SasuSaku: One and Only

Chapter 5: The Raven's Return

Sasuke's POV

The raven felt like he'd been walking for hours...  He was on his fifth day of traveling to the Land of Hot Water...  His main reason for going there is because it is a peaceful land and found that most people don't know who he is, let alone about his past...  Even when he came across someone who knew who he was, they didn't want to get involved in any form of trouble so he was left alone...  Just like he prefers to be... Alone... 

The other reason he had been frequenting the place is because of their hot springs that are known to have medicinal qualities and help wounds heal at a faster rate...  In his travels he has come across many that would challenge the last Uchiha because although he was considered one of the heroes of the Great War, there were still many villages that had a price on his head...  He has been in many battles throughout his years away from Konohagakure and several within the last few weeks...

He arrived at the hot springs just at sundown... He spoke to the innkeeper and got set up with a room...  As he made his way out to the male baths, he could not help but to gaze at the beautiful scenery around the spring...  The thing that stood out most was the Cherry Blossom Trees...  They were glowing under the light of the moon...  Not only did they remind him of the trees in the garden his clan kept, but it reminded him of a certain pinkette...  Lately he had been finding himself thinking a lot about the Kunoichi and having dreams about her...  He settled into the bath and let his mind drift to the past...

His first thought was of when he was 8 years old... It was right after meeting the pinkette... He had finally learned her name and was so happy that he couldn't hide it... Itachi was the first to notice...

"Foolish little brother... Are you listening to me? You can't throw a shuriken that way! You need to hold it like this!!! Hello!!! Earth to Sasuke!" He waved his hand in front of his little brothers face but nothing... "What is with you!!!"

The raven snapped out of his thoughts and said... "Gomen, Nii-san. I was just thinking of a girl I met yesterday...". His cheeks were as red as a tomato...

Itachi chuckled to himself and teasing him... "Oh did I interrupt you from thinking of your girlfriend???" He let out a laugh...

The ravens cheeks got even redder and then turned into embarrassment... "NO! She's not my girlfriend... Her name is Haruno Sakura!!! She has hair like the cherry blossoms in the garden... She smells like..."

Itachi couldn't help himself as they walked into the house he yelled out to their mother... "OKaa-san! Sasuke has a girlfr...". The raven put his hand over his older brothers mouth...

"Shhhh! I will never forgive you, Itachi!!!"

Mikoto came into the room with a big smile... "Sasuke has a girlfriend??? Who is she??? Where did you meet, school??? Who's her fam...". Itachi cut her off...

"I am just teasing him... But he does have a friend that's s girl!"

"Come on Nii-san. Let's go back outside! I want to be strong like you!!!"

Itachi smiled at the raven, poked him in the forehead and said... "We will continue our training another time little brother... I have a mission..." He then walked out of the room...

After that Sasuke pouted but then told his mother of the pinkette... She told him that she knew her parents from their Jounin days... He could see the light in his mom's eyes as he talked about Sakura... He always felt he could talk to her about anything... She was the only one he could tell his true feelings to... She was the first person that he told that he had started to have true feelings for the pinkette...