I switched around some characters, in the last chapter. Enjoy.
Chapter 2: Conversations
Sakura woke up at six a.m. looked at her clock, remembered Gaara, and groaned into her pillow. It wasn't as though she was being noble trying to work on so many cases all the time. It was just that she didn't know what to do with herself without work. She could clean but her apartment was kept in a strange state of organized chaos. There were always file left everywhere in her apartment, but never were they left strewn all over tables. Even with her few years of detective work she knew better than to mix up files like that. She supposed she could go to the gym, but dismissed the thought it was to early in the morning for her to be hit on be sweaty, over-confident morons, who would sell their own mothers soul for a cheap whore. She chewed the inside of her check. Well… she supposed she could sleep in a little more, it was rare for her to ever get such time to herself, and so she might as well do her body a favor. She closed her eyes expecting to just lie there thinking, but the minuet her body relaxed she was out cold.
She woke up again feeling groggy and exhausted, yet alert and well rested all at once. She force open her eyes and glanced at her clock. 11:00 a.m. ?! Oh man, she thought maybe I really should rest more. With a sigh she pushed herself up. No she thought again. She couldn't risk that, or stand it for that matter. Work was the only time she could really think. The only time she was able truly block out everything but the criminal she was chasing. It was one of the reason why she transferred from med school to the police academy. Well that an she was much to hotheaded to run from room to room, and fight with stubborn family members over what was best for the patient, and what they wanted for the patient. Sakura lazily undressed and walked to the bathroom for a quick shower, and briefly remembered the day the told Tsunade, the Dean of Medicine, about her leaving.
"What the hell do you mean you're leaving?!"
"Um…that I'm not going to be able to finish my internship…because I'm transferring to the police academy..?"
Another vase crashed into the wall.
"WHY????"
"…I dunno….fate I guess,"
Funnily enough Haruno Sakura found herself in the hospital bed much longer than she'd thought she'd be. It worked out in the end though she thought smiling. And it did indeed. Tsunade had been the one to hold her and tell her how proud she was of her, like any mother would. Well any good mother. Drying her pink hair Sakura reprimanded herself for such a thought. "Maybe mom wasn't the best mother," she told herself "but she kept you, fed and a roof over your head, and lots of moms just abort, or give away their babies at that age." She shook a pale wet finger at her reflection as though scolding a small child. She shed her towel, and dressed herself in some casual clothes. She waltz into her kitchen, opened the fridge and nearly puked. She really needed to be home more often. Half the food in there was molding and expired. Alright, she thought this will be the first thing I'll do. And so she did emptying all the little blue fuzzy things that had found a home in her fridge. Once finished she sighed at the emptiness in her stomach and fridge.
"Alright!" She said triumphantly "Now to get food…. And breakfast" And so the off-duty detective tracked down the things she'd need, for her field trip. Her badge and gun (because god knows that she'd get jumpy without it near) her car keys, and an obnoxious orange wallet, that her brother had gotten her for her sixteenth birthday. Well in all technicality, they weren't biological siblings. But he was Jiraiya's grand-nephew, (who was incidentally Tsunade's on-again-off again boyfriend) and that was how they met. Through a surrogate mother who'd filled the empty spot in their lives. Her car pulled into a parking space at the farthest end of the parking lot. She yawned, getting out of the car, and locking the doors. Her worn sneakers squeaked slightly as she entered the supermarket, and grabbed a cart. Sakura was surprisingly adept at finding the best prices on things, but then again she spent most her childhood learning these thing so that she and her mother could get by on what little they had. A chill ran down her spine as she realized how good it felt not to walk in there dirty and alone, because her mother had "friends" to attend to. Friends she shook her head.
Why was she thinking of her mother so much anyway? She hadn't seen or heard from her in years…..That's why then. The little voice in her head said. You haven't seen her in so long, maybe it's time for a quick visit. You haven't seen her since you graduated high school early. How old were you sixteen? The same age your mother was when she had you… Sakura shook her head. What was with the bouts of nostalgia today? Shaking her head she bagged a few apples, and then thought for a second and pulled one out, biting into it with a crisp crunch. She savored the flavor of the golden apple in delight. "..um.. e-excuse me miss…You can't d-do that." Said pinkette looked over to see a man younger than herself, looking terrified and defiant. "What're you gonna do 'bout it punk?" she said slurring her words slightly. He looked taken aback but held his stand "You have to pay for that f-first.. s-store policy." "Is it now?" " 'Ey what's going on here?" Now a face Sakura knew very well stepped forward. Satou Goro. He was a short balding man of fifty who'd inherited the store from his father. He and Sakura had a history though. He knew about her home life, and often tried to send her back with a few extra items, free of charge. Not that she let him though. Well that wasn't exactly true, sometimes if they really needed it she'd relent. "boy, how many times have I told you, not to bother the damn costumers-" Skura lughed and said "Hey asshole let the boy be. He was just following your policy. And kid what are you planning to when you leave high school?" He was startled at her question, but answered. "I'm joining the police," She chuckled. "Good the force could use you. Just remember the crooks in this town ain't as easy goin' as an off duty cop." This kids way to easy to startle, Sakura thought. "Y-you're a cop?" "Yea check it out," She pulled out her badge. "I'm a lady of the law so, don't worry kid." She took another bite an turned to leave. "Hey, don't worry 'bout Goro he's a softy on the inside." She chuckled again as he protested, but walked away, looking for the last of her groceries, when a male voice sounded behind her. "you know I think the idea of a supermarket is to pay before you pig out." Sakura turned and cocked an eye-brow. "Did you not just see my inspiring scene back there?" He turned but Goro and the kid had already gone, and so he turned back and replied.
"Actually I didn't should I have?"
"Eh.. I suppose not."
"Well actually I did see a young man looking quiet terrified as you talked to him. I didn't realize there was a new crazy with stealing apples."
"Oh of course that and crystal meth."
"Huh, you don't say," He smirked at that, and Sakura took in his appearance. He was a head taller than her, with crystal clear eyes and long, dark brown hair. He had a nice build too, lean and muscular, but not to muscular as to where it was disgusting.
"Like what you see?"
"Damn, I was hoping you wouldn't use that cheesy line."
"Oh? Well then how about this. I bet you twenty dollars that I can kiss you on the mouth without touching your lips."
"Sorry I don't kiss on first dates."
He chuckled. "A supermarket is a strange place for a date."
"And you're a strange man to date."
"Ouch so are we dating now? I had no idea. It helps to tell a guy these things."
This time she laughed, enjoying herself.
"Sorry I don't date girls."
At this he stepped forward raising a brow elegantly.
"I can assure that I am all man. Right here as a matter of fact, or maybe you'd prefer you're place." He lowered his voice eyes glinted madly, with a devilish intent.
"Please tell me your not seriously trying to score in a supermarket. That's just pathetic."
"I thought this was your idea of a date. My name's Neji by the way."
"Sakura."
"Ah, after your hair I suppose?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Look buddy, see that girl over there, I think she's more your type." Sakura pointed to a young curvaceous, woman who was the definition of pretty.
He glanced at her uninterested. "But I like you so much better."
Sakura looked away smiling and she realized…blushing. "Sadly though my dear, I have to leave you." She looked back at him, as he tore out a piece of paper. "Here's my number, call me up any time." She took it slightly stunned. "We're not dating though." He smirked again "That doesn't mean we never will."
"you're crazy" she said laughing. "About you." He murmured. She looked away blushing, "I take it back, you're not crazy you're insane." But when she looked back he was gone.
"Men!" she said, but she was still smiling, as she glanced down at the paper he'd given her. "It's probably a fake number" she murmured to herself….but… "Excuse me, dearie, can I get through?" A little old lady asked. Smiling Sakura moved out of the way and left to pay. " 'Ey Taro take a break I'll help this little lady." Goro came forward, and scanned her items as they made small talk. As he finished up he said, "Sakura, I saw your mom the other day, an' she didn' seem to be doin' to well, maybe you should go see her." Sakura sighed, "Yeah maybe." She paid, and made her way to the car. Finishing off her apple as she did so. She drove down familiar roads, to a place she hadn't seen in years. She and her mom had lived in the crappy apartment building before, her for years. And her mom still lived there even after Sakura offered, to buy her a house. She remembered that day well.
"Mom, look this places a dump, I can easily afford a new place for you."
"Sakura don't even try to lie, I know that a new place would really be pushing it on your pay."
"Okay, so maybe not a new place, but-"
"No Sakura. Besides all my costumers are here."
"Costumers?! Mom come on, that's disgusting!"
That conversation had not gone well, not that it had gone well. The thing was that the only way Sakura's birth mother thought she could support herself, was through prostitution. And that was not exactly the most inspiring thing as a kid, especially in high school, where everyone would jeer, and ask "Yo Sakura, how good's your mom." or 'Hey Sakura, did your mom teach you, any tricks?" those taunts tormented her through out her life. God nostalgia would kill her one day. She marched up to her childhood home and tentatively. What lay on the other side would give her the shock of a lifetime.
