It hurt.
Everything hurt.
Everything hurt really badly.
Everything hurt really really badly.
But that meant she was alive didn't it?
Only the living felt pain, if she was dead she wouldn't feel anything.
Right?
…
…
…
Sakura blinked her eyes open slowly, the pain was horrendous but it certainly wasn't as bad as it had been when Itachi had given her that fifth shot. By all accounts she should be dead, she could barely remember what happened. She remembered Sasuke's voice screaming her name but not much after that. She looked above her, white, to her left, white, to her right, white and below…colour…lot's of colour.
"Sakura-sensei!" It was a loud yell and it cut through Sakura's ears like a knife giving her a splitting headache.
"What the hell dobe?" that voice, that was Sasuke's voice…he was still alive.
"Her eyes, she's awake!" Wait…Neji?
"Sakura-chan you did it yeh!" Deidara.
"I think we're giving her a headache." Sasori.
"Sakura-chan can you hear me?" that was Sasuke and suddenly her view was swamped with the murky blue that she knew to be his eye colour. She attempted to give a week nod but the movement caused her head to pound.
"Gentleman please, we're going to need you all to leave the room for a moment." She didn't recognise that voice. There were several groans of protest but Sasori managed to convince them to let the professionals do their job.
"Miss Haruno, can you hear me?" that voice again, female and kind.
"Yes," she croaked, her throat felt sore.
"Good, that poison hit you pretty bad but we've taken care of the worst of it. Unfortunately there was… there was something that we couldn't prevent."
"What?"
"The poison got to your baby before we could stop it, you had a miscarriage Miss Haruno, I'm so sorry for your loss," the nurse laid a hand of Sakura's shoulder.
Sakura stiffened. Baby? But she'd always taken precaution with Itachi it couldn't have been his…but then…Sasuke.
"We're going to need to keep you in for a couple more days to make sure your stable but you should be able to go home soon after that. Shall I send those young gentlemen back in?"
Sakura shook her head; she didn't want to see anyone right now. She had been pregnant with Sasuke's child, how would he have reacted if he'd known, if she'd known? Her period hadn't come yet but she thought it had only been late. She had blamed the ill feelings in the morning on a bug that had gone around the school that term. How come she hadn't noticed?
---A few days later---
"The doctors say you can go home today."
Sakura looked over at Sasori and smiled, "I know, I've been looking forward to it, hospitals aren't my scene."
"Would you like me to drive you home?" Sasori asked studying her closely. He'd been surprised a few days ago when she had woken up and then refused to see any of them. Especially that she hadn't wanted to see Sasuke. Sasori wasn't an idiot, he had noticed Sasuke's affection for her and her feelings for Sasuke, she'd tried to bury them of course but she was getting married to Itachi at the time so that was only natural. However he knew why she had refused to see him even now. Itachi had been put away in prison for life and disowned by his family so the engagement was broken but the public knew of the whole thing thanks to the newspapers. If Sakura suddenly started dating Sasuke it would seem very odd. Sasuke was younger than her, a previous student and Itachi's younger brother. It would put them both in very bad lights.
"That would be very kind, thank-you," she said quietly giving him a soft smile.
"It's alright yeh," Deidara said, "we're just glad to know your okay."
"Thanks Deidara-kun," she smiled. Deidara grinned, she hadn't smiled like that in a long time, it was good to see the old Sakura he knew returning.
"Deidara would you go and get the car ready," Sasori said as he held up some keys in front of the blonde.
Deidara raised an eyebrow but took the keys none-the-less, "Sure, see you in a little while Sakura-chan."
"What do you want to talk to me about Sasori-kun?" Sakura asked
"Whether he loves you or not I cannot tell but he does have a genuine affection for you, you should at least call him," Sasori replied as he watched her intently.
Sakura bit her lip, "I suppose it would be futile to say I don't know whom you mean eh?"
"That's correct."
"I can't call him Sasori-kun because then I'll just want to keep talking to him, to see him and I can't it's too soon. He deserves better anyway," Sakura said sadly hanging her head to hide the tears that were brimming in her eyes.
Sasori lifted his hand and tilted her chin up, "You cannot avoid him forever and maybe it is too soon but time will heal it. Come on, don't cry we have to get you home."
Sasori withdrew and Sakura sighed. She climbed up off the bed and took the arm Sasori offered her, allowing him to lead her out of the hospital and to the car. Sasori drove them back but not without protests from Deidara, Sakura was silently grateful because as much as she loved Deidara he was an awful driver.
"We'll come and check up on you tomorrow yeh," Deidara said as he and Sasori lead her up to her front door. After having broken the engagement with Itachi Sakura had bought a new home, it was in a quiet area on the outskirts of the city and it was about half an hour drive from her main office.
"If you need anything call us," Sasori nodded to her and left. Deidara gave her a hug and followed after Sasori. Both waved as they climbed back into the car and drove away, Sakura waved until they were out of site and then entered her house. It was cold and dark so she flicked on a light. She moved over to the phone in the hallway and picked it up, she held it in her hand and it took a lot of her will power to put the phone back down.
She couldn't face him yet.
…
…
…
She spent the next week recuperating and then returned to work, she didn't work a full shift and she was thankful for all the help Sasori and Deidara gave her. They drove her to and from work, they bought all the groceries she needed and even helped her with her workload from time to time. Every time they met Sasori would ask if she had called Sasuke and every time she would say no.
Eventually December rolled around and Sakura still hadn't spoken to Sasuke and Sasori had stopped asking her.
It was a crisp morning, there had been a frost last night, and Sakura found herself trooping downstairs to pick up the mail. She looked through it and was shocked to find one marked with the Konoha College for Boys crest. Opening it she unfolded the paper inside and began to read.
'Dear Sakura Haruno
As a previous member of the faculty here at Konoha College for Boys we invite you to return for our annual Christmas Reunion Ball of 2007. You are welcome to bring an escort however this is not a requirement and the college must be informed of your decision at least two weeks in advance of the date given below for catering purposes.
Yours Sincerely
Iruka Umino,'
From the layout and wording Sakura guessed that this exact letter had been sent out to many different people, there was however something scrawled at the bottom in a script she recognised as Iruka's that she doubted was on anyone else's invitation.
'P.S. The boys miss you'
Sakura bit her lip; she hadn't seen any of them since the day she had found out of her father's death. She remembered glimpses of Sasuke and Neji when they came to rescue her but other than that she hadn't seen them in nearly two months. She folded the letter back up and went to prepare herself a drink.
After spending an hour thinking about it she headed to her computer and loaded up a blank e-mail. She typed in the address at the head of the letter and began her reply.
…
…
…
Dear Iruka,
I would be happy to come, thank-you so much for your kind invitation and I will not be bringing an escort.
Yours Sincerely
Sakura Haruno
P.S. Are they really?
…
…
…
It was later afternoon when her computer gave a beep to tell her she had received e-mail.
…
…
…
Sakura,
Yes they are, most of them dropped out of the subject when they realised that you weren't coming back. The few that staid left a little later saying that the new head of department didn't teach very well. I think that might be a testament to how much they like you. It's a shame you left, you know you're welcome back anytime but you're probably too busy.
Yours sincerely
Iruka
…
…
…
Iruka,
That sounds like them, stubborn and headstrong. It's amazing how many different variations of those two traits you can get.
Sakura
…
…
…
Sakura,
As you have no escort of your own and I myself am without a partner would you mind if I escorted you?
Iruka
…
…
…
Iruka,
I wouldn't mind at all, thank-you Iruka-kun.
Sakura
…
…
…
Sakura,
Good, then I'll meet you outside the main hall when you arrive.
Iruka
…
…
Iruka,
Alright.
Sakura
…
…
…
"No date Sasuke-teme?" Naruto elbowed his friend in the side and grinned.
Sasuke glared at him, "What about you dobe?"
"Didn't I tell you teme I'm taking Hinata-chan, Neji-kun is driving her here because he had to pick up Ten-ten-chan also," Naruto grinned again.
"Hn," was Sasuke's non-committal response.
Just then Neji came in, a brunette with her hair up in two buns wearing a lovely pink Chinese style dress on one arm and a small blue haired girl wearing a lilac dress on the other. "Hinata-chan," Naruto cried joyously as he jumped forward.
"H-hello N-naruto-ku-kun," she stammered.
Naruto grinned and bowed down low, when he stood up he offered his arm, "Shall we milady?" he asked.
Hinata blushed but smiled none-the-less and took Naruto's arm.
"Ready to go Neji-kun?" Ten-ten asked looking up at him.
"You coming Sasuke?"
"I'm going to stay here for a little," Sasuke replied looking out the window.
"Alright," Neji replied as he and Naruto took their respective dates to the dance leaving Sasuke alone with his thoughts. Since the incident with Sakura Sasuke and Neji had grown a little closer and had some resemblance of a friendship but they were more like rivals with benefits. Sasuke had been hurt when Sakura refused to see him or contact him, when she changed her mobile number he had tried to get Sasori to tell him where she was but to no avail.
The others had all moved on. Naruto had started dating Neji's cousin when he caught her taking pictures of him. Neji had been shocked at first but Naruto seemed to take good care of her and eventually he warmed up to Naruto. Shikamaru was rumoured to have gone beyond kissing and cuddling Gaara's older sister Temari, this revelation had nearly had him castrated by her two overprotective brothers. Gaara too had found someone, a girl named Matsuri.
Sasuke continued to watch out of the window. Then he saw a figure he recognised, Iruka-sensei, walking out to meet a woman who had just stepped out of a car. A car he recognised. The woman was wearing an emerald green dress that had sparkling spiral patterns sown into the bottom of the long skirt that touched her ankles. The bodice was tight and it had no straps. Instead she wore a string of jade beads that dipped low. Green gloves ran up past her elbows and matching strappy sandals adorned her feet. Her green eyes sparkled and her pink hair was twisted high on her head with strands falling out in all directions and some falling forward to frame her face.
"Sakura," he gasped.
---The Ballroom---
"Whose that with Iruka-sensei?" Naruto gasped, his jaw hitting the floor at the beautiful woman on his favourite teachers arm…well favourite male teacher at least.
"Is that, no it can't be…Sakura-sensei?" Neji too had gasped, she was beautiful after all and the green of her dress only seemed to brighten the colour of her eyes and hair.
At that moment Sasuke came in through the doors and both Iruka and Sakura turned around to look at him. "Sakura-chan?" he said breathlessly.
"Yes Sasuke-kun?" she smiled at him.
"It is you," she smiled back.
"It's been a while Sakura-sensei."
Sakura gave a start and spun back around to find herself surrounded by her class and their respective dates who were all looking at her in a cross between awe and jealousy. "It has, how have you all been?" she asked smiling around at them. Iruka chose that moment to excuse himself.
"How did you convince her to come Iruka?" Kakashi asked as the scared man came over to Gai and he.
"I don't know," Iruka replied with a smile.
---Sakura---
"You owe us all a dance Sakura-sensei," Naruto declared with a grin as he pointed an accusatory finger at her.
"Me," she pointed to herself, "but you all have such lovely dates. Why do I owe you lot of miscreants dances hm?" she asked with a raised eyebrow and a grin.
"You didn't finish teaching us," Naruto explained, "plus you girls don't mind do you?" Naruto asked grinning around at them.
Ten-ten gave him a look that said You're an idiot, "I guess not, but be warned missy, if you steal my Neji-kun there will be hell to pay," she said with a smirk.
Sakura nodded, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
It was then that the music started, Kiba stepped forward, "Sakura-sensei?" he said with his hand out, "would you join me on the floor?"
"Sure."
The majority of the songs were fast paced and soon she had danced with all her former students, even Gaara. Well…almost all, she hadn't danced with Sasuke and not because she had been avoiding him but because he'd vanished. The slow song started and Gaara bid her a good evening as he returned to his date and placed his arms around her waste.
Sakura smiled and moved over to the tables on one side of the hall and made to sit down when she recognised a figure sitting in the shadows of a corner. She moved over to sit by him, "It's been a while Sasuke-kun," she said quietly.
"You didn't want to talk to me," Sasuke huffed refused to look at her.
"You have to see it from my point of view Sasuke, I needed time to let my heart heal. My fiancé murdered my father and tried to kill me and on top of that I found out I had lost the child of his younger brother," Sakura clapped a hand over her mouth at her confession and bit her lip, praying he hadn't heard her.
"My what?" he said lowly turning to look at her in shock.
Sakura didn't answer.
"Did you just say child? As in baby? As in I would have been a father sort of child?" Sasuke demanded taking her shoulders in his hands and forcing her to look at him.
She nodded forlornly.
"But how do you know, I mean I know you and Itachi…"
"You were the only one that I didn't use some sort of prevention method with," she explained slowly, "I hadn't even realised and then the nurse told me about the effects of the poison. I couldn't face you Sasuke."
"What were you afraid of?" he asked.
"I wasn't ready to be in another relationship and it would have destroyed us both. I needed space and time to think so I shut you out, I'm sorry Sasuke, it was the only way," she explained tears pricking at her eyes.
The song that played in the background ended and another one started, again a slow one.
"Dance with me?" he stood up and held his hand out to her.
She smiled at him and took it.
He led her onto the dance floor and wrapped his arms around her waist as hers went up around his neck. She wasn't his teacher anymore and he'd graduate this year, her father's expectations no longer burdened her and Itachi was locked far, far away. He pulled her closer and looked into her eyes. He smiled then, the first true smile he'd shown in a long time, and she smiled back.
Sasuke reached up with one hand to cup her face and bring her closer. He pressed his forehead to hers and just continued to watch her eyes as the song went on for a little longer. Neither noticed the fact that nearly everyone there was watching them. Nor did they notice the widened eyes, grins and cat-calls when Sasuke leaned forward and pressed his lips to Sakura's.
…
…
…
Sasuke had taken her home that night and staid over but he hadn't been sleeping on the couch, no, he'd slept next to her like he'd been longing to for a long time.
He continued with his studies and graduated top of his class and went on to University. The next four years of his life were difficult but he didn't mind because he knew that when it was over she'd be waiting for him. After her finished University he'd proposed and she'd said yes.
…
…
…
They got married that Christmas.
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Yay for happy endings :D
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Review Responses
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Well that's it, thanks to everyone that reviewed and especially those that have been with this story since chapter one was posted.