This one's in Sasuke's pov. Yikes. Hope it's above par. Nervous, but I spent a long time on this one.

Sasuke was not doing a very good job at assimilating back into Konoha's everyday lifestyle.

He was either sitting on Naruto's couch, listening in on Kakashi's meetings with Naruto, or training with Naruto. He was desperate for a reprieve, but the only other person he knew he could seek out was her.

Sakura. Her name felt different, stranger since he had come home. The name didn't quite fit the person he found when he came back.

He reminisced about their walk home a few days prior while he made his way to the clearing. It had given him time to sort through his thoughts and get his first good look at her. He hadn't had time to digest everything when she suddenly appeared at Naruto's the previous Saturday morning.

It had been a while since he had taken the time to truly look at Sakura. While they walked, he noticed small things he hadn't realized when he saw her for the first time. She seemed so much shorter than he remembered. He could see the crown of her head if he was standing right next to her, but his right hand still brushed hers every time they jostled closer to one another in the busier sectors of Konoha.

He realized, with no small amount of stupidity, that he had probably just gotten taller.

Her gate had also changed. She used to walk around on her toes, but now her steps were weighted and measured. She was sure of where she was going and wasn't looking to him or their other teammates for guidance or direction anymore. In fact, he believed that it had been the first time he had ever trailed after her, been led by her.

"Yo, teme!"

Sasuke closed his eyes and sighed, bracing for the annoyance that was going to be next few hours of his life. "Naruto."

His friend (Sasuke shuddered internally at the truth behind the word) was sitting with his legs splayed in front of him in the clearing. "You ready to spar?"

"Ah."

And so, they began.

It was hours later that they lay panting on the grass, the sun sinking behind the treeline. Both of them lay on their backs, a few feet apart. They had finally called it, both groaning, now sitting by the small river near the clearing. Naruto fell first, but Sasuke soon followed. He was exhausted. He didn't know why, but there had been an edge he had needed to work out.

"So…have you been to Sakura's new place since you've been back?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." In truth, he couldn't figure out how to invite himself over. He didn't know how to bridge the gap.

Sasuke closed his eyes. He had thought long and hard about his relationship with Sakura over the last two years. He had to swallow his pride and admit things to himself that he had refused to see or accept things he didn't understood fully then, but now could.

It was…a hard process, to say the least. He spent months of his time traveling, holed up in a cave somewhere in the north, huddled over a fire and thinking about Sakura. Her actions, her words. Her inactions and her reactions. He replayed every significant moment that winter and tried to unravel every detail he missed, everything he gave up, gave in to. He made himself think about what he wanted then, why he wanted it, what he wanted now, and what he had to do to get there.

It took time, more than just the time spent in that cave, but he finally was able to come up with a single word to describe what he wanted; a home.

But a home took time to build and Sasuke wasn't sure if he knew how. If he could do it.

Naruto sat up, bringing him abruptly from his thoughts. "Come on, Sasuke. You're both my best friends. I haven't mentioned it once since you've been back!"

Sasuke sighed. "I'm going to see her at your place tomorrow, aren't I?"

"Well yeah, but that's not the same!" His voice dropped to a comically loud whisper. "Have you told her that you're sleeping-"

"No. Drop it."

"No! Dammit, this is ridiculous! You promised that you would- that, that you would fix this!"

Sasuke had no intention of having this conversation, but he didn't have the energy to bite to hard at the dobe. "I did, did I? I must have forgotten."

"You're such a bastard," Naruto growled. "You said you would make things right with Sakura when you got back. You said, and I quote, 'I'll explain myself to Sakura and Sakura alone'."

"The sentiment still applies."

"Well? Get on with it! You both deserve to be happy and stupid in love like me and Hinata!"

Sasuke stood and stretched. "You spend too much time with Kakashi. You both are hopeless romantics."

Naruto grinned. "Oh yeah? At least I'm getting laid!"

Sasuke shuddered. "I didn't need that image in my head, dobe."

"Whatever. All I'm saying is that you're missing out." Naruto sighed dreamily. "Hinata always smells good and cooks really well. It's so nice being around someone who doesn't care that I can be an idiot sometimes because she loves me anyways!" He grinned at Sasuke. "That's what you're missing out on!"

Sasuke wondered what Sakura smelled like for a second too long. "Sakura's cooking is horrible."

Naruto laughed. "Yeah, maybe as genin! She's actually gotten really good! She even makes ramen!" Sasuke rolled his eyes, but said nothing. Naruto continued. "I don't know what Sakura smells like, but it's probably something from the hospital."

She smells…floral? I don't know…

Sasuke knew the answer, but he didn't provide it. "You're a bit too accustomed to married life. Is Hinata making you do any of your own chores?"

Naruto shuddered. "You have no idea. She gets the scary eyes."

Sasuke's brows furrowed, almost offended. "Scary eyes?"

"You don't want to know. Hinata could be intimidating before, but after we got married, I swear her byakugan got stronger every time I messed up."

"I don't think that's a thing."

"Sakura's strength is probably strongest when she's angry with you." Naruto laughed through the words. "I'd hate to be you when you get her the wrong color flowers for her birthday."

Sasuke's face was entirely blank. "I'm leaving now."

Naruto scrambled to follow after him "Are you still not going to tell me where you're staying at, exactly?"

"No."

He shot off and Naruto let him go without a fuss. He wanted to wander in peace for a while. He found a large tree and decided to perch there for the evening, hoping the still sounds of nature would still his mind and convince his body that he was alive, in Konoha, trying to figure his shit out.

However, peace never came. He had been unable to stop wondering what Sakura smelled like. It was strange, like a compulsion had come over him. He knew that Naruto smelled like ramen and Kakashi smelt like parchment paper and metal. It frustrated him that he didn't know, as ridiculous as it sounded. He tried to remember anything from when they were kids, but nothing came to mind.

He also thought about what Naruto said about Sakura's cooking. Had she cooked for him, for their friends? He wondered what she normally made for dinner and, if she had eaten.

That thought is what drove him across the village. That's what he convinced himself of, anyways. He crossed several more rooftops before the hospital came into view. He perched at his usual lookout spot and immediately frowned. His eyes narrowed further when he noticed the location and position of Sakura's chakra.

Moving after a moment of deliberation, Sasuke lept down to the street level and walked up the steps to the hospital's front doors. There wasn't anyone in the lobby except for the lone nurse manning the front desk. Her eyes were as wide as saucers while giving Sasuke directions to Sakura's office, but he was off before her blush became too glaringly obvious.

He made his way to Sakura's office and slowly, quietly, opened the door. He sighed when he took in the pink haired kunoichi and closed the door behind him. She was asleep at her desk, her hair splayed across her face and arms. One hand was folded under her cheek and the other was still on the keyboard, a sentence halfway finished on another screen, cursor blinking in and out.

The lights were off and the only source of light in the room came from the glow of her desktop. He peered around at the screen. It was still running analysis on some tissues, by the look of it. Sasuke's head tilted, wondering if she-

"Ah….Sasuke-kun?"

He froze.

"Sasuke-kun, is that you?" Sakura blinked heavily.

A weight suddenly appeared on Sasuke's chest. "It's late. And, it's your day off."

Sakura blinked slowly again. The weight got heavier. "Yeah, I just had to finish up this analysis for a patient." Her nose scrunched and she squinted her eyes at the screen. "Huh. On second thought, the projected time for completion now says eight hours."

Sasuke looked at her attire, her office. "Do you sleep here often?"

Sasuke didn't understand why Sakura's cheeks flushed. She looked down, hiding her face and chuckled away her awkwardness. "What, with my late nights and Naruto's meddling, I guess it looks like that, huh?" She stood and stretched. "I try not to, but sometimes it happens. Usually I make it to the couch though."

Sasuke's head tilted. The light, airy tone at the end of her sentence gave away the lie, but he let it slide. "Are you going to go home tonight?"

"Oh, definitely! I have the day off tomorrow and I can't wait to sleep in!" Sasuke listened to her ramble while she packed her things. Her words came even quicker than their normal break neck speed. "I got a new bed because Naruto always complained that it was too small. Like it mattered if he fit on it! Hinata and Ino went to help me pick it out and it's simply the softest thing I'ver ever felt. It was a totally great deal…"

Sakura trailed off when she realized Sasuke was holding the door open for her, waiting for her to realize that she had grabbed everything and was ready to go. She smiled a bit too hard and walked out, Sasuke following behind.

The hospital was quiet, as were they as they made there way to the exit. It was a peaceful silence for Sasuke. He enjoyed walking, looking at new things, and letting his mind wander. If he was walking, he was in the present and his past was held at bay for the moment. He could notice things, like how Sakura did smell like a mixture between antiseptic and something floral, just like he had guessed.

They were on the streets when his thoughts burst from him without permission. "Naruto says you're a better cook now."

Sakura's laugh was a chime in a breeze. It was her laugh when she found something genuinely funny or peculiar. "I'd like to think so!" Her grin was effortless. "I guess you, Naruto, and Kakashi would need to be the judges, after all."

Sasuke's lips tipped up ever so slightly. Sakura's grin turned into a beaming smile. She had more pep in her tired step when she asked, "Are you excited for Hinata's cooking? Her lunch has nothing on her dinners!"

Sasuke snorted, unable to help himself. "I don't know if I ever will truly look forward to eating around Naruto."

Sakura laughed. "I guess that's true. He really can be gross, but thankfully Hinata's taught him a few manners."

"Hm."

They walked in silence until they got to Sakura's apartment. Without knowing, Sasuke had stared intently at the third floor window since it had appeared in his view.

Sakura, however, took notice. Her head fell to the side, pink hair swaying. "Would you…like to come inside?"

Sasuke's gaze fell to hers instantaneously, then shuttered. He felt embarrassed that he was caught, but even more so that he had been so easy to read. It was infuriating, the intense desire to see where she lived, to be in her space. He wanted to attribute it to some baser need to know that she was alive and had a life, despite his actions against her. He knew, however, that it was fruitless to continue lying to himself. He was curious for curiosity's sake. Because it was her space. That was enough.

Sakura's expression fell almost as quickly. "I- I'm sorry, I know that it's late and -"

"Sakura."

"Y-yes?"

"Were you serious?"

"About…about what?'

"Your invitation." His eyes flickered to the window again before returning to her. "If you were serious I…I would like a cup of tea." It wasn't the whole truth, but it was a start.

This time, it took longer for the satisfaction to seep into Sakura's expression, but elated she was when she turned to lead them up the stairwell. Sasuke tried to maintain his composure while he followed, but in truth, he was equally nervous and excited to be there. He hadn't had a private moment with Sakura since he had returned and he owed her a conversation, no matter how small. He was ready to repeat the mantra he had memorized and free Sakura from some of some of the pain he had caused her, that he causes her.

Sakura fumbled with the key for a moment before ushering him through the entrance. The building was old, so he had to duck ever so slightly to enter. Sakura moved past him and turned on a few lamps, illuminating the space and allowing him to understand the pink haired kunoichi a bit more.

Her taste was eclectic. The living space to the right was colorful. She had a deep, blue couch and a window seat just below the great window Sasuke had been staring so intently at. Books filled every nook and cranny in her shelves and plants hung in the windows, rested on end tables, and sat in great, fat pots here and there. It was clean, but lived in. It was a home.

The weight in Sasuke's chest returned with vigor, causing him to bring his lone hand up. He rested it there and closed his eyes, hoping he looked composed when he dropped it and turned around.

Sakura had begun to waltz about her kitchen, putting together some snacks and tea. Sasuke watched and, what was becoming a theme around the pink haired kunoichi, didn't realize he was moving. His hands came to rest on the cold counter, the weight in his chest near unbearable. The knowledge of what it took for her to turn her back on him, invite her into his home…he didn't know if she knew, but he did. He felt it everywhere.

Sakura had been rambling since they had closed the front door. "- and I still love tea, so I have all different kinds of flavors! You can take your pick of the different leaves I have here but…" She trailed off, noticing his transfixed gaze with a heavy blush.

"Sakura." Sasuke could barely breathe. He was spiraling inside of his body, wanting to leave, wanting to erase his existence, wanting to wipe his hands clean until they were raw, and wanting her to stop looking at him like that.

Her head, ever so tilted, her eyebrows scrunched with worry. Compassion born in strength lined every feature and all of it, all of it, was for him and all of it, all of it was so unbearably undeserved. The weight in his chest centered and tightened, threatening to send him over a precipice of emotions to0 fast, too fleeing, too many, to name.

Sakura slowly set the tea tray down. "Sasuke…you're pale." She lifted up a hand, but slowly lowered that, too.

It all became too much for him. Sasuke stood upright and gestured to the couch, not a though between his ears. "Please. Sit."

If Sakura thought his behavior was odd, she didn't let on. She just nodded, eyes wide and cautious. She sat down and he promptly followed suit, leaving a more than healthy distane between the two of them.

The course of action was devised without a second consideration.

"Sakura," he began. "Have you studied healing eyes like mine?"

Her shoulders straightened. "I…" She gulped, as if she were stealing herself. "Yes. I found an old scroll that was sealed. It contained…heavy detail about the medicinal needs of the Uchiha."

Sasuke was proud he fought his grin. He had left the scroll for her to find and, thankfully, she had.

She seemed more bashful than he thought she would be. She tucked her hair behind her ear, a nervous traight he was thankful she had. It clued him in when most othertimes, he was clueless as to her true feelings. "I'm sorry if you feel like that was an invasion of your privacy. I really only read up on it to make sure that at least…well, at least someone in the world could help you if you got hurt!"

Sasuke didn't feel thankful enough to Sakura for a long time. He was trying desperately not to overflow with it. "It's fine. You are right. It is safer to have someone with your skill know how to care for my eyes."

Sasuke waited patiently for a response, but it seemed that his words had frozen the pink haired kunioichi. He leaned forward slightly. "Sakura?"

She started, her blush back with full force. "I- yes?"

"Can you…?" He gestured to his eyes.

She snapped to. "Oh! Yes, I can! Just, turn towards me, and, erm, hold still."

Sasuke did as she asked, closing his eyes and trying to calm his breathing, relax his shoulders. He held as still as he could when he finally felt her fingers gently tap against either side of his head. They gently traced his temples, the green glow soft and inviting. The lull of her warmth both from her hands and her heart were palpable. Sasuke felt like he was going to melt.

It was minutes, moments, seconds after she started that he began to speak. "I did a lot of thinking on my travels."

Sakura's hands never paused. He continued. "I'm…sorry, for causing you pain with my leaving. I knew that if I wanted to…to…" He struggled for a moment, but decided to leave the thought hanging. He had to begin his monologue. He had rehearsed.

"I had to decide who I was, who I became, and what I now wanted to be. I was blind and filled with anger, revenge, and pain. There was barely room for anything else."

"What filled the space all of that didn't take up?" Sakura's voice was a whisper of a wind against his skin. His eyelids fluttered.

He pushed, trying not to be too hard on himself for not finishing before she could respond. "I had people who saw me for who I was, but wanted me around anways. I was put on a team that had an interest in my wellbeing because there were bonds being built. Bonds that I didn't understand."

Sasuke's breath ushered out of him, the release of pressure at his temples finally easing. He slowly opened his eyes, meeting his favorite shae of green. "I came back because I understoond those bonds as much as I could on my own. Now, I'm ready to try and understand them with those people."

He swallowed, searching her eyes. She wasn't crying, but they shined in a way he had never seen before. It was beautiful, incandescent. He was surely drowning, now.

"Sasuke-kun." She whispered his name. Her hands fell lamely to her lap, as if she were in a trance. "I- can I ask a question?"

Sasuke was entirely unprepared for this reaction. He had expected tears, hysterics, or throwing her arms around him. He had prepared for those. He…he didn't know if he had an answer to her question, but he wanted to try. He nodded.

Sakura took a steadying breath. "I…I just have to know one thing." She clasper her hands in her lap and stared at them. "Is the bond you have with me…different than the ones you have with Naruto and Kakashi? And the other people you have…bonds with?"

Sasuke's brow furrowed ever so slightly. Each of his bonds were different to Sasuke, so it took him a while to determine the underlying meaning to her question. It clicked after an agonizingly long second. He was nervous to respond, but he didn't want to be dishonest. "Yes, Sakura. Our bond is different."