Recap: Sakura read Sasuke's copy of the popular novel 'King of Sand' and found some...interesting notes in the margins. Most of them dwelt on the fact that there was "no hope" in the "real-life story". Confused by Sasuke's cryptic notes, Sakura left 'King of Sand' behind. After an excellent dinner at Fujiwara's (during which Sakura's friends see her in her boy's disguise), Sakura returns to campus and checks her email. Bad news: her mother may have to withdraw her and Damien from Firestone to pay off a debt. Their first pre-season game is Friday! What will Sakura do?!
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"Sakumo, what's wrong?" Naruto asked. The team was sitting together at the table, talking, laughing, and eating, but Sakumo had hardly touched a bite. He tapped his fork on the plate nervously.
"Um…"
"Sakumo, honestly, pull yourself together," Kiba said, leaning in. "Our first game's this Friday! You gotta be ready!"
"That's just it," Sakumo said, taking a deep breath. "I might not be playing in Friday's game."
The boys looked thunderstruck.
"What?!" Neji gasped.
"No!" Shikamaru cried.
"Why not?" Shino asked. Sakura gulped, then decided it was better to tell the truth than to make up some excuse.
"My mom has to pay off a debt," she said quietly. "She can't do it if she has to pay our tuition as well, too. It's just gotta be done. I'm sorry."
There was silence around the table.
"Well," Sakura said, trying to sound cheerful as she stood up with her tray, "I'd best be going." She felt awkward as she left the table, followed by the gaze of half a dozen stunned guys.
"Dude," Naruto said, watching the skinny back of Sakumo as he wandered from the hall, "we're finished."
"Sakumo's amazing," Kiba agreed. "We can't afford to let someone like Leaf High get him!"
Neji stood up grimly. "I'm going to tell the captain about this. Who knows, maybe we can do something to help?"
Shino shook his head. "Come on, Neji, this is a personal affair. A debt. The Hayaros aren't going to appreciate our interference. Just stay out of it."
"Still, Sasuke should know." And Neji was gone.
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"What do you mean, the position's mine?"
Sasuke stood up from his desk, looking at his dissection partner. Sakumo looked uncomfortable.
"Mr. Uchiha, unless the pig has suddenly come to life and is preparing to dissect YOU, you will remain in your seat," Orochimaru said lazily. Sasuke sat back down, looking chagrined, his jaw clenched.
"I…long story, but I can't stay here at Firestone much longer. All that matters is that I'm leaving the team. You're the captain, you can tell Coach. I…I won't be playing point guard anymore," Sakura said miserably.
Sasuke still looked as though a wet glove had struck him as they left the classroom.
"Did you know about this?" he asked Neji, who was walking next to him. Neji nodded.
"I tried to find you before bell, but you were gone. I'm sorry, man. I'll miss Sakumo, too."
"Why is he leaving?" Sasuke asked, now curious. Neji shrugged.
"His mom can't pay off a debt or something, and his dad's deceased. Financial trouble. Sakumo said he appreciated our support." Neji looked at his watch and yelped. "Yikes! We'll be late for Lit!"
Sasuke followed at his usual pace, lost in thought. Who knew what thoughts were passing behind those dark eyes?
Wednesday Morning"Here, mail this to your mom," Sasuke said, handing Sakura an envelope. She frowned at it quizzically.
"What's this?"
Sasuke turned away as she opened it and pulled out a white slip of paper. Her eyes nearly came out of her head.
"Oh my gosh…Sasuke!"
Sasuke spun around, a convincing look of carelessness on his face.
"What?"
Sakura's hands were shaking as she stared at the four-digit figure scribbled in the little box of the check.
"I…I can't take this!" she protested. She held it out to him. Sasuke folded her fist over it. His dark eyes were serious.
"Look, you made it on the team," he said calmly. "We're not gonna just let you off now. Especially not to those Leaf High or Suna guys." Sasuke's eyes pierced Sakura's jade ones, going straight through the lenses of the fake glasses as if they weren't even there.
"You have talent," he said simply. Then he nodded at the check. "There's a lot more where that came from. A LOT more. It doesn't even make a dent in my assets, take it."
Sakura's lip trembled as she pulled the check back in.
"Thank you," she whispered. Sasuke shrugged, looking awkward.
"I know what it's like to lose a father," he said quietly. "That should be more than enough. Let me know if it isn't."
Sakura walked away from the scene trying to control her mixed emotions. Joy, happiness, gratitude, and sorrow were mingling in her mind. But suddenly curiosity reared its head and asked:
How does Sasuke know what it's like to lose a father?Sakura couldn't explain it, but, in that moment, she felt a closer kinship with her teammate and roommate than ever before.
Friday: Preseason Game- Firestone Academy vs. Leaf High"Wow, check out the cheerleaders they brought this time!" Naruto said, wolf-whistling as he laid his bag on the bench. Sakura, in her uniform beside him, looked at him curiously.
"They had really skinny, freckly ones last year," Kiba said, coming up to them with water, which he handed out. "These ones are much better."
Sakura looked up into the stands behind Leaf High. She wasn't sure, but she thought she could make out a familiar mop of blond hair bobbing in the crowd. Behind the gold-and-blue clad Firestone team, however, a solid mass of cheering boys urged their team onto the court.
"Yeah, Firestone!"
"Phoenixes for the States!"
Sakura grinned, despite herself. Then Itachi called the team over.
"This may not be going on the records, but I am holding you to the same standards as a normal game," he said calmly. "You will not lose the pre-seasons. Uchiha Sasuke, Hayaro Sakumo, Hyuuga Neji, Uzumaki Naruto, and Inuzuka Kiba, you are the starting five. Everyone else, on the bench!"
The design in the center of Firestone's polished hardwood gym floor was that of a rising phoenix trailing smoke, clutching a flaming basketball in its claws. The background was of blue, the caption 'Firestone Phoenixes' in gold lettering. Neji entered the circle against Leaf High's equally intimidating center. The ref nodded at Sasuke and the opposing captain.
"Ready?"
Sasuke gave a curt nod. The other captain copied him. With a whistle burst and a short throw, the ball was in the air.
Sakura caught the ball that Neji tipped to her and pivoted, driving for the basket. She had been on the side of the circle closest to the net Leaf High was defending, and there was no one in her way.
ThunkthunkthunkswishBEEEEEEEEP!
A roar went up from Firestone and groans from the Leaf High end. The Lions and Phoenixes redoubled, the Phoenixes waiting for Leaf's offense. Naruto gave Sakura a swift high five.
"Hot stuff, Sakumo!" he said, winking. Sakura grinned.
The Lions' point guard brought the ball downcourt, and Sakura stepped up to meet him. He saw her coming, faked left, and passed right. It was a flawless defense, almost impossible to predict. Sakura reached out helplessly, trying to block the ball that was traveling to an open guard, trying to stop the Lions from getting three points…
Then a black blur snatched the ball from thin air and drove upcourt. No one could catch Sasuke when he was in his element. The scoreboard blared: 4-0.
Eventually, the Lions shot an excellent 3-pointer, making the score 4-3. This time, Sakura passed the ball to Sasuke from out of bounds and jogged past him down to offense. Sasuke was almost teasing his defender, drawing him out and pulling him back. Sakura's defender noticed his teammate in trouble and went to help. With a smooth push, he passed to Sakura. Open as she was, Sakura had little trouble putting in an all-net 3-pointer. 7-3.
Sakura and Sasuke were an almost unstoppable duo of guards. Leaf High's men were flabbergasted as the ball seemed to disappear from the brown-haired boy's hands, only to reappear in those of the raven-haired one. In the end, Firestone won, 53-15.
Sakura emerged from the little janitor's closet where she had taken to changing feeling immensely euphoric. Nothing could stop her now, nothing. She rode home with her triumphant teammates on the bus, laughing, shouting, and joking. When she reached her townhouse home, Sakura collapsed gratefully into bed, thankful that it was the weekend.
"Sakura! Wake up, hon!" her mom called up the stairs after what seemed to be only a minute. "Your shift at Fujiwara's starts in fifteen minutes!"
Grumbling, Sakura rolled out of bed and dug out the Fujiwara's uniform. After running a brush through her normal pink hair and brushing her teeth, she grabbed a purse and thundered down the stairs to head for her weekend job.
After Sakura had sent her mother the "anonymous" check, Mrs. Haruno had decided that it would be good for Sakura to get a job. Since all her friends already worked there (and she herself had worked there before attending Firestone), Fujiwara's was the obvious choice. Sakura had gotten a Saturday shift from noon to six. She already knew everything to waiting on tables, it was familiar and easy.
With Ino, Tenten, and Hinata there, the job at Fujiwara's was only lively and fun. It was nearing the end of their shift when the door opened and three boys came in.
"Sakura! Table for three in your section!" the hostess called into the kitchen. Sakura groaned. She and Tenten had just been about to play rock, paper, and scissors for the last slice of Italian cream cake.
"I'll save it for when you get back," Tenten said. Sakura shook her head as she walked away.
"Nah, that's OK, Tenten-chan. You enjoy it."
"I'll save you a bite!" Tenten called as the door swung shut behind the pink-haired girl.
Sakura strode over to the new table and whipped out a pad.
"Good evening, gentlemen, and welcome to Fujiwara's. Can we start with something to drink?"
Sakura lowered her pad and stared down at the occupants of the booth. Three familiar faces stared back at her.
"Oh my gosh, dattebayo!" Naruto cried, excitement lighting up his face, "you're SAKUMO'S SISTER!!"
Neji nodded in recognition. "Thought I'd seen you somewhere before."
"You work here?" Shikamaru asked. Sakura's jaw almost dropped.
"Neji? Naruto? Shikamaru?"
"How do you know our names already?!" Naruto whined. Neji looked suspicious.
"Oh," Sakura blushed, trying to cover her blunder, "Sakumo-kun showed me pictures of you all." She smiled her charming smile. It melted the hearts of all three of the boys instantly.
"Root beer," Neji said, turning back to his menu.
"Water, please," Shikamaru said lazily.
"Your eyes…" Naruto moaned softly. Sakura eyed him nervously.
"He'll have the same as me," Neji said. Without taking his eyes off the menu, he picked up a second one and knocked Naruto over the head with it.
"OUCH, dattebayo!"
"When does your shift end?" Neji asked as Sakura returned with their meals. She frowned.
"Ten minutes, why?"
"We're walking you home," Neji said firmly. "It's not safe on these streets after dark."
"Three boys to protect just me?" Sakura asked nervously. "I'm not sure…"
"I just talked to Hinata," Neji said, correcting her. "She, Tenten, and Ino all need escorts home. I'm taking Tenten and Hinata, Shikamaru's taking Ino-"
"Which leaves you with me, dattebayo!" Naruto cried. Sakura grimaced. Of all people, Naruto was the most likely to accidentally blunder into her secret.
"Um, no, that's OK…"
"I insist, Sakura-chan!" Naruto cried, grabbing her arm. He had learned her name from her name tag and now insisted on calling her 'Sakura-chan'.
Sakura gave in. There was nothing she could do about it.
Six o'clock came, and Neji, Hinata, and Tenten headed for the Hyuuga house, followed by Shikamaru slouching along with Ino. Sakura said goodbye to her friends and set off in the opposite direction for her home. Naruto followed.
"So how's Sakumo?" he asked when they were out of earshot from the others.
"He's…fine," Sakura said, trying to keep pace with her own lie. "He's been messing with a ball ever since he got home."
"Do ya think he'd play a round with me?" Naruto asked excitedly. Sakura shook her head.
"Nah, he had to work today, too. He's pretty tired," she said defensively. Naruto shrugged and put his hands in his pockets.
"OK."
They went on for a bit in silence. Then they stopped to wait for the crossing signal, and Naruto had another question.
"I didn't see you at the game last night. Were you guys there?"
Here was another hurdle Sakura hadn't thought of.
"Um, I was with friends," she invented wildly. "Mom had to work overtime, and Damien was already there. Sakumo brings Damien home after school on Fridays, so he got to watch the game."
"How's Damien enjoying Firestone?" Naruto asked kindly. Sakura smiled as they crossed the street.
"He loves it. I miss my brothers when they're gone, but I know they're having fun."
"Sakumo's sure made a lot of friends," Naruto said absently as they continued down the block. "Has he told you about his roommate?"
"Um, no…"
Naruto laughed. "Poor guy, he's stuck rooming with a dude named Sasuke Uchiha. He's such a stuck-up prig – Uchiha, of course, not your brother."
"Sakumo hadn't told me much about his roommate," Sakura said, trying to explain why she knew who Naruto was and not Sasuke.
"He wouldn't. Sasuke's the kind who's cold and self-absorbed. You don't mess with him if you can help it," Naruto said grimly. The area was beginning to turn familiar. Sakura knew now that they were within ten blocks of her house. Another thought struck her.
If we let Naruto take us up to the door, he'll insist on seeing Sakumo, her inner said. And if we refuse, he'll know something's up. And if he knows exactly which house is ours, he might show up on the weekends and discover our secret!
What are we gonna do?
"Um, I can find my way home from here. Thank you so much for taking me!" Sakura said, coming to a stop on the corner. Naruto halted beside her and frowned.
"Are you sure?"
Sakura looked up at him. She leaned against the wall, feeling tired already.
"Yeah, I'm positive." She smiled reassuringly. "I know most of the people around here, and they know me. No mugger's gonna make off with me, honest."
Naruto looked as though a thought was bothering him. Sakura's brow furrowed as she looked at him.
"What?"
"Do you think…well, maybe…would Sakumo be upset if I, well…liked you?" Naruto blurted out. The question stunned Sakura, but she kept her cool.
"Um…he's an understanding person, Naruto. If we did end up going out on a date, I'm sure he wouldn't mind. But this is all hypothetical, right, Naruto?" Sakura asked nervously. Naruto took a step closer to her. Sakura flinched as his hand reached out for her shoulder. And then he was in front of her.
"I really, really like you, Sakura-chan…"
His breath was way too close, hot like a furnace on her face. Sakura averted her lips so that he grazed her cheek instead. Naruto's surprise that he had missed her lips was evident in the way he released her shoulder. Sakura slipped past him and darted down the block, heading for home.
"Thanks for walking me!" she called over her shoulder.
"Wait! SAKURA!"
But she was gone, disappeared around the corner.
Sakura slid to a halt on the steps leading to her front door, panting heavily. A dog barked somewhere in this townhouse development. But her mind was churning furiously.
OH MY GOSH! Did Naruto just try to KISS us?!?! Good thing we avoided that, we were saving our first one… For Sasuke? Naruto almost beat him to it. And besides, you know very well that Sasuke will almost never see you without your disguise on, Truth or Dare, That was a while ago, Whoa, Sakura
Sakura struggled up the stairs to her townhouse, wishing with all her might that a real brown-haired boy with glasses and basketball talent would open the door for her. It would certainly make things easier if there was a REAL Sakumo, she thought.
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OMG! Naruto just tried to kiss Sakura, who's posing as his teammate Sakumo, and she really loves Sasuke, who's Sakura's roommate, who also confessed that he might kiss Sakura if he ran across her…
Geez, life is complicated! Alright, the billion dollar question:
WHO WOULD BE SAKURA IN THIS FIC IF THEY GOT A CHANCE?
I would, Sasuke's on the other end… huggles self
Yosh! More of Alley Oop to come…soon! Oh, yeah – R&R, new review quota is 10, not so high, is it? So comment if you wanna read more!
-Rhulain