-Cath-
Chapter 3
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Thanks again for my misery
And you run with fake friends
I'm sick of your sad songs and singalongs
I kind of like it when things are wrong.
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When Sakura finally opened her eyes, she was deep, deep into the forest that surrounded Konoha. How she had gotten there was a fuzzy memory on the outskirts of her mind, drifting in and out of her current thoughts, wispy like smoke, and just as fleeting.
She remembered Naruto saying some nonsense, about bringing that traitor back. She had almost wanted to laugh at that. No way. No fucking way. But when she had actually seen him, really seen him lying there in the hospital, steps away from her, something in her snapped.
She remembered her hold on Naruto tightening enough to make him wince. He asked her what was wrong. Nothing? Everything? After all, this had been her wish, right? That he be returned to her, returned to his home, to his family. But why did it all feel so, wrong. She dimly recalled shutting her eyes tight, to hide the tears that had begun to build. Her throat closed up, and she barely managed to utter something about having to run an errand, before bolting out of the room.
Everyone was watching. As soon as she stepped into the hallway, everyone stopped what they were doing to look. The silence was deafening. Sakura fought the urge to scream. They had all known. Every single one of them knew what had been awaiting her in that room. She felt like a fool. Like a fucking fool. But then wasn't that fitting, considering the Uchiha was back?
He had always made her the fool.
"Well," said Naruto, reaching his hands back to tuck them behind his head. "That actually went better than I thought."
When silence continued to fill the room, Naruto spoke again.
"Oh, give it up, Teme," he said. "You've been up since you sensed her chakra down the hall."
Stubbornly, Sasuke continued to keep his eyes closed and his body still. The perfect image of a sleeping boy. Naruto sighed. Why did he make everything so difficult? Reaching over to his nightstand, he grabbed an orange and hurled it at Sasuke. With no effort, Sasuke caught it easily with one hand. Slowly, he opened his eyes.
"Don't test me," he said, in a low voice, his black eyes becoming darker.
If it were anyone else, they would have been afraid. Naruto brushed it off like a piece of ramen stuck to his shirt.
"Yeah, yeah," he responded casually. "So how's your ass since I beat it?"
"How's your face since I broke it?"
Naruto reached up and felt the edge of his jaw where Sasuke had nearly torn it off.
"Not too bad, now that you mention it. Granny-sama stitched me up very nicely," he said grinning. "So, got any big plans? Training session? Date night? Big welcome back speech?"
Sasuke resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Despite it all, it was somewhat reassuring to know that Naruto had not changed. His pride would never permit him to admit it aloud though.
"Oi!" Naruto yelled. What about Sakura? Gorgeous, huh? And different, ne?"
He had seen her when she walked in. She was dirty and sweaty, and her hair had hung in her face. She sported ninja attire; tight tank, short skirt, nin sandals; and her mission scroll still hung from her waist. Her body had also grown in the time he'd been away, and he could see new scars, a declaration of hard work. Still though, it wasn't anything he hadn't expected. But her eyes. They had been glowing at the sight of Naruto, but the shadows behind them could not be mistaken. Like ghosts creeping behind her smile.
He lay back onto the pillow behind him.
"Hn."
Two weeks later, Sakura was wandering around the market place, shopping for groceries. It had never been more awkward. It had been two weeks since Sasuke's return, and everyone had been talking about it. About Sakura's run from the hospital, her mental stability, about whether or not this would affect her job. Frankly, Sakura was sick of it. But if she hid out in her apartment, that would only give people more of a reason to talk, and they were going to talk, she would give them something to say.
Strolling down the dirt path, she thought about dinner with Naruto last night. He seemed concerned about her welfare, and she understood why, but she had steadily refused to allow him to even remotely bring up Sasuke. He picked up on it pretty fast, and instead allowed her to talk about idle things. A new haircut, Lee's latest love stunt, the possibility of new paint in the living room.
Sakura sighed as she made her way to the fruits and vegetable stand. She didn't hate Naruto for bringing him back. How could she? Naruto was everything to her. No matter how stupid a decision she thought this was. They didn't need him, and he certainly didn't want to be here. Well enough, should have been left alone. Now that he was back, it felt like all those demons she buried were coming back to haunt her.
Just as she reached down to pick up a pear, she felt a sudden surge rush down her spine and she looked up to try and locate the presence. The onyx eyes caught hers immediately. For a long moment Sakura stood staring at Sasuke from across the street. He had a crunch under one arm, and a paper bag in the other, as if he had been doing the same as she. The wind howled down the marketplace, and the sound of children playing and people moving still continued, but Sakura could not hear any of it. There was nothing but Sasuke's eyes poring into her own, steely and stubborn, refusing to turn away. But as soon as he took the first step towards her, the spell was broken. The sounds of the marketplace came rushing back to her like a blast from a speaker, and before she allowed herself to think on it a second more, she turned and fled.
As for Sauske, he watched her disappear into the crowds before turning back to the vendor. The small man smiled toothily, and offered him a single rose.
"For your lady friend?"
Sasuke's lips tightened.
"No, thank you."
Sakura ran and ran and ran.
This was not her day.
As soon as Sasuke had looked at her something inside her snapped. She hadn't seen those eyes for almost seven years, and suddenly there they were again. Still just as dark and foreboding, dangerous to any woman no matter how proud. She couldn't handle it. So she ran.
Her feet knew where they were taking her before she did. She knew she shouldn't go, she knew she told herself she wouldn't anymore. But she needed it. She needed to escape.
Just as the sun began to set, she arrived at her destination, knocking fervently on the door. A few seconds later it opened, and she saw her salvation.
Tears starting to fall, she croaked out, "Genma. Please."
He needed to further invitation.
He grabbed her elbow and pulled her inside, meeting her lips with his own. Her tears were salty, and they made the strands of his hair stick to her face and tickle her nose. She pushed up against him harder, pleading with him to tear her apart in the worst way. Stumbling towards the bedroom, he threw her down upon it, and straddled her. Taking a chance he tilted her chin up to see her face, and she stared back at him with empty eyes.
He let out a silent sigh.
What had he expected?
They were always like that.
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Author's Note: Hi guys! I've been sort of AWOL, I know. But I've been busy like a maniac. (college is a lot of work) But I swear I didn't forget about this story! Not at all. Just trying to balance work and school like the majority of America. Blah. But I hope you like this chapter. Some tension is starting to build up between Sasuke and Sakura. ooOo... tensioooon. Ha. Anyways, thank you guys so much for reviewing the last chapter. You're the BEST. However, I particularly want to thank SweetCrazy-DramaQueen. You're review was amazing and I hope you continue. But I also wanted to address a few things you mentioned.
The first is that, I can completely agree with you on the Neji resembling Sasuke thing. Still though, I feel like Neji resembled Sasuke because her also had family trauma/drama. But since facing Naruto in the Chuunin exams, he's been letting go of that. So seven years later, he's moved on, Not to say he's a cheery, happy-go-lucky guy. Not at all. None of my characters are going to really sway from their personalities in the series. But his politeness comes from a being a part of reputable clan, you know? He had to be taught how to behave. The second thing is that I'm glad you like Sakura's personality in this story. I really wanted to push her to make mistakes. To really feel like shit. Because I feel like in reality, that's what would happen if you've been through the things she's had to go through. You'd be sort of be hardened and lose yourself. It's an aspect of her that I've only seen a few do. I hope you keep enjoying my story!
Okay, I have talked entirely too much when I should be getting started on the next chapter. Woot woot! Again, I hope this chapter was good! Please, please leave reviews! Peace! :)