Sakura's head throbbed for the rest of the day, even when she took a nap. Her hospital room was quiet once again, the only presence coming from the new ANBU stationed next to her door. She turned on her side, watching the sunset before pulling out a book from the bedside table and beginning to read. Slowly, her eyelids became heavier and heavier...

Sakura woke up with a start, then turned to see what time it was. Two in the morning. She rolled over again, bookmarked the page to her book, then set it on her table. In the corner of the room, the guard was nowhere to be found.

Sakura sat up, and looked out her window warily, searching for ANBU hiding about. Suddenly, her chest began to ache again, leaving her breathless and no longer groggy from waking up early in the morning. She tore the covers off of her and opened the window once again before jumping to the ground.

:::

He took one last glance at his small, empty apartment: the unmade bed, the blank walls, the spotless hardwood floor. Then, something caught his eye, near his bedside table. Team Seven's picture.

Sasuke walked over quietly in a few steps, and his eyes flashed red, memorising what was shown. He smirked, looking at his own angry face while he and Naruto had been arguing, with Kakashi and Sakura looking blankly at the camera. His gaze hardened, remembering all that had happened after those good days. Naruto and Sakura continued to grow stronger, while he only stayed where he was ability-wise.

His fists tightened at his sides, then he scoffed and turned. He didn't lock his apartment door when he left.

:::

"It is too early for a morning walk, Sasuke."

Sasuke inwardly cursed when he heard the familiar voice. "Sakura," he greeted her without turning to look at her.

"So you are leaving," she said, stating a fact rather than asking a question. It is good that I checked when I suspected he would be leaving.

He turned finally, and nodded, making sure not to look into her green eyes. "I am."

"I am sure I do not have to say why you are. I already know that it is calling you to go to Orochimaru. However, you should not. It is an unwise decision."

Sasuke scoffed. "Of course it's easy for you to say, Sakura. You were born with natural talent and knowledge. Not everyone is as privileged as you are." Even he knew that her past could very well be on par with his and Naruto's, but he knew Sakura didn't realise that, due to her lack of comprehension on emotions.

"I am very privileged," Sakura agreed, "but you are also. If you submit to Orochimaru, you will never see Ramen-boy and I again, unless we are sent to hunt you, since we know your fighting style the best. It is highly likely Shikamaru will also be sent, because he is a strategic master from the Nara clan." She gazed at him evenly, her eyes boring into his. "Know that I have enough strength to stop you."

Sakura stared at her for a few seconds before his mouth twitched and contorted into a smug smirk. "You see, Sakura, that's what I don't like about you. You think you're better than everyone else. You think by using logic and facts, you'll be able to defeat anyone when you're really the smallest and weakest out of all of us. You're..." he struggled for a word, then found it. "Annoying."

If Sakura was effected by his words, she didn't show it. "Annoyance, an unpleasant experience that is triggered by irritation or distraction." She took a step closer. "Why is it you find me to be irritating, or are Ramen-boy and I a distraction to your plans of vengeance to your older brother—"

Sasuke turned his head away from her. "See, that's another thing. You think you know everything. You think you understand someone's feelings more than they do, but you don't even experience feeling." He scowled. "You don't know anything about me."

He watched as her green eyes flashed dangerously. "I know many things, Sasuke, and one of them is that you will regret this. You may find temporary fixes for the problems you encounter, but until you face them, head on, you will never grow. You will always continue to be a weak character that will be easily manipulated and taken advantage of. True strength is acknowledging one has problems, and facing them."

"And you don't run away from your problems? Sakura, we both know you do. You have been. You always will. True strength is having a goal and being motivated to accomplish it. Just like me avenging my clan." Sasuke shoved his hands into his pockets, staring at her.

"We will never be able to come to a conclusion if you will not listen to what I have to say." Sakura turned from him. "You are too stubborn, and weak-hearted. You are not a true friend. You used to tell me I was your friend. Ramen-boy told me that friends do not lie to each other, and will always have each other's backs. Instead, you disregard me as something you do not want to know, and break a promise I had treasured up to this time—"

"Sakura," he growled, taking a step closer to her so that they were a foot apart, when he saw her ear. His scowl faltered, remembering the mission when that injury had happened. His face softened, as he put a hand to her shoulder, forcing her to look at him. "Sakura. We both know I can't stay here."

"That is what you tell yourself," she replied dryly, pushing away his hand. "Do not do this. It is not too late."

"Sakura," Sasuke said gently, wrapping his arms around her stiff shoulders to hug her. "It was too late a long time ago." He pressed the small area on the back of her neck, and backed away, taking in her facial features one last time: her too-wide forehead he knew she would grow into, her pink bangs that framed her face, her small button nose, and her large green eyes that slowly closed. He tried to ignore the heavy thumping in his chest as he pulled her close again and whispered, "Arigatou, Sakura." He relished her name on the top of his tongue before catching her slumped body princess-style and laid her on the stone bench where he had first decided he wanted to be her friend after seeing her drive away his fan girls, where Team Seven met up before heading to Ichiraku's, and so much more.

He wanted to stay. He wanted to be able to protect her and his new family, even if his methods would be looked down on. Instead, he shouldered his large bag once more and turned, resisting the urge to take her with him, or look once more, because the longer he stayed, the harder it would be for the both of them.

Thought of writing a scene where he does kiss her, but decided not to. I think I have a few drafts from early planning. Would you guys be interest in reading them?

Sakura confronted Sasuke just as he was leaving, and he knocked her out! Will Sasuke get caught by the retrieval team?

Will Sakura forgive Sasuke for this? Will Sakura and Naruto's broken bond be fixed?

And most importantly...WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?!