Act 4: Long awaited hello

She couldn't believe it. Her raven-haired ex-teammate and teenage obsession was standing right there in front of her within "hugging" distance. Frozen on the spot and unsure of what to do… Sakura just looked at him and studied his features. He had grown taller than she remembered him to be. His facial features were stern and handsome, and he had trimmed his hair since his ANBU days where it was long and in the way a lot, now it was back to the length he had when he was a gennin. He wore a grey muscle top that left his toned arms in perfect view of her jade orbs. His lips looked soft and smooth, she wanted to touch him, to hug him, but she was scared. Did he still hate her? If he ever did.

"I heard you were back…" He tried to look her in the eye, but she looked away afraid she would blush. "Does she hate me?" He thought reading her reaction incorrectly.

"Yeah, I'm back" She answered glancing up at him every few seconds then looking back down at the ground. "Does he hate me?" She wondered. If he did, why would he be here?

"I'm glad…" He answered still looking at her. This comment puzzled Sakura greatly and she looked up at him in confusion.

"Huh?" She blinked still confused. Sasuke just smiled at her

"Ha, got you to look up" He looked down at her with every intention to tell her how he felt.

Sakura fumbled around with her fingers nervously as the two of them strolled through the park. They talked about what they've been up to lately, and how all their friends were doing. She was scared that he had settled down too, that she had really lost him for real this time.

"So…umm," she pondered "Should I still call him Sasuke-kun? It has been a while…" "Sasuke-san" She started.

"San? (, it's like she doesn't know me anymore…" He thought frowning slightly but looking at her as she spoke. "Yeah?"

"Have you settled down?"

"Well umm…"

Silence…

"No, I haven't."

She looked at him now, she was half happy but also half scared. She did have feelings for him, but what about Jin? He HAD proposed to her, and she HAD asked him to wait. Sakura couldn't help but feel a little guilty. "Really?"

"Yeah…" He looked at the ground; the two of them had stopped by the bench where he had left her when he went to Orochimaru all those years ago. He shoved his hands in his pockets only to feel something soft and lacy….

- FLASHBACK –

"She's gone? What do you mean she's gone!" Sasuke looked at Naruto with a mixture of anger and sadness.

"Well she took everything with her. Clothes, books, scrolls… mostly."

"And her other stuff?

"She sold it."

"What about her house?"

"Sold that too."

"And her parents?"

"Left freshly picked daffodils at their graves before leaving."

"When did she leave?" He was pacing now, impatiently, trying to take all of this in. He had been on a mission with the Hyuuga for the past 2 months. Neji was able to return 2 weeks early but Sasuke stayed behind to make sure the job was thoroughly done.

"Two days ago."

"DAMN!" Sasuke kicked a chair angrily.

"Oi! Don't take your frustrations out on my office Uchiha!" Tsunande walked in, Naruto was visiting when Sasuke came to report and ended up telling Sasuke everything.

"Sorry… damn it!" Sasuke slumped down into another chair pressing on his eyes with his fingers.

"Are you grieving over Sakura?"

He fell silent. They were suspecting something between them, and hoping they'd end up together, but that was back before the war, and now…. Well, that speaks for itself.

"Why did she leave?" He asked not looking up.

"She accepted a job at ANBU headquarters." Tsunande answered setting her chair upright after Sasuke kicked it halfway across the room.

"Does that mean she's not coming back at all?" Naruto asked taking a seat next to Sasuke.

Tsunande shook her head. "It's up to her, whenever she wants to leave ANBU she can. But she acted as if she was leaving for good."

Sasuke clenched his fist tightly, Naruto saw him tense up.

"This is the only thing she forgot, I found it while cleaning out the rest of her home yesterday." She held up a white lace kerchief with "Sakura" woven on it. "I'm guessing it's hers. You can have it if you like Sasuke… you're the only one she didn't say goodbye to."

His fists tightened more, Naruto was afraid that he was going to go insane with Tsunande pushing buttons like that.

Nevertheless he took the kerchief and left the office.

"Tsunande-san, I don't think you should push his buttons like that. You know how he gets."

Tsunande turned her back to him and looked out the window watching the Uchiha set out in the direction of Sakura's house. "He's in love. And he's not admitting it."

- END FLASHBACK –

Sasuke's fingers played around with the frills of the kerchief in his pocket. Sakura took a seat on the bench. Her long legs dangling over the stone edge, delicate hands in her lap and her head tilted downwards eyes closed. Sasuke took a seat next to her.

"What about you?" He asked trying to make conversation.

"Huh?" she opened her big beautiful eyes and looked at him.

Trying not to blush, he continued. "Have you settled down?"

"Oh…" she looked down debating whether or not to tell him about Jin.

Sasuke felt his heart beat faster. He wanted her to be happy; it's just that ever since they were kids, her happiness was him, as conceited as that sounds. And to be honest, he's always had a soft spot for her, and was clueless about women more than Naruto or Kakashi.

"Well…" she continued. "Just tell him a little bit…" She thought, thinking that he deserved to know. "I've thought about it. Greatly, and I want to. It's just that… well…"

"No man?" He asked. She looked at him funny…

"No, there's a man…"

"Oh…" He looked down at the ground, "I wonder if she's referring to me… I know it's been a while and considering our history… it's a long shot."

"Err… men…" She continued.

"Men?" He looked back up at her just as she looked away. "Damn! Someone's beat me!" He thought.

"Damn this is so hard!" She looked at him. "Yeah. But I'm not sure who the right one for me…is. I mean," She blushed, her eyes diverting towards the ground but her face still towards him. "It has been a while…"

They both blushed deeply and looked away afraid to look each other in the eyes.

poof One of Tsunande's messengers appeared before them

"Sakura-san, Sasuke-san, Hokage-sama would like to see you both now."

poof he was gone.

The two of them blinked. What could be so important that she had to see them now?

They reported to Tsunande's office.

"You wanted to see us?" Sasuke asked knocking on the door.

"Ahh… Uchiha, you're here." She took off her glasses and put down her books and papers onto a sea of paperwork. "Is Sakura with you?"

"Yes I am." Sakura answered as they both walked into the office.

"Good, good, take a seat you two."

They both sat down in front of her desk. "So they were together tonight after all" Tsunande though seeing through Sasuke's unusual gleaming eyes and Sakura's pink cheeks.

"First of all, congratulations on your last mission Uchiha; I expect you got your pay?"

"Yes." He nodded.

"Good!" Tsunande then turned towards Sakura. "Hello again my dear." She said smiling. Sakura had always been like a daughter to her.

"Hello " Sakura answered happily

"Do you plan on staying in Konoha longer?"

"I guess…"

"Good, I was looking for a place for you to stay.

"Oh, wow, thank you."

"Unfortunately I didn't find one for you alone."

A sweat drop fell over her head. "So much for that" Sakura thought.

"However," Tsunande said looking at the both of them. "I DID, find you a place to stay, given Sasuke here doesn't have a problem with it."

"Why would I?" Sasuke said puzzled. "What the hell?" he pondered. Sakura didn't quite get it either.

"GOOD! Sakura, you're going to live with him." She pointed at Sasuke.

"WHAT!" they both chimed.

Tsunande just grinned.