Disclaimer: I'm not going to say I don't want it. Only to say that I don't have it. Full ownership belongs to…the owner. Fair isn't it?
Love to Love you.
Xoxox
AAAAA
A lone figure sat on the top head of the fourth's head, watching as Konoha changed from morning to afternoon. It was winter in the city, with crisp blue skies and a fresh blanket of snow covering the ninja infested town. And even in the silence that the snow seemed to create, there was noise everywhere. The birds chirping, the village coming to life from sleep and going on about their busy days in getting ready for the holidays and the festivities.
Sakura lifted her head off of her knees and stared straight ahead at the other mountain range opposite the Hokage mount. The tall purple peaks rose up above the clouds that began to settle, sitting ominously; daring anyone to question their power. Every part of Leaf had been designed for protection, for security. Yet right now, Sakura felt raw and ripped apart with confusion and dismay, for what she had seen didn't show any signs of safety. Of comfort. Of love.
It was supposed to be a simple mission, deliver the note to Naruto and leave. Literally no more complicated, but somehow it had become a nightmare. She hadn't wanted to see all those things. The true. It hurt her, the truth, and the knowledge that it had been right in front of her but she had been to self-absorbed to see it. Tears filled her willow green eyes as the information she had just learned replayed in her head over and over, like a broken record.
Flashback
Sakura looked up from the piece of paper that Tsunade-sama had given her. In front of her was an incredibly unkempt, unclean, and poorly built apartment complex. The ugly tan color of the five story building was faded and she could clearly see cracks in the walls. She walked towards the building, hesitantly. Not wanting to be seen by anyone in this area, she quickly hurried to the door that said 'landlord' and entered. The small room held a counter and a chair in the corner. The old woman behind the counter glanced up at her and sighed.
"What do you want?" The woman's voice was raspy.
Sakura almost gasped at her flat out rudeness, but instead composed herself and asked, "Where is apartment 537?"
"Fifth floor, take the stairs. Their right to the left." The old woman said, picking her nails before turning away. Sakura felt the strongest urge to smack the woman. But instead she turned away and walked out of the door.
"This is where Naruto lives..?" She whispered to herself as she climbed the rickety stair to the fifth floor where Naruto's rooms where. It was strange but…now that she had thought about it, she had always thought that Naruto lived in a normal house like she and Sasuke did. And this led her to thinking that, what did they really know about Naruto in the first place? Didn't he have a family? A home? Everyone did.
But Sakura thought as she looked down onto the cracked steps of the building…every time they had been on missions or just hanging with each other, Naruto never talked about himself…it was always about the future, about plans…never about the past or his personal life. But then…neither did she or Sasuke but, everyone knew them.
Sasuke was an Uchiha and everyone knew about him and his past and his family, and Sakura was very well known because she was the Hokage's assistant every since Shizune left with Jeriya after Sasuke had come back and Orochimaru was killed along with Itachi. It had been a well known fact among the elites of the ninja society that it had been Naruto who had risked everything to bring the lone, sane Uchiha heir back into the warmth of Konaha's citizens.
However it had seemed that by the time the epic story had leaked into the public, it had been twisted so that Sasuke had become the fearless warrior, and indeed Naruto had been dropped completely. Naruto however had laughed it off and said he didn't mind, being a celebrity wasn't exactly his deal anyways, but it had struck everyone close to him as a hypocritical statement. They all knew how badly he wanted to be Hokage and to be accepted in spite of the Kyuubi.
So it was that Naruto was a no-one. And Sasuke and Sakura were someones, even though Naruto should have at least been known through association.
But it was always Naruto that had to constantly introduced or re-introduced, because he was…a no one. And all Sakura really knew about Naruto was he liked ramen and he wanted to be the next Hokage. While it did bother her a little she knew so little she couldn't keep her mind off where she was, one wrong step and she'd been on the ground bleeding.
When she reached the door she knocked uncertainly, she might have read the paper wrong. After all the door seemed thin and old, the number 537 painted on by cheap paint that peeled and collected dirt…what high ranking ninja would live her, Sakura knew how much she got paid, and considering how often Naruto went on mission he should have a lot more money…she was about to turn away but sure enough she heard Naruto's chipper "Coming."
When he opened the door and stared at her, she felt out of place and somewhat scared. She waved at him nervously and took in his appearance. His hair was damp and his cheeks where red; he was wearing a tee-shirt with a little kanji sign for 'Love' on it as well as a pair of sweats and some miss-matched socks. When she looked back up at his face he was smiling, his eyes bright. The blue orbs had always made her smile, so young and innocent, not at all jaded like Sasuke. Naruto had kept himself. Something to envy. Even she felt jaded, and she had escaped most of the torture of the Akatsuki.
"Sakura, hey! What're…what're you doing here?" Naruto's blue eyes were wide with surprise and what Sakura thought was guilt…but soon they were filled with nothing but confidence. And for the strangest reason Sakura felt like it was okay that Naruto lived her.
"Naruto, I have a note from the Hokage, can I come in?"
His eyes widened and his smile blossomed when she mentioned Tsunade. Sakura knew how much Naruto loved her."Of course! Come in! Please." He ushered her in. Instantly Sakura gasped, this was not an apartment…this was a prison cell. The room was no bigger than the Hokage's office, if that. A small mattress lay in the corner of the room and next to it was a battered little alarm clock, the bed had no sheets or covering or pillows.
At the foot of the bed there were up turned crates Sakura assumed were meant to be chairs and a table. On the opposite wall from the crates was a small mini-fridge and two card board boxes Sakura saw stacks of neat clothing in each box. I so take that thought back…it's NOT okay that he lives here. Hell Sasuke got a nicer place when he was on trial. Sakura screamed in her head, feeling her rage boil.
Naruto led her to the crates and pulled one out for her, and scratched the back of his head nervously. "Sorry Sakura, a lady like you is used to something a little comfier but this is all I have, can I get you a drink, I have water, and well…water." Strangely Sakura heard no sarcasm or insincerity in the blonde's voice and managed to find her own, "water would be great."
"Okay great." Sakura noticed that Naruto was shivering as he bent down to get glasses from the mini-fridge/cabinet.
"Naruto, are you cold?" Her voice hesitated. It didn't seem right, yes it was the middle of December but still, Konoha never got too cold, even with cold…but Naruto had been looking a little thin these past months, and his tan was there…but not the shine of health it had once had. Suddenly Sakura felt like kicking herself…something was wrong and she had been too distracted to notice the man she had always considered a brother was suffering.
He straightened and laughed, "well not really but I had to take a shower and the water heaters been broken for a while now but the manager said it'll be fixed soon."
Sakura was getting suspicious now, why was Naruto living like this? Where were his parents, and why weren't they helping him? She stared at the table/ crate and slowly traced the lines on her palms while trying to think of a conversation starter. "Hey Naruto I was won-"
CRASH. Sakura looked up to see a brick not two feet away from her surrounded by shattered glass. She looked up a Naruto and saw his face slowly drain of all color. She slowly looked back to the brick and saw a little piece of paper attached to the brick. She reached for it and unfolded the little slip and gasped as she read it…
YOU MONSTER! IT'S YOUR FALT SASUKE DOESN'T LOVE MY DAUGHTER!
Sakura looked at the paper noticing the curve of the letters looked just like her father's handwriting; then stood crumpling the paper and shoving it in her pocket and turned to the door. Naruto chose that moment to speak, "Sakura I am so, so sorry you shouldn't have seen that I…"
"Naruto, I was told to give you this, and that's it, I have to go." She dropped the envelope on the table and left. She knew that what she had just seen needed to be explained by Lady Tsunade. With that she ran, slamming the door behind her.
She didn't stop running until she slammed Tsunade's door behind her and slammed her hands onto Tsunade's desk. She looked into the Hokage's questioning eyes and then to the sake bottle on her desk and knocked it off so hard it shattered on impacted sending thousands of little pieces flying.
A nerve in the Hokage's temple twitched, "that was my last bottle of sake, Sakura," the cup in her hand broke with all the strain she was putting on it. "You had better have a damn good reason for doing tha…" she trailed of as Sakura held out the piece of paper that still sat, crumpled in her hand. Tsunade took it carefully and un-crumpled it and slowly read it over and over and over and over and soon Sakura got tired and exploded.
"What the fuck is that! Huh? Who, no what, would throw a brick in to Naruto's apartment? If you can call that thing an apartment, Tsunade it can't even have table and chairs without feeling overcrowded and for another thing…" She kept on going and going until Tsunade had a head ache.
"Sakura." She said it in a quiet voice for fear of making her assistant even angrier knowing she hated to be interrupted just like herself. "I am, not legally allowed to say anything to you. But the one person who can is Tamari." Sakura looked directly into the Hokage's eyes, opened her mouth and raised a finger, and blinked. Nothing else just blinked. For a full minute just blinked.
"Tamari? You mean the Kazekage's older sister? How can she be the only one to know? What about the Kazekage himself surely he—"
"Sakura I don't know the reason all I know is that Tamari is the only one who knows, and as a matter a fact a D mission was just filed to go to Suna to deliver a very important shipment of scrolls," Tsunade stood and walked over to the filing cabinet that sat in the far corner of her office and pulled opened the top drawer and pulled out a small index card with all the mission info on it. "Here Sakura take it and assemble a team go to Suna and finish this mission and speak to Tamari about…it."
With that Tsunade opened the door and gave her a small encouraging smile and a slight push that, with Tsunade's inhuman strength propelled her all the way through the mission room and out into the hallway. Sakura looked back at the door that had magically shut behind her and sighed turning back around she walked out back into the cool bright light of winter.
End of Flashback
She knew that whatever this was…this thing with Naruto it had to be fixed. And she would be the one to do it. Granted, she might not be the strongest, or fastest, nor the must cunning ninja. But she was Sakura GODDAMMIT! And nothing got in her way when she wanted it. And she wanted Naruto to be happy, and to be healthy again.
She unfolded herself from her position and stood, wiping her tears away. The bitter cold air did nothing to make her feel better but…she was a ninja, endurance was part of her. And so she would accept this mission and go visit Temari, for whatever reason it may be and she would find out what was wrong with Naruto and she would fix it. Because she did love her friend and that's all that mattered in this instant.
She pulled out the scroll for the mission out and read over the instructions. It was an easy mission; deliver a small shipment of jewelry to Suna for the upcoming festivals that would be held there for Christmas. Sakura quickly drew out a timeline in her head. If she got a team together by tomorrow and left by Saturday….they would reach Suna by Monday, and then be home by Friday…and that left three days until Christmas. Perfect.
She looked down from the head to the village and lost herself in the little details of her home…it seemed so strange to think that she had never really seen most of it…sure she had run the rooftops plenty of times but she had always stayed on the north and west sides, where the ninja and the upper-class lived. She had been warned away from the civilian side by her parents, claiming that civilians could be more dangerous than ninja…and the poor even more so. But now, knowing Naruto lived in the pits of Leaf, she had to wonder…what had he ever done to deserve it?
Sakura began to walk down the trail that led to the bass of Hokage Mountain, and smiled along the way. Even with all this stuff with Naruto going on there was something about Christmas that just made her happy to be alive. It's the jolly old spirit of things, now what am I going to get Sasuke….?
It was difficult, having the Uchiha back in town. He was the same moody, grumpy boy, only in man form, but there was a lack of drive in him. He didn't possess the same….fire he had before he came back. Now that Itachi was gone, Sasuke had nothing left to do with his life. But it had only been a few months…Sakura was sure he'd find something to do soon. He'll fall in love or maybe become a desk worker….no, no not a desk worker….
Once she hit the base of the mountain she began to walk through the streets of town, her mind drifting between the mission tomorrow and Naruto and Christmas. She had gotten gifts for almost everyone…expect for Tsunade and Sasuke and Naruto…they were always the hardest to shop for…well Sasuke and Naruto were…she could always get Tsunade a bottle of sake and she'd be happy all of Christmas and new years. But Sasuke…he needed something simple, but not ornamental, something useful, but nothing he would think he needed…a hard task for a man that had everything.
…And what about Naruto? The last few years he was gone and the years before I didn't care enough to actually get to know him…She felt another pang of guilt but pushed it aside. The past was behind her, all she could do was learn from her mistakes and grow from them.
She was able to walk throughout the streets with minimal effort able to weave in and out of the crowds of people without concentrating, the small perks of being a ninja was the awareness of her surroundings becoming almost second nature to her. Yet…there was something wrong here, almost as if she was missing something, something seemed…ugh this is a pain in my tight ass!
Sakura entered a store purely by instinct and began to scan the shelves and squeeze past the other customers, searching for gifts. But nothing in this store seemed to hold the magic she was looking for so she exited the store, intent now on getting lunch.
However when she bumped straight into someone and stumbled back, her thoughts of food and shopping were yanked from her mind into the real world. Sakura felt a vein throb…honestly who was dumb enough to walk straight into someone?
"Hey! Watch it buddy…" She trailed off as her eyes met the black orbs of the man she bumped into. "Sasuke."
"Sakura." He said, giving her his small "for-my-friends-only" smile. She quickly took in the sight of the man. Dressed from head to toe in black, Sasuke look like the heartbreaker he was. His toned muscles showed themselves through the cloths and under the pale alabaster skin. The messed black hair was perfectly done and his eyes were perfect.
She brushed the invisible dust off her dress and quickly linked arms with the taller man before he could escape. "So…..tell me, Mr. reclusive, how have you been?" She asked him, pulling his arm until he gave in and began to walk with her. They strolled together down the streets walking past groups of people eyeing the colorful displays.
He sighed a bit and smiled down at her again. "I've been good. Hardly reclusive. I've been on missions Sakura, you know? Those things most of us ninjas do now a days. We can't all sit at a desk and deliver sake to the Hokage." He paused for a minute, his eyes darting ahead and then back. He came to a halt all of a sudden, Sakura stopped with him, arms still linked, and she quickly looked at his face and followed his gaze down the street to find the patch of blonde that was headed towards them.
"Oh look Sasuke, its Naruto!" She said slyly shooting him a smirk. She knew full well that Sasuke had seen the blonde. But now that he knew she saw Naruto as well, she had stopped Sasuke from escaping without any questions. Sakura knew there was still a lot of animosity and distrust between the two, but it was time to move on. It was never clear as to what happened between the two but still….enough was enough.
Besides…once in a while, when she forced the two to socialize with each other, she'd see this…strange energy between the two, a burning kind of…passion actually. And by god if she died trying, she would figure out what the hell it was and how to use it to make her best friends happy. Even if sacrificing her life was the cost.
Her eyes glazed over to a second, even though she felt the cold of winter, the warmth of Sasuke next to her, and the sight of Naruto's head in front of her…she heard herself scream, felt herself fling herself in front of the two boys, felt the energy hit her square in the chest. Then, she felt nothing.
She snapped her eyes shut and wriggled the thoughts from her minds…just my imagination, that's its. "Sakura? Are you alright?" Sasuke's low voice was concerned. She looked up at him and shone a brilliant smile at him, and winked, "you bet your ass I am!"
Fist pump.
"You shouldn't spend so much time with the Dobe, it's starting to effect you negatively." He smirked.
"You're just jealous that Naruto like ME, and thinking you're a bastard." She smirked back and poked his side.
"Hn."
"Ugh…men. Now, no escaping, I want to talk with both you and Naruto about something. Naruto! Hey Naruto! Come here!" Sakura cried to the blonde who immediately caught sight of them, and promptly burst out into a huge grin. As the pair walked forward to meet their blond teammate a man walked past Naruto and shoved his own shoulder into Naruto's causing the blond to fall backwards and land of his behind.
The blonde let out a small cry as he fell and wasn't able to stop himself from slipping back and smacking his head on the snow covered pavement. Sakura gasped and rushed over to him and bent down, "hey buddy! Watch where you're going huh?" She yelled at the man as he lumbered away. "Naruto…are you okay?" She helped him to his feet where the blond placed his hand on the back of his head and felt the bump.
"Haha….I'm fine Sakura, its fine, just a bit of a bump!" The blonde smiled and laughed. "Hey Sasuke!" The blonde said to the blackette, smiling and holding his hand out.
But Sasuke didn't take the hand Naruto offered instead he stepped closer to the blonde and raised his hands to bend the smaller man's head down. "Idiot," he said softly as he massaged the back of the blonde's head, "you need to be more careful, you could have gotten hurt."
Naruto blushed and let his hand drop, he stood there, and his head bent looking at Sasuke's shoes, while the taller man's finger gently massaged the spot while whispering soft rebuffs at the blonde for being stupid. Naruto mumbled apologies and kept his hands at his side, yet they twitched with the urge not to wrap themselves around Sasuke.
Sasuke for his part felt his heart speed up and felt the blond's own scent brush up into his nose. The delicate scent of snow and innocence and ramen made Sasuke softly groan. Likewise Naruto bit his lip to stop a moan as Sasuke's long fingers massaged his head gently, bringing all sorts of pleasure to Naurto's brain.
They stood close, hardly a few inches between the two of them. The rest of the world was gone, nothing else mattered, no one else mattered as long Sasuke got to keep touching the soft blonde hairs and have the smaller man close like this, where he could protect him.
This is so HOT! Dear god, I'm so telling Ino about this tonight when we go for drinks!...Oh crap, we have that mission…speaking of…Sakura coughed lightly, "Boys….it's been a minute and a half, Sasuke I'm sure Naruto's fine—"
She was cut off as Sasuke stepped back and threw a quick glare down at Naruto, before saying "Dobe, be more careful, Sakura and I won't always be here to take care of you," and quickly vanished in a puff of smoke. Sakura was left there, standing befuddled wondering what had just occurred.
Sasuke was….enjoying that, he wanted to be touching Naruto….and Naruto, like the sensible boy that he is wanted the Uchiha to keep touching him….but why did Sasuke disappear? Why did they…
Only the sound of a sniffle brought her back to the present, she turned to see Naruto, head still bent, sniffling gently, "Naruto? Naruto, come on…let's go shopping okay?" the blonde didn't look up but nodded and took the hand Sakura offered to him. "That's it, we don't need Sasuke, grumpy old man that he is….let's go okay?"
And so that's what they did. Sakura didn't mention Sasuke or what had happened earlier today. She would wait to get to Suna before she began to question these things. In the mean time she would focus on Christmas, and Naruto.
And maybe things would get easier. Simpler. She just wanted this sinking feeling in her gut to leave her alone.
AAAAA
Sakura and Naruto parted ways at the center garden Park of Konoha, a beautiful new park commissioned by Tsunade to represent the beauty that rose from the ashes of the war. And it did represent. Marvelous structures with beautiful flowers and trees and modern benches and pathways, all interconnected to work together in harmony. While it was small, only a few city blocks big, it was a jewel that all the other Cities were hoping to get one of their own for.
"I had fun Sakura, thanks for letting me come with you!" Naruto smiled at her and hugged her before letting go and smiling once more.
"I had fun too Naruto…but, I feel bad, you didn't get anything. I could've loaned you money if you needed it?" Sakura knew exactly why Naruto didn't have any money to shop. Though she knew he wouldn't take a loan. He was too proud.
"It's okay! I got all my shopping done a long time ago! Well…I guess I'll see you later?" The hope in his eyes was too much.
"Well….I'm leaving on a mission to Suna tomorrow–"
"Can I come? Please Sakura? I miss seeing Gaara, and I really wanna have some of their sake, you know cause it's different–"
"Naruto!"
"…Sorry…"
"Of course you can come, be at the eastern gates at eight tomorrow morning, okay? It's a D mission so it won't be dangerous at all okay?"
"Okay Sakura! See you tomorrow." He gave her another quick hug before running off in the direction of his home.
She smiled and chuckled at his disappearing form before turning around and walking towards her own home, shopping bags in hand. Let's see…I have to drop of my bags, go tell Ino I can't have drinks tonight…though I should just call her, and then….Sasuke. God save me from brooding Uchihas.
She smiled at the thought and continued to walk down the streets to her own home. The sun had set and the dark clouds overhead rolled in continuous waves of black. The air was cold but there was no breeze, and the streets were still somewhat alive, though no longer with children and parents, but teenagers and young people, off for a night of celebration and partying.
Sakura stopped under one of the bright streetlamps to readjust her hold on one of the bags when something caught her eye, turning her head sharply she spotted a couple walking towards a parked car, but more importantly she saw the woman's faded strawberry hair.
"Mother! Father!" She cried, standing up and crossing the street quickly to meet her parents at the car. Her parents turned to see the voice and smiled when they saw their daughter. They were a handsome couple, her mother was tall and thin, and her pink hair faded and piled up on her head in an elegant knot, while her father, tall and masculine even at his age stared down at her with smiling green eyes.
"Sakura! What a surprise, shouldn't you be out with Ino?" her mother asked after hugging her daughter.
"No, I have a mission tomorrow; I'll be going to Suna for a little bit, just delivering some things for Tsunade."
"Ahh, well good luck princess." Her father hugged her and kissed her forehead.
"Thank you father, though I was hoping I could ask for a favor?"
Her parents smiled at each other then at her, "what is it angel?" Her mother asked.
"Can you guys take these bags home for me? I have to run to the Uchiha compound quickly." She smiled and put on her pleading eyes when her mother laughed at took the bags from her.
"Of course my love, here, darling give me the keys, I'll take these" She hoisted the bags, and took the keys, "and I'll be in the car. Bye angel, we'll see you soon." Her mother walked away to the car.
"So…the Uchiha compound? Impressive, daughter. Finally getting ready to settle down?" Her father said once her mother was in the car.
She laughed, "Hardly father, Sasuke and I are just friends, just like Naruto." Her father's eyes sharpened at the mention of the blond.
"Sakura dear, isn't it time you stopped spending so much time with that boy? He's not nearly good enough for you. Better spend time with the Uchiha, now there's a good boy. I'd take him even after all this Sound mess, over the other one any day."
Sakura felt her anger bubble, but managed to remember this was her father and he only had heard her best interest at heart. "Father, Naruto is a very dear and close friend of mine, nothing more! Besides he is good enough to be my friend. I love him; he's like a brother to me."
Her father's mouth gaped open, but she ignored it and hugged him quickly before kissing his cheek. "I'll see you soon father, I love you. Goodnight."
She quickly stepped back and launched herself up onto the rooftop before feeling the chakra flow through her feet and pushed off again, flying over the rooftops, heading towards the Compound.
As she ran she tried to push the thoughts that screamed at her from her mind. They took up all the space in her head, distracting her, soon she stopped after almost tripping over a ledge and falling, managing instead to catch herself on the balcony of the opposing building and sitting there, on the railing, looking out.
She had somehow managed to get as far as the Murakai Compound, but she had to stop and get these thoughts sorted, or she'd be on the ground dead. The Murakai family had long since left Konoha, having become member of the Water Cities instead, however their compound, second largest only to the Uchiha, stood still.
The massive array of buildings stood taller than any other buildings in Konoha, giant stone monuments to the power of Konoha's wealth. Though they were off to the side of the city, along with all the other compounds, one could easily see them from anywhere in the city. The compound was comprised of thirteen tall building and several dozen smaller ones, all done in a square pattern slowing growing taller and taller the farther in they went. The typical style used, but more decorative and ornamental then most buildings.
Since the compound was too big for any of the current families to occupy, Tsunade had decided that it's tall, almost impassible gates would remain locked. However many ninja used the roofs and grounds now as training, since the gardens had grown wild and had reclaimed most of the land. Giant flowers and vines grew all along the buildings and pools of water fell from the rain gutters, sloshing around, forming pools and rivers along.
There was no snow here, it remained warmed within these walls, supposed because the Hokages of the past had been secret buried here, and their chakra, even in death kept this place unaffected by the biting harshness of the reality that lay only a wall away.
It was a wonderland at night, uninterrupted, allowing Sakura to think and feel these most recent and disturbing thoughts. And of did those thoughts swirl through her mind at lightning speed. Never had she been one for visions but that image early had seemed so…clear, almost as if it was going to happen and happen soon. But an even more pressing memory surfaced, pushing her vision to the far corners of her brain.
"Did…my father throw that brick at Naruto? Why do people seem to hate him so much?" She questioned out loud, her voice softly carrying through the air. She pulled her knee up and hugged it, feeling the warmth heat her, and letting her forehead drop down to rest on her knee.
Is this supposed to be what Temari knows? Sakura let out a long breath, feeling it tickle the nerves on her leg before dropping her leg down and staring out over the compound and over the lights of the city at night. She didn't like this feeling, quasi-guilt and quasi-confusion. It didn't suit her.
"The sooner we get to Suna, the sooner it goes away." She placed her feet on the edge of the balcony and pushed off, grasping the ledge on the other building and swinging herself up onto the rooftop.
Soon she began the almost graceful dance of jumping from rooftop to rooftop, making her way through the abandoned wonderland and soon was dashing across the far wall of the compound that bordered the Uchiha Compound. By far the most massive, and the most severe, the Uchiha compound had forever given her the creeps. Almost as if it's once living inhabitants slept behind the sliding doors. She hopped down from the wall and approached the front entry way, sliding the door gently open with her chakra, alerting Sasuke to her presence.
Timidly stepping into the main courtyard she surveyed the space. While the Murakai Compound was wild and decadent and ethereal in its beauty, the Uchiha Compound was cold and precise and, while beautiful; very, very unloving.
The front courtyard was divided into giant blocks surrounded by tiny streams of water that met strategically in pools and ponds, the giant koi lazily drifted through the water, and ancient cherry blossom trees grew in these ponds, forming a faux forest, with smaller bonsai trees and moss grown precisely to feel that way.
Sakura walked slowly through, taking the wooden bridges across the ponds, towards the giant wooden door that stood a dozen or so feet away from her. She stopped half on the closest bridge, turning and looking out over the water towards the next building, and in turn, the next garden.
"Sakura." She didn't flinch. YES! Finally I can actually predict when he's going to do that! Finally! HA! Suck on that Sasuke!
"Sasuke."
"Care to explain the visit so late at night?" Sasuke's tone was bored but she could detect the undertone of slight interest. So she felt her confidence grow, Sasuke wouldn't say no to her, he rarely ever could now a days.
"I have a mission that starts tomorrow, a simple D ranked one, going to Suna, and I'd be grateful if you would consider coming along?" She smiled up at him.
"Sakura…a D rank mission? Isn't that a little…beneath your status at this point?" Sasuke lifted one black brow in question and Sakura felt a small tremor run through her, leave it to Sasuke to try and figure out her motives for why she wanted to go all the way to Suna for nothing.
"You know sometimes it's nice to do something simple, besides…don't you want to see Naruto?" She didn't want to bring out the big guns, she really didn't but come on, Sasuke was going to figure out if she didn't distract. And Naruto was nothing if not a distraction.
"You invited the dobe? Why?" His brow crinkled and he looked away, down into the dark waters of the pond beneath their feet.
"He's my friend Sasuke, and yours too…unless something has changed since I last was last around?" She felt the urge to tease bubble over, "...then again you got pretty damn chummy with him today, is there a love affair I need to know about? Hmmm Sasuke?" She laughed at little at the end.
"Certainly not. I would never lower myself like that." Sasuke's tone was haughty but Sakura knew it wasn't really hurtful. There was something in the Uchiha's eyes that made her wonder…
"Fine."
She looked back up to see him looking over into the trees. Eyes clouded and face emotionless. Damn typical Uchiha, never give a thing away…why can't he be like Naruto and wear his heart on his damn sleeve?
"Fine what?" She questioned.
"I will go on this mission with you and the dobe. When and where?"
She smiled and threw her arms around him, letting chakra flow through her arms to give Sasuke a bone crushing hug. "YAY! I'll pick you up tomorrow morning at about six thirty! And don't worry about packing; we'll be staying in hotels the whole way!"
"Fine…now can you let me go?" Sasuke said, voice strained slightly.
She chuckled a little and released the blackette. "See you tomorrow Sasuke!" She knew not to press her luck but she had to have fun, leaning up and smacking a big wet kiss on his cheek, she teleported before he could get a single word out.
AAA
I hope we enjoy.