The Last to Know

Disclaimer: This story utilises characters, situations and premises that are copyright Masashi Kishimoto, Shueisha, Shonen Jump and Viz media. No infringement on their respective copyrights pertaining to episodes, novelisations, comics or short stories is intended by KuriQuinn in any way, shape or form. This fan-oriented story is written solely for the author's own amusement and the entertainment of the readers. It is not for profit. Any resemblance to real organizations, institutions, products or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All plot and Original Characters except for those introduced in the canon books, manga, video games, novelizations and anime, are the sole creation of KuriQuinn. (© KuriQuinn 2016- )

Warning: Spoilers for pretty much everything up to Sasuke Shinden.

Canon-Compliance: As close to canon as fanfiction can possibly be. With a few personal additions :P Takes place during the Blank Period.

Beta Reader: Sakura's Unicorn

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The sun is just beginning to set on the horizon, dipping into the calm water of Konoha's tiny river harbour. Sakura sighs, slumping back on the bench overlooking the bluff, imagining the tension draining out of her.

Her feet ache, her eyes are itchy from the mascara she dearly wants to wash off, and her stomach grumbles. As she dreams of the comforting softness of her bed, she tries to find the energy to stand.

Who knew that a bureaucratic position would be more physically and mentally draining than active duty?

She really should go home, but she knows the minute that she steps through the door, her mother will fret over her. Asking questions about the day, nagging her for not taking care of herself, wondering about her plans for the week, and Sakura just wants...

Sakura just wants silence.

She didn't realise it when she was younger, but there's something comforting about being alone.

"Sakura."

She almost jumps three feet in the air at the sound of her name, having thought she was utterly alone. "Ahh!"

Beside her, Sasuke appears to have materialised out of thin air. Knowing him, he probably did. Sakura scrambles to her feet to face him, eyes flicking over his taller, gaunter form. He no longer walks around wearing a cape and turban, but there is something about him that still speaks of a vagabond.

"Sas—Sasuke," she stammers, flustered, wrong-footed and instantly reduced to her self-conscious younger self. Honestly, she thought she was over this! "What are you...what are you doing here?"

She curses herself, wondering if it sounds like she's criticising him for approaching her. He's been home for a week, and this isn't the first time they've seen each other since he walked through the village gates, and yet, she still must fight down the temptation to pinch herself whenever they interact. She dreamed of his return for so long that his presence stubbornly retains a dreamlike quality to it. Worse, she's not quite sure how to speak to him normally.

Then there's the fact that their relationship is—

Well, she thinks to herself, I'm not even sure there is a relationship.

She suspects there's something between them that is deeper than friendship, but beyond that she has no idea. Though she can read him easily in some ways, in others—especially the ways that concern her heart—he's as mysterious as ever.