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"How do you make someone not love you anymore."

"You make them hate you."

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Chapter 7

Closure.

In some ways Sasuke was ignoring Sakura. Ino had a small get together at her home to celebrate her union with Sai, as a way to make up for opting out on a full blown wedding. He decided not to go, in hopes of missing the pink haired woman.

The more he saw her, he would think back at her harsh words. He needed space until he sorted out his head.

So missed lunch dates and movie nights came and went. Naruto stopped pestering him because he was too busy planning his wedding in September. Sasuke was thankful for that.

She did text him periodically. Texting was fine, but not face-to-face. It was easier that way. It was July now, about three months since he had seen her at the cemetery. She had managed to get her license; she sent him a picture one afternoon.

There was a period it seemed she too was avoiding people like he was avoiding her.

"She's never at home." Naruto grumbled one evening.

Sasuke was always home these days, if not he was at work. His mother tried to coax him out the house on multiple occasions, "Sasuke why don't you go do something. You're still young come on now." But Sasuke would just look at her and go back to whatever book he was reading or program he was watching without a word.

One evening his parents left him home alone. He was about to turn in early for the night when there was a knock at his door.

When he opened the door his eyes opened in surprise but he quickly recovered and scowled, "What the fuck are you wearing?"

Sakura stood across the threshold. All dressed in black. A black Akatsuki band shirt underneath a worn leather jacket he hadn't seen her wear since high school. Black high waisted jeans and oxford Doc Martins. She wore minimal makeup on her face, all he could pick up was mascara and a plum lipstick.

She smiled at him and pushed her way through the threshold, "Go get changed grandpa." Looking at his matching pajama set and slippers.

He didn't bother to ask why, "I haven't seen you in three months." He stated.

"And the sky is blue." Sakura rolled her eyes tugging him towards the stairs to his room, "If you don't hurry we're going to be late."

Sasuke secretly was thankful for the turn of events and decided to see what Sakura had in store for him that evening. He found himself wearing a similar getup to Sakura. Only he opted for no black. He wore a jumper with a washed out "The Killers" band t-shirt that had seen better days. Dark jeans and grey chucks.

Sakura smiled at him, "I'll take it."

She dragged him and pulled him off three different subways until he realized where she was taking him.

Sakura smiled at him as they rounded the corner to find a crowd waiting outside a theatre. The display box atop of the theatre showing, "Akatsuki Final Performance, SOLD OUT."

"How'd you manage to score tickets?" He said in awe.

"Eh just sold my kidneys, nothing to it." She laughed.

His heart skipped a beat looking back the woman, "I'm serious I've been trying to get tickets for months, but they sold out in the first three minutes."

Sakura let go of Sasuke's arm she had been pulling around most of the night, and pulled out tickets from the inside pocket of her leather jacket, "Backstage access too." She winked.

She handed him one of the tickets he simply gawked at the thing turning it over again and again, "Is this for real." Sasuke said finally.

"Happy Birthday Sasuke." Sakura smiled gently.

Sasuke quickly looked up at the woman, she remembered. Sasuke had forgotten it was his birthday, most years he did, usually he would be reminded by his mother or Naruto. Though this year there wasn't a single peep from them.

"I had to ask your mum and Naruto to keep things on the down low." Sakura quipped, "Man I'm so happy we get to see Akatsuki one last time. Just like good times right?" She beamed.

And just like that the stupid woman caught his heart again. Those three months of careful distance in hopes of forgetting his feelings were rendered useless. But for some reason, maybe it was her smile, or how this whole thing felt nostalgic to him, Sasuke allowed him to feel the way he felt.

He was brought back to times when he and Sakura, and sometimes Naruto, would run around fangirling for Akatsuki, sneaking into their concerts like it was nobody's business.

"Come on birthday boy, we're gonna miss their set if you keep standing around like that." Sakura beckoned as she started walking towards the ticket counter where many die hard fans attempted to get their hands on any extra tickets.

The smell of cigarettes and various colognes invaded his senses as they made their way into the theatre. They managed to find a place to stand four rows from the stage. He found that there weren't many young people in the audience, just many people around his age.

Sasuke was trying his best to be a calm adult throughout this whole situation while Sakura dove back into being a careless highschooler. She kept grabbing his arm and jumping around, "We're gonna see Akatsuki!"

The excitement didn't set in for Sasuke until the punk rock band finally made their way onto the stage.

To say that Sasuke lost his shit then would have been an understatement. He and Sakura were bobbing their heads and singing words they hadn't sung in years as if they were written into their souls. Whenever he looked down at her she smiled that crazy smile of hers and elbowed him before looking back to the stage and belting out to whatever song they were playing.

Sakura lost her voice on the second to last song; Sasuke couldn't stop laughing throughout the whole thing. She scowled at him before looping her arm with his and croaking, "Happy Birthday."

And indeed it was. One of the happiest birthdays since college he noted.

He got to meet the front man of Akatsuki and the bassist. Sakura opted out as she went to go freshen up in the restroom.

"Thanks for all the support all these years man." The front man grinned, "I saw you two crazy kids in the crowd, sure is some motivating shit." Indicating towards a retreating Sakura.

Sasuke smiled, "She lost her voice just before 'Red Clouds' came on."

"Bummer" The bassist joked.

He waited for her outside the long line of the restroom. When she finally came out she had changed out of the t-shirt and leather jacket she came in, she had been zipping them into a backpack she had carried to the venue. She now wore a beige knit sweatshirt instead. She had her hair tied back too exposing a helix piercing.

His hand unconsciously went to his own which had now closed up from many years of neglect. They had gotten their helixes pierced together the night of their high school graduation.

"Kinda worked up a sweat out there." She croaked looking up at him, "Let's go home, I think I've had enough nostalgia for one night."

Sasuke laughed. The smell of pomegranates and grapefruits loomed around her, and it pulled at him slightly.

Sakura ordered them gyros from a stand, and they ate them silently on the subways home. Sasuke couldn't help but notice the extra tomatoes in his.

Sasuke offered her a piece of gum as they stepped out the last subway. She accepted it and chewed in silence. They started walking towards Sasuke's house, their steps in sync.

Sasuke was getting a bit antsy the closer to Kage Street they got, and it wasn't until they made it to the front of his house that he finally spoke, "Hey I want to thank you."

Sakura rolled her eyes and smiled, "It's honestly nothing. You only turn twenty-seven once right?"

Sasuke nodded and rubbed at his neck threatening to expose his emotions.

Sakura looked at his onyx eyes and grabbed at one of his hands pulling him away from his house, "I wanna show you my car."

He obliged and then he saw her silver Jeep Wrangler, "She's gorgeous isn't she." Sakura exhaled.

"She's a she?" Sasuke smirked.

"What, is that weird?" Sakura quickly looked up at him.

"No no, just amusing."

"Honestly Sasuke." Sakura sighed, she moved to open her driver door, "Alright Sasuke I've taken you out past your curfew so before –"

Sasuke cut her off by pulling her away from the car. Both his hands held her at her forearms, her eyebrows furrowing at him slightly.

"I just have one final request." Sasuke blurted.

"After all I've done for you tonight, and I even got you food." Sakura snorted.

"Hear me out." Sasuke affirmed.

"What is it birthday boy."

"You know how you told me to move on." Sasuke asked her.

Almost immediately the color and smile on her face fell, "I thought we already discussed this." She sulked.

"Can I kiss you?" He finally managed.

Sakura's face morphed in surprise, almost now becoming hyperaware of Sasuke's hands on her arms, "What?" she almost whispered.

"If I do this, I'll move on. I won't pester you anymore about this." Sasuke searched her emerald eyes that were still wide.

She looked down for a few minutes, Sasuke's heartbeat screaming in his ears.

She pulled away at his forearms before looking at him one last time, "You promise?" she said weakly.

"Cross my heart and hope to die." He chanted.

She sighed and bit at her lips, "Fine. But –"

Once again the young Uchiha cut off Sakura that evening, however this time not with words but with a kiss.

Sakura was hoping he would just peck her on the lips and call it a night, but he was going to town and she couldn't help but follow along after a while.

Both his hands were caressing her face as he bobbed down to kiss her. Sakura's hands gripped at his jumper. Seconds passed by and Sakura didn't feel the Uchiha let up if not he deepened the kiss.

An old feeling bubbled in her stomach and she quickly pulled away from him. She looked away from him, a dangerous blush burning on her cheeks, "I hope that's good enough for you." She stammered.

Sasuke coughed slightly hiding a smile behind his hand, "Good night Sakura."

He wiped at the plum lipstick that she wore and now stained his own lips.

She looked back up to him and started seeing him through old eyes. She bit her lip and shook her head, "Bye Sasuke." quickly jumping into the car and driving away from the Uchiha.

Sasuke looked at the frazzled woman drive away, a smile loomed on his face. He turned back around to make it up to his house.

Indeed it was a happy birthday.

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Short chapter, but I hope this will hold you guys off for a bit. I got a few exams this week, so I need to take some time off.

One more chapter and then everything will be exposed.

I hope you guys liked this chapter. Everything is in motion babes.

Until next time.

Much Love,

OXZA