A/N: I decided to turn my single one-shot into a series of one-shots. It was because I heard somewhere (and I don't know how accurate this is) in one of the newer novels, that takes place during the year that Sasuke stays in Konoha, whilst Kakashi's face is being carved into the Hokage Mountain, that Sasuke had gotten into the habit of escorting Sakura everywhere, no matter how short the distance. I don't know if it's true of not, but I died from cuteness overload, and that's where I got the idea to turn this into a series.

If I've made some mistakes, please let me know ( I lack a proof-reader or editor)

So, lo behold my next installation:

Sakura ran her fingers through the strands of her hair, gently rubbing the pads together over the tips, as if in remembrance of how it came to be so short. It only felt like yesterday when she was a mere twelve year old girl, trying her best in the Chuunin exams, despite being infatuated with her handsome, yet stubborn, teammate. A small smile broke across her face, as her mind was cast back to her precious genin days.


The sound kunoichi sneered as Sakura pulled out her kunai from her pouch with hidden confidence, "That won't work on me"

Sakura turned, somehow managing a grim smile despite the circumstances, "It's not meant for you"

The kunoichi expression changed drastically from confused to sheer shock, as Sakura reached up, and with a rip, sliced the kunai across her taught hair. The light filtered down through from the foliage above, casting speckled shadows across the dirt, and illuminating the pink wisps that softly blew, showering upon them. Her forehead protector unwound from her head, and fell with a clatter, abandoned and forgotten on the ground.


It was one of her favourite memories of the past; the moment when she decided to change, to move on from being the weak feeble girl in the background, into the strong kunoichi that she had become.

The smile still placed on her lips, she collected her bag and her paperwork for the evening, before heading on home after yet another whole day in the chaos-ridden battlefield that was otherwise known as Konoha General Hospital. And despite her leaving, the large stack of paperwork and medical forms in her arms signified that she would get around four hours of sleep…at the most. A medic's work is never done. She normally would leave much earlier, but it had been particularly stressful today, especially given her high status.

Striding through the corridors, she passed by the reception desk on her way out, beaming at the receptionist.

"Oyasumi nasai, Honoka" she called, her voice almost musical with positivity.

Honoka peered up from her typing at the desk, and nodded, smiling politely, "Ah, Oyasumi nasai, Haruno-san"

Sakura leant her forearm against the large entrance doors, pushing it open with her monstrous strength, and stepped out into the cool evening. It was nearing quarter to eleven, and the sky was as dark as navy blue velvet, littered with tiny precious stones. A few strands of her short floral-pink hair blew, in the gentle night breeze, landing ever so delicately on her face. She jerked and shook her head awkwardly, attempting to remove the annoying locks that tickled and itched her skin, but could only sigh when she reached no avail; they were fixed to her cheeks. If only her hands weren't occupied by the pesky paperwork.

Sakura took one step, before her heart halted in her chest and she stopped breathing. The sudden, light pressure of fingertips against her cheek caused her to freeze in place. She turned her head slightly to the right of her, her eyes tracing the fingers brushing the hair from her face, back up the arm to meet a pair of familiar mismatched eyes.

"Sasuke-kun?" she whispered, "What are you doing here at this time? How long have you been out here?"

His eyes flickered up to meet hers, and he lowered his hand silently, ignoring her questions.

She gave him a pointed look "You know you don't have to wait for me, and escort me everywhere. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

"Hn."

Of course. She would never get anything out of him other than a stream of grunts and maybe even an "Aa" if she was lucky. It had become a new thing now, since his return to Konoha. He would wait for her, every day, outside her apartment in the mornings, and outside the hospital in the evenings. Every day, she asked him again and again what he was doing there, and every time she was met with grunts and no actual explanation. Well, she didn't really need one; she suspected that it had something to do with guilt. Guilt at having tried to kill her several times, and causing her so much pain. She knew that he felt his apology, after his battle with Naruto wasn't enough, despite her forgiveness, and now, this was his way of truly apologizing; to make sure that he was always there to protect her instead of hurting her.

Like always, she slowly began her stroll back to her apartment and he, as per usual, stepped to her side, closely matching his pace to hers. She felt his sleeve briefly brush against her wrist, before the stack of paperwork was lifted gently from her arms.

"Sasuke-kun" she insisted, trying to retrieve the papers from his firm grasp, "you don't have to carry that. I can carry it fine. You're still getting used to your new arm, and surely you must know by now that if I can destroy a battlefield, I'm strong enough to carry paper-"

"I do know."

Sakura frowned, before her face cracked into a grin "He speaks! Finally! I thought you'd forgotten your own language!"

He scrunched up his face slightly, paying no attention to her giddy rambles, "I'm already used to my new arm, and I know that you're strong now, Sakura"

She clapped her hands, gleefully, proud that she managed to break even a little of his concrete walls. leaning forward, peering up at his stubborn face, she observed his mouth muscles twitching slightly, indicating that he wasn't done speaking. And so, she waited, patiently, for him to find the courage to vocalise his thoughts, but after a few minutes of silence, she decided to step in and give him a gentle push.

"So, how long were you waiting out there? She pressed, calmly and softly.

"…you usually leave at half-past nine."

Sakura's lips parted in concern, as she gaped in shock, "You waited for over an hour? Why?" Her caring instincts kicked in and she quickly pressed her hands against his fingertips, clenched tightly over the paper, "You're freezing!"

His brows drew together, illustrating his inner struggle with himself, as he muttered "Sakura, its fine. It doesn't matter."

She shook her head indignantly, "Yes, it matters! I think I understand a little why you wait for me, but I refuse to understand why you would go so far as to stand outside for over an hour in mid-winter! You're a human ice-cube!"

"tsk" he scowled deeper, "If you understand why, then you should just let me do this. It's the least I can do to repay-"

"I don't want you to repay anything." she interrupted him, "I already forgave you, Sasuke-kun. You know that."

He stared off into the distance, clearly troubled by regret and the inner demons of his dark past. Although he knew that he had her forgiveness, it didn't feel enough. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to repay the debt.

"I'll always forgive you." she persisted, her voice lowering to a more gentle tone that never failed to soothe his turmoil, "I could never not forgive you"

He suddenly shot a glare at her, like flaming knives, halting in the middle of the street "That's stupid." He growled under his breath, "I tried to kill you Sakura…If it weren't for Kakashi and Naruto, you'd be dead. Nothing but more blood on my hands."

She shook her head slowly, placing a warm hand on his icy fingers, allowing her heat to seep into his skin "That wasn't you" she insisted, her voice merely a breathy uttering "you weren't you. The real you wouldn't have done that. You were manipulated, and confused. You were completely lost."

He could only stand in silence, watching his own fury dissolve as her words sent soothing bursts of light green energy through him, warming and dissolving his frosty anger. She always did this; found some way to neutralise the incessant pangs of pain he felt, whether it be physical - like in the Forest of Death - or emotional, like now.

She reached up, and tugged eagerly at his sleeve, sending him a smile as bright as the sun itself that lit him up from the inside "Come on. It's cold out here"

"Aa" he answered, quietly.

He took a step forward toward in the direction of her apartment, where, like usual, he would make sure she got in safely. She would invite him in for tea before he left, because he couldn't stand the sweetness of hot-chocolate. He would insist after downing his second cup, that he should leave, because she needed to rest, and she would shut the door after him. But not before she leaned up to quickly, yet affectionately, press a small kiss to his still cold cheek. And he would linger in front of the closed door, listening for the sound of the lock closing, because that sound reassured him that she was safe for the time being.

And then he would amble home, but not before lightly touching his fingertips to the skin of his cheek where she kissed him. He would feel the lasting warmth that he found there, because he treasured those kisses more than life itself.