Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, but I do own this cute pair of flip-flops. :P

Author's Note:

Okay, okay, I know I should be updating the other stories, especially JBU, but I had an impulse to write to another story idea. This is a different take... a bit more dark, suspenseful, and sensual... I hope you guys feel the same as you read.

Just as a side note: anything in italics is a character's thoughts.

Nights were always cool in Konoha. Even during the hotter days the temperature seemed to lower to a more amicable degree by the evening.

Sakura stuffed her hands into the cozy pockets of her sweater and began absent-mindedly jingling her keys as her feet led her through the city's familiar streets and to the place her heart longed for most: home. For some reason, though, the evening transitioned into the night much faster than usual, and while the darkness settled in, Sakura noticed that the ever-familiar streets were looking less recognizable with every shadow that manifested itself.

A chilly breeze caused the pink-haired woman to pull her sweater over herself tighter; her steps quickened. She looked around: there were not many people out. She noticed a group of men leaning against one of the buildings up ahead, making casual conversation.

Funny... because she had not noticed them before.

She could have sworn she was the only one walking down the street.

The men seemed to take notice of her because their heads simultaneously swiveled in her direction, as if they had been expecting her. One of them grinned wickedly, waiting for her to approach. Sakura wrapped her arms around her petite form, eyes closed in silent prayer while she mentally went over the different self-defense moves she could use.

"Hey, there." One of them moved to stand in front of her, blocking her path. Sakura refused to make eye contact with the man and tried side-stepping him. He quickly moved in front of her again, refusing to let her get away. "I could show you a good time, you know," he suggested, trailing his hand up her arm.

"Stop it." Sakura jerked her arm away, but he quickly tightened his grip on her, yanking her forward and against him. Her eyes momentarily flicked to the man's face, taking in his appearance: his grey hair was slicked back and his eyes were purple... how strange.

"Hidan, let her go."

Sakura's head swiveled in the direction of the person who had just spoken. She froze, numbed by his presence. A shadow moved like silk over his face as he stepped closer to the two of them. She noticed the contrast in his pale skin and the black, onyx pools of his eyes. His hair seemed disheveled, standing up at gravity-defying angles. His dark tenor sent an electric shiver through her.

She had never seen him before, but...

Some part of her felt she knew this man.

But at the same time, she didn't.

His eyes slid momentarily to hers and Sakura found herself unable to look away. She didn't register the foreign hand loosen its grip from her arm. She was immobile.

Weird.

Hidan stepped away from her and walked away. Sakura watched as the raven-haired man turned around momentarily to watch him go.

"Why are you even here?" His voice was icy and cold as he turned back to look at her; not a hint of kindness or concern was present.

Offended, Sakura glared at him. What did he mean by that? How was this her fault? "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," he replied evenly.

Sakura glared at the man, her earlier feelings of gratitude for his intervention slowly washing away. She decided against thanking him, pulled her jacket around herself tightly, and walked away, willing herself not to look back. She continued forward oblivious to the pair of onyx eyes that watched her shrinking silhouette.

For a split second they burned red.

With a knowing sigh, the raven-haired man turned around with a whisper of the sweet name of cherry blossoms on his cold lips. "Sakura."

Stretching her back, Sakura set her belongings down on the small island in the center of her kitchen, happy she could finally relax. She massaged the right side of her neck as she prepared a hot cup of tea for herself. Humming appreciatively at the warmth it spread through her after the first sip, Sakura leaned against the kitchen counter, mentally going over what she would do next.

Tsunade, her aunt had graciously given her a job as a nurse at the hospital. It wasn't because of her connections to the greatest doctor that Konoha had the privilege of having, but she had worked hard for the job and Tsunade felt Sakura had the capabilities. She didn't have any work to do at all today, because she had finished most of it already... which was why she had walked home later than usual. A slight shiver went through her at the thought of what had happened earlier in the evening. An image of the raven-haired man invaded her brain, and her eyes automatically slid to the black colored mug she held in her hands, reminding her of the way his coal-like eyes had bored into hers. To a spectator, it would have seemed as thought the pinkette was staring stupidly at her mug, but to Sakura: it felt as if she was immobile again... just as she had felt when she heard him speak.

Sasuke.

Sakura tilted her head, her eyes fixated on her mug. Weird. Was Sasuke a thing... a person? A small voice in the corner of her mind had thought of it and it sent a striking sense of familiarity through her. She knew it... or him (her?)... but at the same time, she didn't.

"Sakura."

It was a barely audible whisper, yet it jolted through her violently. Had her subconscious conjured it? It felt as if someone was standing right next to her, whispering in her ear. She felt disoriented for a minute, and did not register the sound of her mug hitting the floor and cracking into small shards of coal. Only when she felt an odd weightlessness in her hand did she come rushing back to reality and looked down, noticing the broken mug and splattered tea. Alarmed that she had not even notice it slip from her hand, Sakura hurriedly cleaned up the spilled tea and carefully gathered the broken pieces of glass. "I'm definitely going crazy," she muttered to herself.

"Why the fuck did you do that?"

Hidan stared at the raven-haired man cooly, not the least bit fazed or intimidated. "Calm down, Sasuke." He dismissed him with a wave of his hand and continued deeper into the small abode they all shared. He had only taken a couple steps forward before a heavy hand landed on his shoulder and he was suddenly spun around; his reflexes were not fast enough to block the fist coming at his jaw. Hidan staggered back a couple steps, hissing in pain. "What the hell?!"

"I told you not to mess with her."

The other two men watched their argument in silence. It wasn't that they were scared of Sasuke, but... getting involved would only make things worse, especially when it involved—

Sasuke'e eyes burned red as they both lunged at each other, but just as soon as they were about to strike at the other, another figure stepped in the middle. Sasuke retreated his hand. "Move out of the way, Pein." He gritted his teeth, anger searing through his veins.

But he didn't.

"Don't think your brother's reputation will make up for yours. You wanted to find her, we did. Control yourself." He lightly pushed Sasuke back, separating the two of them and permanently ending their feud.

Sasuke's anger dwindled at the mention of his brother, and he resigned with the heavy thud of his footsteps as he walked out the door.

Pein was right, he had finally found Sakura and he knew she was safe. The only thing now was to bring back the memories of the life they had shared before everything had begun to spiral downward... but... what good would it do to catapult himself into her life again? Was she not better off without him and the constant threat he posed whenever he was around her? Could he stand just watching from a distance?

Sasuke shook his head as he mentally argued with himself.

He couldn't bear it anymore.

He had once thought that choosing not to be a part of her life and making her forget about him would solve the problem... he had personally rid her mind of all the memories she had of him. But he was finding it increasingly tough to keep away. What had happened earlier in the evening was the closest he had gotten to her, and the attitude? That was forced as well. A brief image of her startled face upon seeing him flashed across his eyes. It had taken every bit of self-restraint he had in himself not to make her remember everything he had forcefully made her forget.

As the house he had inherited as the lone survivor of his family came into view, Sasuke had made his choice.

After all, he was never one to stand on the sidelines.

Author's Note:

So... what did you guys think? The review button is just waiting to be clicked! As you all know, I enjoy hearing from each and every one of you. Any and all criticism, good or bad, is encouraged. It will only make me better as a writer.

I send meh love to all you awesome peeps!

-cocoablossom