Right now, I'm in the process of revising chapters, so if you get to the later chapters and don't like it, I ask that you give me some time, because it's not going quite the way I envisioned it. Thanks again for reading!

All characters, techniques, and terms belong to Masashi Kishimoto, creator of the Naruto Universe. The only rights I claim to this story are for the plot. Do not distribute this fic without my permission and proper credit.

Chapter 4- Isn't This What You Wanted?

Sasuke stopped cold in his tracks. He breathed deeply and let out an irritated sigh.

"Go home," he said softly. "Sakura."

A faint wind went by, rustling his hair and creating little leaf tornadoes around them. Sakura didn't speak. The wind picked up fiercely, and Sasuke felt a drop of water hit the back of his neck.

But it's not raining... he thought. Then he heard her short, ragged breaths. She's still the same Sakura I knew all those years ago.

He released a frustrated breath. Her tears flowed freely down her cheek.

"I thought you'd come here," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the cold wind. The sun had gone down, and she could feel herself shivering. "I-"

"Didn't you hear me?" Sasuke cut her off. His tone was so much colder than the icy breeze. "I told you to go home," he said dismissively.

Sakura watched him through blurry eyes as he started walking away. She couldn't bear it. She felt sick. The same thing was happening all over, and she couldn't stop it. What had she been doing these past years? Didn't she train so hard, day after day with Tsunade, for this? And now, at the moment she'd waited so long for, Sakura was no different than the first time she saw him again at Orochimaru's lair. No different than she was the night he left. The night he turned his back on all of them.

"Are you going to run away again?!" she screamed. Sasuke stopped dead in his tracks. Sakura covered her mouth immediately, surprised at how angry she sounded.

Sasuke finally turned to face her, and she instantly regretted going there at all. He looked at her with such contempt that she couldn't meet his gaze. Sakura turned her eyes to the ground. All she wanted to do was run away. She watched his feet turn and start walking.

I can't believe how pathetic I've become, Sakura thought.

"Don't leave," she begged him through quivering lips.

But he didn't stop. He couldn't afford to. Sakura was the one tie to this village that he just couldn't wholly cut. He wasn't sure if he could walk away again. When he thought back on this place, and of Sakura, she almost made it worth running back to. And he couldn't take that chance. Not while Itachi still walked the earth.

Sasuke had seen her at Orochimaru's base only a short while ago, and time hadn't changed her personality. It came as a sense of both relief and regret. She still wasn't strong enough to be of any use to him. She was just another faded piece of Konoha. Once he'd obtained what he needed here, then he'd be done with the village for good. And all that went with it.

Her shoulders shook as she tried to stop her tears. "Will I ever be good enough for you... Sasuke-kun?"

The silence was devastating. She wasn't sure if she could bear his answer, and he couldn't bring himself to say anything anyway. He knew that if she didn't let up, he would have to use force against her. He couldn't risk anyone finding out where he was going.

"If you won't take me with you, then I have no choice," Sakura said, pulling her gloves over her hands. "As a shinobi of Konohagakure. . . it is my duty to protect the people of this village."

That got Sasuke's attention. He stopped.

"To what ends," he asked softly. "Sakura?"

"Whatever it takes," she answered coldly.

She ran towards him, fist raised. Just before she reached him, Sasuke moved behind her, faster than she could see. He raised his hand, and she was brought back to the night he left, the night he had betrayed her.

"You taught be before," she had cried. "You taught me that being alone is painful! I have family and friends, but if you leave, to me, it will be the same as being alone!"

"From this point on," he had told her, "new paths will be revealed for all of us."

"I love you more than anything!" She screamed. "If you are by my side, I will make sure you will not regret it. I will make every day more enjoyable, and you will be happy! I would do anything for you! That's why... I beg you! Please stay here! I will even help you with your revenge! There must be something I can do! That's why... please, stay here with me... if that is not possible... please take me with you..."

He had just stood there. Finally, he turned around to face her.

"You really are," he started, "annoying."

It crushed her.

"Don't go!" she yelled frantically. "If you go, I'll scream-!"

He vanished, appearing behind her. The wind blew. It was the coldest breeze she'd ever felt, and even colder against the tears on her cheek.

"Sakura..." he said softly. "Thank you."

Then he knocked her out. She woke with a start. She was lying on the bench by the gate, with the 5th Hokage's aides standing over her. And then she had broken down in tears.

"Not again," she cried, "Sasuke-kun!"

Sakura punched the ground, releasing the stored up chakra in her hand with precise timing. The ground cracked and surged.

Sasuke wasn't expecting it, and was instantly thrown away.

When did she get so strong? Sasuke thought as he flew into the trees behind the bench. He grit his teeth and smirked. This should be interesting.

He arced backwards, reached out a hand to the ground, and came to a halt, dropping down on his feet. He launched himself at Sakura. She lashed out at him, but he was too fast. Her fist hit nothing but air as he skid behind her. She turned around and received a sharp roundhouse kick to the chin and, without putting his foot down, a second kick to the stomach. The latter sent her sprawling across the ground next to the tree line. Sasuke ran after her.

Sakura got to her feet quickly and elbowed the tree at her back. It came crashing down right on top of Sasuke.

"Shit!" he cursed through gritted teeth.

With chakra coursing through his muscles, Sasuke twisted suddenly, narrowly avoiding it. Sakura picked up the trunk and swung it across her body. Sasuke couldn't avoid it. It smashed into him, lifting his feet off the ground and tearing the air from his lungs. He landed on his back and rolled onto his shoulders as he tumbled across the ground, finally coming to a stop after crashing through a wall. Part of the ceiling collapsed on top of him.

Damn it... he thought. I wasted too much chakra against Kakashi. I should have finished him quickly, but I wanted to show him how large the gap was between our strength.

Despite his predicament, a slow smile spread across his face, and he let out a short chuckle.

Guess he's not the only one who's just too damn proud.

Sakura approached the house slowly.

Has he realized it yet? She thought hopefully. Has he realized that I'm different? That I could help him?

She heard a low laugh from the wreckage. A few boards shifted, and Sasuke walked out through the broken wall, supporting himself on one jagged side of the gaping hole. Blood spilled down his cheek from a gash in his head.

"If only you'd had this same strength and spirit before," he said, shaking his head, "maybe I wouldn't have left."

He was surprised at how close he was to actually meaning it.

I'll have to end this quickly, he thought, running through his options.

"What does that mean now?" Sakura asked.

Sasuke stared at her, confused.

"Now that you know who I am," she said, her eyes searching his for understanding. "Will you still leave me behind?"

Sasuke stepped out of the rubble and sighed.

"You really are... annoying."

What? Sakura couldn't absorb what he had said. She staggered backwards.What do I have to do…

"What do I have to do," she screamed, "before you'll acknowledge me, Sasuke-kun?!"

She ran at him, raising her fist, gathering all the chakra she could muster. She could barely see through her teary, emerald eyes. But what she could see was his face; that bastard was smiling!

Her spirit's been broken, he thought. Even in this state, I can end it now.

Sakura was just feet away. He didn't move an inch. He didn't even look worried. This was just a game to him, and she had lost. Her arm dropped and her steps slowed, until finally she threw herself against him, burying her face in his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his neck for support; her shaking legs unwilling to support her any longer. Sakura's shoulders racked with her sobs.

Don't look up, she told herself. You'll just see that damned smile.

But she couldn't help herself. It wasn't a twisted smile that she saw. When she looked up, she met his eyes. The Sharingan, a symbol of fear and death for all who opposed the wielder, were soft and caring for her. The three tomoe were spinning. Then they stopped.

What was that- she started to think, but all thought ended when his lips brushed against hers. Her eyes closed slowly, and she breathed in the moment.

Sakura gasped. She tore herself away from his kiss, and opened her eyes to stare into his scarlet orbs.

"Sasuke-kun...?" she couldn't form words.

"Don't talk," he told her before leaning down to kiss her again.

Is this real? She thought. Did he knock me out when I fell into his arms? Am I dreaming? No… This is actually happening!

She returned his kiss with vigor as she became convinced that it was truly happening.

Feeling her response, Sasuke hugged her tighter, letting one arm wrap around her lower back to keep her close, and letting his other hand slide through her silky, pink locks. Sakura moved her hands from his collar, cupping his face with one and moving the other over his shoulder to hold herself tightly against his chest. She moved the hand holding his face around his neck to pull on the hair at the base of his neck. He let out a hiss in between kisses.

"Damn it, Sakura," he breathed.

He tilted her head back to kiss along her jaw line and down her neck. She dug her fingernails into his back. Sasuke swung her around and pushed her against the wall. She gasped in surprise. He took the opportunity to probe her mouth with his tongue, which she returned passionately. Her ragged breaths were muffled by his kiss. She took her hands from his neck back to his collar, and slid his shirt over his shoulders. His body was hardened by years of harsh training; she ran her hands across his muscular torso, raking her nails down his chest.

This is exactly how I imagined it'd be, Sakura thought, taking in a deep breath as she arced her back and neck around Sasuke's arm, which still tightly clutched her lower back, anchoring her waist to his. He ran a hand across her forehead to brush her bangs out of her eyes. His hand traveled from her cheek down her face, to caress her elegant neck. His lips followed closely behind.

It's perfect.

A horrible thought crossed her mind. It was perfect. Exactly how she'd always imagined he would act. Exactly what she had hoped for once he realized that she wasn't a little girl anymore.

And the way his Sharingan had looked before he'd advanced on her...

"Sasuke, wait," she said quietly.

"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked softly, ending his attack on her sensitive throat.

"Is this real?" she asked tentatively.

"What are you talking about?" he asked curiously. "I thought this was what you wanted."

"That's why," she raised her hands together in a ram seal. "I'm suspicious."

She stopped the flow of chakra to her mind. If any genjutsu had been used on her, it would be gone.

"Kai!" she said softly.

Sakura awoke with a start; on the same bench Sasuke had left her nearly three years ago. Tears fell down her cheek and she hugged her knees to her chest.

Damn it! She cursed herself for being so blind.

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it so far! I encourage and beg you to keep reading, and if you have some time, to write a review. It really makes an author's day! If you liked the style, check out my other works too!