for my pride and your promise
09. one hundred and sixty-five years too soon

When Sakura was little, she used to wonder what life on the run would be like. She figured it'd be an adventure.

Now that she was older, wiser, and having first hand experience on what life on the run was actually like?

She wished she was back in her apartment, curled up on her couch, with a cup of hot chocolate while watching some sappy chick flick. Everything was happening too fast. It all felt far too uncontrollable for her; out of her power to do anything; to fix anything. She was a fugitive. And so was Hinata. Oh God, Hinata—

"I'm so sorry!" Sakura suddenly wailed, flinging herself at her partner and friend and enveloping the startled girl into her arms. "It's all my fault! I shouldn't have asked you to come with me! I shouldn't have taken up the damn job offer to begin with! I'm so sorry Hinata! It's all my fa—"

The dark-haired woman patted the blubbering Sakura comfortingly. "It's okay, Sakura. You didn't know any of this would happen."

"…No, I didn't," Sakura muttered, pausing in her blubbering to consider what Hinata said thoughtfully before throwing herself at her friend once again and crying out, "…But it's still my fault! You're too innocent and kind to be a fugitive! What will your family think? They'll know it's my fault! They'll think I've corrupted their innocent Hinata! They'll be after my head --!"

Hinata laughed nervously. "You're overreacting, Sakura. I'm sure they won't think such things…" Not to mention the Hyuuga's, although a strict, tight family clan as they were, were much too modernized and civilized to 'go after people's heads and demand it on a platter,' as Sakura was still saying in-between her freaking out and other nonsensical blabbering.

"What if they disown you because of me?!"

Hinata had to pause and think about that for a second. She smiled reassuringly at the pair of emerald eyes staring at her with round, dilated pupils. "They wouldn't disown me."

Sniff. "…Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"…okay…" Sakura said in a small voice, retracting herself from her friend and sitting up. With her little episode done, she cleared her throat and looked as dignified as she possibly could while ignoring the skeptical stares she was no doubt receiving from the males in the vehicle. When their staring didn't stop, Sakura narrowed her eyes and clipped, "What? And what about you men? Aren't you at all paranoid about harboring two – three fugitives?"

"Eh not really," Kiba said with a nonchalant shrug.

Shino and Gaara made no comment (because they really didn't care, fugitives or not).

"You're all crazy," Sakura muttered.

"We're not the ones who, just a few moments ago, started freaking out," Kiba pointed out. "And you call us crazy."

Sakura sighed. "Whatever. I'm not crazy, and so long as I know that, that's all that matters. Anyway –" She continued on before the brunette could make any comment, "—seeing as how Hinata and I are now fugitives, it wouldn't be safe for us to go straight to see Tsunade, let alone crash the night at our homes. For all we know there could be cops there waiting to arrest us." Twitch. They better not have messed up her apartment. What if they went in there with their shoes on? There would be Hell to pay.

"So what do you suggest we do? Stay at a hotel?"

"That wouldn't be such a good idea, especially considering we have Sasuke with us." Sakura crossed her arms and frowned, pondering.

"Then what? Drive around all night?"

"If you'd give me time to think I'll be able to figure out where – "

Light bulb.

"Actually I know the perfect place." Sakura leaned over to the front and fiddled with the tele-communicator next to the navigation system. The screen flicked on, indicating for her to punch in a number, and she did so quickly. The signal was tested before being deemed good and then a connection request was sent through to the receiving end. Ringing could be heard before someone popped up on the screen – a blonde woman who looked very irritated.

"Whoever's calling so damn late better have a good damn reaso – Forehead?!"

Sakura grinned. "Hey, Ino-pig!"

"What the hell?!" It was obvious the blonde woman was gripping her communicator as she stared at Sakura incredulously. "Woman! Where the hell have you been?! Do you realize the whole damn world's on the lookout for you? What the hell have you been up to?!"

Sakura chuckled nervously. "It's a… long story, Ino-pig. But I need to ask you a favor…"

"You owe me big time, Forehead."

Sakura sighed. "I know, I know."

Yamanaka Ino, Sakura's sometimes-best-friend and other-times-rival, narrowed her eyes at the unconscious man that two other men were carrying in while a fourth man, a redhead, trailed after them impassively. Hinata brought up the rear and Ino exchanged smiles and greetings with her. "Hey, Hinata!"

"Hello, Ino," Hinata said bowing politely. "Thank you for letting us stay here."

Ino laughed. "It's no problem. It makes me feel better knowing one of you can thank me." She glanced pointedly at Sakura who merely rolled her eyes.

"Hey, you know, if you were a fugitive I'd have no problems housing you without a thanks or anything."

Ino grinned. "I know." She stuck her head outside to make sure no noisy neighbors had been watching them before shutting the front door. The doors locked automatically and the blonde guided her friends deeper into her house. Ino lowered her voice as they entered the living room where Shino and Kiba were trying to figure out where to put Sasuke before they opted to dumping him on the couch, "So what's with all the men in uniform?"

Sakura eyed her and noted her friend-rival was practically salivating at the mouth as she shamelessly ogled the soldiers. The rosette shook her head. Ino would never change – engaged or not. "That one's Inuzuka Kiba, the other is Aburame Shino. The redhead is Sabaku Gaara. And the one unconscious… That's Uchiha Sasuke."

"Uchiha Sasuke, huh?" Ino mumbled, wondering why that name sounded so familiar. She thought back to the news and her eyes boggled out. "So he's the dangerous one? Shit, Forehead! How 'dangerous' is he?"

"Well he's not dangerous when he's unconscious?" Sakura said instead with an awkward laugh.

Ino glared at her.

"Don't worry! We got it all under control, I promise!"

The blonde sighed and rubbed her temples. She predicted needing some kind of pain reducer before the night was over. Looping her arms with either of Sakura's and Hinata's, she guided the two women towards the kitchen. "Okay, how about this. We're going to make something to eat while you explain everything to me. And I mean everything, Forehead."

"Okay, sounds good, but you know I can't cook, Ino-pig…"

"I know. When I say 'we,' I mean me and Hinata."

"Oh, okay, good."

Sakura wasn't looking forward to explaining things a third time, but she would since she did owe Ino an explanation. She wondered how much harder it would be for Ino to believe everything. Explaining things to the others were easy since they saw Sasuke in action – with their own eyes – Ino would be much more difficult. Sakura was beginning to realize just how difficult after she was done explaining.

"…I always thought you were more sensible," Ino said as she turned off the stove. Hinata took the food and set it on the table. "I don't know what's been going on in that head of yours exactly – I mean, I understand everything you've told me, but – the Sakura I know is much more sensible and rational. She wouldn't on purposely get herself in such a precarious situation, let alone become a fugitive of all things. You could say she's not much an adventurous type."

Ino took off her apron and hung it on a hook.

"She wouldn't make up silly little stories about Vessels or Keepers, either."

Sakura sighed. "Ino –"

The blonde held up a hand to silence her. Blue stared into green, as if trying to search just how truthful the rosette was being. "I guess, all I have to say is…" Ino smirked. "I'm glad you've stopped being such a prune, Forehead."

"…Eh?" Sakura gaped at her. Gathering her wits, Sakura bristled and glared at Ino. "I am not a prune!"

Ino's smirk widened into a smug one. "Yes you are! You're the biggest prune I know!"

"How am I a prune?!"

"You're always scared to get in trouble and to live a little!"

"I am not!"

"You so are!"

"At least I'm not a pig!"

"At least I don't have a big forehead!"

"I do not have a big forehead!"

"It's so big I can see my reflection in it!"

"Are they always like this?" Kiba asked as he and Shino came in. They sat at the table.

Hinata smiled. "Yeah. You get used to it, though."

Eventually Ino and Sakura stopped their bickering to eat as well, but when Sakura realized a certain redhead wasn't there with them, she stood up and wandered into the living room. Sasuke remained passed out on the couch while Gaara sat on an arm chair, looking to be meditating. Sakura walked up to him and cleared her throat.

"Umm, Gaara, food's ready if you're hungry."

He opened his eyes to blink at her before closing them again. "I'm not hungry."

She frowned at his response but didn't budge. Sakura tilted her head and studied the soldier's face thoughtfully, her eyes tracing the dark rings around his eyes before wandering over to the Kanji on his forehead. Love, huh? She disappeared into the kitchen. Gaara opened his eyes when she figured she wasn't coming back, but he looked mildly surprised when she did, holding out a plate of steaming food to him with a smile. Maybe he was a little hungry…

He took the plate with a silent 'thank you.'

Sakura simply continued to smile before she settled herself down at the foot of his chair, much to the redhead's disgruntlement. She ate her own food without further ado.

Jade eyes lingered at the top of pink hair. They strayed to the food in his lap.

Gaara and Sakura ate in silence while the laughing, loud voices of their companions drifted from the kitchen.

While Sakura would normally be apart of such background noises, she didn't mind being apart of the silence. It didn't seem so bad eating without conversation while in the company of Gaara. Taifu soldier or not, he wasn't as scary as working for his organization would imply. He didn't murder her when she fell asleep on him nor did he spill her blood while she was sitting with him eating. Not to mention he didn't complain about being dragged into all the mess she was getting everyone into. He was being fairly tolerable of everything; of her.

But instead of bothering him with anymore 'thank you's,' Sakura continued to eat and let her attention wander over to the unconscious Keeper. She was surprised Sasuke hadn't woken up yet, or even stirred – not that she was complaining. It was nice not to have to worry about tranquilizing Sasuke for the nth time.

Eventually everyone decided to crash for the night. Ino loaned a guest bedroom to Hinata and Sakura while the guys camped out in the living room. Hinata fell asleep instantly, leaving a wide-awake Sakura to stare silently up at the ceiling as she contemplated everything that had happened so far. Eventually she fell into a restless slumber filled with drum beats, dancing, gun shots, blood, and a falling sensation she figured was her dying.

All was silent in the house save for a random snort from the sleeping Kiba as he switched positions in his sleep. His sleeping bag was splayed open with an hand resting on an exposed belly and his other arm and legs sprawled carelessly across his sleeping bag. Shino was rolled on his side, an arm tucked under his head as he slept unmoving and undisturbed. Gaara sat on the couch meditatively, insisting he didn't need any sleep when Ino had offered to get him blankets and pillows.

He wondered when he last slept. It's been so long… Far too long, if he was being honest with himself. It wasn't that he felt physically exhausted, but it was more of a mental exhaustion; the memory of sleep which taunted him constantly. But him falling asleep was unsafe. It was the worst thing he could possibly do.

Instead he meditated, keeping himself aware of his surroundings at all time, but remaining in a state that allowed him to save his energy and rest his body so he wouldn't feel any fatigue from lack of sleep. Meditating allowed him to be in a state somewhat akin to slumber; the closest thing to sleeping Gaara would ever be allowed. He's had years of practice to be able to tune out irksome sounds like the clock ticking and Kiba's raucous snoring, and yet remain completely aware of the things around him and the people in the building. He knew three occupants of the house were sleeping contentedly. He knew one of the occupants, Shino in particular, was a light sleeper and if anything out of the ordinary were to happen, he would immediately be alerted in his unconsciousness and awake. He knew one other occupant was restlessly tossing and turning in her sleep.

Jade eyes opened, but rather than opening them to the living room, he was standing next to Sakura's bed. The scientist-doctor wasn't outright tossing and turning, but he knew by the slight crease in her brows and the air of anxiety that surrounded her form that she was having unpleasant dreams. He wondered if he could call them 'dreams.' Perhaps she was simply… remembering things. He stared down at her silently for some moments, all too aware of how creamy her complexion looked with the glow of the moon filtering through the blinds and lighting her slim figure that the thin sheets did little to hide.

Almost subconsciously a hand lifted and reached towards her cheeks, but there was a moment of hesitation as he debated pulling his hand away. Instead of doing so, he steered his hand to her forehead and pressed his index and middle fingers to the center. Sakura's body visibly relaxed and the crease between her brows slackened. His fingers lingered against her forehead longer than he cared to think about before he retracted his hand and let it fall back to his side. Not once for the few minutes that he dared to stand there did he take his eyes off of her. There was a pang in his heart and a restlessness in his soul, and he knew his soul was calling, calling…

His body disintegrated bit by bit into sand. The grain fell silently to the ground, but even as they touched the ground, they disappeared. The last grain fell and vanished, leaving no sign or evidence that Gaara had been in Sakura's and Hinata's guestroom to begin with. He reopened his eyes to be standing in the living room right next to the arm chair he had previously occupied. Rather than sitting down, jade eyes glanced side ways, coming into contact with onyx. Gaara acknowledged the awakened Keeper with a quirk of invisible brows.

Sasuke's eyes were no longer the same red, but dark onyxes that radiated more composure and calmness compared to when he was in his raged state. His expression was schooled into a carefully blank and unreadable one, but Gaara's expression equally matched his own. It seemed as if they reached a silent agreement because they both suddenly disappeared, leaving the living room occupied by the two sleeping figures of Kiba and Shino.

There were a few stray clouds that covered the moon. A vehicle zoomed by, the humming of the vehicle fading away the further it got. The clouds shifted and made way for the moon, allowing its light to fall upon Konoha and illuminate the two figures standing on a roof. The raven-haired one opted to slumping down and sitting, one leg stretched out and the other pulled up. He rested an arm on his knee. Gaara remained standing with his arms crossed.

Sasuke was the first to speak. His voice was raspy, sounding unused and gruff. "I wasn't expecting seeing you so soon, Gaara."

The redhead didn't bother to comment. "You communicated with Naruto."

It wasn't a question. Sasuke grunted.

"Did he say where he is at?"

"Our connection was cut before I could find out."

Silence.

"I can feel him," Sasuke murmured. The moon reflected in his eyes as he stared up at the sky. "He's not here… but he's near enough where I can still feel him. He calls to me. He needs me…" His hand gripped the fabric of his haori, clutching the material directly over his heart. He could feel his blood begin to boil in anger at whoever had separated them to begin with. He felt his insides churn with yearning, yearning for his other half, for Naruto, to see him and hold him. But he was starting to yearn for destruction; to destroy those who ripped them apart; to destroy everything until he found him…

"Do not let your bloodlust overcome you, Uchiha," Gaara suddenly said, his tone cold and sharp.

Sasuke blinked slowly. He felt the lust subside in him.

"Our current location is Konoha," Gaara said calmly. "We are staying at Sakura's friend's place, Yamanaka Ino. After you destroyed the military base, we ran off, and are currently wanted by the police."

"Tch." Sasuke snorted. "Where was I being kept at, anyway?"

"Sector four military base, located in the deserts of Wind Country, near Suna. When I joined the army, I started off working there and you were already being monitored and kept in one of the labs. And then Orochimaru – the head of Konoha's ANBU Military Agency and Head of Defense – brought Sakura to sector four…"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Sakura –"

"—doesn't remember anything."

Sasuke looked at him, but the redhead was staring off in another direction, looking just as impassive as always. Sasuke looked away.

Gaara continued in the same monotone voice, "Her and her friend, Hyuuga Hinata, were put in charge of monitoring you. And then a few weeks later, you're awake, and we're on the run."

Sasuke looked mildly amused. "You were always the storyteller, Gaara."

He ignored the Uchiha's comment. "Apparently Sakura met Naruto a long time ago. She's been looking for him when she was brought to sector four and came upon you. She was living with Naruto at the time when military personnel came and took him away."

"How long ago?"

"Nine…almost ten years ago."

Sasuke visibly stiffened. "How long ago did he meet Sakura?"

"Fourteen years ago."

Gaara looked down at the Keeper. "When Sakura first met him, Naruto told her he was looking for you."

"Looking for me…?" Sasuke's voice sounded far, even to his own ears. All this time… All this time Naruto had been searching for him? And what had he been doing? Sleeping? But how come they hadn't woken up together? How long have they really been separated for?

He's been suffering all this time…

"What I don't understand is why you weren't awake to begin with," Gaara said. "You both should have awaken at the same time…"

"Indeed." Sasuke's expression darkened. He bowed his head and rubbed his eyes, trying to remember what he last recalled before waking up in the laboratory. "…Gaara, what year is it?"

"It is the year 4165."

Sasuke rubbed his face with his hands. What year had it been that he last remembered? He remembered a celebration going on. It was for New Year's, but it was a large celebration since it was for the new millennium… Realization dawned on him.

"I was sleeping…for over a hundred years… One hundred and sixty-five years, to be exact." Onyx eyes narrowed. "The least we will sleep is for five hundred years. To be awoken so early… Especially for Naruto…"

"The only plausible explanation is that he had been forced awake," Gaara continued, looking just as serious as Sasuke.

"Which would explain why he didn't remember me at first," Sasuke growled. For Naruto to be forced awake would prove consequential and disastrous… As if reading his mind, the redhead soldier spoke up.

"Fourteen years ago, around the time Sakura met Naruto, she had been made orphaned due to a tragedy that had befallen this city."

Gaara paused.

"The destruction you caused was nothing compared to Konoha fourteen years ago."

Sasuke chuckled humorlessly. "I don't think I've ever heard you speak so much."

Gaara closed his eyes. "Likewise, Uchiha."

The Keeper slumped forward and rubbed his eyes, all the while muttering a "fuck" loud enough for the soldier to hear.

I'm sure you can all guess what kind of 'tragedy befell Konoha.' xD And I get the sweetest reviews for this fic… rly. You guys are amazing. ;o;

I just have one request: I'm in search for a beta-reader for this fic. I know I'm a bit late in searching, but hey, I'm a procrastinator. xD So uh, if anyone wouldn't mind beta-ing the previous chapters up till now and future chapters that will come, I'd be eternally grateful. And please don't just offer just because. If you're serious about it, then that'd be great too. So yeah. xD Thanks ahead for those who do offer to be my beta.