According to Tsunade, the rouge ninja was last seen two days ago in the forest 56 km from Konoha. As expected, they manage to complete the mission in just a day. The ninja was found in a cave nearby the place when he was last seen. He was unable to travel due to a serious leg injury. He did put quite a fight, but it was useless.

When they finally completed the mission, it was already night time and their chakra was running low. Actually, it would be fine if they continue their journey back to Konoha, but Sasuke suggested that they should rest first. He was hoping that they could talk things out before they go back to Konoha. He was unsurprised when Sakura didn't object even though the idea was ridiculous because he knew she agreed because she didn't want to speak to him.

He lit a fire using a little katon. He sat near the fire while thinking of the right words to say to her.

"Sakura, we need to talk."He said monotonously, trying to hide his nervousness.

"Lets do it some other day because I'm really tired ." she crept into her sleeping back and turned the other way, ignoring him completely.

"Bullshit. You and I both know that you're not tired, you're just trying to avoid me. You've been doing that for a whole fucking year Sakura, so just cut the crap because I noticed." He was slightly shocked at how much her cold behavior affected him. He was actually planning to be gentle and understanding through out the conversation, but seeing her ignore him, it hurts so much that he forgot every words he was planning to say.

"What the hell is your problem?" Sakura turned to him. Her face was red from anger and frustration. "Who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that?" He saw the flash of hurt in her eyes and he felt guilty for yelling.

"Sakura, listen I .." his voice softened.

"No, you listen!" she was in front of him now, her hands grab his shirt. "You are nothing to me. I don't care how you feel. You are just a teammate, nothing more. Not even a friend. So stop complaining about how I treat you because you don't mean a thing to me. Stop wasting your breath." She walked away and went back into the sleeping bag.

"But I thought you cared about me. Before I left you said you love me. Now I'm nothing to you? You changed, Sakura." He was looking at anything besides Sakura.

"Tch. How pathetic. I can see that I'm not the only one who changed here. You've become more pathetic, worthless and annoying since you left." She said coldly, not caring how her words cut him deeply. She knew the she doesn't really hate him, but she just can't forgive him. She wanted him to know how it felt like being called worthless and annoying by someone you really cared about.

He didn't say anything so she decided to continue wounding his heart with her harsh words. "Yes, I did care. But I stopped when you tried to kill me for the second fucking time. It wasn't love that I felt. It's just a mere crush and maybe even pity. Do you honestly think that if you come back to Konoha, everything will go back to how it used to be and everyone will forgive you? You're a very conceited guy, aren't you Uchiha?"

"I'm sorry I called you annoying and ignored you when we were twelve. I'm sorry I walked out on you that night. I'm sorry for trying to kill you twice. I don't know what I was thinking. Most importantly, I'm sorry for thinking that you would accept me again after all those horrible thing I've done to you." He stood up walked away. "You can sleep first. I'll take first watch."

'Did he just apologized to me?' she thought to herself. She was feeling really guilty. She didn't expect him to apologize. Heck, she even thought that he would be raged and would kill her after what she said.

She couldn't sleep that night and tears were threatening to fall when she thought about those mean things she said. But she wouldn't cry, not for him, not again.

They went back to Konoha at dawn and arrived at noon. The journey was full of tension. Neither of them made an attempt to start a conversation.

Sasuke sighed when he let his body fall onto his bed. He wished he didn't try to talk to her last night and maybe he wouldn't have to feel this heartache. Everything was getting worse. They drifted further apart after that 'talk' last night.

"Sakura, I'm sorry you hate me." His left hand was gripping his chest. It was hard for him to breathe when her words were stabbing his heart.

'Maybe I should leave? She would be happier if I'm not around and she wouldn't have to go through all those trouble to avoid me anymore.' He wanted her to be happy but at the same time, his heart ached when he thought about not being able to see her beautiful face ever again.

'What should I do?' He closed his eyes and drifted to sleep with a heavy heart.

A/N: Hey you guys, thanks for the reviews! Sorry about my grammar mistakes bcoz english is not my first language. the chapters are short coz I ran out of idea. Hehe.. sorry bout that. anyways, i hope you guys enjoy reading this story as much as i enjoy writing it.