Title: The New Sakura

Summary: Sasuke came back. Sakura pulled a 'Sasuke' and avoided him, but how does he feel about losing the vice-president of his fan club? -Gasp- is that…does he actually…care?! One-shot, kind of OOC, and a definite SasuSaku.

A/N: Right, well, now that I've held this chapter hostage…I'd like to thank all my reviewers, you guys are so kind! And Yuffie told me that I had "No Anonymous reviews on, --smacks self in head— well, I fixed that now my chappys are really short, huh? Meh, that's what happens when you're a lazy author…

Disclaimer: Santa sent me an answer…I don't get Sasuke for Christmas…I don't get Naruto either –cries—all I get is…COAL! –sobs—\

Voices:Yeah, let's have some fun with Inner-Sakura…

Thoughts

Inner voice

(Also) Talking to inner-voice

Last Time On: The New Sakura

Sasuke turned to watch Sakura walk towards her home while Naruto bounded off towards Ichiraku's Ramen Shop. What is it about her? He wondered as he followed her with his eyes. He couldn't just let her walk away.

--CherryBlossom—

He couldn't just let her walk away. Not after that. She should have gone all 'starry-eyed' just dreaming of him calling her 'Chan'. How in the world did she go from that to calling him a teme?! Uchiha-teme my arse! He thought. I am going to find out what's got her so irate.

Yeah, raise your hand if you think that being an avenger has messed with his social abilities, not to mention common sense…I blame Itachi. Everything is Itachi's fault. Damn you Itachi!

He stood, unsure of what to do for a moment, and glanced over at Kakashi. "It's now or never, teme." Kakashi said mockingly without even glancing up from his little orange book.

--Anger mark--

--Glare--

--Walks away--

Kakashi grins.

--CherryBlossom--

Sasuke slowly starts out to follow Sakura, not bothering to dim his chakra. It didn't matter. She didn't notice anyway. For Kami's sake, she doesn't even know I'm here! What's wrong with her?!?!?! He wondered in frustration.

--CherryBlossom--

She was so relieved to finally be out of that situation. Meeting Team 7 just like old times was more emotionally draining that she had prepared herself for. When he arrived-- she didn't know what to think. It was all so confusing. She didn't like him, didn't want him, didn't need him. She couldn't, wouldn't let herself be like that again.

No, since he left, the broken shards of her heart had been repaired. Duct tape can work wonders. She locked her heart away, cushioned in bubble wrap. Then, it was placed in a safe, in a dungeon, in a castle, surrounded by a moat, surrounded by a wall, which is then surrounded by an electric fence, and finally that is surrounded by a forest as vast as three Konoha villages. Sakura isn't one to take any chances.

So how was it that, with those few words, he seemed to break down all of her defenses? Gee thanks Sakura-chan His words rang in her head, haunting her. This was definitely not the Sasuke she knew from her genin days. He was definitely staring at me, and he called me 'chan'. What is wrong with him?! She thought, confused, her emotions in chaos.

He didn't deserve this. He had no right to make her feel this way and she wouldn't allow it. No, she was stronger than that.

Give up now, before you embarrass yourself. An irritatingly familiar voice whispered in her mind.

AAAHHH!!! I thought I locked you away in a prison cell!!!

I got out early on account of good behavior. Moving on, you know you like him. He still has the same effect on you, even after 5 years. Tsk, tsk.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Of course you do. You still like Sasuke, and now he likes you too.

You ought to be locked up again for being a lying --beep--

You just called yourself a 'lying --beep' How very mature of you. Did you forget that I am you?

No, you're the psychotic version of me. Now go away. He doesn't deserve my attention in any way, shape or form, and I'm not going to be stupid enough to give it to him.

Right, and you call me psychotic? I'm going to go dig through your memories. It's much more exciting than this, but before I go, I suggest you check out your surroundings.

Wha-?! Sasuke, that teme! He's following me!

And you call yourself a ninja! Well, have fun. Toodles!

She took a moment to contemplate on whether or not to reveal that she knew of his presence. Chya, I think not. So, the medic-nin continued walking. Her house was just around the corner, not far to go now. Despite her eagerness to get home, she kept her body forcefully relaxed, pretending not to pay attention.

--CherryBlossom--

He noticed no change in her demeanor.

Sasuke knew that he'd have to say something soon, before she noticed that he was following her. But what's there to say? She obviously hates me…though I don't quite understand why. I mean, I left her years ago, and it was for her own good! Well…I guess I should find out what the problem is first…

What. An. Idiot. Again, damn you Itachi!

"Sakura-chan" He called out, with ever-the-slightest note of hope in his voice, despite the effort of keeping it casual.

"I thought I already told you, it's Haruno-san to you." Sakura stated coldly, venomously even. Her whole body was tense, and she didn't dare turn to face him.

"Why?" He asked bluntly. "Why can't I call you 'Sakura-chan'? Why won't you talk to me? Why- why do you hate me?"

She spun to face him then, fists clenched, eyes on fire. What she saw when she turned infuriated her even more. He's more stupid than I thought! His face was that of true confusion. Brows knitted, scowling at his failure to understand such a simple concept.

Itachi must have inflicted brain damage. It's all Itachi's fault. Damn Itachi!

"Why?! Why?! Wh-- UGH!!! You are such an IDIOT!!!" She screamed in frustration. She'd tell him why, he'd be hard pressed to forget this conversation in a hurry. "I can not believe you- ugh!"

She took a few deep breaths, calming herself before continuing.

"I confessed to you. I told you that I loved you." She said with careful deliberation. "Do you know what that costs a girl? I gave you complete control over my heart. And what did you do?" She questioned; her voice dangerously quiet, like the calm before a storm.

"You left me. You knocked me out and left me. Lying on a park bench, in the middle of Konoha. DO YOU REALIZE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME?!" The storm had finally broken, unleashing its built up fury on the unsuspecting boy. "KONOHA IS KNOWN FOR ITS PERVERTS!!! H-How could you?" Her voice was filled with pain, and she was suddenly close to a break-down.

Five years of fighting to suppress her emotions. Five years. She thought she had won that battle, until the enemy brought back their strongest ally. Sasuke. That bastard.

"I-I Sakura, I'm sor-- I, I really didn't mean t--" Sasuke stuttered with difficulty, also unprepared for the emotion that reverberated in the air.

"No, no Sasuke-kun, it's alright. Really, there's no need for you to apologize." Her voice had suddenly turned from dry-ice to honey, and she smiled sweetly. "after all, it's all in the past now isn't it?"

Though she was all butterflies and honey on the outside, Sasuke knew her better. It was obvious that the sweetness was fake; the immense sorrow in her eyes gave it away.

Before he could stop her and get to the bottom of this latest mystery, she was gone. She had run around the corner as fast as her ninja skills allowed her to, and was already inside her house.

--CherryBlossom--

"I-I Sakura, I'm sor-- I, I really didn't mean t--" Sasuke stuttered with difficulty, also unprepared for the emotion that reverberated in the air.

She needed to get out of there quickly, and she knew it. So, she used the best method she could think of. Distraction. If she could distract him with confusion well enough, then she could run, it wasn't far and she'd be home before he even knew that she had left.

So, she put on her sweetest voice, dripping with honey and only a hint of sarcasm. "No, no Sasuke-kun, it's alright. Really, there's no need for you to apologize." She smiled sweetly, her white teeth perfectly straight. "after all, it's all in the past now isn't it?" She finished before spinning on her heel and disappearing in a small poof of dust that she kicked up in her haste.

--CherryBlossom--

DreamsXReality says: Okay, so here is the product of 2 hours of typing and revising, a large piece of fudge, a cup of hot apple cider, and two cups of mandarin orange tea. Happy? I told one of my reviewers that I only had an hour left to go…but I decided to add some detail here, some there, a bit more shouting…yeah, you get the idea. THANK YOU so much to my reviewers! I love you all! And, I'd love some feedback on this last chappy…again, I don't like flames, but I have fire-proof gloves xD

Blue Balloon

And here I have a special little treat for my reviewers to thank them for their kindness…and to make sure they keep reading :D

Next time on, The New Sakura:

"Where in the hell are Kakashi and Naruto when you need them?!" Sasuke shouted to Sakura as he held a crying baby and a cute little two-year old boy clung to his leg with the threat of tears looming in his eyes.

Sakura looked at him and laughed, she was just putting a sleeping baby in a second-hand cradle and had already convinced two other toddlers to color in color books she had been smart enough to bring.

"Sasuke-san, you really don't have any paternal instincts, do you?"