Disclaimer: Naruto and related characters didn't belong to me; they belong to Masashi Kishimoto-sensei and may others, but definitely not me.

Thisinterlude can be called a prequel of Yin & Yang, and a filler of the whole arc. This is written without HarbringerLady permission and for my amusement only, since I couldn't just left Sakura in the dark. She is a member of Team 7 and deserves a respect of her own, being one of the best female characters Kishimoto ever create.

Thisinterlude is taken place after Sasuke return and before he was sent to Britain with Naruto (before the currentYing & Yang and Shinobi Guards).

I was debating myself about how I would post this, as a stand alone or under 'Yin & Yang', but since it's 'Yin & Yang' interlude so...

Sheera's Greywolf 2005

Jyoujoushi

(Ode)

One and a half year ago, she would have been happy to hear that a certain genius prodigy of Konoha had return from whatever hell he had visited. But it was one and half year ago, it was today that his long forgotten childhood love comeback. How much had changed from the day he'd gone, Haruno Sakura asked herself.

Many.

Konoha, for example, had undergone a war and now, the village has very much different from the old one. Older, shabbier, with more unspoken sadness on its every core; the destruction could be surpassed only by Kyuubi Attack 16 years ago. People's laughter were hollow, a mere cold mask that very painful to heard even by Sakura.

All the remaining Rookie Nine were at least Chuunin now, with the exception of, of course, Uchiha Sasuke. Shikamaru was close to Jounin rank, and Konoha's best strategist despite his laziness.

But she wasn't here to let Sasuke-kun catch up; she pondered, staring absent-mindedly at Naruto's apartment building. It looked shabbier than the last she went here; many of the paints had been chipped off, some by idle hands and some by nature, the roof need fixing and the stairs were in the verge of collapse. She could only guess why Naruto hadn't moved out like anyone else.

Naruto's front door was unlike the other part of the compound; the wood was polished to perfection, the brass doorknob was shining and there was a scrap of paper which politely announces that you were face to face with Uzumaki Naruto residence. Naruto's room was nice for someone who barely lives there; it was quite airy with some potted plants in the window sill and a bigger one in the corner. However, they were experiencing the beginning of the worst summer in 2 years, so even that wouldn't help much.

She smiled at Naruto's surprised expression and found herself being ushered inside by the eager host. Naruto chirped some how are yous and asked her would she like to drink and offered her a tall of chamomile ice tea with lemon and cake to go by, before asking what in high heavens brought her to the apartment.

Sakura smiled at her blonde-haired teammate, relishing in the familiarity of one of her best friend's antics she had missed. After Sasuke absence--or was it betrayal? Sakura didn't certain after Tsunade edict—Naruto was changed.

Sure, for outsiders he was still the cheery demon boy, too loud and obnoxious for his own good. But if someone searched beneath those grins and confidence they would found that Sasuke betrayal to Sound affected him more than he let anyone knew, maybe it affected him more than it did to others. Something that Sakura, regrettably, only realized recently.

Naruto's question regarding her thick brows fiancé condition brought her reverie ands she let her smile bloomed once more at the spread out refreshments of the offerings of more delicacies for the grinning host of which she declined with regrets. As much as she loved Naruto home-made cakes and cookies, she was on diet and couldn't bear more pounds or else she would looked like a female version of Chouji on her wedding day.

"Lee-kun's fine Naruto. A few bruise here and there but after a meeting with Tsunade-sama he will be as good as new. He's actually looking forward for your sparring, you know." Sakura smiled and accepted the tall glass of ice chamomile tea—she'd also declined the lemon, she never really likes the sour taste anyway-- gratefully. It felt so nice to have cold drinks in the middle of summer days; where the sun was very much a flame thrower glowering in Konoha's sky. If it wasn't for something as important as this, she would be cuddled up in her room with a book.

She listened as Naruto rambling on and on in response of her earlier statement while sipping the cold liquid. The glass felt blessedly cool and she held with both hands, steadying herself for what she would say next.

"Ne Naruto, is Sasuke-kun here? I need to talk to him."

She watched Naruto stopped in middle of a sentence, shutting his gaping mouth and nodded gravely. The seriousness invading all his facial features, no trace of the previously carefree Naruto. All done in span of three seconds. If she wasn't known Naruto for so long she would have laugh; or claimed him to be sick. Or maybe both.

"He's in the bedroom; I'll call him now ok? Just enjoy the cake Sakura-chan!" Naruto chirped happily and left her in her own ponderings.

The strawberry cake stared at her numbly.

It wasn't long before Naruto erupted from his bedroom, looking quite pissed and practically dragging a stoic Uchiha on his heels. He ushered the Uchiha to seat, glaring all the way; of which Sasuke only returns was a blank stare at the blonde shinobi general direction. A second later she was regarded with the darkest midnight eyes she ever have the fortune of meeting.

Uchiha Sasuke was still a sight to behold; maybe even more. His coal eyes was darker in resemble of starless midnight sky; a sharp contrast with his even paler skin. The worshipped high cheekbones and upturned nose was still there, adding a noticeable and definitely not unpleasant contour in otherwise smooth skin. His trademark rooster tail stood proudly in the back and she scrutinized every single strand as its sway to the gentle breeze. While Naruto was bulky and more horizontally challenged; Sasuke was lanky and almost a head taller than Naruto. Most of the muscles were hidden beneath his shirt yet Sakura had no doubt that Sasuke's was as muscular as Naruto in his own way. She felt his eyes shifted from her blonde-haired teammate to her and lifted her eyes to meet his.

"Sakura." Was his only greeting. His black eyes bore into her in steady manner which was only his.

"Long time to see ne, Sasuke-kun." She smiled at Sasuke, listened half-heartedly as Naruto said he would leave them alone to 'catch up' and he was on the roof if they would ever need him before the blonde shinobi opened the window and vanished.

"Ha."

She chuckled. All these years he was away on Sound and Sasuke didn't really change much; it felt like they were back to old days. In any seconds Naruto would have burst through the window, yelling him to stop being a bastard and answer rightfully. But they were past that stage it seemed, Sakura mused wistfully at the unmoving window pane. Naruto too, had moved on.

"You haven't changed much Sasuke-kun. You still answer like the way when you were twelve." The pink-haired shinobi smiled and waved to the seat in across the coffee table. "Please have a seat."

Sasuke merely stared back, his eyes devoid any emotions. Sakura waited a couple of second and cheered inwardly when she saw the raven-haired Uchiha took the prepared seat.

"Doumo." Yep, Uchiha Sasuke social skill certainly didn't improve much.

She put the glass back, folded her hands on the hem of the outer skirt and spoke, "Sasuke-kun, I'm here to say good bye." She chuckled at Sasuke wide eyes, "No, it's not that I would leave the village or something Sasuke-kun. It just, you know, I did once in love with you when I was a child and I want you to know that I've moved on. I and Lee are getting married in a year or two." She smiled and saw the beginning of a small smile in Sasuke lips, "You do realize I never had any chance to say Good Bye and it make me keep thinking, what will happen if you had never been gone? Would you able to love me in the end, as a lover would? If not, will I be able to move on, knowing that I have to meet you everyday? Will Naruto be able to move on from me?"

"Sakura..."

"Will our triangle end anytime soon?" Sakura laughed a sad, bitter laughter that sounded as if she was weeping instead of laughing.

"Our triangle?"

"Yes, our triangle. Don't tell me you haven't realized it yet Sasuke-kun! About Naruto loving me, me loving you..."

Sakura took a deep breath, "...and you loving Naruto."

She knew the last fact which made their former Team 7 a never ending triangle was always left unspoken, but such thing had to end. "I might be dense, Sasuke-kun, but I'm not blind; that's why I choose to move on. Though I must thank you for helping me."

For once Sasuke expression was far from his usual parody of statue.

"He had never given up on you." Sakura continued smiling as she saw Sasuke startled expression. Maybe she was too blunt, but right now she simply doesn't care. "Not once, Sasuke-kun." Now, she no longer able to stared at him; maybe it was just some old jealousy, but she couldn't bear to see such an open emotion on all his features. "Every time he would go out, for a mission or something, his parting words were always 'Don't worry Sakura-chan! I'll find that bastard this time and bring him home!' and a wave. Even after I given up on you and moved on." She laughed, somehow felt an old undesirable bitter taste on her tongue.

"Sakura..." 'I'm sorry' She knew he would have said that, yet she stopped him. She didn't want to deal Uchiha-self-blame session. It was over and done, he was forgiven and she would happy to leave it at that.

"So please Sasuke-kun," The afternoon air was humid and she itched to wipe the beginning of perspirations on her forehead. The AC was on, but it didn't help much "Don't give up on him either."

And then she saw that. The wistful smile, just a tiny fraction of muscles moving but it was a smile nonetheless, and the deep longing with a hint of remorse and regret behind the thick veil. Just a flash then it was gone, back to the deep dark eyes she had once adored so much in her younger days.

Yet she understood.

It was all it took for her to make a life time decision.

'If I had known before hand, how this triangle of us would cause so much trouble, I would have resigned even before my first day in Team 7' She had once said to Lee, but now, looking at both Midnight eyes, she realized that she had no regrets.

She never regretted the day she fallen in and out of love with a raven haired genius named Uchiha Sasuke. She had learnt to love beyond imagination then, and still learning to bask in a wonderful feeling of being loved in return. A shinobi had to look underneath the underneath; and underneath it all, Sasuke was not, and would never be hers.

It taught here how precious friend Ino was. Their broken friendship was mended the day Sasuke left Konoha, and both of them had made a vow to never again loving the same man. Not that Sakura would ever set her eyes on Shikamaru anyway.

No, Haruno Sakura had no regrets.

So she smiled, giving her best smile for her long lost childhood friend. "I know Sasuke-kun. Thank you, but I have no regret." Her eyes regarded the Uchiha with a calm serenity before she slowly stood up. "Maa, times really flew when you're with a friend ne? I think Naruto's roasting his ass up there. I better go home."

"I'll walk you to the door."

"Thanks."

The walk to the front door was spent in a comfortable silence; their padded footsteps were the only sound echoed in the dimly lit hallway. For a second, when her hand reached the doorknob and turned to say good byes, Sakura wished they were young again; maybe she would able to fall into the deep abyss of midnight once more. But she let the thought pass and silently whisper Good Bye.

This year's summer will be bright and cheerful.

"Ne, Sasuke-kun," She said, turned around to face him for the last time "Take care of Naruto okay? If you ever hurt him, I swear I'll be after your ass faster than you think I could." before headed down the stairs, spring on her feet and happiness on every core of her being.

Sasuke-kun's stunned face was priceless.

Her next stop was, of course, The Yamanaka Flower Shop. After all, such good news was meant to be shared with people.

-Owari-

It's done. My apologize for those who actually waiting for Yin & Yang next installments; it's going to be late. I hope I'll be able to finish it before my school starts in August, but I couldn't promise much.

I'm lazy and now, I'm trying to catch up with my personal project. Don't worry there will be chapter 3 and another interlude in Yin & Yang next installments, so I hope I won't disappoint you much.

A coherent review will be greatly appreciated. Remember, it help me write better and faster.

Songs listened while writing this

Joujoushi – L Arc-en-Ciel

STEM – Sheena Ringo