hello peoples! this is my second fanfic...well I haven't finished the other one but I will...school is just such a drag yeah...well heres a Shikamaru and Sakura fanfic for u to enjoy. I haven't read or seen many for this paring online so I wanted to make a good one to add to it. ENJOY!!

'Thoughts''inner selves'

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Chapter 1: Homecoming

It was a normal morning in Konoha, village hidden in the leaves. The sun had just begun to peek its way through the darkness of night. Around five A.M most people would be sleeping still. Except, for a particular pink-haired kuinochi. Sakura Haruno to be more specific. There were three reasons as to why she was awake this early. One, she had to be at the hospital in two hours to resume her training with her shishou and as top medic of the hospital.

Two, she had many restless nights from all of the jutsus and operations that had clouded her mind the previous day. And three, she still thought about him. Her ex-teammate, the one who sought out power and revenge for his brother. She had tried to forget him by dating other boys but they couldn't fill the empty space inside her. So many wasted dreams and tears for him. It killed her how she and Naruto had tried so hard to bring him back and went home empty handed. I should hate him. She would tell herself this over and over again but what was the use? She loved him and is obsessed with him.

'No, not anymore, I hate him! The cold jerk he is.'

'You mean hot jerk right?'

'You again...No, I thought I told you before! He betrayed me and Naruto! He never loved me anyway so drop it okay!?'

'Ouch. Okay! Jeez and I was going to remind you to look at the clock but...'

Sakura glanced at the neon green numbers on her bedside table.

"Nani?!? How long was I daydreaming for," Sakura exclaimed heading for the shower grabbing her usual ninja attire. It consisted of a red tang top with a white Haruno clan symbol on the back, a tan skirt with black shorts, cream colored elbow and knee pads, her black gloves, and her kunai pouch and medic bag.

She took a quick shower and checked the clock.

'6:52 I can make it if I run. How long was I thinking of him?'

She began to trail off again but shook her head clear and went downstairs towrd the door grabbing her keys, black boots, and Konoha headband. She tied it around her short pink locks then proceeded out the door. She locked it and was off. She had moved out her parents house when she was 15. She didn't exactly get along with them. They didn't even believe she could become a great ninja. Boy were they wrong. Last year she had surpassed her shishou in the medical area and had taken the title of head medic of Konoha. She had also reached jonin rank and did few missions because of her job at the hospital. Now she was 18 and had a successful life. Although her love life wasn't too great.

"I blame Sasuke...' She thought angrily.

After a good five minutes she reached the hospital she reached the hospital and darted in. She bumped into a few people muttering a small "gomen". She flashed he ID to the girl at the desk who gave her her key and a clipboard which lists of all the major injuries on it. She went through the two twin doors and turned left to the locker room and went to locker number 626. Inside the locker was a lab coat, some medic supplies, a chart of the human body and a calendar. On the calendar was a note. Sakura grabbed the lab coat while reading the note.

Sakura,

This morning someone had decided to come for a visit...yeah right I forced him to stay! I think you two should talk. Come by my office ASAP. Thank you.

Tsunade

Sakura reread the letter with wide eyes.

'Could it be...?'

"Sasuke," she finished her thought out loud.

Still mildly shocked she allowed her legs to carry her to Tsunade's office. She knocked twice and heard a faint.

"Come in Sakura," Sakura opened the door and walked in.

'She's good' Sakura thought.

Sakura's eyes wandered over to the two other figures in the room. One was a girl with blue hair and matching eyes. Sakura looked at the girl's eyes. Although her eyes looked calm they held a deep rage inside them waiting to be unleashed when needed. The other figure was one she knew all to well.

"Sasuke-kun," she whispered in a daze. She had longed to see him for so long. Seeing his face she wanted nothing more than to slap him hard across the face but she couldn't.

He smirked and crossed his arms.

"Sakura," was his plain response.

'Darn you...' Yep he still had those effects on her and he knew it.

"Shishou, why did you need to see me," Sakura asked carefully avoiding a certain subject.

"Sakura I know you two need to catch up," Tsunade said glancing at Sasuke then back at her.

"Oh...well maybe later I have work to do and today seems busy," she lied not wanting to deal with Sasuke.

'At least not now.'

'Pssh whatever... he's still a hot jerk remember!'

'Remind me to get my head checked out.'

'Well I am you! And don't forget it!'

'I hate you.'

'Love you too!'

"Sakura? Did you get all that? Sakura?! SAKURA!!!" Tsunade yelled irritated.

"H-hai... What was it again I guess I spaced out..." Sakura looked around the room embarrassed.

'Thanks a lot.'

Tsunade sighed.

"I said. You are to escort Uchiha here to the Yamanaka household. They will be his hosts until he can rehabilitate." Tsunade explained slightly frustrated. She hated repeating herself.

"Hai. Gomen Tsunade-sama I didn't mean to daze off. Shall I escort Sasuke now or after work?" She asked staring at something above Tsunade's head purposely avoiding everyone's gaze.

"Now would be nice. As for Lin here," she motioned to the girl with blue hair. "She will be working here in the hospital part time. She helped retrieve Sasuke. She's from Suna."

Sakura nodded taking in all the information and bowed to the Hokage. She headed towards the door and motioned for Sasuke to follow which he did. But he walked in front of her and closed the door.

"Well..." Sakura began angrily.

"Sakura. Also, before I forget I have to talk to you after work. Come by my office when you get off your shirt. Good day." Tsunade returned to the mountains of paperwork on her desk. Sakura opened the door and left.

"I told you not to wait till' tomorrow to finish those..." Shizune looked at the paper mounds on Tsunade's desk.

"Shut up Shizune! And get me more sake!" Tsunade nagged.

"Okay, you don't have to yell at me," she cowered. "Meany!"

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Sakura walked out towards the exit of the hospital with Sasuke on her heels.

"So...Ino's family? Did you pick that one out?" she asked curiously.

"Hn." was his response.

"I see..." over the years of being his teammate she learned to take his hns for nos and silences as yeses. Silence filled the rest of the trip to Ino's house. Sakura and Ino were still friends...sort of...maybe...okay they were still rivals but they're still friends.

Sakura knew Konoha lke the back of her hand. She turned right then walked up Ino's street and stoped at house 119.

"Heres's Ino's house. Enjoy you stay." She hoped she didn't sound jealous. Sakura waved goodbye and started back towards the hospital. Sasuke grabbed her wrist.

"Tomorrow Ichiraku 3 o'clock." he release her hand and knocked on the Yamanaka's door. Sakura nodded and continued on her way glancing back to watch Sasuke go inside Ino's house.

'Why does Sasuke want to meet me? Does he like me?' Sakura pondered this thought for the rest of her trip to the hospital.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Mrs. Yamanaka opened the door.

"Oh. You must be Sasuke Uchiha. Welcome to our home. Ino! Sasuke is here." she sai walking aside to let him enter closing the door behind him.

Ino came downstairs.

"Sasuke-kun. Nice to see you again. Can I show you your room?" Ino smirked.

"Sure" Sasuke replied in a monotone voice but smirked afterwards.

Sasuke followed Ino upstairs.

"Dinner will be ready soon so don't be long," Mrs. Yamanaka called after them.

"Okay," Ino replied.

When Sasuke was inside Ino's room she closed the door and faced him.

"So we'll continue with the plan?" she asked.

"Yeah until then we keep quiet." he responded. Ino nodded.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Sakura looked through her clipboard. She had just finished giving a little boy a check-up. He kicked her after she gave him a shot.

'Lets see...no...No...No...Oh this one needs to be checked on.' Sakura fingered a room number. She got up and stretched then got her medic bag and looked at the clock.

'5:37...I still have about 4 hours of work left.' She took her clipboard and proceeded out the door and down the hall.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Shikamaru was doing what he does best and by that I mean- cloud watching. He gazed up into the blue sky almost falling asleep. He let out a long sigh. Being an ANBU leader was not his favorite job or hobby for that matter. Heck, he didn't even know why he agreed to the position. Maybe it was his dad's convincing advice and his mother's nagging that made him do it.

'Well at least I have the week off. Thank kami no more paperwork! Whoa...Tsunade moment...'

A puff of smoke appeared out of nowhere and Shizune appeared.

"Nara Shikamaru." she asked.

"Hai. What is it Shizune?" he asked lazily.

"Tsunade-sama has requested to see you at her office tonight around 9 o'clock," she explained but before he could answer or complain she disappeared in a puff of smoke once again.

He sighed deeply again.

"There goes my vacation..." he leaned back and continued to watch the clouds glide by.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Sakura walked into room 29 and looked at the patient's previous test.

"Kakashi Hatake. What did you do this time?" she scolded at her sleeping sensai.

'He needs a shot and then his medicine. Just what I need... A jonin that's probably stronger than me trying to resist getting a stupid needle in his arm!'

Sakura prepared the shot looking to see if he was still sleeping.

'Good now please, please, please stay sleeping!'

She walked carefully over to the white bed and positioned the needle in it's spot. She paused to check his breathing pattern then inserted the needle in his upper arm. Almost on cue his eyes shot open and he started panicking at the sight of a needle.

"Kakashi shut up I already-"she was cut off by his ranting.

"OMG a needle!! GET it AWAY from ME!" he yelled in her ear.

"Jeez Hatake I already gave you your shot." she said calmly.

"NO! NO! What? Oh right...ahem...so I need my medicine now right?" he asked cautiously.

Sakura's face darkened as she took out another shot.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way." she warned.

He seemed to be thinking the situation over.

"Calmly get the needle or get it launched into your arm painfully," she added harshness to the last word for him to get her meaning.

"Well you're serious." he joked trying to ease the tension.

"This is my job and life I am serious." There was one other thing Sakura was known for and it was her short temper. Yet another trait she picked up from Tsunade.

Kakashi felt a dangerous aura coming from her and decided to take the safe way out.

"Okay you win just get it over with." he whimpered. He shut his eyes and clenched his teeth.

"HaHa! You're that afraid of shots sensai?" she humored

"Shut up and get it over with." he said agitatedly.

Sakura held back a giggle and continued to prepare the shot. She walked to the cot and placed the needle in place.

"Just relax," she hoped that would help and aimed the needle in his arm and pushed the tab on top down.

"Eeeaahhh!"

"Jeez you sissy it's done stop screaming." She rubbed the back of her neck and checked his papers again.

"Okay you can go home now just take it easy," was her analysis.

"Alrighty see ya," he poofed away.

"That's not exactly taking it easy," she muttered.

She stared at the clock on the tan colored wall.

'8:22...I still have a while.'

'Yeah so what did you do wrong this time?'

'What?'

'Tsunade wants to see you. You probably screwed something up.'

'Hey! It's probably just a new nurse or operation to study for.'

'That's logical.'

'Hmph!'

'Well rude much?'

'I wonder what Sasuke wants.'

'He probably just wants to talk or maybe he does like us!'

'Ohmigosh!'

'Great now I got you all excited. Don't get your hopes up.'

'True...'

A loud grumble filled the dead silence of the room.

"Yeah I am pretty hungry. To the food- court!" she announced to no one.