*Broken Dreams*
Part I of III
by: WhiteGloves
"I AM KISHI! THIS IS MY LEFT OVER STORY!"~ or something like that!
Sakura X Sasuke Team!
I hope you enjoy!
It was already past midnight when two women came out of a building that reads 'Hospital'. They were wearing thick bundle of clothing and scarves for it was winter. Under the moonlight and the lamps posted on every turn, the women chatted on the walk home in the middle of the pavement that was covered in white snow, their cool breathes seen as they laugh and their footsteps traced as they walk on the snow, unmindful of the darkness of the night.
As they were about to make another turn, both women stopped as they noticed a shadow lingering by a post lamp on the next corner. It was a shadow of a man in cloak.
One of the women whose long black hair is knotted behind her wearing glasses turned to her pink haired companion who was still staring at the man by the post lamp.
"I'll be going from here then, Sakura-chan." She said with a tap at the medical ninja's shoulder.
"Uh, okay," Sakura answered with a little smile at her companion, "I'll see you tomorrow, Shizune."
And the two ladies parted, leaving the pink haired ninja still standing at her spot while the man by the post remained immobilize as well. After awhile, Sakura finally made up her mind and approached the shadow.
The man smiled at her and there was a brief talk. Sakura remembers him to be one of the squads under Sai's leadership. She also remembers having seen him around the hospital for some check up, sometimes own injuries, but most of the times accompanying injured friends with him. He was a nice ninja.
Sakura paid little attention to the man's compliments about her as she was cautious seeing that he was too nervous. She smiled to herself, thinking about awhile back, how she would feel the same nervousness in the face of someone she admires. The man noticed her smile, seemed encouraged and as expected, the question came—
"Will you go out with me and be my girlfriend, Haruno-san?"
Sakura let the question sink in to her, wondering how she had often times deal with the same question for almost two years after the war. For almost two years also, there was not a single word from him. The thought of him once again made the medical ninja took things in to consideration before giving her gentle response.
The breeze of the winter wind became much colder as she walked home alone, wondering to herself if the gaze she could feel watching her was from the man she just turned down.
The hospital was busy the next day as ninjas who came from a mission came back with injuries after getting poisoned caused by nature. There were still fights to be fought outside Konohagakure Village, but all the same, it can be said that everything was peaceful.
As Sakura take things in her hand, being a top class medical ninja on which the whole village admires her with, she still has the habit of cursing and shouting at the medic team whenever they are too slow or too clumsy; or even at patients whenever they are too stubborn or too much of a baby in middle of operations—thus earning her the nickname 'Majo-onna' or witch woman by children.
But the best thing that can be said: she was on an entire level on her own.
After a day's work, the medical ninja finally got the chance to remove her hair band to let her shoulder length hair fall down as she sat down on her own table at the hospital quarters with papers on her hands.
Shizune appeared before her and gave her more papers.
"Tsunade-sama has read your report about the pox and said she agrees to keep infected children in an isolated area. We also got Shino-kun's report about the poisonous insect incident just now and says he's on his way for the antidotes. Luckily our treatment here still has effects on regular insect poisoning. Aside from that the rest can be handled by the others so why don't you take a break, Sakura-chan?"
"Yeah, sure, thanks," Sakura nodded, eyes still on the paper's report transfixed.
"And uh, Sakura-chan?" came Shizune again, "This came for you."
The pink haired medical ninja raised her eyes up in time to see Shizune place an envelope on her table. It was another letter. Eyes fast, Sakura quickly saw the name of the sender and then paused, before looking up to the black haired lady and smiling.
"Thank you, Shizune."
Shizune was thoughtfully looking at the envelope too before catching the green eyes of her friend.
"It's not from him, huh?" she said with a little smile, knowing full well what it meant.
Sakura stared at the letter for a second, before taking the envelope and putting it insider her jacket; then gathering the papers into one set, she arranged it and placed it neatly on the table.
Stretching and giving such a loud satisfied sound from her lips, she stood up with another bright smile and energized body.
"I guess that's all for me today, huh? Then I'll be leaving everything in your hand, Shizune!"
The black haired woman watched her, and then pressed her lips and smiled.
Walking around carrying grocery bags, Sakura checked her clock and found out it was already 3 in the afternoon. She had left the hospital an hour early and had decided to get on some grocery items for her apartment. She had been living on her own for a year now having let her parents give her a chance to stand by herself.
Stand by herself she did and she had no problem whatsoever after the transfer except for some trivial matters like Naruto and the others harassing her house every now and then but things were still fun.
Standing up in her own feet is fun.
After another half hour, the medical ninja decided she got everything she needed and was about to go home when she felt a gaze upon her being. Turning her head in alarm, she was surprised to see Ino waving at her and calling her name, pointing to something in her hand. Sakura stared at it and saw an envelope.
And the two old friends met each other in the middle of the street.
"You dropped this." The long blonde hair girl said with a huge grin while Sakura tried to retrieve what appeared to be a familiar envelope with her name on it. It was obvious Ino already knew what it was judging from her behaviour. "You'd be hurting another ninja by throwing his letter away without even reading it, Sakura!"
"I didn't throw it— give it to me!" Sakura reached for it but Ino kept it out of her rich, still smiling knowingly. "Ino!" but with one final push, the pink haired ninja was finally able to snatch the letter and whip it out of sight insider her jacket.
The blond girl is still seen smirking at her by the time Sakura composes herself.
"What?" she asked defensively, turning her back at her old friend whose smile is still big.
"You're a real man killer, Sakura. I didn't know you had it in you to be mesmerizing half the ninja culture like Naruto haha! I mean, look at him now with all the girls fawning on him. And you're his counterpart for the males. I mean—I can give you a run for your money but I'm different. I'm taken."
She smiled smugly at her while the pretty pink haired ninja shake her head.
"So out of many— are you meeting Kanji-kun?"
Sakura blushed and remembered the ninja who had approached her in the medical tent about two years ago during the war: the man who plucked up the courage and confessed his feelings to her in case... well, in case he didn't survive. Then he did and he was a awfully nice person to her up to now.
"Stop it, Ino, you're embarrassing me." The two had started walking in the middle of the town with the blonde girl snaking her arms around one of Sakura's arm.
"Just how many guys have you dumped this week?"
"Give me a break."
"They can hardly leave you alone now, can they? The war and all...Naruto's out in a mission right? Everybody thought you and Naruto would hit it off as soon as the war was over. But I mean everybody knows you dumped Naruto!"
"Don't be so mean, Ino." Sakura nudge her side with a little smile at the corner of her lips, "Anyone who thought me and Naruto would best end with each other don't really know us at all. And Naruto's been like a real brother to me and has now become aware of Hinata's feelings for two years now. Did you know how he bugged me about her the other night?
"So you've been busy being Naruto and Hinata's love consultant?"
Sakura laughed. "You don't know Naruto and how clueless he is with girls."
"Oh, I sure do."
"At least Sai's not apathetic." Sakura remembered the quiet man in the person of Sai, a member of team 7. Ino confessed to him right after the war and he's been appreciative of her ever since. The two had been going out for a long time.
"Yeah, he isn't as bad as Naruto." The Yamanaka lady added as an after thought.
The two laughed about this fact and for awhile the two giggled about Naruto's attempts of confession failures for the past year. Sakura had told Hinata to be calm in front of Naruto many times—a suggestion that took nearly forever for the Hyuuga lady to master. Good thing Naruto was a total idiot about it to the point that it was annoying. But at least, they were together.
Sakura smiled a little to herself.
Ino pushed her voice inside Sakura's thoughts again, "So everybody knows you're not with Naruto— giving other ninjas a thought they can have a chance with you."
"Yeah, like they're not terrified of me." Sakura's thoughts jumped to how other male ninjas were intimidated by her and couldn't blame them. Shanaaaroo was her favorite expression.
"I know that's why you need to be aware of those who are still around you," Ino turned a look at her, "Despite knowing your ass for a reputation they still like you. I really wonder if some of our guys are purely dedicated or just masochists. Even our former senpais are after you, Sakura."
"Now you're overstating!" Sakura chuckled but Ino had something else to say anyways.
"It's partly your fault anyways." She finally stated airily that got Sakura's attention.
"What?" she turned a confused look at the blonde girl who was always the expert between the two of them. "How come it's my fault?"
"Well, let me see," Ino gave a mocking 'I have no idea' shrug and then boom— "You're still available."
"Ha?!" an interjection was not enough to describe Sakura's surprise.
"That's just it— you don't have a proper boyfriend!"
"Why does it sound so insulting when you say it like that?"
The two had walked out of the market into the empty street of the village where they stopped to face one another. Ino had been known to be blunt especially when it comes to feelings. Sakura knew it was bound to come from her sooner.
"Why don't you just give one of them a chance, huh? It won't kill you to have one or two or three out of many, Sakura." She winked at her friend. "I mean I still have some of them after me and I have a boyfriend."
"Are you sure you should be telling me this?" it was Sakura's time to grin, "Does Sai know about this?"
Ino dismissed the thought. "Of course he does. He's taking it pretty coolly knowing his girlfriend is being chased around."
"Sai's okay with it?" Sakura blinked in surprise.
"Sure," Ino shrugged, "unless those reports I heard about weird ink shadows hunting those who had given me the eye, then I guess he's fine with it in his own way. I'm supposed to meet him at 5."
Sakura chuckled softly at the thought and reminded herself to ask Sai. She knew the man pretty well and is really unlikely to be on any physical combat to fight Ino's suitors. But she had heard about those blank lines hunting several men. Maybe Sai really is not okay with it at all.
"Anyway, Sakura..." Sudden change of atmosphere made the pink haired girl pause as Ino stopped for a second, before sighing and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Don't you think you've waited long enough? I mean, Sakura give yourself a break. I know you're still waiting for him."
Sakura felt like she was given a jolt. Waited... long enough...?
"It's fine to wait for him, really... but all this time... for once at least, why don't you give others a shot?"
The look she must have on her face was pure hesitation or much worse because all of a sudden, the blonde ninja's voice softened as she tapped her shoulder.
"Okay, I understand more than anyone... about Sasuke-kun.Y- You don't have to cry..."
Sakura didn't reply and Ino was left to watch her friend until there was nothing left to do but embrace her friend when tears started falling down her cheeks.
Sakura felt pathetic as she went home around dusk with her cheeks flushed but already dried of tears. Ino made sure she was no longer crying before the two of them separated ways. On the way home, Sakura decided not to be gloomy about the thought of Sasuke, even berating herself to be such a weakling when it comes to him. Then she realized there was no helping it and so went home depressed all the same.
Upon reaching the foot of the stairs towards her apartment, Sakura noticed her mailbox was full again. This did not add to her mood as she took all of them up and brought it with her in her apartment. Once inside, she dropped a couple of letters from unknown ninjas on the living room table and took the important ones with her in the kitchen table. There she dropped her groceries and tied her hair again to prepare for dinner.
It was around 7 in the evening when her door bell rang.
"Wait a sec!" she called, turning the stove on and wiping her hands on the kitchen towel. Who it was didn't bother her—only the people who'd feel like visiting her around this time are those closest to her like Naruto, Sai, Ino, Lee—the gang.
Most of the time Naruto would knock at her door at the latest of the nights, asking her stupid questions which mainly centers about Hinata. Sakura had accepted the fact that she was Naruto's only confidences when it comes to things like this but seriously, she thought when her hand touches the doorknob, what's the faintest chance that Hinata would reject him?
And if it's not about Hinata... it usually is about food.
"Seriously, I told you many times to give me a heads up if you plan to visit me, Naruto—!"
She opened the door but there was no Naruto there. Only a man in light brown poncho cloak with a hood that covers half his body with dark blue high neck shirt inside, his head covered with purple sash that keeps his black hair up, his face clean despite the snow covering his head and shoulders. Eyes endearing and still as what she remembers it to be.
Her voice falters as she locks gaze with him—there was no doubt—
"S-Sasuke-kun!?" Funny, the voice doesn't seem to belong to her. The possibility was blowing her mind out that all she could do was stare at him.
It is Uchiha Sasuke, standing aptly on her door way.
"Sakura." He says in that low voice she thought had deepened a little since she last saw him. He was still dark, and aloof by the looks of it, yet... here he was, the same Sasuke she had longed for.
And before she let the dream slip by, Sakura did the only thing she could think of. She grabbed his hand. His only hand. He didn't disappear. Her lips trembled. It wasn't a dream this time. The dream was no more it nearly made her gasp.
Sasuke seemed a bit taken by her gesture but he didn't pull his hand back. In the long moment that she couldn't say any word did the man whisper a little.
"I'm back."
Sakura's grip on his hand tightened.
"You jerk." She whispered as she snaked her arms around his neck into an embrace. "You jerk, Sasuke!"
She clung on him and all she wanted him to do was to hold her back. Her dreams about him had all been cut short and if not, filled with his dead body and his red eyes... they were terrifying.
She thought her body trembled and he must have felt it too for he then put his arm around her waist and embraced her. Despite the cold, something warm enveloped the two that had nothing to do with the left stove in the kitchen burning on.
*TBC*
A/N: A pretty nice start I think. Two chapters to go!
And if Kishi-sensei doesn't really know how to make a 'love story' he'd better leave it to us ff writers! xD
Or not.
Thanks for reading!