Sasuke dragged his feet as he made his way back to his room; he had just finished with training. His muscle's jumped beneath the skin of his arms and legs-the tension in them making them ache after hours of hard labor- he pushed the door open and shut it behind him, the locks sliding easily into place.
He prepared himself for a shower to wash away all the grime and sweat but something caught his eye on his way to the bathroom..A envelope of pure white. His scarred fingers plucked it up as the grease from sweat left it stained, his finger sliding under the opening as he tore it open.
It read:
Dear Sasuke-kun,
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always persevers.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a woman, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of things is love.
Love will always remain between us Sasuke-kun
Love yours always, Sakura...
Opening it he stared inside it, surprise etching his features at what he saw. Inside it were two pictures. One of Naruto and Sakura, arms looped joyfully around each other as Sakura Blossoms danced around them. And another, of Old team seven and there sat A younger- but still brooding- version of Sasuke.
Something warm and wet trailed its way down Sasuke's cheek as his trembling fingers reached up to wipe at it hesitantly…He had not realized he had started crying as more tears welled to the surface and made their way down his slowly wetting cheeks. His shoulders shook lightly as he curled his fingers around the locket.
"Sakura-chan.." the words rolled off his tongue as easily as opening the letter had been.. "I love you too.." he thought quietly "you have gotten stronger…"