A/N: Thank you for your reviews/follows/favourites! Consider this early update a Christmas present! :D
This is the second last chapter for this story but the last one in which Sasuke will be travelling. Yes, the next one finally has their reunion! :') As for this one, it includes a little bit of 'Sasuke-sensei'. :P Get ready for a punch in the feels! :3

'Eh?! What did you say you wanted again?'

'Icha Icha… Passion,' mumbled Sasuke, his cheeks as red as a tomato.

As he sat opposite one of the most renowned book collectors in Ishigakure, he mentally vowed to murder Kakashi for having chosen such an indecent hobby.

'Are you sure you're old enough to read that, kid?' blinked the book collector.

The book collector himself didn't look too old in Sasuke's opinion but he supposed he looked even younger.

'I'm nineteen,' he informed, sighing. 'And it's not for me,' he added. 'It's supposed to be a present for someone.'

The book collector gaped. 'I hope you're not planning on giving it to an older woman in hopes of… you know.'

Sasuke twitched. 'Are you out of your mind? It's for a perverted, old man I know.'

The book collector eyed him skeptically. 'I should have known,' he sighed. 'Men can't be as pretty as you. So, what made you get into cross-dressing exactly?'

Sasuke felt something crack inside him. 'I. Am. Not. A. Woman.'

'Hey, hey!' laughed the book collector, raising his hands up defensively. 'I was just kidding of course!'

'Do you even have the damn book?' Sasuke glared at him.

'Well, it is pretty rare,' said the book collector, standing up and walking towards the huge, book filled shelves in the room. 'But if I didn't have it, who would?' he winked, taking out the said book. 'It will cost you though.'

'That's not a problem,' replied Sasuke.

After making the purchase, Sasuke gladly left the house.

Two days ago, on his arrival in Ishigakure, Sasuke had seen many posters advertising this very book collector. 'If you can't find it anywhere, it's because I have it' had been the slogan. An idea had hit him almost immediately. He had already gotten things for both Naruto and Sakura and he had been thinking about what to get Kakashi and this seemed like a God sent answer. What was it that Kakashi loved doing the most? Reading his porn collection of course. It was simple. Sasuke just had to get a book from the famous 'Icha Icha' series that the old pervert didn't already have.

After a little research, the kind that involved weird, old men and incentives, Sasuke had figured out that this 'Icha Icha Passion' was the least common one. And so, he had come to this detestable book collector's place to obtain it.

With that done, he only had two more things to do before he could finally, finally return home. One, he had to teach the kids of this village some primary fighting techniques as he had promised. And two, he had to get one last flower for Sakura.

He started making his way towards the training field, it was almost time. The previous day, Sasuke had taken part in a series of exhibition spars that were being held to raise money to buy more hospital equipment for the village. His skills had greatly impressed all that were present and someone had suggested that if he really wanted to help around as much as he said he did, he should hold a couple of free training sessions for all their kids. Sasuke had gladly agreed.

This was going to be the first of those sessions. Parents had been invited to accompany their kids and observe the class. Sasuke set his bag down in the middle of the field and took off his cape, waiting for his 'students' to arrive. Sasuke inwardly laughed. He had never thought of himself as someone who would, one day, end up as a teacher of some sort.

Before he knew it, more than a dozen children had arrived and a few parents too. He felt something tug at the fabric of his pants and looked down. There stood a little, brown haired girl with big, bright green eyes staring up at him. He was instantly reminded of another set of beautiful, green eyes that he hadn't seen in the longest time.

'Sensei,' she smiled.

'Hm?' replied Sasuke uncertainly.

'This is for you,' she said, holding out a small, yellow rose for him.

Sasuke was stunned. He didn't know how to react. After a few seconds of just standing there, dumbfounded, he bent down to her level and took the rose from her hands.

'It's your first day as our teacher,' she started. 'So, I wanted to do something nice for you.'

'You're a kind girl,' he said, smiling at her before something red caught his eye. She was holding a red rose in her other hand.

'Who is that one for?' he smirked and a blush found its way to the girl's face.

'Shi-Shinji-kun,' she whispered, looking at another kid who was sitting not far from where they were.

'Red roses represent love, you know,' teased Sasuke.

'Shhh,' she said, panicking.

Sasuke chuckled before a thought struck him. 'Hey, where did you get these flowers from?'

'Umm, the 'Rose Garden',' she replied.

Rose Garden? Could he have gotten any luckier?

'Will you show me where that is after this class?' he requested.

The girl nodded happily.

'Alright, go take a seat now,' smiled Sasuke and the girl smiled back before complying.

Sasuke cleared his throat, grabbing everyone's attention.

'I…,' he started. 'I am Uchiha Sasuke. I'm here to teach you all some basic taijutsu. There will also be a class here tomorrow at the same time. If you get confused while I'm teaching, feel free to stop me. I hope you learn well.'

There were a few claps and cheers before Sasuke began his demonstration. The class lasted for about an hour and most of it went pretty smoothly. By the end of it, the kids were ecstatic and the parents looked pleased too.

As they all began to leave, Sasuke sat down, exhaling.

'Sensei!'

Sasuke turned to find the little girl he had talked to earlier running up to him with an older woman slowly following behind.

'I asked Okaa-san if I could take you to the garden,' said the girl as she came to a stop, panting. 'She said yes!'

'Kagura knows the way very well,' smiled the woman, also having reached them.

Sasuke nodded in appreciation. 'I will take care of her and drop her home right after.'

'Ah, please do,' said the woman. 'See you later then. Be good, Kagura.'

Now, nearly everyone had left; the only people in the field being him, Kagura and surprisingly, that kid, Shinji. He was still practicing the moves Sasuke had taught the class and would only occasionally stop to glance at Sasuke and Kagura.

Sasuke stood up and started walking towards him. 'Come on,' he told Kagura.

'Need any help?' he offered upon reaching the smaller boy.

The boy shook his head.

'There's another class tomorrow,' said Sasuke. 'You should go home now. You parents must be worried.'

'Don't have any parents,' muttered the boy and suddenly, Sasuke felt a sharp pang inside his chest.

'Shinji-kun,' began Kagura nervously. 'This is for you.'

She held out the red rose for him.

Sasuke saw Shinji blush before he turned away, huffing.

'You're so annoying, Kagura. I told you to stop giving me all these presents.'

Sasuke felt his lips part in disbelief. Was life playing some sort of trick on him?

'B-but Shinji-kun,' started Kagura again but this time, Sasuke interrupted.

'Shinji,' he said. 'Kagura and I were just about to head to the 'Rose Garden'. Want to come?'

'N-no!' replied Shinji at once. 'Why would I go to a stupid place like that?'

'Hm, alright then,' smirked Sasuke. 'Guess we'll just go alone then. Come on, Kagura,' he said, taking her wrist.

'Wait,' spoke up Shinji, just as Sasuke had predicted. 'I'll come.'

'Really, Shinji-kun?' beamed Kagura.

'Hn,' grunted Shinji.

'Déjà vu,' murmured Sasuke. 'Alright, Kagura,' he continued, louder this time. 'Lead the way.'

Kagura nodded before cheerfully skipping ahead. Sasuke and Shinji followed.

'Shinji,' addressed Sasuke.

'What?' he pouted.

'Why are you so cold with Kagura?'

'Because she's annoying,' replied Shinji, narrowing his eyes.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, smirking. 'What about her annoys you exactly?'

'She gives me things.'

'So?'

'And she's always clinging on to me.'

'Maybe that's because she likes you so much.'

Shinji was now a bright shade of red. 'W-well, I don't see why she would like someone like me. There's no reason to.'

Sasuke slowed down as the familiarity of what the boy had said sank in. Kakashi's words rang in his head and he decided to pass them on.

'The only time you need a reason… is when you hate someone.'

Shinji blinked. Sasuke looked at him.

'Don't be afraid,' he continued. 'It's okay if you like her too.'

'She… she can't understand me,' mumbled Shinji.

'Have you given her a chance?'

Shinji frowned. Sasuke slowly ruffled his hair.

'She will,' he assured, smiling. 'If you let her.'

'Hey, you two!'

They looked up to see Kagura calling out to them.

'What are you doing back there? Hurry along now!'

Soon after, they had reached the 'Rose Garden'.

'It lives up to its name,' mused Sasuke as they entered.

There were rose bushes as far as he could see and the flowers were in full bloom. Red ones, pink ones, orange ones, where were the white ones?

'Isn't it beautiful, sensei?' grinned Kagura, running all around the place.

'Hn,' agreed Sasuke, eyes scanning the place for the required flower.

'Are you looking for a particular color, sensei?' questioned Kagura. 'I can help you.'

'Aa,' he nodded. 'I need a white one.'

'Are you getting one for your girlfriend?' said Shinji cheekily.

Now, it was Sasuke's turn to blush.

'She's not my girlfriend,' he muttered.

'Oh, so there is someone!' smirked Shinji.

'Sensei must be shy just like you, Shinji-kun,' giggled Kagura, blushing. 'After all, you don't call me your girlfriend either.'

'You are not my girlfriend!' screamed Shinji.

'Kids,' began Sasuke, trying to ease the commotion. 'Look for a white one, okay?'

The children nodded and started looking around. Sasuke did too.

As he searched, his mind contemplated the dynamics between the two kids he was with right now. He couldn't deny that they were an awful lot like what he and Sakura used to be.

And so, if he could make it easier for them, even to the smallest extent, if he could keep that little boy from breaking that little girl's heart somewhere down the road, not because he didn't like her, for Sasuke was sure he did, but because of his insecurities and stubbornness, maybe, just maybe he could forgive himself a little for what he had done to Sakura.

'Sensei,' he heard Shinji call out. 'I found it.'

Sasuke walked up to him and saw that he had indeed found a bush of white roses. He promptly extended his hand and picked out a large, carefully carved, white rose.

'Pssst.'

Sasuke looked down to find Shinji urging him to come closer.

'What?' questioned Sasuke, bending down.

'Should… should I also get one for Kagura?' Shinji blushed.

Sasuke smirked. 'Of course. Get a pink one.'

'Why pink?' blinked Shinji.

'A pink one means 'thank you'. Kagura… she's done a lot for you, hasn't she? You should start by thanking her for it.'

'O-oh,' nodded Shinji. 'And after that?'

Sasuke held back a chuckle at his eagerness. 'After that, you can step it up with a red one. Those are for love.'

'Everyone knows that,' Shinji pouted again, still flushed. 'But then, why… why is sensei picking out a white one for his girlfriend?'

'White roses,' began Sasuke. 'They seem so pure and untainted,' he said, caressing the delicate petals. 'It only seems fitting that they be used to signify…'

'Signify what?!' demanded Shinji as Sasuke trailed off. 'Tell me!' he almost screeched, curiousness getting the better of him.

Kagura walked up to them, also keen to know what 'sensei' had to say. Sasuke smiled.

'A new beginning.'

A/N: So, I really enjoyed writing this chapter and I hope you enjoyed reading it. Please give me feedback, it's my source of motivation hehe! O:) Oh and Merry Christmas! ^^