Summary: She thought that Sasuke might not love her at all. But he left her with his family heirloom-meant for his brother. And now it has alerted the original owner himself. Was it an act of kindness on Sasuke's part, or a means of getting rid of her?

Author's note: As you all know, this scene is from the English dubbed anime series of Naruto, and this is where Sasuke leaves Sakura for revenge. It's short because it's outlining the beginning of the idea that I have. Words taken directly from the anime series itself. It is going to be rated T until further notice.

Disclaimer: I do not own, in any way, shape, or form, Naruto. Gravity by Sara Bareilles is not owned by me.

xXx

Something always brings me back to you,
it never takes too long.
No matter what I say or do,
I still you feel you here, from the moment I'm gone.

Sakura couldn't believe what she was hearing.

What do you mean you're leaving, Sasuke? Sakura wanted to ask him, but the pressure she kept on her tongue with her teeth only let out a tiny whimper. She felt like curling up and crying. All of her hopes had been shattered. Sasuke had been completely brain-washed by Orochimaru, and now he was leaving her for him, to get stronger, to seek out that person he had been talking about since the moment she met him, and kill him. But wasn't she more important than that? Couldn't he see that she loved him dearly?

She had known that he was going to leave that night. Running back seemed like the right thing to do. She had been certain she could convince him to stay in Konoha and get stronger together with Naruto, Kakashi...and with her. But the moment she stepped out from the bushes and saw him walking with the backpack, it took everything in her power to keep from breaking down.

And she had tried to confront him about it as well. All he did was reprimand her and sent her to her room. All she had done was stand there, letting him pass her by, saying nothing but, "Why?" as if he would give her an answer. And he had. It had ripped her to pieces. "Why should I have to tell you anything?" had been a question that demanded proof of their friendship.

Nothing seemed to be going the way she thought it would.

"It's none of your concern."

Hadn't it been? They were a team, right? Everyone effects the team. He was with her. She would try to take care of him. It hurt, it cut deeply within her. The tears rolling down her cheeks were salty and wet, and she refused to sob aloud. With his back to her like this, without him actually seeing her crying, she could pretend that she wasn't, even for a second.

"I know you hate me," she had said. She bit her lip, but smiled at the memories that flashed before her eyes. "Even in the beginning you could never stand me." Had he ever said differently? Had he denied this? She chose to ignore that part. "Remember? Back when we made genin, and we were assigned to our three-man squads? We were alone together for the very first time, right here on this very spot. You got so mad at me that day."

And she smiled. He would remember. He should be able to see the changes she went through to impress him. She stopped caring so much about how she looked, she was kinder toward Naruto, she pretended to act like her hair being shred hadn't been a big deal. She had tried to be a bigger person for him. Maybe he wouldn't call her annoying anymore. Maybe she'd finally be the girl that he was looking for.

"I don't remember that day."

It tore her apart. Lies, lies! But he wouldn't lie to her. If he said he didn't remember, than he didn't. "Y-yeah. It was so long ago, right? But still; that's the day that it all began. It was the start of you and me. And Naruto. And Kakashi-sensei."

The memories flooded through. Of every mission they had endured together. Camping out in the woods. Eating ramen. Being goofs. She knew that those moments must be dear to him, too. She cherished them with all of her heart.

When Sasuke had yet to respond, she resigned. "I know about your clan, Sasuke. I do. And seeking revenge...that won't bring anyone happiness. Nobody at all. Not you..." she took a deep breath. "And not me."

The clouds rolled overhead, blocking out what little light the moon provided. With it, it deemed to darken her hope, too.

"I knew it."

She looked at Sasuke.

"I'm not the same as you. I'm traveling the path the rest of you can't follow. I know that the four of us had worked together, and for a while I thought I could take that road instead. But in the end, I've decided on revenge."

He...he hadn't...

"I'll never be like you and Naruto."

"Don't do this, Sasuke! You don't have to be alone!" she cried. "I have a family, and friends, but...if you were gone, Sasuke, it would be the same thing for me, as being all alone!" She couldn't control the tears now. "Sasuke! I'm so in love with you I can't even stand it!" They were flowing down her cheeks freely. The pain in her chest increased and she felt her throat tighten. Couldn't he see that she was baring her soul to him? She loved him. Why didn't he love her, too? "I'm begging you, don't walk away! I'll even help you get your revenge! I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen, I swear! Stay here...with me."

The clouds began to part, but the gloom in her heart remained. She could see him clearly now. He still hadn't faced her. Why? she cried in her head. Why can't you just look at me?

"And if you can't," Sakura added nervously, "then take me with you Sasuke." She hiccuped and cried some more. Her shoulders were shaking so badly that she had to hold herself tightly. Maybe he would consider taking her with him. He must know that she would do anything for him, if it meant he'd be happy with her.

Finally, he turned to face her. There was a smirk on his face, and her hopes climbed. Maybe he would say yes! She braced herself, ready to follow him out of the gates of Konoha, when he completely stopped her cold.

"You haven't changed a bit. You're still annoying."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. He began to walk away.

"Don't leave me!" The next thing she knew she was sprinting up to him. She stopped, pleading with all of her heart, "If you go I'll scream, and-"

He wasn't there. Behind her. She could feel his breath at her neck, the warm evening breeze brushing over her skin. Although she trusted Sasuke with all of her heart, she felt frozen with him standing behind her like this.

"Sakura..."

She felt faint. He was going to let her go. She could hardly contain her joy.

"...Thank you, for everything."

"Sasuke..."

When Sakura came to the next morning, she found herself on the park bench where she had attempted to stop Sasuke from leaving the village the night before. From her guess, it was still very early in the morning, and it had only been a few hours that she had been knocked out. There was a small twinge of pain whenever she would roll her stiff neck, but other than that she wasn't hurt.

Except her heart had been stolen.

Sasuke had left.

She curled her knees to her chest and rocked herself, tears rolling down her pallid cheeks. She had let him get away. After all of her efforts, he still chose to seek out vengeance without her. She had been so close... The reality hit her like a giant wave, and she sank into a pool of depression. How could he? she thought to herself, how could he just leave me behind like this? Did nothing I say matter?

And then she remembered the last thing he had said to her. He had said thank you. But was he? Sakura bit her lip, trembling when a cold breeze swept through her.

She was about to start home, and curl up in bed and cry her heart out, when she felt something heavy tug at her neck. Confused, she undid the zipper at her collar and fingered a piece of string wrapped around her throat. She hauled it out and unclasped the buckle in the back, and marveled at the piece of jewelry before her. It was sapphire stones triangulated outside of a ruby stone cut into a tiny flame, with tiny diamond jewels dangling in tiny strings off of to the sides of the main jewel. It was beautiful. The stones even looked real, too. But why would he give this to her?

She flipped the article over, and squinted in the dim lighting to read the engravings. Uchiha heirloom. Flames of Sapphire. To our son, Itachi.

"Itachi?" Sakura whispered, wondering how Sasuke could have gotten this in the first place if it belonged to his murderous brother. But he had given it to her, and maybe it had been given to him by his brother. Either way, it meant something to him if he had it in his possession, and deciding to give it to her might have been his way of apologizing to her.

It kind of reminded him of her, too. Dark and mysterious, handsome and alluring, just like the sapphires. Fiery and passionate, protective and dangerous, just like the ruby. Sweet, caring, like the diamonds. She knew that as long as she kept this item, having Sasuke off her mind would be no easy feat to accomplish.

Silently, she slipped the necklace back onto her neck, enjoying the comforting weight it had on her. She zipped up her collar and took one last, longing on the road where she last seen the boy she loved. A tear streaked down her cheek. She walked back to her apartment, not disturbing her mother, and crawled into her sheets, fingering the tiny object that might mean so much to him before drifting into a fitful sleep.