A/N: This was my entry for Naruto100's 'Sin' challenge.

Cleansing Rain:

It was raining. The water cascaded down from the stormy heavens and washed every trace of him from the village. Every step he had taken throughout Konoha was flooded from the earth; everything he had touched was cleansed. When the rain stopped and the puddles were all that was left, Sakura left her apartment to find no trace of Uchiha Sasuke.

Somewhere inside, she blamed herself. When she walked by the stone bench she saw herself, younger, less aware of the world, speaking of how orphans could never understand. It was my fault. Of course it was mine. She didn't know how to approach him, how to know him. But she did know how to love him.

I didn't know this would happen. She tried to forgive herself. Was there anything she could have done to prevent him from leaving? From thinking that the only way to avenge his clan was to betray everything he had ever fought for and leave for Sound?

Sakura sunk into the stone bench, letting her face fall into her hands. She was still and silent, letting her mind wallow in the weighing her responsibility. She could still see him standing there, that sword on his back, speaking of severing ties and killing his brother. And she could still see him leaving.

"Ugly- I mean, Sakura-san?" Sakura looked up quickly, seeing her new teammate standing beside her.

"Oh, Sai…" She was too preoccupied to even notice him trying to get away with calling her that nickname. "What is it?"

"I noticed you laying your head in your hands, and my books tell me that is a sign of despondency." Sai was still awkward with this 'friendship' matter, and it was apparent in the way he kept switching his weight from foot to foot. "It recommends me offering my shoulder and asking you to unburden your soul."

Sakura smiled wanly, trying to find words.

"Sai… is it a sin for me to still love him?" The young man sat down, his face displaying a bit of puzzlement.

"Do you… want to love him? Like to?"

"I… don't know…"

"Does he make you happy?" Sakura blinked. Sai pushed her. "Does he?"

"I… all I have left of him is pain." Sai nodded as if the matter was simple and clean-cut.

"Then yes. It's a sin to love him. But what is a sin?"

"Thanks, Sai…" Sakura smiled a little and kicked a pebble into a puddle.