The calming breeze circled around my form as I stood outside the gates to the Konoha. I shivered as a seemingly toxic chill travelled down my spine. Slowly running my tongue over my petite but chapped lips I let words slip from my mouth, two words to be exact, “ten years.” ‘Ten years since the life I knew for 13 years became nothing less than a memory; on the day I left the Konoha. Ten years since I last received a warm hug from one of my close friends in a safe environment. Ten years since I left all I loved behind me. Only ten years…It seemed longer.’

Casting my eyes downwards I took my first steps back into the village I once called home. I felt a tug at my heart as I entered the village centre, while all kinds of smells roused my senses, some strong and some sweet – all of them still familiar to me even after all these years. Heads turned as murmurs emitted from the few villagers awake and pursuing their early morning business; ‘I’m a stranger here now…An outcaste…the only true reason I came back…The only person I returned for is…’

_{"I love you more than anything! If you are by my side, I will make sure that you won’t regret it. I will make every day more enjoyable, and you will be happy! There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you! That’s why…I’m begging you! Please stay!” Sakura cried, “I will even help you with your revenge! There must be something I can do! That’s why…Please, stay here with me…If that is not possible, then please take me with you…” she sobbed, looking down at the pavement.}

“Hey,” a girl giggled from nearby.

“S-Sakura?” I murmured as my eyes darted upwards to be met with a sight I wish I had never seen.


You took a piece of my heart
I never thought that this could fall apart
You said you fell in love
And this was more than I had ever been afraid of
Another life
Another happy ending cuts like a knife
Another place, another time
Another hand to touch, another sun to shine

You got me deeper than deep & I'm constantly blinded
I'm running around but there's no place to hide
I start to talk in my sleep, our souls are divided
Why can't they forgive me these demons inside


Sakura giggled as she was held loosely in the arms of a tall dark-haired man who was tentatively kissing the side of her neck.

My eyes widened as I trembled slightly; ‘Who is he? Why is he touching her! Why is she letting him?!’ Standing there for long moments I watched uncomfortably; “S-Sakura?”

Breaking apart from one another Sakura and the man slowly looked towards me.

A look of both surprise and utter disbelief washed over Sakura’s gentle features as she took a step forward; “Sasuke-kun?” Turning to look back at the man beside her; her chest heaved in an inner state of panic. Her eyes flicked back in my direction, shaking uncontrollably; “Why are you here?” she managed to whisper as she trembled.

Taking a step backwards I pressed my eyes shut as my heart ached from her words. I was hoping she wouldn’t be awake since it’s barely sunrise. I was hoping that I’d have a chance to work out what I should say to her…and how to explain the true reasons for my return. But this was not that time; not now that she’s with another man…She deserves the happiness I never allowed her;

<sub>“Don’t go!” Sakura shouted as she chased after Sasuke. “If you go, I will scream out loud and…”

Suddenly Sasuke disappeared and re-appeared behind Sakura, as she takes a deep breath in shock. “Sakura…Thankyou,” he whispered after long moments of pained silence.</sub>

‘Thankyou for caring,’ my mind whispered as I slowly walked away; my head bent forward as if fascinated with the little dust clouds forming as my feet shuffled through the loose gravel. All I knew was that I had to get away; away from my recently discovered feelings, away from my not so distant past. Away from all I wished I could alter in my life.


Deeper than deep & I'm constantly blinded
My heart starts to shiver for I was letting up.
I start to talk in my sleep, cause our souls are divided
How can it be that you're ready for love

Ready for love...

(How can it be that you're ready for love)


Staring up at the ceiling I ignored the sound of my assigned guard ‘umm-ing’ and ‘ahh-ing’ in the far corner of my spacious bedroom doing number puzzles. ‘If only I had come back sooner; perhaps this wouldn’t have happened…maybe it would be her and I getting married; not her and him…’ part of my mind told me as I sighed; ‘why do you even care though? You’re still not even sure what to call this feeling you have for her…who knows it may not even exist so that’s not a good enough reason to call off a wedding and her chance at happiness now is it?’ the other half argued as I rubbed my pounding head. “Why did Naruto tell me?” I groaned already knowing the answer to my own question; ‘because he still cares about me; he’s basically my brother even if he is a dobe…’

<sub>“Sasuke there’s something you should know about Sakura and Takashi…” Naruto stated as he looked down at his lap.

Sasuke snorted as he raised an eyebrow; “Oh so that guy she was with DOES have a name…a crappy name too…mine’s better…” he noted childishly to hide his discomfort.

Sighing Naruto slowly turned to look Sasuke straight in the eye. “You know how you haven’t spoken to her since you came back…” He stated as his voice wavered; “…Well it seems that she’s been engaged to him since that morning…”

Sasuke’s eyes widened as he looked away to hide his pained reaction; “Why would I care…”

Dropping his gaze Naruto shrugged slightly; “I just thought you should know…” he  added in a heartbroken tone. “She wanted me to give you this;” he continued as he pulled out a silver and white envelope and handed it to Sasuke; “she said it’d mean alot to see you there; the wedding’s in a few weeks you should be off village probation by then so you should be able to go…if you want to that is…”</sub>

“Why should I go?” I whispered as I glared down at the piece of paper in my hands, the cause of my distraught behaviour over the last couple of days; groaning in frustration I tore it two letting the pieces fall chaotically onto my lap. Taking a deep breath I threw my head backwards as I licked my dried lips; ‘What’s happened to me…is this…is this how she felt?’ I wondered dispersedly as the sun shone brightly through my curtains and onto my forehead; ‘Is this what it feels like to care for someone who doesn’t have any space in their heart for you…’


Time will tell
A single day could help me break this spell
Don't want to be alone
When will I be understood when is my kingdom to come
Another boy, another life
Another happy ending, and I'll be alive
Another place, another time
Another hand to touch, another sun to shine

You got me deeper than deeper & I'm constantly blinded
I'm running around but there's no place to hide
I start to talk in my sleep, our souls are divided
Why can't they forgive me these demons inside


“HOW DUMB DO YOU THINK I AM TEME!” Naruto shouted as he glared at me; “I’m NOT helping you train when you want me to be a potential human pin cushion and not defend myself!”

I snickered; “I was only teasing…Damn you’re such a dobe; you haven’t changed;” I noted with a smirk just as a scream rang through the air…Spinning around my heart almost skipped a beat; ‘It was female…was it her? Was it Sakura? Is she ok? Who did something to her?’

Racing off towards the source I heard Naruto’s feet shuffle behind me as we sprinted across the training grounds and jumped from roof to roof. Gazing down at the city beneath me I scanned the crowds for Sakura’s rose pink tresses; “Where is she?” I muttered with a hint of frustration and annoyance.

“I can’t see anyone who looks hurt…” Naruto called perplexedly from behind as he stopped jumping; “I’ll look the other way, ok!”

Stoping for a brief moment I glanced back at him and nodded in response before racing off once more. ‘Is she ok? What happ-’ my thoughts stopped abruptly as I spotted a flash of rose pink tresses duck into a side street; “Sakura…” Jumping to the ground I chased after her around the corner; “Sakura!”

Freezing, Sakura’s body tensed up as she slowly peered over her shoulder; meeting my eyes directly as emerald clashed with ebony; “Sasuke-kun?”

“Are you ok?” I blurted out as I glared at her; ‘YOU IDIOT! Control! It’s called control! Oh and don’t glare at her!’ the sensible corner of my mind cried as I stopped glaring and watched her unsurely.

“U-u-uhhh…Fine…I-I’m fine…” She stuttered as she looked at me as if I were insane.

I watched her fidget with her hair nervously; “Ok…” I managed to whisper as I looked down at the ground for a moment before turning away; “Bye then…I guess…” I whispered as I started to walk off.

“No…Wait…” I heard her whisper from behind me as I suddenly felt two arms wrap around my torso. “Y-you didn’t even say hello when I saw you last time;” she whispered hurtfully as she pressed her face into the curve of my lower back “…or call me annoying…” she added hesitantly as she trembled; “I haven’t even seen you since you returned…not us alone anyway…”

My eyes widened as I glanced over my shoulder slightly; “Yeah…you were with your fiancé…” I replied bitterly as I felt her cold hand press against my cheek.

“Yeah…” she whispered sadly as she gazed directly into my eyes. “You know what though? You’re going to laugh when I say this but you’re just as good looking as I remember you to be at the age of thirteen…That’s pretty good for a twenty-three year old; ” she said as she moved her hand away from my face and laughed light-heartedly moving the back of her hand in front of her mouth politely.

Smiling slightly I felt a pang in my heart; ‘This would be a good time to tell her but she doesn’t know me anymore…I don’t know her anymore…but I can’t help this feeling I get when I think of her; and when I’m with her it’s worse…what’s happened to me?! I don’t like this! I hate it! Why can’t I tell her?! WHY AM I AFRAID!’ Starting to walk away I quickly looked back at her; “Oh and Sakura?”

Peering up at me through her tussled rose locks Sakura bit down on her bottom lip; “Mm?”

“You’re still annoying;” I sated flatly

Looking at me unsurely for a moment she soon smiled faintly. “I’ll see you tomorrow then at the ceremony…right?” she asked with a hint of sadness as she looked at me.

I nodded slightly; “…I guess so.”

Her smile widened as she tilted her head to her right side, “I’m glad.” Re-arranging her hair she stood straight up once more as a slightly saddened smile graced her features; “Well…I-I better get going…” she replied slowly as she turned on her heel and started to walk off again as she gave a backward wave; “cya.”

“And there’s something I need to tell you…” I added quickly as I pressed my eyes together tightly.


Deeper than deep & I'm constantly blinded
My heart starts to shiver for I was letting up.
I start to talk in my sleep, cause our souls are divided
How can it be that you're ready for love

(How can it be that you're ready for love)
(How can it be that you're ready for love)
How can it be that you're ready for love ...


‘The ceremony is almost over…’ A voice in the back of my mind noted coldly as I glared at the back of the back of the grooms head, ‘I told her…so why is she still doing this? She doesn’t really love him I could see it in her eyes,’ I noted viciously.

<sub>“And there’s something I need to tell you…” Sasuke added quickly as he pressed his eyes together tightly.

Sakura froze with her back to him; “yeah?”

Nervously opening his eyes Sasuke took a step forward; “I don’t hate you!”

“You…Don’t hate me?” Sakura’s eyes widened as a chill ran down her spine.

‘Seriously you’re wasting your time if you think you’re ‘not hating’ her will make her leave him the before their wedding; idiot!’ His mind screamed as he shook his head and groaned, “…No wait that’s not right!” he finally said out loud.

Turning her head Sakura looked back at Sasuke as he looked over at her cluelessly; “Huh…Sasuke-kun, what are you trying to say?”

“I…I-I like you alot!” he blurted out as he blushed furiously.

Sakura smiled sadly as her eyes went glassy; “I know…”</sub>

Jumping to my feet I took a step forward as a few heads turned to watch me unsurely; “No…You can’t marry him Sakura!”

Blinking Sakura turned around gazing at me confusedly through her thick dark eyelashes; “Sasuke-kun?”

“I don’t care if this isn’t right! I don’t care if he really does love you!” I yelled as the people in the room started to murmur, “Hell I don’t even care about what they’re saying about me right now! Do you know why Sakura-san?” I continued to yell as I pointed at the spectators.

A smile broke out onto her face, “You called me Sakura-san…”

I smiled slightly; “Do you know why I don’t care about anything else at the moment except you Sakura?” I repeated as I felt my heart pounding in my chest; never before have I been so bold in place other than in battle; never…

“No…No I don’t…I don’t know…”

“I love you and I want to spend my life with you;” I replied shortly as I looked into her sparkling eyes; “that’s why.”

Sakura’s lips trembled as two tears rolled down her pale face as she wrapped her arms around me; “I do too.”