I AM HORRIBLE. AND COMPLETELY DESERVE EVERYTHING THAT I'M SURE ALL MY WONDERFULLY DEDICATED READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT HOW I NEED TO JUST FINISH THE STORY ALREADY !

So, I'm apologizing. Life is hard on me right now, so I really haven't had inspiration for this story for a while. Hopefully I was able to muster up enough to make it through this chapter, though, yes? We'll find out!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Really, really vague recap: (A/N: because yeah, I'm not even sure I remember what has happened so far…)

1. Sakura and Sasuke met – didn't get along, and constantly fought with each other in order to cancel the arranged marriage set up by their parents.

2. Slowly they start to become friends.

3. Sasuke almost kisses Sakura, but pulls back out of confusion.

4. Prince Etaku (a.k.a. "perfect" guy who is the sole object of Sasuke's anger and hate) comes into the picture, trying to win over Sakura

5. Sasuke, being the idiotic jerk-in-denial that he is, thinks Sakura is better of without him, and leaves her behind.

6. Sakura is depressed and everyone can see it.

7. Sasuke is angsty.

8. Naruto promises to bring Sasuke back for Sakura.

9. Etaku asks Sakura to marry him and she turns him down.

So that's the basics. Go back and read a bit if you need!

Chapter 12 – Answers

Naruto had always been best friends with Sasuke. Their friendship was questionable and certainly odd to anyone who didn't truly know them. Sasuke was many things to Naruto. He was a rival. He was a leader. He was a partner. He was someone who understood. He was shoulder to lean on. He was someone to fight with. He was someone to joke with. He was someone to protect. He was a bastard. He was a friend. And he was a brother.

Growing up with Sasuke hadn't always been easy. They had probably fought with each other more than they fought with anyone else. It had always just made sense. Naruto and Sasuke had always conflicted, just like fire and ice.

And then again, Naruto and Sasuke had still always been best friends. There was an understanding between them. Sure, Naruto knew that he was loud, and sometimes obnoxious and a bit overzealous, but Sasuke had accepted him anyway, at least in his own way of calling Naruto an idiot and smirking. But it was acceptance – it was a bond.

Naruto only remembered some of his childhood. He grew up without parents, and it wasn't necessarily easily. Perhaps that's why he really couldn't remember certain periods of his youth. But he clearly remembered when he started living in the Uchiha castle – beginning his training to become a soldier, as most of the orphaned children ending up becoming. He had been the youngest of his class back then, an outcast and a troublemaker in a room full of young boys learning to go to war.

And he still remembered finding Sasuke practicing in some courtyard Naruto had wandered into, not really caring where he was going. Naruto had not been very good with names, or faces, when he was young, and for all he knew, the cocky boy with the dark hair was one of the older boys in his class. He certainly had no idea that Sasuke had been the young Prince.

So it wasn't something out of the ordinary for Naruto when he challenged Sasuke to a competition. Naruto remembered just how good Sasuke had been at hitting every target precisely, and how Sasuke had simply smirked after his round was over. Naruto had gotten angry, and determined to prove that he was just as good as the arrogant boy, had tried to out-throw him (which only ended in Naruto losing, Sasuke calling Naruto an idiot, and Naruto calling Sasuke a bastard). Upon which ultimately ended in a fist-fight between the two, which had to be broken up by a passing guard sentinel.

Naruto had been shocked to learn that the boy he had just given a black eye, and the boy that had just given him a bleeding lip, was indeed the Prince. But he hadn't been ashamed. He was so determined to keep up with Sasuke.

Maybe that's why the King had deemed Naruto to become Sasuke's personal training partner. They spent the next few years fighting with each other, learning from each other, and helping each other grow. Naruto's determination only grew stronger, and Sasuke's focus increased day by day. They were unstoppable.

And then suddenly they weren't little boys anymore just playing war. Sasuke was thrown into politics, and Naruto followed along right beside him. They learned to govern together, to control a group of armed men, and how to win a battle. The reality of the world settled in around them, and Sasuke was given much more responsibility than he should have had.

Maybe that's why Sasuke had broken, why Sasuke had first chosen to join the League. People blamed it on the rebellion of his youth, but hadn't Sasuke been forced to grow up a little too soon? Hadn't Sasuke lost most of his youth to training, war, politics, and courts? Naruto understood that Sasuke had simply had enough – he wanted so desperately what no royal had every truly found. Sasuke just wanted freedom. And Sasuke apparently believed the only way to get that freedom was to run off and join the League – a group of mercenaries paid to settle disputes.

Naruto had spent every minute of that time searching for Sasuke, intent on protecting him no matter what. It was his job, and his duty as his friend. That was the main reason for what he was doing now – he had a responsibility to find Sasuke because he cared about what happened to the man who had become like a brother.

And the other reason Naruto knew he had to find Sasuke was because of Sakura. It was too hard to watch Sakura fall to pieces.

So Naruto had spent the past few days searching for any trace of Sasuke. It hadn't been easy so far – the weather had decided to be most uncooperative. It seemed like Naruto couldn't get away from the wind and rain that the passing storms brought. But his determination would not falter, it could not. He had to get to Sasuke.

Naruto was currently making his way through a little village in the North. Apparently, someone had spotted several members of the League in the village. It was a small thread of hope. Even if the members were still there, which it was highly likely they had already moved locations, it was still only a slim chance that Sasuke would be there. But it was still a chance – a chance that Naruto was prepared to take.

Weaving his way through the crowded streets, Naruto spotted an old run-down inn. It was the only building that had fit the description of the hideout, so Naruto figured he had found them. Taking a peek inside, Naruto's senses were easily overcome by the heavy smell of cigar smoke and alcohol. He turned up his nose as he walked in.

In the corner sat three people whom Naruto immediately recognized to be Suigetsu, Juugo, and Karin – Sasuke's partners. Naruto had never particularly cared for any of them, although he did have to admit Juugo was tolerable. He and Suigetsu were too alike to get along, and Karin was just too annoying. Naruto cleared his throat.

"Oi, where's Sasuke-teme?" Naruto asked gruffly, effectively getting the attention of the threesome. Suigetsu and Juugo seemed to be in the middle of a very tense card game, and Karin was watching on with bored eyes. Suigetsu looked up, spreading a mischievous across his features.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Uzumaki – Sasuke's personal body guard," Suigetsu drawled. "You don't do too good of a job keeping him in check, you know that?"

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Cut the crap, I asked you a question."

Suigetsu scoffed in return. "Like I know where he is now. And even if I did, I sure wouldn't tell you!" Naruto restrained himself from jumping at the cocky man. Juugo, sensing a fight, intervened.

"He left a little while ago, Uzumaki-san," Juugo commented calmly. "You've just missed him."

Karin sighed. "It's true. For weeks, he's kind of just been walking around. It wasn't like his mind was really here, you know? He seemed sad."

"Yeah," Suigetsu added, "and when we asked him about it, we knew it had something to do with that pink-haired chick." Karin nodded.

"And so he stuck around a few more days, kind of brooding as he followed us to another hideout, and then this morning he just announced he was leaving. Just up and left," Karin explained as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

"So where did he go?" Naruto asked.

Suigetsu shrugged. "Most likely back where you came from."

Naruto's jaw dropped. "What? You mean I came all this way looking for him just to miss him? And he's probably going right back in the direction I originally came from?"

"It seems that way," Juugo confirmed, returning to his card game. Suigetsu kept trying to cheat every time Juugo would look away.

Naruto groaned and exited the building after shouting his thanks over his shoulder. If Sasuke had left that morning, then he couldn't have gotten too far ahead.

Sakura was rushing around her room, trying to locate her hooded cloak that she always wore whenever she would sneak out of the castle. It had been quite awhile since she had actually had to sneak out since her parents had discovered her passion for medicine. As usual, Hinata was rushing around after her, trying to calm her own nerves as well.

"Sakura, I just don't see the point in you leaving. I mean, Naruto-kun already left. You know Naruto – he's bound to bring Sasuke back. He won't stop until he finds him," Hinata reassured her. "So, really, I think maybe instead you should…"

"Hinata," Sakura asked, peering through her closet, "have you by any chance seen my cloak lying around? I can't seem to find it…"

"Yes, Sakura, I think you left it on the back of the chaise…"

Sakura giggled. "Oh, of course, how did I forget that it was there?" She didn't seem to be really listening to Hinata. Her stomach was in knots and her head was slightly spinning. This was such a crazy thing to be doing, really – going after Sasuke, as if she would actually find him. And what if she did find him? What would she find out? Would he even consider coming back? Would he even want to talk to her?

She didn't even know what she was doing anymore. She had felt a lot of emotions for Sasuke Uchiha in the time she had known him, and she was pretty sure they were all piling up now. She was angry at him – so angry that he left. But then she was depressed with herself, for not being a reason enough to stay, which only made her angry at him again. She was sad that he was gone, but hopeful when she remembered his face. She missed him so much it hurt.

So she pushed back the doubt in her mind. After all, she had just turned down Etaku for the chance to go after Sasuke. She wasn't going to waste this chance. Snapping out of her musings, Sakura realized Hinata was still talking.

"…and your father was pretty mad at first, Sakura. I mean, the engagement party had already started when Etaku proposed to you, and no one can figure out how to break it to the crowd that there is no engagement anymore," Hinata was saying nervously. "He expects you to figure out a way to clear up this mess, you know, Sakura. However, I am very surprised that after a while they actually accepted your decision. But I know they're still worried about you, just like I'm worried about you…"

Sakura chuckled. "Hinata," she said, trying to get the girl to stop fretting, "don't worry about me. This is something I decided I have to do for myself. I'm grateful for everything that my parents and Naruto have done, but I need to do this on my own." She hugged Hinata briefly. "And thank you for sticking with me all these years, Hinata. You've been my closest friend. I just want to be happy like you and Naruto are."

Hinata blushed as Sakura turned to the window and began climbing down as usual. Hinata's face lit up with realization. "But, Sakura, what am I supposed to do about the party?"

Sakura smiled and winked playfully. "I'm sure you'll figure out something, right Hina-chan?" And in a moment, she had descended onto the courtyard grounds, and was hurrying north.

Naruto was mentally kicking himself. He was the one who had known Sasuke for years. He should have known. It was so typical for Sasuke do be so indecisive, and to do something as illogical as heading back to the very place he had run away from. And people called Naruto the unintelligent one – such audacity.

He hadn't been running that long, actually. The village where Sasuke's old partners were resting was actually located just north of the Earth Kingdom, so Naruto had circled and went way out of his way just to end up going back. As much as the thought of wasting so much time annoyed him, Naruto pushed it aside and focused on making his way through the dense forest.

But since Naruto knew Sasuke's habits better than anyone else, he also knew that when Sasuke was hesitating about something, he wasn't in a rush. Which meant that Naruto would most likely be coming across him any minute.

As if fate was reading Naruto's thoughts, a dark figure came into view about one-hundred yards ahead.

Sasuke Uchiha was not hesitating. He wasn't. It just wasn't something that Sasuke Uchiha did (however, he had a vague feeling that at a time like this, Naruto would be trotting along side him, bitching about how Sasuke was so damn indecisive).

But he had made a decision. He needed to see that annoying pink-haired girl one more time, if only to remind himself that she was better off without him. He needed to see her smile again.

And then again, what if when he got back, Sakura had forgotten all about him? Could she have truly moved on with her life? Sasuke didn't like that particular thought, however, and was debating on turning back when he heard a loud yell coming from behind him.

"TEME!"

Speak of the devil, Sasuke thought ironically. He stopped right where he stood and waited for the impact.

In seconds, Sasuke felt Naruto come up close behind him. Sasuke ducked just in time as a carefully-aimed punch nearly knocked him across the jaw. He smirked, ready to counter, when the ground beneath him was suddenly lost as Naruto swept his legs out from under him. Sasuke cursed as he hit the ground, now bitterly remembering how years ago he had bested Naruto with that very same trick.

"Well nice to see you too, Dobe," Sasuke said sarcastically, brushing himself off as he stood up. Naruto practically growled.

"What the hell is your problem, Sasuke? How could you have done that to Sakura-chan?" Naruto questioned angrily. His cerulean eyes were practically blazing with rage.

"We are not having this conversation, Naruto," Sasuke declared as he began walking away, Naruto following right behind. "I don't have to explain myself to anyone."

"I'm not even the one who deserves an explanation, Sasuke. Sakura is the one who deserves an explanation – you know, the girl with the pretty eyes that you'd always stare at when you thought no one was looking?"

Sasuke scowled. "I don't need you reminding me about her, okay?" Sasuke said, obviously avoiding saying her name. "And I don't need you chasing after me to baby sit me. I can make my own decisions."

"Well it doesn't really matter what you think," Naruto retorted.

"Oh, really?" Sasuke countered, snorting. "I'm pretty sure as an Uchiha Prince, it really does matter what I think."

"Well, I don't care, Teme," Naruto said, shaking his fist angrily. "Whether you'll admit it or not, you're my best friend, Sasuke, and there is no way I'm letting you make the biggest mistake of your life." Naruto paused. "I even promised Sakura that I'd find you. She's waiting for me to bring you back, Sasuke, waiting. Do you know how many times she's cried over you since you left? I promised her, Sasuke, and I don't plan on breaking that promise. I WILL bring you back."

"You idiot," Sasuke drawled. "Have you even thought about the fact that I might actually be going back?

Naruto looked dumbfounded. "Wait, so you're intentionally going back?"

"Maybe I was," Sasuke answered defiantly. "Maybe I wasn't." Sasuke stopped walking. "Maybe it would be better off for both me and her if we never see each other again."

Naruto sighed in frustration. "That is where you are so wrong, Sasuke."

Sasuke closed his eyes. "She probably hates me."

"There's only one way to find out," Naruto answered. "Besides, why don't you take a few more steps over that hill? You're too close now to give up."

Sasuke scowled for a minute, debating on whether to turn back. He had come all this way. Was he really willing to just forget it all now? What if everything backfired? But when Naruto started making chicken sounds, however, and flapping around like an idiot, Sasuke sneered and marched forward, his decision reached. Upon reaching the top, he realized he was at the tip of Earth Kingdom's valley.

His eyes were immediately drawn to the castle nestled at the center of the valley. Carriages carrying nobles from across the land were all arriving at the castle gates, and Sasuke could see the people walking around. They looked only like ants from the distance, but that didn't mean that he didn't notice the light and happiness that radiated from the castle halls. The castle was decorated in what looked like some kind of pink and white variety of flower, most likely roses. It was immediately obvious that it was some kind of party – Sakura's engagement party, no doubt.

Was she inside dancing in the arms of another man right now, twirling around as if she didn't have a care in the world? Was she smiling, laughing with her eyes as she often did? Sasuke's fist tightened. He had come all this way – and Sakura had forgotten him anyway.

"I'm leaving," Sasuke gritted out, turning on his heel in the opposite direction and ignoring the desperate looks Naruto was sending him.

"Teme, get back here! This has got to be a mistake – Sakura-chan wouldn't choose him. If you'd just…"

"No," Sasuke said, not bothering to disguise the hurt or anger in his voice when he answered. "I was stupid. Sakura thinks nothing of me."

"Sasuke, you're wrong…"

Sasuke whirled around, his eyes full of anger directed at Naruto. "Then why is Sakura down there enjoying her engagement party to some other guy?"

Before Naruto could open his mouth again to respond, a soft, shaky voice behind them answered first.

"I'm not."

Sasuke and Naruto quickly turned their heads at the sound of the voice. Sakura was standing there, not ten feet away, supporting herself by holding onto the trunk of a tree. She looked out-of-breath – her hair was a bit wind-blown and her chest heaved up and down as if she had just run a distance without stopping.

"I'm not…I mean, I'm not…down there," Sakura explained a bit hesitantly, avoiding looking Sasuke directly in the eyes. "I'm here."

Sasuke stood there motionless, his eyes never leaving Sakura's form as she continued to slow her breathing. Sakura finally got the courage to look up to Sasuke's face, and their gazes locked for what seemed to be hours. The wind whistled softly around them – the only movement was the slight stirring of leaves. Naruto, feeling the awkwardness in the air, quickly opted to leave them alone.

"What's that - complete stranger standing down there at this most awkward and silent moment?" Naruto asked in a loud, overly-dramatic voice to an apparently non-existent person. "You hear there is a ramen stand open down the road? Oh – let me join you!" Naruto raced off, leaving Sasuke and Sakura still standing in silence. Neither had moved yet, but Sakura was the first to speak.

"I'm right here, Sasuke," Sakura said, tucking a strand of pink hair back behind her hair. Sasuke narrowed his eyes cautiously.

"Why?" It was a simple question, but it revealed so much. It revealed how careful he was being, how much of his sanity he was putting on the line just by talking to her again.

Sakura shrugged, looking down in embarrassment. "I'm not really sure myself, actually." Sasuke waited for her to continue. "Maybe I'm just looking for some answers."

Sasuke scoffed. "Well you're not getting any from me."

"That's not going to stop me from asking," Sakura retorted defiantly. "Why'd you leave, Sasuke?"

Sasuke tried to look away from her eyes. They were pleading, urging him to just go to her and tell her everything would be all right. He just couldn't bring himself to do it, though. He had wanted to see her so bad, just wanted to see her one last time. Now it might not have been such a good idea, because he found he was having a hard time looking away.

"I left because I wanted to, it's as simple as that," Sasuke replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

Sakura looked taken back a minute, but then her eyes hardened. "Stop lying to me Sasuke. You can't stand there and tell me that it had nothing to do with me."

"Well I didn't exactly say that it didn't have anything to do with you, now did I, Princess? I said I left because I wanted to."

"Don't call me that," Sakura answered angrily.

Sasuke smirked. "Don't call you what?"

"Don't call me Princess," Sakura retorted.

She received a scoff from Sasuke in return. "Well what should I call you, then? Your highness? Your majesty?"

Sakura shook her head, feeling the emotions ready to run from her eyes. "Stop it, Sasuke!" She didn't like it when he talked to her so rudely.

"Tch, whatever."

A few more moments of silence, and Sakura regained her voice, though it was quiet.

"You're mad at me," Sakura commented.

"….I don't know," Sasuke answered casually.

Sakura huffed out of impatience. "Why are you mad at me? You're the one who left me, Sasuke!" Sakura yelled, a tear brimming just above her lower eye lid. "You just left me, Sasuke – left me with the one possession that you treasured the most." She thought for a moment, knowing that he was avoiding answering her. "Why did you replace the ring, Sasuke?" Sasuke was silent, choosing to glare at the offensive-looking castle instead.

Sakura placed her hands on her hips angrily. "And don't you dare try telling me you didn't. You said it was meant for me. I thought that maybe I knew what you meant by that, but, I just need to hear it from your own voice."

"Maybe I don't know what I meant by it," Sasuke answered, almost sarcastically.

"You had to have known what it meant," Sakura reasoned, prying for an answer.

Sasuke sighed in something that might have been acceptance, and his gaze softened slightly, if only a bit. "Maybe, at the time, okay, I thought there could have been something more."

"Something more?"

There was no response from Sasuke for a minute. He was back to glaring at the castle. Sakura tapped her foot impatiently, and Sasuke took the hint that it was his turn to respond.

"Well what about you? I mean, what was I supposed to do? In comes Mr. Perfect into your life, so how could I have taken that away from you?" Sasuke said, gesturing in the direction of the castle. "I was just upholding my end of the bargain! We had agreed to break up the marriage. I thought that was what you wanted."

Sakura paused. "No, that's not….I mean, yes, in the beginning, maybe…I'm not even sure…oh, you know what I mean Sasuke Uchiha!" She glared at him, poking his chest harshly with her finger. "That may have been our deal, but I had honestly thought things had changed. Do you think I really wanted to marry Etaku?"

"I know that there is an engagement party going on right now," Sasuke responded, "so what was I supposed to think?"

Sakura rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. "That's a mistake – my parents set that up without me knowing."

There was silence for a few moments as Sasuke thought this over.

"So, you're not marrying him?"

"What?" Sakura asked, looking back up to Sasuke's face. "No. I mean, he asked me, but…"

"But?" Sasuke prodded.

Sakura shrugged. "I turned him down."

"Tch. I find that hard to believe," Sasuke scoffed.

Sakura opened her mouth in offense. "Now why is that so hard to believe?"

"Well," Sasuke explained casually, "I may have hated him thoroughly, but he wasn't a bad marriage choice. Didn't your parents try to pressure you into it?"

"Listen, Sasuke," Sakura said, impatience lacing in her voice. "I turned him down and that's the end of the story. Sure, it's what my parents wanted." Sakura thought back to her answer to Etaku. "But…that's not what I wanted."

Sasuke hesitated. "So what do you want?"

Sakura paused for several moments. She did know what she wanted, but she was so scared. So scared to tell him how she truly felt. Sasuke was so hard to read. She had thought she had known, back then, that maybe there could have been something between them. And other times, she was sure he didn't care at all.

"Well are you going to answer me?" Sasuke asked, snapping her out of her thoughts. He was staring at her intently now.

Sakura sighed. "I don't know how to explain."

"I've never known you to have a lack for words," Sasuke said, half-smirking and half-scoffing.

"Well it's hard to answer a question like that!" Sakura yelled back. "It doesn't seem like so long ago that we were so close, and then you just up and left, and all this time since then I've been thinking you haven't cared at all about me…"

"I never said I didn't care, Sakura," Sasuke said softly, closing his eyes and stuffing his hands back inside his pockets.

"Well you never told me otherwise, either," Sakura retorted. Sasuke realized she had him there, and he narrowed his eyes at her.

"Well, you know, you could have made this a bit easier on me, you know," Sasuke retorted icily. "You were the first person I've ever opened up to besides Naruto. Couldn't you, I don't know, have made your feelings more clear? I still don't understand the way your mind works sometimes." Sasuke's statement made Sakura feel guilty, although she knew she had no real reason to be.

"Why are you the one acting as if I'm the one who's done something wrong? Who left who on a bench, huh, Sasuke?"

"I wouldn't have left you on the bench if you hadn't followed me out into the courtyard," Sasuke answered, scowling. "Tch, this is too much. I shouldn't have bothered coming back." Sasuke turned around to walk away. Sakura stared at his retreating back a moment, and just watched him, his hands stuffed in his pockets. Was he going to disappear again? Would she see him again?

She was so unsure, and a part of her was almost too scared to act, until she thought about what he had just said. Sasuke Uchiha had just admitted that he had come back. What for? Holding on to this small glimmer of hope, Sakura ran after him, grabbing his forearm from behind. Sasuke stood motionless, eyes still forward as Sakura spoke up.

"Why did you even bother coming back, then?

It was a few moments before Sasuke's voice, much softer than it had ever been, was heard in the silence.

"Because I had to see you one last time."

Sakura was shocked. On one hand, it was touching. On the other hand, he was being downright selfish. He had come back just to see her once? So was he really planning to leave again? She could no longer hold back the tears, and they fell from her eyes as she shook her head in confusion.

"Why, Sasuke?" she cried out, her voice wavering and her heart fearful. "Why did you need to see me? Why do you continue to do this to me?"

In less than a second, Sasuke had whirled around to face her, his face a bit angry, but his eyes were so serious.

"Because I love you!" he shouted, completely taking Sakura by surprise.

Everything seemed to still. Sakura's tears stopped briefly, and maybe for a second her heart may have even skipped a beat. A single, leftover tear slid down Sakura's glistening cheek before she suddenly launched toward him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. Sasuke, this time, did not hesitate when he wrapped his arms protectively around her waist, letting her bury her head into his chest.

Sakura looked up and Sasuke wiped away the single tear that had now made its way to her chin.

"I love you too, Sasuke-kun," Sakura whispered, just before Sasuke brought his lips down to meet her own.

So, how was it? I really do apologize for the extremely late update, guys. But I thought the chapter turned out pretty good for me to putting it all together today. There was a lot of dialogue, sure, but that was what I was going for this chapter. I included a lot of Naruto, too, which always makes me happy. As always, thank you all for your wonderful support! Review please! There will be one more chapter after this one. Peace ;)