Chapter 29
Things had gone smoothly on the next few Sharingan study sessions. Sasuke had been cooperating immaculately which made the pink mednin happy and cheerfully reporting her findings to the Hokage. Every first day of the week, she has to do a closed-door report to the Hokage together with Shizune and they would discuss about it and what further steps were needed to do and so far, the results were astounding.
The sessions had been made into a three times a week schedule from the previous twice a week schedule. It was according to the Hokage because of the development she had witnessed so far. What aspect of 'development' she was referring to made Sakura think that there's another motive behind this study, which made the Hokage laughed nervously. She said, there's no way there would be other things aside from gaining the secrets of the Sharingan. It's pure work, for the sake of Konoha, nothing more, nothing less.
Yeah, whatever.
She doesn't really care. Because in her heart, she already knew her place in Sasuke's life. This is just one of those medical studies that she needs to finish.
And Sasuke's just one of her patients.
And so far, what amazed her was the Sharingan itself. She had gained a vast knowledge about it which she puts into an advantage for her own child. Every once in a while, when Ryuna was at home, she would conduct a check-up on her eyes and understood some of the things that were a puzzle to her before. True, she had studied Kakashi's sharingan, but the copy-nin's was a different case.
It was one afternoon, Sakura had to be late in the session because of a sudden increase of patients that day. It was not serious cases though and she can let her assistants and the interns to take care of the hospital but children were involved. And she had weak spot over kids. Most of the children's cases were colds.
"Must be the season," she smiled at the boy, cradled by her mom, "Now, I want you to take this three times a day. And warm yourself up okay. It's getting cold these days," she gently said to the four-year old boy who had nodded.
"Thank you Sakura-san," the boy's mother said.
"You're welcome," she smiled. The boy and his mother went out of the office and the mednin busily flip the pages on her clip board.
"Hi Sakura-chan,"
She looked who's the visitor and smiled, "Shou-san,"
"I just dropped by to check if you needed anything. I'll be leaving tomorrow evening to River for business,"
"I see. Well, if you could find me a bag of dried leaves of Agathosma, it would be much appreciated. I ran out of supplies and I need them for the formula I'm currently making. How long are you going to stay in River?"
"A week's a max. I'll just need to sign some papers over there," Shou Kuriyama said as he went to the cabinet with vials and other bottles of medicines and checked them, reading the labels.
"Well, you take care. Autumn's around the corner and we got a lot of cases for colds," she said as she busily flipped the pages again.
"I will, you have time tomorrow? I'd like to invite you over at my place. I'm going to bake some pie,"
"Really? Oh I love to!" Sakura said as she looked up at him.
"You can bring Ryuna-chan as well. I'll teach her how to bake," Shou said.
"I will," she said as she turned to her clipboard again, flipping on pages, and writing something on the records.
"Uhm…Sakura-san," Kana called her out from the door.
"Oh, Kana," she said without lifting her eyes to her assistant, she unconsciously tucked a stray hair on her ears then bit on her lips as she read the records on the clipboard, "you can call the next patient in,"
"Uh, S-Sakura-san..anou…"
"So you're still here,"
The mednin snapped her head towards that familiar voice, her jaw-dropped. Behind Kana was none other than dark-haired Uchiha! What is he doing here?! She saw the brooding man, looking like he was about to set the place in fire. Yep, he was pissed.
"Sasuke…" she whispered. Oh no. She totally forgot the time! Her eyes turned at the wall clock and it says its past three in the afternoon already. Her appointed schedule with him was one in the afternoon! "Oh, I-Im sorry. I missed the time…I—"
"Oh, you must be the famous Uchiha Sasuke," Shou greeted, "I heard a lot of things about you! I'm Shou Kuriyama by the way," he said as he extended a hand towards him.
Sasuke only looked at it then looked at the man with that ominous glare. Shou scratched his head instead.
"You didn't come," he said, directing the lines towards the mednin. He didn't bother to elaborate. He did not accuse. He was stating the facts on her.
Oh dear, Sakura thought. She totally forgot the time. And Sasuke was clearly annoyed.
The fact that Sasuke took the time to go and visit her in the hospital, to see why she didn't show up on their appointed session, was a big deal.
She's dead. She's so fucked up dead.
"Sakura-san, go now. I can take things from here," Kana whispered, smilingly nervously, grabbing the clipboard from her hands. Sasuke looked at the pinkette, eyes unreadable. Then he turned around towards the hall. With haste, she grabbed some of her things, dumped them on her bag and walked towards the door.
"Kana…" she looked at Kana. Her assistance understood everything without even telling what's happening, so she bowed towards the pink mednin.
"Don't worry, I'll take over, "she smiled.
"Thank you! Uhm, Shou, we'll talk next time. I'm sorry," she said then dashed out and followed Sasuke.
She had caught up with him when he was about to turn on the next corner, "Sasuke, I'm sorry. I totally forgot about the time. Besides, there were many patients today and I had to help around,"
He didn't answer. He just keeps on walking, her, struggling to keep up with his strides. "Sasuke,"
He stopped then turned towards her, his eyes as deep as an endless pit. It's unreadable.
He was really pissed when there's no Sakura showing up in the manor. He knew where to find her and he knew what she's doing. She's always in the hospital. Still, it's getting on his nerves that she would forget that today is one of their scheduled sessions. Worst thing, he would find that guy on her office! And what was that? He was inviting her and the little kid on his house for some baking crap!
"I'm sorry," she squeaked.
He looked at her. The kind where he was sizing her up and he knew she was guilty for something which made her a bit of vulnerable. She looked so small.
Oh, damn.
He won't allow it. He won't allow her to go into that guy's house.
"Compensate," he said.
"W-What,"
"Since you planned to ditch the session today, you will compensate," he said, in that arrogant tone.
"I didn't plan to ditch my work! It's just that—"
"Still you didn't show up on time," he said.
That made her shut her mouth and glared daggers on the ground. Sasuke is very particular on time. He won't tolerate tardiness. She knew he was very disciplined since they were little. A small moan of frustration came out from her as she bit her lips.
Damn her mannerism. He had caught her mannerism ever since he doesn't remember. Whenever she was thinking something, she would either tucked her hair on her ears or bit her lower lips.
And the woman doesn't even know that the gesture was kind of erotic and sensual. Especially when she's biting that lower lip, it makes every man to bite and suck and nip it themselves instead. He had caught the way that Shou guy was looking at her as she was doing that. There was that palpable desire on his eyes.
Shou liked Sakura.
"What do you want me to do?" she mumbled, still glaring at the ground.
His smirked was now evident on his face. "I presume you know how to cook?"
"Of course I can," she pouted.
"Yeah right, I could still remember when the Dobe almost died last time—"
"It was not food! It was one of my experimented medicines! It's a new kind of soldier pills and he just stuffed all of it on his face thinking they were chocolate truffles! Stupid of him, of course he'll get a bad stomach for it. Serves him right for not asking first. And FYI, he won't die from it!"
"Right," he just said as he was looking around, "well, you can start by buying some stuff,"
Sasuke started to walk towards the market place. For the very first time, they were shopping for groceries…together.
SxS
Sakura's unusually cheerful this time. She didn't know what happened, but it seems Sasuke has been gradually opening up in some point or another. Maybe this Sharingan session has been helping him to incapacitate his unsociable side.
She was really nervous awhile ago. It was like she was caught red-handed with Shou. Kinda silly though because she's not doing anything wrong, which made her laugh inwardly. She mentally noted to herself…Sasuke will not care.
She had explained why she was not able to come on time. He just answered with 'Hn'.
When they were in the market, she was asking him what stuff he would like to buy. He just shrugged his shoulders as he was looking at large tomatoes on a basket. Sakura smiled. He really liked tomatoes.
Just like Ryuna. Sakura smiled as she remembered her daughter. Every time they went to buy groceries, Ryuna would always put fresh tomatoes first on her basket before anything else.
She took charge of his grocery stuff. They walked together towards the manor with two bags on each hand.
"Why buying so much?" he asked when they reached the kitchen and started unpacking the groceries.
"You can't just eat tomatoes and onigiris all your life. You need to keep your diet balanced," she just said as she stuffed the perishables in the ref. Sasuke was standing on the door looking at her, "You can get yourself lost for a few minutes, I'll just need to prepare something to eat before we can start the session. Might consider this as dinner anyways," she said shoving the man out of the kitchen.
Sasuke stood there for a few minutes, as if he didn't hear anything she had said. He don't know why, but looking at her, being busy, turning and shuffling on that kitchen…looks so settling and right.
Yes, she looked so right being there in that kitchen.
"Well?" Sakura said as she caught him still standing on the doorway, "unless you want to help with the cooking?"
Sasuke frowned. Damn it. The woman has been commanding him, like what, countless times, and yet he seemed powerless towards her. What the hell is wrong with him.
He turned around, "Hn, just make something edible," then he vanished on her sight.
"Asshole," Sakura mumbled.
Sasuke settled himself on their regular room, idling with the time. Delicious aroma came permeated in the air and his stomach rumbled. Goodness, that smelled wonderful, he wondered what she's cooking.
"I smelled something delicious Sasuke. Don't tell me Karin has been messing in your kitchen this time? Oh no, don't believe on something you smelled, she could be making poisons right now," Suigetsu said as he sat on the porch, his nose high in the air, still sniffing the sweet and delicious aroma.
"The hell you talking about Shark-face," Karin said.
"Ah, four-eyes is here," Suigetsu said then looked at Sasuke who was closing his eyes. Nope, he's not sleeping, "Then who's doing the concoctions on the kitchen?"
"Sakura-san is cooking," Juugo said as one bird landed on his shoulders. Juugo feed it with a bird seed.
"The pretty lady is here? Uwaa, I knew Karin won't be able to come up with such a delicious smell in the kitchen," Suigetsu nodded, "I wish she doesn't mind if we can eat what's she's cooking,"
"I won't let you eat anything I prepare asshole. What I cook is for Sasuke's taste buds only!"
"And I wouldn't dare to eat what you cook four-eyes. I'll probably die!"
"No need to worry shark-face, I'll make sure that if ever I cook something, Ill feed you with a poison!"
"I'll gorge your eyes first before you could even do that!"
"I'll love to see you try it!"
"Aren't we lively today?" Sakura said as she made her appearance. Everyone hushed and all eyes were into her. Karin was scowling upon seeing her. Suigetsu flashed her a toothy grin while Juugo bowed slightly. Sasuke on the other hand looked particularly surprised with that obvious slightly gaping mouth.
She was wearing an apron.
And his mother, Mikoto, flashed in his vision, warm and smiling.
"Sasuke-kun," she would call him.
He blinked, then his mother was gone. It was Sakura who's calling him.
"Sasuke?"
There was no –kun. He had noticed it a long time ago. Sakura had stopped calling him with the suffix.
"What?" he glared at her which she didn't mind at all. She's probably used to his mood swings.
"I was telling you that it's time to eat. Juugo, Suigetsu and Karin will join us at the table," she said, which made Suigetsu jumped like a kid. Karin just grunted a 'hmmp' then crossed her arms on her chest.
"Since when did you decide that?" Sasuke said, his brows knitted together. Suigetsu stopped cheering. His shoulders slumped.
The pink-haired mednin just smiled. "Since I was the one who cooked? And there's enough for everyone. Come on!" she said as she walked away.
Suigetsu followed her immediately, followed by Juugo. Lastly, as if hesitating, Karin followed shortly.
Damn woman. Every day, it seems she was having reign over him, deciding things on her own.
Still, Sakura in that apron, standing there smiling like that. With that smile so warm and gentle..it seems..
She looked like she belonged in this house.
She's home.
Sasuke caught himself thinking that line. As fast as it came, the warm emotion was gone so fast. He decided to go the dining room and join Team Hebi.
Sasuke learned that Sakura is a wonderful cook. And he might have trouble with it.
He might get used to it….
…and yearn.
SxS
Sakura wasn't able to go to Shou's house the next because of Sasuke's demands. He said that since she was late for two hours from the scheduled appointed time, she has to pay the penalty by attending the session the next day. Sakura said it was such a childish move from Sasuke but heck, it was her fault anyway.
"Such an underhanded trick," she mumbled as she scribbled a few things on her notes. They had just finished the session that had lasted for two hours, equivalent for the time she had missed the other day.
"It's not," Sasuke said as he yawned. He felt sleepy. The chakra she sends off on his eyes felt so soothing and cool. It's like washing off some of the heat he felt around his eyes, enveloping it like mild menthol.
It felt so relaxing.
Sakura noticed it, "From this stage on, you will feel sleepy after each session. It's because I was fixing the nerve –endings on your eyes. The nerves on your eyes shifted dramatically every time you alter to each stage. It is particularly strained the most during the EMS* stage. That's the reason for the bleeding every time you use it,"
"Can it be prevented?" he softly said. Sakura turned around to see him already sprawled on his back, his eyes closed. She paused for a moment. She smiled. This is maybe the first time that she saw Sasuke looked so peaceful…his expression was that of an innocent child, away from all of the world's worries and negativities.
You're falling for him, all over again. So stop staring.
She turned away from him as she wrote something on her notes again, "Yes, no, maybe," she whispered.
"What kind of answer is that," he said.
"I said I will find an answer for you. That's one of the reasons of this study, remember?"
She received no reply so curiously, she turned around to see that he was already asleep. Slowly and quietly, she keep her things inside her bag and exited the room.
She was near the grand entrance of the district when she was blocked by none other than Karin. The mednin sighed inwardly. Really, every time this girl is around, nothing good came from her mouth. She knows perfectly why she was stopped.
"What is it Karin?" The red-head Uzumaki did not answer. She just crossed her arms around her chest. Sakura rolled her eyes.
Kami, this girl is such a kid, she cannot get her hands on Sasuke so she ends up bullying me. Great.
"If you have no business with me, I suggest you move away. I still need to go to the hospital," she said calmly, trying to step aside her. Karin blocked her again.
"I swear Karin—"
"Get away from my Sasuke-kun!" she hissed.
"Look, I know and understand fully where you're at. I've been there. I'm not getting your Sasuke-kun. I'm here because of a medical study. It's my mission,"
Karin's eyes narrowed. "Just so we're clear," she said as she walked pass her and bumped her shoulders intentionally then stopped, "I can make Sasuke hate you…no, not just hate you, I can make him detest you. Just remember your place,"
"Karin," she called the woman, "I just wanted this to be clear as well. I don't love Sasuke anymore,"
Liar.
"And he doesn't feel anything towards me either,"
Are you sure?
"So rest assured, I'm not coming in between you or him,"
It hurts.
"So, goodluck!" she finishes then started to walk away.
"Sakura," Karin called her. The pinkette stopped and waited for anything she had to say."Sasuke-kun hates liars,"
Somehow, something makes Sakura shivers. When she turned around, Karin was not there anymore.
And she can't get off this bad feeling.
SxS
"Mommy, hurry!" Ryuna shouted from the living room, "I still need to tie my hair! And my tools is not even on my bag yet,"
"No need to hurry," the pinkette said from the kitchen as she looked at her little bunny running from here and there.
Today, Ryuna and 21 other Prep kids are going for a 5 day tour to the Fire Temple. They are going to be guarded with two Jounins and five Chuunins, aside from the three advisors from each class. At first Sakura hesitated to let Ryuna join the school trip but when she heard that Kakashi was going to be one of the Jounins who were tasked to guard the little brats, she felt relieved. The other Jounin's going to be from the other squad.
"Mom," Ryuna pouted.
"Hai~" she answered shaking her head. She understood that her child was excited. This is going to be her first tour outside the village, "So hasty, Kakashi sensei hasn't even arrived yet. Knowing that man—"
"Uh, I'm actually here," Kakashi said.
"Well, aren't you punctual today," Sakura said as she took off her apron and started packing some of the stuff she knew Ryuna needed for this tour. Her kid run off to her room awhile ago, maybe getting something she had forgotten. When she returned, she was holding the set of Kunai she gave as a gift. Sakura smiled.
"Alright everything is packed up, now I want you to remember—"
"I know," Ryuna pouted, "Mommy, you have told me a hundred times already, I'll be good!"
"I know you'll be good," she said as she kissed her cheeks, "besides, Kashi-sensei will stick his eyes on you,"
"Let's go?" Kakashi sensei said.
"Take care now. Kakashi-sensei, I packed extra food for you as well. By the way, who's the medic in charge?"
"Ah, that would be the school doctor," he said as he grabbed Ryuna's bag. The little girl already ran off outside the house.
"Really?" her brows knitted, "I didn't know that there's already a replacement,"
"Yeah, he was appointed officially three days ago, but he was in the school for more than a month now. Said he liked it here and he love kids. So the Hokage gave him the post,"
"Ok," she said as she shrugged off, "Take care of my baby Kakashi-sensei,"
"I will,"
SxS
After she sends off Kakashi and her daughter, she prepared to go out as well. Today's another schedule for the Sharingan session.
As usual, Sasuke was waiting for her in the 'session room', as she now calls it, still brooding, with that unreadable expression, she got used to Sasuke's moods more than ever. The session went smoothly and finished quickly as the man yawned after an hour of chakra emersion.
What Karin said the other day somehow bothered her. She needs to clarify what she had meant by that.
"Sasuke, have you seen Karin around?" she asked.
"No," he just said.
"If you're looking for her, she's gone for a mission yesterday," Suigetsu said who happened to pass by the porch. Sasuke glared at him which made Suigetsu jumped a little, "Uh, yeah…I'll go to the aviary to check up on Juugo. Ja!"
"Hm, so she went into a mission, huh…" Sakura mumbled. Oh well, probably it's not a big deal anyway. It's just one of those whims from a woman ready to fight for her love.
She was ready to pack up her things and call this a day when they heard the most familiar yell in all of Konoha. It was followed by the heavy stomping of feet.
"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled as he showed up himself in front of that room. "We got big problem!"
Sasuke sat up and rubbed his eyes. He was really about to fall asleep but knowing the dobe is here, that sleep will fly away.
"Sasuke, stop rubbing your eyes," Sakura reprimanded.
"Hn,"
"Listen," Naruto called their attention again in a panicky voice, "I was in the Hokage tower and doing the usual stuff when I heard them talking about the clan and they want you to choose now and you'll be doomed!"
Sakura and Sasuke just stared at him, both said, "What?!"
"Naruto, wait. Calm down. You need to catch your breath. Here, sit down. I'm going to get you a tea, okay?" Sakura said ushering Naruto to sit while she stood up and went to the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Naruto looked at Sasuke, scared as hell. "Teme, You're going to kill me for this," he looked at Sasuke, "Sakura-chan's really going to kill me this time,"
"What did you do this time dobe," Sasuke said as he sat and stretched his leg. He observed that the Jinjuuriki was sweating buckets and he was fiddling with his fingers.
"I swear, all I wanted was to help. Oh Kami," Naruto said.
"Spit it out dobe," Sasuke said.
Naruto pursed his lips and paused. Then he inhaled and tried to calm down, "Well, I was in the Hokage tower, doing boring stuff with Ebisu-sensei. When he was not looking, I sneaked out of the room and happened to pass by at the council room. Tsunade baa-chan was yelling and her voice can be heard in the hallway so out of curiosity, I peeked and listened. They were discussing about you teme,"
"And?" Sasuke quirked a brow.
"Remember that one time I told you I heard them talking about you resurrecting your clan?" Sasuke's expression turned ominous. He didn't like where this one's heading. Naruto swallowed, "well Teme, it seemed they have already made up their mind to pair you up with a woman they have already choosen!"
Sasuke gritted his teeth. "Shit,"
"Baa-chan opposed them. She said they don't have the right to decide about your future. The old bags said, it's not about your future alone. It's the future of a whole clan. The future of Konoha. Apparently, they have already chosen a girl fit to become a matriarch, well according to them, that is. They said, she's not from here," Naruto went closer to Sasuke, "Teme, they said she's a royalty. I heard she's one of the daimyo's nieces!"
"I don't care. I'll just send her back,"
"Teme! You don't understand. There is more than this than just reviving your clan. The wrinkled council wants to strengthen Konoha's power, that is, politically speaking, they're-"
"I know," he smirked, "That's why I won't give what they want. I always know what they're up to. I have been thinking a step before them and if we don't agree, it's easy to do things quickly…in my way,"
Naruto shivers. Sasuke is willing to kill the council if he has to. He was willing to be a criminal again if the situation calls for it.
He won't allow it.
And Sasuke read what Naruto was thinking, "I will not go back there," he said. Naruto smiled and relief shown on his face, "It is tempting, but…I will not go there. Not with all the things I have done to get this life back again, the trust from my comrades and village and from the love from my brother. I won't go there,"
Naruto's smiled show determination, "Well, even if you got lost again, I will find you. And I will bring you back over and over again!"
"Hn," Sasuke smirked.
"But Teme!" Naruto scratched and mess his hair again, "there is still this problem! Teme, when I heard that they're going to marry you off with some damsel we don't know, I barged into the room and told them something I shouldn't have. Waaaa!"
"Spill it out already,"
"Teme…I told them that you already had a girlfriend…"
Sasuke's brows knitted.
"…that you two are happily seeing each other…"
Sasuke's eyes widen slowly, Naruto back off slowly.
"…that you two are planning to settle down, and…and…that's why you have planned to built this manor…and…and…Kami, I TOLD THEM THAT SAKURA IS YOUR GIRLFRIEND!"
Naruto suddenly bumped something.
"Naruto….you-"
When the Jinjuuriki looked up, he was never scared as hell in all his life than seeing Sakura behind him, gripping a teacup that was about to crack and an Uchiha in front of him gripping the Kusanagi.
He's fucked up. He's really fucked up big this time.
*EMS – Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan
