Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Chapter 8: I can't love you

"It was just a dream?" Sasuke had puzzled look on his face.

"Huh, what did you just say Sasuke?" Sakura was standing besides Sasuke with a smile on her face.

He looked up and blushed a bit. He quickly stared in another direction. "Err... nothing, just put the tray on the table."

"Oh ok..." Kind of disappointed, she went back to the kitchen to get her meal. She honestly thought that he was loosening up.

Why did he dream about her? And why is she on his mind lately. What is going on here? Not to mention that stupid feeling he gets when Sakura smiles at him or even stands in front of him. He quickly ate his dinner in silence.

Sakura was just about to sit next to him, when he stood up. "You don't mind doing the dishes do you?" Sakura looked over to his plate and was surprised to see that he had already finished his meal. Now a more disappointed look showed on her face. She was hoping to get some answers out of him during dinner, concerning his strange behaviour lately.

"Do you?" Sasuke asked again.
"No, of course not. Don't worry about it." She smiled and started blushing. "Uhm Sasuke-kun..."

Before she could say anything more he walked towards his room. "Where are you going?"
No response. Sasuke closed the door behind him.

What was that all about? Sakura just assumed that he wanted to rest, because after all, healing does take some time. She quietly ate her meal.

"I need to get out of here. I can't feel like this. I need a break. She is just a friend. I can't allow myself to fall in... in love with her. Sasuke's head was racing with a lot of thoughts. Not now, not now, even if she isn't my true love... The way I feel about her could be enough to wipe out the cursed seal. And I do not want that to happen, not yet, I need it... I need its strength." Sasuke couldn't take it anymore.

"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura knocked on the door. "Sasuke-kun can I come in? Sasuke, I need to talk to you." She opened the door. "Sasuke-kun?" He wasn't there. "Maybe he's in the bathroom. No he's not there either." Where could he be? She was starting to get worried. Tears started to well up in her eyes. She glanced over the entire room and stopped when she saw the open window. She ran towards it. She looked outside, but there was still no sign of him. "SASUKE-KUN!"

No, why would he leave her like that. Without saying anything. Sakura was now sitting on the couch with Max beside her. "We have to find him Max. His wounds aren't healed yet. I am so worried."

Sakura stood up and Max followed her to her room upstairs. She quickly put on jeans and a warm sweater. She grabbed her coat and ran downstairs. "Come on, Max. Lets go."

"Where am I?" Sasuke was wandering around in the forest. It was getting pretty dark. "I need to get some sleep." He looked around, but couldn't find a good spot to get some rest. Suddenly he heard a noise. He turned around and glanced through the bushes. He saw Anko taking a walk with Kakashi.

"I'm glad, you're feeling better Anko." Kakashi smiled at her.

"Thanks to you, I am free... No more seal." She smiled back at him and stopped walking to place her hand on the side of Kakashi's face.

"The moon is beautiful tonight, isn't it?" Kakashi looked up at the sky.

Anko moved closer and they embraced. She looked up and replied in agreement. They continued to stand there for a while in silence. Enjoying the night sky. Sasuke was still looking at them. He felt lonely somehow. "Sakura..."

Anko and Kakashi both looked in the direction where they heard the voice. "Kakashi you heard that too right?" Anko broke free from the hug and walked towards the bushes where Sasuke was hiding.

"Well, there is no point in hiding anymore." Sasuke came out of the bushes.

"Sasuke. What are you doing here? Were you spying on us?" Anko said with a shocked expression.

"Sasuke, are you ok? Where is Sakura?" Kakashi was relieved to see his pupil.

"Anko-sensei, I need to talk to you." Sasuke said, totally ignoring their questions.

"Answer our quest..."
"Sakura is fine, I'm fine. We were both staying at a Haruno family lodge. Now can I please talk to you?" He said impatiently.

"Fine. Kakashi you don't mind do you?" She smiled at him
"I'll see you in the morning." He gently brushed her hair with his hand. Anko stared into his eye(s). "Bye." He disappeared.

Anko turned to face Sasuke. "So, what do you wanna talk about?" Sasuke just stared back at her, saying nothing. Anko nodded. "Oh, I see." She pulled down a side of her shirt to reveal the place where the cursed seal used to be. She understood that he wanted to talk about the seal.

"I found it..." She looked in the direction where Kakashi had gone. "How about you?" Sasuke stared at the ground. He was feeling a little bit uncomfortable talking about that. An image of Sakura appeared in front of him. He frowned, he didn't want her on his mind anymore.

"I see... You know Sasuke. What you are doing is wrong." It was like Anko knew what he was thinking.

"Yeah well, I didn't ask for your opinion!" He screamed angrily at her.

"What is it that you want to talk about then?" She replied calmly. A moment of silence occurred and they were both staring at the ground.

"Where can I find him?" Sasuke was now staring at Anko with serious and cold eyes.

Anko knew that he eventually wanted to seek out Orochimaru, just like she wanted to do not so long ago. Luckily she didn't leave everything behind to do so and finally found some peace and love. "I don't know and I suggest that..."

"Don't make me repeat myself!" Sasuke interrupted her, because he knew that she knew where he was. He made a fist.

Anko had sad eyes. She felt sorry for him, because he has to go through the same thing she went through. The anger, the sorrow, the quest for power that didn't lead anywhere but more pain.

"You know, it took me a week to recover from the pain, the pain of the cursed seal disappearing. The one who said that love hurts was right." She smiled vaguely. "I was falling in and out of consciousness. But it was all worth it, because now I can live a normal life with the one I love... My true love... Strength isn't everything, Sasuke. Love is..."

She tried to convince him of not seeking out Orochimaru.

"I don't want... I need... I need to get stronger." Sasuke did not want to listen to her.

"How about getting stronger in the way that everybody does it? The normal way. The hard way, by pure training and help from your friends."

"..."

"Think about it Sasuke, before you loose all your friends because of this." Anko left.

"The cursed seal will go away once you find true love."
"I can't... I can't... I can't love you, Sakura! I'm sorry."

"What is this feeling? It didn't feel right." Sakura placed her hand on her chest. "Its like I lost something important." She just stood there for a while. Max barked. "You're right Max, we'd better head back. If Sasuke doesn't want to be found, that's his problem. I just hope that he will return soon, for his sake."

Sakura was about to go back, when she heard a sound behind her. "Is someone there?" She looked around. She heard footsteps. "Sasuke-kun?"

"No it's me."
"Anko-sensei! What are you doing here?!" Sakura was surprised to see her in the middle of the night in the forest.
"I was taking a midnight stroll. I saw Sasuke, a little while back."
"Sasuke-kun?! How is he?! Where is he?!"
"He's fine, don't worry about him."

Sakura let out a sigh of relief. Max barked. "Ahh what a sweet little puppy. What's his name?" Anko bend down to pet the puppy.
"Max. He was a dog, Sasuke and I saved." She felt sad, when she said Sasuke's name. Anko noticed it. "You really like him, don't you?"

Sakura was a little surprised by that question. "Yes, yes I do."
Anko smiled at her. "It's late. I'd better go home."
"Anko-sensei could you tell my family and Naruto that I'll be home soon?"
"Sure, no problem. Bye."

Sakura waved Anko off. Suddenly she felt like she was being watched. She glanced around the area, but she didn't see anything. "Ok Max! Lets go home." Max barked happily and followed her.

"I can't love you..."