A/N: I have no idea how this is going to turn out! I'm quite sick and I can barely keep my opens in the middle of the day, but I'm determined to give you all something!

Disclaimer: I own nothing affiliated with the Naruto franchise.

Sasuke and Sakura had walked the entire distance from the sparring fields to the center of Leaf hand-in-hand. No words were exchanged, just the occasional eye contact which was always followed by a dainty smile from Sakura and an ever studious look on Sasuke's face.

He didn't know how it happened or why or when, but he wasn't opposed to being so openly affectionate with Sakura. Granted, it was like midnight and only the random drunks or adolescents that were sneaky about were witness to this rarity, but regardless, he could care less if they saw. They came to a stop in the middle of town; there were some street lamps that gave off just enough light that the two shinobi could see each other's facial expressions.

Sakura was gleaming with happiness, something he realized he had not seen in many years. He smirked a bit; it was just like their gennin days. She slid her hand out of his, something he wasn't ready for her to do but allowed it. His own hand dropped to his side whereas hers intertwined with its pair behind her back.

"I guess I should be thanking you, Sasuke-kun," she said matter-of-factly, "if you hadn't come looking for me, I probably would have fallen asleep out there."

Studying her face, he only responded with, "Hn." He couldn't manage much more. His original plan was to find out about her living arrangements; he hadn't expected to end the night like this: confused and flustered.

Sakura told him she was tired and that it was probably best they both get some rest. Naturally he agreed, he was ready to escape this situation. He would need to be alone to dissect tonight properly, but he didn't even look forward to that. He turned around and started walking toward his compound when he heard Sakura speak.

"My parents were never my parents. They were my caretakers until I became of age. You left the following day and shortly after that Naruto followed suit. I was alone my whole life, but the worst part was I didn't know until it was too late, you were gone and soon so was he."

Sasuke remained planted to the ground and had not faced her, only listened.

"It's funny, really. I was alone up until that point, but I didn't know it. Then, when I understood my loneliness, I thought I could find comfort in my real family: Naruto, Kakashi-sensei and you, Sasuke. But just like my first family, all of you were sucked away in an instant," Sakura was staring a hole in the back of his head.

Sasuke had begun to furrow his eyebrows and his onyx eyes only appeared to be blackening in an abyss of fury. She… is she lying? Would Leaf… tch… of course Leaf would keep something like that a secret. This damn village hid secrets from me and Naruto about our families. Why wouldn't they do it to her, too?

Sakura hung her head lightly and had changed her focal point from Sasuke's head to his feet.

"I was never angry with you or Naruto, not really. You both left and I… I wanted to catch up with you both so badly!" Sakura exclaimed, clenching her fists and gritting her teeth at the end of the sentence.

"I pushed myself to passed limits that were never meant to be crossed," she said before biting her lip, "and finally, finally," she sighed like a burden had been lifted off her shoulder, "during the fourth great ninja war I was able to stand tall next to you both."

Tears stung at her eyes. "I do regret something though. I regret not having had the chance to tell you and Naruto about my past. Maybe if I had, you could have looked at me with equality and felt dignified having me as a teammate like you always have with Naruto."

Sasuke grew stiff at her last proclamation. He felt true anger toward himself when he recollected his attitude and demeanor he had once felt toward Sakura. Regardless of that, however, he didn't know what to do with new information. He knew it was a brief overview of the entirety her actual past, but it was still too much for the Uchiha to process. He was in the process of making a step back to look at Sakura, when he felt her presence immediately behind him.

Sakura's head barely reached Sasuke's shoulders; she was standing directly behind him, only an inch or two from his back. He could feel her breath hit the middle of his back. His heart pace quickened. Dammit, Sakura, I can't take this!

He again went turn around on his heels to face her when Sakura's arms shot up and wrapped around his torso from behind. His immediate thought was the chunnin exams when she somehow managed to stop him from slaughtering those sound nin. Sasuke's eyes widened and his mouth went slightly agape. Her eyes were shut tightly and her lips were curled inward.

"Thank you, Sasuke, for coming back," she murmured. His facial expression remained altered ever so slightly to look even more shocked. How is she doing this to him?

Then, just as quickly as she had grabbed him, she had released him.

"Good night… Sasuke-kun," and she weaved a few signs to quickly exit leaving Sasuke in the middle of leaf, speechless, with a racing heart and flustered emotions.

A/N: I'm sorry it's short! This took a lot to get out, I am deathly sick! I truly wish it was longer, but hopefully I'll be feeling better soon and will be able to add to it either tomorrow or before the weekend is up! As always, I love seeing your reviews! I read them all! If you have any ideas or something you'd like to see happen, let me know, maybe I can work something out or you'll better the story you like to read! ~Tsu