Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘Naruto’ if I did I would steal Sasuke-kun’s underwear snickers

Chapter Ten: The answers aren’t applicable

“The world is full of suffering,

It is also full of overcoming it.”

- Helen Keller

Walking over to him she poked him square in the chest. “How dare you take advantage of me like that!” She ranted as she looked away sadly, “Haven’t you hurt me enough already…I’m not some little play toy, I have feelings too…Feelings that you’ve repetitively proven to disregard.”

“You’re making it sound as if you’re the only one who got hurt here Sakura;” he snapped while he leant against the kitchen bench behind him, his eyes cast downwards. “My actions didn’t just hurt you and Naruto…they hurt a lot of people; even those whom I didn’t and still don’t know; – anyone who knew of my clan had high hopes for me…” he stated with a laugh; “…so what did I do? I became a missing-nin; the complete opposite of what you all wished for me to become. Oh by the way…it hurt me more than all of you as I was the person who hurt the ones he cared for.”

Sakura’s eyes snapped in his direction sparkling like glaring jewels as they brimmed with tears once more. “Well YOU didn’t wait years hoping for you to return…” she stated hurtfully; “YOU didn’t cry yourself to sleep at night worrying about your safety…” she continued as she trembled; “YOU didn’t put your entire life on hold to bring yourself back to the village only to have all your efforts thrown away as if they were of no importance what-so-ever…” she added tearfully as her voice wavered and she took a step forward, pressing her eyes shut she let her tears stream down her cheeks, not even bothering to try and calm herself down; “YOU didn’t even care about how much I loved you…” she finally choked out as she glared at him; “YOU JUST DIDN’T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING!”

“You make it sound as if I wanted this Sakura,” he replied bluntly as he ran a hand through his hair, “besides it’s not like I told you to do all that…you chose o do that on your own accord.”

Sakura’s eyebrows furrowed; “Well you chose to leave didn’t you! You decided to go after Itachi!”

His eyes narrowed; as his ruggedly handsome features tensed; “There was no other option; it’s my destiny.”

“That doesn’t mean anything Sasuke! Do you honestly think that your parents wanted you two to end up like this? You want to save your clan by reviving it, but at the same time you want to murder the only living member other than yourself; it’s insane!” Sakura stated bluntly as she folded her arms across her chest.

Sasuke fell silent for long moments; “You didn’t know them like I did…” he mumbled coldly, “I had to honour what my father held in high regard – success and honour…I had no choice but to do so,” staring directly into Sakura’s eyes, his narrowed; “So don’t talk of my family as if you knew them! And don’t say I had a choice!”

Sakura’s hair wisped over her eyes as they tensed; “Can’t you just accept the fact that I’m right this time? It won’t kill you,” she snapped hotly as she looked at him amusedly, “That I’m sure of; since you’ve survived everything from Deidara’s C4 to Itachi’s constantly emotionally unstable state.”

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed; “This isn’t worth my time I don’t know why I came back here; it’s so obvious that your overwhelming ignorance is clouding your sight as a shinobi and a former team mate,”

Shooting him a death glare emerald clashed with ebony as Sakura’s eyes twitched; “Yeah well in that case leave…Don’t come back…”

Twisting his lips slightly he raised and eyebrow and walked towards the door in her direction; stopping as he reached her side he looked down at her as she stared blankly at the wall in front of her; “Saku-”

“-What do you want from me Sasuke?” she cut in as her eyes shot up to meet his as tears welled in her incensed eyes.

Slightly phased by her unexpected question Sasuke’s eyes widened in slight surprise.

Watching him carefully Sakura bit down on her bottom lip; ‘Just tell me already. Please I love you so much but I can’t love you openly until I know what you want from me…I-I won’t let my heart get snapped in two by you again…It may not recover…’

Looking down at her for a second he soon brushed past her and walked out of the house; leaving her behind. Walking back out onto the quiet street towards his home Sasuke glared at the dirt path; “I won’t explain myself. Why the hell should I? I don’t even understand what I want anyway…” he whispered infuriately as he walked onwards; “hn..”

Long minutes passed and Sakura remained in the same spot near the door; unmoving as she pressed her eyes shut.

‘What if he really doesn’t come back…’ a voice in the back of her mind noted worriedly, as she reopened her eyes. ‘What if he leaves the village? Do you really want him to even though you’re angry at him?’ the voice continued as her heart raced and Sakura winced painfully at the thought and replied with a short, “No…” as she placed one hand on her hip, ‘Then what do you want?’ Looking out the window for a moment Sakura watched a bird bathe in a puddle on the dirt path, “I don’t know…”

Day turned into noon and noon into night, day in day out and Sakura had barely moved an inch other than to use the bathroom and had spoken little but 3 words. “Go away Naruto-kun…” she said tiredly as she continued to look out the window.

Naruto jumped but then smiled mischievously, “You have great hearing I was even holding my breath and didn’t move that time Sakura-chan,” he replied happily as his eyes tweaked pleasedly.

Sighing Sakura tilted her head to the left side, watching the sunset over the forest of death as she bit down on her bottom lip.

Frowning Naruto crept forward and wrapped his arms around her shoulders; “Sakura why have you sat here for 4 days? You don’t even sleep…Everyone is worried about you.”

Dropping her head and her gaze Sakura sighed, “I’m sorry…I just don’t know what to do anymore.”

Smiling cheerfully Naruto’s eyes lit up, “Well that’s what us friends are for; right?” he chimed.

Sakura looked up at him blankly for a moment before a gentle smile crossed her lips as she nodded, “mmhmm thanks Naruto-kun.”

The cold roof tiles dug into Sasuke’s skin as he looked up at the moon, glowing a light shade of off white as it lit the silky star lit sky while small leaves circled through the long distance between them.

Collecting the blanket in his arms he walked back over to her side and spread it over her figure as a faint frown crossed her perfect lips.

“Promise me Sasuke…” she mumbled sleepily as she rolled on to her back and two tears rolled down her cheeks.

Sasuke’s eyes softened as he looked down at his secret crush, feeling his heart break in two at the sight of her tears and her words. ‘Oh god what have I done to you Sakura-san,’ he thought sadly as he sat down on the edge of the bed, wiping away her tears. “I promise you, I’ll never leave you again Sakura-san. Never again,” he whispered as he placed a hand near her pillow, slowly letting his head drift closer until his lips lightly brushed against her own, while he closed his eyes and a light blush crossed his cheeks, ‘I only wish I could tell you how much I love you Sakura-san.’

Sighing he twisted his lips thoughtfully. ‘Perhaps I should’ve acted differently and acted off what I felt was right at the time…why else would I kiss her?’ he thought as he replayed the even through his mind. Slowly a warm stabbing sensation in his chest made him wince, it was a lie…“but she… has this effect on me. How does she do it?...It almost makes me feel bad for making my own choices…like when I left.”

“From this point on, new paths will start,” Sasuke said slowly.

Sakura takes a few steps froward. “I…I love you more than anything! If you are by my side, I will make sure that you won’t regret it. I will make every day more enjoyable, and you will be happy! There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you! That’s why…I’m begging you! Please stay!” she cried, “I will even help you with your revenge! There must be something I can do! That’s why…Please, stay here with me…If that is not possible, then please take me with you…” she said as she sobbed.

Slowly Sasuke turned around and smiled sadly at her. “After all this time, you’re still annoying,” he said coldly.

Biting down on his bottom lip he grimaced. What is it that made her tears and her hurt words so close to painful…it never mattered if someone else said it but if it was Sakura, it was frustrating and annoying because of that unknown reason.

“YOU didn’t even care about how much I loved you…” she finally choked out as she glared at him; “YOU JUST DIDN’T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING!”

Suddenly gasping at the recent memory he pressed his eyes shut to erase her face. “Damn her…” he cursed as he slowly re-opened his eyes and glared out at the grass across the other side of the vicinity.