Chapter 2
Delicate hands were glowing green with chakra over the temples of the giant orange haired man. She could sense his chakra calming and the tension gathering in his muscles easing off. So far, the progress of healing Jugo was going well.
"Jugo-san, so how was your day?" Her voice had a certain airy feel that made the big man even calmer.
"It was great. This morning I went and take a stroll by the Naka River. I must say, amidst all the rebuilding, Konoha is a beautiful place to stay, Haruno-san." He smiled.
"Of course. Well, shishou said she has this potion in the making to help you. I'm guessing your killing impulses will be quenched once and for all soon. Ne?"
"Thank you, Haruno-san."
"Hey, call me Sakura." She laid a hand on his.
"Then call me Jugo."
"You're really kind, Jugo."
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in!"
"Hoi, Jugo you ready? Hi Sakura. Looking good today." Suigetsu playfully winked at the pinkette.
"Wait a sec." Sakura fumbled through the cabinet and took out a bottle.
"There Jugo, one pill a day. It'll calm you down and keeps the rages in control. Shizune-senpai made it." She handed him the bottle. "Off you go now! Have fun!"
"Heck. It'll never be fun if you're having lunch with Karin." Suigetsu snickered.
"Shark face! I heard that!" Karin's voice was echoed from the hallway.
"Oh, tell Karin I said hi!" Sakura waved them off quick enough before she heard the bickering between the two. Sakura shook her head, amused by their antics.
Karin was released when they deemed that she was no longer a threat to the village and even allowed the whole Team Taka to stay for as long as they want- as gratitude to them helping in the war.
And then, Tsunade noticed the Jugo's rages so she offered to try and heal him, which the man, who was desperately seeking for a peaceful mind gladly accepted.
Sakura went to her desk and popped a sweet into her mouth. She then scribbled some notes on Jugo's case before fiddling with the daffodils she placed in her office room.
Those flowers reminded her so much of him. Sakura knew he was out of the hospital by now but she hasn't seen him yet- Either she was too tired or too busy to. But what made her sad was that the Uchiha hasn't even made an effort to meet her.
Maybe he really hates me? Am I too annoying? Perhaps he needs time...
"Forehead! Ready for lunch?" Ino barged in.
Sakura caressed the petals before she went out with her best friend.
"Shut up Karin. Your voice is really hurting my ears!" Suigetsu dug his ear.
"GREAT! But I much rather you be a mute!" She shouted into the white haired man's ear just to annoy him further.
"Hi, Karin. Suigetsu, Jugo."
Karin stopped walking, so does everyone else. Jugo and Suigetsu nodded at him but Karin just stood there, gaping like a fish on land.
"You guys heading for lunch?"
"Yup. Join us if you want." Suigetsu shrugged.
"Sure. Karin, I need to talk to you." Sasuke looked her in the eye.
"Hn, who gave you the idea that I want to talk to you!" Karin walked past him and headed to the restaurant they were initially walking towards.
"Just come along." Suigetsu told the obsidian eyed man.
The red head sat across Sasuke with her arms crossed, looking ever cocky.
"Karin, I'm sorry."
"You bet!" She spat.
"It was wrong of me to use you like that. Please, would you forgive me?" She saw sincerity in his sparkly obsidian eyes.
"Yeah, and for your information, WE are over!" Karin held her chin up and looked away.
"We? Oi loud mouth, you were never with Sasuke." Suigetsu mocked.
"Whatever water-mud!" Karin retorted.
"Suigetsu, just let her be." Jugo added nicely.
"So, are you guys planning to stay in Konoha?"
"Hn, no. I'm still going ahead to search for my swords. You're all welcome to join me, except you." Suigetsu showed a disgusted face to Karin.
"As if I would want to." Karin stuck her tongue out.
"I'll stay for now. The Hokage and Sakura is helping me with my impulsive killing instincts." Jugo told the group as he took a bite out of his meal.
Sasuke unconsciously gripped his cup tighter. The mention of her name tends to get little reactions out of him. Karin noticed that long ago. Mischief flickered across her eyes.
"I'll stay with you for now, Jugo." Karin said. "What about you? What's up with you?" She directed the question to Sasuke.
"Aa. I'm being monitored." Black eyes darted to the tree outside the restaurant. There sat a masked ANBU who was pretty much bored out of his mind with the duty at hand. "I still have my trial." He added.
"When are you leaving?" Jugo asked Suigetsu.
"Tonight. I guess this will be our farewell." He replied nonchalantly.
"Great! The sooner the better!" Karin laughed.
"Whatever."
"Good luck." Sasuke toasted.
"Have a safe trip." Jugo told him.
Team Take continued their meals until Sasuke spoke again.
"Guys, thank you for sticking with me."
"Heh, don't mention." Suigetsu replied.
"Yeah." The orange haired agreed.
"Oh well, besides the killing me part, it was nice." Karin mocked but she saw guilt in Sasuke's eyes. "What, to early to joke about it? Come on, I forgave you. You were crazy that time! Oh yeah, so if they'd find you guilty, what's gonna happen?" A finger twirled her red locks and her chin rested on her other hand.
"Executed, exile? Maybe life imprisonment... I don't know."
"You sound very at peace and cool for someone who could potentially face death. Ya know..." Suigetsu raised a brow.
"I deserve it."
"Oh Kami, wallowing in guilt! There's rumors going around alright, you're most likely set free. I mean, your old teammates are pretty convincing you know. Not to mention the connections they have. By the way, so you're going back to your old teammates if you're set free right?" Karin pried further.
"Nothing's certain."
"Yeah, should be. Well, Naruto'll be bloody happy. Good luck with Sakura." Yes, she was itching to mention her name to him.
The table went quiet.
"Karin, what do you mean?" Jugo asked.
"I've been here long enough to know about your past with Ms. Pinky, Sasuke." She sang.
"Ah, Sakura's a sweet girl. If bitchy Karin here can forgive you, Sakura definitely will." Suigetsu added his two cents.
"Yeah, don't worry Sasuke, Sakura has a big heart." Jugo affirmed.
Too big of a heart...
He mused.
"Clearly, you guys are left in the dark. So just be quiet. You didn't see how she cried at the bridge."
"Oh..." Suigetsu perked up, ready to listen to whatever the spectacled girl has to say.
"Let's just say, she was so broken and sad that I even cried for that poor girl." Karin left out the part where she was also partly heart broken over the fact that this handsome young lad had attempted to kill her too and acted as if she just reported about the weather and cheerfully sipped on her drink. She knew she pulled a very very long and important string in Sasuke by the way she saw his expression dropped. To put it metaphorically, his expression dropped to the bottom of the deepest ocean.
Revenge for using me as a tool! Now, we're even.
She chuckled to herself.
The pinkette saw a mob of black hair amidst the former Team Taka table in the restaurant. It was Sasuke and a smile crept onto her face when she took note that he looked healthy. She wanted to go up and greet them but decided against it when she saw the austerity Sasuke exuded when he bored into Karin's red eyes.
"Forehead! Isn't that Sasuke? Oi-" Sakura stopped Ino from calling out to him. She then gently shook her head; Ino got the message.
Combing a lock of hair behind her ear, Sakura smiled to herself and walked out of the restaurant once she's gotten her take-out. She was happy seeing Sasuke trying to right his wrongs one baby step at a time.
Once out of the restaurant, Ino tugged her arm. "Why didn't you say hi?"
"He's making amends. Give him time." She smiled to her friend.
A/N:
This chapter serves to show the aftermath of Team Taka. Hooray for Sasuke making amends with people!
Well, Karin's pretty sweet alright! I mean, if a guy uses you and even tries to finish you off, wouldn't you want to kill him too or even wish for his death? This little act of making him guilty is petty but you know, way much kinder than what Sasuke deserves in my opinion! And she forgave him!
SEE! I'm updating so frequently because I get reviews. It really encourages me... Feel so cheap sometimes! hahaha...
Hmm...I have to be honest here... maybe Sai's notebook content will appear for one more time... maybe! And this story is mainly focusing on Sasuke and Sakura... so side pairings will be a minimal... and subtle! .
Thank you mitoki-hime for the long review! And the other guest for the encouragement too!
Reviews!