Hello! I hope there isn't any mistakes. I've gone over and over it but I'm sure when I read this later I'll find a bunch of things to fix xD. If there is anything I hope that it doesn't alter your reading experience. Thanks for reading :)

Ps. This is multi pov.

xxx

Sasuke can feel the tension gather behind the Ichiraku privacy screen as he and Sakura move to their usual stools. Naruto has been here for a while and he's looking satisfied. He tells them that he's already eaten two bowls of ramen, and he grins, eagerly ordering more as they sit. Sasuke listens as Sakura asks Naruto about his day, and she tells their friend about how their study is going. He'll admit that she puts on a good act, but Sasuke isn't buying it. Her smile is cheerful but it's completely false, and it annoys him that she's being this way.

Did he do this?

Sakura orders their food, choosing one of Sasuke's preferred dishes. Even though he isn't really in the mood to eat, his stomach is telling him that he is hungry, and it's best to be routine, so he doesn't say anything. He's feeling tense anyway, and doesn't want to talk to her right now. They haven't said a word to each other since they left the tunnels, and Sasuke feels the unexplainable urge to reach out and touch her arm, to say something, or do something – whatever will put Sakura back to the way she is supposed to be.

Perhaps while he is at it he can work on himself as well – put himself back to the way he is supposed to be - because Sasuke hasn't felt this worked up, and out of his mind, in awhile. The electricity beneath his skin comes and goes, but there is a constant fire burning slowly in his stomach. Sakura lights it up with her ferocious nature, and pushy ways. He hasn't seen that quality directed at him in quite the same way before, and it's confusing, and threatening, and it's annoying as hell, but he respects it. People are often scared of him, or reproachful, and Sakura probably is sometimes too, but she doesn't show it.

She's the grown up version of a girl he used to know, and Sasuke is at a loss.

He doesn't know how she has always done it. Sakura knows just how to get under his skin and push him to the brink of losing control, which isn't good. Sasuke prides himself on his control; it's a characteristic that he has had to hone over time, especially where his temper is concerned; experiencing hyper emotions is in his blood.

Sasuke likes to keep himself and his emotions in check, and he pulls it off most of the time. Then Sakura opens her mouth and turns him upside down. He understands why he used to think her a weakness.

It isn't Sakura that is weak - it is she that makes him feel weak.

Sasuke hasn't walked away yet, though.

He lets out a short breath and leans his elbows on the counter, his fingers thread through each other, and he rests his chin on his fisted hands.

He chances a glance at Sakura beside him, and she pokes at her ramen with less gusto than usual. The sight makes him frown and he looks her over.

Sakura doesn't look like she needs to eat more, but she felt bony beneath him when they…

Sasuke's eyes snap back to his lunch, and he pushes away the memories that come to mind. He has been doing well not thinking about 'it', which hasn't been easy. Sasuke has been feeling hyper aware ever since he and Sakura had sex, and the kiss in the archives room hasn't helped.

Sasuke is feeling frustrated and embarrassed. He never expected last night to happen, and he sure as hell didn't see himself reacting the way that he did. It never occurred to him that he and Sakura can be like that, and he keeps flashing back to the ferocious look in her eyes and the flush across her face as she reached her peak.

Sasuke's eyes narrow as he thinks about his other issue. Sakura assumes that their encounter means little to him, and he doesn't know how to tell her otherwise; he never has the words that she wants, and it makes him feel useless. There is also another emotion that reared forward when he was with Sakura in the archives…

It's an intense feeling to know that he is important to her; that their encounter last night, means 'everything' to her…It makes him woozy. Sasuke feels this strange bubbling inside of him and his skin tingles. It's a type of happiness that scares him utterly and completely.

He isn't sure if he's ready to experience this, whatever this is.

He gets a sense that it might be already too late.

Sasuke eats his food silently and turns his gaze towards Naruto, who has been talking for the last five minutes. Naruto assumes that Sasuke is listening because he usually does. It isn't often that Sasuke actively participates in conversation, unless he is provoked; it's unfortunate that both Naruto and Sakura are skilled at doing just that.

"Ah, last night was fun - dattebayo!" The blond smiles reminiscently, and he holds his arms over his head, with bent elbows so that he can rest his hands on the back of his neck. Sasuke listens to his friend talk about last night – about how Ino got a bit tipsy and ended up saving his ass with the representatives. Apparently her charm was all that was needed, which is good for Sasuke, and therefore good for Konoha.

He learns of the minor incident with Shino's bugs and the ice sculpture, as well as Kiba spiking the punch; it's lucky that the event was adults only.

Naruto pauses to shovel down the rest of his lunch and then he bangs the bowl on the counter with a satisfied smack of his lips. Surprisingly, he doesn't order another.

Instead, Naruto's eyes slant into an expression that Sasuke doesn't like the look of. He senses that he is going to dislike what happens next.

"Speaking of last night." Naruto says almost too casually. "You two left early." His blue eyes focus on Sakura, which prompts Sasuke to look her way as well.

"Is there anything you guys wanna tell me?" Naruto asks, and he is no longer being coy. Sasuke can tell that he is outright asking if he needs to beat Sasuke up for her. If only Naruto knew.

That'd be horrible.

"I was tired so I asked Sasuke-kun to walk me home. Is that alright with you, Naruto-kun?" Sakura responds with a lilt of haughtiness, and Sasuke is impressed with the level of indignation she manages.

Naruto watches her seriously, for a second longer, before his eyes scrunch up and he grins like a fox.
"I'm just looking out for my Sakura-chan." He says, smacking Sasuke on the back. "Sasuke gets it." Naruto assures her.

Sasuke does understand. Naruto has told him how badly he treated Sakura, and he's rightful to worry; Sasuke doesn't know if he will hurt her.

"Naruto-kun, how many times do I have to tell you that I can look after myself?" Sakura says, sounding a little annoyed; her voice is almost like a whine and Sasuke feels like he is witnessing the bond that has grown between them while he was away.

Naruto glances at Sasuke and the Uchiha wonders if this is a silent threat.

"Infinity times -which means forever." He says like a fool, but Sasuke can tell that Naruto is serious. It's obvious that Naruto thinks that something is going on and he's right to think that, something has happened.

"Just try not to make Sakura-chan cry this time, hey?" His friend addresses him and Sakura hisses out a frustrated breath. Sasuke hasn't witnessed this Sakura in awhile - her and Naruto used to squabble like siblings and it seems like they still do.

"Naruto-kun!" Sakura exclaims, and Sasuke can see that she is blushing. "Shut your mouth." She growls, mortified.

"Can you blame me for worrying, Sakura-chan? You're my best friends and if you're going to be together –"

"Naruto-kun." Sakura cuts him off and Sasuke registers what Naruto is saying, his ears slowly begin to heat and he sits very still. Maybe if he doesn't respond then it will stop.

"Just because Sasuke walked me home does not mean that we are together!" She says through gritted teeth before she stands.

"Come on Sakura-chan, you don't have to go." Naruto whines apologetically, and he looks like a kid again. Sakura gives the blond a reproachful look before she steps over to his stool. She hugs him tightly but briefly and says,

"You are so annoying." She smiles fondly as she says it. "You don't have to worry, okay?"

"Well if you think so." Naruto replies.

Sakura looks to Sasuke. "Are you ready to get back to work?"

"Hn." Sasuke nods, pushing his bowl away from him.

Sasuke glares at Naruto's wink and he exits Ichiraku, following Sakura onto the afternoon streets.

It's just them now and Sasuke can feel the tension creeping back into his shoulders. As they walk through the populated streets, his awareness of Sakura heightens, especially when they are forced to stand nearer to each other. Sasuke's arm brushes hers and Sakura doesn't flinch away. Sasuke feels conflicted. He doesn't normally walk this close to Sakura but it isn't uncomfortable. He can feel goose bumps on Sakura's skin, and it causes his skin to become affected too. It's not a cool day, and their reaction is completely to do with each other.

Sasuke's jaw clenches and he gazes straight ahead. He pretends that he doesn't notice the few times that Sakura's fingers brush his, and he attempts to push away his memories of earlier. He can't do it. Her words stick in his mind and Sasuke feels annoyance with himself. He hadn't expected for it to go that far with Sakura, not after the party and not in the archives. Nevertheless, it happened, and he can't get it out of his head. His mind has been very helpful in supplying vivid imagery, and sometimes the ghost of a moan. Sakura ensured that Sasuke would lose his cool both times and he wonders if it will happen again.

The shopping district comes to an end and they are able to step away from each other. It takes a moment longer than it should before there is half a foot of distance between them, and he glances down at Sakura as they walk.

"Sorry about Naruto, he's just protective." Sakura says, and Sasuke gets the sense that she has apologised for Naruto before.

Sasuke half shrugs, "I understand."

He doesn't say what he means by that and the conversation ends. He's back to his thoughts of the assumption she has made about him.

It's silent for a few paces, and Sasuke deliberates if he should say anything.

In the end he goes for,

"You're wrong."

Sakura looks surprised and she gazes up at him. He doesn't meet her eyes though, and continues to look at her shoulder. She's going to want clarification, Sasuke is sure of it, and his brows furrow in expectation.

"Excuse me?" She asks.

Sasuke lets out a short breath and he gathers his strength,

"Last night wasn't nothing." He meets her eyes hoping to convey what he isn't sure of yet - what he finds there makes his heart beat irregularly. There are tears in Sakura's green eyes, and she blinks them away.

But that's not what has him.

For a moment Sakura looks incredibly happy, and Sasuke can feel himself warming.

He thinks that he might have found the right words…

xxx

Sakura is almost deliriously happy and she wants to ask him to say it all again. She doesn't push her luck though. It's just –

She's almost in shock.

Sakura can't believe that those words just tumbled from Sasuke's lips so naturally and sincerely, or that he's walking closer to her than he was before. She can't help but think that this moment is something big, even if his words are few and his gesture small.

It feels like his wall has crumbled a little, and Sakura is guilty for wanting to capitalise on it. She longs to reach out to him, to be close to Sasuke; there's no definitive reason why…she just wants to.

But they've got so much history, and there are so many things they haven't talked about. Sakura can't pretend that last night isn't their only issue.

She has a few things she needs to say to Sasuke before he disappears again.

She really hopes that doesn't happen. It's been interesting having him back in her life and Sakura isn't ready for it to be over.

Still, she doesn't think they can grow closer without her saying this.

"I did assume." She admits, glancing up at Sasuke through her lashes. Sakura is feeling shy, and she tries to shake it off. She needs to be confident with what she is saying, instead of scared.

Nevertheless, the truth is never easy.

Sasuke is listening, she can tell by the way he has angled his face. He doesn't look at her and Sakura is thankful, it makes this easier.

"It's just…hard having you back here, Sasuke-kun." Sakura exhales a long breath and fists her fingers at her tunic. It's something that she has always done, especially when she was nervous around 'Sasuke-kun'.

Sakura no longer believes that Sasuke is all good; she knows that he isn't and she loves him anyway, but sometimes –

"I'm not sure if I know you. I thought that I did. And all those years ago I thought that we were getting closer, and then you left. I know that it's something you had to do but I didn't understand it then."

Sakura slows to a stop and Sasuke does as well. They don't face each other and they both look ahead, or at their feet.

"Sakura –" Sasuke begins to say and she shushes him.

"Please, Sasuke-kun, let me finish."

Sasuke half nods and he turns to face her, Sakura doesn't let that stop her, even if it's nerve wracking with him looking her in the eye.

Sakura glances at his collar and she instantly feels better.

"Back then I thought you hated Team 7, and Konoha, and me." She says the last softer and Sasuke interjects,

"You assumed. I didn't hate you."

"But you didn't care for me." Sakura responds, quietly and with conviction. She's had a long time to think about this, and it makes her feel strong being able to say it.

It looks like Sasuke is going to speak again but he keeps his mouth shut, so she continues on.

"And even after that I still believed in you. You leaving hurt a lot, but it made me stronger. It was hard having you gone, especially when Naruto wasn't here either, but I still believed." Sakura pauses and she doesn't realise that she is shaking with adrenaline.

She closes her eyes briefly and remembers that one moment where she didn't believe - it was on a bridge with a different Sasuke – one that was lost to the darkness. Sakura didn't think that he could be found. Sasuke was in pain and she wanted to end it, Sakura loved him and so she tried to kill him.

She doubles back, rethinking her previous words.
"I lost hope once...with you, on the bridge" Sakura whispers, and she can't look up at Sasuke. She can feel tears flirting just beneath the surface, and Sakura remembers the sadness she felt on that day; it's painful and stabs at her chest like she is there all over again.

"You were so sick, Sasuke-kun. I hated seeing you like that, we all did. You were hurting, and you were going to hurt everyone else in return." A sigh falls from her lips before she breathes in deeply again.

"But I loved you too much to kill you."

A tear breaks free, and Sasuke's hands reach for hers. He grabs onto her awkwardly at first before he slides his fingers between hers.

"I tried to kill you too." Sasuke finally says, and Sakura thinks he sounds croakier than usual. She chances a look upwards and she catches his already watching gaze. His dark eyes have a spark in them and Sakura tells herself that she isn't dreaming.

"There's no need to cry." He murmurs, disentangling his right hand and reaching up to wipe at Sakura's cheeks with his thumb.

Sakura's eyes close at the touch and Sasuke's breath hitches. His hand draws away, and she is just about to move – his thumb grazes her lower lip and Sakura jolts in surprise.

Sasuke doesn't jump away, and instead grips at her chin in reflex response. He doesn't do anything, and Sakura wishes that he'd kiss her.

Sasuke lets her chin go and clears his throat. He looks down at their linked fingers for a moment before he pulls away.

"Come on." He says, and Sakura nods quickly, wiping her face with the backs of her hands.

She can't believe that any of that just happened.

"We'll probably have to work late to make up for the time we've wasted. Sorry, Sasuke-kun." Sakura apologises, and Sasuke tilts his chin upward in way of acknowledgment.

They fall into a comfortable rhythm as they head back to the Uchiha Compound.

Sakura is no longer annoyed with Sasuke, and she thinks that they might be able to get some work done after all; if she can get her mind off of him.

She knows that they still haven't addressed the issues about their night together, or the chemistry between them, and there is sure to be some skeletons lurking in their past –

Still, even after all that, Sakura can see a flicker of light at the end of the long, dark tunnel.

xxx

Lol. I got a guest review that I'll share, I hope you see it anon. I'm sorry everyone else, this is pretty much a rant from me but I disagree with the review, obviously they don't see my intention. Warning so you don't have to read on.

Guest:I feel like you write such an annoying Sakura. Its nothing but tears and confessions. what happened to the years of fighting and training?! She loves the man but give her more credit. Btw the Manga version is better than the anime version of her-

-
I disagree with you there anonymous about Sakura being annoying, the last three chapters have been a 48 hour period, come on. Sakura's training hasn't gone anywhere. It's chapter 14 of a 17 chapter story, I don't think any of this is premature. Just because a woman shows tears and her fucking feelings doesn't make her weak. If you don't like it, I'm sorry, but you can just click exit. I've got artist intentions and if you don't understand that it's cool, but you don't have to stick around, and actually, I rather that you didn't. I haven't watched the anime since the war began, but I've read the manga countless times and Sakura is much better in the manga, and she is my reference - we are obviously seeing different texts.

I feel like Sakura has been fighting and training to catch up to Sasuke and Naruto. She didn't do it for herself. She did it to meet up to expectations of what she thinks she needs to be as a shinobi, to be good enough to protect herself and those she loves, so that she doesn't feel useless. She couldn't make Sasuke stay, she couldn't help bring him back, she couldn't kill him to save him from himself, she hasn't been in control in her relationship with him since the beginning. She is strong but Sasuke is Sasuke, he pulls the girl out in her. In the end I still believe that she thinks that she is weak, especially when Sasuke and Naruto are so strong. Sasuke is back and he wouldn't be good for her self esteem because it would bring back a lot. She is strong physically, and a great medic, but they've got a complicated history that has been continuing from afar, interlinked for all those years, and now they are finally opening their eyes to each other, and Sakura needs to come to some conclusions about herself.

I'll give Sakura more credit when she gives herself more credit.

(Sorry everyone else! If you do feel Sakura is too annoying, I'm sorry. I just don't agree.)