Chapter 1:
Sakura walked home from yet another tiring day at work. She was currently 17 and one of the top doctors at the hospital, well beside Tsunade of course, and because of this she spent a lot of time her time there. She didn't mint though, she loved that hospital, with all its loud noise and chaos. It provided her with certain purpose and distractions about her life. She walked up to her house's front door and just stared at it for a second. At this time of night, only few people were out and about and she listened to their noises before she unlocked her own door and walked in.
She kicked off her shoes the moment she stepped in, and sat down her house keys on the kitchen table; all this on her way upstairs. Without making any sounds she walked past the other empty doors and into her own room, tossing her access clothing on the floor and made her way to the master bathroom. As per routine, she stepped in the shower, turning on the water as hot as she could stand it, letting it run over her tired muscles. In which case she than preceded to wash away all the dirt and grime that had built up on her skin from the day's work. As she scrubbed her body she thought about all that had happened today.
She had 3 checks up, two adults and a little girl, in the morning; then lunch with Naruto at the local ramen shop, as she always does when he's not on a mission. Once she got back to work, a Chunin had been brought in due to the fact that he had acquired a few broken ribs from a recent mission. Patching him up took no time, but when she finished, she went to her next task.
This task, though essential was by far the worst. Every day at around 3, Tsunade called her into her office, and begged her to do paperwork, the paperwork that Tsunade herself should have done. She absolutely hated it though, and thus she tried to pawn it off on anyone who came near her. Everyone was use to this, and would steer clear of her office, leaving Shizune and Sakura, her loyal students, to get stuck with it. After she finished most of it, she went back to the hospital, and check on things here and there, until the other doctors and nurses grew annoyed at her constant surveillance, and assured her that everything was fine, as they shoved her out into the cold and dark night.
Then she'd walk home alone, realizing just how tired she was, and barely making it in the shower before she passed out on her big and empty bed. This went on day after day, week after week, month after month. So of course, not wanting to break her habit tonight, after she finished showering, she went straight to sleep.
Sakura wasn't in a deep sleep; she knew that, because if she was then she wouldn't have heard the faint rustle of her window being open. But even so, she still wasn't awake enough to realize someone was actually coming into her house uninvited, through her bedroom window none the less. No, she didn't wake up to any of that; instead, she finally became alert the moment she felt fingertips brushing the hair out from her face.
Her eyes flew open, immediately trying to focus on the shadowy figure standing over her. Her brain still foggy with sleep she knew she should be more afraid, but now all she does was try to focus her vision. Brain however won in clearing up first and smarts kicked in. First thing first, she sucked in a deep breath and prepared herself. It was only then, when she was about to scream, that the shadowy figured moved, clamping a hand over her mouth.
"Sssshhhhh," The shadow figure whispered, trying to assured her. "Please do not scream, I am not here to scare you or hurt you."
She just laid there motionless, her vision finally catching up as the shadow became more define. But it wasn't just her lack of focus that now got her wanting to see who this was. It was what her ears were hearing, picking up on sounds from the voice, sickeningly familiar sounds.
The shadow figure just continued to talk. "I just wanted to tell you, to let you be the first to know, it's finally done."
Sakura tried to say 'huh' but the hand over her mouth restricted it, making the sound intangible.
"He's finally dead, Sakura."
Sakura's eyes widened as her vision focused the last needed bit, and the light shifted until it surrounded his face with an eerie glow. She realized then, who it was that stood over her as she laid in her bed. All at once words flew to her brain and out her mouth as she started talking, once again coming out jumbled because his hand still on her mouth. She stopped talking then, waiting patiently for him to remove his hand, that blocked her speech.
He hesitated, his finger twitched against her mouth. "Please, please, promise me you won't scream."
Sakura nodded her head slowly, one half still resting on her pillow. After a moment, the hand fell away from her mouth, going limp beside his body; but even so she stayed silent, trying instead to get her head unscrambled. She wanted to ask him so many things, and yet she didn't know when to start.
"You were talking up a storm when I couldn't understand you." The figure grumbled after a moment of silence had fallen on them. "What wrong now?"
"I just, I can't believe your back," Sakura whispered. "You're really back, Sasuke."
Her voice trailed off into nothing, making the stillness of her room seem much heavier. Sasuke made neither movement, nor an attempt at speech. The night still held most of him in shadows, but as Sakura tried to look at him more clearly, she could see there was blood splattered on his clothing. Well in truth, there was blood all over him.
Sakura said the first that that came to her mind now. "Would you like a shower?"
"What?" Sasuke asked confused, after a short pause.
"Do you want a shower?" Sakura repeated slowly.
Sasuke just stared at her, his eyes confused and his mouth slightly jarred. "After all this time, I break into your house and you ask if I want a shower?"
Sakura moved up unto her elbow, and after another silence she asked, "So is that a yes?" She swung her legs around; the cold air hitting her legs and she shivered a bit.
"I do not want a bath." Sasuke growled. "First I want to know why you're not even trying to defend yourself better. You use to be more sensible when you were in danger."
Sakura let his last statement hang in the air, her thoughts swirling once more but this time her thoughts never settled. That was until she asked, "Am I in danger Sasuke?" Her voice was quiet.
As soon as she said it, he looked taken back, speechless. She thought to herself about how he never was one to word his thoughts properly. She didn't want to play this card, but in truth it was the only thing she could think about to say next. She steeled her voice and spoke in a voice a little louder then what would be considered a whisper; "Should I be scared Sasuke? Are you going to hurt me again this time? Are you going to kill me, Sasuke? Or leave this village again? Because I would much rather prefer you killing me. A knife through the heart, mentally, hurts tons more than physically. Though in the long run physical is always bett-"
She stopped then gazing at Sasuke's face. He looked frozen, standing so still. His mouth looked thin, and his eyes wider than normal. His expression looked hurt, like what she was saying actually caused him pain. He blinked than, his eyes flicking to the side, and she realized with horror he looked like he was about to cry. She finished getting out of bed, reaching on lone hand to his cheek. After a second he looked back at her.
"I had to leave," he mumbled. "I had to get stronger."
"Lair," She sighed. Sasuke slowly brought his own hand up to cover Sakura's. Then gently and very subtly he leaned into it. She spoke up once again. "You didn't have to leave. You could have gotten stronger here. Friendship is always more powerful then hate, or so I'm told."
"You wrong," he whispered, shaking his head. "You wouldn't believe how much stronger I've become through the hate I have harbored."
Sakura scowled at him, her eyes staring straight into his. She removed her hand from his face and let it drop to his chest. Grabbing a hold of a handful of his shirt, she pulled him down, making his face level with hers. Then, before she lost nerve, her other hand grabbed unto the hair on the back of his head, she pushed his head closer to hers, reaching with her own head to cover the last few inches.
Their lips met and at first his surprise kept him from doing anything, but after a moment, his hand snaked his way around her waist, and to her very own neck. They kissed, mouths moving slowly together, for a while, gasping for breath every so often. Sakura felt Sasuke move closer to her, and that's when she stopped. She leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "Now tell me if hatred could do that."
She stepped back, his arms disengaging slowly, and then she turned toward her closet. Walking to it, she pulled out the outfit she planned to wear tomorrow, or today; she wasn't sure how late it was. Without a backwards glance, she moved to the door, and with one hand on the frame she said.
"I will not give up your secret of being here. But right now I'm going to go. I won't be back till late tomorrow night. There's food in the kitchen, but I'm not sure about clothing, though you can use my washing machine if you like. It doesn't matter wither you leave or stay, but I suggest you stay out of sight."
She walked silently out in to the hallway. She did need fresh air, but she really didn't want to leave. But she knew he needed time to think, comprehend what had happened, as well as she needed time, and she hope he would realize that the love in the kiss she had given him, was pure, true love; Love that she had kept inside, patiently waiting for him to return. With a sigh though she knew only time would tell.
