AFTER ALL

Somewhere, deep within her longing heart, Sakura always knew. After all, she's the only person who can understand him; with the exception of their blond teammate, of course. One look is all it takes and she knew.

He isn't going to stay.

Uchiha Sasuke's wings are too wide to be caged in this village hidden in the leaves. There's still so much to see with his too powerful eyes and so many things to discover and realize in his too high flight to redemption. Sometimes, she just wants him to go back down to earth and just be with them. Be with her.

But the Haruno Sakura now— taught by life, polished by war, fueled by love— isn't selfish anymore. She's not the naive little girl when she was 12 nor the insecure 15-year old she was back then. She's a 19-year old shinobi of Konohagakure, a student of the Godaime and Rokudaime; and a friend, first and foremost.

It's been almost three weeks since Sasuke came home. He's still the same with his ink-black hair, pale skin slightly red from being in the sun too long, and his powerful presence. Sakura welcomes his mismatched eyes in her apartment that night, a gentle sort of peace in his gaze that she hasn't seen before, before opening her door wider to let him in.

"Sasuke-kun… okaeri..."

"Tadaima, Sakura..."

And ever since then, Sakura always finds herself in his company every time she leaves the hospital after her shifts. It doesn't matter if her shift starts at 2 am and ends up around 9 pm or begins at 6 pm and finishes at 6 am the next day. He is always at the gates of the hospital, waiting for her with either a scowl or a worried look on his face, and walks her home.

She fights hard not to think too much about it. After all, she is his friend above all else.

But as she walks towards the gates and sees his looming figure, leaning on a wall in the distance, Sakura can't help the spark of hope inside her chest.

After all, she's still in love with him.

Sakura reaches him and he stands at his full height upon seeing her. "I told you it's a regular 8-hour shift today. You don't have to walk me home."

His eyes bore into hers and she heard him say, "Tch. I want to."

Do you see where she's coming from now? Who in their lovestruck heart and soul can hear that and not feel a tiny ounce of hope from his words? Especially coming from Sasuke who never wastes his breath with empty words and baseless phrases. You know what he's saying is his absolute truth with no underlying meaning at all. He wants to walk her home. That's it.

But why? she thinks to herself. He knows I'm capable. I'm strong. Then why, Sasuke-kun?

She lets out a fond exhale, green eyes softening as she looks up at him, "Okay." Her elbow playfully nudges him when she got to his side, "C'mon. I'm hungry."

They walk in silence as they pass one peaceful street to another. It's a comfortable quietness, one that has been present ever since he came home weeks ago, making her smile wistfully. Sakura has a nagging feeling that his inevitable departure is coming.

Their fingers brush infinitesimally and her eyes quickly dart to her side, subtly taking a look at his handsome face. In the glow of the upcoming dusk, his midnight locks are luscious; his perfect face relaxed. Orange, purple, and pink skies reflect on his face and she's fascinated until his own purple and black eyes turn to her. She immediately turns her head forward again, wishing he doesn't see the flush on her cheeks.

This mere touch of skin as they walk together happened once or twice before but she still blushes like her genin self. She doesn't know how to react. After all, they're just friends.

Sasuke doesn't say anything, but she swears her heart skipped a beat when he deliberately knocks his knuckles against hers. It's gentle; affectionate.

Sakura wants to hold his hand; intertwine their fingers together so he won't be able to slip away again to some faraway place to seek vindication. She wants to hold him so she can say that this is where he belongs— in this village concealed by tree leaves, together with the people who care about him, with her that still loves him with all entire being.

But even before she can have the courage to grab his hand, he beats her to it.

A rough, calloused hand takes her soft, nervous one. Sasuke doesn't intertwine their fingers but she feels it lightly squeezing hers in his grasp, and she smiles as she returns it to him.

Whatever this is, she is content. After all, Haruno Sakura isn't selfish anymore.

Their fingers are laced together now. Every time since they first hold hands, the distance between their bodies diminishes when he walks her home. Villagers give them curious glances here and there, and Sakura has no room in her mind to worry at all. In fact, she wants them to know this— that his beautiful man holds her hand and she holds him, and she revels in it.

Today, they spar against each other. Sasuke is the one who asked her when she found him at her doorstep at the break of dawn. It's almost noon now and her body sings from the exhaustion and exhilaration of fighting him.

She can feel the sweat on her temple and she wipes it with the back of her hand. They rest under the shade of an old tree in training ground 7 where they always train back when they were kids. It brings a smile to her face.

"Sakura," his voice suddenly pierces through the scorching heat of the sun. She looks back at him and sees him fiddling with the hem of his empty sleeve. The look in his eyes is far away, and she wants to get away. She's afraid of what he's about to say next.

He continues, "You know I'm leaving soon, right?"

"I know," she whispers, longingness already seeping through her pores.

"Aa," he answers. A small huff of breath comes out of his mouth, resembling a chuckle under his breath. "Of course you do."

Sakura removes her gaze away from him, scared that he'll see through her. She knows he will. She takes a deep breath, holds it, then lets it out in the hopes of keeping her composure. His next question halts it altogether.

"Do you still want to come with me?"

Her head whips back to him in a flash, her big eyes getting wider as he steadily looks back at her. There's a quiet insecurity that she can see in his eyes, yet there's also the familiar burn of his determination and intensity. Her skin pricks with the look.

"Wh-what do you mean, Sasuke-kun..?"

His eyes didn't lose their blazing magnitude, but it softens at the same time, setting her aflame in a different kind of way.

"Because I want you to come with me this time," Sasuke softy says. His fingers still move on his shirt but his stare is steadfast and true, "I told you last time. Remember?"

"Mata kondo na... Arigato."

"I made a promise to you," he admits, his voice low but sincere. "But I also made a promise to myself that I'll keep it, too."

Her aching limbs and heaving lungs are now forgotten. She shyly asks, "Don't y-you think it won't be weird to everyone that I just-.. get up and leave Konoha with you?" She whispers her last words and looks down, "I mean… we're n-not even dating."

Silence permeates the space between their bodies and Sakura can only hear the gush of wind around them in the clearing... until Sasuke speaks once again.

"I thought we already are."

She slowly lifts her head and sees him gripping the back of his neck, a slight pink hue on his elegant cheekbones. She gapes in return.

All those hand-holding, walking me home, paying for dinner— are we dating already?!

Yes, you are.

But he didn't even ask me yet!

Looking at his flushed face, her mind whispers to her, Does he still need to?

After all, Sakura knows her heart will always belong to Sasuke.

"But you're right," Sasuke speaks again. "It will be unusual if you just come with me out of the blue." His words struck and she thinks he's retracting his offer.

She panics as she stutters, "N-no, I-"

Sasuke gives her a hopeful look, one that she hasn't seen ever, before rendering her speechless once more.

"Marry me."

He says it with the simplest of truths and Sakura is left gaping at the love of her life. His face is still flushed when he continues looking at her, "And I know you might think this is only because I want you to come with me, but I've been thinking about it for a while now…"

Sasuke pauses for a moment and takes a deep breath, lips lifting up in a shy smile reserved for her, and just dives back to her. "...I'm ready, Sakura."

For her.

For her love.

For their future.

Together.

"So, will you marry me?"

She didn't wait for a minute. She knew the moment he asked her that her answer will always be—

"Yes," she breathes out in the wind, sparkling eyes from happy tears looking up at him in wonder, and she beams. His answering smile and his warm touch ignite her beating heart as he pulls her closer to him.

Lovingly, she says, "You didn't have to ask… but yes, Sasuke-kun... I'll marry you."

I know you, after all.

`~fin~

a/n: as much as this is a commission, this is also a collaboration with a very talented artist that i really adore! please check out mai_doodle on twitter to see the partner comic for this! support her by following her on her social accounts! thank you!