Chapter 10: Complicated Love

After leaving the Quincy village, the team arrived Konoha the next day. Naruto was already at the gate entrance, waiting for them. To be honest, he missed his girlfriend for three days, and he was waiting for her the most. He really missed her smile; her eyes; her lips; her laughs; and her everything. Later, he spotted the team clear in view. "They're back!" he grew excited. "Sakura-chan!"

When Sakura heard his voice and saw him, she smiled happily and ran up to him, "Naruto-kun!" After they got close, he lifted her up and laughed swinging her around. She also laughed while her hands holding onto his neck. He stopped swinging her, and she leaned down to kiss him. She felt her lips grew so warm from their connection and his passion moving around in her mouth. He set her down, holding her waist and kissing; they really don't want their moment to end.

Sai smiled at them because he could see their love was growing stronger. He saw the meaning of loving someone who cherish and protect their important person. Thus, he wished that he could have someone like Sakura's character. Although, he still doesn't know that Ino has romantic feelings for him.

On the other hand, Sasuke watched them kissing and looked down with hurt. He imagined himself at that very moment, holding and kissing his love interest. If she had a mission and went with her two teammates, he would wait for her and kiss her for long moments. He would also hold her tightly and never let her go. His heart really ached for seeing his love interest with her boyfriend while they were doing lovey-dovey. He really wanted to have those moments for himself and his love. He still won't accept her rejection and caring, so he doesnt want nor won't move on.

The couple finished and held each other with their arma round them. "Well, now we are home," she said which made Sasuke stopped his thoughts. "We can celebrate our accomplishment, what do you say?" the boys agreed with her.

This also made Sasuke happier because he could still have time with Sakura. "Great, I know exactly what cook." Naruto happily cheered, and Sai gave a small laugh. They both really love her cooking.

(~~~~~~)

At Sakura's house:

They arrived to her house and started removing their shoes. As usual, she heard her parents' voices and cheers, and saw their illusions, welcoming her back and her friends. Then, they quickly disappeared into thin air again. She looked down with a sad face. Naruto and Sai noticed her expression and understood what she was thinking about. Sasuke also noticed it, but he doesn't understand what she was feeling or what the reason was.

Before he could ask her what was wrong, she told them to go sit in the dining room. So, she went to the kitchen and began cooking, normally. The boys went to sit at the dining table and begin to chat. Sai told Naruto about her solo fight against Sasori and her skills in details. Naruto was surprisingly happy for his girlfriend's first victory, and hoped one day he would see her fight.

"Food is ready!" she announced to the boys after cooking for almost an hour. Then, she brought over the food in big plates, and the boys stared in awe. She had a rice cooker full and a serving plate with fried shrimp, fried cod fish and fried fish cakes (Yukihira-style from Food Wars S2E1); two delicious dish of sushi rolls and onigiri rice balls; small bowls of clear onion soup; and tray of tea set. They couldn't wait to dig in and gorge themselves.

Next, she brought three bowls of bifuteki steak and fried rice, "They're for you to take home, so you could have something to eat for dinner." Sasuke really loved her thoughtfulness and care for friends, and he saw her as his future wife. The boys thanked her for the yummy gift, and they all were ready to eat.

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After she sat down, they picked up their chopsticks, "Itadakimasu!" They began to eat; shortly afterwards, Naruto cheered with joy, "Oishi, Sakura-chan!" Sai said the same, and Sasuke agreed. They ate through the afternoon, and the boys gave many comments about the food. She was very pleased for hearing them liking her cooking.

Later afterwards, she suddenly heard her father's voice commenting about her mother's cooking. She saw them both in the table, sitting and eating together. Her smile dropped and looked down at her plate. Sasuke noticed her sad eyes and locked in thoughts, and he really wanted to know why she was sad. He decided tomorrow he will ask Naruto what wrong wrong with her, for he seemed to know why.

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Suddenly, "Yo!" someone called out which startled them. Kakashi-sensei and Yamato-taichou were inside in the house, but neither of the teammates sensed or heard them came in. "I heard our students come back and completed their mission."

Sai and Sakura nodded to their teachers and informed them that they encountered an Akatsuki member. He told them the whole story about Sasori's defeat by Sakura which turned quite an attraction to them. Kakashi-sensei and Yamato-taichou had never felt so proud for their kuniochi. They both believed that she has gotten much stronger than before.

Afterwards, Kakashi-sensei spotted a dish of rice balls and found them looking delicious. So, he took it and said goodbye, leaving with Yamato-taichou. As they left, they each ate one rice ball and said 'oishī' for loving them after one bite.

"Aww, come on!" Naruto whined for the rice cakes were taken. She giggled for finding it hilarious, and Sai smiled and Sasuke smirked. The teammates continued to eat and chat, until the evening night came.

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Everyone finished their meal and felt their stomachs full. Naruto, talking with his girlfriend, still had one shrimp on his plate. Sai came up with an idea to distract him. "Oi, Naruto…" Naruto turned him, "You know I love you as my best friend." Naruto anime style sweat-dropped and eh-ed loudly in disgust; then Sai quickly grabbed his last shrimp and devoured it.

"AAAHHH SAI!" Naruto turned angry after realizing Sai's food-stealing trick. "That was my last one!" He went at him and started pounding him. She laughed while watching them how they were getting along. Sasuke shook his head for seeing them fight, and it reminded him how he and Naruto used to fight each other. He really did miss it while he was away.

"I'm so gonna kill you, man!" Naruto shouted at him, but he unnoticeably knocked a plate. It dropped to the floor and cracked. Everyone jumped at the cracking noise.

Naruto and Sai stopped fighting and gulped with fright for realizing the worse. They glanced at her and found her eyes narrowing into anger, That's bad news. "RUN! SHE'LL KILL US!" Naruto shouted as he grabbed his meal bowl and ran out to the door.

"Oi, chotto!" Sai called out after grabbing his bowl and ran out, catching up to Naruto.

"OI! Don't leave me here!" Sasuke called out, but the boys already left the house. He looked at her, still with angry eyes. He became scared and closed his eyes, waiting what she will do.

Instead hearing her angry scream, he heard her sigh in irritation. He was both relieved that she didn't hit him and confused why she didn't go after them. "You're not going to do anything?" he asked her.

"Nani?" she looked at him, "Why should I?" She went over the mess and started picking up the broken pieces, "They scared themselves." She shook her head that Sasuke developed a funny imagination for the first time.

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Meanwhile, he watched her kneeling pose, looking so beautiful. His eyes landed on her soft lips, taking him back to their first kiss. He realized that he was alone with her. He unexpectedly was given another chance to be his lovely cherry blossom, and he wanted to finish what he had started with her during the mission. He really doesn't want to miss that chance before he leaves.

After she finished picking all the broken pieces, he approached closely to her and she caught by surprise. He caressed her cheek softly and then lifted her chin. He leaned closer to her face, "Now we are alone again…Sakura…"

She immediately figured what he was going to do. She was about to stop him, but he quickly captured her lips and moved her on the wall. She dropped the shards after her back touched the wall. She tried to push him off, but he was too strong. He took her wrists in tight grip, holding up to the wall, and trapped her between his legs.

He felt this kiss so right and this love so real. He wanted this moment to continue and never to end. Her sweet taste became so addictive, and her lips felt so soft and warm against his. He left her lips and started trailing and smooching kisses on her neck. "Sas…ah…suke…kun…st..op…ah" she tried to talk, but she lost her voice from his bite on her neck.

He started nipping her skin with his teeth, and his smooch kisses gave her such a tender feeling. It felt so good to her which made her stop resisting him. She closed her eyes, moaning softly, and grabbed the back of his shirt, pulling him closer. She tilted her head up, letting him continue giving her this delicious satisfaction. He grinned with success from her submission, and he quickly went on giving her lust.

Later, she pulled his head back up and locked their lips with a deep kiss. They moaned together and moved their kiss in a perfect sync. They also used their tongue, savoring their taste, and fought for dominance. She moved her hands up behind his head, pulling him closer. He wrapped his right arm around her back and the other behind her head.

Afterwards, he broke the kiss and they breathed heavily. He went down and she gasped for feeling him bitting her shirt where her breast was. He wrapped his arms around her waist and moved them up, lifting her shirt. His hands carressed her skin, feeling the delicated softness, and he licked her tummy with his tongue. She sighed with pleasure, liking the tingling feeling of his tongue, and held his head, keeping him to continue licking her. It feels…so good, she admitted herself. I…I don't want him…to stop. Onegai…don't stop…

Later, he breathed out hotly and stood up slowly. He wanted to go further with this lust, so he grabbed her zipper and started unziping her shirt. When she heard the noise of her zipper and widened for relizing how far they went and were about to go. "STOP!" she yelled.

He stopped in shock and looked at her. She was crying and covering herself; he realized that he has done it again, yet he couldn't deny the feeling from the passionate love they did. He decided to leave for seeing her in torment of shame. "Gomen," he apologized, so he took his bowl and left the house.

To Sasuke:

While Sasuke was walking, he started blaming himself doing those attempts to her, but he couldn't resist his love for her. The kisses he gave her have a strong connection between him and her, like it was waiting to be touched and stay connected. Also, those moments while they were alone was perfect and meant for them to be together. He still won't give up on her and never will.

As he arrived to his house, the front door opened. "Yo! Sasuke, you're back," Suigetsu welcomed him and spotted the bowl he was holding. "What you got there? It looks good" he asked and took it from him. He looked at it, and his mouth watered and his eyes bloomed with stars for the delicious meal. "Ah, Sakura-chan really cooks amazing."

"SASUKE-KUN!" Karin shouted excitedly. She was so happy that her precious Sasuke-kun was back. She wanted to spend time alone with him. She came running and jumped toward him, but he took a step to the left. She dropped on the ground and hit her face. Suigetsu laughed hard about it, and Jugo sweat-dropped.

"Okaerinasai," Jugo said in a calm tone. Sasuke nodded back. Jugo then saw the meal and suggested eating it which Suigetsu agreed. Sasuke gave them the bowl and informed that he was going to take a walk around town, so he teleported away. Karin called him to come back but sweat dropped in defeat for losing another chance. They went back inside the house.

To Sakura:

Sakura finished washing dishes after Sasuke left and went upstairs to her room. She sat on her bed and began to think about Sasuke and the long moment they had. Her mind was pacing about the closeness and the irresistable passion they did. She recalled fighting him to get free, but she stopped and returned the affection.

Every moment of it gave her wanting and desire for his lust, but she felt guilty on every bit of it. She felt dirty for submitting into his touch and kisses, and she held herself. She felt herself being confused with him and the feeling about wanting him so much. She hated how she returned his affection, but she admitted herself mentally that she actually…loved it. His touch and kisses—she loved them both because they were filled with heated passion—her mind and body went lost from every moment of it.

However, she shook her head. "Ie! Ie!" she grabbed her head, "Forget it! Forget about it!" She slapped the sides of her head, numbing her mind to forget it. She was trying to save herself; anything that would stop her from getting more confused. She was refusing to betray Naruto and kept reminding herself that Naruto is her only love.

Tch! She just couldn't understand why Sasuke was acting like that, and why he loves her now? She wanted him to accept their friendship, not to love her romantically. *sigh*She then hoped that he would take his time to accept his rejected feelings in time, so they would be settled without problems.

However the love passion she nearly did with him, she couldn't shake the feeling when she almost made love with him. She recalled how she held and kissed him with her arms around him; she hoped that he wouldn't stop. It was resulting that she was falling back in love with Sasuke again, like she was loving him more than with Naruto.

Ie! she shook her head again. She can't fall in love with him again. I love Naruto-kun! She kept reminding herself, but now she was becoming confused with her feelings. Dealing with this hard complex alone was making it more difficult for her.

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"Okaasan, otosan?" she turned to her parents' portrait. "What would you say about this confusion I'm having? Am I falling back to Sasuke-kun?" Her feelings she had for Sasuke was coming back, yet she doesn't want to leave or hurt Naruto.

"I wish you were here instead of in spirit, so you would talk with me. What am I going to do with this?" She really needed her parents' advice, and she needed them with her. Yet, she knew that they were never coming back.

Before they died, she remembered their words whenever she would have any problems about her relationship or friends, Follow what your heart tells you. Her heart? What can her heart tell her now about this? It was so hard and life so unfair. She wished that she wouldn't have two guys in love with her, nor have mixed feelings between them. There was one thing she least wanted to do…was to hurt either of them.

Later, she grew feeling tired. All this thinking and confusion exhausted her mind, and she didn't want to continue another minute about it. She decided to sleep and forget what happened today with her and him. She lied on her bed and closed her eyes; she son fell into a deep sleep.

To Sasuke:

Without her noticing, Sasuke has been hiding by her window while watching and listening to her inner quarrel. He was ashamed that he has mixed up her feelings which made him feel responsable for hurting her mentally and physically. He never wanted her to feel that she betrayed Naruto with cursed himself for advancing her thrice, but he couldn't help his feelings for her.

Also, he was shocked after when he heard her said, I wish you are here instead of in spirit. That phrase may be result from her sad face he remembered. He couldn't believe that she is actually an orphan, and he had no idea about her loneliness or how her parents died. As he remembered earlier, her teammates had a serious look for knowing what she was thinking, and tomorrow he will ask Naruto what happened to them.

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As the night sky darkened, he performed a shadow snake jutsu quietly to not wake her. The shadow snake appeared inside the room from the shadow and stood up, unlocking the window. Sasuke cancelled the snake jutsu and went inside, and he looked at her. He watched her sleep, admiring her glowing skin and her beautiful sleeping face. She was just so beautiful and so mature, but he noticed her face held a microscopic sadness from loneliness of her late parents.

He took her blanket and covered her gently. Then he carefully leaned down to her and kissed on her cheek as a goodnight kiss. She stirred a little and moaned softly, and then she made a small smile. That smile of hers was so passionate and innocent. He really loved seeing her smile.

Before he could leave, he looked at the Haruno portrait. He bowed and began to pray, Haruno-san, I, Uchiha Sasuke, have returned to Konoha. I humbly apologize for hurting your daughter three years ago, and I am asking for your forgiveness. I want you to know that I am in love with your daughter now. Even though it is too late for me, I will fight for her and win her love back. I came back because I gave up my obsessive goal on revenge and power for her. I want my life to be with her…I truly and deeply love her. He finished his prayers and bowed again to them.

He went to the window and glanced at her one last time. After closing and locking the window, he jumped above the roofs. While going back to the Uchiha district, he thought seriously, How did the Harunos died, but how long ago?

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He arrived back to his house and went to his room. He lied down on his bed and looked up at the ceiling. He then decided to remember about the night three years ago. The very night he left the village…and Sakura.

Three Years Ago:

Sasuke was walking to the outside of the village. He saw Sakura and stopped walking, "Nanishiteruno?" He asked her with an emotionless voice, "It's the middle of the night." He hoped that no one would find him leaving.

"You're leaving?" she asked him, "This is the only the way out of the village." She was shocked after seeing him carrying a backpack.

"Go home. You should go to bed," he ordered. He walked past her and ignored her.

"Why?" she started to cry, "Why won't you tell me anything? Why is it always silence with you?" She turned around, "You never shared a single thing—"

"Why should I tell you anything?!" he stopped walking. "Just keep your nose out of my business. It's none of your concern." He coldly scolded her to stay away from getting involved with his life and problems because he knew that she would never understand him.

"I know you hate me," she said. "Even in the beginning, you could never stand me. Remember? When we became genin and we were assigned the three-man squad…we were alone together for the first time, right here in this very spot and you got so mad at me."

Naruto Ep. 2: "About Naruto, he has always done things so selfish in all his life. Many people have considered him a troublemaker and unworthy for a ninja, but his courage and determination just kept him going. It is fascinating. I know he doesn't have any parents. He's all alone with no parents to raise and lecture him. No one to tell him what to do and not to do. I have always wondered how he knew." She gave him her long-time predictions. "I have to admit he has always caught my attention but I am still wondering about him."

"Alone…isolated…" He said coldly. "It's not about your parents scolding you. You have no idea what it means to be alone."

"Nani?" She looked at him after hearing his rudeness. "Look, it's true. I don't know anything about loneliness, but I can see it." She admitted a partial agreement of knowing pain, but she has always observed its sight from Naruto.

"No, you don't!" He refused to believe her. "You don't because…you're annoying." she widened in shock from his cold words and mistrust as he walked away.

(~~~~~~)

"I don't remember," He said nonchalantly. It shocked her, but it hurt her more.

"Hai, it was long ago," she held a sob, "but still that was the day when it all began. Where it started with us…with Naruto and Kakashi-sensei." She remembered their first practice and first mission, "It was rough back then. Every day was such a challenge, but more than anything it was so much fun."

She next added, "I know about your clan and your loss, but by seeking revenge…it won't bring happiness. Nobody at all, not you…not me." She gave him her opinion about revenge; to her, it is just a world of black and cold with the road of solitude.

"I knew it." He finally spoke and she listened. "I am not the same person as you. I am travelling the path that the rest of you can't follow. I know that the four of us have worked together and for a while I thought that I could take that road instead." He admitted her that he decided to cooperate with her and their team honestly. "But in the end, I decided on revenge. That's always been my reason of living; I will never be like you and Naruto."

She was stunned when he told about his indifference, but she wanted so much to help him change it. "Don't do this. You don't have to be alone." She told him, "You told me that day how painful solitude could be. I understand that pain, but I have my family and friends."

"You people just don't understand how I feel," he said to her. "Leaving this village is the only solution I must take. I don't need you; I don't need any of you." He started thinking about his brother, "I must kill him, so I will have my revenge and my clan back. This is the new beginning. Each of us has a new path lying before us."

"NO! You do need us! Revenge will never make anyone happy but only end up with pain!" She was trying to reason him about his choices. "If you were gone, it would be the same pain you feel for being alone. Please stay with us! I…I…I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART!" She finally confessed her love to him, but he didn't say anything back.

That gave her the right to continue talking, "If you would only be with me, I promise I will never let you regret it. Every day would be a joy, and I would give you happiness. I would do anything for you. Onegai?! Don't walk away. I would also help you get your revenge, I swear I will make it happen. But if you can't stay here, then take me with you. I promise I will always be by your side! I really will!"

She sobbed after speaking her heart out. He turned to her and said, "You haven't changed. You really still are annoying." She grew shocked from his rejection.

He again turned away and walked toward the path. She ran up and threatened, "Matte! If you leave, I'll-"

He speed ran around and behind her, so she stopped talking and stood still. "Sakura," he finished, "arigatou." She gasped quietly and looked down, crying. He then knocked her unconscious after hearing her saying his name. After he knocked her out, he carried her to the bench and left her there in the cold night.

Remembering that night really hurt badly, and it gave him guilt and feel defeated from lost time. "Kuso!" he tossed to the right, "I was so stupid for being like that to her." He blamed himself over and over again, and he begged Sakura love him as if she was here with him.

She was right about revenge and about everything. During his road of vengeance, he felt nothing ever made him happy but left him with a dark heart and look like a monster. He should have let her confide with him, and he should have let her go with him. Most of all, he should have treated her like a real friend, but now she doesn't want to be involved with him.

Also, she doesn't want him to be involved with her. She was just like him now. She has no family—no mother and no father—she was all alone with no extended family, no one with her blood. He greatly feared that she was the very last one of her family line. He believed she was right about another thing—loneliness. She had not known how it felt before but only seen it; until when she lost her family, she has been living with it. However, he doesn't know for how long she has been experiencing it. His worst part was that he was never there for her…for three long years with nothing from him. No support, no consolation, and…no love.

"Sakura, I won't let you go." He clutched a fist. He made up his mind that he will be by her side. He wanted to show her that he is different from before…and even to his former friends. Another, he still won't give up on her. "Sakura, I will be the first in your heart and you will love me again." He closed his eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep.

How beautiful, isn't it? Sasuke's love for Sakura was really serious, and deeply regrets the pain he had caused her. But she forgave him already, she wanted to be friends but he doesn't. How will they settle things? Please comment.