After the Storm.

12.

"S-Sasu-ke." Sakura stuttered as she stared the the young boy before her.

His lips curled into a nervous smile as he looked at her. This had to be the best time of his life. He'd admit, seeing Sakura while he was in the confinement but something about this was different.

Slowly, he reached up with his hand and moved idle strands of pink out the girl's eyesight. Sakura shivered at his touch.

His hand, She thought. It's so warm.

"Sasuke!" The girl gasped before throwing herself into him. Sauske stumbled back from the impact, but he held her close as he smiled. Taking in the scent of her was something he alwayys yerned for since he left the village.

Sakura held on to Sasuke for what she thought would be the last time. She wanted to cry, but the new girl that she was told her not to. She didn't want to resort back to the girl she once was, but she was so happy that she got a chance to feel Sasuke's warmth once again.

"Are you cold?" She asked him once she pulled apart from him.

"No." He answers. But Sakura doesn't listen, she ushers him inside anyway. After closing the door, She watched as Sasuke removed his shoes. Together, they stepped further into Sakura's apartment.

"When did you get realeased?" She asked as she watched him explore her home with his eyes.

"Yesterday." He says as he turns to look at her. He then sits on the couch. Sakura joins him. Her nerves on edge. She didn't know what to think, let alone what to do. She couldn't even think of a simple sentence to say that could spark up a conversation.

Seeing this, Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Would you have preferred if I was back in the confinement?"

Sakura quickly shook her head. She made it her business to sit next to him. She sat straight, shoulders back. She stared at Sasuke sternly, waiting for him to say something else. She couldn't believe it, Sasuke was a free man. He was in her home. Alone. The two of them.

Just the thought alone made Sakura flustered. Her wide slightly widened as she stared at the raven. He looked back at her with curiously. He wondered what was going on in her mind.

They stared at eachother waiting for the other to say something. Sakura wondering what the next move would be, Sasuke wondering would he be out of line for touching her.

"W-Would you like anything to drink?" Sakura blurted out quickly as she stood. Sasuke watched as she walked past him and towards her kitchen. Sasuke slowly stood, following her and standing by the island.

"Water is fine." Sasuke says as he continues to watch her. She smiled shortly and retrieved water for the young raven. She slid it across the counter to him. Watching as his picked up the cup and took a small sip.

"How does it feel?" Sakura asked.

"How does what feel?" He asked setting the cup down on the counter.

"Being a free man." Sakura says. "You can do as you please. You don't have to wait on anyone to feed you anymore. You actually get to sleep comfortably and you're actually going to be put to good use once Kakashi-Sensei gets you some work."

Sasuke thought for a moment. He'd only been to sleep once since he's been a free man and the sleep was rather comfortable. The food he ate was with Naruto. Other than that he can't really give Sakura an exact answer about how it truly felt to be free. He went to open his mouth but nothing came out. So he tried again.

"It's been alright." He says. "I've been dragged out of my home by the collar, so." His voice trailed off as he looked down at the counter. He heard giggles coming from Sakura.