True to his words, Sasuke waited for Sakura at the tree across the hospital. He was there 15 minutes before her supposed out, and he was willing to wait whether she'll have to entertain emergencies or not.

However, he wasn't willing to wait if she'll be entertaining a guy.

No, of course he wasn't upset with Sakura. Even though he doesnt know where exactly he stood in the medic nin's life, Sasuke knew better than to intervene with her affairs and be possessive of her. She had every right to see other men, and it's not like he can blame men for admiring the kunoichi.

Despite knowing this, nonetheless, Sasuke felt a sting in his chest when Sakura smiled back at the guy, and he immediately understood that he was unreasonably jealous. Unreasonable, because his cognitive faculties knew he didn't have any right to feel so, but he still did.

He recognizes the guy as the same person who asked Sakura out when he came back to Konoha, and Sasuke just cant help but make his presence known.

Or at least eavesdrop.

"Well thank you, Suzaku... I really think you're going to find the best woman for you."

"That could've been reassuring- if only you weren't the best woman in the world."

So true. Sasuke almost nodded to the young man's remark.

"Eh?" Sakura nervously chuckled but kept the genuine smile on her face. "You can't say that, you know. Somebody out there will be the best and perfect match for you, and you'll understand why I can't be with you. I'm really sorry about this...but believe me. It'll make sense one day."

"I'll believe you. At least we can still be friends, right?"

"Of course."

"But what about you, Sakura-san? Have you met who's perfect for you that's why you rejected almost every men of Konoha?" Suzaku grinned. He was hurt, yes, but the pain wasn't too deep since he was just starting to like her. He thinks no deep feelings were harmed, so he's gonna be fine soon.

"Well..uhm... I think so." Sakura blushed at the thought of her one and only love. "I dont know if he thinks the same way though. But I guess we're making improvements."

"Oh really? That's good! Congratulations, Sakura-san." The man grinned but it quickly faded when he spotted a tall, handsome man behind her.

Oh. Him. Of course. No wonder she rejected me. Who am I compared to the Uchiha Sasuke, anyway?

Sakura must have sensed Suzaku's gaze shifted from her to someone in her back, so she had to turn and check it- only to find a confused Sasuke staring right back at her.

"A-ah! Sasuke-kun! Have you been waiting for too long? Sorry." The pinkette wanted to disappear. Did Sasuke hear everything? How is he so good at masking his chakra?

"This is my junior and friend, by the way. Hirai Suzaku."

"Hn," Sasuke nodded at the young jonin as an acknowledgment, but his face looked like he was debating whether he should shake the guy's hand and activate chidori, or just trap him in a genjustu where he doesn't know any Haruno Sakura.

Sakura, of course, took notice of this and chuckled nervously. She needs to ease the tension fast, and knowing Sasuke, the only way to do that is to eliminate the enemy. Or in this case, tear his gaze away from his target.

"Wow, I'm tired and hungry. I want to go home." She stretched and started to drag the Uchiha. "Let's go now, Sasuke-kun? Bye Suzaku!"

"A-ah, bye, Sakura-san! Sasuke-san!"

*

"He's a nice guy, you know." Sakura told Sasuke as they walked home, but the latter just raised his brow on her.

"Do you like him?"

"Do I- what?! No! Shannaro! Of course not." The pinkette denied. I thought we made it clear we like each other last night? "Well, I like him as a person, but not as a man, if you know what mean."

"..."

"But as I was saying, he's a good junior. So I don't understand why you look like you want to chidori his limbs away earlier."

She knew. Of course. Sasuke blushed at the idea that Sakura can read him so easily, but then again, it comes handy during battles and times he doesnt know how to put his feelings into words.

Only that she can read even the emotions he doesn't want to be put into words.

"Were you jealous?" Sakura took her chances.

"W-what?" The last Uchiha began to sweat nervously for the second time today, and he wasn't sure if he should be proud of Sakura for that or scared.

Not to mention he just stuttered.

"I mean, that's the only possible reason why you reacted like that." Sakura teased but could not hold her laughter when she saw Sasuke's reaction. He was blushing hard, and he was obviously nervous and confused. It was a rare, cute sight. "I'm joking, Sasuke-kun! Relax!"

Her laughter was interrupted nonetheless, when Sasuke decided it was Sakura's turn to blush now. "So what if I'm jealous? He was the guy who confessed to you when I got back."

"E-eh?! Y-you w-were-"

"Jealous. Yes. So?" He looked away.

Sakura wanted to laugh, but Sasuke looked serious and was close to sulking that she can't and won't dare worsen his mood. Besides, she can't even get over her own blushing. "How could you be jealous when I've only liked you since we were at the academy."

She expected him to join the blushing competition again, but Sasuke was being blunt and honest today. For what reason, she didn't know.

"I've been away for too long. You might have liked someone else."

"..."

"..."

"Well sorry, Mr. Uchiha, because I apparently didn't." She confidently declared. "This is all the more reason why you shouldn't be jealous, shannaro. You've left, and we've been through the worst... yet here I am. I still like you. A lot."

Sasuke flinched at her words though because he understood what she was saying. He has almost killed her twice, yet she still wants to be with him. He has been an international criminal, yet she still walks with him home with full trust. He has rejected her so many times, yet she still tries. He can only wonder how he could make up for it and be deserving enough so he could finally accept her love.

Sakura, on the other hand, wondered how come confessing seems so easy for her now. To hell with liking; she knew she feels something deeper for him than that, but it still wont change the fact that admitting these romantic feelings should have been...harder. She suspects it's because she's done it awfully so many times, and got rejected those times as well. Her feelings were no secret, and Sasuke has probably been so used and comfortable with the idea that saying it out loud won't change anything now.

Excet when he actually replied and returned the favor.

"Good. I like you too."

"W-what?" Sakura blushed. She had been feeling that he does, sure. Ever since that little poke in her forehead, she had daydreamed and assumed that the love of her life is finally allowing himself to feel something for her. But him phrasing his feelings like this... "You mean like...as a comrade? A person? A- a woman?"

"I like you as you."

Sakura pouted. "That's too vague."

Sasuke sighed and stopped in his tracks to face her, and the pinkette realized they were already at her door. "I like you as Sakura. I see you as you, and I like it."

"S-so..."

"So we should come inside before Naruto passes by and create chaos, again." The last Uchiha went inside first, smirking as he knew that Sakura would take a while to process those words.

Give it to the kunoichi to read him with ease- but Sasuke knew that his unclear yet heavy sentences will never fail to catch the director of Konoha's health department confused. He realized this amuses him a lot more than necessary.

Well, he has always liked teasing her, after all. Even when he was a genin full of hate, teasing Sakura has been fun. Now that his heart is warmer and his views about the world lighter, teasing Sakura has made him realize what cute means, and he enjoyed it even more.

"Oh my gosh, what are these?" Sakura's attetion was diverted when she saw boxes of groceries inside her apartment. She blushed when she saw hygiene products inside, thinking how the hell did the person who bought these knew what she uses. What if Sasuke-

"I did groceries earlier." Sasuke replied which made the pinkette redder. "I should be in charge of some expenses if I am to live here for the time being."

"But where did you get the money for all of these?"

"Kakashi got me my Uchiha funds back." He showed her his card and was confused when her eyes literally twinkled.

"You have a black card?!"

"A-aa."

"I didn't know you're that loaded! Wow!"

"You don't have one?"

"Well... I do but only because I'm a doctor!"

"Why are you shouting?"

"Because wow!!!"

"..." Sasuke didn't know what to say. He expected Sakura would keep bothering him about his earlier statements, but she seemed to forgot everything else when she saw his card. "Is this more important than me?"

"Huh?" Sakura blinked.

"I just told you what I feel. You disregarded it for this."

"Eh?! It's because I won't be able to understand it anyway, baka. You'd just call me annoying if I keep asking you to explain." She pouted.

"Sakura."

"What?"

"You're annoying." He smirked.

"Wha- SEE! UGH! You're so frustra-"

"You annoy me because you make me feel weird things that I think I don't deserve. You're the only one who can do that, because you're Sakura."

And that's why I like you.

Or was it really just 'like'?

"So that's the reason why... you like me? Because I'm annoying?"

"Because you're you."

There was a moment of silence, and Sasuke felt so nervous about what she would say. Things are getting serious now, and he feels like it's high time they resolve what's been going on with them. Fortunately, the pinkette feels the same way.

Sakura then sighs and broke the silence. "Sasuke-kun..."

"Hn?"

"What are we?" She asked. She knows she promised they would take it slow, but she desperately needed assurance of where exactly does she stand in his life. Of what exactly does she mean to him. She spent 3 years of waiting for him; recovering from her own set of traumas and wondering what the forehead poke exactly meant. She thinks she at least deserves to know and understand what they truly are, especially considering the things Sasuke has been saying and doing for her during his 3 days back in town.

"Huh?"

Fuck it- she needs to let it out. "I've said it a thousand times: I like you. No, I love you. I know you know that..." the pinkette blushed and looked away, but it's now or never. "Now that you're telling me that you like me too... as me... could you please at least tell me what are we? I promised we can take things slow... and I'll keep that promise. I wont ask anything from you, nor would I demand normal relationship stuff. I just need to know where I stand. At least to be reassured of what exactly do I mean to you... because I'm getting tired of waiting and being unsure if you would even... hah. I'm sorry. I- I don't know."

"..."

"..."

"You're the light to my dark life." Sasuke looked at her seriously. "You're my piece of peace; a ray of sunshine that disturbs ny darkness but it's exactly what I need. I so badly want to come after your light, but I know I dont deserve it. Yet regardless of that thought, I cant stop myself from wanting to reach you. And from liking you, and from loving every moment I get to enjoy with you. You are my light."

"S-sasuke-kun..."

"I dont know what are we. But if you wanted to know what you mean to me, perhaps that's all you need to know."

Sakura was speechless. It was rare Sasuke speaks long sentences like this, but it was even rare that he bares his soul- and she managed to experience that within 24 hours because she's too insecure.

"Sakura." He called her again. "If I will be selfish, would you allow me to just be with you regardless of my sins?"

Sakura felt warm liquid streamed down her face as her heart doubled its pace. The ravenette then panicked as he thought he said something wrong, but he felt so relieved when she smiled as she brushed the tears away with the back of her hand.

"I've been with you all along, baka. I will stay with you through it all." She took a step closer and looked at him in the eye, cupping his cheek with a warm hand. Sasuke almost jolted at this- he didn't like being touched. But when it's Sakura, he wont even mind if she decides to glue her skin into his. This made him relax under her touch, letting himself feel the warmth she's giving- finally not caring whether he deserved it or not.

"You deserve to be happy, so stop holding yourself back from the new things that make you feel warm and bright. Dwell on it, keep it. If I'm one of those people that makes you happy, keep me. I'll stick with you til the end, Sasuke-kun. Aside from my shinobi and medical aspirations, all I really wanted for myself was to be with you anyway. So do me and yourself a favor and be selfish. Let's stay together. I have long forgiven your sins. Let's be happy together."

"...Thank you."

Sakura smiled wider at this. "Anytime."

"Sakura."

"Hm?"

"You asked me to be selfish, so I can do what I have been wanting to do since I left Konoha 3 years ago?"

"Well that depends, Sasuke-kun," she removed her hands from him, turning her heels to arrange the groceries now because she thought their little drama was over. "If you want to train now--"

She didn't have the chance to finish her sentence because in a second, she was trapped between the wall and a 5 foot 11 man's body.

Sakura's brain finally shutdown. It was the most unexpected thing Sasuke has ever done to her.

Try to kill her? Sure. He was literally out of his mind 4 years ago, so that wasnt exactly surprising. Poke her forehead? It was surprising, okay, but considering the amout of thank you's he's told her before she sent him off at the gates 3 years ago, a little gesture of afftection is not quite the surprise of the century. Confessing to her? Long sentences from the Uchiha Sasuke were a good surprise, no doubt, but Sakura knew that the ravenette was capable of speaking his heart out when he's serious and sincerely contemplating. It wasnt that much of a surprise since they exchanged letters whenever they can, but it was rather a heart-warming reassurance.

But kissing her??? That, she would never expect.

Because one, where the hell did he learn to do this?!

And two, Sasuke despises skinship. How the hell is he allowing himself to be this connected to someone else?

Well- not just someone else. He said I'm his light!

Thinking about all of this made Sakura forget how to breathe, much more respond to Sasuke's kisses. The last Uchiha then, however sure of himself in any fights, felt blood rush to his cheeks as he questions if he did it right.

"D-did I do it wrong?"

"Did you do it wro- no! No! You did it great-" Sasuke smirked at this and dived to kiss her again. This time, Sakura allowed herself to give in and kiss him back.

She placed her hands at the back of his neck as Sasuke found the small of her back and pulled her closer to him. She almost moaned when the space between them was eliminated, and almost died when she felt Sasuke's tongue on her lower lip, asking for entrance.

"Mhm," she moaned as he tasted all the corners of her mouth. She tried to battle his tongue for dominance but of course, Sasuke would never lose a fight like this.

Although that would be quite untrue because regardless of winning the dominance battle, Sasuke was also slowly losing himself in the process. His instincts wanted him to do more, to feel her more, and her responses to every caress he applied to her body assured him she wants it as much as he did.

"Oh my god I am so sorry! I am no cockblocker, please continue with whatever you were doing!" A voice interrupted the lovebirds.

"Eh? Cockblocker? Why, what are they doing 'ttebayo!"

"Let's just go, Naruto. Sakura is busy."

"But Ino-!"

Before the Yamanaka girl could even drag the ever so interrupting world-hero-next-hokage away, a deadly and smiling Sakura has already opened her door wide.

Sasuke was pissed and embarrassed to the bone that he wanted stand beside Sakura to kill his bestfriend who's apparently still a dobe- but he knew better than to be within Sakura's radar at this point. She'd beat the living hell out of Naruto without his help anyway, and there's no way he'd do anything to the blonde girl who can access his mind at this very, very, awkward moment.

As if she'd even need to do that. One look at his pants and she'll be able to tell what the hell just happened- and almost happened.

Better safe than sorry, Sasuke decided it was best to stay away from the group of extroverts.

"What are you two doing here?" Every word Sakura spat was laced with venom, and while Ino held her pride and stare right back at her bestfriend, Naruto was already trembling in fear. "I thought I already made it clear earlier that knocking is a basic etiquette that you must ALL DO BEFORE BARGING INTO MY APARTMENT!"

"Well sorry, Forehead! We just weren't used to you having a guy at home! You were usually alone not doing anything...sexual." Ino smirked which made Sakura's blood boil.

"Ah Ino, I think we should go dattebayo..." Naruto sheepishly smiled.

"No. Actually, come in. I would love to talk to you two. Especially you, Uzumaki." Sakura returned her bestfriend's smirk as she cracked her knuckles.

How did we end up here? Sasuke thought and hid himself inside Sakura's bedroom where he'd be left alone in peace.