-The Annoyance of Change-

He watches the glass of lemonade in front of him with bored eyes. Not for the first time did Sasuke wonder where the hell she was and did she forget that she was suppose to be meeting him here?

As kids, Sakura had always prided herself on being the first to arrive earlier than everyone else when they attended school together, and then again when she arrived on time for genin practice. But now it seemed, as they got older, some things like tardiness just didn't matter anymore.

Sasuke sighed, glaring at his drink as the condensation rolled off it like his annoyance rolled off him in waves.

"What did it do to be on the receiving end of such a glare?" asked a voice from behind him. He turned as Sakura walked the last few steps to the empty seat across from him, and turned his glare on her. "Whoa. What did I do?"

"You're late," he clipped out. Onyx eyes watched as she fell into the seat, smiling as she did so.

"So I'm ten minutes late. Big deal."

There was a time you would've made it a big deal.

"Besides," she went on, "I have a good reason." She paused for effect. Not that she needn't bother. Sasuke was scowling at his glass again and didn't even seem to be paying attention to her. It looked like he was lost in his own thoughts. "Aren't you going to ask me what it is?"

He frowned, finally meeting her eyes. "What what is?

"My reason."

"Hn."

"Why, I'm so glad you asked, Sasuke," she feigned enthusiasm. "You see, I kept being stopped by guys asking me if I had any plans for today."

This got his attention. "Why?"

"Today is the fourteenth."

"They wanted to know the date?"

"Today is the fourteenth, Sasuke. As is February. As in Valentine's Day."

Oh. That made sense, he thought. The male population were at it again. Always trying to woo his teammate like senseless dolts. The young man could feel the ends of his lips pull down into a frown. "They're annoying," was all he said on the matter.

"You think everyone is annoying," she dismissed. "Even me."

"Am I wrong?" he smirked at her, daring her to deny it.

"I'd like to think I've changed."

There was that word again. Change. Sasuke fisted his hands in anger and muttered, "You haven't changed that much."

"Are you kidding me?" Sakura laughed, part of her hair flying over her shoulder. "I have, too, changed a lot. And for the better. Can you remember when I used to follow you around like a lovestruck puppy? Always trying to declare my love for you? Always trying to get your attention?" She shook her head. "Pathetic. But them, now they haven't changed."

The man followed his teammate's pointer finger to a group of girls hiding behind a wooden fence. The word hiding used loosely as the girls giggled and squealed upon being noticed but made no attempt to come forth.

"Maybe you should go over and say hi," Sakura mocked. "You know, grace them with your presence."

"And maybe you should tell me why you asked me to come here in the first place," he mumbled.

She sighed. "Impatient as always, my dear Sasuke."

Her words caused something in his chest to tighten. It felt like all of a sudden his head was swimming and his ear were burning. He wondered if the surprise of her words registered at all on his face. But if it did, she didn't mention it as she continued, "I actually thought we could hangout today. Just us two. And why not? We work hard and we rarely get to see each other anymore except for rare times when we get assigned on the same mission."

"Who's fault is that? You've taken to dealing with more and more at the hospital, lately." Did that sound a bit...bitter?

"Because they need me, you know that." Sakura grinned. "I'm the best they got."

He couldn't argue with her there. Aside from no longer being punctual, Sakura was also the finest medic the Village Hidden in the Leaves had ever had, even surpassing the Hokage herself.

It seemed the more Sasuke thought about it, really thought about it, Sakura had changed from the once annoying fangirl she used to be, to the respected, admired, and powerful kunoichi that sat before him.

Somehow he didn't like that one bit.

"No." Maybe if he started saying it out loud, he would start believing it. "No," he repeated, more firmly this time.

The glass was halfway to her lips when Sasuke's words made her falter. "E-excuse me?"

"I said no. I can't hang out with you." Not today, not tomorrow. Never.

To say she was surprised was an understatement. Had she just heard right? Sasuke really didn't want to hang out with her? "Umm... Oookay. Can I ask why?" Because this really didn't make any sense.

"I don't have time."

"Really. Because it seems to me that you don't really have much going on," she waved a hand to incorporate his relaxed posture and surroundings.

"I have a lot to-"

"Cut the bull, Sasuke. What's going on? Why are you acting like this?"

"Why don't you tell me why you're acting like this?"

Okay. Now they were getting somewhere. "Tell me. How have I been acting, Sasuke."

"Like all of a sudden you're not...you."

"...not me."

"You've changed," he whispered under his breath. So low but Sakura managed to hear him. And frown in confusion. "You're different."

"Yeah... I believe we've already established that at the beginning of this meeting. Look, if Naruto put you up to this I don't-"

"He didn't," he sighed.

Sakura's eyes grazed over her teammate. Something wasn't right. And she wanted to know what. "Sasuke-kun," she soothed, moving to stand by his side. At the movement, he flinched slightly. "Tell me," she ordered lightly.

"You don't call me that anymore." Black eyes came up to meet hers. They were too close, noses almost bumping each other. "Say it again."

"...Sasuke-kun."

"Again."

"Sasuke-k-"

"I've missed you," he suddenly brought her in close, wrapping his arms tightly around her frame. There was a gasp somewhere but Sasuke wasn't sure if it was her, him, or the group of fangirls who had now moved out into the street to get a better view of the show.

"Where have I gone?" Although the question was rhetorical. Sakura had a feeling she knew what was going on now.

"When we were children...you would always be around." He chuckled. "You were annoying."

"I thought you said I still was," she said, but she was smiling. Her hands were running through his hair, then traveled down his back, only to comfort him with lazy circles. He sighed.

"You are." He paused long enough to lift his head from the warmth of her neck before amending, "But that's why I...I..." What? Like, love, admire? How did he really feel for her?

"Care," he finally settled on. "Don't ever change."

"You want me to be like them?" She pointed to the group of girls who were now openly sobbing. Some were even rolling on the ground in grief. Sakura rolled her eyes.

"...maybe not quite so-"

"Annoying?" she smirked.

He returned the gesture with one of his own and stood. Grabbing her hand, Sasuke decided it was time to get away from all the noise before the moment was ruined. The last thing he wanted was for Sakura to perform life-saving CPR. "Aa."

"Fair enough. But I can still call you Sasuke-kun, right?"

It was like she never changed at all. "Aa."

Yes, Valentine's was a month ago -I just needed a good excuse to write this. No matter how late ;]