As funny or creepy as it sounded, he liked visiting cemeteries. He was, of course, aware that it was a gloomy trait of his, and that to anyone who would know his story it would appear as somehow masochistic. But the truth was, he liked cemeteries because of their silence. In contrast to the crowded streets of the villages he'd pass, cemeteries were normally deserted (unless someone had just died) and the few people that may linger on them from time to time would normally be minding their own business and keeping distance from each other. He liked the idea of not being bothered while he was busy thinking. And truth be told, sometimes he did think about his clan, about his family, about Itachi. Maybe it was rubbing salt in his wounds, but he did it in hopes that someday, those thoughts wouldn't burn him anymore, and yes, they did hurt, but it was his journey of atonement after all.

Recently, however, his mind had been circling other kinds of thoughts. Could he say it was also a bit family related? He wouldn't know. It felt like that somehow, after all, for the time he was growing up in Konoha, before he decided to run off with Orochimaru, Team 7 was the closest thing to a family he had. And if it hadn't been for Itachi's lingering presence around the village, maybe it had remained that way.

But would he be feeling this tightness in his chest, this strange longing in the skin for someone who's a family member?

He wasn't dumb. He knew what those feelings were, he'd felt them a couple times before, back when he was younger and before leaving Konoha for the first time. Not that he'd admit it to anyone, but he could admit it to himself. He thought he had long forgotten it was possible to feel other things besides angst and sorrow, that it was possible to feel the way he'd been feeling for a while now, to long for something that wasn't revenge. He chuckled to himself, how many times he'd told her the same words, and how many meanings they've had. She was, in fact, still annoying him somehow.

He knew his words had always been ambiguous around her. For sometime she was to him just a stupid fangirl who didn't get his pain or his motives, but then he saw her determination and her resilience and somewhere along their time as a team he started to feel fond of her. But during the war he'd seen a completely different side of her, she wasn't fangirling over him anymore, she was now determined and strong. She wasn't the little girl he and Naruto had to protect during battle, she'd become someone who could actually fight along them, an equal. And when he fought Naruto and was lying armless by his side, barely conscious, she was the one who healed him, even though she didn't have to, she could've just saved Naruto and left him to die but she didn't. And when the war was over and he saw that she did in fact still keep some feelings towards him, he felt somewhat relieved, he was relieved she didn't hate him after all it'd happen and after all he'd done. But he still kept his words ambiguous.

Not careless though, he actually meant what he said, very much. See you later, he did want to see her again, thank you, and he was indeed extremely grateful. But the nature of the feelings he was having right now were much deeper, he didn't only wanted to see her, he was longing to see her and he was not only grateful, would it be too frivolous of him to say he loved her?

That was the stuff occupying the mind of the young man while he made his way, slowly, through the graveyard. It was the words written on one of the graves that returned him to reality again. It was his father's name. Well, not his actual father's name, but the name someone shared with his father. He stared at it for a brief moment before hearing someone behind him.

-Oh, my, what do we have here?- he turned around and found an old woman holding something wrapped in paper to her chest.

-Excuse me- he said simply, turning again in the aim of leaving.

-Please don't- the old lady stopped him with a gentle tone- did you know my husband?

-No, I'm sorry. He just has the same name as my father- he explained.

-Oh, I see. He was a teacher, so I thought maybe you were a former student. I'm hoping your father was a good man like my Fugaku?-

-He wa…-

-My Fu was a charming man, he was tempered though, a little stubborn and air headed as well, but very strong and cheerful. He was the type of strong whose strength laid in his aperture of feelings, if you know what I mean-

-I think I d…-

-But mostly he was resilient. He always endured. He endured almost sixty years of marriage with me, bless his soul. That's where his real charm was- she then turned to look at him. He wasn't sure if he was puzzled or annoyed by the lady, he wanted to say he'd leave but for some reason he didn't. The woman then smiled softly- I'm sorry for starting such a weird conversation with you son, you do look like someone who's grieving, but I sense grief isn't the only thing that's bothering you right now, am I right?

He couldn't contain his surprise this time.

-I knew it- she laughed.- I'm still sharp for my age, you see? So, is it unrequited?

-Unre…-

-Did she (or he, it wouldn't have anything wrong with it) say they doesn't love you?-

-No-

-She loves you then?-

-I think so-

-Then what's the matter? Being loved by the same person you love is kind of a miracle, you know? You shouldn't be wasting time son! Believe me- something in her naive tone reminded him of Naruto somehow. He mentally sighed.

-I can't. I've done things I'm not proud of. I need to atone first- he said simply.

-Is that why you travel? I couldn't help to notice your attire, you seem like someone who's been on the run for a while now- he nodded in response.

-so you've hurted them?-

-Yes-

-And they still love you?- he remained silent but nodded.- you must've screwed up pretty bad if you had to travel alone for who knows how much time.

They remained silent for a bit, both looking at the grave in front of them. Sasuke thought it was time he left but then, out of the blue, she spoke again.

-It is true that time and loneliness help us reflect on ourselves, and heal our wounds. However, there are things that we can only learn when we are accompanied by someone who sees with eyes other than ours. No matter how much pain you've caused or what you did, if you're repenting, then you're worthy of being loved.- he remained silent. There was this rumbling inside his chest, he couldn't accept the idea of letting himself be loved so easily.

-You don't think you deserve it?- she asked. It was like he was thinking out loud, he frowned his eyebrows unconsciously and she laughed again.-I told you I was sharp! You remind me of myself… I used to think the same way you think, and I was as stubborn as well. But let me say it another way: what about them? That person who waited and forgave you and is still waiting for you right now at this very moment… don't you think it's time they received your love? Maybe you think you don't deserve it, but they definitely do, isn't it unfair for them to keep waiting? Just think about it as if it was the other way around, as if it was you waiting…

And suddenly it hit him. His brother's face came right to mind. It's true, if he had known sooner, he would've liked Itachi to stay with him, even if he thought he wasn't worthy. Because he loved him. Sasuke smiled a little. The lady smiled as well.

-So you finally see it- she sighed happily- You saw that Fu? You're still teaching people a lesson even though you're not here…-

-He was a good teacher, I can see-

-And a marvelous companion- and then she turned to face him- and I'm sure you'll be as well son.

Then she carefully leant and unwrapped the package she was holding to her chest and revealed a beautiful branch of a cherry tree, filled with blossoms. Sasuke nearly gasped. The old lady put the branch solemnly on the vessel of the grave.

-I know it's uncommon, but you must know… my Fu had this very rare hair color, soft pink, like cherry blossoms, it was truly beautiful…-

Sasuke remained there even after she was gone. He felt kind of abliss, a little guilty for feeling relieved, but mostly abliss.

-Next time I see her…- he murmured.- I'm going to ask her to come with me.

A strong wind blew. Somewhere near, a raven sat on the branch of a cherry tree.