Disclaimer: All standard disclaimer apply.

- - - - - -

Todos dicen que es mentira que te quiero
Porque nunca me habian visto enamorado
Yo te juro que yo mismo no comprendo
El porqué de tu mirar me ha cautivado

They all say it's a lie that I love you
'cause they've never seen me so in love
I swear to you that I don't know why
The look in your eyes has kept me captive.

-Jurame (Promise me) by Maria Grever

- - - - - -

Gai was ecstatic.

He had just been asked to take over Uchiha Sasuke's training. Finally! His youthful ideas are being recognized, by the Hokage even! He would be more than glad to help out the boy regain his lost youth! The poor boy must've had a traumatic experience with that dreadful, dreadful Orochimaru. It was the best decision for Sasuke to return to Konoha, Gai thought, for him to be enlightened.

Tears were falling rapidly from the eyes of Maito Gai as he jumped from roof to roof to reach his beloved protégé. He was more than honored to be given the responsibility of guiding the young Uchiha out of his dark, dark self. He could not wait to break out the news to Lee. He went back to his team's usual meeting place, which was the training ground of their team when the kids were still genins.

"Lee!"

At the sound of his master's voice calling to him, Rock Lee spun around and ran whilst shouting, "Gai-sensei!"

"Lee!"

"Gai-sensei!"

They met each other in a tearful embrace, it was like they haven't seen each other in centuries.

Tenten groaned in annoyance. It was like this every damn time. Though they had been training together for six years, she still could not get used to the antics of the two highly identical men in their team.

On the other hand, the other male in their team, Hyuuga Neji, paid them no heed. Although he was as irritated as Tenten was, he knew better than to shut the two up, or risk subjection to another round of Gai's glorious and youthful declamations.

Tenten was about to shout at the men when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked at Neji shaking his head at her, "I'm not up to listening to their speeches, Tenten."

Neither was she. Knowing that Gai and Lee's drama would last for a while, she asked Neji to spar with her, in which the Hyuuga gladly accepted.

After some moments of ridiculous and exaggerated expressions of admiration, Gai proceeded to tell his team about Sasuke's return and the task that was given to him by the Hokage.

Tenten, who was sitting on one of the larger branches up the tree with a leg dangling on the side, fell in surprise directly above the equally surprised Hyuuga who was polishing his weapons.

Unfortunately, Tenten was seated directly above Neji's blind spot, so he was unable to detect her on time. So when she fell, she fell straight onto Neji's back. Tenten was ready to laugh when she rolled off him. But when Neji sat up, she gasped as she noticed that the kunai he was holding was now lodged through his palm. That's gotta hurt.

Hurt, eh? That's an understatement.

Neji felt like he was crucified with one hand, as he had lain there on his abdomen, his hand that was pierced with a kunai was sandwiched between the ground and the combined weight of him and Tenten. The pain was excruciating. When he sat back up, he then knew that the pain was from the kunai that had pinned his hand to the ground.

Yes, it was crucifixion alright. Imagine having an inch wide weapon going from the underside of your palm and through the back of it. That's gotta be one nasty injury.

"My god, Neji, I'm so sorry!" Tenten said, and thought on how she would pull out the kunai from Neji's hand.

Neji knew that some of the bones were broken. Damn, but the pain was more annoying then hurtful. It was his pride that has taken the blow, for he had been injured because he was polishing his weapons. Faith, who the hell gets injured while doing that? He frowned.

Tenten saw that frown. She knew then that Neji was not mad at her, but to himself. She knows that he's deeming himself stupid for getting injured, and he's not even in battle. But she was really awed by the fact that Neji was still keeping a straight face, it's as if he wasn't feeling any pain at all.

Lee and Gai immediately went to Neji's side the moment they saw Tenten fall from the tree. Lee saw his rival's condition. "Neji-kun! Are you alright?!"

"Does he look alright to you?" Tenten said, then, "Don't just stand there, you two! Get the bandages in my bag!" Then she turned back to Neji, and held the kunai in his hand. "I'm gonna pull it in three, okay, Neji?"

The Hyuuga nodded. It's the only way to free his hand. Tenten held the kunai in one hand, and Neji's wrist in the other. After counting to three, she pulled it quickly, and Neji felt twice the pain he had.

After Neji's hand was bandaged, Gai had instructed Tenten to accompany Neji to the hospital. When the two were out of sight, Gai asked Lee to go with him in the market for them to buy food for tomorrow, as Sasuke should be given the same thing Lee had when he was training.

Let's just hope that Sasuke wouldn't turn green while eating those things—that is, if he eats them.

- - - - - -

Sasuke was dumbstruck.

Is the beautiful woman in front of him really his Sakura?

He had been staring at her the moment the woman went out of her clinic to reprimand Naruto to be quiet inside the hospital. Naruto had been arguing with one of the male nurses, and he was shouting.

They have been walking up the stairs to the third floor, where Sakura's clinic was located—that is, according to the receptionist at the lobby who was obviously attracted to the blond and had been almost fainting when Naruto had flashed her a smile—when Naruto had spotted a young man in laboratory uniform, and went after him quick.

Not a moment later after grabbing the nurse's back collar, Naruto had slammed the poor guy into the nearest wall. Sasuke had heard that the guy was harboring feelings for the pink-haired woman, and all thoughts about stopping Naruto from killing the guy suddenly flew out of his head.

Then the door from where the male nurse came from opened, and a woman in physician's robe came out, book in hand. She immediately approached the blond boy, and didn't notice the Uchiha because he was behind Naruto.

Sasuke really was captivated. Never would he have thought that the annoying girl—but he loved her all the same, albeit unconsciously—who used to follow him around would grow into a very attractive woman. He'd no idea that she was so petite or so incredibly beautiful. All that he remembers is the image of the twelve-year old Sakura, who was already pretty enough. But he never imagined her to bloom into something like this. Yes, he had somehow thought that she would be lovely. But this lovely?

"Naruto, will you lower your voice down? This is a hospital, for heaven's sake!" The pink-haired woman said, and then moved her gaze to the male nurse who was standing beside Naruto. "Is he picking on you again, Shun?"

Sasuke wanted to laugh at the scene before him. Sakura, clearly lacking in height, was reprimanding a man almost a feet taller than her, and the said man was just there, scratching his head, scared of the small woman in front of him with his life. So that was why she didn't notice Sasuke! She couldn't see above Naruto's shoulders!

Before the nurse could answer Sakura's question, Naruto cut in, "I ain't picking on him, I swear! I'm just asking him a few questions."

Sakura sighed. She clearly did not buy what her blond friend had said. So instead, she apologized to the nurse and sent him on his way. Then she again turned to Naruto and told him to stop bullying her assistant. Of course, Naruto reasoned out that the guy was trying to hit on her, and that earned him a hard slap on the shoulder. When Sakura had asked him his purpose for coming to the hospital, he remembered Sasuke.

Naruto grinned at Sakura and said, "I've a surprise for you, Sakura-chan!"

Sakura smiled and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Oh? And what would that be?"

The blond moved to the side, so that Sakura could see the man behind him. The woman's eyes widened and she gasped.

"S-Sasuke-kun?"

- - - - - -

Sakura wanted to cry.

Uchiha Sasuke was standing in front of her. And she could not believe it. It was just not possible! Maybe it's just one of Naruto's clones pretending to be Sasuke. Well, if it is, Naruto should expect a thorough beating for this bad joke.

Then he spoke, "Sakura."

There was no mistake about that. There is no other man who could say her name as smoothly as that but Uchiha Sasuke. Sakura was now absolutely sure that it was him. She took a few steps, slowly, and she stopped just a foot away from him. She looked up at him with glossy eyes. It was obvious that she was trying not to cry.

She reached out a hand, and touched his cheek, cautiously, as if she was afraid that he would slap her hand away. Then he smirked, placed his hand above the one that was on his cheek and looked directly at her eyes. "I'm back."

That was when the dam burst open. Tears fell fast from Sakura's eyes, and Sasuke felt his heart clench at the sight. He swore to himself that he would make sure not to see that look on her eyes again, and he would definitely end the life of whoever makes her cry.

"Sasuke-kun!" She closed the gap between them and cried on his chest. She embraced him very tightly, as if he was going to disappear if she released him. Sakura was clearly overjoyed. She never thought that the only boy she had ever loved—loves is the appropriate word—would return to Konoha, and not push her away when she reached for him.

She could not stop crying, she was so happy. No, not just happy, extremely happy—or any superlative that could be used for it.

"You came back..." She whispered. "It really is you..."

Though Sasuke did not embrace her back—something Sakura already expected—Naruto knew that Sasuke was as glad as she is. The blond grinned. He was amazed that Sasuke did not kiss her then and there. It would've fitted perfectly in the scene. But of course, he's Sasuke, and he's not into those mushy things.

As Naruto was thinking, Sasuke did have the urge to ravage her there, with Naruto watching or not. But of course, he wouldn't want to be predictable—Che, as if it wasn't expected that he would just stand there—and he wasn't sure if Sakura still loves him. Though Naruto had been barricading her as he'd said, he wouldn't know if Sakura were already in love with someone else.

He hoped not.

Then Sakura pulled away and wiped away her tears. "Sorry about the shirt. I'm just so happy to see you again," Then she gave him a dazzling smile within teary eyes and said, "Welcome back home, Sasuke-kun."

Naruto had warned him about that smile. The blond said that it makes even the most stuck-up man on Konoha—Naruto was referring to Kakashi in here—soften and turn to mush. The Uchiha didn't believe it at first, but here he was, experiencing firsthand the feeling of jelly-like legs.

Sasuke felt like turning into a puddle of goo.

It was like the Uchiha couldn't for his life tear his gaze away from the pink-haired woman. And it was like they were lost in their own little world and had forgotten about Naruto. The blond cleared his throat and the two instantly tore apart, Sakura blushing prettily.

"Sakura-chan, I know you're happy. But it's not nice to just forget about me here," Naruto said, grinning at her.

Sakura blushed slightly darker and had invited the two men in her office for some tea and cookies. She went inside the room. Sasuke went to follow, but he was pulled in the arm by Naruto who was grinning.

"So, is Sakura-chan exactly how you fantasized her?" Naruto knew that the word fantasized is the most accurate word.

"No."

"No?!" Naruto frowned. "Don't tell me you're put-off with her height because I'll—"

"It's not that."

"Then what?" Naruto crossed his arms. He couldn't for his life find anything wrong with Sakura other than her height. But it was actually their fault for being so damn tall! Sakura was perfect being petite, and Naruto couldn't imagine her looking otherwise.

"I had expected to see a beautiful—"

What the bloody—? What kind of beauty was Sasuke looking for? Sakura was the most enamoring woman in the entire village! Damn it, what could he possibly be wan—

"—human."

Naruto blinked and paused in his internal ranting. Human? What the hell? "Sasuke-teme, what in the hell are you saying? Sakura-chan is absolutely human, and a very beautiful female human to boot. You know, I think you've lost it."

Maybe Naruto was right. Maybe Sasuke really had lost it. The mere thought of Sakura was enough to drive him nuts. And now that he had seen her? He can succumb to insanity. "I said, I'd expected to see a beautiful human,"

Naruto nodded. "Yeah, and what does tha—"

"Not an angel."

Sasuke smirked at his friend's reaction. Naruto's look was priceless. This was much more hilarious than how he reacted when he had seen Sasuke in Ichiraku. It was like he had seen a ghost. Shock was not his expression, but absolute horror.

"...?!"

Naruto was frightened to say the least. Sasuke would never say those things! Good god, maybe this was Orochimaru? Nah, he wasn't hissing, then who took over Sasuke's body? He pointed an accusing finger at 'Sasuke' and said, "W-who are you and what did you do to Sasuke-teme?"

"I'm being honest, dobe."

If it weren't for that nickname, Naruto would still doubt it is Sasuke that was standing in front of him. So Naruto collected himself and cleared his throat.

"No you're not, you're being OOC."

- - - - - -

After talking with Sakura and consuming some servings of Tea and cookies, the men left the clinic, Naruto reasoning out that he would accompany Sasuke to the Hatakes' flat, so the couple could get Sasuke settled in. And then he said that the two of them would return later to pick Sakura up for dinner.

She had been told about Sasuke's punishment, and she was glad that it was just probation and a mission holding, but what she was worried about was Sasuke being overseen by Maito Gai and Rock Lee. She knew that despite Sasuke's self-control, he could barely tolerate the younger one. And now he was also going to train with the older one? Good god. Even Kakashi sometimes get the urge to just strangle the man who had announced himself to the world as Hatake Kakashi's eternal rival.

What the hell is her shishou thinking?

She just wished that Sasuke would not try to kill them, though that was what most of the ninjas in the village wanted to do.

Her thoughts were disrupted by a knock on her door. And there entered Tenten and Neji. Sakura quickly noticed the bloody bandaged hand of Neji and she immediately rose to her feet and gestured for him to sit on the clinic bed.

She unwrapped the bandages, and grimaced when she saw his blood rushing out of the wound like tap water. Neji flipped his hand over and Sakura was surprised to see another wound directly behind the other one and she had deduced that a weapon had been stabbed into his palm and it went through the back of his hand.

Sakura took a soft cloth and placed it in a basin of alcohol. She used it to clean Neji's wound. Damn if it wasn't painful. Neji clenched his jaw and flinched visibly. She then gathered chakra in her hands and positioned them on both sides of Neji's hands, effectively repairing the torn muscle and closing the wound. But she didn't have enough chakra left to re-attach the broken bones. But at least she had managed to close the wound and stop the bleeding.

Judging by the amount of blood his bandage and her cloth had absorbed, and the blood that had dripped to the floor when she'd unwrapped it, Sakura was sure that if Neji were to be treated a little later more, he would surely die of blood loss.

She continued to wipe the now wound-less palm with a new cloth to remove the bloodstains. She placed a small hardboard on his palm and wrapped the hand in bandages, it was so Neji wouldn't break the bones even more.

With Neji's raised eyebrow, she said, "I don't have sufficient chakra to fix the bones. So you'll have to come back here tomorrow."

It's not like he had any choice anyway, so he just nodded, "Thank you." That was something only Sakura and Tenten have the privilege of hearing as he thinks that they're the only ones deserving of it.

"What happened to you anyway?"

Tenten was the one who had told Sakura what happened on the training grounds, and Neji could not help but feel agitated. Seeing the frown on Neji's face, Sakura knew then that he was mad by the fact that he had almost been killed by just a simple accident that is not fatal at all. She knew that Neji hates admitting it to himself that he had a weakness.

He does not blame Tenten for sitting directly above his blind spot at all. He blames himself for being inattentive. Vulnerability was something Neji hates with a vengeance.

Sakura decided to lighten up the mood. "It's not that bad, Neji-chan."

Neji twitched. It was the dreaded suffix that Naruto once used to address him when he had greeted the Hyuuga in the middle of the Konoha City Square. Naruto got multiple bruises for Sakura to heal the next day.

Tenten laughed. She knew how Neji hates that suffix. No one had ever called him that and lived to tell the tale. Except Sakura, that is. Neji knew better than to lay a hand on the pink-haired woman. The Hokage will have his head and use it as a wind chime in her large office window.

As Tenten moved her eyes about, she saw three teacups and a plate of cookies on the coffee table. Then Sasuke came to her mind. Maybe Sasuke and Naruto had gone here?

"Sakura-chan, did Sasuke and Naruto use those teacups?" Tenten pointed to the coffee table. Sakura happily nodded. It was obvious that she was overjoyed about that fact. Tenten smiled. "So, how was he now? Any changes?"

"Not much, I think," Sakura said, a finger on her chin. "But I can find out later. They're going to pick me up at the end of my shift."

Tenten wondered what Sasuke's reaction to the pink-haired girl's appearance was. It's impossible that he hadn't found her attractive. Even Neji admitted that to her once. EVEN Akasuna no Sasori had regarded her as a living porcelain doll. No imperfections, untainted, untouched.

Sakura sat beside Tenten in the couch. The weapons mistress wanted to know if the Uchiha had been civil with Sakura. "What did he say to you? Surely he was mesmerized by your looks. Or if he didn't say anything, did he do something? You know, as a hint..."

"He didn't say anything," Sakura said then, "But he was looking at me from head to toe. That, I'm sure."

"He's checking you out, baby girl, and not even being subtle at it?" Tenten shook her head, it was outrageous. "But knowing him, he isn't going to be panting after you anytime soon. He needs a little...provocation."

Neji stood up. He was not here to listen to girly gossip. Only Tenten had insisted that they stay a bit longer since she doesn't want to go back in the grounds anymore.

Tenten noticed her teammate stand up from the clinic bed. Then she smiled as a thought occurred to her. Neji was definitely the person who can give Sasuke the provocation he needs. "Sakura-chan, I think I've found just the thing,"

Sakura stared at her, confused. "What?"

"You said they're going to pick you up for dinner, right?" Tenten asked, then at Sakura's nod she continued, "Sasuke needs a little bittle push, and Neji here would gladly help."

Hearing his name, Neji turned his head to his teammate who was wearing a smile full of mischief. And it was directed at him. "Don't even think about involving me in your outrageous ideas, Tenten."

"Well that's too bad, Neji, because I already have," Tenten grinned. "And besides, wouldn't you like to get on the Uchiha's nerves? This is your chance to annoy him. And you can help Sakura-chan out all at the same time too."

- - - - - -

Tenten is a devious woman.

Usually Neji would scoff at ideas running through triviality. But the thought of annoying Sasuke for a reason was enough. Damn if he wouldn't take a chance to at least get payback for those holes in the torso he had gotten when they had once been dispatched to retrieve the Uchiha traitor.

The one-day plan was absolutely foolproof.

Tenten's plan: Sakura would invite Neji to team seven's dinner later. Sakura would explain to her teammates that she is taking responsibility with Neji's still broken appendage, and that she had also volunteered to assist the Hyuuga in writing, eating AND bathing—something that would absolutely rile up not only Sasuke but Naruto as well in no time.

It was highly believable, since Naruto himself had told Sasuke that Hyuuga Hiashi had asked the pink-haired woman to be Neji's personal physician. And there's no way that he would see through this plan.

Knowing Neji had more than agreed to the plan and seeing the time nearing six o' clock—end of Sakura's shift, Tenten decided to leave the clinic so that Naruto and Sasuke wouldn't see her there. She reasoned out that their plan for tonight would be much more effective if Sakura's teammates discover that Neji went in the clinic alone.

Neji doubted that Sasuke was attracted to Sakura. Then he thought, why wouldn't he be? Neji himself was once attracted to the woman. Only a fool would pass up a chance with her. Then he smirked.

Uchiha had always been a fool.

Then he thought of Sakura. So he had been right all along. After those years that the Uchiha had gone, she was still yearning for him. That was the sole reason why Neji hadn't tried to pursue the woman. For five years she hadn't had someone that was a step further than a friend or a sibling figure. Neji knew then that there was something the Uchiha was holding, and without it, Sakura would be unable to find time for a new romance.

Her heart.

So Neji decided to play along. What they're going to reason out isn't a lie anyway. Sakura really didn't have enough chakra left to complete the healing of his hand. And Neji was right-handed—he uses that hand for eating and writing.

"Ne, Neji-kun, do you think this would work?"

He only shrugged.

Sakura pouted. She wanted Sasuke to feel at least a bit envious that Neji was there. But she still doubted the thought of Sasuke having a slight attraction to her. Maybe he was just examining her features, trying to differentiate her twelve-year old self from the present one? She bit her lip. Well, it was too much to expect from Sasuke anyway. Yes, he did not push her away when she hugged him, but...

Anxiety and worry were written all over Sakura's face. It doesn't suit her well, so Neji was kind of irritated with the sight of her doubting herself. He knew it was impossible, totally impossible for the bastard Uchiha to not even be attracted to her. Yes, she could be annoying at times, but it was her all the same.

She was still lost in her thoughts when she felt her hair bindings go loose and her hair fell on the sides of her face. She looked behind her and saw Neji holding the ribbon. She gave him a questioning look. Neji just pointed at the mirror at the side of the corkboard. She went in front of the mirror to see her reflection and Neji stood behind her, looking at her in the mirror.

"His eyes will be glued to you later, that I'm sure."

She stared back at him in their reflections. Maybe Neji was right. She looked back at her own reflection. Her long, pink hair was now cascading down at the small of her back, the front layers of her hair framing her face. The bindings made her hair wavy, but the wavy style made her look almost ethereal.

Sakura nodded and smiled. It's been quite a while since she'd had her fun. And her inner persona had added that Tenten's idea was almost the perfect revenge plot in payback for Sasuke leaving her in that cold stone bench.

- - - - - -

Kakashi was amused.

It was glaringly obvious that Sasuke was jealous of the Hyuuga currently being fed by the woman of the Uchiha's desires. It was a good thing that Kakashi was wearing a mask, because he couldn't stop smiling—grinning, actually—at the scene before him.

He too was surprised to see the Hyuuga sitting with them at their table when he arrived. Then Sakura had explained to them why the man was there with them. Kakashi knew then instantly that it was a mere plot to invoke envy from the Uchiha. And it is effectively working.

He tried to estimate the amount of chakra Sakura was currently having, and indeed, she was low on storage. So her alibi was not really an alibi, since he had seen that the chakra currently running through the appendage of Neji was indeed hers. And the Hyuuga's injury was real, he could feel from the haywire movement of the man's own chakra that was trying to merge with Sakura's.

Perfect. It would never be deemed suspicious. Not even Naruto tried to question them, or he was enjoying it the same as Kakashi. But the injury Sakura had described isn't pretty. Whatever did the Hyuuga do to have his hand almost ripped like that?

A snapping sound interrupted Kakashi from his musings. He turned to the sound and saw that the pair of chopsticks Sasuke was holding was now four pieces. It was the third one he had broken. And it looked like he hadn't touched his food yet.

"Is your hand alright, Sasuke-kun? It doesn't seem to be doing your bidding," Sakura paused the chopsticks halfway in front of Neji's mouth, "You keep breaking the sticks."

Naruto snorted. It was outrageous. Blatant display of fake affection was already riling up Sasuke. Naruto knew that Sakura and Neji were planning something, but it was really great that there really was an injury and a lack of chakra, and the coincidence that Sakura was the personal doctor of Neji. Sasuke couldn't whine about anything in that, as it was played that Sakura was just doing her duties. But to actually feed Neji like that? Yes, Neji was right-handed, but it doesn't mean that he couldn't use his left hand for such menial tasks.

Right-handed, eh?

Naruto, Kakashi and everyone else in the village knew that anyone with Hyuuga blood were ambidextrous. And Sasuke seemed to be forgetting that one tidbit of a fact.

Though the Uchiha was sporting a look as hard as steel, he was going berserk inwardly. Dare that Hyuuga make his woman a nurse! But of course, to keep his temper in control, he had to think repeatedly that Sakura was just doing her duties, and there's no reason at all for him to get so worked up, it was of medical purposes anyway.

But it was not the feeding he was getting so mad at, it was the idea that Sakura was going to spend the night on the Hyuuga estate to thoroughly examine her patient, and she did mention that she would be helping him not only in eating but also in bathing. Goddammit. BATHING? Holy hell. That was the most preposterous thing he had ever heard.

Though he was also slightly—yeah, right—mad at the scene before him.

Sasuke would most definitely want to injure himself like such if the treatment he would get would be like what the Hyuuga is privileged of having. It would be most fitting in any angle if he was the one being fed, being smiled at and being cuddled than the Hyuu—

Wait a bloody minute, are Neji and Sakura cuddling?

Snap.

- - - - - -