Chapter 5: Friends and Couples

For the first time in six years, I actually wanted to go to work. All thanks to Sasuke. But still, I was hurt knowing that Sasuke wasn't staying for too long.

"How long are you staying?" I asked when I finally stopped crying. We were still in each others arms. I enjoyed staying that way. He sighed.

"Once I get out of here…I'll have to be on my way…." He replied. I nestled my head into his chest.

"Sasuke…please…don't…." I pleaded having a holder grip on his arm.

"I'm sorry Sakura….I can't…."

I sighed. But at least he was going to stay for a few days. I quickly got dressed and ran, yes ran, to the hospital. As usual, Ino was always there before me.

"What's the rush?" Ino questioned as I ran past her.

"Nothing!" I replied cheerfully and just as I was about to turn she grabbed my arm.

"Hold on! You're in a rush to see lover boy huh?" she asked slyly. She raised and eyebrow and I blushed.

"So what if I am? He's my patient after all. Aren't I supposed to spend time with him?" I shot back. Ino laughed.

"Wow, you're really hooked on him. Oh and by the ways, are you gonna come with us to the Twilight Festival on Friday?" Ino asked.

"What day is it today?" I asked and searched for a calendar nearby.

"Wednesday. Are you coming or what? I'm gonna go with Shikamaru. Naruto would ask you, like he always does every year, but Hinata found the courage and already asked him. So he has not choice but to go with her. So? Yes? No? Maybe so?" Ino prodded. I thought for a moment.

"I don't know. Say, when is Sasuke going to be released from here?" I asked.

"I'd say probably tomorrow. He's already well recovered. Well, that's what Tsunade-sama said. So are you coming or what?" Ino said and put her hands on her hips, waiting for an answer. I sighed and sat on the nearest bench. Ino sighed as well and sat next to me.

"What now?" Ino asked. I felt like crying right then and there. Great, everyone was going with the person they liked except me. Well, I didn't know Naruto's feeling on Hinata, but still. I would want Sasuke to come with me. But…

"Once I get out of here…I'll have to be on my way…."

Couldn't he just stay for one more day? I would have to ask him. If not, plead. If that doesn't work, beg.

"Well? Could you stop being dramatic and tell me what is bothering you?" Ino asked exasperatedly.

I sighed and fidgeted with my hands. "It's just…I don't know if I can go."

"Why? We always go together every year! It's just this time that Naruto is going with someone else. Besides, you don't like him and—"

"That's not it Ino. I want Sasuke to come with me," I replied.

"Well, just ask him! DUH!" Ino replied and smiled. "It's not that hard. Wait…are you guys together? 'Cause if you—"

"That's the problem. He can't go, cause…cause…after he gets out of here…" I said my voice trailing off.

"If he gets out if here what Sakura?" Ino asked. Now I could feel the tears welling up.

"Once he gets out of here, he's going to leave. He's going to go find his brother and seek revenge on him and we'll never be together….," I said and gave a little chuckle. "He's always been an avenger."

Ino frowned and got up suddenly. I looked at her wide-eyed. What was she going to do?

"That bastard! I can't let him do that to you!" Ino cursed and started to walk to his room.

"WAIT! NO! Please, I'll talk to him! Just don't tell him I told you!" I pleaded and grabbed her arm.

"Sakura, we've all been waiting for his return! It's been six years! He can't just leave us! Especially you! Doesn't he like you at all?" Ino said tugging her arm from my grasp.

"Please INO! DON'T!" I pleaded again.

"And why not?" she answered back and took back her arm.

"Because…he doesn't want our help! I already offered him help and he got angry! Please Ino! I'll talk to him! Please!" I pleaded. She sighed and crossed her arms. After a moment, she looked at me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Just be careful, ok? I don't want him—"

"I know," I said, sensing her worry. "He has to at least stay here. For one day…can't he?"

Ino gave a small smile. "Well, go get him. And if he won't stay, I'll get Naruto to beat the snot out of him!" She gave a small laugh and waved off.

"Ino wait!" I called after her. She turned and looked at me. I saw some tears forming around her eyes.

"Thanks…" I said. She smiled.

"Hey, what are best friends for right?" And with that, she headed down the hall.

I hurriedly walked down the halls and entered Sasuke's room.

"Morning Sasuke-kun!" I chirped. I looked around. He wasn't in his bed. The window was open. Oh no…he couldn't? Would he?

I rushed to the window and looked outside. An empty courtyard. "Sasuke-kun? SASUKE-KUN?" I yelled out the window.

"Wow, you really are loud," a voice said behind me. I turned and he was standing by the door. Most of his bandages were removed. I frowned.

"Sasuke-kun! You scared me! And for another thing, you shouldn't be standing! You should be lying down!" I scolded. He chuckled.

"What are you my mother?" He asked and crossed his arms. I frowned and grabbed his hand and started to pull him to the bed. He pulled back and I pulled back harder.

"I don't need to be told what to do," he shot at me.

"Well, I work here, so you have no choice!" I shot back and with that I pulled his arm so hard he fell…..right on top of me and landed on the floor with a big OOF!

I winced in pain and I opened my eyes to see that Sasuke was looking into my eyes as well. Our faces were just inches away. I was blushing so much that I looked like a tomato. I could even see a faint blush on Sasuke's face too.

"Uhhh…," Sasuke stuttered. I shook my head trying to recede the blush on my face.

"I'm sorry…" I said and pushed him off. He helped me off. "I'm such a big klutz…hehe…." I admitted and scratched my head. He chuckled.

"Whatever…but…," he sighed, "I'm sorry….for…being…you know…stubborn."

I looked at him wide-eyed. Sasuke was never the type of person who would admit for his mistakes. I guess him leaving made him a little soft.

He sat on his bed and looked at me. He motioned for me to sit next to him. I did.

"Sakura?" he asked. I looked at him.

"Why did you always have an interest in me?" he asked and leaned down onto his elbows. I blushed. Crap, what was I going to say? I pulled my legs onto the bed and hugged them close to my chest.

"I don't know…" I mumbled. Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"Yes, you do," he replied in his monotonic tone.

I sighed. But then a thought arose in my head.

"Fine I'll tell you. But you have to promise me something?" I said and smiled.

He looked at me and eyed me seriously. "What?"

I smiled. "Sasuke…do you remember the Twilight Festival that the village would have every year?" I said and rolled onto my stomach so that I faced him.

"Yeah…what about it?"

"Sasuke….please…could you at you at least stay one day? To come with me to the festival?" I asked, my eyes pleading him to stay. He sighed and sat up. I sat up as well.

"Sakura….I don't…I don't know if—"

I sighed. Step one: beg. "Please Sasuke! Just this once! Please! I've waited six years for you! Don't you…don't you want to at least spend one day with me?"

Again he sighed and looked away from me.

"Sakura….I already told you. I can't. And every moment I waste here, Itachi—"

Step two: plead. "PLEASE SASUKE!" I nestled onto his shoulder and I felt him tense up. "I missed you…I don't…I don't want you to go yet. And besides don't you know why I've always been interested in you? Please Sasuke….just one day. Is that too much to ask." I felt the tears well up in my eyes, but I didn't care. He looked at me.

"Sakura, I…I…I can't. I have to—"

I sighed. And if those two don't work…I had to resort to extreme measures. So I gained all my confidence and did what I've always wanted to do. My heart started to beat faster and I looked up at him. Then slowly I leaned in and kissed him, with tears still falling from my eyes.

At first I thought he would push me away, but to my surprise….he kissed me back. He then put his arms around my waist and I put my arms around his neck. I couldn't believe it! Sasuke Uchiha was actually KISSING ME! My heart was beating so fast that I swear he could hear it! I was enjoying every bit of it. But, I had to know…

I broke apart our kiss and looked at him seriously now. But our faces were only inches away.

"So please….stay…," I said in almost in a whisper. He sighed.

"How come I have a feeling I'm going to regret this….," he said back at me. I smiled. I was so happy that without thinking I kissed him again. I pulled away from him. I blushed and covered my mouth.

"I'm sorry…I don't know what came over me…." I stuttered and looked away. I was blushing like mad again. Ugh, I really had to control my blushing. He chuckled and took my hand and pulled me to him. I leaned against his chest and I could hear his heart beat which was going at a fast pace. I looked at him and I could see a faint blush on his face.

"Sakura…" he started. Oh great, he was going to say I was klutz or I was an annoyance or…any other kind of nuisance. I closed my eyes and but my lip. I was about to apologize again until he wrapped his arms around me. "What do you…..what do you consider us?"

I looked up at him and locked eyes with him for a moment then looked away from him.

I gulped. "I guess….I don't know…you mean right now? You and me?" I asked. I was just babbling. Should I say, that we looked…well…that…I wanted…to be….a couple?

He sighed. "I don't like to repeat myself," he said in his usual monotonic voice. I blushed.

"Well, I d-don't know….probably….a…umm…c-couple?" I said. I bit my lip and closed my eyes, waiting for the rejection. I probably knew what he was going to say.

Something like, "I don't do couple stuff...," or "I'm not into relationships…" or "This might have been great but I can't be in a relationship," or—

Sasuke's chuckle interrupted my thoughts. I looked at him again. "What's so funny?" I asked. Well, this was really immature. This was no time for laughing! I was trying to be serious here!

He then looked at me and kissed me lightly. He then smiled and looked away from me. "It's just…heh…I was thinking the same thing," he said. I smiled and gave him a hug. Not a bone-breaking one…but a gentle hug. He tensed up at first, but then relaxed and hugged me back. I broke away from him.

"Wait, you're not just using me are you?" I asked and looked at him seriously. He sighed.

"Do you really think I'm the kind of person to joke around?" he said sounding annoyed. I smiled and we kissed again. We weren't friends anymore, but a couple. And I knew that day was the happiest…no BEST day of my life. Now I definitely had a reason to go to work tomorrow.

A/N: YAY! They are together! Finally! Well, I wanted to wait a little while longer to get more reviews, but sadly, I'm restricted to going on th computer for a limited amount of time. So yea, I won't be able to update in a while. But don't worry, I'll be continuing to write the other chapter meanwhile, so I can just upload them and post them. So what did you think? Hmmm? Yeah, sorry if there is too much corny-ness. I'm making Sasuke look wayyyyyyy too soft. But heh, I just like to make the guys like that. But at least I'm making Sasuke stick to his jerky/snobby kinda type. Well anywayz, I'll update in a few weeks or days depending on my time. Oh and for those who didn't see yet, I was deciding to put different POV. Should I put Sasuke's POV or a General POV? And thanks, to those who already suggested. But really, I need suggestions. Well, I hope you guys enjoyed this chappie as much as I enjoyed writing it. And must I say, I was on a roll! lolz. Well as usual, thankies and don't forget to review!