AN: I actually enjoyed writing about Sakura in this story, and I can briefly understand how she would feel especially regarding Sasuke leading her on. Indeed he was, but I guess it's always hard to tell the truth, ain't it? I'm glad I took the route of not bashing her even though she was a tat bit annoying in the series hahah but I guess everyone has their flaws.

I hope you guys enjoy this chap and do head over to read my other story, tell your dad i'm always here. Do review hehe

.::.

The evening sun reminded him of the event at the dock.

The warmness hit his face finally after spending the entire day hidden in his apartment. He stood outside the hospital, watching the nurses and doctors leaving the entrance with a tired smile plastered on their face as he waited for the particular pink haired kunoichi. He thought he should have sent her a message about his appearance but decided that Sakura might have anticipated for a date instead made him stopped his hawk from taking off with the letter.

His leaned against the lamppost, arms folded with his eyes locked onto the entrance, not wanting to miss her. The flapping of the poster above him was a huge annoyance, especially how it was indicating towards the fireworks festival at the end where he thought he could perhaps celebrate it with Hinata, specially.

He really wasn't expecting much from whatever he was feeling, probably being almost ready to walk away with an unrequited love and worked with it till it disappeared. But the reciprocated actions of her made his heart stirred and mind ran loose. He could have walked away peacefully. If he had not kissed her back at the inn, and perhaps simply just voice his confused feelings out to her, he would not have to spend the entire day trying to fight the heaviness in his chest.

When the sight of a pink head caught his attention, he kicked himself off the post and strolled towards her. His figure, especially how he wore his poncho and head sash as he was ready to get going after the impending talk, was instantly attention attracting.

Emerald pair of eyes lit up. "Sasuke-kun!" She skipped a little as she ran towards him, clearly pleased to see him outside waiting for her. It definitely soothed her long and tiring day. "Are you here to visit the hospital?"

He put on a smile and greeted. "I was waiting for you. Do you have time?"

She chimed. "Yes!"

Sasuke knew he had to do it privately, preferably not in a place where there were so many people around. He could at least provide her a safe place to break down, if she had to. So, he suggested his place and guided her towards the direction of his home. He could brew some tea for her too, anything to make her feel better. She seemed as if she had a long day when she exited the hospital with her shoulders slumped and one of her hand massaging it.

He could walk away, suggest another thing and perhaps seek for a better timing but when exactly would be a better timing? There was none. He knew he would find fault in every situation deeming it the wrong time. He just had to get it done.

"How's your day, Sasuke-kun?" She quizzed as she walked closer to him. "I wasn't expecting for you to show up waiting for me."

"It's… fine." He muttered. The day was the opposite of fine. "I just thought we can have some time to talk about things."

Shades of pink resembling her hair appeared on her cheeks. Sasuke knew where the kunoichi was thinking, probably about the optimistic side of things and that kinda added weight onto the boulder on his chest. He pulled his keys out and unlocked the door, entering with Sakura behind him.

His cold apartment hit them instantly, but Sakura's cheeriness did lighten up the atmosphere. She found her way to the mini couch he had, as if being very familiar with his place. "Do you want me to cook something up for you?"

"It's fine." He settled down next to her and exhaled. "Sakura, how's work today?"

She giggled. "Tiring, but it felt better to see you outside!"

How could he bring himself to tell her his answer? He nodded, acknowledging her stories. "Sakura, um… I need to talk to you about us."

"Y-Yea?" She choked, clearly nervous.

"I heard from Shikamaru that you have told them about how I still haven't provided you an answer."

Sakura could feel her heart thumping like mad and if there was a heart rate tracker attached to her, she was confident it could reach at least two hundred beats per minute. She had been waiting for the longest in her entire life over something and as much as she was yearning for an answer from the Uchiha, some preparation for her would be appreciated. Maybe requesting a day in advance for a date?

She was predicting that Sasuke would talk to her about them during the fireworks festival, probably ending it off with a kiss and she could pack her bags and follow him around for a few months. She had some pretty skillful colleagues that could take over her spot, so she need not had to worry about leaving the hospital behind.

"Sorry, it took this long." He continued.

"It's fine!" She was trying her best to not overreact, or to show any form of extreme happiness.

"I'm… sorry, Sakura."

What? The pink head blinked.

"I know you have been waiting for me… and I know I have done some actions that may have lead you to thinking that we have a chance in being together and that is no doubt, I am not going to lie that I once viewed you in that light but – "

"Sasuke-kun…" She could feel her throat getting drier every second passed. Was that a no from him?

"Sorry." He apologized, again. "I can't amend the mistakes I have made for allowing you to think that we have a chance. I did try Sakura, but I just couldn't find that kind of feelings within me for you."

This wasn't the way how she had expected things to be. The worst she thought was perhaps him requesting for more time, or maybe telling her he couldn't make it for the festival. Any outcome she would have preferred other than the one she was receiving at the moment. The nausea feeling swirled around her empty stomach and as if there was an uncontrollable fire just burned everything within her, leaving her empty as a shell.

The silence was piercing and for once she could actually feel the coldness of his apartment distinctively. Had it really always been this cold? Her hands trembled with her head full of questions she felt like she had to ask but none of them decided to come out. Why? What she not enough?

"May I a-ask why?" She managed; her voice held a distinct tone of melancholy.

Sasuke sighed, feeling the guilt within consumed him completely. He reached for her hand and grabbed it, holding it tightly with assurance. "There's no reason to why for not being able to fall in love. I'm sorry."

"But we have been through so much! All the times, from our genin years!" The tears burst like a waterfall, spilling down her face. "We had tea together, I thought you said my onigiri was nice. I… I loved you so much, Sasuke-kun."

He decided to let her continue.

"I've waited for so long… I thought we can be. Is there something wrong about me?" Was she not strong enough? She could tear the entire building apart and healed injuries in minutes! "Is there someone?"

That could be the only possibility. If he was already trying initially like how he had claimed to be doing, there had to be a reason why he decided to stop. Everything felt like collapsing at the moment, but her mind briefly thought about a shy blue head. "Do you like Hinata?"

Sasuke pressed his lips, blinking in confusion. How did everyone know? Was he really that obvious about his attraction towards the particular Hyuga? "You're not the problem, Sakura. You never are. I'm sorry for all the things we had done, but I was really trying to forge a liking for you."

He wasn't admitting it, but neither was he denying too. Sakura knew her sixth sense was right ever since the beginning she felt the possibility of Sasuke being close to Hinata. She just chose to believe in him, like how she always had been doing. "Did I do something different? Did Hinata do something that I can't?"

"Sakura, it's not that. You did nothing. I just…" He breathed. "My feelings for Hinata is still a confusing mess. I met her last night and things did not go well. I am not here to tell you my answer just because I've gotten someone else. I want you to move and seek someone better."

She bit her lips, allowing more tears to stream down her face as she plunged herself into his chest, muffling her loud cries. Her hands clutching onto his shirt as her tears soaked his chest. She pulled away, lashed heavy with tears before collapsing again, her cries of pain worsening every second passed. The pain seemed to be coming in waves as she battled with her internal self of walking away to many of her suitors waiting for her or losing the only person she truly loved.

The apartment was filled with her cries and short pauses of recovery breaths as she constantly fell back into the arms of her grief.

.::.

Ino knew something was wrong when Sakura had taken four days worth of medical leave. Especially coming from the pink head who treated the hospital like her second home, there was no way she even allowed herself to be away for so long. Something must had happened and knowing how Sasuke had returned for Naruto's birthday made her suspicion grew.

She should join the police force with Kiba. Her detective skills were top notch.

"Can you help me wrap some sunflowers up?" She requested, hands busy counting money.

Sai stood up from the ground with a ceramic pot in his hand. "You're going somewhere?"

"I'm visiting Sakura. She has been away for four days." Ino pulled a piece of paper out from the counter and handled it to her boyfriend. "Would you mind going home first? I will see you at your place a little later."

"Okay. Do you know what happened to her?"

She wished she did. "I suspected it's something with Sasuke-kun."

"Oh, a rejection?" Sai muttered as he neatly wrapped out a few stalks of the biggest sunflower. "She seems to have liked him for very long."

"Yea. Since we were five. We used to fight over him." Ino chuckled as she reminiscence about the past.

"is that Uchiha really that great?" Sai scoffed; emotions were growing on him. "He seems too cold to handle any girls."

"He is. That's why girls like him even more."

Sai finished wrapping the bouquet and quickly pulled out the small notepad that was in his back pocket. He started scribbling down notes, only to have his pen snatched away by his beloved blonde girlfriend.

"No, that's not the way to girls' heart. I prefer you warming up to me." She said, causing him to blush.

Emotions were really catching up. She gave him a quick peck on his cheeks and grabbed onto the flowers. She made sure to remind Sai to close the shop before heading home as she exited with a quick wave of goodbye. Maybe she could stop by the supermarket and grabbed some snacks, something Sakura liked.

Ice cream served as the best remedy for a broken heart. So she bought two large tubs of cold treats and headed towards her best friend's home. She knew the possibility of rejection like what Sai had mentioned, was sky high. Sakura was the only one who continued loving him as a lover throughout every single thing. Ino could understand the pain she must had felt and wondered why it took the Uchiha such a long time before deciding to do the rejection.

Maybe some girls talk would be best right now. The door opened with Sakura's parents greeting her, face obviously tainted with worry as they quickly allowed her to enter.

"Sakura hasn't been out for two days." The mother spoke as she guided her up the stairs. "I don't think she's sick."

"Don't worry, Mrs Haruno. I will settle this." Flashing her a quick smile, she received a pat on her shoulder by the female.

"Thank you, Ino."

Ino watched the mother retreated downstairs before knocking on the kunoichi's door. "Sakura, it's Ino."

"Sakura." She called again. "Open the door, I bought you flowers."

There wasn't any reply, so she decided to knock harder. "If you're going to avoid me, I am going to knock this door down. In three, two, one – "

The sound of the door unlocking was heard, causing the blonde to smile as she quickly pushed the door opened. Sakura stumbled backwards. She was still wearing her sleeping attire and it was only midafternoon. Her hair and her room were in a total mess. Ino stared in shock and other than being able to confirm her assumption, she quickly dropped the tubs of ice cream on the table and pulled the pink head into a hug.

"Sakura, what the hell happened to you?"

Then she could feel her shoulder getting wetter by beads of water. Sakura returned the hug and finally allowing the cries to be heard. Ino stood there in silence, before allowing themselves to drop onto their knees simultaneously as the cries was muffled into her shoulder. Sakura probably did not want her parents to hear.

How many times had she cried?

.::.

"Has Sasuke-san been here?" Hinata questioned, panting slightly with both her hands clasped onto the straps of her backpack.

"Sasuke, you mean the boy that helped you to farm for me?" The grandpa of the farm replied.

"No, he hasn't been." Jugo could feel that something was wrong from her tone. "Did something happen? You seem like you rushed here."

"I… I'm looking for Sasuke-san." She managed, sighing a little. "Is Karin at the hideout? May I ask her to help me search for him too?"

Jugo knew something wasn't right when Hinata appeared at the farm, for the first time greeting hastily and seeking for Sasuke. Her face was slightly flushed from tiredness, as if she had been rushing to reach Oto in the quickest time possible. Something must had happened between the two, perhaps something regarding Sasuke's feelings for the shy Hyuga.

"Ojii-san, I will guide Hinata back to the hideout first. I will join you later." Jugo said calmly as he stood up.

"Ah, no worries. I will be waiting." The grandpa nodded and cleared the table. "I will be happy if you can join us too, Hinata."

A small smiled adorned her face. "Yes, I will!"

Her feet were tapping against the ground impatiently as she waited for Jugo to gather his items. She needed to find him, and she knew clearly, he was avoiding her. Ever since the night where she had risked a scolding from her father by sneaking out of her home to meet the former avenger, his words never once stopped bothering her.

She had grown to slowly, but surely accepting the fact that she was loving mainly Naruto out of comfort. She knew she loved him, for all the reasons she could provide and the upcoming Hokage would no matter what, remained within her memory for the rest of her lives. And she knew the best way to love Naruto would be standing from afar, supporting him in every single decision and choices he was ever going to make.

The night where she celebrated his birthday, she knew what he had chosen. And she did not blame him, because he was simply just chasing after his dreams, just like how she was doing when she was chasing after him – her dreams. It just so unfortunate that the chance of this dream of hers to be fulfilled was low.

So, she needed to tell Sasuke. That he was right all along, that he read her better than she did to herself. She was grateful than ever for his presence, for constantly opening her views towards life and also, apologizing for all the things she had done to him. She needed to tell him, because she knew he would not return to Konoha anytime soon. He was serious in avoiding her.

Hinata was prepared to be bombarded with questions by Jugo from her impromptu visit after stopping by Ame searching in vain for the Uchiha. But he did not, something she was appreciative of because she hadn't had got much energy left to explain.

When they got to the hideout, instead of popping the question that was eating her up within, the both of them were taken aback by the surprise that got them. Hinata pushed opened the door gently as she stepped into the experimental room where Karin should be at. She was there, indeed. But not alone.

Suigetsu and Karin were obviously having a very heated make out session, a scene that brought a blush to the shy female's face. The red head's lips were plumped from the intense lips interlocking and the two buttons of her shirt were off, revealing a slight glimpse of her cleavage as she sat and seemingly rocking herself on Suigetsu's lap. They must had not noticed their entrance.

Hinata turned to look at Jugo, who happened to have returned the glance. She giggled, knowing they both were right along about Suigetsu's feelings towards Karin. They just were surprise by Karin's reciprocation.

She finally let out a cough, causing the duo to break off immediately. Karin's glasses were nowhere to be found, perhaps thrown to a corner during the midst of their session. She quickly turned away; head lowered as she tried her best to button her shirt up. Suigetsu was already red by now with his hands pulling onto the fabric against his groin, clearly having trouble hiding that heated erection he was having.

"Are we disturbing?" Hinata questioned cheerfully, almost forgetting the reason why she was here. She was just so happy that the couple she really liked had finally gotten together.

"N-No!" Karin finally revealed herself. "W-We are n-not… I can e-e-explain!"

"I didn't know you like Suigetsu too." Jugo commented plainly.

"I don't – " She adjusted her glasses and sighed when she noticed the shark liked male was looking at her. "It didn't mean much."

"It seems like Suigetsu-san likes you and you're finally reciprocating." Hinata chimed. "You two are really adorable!"

"What?" Karin exclaimed. "No way! That's definitely – "

Suigetsu clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Thanks for coming in at the perfect timing guys." His words full of sarcasm.

Karin's face turned a shade of fuchsia when she heard his words. Biting her lips upon defeat, she breathed out a sigh. "Of all times you two could have appeared!"

Jugo chuckled softly, surprisingly. "It's a good surprise. Been telling him about his hidden feelings but he just didn't want to admit. He's too obvious."

"Obvious?" Suigetsu retaliated. "Since when?"

"Most of the time." Hinata sided Jugo. "You're very obvious, Suigetsu-san."

"I'm surprise Karin never once noticed. Were you too masked by Sasuke?" Jugo quizzed, causing Hinata to remember the reason why she ended up at the hideout.

Upon hearing the Uchiha's name, Suigetsu rolled his eyes "Tch, I merely just like her a little."

"Do you think I like you that much too?" Karin argued. "It's lesser than you, idiot!"

"Oh really?" The sword collector scoffed. "You were the one that started sitting on me!"

"That's because you kissed me first!"

Hinata sighed softly as she watched the two bickered as usual. She was over the moon when she finally found out that their feelings were mutual, but as much as she was contented about them, she needed to settle the things that still had some loose ends.

"Karin." Jugo called, breaking the two apart. "Hinata's here to ask about Sasuke."

"Sasuke-kun?" She cocked her brows. "What happened to him?"

"I'm wondering has he drop by here? Maybe for the training room?"

"No, he hasn't been here at all." Karin replied, brows knitting together in worry. "Did something happen to him?"

Three pair of eyes landed on her, causing her to feel the mild pressure. She had to find a proper way of explaining the current situation she had with Sasuke, without making it seemed like it was a big deal. But how could it not be? Sasuke Uchiha had liked her, professed his love and now was completely avoiding her. All the events would definitely spark an alert in everyone's curious mind.

And as much as she wished her byakugan could do her enough help, she had tried her best to extend her vision by merely an additional two kilometer. Twelve in total wasn't enough. She needed help in scouting, someone that would be familiar with Sasuke's scent and lifestyle. She wished she could have asked Kiba and Shino but watching how Kiba and Tamaki had been hanging out a lot lately, she had no heart to bother him with something so trivial. Shino's bikochu needed an object filled with the person's scent, and she knew he had the capability to send his insect into the Uchiha's apartment to retrieve the smell but then again, Shino had been caught up lately with his teacher training course to join the ninja academy. How could she be bothering him?

Karin was known to be the best chakra scouter. Maybe she could help her to seek for
Sasuke. But before she could request for anything, the explanation had to come first.

"Hm… It's… Sasuke-san was… He…"

Jugo lowered himself a little. "Sasuke confessed?"