We had made the trek in a comfortable silence that allowed me to view the village and its people undisturbed. People seemed to be ignorant of Sasuke's presence which was a pleasant change. Years before he had been treated with scorn as he passed through even though he had saved the world. Many did not understand his actions even after they learned the truth of the Uchiha massacre. They could not comprehend the level of injustices it would take to have someone turn against their own village and none of them ever tried. So they cast him away with derision.

He may have saved the world but his clan had tried to bring us all to ruin, they said.

The Uchiha would be the end of the world, they said.

They should have all died, they said.

It was not hate that burdened the villagers then it was fear. The elders that had ordered the massacre had feared the Uchiha's strength and now the world feared Sasuke. I had been saddened to hear people say such things. As I looked at him I could not see how anyone could ever really be afraid of him. He had been a lost, wounded, child left to his own devices. How they expected a better outcome than his desertion and eventual attack on the elders had always been a point I never understood. His reaction had been extreme but at its core, it was understandable. People in pain lash out and his pain had been beyond measure. Thankfully everyone had grown to give him a grudging respect, quiet contempt, or just plainly overlooked his presence. Which while not anywhere near good enough was better than it had been. Only his original team and a handful of others gave him the recognition he deserved.

A man so kind deserved more than the measly scraps of courtesy he had received. The thought saddened me greatly. I was pulled from my depressing thoughts by our arrival at our destination. Sasuke pulled the noren curtain aside so allow me to step in first. The time much have been later than I thought as there were only a few other patrons inside. Our order was taken just as quickly as we had been seating, leaving us alone again. We sat quietly for a few moments until he spoke.

"How was your afternoon?" He sounded as if he had wanted to ask something else but had instead went with something less invasive.

"It was alright, all things considered. I spoke to Naruto and packed up all of my things." I said quietly. I knew what he had actually wanted to ask so I continued. "Though I'm not sure that he fully grasped what I had meant when I said that we couldn't be together. After I told him it was because he loved Sakura…He asked me to give him time to figure it out and that he wanted to speak after I returned from Suna."

"He may not have but you are acting in your own interests now. You do not have to give him any more of your time than you wish to. Did he try to convince you that you were mistaken? "

"I know that I am but I just wanted him to understand. I had hoped that after all this time of being together that he would know how much courage it took for me to say something like that. For me to say it meant that it had to be real." I breathed out. "Yes he did but I stood my ground. It was hard but I did it. He just kept saying that I misunderstood and that he didn't love her like that. But after talking he seemed to come to the conclusion that he did in fact love her. He was just so sure that she loved you, that she was with you, that he couldn't possibly feel that way about her."

A proud expression painted his face."He never was the most aware of feelings though I am glad that you held fast and didn't allow him to change your mind." His expression faded toward vexed. "I'm not and have never been interested in returning her feelings. I appreciate her as a close friend but the way both Naruto and Sakura act as if I will miraculously come around is bothersome. I have never given either of them reason to believe that I felt more than friendship for her."

"Really? I had thought that you would be returning to her when you finished your journey. To revive the Uchiha-" With an eep, I tossed my hands over my mouth. My face had immediately turned crimson. I had gotten to comfortable and spoke without thinking.

Thankfully the server came and delivered our orders. I started to place the meat on the barbeque in front of me hoping to avoid eye contact while I fought my blush back down. I peeked up through me hair to see him. He was flabbergasted. With a twitch his face resettled into a droll grin.

"I have no idea where you heard that but I have no intentions on pink haired Uchiha."

I immediately pictured a small brooding version of Sasuke with pink hair. I couldn't stop the laughter that erupted from my mouth. Sasuke had a large amount of fan girls in his youth and I could picture a pink haired version of him running through the village. Dodging through alleyways and hiding in shops. Looking for a way to escape the ravenous pack of girls squealing about how cute his hair was. Then for that child to turn around in a fit of annoyance, punch the ground with his would be mothers monstrous strength, and collapse the marketplace. The stalking he had felt in his youth would have been nothing in comparison to the treatment that imaginary child would have had to deal with.

I honestly hadn't thought past what Naruto had told me Sasuke's intentions were so it had never occurred to me that there would be a good chance of pink haired children. Sasuke gave a chuckle himself before I gathered myself enough to apologize.

"I am so sorry. I'm not sure why that was so funny. It was very rude of me." I had to wipe a stray tear that escaped during my amusement.

"It's alright. I found it very funny as well the first time someone mentioned it. It seems no one thinks past the point of my triumphant return to the village and subsequent love confession for Sakura in their plans of my future." A note of satire in his voice.

We each picked some meat off the grill. "I think you're right." I added with a bit of teasing.

"It seems like everyone is just waiting for you to sweep her off her feet and carry her off into the sunset."

In the most monotone voice but with eyes alight with mirth, he replied. "I'm sure. Everything about me just screams prince charming."

I broke out in giggles again. "All you need is a white horse."

WIth another chuckle he replied as dryly as he could."I'll be sure to find one on my way back to dramatically propose."

I continued to chuckle a little, while we made our way through our meal. I had not known that Sasuke had a playful side. It was small and full of dry humor but it was there. I had hoped that he was becoming as comfortable with my presence as I was with his. He had kept my mind from the harder topics that had left fresh wounds. I wasn't sure when they wouldn't bleed when prodded but I was sure with Sasuke around they wouldn't ache forever. Having him journey with me to Suna started to sound better with every moment I spend with him. Finding myself was a hard goal but it seemed to be a slightly easier path with someone who already had faith in my success.

We ate in amiable silence, When we were both finished he began our reason for coming to dinner in the first place.

As he placed his chopsticks down he asked. "When did you wish to leave?"

"Truthfully, as soon as we are able. I want to be long gone by the time the rest of the village catches wind of what happened." I answered seriously. Lingering longer than necessary was not what I had wanted.

"We can leave tomorrow morning. That way you have some time to say goodbye to anyone you didn't get a change to today." He noted.

I smiled. "That sounds good. Thank you." We both stood and headed towards the exit.

"What time would you like to meet at the gate?"

I thought for a moment. "9 am should give me plenty of time to finish my business."

"Then I will meet you then. Good night." With a slight bow he was gone.

I stared after him for a minute and then realized I had nowhere to go until morning.