Oh gee...so I managed to get two chapters in tonight. Yay me! And on top of that...well...I guess you could call this the climax! I think my story is half way done. Also...sorry about this chapter being a little shorter than the rest. I just thought that was a good way to end it. Anyway...
For all you SasuSaku lovers...this might be a dream come true. It's kind of OOC...sssooorryy! But I hope you like it anyway.
Considering this chapters so...important...I'm hoping all who read it will review and tell me their thoughts.
Enjoy! 3

Chapter Fifteen: Realizing The Reason

"It was there that I realized that forever was in your eyes...the moment I saw you cry."

It was late, maybe 11...and Sakura was tired. But she couldn't sleep...same insomnia. She had awoken from that dream she used to have before Sasuke came back. She hadn't had it since...but for some reason...she had it now. She had gone to sleep early, hoping to catch up on sleep...but that planned failed...and here she was, on a walk.

It was the dream about Sasuke leaving. The one that would make her wake in a cold sweat, or sometimes crying. This time...she just woke to her heart racing, and found herself restless...needed to take a stroll. It was slightly chilly...and once again...she was just in her pajama's, taking in the cold air...even if it was a little much.

And it was ironic...and slightly strange, that her walk had taken her around the Uchiha estate, actually...she was on the road that led right past it, where down the hill was a large body of water that weaved itself around the fire nation. She looked down, toward the lake, and on the dock, she seen Sasuke, sitting on the edge. Her heart stopped. She hadn't imagined seeing him. She wasn't ready to talk to him. Half of her wanted to go down and talk to him. The other half wanted to just keep walking, and save that conversation for a better time...but she stayed.

She watched him for a while...how the breeze frolicked through his bangs, and slightly ruffled his long sleeve black shirt and long white shorts. Even from the back, he was gorgeous. She didn't know if...well, how she would approach him...so she just slowly started walking down the hill. It was really dark tonight...no moon. The only lights were the stars, the fireflies floating over the water, and a streetlight that was off a ways down the road. If she was careful...she could just turn around and run away. But before she knew it...she was standing at the beginning of the dock, listening to the rustle of the waves as they hit the shore.

"Sasuke?" She asked quietly. No reply...just the wind. She couldn't even see his face. But in the darkness...a sad aura worked around them. She slowly started walking down the dock and after a few steps, reached the edge. This time, she seen his face.

It was staring into the water, which looked like a black abyss. His eyes reflected all the sadness she was feeling in the air, and instead of his normal stoic expression...it just looked weary and lonely, causing her heart to sink.

"It's late. Are you alright, Sasuke?" She asked softly. A sad smirk crawled onto his face.

"I'm debating."

Her face twisted into a frown. "On what?"

"On if I should leave now."

Her heart fell into her stomach, and in an instant...she could feel tears pricking at her eyes. She was speechless...and after a few minutes of silence passed, Sasuke looked up at her, his face less disheartened. "Aren't you mad at me?"

She quickly shook her head. "N-no...I was just upset at the time...I was late and..." She bit her lip.

A small chuckle escaped Sasuke and he looked back out at the water. "Go home and sleep."

But that was impossible now. She'd just have the same nightmare...and it seemed like right now...if she wanted to stop that nightmare from becoming a reality...she needed to be here. With you...Sasuke...

She slowly sat down next to him, causing him to look at her slightly shocked. He scooted over slowly and gave her an irritated look. "Look at what you're wearing...you'll get sick-"

"You've never payed any attention to what I wear."

His mouth snapped shut and he felt his face grow hot. He looked away. Thank god it was dark...he didn't want Sakura to see him blushing...even if it was just a little. Truth was...lately...he'd just been paying a lot of attention to her. And it was all on accident.

"What are you thinking about...Sasuke?" She asked, dangling her feet over the dock. She had no shoes on, and her toes gracefully ran over the surface of the water, creating tiny ripples.

He let out a small sigh and looked across the body of water. On the other side, was the edge of the Uchiha estate. On that side of town...was his old home.

"My family." He said quietly, closing his eyes. Sakura looked at him, her face solemn. "I need to avenge them. There was no reason for them all to die. I..." His voice faded.

A moment of silence.

"Everything happens for a reason, Sasuke."

His eyes opened and he looked back down to the water. "What could possibly be the reason why they all had to die?"

Sakura shook her head. "I didn't say I knew it. Just because there is a reason...doesn't mean we always know it."

Sasuke looked at her as the breeze danced through her pink locks. A strand blew into her face and she gracefully pushed it behind her ear, and looked at Sasuke. They were so close. Staring into each other eyes. Wow...talk about romantic. If it would have been any other moment...in the middle of any other conversation...Sakura would have just leaned in a kissed him. But for some reason...this seemed like too important of a moment to throw away.

"Sakura...have you...kissed anyone?"

Oh wow...what, could he read minds? Her eyes widened and her mouth went dry. That was an embarrassing question. Not to mention...personal.

"No..."

His eyes widened as well. Well no duh. She had told him she loved him...and would wait for him.

"For example..."

She broke through the silence. Their eyes were still locked onto each other.

"I'm in love with you...but I don't know the reason why. Even though I don't know it...I know there's a reason." A small smile formed on her face. Sasuke looked out at the water. The tiny reflection of the stars.

"I think I know the reason."

Sakura looked out at the water as well. She wanted time to stop, if only for this moment. She just wanted to be next to him. "And that is...?"

"Because...it's like you save me."

Silence.

"Even though...tomorrow, or the next day...I'm going to be upset and frustrated with myself for not knowing if I should leave or not..."

Sakura's eyes widened as she listened to him, but she never removed her eyes from the water. The breeze tickled her skin, and along with Sasuke's words, created chills throughout her body.

"Right now...with you...I'm calm. Almost...happy..."

And there it was...without flat out confessing it...

"...to just be here with you."

He had told her how he felt. Was she really the one keeping him here in the village?

"I'm glad..." She whispered. Slowly, she leaned her head against his shoulder, and he looked at her, and smiled. She closed her eyes, taking in the feeling of being here with him.

"You know Sasuke...I don't think you're family would want you to live life as only an avenger..."

He looked back out on the water and shifted his weight so he was leaning against her as well.

"I think...your father and mother would want you to live a happy life...around people that love you dearly...and that you love too."

Silence.

He wasn't even thinking. It just came. It just happened. His mouth just formed the words. Maybe it was because the moment just seemed so perfect...or because his feelings were speaking for himself.

"Like you?"

Her eyes slowly opened as she registered his words. Did he just...?

She looked up at him and he looked back at her. Her eyes widened...nothing had ever prepared her for this moment. Even through the darkness...the small lights of the fireflies hovering around them was enough to confirm her assumption. In his eyes...was something she had never seen before.

Tears.

They weren't falling from his eyes. But his eyes were glassy...and you could see the pain written in them.

It all happened so fast, that Sakura brought her hands up to cover her mouth and closed her eyes tightly, causing her own tears to cascade down her cheeks. She was shocked. And happy. But most of all. She hurt...she hurt for Sasuke. Everything in his past. Everything in his eyes just flooded over her.

He turned his body a bit toward her, and wrapped his arms around her back, pulling her into him. She rested her forehead on his chest as he rested his head on the side of hers and she sobbed quietly into his chest.

"I told you the day I left that new paths would form for each of us..." He whispered into her ear, savoring the feeling of holding her close. Once again...it was that security. He wanted somebody to be there for him...someone he could hold onto...that would hold onto him.

It was her, wasn't it? Why else would he feel this way?

"I never dreamed that one day they would meet again." He said, slowly backing his head away from hers. He left one arm around her waist and brought the other up between them placing it under her chin and lifting her head up so he could lean his forehead against hers. He slowly moved his hand up her cheek, wiping away her tears, and then wrapped his arm around her waist once again. She opened her eyes, and they met his. It was then that she knew...

He was still the same Sasuke as he was back then. Deep down. He may have changed physically, and his attitude and personality may have matured...but still, underneath it all...he was that same person. That same boy. The one that held eternity in his eyes. And as she stared into his dark, onyx eyes...she realized that that was the eternity she desired, even if eternity was how long she had to wait for it.

He tightened his grip on her. Never wanting to let go. His body, along with his heart, was starting to feel numb. He moved his face closer to hers, feeling her warm breath tickle his skin.

"Sakura...if I kiss you...will you hold it against me?"

She knew what he meant. He had to leave. There was no mistaking it. He could never live a normal life until his goal was accomplished. But for right now...he wanted to forget that.

"I'll wait for you...for however long..." She whispered against his lips, sending chills through his body.

He tilted his head down, and captured her lips in a kiss. As he closed his eyes, he felt one tear escape and slowly run down his cheek. He could feel the breeze blow her hair past his face. Slowly, he grabbed her hand and raised it to his chest, lacing his fingers between hers and holding her hand close to her chest. He pulled her as close as he could.

And just like that...Sakura's nightmare didn't seem so bad after all.

Sasuke knew this was something he could very well regret the next day...but as of right now...

It was all he had every dreamed of.

Next Chapter: Even Heaven Cries