Chapter FOUR

When Sasuke finds himself in front of Sakura's room the next day and she happens to not be there, he wonders what is wrong with him when he finally manages to put a name to the suffocating emotions welling up within him.

He is not disappointed that she isn't present.

As he moves to close Sakura's door behind him, he recalls what she had told him about not being allowed to leave the room on her own and decids that she must be with either Orochimaru or Kabuto. He scowls, not sure why he didn't like the thought of that.

That makes him pause. He slowly turns around and steps back into Sakura's room and for the first time, actually looks at it.

The last time he had come here, he had been too occupied with his thoughts to truly take everything in, which, now that he thinks back to it, is a bad habit to have.

The walls have been cleaned of the blood that had coated it the first time he had been here. It doesn't smell of blood or dead bodies like he had first expected it to.

The structure of the room is just like his, though he scowls when he realizes that her mattress is a tad bit softer than his.

The walls are a dull grey with white pastel drawings on it and the one of someone piggybacking another catches his eye. Careful not to brush it, he inspects it, surprised to find that it is actually very good. Beside it is an arrow and a label '負んぶ', for piggyback.

As he reaches out to touch it, Sasuke hears the mechanics within the door moving and he realizes with a start that while he knows there is someone outside, he can't sense them. At all. He quickly draws back his hand and thinks of the mechanism within the metal door and wonders what sort of seal allowed it to completely block out the chakra signatures of the outside.

He wipes any expressions off his face and takes a casual stance. He hears the last of the locks move out of the way and the door slowly opens.

Kaguya Kimimaro steps into the room, expression blank. He doesn't seem surprised by Sasuke's presence and Sasuke notes that while he can't sense out, he had been able to sense in.

The Kaguya nods. "Uchiha Sasuke."

Sasuke narrows his eyes just a little. "Kaguya Kimimaro."

The white haired teen closes his eyes. "Sakura has told me a lot about you." The door closes behind him.

Sasuke shrugs. "Unfortunate to say she hasn't said much about you."

Kimimaro did not react. He simply looks at him with hooded eyes. "What are you doing here?"

Sasuke stiffens. "That is none of your business."

"It is." Kimimaro says. "Sakura is due to leave on a mission with me at noon."

"I just came by." Sasuke says. "She wasn't here when I arrived."

"I see." Kimimaro steps into the room and moves to lean on the wall by the entrance. "And knowing she wasn't here, you entered anyways."

Sasuke narrows his eyes but is saved from having to think of an response when they hear the clatter of footsteps from outside.

There is a knock and Kimimaro moves to press his hand against the door. "The seal is set so that anyone but Sakura can open it." He explains quietly.

Sasuke opens his mouth but Sakura chooses that moment to shove the door open and he bites down on his tongue.

Sakura skips in and waves happily at him. "Sasuke!"

"Hn." The Uchiha nods stiffly and Sakura giggles before turning around to face Kimimaro.

"Hi Kimimaro."

The Kaguya offers the girl a soft smile. "Has Kabuto informed you of our mission?"

Sakura nods. "Go to the Northern hideout and help out with Jugo."

Kimimaro sighs. "I believe I told you this last time. You are not suppose to blurt out the contents of your mission to everyone and anyone." He says, though he doesn't really seem to mind, as though he is already used to it.

Sakura pauses in her steps. "I'm not?" She asks. "You did?"

Kimimaro's eyes darken a little. He reaches out and gently ruffles Sakura's pink locks. "Where were you just now?" He asks softly.

She preens under his touch and Sasuke is reminded of a cat. "I was with Kabuto." She says.

"When was the last time you saw Orochimaru-sama?"

Sakura frowns. "Uh..." She bites her bottom lip and let out a soft hum. "I...have no idea..."

"Hm." Kimimaro hums and with one last ruffle, pulls away. "You should prepare." He tells her. "I'll wait."

Sakura skips over to her wardrobe and began shuffling through her clothes, probably looking for something a little more practical than her sundress.

Sasuke watches them with an unreadable expression. At one point, he catches Kimimaro's eye and the white haired teen sends him a fierce look. Sasuke does not dare look away and meets his gaze challengingly.

He does not know what the Kaguya is thinking and he does not like it one bit.

Sakura draws back with a bundle of clothes in her arms and promptly begins to strip.

Kimimaro sighs and looks away. Sasuke quickly follows, wondering if this was a common occurrence. He hears the rustle of clothes being tossed to the side and once it stops, waits a few more second just to be safe. When he turns around, it is just in time to see Sakura sweep her hair away from her face. For a second, he thinks he sees something dark surrounding her but when he blinks, it is gone.

Sakura skips up to him and twirls around. "Does it suit me?" She asks.

Sakura is wearing a red and light pink kimono with impractically long sleeves that goes over her hands and a red skirt with slits on the sides to aid with movement. It is held together with a matching thick red obi tied to the side into a ribbon. Underneath, she wore a pair of black leggings and she has strapped a weapons pouch around each thigh. In addition to that, she has on a pair of calf length shinobi sandals and has a pair of gloves clutches in her hands.

Sasuke remembers hearing this line from girls all the time when he had been in Konoha but this time, it felt different. Still, he has no idea what to say. "Hn."

Sakura smiles, though, and she moves towards Kimimaro. "I'm ready."

Kimimaro nods at her and turns towards the door. Sasuke follows behind the pair and once outside, Sakura turns around to face him. "I'll see if I can find you a gift!" She exclaims. "So come find me when I come back, okay?"

Sasuke can't help but ask. "What do you expect to find in one of Orochimaru's hideouts?"

At this, Sakura blinks. "I heard that a gift is something you give someone without payment." She says. "Anything can be a gift, right?"

Sasuke can only nod to that, because in a way, it probably is true.

Mentally blaming Sakura's light grip on his wrist, he walks the two of them to the gates of the hideout.

Kimimaro is the first to step out but he pauses to wait for Sakura. The girl turns to looks at Sasuke and waves. "Bye!" She calls.

Sasuke hesitates, before slowly raising a hand to wave.

Sakura grins. She then spins on her heels and takes off after Kimimaro. Once she has caught up, Kimimaro turns and the two of them vanish into the trees.

Once they are out of sight, Sasuke lets the thoughts that had been chased away by Sakura's cheery atmosphere regather in his head.

What has caught his attention the most is Kimimaro's short exchange with Sakura.

It isn't only the hair ruffling that bothers him.

Kimimaro had looked too...upset for it to be about Sakura not being able to recall when she had last seen Orochimaru.

Frustrated but not knowing why, Sasuke turns to make his way back to his room. He needs to think.


So, here:s chapter four.

Next chapter will be written in Kimimaro's point of view...yeah...

Also, in this story, Kimimaro DOES NOT have his illness/disease thing.

Yeah.

Darque: Anyone here play Aura Kingdom?

Raven: Here she goes.

Darque: Cause is anyone does, we can be friends-

Raven: -Please be her friend, she barely has any-

Darque: And if you don't, you should cause it's awesome!

Raven: Yes, yes.

Read and Review!


WE ARE LOOKING FOR A STORY...PLEASE TELL US IF YOU KNOW IT.

- Sasori x Sakura, we think.

- High school AU

- They prank someone (Ino?). They knocked her unconscious and dump her in a bathtub full of dye, or something.

- Sakura says something about not really being friends with Ino and the others, and that they only want to be picked to go on an 'adventure', or something.

PLEASE TELL US IF YOU KNOW/FIND IT!