::A/N::

I said I would try, but, with our badmouth Sasuke, its almost impossible… so this one is:

Rated: T.

Don't read if you don't like.

(Karin bashing by Sasuke.

Sakura bashing by stupid-ass Karin [who knows nothing].

Slight ItaSaku.

All SasuSaku.

Mostly in Sakura's POV. Not all.)

Ages:

Sasuke, 16

Naruto, 16

Sakura, 15

Karin, 39 (sorry but she's too ugly to be younger)

Summery:

The ever so "loved" Karin is keeping Sasuke all to herself. Sakura being Sakura is jealous. (Who the heck wouldn't be? This is Uchiha Sasuke, Sakura's love of her life.) Sakura's hidden away and written a letter to Sasuke. Trick is, he cannot read it until he gets home. What is in that letter?

::A/N::

Who's that girl?

Sakura frowned. Sasuke's girlfriend—yes, that's right, girlfriend—was hogging him too much. Sakura hadn't seen him in years, and yet,this redhead was teaming up with him for three years.

Sasuke had returned just hours ago, and his sentence was on the light side, no matter what anyone said. She would know; she was the Hokage's daughter—after Sakura's parents died soon after Sasuke's leave, Tsunade had adopted her—she knew he could have been called to death. But it didn't happen. Because of a certain rosette. Because she herself had begged for him to just be revoked to a genin status for a few years. He could be dead right now, if not for her. Not even Naruto knew what she had done for them, for the family.

They were at Naruto's favorite place, the Ichiraku Ramen shop. Sasuke, of course, didn't feel like eating here, but, being the loving woman she was, Sakura told Naruto they would talk here and go to her place for food. And, as expected, Naruto's cheeky grin came into play.

Sakura's mind reeled back to just three hours ago.

:: ::

"Sakura-chan! Sakura-chan! C'mon! Teme!" over the racket of the bustling streets, that was all Sakura could make out. Even the loudest man in Kohona was no match for the sounds of Shop Day, or Grocery Day, or whatever it is they want to call it.

Her short locks flowed behind her, slowly bouncing and jerking as her best friend dragged her on.

There was a crowd of people blocking them, so Naruto stopped. The noise had gone down, now all was a whisper. "Sasuke…teme…," Naruto said, out of breath, "is… back!"

"Don't play with me, Naruto," Sakura warned, the honey in her voice gone and replaced with a hellish intention.

Sucking in a breath, Naruto yelled, "I am not!"

Green eyes narrowed and she pushed through the people, more or less pissed at the fact that Naruto thought her so gullible. She stopped, eyes wide and jaw as wide as a fish out of water. Naruto wasn't lying. Sasuke was here, holding a redhead by the waist. Giddy, Sakura smiled. "Sasuke!" she yelled, running to give him a hug like the old days. "Welcome back!"

"Hn…" Sasuke grunted, wrapping an arm around Sakura's thin waist. He really did miss her, her and the dobe and Kakashi.

Sakura let go, a smile still gracing her lips. She turned to the crowd. "Out," she whispered, knowing they all heard. She wasn't one for the spotlight. The people did as told for, who would want Lady Hokage's daughter—a strong and capable kunoichi, nonetheless—angry. Sakura turned, eyes locking with the red ones of a much taller woman. "Does Sasuke have a girlfriend?" she teased, noticing the hand on her thick waist. "Wait a second…" she mumbled. Then, her voice still low, she said, "Sasuke's back. With a girl. And he hugged me." Her mouth went wide as she loudly said, "Holy dip-shit! Apocalypse!"

Naruto, who surprisingly hadn't said a word, chuckled. "Not yet, I hope! I'm still not Hokage!" he went along.

"Ha-ha. Funny," Sasuke uttered sarcastically, his voice velvety. "Come on. I have a sentence to get."

Team Seven, reunited, started walking towards the tower. Sasuke's hand was still placed securely around the redhead's waist. Sakura was still giddy. And Naruto was still smiling.

"Sasuke-kun," the mysterious woman spoke for the first time. "Who are these people? And why did they hug you?" He words were jealous, but her tone wasn't. Sasuke ignored her, more into the conversation Naruto and Sakura were having. They seemed… closer, and he didn't like it.

"Let's get ramen," was Naruto's first comment, of course.

"No." Sasuke's voice was low and strong.

"Yeah. Naruto, we've been there every single day. For missions, its fine, but…. Tell you what. We'll take at Ichiraku's and eat at my place," Sakura pitched. Naruto smiled his toothy smile

"Hn…"

:: ::

And so here they were. Naruto was stuffing himself silly, no matter what Sakura objected. Not that she said much. Here she was, wanting to talk to her… brothers—would be the right word, though she felt more for one than she ever should for any brother—alone. She wanted to sit next to Sasuke and Naruto, like when they were little and with Kakashi. Sasuke to the left, Sakura in the middle, Naruto to the right, and Kakashi next to him. But no, the redhead just had to go and take her spot, and because someone was to Sasuke's left, Sakura had to sit next to Naruto. And, of course, that was messy. Anyone ever notice how Naturo eats?

But she sucked it up and decided just to be happy that Sasuke was back. "Hungry?" she spoke for the first time since arriving. The question was directed at Sasuke, with his smirk and grumbling stomach.

"I hate the food here," Sasuke stated simply.

"I know. Me too." Sakura sighed, turning to Naruto. "Yo! Stop eating, Naruto! Do not make me brake the plate!" That was Naruto's biggest fear, second to her and Sasuke dying. A funny one at that. Naruto stopped, his mouth wide and noodles hanging from it. Sakura giggled, the sound alike the sound of wind chimes, breathy and calming.

"Let's go to Sakura's," Sasuke deadpanned, standing up off the stool. Anything to get away from the smell of dead meat and over boiled water; that was a fact even Naruto was not oblivious to. The redhead clung to his arm possessively, obsessively even, and snuggled her face to his. She is too tall for him; Sakura thought as she herself stood, he needs someone shorter. Me.

Naruto sucked in his noodles, but he was still glued to the ramen bowl. Sakura's already slump shoulders slumped some more. She wanted to get home. Lose herself in the smells of her foods, forget the fact that her one and only love had forgotten her, ignore the redhead, whose name she now knew to be Karin. Her bright green eyes had dimmed from the giddy light to the depressed shadow. "Naruto," Sakura sighed, "I'll make ramen for you. With the little veggies you like." Naruto looked up, swallowed the rest of his twentieth bowl in one breath, and smiled happily.

:: ::

::Letters::

They made their way to Sakura's place quietly, with only the hum of Naruto's too fast words to drown out the sounds of their footing. Naruto next to Sasuke, Sasuke next to his Karin—that made Sakura want to… belch—and Sakura next to Naruto.

Sakura opened the double door and stuffed the key into her back pocket. The place was shinny, but nothing compared to the bling of the Uchiha Manor. Sasuke and Naruto were calm as they ever were, whereas Karin's red bug eyes were wide as she took in the dark browns and bright yellows.

"Saku-chan's parents were killed," Naruto stated simply. "She wasn't the same for months. I was starting to get worried about her. I guess it would be worse if Baa-chan hadn't stepped up and adopted her. However, I do not want to think about that. Who knows, she might be depressed to this day if not that." Naruto's words were meant to be silent, but they echoed threw the bright white walls.

Sakura's frown turned to a scowl as she turned to him on her heals. "Don't. You. Ever. Talk about. Mom or Dad. Ever!" To some, her actions might have seemed a bit too much, what with the murder in her fir eyes and the blood that slipped through her fist as she clenched them, but to Naruto Sakura was just being Sakura, and to Sasuke… he understood. For a few years, the matter of his family was untouchable; to this day, it's sensitive.

But to Karin…

"You're a moody little bitch, aren't you?" Karin's sandpaper voice echoed throughout the hall. Sakura smiled, and, surprisingly, it was sweet.

"And don't you forget it," the rosette hissed as she turned and lead them to her small kitchen.

Tsunade had a bigger, unused, in much need of cleaning kitchen, but Sakura preferred the small, brown and green, private one. It was also the one nearest to her unbelievably large room. There was a small dinning table in it, and a huge dinning room to the left, as to the right Sakura's room was. The floor was made of smooth stone, a stone that when she woke in the morning was wonderfully cool. The walls were a forest shade of green, one that looked plucked from nature itself. The cabinets were wood, as the counters, and the countertops were a green to challenge Sakura's eyes. The stove was as high-tech as it could get, as was the fridge.

Sakura kicked off her civilian sandals and continued inside, needing the coldness of the floor to keep her cool. "Tomato soup, Sasuke?" she asked turning to the refrigerator as everyone sat down on the wooden chairs.

"Yes."

"Pork ramen, Naruto?"

"Please!"

"What do you want? Karin?" Sakura's breath was about to hitch when she thought of what would soon be her last name. No more whatever Karin, in weeks it would be Uchiha Karin. Not that Sasuke said anything; but knowing him, the faster the better.

"What Sasuke-kun is having," Karin growled.

"What a surprise," Sakura mumbled.

Karin's eyes went wide, anger controlling them. "What did you say?" she said ever so slowly, as if trying to make them menacing. It didn't work; it only made her sound idiotic.

Having grabbed the tomato soup and ramen ingredients, Sakura grinned. Karin had no idea how… stupid she sounded. If she was going to live in Kohona, she would have to know one thing by heart: Haruno Sakura is the second most dangerous kunoichi in the village—next to Tsunade-sama—and never to mess with her. Without turning to face the redhead, Sakura simply said, "What a surprise."

Karin, thinking she wouldn't respond, countered with, "Ass."

"I'm not the one with the chicken-hair. Trust me, that's the ass. I would know."

"You know what! Leave Sasuke-kun out of this! And what the hell was with the hugging? You just met the man, whore!"

Temper rising, Sakura cut the tomatoes with more force than necessary. But her voice was calm. "Sasuke is my brother. We've known each other since we were eight. We were teamed up, he Naruto and me. I don't know about Sasuke, but to Naruto and I think of him as family. And I'll be the first to admit I had a crush on him, but at least I gave him his space." She knew she was lying about Sasuke being her brother. She still thought he was so much more.

That left Karin wordless.

::Letters::

After giving the boys their food, Sakura hid away in her room, writing.

::Letters::

The three were in the living room, the small one Sakura liked best. Karin was hanging to Sasuke's every move and word; Sasuke was watching television; and Naruto was talking as voice off. No one had noticed Sakura's absence—yet.

"Dobe, where's Sakura?" Sasuke uttered.

"I don't know. Her room? She's usually in there. She's depressed, I guess," the blonde in question answered.

"About?"

"Her parents. Tsuande. Itachi. Things like that."

"Itachi?" That name spiked his attention.

Naruto grinned. "You killed him. Sakura and him had a thing going. If you hadn't killed him, I'm sure she would've been your sister-in-law. He really loved her; guess what his last words to her were?" Naruto sucked in a breath, leaving no room for an answer. "Sasuke needs you. Live for him, my Sakura. After that he gave her a kiss and let you kill him.He was real sweet to her. Pain in the ass to everyone else—but that's beside the point. He thought she would've made a nice Uchiha, she has all the qualities—pain in the ass, lovable, interesting, quiet sometimes—but he also thought she belonged more to you than him. It was kind of sad when he left. She had lost you, and Itachi knew she never really got over you. You should have seen her crying. Not even her favorite missions made her happy for weeks."

Sasuke grunted, feeling guilty. He had killed his "sister's" chance at love. He loved her, that much Sasuke knew, but Sakura had made a point of them being nothing more than friends. What with the word "brother" being enucleated all the time, and the –kun from his name gone. But at least she was allowed him in her abode, like always.

Sakura's bedroom door opened, a depressed rosette in its arc.

"Tsunade-sama's going to be home soon. I'm sure she wouldn't want ex-traders in here so soon. Karin, Sasuke," she uttered, moving towards the Uchiha and soon-to-be bride, "that means you." She attacked Sasuke with a hug, slipping paper in his shirt pocket. "Don't open that yet," she whispered and stepped away from him.

The couple left, finding their way out on their own.

::Letters::

Sasuke made his way home with Karin, his mind reeling to the one and only rosette. "Sasuke is my brother…." And Itachi…. He should've never killed him.

Karin's sandpaper voice distracted him from his thoughts. "Who were those people? And the pink-headed chick—talk about a whore! She probably died it! Goes around doing people, I'd bet! She was all over you! She wanted money, is what. She's a lesbian too. Tsunade-sama's going to be home soon, blah, blah, blah. Who the hell is 'Tsunade-sama'? Her wife?"

Sasuke let her go on with her little rant until she was done, but when she was, she was punched in the neck, leaving her gagging. "Tsunade is her adoptive mother, the Hokage, in other words, our boss. She is the one who let me live, and I'm sure that 'that pink-headed chick' had something to do with it," Sasuke growled, remembering how the blonde's hazel eyes flickered to Sakura before she said he needn't be killed. "Sakura's hair is natural, unlike yours, ass. And, if I know anything about Sakura—believe me, I know her better than Naruto sometimes—she's still got her innocence, unlike you. She has a reason to be hugging me. She hasn't seen me in years, unlike you, who've been with me those years. Leave Sakura the hell alone." He punched her again, leaving Karin breathless and knocked out.

::Letters::

Sitting on his bed, her took out the page Sakura had given him. Her ever so sloppy script was missing and replaced with a clear, neat calligraphy.

Sasuke, it read. What, no Dear or –kun? He kept reading

::Letter::

Sasuke,

Who is she? Why is she? She's bitchy and annoying—just like I was. You didn't like me, so why like her? Who's that girl, what's her name, where's she from? Do you even know the answer to these questions? I do. She's not very good at her specialty. Her charka is messy, flaring and uncontrolled, making her easy to read. She's your soon-to-be fiancée, she's Karin, and she's from Oto.

Did you forget everything? Our nightly strolls when we couldn't sleep? The meadow where we used to talk, where I told you everything you didn't want to hear yet had to, where I fell asleep to the sound of your humming? Did your forget when you were tired who knew exactly how to keep you going? All the secrets I used to tell you? The ones you told me every now and then? I thought they were all mine, mine to keep, and mine to not tell. But I guess not. You've known me your whole lifetime, yet your choice is a virtual stranger who you've known for less than three years of your sixteen. Does she even know how old you are? Because she's borderline forty. I guess you don't care, do you? I bet you don't even remember any of this.

Who's that girl? No! She can't be the one! She couldn't have stolen my world. You're my day, you're my night. Every thing was so normal. I wish I could slap you. You shouldn't have returned, not with her. If you wanted her, you should've stayed a nuke-nin.

She can't be the one that you want, that you need, that has stolen my world.

By the way, who's that girl? Do you even know?

Forever yours, even if you could care less,

Sakura.

::Letter::

She still cared. She did! Sasuke smiled—an actual smile!—and sighed. He would tell her. He would tell her tomorrow, those three annoyingly wonderful words at the bottom of the page. The ones in the Post Signature.

PS. I love you.

And he still remembered the songs he hummed to her to make her go to sleep in that faithful meadow.

::A/N::

Its longer, but I don't like the way it ended.

If you haven't guessed yet, the song is "Who's that girl?" by Hilary Duff.

I made Karin a cougar because she's a bitch. I don't really like her.

I had to put some ItaSaku, don't get me wrong SasuSaku4ever, but Sasuke being jealous… ohm, AWESOME!