Hello, everyone! I am updating this story. I've neglected it over the years and would like to continue what I have begun. I truly hope you all enjoy this story, with all of its updates and consistencies. Please let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. All rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto only.
SUMMARY: Sakura was a diligent medical student with dreams and aspirations of greatness. Sasuke's dreams had been crushed by a dark past, leaving him broke and depressed. What happened when these two crossed paths and their lives got interwoven together? Modern world AU
All that could be heard in that very moment was scratching and ticking. There were a few coughs here and there, but besides a few uncontrollable bodily functions, the confined room was completely silent. The scratching of pencils, ticking of the clock, coughing of the students who should really have been resting in bed; they were all Sakura Haruno could focus on at the moment. She had over-prepared herself for this exam. It was a make-it or break-it test, one she could not afford to fail. Studying for months on end, Sakura reached every crevice of every textbook to ensure top marks on this final. Should she pass in the top five, Sakura would be able to work at the hospital of her dreams, Yondaime Memorial Hospital. Should she place in the top of the class, Sakura would have the option to study under the head medic of the Konohagakure medical system, Tsunade Senju. Just the thought of that alone made Sakura's insides churn with both excitement and anxiety. Looking around the room, she hushedly sighed. Over-preparedness was a great thing because it ensured her success. Boredom, however, was another, much more tedious thing entirely.
The surrounding walls, Sakura observed as she rested her pointed chin on her right hand, were littered with diagrams of the body. Whether it was the skeletal system or the organs that resided inside the body, each poster held some sort of education about human anatomy splayed across it. It was strange, she mused, since the information should be concealed in case someone felt obligated to cheat. Those who chose that insincere path should have earnestly and profusely studied like her if they were as serious as her about getting into the best hospital in Konoha. Smiling to herself confidently, Sakura looked around the room some more. Her professor had dark brown hair that was clipped back into a tiny messy bun in the center of her head. She was scribbling in her notepad, not paying much mind to the students currently determining their fate by test score. Shizune had always been a bit distracted as a teacher by things Sakura had no clue about. The licensed doctor was truly brilliant, and Sakura strove to follow her footsteps and then forge her own path. Her professor had studied under Tsunade Senju, after all. Distracted by this ambitious thought, Sakura tucked the loose strand of pink hair that fell into her line of sight behind her right ear.
Sakura had always been a brilliant girl. She always got the best grades in school out of anyone her age, and puzzles had never been any issue for her. Any problem or challenge thrown her direction; it was completely done for. It's why she excelled in med school. The young woman had also always been such a caring and passionate person, so becoming a doctor was in reality a no-brainer. Helping patients heal their wounds, internally and externally, was something a superhero could do. Without any special powers of any sort, it was closest Sakura was ever going to get to becoming a hero. The mere thought of that sent her competitive nature into a frenzy.
Drumming her unpolished fingers lightly on the worn wooden desk she was seated at, one at a time, Sakura tried her best to pass the seemingly stagnant time. She had already double and triple-checked her work, and she assuredly knew she at least made it to the top five of the class. There were only fifteen minutes left of the exam, but after a quick scan of the muted classroom, it seemed as if only two other completed their final. By the looks of their defeated faces, however, they possibly gave up by that point.
Sakura was no quitter. Her desire to pass this test was far too strong to fall behind and she craved perfection too immensely to come in unprepared. She was all-in, in-it-to-win-it from the very beginning. That was how Sakura had been and always will be. Anxiously shaking her legs under the desk and darting a swift look at the clock to see how much time had elapsed, the young medical student noted that there were only five minutes left. She scanned through her test one last time, an anxious habit at that point, and she started biting at her already devoured nails. Her heart raced, though she knew in her heart and soul that every answer she provided was correct. But she couldn't help but let the anticipation and anxiety have her second guessing herself. She knew everything, but stress can make anything fly right out the window. That thought alone fueled the flames to the fire of her uneasiness.
Sakura's bright verdant eyes shifted over to the analog clock hanging on the wall once she finishing looking over her answers for the fourth and final time, then she squeezed them shut as tightly as possible. Merely one minute was left. Willing herself to keep her composure as her heart beat millions of miles an hour and sweat formed beads at her large forehead, Sakura took a deep shuddering breath and counted down the seconds until she turned in her final and waited for fate to make its move.
After what seemed like an eternity, the electronic timer rang and reverberated around the room. Time was up, and Sakura was done sitting around doing nothing but worry. A few defeated groans resonated through the young adults occupying the room, followed by the scraping of chairs across the chipped ceramic tile floor. Sakura stood up as everyone else did and was first in line to turn in her answers. This was it, she thought, Now I wait and see if all my hard work has paid off.
As she stepped down the few stairs it took to get to the front of the classroom, Sakura hurriedly reached to lay her test face down on the black surface of her professor's desk and pivoted towards the exit. Anymore time spent grueling over something that could no longer be changed was a waste of both her valuable time and energy. It was now time to shift her focus onto welcoming, distracting things like how to spend the remainder of her day. With that positive thought crossing her relieved mind, Sakura stepped through the doorway and to the empty hallway. The medical building had been set up like a hospital, with white walls, winding corridors, and doors that required badges to access. It functioned as a university for aspiring doctors, such as Sakura. She had spent her last four years as a medical student at Konohagakure Medical University, ensuring that all blood, sweat, and tears she shed went towards being the best student she could possibly be. Constant studying and research meant remarkable grades, which would lead her to graduate at the top of her class, guaranteeing that she could work at the hospital of her dreams. With a smile, Sakura couldn't stop the skip in her step as she passed out of the double doors at the end of the hall, her worn converse squeaking across the empty hallway of the university. With her mind now clear from stress, Sakura remembered her weekly coffee date scheduled that day with her best friend, Ino Yamanaka.
"Sakura! How'd your test go?!" a fairly boisterous voice called once Sakura exited the building that sealed her fate. The voice came from the beautiful blonde waiting just outside, lounging at the green wooden table to Sakura's right with her lavender purple backpack slung over her left muscular shoulder and cell phone in hand. She was typing away with one hand with perfectly manicured, sky blue nails, but as soon as she spotted Sakura's light pink hair, all of Ino's attention shifted to her friend. Her eager blue eyes waited in anticipation and looked straight into Sakura's dazzling veridians.
After years of off and on again friendship, their bond was virtually unbreakable. They genuinely cared for one another, no matter how many times they spent bickering over the small, petty things. The duo were virtual opposites, but balanced each other out perfectly. Ino's eagerness to go out and meet new people was balanced out by Sakura's desire to be as guarded as she needed. Sakura's willingness to stay in every night in her pajamas and a satisfying book was evened out by her best friend's insistence to go out and "live life", as she would so aptly put it. Both women were willing to go to any length for each other and compromise. Their friendship was full of jokes and strikes of reality, but it was genuine. Through thick and thin, harsh weather, and brutal schedules, they always found their way back as best friends.
"Hopefully it didn't beat you up too much, Miss Brainy. I need someone to go out with tonight." Ino teased with a slight smirk spread across her unblemished face. She was truly beautiful; she flaunted her perfectly straight, waist-long blonde hair and a natural glow that made her seem ethereal. Her eyelashes, long and curling, wore a light coat of coal-black mascara and her lips donned a beaming coral lip stain. Nothing more, and nothing less, but it was all the young woman needed to look otherworldly to both Sakura and men everywhere. It made Sakura, whom rarely ever spent the time and effort to apply makeup due to her persistent struggle to maintain clear skin, remotely jealous from time to time.
"It wasn't anything I couldn't handle," Sakura responded with a breathy sigh, cracking a victorious smile, "I've dealt with much worse with less notice than this." She adjusted the red backpack hanging over her slim shoulders and added, "And I still probably aced it."
The pinkette had always been a wiz in everything that she could find in a textbook. She was very book smart; she wove in and out of pages of every book she could get her hands on. That being said, she hadn't always had the social grace her blonde best friend was blessed with. It was an equivalent exchange; never-ending knowledge of the human body for any sort of normally functioning relationship in her life. Maybe that was why she had never dated anyone, though that was most likely due to her lack of interest in dating. She only wanted to waste time on The One, and she never grasped any signs that anyone would be worth the trouble. Sakura had never experience any fluttering butterflies, rapid heartbeats, or shortness of breath. She only blushed out of excruciating embarrassment. The last time she became a tomato was during a recent lab test she took charge of and spilled an excessive amount of chemicals into a single test tube and everything went KABOOM!, including her pride and dignity.
It wasn't as if she wasn't appealing to the opposite sex, Sakura mused. She had a few guys fall at her feet and also broke a few hearts along the way. But, she kept her standards high and head down low to focus on her future career. It wasn't as if she was closed off to the idea of finding someone to love. She just hadn't found the one worth fighting for.
"Sakura, you're always studying for these tests and not spending enough time with me," Ino huffed in response to her best friend, "Just promise now that you're done, you'll come on our coffee dates with me more than once a week, 'kay? Naruto misses you!" The playful irritation in Ino's voice made Sakura's eyes soften a bit, but she kept along with the banter as she reached her hand out to help Ino out of her seat.
"Well, I would, but you're getting ready for your final, too, right? You really should focus more on that, dummy. That should take up most of your time, anyway," Sakura said as Ino grabbed her friend's hand and stood up, dusting off the back of her designer jeans. "You've been into fashion since I've known you, Ino, so don't take this fashion show lightly and get lazy." As she lovingly chided Ino, Sakura took a moment to think back. When they first met, Sakura had been crying on a park swing on a cold February afternoon because had been bullied over the size of her forehead. On top of that, she had abnormally colored hair, poor style and superior strength; she could kick a ball further than any other boy and outrun a high-schooler. She intimidated the more "normal" children, and since they could not even begin to understand Sakura, they alienated her. The only person willing to give the strange girl a chance was Ino, whom approached the young girl one afternoon and offered a token of her friendship: a red ribbon.
Here, have this, Sakura. This symbolizes us, because now we're friends. If anyone teases you, stand up for yourself. Be more confident. Dress to impress, not hide yourself. You're not hiding anything but that pretty face and green eyes anyone would die for. I will be here, I promise.
With a light shoulder shove and stuck-out tongue later, they both headed towards the parking lot where Ino parked her car, incidentally Sakura's ride home. The vibrant sun hit directly in Sakura's emerald eyes as she reached stepped in sync with Ino onto the warm pavement. It blinded her for a moment, causing her to squint and lose her train of thought. She looked up and finally focused on the vividly blue sky for the first time in what seemed like forever. It was littered with stringy white clouds and singing birds, flying to somewhere unknown.
Springtime finally arrived; the dreariness of winter subsided and revitalized life around her. With excitement, Sakura looked around to admire the purple azaleas that lined the walkway towards the awaiting cars, blooming with exuberance and newfound essence. Last winter was long and harsh, but things were finally looking up.
"...and Hinata is meeting us at the coffee shop and I'm just so excited to finally see her!" Ino's voice broke Sakura out of her trance and the blonde looked expectantly over to her distracted companion. "Earth to Sakura! Helloooo…..!" She waved her manicured fingers covered in fashionable jeweled statement rings in front of Sakura's face in an attempt to grasp her attention. It took Sakura a moment to register her friend's attempts and turn her attention over to her right in confusion.
"Hinata? Isn't she in university across the country?" Sakura inquired with a marginally raised pitch, "Her dad was pretty adamant about her staying there until she was completely done." It was true. As the heir to a very wealthy and prestigious family, Hinata Hyuga never really had much say in her future. She was always out at corporate events to meet her father's staff, potential suitors, and clients to further their status even more. She spent most of her life going to a private school, and it wasn't until she reached age sixteen that she was finally allowed the public school experience. It was where she crossed paths with and eventually forged a dedicated friendship with Sakura and Ino. Hinata was a very reserved girl; she had to be that way in order to live up to her family's traditional standards. However, slowly, but surely, the shy dark haired girl broke out of her shell and forged bonds with those around her. Her father didn't necessarily approve of his daughter's blossoming free spirit, and when he discovered Hinata's relationship with a troublemaking boy from a family he did not associate with, he put his heavy foot down and sent her to a law school across the country. For a family of businessmen and politicians, there was nowhere better for the heiress to go to focus on her studies and pursue the future already envisioned for her. And since she hadn't been able to come home to see her friends due to circumstances out of her control, Sakura hadn't seen her good friend in person for just about four years.
"Yeah, but she passed her finals with flying colors, so her dad finally let her come home for the summer!" Ino replied, excited to be reunited with the heiress. She continued typing away distractedly on her smartphone as they continued walking along the pathway to the parking lot. "Took the guy long enough, though. Yeesh." A ding came from her phone three times simultaneously and they were met with a groan from the blonde eyed beauty.
"Wow, Ino, you sure are popular." Sakura joked sarcastically. She really wasn't surprised since Ino had always had the ability to wrap almost any guy she wanted around her slender finger and get them to do pretty much anything she desired. She had three boyfriends in the past, each more pathetic than the last, in Sakura's opinion. Sakura desired someone with a backbone, more dignity. Although she would love someone to run errands and buy flowers for her, she also desired a man who knew when to say no. She supposed Ino did as well, since she dumped them after a few months. They always did have similar tastes in men.
In response to Sakura's jab, Ino merely kept typing away at her phone and remained aloof about it all. "Huh?" she distractedly responded, "Oh, yeah. There are these guys who want to model my clothes for the fashion show coming up. They're pretty average, maybe 7's in my book, but I guess I can give them a chance to not screw it up." Ino finished composing and sending her text messages, locked her phone, and stuffed it into her back left pocket. Out of sight, out of mind.
"You give too many people chances. You're such a pushover sometimes, Ino. Learn to say no every once in a while," Sakura said, giving her blonde friend a hard time, "But, do what you want, I guess. You do need to get a move on with this show." Sakura grabbed her phone for the first time since before the test out of the side pocket of her backpack and was met with merely the time: 1:37 P.M. No new messages, no missed calls. She didn't know whether to be relieved or perturbed.
"Make up your mind. Geez." Ino replied, annoyed, eyeing Sakura through her perfectly framed eyes and pushing stray bangs out of her line of sight. Sakura hardly ever gave anyone chances. She was too closed off because she was bullied during much of her childhood. As much as she vehemently denied it, Sakura was someone who didn't open up very easily to others. Ino tried many times in the past to set her best friend up with different people, but failed each and every time.
Sakura was just a hopeless romantic with a specific picture in mind and no one to fit the bill. If that was what caused her to remain lonely for the remainder of her life, then so be it. She was independent and strong, and needed that "someone else" in her life to have that stability. The guy to capture her heart would have a good head on his shoulders, chestnut shoulder-length hair, and smoldering green eyes like her own. He should have clarity as to where his future was headed and have enough willpower to make that a reality. Sakura had ridiculously high standards, but would not give them up for anyone. It was likely very unrealistic, but there was no use wasting what little time she had on a game that led nowhere.
The two women reached the black convertible parked at the back of the parking lot away from other cars that may scratch the exterior and Ino reached jingly keys, decorated with feathers and keychains from various vacation destinations. With a click of her key fob and two beeps resonating from the vehicle, they were able to climb inside, pull their seat belts across their chests, and open the roof so they could savor the sweet spring air. Ino put on her oversized sunglasses as Sakura pulled back her shoulder-length hair into a messy bun so it wouldn't fly everywhere once they were on the road. The push-to-start ignition was pressed with one delicate finger, and the women were on their way out of the winding school parking lot for the final time.
Within the silence, nothing else could be heard except for the incessant dripping of a leaking faucet coming from the dark, cold kitchen. The persistent noise of water hitting metal held the potential of irritation, but served as a stabilizing force for the storm that was Sasuke Uchiha's swirling mind. It was the only sound present, save for traffic vaguely whizzing by, clearly too far away from the tiny apartment to reach by foo, but too close to grant any semblance of peace.
All lights were turned off. The switch to the heat had been completely ignored all winter and no mind would be paid to the air conditioning anytime soon. The less money spent on the dingy little studio apartment, the better. It wasn't like Sasuke had a stable income, anyway. The only way he was able to pay rent and utilities these days was when he earned miniscule income for mundane jobs he could get his hands on. Occasionally, when he caught his older brother Itachi on a good day, he could ask for assitance scraping together the rest of the money he needed to sustain himself for the next month. His parents never helped him. Not since what happened the previous year. It was because of what transpired that led him to move out from his family's large, warm home and live on his own. It made Sasuke resentful, as if they never truly loved him at all. But it was what it was, and what was done, was done.
Sasuke's groggy onyx eyes flickered open and closed, indecisive whether to succumb once again to slumber's warm embrace or to fight against his will, getting up to face the day. Against his better judgment, he decided to remain awake. It was around noontime already, judging by the slivers of sunlight that crept sneakily through the cheap blinds that came with the apartment, abandoned long ago by the previous tenant. Swinging his long, bare legs out from under the thin, raggedy blanket and around to the edge of his twin sized bed, he sat in the silent darkness for a few minutes. As the time dragged on by, Sasuke stared at the dirty, cracked mirror hanging on the back of his closet door and listened to the drip, drip, dripping of the leaking water on the other side of the room. He sported a messy bedhead and had dark rings of heavy dullness hanging around his eyes. He was surely a sore sight, having slept in his years-old navy blue boxers and stained white t-shirt. Seconds and minutes slipped by the boy, but he paid them no mind because, in his mind, nothing mattered to him anyway.
After what felt like aeons, a silent buzzing tore the black-haired male from his fatigued reverie. He ignored the incessant reverberation of his phone until it finally died down. Uncaring and indifferent, Sasuke continued to sit in the darkness, willing it to consume him. He didn't even attempt to muster up the energy to get up and go about his daily routine when the buzzing started back up again. This cycle went on about three more times until Sasuke finally shot hastily up from the mattress in irritation and briskly reached the dresser to his left where his phone was lying. He peered at the caller ID and sucked his teeth.
It was Naruto, of course. Who else would be so annoyingly persistent in reaching him?
Naruto was his best friend, albeit reluctantly on Sasuke's part. He had been around him since childhood, picking fights on the playground and attempting to be Sasuke's voice of reason. They were polar opposites in almost every way, but that's why they worked as friends. Naruto was very outgoing and tried to be friends with everyone he met within reach, and Sasuke was introverted with no interest in opening up or making friends at all. Naruto was the angel on Sasuke's shoulder while Sasuke gave Naruto a purpose. Naruto felt a compulsive need to maintain the bond they made together and watch over the dark haired male, to Sasuke's chagrin. But, though he didn't always value the friendship laid in front of him, Sasuke could never bring himself to let it go; he never completely understood why. To that day, Sasuke would never admit that he secretly treasured that bond.
When they were in primary school, Sasuke shut everyone out. One day, Naruto took notice of a lonely boy leaning against the fence, overlooking the playground, ignoring all of the children out having fun. Curious why the reclusive boy wasn't playing with the other kids kicking around the ball or chasing each other around, the blond boy ran over to the young Sasuke Uchiha with excitement overflowing in his cerulean eyes. He tried his hardest to convince the stubborn boy to play with him, but Naruto was always met with rejection. Never one to give up, Naruto stopped by every day to ask if Sasuke wanted to be included, and each time, Sasuke declined his invitation.
Okay, if you say so! But just know I'm going to keep asking you every single day just so you can have fun like everyone else! Believe me! I can't wait until you finally say yes, Sasuke!
To an outsider, their friendship could be seen as fruitless endeavors of Naruto chasing after Sasuke, begging him to hang out and remain by his side while Sasuke wanted to be left alone unperturbed. But, to the pair, it was their unique bond. Naruto took the time and effort to reach out to the young Uchiha, reassuring him that someone was there who genuinely cared. Sasuke's reciprocity was the certainty that Naruto was the only person allowed, outside of family members, into his small circle. And that was enough for Naruto Uzumaki.
As the phone continued to go off once again, Sasuke finally flipped it open to receive the persistent call. He brushed his much-too-long bangs out of his eyes and answered with a grunt. Not too long after, however, he definitely regretted it.
"Sasuke! He lives!" an animated voice on the other line exclaimed. Sasuke responded with another suck of his teeth and nothing more. Taking that as his cue to continue, Naruto proceeded, "Now that you're finally awake, I have some great news for you." Sasuke's attention was instantly perked up due to the serious tone Naruto's voice took on, knowing this was a rare no-nonsense phone call from Naruto. Finally turning his mind fully on for the first time since he opened his eyes this afternoon, Sasuke cleared his throat and spoke.
"What is it?" he questioned, clearly concealing his slight excitement with a blanket of cold indifference. There was lingering sleepiness laced in his words, but it didn't seem to derail the conversation.
"I told ya I was gonna help you find a job, didn't I?" he began, causing Sasuke to freeze up and clench his phone just a smidge tighter in his pale hand. A job...would be helpful, right? Right? The blond boy continued, "Well, I did! You start today actually. In about an hour. You'll work with me at TonTon Coffee Shop! Isn't that great? See ya soon, coworker!" As soon as the call started, it ended with the line dead on Naruto's side and Sasuke standing speechless as he tried to comprehend what had just transpired in the span of thirty seconds.
First, he woke up like any other day: tired, broke, and depressed. And now, he has a job to go to on such short notice?! What the hell was that idiot even thinking? He probably wasn't, Sasuke concluded.
With a burdensome sigh, Sasuke ran large, un-calloused hand through his dark , mussy locks. Sasuke supposed that, in reality, it couldn't hurt to earn a bit more income than just cutting grass and fixing up cars when the opportunity presented itself. That was all he had been subjected to lately. Not because he that was what he wanted to do, but because of his criminal past. That's the issue with living in a town where most business owners know your family and by association, the terrible choices that led you down a negative path. His own family essentially disowned him and denied lingering association with him just to save face. It was time for Sasuke to finally start making more money in small, baby steps and living the life he felt was denied to him by his family. He loved his family very much, but felt deprived of the very love he craved the most.
Heading over to the closet right beside his bed and opening the creaky door, he looked through what meager clothes he owned. A few standard t-shirts hung on the rack with two pairs of jeans and a pair of khakis. One dress shirt remained untouched in the far left corner, and the far right held a sweatshirt with his old university logo printed proudly on the front. The sight of it made him cringe, so he usually stuck with his leather jacket that was tossed on the floor beside the entrance of the measly residence. Heaving another sigh, Sasuke grabbed a plain navy blue t-shirt and the only pair of khakis he owned, throwing them on in a frenzied rush. He had no time to second guess going into his new job. Fully clothed, he strode to the bathroom a few feet away, hurriedly brushed his teeth, and ran a brush through his dark hair a few times to look presentable. Glancing in the small, dirty mirror, Sasuke decided there was nothing that could be done about his horrendous face.
Overlooking the prevalent bags under his eyes, he splashed cold water across his face and continued to stare at himself, trying strenuously to convince himself it was worth it to take up this job, that he could really pull this off. Ignoring the voices bellowing at him to get back in bed and dismiss the fact that Naruto put himself on the line to get him a job, Sasuke pried himself away from the sink and forcefully threw on his leather jacket and worn out black boots resting by the entrance of the apartment. As he unlocked and opened the front door, Sasuke tentatively stepped through the doorway, flinching at the sudden onslaught of sunlight burning his dark eyes and pale skin. With a moment's hesitation and brief deliberation of turning back to go inside, Sasuke uncertainly locked the door and headed to the bus station. He was anxious to begin his first day of work at TonTon Coffee Shop.
Alright everyone, that was an updated chapter one! This is my first AU modern day fanfic, so I really hope you enjoy it! I'm going to try my best to update in a timely manner for you. I already have quite a few chapters written, so I should be pretty prompt with my updates :) Please, please, please review and subscribe if you really enjoy it! I'm having fun writing this so far, so feedback would be much appreciated and would make me more excited and motivated to keep on writing. Have a great week! :)