Reminiscence

Memory: Realization

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

-:-

Gentle breezes passed by the silent village of Konoha as teams were out and about, training for the upcoming Chuunin Exams. Team 7, consisting of Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and Haruno Sakura, sensei Hatake Kakashi, stood at the bridge, their appointed meeting spot for training days. Naruto and Sakura were prancing around; frustrated at their sensei's lateness, while the cooler Uchiha leaned on the railings and smirked as he watched their irritated antics. In a puff of smoke, their grey-haired sensei appeared, reading his orange book.

"Yo."

Sakura and Naruto turned to face him, their faces red from anger, and pointed an accusing finger at him.

"You're hours late!" The two yelled in unison.

"I could have slept in!" Sakura screamed.

"I could have eaten more ramen!" Naruto yelled.

Kakashi turned to Sasuke, and put his book away.

"What's with them?" He asked his student.

"...they've been at it for hours. They won't shut up. Why were you late?" He asked, obviously frustrated that his sensei couldn't figure out that he was the reason why they were so ticked off.

He wished the two would stop yelling and ranting about being on time, because he was staring to have a headache from listening to Sakura's ear-piercing screams and Naruto's loud accusations. Rubbing his temples to help assuage his headache, he sighed as the loud noises died down.

"...Then let's start training!"

-:-

Their training session consisted of one objective: Retrieve the two bells hanging at Kakashi's waist. The three had split up, and Naruto had made the first approach. Being too foolish and not formulating a plan before attacking, he charged forward, and was caught in a trap, and hung upside down from a tree while Kakashi happily read his orange book. Sasuke and Sakura hid within the shadows, both waiting for the right moment to strike. Sakura turned around, and saw the most terrifying sight she has ever seen. Before her lay a bleeding Sasuke, staining the green grass beneath him with his pools of blood. Before she knew it, the illusion before her slowly disappeared, but she was unable to move due to the slight mental trauma it had caused her. Sasuke hid behind the leaves, slowly watching Kakashi's movement, looking for a blind spot to strike. He finally found one, and charged. Kakashi glanced up, and was met with Sasuke's fist. He easily dodged it, but used his hand to stop the kick from reaching him. Using the momentum, Sasuke twisted, and nearly grasped the bells. Kakashi looked down in surprise, and jumped back. Hmm...I'm impressed...

"Okay. It's lunch time," He happily said, his smile hidden beneath his mask.

The three looked to him.

Naruto was left without lunch, tied to a trunk with rope to keep himself from running off and getting his own food. Sasuke and Sakura were happily dining before him, teasing his hunger by the aromas emitted from the food. He eyed Sakura as she placed pieces into her mouth.

"Hey, Sakura. You want to share with me?" He asked.

Sakura looked at him, and held her head up high.

"Hmph. No thank you," She said.

His electric blue eyes looked crestfallen as she continued to eat, and once again tried.

"It won't do any good if I'm hungry..." He said.

"How would I feed you?" She asked, her emerald eyes eying him carefully.

"...You would feed me..."

Sakura twitched, and gave in. She began to give him some of her bento. Unknowingly, Sasuke eyed them through his mysterious onyx orbs, hints of jealousy threatening to escape his cool façade. Clutching his chopsticks tighter, he was relieved when Kakashi came back. He ended the session, saying that teamwork was the most important thing when in squads and in missions.

-:-

Sasuke and Sakura walked together on the way home from training. Naruto had long left them once they had walked past the ramen stand. Sakura eyed Sasuke carefully. Something about him was different today.

"Sasuke-kun?" She silently asked.

Without stopping to talk or turn around, he replied.

"Hn."

Sakura sighed. Was Sasuke really that anti-social?

"...are you okay? Your chopsticks look demolished. And you were looking at Naruto when I was giving him food," She said.

Sasuke promptly stopped, and turned around to look at her. His onyx eyes met hers, and he smirked.

"You are annoying," He maliciously said.

Sakura winced as she heard his tone of voice.

"...I'm sorry."

Sasuke stared at her, and took a deep breath. No matter what he did, she would never yell to him that she hated him. That was exactly what he wanted. He wanted her to hate him. He wanted her to forget him. Glaring at her, he grabbed her by the shoulders, and gripped them hard.

"Why won't you move on?" He hissed.

She once again stared into his onyx pools.

"...What do you mean?" She asked.

Sasuke closed his eyes in frustration, and opened them once again to glare at her.

"I mean, why won't you move on? Forget me? Go out with Naruto? Or any other person in this village?" He asked.

Sakura looked at him and smiled, memories of when they were six suddenly rushing to the center of her mind.

"Because when we were six, you were so crestfallen after...it happened. You needed someone to love you out of kindness and true feelings, not some girl at the academy that fell in love with your looks. I made that mistake once, Sasuke-kun. When I met Ino, she made me look at you in such a...superficial shallow kind of way, that I forgot how much fun we had when we were still kids. But now that you bring it up, I remember perfectly how you were, and sometimes I wish you'd go back to being that six year old Uchiha Sasuke who was so happy," She explained.

Sasuke stared at her.

"You know I can't go back to—..."

"I know. You're an avenger. An avenger can't have feelings, because it shows weakness. But that won't stop me."

Sakura smiled, and returned his gaze. Sasuke stood there, paralyzed. She was still the same as when they were young. When we were young... Flashbacks erupted through Sasuke's eyes, as he watched the scenes with bittersweet taste. "It's no use being sad all the time...It's okay...I'm here for you, Sasuke-kun...Sayonara..." Sakura's smile. Sakura's hair. Sakura's forehead. Sakura's beauty. Sasuke remained paralyzed, as one last thought ran through his mind. This isn't right...but I can't help myself... Without knowing what had hit them, their lips crashed together. I can't help myself...

Their first chaste kiss ended after a few moments of confused ecstasy. Sasuke broke away, and hunched down, his eyes clouded and confused. Sakura stood paralyzed, her hands instinctively reaching over and touching her lips. Sasuke slowly turned around, and began walking away. Noticing Sakura's absence beside him, he turned around, and gave her his genuine smile.

"Are you coming?" He asked.

Her eyes widened, and smiled.

"Hai!"

She ran after him.

-:-

As the two walked together, a feeling of bittersweet bliss emitted from their hearts. Both knew that their relationship would never happen, not at the current state of their ambitions and fantasies. But both also knew that they couldn't deny the feeling of love overcoming their state of mind and fill their hearts with joy and ecstasy every time they were within each other's presence.

Sakura stood at her doorstep, hesitating at opening the door. She turned and faced Sasuke, and smiled.

"Thank you for walking me home," She said.

Sasuke nodded, and smirked at her.

"...Does this mean...that it was...a one-time thing? Did that...mean anything?" Sakura asked.

She knew it was wrong of her to ask him that. She knew that no matter the answer was, good or bad; it would still pain her. But she longed to know. She needed to know. Sakura stood there, her emerald eyes gazing at Sasuke's pale face, and noticed his sharp features soften as he was conversing with himself inside his head. His lips were graced with his rare smile, and his onyx eyes locked with hers. Sakura smiled, the unsaid answer found within his eyes. Her heart still pained, for she knew that it would never be unless his ambitions were fulfilled, but that was good enough. She knew nothing would stop her. There was no barrier blocking her from Sasuke's heart. Before opening the door, Sasuke grabbed her hand, and gave her a quick peck on the lips, before resuming his walk back home. Sakura smiled at his retreating figure, the image all so familiar to her eyes.

"Sayonara..." She whispered.

Inside, she knew she was once again saying good-bye to another part of Sasuke.

I made the mistake of looking at your outsides. But now I know I love what's inside.

Tbc.
Sorry! Another short-ish chapter. Ehehe.