Author's note: Thanks a whole bunch for your reviews. I really appreciated
them! For those who have questions, please keep reading. All shall be
explained in due time.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
***************
The // is equivalent to three consecutive periods. In other words, a pause or an interruption.
Chapter 2: A Burden
As always, her prey sat by himself at a little table away from the rest of the bustling group of young teenagers; oblivious to all the wistful looks tossed his way. Evidently, he was alone and ripe for the picking.
Strolling casually to his side, much to the dismay of many other girls who were not his teammate and, thereby, not privileged to approach him legitimately, Sakura tapped him lightly on the shoulder. Sasuke didn't bother turning around.
"Go away," he stated simply, "I want to be alone."
Sakura bit her lips. He was so cold. But then again, that would quickly change. *You're not escaping my clutches this time, pretty boy* Sakura thought to herself and laughed inwardly.
Smiling innocently, she plopped herself down on the seat across from him. She saw him hiss in annoyance and even watched fondly as he began to voice his objection. But just when he was about to dismiss her, Sakura latched onto his right arm tightly and began to cry.
The normally composed boy gapped in shock and attempted to pry her off, but not before she managed to strike at his pity.
"Sasuke-kun," she choked out between sobs, "I'm useless. I'll never be as strong as you or // or // or even that baka, Naruto!"
She watched from the corners of her eyes as Sasuke's left eyebrow began to twitch.
"Give it some time," Sasuke offered as comforting words while attempting to rise. But Sakura refused to let go, holding on to his arm as if it were her last life support.
"That's what really hurts the most!" she declared in a new flood of tears, "I'm losing // I'm losing to the worst gennin in our village, an idiot who needed three tries before passing the examination. How can I // I can't even look at myself in the mirror. All I see is a useless girl, a useless girl who won't amount to anything. I'll never be strong enough. Never!"
God but her acting was good. She could already see that Sasuke's emotionless face was cracking under her laments.
"Sakura // " he began, but abruptly stopped, uncertain how to continue.
"If I could only get a little stronger // just a little. I don't want to be the best, just stronger. Strong enough to protect myself. Strong enough to make me worthy of being your partner," she added stressing the last word and hoping he would get her double meaning. He didn't.
"That's not important. You're my teammate now and we'll all protect you. So, stop crying Sakura. Don't // don't feel ashamed."
*He's trying* Sakura certainly realized. *He's actually trying to comfort me. * The thought put an unpleasant taste to her ploy, but Sakura pushed it aside. Desperate acts called for desperate measures. After all, love pardoned all things, didn't it? *All right, Sakura, no more stalling. It's time to move on to part B of your master plan. *
Sniffing a little, Sakura released her hold on Sasuke's arm slightly, just enough to make him relax, but not enough for him to run away. She heard him sigh and reluctantly sat back down. *Ha! You should have ran! * she thought inwardly and refrained from smiling.
"Sometimes I think I should have been born a boy. Maybe if I were physically stronger I would // but, it's so hard!" she broke out.
From her lowered lids she saw Sasuke chew his lips. *Perfect. *
"It's so hard to know you're the weakest, that you can never help, that you're only a burden." Sakura sunk her voice to a low whisper at that last word, achieving just the proper effect. Sasuke fell for her bait. The boy was obviously distressed.
"You're not a burden, Sakura. You never were," he started to say, but seeing the incredulous look on her face he hastened to name some of her best attributes. "You're attentive, responsible and lord knows you have more brains than that baka, Naruto // "
Sasuke never finished his sentence, because a certain deep wail from Sakura drowned out all words. Several people were staring at them now and eying Sasuke warily, as if he were some how accountable for Sakura's emotional state. Grimacing, Sasuke once again attempted to free his arm, more so for the purpose of regaining circulation than the immediate embarrassment he felt. But, of course, Sakura wasn't done with him // yet.
"Sasuke // can you do me a favor?" Sakura managed to ask between sobs.
By now, Sasuke was willing to do a thousand favors, anything to get away and get away fast. He nodded quickly before even clearly hearing the exact request Sakura had expertly inserted between more sobs.
Once his approval was obtained a joyous Sakura released her prey. Faking one last sniff, she demonstratively wiped her tear-streaked face and smiled tentatively.
"Thank-you, Sasuke-kun," she mouthed, gaining Sasuke's reluctant nod before turning to leave.
As Sakura walked away, she called back just loud enough so that everyone could hear: "I'll meet you on the training grounds at 5:00am sharp tomorrow!"
Sasuke sucked in a shocked breath. Bewildered, he wondered when he had ever agreed to meet Sakura anywhere, much less tomorrow on their only day off. A flash of orange descended beside him and straightened. Normally Sasuke would have smacked that mass of orange sharply on the head for eavesdropping, but having yet to recover from his confusion, Sasuke was uncharacteristically quiet.
"You're going, aren't you?" his other teammate asked.
Sasuke finally turned to face the boy, surprised to find that a thoughtful look graced Naruto's face.
"Huh?" he managed to ask.
"You're going, aren't you?" Naruto repeated facing Sasuke fully.
"Where? For what?" Sasuke croaked.
"To your one-on-one training session with Sakura tomorrow, of course" Naruto stated simply.
"What?! She got me to agree to that? To hell I'm going!" Sasuke spat out harshly, "I have better things to do than have her use me as a trophy to gloat over."
He turned to leave, but a certain hard grip on his shoulder propelled Sasuke back. The look he saw Naruto give him sent a tint of fear down his spine.
"A ninja always keeps his words," Naruto said in a deadly soft voice, "Maybe for someone like you who've always been at the top you can't feel what it's like to be // a burden. But I'm not asking you to feel, Sasuke, -- God knows you're a cold-blooded bastard -- all I'm asking is that you understand. Go."
Sasuke blanched at the last word. To think such an authoritative and stern command could have come from such a small boy, a boy he was unwittingly growing to respect more and more each day. Shrugging off Naruto's hand, Sasuke stepped away. Regaining his usual air of aloofness, he turned to leave.
As he did so, Sasuke casually tossed a half-hearted response to his teammate: "I'll go."
Naruto found himself smiling, despite the constraint on his heart. It was enough. It was enough to wish her happiness, wasn't it? It had to be.
***********************************
Mistaken Identity
Sakura placed her items carefully in a bag, reassuring herself that she had everything necessary for tomorrow, the day of her triumph. Drunk with anticipation she burst into a peal of wicked laughter.
***********************************
Sasuke arrived at the strike of five. *The fool was going to pay for his punctuality* Sakura realized happily. She watched from the corners of her eyes as Sasuke set his training gears next to hers. Restraining her usual smile, Sakura plastered a serious expression on her face before turning to face her love. Crossing her arms across her chest she walked boldly to where he stood.
Her eyes narrowed just to the right degree. "Don't go easy on me, today," she stated simply. "I can't be babied anymore. Train with me like you do with Naruto."
Sasuke nodded, a bit taken aback by the solemn face before him. Sakura had never appeared so determined and resilient. Could it be that she had an inner strength he didn't know of?
The rest of the morning was spent on total exertion. Neither of them slackened their pace, and although Sasuke could see that Sakura was hitting her limit, nothing he said or did could detain her strive to get stronger. He found himself admiring this strong Sakura more so than he ever did the docile one who constantly trailed after him like a lost lamb.
In the midst of springing at him, Sakura strength seemed to snap and she faltered, coming to an abrupt skid on the ground. Moaning in pain, she slumped down, every muscle in her body shaking. She hadn't meant to train this hard. But somehow, it had felt right to try her hardest, to gain Sasuke's attention by not gaining it.
Could this be // could this be the secret to winning his affection? Had she forfeited ten years of her life attempting to obtain something that could have be won simply by earning his respect first? No! She wouldn't believe. She couldn't. It was too late to go back now. But was she even strong enough to carry through with her plan?
Before Sakura could further contemplate the matter a shadow fell across her. Glancing up, she found herself looking into Sasuke's worried face.
"It's enough, Sakura," he said softly, "let's call it a day." He leaned down to help her up.
"No, I can go on. Please don't stop on my account," she cried.
"I'm not stopping for you, Sakura," Sasuke replied, "I'm beat. Let's rest." Sakura smiled and nodded, allowing Sasuke to guide her to a bench.
Collapsing onto the wooden seat, Sakura rummaged in her bag for a water bottle and took a sip. The cold fluid felt good sliding down her parched throat. Then she saw them, the towels she had prepared the night before. Should she // use them? Turning to look at her target, she saw him running a hand through his damp hair. *God, does he even know how edible he looks right now?*
Licking her lips nervously Sakura snatched at the towels before her resolution left her. Tossing one at Sasuke she frantically ran the other over her neck and arms. She saw Sasuke nodded his thanks and began to wipe the sweat from his own face.
*Breathe! Breathe!* She screamed inwardly. As Sasuke inhaled, Sakura exhaled, releasing the pint up air in her lungs. *Any minute now, any minute now. Com'on. Yes!*
Sasuke scratched at his throat as if it were suddenly very parched. He ran a tentative tongue over his dry lips. *This is it! Here's your chance!* Reaching slowly into her bag, Sakura whipped out another water bottle, the one whose rim she had painstakingly anointed with the ashes.
She handed it casually to Sasuke, saying as she did: "here." Voicing that single word had taken more courage than she thought possible.
Sasuke gladly thanked her and started to twist off the gap. She watched as he raised the bottle to his lips. *Yes! Yes! Drink it! Drink it!*
Only the person who drank from it wasn't Sasuke, it was // could it be? No!!! A puff of smoke revealed a blonde-haired shinobi sitting next to her.
When he saw the shocked expression on her face, Naruto touched his face, feeling the all too familiar whisker-like trademarks. Damn! His cover was blown. Naruto dropped the bottle and fled the scene before a boiling Sakura exploded into a string of curses that would have shocked even Kakashi-sensei to hear.
********************
*Laughs diabolically* Poor Naruto!! You all hate me for doing this, but deep down I know you love the irony of it all. Early warning: it only gets worse for Naruto. If you're interested, please keep reading. Don't stop reviewing either! (~_*)
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
***************
The // is equivalent to three consecutive periods. In other words, a pause or an interruption.
Chapter 2: A Burden
As always, her prey sat by himself at a little table away from the rest of the bustling group of young teenagers; oblivious to all the wistful looks tossed his way. Evidently, he was alone and ripe for the picking.
Strolling casually to his side, much to the dismay of many other girls who were not his teammate and, thereby, not privileged to approach him legitimately, Sakura tapped him lightly on the shoulder. Sasuke didn't bother turning around.
"Go away," he stated simply, "I want to be alone."
Sakura bit her lips. He was so cold. But then again, that would quickly change. *You're not escaping my clutches this time, pretty boy* Sakura thought to herself and laughed inwardly.
Smiling innocently, she plopped herself down on the seat across from him. She saw him hiss in annoyance and even watched fondly as he began to voice his objection. But just when he was about to dismiss her, Sakura latched onto his right arm tightly and began to cry.
The normally composed boy gapped in shock and attempted to pry her off, but not before she managed to strike at his pity.
"Sasuke-kun," she choked out between sobs, "I'm useless. I'll never be as strong as you or // or // or even that baka, Naruto!"
She watched from the corners of her eyes as Sasuke's left eyebrow began to twitch.
"Give it some time," Sasuke offered as comforting words while attempting to rise. But Sakura refused to let go, holding on to his arm as if it were her last life support.
"That's what really hurts the most!" she declared in a new flood of tears, "I'm losing // I'm losing to the worst gennin in our village, an idiot who needed three tries before passing the examination. How can I // I can't even look at myself in the mirror. All I see is a useless girl, a useless girl who won't amount to anything. I'll never be strong enough. Never!"
God but her acting was good. She could already see that Sasuke's emotionless face was cracking under her laments.
"Sakura // " he began, but abruptly stopped, uncertain how to continue.
"If I could only get a little stronger // just a little. I don't want to be the best, just stronger. Strong enough to protect myself. Strong enough to make me worthy of being your partner," she added stressing the last word and hoping he would get her double meaning. He didn't.
"That's not important. You're my teammate now and we'll all protect you. So, stop crying Sakura. Don't // don't feel ashamed."
*He's trying* Sakura certainly realized. *He's actually trying to comfort me. * The thought put an unpleasant taste to her ploy, but Sakura pushed it aside. Desperate acts called for desperate measures. After all, love pardoned all things, didn't it? *All right, Sakura, no more stalling. It's time to move on to part B of your master plan. *
Sniffing a little, Sakura released her hold on Sasuke's arm slightly, just enough to make him relax, but not enough for him to run away. She heard him sigh and reluctantly sat back down. *Ha! You should have ran! * she thought inwardly and refrained from smiling.
"Sometimes I think I should have been born a boy. Maybe if I were physically stronger I would // but, it's so hard!" she broke out.
From her lowered lids she saw Sasuke chew his lips. *Perfect. *
"It's so hard to know you're the weakest, that you can never help, that you're only a burden." Sakura sunk her voice to a low whisper at that last word, achieving just the proper effect. Sasuke fell for her bait. The boy was obviously distressed.
"You're not a burden, Sakura. You never were," he started to say, but seeing the incredulous look on her face he hastened to name some of her best attributes. "You're attentive, responsible and lord knows you have more brains than that baka, Naruto // "
Sasuke never finished his sentence, because a certain deep wail from Sakura drowned out all words. Several people were staring at them now and eying Sasuke warily, as if he were some how accountable for Sakura's emotional state. Grimacing, Sasuke once again attempted to free his arm, more so for the purpose of regaining circulation than the immediate embarrassment he felt. But, of course, Sakura wasn't done with him // yet.
"Sasuke // can you do me a favor?" Sakura managed to ask between sobs.
By now, Sasuke was willing to do a thousand favors, anything to get away and get away fast. He nodded quickly before even clearly hearing the exact request Sakura had expertly inserted between more sobs.
Once his approval was obtained a joyous Sakura released her prey. Faking one last sniff, she demonstratively wiped her tear-streaked face and smiled tentatively.
"Thank-you, Sasuke-kun," she mouthed, gaining Sasuke's reluctant nod before turning to leave.
As Sakura walked away, she called back just loud enough so that everyone could hear: "I'll meet you on the training grounds at 5:00am sharp tomorrow!"
Sasuke sucked in a shocked breath. Bewildered, he wondered when he had ever agreed to meet Sakura anywhere, much less tomorrow on their only day off. A flash of orange descended beside him and straightened. Normally Sasuke would have smacked that mass of orange sharply on the head for eavesdropping, but having yet to recover from his confusion, Sasuke was uncharacteristically quiet.
"You're going, aren't you?" his other teammate asked.
Sasuke finally turned to face the boy, surprised to find that a thoughtful look graced Naruto's face.
"Huh?" he managed to ask.
"You're going, aren't you?" Naruto repeated facing Sasuke fully.
"Where? For what?" Sasuke croaked.
"To your one-on-one training session with Sakura tomorrow, of course" Naruto stated simply.
"What?! She got me to agree to that? To hell I'm going!" Sasuke spat out harshly, "I have better things to do than have her use me as a trophy to gloat over."
He turned to leave, but a certain hard grip on his shoulder propelled Sasuke back. The look he saw Naruto give him sent a tint of fear down his spine.
"A ninja always keeps his words," Naruto said in a deadly soft voice, "Maybe for someone like you who've always been at the top you can't feel what it's like to be // a burden. But I'm not asking you to feel, Sasuke, -- God knows you're a cold-blooded bastard -- all I'm asking is that you understand. Go."
Sasuke blanched at the last word. To think such an authoritative and stern command could have come from such a small boy, a boy he was unwittingly growing to respect more and more each day. Shrugging off Naruto's hand, Sasuke stepped away. Regaining his usual air of aloofness, he turned to leave.
As he did so, Sasuke casually tossed a half-hearted response to his teammate: "I'll go."
Naruto found himself smiling, despite the constraint on his heart. It was enough. It was enough to wish her happiness, wasn't it? It had to be.
***********************************
Mistaken Identity
Sakura placed her items carefully in a bag, reassuring herself that she had everything necessary for tomorrow, the day of her triumph. Drunk with anticipation she burst into a peal of wicked laughter.
***********************************
Sasuke arrived at the strike of five. *The fool was going to pay for his punctuality* Sakura realized happily. She watched from the corners of her eyes as Sasuke set his training gears next to hers. Restraining her usual smile, Sakura plastered a serious expression on her face before turning to face her love. Crossing her arms across her chest she walked boldly to where he stood.
Her eyes narrowed just to the right degree. "Don't go easy on me, today," she stated simply. "I can't be babied anymore. Train with me like you do with Naruto."
Sasuke nodded, a bit taken aback by the solemn face before him. Sakura had never appeared so determined and resilient. Could it be that she had an inner strength he didn't know of?
The rest of the morning was spent on total exertion. Neither of them slackened their pace, and although Sasuke could see that Sakura was hitting her limit, nothing he said or did could detain her strive to get stronger. He found himself admiring this strong Sakura more so than he ever did the docile one who constantly trailed after him like a lost lamb.
In the midst of springing at him, Sakura strength seemed to snap and she faltered, coming to an abrupt skid on the ground. Moaning in pain, she slumped down, every muscle in her body shaking. She hadn't meant to train this hard. But somehow, it had felt right to try her hardest, to gain Sasuke's attention by not gaining it.
Could this be // could this be the secret to winning his affection? Had she forfeited ten years of her life attempting to obtain something that could have be won simply by earning his respect first? No! She wouldn't believe. She couldn't. It was too late to go back now. But was she even strong enough to carry through with her plan?
Before Sakura could further contemplate the matter a shadow fell across her. Glancing up, she found herself looking into Sasuke's worried face.
"It's enough, Sakura," he said softly, "let's call it a day." He leaned down to help her up.
"No, I can go on. Please don't stop on my account," she cried.
"I'm not stopping for you, Sakura," Sasuke replied, "I'm beat. Let's rest." Sakura smiled and nodded, allowing Sasuke to guide her to a bench.
Collapsing onto the wooden seat, Sakura rummaged in her bag for a water bottle and took a sip. The cold fluid felt good sliding down her parched throat. Then she saw them, the towels she had prepared the night before. Should she // use them? Turning to look at her target, she saw him running a hand through his damp hair. *God, does he even know how edible he looks right now?*
Licking her lips nervously Sakura snatched at the towels before her resolution left her. Tossing one at Sasuke she frantically ran the other over her neck and arms. She saw Sasuke nodded his thanks and began to wipe the sweat from his own face.
*Breathe! Breathe!* She screamed inwardly. As Sasuke inhaled, Sakura exhaled, releasing the pint up air in her lungs. *Any minute now, any minute now. Com'on. Yes!*
Sasuke scratched at his throat as if it were suddenly very parched. He ran a tentative tongue over his dry lips. *This is it! Here's your chance!* Reaching slowly into her bag, Sakura whipped out another water bottle, the one whose rim she had painstakingly anointed with the ashes.
She handed it casually to Sasuke, saying as she did: "here." Voicing that single word had taken more courage than she thought possible.
Sasuke gladly thanked her and started to twist off the gap. She watched as he raised the bottle to his lips. *Yes! Yes! Drink it! Drink it!*
Only the person who drank from it wasn't Sasuke, it was // could it be? No!!! A puff of smoke revealed a blonde-haired shinobi sitting next to her.
When he saw the shocked expression on her face, Naruto touched his face, feeling the all too familiar whisker-like trademarks. Damn! His cover was blown. Naruto dropped the bottle and fled the scene before a boiling Sakura exploded into a string of curses that would have shocked even Kakashi-sensei to hear.
********************
*Laughs diabolically* Poor Naruto!! You all hate me for doing this, but deep down I know you love the irony of it all. Early warning: it only gets worse for Naruto. If you're interested, please keep reading. Don't stop reviewing either! (~_*)