What was this feeling?

It was pleasant. Very, very pleasant. He had never felt anything like it before.

Is this... love? Sasuke thought to himself, as he stared out the window of his home in Konoha. It had to be. Why else wouldn't he be able to get Sakura out of his mind?

She had been on his mind for a while, now. When he was with his team, which included Naruto and Sakura, he kept noticing things about her. Small things. Like her fair skin. Or the way her pink hair fell into her green eyes. The way she walked was strong, yet graceful, all at the same time. The way she talked, laughed, said his name. The more embarrassing thing about all this, though, was that Sasuke was nearly unable to take his eyes off of her whenever they were together.

It had been too long. Too long, he had waited, feeling his love for Sakura bloom. If he didn't act, she would be swept off her feet by another man. He couldn't let that happen.

xXx

After having this dreadful thought, Sasuke suddenly found himself outside of Sakura's door, determined to be her first and only suitor.

Okay, he thought to himself. You've got this. Just go in there and tell her how you feel. She's always loved you, right? So she would never reject you. There's no WAY she could do that. You've got this, Sasuke. You've got this. As soon as his mental pep talk was over, he took a deep breath and knocked on the door. "Sakura?" he called. "It's me, Sasuke."

Right after he said his name, Sakura opened the door. She looked warm and happy to see him. "Hey, Sasuke," she said. opening the door wider. "What's up?"

"Sakura, I have to talk to you about something." He didn't even smile back at her.

"Oh?" Sakura said questioningly. What's up with Sasuke? Is something the matter? "Please, come in," she said, stepping aside for him.

"Thank you." Sasuke stepped inside the small house.

"Have a seat, Sasuke. Can I get you anything?" Sakura said politely.

"It's okay, this will only take a second," Sasuke said, sitting down in a comfy armchair. Sakura sat across from him on the couch, her green eyes fixated on him. She sure was beautiful.

"What's going on?" Sakura asked. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Sasuke gulped, starting to get nervous. She just looked so damn PRETTY. And she was just so perfect.

Remember, Sasuke. There's no way she would reject you, he mentally reminded himself.

"Look, Sakura," Sasuke said, folding his hands together. "I know that over the past few years, I've made some serious mistakes..."

(Now. Let's take this moment to agree that Sasuke Uchiha has been a pretty huge douchebag throughout the majority of the anime/manga. Serious mistakes? What kind of an understatement is that?!)

"But I'm back now. I'm back because of Naruto, and Kakashi, and everyone here. But most importantly, I'm back because of you."

Sakura furrowed her brow. "What are you saying, Sasuke?" she said very quietly.

"I'm saying that... that I love you," Sasuke blurted out. "I love you, Sakura. I want to be yours forever."

Sakura's eyes widened, and she drew in a sharp gasp. "S-Sasuke...?"

"I really do care about you," Sasuke continued. "I haven't shown it in the past because I had too much hate in my heart. But that hate is gone, now. Now, I just have love for you." Sasuke closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Sakura... would you-"

"No." Sakura's voice was flat.

Sasuke felt as though he had just been struck by lightning at that one, simple word. "What?" he stupidly asked.

Sakura drew in a deep breath, and looked away from his face. "Look, Sasuke," she said. "I'm impressed by the way you've turned your life around. And it's good to finally have you as a friend. You're wonderful." Sakura looked back at him. "But I loved you. I loved you for years and you never even looked at me once!"

Sasuke was completely caught off guard by her unexpected response. "But Sakura," he said, pleading now. "I'm different now. I was just so full of anger that I-"

"Sasuke, just stop," Sakura said calmly. She closed her eyes. "I spent years worrying about you and loving you and waiting for you to come back to me. But you never did. Eventually, I got over you. And although I wanted you back here, it doesn't mean that I loved you this entire time. You hurt me, Sasuke."

Once again, a feeling like he had been struck by an electric bolt of lightning.

"I'm free, Sasuke. Free from you. You can't hurt me anymore, and I won't let you. And I understand that you were never ready for that kind of relationship, but I'm not going to let you hurt me ever again the way you did."

There was silence between them as their eyes made contact. It lasted almost too long.

"I don't want to hurt you," Sasuke said quietly.

Sakura sighed. "I'm sorry. But it's too late."

What's going on? It wasn't supposed to turn out like this! Sasuke was frantic. What could he possibly say to change her mind?

"Thanks for stopping by, anyways. "Sakura was now standing up from her chair. "Anything else I can do for you?"

No no NO! It can't go down like this! Hoping against hope that this was a dream, or some messed-up genjutsu, Sasuke stood up. He had to do something, and quick!

"There's one thing," Sasuke said. In an instant, he was right in front of Sakura, standing too close for her comfort.

Shocked by Sasuke's sudden advancement toward her, Sakura took a step back and stumbled back onto the couch. "Sasuke, what are you-"

"I'll do anything to have you, Sakura," Sasuke said, taking her face in his hands. "Anything." Then, he was leaning towards her, his eyes closing...

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Sakura suddenly screamed. At this, Sasuke let out a startled yelp and jumped back, stunned.

"SAKURA WHAT THE HELL!" he cried out.

The pinkette was now standing, a look of rage and fury filling her eyes. "DAMMIT SASUKE!" she yelled. "I SAID NO!"

Sasuke was speechless. What had gotten into her?

"You can't just try to kiss me after I rejected you!" she shrieked, her voice shrill. "I. SAID. NO." Quickly, she tried to compose herself, standing up straight and pointing towards the door. "Now LEAVE MY HOUSE. NOW. Or I'll have to STRIKE you out of here!"

Sasuke stood in one place, dumbfounded, before reluctantly dragging his feet to the door. "Sakura, I'm sorry," he said. He stood at the door, waiting for a reply. However, Sakura didn't even turn to face him. She still stood there, her back facing the Uchiha.

And so, feeling like an utter failure, Sasuke walked back outside into the evening air. The disappointment he felt was strong. Was that really Sakura? She wouldn't have rejected him like that.

But, then again, he had been gone for quite some time. Things were bound to change...

But could Sasuke give up just yet?

The answer to that question is no. He would keep trying to win her heart. Eventually, she had to give in... right?

He would just have to try harder. And he wouldn't stop until he had Sakura's heart again.