"S-Sasu-ke." Sakura stuttered as she stared the the young boy before her.

His lips curled into a nervous smile as he looked at her. This had to be the best time of his life. He'd admit, seeing Sakura while he was in the confinement but something about this was different.

Slowly, he reached up with his hand and moved idle strands of pink out the girl's eyesight. Sakura shivered at his touch.

His hand, She thought. It's so warm.

"Sasuke!" The girl gasped before throwing herself into him. Sauske stumbled back from the impact, but he held her close as he smiled. Taking in the scent of her was something he alwayys yerned for since he left the village.

Sakura held on to Sasuke for what she thought would be the last time. She wanted to cry, but the new girl that she was told her not to. She didn't want to resort back to the girl she once was, but she was so happy that she got a chance to feel Sasuke's warmth once again.

"Are you cold?" She asked him once she pulled apart from him.

"No." He answers. But Sakura doesn't listen, she ushers him inside anyway. After closing the door, She watched as Sasuke removed his shoes. Together, they stepped further into Sakura's apartment.

"When did you get realeased?" She asked as she watched him explore her home with his eyes.

"Yesterday." He says as he turns to look at her. He then sits on the couch. Sakura joins him. Her nerves on edge. She didn't know what to think, let alone what to do. She couldn't even think of a simple sentence to say that could spark up a conversation.

Seeing this, Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Would you have preferred if I was back in the confinement?"

Sakura quickly shook her head. She made it her business to sit next to him. She sat straight, shoulders back. She stared at Sasuke sternly, waiting for him to say something else. She couldn't believe it, Sasuke was a free man. He was in her home. Alone. The two of them.

Just the thought alone made Sakura flustered. Her wide slightly widened as she stared at the raven. He looked back at her with curiously. He wondered what was going on in her mind.

They stared at eachother waiting for the other to say something. Sakura wondering what the next move would be, Sasuke wondering would he be out of line for touching her.

"W-Would you like anything to drink?" Sakura blurted out quickly as she stood. Sasuke watched as she walked past him and towards her kitchen. Sasuke slowly stood, following her and standing by the island.

"Water is fine." Sasuke says as he continues to watch her. She smiled shortly and retrieved water for the young raven. She slid it across the counter to him. Watching as his picked up the cup and took a small sip.

"How does it feel?" Sakura asked.

"How does what feel?" He asked setting the cup down on the counter.

"Being a free man." Sakura says. "You can do as you please. You don't have to wait on anyone to feed you anymore. You actually get to sleep comfortably and you're actually going to be put to good use once Kakashi-Sensei gets you some work."

Sasuke thought for a moment. He'd only been to sleep once since he's been a free man and the sleep was rather comfortable. The food he ate was with Naruto. Other than that he can't really give Sakura an exact answer about how it truly felt to be free. He went to open his mouth but nothing came out. So he tried again.

"It's been alright." He says. "I've been dragged out of my home by the collar, so." His voice trailed off as he looked down at the counter. He heard giggles coming from Sakura.

"He's excited to have his friend back, that's all." She says softly. "Between hanging with Kiba and Lee, it's comforting having someone he actually looks at as family rather than just a friend around."

A smirk falls on Sasuke's lips. "Yeah, I guess so."

Sakura stared at the raven. His hood on his head, Sleeve where his left hand should've been tucked into the pocket of the hoodie he wore.

"Have you shopped for clothes?" Sakura asked as she looked at him.

Sasuke slowly shook his head no.

"Sasuke, you can't just go through life wearing a jacket and pants all the time. What are you gonna do when it gets hot?"

"Take the jacket off." Sasuke says simply before drinking more of his water. His eyes travel up to Sakura who wasn't impressed by his answer at all.

"You've gotta be kidding me," Sakura slightly palmfacing herself. "Sasuke you need clothes."

"I don't care about having clothes, Sakura."

"Well I do." The pinkette crossed her arms. "I'm off from missions and the hospital tomorrow. Come by and the both of us can go together. You don't have to pick anything out, just come so I can get your measurements right. Okay?"

Sasuke said nothing. He just brought the cup to his lips and took a drink. He placed the cup back on the counter and stared down at the nothingness.

"I'll take that as a yes." Sakura says with a small smirk on her face.

"Don't bet on it." Sasuke says dryly.

"I can find out where you live, Sasuke."

"You're annoying." Sasuke mumbles.

"Uh-huh." Sakura kissed her teeth as she looked at him. "One of these days, you're gonna stop being so stubborn and prideful and actually let someone help you when you need it."

Sasuke again said nothing. Letting his silence speak for itself.

"Did you apply for the Chunnin Exams?"

Sasuke shook his head. "No, I haven't." He answers. "Have you?"

Sakura giggled. "I've already become a chunnin." She says proudly. "In fact, I'm actually a jounin now." She stuck her chin out as if she were gloating. Sasuke stared at her with a small smirk on his face.

"Are you now?" He says looking her over. She quickly shrunk and a pink tint landed on her face.

"Yes I am." She finds herself saying.

"I'm meeting up with Naruto tomorrow for some training," Sasuke says. "You should come along."

Sakura's eyebrow raised. "Y-You sure?" She asks him.

He eyes her. "I wouldn't ask you if I wasn't sure, Sakura." He says blandly.

"Right." She breaths out. "Great then, I'd love to. I'll invite Hinata."

Sasuke snorts. "I want Naruto to be productive, not distracted or going on an ego trip to impress her."

"I doubt he'd do that." Sakura says with a small nod. "Naruto is very mature."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow and looks at Sakura. "Are we talking about the same Naruto?"

"He's grew as a person!" Sakura laughs strongly trying to defend her friend. "Leave him alone alright?"

Sasuke smirks. "Whatever you say."

Silence consumed them. Sakura snuck glances at him as he looked around her small apartement.

"Well, I'll get going." Sasuke says. "I just happend to walk by and I wanted to be the first to tell you that I was released."

Sakura felt her cheek redden. She used her sweater sleeve to cover her mouth. "Thank you." She says softly turning her gaze down towards the hardwood floor of her home.

"Hn." Sasuke's eyes followed as well. He chewed on his lip thinking of something else to say.

The sound of thunder greeted them. Sakura slightly flinched. She stood to her feet and slowly walked over to her window. Pulling the curtian to the side, she glaced out the window, watching as rain pelted her window. She looked over at Sasuke, who was now behind her, and extremely close, looking out of the window.

"It's raining." She says softly as she looks back out the window. Her face turning red as she thought about what she was going to say next. "D-Do you want to stay the night?" She looks over at Sasuke who's eyes were still trained on the outside of the window. His eyes finally lands on hers, though his head never moved in her direction. He blinked once. Then twice before turning his head down to her.

"It's not a problem to walk home." He says. "It's not far from here and I don't want to intrude."

"You won't be intruding Sasuke." She says softly. "I wouldn't want you walking in this rain anyway." She turns her head back out of the window. "It's coming down pretty hard and people are practically running to their next destination."

Sasuke thought for a moment. "Where will I sleep?" He asks her as their eyes meet.

Sakura went to open her mouth, but words wouldn't come out. Sasuke chuckled as he flicked the girl on the forehead.

"Pull yourself together, I'll sleep on the couch." He says watching her frown once he flicked her forehead. The girl frowned at him.

"I wasn't spazzing out or anything." She says with a roll of her eyes as she rubs the spot Sasuke flicked. The smirk on his face still there. "I'll get you blankets and a pillow."

"Thank you." Sasuke replies watching her as she left. He reached up and took off his pancho, tossing it on the small couch. He sat back on the bigger couch, waiting for Sakura to return.

Sakura walked into her room and took in a deep breath. Inwardly she was screaming, but outwardly she was Searching for the Blankets and pillows for Sasuke.

Sasuke.. She thought as her face began to get hot. You're home, and you're here; In my home. Again Sakura took in a deep breath and found the items she were looking for being putting on her best poker face and walking bout out to the living area. Sasuke sat on the couch waiting for her return. She placed the pillow opposite him of the couch and handed him the blanket in his hand. Sasuke watched as the pink tint made it to the girl's face as he reached for the blanket.

"Thank you." He says with a small smile on his face.

Sakura nodded shortly. She stood there for a moment before realizing she was being weird. She sat in the small seat away from him.

"Are you tired?" She asked as she looked over at him. Sasuke took in a breath and shook his head from side to side.

"No." He answers. "I was actually just enjoying your company."

Sakura felt herself blushing but she swallowed the lump in her throat to help hide it. She quickly looked away from him and towards the wall. A lone picture of the three of them along with Kakashi hanging from the wall along with other photos along the way. Her eyes landed on Sasuke's young form in the photo. He stared at Naruto like he hated him. But deep inside, Naruto was the bestest friend he'd ever have. The thought alone made her smile.

"What are you smiling for, loser?" Sasuke's voice fell upon her ears as she remember she wasn't alone anymore. Smirking, she stood to her feet and sat next to Sasuke.

"We have alot of catching up to do, Sasuke-kun."

********

The sunlight shown from the window curtains hitting Sasuke and waking him from his slumber. His eyes fluttered open, as he took in his surroundings. He'd fallen asleep.

He yawned, trying to sit up but feeling the weight of another body on him made him stop. Looking down, strands of pink decorated his chest. His face began to grow hot as he slowly pulled the cover back, seeing more of her sleeping form. Her face tucked into the crook of his neck, her arms wrapped around his torso and their legs tangled into one another. His chest heaved. He didn't want to wake her, feeling her warm breath on his neck kind of put him at ease. She held him as if he would leave again, and that alone broke his heart.

He decided to stay there and let her sleep. Every moment she made, he'd make sure to reassure her that he was indeed still there. Feeling her move once more, he heard a groan escape her lips as she shifted on Sasuke. He stared at the ceiling refusing to look at her. He felt Sakura freeze, assuming she realized where she was. She raised up, looking around quickly before her eyes landed on Sasuke. Their eyes lock. Sasuke could see the girl becoming embarassed as she slowly pushed herself off of him to sit on the couch. She pushed her pink locs out her face as she stared at nothing trying to process it all. Sasuke sat and adjusted himself, pushing his grown out hair out his face as well.

Sakura glanced at him, watching as his Rinnegan became exposed. She quickly looked away.

"I'll wash your clothes for you so you can shower." She says quietly. Sasuke smiled at the gesture.

"Thank you, but I'll just take my leave." Sasuke says as he slowly stands. "I have to training to get to."

"Can you at least stay to eat?" Sakura looked his way and bats her long eyelashes, making it impossible for Sasuke to decline.

"I'll stay."

Sakura smiles and quickly makes her way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Sasuke leaned over the island table and watched her. Without thinking, Sasuke then reached over and grabbed a ripe tomatoe, slowly biting into it. He chewed slowly as he continued to watch Sakura dice a few more tomatoes. The energy was comforting. Just the two of them in the morning. It almost felt natural. He watched as a few strands fell over her shoulder as she diced veggies. Placing the tomato on the table, He reached over and tucked the strands of hair behind her ear, forcing the girl to stop what she was doing and look at him. He stared back at her, waiting for her to say something that may have told him he crossed a line. Instead, the girl goes back to what she was doing.

Once Sakura finished cooking, she had an assortment of foods out. Sasuke thanked her and they ate in silence. Once finished She grabbed their dishes and began washing them.

"I hope the chunnin exams isnt as extreme as it used to be." Sasuke says. "Or I'm not gonna make it."

"I'm sure you will Sasuke." Sakura says with a small smile.

"I have one arm now," He says. "I'm not as good as I used to be."

"Train yourself to use that arm then." Sakura says simply. "You're not an idiot Sasuke and I know you're  not just gonna give up because of this. Train yourself to use your right arm. Train with Naruto, or someone else. I'm pretty sure once you get the hang of it, you'd be back to your normal self."

"My normal self has both of his arms."

"Don't be so bitter." Sakura frowns. "I know it's hard, but it's something that needs to be done. You've made mistakes that you've learned from now you have to deal with the aftermath of it. It'll all come together."

Sasuke blinked as he watched the girl speak. She was much more wiser than she used to be when they were kids.

"And whenever you hurt yourself, I'll heal you." She looked up breifly and smirked, before going back to her dishes.

"I have to go." Sasuke says going to grab his cloak. "Maybe I'll stop by again."

"Maybe?" Sakura cocked an eyebrow as she crossed her arms over her chest. Before she could continue what she was going to say, there was a flick on her forehead and Sasuke was completely gone. She frowned. Then, smiled.

Sasuke...