S.H 

Sakura Haruno stared in shock at the person in front of her, eyes wider than usual. There was no way she was really here, in her life after she played a part in ruining it. Yet Karin Uzumaki was in front of her, definitely in her life again. 

"S-Sakura," the Uzumaki flushed from embarrassment at knocking her over. She extended her hand. "H-Here."

Sakura grabbed onto Karin's hand, standing upright again. "K-Karin. Hi?"

It came out more as a question, Sakura unsure whether to greet the person she had hated so much previously. She had hated Karin even after years of the incident, but at one point decided it was pointless to keep on holding the grudge towards her.

But now that Karin was actually here again, right now, Sakura didn't know what to do. She still didn't like Karin. Yes, her feelings of hate had faded, but she didn't expect the both of them to become the best of friends with each other. 

The two then stood in silence, their eyes raking over the other, taking in how much they've changed after nine years. Karin's scarlet hair was still styled the same way; short and spiky on the right side, while longer and straight on the left side. The signature colour of the Uzumaki's was also reflected in her eyes, which was framed by black glasses. 

She wore a lavender blouse tucked into a simple, black pencil skirt, a sense of professionalism for her work place. Karin's eyes were widened, no doubt shocked at the sight of seeing Sakura gain as well. "H-Hey."

More silence. It was odd seeing Karin so shocked and flustered. After a while, deciding that there was no point anymore in continuing this conversation, Sakura began to walk away. A hand quickly shot up around her wrist, tightening their grip so Sakura wouldn't let go. "W-Wait! Don't go!"

She turned back around, raising her eyebrows as the slightly-embarrassed redhead spoke up, some of her old boldness coming through.

"We need to talk."

S.U

"We need to talk."

Sasuke Uchiha glanced up from his desk to see his older brother enter his room and sit at the edge of the base of his bed. With the wedding coming up, his father wanted all hands on deck to make it extra special. So Sasuke had been forced out of his Senju apartment and into his old room at the main Uchiha house. 

So far, he had just been staying in his room, ignoring all of the maids Fugaku sent to collect him for numerous meetings. After the last meeting, the two hadn't been on good terms. But then again, when were they ever?

"What do you want?" Sasuke faced Itachi, annoyed that the elder had entered his room without any kind of warning. 

"We're not here to talk about me," replied Itachi in his monotone voice. "But rather you."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, gesturing for him to continue. 

"You're twenty-five, turning twenty-six soon, yes?" Itachi asked. Before Sasuke could reply, he continued. "Father expects you to get married in about two years."

"I know. Why are you telling me this?"

"I'm telling you to choose somebody," advised Itachi. "It doesn't have to be someone you love, just somebody you find attractive or compatible with you. If you don't choose somebody suitable, Father will find somebody for you."

"Again?" Sasuke groaned. "Last time he did that, it ended in disaster."

"Exactly, so you need to choose somebody quickly."

The younger Uchiha ran a hand through his hair in a troubled manner. "I did, nine years ago."

"Sasuke," Itachi sighed tiredly. "Are you still into her?"

When Sasuke didn't respond, Itachi stood up. "There are many other women out there. Think about it, little brother."

With that, he exited the room, leaving Sasuke with a problem that had been lingering around him for years. 

S.H

"Iced chocolate and cookies for the both of us, please."

It was late afternoon now. A warm breeze was in the air, signaling soon arrival of spring. Izumi and the others had left about half an hour ago, parting in their separate ways after purchasing their dresses. 

Sakura stayed behind, and instead of going home went to the small café next to the boutique, where a certain Uzumaki was waiting for her. To say that it was awkward would be an understatement. The tension was the highest she had ever experienced, even topping all the times she had been with Sasuke previously. 

Karin had destroyed her life almost as equally as Sasuke, yet here Sakura was, having afternoon tea with her. Sakura knew that she would never do this with Sasuke, so what made Karin different? She was the person who tormented and bullied her for most of high-school, before dating the person whom Sakura loved to top it all off. Then again, at least Karin never lied and betrayed her trust. 

"So," Karin nervously chuckled, dragging out the 'o'. "How are you? You're a model, right?"

"Yeah," Sakura said, feeling strange. Karin was the one in high school that so desperately wanted to be one, and Sakura was the one who hated that kind of job. Nine years really did change both of them. For the better or the worse, Sakura wasn't sure. "And you work at the bridal boutique?"

"Just part time, though," nodded Karin, before a gloomy look fell on her face. "I'm also a model, but I doubt you would've heard of me. Work hasn't been good."

"Ah," Sakura said, unsure of what else to reply to Karin. 

She felt uncomfortable here with her, like they were friends. They were not, and it was making her head ache that they seemed like they were pretending to be. She wished that Karin would just cut to the chase as to why they needed to talk without dragging on a pointless conversation.

As if reading her mind, Karin suddenly said in an outburst, "I'm sorry!"

Whether Karin was embarrassed of her actions, regretted it or just wanted to be on good terms with Sakura, she didn't know. It seemed like a mix of all three. 

Karin continued in a rushed voice, "I-I was so stupid and petty in high school, especially towards you. I'm honestly so sorry for everything I've done towards you, for all my actions and my insults. I hurt you more than what was reasonable. I take back everything. And most of all, I'm sorry that Sasuke and I-"

Sakura held out her hand in a stop sign, halting Karin's apology. She didn't want to hear the part about Sasuke and Karin. It was too painful. "Please don't talk about that incident. Just don't."

"O-Oh," Karin blushed in shame, rubbing the back of her neck. "I-I'm sorry. For that as well. I didn't realize-"

"Just move on."

Sakura didn't want to hear about how she should already be over the incident. Like she didn't know already. She desperately wanted to move on, but for some reason, she couldn't.

"So yeah," Karin's head dipped a little as she glanced away from Sakura. "That's what I wanted to say. That I'm truly sorry. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I do hope we'll be on better terms from now on."

Another silence stretched out between both of them as Karin's words sunk into Sakura's mind. The latter closed her eyes, carefully making her decision. When she finished, she opened her eyes, matching Karin's eyes with a boldness she rarely had back in high school, "I accept your apology. And I agree with you in hoping that we'll be on better terms."

"Thank you," Karin whispered, smiling as her eyes were brimming with happiness. 

Sakura continued, "I suppose I should apologise as well. After all, you're not the only one who dissed somebody's relationship with Sasuke."

The two laughed together for the first time, marveling on how stupid they were. Karin stopped, a serious look coming onto her face. "No, you don't have to apologize. You were just telling it how it was, no lies. I was being too silly and stuck-up to realize that. Throughout high school all you were doing was defending yourself. I just wanted to be with Sasuke so damn badly, I would do whatever it took. So when you guys were rumored to be together, I kind of lost it."

Sakura bit her lip, unsure whether she should comfort Karin or not. It seemed like Karin could read minds because she said straight away, "Don't comfort me. I'm the villain. I didn't even love Sasuke that much, all I fell for were his looks. You, on the other hand, fell in love because you knew the real him."

Sakura nearly interrupted Karin to tell her that she had never fallen in love with Sasuke, but something stopped her. Maybe it was the truth that she really did love him at one point.

"Two iced chocolate and plates of cookies," the waitress smiled down at them, handing each one of them their food. Sakura leaned forwards towards her drink and absent-mindedly began to swirl the spoon in the drink, taking an occasional sip as her mind wandered else where.

Did she love Sasuke? It was obvious that Sakura had a crush on him, no, more than a crush. But could it have really been love? Maybe that was why she still was so affected by him. Part of her refused to believe that she had really fallen in love with the same person that ruined her life. A smaller part of her wanted to believe in the truth, the same part of her that was so smitten with Sasuke. 

Surprisingly, this conversation between two people that used to hate each other was getting deep. It seemed like they were telling each other their secrets in order to build up trust. But Sakura wasn't ready to trust Karin just yet. Even with the apology, she couldn't be one hundred percent sure. Taking a bit of her cookie and narrowing her eyes, she said in a suspicious tone, "What made you realize this? What caused such a dramatic change in your personality?"

Karin's eyes suddenly became unfocused and a scowl twitched onto her face, as if dwelling in an unpleasant memory. "Pain. The one thing that causes change. You already know this though, don't you Sakura?"

Sakura silently winced at this subtle jab. Karin continued in her strange trance with her mind else where, "Throughout my high school life I was spoilt rotten. Maybe that was why I was such an ignorant little bitch. I had never felt pain. I had no sympathy for anyone. I thought I was perfect. So it didn't strike me as odd when Sasuke chose me over you, even though you were the one who got all his attention and I was the one who was ignored."

Naruto's cousin gave a sad laugh. "I guess I should thank Fugaku Uchiha for giving me a harsh reality check. Sasuke didn't like me. He never did. Fugaku made me realize I was being foolish. He broke the hard truth to me, that I was just a pawn in his plan."

Karin's eye became focused again, fixated in Sakura. Pain was evident, swirling in scarlet hues. "And so were you."

"W-What?" Sakura stuttered, confused. Her forehead creased. "We're just pawns? In his plan? What plan?"

Karin sighed, fiddling with the end of a strand of her hair. "I wish I could tell you, I really do. But...if I did, that would mean certain doom for my family. I'm sorry, I just-"

The redhead suddenly stood up from her chair and exited the café, her food barely touched. Sakura was too confused and dumbfounded to care that she had to pay for everything. There were so many things Sakura had to think about, it just made her want to push all thoughts out of her head.

She clutched her head, spinning from the entire conversation with Karin and wondered if she really did know anything at all. 

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that ending sucked, i'm sorry 

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