Author's Note: At first, I didn't know what to really write…because it took me awhile to 'scan' the plot of the story…and after I read more Naruto scanlations...especially the last part when Sasuke wouldn't listen to Sakura…I just thought that, he is human…but he isn't fond with any other human but himself. After losing his family, he just grew very fond of the past…and Sakura isn't part of his past…so she isn't in his future. Thank you for the reviews everyone…I really appreciate it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters. Masashi Kishimoto is the rightful owner, so all credits go to him.
The Story of Sasuke and Sakura
Episode Two: A withered Blossom
Splitter…
Splatter…
Splitter…
"It's going to be dangerous fighting in the rain…so everyone, keep your eyes open."
"If everything was like back then…"
"SASUKE-KUN!! Watch out!"
"If we were together like in the past…even if he didn't open up to me…at least he would be there for me…"
"Heh, I told you we could do it! Right Kakashi-sensei? I did it allll by myself, without Sasuke's help!"
'Everything…' Tears began to fall, '…would've be so…right.'
"Congratulation everyone, mission accomplished."
"So, you cry in your sleep too…? Mou…you are a wreck, aren't you Sakura?"
Eyes open, Sakura felt her energy drained away from her sudden tantrum earlier. The young shinobi couldn't move, so she just shifted her head so she was facing her teacher. It was embarrassing having him see her like this; 'I must look horrible from all that crying…' It didn't bother Sakura anymore that she was pretty…ugly…that she was skinny or fat, slender, tall or short…anything that made a girl stick out. She was…ruined now. The girl was lying in bed, unable to move…did physical appearance matter now?
'It was all for Sasuke to notice me too…'
"Sakura…" Kakashi was unable to say anything to her…it was horrible seeing her in this state. "Are you…really that depressed?" He knew it was stupid to ask, but the Jounin couldn't help it…seeing his former student like this just because of some boy was…pathetic. Especially one that didn't care for how she was doing or what had happened to her.
"Mou…sensei…what does it look like…? I'm fine, really. I was just, a bit over-board back there. That's all, ne," she nodded and tried to pull herself up in a sitting posture. "You don't need to take care of me; I'm old enough to handle this." Wrong. She regretted saying that, because the Genin knew that she was going to get a deep lecturing now.
"Damn Sakura!" Kakashi slammed his fist on the bed, but the soft mattress just softened his fist's impact. "How can you say that, when you can't even forget about Sasuke? Look at you! You're a mess; you think I'd believe what you just said? Do you think anyone would?" She could tell he was outraged, especially when she could tell his lips were quivering from the sudden out-burst.
"I'm…sorry…Kakashi-sensei…" Looking down, Sakura lowered her eyes. "I just…can't help but love him…"
"How long…will you continue to love him?"
"I-I…don't know, but I can't give up! I know that…Sasuke is the Sasuke I used to know…and he's not a bad person! It's just…" 'It's just what…?' Damn, her inner self had appeared again. "…He just needs time! He just killed his brother, and the after-effect must've—," he didn't even let her finish.
"Sakura…" He spat, biting his lip under the mask as he leaned closer to her. His eyes were angry, and she felt scared. "How fuckin' long will you keep on denying?! How long will you think he'll recover from what happened and accept you?!"
'Oh god…it's coming again.' The salty tears flooded down her cheeks as she tried to calm herself down. The once happy girl just sat there on her bed, staring at her teacher with such…sorrow. "I…know." Was the only thing the girl could say… "But...after so long…I still can't let him go. Can't you understand Sensei?!"
"…195…"
Up.
"…196…"
Down.
"…197…"
Up.
"…198…"
Down.
"…199…say Kakashi-sensei, where do you think Sasuke-kun and Naruto are?"
The 12 year-old girl sat on top of her sensei as he began to do his push ups. "I don't really know, probably sparring," was his reply. "Would be fun seeing them beat each other up, wouldn't be a surprise."
He switched to one finger push-ups, and waiting for his student to resume counting. "Aww Sensei, how can you say that? They're your students!"
"But their also who they are, like…Sasuke is Sasuke and Naruto is Naruto."
"Sasuke is cuter," Sakura inferred with a happy smile. "Even though they are who they are, I guess it's a good thing. Though…I wish Sasuke-kun would talk to me more…more then an 'hn' or nothing at all…" Sighing, the ninja rested her chin on her hand. Feeling her teacher's weight go up and down, she mumbled "…200."
"You do know that, as much as you try on protecting Uchiha…he won't feel grateful at all."
"You just made me feel sad sensei…!" His smartest student out of the three whined. "But…I know…"
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow, "then why do you keep on chasing after him…?"
"Because…I want to know what my prize in the finish line will be; you know…if I keep on waiting and being there for Sasuke-kun, there might be something good out of it! I know that…all of the things I've done for him can't be in vain. I believe that fate is fair, and that one day…Sasuke and I can be together."
"You fantasized too much."
"But I can't help it!" She stuck her tongue out, smiling.
The memory passed through his head quickly…and he just collapsed on Sakura.
"Wha-! Kakashi-sensei!! Are you alright?" Sakura shook on his shoulders as he leaned against her, eyes closed. His body seemed to lay unconscious, which worried Sakura. Nothing had happened, he was just standing there yelling at her…then a second later, he falls on her as if he had a heart-attack. "Unless…omigod, Kakashi-sensei…don't scare me! I'll call the ambulance, hold on!"
She was scared, really scared. Trying to pull her dead body up, Haruno Sakura gripped on the edge of the bed to pull her weight off of her teacher. "Please be alright Sensei…!"
"I-I'm…alright. Don't worry…" It was a small mumble, but she was able to hear him.
"Y-You…scared the shit out of me!!" The pink-haired kunoichi smacked him with her fist. "Ow…I'm sorry! I didn't mean to…Sorry Sakura." He rubbed his head, but then her fingers got caught in his mask and as she pulled away, the black cloth went with her.
"…"
"Kya…I'm so…so…sorry Kakashi-sensei…it was an accide-,"
His face caught her breathlessly. It was like an angel's face…who had gone through the end of serenity.
"It's okay…" the silver haired teacher excused the incident, snapping the girl out of the trance. 'Omigod, I just saw Kakashi's face…! But wait, this isn't the time to be thinking about this! I'm s'pose to be thinking about Sasuke!!'
She just couldn't help but laugh out loud, the first time out of two years.
---
"Do…you really understand…Sasuke-san…?" Lee toned, staring at him in disbelief.
"Yes…I do." It was a matter of minutes as he tried to stand up. Lee had hit him pretty good while he was off guard. "But…what do you want me to do now…? You've told me how Sakura felt…but I really don't know what to do to make her feel better. And the things that you might want me to do…isn't really what I would really do…if I was who I am now."
"Sasuke-san…I don't need to know you to understand what situation we're in. I just think that, if you don't expect anything from Sakura and you…then you should at least tell her straight that you never intended to have her like you…so she would stop swooning over someone she can never have. Stop having her run around, waiting for you. Because all it does is hurt her."
The 14 year-old roughly cleaned his outfit and glared at Lee. "I think that, if I really did that…it'd just give you an opportunity with her." He smirked as the other boy frowned, knowing he was right. 'Even though I can't do anything for Sakura…I wouldn't surrender her to him...' It was his pride in hand now.
"Still, I think I would be the better one out of both of us. At least I feel for her, and I comfort her. Rather then she is doing the other way around for you! At least I will always be by my side, and I will give her my heart…and protect her with my life!"
"But…will she accept you?" The sharigan heir crossed his hands, staring at the un-special boy coldly. "Do you think that you can just make her love you…the way you love her?"
Lee glared at Sasuke, "at least I'm the one who can't live without her!"
"You think I can?" 'Where did that come from…?' Sasuke wondered…not knowing what he had meant by saying that. But…as much as he tried to deny it, it was true. She was the one who had kept his life bond together…her words still rung in his mind as he felt her by him even if they were miles apart. "She was your hope…" Was she really now? He wasn't sure, but…even he really needed her now; it would just cause a sign of weakness.
"But even Gaara accepted love."
That was true…but Gaara was different…was he the same…?
"What do you mean Sasuke-san? Can you really not live without her? Or are you just saying that because you don't want to lose?" Lee knew what was going on…Sasuke wouldn't just say that without something under his sleeve. He had some nerve not giving Sakura up…he didn't want her awhile ago, so why now? Did he want to continue to have her suffer…?
What was he thinking? Sasuke shook his head slightly, why did he still want to hold ties with the annoying girl he knew so long ago? It was just… "You don't want to lose the only light you have left in your life…" The voice was back, and it was ready to debate him to full force. "You've killed Itachi…so why are you still like this…Uchiha Sasuke?"
Good question. It was something Sasuke never found out ever since the blood of his brother dripped in his flesh. The eyes of the dead murder staring at him, the smirk on his dead face; why was he still not free…?
"The feeling of loneliness…hatred has consumed you too long. The feeling won't go away…"
---
"Sakura…are you okay?" Kakashi took his piece of cloth and hung it across his face again. The man was surprised to see her laugh again…he missed the joyous sound. 'Heh, I never knew seeing my face would make her laugh so much.'
"Don't tell me my face is that funny!"
"No-no…!" Sakura held onto her stomach, "It's just…omigod, are you pouting?! Kakashi-sensei stop that…I can't help myself!"
Taking a deep breath, Sakura patted her chest. "Whew…it's…really been awhile that I've laughed. Thank you…Kakashi-sensei." The thank-you made her feel good, she actually thanked someone. "I've…missed a lot of happiness the past two years…haven't I?" It was the truth Sakura wanted, she wanted to know…why everything seemed to past so quickly though when the time she was alone went by like small pieces of sand falling…never-ending. "It's because you were waiting for Sasuke so long…"
"Let's just say…you never really cared."
"That's…something no one ever told me…I guess it's the truth anyways," the girl admitted with disappointment, "I just don't know what to do now."
"Leave the past behind?" Something Kakashi never knew he was able to say…seeing he wasn't that type to give out psychological advice. Though, maybe because of what became of him these years, a little bit of change would've occurred to the older man as well; other then his young apprentices. "You should really cheer up, or you'll never have a future. Just, give up on Sasuke; don't you think? Isn't your dream to become a medic-nin anyways Sakura?"
'Medic-nin…at first yes…but, that wasn't really my true intentions…It was only to prove to Sasuke that I'm more then a weak ninja…I wanted to be able to show-off to him that I was good at something for once…and not be so bothersome.' The female shinobi closed her eyes and nodded, "I guess you can say that…but, maybe Tsunade-sama has given up on me…"
"Oh?"
"It's because…I always seemed to be distracted, although I do improve…maybe she's grown tired of me…" That was her conclusion for the Hokage. "And, after all…I don't think I'd make a good medical-nin…maybe I'll see-through to something else."
"Sakur-," Kakashi tried to persuade her, but she just shook her head. "Don't, Sensei…I know what you're trying to do but I'll just have to say again. I can't, and will not, give up on Sasuke-kun."
"You're so persistent."
"Of course," Sakura smiled sweetly, "haven't I always been?"
"Heh…well then," he began to stand up, "My only intentions here were to guide you to a different path in life…I guess that didn't work out. There's nothing I can really do now, it's all up to you Sakura…chan. So, please; take care of yourself and don't do anything foolish. If you are really going to stay dedicated to Sasuke, then…all I have to say is good luck. And also good luck on your future being a medical-nin, bye-bye!" and with that, the great Jounin disappeared with a 'poof'.
"Hmph," she pouted, "He still treats me like a child."
"But aren't you?" "Oh shut up, even though you're inside my head…it still has nothing to do with you." "But I'm still you…and you are still me! I'm your inner self, and you will LISTEN to me, got it Sakura?! I mean please, open your eyes for once…without me, you might as well be dead…or already in a suicidal condition." The kunoichi had sworn her inner self was smirking. "I don't really care."
'Oh well…they still treat you like a little child. Just like how Kakashi-sensei treats you: "So, please; take care of yourself and don't do anything foolish." Hah! Can you believe that? Its proof that you're still weak and young in his eyes…maybe it's a good thing, but yet…he doesn't trust you!'
"It is true…" Sakura glanced at herself in the mirror, hung against the wall in front of her. She had put the mirror there to see herself every morning, how much feminine the pink cherry blossom had grown over the night. Yet, maybe some – especially Ino would've considered her ex-best friend vain but Sakura just…wanted to see her best looks, and yet, her worst.
'It's not like Sasuke would really matter at all." The thought made her gloom, "I see no purpose in my life anymore anyways. So maybe I am a child, but still…! Why am I still here now?!"
---
"Bastard," Lee spat, "Maybe…I should really kill you if you won't give Sakura up. I don't get you! You have no need for Sakura-san and yet you still keep her in chains emotionally!" Winding up a punch, Lee jumped towards Sasuke and growled, "I'll show you that I love Sakura! That by hurting you, it will show her that I care for her a million times as you can, if you're able to!"
"But wouldn't hurting me cause her pain…and have her hate you Lee…?" Sasuke used that as an advantage, but too bad for Lee; he had already shot up into a furry. "I don't care! At least I will hurt you to make myself feel better…this is a punishment for having Sakura suffer for so long!"
"You act like some love sick dog…" he replied calmly, dodging Lee's blows. "I see you haven't improved much in your Taijutsus since two years ago…eh? Well, I'll show you what true strength is." With that, Sasuke caught the thick eye-browed boy's foot and pulled him in the air…spinning the guy with full force… "Let's see who'll die…"
"Love is the strongest thing I need right now, and I will defeat you with it!" Lee glared and shielded himself as Sasuke let go of him…having the tiger-boy fly across the room. "Ugh…" blood was running down his lip as Lee tried to get up. "That…that didn't hurt one bit," he lied while wiping the blood off his face. 'This…is for Sakura…I hope she understands.'
Sasuke cocked his head to the side, waiting for what Lee would do next. He knew the older boy (Lee is fifteen) had a better brain then he did…but that was only meant for Taijutsus. Sasuke remembered once when Sakura had come to ask him for advice about being a better shinobi…and he told her that it was useless being one without knowing Genjutsus and Ninjutsus. That was the truth; relying just on Taijutsus was pathetic. 'Lee can't even handle a shuriken…' the 14-year old boy reminded him, 'though he has experience defending himself from ninja techniques without knowing or using them. Neji once was on his team after all.'
Lee just smirked; it reminded Sasuke of when his brother used to smile with something devious forming in his mind. "Sasuke-san, you will see…" was his only reply and it made the raven haired-boy twitch with curiosity. It had been awhile someone had given him such anticipation with what the hell was going on. Had Rock Lee created a new move while the other boy was gone, avenging his brother?
"Initial Lotus, Omete Renge!" Lee shouted, opening the first chakra gate to his supreme attack. 'Maybe he didn't make a new move…' Sasuke sighed, 'to think he wouldn't be more old fashion…' running to a defense mode, the cold male waited for his opponent to unleash his attack.
Seeing Sasuke's calm face irritated him, 'Forgive me Sakura…this is for you. I will make him pay for all the pain he has caused you!' He then summoned a high amount of speed and kicked Sasuke head up into the air before the boy could react. Then, he un-wrapped the bandages around his arm and encircled it around the other ninja. "This is my first time using this technique on you, there's no way you can resist the pain!"
'Heh…damn he's right…' Sasuke looked for a way out, but the bandages had wrapped around too tightly. Lee and him were now tightly falling down by the gravitational pull…ready to hit smack down against the concrete ground. "Omigod, Sasuke-kun! Lee-san! Stop it!!" A young female appeared and ran to the place they were going to land.
"S…Sakura!! Move!" If she wasn't going to move, the two would hit her and she would be the one who consumed the impact and receive more damage. Lee tried to cancel the attack but they were too deep in the pull to stop the technique, and Sakura wouldn't budge. She just stood there, staring at them with her hands out.
Sasuke also knew what was going on, and he knew she was staring at him. "Move…Sakura…!" He yelled under his breath, loud enough for her to hear. Surely she would obey his orders, but to his surprise…she didn't. "I can't have you hurt…Sasuke-kun." And right there, they flew down and crashed into her. A huge crater was caused by the huge impact and dust flew everywhere…covering the room.
Lee wasn't able to move, but he dragged himself up, yelling Sakura's name. "Where are you?! Are you okay?!"
On the other hand, Sasuke groaned in pain as he tried to open his eyes. He felt himself lay on something soft…different from the ground. Suddenly, it came as a realization that Sakura was underneath him. "Oh…god…" He muttered as he looked at the fragile girl underneath him. She looked brutally injured, lip bleeding…a bruise on her right cheek. Her condition looked like the time when the sound-nin had attacked them when they were doing the Chuunin Exam.
"S…Sakura…?"
In tact, her eyes fluttered and she coughed from the thick dust. Jade pupils stared up at his onyx eyes and she tried to touch his face; flinching ever so slightly by the pain that shot over her body. "Sasuke-kun…you're alright!" "Look at her…she's still like this for you, putting your condition in front of hers, risking her life for you…that's more then you'll ever need to live…" The voice whispered in his head.
"Why…are you so nice to me…after what I've done to you…? I don't recall being nice to you, Sakura…"
"It doesn't matter if you're nice to me or not. I just, don't want to see you hurt or injured. I guess, I'm used to being treated like this by you…brushed away, ignored, hated by you. But…those feelings can't make me stop loving you. After two years, I guess that love has consumed me and my will has grown stronger for being there for you." Her words had reached him, and he suddenly felt a bit emotional…but didn't show it. He just smiled slightly, and pulled her hand down so she wouldn't inflict anymore pain on herself.
What Sakura had just said, was very similar to what his inner self had said awhile back: "The feeling of loneliness…hatred has consumed you too long. The feeling won't go away…" That was how she felt…and he couldn't stop the girl from loving him because it had consumed her for so long. He was glad that she loved him… "She's your only light from darkness…"
"Maybe…I can really open up to you…Haruno Sakura…"
She smiled, and that was the last thing she did before blackness clouded her mind and she closed her eyes.
To be Continued…
Author's Note: That…took awhile. I just, let's just say this chapter was really hard for me to write. Hm…it might be a little…or too dramatic, don't you think? But…I thought it would fit perfectly to have Sasuke-kun open up to the dear girl. I know the ending was sloppy, but…the twist hasn't ended yet. Something bad will happen next in Chapter Four! So keep in touch and wait for what'll happen!
Oh, and I know some of you are wondering: where the hell did Sakura appear from when Sasuke and Lee were fighting? I'll put down the cut version for you guys, before anymore of you get confused or curious. I didn't really know where to put this paragraph; I guess it would've been single anyways.
---
Sakura sighed as she began to think through the time Sasuke had saved her. "Am…I really in denial?" 'Maybe what Lee-san and Kakashi-sensei had said was right…' She thought and scratched her head with both hands, frustrated. "Not fair-not fair- not fair!"
'I don't want to disappoint anyone anymore though…makes me feel embarrassed because some of what Lee-san said was right…' Coming to the topic about Lee, she wondered what he was up to. 'He's probably still back in the classroom…I feel bad for what had happened back there. Damn Kakashi-sensei! I should go back and check up on him, maybe apologize too…'
---
Chapter Preview: Uchiha Sasuke had always focused on being a shinobi, and focusing on killing Itachi…so he was never the type to experience 'love' or any of that emotion concern…as well as jealousy, or comfort. Sure…he had plenty from Ino and Sakura…but maybe this time, he would give Sakura…the new Sakura…and himself a chance on going through this course of life. It was really a rarity…that Sasuke was finally opening up. Things just…didn't feel right when he had came back. Itachi was gone…now what? That was what he had always wondered… 'I guess its something that girl will teach me…' He stared at the pink kunoichi.