AN: Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate this holiday! Thanks again for all of the amazing reviews. You all are the best :)

I do not own Naruto.

Chapter Eight

Sakura devoted her time and every ounce of energy she had to her work during her stay in Suna. With the project she'd taken on to collaborate medical expertise between Suna and her home village of Konohagakure, as well as the children's clinics, there was no end to what she needed to accomplish. But that didn't stop the guilt.

Guilt that Sakura harbored the moment she'd entered Suna and realized what she'd done.

She had left Sasuke standing on the training grounds. Sakura had coldly left him. She hadn't done it simply because she had work that needed to be done. Like a spiteful child, she had left him in the hopes of getting back at him. Get back at him for what, she wasn't quite sure. Sasuke had done far worse to her before and she had forgiven him, no questions asked.

Maybe Sakura was getting too overworked and frustrated, letting her emotions get the best of her. However, she still struggled to push away the hurt she felt from their last interaction.

Sakura had thought that Sasuke was going to kiss her. She truly, honestly felt that something between them had changed. That he was beginning to look at her as she'd looked at him since they were children. But it was all a lie, and Sakura had stupidly let her emotions overcome her again and cloud reasoning.

Because, of course, Sasuke didn't kiss her. That was a fantasy. The kind of childish daydream that plagued her days and nights for so many years. He'd pulled away from her like he always did. And maybe it was because she'd convinced herself that lingering dream could become reality it hurt all the more.

Sakura had told herself that she would wait. She'd waited and waited and waited so many times before. With Sasuke back in the village, she'd forgotten how damn painful that could be.

Sakura didn't want to get her hopes up any longer. However, this seemed to be a fruitless effort. Because even as Sakura would tell herself, I don't expect him to be waiting for me at the village gates, she could feel her heart drop when Sasuke's face wasn't there. And when she reported to Lord Sixth upon her return and found that Sasuke had left the village while she was gone, all she could think was, he didn't wait for me.

When it came to her emotions, Sakura had always been an open book to her friends, even when she didn't want to be. Her face must've said it all because Kakashi responded to her silence by saying, "He didn't pick up and leave, Sakura. I gave him a mission." The outline of a fatherly smile appeared from beneath his mask. "He'll be back soon."

"Sure," was all she could muster up the strength to respond.

A moment of silence stretched in the Hokage's office as Sakura stared at her ninja sandals. Finally, Kakashi spoke again. "Maybe this isn't my place to say..."

"Then don't say it," Sakura snapped. She knew that she wasn't being fair. Although a wave of guilt overcame her with those words, her pride wouldn't let her apologize. Sakura sighed, still avoiding her former sensei's gaze. "I have some work I need to do since I've been gone. I better get to the hospital. Am I dismissed?"

"No."

Sakura looked up at Kakashi now and was surprised by the serious look in his eyes. He rarely got a stern tone with Sakura and tended to treat her with a more delicate fatherly love as she was the only female in their group.

"Sakura," he began. "Things are different now. Just give Sasuke some time."

She frowned. "I've always given him time." She balled her gloved hands into fists, trying to fight off the growing anger. "Damn it, I've done nothing but give him time!"

"He'll answer your feelings. Eventually. Just." His eyes softened. "Just give him time," he repeated.

Sakura sighed and turned on her heel to leave. When she opened the door, she heard Kakashi say from behind her, "He came back for you."

She paused, eyes wide, sucking in a sharp breath.

He...?

Sakura turned her head, skeptical green eyes glancing back to where Kakashi sat behind his large, important desk.

"What did you say?" She knew exactly what he said. But Sakura needed to hear someone say it.

"He came back for you."

"You're just saying that," she said, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "I've barely seen him. There's no way he came back for me."

There's no way.

Sakura shook her head and continued, "Sasuke spends as much time with you and Naruto as he does with me."

Kakashi shook his head. "He's only willingly sought to spend time with you. I've seen him when he needs to report in from missions or if I have somewhere to send him. Ask Naruto. I'm sure he'll tell you a similar story." Kakashi shrugged and threaded his fingers on top of the desk. "Now, tell me, am I wrong? Hasn't Sasuke been spending time with you? Does he not come to see you?"

Sakura blushed and thought about this. Sasuke... had been spending time with her. It hadn't seemed like much of anything at the time. But when it came to Sasuke, the devil was in the details. Nothing he ever did was obvious. Lost in thought, Sakura impulsively touched the cherry blossom necklace that was hidden beneath her top.

Kakashi let out an amused chuckle. "I rest my case. You're dismissed."

Sasuke didn't often feel like an idiot. Instead, he harbored a stubborn will that often convinced Sasuke that he was indestructible. At times, and mostly during childhood, his arrogance led him to believe that he was superior to most everyone else. Words such as "idiot" were saved for his friend, Naruto, and those that were like him.

But now, Sasuke felt like an idiot.

Because, no matter what he did or how pure the intentions he'd set, Sasuke was always hurting Sakura. Even when he aimed not to, Sasuke somehow managed to find ways to hurt her. He was always hurting her. Always pulling away, always causing her too much pain, always never being enough, always doing things wrong wrong wrong.

I don't deserve this, he reminded himself for what must have been the thousandth time in almost three years. Sasuke should do what was right for once in his life and let her be. Sakura deserved more, had always deserved more than he could ever give her. Nothing would ever be good enough. Despite all of the work the lone Uchiha had done to make things right after deserting the village all of those years ago, nothing he did would change his demons inside.

Because Sasuke, down to his core, was broken.

But the truth was, Sakura made his heart feel whole. She and Naruto both, made him feel whole in a way that he hadn't felt since he'd been an innocent child surrounded by family bounded by blood. And he selfishly craved more of that. After so many years of wanting nothing but vengeance, Sasuke had come to a point in his life where he wanted to feel like he had a home.

I should leave her alone. I cause nothing but trouble for her.

These two sides of himself raged a war inside. These were not the kind of things he should be thinking about during a mission. This was not the state of mind he should have or what should be clouding his mind and judgment. Even still, Sasuke couldn't help but let this never-ending war rage inside.

Leave her alone. Leave her alone. Leave her alone.

He recited it like a mantra, desperately trying to overcome the urges that plagued him. But then, as it often did, Naruto's annoying voice managed to shout over his internal misery.

"She deserves you."

Sakura, he knew, deserved everything that she wanted. And for some reason Sasuke that couldn't wrap his mind around, she wanted him. She'd waited for him longer than anyone conceivably should have. She tried to save him when he didn't deserve saving. She waited and waited and waited and here she was, still waiting. Even when she was frustrated with him, she was still waiting. How much longer would Sasuke make her wait? That stubborn, annoying, beautiful woman would keep waiting and all he would be doing is breaking her heart by forcing her to wait. Was it fair of Sasuke to keep his feelings from her, even if he thought it was for the best? How long would she continue to wait?

She deserves you.

It was true that Sasuke didn't deserve Sakura. He didn't deserve her never-ending love and devotion, but she continued give it freely. What kind of life could Sasuke give her in return? How could it ever be good enough? Or was simply having him enough for her and all he was doing was delaying her happiness? Maybe giving in to his desires wouldn't be selfish. Maybe it would be the least selfish thing Sasuke had ever done in his life.

I can be a better man. For her, I would have to be.

It had been three days since Sakura's return to the village from Suna and Sasuke had yet to return. Sakura was curled up in her bed, half asleep and restless from nights plagued with worry. After she visited with the Hokage, Sakura wasn't sure how she should be feeling. Had Sasuke really returned for her? He'd returned for her and she repaid him by leaving in anger? How could she possibly face him after that?

Sakura's eyes fluttered open in the dark at the sound of something scraping against her window.

What...?

The window of her apartment banged open and the tell-tail sound of something crashing to the floor startled her into wakefulness. Sakura grabbed a kunai from her bedside table and leapt to the floor, crouched and ready for battle.

"Sa...ku..ra..."

Sakura blinked and took in Sasuke's form, sprawled on her floor and clutching his shoulder.

"S-Sasuke-kun? What?"

Sakura turned on the lamp and soft light filtered into the room, illuminating the splotch of red where Sasuke held pressure to his shoulder.

Blood.

In the past, Sakura would have felt sick with helplessness at a moment like this. But as an expert medical ninja now, she felt her well-trained instincts kick in immediately. A professional sense of calm washed over her and she knelt beside Sasuke who sat on her floor, face wrinkled in pain. Gingerly, Sakura removed Sasuke's hand from his left shoulder and ran green cooling chakra over the wound to assess the issue.

Sakura knitted her brow in concentration and used the chakra pooled in her hands to stitch the wound together, healing the flesh. As Sakura worked, she could hear Sasuke's breaths steady and feel his eyes studying her.

"You've lost a lot of blood," Sakura said and shook her head. "You idiot. Why didn't you go to the nearest hospital?"

"Hate... hospitals," he wheezed.

Sakura sighed and, once she'd finished stitching the deep wound, she pooled soothing chakra to numb some of the pain. Sasuke sighed with relief and, being so close, Sakura felt it tickle her cheek.

Not now. This isn't the time. Get a grip.

"There," Sakura said and wiped a bit of sweat off her brow. Running her eyes over the wound and pleased with her work, Sakura stood and gently tugged Sasuke to stand. "You need to lie down on the bed."

Sasuke shook his head and opened his mouth to refuse, but Sakura snapped, "Don't argue with me." Sasuke closed his mouth and allowed her to half carry him to her bed with his lone arm around her shoulder.

Once she had Sasuke settled down, Sakura moved to leave the room. Immediately, Sasuke's hand snatched out and grabbed her wrist. "Where are you going?" he demanded, sounding dreary and half drunk.

Sakura blinked down at his fingers wrapped around her wrist. "It's fine, Sasuke-kun. I'll be right back, I promise. Just rest."

Reluctantly, Sasuke released her arm and Sakura left the room. Moments later, she returned with a small tin in her hand. Pulling the chair from the corner of the room, Sakura sat next to where Sasuke lay in her bed and began to lightly rub the medical salve she'd concocted onto his wound. Again, she could feel his mismatched eyes on her, studying her with some kind of expression that she was avoiding. Sakura didn't know if she wanted to see whatever look he was giving her.

There was only so long she could avoid his stare, however. When Sakura looked up, she found that Sasuke was battling just to keep his eyes open.

Gods, he's so stubborn, Sakura thought with a smile.

"Sleep," she demanded. When he only frowned at her, Sakura continued. "Sleep. I'll still be here in the morning.

Still frowning, Sasuke conceded by sighing and closing his eyes. Within moments, exhaustion overcame him and his breaths evened as he slipped into unconsciousness. Sakura smiled and studied his features. For such a powerful and fierce shinobi, Sasuke looked utterly childlike and peaceful while he slept. The handsome features of his face that were typically all hard lines seemed smooth and pure.

Sakura smiled gently and stood from the chair, prepared to leave him be and sleep on the couch. She hesitated as she continued to study him. Reaching out a tentative hand, Sakura brushed the dark locks away from his face was surprised by how soft they felt through her fingers. Leaning forward and gently, so gently as not to wake him, Sakura softly kissed the middle of his forehead. Her lips lingered there, allowing herself to relish the way it felt to be so close to him. She breathed in his scent, trying to detect the notes of it. Cedar? With some bit of spice mixed in, perhaps?

"Sakura...ka."

Sakura jerked back; sure she had woken him. But when she pulled back, however, Sasuke was still passed out in slumber and completely unaware of her actions.

She sucked in a sharp breath, hand clutching at her chest. Is he...? Did he?

Sakura's eyes softened and a sweet smile made its way to her lips. She reached out a hand and gently squeezed his.

"I'm here, Sasuke-kun. I'm always here."

She wasn't sure if she imagined the sensation, but Sakura could have sworn she felt him squeeze her hand in return.

Sasuke woke sometime throughout the night. He had no sense of what time it was, all he could comprehend was the utter darkness that engulfed the room. For a split moment, the Uchiha forgot where he was. Normally, this would have made anyone else panic. For him, however, it took mere moments for his eyes to flicker across the room and process where he was.

Sakura's room.

That's right. Sasuke had inconvenienced her once again by stumbling into her room during the late hours, in need of medical attention. Sasuke glanced over at his shoulder and noticed Sakura's handiwork. The wound was pink and the skin stretched thin with new flesh taking its place when what felt like moments before it had been deformed and grotesque.

The smell of rosemary and mint washed over Sasuke's senses from where it stuck to her sheets and pillows. He sighed from the bed, already feeling much better than he had at the start of his morning. Reluctantly, Sasuke sat up from her bed and looked around the room once more, noting that Sakura didn't occupy it. He swung his legs over the mattress and made his way through the hallway and into the living room. Immediately, he picked up the sound of her even breathing and relaxed, knowing she was safe and here with him.

Sasuke's bare feet padded against the hardwood and realized he didn't remember taking off his shoes. Did Sakura...? He stopped once he reached the couch and took in Sakura's small form curled up against the cushions. She'd kicked off her covers sometime throughout the night and Sasuke noticed the red shorts that exposed her impossibly long legs. How was it possible for legs to be so long on someone so petite?

He tore his eyes away before his thoughts could become less than pure and knelt beside the pink-haired woman.

"Sakura," he whispered, putting a hand on her shoulder and nudging her gently.

"Mmmm," she groaned. Through a frown, she mumbled, "Shut up and go to sleep."

Sasuke smirked and nudged her again. "I will when you get in your own bed."

"S'fine."

Sasuke rolled his eyes, realizing that forcing Sakura walk to her room was a fruitless effort. Sighing, Sasuke formed a Susanoo arm to take the place of his missing one and tenderly lifted her. Almost immediately, Sakura smiled in her sleep and snuggled her head against his chest. That scent of rosemary and mint assaulted his senses once again and felt a blush rise to his cheeks as she rested her head against him. A small part of Sasuke screamed at him to keep her there, sleeping blissfully against him. But a stronger part of him said that he needed to be a gentleman, and so, Sasuke carried Sakura to her own bed. Once she was resting securely on the mattress, he grabbed the blanket to tuck around her, hiding away those sinful legs.

Turning to make his leave, he heard the bed creak from behind him.

"Sasuke-kun?"

Now she wakes up?

Sasuke turned an onyx eye on her and saw the pinkette on her side, clutching the blankets to her chest. When he said nothing, Sakura whispered, "Stay."

The Uchiha turned to face her curiously but made no further effort to move.

"Stay," she repeated. "In here. Please?" Her eyes screwed shut like she was blocking out some kind of pain. "I need you here. I just..." She sighed. "I need you."

Sasuke's heart slammed in his chest, with a mixture of nervousness and pain. Pain from hearing how heartbroken she sounded. And nervousness, because...

He eyed the bed and swallowed. But he didn't refuse. He crossed the few steps to her and softly lowered himself onto the mattress. Sakura hummed in pleasure and turned her back to him in what he assumed was an effort to make him feel more comfortable. Meanwhile, Sasuke laid on top of the covers as it felt far too intimate to slip beneath them with her.

Silence stretched in the darkness and he wondered if she drifted off to sleep. But right as he was wondering this, Sakura whispered in the darkness, "Will you be here when I wake up?"

Sasuke closed his eyes, forcing himself to relax back into the mattress. "Ah," he whispered back.

He couldn't bear to leave her anymore. He would stay for as long as she wished him to.