From the time she had left the Hokage's Tower to when she was walking the path towards the training grounds hours later, she had been in a sour mood. The news she had gotten was nothing bad, just annoying. She also knew, that she'd have to tell Sasuke eventually, and he'd be none to pleased about it. It wasn't like there was anything they would be able to do either.
When she saw Sasuke though, a smile came across her features as the thoughts of their previous conversation came to mind. She had a few weeks to get the problem with Tsunade sorted out and that thought alone was enough for Sakura to push the problem to the back of her mind, her entire focus going to what was happening now.
Taking a seat near his things she opened the medical journal she had brought with her and placed it on her lap, reading through it. Sure, she wasn't really paying too much attention to the material at hand, but she was trying to act as casual as possible. She had a feeling the more at ease she appeared, the more it would bug him. That alone was enough to keep her from staring at the him as she waited for him to 'get her back.'
During his training, she had maybe read a page and a half tops and actually retained it. She knew that whether she had her guard up or down, he was going to get her back. Despite how hard she had worked over the two years he had been gone, Sasuke was still stronger than her. If he really wanted to get her back for anything, maybe Sakura could put up a good fight, but he'd still win. Hell, it was probably safe to say he was one of the best ninja's in the village, along with Naruto and a few others of their generation.
After a while Sasuke decided that he was finished training. He walked over to his supplies and grabbed a bottle of water, taking a drink before setting it aside. No pouring water on her this time. Sasuke was too smart to repeat what he did before.
He took his time gathering up his things, not acknowledging Sakura' presence the entire time. Sasuke usually never acknowledged her when he was in the middle of training, he hadn't even done so last night when there was that awkward tension hanging between them. Yet whenever he would finish, he would usually make eye contact with her, let her know how his old injuries and eyes were doing and then at least take note of the fact she was there. Not just flat out ignore her.
It wasn't until he was done that he finally looked at her. He held out a hand to help her stand, a completely neutral expression on his face.
"Come on," he said calmly.
Sakura had long ago closed the journal and was just staring at him, her eyes narrowed as she tried to figure out what was up. She had a feeling that he already had a plan and she was in for it and she could only wait in anticipation. There wasn't much she could really do about it though, it was just the waiting around that got to her. It wasn't like it was a bad thing though.
Smiling at him she slid her hand into his and stood up, putting the journal in her kunai holster.
"Come on, where?"
He didn't release her hand once she was standing, and instead laced his fingers with hers. She felt something kin to content wash over her when he slid his fingers through hers, holding her hand. He had done this last night as well, yet it was still so new to her, as was this entire side of Sasuke. She knew she wasn't going to be able to get enough of him, or when he initiated things like this, looked at her with something other than annoyance, etc. etc. He was hers just as much as she was his.
"I'm not ready to walk home yet," Sasuke answered vaguely.
"Okay."
She still knew he was going to get back at her, and when he started to lead her into the woods opposed to the village, she knew something was up. It was darker there, much of the moonlight being blocked by the tree tops but still enough to be able to see where they were going.
He was either taking her in here to get back at her or kill her. She knew he wouldn't do the latter, but the jerk was taking his sweet time in all of this. He must of known what he was doing to her if he was drawing it out this long.
When it started to get darker, she took a step closer to Sasuke as she looked up to try and catch a glimpse of the moonlight. It wasn't that she was scared or anything, she was just unnerved.
She had been in these training grounds millions of times, but for some reason she was realizing just how ominous this place was in the middle of the night. Maybe it had to do with the fact she was waiting for something and she was alert. Either way though, a creature roaming around in the forest should of been the least of her worries considering who she was walking with and the fact he'd had a good eight hours or so to plan revenge on her. All she had done for the past eight hours was try and think of ways to get out of Tsunade's request.
"So what do you feel like doing?" she asked.
"Proving you wrong," he said in response to her question, referencing earlier when she'd question his ability to kiss.
Sasuke was fast and it only took him a moment to turn around, let go of her hand, and pin her against a tree. They were in the exact position as they'd been when they were behind the wall earlier in the day, only this time there was no way that they could be seen.
Sakura's eyes widened a fraction . She stared up at him as he got close, his hands resting on either side of her head. Heat rose to her cheeks as she tried to think of a way to not let him have the satisfaction of winning but her mind betrayed her as it came up blank. All Sakura could do was stare up at him and keep the grin she was fighting off at a calm, upward turn of her lips.
And then Sasuke kissed her. T
his wasn't like one he'd given her before. It was full of fervor and she could practically feel the want that he'd been suppressing. If this was the kind of reaction she was going to get every time she teased him a bit and made him wait, then by all means it wouldn't be the last time.
Then again, he'd only had to wait a third of a day, she could only wonder what he'd do if she made him wait the length of a mission. Then again, that would mean she'd have to wait also, but it might be worth it.
Sakura leaned into him, her hands sliding around him as if she were trying to pull him even closer. Moments passed before she slowly broke the kiss, her breathing heavy as she leaned back against the tree, looking up at him with a coy smile on her face. Sasuke too was breathing heavily, looking at her as he caught his breath.
"Okay, I'll at least admit that you're not a bad kisser if anyone asks," she teased.
She still didn't say he was good though. Sasuke was like a drug to her though, and she knew that she definitely wanted more.
Sasuke frowned at her. "Only not bad?"
Bringing her hands up to his face she kissed him this time and put every last emotion she had into it. From the happiness she felt from being around him to the relief he had come back home to her own frustrations of the unrequited love she'd had for him for almost four years now. She cared about him.. She loved him, and she wanted him to feel what she was experiencing, even if it was through just a kiss.
It was Sasuke that finally pulled away from the kiss this time, needing to breathe. His hands left the tree beside her and he took both her hands in his, lacing his fingers with hers very slowly. Then he closed his eyes, still staying close to her but not speaking.
Sakura took deep breaths, watching his hands. She followed his movements and led their hands down to rest at their sides as she began to rub the side of his thumb with her own before she looked up at him.
His expression looked so peaceful she couldn't help but stare at him. His eyes were closed and he had yet to move away from her like she almost expected him to. Sasuke wasn't much of a guy for physical contact, or so she had thought up until now. He seemed relaxed with her and that was enough to show her that he trusted her. But it was his hands, his fingers laced with hers, the fact he was so close to her and the emotion she had felt earlier with those two kisses that she knew he cared.
Sure, he may not be in love with her, but she loved him still. He had to know how she felt, but she wasn't about to put him in some position where she expected for him to say it back. It was honestly enough for her right now just to know that he really did care for her. He would be sad if she died or left, and he was happy.. Or really he enjoyed, being with her.
She had recalled promising him that she would make him happy if he had stayed in the village when they were twelve, and this was her proving him wrong all the same, though she wouldn't dare mention that to him. That night was a sensitive topic for the both of them and she'd be satisfied if it was never mentioned again.
She gave his and a reassuring squeeze, it was the only way for her to convey she knew how he felt without outright saying it. Then she leaned up and gave him a very light kiss, just a gentle brush of the lips with the faintest of pressure before she shifted her weight to rest against the tree behind her, smiling up at him.
"Would you mind, if maybe we stayed here awhile before heading back?" she asked quietly.
"Hn," was his only response as he opened his eyes.
She smiled softly. Sasuke always had his own vocabulary but she was getting to the point to where she could decipher it without too much thinking on her own part. Sakura had a feeling she could safely assume that was one of the things that attracted her to him.
He never liked explaining himself to anyone, and at least with her, a good seventy percent or so of the time, she could usually figure out what it was he was saying with the littlest bit of effort on his part. Even Naruto wasn't horrible at figuring it out, then again, maybe it was because they had all been on a team together. Everyone else was usually left in the dark.
He took a single step back letting go of only one of her hand and still holding the other, giving her some room so that Sakura wouldn't be pinned against that tree any longer. She took note of the confusion on his face.
"It's just quiet out here, and I like being with you like this," she explained.
Once they headed back if they were going to stick to this whole low-key bit, they wouldn't be able to so much as walk close to each other. She wasn't sure how long she was going to be able to keep it up though. Sure, for awhile it would be exciting to have to hide it and it would be easier for sure.
But then she was also missing out on things. She wouldn't be able to go on a date with him, she had a feeling Sasuke really didn't mind that though, she wouldn't be able to kiss him good-bye when one of them went on missions or even so much as hold his hand walking down the street. That was the part that made her want to stay here.
"So I don't think you're going to like why I went to see Tsunade today."
Sakura looked up at him as she tried to get rid of the thoughts polluting her mind. Sakura pushed away from the tree and released his hand as she started pacing through the small clearing of trees they were in.
"In a few weeks I'm going to have to be a guide to this ninja that's coming here. Let's just say he's not very shy of his feelings for me."
She laughed nervously before she stopped to look at Sasuke, curious if he was going to even have a vague reaction to it all. She doubted he would, but at least she was giving him a heads up.
Sasuke frowned.
"It doesn't matter," was what he finally said in response, the usual calm expression on his face.
He continued looking at her calmly. "I'm sure you'll deal with him," he said with a shrug.
She stopped her pacing, looking at him with a deadpanned expression. Maybe she had just been getting used to him surprising her because she had been at least expecting a raise of his eyebrow.. Something. Not a simple 'It doesn't matter,' and nothing short of a blank look to go with it.
He had went out of his way to tell her to change her shirt earlier, but then again, what reason could she really give someone if they saw her come out of the Uchiha compound with a good portion of her front side soaked to the bone.
"Pfft, well, if it doesn't matter than I won't bother thinking of ways to get out of it then."
She wasn't mad at him, just annoyed. She knew he cared, so she was sure it would bother him if some guy was asking her on a date right in front of him, which was bound to happen if Ronan was around. She didn't care that he wasn't visibly annoyed with it all, maybe a little disappointed, but it was the whole 'it doesn't matter' part that was repeating over and over again in her head and just eating at her. Then again, what she should really be asking herself was why she wanted to see him jealous in the first place.
Sighing she sat down on the ground, stretching out her legs and leaning back on the support of her hands. She had been moving around all day and she had to admit, she was exhausted. Shizune would kill her if she wasn't in top shape by the end of the week.
His demeanor changed just for a moment, but it was just for a second. He quickly regained his self control.
"Tch. Fine, do whatever you want. I don't care."
He took a seat directly across from her but several feet away, his back against a tree.
Now she was mad at him. Sakura's eyes locked onto him immediately, narrowing as she tried to figure out a way to stop this from becoming a full blown fight between them. She knew it couldn't be good if they were already fighting, but she knew that if she left that he wasn't going to come after her and both of them would just stay mad.
Sasuke was stubborn and probably the proudest person she knew. She wasn't going to get anywhere with him if she couldn't bend a little. Sure, she was stubborn also and had an incredibly short temper, but if they were going to make this work, and how she wanted it to work, than one of them was going to have to be careful about what they said. Just because she was being careful of her words though certainly didn't mean he was going to win every fight they had. By no means.
Plus, if it ever came down to it, she could always fall back on crying. Shecertainly wasn't too proud to cry.
"You don't care."
She repeated the statement more so to herself than to him, nodding her head slightly as if Sakura was trying to make herself understand.
"Well, the only reason I told you was because I wanted to give you a heads up. I didn't want you to get mad at me for having known for weeks and not telling you." Her voice had lowered to a very calm tone, not the frantic one that always seemed to overcome her when she was angry.
"But you don't care." There she was again, talking to herself.
She lay down then, staring up at the canopy of trees with her hands folded over her stomach. It was going to take some mistakes to really learn this side of Sasuke, the Sasuke she was involved with. He was going to have to learn to because it honestly couldn't be all her. She wasn't going to let it be all her no matter the outcome.
Sakura wanted to be with him, and she had a feeling that she would be for a long time, if he was willing to learn. Then something struck her. An idea that she had a feeling might work but she'd have to wait for the right time to use it. Or really, she'd have to get to the point where she wasn't so mad she could make herself say it.
Sasuke glared at Sakura, looking annoyed.
"I don't care because I have no reason to. There are some girls that are interested in me, but you shouldn't care either. Because you're the only one I care about," he explained.
And then all the sudden, her anger flew out the window. She sat there for only seconds staring up at the canopy as it sunk in before she slowly sat up to look at the boy sitting across from her. Sasuke's eyes were closed and he seemed to be waiting, she guessed it was for her reaction to all of this. S
he couldn't get over staring at him in surprise though. She had expected this fight to drone on for a good ten minutes or so but just like that it reminded her how she had started to fall for him and she was just done being angry. She had always savored those moments with him where he treated her different than everyone else. Where he acted like he didn't think she was the most annoying creature on the planet.
She got up as quietly as possible, though she figured he already knew she was up and moving towards him. So when she sat down next to him, she let out a sigh and took one of his hands, lacing her fingers with his and leaning her head down on his shoulder, a quiet laugh escaping from her.
He finally opened his eyes and looked over at her when he heard her speak.
"Well, I guess you're a pretty good boyfriend after all," she said with a soft smile
"Is that so?" he asked with a smirk on his face.
Sakura gave a small smile when she could practically hear him smirk. "Yeah, that's so."
He let go of her hand because he had to in order to move. He wrapped his arm around her, his hand resting on her waist and pulling her closer. She really did love his touch, but what made this better for her was the fact that she felt safe. She could forget the slightly creepy training grounds around them and instead let him pull her close.
Sasuke smirked at her. "Don't fall asleep."
Sakura couldn't help but laugh a bit when he told her to not go to sleep.
"Sasuke, that's like telling me not to think of a pink elephant."
It was at least one in the morning and she felt like she was at home in bed. Warm, comfortable, and again... Safe. Also she could feel his every breath, and when she laid her head back down on his shoulder she had her ear against his chest and could hear his heart beating.
She tossed an arm across his stomach as she turned her body to face him, pulling herself even closer. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she relaxed against him.
"Plus, what's so bad about taking a little nap, hm?"
She looked up at him and gave him a somber smile. She still wasn't ready to leave just yet but she was exhausted.
Sasuke sighed. "Fine, but don't let a little nap turn into all night. More than an hour and I'm taking you home."
Sakura relaxed against him, resting her head on his shoulder again. She couldn't stop the smile though that he gave in, or rather, it was more like he was giving her permission to sleep. She even went on to laugh, turning her head just slightly to muffle it into his shirt.
"Well thank you, Sasuke. You can wake me up if I fall asleep though."
It was always like that with him though. Sasuke was very much into doing things his way. He rarely compromised, and never just flat out gave in.
The medic grew quiet as she started to focus on Sasuke's breathing. Each breath was deeper than her own and she could tell that he was calm. When they were kids, she could remember on missions whenever he'd fall asleep before her.
Sasuke had always seemed so on guard then, his walls were always up, even when he was sleeping. Even when he was awake he acted like he was waiting for something and despite being cool and collected, he wasn't calm. Only in fights he'd appear to relax a little.
Right now though, he was just in the moment. He didn't seem so hidden away in himself like a burden had just been lifted from his shoulders. She guessed in a way, it was. Now he had a place to calm home, people he could trust, and she could assume closure on a lot of things.
"I don't want to be an inconvenience on you," she said very softly.
Sasuke glanced down at her. "Hn."
He pulled her closer.
"Worth it."
Sasuke was being nice to her, because she knew that after awhile, sitting against that tree wouldn't be so comfortable. He had a way with words though, or rather, the lack of them.
She knew that she was in trouble with that department. Even though he was slightly lacking on knowing the right thing to say at the right time, he could make up for it. He was a charmer in his own way and curse it all, good at flirting. She knew that unless she could stop falling into his traps, she'd never win an argument with him. She didn't ever think she'd be able to stay mad at him or even pretend to do so...
He closed his eyes, relaxing and now he was yawning. He couldn't help himself though. It was an involuntary action, and he couldn't stop it no matter how much self control he had.
Her thoughts came to a halt when she heard that catch in his breath. A slow smile forming on her face before she let out a quiet chuckle.
"I thought you said not to fall asleep, Sasuke."
She smiled at the fact he was trying to hide his yawn, but then when she really thought about it, he had to be exhausted. He was waking early and working all day only to top it off by staying out late training and here she was keeping him out even later. A pang of guilt shot through her followed by a sigh as placed a hand against the ground and pushed up, pulling away from him slightly as she sat up to look at him.
Sakura knew that the boy would never admit to being tired, but he looked it. From the dark circles under his eyes to the position of his body, just lax and the limbs falling where they may. She wasn't going to keep him out any longer, he needed his sleep just the same as she did.
Leaning forward, the rosette whispered into his ear.
"C'mon, let's go home."
She sat there for only a few short moments, her breath fanning his ear before Sakura pulled back far enough to kiss him softly on the cheek. She stood up after, brushing herself off and then holding out a hand to him. She knew he didn't need help getting up and that he might just brush her hand away, but the only reason she did it was for the kind gesture of it all.
"If I stay out here and fall asleep, I'm not going to want to leave later."
He nodded. "Alright, let's go."
Sasuke ignored the hand she offered to him, standing up on his own. She wasn't surprised by him ignoring her hand, she had been expecting it, but she pushed the thought aside.
"Next time, pick a better place to fall asleep," he said as he started walking back and grabbing her hand.
This was one thing she'd never get tired of, the feel of her hand in his. It made her feel privileged, that he had chosen her. There were so many girls he could of picked, girls that might be a more logical pick for him based on their traits and personalities. But he had picked her. Sure it had taken him a long ass time, but the wait for him was worth it. Sakura couldn't imagine belonging with anyone else.
"Well maybe next time you want to get back at me for something you should pick somewhere more comfortable. Like your apartment, not the middle of the creepy woods."
Sakura raised an eyebrow as she looked up at him. She hadn't wanted to move from that spot. She had been comfortable and could of slept there the entire night. Why was it her fault he had decided to be broody and sit down against a tree across from her. He always could of laid down on the ground next to her and the problem would of been solved. It wasn't her fault he was prideful.
"How was I supposed to know that we were going to end up on the ground?" he asked with a scoff.
"I don't know. Wasn't there some rumor floating around that the sharingan could see the future..." Sakura mused.
It was a rhetorical question by all means. She knew how farfetched it sounded, but she was only messing with him. And if she did recall, some people really used to believe that it was true, making the technique sought after. Sakura had always been wary of those red eyes since she was little, maybe because there was something dark about them, but now, she found them captivating. Well, she found Sasuke's eyes captivating.
Sasuke looked over at Sakura curiously. "Only in theory."
She frowned. "You could of just told me to move so you could get comfortable, too. I'd like to think I'd understand if you had to move because the bark of a tree didn't make a great back rest."
"Tch, there wasn't anywhere good to move to."
"Well thanks for letting me sit there regardless of your comfort level."
Sasuke was truely a proud guy. She was positive now that she really thought about it that he couldn't of been comfortable. He had obviously planned on sitting there for the long haul though and as much as she would of liked to of slept, she knew she wouldn't of been able to do it to him.
Sakura laughed lightly before covering a yawn with the back of her hand. She was already regretting getting up without taking a small nap looked over and noticed.
"Don't fall asleep while walking either," he said with a smirk, teasing her.
She raised an eyebrow. She had only gotten out of the hospital for chakra exhaustion two nights ago she left the hospital. She still wasn't even allowed to train for another day or so.
"Haha, very funny. I didn't even realize how tired I was until I thought about going to sleep back there. I just want to sleep right now. I honestly don't even care where. I wouldn't mind stretching out in the middle of the training grounds."
"You may not care where you fall asleep but I do. I'll walk you home," he said, deciding that Sakura couldn't be trusted not to fall asleep between the spot they usually parted and her home.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I don't care where I sleep half the time."
She knew there was no point in arguing with him about it even though he had to be tired as well. He was going to be walking to her house with or without her right now.
He frowned and looked over at her. "You should care where you fall asleep."
She just smiled. It was always amusing to her whenever he'd say something like that, nagging at her almost. Hell, even when he lectured her on something she'd still just nod at him to assure him she was taking note and then grin like an idiot. It was Sasuke's way of caring, his way of saying she should be careful and that he'd like her to stay safe. Well, that was her assumption of what his nagging came down to, it was either that or just get annoyed with it all. She'd go with the former.
Her smile didn't last long because when they reached that point she reluctantly let go of his hand, taking a step away to put some distance between them. They weren't the only ones out right now. There were guards on duty probably doing rounds, there were probably other people out and about as well just like they were on their way home. She knew this, Sasuke had to know it but she wished she could just be naive for once.
Sasuke too seemed to notice the people. "My eyes are doing better. The discomfort when I use the sharingan is nearly gone now. I haven't tried the Mangekyou yet though."
Sasuke was always one to cover his tracks as well, the topic of medicine being their cover.
"Good. Remind me tomorrow and I'll do a full check-up on everything. You're moving like everything healed right but just to make sure."
He had been out of the hospital for awhile and it had been about a week or so since she had checked on everything from his ribs where they had been broken to his eyes.
He nodded. "My arm feels fine. I can't feel anything wrong with it. Same goes for my side."
"Well, like I said, you look like you healed just fine. You are almost like Naruto, you can just bounce right back."
That was one thing that the boys on Team Seven had always been better than her at. They always had more stamina than she did, more drive. When she got hurt, it would take her nearly twice as long to get back on her feet than them. Even now, Sakura was still feeling the effects of chakra exhaustion after three days. Sasuke and Naruto would probably only have to sleep on it and they'd be back to normal the next day.
"Hn," he grumbled.
Sakura smiled. "As for the Mangekyou, I suggest that you put off even trying it out until all of the discomfort using your regular sharingan is gone. Until then, using it could possibly make you go blind. From what I've read up on it. Hopefully Tsunade isn't going to throw you to the wolves though. I doubt she would."
He frowned. "I shouldn't need the Mangekyou anytime soon."
"Well, if you don't need it soon, then you have no worries. I'll check on your eyes tomorrow though."
She knew that he'd be stuck with D-rank missions for awhile and it was probably going to drive him close to insanity. He was still technically a genin though by Konoha's books. She wasn't going to give him a blow to his ego by rubbing it in his face, that would probably just piss him off. Tsunade wasn't stupid though.
Sasuke was a strong ninja and he'd be useful on a lot of the missions that had been coming in lately. Sakura knew the woman would torture him a little with cat chasing missions and the like, but it wouldn't be for too long.
Sakura laughed gently as they turned down a street, her house in sight.
"You should be able to start doing missions again soon, right?" she asked.
Sasuke paused, counting in his head the days until he would start missions again. "A little over a week, then I'll start with D-ranks. Who knows how long I'll be on those."
She smiled at him. "Just don't complain about any missions she gives you and I'm sure it won't be too long. By complain, I mean act all broody and annoyed."
He sighed. "Are you coming to the Uchiha district again tomorrow?"
They slowed in front of her house, a sigh passing her lips at the thought she couldn't even kiss him goodbye crossing her mind.
"Yeah, tomorrow is my last day off for awhile so I'll come stop by. I'll bring lunch."
She smiled at him before unlocking her door, glancing back at him after she opened it.
"Good night, Sasuke."
"See you tomorrow then. Goodnight," he said before walking away and back to his apartment to get some much needed rest.