Note: I do not own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does.

Summary: "Marry him, Sakura. Marry him, so that you and him can be happy. It's better this way," This was his last request to her, but could she fulfill it? Or will her heart be torn in the process?

Sakura ran a hand over the stone of the bench. She sighed softly. The memories this bench held for her were always close to her heart. The same heart that had been broken to pieces countless of times. And all by one boy, whom she could never get her mind off of. She had always stayed by his side, even if he never acknowledged her, and whenever he did, it was a cold retort, mostly telling her to go away and mind her own business. But, she couldn't help it. Uchiha Sasuke was her business, her everything. He always had been, even when he had betrayed their village to obtain power in Otogakure. He had been gone two years, yet she had never doubted her love for him. She had grown strong for him during his absence, training under the Hokage herself. Ironic, they each had apprenticed under a Legendary Sannin, not that that was good news, at least in Sasuke's case.

Her and Naruto had both trained hard, yet Sasuke had as well. While he was gone, they acquired a new teammate, who the Hokage called Sai. At first, Sai reminded Sakura of Sasuke, until he assaulted him and was constantly talking about Naruto's um…parts.

On one of their missions, Yamato leading them for Kakashi was not in well enough shape, they ran into Kabuto. Which lead them into facing Orochimaru, thus Sasuke as well. Naruto, using four tails of his Kyuubi, had taken Sasuke down, Orochimaru barely escaping the incident alive.

Sasuke, to say the least, was not pleased when he woke up. They all had their turn of yelling at him while he was hospitalized, but Sakura always just stood on the sidelines, too stunned to speak. Naruto promised Sakura that now that Sasuke was back, they'd never let him go away again. But that didn't stop Sasuke from trying. He didn't want to be in Konohagakure, he still needed power he claimed. He didn't care that the ANBU kept their hawk-like eyes on him twenty-four seven or that the villagers gave him cold glares. He took it all without even flinching. If he even tried to escape, the ANBU would catch him and bring him right back. Yet, Sakura still supported him and would check on him when she could. Naruto insisted on training with Sasuke constantly, so he could keep his own eye on him. Not even Naruto had trusted him, yet Sakura willingly gave her barely mended heart to him again. He still would brush her off coldly.

He had been in Konoha for a month before his trial, in which he had tried to get away seven times, his accusations rising against him. But there she still was, lingering at his side during the whole thing, along with Naruto. They both gave their full support to the Uchiha prodigy. He responded with not even a 'thank you' but he certainly gave them a piece of his mind by giving them his infamous glare. Yet, the two never wavered and hung by their old teammate to the end. Because like their sensei had taught them, those who abandon their friends are worse than trash.

First, the Godaime and council talked about a death sentence. He had betrayed their village, and attempted to do so again, and that was not looked upon very highly. This scared Sakura to the core and when they had mentioned it to Sasuke, he had merely stared blankly at them.

Her prayers were answered when Tsunade declined, stating he was one of the only two left in a powerful, noble clan. Sakura felt a deep gratitude toward her sensei at that moment.

The ending result was parole from any missions for two years, in which he was not to step a foot outside of Konoha, and the ANBU would make sure of that by watching him every second of every hour. Not even that could faze him. Sakura always wondered how he could stay so stoic about everything that came in his way. And one day she had the courage, rather stupidity, to ask.

Flashback (6 months ago)

"Sasuke-kun," Sakura yelled waving at the Uchiha, who was lying on the ground staring at the clouds, knowing there was nothing else to do. He sat up as she ran up to him, her face flushed as she took a seat next to him. She hugged her legs and smiled sweetly at him. "What are you up to?" she asked in her kinder tone that she always used with him.

Sasuke grunted. "What could I possibly be up to?" he questioned back, his eyes averting hers. "They watch my every move, its not like I can do much."

The seventeen-year-old medic frowned, a feature that didn't suit her. "Yeah, I guess that's true," she rested her head on her knees as she stared at the grass beneath her.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "What are you doing here, Sakura? There must be a reason," he questioned in his monotone voice.

Sakura picked up a flower from the ground and picked at its petals nervously. "I just wanted to keep you company, Sasuke-kun. I didn't want you to feel alone," she answered.

"I'm never alone," Sakura looked up at him as he said this, "They're always there, no matter where I go, so no need to keep stalking me around, they do that well enough."

The young girl buried her head in her knees. "Why do you always have to push me away, Sasuke-kun? I just want to help, is that such a crime?" she asked him.

"It's irritating. After all this time," Sakura braced herself for the words she knew were going to flow from his mouth, "You're still annoying." But it still hurt like a ton of bricks. "Get a life."

Sakura closed her emerald eyes tightly. 'You are my life,' she thought. She still sat there, unmoving.

Her face still in between her knees, she heard Sasuke get up. Only she wouldn't allow him to leave her again. She stood up quickly as she watched his back walk away. The pink-haired girl ran to him, enclosing her arms around his waist tightly, pressing her chest against his back.

The stoic male grew rigid instantly. "Sakura," he hissed and grabbed onto her arms roughly. "Stop it." He attempted to remove her from him, but she just held on tighter. Sasuke growled.

"Why?" he heard her voice mutter, muffled from being pressed so tightly to his back. "Why are you always pushing us away? Why can't you talk to me or anyone? And Sasuke, I want an answer this time, because I'm not going to let you go as easily as last time," she stated.

Sasuke glared dead ahead. "And again, I ask you, why should I have to tell you anything?" he shot back.

"Because I care and all I want is for you to be happy," she told him, her voice never faltering.

Sasuke snorted. "Happy? I don't know the meaning of the word," he stated.

"I don't want you to shut yourself out, Sasuke-kun. We all care for you Sasuke-kun. Naruto, me, Kakashi-sensei, you're our friend, yet you never tell us anything," Sakura mumbled pressing her head onto his surprisingly warm back.

"You're not my friend. I have no friends. You all are nothing to me. Absolutely nothing," Sasuke retorted. He froze when he felt wetness drip onto the back of his shirt.

"Sasuke-kun," he heard her shaky voice say as she unwrapped her arms from him, "You're going to regret this one day."

He turned around slowly to watch her back as she ran, and for the first time, away from, not to, him. Then, the Uchiha just shrugged and walked to his apartment, his hands in his pockets.

Sakura was running, just running, nowhere yet anywhere at all. She ran, until she fell flat on her butt, running into someone, who in turn fell to the ground.

The medic-nin looked up, her eyes still gleaming with tears, at who she had run into. "Lee-san?" she questioned the taijutsu master.

Lee blinked as he stood up. "Sakura-san," he said as he outstretched his hand, pulling her to her feet.

"Gomen nasai, Lee-san," Sakura apologized shyly as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "I wasn't watching where I was going."

Lee shook his head and grinned with his teeth. "It was nothing," he then frowned, noticing the dry tears, "Sakura-san, were you crying?"

"Huh? Oh, its nothing," Sakura stated, forcing a smile on her face.

Lee's frown deepened. "It's never nothing with you, Sakura-san," he commented. "Was it Sasuke-kun again?"

Sakura looked at her feet as she nodded. "Demo…it's not like he meant it," she mumbled.

"He never means it, does he, Sakura-san?" Lee questioned, his eyes softening, "At least, that's what you think."

"He just…I don't know Lee-san. I just don't understand him, maybe that's the problem," Sakura responded.

Lee placed a hand on her pink locks. "Maybe Sasuke-kun doesn't want us to understand," he stated, "Ja ne, Sakura-san. I must get going now." He turned around and waved as he walked away. "You take care of yourself!"

Sakura waved back. "I will!" she shouted, and when he was out of sight, she frowned again.

End of flashback

She had ignored Sasuke for three weeks after that. Whenever Naruto invited both her and Sasuke to do things, like to go on a picnic or simply to the Ichiraku, she'd decline without even knowing Sasuke's answer. She didn't want to be near him if she could help it, and it was not like he'd care. So, it would be good for both of them, right? Wrong. Though Sakura looked steady on the outside, she'd constantly cry herself to sleep at night. But she didn't want to bother him with her 'annoying' ways. She thought it was all over between them, that she could finally move on. She didn't know her avoiding him would have such an effect on the stoic Uchiha.

When I first saw you, I saw love.

I know I probably shouldn't be starting yet another fic, but I've had this chapter written for quite some time, and I wanted to get it out there. I'll still keep up with my other fics though, so that'll be no issue. Hope you enjoyed it. . Oh, and also, if you aren't up to date with the manga, Sai and Yamato are characters that come later on in the series, hope I didn't spoil anything!

Please Review,

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