Pre-timeskip drabble. Probably takes place in the same time period as the mission with Idate (episodes 103/104-plus) did. Because I need more of the pre-timeskip Sasuke. :(

See the first chapter for disclaimers.

And Maybe

It happened the day when, en route to a mission, Kakashi had asked her and Sasuke to work on their taijutsu and combat skills together while he went off to train one-on-one with Naruto. From the moment their kunai had first clashed, she'd told him solemnly not to hold back, not to let her win - and he hadn't.

She'd asked for the bitter truth, and had quickly discovered that despite her improvement since their trip to the Country of the Wave and the Chuunin examinations, she was still in no way a match for her highly-skilled teammate who was still effortlessly fending off all her attacks hours into their training.

The truth hurt.

And so when Sasuke knocked her to the ground for about the seventeenth time that day, the impact hard and painful enough to hit her forehead protector (a little loosened from the past few hours of combat) clean off her head, Sakura found her eroding pride and determination finally crumbling to a dust and, against her own will, gave way to the burning tears as they began streaking down her cheeks.

There was a build-up of pressure; the cork within her threatened to break - and then it did. And all that had been upsetting her since the formation of their team (and perhaps even before that) suddenly came spilling out with her cries.

"I'm sorry... alright? I'm sorry I'm still not strong enough... even after all this time. I'm sorry I keep ending up the weakling you have to protect." She smiled ruefully up at him through her tears. "It must be a terrible burden, musn't it, Sasuke-kun? For you? For all of you? I'm sorry for being such a nuisance. ...And maybe I'm not trying hard enough still, but I'm sorry what I have done isn't making that much of a difference.

"I'm sorry I'm not impressive enough." The sobs now wracked her body. "I'm sorry I have pink hair, and a wide forehead.

"Most of all," she finally choked out. "I'm sorry I'm not good enough. I'm sorry I'm not good enough... for you to love me."

By the time she uttered the last few words her strained voice had dropped and become small; she stared at the now-wet ground before her knees in defeat and tried to quell her weeping.

Slowly, silently, his expression never once changing, Sasuke lowered himself and squatted before her, watching.

"You know, at least it's not your fault you have pink hair."

It seemed so abrupt and out-of-place that Sakura looked up, sniffing in surprise and slight confusion.

It was correct to say that Sasuke still had on the same face as before, though she saw that, this time, his ebony eyes were dancing with the mildest amusement at her.

"But... I can change that... if you want." She said tremulously with another sniff, unceremoniously wiping her nose with the back of her hand and not seeming to care - at least not for that moment. "I can change all that, if you want me to. I'm willing to change... I'm willing to change myself. I'm willing to change anything for you. I don't know how yet, but if you'd give me the chance..." Jade-green eyes still shone with their wetness even though she'd successfully managed to stop crying.

Now Sasuke merely blinked. "...You really love blindly, don't you?" He said quietly after a moment, dark irises staring calmly into hers. Perhaps she really did need him to tell it to her straight. "There is nothing I can give you, Sakura, no matter how hard you try."

A still pause as she soaked in his words, wide and teary-eyed, but then she extended a trembling hand toward his cheek and held it there, smiling weakly.

"But I chose you anyway." She whispered. "Hell, maybe that's even why I love you so much. Not at first, no, but as I realized..."

Gently, Sasuke took her hand from his face, brought it slowly back down, his eyes still fixed calmly on hers.

"I can't love you, Sakura." His voice was soft, but firm. "Know that it is definitely not because of you, or who you are, but... I can't.

"I can't love anyone."

His quiet statement spoke for itself in his cold and solemn expression, and Sakura's heart twisted in sorrow to see it. Still...

"No." She said softly after awhile, then offered him the smallest smile, one of hope. "But maybe you can learn to."

And Sasuke smiled back slowly, sadly. It was a sad smile, and she would fully understand why it was so later, but it was a smile nonetheless.

Then the moment was gone and the next thing she knew he was reaching down to pick up and dust off something before holding it out to her.

"Here."

Its cloth looked just slightly worn, but the metal piece of her forehead protector still sat gleaming in Sasuke's palm.

She took a breath, then retrieved it from him with a silent smile of thanks, and he got up and started walking back to his position as she proceeded to tie it around her head once more.

"Oh, and Sakura."

Momentarily startled, Sakura looked up to see him stop in his tracks and look back over his shoulder with his usual expressionless face. But his tone was one that was purely matter-of-factly.

"Your forehead looks just fine the way it is."

And Sakura secured the knot of her headband and smiled.

Maybe. Just maybe.

She pushed herself up to face him and readied herself once more, green eyes flashing with a newfound determination. This was one fight she would win. This was one fight she was going to win.

After all, nothing ever was impossible.

It's hard to write something that accurately brings forth all the complications their relationship has. It's even harder to figure out how to smooth them out. I can only hope Kishimoto does it in a brilliant way none of us has ever imagined... if he does it at all. Hm. Anyway, it's done (finally). Reviews are love. :D