Authors' Note: Hello again everyone! I'm so excited to bring chapter 2 to this brand new story so quickly. This story is going to follow Sasuke's return from his journey, and his budding relationship with Sakura that eventually leads to, dun dun dunnnnn... the birth of Sarada, which i thoroughly detail in my other story "One Journeys End and a New Beginning." This story will be multi-chapter, im not sure how many though. I will stay as close to canon as I can, and i will keep everyone in character the way i feel they were written originally. I encourage reviews (please don't be shy!), whether you are as excited as me about a particular chapter, or if you have some constructive criticism about flow/characterization/grammar, etc. Please be tactful and it will be received gratefully. Otherwise just enjoy this story! I promise i wont put so many notes next time.

CHP 2

The next morning Sasuke woke with a start. He was still fully clothed in his bed, the room dark, and he could hear the chirping of crickets outside his window. Groaning to himself, he managed a sitting position and rubbed the remnants of sleep from his eyes. He wasn't sure what woke him up, but his ninja senses were calm. It was likely a dream, but for once he couldn't remember it. He preferred it that way. No good had ever come from his dreams. There was a clock on his nightstand that read 4:30am. He knew sunrise was at 6 and he was determined to be there when Sakura came home from her mission.

Sasuke relieved himself in the bathroom and splashed some cold water on his face to further wake himself up. He found the towel Kakashi had gotten him and dried his face. Looking at his angular profile in the mirror he noticed dark circles under his mismatched eyes, betraying his lack of a healthy sleep cycle. His hair was also not in the best shape considering it was overgrown, and he hadn't had a proper shower in 3 days. Not to mention, now that he was enclosed in the small bathroom he took notice of the smell coming off his body. It was a testament to his long travels, but still. It wasn't pleasant. A hot shower was needed, and looking around he noticed a bar of soap in the shower, brand new. Sasuke silently thanked Kakashi.

After a steaming hot shower Sasuke was feeling refreshed, and the tension was somewhat relieved from his tight muscles. He got out a clean set of clothes that he'd been saving for after a bath and he pulled his underwear and pants on. He'd gotten plenty of practice doing everything one handed since he didn't have anybody he could rely on for help while traveling. There were still some occasions he would get frustrated at his one handedness when he faced a particularly difficult task, but for the most part he handled everything as easily now as he did two handed. Everything had a different process, but the outcome was the same, and with repetition it became muscle memory for him. He didn't have to think through every task to get it done. This extended to his fighting abilities as well, which he made sure to hone to perfection. No slip-ups could be allowed on the battlefield.

Forgoing the shirt temporarily he went back to the bathroom to shave the stubble that was starting to break through. He hadn't had to worry much about facial hair until right before he left for his journey. Now it was almost an every day thing that needed to be addressed. He wasn't the type for a beard, so he kept the razor with him through his travels.

Once finished he got dressed the rest of the way he started rummaging through the kitchen to find the food Kakashi had mentioned. He smirked when he found the provisions. Instant ramen. Naruto would be proud, even though Sasuke wasn't thrilled at having it for breakfast. His stomach suddenly growled so loud he would have been embarrassed if anyone had been around. That's what he got for skipping dinner last night and passing out. He prepared the noodles and scarfed them down quickly, feeling somewhat satisfied now that he was clean and wouldn't have to push through emotional barriers on an empty stomach.

He glanced at the clock on the microwave. It read 5:30am. He decided he would head out now and wait for Sakura on the same bench he left her on so long ago. If his goal was to mend the broken bonds, it seemed logical to attempt changing the memory of that location from painful to (hopefully) pleasant, by being there when she returned. It would be a stark contrast to the conditions in which he first left her. He grabbed Kusanagi and his traveling cloak, strapped up, and headed out the door. On his way out of the village there were a few people preparing their shops for opening at sunrise. It was the day before the weekend so there wouldn't be a huge rush considering most people would be working, but he figured there were still stay at home mother's that would come out and grocery shop to start the day, or the occasional older couple who would come out for breakfast. He didn't make eye contact with anyone and avoided unwanted attention as he made his way to the village gate. He passed through with a curt nod to the guards and continued down the path, around a long bend that led him to his desired location. The bench.

He sat down, and for some reason his palm was sweaty. He wouldn't go as far as to say he was nervous, as this was just a reunion with an old friend. It just happened to be a friend that had confessed her love to him over the years. A friend that was accomplished, grown up now, and likely even more attractive than when he left for his journey. A friend he had tapped on the forehead in a sign of unspoken affection that surprised even him in that moment, with a quiet promise of "next time". He wasn't nervous at all. It was just Sakura, after all.

The minutes ticked by and with his eyes closed he meditated on the sounds of the nature around him. In his times of distress through the years this had a calming effect on him as he focused his attention on each individual sound. He could hear three birds behind him to the right, each taking turns singing their morning tune. It almost became a form of mental training when his thoughts became too loud. Instead of sinking down into the depths and allowing his memories of the past control his emotions, he was able to focus his attention on the here and now, reminding himself of a new chance at life and a better future not steeped in his pain and anger.

The sun slowly but surely began to creep over the trees, bleeding through his eyelids, and as if that were a cue for her approach, the sounds of light foots steps padding on the ground gracing his ears. Kakashi had been spot on. He leaned forward with his sole elbow on his knee and turned his head to watch her approach. A spot of pink suddenly popped into view down the road, and he watched her approach with her hands tucked under the straps of her pack. She wore a carefree expression on her upturned face as she enjoyed the first rays of sun falling on to her profile, eyes closed and head tilted slightly back with a faint smile on her face. Sasuke was struck for a moment, not expecting to catch her in such an exposed moment when she thought nobody would be watching, relishing in the feel of the warm sun on her pale skin. It was brief, as she brought her attention back down to earth, quickly picking up on the set of eyes trained in her direction. He watched her suddenly freeze mid step. She was close enough for him to see her open mouth, wide-eyed expression of shock as her emerald eyes met his mis-matched gaze. He stood up, casually walked up to the young kunoichi who was much shorter than he remembered. Ignoring her creeping blush and stunned silence, he gently reached up to tap her forehead. Then with as much warmth as he could muster he said, "I'm home, Sakura."

Sakura felt like her heart had leapt straight into her throat. She also forgot how she was supposed to even breath. These were silly notions for a world-renowned medic, considering both things were quite impossible. Did her heart stop beating as well? This couldn't be real. Sasuke was standing there, plain as day right in front of her, as if it was the most natural thing in the world for him to be doing. As if he had been around this whole time and it was a regular occurrence for him to be sitting there, waiting for her to return from a mission. As if he hadn't been gone for over two years while she waited, and waited, and waited some more for his return. Of course, her life had gone on after he left for his journey, and she had thrown herself into her work to stay distracted instead of pining over his absence the whole time. But no matter the number of men that attempted to score a date with her, and no matter the prodding from her best friend to just test the waters with someone else, she could never bring herself to do it. She had no desire to. She had resolved herself to wait on the one man who she wasn't sure would ever return her feelings, just in the hopes that he would one day be willing to take that step and acknowledge how she feels. That he would one day see her as a woman, strong and independent, worthy of being by his side to help shoulder the weight the world had placed on his shoulders; A woman full of love, compassion, and comfort; A safe place for him to return and confide his deepest thoughts when the world was sleeping. Yes, she had waited, and now here he was.

"S-sasuke-kun?" Sakura responded rather pathetically. Her voice shook and stuttered in her nervousness at his proximity. She could smell the earth in his traveling cloak, and the lingering scent of campfires that had seeped into the well-worn fabric. The scent comforted her, and yet in the same moment caused her brain to go a little haywire. Get it together, Sakura, she mentally reprimanded herself.

She cleared her throat to gather a little more strength in her voice as she asked, "When did you return?"

"Last night" he told her. She noticed the deeper tone of his voice as a result of his maturity and she found she rather liked it. A lot. And seriously, how much did he grow? She felt so small next to him.

Sakura smiled up at him. "Well welcome home Sasuke-kun!"

"I could say the same to you."

Sakura laughed softly, "I suppose you could. How did you know I would be returning now?" She blushed a little at the reminder that he had clearly been sitting there waiting for her. What other explanation could there be?

Sasuke seemed to think about his response. "Kakashi told me how you liked to return to the village at sunrise after a mission."

Sakura was shocked, first at the fact that Kakashi had cared enough to remember when she had told him that, and second at the fact that Sasuke cared enough to go out of his way and greet her here after finding out. Her whole world was being turned on its axis. Sasuke was really, really home, and he was here waiting for her.

"O-oh, I didn't think he would have remembered that! Anyways, I'm glad he did. I'm very happy you're home Sasuke-kun" Sakura said, shyly.

He was looking at her in an odd way, and she couldn't quite make out his expression. He responded with a simple 'Hn' and then reached his hand out, silently offering to carry her pack the rest of the way. Immediately Sakura's cheeks bloomed crimson. She knew that he knew that carrying it wasn't a problem at all for her, but it was the gesture that really warmed her heart and made her feel a little giddy. With a sheepish smile of thanks she passed it to him. He slung it over his shoulder and turned to start walking down the path back to the village. Sakura skipped to catch up to his long stride.

"So" she started, "does anyone else know you're home yet?"

"No, it was late when I got here last night. I only saw Kakashi. And the guards of course." Sasuke nodded in the direction of the two posted at the gate as they passed through the wide arch.

Sakura smiled at them, recognizing the two Shinobi. They gave her a wave and a "Welcome back Haruno-san". She had treated them extensively after the war and they exchanged greetings every so often, She was always happy to see those she had healed now living full and happy lives.

"Thank you Misoko, and Danabi" she responded kindly.

Sasuke seemed uninterested in the exchange, though his pace did quicken, perhaps to avoid being addressed by the men. Sakura wondered how it had been for him as he traveled, confronting different people as he tried to repair his reputation. She thought maybe it would be too soon to ask those questions.

As they entered the village and came to the main roads, Sasuke automatically began to veer right, heading towards the direction of her parents home. Sakura paused.

"Um, Sasuke-kun, of course you wouldn't know this but I actually moved into my own apartment last year. It's this way" she said, gesturing to the left in the direction towards the hospital.

"Ah" he said, changing course with a tinge of pink rising in his cheeks. "Sorry" he muttered.

"It's okay" she reassured him with a smile. She was happy that he even remembered where she had lived before. Plus, it meant that he indeed intended to walk her home.

He let her lead the way to her apartment that was only a block away from the hospital. When thinking of moving out of her parents house last year, she had waited for an opening at a location that would be close by the hospital so it would be easy for her to get there for emergencies, and so she wouldn't have a long trek home after her late night shifts. It made it all the easier to throw herself into her work, and that much harder to get distracted by her social life, or lack-there-of. But she wouldn't mention that tidbit to Sasuke. The silence between them as they walked was surprisingly comfortable. She was happy to be in his presence, and he seemed to be lost in thought.

Hesitant to break the silence, she said, "Do you intend to stay long, Sasuke-kun?" She tried her best to act like his answer didn't have the potential to crush her heart.

Her act must have been successful considering Sasuke responded bluntly, "I haven't decided yet."

Perhaps he noticed the brief look of disappointment on her face for he quickly followed up with "It depends on how some things go. I'll be here for a little while at least."

Sakura wondered what those things might be, and if she would have any influence in his decision. She was more satisfied with this response than she was the first. He wasn't leaving right away and that's all she could ask for in the moment. This was only day one with him.

They finally reached her apartment door and she hesitated outside of it, fidgeting nervously with her key in hand. Should she ask? Or would it be too forward? This was uncharted territory for Sakura and her nerves were getting the best of her. What if he rejected her and just wanted to be alone? He'd been alone for so long, maybe he preferred it that way. But then why would he have waited for her return? Am I reading too much into it? Why did he choose to come home now? Exasperated with her own indecisiveness she finally thought, screw it. She had waited so long; she wasn't going to pass up the opportunity for more time with him even if his rejection could hurt her.

"Sasuke-kun, I don't have to do anything later today. Would you maybe want to come over for tea in a bit? We could catch up, after I get a chance to shower and write up my report." Sakura's voice was full of forced confidence that she hoped was convincing.

"Sure" he replied nonchalantly. With a turn to walk back the way they came towards his own apartment he announced, "I'll bring lunch."

Sakura's heartbeat stuttered in her chest. He said yes! And he's bringing lunch! He didn't see the big smile that lit up her face as she opened her door and stepped inside. Nor did she see the smirk on his face as he made his way home.

A few hours later, Sakura was focused on writing her mission report on her couch. After Sasuke had dropped her off at home, she immediately hopped in the shower and washed away the grime of two days travel. She then dressed in a dark green thin sweater that sat lower on her shoulders, and her black knee length shorts. She liked to be comfy at home but still decent enough to answer the door if needed. Finished, she had grabbed an apple to snack on and immediately got to work on her report so she wouldn't be distracted when Sasuke was there.

Now, she was almost finished when she heard a sudden sharp trio of knocks on her front door. She started, not realizing how quickly the time had passed. The clock read 11:55 and her heart raced a little faster. Chakra sensing notwithstanding, she knew who would be at the door. She hopped up quickly, but in her haste she managed to stub her pinky toe on her coffee table. A low groan of pain escaped her mouth as she straightened herself up and went to the door, only slightly limping. She had dealt with pain much worse than this, but her senses were a little heightened with her nerves being on edge. Besides, stubbing a toe always hurts like a you-know-what, no matter how tough a person is. Sakura reached out to open the door, but she paused at her shaking hand. Get a grip, she told herself, and took a calming breath to get her hand steady. She opened the door and true to his word Sasuke stood there holding a bag of take-out he had picked up on the way over. The sight of him there in her presence for a second time that day, looking so damn natural with a bag of food, as if this was a regular occurrence, really struck Sakura. She must have let her mind wander a little too long because Sasuke cleared his throat a bit and Sakura started yet again, realizing she hadn't invited him in.

"Sasuke-kun! Sorry, where are my manners? Come in." She tried to hide the blush creeping up her neck as he nodded and walked past her in the doorway, lightly brushing against her. She shivered a little at the brief contact. It was official. Sasuke's form had touched her, so she couldn't pass this crazy day off as a wildly vivid dream. She had felt him walk past, so there was no way this wasn't real. As if she really needed to convince herself.

Sasuke walked in and deposited his shoes on the mat by the door next to Sakura's sandals. She tried not to think about how much she liked that.

"Here, I'll take that and get plates for us" she said, and he handed her the bag to take to the kitchen. He still hadn't said anything and she eyed him as he observed his surroundings. She was suddenly self-conscious about the light clutter, but she had gotten so focused on her report that she didn't take time to prepare for his arrival.

"You have a nice place," he suddenly said, turning to face her in the kitchen while she bustled around. "You said you moved last year?"

"Ah, thank you. Yes it was shortly after I passed my Jonin exams. I knew it had been time to move out for a while, but I was waiting for a convenient place near the hospital to open up. This ended up being perfect for me." She appreciated the excuse to talk as she gathered their plates of food and carried them to her little table. The size of it was perfect for her, but it was pretty intimate for two people. She hoped it wouldn't make him uncomfortable with the proximity.

As they sat down he didn't seem hesitant at all, nor did he show signs of discomfort. Sakura breathed a little easier, happy and content to have him there eating lunch with her in her own apartment. How many times had she envisioned this very scenario in her mind over the years? All her daydreams paled in comparison to the real deal.

They said their thanks and both began to eat, quietly at first. Sasuke had brought them Umeboshi Onigiri and Yakitori, both delicious.

"So" she started, breaking the silence, "I assume Kakashi told you Naruto is on a mission right now, though I suppose that's pretty obvious since he hasn't broken down my door yet." She smiled in fondness at the thought of her boisterous friend.

"Ai. He said it would be a few more days till he got back."

Sakura finished chewing her food while a small smirk curved her lips. "He's gonna freak when he finds out you've been here while he's gone. You haven't told him you were coming back have you?"

"No" Sasuke said.

"Hmm. Well, prepare yourself. He'll want to get ramen almost every day, though Hinata is good at reining him in when he does too much." Sakura smiled at the memory of Hinata reprimanding Naruto one evening when he was too insistent after Sakura had had a long shift at the hospital. Naruto's stunned face melted into a sheepish and apologetic one. Since then he has been a little more reasonable, though with Sasuke here she is sure all bets would be off for holding him back.

"I almost forgot they got married," Sasuke said as he paused over his food, contemplating something Sakura couldn't figure out.

"Right" she said, a blush creeping up her neck yet again, "I never got to say thank you for sending that note."

Sasuke's eyes lifted suddenly, making contact with hers. She could swear she saw the tiniest bit of pink behind his ears, but then it was gone. "Hn" he responded, continuing with his meal and refusing to elaborate further.

They ate for a few minutes in silence, and Sakura enjoyed it. Sasuke was never much of a talker and so she didn't feel compelled to fill the silence unnecessarily. She was of course itching to ask more questions, but had the sense to pace herself. She began to gather their plates once they were both finished, but then Sasuke's hand shot out quickly to still her hands and he said, "I'll get them."

"O-oh, okay. Thank you Sasuke-kun" she responded a little sheepishly. "I'll put on some tea for us."

She busied herself with the kettle while Sasuke rinsed the dishes and managed to wash them with ease. As he was rinsing the soap off Sakura appeared next to him with a hand towel to dry them off and put them away. The kettle was on the stove heating up for the tea when they both finished and made their way back to the living room, Sakura leading the way to the couch. She sat on the farther end of it, tucking her legs under her so she could comfortably face Sasuke who sat down at the opposite end little less casually, but still comfortable.

"What is it?" Sasuke asked her out of the blue, after a moment of silence.

"What?" Suddenly, Sakura had a moment of self-awareness. She had been sitting there smiling at him for no apparent reason, as she was lost in thought, distracted in her happiness. It must have come across a little odd since she hadn't been speaking. Her cheeks blushed furiously. "Oh! Nothing Sasuke-kun. Sorry, I'm just really happy your home" she said, trying to recover some of her dignity.

Sasuke seemed unbothered by her unusual behavior. "Ah, I'm glad to be back." It wasn't lost on Sakura that he refrained from using the word home. "Things have changed though."

"That's definitely true. The reconstruction of the village is pretty much done."

"It's not just that," he said quietly. "The people seem different. Less weary. More at ease."

"Yes, well now that more than two years have passed since the war, people are finally starting to get comfortable again. It took a while, and a lot of hard work, but we are trying to bring change to the Shinobi world through peaceful measures. It's my hope, as well as Naruto and yours, that this peace will remain for a long time to come." Sakura was passionate as she thought of the work she was pouring herself into at her children's mental health clinic.

As if he was reading her mind Sasuke said "Kakashi has kept me informed about your work at the hospital. About helping the kids. It's good."

Sakura's heart beat in her chest and she couldn't help the smile that broke out. Sasuke had rarely ever complimented her in her life, so it had more impact than expected. She felt pride that her hard work to make a change in children's lives was acknowledged by one of the people that inspired that passion within her. If only Sasuke and Naruto had been able to receive that help.

"Thank you Sasuke-kun. That means a lot. I poured my heart and soul into this project, and to see it finally take fruition and begin to impact lives...well it's encouraging. I just want a different future for our kids." Her mind wandered a little at the phrasing of her words, imaging having children of her own one day. She quickly shook that image from her head when she pictured black haired children that had a strong Uchiha resemblance. She couldn't go down that road, not when Sasuke had just returned and her heart was so fragile. There was no guarantee how Sasuke felt about her, and if she were ever to find out, she would need to continue being patient.

Sasuke sat in pensive silence after a slight nod at her response. The quiet grew, and it began to feel awkward before Sasuke spoke again.

"How did your mission go?"

Relieved that he broke the silence, she said, "It went well. It wasn't 100% success but it wasn't a failure either."

"Are you allowed to discuss it?"

"I suppose I am. It was originally classified before I went out there, but I was able to deescalate the issue which reduced its classification." She turned to face him a little more fully as she began to describe her mission.

"There were reports in a nearby village of a unique virus that was causing multiple deaths and was highly contagious. For a smaller village it was detrimental, and the potential of spreading it to other villages was too high of a risk. It attacks the upper respiratory system, and people weren't able to get in enough oxygen. Too many patients ran into complications and the medics weren't able to handle the workload. Traditional medicine wasn't effective, and so they were relying solely on medical ninjutstu to heal. They just didn't have enough people to handle it, and lacked the expertise that was needed in the ninjutstu healing arts. That how I ended up there. My mission was to stop the spread of the virus and reduce the damage inflicted on the community. I succeeded in this, though I say it wasn't 100% success because I wasn't able to save a young child who had contracted it." Sakura's head lowered as she remembered the intense frustration and anger towards herself for allowing the child to die. She knew better than to take it personally, Tsunade had drilled that into her head. But this one had hit harder than expected, mostly because it took her by surprise. The child had been in stable condition when she had left the hospital that evening, determined to get a good night's rest. Pounding on the door awakened her a few hours later from the child's father, screaming and begging for her to come help the young girl. When she had arrived and performed her examination, she discovered the girls' lungs were filling with fluid, and it was already past the point of saving the girl. Her lips were blue from lack of oxygen and there was no way to quickly remove the fluid. But that didn't mean Sakura hadn't fought as hard as she could to do so. It just wasn't fast enough. The girl passed, and the scream from the girls' mother would haunt her dreams for the next year she was sure.

She didn't speak all of this aloud to Sasuke, but he remained quiet, seaming to understand she was having a moment of reflection on a painful memory.

After a moment she mentally shook herself free of these thoughts to focus on the present. No sense in dwelling on what couldn't be changed. Deciding to change the subject away from her shortcomings as a medic, she questioned Sasuke about his journey.

"What was your favorite place to see on your journey? Anywhere you'd revisit?"

Sasuke quietly considered his answer. "There's a place to the west that meets the ocean. It's right outside a small village, and the sea was lined with high buffs and cliffs that overlook the sea. I felt a sense of peace there."

Sakura tried to imagine such a sight. She had seen the ocean once before but it didn't look the way Sasuke described this view. She wondered if she might ever get a chance to travel to places like that.

"It sounds beautiful. I can only imagine what the sunset would look like in that scene," she said a little dreamily, seeing a speculated version in her mind.

"Aa" Sasuke responded. "It's breathtaking."

Sakura looked at Sasuke curiously when he said that. Honestly, she was taken aback, and equally enthralled that he described anything as breathtaking. Could Sasuke have changed so much that his breath could be stolen simply from a view of nature's beauty? Sakura could hardly imagine such a reaction from the stoic man before her, and yet the words came straight from the horses' mouth. She was excited to learn more about this new Sasuke.

"What were your favorite foods to eat? I'm sure you didn't always eat great, but you must have come across something that was memorable." Sakura kept the questions light, being sure to ask things that would hopefully all be pleasant memories about his journey.

"There was a family I stayed with for a little while that had a garden that they lived off of, and a small farm. It was a husband and wife, as well as their two kids. Nita, the wife, was a great cook and made sure I ate with them. Her food was my favorite, even if they were traditional dishes. Her tomatoes were the best I've ever had."

Sasuke hadn't even taken a seconds thought before giving that response. Sakura wondered about this family, but figured she would wait to ask that another time. She smiled at him and said "They sound like nice people to share their food with you that way. You always were a sucker for tomatoes, huh?"

Sasuke's face remained impassive at her teasing comment, but she could tell by his eyes that he wasn't offended.

"Aa" he said. "I guess I am."

Quiet fell for a moment, but before it had a chance to become awkward; Sakura surprised them both with a loud sneeze.

Eyes wide she looked at Sasuke, a blush creeping up her neck for what seemed like the millionth time that day.

"Excuse me," she said sheepishly. Then again, before Sasuke could even acknowledge her, she let out two more sneezes consecutively. Eyes watering at this point, Sakura excused herself, rushing to the bathroom to blow her nose and recover some of her composure. Sasuke didn't seem concerned in the slightest, but she still couldn't help but be embarrassed.

"Sorry about that Sasuke-kun" she muttered as she came out of the bathroom, "I'm not sure what came over me. I don't normally sneeze so much."

"Hn" Sasuke gave in short reply. "You haven't had much chance to rest."

"True, but I don't mind. I've really enjoyed your company," she told him softly. She hoped to convey how genuine her statement was. In the hour that they had shared, she'd felt more at home in her own home than she had felt in the entire year she had lived there. It was bizarre, and a little overwhelming how quickly her heart caved to this man who had never truly given an indication that he wanted to be with her. As a friend, sure. His actions today were in line with that thought process. But, more? Well, her tender heart couldn't allow herself to travel that road right now. So long she had waited for him to return, with hardly any communication on his end. She had sent letters of course, but rarely did she get a response, and never enough to appease her longing for him. To get by she had steeled her heart against the fantasies her mind tormented her with and focused solely on her work. She loved doing it, so it wasn't hard to get lost in easing the suffering of others. Now though, being confronted with Sasuke in person, her resolve weakened. It was like her heart had been a dried up sponge, and now it was desperately soaking up whatever water it possibly could.

Sasuke hadn't responded, seeming to be deep in thought. She wondered if she had said too much. It was only what a friend would say, right?

"Sakura" he finally said. His tone was a little different than the one he'd been using before. It wasn't as light and carefree. It held a little more weight, as if he also wanted to convey more than his words would.

"I meant what I said about not knowing how long I would be staying. I still have more work to do outside of this village."

Sakura's heart drooped a little. He didn't need to say more. She knew what he was implying.

"I figured, Sasuke-kun. You don't have to stay long on my account, if that's not what you want. I just want to spend what little time with you I can while you're here. Is that too much to ask?" Her voice conveyed a sense of hopefulness.

He looked at her for a long moment. "No," he said. "I suppose it's not."

He stood slowly from the couch. Sakura hadn't made her way back yet to the couch yet, stopping outside the bathroom as they spoke to each other. Her heart raced a little when she recognized he might be leaving.

"I'll come by again tomorrow. Kakashi said you're off for a few days. Finish your report, and get some rest. We can spar tomorrow, if you want." Sasuke's face was an emotionless mask, not giving her a shred of information about what he was thinking inside. But he had never wanted to spar with her before. Ever. Sakura couldn't contain the smile that lit up her face at his request. "You're sure?!" She asked him excitedly.

"Yes" he told her as he made his way to the door. "Bring me your best. Meet me at the training grounds at 10." With a smirk in her direction, he slipped his sandals on and made his way out, the door closing softly behind him.

Sakura held her breath for a moment, trying to stop herself from a very immature and child-like reaction. But the mounting pressure of her excitement was too much to contain in her still-young heart, and she let out a tiny squeal as she did a happy dance in place. She stopped herself and took a deep breath, genuinely happy that he wanted to spar with her. Her whole life she had trained herself to fight side by side with Naruto and Sasuke, and she finally had that chance during the war. But this was different. Sparring was meant to test ones abilities, to identify weakness so they could be corrected. It was pointless to have a sparring partner that wasn't at least on a similar level of skill if you had any hopes to improve your own. So if Sasuke didn't feel she was on the same level, why would he bother asking? Sakura wasn't naïve enough to think she could truly overpower him at his full strength, but she was sure she could at the very least hold her own against the great Uchiha Sasuke.

Oh she would bring him her best all right. He had indirectly acknowledged her strength and worthiness of being a partner for the first time in her life. She was not going to disappoint.