Date: 6/1/13
Rating: T
Genre: AU, Angst, Drama, Romance
Prompt: AU - Where Sasuke came back willingly following the battle at the Valley of the End

***UNF.

It didn't take a genius to figure out that Sakura was miserable. Even as she carried on her conversation about what happened in the village while they were gone, Naruto knew better. For three days straight, Sakura came to the hospital during visiting hours to see him—and only him—and not once did she even mention Sasuke. He sighed.

"Sakura-chan, stop," Naruto finally said, interrupting her story. She tilted her head, confused. He sighed again. "You don't have to pretend with me. I know how much you want to see him." Naruto didn't even say his name, but in a split second, the cheeriness in Sakura's face vanished, replaced with anguish.

Naruto smiled sadly; he knew she was faking it. "He's right next door, you know," he said gently.

"I know that, Naruto," she said quietly as she looked down at her lap, her hands playing with the red cloth of her dress. "I just—can't right now."

"He's been looking for you."

Sakura raised her eyes tentatively. "He has?"

"Yeah, I think he wanted to tell you something. But you have to ask him yourself. So go see him, okay? He won't hurt you, even if he wanted to. He's still recovering from the ass-kicking I gave him, remember?" Sakura glared and punched him—light enough so it wouldn't cause too much pain, hard enough to send the message. "Okay, okay, bad joke," Naruto said as he rubbed his arm. "But I'm serious. Just stop by."

Although Sakura was still piqued with Naruto's sorry attempt at a joke, she had to agree with him. It was about time she saw Sasuke. However, that didn't prevent her nervousness from making an appearance once she heard his voice granting her permission to enter his room.

He was sitting up in bed, his arms crossed, his face expressionless. "Ah, Sakura. You're here," Sasuke said vapidly, "To be honest, I expected to see you sooner."

"Well, I've been," Sakura began, trying to think of a valid excuse, but when she noticed the disappointment in Sasuke's eyes she couldn't bring herself to continue. It was subtle, but it was there. She averted her gaze. "I know. I'm sorry. I just didn't know how to approach you, Sasuke-kun," she said truthfully, remembering all the times she stood outside his door after visiting Naruto, never able to bring herself to knock. "You left, remember?"

"But I came back."

Sasuke sounded calm, but the look in his eyes betrayed his voice. He was angry, almost insulted. Sakura bit her lip. "That's true, Sasuke-kun," she said warily as she approached his bed, "You did come back—with Naruto. But you left me."

An awkward silence filled the room. Sasuke didn't have anything to say to that—because she was right, and she knew he knew it, too. Sakura sighed, tired of trying, and uttered a small goodbye as she turned around and walked towards the door.

"You said you were in love with me."

Sakura stopped, reluctantly taking her hand off the doorknob, and faced him. She was so close to leaving. "I did."

He sighed. "Sakura," Sasuke said slowly, looking directly into her eyes, "I don't feel the same."

"Oh." Sakura held her breath, blinking away the tears, and nodded stiffly. "At least," she said, the lump in her throat making it difficult to speak, "At least, I have a real answer this time around." She swallowed. "So, uh, I'll see you—"

"But that could change."

"What?"

At first she thought he was joking, expecting him to give her his characteristic smirk, but she got nothing. He was being serious; truth in his voice. "I said," Sasuke said uncomfortably, struggling to find the right words, "things could change." He paused. "If you give me time."

The pressure in Sakura's chest disappeared; she took a breath, able to breathe freely again. For the first time since Sasuke had returned to the village she was beaming, smiling from ear to ear. Three sentences. It only took three sentences for Sasuke to place the pieces of her broken heart back together. Although he might not have returned her feelings, he made room in her heart for hope. And she could hold on to that. She was willing.

"So you can stay," he continued, "if you'd like."

"Of course I will, Sasuke-kun," Sakura said, the smile never leaving her face as she pulled up a chair next to Sasuke's bed, "And since I'm already up, is there anything you want me to get you?"

Sasuke thought about it for a moment.

"Apples."