Don't Hold Your Breath
"I think we have a party," Ino says, adamant. "I can organise it, and you can send the letters and invites. Got it, Ten Ten?"
"Don't," Sakura frowns. "Ino, this is Hinata's home, you can't just force a party because you want one."
Ino pouts, and huffs. "I want a party…"
Ten Ten frowns. "Are you going somewhere Sakura? You know if you leave she'll rope me into her party."
"Then grab your nunchaku and kick her butt. She's not having a party here," Sakura glares. "and, yes, I am going out. So, if you've got a problem, rip each other's hair out until I get back."
With that said Sakura storms out and lets the door slam closed behind her. She hurries along the walkways towards the room Hiashi designated for mealtimes. She isn't going there to eat though, there's something else on her mind. She's in such a hurry that she doesn't realise that Shikamaru is watching her each and every move speculatively. She quickly disappears from his sight as she turns into the maze of halls inside the mansion.
She pushes the door open, and jerks back.
"It's been a while, Sakura," he says.
She stares at him, wide-eyed and gaping. As hard as she may try, no words will form in her head. She can't speak, or move from where she is. There's just silence between them both as he waits for her to take it in. He knows she's surprised because he's surprised he even came at all.
The boy who wonders if he's good enough
He tries to please them
He never belongs
As he looks her over, guilt flashes across his eyes. He pushes it away before it can take hold, but it's always there.
He looks away from her, at the floor. "Are you okay?"
At those words, her senses come back to her. She meets his eyes and tries to hold her nerve long enough to feign calmness. Though, deep down, she knows she'll be the first to buckle under the pressure.
The girl who tries to change for him
It's her place she'll never win (in his heart)
"What? Er, um… You, why are you here? I don't…" she stammers.
He edges closer, carefully. "You're not going to run and tell Hiashi I'm here, are you?"
She shakes her head. "Once again, you're watching your back,"
He frowns. "What did you expect me to do? No one but me is going to look after me. You know that better than anyone, don't you?"
She glares at him. "I waited like you asked me to. I did everything you asked me to!"
"You ran away," he glares, and then sighs. "You ran away and left me behind… I thought I could trust you, but I was wrong."
She stares at him in disbelief, but again, she can't find any words. So, when the door starts to open, she's still struggling to speak. Suddenly, the door is slammed against the wall, and Sakura jumps in fright. She turns around to find Ino semi-drooling at her companion, and a bemused Ten Ten. Ino shakes her head and points accusingly at Sakura.
"You've blown us for him!" she shrieks. "What kind of friend are you!"
"You do have an explanation for this, don't you?" Ten Ten frowns.
Albeit reluctantly, Sakura nods and signals to him. "This is, well… He's my big brother,"
"Wait until Hinata hears about this!" Ino squeals, jumping up and down. "Oh, yea, Hinata's coming back in a day or two! Ooh, you'll stay around for that, won't you?"
"Of course, if you all want me to," he nods, smiling.
"Come on Ino, let's leave them to talk," Ten Ten groans, bored of Ino's gushing. "Ino, come on!"
The door closes between Ino and Ten Ten as they leave, happy. The mood inside the room is very much different. As soon as the doors are shut, Sakura launches herself at him, kunai in hand. He brushes her attack off as though it's nothing, but she put all her strength into it. As her back hits the floor, she drops the weapon and gives up on attacking him.
He laughs. "I remember teaching you that, but, you know I didn't teach you everything,"
She sits up, fuming. "Yea, I know what you've done,"
His smile disappears. "Sakura, you don't want me here, do you?"
Sakura looks at him, sighing. "I left you that day, but you're the one who packed their bags and left… I don't want you to go, but you're here for a job, aren't you, Sasori?"
Sasori pats her shoulder. "I can call in some complications if you want me to stay longer. I can handle Kisame, and Deidara is easily distracted. You're smiling, so you do remember them."
"I was four, as if I could forget meeting Kisame," she laughs.
Someone knocks on the door, and they both freeze. It's no secret that Sasori isn't allowed in Hiashi's mansion. He'd been caught trying to steal some vases years ago. What the Hyuuga's didn't know is that he was caught on purpose. It was a mission that Sakura had put her foot down about, and he went on anyway.
As the door slides open, Sasori darts away. He ducks down in a small area between the closet and corner of the room. Sasuke wanders in, hands in his pockets. He glances around the room with a great distaste before turning his attention to Sakura. Any irritation for being disrupted begins to fade away like smog on the wind. She stands up and inches closer, curious as to why he's suddenly dropped by.
Seeing her curiosity, Sasuke smirks. "You're pleased to see me,"
She laughs. "I think your ego is getting the better of you,"
He chuckles. "You think so?"
Sakura prods him in the chest. "Just you keep this up, it won't do you any good."
Sasuke smirks. "Then what about these?" he lifts half a dozen tickets. "My ego seems to come in handy."
She frowns. "What are they?"
Sasuke hands her one. "Gaara's half-sister is coming into town, and she's going to be singing in a bar. We thought we should have him meet her. I got some tickets for you, and before you say no, I have some for your friends as well."
She beams at him. "Aw, thank you. We'll see you there,"
In his corner, Sasori glowers at his sister and the Uchiha heir. He doesn't bother hiding his displeasure in their exchange of pleasantries. A small black object falls out of his pocket, and he picks it up. He glares at the words messily scrawled across the screen. He's in no doubt over who wrote it; it's definitely Deidara's handwriting.
I got the papers. Meet at back. We can get the targets. P.S. How's your sister?
He snaps it closed and stands up. Just as the door closes, he storms out from where he was hiding. Angrily, he grabs Sakura's wrist and makes her face her. She pulls away from him and goes to bar the door before he really loses his temper.
"What is wrong with you?" Sakura exclaims. "Have you gone insane in the years you disappeared for?"
Sasori growls at her, glaring. "I didn't train you to be an idiot!"
"You left years ago without any letters, or calls!" she yells. "You have no right to say anything about my choices!"
He pushes her out of his way. "I didn't train you to befriend nobles. All they ever want is to use you, and he will. Don't come running to me when he does."
"You have no idea of how he is," she tells him quietly. "You have no idea of me, and of who I am. So, don't tell me what to be around someone you don't know… Data and surveillance can only tell you so much about a person, and it isn't enough. You taught me enough about that for me to know."
In the mirror she faces her fears
Her reflection isn't hers anymore
Sasori turns to her. "I taught you how to survive and live under the law. You're stupid for being near these people… I'll see you tomorrow."
She closes the window behind him. She misses her younger years when Sasori spend all of time training her espionage, martial arts and weaponry. Though, only later did she find out he was turning her into someone she didn't want to be. That was when he first met Deidara and joined that gang. He left home soon after that, and she met her first noble, Hyuuga Hinata.
Author's Note: Hello! I hope that solves the mercenary thing mentioned that was first mentioned in chapter 4. Yes, and, it was Naruto who had believed it, and Sakura who had told him she knew he believed it. I hope that solves that issue for you readers. I'm working on solving each confusing issue, so, if anything confuses you, please tell me so I can work on it.
The song worked into this chapter is called Soar, and it is sung by Christina Aguilera.