"I love you!"
Sakura held in her tears as she pulled her arm away from the brunette shinobi, knuckles turning white. She was resisting; she didn't want her anger to slip out, but she didn't want to stay. Her negative thoughts sent her to the same place she was four years ago, the role being reversed. Sakura whimpered, trying to walk away.
"Sakura…" said her team's temporary captain. He had caught her right as she was walking further away from the main streets and, more importantly, closer to the gates.
The pink-haired kunoichi stopped dead in her tracks. "Yamato-taichou, shouldn't you be sleeping?" she said with distaste in her tone.
He was taken aback by her unusual attitude. The way he knew her, Sakura was the bright and ever-so optimistic shinobi when times of war were not at their hands. She had her bad moments, but she always made sure not to act sour in front of Yamato. "I could ask the same to you."
"Just go to sleep. I shouldn't be any of your concern." As she took slow steps away from the wood user, he began running closer. He was close enough to reach for her forearm and pull her back. "Let me go," she whispered into the night.
"Give me a good reason why I should." She turned her head slightly, glaring at her taichou. Yamato slightly squeezed her arm. "If you leave, you know the consequences."
Sakura tried to pull away, causing Yamato to tighten his grip. "Me leaving has nothing to do with you."
He stepped closer. "It has almost everything to do with me, Sakura! You're being so damn irrational!" She almost turned around and punched him, but stopped herself. "If you leave, our team will be under-manned! Naruto would be devastated. You wouldn't be able to pursue Sasuke safely! Kakashi-senpai would be left in utter disappointment and all your friends would be worried." His throat started to close before he could declare his final statement.
"Then what the hell does it have to do with you? You didn't mention how upset you'd be, and you're the one here arguing with me."
"Sakura, I don't want you to leave." He attempted to turn her head around with his free hand. "Don't leave, don't leave me in hysterics. If you try to leave, I'll scream. I'll use my mokuton jutsu to bind you to this spot for hours. I'll yell and cry and wake up the whole village if I have to."
Sakura began shaking. There was something so obviously familiar about what he said. Her heart began beating faster, faster, faster. She hoped he wouldn't say it. She didn't want to hear what she had wanted to say for months.
"If it means you would stay here, I would do anything!" He loosened his grip. "I wouldn't be afraid to die protecting you; I wouldn't be afraid to do anything for you… I love you!"
Sakura had a sharp intake of breath before she pulled her arm away. She didn't move, or walk. Her eyes were shut tightly in an attempt to prevent tears from falling down. The hands she kept loosely hanging down were balled into a fist.
Although she didn't plan on moving, Yamato came closer to hold her from behind. Sakura jumped, opening her eyes and allowing herself to begin crying. He was warm. His embrace meant more than all the moments they had together.
"Thank you, taichou." The words were horribly cliché in her mind. She almost didn't want to say them. He dug his face into her hair, not wanting to let go.
'Please don't go,' he thought throughout the night, not letting his arms slip away from her body. He held on for hours, even as the sun began to rise.
"Thank you, Yamato-taichou."
a/n: Short, almost sweet, almost to the point. The idea was in my mind for a while, so hey, might as well.