"Let GO of me, Sasuke!"
Sasuke finally released Sakura's hands after having wrestled with them all the way down the street. They were already halfway to her apartment. The bottom of Sakura's gown was wet with melted snow – she hadn't cared to carry her skirts to prevent it. Sasuke stood still and watched her tromp a few more steps through the snow without him until she slowly came to a stop. Her hands came up to hug her arms as the chill apparently caught up with her.
"You know what's going on. Why won't you say anything?" Sasuke stated more than asked. Sakura slowly turned to face him; one of her arms dropping to her side while the other remained where it was.
"Things aren't that simple, Sasuke," she said, uncharacteristically dropping the 'kun' from his name. Sasuke watched her a moment, noticing how she couldn't even manage to look at him directly now. He slowly moved towards her and came to stand right in front of her form. His face was as stern as ever. He didn't understand why she was hiding it – why she was protecting this man.
Whatever it was – he just knew he didn't like it. She never kept anything from him. In fact, she was normally bubbling over the top trying to tell him whatever he did or DIDN'T want to know; any excuse to talk. Now she was keeping secrets from him.
"Maybe you enjoy having a maniac running around Konoha," he stated, bluntly.
"You're the LAST person that should be labeling people 'maniacs'!" Sakura suddenly flared. The rage on her face flickered away instantly, though, once she realized what she had said. Her hands flew to her mouth and her brows arched up.
Sasuke stared at her.
"Oh. Is that so?" he said simply.
"Sasuke, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it," she stammered.
"Hn," he replied and turned to walk away from her. Panicked, she trudged after him and grabbed his shoulder trying to prevent him from leaving. Overcome by his internal turmoil, Sasuke whirled and shoved her off of himself into the snow. Sakura stared up at him wide-eyed in disbelief. For a second even Sasuke seemed disturbed by his reaction - as if he hadn't meant to respond so harshly. Not the type to readily admit his own mistakes, however, he made no immediate motion to help her up.
Seeing that Sasuke wasn't doing anything, Sakura helped herself up from the snow, feeling the dampness seeping through the rest of her dress. Naturally, she didn't seem very happy. Her eyes welled up with tears.
"I can't believe you! For years I stood and just accepted that your life was complicated – that you had your problems and had to face them on your own! I accepted it because I loved you! I didn't ask questions – you wouldn't let me! And now that I have my own problems that I can't just tell you, you turn into a total jerk! Well, news flash, Sasuke! Your life isn't the only one with complications! Did you ever think that maybe this is something I have to deal with on my own!" she declared, angrily. "Maybe it's NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!"
"Don't even start! It's PLENTY of my business!" Sasuke flared, stalking around to face her. "People are getting hurt the longer this lunatic is around! He even threatened to do WORSE!"
"I told you not to call him those things!"
"Why? Why does it bother you so much?" he huffed, stalking around her now like an agitated animal. "You haven't changed at all since I left! The only thing you've done is evolved from an air-headed, love-struck little girl to an idiotic woman!"
Even the best of ninjas can falter in skill when their emotions get too involved. This was the case for Sasuke. When Sakura's fist hit him square in the jaw he really hadn't expected it. Maybe it was because he was angry or even a little jealous. Maybe it was because Sakura seemed more the type to slap someone than punch them. Maybe it was because she punched him. Whatever it was, he hadn't expected it at all and went staggering back when the blow came.
It was that day he learned that Sakura packed a wallop in that fist of hers.
He stood with his face blank, still absorbing the feeling of it. Sakura stood, her mouth agape in that same state of shock at her own actions, but for some reason she really didn't regret punching him. In a way it felt kind of good.
Sasuke finally seemed to regain his focus and looked at her directly. She watched him, unsure how he was going to react now. She had basically just attacked him, after all.
"You shouldn't do that," he murmured. Things shivered in front of Sakura's eyes and suddenly Sasuke was right in front of her. She almost didn't catch his fist in time as it flew at her face. Her hand grasped his tightly, holding back the pressure of it. Her eyes turned to his to try to read them. "….If you want to fight me, I'm not going to even second guess it. Do NOT throw punches unless you intend to start something."
"To be …completely honest, Sasuke. I think you deserved it," she murmured, still holding his fist at bay. Her words were a little meek but incredibly honest. She almost couldn't believe how gutsy she was feeling. Sasuke's eyes locked on hers for a little while longer before he pulled his fist back.
"Probably," he replied, simply. His eyes lowered for a few minutes before he looked back up to her. "I'm going home."
"But…?" Sakura asked, confused. Sasuke stepped forward and grasped her hand, purposefully grabbing the very same hand that had managed the punch before. He lightly kissed her fingers once before releasing it and turning to go.
"Your business is your own. Just keep in mind who you're getting involved," he said, simply. Speechless, Sakura stood and watched him go until the wetness of her dress began to freeze and she was forced to trudge the rest of the way home.
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Author's Note: AHHHH! That was actually a really fun chapter to write. Thanks SO much to all you guys reading and giving feedback – it keeps me writing! -
ALSO! You all may be interested to know that I have links to Japanese versions of "On My Own" and "Phantom of the Opera" on my profile page for you to listen to! Go check em out!