Too Late

Chapter 4: Forgive not Forget

By: Vampire Toy

PG-13 just in case

Disclaimer: No me own

"Talking"

:Sound effect:

(Inner most thoughts at the moment)

…

My visit to Naruto was nothing less than what I expected it to be. His messy apartment made it obvious he had no parental supervision to force him to be clean or neat. Getting inside his window wasn't too hard either, it was wide open.

(Just because you live on a different floor doesn't mean someone cant get in, you idiot…)

I sat tentatively on the windowsill looking around at his mess. His room was different from Sakura's, the bed being on the other side of the room and his crap being all over the floor. I shook my head and hoped in, trying hard to find a place to step that wasn't covered in clothes or half-eaten food packages.

I didn't want to be surprised again, knowing that being surprised by Naruto might be a little less convenient than being surprised by Sakura. I walked out of his room slowly, being sure not to make any excess noise as I went. I looked at his nightstand before reaching for the door. More pictures; the Christmas one Sakura had and one of the shy Hyuga girl and her team. I half expected pictures of all the other teams we had all encountered, but didn't bother to search any deeper than I had to.

I continued out his room down his small hall to his kitchen where I thought I heard him gorging himself. I made sure again, that my chakara was concealed, and peeked slightly around the corner. I almost fell over when I saw he wasn't gorging himself, but sleeping face down on the kitchen table.

(Naruto, baka, you snore like a hurricane)

I looked around him seeing a bag he must've taken with him on the last mission he and Sakura had. It was halfway open as if about to be unpacked. It was obvious he didn't quite get around to it. I sighed lightly, walking into the kitchen with a little more confidence, knowing Naruto's snores were probably blocking any other sound from reaching his ears.

(So now what?)

He was asleep, so I wouldn't be talking to him…(you had nothing to say anyway, not after visiting Sakura…) hnn, her visit wore me out in a social sense. It would be hard to approach Naruto; I might have started off by calming him, then asking about Sakura. Seeing how Sakura reacted, however, told me that Naruto might just kill me for even wondering about such a question.

(Because it should be obvious) it's not like I've never noticed her crush on me (it was hard to over look…)

suddenly my ears picked up another sound in the room that I'd omitted among Naruto's snores. A soft humming….like…a microwave? My head spun to see the microwave was on and had been cooking ramen; but the most important detail was that the timer was about to go off. I panicked and stepped as carefully around Naruto as I could to turn it off but I couldn't reach it in time.

:BEEP:BEEP:BEEP:

(Grr….this night just really sucks)

"Hmmphf…." I heard my former teammates sleepy grumble from behind me and spun around, dodging out into the hall, into his room and back out the window in a blur. I was sure I'd revealed my chakara by accident at one point but my main concern was getting far away from Naruto before he could realize anything had shifted.

I jumped from his building and landed awkwardly on my feet, almost falling over, but my steps fell in place as I ran quickly through the street in my guise. It almost seemed the road through town lasted forever. The only thing I could hear was my heavy footsteps paddling on the dirt path below me and echoing through the empty night.

I slowed my run gradually as I came to an opening to the forest. I sighed and took a deep breath, yelling at myself in my head for acting like such a coward.

(You should face your past) ….what an interesting way to put it….face my past? So they, my team….they were my past?

(You know what I meant…)

I stopped to look back for a moment before shaking my head at myself and walking into the forest back to my camp.

…

A month had passed of me doing nothing but watching my former team. I would mostly watch Sakura sleep or go throughout her day, but occasionally I would wander off to follow Naruto or follow Kakashi (but I only followed him for moments at a time).

I finally decided it might be safe to try visit Sakura again. I'd been watching my teammates carefully in my time here. The day after I had attempted to visit my old teammates, I heard Naruto loudly telling Sakura that he'd dreamed about me and that I'd been in his kitchen stealing his ramen. I shook my head with a smirk; as long as he's still oblivious I'm safe.

I also noticed Sakura didn't speak about my visit to anyone; it was almost as if she knew I was still watching…or as if she knew that I didn't want her to. She was rather quiet and on some occasions Kakashi would pull her aside to ask if anything was bothering her; she always replied the same way; "I'm fine sensei."

She and I both knew Kakashi was not so easily deterred and I was always nervous telling myself, 'this time she'll crack'. But she never did, and I began to feel, that perhaps now would be the best time to revisit her. My mission wasn't going to last too much longer either, so I had to hurry before I needed to report back to Orochimaru.

This time I'd thought out my visit a little more carefully. I had gotten her a gift seeing as her birthday had been a few weeks back, I had also decided to try explain my reasoning for what I was doing. I had thought over what she'd told me, and her of all people deserved to know at least my motivation.

So I waited patiently for the days practice to end and it eventually did at around 8:00 P.M. I watched wearily as they all separated to go home. Naruto once again, as he had everyday I'd watched, persisting to go home with her.

"Maybe tomorrow Naruto, I just wanna be alone right now." She smiled. Naruto looked at her, his expression serious and concerned.

"Alright, it's a date, I'll see ya tomorrow!" he quickly rid of his gloomy expression and waved at Sakura as he ran back home. Sakura waved lightly in return and walked with a little less gusto than Naruto. I frowned, I wanted to go down and perhaps walk with her, but I didn't want to take a chance in the open.

(You know why she's like that right?) Yes…..(It's your fault)

I sighed as my heart tightened in pain, of course it was my fault, from the photo's I could only assume she was happy until I showed up again.

I hopped silently after her until she entered her house, then looked around carefully to see if it would be safe for me to reveal myself. I couldn't reveal my chakara, but when I saw her again I didn't want to be in my disguise.

I finally hopped down after a moment or two and crept up to her window. I was relieved to find that the window was unlocked and crawled inside, closing it behind me quietly. I looked around to see if she'd been in her room and found her clothes on her bed. I paused to look at them curiously, and blushed when I realized she must be in the shower. I got up and went out of her room, trying to pinpoint where her bathroom was just so I could keep an eye on the door to see when she'd come out. I didn't want to embarrass us both by catching her naked. I'd have to wait a little while longer so she could finish.

I walked calmly down the small hallway, looking for a closed door, assuming it'd be the bathroom. I stopped suddenly when a flash of red caught my eye and turned my head abruptly to see what it could be.

(Sakura!)

She was in the bathroom…..wearing her old outfit, the one she used to wear when I was still here….

"Sasuke!" she turned her head when she caught glimpse of me in the mirror she was looking into.

"I…..hello."

(Smooth) I don't need sarcasm….

"…what….are you doing here…?"

"Visiting…."

She paused a moment then her face fell into a strange expression. It wasn't an angry one, but it wasn't too happy either, it was more the type of look you gave a small child who wouldn't listen to you the first fifty times you said something; tired and slightly annoyed.

"You don't knock?"

"Well….I thought you'd shut the door in my face…."

""Your right…"

(But that's why you left the window open) I smirked slightly but she caught my expression.

"What?"

"No….nothing…"

"Grr, you know, Kakashi-sensei is coming over later, you'd better be careful." She murmured walking out past me.

"Wait." I grabbed her shoulders, more lightly than I had the last time, and spun her to face me.

"What?"

"Look at you." I smiled. She blinked and her look of annoyance was replaced with confusion.

"You wore this….I mean, it's your old outfit…" (Don't bring up the fact that you left….)

"Yeah….it's….old. I mean, it's kidna tight now." She said calmly referring to her matured body. I stared and a light blush spread over my cheeks when I saw the fabric tighten around her breast area.

"Ahem….yes, you've grown beautifully." (Yes, good, don't show you're nervous as shit….)

There was a moment of awkward silence, our bodies almost pressed together from the moment I had swung her around to face me. She looked off to the side slightly to avoid eye contact then let out a small sigh before glancing at me again.

"What is it? You came to see fi we were still ok….right? That's what you came to see?"

"Well, yes…."

"We're fine Sasuke. Naruto, Kakashi, and I; all of us….I heard you'd visited Naruto, and you probably saw he was ok as well."

"Yes….he doesn't quite remember the encounter…"

"No…but you woke him, he's useless in the morning."

The comment made us both chuckled slightly; Naruto was definitely the one who'd changed the least.

"Kakashi…."

"What?" I asked.

"You haven't visited him, he'd have beaten you up."

"Hnnn." I wouldn't make a comment at that; I didn't believe he could beat me up, but to be safe, I wasn't going to deny it.

(Besides, that WAS my initial reason for not visiting him) shut up.

"He knows you're here……I mean, I knew you were watching."

"Is that why you didn't tell them?" it pained me to think that only her fear or secrecy was keeping her from telling her team… it hurt to think she might not give a damn anymore.

"No, why confirm suspicions and raise hopes? Kakashi is waiting for me to tell him, so he can be sure and go find you. If I tell Naruto, then his optimism will raise and then shatter. He might think you've come back to stay."

The corner of my mouth twitched slightly at the comment.

"What's keeping Kakashi from just looking for me now if his notions are so strong?" I asked trying to brush away the feeling quickly.

"The team, Naruto and I, that's what. You think he'd leave us if he wasn't sure? Besides, we're still training."

"I see."

Another awkward pause and I slowly placed my hands on her arms.

"Hm?"

"Well, you said Kakashi was coming to visit tonight?"

"Yes…."

"Before I leave then….can I finish and answer the question you asked me?"

"What question?"

"A few days ago, the night I first came to visit."

"…."

"Do I care about you as more than a friend?"

"I know what question you're talking about! I was just waiting for you to answer." She muttered blushing. I smiled softly; she still faltered when the thought of a deeper relationship came up.

(So she still loves me?) Perhaps.

"Heh, you're blushing…" my hand came up slowly and my thumb ran gently over her soft cheeks, only increasing the redness over her delicate face.

"I-its just hot in here…"

I leaned down to face her eye-level.

"I don't think so." I murmured, a smirk playing on my lips. Her eyes were wide in embarrassment and surprise; I was never one to flirt much.

I moved my arms quickly, wrapping one around her waist to pull her body closer, then the other to pull her face to mine.

I tilted my head slightly and our lips met roughly. I had pushed her head too hard and our faces were nearly crushed together.

(So much for romance)

I didn't give up; however, I was finally kissing her, after so long, missing her and sorting out my feelings, I didn't want to give it up now.

Her lips were soft against my own chapped ones and our bodies fit perfectly together as I held onto her. My hand tangled in her soft hair and her fingers trailing through my own black strands.

The need for air forced us apart a minute later and I gave her a loving smile; it had been a long time since I could smile at anyone this way.

She was bright red but smiling also as she panted lightly. Her hands came up to cup my face, her palms daintily brushing against my muscular cheeks.

"You're blushing." She said to mostly herself, as if not quite believing I was capable of such a thing.

"No, it's….just hot in here."

Her hands left my face to cover her own as she giggled slightly, shaking her head.

"What's so funny?" I smiled again.

"Your hair is not as soft as I thought it would be."

"W-what?" I blushed again, more out of confusion than anything.

"Your hair," she repeated, grabbing a chunk and pulling my head down to her level.

"Ow!"

"You're like a porcupine. These spikes could kill." She chuckled, softening her grip to let me look up.

"Well, yeah, sorry my hair's not naturally soft like yours."

"Are you kidding? You know how much conditioner it take to get my hair like this?"

"Is that your secret?"

We both laughed; we were more comfortable around each other now for some reason. I remember even when I WAS here, that she would always blush and stutter around me and I would never know what to say to her and end up muttering something cold.

How awkward it was to think that we had to go through so much to get to know each other.

"Hmmm…." Sakura's face fell as her laughs died down. She gave me a heartbreaking look of sadness before letting go of me, almost pushing herself away from me.

"Uh…you should go….Kakashi-sensei will be coming soon."

"….right…."

(What did I do wrong?) You left, that's what you did wrong, remember…..who's side your on.

"Goodnight Sasuke."

I paused a moment to look and her before grabbing her without warning and hugging her close to my body. I buried my face in her shoulder, giving her an affectionate squeeze before breathing her in one last time. I quickly let go and took a step or two back, as if stumbling.

"Goodnight Sakura." I quickly turned around and disappeared into the darkness.

The next moment I was on her roof and my heart began beating faster. I became nervous suddenly as if someone was watching me….someone close by….

Becoming frantic at the realization that it might be Kakashi, I bounded over the rooftops and finally into the forest to my campsite.

"What the hell was all that about?"

(You shouldn't have kissed her!)

But…

(It's messing everything up! Look at what you're doing! Don't go back! Not again, never again)

What! Never again? I couldn't….I didn't even get to give her the gift I'd gotten her…

(You can't go back, not until your mission is finished)

My mission….

(Remember it)

Yes, of course.

My hand went to my pocket to grab the gift but it wasn't there. I reached in my other one frantically.

(Did I drop it?) I bounded out of the forest again; whether I could see her again or not, I still wanted her to have the gift.

I put up my guise and searched the rooftops and alleyways as I backtracked my frantic route. How could I have lost it? I stopped suddenly, my heart seeming to cease beating.

Could it be someone WAS watching me? Did they take it? But why? And how! How did I not notice them take it? Who's that strong? Not Kakashi, I was expecting him, I would've been able to sense him, but this person….all I could feel was their eyes…

My heart thud quickly again and I carefully made my way back to my camp. I dropped down onto the ground, sitting cross-legged and rubbing my temples.

Those eyes were familiar to me, the way they were looking at me….who was it?

…

Vampire Toy: DUN DUN DUN! Who is it? Not who you'd expect…I hope XD well I updated woohoo! Sorry for the slow updates, I'm working on 4 stories right now and I don't have much time to do them anymore, since finals are coming up and I have to bring my grades up before school lets out (dies). Well, I hope that was ok, I didn't like it too much but I hope it will hold you off for a little while X3 hehe, I'm giving myself too much credit. Thank you for reading and please R&R! Flames welcome.