Weeks passed without incident—or, at least, as little incident as possible when the Number One Hyperactive Knucklehead Ninja was your best friend. True to his strict clan upbringing, Uchiha Sasuke's apartment was impeccable, counters sparkling, bedsheets tucked tightly like the ones in hotels, not a thing out of place. Until that damn Naruto came and messed everything up. He never failed to leave cup ramen over every surface imaginable, sometimes dripping onto the carpets. Sometimes Sasuke found himself wishing the jinchuuriki would be sent out on some long mission far away, just so he could get some goddamn peace and quiet, but he always felt guilty for harboring such wishes. Naruto was only Naruto because of his constant presence trying to lighten your heart, whether you wanted it or not.
No fucking respect, he thought, stepping over a pair of dirty socks that he knew didn't belong to him. Is this how he treats Sakura's apartment? Somehow Sasuke didn't think the kunoichi with the capricious temper put up with that shit.
"Yare, yare," he imagined Naruto whining. "Sakura-chan, it's only a little stain. It'll come right out."
"Your brains are going to come right out your goddamn ears, you little imp."
And then she'd twist his ear, he'd yelp, and Sasuke would smirk at the scene, just like old times.
Old times were getting easier to replicate, now. He had been allowed to accompany the new-but-still-familiar Team 7 on a D-rank mission just once three days ago, and while he was sure Naruto and Sai preferred something more exciting (and with better pay), and Sakura was needed in the hospital, for once, no one complained. Having to rake gardens in the biting cold—first frost coming earlier than usual—was as good an excuse as any to spend time together.
And in the evenings, after her shifts, Sakura usually came over for a stroll. At first it started out innocently enough, with her bringing "homemade" food (it came from a restaurant, but fuck if Sasuke was going to let on that he knew) to his apartment, and him inviting her out casually. As they settled into a routine and he began to expect a knock at his door half an hour after dinner each night, though, it seemed like something … more.
Or at least he hoped it was.
Sakura felt her suspicions were confirmed. Uchiha Sasuke had gotten all touchy-feelsy lately for someone who usually valued his "personal space bubble" so much. It started innocently, just little strolls around town after the sun set, but the first time she'd seen a dango stall and casually mentioned that she could go for some of the sweet dumplings, he'd paid the owner for two and given her both.
"I don't like sweets," he'd said with a shrug, trying to act normal.
You've got to be kidding me.
She tried to brush it off as him feeling guilty for, you know, several years of abandonment and hopelessness, but the instances added up. Bumping her side "accidentally." Brushing the backs of his hand against hers and then holding it there for way too long.
Then there was that time he'd swiped his thumb across the diamond mark on her forehead and asked her to tell him all about the special healing technique, as though he didn't already know.
It was pretty cute, in a way, the Uchiha Sasuke being reduced to childish flirting techniques—probably ones she'd used on him a lifetime ago. The attention was flattering, even. She didn't even know if he knew what exactly he was doing. When Sai picked up on it, though, she knew she had to put a stop to it before even Naruto found out what was going on. She'd never hear the end of it if Naruto thought Sasuke had a crush on Sakura and Sakura was denying Sasuke even though theirs was true love and meant to be.
"Sakura, did you know that Sasuke compulsively touches you?" Sai asked, his face impassive, as though he hadn't just touched upon the problem-that-must-not-be-named.
"What do you mean, Sai?" she said slowly.
"You don't mind when Naruto touches you, which he does with impunity. For example, between the two of you there are always greeting hugs, and goodbye hugs, and his good arm is always around your shoulder when we're walking. But…" Sai paused, his face now scrunched up in thought, and Sakura had to smile at the expression, which looked real enough to pass. When he started speaking again, his voice was slower and more hesitant, like he was choosing his words carefully. "When Sasuke touches you, it's usually for a brief period, and often you pull away. But sometimes you don't. Sometimes you even reciprocate by placing your hand on his shoulder. I am not sure what that means. I have already taken into consideration the fact that you are in love with him, but doesn't romantic love often consist of many different types of touches?"
Sakura blushed.
"I am just saying that you seem uncomfortable with this new development. I think neither you nor the Uchiha idiot know how to deal with your feelings."
"Thank you for trusting me with your thoughts, Sai, but there's nothing going on between us. I'll have to speak to Sasuke about this."
Sai nodded and leapt away. Sakura had the sneaking suspicion he was headed to the flower shop, but she had too much on her plate now to grill Ino about it. At least one of them still had a shot at a happy ending.
It was several hours past dark when Sakura knocked on his door for their usual stroll, having needed time to prepare herself for what would surely be a tough conversation. When Sasuke answered the door, his face lit up in a fleeting ghost of a smile, gone as quickly as it came, and if she hadn't been watching carefully she would've sworn it was a figment of her imagination. Her chest clinched at the expression, both with longing and guilt.
"You're late," he said, his features now hardened into a typical scowl.
"If you keep frowning like that, your face is going to get stuck that way. Well, I think it already did," she teased.
He wrapped a thick woolen scarf around his neck and stepped outside, closing the door behind them. Sakura felt her heart rate rise. God, he's just so goddamn cute like that, all bundled up. She forced herself to take a few deep breaths, resisting that stupid voice in her head that was urging her to just wrap her arms around him and never let go. But Inner Sakura didn't know a damn thing. Inner Sakura didn't have any of the resolve it took to keep herself safe from a boy who was always trying to leave. Sasuke might have a crush on her now, acting all charming and childlike, but he was still an Uchiha, and Uchihas left. Left the village, left their loved ones bloody and bruised and trying so hard to reach out to their long-gone hearts.
He was shrouded in darkness, and she knew she'd never be enough to light the way.
They walked together in silence for quite some time. "Sasuke-kun, we have to talk," Sakura said finally, stopping on an empty street with residential areas on one side and forested land on the other.
"Hn?"
"About us." She turned to face him. "Whatever this is, whatever's been going on, it can't—"
That's when she made the mistake of looking up into his eyes, one still hauntingly violet as a reminder of the hatred of the past. She quailed before his soft expression, and in that moment, the pink-haired kunoichi knew Sasuke desperately needed forgiveness, sought acceptance from the last teammate who hadn't given it freely. If she refused him now, the bonds she'd been so careful not to disturb might not be repaired ever. But where did that leave her?
When Sasuke tilted his head down to capture her lips with his, just for a moment, her heart skipped a beat, all presence of mind forgotten. She reached up to sink her hands into his spiky hair, letting the kiss linger a little longer, before her brain finally came back to her body.
Sakura stumbled back, face burning.
Fuck!
"Sasuke-kun, I can't," she said quickly, watching his expression change from content to confused. "This can't happen."
And before she could say another word and ruin things more, she jumped up, landing on a large tree branch to her right before disappearing from view, leaving a perplexed—and slightly hurt—Uchiha standing there, breathing hard.