Ahhh, this sprung up as a plot bunny from a random AMV I was watching. ....And, this is dedicated to tainee, 'cause she was missing on SasuSaku. I hope this fills your needs!

Title: Your Face
Rating: K+, for language
Fandom: Naruto
Genre(s): General/Romance
Pairings/Characters: Sakura, SasuSaku
Word Count: 454
Summary: A very belated reply to some last words on Sasuke's part.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto.

The sun hurts. It hurts my eyes.

But then something, someone, blocks it. I don’t know whom; their face is too shadowy.

Thank you.

But then, when the figure lifts its head, it doesn’t matter anymore. It doesn’t matter that I’ve spent the last three years becoming strong. It doesn’t matter that I’ve made my name known in Konoha, that I’m no longer just a nobody of a kunoichi. I’ve made my name known in its own right, and not just because it’s linked to some fantastical, infamous, boisterous Uzumaki Naruto. It doesn’t matter that Haruno Sakura now ranks with her once light-years away teammates, because that face is back.

He’s back.

Thank you. Y-you know, I’ve said that twice now, Sasuke-kun? Yeah, you stepped in front of that sun, and I thanked you. And then I said it again. Annoying, you would of called it; repeating myself.

But, you know what’s really annoying? What’s really annoying is tha-that those were the last words you said to me, three years ago. And then, then, I thank you. I thank you for your unconsciously welcoming gesture: standing in front of the sun. And you, when I begged, cried, and tore myself up inside; you thanked me. You fucking thanked me.

But you know what’s worse than that?

I can’t make myself hate you.

I can’t make myself hate you for pounding my heart into the ground.

I can’t make myself hate you for cutting it up into little pieces afterwards.

I spent three years becoming strong. I spent three years swearing off crying and being a “little girl.” I spent three years trying to hate you.

Naruto said it wouldn’t work, when I talked to him. Look where it got Gaara, he said. Look where hating got him: I had to beat the crap out of him, and the sense in to him.

And he was right.

It doesn’t matter; because there is no way that I can hate you. I can’t hate you for being the biggest asshole in the universe. I can’t hate you for every single time you’ve hated me. I can’t hate you for leaving. I can’t hate you for breaking me. I can’t hate you for making me put myself back together.

All I can do is keep loving you. All I can do, when I see your face for the first time in three years, is fall in love with you. Over, and over, and over again. That’s all I can do. I can’t punch down the entire ledge you’re standing on anymore when I see your face again. I can’t do anything but love you, even if you are the biggest asshole in the universe.

And Sasuke-kun?

You’re welcome.