A/N: Okay, I know last chapter was probably pretty boring. I deeply apologize. I was typing really late and..well, I shouldn't of been. 'Cause when I'm tired and typing, I produce crap. Obviously. Now I know and won't do that again. I promise. I really think this chapter is much better. But I need you guys to review and tell me!!
Disclaimer: Tch, you'd have to be crazy to think I could handle the pressure of owning something like Naruto. I can barely handle owning a cellphone.
Chapter 3-- Different But the Same
As soon as she was around the corner, she broke down crying into her small delicate hands. Pale pink hair curtained her face and was stuck to her wet cheeks. Slowly, she croutched down against a wall behind her. People walking by would give her a sad or sympathetic look. Some had already seen the Uchiha and understood her reasons for crying. Others have not and just tried to ignore her sobs.
After some time, she lifted herself and tried to make her way to the hospital to take her mind off of it all. Jeez, Sakura! Pull yourself together! You got over him years ago! What's with all the crying now!? Her inner-self yelled. 'I don't know.. It's so overwhelming.. I'm sure I would have still cried, unfortunately, if had just returned. But did you see how he looked!? The spikes, the makeup, the clothes-' I know, it was hot. Spicy hot! 'HUH!?!? No! Not like that! He.. was so different.. I never would have guessed. And I felt so stupid. I couldn't say anything. What could I say?' That you think he's awesomely hot and all yours. Duh. And to think people call you smart. Tch, moron.
The cherry blossom brushed her shoulder-length locks behind her ears and continued her way into the hospital lobby. She could officially take him off her mind for awhile. Well, she kind of had to since a good 20 ninjas were in bad shape. Sakura swiped up the accident report on the desk in front of her and narrowed her eyes at a few nins being carried upstairs in stretchers. 'Idiots. Who in the right mind chases a monkey in a dense forest just because it spit on them? Then, steps on a cracked branch and lands straight onto a bunch of sharp branches below. Even worse, the geniuses behind the falling guy trip and fall with him.. People these days..'
Rolling her eyes, she went up the stairs and made sure all the monkey chasers were doing okay. Just then, she turned around to be face to face with none other than Kakashi, himself. "Hello, Sakura. You seem quite busy today." He smiled beneath his mask. "Yeah. Another strenuous day of work. What brings you here?" The former-sensei gave her a confused look then asked, "Did you forget already? Today I was due for a couple of shots. Remember? That poison on last week's mission stuck to me pretty bad." "Oh! Sorry, must've slipped my mind. Here, let's go into an empty room. Too much chaos with this group here now." She sighed and led him into a room down the hall. As soon as she started to inject one of the many shots needed, he shocked her with a few simple words. "So, what do you think?" The young apprentice to Tsunade took a second and replied, "Nothing major. You'll be okay once I'm done with this vaccine." He stared at her deeply. "Not about the poison. About him." She shook a bit a stabbed the next needle in a bit harder than needed, causing the grey-haired man to wince. "I don't know who you're talking about." She plainly lied. "I see. Sakura dear, you never were a good liar. Just listen to me." he lowered his voice almost to a whisper. "I've been spying on him the past few weeks. I never spoke of it to anyone. He's not as bad as he looks. Actually, he's quite friendly. The boy barely bothered any of the henchmen in Oto. Though, he didn't talk unless necessary." She quickly cleaned up the injection site. "Alright. I'm through. T-thank-you for coming. Don't..d-d-on't eat.." she was on the verge of tears. "..a-anything fo-for an hour." Her hand clasped her mouth as she tried to stop her loud cries.
Kakashi pulled her into a tight hug and rested his head on top of hers. "It's okay. Trust me. Stay strong, you'll be alright." He rubbed her back and looked down at her. Over the years, she had matured quite alot. Her body gave into beautiful curved, her forehead wasn't huge anymore and she was better at controlling her emotions. The jounin was very proud of her and took care of her like a daughter at times. Now, was one of those times.
He started to laugh as she sniffed with her dripping nose. "Heh, I must look like a little brat right now. Crying over something as pathetic as this." He said nothing, just hugged her one last time and sent her home. Tsunade understood and let her take the day off.
A cool breeze swept at her feet and dried her swollen eyes. Slowly, she trudged home. On the way, she stopped and gasped. "Oh no," She screwed her emeral eyes shut. "He's gonna know."
"What the hell?" The large mansion door closed behind him. His coal eyes scanned the room, not a speck of age or dirt was there. Surely, over his extended leave, some sign of dust had to be around. Yet, oddly enough, it was spotless. He whipped around the empty mansion to find everything perfect, like a maid was here everyday. 'But how could someone get in? And who?' He smirked lightly and headed back out the door with the Uchiha fan engraved on it.
Sasuke's pace was at ease as he made his way into town. The fridge at home was completely empty. That means no tomatoes. So of course he had to get some. No way would Uchiha Sasuke live without his daily tomato. Grocery shopping was plenty annoying. Every single living organism was staring at him. Though he sort of understood how odd it must've looked to see a person like him grocery shopping, or out when the sun was up. He tried to ignore the stares and whispers and snatched up a dozen tomatoes and other foods. Then, more tomatoes. This would surely last him a month or so. Gathering his puchases from the quivering cashier, he retreated back home.
The sky was becoming a dark mixture of reds and oranges and shadows came out to play. Shuffling down the road ahead of him, he spotted a familiar pink-haired nin. She looked alarmed after noticing him walking towards him, and her having to cross his path to reach home. Though, it's not like anyone was there for her.
They both slowed to a stop in front of each other in total silence. Sakura was first to speak. "Hey.. Uhm, w-welcome home." "Hn." She dared to look up at his face to meet his dark orbs, eyeliner surrounding them. Oddly enough, it looked really good on him. Not feminine at all. He was staring down at her, letting his mind take in how much she had changed since he left. He liked the change. Plenty. But never did he show it. "Well, I-I guess I'll-" "Dinner." he interrupted. "Huh?" "Come to dinner." He was very forward about it. If this had happened when she was younger, she'd have dropped dead in delight. Now she wasn't even sure whether or not to accept his offer. Pfft, more like demmand. "Uuhh.. Sure." Sakura quietly replied, so he could barely hear her. He handed her a small bag of tomatoes and led her to his home.
Sakura was worried. 'Did he notice? He had to expect the place to be filthy!' Her mind panicked when he spoke up in the kitchen. In a monotone voice he said, "When I came home, I was confused. Not one bit of dust was here." He started to put the food away. Then continued. "I bet it was the dust fairy." She wanted to laugh and roll around on the floor. He sounded so serious! Sasuke interrupted her inner-laughing. "Turkey and potatoes?" "What? Oh, sure. Yeah." 'I know he's talking, but he seems even quieter than when he was 12.' That doesn't even make sense! ' You! Go away! Not nooow!!!' Fine, fine. I understand. I'm not wanted here.. sniff sniff. I'll be back! 'Just go.'
The green-eyed beauty carefully sat down at the table she had secretly cleaned yesterday, as she did once a week before his return, and inhaled the delicious smell of cooked turkey and gravy-smothered mash potatoes. 'Yummm.' Out of the kitchen he appeared, two dishes topped with fresh food. "Thank you. It looks amazing." She politely commented. "Hn." She giggled at his old habits of the one-word responses.
Throughout the meal, she asked about his years in Oto. He told her of the tiny, enclosed box called his room, the stupid nins that wouldn't shower for weeks, the gross unidentified blobs called food, and even the times Orochimaru tried to "touch" him. Again, she couldn't help but notice how shy he seemed. On the outside he seemed rough, evil and deadly, but when he spoke to her, it was like a completely different person. Then, she asked how..why.. he changed his look to what it was now.
"I dunno." He quietly started. "I just felt more comfortable like this." "I see. Now that I think about it, I've seen quite a few people dressed similar to you. Except some of them are on drugs. You're not on drugs? Are you!? If you are, I-" "I'm not." "Oh, okay. Sorry." She continued to finish her potatoes. "Psst." She looked up him staring at her. His black almost clawish nailed fingers traveled to his ear. They pulled back some of his raven hair to reveal his ear, covered in piercings. She skimmed over it with her widened eyes. "Nine piercings- Oh Kami, is that..Oh my God! It is!! Sasuke! That's a gauge!!" Sakura yelled in horror. "Really? I Thought a bird pecked a hole in my ear and left the metal holding it open." He said, tracing the silver metal in the hole. The medic-nin bagan to worry. "Sasuke, that's very dangerous. It could get infected. What were you thinking?" "I could always use another place to hold my pencils." He said with a smirk.
His deep voice gave her chills. It was almost like Kakashi's. He got up to take their plates to the kitchen, but she insisted on taking them herself. But right as she got up, she slipped on a rag on the floor. "Ooow! Damn rag.. That's where I left it Tuesday.." "What was that you said?" He stood in front of her, looking straight at her on the ground. She gulped and blushed like mad, knowing he had heard her complaints to herself. "N-nothing!" she squeaked. Right away, she lept up and snatched the dishes, running into the kitchen. He just continued smirking.
When she was done cleaning the dishes, Sakura thanked him for dinner and told him she had to leave. The hospital needed her bright and early. "Mmkay. I'll walk you out." When they were both outside, she looked up at him and smiled with glittering eyes. "I'm glad you're back. But.." her smile faded. "What?" he asked. "..Are..you here to..stay?" silence swallowed them both up. "Yes." He let his lips curl into a small and cute smile. "Glad to know. Bye, Sasuke-kun." Hearing her call him that again gave him much relief. His arms swiveled around her back, pulling her into a warm embrace. He had to blow a little hair caught in his lip piercing, but other than that, he was undeniably happy.
She was stunned at first, but gave into it and returned the hug before turning to leave. "Bye bye." he said in a weird way that made her smile again, before she became invisible in the night.
Almost skipping down the empty road, she became lost in thought about the dinner. 'He seems so different.' Totally. I didn't expect that at all. 'Same here. It was like, uhmm.. how can I describe it..? He had such an innocent sort of aura. Like a little 7 year old in a 17 year old body. Ya know?' I completely agree with you for once. 'He was so kind and shy. But I could still sense his old personality in there. He is Sasuke, after all.' Wow, he's hot. That gauge was, too. 'Stop it! I don't need to think about him like that!!' Too late. Look, we're home. Now go to bed. Tomorrow I have to bother you more about this!
Sakura sighed in defeat as she fell onto her bed and fell asleep, unaware that a certain raven-haired friend was just about to do the same.
Alrighty! I have completed chapter 3 and I'm ready for chapter 4!! Woohoo! Hey Frumpy, go get some ginger ale and mm's so we can celebrate!!! Readers: please review and tell me what you thought was bad or good and what i should improve on to keep you reading. I really need to know so I don't disappoint you! Feel free to request anything to happen in the story. Thank you all!