#sscanon

It has been a while since I watched this series again. Ever since I started watching it 10 years ago (I was in grade 5), I have always been shipping Sasuke & Sakura. Now, I know I’m kinda old for this, but I realized something deeply when I came to know the story at the end. Honestly, I grew tired of watching after the first few episodes of Shippuden because of so many fillers and side stories not involving Sasuke. Back then, internet is not accessible too so I stopped watching for the past 4 years. Now, I heard from a friend that Kishimoto have finished the series and I was so curious about what happened. Sasuke & Sakura ending up together is CANON! ~~There was no “shipping” back then, so when I heard about this shipping thing and the whole SS fandom, I was really happy, something new. And part of me feels so fulfilled. “Told ‘ya!” I really thank Kishimoto for this!

This is for in-the-tsukuyomi! Thanks for sending me a prompt! 

Pretending not to know each other-AU 

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  It's known that when you like someone you will try to get all his/her attention, making jokes, forgeting "unintentionally" your copybooks...But, of course, there are always exceptions. And the " Oh so sexually tensed relationship between the Teme and Sakura-chan", as Naruto, the stander-by of this situation, would say, is one of this exceptions that shatter into pieces the observation. Why? Nobody had an answer. It was an enigma just like what Kakashi-sensei, their hometeacher, was hiding under his mask. 

  Sakura and Sasuke hadn't a good start of their bond, it's true, the handsome black-haired boy considering the green-eyed girl an "annoying fangirl", but they grew up being fond of each other, even being worried when the other wouldn't show at school or share their bentos in the lunch break. All their friends were certain that those two will get together with no problem and were betting when they will get married and how many kids they will have. However, all of that changed when the two victims of the gossips stopped greeting each other and started pretending not to know each other. No exchange of copybooks, no shy smiles, no blushes, no nothing. 

  "I can't bear it anymore!" says Ino, a baby-blue eyed girl with long blonde hair just like the summer sun. "We have to do something with Sakura and Sasuke! They behave like two idiots!" 

  "I can't believe it that I'm saying this, but I agree with you, ttebayo! The tension between those two its so powerful that I can't even eat my ramen when I am with them!" declares Naruto, the mentioned friend and witness. 

  "WHAT THE HECK DID YOU SAY, IDIOT?!" 

  "Ino, calm down. Geez, this is so troublesome." mutters bored Shikamaru, the genius of the group. 

  "E-everybody..." mouths Hinata, a gentle young lady with a pair of lavender eyes and long-waist shining dark hair, while poking her fingers timidly "I-i have an idea" 

  Three pairs of eyes turn to her and she blushes from the attention. 

  "TEMEEEE!" 

  "Tch, dobe, what?" says annoyed Sasuke. 

  "Come with me and don't ask anything!" Naruto takes the muscular arm and starts to pull his best friend. 

  "What the fu-" 

  "Shut up. I said no questions!" 

  "Ino. Who do you want to show me?" asks Sakura curious. 

  "Wait and see, Forehead! Wait and see!" 

  Suddenly, a loud shreak disturbs the peace of the deserted corridor. 

  "Naruto?" 

  "Sakura-chan!" waves enthusiastically the blonde-haired with his free hand. "Look who I brought here!" He pushes Sasuke who stops at a few millimeters of the petite girl. 

  "What is happening?" hisses the girl trough griteed teeth. 

  "Oh, it's late! We should go, Naruto! Be good kids you two and use protection!" screams Ino while getting outside with Naruto. 

  "Ino!!" But the door slams, leaving no chance of complaining.

  "I'm so gonna kill her!" 

  "Hn." 

  "And you are still as annoying as ever!" 

  "Hn. You too."

  "Don't you dare call me that after you rejected my love! You know how much it hurt?!" She grabs the front of his once immaculate shirt. 

  "You still don't understand, huh? You are so stupid sometimes." 

  "Excuse me? Let's see who is stupid after I punch your handsome face. I mean, your idiotic face!" 

  "Thanks for the compliment." he smirks. 

  Silence surrounds them for a long period of time. Only their breaths and heartbeats can be heard. 

  "Sakura" he says with a serious face. 

  Her heart pounds even faster. How can he have such an effect on her even after so long? 

  "That time, when you confessed, you know what I thought after I left you crying?" 

  Her eyes widen with amazement. 

  "That I'm an idiot for rejecting someone as beautiful as you...I was overwhelmed with jealousy because of my brother that I didn't even realized the depth of all the things you had said back then. I...was so embarassed that I wanted to hide from you. Sakura...I..." 

  His words drown in his throat after his body meets the warmth of the little one in front of him. His arms move on its own, circling her waist.

  "I love you too."   

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Sasuke and Sakura are watching the night sky together. 

Sakura: It's so beautiful, Sasuke-kun! How did you find this place? 

Sasuke: *smirks proudly* I have my ways. 

Sakura: *giggles* Oh! A shooting star! Look! *closes her eyes and prays* 

Sasuke: I really like shooting stars... 

Sakura: Why? 

Sasuke: They...*blushes a little*...remind me of you. 

Sakura: *puzzled* But, they are a sign of death... 

Sasuke: Yes, it's true...but it can be the death of the past, like, past life, mistakes from the past...Sakura, you are the light that cleaned the dark sky, that means, my heart, from all the sins from the past. You will always be there...like a shooting star continuing its way... 

Sakura:*blushes* S-sasuke-kun... 

Sasuke: By the way, I really need to take a bath. Want to help clean myself? 

Sakura: *blushes even more if it's possible and faints* 

I will just leave this here as a friendly reminder 

Haters gonna hate, hate, hate  

Note: This is an attempt to get rid of my writer’s block. –sighs-

They saw your life flashes before your eyes right when you are at the brink of death. Sasuke didn’t believe it until that fateful day,

==

He was on a mission with fellow ANBU members when they were ambushed by a group of ninjas whose members have skills that rival those of the Akatasuki.

Both groups put up a good fight. At the end, Sasuke’s group prevailed but at a high price. Three were severely wounded and Sasuke, who fought valiantly, almost succumbed to death because of multiple injuries and loss of blood.

He was at his most vulnerable state and he really felt he was going to die. As he struggled with the excruciating pain, memories after memories of people he cared about flashed before him. He saw his deceased family members and relatives, other acquaintances, friends and HER

It was that fraction of a time just when he was about to close his eyes that he realized he would have given everything to see and hear Sakura’s voice one last time.

 ==

It was after two weeks that Sasuke finally awoke to the sight of the Konoha hospital’s pristine white ceiling.

"Sasuke-kun,"

He tilted his head and saw her by her bedside. With a bit of difficulty, he managed to sit up. He looked around. When the realization that he was given another chance at life finally sunk in, it was her name that he first called out.

“Sakura…”

Crying tears of joy, Sakura latched herself onto him, her arms around his shoulders.

“I almost died of worry but now, I’m happy you’re finally awake. Oh Sasuke-kun if you only knew how scared I was,” she said in between in sobs.

Her warmth reminded Sasuke of his family's love. With shaky hands, he reciprocated the hug.

“I’ll treat you better from now.” he whispered.

He wasn’t a wordsmith. That was all he could say but it held a lot of meaning.

He will take care of her. He will make sure to protect her. He will never make her cry again. He will make her the happiest woman in the world. 

Sakura was still annoying just like how she was before and it amazed him how her words still had the same effect as they did back then when he threw away his past in search for power.

How could this woman made his resolve falter? He wondered. She was insignificant and he was ten times more powerful than she would ever be. Why does she keep trying? He didn’t understand anything…at all.

“I have no absolutely no reason to love her,” He turned his back to her, his expression hidden and unknown. He hoped the words came out harsh. He needed her to hate him-needed to make her realize she was a fool for devoting herself to a man with no future or whatsoever.

“And likewise, I could see no reason why she would love me.” He added, turning his head slightly into her direction. Despite his words, her eyes still held that determination in them and immediately, memories of the clan, his parents and Itachi flashed before him. For a fleeting second he felt an overwhelming vulnerability engulfed him. For that fraction of a moment, his old self was back but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

She was offering her a place to belong and he planned to decline the offer.