unbetad

This chapter is a little shorter. A bit of Sasuke introspection.

Sakura's gaze meets his own, from her place on the street, and Sasuke watches as her green eyes flicker. He expects her to smile, but she doesn't; at least not until she looks back at Juugo. She smiles warmly as the red head waves goodbye. Her eyes seem to be lit with something that was not there a moment ago, when she was looking at Sasuke, and suddenly, a familiar bubble of something shows itself in the base of his stomach. Sakura is kind, and he shouldn't care who she smiles at. He remembers that she used to smile at everyone and anyone, when they were kids; though, back then, when she looked at him, it was different; it isn't the same as now, where he can't tell what she is thinking.

Sasuke's coal eyes attempt to burn a hole through the back of Juugo's head, as the man walks away, and Sakura looks to him. Sasuke realises, after a moment, that she doesn't know where to set her eyes. He is familiar with this behaviour from her, and he doesn't miss the way her gaze peruses his form briefly, and a spark of something enters her eyes. Then, it is gone, behind a mask that Sasuke isn't used to seeing.

The last time he saw her, when he left for his journey, he thought that they had a moment - that there was something there. Now, he is certain that their mutual attraction is strong, in a physical sense, but he wonders about her heart. He had thought about Sakura for months, during his confinement, and the words they had shared on the battlefield. He thought about how she had healed him, and placed her hand on his remaining arm, squeezing gently like it was a secret.

She had smiled at him then, too, and he thought that she would see him through his confinement. That didn't happen, however. Sakura didn't visit him once, and he wonders why. After all, Naruto visited him often.

Nevertheless, Sasuke didn't hold her absence, while he was "inside", against her. He even thought about her while he was travelling, and made choices about his future in relation to her.

Sasuke was certain that there was something there, and now he is left to wonder if he has planned wrongly.

Yes, it is possible that he has fucked up.

At the gate, he didn't tell Sakura his thoughts, because he couldn't, and also - he thought that she knew.

Now he isn't sure what is true…

Sakura takes him in, and he her, and he feels the attraction between them. Something about Sakura surveying his body makes him feel warm. Sakura does not show love in her eyes – but there is a womanly appreciation for his form- and it is one of the more pleasant feelings Sasuke has felt in his life.

He knows that it means something on his end, because other women lusting after him makes him feel physically ill. In all honesty, the amount of female attention he receives is almost enough for him to never want to leave home again.

Home. He thinks the word, and strangely it feels like it is true. This is his home, even though he isn't quite used to the new house yet.

He nods, without intention, and turns swiftly. He doesn't say anything as he walks inside, toward the living area. A moment passes and Sakura seems to come to her senses, realising that he will offer no words, and follows him inside.

The Uchiha main house is silent as the night, despite it being daytime, and mirrors the quiet curiousness in Sasuke's eyes. The man, dressed in low hanging shinobi pants and a dark high-necked shirt (with the Uchiha symbol on the back), looks pale, despite the amount of travelling he has done. A distinct air of apathy permeates the house, as Sasuke moves swiftly down the hallway; though, he does not intend for the vibe to be there. In fact, Sasuke has been thinking welcoming thoughts. He hasn't seen or spoken to Sakura since he left, and he has his reasons; one of them being that he can't seem to do it. On the porch, he should have said something about being back – about how Sakura looks well. Instead, he has fled into the house, and now enters the living area, where he turns to wait for Sakura.

When Sakura walked through the compound gates, Sasuke knew straight away. He observed her from the moment of arrival, silently and hidden from view, before slipping back into his house. He had watched her yesterday, as well, when he had finished at both Tsunade's and Kakashi's respective offices. Sasuke wonders now, why he went looking for Sakura's house, when he had no intention of saying hello. He found her, and merely watched for a while, as she sat by the window, reading a book.

He had intended on seeing her and leaving, but he got stuck. It wasn't until Kakashi arrived that he was able to pull himself back, and retreat. He wondered, though, about Kakashi coming to Sakura's so late at night. Logically, Sasuke knew that he was delivering the news of her mission – that Kakashi is much too old for Sakura- but there was still something ugly inside of him that imagined, but he wasn't sure what. He supposes, now, that Kakashi and Sakura are friends; which is a bit off putting – knowing that his team are close without him - especially since it was his own doing.

Naruto has filled him in on the goings on, after the he barged in and woke Sasuke up this morning. He spouted about how excited he was, and how happy Sakura would be to see Sasuke.

Though, Sasuke saw her face just before, and she didn't seem happy to see him. He expected her to hug him, or greet him in some way.

But she was distant.

The thought causes his brows to furrow, and the recently returned nin walks further into the room. Sakura's footsteps can be heard as she toes off her shoes and tentatively follows him into the room.

It has been a year and a half since Sakura was with him like this. Only now, the girl with love struck eyes and an open heart seems to be gone or hiding. In her place, is a confident woman with power, smarts, and a possible attitude. The unknown look in her eyes is one learnt from years of heartache, and trials of being a shinobi. Honestly, Sasuke is not sure which Sakura he likes better. This woman does not look like she will fly away with a strong breeze, despite being as petite as ever. Though, the lack of emotion she shows at the sight of him is disconcerting. What has she been doing these past months? What happened to her since they spoke at the gate?

In prison, he hoped that Sakura would forget him, after she did't show. But by the time it came for him to leave Konoha, Sasuke had changed his mind. He had an idea about what he wanted in life, and he would find it through his travels.

He said he'd see her when he returned, and he is here, seeing her. He is surprised though, that she doesn't seem to 'see' him, and a bitter taste rises to his mouth.

He becomes annoyed, very quickly. He isn't sure how he thought that this would go, but he knows that it is supposed to be different.

He thought that Sakura was his when he left, and he wants to know why she isn't his now.

Did he imagine it?

When she enters the room, he is sitting on the tatami, upon a cushion, glaring at her with crossed arms…