Everyone was preparing for their departure for the long night. Sakura greeted her friends and wished them a safe journey home. She grabbed for her belongings and head straight towards the door. She breathed in the fresh air and allowed it to roam her lungs freely. The night life was breath-taking, the sky splattered with unlimited stars with the wraith-silver disc hanging in the deep navy sky.

She felt a hand tap her shoulder. ''Hey, want me to walk you home?'' Naruto asked.

'You should be walking Hinata home, what are you even saying?'' She raised an eyebrow.

''I know, I'm just, I don't know.'' Naruto gingerly scratched the back of his head.

''Listen, I know you're looking out for me, and I sincerely appreciate it Naruto, but I'll be fine walking home. There's nothing to look out for.'' She reassured Naruto. What was he even looking out for? Although she was appreciative of his gesture, she felt babied. Whilst she turned her heel to go home, Sasuke was casually leaning on the restaurant door, watching the whole interaction between Naruto and Sakura, only to turn the opposite direction and dissipate into the night.

She just couldn't sleep, she tossed, turned, fidgeted and tossed again. She groaned in frustration. The night was too hot, if only she could remove her skin and replace it with some freshly cold ones. She shot up from her bed. 'This Is not working out; I'll go to the training ground.' She mentally decided. Since she has been at the hospital most of the time, her skills have become somewhat rusty. She left the door wearing her shorts and a tank top, along with her weapons. Once she reached the training grounds, she dropped her weapons and started stretching her limbs, removing any signs of tenderness and tightness. She shot her kunai at the dummies starting off with some easy tasks and gradually built the level of difficulty. She puffed in pleasure, thoroughly enjoying being kept on her toes, allowing the sweat to drip slowly down her face.

Unexpectedly, she heard sudden movements from the trees. Sakura stopped in her tracks, she stared up at the forest which revealed nothing but pitch darkness. She prepared her kunai for any incoming attack, but she received none. There was no sound, no movement, only the sound of her heartbeat crashing against her moist chest.

Within a split second, a kunai shot towards her face in the speed of lightening. Hadn't Sakura been prepared; the kunai could have possibly ripped through her face. She got the kunai with no hesitancy, furious at the thought of who could play such annoyingly silly jokes. ''Show yourself.'' She commanded in such an authoritative manner.

The figure stepped out slowly from the trees, movements so delicate, the rustles of the trees were unheard. The figure looked up to her, the full paschal moon reflecting against his onyx eyes. He looked stunningly beautiful; one would think he descended from the heavens itself.

''Sasuke?'' Sakura scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. What was he doing here? He never replied, simply walking forward to completely reveal his figure. ''What are you doing here? I'm training.'' She sprawled her arms around at nothing in particular, simply referring to the area around her.

''Brawl with me.'' He simply stated. Rather than a request, it sounded more like an order with made Sakura furrow her pink brows. ''Excuse me, what?'' Why would he want to brawl with her of all people? Surely, he probably thought he was above her, because that's the type of person he was: self-absorbed, conceited and considers others as unworthy.

''Brawl with me.'' He repeated, becoming irritated from having to repeat himself. Wasn't it obvious?

''No.'' She turned her heels on him, not batting another eye at him. Sasuke held no heed and threw a kunai straight towards the back of her head. Sakura spun and caught the kunai with her index and middle finger.

''What the hell are you-'' Before she could finish her sentence, Sasuke bolted straight towards her with his sword, leaving no time for Sakura to react. Instinctively, Sakura brought her fist to the ground, shattering the ground below her; debris flying in every direction and falling as if it was raining hail. She leaped onto the available tree behind her looking down at an unaffected Sasuke.

Sasuke was caught off guard once the ground shattered before his heel. He looked up at Sakura. She was mad, but she looked alluring, nonetheless. He wanted to test her; see how far she has come. He knew she would outright refuse her, but he wouldn't give her a choice, because no-one can outright refuse an Uchiha.

He leaped, crashing his feet onto the tree Sakura had refugeed to. Sakura watched him charging towards her and grabbed him by the ankle, only to swing him back in the direction he came from. She was furious, how could he selfishly refuse her denial and charge for her nonetheless? He hasn't changed and every fibre of Sakura was hating this ongoing interaction. Blinded by fury, Sakura leaped towards him, crashing down onto him, stabbing the kunai on the grass next to the right side of his head.

He was straddled by the waist, her legs on either side. He could have dodged that attack swiftly if he wanted to, but he didn't. He watched her panting; her chest rising and lowering for every bated breath, her sweat dripping, her features scrunched in anger. The moon glazed over her silky porcelain skin. He wanted to swipe the sweat from her features, looking for an excuse to make contact with her bare skin. He waited for her to speak first, after all, he was a man of few words.

''What do you want?'' She wanted to be left alone in content, to sharpen her skills. The last face she wanted to see was his. He never replied, they were hit with silence, the only sound evident from their breathing which intertwined from the close proximity. He gazed at her features, she has become so mature, so feminine, after all, it has been many years. She kept her luscious locks short, that was wise; after all, being a shinobi and a medic, a longer length would simply get in her way.

Sakura was growing irritated from the silence. Was he just going to sit there an observe her features? Is that what he was doing anyway? Coming back to her senses, Sakura noticed the closeness between the two. She used his chest as a support to get up and started dusted her clothes from the debris and dust. She started to gather her equipment and head out.

''Why are you acting hostile?'' He simply questioned, pushing himself up into a seated position. ''You wouldn't even face me back at that restaurant.'' Sakura wanted to scoff because of the irony. Sasuke has always been a hostile individual, towards his companions and towards strangers. ''Because.'' He raised a brow at her single reply. She faced him. ''Because you are now more like a stranger, rather than a comrade or a friend. I don't know what you were expecting coming back after so many years. So many things have changed now. Nothing is the same, and it will never be, because of you.''

The silence was yet again raucous. Sakura leaped for the roofs, opting for a quicker route home. Once again, he could do nothing but to watch her disappear into the evening sky.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Thanks for reading~

-Grape