Disclaimer- I do not own Naruto.

Summary:

Childhood playmates separated for 10 years. What will happen when Sakura returns 10 years later?

'thoughts'

"spoken"

'inner'

Chapter 10

"Morning mom." Sakura mumbled to the older woman through her yawn.

"Morning hon. What did you do yesterday? You looked worn out." Ayako asked her daughter.

"Aa, nothing much. Just didn't sleep well." Replied the girl, as she stifled another yawn. It was weird though, how tired she felt yesterday, yet wasn't able to have a good sleep. In fact, she slept through the whole night; the only problem was those dreams she had. Hell yeah, she blames them, and Sasuke too.

Seriously, that kiss. Her friggin' first kiss was sacrificed because of someone's mistake. Not to mention, how images of the scene, of him, that bloody raven locks and eyes. And his huge hands, so rough, yet held her face with so much gentleness. His lips, his oh so tender lips, soft at first, then not so soft,… tasted sweet from the alcohol, kissed her with so much love.

'Tsk. Dreamy.' Sakura thought. She was seriously, doubting the facts. She didn't believe it was how she really felt. Well, then again it was how she felt through her dream. How the action kept replaying in her mind, took away her breath and got her heart racing. 'Darn. No wonder it felt like I had just completed a triathlon when I awoke.'

After breakfast, she decided to shoot some hoops out of randomness. Or probably in fact, she simply wanted to keep her mind off things. She remembered a basketball court somewhere near the playground, by the park. Changing into jersey shorts and a tank top, Sakura carried her basketball and left the house.

It was eleven o'clock when a certain, ebony hair boy finally open his eyes. Or rather, it was what was stated on his bedside clock. Sleep was good, but he was suffering from a headache. 'Oh god. Eff-ing headache. Where am I?'

'At home.'

Looking around, he started registering his location. 'Aa. … So what happened last night?'

'Hn. Ask yourself. But I'll be kind and give you a hint though. It was despicable.' Smirked inner Sasuke, causing himself to frown.

'Damn it, I don't remember.'

With a sigh, Sasuke gave up, and went to prepare himself for another day.

Sasuke was feeling bored after lunch. He hadn't planned anything with the guys or the group, and Mikoto was busy fleeting around the house, packing, to bother him. It seemed though, that his parents are probably going overseas or another trip out of town. It was pretty normal. But he was freaking bored of his mind.

'Call her.'

'Huh?'

'Sakura.'

That clicked on a lightbulb in his head, and immediately Sasuke flipped open his cell and called Sakura.

It was almost two, and Sakura had missed lunch and been shooting hoops since, well, ever since she arrived. Just after she let in a three pointer when Sakura heard her phone rang. From the caller id, it was Sasuke. Considering a moment, Sakura answered the call.

Over the line…

"Yo." Sasuke greeted stoically.

"Hey."

"Wanna hang out?"

"Hn. I'm fine with anything. Am at the basketball court, by the park though. Wanna play?"

"Sure." Smirked the dark hair teen.

"Aa. See you then."

Fifteen minutes later, Sasuke arrived. From what Sakura noticed, he was dressed in similar get up, except he was in t-shirt. Putting his things with Sakura's, he joined her. It began with simple passing and shooting, until they decided it was bored and began a match between themselves.

Playing half court, after 15 minutes, their score was 20- 15. Even though, Sasuke was leading, but he had to admit Sakura was good. She sure made him sweat, although it wasn't as though they were playing a serious game. In fact, most of the time, they were simply fooling around. Like on one case when Sasuke was trying to shoot a three pointer, instead of blocking him, she literally jump onto him, as she tried to grab the ball from his hands. She did manage to knock the ball out, but it resulted in the both of them falling, hard, on the ground. Fortunately for Sakura, she had Sasuke to cushion her fall, seeing that he had landed first, which she found quite amusing.

"Holy crap! Twerp! What were you trying to do?!" Sasuke cried out in bewilderment.

"Erm, trying to block you?" Sakura replied with a sheepish laugh.

"Well, that wasn't funny."

"Well, it seemed so, seeing how you're trying to muffle a laughter?"

Replying Sakura with a grunt, the two continued with the game, which ended with a whole lot of fouls, as they continued fooling around, resulting in being twice as exhausted.

All of a sudden, Sasuke asked, "What happened last night?"

"You don't remember?" Sakura questioned him, a look of hurt and annoyance starting to form on her face.

"Well, ya. Sort of." Sasuke replied sheepishly.

"Nothing at all?" Sakura asked, trying once more.

"No, I don't."

Immediately Sakura felt anger rising within her. Clenching her fist, she spoke through gritted teeth "Well, you got drunk. I brought you home."

"That's all?"

"Yes, that's all! I'm tired, I'm going home." With that, Sakura grabbed he things and stomped off.

Left in confusion at Sakura's sudden change in attitude, Sasuke decided to follow her.

"Sakura!" Sasuke called after her, only to result in her increase in pace. Trying once more, he called again, "SAKURA!" Again, she ignored him. This time he decided to run after her.

Finally catching up with the pinkette, Sasuke grabbed her elbow and turned her around only to face a crying girl.

"Sakura. What's wrong?!" Sasuke asked, shocked and surprised, whichever that deem fit to describe his current feelings, since he was experiencing both.

"I-I … I don't know!" Sakura replied through her sobs. She had no idea why she was feeling this hurt, and felt pathetic and helpless.

"Why don't you know? It must be something." Sasuke urged. "Was it something I did or said? Tell me." He was feeling at lost. He never encountered a crying girl before. And her, not knowing the reason isn't helping at all.

'Yes, it was that damn kiss. And I freaking have no idea why?!' Somehow, all Sakura could do was shook her head in confusion. She could barely even speak. "I don't know."

"Fine, if you don't know that's ok. But would you at least stop crying?" Sasuke gently told the girl. But all she could do was nod in response. Sighing, he gave up for now," Good, now I'll take you home, then you'll rest alright?"

Another nod.

When Sakura reached home, she was exhausted. She needed sleep, lot of it. However, efore she could make any movement, her mom was already heading towards her, at lightning speed.

"Goodness me! Sakura. What happened to you?"

"Nothing." Sakura whispered.

"Well, you looked worse as compared to this morning." Ayako told her, as she looked worriedly at her daughter.

"I'm fine mom. Just need sleep."

"Oh. Alright. But I've got something to tell you."

"Yes?" Sakura queried wearily.

"Your dad and I will be going out of town with the Uchihas over the weekend. Starting tomorrow. Kakeru will be joining us. So technically, you'll be left alone. Will you be fine?"

"Wha-what? I mean ya, I'll be fine. But why all of a sudden? I never heard you mention about it before." Sakura asked.

"It's business thing. It was impromptu. So you won't mind?"

"Well, no I won't."

"Good. Now I heard Sasuke will be alone too. So if there's anything just give us a call, or find him. I'm sure you'll do fine."

"Huh… Eh… Okay…" Sakura was uncertain. Especially after the embarrassing scene she made just now, se didn't know how to face the raven hair boy. Dragging herself to her room, Sakura took a quick shower, then went to bed. She thought hard and long about earlier on. 'It was just a kiss.' So why is she so troubled over it. 'Was it because it's my first?'

Coming to no conclusion, Sakura felt frustrated, and decided to give up and sleep. However, closing her eyes, she started seeing flashes from the last night and the dreams she had. Huffing in annoyance, she knew that this was going to be another bad sleep.

It was nine o'clock and Sasuke was preparing for bed. He just had an exhausting experience earlier on. With the fouling and the fooling around, while playing basketball, and Sakura's crying incident. He still hasn't had a clue why she did so, and to think he had been pondering so long over it, ever since he got home. It was annoying how he couldn't figure it out.

And then it hit him. He had only realized that he had been fretting over her problem. And since when he ever cared about such trivial matters? Sure she was a friend. But the only friend he ever truly bothered so much about was Naruto, and it wasn't even so troublesome. So why?

However, his thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his room door.

Creaking open, Itachi walked it.

"Oi." Greeted the older Uchiha with a smirked.

"What?" Sasuke asked stoically.

"Nothing, just letting you know, Dad, Mom, and I will be leaving for China tomorrow. And the Harunos will be joining us as well. Except for Sakura. Mom wants you to help Ayako-san look out for her daughter."

"Hn."

"Hn." Itachi smirked again. "Speaking of which, what happened last night? Coming home knocked out, reeking of alcohol, and brought home by Sakura! Tsk, tsk. Did she drown you in alcohol or what?"

"Hn, none of you business."

"Hn, whatever it is. Sakura is still a girl. If you're drunk, make sure you're dead drunk before going close to her. You don't want to end up raping someone and getting yourself into trouble." Itachi warned hi little brother in a joking manner.

"Itachi! Shut your trap, you pervo." Sasuke chided, shocked at the dirty ideas his brother suggested. Which had sort of affected himself, as Sasuke felt hotness creeping up his neck, and dirty thoughts started invading his mind.

"Hn, as you wish." Itachi smirked again before leaving.

'Idiot.' Saskue mentally scolded his brother. But now that Itachi said that. He actually considered a thought similar to that. 'What if I really did something unruly? Inner mentioned about something being despicable.' Starting to freak out, Sasuke immediately called Naruto.

"Yo, teme. What's up?! Rare of you to call me at such hour." The blonde greeted.

"Whatever. I need to know what happened last night."

"What happened last night?"

"Yes, what happened? After,… after I…"

"You mean, when you got drunk?"

"Hell yeah!"

"YOU MEAN YOU DON'T REMEMBER?!" Naruto yelled.

"Ya, whatever, just tell me."

"YOU, TEME, IS REALLY A BIG FAT BAKA BUFFON!!!"

"Ya, just get straight to the point!" Sasuke said seething. He was already beginning to lose patience.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DON'T REMEMBER. HOW COULD YOU? …"

"DOBE!" Sasuke shouted .

"You kissed her…"

Interrupting his friend Sasuke started a threat, "I'm warning you. Hurry and…" only to stop short when he heard the word."

"WHAT?!" Sasuke yelled. So loud that his parents and Itachi came running over to see what happened.

Quickly hanging up the call, and reassuring his family that everything was fine, Sasuke slipped into his bed. He couldn't believe what he heard. Kiss?! Who?! Sakura?!

Deinitely, no way. He couldn't have. It's illegal. Tentatively, he likes Sakura. But he didn't love her to want to kiss her, did he? It was impossible. He was drunk. It must have been a mistake.

A/N:

First ups, I would like to thank you people for your awesome reviews. It really meant quite a lot for the last chapter, cos it was a climatic moment, and everyone wants to enjoy it, so I was quite worried if it turned out weird. And thank you to .b10330m, being my newest reader, and saying that I write great stories, awww… Haha, well, truthfully my English sucks so, hah. Thanks a lot.

Thanks to Lipinha, BlessTheDevil, Kyoko Izumi-Sama-Baka, Kaydreams and lots of the rest who have also reviewed in the previous chapters.

I can't thank you guys enough, so here I am with a new chapter. Enjoy : ))

Sorry if this one's shorter.

Well, I did try to upload one before Christmas. And now I'm off to camp. Hopefully I could finish a chapter before New Year's. Wish me luck XX)