Sakura felt like she was falling, only to snap herself back to reality, realizing she'd fallen asleep on her desk. There was a note tucked deep in her coat pocket asking her in very neat handwriting on a date. She checked the clock and found only five minutes left until her dreaded date. She'd hoped that if she'd pretended the note didn't exist, that it wasn't dropped on her desk almost five hours before by the last remaining Uchiha, that she wouldn't have to face her fears.
Even after all he had done, like a fool, she still loved the man. Probably the only one, as well. It seemed that all of Sasuke's fangirls had realized what lay beneath the good looks. She'd almost wanted to laugh when they all lost interest on the spot, but it was oddly discomforting.
Once he came back to the village that was still being rebuilt, he was convicted and imprisoned for four years. They were twenty years old now, and Sasuke had only a probation now to stop him from being a free man. He could not go on missions, nor could he leave the village without permission and a proper escort. However, it didn't seem to Sakura that he minded much. She had made herself visit him every day for the past four years, or at least, every day that she could. She tried to convince herself that it was to make sure he was healthy, and that was it. But his condition never changed. After healing his eyes, and getting high amounts of praise for her work, he'd barely caught a cold.
He'd never spoken a word, and it felt sometimes as if the world was slipping out from under her. His silence was something she'd become accustomed to. She was so used to it, that she couldn't even remember his voice. The voice she used to love listening to. She was slowly losing her grip on the Sasuke she thought she knew. He was a better person now, silently kind and compassionate. Even if only with her, Naruto, and Kakashi. But he wasn't her Sasuke. He wasn't the cold, unfeeling boy she was used to. Part of her resented the change.
"Sakura." She looked up at the sound of her name, tears spilling from her eyes at the sound of his voice after so long. Smooth, deep, and warm. She longed to hear it again. She received a hand offered to her, Sasuke's impassive face showing concern at her seemingly upset state.
"...Coming, Sasuke. Sorry..." She threw her coat aside, adjusting her shirt and walking toward him, wiping the tears from her cheeks while she was at it. When she reached his hand, she grabbed it with slight hesitation, refusing to look in his eyes. It wasn't until he squeezed her hand and leaned down to place a soft kiss on her cheek that she finally smiled. Her world might be different, but it was coming back slowly.