The Return

Chapter 9

Memories of the Darkness

Sasuke clasped Sakura's hand tightly as they walked back through the village. He was happy but felt like he revealed too much about his past. Sure, he loved Sakura, but he'd never gotten that personal with anyone else besides Naruto. Also, there was...that kiss. He'd never kissed anyone besides Naruto, and that hadn't been a great experience, to say the least. No, this was different, it was softer and warmer. He felt like he finally understood the Uchiha's capacity for love. His clan didn't have a curse per se, they just loved fiercely. And if anything happened to the people they loved...

"Sasuke?" Sakura looked up at him as he stopped in his tracks.

If anything happened to Sakura, what would he do? Was it possible...would he go rogue again? Would he go blind with rage, destroying everything in his path? He knew the answer in his heart, and it pained him. If he let his emotions out, they would take over. He had to control himself and keep them tucked away, out of sight. He was at a loss. There were two choices: let her go now and avoid potential chaos or suffer later just as he did with his clan and Itachi. Either way, he knew he'd lose Sakura. The very thought ate at him like a curse mark.

"Sasuke!" Sakura shook him gently. She held a hand up to his forehead. "Oh dear, you're burning up. Come with me and I'll treat you in my apartment." Normally, the idea of having Sasuke over at her place would seem like a dream come true, but she could tell something wasn't right.

Sasuke shrugged her off. "I'm fine. I'll just go to Naruto's."

"You know Naruto is a newlywed, right?" Sakura smirked. He could try to get out of this all he wanted, but he was still in need of her help whether he liked it or not.

Sasuke blushed. "Fine, I'll go to Kakashi's then."

"Come on, Sasuke. Just head back with me. It's no trouble, I swear. I only want to help you" Sakura pleaded. She knew he was stubborn, but still, why couldn't he simply accept help when it was right there?

"I said, I'm fine" he argued coldly. He turned to go, heading towards the Hokage Tower.

"Sasuke, why can't you just-" Sakura called out to him.

He slowly turned back. "Don't be so annoying, Sakura."

She froze, a tear trickling down her face. Where they back to square one after all that? She glanced at his pained expression before running past him, towards her apartment.

Sasuke watched as she left. He felt like a piece of him was just crushed, running off with Sakura. The guilt over leaving her returned in its full fury. Maybe she was right, maybe he did need to accept help once in a while. The world spun as he headed to the Hokage Tower. As much as he wanted to go back with Sakura, he knew it was too late to turn back now.

Sakura dried her tears when she got back to her apartment. She'd dealt with worse when it came to Sasuke. Why did he always have to be so cold though? Just when she thought things were going great between them, this happened. She hoped he was doing okay with Kakashi, or whoever he decided to stay with. She knew why he turned away from her too, she could see the pain in his eyes just like in the Forest of Death. As she chopped vegetables for supper, she recalled that time. Sasuke may not have reciprocated her feelings back then, but they still relied on each other. They were still connected by their feelings, even if Sasuke's were the only ones of comradery at the time. She remembered when Orochimaru placed the curse mark on him and everything changed. Sasuke seemed both closer and farther away from her after that. She recalled the look in his eyes after the Sound Ninja hurt her. He really would've killed them if she hadn't stopped him. Her mind flashed back to when he almost killed her. She winced at the thought. He was so full of darkness just a few years ago.

Sakura looked down at her cutting board as a thought registered in her mind. Sasuke probably didn't want to stay with her because he was afraid. Afraid that he'd return to the darkness if anything happened to her. Shannaro, that baka! She brought her fist down on the cutting board, splitting it and the table beneath in two. She reeled with what to do as all the vegetables fell to the floor. She couldn't make a stew now! Frustrated, she grabbed her purse and stormed over to the door. It looked as though she'd be getting Ichiraku to go tonight.

As she opened the door, the strangest sight lay before her though. Kakashi smiled awkwardly, carrying a passed out Sasuke on his back.

"Hi, Sakura. I know you're probably busy, but would you mind taking your comrade off my hands?"