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And all the lights that light the way are blinding.

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i.

She slips from his mind every so often, but the thought of her never strays too far from Sasuke's mind. It took him eight years to come to terms that yes, he was in love with her, and three years to forget about her.

At the sight of her, even if it were a month ago, still burns in his mind.

He really should be thinking about Karin. He really should be thinking of his kind, sweet, funny, loyal girlfriend, but…

…Sakura.

Like a brand on his heart.

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ii.

To make matters worse, Karin comes in with "exciting" news, a week after.

It's shifting into late November, with the green summer leaves turning into flaming shades of yellow, orange, and fiery red; the temperature of the weather dropping to a chilly breeze, light sparkling frost coating the tops of building and cars, sprinkling over the fields grass.

He's sitting by his locker at school, headphones in his ears as he's blasting angry, angry music (that's all he seems to listen to these days- they fit his emotions so well) when someone whizzes by him and the scent of floral Vera Wang perfume fills his nostrils. Looking up, he sees that Karin has arrived- a brown tuque placed upon her hair and a wide smile on her face.

"…Hey," he manages to say, but not without guilt laced in his voice. He can't say much to her without feeling too guilty these days- not when he's constantly replacing her fierce red with a soft pink.

She doesn't take notice, thank goodness, and instead leans down and places a firm kiss on his thin lips. Her red hair brushes his cheeks lightly, and he lifts his hand to cup her gentle face.

Nearby, Suigetsu hollers, "Get a room, you two!" and Karin pulls back, blushing to the tip of her hair.

Sasuke pulls back, breathless but not quite- not like he used to be before.

"Hey, Sasuke," Karin says as she sits down beside him, "I know you're probably busy, and you don't have to come if you don't want to, but I have a dance performance tonight and I was wondering if…"

"I'll come," he says suddenly, because if he stays by himself tonight he's sure to think of the stunning beauty with the viridian eyes and the mysterious smile that plagues his mind every day like a disease.

Karin beams before giving him another kiss- this time, it's right on his cheek. "Thank you, baby," she says huskily, and smiles brilliantly, a light blush splayed across her tanned cheeks.

He nods briefly.

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iii.

There's at least a five hundred people here; proud parents holding camcorders and telling everyone in sight who their kid is, excited siblings chatting and bouncing about in their seats, and boyfriends and girlfriends waiting along with the families.

He's watching tentatively in the darkening theatre, ready for his girlfriend to take the stage. Beside him, Karin's mother is chattering excitedly with her husband, and Sasuke offers a small smile when they glance in his direction.

Suddenly, the lights shut off and melodious music fills the theatre. He feels his body turning into drowsiness, eyes fighting to stay wide, soft, inaudible yawn escaping his lips.

The ballerinas, wearing shimmery pink outfits- including his girlfriend- take the stage, and when they part the spotlight settles on one girl, donning a silvery white dress, hair tied up in an elegant bun with loose strands of hair curling at her ears. Sasuke feels his breath leave him in a rush.

No, no, no, no…

…It's Sakura.

Although Karin is dancing and twirling like a professional ballerina, Sasuke's eyes aren't on her. No, they're focused on one and only one person- the main attraction of tonight's show, the princess with the beautiful hair and eyes, with her mesmerizing moves as she twirls about on the stage, always in perfect posture (as he'd expect her to be, because Sakura had always been the type to excel in everything).

He doesn't need to look around to know that everyone else is looking at her as well.

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iv.

He's in a daze as he exits the theatre, his whole plan of forgetting the pink-haired beauty well tossed out the window. She's in every corner in his busy mind, her name in every unspoken breath. Harder and with even more force than camp a few weeks back, his buried feelings come rolling back, hitting him in dramatic waves.

"Sasuke, babe!" he hears his voice being called, and looking over the crowd he sees his girlfriend, still dressed up in her costume, pushing through the busy crowd to get to him.

There's guilt laced in every word when he says with a forceful smile, "You were great, Karin." He's trying so very hard not to stray his eyes from her pale face, because he knows that if he does look away, even for a second, he'll never look at her again. He'll end up looking for the princess of his past, and he doesn't want to do that.

He doesn't.

Not when she doesn't feel even remotely the same way.

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v.

Karin invites the rest of the girls to lunch, much to Sasuke's dismay, because Sakura will be there and he can't see her without every last bit of his resolve weakening.

But she's there, except she's not alone- there's Ryuto beside her, with a proud smile on his face and his arm slung casually across her shoulders. She's cleaned up well after the recital, wiping off every last bit of makeup and changing into black leggings with an oversized sweater, her hair still wavy after taking it out of its bun. She stands out well over the other girls, even his girlfriend, who still applied a layer of makeup after cleaning off their dance makeup.

They go to the nearby café, and the rest of the girls jump up to pick out something at the counter. Sasuke hears Ryuto asking Sakura what she would like, and she smiles and plainly asks for a vanilla latte, and hands over her money to pay for it despite Ryuto's persistent no. Sasuke himself gets a plain black coffee when Karin asks, and he hands her enough money for both of them.

Then, it's only him and Sakura seated at the table, waiting for the rest of the group to rejoin them.

The silence is deafening, even in the busy, bustling café. The tension is so thick and awkward that Sasuke can't breathe- say something, damn it- because he doesn't want to chase her anymore. He wants her, for once, to chase him. To give him an indication that whatever they had before as friends is still there now. Maybe more, but at the very least, friends.

He's about to excuse himself to the bathroom when she suddenly perks up, "So how are you today?" She's not looking at him directly, but Sasuke knows she's talking to him. Her voice is calm and steady, just like her posture; unlike him, who is ready to jump out of his skin from agitation and has a roaring battle raging in his head.

He collects himself enough to reply back as casually as possible, "I'm good. You?"

This time, she turns her gaze directly on him, green eyes clashing with his obsidian ones. There's a sparkle in her eyes and a faint smile on her lips. Sasuke's heart skips a few beats. "I'm good. A little exhausted lately, but good."

"You never told me you took dance." The sentence is out before he can stop it, because they really haven't talked in forever. He has no right to barge into her life and demand what she is doing, and he immediately regrets it.

Sakura, on the other hand, doesn't look at all affected by his statement.

"I started freshman year," she says, a pinkish tinge splashed across her cheeks. "It looked really fun, and I- I wanted a break, something to take my mind off things when I get too stressed. Dancing helps me relax."

She's slowly opening up to him once again after all these years, and he's astonished although he doesn't show it. She's talking to him like they're friends, or at least comrades of some sort, and Sasuke'll take that. He'll take anything she will be willing to give him.

It's a chilly November day when Sasuke and Sakura begin again.

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To be continued…

note: thanks for the love and patience :)

-A