SasuSaku Month 2014

Day 14 Prompt- His Side Of The Story

After all that had happened, what I least expected was to be forgiven. How I found myself in Konoha, I had no idea. But to be let off with only a few months' probation and a slap on the wrist was beyond my wildest dreams. How it happened, I wasn't sure, but I had a suspicion that my teammates might have had something to do with my lenient treatment.

It certainly felt odd for the first few weeks, getting glares and smiles from the villagers, getting used to Naruto's hyperactive behaviour, a regularly drunk Tsunade and so much more. But the thing I avoided like the plague was my other teammate, Haruno Sakura. It wasn't like I hated her. In fact, I was convinced that she hated me after all he had done. So, for once in my damned life, I was doing a good deed and keeping out of Sakura's way, so that she wouldn't ever have to face me.

"Uchiha, you are officially off probation now. And I'm assigning you a mission. And because everyone is so pleased with your compliance, we let you pick the rank. "

Immediately, I said, "A-Rank."

"I have one, but it involves only 25% chance of survival."

"Then, I would like to request that one."

"All right."

And that started the chain of me taking on the deadliest and most fatal missions possible. It was as if I almost hoped I would die in one of them. However, being the exceptional shinobi I was, I completed each of them. Soon, I was promoted to chuunin, then jounin, and very soon, made ANBU along with Naruto, even though their skills were beyond Kage-level. Through all this, I still managed to avoid Sakura, or limit our interaction to a few words.

Even though I would never admit it if anyone asked, I had always had a soft spot for Team Seven's pinkette. Though I considered her to be slightly superficial and weak in their genin days, I had always cared, however little it may be. It had hurt me, the night I left, to see her pour her heart out to me, tears running down her cheeks. I had knocked her out, but with an "Arigato." A thank you for loving me, for caring for me. A thank you for giving me plentifully something I was incapable of returning to her.

I had been impressed by how much she had improved over the years. She had gone from being a weak, scared, little girl to a confident, powerful, mature young woman. Her abilities had earned her my respect, even if I never showed it. I had grown to care deeply for the girl who loved me once upon a time.

I had been walking down the streets of Konoha aimlessly one afternoon. A voice shattered my reverie.

"Sasuke-kun! Wait!"

I stiffened. Oh, I knew that voice. It belonged to the one person I had tried to stay away from. I turned around to face Haruno Sakura. She had matured over the years. Her face was more angular, and her body had developed and was muscled and toned. Her hair had grown longer and was just past her shoulders. She had on her usual uniform with a medic's coat over it.

"I haven't seen you at all since you returned, and it's been almost six months! How are you?"

"I was busy with missions. I'm fine, just didn't get time off from training. How are you, Sakura-san?" The name felt so different on my tongue.

"I'm good. Hey, what do you say we catch up at Ichiraku's?"

I was surprised, but hid it well. I couldn't fathom why the girl wanted to even look at my face, let alone 'catch up'. However, I nodded and followed her to the restaurant.

"Two miso ramens, please."

We sat down and faced each other. I was surprised that she still remembered that miso was my preference as far as ramen was concerned. I felt Sakura's hand over my own.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Hn."

"I know you're not that okay, ever. You wouldn't be you if you were." She gave me a soft smile.

"I'm perfectly all right, Sakura-san."

"That's enough with the -san. We're teammates and on first-name basis."

"Alright, Sakura."

"Better. So, what've you been up to?"

"I already told you. Missions and training. That's all I've been doing since I came back."

"I know that. I was talking about the indirect suicide plans."

I stiffened. How the heck had she guessed my true motive? I remained silent.

"Sasuke-kun, I am a medic. One, I did go over your mission records while filing them, and two, I know you. It's kinda obvious to me that you're not taking on all above B-ranks just for the thrill."

"You might not be correct."

"Yep, might not. But, I know I am. So, as your teammate, I'd just give you a bit of advice; live. You still have one goal to complete, ne?"

Before I could reply, a woman came rushing. "Sakura-san! Sakura-san! Tsunade-sama needs you for an emergency in the hospital."

"Gomen, Sasuke-kun. I'll meet you later. Ja ne!" Sakura poofed away.

I walked out of the stall, and began making my way home. How had Sakura known my motives? Why did she still care? Why couldn't she leave me alone to rot in hell like I deserved to?

These chance meetings had continued. It would be lying to say that I never looked a tiny bit forward to them. Those ten-minute discussions with her, or those five-second 'Hello's, I took whatever I got, because hoping for more was something I wasn't entitled to do. Slowly, Sakura had begun to worm her way back. My caring about her had intensfied. 'Caring deeply' was too little to describe how I felt. She breathed colour into my black and white world for the few moments she was around. She was a constant, in my ever-changing dreams.

I actually wanted to be around her. She changed my life. Being around her made me feel different, content. I wanted to look at her, hold her, hug her, and though I knew it was never going to happen, kiss her. I wanted her. But, I restrained myself with my iron will, because I knew she had her own life, and I played no part in it, except for 'crazy teammate who deserted the village, returned and had a suicide plan.' Haruno Sakura was never mine.

I limped home after a mission gone wrong. The rogue-nin I was supposed to be investigating had turned out to be a group. Normally, this wouldn't have been a problem for Me, but when their allies had joined, I had been outnumbered fifty to one. One of them had slashed my right forearm badly, and I could not use Kusanagi as efficiently. I completed my mission successfully, but had one badly injured arm, numerous cuts and gashes all over, a singed shoulder from when a fireball nearly missed me, a dislocated ankle and was completely drenched thanks to the rain on the way. Opening the door, I pulled myself to the medicine cabinet, and yanked out bandages and various ointments. Then, I sat down on the edge of the bathtub, and began to clean my wounds, wincing as I did so.

Somebody knocked on the door. "Come in. It's open." I yelled from inside. I heard footsteps and then a face peeked around the bathroom door. The woman's green eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

"Kami, Sasuke-kun, what the hell did you do to yourself?"

"Ah, Sakura. It's nothing, just a mission gone askew."

"Gone askew, my foot. You look like you just fought thirty shinobi at once."

I mumbled something. "What did you say?"

"It was actually fifty."

"That's not the point, you crazy man! Now move over and let me deal with this."

Sakura was in medic-mode and moved her glowing hands over me once, grasping the extent of my injuries. She kneeled down in front of me and began healing me. As her calming chakra invaded my system, I felt better. I felt a jolt of pain when she set my ankle, but it disappeared as soon as it came. After some time, Sakura stood up and pushing hair out of her eyes, she said, "Well, you're all done."

"Arigato, Sakura." For a second, I flashed back to the first time I said those very words.

"It's okay, Sasuke-kun. But next time, you almost get yourself killed, give me a heads-up."

Sakura swayed unsteadily, and I caught her. She passed out. "Exhausting your chakra just to heal me? Stupid of you, Sakura. I don't deserve any of this. Why can't you see that?"

Sakura mumbled something unintelligible, but I couldn't understand. Picking her up, I took her to my bedroom, and lay her down on the bed. I pulled the covers over her, and went to the living room, to sleep on the couch.

It was on one of her visits, that I lost control. I couldn't, just couldn't hold out any longer. The intensity with which I was attracted to her was too much. I couldn't say I loved her, because I had no right to do so. I pinned her against the wall, and claimed her lips with mine. The feeling washed over me, leaving me wanting more, but I knew I had already overstepped all boundaries. I was about to pull away when a soft hand entangled itself in my raven hair, pulling me towards her. She kissed me back with an increased intensity. I was so surprised that I pulled back, and looked at her.

"Sasuke-kun, what happened?"

"You kissed me back. That wasn't supposed to happen."

"Why did you-?"

"I couldn't hold out any longer. I couldn't avoid you any longer. I care too deeply for you than I deserve to. I just-"

I was silenced by a finger on my lips. "Shush. I was asking you why you pulled back."

"I-I shouldn't have done that. I needed to feel you just once, and then, I was going to leave forever, and never come near your life again. It's the least I can do for you after completely destroying it." I made to pull back, but was held in place by two hands on my shoulders, which were exerting chakra-enhanced strength.

"Sasuke-kun."

"Hn?"

"You're an idiot."

That was unexpected. I looked up from my feet to Sakura's face. Her eyes were shining. "How could you even think of that?"

"I know I shouldn't have just kissed you like that, but-"

"No, you baka. How could you even think of leaving forever after telling me you love me back?"

Something struck in my mind. 'Back? Whatever does she mean, back?' Then, it hit me.

"You love me?", I asked, totally disbelieving.

"I thought we made that clear when you left Konoha. Was 'I love you with all my heart' that difficult to understand?"

"But that was then. Before Orochimaru and Itachi's death and trying to kill you and destroy Konoha."

"Yes, but I still love you, Sasuke-kun. I never stopped."

"But, why?"

"Okay, why do you love me, Sasuke-kun?"

"I... I... I don't know. You're you, maybe that's why. I just do. More than I should."

"Well, that's your answer right there. Love wouldn't be love if it made sense."

I blinked, stunned for a moment. Then, I smiled. "In that case, I guess I have a lot of catching up to do." And with that, I captured her petal-soft lips again. I held her by the waist while her hands were on my collarbone.

It was in this same position that I found myself four years later, the kiss cementing my promise to always stay by her side, until the end of time.