Shattered Pieces

Chapter 11 – Welcome Home

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

-----

Sakura's POV

-----

Our journey back to Konoha was a long one. We had to stop many times for Sasuke to rest since his chakra levels were still making their way back to normal, and his wounds still weren't completely healed. Every time I told him we had to stop, it was always the same thing.

"We can't waste time Sakura! I'm fine! For all we know, Akatsuki can be following us, and what would happen? We need to move!"

And every time he told me that, I replied with the same thing.

"If we don't stop, you'll have to make your grand entrance back to Konoha with a girl carrying you in her arms, while you're passed out from being too weak."

And that always got him. However, I did respect his side of the opinion, because it was true. Akatsuki could well be following us; it'd be amazing if they haven't found Itachi dead yet. I knew that it was obvious for them who would have killed Itachi, but I also knew that Akatsuki didn't move unless ordered to. It was a journey of anxiety, with me panicking inside, and Sasuke constantly looking in every direction with his Sharingan activated. But it felt refreshing to know that after every tree we jumped, we were closer to Konoha.

-----

I looked out of our makeshift shelter to see the snowfall gently falling. We were still in a dense forest, but I could see other types of trees from a distance. I felt calmed as I saw a few dots of pink showering in the snow, and smiled as I knew what they were. I knew I couldn't journey out of our shelter or Sasuke would get very, very irritated with me, so I just lay down on my stomach, with my elbows supporting my head, as I watched the snow gently fall.

"Go to sleep."

"Sasuke, I'm not even saying anything," I said.

"You'll need your energy tomorrow. We're almost to Konoha."

I sighed. Why is he so arrogant and stubborn? But at least he cares...

"I'll go to sleep soon..."

"Hn."

I took that as acknowledgement that I had five minutes at the most before Sasuke would kill me to make me sleep, and I continued to stare at the dots of pink. The unusual beauty of the flurry of white and pink mesmerized me, and I couldn't break my gaze. I heard Sasuke stirring and ready to literally knock me out, so I took one last look and lay down next to him. I began to shiver at the coldness and felt Sasuke's hands around my waist and his warm breath on my neck.

"What were you staring at?" He asked me.

I shivered at his breath's touch.

"Cherry blossoms in the winter..." I said, snuggling close to him to keep warm.

He let me get as close as I wanted to and I soon fell asleep beside him. But for some reason, I heard him talking...

-----

Sasuke's POV

-----

She fell asleep close to me, and I couldn't do anything but keep her warm. Sakura, I wish I could tell you...but it's not time yet...

-----

Sakura's POV

-----

I awoke this morning and found Sasuke already awake. I looked at him and nodded.

"Let's go," He told me.

I made sure I didn't leave anything in our makeshift shelter, and we were on the move again.

-----

We made it to Konoha in a day. I was exhausted and he needed to slow down his pace once we reached the village gates. I saw his eyes will with anxiety. I caught my breath and walked up to him as he gazed at Konoha's beauty, and I just smiled. I noticed the ANBU watching us, who probably already warned Tsunade-sama about our presence. I walked to him and placed my hand on his shoulder. He turned to look at me, and I saw that behind his eyes he was glad to be what he used to call home.

"It's okay Sasuke. Don't worry," I said, trying to comfort him with my words.

He looked at me, and sighed. I smiled at him, and he seemed to loosen up a bit. I noticed one of the ANBU members appear in front of us, and was about to make a move on Sasuke before I stopped them.

"No, he's with me," I said.

I could sense a quizzical expression behind that mask, but nevertheless, they nodded, and I began to walk past the gate. I turned and found Sasuke still staring at the village, and the ANBU closely surveying his behavior.

"Sasuke," I said, looking at him.

I could feel his anxiety, and I walked back to him and laced my fingers with his.

"It's okay Sasuke. You're home now."

I smiled at him, and he hesitantly followed. We were finally home.

------

Knock, knock, knock

"Enter."

Sasuke and I walked into the familiar office, Tsunade-sama bombarded with paperwork, her trashcan obviously hiding sake bottles.

"Uchiha Sasuke," Was all she said.

"Tsunade-sama. I'm sorry about my absence. I take it that you sent out squads and they didn't find me, correct?" I asked.

Tsunade-sama put her hand over her forehead, clearly showing signs of concern and worry through the bags under her eyes.

"If I may ask, what is he doing here?"

I looked at Sasuke and he nodded.

"He did Konoha a favor, Tsunade-sama."

Tsunade-sama looked at me like I was insane, and I sighed.

"I'm going to make sure everyone knows that I'm back..." I said.

Tsunade-sama nodded in agreement, catching my drift. I disappeared to tell the Rookie 9 and Team Gai that I returned.

-----

Sasuke's POV

-----

"Well, Uchiha. You understand that you are considered a traitor to Konoha, correct?" The woman that Sakura called 'Tsunade-sama' said.

"Hn."

"Explain what Sakura meant by you did us a favor, Uchiha."

"I killed Orochimaru and Itachi."

The Hokage looked at me like I was lying, and I just stared off into space. I knew she was contemplating on whether or not I was telling the truth, but if Naruto were Hokage, I know he'd believe me no matter how many times he'd deny it. Almost everyone in Konoha knew my ambitions about killing Itachi.

"Hm. It seems you did do us a favor. You will be put under the watchful eye of the ANBU. If they report to me an incident that shows your disloyalty to Konoha, you will be punished. You will be unable to perform missions until you retake your chuunin exams," She said.

I nodded in agreement. Seemed reasonable enough to me.

"You will be arranged to live in an apartment. If you ask Sakura I'm sure she'll know where it is."

I nodded once again, and I was dismissed.

-----

Sakura's POV

-----

I met Sasuke outside of Hokage Tower and was relieved that Tsunade-sama had done nothing to harm him.

"What did she do?" I asked, worried that she overdid his punishment.

"I have to retake my chuunin exams, I'm under the watchful eye of ANBU, and I have to go live in an apartment she said you'd know about," He said.

I laughed.

"Okay, I'll take you there."

-----

We arrived at his apartment in a few minutes. It was placed in a good location, right in front of an orchard of cherry blossoms. It was nice to walk by during the springtime due to the flurry of pink. His apartment is fairly small, but it's decent to live in by yourself.

"Here it is!" I said.

Sasuke looked up at the apartment and smirked. I assumed that when he wasn't lost in the confusion of killing his own brother, he'd move back into the Uchiha manor. But that wouldn't be so until he could sort out his mind. I opened the door for him, and saw the surprise on his face.

"Why is it so clean?" He asked.

I laughed.

"Even though it pained me to do so, I always came here to clean this apartment. I bought it myself, so when you finally came back to the village, you'd have a place to stay. Tsunade-sama also knew about it. I hope you like the furniture. It was the best I could do," I said.

It was true. Even though I was broken and my mind was not of this world, I still came to this apartment to clean it just in case he would come home in the next second. The pain gave me hope.

"Hn. Thanks."

I smiled at him and looked around. I haven't visited in 'his' apartment in a very long time. Sometimes, I'd even sleep here, since I'd always find comfort in knowing that he might just come back. His apartment was similar to mine, but many things were different. His furniture was black, while the walls were a deep blue. Everything around the house resembled the Uchiha clan, from the colors to the decorations.

"It makes me feel like...home."

I smiled at him and decided to let that comment go. I sat down on his couch and closed my eyes.

"Why is my apartment close to the cherry blossoms? Wouldn't you want to live in a place that you find comfort in?"

I opened my eyes and looked at him. I blushed, thinking about the real reason why I chose this apartment.

"I find comfort at home as well, but I feel much more at home here..." I said, leaving the rest for him to find out himself.

"Hn."

"Sasuke?"

"Hn."

"Welcome home."

I smiled at him and he looked at me, surprised.

------

You really are home now, Sasuke.

------

Alright! The last chapter was sort of a filler, but yeah! The Rookie 9 and Team Gai will appear very, very soon :D

On a side note, sorry about some OOC! D: