Sasuke couldn't remember the last time he smiled. He'd been spending weeks on learning to get around without sight. He could now move through

town with a cane. He couldn't see them,but he knew that everyone was staring at him. Here he was, the last Uchiha, hobbling about like a beggar.

He'd considered suicide. In his darker moments he had held the knife. Butsomething held him back. He had to restore his clan. Of course, Sakura was

cheerful now that he was back. In fact, she was such a ray of sunshine that Sasuke wouldn't have been surprised ifshe vomited rainbows everytime

she fucking opened her mouth. Not that he'd be able to see it. He set aside his cane and rested on the steps of the hospital he'd been staying at. It'd

been six weeks and he'd mostly gotten used to it. He could manage by himself, mostly. He picked up the cane and began his daily walk through town. It

would be like this from now on...he was aware of another presence. It was Sakura.

"Yes, Nurse?"

She giggled. "C'mon, Sasuke-kun..."

"Okay, what is it Sakura?"

"It's just...you know...would you like to go get something to eat?"

"I'm not hungry."

"No, not like that...I guess what I'm trying to say is...well, I'm no longer your nurse so this isn't unethical...would you go out with me?"

He suddenly recalled the days of an earlier, happier time...him resting his head in her soft lap...swimming together (of course, it was "training")...his

secret feelings for her that he could never quite express...

"Sure, I guess." He told her.

"Great!" She said. 'Oh my god, I just got a date from Sasuke-kun!'

He took her hand. A blush spread across her face.

"Sakura, thank you. For everything."

She was taken back to a night years earlier when he had said those exact words.

"Say, Sasuke, what did you mean? That night you left you told me thank you."

For the first time in weeks the faintest hint of a smike crossed Sasuke's lips.

"For being the first girl to really love me, not just crush on me."

Sakura leaned in close to him and kissed his lips. He hesitated for a second, then wrapped his free arm around her waist.

"So, eight o'clock good?" He asked, grinning mischievously.

She smiled. "Sure."