It's all I ask from You

Chapter I: Leaving and left

Denisis/Ishida Sakura

4/29/2008

For the past few days, confusing dreams haunted me in my sleep. Now, here I am, fleeing the place where I knew I belong, Konoha. It wasn't my will to leave; it was my soul that made me to do it. I hurdled on top of houses and buildings and I even passed the house of my truest friend. I knew that Naruto would surely pursue me and bring me back. But like any ninja, we must not take our words and goals back. Any second now, I will be a missing-nin but there is no turning back. Temptation… I gave in, I will sin and I know there is a consequence. However, this is something everyone experiences. Especially him… he is my goal and so, he is my temptation.

Sakura… Again, he is calling me, alike yesterday, the other day and the days after he was killed. His voice never seemed to go away ever since the time our paths crossed.
Save me… Why? Why should I save this person, a criminal at the least? But I know there is a reason for everything, and if it is to stop this madness, then I shall seek for it.
I have the answers… It was the same phrase he said yesterday; the phrase that triggered my selfish rebellion.

But… why me? I don't have the power, the skills. And if it is a connection I seek for, I will find none. Why Itachi? You ask me to save you even though you knew I was in love with your brother, Sasuke.

Then, I remember what is to unfold a few days from now, Sasuke's marriage. It hurt me a lot. He knew I was there for him, but is he really in love with that woman? Karin, her name strikes me like an arrow, painful and direct to my heart. Maybe, that is the other reason for my leaving, it may seem childish, but this is what I can do for now to ease my pain.

After passing by several houses, I reached the place where Sasuke left me when he left for Orochimaru. Nothing has changed in this place; the same cold bench and the straight path towards the exit. The only change I see is that I changed places with Sasuke. But unlike before, no one was going to stop me, no one felt my leave.

I turn around, once more, to the place my memories are kept safe. I will cherish this place forever.

Konoha…

This is the glance I shall see…

Sayonara…

'Where the hell is ugly?' Sai thought skeptically. He was about to give back the book he borrowed from Sakura until he found out that she wasn't home. He has searched in Ichiraku, the library and at the hospital; still, not even a pink tinge can be seen. Knowing Sakura's daily route, the last options he could think of was the Hokage's office. He was about to dash towards the said place when he realized something odd. Halting, Sai tried to find Sakura's chakra, he sensed none.

'That's weird, why is she hiding her chakra?' Collecting his thoughts, Sai rushed to the Hokage's office.

I feel rather strange… It's as if something is going to happen…

"Shizune-san!"

The said person, with a stack of papers in her hand, twirled around and faced the person who called her name. "Sai, what's with the rush?" she asked while trying to balance the held documents.

Sia ran to her and gave back a question before catching his breath, "Have you seen Sakura?"

Shizune furrowed her eyebrows as she set her eyes on the polished floor, "Well, we were supposed to have the same shift together at the hospital, but I was surprised about her absence. I told Tsunade about this but she said that Sakura has a few more vacation days, so it was alright," she sighed then continued, "But still, it's not like her…"

'Leaving her job without a word?' the pale boy wondered. The Sakura he knew would never leave work, even if it was doomsday.

"Ah, Sai, have you noticed the disappearance of her chakra? I'm kind of worried, especially if she knew about Sasuke-san's upcoming wedding…"

Sai suddenly snapped from his thoughts, "Wedding? The Uchiha is getting married?"

The medic nodded.

'But he just got back a few days ago. Who would he be married to? And this soon?' Sai thought of a connection.

The light above the two companions flickered. Soon after it did, the pale boy finally hit the target.

She ran away from the Uchiha…

The nice sun rays filtered through the windows of the Hokage's office. It was, indeed, a good day. Nothing but a nice cup of sake can fulfill her happy morning. She took her cup and inhaled its alcoholic aroma. She took her first sip, then the second, the third and then the fourth. Nothing could ruin her beautiful morning even if the door busted open.

"BANG!" goes the door that was a few meters away from the Hokage's desk.

Oh, such irony. The Godaime almost choked her fifth sip when what she thought wouldn't happen, happened. What a good way to ruin the day.

Standing abruptly she exclaimed, "DO YOU KNOW HOW TO KNOCK?!" The cup in her hand shattered from her grip and her other hand smashed the desk.

"Demo, baa-chan!! I'm so bored!" a blond whiskered boy complained as he took one of the seats, "Is there any mission available?!"

…

A vein popped out of Tsunade's forehead.

…

"Ano… Tsunade… sama…"

…



"NARUTO NO BAKA!!"

Tsunade silently finished her third bottle of sake as she glared at a simmered Naruto, beaten out cold on the floor. The boy was able to dodge a punch from her, but he wasn't expecting forty-nine more. She sighed and drank more. She was sure that no one would bother her now... (A/N: Tnx to Konoha Wooden Fixtures coz the desk is as good as new!)

…Until someone knocked on the door.

'Does being Hokage come with a vacation?' she thought but shook it off, at least this person didn't just barge in, "Fine! Come in,"

An obsidian eyed boy opened the door and came in, closing it again after entering. When he turned around and stepped forward, he was bemused at Naruto's appearance. 'Shouldn't really make the Godaime furious…'

"Don't mind about him," Tsunade assured, smiling innocently, "So Sasuke, what is it that you need?"

Shrugging lightly, the young Uchiha pulled some papers out of a brown envelope and placed them on top of Tsunade's desk,

"I've already finished the documents concerning the…" he trailed off and stared at Naruto. He really doesn't want his friends to know about his marriage, particularly Sakura. He knew that Naruto would, surely, kill him if he made Sakura cry again. But it was still annoying for him to know that his pink-haired teammate was still obsessed over him. Well, that was what he thought so, even if she wasn't really the old Sakura anymore; the girl that flings herself to him.

The Godaime noticed his uncertainty, "Don't worry, he's unconscious."

"And it isn't as if someone will teleport here and hears this conversation."

But after a few moment, it happened.

Out of the blue, a brush painted the form of Sai beside the Hokage's desk. It was a kind of teleportation jutsu, originally made by the boy for himself. Disturbed by the other boy's sudden arrival, Sasuke hastily, but calmly, put the papers back to the envelope. As for Tsunade, she was eyeing at the familiar Hitai-ate tied to the sheath of Sai's sword.

Collecting herself, Tsunade tried her best to stay calm. It is not every day that you encounter people going in your office without a signal. "Sai, I am sure that you know how to use a door,"

The said boy bowed down in respect, "Sumimasen, Hokage-sama, but I think you should see this."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow.

Sai untied the object from the sheath of his sword. He reached it out forward and looked back to the others in the room. He settled the object in front of the Hokage. "I'm sure you know who this thing belongs to. And you should know the reason of so."

Placed on the desk was a red clothed hitai-ate containTsunade almost fell off her seat, Sasuke's eyes were round saucers and the other raven-haired boy narrowed his eyes on the Uchiha.

If leaving is the best way to ease the pain, where would everyone run away?

TBC...

It's all I ask from you: Chapter I: FIN.

Denisis