Summary: Sasuke Uchiha returns after many years to Konoha. At first Sakura and Naruto are mad but then they learn about Sasuke's real reasons for joining with Orochimaru. Naruto is overjoyed to have his best friend back, but Sakura isn't so sure. Can they return to the way it use to be, or will it be even better? Can Sakura let go of her feelings for Sasuke, and will Sasuke in turn be able to fit back in when everything has changed.

Major pairing: SasuSaku

Minor pairings: NaruHina, TenNeji, ShikaIno

A/N: Sorry for the late update but like I said I had my exams and then I was at my Nan's with no internet so I apologize. Anyway please enjoy and review and tell me what you think.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Previously

"Maybe Sakura the reason you can't get rid of those feelings is because their meant to be there" Sai told her and she locked eyes with him and smiled.

"I'm sorry Sai"

"I already told you that it's ok. I know that you will never really love me and I understand. You deserve someone that can make you happy, and Sasuke can. There is someone out there for me but its not you. And I'm not the one for you either, Sasuke is"

"Yes your right Sai, but he doesn't feel the same way. He never will" Sai smiled and Sakura dropped her head and began to walk away when Sai called to her.

"Your wrong Sakura, don't give up just yet. Show him the real you and you never know. I think there has always been something between you guys. You both just haven't realized it yet" She smiled and looked up at his departing shadow.

"Thanks Sai" Sakura called into the night, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time.

-

-

Just friends

"Morning Sakura" Ino yelled as Sakura sighed as she stopped for her blonde friend to catch up.

"I wouldn't call twelve thirty, in the afternoon, morning Ino"

"Meh whatever same thing, hey what are you doing?" Ino asked.

"Getting lunch" Sakura replied as the two walked down the hospital corridor together.

"Cool ill join you" Ino declared as Sakura laughed.

"Glad to hear it"

"So how you been" Ino asked as the two made their way to the cafeteria and stood in line.

"Well let's see I trained with Sasuke, talked with Sasuke, got answers from Sasuke and then I broke up with Sai" Sakura replied as Ino stared at her.

"You broke up with him"

"That's what I just said"

"Sorry" Ino said as Sakura shook her head as the two grabbed lunch and sat down at an empty table.

"Why?"

"It was for the best" Sakura told her. "I still care for Sai but I don't love him anymore"

"Is there someone else?"

"Yeah" Sakura sighed as Ino grinned.

"Let me guess you have fallen in love with Sasuke again"

"Honestly there is no again" Sakura admitted. "I never stopped loving him. It just took me awhile to see that myself."

"Well it's about time" Ino laughed as Sakura shook her head. "So what you going to do now?"

"No idea" Sakura said as Ino sighed.

"Well we need a plan" she declared as Sakura raised an eyebrow.

"A plan?"

"Yes a getting you and Sasuke together kind of plan" Ino announced.

"Great" Sakura replied sarcastically as she picked at her food with her fork.

"Come on Sakura you two are perfect for each other, everyone can see that. I just want to see you happy and with someone you love, who loves you in return." Sakura eyed her friend suspiciously, there was something else behind that sentence.

"So what do you think you should do?"

"Well" Sakura said as she thought about it. "I want to get to know him, and for him to get to know me"

"Yeah then he will start to like you"

"So maybe I should just try being his friend and see where it goes, you know spend time with him and get to know each other"

"Perfect" Ino said happily. "You two are going to make the perfect couple I know"

"I see" Sakura said as she took a sip from her coffee. "And talking about relationships how are you and Shikamaru doing?"

"Um ok I guess" Ino replied, attempting to avoid eye contact with Sakura as she picked up her cup. Sakura sighed and placed hers down as she crossed her arms.

"Come on Ino what's wrong, I thought you were happy with him"

"I am" she said as Sakura watched her.

"Then what is it"

"I love him Sakura I really do"

"So what's the problem?"

"I just don't think he loves me back"

"Of course he does" Sakura said sitting up slightly as Ino sighed.

"He doesn't, all he ever wants is to go cloud gazing or sleep and he is continual referring to me as troublesome. It's just not what I wanted from a relationship."

"How so?"

"Well he never compliments me or takes me anywhere nice and he never tells me how he feels. Oh how I wish he would actually tell me he loves me but he won't. I just can't stand it and we have been fighting so much its terrible."

"Ok calm down, what have you been fighting about?"

"Everything, his lazy ways and my loud behavior"

"I see"

"We just can't seem to agree on anything, and then we fight until he says troublesome and gives up so nothing is ever resolved. Or until he falls asleep." She muttered.

"I'm sure it's not that bad Ino"

"It is though. Sakura I love him I really do but I want more from our relationship. All we do is have sex and that's it, we don't even act like a proper couple and I feel his just using me to relieve his sexual urges honestly. I never thought I would say this but I'm sick of just having sex, I want more."

"Have you told him that?"

"Yes I have, I even suggested him moving in with me but he refused saying it was to troublesome. You know I don't even think likes me that much anymore"

"Of course he does, just give it some time Ino"

"How much time, I'm not getting any younger" she cried as Sakura looked at her.

"I know he loves you" Sakura said as Ino looked at her and sighed.

"Yeah but when will he show it"

-

-

Sakura was walking home from work when she spotted Sasuke heading towards the training grounds. She ran and caught up to him as he nodded in acknowledgement of her presence.

"Hey" she greeted.

"Hn"

"What you doing?"

"Hn"

"On a date with one of your lovely fan girls?"

"Wait what?" he asked suddenly as Sakura laughed.

"At least I got a reply that time" she said.

"Hn" Sasuke replied but he smirked a little at least.

"So what are you up to?"

"Training" he replied as Sakura nodded.

"Typical" she said as Sasuke looked at her and smirked.

"Well I wouldn't want to become weak now would I?"

"What's that suppose to mean"

"Hn" Sasuke replied as Sakura shook her head.

"Well have you eaten yet?"

"Hn"

"Is that a yes or a no?" she asked.

"Hn"

"That isn't an answer" she told him.

"I know" he replied as she looked at him with an eyebrow raised as he sighed.

"No I haven't"

"Well would you like to garb a bite to eat" she asked as he stared at her.

"Why?"

"Because Naruto is out with Hinata, Ino is with Shikamaru and the others are on a mission so I'm asking you as a friend and teammate" she explained as he shrugged.

"What about Sai?"

"I broke up with him" she said as Sasuke tried to hide his pleasure at this new information.

"Hn"

"So would you mind joining me for dinner or not" she asked as he thought for a minute. True he hadn't had dinner yet and he hadn't had much of a chance to catch up with Sakura.

"Go on this is the perfect opportunity to tell her how you feel"

"And how is that" he asked his inner.

"You like her idiot"

"Hn"

"I know you do so stop denying it"

"Hn"

"I said stop, you like her a lot and you know you do so go with her already"

"Go away"

"Not until you admit it"

"No"

"Why not?"

"Because"

"Listen you cant keep denying it, it's easy to see. Do you like her?"

"Fine I do"

"Finally"

"Now would you go away?"

"Fine"

Sasuke looked at Sakura and sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets. "As long as it's not ramen" he replied as Sakura smiled.

"Fair enough" she laughed as the two made their way to a little café and sat down. Strangely enough both felt completely comfortable in the others presence and started talking, or more Sakura talked and Sasuke would say something every now and again which suited them both fine.

Their meal arrived and the two ate in silence, though it was a comfortable silence as Sakura kept sneaking glances at him. She smiled to herself not realizing that Sasuke was doing the same. They finished their meal and strangely enough it was Sasuke who first broke the silence.

"Why did you break up with Sai for?" he asked Sakura looked at him then smiled and shrugged.

"He just isn't the one for me I guess" she replied.

"Hn"

"Hey Sasuke" Sakura said suddenly.

"Hn"

"Why don't you ever smile" Sasuke looked at her strangely when she asked this question and frowned.

"Sorry I shouldn't have asked' she said hurriedly as the fell into silence once more.

"I just don't I guess" he replied, not really knowing the answer himself. "I guess I haven't had the chance to, or felt like doing so since." Both knew that he was talking about his clan's death and Sakura nodded her understanding as she got up to leave.

"Thanks for dinner" she said then she turned to him.

"I suggest you try it some time, smiling that is. Before you die" she added with a smile before she disappeared into the night leaving a stunned and confused Uchiha.

-

-

'Well so far the plan is going well' Sakura told herself as she strolled down the street on her lunch break. It had been a few days since she had first had dinner with Sasuke and ever since she had been seeing him regularly. Of course they were still friends but their friendship was growing stronger. A fact that made Sakura rather happy. Today however she had decided to go see if Naruto was at the ramen stand for she hadn't seen much of him in the last few days. Dedicating herself to work, training and trying to become better friends with Sasuke. So far she was pleased of her progress and could only smile as she approached the ramen stand but there was no sighting of Naruto.

"Oh well may as well eat some while I'm here" she told herself as she sat down and ordered a bowl and sat slowly eating it.

"Afternoon" the man greeted her as she smiled in response before something caught her eye. She turned to see Sasuke run past then frowning she got off her stool and thanked the man before turning the corner. What she saw was enough to make her blood run cold. Their in front of her was Sasuke, kissing another girl. Not being able to take anymore she turned and ran towards the fields, stopping when she got their as she felt the tears start to come.

"No I will not shed another tear for him" she said sternly before straightening up feeling somewhat depressed. She was about to head back for the hospital when she spotted Shikamaru laying down cloud gazing again. She approached him and sat next to him as he looked at her.

"Hey"

"Hi" she replied putting on a fake smiled. "Where is Ino?"

"Working I guess" he said as Sakura frowned.

"I heard you guys have been fighting" she said as Shikamaru turned to face her.

"Ino tell you that"

"Yes"

"Troublesome" he muttered.

"She's worried about your relationship you know"

"So"

"So what do you feel" he sighed as he stared at the clouds.

"I'm worried to" he admitted.

"Well fix it" she told him.

"How?" he asked.

"Talk to her, tell you how you feel. You know she thinks you don't love her anymore"

"I do?" he replied.

"Then how about you tell her every now and again so she doesn't think your only after her for pleasure" he abruptly turned to her and frowned.

"Does she think that?"

"Yes"

"Shit" he mumbled. "I don't think of her like that at all Sakura. I love her more than anything it's just to troublesome to tell her"

"Yes but wont it be troublesome loosing her?"

"I guess" he sighed.

"Shikamaru I know you love her but why cant you just accept that's who she is. She needs more from a relationship"

"I know"

"Then why did you refuse her offer?"

"I don't know" he replied. "I guess I got scared. I know I shouldn't and apart of me wants to but another doesn't want things to change"

"Things are going to change Shikamaru whether you like it or not. All you can do is try your best so they change in your favor"

"I guess" he agreed as Sakura stood up.

""Don't let her go Shikamaru. If you don't take a chance now then she might move on. Make it right, tell her how you feel before its to late" she said as she started to leave, feeling the tears threaten to fall again. "Don't loose her" she whispered, but loud enough for Shikamaru to hear her as she left. He sighed and looked up at the sky.

'Sakura's right, I have to make things right. I can't loose Ino and I won't.' He sighed, Ino may be troublesome but he knew she was worth it.

-

-

Sasuke sighed as he walked around the town, heading to the training grounds as night fell around him. Something just didn't feel right and he couldn't shake it. He frowned as he spotted Sakura standing and gazing across the lake. She looked somewhat upset and troubled and he frowned as he approached her.

"What's wrong?"

"Huh" she exclaimed as he caught her by surprise, she smiled at him in response.

"Nothing"

"Hn" he said as he went to stand next to her, looking across the lake's surface as it reflected the moon above. Sakura watched him from the corner of her eye, not being able to shake what she had seen earlier from her mind. She hadn't been able to concentrate at all during work that day and had come here afterwards needing to be alone.

"I saw you with that girl today" she told him, not looking at him at all. Sasuke turned to face her, could this be why she was upset? He instantly remembered that afternoons events.

Flashback

Sasuke was growling slightly as a bunch of fan girls trailed him, all squealing his name in delight and shouting their deep admiration and love for him. As if they didn't love him, only his appearance. God they were so annoying, he turned around quickly and headed down the main street hoping to lose some of them in the crowd. He walked quickly across the street and past the ramen stand, not even checking if Naruto was their, before he felt someone tug on his arm. Sighing he turned to face a tall red head, who he instantly thought looked like a slut and who was to his annoyance smirking at him. He glared at her dangerously, silently telling her to get lost.

"But I thought we could have some fun" she whined as Sasuke flinched at this. He was NOT that low.

"Hn no" he said harshly, turning away before he felt hands circle themselves around his neck and pull him down. She took him off guard and he stumbled slightly before her lips crashed onto his. The kiss felt if anything bitter and sour and he stood stunned for a mere second before throwing her off him, his eyes spinning dark red in anger.

"I said no" he told her, his voice so dangerous that the girl gulped and flinched. Then without another word he turned, the horrible taste still in his mouth, and marched home, suddenly felling very dirty and in need of a long shower.

End flashback

"Hn she was an annoying fan girl, I don't like her at all and threw her off immediately" he replied as he inwardly shuddered at the memory.

"I see, why?" she asked curiously, trying to hide the hurt in her voice.

"I have my reasons"

"Which are?"

"Hn" he said as Sakura turned to him.

"You know what I give up" she cried looking at him in frustration and anger. It was all too much. The anger she felt when he returned, and again when she saw him with that other girl, had made her reach her limit. Why did he constantly have to shut her out, didn't he know it broke her up inside every time he did that. Sasuke turned to her, wondering where this out burst came from.

"I'm tired of your emotionless and cold ways; it's getting really annoying you know. I'm just sick of you acting like a human ice cube no matter how hard people try and help you. You never seem to care about anyone but yourself, even when so many people care about you and go out of their way to try and help. I don't care if it's hard for you to say how you feel but you need to start showing some emotion every once in a while or at least act how you feel instead of hiding it all the time." She told him, desperately trying to keep the tears back and ignoring the inner voice and her rational mind which was telling her to shut up.

Sasuke watched her as she continued to shout at him, knowing that she was right.

"You know this wouldn't have happened I you just told her how you feel" His inner exclaimed.

"Hn"

"It's the truth and you know you care about her so just tell her"

"I can't"

"Why is that?"

"Because I can't, I can't say it"

"Well then take her advice and show her" his inner told him as Sasuke looked at her as she continued to rant.

"You never show anything, never tell us anything. You keep everything hidden and I have had enough. I'm stating to wonder whether you actually have any feelings at all. You won't even tell me you're so called reasons you arrogant jerk" she yelled. She stopped and breathed hard as he looked at her. His hard stone eyes bore into hers and she immediately became fearful and steeped back as he advanced on her.

"Shit I shouldn't have yelled, what the hell came over me" she silently cried.

"Its called jealousy" her inner told her as Sakura cringed and continued stepping back.

"Shut up" she told her inner and proceeded to concentrate on the situation in front of her. Sasuke looked mad, real mad. Then again it was hard to tell.

"If you must know it's because I like someone else" he told her sternly as she glared at him.

"Oh really who?" she hissed, her anger still taking the better of her. He looked down at her as she glared up at him.

"Well are you going to tell me or not?" she demanded. He stepped closer and for a second Sakura feared that he was going to hit her. She closed her eyes and cowered back preparing for the worst but it never came. Instead she felt something she had dreamed of for so long, she felt his lips on hers as he slowly and gently kissed her.

She stood their stunned for a couple of seconds as her anger melted instantly away and pleasure took over. Slowly and carefully she started to respond as Sasuke wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. She wrapped her hands around his neck, deepening it further.

She felt his tongue lick her bottom lip as he begged for entrance which she gladly permitted. She felt his tongue enter her mouth and start fighting for dominance with hers. He won and began exploring her mouth, tasting every bit of her as she moaned softly in response.

-

-

Naruto watched the couple from above with Hinata by his side. He smiled down at them then turned away, giving the two some privacy. Hinata touched his shoulder gently and he faced her.

"Are you ok?" she asked.

"I think so" he replied.

"You're not upset are you, I know Sakura was your first crush and Sasuke is both a friend and rival"

"Nah I'm cool with it" he told her.

"You sure it doesn't upset you at all?"

"Actually it doesn't, if anything I'm really happy or them both. I know Sakura has always loved him and Sasuke has always had a soft spot for her." He said as he turned to face the moon. "I just hope they will work"

"Of course they will" Hinata exclaimed as Naruto turned to her.

"Yeah but I don't know, I mean what happens if they don't. I honestly don't think either of them can go through anymore heart break. I mean Sakura was really depressed when Sasuke broke her heart last time and I never want to see her like that again. And Sasuke has already lost everything he loves once, I don't think he will cope loosing it again. I know their perfect for each other but there fragile, especially Sasuke and if they don't work out then…" he stopped as Hinata grabbed his hand in her own.

"It will be ok Naruto. True love always finds a way of working itself out and besides Sasuke still has you and always will. They both will. They will be fine I know they will"

"Your right Hinata" Naruto said happily as Hinata giggled and smiled.

"Do you want to go for ramen now?" she asked as Naruto nodded.

"Yes" he cried as she went to follow him before he stopped her and kissed her passionately on the lips.

"Besides the only love I feel for them is that of a sibling, you're the only one I truly love and as long as I have you I'm fine" he told her as she smiled.

"I love you to Naruto-kun"

-

-

Down below the two broke off as Sakura stared into Sasuke's cold eyes and immediately felt her heart fall. She dropped her hands to his chest but yet he kept his hands on her hips. He made no move to do anything, his cold eyes just looking blankly at her.

'So he didn't mean it at all, he doesn't like me at all. I'm such an idiot' she told herself, feeling the tears begin to swell up. But then she noticed something else. His eyes may be dark and cold as usual but he was actually smiling slightly, something she had never seen him do before.

'So he did mean it' she cried as she felt her heart leap in joy. She stared at him, her emerald eyes clashing with his dark onyx ones and she couldn't help but smile back as he, still smiling slightly, leaned down and captured her lips with his own once more.

A/N: hey hope you all enjoyed the SasuSaku moments and I can promise you that the action will defiantly heat up in the next chapter. Hey it is rated M for a reason people. Anyway please review and thanks in advance.