Red on Pink – A GaaSaku Fanfic (Chapter 9)

Continued from last time:

By this time, the evening sun was setting, and they all grew tired as the night wore on, though none of them wanted to admit it. They enjoyed the time they spent together. And the two couples eventually fell asleep on their beds, hand in hand.

The next day they went to have their meeting with Sasuke in the forest. He was leaning on a tree when they arrived.

"Well at least you showed up on time." Sakura said.

"Hey, I'm not the one that's always late. That would be Naruto." Sasuke replied.

"Hey! I'm not late anymore! At least not all the time." Naruto said.

They all laughed for a second, then the mood became serious.

"So, what did the Hokage say?" Sasuke asked.

"Lady Tsunade said that you may come into our village, but you will be placed under heavy surveillance, and she said if you make any suspicious moves, you will be killed." Sakura replied.

"Okay, I think I am ready to accept that."

"Good. 'Cause, to be honest, I don't want them to have you killed." She smiled.

"Well that's nice to know. Thank you, Sakura."

"Alright then, let's go home!" Naruto said excitedly.

"Wait. That reminds me, where will I live?" Sasuke asked.

"I think we will all just go talk to Tsunade about it. I'm sure she may want to see you anyway."

When they arrived outside her office, with many guards in tow, they decided Sasuke should stay outside until the right time, so Naruto, Gaara, Sakura, and Hinata walked into Tsunade's office.

"What are you all doing here so early?" Tsunade asked them.

"Well, we met up with Sasuke. And we had some questions." Sakura replied. Naruto knocked on the door from the inside and Sasuke walked in.

"My, my... How you've grown, Sasuke." Tsunade said, surprised, "Why have you decided to turn to our side all of a sudden?"

"Well, all this time, since I killed Itachi, I've secretly awaited the right time to return. And it never really came. The Akatsuki controlled me for a short time after Itachi's death, in a way. Not like that's an excuse for anything, but anyways, I'm prepared to do whatever possible to gain the trust of everyone here in this village again."

"Well, Sasuke, the metaphorical wall of trust has become completely shattered, and will take a large amount of time, as you know, to rebuild."

"Yes, ma'am, I know all too well. But no matter how difficult it may be, I must pay for my foolishness."

"On to other matters. What were your questions, Sakura?"

"Oh, yes, um... We were wondering where Sasuke is going to live." Sakura said.

"Yes, yes. I completely forgot about that situation. I believe, um... Sasuke, how much money do you have?"

"None." he replied. "I was a bit of a nomad up until now."

"Ah, okay. Let's see..." She shuffled through some papers scattered on her desk, "Here we go! There is a fully furnished house for sale pretty close to your friends. But since you have no money. Well, if you all are willing enough." She turned to the others, "And if you believe that Sasuke really has changed. I suppose I could move him in for free. It's a pretty cheap house anyway."

"Yes we do, Lady Tsunade." They said excitedly.

"Okay then, Sasuke. Looks like you have a home now. There will be guards outside your door at all times, though."

"Yes!" Sasuke exclaimed excitedly, and they all turned and stared at him with shock, because he'd never shown much excitement before in their lives. Then they all laughed. Tsunade finished the paper work and handed the key to Sasuke with no further questions. She gave them directions to the house from her building, and they headed off in a hurry; they were all obviously curious as to where he would reside.

They noticed it was a one-story house when they arrived, not that they had expected any different. It was free, after all. Sasuke opened the door and was the first to see what it looked like. The floor was black tile, and the walls were painted black as well. It seemed fitting for someone like Sasuke. To the right, the living room had one dark red couch facing the average- sized television sitting against the wall, and to the left there was the kitchen, appropriately themed red and black to match the rest of the house. It was small, but it sufficed for one person. Straight forward was the door that led into the only bedroom in the house, which held a plain bed with black wood and red sheets. The bathroom, themed black, was in the far right corner of the house, between the living room and bedroom.

"Wow, Sasuke. This is almost better than my house. It's bigger than it looks from the outside, isn't it?" Sakura commented when she walked inside.

"Well, we all know it's better than my house. It's not even a house." Naruto said in an almost sad voice.

"Naruto, it's okay. I like your place just fine." Hinata said, cheering him up.

"Thank you, Hinata." He smiled.

"Hmm, it is nice. It's better than where I lived as a kid." He attempted to bring back his childhood memories in his mind, but Sakura interrupted him.

"Sasuke, why don't you forget about all that? I don't want you to be sad."

"Ah, don't worry, I won't. I'm too happy right now for anything to ruin it." He smiled.

"Well, Sasuke, I hope you are happy in your new house. Sakura and I are going to head home." Gaara told him.

"Uh, what? But I want t –" Sakura began.

"No, no. Trust me, let's go." Gaara grabbed her hand and began walking to the door.

"Ah, yeah, okay. Well, I'll see ya later then." Sasuke called after them.

"I think we'll be heading off too, Sasuke. Have fun!" Naruto told him.

"Have fun with wha –?" He began to ask, but Naruto and Hinata already walked out of the door.

"Ooookay. I guess I'll just look around, then."

When Gaara and Sakura got home, Sakura immediately began to worry about Sasuke. "I wonder if he'll be okay all alone there. Do you think we should –?"

"No, no, Sakura. He'll be just fine. Besides, I want to spend this time with you. Alone." He smiled seductively and looked straight into her eyes.

"Well, I guess you're right. And I do want to spend time with you." She also smiled.

They kissed and sat on the couch, with Gaara's arm around her, and watched TV for a while. "I am glad we are together." Gaara stated randomly.

"Well, Naruto's the one that talked me into it. We should really be thanking him."

"Haha. Who would have thought? Naruto."

"Yeah. I see what you mean, although he was only thinking of you. I think he got what he wanted. Just to see you happy."

"He's my best friend, you know, of course he's gonna look out for me. But I didn't really expect him to help me with romance and stuff like this."

"I think he's just an all-around good person anyway. He helps anywhere he can."

"Okay, enough talk. Let's do other things." He chuckled and then smiled seductively again as he reached down to put his hand in her skirt and started fingering her...

"Ah, do you think Sasuke is okay?" Naruto asked when they were halfway down the street.

"What the heck, Naruto? We just left." Hinata replied with a laugh.

"Well, I don't know. Hmm..."

"Do you really want to go back already?"

"Well, yes." Naruto smiled sheepishly.

"Okay, okay. Let's go, then." Hinata said as the turned around. 'Although I was kind of hoping for a little time alone.' She thought and sighed.

Sasuke heard a knock at his door and he already knew it was going to be Naruto, so when he opened it, he was not surprised at all. "Oh. Hi Naruto. Why'd you come back so soon? Not that it's a bad thing, just –"

"Ah Sasuke. I just wanted to check on you. You know, I still consider you one of my best friends."

"Yes, thank you. You're still my best friend, too. That reminds me, Naruto, why are you and Hinata hanging out now?"

"Well, because we're kinda together." Naruto smiled and put his arm around Hinata.

"Wow. So much has changed since I've been gone, huh?"

"Haha yeah. A lot."

"So, let me guess. Sakura's with someone too, isn't she?"

"I though you would have figured it out on your own earlier when Gaara said they were going home. Or maybe you just didn't think they lived together. But he did lead her out by her hand."

"Ah. Yeah." Sasuke sighed heavily.

"Is there something wrong, Sa –?"

"Nothing's fucking wrong! I mean, nothing's wrong. Sorry for yelling. I just, you know... I kind of ... Ugh, nevermind."

"Kind of what, Sasuke? Come on, you can tell me."

"No. No, I can't. Maybe another time."

"Well, okay then. Do you need help with anything here? Like moving stuff or something?"

"No. I think everything's fine where it is. Um, but I think you could help by just leaving me alone for the rest of the day. Not that I don't enjoy your company after all these years, but I need some time to think by myself right now."

"Think? Ah, nevermind, I won't ask. Well, bye." Naruto barely walked one step away before he was stopped by Sasuke.

"Umm, Sasuke? Didn't you just tell me to leave?"

Sasuke hugged him and thanked him, then let go and backed away as if he was embarrassed. Naruto did not quite know what he was being thanked for, though, and did not get time to ask, for Sasuke disappeared shortly after.

"Well, how about we just go home now, Naruto. You got what you wanted, right?" Hinata said.

"I-I suppose."

They walked home and Naruto stayed up half the night wondering why Sasuke thanked him, even though Hinata told him to calm down and stop worrying multiple times before she had to go home for it was getting close to nine. Gaara and Sakura also went to sleep. When Sakura woke up, she immediately went to check on Sasuke to see what he was up to. She walked to his house and knocked on his door, and she was surprised to notice that he was very happy to see her. Though she already knew he had a complete attitude change, she also knew it would take some adjusting to.

"So, Sakura. I think I need to have a talk with you."

"Um, aren't we already having a talk?"

"No, I mean... Just listen." He sighed. "I love you, Sakura." She gaped at him. "Sure, when we were young, you loved me and I didn't love you back. And, I'm pretty sure it's the opposite now. But, I'm wondering if you even like me anymore. Because, ah, I don't know. Can you just answer that, at least?"

"Sasuke..." She was touched, but also surprised, "You know, I do actually like you still. But what Gaara and I have is really special, and we've been dating for months. I don't think I want to give that all up for some past childhood love, that just recently turned good, after more than half your life was spent being a criminal. Sorry, but if you would have decided to turn good around August or something, you'd be in luck. But, seriously, Sasuke. I, um, I'm sorry. But this is the most I can give you." She kissed him on the cheek.

"Sakura, I don't think I'm gonna take no for an answer." He pinned her against the wall.

"Sasuke! Sasuke, seriously, be rational about this! Do you want to die or something? Remember they can and will kill you."

He sighed and receded. "I'm sorry, Sakura. I don't know what came over me. I-I think I still need to work on controlling my emotions and not letting them control me." His expression was one of guilt and sadness.

"Sasuke, it's fine. Besides sort of wishing for that for my whole life... I, of all people, would know what it's like to love someone who doesn't love me back. If I was in your place right now, I probably would have done the same thing."

"Really?"

"No." She smiled, "But still, at least I forgive you." She hugged him tightly.

"Thanks, Sakura. I feel a little better now. Um, I was wondering. How did you and Gaara decide to be together?"

"Well, since around a year ago, I've been feeling kind of lonely. After a while I was talking to him a lot, and I started to like him. Naruto was the main cause, really. He properly introduced us and he's the one that talked me into asking Gaara out."

"Naruto..." He said angrily but quietly.

"Um, what?"

"Nothing! Nothing. I think we're done here. Thanks, Sakura." He pushed her out of the door and shut it.

"Ugh! How rude! After all I've done for him!" Sakura yelled and stormed home angrily.

"Naruto, you will pay for taking Sakura away from me." Sasuke growled to himself as he plotted his revenge.