31 Days 10/10

[AngelOfDeath]

Done yes!

It didn't end quite like I expected, but I'm happy enough with it. Thanks for reading, everyone, if you made it this far.

Back to oneshots for me! I have a few lined up already. ::sigh:: SasuSaku comedy anyone? ^_____^

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: (See Ch. 1)

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Chapter 10

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Sasuke occupied a corner of Naruto?s apartment, darkening it with his black mood and all too easily made scowls. Around him a party happened, but he was having none of it. Supposedly, it was the pre-funk before the whole group made their way to what Konoha Inc. offered as a New Year?s party. Unlike Christmas, where no expense was spared, New Year?s was often a neglected holiday in which most of the budget was spent on booze and a cheesy band. Rumor had it that this year was going to be just like the rest. So here he found himself, dragged despite his best intensions to ring in the New Year on his own sleeping through the ball drop, in Naruto?s apartment that was chalk full of his advertising projects, sports equipment, random junk he found dumpster diving, and a few sad and overused pieces of (admittedly comfortable) furniture.

Hinata was laughing softly while Naruto told a joke and lazily draped an arm over her shoulders. Although Sasuke could never say that he was entirely uncomfortable with the opposite sex, he also never reached a point where he could be so physical, so natural, in the way that Naruto seemed to be. Lee was talking to the two of them, and Sasuke could tell even over the blaring music that they were talking about him. Naruto?s not so surreptitious pointing and Lee?s guilty glances gave it away. Let them talk, he didn?t care.

He started to think maybe he should care when Lee, dressed in another one of his saturated colored sweaters, began to purposefully stride towards his corner. They were the kind of sweaters that were the color of kid?s finger paints; it was orange today. Sasuke looked away at the wall, encountering a stupid picture of a fish contemplating a hook, and even managed to ignore the way Lee loudly cleared his throat to try and get Sasuke?s attention in a moderately subtle way. When that failed, the man persisted.

?Sasuke, if I may ask, where is Sakura? Hinata and Naruto wouldn?t tell me, and they said to ask you. . .?

?Hinata and Naruto?? Sasuke thought to himself. So they were already a couple to everyone else, their names paired together as if they came as a set. Why was Lee asking about Sakura? It wasn?t as if she and Sasuke were so paired. Even in his own mind he realized how bitter that sounded, and awkward, and a little wistful.

?Obviously she isn?t here. And she probably isn?t coming.?

Lee?s expressive face fell, and he bit a corner of his lip. ?Isn?t coming? Why wouldn?t she come to Naruto?s party??

?I?m not her keeper. Call Ino on her cell if it?s so important for you to know.? Sasuke pushed out of his seat and past the disappointed Lee.

It wasn?t any of his business if she wasn?t here tonight. Just like it wasn?t any of his concern if she had become colder and more business-like to him in the office. And it wasn?t any of his business that Kakashi had given her most of yesterday off, even if he had thought about asking her out to lunch for once. Most of all it wasn?t any of his business, even if he overheard Ino and she talking about how she was going back to her old firm for a party. . . if by overheard one meant ?practically leaning one?s whole head against the girl?s bathroom door to pick up stray conversation?. He had only been passing by. Yeah. . .

He had to face it, he was miserable and it was entirely his own fault. This was not the sort of thing he would have ever admitted out loud, but in the privacy of his own mind where accusations flew, it was perfectly acceptable.

Sasuke Uchiha had royally screwed up.

What could he say in his defense expect that he was mad at her? He was mad at her for choosing Kakashi over him, even after he felt he had given her more of himself than he had offered to anyone else. Every person imaginable seemed to take up more of her time and energy than he did, and when he saw her standing there talking with Gaara his rejected and jealous feelings urged him to pretend like he hadn?t seen them. In retrospect, it was not the best choice he could have. . . hell. . . it was the worst thing he could have done.

The bathroom was occupied when he checked, and he banged on the door impatiently. A masculine voice grunted out something which was followed by the sound of a stomach being evacuated. Someone had obviously drank too much too fast, and Sasuke?s chances of getting in there to get some privacy for himself were slim. He waded back out into the party, saved from the horror of Naruto?s bathroom and whoever had the misfortune to be sick in it.

He might have been able to swallow his pride if it weren?t for the fact that everyone was expecting him too. It was unfair in extremes that while Sasuke wanted to run off, find Sakura, and sweep her away with him. . . he wasn?t that kind of guy, and everyone expected him to be anyway. He didn?t like following through on other people?s expectations in that way, but he was starting to wonder if the cost was outweighing the benefit in this particular case. Sasuke was a good accountant; if he could put it in economic terms then he might be able to come to a logical decision.

Right then.

. . .

Sasuke clenched his hands as his mind tried to not loop the night of the office holiday party nonstop. It was a foul joke to be playing on him. The cheery music, the humid apartment, the same people he saw going in and out of the office. . . he needed to get away and clear his head. Naturally, his attempt to slide out unnoticed was impossible under the circumstances. He was the best topic of gossip his colleagues had for the evening and as soon as he emerged from the hallway that led to the bathroom he was descended upon by more people asking about Sakura in various degrees of subtlety based entirely on how inebriated the interrogators were. Did Naruto invite every person in the building? It felt like it in this crush of people.

The host himself was an effective last obstacle on the way out the door, and Sasuke wished he could deck him one and step over his friend?s unconscious body to freedom. But that was not to be. Naruto tried to lead Sasuke back into the crowds.

?There you are! I was wondering when you were going to stop sulking.?

?I wasn?t sulking.? Sasuke knew very well that he had been, but it was such an undignified term. He preferred ?pondering in a solitary manner?.

Naruto laughed, mischief printed on his face. ?Ok, while you were not sulking Hinata was telling me all about how Sakura?s been concentrating on ignoring your existence for the past few days. She won?t even allow your name to come up in her presence it seems.?

?It?s always about Hinata these days, isn?t it? Weren?t you telling me a couple weeks ago how you thought you?d never be whole until Sakura acknowledged you or something to that effect?? Sasuke didn?t want to talk about himself, and it was easier to avoid that if Naruto was on the defensive.

The blond man?s brows knit together. ?I love Sakura like a sister,? It was a good dodge, Sasuke admitted. ?And she?s still important to me. If she were half as important to you as she is to me then you wouldn?t be here right now.?

He was sick of this. Sasuke didn?t want to hear any more about what he should or should not be doing based upon people?s mistaken assumptions about the relationship he shared with Sakura. What he said next was driven by that anger.

?That annoying woman doesn?t mean anything to me.?

The punch that knocked him back into the crowd was surprisingly solid considering Naruto used his left hand to do it, since the right was holding a beer. Among the noises, the music and the talking, no one noticed the way Naruto was turning a brilliant shade of red or the way both men were nose to nose.

?That hurt, idiot. It wasn?t that long ago that Gaara did a number on my face, and that isn?t helping.?

?Then don?t talk about Sakura like that.?

?So you?re going to choose her over me, your best friend for as long as you?ve called anyone that? You?re just like her.?

?Me? I?m the stupid one?? Naruto?s eye twitched as his mouth transformed into a fierce smile. ?It?s not my girlfriend who got driven away.?

?She isn?t my girlfriend.?

Naruto wound up again. ?Do I need to punch you again??

A pale hand wound around Naruto?s fist and he looked down at Hinata with shock and a little bit of guilt. She gave him a reassuring smile and he responded in kind automatically. When she turned her pacific expression on Sasuke he folded his arms and tried to calm down. Hinata grabbed their shirt sleeves and pulled them both into the hallway so that they could get out of the noise.

?Now,? she said with a sigh. ?I think we all need to get some things straight. . . . if you don?t mind.?

?What?s there to say? I?m leaving.? Sasuke tried to do just that but Naruto continued to block his path.

Arms spread out, muscles tense, he matched Sasuke glare for glare. ?You?ll hear what she has to say and then you can do whatever the hell you want.? Sasuke turned on Hinata and she cringed before she began to speak.

?Obviously, I don?t know the whole story. Sakura has refused to tell me, or Ino, what happened on Christmas Day.? Sasuke was disturbed by that information for some reason. ?But. . . it seems clear to me. . . a person who has spent most of her life silently watching other people. . . that you?re both a little. . . I mean you might be. . .?

?Spit it out.? Sasuke said in an acid tone.

?Shut your trap.? Naruto snapped.

Hinata flushed, stammering as she tried to find her words. ?. . . hopeless.?

The men, charged as they were with rage at one another, found themselves deflating as they tried to understand Hinata?s point.

?Sakura lost hope in you, and I suppose the same goes for you. It wasn?t really a failing between you two. . . I mean, it was, but you?re both only human. . .? Hinata was losing steam, her voice growing softer, harder to hear over the noise coming through Naruto?s apartment door and filling the hallway. ?I think that if you could offer her a sign of good faith, then she?d forgive you.?

?Yeah, right.? Sasuke sounded more than a little skeptical. Honestly, he merely didn?t want to hear her words.

Hinata frowned at him, the only time he had ever seen something like anger in her eyes and face. ?Believe what you will, but you know I?m right.? Her assertive tone was so uncharacteristic that he found himself starting. ?You?re the only one blocking happiness for both of you at this point. I?m not telling you what to do, in fact if you don?t think she?ll forgive you then I advise you to stay away from her. But if it?s because you can?t forgive her. . . I don?t want to lose my respect for you Sasuke, but I will if that?s the case.?

With a sage-like nod, Naruto silently agreed with the woman who grasped his hand and led him back to the door. Sasuke stood alone in the hall and watched them disappear into the party again.

?It?s your choice.? Hinata said before she shut the door. ?Yeah!? Naruto added from inside. His enthusiasm almost made Sasuke smile, but he stifled it.

Sasuke turned on his heel. Forgiveness? That wasn?t something he was good at. His life, his quest for revenge, they could be seen as standing for the exact opposite of that act that Hinata made sound so simple. This would take some thought, and he got the feeling that he had better do that thinking fast. Who knew what would happen to her in one night when there was nothing to get between her and Gaara.

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?Tenten!? Sakura cried as she embraced her only real friend among those who had attended the New Year?s party. Tenten had come to the firm about the same time as Sakura, only as the assistant to Temari. They didn?t often see one another, but the time they did was filled with similar horror stories about the amount of work they handled and the devastated looking clients who found more than they bargained for in the personalities of both Gaara and Temari. Sometimes Sakura and Tenten felt like old soldiers commiserating, and she was sad that she had forgotten about her comrade in arms so readily.

?Sakura?? Tenten, who had been swirling a glass of wine and looking around at the people who had decided to show up, suddenly became animated. ?This is great! So when do I congratulate you??

Sakura didn?t know what to say to that. ?What??

?You snagged the infamous Gaara, didn?t you? I mean, why else would you come here with him except as his date. I thought it was only a rumor that you were dating, but. . .?

?Where did you hear that?? Sakura looked a little green.

Tenten leaned her head in conspiratorially. ?I overheard Temari and Gaara arguing about it a few weeks after you got fired. Gaara had been going through assistants like mad, no temp agency will touch him now, and Temari called him into her office to tell him to shape up. Your name was mentioned a few times, at top volume.?

?Oh.?

?Are you ok? Did you eat something that didn?t agree with you??

Sakura forced a smile. ?No no. Never mind me. How are you doing??

?It?s like Temari doesn?t sleep. Then again, that?s more Gaara?s fame around here. No rest for the wicked they say. And that means no rest for their assistants either.? She put down her glass on the table beside her laden with various snack foods, and sighed. ?I?m starting to think I should do what you did, you know, go find a job somewhere else.?

?I didn?t exactly pick up and go. I was fired.? Sakura walked over and sampled an out of season strawberry. It tasted slightly sour, but she barely registered that.

Tenten smiled, half of her face lifted up and the other seeming to twist into a sardonic grin. ?You got promoted, if you ask me. I haven?t seen you this look this lively since we started here. If Konoha can lift you up so fast, maybe I should go work there.?

?It?s funny you should say that, I was thinking of leaving, you remember how I wanted to go to med school, and I know a person that certainly won?t be any worse to work with than Temari. I know people and I can put in a good word for you with HR. Unless you interview with Neji. . .?

?Who?? Tenten turned and picked up her glass again only to whirl back with a signal in her eyes. It was that stony expression that they had both mastered when they were assistants, the one that betrayed no emotion of any kind. That meant one of three things.

Turned out it was a lesser evil, so to speak.

?Well, well, if it isn?t Miss Haruno. I hear you?re still in negotiations with my brother.? Kankuro, cocky and leering slightly at the two pretty assistants, laid companionable arms over their shoulders. At least it would have been companionable if it weren?t for the fact that Kankuro wasn?t that type of person. Something in Sakura?s mind began to scream. She wished she could molt out of her skin like a snake and leave this man to play his mind games with someone else, but she wasn?t about to abandon Tenten.

?Negotiations? I received my severance pay, if that?s what you are referring to.?

Kankuro smiled, he had always liked talking with Sakura and often pointedly did it at office gatherings. In hindsight, Sakura thought that it might have been to get at Gaara and not because he had any real interest in her.

?If that?s all it is, then I think my little brother is going to be very disappointed by the end of tonight. I don?t suppose you stick around anyway until midnight tonight. You see, I made a little wager not but a few minutes ago with Shikamaru. . .?

The girls continued to remain expressionless as dolls, well trained from years of experience, even as Kankuro?s face twisted in pain as his arm was pulled at an odd angle off of Sakura?s shoulder.

?Don?t touch her.? Gaara?s voice was colder than the delicately carved ice crane they were standing near.

?I should charge you with assault.? Kankuro rubbed his arm and gave Gaara a sniveling pout. ?You should show your older brother a little more respect. I still bring in more money then you do. And I actually have repeat clients.?

?Well see how this year?s figures work out.? Was all Gaara replied with. ?Sakura? Will you come with me for a moment??

Tenten and Sakura exchanged a glance. If she wanted out, now was the time. Tenten arched an eyebrow, silently asking what to do. Sakura gave a little shake of her head. It wouldn?t do to run away every time she had to face Gaara. For so long she had avoided talking to him alone that she was unsure as to what she feared anymore. Bleakly, she tried to come to terms with the possibilities and her answers.

?Will you excuse me, Tenten, Kankuro?? They nodded at her politely and Sakura walked off with Gaara while pretending that they weren?t going to start speculating about them as soon as Sakura was out of hearing range. It seemed it was her fate to be the topic of gossip no matter where she was. Oh, her kingdom for a boring life!

Gaara led them through crowds of people that Sakura remembered well by face if not by name. A few spared her a glance, others glares, but in the end she knew she was only a footnote to their busy lives here now. It used to be she was neigh unto a goddess, the Voice of Gaara, the servant to one of the all powerful and feared siblings. Now she was that person who might have made coffee once, but back to that case Temari was handling yesterday. . .

Upstairs, in his office, Sakura felt uneasy. This was Gaara?s space. For a disturbingly long moment in her mind she thought about Sasuke. It was unavoidable, really, since it was his fault she was here in a way.

Admit it, you did it to spite him.

I don?t need to admit it. I know I did it to spite Sasuke.

Well, um, just so you know. Her inner voice was put out at the ready agreement.

Walking across the room, Gaara drew the blinds back, letting in the light from the street reflected off of the snow that fell lightly outside onto the ground many stories below. The whole world, and Gaara?s office as well, was filled with an orange city glow and Sakura saw how tense Gaara seemed. Her heart broke a bit, knowing she had led him on tonight by coming to this party. As mad as she was at Sasuke, she couldn?t hate him and if she wasn?t mistaken what she felt for that man (despite her best intentions not to) was rather more like the opposite of hate.

Sasuke was something along the lines of nice for offering his help, but Sakura didn?t need a protector or a crutch. If she didn?t face her fears then she would never grow. Now was the time to break out and take a stand. She didn?t need people holding her hand to get along in this world, and she would prove her competence.

?You?re probably curious as to why I would attempt to be a part of your life after what I did to you.? Gaara didn?t face her. For all anyone knew, had they been looking, it was a lot like the old days in which she would take dictation while he stared at the rushing people and cars below. Sakura thought that he was comforted by the reinforcement in his mind that most people were as insignificant as the ants they resembled at this height.

Sakura shifted on her feet. ?Maybe a little. Though I admit, I was much more curious about how to go about finding a new job at the beginning.?

?It was Temari, you see, after that mess with her and Shikamaru. . . well, she got that regulation passed quickly enough. You remember.?

?Right. No intra-office dating.?

Gaara began to pace, up and down the length of the windows, his slightly gaunt frame was silhouetted against the flurries of orange white. ?What was I supposed to do??

?You could have appealed for a change in regulation.? Sakura wanted to have pity for him, but it was hard when she was the one who had been screwed over in all of these dealings.

?You don?t understand. That would have taken months. By then it might have been too late to act. I did the only thing I could think to do.?

Sakura met his eyes, the expression that was as close to pleading as she had ever seen from him, but still looked more demanding than anything. ?I could have forgiven you acting possessive, even the way you began to butt into my life on a regular basis. You think I didn?t notice the way you were asking for overtime more often on the few days off I had? I didn?t know what your motive was, but it didn?t feel right.?

?Was that hopeless from the beginning?? Gaara walked over to lean across his desk, arms propping him up, and Sakura stared at him levelly. ?Tell me I have a chance, and I promise you nothing can ever harm you again.?

?You care that much??

Gaara dragged a hand over the side of his face, as if she had slapped him. ?Yes, damnit, yes. I have to have you. Yes or no.? Black or white. Gaara didn?t like indecision.

It was so hard now that she was here. To say the words sounded so easy in her head, but his presence was so large, filling the room. Years of saying ?yes, sir? were a powerful side note in her behavioral tendencies with this man. It had never been a matter of choice before. But doing what he wanted was no longer her job, and she couldn?t devote herself to someone so entirely selfish. Even Sasuke had offered more, even if he wasn?t her favorite person these days. The worst part of it, really, was the selfishness. She might have been able to give Gaara a shot if it hadn?t been for the complete disregard for what she might want or need from a relationship as well.

?I?m sorry, Gaara, I. . .? That was as far as she got with her ?no?.

?Get out.? Gaara had never dealt with rejection or failure in a positive way.

?You don?t need to blame your. . .?

?I said get out, Sakura, before I do something I?ll regret.?

With her refusal over with, Sakura exited the dark office and left Gaara to his thoughts. The muffled crashes that she heard behind her told her how he was taking it. It sounded like an expensive episode this time. Gaara?s rages rarely included people anymore, but the damage to goods assured that no important documents were stored near him.

In the elevator Sakura watched her hand shake and tried to get herself to calm down. Staring down Gaara, telling him the truth finally, had been one of the most nerve-wracking things she had ever done. It would be a relief to sit down and cry to get all the excess emotions out, but right now she needed to smile and make small talk before she left. It wouldn?t do to make things any more suspicious than they already were.

?I was thinking about what you said,? Tenten mused later after Sakura had found her again. The pink haired woman had to go through a couple glasses of champagne before her hands stopped shaking. Tenten was kind enough not to remark on it. ?If you could give me a number, I might call up Konoha and see if they need anyone. Temari will be livid, but I know she wouldn?t be so petty as to give me a bad reference. God knows the woman owes me for all the crap I?ve put up with.?

?You?re quite right. My wife?s horrible to her assistants. I don?t know why you stayed as long as you did.? Tenten spat a healthy portion of the wine she had been drinking back into the glass. Shikamaru had crept up on them somehow, thought part of that could have been due to the alcohol that both of them had imbibed over the past hour of discussion.

The lazy eyed dark haired man seemed as bored with the party as Sakura felt. Sometimes it was easy to forget that Shikamaru came to these functions. He had had a brief but amazing time here, but after the whole marriage and debate over partnership, he had quit in the middle of it all. Currently, he was strictly an independent consultant. This suited everyone; most of all Shikamaru who could now turn down any case he thought was too bothersome.

?I think you?re going to win whatever bet you made with Kankuro.? Sakura said slightly dreamily. Those glasses of champagne sure hit hard on an empty stomach.

?Heh. So he told you about that eh? He always had a direct approach to these things. I?m surprise he didn?t offer you money to stay. He?s been trying to win against me for years.?

?Couldn?t get that far, Gaara happened by.? Sakura remembered in a flash what had happened several floors above them, as well as the destruction that might still be occurring. ?I think I should go now.? She wanted to be sick, but not because of the alcohol.

Shikamaru sighed. ?I suppose I could call you a cab. So troublesome. . .?

?Thanks!? Sakura called after him, and held up a hand in a parting wave. For being such a nice guy, sometimes Sakura was confused what he saw in Temari who bossed him around all the time. Who knew. Maybe Temari had hidden depths too beyond the rugged directness and the almost suffocating confidence.

Tenten let out a nervous gust of air. ?At least it wasn?t Temari. I would have been out on my butt so fast. . .?

?I thought you wanted to come to Konoha.?

?Sure, but not yet!? Tenten gave a sly smile. ?So, one more thing before you go. . . you kept mentioning this Sasuke guy. Do you have a bit of a crush??

Sakura wished that alcohol hadn?t made her so loose lipped, as she spoke about her new friends at Konoha Inc. ?He crushes something, that?s for sure. We had a, er, thing, but who knows what he?s about now. I?m not sure what?s going on. All I do know is that this stuff with Gaara should be over. He knows I don?t want him, and that should be enough. Gaara doesn?t have time for people he can?t intimidate.?

?You might be hasty there, but probably he?ll leave you alone a bit more. Although, you?ll be lucky if he doesn?t start doing something creepy like stalking you anyway or ruining your life out of spite.? Tenten had been thinking out loud, and realized it too late. She covered her mouth and tried to pat Sakura on the back. ?But you?re probably right, this is probably the end. . . probably.?

Sakura responded sarcastically. ?Thanks a lot, Tenten.?

?What are friends for?? Tenten waved back as Shikamaru gestured to them across the room. He had gotten that cab fast, but then they were all over the city looking for people party hopping. Downtown was busy, even a half hour before midnight.

?I?ll give you a call, we should do something sometime.?

?I?d like that.? They hugged and Sakura made her way back through the crowd. She thanked Shikamaru, got her things from where her coat and purse had been checked, and wandered out into the snow.

The rosy glow on her cheeks was too warm and she faced the sky, letting snow cool her off. The cab honked once, but she ignored it. It felt nice to be in the snow, to have relief roll off of her in waves.

?You?re going to catch a cold. Alcohol only makes you think you?re warmer, but you aren?t really. What with all your medical knowledge, I didn?t think you?d be so stupid about your own health.?

How quickly her night became stressful again.

?Sasuke, why are you here??

?A sweet voice and a hard fist. . . never mind.? He cleared his throat. ?I?m waiting for you.?

Sakura looked at him, his coat covered in snow, the slightly blue tint to his already pale skin. He must have been here a while.

?Why didn?t you come inside??

?I tried, but it?s a private party.?

?I wouldn?t think something so small would stop you.?

?You wouldn?t think so, no.? He looked away from her, shaking his head to make some of the snow on it fly off.

This seemed all wrong. Did he come here to make clear to her what she made clear to Gaara? It wasn?t something she needed right now. It wasn?t something she could handle in this state.

?Look, I?d rather go home now. I don?t think I want to hear what you have to say to me.?

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They lay on her couch, draped over one another partially for warmth but more because Sakura had fallen asleep and Sasuke didn?t bother to move her after she sprawled over him. She had made it through the ball drop on TV, and then a little bit of the bad made for TV movie that had followed, but she was out before 1 a.m. easily. He pulled back her hair from her face and felt his heart swell painfully and uncomfortably. Still, he was unsure that he was doing the right thing, but it had been much more painful without her so this was preferable in comparison.

It was going to be weird being at work with her again. Now that they were. . . more than friends. . . he might get distracted like he did before. And what about sleeping arrangements? Would she allow him to get close to her like that again soon, or was he still in the dog house? There were questions that had yet to be answered, but mostly he was unconcerned. They were together now, and that?s what was important.

?I came to apologize.?

She looked shocked, a doe in headlights, until the cab honked again more impatiently.

?Stop. Not tonight I said.? Her voice was choked.

?I was. . .? He couldn?t say it. Sasuke had spent nearly an hour waiting outside of this building trying to think of what he was going to say when she came out, with or without Gaara, and hadn?t come up with anything better than what he was blurting out. ?You forgive me, I know you do.?

She couldn?t follow his thought process at all, it seemed, judging from the way that her pretty face went from sorrowful to utterly baffled.

?Because I forgive you too.?

?I must have had a lot more to drink than I thought.? She mumbled to herself. Sasuke had moved forward up next to her. He was close to wrapping his arms around her, but he refrained from that temptation until he was surer of her reaction.

Sasuke had to grind his teeth together a little before he went on to what he had to say next. ?The past. . . doesn?t matter.? Eyes like his, older and more uncaring, flashed through his mind. But the searing anger wasn?t what was important to him; it was the woman who was in front of him, leaning her head against his chest that filled his world.

?It was for the best that it happened this way, I can?t rely on others to take care of my personal problems.?

?You really do forgive me. . .? He hugged her to him, almost disbelieving his amazing luck.

?I?m still mad at you, don?t get me wrong, but I?m too tired out to bother at the moment.? She sighed into him, and leaned up to give him a light kiss on the lips. If it weren?t for the alcohol, the feeling like she had nothing to lose after this night of emotional highs, then she might not have. ?Now get into that cab with me before we both freeze to death. We?ll sort things out tomorrow. You aren?t breaking up with me, right??

?What? No!? Sasuke felt his lips tingle from where she had touched him. His sudden outburst made him blush. He hadn?t meant to sound so adamant.

Sakura smiled and took him by the hand as they walked towards the cab. She was warm and soft, just like in the hospital when she had held his hand, and he felt the same sense of calm rush over him.

?Good. I won?t give up on you, either.?

?You won?t give up on me. . .? He watched her sleep and braced himself against the mild alarm he knew was coming. This wasn?t being trapped. She wasn?t trying to control him. He had asked for this. What this might be was more important than maintaining the lifestyle he thought would be most efficient to take his revenge.

It wasn?t perfect, true, but it was a beginning and those were always a little rocky. At least they had a beginning. They almost hadn?t gotten that far.

Damn, this meant he would have to send some sort of thank you gift to Hinata and Naruto. Well, maybe not to Naruto. He was going to gloat enough as it was.

?Mmmm?? Sakura shifted around and cracked her eyes open. ?Help me to the bed??

?Sure.?

It was good to feel like he had a home again.

[csmlee]

It was good to feel like he had a home again.

Love this last line! *sighs happily*

*glomps you* This is wonderful! Thank you so much for writing such an enjoyable fic. I had a lot of fun reading every single bit, from the first chapter of Sakura and Ino bickering at each other to this later chapter of Sasuke and Sakura talking things out under the snow!

Speaking of which, a SasuSaku snow scene! Yah!!!

And bonus glomp for throwing in the ShikaTema bit~ *glomps you again*

Though I kinda feel sorry for Gaara. *pats him* I don't feel very very very sorry for him because I think he brought this on himself by taking actions before asking Sakura whether or not this was something she wanted as well. But rejection still hurts. (Though an angry Gaara was very very scary. )

So... one-shots next? I can't wait!!!

[Splintered]

Yeay! So beautiful! The last chapter was kinda sad because this was one of my favorite stories. Good job!

[Melina]

mmm you wouldn't wanna happen to wanna consider writing an epiloge along with some of those shorts would ya? hehehe I really love this story!

[bookworm]

Aaahhh...sweet.

[Oyuki]

sweetness at the end. jeez, he finally understood. what a butthead he was until someone knocked some sense into him. lovely!!!!