Word Count: 567
A/N: Wow, I haven't written in so long. It feels good though, and all things considered I'm pretty happy with this piece. It could be better, but I'm a bit rusty so I'm just dipping my toe in the water. Please let me know if you see any glaring errors and such, I'd really appreciate it.
I hope you guys like this, thanks for reading. :)
Sometimes, Sasuke wishes he had fallen in love with Sakura when he had the chance.
Back when Sakura's hair was still long; and back when Sakura was naive enough to whole heartedly believe that she would love him always.
Sasuke thinks that he would have been happy enough, spending the rest of his days fighting and loving (although he doesn't think he really could have loved Sakura), and repopulating his clan in the way that he only could.
Sasuke thinks that he could have forgotten about Itachi and about revenge and death and killing; thinks that he could learn to forget his mother and his father and the aunt that used to give him cookies and lemonade on those hot afternoons he spent training in the Uchiha forest.
Sasuke is a smart boy (he was even smarter years ago) and he can imagine round faced babes with forest green eyes, he can imagine Naruto becoming Hokage (because he would never believe any other way), and he can see himself as Naruto's right hand.
But, for all the Sharingan sees, Sasuke can never envision himself as fulfilled.
He knows that nothing Sakura can give him (her heart, her soul, her body) can compare to the all-consuming feeling of the Sharingan and the Cursed Seal pushing him harder and faster and never stopping until he can feel the energy thrum through his body and out of his pores and wrap about his limbs until all he can think is moremoremore and killkillkill.
Sakura doesn't make him feel invincible.
The feel of her silky pink hair can't replace the sensual caress of his sword up the underside of his wrist and down the curve of his throat.
The feel of her body pressed hard against his--moving and writhing--wouldn't give him that same sense of completion as a well executed jutsu or a back handspring with a triple somersault and a kunai slammed into the forehead of an enemy.
But Sakura would make him happy.
The Sakura that makes him laugh and roll his eyes and care about her enough to leave her behind. Sakura would give him everything he's ever needed and everything that he will continue to deny himself.
Sasuke, however, doesn't need happiness--not like Sakura does--; doesn't need laughter or joy or family (because he's learned).
Sasuke can survive with the adrenaline rush and blood--that's never his--spattering Orochimaru's clothes (because Sasuke doesn't own anything here).
He can live with fear and hatred and revenge (because when has he not?) and fight until his muscles rend themselves from his bones.
All Sasuke needs is his brother (they've always had a special bond) and when he's finally killed his brother (but not by his own strength, because Sasuke knows he will never be strong enough) he would be completed and fulfilled and notquitehappy, and then he would fall down next to Itachi and hate himself to death.
Sasuke will never let himself love Sakura (even though he really could) because Sasuke will never allow anyone to come between him and his brother; Sasuke will never care for anyone like he cares for his brother.
Sasuke will never love Sakura (although sometimes he wishes he did) because Sakura makes him feel safe--and that has always been his brother's job.