Beta-reader: Terror-Of-The-Crimson-Night

Chapter: Three – The Choice

Type: Mini-Story – Complete

Word Count: 1,655

Disclaimer: If you've heard of it, then it's obviously not mine.

Note: This was originally supposed to be five chapters but when I finished this chapter it felt complete as it was. So I may or may not go back and turn the whole thing into a one-shot. Until then it will stay in this mini-mini story/three-shot format.

My apologies for the not so great ending, when I edit I'll probably end up revising as well to make it better.

..:Xx0o0xX:..

Sakura stretched a little, her hands clasped with the palms toward the ceiling as she reached above her head. She didn't yawn though. She wasn't tired, slightly exhausted, but not tired and perhaps worn as well. Today had been a long day, the staff wasn't quite on its toes and because of it some of the nurses had asked for the day off to handle things on the home front. The rosette hadn't minded sticking around to make sure all the ends were met for the day. But it was getting late and she was thinking about clocking out, especially since the past week had been pretty mellow.

She let her long arms fall to her sides when she saw her former sensei walking towards her. With a blink and a tilt of her head, she waited for the older woman to reach her. What could her Shishou possibly want at this time of night?

The blonde haired woman came to a halt in front of the younger girl. Her hazel eyes were bespoke her lack of sleep but they also seemed bright with something and Sakura was immediately curious. "Hello, Shishou. I wasn't aware that you were here?"

She quirked an eyebrow, mischief glinting in those eyes of hers, "Really? You know I used to pretty much live here when I was your age."

Sakura frowned slightly, not sure where this was going because that was in no way a devious statement, at least not in the way that it should have been intended if it were. "Shishou?"

"You know what I think?"

"That I should go home?" The pink haired medic was always getting those firm words from her Hokage, though she rarely followed them if she could help it.

This time though, she shook her head. "Nope." And with a grin. "I think you should take a longer than one day vacation to Japan."

Sakura froze. "Japan? Vacation? Is this for some kind of mission?" Because if she'd been caught – Tsunade could be very attentive when she wanted to be, sake or no sake – then she could be in big trouble.

"Something like that. I know you've been visiting every chance you get."

Definitely caught, but the teen couldn't find the voice to say anything at all and so she remained silent. Where was Tsunade going with this? Since she was suggesting that she stay longer the possibility of trouble dwindled, but that didn't mean she was any less antsy.

"Calm down, Sakura. Your not in trouble for finding something to interest yourself with, after all there is a tournament coming up for – what was it again? Oh, yeah – duelists. Your want to join, don't you?"

"Shishou, I do but–"

"No buts, you have three weeks and then I want your ass back here and more on top of it than you expect yourself to be. Are we clear?"

All she could do was blink as he blonde mentor turned and strode down the hall. She paused only a moment and hazel eyes peered backwards to catch Sakura's eyes, "Now I want you to go home."

..:Xx0o0xX:..

And that's how she ended up back here, in Domino City, Japan, at the little shop she always went to. No one appeared to be in at the moment, and that was just fine with her, because she still hadn't fully absorbed what happened yesterday.

Her teacher had all but told her to enter the tournament. But that wasn't what she'd meant, Sakura was smart enough that she'd caught the underlying message and that was for the young girl to figure out just the hell she wanted out of her life and to pick it before she lost the chance. She marveled at how the only Senju left had gotten that point across, and how heartwarming the notion was.

But still. It was hard to believe that Tsunade had known all along, that she'd let her continue her escapades without even so much as a narrow-eyed look

That's why for once, she didn't her Joey trying to sneak up on her until he revealed himself. "Boo!"

She didn't jump in the air, not even a little but she did blink with complete and utter surprise. "Joey…wow. Nice, you managed to sneak up on me for once."

He was already sulking though. "You're not scared though."

A laugh escaped her lips as she shook her head, feeling her eyes warm at the sight of her friend. "I don't scare easy."

The rest of the quartet-turned-quintet laughed at the blonde's expanse.

Tea grinned and raised her hand to Sakura for a high-five. "Even when he wins, he losses."

"Oh, shut up." He was clearly still wallowing in his inability to scare her into reaction, slumping in a chair next to hers as he did so.

She grinned, cheekily. "If it makes you feel better I got the okay to stick around for the next three weeks."

And boy did it, it was like watching Naruto perk up completely – "How about I buy you ramen and we call it even?" – she had to say, it was quite the novelty. The others brightened as well, "Great, then you can participate."

She shook her head. "I think I'll sit this one out, you know to get the feel of it. There will be others, after all right?"

Yugi nodded, a big smile on his face – it was a nice balance to see him so unashamedly happy every once in a while, "Of course."

Tristan was cheerful in that 'I'm trying for not trying to look cool while still accomplishing it' kind of way, "And a new member to add to our group."

Sakura felt her chest fill with warmth at the comment as they all laughed and agreed. It was nice to have such carefree friends, so nice and she wanted to feel like they did with out the worries of the shinobi nations an ever present weight in the back of her mind. Tsunade's underlying message resurface 'figure out what you want' and she smiled. For once, she was being given the chance to choose what she wanted, choose to be happy, completely happy, with her life. And no matter what she chose she vowed to see the blonde woman at the very least four times a year, twelve if she could manage. Well, her and the rest of the rosette's friends and makeshift family.

..:Xx0o0xX:..

"It's nice, very homey."

The shorter boy blushed, "Thanks."

She smiled and caught him in the eye, "Nope, that's my line. Thank you so much for letting me stay with you for the next three weeks."

"Well, it's not like you can stay at a hotel or something."

"Not very logical," She conceded, "but doesn't make me any less grateful."

He nodded, clearly still self conscious about being put on the spot like that. It was just the two of them now; the others had headed for home since the sun was halfway beneath the horizon in a very pretty sunset.

She entered the house behind him, instinctively glancing around with each step, locating exists and furniture placement. Yugi's grandfather was in the living room reading, he glanced up at their entrance, "Why hello, Sakura it's good to see you."

Said girl smiled and nodded, "I hope you don't mind, I'm going to be here for the next three weeks and Yugi said I could stay."

The youngest blushed a pretty pink once more laughing nervously, "You don't mind, do you grandfather?"

"Of course not, happy to have you, I hope you feel at home."

"More than halfway there."

The three of them shared a laugh for a few moments, and Sakura had to admit she was going to like it here. Not to mention living with other people again, it would be odd, but nice. She smiled brightly at the thought, thanking the shorter boy in her head over and over. She didn't know how she was going to repay him for this.

The Moto's had a small conversation and she, for the most part, listened, interjecting only when she found it necessary or was asked to speak her mind. It was a novel experience, she'd never seen her friends interact with blood relatives before, and certainly not any as close as these two clearly were. Sure, she and her friends got along like family and she'd scene this before, but knowing that they were family, fortunate enough to have those related to them still, made it feel like something more gratifying than an every day experience.

Eventually though, it was unanimously decided that a room needed to be prepared for her because it was getting late. So Yugi led her up the stairs and pointed out what each door housed what room, "That's my room and the one just to the left of it is the guest room, for now that'll be yours."

She smiled and moved towards it, pausing for a moment. Then before she could stop herself, she spun on her heel and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. "Thanks so much, Yugi. I really appreciate all of this."

And he was blushing again, but it was scarlet this time, it made her smile widen as she headed back for her designated room.