Shanan stood, breathlessly, outside of Sasuke's apartment door as she had run the entire way there. She knew he was home, but now wondered if she should even knock. He had probably never even been mad at her about it. Or was she just being a coward? She raised her hand hesitantly to knock, but just as she was about to, the door opened.

"Are you coming in or are you just gonna stand out here?" Sasuke asked with a smirk.

Shanan tried to laugh a little, but it just turned into crying.

Sasuke immediately stopped smirking and stepped outside and put his arms around her. "Hey... what's the matter?" he asked quietly.

Shanan hugged Sasuke back for a few minutes before pulling away. Sasuke kept both of his hands on her arms as he looked into her eyes, but it was hard for her to say the words and she thought she was just being dramatic now.

"What's the matter? Is your training going ok?"

"Yeah..." She said, barely audible. She looked down at her hands. "Sasuke... I'm sorry..."

"Sorry for what?" he asked, confused.

Shanan continued to fidget, she felt really stupid now. "When I came up with the no-handed jutsu," she said as tears started falling from her eyes, "I was so obsessed with..." she wiped her cheeks off, "with never losing to the Sharingan, even though..." her cheeks were wet again, but she was determined to say all of the words.

Sasuke tilted his head sideways and looked at her with such compassion and empathy. He put one hand on her face and shook his head to stop her. "Shanan, don't cry. I know what you're trying to say, ok? And you know, I was a little hurt sometimes back then if I really thought about why you came up with the idea, but I knew you meant well. And... that was a couple years ago. Besides, we got something really amazing out of it." He pulled her in again and squeezed her tight. "Don't feel bad. Ever. Ok? I love you. So much," he said as he closed his eyes and breathed her in. How could she think he would ever be upset with her?

They all said "I love you" to eachother all of the time. But this one felt different. This one felt really tender and specific. This one bled into Shanan's whole body and went straight to her heart. And for once, she actually felt it. The chakra absorption. A heightened sense of joy and comfort at the same time. She could feel a part of Sasuke becoming a part of her and it warmed her whole body.

"I love you too, Sasuke." She tried to match his tone and his warmth as best she could so that he would know what she meant and how she meant it. And he seemed to understand, his arms tightened around her even more.

They stood there embracing for what felt like a long time. And Shanan felt like she was beaming so much that she may have actually been putting off light. Sasuke didn't think any less of her. Even if it had been a few years ago. He appreciated and loved her. And she appreciated and loved him, so very much. The thought of kissing him crossed her mind, but that would mean she'd have to leave his arms, and she wasn't ready to do that just yet.

Sasuke finally relaxed his arms and leaned back from Shanan to look at her face. First her eyes, that just moments ago had been so heartbroken and full of tears. So worried at the possibility that she had ever hurt him. Then her lips. It was hard not to stare at them. He had been considering his first kiss too, but decided to wait just a little longer. He had only just now told her that he love-loved her. So he opted to wipe any lingering tears from her face instead as he looked softly into her eyes. "I will never be mad at you. I will never hate you. Don't ever worry about that. Ever."

Tears welled in Shanan's eyes as she looked back into Sasuke's and nodded her head. She bit the inside of her lip. "Can we sit outside for a while?"

Sasuke smiled at her and grabbed her hand so they could sit together on the balcony outside of his door. Shanan scooted close to him and he put his right arm around her and held her left hand with his left hand as she rested her head on him. They didn't really say much else, all the courage had left them. They just sat in silence and enjoyed each other's company as they continued to fall completely head over heels for one another.