Chapter Rating: G - PG-13

To My Reviewers:
srusse87: n.n Suspense is what i DO! Here, have a sasu plushie with that naruto. hehehehe
Jenniyah: Er, can't tell you what he's dying from. How bout I just say heartbreak? lol
yakamashi: 0.o Mkay. I'll kill him. But when fangirls come to kill me, I'll blame you, mkay?
kkoganai: Hahahahaha! I don't believe I typed that! I wasn't concentrating and studying for a biology exam. Must have been on my mind. I meant luminous! CRAP. lol. I'm so sorry. Thanks so much for pointing that out to me. I wouldn't have noticed otherwise. lol.
Dreams raven: Thank you so much:-D Yes. this story was written on the sole intent of making SASUKE!TEME suffer. muwahahahahaha.

AN: n.n Once again, thanks for the reviews, they really do encourage me to write more! Sorry for publishing the last chapter twice. It was coz deleted it for some reason...or maybe it just disappeared on its own. Glossary at bottom of page.

- III -
Unknowing

At close to three in the morning, Sasuke found himself gazing up at a cracked ceiling which was being held up by walls whose paint seemed to want nothing to do with them. The paint was gone in places, revealing dull gray.

Sasuke couldn't sleep. How could he? The inn he had chosen was the worst that Konohagakure provided. It was right at the outskirts of the village and he felt sure he was the only one staying here. Although the solitude was always a plus with Sasuke, the state the room was in, put Sasuke off from sleep.

Turning to his side, he stared at the cracks in the walls. He remembered staying in worse.

"Move, teme!"

"Shut up, dobe." Was all Sasuke said.

He didn't move.

He felt a hard shove at his side.

"MOVE!" A harder shove followed.

"If you don't like it so much, why don't you sleep with Sensei?" Sasuke huffed, sitting up and glaring down at the boy next to him.

Naruto pouted.

"Ne, Sasuke…" Naruto dropped his voice a few notches. "You know Sensei…he's…he's…a complete pervert!"

Even in the dark Sasuke could see the crimson that burned Naruto's cheeks. Sasuke wondered for a moment why Naruto was looking so indignant. Almost as if he was recalling something their Sensei had –

"WHAT THE--!" Sasuke suddenly found himself on the floor.

He heard muffled laughter come from the bed above him. He was just about to beat the living daylights out of Naruto when he heard a stirring from Kakashi's bed. He froze and the laughter that was coming from Naruto ceased immediately as both boys tried their very best not to breathe too loud.

Kakashi was notorious for being a light sleeper. Having been ANBU and all. Heck, for being a Ninja in general. But when Kakashi was woken up in the middle of the night for reasons other than to possibly kill an intruder/attacker/etc. he was left in a deadly mood.

When Kakashi didn't appear to be waking up any time soon, both boys let out the breaths they were both holding. Sasuke kept his eyes trained on their Sensei, one knee on the bed and the fist that had been raised to punch Naruto on the face was unclenched and resting on the covers, helping to keep his balance.

He felt someone touch his arm. He looked down and saw Naruto pick off an insanely large dust bunny off of his arm.

"God Sasuke. What the hell is down there?" Naruto whispered, picking off another.

Sasuke jumped back slightly and began dusting himself off. When he was more or less sure that he was free from the hated dust bunnies, He got slowly back into bed.

Immediately, Naruto began complaining.

"Just shut up, Naruto! Just shut up! You're not the only one who had a long day, okay? We both need sleep. So shut up! It's not my fault you have a fat ass! Baka."

"Whaaa! Take that back! I'm not the one here with a fat ass. So take that back!"

"Shut up, dobe." Sasuke muttered, moving to his side so his back was to Naruto.

Naruto was quiet for a moment before shoving Sasuke hard. He didn't fall off the bed though.

"Take it back, teme!"

"Take what back?" Sasuke was ready to kill Naruto.

"The last part." Naruto said lamely.

"No. I'm not taking back what I know is true."

"Why I ought to –"

"Shut. Up." Then, under his breath, he added, "What I would give to be with anyone but you."

This time, when Naruto fell silent, he stayed that way. He shoved Sasuke only once but then stopped.

Although it was hot – Sasuke had kicked the blankets off of him – Naruto had grabbed the blanket and had it wrapped around him. Sasuke found it strange.

"Dobe, you're going to melt."

Naruto did not reply.

After a while, Naruto's silence began to bother Sasuke. Especially when he knew Naruto was awake. Sure, he had wanted the dobe to shut up. But he had never really expected him to comply.

"Oi, dobe. What's up with you?"

He twisted himself around, so that he was still technically lying on his side but his upper body was turned to face Naruto. He was surprised to see that Naruto's back was not to him. He was met with blue eyes.

Naruto only looked at him, before answering.

"It's not like I want to be with you either, O' high and mighty Uchiha. It's not like I chose to be on your team."

"God, Uzumaki. Stop being such a girl about this."

"You have a serious problem, Sasuke. Then you'll see. You'll see."

"What, dobe, what'll I see?"

Naruto didn't answer, only turned so he was lying on his back. Sasuke turned as well, still lying on his side but facing Naruto. He jabbed Naruto hard in the ribs. Naruto flinched but didn't react, his eyes trained on the ceiling.

"This room stinks pretty bad." Naruto whispered.

Naruto was right about that. Sasuke could barely breathe. Afraid the stench would contaminate his body.

"Don't change the subject." He muttered.

"From the looks of it, floor's pretty dirty too."

"I said don't change the subject! What'll I see!"

Naruto turned his head so he was looking at Sasuke in the eye.

"You'll be alone."

Sasuke blinked a few times before scoffing.

"Too late."

Now, it was Naruto's turn to scoff.

"For a genius, you're pretty stupid."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sasuke pressed a hand on Naruto's bare shoulder as the other boy was about to turn so he wasn't facing Sasuke anymore.

"Don't touch me, Sasuke." Naruto said, shoving Sasuke's hand roughly off of his shoulder.

"What the hell does that supposed to mean!" Sasuke demanded again.

"It means I don't want you touching me." Naruto said, turning.

"You know that I didn't mean that, baka."

"I'm just saying, teme, that you're pretty stupid."

Before Sasuke could say anything, Naruto continued.

"You're just throwing it all away. One day, you're going to throw everything away. You'll see. You're going to throw everything away. And for nothing. For a nothing that you'll probably think is everything."

At the time, Sasuke had thought that what Naruto had said was the most stupid thing he'd ever heard. Looking back, he cringed, knowing that Naruto had never been more right in his entire life.

o-o-o-o-o

Dawn found Sasuke leaning on the railings off the bridge team seven congregated on every morning, waiting for their sensei. Below him, his reflection gazed up at him, expression as hard as stone.

A familiar chakra signature behind him signaled the presence of someone before the tiny gasp did. Sasuke didn't straighten up until Sakura was a few feet away from him.

"Sas-sasuke?"

It was only then did he turn to face her.

"Sakura."

It felt funny, strange, saying her name. Like her name was foreign. Still, it slid off his tongue easily. The kunoichi had…improved; for lack of a better word. Her hair was still cropped short, but…her features had matured and perhaps, if Sasuke had been anyone else, he may have called her quite pretty. But he wasn't anyone else.

"Sasuke. Tsunade-sama had told me you'd come back." Sakura whispered.

It was only then that Sasuke realized. The honorific from his name was gone. There was no 'kun' anymore.

"Hn." Was all he said.

Sakura shrugged it off, as if what he'd said – or what he didn't, seem to be weighing down on her shoulders.

There was a moment of tense silence and Sakura watched Sasuke intently. He had become, as expected, an extremely handsome young man. Sakura had felt her heart do summersaults at the sight of him. But not in the way it once had when they were genin. So many thoughts had whizzed past her mind and really, all she could do was feel numb. Something approaching anger was quickly sweeping through her. But she didn't do anything.

Even though, she wanted to walk up to him, look at him in the eye and punch his face in. She wanted to slap him, kick him, scream at him. She wanted to show him physically, the pain he had caused her emotionally and mentally.

But she didn't do anything.

His eyes fell on the bundle she was carrying, wrapped carefully in newspaper and Sakura was thankful. It reminded her why she was out at this time and why she just had to cross this particular bridge.

"It's for Naruto." Sakura whispered.

There was a sudden change in Sasuke's expression. Sakura saw it immediately and she was shocked, and a little confused, when Sasuke didn't even try to hide it. It took her a moment, when she realized that he couldn't hide it.

"He trains everyday. He's trained everyday. Since you left. He trains, and forgets to eat. Except for maybe Ramen. But both you and I know how unhealthy that is…" Sakura said, not believing that she was actually kidding around with the person in front of her.

Still, Sasuke's face held that same, indescribable emotion. There was a slight twitch on his lips and his eyes held something she couldn't quite fathom…Sakura wondered; since when was Sasuke so bad at hiding emotions? He never had trouble before. But. She supposed this was different.

He looked…hurt. Sakura almost smirked. She was surprised at the lack of tears her eyes had to offer. She'd dreamt of this. Of his return. Although the dreams were hardly dreams at all. In all of them she'd cried when he came back. Cried and ran up to him and…then she'd wake up. She shifted slightly. Is this how I can hurt him? She thought to herself. She decided to test it out.

"Everyday. Every single day, he's trained." She said again. "Even after--"

Sakura paused for a moment, a lump forming at her throat. It was backfiring. Yes, the slight twist in Sasuke's face showed her it was working. But suddenly her eyes were damp and there was a sudden turmoil in her chest. Like her heart was hollowing out.

Maybe it was.

"Even after…even after his body began deteriorating. Esp-especially after his body began deteriorating."

Sakura let out a shaky breath, swallowing. Then she wished she hadn't because suddenly her throat was very dry.

Sasuke looked at her for a moment. Deteriorating? What did that mean? His mind couldn't fathom it. He couldn't fathom it.

"Will you take me to him." He said, quiet.

It had almost been a demand. His voice held no questions, although his words did.

"I—Sasuke, I don't think that's a good idea."

Sasuke felt anger flare through him, before he cooled down. He noticed Sakura hadn't even flinched. Yes. She'd grown.

"I understand."

She nodded to him, a thanks in her gesture. She didn't smile at him. She hadn't at all. He understood that as well.

"What, Uchiha? You had expected a welcoming ceremony?"

Neji's words echoed in his ears. No. I hadn't been expecting anything. But least of all…this… He leaned his elbows against the railings and turned his head up towards the sky. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. He looked back at Sakura who was making her way across the bridge now.

"Sakura." He called.

She paused, but didn't turn to look at him.

"Don't tell him I'm here."

He didn't want to say "Don't tell him I'm back." Because he wasn't. Not Back. At least…

She nodded.

"I wasn't going to."

o-o-o-o-o

"Anou sa, Anou sa, Sakura-chan, daijoubu ka?"

Sakura looked up from her lap and smiled.

"Hai."

Naruto looked at her, incredulous.

"Right." He said, one eyebrow raised.

She laughed. Naruto grinned and plopped down next to her. Sakura sighed and leaned back on the tree trunk, looking at her comrade.

Naruto was so much taller than her now. He was probably the same height as Sasuke. Who would have thought that would have been possible? She bit her lip at the thought of Sasuke.

"You're too glum to be alright, Sakura-chan." Naruto said, thoughtfully while munching on a rice ball.

"Since when have you been so perceptive?" Sakura teased.

But Naruto didn't respond. His blue eyes didn't glitter with amusement anymore. He looked genuinely concerned. Sakura's smile faded from her face.

"Nothing, Naruto. It's nothing."

Naruto looked at her before turning his face up towards the sky.

"Yeah. Nothing."

He sounded hurt.

"Look, Naruto, it really is nothing." Sakura said.

She knew just how sensitive Naruto was. She knew that now. She hadn't known before. But now she did. And in truth, especially since everyone found out Naruto was dy—was not well, almost everyone seemed to be walking around him like treading on glass. She knew he hated it. Which was probably why he trained so much. To show he wasn't going to break into two at any given moment.

Naruto didn't reply. Instead, he glanced behind him and smiled brightly.

"Thick brows!" Naruto grinned as Lee appeared behind him.

"Naruto! Don't call Lee-kun that!" Sakura whacked Naruto on the head.

He laughed a little, almost apologetically. Almost.

"What's up, thick brows?"

Sakura sighed. Irritated. But relieved the mood was back to normal again.

"Naruto-kun, Godaime-sama is waiting for you." Lee said.

He turned his attention to Sakura, helping her up off the ground. She smiled easily at him and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. He blushed furiously.

"Ah CRAP! I totally forgot!" Naruto said, jumping up and waving at the other two.

Naruto sighed, not bothering to say a goodbye to the other two. They were already way too wrapped up in each other to notice him.

"GOMEEEEEEEEN!"

Naruto cried, flying through Tsunade's doors. The ANBU on either side of the doors just looked at the orange blur, not even bothering to stop him. They merely closed the door after him.

Tsunade looked at him, irritation clear in her eyes.

"You're late."

Naruto chuckled nervously.

"Gomen, Tsunade-baasan." He scratched the back of his head with one hand.

Tsunade glared at him, irritation etched on her fine features.

"Ah…You see…I was with Sakura-chan. And she'd made breakfast for me. And you know how great she is at cooking, Tsunade-baasan!"

Tsunade continued to frown. Naruto made a mental note to ask Sakura to cook for her. Maybe then she would understand.

It was only then that Naruto tensed and straightening up, feeling eyes boring into the back of his head. He glanced over at one corner behind him.

Sasuke?

Glossary:
Anou sa: Hey (to grab someone's attention) / now see here / well now / listen up
Daijoubu ka: You alright?
Gomen: Sorry