Just This Once

Chapter 7

After the initial realization that Naruto could actually be his destined mate, reality set in. Moving forward, there were so many things Sasuke had to figure out before he saw Naruto next week. The most pressing revolved solely around Sakura. There was no way she was just going to walk away; it would be naïve of him to think she would. They had been together six years and had a house together, that was something that would need addressing.

Sasuke was ready to sell or just straight up hand it over to her. It wasn't her fault he couldn't be the alpha she needed, and he would do whatever he could to make the process easier for her. If the house was something she wanted to keep, then so be it. It was a small price to pay for his happiness. The house had no sentimental value to him anyways, and he really didn't like the thought of bringing Naruto to a place he had spent years in with another omega. It just didn't sit right with him.

Sasuke knew that if anyone could read his thoughts or feelings, they would see him as a heartless asshole, but he couldn't find it in him to care. Sure, he felt bad for being a source of pain for Sakura, but that was all the more reason for them to cut their losses and move on. If Naruto was his destined mate like Itachi had suggested, Sasuke was never meant to be with Sakura. She was now free to go out and find her own destined mate. Surely, she'd be able to look back at all of this and thank him for it one day.

Thinking about destiny, Sasuke couldn't help but remember Naruto's joke that night about them being destined. The thought of how he coldly acted causing those twinkling blue orbs to dim momentarily with dejection wouldn't leave him. The more Sasuke played the conversation over, the more he believed that Naruto wasn't joking at all. That would be way too colossal a coincidence. Sasuke felt like the biggest moron for not realizing it right away. He had been so caught up in himself, he didn't see the bigger picture. Sasuke wasn't sure it was possible to kick himself any harder than he already was.

One thing was certain, before he saw Naruto on Monday, he needed to make sure he sorted everything out with Sakura. She was going to listen to him whether she liked it or not. She couldn't deny their breakup any longer, Sasuke wouldn't allow it, and if he found out she was making Naruto's life difficult, there would be hell to pay

Sasuke was done, no more run-around on her part or his, it was time to face the music.

"Is she there?" Sasuke briskly asked Ino without so much as a greeting when she finally picked up.

Ino scoffed sarcastically at his impertinence. "Hello, Sasuke. I'm great, thanks. How are you?"

Sasuke felt his eyebrow twitch with irritation. "I don't have time for this. Is she there or not?"

Ino's tone changed to something far more sinister. "And why should I tell you anything?"

"Because she needs to face this. She can't keep running, not anymore." Sasuke bit out.

"After what you did to her with that man-"

Sasuke cut her off. "You're a doctor Ino, do you really think it's healthy for me to stay with her just because she can't understand that we aren't meant for each other? Is that really healthy behaviour to exhibit in any relationship?"

Ino was silent for a moment as she shelved her best friend hat and exchanged it for her professional one instead. What Sasuke was saying was true. If one of her patients had come to her with half the problems Sakura and Sasuke had, she would suggest they separate. It was Ino's personal relationship with Sakura that blinded her, Sasuke words seemed to finally shake her from the vision of her friend's broken state. "I can't really argue with you there."

"Then you'll tell me where she is?" Sasuke asked with a held breath.

"First, tell me something," Ino countered.