One Regret

~There was a brighter day
Where I could view the world
the sorrows that I've known
Now it's a Without different place
Memories fade away
Without a trace
But there's a shadow
A shadow I can't feel~

I've walked the line between light and darkness. I've seen all the good and the bad in the world. I've watched countries tear each other apart. All through a hopeless battle where no one is really the victor. I've killed so many people just to bring honor to my homeland. Taken those who had families, just as I had a family. Are we really so different? We're all fighting the same fight, just on each opposing side. What foolishness they thrust themselves into, I'm no different for I have claimed the same sin.

As I fight for my freedom from the hell I have been cast into I remember all the times I have rushed into a killing spree. A rush where no one survives. Stealthily through the dark I await my next target. Forced upon them is the death they had no prediction of. I am the shadows and I am the darkness, I'm the disaster that lurks in your dreams. The killer of thousands and thousands of innocent lives.

My name is Alister, I have done unforgivable deeds and I have absolutely no regrets.

Sasuke sighed as he leaned back in his chair. He stared at the laptop in front of him, reading over the words he had typed in the computer word document. It was only the prologue of the story, normally he could write and have three pages written in under five minutes or so, but he just had too much on his mind. His thoughts kept wondering back to Sakura and what had happened that night.

"Why do I keep thinking about her!? This is so aggravating!"

He placed his head in his hands and gave a deep sigh. He regretted not talking to her, but he was afraid, afraid of letting someone get closer to him. Sakura had already broken that barrier but there was more to it than that. He was afraid to care for someone, because eventually they might leave or be taken away from him.

When his mom died it was just a disaster for him, he shut everyone out, he wouldn't even do book signings for the people that wanted to get his signature in their favorite book of his. He wasn't a social person so he never bothered with it. There was nothing he wanted to aim for except write more stories and other styles of literature he could think of.

He sat back again and with another deep sigh, which he seemed to be doing a lot lately, he stood from his chair and began pacing around the room. Running a hand through his hair he walked back and forth trying to pull some inspiration from the air, but ended up with nothing. His thoughts once again went to the pink-haired girl, the sound of her crying echoed through his ears and each time he thought about it he felt horrible.

"What the hell do I want to do? Do I talk to her? Damn it. Things would be so much easier if I had someone to talk to about this."

With one movement he grabbed the black hooded sweatshirt that sat on his bed and slipped it on. He zipped it up, leaving it open only slightly. It was black so it matched the black jeans he wore and his usual boots. Shaking his head he left his apartment and pocketed his hands in his hoodie's pockets.

He decided to go visit his mom, she may not be able to talk back, but just sitting there knowing she might be able to hear him helped him think. But first he made a trip to the flower shop, he promised his mom he would bring her more flowers and that's what she was going to get. He never broke a promise and he wasn't going to start now.

He quietly walked down the street, not really paying attention, but he knew this path like the back of his own hand so he didn't need to focus. He just subconsciously went to where he needed to go.

Soon he hadn't realized he was standing outside the doorway of the flower shop, and that's when he knew he had no idea what kind of flowers to get her this time. So he decided on getting her favorite flowers, which happened to be pink carnations, his mother once told him what they meant but that was so long ago he had trouble remembering what it was, but it soon popped into his head.

'I'll never forget you.'

He shook his head as a small smile made its way to his lips, when he walked into the small shop he was greeted by someone different than who was normally working there. The woman at the counter had long blonde hair and icy blue eyes, and Sasuke felt like he had seen her somewhere before. The woman looked up and her eyes widened before returning quickly to their normal state as Sasuke looked at her and approached her position.

"Well well, if it isn't Sasuke the heart breaker."

Sasuke stared at her with a surprised look before glancing at the name tag on her shirt. Ino. The female before him merely raised her eyebrow and placed a frown on her face. Sasuke looked at her like she was crazy and that's when she decided to explain why she just called him the heart breaker.

"You hurt Sakura you know."

"God not this again. Don't push your way into something that doesn't even concern you."

"It does concern me when one of my best friends is involved."

"What do you want from me? A breakdown? A confession that I hurt her. Well I won't confess to that, I gave her a chance and she bailed out."

"Sasuke look, Sakura just freaked out she didn't mean to hurt you. Sex really isn't something she is used to, she wouldn't have done it if she didn't feel a connection with you."

"Don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying. She really does care about you. She always stared at you when we went to that club for our weekly girls night out. I think she may have even gotten jealous when that one girl tried to get you to go with her."

Sasuke's eyes softened as he let out an exhale of breath through his nose. He contemplated what she said and even if he didn't want to admit it, he was having second guesses about not talking to Sakura at all. She never said he was just a one night stand, he just thought too much on her leaving. That still didn't excuse the fact that she said it was a mistake when she slept with him. He really did feel a connection with her, and with her saying it was a mistake, it kind of hurt him.

"I suppose I was a little harsh on her, but it doesn't excuse her actions," Sasuke said as he looked down at his hands, "I just-"

"You what?"

In a whisper he said, "...I don't want to get hurt again." His hair shadowed his eyes as his clenched hands came to rest at his side.

"She won't hurt you, she has been in that position before as well, she would never put you in that same place she was in. All the guys she dated were only after her for sex, but she initiated it with you so she really likes you."

"Look I came here to get some flowers, just give me a dozen pink carnations," Sasuke threw in to make her drop the subject.

Ino sighed but grabbed the flowers he asked for. Sasuke paid with cash and proceeded to make his way towards the door. With a sigh he stopped as he had his hand on the handle. He turned his head to look at the blonde behind him, he thought more on what she said and came to a decision, he just hoped this wouldn't be a huge mistake as he claimed everything else had been.

"If you...want to call Sakura and send her my way, I'll be at the graveyard."

Ino gave a smile as Sasuke walked out the door. She immediately grabbed her phone and dialed the pink-haired girls number. When Sakura heard about Ino's encounter with Sasuke, she felt a sudden wave of relief rush through her. He would actually hear her out, that was better than not talking at all at least.

"So he'll really talk to me?"

"Yeah, you better hurry though, I don't know how long he'll be at the graveyard."

"Ok, thanks Ino I can't express my gratitude enough for what you did."

"Yeah yeah, just get going," Ino said as she smiled, before her friend hung up she added, "..And Sakura, don't blow it this time."

Sakura said her goodbye and wasted no time in getting her clothes on, which consisted of a pink shirt with white capris and white flip-flops. She snatched up her purse and left without a moments pause, her parents were astonished when she just ran out the door but let it go. She was a young woman and she probably had places to go and people to see, well that last one is quite literal, so they just let her be.

Sasuke had placed the flowers upon his mother's grave, he smiled slightly as he sat down. "I hope you like these mom."

He laid down onto the grass near his mother's grave as he stared up at the sky, hoping she could somehow give him some advice. He sighed as he realized that Sakura might not come, she might be mad at him after what he said, if not mad but she sure would be upset by the fact that he had just told her off without so much as letting her explain herself.

He placed his arm on his eyes as he tried to recall any words his mother might have said, to help him in this predicament he was in. But to his dissatisfaction he came up with nothing, she had said a lot of things while giving him advice, but none of it related to what was happening in his life right now. He growled in frustration but jumped slightly when he heard someone speak.

"Are you growling at me or yourself?"

He removed his arm to see Sakura standing shyly above him. She had a few flowers in her hand, and Sasuke for the life of him could not identify them, no matter how hard he tried. He sat up and lifted his knees to his chest and wrapped his arm around his legs as Sakura took a seat next to him after placing the flowers next to the ones he brought.

It was silent for awhile until one of them spoke up and it was Sakura who was first to break the silence between them.

"So this is your mom's grave?"

"Yeah."

"What did she look like?"

Sasuke hesitated before he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He pressed the center button so the screen lit up, on the background was his mom. He showed it to Sakura and she took the cell phone in her hands and glanced at the picture. She smiled upon seeing the resemblance in features he had with her.

"I keep her picture as the background so I always have a reason to keep going on. I do it for her, because I know that's what she would have wanted." Sakura nodded at him as she returned his cellular device to him.

"You both look a lot alike."

"Yeah we do."

Sakura shifted her eyes nervously and decided that it was now or never.

"Sasuke look. I'm sorry about what I said to you. What happened between us wasn't a mistake, I was just freaking out thinking that you would hate me."

"Why did you think I would hate you? You did a lot worse when you ran out on me." Sasuke glanced at the grass in front of him before his attention returned to Sakura.

"I know, and for that I'm sorry as well, I can't tell you how much I care for you, even if we only met, I mean I want us to be friends and maybe something more because I see how you looked lonely all those times when you were at the club but you still got annoyed by the girls who kept hitting on you which in turn made me jealous because I had developed a crush on you the moment I saw you and I-" She suddenly stopped in her rant when Sasuke pressed his lips to hers, her eyes widened in surprise, but just as quickly as he kissed her, he pulled back.

"Sorry, I had to do something to stop you from talking."

Sakura blushed a deep shade of red and looked away embarrassingly, she didn't expect him to kiss her, but he had and that alone made her feel a warm feeling in her chest, a feeling she hadn't felt in so long. She wouldn't admit it but she was lonely as well, all the guys she dated never truly loved her like they said they did. She was only lied to and they tried to take advantage of her.

But with Sasuke, it was different, he knew what it was like to be hurt, and she knew he would never put someone through the same pain he felt. He was a real catch, that's what she thought, he was perfect in his own way that made her feel like she would never have to doubt him. She smiled and turned back to the male next to her.

"So...Now what?"

"What?"

"You know, what happens now that this situation has been resolved." Sakura was really curious, she wondered if he wanted to be with her or if he wanted some time to think.

"I don't know," He said with honesty, "I know what I want to do, but there is a part of me that is...reluctant."

"What is it that you want?"

He was quiet for a few moments and Sakura was about to tell him to forget that she asked but he spoke in a whisper that was barely audible, but she heard it anyway. "To be with you."

A smile spread itself across her lips. "Sasuke, we can be if you'll let me. I know you have been hurt and I wish I could heal you of the wounds you've faced in your past. But I can't do that if you don't trust me."

Sasuke started to shake slightly, which Sakura had noticed immediately. She shifted to be closer to his side and wrapped an arm around his shoulder as he leaned his head on hers. He didn't care that a few tears had escaped his eyes, he just didn't want to be alone anymore.

They sat at the graveyard for what seemed like hours, but they were content with just being by each other's side. It was late when Sasuke stood up from the ground, he offered Sakura his hand and she took it with a thanks and he pulled her to her feet. She stumbled slightly and fell into his chest, he caught her and gave a low chuckle.

"Did you just laugh?"

Sasuke smirked a little as he tried to force down a blush that was trying to heat up his face.

"I can't help it if you affect me this way." He mumbled out.

Sakura smiled and and wrapped her arms around his torso, she loved his laugh and she hoped he would do it more often.

"So are we...you know?"

"I don't know, does this answer your question?"

Sasuke leaned his head down and kissed her passionately on the lips. This kiss was way different than any other kiss she had before in her life. It was sweet and gentle but held a certain passion that made her want more. And judging from the way he placed his hand on her cheek, he felt the same way she did.

It was about six o'clock when they headed back to Sasuke's place. She wanted to stay with him for a little while, she knew her parents wouldn't care if she came home late. They knew she did this a lot, but she was with her friends the last few times, well except the night she was with Sasuke, but she didn't tell her parents that.

As soon as they came into the vicinity of the complex Sasuke made a turn to go into the office, he wanted to grab his mail real fast. Sakura waited until he came back out and they continued in their walk towards where Sasuke's place resided. With a quick turn of his key Sasuke opened the door and let Sakura inside.

They repeated the same routine when she was here before, leaving their shoes by the door, and set their belongings on the counter. Sasuke flipped the light on in the kitchen and ruffled through the several envelopes in his hand. He paused on one letter in particular, he didn't recognize the address, but his name was hand-written on the front in sloppy scribbles, so he knew it wasn't a mistake in delivery.

Sakura noted the confusion on his face and walked over to him and stared at the object in his hand. "Sasuke what is it?"

"I don't recognize this address, but they know my name."

Curiously he opened the white parchment and pulled out a piece of lined paper that had words strewn across it. He unfolded the paper and began reading over the words that were written in front of him. It wasn't long before his eyes widened as his breath hitched in his throat, Sakura saw his reaction and shook him from his shocked state.

"Sasuke, what's wrong? What does it say?"

"Its from my brother, him and my dad are coming here."

Sasuke had to brace himself against the tiled table top, but he moved and leaned back against the fridge and slid down to the floor to a sitting position. Sakura followed him and knelt down to his height he looked lost as he just stared at nothing.

"Sasuke."

She placed her hands on his cheek and forced his face to look at hers. "It'll be ok, they won't hurt you."

"How can you be so sure? I don't want them here, they probably just want money to buy drugs and alcohol. Sakura I- I just can't see them, if I do it's going to get ugly."

"What do you mean?"

"They left us, my mother and I, in that letter it said they would see me and her soon, that obviously tells me that they don't know she passed away. I not only shelter pain, but also anger, and if I see them, it may start out in a fight, and I'm not talking about a verbal fight either."

Sakura sighed as she pulled Sasuke and brought him to his feet, there was sure to be some trouble headed their way. Sasuke knew these two so there was no doubt about what they were capable of. She would be there when they arrived, if not to help him stay calm, but to kick some ass if it was needed and she wasn't a girl to be reckoned with.

She hugged him as he sighed with frustrated anger, but returned the hug to her anyway. He didn't want to face what was coming but he knew that someday it was going to happen, he just didn't know it was coming faster than he wanted it to. He avoided it for far too long and now, he was going to be punished by having them come see him.

"Sakura, I-"

"Don't want to face this on your own."

He nodded as she looked up at him, his eyes reflected his inner turmoil and how he felt about the events that would take place in the near future. She smiled and made him a promise, a promise that he knew she would keep.

"I'll be there with you on the day they come."

"Thank you Sakura."

"No thanks are necessary. I'm doing it because I care about you and I don't want you to feel like you have to face everything alone."

Sasuke smiled a real smile. She was, how should he put it? The most amazing girl he had ever met. And to think he even thought about not talking to her again after what had happened the other night. That would have been a big mistake, and he sort of owed Ino a thanks as well, she was the master at matchmaking, well that's what him and Sakura thought even though they never voiced it out to each other.

"Well now what?"

"Do you like asking that question?"

Sakura glared at him but he knew she wasn't mad, the blush on her cheeks was proof of that. He thought for a moment, and decided he would get them some dinner.

"You hungry?"

The growl that came from her stomach was enough of an answer for him and he smirked before releasing himself from her embrace. He grabbed his mobile phone and thought of a place they could order from, but what did she like?

"Hey Sak-"

She cut him off when she grabbed the phone fro his hand and set it down. "I already know what I want."

"Y-you do?" Sasuke found himself stuttering, something he thought he would never do, but the way she was talking made his face heat up, "And that would be?"

He was a bit apprehensive about her answer, and when she finally said it. "You." She kissed him no thoughts holding her back.

Sasuke was a bit reluctant, since he didn't think she would go this far again. But she was addictive to him, almost like a drug that he couldn't resist. And he didn't think he would ever have these feelings towards any woman, but here she was completely breaking his walls and his guard.

They didn't go too far, just a heavy make-out session, that was rather long to anyone that may have heard the story between the two. After that activity, they finally ordered their dinner and they just settled for Chinese food.

A/N Dun dun dun! So what do you think? Suspenseful? Shocking? Dramatic? Romantic? Lol, just kidding, but please leave some reviews you guys.

Things are a little better at home, so I'm trying to write and stay occupied, which makes for updates for you guys hehe.

Don't for get about Let Me In! Only two more reviews to go before the next update!

And please check out my new one-shot called My Sweet Little Cheater! I'd like some opinions on that! ^^

Ok I'll leave you guys alone.

For now that is.

~Kakashi500