I really think this is one of the most realistic Sasuke returns fic. Sakura is not going to have a clearly defined reaction and neither is Sasuke. So...this is probably the way most people would react in the same situation. It's completely true.

Something tells me you don't need reviewers to tell you how awesome you truly are!!
I loved the story:)

I'm just working my way through your stories. This one is definetly one of the best. It was so touching and fitting and picturing the right mood and I just totally fell in love with it.
I went on a short trip and printed this story to read it among others and just couldn't help myself to look it up again to leave a review for this really magnificent work.
Thank You so very very much!!

Ok, so this bit is probably my favorite of the whole fic.
She could not find it in herself to blame him, either.



(So instead she blamed herself—not enough, never enough.)

Just then, the object of—

(what exactly, she wondered? He’d been everything—her dreams, her fantasies, her obsessions—at least once.

He’d been everything, period.)

her musings came into view, and she let out the breath she had not realized she was holding, her hands clenched into tight fists at her side.



I love how her thoughts and feelings are interjected, interrupting the flow but adding to it at the same time, if that makes any sense. Lots of fun!

I loved the conversation with Naruto and Sakura three quarters of the way through, too. I love how you didn't say who was speaking, the reader just figures it out - Sakura and (I think) Ino, with the second set being more obvious (Naruto and Sakura). Of course, now I'm trying to find the effect of that technique because I just took the World Lit test and my mind is still in analysis mode. YES! I was right about it being Ino! (sorry...when I write long reviews like this it's because I write them while I read, otherwise I forget everything I want to say). Anyways, awesome fic. The ending was really fitting, I think. It wasn't quite enough, but it was...again, I'm not sure if I'm making sense but I felt like it kind of led the reader's mind to the future...whatever future they imagined. Personaly, I see themas a close couple after a lot of forgiveness has been done. I see them arguing, but never not making up, even if the atmosphere was a little frigid for a while. I see them with children, eventually, too...Sasuke's skeletons uncovered for the world to see, and his kids having to grow up under the shadow they cast. Very interesting... Anyways, awesome fic! Keep writing!

BEAUTIFUL :)

I think that's what makes it so special, that there's not really a resolution. There's hope and desire to not disappoint, and that alone can drive men into infinity.

I thought it was a wonderful piece. Well put together, and especially the flow. Loved the beginning quotes since some of them are from favorite poets. I was really good, a favorite, I have to say. I'm just such a sucker for this type of ending because it makes it more human and just hopefully, maybe, it could end like this for them.

Thank you!

You are so right.
I hate fics where he comes back and she falls into his arms and he kisses her and then they're married within the week.
I think that, honestly, it would take time.
Like you said, "he was Sasuke, and she was Sakura, and their ending would never be so easy,"
I like that line. A lot.
So, right. Great job.
-N

M... you know what comes into my mind here?
a) You've got a real wide range of tastes when it comes to books. I've never heard of any of them that you mentioned.
b) You really enjoy exploring their emotions, don't you? Every piece of your work that I've read is quite fixated on Sakura's feelings towards Sasuke, and whether they are... reciprocated.
So yeah, loved the opening lines. And the phrase "quiet conversations with voices as taut as piano wires when she’d been at her most bitter" is really great, you know? You rock at comparisons, and that takes a real stretch of imagination.

Aw..

I loved every part of this. Really.

I loved how winding and confusing and flowy this whole thing was, kind of how a mussed-up mind really works.

And I love how you portrayed the Sakura-Ino and Sakura-Naruto relationships, well, of course, especially the awkwardness of Sasuke and the hesitation/confusion of Sakura.

If there were no manga/anime basis in this fandom, and I'd have to explain why I like this pairing so much, this fic would be it.

Really.

Kudos to you~

I'll be on the lookout. :)

Interesting, convuluted, but interesting nonetheless... perhaps because of. Either way, not the point, the point is that this is one of the few really truly satisfying SasuSaku 'no, it's not the end of the world, he's back, and here's Sakura' fic I've read. I'm a sucker for the cheesy romances, I feel Sakura's justified to be pissed as freakin' hell, and honestly, I think you're right, she's gotta feel freakin' confused. And this does that pretty well. Nice.

that was amazing :) I loved it.

I think my favourite part was the silence when Sasuke came to visit Sakura - that was the turning point for me. Just a very original approach to how they would first respond to one another after a long and awkward separation. I like subtlety, and I think you were able to achieve that with the way their relationship changed, even though no words were exchanged that night.

There wasn't exactly any romance, but sometimes less is more - great job!

Love it!

I like that thought. The thought that she gets to have everything in between. Because Sakura deserves it. And I wish more people understood that. Fantastic piece... truly "epic."

(: I thought that was truly amazing, and you really depicted it well. I get what you are trying to point out in your A/N.

Sakura has the right to question emotions. (I even related to Sakura through this whole story .-.)

Every fanfic, I've come across on her (so far), when Sasuke's back she's always so excited as (OHMIGOD! SASUKE-KUN!) With the little fangirl squeals.

Maybe thats why I took so a long hiatus with the whole ff reading and writing. So many fanfictions weren't keeping a true idea, a good enough explanation.

That probably just confused you a ton, because I'm really bad with wording things I try to explain -shrugs-.

I guess, I'm trying to say I really like the story[:

XUchihaSakuraX