Here's chapter nine folks. Sorry it took a while, I was a little stuck and I couldn't hurry up and update with school and other stuff coming up. Some many test and homework so little time to write. Good thing I've been writing out ideas on a little notepad. Otherwise, this might have just been updated next year. Haha. Just kidding. Here ya go. I won't keep it from you any longer.
Chapter 9 - Distance
Sakura walked through the streets of Sand city with Sasuke at her side of course, looking at the open area she had yet to walk through. Unlike Konoha City, she noticed how the buildings weren't as large, but the streets were wide for hundreds of people to walk through. As of now, in the cover of approaching dawn, it only littered with a few people allowing Sakura to be out in the open. According to Sasuke, Gaara was a lot stricter of people coming into Suna than Tsunade, and if Orochimaru's secret agents were to ever penetrate the city, they wouldn't stick around long.
Gaara knew everything about everything of his city, and the sand was part of the reason why.
She played with her hair unconsciously and smiled at Sasuke.
"Neh, Sasuke-kun, I like it here. People are nice!" She said waving to an old lady who waved at her. She was just beginning to open up her shop. She smiled at her gently. Sasuke nodded and continued walking.
"Hn. I guess." He said nonchalantly, knowing that though Gaara held things down, he could never keep people kind and nice forever. The Sand City still had its own share of problems, and Orochimaru had a propounding want to penetrate the city. When Gaara became the leader of Suna however, Orochimaru was hardly able to send his troops pass the gates.
Again, however long he could stop Orochimaru, there was just no way he could stop the major problems with the city.
The people of Suna, though protected from Orochimaru, lived poorly, despite major reforms put into action by Gaara. Their healthcare was at minimums, and doctors, the very few that were in the city, were lucky if they had resources available to help the people. Tsunade had tried to help Gaara in that area as much as she could, sending Gaara doctors of her own, and medicine, but the vast people, inflicted by disease and pain was not enough for the maximum she had given.
The trio, Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura, had been in Suna for the better part of two months, and so far, Sakura had not seen too much of the city. Besides basking in sunlight on their balcony, carefully watched by Sasuke and/or Naruto of course, and taking in water through buckets, Sakura never walked more than five feet (besides going to a local bakery a few blocks away) from the house that had been their home for the past two months. The rosette haired girl, wanted nothing more than to stretch her legs and like her natural instincts were, to be free. She was to spin, and dance with the winds, and let her pink petal soft hair flow around her, and to sing with the sky, and shine with the sun. It was just the way she was, and Sasuke not only found it a slight nuisance, but a beauty, only to be described in poetry, and only matched by a creation of mother nature. In the end, he could only smirk, and continue on watching her foolishly remembering; she was a creation of mother nature.
"Where do you want to go Sakura?" Sasuke asked. She placed a finger to her chin and her doe eyes turned thoughtful, with a sense of curiosity.
"Where can we go?" She asked. Sasuke shrugged. There actually wasn't that much entertainment in Suna, which is why it was home mostly to retirees, and newly formed families. Konoha, unlike Suna, spent a lot more money on such things. Suna was too poor for it.
"How about the park Sakura?" she looked down in thought at his proposal, only to nod approvingly.
"Okay."
And so they made their way to the park. It was a nice small area, a fountain in the center, with sand littering the area, overtaking the concrete to form over a slight thick sheet of beige sediments. The climate of Sand City, would not allow for grass nor trees, but instead sand, replicating a beach of sorts, with its center piece being the large fountain, spewing up water with a grace you'd think was not possible from something as ordinary as a fountain. Sakura smiled, taking off her black flats, and letting her tender feet caress the sand beneath her. She smiled, reminded of her soil. She remembered some of its ancestors were part sand. She could feel it now, the want the sand held to allow life to grow from the porous comforts of the beige particles, only to be led onto knowing disappointment. Roots could not be held in sand by none other but a species called cactus. Mother told her stories of such a species, and their sad demise was due to human need for their juices.
It saddened her in a way, but she could not bring herself to hate humans, no matter how weird it seemed.
She walked over to the fountain, placing a foot in the water gently, and then placing another.
And Sasuke watched as the constant phenomenon began. No matter what Sakura's mood was, no matter what inner turmoil she may have not spoken of, once she began to drink her water, her head would rise up to the sky, her mouth curling into a peaceful smile with eyes closed to increase the serenity. Her hands relaxed completely, and he had once caught her inhaling peacefully, making her seem like an angel or goddess of all creation itself. For some reason watching her made him feel at peace, especially in times such as this, where she was in such a calm state, that it practically radiated off of her, the sun, somehow rising faster, as if to be graced itself by her presence.
He didn't even notice there was a crowd growing and watching the drinking flower. And when he did, he had no choice but to grab her hand and pull her out her trance no matter how much he hated doing so. She brought her head down before opening her eyes, grassy green orbs looking at with a peculiar stare.
"Come on Sakura, there's a lot of people around." He said quietly, but looking at the crowding people staring at Sakura with awe and wonder in their eyes. To him, they had no business with her, and therefore, they didn't need to know who or what she was.
"So? It's okay if they watch me drink and bask Sasuke-kun." She said, now staring at him incredulously.
"I don't feel comfortable with people watching you." He spoke harshly. The slight harshness of his tone, was enough for her to look down in disappointment at not finishing with her water and feel guilty about being a nuisance.
"Okay Sasuke-kun, if you say so." She sighed and stepped out, placing her feet on the flats to not get sand stuck on their wet but already drying contents. Sasuke held her hand as she fix one of her flats, and both were startled when they saw a man, forty years of age or more, a small, sickly child in his hands, running to them, and stopping on his knees. He looked up at Sakura and their eyes met, even as Sasuke put Sakura behind him in a defensive manner. The man was scared and he was ready to beg, and give his life, for the request he had.
"I-I mean no harm." He started.
"If you truly are what I believe you are...please. Please, save my son!" He whispered with his voice quivering and already crying with pain and fear. And Sakura stared, feeling his pain. The man's son, from what she could understand, was dying, and there was nothing they could do. This man had no money, no efficient means of providing the boy with proper remedies and medication, and he was desperate. This boy in his arms, was his life, and without him he literally had nothing else to live for.
"I feel for you, but she cannot help your son." Sasuke tried to say but the man seemed not to even hear the words.
"I knew what you were as soon as I saw the pink hair, and I can honestly say I have long given up on promise of a renewed world by Mother, but please, I beg you, spare my son! Spare him and heal him please. D-Don't...D-Don't let his life go to Mother yet...please." Sakura stared at the man with a hurt in her eyes, tears filling to the brim of her orbs.
"He's all I have, please." The man finally whispered and held his son tighter.
"I'm sorry." Sasuke said, staring down sadly, and grabbed Sakura's hand, only for it to be snatched away, and he was lightly pushed to the side by none other than the flower. Sakura's eyes remained trained on the man.
"No." She said sternly.
"Sakura...," He stared in his own slight shock.
"I want to do this Sasuke-kun. Please. Let me." She said, her tone assertive, but assuring, and she looked at him with pleading eyes. He took a look at the boy unsurely, and reluctantly nodded, remaining quiet as she kneeled down in front of the man, wiping the older man's tears away much to his astonishment. She smiled.
"Place him on the ground." She commanded him lightly, in which the man did surprisingly, calmly. It seemed as if something in her gaze caused him to feel complete peace, and tranquility, such feelings he appeared to have not have in this life from his birth to his present. And then she looked down at the boy. He had to have been eight to nine years of age, the boy's face was in horrified pain, which consumed his entire body in ferocious and malicious goal to destroy him. Sakura caressed the boys hair slowly, as she placed his head on her lap, and the other hand stayed on his heart, the primary source of his pain. She closed her eyes.
"It's a poison..." she whispered looking at the father of the boy. His brown eyes turned worried and he looked away.
"I-Is there nothing you can do for him?"
The crowd had gotten larger.
Sakura smiled, and nodded.
"Of course." She said and closed her eyes again, as her hands glowed green, and the boy's pain seemed to ease off slightly, as his painful winces and cries turned into hollow inhales and exhales. Sakura inhaled deeply, and slowly, her hand raised, and from a small cut formed in the boy's skin since he wore no shirt, a purple liquid wrapped in her green mist came slowly out along with her. as she raised her hand higher, her chakra appeared longer, and all of it held onto the poison. She smiled as the last of the poison was out of the boy and she let it form a ball of the liquid suspended in her chakra in her hand. The man looked at her with hope.
"It's time for you to wake up." She sang to the child, and he stirred, opening to reveal sky blue eyes, and look at Sakura's face, to which the crowd awed and Sasuke smiled lightly. He sat up, and the father of the child instantly swooped the boys into his arms, crying tears of pure joy. This joy however, was new. This was a joy he had never felt nor experienced, Sakura guessed besides the birth of his son. Other than that, he had only experienced misery and pain, but joy he seemed to not have in a long time.
"Thank you. Thank you so much! Thank you." He cried to Sakura. She smiled kindly, and stood, looking at Sasuke, while placing the poison into a bottle Sasuke wasn't using anymore. She kneeled back down just as the father was hopelessly looking into the boy's blue eyes, with a love only a devoted father could have. The boy looked at her and smiled shyly, looking down at the sand beneath his feet.
"T-Th-Thank you." He stuttered. Sakura's warmth radiated, and she lifted the boy's chin, caressing his face.
"You take care now." She told him, a hushed voice in her tone filled with motherly love, only made the chlid grin, and hug her. She chuckled, wrapping her arms around his tiny, frail body.
"Come on Sakura." Sasuke said calmly.
Sakura smiled, at the boy a final time, as they pulled away, and after staring at his laughing face, her face slowly changed. From its happy state, it fell into uncertainty, and from uncertainty to worry and from worry to terror. Her eyes widened, and filled with tears, and she lifted her hands to her lips in an motion of fear and pain. She let a few tears fall, before groaning and grabbing her head. Sasuke rushed to her side, kneeling to her.
"Sakura, are you okay?" He asked worriedly, with a haste for an answer, so that he may act quickly on a problem should it be existent. Sakura wiped the almost released tears away, as everyone looked at her. Even the boy in front of her stared worriedly.
"I'm fine Sasuke-kun, I-I just. I'm very happy that's all." She said, a deceiving smile that assured all life was nothing but peace making its way onto her face.
"And I'm a little weak." She added hastily, fighting away Sasuke's starting look of concern and dissatisfaction with her earlier answer. She grinned with a smile, and he nodded.
"Understood...let's get you home then." Sasuke said, lifting her bridal style, as she held onto him. She nodded. The child pulled away from his father's grasp and held Sakura's hand gently, with worry. She smiled at him, ruffling his hair lightly.
"Do not worry little one. I'm fine." She said, winking to add in assurance. He smiled and grabbed hold of his father's neck again in a hug, as Sasuke walked away with Sakura. And as they walked through the now crowded streets, Sasuke stared at the cement ground, and contemplating on the consequences of Sakura's actions. Should anyone leave the village, and speak of her "miracle" as he heard someone in the crowd say, word might get to Orochimaru somehow, and he would discover them. He could not afford to leave with her now. Suna was at the right temperature for her to flourish, while Mist was a bit cooler, and Konoha was currently as cold as ice. It was now early December after all.
"Sasuke-kun, what's wrong?" She stared at him, with a worried look. He looked at her.
"I'm a bit concerned. If Orochimaru hears of your little miracle back there...he'll know your here." Sasuke said. Sakura chuckled and he glared at her lightly, approaching the steps of their home, and placing her down to get the key.
"Sakura this is a serious matter." She laughed a little more, and caressed his face, to make him focus on her only. He looked into her playful eyes, with his slightly wide own, and she amusedly chuckled.
"You worry too much." She laughed gently, and a look of warmth radiated from her smile and eyes, making Sasuke glare lightly at her. He shook his head, and looked to the floor.
Sakura smiled, and walked inside the home, while he walked in silently behind her. Naruto smiled at the two, and greeted them in his loud and obnoxious voice, not giving them a shadow of doubt that he had missed them even if they were gone for only an hour or less. Sakura greeted him back, and the two engaged in conversation while Sasuke discreetly kept his distance. Sakura spoke of today's actions, and Naruto spoke of his own, which simply involved picking up groceries, since it was still rather early in the day.
"Well, what would you like to do now Sakura-Chan?" Naruto asked grinning. She looked down thoughtfully, making a humming sound to show her insecure feelings on this matter.
"I don't know...Can I go visit Milana-Chan at the bakery? It's ten o'clock, so she should be just opening the bakery to customers." Sakura explained and Naruto smiled, wrapping and arm around her shoulder.
"I see no reason why not. Go on ahead." Naruto said. Sakura hugged him, and slowly giggled when she saw Sasuke's face twist lightly at the fact that she was leaving, and this time, she was going to be leaving without him. He still remembered those few days ago all too well.
"Where do you think you're going?" Sasuke said from behind her, and she flinched, seeing now that she was caught trying to sneak out the house alone. She turned grinning sheepishly and he glared. She sighed and looked down.
"Sasuke-kun…I-I just want to go to the bakery from yesterday and talk with the old woman again. Alone." She said hesitantly and quietly. He glared more.
"No. You will wait for me, and we will go together." He growled, crossing his arms and she immediately glared at him.
"No! I want to go alone!" She suddenly yelled and his eyes widened. Sakura was usually a bit more cooperative…especially when it came down to his job of protecting her. That's why she had followed all of his rules. Their first month here was fine, and now that they were approaching the second, he noticed she was…defiant, and a little more than usual.
"Sakura…" He said in shock. She shook her head.
"No! Come on Sasuke-kun please! We've been here for a month and you've even told me Orochimaru can't get into Suna overall. Please just let me be independent for once!" She yelled out, causing Naruto to walk out rubbing his eyes. Sasuke stared at her for a moment and she grabbed his hand gently.
"Please Sasuke-kun…please?" She asked. He stared into her eyes, his eyebrows furrowed together and Naruto looked at them with tired interest. Sasuke sighed and he stared at her.
"Be back by noon." He said simply, and she grinned hugging him tightly and thanking him before running out. Sasuke's eyebrow twitched.
"What just happened?" Naruto asked, yawning and stretching as Sasuke banged his head against the nearby wall.
"She's becoming a teen." He groaned.
"Sasuke-kun...," She giggled, pulling him out of the memory. When he was fully aware, he stared at her for only a moment, a look of anger, distance and something related to, but not exactly, dislike. After this look, which did not go unnoticed, he looked away from her with a slight glare boring into the wood floors beneath his feet.
"Just go. Before I change my mind on our deal and keep you here." Sasuke said angrily. There must've been an overly harsh tone in his voice, for the smile on her face fell, and her eyes seemed pained as if he yelled at her for a terrible thing she had done. She looked down, and bit her bottom lip, before walking out fully. Naruto studied this interaction, and the moment he was sure Sakura was gone, he glared at Sasuke incredulously.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Why did you speak to her like that?" Naruto scowled. Sasuke glared.
"Shut up."
"Don't tell me to shut up! Did you see the look on Sakura-Chan's face? You probably hurt her feelings!" Naruto growled. Sasuke rolled her eyes.
"She'll live." Naruto's eyes widened at this response. Naruto knew Sasuke too well, during the first couple of months he had had Sakura, Naruto could already see Sasuke was somewhat attached to her. In the least, he could tell Sasuke would do everything in his power to protect her, with or without payment or orders. If he had probably met Sakura in the street, it would've been the same. There was something about her that drew you in, and apparently, it had also drawn in the great Sasuke Uchiha.
"Teme...," Naruto scolded in a whisper. Sasuke turned away, walking upstairs.
"Teme get back here! We're not done!" Naruto yelled following Sasuke towards the bedroom only to get the door slammed into his face, and to hear the clicking of a lock. After standing there for a moment, he glared.
"What the hell is wrong with him...?" He growled and walked downstairs to leave the Uchiha alone.
Sakura walked outside, inhaling the mid-morning air, and stretching gently. She smiled, at a passing woman and her child, as the little girl waved tiredly at her. She chuckled and began her own walk towards the bakery in town, her mind flowing back to just a few minutes earlier. With the memory, her smile faded. She didn't understand the reason Sasuke spoke to her as he did, but the coldness in his voice was enough to tell her to leave, and it was enough to tell her to never come back. Of course she would come back, but it seemed he didn't want her around.
Sasuke, though often stoic and not very expressive, had never been too mean to her. Maybe a few harsh tones here and there, and maybe a glare or two when she got slightly careless and disobedient, but he had never just as much as sneered at her with a harsher tone than one which showed disappointment and frustration. This new tone, which even put fear in her heart, had something dedicated solely to her, and it wasn't something Sasuke seemed to not be able to give to anyone else. She didn't even know how she knew the tone was only for her. And she saddened even more remembering it again.
"Just go. Before I change my mind on our deal and keep you here."
In retrospect, Sakura still guess he cared for her since he threatened to keep her back at the house, but there was something that told her one thing and one thing only.
He couldn't stand being with her.
This feeling, which she had been recently feeling on an almost every day basis, was now becoming more frequent from Sasuke, and the more she tried to get closer to him, the more he seemed to push away. Even this morning, when he held her hand and even smiled at her, the rare occasions it happened, there was something off. Something was pulling him away from her, and if she didn't know any better, she'd say it was Sasuke doing it himself. She sighed, and shook her head, as she saw the bakery down the street not too far.
If there was one good thing that this new distance Sasuke was giving off, it was her new found freedom. He would let her walk around the house, and wouldn't have her in his sights twenty four seven. She had even been given her own room after a week of sleeping next to Sasuke. She was sad about it, but found it, in proper terms, awesome. She had her own room, to watch her own television and read her own books, by herself. And while Sasuke and Naruto did make her leave the door open at all times, and did check on her after a while, she was left alone, and she loved it.
This too, was something she didn't understand.
She opened the glass door reading Milana's Bakery, and with her entrance a light bell rang. An old woman walked out and smiled at the girl.
"Ah, Sakura-sweetheart!" She said, her old southerner voice withering and shaking lightly, as any old person voice would sound like. Sakura smiled at her brightly and her eyes filled with wonder as she kissed the old woman on the cheek. The woman's blue eyes closed in delight, and she tied her fully grayish white hair in a messy bun. As usual upon looking at her, you could see she was an old woman of much time in life, with the wisdom of a goddess and gentleness of an experienced mother. She was a woman, though seemingly somewhat frail, and hunched over just slightly, was an able body to work, and didn't mind doing so. According to herself, it's why she never asked her eight children to help her run the bakery. And that made Sakura like her even more.
She was so independent despite her being at the dwindling age of seventy two.
"Good morning Milana-Chan." She said kindly, and tied her grey hair up.
For the next three hours, Sakura helped Milana with work around the shop. And at one thirty, Sakura took off her apron and began to wash her hands of the flour and dough they had on them. She smiled as her natural processes began, and she took in the water through her hands. Upon seeing it, you could watch as the running water would trail up Sakura's hands and arms in a thin river, and then slowly soak into her skin where it was gone. She pulled out seeing Milana stare at her. This was their normal routine. They would serve who ever came in, take whatever money they gave and since one o'clock to about two thirty was the usual quiet time, they would stop and talk.
Sakura sat, remaining quiet and looking away, her thoughts trailing back to this morning again with Sasuke.
"Just go."
Her eyes watered just a little, as she stared at the polished wood floors of Milana's shop. The old woman walked in from the back, and stared with an observing look of worry.
"Sakura-sweetheart...," The old woman said, pulling a chair and sitting next to the flower at their chosen table of everyday talk and conversion. Sakura didn't dare to look at the woman. She was bound to see tears in her eyes, and Sakura didn't want Milana to worry, therefore, she kept her eyes low, and allowed her long hair to do the work in hiding her face.
"What's wrong sweet pea?" She woman questioned lightly, her voice gentle and worried. Sakura shook her head sniffing lightly. The woman's eyes widened and she immediately pulled her chair closer bring Sakura into a hug while the girl cried silently.
"Oh sweetie, what's wrong? Don't you cry yo' heart out, you tell Milana-Chan who hurt yo' feelin's baby." She threatened, pulling Sakura up to caress the tears away. Sakura shook her head.
"I-It's okay Milana-Chan...I-It's just that...well...," She swallowed, and sniffed again, wiping away her own stray tears while Milana's blue eyes turned worried.
"This morning, Sasuke-kun was a little-" The flower was instantly cut off.
"Sasuke-boy? What did he do? I will teach that boy some respect if he done gone and hurt you sweetheart! Where is he right now? I'll go teach him a lesson the ol' fashion way, mmhm, he done gone messed up now! Messin' with my baby's heart I'll beat that there boy to a blood pulp, chakra enhanced or not!" Milana declared standing, and shaking her fist. Sakura couldn't help but giggle, giving Milana the desired effect of her outburst. Sakura smiled looking up at her, while the old woman smiled back discreetly.
"No, no! There's no need for that Milana-Chan. It's just that...this morning, and for a while too I guess, Sasuke-kun's been a little...I guess the word is mean. I-It's not like he means to be, but he's just been really harsh lately and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Well maybe he's not harsh neither I guess what I'm trying to say is he's been...uhh...," Sakura trailed, not sure of the word she wanted to say, that is until Milana said it for her.
"Distant." She said, and Sakura nodded looking down.
"Yeah...I-I don't know what I did Milana-Chan. He seems angry with me all the time, and there are times where he's always telling me to leave him alone, and he gets angrier at my behavior, more than usual." Sakura explained and looked down with tears falling.
"I-I don't know what to do, except to listen to everything he says and leave him alone." She cried and placed her head in her folded arms on the table. Milana stared for a moment, placing a hand and Sakura's pink hair.
"There there. It's goin' to be alright. You know how Sasuke-boy is. He's probably been a little stressed, and there's somethin' he isn't talkin' 'bout. I wouldn't worry on it too much. Maybe he just accidently takin' it out on you. Whateva the case, Sasuke-boy cares for ya, and I know that for a fact!" Milana said, making Sakura look up at her with eyes full of hope.
"He does?" She asked, and the older woman nodded.
"I know for sure. The way he looks after ya, and cares for ya, ain't know man gonna do it if he doesn't care." She promised, and Sakura smiled.
"Thanks Milana-Chan, that makes me feel a lot better." Sakura said, hugging the older woman. She smiled.
"It ain't no problem my sweet petal. Now you tell me tomorrow if that Sasuke-boy goes on and hurts yo' feelin's one more time. Then he's gonna have a major problem wit' yo' Milana-baa-chan!" She threatened and Sakura laughed nodding. The time was three o'clock already, meaning Milana was closing. Whenever Sakura had questioned why she closed so early, she simply replied...
"If them peoples want the best pastries of they life, they gonna have-ta either come early, or pay me for a new tv so I don't miss my shows here in the bakery!"
Sakura stood, and walked out with the older lady kissing her on the cheek and waving as the older lady bid her goodbye.
It wasn't long before Sakura got home, and she sighed. The house was quiet, which meant Naruto was gone, and Sasuke was either too gone or in his room. She insecurely walked towards the Uchiha's room door, and quietly knocked, her tender fist making two gentle knock knocks on the door. It wasn't long before she heard a monotone, "come in." from inside.
As she walked in, she was met with Sasuke sitting, his back turned from her, and sharpening a dagger. She did her best to put on a smile, and wearily began to speak.
"I'm home." She declared quietly. He stopped and turned only slightly. There was something sad in his eyes for a moment, before he turned back and continued.
"Good. Why don't you go to your room or something." Sasuke dismissed her. She bit her bottom lip lightly. There was the distance, and as with the usual pattern, if she pressed him more, he might snap at her harshly. She sighed quietly.
"W-Well, we haven't been spending too much time together, so I figured maybe you wanted to go on another walk with me Sasuke-kun. D-Do you want to?" She proposed shakily, and was only met with a shaking head of rejection.
"No thank you Sakura." The room stayed silent after that, the only sound being Sasuke's dagger getting sharper. Sakura smiled and chuckled.
"O-Of course. You're busy, I understand. Maybe later, at night, we can go and I can bask in the moon, it's suppose to be full tonight." She said a little excitedly. Sasuke sighed, and it was out of annoyance, and he turned to her with a glare. A glare that told her to leave him the hell alone already.
"Why don't you go do that by yourself or with Naruto. Tonight I'm on patrol outside of the Suna walls with Gaara to make sure things are secure." Sasuke told her. Sakura's eyes turned slightly pained, and she looked down.
"O-Oh..." She whispered, and turned.
"O-Okay...I guess I'll ask Naruto-kun...I-I really wanted to go with you though." She said and Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"I'm busy Sakura. I can't. Naruto shouldn't be doing anything, either go with him, don't go far alone, or don't go at all." He scolded and turned back. Sakura looked down, and allowed one tear to fall onto the floor. She walked out, not daring to say anymore, and Sasuke only heard the slamming of her door. Sasuke growled. She knew she wasn't supposed to close her door with that he stood, and walked into her room, seeing her lay on her bed.
"You know damn well your suppose to keep your door open." He scowled. And Sakura stood, her eyes sad, and slowly turning into angry, glaring green orbs.
"I don't care." She shrugged. Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"Don't test me Sakura." Sakura scoffed at his threat.
"Whatever." She hoarsely said, pulling out a book and beginning to read and moving to her balcony, where she closed the door. Sasuke glared and walked over, to open that too.
"You're testing my patience Sakura. You are going to leave these damn doors open!" His voice raised. And she stood.
"You wanted to be left alone and I did! Why don't you just leave me alone!" She yelled. Sasuke stood quiet for a moment before punching the glass of the balcony door, Sakura yelling in slight fear. He then walked out, and next thing Sakura knew, her bedroom door was off its hinges and loudly slammed on the floor underneath her bed. Her eyes widened.
"Sasuke-kun!" She yelled.
"Try and close that shit now." Sasuke sneered at her, and she couldn't help but stay frozen in her place. He stared into her eyes for just a moment, before turning and walking out, closing his door in the process. Sakura was left alone in her bedroom as she sat down miserably on her door, and began to read. Her eyes tearing behind the white pages of the book, and she cried silently.
She didn't go to bask in the moon that night.
After that Sakura was out a lot of the time. Naruto was watching her closely, but he could see she was far from being the good Sakura that was obedient and kind to him and Sasuke. Lately she had a string of anger, and yelled at the two of them, Sasuke of course yelling back, and had even once or twice gone as far as to smack Sasuke, before she was hauled into her room, where she had a new chakra reinforced door, so they couldn't open it, break it, or unlock it without her consent.
It seemed Sakura was going the rebellious stage. But it was much worse than they had ever thought it would be.
As Naruto walked out onto the roof of the house, where Sakura often was nowadays, he noticed how she glared at the sky now, rather than just staring at it kindly. That was different.
"Hey Sakura-Chan. Sasuke-teme and I wanted to know if you wanted to come down for dinner." The pink haired artificial girl thought for a moment before shaking her head.
"Nah. I'm just gonna stay up here. Thanks." She said. Naruto sat beside her.
"You know Sakura-Chan, I know thing haven't been eyes, but you should know that me and Sasuke-teme care for you, even if we've been arguing a lot lately. We really don't want you to think otherwise." He said. Sakura's eyes flashed with pain, and fear, and sorrow, before she closed them. The look, though full of fear, seemed to already accept it, and seemed use to it. Sakura didn't talk to him or Sasuke much anymore, unless they were scolding her for coming home late at night.
"Is there something on your mind? Maybe you wanna talk about what's been going on lately? Or maybe you'd like to talk to Sasuke-teme rather than me?" Naruto suggested. Sakura turned onto her side away from Naruto, and shook her head.
"He wouldn't understand. No one would understand." Sakura said, her voice whined lightly, but was filled with a deep depression of sorrow, and sadness, that if Naruto didn't know any better, seemed to stem from something other than the fighting that was going on in the home. According to Milana, Sakura was very distant and quiet at the bakery, and would leave early, or sometimes just plain not show up. Which of course would leave to another fight about where she had been, which she never told.
"I know that feeling, but trust me Sakura-Chan, we've been through this, and just because it seems like the world is out to get you, doesn't mean you don't have people here to protect you from the world." Naruto said, caressing her hair gently with a warm smile. Sakura laid back on her back, and looked up at Naruto, her eyes seeming to want to tell him something. It was dismissed. He could see it was not to be revealed. Not yet at least, and she shook her head; an answer for some reason, he already knew was coming.
"Okay Sakura-Chan. If you ever want to talk, I'm here for you." He stood and walked away stopping.
"Sasuke-teme's there for you too. I know he's been a bit mean lately, but give him some time, and I'm sure he'll come around just like you will." Naruto said smiling at her. Sakura smiled back just slightly and nodded.
"Maybe later." She promised lightly and Naruto left. Sakura hugged her knees to her chest, and looked down.
'Strongest taste
Loudest drop
Head is filled
The thought, unlocked.'
Sakura's eyebrows furrowed, and she let one tear fall before wiping her face.
'Strongest taste
Loudest drop
Head is filled
The thought, unlocked.'
Sakura shook her head.
'Strongest taste
Loudest drop
Head is filled.'
Sakura stood, and looked at the setting sun.
'You'd be thirteen
I'd be thirty five.
Gone to find a place for us to hide.
Be together but alone as the need for it has grown yeah.'
Sakura slowly walked across the roof, before hopping to another one, and another one, in the direction of the park.
'You'd be thirteen
I'd be thirty five.
Gone to find a place for us to hide.
Be together but alone as the need for it has grown yeah.'
Sakura shakily exhaled, as she landed on the ground and began to walk, hiding her chakra signature completely.
A cave or a shed
A car or a bed
A hole in the ground or a burial mound
A bush or a tree
Or the Aegean Sea will do for me.'
Sakura looked down, and sat at the fountain.
You'd be thirteen
I'd be thirty five.
Gone to find a place for us to hide.
Sakura kept her eyes down, and her eyes filled with tears.
'A den or a dessert
perhaps a ink squirt
a cellar, wishing well, a war
Or a guarantee, will do for me.'
"If you go, please let me know." She finished the song, and sat alone at the fountain.
