16. Cut Through My Skin.
Sakura Haruno sat on the edge of her twin bed and sulked in the daylight that broke through her periwinkle curtains which were ajar to her dismay.
She yawned languidly, stretching her spine and loosening up the kink of sinews that had grown stiff overnight.
Man that feels good...
It had been a day since she and Karin had successfully undergone a surgery to revive the heart of a Rogue Nin in wartime and it seemed like an eternity since she had a good nights rest.
Hiko plopped down weightlessly at her side, tail wafting in the air..a purr rumbled in his chest as he rested his small face on the bare skin of her lap and let out the tiniest yawn of his own.
Sakura placed a hand on his head and gently began to caress the tiny kitten.
"I was so scared that I'd fuck it up Hiko..."
That cat only nuzzled against her thigh, soft feathery ears tickling her flesh. Nails prickling the comforter as he inched closer, intent on the warmth of his master.
Sakura picked up the lithe kitten and hugged him, kissing the space between his ears and sighing.
"...you don't know how happy I am...the hard parts over...the only thing left is the awakening and the sooner he get's up the sooner the hospital can stop being under surveillance...and the sooner I can stop being a celebrity.."
Sakura rolled her eyes and realized how much media this whole ordeal bought her.
Fancy samples of lube, prototype lingerie, the bouquet of roses and penis candies are starting to get on my nerves now. At first it was overwhelming but expected but now it's just a eye sore, every morning I walk in and see something at the front desk from me. Who the hell is this J. J-rya and why is stalking me...I'm not interested in doing another porno, I wasn't even interested in the first cut...
Sakura huffed with aggravation and rose to her feet, still cuddling Hiko. Hiko was such a baby, he loved to be adored and buried in Sakura's twins. It made him sleepy.
Sakura made it into the kitchen and then heard her phone rang, realizing that it was stashed in her room on her nightstand she placed down Hiko and darted off to the call.
Please be you...please..
She dove onto the bed and snatched up the phone from the stand. The caller I.D refused to give away the identity of the number and carelessly she pressed the green icon for the call to go through.
"Hello...?"
She asked and when there was no answer she spoke again.
"Is anyone there?"
Abruptly, the phone went dull and the dial tone began to drone in her ear.
She shrugged it off.
Must've had the wrong number.
She dropped her arms heavily by her side, like a broken figure and stared at the ceiling. Fingers clutching tightly at her phone.
Why do I care who's going to the wedding with me...it's just a wedding and if he doesn't call...then, he just doesn't call..and besides he has a lot on his plate. The city is crazy these day's he doesn't have time to press pause and attend some random wedding he wasn't even invited to. He wouldn't know a damn person...
I'm so selfish..
She let out a long sigh just as her phone began to rang once more, vibrating incessantly in the palm of her hand. Slowly, she turned her face to stare down at her hand.
Incoming Call...
H. Kakashi
He...he's calling me...so I wouldn't be dateless after all. Chi-HA, you go girl...ok, ok, hold that thought...he could be calling for any reason...one being to cancel.
She shook her head.
Please don't cancel on me, I worked up enough energy to ask you out...
After gathering enough air to say hello she clicked on the green button and then forgot the words she had practiced in her mind.
The voice on the other end laughed.
"Ms. Haruno?"
Sakura swallowed hard listening to his dark voice and then nodded as if he could see her. She slapped a palm against her forehead and then sighed.
"Yes, it's me...and Kakashi please just call me Sakura, I'm not my mother yet..."
He chuckled.
"My apologies, my up bringing is a hard habit to break...anyway I'm calling about the wedding today. I was thinking that I'd come and pick you up around ten?"
He cleared his throat and she could hear what sounded like ice colliding against a glass, just before he sipped something up and then let out a deep breath.
"Ten?" She echoed, breath short, she twisted around on the bed to stare at the luminous pink clock on her nightstand.
Ten!...That's in two hours...I'm not even dressed, I didn't even wrap my last minute gift...time sure does get away..
"Ten sounds..."
Like I'll just be getting out of the shower.
"...perfect, I'll see you then?"
"Of course, I may be there a bit earlier...I'm eager to see you bloom."
Flustered, the pink haired women blinked profusely and tried not to bite her lip to hard thinking about the arm that she would be hanging off all afternoon.
Every women in the town was going to envy her and plot her demise as the town slut.
She sighed.
I'm a horrible women...Tenten wanted him but he seemed interested in me...and he took me out for coffee and never even mentioned her. Am I wrong for inviting him to the wedding...what if Tenten saw us and got angry.
I mean...I'm not interested in him or anything but I'm not going to lie and say that I don't think he's sexy, he is...but my hearts in going in another direction...and this one has nothing to do with looks.
Abruptly, she pinched herself, a prickle of jagged pain gripped the inside of her wrist and she cringed.
It's in the past...it's in the past, this wedding, the success of my medic skills...that's the future, that's the only thing that matters now and no amount of letters in a shoe box that my dad kept from me will change that because everything happens for a reason...and maybe I should listen to everything and stop holding on to the past.
Because let's face it...I'll be miserable for the rest of my life if I dwell on what could have been...because it never was and it will never be...
You hear that...it never will be...
"Are you there?"
"Um..ya, I am..I'm sorry I was just a bit distracted...so ya I'll see you and I hope I don't disappoint."
"You won't...a women as beautiful as you, I can expect nothing less than a breathtaking sight and I do hope I'm not being too forward...speaking to you this strongly."
"No." Sakura chuckled thinking it was silly that he thought he was being offensive. Hearing these compliments...
Feels like food to my ears...do continue bad cop...I'm starving..
"...it's sweet."
"Sweet as it may sound, I mean all of it." He paused and then she could hear the sound of water from a faucet.
"I'm going to hop in the shower, I'll text you when I'm on my way."
"Kay...and Kakashi, thank you for coming on such short notice, I would have been shit out of luck if it weren't you...men and I rarely make much of a connection these days."
"Really?" he asked in disbelief. "I suppose it's their own lost if they're not trying hard enough to make it work, very few men have time to appreciate a fine women but I have all the time in the world...to do their jobs for them..."
Sakura wasn't sure how to respond to that so she just let out a shaky sigh and realized that there was something stirring in her for Kakashi that she didn't like, it wouldn't be a bad thing if it were interest...but it wasn't...it was a hunger for attention, attention that she hadn't felt in years. The feeling made her fingertips tingle.
He chuckled.
"Well, taking you out, it's my pleasure, how could I say no to those beautiful sea green eyes...well, I'll text you when I'm in route."
"Kay, bye."
Sakura clicked the red button to end the conversation and then raised her arms to the ceiling with the tiniest grin.
This is a huge improvement...maybe, just maybe I could not feel bad about dating someone else...maybe I can let go for good..but..there's still one thing I don't have the answer to...
"WHAT ON EARTH AM I GOING TO WEAR!"
Mew!
"Hiko, I wish I were a cat..."
The venue of the wedding was very rustic but even that held it's own beauty. The ceremony was pretty traditional and the crowd was comprised of very close family members and a few friends.
It was nothing big or extravagant and Sakura supposed that's how you knew that Asuma and Kurenai's love was real. They didn't care about the material side of marriage, only the fact that the both of them were together in that moment.
Sitting between her mother and Kakashi she tried to hold herself together and not get wounded during the exchanging of vows but all she could think about was a time when she dreamed of herself marrying another.
It was around the time when she realized that he was proposing to her.
She had looked up the necklace and it's origin and realized that it was the first gift of a proposal. At first she just thought that things were moving a little too fast and that maybe she was looking into the gift too much.
She thought that he was only trying to compensate for his not being with her but his intentions were pure...he had even talked about marriage a couple of time. Not really suggesting that his future wife could be her but just mentioning his dreams of a big family and building a home like his parents had.
He claimed he was ready to settle down and that he had seen as much as he could ask for. He said he was tired...tired of being alone and he wanted to share his world with someone else. Sakura remembered reading the letter and thinking it was the sweetest thing any man could ever say.
He was so young, they were both very young and she knew it would be asking a lot to ask a man as handsome as Itachi to give up the nature of the beast and marry to one girl.
It didn't even seem plausible and yet he was trying to make it happen...he was trying to spend the rest of his life with her.
That was enough to break her. She stood to her feet in the middle of their vows and walked off.
"Bathroom." She uttered, trying to catch her breath but it wasn't easy and the more she thought of that box of letters, the more she longed to go home and tear the shoe box apart and gulped down every promise she would probably read.
She found the door of the church and stumbled into something that she wasn't too horrified to see.
He was sitting on the pale rail that led to the church wearing a dark brown leather jacket and some jeans, a white shirt peeked out from beneath the jacket.
He was holding a flask to his lips but pause once he spotted the pink haired women.
Sakura dabbed at the moistness of her eyes and then sucked in a shaky breath, her heart felt strained and there was a thump too big to swallow in her gullet.
She frowned, staring at Sasuke trying to swallow down this feeling of grief because she didn't want him to see this. She didn't want to cry in front of him, it was weak but she couldn't keep it inside.
She couldn't cope with this awful feeling of a great loss, she couldn't push her feelings back this time because so much of her was torn.
She pressed her fist into her mouth and let loose an agonizing cry so harsh that she barely had enough breath to contain.
Her knee's trembled and Sasuke slowly dropped the hand that held the flask.
Her face was red and she lowered her head, body quaking inconsolably.
After a moment of her heart wringing itself out she didn't posses the breath to speak. She only moaned, falling into the rail and trying to contain the anger and the excruciating pain that shook her fragile frame.
Sasuke sighed.
"I guess the rumors were true about weddings.." he spoke softly. "..everyone get's jealous of the bride."
Sakura ignored him and bit her lip, trying to stifle whatever the hell had gotten into her.
For awhile neither of them spoke.
A few birds chirped overhead and the trees bristled, whispering sweetly.
"You wanna take a ride?" Sasuke asked.
She felt dull, numb, slowly she peeked up from her arms to stare at him, he was offering his flask to her. Dark ravens hair rumpled, smoky eyes clearer than she had ever seen him.
He smirked.
She rolled her eyes, knowing that her face must look horrible with all of that mascara streaking dramatically down her cheeks.
Sasuke tipped the flask back and fourth like a taunt.
"Take a sip...it's magic..."
She couldn't help but laugh at his face, she sniffled and ran the back of her wrist over her eyes.
"Oh y-e-eah...what kind..?" she whispered, barely audible. Sasuke took a few steps up to meet her, cautiously, he limped slightly.
"The kind that warms a chilly heart when nothing else can, makes the pain easier to bare...fucks you up but you won't feel a thing...I know better than anyone the joys of magic water." he spoke softly, once he was close enough he ran his fingers down her arm and grabbed the back of her hand, he fisted her hand within his and brought it to the flask.
"I don't want to get drun-"
"I'm not trying to trick you..." He spoke up abruptly.
She stared into his eyes for a moment and then gripped the snake skinned flask. She leered him down for a moment and then sniffled, bringing the flask to her lips before tossing her head back to take a few sips of the battery like fluid. It felt like she had touched the tip of her tongue to a bitter volt but the liquid felt like fire going down her throat.
She swallowed it back hard and closed her eyes reveling in the way that it warmed her. The wind tossed her hair around and then she started to take another sip.
Sasuke caught her hand and she stared at him.
"Let me show you something..."
She tilted her head.
"Why would I do that?"
"...because you'll feel better, trust me..." he answered.
"...I did that."
He scoffed.
"Fine...stay here and explain to everyone why you flew like a bat out of hell."
He snatched the flask from her clutches and began to limp slightly down the stairs towards a tree where a motor bike was propped against the tree's bark in the shade.
He's right...although I'd never tell him he was.
"Wait!" She shouted before he could rev up the red crimson and navy blue bike, he had already mounted and straddled it.
"...I'll feel better?" She asked brokenly.
Sasuke, with a grim face only nodded once.
"Let's find out..."
17. Truth Sets You Free.
"If you were planning to get me drunk and film another porno again...you've ne-nearly succeeded..."
Her head hung solemnly and she swayed groggily at Sasuke's side after he had cautiously unloaded her from the back of his bike and then made she was fully standing upright.
He kicked down the bike stand and smirked.
"As much as I'd like to see you bristle and talk dirty to me, I don't have the energy or strength to fuck up my house again."
Sakura, standing unsteadily on her toes pointed at both of the Sasuke's in front of her and then frowned very briefly before laughing outrageously.
"So it's all my fault that your house was fucked up?...I always wondered...what the fuck did we do, why...why were you bleeding and why was there glass...and-"
Sasuke shed his brown jacket and placed it on his bike, he turned around to stare at Sakura stumbling about in the flowery red and black dress all of the bridesmaids had worn.
Her lashes fluttered and she swallowed hard and tried to repeat the sentence, Sasuke began to walk, leaving the pink haired women stranded and bewildered at his sudden demeanor.
She looked down at the pointy toes of her high heels and then frowned.
My piggies are screamin...
She began to kick off her shoes realizing that the ground looked fluffy and tan. The soles of her feet melted into the cool soggy sand and she scrunched up her toes with a little goofy giggle.
Sasuke turned around to see if she would follow him, fingers engulfed in his pockets and whistled to get her attention.
When she looked up he nudged his head behind him.
"You coming...?" he called out in a velvety husk, that showered over the calm climate of the beach. A small tidal wave of foaming salt and sea tackled his legs and drenched his jeans, he cussed under his breath but then sighed.
Sakura nearly laughed at the fact that he nearly fell and only nodded once, her head swam in a buzz that seemed to sedate her mind from intense thought.
It really is magic.
He walked back towards her and collected her red heels and then, wordlessly he grabbed her hand. Sakura was not drunk enough to not question the gesture.
She looked up at the man beside her and he looked down.
"I'm just making sure you don't accidentally drown yourself...I don't know if anyone has ever told you this but...your the craziest women I've ever met when you're fucked up."
"Crazy...your so full of shit Sasuke..."
He only smirked, feather light dark hair being blown into his eyes.
"You would know, your the queen of it."
"Me...I'm the victim here?"
He chuckled.
"Only because you have someone to blame for your stupid actions."
"My what!...you recorded me!"
"No, I recorded us, your the one who posted it online..."
"Are you seriously pathetically sticking to that story?"
"I'm not going to lie to you and sugar code it to make it seem like your innocent, maybe that's why you fucking hate my guts...because I'm not going to lie to you, I tell it as it is and I don't give a damn if you hate me. Fuck you."
"Fuck you!"
"Fuck you, oh, that's right...I did."
She tore her hand from his and then pushed him, Sasuke didn't budge, nonchalantly he tossed her shoes uselessly over his shoulders and continued to stride on with a stoic face.
Sakura gasped and then began to run back to snatch them up.
"What the fuck is your deal, asshole?"
"My deal, your the one who's lying to themselves...and you know what that's between you and your own psychotic conscious but don't tell me I'm full of shit...because you're too brainwashed to see that all of the shit that's happened is your own fault."
"That doesn't even make any sense...I wouldn't do that, I wouldn't send some pornographic video of me fucking to the entire population of Konoha. That's not me...I have a good job, I ha-have..I have a good life and I'd never see the meaning in screwing it up over some home movie that you made, creep, I don't even know why I came out here with you...I'm on a beautiful beach and I can't even appreciate a goddamn thing because I'm screaming like a psycho banshee because that's just how crazy you make me!"
She yelled at him tossing her hand out towards the endless sea to indicate her surroundings. Sasuke paused mid stride and turned around to look at her, unruly dark hair floating around his face.
"You wanna talk about crazy?..." he chuckled biting his lip and looking completely unruffled, with a huge amount of intensity and great discomfort he limped towards her until he was right in front of her.
"...I cannot..." he paused and took a deep breath, trying to calm something that simmered just beneath his skin.
"...I genuinely hate the sight of you...your voice annoys the shit out of me and every time I see your face I keep thinking of that night when I got jumped trying to save your drunk ass from extinction."
Sakura furrowed a brow. Sasuke scoffed.
"Course you don't remember, well, let me fuckin enlighten you about our night. I took you out to a great place, a bar with not too many people. You had a few drinks in you so I figured it only fair for me to get a few in me and spoil you with more..."
he smirked and stared at the sky with an aloof leer.
"Ah...you were crazy, so fucking out of your mind...I couldn't control you, I watched you dancing around and having a good time. Coolest women I've ever hung with in awhile...and I've hung around with women in town a lot but this was different. You were...so bizarre...strange, like a complete surprise to me. Honestly, I liked it...I liked the vibe I got around you and then you smashed a bottle on some guys head and the next thing I know I'm fighting like hell to save both our asses and get out of there. To make a very long night short, I can tell when a women is coming on to me and you were...so.."
"Oh brother." Sakura rolled her eyes.
Sasuke watched her sank to the sandy floor and then pat some sand beside her.
"Come."
He shook his head dismissively, annoyed face still intact.
"I'm good." he answered with resignation, dark eyes staring out at a couple walking past arms wrapped around one another with bubbly giggles. Sakura brought her knee's to her chin and wrapped her arms around them with a sigh. She watched the passing couple also, enveloped in a feeling of great envy and pain.
She frowned. Sasuke kicked at the dirt with his boot and then lowered himself beside her. He kicked his legs out and leaned back on his elbow.
They were both quiet for a moment. The wind whispered past them and licked their faces and then Sakura took a deep breath.
"Can I have some more?"
She asked him. Sasuke pulled out his flask, twisted off the cap and then drunk the rest, gulping it down straight up in front of Sakura's face.
"Asshole.." Sakura uttered scathingly turning her face back towards the view of the gentle roll of the sea.
Sasuke made a noise of a quenched thirst and then licked his lips.
"Sorry, no more.."
"Why did you bring me out here?"
For awhile he didn't answer and Sakura fixed her mouth to inquire the same question.
"Why not?"
"Are you avoiding the question?"
"I can't be avoiding it if I gave you an answer..."
"Which was a question."
He didn't speak for a long moment once again, she peeked from her eye to look at him. He was scrawling a face in the sand with his middle finger, hair over his eyes and obscuring his face.
"I'm not a complete asshole, you were boohooing...figured I'd try and be nice since, you didn't let me die. I mean, I figured you probably would have let me if it weren't for Ino beggin."
Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Your right...but it had nothing to do with Ino really, I've never lost a patient...no matter how rotten someone is, it doesn't give me the right to choose whether they live or die. Being a doctor, I shouldn't have even wavered to save you but I did and that's wrong."
Sasuke shrugged.
"Don't get all self righteous on me now...we hate each other, stay in character."
Sakura laughed and turned her head on her knees to watch him draw in the sand.
"So, you bought me out here to be nice, that doesn't add up."
"Try to multiply." He teased. Sakura kicked at the sand.
"Sasuke.."
"Sakura...why does there have to be an explanation with you, can't the fuckin sky just be blue..."
She sighed.
"Fine..."
she closed her eyes.
"...thanks because, you were right, I couldn't stay there...everyone worries about me. I can't say that I like that...having people care about you is great but sometimes it's over rated, especially when everyone cares so much that they think you need help."
Sasuke chuckled and then cleared his throat.
"I told you, your crazy."
"Maybe I am..." She spoke softly with a loose shrug.
Sasuke sighed and looked up from his drawing.
"Maybe is out of the question." he uttered. Sakura ignored him.
"So what was with the dramatic crying...were you humping the dumb ass son of a bitch getting hitched?"
"No!...I don't even know the guy..."
"Then why were you crying...hell, I've heard of people crying at weddings but you were fucking bawling like a baby."
She gave him a leer and he raked a hand through his lustrous black hair with a teasing smirk.
"Why should I tell you, you won't even tell me why you brought me to the beach.."
"Who needs a reason to bring anyone to the beach, I told you I was returning a favor, I hate owing people."
"You think you owe me for saving you.."
"I know I owed you for saving me, I've known for weeks now but I couldn't think of a way to approach you and avoid a fight. Your a bitch, remember."
"..and your a fucking asshole!"
He smirked.
"See..it's platonic."
Sakura only stared at him for a brief moment and then stood to her feet and began to strut hard to leave the beach. She looked over her shoulder and saw Sasuke staring at her, he fell back in the sand and laid there facing the sky.
"GOOD LUCK GETTING OUT OF HERE!" He shouted, she ignored him and kept walking until she realized what he meant. The walk seemed very endless and she couldn't even see where the gate to get out began.
She had only been to the leaf beach once and when she had, everyone got into the beach by golf karts or their P.O.V's.
She paused suddenly, blood boiling raw, mind raging as to a way that she could escape and make it to the reception at least. Her mother must've been worried...
and Kakashi...fuck my life...Kakashi, dammit I'm horrible and selfish and stupid. He was being so good to me and I just left him there after all the hassle of asking him out and him agreeing. What a waste...I'm the worst.
She took a deep shaky breath and then turned back around to walk back to Sasuke who had still been laying in the sand.
He had lit a cigarette and was taking a drag with his eyes closed. Sakura hovered over him with her hands on her hips.
"Get me out of here...or else."
His lashes fluttered and then his eyes opened and he blew out some smoke. Sakura could see a tattoo on his inner arm when he stretched out his arms and flicked some ashes into the sand.
He chuckled.
"..or else what?"
Sakura chuckled darkly, her face serious as a heart attack.
"You don't want to try me...Sasuke, I know I saved your life...but I can also try and end it too."
He smirked with enjoyment.
"Ohhh, she's ma-ad." he sung, placing the cigarette between his lips and letting it just stay there, the amber at the end of the cig seemed to glow bright and he stared at Sakura.
He patted the ground beside him.
"What's the rush, I'm trying to make peace..."
"Your doing a horrible job."
"Well, that's because your making this difficult...I'm being very generous. Saw that you were in need of my attention and brought you to a secluded area to get whatever it was off your chest."
Sakura hugged herself against the bitter amount of wind that pressed up against her and stared at Sasuke long and hard.
"Well, thank you...it's off my chest now.."
He shook his head.
"Stop lying to yourself...it's eating you alive."
Sakura frowned.
"How would you know."
He shrugged.
"You don't want to be around people...don't want to see anyone happy but you."
...what...
He stared at her.
"Sounds familiar?"
"I don't know what your talking about.."
"STOP...fucking lying to me Sakura, it's not going to get you back to the wedding in time enough to make everyone think you just stepped out for a minute."
Sakura coiled up her hands at her side and stared at him hard.
"What do you want me to say!"
"The truth, that I'm telling the truth...about everything, because I am. You told me more than you know...and you don't even remember...or you do remember but you don't want to fess up to any of this stuff...including the fact that you made that video viral."
Sakura only took a long breath.
"It's easy to be the victim when there is someone to blame that looks like the villain and I won't tell anyone that it was you who sent it out because we both know what really happened...and that's all I care about, is that you know the truth. I don't fucking care that people think it's me...I have a reputation for fucking around town so this isn't new to me."
"Why are you telling me this."
"...it's just my way." he stared into her eyes. "..my way of paying you back, I'll take the rap for you if the deal about the video get's to your boss. Maybe that'll make up for you saving my life, maybe it wont but I hate owing people...especially those that I don't get along with."
He let out a breath.
Sakura felt a large amount of nerves hopping in her blood screen.
Is he serious...he looks serious...may-maybe I really did send it off...ugh...why can't I remember...why can't I remember anything like that and why the hell would I send of a video. Someone is lying here...
"Can you take me back now?"
Sakura asked trying not to think to hard about all of the new information about that night. Sasuke plucked the cigarette from his lips and put it out on the knee of his jeans.
"Alright."
He answered and stood to his feet.
Sakura dragged her feet behind him as they walked towards the bike. She watched his hair whip around in the wind and once they got to the bike and loaded themselves on Sasuke passed her back a helmet and readied his feet to kick back the stand.
Sakura hesitated for a moment and then grabbed his shoulder.
"I was in love...with a man who fought the war and he...he never came back."
Sasuke was still for a moment, he lowered his head and she could see his hands grip hard on the bars of the bike.
"Love...I've never been in it and I never want to be." was all he said before kicking down the stand and revving the engine to an abrupt snarl of power.
18. Message On The Wall.
Where did you run off to...should I start an investigation?
-Kakashi
No, I just needed to take a walk...I know what an inconvenient time, it was selfish and I'm really sorry. Please forgive me but I'm headed back..
-Me
To the church?...There's no one there hun the wedding and reception ended an hour ago. I'm at the station, getting ready to take a trip to the hospital. Your patients conscious and I've been asked to interrogate him for awhile. Sounds like a blast...I saved you some cake, you can come by to pick it up later tonight ;)
-Kakashi
Lol, is it chocolate?
-Me
No, your friend told me you wouldn't like the chocolate, it's strawberry vanilla.
-Kakashi
Tenten?..She's right, I've given up on chocolate...
-Me
The pregnant one...the blond...she makes really good cake by the way.
-Kakashi
Ino...Ino is pregnant...there has to be some, some mistake..
Sasuke pulled came to a screeching stop on the sidewalk in front of her apartment and then looked over his shoulder at Sakura, he wasn't wearing a helmet.
Illegal and extremely dangerous...idiot..
His hair was wind whipped, disorderly and moist from the dew of the night.
He killed the engine and watched her peel the helmet from her head, long pink hair cascading onto her shoulders.
"Thanks...I guess."
"Don't mention it.."
He only grunted and as he reached for the helmet he cringed and drew his hand back in quickly as if it were attached to some elastic.
"Fuck..." he muttered holding onto his right arm and closing his eyes. His teeth cringed and Sakura, out of instinct touched his shoulder.
"Let me take a look..." She whispered.
He shook his head and shrugged her off angrily.
"I'm fine!" he spat, grabbing his helmet and taking a deep breath.
"Whatever.." She said curtly and quickly climbed off the bike. Without a moments hesitation, Sasuke revved the engine again and backed up with his feet a few times before snaking the bike around where Sakura stood and storming down the street, making a tire path in the asphalt.
Sakura stared after him for a moment before sighing with exhaustion.
That guy...Ino is the worse match maker in the universe of match makers...SakuSasu is very hopeless but I like the couple name...hmm...SasuSaku...has a nice ring to it though it's anything but that...what the hell am I thinking about..it's cold and I need a bath.
How are you going to get him to talk with all of that gauze over his mouth.
-Me
Your guess is as good as mine hun but we're the police how hard can it be to make someone talk?
-Kakashi
Lol, I'm glad you have faith in the fact that your a cop, good luck with making him talk...call me if anything goes wrong, he's still my patient after all.
-Me
Roger check and you call me when you want that cake...or another date, a better one when I don't loose track of you. Will that be ok?
-Kakashi
Wait for my call :}
-Me
Do you know who made the cake for the wedding?
-Me
Yeah, Ino, why?...and honey where were you...you missed the appraisal I got for those dishes. It's all thanks to my test dummy..that's you dear.
-Mom
Lol, that's good to hear mom...so Ino made it. I had to go back to the hospital, the patient is awake...usually that would be something to celebrate but in this case I think everyone's going to be a little crazier. The hospital will never be the same.
-Me
Sweety, your dad called..
-Mom
Called you?...mom don't be drawn back in, you can do much better.
-Me
It wasn't for me, he wanted to talk to you...he says you've been ignoring him since you got those letters and he told you the truth. Sweety I know that you hate him for stopping your chance at happiness but he was just being your father and doing what he thought was right. He loves you.
-Mom
Mom, how can you take his side. If I were in some fairy tale I wouldn't even have a happy ending because of him because he toiled with my life, again and stole things that belonged to me...he stole the only happiness I had and I really can't speak to him...not now. The only reason he even told me this is because he's sick, otherwise he would've carried it to his grave and you know it.
-Me
Your just a little upset right now but you'll forgive him, you'll see that your life is better because you chose yourself. I don't agree with what your father has done but at the same time I've seen you wait by the mail box like a puppy and I've seen you loosing sleep and failing in school. Sakura, you are a successful young women, love will come again, you just have to be willing to let it happen with someone else."
-Mom
I'm tired mom, I'll talk to you later.
-Me
Don't be mad at me sweetheart I'm only trying to make good of this situation. Sleep tight xoxox
-Mom
So, Sasuke kidnapped you.
-Maddam Pigglet
No. I went with him, he told you?
-Me
He didn't have to, the both of u were missing and I knew I rode to the wedding with him and he's just now picking me up. Plus, I can smell that cheap bath and body works Banana Fantasy all over him...so please tell me you didn't fuck around with him again. Did you?
-Maddam Pigglet
No...thanks for having faith that I'm not a slut..
-Me
I never said you were but I know this bastard can be really convincing. He's sorta manipulative too, he really knows how to fuck with your brain if he wants to. It's the main reason he get's laid.
-Maddam Pigglet
Heh...you know a lot about him.
-Me
He and I are good friends, although sometimes I wanna kill him... I've hung around he and his older brother when they used to live across the street from my family. We were thick as thieves but that was awhile ago. So, did you get the cake?
-Maddam Pigglet
Not yet, I just took a shower, I'm about to get some sleep.
-Me
This early, it's only eight thirty.
-Maddam Pigglet
I don't have anywhere to be...I don't have plans, Kakashi's down at the station and I just...really feel exhausted.
-Me
Are you sure you didn't have sex?o_0
-Maddam Pigglet
-_- Ino cut it out
-Me
Well you can always come spend the night here or come congratulate Shikamaru and I on having your god child, damn, you selfish bitch.
-Maddam Pigglet
:0 ya I was meaning to tell you that word get's around really fast. BUT THAT'S GREAT!...and you don't want me to be your babies godmother, trust me, I'm unworthy.
-Me
But your my only girl best friend, so the job is yours...get used to it.
-Maddam Pigglet
:} I'm not complaining, I'm so happy for you Ino, how's Shikamaru taking it?
-Me
He's Shikamaru, the first thing he says after the pregnancy test is, this is going to be the biggest drag of my life...I punched him. ;)
-Maddam Pigglet
You guys are too violent to have a kid...I'm realizing more and more why this child may need me in their life. I'm the only sane person in this equation. T_T.
-Me
Glad that we agree :}...any plans for tomorrow?
-Maddam Pigglet
Nada...was thinking I'd stop by the hospital to update the patient status.
-Me
No your not, your coming over to Sasuke's parents house, they're throwing me a little party.
-Maddam Pigglet
I don't think that's a good idea...
-Me
Sasuke won't bother you if I'm around, I'll stab him.
-Maddam Pigglet
lmao...SMH, I guess I can show my face...just to watch you shank him.
-Me
You had better e_e, good night, kick the furball for me.
-Maddam Pigglet
Goodnight and no lol
-Me
19. The Killer In Me.
Sakura,
It's been too long, I haven't received a letter from you for a year now, I'm starting to wonder if this means that you've given up on us.
If you have, I understand...I can't ask you to stop your life because I'm stuck in an impossible situation. You shouldn't have to suffer because I threw my life away to the fucking military. I will never know what the hell I was thinking.
Ha, if only I hadn't done that, if only I had waited...things could be so different, we could have been really happy. I would have been the happiest I've ever been. I haven't known happiness until I started talking to you.
Nothing compares to the letters you send me, I can't even remember a time in my entire life when I've craved something more than our conversations.
Not even my life satisfies me because I don't have a life unless you are in it, do you understand that? Do you know that I want you to be my wife...my partner, my breath?
Well, I hope you know that I intend to...I intend to survive and search the world to find you and make you mine because you should already know that I'm yours, if you want me.
heh, gushy parts aside.
I hope your doing well in you career, I hope your really proving to everyone that your strong enough to handle your own life...just like you said you could.
Your father should know he can't stop you. Your strong and I support you strength because just like you said Kisame and I made one another strong...you make me want to try harder.
It's you that's made me strong, your letters, your humor. It's wanting to be around you that drives me to wake up every morning even though the odds are stacked against me and I'd be better off just putting one through my skull.
haha, I know that way of thinking isn't funny but...war has made me a sick man. My way of thinking, it's changed and I don't know if its for the better but..
I feel like I can win, even though I'm alone and there are thousands who seek to kill me...I'll fight like I'm crazy to find you and I will find you.
I promise, I just hope that it's not too late.
So, don't wait anymore...be happy and in time, we'll meet.
-Itachi.
Sakura,
I've never told anyone this but I fear the dark.
It's not the dark itself that frightens me, it's me being trapped in the eternal abyss that get's to me.
I know that I'm loosing my sight. Fuck, every day the sky get's darker and darker for me and there is nothing I can do but wait, wait until the darkness swallows me whole.
I'd be a fool to say I'm not worried, a fool to say that I'll be fine. True, senses sharpen when you loose one of your more dominant sense but all I can think about is living in the darkness without ever seeing your face.
This would have never happened if you wouldn't have teased me, now the only thing I'll remember are your legs. Are you happy?
Heh, I guess I should have begged more, or bargained with you.
If time could be manipulated I would have tried harder to keep you but time..it doesn't stand still, doesn't go back, doesn't move forward for any man.
Why would it budge for me.
Tonight the stars are up, very bright probably but in my eyes they've lost their potent leer. The color is very dull but the sound of the crickets seem to be louder.
My hearing is keen.
Sitting here, in the tallest tree staring up at the dazzling sky I imagine that you'd be thinking about me, as much as I'm thinking about you.
Your a stubborn women, so your probably not trying to think about me but I'm infectious. :}
-Itachi
Sakura,
Do me a favor...let me go.
I know it sounds crazy but this war it's never going to end and if it does, I'm not going to be the same man you fell in love with. I've changed...beyond recognition Sakura.
I strangled a man to death and kidnapped his daughter.
I wasn't going to kill her, all I wanted was a warm meal but my stomach is just as empty as it had been before I killed that man and took his child.
I did get a meal but I couldn't eat, I lost my appetite.
I didn't mean to kill her but she died...she drowned trying to run from me and I watched. I watched her trying to keep her head above water, I watched until she grew tired and sunk to the bottom like a weight.
It was wrong but even now, a part of me doesn't see it that way.
I don't know, what the hell is wrong with me...but you shouldn't be thinking of a man who's murdered more people than you can ever imagine.
War has made me, a monster...and monsters can't be loved so, your right to not write me back. I don't know who I am anymore...you wouldn't recognize me
-Itachi
Sakura,
I ran into Kisame today, for awhile we lost track of one another but I've found him. We were this close to killing one another but I can sniff him out miles away. That fuck hole always smells like the worse fucking seafood. He had an entourage, they're a creepy bunch but they've offered me an alliance with them.
I'm not sure what they're all about but I could use some help if I'm going to make it out of this shit alive and it wouldn't be so bad to travel with Kisame again.
For the longest time I've been wondering if he had gone and gotten his ass killed. I guess he's well off, he's gotten even bigger than before, like the true killer shark and I've managed to look skinner day after dead.
I'm thinking starvation will eat away at my bones.
Well, I hope you've took it into consideration what I said in the letter before because I mean it. I'm not in my right mind and that's not going to benefit either of us.
I'll continue to write when I can...I know that maybe it wont make a difference but even writing your name across the paper gives me a piece of mind, a piece of sanity. I may not know what the fuck is wrong with me but what I am entirely sure of is...
I love you.
-Itachi
20. Return Of The Prodical Son.
"You can stop smiling at me like now...please."
Sakura scolded Ino, with a fling of her hand and took another sip from a mug of cocoa her best friend had demanded her husband whip up for them.
Sakura sighed and watched Shikamaru inching towards the living room to watch a game of Shoji with Kakashi and a few of the guys whom were already over at Sasuke's parents home.
"So how's sex with that hunk of passionate muscle...you must orgasm damn near every second...mmmh, he even watches T.V sexily..."
Sakura watched her friend stand up from her seat to ogle her date in the living room.
The pink haired women rolled her eyes.
"Ino what the fuck are you talking about, we haven't even had sex..."
"Well then, you should get to the dirty...so you can report back to me and I can dream about it when Shikamaru's on top of me being lazy. I really don't see how I'm in this situation, if Shikamaru is lazy shouldn't his sperm be just as lazy. How did one of those fuckers make it to my precious egg?"
Sakura furrowed a brow at her best friend and watched her stare off into space as if she was really puzzled about the equation.
"Are you pregnant or insane and Shikamaru is not that bad, I don't know how he puts up with you...that poor guy."
Ino rolled her eyes and held up her middle finger in Sakura's face.
"Put's up with me! Fuck you."
"Are you listening to yourself, you made him make cocoa in a house he doesn't even live in."
"Maybe if he had a backbone he could tell me where to shove it."
"So your saying he's too gentle."
"No, I'm saying he lacks the umph and the power of a strong man, I mean I don't want him to beat on me or anything but he can afford to smack me once in awhile."
Sakura found herself failing at keeping a straight face, she placed down the mug and began to laugh so loud that it drew the attention of some of the men in the room.
They all seemed to issue her a look of annoyance that clearly said, 'shut the hell up!'.
She swallowed hard and then cleared her throat, staring back and waiting for the looks to go away.
Suddenly the front door came open and an older women with lustrous black hair scrolled in with an arm full of groceries.
She kicked the door close and sang out a soothing, 'hello' to all of the men in the living room.
There was a great deal of chatter to her greeting and then it died out and they all were hooked back to the game.
Sakura stood up, she and Ino and began to lighten the women's load. Each of them grabbing two bags. The women chuckled.
"I knew I always wanted a girl for some reason." She commented.
Ino smirked and placed the bags on the counter, Sakura followed suite.
"It's never too late Mikoto, third times the charm."
The elderly women, with the sweet face only smiled and shook her head.
"I don't think so darling...I can barely keep up with one child as it is, I've raised him and now he's the town tramp."
Sakura couldn't resist laughing at Sasuke's mother calling him a tramp, she tried to disguise it as a cough and Mikoto looked at her with a grin.
"Who is this beautiful young women laughing at my boy?"
Ino yanked Sakura closer towards Mikoto.
"Mikoto this is my best friend Sakura and Sakura this is Sasuke's mom Mikoto. She's the best cook alive and without her that cake would have been...or should I say wouldn't have been."
"Nice to meet you, the cake was mouth watering.."
Sakura laughed and then extended a firm hand out but the women pulled her into a nice crisp embrace. She smelled like a bakery and all sorts of vanilla.
"That's how we greet people in this house, if love is so strong there should be no hate or embarrassment right?"
"Right.." Sakura was flustered and overwhelmed but it was nice, how warm hearted this women was, it was something her mother hadn't wasted time being.
The women grabbed both Sakura's hand once she pulled back and then brought the young womens palms to her face to spectate.
"Your hands need to be broken in and I know just the way to do that..."
Um...I don't like the way she said that..
"I'm fine with them not being broken in...I need them..."
The pink haired women uttered. Ino snorted out a laugh.
"We need them more." Mikoto said darkly with a scary arch to her delicate brows. She looked to be in her late thirties but she was very petite and fair skinned. Beautiful really.
Sakura gave a panicked look to her best friend and Ino placed an apron on her shoulder.
"I told her you didn't know diddly squat about cooking, so we're going to cook today's entire meal."
"What the hell, don't be modest pig...your not exactly Chef Boyardee either" She hissed.
"Your wrong, thanks to Mikoto I've been doing just fine, I thought I'd share the wealth." She stuck out her tongue and Sakura glowered at her.
"I'm going to kill you." She said through her teeth.
"Yes, well hopefully your not completely hopeless at cooking like your mom because than you'd kill me."
Sakura laughed dryly.
"I'm going to kill you regardless and my cooking will have nothing to do with it." She promised, softly.
Ino laughed.
"We should start right away Mikoto, Sakura's gettin anxious!"
"Well of course, just let me make a quick call to Sasuke, I forgot the paper plates maybe he can pick them up and then we can get down and jiggy with this thang."
She released Sakura and started shaking her backside while walking into the kitchen to fetch the house phone. Sakura cut a look at Ino and then shoved at her shoulder.
Ino laughed.
"You'll thank me later and beside it'll be fun cooking with Mikoto she's very sweet and the women really knows her stuff."
"I guess...so...is Sasuke actually going to come here?"
Ino tilted her head and twisted a blond lock around her index finger.
"There's no telling with him but even if he doesn't I'll just have Shikamaru go out and get some paper plates."
"Paper plates?"
"Um...ya, isn't that why you asked about him..."
"...oh...yeah, duh."
Ino furrowed a brow.
"You okay lady?"
She smirked slightly.
"Yeah I'm just, tired...I didn't get much sleep last night."
"Should've spent the night, Shikamaru rented some pretty good movies, you can borrow them, we never return blockbuster movies and yet they always let us come in and rent again."
Sakura crossed her arms and shrugged.
"Shoulda, coulda, woulda...I'll take you up on that, my T.V has been collecting dust since Med School."
A moment and a half later Mikoto slammed down the phone and stared at it for awhile as if it she couldn't believe it was there and then she placed her palms to her lips and began to breath very harshly.
"Mikoto..." Ino began. "...Mikoto what's wrong, is everything alright?"
The women began to cry or laugh, Sakura wasn't sure which one she could hear more. She leaned over in a hysterical fit.
"Thank you god...he's-he's home he's he's coming home!" She began to shout with joy. Voice sore, spirits high but the sadness crept through her voice.
"My boy, he-he's alive!"
Ino's eyes were wide and even they seemed glossy as though she'd cry. Sakura felt like she was intruding on this little affair.
She smiled sadly to herself and let out a sigh.
Kakashi came up behind her and touched her shoulder startling her from the feeling of solemn grieving that she never had a moment like this one.
You never came...
Wordlessly, she turned into his chest and closed her eyes.
"Are you okay?" he asked, she was engulfed in that strong hot hold of spicy cologne and something that just smelled like his natural musk.
It comforted her and she nodded against his heartbeat.
"Where is he...is he here?"
"Yes, he's at the airport, he's waiting for us to pick him up...let's get out of here my little boy he's waiting!"
"I'll drive...I can't guarantee that we'll get there legally but I can guarantee that we'll get there."
"I'll get my key's, I'll call Fugaku and Sasuke a-and..." She sniffled hard and burst out crying again, in disbelief. Sakura looked over her shoulder and watched the women began to run.
Ino stared off behind her and clapped her hands, Ino turned around and Sakura could see now that she had actually been moved to tears.
She dabbed at them with the tips of her fingers and then Sakura turned around to help wipe them away even though more came in their place.
"You do-on't know how...long she's been waiting to see him...I-I'm so happy for her..."
Sakura laughed bitterly and then almost began to cry staring at Ino cry, barely able to speak aloud. Her voice was shaky.
"Stop it you...Shikamaru might see and think your weak."
Ino laughed.
"We might have to end the party...I'm sure Fugaku and Mikoto are going to want to have some time alone with their eldest son when he get's here.."
Sakura nodded.
"That'll be okay, I wasn't exactly looking forward to burning up the house anyway."
Ino smiled and leaned in to kiss Sakura's forehead.
"Do you want to come?" She asked.
Sakura looked up at Kakashi, he had his chin on her head of hair.
"No, no I'd just ruin the reunion."
Ino only nodded.
"Text me ok."
"Kay."