'Stop. Stop. Stop,' Sasuke told himself while kissing Sakura, but he didn't listen. 'For once in your fucked up life, do the right thing!'

It didn't matter how much the man hated himself for following his emotions rather than logic; there was no way in hell he'd turn away from that woman while she stood there crying because of him.

The moment he opened the door to shoo Karin out of his room and his eyes landed on the pink-haired girl, all alarms went off at full volume. He'd been trying to move on from his unhealthy obsession with her, but when he recognized the look of betrayal on her pale face, he wanted nothing other than to throw his fist through a wall.

Finally pulling away, ending their kiss, he searched her teary-eyed face again. 'She's always so pretty, even when she's crying.'

Rather lamely, he admitted, "You're right. I have no clue what I'm doing." Sakura's brow furrowed, as she likely assumed he was trying to take back what he'd just done, but Sasuke interrupted, "But I won't hurt you on purpose."

He meant it, too. When he became so enamored by her that he was willing to try something he swore off years ago, he didn't know, but that was the case. After Izumi, the man vowed never to look for or stumble upon love. He didn't deserve it.

'Itachi will be happy when he finds out, but he shouldn't be.'

Sasuke said, "Let's get some sleep. It's late."

"Okay, but, um, I-I don't want to do anything…."

He rolled his eyes, giving the woman a light shove toward the bed while he turned to click off the lights, "I'm not an idiot."

Sakura lay on her side with her back against the wall, facing him as he joined her under the covers.

'Why's she so far away?' Just when he was about to ask aloud, he remembered how rare it was for her to allow someone to touch her and decided against it, 'I've pushed my luck enough for one night.'

The pair remained silent as they fell asleep, though Sasuke took much longer.

If the angry, hurt expression on the woman's face earlier as she yelled at him was anything to go by, Sasuke was fortunate she didn't completely ice him out. Sure, she'd gotten angry at him in the past, but it wasn't fiery hot like tonight.

When he thought about why that was, a satisfied feeling washed over him, 'She was jealous. I didn't take her for the type.'

Yes, it was serious, not comical, because he hadn't simply flirted with someone. Sasuke slept with one of her only friends, knowing very well that it would affect her. That said, it stroked his ego a little to know Sakura felt that strongly.

'If I pull some shit like that again, she'll disappear. There's not a doubt in my mind.'

Even if Sasuke did want to find some random whore to sleep with, he couldn't because he'd only be able to picture Sakura's face, to remember her voice and scent. It was odd, realizing a man notorious for having a new partner each week only wanted one specific person. It was definitely a unique experience.

He turned onto his back, sliding his hand under the pillow with a sigh, only to open his eyes when his fingers wrapped around something cold and metal. It was a knife, and he knew it before pulling it out to stare at in the dark room. The weapon reminded him that next to nothing about Sakura's past was known. Obviously, It had darkness, or she wouldn't be spooked enough to sleep with a blade.

'Fuck, that's why she sleeps so little, isn't it? She's scared of something. Someone,' Sasuke turned onto his side again, looking at the woman's sleeping face with new eyes, 'Who is it? It has to be a guy because she doesn't like hanging around men. They make her uncomfortable.'

The weapon was returned to its spot under the pillow, and the Uchiha man reached under the blanket and searched until he found her hand, gently allowing her to unconsciously grasp it like she had last time.

'What did he do to her? Did he hit her? What if he-' Unbridled rage flooded his entire being before he could even finish the thought, so he shook his head and tried to think about something else.

Sasuke was remembering all sorts of things now that he'd come to the conclusion that she had, indeed, been hurt by someone. She squeezes her eyes closed and tries to make herself smaller whenever anyone speaks too loudly, even if they aren't talking to her. If the tiniest mistake is made, she apologizes like she'll be killed on the spot for not being perfect.

'And above all else, she hates being paid attention to.'

Unlike most women, Sakura tried to remain invisible rather than seek out compliments or talk endlessly. It took the Uchiha man only a few days of living together to conclude that he couldn't make assumptions about her just because she was a girl. He'd been waiting for her to say something to try and tempt him to flirt, but it never happened.

The warm, gentle feeling in his chest was becoming more and more normal. It appeared again as he looked at the woman, barely holding back the urge to pull her closer because he knew it'd scare her if she woke up.

Uncharacteristically, he whispered, "I wish you'd tell me what happened."

Though Sakura was fast asleep, and he knew that, a tiny bit of disappointment came over Sasuke when she didn't respond.

For the first time in a long time, Sakura slept well and didn't even dream. There was only the overwhelming relief that she and Sasuke were finally on the same page and the electric anxiety, borderline excitement, that he was sleeping so close when neither of them was drunk.

Emerald green eyes crept open in the morning to see the man's back. They traveled up to admire the adorable way his black hair had become a mess throughout the night, the tiniest hint of a smirk tugging at her lips. More than anything, the pink-haired girl was grateful that he hadn't disregarded her boundaries while she slept.

'He likes physical affection. I don't need to ask or even see it to know. He always barely stops himself from touching me.'

Blushing, Sakura decided to try meeting him halfway. She cautiously scooted closer, slipping an arm over his waist, pressing her forehead to his back, and closing her eyes with a calming breath.

Like a stove that'd just been turned on, the woman gradually became warmer and warmer until it felt like she'd begin to sweat. Just before she could pull away, Sasuke spoke in a raspy voice, deep from sleeping, "You don't have to panic all the time. Do you really think I'll get mad?"

"It's…not that," she replied, pulling her arm from over his side but snuggling into his back instead of scooting away now that she knew he was awake.

"I have a question," the man sounded half-asleep, still, which was a little cute, so Sakura made a sound encouraging him to ask it. He hesitated momentarily before saying, "Skip your classes today."

Sakura scoffed, "That didn't sound like a question."

He made an amused sound, "Do it. Stay in bed."

After pondering for a moment, the woman admitted sheepishly, "I think I have a fever anyway, so I guess it'll be alright. Just for today."

The man slowly rolled over to face her, dark eyes hazy with sleep as he pressed a hand to her forehead with a frown that just got deeper when he realized she was, indeed, quite warm.

He didn't say anything, but she could tell he felt terrible because she'd obviously gotten sick from walking around in the dead of winter at night while taking Karin home yesterday. Part of her wanted to say something to ease his guilt, but she didn't because he deserved to suffer at least a little. Just because they kissed doesn't mean the woman was entirely over being angry with him.

'We need to talk about things, but where do we even start?'

Are they just friends that were open about their physical attraction to one another? Are they more than friends? Sakura couldn't imagine Sasuke agreeing to date, even if they ended up doing everything a couple would.

As the woman stared at his stoic face, she felt her temperature rising again, 'Was he always this handsome?'

Having agreed to play hooky, the duo ended up moving to Sasuke's room after Sakura forced him to change the sheets. Then, they watched movies of all genres. It wasn't like they paid much attention to them anyway. Barely half an hour into the first one, Sakura couldn't help but ask, "How old are you?"

"What?"

"I know you're around my age, but I don't know the year you were born," she said a little softer, feeling embarrassed. They were lying side by side, just far apart enough that their arms were mere inches from touching.

"Guess," the attractive man teased, amusement thick in his tone.

Sakura glanced over to survey his features, looking back at the screen when he noticed, "Uh, twenty-four?"

The Uchiha scoffed, "Holy fuck! Do I really look that old? I'm twenty-two."

"That's only a two-year difference. It's not like I said you look thirty or something."

Sasuke hummed, not bothering to avert his stare, when she caught him looking, "I bet you're twenty-one. I'd guess younger if I didn't meet you in a bar."

"Should I be flattered or offended? Do I look like a teenager?"

"You're just…little," he said with a strange, unfamiliar warmth in his eyes.

She blushed, frowning as she faced the television again, "I can't help that. It's genetics. My mom and grandma had small chests, too."

'Figures he'd make a comment on that. Pervert.'

Since reaching puberty, Sakura'd been teased about being flat-chested. A lot of it came from her very own boyfriend and friends. She was too scared they'd get upset if she told them it made her uncomfortable, so she suffered in silence. That ignorant choice ended with her developing a stigma.

"I meant you're entire body, not your tits. Get your mind out of the gutter," he faced the TV, too, but reached over to wrap his fingers loosely around her wrist.

The pair was silent for about an hour, the movie ending and another one beginning, before Sasuke hesitantly asked, "Earlier, you said "had" when talking about your mom and grandma. Are they…?"

'Why does he suddenly want to know about me? He's never so much as asked my favorite color.'

Either way, the woman responded, "My grandma died when I was in middle school."

"And your mom?"

Sakura's eyes glazed over, so she wasn't actually seeing the screen, though it appeared that she was, 'I can't tell him everything. Not yet.' She decided to open up a bit, but not entirely, "Dead to me."

The question of why that was hung in the air, but the pinkette quickly asked, "What about you? Do you have any family besides Itachi around here?"

"Tobi's a distant cousin by marriage, but other than that, no. All my blood relatives are dead."

'The terrified look on his face when he thought Itachi was dying makes sense now. That's his one weakness: his brother.' Empathetic sadness washed over her, and she turned her arm upright so he could interlace their fingers instead of holding her wrist, "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I have family out there, and I've cut them out of my life when you probably-" "That's stupid as fuck. Don't think things like that."

Things became quiet briefly before he mumbled, "You're lying here with me after all I've done, so you must have a good reason for it."

"Can we change the subject?" Sakura asked bluntly. She didn't want the topic to remain so serious when they were only just now getting along.

"Oh, are we playing twenty questions? I'll go first," Sasuke said in a mock-gossipping tone, as though pretending to be one of her female friends, "Favorite food."

"You'll laugh," she blushed, continuing when he made a sound of denial, "Cheeseburgers."

The man chuckled, "I never would've guessed. Toppings?"

"Loaded!"

They looked at one another when he squeezed her hand, and her heart fluttered when he grinned playfully, "Let's order that tonight. I have to see it."

Sakura rolled her eyes, "You're paying."

"Naturally."

"Okay, my turn, right? Um, how old were you when you had your first kiss?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his grin turning into a smirk, "Damn. Here I was, going easy on you to be nice, and you're going straight for the fucking dirty details." He made a show of pondering the question before saying, "Thirteen."

'So young! He'll never stop teasing me if he finds out I was sixteen for mine.'

It was comfortable between the pair as they continued asking one another questions. The casual vibe that the Uchiha man emitted worked wonders to relieve her unease, reminding the woman why she was initially drawn to him in the first place. No other man, not even her teachers, could come close or talk with her like this without Sakura being on edge.

'I wonder why that is….'

That evening, Sasuke left before returning with food; burgers as promised. Sakura often found herself too nervous to eat much, her stomach twisting into knots that refused to loosen. She'd just spent hours getting comfortable, so that wasn't the case this time.

'Cute….' Sasuke thought while watching the tiny woman before him in awe. Unlike he'd ever seen her before, Sakura ate casually. 'She wasn't lying. It really is her favorite.'

At this hour yesterday, he'd have never guessed that he'd be sitting there, sharing a meal with the pink-haired woman after spending the entire day together. When Itachi suggested getting to know her better, he was hesitant because he knew he'd feel this way afterward: even more enamored than before.

Sasuke clung to every little fact he was given.

She likes traditional "guy" foods like burgers, steak, and BBQ. Her favorite color is red, but she also really likes green. Winter is her favorite season, while Summer is her least. She gets cold more easily than anyone he's ever met, but the man didn't need her to tell him that. He'd picked it up on his own.

Something told him not to ask the deeper questions yet, so he stuck to superficial things.

'What will she do if she discovers how obsessed I've become? I need to hide it well, for both our sakes.' The concept of someone trying to get close scared each of them, but likely for different reasons.

His reason was that he didn't deserve to be happy, and he knew it. That's why he deluded himself to one-night stands, partying, and carrying on like a world-class douchebag. Sure, those things were cool when he was a teenager, but now he'd matured enough to see how much that lifestyle lacked substance.

'Nothing, and no one stays.' If they tried, Sasuke would make them hate his guts, so they wouldn't dare come crawling back.

He hated himself, and it was easier to remain unhappy and self-punishing when surrounded by boring or annoying things.

'But now Sakura's here, and I can't do that to her; I won't,' the man thought, eyeing her profile as she watched the action movie on TV and continued eating, 'This is the most selfish thing I've done other than getting Izumi killed.'

Sakura had no idea just how fucked up a person Sasuke was, but he held back just enough of that side of him that she didn't notice.

"Are you feeling okay? I didn't get you sick, did I? Why aren't you eating?" The object of his desires was looking at him with bright green eyes and a concerned frown. He shook his head, wordlessly taking a bite so she'd stop staring.

That night, after both had showered, separately, of course, Sasuke lay in bed in a suddenly not-so-happy mood because she'd gone to Zetsu's room to sleep, 'I thought after last night, and today, she'd just sleep here.'

That thought led him to realize he may have made a mistake in assuming she felt even a fraction of what he did. 'She let me kiss her, but that doesn't mean she's up for anything.' Groaning to himself, his eyes shot open, 'What if she just wants to be friends?'

Panic, anger, confusion, and a few unfamiliar low emotions swirled around the pit of Sasuke's stomach.

A soft knock on the door interrupted his stressing, and he rolled over to see Sakura enter, quietly closing the door behind her and crouching beside the bed, "Can I, um…Can I sleep in here, just for tonight?"

The man sat up, eyes narrowing when he recognized the expression on her face as something negative. She was scared for some reason. "What's wrong?" He nodded, though, and turned to face her when she climbed under the covers.

She lowered her eyes to his chest, voice soft and wavering, "It's freezing tonight, and you're warm, so I thought maybe I should take advantage of that."

'Fucking liar. You're not even good at it.'

Sasuke hesitated to say or do anything as he watched her eyes squeeze closed and her head lower to try (and fail) to hide that she was in tears. He was pissed at her for not being honest, but he kept in mind that even someone like her had pride. She didn't want to swallow it and admit to not wanting to be alone.

So, when the man got the urge to pull her closer into his chest, he didn't hold it back this time and prayed it wasn't a huge mistake. He did it. He wrapped an arm around her waist and maneuvered her so he could slip his other one beneath her.

The scent of her shampoo wafted over him as she tensed up, hands fisting his shirt, "...Sasuke?"

The Uchiha man pressed his lips to her forehead, not quite a kiss, and grumbled softly, "You said you were cold, didn't you?"

It was then that Sakura realized he knew she'd lied, and he could tell because she steadily relaxed her muscles until her face was buried in his shirt, and she was freely sniffling. The woman nodded moments later with a barely audible voice saying, "It was like ice in there."

'What she's really trying to say is that it was bad, whatever shook her. Maybe another nightmare? That's the most likely thing.' Always the selfish one, Sasuke tried to memorize the feeling of her petite body pressed against his as he drifted off to sleep.