A/N

Let me get the timeline a little straightened out. When Deidara said Sasori killed a girl, I wasn't specifying that it was Sakura, or even anybody important to the plot. Let's just say he killed some random girl who, for some reason, needed to be killed. I'm sorry if it's bothersome, but I just needed a random scene that would require Zetsu to come out into the open, which was to use his technique to "eat" the girl's body.

Sakura is only 14 in the story, and she's not nearly as strong or as good at medical ninjutsu as she is in the current anime. She was in the waterfall of her forest, practing her self healing ninjutsu [[ I don't care if you think I'm copying Hinata. Hinata was not only in the waterfall, practicing for something else, but it was a friggin filler, so don't bother me about it. , when Zetsu was huffing along, barely alive. He found her practicing, was transfixed with her ability, and passed out in the middle of it.

Disclaimer: Naruto doesn't belong to me. I'm doing this for fun, not profit.

The alley went silent after Sakura's little gasp of her attackers name. She should've realized it was him, considering the hand that grabbed her wasn't the normal color of a humans hand. And his massive form was easily detectable within the shadows and she should've known by the shadows shape that it was him.

She had been too scared and frantic at the time though.

She forced her breathing to shallow a bit, and although she probably should be afraid of him, now that she knew it was him, she felt a little safer. He had no reason to attack her right now, and he wasn't stupid enough to do so when they were in the middle of her village and with her progressing strength, she could easily punch something and get somebody's attention.

"What are you doing here?" Sakura asked coldly.

"Ouch." Zetsu smiled a bit. "Just thought I'd pay my favorite enemy a visit."

She scoffed, clenching a gloved fist. "You think this is funny?"

"Not really." The smile left his face and Zetsu gave a little shrug. "But I'm serious. I just came to see you."

"What the hell for?"

Although Zetsu didn't blame her for her cold attitude, he didn't really enjoy it or anything. He had never forgiven himself for hurting her, and it had taken him all this time to bring himself to come visit her. Not to mention, he had to wait for a non suspicious time.

"No reason. To apologize I guess. I don't know." Zetsu answered honestly.

Sakura narrowed her eyes. "If you were sorry, you wouldn't have done it in the first place."

"Well when I am given orders and can't follow through, my other side takes over."

"Che, nice excuse." Sakura wasn't buyin' it. "You really think I'll forgive you?"

"No."

Sakura frowned, a bit surprised by his answer. She figured he might just say something witty, but he seemed genuinely sad to her hear talking to him like this. And he had come down here to see her, even though there was a big chance she'd call attention and get him killed by ANBU or even tracker ninjas.

"W-Well..." Sakura was at a loss for words. "What makes you think I'm not going to alert somebody to your presence?"

"Do it."

Sakura's eyes widened and then narrowed again. "What's your problem? Why are you here?! Tell me the truth! Why are you ruining my life?!"

Zetsu bit his lip. "S-Sakura... Come on... I'm really sorry for what I did to you. My feelings for you-"

"Your what?!"

"My feelings for you are strong." Zetsu wasn't going to lie. He didn't come all the way over here to make up a bunch of junk. "I'm gong to apologize whether you want it or not."

"..." Sakura was silent, then she raised an eyebrow. "Well...?"

Zetsu was taken aback for a minute, then got out slowly, "I'm... Sorry.. And I'm... Very... Proud..."

"Proud?"

The Akatsuki member looked away, as if embarrassed. "It's just... You were poisoned, and yet you overcame that long enough to save yourself. I just felt very proud at your strength."

"Well.." Sakura hesitated. "I would thank you if you weren't the one who put me in that predicament in the first place. You were cruel."

"I'm a criminal. I'm sorry that I am, but I can't just stop being one. My only home is the Akatsuki. I have to obey my leader, no matter what."

Sakura shook her head. "I just... Can't believe this. Why was I brought there?"

"I think Deidara somehow found out about you." Zetsu said, his eyes hardening. "He is the one who kidnapped you. I'm sure it wasn't a coincidence you were the one I had to torture. They were testing my loyalty."

"Oh..." Sakura's facial expression softened. "Zetsu.. I'm not sure if I should forgive you or not."

"I understand. I just had to get that out."

Sakura nodded a little, and just stared at him. The whole place lapsed into silence again. She wasn't sure how to handle this situation. He had tortured her for information, but somehow she ends up back in her village, okay for the most part. And now he was here apologizing for something he shouldn't have even done in the first place.

And these "feelings" he talked about. She doubted he understood or even knew what they meant. But she felt that she did. Sure, she didn't understand her own feelings, but she felt as if she could connect to the ones he felt.

"Zetsu-san..."

He looked up at her, and tensed when she came towards him. The feelings had for her were so strong and he couldn't handle them. But he had to. She couldn't see him in a weak state. She got closer and closer, until she wrapped her arms around him and leaned up, their lips closing in on one another.