Sasuke watches as Sakura retreats to the kitchen, and when she disappears from view, he sighs. He is tired, mostly due to a shitty sleep, but also, dealing with this woman is never easy.

He shifts, falling backwards until his back is flat on the floor. He brings his hands behind his head, as he stares up at the ceiling. He probably has a few more minutes alone, judging the way that Sakura rushed away so quickly…

When she asked him if he thought of them while he was away, he didn't mean to call her out. If fact, he was just going to say yes, but then a thought hit him and Sasuke found that he wanted to know if she had been thinking about him too. So he asked her if she meant herself – if she wanted to know if he had thought about her while he was away.

He did think about her, and now that she knows, he wonders if that will change anything.

He moves again, rolling onto his side. His left arm cradles his head, as his elbow props him up. Sasuke looks out at the garden and he can almost see a younger version of himself, practicing with shuriken, a meter or so off. He blinks to find nothing there, but he continues to watch the swaying branches of the cherry blossom tree. It is remarkable how the colours of the petals match Sakura's hair; the shade is identical.

'Sakura…' He thinks, as his brows furrow. She is confusing to him.

Sasuke doesn't know what to think about Sakura. This woman, who is researching him, is the same girl that he remembers, yet, paradoxically, she is completely different to before.

When they were young, she wore her heart on her sleave and he detested it. Now, Sasuke can't get a true reading of her feelings; she masks her emotions too well.

His lips form into a small smile, and he remembers a time that he didn't want to know what was in her heart – When he wished that she could hide her feelings for him, like it would somehow absolve him from caring for her; if he is truthful with himself – which he can be now – he never stopped caring. He did think about Sakura's feelings when he was defected, and afterwards as well, and although he hated himself for thinking of her (because it made him feel weak), Sasuke knows that it must have meant something then; just like his thoughts of her must mean something now.

As another sigh is poised to leave his lips, Sakura's shrill scream enters his consciousness, and Sasuke is up in an instant. He is at the kitchen entryway not a moment later, and his racing heart falters, and worry turns to annoyance at the sight before him.

Suigetsu is standing in his kitchen, naked.

Sakura looks like she is trying to become one with the sink, as her back presses flat against the stainless steel.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" She asks, and Sasuke realises that Sakura hasn't noticed him. There is a frown upon her face, and she steps away from the counter.

"I thought you were a puddle of water! I could have mopped you up!" She growls, pointing an accusing finger at the naked water nin.

Sasuke can feel his eyebrows rise at her statement, and Suigetsu says what he is thinking.

"A naked man appears in front of you and you're upset that you almost mopped me up?" He asks incredulously, but he looks pleased. Sasuke knows why; usually women react negatively to Suigetsu's exposed genitals, and less the fact that they could have killed him –Not Sakura, though.

"I'm a medic ninja." Sakura replies, rolling her eyes. "There is nothing" She motions to his pelvic region. "You can show me that I haven't seen before."

For some reason, her statement affects Sasuke, and he coughs unintentionally. Sakura notices him, then, and her eyes widen.

"Sasuke-kun!" She exclaims, and he is sure that he can see worry in her eyes. It's gone in a second as she points accusingly at his ex teammate.

"Why is he doing this?" She questions, but she still looks at the white haired man who waggles his eyebrows.

That is enough.

"Suigetsu." Sasuke says in that familiar tone of annoyance. The water nin's grin becomes cheeky and he says,

"Uh oh, looks like lover boy is angry." Then, as Sasuke reaches for him, he winks and turns back into liquid form, sliding away.

Sasuke and Sakura stare at the empty space on the floor, and then up at each other.

"That was weird." Sakura says, avoiding Suigetsu's last statement. Her cheeks are slightly flushed, though, which might indicate something.

"He is weird." Sasuke replies, shaking his head in disbelief. That certainly wasn't on the cards when he woke up. Nevertheless, an event like that isn't actually out of the norm.

"Does your old team come here often?" She asks, and Sasuke watches as she puts the tea set away, directly beside his mother's. It was one of the few items that were sealed away after the massacre; heirlooms and secret scrolls as well.

"More than I'd like." Sasuke says, before he turns to walk back to the deck. The excitement is over – or so he thinks.

"Sasuke-kun!" Another ex teammate appears, and Sasuke feels his stomach turn. This can't be good.

He glances backward, thinking of Sakura who is not far behind him.

"Karin." He greets in a formal tone; it holds authority and lacks warmth.

"Sasuke-kun, what is all this junk?" The red head asks dumbly picking up research papers, fingering them and eyeing them with secret intent.

Sasuke's eyes narrow - Karin isn't stupid, and has done plenty of research in her time. She can't be here for any good reason.

"It's classified." He says. "Put it down."
She does so, and he can see that she is trying to peer behind him.

"Are you alone?" She asks hopefully, and he smirks in disbelief. She must think him stupid as well.

"You already know that I'm not. I told you not to bother me when I have visitors."

"But Sasuke-kun, it's so boring being confined to the compound. I want to spend some time here." Karin says, pouting.

"Well you can't. We're working." Sasuke glares. His expression fades to neutral, however, when a familiar pressure is placed against his bicep – It's Sakura's hand.

"Sasuke." She says, and he notes the absence of suffix. Still, he looks down at her, and to the hand curled around his arm. "It's okay, we've already lost a lot of time. Naruto will be here soon."

Sasuke wants to make a noise of frustration, because that isn't what he was hoping she would say. His mind had produced other things – things that the old Sakura would have done.

"I remember you." Sakura says to Karin, next, and she steps through to the deck. Sasuke still doesn't move. He is on edge with this situation.

"You're the medic-san that saved my life." Karin replies warily, and she nods to Sakura in respect. Her eyes narrow shortly after, however, and Karin's big fat mouth opens –

"That doesn't mean that you can take Sasuke-kun from under my nose!" The red head exclaims, and her expression becomes vicious but comical.

Sasuke palms his temples. He has been over this with Karin before…

He is about to respond with something hurtful that will get her gone, but Sakura replies first.

"Sasuke isn't an object to take, Karin-san." She sounds calm, and Sasuke is surprised that she knows Karin's name. "You can't just make him yours…" Sakura pauses, and Sasuke watches her openly, as she collects paperwork that is only meant for their eyes.

"How dare you." Karin glares, "You don't know that."

Sasuke does, but he doesn't say as much. Instead, he takes in Sakura's next words, feeling his chest tighten considerably, and not in a good way.

"I do…I tried it once." Sakura says. "It didn't turn out well."

Sasuke feels guilty, and if his brain isn't already in over drive, Sakura tips it over the edge,

"If there's anything I've learnt about shinobi men, Karin-san, is that if they want you, they'll come and get you."

Karin rages, as her eyes bulge. She goes to lunge at Sakura but Sasuke can't have that.

"Karin." He growls, stopping her in her tracks. "Get out of my house!"

"But…Sasuke-kun…" Karin tries, and his sharingan flashes momentarily, before his eye turns dark again.

"OUT." He booms, and Karin's head hangs.

He isn't surprised when the chakra specialist in front of them poofs into the smoke of a released clone, leaving them alone again.

He doesn't want to acknowledge what just happened, and he is having trouble processing Sakura's advice to Karin...

Is that really what she thinks?

...How does Sakura know about shinobi men?

Sasuke doesn't speak, and he can feel a different kind of annoyance bubble in the base of his stomach. He clenches and unclenches his fists, breathing deliberately. Sakura watches him with careful eyes.

"Sasuke-kun." She says softly, stepping closer, touching his shoulder. He can feel what she is doing – treating him like a startled animal.

It is something that used to annoy him, but right now, he lets it calm him.

Sasuke drags his fingers through his hair, and exhales deeply.

"Sorry." He says, not looking at her face. "Suigetsu and Karin found out about our meetings yesterday and they've been bothering me ever since."

Sakura nods in understanding, and replies, "It's okay. You don't have to explain."

Sasuke's shoulders sag slightly, and he is glad for her words.

Sakura, although she is annoying, knows how he likes to be treated. He doesn't know anyone else like her…

Thinking on it silently, Sasuke finds that he is uncomfortable with the idea of her thinking of other men, let alone dating someone. He realises that the thought hasn't occurred to him before…

He doesn't want to think of it again, either. So he pushes it back. He opens his mouth, to get back to the topic - to tell her that it's okay. He does hate explaining himself, and providing people with information that is of no use to them, but he doesn't mind telling her.

Of course, another interruption beats him to it.

Today just isn't a day of peace…

"Sakura-chan, Sasuke-teme!" Naruto's voice sounds from the front of the house. Sasuke hears the front door bang as Naruto lets himself inside like he owns the joint.

"I have amazing news!" The blond greets, as he bounds through the living area and onto the deck.

"What is it, Naruto-kun?" Sakura asks with a note of anticipation in her voice. "Also, hello to you too." She grins.

"Helloo!" Naruto smiles back. "But we haven't got time for that, Sakura-chan! We have to go to Hokage Tower, right now!" He explains, bobbing up and down excitedly.

"Why?" Sasuke asks flatly, and somewhat tiredly. His friend turns to him.

"Team 7 are going on a mission!" Naruto beams, and he fist pumps the air with his next words. "We're back baby!"

xxxx

A/N Will fix anything that I've missed on next read through :) Hope you enjoyed the chapter. See you next time. Team 7, and the sharingan research are hitting the road. :D