DISCLAIMER: I do not own "Naruto"

Chapter 12: Deceit

He sat beside her. He was close, but not so close that their bodies were in contact. She could feel warmth radiate from him, not a feverish heat, but evidence that he was alive. Though her heart fluttered with anxiety, she had never been so comfortable before. The silence didn't bother her, she was used to it. She turned to look at him, blush painting her face as she studied him. He sat with his arms propped on his knees and his head angled toward the sky as he stared at the stars. His raven hair fell to the sides of his face, revealing a handsome face usually hidden behind shadows. His charcoal eyes were abnormally content as he gazed into the sky. His features were so sharp and attractive. She felt herself drawn to him and soon allowed her head to sink onto his shoulder. He looked at her, his eyes boring into her… not in an unkind fashion, but more in question. It was then that she realized he was too young. His cheeks were still the rounded cheeks of a child. Thirteen… he was thirteen the last time she had seen him.

Sakura's eyes opened. Her fifteen-year-old eyes. It had been a dream. She sighed. It had been a wonderful dream.

She hesitantly placed her feet on the cold floor. Standing, she walked to the washroom and splashed her face with cold water. After snuggling a plush towel against her face, she looked into the mirror. Her face was no longer the same as the thirteen-year-old girl who had been left on the bench. The child was almost completely gone, replaced by a woman. Her eyes weren't quite as large, they were more angular and sparkled with experience… and sadness. Her lips were fuller and her face quite a bit thinner. Her body had changed too. She was a bit taller, much stronger, and now she had curves that hadn't existed before. Reflected in the mirror, she noticed the picture of Team 7 framed on her dresser. She was almost shocked at the realization of how much she had grown. She hadn't really noticed before, but now, she felt as though, starring at her reflection in the mirror, she was gazing upon a stranger. It was a strange sensation. If she ever saw Sasuke again… would he recognize her? She laughed, of course he would. What other kunoichi had rosy pink hair and jade green eyes? Of course he would recognize her… but would he be shocked to see that she had grown… that she had changed?

How much had Sasuke changed? He would be fifteen as well. Not the thirteen-year-old boy from her dreams. Would he be caught in the awkward transition between boy and man? Would his voice have cracked and deepened by now? She laughed again. Sasuke had always had an unnaturally deep voice. A soothing voice… a perfect voice. Surely he couldn't look much different from his younger self… but there was always the possibility. Perhaps he would opt for a new hairstyle, perhaps a shorter flatter style. Or maybe he had grown some facial hair… she couldn't even imagine. Sasuke, did he shave? She did… she blushed at her reflection for the thoughts flying through her mind.

Everyone was always telling her it would get easier. She would forget and move on. Sasuke had only been her first crush, her first love; there would be others… many others. That's what she had been told. She had been so young, to dwell on what had never been would ruin all opportunity for her to find real love. Real love. Who was to say that what she had felt wasn't real love? What she still felt. Who could tell her what real love was? She had given so much for him… she had always been there. Yes, he had been the one to protect her… but she had been the one to take care of him when he was in the hospital. She was spending all her time to train so she could go rescue him. It would be her turn. She would give her life to see him come back to Konoha. If that wasn't love… what was? It was more than wanting to be with him romantically. It had started that way, when she was young and selfish… but now, there was so much more to it. She desired his well being, his happiness; she wanted him to come out of the darkness that surrounded him.

Everyone said it would get easier. It was getting harder. Everyone said she would move on. But she loved him.

Yes, he had disappeared from her life… but she would find him again. And no matter how much he had aged, she would know him. No matter how much they had both changed, they were still the same.

She went to the desk and pulled out a piece of parchment and the familiar pen and ink. She began a letter. How many had she written? Numerous. A token of love for him. He would never forget her.

Sasuke glared at the hawk that landed next to him. Mechanically, he took the scroll from it and watched as it flew away. This had become routine. The hawk knew he wasn't going to send a message back, so it never stuck around longer than it took for Sasuke to take the letter. And Sasuke never read the letters, he simply put them in the box with all the others. Yes, a box, for there were so many scrolls now that they didn't all fit in his desk drawer. The box was fondly labeled "annoying" and kept hidden beneath his bed. Luckily enough, they hadn't switched hideouts in almost half a year… but if the need ever arose, Sasuke could easily use a transportation jutsu to move the box. Why he thought about such things, he wasn't quite sure. He simply knew that he couldn't dispose of the letters. If they were found…

Of course, he could always burn them. But he was never tempted to do such a thing. The letters didn't worry him enough to get rid of them. In fact, sometimes when he was feeling especially grouchy, Sasuke would move the box from under his bed and… stare at it. He never opened it or took any letters out, but just seeing the "annoying box" calmed him. And when he grew too uncomfortable with the connotations of what that might mean, Sasuke would push the box back under his bed. He'd been looking at the box a lot lately. He knew why. The time was drawing close… Orochimaru would be needing his new body soon.

Sasuke sat up in the highest branches of a tree. He considered his plan again. It was getting increasingly difficult to play the obedient student. Feigning respect was especially trying. He never sparred with Orochimaru anymore, his teacher was weakening by the day. Sasuke wondered how much more he would be able to learn from the snake-like man. He wondered how much longer he could pretend, how much closer he could get to the limit. He sighed and stared up at the stars. Soon, very soon, he would be making his way to Itachi.

His fingers played with the now pealing edge of the scroll. It came undone and rolled out on Sasuke's lap. He looked down, almost surprised at himself. But he couldn't help but read the scroll as his sharingan activated.

Sasuke,

Sometimes I wonder if you're still reading my letters. I hope so.

"Tch." Ironic that this would be her opening line.

I had a strange dream. We were staring at the stars—

The tips of Sasuke's ears reddened as he read. Already this letter was unnerving.

—and when you looked at me, your face was exactly the same as when… as when you were thirteen. Just the way I remember. But you're not thirteen anymore. And I'm not thirteen anymore. Things have certainly changed… a lot. I'm sure if you were to go through each of my letters, you would see just how much you've missed… and been missed. Right now, more than anything, I want to know how you've changed. I wish I could imagine your face as it is right now. But I can't. When I think about you, all I see is that thirteen-year-old boy. Do you only remember me as a thirteen-year-old girl? I thought it might be the same for you… so I thought you'd like to see a picture.

He lifted the photo, but hesitated before flipping it over to see the image. His breath caught in his throat. Sakura was quite…

She looked happy. A pain filled his chest and it took him a moment to shake the tense feeling. She. Looked. Happy. Was she truly happy without him? Her letters would suggest otherwise… but this photo radiated with sunshine beaming from her smile. Her contagious smile. She had always had an amazing smile. It took him a few moments to tear his eyes from the photo and finish reading the letter.

I know it's a long shot… but I was hoping you would return the favor and send a photo of yourself. Of course not. You won't write back. You never do. But I felt a little better for asking.

I can't wait for the day I get to see your face again, I just hope that it's a happy reunion… Anyway. I felt like you might be having the same questions and I thought you'd like to have a picture.

Be safe, Sasuke.

I miss you,

Sakura

As he read the closing, the same unfamiliar tenseness filled his chest. When had Sakura stopped including the line "all my love, always?" What did that mean? Did she no longer love him? If so… she had deceived him. Anger filled him. She had lied.

A/N: So... not as angst filled as the last chapter, but I felt the need to address they're growing and changing. Yes, they'd be fifteen about this time, I'm skipping a little bit forward because I want to move a long in the story a little bit faster. We all want to see them reunited again, right? So... I'll probably condense the two years up to their reunion into the next two or so chapters... mabye more... definately not more than five chapters though. I promise that. We want a little bit of sasusaku interaction.

So glad you liked the last chapter! Makes my day to see your reviews. By the way... if you didn't see before, I revised the chapters "Abandon" and "Forgotten" so if you get a chance check it out. "Forgotten" isn't much different, but "Abandon" is better in my opinion. As always, reviews are welcome! Next chapter will probably be up Thursday or Friday!