A Rose By Any Other Name (A Sasuke Uchiha Story)

Chapter 23.

He’d known they had similarities, but it was only now Sasuke was seeing just how strong their connection was.

They understood what it was like to be in each other’s position and just how far they were willing to go to get what they wanted in life. That fact was clear right now as Sasuke looked over at her, her face remaining in a glare and scowl towards Uragiri, even with the injuries evident on her body and the blood on her lip. He couldn’t help but smirk. There had been a time he had worried she would be like Sakura and Ino had been—acting like utter fangirls and becoming over-obsessed with him. But how wrong he had been. She was nothing like them; the opposite, in fact, and it had to be what had drawn him in. He had gone on so long thinking that no one could understand what it was like for him growing up and then trying to go after his dream, but she understood, and understood completely.

He would have realised it sooner or later, though—it’s not like he’d needed this.

Suddenly a lot of the feelings that had been appearing in him over the last few days made more sense than ever. Maybe he’d always known that there had been something there between them, but it had been too deep under the surface for him to fully realise. But now he knew how deep this understanding of each other went. When he had first met her, he had hated her and always acted hostile. Yet there were others he had met and hated in much the same way—but he had ended up getting into full-blown arguments with them and sometimes actual fights. It had never happened with her, though—something had always stopped him from stepping over the line. Now he knew just exactly what that was. They had more similarities than he could have imagined, and a strange feeling of joy rose within him—though he instantly pushed it away. He wasn’t overjoyed at what was going on here; it was just a relief, that was all.

He knew something about her. Sometimes when they had been training and when he had been asking her what her name was, it had felt as if she wanted him to see her as a nameless, faceless thing that needed no connection to him. A part of him had wanted her to trust him enough to tell her things herself, but he couldn’t help but be relieved that this had be revealed. It proved there was a connection between them, and it was now something substantial that he could talk about and know was there. It had been mere guesswork before, groping his way through a fog he had been beginning to think there was no end to. But now…he could be close to her. That same feeling that had been pestering him these past few days came back, only this time it was harder than ever to dismiss it. He couldn’t push away the joy he felt at knowing he could understand her more than he’d ever done anyone in his life, and the need to get closer to her.

Maybe…no, it wasn’t possible. But…maybe he did love her.

Maybe he could allow himself to accept that—as much as he felt embarrassed to do so.

He knew he trusted her; so when Uragiri finally turned and left her alone, giving her time to lose hope and change her mind by the time he came back, Sasuke glared at his back and clenched his fists, waiting until his footsteps died away. Once they had done, he swiftly moved forward and over to her cell, revealing himself with a soft greeting. Frowning in confusion and surprise, she couldn’t think of anything to say at first. He’d decided to come after her, he’d managed to find her…and she was extremely glad he had done both. No matter how hard she tried to deny it, that fact was true—she was glad to see his face. But knowing they weren’t exactly out of danger, she finally found her voice and blurted,