It had been a month after Sasuke returned. The whole team, Naruto, Sai and Sakura still marveled every time they saw him casually walking down the streets of Konoha, or getting ramen with Naruto. The excitement had died down with most people. Some greeted him cheerfully; others avoided him like the plague.
Sakura was training. She had been out running earlier. She had broken a sweat and was breathing heavily but was not going to quit. She was much stronger, healthier, and most skilled then she had been before Sasuke left. She had trained so much for him, done so much to get him back. Now he was finally here. Every time she saw him it still made her heart skip a beat.
"Hey! Sakura!" Naruto called. He was standing a little ways off with Sasuke. She waved to him. As they walked towards her she paused in her movement to speak. "Training again? That's every day this week isn't it?" Naruto asked and she smiled at him.
"Yep. I've been helping Tsundae a lot to. Just keeping myself busy." She was looking at Naruto, carefully avoiding Sasuke's eyes.
"Maybe you should take it easy Sakura. I mean, we've got Sasuke back!"
"Well, that's doesn't mean I'm going to let my training die is it?" Sakura said sharply and turned her back on them both. Naruto frowned but Sasuke was his usual emotionless self. He opened his mouth to question her though, but she was already striding way across the field. So he turned to Naruto.
"What's up with her?" Sasuke asked and looked at him. The Uchiha's pale skin shown in the failing light. It contrasted with his dark hair and eyes. Naruto sighed. His blonde hair fluttered a little in a breeze.
"You'll have to talk to her. I'm not sure." That wasn't entirely true. He had some idea what was happening to Sakura. He had gone through it too, though not as drastically as Sakura had. "Go and talk to her." He suggested and Sasuke nodded. Naruto turned and left the field for home. The Uchiha looked after Sakura's curve figure for a moment then ran after her.
"Hey Sakura!" He called out and she turned. He had that same expressionless face she new so well. She had memorized it a thousand times over so she would never forget.
"Oh, it's you." She said and was about to leave when Sasuke spoke.
"Not happy I'm back then?" he asked, his voice was deeper then it had been and Sakura had to resist the urge to through herself into his arms. Or vomit she wasn't sure.
"No, I'm happy." She said, but she didn't sound it. His dark eyes searched her face and his mouth curved slightly to one side as it usually did.
"You don't seem like it."
"I just don't think all activity should cease because we reached out goal. I still want to get better." Sakura looked at him, her face hard and cold. The dark haired boy tilted his head to one side and studied her for a second. He couldn't figure out what was wrong.
"Sakura are you ok?" He asked. Her mask broke and her surprise showed. Had Sasuke just asked her a question? About herself? Wait, was he confused about her? Sakura smiled triumphantly.
"No." She answered, and then she turned on her heel and stalked off, away from Sasuke. She was so angry. Angry with Sasuke. He just waltzed back into their life with an apology or two and expected to be welcome. She did not deny that was what she had wanted. She wanted Sasuke, everything about him. His sexy voice and body. His eyes that seemed to see straight through you, his personality. Even his expressionless face was a welcome sight to her. She loved everything about him. She could not forget however what he had put her through. He had taken her heart and torn it to pieces. He had cut it up and now he was handing it back to her expecting welcome. Oh no. He would find no welcome with her.
"Sakura." He had said her name as he never had before. As though he actually felt something. She paused mid step but did not turn.
"Sasuke, not…not now." She said and her voice broke. She ran off quickly and quietly before he could see her tears, her weakness.