Sakura didn't know how well this was going to go with Sasuke, ever sense the battle in the woods two nights ago things had been awkward between her and the raven haired man. Not that things were ever great, but at least they were never awkward. Now she felt confused, more so than usual and though she had given up, long ago, trying to win over the cold Uchiha's heart she felt herself thrown right back into that loop of uncertainty. Perhaps she should apologize, but for what? She did nothing wrong, so she thought anyways. She wanted to speak but she wasn't sure what to say, she was never sure what to say.

Curse you, you stupid stupid boy and your stupid good looks and your stupid…stupidness! Sakura fumed inside her brain great…I can't even conjure up a good insult inside my brain. She smacked her forehead and signed heavily, catching an unusual expression from Sasuke out of the corner of her eye. It was still hard to believe that she had been his team mate for so many years, yet still he vexed and frustrated her.

"Which way, Sakura." Sasuke hummed almost to himself.

Sakura slowly pulled the delicate piece of paper that would guide them on their journey from her side bag, studying it diligently. "It's in a strange tongue; it might take me a moment to- that way." She pointed to the east with her index finger, Sasuke looking at her with amazement behind seemingly emotionless eyes.

She is intelligent…I'll give her that. Sasuke mumbled inside his brain as he watched her take the lead in their quickening pace. Doesn't make her any less annoying… He quickly added to his wavering thoughts as he marveled at her intellect. "Stupid girl…" He mumbled under his breath as she passed but her ears were well trained in the art of listening and her eyes shot him a cold, dirty look.

"Excuse me?" Her voice lined with hostility and disgust.

"Nothing." Sasuke quickly retorted, adverting his eyes to something other than her cold hard stare.

"You know what, Sasuke…" Sakura now inches from his face as she purposely invaded his personal space. "I don't give a damn if you like me, I don't give a damn if you hate my guts and I defiantly don't give a damn about your smoldering good looks and skills…but I DO give a damn about your insulting me and then denying it!"

Sasuke glared "I neither denied nor confessed to anything."

Sakura's eyes burned with fury as her face became flushed with anger "I refuse to be called stupid by the likes of you, Uchiha." Her body rigid with tension she stepped down and turned her back to him only to have his next phrase make her hair stand up on the back of her neck.

"Would you prefer it from Naruto, then?" Sasuke voice almost condescending as his face grew a smug grin, his arms neatly folded over his chest he watched her slowly turn her eyes seeming almost yellow with rage but much to his surprise her returned fire was the last thing he expected.

"Hm…" Sakura smiled almost nonchalantly "I guess you would be interested to know if I was interested in Naruto, Sense you did fondle me that one night… I guess it'd be beneficial to know who your competition is." She watched with great amusement as the smug look on Sasuke's face shifted to that of almost horror. Satisfied with her cunning statement she turned her back to him, pleased at the silent response she received.

#"&! Sasuke cursed himself inside his brain for letting his hands wonder in that fight with her and allowing her to notice. Clever witch… He'd never be able to deny it without bringing up the topic and risk getting caught by his own faulty words. "Tch…" Sasuke sneered in an attempt to regain his composure she had stricken him of "perhaps in your dreams, blossom, I've touched you that way. I recall no such thing, I recall a fight that I won…with ease I might add." When he opened his eyes after finishing his last statement her looked down into swirling green orbs and felt the twinge of knife point against his open chest.

"You left your mark and I left mine, Uchiha…" Her voice filled with distain "It's one thing to cut my flesh and take a piece for your own…but toy with my brain…and I swear…" She lowered her kunai to rest just above his precious region "you really will be the last of your clan…" Despite her words that she meant with the upmost seriousness she wanted to kiss him, god she wanted to lock lips with him so bad…if for no other reason than to piss him off, then so bit it…but it didn't stop her from wanting it. She could feel her stance weakening and her eyes growing somber as she stared into those dark eyes that filled her with so much warmth and so much hate all at the same time. The feeling she had felt the first day they met…all those years ago…still haunted her every time they touched or locked eyes and there were times (like now) that she truly hated that beautiful feeling she felt inside. Slowly she felt Sasuke's hand meet her own as he gently pushed her hand away from his lower abdomen and looked at her quixotically.

"We should be going…" He spoke softly, moving past her as his eyes filled with remorse. The more he tried to distance himself from her the more he seemed to become attached and aside from frustrating the hell out of him he became concerned that he would no longer be able to hold up the emotionless façade he had built around him. It was going to be a long journey indeed…and with no one else around to distract him from the pink haired vixen he began to worry that his defenses against her would weaken as she slowly began to crack his barrier, bit by bit. He hated how he felt so connected to her with no explanation as to why.