[fluff]

Fangirls.

So many of them, cheering Sasuke on whenever he simply aced a shuriken or collectedly nailed a jutsu.  It wasn't even the fact he looked "cool", maybe his cold personality looked just that badass.

Sitting next to him? Sakura Haruno. Just another fangirl, in most's eyes. And, in my eyes as well. Sure, I looked as if I believed our "romance" was going somewhere—but I knew it wasn't.

As they grew up, most of the girls broke off and retreated to people that would show admiration back. Yet, I found the Uchiha drawing. I could see it, his pain. The reason for his bluntness and his abnormal skill. Sure, I guess I could care less about his adeptness and his power. But now, it was more the human than the power that I fell for.

What's happening?

What is that mark on Sasuke Kun? Why does he seem so different? All the good in him seems drained out and put into a strain. That isn't him. That isn't Sasuke. All I knew was that everything was wrong, and I'm not doing anything.

It's the same feeling as the bridge. The same feeling every time something bad was about to happen. My uselessness, I know it's here. I'm just a fangirl, but I want to become a woman already.

—

That day, I did the only thing that crossed my mind. I hugged him. Hugged the shit out of him (the first sentence that popped into my brain I'm sorry XD), right then and there; and somehow the mark faded. But regardless, a simple hug never stopped him from leaving.

I wonder why I try. Why I try so hard so that he's happy when he's never made me happy. I don't know why I love him, but what I do know is that I miss him. Kicking the sand around me, I let out a reluctant breath as I continued my nightly stroll. Walks, when the moon shone across the town, was an easy way to get my head away from all the things going on. Naruto is gone, my training is much more intense, and Sasuke's disappearance.

Taking a halt at the bench I awoke one day with a lack of an Uchiha in the village, I sat to dangle my legs that were already far too long to hang from without touching the ground. It's been more than 365 days since that happened. I've matured, sure, but part of me still treaded in the past, as a fangirl without someone to fan over.

A small gust of a breeze slipped through the trees and ruffled my shortened pastel hair, but I kept my eyes on the puddle near my feet as cherry blossoms floated to the surface of the water and drowned reluctantly. I didn't bother to yank my head up as I heard footsteps become more and more clear, assuming that it was another passerby civilian.

Letting the gales of wind pass once more, I stood and continued, ignoring the faint birth of a headache approaching. Perhaps it was the books and phrases I had to memorize upon homework for Tsunade, or the reality of all that was happening. But, the small ache gradually started to speak up, and become more and more heavy as my mind boggled back and forth.

Accidentally landing my foot in another puddle, my reflexes ceased to act up as I saw the trees began to enlarge and the bushes grow overwhelmingly taller—until it stopped. The view stopped, mid fall.

Just like that, I felt a gentle hand wrap around my tired arm and hold my body like a precious doll. My breath sucked in as I glanced up to crane my head at the figure who had caught me, and froze.

My muscles tensed as I breathed in the face of this young man, and my legs seemed to give up on me within mere heartbeats.

"S-sasuke?" The face's mouth curved into a subtle smile, a knowing and quick witted one. His ravenous eyes pierced my own gaze, and the world seemed to whirl and stop repeatedly as I took in his presence. "You've gotta stop doing this," he spoke in a voice that I hadn't heard and missed for so long.

"Doing... w-what?" Another breeze swept against them, creating an almost unbelievable scene of sakura blossoms. "Doing things that make me want to love you."

He scooped me up, one arm hooking in between my thighs and calves and another where it was just a few seconds ago. "Oh well," he whispered, walking back to the bench he had sprawled my younger body upon all those months ago. "Guess I'll have to anyway." He settled on a seat next to my head, thumb gently swishing loose hair from my face.

And this time, he stayed.

-
(Hey guys! AmuzeMint here, with my one shot and a small announcement. As the graphic designer, I'm working on the headers for this book first! You may notice some little photos on the first couple chapters, I hope you like 'em so far!)
-Fini