During their journey, Sasuke still didn't talk much, but Sakura minded less and less. She found that his reticence made the quiet moments they shared more meaningful. There was even evidence of him growing comfortable with her presence. Though he still never spoke about past or present events, Sakura noticed that he no longer pushed her away when she touched him.
Sakura's favorite part was at night when she had an excuse to wrap her arms around him. They would lie next to each other silently, piling both their blankets on top of their bodies to keep warm. Whether he meant to or not, Sasuke always dozed off first, pressed against some soft curve of hers. Sakura didn't mind; he felt pleasantly warm in contrast to the cold air. She'd stare at the stars until she felt her eyelids getting heavy. Finally, she'd fall asleep with a smile, satisfied with way their bodies fit together.
This persisted for far too short a time for Sakura. There was a heavy solemnity in the air throughout the third day. Sakura could no longer ignore the fact that by nightfall, she would be back in Konoha without Sasuke. Though she had been at home just a few days ago, it seemed like a month had passed. The apartment, the chuunin lounge, the memorial, Hokage-sama, Naruto, Lee, Ino...they all seemed like a distant memory.
This with Sasuke...this...feels normal.
As they neared the destination, Sakura wanted to slow down, but Sasuke was anxious to get there. Finally, they reached the edge of a small cliff overlooking the main city of Konoha. The multicolored lights spotted the darkness and they could hear the murmur of the night life below.
Sasuke and Sakura stood a few feet apart, looking in different directions. Sasuke seemed disturbed, being so close to his former home. To Sakura, this place seemed trivial now compared to the man next to her.
"I can't go any farther," he said plainly.
Sakura felt her body sink slightly into the ground and shifted. Crickets were chirping in the bushes. Sasuke sensed her disappointment, but his mind was made up. To some, Konoha was a peaceful haven, safely removed from the rest of the world; but to Sasuke, it was a stifling cage for those like himself who felt the need to seek power.
Besides this fact, he also faced the possibility of death if he showed his face again in his old home. This fate was sealed the moment he scratched a line through his forehead protector and tossed away his identification tag. Sasuke was an S-class criminal now—a traitor to the Leaf. Though he was a skilled jounin-level ninja who could probably single-handedly destroy smaller cities, he knew Konoha had many proficient soldiers who were willing to give their life to end his.
He felt a chill as he strove to push away thoughts about his childhood days. This is where those memories lived. Academy, team 7, and...that incident—the incident that pushed him down this path and gave him his one single ambition. They all began and ended here.
Sasuke's attention turned to Sakura, who was silent.
Her hair was purple in the moonlight, and she was staring out into space.
This was their last conversation. Sasuke felt he had to end whatever issues they had now. He knew what was on her mind.
His voice was the first to penetrate the heavy stillness. "Sakura...what you want...it's impossible."
Sakura turned to face him, snapping out of her trance.
She asked softly, "Why does it have to be this way?"
Silence.
Sasuke didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on some invisible spot in the darkness.
"If I had more to offer you back then, you might not have gone...." she apologized in a soft voice.
The complete sincerity in her voice made him uneasy. He didn't like taking about their past.
"It had nothing to do with you," he said flatly.
His detached tone was too much for her. Sakura tried to control the swell of emotions, but she felt as if she would explode with frustration.
"I can only give you everything I have, every part of me, but it's never enough for you..." she replied shakily. Her vision blurred.
Sasuke avoided her gaze and did not answer.
Sakura couldn't stand it anymore. She declared in a desperate tone, "I need you, Sasuke! Can't you see I need you...so bad...it hurts!"
Her body relaxed slightly after the convulsion—it seemed relieved by releasing the confession that had been weighing on her mind since their first encounter. She had gone out and said it, and now her feelings were out in the open.
Slowly, she took a step forward, closing the gap between their bodies. She took one of his hands in both of hers and raised them to her chest.
She lifted her gaze and caught his eyes.
"Stay with me," She whispered. The phrase was honest and thrilling in its vulnerability.
Sasuke looked at her. His hand could feel her heart throbbing.
"Please. I'm begging you."
Silence.
"There's no way I can lose you again."
His eyes fell from hers. "Sakura...I can't."
"Then take me with you."
Sasuke found it hard to speak in his most practical voice. "You can't give up everything you've worked for."
She didn't back down. "I can and I will."
He felt a wave of annoyance crash over his body. "Why?" he asked desperately, searching her face for the answer.
Sakura didn't hesitate. "Because it's worth it."
The words seemed to awaken his full anger. The more he thought about it, the less sense it all made. Sasuke broke away suddenly and backed up, removing his hand forcefully from her grasp.
"No, Sakura, you don't get it!" He laughed in disbelief of her stubborn foolishness. "It's NOT worth it. I'M not worth it! A lot has happened in these seven years. Do you even know who I am? How can you give up everything for a stranger, much less an S-class criminal?"
His palms were turned up in exasperation.
"Sasuke..." Sakura was stunned by his sudden change.
"I can't believe you! If you would listen to me, I could give you a hundred reasons why I'm exactly what you DON'T need! Since I left, I haven't cared about anyone but myself and it's not about to change!" Sasuke stopped and sighed in frustration. "I should never have...I can't believe I actually tried to...and we..."
He paused and turned away, rubbing his neck with one hand.
"I wish we never met," he finally declared in a low voice.
Sakura swore that the slight breeze that blew just then passed right through her body. The words were unmistakable, and Sakura felt them reverberate in her core.
"You don't mean it," she whispered with wide eyes, trying to convince herself.
His voice was honest. "I do, now more than ever."
Sakura shook her head in denial. Her eyes closed and she felt them burn as tears started forming behind her lids.
No...
He continued more quietly, "Do yourself a favor, and forget about me."
She heard the rustling of clothing and opened her eyes again. Her vision was blurry, but she could make out Sasuke bent down, securing the kunai holster on his right leg. He was getting ready to leave.
He can't leave...not like this...
After Sasuke finished adjusting his weapons, he rose to face her for the last time. Their bodies were close, but Sakura felt that the familiarity between them that had grown so much in the last few days had suddenly died. The person who stood before her was indeed a stranger and she felt as if an infinite distance separated her from the Sasuke she thought she had known.
Sakura had nothing to say. Anything that came out of her mouth now would be a futile, naive statement.
His eyes were sharp and empty, but Sakura forced herself to meet his gaze for the final time.
"I'm leaving now. If you follow me and I see you again I swear...," Sasuke spoke coldly.
"...I'll kill you."
His tone was serious and controlled.
He means it...
Sasuke backed up a few steps and paused, as if testing her to see if she'd follow.
Sakura felt paralyzed and remained where she stood.
"Good," Sasuke said, satisfied that she finally stopped her protests. He then turned around and disappeared quickly into the darkness.
As he fled, the reality of what just passed sunk in and Sakura was overcome with a sense of finality. In the back of her mind, she wanted to believe she could change him. But now he was gone and she was alone. She never imagined it would end this way.
Sakura suddenly felt the darkness and silence suffocating her. Her body was heavy and she soon gave in to the pressure. Bending her knees, she collapsed to a sitting position with her legs tucked at her side, her palms supporting her weight on the cold rock.
Sasuke...