Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine. It's definitely gonna be SasuSaku... I can feel it in my bones. :3
Chapter Nine
The Listening
"I never really ever know what to say when all of my emotions get in the way. I'm just trying to get us on the same page"
– song by Lights
"He's gonna come home."
Sakura looked up from her table. She was in the middle of signing her signature when Naruto interrupted her thoughts. He was staring outside her window, resting his chin on one hand. They were currently at her office and she was busy doing paperwork for the day. She raised an eyebrow. Why he felt the need to say it, she didn't know. She wasn't that bothered about the fact that Sasuke's return was pushed back to a week. He had been gone for a month already and was supposed to report back as soon as he finished with his mission. That mission shouldn't have taken more than three weeks.
Sure she was beginning to worry but Kakashi had told her the news the same day Sasuke sent in a hawk to report a possible delay in his return. There was no reason to be suspicious. This was typical of Anbu missions, sometimes a complication would arise and an extension would be inevitable. Hell, even simple missions assigned to young genin had the possibility of taking longer than planned. She distinctly remembered their first one. A simple escort mission which escalated into a battle with a scary missing nin. She still remembers the pain she felt, seeing Sasuke's lifeless body covered with pins and needles. She recalls trying to fight back the tears but finding herself unable to.
They were twelve back then. Three innocent children who have not killed anyone before. Now their hands were covered in blood. They were stronger. Especially Sasuke. He could not be killed so easily.
She smiled at her blonde friend.
"What makes you think I believe otherwise? I wasn't even thinking about him." she denied. She took another folder with files and started to scan over them. Her hands began to make the usual journey of forming her signed name on the paper.
"You have been sitting on your desk for an hour already and you've finished signing only one folder." He pointed out.
"I was studying the case closely." She remarked.
"On one of the papers you signed 'Uchiha Sasuke' instead of your own name."
"What?!" she retrieved the finished folder and breezed through the pages. There it was.
His name.
What the hell?
Her cheeks burned immediately. She tried to hide her embarrassment as she heard Naruto's loud laughter beside her.
"Wow, Sakura-chan, you really do love the teme." He continued to tease her.
"I do not!" she argued.
"Of course you do." He continued to laugh.
She was about to retort but decided that there was no use in arguing with Naruto. Besides, it felt good to hear him laugh. After he returned from his mission he wasn't exactly as cheerful as he was before he left. She was certain that something happened during his mission. It was understandable that he would be disappointed in not finding Jiraiya-sama's body but she was sure something else was on his mind.
Maybe it had something to do with Hyuuga Hinata? Sakura noticed that her blonde friend took extreme measures in avoiding the heiress. She shrugged it off at first but one day they were just strolling around Konoha having a pleasant conversation when she saw the shy girl round a corner and make her way towards them. She quickly waved at her. However, when the white-eyed beauty finally reached her, Sakura turned to find the spot next to her empty. It was amazing how fast he disappeared from her side.
He was obviously avoiding a certain someone.
Sakura decided to investigate later.
He would definitely deny it at first and she understood that she shouldn't pry too much. Besides, she was having troubles of the heart as well. She looked down at "his" name and sighed.
The room was then filled with a pleasant silence as she corrected her error. She proceeded to do her work humming a calm tune. Naruto continued to keep her company. She concentrated over the reports made by her subordinates. Diagnoses made, treatments given, morbidity reports. Her eyebrows furrowed at one of the folders. A simple cough was overlooked by one of the medics, when the patient came back she was already having trouble breathing. There were too many complications which led to the patient's demise. Shit. She wasn't there to prevent it. She scanned the paper. The incident happened when she was at the Hidden Mist. She made a mental note to train her medics harder.
After she was done with her work she looked up to find a hawk in front of her. Her head tilted to the side as she studied the bird. It looked peculiar for a hawk. The weird way its mane was arranged reminded her of dark hair, arranged into a chicken's butt. Attached to its claws was a small piece of paper which was rolled up. She untied it and read the message in it.
When she did, she tried to fight the emotions that ran through her. Her heart however refused to listen and it increased its pumping.
.
.
.
"I'm coming back tomorrow."
.
Four simple words.
.
One sentence and it turned her insides into mush.
.
He didn't even sign his name in it but she knew it was from him. Surely he didn't mean for it to sound like he was coming home to her right? He was just writing to inform her of something. Naruto must have noticed the change in her calmness because he came around her desk and looked over her shoulder. He snickered.
"Teme has a way with words. Since when has he been sending you messages Sakura-chan?" he started teasing her again.
"He hasn't." the admission was the truth.
Sasuke had not sent her one message since he left for his mission. Actually, she didn't expect him to. Because why would he? There was no reason for him to do so. She briefly contemplated about what it meant.
Nothing right?
He meant to send that message to her as a friend, she concluded. She did after all share that tender moment with him before he left. She berated herself for being so damn emotional that time. She still blushed as she remembered how his hands subtly held hers back as she said those words. They shared a special connection that night, she believed. She tapped her fingers to her head as her thoughts led her to assuming things again. Didn't she already tell herself not to think too much about what they were? She was wrong the first time, believing that she was closest to him when he was fucking her best friend behind her back.
Sakura sighed again. Uchiha Sasuke was really something.
She should stop thinking too much about him.
It was such a daunting task.
Still, his message made her smile.
.
.
.
Stupid heart.
Sasuke rushed through the forest as he neared the Village of the Leaf. He would never admit it but he was relieved to be finally returning to Konoha. He didn't really like the fact that he had to extend the intended time to ensure the mission's success. He was never one to like being late. It meant that he was being inefficient. And, he didn't want any time to be wasted. He breathed in the familiar scent of his home.
Yes, his home.
Konoha was his home. His heart felt a sense of pride as he thought about this.
"Come home."
She said it so sincerely that he almost missed the implications of what she said. He was surprised when he realized that he didn't mind if that was what she meant though. Home was with Team 7, even if they sometimes made him want to pull his ears out with their loud voices and their insistent attitudes, always trying to get him to go with them to get-togethers, always trying to make him feel like they are always going to be there for him. Especially her.
Sakura.
He didn't really know why he sent her that message.
As soon as he let go of that hawk he contemplated about sending a kunai through it just so the message wouldn't go to its recipient. As his hand grasped the handle of his weapon however, he decided to just forget about it. It shouldn't bother him. Besides, it would be a waste of a perfectly good hawk.
He sent it merely to inform her. Nothing more.
But,
It was an admission that he had been thinking about her. He clicked his tongue when he realized what it would probably seem like. Anyway, it didn't really matter. He didn't want her to worry and that was why he sent it to her. After all, he was positive that she would think about various reasons as to why he hasn't returned to Konoha yet.
She would envision him with fatal injuries.
Maybe even dead.
Or worst, she would think that he betrayed them again.
He didn't want her to doubt his loyalty.
So, that's why he sent her that message yesterday.
That's all.
Still, when he thinks about his pink-haired teammate he couldn't help but feel a surge of warmness course through him. He was looking forward to seeing her again. To hear her melancholic voice, and most especially to feel her healing chakra soothe his eyes. His eyes have been hurting a bit since he left. Naruto was right. She was kind of babying him. He wonders if she thought about him during his absence, if she was overworking herself again. He could imagine her juggling paper works and making her rounds. He closes his eyes and thinks about her caring smile as she talks to her patients. He opens his eyes and smirks.
His pace suddenly quickens as he sees the village gates. Maybe she was …
Or not.
Sasuke didn't want to seem cocky but he was almost sure that she would be waiting for his arrival. He decided that as soon as he saw her he wouldn't say anything hurtful. Maybe he could even manage a smile. The corner of his lips almost twitched at the thought.
Seriously, Uchiha Sasuke thinking about how he was going to face Haruno Sakura, it seemed absolutely preposterous.
He almost scoffed as he envisioned how she would react when they see each other. Would she look as happy and cheerful as she was whenever she was with Naruto?
Or with Inuzuka?
He clenched his fists. He really didn't want to care about her relationship with that guy. But he did. His month long distance from Konoha made him realize a lot of things.
First was, he wanted to return so badly.
And second,
.
.
.
He missed her.
.
.
His pace slows down as he finally enters the Village gates, eyes instantly scanning around for pink hair. Or anyone in red. Before he could fully scan the parameter his vision is blocked as annoying orange stood in front of him.
"Welcome back Sasuke!"
Naruto was standing there with a huge grin on his face.
Sasuke nodded his head in acknowledgement. His friend placed an arm in front of him; his hand shaped into a fist. The young Uchiha immediately knew what he wanted and reached out his own arm to bump fists with his comrade. He smirked. It felt good to come home.
Naruto chatted and filled his ears with various happenings in Konoha as they made their way to the Hokage's office.
"Kakashi-sensei's been a real jerk, saying he has no time to train me and then I catch him lounging on his chair with an Icha-icha in front of him. I swear he's just trying to delay giving up his position!"
"Or maybe he's just taking a break, baka." Sasuke said.
"And Sakura-chan's been so busy at the hospital, I hardly see her unless she's working in her office and she allows me to chat with her." the blonde kyuubi continued to complain.
Sasuke inwardly smirked. He could just picture her working away while Naruto annoyed her with his loud voice. Maybe she would eventually punch the daylights out of their teammate for being so noisy. Where was she by the way? Did she not get his message? Before he could open his mouth to voice out his inquiry the sage blurted out
"And she's been spending a lot of time with Kiba. Kami, I think he's really making his move on her!"
Damn. That ruined his mood.
"Is she?" he muttered.
"Yeah! And it seems like she's actually entertaining the thought." Naruto had a look of pure horror on his face. It was like he didn't want to believe what he was seeing.
Sasuke stayed quiet.
"You have got to do something about this Teme!"
The young Uchiha continued to stay silent.
"Sasuke!" the idiot's voice was getting too loud.
"What makes you think I'm interested in her affairs?" Uchiha grumbled.
"Well, she…And you… "
"I what?" he glared. What was Naruto getting at?
"Teme, are you really going to let him have her?" Naruto exclaimed in the most annoying voice he has ever heard. Or maybe it was because of the sentence he just uttered. "let him have her"
"She can do whatever she wants, I don't care."
Liar.
But his stupid pride did not want to admit it. Sure he had feelings for Sakura, but he didn't know what they were yet. He didn't even want to call them "feelings". He wasn't sure if he wanted to start something with her when he liked the way things were. He asks himself what exactly they were doing. Nothing really, they were merely mending the broken pieces of their friendship. Sure they did something stupid by sleeping together a few months back. And sure, he sometimes found himself wanting her again and again. Too often. More often than he wanted. But that did not mean he wanted to be her boyfriend or anything. They had no obligations to each other. He wonders about her feelings for him. She said she loved him once, and she gave herself to him….. But, lately, it didn't seem like she still saw him that way. If she did love him maybe it was as a friend.
Naruto squints his eyes and puts his arms behind his head and starts to walk in another direction.
"You're right, she can do whatever she wants. I found that out for myself when I left and when I came back she was as strong as Tsunade baa-chan. But, there is one thing that she can't change no matter how much she wants to."
Sasuke looks at his best friend's back.
"What?"
Naruto turns to look at him with a serious expression. Sasuke waits for the answer. He scolds himself for being too eager to hear about the medic. Uzumaki Naruto continues to stare at him with a look that told him that what he was about to say was something that should be taken seriously. Sasuke expects him to say the same thing he did when they fought so fiercely before. "She loves you". However, the idiot suddenly pulls one of his eyelids down and sticks his tongue out.
"Like I'm gonna tell you!"
And he leaves.
Sasuke is left stunned.
When Uchiha Sasuke returns to his apartment, he lets his pack fall and takes off his anbu gear. He takes a quick shower before plopping down on his bed. As he lies down on his stomach in nothing but his pants on he breathes in the coziness of his bedroom. He missed sleeping here. His camp bag wasn't exactly ideal for his back. He closes his eyes as the fatigue from his recent mission finally takes over him. In a few minutes his consciousness leaves him altogether.
.
Knock
.
Knock, knock
.
Knock, knock, knock.
.
He opens one eye in annoyance at the noise. He decides to ignore it and tries to fall asleep again. His eyes fall shut when…
.
Knock, knock, knock.
.
He opens his eyes again.
He looks at his clock and notes the time. 7:30 pm. He had been out for only 3 hours. He wanted so badly to go back to sleep.
He pushes himself up and rubs the sleep out of his eyes. Slowly, he gets to his feet and proceeds to his door. If it's Naruto and the blonde idiot's gonna ask him to eat ramen he would surely kick his ass. His hand reaches the door handle and opens the door. His mood swiftly lightens as he sees who had woken him up from his slumber.
She was wearing her doctor's coat and looked a little breathless with her hair up into a ponytail, a few strands out of place. Her face instantly lights up as she sees his face. He finds himself almost smiling at her.
"Hi." She manages to gasp out. She looked like she was trying to catch her breath. Had she been running? In an instant, she blushes as she notices his state of undress.
"I, uhm, did I catch you at a bad time?" she starts to stammer and she tucks a strand of her hair as she looks at anything other than his chest. He smirks.
"Hn."
She bites her lips again in the same way that tells him she's nervous.
"Uh, you look tired, were you just sleeping? Gomen! Maybe I should've thought of that. Ha ha." She laughs nervously.
"Come in."
"Eh?"
The surprised expression on her face amuses him and he steps aside and opens the door wider for her. She is hesitant at first but comes in anyway. They stare at each other for a moment.
She looks away first.
"Anyway, I brought you dinner. Thought you might need some proper nutrition after being away for so long. Don't worry it's real food." She jokes.
He shrugs his shoulders and leads her to his dining room. Sakura falls into step with him. Last time she was in his home, something sort of wonderful but at the same time heartbreaking happened. Her eyes carefully scan her surroundings. She tries to ignore the corridor leading into his room. When he leaves her to put a shirt on, Sakura sets the table and soon they're seated and eating the food she brought. Sushi and miso soup.
"I'm sorry for not being there to greet you when you returned." She started.
"You didn't have to be." He calmly replied.
"I know, but it's what friends do you know." She beamed.
Sasuke's eyes scanned over her face as he chewed on his sushi. Sakura looked tired, she probably just came from work. She took a piece into her mouth and chewed so delicately. With her chopsticks still near her mouth, her eyes went to his as she noticed for the first time that he was staring at her. She smiled at him again. The back of his neck suddenly felt hot as he looked at her pretty face and he realized that he hadn't said anything in return to her last sentence. However, he could not think of anything to say.
They stay like that for a while. Quiet and comfortable with the silence. She eventually fills in the gap with questions about his latest mission. What caused the delay and if he had sustained any injuries. Unlike before, he didn't really mind answering her. Before they know it, they're done eating and he helps her wash and put the dishes away. She does a quick check up on his eyes and asks him to come to her office when he has time. He walks her to his door as she tells him that she needs to get home to sleep. He internally wonders if he should say anything. When they finally reach his door and she turns to leave, his hand instantly goes to her wrist and stops her.
Sakura turns to look at him with wide eyes, a look of confusion on her face.
"Arigatou."
It takes a second for her to register his words and she scrutinizes him for a moment. Really, was it so damn surprising that he was thanking her for the dinner? His annoyance goes away when she grins at him.
"You're welcome."
And she turns away and makes her way home.
Uchiha Sasuke shuts the door and breathes in calmly.
"How long have you been here?" he hisses.
"Just now, when you thanked her for dinner." Ino came out of the shadows looking every bit the seductress she was.
"What do you want?" he asks as he made his way to his bedroom. Of course, he knew what she wanted.
"You've been away for so long, I was beginning to worry."
He looked at the flower girl and he saw her concern for him. He sighs and ignores her. This doesn't seem to bother Ino as she keeps pace with him until he reaches his bedroom. He turns to tell her to leave but is stopped when she suddenly wraps her arms around him and kisses him passionately. She pushes her body against him ready for a romp but he grabs her hands and puts them to her side.
"Ino, I want to sleep." He starts to reject her.
But, Yamanaka Ino is used to this. He had refused her several times but would eventually give in.
"Mou, Sasuke-kun, you've been away for a month. I'm sure you're just aching to be inside a woman by now." Her hands slowly go to his pants and she unbuckles his belt.
"Stop."
She ignores him and takes off the tight dress she is wearing. His throat dries at the sight of her naked body. She was right, he had been aching to be inside someone but, not her. . .
He starts to refuse her again but she presses her lips to his. He pulls away instantly.
"Ino."
She ignores him then goes on her knees and starts pulling his pants down.
"Ino!" he pushes her away again. Her eyes widened and he glared at her. They look at each other.
"Is it because of her?" she blurts out.
Sasuke doesn't understand what she means.
"Do you want Sakura that badly?" she accuses.
He is instantly irritated. Why do people keep on pointing out his relationship with Sakura? He wasn't some love-sick puppy. First Sai, then Naruto and now Ino was concluding that he was smitten with her. He was Uchiha Sasuke and no one had power over him. Especially not Haruno Sakura.
"Shut up."
Ino backs off a little when she feels his anger boiling at the surface. Her heart stings as she notices the emotions he felt, even when he himself did not want to admit it. He wasn't even the least bit affected by her naked body in front of him.
"Gomen. Sasuke-kun. Let's forget about what I said okay?" she pleads. She starts to reach out to him but he immediately snatches her wrist.
He lets out a sigh.
"I think we should stop this."
Her eyes widened at his suggestion. And she instantly backs away.
Was he seriously?
She looks at him again. He looked dead serious. Crap who was she kidding? Uchiha Sasuke didn't joke. Of course he meant it. She tries to fight the tears and succeeds. She did have a firm grasp on her emotions. On the outside she only seemed a bit surprised but on the inside, she was practically screaming. What kept her standing straight was her pride. She wouldn't beg him. She certainly wouldn't. So she takes another step back, eyes still holding his own, but he turns away and shuts the door to his room.
When she steps out of his house feeling cold and wanting she finds herself in need of a drink, bad.
.
.
.
Her vision blurs as she walks the streets of Konoha….she knows her next destination.
"Ino-pig, what are you…"
"I hate you." All she could see was a pink blob
"I…."
"Give him to me." she slurs
"What do you mean?"
"Give Uchiha Sasuke to me." She screams a little. Then she starts to feel her eyes tear up. Shit. She didn't want to cry… but her body wasn't listening to her. Had stopped listening since she started talking.
"I don't understand what you're..."
"Look at you, people say you're smart but you're the dumbest of them all! "
"Ino, what…"
"You weren't there!"
"…"
"My father died and you weren't there."
"I was…"
"No, you were too busy being all happy with your reunited team, and I was alone! So alone! Shikamaru was grieving on his own. Chouji was always comforting him but not me! "
"Ino..."
"That's why, give him to me."
"I..."
"Onegai, Sakura, I love him, I love him so damn much it hurts…and I know you love him too. But you've given up right?"
"I…."
"Give up on him…"
"…"
"Move on."
"…"
"You've been hurting too much right? You want it to stop? Well, I can still take it. I don't care if he uses my body. I swear I'll make him fall for me. "
"You can. But... "
"So let him go…."
"I am..."
"Say yes to Kiba then..."
"Ino..."
"In this life, I won't ask for anything else."
"Ino…"
"Onegai… "
.
.
.
"Please excuse me, I'm not thinking clear. It must just be stress but I likely shouldn't be here. I'm such a mess."
– The Listening
tbc
AN: So first of all. Holy Crap! I'm so sorry. So so sorry. Has it been three months already? Life just got in the way. I thank everyone who left reviews :D Rest assured I'm not discontinuing this story. I already have it drafted and I know what I want to do with each chapter. :D It's just a matter of taking the time to sit down and write...eer.. type. Sometimes, during long bus rides I think about a particular scene but it leaves my head when I have to do something else. I'm planning to write just plain fluff soon and another story has been floating around in my head. I promise that I will finish this first :D
Oh my gosh, the Naruto chapters that have come out. Especially 685. It got my heart raising, 3
I hope you guys haven't given up on this story. I promise I won't. This chapter is kind of short and has angst :) I'm kind of trying to shift its direction to where I want it to go. Thank you as always for your support :D
-Remastered-
