"Sakura."
The voice was low, calm, and chilling to the young woman. Sakura turned to see the face which the voice belonged to; the face that she had long waited to see in the Leaf Village.
"Sasuke, so you really have returned." Sakura smiled gently at her old comrade. "I'm glad."
Sasuke had not been expecting such a cool reaction from the girl who had once screamed at him to stay in The Leaf because she was so in love with him. Of course, several years had passed since then, and Sasuke had turned his back on The Leaf and on Sakura in more ways than one.
"I'm… sorry," Sasuke said as he dropped his head slightly. "I know I've been foolish, and if it weren't for Naruto, I would still be lost."
Sakura placed her hand on Sasuke's shoulder and drew him in for a hug. As she wrapped her arms around him, Sasuke's expression become one of shock, but he returned the hug, lingering in her arms for a moment.
"I forgive you Sasuke," Sakura said softly.
How could she forgive and forget so easily? Did she still love him that much, that it was so easy to act as if his betrayal had cost her nothing? That's what he intended to find out.
"Sakura, I need to talk to you." He withdrew from her arms and locked eyes with her.
Sakura's mouth dropped a little, and Sasuke could swear he heard a faint sigh. Relief? Exasperation? Dread? Sasuke banished the wonder from his head and focused on forcing out the words he needed to say to her.
"You've always believed in me. You've always tried to save me, protect me, and support me. You've always tried to show me love and tried to earn my love; and I have always refused it. I was filled with bitterness and obsession with revenge. Truthfully, I don't really know how to love, but I want to learn. I want to learn to give and accept love, and I want to do that with you." Sasuke inhaled deeply and held his breath, awaiting Sakura's reaction. She exhaled as she dropped her eyes to the ground.
"Sasuke, I would be lying if I said there wasn't a part of me that's still in love with you, and maybe that part of me always will love you." She brought her eyes back up to meet his, "but it's too late for us now."
Sasuke released his breath and swallowed the choking feeling in his throat.
Sakura continued. "The thing is, I too have realized that I've been holding back my love from someone who does all those things for me that I did for you. There's someone who has always shown me unconditional love, someone who had been there for me and protected me, and would never let me down. That person is Lee."
Sasuke bowed his head and sighed. Yes, Rock Lee had proclaimed his love to Sakura years ago, and had apparently followed through with dedication since then. "I understand," Sasuke conceded.
Sakura added, "but you know… I'll never stop being there for you Sasuke. You're my comrade, and once of my dearest friends. You will always be special to me, in your own way. Don't ever forget that."
Sasuke brought himself to meet Sakura's eyes again and give her a small smile. "Thank you."
Sakura turned to leave, speaking over her shoulder as she walked away, "if you need anything, I'll be around." She waved goodbye to her dear friend.
