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"Sasuke-kun," He heard a familiar voice. Very familiar that he didn't want to hear. He could easily avoid her, but he knew she wouldn't let that happen. It had always been like this. She got his attention every time, even when he tried to ignore her.
"Sakura, what are you doing here?" Her pink hair was slightly longer than it had been the last time. She looked more mature. Her style had changed, but her eyes. Those dammed green eyes were still the same; kind and full of love.
"How are you?" She asked, avoiding his earlier question. Always so worried about him.
"I don't have time to chat," He replied, seeing a slight pain in her eyes, but she brushed it off. He took a few steps forward to walk past her, but it was just an excuse to see her from near. Her eyes followed his every move, calculating what to say next.
"I- Sasuke, please," She managed to say. "Please, wait. Just for a minute." He had to avoid her, but he couldn't. He glared at her to show that he didn't care. But from inside he did. He cared even if he didn't want to.
"What?"
"Just stay for a while. I won't stop you or try to bring you back to the village. I promise," She pleaded.
"Why? Given up on me finally?"
"Never. I just left that part on Naruto. I have learned you won't come back by anyone's request. The only solution is to fight you, and Naruto is the one who will do that."
There was silence after that. The only sound was of the forest.
"Just tell me you are going to be okay. Tell me you will be happy again," Sasuke chuckled at her statement.
"Who told you I am not happy?"
"You don't need to say, I can read your eyes. I can see that you are in pain. My only wish is that you are safe and happy," She sounded so genuine that Sasuke felt hopeful for a second.
He walked a few steps towards her, leaving a small gap between them," And you know how to make me happy? Just get over the illusion, Sakura, and move on," He had to be harsh because he would never deserve the happiness she would give him. His only path was revenge, and she had no place in the dark life of. She deserved better.
"I would try if you allow me to," For a moment, Sasuke imagined it. A life with her. Giving in to the comfort she provided and accepting her warm embraces, eating the delicious onigiris she made, holding her soft hand, touching her beautiful hair, kissing those pink lips, and waking up next to her every morning. But that was a fantasy that won't come true in this life.
"Don't. Just don't. You will only break your heart. I am an avenger, and revenge is the only language I have been taught. You won't find happiness with me," He said.
"You don't need to worry about my heart. And my happiness is in your happiness. Even if it's not with me, I sincerely wish you would be happy again. I know you don't love me like I do, and I can stay just being your friend as long as you are happy. I love you, Sasuke. That's enough for me." His heart was beating loudly. Again, she managed to make him feel things he didn't want to.
"You can't keep doing this to me," He took a step further while she backed away until she met the trunk of a tree. "You keep doing this. Make me feel," He was just inches away from her.
"Sasuke," She whispered.
"I can't help it," He continued.
"What are you saying?" She looked into his eyes to see the many emotions they held. In a moment, he leaned in and kissed her. She thought she was imagining it, but he pressed harder. She kissed him back, lost in the moment, and the couple moved their lips with each other. It was filled with yearning, as if both had been waiting for this to happen. Sakura was confused, but she left her thoughts behind and enjoyed the moment.
"I want to hate you, but I can't," He rested his forehead against hers after they pulled back. "Why do you keep doing this to me?"
He pulled her towards him, hugging her close. "Sasuke," She wanted him to answer, tell her what he was feeling. She broke the embrace to look at him.
"Please, Sakura, go away from my life. I can't let the darkness in me affect you. You are a ray of sunshine who deserves a life without my shadow," He wiped the tears falling from her eyes.
"You can't say that after this. You can't break my hope after giving me one. And you are not some dark shadow; you are in pain. You need time, but you can heal if you try," She saw a rare smile on his face.
"I cannot heal. Thank you, Sakura. Thank you for believing in me when no one else did. Thank you for always trying to make me happy. Thank you for taking care of me," She couldn't stop the tears falling from her eyes. "Thank you for loving someone like me," He whispered and gave a soft kiss on her lips.
"But I am sorry, I can't become who you want me to be. Not in this lifetime," He said after pulling back. He raised her chin to meet their eyes. Sakura's green eyes met his red ones. "I have to do this."
"Sas-" Before she could protest, her eyes were closed, and she passed out. She would forget everything when she would woke up. This moment they just shared will be a sweet memory just for him. Sasuke caught her before she could fall. He rested her under a tree, making sure the area was safe.
"Forgive me, Sakura. It is better this way. Only if our lives were different, I would have told you how much you mean to me," He caressed her face before walking ahead without looking back. Sakura was the dream that would never be his reality.