You'd think that she would learn by now. After everytime the Uchicha rejected her, ignored her, or every foul word he said. You'd think she let him drop, and she did, when he left. He was gone from Kohona, gone from her world. She had friends, had her own apartment, a boyfriend here and there. She had moved on. Then he came back, and her heart began its old frantic rhythm as Sasuke Uchicha entered the gates of Kohona once more.
"Naruto-kun! Wake up or we'll be late!" Sakura pounded on her roommate's door. She and Naruto had been living together for the past two years. Of course there was no attraction between the two, it was more like a brother and sister sharing a house. Sakura was currently single but Naruto and Hinata have had a strong relationship for a year and a half now.
A year and a half. That's almost as long as Sasuke had been gone. Sakura shook her head. What did she care? He was awful to her, and the way she made herself look like such an idiot stumbling over him. She smiled. Her life was better now though. She didn't know the Uchicha.
"Naruto! Kakashi Sensei will have our heads!" Sakura yelled through Naruto's door. She groaned and stomped down the hallway. "If he wants to sleep and be late, fine. I'll leave without him." She muttered as she entered the kitchen and grabbed a banana from the counter. She peeled at it and angrily chomped on it. She was halfway through with it when Naruto came stumbling into the kitchen, heavy bags under his eyes.
He mumbled incoherently as he moved towards the basket of fruit and snatched an apple.
"About time you got up." Sakura scolded. Most of the time she found herself acting as Naruto's older sister rather than his teammate and roomie.
"Out late … My bad." Naruto mumbled before groggily biting into his apple.
"Out with Hinata again?" Sakura asked with a small smirk. Naruto glared at her and she smiled innocently.
"So? What do you care?" He said taking another huge bite out of his apple. Sakura laughed and walked towards the kitchen door. She tossed the banana peel in the trash and opened the door.
"Finish your apple on the way or we'll b-" Sakura stopped and let her mouth fall open at what she saw before her. Sasuke. Sasuke was crouching on their little balcony's railing, staring intently at Sakura. Sakura stood motionless, her heart beating wildly in her chest.
"Sa-Sasuke …" She whispered.
"Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked walking towards Sakura. Sasuke glared over Sakura's shoulder, and then he was gone. "Sakura? What's wrong?" Naruto asked. Sakura stared at the empty spot on her balcony, then she shook her head and blinked a few times.
"No … No. Nothing." Sakura stuttered. She took a deep breath and let it out in a low whistle. "Let's go." She jumped off the balcony, glad to have the wind blowing in her face. It wasn't him. No, it couldn't be. Not after all this time … Sakura shook the thoughts away. Sasuke wasn't back. She moved on. He was never coming back … Was he?
Sakura and Naruto landed in the practice field just seconds before Kakashi appeared. Kakashi had his head buried in yet another of his disgusting books. Naruto groaned and Sakura rolled her eyes.
"How was everyone's weekend?" Kakashi asked flipping the page.
"Fine." Sakura and Naruto answered as they began to stretch. Kakashi stood from his crouched position and tucked his book away.
"How was yours Sensei?" Sakura asked stretching his arms over her head. Kakashi stared at Sakura for awhile, as if he hadn't heard her. Sakura's head tilted to the side. "Sensei?" She asked again.
"Sakura." He answered shortly. Sakura let her arms fall, completely puzzled.
"Um, okay." Sakura said twisting from side to side.
"So, Sensei. What're we gonna learn today?" Naruto asked excitedly, finally awake.
"Today is review day. You have a huge mission coming in a few days and I want you both to be fully prepared." Kakashi said. Naruto grinned and Sakura crossed her arms over her chest.
"Please tell me it's after the festival." Sakura whined. Kakashi sighed and shook his head.
"Yes Sakura, it's after the festival." Kakashi answered as Naruto rolled his eyes. Naruto wasn't very fond of the festival, it was the time when he got the most stares and glares. And now with Hinata at his side, Sakura could only imagine how much Naruto wished the day wouldn't come.
"Well, uh, let's get started." Sakura said straightened up and gave Naruto an encouraging smile. Naruto gave a small smile back, his mind no doubt on the festival. "Hey! Get pumped dork." Sakura teased playfully shoving Naruto's elbow. Naruto grinned and shoved Sakura back.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He muttered shaking his head. Sakura smiled and Kakashi sighed.
"Are we done now?" He asked the two teammates. They both nodded happily. "Good, let's start we defense techniques." Kakashi instructed.
"Good job you two." Kakashi praised as the sun set behind them. Sakura and Naruto sighed and sunk to the ground.
"That was hard!" Naruto exclaimed as if in great pain. Sakura let out a little laugh and Kakashi rolled his eyes.
"Just because we haven't done half of those exercises since …" Since Sasuke left. Sakura finished silently. "Almost ever." She mumbled. For the tenth time that day her mind wandered back to the raven haired boy who sat on her railing this morning. It wasn't him. Besides, why should you care? Festival here in a few days and an awesome mission. You, are, pumped! Put that dumb Uchicha out of your head and focus! Sakura's inner self scolded. Sakura nodded and stood up. "Hey Naruto, want to go grab some Ramen?" Sakura asked with a small smile. Naruto, who had previously been laying down as if he were dead, jumped up with that big stupid grin plastered to his face.
"I'm in! Race you there!" He challenged preparing to dash. Sakura chuckled softly and crouched to.
"On your mark?"
"Get set."
"Actually Naruto," Kakashi said interrupting the two. Naruto nearly stumbled over himself and Sakura leaned forward only a little before she sighed and straightened up. "I was hoping to speak to Sakura." Naruto nodded and Sakura stared at her Sensei curiously. Naruto stood and crossed his arms over his chest. Kakashi glared at his ignorance. "Alone." He finished. Sakura looked back at a pouting Naruto.
"Go on Naruto. I'll catch up in a few minutes." Sakura said smiling, but Naruto began to sulk away. "And I'll pay." She added with a giggle. Naruto grinned back at her and sped off.
"Thanks Sakura-chan!" Naruto called before disappearing. Sakura laughed and looked back at Kakashi.
"What did you need Sensei?" Sakura asked as her laughter subsided. Kakashi gave her a serious look and moved closer to Sakura. He stopped when he and Sakura were only an inch apart. Sakura looked up curiously at him. "Sensei?" She asked quietly. Kakashi remained quiet for a little longer.
"You're really short …" He murmured. Sakura's face turned red and she glared at her Sensei. Then she realized that, sadly, the top of her head reached just under Kakashi Sensei's chin.
"Yeah? Well, you're a pervert!" Sakura retaliated crossing her arms over her chest. Kakashi let out a small laugh and Sakura huffed at him. "Is this all you wanted to talk to me about?" Sakura demanded. Kakashi's laughter stopped abruptly and he leaned down to whisper in Sakura's ear.
"You're being watched, very closely." Kakashi informed her. Sakura shifted a little uncomfortably, whether from this disturbing news or from the closeness with her Sensei she didn't know.
"By who?" She asked, barely above a whisper. Kakashi sighed and seemed to think it through for a moment.
"I can't say for sure, but it's definitely male …" Kakashi trailed off and Sakura's eyes widened.
It isn't … He doesn't mean, Sasuke does he?? There's no way! Then this morning, I wasn't just imagining things. Sasuke really was there, is here … Sakura took the moment to examine the surrounding trees and all other hiding places.
"He's still here." Kakashi whispered, knowing what Sakura was searching for. "But even I could not see him, he hides himself well." Kakashi straightened and Sakura took a deep breath. They both stood there for a moment, neither knowing what to say.
"Thank you, for the warning Sensei." Sakura said eventually. Kakashi nodded.
"Please be careful Sakura." Suddenly Kakashi Sensei leaned down and lightly pressed his lips to Sakura's forehead. Sakura's face turned a bright red and Kakashi turned to leave. "If you need me, just call my name." Kakashi said, then he was gone.
A/N Okay so I know not quite so much happened in this chapter and I kind of rushed into things a bit, but the next chapter will be juicy. Please leave Reviews and ideas on what I can do to make this story better.