A/N: Hello everyone! I hope all of you are doing well during these times of COVID-19. I have received numerous PMs and reviews asking me about when this chapter would be posted and if I'm doing well. Rest assured, I am healthy and engaging in social distancing. School and work demanded to be transitioned to online formats, which caused a delay in this chapter releasing despite having more time in front of the screen. That being said, thank you for being patient, your encouraging reviews, and your enthusiasm. I hope all of you are doing just as well, that you and your loved ones are safe. Without further ado, please enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 16

The pair walked down from the cliff, Naruto's single arm draped over Sasuke in a brotherly hug. Behind them, thousands of Allied Shinobi Force members were waking from their slumbers after being locked away for hours in Kaguya's jutsu. It was a bright midday, a beautiful way to end the war's tragic wake with a new hope.

She approached her boys and held on to their sides, one arm under Naruto's missing arm and the other one underneath Sasuke's. She held them close once more, unable to help herself. She needed the constant reminder that they were, for the most part, safe. When she released them, they turned to Kakashi who watched tiredly from a distance, though a smile was clear beneath his navy mask.

It was over.

She took one step, two steps, three, when she heard a roar of yelling behind them. She felt herself turn instinctively to her left in an attempt to assume a battle-ready position, but fatigue still overwhelmed her bones and joints. A crowd of shinobi were headed their way, kunai at the ready.

Sasuke-kun.

"Wait!" Naruto shouted, raising his hand and stepping between the storming crowd and the Uchiha. "Wait, stop! Just hold on!"

The medic reached out to grab hold of Sasuke, to try to shield him. He seemed to sense this, and she watched as he instinctively turned around in what looked like his own attempt to concede to her grip, but it was too late. Four men shoved Naruto aside, ignoring his pleas and instead holding him away from Sasuke by his only arm, dragging him further down the cliff.

In what felt like terrorizing slow motion, Sakura watched as her fingers were a mere hair's width from touching Sasuke's wrist before more shinobi barreled towards him, pinning him to the ground. One of them perched themselves on Sasuke's back, his knee digging between his shoulder blades like a blatant attempt to erase the Uchiha crest that rested there. That same shinobi gripped Sasuke's dark hair and forced his face onto the ground of the rocky cliff.

"No!" Sakura cried, running hobbled steps in Sasuke's direction, only for three kunoichi to grab her and pull her away from the sight. "No, no, you don't understand!" she pleaded, though her words were ignored by the tone-deaf coos of the women who thought they were offering her comfort. The medic turned her head to beg for Kakashi's help, only to find that he, too, was barricaded by a group of shinobi.

"Sasuke!" Naruto howled. "Let him go, dammit, let him go! Let us explain!" He tried to pull away from the grasps of the shinobi, but to no avail. It was like a child being held back by a parent's strong arms: helpless and minimized.

Sakura turned back to Sasuke and tried to push against the women who continued to drag her down the cliff, their empty words offering no solace. "Sasuke-kun!" she screamed, "Sasuke-kun! No, stop!" Her voice cracked as she tried her hardest to glue her feet to the ground below her in vain. "Please, don't hurt him!"

It was chaos.

Behind her, Naruto screeched profanities and pleas. The shinobi holding him ignored his words, some even saying he might have been hit on the head too hard. In front of her, yelling and cursing, orders barked at others to find the best way to bind Sasuke.

Hot tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision that she desperately tried to keep locked on the Uchiha as more shinobi piled on top of him with commands to bind his limbs. They wrenched his arm behind his back, quickly made work of tying his arm to his side with wire and rope. Their angry movements made it clear: if he lost circulation, if he died in this process, it would mean another win for them.

"Sakura-san, please," one of the kunoichi pleaded, her voice sickeningly calm. "He is a danger to us all. Leave him. We need to get you help."

"No," she whimpered, feeling their arms win against her attempts. Her knees began to shake with the effort of trying to fight against their grasps, threatening to give way. She could only watch as they ground Sasuke's face further into the rock once more time before wrestling to his feet. Fresh blood streamed down his face and dripped off his chin. It stained his shirt further, dripped onto the cliffs. "He's hurt," she cried, "You're hurting him! Stop hurting him!"

Not again, not again, not again—

"Please listen to us!"

Can't lose him again, can't lose him again, can't lose him again—

"He helped save us!"

The words that left her mouth were no longer words. They became wails and cries as she helplessly watched as Sasuke's head lolled to the side.

No!

There was no way to tell if it was from exhaustion.

No, no, no!

It was one look. He opened his eyes once, locking his gaze with hers.

Sakura slowed her fighting attempts as she heaved breaths into the kunoichi's arms who tried to soothe her. Seeing he was alive ate away at her energy despite her heart screaming to continue her battle against the women's hold. Sakura could feel herself weaken and only watched as Sasuke closed his eyes once more and was taken away. The only remnant left behind that let her know he was there was the blood-stained cliff and the tears at her feet.

"Sakura-chan."

Not again.

"Sakura-chan, get ahold of yourself!"

Not again, not again, not again.

"Sakura-chan!"

The medic tried to claw her way out of the arms that held her back, her mind driven by terror. Her cheeks were stained by rain and tears as she was no longer protected by the hood of her cloak. Naruto stepped in front of her, bending down slightly to be at eye-level with the medic. "Sakura-chan, dammit, look at me!"

She tore her eyes away from the haunting image of Sasuke being trampled by the Military Police, trying to drown out the sound of the chaos that mirrored that of the cliffs. The jeers from the crowd, the whispers of gossip and disgust, the empty coos of those who tried to comfort the bastard Ken. "But Sasuke-kun—"

"I'll handle this," Naruto urged, shaking her shoulders before reaching behind her head to grab her hood. He pulled it over her dampening hair to shield her pink locks and face. "Go to Kakashi-sensei with your squad. Report what happened as fast as you can and tell Kakashi-sensei to call the intel department. Sasuke's probably going to be taken there."

Sakura whimpered before trying to look over the blond's shoulder, too afraid that if she didn't keep her eyes on Sasuke that he would disappear forever. Can't lose him again, can't lose him again, can't lose him again.

"Listen to me!" Naruto urged, shaking her once more and recognizing the dizzying spell of memories she suffered. "We're not on the cliff anymore." He turned back over his shoulder briefly as Sasuke was jostled to his feet before looking back into Sakura's eyes. "It'll be okay."

It'll be okay, she chanted silently with him.

Sakura closed her eyes and gripped Naruto's jacket to ground herself. When she opened her eyes, she nodded once before pivoting on her heel. She ignored the panic in the back of her mind that willed her to go after Sasuke, knowing that she had a job to do. She hardly noticed Goro and her squad looking at her with confusion in their eyes as she slid by them, weaving through the throngs of villagers to make her way towards the Hokage Tower.

Hurry, she urged her body as she took to the rooftops. She focused chakra to her feet to keep from slipping from the singles as she sprinted faster and faster and faster. Behind her, her teammates called for her to slow down, but she wouldn't. She couldn't. Her hood flew off her head, exposing her to the spring downpour yet again, but she didn't care. Not again! she cried in her head, taking the last leap off the rooftop and stumbling in front of the path to the Hokage tower. She quickly caught herself and ran as fast as she could up the steps, forcing her way through the doors with her gloved hands and storming through the stairways and halls.

When she reached the Hokage's office, she forced her way inside with a sharp swing of the door as it threatened to fly off its hinges. She looked directly into Kakashi's eyes and saw a shift from amusement to concern. "Sakura, what—"

"Sasuke-kun," she gasped, breaths heaving from her chest. "He's detained—Ken is back and—Ibiki's office at intel, Kakashi-sensei, you need to call, please!" She swiped at her cheeks to free her skin from the hot tears that slid down. The silver-haired man waved her to come closer to his desk as he reached for his phone to dial, and she was surprised that he was able to trace the meaning behind her frantic words with ease. She walked in, trembling from adrenaline, and fiddled with her gloves while she counted silently to calm herself down.

Behind her, Sakura's team of medics finally arrived. They were as out of breath as their captain, frazzled and confused. "Kakashi-sama," Goro stepped forward, but Sakura turned and raised one of her hands to halt him.

"Goro," she said, trying to keep her voice as steady as possible, "Aiko, Eri, Kano. You all are dismissed. I will handle the report and reach out to you as soon as I can after this." She sniffed and exhaled a slow breath, meeting each of their gazes carefully. "Please."

The medics exchanged glances with each other as though unsure whether they were to leave her in this state. Aiko straightened herself and nodded once before whispering to the others that it was time to make their leave. Sakura watched as they filed cautiously out of the office as though perhaps Sakura may change her mind and call her back in. Goro grabbed the doorknob and slowly closed the door behind him, but not without giving Sakura a look of concern.

When the door was shut, she turned back to her sensei who now appeared to be on the line with one of the staff at the intel department. He hummed affirmatives into the receiver. "Yes. Yes, I remember that being a condition…Yes…I suspected as much."

Sakura bit her lip and fiddled with her gloves once more, feeling how water had gathered in the tips of her fingers and made the fabric stick uncomfortably to her skin. She waited anxiously, watching as Kakashi took out a blank sheet of paper from one of the many stacks on his desk and began scribbling on its surface.

"From here, I will take the responsibility of the outcome," he claimed, his voice stern. "Yes…yes, understood. Thank you, Ibiki." He placed the phone back down before scribbling a final few words onto the sheet of paper. When he was finished, he looked up at Sakura and sighed. "You got here just in time," he assured tiredly. "They were about to enact their own form of punishment on Sasuke for what happened."

"He was provoked, Kakashi-sensei," she insisted, swallowing hard. "I would have thought Ken had restrictions when returning to the village from his post in Mozukai."

"That he did." Kakashi folded his hands and placed them just in front of his chin. "When Ken returned to the village from Mozukai, he was ordered to keep a specific distance from Sasuke for both of their safeties. Because this was a violation of his order, and because we have received confirmation from Ibiki that provocation was used against Sasuke, it will be marked as an incident without weight in Sasuke's record. The same will go for Ken, to be fair in addition to minimize conflict." He shook his head. "Like dealing with children."

The medic took a moment to process his words. Just as Sasuke will avoid significant repercussions, so will Ken. A knot twisted in her stomach at the realization, causing her to frown before whimpering in relief at Sasuke's dismissal. She brought her hands to her face to shield herself as more tears spilled from her eyes. "Thank you, Kakashi-sensei," she whispered before sighing and lifting her head once more. "Will a report be necessary from witnesses?"

"The upper echelons will handle this one. This will likely only result in more frequent visits to Hiroto, but that's only if his office deems it necessary. We'll see." He paused in thought for a moment before continuing. "Sasuke and Naruto will receive this explanation, so I may as well give it to you, too, Sakura." She watched as a slight frown formed behind his navy mask. "This will be the only time that a pardon like this is used. Further incidents of violence of any kind committed by Sasuke that are outside the realm of light sparring and training will not be tolerated. Those things are a sign of leniency in and of themselves; they are privileges. Should any other use of violence occur, the reintegration process will be halted, and Sasuke will spend the remainder of his wait period for his trial in detainment."

"Understandable," she replied. "Naruto and I…we'll support Sasuke-kun as best as we can."

Kakashi nodded his head. "I take it you just returned home from your mission," he observed, his frown still evident even in his voice. "You can send in a written report of the progress that was made in Hana."

Sakura blinked dumbly at her sensei for a moment. "But…"

"It was like before, wasn't it?" he asked. "Like the cliff."

She remained silent, almost ashamed at the connection between the two events. Before she could stop herself, tears were already forming in her eyes and she was shielding herself once more as sobs escaped her lips, shaking her shoulders painfully. Within seconds, she felt Kakashi's awkward attempt at consoling her as she felt his hand reach to the back of her head and press her forehead to his chest.

When her sobs turned to whimpers and her whimpers turned to sniffs, she dropped her hands to her sides, signaling that she was done. He let her go and rested his hand on her shoulder as she looked up apologetically. "Thank you," she muttered, sniffing miserably. "It…it was almost exactly like the cliff."

He nodded thoughtfully. "You are still living alone, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"You still haven't spoken to your family."

"No." She sighed tiredly. "After this, how could I? Village gossip spreads like wildfire."

Kakashi eyed her with more concern. "Have you spoken with Ino?"

She paused for a moment before answering, piecing together his line of thought. He doesn't want me to be alone right now. "Not since I called while I was still in Hana, but don't worry, Kakashi-sensei. I plan to go straight to Sasuke-kun and Naruto. Are they…?"

"Sasuke will be accompanied by Naruto back to his apartment. They should be leaving Ibiki's office shortly."

Sakura felt her shoulders relax with relief. She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly and felt as her heartrate slowed to a more manageable rate. She hadn't realized how painfully it had been beating in her chest until now. As she was easing into her new state of calm, Kakashi broke her concentration.

"Tsunade-sama has been covering your shifts at the hospital while you were away. I noticed that you were supposed to be back at work tomorrow, but I'm going to have you take the next three days off."

Sakura raised her eyebrows in surprise. "But Kakashi-sensei—"

"We are well aware of how you cope, Sakura. Drowning in work shouldn't be your only option anymore." He rested his hand atop her head. "Rest. Be with friends. Take care of yourself." He withdrew his hand and put both in his pockets before nodding at the door. "Just have your written report submitted by the end of the week."

She bit her lip, unsure of how to respond to his insistence of her day off. Her usual coping method was, indeed, to drown in work. Although, this was when Sasuke was out of her reach. While it was far worse immediately after the war, she supposed she wasn't fond of her state of unrest the last time she had decided to bury herself at her desk after Sasuke had rejected her. Perhaps it was time for a new coping method.

With his dismissal, Sakura nodded before pivoting on her heel and strolling to the door. "Thank you again, Kakashi-sensei," she said, before taking her leave.

She hugged her cloak to her body and hurried down the staircase and into the lobby when she saw a familiar face waiting for her at the far wall. The medic raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Goro," she called, drawing the shinobi's attention. He pushed off the wall to meet her halfway, stopping in front of him with an arm's length of space between them. "I thought you all went back home."

He scanned her face for a moment, as though the words were spoken as a whisper as opposed to at full volume, before he furrowed his brows in concern. He lifted his right hand carefully, as if he wanted to reach out to her, but he let it drop to his side as though he changed his mind. "You've been crying. Are you alright?" he asked, his voice tense. "You were so shaken."

Sakura tucked strands of her damp hair behind her ear and nodded once, not sure how to handle the way he gazed at her without feeling embarrassed. "I'm okay, I promise," she assured him, rubbing her palm beneath her cloak like a worry stone. "What we saw—"

"Was the Uchiha," he said, finishing her thought, "wasn't it?"

"Yes. That was Sasuke-kun."

"You were teammates in the past, weren't you?"

"Yes, we were." She felt timid under his gaze, as though he was scrutinizing her despite his gentle expression of care. Sakura figured now was better a time as any to rip the bandage and pray that the burn lingered for only a short time. She'd put off providing him with an answer for days, avoiding him during their travels back. If she didn't say something now, she might instill a false sense of hope. "Goro, I think I owe you an answer now to what you told me the other night."

"When I confessed my feelings to you," he clarified, the hint of a melancholy smile forming on his lips.

Sakura nodded, knowing that he was already anticipating the rejection, but she needed him to hear her. "I like you, Goro, but not in the same way that you like me. I should have told you this sooner." She licked her lips anxiously. "For me, there's someone else."

Goro's face grew contemplative for a moment before his expression fell further, his eyes matching the disappointment on his mouth. "I see," he murmured, more to himself than to her.

"You and I, this relationship that we have, is a good one the way that it is. It's a great one, really. We're a good team." She smiled sadly, mirroring his expression. "I'm flattered that you see me as someone that's worthy of your affection, but I want to be upfront with you about where my feelings are."

"Is it the Uchiha?"

She hesitated at answering, feeling her instinctive pause at not wanting to expose herself to potential berating words. She swallowed hard and nodded in confirmation, urging herself not to look away from him in shame. "Sasuke-kun and I have a long history," she admitted. "And with everything that's happening to him right now…," her voice trailed off, not knowing how to explain herself. With everything that's happening to Sasuke right now, perhaps he needs her.

"I understand." He flashed her a lopsided grin. "He seems to be going through some tough times."

She felt herself relax as relief soothed her shoulders. "Thank you," she mirrored his grin tiredly. "Sasuke-kun tends to be…intense."

The pair chuckled at that, and Sakura felt some sense of normalcy return to the air between them. There was a short pause before he said, "He doesn't have the best reputation around the village…but I'm sure you know that. Especially after…earlier."

"I know."

He seemed to hesitate in what appeared to be an attempt to choose his words carefully. "I know that I've just been rejected, but Sakura…be careful around him. I'd heard some things about him…things that he'd done to you and your cohort from the Academy. Just…," he stammered, before sighing and placing a hand on her shoulder, "if you need anything, let any of us know. We're looking out for you at the hospital, but it doesn't only have to be there."

Sakura smiled as best as she could. "I appreciate it, Goro." She looked out the windows on the doors leading to the rainy streets before turning back to him and bowing slightly. "Thank you for being understanding. I have the next three days off, but I'll see you all when I get back." She began to walk backwards towards the door, offering a final salutation with her hand before hurrying into the rain.

She decided to forego dropping by her apartment, as she figured she'd already spent a significant amount of time tying loose ends. She donned her hood over her head and decided to walk, though at a quick pace, through the village streets towards Sasuke's apartment. It wasn't the reunion she was hoping for, and she knew it certainly wasn't the one he was expecting, either. So long as she could witness his safety with her own eyes, she didn't care very much.

Rest. Be with friends. Take care of yourself.

Sasuke sat at his kotatsu in his too-big apartment, clothes damp from the springtime downpour. He didn't care enough to clean himself up. He strode, or more trudged, to his seat. When he looked up, he looked into the eyes of his mother, her face frozen in time on a small shelf he'd bought days ago after contemplating where he should display the pictures Hiroto was able to salvage. The shelf also held the one portrait of his father and another of his brother, the former looking back at Sasuke with the slightest of smiles while the latter had a reassuring grin on his youthful face. The final two pictures were of both Fugaku and Mikoto in what appeared to be a wedding photo, as they dressed in traditional garb of black and white. The last was of himself and Itachi pointing at koi in their family pond, their laughter captured in a single frame. All of them stared back at the present Sasuke, their reassurance far away like a distant dream, devoid of the ability to console him.

Forgive me.

The Uchiha brought his eyes down towards the kotatsu's surface in shame. He pressed the heel of his hand against his forehead in a poor attempt to ease the stress pressure that built there. The right side of his face was an angry red, a patchwork of scratches from the MPs' force that dragged his cheek, jaw, and chin into the wet streets. He was surely bleeding then, and he wouldn't be surprised if he was bleeding now. However, the pain paled in comparison to his inner turmoil.

The amount of shame was deafening in his head. It thundered in his ears louder than the storm outside, ran through his veins alongside his blood. It was a deafening reminder of how the village views him, the last Uchiha, scorn and scar of the village of Konoha. And he, despite every voice of logic that would normally scream at himself to walk away, ended up falling into Ken's trap. He wondered if the man was actually anticipating such a reaction from him. He had been pushed to the edge of his patience in an instant, patience that he normally carried with ease.

Regardless, Sasuke fucked up.

And it was eating him from the inside out.

Behind him, Naruto slid his sandals off his feet and locked the door. He seemed cautious around Sasuke, not knowing exactly how to console him beyond attempting to change the subject and add humor. "I should pay you to clean my place, Teme," he tried, a weak chuckle escaping his whiskered face. "You know, between mine and Sakura-chan's paychecks, we should have a right to sleep over at least once a week. But you can make up for it by letting me crash here tonight, y'know."

I'm sorry.

Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, though the frustration was directed inwards. His own voice of self-loathing entered his mind, reminding him of the way the villagers surrounded him with looks of shock and disgust. Reminders of how the last two months, since the moment he walked out of detainment, he was unwelcome. Reminders of how in the last two months, it's been a range of obligatory polite smiles to verbal attacks on the street. Reminders of how in the last two months, he'd only been hurting the people who have stood by him, as evidenced by the way that bastard Ken spoke of Sakura.

It was his fault.

I'm sorry.

He could have done worse. He could have done far worse, enough to land him on death's door by order of Kakashi himself if he really wanted to. The villagers were a blur around him, as it was only Ken with his smug-scarred face, and his fist. The moment he felt himself pivot on his heel, he didn't regret it. The moment he clenched his fist, he didn't regret it. The moment he felt Ken's jaw crack beneath his knuckles, he felt satisfied.

The glares from villagers became real, their whispers of disdain carried into his ears, spurring his frustration at the injustice of it all. However, the moment he looked up as his face was ground into the wet earth and saw her, he may as well have dug a knife into her chest. It was a knife he should have plunged into his own, though, the curse of the Uchiha.

He was back in a village that has hated the Uchiha for generations, hated his eyes because of the fear that grew out of what he could do with them. The whispers that he experienced as a child were now shouts of contempt against him. And of the handful of people who still had faith in him, it seemed only to spread to her. It was spreading to Sakura by simple affiliation with him. He'd been seen with her, walked with her, had dinner with her, kissed her. He was a fool to think he could try to slow down and be friends. It would only mean a death sentence for her reputation, one that only he deserved.

It's my fault.

The guilt swirled, swirled, swirled, trapping him in a spiral thick as molasses with his leg anchored down by the weight of the world. And now the disgust was spreading, as evidenced by Ken's foul words, to Sakura.

I'm sorry.

"Oi, Teme."

I'm sorry.

"Sasuke." The blond knelt a careful distance away, but just enough for the Uchiha to at least open his eyes and peer at his friend through his dark fringe. "Uh, you…you hungry? You got ingredients? I'm really good at making eggs. Just…scrambled, though. And boiled when I put it in instant ramen, even though sometimes I think they're too runny."

Apologize, apologize, apologize, apologize.

Sasuke's mouth twitched in an effort to respond, but shame overwhelmed him. He merely turned away to stare at the surface of his family's kotatsu and gave a weak shrug of his shoulders. He saw Naruto's shadow move across the wooden surface before hearing his feet slapping against the bamboo flooring. It quieted only somewhat as the blond entered the kitchen, followed closely behind by the sound of his refrigerator opening and its contents shifting with soft clinks.

Coward, he berated himself. It's my fault and I can't even fucking apologize.

Sasuke stretched his hand to have his thumb and ring finger press into his temples in an attempt to soothe his frustration. He wasn't sure how much time had passed when he heard a soft knock at the door behind him. Naruto stopped rifling through his cabinets and Sasuke felt himself tense. The blond's footsteps hurried towards the knocking and swung open the door, welcoming the sound of rainwater pattering against the building's awning.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed, a relieved smile evident in his voice. He could almost hear the blond glance back at him before he muttered, "Lemme talk to you out here for a second," followed by the sound of the door shutting behind the two of them. Their voices were muffled from behind the wooden door, but he could hear their tones reflecting that of cautious urgency.

When she walks in, he thought, apologize. Apologize. Apologize.

The door opened once more behind him, bringing his attention to the way his fingers began painfully digging into his temples. He heard Sakura's short breaths and sniffs as she slid her shoes off of her feet. Naruto offered to take her cloak and bag to set them down, and now the distinct sounds of two feet padding across his floor echoed through the unit.

"Hey, uh," Naruto began, an attempt to gather Sasuke's attention, "I'm going to go out and buy us some dinner." To Sakura, he said as an aside, "The guy doesn't have any eggs I can cook." Sakura sniffed and must have given a nod of her head for approval, as Naruto offered a quick, "See you in a bit," before rushing back out into the rain, the door closing once more behind him.

It was quiet. It didn't sound like she'd moved from her short few steps into his apartment.

Turn to her and apologize, Sasuke urged himself. Apologize, dammit, just apologize.

Then, careful steps made their way towards him. Her feet didn't slap against the bamboo floor the way Naruto's did. She was more intentional, a reflection of her personality. He saw her shadow appear on the kotatsu's surface, and he felt her presence settle into the seat she claimed as hers during their team visits, right where his mother used to sit. Something ached in his chest to see the parallel once more. She doesn't deserve this.

"Sasuke-kun," she murmured, but said nothing more. It was as though she was at a loss for words, and he couldn't blame her. After a soft sigh and a sniff, he felt her gentle fingers on his wrist, causing him to steel himself out of surprise. "Sasuke-kun, you might bruise your temples."

The Uchiha blinked for a moment before allowing himself to relax his grip, feeling the way her hand was so ready to catch his if he allowed it to fall. When he didn't, though, he felt her fingers withdraw. It was fraction of a second that he mourned the loss of her touch before it was replaced with a sharp sting on the side of his face. He flinched before realizing it was Sakura's gentle fingers that touched his raw skin.

"Sorry." She pulled her hand back slightly, a gesture of asking for permission to resume.

Just say the word back to her, he urged himself. He exhaled slowly, gathering up his energy to fight the swirling guilt and vocalize an apology to no avail. Instead, he withdrew his hand from his forehead and placed it in his lap as he slouched his shoulders miserably. He couldn't bear to look at her.

"Turn my way, Sasuke-kun."

He obliged, shuffling on is seat to face her, but he kept his gaze on the floor next to her. She rested on her knees and beneath her, the familiar cushion. She was still dressed in her mission gear: a signature gray skirt with slits at the sides for greater ease when running, and a rose red tank top. Black shorts clung to her thighs with a comfortably placed weapons pouch. She wore a belt this time that held a bag that peeked out from behind her, likely full of medicinal gear. She was damp from the rain. The skin of her arms had raised goosebumps, likely from her clothes, as he realized only now that he had them on his skin, as well.

Sakura reached up with her left hand and hovered just above his right jawline before a wave of soothing chakra flowed into his face. The stinging receded, replaced only with warmth and tingling that signaled his cells weaving together by Sakura's expert form.

"Naruto told me you've been so quiet," she sniffed, breaking the pause between them. "I was worried that your jaw was broken, but it looks like you're intact. Speaking of Naruto," she sighed, "it doesn't look like you and I will be able to have dinner without him like we agreed."

Sasuke glanced up at her to find a small smile formed on her lips. The rest of her face, though, didn't match. Her nose and cheeks were rosy, and her eyes looked slightly puffed. She'd been crying, he realized, and her sniffing wasn't from the rain. He wanted to lurch forward and bow in apology, feeling the guilt race through his veins once more. His brows furrowed together. He wasn't just stabbed, but he felt pain in his chest. He opened his mouth and blurted, voice strained, "I'm sorry. I've made you cry again."

"Sasuke-kun?"

He lowered his head, feeling the shame weigh him down heavier than gravity. He stared at the space between them, unable to look at her any longer. "I'm sorry," he repeated. "You don't deserve…what I bring into your life."

"What happened out there wasn't all your fault, Sasuke-kun."

"You say that, but I think everyone saw my fist land very clearly into that guy's face." Sasuke felt his brows furrow in frustration, frustration at himself. Then, the words were flowing before he could stop them. "Day in and day out, I have tried to keep myself away from view. I have complied as best as I could with the village's terms since the war. I've kept to myself. I've tried to live the life I remember from when we were kids, but everything is amplified."

"What do you mean?" she asked. "What's amplified?"

He clenched his fist, feeling the way each individual nail dug into his palm. "Their words are louder and their looks are more obvious than I remembered. They look at me with more open disgust than when we were children." He scoffed humorlessly. "And who am I to blame them? I deserted the village, I've killed samurai and shinobi. I've tried to get vengeance on the Five Kage. I've fallen into the trap they'd set for Uchiha for generations, the trap that makes me out to be a monster. And who am I to say they're wrong?"

"Sasuke-kun, you're not a monster."

I'm unraveling.

"And who am I to deserve what kindness you, Naruto, even Kakashi give me?" He turned away from her and pulled back. From the corner of his eye, Sasuke watched as the warm green glow of her chakra dissipated as her hand fell into her lap. "I have guilt. I have immense guilt. It tries every day to keep me from getting up and it tries every night to keep me down. I've hurt dozens, hundreds of people if you count their families and friends. I was blinded by revenge and power, and for what?" He lifted the remnants of his left arm. "For what?" he asked, more to himself than to Sakura. He felt the pressure in his head build as though it were a balloon that was drawn taut from air, nearing a burst. His breath quickened slightly, but the words wouldn't stop. "To be a broken tool."

"Sasuke-kun, hey, you're not broken," Sakura murmured, but he ignored her.

"I deserve this, but you don't. It can be heavy for me, but it shouldn't be for you." He pressed his hand against his forehead. "I don't even know why any of you choose to stay with me, why you do it. The villagers' gossip is spreading around and it's only hurting you and your reputation."

"It's not hurting me."

"Liar," he snapped, though he still didn't look at her. He thought of the words that Ken said that tipped him into violence. The pressure in his head was building further, and his hand wasn't helping. He clenched it into a fist and rested it on his knee. "All I do is make you cry. I made you cry the night I left, I made you cry when you saw me at Orochimaru's hideout. I made you cry when I killed Danzo. I made you cry before Naruto and I fought. I made you cry even when I came home, and I made you cry today. And for what?" he asked again. "For the decision you all made to keep me here backfire and harm you."

"Sasuke-kun, stop."

"It isn't fair to you. No matter what I've done to behave in the eyes of this village, I've only been doing it wrong, and I can't blame them for thinking so after everything in my life. From beginning to end, from the moment I was born an Uchiha. Maybe staying detained was the better option. Maybe if you left me on the battlefield to die—"

He felt her arms wrap him before his forehead was pressed against her shoulder. The scent of rosemary, mint, and rain filled his nose, and he stopped himself from continuing the tirade on his sanity. She was warm, but she trembled as she held him as though she was shivering. "Don't," she urged. "Don't finish that sentence."

In that moment, he realized just how fast his heart was racing. It hammered painfully in his chest, as though his own fist was beating against his ribcage. His breathing was fast, nearly pants, as each breath was muffled into her shirt. The back of his eyes stung, a sensation he hadn't felt in months. He shut them tightly, willing himself angrily to bring his composure back. He felt her arms tighten around him, one hand weaving into his dark hair and gently combing through. The gesture made his shoulder relax and his anger dissipate into sadness. He tried to remember the last time he was held by someone this tenderly and instead remembered all of the times he pushed these opportunities away. Now, though, he selfishly wanted to melt into her embrace, thankful that Naruto wasn't there to see him emotionally deteriorate.

"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I didn't mean it."

"Don't apologize anymore."

"I didn't mean it."

"You have a right to feel what you feel, Sasuke-kun." He felt her rest her cheek against the crown of his head, her fingers slowing in their trembling. "I just wish you didn't have to at all."

The two sat like this for a few breaths. The stinging in Sasuke's eyes began to recede. Once it withdrew completely, he let out a heavy sigh. To his relief, however, Sakura didn't let go. He tried to label his relief as selfish, but he didn't want to close off the comfort he felt in her presence. "It's been…hard," he admitted. "I don't think like this all the time."

"I'm relieved that you don't." She nestled her cheek against his head further and combed her fingers through his hair once more in a soothing pattern that made him want to shiver. Was she always this affectionate? Maybe as children, but not in the same way. Maybe with Naruto, sometimes, but there was part of him that doubted this same type of care happened between the two of them. If she was even an ounce like this around the blond, maybe that's how they became so close. Sakura could draw anything out like this. And so, the words flowed again, but he didn't feel as agitated.

"It's hard…to go outside," he began, loosening his fist. "It was like this when we were kids, but nowhere near this extent. And back then, I hadn't gotten into trouble or committed anything that would be considered a crime, not until I'd left the village." He felt himself wince at his own words, remembering how he'd left her on the park bench. "I didn't think it would be as difficult as it is. Despite it, though, I can't blame them. I can't blame them fearing me for what I did in my past. I wouldn't blame you if you're afraid of me."

"Your past is part of you, but you don't have to be defined by it, Sasuke-kun." She sighed softly and he felt her breath graze the top of his head. "And I'm not afraid of you. I've admired you. I've seen you trying your best, you know. I've seen you try when you saved everyone with Naruto when the war ended. I've seen you try during your visits to Hiroto every week. Sometimes you're there in a sour mood, but I know you like him." There was a small smile in her voice. "I've seen you try at Hana's clinic. Each day, I've seen you try with Naruto, even if you bicker a lot."

As if on instinct, Sasuke raised his hand and snaked it to her back, matching her embrace as best as he could. He breathed her in, the comforting, familiar smell of her that he'd missed the last two weeks.

"I've seen you try in other ways, too," she went on. "I've seen the way you prefer traveling at night. I've even seen the way you travel emptier streets if you have to travel during the day. I've noticed how you don't like going out to eat, even when Naruto begs." He felt her hand rest between his shoulder blades, tracing where the Uchiha crest used to proudly show. "I'm sorry the village is a place where you feel like you need to hide."

They sat in their embrace for a few moments until Sakura rested back on her knees, trailing her hands to his shoulders. He held on to the side of her shirt weakly with his fingers, reluctant to let go. "Thank you," he murmured, before lifting his head to look at her. When their gazes met, Sasuke studied her eyes carefully. They glistened with tears brimming, threatening to fall. He sighed and reached up to brush away at a stray that streaked down her cheek with his thumb. He caught it and brushed it away carefully, unable to help himself. "You're crying again," he muttered, though was careful not to sound admonishing.

"I'm just…," her voice trailed off for a moment as though she was contemplating her words before speaking. To his surprise, she leaned into his touch and closed her eyes, letting more tears fall. "I'm just relieved. I'm so relieved." After a moment, she wilted slightly, her shoulders seemingly bearing the weight of her travels in addition to the aftermath of her anxiety that left exhaustion in its wake.

"You must be tired."

"Mm."

"You didn't go home before coming here," he observed, giving a nod in the direction of her traveling bag and cloak.

"No, I didn't." She seemed to hesitate before saying, "Kakashi-sensei…he said he wants me to be among friends right now."

"What does he mean by that?"

There was a moment when her eyes grew blank, as though she disappeared in front of him. She blinked out of her brief trance and offered him a weak smile, one that acted as a layer to hide another meaning. "I couldn't go home without making sure you're safe with my own eyes."

That unsettled him.

"And your family?" he asked.

She blinked back silently, and her answer was clear: she still hasn't spoken to them.

He nodded thoughtfully, trying not to reflect his disapproval. After the amount of crying she'd just gone through, it wouldn't be in either of their best interests to get her talking about their falling out or press about what Kakashi meant by her being among friends. Not that he objected, not by any means. Sasuke nodded in the direction of his bathroom. "You can stay here for the night." Her eyes widened in surprise causing him to hastily add, "Naruto's already invited himself to stay the night, too. You can get cleaned up first. The three of us might end up sleeping out here tonight, if you're okay with that."

She nodded her head in agreement and he slid his hand away, already aching from the loss of her soft skin, before getting up to his feet. He offered his hand and pulled her up to her own before letting go and padding into his bedroom to dig in his closet for the spare shirt and sweatpants she had worn the first time she had slept at his apartment. He draped it over his arm before walking back out into the living room to find Sakura studying the family photos that he placed on the shelf across the kotatsu. The medic smiled when he entered the room once more and handed off the spare clothes without another word.

If he were being honest with himself, Sasuke felt…awkward. She'd seen and heard so much vulnerability from him that it made him feel a bit unsettled. Although, it wasn't as though she would logically do anything with what he disclosed. It was a matter of having been seen by her, feeling exposed to her gaze, knowing that he'd opened part of himself that he painstakingly hid away for years. It wasn't through an exchange of punches that he bared his soul the way he would with Naruto. Words felt more difficult than enduring bruises and broken bones, and yet she was still able to heal him with ease.

She took the clothes from him with a small, "Thank you," before turning in the direction of the bathroom. Sakura's hand rested on the brass doorknob for a fraction of a second before she turned back to look at him. Her expression was unreadable, as though she was intentionally shielding her thoughts from the Uchiha while she looked at him as though in consideration. Then a swift movement, she strode across the space between them, closing the distance quickly and extending her hand to comb her fingers through his dark hair. Before he could fully register her intentions, she pulled him down until her lips briefly pressed against his. It lasted for a fraction of a second, and it stunned Sasuke in place. When she pulled away, her cheeks were colored a bright blush that rivaled her pink hair. She pivoted on her heel before he could say anything, before he could even take in a breath, and marched straight into the bathroom. He heard the door lock with a soft click before the sound of the showerhead spraying water echoed.

She just…

The Uchiha stood there, dumbfounded, as a flood of thoughts poured into his head at among them…he was prepared to throw the label of "friends" away if that's what she wanted. Upon realizing this, Sasuke ran his hand through his hair in an effort to burn the energy that rose from him just as he felt her soft lips against his. Pull yourself together.

Within minutes, Naruto burst through the door with bags of instant ramen cups hanging off of his single arm. "Oi, Teme!" he gasped, as though he was surprised to see the Uchiha up and moving. "Are you, uh, are you feeling better?"

"Yeah. I'm fine…now."

"Thank all the higher powers for Sakura-chan," he muttered, kicking the door shut with his foot before slipping off his sandals. He paused at the doorway and listened to the sound of the shower running. "Sakura-chan sleeping over, too?" the blond asked, triumphantly unpacking the bags and doing what he likely believed was a favor by stuffing one of Sasuke's cabinets full of the stuff.

The Uchiha grunted in confirmation before joining his friend in the kitchen to brew hot water for tea and the instant noodles. If Naruto noticed anything was off with Sasuke while they ate the former's signature favorite food, he likely attributed it to the day's events rather than the Uchiha pouring his thoughts to Sakura. He most certainly didn't pick up on the fact that Sakura had courageously closed the space between them in a few quick steps and kissed him, however chastely, on the lips.

A kiss that didn't mark the connection of friendship.

And what would this mean? He'd told her that he wasn't ready for anything beyond friendship just yet. He wasn't lying, but in divulging more into his truth, he wasn't sure what he was waiting for. He'd constantly asked the question of how this would work, how a friendship would grow between them when feelings within him were stirring into something more. On top of it all, avoiding the topic of their kiss in Hana was torturous. They'd avoided the truth long enough: the boundary was crossed, twice now. Even the emotional pieces were questionable crossings. No matter how much they wanted to eliminate this reality, it was reality. This didn't feel like friendship, no matter how much they tried to force it into that box.

She must know this, too. It couldn't have just been him, and this kiss was evidence of that. This day was evidence of that. The last nearly three months were evidence of that.

We need to talk.

Sasuke glanced over at the blond who was already onto his third instant ramen cup.

Without Naruto around.

After Sakura exited the bathroom, fresh and clean, Sasuke took his turn, carefully avoiding any prolonged looks in her direction. When he finished and exited the bathroom, steam pouring from behind him, she and the blond were fast asleep on his living room floor, the room lit by the moon and dim streetlights that poured through his windows. It was like walking into a scene from their childhood, except their limbs didn't tangle, kick, or fight to be on top of the other in their restless sleep. Rather, they were a careful distance apart in what looked to be a routine position. Sasuke covered Naruto with a blanket, nudging the blond to a half-wake state to shove a pillow beneath his head, before he made his way over to Sakura's side.

Her hair was still damp from her shower, though it fell across her face while effortlessly framing her yin seal. Her head rested on her folded arms, shielding the bottom half of her face and giving him the opportunity to see her brows which, thankfully, weren't furrowed in her slumber. He watched over her for a moment, observing the way her form rose and fell with each peaceful inhale and exhale, breathing life into the Uchiha crest upon her back. He carefully draped one of his spare blankets over her until he was satisfied in knowing she would be kept warm. Sasuke then, as gently as he could, guided her into a half-wake state by tapping her shoulder and coaxing her head to rest on a pillow. She obliged, humming sleepily as she nuzzled it against her face.

He stepped into the space between them, figuring the pair wouldn't mind if he slept in the middle (especially since Naruto needed as much room as he could to starfish his way through the night). Sasuke turned his back to the medic and closed his eyes, but he didn't miss the sensation of Sakura's fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. He made no move to brush her away. Instead, he rolled over on his back and watched as she reached out and held the empty sleeve of his dark shirt, the last sight he had before slumber took him.