Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Finally! The Fourteenth chapter of Here With Me! YAY! Sasusaku!!
Chapter 14: Hidden Feelings, Locked Emotions
"Sakura-chan!"
"…"
"Sakura-channnnn!!"
"…"
"SAKURA-CHANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!"
"Huh?!" Sakura shot up and hit Naruto straight in the face.
"Ahh!"
"Gomen ne, Naruto!"
"I-It's okay, Sakura-chan."
"Hmph, the dobe deserved it. He could've woken up everyone within a mile with his loud voice."
"Sasuke-kun? What are you doing in my room?" Naruto looked at Sakura. It was okay for Naruto to come in her room, but not Sasuke? Weird.
"And what time is it?"
"3 am." Sakura sweatdropped. Why the heck were they in her room at three am? A mission? Either way, it annoyed her. They really didn't have any right to barge in like this. They could've knocked!
"You know, you guys should've knocked!"
"We did, for about ten minutes. Sakura-chan, did you ever realize you're a heavy sleeper?"
"Eh… it never occurred to me…"
"Anyways, Tsunade-baa-chan called. I think it's urgent."
"Alright, I'm up."
"What took you guys so long? When the hokage needs you, the HOKAGE needs you!"
"Sorry, it's my fault," Sakura sweatdropped.
"Anyways, there's been a sighting of a mysterious intruder. S/he attacked the guards at the gate, and could be anywhere in the village. Team Gai & Shikamaru's squad are searching as well."
"Wait, don't you usually ask a higher rank for the job?"
"Well, if you hadn't noticed all of them are all on missions."
"Okay, we'll be on it."
--
--
"What exactly are we searching for?"
"Anything suspicious, try to keep up dobe."
"NANI!? I'll beat you SASUKE-TEME!!" Naruto shouted to the world.
"Oi, Naruto! Keep it down!" Sakura complained.
"I'll beat you! Just like old times!" Naruto started to sprint off crazily. At first Sasuke & Sakura were able to keep up but after twenty minutes… they hadn't the stamina to hold on much longer.
"Sasuke-kun, was it really necessary to do that to Naruto?"
"… I only did it so he would leave."
Sakura slightly laughed. Sasuke's pretty clever... But then it hit her… Why not her as well? Why would he keep her around and not Naruto? Sakura turned to face Sasuke, and gave him a confused look. Sasuke noticed this and said, "With him around, we'll get nothing done. All he does is wake up sleeping citizens." ...Great. Sasuke got her hopes up, and shot them back down. Hey at least he doesn't consider her THAT much of an annoyance… right?
"Sakura. I see something…! Follow me." Sasuke passed through the shrubs and bushes, as he finally made his way to the ninja academy.
"Tch. They're gone."
Sakura looked around a bit more until she sat on the swing. She gently closed her eyes going into deep thought. It's okay to take a break for a little bit I guess… I have a feeling whatever we saw is gone now anyways… Hmm… the breeze feels nice. This swing brings back memories…
"Sakura, why is your forehead so huge? EW. It's going to eat me! I'm terrified! Hahaha!" Ami laughed hysterically.
"Yeahhh! Ino-pig isn't here to protect you now, you big baby!" Ami's follower teased.
"P-please guys! I just want to swing. C-can't you just leave me alone?"
"Haha and miss this chance? No way! Sakura, or should I say SUCKERAA! FOREHEAD! NANANANNANAAAAAAAAAAA!" Ami started to push Sakura around. Her "friends" formed a circle around Sakura and continuously started to push her around. At this point, Sakura felt like crying. She fell to the floor and just couldn't find the strength to get back up.
"I always! ALWAYS depend on Ino-chan! No matter what, I always need her there… Why am I so WEAK! Why am I so ugly!" Sakura silently cried. Tears flowed down her face as her face turned pink.
"Haha! She's crying guys! Let's make her cry more! I wanna see how much water is stored in that ginormous forehead of hers!"
"Stop it."
With just two words, Ami and her gang stopped and turned to face the person who just saved Sakura.
"Sasuke-kun! W-we were just playing with her!"
"With her emotions! Just leave!"
"A-Alright!!" Ami and her gang ran off.
Sasuke walked up to Sakura and put his hand out to Sakura.
"Here, there's dirt on your face." Sasuke handed her a handkerchief with the Uchiha symbol on it. "T-Thank you…" Sakura turned away shyly.
"I'm Uchiha Sasuke, it's nice to meet you…"
"Sakura, Haruno Sakura."
"…Sakura." Sakura was about to hand the handkerchief back but Sasuke stopped her and smiled.
"Keep it for now, just make sure you give it back someday, okay?"
"Okay." Sasuke started to walk away.
"Oh man, I'm late for training!" Sasuke thought.
"Sasuke-san! T-Thanks!" Sakura yelled out.
"Just have more confidence!" Sasuke said while running off.
"More confidence… Right."
(The next day)
"Have you heard? I heard Sasuke-kun completely changed today! He looks so sad and lonely! He's really cold now!"
"I heard that his parents abandoned him! It would be scary if my parents abandoned me!"
Sakura looked around for the Uchiha who saved her hide yesterday. Could the rumors be true? Just then, Sasuke walked in ever so gracefully. He slowly walked to his seat… Way in the corner where no one was at… Sakura walked up to him and said "Sasuke-san, thanks for yesterday, here's you handkerchief if you want it!" Sasuke stared at the Uchiha symbol and gave Sakura a vicious look.
"Get out of my face! You're annoying!" This knocked the wind out of Sakura… This was the boy who saved her yesterday!
"I-I see…"
(Later that day)
"Ino-chan! I think I like someone!"
"Who?"
"Uchiha Sasuke!" Ino gave a look to Sakura. This was her crush! Sakura now was facing the other way, in what looked like, deep thought.
"More confidence… I don't know what happened today Sasuke… but i've learned to have more confidence. I'll keep on learning… learn what happened today- or yesterday, and make you someday smile again like you smiled at me yesterday. I'm willing to save you, because you saved me…" Sakura thought.
Sakura opened her eyes and found Sasuke sitting the grass across from her. She looked at him curiously as he was facing away from her. He looked deep in thought.
"Sasuke… do you remember… this is silly… but, remember that day you saved me here?" This caught Sasuke's attention as he turned to face her. Sakura was expecting him to say the same thing as that day he left the village.
"Hn. How could I not forget… It was the day… my clan…"
"I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"I still have that handkerchief…" Sasuke glanced at Sakura once more. She still had it?
"Hn." Sasuke once again turned away from Sakura. Sakura looked at Sasuke, curious at what he was thinking about.
"Probably Itachi…" Sakura thought. Sakura sighed as she once again closed her eyes.
"Sakura."
"Yeah?" Sakura asked still swinging with her eyes shut.
"We should get going, we're wasting time." Sakura opened her eyes and got up.
"Right."
Sasuke and Sakura once more started to search for the intruders. Sasuke, strangely, seemed tired… Sasuke is never tired.. Sakura stopped suddenly.
"Sasuke-kun…do you want to rest? I can carry out the mission by myself, you can leave if you're tired."
"Sakura, that's not really an option," Sasuke bluntly replied.
"Besides, I wouldn't leave you alone at night," Sasuke murmered.
"What was that?"
"…"
"Sasuke-kun, I'm sorry but I'm not some weakling. You know that firsthand!" Sakura argued.
Sasuke remembered the incident back at the hideout… Sasuke's head pulsated.
"… There was no need to bring that up. Sakura."
Sakura's angry face turned into a small smirk.
"Ohhh, you're thinking of that time back at the hideout. Haha I see"
"… Sakura. That's enough."
"Haha okay, I'll stop Sasuke-KUN" Sasuke growled then finally let it go. Sakura still was smiling, "He deserved that blow though… Leaving me and Naruto for THREE years."
"OI! TEME! SAKURA-CHAN! YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHAT I'VE FOUND!" Sasuke and Sakura cringed. Why was he so goddamn loud at night-err early morning?
"Naruto! I swear if you don't calm down I'll-"
"Looky here! I found it by our training spot!" Naruto stuck out his hand to reveal a small piece of black cloth.
"That could be anyone's though!"
"Nope. It's not an ordinary piece of cloth! It looks like the same cloth the Akatsuki uses."
"Oh, wow. You're right Naruto… Just like Sasori's cloth…"
"…Sasori?"
"Long story short, Chiyo-baa-sama kicked his butt in Suna."
"And you Sakura-chan!"
"Haha, sure. But I wouldn't be able to hold my ground with Sasori by myself. I guess we made a good team against Sasori."
"Anyways, we should go report this to Tsunade-baa-chan."
"Right."
"Hm… you guys are right. It does look like an authentic Akatsuki uniform… I'll look into it. I'm guessing you couldn't find the intruder, correct?"
"No, we didn't."
"It's fine. We found a clue. Anyways, the intruder most likely blended in by now. Probably taking the form of a citizen. Carry on, this mission is done."
Sakura, Sasuke, & Naruto headed out of the office thoroughly exhausted. This "mission" they had was possibly at the worst time of night err... morning. Yes, it is now morning. Birds are chirping while the sun is rising.
"Well... I better head home and go to bed. Man this mission was horrible! Oh wait, well, I got to spend some time with Sasuke-kun... What am I saying?! I should be trying to get over this guy! He'll never feel the same for me... ((sigh))"
"Sakura-chan, I'm going home now. I'll see you and teme later!"
"Alright Naruto, hehehe, goodnight."
"You mean good mornnnnnnnning?!" Naruto yelled as he ran off.
Tch. Even at this time he was yelling.
"Sasuke-kun, I better-"
"Sakura. Can you follow me for a bit?"
"Uh... yeah... sure?" Sakura replied somewhat confused.
"I wonder where we're heading..."
"We're here."
Sakura looked around for a bit... really confused.
"Sasuke-kun... no offense but we're in the middle of the street... by Ichiraku..."
"Hn. Come in."
Sasuke walked into Ichiraku casually. Woah, woah, woah... what the HECK was going on? Has Sasuke lost it?
"Sasuke-kun I'm so confused right now. What are we doing here?"
"...? Didn't I ask you if you were hungry?"
"... uhm... NO?"
"Oh. Well, since we're here. Let's eat."
Somehow, it looked like Sasuke planned this...
Okay, that was strike two. First, Getting rid of Naruto during the middle-of-the-night mission, and now THIS? What was going on? He cannot have an explanation for this.
"Sasuke-kun, why didn't you "ask" Naruto to come?" Sakura gave Sasuke a more serious and sarcastic face than the other time.
"Hm... well. Naruto was already running off before I could even mutter anything. And second, if Naruto was here, he'd eat all of our ramen. We wouldn't "eat" at all."
"Those were really good explanations..."
"Uh... okay. I see..." Sakura said as she sat down awkwardly.
Sakura ordered her usual, and managed to stomach it pretty quickly. It was difficult to match Sasuke's eating speed. After their meals they paid and left Ichiraku in a some sort of hurry. Just as Sakura was about to go her way, but Sasuke once again stopped her...
"Sakura. Can you follow me?"
"Um. Sasuke-kun we already ate..." Sakura sweatdropped.
Sasuke turned away slightly annoyed, "No I mean something else this time."
"Okay. Sure.."
As they were walking, Sakura noticed his face was a little red. A very, very small amount.
"Sasuke-kun... are you feeling well? You're looking kind of pinkish... I could check on you if you want?"
Sasuke quickly jerked his head away from Sakura. What was he up to? Sasuke was acting even more strange than his usual self...
In a while, Sasuke and Sakura arrived to their destination... which was at the Team 7's usual meeting spot; the bridge.
"Sakura.. I brought you here because I have a lot to ask you."
"This is rare... but I'm willing to play along. What do you need to know?"
"I noticed that you are close to the hokage... so I assume that you have seen important documents before, right?"
"Yes, I have."
"Well... have you happen to come across something about the Uchiha Clan?" Sasuke looked at her with a serious face.
"Well... after... you left...i-i sorta... was curious to what you've been saying to me all the past months we've been a team.. I mean, I didn't mean to be like a stalker! I just wanted to find a way to, you know, help you..." Sakura mumbled softly.
"... So you know about my brother?"
"..Yes... I know about Itachi..."
Sasuke scowled and looked away. Sakura was feeling really guilty for some reason, she felt like she's been digging through Sasuke's personal past...
"I'm not mad... Sakura. Tell me... Did you happen to find out information about Itachi?"
"Well, I know just a few things... And i've happen to see him before."
"You saw Itachi?"
"Well, it was more like a clone."
"..."
"What I know about him is, he's part of Akatsuki and Kisame's his partner. He was the reason for the ... clan's... massacre... and he's after Naruto."
"...tch. Bastard."
"..."
"Hn... Even when I was at the hideout. I still remembered you guys.. and wondered what Naruto and you were up to." Sasuke changed the subject.
"Well... Naruto left with Jiraiya-sama to train for two and a half years. I stayed here and was an apprentice of Tsunade-sama."
"You were alone?"
"Heh, not that much... I guess. I have Ino-chan and Kakashi-sensei in a way. I had a lot of people to accompany me! I was content.."
"You mouth says that you were content, but your eyes tell me otherwise..."
"..." Sakura looked away from Sasuke and towards the river bank, "Truth be told, I was so lonely. Naruto was gone... Kakashi-sensei... I barely saw him. He was always off to high rank missions. The only times I saw him was at the hospital when he was in critical health... and you, Sasuke. Sasuke-kun, you betrayed the village; us. I felt so hurt inside. I was so lonely and confused... I know you had to leave for your goal, your dream. But do you have any idea what happened to Naruto and me? We were s-so, so destroyed!"
Sakura turned to face Sasuke, now looking tearful. Her face was soft pink and tears rolled down her pale cheeks. Sasuke wanted to look away, in shame, but he couldn't. Her eyes captivated his and he couldn't break away. Sakura looked as though she had been holding these feelings in for years.
"I felt like we were nothing to you... all of those missions and moments together didn't matter. I really, really understand that you had to leave because of your goal. But you had no right to treat us like trash when we met up how many years later! There were so many times... so many nights I cried. I couldn't stop crying, my heart was hurting every single day when you and Naruto were gone. I've never felt so lonely in my life! Even now I feel that same loneliness, even with you and Naruto here! I feel as though we can never be the same again! I feel that no matter how hard we try, it will never be us three as close teammates!"
"Sakura-"
"HOW CAN WE TRUST YOU AGAIN? HOW CAN I TRUST YOU AGAIN?! I've been feeling this way ever since you returned but i've kept quiet. How can I know that you won't betray my home- our home again? ... it's funny how things work out..." Sakura slightly laughed while wiping her tears.
"It's funny how... through all of this anguish I hold inside of me... all of this hurt and negative feelings towards you... I still feel the same way for you as I did three years ago. It's funny how after all these years, I'm still the foolish little 12 year old who fell in love with her popular classmate."
"... What do you mean?"
"GOD DANG IT SASUKE! I still love you! After all these years! I STILL LOVE YOU! I FEEL EVEN STRONGER FOR YOU NOW! And I hate how I'm still the little girl who fell in love with someone who will never love me back!"
Sasuke's face held many different emotions. He looked sad, angry, and confused at what Sakura was saying.
"Sasuke, you will never understand how much I care for you."
"Sakura. Don't assume right away that I don't care about anything. I've cared about you and Naruto all these years. But. Right now, and before, I put my goal first. My goal is the reason I exist. And to accomplish that goal, I'm willing to cast away all my feelings and emotions away."
"..."
"I'm sorry, Sakura..."
"...like hell your sorry Sasuke! I used to be scared of showing you my dark side, but it's about time you learned. I never expected you to love me- even like me. But listen to this, if you ever put Konoha or Naruto in any sort of danger to get your goal... I swear that I won't forgive you. This is your second chance- your last chance to prove your loyalty. Hah, knowing me, I will still love you. But, I will always , always put Konoha first. Don't doubt that Sasuke. Right now, I'll try to do whatever I can to help you achieve your goal. But remember, if you put any of Konoha in danger, I will give my life to help defeat you."
"..."
Sakura was really angry with Sasuke. Sasuke had never seen that side of Sakura before... and he had to admit... it was frightening seeing "cute, little Sakura" threatening him. Sakura turned and walked off. Sasuke was still a bit shocked at what just occurred.
"..Sakura." Sasuke thought slightly shaking his head.
(At night)
"SASUKE!! OPEN UP!!"
Sasuke got up and opened the door. Naruto was standing at the doorway with a huge grin.
"COME ON! LET'S GO TO ICHIRAKU!"
"No."
"Why No-"
SLAM.
Sasuke slammed the door shut as he walked to his bed. He closed his eyes and laid back.
"TEME!! THAT WAS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY!! SAKURA AND KAKASHI SENSEI ARE ALREADY WAITING THERE. WITHOUT YOU, IT WILL ONLY BE TEAM KAKASHI, NOT TEAM SEVEN!" Naruto yelled through the door.
"I said no."
"COME ON!"
Sasuke didn't reply this time, it was no use arguing with Naruto. He will never back down unless you ignore him.
"PSH. Stay in your room all locked up. See if WE CARE! YEAH. I bet your walls are more exciting than a bowl of Ichiraku ramen. Because they are SO much tastier!" Naruto mumbled as he walked off.
"Naruto. He's so annoying," Sasuke thought, "Psh. Sakura. What right did she have to yell at me like that! All I did was follow my goal... but I guess she was right about the "trash" part... I feel, kind of mad about how she assumed that I don't care about Konoha and Naruto... and her. Tch, how can she be so blind? The two people I cared most about were Naruto and Sakura. And probably, they are still the only people I actually acknowledge."
Sasuke huffed and turned to his side, gently falling asleep as he thought of what Sakura said earlier.
...
...
...
(A/N) Okay, that was kind of hard to write! Sasuke.. is kind of OOC. But it's okay, Sasuke almost always has to be out of character in romance fanfics XD. I didn't leave anyone on a cliffhanger this time, but next time is when things really stir up. Like hint hint- someone appears. I've been sort of hinting this at the beginning of the fic (YEAH I really gave it away now...) And just to note... the end it near!! wow I sound like an omen or something XD haha well, i'm predicting this story has about... two to four chapters left. And i'm pretty sure i'll be done with it by September SO keep an eye out :D
lalalagirl