Hi there! Time for that awkward yet dramatic confrontation! Sasuke has his mind made up, but then again, so does Sakura…

Sakura sighed, taking in her surroundings. She was in her special place: a place deep within the village training grounds where she could get away from everything. It certainly wasn't easy being a medical kunoichi, especially being the Hokage's apprentice. She used to hide on a rare occasion, but lately, she's come much more often. She just couldn't face… him…

I guess Sasuke's been back for a while, now. Naruto seems to get along fine with him. I'm happy for him. It's all she could do. She knew nothing could bridge the rift between her and her former teammate. What she did can't be undone, and if Sasuke never wanted to see her again, she'd be fine with that. "It's what I deserve…"

"What is?"

Sakura gasped, realizing someone was actually there. Dammit! Not my hiding place! She stood frozen. She recognized that voice.

"Sakura."

No. Please no. Not now. Lowering her head, she slowly turned around to face the one haunting her mind for months. "…Sasuke."

She couldn't look him in the eyes. She was so sure she would break under his gaze.

"Are you going to tell me?"

Sakura didn't budge. She knew what he was referring to. Crap! I said that out loud? Baka!

Sasuke sighed. He wasn't getting anywhere. All he wanted was to get this over with. Why was she being like this? "Sakura… you've done nothing wrong."

Her eyes suddenly widened.

"You've always been easy to read…"

Sakura fought the urge to cry. No. No more tears. Don't let him see!

Sasuke noticed her discomfort. Hell, this was just as awkward for him. After standing there in silence, he slowly reached for her hand. She jumped a little; was she afraid of him? He kept his head low.

"I… am the one who's done wrong. I'm the one who should feel ashamed, not you…"

They stood in silence again. He was still holding her hand, but he couldn't look at her. Little did he know, she was staring right at him. Suddenly, she jerked her hand away, holding it to her chest.

"Sasuke… how can you say that? None of this would've happened if I hadn't…" her voice was choked by tears. Sasuke lifted his gaze, observing her glistening tears. He just wanted her pain to end.

"Sakura… why? You were doing your duty."

"NO! I promised myself I would save you! I would protect both you and Naruto!"

"You don't have to take care of us."

"But I WANT to! What's wrong with protecting the ones I care about?"

"…you care about me? Still?"

"OF COURSE, YOU BAKA! I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH THAT I THOUGHT THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE YOU WAS TO KILL YOU! I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR YOU! ... but… instead, I…"

She was cut off again as she was suddenly embraced. Sasuke was holding her so tightly. She felt something wet on her head. He's…crying? "S-Sasuke?" Her tears began to flow even more. "I'm so sorry! Please forgive me…"

Even after everything I did, she can find it in herself to care about me… to love me… She's such an idiot! Yet… "Thank you." Please forgive me as well.

Ok, so maybe that ending sounded a little like my other fiction, but that's how I imagine Sasuke's confession: mostly inward commentary following a "Thank you" or something like that…

(…man I suck at endings sometimes)

I'll probably have one more chapter… we'll see. Thank you!