Promises To Be Kept

Promises To Be Kept
By:Kittie-Nova

---Disclaimer---
I do not own Naruto. The characters belong to the oh so talented Masashi Kishimoto, I'm just borrowing them and I'll put them back when I'm done. The lyrics to the song that inspired this belong to Lillix.


Sakura opened her sea-green eyes to the sunlight peering through her window only to squint them shut tightly as her head began to ache. Remembering the night before which had started out as any other night of her eighteen years and had suddenly turned into one of the worst. Rising slowly to prevent her head from aching anymore than necessary she leaned over and pulled on the first thing that came to her hand. Tugging the hem slightly of the pale green sun dress that matched her eyes almost exactly she walked into the bathroom, an pouring herself a glass of water she took a couple of asprin out of the medicine cabinet and swallowed them. Closing the cabinet she caught sight of her disheveled appearance in the mirror and winced. The night before had taken it's toll on her and she looked like she'd crawled out of a grave rather than her nice comfy bed. She shook her head at her appalling performance and instantly regretted it when the alcohol and tear induced headache fought against the sudden movement. Without warning tears sprang once more to her eyes as she recalled the harsh words that had passed between her and her former team mate, and child hood crush.

Pausing as she ran a damp cloth down her throat only to give a slight gasp as she noticed the hickey the water had just emphasized. In spite of being alone in her bathroom Sakura flushed a slight pink as she also remembered the result of the angry words thrown out by hot tempers and encouraged by alcohol.


---Flashback---

She had always believed that they would end up together, then as the years passed and his attitude towards her didn't change she had slowly began to give up on him. Gradually she focused on developing a friendship with the sullen boy, rather than a relationship. It had worked, and she, Sasuke, and of course Naruto had become closer than siblings. Last night however, she had gone out for dinner with Shikamaru, just a friendly little date to catch up and pass the time, but it probably seemed like more than that to the other people dining in the lounge. Both were surprised to see another couple there from their Academy days. Sasuke and Ino were sitting at a table very deep in conversation. Sakura tried to tell herself that she wasn't upset by the revelation that two of her good friends were dating, however she was unable to keep an anguished expression from momentarily taking over her face. Being as distracted by the surprise at the other table as she was she failed to notice the hurt look that had crossed Shikamaru's normally emotionless visage as his eyes passed over Sakura's own saddened countenance.

The two regained their composure rapidly and set about making the best of the evening. Sakura made the bad decision to have a few glasses of sake with her meal and Shikamaru had decided he'd follow suit. Both continued drinking and talking and neither one noticed that both Ino and Sasuke had noticed the unusual couple sitting in a booth across the restaurant. Sasuke's eye brow arched slightly as he noticed them preparing to leave and seeing Shikamaru help Sakura to her feet before slipping an arm around her waist.

At this gesture his eyes narrowed and Ino following his gaze let out a slight gasp before speaking, "When did that happen?" Turning to Sasuke she realized that he'd risen in his seat to follow the somewhat intoxicated couple to the door. Ino stood up hastily as well.

Rather than waiting for the bill Sasuke swiftly tallied up an estimate of their bill and left enough to cover it with a tip laying on the table. About to leave he paused and glanced at Ino with a mildly apologetic look. "Sorry to cut dinner short Ino but I have something to do." Ino met his eyes steadily without a trace of rancor in her sky blue eyes she simply nodded and began to walk towards the door.

In the meantime Sakura and Shikamaru and made it to the bar just down the street and went in fully intending on continuing to numb the pain of seeing those they most cared about so obviously wanting someone else with either alcohol or each other, whichever proved to be more convenient. Once in the bar however the pair decide that no more alcohol was necessary and as Sakura leaned up to kiss him he leaned down to meet her soft lips. They were so occupied with one another that neither noticed a furious Sasuke stalking towards them trailed by a pale Ino. Before he could stop himself, words he would immediately regret came pouring from Sasuke's mouth.

"Shit Shikamaru! I never thought you would lower yourself to my leftovers." At his name Shikamaru had raised his head breaking the kiss and at the rest of the sentence his face tightened into a grim mask. Sakura who was too shocked to say anything simply stared at Sasuke like he had gone insane. This didn't last for long however since Sakura's temper soon ignited and fueled by alcohol she opened her mouth and returned fire before Shikamaru could take a step.

"You fucking hypocrite! Where the hell do you get off saying shit like that!" She pushed past Shikamaru and jabbed a finger into his chest. "You told me five fucking years ago that I was nothing to you and that you wanted nothing to do with me. So I tried to be your friend. All these years you've told me how you have no interest in relationships until you avenge your family and kill your brother." Letting out a scoffing laugh she continued to verbally attack Sasuke. "Then tonight surprise, surprise here you are out for dinner with Ino. Well you know what Sasuke? Fuck you. I'll talk to you tomorrow Shika. Bye Ino." With her head held high Sakura marched out the door unaware that Sasuke was stalking after her.

She made it down the block and was just going by a dark alley when someone grabbed her from behind and pulled her into the inky blackness of the alley. Struggling Sakura realized her captor was much stronger and that with her alcohol hazed mind she couldn't think of any jutsus to use to escape her predicament. She relaxed slightly as she recognized the dark uncontrolled hair and fathomless eyes that could only belong to Sasuke. Then she tensed up and raised a open palm to meet his cheek and let out a near silent gasp as Sasuke caught hold of both her hands and held them behind her back. She blushed slightly realizing that the softness of her breasts was being crushed in to the solid muscle of his chest. Her blush became more pronounced as he leaned down to whisper in her ear.

"You don't know as much as you think you do." Before she had a chance to process what these words may mean he raised her hands above her head and she was pressed against the wall by his body. She tried to wriggle out of his grasp but froze in shock as Sasuke ground his lips firmly into hers. Her eyes shot wide in surprise but then slowly slid shut as she allowed her feelings to overide her thinking. Moaning softly into the kiss she realised that he had released her hands to grip her hips closer to him and she took the opportunity to run her hands up his arms and over his shoulders to tangle her fingers in his dark hair. Realizing that she was not fighting him, he softened the kiss and pulled her closer. As he allowed his mouth to trail down her neck finding a spot that caused her to let out a breathy little gasp continued to lavish attention on it before returning his lips to her own. He ran one hand up and down her spine as the other trailed up her ribcage under her shirt. Suddenly she shoved him hard away from her. Sasuke looked up with anger and passion blazing in his eyes. Some of the fire went out though when he saw the tears in her eyes. His eyes trained on her kiss-bruised lips when they opened to give him an explanation.

"I-I'm sorry Sasuke. I can't do this. I've worked for years to be the best friend to you I can and I value that friendship more than life itself. I can't just go and throw it away over a stupid thing like this." As she turned away and prepared to run away his words stopped her as surely as if he'd grabbed her by the shoulders.

"But, Sakura I need you."

Without turning to look at him she let out a catchy breath before feeling the tears stream down her cheeks. She was almost as surprised at her words as he was.

"Don't do this Sasuke. I need to know where I stand with you, I can't take you playing games with me. I just..." She gasped out a quiet little sob before continuing, "I just can't take you." With that said she did run. When she reached her home she went in and went straight to bed and cried herself to sleep.

---End of Flashback---

"How could I have just blurted that out!" Ignoring the pounding in her head she continued to lecture herself as she wiped the tears away and rinsed her face with cold water. Quickly running a brush through her berry coloured hair she put it up in a messy bun before turning and walking to the front door. She rose her chin a notch preparing for the battle that may be coming and slowly opening her door knowing she ahd a lot of apologizing not only to give but also to recieve.

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Below are the lyrics to the song that inspired this story. I was going to put the lines in at the specific parts in the story but I find this tends to distract from the story so I did it this way instead.

Lyrics to Promises by Lillix:

It's been another day
Thinking what could have been
It gets so hard
But it's not what it seems
What I want it to be
Did I try too hard?

And I hope for something much more
Just before this you'll have to

Promise we won't fall apart
Promise this right from the start
Promise on Heaven that you won't make believe
Promise me

I don't understand
What I did wrong
When the problem was you
What do I say when everything is over
Forget about you

And I hope for something much more
Just before this you'll have to

Promise we won't fall apart
Promise this right from the start
Promise on Heaven that you won't make believe
Promise me

What will tomorrow bring
I'm reciting the truth
It gets so hard
But it's just a day
When everything went wrong
Relying on you
Thinking why you lied
Searching, never find
Right now as I say
You'll have to

And I hope for something much more
Just before this you'll have to

Promise we won't fall apart
Promise this right from the start
Promise on Heaven that you won't make believe
Promise me

And I hope for something much more
Just before this you'll have to

Promise we won't fall apart
Promise this right from the start
Promise on Heaven that you won't make believe
Promise me

Promise me