A/N: Sorry guys! I'm going to have to put this story on hold (for now). I'm not really sure about where I'm going to take this anyway and I have another story I really want to start. Considering how I'm incredibly busy - and still, miraculously, make time for fanfic xD - I only have time for two stories and this one just doesn't happen to be one.

Sakura looked up at the setting sun, admiring the way the colors shifted from a deep blue to a pale pink. The warm summer breeze ruffled through her pink hair, pulling gently at the corners of her clothing. She smiled at the beauty of the evening, enjoying each passing moment as they came.

She closed her eyes, letting the sun's dying rays wash over her pallid skin. These were the things she looked forward to at the end of a hectic day filled with S-class missions and medic-nin responsibilities.

"Yes?" she murmured in response to the footsteps she heard approaching, her eyes still closed.

"Sakura…" A smooth male voice called her name.

"Aa…Sasuke. What an…interesting surprise." Things had changed between them since his return.

There was a heavy silence as they both contemplated different things quietly. She was content with his responses, or lack thereof. She had grown accustomed to his absence and her mind compensated for everything else.

Sighing, she massaged her eyes with the palms of her hands. It had been a long day and they both felt the pressure. Tsunade had warned them of the potential risk of war recently, but neither had fully acknowledged the weight of her words and their consequences. Maybe today would be a good day to drop all pretenses and let it all go.

Maybe.

Sakura turned slightly, appraising her former teammate from the corner of her eye. She smirked, inwardly laughing at his obvious discomfort. He was trying. She was a little dismayed at his poor attempt to mask his emotions. And then it hit her. He really was trying.

She didn't like it.

"Sasuke…" She paused for a moment, what had she planned to say?

"This…" She stopped herself again, "I've got to go."

He was trying, really trying and it unsettled her. He was forcing himself to do it; it strained him to try so hard. He never really gave up his goal, his revenge. It was a ploy to get back into the village and to regain everyone's trust. She saw through it. He wasn't going to fool her again. She wouldn't let him hurt her again.

"Sakura, don't." He made a motion that looked like he was going to grab for her, but he let his arm drop at the last second.

"I've got to go." She repeated herself, making a point to avoid his stare.

The sinking sun illuminated her back as she walked away. Her stomach clenched with an indescribable anxiety. She knew, in that moment, that he would leave again.

And she wouldn't be able to stop him

- x -

A/N: Another partial drabble. I could leave it at this but I feel like this might be a tad on the cliffhanger side. =/ I'm most likely going to continue it, but I have no idea as to where I'm going to go with this. I know it will be a triangle, with more angst between Sakura and Sasuke. Please review! I'd like to know what you think and what you want to read. I might take requests (specific pairings, certain situations, etc.). Who knows?