Restoration Book 3/3: Sakura's Fate

Chapter 1

Sasuke and I were extremely lucky in that we were able to drive the entire way back to Konoha, finding a new vehicle easily each time the one we were using would run out of fuel.

One of them ended up being a truck with a manual transmission and the Uchiha man surprised me by offering to teach me how to drive it. It was equally embarrassing as it was amusing because every time I'd make a mistake he'd break into laughter and tease me.

I was just grateful the mood had become light and remained that way, so I didn't let it get to me. It felt nice to be distracted from all the negative things we've gone through and were likely to encounter once we met back up with the others.

We only had to walk for a couple hours once we made it to the busy area of town, but neither of us minded and spent the time playing twenty questions.

"You know, you never answered me before. What's your type?"

I rolled my eyes at his flirty question, remembering the day he asked it the first time with a bittersweet smile. It was the day he first offered to help me get over my fear of men and the day we first kissed.

We were strolling almost casually toward his family's compound in the deserted streets of the upper side of New Konoha. It surprised me that the Uchiha twins hadn't come into contact with Hinata because they'd gone to the same school and lived within an hour's drive from one another. Granted, they're two years older than me and her so they wouldn't have had any classes together, but still.

"I don't know. I guess I've never really thought about it. If I had to choose, probably someone sweet and caring who doesn't look at other girls."

He scoffed, "So you want a slave."

I glared at him with a frown, "That's so not what I meant."

Sasuke smirked, "You want a guy who worships the ground you walk on and will do anything to make you happy: a slave." He let out a small laugh at my disgruntled expression.

"That's not what I said, you jerk! Is it really such a big deal to want a guy who cares about me and won't cheat?"

His smirk lifted into a small, amused grin, "In theory, no it's not. Are you sure you're not still picturing some fairytale boyfriend who'll sweep you off your feet and treat you like a princess?"

My face warmed and I turned my glare to the pavement, "You're such an asshole, you know that?"

He laughed, "I'm just messing with you, chill out."

A moment or two passed and I let my annoyance fade, knowing it was his goal to get me riled up and he'd find it funny if I let it affect me, "What's your type then, huh?"

"Easy question. I like confident women with long hair that never yell or argue with me."

That bittersweet feeling in my chest became more bitter and less sweet. Our types aren't one another. Sasuke's often caring, in his own way, but he's rarely what I'd consider sweet and his eyes wander to any other female around, even his own brother's girl. I don't have a lot of confidence or long hair (anymore). Not only that, but he and I argue and yell at each other all the time.

The future that I foresaw, the one where we split up and don't really keep in touch after all this is over, was quickly becoming less and less hypothetical. I'm still grateful to him, either way. He may be an ass a lot of the time, but he's still gone out of his way for me on many occasions.

There's no way I'll be able to hold it against him in the long run when he inevitably tells me goodbye. It's not his fault that I unconsciously caught feelings. I have to keep it ever-clear in my mind to not develop any expectations because I'll only end up more hurt in the end.