The tunnels going to the archives aren't as dusty or dark as Sakura imagines they'll be. In fact, she can tell that people have been down here because it is well maintained. It's massive beneath Konoha, and reminds Sakura of the underground buildings in Sand Country. She can't believe that she stood beside the previous Hokage for so long and never learnt of this place's existence. It's amazing. Sakura is in awe of the sheer amount of paperwork that must be down here, and she forgets for a moment that everything about today is strange; that she feels inwardly different, and Sasuke feels outwardly distant, and it's all because of what happened last night.

Yesterday, Sakura had sex with Sasuke. She felt the touch of a man - the one whom she has wanted since she can remember, and it was more than she ever fantasied. Sakura never knew that she could feel so many emotions at once, and she wishes now to know how Sasuke is dealing with it; if he thinks about what they've done; what he thinks of it.

Yes, Sakura is no longer a virgin, and she hopes to Kami-sama that it is the same for Sasuke. She has no idea what he got up to when he was away from the village, but she likes to think that she is the only who has felt him so intimately. He was very skilful though, which makes her question his experience level.

She stops in her tracks in the middle of the archive room, and Sasuke walks ahead of her. Her lashes flutter closed for a moment, and when darkness appears behind her lids, she is able to see a different Sasuke in front of her – the Sasuke from last night; she can feel him against her, and inside of her; she can hear his short pants and moans close to her ear. Sakura shivers.

Last night, Sasuke filled her completely, leaving marks against her skin, which she has covered. Regretfully she healed the most noticeable love bite, but she wants the others to fade naturally - just like the bruises on her back from the jagged wall, and the thumb marks on her hips and wrists from Sasuke's hold. It was an encounter that was inspired by passion, frustration, and anger. Regardess, Sakura felt Sasuke's heart beat, and she swears that her Sasuke was in his eyes; the Sasuke she fell in love with; and if he is in there, then she is certain that she'll be able to get through.

Sakura is going to try, at least. She has put her best foot forward every day since Sasuke left, and she isn't going to give in now.

The fact that he showed up this morning and is willing to go to lunch with her and Naruto proves that Sasuke is coming around. If he felt threatened he wouldn't be here. It's a simple fact that she has learned through experience, and his track record.

Sakura had a good time last night. Sasuke's send off was fairly silent and definitely not as romantic as a younger Sakura dreamed. Regardless, she is satisfied.

Sakura remembers him standing there in front of her house, hands shoved in his pockets, waiting for her to speak.

Sakura didn't have any words for him though. How could she? A moment that she had been waiting for her entire life had happened, and it was so unexpected that Sakura needed to process the information.

In the end, Sasuke asked her calmly but a little coyly, "Are you alright?"

Sakura had been through much more pain before. She flushed at his question and nodded as she replied, "Yes. Thank you, Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke nodded curtly and went to leave.

"Meet me at Hokage Tower at the usual time." He instructed, and Sakura gave her silent agreement. Turning, she moved to go inside.

"Sakura –" His words pulled her back, and when she looked to him, he was facing away. Sasuke glanced over his shoulder as he said,

"You look nice tonight."

Sakura's flush spread to her neck, "So do you."

After that, Sakura sat on her bed, going over the event in her mind. She thought about how it began, and how Sasuke sounded; how fierce he was. She fell back on her mattress and imagined him there with her, looming above her.

Then, the sun was suddenly shining through her window…and now here she is, beneath Konoha, following Sasuke through the second door to the secret archives.

Sakura smiles to herself as she observes his broad shoulders and she remembers how tightly she held on to them. Sakura wonders if she bruised him, like he did her; she wants to have left her mark on him.

She often imagines a lot of things, and they usually don't come to fruition. Yet this did, with Sasuke. She isn't sure if that changes anything for them, and she's half certain that it won't, but Sakura will continue to have hope for something more.

She walks forward when Sasuke clicks his tongue, and that's when Sakura notices the rest of her surroundings.

There are rows and rows of shelves full of files, starting from general and moving into the confidential cases. There are shinobi tags on some of the boxes that aren't allowed to be touched. Sakura assumes that the relevant people will be alerted the moment the lid is off any sealed box.

She won't have that issue because Sasuke is all the authority they require. His family records are stored up the back, through a sealed entryway. There is another sealed door beside it and Sakura wonders if that is reserved for the Hyuuga family.

Sasuke stops in front of the stone and then he lifts his thumb to his mouth. In a second he has bitten through the skin and a small amount of blood appears.

Sakura watches as he lifts his thumb to the relevant place, just above the lock.

She is amazed to see his blood sink into the special stone, and then with no further warning, the wall creaks noisily, and the door opens.

Sasuke enters like this isn't his first time in this place, but Sakura is pretty sure that it is, and they are both discovering these Uchiha facts together.

"This is everything." He says without turning around. Instead, he looks forward at the rows and rows of shelves that are all filled with his family's history.

And only the blood of the Uchiha can access it.

Sakura feels a bit woozy knowing that she is in a place made only for Uchiha eyes. It's different to last night. Last night, Sasuke read to her and she had to believe him because she doesn't have the sharingan.

But now, in this room, Sakura is able to read as much about his family as she wants…and Sasuke is letting her.

She wants to walk up behind him and wrap her arms around his waist. She stops herself, however, and steps toward the first row of boxes. The main Uchiha family is listed alphabetically, and Sakura reads Sasuke's name on the list. His scroll is sure to be small since Uchiha are only able to access this place. Still, she wants to see what it says.

Sakura turns to look at Sasuke, and when their eyes meet she senses that he feels something. Sakura is incredibly grateful to be here, and she doesn't want to scare Sasuke away…this is just such a huge honour.

"There is more here than just the sharingan." She observes.

Sasuke nods. "Yes."

Sakura frowns, "Why are you showing this to me?" She asks, stepping away from the shelves and closer to Sasuke.

Sasuke shrugs, "Who would I show other than you?" He replies with a simple question, and his eyes flicker with emotion for a moment. It's gone in the next and his jaw clenches minutely. Sakura doesn't step any closer because his vibe is changing; Sasuke has put up his walls and Sakura will have to be forceful in bringing them down.

She wishes for this to be easier. Sakura is always reaching out to Sasuke and it'd be nice for him to reach back, just once in a while.

She watches as he disappears down a long row of books before she lets out a sigh. Sakura doesn't care if Sasuke hears her. He won't come back and call her on it anyway. He said that they don't have to pretend that it didn't happen, but he hasn't said anything about avoiding the topic all together.

Knowing Sasuke, that is exactly what he'll try to do.

"Men…" Sakura murmurs to herself, before she drops her heavy bag onto the floor and gets to work.

It takes Sakura awhile to find relevant information about the doujutsu. It appears that all Uchiha in the main family line were able to activate their technique. She has skimmed hours worth of scrolls, and Sakura feels like she has only touched the tip of the ice burg. A lot of this information isn't relevant to her study, but she is fascinated. This family were powerful, and they were so easily consumed by that power. Sakura wonders if it is due to the sage of six paths, all those moons ago, or if the want for power was more of a social repercussion built through years of collected conditioning.

Unfortunately, it's a study she won't be able to conduct because Sasuke is it - he's the last Uchiha.

She exhales a breath and begins to collect the papers up. There are some things she wants to go over in her own time, and Sakura puts them to the side with Itachi and Sasuke's unopened scrolls. Fugaku Uchiha's file sucked her in, along with the other mengekyo wielder, Shisui, and time has gotten away from her. The medical files are extensive, not to mention their combat history, and Sakura is interested to read more. The last unopened scroll is left in front of her, and Sakura pauses. Her fingers hover over the name of Sasuke's mother and then she pulls her hand away, frowning as she does so.

Sakura wants to read it so badly, and although Sasuke has given her permission, she feels like it would be a breach of trust. Still, she picks up the scroll and shoves it in her bag, as well as with the other to her side. Then she stands up.

"Sasuke-kun." She calls out, walking in the direction that he disappeared in hours earlier.

Sakura finds Sasuke sitting on top of a very old steel table, with his legs crossed. He is meditating.

She stands there silently, about two meters away from him, and she watches. He doesn't look different to yesterday, which is a relief, and also a bit of a disappointment. Sakura is happy that he isn't angry, but anger means that he is feeling something - she can reason with anger. Sakura has trouble with Sasuke's apathy, however, which is almost a constant state for him.

She smiles wryly to herself and thinks how very stupid she is. She should have fallen for a different man.

"Sasuke-kun." She tries to get his attention again. It works, and Sasuke's eyelashes flutter open. The colour of his eyes seems especially dark in the golden glow of the room; he looks mysterious and soulful.

She must be imagining it though, because Sasuke isn't really either of those things. He's quiet and deep, which she supposes can be mistaken for other more exciting qualities.

"I'm finished." Sakura tells him when he doesn't say anything.

Sasuke nods, and with one last deep breath in and out, he jumps to the floor.

He walks past her then, without looking at her. It's normal behaviour for him, but suddenly it really ticks Sakura off.

Sasuke has barely uttered a hello since they met at Hokage Tower, and she dreads the fact that lunch with Naruto is not the end of her day with him.

She'll be damned if Sasuke is going to act like this all day. Sakura never expected him to give her roses or meaningful looks, but she finds that she does want the courtesy of his attention - his responses in words, and his acknowledgements of hearing her.

"Sasuke." She says his name, and he doesn't turn around. The annoyance bubbles in her gut and Sakura let's her mouth get the better of her.

"I thought you said we didn't have to pretend." She murmurs, though he can hear her. He stops in his tracks and turns slowly. Sakura feels the still air become thick. His expression is blank. His jaw juts out just enough for her to believe that he is ready for a fight.

"I'm not pretending." Sasuke replies apathetically, and Sakura's eyes narrow at the words. Her chest pangs as she thinks about her feelings for him, as well as the fact that he seems not to care one bit. If he isn't pretending, and this is how it's going to be, she doesn't want to be around him.

Her arms cross over her chest and she shakes her head as she replies,

"Just go home Sasuke, I'll have lunch with Naruto on my own."

Sakura can feel an old weakness start to encroach on her and she adjusts her position accidentally. Her hands grip at her biceps like she is protecting herself, and she avoids looking at Sasuke's face.

"We can have an early day if you like." She offers, even softer.

Sasuke's eyes narrow, but Sakura doesn't see. She doesn't notice the expressions that cross Sasuke's face, or the brief concern in his eyes.

"No." Sasuke says. He takes a step forward and Sakura can't help but flinch. He stops abruptly and she manages a glance upward.

"Are you angry?" She asks incredulously, and Sasuke's eyes narrow a little more.
He shakes his head as if to say he doesn't know, but then he glares at her,

"You're so frustrating." He says in a strained voice. Sasuke drags his fingers through his hair in a habitual move. It doesn't seem to calm his stress because he breathes out angrily.

"I'm frustrating?" Sakura repeats his words. "I'm frustrating! You're frustrating!" She can hear her voice rising with each syllable and Sakura huffs out her annoyance. Then she steps forward, attempting to pass him.

He doesn't let her get far and Sakura feels his fingers wrap around her bicep. She's being pulled to him in the next moment and then they are kissing. He's not as rough as he was yesterday, but Sakura can definitely feel his annoyance with her. His lips are hot, and his tongue is wet, and Sakura cups his face and groans as she is pressed up against a shelf filled with sealed boxes. Sakura clings to him and she is relieved to feel Sasuke flush against her.

She's falling over the edge and Sakura needs to keep some sanity. She can't let him do this every time he doesn't want to talk, because if he does, she'll let him.

His hands hold her hips to him, and Sakura tries to pull away. He doesn't let her, and delves deeper, kissing her harder.

Sakura gathers chakra in her hands and pushes him back. She holds his shoulders so that his face is a couple of inches away from hers, and she breathes hard.

"You can't just kiss me when you don't like what I'm saying." She croaks, and Sakura feels it coming before she can stop it. Tears spring free as an overwhelming feeling takes her and Sakura looks at him pleadingly.

Sasuke gives her a serious expression and she can see the annoyance in his eyes as well.

"You always assume." He says softly, but with frustration in his tone. He orders next, "Just shut up." And Sakura wonders if he can hear himself, or if he even notes his own actions, because he kisses her again, and she doesn't stop it.

This is slower than before and if it's designed to keep her quiet, Sakura no longer cares. Sasuke's hand is holding her cheek, and he wraps an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

She accepts the touch and threads her fingers through his hair. Then she reaches his shoulders and runs her hands down his stomach, feeling his muscles with the flat of her palm. Her insides are warmer than ever and Sakura wishes to rip his clothes off. Last time they were far too dressed.

She doesn't do anything except enjoy the deepness, and the slowness of the kiss; the way Sasuke takes her lower lip in his mouth as if he's savouring it, before he drags his teeth slowly as he disengages. They stay for a moment with their lips just touching, and then he leans back,

"We need to stop." He breathes, and Sakura nods in agreement. Her hands hold onto his shoulders still and his arm hasn't moved from around her waist.

There is a long pause as Sakura looks up into Sasuke's eyes, and Sasuke looks at her. Then, she leans up and kisses him chastely. It lasts for a second before she pulls away. Sakura picks up her bag, which she dropped before, and she turns to him.

"Last night might not have meant anything to you, but it was everything to me…Just, remember that." She admits with frank honesty. Sakura has already given him everything else.

She starts for the door and is unable to see the blush that covers Sasuke's ears. His lips press together and for a moment, he looks troubled.

Sakura doesn't climb out of her own thoughts all the way to Ichiraku, and Sasuke stalks silently beside her.

They are certainly a sullen looking pair.

xxx

A few of you have taken issue with Sakura sleeping with Sasuke so quickly, and I'll assure you that this is intentional. It was intentional in the first write as well. The encounter is supposed to shock them, it's supposed to remind them not to become complacent, among other things. We aren't always supposed to like the things the characters do, otherwise it wouldn't be fun xD.

Anyway, lessons are going to be learned guys. Sasuke doesn't appreciate Sakura properly yet, and Sakura doesn't appreciate herself properly yet. They'll get there.

If you are going to review to me about characterisation (or anything else) please do it logged in or at my blog merinxd dot tumblr dot com . I've thought a lot about it and this is the second time I'm writing this story. Ima do how I do guys, and if you don't like it, I'm really sorry.