Finally! I'm home again! I can say that I fell in love with Crete! You should definitely go there some time.

SOOO... Here is what I have to say::clears throat:: This is my new chapter ::wink::

Sasuke: Wow, you are so original. Bo-ring!

Me: Well, can you do it better?

Sasuke: Hn.

Me: That's not even an answer, so can you?

Sasuke: Of course, I can do everything better.

Me: Oh yeah? Prove it!!!

Sasuke: Here is her new chapter.

Me: That was exactly the same I said!

Sasuke: Che, if I say it, it sounds better.

Me: True...

Disclaimer: Lee ::exhausted as hell:: I solemnly swear that this little in person, great in youthful spirit, person does not own any of us, nor is she planning on stealing any of Kishimoto-sama's great youthfulness and so ::mumbles on and on:: (I think you get it now, right?)


Chapter 7: Obstacles

He promised her he would stay. He had never promised her anything. Nothing only meant for her, that is. At least, not as far as she could recall, and that was pretty far.

He hadn't said he would stay because of her though, but she liked to think it was her. But then that was only wishful thinking.

No, he probably wanted to stay because of what he'd said earlier. He had betrayed his family and village and now he wanted to make it up. In honor of his parents. He owed it them.

It couldn't be helped he would never do something because of her. she smiled into the distance. It was better to accept it now than to be heartbroken afterwards.

It did mean though, that she had to keep her distance.

She made her resolve. She wouldn't be selfish. She would let his be free. As long as he would stay in Konoha, she would be happy.

Sasuke was back to sleep, since he wasn't top fit yet. Sakura was sitting against a rock. She smiled at the dark, sleeping figure, a few feet away from her.

Her lips formed the words: "I love you, Sasuke-kun." Then a tear rolled down her cheek and she added: "But it was never meant to be."

She waited in silent tears for her shift to be over. Naruto would switch places with her. he was too dense to see what was going on anyway.

Xxx

She was definitely acting differently. He couldn't really put his finger on it, but something was different. Like she was more remote, trying to keep her distance.

She only smiled at him in rare occasions.

They had made their way back home, and Tsunade had, together with the council, put Sasuke on probation. Which was absolutely foreseen by him. He had to watch his steps. Even when Naruto was mocking him and he was glaring at the dobe, he could feel the tension of the ANBU watching him rise. As long as he was on probation, he still was an S-rank criminal. A threat to the city. Nothing more and nothing less.

He barely saw Sakura the following two months, let alone talk to her. if only she wouldn't avoid him, because that was what she was doing. She avoided him at all costs. When they would encounter each other somewhere, she would smile a small smile, mumble some excuse and walk into the other direction.

It was freaking him out. She had always been there, even when he'd been gone, he knew, she would be at home, waiting for him. Now she was avoiding him.

His probation lasted longer than he'd expected. Seven months, two weeks and three days later, the council showed its mercy. He was a free man.

Sasuke was wandering through the streets of Konoha, thinking about his conversation with Sakura, the night before they'd returned as someone bumped into him.

It was Sakura, she'd been busy with her cell phone and hadn't noticed where she'd been walking. She muttered an apology as she looked up.

"Sasuke-kun…" she muttered in surprise. She didn't seem too happy about meeting him.

"I've got to go," she said, turning around hastily.

"Sakura, wait!" he ordered. She didn't listen and speeded up her pace.

He caught her arm though. "I'm off probation," he mentioned.

"So I've heard," she replied politely.

"You promised me to go out with me after I would be off probation," he reminded her.

"I didn't promise anything," she protested.

"Why are you avoiding me?" he asked boldly.

"I am not!"

"Oh yes you are," he said, tightening the grip on her wrist.

She panicked. "I've really got to go." She freed her hand, made a few hand seals and disappeared in a whirl of leaves, leaving an angry and astonished Sasuke.

He cursed under his breath.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Sakura?" he wondered angrily. "I'll break your stupid barrier." He promised.

Xxx

It was harder than she'd expected. Forgetting him was impossible. That was why she had to try even harder. It was now a month ago that Sasuke had asked her out. She hadn't encountered him anymore after that. She'd thought it would've made everything easier, but she'd been totally wrong. Every time she walked through the streets of Konoha, she thought she saw him somewhere. It never really was him though.

Everyone could see Sakura was suffering. She wasn't her cheerful, annoying self anymore.

"Sakura!" Ino yelled and Sakura cocked her head in Ino's direction.

"This is not good! You're obviously suffering and we all know why! Go and talk to Sasuke-kun already."

Sakura shook her head absentmindedly. "I can't. it would all fall apart."
"What would fall apart? The crappy disguise of yours you mean? The one you're trying to keep up, even though everyone knows it is fake?" Ino asked sarcastically. "I mean really, how much worse can it get? You've already reached the bottom. Things can only go upwards from here on."
Ino pushed Sakura in the direction of Sasuke's house. "C'mon! You can do it!" she smiled encouragingly.

Sakura smiled back, but her smile never reached her eyes. "I guess you're right, I'll give it a try," she said to satisfy her best, worried friend.

"That's the spirit!" Ino cheered.

"I'll go now, see you later." Sakura waved and walked away, but not with the intention of going to Sasuke's. she would walk a little in the right direction to satisfy Ino, but when she would ask about it later, Sakura would tell her that he hadn't been at home. That would be the perfect solution.

Yet, once she started walking to his house, she found herself unable to stop. Her feet were guiding her to Sasuke's place, via the route she'd walked so often before.

Sasuke wasn't home though. She couldn't help herself but search for his chakra, as she approached the estate. She'd heard rumors that he'd been living there again now.

Somewhere she regretted not going on a date with him. What were her reasons again? She couldn't recall them anymore.

She sighed heavily and walked home.

A big surprise was awaiting her there though. Sasuke was standing in front of her house, his hands stuffed in his pockets, staring (no, glaring) at her door as if he blamed the door for not opening and showing Sakura in the door opening.

Xxx

He could sense her chakra faintly. She was standing behind him. Sakura had always been good at almost everything that hadn't included fighting. Now she was sloppy in hiding her chakra. That, or her subconscious didn't really want to hide from him anymore.

Sasuke slowly turned around to face the pink-haired kunoichi he'd desperately tried to speak with. Now she was standing right behind him as if nothing was wrong.

Her hair was messy, she looked a little pale and skinnier. Her face looked a little bit hollow and unhealthy. Sakura, what've you done to yourself? He thought. Avoiding him had definitely not done her any good. He almost felt the urge to smirk, but now was not the right time to laugh at all.

Most of all, she looked tired though. Tired of running away.

"Sakura," he said and his voice sounded a little bit hoarse. He cleared his throat and said: "Finally."

She just stared at him. Her eyes didn't shine brightly and her never ending smile had left her face.

"Sasuke-kun," she replied. "So I meet you after all."

"Aa," he replied softly. The former Sasuke seemed to be gone. "You should take better care of yourself."

She chuckled lightly. It sounded a little bit bitter. "I thought I was taking good care of myself by avoiding you. But it doesn't really make any sense to me anymore, avoiding you that is."

"You're a medic Sakura, you should be able to take care of yourself as well as you take care of your patients."

A faint smile crossed her face. "I guess you're right," she said.

"Why would you avoid me?" Sasuke suddenly asked. His eyes were dark as always and he looked at her intensely.

"Things would never work out between the two of us," she smiled sadly. "I've finally come to that conclusion, so th-"

"But that conclusion is not making you happy, nor can you cope with it, right?" He interrupted.

"That's not the point," she protested.

"It is the point, Sakura. Stop thinking about others first. You should think about yourself for once."

"Just like you, right?" She replied bitterly. "You're the one who ran off for your own good. It didn't make you any happier, did it?" She almost yelled now. "It didn't make anyone happier! You were just being selfish and that's when I decided never to think about me first! It will only hurt people. I don't want to become a selfish person! If you just would've stayed here! We could have helped you out! Kakashi, Naruto and even I." Tears were rolling down her cheeks and Sasuke knew she had kept this to herself during all these years.

"Even though I wasn't a great help, I would still have given everything to help you! But you ended up running off to that snake bastard." She sobbed uncontrollably.

"I loved you so much, Sasuke-kun," she muttered silently, still sobbing. As he looked at her, he could see years of pain written all over her face.

He was embracing her in two seconds. "It's alright now, Sakura. It's alright. I'm here now and the past is gone. Orochimaru is dead, and so is Itachi. I won't leave again."

Sakura was crying against his shoulder. He took the key of her front door out of her pocket and lifted her up in his arms. He carried her, bridal style to her door, opened it and carried her upstairs to her bedroom. She was still sobbing as he laid her down upon her bed and put a blanket over her body.

Sakura was tired of crying and avoiding Sasuke and after this exhausting confrontation, she fell asleep easily.

Sasuke stayed by her side for a little while and made sure she was alright now. Then he left her building through her window, making his way to his own house.

Xxx

Sakura woke up, feeling warm and cozy, yet a little bit sad. Everything made sense again as she recalled the last night. Sasuke had carried her into her bed. Quickly she peeked underneath the blanket. Alright, still dressed. She colored slightly by the idea of Sasuke undressing her.

"Sasuke-kun," she whispered silently, smiling contently. Finally she smiled again…

The phone ringed, that must be Ino, checking how she was doing after she'd visited Sasuke, so Sakura picked up the phone.

"Sakura," the caller said.

Sakura held her breath. This certainly wasn't Ino, nor any of her other girlfriends.

"Sasuke…-kun."

"How are you?" he asked.

"Fine, I guess," she replied confused. Why would he call her? She had totally ruined everything last night. Perhaps it was better this way.

"Go out with me. I'll pick you up in two days. I'll be at your house at eight thirty PM."
Before Sakura could answer, he'd already hung up.

Now that was unexpected…

Xxx

Sakura prepared herself to go to work.

As she arrived at the hospital, a messenger of the Hokage came to see her.

"Sakura-senpai, Hokage-sama wishes to see you," he told her.

"Hai. I'll be there in a minute," Sakura nodded.

The messenger bowed and disappeared again.

Sakura told the other nurses what to do and rushed to Tsunade's office.

"Shishou, you asked for me?" She asked her busy shishou.

Tsunade looked up from her work and told her apprentice to have a seat.

"I have a mission for you. You'll be leaving tomorrow morning. Shikamaru and Hinata will accompany you. For further details you can contact Shikamaru. You are dismissed."

Well, she didn't have to worry about Sasuke and her date anymore.

I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun, she thought with mixed feelings.


Yay! Done! With the next chapter that is ::wink::

Kakashi: Again, I was not in the story.

Me: Your name was mentioned...

Kakashi, crying silently: That's not the same... ::sob::

Sakura, petting Kakashi on his head: Everything will be alright.

Who should appear in the next chapter?

Vote 1 for Lee!

Vote 2 for Kakashi!

Vote 3 for... well, just name it!

Thanks ::winkwink:: till next time!