"Hurry it up, Sakura! Time is money, didn't you hear?"

But you're NOT paying me for this!

"I know okay! Quit your squealing, Pig. I'm coming."

Sakura quickly shut her balcony door, unwilling to wait and hear what sort of creative insults the blonde was ruthlessly spitting back. It was their thing, friendly banter sprinkled with bits of rivalry. Well, more like leftover controversy from the past, when they'd been childish and vain but hey, a little bit of nostalgia never hurt anybody, right? Especially at 5:00 in the fucking morning.

She swiftly zipped up her favorite dark blue skirt, the one especially reserved for in–village affairs, took one last sip of regrettably already–cold coffee and hurried down the stairs to meet an impatient, undoubtedly pouting Ino. Sakura was never, ever late. Today would be no exception, of course.

She had promised to teach a more intricate healing technique to her bitchy best friend and the only way to actually make that happen, considering how the both of them were constantly harassed by fully booked schedules, was to show up at the hospital before Sakura's shift started and fingers crossed no emergencies came in that morning.

With Ino's flower shop business and her own exasperating lack of free time, the two of them barely saw each other nowadays. So, just this once, whatever it was, it would have to wait until 10:00 sharp when she clocked in. No more excuses, friends make time for each other.

Funny how they ended up, already grown up at the tender age of 16, all adult–like with responsibilities as if they were 24 or some other number equally as outrageous. Well, that's the way of the shinobi, right?

"That reminds me, Forehead. You've gotta give me my contraceptive shot. Remember how I gave you yours like three months ago but then an angry nurse randomly barged in, holding Naruto by the ear all beat up and dirty?"

"Huh? Oh yeah. He's scared of needles and won't let anyone besides me or Lady Tsunade treat him, that idiot."

"Well duh. And you up and left me there! I should really consider revoking your rights as a best friend. Ugh. I don't even know why they make us them 'em. It's not like anyone's getting down and dirty around here. Not me, anyway." Ino sighed, characteristically crossing her arms in frustration.

Forest green eyes suddenly shot open, all traces of sleep now completely forgotten.

"R-right!"

She gulped and looked away, relieved that Ino was too preoccupied with her own irritation to notice her tactless reaction. Great, yet another reminder. As if the ghost of his tender touch, as if the memory of those daunting crimson eyes and painfully recurring dreams were not already almost impossible to endure. And Sakura had foolishly believed she was making progress.

This is fine, she thought, I've got this. Yeah. I don't need to think about it, or HIM for that matter. I'm BUSY and I've got people asking me for ninja tips and healing techniques and and I do NOT miss him. I am OVER IT. I have Naruto and Ino and everyone around me is so nice and it should be enough...UGH. This is horrible. Serves me right though, it's all MY fault that I'm feeling like this. I WANTED this, didn't I? Sasuke did warn me.

...and here I thought I could dodge his flames by now. Keep it up, stupid Sakura.

She let out a pained breath. The birds were chirping and the sun was shining but Sakura felt like she wanted to dig a hole in the depths of the earth and hide away for a very, very long time. The worst part? Sasuke was everywhere. Achingly omnipresent. In every corner, every street, every tree; now, more than ever before, Sakura felt utterly incapable of escaping him. Because he had indulged in what she offered willingly and in turn, forever entranced her body and soul.

Sasuke had permanently left his imprint, taken her virginity, abducted a part of her, slept with Sakura and disappeared right after, leaving nothing behind. Nothing to serve as evidence of those forbidden, otherworldly moments but a pathetic, crumbled piece of paper with two inked words on it. She was the moron. Despite the fact his message might have brought some comfort in the beginning, it only contributed to her irrefutable anger now.

Sasuke did request her permission. And Sakura had certainly begged him to do it. Yet, somehow, she felt as though she never really had a choice to begin with. She was his long before he'd come and fucked her senseless. For awhile Sakura thought she had accepted that truth. Turns out you can be at war with yourself regardless of your awareness.

The heart is stubborn and just...wants what it wants.

Two months. 61 days since he last saw her.

His makeshift team was fully complete now. Everything was going according to plan. He had been cautious, exceptionally on edge, all the time, every day. Countless of insomniac, cold nights, ever since Itachi robbed him of all that made him human, Sasuke had been mercilessly haunted by this heavy need to avenge his family. To kill his only brother. And for this particular reason, he had let go of everything—he got up in the middle of the night and left her, naked and smothered between alabaster sheets. Completely oblivious to the fact that Itachi hadn't managed to steal away all there was.

No.

His heart, his wretched and greedy and foul heart was spared. Only to be ripped apart from his chest without permission on a breezy night in The Land of Waves, by an exceptionally annoying pink–haired girl with too-green eyes and plump lips who shared a glimpse her brightness, all for his criminal eyes to immortalize.

Remnants of weakness had made him put pen to paper and spell out the only words he could have said after what transpired, because what kind of man was he to look upon her breathtaking beauty and proudly call himself blind.

Sasuke had kissed her lips, touched her body. And Sakura found ways to reach inside his spirit beyond anything imaginable.

Maybe he was in love with her. Maybe he'd fallen beyond reach from the very fucking beginning. It didn't even matter anymore.

He hated her for all of it.

Sakura was too colorful, too kind and her pretty little mouth had screamed his name in pleasure. She was too bright, too beautiful and he had entered her, lost in the spell of her thin fingers and curl of her soft strands. She had welcomed him into her indescribable gentleness—he tainted her with greed.

And then...he ran away. He ignorantly shut his eyes, turned his head and mercilessly lied to himself. Because if he had spared but a single glimpse, Sasuke wouldn't have left her side, not ever again. But all was fucking fine. There were no more distractions now, nothing left to stray him from his goal. It was all going according to the fucking plan, now that she was gone. And that's what he'd wanted, right?

So then why. Why was there this uncontrollable, painful throbbing in his chest? If she'd managed to take his heart from him, then why did it hurt so fucking much, all in ways unfamiliar. It was utterly twisted and cruel and vile the way his being ached for what could never be.

Sasuke was expected to be a leader now, to help make camp and gather wood for the fire, to help out Karin and Juugo with the necessary supplies and convince Suigetsu to keep his loud mouth shut. But how would he successfully fulfill that role, something he'd proudly established himself, when all he could fucking think about was her teary emerald eyes and pale pink tresses, her whimpers and whispers and words of undeniable love, all for him.

"You look like shit." Suigetsu suddenly appeared next to him, nonchalantly slurping from his water flask. "Something the matter?"

He rudely interrupted his trail of thought. But Sasuke remained silent and the white haired man casually sighed. He was in no particular mood to deal with Suigetsu right now, especially considering he'd foolishly allowed him to meet Sakura.

"You don't have to be so fucking uptight all the time you know. I understand, Sasuke. You miss the Leaf chick. Stop with that look, I get it man. You miss her. How could you not?"

The raven man turned to face him fully, a dangerous warning all over his tired, blood-red eyes. Suigetsu didn't budge at all, instead his purple orbs unexpectedly softened:

"She was nice to me. And really funny! I miss her too sometimes, you know. Look around you, Sasuke. Wake up and smell the fucking roses or whatever. All of us here could use someone like that, someone who makes life seem worth a damn," his head pointed to Juugo and Karin, "and you got that, alright? I know it's not my business and frankly, I don't give a shit what you do. I'm just saying, if I were you I'd reconsider my choices."

"And if I were you I'd keep my mouth shut, Suigetsu."

"Fine. But don't pretend we're camping here by chance. We're too close to The Hidden Leaf."

Sasuke got up and started walking towards the other two, leaving behind a displeased pale haired man who probably regretted ever trying to say something. Although rather dismissive, Sasuke perfectly understood his intentions. That didn't mean he liked it, having people take wild guesses about his inner turmoil and coincidentally making the damn shot. Being mysterious and reticent was how Sasuke knew to survive, and he thought he would never have to deal with strangers seeing through him as if possessing a revolting kind of Sharingan. Not ever since he defected Team 7.

"I'm going to gather some information. I'll be back tonight."

"What?" Karin snapped, hurrying to catch up to him before completely disappearing between the thickest of branches. "You can't! We're basically on enemy territory, Sasuke! At least take me and–"

"You three will stay put. I'll deal with the rest."

"Hate to say it but the asshole's got a point, Karin. Sasuke's a former Leaf shinobi, he knows his ways. Quit nagging, we're busy enough as it is. I'm starving."

"But—"

The raven man adjusted his cloak once more and, with a suggestive nod in Suigetsu's direction, he jumped. He was slightly suspicious as something told him the unexpected cooperation from the rogue Mist ninja had too little to do with him personally.

Strange, the air had a similar scent to that of cherry blossoms all of a sudden.

"You should've seriously let me pay, Sakura! Oh man, I really wanted to be a gentleman!"

She giggled, gingerly searching for the keys to her apartment.

"Oh don't be so grumpy! You can make it up to me. Your treat next time, okay?"

Naruto's eyes lit up immediately. "N-next time? I mean of course! You got it, Sak! How about we make this a regular thing, then? Just you and m—"

"Do you think we should invite Sai too? And Kakashi-sensei, if he's not away on a mission or busy helping out nonexistent elderly women. It could be like a Team 7 get–together thing!"

"Uhh...yeah, sure, no problem." The whiskered man said, rubbing the back of his head in disappointment. "But you know, it won't be complete. Not without Sasuke I mean."

Sakura deliberately avoided his piercing gaze. She knew that if her eyes lingered on his for too long, he'd instantly figure her out and she couldn't afford that. If Naruto were to ever find out what happened, he'd never forgive Sasuke—and she would rather die than corrupt a bond so powerful, so profound as the one her boys shared.

"I-I know that."

"I gotta say though," the streets were dark, only slightly illuminated and while the sky exchanged the pale cerulean hues for a black velvety curtain, Naruto fixed Sakura with his ever–shining orbs.

"That bastard's asking for it. I never know what the hell he's thinking but...he belongs here, with us. And I'll bring him back. For sure this time. Thank you for being patient with me, I know I haven't exactly kept my promises to you but just trust me on this! You'll smile like you used to before." Naruto grinned brightly, "and he used to call me stupid, that arrogant asshole! Listen, Sakura," the words became quieter, more careful, "I know how much you love him. I've seen the way you look at him. I know because...that's how I look at you. And you're the most beautiful, most amazing girl in this whole wide world, and I won't rest until you're truly happy. You got that?"

Tears started falling before she could understand to stop them. Sakura was trembling as spring green was overflowing with the painfully familiar liquid that had a certain way of claiming her, time and time again. But Naruto was smiling. He was blushing and he looked proud, golden strands fluttering with the chilly night breeze. He closed the distance swiftly and she was immediately comforted by the tenderness of his warmth. Naruto embraced her tightly.

Sakura wept in his arms.

"I-I don't know what to s-say," she hid her face in the crook of his neck and cried, letting all the bottled up anger and confusion finally melt away. Naruto was the sun and his light dominated and scared away any traces of residual darkness. His devotion was so utterly visceral that it almost hurt.

"I d-don't deserve any of this, I never did but...I-I'll get stronger and and I promise I won't ever let you down. I p-promise," she straightened herself at that, "I will always be there for you. Naruto, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. For everything that you are."

"Don't thank me, just leave it to me, Sak! And who knows, I might even make you love me instead," he winked, wiping away one of her tears.

Sakura chuckled. It was pure and it was strange all the same.

"Alright, alright, I think that's enough flattery for one night Naruto. I'd only make you miserable and you know it." She playfully poked his elbow.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, I mean with an ass like yours—OW! Hey, that hurt! No, don't leave yet! We were having a moment!"

"You're spending too much time with Master Jiraya! I'm telling Lady Tsunade! Good night, you big pervert."

But he just stood there, smiling ear to ear. The sound of her retreating footsteps were the only thing filling the silence of night. Naruto knowingly played the idiot card. Probably to minimize the weight of his words. Sakura knew that and to her utter shame, she happily went along with it. Because this was something he had never said before, not like that anyway.

A crush is just a crush until it isn't and no matter how much she may wish to, Sakura would never be able to return his feelings. Naruto was too good, he was sunlight and flowers do need sunlight in order to bloom, but she had long accomplished an affinity for the moon. It had to be a joke, right? Good guy loves girl, girl loves bad guy, bad guy is bad news, good guy gets his heart broken.

But Sakura would not break his heart.

The most terrifying thing about it all? If there was a person who could love someone despite knowing it would never happen, it was Naruto. Then again...Sakura wasn't exactly sure of her own little situation regarding a certain Uchiha. She was a complete disaster.

The young medic sighed defeated and after mindlessly placing the keys on their holder, she took off her boots. Sakura headed for the kitchen, poured herself a cold glass of water and slowly started drinking. Maybe she should start making appointments, because she was sure she couldn't handle both of the blondes on the same day. Ino always managed to rile her up some way or another and Naruto was getting too unpredictable lately and...

"You didn't lock your door."

It didn't take too long before the half–empty glass slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor, breaking into tiny little pieces. Sakura immediately turned her head, hand at the ready, only to see none other than Sasuke Uchiha casually leaning on the doorframe of her kitchen.

There was no light at the end of the tunnel. Only bad luck, apparently.

author's note:

hi. :) hope i managed to deliver somewhat. i will finish this story, don't worry. it just takes a bit of time for the creative juices to start flowing; usually they have a mind of their own.

drop a review and lemme know if you liked it! it brings me joy.

P.S: excuse the mistakes (if there are any grammar issues) i'll fix em in the mornin!