Sakura would like to say she hasn't thought of Sasuke since she's been with Naruto, but that isn't true. She hasn't thought of him as much, which is good enough in her eyes. Her mother and Ino are quick to tell her that she should have moved on already (It's been nearly three years, forehead girl.) but she knows Naruto understands. She's made more progress than he has, after all.
She likes to rub her thumbs across the lines on his cheeks—the ones that mark him a demon container—as he falls asleep, and she knows now if it came down to the two of them which one she'd give her life to save.
"I won't lose another."
He "hmm"s softly in response and snuggles closer against the front of her, not bothering to wake up enough to process her words, used to her random musings by now. "I love you, Sakura-chan."
She smiles into his hair and answers, "I know."
The corners of his mouth quirk and he licks his lips, tempted to tease her in any number of ways but that would require thought process so instead he sighs and lets himself slip comfortably into unconsciousness.
She never answers him in like kind, but he doesn't mind. In the past four months he's gotten more attention from Sakura than he ever dreamed possible. And while he knows she belongs to his best friend, the thought of breaking his promise in order to keep her has only ever crossed his mind once—and it made him sick. Even if it costs him his life, he is going to save Sasuke, and not just for her. It's eating away at him, the closer it gets to losing him forever, the more time that slips through his fingers. But he's going to save him because he can't bare to lose such an important person through his own shortcomings, and when the time comes he'll give up Sakura to him, for him, because god knows Sasuke deserves something decent in his life.
Or he did. Still does? He can't decide. It's getting harder with each failed confrontation to believe that Sasuke is still Sasuke, but he's not ready to give up on him yet. If anyone can rehabilitate him it's Sakura, and that thought somehow makes him happy even as it breaks his heart.
I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts, he's decided.
It's too bad that she only whispers, "Love you, too" when he's sleeping.
She's only said it a handful of nights, but she likes the way the words feel when they slip past her lips. It reminds her a little bit of how she felt for Sasuke all those years ago, maybe how she feels still only in a more painful way, but it's somehow different, how she feels about Naruto. With Sasuke she knew right away. It was a decision. Just the sight of him made her blush, and since Sakura Haruno had only ever gotten second best, she decided no matter what (Ino-Pig be damned) she was going to get the skinny, dark-haired Uchiha who liked to glare at her and call Naruto names. She knows now that as much as he claimed otherwise, he needed them. And somewhere along the way she won the small part of his heart he had left. It just wasn't enough to change anything.
She realizes now how much Naruto needed them, too, and regrets a little how she treated him. But she doesn't know how to apologize for not knowing better so she doesn't. She guesses he's forgiven her anyways.
She was easily annoyed back then by the loud-mouthed kid who was always goofing off, always getting into trouble and recklessly challenging Sasuke. But somewhere along the way he grew on her with those wide smiles and determination, became her teammate and companion as important to her as the boy who was constantly frowning, who insulted her regularly but placed himself between her and harm's way without hesitation.
Sakura continues brushing her fingers down the side of his face long after the rise and fall of Naruto's chest has become steady and contemplates waking him for a late night romp. Her cheeks burn at the idea and she closes her eyes, determined to fall asleep instead. Naruto would never deny her, she's not worried about that, but it's a level they haven't reached yet—well except for that one mishap—and she's not sure she's willing to cross that line. Once she does, she's sure she can never go back. On his part, he's never asked her which seems uncharacteristically patient of him and both relieves and irritates her at the same time. If he were to pressure her, she could always blame it on him later. But this way, everything rests in her hands. She's never understood how he could trust her with so much and not give it a second thought. But if she thinks about it, he's been the same with Sasuke, trusting him to still care even after everything. She wishes she could believe in Sasuke the way Naruto does—unconditionally, unadulterated.
Really, she loves them both the same. It would be perfect if the three of them could live together, fighting and loving and needing forever, but she knows now it will never be that way. This isn't a fairytale, she thinks. But for Naruto's sake she hopes their story has a happy ending. He deserves it after all this time of never giving up, never giving in. How many nights did he spend alone?
As she drifts off to sleep, comfortable with the weight of Naruto on her chest, she resolves to herself, never again.