Woohoo! Reviews, so many reviews! Thank you so much! Now on with the show!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Reminder: Reviews are my chocolate.

Chapter 11

Sakura burst through the dense canopy of branches that hid the waterfall from view and stopped immediately. The falls of Rain were, as always, breathtaking.

"Fascinating, those falls. Wild power and cascading beauty, only to be admired, but never captured. Wouldn't you agree, Sakura?" Sasuke's voice came from up above, and yet strangely from behind her as well.

I could say the same about you Sasuke, Sakura thought as she turned and saw him standing on the upper ledge, next to falls. Close enough that he could reach out and touch the roaring water, but merely stood there, watching her.

"Yes, they are." She agreed, leaping from the lower rocks to where he stood. Even standing next to him, it was still almost impossible to hear his voice. "Sasuke, we need to talk." She told him, pointing to a place further from the falls. Sasuke merely gave a tiny nod of his head, allowing her to lead the way.

A few moments later they were atop the falls, far enough away from the noise that they wouldn't have to shout to hear each other, but close enough that their voices would be concealed, if anyone else was in the area to hear them.

"I was beginning to think that you would not be coming." Sasuke told her, leaning up against an older tree, his arms crossed before him. It was such an arrogant and lazy poise, so reminiscent of their team seven days that Sakura smiled at it, despite the gravity of the situation.

"So…you did purposely make sure that the older woman from Rain saw you leave towards the falls." Sakura mussed, more directed at herself than him, but he shrugged his shoulders anyway and answered. "Of course, she would be the type of person you would direct your questions too."

He moved away from the tree to stand directly in front on her. His hand, bandaged once more, reached up to cup the side of her face. "I knew you would come to me, Sakura." He told her softly, and Sakura closed her eyes, allowing herself a single moment to be the woman in love with this man.

It was, with no surprise, that she suddenly felt his cool lips upon her own and selfishly she clung to his mouth, her arms wrapping around his middle as the two lovers kissed under the roar of the waterfall.

All too soon though Sakura broke away him, going as far as dropping her arms and stepping back. A disapproving look crossed Sasuke's handsome features. "Sakura…." He began, reaching for her, but she shook her head taking a step back and Sasuke dropped his arm and waited.

"Sasuke….I can't stay long." She told him abruptly. "Why not?" he asked his voice taking on a cold tone, one she did not like. "Neji found me on my way here. I've been ordered back to Leaf by sunset, or he'll come back to fetch me personally."

Sasuke eyes, once warm with desire for her, suddenly burned with a cold fire. "Why would the Hyuga come and get you?" he asked, his tone a silky menace. A sense of dread began building in the pit of her stomach, but Sakura ignored it and faced the Uchiha, her emerald eyes gazing into his own obsidian ones.

"He is the captain of the ANBU now and…..my partner."

"Your partner….I see. How long has this been going on?" he asked his tone emotionless.

Sakura sighed, knowing full well that he wasn't going to let this go. "I've been with the ANBU for a year and a half now, since I passed my Jonin exam. Six months before that Neji was named Captain of the ANBU Black Ops. Once I passed my exams, he nominated me for the ANBU." Sakura shrugged, distinctly uncomfortable.

Sasuke waited his obsidian eyes darker than before. A heavy silence settled between them and Sakura continued talking, if only to fill that silence. "He first became my teacher, then my off-and-on again partner for the last eight months."

"I see….so was it the Hyuga who sent you to hunt me down?" Sasuke asked.

I think the arctic north is warmer than his voice right now, Sakura thought with a chill to her soul. "No…actually Neji didn't want me to go in the first place," at Sasuke's arched eyebrow she hastened on, "at least not alone. It was the combined decision of our Sixth Hokage and Lady Tsunade that allowed me to come after you alone."

"So….now you've found me. How long Sakura?" asked Sasuke, his body relaxed, belaying the smoldering anger that burned just beneath the surface.

"How long?" Sakura echoed, confused by his question.

"How long until the others arrive. That's why you've come, isn't it?"

Sakura could only stare at him. He thought that she was there to lead the others to him. Anger replaced her confusion and she strode up to the arrogant Uchiha, grabbing his by the folds of black cloth of his clothes.

"They're not coming, Sasuke Uchiha! I sent Neji away to Stone, on a possible rumor of your ex-teammates might be seeking asylum there. I came to tell you that I can't see you anymore." Tears sprang to her eyes at this confession. "I can't….I won't hunt you…not now...not after…." But she couldn't continue on that vein,
"and neither Neji nor Lady Tsunade will allow me out of the village without someone with me."

Sakura gave a brittle laugh, even as she hid her face from his view. "They believe that it is only a matte of time before you harm me…." She trailed off as a few tears leaked out.

Sasuke reached out and pulled her face up, so that he could see her tear-streaked face. Sakura reluctantly opened her eyes and was shocked to see that he had that too-familiar smirk on his lips. "Why the tears, Sakura?" he asked and much to Sakura's surprise, he tenderly wiped away her tears. "We will see each other again, I promise you."

Sakura's hands tightened on his cloths. "Sasuke, you can't. Once I go back to the village without you, they won't let me back out, unless it is with Neji or another." Sasuke shrugged, his fingers still tracing the plains of her face. "Do I look worried?" he asked mildly. "I always get what I want."

Sakura shook her head and laughed a catch of wildness to it. "Oh yes, what will you do, walk into Leaf and demand that they let me go with you." The sarcasm dripped from each word.

"If I must." Replied Sasuke, his tone quite serious. That stopped her laughter in its tracks. Sakura looked up at him and shook him, hard. "No! I want you far away from Leaf as possible. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you…." She trailed off as she realized the sky was starting to darken. Already time was slipping away from her.

She stepped away from him. "I…I have to go, Sasuke." There was an ache in her words that she could not conceal. She moved to leave him, when his hand shot out grapping her wrist, pulling her body back next to his.

"Not even a farewell kiss, Sakura?" he murmured softly, trapping her against his body, his lips inches from her mouth.

"I…" she began, but he silenced her mouth, his lips once more devouring hers and she clung to him, kissing him back, trying to convey in that single gesture what she couldn't tell him in words.

I love you. I love you Sasuke Uchiha, and I will not allow you to be hurt because of me. I love you….now forget me…