The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
--from Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

SasuSaku - Until then...

Sakura found herself back at that fateful spot where she and Sasuke parted ways. It was that bittersweet setting that couldn't help but attract her there. Even though it brought back sad memories of parting ways with Sasuke, it was still the last place they were together. Without really realizing it, it had been one of her most frequent places to go for a really long time.

As she looked up at the beautiful sky, she took in how peaceful Konoha really was, and remembered how easily she would have given it up had Sasuke allowed her to go with him, and almost felt a little ashamed.

"I can't believe how much of a child I was...."

She closed her eyes, and remembered everything that was said between the two that night.

"But,..I told him the truth....Everything I said,....was from my heart.."

She opened her eyes, and glanced over to the very same path that Sasuke took that night.

"As much as I would love to run off and come find you right now, Sasuke...There are still many things I must learn.....I must get stronger....The way you have...The way Naruto has....So when I do find you again....I won't lose you..."

With a sense of determination, she stood up, and headed back towards the village.

Meanwhile, someplace far off, while traveling with his teammates, Sasuke suddenly stops, and looks back to what seems like nothing to his fellow teammates who have stopped as well.

"What is it, Sasuke?...No one is following us...You know I would have sensed it.."

As if being awakened by Karin's voice, he didn't bother to tell his teammates of the strong familiar feeling he sensed not to long ago. He could barely make sense of it himself. He would never admit that the memory of the annoying girl he left behind in Konoha suddenly came to mind, or that it brought him a small sense of comfort.

"It's nothing....Keep moving.."

As he moved through the trees with his new teammates, he couldn't help to feel a bit nostalgic. Afterall, he used to do this frequently with his former team. He wouldn't allow himself the time to get caught up in what he felt were useless emotions, but he couldn't help think to himself...

"I won't let the bonds I've sacrificed go to watse....But until then, there are things that must be done...I cannot rest until then......Sakura,...your memory is with me...."

-End