Chapter 10
The resounding chatter from the front become but a murmur the farther back she dropped. She was quite a few steps behind all the others, Sasuke being the closest to her- silently walking ahead of her as he had been all day. Her eyes inadvertently drifted to her friends, veridian hues scanning their animate forms. A ghostly smile drifted onto her lips as she remembered several years before, an insignificant memory of a happier time. The frown drifted back to smother the smile. It had been this way for several days, just uneventful travelling home, but she didn't mind. Sakura's eyes were diverted to the ground, her mind drifting back to efficiency mode: how long until they returned? her report to Tsunade-shisou? her next mission? Feet? -Wait.
Sakura's emerald orbs shot up, Naruto standing directly in her path with a mischievious grin- everyone else in the background watching with almost the same expression, as if trying to supress fits of laughter. Had she missed something? This was annoying. "Naruto." She stated flatly, awaiting his explaination. His smirk widened as he raised a finger and pressed it against her shoulder gently. "You're it." Everyone jumped away eagerly, Naruto bounding off anxiously- stopping short in a tree to taunt his friend. Sasuke was still a bit clueless as he stood by watching. "Naruto- " Sakura's angered and annoyed expression faded as she smiled up at him, remembering their childish traditions. "READY OR NOT!" The kunoichi darted into the trees, chasing her teammates into the canopy- everyone heading toward Konoha at blinding speeds. Laughter echoed as leaves fell softly through the forest- Sasuke watching as Sakura chased everyone with a light expression. It was strange to see her revert back to this, as if she were a genin again.
"C'mon Sakura-chan, you're not even trying!" Naruto's taunts could be heard for miles, until a thump was heard. "NOT TRYING, HUH?" Sakura's laughter sang out like music, then her form disappeared into the forest once more. "You're it, Naruto!" The fox grinned slyly, returning to the game. This one thing- so simple and innocent, was a tradition from their chunnin days. Of course, Sasuke had never really had the chance to participate. Whenever a large number of the former rookie nine went on a mission, someone would always remember to start the game- a simple and amusing way to pass the time on their last length to Konoha. How it was started, no one remembered, no one cared. Just another tradition, not to be broken.
"Hey Ino-pig, why don't you strip down to your mission clothes- give Shikamaru a show!" Sakura laughed cleverly, yelling to her friend some distance away- both running from Tenten, who was the game's owner at the moment. "Funny Sakura- very funny! I will if you will!" Sakura smirked, looking over her shoulder, intrigued by this idea. "Well- I bet Tenten wouldn't do it!" The said weapons mistress accepted this challege openly. "Oh yea- watch me! I say we all go back like that- we'll have the boys drooling again!" She laughed. Sakura rolled her eyes, but looked over just in time to see Ino being tagged. "HA- your it!" Tenten screamed triumphantly, rushing away as they all paused in opposite tree branches. Tenten pulled off her ANBU uniform- followed by the others. Temari smirked from the background and copied the behaviour, making a comment to attract attention. "Is this just something to piss the boys off?" Everyone nodded in agreement- smiling devilishly. Truly, they were all thinking the same thing- wearing both outfits was getting unbearably hot in the exceptionally warm afternoon- and the under garmets were ALOT more comfortable. As soon as fishnet and leather were exposed once more, all the girls took off with giggles and smirks, catching up to the boys.
"You are NOT wearing that in public. Not into Konoha." Neji growled at Tenten as she teased him, jumping ahead of him in her skimpy attire. She smiled innocently. "But Neji-kun, its SO hot." She mockingly fanned herself, touched his shoulder gently-then ran off to cath up to the other girls. "Oh- I guess you're it!" She called back with laughter. It was late afternooon, Konoha wouldn't be far now. Everyone would be waiting for them near the gates as soon as they were spotted coming in. Sure enough- they came bounding in, forgetting their game as they greeted their friends and family. Temari and Sakura were fully distracted by watching Shikamaru lose it over Ino's outfit. Besides his uncontrollable nosebleed, he almost had a heart attack thinking about her seducing someone in THAT. Shortly after he started, however, Ino proceeded to shut him up with her lips- closing hers over his.
Sakura wasn't suprised to see that Neji didn't even give Tenten a chance to present herself in Konoha before he dragged her away in protective jealousy. Temari slipped away as well, whether to Suna or just to get some rest. Sakura was so caught up in noticing everyone's actions- Hinata with Naruto, Ino with Shikamaru,- she was startled by the pair of arms that pulled her around from behind. "Well, well...I was right- everything under that uniform was MUCH better."
"Sai. You're such a pervert." She smirked, rolling her eyes playfully. "Welcome back." The raven-haired artist replied softly, letting the petite form wrap her arms around him momentarily. "Sakura- we have to give a report." Ino called harshly from the background, rolling her eyes venomously as she looked between Sai and Sakura. At this point, Sasuke wasn't sure he could stand around any longer- all he could think about was plotting Sai's immediate demise. They whispered something shortly before Sai disappeared, letting Sakura tend to Ino. "Alright Ino-PIG, let's go give this report..." Ino huffed slightly, walking by her friend as they headed toward the large tower at the center of town.
"What was that about?" Sasuke raised a brow apathetically. Naruto rubbed the back of his head with a nervous chuckle as the group began to disipate. "Well, Ino doesn't really like Sai...er- well...she just doesn't trust him with Sakura..." Hinata shook her head, clinging to her husband's chest. "Well, you can't really blame her...after what happened last year..." Naruto sighed in agreement. "Yea- I guess, but it wasn't really Sai's fault...you know how Sakura can get..." Sasuke listened to their conversation with a growing sensation that he was missing something important- but he seemed to be having that feeling alot lately.
"So what happened?" The couple looked at their dark-haired friend with some distance in their eyes. Naruto heaved another sigh, looking around. "Well, I'll tell you later teme- this isn't really the time or place...we are all going to Ichiraku's tonight- we'll discuss it then. I've got to go give my report to the old hag." Naruto waved offhandedly as he walked away with his arm around Hinata's waist- leaving a very confused Sasuke. The young Uchiha only rolled his eyes- wondering if this was just a ploy to get him to go out tonight. Naruto was such a dobe. Still, he now had to know what that Sai-baka did to his Sakura. Then he would have his excuse to kill him.
"But did you see the way he was looking at you?" Ino smirked viciously. The young Haruno rolled her eyes, shaking her head at her friend. "Of course not- Why would I be paying attention to HIM?" Her thoughts flashed back to the chilly nights of the mission, where, somehow, they had found excuses to be in each other's arms. Yet, those were different worlds- missions were a million miles away, just dreams and wishes that happen while situations demand too much of a person. "Come on, Sakura- he was giving you that dark, possessive look. I swear, I thought he was going to set Sai on fire with his glares!" Both girls chuckled slightly. Sakura then heaved a sigh as the thought sunk in. Finally, their paths diverted in the road to signal their seperate ways. "You're coming tonight, ne?" Ino called after her friend pleadingly, recieving a thrown up hand in the air and taking it for a yes, smiling softly out of concern as she watched the retreating form.
Sakura had given her report smoothly, catching up with her sensei quickly enough. Tsunade was very pleased to hear about the success of the missions, and congratulated Sakura on her defeat of one of the men who murdered her parents. Sakura only nodded in response, which seemed to worry or discourage Tsunade somewhat. Perhaps her teacher was hoping for a drastic change- a sudden outburst of emotion and joy. She had changed. Slowly, she was giving in to something that was eating away at her. She was letting something grasp her tangled insides, softening what had been stoicly hardened. She didn't even need to say his name to know who it was. He was giving her heart back in pieces, slowly replacing what he had taken alway several years ago.
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A saline trail was carved down her cheek now, but she immediately wiped away the damp streaks. She smiled blearily, staring down at the gravestones, those of which she had memorized grudgingly. Every chip of the stone, every smooth corner, every polished gleam was eternally etched in her mind's eye. She could visit this place from anywhere in the world, and often it had been in her dreams. "Lee-kun." Her breathing was even, her heart was steady- her eyes glistening. It only hurt a little. Only when she breathed. "I know you're taking good care of them. At least until I can join you..." She smiled bitterly, realizing she would be visiting this grave for quite sometime if she lived past her assassin days. She shook herself from such thoughts. It made no sense to plan for tomorrow when it was not promised to you.
"So predictable...I guess being ugly does make you stupid." Sakura heaved a sigh at the deep voice- she was still getting use to having him around again. She didn't bother turning around to face the artist that was currently hanging upside down from underneath a tree branch. "So I guess that means art and black-eyes go together as well?" Sai chuckled annoyingly at this, yet he realized Sakura was no longer in the mood to play. "So you coming to Ichiraku or not? Cause I swear, if you skip another meal you're gonna disappear altogether...I can't have you losing all that fat and looking as good as me now, ne?" Sakura stood for a moment, dejectedly staring at the rocks before her, then turned in defeat to accompany Sai in the direction of the ramen stand.
They arrived by late afternoon to find everyone already gathering. As usual, they were all sitting together, chatting away about the mission and new assignments. They greeted everyone, taking a seat at the bar as Sai proceeded to order for the both of them. They began to have a private conversation as Naruto began to explain to Sasuke, rather quietly, about the incident between Ino and Sai. It seemed that Ino and a group of the rookie nine had found both Sai and Sakura several miles away from the village after they had disappeared for a few days. They were both beaten up, but Sakura's condition was critical. Apparently, their 'training' had gotten out of hand and when Sakura arrived at the hospital- she was only clinging to life. Only a short time after that, Sakura tried to leave to avenge her parents- only one of the dozens of times she had tried this- only Tsunade found out first. She ordered Ino and a small group of friends to stop her, which should have been easy enough.
Naruto rumpled his hair with concern. "Ino & Shikamaru, along with a few others, cut Sakura off at the gates. She demanded that they move, but she was overtaken by a few shinobi. Ino did her jutsu on Sakura so they could move her body to a secured place, but it went all wrong." Sasuke gave a confused glance, unsure of what he meant by 'went wrong'. "It was like at the Chuunin Exams...only worse. Ino got inside Sakura's body, but she started screaming and fighting- just going crazy. When she finally escaped, she was ranting about spirits, demons, nightmares, and all sorts of weird stuff...then she fell into a coma for almost 3 weeks." Sasuke mulled in his thoughts for a few moments, looking over to the pink-haired kunoichi who was engaged in conversation with Sai. He inwardly growled.
At that moment, a figure stepped up next to him, thankfully blocking his view of the scene at the end of the bar. "Something wrong, Uchiha?" A smirking Neji leaned against the counter, not bothering to sit himself at a stool- as the one next to Tenten was his reserved space already. Sasuke turned back to the drink he was consoling, taking another large sip. "Nothing." The Hyuuga's smirk only widened at the comment, obviously a lie. "Well then, I'll see you all at the next assignment." He gave a curt nod, which seemed smug to Sasuke as he sipped on the drink a bit more. Neji gathered up Tenten, both making their way out. Ino and Shikamaru decided to follow them, waving their goodnights to everyone.
Sakura sighed, resuming the closing of her conversation with her old friend. "I'm serious, Sai. You and Temari are perfect for each other...why don't you just try it?" She played with the neckline of his shirt dispondently, trying to occupy her fingers. Sai watched her expressionless face with a casual smile, well- as casual as he got. "Give me a break- why do I need to take love advice from you? Besides...Temari and I just flirt...and she does that with EVERY guy...it doesn't really mean anything." Sakura rolled her eyes. "Well I know what she thinks about you, but what do you feel for her?" Sai raised a brow incrediously. "What do you mean by that?" She let her fingers fidget down the front of his shirt, tracing straps and buckles unconsciously as Sai's eyes stayed fixed on her features. "By what? I just asked if you liked the girl...which I know you do- so I really don't need to ask." "But you said you knew how she felt about me- does she like me or something?" Sakura's eyes now lifted to his, letting her hands fall in his lap playfully. "Well now, that caught your interest didn't it? What would it matter if you didn't care about her?" Sai simply stared back at her, unwilling to give her a retort.
Sasuke was about to lose it. There she was, practically unzipping his pants at the end of the bar. His eyes turned sharingan red as he gripped the glass tightly, letting his imagination run over the possible conversations they could be having. Naruto was chatting away in the background, oblivious to the death plans his best friend was currently making. Sakura let out a short laugh, yet it didn't have the music her laughter once held- no, this laugh was a reflex- holding no joy or pleasure, yet it made him grip the glass even harder. She was laughing with Sai, practically in his lap. This had gone on long enough- that was HIS Sakura, and Sai would lay in his grave before Sasuke would let the filthy nin touch her.
Sai ran his fingers through the silk strands of ebony that hung in layers, blocking his vision somewhat from their length. He could feel the Uchiha's eyes burning holes in his back from across the room, but he continued to stare into Sakura's face. His plastic grin plastered itself on his face as he reminded the distracted kunoichi about their lunch plans the next day. She sighed, giving a consenting nod as she studied his attire even more closely- digging deeper into the recesses of her mind for something. Sai only let his smirk widen, knowing exactly who she was thinking about. He leaned forward, placing a chaste kiss on her forehead quickly and sliding out of his stool. "I'll see you later, ugly. Don't forget about lunch- you can't afford to be skipping meals while I'm around..." He raised a brow at her slim figure, she only faked a smile in his return, but it seemed to do nothing to sedate him. He waved solemnly, bidding a goodnight to the others on his way out.
Sasuke slammed his glass back on the counter, rising from his stool as he looked over at Sakura from the corner of his eye. He murmured something of a goodbye to Naruto and Hinata, following his victim out into the streets. 'Kissed her. He kissed her. SAI KISSED SAKURA. ...granted, it was only on the forehead, and it seemed innocent enough...BUT THAT IS NOT THE POINT. Sai kissed MY Sakura.' And so that was what it should read across his grave marker...
-Here lies the poor boy who unknowingly kissed an Uchiha's infatuation, rest his soul- he never had a chance.-
Sakura hadn't noticed the timely departure of her former love. She simply sat, still lost in her own thoughts until Naruto's hand on her shoulder broke her from the dreams. Her head tilted up to find his smirk, replicated on Hinata as well, both giving her caring glances. She put on her facade, nodding to them silently- her lips giving no curve, no attempt at even a faked smile. She only took their hint and shoved herself off the stool, leaving the small stand an bidding her friends a goodnight. The couple watched as she disappeared into the cool night air, unable to speak their own thoughts.
"Lost, Uchiha?" Sai's hands occupied his pockets as his plastic grin stretched across his face confidently. Sasuke turned around with narrowed eyes, his voice a demanding calm covering his rage. "I think you know what I'm going to say." A deep chuckle resonated from the artist's chest rigidly. "Amused by your own death?" Sasuke simply retorted as Sai calmed back into his grin. "Let's get it straight, Uchiha. I care about Sakura, but neither of us expect anything from this." The young prodigy raised a brow, anger still boiling as he remembered Sai's lips on Sakura's skin. The artist sighed dejectedly. "Let me explain. I use her. In turn, she uses me. Its what we've always done for each other. She substitutes you for me, and I simply allow it." He sighed at this, noticing Sasuke's almost stunned demeanor. "Its only because I care about her that I'm even going to suggest this...she's probably going to disown me for awhile after she finds out, but...its really for that girl's own good." He paused a minute, shifting his hands in his pockets as both figures bathed in the moonlight from atop the roofs. "Go in her window tonight. It'll be open, it always is. She keeps it that way for me. Crawl into her bed and wrap your arms around her. She's going to expect it. She'll actually think its me."
"Wha- What do you mean? You and Sakura..." His brow furrowed, mind reeling over possibilities. Sai quickly diminished his imagination. "No- no...Sakura just needs someone to hold her. She can't sleep without it. Thats why she keeps her window open for me. I come in and sleep with her in my chest. I let her whisper your name during her dreams, and scream it in her nightmares. Its a beautiful tragedy you've created, Uchiha. Now get going- that girl needs all the sleep she can get." They merely stared at each other solemnly for several moments, all pretenses wiped from their faces, their expressions locked in a content, stoic gaze. Sasuke simply sighed, closing his eyes slowly as he turned away, jumping into the shadows of the village. Sai raised a brow, watching as the boy disappeared. This was going to get interesting. He wondered if he would survive Sakura's wrath once she found out his trick...probably not.
-Here lies the poor boy who deliberately crossed Haruno Sakura.We found what was left of him(not much)-he never had a chance.-
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...ooo- cliffy...i kno- I'm evil. :x XD anyways- this was a fun chappy. Next one will be fun- will the uchiha sneak into sakura's bed...will he live to tell about it? Poor Sai-kun...i don't think he has a chance either way. I'm gonna try to put a little more on naruhin, shikaino, nejiten, and such in the next few chappies..i'm usually not THIS bad at ignoring other couples in my fics. anyways, thanks for all the great reviews so far! luv you guys! until next time, ja ne! R&R!
Translations:
Chikai- red earth, earth (an earth summon, hand of red earth)
Hai- yes
Gomen nasaii- my apologies, I'm sorry