He is frustrated.
Uchiha Sasuke returned home in Konoha. Villagers and shinobi alike welcomed him back with equally open arms as well as an easily dodged kick to the shins. The lot who didn't enjoy his return were warned not to harm Sasuke or they'd be punished. Patrol of both his former teammates ensured his safety. Naruto more than happy to be at Sasuke's side like a Siamese twin, while Sakura...
Let's move on.
Tsunade is a temperamental Hokage. Word of Sasuke's quick change into the good-side left her suspicious and angry. Suspicious because she felt his change of heart had been influenced by his seemingly 'good-nature' mentor -her favorite former teammate- Orochimaru. She kept a close eye on both ex-maybe-again traitors preparing for the strike she believed they planned. "Keep Konoha's guard down, then we strike!" She imagined. Even if she had no evidence of treachery, she led herself with the conspiracy theory.
Upset because it took Sakura weeks to get over Sasuke almost murdering her. The poor girl's fragile heart would break under much more pressure finding her former killer roamed the streets of their home once again. Especially with the knowledge he sided with the good, Tsunade fret over the idea of Sakura falling in love again. You do not fall in love with your killer, no matter what trashy romance novels tell you. Even so, Tsunade prayed her apprentice had the smarts to not let her emotions and memories of a gentler Sasuke override her shinobi instincts. She reminded Sakura every day after Sasuke had come home, to never drop her guard to him. Sakura agreed to this without hesitation. For a moment Tsunade praised Sakura on her maturity.
"Sasuke-kun can just go piss off and away from me for all I care. I wouldn't need to hold up a guard if he wasn't here to begin with."
Awfully snippy, Tsunade mused. She followed with her eyes her apprentice's departure from her office muttering something about "I'll show him weak." He better not have done something to her.
Sasuke is still frustrated.
Every once in a while little village children ran up to him and sent a pathetic kick to his shin. He barely felt it, but the idea of a kid not fearing him enough to strike him, aggravated him. A child wanted to inflict bodily harm to him. He sighed internally, Konoha's pride spread through its inhabitants powerfully; ninja or not, you betray the village you get a kick to the shins. Sasuke shook his head. He mostly got attacked by civilians and a handful of newly genin shinobi. Ever reliant were the Konoha 11, the cells of ninja with whom he started. Never once had they questioned his trust, -or were good at hiding it- they accepted him back, or simply left him alone due to apathy. Regardless, there was a tingling something inside of him knowing there were people who accepted him.
Time also passed after Sakura's brush with death. His chest hurt at the memory of seeing her slip away from him. Luminous green eyes dulling to a grey while she pushed to send him away from her. The injuries the Zetsu gifted her enraged him even now, he wished he could pull some up from the ground to beat them more. He also remembers -face heating up simultaneously- his words to her. He felt his confession had been too blunt for his liking. Well, in his eyes. He thought she'd understand how deeply honest and raw his words for her had been. Yet as he and the rest of his teammates, including that Sai and Yamato, moved on with life she barely registered just how important she was to him.
As the village returned to a state of operation, bustling with happy villagers, he too, tried to fade into its homeliness. Sasuke ignored the belligerent children, and strolled through the village without a care in the world. He'd associate with Naruto and his babblings about becoming Hokage so soon he could taste it. He'd share deadpanned insults with his new teammate Sai whom had granted him a pathetic nickname, "Traitor-kun," the honorific in reference to Sakura never leaving it out when speaking to Sasuke. Yamato on the other hand, felt as suspicious as Tsunade when it came to the Sharingan user. Yet Sasuke didn't care how Yamato felt, really. Kakashi became much sterner with Sasuke. The usual light tone of humor erased, and Sasuke felt he needed to regain Kakashi's trust. He was on eggshells with his former sensei.
The one person he wanted to fall into a routine with, fell oblivious with his outward expressions of emotion. Everyday Sasuke would escort Sakura anywhere. In the morning, if Tsunade needed her help at the hospital, he was there. Leaving hospital, he was there. Going to the market—there. How much more affection could a girl ask for? Sakura enjoyed his company just as much as the next person. His confession made her happy, clearly, but he wondered if she understood the message behind it.
He even went so far as to ask Ino how Sakura took it.
"Billboard Brow was happy you came back. Physically and mentally. She told me she accepted your apology and she too believes her life belongs to you and the team. That she'll protect you this time. Um, also…what did she say," she paused in between babbles, shrugging her shoulders remembering Sakura's words, "she parroted every word you said. That's all really. Wow, Sasuke-kun you're asking me questions let's go on-" he walked away from her.
He concluded Sakura didn't understand what he meant. Sasuke turned the corner feeling another child deal a puny kick to his shins as he neared Sakura's apartment. His mouth twitched. His mind was no longer fogging, drenching with rage and vengeance. There was a spring-like calmness in his being. At the center of it had been the epitome.
Sasuke spoke his heart to the aforementioned spirit of spring. She regarded his words as a plea for forgiveness. He narrowed his eyes. If he wanted to apologize, he would've simply done so. He grit his teeth.
A swift kick to the shin forced him out of his reflection and he glared immediately at the culprit.
Sakura was frustrated.
Time slipped away after the war. She helped Yamato and many other villagers put their home back into place. Before she knew it, her home returned to normal. People no longer held fear in their faces, but serenity. She fluttered at the thought that her people could move on and so could life. However, life didn't make it easy.
She was discontent.
She and her boys fell into a routine of evenings at Ichiraku as a sort of team-bonding. Brotherly-bonding, she corrected internally. She sat beside a loud, excitable Naruto in arguments over who slaughtered the most Zetsu clones with the emotionally-absent Sai.
"Traitor-kun didn't need to count how many people he killed. He won by default. He killed everyone in Konoha with his betrayal."
Sasuke didn't react, Naruto did it for him.
"BASTARD!"
Sakura sighed. In a twisted way, Sai's attacks towards Sasuke were just an unfiltered way of what everyone thought. Sasuke did hurt everyone in the first place with his departure. She eyed the man beside her. Her deepest thoughts mocked her, what makes you think he won't slit your throat and leave again? She had her faith. She brightened instantly. She had his confession.
"Everything will be okay."
"I'll give my life to protect you."
"My life is yours."
Sakura blissfully sighed. If only Sasuke were romantic and targeted those words just for her. She knew better. He didn't feel that way. Sasuke didn't need to tell the same thing to Naruto. They had a man's understanding of forgiveness, through their fists. She paused in her contemplation. Communication through fighting…she'd look into that more later. Sakura truly enjoyed Sasuke's working to regain their trust. Every day, he was with her. She had a personal bodyguard no matter how inane her errands would be. From her home to the hospital to the gates for her missions, then back home again—Sasuke was there. He kept to his word. He'd protect her from anything. Of course, she was strong enough to defend herself but knowing Sasuke wanted to follow through with his vow—she wasn't complaining.
Sakura delighted in the fact that Sasuke really wanted them to trust him again.
Yet, there was still something nagging her.
"Dobe, let's go."
"Hm? Where are you guys going?"
"Oh, we're going for a spar, we'll catch up with you guys later!"
She narrowed her eyes, "excuse me?"
Naruto got up from his stool and blinked. "Well, Sakura-chan…I wanted to invite you…"
"But I didn't."
"Teme!"
Sakura blanched. "What!?"
"Ugly, you're too weak to spar with them."
"Shut up Sai!"
"He's right."
The air thickened. Her blood drew into molten lava. "You better be joking, Sasuke-kun."
"Not joking. We can't spar with you Sakura."
"Why not?!"
"I don't want to hurt you."
"Traitor-kun doesn't want to kill you by accident this time."
"I swear to Kami, Sai—"
"Sai-bastard shut up!"
"Whatever. Let's go Dobe."
Sasuke was about to walk ahead when soft fingers encircled his wrist. "Sasuke-kun, what the hell are you saying!?"
"I won't go into this any further. I've made my choice. Let go."
"S-Sakura-chan…I'll spar with you tomorrow."
"That's beside the point, Naruto! This jerk thinks I'm too frail to keep up with you guys." She released his wrist with a snap. She growled, "This is crap! I don't have time to convince you how powerful I am. Forget all of you!" She threw her hands up into the air and stomped away.
Naruto moved to go after, but was stopped by a look in Sasuke's eyes. "She'll be fine, Dobe. Like I told her, I won't hurt her. Not anymore."
"Teme…Sakura didn't get…it." Naruto emphasizing, referring to Sasuke's confession, "I think you'd better go talk to her. Make it obvious this time!"
He shot Naruto a glare but continued walking.
"I don't like this, Teme…"
"I said it's fine. Come on."
"Traitor-kun, Sakura probably wants to kill you. Dickless made a point you should listen to him."
A sharper, harsher glare was sent to Sai. The blonde and the Uchiha walked away from the baffled artist.
Sai smiled blankly. He took out a book from his pack that read, "So Your Friends are Dating: Tips on How to be Supportive!"
Sakura was frustrated.
She was happy. But frustration boiled over her. How dare Sasuke think she too weak to spar with them? Hurt her? More like he should be afraid of what she might do to them! She stomped away ignoring the lingering sense her bodyguard didn't chase after her. She stopped her movements and stared down at her feet. Releasing a breath, her anger didn't relent.
Sakura smirked.
She'd just have to communicate with Sasuke just how much she'd didn't need a bodyguard.
"Fight me!"
He bent slightly to rub at his aching shin. He bared his teeth at the pink-haired woman who stomped as she demanded a fight once more.
"Fight me Sasuke-kun!"
"No."
"Why not?"
"No matter how many times you provoke me, I won't fight you."
Sasuke saw her clench her fists, sensing chakra building up at her foot.
He caught her strike this time.
"I don't know why I didn't see this sooner. Was it you that told children to kick me in my shins?"
Sakura ripped her leg away from his grip, stomping her foot again into the ground. "Maybe, maybe not- don't change the subject, fight me!"
"You're being childish."
"Says you!"
He narrowed his eyes to slits. Sakura frustrated him.
"Why won't you drop this?"
"I'll drop this when you fight me."
It was after that blow up at Ichiraku weeks before. Sakura grit her teeth, every chance she got, she started attacking him. He'd dodge her easily fueling her rage. He'd evade but never really fought back. She'd annoy him every time they'd meet. Still, he wouldn't give her what she wanted.
"You know what I mean, Sakura."
"You fought Naruto."
"We sparred," Confirming her statement, not getting what Sakura meant.
"Then why not-"
"No."
She chewed the inside of her cheek. He stood there with a bored expression, feeding the desire to pummel him. Finding she had nothing more to say, Sasuke brushed past her, the ache in his limb long forgotten.
"Really, Sasuke-kun. Why won't you fight me?" Am I really that insignificant you can't grant me one little request?
"I've hurt you enough as is. I don't want to hurt you because you asked."
"I won't get hurt!" She pushed.
"You will."
"How do you know that? I'm stronger now!"
Sasuke cast her a blank look, his eyes boring into her as if to say, you're kidding, right?
"We've gone through this before. You want to prove to me that you're stronger. I beg to differ."
Sakura growled.
"Why are you so agitated?" Curiosity clear in his onyx eyes.
"You're pissing me off Sasuke-kun! It's rude you keep turning down my offers to spar!"
Her "offer" is more of a demand.
"Why can't you just accept it and move on?" His frustration built at her insistence.
"I won't move on! Forget about not wanting to hurt me and try hurting me!"
She readied her fighting stance. Determination glossed over her stubborn green-eyes. Silence stretched between the two.
"So be it."
Sakura fixed her dislocated shoulder. She grunted as Sasuke kicked her square in her back. She skid into the dirt but caught herself before she went any further. She dropped a chakra loaded fist into the earth, fissuring all the way in Sasuke's direction. He halted his descent to the ground back-flipping into the tree he hid in before. He heard her cry out in frustration, bolting towards the tree he stood in; with a leaden fist of chakra, she pummeled the base of the tree smashing it into the rows of other trees behind it. He groaned as branches simultaneously slapped his face and many twigs buried themselves into his body. Swiftly, he grabbed hold of his Kusanagi, cutting away any more annoying shrubbery.
Sasuke leapt into the air, and sensed Sakura had used the trees as a distraction to heal more of his inflictions on her. He targeted her, and rocketed towards her. In a flash he was nose-to-nose with the medic, readying the grip of his sword to knock her out. He heard her gasp, and felt the air take over him. Sakura swept his legs causing him to fall onto his face. Growling, he picked himself up, standing upright.
Sakura panted. The feverish thrill of their fight summoned pride within her person. Just she and Sasuke. He finally agreed to fight her. Surely, it was after days of persistence, but it's happening just the same. Briefly she wondered why he was so against hurting her. He never explained to what extent he wished to prevent her harm. She always believed he meant to look down upon her abilities. Even a flick of his finger would send her for intensive care. She gripped her fists. She was always going to be poor weak little Sakura to him. No matter what she'd say to him, her words never reached him. Then she realized, a ninja's true communication was through their fists. She adjusted her gloves and smirked. She had a whole lot to say to this guy.
Sakura prepared to open the earth once again but saw Sasuke blur out of sight. His damn speed! Not dropping her fists she scanned the area for the dark-haired man, not even a chakra signature to go by as she assumed he concealed it. He planned to sneak up on her and end their session. Sakura was far from done.
She gasped in realization. Tsunade had taught her to increase the sensitivity of her ears to hear heartbeat. She shut her eyes.
Thmp.
Thmp.
Thmp,
It was faint. He was nearby.
Sasuke was probably watching her, judge her next move.
Thmp-thump.
"Where are you..?"
Thump-thump...
Thmpthmpthmpthmpthmp
She swiveled around catching his wrist. Sakura didn't miss the look of surprise on the Uchiha's handsome features as she brought her other hand in a chakra-infused smash cracking his cheek. She sent him flying with a battle cry, not letting him breathe, she bounded toward his body ready to drop a kick to his free falling form. As her foot connected he disappeared in a "poof."
"Sh-shit!" Sakura cursed. In mid-air she felt suddenly claustrophobic as a pale arm wrapped around her, a warm body pressed intimately up her back. An arm snaked around her waist, preventing her escape. A kunai glint just beneath her chin.
"I win."
Sakura said nothing, moved nothing. She floated stiffly in the former avenger's arms. His warm breath caressed her cheek. He panted, but not as heavily as she did. With every exhalation her chest jut forward; the idea making her immediately insecure as she controlled her breathing more. She had not rid of her sense for his heartbeat.
Sasuke's heart beat erratically.
"Will you move on now?"
His voice was silky. She could not mistake her own powerful heartbeat at his tone. The kunai clinked as he brought it away from her face. Strange, he never held her. Yet after the exhilarating spar she gave him, he didn't mind it. Her closeness relaxed him. Most likely he felt her medic presence. Just her surroundings gave him a sense of comfort. That must be it.
Sakura could not calm the endless race of her heart. His hand that held the kunai slid down but his other arm still trapped her waist. His proximity brought goosebumps to her skin. She struggled to swallow. She remembered he asked her something.
"Yes."
"...let's do this again."
Sakura's heart couldn't take it. A full-blown blush darkened her complexion. ...now I can't move on.
A/N:I think the next chapter will end this story. Slowly I turned this story from drama-to-humor. Sorry about the switching. Guess I couldn't stay too serious. Hope you readers enjoy!
Final Part coming up soon!