Chapter One: The Start Of Something New

It had been a year since Uchiha Sasuke returned to Konoha. He realized his foolish mistakes and did all he could to repent. The elders didn't believe the 16 year-old boy when he apologized, however they accepted him back with a harsh punishment. The scars on his back were still visible, and the brand on his chest still stayed. For a week he wasn't allowed to leave his house and for a month he was forbidden to speak to any of the villagers, as they all just couldn't trust him.

Now here he was, 17 years-old and still not trusted. It was okay for him though, at least he still had Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura, and unfortunately his fan girls. Thankfully, Ino got over him and went with Sai. Karin was no longer crushing on Sasuke, instead she moved on and tried flirting with Suigetsu - but last time he checked, they hated each other.

"Sasuke-kun," Sakura started once they returned to the village.

"Yeah?" Sasuke replied.

"Ummnn, well," She said, her cheeks pink, "I-um kinda want to ask-um..."

"Okay, which one are you? You're starting to act like Hinata." Sasuke commented.

"Oh-well I kinda wanted to ask if you wanted to-"

"Go on a date?" Sasuke interrupted.

"Oh-um y-yeah. I guess you could say that," Sakura took a deep breath and continued, "There's a new place that just opened up that I wanna try out; I hear their tea is really good."

"So it's a date then," Sasuke replied, "Okay, meet me at Ichiraku Ramen at 8:00 a.m. sharp. Got it?" Sasuke stated.

"Okay, thanks Sasuke-kun." Sakura waved at Sasuke trotted to his house. 'Did Sasuke-kun really accept me? I mean, is he really starting to like me? Or does he pity me...? I wonder...' Sakura thought.

"RRRRIIIINNNNGGG!"

"Ugghhhnnmm." Sakura moaned as she glared toward her alarm clock, "Why do I have this damn thing anyway?"

Sakura sat up looked at the time: 7:47. "Ahh damn, It's almost 8!" She exclaimed.

Sakura dashed to her closet and started to get changed.

-MEANWHILE-

Sasuke finished getting dressed after he took a shower, his hair still wet and drying. Sasuke's outfit was simple, he was wearing a loose male kimono with a blue top, showing off the middle of his chest with an Uchiha fan on the back of the shirt and black silk pants. Once he was walking out the door, he put on an anbu styled mask on the side of his head and black open toed shoes.

As he walked down the road, the villagers all stared at him, occasionally spitting on him as he walked passed to his destination. "Excuse me, pardon me!" Cried a feminine voice. Sasuke smirked, 'Sakura' he thought as he looked up, 'at least she cares about me the most.'

Sakura stopped in front of him and bowed, "I'm so sorry for being late!" She said, "I was late you see and-"

Sasuke took in her appearance. She was wearing a short skirted light pink kimono with rose like patterns and black shorts underneath. The obi she wore was a deep red with a light pink cloth to keep it in place. Her short hair was slightly wavy with a small, cherry blossom decoration complementing her hair. For her shoes, she was wearing her regular black, high top, open toes shoes, 'A bit over the top, are we? Then again, I'm wearing something similar...' The Uchiha thought.

Sasuke continued to take in her extravagant appearance when she suddenly spoke, "So where is the tea place?"

Sasuke snapped out of his thoughts. "Are you saying you don't know?" Sasuke questioned, "You're the one who asked me out."

"Well I wasn't exactly thinking here okay? I just wanna hang out with you after all these years. I mean...you know where I'm coming from right-"

"No I don't know where you're 'coming from', people like you need to remember you're nothing like me. And you're lucky I happen to know the directions to the damn place, let's go…"

"Right, sorry about that."

"Stop apologizing so much...people will take advantage of that flaw." The Uchiha stated bluntly.

As the pinkette walked behind him, she couldn't help but think…'Who am I kidding? He's just going out with me because he's sympathetic.'

"Quit the moping, Sakura. You're better than that."

'How did he notice?'

The pair was sitting on one of the benches under the roof of the tea house, drinking their tea. Rain was pattering down on the sidewalk; but Sakura started off into the distance, watching the grey clouds cover the shining, smiling sun.

Sasuke followed her gaze and remembered...that day. That was the day when he lost everything. Everything that mattered to him. Everything that made him happy. His gaze lowered to Sakura. It seemed as if she was remembering something as well. Without thinking, he went to grab hold of her hands and gently squeezed it.

"H-huh?" Sakura turned around, surprised. She calmed down once she realized it was only Sasuke who holding her hand.

Sakura flushed, her face showing obvious evidence of a blush and looked back up to the sky, "You remember it, don't you?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah..." Sasuke replied.

"If I could do one thing for you, I'd bring back your clan, Sasuke-kun."

"You shouldn't," Sasuke sighed as he spoke, "The Uchiha deserve to rest. It's my job now to restore my clan and start a new legacy."

Sakura turned around, "Sasuke-kun, I guess you might think that it reduced to a crush now that you've neglected me, but..." Sakura took a deep breath, "I want you to know that I love you no matter what. I don't care if you hate me, I just want you to know that." She finished with a smile.

Sasuke stared in disbelief, his eyes lowered, "It's getting late, we should head back." Sasuke changed the subject, "Besides, it pouring outside now."

Sasuke put the bill on the table, grabbed Sakura's hand, and left. "My house is closer, we'll go in there until the rain stops. I don't want you to catch a cold - it'll be a pain in the ass if you do."

"Yeah...I guess so…"

Not watching her step, Sakura slipped and fell forward, bringing Sasuke down with her. Rain pattered on her pained face. "O-ow, I think I twisted my ankle." Sakura said as she attempted to stand, only to fall flat on her face again.

Sasuke sighed and picked her up by the arm, "Get on my back," He said.

Sakura hesitated on whether or not she should take up his offer. Would he be uncomfortable? But then again, she was the one with the twisted ankle, so who else would carry her? But she climbed on his back and snuggled her face between his neck and shoulder, "Okay," She mumbled.

"Don't fall asleep, alright?"

"Y-yeah…"

The whole time, Sasuke was in thought. 'I need weaken this bond,' He thought, 'I can't fall in love and afford to lose everything again. Wait-what the hell? I'm not in love. I'm not in love.'

Sasuke stopped in front of his small house and opened the door, quiet the whole time. "Sakura, we're in." He said as he nudged her.

Sakura didn't reply, as she had fallen asleep before they arrived at his house. Sasuke sighed as he lay her down on his large bed and started to get out some dry clothes. Didn't he tell her to refrain from falling asleep? He decided to give Sakura one of his old sweaters. He started to shake her shoulder, "Sakura, Sakura get changed,." Sasuke whispered.

Sakura's eyes opened as she stretched. "Here you go," Sasuke said as he handed her his shirt, "Get changed. Wear these until the rain stops." He repeated.

Sakura gratefully took the shirt and walked to the bathroom to get changed. "I'll be out soon. Are you sure I can wear this?"

"If I wasn't, then I wouldn't have given them to you."

"Right, I'll be out soon."

Sasuke sighed and changed into a t-shirt and sweat pants. 'Today...today was good. These days don't come that often I supposed.' He thought.

Just as fast as the Uchiha walked into his thoughts, Sakura walked out of the bathroom in the large sweatshirt Sasuke had lent her. It came down to about 4 inches above her knees. She continued to fist and knead at the bottom of the shirt under Sasuke's gaze, "S-so how long should it be until the rain stops...?" Sakura asked.

He hated to admit it, but there was no chance she'd be able to return home that night. His second option? Have her sleep over, "You're gonna stay here for the night. It's pouring outside now and chances are you'll get soaked and catch an illness. Having you sick would only complicate things on missions." Sasuke admitted.

Sakura froze. Was she really going to stay overnight with Uchiha Sasuke? THE Uchiha Sasuke? What if something happened? She had been told that she snores in her sleep. But...where would she sleep? "Where am I gonna sleep, Sasuke-kun? My parents are probably worried about me by now."

"They'll be even more worried if you catch pneumonia. You're staying here for the night."

"...then where am I sleeping?" Sakura repeated.

Sasuke patted the bed, "Here." He said.

"Well, where are you gonna sleep?" Sakura asked.

Sasuke held back a smirk,"Here," He said, patting the other side of the bed.

Sakura blushed, "Oh-uh yeah."

Sasuke chuckled, "You suck at portraying Hinata, you know that?"

Sakura's face beamed red, "I-I am NOT trying to portray Hinata! I'm just tired and nervous, that's all. I mean I've never slept in the same bed as anyone before." Sakura explained, her voice lowering.

"Hmp, it's not that much of a big deal, Sakura. It's not any more different than snuggling with your cat when you go to sleep." Sasuke stated.

"I-I know, I know...but still I mean well I've never slept in the same bed as a GUY befo-"

"Isn't your cat a guy?" Sasuke cut her off.

Sakura rolled her eyes, "Ugh, you know what I mean, Sasuke-ku-"

"I DON'T know what you mean." Sasuke cut her off again as he stood up a walked toward her.

Sakura started to back away each time Sasuke took a step toward her, "Sasuke-kun, it's o-okay I can sleep with you. I was just-"

"Don't-say-any-thing." Sasuke smirked once Sakura's back hit a wall.

"Sasu-"

"Shhh," Sasuke whispered as he leaned in for a quick peck. What did he just do?

His lips only lingered over Sakura's for a split second before he pulled away with a smirk. Sakura just stayed there, completely unmoving, and shocked, not knowing what just happened. 'I gotta be dreaming. He wouldn't do this. This kind of stuff doesn't happen. I'm imagining things - I HAVE to be!' She thought.

"Sakura, what are you waiting for?" Sasuke asked from the bed, "It's time to sleep."

'When did he get over there?' But Sakura could only nervously nod, "Uh-uh huh..."