(From where Sakura stands )

I love you.

So please.

Turn around. Turn around. Please turn around.

…

Look at me. Just—

…

Please.

Sasuke.

The words came from a broken record. I had tried everything. I had come at it with a sledgehammer. But I could not break the broken record. So it played. And it played.

Please.

Sasuke.

"Sakura! Come on, let's go see him!" Naruto's grin was one I had not seen in a while.

"You can go on ahead." I hear myself say. "I'll catch up."

Surprisingly enough, Naruto did not argue.

No. Not surprising at all.

Naruto was ecstatic because his best friend had come back. And as a hero no less. He selflessly killed Itachi for his village. He fought to ensure the safety of Konoha. He tried on countless tights at night. He flew around gallantly with a piece of a cloth pinned to his shoulders. Sasuke Uchiha is a hero.

"Wait!"

Naruto turns around.

"Let's make it a Team 7 reunion," I say.

And he smiles predictably.

"But," I laugh stiffly, "if you want, I'll let you two have your own little special moment."

Naruto grabs my hand and pulls me. "What's wrong? You don't think that jerk has changed that much, do you? I bet I could still beat him!"

Reluctantly at first but surely, I give myself into his strength. I am not if it is because I do not have the will to hold my ground or if it is fear that, if I do refuse, the blanket on all of this will be pulled.

I'd rather let myself be pulled.

( From where Sasuke stands )

They're all bombarding me. I'm not safe.

"Uff!" What the fuck?

I find myself struggling in Chouji's bear hug.

"Sasuke, you're back!" Ino squealed like a pig.

"Oi, Sasuke, I heard you kicked Itachi's ass!" Kiba grinned and his statement was upheld by Akamaru's barking.

"Hn."

They'll shut up.

I take a step back and lean against the railing of the bridge. I look toward the floor and stare blankly. When it came to them, being there was enough.

"Ohhhhh, I missed you so much!"

Drown them out.

…

They'll leave.

--

…

They'll leave.

…

And sure enough, when I look up, they are gone. But I know by now that this brief silence was only a tantalizing glimpse of the impossible. Impossible unless I left.

I couldn't have stayed away. I didn't have anywhere to go. I have already killed the one who loved me---

"SASUKE!"

My eyes snap open to realization of the familiar voice.

Oh shit. He hasn't changed at all.

"-YOU ASS! YOU WENT AND GOT ALL STRONG-"

Naruto.

"Uff!" Again with the hugs.

I awkwardly pull back from his embrace.

"Yeahh. Long time no see, idiot."

But now I am looking at his face. I notice something. Naruto had grown taller and his whole strange jumpsuit became even more elaborate.

Not sure why, but it was something I hadn't expected.

"Dammit, Sasuke. You don't leave notes or goodbyes, do you?"

"If I said I was going, you'd probably chain me to a tree."

"Pfff, I would've paid for your escort."

"Right."

"Didja miss me?"

"No."

"-THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?"

"Forget what I said. I missed you."

"Awwww, you really might seem really cold but inside-"

And then I noticed her. The flash of pink and red surprises me and my breath is caught in my throat for a moment. Che, she looks prettier than I remembered.

"SAKURAAA! COME OVER HERE!" Naruto runs down the paved path and drags her to me like a flimsy potato sack.

"Hi." She smiles, looking nervous as fuck.

"Hey." I acknowledge her. "We should all go to eat somewhere. Naruto's treat."

"HEY YOU CHEAP ASS-" Naruto rants but pulls out his frog wallet, "I'm not your sugar daddy, you know."

"We'll go to where you want then." I mutter. "Ichiraku's, right?"

"But of course."

"You haven't changed at all."

Naruto's chest sticks out a good two feet in front the rest of his body. "I'll have you know I have matured into a stronger, more sophisticated person."

"It shows." I smirk.

The Ichiraku ramen bar still looked the same. The small, quaint place still held onto its modest exterior. I had noticed the sign had begun to collect dirt and mud from rainier days but the mildew-like smell was muffled by the food. We were greeted with the smell of warm noodles and eggs.

Naruto, ducking his head to avoid hitting the red sheets, poked his head into the ramen bar. "Teuchi!"

"Naruto!" The old chef grinned. "You usually come earlier than this."

"Yeah well, teme over here held me up."

I duck my head and enter in on cue. Upon entering, Naruto jabs his thumb into my shoulder.

The old man turned toward my direction and his expression suddenly became one of shock. And then it became of an expression of disgust; one he made no effort to disguise. He cleared his throat and pursed his lips.

"The usual as always?" The aged chef quickly turned from me to Naruto.

"6 bowls please." Naruto beams, panting like a dog. I wait for his tongue to come out and for him to jump onto the table. I smiled inwardly and shifted my weight to the other foot.

"I call 5 bowls." Naruto announces.

"That only leaves us one."

"Oh." Naruto smiles sheepishly. "Well then I'll eat four."

"Good math."

"WHY YOU-"

"Shut up."

"Sakkuuuraaaa, he's being meannn."

I look from the side of my eyes and saw that Sakura was smiling her new smile.

"Here you go." The old man laid out the bowls of ramen. As soon as the bowl had touched the table, Naruto began to dig in the noodles with his face.

I looked in front of me. It appeared the old man had forgotten to give me a bowl.

( From where Sakura stands )

My face hurts.

I still remember when my mouth would move with ease. But every hurt is now connected a string. And every string is connected to my face. If I didn't laugh, smile, frown in correspondence to how he needed it to be, I knew every string would be pulled and the scabs attached would peel to expose the wounds. Everyone welcomes Sasuke as a hero now. He welcomes Sasuke as a hero now. So I shut up and let my face respond accordingly.

And then I remember Naruto coming to Ichiraku's that night.

"SASUKE!" The blond laughed riotously, turning left. "Do you want some more to drink?"

…

"Little boy can't hold his alcohol?" Naruto downed his drink while the drops of intoxication colored him blue.

…

Naruto was laughing at that point. He was laughing and choking on the sake, all while holding his stomach with his trembling hands. He was dying.

"Stop. Stop looking at me funny, Sasuke! I'll knock you out."

The seat to the left of him was empty.

He needs me to be happy. So I carve my face, which has surely hardened to cement by now, into something beautiful.

I carve my face a smile.