Clash

by keoo19

It was supposed to be an easy escort mission. But what was easy when you had a hotheaded Kunoichi and a stoic Ninja? Especially when their names are none other than Haruno Sakura and Hatake Kakashi. KakaSaku, Slight SasuSaku. Rated M for Language & Content.

17. Ambivalence

Ambivalence

---

"Ugh," Her head dropped back down against the arm of the couch. She slowly placed the frozen bag of peas on her cheek. "Ow, Ow, Ow…" She gasped.

"Sakura, just heal it." She sighed, succumbing to the numbness of her angry bruise.

"I can't. I don't want to become dependent on my healing chakra." Naruto frowned.

"Last I checked, you were a medical ninja." It was her turn to frown.

"I am, Naruto, but my body can't grow a dependence on my chakra healing everything. What'll happen when I'm injured and I have none left? The healing will be automatic, so my body will try to squeeze out whatever little chakra I have left. And then I'll either be comatose, or die. I'm already dependent, and it's taking a lot to restrain my body from healing this stupid, stupid bruise." She finished with a sigh. Naruto's eyebrows furrowed. He really hated when she lectured him. She could've stopped at 'I can't'. It would've sufficed. He came from around the kitchen wall and placed her mug of tea on the coffee table in front of her.

"Well, you should've never gotten into a fight in the first place." He muttered. She shot up, a scowl on her face, and the bag of peas fell into her lap.

"You were there, she started it! She always starts it!" She shouted, her anger coming back.

"You don't always have to finish it, Sakura! Once, just once, can you walk away from TenTen? Please, for the sake of my sanity, and for the sake of the Village. Kami knows they don't need any more reasons to talk about you, yet you insist on giving them some!" She huffed, turning away from him on the couch.

"Oh please. I wouldn't have even been there if it wasn't for you setting me up with Izumo and Kotetsu. Of all people—of all people, you chose Izumo and Kotetsu. The gay guys!" His eyes narrowed.

"First of all, they're not gay. They're just best friends." Sakura pursed her lips unbelievingly. "And second of all, I did it for your sake—"

"My sake—"

"Let me finish, Haruno." He held up a finger and pointed it at her. She frowned. "You were just about ready to slaughter Sasuke where he stood a few weeks ago, so excuse me for trying to rush home to see you! They tried to force me to go through customs, and you know the longer your mission, the more paperwork. I just didn't have the time. They asked me to get you a date, and I said yes." He moved to sit on the coffee table in front of her, his hands outstretched, pleading. "Sakura, I'm sorry." She shook her head.

"Naruto, you didn't even ask me. I was at a public pub, in the middle of Village square for Kami's sake. On a date, with two men," She held up two fingers. "Then, me, unknowing to this so-called date, went and practically made-out with Neji. Again, in public!" She covered her face in her hands and made a noise of exasperation. "Naruto you know that girl hates me. You just gave her another reason to run her mouth around the Village. You knew about Neji, yet you still…" He ran a hand through his hair.

"Sakura, I thought that was a fling! I didn't—"

"Yeah, Naruto, you didn't. I don't…" She leaned back against the couch and sighed. "I don't know what's happening. I have to deal with TenTen's mouth, along with the talk around the Village. And now everyone's expecting me to just drop Neji because Sasuke's here, and I can't…I can't do that. Sasuke doesn't even know about us. I mean, I barely even know about us." Another sigh.

"Are you going to tell him?" Naruto asked. She rubbed her hand against her forehead.

"No. Neji and I are…I can't…I don't even know what to call it. We're not tied to each other, but—" Hearing a knock on the door, she groaned. She looked around and her gaze stopped at Naruto. His eyes were furrowed. She got up to see who her unwelcomed visitor was. "I don't need Sasuke's thoughts in my conscious, added to the many people who forced their way into it." She gave him a pointed look as she opened the door. "He's expecting me to love him after all this time, and that alone is hard enough. Then, he'll overcomplicate things with Neji when it's already complicated enough, and just—Oh, just please don't tell him about this, Naruto." She turned back to the door and was taken aback as she stared at the tall figure leaning on her doorframe. "Kakashi-sensei?" He nodded, giving her a two-finger wave and his usual eye crinkle.

"Yo. Can I come in? It gets chilly at night, so…" She opened the door wider welcoming him inside. He looked around.

"Sit anywhere." She said. He chose the couch. She shook her head in confusion and closed the door. Walking back to her seat beside him on the couch, she picked up her mug of tea and took a sip. "So, what exactly brings you to my humble abode?" He leaned back, outstretching his legs and folding his arms behind his head.

"Well, I was having a late night drink, minding my own business…" She groaned, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, I'm buzzed, so I leave. I have a meeting in the morning, and it wouldn't do to piss off Lady Hokage that early, especially since I'm already going to be late, and she's already going to be drunk." He waved his hand, getting off topic. "So, I'm leaving. And as I'm walking down the street, a drunk bastard comes and tells me how my student is getting their ass beat." Her eyes widened. "Now, I didn't think too much of it, seeing that I have three students." He raised three gloved fingers, the fabric cut off at the knuckles. "Sasuke's incapacitated, but I'm sure he wouldn't take getting beat up sitting down. Naruto getting into bar fights is usual, whether he wins or not, so I don't think someone would feel the liberty to come and tell me. Then I thought about my third student, the hothead." He smiled as she frowned, taking another sip of her tea.

"I'm not a hothead…" She grumbled. His gaze turned to the bag of peas in her lap.

"Uh-huh." He stated unbelievably, smacking his lips. "Well, who was it? Had to have been some magician to evade your fists and land a few punches, enough for someone to tell me you were getting beat up." She fumed. Slowly, she lowered the mug from her lips to her lap. Gripping the edges, she inhaled and exhaled.

"It was TenTen again." Naruto said.

"Ah," He tilted his head upward in understanding. "So the bullshit I heard was probably just a paid messenger. A sorry attempt at trying to save face. Everyone already knows how much of a rioter you are." She rolled her eyes as he examined her. "I see how she fared," He nodded at the bag of peas in her lap. She unconsciously touched the numerous bruises on her face. "How did you do?" Naruto sighed heavily.

"Coma." He said. Kakashi's eyes widened. She exhaled and looked to the ceiling.

"Again?" He asked, exasperation evident in his voice. "You fight like such a man, Sakura." He muttered under his breath. He caught her glare.

"It's not even like that." She argued. He narrowed his eyes. "She called me a slut." She murmured the last part. "And I didn't even put her in a coma! I gave her a few taps and the little bitch passed out!" Kakashi sighed.

"Are you a slut, Sakura?" She furrowed her eyebrows.

"Is that a rhetorical question?" He rolled his eyes.

"No."

"Oh. Then no." He pulled on strands of his hair, shrugging his shoulders.

"Then stop being so damn sensitive to the word. This is the third time you and TenTen have gotten into it because of that. The both of you fight with each other a lot—no. You just fight a lot period." He said pointing to her. She narrowed his eyes. "You're too old to be irresponsible. Everyone's not out to get you." She scowled, finishing her tea.

"She is." Sakura grumbled. He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"I know where you're coming from. But you two are comrades. You can't keep fighting like this, especially with the amount of hate you have towards each other. I have to talk to Guy." He yawned, stretching his arms above his head. "And fighting over Neji? Tch." He scoffed. She glared. "Sasuke's here now. Pretty available bachelor if you ask me. Just take him instead—"

"Don't you have a home you can go to? Last I checked this wasn't yours." She snapped. He smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck.

"You see, about that…" She gave him a pointed look.

"I'm waiting." She crossed her arms and sat back as he sighed.

"Well, I was having a late night drink, minding my own business—" She raised a threatening hand.

"Don't do it." She growled. He rolled his eye.

"And these three women tried to seduce me." He finished in more serious tones. He wasn't lying… "I think they tried to get me drunk. Well anyway, their hands were a little too familiar with my body, and I think they made off with a few of my things. Included but not limited to, my wallet, my Jonin ID, my house keys, and some lottery tickets." He finished, counting off with his fingers. She slapped a hand to her forehead. So how, how did he expect to make it to his meeting in the morning without his Jonin ID?

"Baka-sensei, you're too old to be irresponsible." She said sweetly, mockingly. "And I mean that in the nicest of ways." He frowned. Then she rolled her eyes. "Sensei, you can sleep on the couch." His mouth opened in protest. "Naruto already called dibs on the bed and the guest room was made into a care room for Sasuke. He's pretty much under right now, so there's no arguing for that bed. I'll bring out some extra blankets and pillows, though." His shoulders slumped in defeat as she stood. Biting her lip, she turned back around and faced him. Her eyes were pleading and her fingers were folded together. "Please Sensei, if he wakes up and I'm still asleep; don't tell him about what happened tonight."

"Well, what did happen tonight?" She froze as the door to the care room shut, and she heard the familiar noise of his crutches as he hobbled from the hallway to the living room. Kakashi shrugged his shoulders.

"Nothing. Just Sakura and TenTen fighting over Nej—"

"Negotiating a Hospital room!" She blurted out. Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed as he slowly lowered himself into the armchair, placing his crutches on the floor. Her head whipped around and gave Kakashi a cold glare. He raised his hands. "I told you not to say anything!" She whispered harshly.

"I thought you meant about your date," He tried to sound innocent, but it failed when a laugh broke through. She turned back to Sasuke.

"What do I need a Hospital room for? I thought the care room was good enough." She waved her hands, trying to quickly think of a response.

Yes, but…" She looked at Naruto. He shook his head. "It's hard for me to heal you standing up; on top of that you're tall. The Hospital will have the necessary materials so it'll be comfortable for us both." She grabbed a hair tie from her medic skirt, combing her hair back with her fingers and putting it in a ponytail on top of her head. "I didn't want you to think that what I have here isn't adequate enough for your proper recovery." He shook his head and waved her away. Now she'd actually have to buy a Hospital suite, and then find the time to bring him out of the house to take him there.

Why were her lies always so complicated?

"But why were you two fighting about it? It's simple; I need it more." She rolled her eyes, opening her mouth in response, but Kakashi cut her off. Again.

"She and TenTen are always fighting." He piped in. She slowly turned around and reached into her medic skirt.

"You just consented to your death, you know that right?" She whispered, low and calm. He blanked, looking into her hands.

"What are you doing with that?" He asked, pointing to the object in her hands. She turned back to Sasuke, subtly hiding it behind her back. "Sakura—" A sharp pain was felt in his thigh, and immediately he felt weak. "What…did you—?"

"The important thing is I got you the room." Sasuke nodded apprehensively. "Naruto, could you go and get Kaka-sensei some blankets and pillows? He looks tired." She finished sweetly. Naruto hurriedly ran to the cabinet in the hallway, in fear of getting stabbed as well. Kakashi's breaths slowed.

"What are you doing up anyway?" Naruto questioned, spreading the blanket over Kakashi's unconscious body and placing a pillow under his head.

"It's morning. I thought that's when everyone woke up." Sasuke said sarcastically. "I know I haven't been in Konoha for long, but I didn't think the whole ante meridiem would change." He smirked. Naruto frowned.

"No, you bastard, it's midnight." It was Sasuke turn to frown. He looked at Sakura.

"You weren't supposed to wake up until morning. I gave you a small dosage, but I see now that it wasn't strong enough." He smirked.

"Give me Naruto's dosage." Her eyes widened.

"I don't remember a Bijuu inheriting your body." She snapped. "He's usually out for weeks—no months, depending on how restless the Kyuubi is feeling. That just means a more dangerous dosage. Dangerous meaning toxic." She didn't need his arrogance or his superiority complex. She's had a long night, and she's had enough of someone trying to best another. In her case, the same scenario in which she was reveling in the fact that she was "with" Neji and TenTen wasn't. She covered her face in her hands, plopping down on the arm of the couch. "Just…eight. I'll try for eight hours, but it's kind of hit and miss when trying to convert dosages into time." She sighed, smoothing her hair back. Her head was in her hands, propped up by the elbows on her knees.

Naruto quickly sensed the tension and pushed himself off of the wall he was leaned against. It was late, anyway. And if he had any chance of sneaking into the meeting in the morning with Kakashi, he needed his rest too. If there was a way he could get his Sensei there on time, dragging his unconscious if need be, then he'd do it.

"Well, I'm going to turn in, Sakura. It's been a long night." She pursed her lips.

"I know what you're bargaining for, Uzumaki. And you do have to pass the Chunin exams before even thinking about taking the Jonin ones. Sitting in on a Jonin meeting doesn't qualify you at all, nor does it make any exceptions. Keep dreaming." He frowned, walking to her room and closing the door behind him.

"Yeah, and sweet dreams to you too, Haruno." He called out. She hummed, her demeanor changing. Naruto was the only one keeping the tension between them at bay. He must've sensed it, apparently, and he left. She knew that Sasuke knew, because she knew that he wasn't stupid.

Looking up, she found him staring at her, his eyes scrutinizing. After a while, she looked away. She didn't know what he was thinking, she never did, but whatever it was, it was judgmental. She…she just couldn't. She had to go.

"I'm gonna…" She stood and stretched, pulling her hair free from its ponytail. She ran both of her hands down her locks, untangling them. Moving, she started for her room. "I'm gonna turn in. I had a lot of drinks tonight, so—"

"Sakura." She stopped, just past the armchair where he was seated. Her eyes closed and her hands fisted in her medic skirt.

"Sasuke, please." He ignored her pleas. He didn't seem to care.

"I thought you and TenTen used to get along." She shrugged her shoulders.

"We still do," She lied. "We argue just like Ino and I argue." He chuckled as she frowned at his careless attitude.

"Well, that poor henge says otherwise, Sakura. That's a nasty bruise you got there." He finished matter-of-factly. She slumped, moving the hair out of her face. "I didn't know you fought like this. I didn't know you and Neji were together either—"

"How is that your business?" She retorted, looking at him through the corner of her eyes. He was taken aback. Then he hummed.

"No, it's not. You're right. But it became my business the second you tried to hide it from me." She rubbed her eyes with the backs of her hands.

"I'm not hiding it from you. It's just…I don't need another voice in my head telling me what to do. I'm probably the most scrutinized person in the Village right now, just because I'm "with" Neji, and not you. It was just a kiss," She put her hand over her eyes, digging her fingers into her temples. "A stupid, petty kiss. Then feelings got involved and it turned into a fling, which turned into something more, and..." She sighed heavily. "Whatever we have, whatever anyone wants to call it, it's private. And that's a prime example as to why I fight with TenTen. My private life means nothing to her. I'm just another interesting topic at the bath, which she frequents—"

"Sakura, I'm not forcing you into anything. You're free to live your life with whomever, and I have nothing to do with that. Why you felt the need to hide it is beyond me. I don't own you, nor do I control your actions." She shook her head fervently, her hands covering her face.

"You can say that to me, but I know it's just a damned lie. You're back, and the whole Village knows it. And it seems like they know more about us than we do. And I hate that." She squeezed her eyes shut. "They have so much to say…According to their rule book, because of me and Naruto's fight, our struggle, just to get you home, we're practically supposed to be married right now!" His eyebrows furrowed.

"Married?" She rolled her eyes at his ignorance to it all. He didn't know what went on while he was gone. He didn't know the talk of Sakura and Sasuke. How, when he supposedly returned, they would be reunited, and because of the love they had for each other, would immediately get married. Now, many of those lies were fabricated in her mind, a part of her fantasies, and she knew this. Ignoring him, she went on.

"But I reacted wrong by not taking you in with open arms and by making a scene in the Village Square. Then of course shunning you for so long…So excuse me for my bitterness, but right now I'm failing in their eyes because of my actions. I haven't exactly followed their to-do list. I can't take that weight, Sasuke. It'd be something different if we're together, but I can't even give them credit for hitting close to the mark." She felt the throbbing under her eye now more than ever. She dropped the henge. It was taking up too much of her energy, energy that she already didn't have. Upon seeing it, Sasuke cringed.

"God, Sakura," He whispered. It was bad, she knew. Apparently she added chakra in that punch. The whole left side of her face was swollen, purple, and it hurt like hell.

"I don't know what I'm doing. I can't even pretend like I do, because it's obvious to everyone that I don't. When you came back I distanced myself from everyone. My temper was short and I was always in my 'don't fuck with me' mood. It didn't take rocket science to tell. I have horrible headaches all the time, and this shitload of gray in my hair doesn't always blend nicely with the pink." Grabbing her head in her hands, she bit her lip. "It's so damn stressing to deal with everything at the same time. And you're not helping my case at all." He raised his eyebrows and she threw him a pointed look right back. She hated when he played dumb. He just wanted her to say it. "I don't know how long I'll be with Neji. I just know that when it's over, I won't be enough for you." She inhaled sharply and dropped to her knees. Facing him, she leaned her head on the arm of the chair. She watched him, and he watched her.

It was silent for a long time, and Sakura took this time to just breathe. He couldn't accuse her of holding anything back anymore. And the fact that he had nothing to say just added to the burdens on her shoulders. So what exactly did he think? It couldn't be her fault that Sasuke didn't come back in time.

Neji kissed her first.

It was too long, the silence. His eyes were closed now, and her breaths were slower. She was falling asleep. Her adrenaline was finally draining from her body, the events of the day finally catching up with her. She was experiencing the crash. The fatigue right now was unbearable.

"Sasuke." She whispered first. Her body moved of its own accord as her head shifted and rested on his knee.

"You're enough." Was all he said. She lifted her forehead so her eyes could see him. He was staring back at her.

"Sasuke—"

"Sakura, you're enough." Her head dropped again. She sighed.

"You don't understand. I know what you want, Sasuke." She felt him sit up. "You want babies, with little to none emotional attachment at that. You want someone to be able to carry on your family name. I get that completely. But I'm 17, and you don't love me." His mouth quickly opened in protest.

"I—"

"Stop, Sasuke! Please." She's been through this before. She didn't need to hear some calculated answer of his so-called love. She didn't need to hear how she was essential to the continuation of his Kekkei Genkai. Rejection was the last thing she needed. "You only think you love me." She concluded. He tried to speak again. She shot up, pointing a finger at him. "For once, just listen." She turned away from him. Looking at his face was unbearable. Especially with that impassive expression of his. "You need to love me right now. You need to make yourself believe that you love me, so that it'll be easier to be with me." A tear fell from her eye unexpected. "I know what real love looks like, Sasuke. I see it all the time with my mom and dad, and I used to think that I felt it for you.

"I would do anything for you back then. I didn't care how many shades of fucked up you were, I didn't care how many times you and Naruto fought, how many times you pushed me away…I kept coming back because I just wanted to be with you. I loved you, despite everything, I loved you." She finished with a chuckle. "For me, all of that is gone. I don't—I can't feel that anymore. So Sasuke, answer me this. Is that the kind of love you feel for me? If so, I'll drop everything, just for you. Because I'd like to be in love with someone like that again. For real." Her heart clenched. "But if not, if that isn't the case with you, please, don't pretend for me. Don't let the relationship be based off of lies." Her head moved back onto his knee. He was still, tense and still.

It was silent again.

She closed her eyes, squeezed them shut. She feared his answer, but at the same time, closure would be good for her. It'd be another answer to the questions that she had for the broken, confused boy in front of her.

The silence went on and on, the clench on her heart becoming tighter and tighter with every passing minute. She exhaled in soft, short bursts, trying to regain control over her emotions. She glanced at him, his eyes were still closed. For once, there was an expression on his face. It was conflicted and full of thought.

Well, she'd just leave him to that.

She hurriedly raised herself and took long swift steps to her room. She paused as she got to the door. A part of her couldn't take his lack of an answer. A part of her wanted to turn right back around and wait for him. It's been seven years. He's done enough thinking, and she's done enough waiting. She opened the door to the room.

"Wait for me." He called out to her. She choked out a breath as the tightening clench on her heart released itself.

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results."

---

9 months later

"I know I should've gone with you to the tailors."

"Well," She stepped off of the stone walkway and onto the paved ground. "It wasn't even that serious. There was an exchanging of hellos, and then there was the exchanging of goodbyes." Sakura replied, brushing her bang aside.

"Yeah, okay." Ino appeared beside her, the tips of her hair fisted in her hands. They stopped; Sakura's head was forcefully jerked back and pulled closer to the taller woman's body. "Now, you can rephrase your lie into the truth, or I can pull your precious hair out." Sakura panicked.

"Ino, okay, okay!" As she let go, Sakura quickly fixed her hair into a bun on top of her head. "You didn't have to be that extreme, Pig. I'm trying to grow this back." She grumbled, securing her hairstyle with two small pins.

"After all of these years, you still think the Uchiha is into girls with long hair?" Sakura glared.

"That's not funny, Ino." She frowned as small strands fell onto her face. She tucked them behind her ear. "I just want to try something different. I see your hair has gotten longer upon his return as well, Pig." Ino hummed.

"You're horrible at switching subjects. My threat still stands, Forehead." Sakura laughed, raising her arms filled with shopping bags up in surrender.

"Okay, okay." She shrugged her shoulders. "So, maybe a few tears were shed, but that was basically the gist—"

"Sakura! You cried? What did he do?" She pursed her lips.

"Stop yelling, Ino. I haven't been the bath topic for a long time, and I would kind of like to keep it that way." She finished, throwing her a pointed look. Ino sighed.

"Can you tell me what happened? Please?" Sakura exhaled, acquiescing.

"The past is the past for a reason. And every time I'm faced with it, it's like I lose any restriction I had on my emotions."

-Flashback-

"Pick-up or drop-off?" A girl behind the counter drawled without looking up from her magazine. Civilian she supposed. She was no older than Sakura, maybe even the same age.

"Pick-up." Sakura stated, smiling sweetly at her. She grabbed her order book and flipped to a section.

"Name?"

"Uchiha Sasuke." The woman finally looked up, her eyebrows furrowed and a frown plastered on her face.

"You must be Haruno Sakura, then." Her smile faded. Apparently, her reputation precedes her.

"Yes, I am." The girl clicked her tongue as Sakura's eyes narrowed. She looked back down at her book and flipped a few pages.

"Ah, Uchiha Sasuke. The clothes will be ready shortly, if you don't mind waiting." She said, her words saying one thing, but her demeanor showing she really didn't care. Sakura had to complain about their customer service.

"Okay, that's fine." Sakura turned on her heel and occupied one of the many seats in the waiting area. The girl said something through an intercom.

Then she spotted him.

The door was transparent, so she could see as far as across the street. Her eyes were wide as she immediately recognized the figure crossing it. 'He couldn't be coming to the tailors…their robes are hand-made especially for them…' She thought. There was a café right next door, a tattoo place, a uniform shop—

Uniform shop. He was going to the uniform shop.

But she still couldn't take her chances. She moved hurriedly back to the counter.

"Um, is my order ready yet? I really have to—"

"Now, if it was ready, don't you think you'd have it by now?" She replied icily. Sakura leaned an elbow on the table and massaged her forehead. She didn't need this right now. What she needed was to leave, and this girl wasn't helping her. She must've heard talk about the fight in the Village square, so now Sakura knows her opinion is biased. She could bet this girl didn't even know the half of it.

The bottom line was, Sakura didn't want to fight a civilian, and that's exactly what the oncoming headache was bringing her to.

"Look, you know my name, so you know my fists." The girl visibly shrunk. "Getting into fights isn't anything unusual to me, so I doubt my Shishou would mind one more brawl in the Village Square." She finished, throwing the girl a glare. She pushed through the double doors leading to the back. Sakura exhaled, rapping her fingers on the counter. Her threat spoke volumes. The girl should've hauled ass to bring her the order.

"I don't like waiting—"

"Sakura?" The bell at the door rang as it flung open. She froze.

Was she the only Sakura in Konoha? She couldn't be sure. There was another person in the waiting room with her, although he was old and his clothes were tattered. He was probably just looking for shelter, this she knew, and she was almost positive that his name wasn't Sakura.

She heard the door close and she heard the hasty footsteps taken towards her. Her hands gripped the edges of the counter. Looking out of the corners of her eyes, she quickly calculated an escape route.

"Sakura, stop!"

"Uh!" She made a dash for the door but was yanked back at the wrist and pulled into someone's arms. She struggled against her perpetrator, but there was that unmoving grip on her wrist that kept her from going anywhere. Not to mention it was tight, and getting tighter each time she tried to move away.

"Please, stop." Her punches and pushes became weaker as her body slumped against his.

"Neji," She cried. "Don't do this to me." She put her small hand on top of the strong ones that gripped her hands. "Please." He let her wrist go and released her from his embrace. She stumbled, her arms wrapped around her middle, her body doubled over.

"Sakura," She shook her head.

"Don't do this to me, I said!" She was unsteady on her feet as she tried to walk to the door. Three minutes ago he walked into the tailors. Almost a minute later, he'd already made her cry. "I want to leave now. Are you going to let me, or do I have to force myself out?" He appeared in front of the door with lightning fast movement. She knew that if he didn't let her go, it'd be a hell of a fight. She heard the swinging of the double doors from the back.

"Your order—"

"Leave it on the counter; put the price on my tab." Sakura finished. It wasn't long before the girl moved hurriedly back through the doors.

"Sakura—"

"Stop saying my name, please." He sighed, annoyed, as he smoothed his hair back. She stood in front of him, her arms still wrapped around her middle, her gaze on everything but his piercing white eyes.

"I just want to talk." She looked up at him now, her eyes were narrowed.

"Talk? You just want to talk." She scoffed. "Why do you want to talk when you don't have anything meaningful to say?" He closed his eyes.

"Why are you doing this?" She was taken aback.

"Why? Why." She laughed. "Well, why do I have such feelings of regret towards you? Answer me that." He flinched. "I thought as much." She turned, walking back to her counter and wrote her account number on the tab slip. Grabbing the hanger attached to a plastic bag, her fist inflamed with chakra, she walked back to the door with the intent of leaving.

"You know how this will end." She did, she did. But her mind wasn't being reasonable as she stalked towards him, swinging her fist back. Bringing it forward, she aimed for his face. "I told you—"

"I'm not listening to you!" His hand caught onto her fist, and she pushed more chakra to it. She heard him hiss as it burned his skin. He regained himself quickly and forced her fist back to her sides.

"Stop! Just stop!" He shouted. She ripped her fist from his grasp as her eyes narrowed.

"Why the hell should I, Neji? If you can tell me that, we'll talk! Why should I give you the time of day?" She shouted back.

"Because I didn't fuck her!" She froze. "I didn't fuck her, I didn't tease her, I didn't touch—" He stopped. She pointed an accusing finger in his face.

"There it is! Not only did you touch her, you bit her, licked her, and you kissed her all over…you pleased her, Neji. You might as well have fucked her, if you thought that doing all of that would make it better off." She looked away, using her thumbs to wipe the stray tears. "It's been three months, and if this is what you call closure, confronting the problem, then you've got it all wrong, Hyuuga. All you've done is revisited something I've desperately tried to forget about." He rubbed a hand down his face.

"I was drunk, Sakura." She shook her head.

"Yeah, so was I. But me? I went home. What did you do?" She pushed past him, ending their argument. "I'll see you tonight, I guess. I'm glad we had this talk, though." His eyebrows furrowed. "It made me see that it was stupid to cry over you for so long. We weren't even "with" each other. So I shouldn't have gotten so angry, or even held a grudge against you for fraternizing with TenTen. My bad." His expression was one of shock, but she ignored it. She went on, trying to add insult to injury. Her words and his expression made her feel good inside. It made her feel like she was getting back at him. "We weren't…We weren't meant for each other, you know. Neji, I—"

"Sakura just shut the hell up for a second!" He yelled. Her head jerked back as he rubbed his shoulder. "You talk too damn much, you know that?" He said with a smile. She frowned. That smile… "It's because of what we were before you and I. TenTen and I were…I don't know, something like you and Sasuke." She scoffed.

"Yeah right."

"But this was a long time before we got together. She saw that night as an opportunity, just as you saw her birthday as one. She got me drunk, and you got mad at me for dancing with her and left. For a second it was like…we danced and conversed and, and kissed as if we were still together. And I forgot. At that point in time, she made me forget that I still had you, Sakura." She closed her eyes.

"Why are you telling me this?" He shook his head.

"Because I love you, and I lost you." Everything froze. He calculated her movements as he awaited her response. She rapped her fist against her forehead.

She didn't hear that.

It was silent for a long time. She straightened, turning away from the door. He stood and watched her with his expressionless eyes. She took a step forward and lightly pushed his chest.

"Don't—" She blurted out. "Don't say that." He took the palm that was on his chest and used it to pull her into his arms. "Don't say…" She exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Don't say that—"

"Shut-up, Sakura." She stopped again, her forehead leaning against his chest, and her palm in his hand.

"We weren't meant for each other. You and TenTen were." He placed his chin on top of her head.

"I know." She blinked, surprised by his answer.

"Your clan heads hate me. I'm brash, I'm impulsive, I have the worst language, I have no patience whatsoever, I'm irrational, I'm gullible, I'll never know my place as a woman, and I don't act like a lady at all…TenTen, she knows how to wear Kimonos and dress traditionally, she can be respectful, I—I can't." She turned her head so that her cheek lay above the place where his heart was. His calm and steady beat soothed her. "You had to sneak me into your compound all the time, whereas she was a welcomed visitor. You deserve her, Neji. You and I both know this. And that's one of the reasons why it was a long three months. I figured out…" She sighed heavily. "I just can't compete with TenTen." He chuckled. She heard his voice resonate throughout his chest.

"You can't." Her heart clenched. "There's no contest—you're better for me." She was star struck for the umpteenth time that afternoon. "But after cheating on you, accident or not, I don't deserve you. I tore apart six good months we spent building up. And I'm sorry." His head moved to her neck. "Right now, I should kiss you. I should force you to take me back without another word. And this time, we would actually be together, so I can call you mine. No matter what my clan heads say." He said, pained. "But…" She bit her lip.

"But you won't." She heard him sigh heavily, shakily.

"I'm letting you go. And this moment I'll regret for the rest of my life. I'll be reminded of it every time I see you with someone else." She gripped the hands that held onto hers. "That's your closure, Sakura." Her eyes closed.

"Why?" She asked. Where was his closure? There was a pause, and she heard him sigh.

"If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it's yours. If it doesn't, it never was." He whispered into her hair. She bit her lip. She'd never understand that saying. It contradicted completely with 'If you find a good thing, hold on to it'. He was giving her time that she didn't want, weight that she couldn't bear, memories she could only regret…

He pulled back, holding her at arm's length with his hands on her shoulders. She turned away from his gaze.

"So this is it." He smiled sadly.

"No. We'll always be comrades, and we're friends. We have that." She pursed her lips, picking up her forgotten clothes and opening the door.

"Good-bye, Neji."

-End Flashback-

Ino sighed heavily, dropping her bags on the steps leading to the apartment. Placing her hands on her hips, she stared her down. Sakura could only frown.

"What?" Ino rolled her eyes.

"So now what happens with you and Sasuke? Apparently, Neji did this so that when you do move on, you'll think of nothing but going back to him." Sakura scoffed.

"He let me make my own decisions on whether or not I would stay with him. I chose to leave. Do you think he'd really be that selfish as to make me occupy my thoughts of only him—?"

"What's Neji's favorite food?"

"Herring soba, of course," She said without missing a beat. "But I don't see how…" Ino threw her a pointed look. "That bastard." Ino laughed.

"Forgive him, he's male." Sakura rolled her eyes, scoffing. As if that was a justifiable reason. They replaced their shopping bags on their arms and started up the many flights of stairs to Sakura's apartment. "So tonight," She looked over at her.

"Hm?" She said, noncommittally. Ino pursed her lips.

"Are you Sasuke's date? It's only right." Sakura frowned.

"Pig, I just got over a boy three seconds ago, and you want me to, on the same day, go on a date with a different one?" She asked, unbelievingly. With a flip of her hair, Ino rolled her eyes.

"I asked if you would be his date, not have sex with him, Forehead." Sakura blushed. "Besides, Sasuke and Sakura, Sakura and Sasuke, everyone knows the history between you two. He can't blame you if Sasuke pounced the first opportunity he had. Neji's far from blind; he saw how Sasuke acted when the both of you were always together." She pursed her lips, thinking.

"I doubt Sasuke's even the pouncing kind when it comes to relationships. He may be graceful in battle, but he's awkward when it comes to girls. He's dealt with men practically his whole life, and he's missed the whole puberty and hormones thing." She finished with a chuckle.

"Well he'll get his first lesson when he sees the outfit I got you for tonight." Ino said giddily, shaking some shopping bags. Sakura's eyes widened.

"Ino—"

"You lost the bet. A deal's a deal." She sighed in defeat. "And at least give it a chance." She started, waiting at the door for Sakura to fish out her keys. "Even the dickhead has a date; it'd be sad for everyone to see Naruto with one, and Sasuke without one." She sighed, jostling the key in the lock and pushing the door open.

It was his party.

Since Sasuke's road to recovery began, he's been holed up in the apartment, leaving once every other week to go to the Hospital, and getting fresh air as far as the back of their complex. He hasn't actually been able to go anywhere on his own, considering his heavy cast and his crutches making him practically immobile, and the fact that last time he was allowed to walk around freely there was his near-death accident.

So okay, it was her fault, but they didn't want to push their luck from anyone else getting any ideas.

He's only been in touch with his original team and the Hokage, vaguely Neji and Ino. But since he was now off of his cast and into something more mobile, they could finally celebrate his coming home, the Konoha 11.

They dropped their bags and shoes beside the door and walked into the kitchen.

"Tea?" Ino shrugged. To say that she was excited was an understatement. Sasuke was…he wasn't as out of touch as he was before. He could laugh, he made jokes, he smiled. But that didn't mean he wasn't still broody, impassive, cocky, and all the other things that made up Sasuke. He just had some work to do. She put some water in the kettle and turned on the stove. Her hand hovered above it, and when it was hot enough, she placed the kettle down. "How's Hatsuharu?" She frowned.

"He's so superficial," She whined. Sakura smacked her lips.

"You're superficial." Ino rolled her eyes.

"Yeah but, I like romance, too." Her eyebrows furrowed.

"Um…Hatsuharu's the Interrogator right?" Ino's hands flew up in annoyance.

"No, he's the Anbu one."

"Oh."

"Captain,"

"Oh," No wonder he was superficial, he had every right to be. She once peeked over her Sensei's shoulder as he looked over his check for a mission he'd completed. She didn't bother looking past the second comma, and to think that was just a mission. Imagine what his actual monthly paycheck looked like… "How old is this one?"

"24," Ino finished nonchalantly. Sakura frowned.

"He's too young for it to be just for the money. Did you have sex yet?" Ino snorted.

"What are we, 16? That's like asking if you had sex with Neji. Six months? He probably fucked you raw—"

"Um, we didn't." Ino paused. Her eyes were narrowed as she studied the girl in front of her.

"What?" She exclaimed in disbelief. Sakura sighed.

"Neji and I didn't have sex." She stated more firmly.

"So what did you do when you snuck into his compound? Giggle all night and talk about boys? Geez, I knew Neji was patient, but I didn't think he was that—"

"That was my decision." Sakura stated, defending him. Ino massaged her temple.

"So you literally slept with him? Have you seen the body of that man? I could only imagine…" Sakura frowned. "Oh stop it, Sakura. You act like such a virgin." Ino finished, laughing.

Silence.

"Sakura, no!" She yelled, slapping her hands over her face. "You're a virgin?!" Sakura ran to her, clapping a hand over her mouth.

"Shhhhh! Naruto and Sasuke are here, and I don't want them knowing my business!" She retorted. Ino struggled free.

"What business? You don't have any! You're a vir—!"

"Ino!" The hand returned to her mouth.

"Kami, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't know you were so sensitive about it." Sakura slowly walked back to the tea kettle and took it off the stove. She then started to prepare the tea. "Tch, virgins." Sakura's hands fisted at her sides.

"You have one more time, or I swear to Kami—"

"Is everything alright? I heard yelling and I didn't want Ino to get hurt." Naruto appeared in the kitchen, smirking. He stood beside Sakura. Ino threw him a glare.

"Oh shut-up, foxy. As if I can't hold my own against Billboard Brow over here." She finished, scoffing. Sakura's eyebrow twitched. Smoothing her vibrant green sundress, she closed her eyes as her hands gripped her shoulders, to keep them from launching at her neck.

"Understand that you're my sister, Ino, but I'm not afraid to put you in your place when you've overstepped boundaries." Sakura stated calmly. "I'm trying to refrain from starting a fight, because I'd hate to have to embarrass you in front of company." Ino was taken aback and stood abruptly.

"Put me in my place? And what happened the last time you tried that, Forehead?" She retorted icily.

"A tie, as always. But that was before I could control my fists." It was a stare down between the two, both sets of fists balled at their sides. Naruto stepped in.

"Kunoichi, Kunoichi, please. I know I'm lovely, but there's no need to fight over me—"

"Shut the hell up!" They yelled in unison. Naruto backed out of the kitchen, his two hands raised in surrender.

"Well, what's happening out here?" They heard a voice before the noises began. The footsteps were distorted. It was the sound of Sasuke's heavy cast as he limped into the kitchen. "Whatever's happening, can it stop? I was trying to sleep before your petty cat fight started." Sakura stuck her tongue out at him. Ino stood her ground.

"I don't know how you were sleeping with boy beast in your room." She argued. Naruto glared at her.

"For your information, we were talking, Ino-pig." She bared her teeth at him.

"You were talking, I was napping." Sakura laughed behind her hand. Naruto's eyebrows furrowed.

"So you didn't hear anything I said? It was important!" Sasuke shrugged, hobbling over to a seat at the kitchen table.

"Sleep is important as well. And that on a scale with your rambling, well, I think you know what won out." Naruto, flustered, started muttering under his breath as Sasuke struggled to get his now heavy leg elevated. Ino rolled his eyes at him.

"As strong as you are, you can't get your leg on a chair? Stop being a little puss—"

"Ino, Get out." He stated, pointing out of the kitchen and towards the door. She shrugged her shoulders.

"Ha!" Naruto exclaimed, glee in his eyes. She was in front of him in an instant, his feet dangling off of the ground as she held him up in her fists by his lapels.

"What's funny, kitten?" He shook his head fervently as he saw the evil gleam in her eyes.

"N-Nothing, Ino-chan," He stuttered sweetly. He was dropped back into his chair.

"I thought as much. See you tonight, Forehead." Naruto stared on in awe at how the two women who were previously about to rip each other's heads off, were now friends again. Then he figured the word 'women' explained it all.

"Hey, is Hatsuharu coming?" She called out. Ino paused at the door.

"Surprisingly, yes. Enjoy your new clothes!" She finished, slamming the door behind her. Sasuke glared at it.

"You're such a bitch, Dobe." He said shaking his head. Naruto shrugged his shoulders.

"I had to be threatened. You took being called a pussy sitting down, Teme." He retorted in triumph. Sasuke narrowed his eyes. Then he turned back to Sakura.

"So, when can I get this thing off?" He asked, frowning, ignoring Naruto's comment.

"Tonight. I picked up your brace after I came from the tailors." His eyebrows furrowed.

"And what did you get from the tailors?"

"Your suit." He groaned.

"Do I have to wear it?" She rolled her eyes, as if talking to a child. In retrospect, he might as well have been one.

"I thought the Uchiha clan was a smart one…" She muttered under her breath. He glared. "It's a black tie event, so of course." She drawled.

"Can't I just wear the standard Shinobi uniform? It'd be more comfortable for me and my leg," He said, trying to pull the injury card.

"For starters, you don't even have standard Shinobi wear. Do you not remember your absence for seven years?" He frowned.

"I can lend you mine," Naruto added in. Her head whipped around to face him.

"That'll work—"

"No, it won't." She bit out. He sighed again.

"Then I'll just wear my clan—"

"No!" She exclaimed. "God! Uchiha Sasuke, you will wear nothing but the suit I bought for you, and I got tailored for you, tonight!" He pursed his lips, looking on in thought. It was a little over a minute before he decided to say anything more.

"Hn. Then I guess I'll just have to get a rain check on this event." She slapped a hand against her forehead, hard.

"It's your party!" He looked away. Then, he sighed heavily.

"I suppose I don't have a choice now." She rubbed her forehead as a headache threatened to split her head in two.

"You never had a choice, Sasuke." She drawled. He shrugged his shoulders. Sakura deviated from the topic before she killed him. "So, Uzumaki, date?" He nodded, his cheeks tinged pink.

"Yeah, I asked Hinata. I'm supposed to be picking her up." A smile erupted on her face, which quickly turned into a frown when she remembered her Sensei.

"Did you hear anything from Kakashi-sensei?" His face lit up.

"Oh! We're supposed to go get him too, just in case he forgets, which he will." Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Then I guess we'll be leaving a little early. I'll go get washed up."

---

She bent over, searching through the many clothes and shoes in her closet.

"I can't…find…" She huffed, pulling aside uniforms and dresses.

"Find what?" Sasuke asked as he appeared in the doorway to her room. She held up various pairs of heels.

"My shoes—Ah! Here they are!" She threw some low-heeled shoes on the bed. Turning to face him, her eyes widened. Her hands flew over her chest. "Couldn't you have knocked?" He shrugged, shirtless himself.

"The door wasn't closed. It seemed like an open invitation to me." She rolled her eyes and found her robe, fastening it at her middle.

"I still believe in privacy, you bastard." He rolled his eyes.

"It's just bras and panties. Just breasts and ass." She narrowed her eyes.

"My breasts, my ass." He raised his eyebrow.

"Sakura, you don't have breasts, so what are you trying to hide?" She tightened her arms around her chest.

"I do so!" She argued. He shrugged his shoulders. She huffed grabbing her robe from off of the bed and tightening it around her waist. She went back into the closet.

"Now what?" His only view was her rear end peeking out from the abundance of clothes gathered in her closet.

"A dress…No wait…this one!" She held up a long evening dress. He frowned.

"Sakura, this is a party, not graduation." She glared at him. "Why don't you just wear what Ino bought you?"

"Have you seen what Ino bought me?" She replied, giving him a pointed look. He sighed.

"There are a lot of things I can say about Ino, most of them inappropriate and rude." She raised her eyebrows. He smacked his lips. "She knows how to dress, so I suggest you take her advice. I don't want you to look horribly out of place, especially since you're my date." He finished with a small smile. She exhaled deeply, and then turned back into the closet to replace the dress.

"You're probably—" Her head whipped back around. "Wait, what?" He took a seat in the armchair beside him. He smirked, placing his face in the palm of his hand propped up on his elbow.

"Date. You're my date." Her eyebrows furrowed as she walked away from the couch.

"I don't hear a question." He closed his eyes.

"Sakura, you're my date." She pressed her lips together and closed her eyes in exasperation.

"Sasuke, I know you defected early on, but I'm almost positive you were present for sentence structures back at the academy." He frowned.

"Was it clear to everyone but you that you were already my date for tonight? Because if that's the case, then I feel like there doesn't have to be a proposal for anything. It would be apparent to everybody that we're arriving to the party as a couple." She ran a hand through her hair. Smartass.

"Obviously not everybody because it wasn't apparent to me. I think I'm the most important factor in this couple, seeing as though you haven't asked me yet." She crossed her arms over her chest. "And for your so-called "couple" to work, there has to be two agreeing parties involved, and so far, you've only gotten one." The smug look plastered on his face was now wiped clean off and replaced with a frown. His frown turned into a grimace as he averted her gaze.

"…" He sighed heavily.

"I didn't hear that." She said, pulling her ear. His eyes narrowed.

"You know..." He finished my mumbling something unintelligent under his breath.

"Spit it out, Uchiha." He frowned again.

"Will you be my date?" He muttered under his breath. She gave him a cheeky grin.

"Of course, Sasuke-kun." He sighed again, massaging his temple. She picked up the bags Ino left for her from beside the door and peered inside. The first bag had a shoe box in it. She slowly peeled it from its bag and opened the box. "Oh no," She gasped, her eyes wide as she stared at the shoes.

The six-inch platform pump shoes.

She pulled one out and threw it at Sasuke. His mouth formed an 'o' as he examined it.

"This is nice." He cooed. She frowned.

"You like those?" She asked incredulously. He turned and stared at her.

"You don't?" She rolled her eyes.

"I'll kill myself!" He shook his head, laughing.

"If you can walk in ceremonial shoes, you can walk in these. Besides, you're a tad bit small, so these'll make you seem taller." He frown turned into a scowl.

"No one asked you to bring my height into this." She grumbled. He chuckled softly.

"Only stating the obvious here. Now let's see the dress." She dropped the shoe bag and pulled the other one from her arm and looked inside.

"Kami, if this is what she bought for me I can only assume as to what she's wearing." His interest was piqued.

"And what's that?"

"Nothing at all." He blinked and she blinked. She blinked again and he was at her side, tugging on the bag in her hands. "What are you—?"

"Let me see it." She tugged back, ripping the bag from his hands. His eyebrows raised at the amount of strength she exerted.

"Out," She pointed to the door. "Let me get changed; you'll see it then." He sighed checking the watch on his wrist.

"It's 5:30, the party starts at 7." He stated. She threw him a pointed look.

"We have to pick up Naruto and Kakashi." He rolled his eyes, walking back towards the door.

"Good point." He closed it behind himself. She exhaled and pulled the dress out of the bag. Holding it up, her eyes narrowed.

The dress was nude in color, and the parts of it not covering her chest, ass, and vagina were sheer. It was sleeveless and stopped mid-thigh, the scoop-neck collar at her clavicle. Sakura rubbed the fabric between her fingers, and upon pulling it found that it stretched like spandex. Meaning it would conform to her body.

Meaning she wouldn't be breathing tonight.

She shirked off her robe, sighing. She had an inkling as to how tonight would end. It would turn out how every party after the Spring Festival went.

Bloody, or in tears.

Either way, there wasn't a good outcome for her, and she didn't like that. This was Sasuke's celebration, and she was going to ruin it. Why? Because Konoha 11 was invited. The Konoha 11 included Team Guy. Team Guy included Neji, and if Neji was making an appearance, then TenTen would surely be right by his side.

Closure meant nothing if she still had to face him almost six hours afterward. In fact, that's not even closure, that's 'I know it's not enough time to dwell on what happened, but anyway, see you later'. Not to mention she now had to deal with Sasuke. There was no other way to explain except that men were like dogs. They marked you as if marking their territory. But once you're marked, there's always another dog that once to contend with you. You may win, but after a while, your mark fades. At that point, the contending dog will pounce. She didn't know if all of this was a very accurate interpretation, but it explained her dilemma.

Right now, Neji's mark has faded, and Sasuke has started to pounce.

The party was planned almost a month ago, and ever since then she's been asked if she and Sasuke would match. "Why would we match?" Was the question she always asked, and she always got the answer, "Because you're dates." How everyone could know that they were dates before she even knew, a month before the fact, was beyond her. She ignored them all; of course, they were just nameless ninja who were invited outside of the Konoha 11. But then it started spreading the Konoha 11. Now, she could ignore even them, but she couldn't ignore Sasuke. He'd already claimed her as his date. 'I'll be reminded of it every time I see you with someone else.' Neji said. And somehow, he knew. He knew about Sasuke before she even knew about Sasuke, but now she knows about Sasuke and she doesn't know what to do.

To Sakura, they were friends. Friendly friends. Friendly friends who walked in on the other changing, walking around shirtless trying to swoon the other with their 'manliness', and trying to prove themselves to be a badass by fixing something that wasn't broken in the first place, thus breaking it. He knows what he's doing, and he's doing it on purpose. And not that she minded, it was just…It was fine that it was mediocre because Sasuke still had an adolescent mind and he hasn't had enough experience or time to grow out of it. It was just that his stunts have made her fond of him, and that's what she didn't like. Almost a year ago she told Naruto she just wanted to be friends with him, and now look. He was growing on her. An even longer time ago, he told her that he wanted to love her.

So is this it?

Is this Sasuke's attempt at trying to win her over? If so, she didn't know whether or not it was working. She didn't have the time to digest it. That's what she doesn't like. Time. She didn't even have it. She's most definitely didn't have the patience to be put through the motions by Sasuke again. She didn't want to hang herself out to dry, and she wouldn't. Tonight…she had a feeling that tonight was where it would all unfold.

Her scale was leaning towards 'drop dead' than going to this party right now.

So they were going to be on a date, so to speak. Now, she knew that she and Sasuke's definitions of date varied from each other. So what exactly would this date entail for them? What did he expect her to do? Hold hands? Sit beside each other? If that was the case she could forgive him because he still had the romantic mind of a 12 year-old. Her mind was overreacting with what could possible happen on this date of theirs, the different scenarios running through her mind. But she just wanted to be prepared for every possible outcome. She felt like if she accepted Sasuke's passes at her, then he would kiss her. Many of the scenarios ended up like that. When he kissed her, Neji would find her and try to kiss her, saying that leaving her was a mistake, and then TenTen would find them and make a scene, Sakura would hit TenTen, they would begin to fight, Naruto would break it up, Kakashi would pull her aside to talk, and then Kakashi would then take her home. That ending was also in many of the scenarios. All she had to do is prevent Neji from getting drunk. But this was an inaccurate scenario, mostly because the restaurant and bar they were going to had drinks, and the drinks were free. If Neji found the drinks, then the train wreck of a night would really begin. Stay close to her teammates would be playing it safe. Stay away from Neji. Or, to prevent it all from happening, she could pull out the 'just friends' card on Sasuke and keep the relationship platonic. Then he couldn't kiss her, right?

Who was she kidding? When Sasuke wanted something, he got it. End of discussion.

She plopped down onto the bed and laid spread eagle, huffing in annoyance. How many hours ago was it that she talked with Neji? It couldn't be many. And with her feelings for him still brooding, she wouldn't want that to affect a relationship she could have with Sasuke. Not to mention it's only been three months. Three months that she's spent with Sasuke, the standby confident. He was there when Neji cheated on her; he was there through her tears, her moods, and her recovery stage. And she appreciated him. Did he want her? No, the question was, did she want him? He could want her, or she could be horribly confused. Him asking for her as a date could just be for lack of another female counterpart that he knew that could stand him, or in Sakura's case, forced by law to stand him.

This wasn't her party, and she wasn't going to ruin it with her terrible misconceptions. Assuming something that wasn't. Keeping it platonic was the plan, she supposed. Save face. She'd allow him to make the first move which he never did. And when that happened, she could make the appropriate countermove. There was going to be hundreds of ninja there, and ninja loved to talk. She refused to make a fool out of herself in front of them. She could already hear what they would say about her flub. 'Uchiha Sasuke rejecting Haruno Sakura...again.' The plan included staying close to her teammates and staying away from Neji, but now she would probably have to add Sasuke to that avoid list. The invisible boundaries she's constructed for herself have faded. And all of that could be due to the 180 degree transformation he went through. Sasuke was Sasuke, but he wasn't…Sasuke.

He laughed, and she's never ever heard a laugh coming from Sasuke that didn't have a sarcastic undertone to it, or wasn't at the expense of anyone else. He smiled, and he didn't try to down everyone he met with his 'I'm better than you, bow to me' talk. But all this was a setup from the beginning, this she knew. And it started the night she told Sasuke she would be with Neji, and not with him. He waited for her, Uchiha Sasuke waited for her. But she didn't...she couldn't face rejection again. She wouldn't. Sighing again, she sat up and fisted the dress into her hands.

Fool her once, shame on him. Fool her twice…

He could never give her what she wanted. And he knew this. In the end, it was just what Sasuke wanted that mattered, and he would do whatever it took to get it. That, that was the one thing she knew wouldn't change upon his return.

She would just have to remind herself that she could fuck up some other night, but tonight wasn't hers. Standing, she pulled the dress above her head and slipped her arms into the sleeve holes. She could already feel the material as it clung to her breasts. It wasn't as tight as she thought it would be, and at least it allowed her to breathe. She pulled it over her stomach and down to where it stopped at her thighs.

It was beautiful, this dress, and while it showed most of her midriff and all of her back through the sheer material, it wasn't at all whorish as she thought it would be. The dress was nude, so it blended completely to her creamy skin, and the parts above her privates were just a darker shade of that. Beige. Well done, Ino-Pig. Now she just had to focus on not tripping over herself and falling on her butt in those heels.

She slipped her foot into them one by one. They were black, and while she had nothing but a black studded clutch to match, they contrasted beautifully with her nude dress. She experimentally took a few steps around the room and stopped at the mirror.

Her ass.

The bane of her body's existence. The dress was so tight, every curve, from the small of her back forming her buttocks, was shown. If she could just evenly proportionate her butt with her breasts, she'd be fine. But everyone wasn't blessed like Ino, or her mother, or even her Shishou.

She sighed, pulling on a string of her bubblegum pink hair. She was growing it out, so it stopped mid-upper arm now. But she would wear it up until it got longer, so she decided on a bun for tonight. She grabbed some pins off of her nearby nightstand as she fastened her hair. When that was done, she reached into a drawer and pulled out a large jewelry box. This one held their team accessories, given to them by Kakashi-sensei after Sasuke left. She never gave them to Naruto, and she never even wore hers herself, but Kakashi was never without his. It was a simple silver chain that went around her neck, so she would choose diamond earrings to match. Not a lot of makeup matched her eyes, so she settled on mascara, and a light pink lipstick to match her hair. It was warm out, so she wouldn't need a coat.

She finished just as she heard a knock on the door.

"Come in," She called out, fussing with the shorter strands of hair that refused to comply.

"Hn," Sasuke muttered as she turned to face him, her lips pressed together.

"That's all you can say?" He rolled his eyes and walked towards her.

"You look nice, Sakura." She snorted. It was no better, but it was enough she supposed. She took the time to examine what he was wearing, a beige dress shirt. Ino was a genius. Apparently all of their shirts would be beige in color matching her nude and beige dress. How did she know their team color? The magician that woman was.

"Sakura-chan, you're beautiful!" Naruto bounded through her room door, Hinata in tow. She smiled at him and nodded at Hinata.

"Thanks, Naruto." He and Sasuke were dressed the same, black suit, black skinny tie, beige dress shirt and black dress shoes. He looked nice for a change, especially to be out of that orange. "I thought we were supposed to be picking you up." He shrugged.

"Sensei's apartment is a straight shot from here; it would've been out of the way. We need all of the extra time we can get, assuming that he hasn't even showered yet." She rolled her eyes in agreement. Naruto's attention quickly deviated back to Hinata as he followed Sakura's gaze.

"Hinata, you're gorgeous." She smiled brightly at his compliment. Sakura nodded.

"Were your team colors gray?" She nodded, looking flustered.

"Yes, but I don't know if Shino-kun or Kiba-kun will comply with the dress code. He's not really fond of clothes without high-collars, and Kiba's more of a 'rough around the edges' type of guy. Hopefully my pleading convinced him." She finished, looking to the ceiling. Sakura admired her dress, a stunt pulled by the taller Hyuuga woman. Hinata favored baggy clothing, and that in abundance, so to see her out of that was a surprise to Sakura. She wore a long strapless dress, studded in gray rhinestones and a slit that started at her knees and got larger as it ran down her leg.

"Are they going to meet us on the way?" She shook her head.

"They're with their dates." Sakura sighed. Team 7 was probably the only team to date within itself, even Ino moving on from Shikamaru. Sakura looked at the forgotten jewelry box on her nightstand.

"Oh, right. Here," She opened the box and Sasuke and Naruto moved in. They saw the remaining two necklaces. Naruto picked one up and examined it.

"What's this?" He clasped it around his neck. Sasuke did the same. She closed the jewelry box and put it back into its drawer.

"Kakashi was supposed to give these to us after you were released from the Hospital, but you know, Sasuke left, then you left, then he gave them to me, and then he left." She finished. She saw the solemnness on their faces. "Anyway, it's a team gift. It shows togetherness." Sasuke checked his watch.

"Well, it's 6:00, and if we're planning on getting to the venue any time before the party ends, I suggest we go get Kakashi now before he falls into a deep sleep." She rubbed her forehead.

"I doubt we can do anything to stop that."

---

He emerged from his room, fully dressed. She smiled brightly.

"That's better." He sighed in relief. "Look, you even brushed your hair." She moved forward and plucked a strand from his head. Sasuke checked his watch again.

"7:15," She frowned, rubbing a hand across her forehead. It was all she could do to keep her anger at bay.

"We have to get out of here before I break something." She stalked out of the door, Kakashi the last one out with his keys dangling from his hands. He was getting ready to lock the door, but he saw how it sat on its hinges.

"How exactly did you all get in here?" Naruto pointed to Sakura. Kakashi sighed, replacing his keys in his pocket. He was going to get an earful from his landlord. They walked down the steps onto the street. He was almost slaughtered when they arrived. He was asleep in his towel on the couch, taking a nap like any old person would do. The difference between him and any old person was probably the fact that he fell asleep with the sole purpose of forgetting the party. But they should've at least given him the benefit of the doubt...he'd showered. The first time he got changed, he wore shirt top. It emulated a suit; the dress shirt, bow tie, and suit jacket all in graphic detail. Then Sakura threatened to break something on his face, and he couldn't do anything but hold her threat in the upmost seriousness. "I can't believe I almost got jumped by my own students." He bore holes into Sasuke and Naruto's backs in front of him. Then, he turned and glared at the unknowing Sakura. "Does the Shinobi code mean nothing to you people...?" He muttered underneath his breath.

"You're the one who made us late in the first place, so I feel you were deserving of whatever was brought upon you." He furrowed his eyebrows.

"That can't be my fault; I've had a loss of sleep lately, so I just laid down for a short nap—"

"Save the bullshit for someone who might believe it. Maybe the women you'll be with tonight?" He oohed, placing a hand over his heart.

"Come on, you know that's not bullshit." She looked up at him.

"And what's that? A swollen eye for bullshit sympathy? Makes you look like a bitch to me." He frowned this time, her comment actually stinging.

"Just a little extra fluid in my eye to keep it closed for tonight. No bull." He held up his hands. Her eyes narrowed.

"I'm really starting to think you're stupid, Sensei." He sighed.

"I've done it before—"

"That doesn't make it okay." He rolled his eye.

"Besides, it's only visible to the medical eye. I didn't want to wear my hitai-ate tonight, and I don't think it's fair that Sasuke can turn his Sharingan off willingly." She smacked her lips together.

"Maybe it's because that's his bloodline trait. Just a thought." She replied starkly. He frowned. "Think of how many times that thing saved your life. Just a small suffering given to you considering it was stolen—"

"It wasn't stolen. Does anyone believe me? It was a gift."She rolled her eyes, not believing him for one minute.

"Compare it to the many sufferings your students have had to put up with. And still put up with. Who do you think should be crying? I think you should count yourself lucky if you ask me." He wasn't crying... He shook his head, figuring on a change of subject. He couldn't win in this one, and he was only digging himself further and further into the hole she created for him.

"Where are we going?" He exhaled, quickly changing the topic before she really laid him out. He ignored the looks she was giving him.

"Umami," She said. His eye widened.

"You mean that immensely large, expensive bar and restaurant?" She nodded. He started patting his pockets.

"Well, Sakura-chan, you might just have to spot me this time—" She rolled her eyes.

"It's paid for all night, Kakashi-sensei. Shishou bought the whole place out so that all Shinobi could celebrate. Warm them back up to Sasuke." He nodded. Smart move, but he didn't think free beer could change most minds about traitors. She looked up at him.

"Anyway, I thought this was just a 'my team' thing." She turned away from him, sighing.

"No. Originally it was just supposed to be the Rookie Nine, but Naruto felt that wasn't fair because Neji and Lee were with us when we tried to save Sasuke as well. It would be downright dirty to omit them." He noticed how she didn't say TenTen's name. "Even Gaara and his siblings are coming." He grinned under his mask. If it was an all call for Shinobi, that meant the drinks would come in abundance. He couldn't forget the lounge…the place was expensive for a reason.

His grin slowly turned into a frown, remembering her words. All Shinobi meant Neji, and Neji meant TenTen. TenTen meant fighting, and fighting meant he would have to get involved. Him getting involved ultimately meant a night of free liquor ruined.

If he could just keep Neji from finding Sakura…

---

"God, Sakura, just look at you!" Sakura blushed as Ino ran up to her, taking her in a bear hug. She couldn't see how that was possible; the running that was, in the high, high heels Ino was donning at that moment.

"I underestimated you, Ino. Now, has anyone ever told you how gorgeous you are?" She flipped her hair back.

"Of course!" They both laughed. "My team colors were red, so…" And she did the red justice. She wore a dark red halter tube top that stopped right below her breasts so her stomach was shown. She wore a long, sheer skirt that had ripples in it and was black in color. It started right above her belly button and left nothing to the imagination. Her long legs were on preview beneath the skirt, the only thing separating everyone in the room from her panties was the short leather shorts she wore underneath. Her lipstick was red as well, something Sakura thought she herself could never pull off. "So what are you doing?" Sakura's eyebrows furrowed.

"I lost Sasuke and Naruto, so I guess i'll have to go find them again." She watched as Hatsuharu moved through the throng of people to catch up with his girlfriend. "Do you think you could stay with me until I—"

"I'll meet up with you later, Forehead!" And before she knew it, Ino was waving at her as she was pulled onto the dance floor. She was left, standing in the middle of nameless ninja she didn't think she knew.

She panicked.

It didn't warrant a call over the loud speaker, she'd just have to think of the many amenities Umami provided, and then the most likely place Sasuke and Naruto would be. There was a lounge with dancers, and she didn't know about Sasuke just yet, but that's where Naruto would be.

She set off trying to find the lounge, but in order to do that, she had to know where she was. All she saw was people, and Sasuke was wrong. While the heels gave her height, she could barely see over the heads of the people beside her. She turned on her heels, and bumped right into someone.

"Green eyes."

That voice.

Her heart almost gave out. She smiled, despite her inner conflictions. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she reached up and pecked his cheek. She could do friendly, she thinks. It was easy. They were friends, after all. Quoting him, comrades. She was built for small talk.

"The Hyuuga finally shows," She said with mock amusement. He chuckled.

"You showed up to the party 30 minutes late." She shrugged.

"I can't be blamed for that. I had to pick up my Sensei, and he's chronically late." She finished with a roll of her eyes. "Where is he by the way? I haven't seen him since we walked in." It was Neji's turn to roll his eyes.

"Last I saw, he and Guy-Sensei were throwing back shots at the bar." She sighed, remembering telling him specifically not to get drunk. But she found her escape route, and she intended on using it.

"I guess I should go save him then—" She took a step in the opposite direction but was stopped by a hand on her wrist. She closed her eyes, turning away. Her body language, her voice, her smile, all of it fake. Today was the first day in three months since they've talked, the supposed closure he gave her. She doubted she could ever act the same towards him with their past looming over her head. So, this would just have to do for now. Naruto was middle ground, so if he would've sensed the importance of tonight, he would've stayed with her and prevented…this. But he didn't. He's off somewhere dancing with Hinata or a stripper, and she's standing in front of a reminder of her past.

Great.

"A dance?" She faced him and returned his desperate attempt at mending things with a small smile.

"I would, but I really have to find my teammates." He raised his eyebrows.

"I know you have two left feet, but—" She raised her hands. He was tempting her. He was always tempting her.

"Whoa. You've only seen me dance at the Festival, and I was drunk." He laughed.

"Fine, then prove me wrong." She raised an eyebrow, pulling him to the dance floor.

It was probably the worst thing she could do at that moment, but being surrounded by drunkards made you act like one.

He moved his grasp from her wrist to her hand and twirled her around. If he was trying to make her embarrass herself, she wasn't going for it. She kept steady; each time she turned locking her eyes with his. On the last twirl, he pulled her body to his in a swift movement and she gasped in surprise.

They were frozen.

It could stop there or they could keep going, depending on who made the next move. The question was, who would make it first? She closed her eyes and felt the rhythm pulse through her body from the loud base of the music. As it coursed through her, she moved in time with it, swaying her hips against his body. His hands traveled from her back to her waist, following along with her movements. She ran her fingers from the fabric of his dress shirt to his hair, running her fingers through it, maneuvering from his back up to his neck and they stayed there. His head went to her neck and she felt ghostly kisses being placed along her throat, but she didn't care. She cared about this dance, finishing her dance. This was her closure.

His kisses were more hastened now, and she moved her neck to give him more access as his lips travelled to her collarbone. Their bodies moved together to the beat, grinding against each other. They cared nothing about anyone else, it was just them now, and this was Sakura's dance. His tongue tasted her skin, tracing it back to her lips, and paused there.

The music stopped, and her eyes opened.

He was staring back at her, his eyes full of want and need, and just everything. She wanted to forget what he did, she wanted to forget about TenTen, and just have him, but she remembered herself. Her hands slipped from his neck. He felt the tension build when she took a step back, regret on her face.

"Sakura—"

"Thank you for the dance, Neji." He stopped her from walking away again, pulling her body back to his. The music slowed.

"Sakura, stop." He held onto her upper arms, searching her eyes. "I've done so many wrong things in my life and I know that if I let you go now, that'll be added to my list of regrets. Forget Sasuke, forget TenTen, forget everything." She shook her head, reminding herself of her resolve. If she broke now…she couldn't give him her all anymore. It wasn't in her. He broke her trust, he cheated on her… They couldn't continue. Not with the reminder of what he did weighing on her.

Not with the fear of him doing it again. It would kill her.

She shook her head more firmly this time. It wasn't…She had to find Naruto, and she needed a drink in her system. Apparently the train wreck of a night has begun. He swallowed, nodding. Then he took her hand, and immediately she tried to snatch it away.

No. No more dances.

"I hope you don't mind if I borrow her, do you?" Sasuke appeared, a hand on Neji's shoulder. And Neji, noticing the situation, switched his gaze from Sasuke back to Sakura, clarity appearing on his face. And then he smiled. A fake smile, she could tell, because it looked exactly like the ones that she gave him. He nodded again, kissing her hand and then dropping it. He moved back into the crowd, seemingly disappearing from her grasp forever. She exhaled deeply. "Dance?" She nodded solemnly as he pulled her to him, one hand in hers, the others at the small of her back. She clasped her fingers behind his neck and let her head rest on his chest. They moved slowly, in time with the music. "Are you okay?" She nodded, then she shook her head. She buried her face in his shirt jacket. It smelled dark and sweet, that smell that she only associated with Sasuke. Gripping his neck, she took a deep breath.

"Do you wish…sometimes, do you wish you could just start over? Erase some things from memory, wipe some things from your past…?" He chuckled. She heard the throaty sound through his chest.

"You need your past in order to get you where you are now, but sometimes, it's just not worth the memories, the regret." She hummed.

"If I could just forget, it'd be easier to move on. I could live my life, if the past was the past and just that, I mean. Why must it always rear its ugly head?" His eyebrows furrowed.

"But you need to remember. Remembrance is the only thing that'll keep you from doing the same thing over and over again, expecting something to change. Or maybe it's the insanity itself that keeps us human." Her expression was one of deep thought as he pulled back to look at her. Smiling, the song changed and her head was back on his chest, swaying to the slow music that filled their ears.

She had to tell him.

She knew what he wanted, and she knew what she wanted, the both of them at two different standstills because neither of them knew which to comprise. And putting that together, it would only mean more pain. Sasuke didn't want a lovey-dovey relationship. He didn't want a relationship with flowers and sweet kisses, holding hands, and picnics. No dinners out, no cuddling at home. He wanted platonic love, something that they knew each other had but didn't have to be discussed. In his mind, passion wasn't needed, nor would it be a factor. And all of that, all of that she wanted. He wouldn't change for her, that was one thing she knew. She had yet to accept it.

She was going through it again, the affection phase, same thing, different time. She was older and wiser, but he made her feel like she was 12 again. The hands holding onto the small of her back made her insides bubble. Being this close to Sasuke made something boil in the pit of her belly. Her mind told her something different. 'Be logical' It said. And she would be. She had to tell him. Sighing, she pulled back. When she stared into his eyes, he looked as if he was thinking as well.

"Sakura, I—"

"Sasuke—" They paused. They both apparently had something to say. "You first." He closed his eyes, his mouth opening as someone bum rushed him.

"Sasuke, Sakura, come on! It's time to go!" Naruto shouted, tugging at their arms. She looked back to Sasuke expectantly.

"It'll have to wait." She rolled her eyes. She was nowhere near patient. Naruto was pulling them into the back room where their original party was gathered, the Konoha 11 and their teachers. She noticed the sand siblings, Ino and her boyfriend, Shino and Kiba with their dates, and various scantily clad waitresses. The room was packed when they got there, two large round tables and a small stage. The table closest to the door was their table, the other filled with the older elites. She hated having to walk into a room last. Everyone was staring at the both of them. She inwardly snorted. Walking together. Probably one of his 'date' conditions.

The two vacant seats in front of her were probably reserved for them, as Naruto sat back down in his original seat and she sat down in between the two of them. Naruto nudged her.

"He's drunk!" He whispered harshly in her ear.

"Who?" She asked, looking around.

"Sensei! And he's about to make a toast!" She watched in horror as he ambled over to the small stage and started tapping on the microphone.

"Yo. Can I get another drink?"

Oh Kami.

---

"So, so, this was an accident, mind you." Naruto laughed, holding onto the microphone stand as he doubled over. "I mean, I'm 16, I'm horny. You know, hormones. I didn't think she'd actually throw me off of the Hokage Monument." She blushed as laughter erupted from the crowd. "And, okay. I'll take credit for touching her boobs. I blushed, she blushed. But my life ended when I squeezed." They went crazy at that moment. Turning to her left, she even saw Sasuke smiling, clearly interested in Naruto's tales. He caught her gaze and mouthed something. Her eyebrows furrowed.

"What?" She said as Naruto continued.

"Now, for my lack of experience in the area, those were good breasts. But for my hands," He held up his paws for everyone to see. "Sakura, for your age, they should've been bigger. Even now—" She shot up.

"Okay, Uzumaki, I think that's enough reflection on the past for you." He hobbled over to her, exhibiting the first signs of drunkenness.

"Let's hear one from you, Sakura!" He shouted, halfway leaning on her shoulder. She shook her head.

"No, I think everyone's heard enough toasts." She leaned into his ear. "Naruto, you've had a bit much to drink." He waved her away.

"Oh this, this is nothing! Come on, Sakura, do one for me!" He whined. She shook her head again.

"Go ahead, Sakura!" She heard someone from the crowd yell. It might've been Kakashi… Soon it was a chorus of her name. She stalked to the stage, glaring back at Naruto who was now passed out on the table.

"Ahem." She said into the microphone. She heard a whistle. "I haven't lost my touch," She warned with a smile, raising her fist. She heard small laughter throughout the crowd; most likely those who have experienced them. "This might be the only real toast you all will hear, and I know you're hungry, so I'll make it short." She cleared her throat again. "Oh man, where do I start?" She said chuckling dryly. She swallowed, her palms becoming sweaty. "It's been hard for us, these past years, with the absence of Sasuke. When I say Naruto and I have been through everything, I mean it. Our trials and tribulations of trying to bring him back have been painful, heartbreaking, and disappointing. There's no way to sugarcoat the loss of hope we've had." The room was quiet, intently listening to her words. She looked over at Sasuke, his eyes bearing holes through her, and at Naruto, his head lying on his arms, gazing at her through hooded eyes. "Now that he's here, we're living, breathing, happier, and I'm sure all of you have seen the changes. Walking, talking, annoying ass Sasuke is back." She chuckled, earning her a few laughs. "Shishou and I threw this party to make sure that he is welcomed back with open arms. There'll always be the civilians that won't accept him, the ninja that still see him as a traitor, but the Konoha 11, teachers and comrades alike, should never have a doubt in our minds that he's one of us and always has been. So," She waved to the waitress for a drink and held it up. "Here's to Sasuke!"

One by one they stood, shouting and clapping their hands on his back. All that was heard in the room was some drunken slurs and clinking of glasses. She smiled, still standing in front of the microphone, and then she saw him. Neji was staring right back at her, his eyes calculating. He continued to stare. She needed to get out, she needed air. She didn't need to occupy the same space that he did, it wasn't necessary. She thought of the plan and began moving through the crowd of people towards the door. A hand appeared on her shoulder.

"Sakura—" She turned on her heel, his hand being snatched from her shoulder.

"Neji, what—" She froze. It wasn't Neji in front of her, it was Sasuke. His previously concerned eyes turned unreadable again. She put her hands over her face. "Kami, I'm sorry Sasuke. I have a lot on my mind. I just need some fresh air and I'm being suffocated by—"

"Neji." She nodded, her hands crossed over her chest and held onto her shoulders.

"Neji, yes, Neji. Apparently three months of space vanish when you've been confronted by him." His moved and held her forearms, but she snatched them away. "I know what you want, and I know what you're here for. And I know exactly what's supposed to happen right now, and the events that occur afterwards, and to tell you the truth, they're not pretty, and they don't turn out in my favor at all." She finished firmly, a lump forming in her throat. She shifted her weight to one heel. "To be honest, I'm not exactly over him. And to start this, with you, I just can't Sasuke. I can't do that to you or to myself. Rejection is the number one thought in my mind right now, and I'd hate to fall in love with you, only for your bastard-ish ways to kick in and you leave me—"

"Stop your rambling already." He grabbed her upper arms this time and crushed his lips to hers. She was frozen, her eyes staring right back into his closed ones until the kiss melted her, and she fell into his embrace. They were like that until he pulled his teeth from her bottom lip, her eyes staring up at him, hooded.

He smiled, that Sasuke smile of his.

"I was just going to tell you I think I left the water running." He said smiling. Her eyes widened, her face were flustered as pink spread throughout her cheeks.

"Really?" He shook his head and his face turned serious, all remainders of joy gone. She blinked.

"Sakura, I want you." She sighed.

"Sasuke—"

"No, listen." He pulled her back into his embrace.

"I want you for you. I don't want you for your vagina or what it could do for me, or the later effects. I couldn't care less about your body, how small your breasts are, well—" She threw him a pointed look. "I want you, Sakura. Gullible, awkward, fighty, Sakura, who's shown me her capabilities, her power, and her fists." He scoffed as she frowned, turning away from him. "Forget Neji, forget what he did to you. If you can't, I'll wait. Give us a chance, Sakura. I have my moods, and you have yours. We're not perfect. But if I can take you as you are, the moody, brash, fist-happy, annoying Sakura that you are—"

"And if I can take you for the emotionless, superiority complex having, self-gratifying bastard that you are—"

"Then we can be." She smiled against his chest as they swayed to imaginary music. She was happy because of what he offered her, complacent with their deal.

"Okay." She answered, her voice muffled by his dress shirt. He chuckled into her hair.

"You know that this means we get to share the big bed now, don't you?"

---

I know a lot of you hate flash backs, and I'm sorry. This is the last SasuSaku flashback. You miss KakaSaku, and I promise you'll have it in the next couple of chapters. Promise! But thank-you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter because I sure enjoyed writing it for you all. Another thing, a revision of chapter 13 is going to be coming up soon, so make sure to look down here after each chapter to check for the link. Don't forget to review!

-Keoo19