In the morning I dragged myself out of bed, took a shower, and got cleaned up. I opened my fridge to look for breakfast when there was a knock on my door.
If this is Sasuke, I may just have to punch his stupid gorgeous face in… it's too damn early for me to deal with him.
When I opened the door I saw Ino standing on the other side.
"Good morning Sakura-chan! My mom's watching the shop today so I thought we could have breakfast together." Ino smiled holding up a bag.
I smiled at her excitedly and ushered her inside.
"Oh! I see you got Sasuke-kun's flower. I thought it was odd that he was buying something other than a rose so I was wondering who the lucky girl was. Have you confessed to him yet?" Ino asked pulling things out of the bag while I grabbed plates and utensils.
"No. I'd rather just forget that I even like that stupid flirt." I huffed folding my arms across my chest.
Ino smiled sweetly at me. I changed the subject and started talking to her about the last couple days. She told me she hadn't even noticed I was a different Sakura so I told her all about the other Ino and how no matter where I go, I'm always under her care. I also got Ino to give me more information about the bathhouse incident. She told me that the other Sakura let Ino hide behind her. I was happy to hear that since I knew I would have done the same thing and she mentioned that all the boys ran in wearing just their towels too and they were only in the room for barely a minute so no one really saw anything. And if anyone was exposed, it would have been Hinata, not me.
The last part made me kind of jealous, I would have liked to have seen Sasuke wearing just his towel…
Ino mentioned that the other Sakura and Naruto had tried to defend Lee and they were both mortified when they discovered he was wearing Tenten's underwear. That made me feel a tad guilty. I guess in the other world, Lee and Neji aren't total perverts… I may have treated them a bit too harshly then… oh well, that's the other Sakura's problem, not mine. It's only fair that I leave her with at least one mess to clean up considering all the trouble she caused for me.
Knowing what I do now, I may have over reacted yesterday… I should probably apologize to Sasuke… not that I really want to or anything… it's still embarrassing…
After breakfast I headed outside with Ino. She left to go meet up with Shikamaru and Chouji while I wandered around for a bit. I found Sasuke in his usual spot surrounded by girls, he had one in each arm with at least ten more crowding around and fighting over him. Every single one of them was holding a different flower.
That bastard! He didn't take a goddamn word of what I said yesterday to heart!
"Yo! Sakura!" Sasuke said, letting go of the girls and coming towards me. "What's up?"
"I wanted to apologize for yesterday… I spoke to Ino and I may have over reacted…" I mumbled, trying not to show my annoyance with him.
"It's alright, I understand how you might have gotten the wrong impression." Sasuke nodded, smiling at me.
"Right. I'll see you later." I said starting to walk off before I snapped at him for being an idiot.
"Sakura, wait." Sasuke said pulling out an arbutus flower.
Considering all the girls here have their own unique flower now, this no longer makes it special, it just pisses me off. Really pisses me off! I also don't think he knows what the meaning behind flowers are… unless he does and just wants to give each of them false hope… either way, he's a filthy no good bastard! I hate this stupid flirty Uchiha! Absolutely hate him!
"I don't want it." I growled viciously, keeping my back to him as I clenched my fists.
"Is an arbutus no good anymore? I can get you a different type if that'd be better." He asked me confused.
"I shouldn't have to explain it you! Stupid Uchiha!" I snapped bitterly, storming off.
I didn't want to go home so I decided to take a long walk around the village in an attempt to blow off steam and try to get my mind of that idiotic flirt.
"Ah! Hero's daughter, Sakura!" a villager called out to me waving.
"Yes?" I asked walking over to her, calming down.
"Thank you for what you told the children. My son and his little friends have been working much harder now a days trying to be more like you. Here, take this as thanks." She smiled at me and handed me a bag.
"What I told them?" I asked confused, taking it from her.
"I'm not surprised you don't remember, to you it was probably a bit insignificant. But you told the children to study hard, train hard, and have resolve. Since then my boy has begun doing his homework and chores without having to be told and according to the other parent's, their kids are too." She smiled brightly at me.
I don't remember that, it must have been the other Sakura who said it… maybe she's not that bad after all… that's basically what I would have told them too…
"That's wonderful! I'm glad to hear it!" I smiled back at her, thanked her for the cake and then began to head home.
When I got back to my house Itachi Uchiha was waiting outside for me.
"Hi Sakura. Sasuke told me you were back." He said smiling at me.
"Yeah, I got back the other night. Tsunade told me about the Akastsuki's involvement, thank you for helping out." I said smiling back at him.
Sasuke Uchiha may have been an annoying idiotic perverted flirt but his older brother was much different. Itachi was very kind towards me, looking after me occasionally, apologizing when Sasuke screws up majorly and I'm left cleaning up his mess; Itachi was like an older brother to me.
"Sure. I just came by to make sure you were doing okay and that you weren't having any adverse side effects from being on the other side or anything."
"No, nothing of the sort." I said shaking my head.
"Good, glad to hear it. Sasuke was worried about you." he smiled.
"So I heard…" I grumbled, scowling as I looked away from his warm caring obsidian eyes.
"Ha-ha I'm sure. I appreciate you putting up with him all the time." Itachi chuckled. "Sakura, I know it may not seem like it but… my little brother really does mean well."
"If you say so." I said rolling my eyes at him.
"Well, I should really get going. I'm glad you're doing okay. If anything changes, let me know." Itachi said, poking me in the forehead like always before walking off.
I walked into my house and put the cake in the fridge.
"Sakura!" Menma called out, tapping on my kitchen window. "Come outside."
What is it with those two? Why can't they just knock on the front door like normal people?! Sasuke always going to the door in my bedroom, Menma always knocking on windows and things… there's something wrong with them. They both have parents, they should know their manners!
I sighed heavily and walked outside; Menma jumped down off the roof ledge and came over to me.
"How are you feeling?" I asked him.
"Good. Mom said I need to thank you for coming by to see me so I was thinking we could go on a date." Menma said with a shrug as he stood in front of me.
"Not interested." I said putting a hand on my hip.
"Oh come on, it's been awhile since we had ramen together. I'll buy." Menma offered with a playful smirk.
Does Naruto have a crush on that Sakura too? It would explain one of the reasons why Hinata was so hostile before… then again, she's always hostile. It's not my fault he likes me, or that his parents have been pressuring him to ask me out more; all because I'm a hero's daughter… maybe if Hinata would just confess to Menma properly he wouldn't have to pester me all the damn time.
"Yo, Sakura! Oh, when did you get out Naruto?" Sasuke asked walking over to us.
"…What? Did he just call me Naruto?" Menma asked looking at me confused. "Sakura, what happened while I was out?"
"It's a long story." I said shaking my head.
The three of us went to a ramen place; since Menma was still recovering we decided to be nice. Sasuke and I explained everything that had happened while he was out, the stuff that happened here and what I did over there but the entire time we talked Sasuke called Menma Naruto just to get under his skin.
"So this Naruto guy took my place and stayed with my parents? Did he do anything weird?" Menma asked giving us a slightly concerned look.
I shrugged; I wasn't here for any of it.
"No, he was just as annoying as you normally are. Although he did sleep outside on his first night here…" Sasuke said with a shrug.
"Huh? Why?" Menma asked.
"…That guy… on his side, he is the son of a hero and my parents are alive… so, maybe his old home was occupied. If Ino hadn't shown me to my house, I would have had no clue where to go and had probably slept outside too thinking I was homeless." I laughed.
"Sakura…" Menma frowned at me as I forced a smile.
I wonder if he feels lonelier too now that he's back to his normal life? Coming home to dark empty rooms, no one to greet you when you walk in or wish you off… I wish I could have met him, there's so much I'd ask him. Like does he make shadow clones on really lonely days and play cards with them and stuff too? Does he spend hours wandering the village late at night just so he doesn't have to face the suffocating loneliness of home? Does he ever walk up the Hokage Mountain just to try and feel close to his parents again?
A hand reached over and touched my cheek, wiping away a single tear from my face. I looked up startled, I hadn't even realized I'd spaced out.
Sasuke smiled sadly at me as he pulled his hand back while Menma looked worried.
"Sorry, I spaced out." I said forcing another brave smile.
These two have loving families and lots of friends, they've never gone through the painful experience of losing someone important. They don't know the pain of loneliness. Always complaining about chores and being nagged or asked to clean up… they don't know I'd do anything to have my parents back. A rock can't say goodnight or greet you at the door or hold you close when you're scared. I'm proud to be my parent's daughter but I miss them all the same… I hope that girl never takes her parents for granted because I was immensely grateful to them, granting me my greatest wish… even if it was only for a few days… I will never forget the kindness and love they showed me…
"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me…" I said quickly excusing myself from the table as more tears spilled out, raining down my cheeks.
I wiped away my tears with the back of my left hand and clutched my father's cherry blossom necklace tightly in my right hand as I glanced up at his face on the mountain. I was a hero's daughter and I was proud of it… but being proud of him and mom can't erase the heart ache in my chest or ease the pain of being alone all the time. I would give anything to just have them back… being on the other side granted me that wish but it was a farce and part of it made me feel all the more alone… my heart hurts, sometimes I just want to rip it out and never feel anything again…
"Sakura, I don't know exactly what happened to you while you were over there, but I know that Menma and I will do whatever we can to help you… so please don't cry." Sasuke said embracing me suddenly and pulling me into his chest.
Menma came over and hugged me from behind, Sasuke's arms were around my shoulders and Menma's were around my waist; I was squished in between the two in this strange group hug.
"I'm sorry, I'm fine really. I don't know what came over me all of a sudden." I apologized, wiping away the last of my tears, feeling embarrassed for suddenly crying; and in front of these two no less…
I'm the strong one on our team… I'm the one with the backbone that's always protecting them. I never let myself cry and I certainly don't do it in front of them… I hate to let these two see any kind of weakness or vulnerability from me…
"Sakura, we're a team. You can tell us anything, it's okay. Sasuke and I are here for you so let us help. You don't have to shut us out all the time." Menma scolded me gently as he held onto me tighter in an attempt to comfort me.
"It's okay to depend on us a little more Sakura." Sasuke said his voice soothing. "You're always looking after us and getting us out of trouble so it's only fair that you at least depend on us a little bit. I mean, we can't just be a constant burden to you."
"Really guys, I'm okay." I said feeling more embarrassed by the second as these two continued to hold onto me.
People walking by were starting to stare and whisper about us…
"You guys… people are staring…" I whined, wishing they'd let go.
"So? Let them stare." Sasuke said, resting his chin on my head.
"Sakura! What the fuck did I tell you?!" Hinata screamed.
"Uh oh." I somehow managed to spin around and shove Menma away as Hinata looked infuriated, rushing towards us.
"Hm? Oh hey Hinata." Menma said glancing over at her and giving her a small wave in acknowledgment.
When she saw Menma she looked a bit less angry but she was still pissed. Sasuke let go of me and grabbed my hand, interlocking our fingers.
"Later Naruto!" Sasuke called out before rushing off and dragging me along with him.
"Will you quit calling me that?" Menma growled, glaring at Sasuke as we ran off.
Sasuke didn't stop running until we were miles away from her and Menma. He let go of my hand and grinned at me. We were standing on the steps halfway up Hokage Mountain.
"Hopefully Menma can calm her down." Sasuke said sitting down on a step to catch his breath. "You should tell him not to touch or hug you in public anymore. It's too dangerous."
"I think I need to tell both of you that." I grumbled sitting down next to him.
"What? Why me? What did I do?"
"Your fan girls get jealous, yah know." I snapped, glaring at him. "Honestly, both of you… always so problematic…"
"Sorry Sakura. We don't intend to cause you trouble…" Sasuke apologized. "I know! Let me take you out on a date to make up for it." He grinned at me.
"Not interested." I huffed.
What is with these two and asking me out? How many times do I have to tell them no?
"Aw, how come?" He pouted.
"…Sasuke… don't ask me out anymore." I said standing up and taking a few steps forward so my back was to him. "I only… want to be asked out by someone who is truly serious about me…"
I couldn't believe I was actually saying this to him. Part of me got really happy whenever he asked me out, but… my heart can't take his fickleness anymore. I need to move on and get over him…
"I don't want your flowers, I don't want to hear your flirty lines… I don't want to be like those other girls of yours Sasuke… I want someone that just loves me and only me… so, I'd appreciate it if you stopped… because, love's not a game to me… it's something I take very seriously… it's not something I've ever really experienced. Unlike you and Menma, I don't have a family… I had to make all of my bonds and connections and I have to struggle to keep those bonds that I've created… because, it's all I have left… I want someone to love me, just me, unconditionally… I want someone that won't make me fight for their attention, someone that won't betray my trust, or allow me to feel lonely… a person that just wants to be with me because they love only me…"
I bit my lip and ran down the steps, running as fast as I possibly could. I didn't want to hear his response because… I was afraid of either getting rejected completely or that he'd just give me another stupid line… and I really didn't want him to see my face right now… I was dangerously close to crying again… but, I was also glad that I'd managed to tell him how I really feel for the first time in my life. Once I started, it was actually easy to tell him the truth… I may love Sasuke, but more than anything I want somebody that I can call my very own… and I want someone that will in turn call me his.
