First Kiss

Sasuke had expected things to happen in Konoha while he was gone, of course he had. But that Naruto had gotten married? That kinda surprised him when he was first told, but upon meeting the couple he saw the love between them and he could do not nothing else but congratulate and feel happy for them.

After having visited his old sensei and now Hokage, Kakashi, Sasuke was strolling around in the village when he spotted Sakura walking ahead of him. He quickly caught up with her, and at first she was surprised to see him but when he asked to join in her walk she gladly accepted. They first strolled down the busy street and Sakura told him about what had happened in the village while he had been gone.

"Where are you going to live, now that you're back?"

"Doesn't really matter. I won't be staying for long. I intend to continue my travel soon."

"Eh? But you just returned…" her spirits dropped.

"There are some things that I need to take care of…" Sakura didn't know what to say to this. Actually, she could find a million things to say but she didn't know what would the right thing, so she again chose to remain quiet.

They turned from the busy road and walked along the river bank. She looked at Sasuke as he walked beside her. Not in front of her, but beside her. His hair had gotten longer but she still found him as good-looking as always. Sakura sighed inwardly, one day perhaps she would be able to not fawn over him, though her love would never disappear. She noticed that he seemed to be thinking about something as he had a frown on his face.

"What is it? You are so quiet?" she asked.

"Hmm… Just thinking about Naruto…" Sasuke gave a short laugh. "Who would have thought he would get married?" Now it was Sakura's turn to frown.

"Hey! That's not nice to say. And I thought you among all people would understand."

"That's exactly why I can say it." Sasuke sighed but did not look at her. "You wouldn't understand…" She puffed her cheeks in anger.

"There you go with the arrogance again…" but he interrupted her stopping in his steps, making her stop too.

"I'm not saying that you couldn't comprehend it, but you have just never experienced it." He caught her gaze and she bit her lip trying to look away. She couldn't look him in the eye without her heart beating faster and she felt her mouth dry. He continued.

"The pain of losing someone dear to you is worse than any physical damage imaginable."

He suddenly took her chin gently with his hand staring curiously into the face of the woman who insisted upon loving him.

"If this is your way of making up excuses to reject me you have to do better. Shannaro!" She held her fist up as if to show her confidence but her voice trembled and though she tried to turn her face away from him he saw that her face was contorted to hold back tears and she didn't remove his hand.

"Sakura." He said it in a tone that would not allow defiance and pushed her chin up, against her better will Sakura looked up. It was not possible for her to resist him.

"That's not why I said it. I said it because I don't understand. I can't understand why… why people who know what the loss feels like continue to seek meaningful relations."

She looked examining at him and then took a chance and holding his hand in hers.

"Do you regret you bond with Naruto?" The question and the sincerity of it surprised him.

"No." he answered honestly. She sent him a smile.

"Neither do I; mine with you." Now it was Sasuke's turn to look away.

"I've told you. I intend to travel…" She released his hand.

"And I told you last time. I want to go with you."

"Tck. You're so annoying."

"Tck. So are you." She mimicked his tone of voice and he could not suppress his smirk.

"I feel like you don't know what you're saying yes to." She raised her eyebrows looking defiantly at him. This kind of bantering she could do with him without getting weak in the knees.

"And I don't understand why you keep saying no."

"I… I kinda don't know what else to do…" He looked back at her and saw her eyes observing him curiously. She had a little smile on her lips and still none of them moved.

"Sakura… What if you regret it?" Her smile widened and her voice gained just a hint of her teasing him.

"After all we've been through?" she tilted her head. "What are you so afraid of will change?" His answer made her heart skip a beat.

"You…" He looked so defeated, so different from what he normally was.

"Sasuke" she said. "I love you. It hasn't changed when you were rogue, it hasn't changed over the past three years and it won't change when you leave again."

The words 'when you leave again' echoed in Sasuke's head. She was going to accept him not staying in the village. She was accepting him. She always had. Sasuke understood that she would never try and change him or force something upon him and that's when he realised that that somehow also meant her love.

He chose to move slowly afraid of how she would react he slid his arm around her waist. She didn't resist, instead she put her arms around his neck and he pulled her close enough for their lips to finally meet.