It took them a minute or two to be able to observe each other again after the latest confession. She knew better than anyone that Suigetsu hadn't been Sasuke's crazy fan lately, since they both had made some… interesting choices in their own lives recently.

Suigetsu opened his mouth to say something but closed it quickly just like a fish on land as he observed her disturbed yet still innocent features.

She kept watching her tremulous hands as she still did not say anything since she realized it was so much harder releasing her inner feelings than she had thought in the first place.

But one thing she did know: she came all the way here to ask one of her best friends, Suigetsu, to help her with her most feared problem at the time speaking. She came all the way here to tell him everything and to feel better after she did. She came all the way here to get this over with once and for all. But it was more troublesome (as one of her other good friends would say in such a situation) than she would have ever figured. Where to start? How to explain every detail without breaking down? How to keep her cool when all she wanted to do was to kick that asshole's ass?

But, truth to be told, this is why she chose to visit Suigetsu to clear out her problems: he was the only one, besides the loud future Hokage, which would ask more questions than needed so she would feel safer, even if, she had to admit, the questions weren't precisely the best chosen ones or suitable ones, for that matter.

"What did he do this time? You know very well that I made a promise long time ago that if he even dared to upset you I would, without a second though, send him in the nearest cemetery, underground that is…"

"Suigetsu, no need to be so fired up. He didn't hurt me…" she left her verdict unfinished.

"…only a lot." He decided to take advantage of her weakness and completed her trembled sentence. "Baby, nobody messes with me when it's 'bout you… you know that…and nobody, and I mean nobody, gets away with it. No tell me what he did…"

"I…" she whispered trying to hold back her flood of emotions.

"Sakura." He breathed taking her small gentle hand in one of his larger one.

By hearing him, Suigetsu, call her name with so much pain and seriousness she could not help but smile since she even saw it in his amethyst eyes: he did care. His hand, tender on hers, only made her feel more secure, it made her want to tell him exactly what was bothering her without a second thought. So she did what she thought she had to do. Confess.

"He…sickens me." she almost spitted out.

"Well that doesn't surprise me." he laughed, still affectionately holding her hand.

"I have given him everything I posses and more. I have dedicated more than anyone ever had so that he would at least put me in a different jar than he had put the ones he cares a shit about. I have done anything so that he could remark me as something more than just a figurant in his daily life. I have tried to become his friend. He jus doesn't want to let me in anymore."

She sighed. A long, miserable sigh. Something he wasn't used to since he was used to her cherry and bubbly figure, a smile always present on her perfect features, a smile that made the sun shine and the birds sing, a smile as gorgeous as the rest of

her.

"I know what you feel, kit-cat. I've know Sasuke myself for quite a long time and to be honest, you're not the only one I've seen trying. It is part of his being, I guess, he can't let anyone get to close; he thinks it's a weakness. And you know what he feels about weaknesses. But you know what babe?" she gave him a short questioning look. "I really think he cares 'bout you more than he shows."

The last phrase wasn't meant to make her feel better, just to open her eyes regarding her problems. He just didn't know it would hurt him so deeply saying it. He knew that indeed, Sasuke had a kind of weakness towards his ex-teammate, but he just didn't like the idea since he knew he had no chance with her if Sasuke actually had in mind to make her his. He knew what his friend felt, he would never admit it of course, and his ego was just too BIG, but he jus knew, that deep down inside, Sasuke had a special place for her.

"He doesn't care. Not at all. I represent nothing to him." She stated categorically.

"No babe, here's where you get it all wrong." He said letting go of her hand as he pulled himself and made his way to the kitchen. "Want some coffee?"

"Um… at this hour?" she questioned sweetly.

He only raised an eyebrow. "Yes, please." She returned the smile.

He came back swiftly with two cups of warm coffee and a plate with wonderfully colored biscuits and cookies.

"Serve yourself." He seated himself besides her again as she mumbled a low 'thank you'.

"I was saying…" he tensed after sipping from his cup "that even if he doesn't show it, he really does care for you."

"Won't believe it till I see it."

"But you already have."

"Have I?"

"Yes, you have?"

"When did I miss it?"

"More than you should have, I see."

"How come? He never ever did show any kind of human feelings towards me."

"Really, pinky, you haven't been paying enough attention to it."

"What did I miss?" she asked utterly confused.

Suigetsu decided to spill the beans since he knew that either way, nothing would come of it if he would think of the perfect plan. And guess what. He did.

"Wow, babe! Don't tell me you haven't seen the way he's looking at you when you're not looking him…" here… he wasn't lying, and truth to be told, Suigetsu had pretty much honest with what he had told her. "Or the way his eyes narrow when you speak with any guy either than him or Naruto. He doesn't even support Sai. And really, the only reason I'm not talking to him any longer is that he thought I was spending too much time with you…"

"No shit." She replied surprised.

"Oh, hell ya baby." He responded absolutely. "And there was this time to when Kakashi had us send out on a mission. You, me, Sasuke and the girly one (the girly one being no one other than Neji). And you remember when that asshole from the Wave Village attacked you, right?" she only nodded. "Sasuke got really worried. I mean, when he heard you scream, he turned his head away reaaaaly fast trying to localize you. And trust me, he looked freaking concerned. I think you remember pretty much what he did to that guy, right?" he chucked under his breath.

"I was doing just fine until he 'came to my rescue', thank you very much." She argued evidently.

"Not from where I was standing." He laughed.

"Oh c'mon, I had that guy in the bag, really. I was just a bit tired after healing Neji's poor ass."

"Wow, thank you for reminding me. You should have seen that teme's face when your hands were roaming all over that Hyuga's chest. Really. Pissed. Off. Trust me on this one. He didn't like one bit. Not you healing anyone other than him or you getting hurt."

"This doesn't prove anything." She stated.

"Oh, but I believe it does. It shows his egocentrically does get the best of him."

"That's a big word for you, Suigetsu." She laughed.

"That's a very small word for describing Sasuke."

"I have to agree with you on this one."

"Just like you'll be forced to agree with me on what I've been telling you lately."

"That being?" she raised her perfectly shaped eyebrow.

"That he, somehow, cares about you."

To this, the young woman had no reply to give. She somewhat knew that maybe, just maybe, Sasuke would be able to feel the smallest of feelings towards her, even though she wasn't looking for something more than just a simple friendship. No. Not this time. She had enough to do with him and his cockiness ever since she and Naruto had managed o get him back after he simply dismembered every part of Madara's body. She had enough o do with his arrogance and his ego, which, by the way were simply overwhelming. She was tired of waking up early in the morning and bringing him breakfast while his apartment was on probation and his mood was ever so changing. She had enough of being treated as if she was utterly useless when she kept asking him to train with her, his answers only indicating how big of a difference there was between his mischievous skills and her dull ones. She hated to be called 'weak, annoying, klutz, annoying' especially when it came from his mouth, her power of control surprising her since the only thing she wanted to do next to kick his ass into next month, which, she didn't do since she felt bad for him.

Yes. She didn't want anything more to do with him. Okay… maybe one thing… to represent for him a good friend. Something she knew she was but obviously he did not.

"Do you?" Suigetsu brought her out of her daydreaming.

"Hm? I do what?" she asked confused.

"Do you care about him?"

"Only enough so I could feel good when I meet him." She cleared. "I do not care about him as I did before. I don't want to do anything that could help him any longer. I don't care anymore. At all actually."

"You're a bad liar, babe. Sorry, but I'm not believing a shit."

"I'm not lying." She cleared.

"You're denying."

"No."

"Yes you are."

"So not true."

"Oh, it is. You still care. c'mon, babe, I know you better than that. Really. I can see when you're only telling me half the truth. I can see that you don't want to have anything to do with him any longer, but you can't be this affected and say you give a damn. Because if you did, then wouldn't have complained 'bout his imperfections with so many powerful arguments, babe. Tell me, what is your true reason?"

"He hurt me. So many times."

"That I know."

"I'm done with hurting, Suigetsu. I'm finished with it. Fed up with it. And to tell you the truth, I heard revenge was sweet."

"I love the way this is going…" he smirked devilishly. "What do you want to do?"

"Get my own revenge." She stated bravely.

"Enlighten me." he smiled a genuine smile.

"I want to hurt the same way he hurt me."

"Wooah, please babe, don't tell me you're leaving too!" the young man screamed alarmed.

"No, I'm not him. I have another idea." she grinned.

"I understand now why you chose to come here…we both know how possessive he can get…"

"That's why I need you, Suigetsu." She leaned over towards him, her emerald eyes drowning him alive. "He gets rather jealous..."

He leaned over, his masculine figure towering her petite one, their bodies touching. "He'll sure want my head now, for real… but you Sakura…" his lips were trembling over her jaw "you're worth it…"