Author's Note: Haha, since it's summer, I'm going to try and write at least one story a day. That's not a PROMISE, so please don't kill me if I'm not able to do so. XD And yay, new reviewers! Thanks to Tishni, Spread-My-Wingz-And-Soar, avenged, cluelessninja65, DarkAngelRakell, DreamCatcherKenshin and HPBabe91 for taking the time to review. sniffles I feel so special.

Title: The Best

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Slightly OOC?

Summary: It's Sasuke's birthday, and Sakura is feeling jealous of an opportunity he has. Can the reclusive Uchiha protege reverse his comrade's bad mood?

July twenty-third.

A normal summer day for most people. A time when one might wish to be out, having a picnic or hanging with friends. It was a date that differed little from its predecessors, and would probably match up perfectly with those that came after. It was a complacent date, for most of Konohagakure's citizens.

For most.

But today was today, and it was his.

Sasuke Uchiha.

Sakura Haruno mulled over her friend's life as she buried herself in paperwork.

She could hardly believe that sixteen years to the day, the youngest member of the Uchiha Clan had given his first lofty cries. She imagined the domineering, oftentimes chilly air he emanated, and a soft giggle escaped her lips. She highly doubted he had been so standoffish as an infant, or perhaps even as a young child.

But after the massacre…

She sighed.

Sasuke had succeeded in defeating Itachi, with the aide of Naruto. IN repayment, the Uchiha protégé had led Konohagakure's forces straight to Orochimaru's lair. Infiltrating had been the easy part. But not even Naruto, Sasuke, and Jiraiya combined had been able to bring the Sannin to his knees.

In the end, Sakura had been the one to do it, sneaking from behind and driving a punch into his back that had sent his kidneys up through his mouth. Sasuke had returned with them. And now, here it was, his day of birth, and the young woman knew exactly what was in store for her teammate.

Naruto, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Choji were going to more or less kidnap the Uchiha protégé, and treat him to lunch.

Sakura realized, then, as she sifted through the hospital records, that she felt jealous. It was not long ago that she would have begged to be taken along. She did not, now, but the same feeling of being abandoned lingered, like a welt that never quite retracted. She was part of Team Seven, after all, and both of her teammates were going to be attending this secret lunch.

She pushed that notion aside.

She was no longer one of them, she realized. She was merely a castoff, now, having trained under Tsunade. She had given up her old life as a complacent, bubbly little girl, making the seemingly over-night transition into a young woman. She had given up such childish feelings as envy and desire to be in another human's shoes.

Or so she had thought.

Mentally berating herself, she rose, and headed towards Sasuke's apartment.

Lately, the Uchiha had become a bit more distant than she had remembered him being ever before. He nearly ignored her, but then, that was to be expected. He hadn't spent enough time in her presence to truly realize how much she had changed. It was likely that he still viewed her as a troublesome youngster.

She knocked on his door; his voice summoned her, quiet, and so she entered.

The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a digital clock on the bedside table. A quick glance showed Sakura that the time was nearly noon. 11:25, to be exact. A smile curved her lips, despite her feeling of abandonment.

Yes, it was nearly time.

Sasuke sat with his back to her, on the edge of the bed. He was perched with face in hands, elbows resting on his knees. Even from here, the young woman could see the sweat marks staining the blue fabric of her comrade's shirt. Concerned, she stepped closer, intent on comforting him. A heartbeat later, she decided against it.

She knew the Uchiha protégé would prefer to be left alone.

He spoke, then, his voice bracing.

" What are you doing here?"

" Neh…I'm sorry to bother you, Sasuke-kun." She shook her head, turning her back. " I-I'll go." She had hardly taken a step when his voice raced to her again, slightly pleading, though it was as low as ever it had been.

" No. You can…stay. You can stay, if you want." His tone was haggard. Startled, and more than a bit worried, now, the female ninja went to sit beside her comrade. He hardly reacted, only inclined his weight slightly towards her, as though he would have liked to brace his balance against her, if she would allow it.

She didn't, so he refrained.

Sakura studied the clock critically.

" Sasuke-kun?" She murmured tentatively, after a brief pause in which she gathered her various troubling thoughts.

" Hmmm?"

" You really do hate me, don't you?" The young woman inquired slowly.

" Tch. Don't ask dumb question, stupid girl. I think you know the answer." She glanced swiftly at him, and he chuckled, face still in hands, so that the voice came out muffled and crooked. " You're my teammate. Not caring about you would be becoming of some sort of beast…which I am not."

" Yeah." She let her voice trail off, staring outside.

" I have…nightmares." he spoke so suddenly and finished so quickly, Sakura wasn't quite sure he had spoken at all. She turned.

" You…what?"

" I have…nightmares. About the massacre. About the aftermath. It's as if my parents spirits are unhappy with me, and haunt me because of it." A muffled groan. " I attempted to do right by their eyes, even if they are no longer in this world. Tell me, Sakura, why do they trail me now, with intentions vengeful or otherwise?"

" Sasuke…" She carefully let the kun slip from the name, this time, because she was talking to him on an equal-to-equal basis, at least at the moment. " Sometimes, dreams are no more than that. Just…visions. They pass, in time. We grow stronger, grow wiser, and shed our old fears and desires like a snake's skin. When we emerge, we are…" She drew in a shaky breath. " All the more beautiful."

The Uchiha did not seem to notice the unsteadiness of her voice, and only nodded. Sakura reached her head tentatively up to touch his shoulder, to rouse him , to save him from his trouble notions. But he ahs assessed her movement in a heartbeat and curled his fingers around her wrist, restraining her.

Shock replaced a resigned attitude as the Uchiha placed her palm to his back and arched himself into it. Slowly, the young woman began to rub, great, wending circles to soothe her comrade. An odd, purring growl rose in the back of his throat, vibrating his whole frame. Sealing a giggle behind firmly clamped lips, Sakura continued to work.

The doorbell rang suddenly, and the two teammates leaped to their feet. Sakura was shocked to see a half of an hour had passed, and it was noon exactly. Grumbling, Sasuke went to open the door…and was nearly sent flying when Naruto burst in, slung an arm around his neck, and drove his knuckles into his friend's head.

" Happy birthday, Sasuke-teme!" he cheered.

Shikamaru groaned; Kiba smirked, showing a bit of fang. Choji was so busy eating, he didn't show any response, only kept snacking.

The Uchiha protégé scowled, and disentangled himself from his best friend's grip.

" What's the meaning of this?" he demanded. To any person who did not know the standoffish young man, it would appear he was not appreciative of their presence in his home. But Sakura could see a glimmer of curiosity shining in his sulfurous eyes.

" C'mon, we're taking you to a special lunch!" Naruto informed him grandly.

Sakura attempted to match his smile, but that feeling of envy had just tripled in size, for the way her friend had announced the idea was tempting. She rose from the bed, and headed for the doorway, nodding to each of the male ninjas in turn.

" I'll catch you guys alter!" She spoke in a falsely cheery voice…and then broke off as Sasuke snared her wrist.

" No, you come, too." He growled. " Please?"

She blinked at him, and then nodded, a slow, genuine grin beginning to caress her face. She turned to Naruto, and he winked. Kiba and Shikamaru turned, Choji in tow, to head back outside, and Team Seven followed…with Sasuke holding Sakura's hand tightly the whole way.

And when he glanced at he, she knew an entirely blank chapter of her life was beginning to be written upon.

" This is going to be the best birthday present I ever had." he informed her, eyes dancing with mischief. And before she could question him as to his intentions, he leaned down and kissed her right on the lips.

Neither of them had ever had a better day, birth or otherwise.