Standard disclaimer applies: All said characters and places belong to Masashi Kishimoto.

A/N: All I have to say from the last batch of reviews is: Poor, Sasuke. Once again thank you for your reviews. I tried to avoid certain things in this chapter, but the dialogue didn't seem to work without it, I'm hoping to avoid it with the next up coming chapters.

latoya: Poor Sasuke-kun.
Baka Kunoichi: That's horrible.
hugsanimekisses04: Me too.
Shy Faery89: I'm actually about to turn 22 before the end of the month… yes, I know, I'm as old as dirt (lol) Sasuke wasn't as demanding in SCC as he is in here, I totally took him out of context and made him this love sick guy and in this one he isn't so tightly wrapped around her finger, its kind of a vice versa deal.
cluelessninja65
anne trevino
baby's breath
Merridaine
Line
Rhonda21
Uchiha Sasume
Steph
runwithskizzers: Oh my god, see that's why I love you, your reviews are so enrich and so deep that I can't wait to hear what you have to say, it gives me a sense of accomplishment.
fightinsurfgrl
The Angel Of Sincerity
DeadlySoulCaster
Pnaichopstix: You just might be the only person who concerned for Sachiko.
Arcaina
Spread-My-Wingz-And-Soar: Really? I'm glad you liked it, I was really worried about it, but if you say its good than it must be true.
sakura182
FakeCompassion: You're funny.

"All I ever craved were the two dreams I shared with you.
One I now have, will the other one ever dream remain.
For yours I truly wish to be."

Sakura awoke several hours later, feeling Neji's arms around her, her back pressed against him. Slowly she stretched her arms above her head and folded them down as she rolled onto her back until she was face to face with her fiancé. She smiled when she noticed that he was awake, smiling softly back at her. "You're still here," she said, her voice thick with sleep. "You don't have a mission?"

"Nope, I can spend the entire time with you." she smiled and kissed him, a long soft kiss. She drew back and snuggled against his arm, ready to fall back asleep. Neji seemed to have other plans; he brushed his lips against her eyelashes and then kissed the bridge of her nose, moving down to her throat.

"Is that so…?" She opened her eyes and he looked up at her, before kissing her on the mouth again. She hummed against his lips and drew back, arching her body, loosening all the muscles in her body. He pulled her close and kissed her again, she laughed and sat up. "Stop it; I haven't brushed my teeth yet."

Trust her to break a romantic morning in bed over personal hygiene, smiled at her. "Then go brush them, take a shower even, I'll make breakfast." she sighed as he flung the sheets off and headed for the kitchen. She smiled and slipped out of the bed, smoothing the crinkles out of the blankets and propping up the pillows. Sakura walked into the bathroom with an armful of clean clothes and shut the door behind her.

She took her time in the shower, washing her hair, her body, shaving until her legs were smooth and glistening with water. She shut the water off and towel dried her body and hair and opened the window enough to let the cool breeze into the bathroom. She pulled on her underwear, crop jeans and plain a black scoop-neck tank top and then she tied her hair back with her hitai-ate.

She stepped out of the bathroom, walked into the kitchen, and walked over to Neji who was setting the table. "Your turn, I'll finish up." He smiled at her and headed back towards the bedroom. Sakura sat down and closed her eyes. She had been feeling sick since last night, but the feeling had come and gone, she wondered if it was from the guilt.

She got up, filled the plates with the food, and shut off the stove before sitting back down. Sakura turned around and smiled when she saw Neji entering the kitchen again, hair wet and tied back. She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. "Hey, don't forget, we're going to see my mother later."

"I don't want to," she said against his mouth, pouting like a child. "She doesn't like me."

"Yes, she does." he said, deepening his kiss on her mouth, she leaned back and he followed, pressing his mouth to hers. Sakura closed her eyes and kissed him back. His mother did not hate her, but Sakura knew that whenever the woman looked at her she was thinking that her son belonged with another woman. Sakura pulled away and stepped back, hand to her mouth.

"She always gives me these looks."

"She thinks you're beautiful, she told me." Sakura smiled at him, a wash of color spreading over her cheeks and he sat down. "Let's eat and then we'll head over." Sakura sat down next to him and started eating.

"After we visit with your mother, I'm going to stop by at the hospital and see Sachiko-chan; I got her a gift because she lost her tooth." Neji looked at her and she could see the question in his eyes. She did not know what the question was, but it was there, he was looking at her with curious eyes. "What?"

"Nothing…" he said, she smiled and continued eating. When they were finished, Sakura chose to wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen. Sakura did not know if it was the guilt eating at her like acid, but she wanted to make things work between Neji and herself, she would take her secret with her to the grave, Neji did not have to know, she could not face the way he would look at her, if he ever found out.

"Are you ready?" she turned and nodded, walking over to him and getting her arm around him, kissing his cheek. "I like you like this." she stared up at him; looking taken aback and he stopped her at the threshold of the door, the sun highlighting his dark brown hair with streaks of copper. "You were upset last night."

"Sorry, it was an especially bad day."

"Then we won't talk about it anymore." she walked ahead of him and he closed the door and she held out her hand for his. They walked together holding hands until they reached his mother's home. The awkwardness kicked in right away as soon as his mother answered the door. She was a beautiful woman with dark chocolate locks and eyes just like Neji's; she was dressed in a beautiful kimono that highlighted her elegance.

She invited them inside, served them tea, she sat comfortably in front of the table, the sunlight from the window behind her picking out the silver in her chestnut hair, hands slim and steady as she poured tea into the porcelain cups.

After a few sips of tea, she asked the question Sakura had been avoiding since Neji asked her to be his wife. "So have you thought about giving me grandchildren?"

…And there it was.

Sakura almost choked on her tea and spluttered it all over the sofa and carpet. Neji tensed right away and Sakura turned her head, covering her mouth. Sakura had not talked to Neji or anyone for that matter about children. Children were the furthest thing from her mind, she had a handful of them at the hospital, she was not sure she even wanted any children of her own.

They were not even married yet; her life was hectic enough without adding children to the mix. She really could not imagine having a child as a medic-nin; her take on children was that if she were to have any they would have to have her full attention and that meant not as much time at the hospital or on special missions.

"Kaasan…" his voice was low, reprimanding and his mother looked abashed. Sakura recomposed herself and smiled at her future mother-in-law.

"We haven't talked about children yet."

"Well you're young, so you should…"

"Kaasan," Neji warned again, his fists clenching at his side, he did not want his mother pushing Sakura on such a delicate subject, especially when neither of them had talked about it first. Sakura was thankful that Neji had enough effect on his mother that she apologized to the both of them.

The steady ticking of the clock on the mantel caught Sakura's attention. Not meaning to be rude, she took a quick glance at the clock. She stood and thanked Neji's mother for the tea. "I have to get to the hospital; maybe we can discuss this after the wedding."

"I didn't know it was such a delicate subject, I didn't mean to offend you, Sakura-san." his mother said to her with apologetic look. Sakura smiled and shook her head as Neji stood with her.

"No, I was just shocked. It's fine." After all, it was Sakura's body; she could do with it as she saw fit and if she did not want to have children, it was her decision. "I'm sorry I have to go so soon, but I have a patient to see." She nodded at Sakura and stood, seeing her son and Sakura to the door.

Neji stopped to kiss his mother on the cheek and she hugged him tightly as if she were afraid to loose her son. Sakura smiled fondly at the scene of mother and son and stepped back. "Don't forget we're having dinner with the Haruno's, all right?"

"Yes, you'll come escort me?" He promised that he would and then walked over to Sakura. They were in the public street when Neji stopped her and turned her to face him, his hands tightening around hers, he looked so serious, the look was back in his eyes, that unknown question.

"So are we going to have a family?"

She smiled up at him with a laugh in her eyes, she moved her hands up to his face and rose on her toes to kiss him, and he held her hips and pulled her close. "We're not even married yet, Neji-san."

"I'm going to marry you, Sakura," He hoisted her up off the ground and she laughed, bracing her hands on his shoulders and smiling down at him. "I am going to marry you." she shook her head and pressed her forehead to his hitai-ate, the metal cool against her skin.

"We'll talk about it before bed, okay?" he nodded and they shared a sweet kiss, her lips tingling from the sensation. "Put me down, you brute." He put her down and she stepped back.

"I'll see you at home, I've got something to do." she smiled at him, turned around, and headed to the hospital on her own. She walked into the hospital and immediately stopped by a few of the female medic's.

"What are you doing here?"

"Yeah, isn't this like your first day off in a week?" Sakura smiled and shrugged.

"I'm here to see Sachiko-chan; she's going to tell me all about the tooth fairy bringing her a gift last night." Sakura laughed at the thought of the girl going on about the locket she had gotten her. Their smiles instantly faded and Sakura knitted her brows. "What…?"

"Sakura-san… Sachiko-chan died this morning."

Sakura's mind went blank, unable to process the information she had just been given; she looked at woman and frowned, her heart racing suddenly. She opened her mouth and her throat closed up. "What-?" her voice came out cracked and suddenly there were a rush of tears falling from her eyes.

"Sakura-san," they tried to console her, but she brushed them off and headed up to the girl's room. There was someone inside, a man, and sitting in the chair, hunched over facing the bed. Sakura walked into the room; brushing her tears away and saw the man's profile.

"Kirihara-san?" he looked up, his cheeks glistening with tears long gone. Sakura walked over to him and looked at the empty bed. Last night it held a sweet little girl holding a teddy bear and waiting for the legendry tooth fairy.

"They said I could stay until they needed the room…" he opened his hand and showed her the locket. "I asked around, Haruno-san and no one gave it to her, you did, didn't you?"

"I-"

"Thank you, she was smiling before she… talking about how wonderful the tooth fairy was." he closed his eyes and stood. "I should be… I should get home." She nodded and watched him leave and then traced the footboard slowly, Sakura did not even say goodbye.

She left quickly after that and got lost somewhere near the Hidden Falls. She sat down in the grass and closed her eyes and before she knew it, she was fast asleep. Sasuke stepped into the clearing and walked over to Sakura, pink hair fanned out around her head and she looked angelic, distressed, but still enchanting.

He stared down at her, her eyes closed, he did not know if she was sleeping or just thinking. He crouched in front of her and noticed the water droplets clinging to her lashes. Had she been crying? He wanted to touch her, caress her face, but before he could do it, her eyes fluttered open. She looked up at him. He had obviously startled her. "What do you want?" her voice was soft, but irritated.

"I just came from the Hokage; I thought you might be interested how my hearing went…" She sat up on her elbows and quirked an eyebrow. He smirked and leaned forward so his lips were close to her ear. "I got the death sentence. They're going to execute me," he leaned back to see her expression and was pleased with what he saw. "What's wrong? You look upset."

She narrowed her eyes, not from anger but from the tears quickly filling her eyes, he reached out to touch her face and jerked her head back, pulling her lips back before she said in that quiet voice. "I don't want you to die."

Slightly, briefly, his eyes widen and he watched her sit up before she was standing in front of him. He stood up as well and stepped a little closer. "I thought you'd be glad to get rid of me, I'll be out of your hair." he brushed her hair back, touching just the soft tresses. He moved his hand over to her chest, his hand hovering just above her heart. "I'll never touch you again, smell your skin…" he brought his face close to her neck and inhaled deeply. "You smell like cinnamon and vanilla."

"Stop it, Sasuke-kun. Why don't you just run away?" He leaned back, towering over her, he gave her his own look of surprise and she frowned up at him, not in the mood for his games.

"…And be away from you?" Her eyes blazed like emeralds caught in the sun's light. She was a wildfire, all right, he remembered how she would never direct that anger at him, but now, not even he was safe from her scorn.

"This isn't a fucking game, Sasuke, once you're dead, you're dead." Sasuke tilted his head, his face holding no emotion as it did so many times before. It seemed to fuel her anger.

"Why don't you want me to die? Don't want to be plagued by bad dreams, koishii, will my death add to your guilty conscious?"

"Why do you have to twist everything, I don't know who you are anymore." She closed her eyes, trembling with the early thought of Sachiko's death, an innocent little girl, dead, a tear slid down her cheek. Sasuke brought his hand to her cheek and brushed the tear away with a soft caress. Her eyes opened, anger washed over by grief. "There's no need for senseless death. I-"

"Just say it! You love me, right?" She looked up at him, his face stern, "It's been nine years, just say it." She closed her eyes because sometimes she could lie with her eyes and sometimes she could not. It was hard enough to keep the desire out of her body as he touched her, showing him that longing in her eyes would destroy what resilience she had left for that night, she wanted condolence, but not from him.

"No."

"Why do you have to be so stubborn? Just ditch Hyuuga, tell him it won't work. Why won't you just give in, I know you want to be with me." She groaned and pressed her fingers to her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

"Sasuke, please, I don't want to fight with you." he touched her again, the back of his fingers brushing against her cheeks and the side of her neck then over the curve of her shoulder until she was in his arms. How easy it would be to stay with him, to follow him wherever he wanted, but she was not a thirteen-year-old head over heels in love girl, she was an adult with a fiancé.

"Because you know I'm right." Her eyes flashed a warning and he inwardly smirked as she pulled out of his arms, the fire that made their lovemaking so intense was back in her, her strings were his, all his.

"You are such an egotistical, self-absorbed bastard!" Then she surprised him by removing the tank top she was wearing. He stared at her topless, sinewy body, at the glittering jewel attached to her slender third finger of her left hand. He should not have looked because it was proof that she was still someone else's.

It was as though Hyuuga was standing there telling him that the ring on Sakura's finger meant that she was his property and he owned her. He unconsciously snarled and she glared up at him, her fingers opening the button of her crop jeans. "This is what you wanted, right?"

He could still feel the blood pounding in his ears like an angry drum as she asked the question. "Yes!" He hissed as he watched her, remove her shoes, her jeans undone but not off.

"How bad…?"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes and moved those last few steps to close the distance between them. Sasuke lowered his face towards Sakura, who was several feet shorter than he was, and a low growl trickled out of his lips. "Don't fuck with me, Sakura."

"I thought that was what you wanted, me to fuck with you." she paused, pressing her lips together as she looked him up and down. "Take your clothes off." It was one command he was willing to follow, he could spend his spend his last days alive in her arms. He would not mind that either. Grabbing his shirt by the collar, he tugged it off with one hand, when his shirt was off he set to work on his boots and then his pants.

When only one article of clothing remained, Sakura grabbed his head and pulled him down, crushing her lips to his mouth. He curved his hands over the naked expanse of her sides, to her waist, down her hips, drawing closer, slipping his thumbs into the underwear.

She stepped back, lips still working against his mouth as if she were drinking the life from him. He moved with her not sure where she was leading him, but not caring either as her harsh kisses transformed into soft caresses, her tongue licking his opened mouth.

She stopped kissing him enough to remove her underwear and he closed his eyes. "All of your clothes." He slid them down and then stood before her and she stepped back and he was like carved alabaster, every muscle, every curve of his body pale and perfect.

Telling him he was beautiful was redundant and he really did not need the ego boost. She slid her arms around him and lifted onto her toes, kissing him. The kiss was long and full, a sound came low in his throat, and he held her against him, hard and ready for her body.

Sakura, never relinquishing his mouth, led him into the cold water, he held her tighter, balancing them both as he sunk waist deep into the water with her. His hands moved up and down her sleek back, up and down, marveling at the exquisite contours of her body.

Her hands roamed over him, too, stroking and squeezing and admiring his hard muscles. Her mouth was soft and sweet and he pushed her closer, pressing her chest harder against his as he lifted her a little higher, the water and his arms carrying her.

Sasuke moved from her full, kissable lips and started kissing and sucking her neck gently, he loved that her hair was short; it exposed that elegant swan neck of hers. He did not know if he should make love to her or just hold her, everything inside told him to fuck her until someone came along and caught them so that she would stop hiding and admit that she felt more deeply for him than that Hyuuga bastard.

Sakura turned her face back to his. "Now what?" he asked, looking from her face to her chest, massaging his hands against her waist before moving up to her ribs. Her hand disappeared under the water, he closed his eyes on a soft sigh, and she slid over him, her legs winding around his hips.

Sasuke opened his eyes, black eyes bled red and he turned his head to brush his lips against hers. "See," his voice rough, "You need me, just like I need you."

"I don't need you, I need this." He felt his jaw tighten at that, if she only needed sex than she could get it from her fiancé, but if he told her that, then he would never see her again before his execution date and he did not want that, so he decided to ask another question.

"Why?" He watched her close her eyes and her lips pull downward into a tight frown and her mouth parted, revealing white teeth pressing together and she was sobbing.

"…Because, she's dead." He lowered his hands into the water and held the back of her thighs as she tightened her legs around him, the water sloshing and curling around them as he turned so that she was facing the setting sun.

"Who…? Who's dead?"

"No one that matters to you," she said, opening her luminous green eyes wet with unshed tears. Sasuke sighed and pressed his forehead to her temple, closing his eyes and bringing his wet hands to stroke her back again, slick with the water from his hands.

"Sakura, if she's important to you then I want to know, because you're important to me."

"I don't want to talk about it, I just want to forget, you make me forget, I don't know why, but you do, so make me forget, I just want to forget." Her voice ended in a whisper as she pressed her lips to his. She cupped his face between her hands, kissing him, tasting him, exploring him.

Suddenly it was not about sex anymore, it was about intimacy. He was connecting with her on a spiritual level. How could she still deny how she felt about him, how he made her feel? The wind was flowing around them like the water, caressing their skin.

She did not mean to, but he found the center of her excitement and she leaned back and away from him. He held her securely in his hands as she dripped backwards into the water, she came up quickly, lashing water behind her and she met his mouth in a bone-jarring kiss.

Water ran down her hair and her body and he watched the trail of shining lines of moisture across her full, pert breasts down along her stomach. He kneaded his fingers against her waist, pressing his hands against her ribs, inching his hands upwards along her sides.

Strong fingers into her skin just enough to make her sigh. I do not love him. This is just to forget. Sakura thought as he stopped his thumbs below her breasts. Her body wanted him, wanted him so badly that her skin ached with the thought of it.

His hands slid upwards, cupping her breasts, the touch of his hands made her gasp. She stared into his eyes, searched that dark beauty, those dark eyes, there was a pull to them, power. As she stared at him, her hands reaching up to caress the side of his face she remembered what he told her:

I told you I was not the same as you are Naruto; I am destined for things greater and darker than either of you can imagine.

She wondered what things he meant when he told her that, but for now, she could only focus on the thick black line of his lashes, the rich color like the sky just after darkness swallowed the world, dark and rich like ink, a beauty that had its own power.

He bent his head and laid a gentle kiss on them, licking the tops in a slow languorous movement that made her grip on his hair tighten. Teeth pressed against her breasts as he closed his mouth over her breasts, taking her into his mouth as far as he could.

He drew back and kissed the corners of her mouth and she kissed him back, the primitive want expanded as she took his mouth, his thumbs brushing against her nipples in quick flicks. She held him to her, felt his body plunging inside of hers, felt his need.

She made a high moaning sound and shifted her legs to a more comfortable position as she moved high and low over him, her fingers pressing deeply against the tops of his shoulders as the muscles in her lower abdomen contracted, tightened.

Suddenly she felt her back meet with the shore and he brushed back her hair, pressing soft kisses to the center of her forehead, down over her cheeks, her chin and the tip of her nose. Every thrust of his body reached inside her as if it were caressing things that should never have been able to be touched.

He slowed the rhythm of his body and she felt the effort strain through his arms and back. Her body tightened around him like a hand and he cried out, his body had lost its rhythm. He pushed inside her faster, harder, as if he would meld their bodies together.

A wave of pleasure burst over her like a rush of cool flame, and still neither of them finished. His mouth found her neck and he licked the water off her skin, lips working gently. She let him hold the full weight of her body and he climbed up the edge of the water, lifting her out of the river.

He rolled them around and kissed her slowly, before pulling back and she stared up at him. "I want to watch you, koishii, I want you above me." Her arms encircled his back, neck and she curved one leg around his, and rolled them around until she was atop him, her hair dripping water onto his smooth chest and washboard abs.

Sakura straddled his waist and slid slowly over him. His hands moved up her body, over her breasts, a tear slid free from her eyes and onto his knuckles as he reached up to sweep the tears away. She wasn't mourning for Sachiko, though she should be, she was weeping because she couldn't deny it any longer to herself, she loved him, more than he deserved.

How could she tell Neji, how could she end a three year relationship for Uchiha Sasuke, a man who was everything she hated, but the only time she ever felt real was when they were together wrapped in the most intimate embraces. Oh, the way everyone would look at her if they knew.

She was a coward; she did not want Neji to hate her after all they had been through together- so why could she not stop? Why did she keep letting him in? She wanted someone to stop her. She was out of control!

"Move for me, Sakura." She moved for him, she rode his body and he tightened inside her and she gasped, shutting her eyes tightly as he watched her hips swaying above him. "Koishii, look at me." She fluttered her lashes and stared into his vermillion eyes. They were lovely, frightening, beautiful, but instruments of destruction usually were. Uchiha Sasuke was indeed a living weapon.

He touched her face and she whispered his name. "Sasuke," she closed her eyes briefly, only to open them again to dip her head and kiss him sweetly on the mouth.

"Love me, Sakura, let me love you, too." She stared down at him and shook her head. The orgasm hit her unexpectedly, like an explosion of fire burning her from the inside all the way up to her the back of her brain. The world for a moment became a shining whiteness, a melting thing; she collapsed on top of him, trailing her palms down his arms, feeling his heart pound against her chest.

They lay quietly for a moment, resting, holding each other then she slid off him and into the water. Sasuke followed her back into the water as she splashed her face. She inhaled deeply as he embraced her from behind. She turned and wrapped her arms around his waist, tilting her head back as he brushed his lips against hers.

She hated the effect he had on her, but still she wanted to hold on. She did not want to let him go. He tightened his arms around her and held her up, no matter how good Sasuke felt, she was not ready to throw away a committed relationship.

She pulled back and pressed her cheek against the top of his shoulder, closing her eyes as he moved them in the water in slow circles, as though they were slow dancing, the water rocking and swaying against them as they moved.

Slowly she opened her eyes and noticed that it was getting darker and she exhaled slowly as her lashes lowered to take in the smooth paleness of his skin. She did not want him to die; he had been so many things to her. How could he act as if dying was no big deal? "Run away, Sasuke."

"No."

Sakura drew back so that she could see his face and he gave her a serious look. "Sasuke-kun-"

"No. I am not running away. I am tired of running and part of me longs for death. I am not afraid to die so I am staying. Unless- unless you come with me. I will run and live wherever you want me to… so come with me, Sakura."

"I can't- I gave Neji-san my word."

"Your word means shit now, don't you think?"

"So you're giving me an ultimatum?"

"You can't marry him… not after what we did- what we've been doing… not when you still love me and you do-" he grabbed her chin, forced her to look at him, even with all that defiance blazing in her emerald eyes. "You do love me." He looked like he wanted to kiss her again, put he pressed his lips together then started talking again. "You don't have to say it, I felt it," he paused, "Feel it," he amended. "I see it."

"Don't tell me how I feel and don't you dare tell me what I can or can't do. Let go of me; I have to go meet Neji-san for dinner with his mother and my parents." His grip loosened and his hand fell from her chin and she slid back to the surface and he rolled his eyes as he followed her.

He knew, as he redressed, he deserved her scorn, what was the saying? What goes around comes around? He watched her redress watched the bend of her beautiful body glistening with water; he watched her retie her hitai-ate and then she turned to him. As beautiful as she was, she was still annoying; he supposed some things never changed.

He was hoping she would come back and kiss him, but she just stared at him, her eyes almost pleading. "There's nothing for you here, Sasuke, just death and I don't want you to die… so… go." She turned slowly, her eyes lingering on him a little longer. No, she was here. He had her, even if only for a little while.

"You're unhappy, Sakura."

Pause, rewind, "What?" she narrowed her eyes at him and he shrugged his shoulders and walked over to her, staring down at her, he repeated himself in a clear, firm voice.

"You're unhappy. Or else you wouldn't be here." her fist clenched tightly and shook as she fought to keep her fists to herself. He had some nerve, but it should not have surprised her as much as it did. She pressed her lips together, trying to keep from screaming.

"I'm here because you won't leave me alone, you're supposed to be this miracle shinobi, but all can you do, is stalk me."

"I'm in love with you." she laughed and he clenched his jaw as she did, her head drooping, she finished laughing and there was a faint smile on her face as she lifted her head and opened her eyes, completely serious. He hated that, hated how it felt like she loved him and then like he was less important then he was when it was just them, expressing something only lovers should.

"No, you are in love with pain. All you are is a relentless sadomasochist, fucked up beyond repair." Now that was the joke, she was calling him fucked up; she did not even know what she wanted.

"Look who's talking." He shot back at her and she shook her head, the anger rising in her again, he watched as the tears started to fill her eyes again.

"I'm trying to forget everything you've put me through, you don't love me, you love hurting me, so, no, I don't need you and I don't love you…" She sobbed and he shook his head, his eyes going soft and he touched her arms, stroking them, comforting her.

He brushed his lips against her forehead, pressing a kiss for a few minutes as he held her in his arms again, where she belonged. With a soft sigh he rested his cheek against her wet hair. "Now try saying that without the tears in your eyes."

"Sasuke-kun, why won't you let me go?"

"Because, I am a sadistic masochist whose need for you outweighs my love for you." She laughed a little and smoothed her hands down his shirtfront.

"I have to go." she pulled out of his arms and she broke out in a run and he watched her disappeared.

"Yeah, you go." he sighed, she could take a shower, she could scrub all she wanted, but he was under her skin where she could not reach, he was in her blood… where she could not reach. She could not get rid of him that easily, she never could or she would not still love him the way she did.

Marionette chapter 7 preview:

He opened the front door to the frowning face of Uzumaki Naruto. "You fucking bastard!"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me." Naruto pushed past Sasuke and walked into the foyer. Sasuke rolled his eyes ever so slightly, shutting the door behind him.

"Naruto, please, come in, enjoy my personal space."