Wow, can't believe the manga is over. What a great ending. I've been going through the FEELS all week and sifting through tumblr for tidbits related to the upcoming movie. What's that? Oh, why yes, I am a rabid fangirl. Thank you for asking:)

Well my dear readers, I swore I would finish my ongoing fics around the time Kishimoto finished his manga, and now, here we are. Please enjoy the final chapter of Together We Fall Apart!

Chapter Twenty-One: Kami Help Them

Hinata leans against the village gates and scans the deserted streets, still dark this early in the morning. She suppresses a shiver, wishing she had thought to bring a coat. Beside her, Naruto and Sakura share twin expressions, a mixture of guilt and longing. They look like puppies that have been kicked.

"He said he wouldn't leave without saying goodbye," Naruto grumbles, kicking a rock halfway across the street.

"You're the one with sensory skills, Naruto," Sakura snaps, hands on her hips. Her anger is a poor mask for her desperation. "Can't you sense where he is?"

He shakes his head. "He's got a knack for hiding his chakra from me," he grumbles, sidling up next to Hinata. His shoulders slump. "I can't believe my first act as reinstated Hokage is to give the Bastard permission to leave the village…"

Hinata looks between Naruto's stricken face and Sakura's furious one, then clears her throat. "It's only for a few months," she reminds them. "No need to look so glum."

"We're not glum," both Sakura and Naruto retort at once.

Hinata arches an eyebrow. She can practically see little storm clouds gathering around their bent heads, but she doesn't say anything more. Instead, she activates her Byakugan, looking yet again for Sasuke's chakra signature. She scans her eyes to the right. To the left. Nothing. Then her lips part in surprise, and she swivels her gaze straight up at the gate arching over their heads.

"Sasuke-kun," she shouts, hardly able to contain her laughter, "stop lurking!"

Sasuke drops down from the gate with a scowl, landing soundlessly on his feet like a cat. "I wasn't lurking!" he retorts, bristling.

"Eh, how long were you standing up there, Sas-keeeee?" Naruto asks, bounding forward and shooting him a quizzical glare.

Sakura doesn't say anything, just gazes at Sasuke with that kicked-puppy expression. She crosses her arms in front of her chest and scowls, as if a show of anger can hide her wounded look.

"Sasuke-kun," Hinata begins into the strained silence, "you don't have a bag…?"

It's true. Not only is Sasuke barehanded, but he's wearing the same clothes from the night before. Has he been sitting on top of the gates all night long? Her worried gaze meets his, but he glances away quickly.

"I'm not leaving," he says, his eyes trained resolutely on the wall. "That's what I've decided."

Sakura breaks out of her sullen silence at that, uncrosses her arms and takes a step towards him. "… You're staying?" Her strained whisper is hopeful and fearful all at once.

He nods, still turned towards the wall. "I'm not running away from my problems," he mutters. Hinata inhales sharply at his words. He glances at her from the corner of his eye and she offers him a demi-smile, understanding his meaning; hearing the echo of her own words in his. I'm not running away from my problems…

Her heart swells with sympathy for him, but also with pride. It was Sasuke who helped her to face her own problems. Maybe now she can help him to face his. Still holding his gaze, she nods at him encouragingly.

He takes a deep breath. Closes his eyes. The silence draws out, broken only by a distant bird call. Finally, he spins around, meeting Sakura's bewildered stare.

"Sa-ku-ra," he says, her name rolling off of his tongue like a sad song. "I'm…sorry. I'm…" He looks helplessly at Hinata. At her reassuring nod, he turns back to Sakura and unclenches his jaw. "I'm…gay."

Sakura takes a tremulous step closer to him until they are almost touching. "You mean…?"

Sasuke takes a deep breath. "I should have told you sooner. It was never anything personal. I'm just…gay." He gulps, shoving his hands into his pockets and staring down at the ground. Hinata realizes this is the first time Sasuke has admitted who he really is to his friend. Tears cloud her vision, but she doesn't know why, because she's happy.

Sakura just stands there shocked, her wide eyes searching his. Fat tears roll down her cheeks. "You mean—you don't love me," she whispers, her shoulders quivering.

"Tch," he snaps. "I never said that." And then, more softly: "I just…not that way. Okay?" There is a note of pleading in his voice.

Sakura sniffles, shuffles her feet. Takes a shuddering breath.

"Okay." She dashes the tears out of her eyes with her sleeve. Sniffles loudly again. Meeting Sasuke's worried gaze, she presses her lips together firmly so she does not start crying again. They look at each other for a long time without speaking. Hinata has the sense that perhaps they are looking at each other as if for the first time.

Then Sakura clears her throat. She smiles tightly, though tears continue to bead her cheeks. "So… Does this mean I can take you shopping?"

Sasuke's head snaps up. "What?! No!" Then he catches Hinata's stern glare. He frowns. "I mean… Fine. Okay. If you really want to, Sakura. But I really don't see —"

"I've always wanted a gay guy friend to go shopping with," Sakura interjects. Though she is still tearing up, her wide smile reaches her eyes this time. It is like the sun breaking through the clouds and shining on dew-covered grass.

"Oh gods," Sasuke moans. "Sakura, I –" he breaks off as he catches Hinata's glare again and exhales hotly. "Oh fine," he mutters, kicking the ground. "I'll be your… shopping…assistant." The words come slowly, as if they are being pulled out of him.

"Aw, guys, this is so great!" Naruto bellows, throwing his arms around both of their shoulders. "Let's all go shopping together!"

"No," both Sakura and Sasuke snap.

"Awwwww, but I'm bi. I'm like, half way to gay shopping buddy—ow!" he cries when Sakura punches him on the arm, "What was that for?"

Hinata can't help it. Before she can stop herself, she is caught in a fit of laughter, doubled up and and unable to breathe. Tears stream down her face.

Naruto helps her to her feet while shooting her a dour look. "What's so funny?" He wrinkles his nose.

"N-nothing, N-Naruto-kun," she answers, wheezing from the effort. She looks over at Sasuke and Sakura who are both grinning, and her own smile widens. She forces herself to take a deep, steady breath. "If Sasuke-kun is staying in the village," she says decisively, "why don't we all get breakfast together?"

"Yeah—Ichiraku's!"

There is a collective protest at that, but it doesn't matter. Naruto drags them all to the ramen stand anyway. Hinata points out that ramen isn't exactly breakfast food, but in truth, she doesn't mind what they eat, so long as they are all together.

"I can't believe they're open this early," Sasuke grouses as they take their seats by the counter, the scent of fried noodles already thick in the air.

"It's never too early for ramen," Naruto counters, grinning broadly. "Ayaaaame-chaaaan! Four orders of miso ramen with extra pork, please!"

Sasuke and Sakura share a disgusted look and Hinata giggles. For the first time in a long time, she has the feeling that everything is going to turn out all right after all.

"So Sasuke," Sakura begins, twirling her hair on an index finger, "you should let me set you up with some of the eligible guys in town."

Sasuke scowls. "Sakura—" he begins in a warning tone, but she won't let him get a word in edgewise.

"Because after all, you're my teammate, and I want you to be happy."

"Sa-ku-ra—"

"So, I was thinking: there's Sai. He's tall, dark, handsome…emotionally constipated. And very, very gay."

Hinata stifles her laughter behind a hand while Sasuke looks like he is about to have a fit.

"Sakura, look—"

"Let's see… Then there's Lee. He's gay, no doubt about that. But I don't think it would be such a good match."

"You know, Sakura," Sasuke seethes, "why don't we match you up first. I'm content with being single, presently."

Sakura's cheeks flush. "Actually, I am dating someone…"

Naruto's eyes grow as wide as the ramen bowls Ayame slides along the counter. "What?! I didn't know that! Who are you dating, Sakura-chaaaan?" he hollers as he breaks open his chopsticks.

Sakura bites her bottom lip. "Promise not to get mad, guys?"

"The question does not bode well," Sasuke grumbles, pushing his noodles around in his bowl but not taking a bite.

"I don't know…"

"Come on, spit it out!" Naruto insists.

Sakura smiles nervously. "Well, last night, I was pretty drunk. And…" She pauses, playing with a bit of moisture on the counter. Then she blurts out: "Kakashi-sensei walked me home."

Sasuke drops his chopsticks. Naruto spits noodles all over the counter. Hinata's hands flutter to her mouth.

"You're dating—Kakashi? Sensei?" Sasuke asks, his face stricken.

"Yup," she replies, swinging her feet from the barstool. "Don't kill him—it was my idea."

Hinata holds her breath and bites her lip to keep from sputtering. She recalls the ill-fated night Sakura and Ino had dragged her to the gay club. She remembers it so clearly, it could have happened only yesterday: the stench of cigarette smoke. The thumping music she swore was loud enough to shatter windows. The Byakugan-enhanced sight of a poorly-henged Kakashi.

Then Kakashi's explanation of "shield mates" rings in her head. With a gasp, she remembers Kakashi's fervent plea that Hinata not reveal his choice of dancing partner to his female student. At the time, she had thought that Kakashi was simply embarrassed. But now…

Does Sakura realize that Kakashi is…well…really into Yamato?

"Sakura-chaaaan! Ewww," Naruto moans, pushing away his bowl. "I think I just lost my appetite for ramen—and that's saying something!"

Sasuke's Sharingan activates, lending his eyes a murderous glow. "Naruto, remind me of sensei's address…" He cracks his knuckles.

Hinata just shakes her head. She guesses that, like Hinata, Sakura has a type.

Kami help them.

THE END

Thanks for being great readers! I hope you enjoyed this little fic. I know I enjoyed writing it:) xoxoxo!