This is the edited version of the chapter, enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto or the characters mentioned in the story

Chapter IV-THE VISIT

"Good evening, Sasuke-kun" Sakura greets her at the door. The sight of her familiar expression lessen the tension in Sasuke's frame, as he step aside and let her come in

"Honestly Sasuke-kun, it's so dark in here. I thought no one was home, I even ask around to make sure it really is your new house..." Sakura take a peek at the usual expressionless Sasuke and stop rambling instantly "Can I turn on the light? I swear it won't be long"

Sasuke hives an audible "Aa" before Sakura flick a switch and lit the living room

Sasuke sit down, followed by Sakura as she roam around inside her satchel to find something, without looking up she ask Sasuke to show her his arm. And when she did Sasuke already slid off the left side of his front zipped shirt, his side in full view.

Sakura gulps, she had seen his body before, even Naruto's and all ninjas she had treated, but somehow there's still a slight uneasiness to this situation. Sakura sighs before focusing chakra on her fingertips and bring her hand to the end of Sasuke's remaining left arm. Trying to focus on what she's trying to do

Sasuke doesn't really like the light on, cause it's a new bulb and it's still too bright for his liking, for the size of his living room the watt sure is too high. But something silence him.

For the first time in years he finally get to see Sakura. Actually see Sakura. He hasn't notice all of her physical transformation over the years, he hasn't taken the sight fully. Her face feels somewhat more symmetrical than before, her eyes are more piercing green, darker and slightly more luring, her hair short but neatly cut framing her face nicely, and the purple diamond shaped seal on her forehead somehow brings out her face… is he really thinking… does he find Sakura… pretty?

It is true that Sakura has been the only girl that ever enter his heart, but as a comrade, as a friend. She has always been there to aid him, and he suppose because of her love and devotion to him, she had always had his best interest in mind, even now. She's just like the girl version of Naruto for him, the only girl he let to hug him, the one that filled his heart when it was almost consumed by darkness when Orochimaru put his seal on him. And if he remembers correctly, the only one that can sweet talk him to do anything… well, almost anything

Being twelve, Sasuke never really thought about it, since he couldn't really understand and he didn't have the time to find out, as his time was full with the thought of avenging his clan. But now, he knows that even then, Sakura has a special place in his heart, the place more special than Naruto's. Even more dear than his best friend

Sasuke gulp at the though

"What's wrong Sasuke-kun am I hurting you?"

"No"

"Just tell me if you feel any slight of discomfort, because it shouldn't even feel like anything"

"Aa"

"So.." she's finally trying to make conversation, something Sasuke is familiar with when it comes to Sakura, he feel a little relief at the thought maybe she hasn't changed that much "I haven't been able to check on you, medically I mean, how are you holding up?"

"Fine"

"What did they say?"

"Some broken bones, internal bleeding, sprains"

"And you still go there after nearly a month? Inacceptable. I bet those nurses just wanted to see you often" she sighs "I'm sorry Sasuke-kun, the hospital is really short on staff right now so we had to settle for everyone we could have… don't worry I'll fix you up after this so you won't have to go back there again" she smiles

"Hn"

Still not much of a talker, Sakura thought "How are you?"

"You just asked that"

"I mean… how are you" she repeats slowly

"I'm fine"

"Fine is never good enough"

"Why not?"

"You tell me"

Sasuke shot a brow

"I mean, it was never enough for you. The you I knew anyway"

"What does that suppose to mean Sakura

"Eh, I didn't mean anything. I just thought you would feel better of you're ou there doing something that has to do with a goal of yours, like the you I knew… you've always been one to just sprint ahead and look for challenges I can only imagine being stuck here with nothing to do would make you feel"

"I'm on probation" he say in the-matter-of-fact-ly

"I know, I know. But.." she take a long pause, cause she was stopping herself from saying something she immediately know she would regret

"But?" Sasuke pry

She gives in, she has no control of his actions, never had anyway. He'll be who he'll be and she's just here as a friend so she shouldn't be worry about him that way "…but you could always go on and travel for as long as you'd like after the probation is over. I imagined it would make you happier, after all you've been through, you're not going to find answers to your questions here. But I hope… Konoha—Konoha could always be your home" she finish rather weakly

"Sakura—"

"Nevermind that Sasuke-kun" Sakura cuts him and recovers quickly, geting back to her satchel "can you turn around please? I need your back"

Sasuke shift and take off his top completely, leaving his back for Sakura to access. Sasuke fight the urge to ask Sakura if she's actually troubled about something, she has never been the one to hold back so he'd always know what she wants and what she needs, and now that she's not being open with him he become slightly frustrated. Sasuke has always relied on Sakura's bluntness to know what to do... to… make her discomfort go away. Naruto has too, and Sasuke remembers that Naruto had feelings for Sakura in the past as well.

"Sakura—"

"Hmm?"

"nothing"

"Does something hurt Sasuke-kun?"

"No"

"Then what is it?"

And just on cue something around his ribs feel like its twisting inside "Ouch"

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura pulls her hand away "You said nothing hurt"

"It didn't"

"Now turn around I need to fix your ribs"

Then he did, he turn to face Sakura. In the full view of Sasuke's chest, inner Sakura twitch with anxiety and excitement. She curse silently

In this awkward position on Sasuke's couch Sakura has to lean in a little bit to tend to Sasuke's inner wound, her face inches away from his jaw. Then she turns to her satchel and grab a tube of ointment, rubbing them on his ribs with a special massage technique she has mastered so difficultly after six months of training "All done Sasuke-kun" Sakura smile again before turning away from him completely

Sasuke looks down to his side where the feeling of Sakura's touch lingers, infused with the slight heat sensation from the balm.

"Thanks"

"Anytime. Ne, Sasuke-kun. Since we're now teammates again and all, you shouldn't hesitate to ask me for help with your injuries, after all my first priority is to you—" Sasuke lift his gaze to meet hers, but she wasn't looking at him "—Naruto and Sai" she finish

"Hn" he answers with an inaudible disappointment

"I am the best Medic-nin after the Hokage herself after all" she claims in confidence and pride

"Is that why you have the diamond seal?" he ask, pointing to the purple seal on her forehead, known as the sign that Sakura has matered the streght of a hundred seal

"This, yes. Tsunade-shishou and I are the only two who has it"

It is true. Sakura has become a fine kunoichi. Sakura has become stronger. She truly has changed…

And Sasuke wonders how much she hactually had "Sakura"

"Yes?" she begins to pack getting ready to leave

"Weren't you suppose to take the night shift?"

"No, my shift ended at 7, it's originally 5 but it got exte—"

"I mean with me" Sasuke cut her midsentence

"Eh?" Sakura stop in her track and blink a few times, it is true, no one is here.

"You feel it? No Yamato, No Kakashi, No Naruto No crop top doodler"

It's true, Sakura couldn't feel anyone else's chakra around, no one really is coming "Well, it's now 9 I guess that is it for my night shift, right?"

Sasuke shake his head "They usually stayed here all night" he say monotonously

"A-all n-night?"

"They sleep on the couch, but you can take my bed"

Damn you shishou! Inner Sakura flames up "N-no that's okay Sasuke-kun I'll take the chouch"

"I'm taking the couch"

"Eh?" Sakura suddenly realize something after looking at her shirt, she's still wearing her attire from this morning. She sigh

"What?" Sasuke break the long silence

"I-um… usually take a bath and change my clothes before bed, I could maybe go home for a little bit then come back?"

"It's late"

"It's 9"

"It's late" he repeat "and your apartment is on the other side of the village"

"Well it's not that fa—how did you know where I live?"

"I saw you walking inside one day?"

"You did, yet never said 'hi' or anything? But then if I think about it, I've never really seen you after we got back from the war, Sasuke-kun"

"You were busy"

"Eh?" Sakura was busy, indeed. But Sasuke wasn't

"Bathroom is on the left"

"No I can't"

"You just said—"

"I didn't bring anything to wear"

"I have plenty" he states, offering her to wear his shirt instead

Sakura refuse to give up to his dominant ways, and start thinking hard from a prespective of someone that would be just friends with Sasuke. What would Naruto do?

Teme, I would rather wear this all year than be stuck smelling like an arrogant jerk with a 5 feet pole in his ass after wearing your clothes even for one second!

No, not the best approach

So she run to the door with her satchel and shout out "I'll be back in an half an hour tops! Don't run away or kill anyone while I'm gone ne, Sasuke-kun!"

She just left him. Sakura just left at the opportunity of showering and wearing Sasuke's clothes—or more specifically deny his attempt at hospitality. The old Sakura would kill to have the opportunity.

Sasuke feel slightly hurt at her rejection. What has happened to Sakura? She's like a completely new person, of course the part where she's annoyingly loud and obnoxious, keep asking him to notice her, is gone too, and Sasuke does not miss it at all… but Sakura acted like he has no desire of spending unnecessary time with him.

Maybe it's the fact that Sasuke hasn't left the house for quite some time, maybe it's the fact that he has been bored and lonely that he would wanna spend time with someone, anyone, that's not either Naruto, Kakashi, Yamato or Sai. Or maybe it's just because he hadn't seen her in a while, he thought she would wanna cherish their meeting even just for a little bit.

"Sakura—" he calls to the emptiness of the room

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