SASUINO DAY 3: Saccharine

The only warmth Sasuke felt after his family's demise was Naruto and Sakura's friendship, and Itachi poking his forehead one last time before he succumbed to his death.

The first one, he abandoned to become stronger. Much stronger to defeat his brother.

The second one, he lost when his brother died.

And if he were being honest, he would add that he felt warmth whenever a certain blonde kunoichi embraced him from behind. How could he not when there was no malice in them? No intention of hurting him?

But he always shrugged her glomps away, didn't he? And he could always see the hurt on her face at his rejection.

At that time, it didn't matter. Nothing mattered more than killing Itachi, who murdered their family. Then nothing mattered more than getting revenge on the person who made Itachi and the Uchiha clan suffer.

And now, nothing matters anymore. He has accomplished his goals. He has brought swift justice to those who hurt him and his brother. Nothing mattered now that he had finally accepted the warmth of his team's friendship.

So why, he wonders, doesn't Ino treat him like she used to? Why is he not the center of her affections? Why does she glomp on somebody else but him? Why does his heart hurt so much seeing her act that he doesn't matter more than her love? Why can he feel as if he can't breathe when he sees her with someone else?

Sasuke never knew he was a sentimental fool.

He watches as Ino hugs Gaara from behind in the same manner that she did to him before. The only difference is the reaction. Because, unlike him then, Gaara loves her glomps, adores them so much that he stops talking to Naruto altogether to smile at her, and she grins, leaning her head onto his shoulder.

"Why don't you two lovebirds go on your way already?" Naruto teases when Gaara's whole attention was on her. She laughed at her teasing, then stopped hugging him to let the two Kage talk, but Gaara already pulled her to his side as he smiled and apologized to Naruto.

He turns and walks away before they can see the anguished expression on his face.

That should've been him.

That should've been him receiving her love and attention.

If only she could look his way again, then he would do things differently.