Disclaimer: This is a fan-made work of fiction based on the manga created by Masashi Kishimoto. The plot and the story Scandal! is owned by username CSIsui but the characters used in the story derived from the fictional work Naruto is copyrighted and owned by Masashi Kishimoto. User CSIsui has no claims in any of the characters derived from Naruto.

I have been binging on Taylor Swift in the past few days (I mean, who isnt, after All Too Well (10 minute version) Taylor's Version). And in pure TSwift fashion, I have been struck with inspiration. I must say, I wrote this in fear that the inspiration may disappear so it is not as polished as I would want it to be. However, I did try my best to weed out some mistakes. Also, because of this sudden inspiration, I have decided to look at some incomplete works I have and am working on them - but they're still not ready and I am not sure when they will be posted.

Anyways, without further ado, I present:

FEARLESS

It was at that moment that Uchiha Sasuke realized how much he had loved Haruno Sakura. Her hair was disheveled and wet, her dress dripping from the rain, and her face glowing as she smiled at him pulling his hand, giggling at the fact that the two of them were caught in a storm.

It was supposed to be her day off. Most of her days were spent in the hospital tending to the injured victims of the Fourth Ninja War. If she was not found in surgery, patrolling wards, or prescribing medicine, she would be seen talking to the orphans from the war, trying to give them comfort. People would come to her to say their hellos or their thanks, sometimes a confession. Haruno Sakura never seemed to be taking a break.

He, on the other hand, was a pariah in the place he used to call home. Despite efforts from Kakashi in clearing his reputation, even as far as revealing some details behind the Uchiha Massacre, the plot Danzo had placed, and the heroic sacrifice of Uchiha Itachi, the civilian populace of Konoha still had second thoughts. He would hear whispers behind his back about his choices and his involvement with criminals. He would notice their glances that were looking at him with either pity or judgement. Uchiha Sasuke cannot blame them of course.

But for some reason, these things all seemed to disappear as soon as she came into view.

"I didn't expect to bump into you, Sasuke-kun. What are you doing out and about?" she asked.

Her voice seemed to drown out all the whispers around him, filling his ears with its bright timbre.

After being released from his cell in the Konoha prison, Sasuke was allowed to have his old apartment back. After staying at Naruto's apartment for a few weeks while Kakashi got the paperwork done, he was about ready to have his own space. The apartment, having been emptied by order of the Hokage when he left, was surprisingly in good condition. It was empty and it had a musty smell to it, but well-kept nonetheless. He was off to buy a futon when he bumped into Sakura in the shopping district.

"I needed to get some things." he simply answered.

"Oh, right. You just got your apartment back!" she quipped back. Then looking sheepishly, she asked "Mind if I join you?"

Her cheeks were tainted with a shy blush of cherry pink as she looked up to him. She was considerably shorter than him now, compared to when they were children. In fact, Sasuke thinks her height is just a perfect fit for his own - wait what? What was he thinking, comparing her height to his.

"I understand if you don't feel comfortable." she continued, her eyes now looking more forlornly than hopeful. He feels a strange pang in his stomach as she opened her mouth to say goodbye.

"I should g-"

"Sure, Sakura. Why not?"

A gleam of glee suddenly glowed from her eyes which seemed to have filled Sasuke with a feeling of satisfaction. He couldn't understand where these feelings were coming from but the happiness he's seeing from Sakura just seemed to make him want to smile.

"Thank you for letting me accompany you!" she said, taking the spot beside him. "So, what were you planning on getting?"

"Just a futon."

"I thought Kakashi-sensei was supposed to replace your furniture?"

"Sakura, I just got the apartment back yesterday."

Realizing her mistake, she laughed nervously while scratching the back of her head. He didn't know why but she looked incredibly endearing and he couldn't help but crack a barely visible smile.

"Well," Sakura began, trying to recover from her awkward mistake. "We better hurry before it rains. Those clouds don't look like good news. Have you eaten anything yet? Naruto must have gotten you instant ramen day-in, day-out."

"It was...manageable. It's better than what I had these past few years."

Sakura looked at him with wide eyes. Her emerald orbs looked at him with concern and worry. It's not like Sasuke could blame her anyway. She's one of the top medics known in the Great Shinobi Nations. It would be natural for her to worry about the nutrition of his diet. 'Typical Sakura' Sasuke thought.

"Well, have you eaten yet? I planned to pick up groceries since I don't really have much to do today but I got a little craving for some gyoza."

It wouldn't kill him to be honest. "No, I haven't eaten yet, actually."

And just like that, the pinkette's eyes suddenly brightened up. Her eyes are something that never ceases to amaze Sasuke. It was like he could understand exactly what she wanted to say or how she felt just by the way she looked at him. He will never admit it to anyone but he had always considered Sakura's eyes to be beautiful ever since they were genin. They were beautiful because of how expressive they were; because of how they just lit up just by seeing him; and because… simply because they were Sakura's eyes. Her beautiful emerald eyes.

"Then would you mind if we take a little detour before we get your futon? Lunch is my treat." she said.

"Sure."

Konoha had changed by a significant amount when Sasuke had returned but he was relieved that some things never really do change. Sakura continued to banter as they walked side-by-side. She spoke about her patients in the hospital, about how cute the new medic trainees were; she asked him questions about his well-being and gave him encouragement; and then she spoke more about anything and everything she could think of. Surprisingly, he didn't find it as taxing as he would have if it were any other person. In fact, it felt comforting - almost to the point of domestic. A small smile crept its way to his face. The feeling was nice.

All of a sudden, big drops of rain began to fall. One drop falling faster than the last until they were caught in a rainstorm. Sasuke and Sakura immediately ran for cover in the nearest shade they could find.

"I didn't expect it would rain that much!" Sakura laughed as they both stopped under a closed taiyaki store's rafters.

"It was a bit cloudy today." Sasuke simply replied. "Here." He removed his cloak and skillfully covered Sakura's shivering frame. "You'll catch a cold."

"I should be the one telling you that. I'm the medical ninja, remember?" still, she held the cloak close to her, careful not to make eye contact with Sasuke. Sakura knew that if she did, he would know how much affection she had for him. "It's good to have you back, Sasuke-kun." she said in almost a whisper.

"Ah. Me too." Sasuke didn't mean to, but the weight of his guilt was felt in his voice. The both of them didn't say anything for a good while after that. Only the sounds of the raindrops falling upon the roof tiles could be heard.

"You know, they say the rain comes to cleanse the earth. To give new life." Sakura broke the silence as she looked at the rainwater dripping from the store's eaves, as if contemplating an afterthought.

"I see," Sasuke said, who also turned his head towards the rain. If only such a thing really did exist. If only there was such a thing, like the rain in Sakura's whimsy, that can wash away all his sins. Suddenly, he feels a tug on his arms and finds himself outside getting wet in the rain, Sakura looking at him while she pulls his arm. Her face was just bright with laughter and new hope. The rain drops falling down on her face, making her pink hair wetter and wetter as she pulled harder, making him slowly begin to run with her to where she led them to.

And in that moment, memories of her from years past - the good ones, the bad ones, the awe-inspiring ones, even the ones he knew he can never atone for - rushed inside his mind's eye and suddenly everything was clear. Why he can't stand her wasting her talent. Why he gets irritated when Naruto or any other guy asks her he was willing to throw away his life when he faced Gaara when they were genin. Why he seemed to have second guessed his conviction to leave Konoha that night. Why the idea of hurting her was so foreign, so shameful, even during his darkest days. Why he needed her forgiveness first before he could move on after the war.

He loved her. He has always loved her. He loved her then, he loves her now. Right now, as they ran the streets of Konoha. In the middle of heavy rain.