Rabbit Apples (Naruto)

Rabbit Apples

Rays of sunshine shown through the window, yet the light did nothing to melt away the gloomy feeling of the hospital room. Sasuke constantly stared out of the window with his hands folded in his lap, seemingly taking a lack of interest in the world around him.

Sakura, after all, noticed she didn't elicit a response from him when she arrived each day. Even without a word from him, she kept coming and cut the one or two apples she brought with her into bunny-shaped apple slices in hopes he might eat something, even though he refused to respond.

Each day she wondered what she might say to him that might elicit that response from him, yet the little voice in her said kept telling her she was overstepping her grounds regarding the matter. Sasuke, after all, seemed far more focused on gaining power and going after his brother despite ending up in the hospital as he did.

"Sasuke?"

He didn't respond when she called his name out, but then she sighed, finally deciding she needed to say what she wanted to say. "About seeking revenge on your brother..."

"I'm giving that up."

Sakura stared, her mouth hanging open. His response certainly wasn't what she expected from him when she wanted to then and there offer up her help in his quest for revenge. She swallowed. "Can I ask why?"

"Why?" Sasuke tilted his head away from looking at the window so he might look at her. "Because there are people I don't want to disappoint. My father. My mother. You."

"Me?"

His eyes blinked, and a blush spread across his cheeks. He glanced away. "Aren't I, though?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You were super upset when Uzumaki and I got into that fight of ours, but I let my pride get the better of me. Sorry."

"Don't be. I mean..." Sakura looked at her hands, a blush spreading across her cheeks as she knew full well both Naruto and Sasuke needed to apologize for what happened the other day.

"I was wrong, so that means I should apologize, right?"

"Yes, but..." Sakura continued looking at her hands. "Me? Why are you worried about disappointing me specifically? Why?"

"And Kakashi," he said, which made her gulp. "But that's different because, well, it's different." He muttered slightly. "I mean, it's different from me wanting to disappoint you, the way I don't want to disappoint him. He's someone I look up to, and you..."

"And me?"

Sasuke didn't answer.

Sakura looked up and saw him looking back out the window at the sunshine as the gloomy mood continued. She let out a sigh and continued cutting the rabbit-shaped apple slices. Despite pretending she wasn't bothered by the lack of response, she still wanted to know what his answer would be, yet didn't know how to ask him. She let out a sigh.

She'd finished cutting the apples yet found herself still wondering what that answer was. Sakura wondered if she should give him the apples since he'd responded to her for once or set them on the table as he did before. She glanced up, noticing he was still looking out the window.

"Sasuke?"

He didn't respond.

"What are you going to do now that you don't want to become stronger for revenge?"

"I'm going to become stronger so I can protect you, though..."

"What?" Sakura felt a blush spread across her cheeks.

"You're getting stronger yourself."

"But, why me?" Sakura looked at her hands.

"Because you're my teammate."

"Oh." Sakura felt disappointed. "So you want to protect all of us?"

"I'm not the only one who's lost someone important." Sasuke looked out the window. "It was stupid of me to think like that, but I realized the cost would involve losing more of those I care about, and it honestly sucked."

"In other words, your teammates?"

"I don't deserve any of you."

"Sasuke..." Sakura frowned.

"Kakashi taught me that technique of his, intrusting me to protect what was important to me, and I was dumb enough to use it against Naruto simply because my pride got in the way. He taught it to me because he cared. Not sure Naruto cares..."

"Naruto - Naruto has a funny way of showing he cares, but you shouldn't let his stupidity draw you into things like that," Sakura sighed.

"And you care."

"Because, um - I like you."

"As a friend."

"No. I like you, like you, but that's something you should already know. I mean, I haven't been that oblivious with the way I feel, have I?"

"I..." Sasuke's fingers tightened. "I told you I don't deserve that."

"And what about how I feel!" Sakura's hands clenched together. He looked at her, surprise all over his face ."I get the fact you're all gloomy right now, thinking you don't deserve to have people to care about, but don't I deserve to care about who I want to care about the way I want to care about them?"

"I..." He stared for a bit, then said. "Yes?"

"Then, accept how I feel," Sakura leaned forward. "Accept the fact I will do anything for you because I love you, Sasuke, but I would have even helped you in finding your revenge if that's what you wanted."

"That..." Sasuke stared at her. "But..." He swallowed. "If I had..."

"What? It would have been my decision, Sasuke. My..."

"But not what I would have wanted." Sasuke looked away.

Sakura froze. "What?"

"I would have stopped you."

"What?"

"Because I care too." His eyes widened upon realizing what he said, a blush spreading across his face.

"Do you care the same way?"

"Um..." The blush deepened, and he glanced at her.

"Sasuke? Just be honest with me. It's a..."

"Yes." He glanced away. "And I almost ruined everything."

Sakura reached for the rabbit-shaped apples and held them out. "Here. Let's start with this then."