What I Wanted

Chapter 3: Team 7

Summary: sasuxsaku She weaved her bloody fingers in his. "We won't tell, will we?" "No, we won't, Sakura." This is our story, Sasuke's and mine.

------------------------------

"Sakura, stop being so selfish," he states coolly. "I'm not here to hold your hand anymore. I'm here to tell you something."

My heart beats fast. What is he thinking? Didn't he embrace me just today? I know I don't want to hear the words that slip so easily out of his mouth next.

"I'm leaving this place."

Please, no. Stay with me.

------------------------------

Honestly, I have no idea what to say next.

What I do say is unintelligent and quite annoying.

"… Huh?"

Before I can even finish breathing out my reply, the youngest Uchiha has already turned his back and left me.

I never thought I'd see him again.

------------------------------

I'm listlessly spinning the kunai around my calloused finger again. I should get out of this habit.

It's been two years, and I haven't seen anything that is remotely related to him.

Uchiha Sasuke.

Konoha has been making "desperate efforts" to find him, but all I see are pathetic humans who could care less about Sasuke.

I want to hurt them, I want to scream at them, I want to tell everyone how important he is to me, but I can't.

It hurts so much inside that it hurts just to breathe.

Before, at least I could watch him from across the training grounds. At least I knew that he was that close to me that I could feel his breath on my skin.

But when I turn around to the breeze of air over my neck on a summer night, my hopeful eyes only find the wind. Not Sasuke.

How could it be so easy to forget me?

Why did he let me suffer by myself?

Why couldn't he just look at me like he loved me that night?

Today is two years from that summer night when a black-haired boy told a pink-haired girl that he was leaving. Today is two years from that summer night when he broke her heart and stabbed her dreams until she was left bleeding.

But today is also the day that she's going to forget about him.

When the breeze greets me today, I don't turn around. I'm not expecting anything, but my body still instinctively tenses and waits. The seconds drag by, but of course, no one is there to grab my arm and fulfill my world with one glance.

I sigh and fling the kunai toward the ominous canopy of trees in the distance and climb off the roof.

------------------------------

Iruka-sensei is announcing some useless information about being a Genin.

Screw this. I only want to find Sasuke. I don't need a team.

Hold on, I said I would forget him.

But that team is just going to hold me back.

"Team 7…"

Sensei pauses and looks up at me.

Strategies to find Sasuke are involuntarily running through my mind when sensei throws a chalkboard eraser at me.

"OW!"

"Team 7… Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, and…"

Sensei pauses again here, but he isn't looking at me this time.

Every individual in the graduating class turns in their seats and crane their necks to stare at a lone boy in the corner.

His face and ink black eyes spill no emotions at all. In fact, he wouldn't be much different if he didn't have a face. When Iruka-sensei asks for his name, the single syllable that leaves his mouth is indescribable.

"Sai."

While the whole class is whispering about the nobody in the corner, I am in shock.

I can just see Sasuke's features all over him. His straight, but gentle facial expression that is well-practiced in hiding feelings. Those skilled hands that are evidently familiar with the touch of a weapon.

Those eyes that I have always been drawn to, but afraid to look into.

Who is he?

------------------------------

Finally, after assigning everyone to their appropriate Genin teams, Iruka-sensei directed each group of three to a separate classroom to wait for their new sensei.

That was three hours ago.

The sun is steadily sinking, leaving a lingering blood red color in the sky. For three hours, Naruto incessantly chattered to me about how happy he was about being on the same team. Somehow, I ignored him for every second of it.

Actually, I know why I could ignore that talking machine.

Sai.

He mesmerized me with his similarity to Sasuke.

Stop thinking about Sasuke.

Even though my stare did not waver for those three hours, Sai never once looked at me. His soft expression was always toward the ground, as if he were a statue.

Just as Naruto starts complaining that he is thirsty, a sleepy, masked Jounin strolls in.

We are speechless. After three hours of just Naruto and Sai, I thought the rest of the world had been consumed by a huge pit.

"I'll be your instructor. Hatake Kakashi," he states in a monotone.

As he turns to leave, Naruto yells, "KAKASHI-SENSEI! Let's all get to know each other!"

This was how I was introduced to Kakashi-sensei and the nightmares, pain, and sanctuaries of Team 7.

------------------------------

After much persuasion on Naruto's end to force the mysterious Jounin to properly introduce himself, we seated ourselves on the balcony of the academy.

"I'm Hatake Kakashi. I will be your new instructor. State your likes, dislikes and dreams."

"That's not fair, sensei! You go first!" Naruto pouts.

The masked man smiles in a disturbing way under his tight mask. "What do I like? I like Come Come Paradise. What do I dislike? Hmmm… a lot of things. Dreams…"

As he trails off thoughtfully, I can only hear the scattering of leaves.

For once, Naruto recognizes an awkward situation. "I'll go next! I'm Uzumaki Naruto! I like…" He blushes. "Sakura-chan and ramen! I dislike selfish bastards. As for dreams, I'm going to be the next Hokage!" Naruto announces proudly.

My turn.

Don't say Sasuke, don't say Sasuke.

"My name is Haruno Sakura. I like…"

…Uchiha Sasuke.

Something else, something else.

Forget Sasuke, forget Sasuke, forget…

"Sai."

Why can't I think of a better replacement?

------------------------------

Notes: I never thought I'd be able to write such a long chapter :O

I know some of the quotes don't match what actually happens in the manga, but I'm too lazy to look it up xx And yes, I really do think Sai and Sasuke look alike! It's scary XD

Many many many thanks to all reviewers!

Special thanks to Miss Dace: I'll get to there relationship straight in the end… somehow! Thank you for your uber helpful reviews :D