It was a perfect day to walk around in the village of Konoha. Who wouldn't want to miss the bright ray of sunshine falling upon this wonderful afternoon? Even Sakura wouldn't. Despite all the misery that she'd been going through, she was strong enough to recover and try moving on with life—and she was going to start by walking around Konoha.

Naruto Uzumaki was the first person she wanted to hang out with after locking herself up in her room—thinking, reflecting about everything that has been recently happening in her life. She decided to drop by his place. Sakura brought some take-out takoyaki for Naruto as a thank-you gift for all the humor help he had done. She needed it in times of her sorrow, and he was the only one who could give it.

"Naruto!" She called out from his front door. "You in there?" She knocked softly.

"Come in!" He replied from inside the door. Sakura opened it to see Naruto, sitting on the couch, idly watching television. "I'm so bored. Good thing you came…" He groaned.

"Of course." Sakura smiled. "I brought take-out." She added with a sheepish grin. Oh, Sakura's back! Naruto thought gleefully. Her recovery is paying off.

They decided to eat Sakura's take-out together. They were chatting happily, talking about random stuff and sharing laughter.

"I was wondering if you wanted to go out and walk around." Sakura suggested. "I want to apologize to everyone because I felt like I was treating them badly." She frowned as she placed the whole ball of takoyaki onto her mouth.

Naruto saw her sincerity right away and answered, "No problem."

So they went around houses, knocking on their doors. Naruto and Sakura went to Ino's, Lee's and even their own hokage, Tsunade—who all accepted her forgiveness.

After all the tiresome walk and bothering people asking for an apology, Naruto bade goodbye to Sakura for the sun was already setting and he had to do something else. So Sakura was left all alone again, knowing that she had nothing to do at home, why not go for some more walk? She needed all the exercise she could get. Staying at home without even going out, added extra weight to her body. Sakura had to regain not just her emotional stability but her physical's as well—one word: sweat.

Sakura strolled around some more. Unknown to her, she reached a place outside of Konoha without even knowing it—but definitely not Air country. She really had some mental resemblance with her sister, Sakuno. Always walking around without even identifying their exact location. Siblings, indeed.

She found herself standing in the middle of a thick, bushy forest. She was lost, but she didn't care. Besides, the place is a perfect setting to enhance her physical abilities and 'almost rusty' skills. Sakura concentrated her chakras on her clenched fists and quickly punched the nearest tree with all force. Still, pretty good. She thought. Next, she slowly lifted her legs up and made a deadly roundkick to the same tree.

"Ouch!" It shrieked, the moment her legs hit the tree. Did the tree just talked to me? She gasped in horror. There was no such thing right, or is there?

"That hurts…" It talked again. Sakura moved inches away from the said 'tree'.

"Why is a tree like you talking?" She asked, her brain going around in confusion.

"A tree? What the, I am not—" Sakura rubbed her eyes and then she saw it. It wasn't a tree; it was a person, hiding behind it. The worst part is, it's not just any person, and it was Uchiha Sasuke.

Despite the fact that the place was dreadfully dark, Sakura didn't understand why Sasuke's face was so visible throughout the black night. The moment he showed himself from behind the tree, she recognized him perfectly—his features: eyes, mouth, nose, everything—and she didn't like every second of it.

Mixed emotions swept all over her. She was relieved to see Sasuke so soon than she had expected—she was still as gorgeous as he was, even before when they were kids, only now, it was hard to take his eyes off him. Sakura was angry too. Furious, roaring with madness. This beautiful man before her was the person who killed her sister. Sasuke didn't even explain a single word when he last left. What was she supposed to think? Obviously, she'd thought he was the brutal, merciless murderer who killed Sakuno. The last one is her confusion over why the hell would Sasuke keep on appearing in the places not too far from Konoha. She couldn't believe he'd had the guts to show up in an area near it. There is one thing she knows, though—for the first time she didn't want to face him.

"Sasuke!" She gasped in horror. Sasuke looked up to see Sakura, shocked as well. "Wh-what are you doing here?" She stammered.

"What are you doing here? Don't you know this place is dangerous?" He whispered silently, his eyes couldn't face her. "Get out of here." Sasuke grabbed her hand when she aggressively shoved it away.

"DON'T YOU TOUCH ME!" Sakura shrieked angrily, her eyes filled with fury and hatred. "You asshole." She glared at him. "I don't want to feel those hands that killed my sister. You are a murderer!"

Sakura began activating her inner chakras and attacked Sasuke. She's fast. I'm in trouble. Sasuke thought. He was sharpening his reflexes to avoid Sakura's lethal punches. At one instant, she let out a powerful elbow jab which almost hit him straight in the face but instead, the jab was concentrated on the giant rock behind him. He gave himself some distance from her as he desperately gasped for air.

She prepares herself for another lethal attack, but Sasuke teleported fast enough behind her to prevent Sakura from throwing a powerful punch. "Stop it already." He whispered, his breath hot against her face.

Sakura glared at him even more. He tightened his clutch on her fist, she let out a tormented cry before he let go of her pained hand.

"I don't know you anymore." Sakura muttered firmly. Her expression was strong, angry. He could never imagine such stabbing words come out from Sakura's mouth. Knowing that she no longer recognizes him as a friend, nearly shattered his heart. She was his friend and he wanted her to still be—but it looks like it's going to be impossible.

Sasuke's eyes trembled with sadness. The person who he considered his friend was clearly turning her back on him. "I get it." He finally said, his voice was cold, agonized. He pivoted at once and started to walk away with something heavier than a frown. He knows what he has to do—just give it all up.

Why is he walking away? Sakura thought, confused. "Sasuke!" She called out to him, still coldly but with a mixture of sincerity. Sasuke deliberately turned his head back to look at Sakura.

"Stay." It just fell instinctively from Sakura's mouth. She said without even thinking—acting on impulse, on her own feelings, on what her heart wanted. "Please don't go." She pleaded with teary eyes.

"I've honestly missed you. I do, I… please…" Sakura stuttered madly as her eyes started sobbing. She buried her shaking head on her hands as more tears flowed down. "I was so happy when you almost came back, and then you kissed me, but then you killed my sister! How do you think I'll react to that? I am so confused… You don't get it!"

"Calm down, Sakura…" Sasuke whispered, softly patting Sakura's back. It was amazing how fast he teleported over to Sakura's side. Maybe he was wrong, maybe he wasn't giving up on regaining back his pals. It was admirable of how Sakura could manipulate his emotions on such things. Hearing Sakura's words really made a big impact on him and it made him realize that she isn't what she used to be. She grew stronger and she has matured—physically, emotionally and mentally. But she was still a crybaby, like she was before, and it made him smile. Sakura is definitely out or the ordinary, that's for sure.

"Please tell me you did not kill my sister…" She cried, her voice so low it was almost like a whisper. "Please, Sasuke. Please…" She begged all over and over again.

"I didn't. I promise you, I didn't kill her. I could never." He replied gently. His reply followed with a complete, detailed explanation of what really happened during that time. He told her about the rogues picking on Sakuno until they decided to kill her. Sasuke told her that he was too late when he arrived at the actual scene. Sakuno already had a severe cut on the throat. He told her that's when Sakura showed up and misunderstood the whole thing.

"B-but why did you say you were sorry before you left?" Sakura insisted, her voice still pleading.

"Because I couldn't save your beloved sister." He answered simply. His gaze full of regret. "I wasn't on time. And I was sorry."

"I thought you were sorry because you killed Sakuno." Sakura sighed in dismay. "How could I have doubted you? You were once my friend, I feel so abominable and filthy. I should be the one saying sorry…"

"It's okay. I don't mind." He answered quietly, as he reached his hand to brush a strand of hair covering Sakura's face which is a mixture of despair and beauty. He deliberately leaned closer to her, placing his lips on Sakura's forehead.

She closed her eyes and felt the frenzied sensation filling inside of her. Sasuke's lips stayed on her forehead for a while as his hands encircled Sakura in an embrace. Sakura hugged him back. They were making the most of every moment. Cherishing it, valuing it. And it felt good.

Sasuke broke the kiss and whispered in Sakura's ear, "I have to go." She nodded with a smile. "Wait." He leaned again to give her a swift peck on Sakura's cheek and whispered in his velvety, cold voice, "I love you, Sakura."

And with those words, every cells in her brain shut down.