L.
Hello, it's been awhile and stuff and for that, I apologize.
Though I think I will update once every two weeks in regards to this story.
Considering the holiday season is fast approaching and what not.
Light after Dark
Chapter 12
Cerulean orbs bore into dark orbs in front of him. "You need to tell her the whole fucking truth Sempai. You can't start something and not finish it."
Kakashi nodded and eased himself off the stool. "I know…your right." He sighed. "I have a doctor's appointment now but…when she comes home I'll have a talk with her."
Naruto watched as he slowly hobbled out of the room. "And tell her everything."
Silver hair swayed as he nodded. "And tell her everything."
"From start to finish."
"Yes."
"No more lies. No more secrets."
"I know."
"Cause look at all the shit that's happened."
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A young man with long blonde hair cursed under his breath as he closed the front door behind him and slugged into the kitchen rubbing his arms. Angrily, he tore off his jacket and stuck his slightly blue hands under hot water. 'Damn you Konan. Damn you to hell!' His crystal eyes stared at the steaming water as it rushed over his hands.
Behind him, he heard movements. "You done?" A woman's haunting voice entered his ears.
Deidara gritted his teeth as he answered. "Yeah. Done Konan."
"Hmm…" She hummed. "Did yo-"
"I did everything you said to okay?" He slammed his hand down on the faucet, turning it off then turning to face her. "So will you kindly shut your mouth and leave me alone?" Roughly, he grabbed the towel hanging on the oven door and dried his aching hands. "I'm tired."
A moment of silence passed before she spoke again. "Thanksgiving is coming up so take down the Halloween decorations and put up those." Then she waltz out of the room, leaving Deidara to stand in the now empty doorway.
Awkward silence.
"Shit!" He cursed; then sneezed. "Shit…I'm getting sick…"
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"Why am I only filled with lies? Is my entire life a lie? When does the lie end and truth begin?" The pinkett hiccupped and continued. "Am I really who I think I am? How am I to know when…when I don't know anything at all?"
Chocolate eyes stared down at her in shock. "S-Sakura…I-I…"
Sakura sniffed and shook her head. "He adopted me." She blurted out. "Kakashi adopted me and never told me!" Her emerald eyes began to well up with tears again. "He adopted me and never told me and-and he…he…Na-Naru knew about it and who knows about Sasuke…"
Ten-Ten pursed her lips and tilted her head. "Well I really don't think you actually care what Sasuke thinks…" She murmured under her breath.
"But I hate him!"
"Sasuke?"
"Kaka-Sempai!" She snapped, gaining the attention of the entire café. "He lied to me! He blatantly lied to me and the only reason I found out was because I overheard him and Naru talking!"
Chocolate eyes darted around the café, an uneasy smile on her face. "Shhhh Sakura keep you voice down." She whispered. "Nothing to see here folks. Mild drama is all."
"Ten-Ten I never want to see them again! I hate them!"
"You don't hate them."
"They lied to me! To my face! For years!"
"You still don't hate them. You're just angry."
"But how many things have they lied about? Why? Why keep it a secret? Why me? How did he manage I…I just don't understand…" She broke down into a sobbing mess.
Ten-Ten reached across the table and took her shaking hands. "Sakura I don't know what's going on." She shook her head sympathetically. "And I don't have any answers for you. I can't possibly know the reason for any of this pain you're in but what I do know is that Kakashi cares about you." She removed on hand to grab a tissue and held it up for Sakura to take. "He cares a lot. Anyone looking in from the outside can see that." She watched as she dabbed the tissue at her eyes. "There's a reason he adopted you. I don't know what it is but you mustn't hate him for it. He did what he thought was right at the time. Maybe in hindsight it wasn't the best move not telling you anything then again, maybe it was." She patted her hand and offered a smile. "But you'll never know if you don't go back there and talk to him will you?"
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A young woman with spiky blonde hair pulled into four chewed her lower lip as she paced the hallway, her fingers scurrying over the numbers in her cell phone book. With a heavy sigh she flipped the phone shut and strutted over to her hoodie hanging on a hook near the door. "Come on come on…" She mumbled, digging through each pocket until she retrieved a little, bent, worn card. "Shit!" Her eyes flitted over the card, trying to decipher the numbers. "SHIT!"
"What's with the colorful language Tem?" Her younger brother asked around a yawn as he clamored down the stairs, running a hand though his uncombed hair.
She turned to face him, the little card clutched between her fingers. "This is the problem!"
He raised an eyebrow at her as he looked from the card, to her face, and back to the card. "Right…because that's completely logical Tem." He shrugged and brushed pass her on his way to the kitchen. "I want some coffee."
"Kanky!" She whined.
"What?"
"Read me these numbers!" She thrust the card out at him.
With a sigh he shook his head, clicked on the hallway light and squinted down at the writing. "…This is Sakura's business number…" He mumbled, glancing up at her.
"I know." She flipped open her phone, her fingers hovering over the keypad.
"Alright…let's go into the kitchen where there's actually some light."
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Ten-Ten chewed her lower lip as she un-lopped her arm from her friends and stared down at the little white house at the end of the pathway. Her chocolate eyes skimmed over the quiet house in apprehension, noting the drawn blinds, open door, but lack of movement. She looked back down at the pinkett by her side and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to go back now you know." She smiled warmly. "You can come crash at my place for the night."
Pink hair blew in the light wind as she turned to look up at Ten-Ten. "Thanks…but no…I think…I think I need to have a proper conversation like you said." With that said, Sakura smiled at her friend and walked up the driveway and through the open door.
Ten-Ten watched apprehensively then turned to leave. "I wish you luck Sakura." She mumbled then walked down the sidewalk, only pausing to look back once.
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The phone ran a few times before someone finally picked up. "Hello?" A young man with spiky blonde hair answered the phone.
"Hi, this is Temari. Is Sakura there?" Apprehension danced in his cerulean orbs before a familiar voice filled the room.
"Hi." Sakura greeted awkwardly, tossing her jacket onto the nearby chair.
Naruto nodded stiffly in her direction then motion to the phone receiver at his ear. "Temari? Can you hold on for one moment-I'm not sure if she's in or not." Then he placed the receiver in the palm of his hand and stared down at the pinkett looking at him. "Hey Saku…Temari is on the phone for you."
Pink hair swayed as she nodded and held out her hand for the phone. "Okay."
"But…I'm real sorry about all this Saku. Really I am. Please, before you make any snap judgments or make any assumptions-just sit down and have a talk with us. Or at least with Kakashi." He bit his lower lip, his eyes filling with worry. "He only did this for you. You know that right? All of this…all these lies were done to protect you."
Emerald eyes welled with tears before she roughly brushed them away. "You're making Temari wait." She stated uncomfortably.
He nodded dejectedly then held the phone out for her to take.
"Thanks." She placed the receiver at her ear. "Hey Temari." She tried to sound as calm and cheery as possible as she watched her best friend wander into the kitchen.
"Hey Sakura."Temari's nervous voice sounded through the phone.
"Temari?" She questioned, her ears perking at the nervousness.
"Yeah…hi…"
"Hey…" Sakura scratched the back of her head, a small smile dancing on her lips as she strolled to the familiar patio doors through the kitchen. "So…what's up?"
Temari cleared her throat before answering. "Not…not much…" There was an awkward pause. "But uh..do you remember what you told me? That maybe I should go visit our brother?"
"Yeah." Sakura leaned her weight on the doorframe and looked out at the flower garden in the back.
"Well…we decided that we would…that we would go see him."
"That's great!"
"Isn't it? But I'm nervous…it's been seven years since we last saw him…would he even recognize us? Would he be mad? I don't know…I-"
"Breathe Temari breathe…it's great that you two are going to see him. Really it is-and even if he's upset with you at least you guys are making an effort right? At least you're no longer shutting him out. The point is that all of you are family and you need to recognize that bond. I know you and Kankurou miss him; this will be good for you guys. Even if you're younger brother isn't too pleased with the idea."
Temari sighed a heavy sigh on the other end of the phone. "Yeah…your right…this should be a good thing…"
Pink hair swayed as she nodded. "So what are you two planning on going?" She asked, walking back into the living room, ignoring Naruto's eyes on her.
"Maybe early tomorrow morning…if things go well we might even spend the day…"
"Ah…"
"Too much?"
"Too much?"
"Time. Too much time? What do you think?"
Sakura sniffed as she slid down the arm of the couch and relaxed her back. "I think you should do whatever you feel like. If you feel to spend the day then go for it. If only an hour? You got to start somewhere right?"
Behind her a groan was heard. "Sakura…" A male's disheartened voice called. "Sakura…help…"
Emerald eyes opened wide as the voice reached her ears. "Temari? Hang on a sec?"
"Sure."
She placed the phone on her shoulder and turned to stare at the wall separating the living room and kitchen. "Naruto what's going on in there? Did you cut off your hand or something?" She asked in a deadpan voice.
"No Saku, Sasuke's here and he's sick." He answered back, his voice slightly annoyed.
Sakura sighed and picked back up the phone. "Sorry Temari but I think something's wrong. I got to go."
"Uh okay…thanks!"
"No prob. Let me know how things go okay?"
"Kay!" With that said, Temari hung up and Sakura jumped off the couch and tossed the phone onto a cushion in her mad dash to the back door. The sight she was met with made her shake her head. There Sasuke stood, one hand draped over his stomach and his other covering his mouth. "Sasuke?" She asked exasperated, her eyes straying to Naruto who stood off to the side behind the counter.
"My stomach…" He sniffed pathetically and leaned against the door frame.
Emerald eyes rolled as she sighed and ran her fingers through her long tresses. "Sasuke go home and lie down."
"But Sakura…" He whined. "I'm home alone and in pain…have a heart."
Pink hair flowed as she groaned and waltz into the kitchen, on hand on her hip as she sifted through the cupboard. "The amount of shit happening today…it's absurd." She mumbled under her breath and pulled out a can of chicken noodle soup then turned to the onyx eyed male sulking. "Go lie down on the couch and make yourself comfortable. But if anyone complains it's all on you."
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"Shikamaru!" A young woman with long blonde hair pulled into a high pony tail on her head glared at her boyfriend in the driver's seat. She wore a long, purple coat that went down past her knees paired with dark purple fur boots that went up to under her knees and matching purple fur lined ear muffs. "Why did you bring him?" She flipped her hair as she glared at a young man with upside down triangle tattoos on his face sitting in the backseat.
Shikamaru sighed and rubbed his forehead as he eased off the brakes and gently pressed the gas as the light changed from red to green. "Ino will you calm down? I told you he was coming over for dinner tonight."
Ino growled and crossed her arms over her chest. "You told me four hours ago."
"Four hours is enough time." He clicked on his indicator to turn left. "Besides its only dinner. And you know he always comes over. What's the big deal?"
"The big deal is that he's always there! He's always at our house Shikamaru!"
In the backseat, Kiba shifted uncomfortably. "Hey…you guys mind not talking about me in the third person? Thanks."
Blonde hair flew as Ino whipped around in her seat to face him. "Guys? Guys? Did you just call me a GUY?"
Kiba bit his lip as he shrunk back down into the shadows of the car. "…Hey Shikamaru want to give me a hand here?" He whispered.
Shikamaru sighed as he cruised down one of the barley lit back roads to his house. "Not really man…not really."
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Naruto glanced worriedly at his pink haired best friend sitting on the living room flooring sifting through old photographs. She had changed into pink and red plaid pajama pants and a light pink cami paired with a white sweater she left unbuttoned. He stood up and took the empty soup bowl from Sasuke. "Do you want more?" He asked, his eyes focused on Sakura.
"No…" Sasuke groaned as he attentively sipped some water. "Where's…Sempai?"
Cerulean eyes glanced nervously at the pinkett completely absorbed in her own world before answering. "He had a doctor's appointment…should be back in an hour or so…"
"Oh…"
A comfortable silence fell upon them as Naruto left for the kitchen. Sakura sat on the floor, her knees drawn into her chest as she slowly flipped through a box full of pictures. After a few minutes, Sasuke broke it.
"Sakura?" His pathetic voice called from the couch.
"What is it Sasuke?" After a few seconds she responded, running her fingers through her hair.
Awkward silence.
"Sasuke?" She turned to face him. He lay unmoving on his back, his normally spiky hair glued down to his face with sweat, his normally pale face completely devoid of any color, and his breathing was ragged. "Sasuke?"
"Do you know who Itachi is?"
Her face scrunched in confusion. "…No…should I?" She crawled closer to him and pulled up the dark blue blanket he was under.
He shook his head, screwing his eyes shut. "I feel…like I know him…or should…"
Emerald eyes clouded with concern. 'Is this the fever or him talking?' She shifted to face him fully as she tucked a stray strand of pink hair behind her ear. "You've been…interested in him a lot lately…" Her fingers worked to tuck the blanket under his hot body.
Slowly he nodded, turning his head to face her.
"Maybe that's a sign…the mind is like one giant sponge. You never forget things Sasuke. Never-the memories just get stored in different places is all." She spoke gently, fiddling with a piece of string on the blanket. "Everything you see, everyone you meet, you never actually forget them. The mind absorbs everything and stores them in different places. Then the memories you think are forgotten sometimes get triggered when you meet or see the same thing again." She glanced up into his eyes to see him nod wearily before his eyes drooped down into sleep.
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A young man with an orange swirly mask on his face sang happily to himself as he swung his feet back and forth on the window couch as he stared out into the evening. "Tobi is so happy! Tobi is so happy! Tobi has good news! Tobi has good news!" Just then a large man with blue tinted skin walked into the living room behind him.
"Hey Tobi." He greeted, his voice deep and rough.
Tobi turned to face the man and waved. "Hello Kisame!"
The man nodded and took a seat on the couch near the window where he sat, not bothering to turn on any lights. "What are you so happy about?" He asked, grabbing the television remote off the coffee table before sinking his large body down into the cushions.
"Tobi has good news!" Tobi laughed and nodded. "Tobi has good news!"
Kisame raised an eyebrow at him and nodded. "Yeah? What is it? Deidara finally taking you snowboarding?" He mocked lightly.
Tobi gasped and covered the spot where his mouth would be with his hands. "Deidara-Sempai is taking Tobi snowboarding?"
"…No…"
"…Oh…" Tobi slumped against the glass, a sullen look crossing his form.
Kisame sweet dropped and laughed awkwardly. "So ah…what's the good news?" He fiddled with the remote in his hands.
"Good news?" Tobi repeated genuinely confused.
'Is this kid mentally challenged?' Dark eyes glanced around the dim room. "Yeah you said you had good news."
Tobi lit up. "OH! Tobi has good news!"
"I know…" He nodded, slightly frustrated.
Awkward silence.
"So what is it?" Kisame pried, kicking his feet up onto the coffee table in front of him.
Tobi laughed, embarrassed. "Tobi is going to see Cherry soon!"
Light after Dark Light after Dark
L.
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