each other."

"Just hear me out. I know we might have hurt each other back then but – "

"There is no 'but', Sasuke. We hurt each other. Love isn't supposed to have hurt that much, Sasuke. We just can't. I've moved on and you should move on too."

Her words slid across his heart like the first slice of a new blade. "Moved on to who?" he asked.

Then the door of the house opened to reveal a man just a wee bit taller than Sasuke, many shades paler with a shorter haircut. The man smiled at him, a smile that set off an alarm inside. But the tense ambiance disappeared immediately at his arrival. "Hm, Ino? I thought I heard you outside. Who's this?" he asked, taking a hold of the blonde's hand and jutting his chin out at Sasuke.

Sasuke noticed the way Ino's fingers reflexively wrapped around the mystery man's fingers and he couldn't help but internally fume at this. He was just a …a watered-down version of him! But Sasuke kept his cool and extended out a firm hand. "Sasuke Uchiha. I went to the same high school as Ino," he said smoothly, deciding to leave out the fact that they had been in a very intimate relationship. He saw the way Ino's eyes had flickered toward his form before quickly returning to the man by her side.

There was a crackle in the atmosphere, one full of momentary tension and unspoken questions before the man extended his own hand out toward Sasuke. Then he looked at him, this time right in the eyes and gave that smile. "Sai. It's quite an honor to meet someone from Ino's high school years. She holds them quite close to her heart." His eyes narrowed just slightly. "I'm Ino's fiancé."

It implied something and Sasuke did not quite like the almost accusation.

And apparently Ino didn't quite enjoy it either because she squirmed in Sai's hold and danced away into the house. The two men stood outside of the door, unsure of whether to just leave without saying anything or to suffer through the torturous traditions of societal sendoff.

But neither had to do anything when the pretty blonde woman walked back out, lilac envelop in hand. "Ah, Sasuke. This was sent out a few months ago …I didn't know where you were then but now that you're here, you should take this," she said and shoved it backwards into his hands, words covered.

He stared questioningly at it and slowly began to turn it around, dreading the words inscribed in gold on the front.

"You should …come to the wedding," Ino lightly suggested, as if she didn't know that the words were crushing something inside of him.

But he kicked those feelings away and returned smile he knew she would recognize. "Yeah, Sure. I will. Congratulations though." He flipped the envelope around, looking at her golden name before pocketing it. Then he took a step away from the pair, waving his hand. "Have a good night, Ino, Sai."

And without waiting for a response, he walked off the porch, past their lawn, and into the dimly lit streets, heading in the direction of his house with a fist clenched to his side and a thumping pain in his chest.

Perhaps it wasn't the most intelligent decision to walk home because it had taken an hour …but he really needed that night time stroll. He needed to relax and just not let the blonde woman flood all his thoughts. Like she had said, she had moved on and he should too.

But …urgh. It was just so fucking –

"Sasuke! It's one o'clock, where have you been?!"

The new voice snapped Sasuke out of his thoughts and he looked up, clashing eyes with a familiar blonde male. But instead of replying to his close friend's question, he swerved to the direction of his door just not too far away from him, hand groveling in his pocket for a set of keys. The keys had no use however when the door swung open and he met eye-to-eye with two scarred men, one taller than he and a million times more intimidating with a light scar over his left eye and a slightly shorter male with brunette hair tied up and a horizontal scar gracing the part where his nose and face met.

"Where were you?" the taller man questioned, squaring his shoulders in an attempt to stop one shoving Sasuke.

It didn't work though and Sasuke pushed past the pair, took off his shoes, and walked into the living room. All three of the men followed him as he did this and just watched as he began emptying his pockets and throwing off his jacket to unbutton his button-up beneath.

"Sasuke, tell me. Where were you?" The tall, silver-haired man said once again. This time his voice tense.

Sasuke couldn't help but roll his eyes at the only person he considered family. "I was out, Kakashi." He noticed the way the silver-headed man narrowed his eyes and moved into the kitchen instead, trying his best to get rid of the tense atmosphere. He looked through his many cabinets looking for his favorite cup and when he finally had it full to the tip with tomato juice retrieved from his refrigerator, he gestured to the two remaining men that had poked their heads into the kitchen. "Why did you bring Iruka and Naruto along?"

"I didn't. Naruto told me you didn't show up for your planned dinner and he couldn't get in contact with you so I told him to meet at your house."

Sasuke nodded his head. Then he raised an eyebrow. "What about Iruka? He's not usually involved."

There was an awkward silence for a few seconds before Kakashi replied. "He was with me."

"Oh," Sasuke responded and leaned in toward his cup of tomato juice, a small smirk gracing his face. "That's interesting," he said immediately after taking a long sip. "What was he doing with you? It must have been late."

"Sasuke, stop. Show me where you keep your medicine," Kakashi commanded, glaring down at the younger man. "Immediately."

"Tch." Sasuke sucked the back of teeth impatiently, fuse growing short. "Why do you have to know all about this? I'm no longer a child."

"Sasuke –" Naruto cut in, shaking his head.

Then Iruka interrupted. "We'll be taking our leave," he announced and then tug Naruto out and away from the room.

There was stilled silence until the two left the house and Sasuke heard the door swing shut. Then Kakashi resumed their previous topic. "You know why I have to know. Now I'm not going to ask this again. Where were you, Sasuke?" He leaned over the counter menacingly. But when a minute past and Sasuke still kept his mouth stubbornly shut, Kakashi sighed and held out an open palm. "Your medicine, Sasuke. At least let me see your medicine."

Grudgingly, Sasuke slid a drawer out and threw two orange bottles out across the countertop. The man opposite picked up the bottles, studying the remaining pills. "Good," he muttered, and then popped open the cap and spilled the last remaining contents out on his palm. "Take these now, Sasuke," he ordered and pocketed the empty bottles. He stood there and watched as Sasuke picked up both pills and downed them.

When Sasuke had finally swallowed down both of the pills, he looked back down at the countertop, not at all surprised to see two new orange bottles. This time filled with many capsules.

"Here are your refills," the older male murmured. Then he sighed and tapped his fingertips on the countertop. "Now tell me, Sasuke."

The black-haired male elicited a groan and quickly drank away all of his tomato juice before slouching forward on the countertop. "I saw Ino." He ignored the way his only father figure in life squinted his eyes narrowly, a look of disapproval scrawled all over his face. But he continued on anyway. "It was late so I decided to walk her home."

Then he waited for Kakashi to say something, to say anything.

But Kakashi didn't say anything for a while. Instead he rubbed the sides of his head with his fingertips, obviously frustrated at his adoptive son's actions. Suddenly, disruptively, he slapped the countertop with the palm of his hand and pointed at Sasuke, eyes daring Sasuke to refuse his next words. "You cannot hope for anything with her." When Sasuke opened his mouth to respond, he cut him off with a swipe of his hand. "Do you remember what you made her go through?"

"No. I don't remember, but I don't need you constantly reminding me. It's not my fault."

This time Kakashi released a sigh and rounded the countertop to rest his arm on top of Sasuke's head, noticing that the atmosphere had turn depressive. "I know. I know it's not your fault that schizoaffective disorder runs in the family." He tried to pat his adoptive son's head in hopes of bringing the atmosphere up but only attempted to make them both feel awkward.

With a low growl, Sasuke pushed Kakashi away and headed for his room, hoping that Kakashi would just take the hint and leave but when he didn't hear any movement downstairs and his patience grew thin, he stuck his head out of his room, ready to shout but decided against it stubbornly. He refused to let Kakashi know he was bothered by his presence.

He fell asleep that night feeling paradoxically at peace and eerily on the edge at the same time.

That couldn't have been a good sign in any way.

O_O

It was certainly awkward the second time they met.

It was at a physical therapy office, where Ino was the doctor and Sasuke was the patient.

Sasuke had walked into the office, returning both the strange look the young man behind the counter had given him once he had walked in and all of his required information.

Okay, so maybe it was a little strange to see a physically healthy man of prime age in a physical therapy office.

Just maybe.

But only after it all, after the entire appointment, did Sasuke seat himself down back at home and internally punch himself over his own actions at the office.

It had all gone smoothly, exceptionally smoothly. The women there had asked him what the problem was, where did it hurt, to which he replied the problem was his arm. "Uhm," they had hummed back in response and then proceeded to place little circular pads attached to a machine onto him. (Later he found out it was for electronic stimulation.) Afterwards, instead of catering to the needs of all the other desperate patients (he assumed that it would be a busy place), several stood about in his room trying to make leisure chit-chat, and he indulged them, though he shouldn't have thinking back now. If he hadn't, maybe he would have been more perceptive to all the obvious danger signs.

But nooo, he sat there obediently, feeding them what they wanted.

(Honestly, he had found it a little weird when they asked him to take off his shirt because it was "in the way" so that they could hook him up to the monitor but he said nothing about it.)

They had asked about what he did for a living and he replied that he was a lawyer, the same answer he had given to Ino. Then they asked how he had ever acquired his shoulder injury, to which he responded that it was a minor motor collision.

Sasuke had actually messed up his arm from all of the extensive practice he had to endure. After all, he was just recently scouted onto a professional baseball team (the same one Naruto was scouted for years ago right in the middle of college) and yes, he did go through everything required to become a lawyer, but he wanted to hold it off for a few years to play baseball.

(He wanted to form a battery with Naruto and play like they had in high school.)

But, um, Ino would never know any of this because no one would (or should) tell her.

He didn't want to seem any more of – as Kakashi said it – a "fuck-up" than Ino saw him as already.

"Huh, why is everyone in here?" Ino had wondered out loud, standing by the doorway. When she finally spotted the dark-haired male by the machine, she released a soft, "Oh." But she didn't voice any possible disappointment; instead, she had just smiled and shook her head at her fellow attendants. "Shoo," she had said with her voice light as she waved her hands at them. "Go clean if there are no more patients."

"Okay," they had all chorused back in unison and walked out of the room, smiles still planted on their faces.

There were several things that had gone through Sasuke Uchiha's head the very moment his ex-girlfriend stepped foot into the room. One told him to bash his head against the wall because he really should have done his research. Why didn't he at least check out the doctor's name, just out of curiosity? This was just a cruel twist of fate. The second real thought that had rushed through his head like an ambulance during an emergency was that he had to get the fuck out of there.

And his body did its best to get the fuck out of there. He stood up quick, nearly knocking many expensive machines over and when he noticed, he reached over and pulled at its many cables, hoping so god damn badly that it wouldn't fall because he sure as hell wasn't that rich.

"Sasuke, it's fine," he had heard her say. "It's okay. I don't want …us to be weird."

"Well," he said and then ripped a couple of cables off him. The sticky pads being pulled off made him feel like he was getting a wax he didn't want. (He tried to ignore that.) "It is weird, Ino." Then he had grabbed his shirt, slipped his hands through the sleeves, and pulled it over his head.

"No," he had heard her mutter. Then the sound of the door closing reached his ears.

He was still in the process of pulling his shirt over his head then so he hadn't seen it. But did she just close the door and deny him exit?

Was that even legal?

"Come on. Let's talk."

By then, he had pulled his article of clothing over his head and noticed that yes, she did shut the door behind her and deny him exit. But he was still going to be a total butt about the entire situation.

"No, I don't want to talk anymore. I've already tried this month," he said and then stepped toward her. She had backed herself against the door, covering the doorknob with her body. "Ino," he had said, running a hand through his hair messily. "Let me out."

"If you don't want to talk at least let me help you."

He had eyed her. "We won't talk about the past?"

"Nope."

"Then fine," he had muttered and then sat down back.

The next hour was absolutely torturous and so goddamn awkward.

Her touch, scent, and presence filled his head with an abundance of memories.

And when he had gotten home and had gotten himself all ready to shut the lights and lie down and finally go to bed, he felt a familiar clenching in his heart. How long has it been? How long has he ridden himself of her?

But how long did it take for her to erase all those years of hard work? Not long. It only took her one hour for nearly a decade of erased emotional baggage to circle back and dump all of its heaviness back into his heart. And it was most definitely not good, not when she was going to be a married woman. He wondered, how long did it take for a woman like her to move on? It couldn't have been long, not when she was so, so, so …perfect.

Then he shook his head harshly as if the motion could physically throw his thoughts off the matter.

Whatever, he thought.

She wasn't his.

Not anymore and there was no use thinking about it anymore.

It would be a burden.

O_O

The sun was setting when he was getting home, splaying its many shades of red, orange, and yellow out into the sky. It was one of those nicer days and if Naruto hadn't been so adamant on surprising Sakura after her work shift, they would have gone out after to do something, probably drinking. It was slowing becoming a food past time, he felt like. It made him feel fuzzy and warm inside and although it was nothing compared to the feeling elicited from being with his Ino, he felt that it was a good enough match.

But.

Enough about his Ino.

He turned away from the sun and toward the door, fishing a set of heavy keys out of the side of his duffle. He was singling the correct one out for the door when he heard her voice.

"Hey," she said. He remembered that voice. It was one of those sultry types, the kind of voice that sounded oh-so-classy and mature but could just as easily sound seductive. He hadn't heard from her in a while. "I was waiting for you to get home, Sasuke." She was trailing her fingers across his shoulders, letting them curl around his bicep as she finally made her way into his field of vision.

She was still the same. Same old Samui with her chin-length blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, and voluptuous body. And she was wearing one of her dresses, the kimono type that she wore very short with plunging necklines.

One of her fingertips was tracing the side of his jaw. "Miss me, pretty boy?" she asked, tipping his face down to hers.

He almost wanted to laugh at her. As if he would have ever missed her. They had only dated because she reminded him of Ino and he was a pretty face and willing to satisfy her needs. In another world, he decided, they would never have been compatible. In another world, she would have just been ten years his senior drinking herself into a disaster for the morning and he would have just been the apathetic bartender serving her that evening.

But nope, now was now.

"What do you want?" he asked in response. With each other, it was never an equal relationship. One of them always wanted something from the other. That was how it worked. It certainly wasn't healthy, but it worked and he was okay with that.

He inserted the key and twisted it, swinging the door with one hand as he dumped the set of keys into the nearby bowl. He didn't bother to turn around and close the door behind him. It was an invitation.

Then he made way for the kitchen, pushing his shoes off quickly and dropping his duffle as he went.

She understood his little actions and welcomed herself into his house, closing the door behind him with a click. "Well," she said, looking around. "I've been thinking. I'm like …what? Thirty-six? And I should be thinking about …offspring."

He stopped shuffling through the kitchen then and looked up, warily written all over his face. "What do you want from me?"

"A child." She shrugged her shoulders, drawing attention to her light blonde hair. "Sperm. Whichever. You don't need to be involved in taking care of the child."

And he thought about it. Her offer made him think of a little girl running around with blonde hair and blue eyes. It didn't seem like a bad idea. He might not ever love Samui …but he could love the little girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.

So he nodded his head, noticing a glimpse of pure surprise pass over her face. "On one condition." She raised an eyebrow. "I want to be there for the child. I want the kid to grow up in a family."

Unlike me.

There was a moment of appreciation before she nodded her head, a small, satisfied smile on her face. "Of course, Sasuke. If that's what you want. Should …we sta – "

"That means we have to work out, Samui."

"Oh." He detected a hint of disappointment.

Did she really want to start a family already? Whatever did change her mind? Ever since he had known her, she had been the independent type, never relying. He remembered once that she had said she never wanted to be burdened with a child. She wanted to soar.

"Stay for dinner."

"Alright," she said and finally stepped away from the door and made her way towards him until the only thing separating them was the kitchen counter. "Can I stay the night?" she was beginning to circle the counter, her hips moving almost seductively.

His throat was dry and he felt a twinge of regret.

Whatever, he thought.

"Whatever you want, Samui."

(Sasuke didn't feel at his best when he woke up the following morning with the older, voluptuous woman.)

O_O

He knew he was her last patient of the day and that almost entitled unspoken benefits like taking as long as he wanted. Honestly, he didn't think she mind. If anything, she was the one that usually dragged their session longer than usual, making more nonsensical chat-chat than ever necessary.

Personally, he didn't mind that. He liked hearing her voice. He liked seeing that spark in her eyes when she spoke.

" – and she almost ate the ring! Naruto was freaking out!" She was catching him up on their friends' lives. This particular conversation was about the time Naruto had tried proposing to Sakura. Everything had been perfect up until the cake, in which he had destroyed the ambiance by plucking the ring out of the piece of cake she had on her fork, terrified that she would swallow it. "Sakura was mortified!" Then Ino hit his arm once playfully before she burst into giggles, a habit he noticed she had developed.

She was walking him out when he heard the elevator doors open.

Her gaze left his for a second.

Then a hand squeezed his arm. "Sasuke."

He turned to look at the newcomer. Her voice hadn't registered in his head but when he met Samui's face, his heart dropped a bit. It felt like a nightmare.

His dream was to his left but the reality was to his right.

"Do you have time after?" Samui asked, tilting her head to the side, sly.

"Oh!" Ino sounded surprised. He couldn't make eye contact with her. He almost felt shameful. "Who's this, Sasuke?"

He didn't need to introduce her. She did it herself. "Samui," she said, hand stretched out. "His girlfriend."

Ino extended her hand out, shaking Samui's firmly. "Ino. Doctor and high school friend." Then she turned her attention to him. "I'll see you next week, alright?" She said and then smiled. "Good for you."

The fact that she sort of approved made it hurt so much more.

O_O

The medicine worked.

But sometimes, Sasuke wished it didn't.

That way he could live in his own delusions.

He could imagine it sometimes.

Itachi would talk to him like a real brother would. He would sit in his room, reading sometimes. Then he would look over the top of the book at him and probe gently. "How are you?"

"Good."

"Really now?"

"No."

"Well, care to talk about it?"

He would be hesitant because that was the kind of person he was. But eventually, because this was Itachi, he would talk. "I hate my life."

"Hm, why?"

He shrugged.

And somewhere across from him, Itachi would raise an eyebrow skeptically but Sasuke would just ignore him.

But inside, he would always think about it. How unfair everything was.

Everything had gone so well in the beginning of his life. It was so perfect. He had such a loving family. His father was strict, certainly strict, but he always showed his love in small actions. His mother was so kind, always making sure that the lack of attention from his father was replaced if not equally then with more love by his mother. His brother was his brother, always trying to meet their parent's expectations without destroying a piece of himself. Unfortunately, the universe had other plans.

And that was that. It wasn't that Kakashi wasn't a bad father. It was just that …it didn't feel the same.

But when he was finally with Ino. That was a different feeling. He could say for certain that …he had loved Ino and still did. But just when he was realizing it, realizing that it was something stronger, that entire mess had been dumped on it. How he loathed his family. How he loathed his life.

It felt like the entire world was against him. Was it so hard to ask for a chance to live that moment of happiness again? Was that really so difficult?

O_O

Samui came to his house more often then, leaving things behind and making herself home. She was staying overnight more often too. And it was one of those nights.

She was in her pajamas and in his bed, resting her head over his heart. She had a hand under his t-shirt, manicured nails tapping gently over muscles every time she felt his heart beat. It was soothing, having her in his arms and the lights dimmed with a movie playing in front of them. And for a second, Sasuke decided that …it wasn't so bad. Perhaps he could get used to it.

Then his cell phone rang.

She shifted off him as he reached for the nearby cell phone. "Who is it?" she asked, tucking stray strands of blonde hair behind an ear.

He glanced at the blinking screen.

Naruto, it read.

And he tossed his phone back onto the little table stand. "Just Naruto," he replied, settling back in the bed comfortably.

She lifted herself up on her elbow to look at him. "You're not going to answer him?"

"Nah," he muttered.

"Well, why not?"

He couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at her. "He reminds me of high school."

Samui beside him shrugged. "What's so bad about high school? It was fun."

He didn't say anything. He just grunted in response, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Why are you always so desperate to hide everything that happened in high school?" she was probing. He didn't like that. "I couldn't even find your yearbook on your bookshelf. Where else would one put a yearbook?" He turned off the television. "Was it a girl?" He felt his entire body stiffen and he hoped Samui didn't notice it. But that was highly unlikely. "Was it that Ino?" Ah, she hit the target. "What did she do to you? A bad breakup? Was she The One That Got Away?"

He wanted to nod and scream that yes, Ino was The One That Got Away.

Back then, he had thought that he would have a chance with her again one day. But he knew. He knew that admitting it would be the equivalent of super gluing himself to the past and shutting all future opportunities out. That would be too selfish of him to everyone else.

So he tried to give her a reassuring smile and uncrossed his arms. "No, nothing of that sort. I'd just rather not speak or think of a time like that."

She didn't seem convinced about the entire situation. "You know, we can always talk about it, Sasuke."

He gave a sort of hum of acknowledgement. Then it occurred to him that…

He took Samui's hand. She looked up with curiosity in her eyes.

"If born a male, the child will inherit a predisposition to schizoaffective disorder and develop it early."

She shrugged and gave an uncertain smile. "Sasuke, it's all genetics. You can't say that with complete certainty."

"Yes I can, Samui." Then he took a deep breath. He kept it hidden very well, so well that even after having an on and off relationship for so long, she still didn't know. It was something he wished would just get up and disappear. Then he would have had his family, all of it. He would have Ino. "Because I have it and so has my father and brother."

"It won't change anything, Sasuke." She slipped a hand underneath his shirt, fisting a handful of the fabric. Then she tugged him forward until they were face to face. "I'm dead set on you."

Well, he would have been lying to himself if he said he didn't feel anything.

It was small but it was there.

Ba Bump.

O_O

He was in the middle of driving them to dinner that night when he had pulled over suddenly and asked an impending question that had bothered him ever since she had appeared. "Am I really your first choice? What happened to Darui?"

From the way she had pushed her hair back and crossed her arms in front of her displeased, he immediately knew what the answer was.

She was rejected.

And thus, he started up the car once more, not a bit bothered that the rest of the ride would be in awkward silence. Moments like this allowed him to reflect on his thoughts.

No matter, he thought. It wasn't like she was his first choice either. But …if he was ever given a second chance, he would dump everything he had to take it.

He couldn't help himself when they were both seated at the table waiting for their food. "He didn't give you another chance, Samui?"

"Please, Sasuke," she scoffed with an inappropriate roll of her pretty eyes. "There are no second chances in life," she bitterly stated, scowl apparent on her face.

He really wasn't listening after that.

Because no matter how true it was, he didn't want to believe completely that there were no second chances in life.

All he needed was one more.

No, no.

He must not think about her anymore. He was finally falling for Samui and he had to make it work. For her and his sake.

A movement from the corner of his eye broke through his musings. His eyes flickered up as a waiter stopped at their table and unloaded their dishes from his holding. "Enjoy," he had monotonously said with a bow before leaving them to their dinner.

Sasuke picked up his fork and stared at his dish. Meh, he thought. He wasn't that hungry. Across from him, Samui must have had the same idea because she too had picked up a utensil only to let it waver in her fingers, unsure of whether to eat. Then he broke the silence for the second time that night, "Samui, care to go to Yamanaka's wedding with me?"

"Yamanaka?"

"Ino."

"Right," Samui muttered and then speared her meat ferociously. "Her."

"Harboring some hostility?" he asked.

"No." Samui smiled, giving him the fakest smile he had ever seen. "Never."

O_O

On the day of the ceremony, Sasuke thought Ino was the most beautiful bride imaginable. When she had walked through the doors with Ibiki by her side, his heart skipped a beat and his breath choked, but most importantly, his heart clenched and pained. It hurt knowing that she wasn't marrying him.

He remembered how …at a point in life, he couldn't see himself with anyone else.

And yet here he was, watching Ino – his Ino – marry a lookalike.

Ino, in her glorious, white dress reminded him vaguely of the little figures that bakers put on their wedding cakes. It was strapless and hugged her body well before flouncing out into a gorgeous skirt. Because of her light veil, Sasuke himself had trouble spotting her face. Then there was her platinum-blonde hair, swept half up with a single lily and done in many, many curls.

All in all, she was a vision, a person created from dreams.

When she reached her future husband-to-be, he noticed her bright smile. He could tell that she was excited. She was happy with her life was it was.

Then she turned her head slightly to glance at the many guests.

They made eye contact and his heart dropped. It was a mistake to have looked, he knew it. She knew it too because her smile faltered slightly and she stepped back from Sai. Instead of taking his hands, she pulled back, as if she was repulsed by his very existence.

Everyone stilled in the room.

And in the dead silence it all, Sasuke heard Sai's words. "Ino, are you okay?"

"I…" Ino stared at Sai, still a step away. Then she turned to her guests once again, looking at them all before turning back to Sai. "I-I'm sorry, Sai. I …I can't do this. I can't marry you," she finished, and then made way down the aisle once more, pushing past the doors and away from eyes sight. The groom followed through those same doors not too long after and almost immediately did many of the guests stand up, gossiping and muttering things like "cold feet" with hushed voices.

He was one of those guests, standing up to see, not to gossip.

But besides him, Samui had a firm grip on his hand as if she was constantly reminding him of who he was with now at this moment, not who he was with once in the past. She looked at him and licked her lips, seeming to be as if she was choosing her words carefully inside. And not too soon after, she opened her mouth to speak. "Sasuke," she began but was interrupted.

Sasuke instinctively turned to her interlocutor. It was the familiar firm grip that captured his attention. It was a grip that reminded him of the past.

"Sasuke!" Naruto had shouted, to call his attention or in urgency, he couldn't tell. "You. You have to go!" He almost turned toward his close blond friend with a blank stare, asking for more but having dealt with this particular asshole for such a long time, Naruto knew what to do. He pulled Sasuke away from Samui and out to the aisle. "You have to go after her, Sasuke! I know you and you never once stopped loving her!"

He didn't move his feet. "But - "

At that moment, Sakura appeared by her fiancé, gripping him by the shoulders to steady herself. Then she jumped in as well. "What are you waiting for, Sasuke? Go!"

"She's happy with what she has now," Sasuke replied, stoic. He didn't want to believe in something that had such a slim chance in happening. He didn't want to give himself too much hope only to have it crushing down on him once more. "She doesn't need me."

Sakura looked like she wanted to bash Sasuke's head then and there. "What the hell are you talking about?! She ran out on her own wedding! Open your god damn eyes, Sasuke! Can't you see that this is a second chance? Your second chance to be with her, together, to be happy! Don't give me that 'she doesn't need me' bullshit, okay?! Because I know Ino, I know my best friend and she was happiest with you, always! She cried so much for you after the breakup and I know she's still not over you! She never got over you and don't you even dare say she's moved on to Sai because have you seen that man?! He looks like you, Sasuke! I know you can see it, so just man the fuck up and just confess your dumb ass feelings for her! I don't want to ever see her live a lie!" Then she grabbed him, made an animalistic growl that made the hair on the back of his neck stand, and shoved him toward the direction of the door.

His feet were moving when:

"Sasuke!"

It was Samui. She was looking at him, expectedly, waiting for an explanation of what they were going to be after all this.

So he broke it to her fast.

"I never loved you. I could never love you as Samui. A life with you …would never have made me happy," he confessed and then took one long, last look at her. "Second chances do exist in life, Samui. You just never looked hard enough." Then he turned around, and ran.

He couldn't explain the feeling inside. His heart was pumping fast and his breath was quickening, but most importantly, he felt light. He felt light and free and unbound from all his past troubles. He was ready for this confrontation.

Sasuke found Sai standing outside a door knocking softly and whispering soft words through the door. When he approached, Sai straightened his back and gave him an undecipherable look. "You." Then he moved past his dull doppelganger to knock on the door himself.

From inside, he heard muffled words. "Go away, Sai!"

"It's Sasuke," he immediately responded and then waited. For something. Anything.

There was a click of the door and then it swung open, revealing Ino in all her perfection. Her makeup was lightly smudged then but she didn't seem to care. All she seemed to care about was the two men in front of her, standing side-by-side and asking for a decision to be made. He could see the intense turmoil going on in her head by the way her blue eyes would flicker between their forms and the way her hand clenched over her chest. "I-I can't do this," she whimpered and then turned her back, making way for a place to sit. "This isn't supposed to be happening!" Then she began to cry.

Sai moved in first and despite knowing that this was his final chance, Sasuke couldn't help but feel like his shoes were glued to the floors.

Sai stopped in front of Ino and got on one knee, reaching for her hand. He opened his mouth to speak but Ino interrupted him speedily. "I can't marry you, Sai," she said and pulled her hand back. "I thought I could do all this," she made a gesture to everything around her, "with you." The words brought hope to Sasuke. "But I can't. It'll be unfair to you. I won't be loving you for you. I would be loving you because you remind me of," the she stopped and pointed a finger back at him without meeting his eyes, "him. It would have been too selfish of me to bind you when there's another person out there who could truly love you." Here she stopped, sniffed, and wiped her tears. "I-I," she began to choke on her next words and stopped to take a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Sai. For everything that I've done."

There was a moment of silence. Then he saw Sai lift a hand to her wet cheek. "It's okay," he muttered softly. "You've taught me much about emotions. I will be forever grateful." Then Sai's inky black eyes flickered up to meet his. "I knew the day you introduced him that I was only a replacement. Don't be sorry for what your heart feels, Ino. You taught me that." Then he leaned forward to kiss her cheek. "Don't cry for a man that cannot feel," he said and got up to his feet, ignoring the way Ino held her arms out for him.

Then he walked past Sasuke, never once meeting his eyes or exchanging words. But from the way Sai held his head, Sasuke knew he was crying. It was a rare, silent type and despite not knowing the pale man, Sasuke understood how it must have felt. It was the sort of cry that was built completely off emotion and although one would try hard to keep them in, they would seep out. The tears would be a shock but the numb pain inside the chest would be there for eons, healing ever so slowly.

He almost wanted to comfort the man but soon, Sai was out of sight and it became apparent that it was suddenly his turn.

It was Sasuke Uchiha's second chance.

So he swallowed his pride and approached her, the one love of his life, his everything, and kneeled before her as Sai had done and reached forward with a hand to tilt her head up towards him. Blonde locks fell back to expose light skin marred by red rubbing and puffiness around the eyes and albeit her makeup was smudged and she had been crying, she was still beautiful.

Then he took a deep breath. "Ino, you've said it before. I suck at being romantic so I'll make all of this quick. I love you. I've always loved you. I never stopped loving you and I never will. So, here." He reached into the pocket of his jacket. It wasn't that he was hoping for the wedding to be a failure, it was just that he always carried it with him as a reminder. "It's," he looked down and a small chuckle escaped his lips. It looked so pathetic in his hands. It was small and nothing compared to the engagement ring she had on her finger a few weeks back. "Not much but it's all I have right now," he finished and then held the same ring from many years ago out to her, still hanging on the same necklace chain.

He noticed the way her eyes flickered down to the small sapphire reminiscing. The she tilted her head to the side. "You still have it, after all these years."

"Yeah," he whispered and looked away, honestly unsure of what to say. He wasn't good to this. He wasn't used to this.

Then he heard her giggle. It was soft and reminded him of their days many years before. Then her fingers wrapped themselves around the chain of the necklace and pulled the ring itself out from Sasuke's grasp. She gave a breathy giggle once more before dangling it before his eyes, playful, mirthful. "Sasuke, are you proposing to a bride?"

"Yes," he said, feeling completely unlike himself. He wasn't one to face his feelings. He felt uncomfortable too, but if it meant her, he was willing to do it jus this once. "Will you, Ino Yamanaka, marry m-"

"Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes I will."

She was back. His.

Then she grabbed him from the front of his nice dress shirt and pulled him towards her, giving him the same kiss she had given him many years ago right before she had left him. It was the same one, full of its same passion and love. Except this time, there was no sadness in it.

And when they finally parted to take a breather, their foreheads still connected, Ino looked at him and smiled once more. "This isn't you. The Sasuke I know would never say all of that out loud. He would never lose his cool."

"I'm quite desperate."

Here she laughed lightly and then brushed a hand against his cheek. "You have dimples when you smile," she whispered.

It brought up memories from when he was resting on her lap, thinking about why they had taken a liking to each other. He knew she was referring to that. Tell me, she was saying, tell me why you love me.

"I still don't know why I love you, Ino. I don't think I ever will because it's not something that I can describe. All I know is that I want the perfect love story with you. We might have had a rough start, but I promise now that I'll make you happy. I'll keep you happy."

"Finally being with you is enough to make me happy, Sasuke."

Author's Note: So there's that. I hope you guys enjoyed part two of this one-shot(?) it was certainly fun to write, especially after not writing for so long. Contrary to the first part, I had a much harder time writing this. Like Sasuke himself, I'm a rather emotionally-detached person so when it came this final scene, I struggled immensely. I spent a lot of time writing and rewriting this last scene and even now I am not completely satisfied. But it's so difficult for me to write and even more difficult to try to keep it in Sasuke's character. I apologize if the ending does indeed seem coerced. Please tell me if he does seem too out of character. It is just that I believe when someone is in absolute desperation, even the most stoic would say lines like that. If they want something or someone that badly, I believe it would happen. But still, tell me.

I would also like to say that I appreciate every one of my readers that decides to leave a review. It makes me more confident and more satisfied with my writing knowing that someone is enjoying it as well because as a somewhat perfectionist, I usually upload my stories thinking they are "okay". But this "okay" turns into a "good" every time one of my readers are asking for more or even just telling me they enjoyed it.

But what I do not appreciate are certain people leaving reviews degrading a character or a pairing. I have clearly labeled which characters and which pairing would be my main characters so there is absolutely no reason to leave a review telling me how "delusional" and pathetic of a person I am for supporting what I like. It's immature and disrespectful. I am here, writing about this pairing because it is what I find ideal. Yes, I am part of a relatively small community supporting this particular pairing and yes, it is nowhere near canon, but there is still no need for this hostility.

I don't want to leave on such a sour note now, so I'll reply to a reviewer that has raised a question asked many times before.

To Forevershine: On the status of my other stories as of now ...I'm honestly sorry to say I might have to abandon them. You might say that it would be cruel to leave readers hanging but the truth is that I don't remember where I was going with each of my stories. I was ...young. I didn't keep notes on my stories. (Don't worry, I'm starting now.) But one big reason why I don't want to just delete them is because I really don't want to take away from the SasuIno community. It's pretty obvious but that's practically all I write about and if I delete the stories I find unsatisfactory or deem abandoned, I would quite frankly only have this story. I really don't like my younger works ...but I don't want to take it away from younger readers who won't mind what I currently deem as bad writing. It seems selfish, yes, but I hold attachment to it. So I'm sorry. I really am. I'm sorry for taking you on a story that would never have an ending.

Okay, I apologize for this freakishly long author's note, but I needed to get that all out there. I started writing when I was in sixth grade. I had much more time back then and I didn't take writing seriously. I'm in twelfth grade now and although I don't take writing very, very seriously. I still want my writing to be something I deem acceptable and enjoyable.

I don't know when I'll upload a new story, but until then.