Barren
Chapter Seven:
Useless
Disclaimer: (Not in the mood for a fancy, creative disclaimer, so...) I don't own Naruto.
She felt as if she was falling. The world was tilted, off balance, crumbling into a million pieces of glass. She couldn't swallow, couldn't breathe, couldn't think.
She felt her mouth wrenching, coiling. She was disgusting, irrational, useless.
She could still hear Tsunade – hoarse, desperate – calling for her. Come back. Come back.
She shook her head furiously. Stupid, ignorant girl. How could she have let herself be so hopeful? How could she have let herself run so far away from reality?
She tried to swallow the lump in her throat and clenched her fists together.
Why hadn't she realized how much this meant?
The streets were dark. Night had fallen across the lopsided world, and Sakura sobbed.
She let her knees buckle, thudding onto the dry dirt. She tried to count, tried to steady herself. But there was inexplicable ache in her chest. It throbbed, it ripped through her ribs and seared through her veins.
Stupid, ignorant girl.
He could never love something as useless as you.
She pulled her arms deep into her stomach and collapsed on top of them.
She was supposed to be strong. She was supposed to be independent, capable, competent.
Where was that strength now?
"Sakura?" The voice was panicked, racked with anxiousness. "Sakura!"
She felt his arms wrap around her, clutching her closer, rubbing steady rhythms with his palm across the small of her back.
"Shh," he whispered, "Shh."
He knew it was useless. He knew there was nothing he could do to console her. Kankuro winced at her dry sobs, her tiny body convulsing with desperation.
"Shh," he murmured again. He knew how hollowed it sounded.
He rocked her back and forth, tucking her head deep into the nape of his neck. He didn't know what to say, what to do, how to protect her from the pain.
He bit hard on his lower lip as he realized that was impossible.
He scooped her up in his arms, tucking her tightly against his chest. He couldn't stop her from crying, but he would be damned if he let her cry alone in the dark.
"C'mon," he whispered, his hands instinctively cradling her. "Let's go home."
It hurt to blink. Her eyes were red and puffy and tired. She sighed and clutched at her pillow.
"Need anything?" Kankuro asked softly, settling himself on the bed beside the weary pinkette.
Sakura smiled vaguely and shook her head.
Kankuro was quiet, considering the state of the woman beside him.
"I don't have to go," he suggested hesitantly.
She looked up, surprised. "What?"
"I don't have to go back yet," he replied, his eyes shifting back and forth, searching. "I can't wait a few weeks. Gaara doesn't need me back until next month."
"Kankuro, I-"
"I can stay until you're..."
"Better?" Sakura suggested bitterly.
He smiled apologetically. "Something like that."
"You don't have too," she whispered. "I know they need you back home."
He shrugged and shook his head. "Not need, really. They just like having me around."
Sakura attempted to laugh, but it faltered and broke off into a sour chuckle. Her lips tipped downwards and she felt her eyes welling up again.
Her voice cracked, "You don't have to do that."
Kankuro frowned, pulling her closer and tucking her against his chest. He almost smiled. "Yes I do."
Katsu was irritated.
Mostly because Sasuke was a complete ass, but she had other reasons too.
She sighed and pursed her lips into a thin line, crossing her arms across her chest. She was still waiting for the final verdict on the mission, so for now she had nothing to do but wait.
She had grown used to the abnormal cleanliness of his kitchen. It was distant and cold, almost as if it were never used.
At this point, she knew better than to go snooping around. She'd been caught one too many times.
She heard the front door slam and she smirked grimly.
"Honey, I'm home," she muttered.
"What was that?" Sasuke snapped.
She rolled her and eyes and turned around. "Nothing. So?"
"Mission's off."
Katsu opened her mouth to ask why, but stopped short at the sight of Sasuke's furious expression. She sealed her lips and remained settled quietly in her chair.
Sasuke shot a fierce scowl in her direction. "Eat something or go home."
Katsu was slightly taken aback, but she stood and made her way to the fridge nonetheless. She curled her lips and took a deep breath. "Why?"
"What?" he spat.
"Why was it cancelled?"
"Hell if I know," he snarled.
"Maybe Sakura would know." Katsu was tentative. She tried to prod cautiously, but she wasn't very tactful with the sensitive Uchiha.
His eyes smoldered. "Go home."
Naruto was concerned.
Life was a bit topsy-turvy as of late, and he fully intended to figure out why.
First order of business: Team Seven. Sasuke was shacking up with some lame-o chunnin ramen hater, and Sakura was getting a little too comfy with that weirdo puppet-man for her own good. It was his job, as future Hokage and current ladies man, to bring his team back together.
Naruto clenched his fists and puffed up his chest. He was ready for action.
He made his way through town to Sakura's flat. He had his customary gift of sake and ramen, and was completely unprepared when the sand-freak answered the door instead of his favorite blossom.
"Sakura's not feeling too well right now," Kankuro smiled wearily.
Naruto frowned suspiciously and crossed his arms. "Well if Sakura's sick, I need to see her."
The sand-shinobi twisted his lips together and furrowed his brows. "It's not that she's physically ill, it's more…"
"Who is it?" Sakura hobbled into view, wrapped up in her favorite down comforter. "Naruto!" She gasped.
"Sakura-chan!" He stepped forward and engulfed the pinkette in his strong arms. "Are you alright?"
She attempted a smile. "Been better."
He frowned and shook her closer. "What's wrong?"
She laughed quietly and clutched his shoulders. "You can't fix it, Naruto."
He gave a determined grin and handed her the sake. "I can try."
Sasuke was incredulous. "It's back on?"
Tsunade shrugged as she thumbed through various papers. "For the moment."
"Who the hell is making the calls here?" he growled.
Tsunade frowned fiercely and shot the Uchiha a dirty look. "Watch your tone."
He stared back just as furiously. "Where is he?"
The blonde sighed and searched absently for another bottle of sake. "With Sakura." She grimaced and reached for a shot glass. "I don't really know that I want her going anyway."
Sasuke was slightly taken aback. "Why?"
Tsunade shrugged, her lips tight, as if she was choosing her words carefully. "She isn't well."
Sasuke's lips curled. "Not well?"
The Hokage smiled cynically. "Don't worry yourself too much about it, Sasuke. You've got other concerns."
There was a moment of thick tension, filled only by the harsh rustling of papers and manila folders. Sasuke felt his anger mounting, heavy and uncontrollable, like a poisoned sword stuck in his ribs.
"Spit it out," the Uchiha growled.
Tsunade scowled and shook her head. "Get out of my office."
"No," he replied firmly. "Say it."
The blonde raised a quizzical brow and pursed her lips together in a thin, pinched line. "Don't test me Uchiha. I've got plenty to say."
He smirked. "So?"
She stood quickly, furiously, her hands balled into fierce fists that she whipped through the air and slammed onto her desk. "Stay the hell away from her."
His onyx eyes glowed with a dark anxiety. "Or what?"
He could hear the wood crunching beneath her palms. "You've never deserved her."
His comeback was quick and ruthless. "She's useless to me."
That's when the desk crashed into the ceiling, splintering off into a million fragments that fell and pierced the carpet.
"Get the hell out!" She screamed, her lips twisted and her hands clutching at her wrists. Her hands found a half-empty sake bottle, which flew across the room, scraping by the Uchiha's shoulder and shattered against the wall. "Get out before I kill you."
Sasuke knew enough to know that Tsunade didn't make empty threats.
Naruto found himself once again at Sakura's door, this time with a basket of muffins whipped by his very own dear Hinata (whom he had recently discovered was a wiz in the kitchen.) He had left her apartment late the night before only to return in the morning with surprising news.
To his discouragement, Kankuro answered the door again.
He gave him a suspicious once-over. He was fully-clothed – a good sign – but was lacking in his normal face paint – interesting.
"All outgoing missions are cancelled," he blurted. He had meant to wait for Sakura, but he knew she could probably hear him anyways. His voice tended to carry.
The sand shinobi raised a quizzical brow, but Sakura piped up from the other room. "Is Tsunade alright?"
The Kyuubi vessel shrugged and inched through the doorway. "Hell if I know. Probably fine, just pissed. You know her tantrums."
The pinkette shrugged and helped herself to a muffin. "I should check on her today."
"Anyway," Naruto continued, turning to Kankuro. "I guess that means you'll be sticking around for a while longer."
The sand shinobi nodded and smiled. "I don't mind really. Sakura keeps me busy."
The pinkette frowned and tilted her head. "Not sure if that was a compliment." She began to peel the wrapping off of her muffin, rubbing her tired eyes with the backs of her hands. "I need to get out."
Naruto smiled eagerly and set the basket down on the counter. "How about some good ol' fashioned training?" He paused long enough to shoot Kankuro a cursory glance. "Sandy can come too."
Sakura smiled as she bit into her muffin. "That sounds good," she muttered through the crumbs.
Kankuro stretched his arms out as he leaned against the counter. "What time?"
Naruto shrugged and glanced up at the clock. "Noonish. Usual place. I'll bring Hinata!"
With that the blonde scurried out the front entrance.
Kankuro waited for the door to close before he turned his attention back to the Pinkette. "Are you sure you're up for it?"
She grimaced and sighed. "I need it. But I've got to see Tsunade first."
He nodded and stepped closer, reaching around her for a muffin of his own.
"It's probably for the best," he whispered quietly.
"What?" she snapped, her brows creased.
"Not going on the mission," he stated firmly. "You were crazy to think we could've made it without killing you-know-who." He paused and sat down on the barstool next to her. "Besides, I'm not really ready to leave anyway."
Sakura smiled sadly and shook her head. "Stop saying that."
He chuckled wearily to himself. "Nope." He began to peel the wrapper off of his own muffin. "And I'm not leaving until you don't need… someone… here anymore."
Her green eyes glowered fiercely. "I'm not helpless Kankuro."
He laughed loudly and shot her a small smile. "I know that damn well." Then his smile faltered and raised an honest brow. "But you're not invincible either."
Katsu was mildly disappointed. The mission would have been worth the time – partly for experience, and partly to watch Sasuke and Sakura dance awkwardly around each other. She still had plenty of questions she needed answered about the Uchiha before she commit to any sort of anything with him.
But for now, she had to deal with his damn sensitivity.
"All missions are cancelled?" she questioned again, running her fingers along the bridge railing.
He shot her a dirty look, his lips curled. "Do I have to repeat myself?"
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Is there something wrong with the Hokage?"
Sasuke let loose a hard, barking laugh and shook his head. "I wish."
At this Katsu raised her brows and crossed her arms, stopping short. "You're a little more than you're usual grumpy today."
Before she saw it coming, she was pinned against the railing, her hips pressed against his, her hands furled against his chest.
"Are you worth my time?" he snarled, his hands ran down her shoulders and found the small of her back, pushing her closer.
"W-wha-"
"You know what I want," he growled, bending his head so that his lips brushed against her neck. "Can you promise that you'll give that to me someday?"
"I'm not promising-" Her breath hitched as his hands ran the length of her torso, his lips catching the bottom of her ear.
"Promise," he murmured bitterly.
She swallowed hard and she closed her eyes. "Fine."
She could almost hear his lips stretch as he smirked. "Good."
She felt his weight leave her body and she opened her eyes. He was already walking away, his strides long and assured. She frowned sourly. How she hated that man.
"Tsunade?"
Sakura was tentative as she stepped into the office. She raised a brow at the splintered wood and shattered bottles. She almost rolled her eyes. She knew who was going to have to clean it up.
"Tsunade?" she called again, tip-toeing haphazardly through the debris.
"Here," came the grumbling response. The blonde was pressed against the corner wall, her body crumpled and her lips trembling.
"Damn it, Tsunade!" Sakura tripped over the rest of the bottles and collapsed beside her mentor. "What the hell happened?"
The blonde held up a shot glass and offered a slurred smile. "One too many."
Sakura grimaced and attempted to pull Tsunade into the only chair left standing. "You've got a damn village to run," she scolded quietly. She turned a raised brow on the despairing state of the office. "Out with it."
Tsunade shrugged and clutched the arms of her chair. "Just a little… a little… tiff."
"Tiff?" Sakura asked incredulously. "You don't have tiffs." She hurried over to Tsunade's coffee maker, which, by the grace of God, was still intact and tossed in some ground beans and hastily pressed the start button.
The blonde shrugged and watched as the pinkette scooped the broken bottles into a single pile.
"Who?" Sakura questioned simply.
Tsunade grew quiet, and strangely still for someone who was half-drunk.
"Who?" the pinkette repeated firmly.
"Sasuke," the blonde slurred. "Fought with… Sasuke."
Sakura stiffened, her hands pausing on the chinking glass. "Sasuke?"
"Damn asshole," Tsunade muttered. "Wouldn't leave." She paused and smiled sadly. "He doesn't deserve you."
The blossom sighed and fell to her knees. "Did you hurt him?" she asked wearily.
The Hokage made a huffing, indignant sound. "Wish I had."
Sakura laughed bitterly. "Me too."
"I'm sorry I can't stop you from hurting," Tsunade sniffled uncharacteristically, watching as Sakura continued her furious attempt at straightening up the office.
The pinkette shook her head and reached out for Tsunade's hand. "Don't be. You've given me plenty."
They sat for a moment, comfortable with this strange, new sort of intimacy. They had crossed the boundary of mentor and protégée to mother and daughter.
"Let's get this office cleaned up and get you some coffee," Sakura murmured quietly.
Tsunade simply nodded, content to let Sakura take charge for the time being. She needed her to be strong, to prove that she wasn't helpless even though she wasn't invincible. She needed to know that the possibility of happiness for Sakura, for her Sakura, was completely unattainable. She needed that for Sakura, just like Sakura needed it for herself.
A/N: WOAH. I think this is the fastest I have ever updated anything in my entire life (mostly because I am avoiding the homework I should be doing over break.) I kind of liked this chapter (all NINE pages of it!!) and I hope you enjoyed it too. Hopefully something was established. Sorry to skip out on the mission, but we'll have some excitement later on. There is some upcoming Sasuke-Sakura interaction... since we haven't really had a lot of that yet, but it is kinda necessary to the story.
So anyway, I hope you liked it. Sorry for any and all grammatical errors I made and missed.
Constructive criticism is always appreciated soo....
REVIEW? (Please?)
Thanks,
eb.
