Make Believe
Chapter two
by evil-mittens

A swift kick almost knocked the young woman off her feet. 'Focus,' she scolded at herself. She ran as quick as lightning towards her attacker and returned the kick back. She smirked, he didn't see her coming. The impact of her kick knocked him to the floor. The kunoichi used this opportunity to perform the seals to her finishing jutsu. '…dragon, dog, tiger,' she repeated to herself as she performed the seals.

"Tobihi no jutsu!" Fire ejected from her hands and leaped towards the fallen man. As soon as they hit him, he disappeared with a cloud of smoke. She sat down against a tree in exhaust. Eyes watched her from above.

"That was very good," he finally said breaking through the peaceful silence. The young woman leaned back against the tree and sighed. The man jumped off the branch and landed perfectly like a cat in front of her. "You're more than ready," he commented, "This environment must have done you some good. You might want to focus some more though."

'Damn, he noticed.' "I was—"

"Don't worry about it; just concentrate when you go against Tsunade-sama."

Sakura nodded. A three hours long match wasn't what she intended to be a "little spar." But of course, he wasn't even fighting. 'He was probably sitting up there reading one of those perverted book of his,' she thought darkly.

"Come, I'll treat you to ramen."

Sakura snapped her head back and gave him a curious look, "since when were you so generous?"

Kakashi laughed and ruffled her hair, "I don't know what you're talking about." He offered her a hand and hoisted her up. The two walked silently through the forest grounds. The birds watched them as they passed and sang their melodic songs. Sunlight was seeking through the leaves and branches of the tall trees as they finally reached the edge of the forest.

The silence was broken when the two reached the forest's edge. Sakura felt a heavy hand on her head; she cocked her head to the side to see Kakashi. The silvery-hair man crinkled his eyes and smiled, "You've grown up well, Sakura."

Sakura rubbed her sleepy emerald eyes and stretched the sleepiness out. 'It's good to sleep in a bed again,' she sighed as she pushed her down duvet aside and stood up. She shivered as her bare toes touched the cold, smooth hardwood floor. She crept quietly to the bathroom and closed the door behind her. She looked into the elegant mirror, 'Today's the day.' She brushed her teeth and washed up swiftly and hurried out the apartment she and Kakashi shared.

The air was moist and fresh and birds chirped their happy morning songs. The sun has risen just above the Hokage monument, but the heat was already beating down. The pink-hair woman walked through the forest mindlessly until she found a small waterfall. Her eyes clouded over as she remembered the distant memories of her childhood. She remembered when she would come here and cry after he rejected her.

Uchiha Sasuke

She laughed silently, 'I can't even say that bastard's name.' Her eyes narrowed as she recalled the harsh words he had said to her. Her pink head shook furiously. She wasn't supposed to come out here to think of him out of all people. She got up off the bolder she was sitting on and walked away from the place that held her painful memories. True to her name, a single pink cherry blossom drifted from a sakura blossom tree and fluttered to the ground.

Sakura walked back to the town slowly, wasting her time. By this time, the marketplace was busy with people scurrying doing their errands. Sakura blew her bangs out of her face, 'why is it so damn hot today?' She suddenly felt a familiar charka behind her.

"Haruno."

Sakura smiled at the person standing behind her, "Hyuuga."

"You didn't come to see me," he answered, talking to her back.

The pink-hair woman finally turned around and looked at him. "I've only came back a week, Neji."

"That's not a very good excuse. Even so, that never stopped you from visiting me before." Neji snorted, "Oh wait, that's right, I haven't seen you for three years."

Sakura laughed and smiled sheepishly, "Gomen ne Neji-sama, next time I'll make sure to see you first."

The Byakugan user fought the urge to roll his eyes, "Tenten wants to see you, why don't you come over for lunch?"

"I can't, I have to prove that I can take the role of an ANBU to Tsunade-sama at noon."

Neji raised his eyebrows, "You're becoming an ANBU?"

Sakura gave him an evil look, "What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing… are you sure you can handle it? It's a pretty tough job. Tenten hates it when I'm always on missions."

"I'm a big girl now Neji, I can handle it fine."

Neji still didn't look convince. Sakura sighed, "You know what? Let's have a little spar; I need to warm up anyways."

He gave a stiff nod. The pair walked a nearby field and looked at each other.

"Should we start?" Neji asked, breaking the silence.

"Ready when you are."

Neji smirked and suddenly vanished from Sakura's view. Sakura didn't flinch; she simply stood there and quickly turned around to block an incoming hit.

"Neji-san, you must do better than that to beat me," Sakura taunted.

"You talk big for someone so short," Neji teased. He quickly changed his plans and jumped back.

"Byakugan!"

"Cheater," the petit kunoichi muttered.

Neji raced back towards Sakura and threw several kunais and a kunai wrapped with an explosive note at her. 'Right on target, five vital spots.' After Neji started to go with Tenten, Tenten demanded that she teach him to aim better. She claimed that "he sucked at target aiming" and needed some training. The smoke was overwhelming. Neji let out a cough; his eyes stung and he turned off his Byakugan. 'Damn all this smoke, I can't see anything.' As the smoke cleared slowly, he barely made out the vacant spot in the middle. 'Shit,' he swore silently. He looked around and turned on his special bloodline eyes again. 'Fuck, she can be anywhere by now.'

"Bet you can't catch me," a voice taunted beside his ear. Neji quickly turned around, but saw nothing.

"Up here." The dark-haired man looked up, and there was the culprit. "You're a bit slow aren't you Neji-san?"

Neji gave her a smile, "I was only testing you."

Sakura laughed and shook her pink head. "You're impossible. Let's change some rules, only one on one taijutsu, with no Byakugan."

"Are you scared that I'm going to win?"

"No, I'm afraid that you'll get seriously hurt when I kick your ass."

Neji merely looked at her, "I guess we should start then."

"Of course."

The hot sun was now high in the sky. Its rays beat down on the sweaty pair; the heat was intensifying. Neji stood up and stretch. 'What's with the crazy weather today?' He offered his hand to the bubblegum-haired woman sitting on the ground. Sakura happily accepted it and pulled herself up.

"That was a great spar; I haven't had one as good for a long time."

"Are you sure you don't want to come over for lunch?"

Sakura nodded, "I need to go home and shower before I meet Tsunade-sama."

Neji gave her a curt nod, "come over for dinner then and bring Kakashi-senpai too." With that said, he disappeared in a cloud of smoke leaving Sakura with the once again the peaceful nature.

Sakura sighed and stretched her tired limbs. Her stomach gave a small grumble, 'damn, that took longer than expected.' She quickly did a few seals and disappeared.

With a crackle, Sakura popped into her kitchen.

"Sakura"

"Ohayou, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi scratched his messy silver locks, "Don't call me that; it makes me sound old."

"If you say so, Kakashi-sensei. I'm going to shower. We can go out for lunch after."

"Only if you're treating," Kakashi smiled.

Sakura gave an easy laugh, "Sure."

Sakura was done in fifteen minutes. She walked out the door with Kakashi following, locking the door. They made it down the main street; the merchants were still hard at work. The street was noisy and crowded, but Sakura never felt more like home. The two stepped in a small restaurant, the air conditioning blasted into their face. Naruto had claimed that they made "the best dumplings ever" and it was worth trying. They were seated; a medium age woman came to serve them. The woman took a look at Kakashi from behind the counter and literally saw stars. She walked "seductively" to Kakashi and Sakura and asked them in a "sexy" voice what they would like to have.

Sakura raised her eyebrows at Kakashi. "Two combo number 2's please," Kakashi said politely.

"Of course, right away!" The lady gushed, as she rushed to the kitchen to tell the chief the orders.

Sakura finally let go of her laugh as the lady disappeared into the kitchen. "Always the ladies' man, aren't you Kakashi?"

Kakashi smiled innocently, "It's the mask."

Time passed by as noon drew near. Laughter from table three was heard even outside the restaurant. Sakura stopped laughing and looked at the clock on the wall. Quarter to noon. Time passed by quickly without her knowing.

Kakashi followed her gaze and he too stared at the clock. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He put a couple of Yens on the table and broke the silence. "Come on Sakura, its almost time."

Sakura snapped out of her small trance. She looked down at the table, "I thought I was paying."

"Next time."

Sakura gave a playful smile to her teacher, and stood up. "Let's go."

Kakashi and Sakura cut through a small park. Children were playing on the playground. Sakura stopped so abruptly Kakashi almost crashed into her. Kakashi scratched his head, "Sakura, don't stop so sudden like that."

But she wasn't listening; she continued to watch the children. There on the playground was a small girl with light orange hair being picked on by her peers.

"He'll never like you! You're too ugly!" A girl with short brown hair teased. "What's wrong with your hair! Are your parents oranges?"

Tears streamed down the young girl's faces, "No, don't say that!"

Another girl laughed, "What are you going to do? Run home and cry to your mommy?" She paused, "Hey Kenji!"

A little boy timidly came forward. The girl with short brown hair gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. "He's my boyfriend, now. Isn't that right Kenji-kun?" The boy looked down at his shoes and looked away.

The little girl began to cry even more, "You're supposed to be my friend!" She screamed.

The other girl laughed, "Friend? Who would ever want to be your friend!"

"I would." The kids looked up to a pretty lady with long pink hair.

The little brown hair girl laughed, "No you wouldn't, look at her. Have you ever seen someone so ugly?"

Sakura raised her eyebrows at her, "What's your name?"

"Leiko Furuguichi"

Sakura looked at the small girl crying in her arms, "What's your name?"

"Akina."

Sakura smiled upon hearing her name, "My name's Sakura."

"That's a pretty name," Akina sniffed.

The pink-haired kunoichi searched for the small boy, when she finally spotted him she asked, "Your name is Kenji, am I right?" The boy nodded, "Why don't you join Akina, my friend Kakashi and me for ice cream?"

The boy brightens at this and gave a small, "Ok."

Kakashi coughed behind her, "We're going to be late Sakura."

Sakura simply choose to ignore him and straighten up. She held onto Akina's small hand, Kenji's in her other hand and walked away from the deceiving children.

"KENJI COME BACK HERE! OR…OR… I'LL BREAK UP WITH YOU!" Leiko screamed.

Kenji turned around and stared at her, "I was never going out with you in the first place, and I'll never will."

The two children held Sakura's hands tightly and walked into the ice cream shop.

"Choose anything you want."

Kakashi dragged Sakura away from the children at the counter. "What are you doing Sakura? Tsunade-sama will not be happy if you're late! Do you want that ANBU spot or not?"

Akina and Kenji were walking back holding hands with their ice cream. "Tsunade-Obaasan? Why would she be mad?" Akina asked.

Sakura gave an easy laugh, "I'm suppose to fight her, to prove myself ANBU material. It's nothing."

Kenji and Akina's eyes widen, "ANBU?"

Kenji looked at Sakura with admiration, "You must be very strong nee-san."

Akina's eyes wandered to the clock, "its 12:30, nee-san." Akina's eyes began to water again, "It's my fault, if you haven't seen me crying in the park, you wouldn't be late!"

Sakura gave her a small smile, "It's not your fault Akina, it'll be fine."

Akina suddenly got up and grabbed Sakura's hand. "Let's go! I'll explain to Tsunade-Obaa-san, you won't get in trouble!"

Kakashi snorted, "She's always mad, I swear that woman is on PMS everyday."

Sakura gave Kakashi a warning glare. "Why do you keep calling her Obaa-san?"

Akina smiled, "She's my god-mother, she loves me the most! Come on!"

The young woman smiled, "Thank you Akina. You know what? I used to get picked on when I was little too."

Akina looked up at her, "You? Really? …Why?"

"My forehead is huge."

The girl giggled, "No it isn't!"

"It is!"

"Nuh-uh!"

Kakashi smiled at the arguing pair, "It was REALLY big, you could see her from a mile away. Who's that big-forehead girl? Sakura of course!"

Sakura whacked Kakashi on his head, "Nobody asked for your opinion!"

They all laughed as they walked up the stairs to Tsunade's office. They were met by the Hokage herself.

"Sakura," Tsunade said sharply, "You're half an hour late! My mind is half made up to cancel you."

"No! Tsuande-Obaasan! It's my fault… You see, these people were picking on me and Sakura-nee san stopped them!"

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, her mouth still stern, but Kakashi could swear that he could see a twinkle in her eye.

"Is this true?" Tsunade asked Kakashi and Kenji. The two nodded their heads repeatedly. "Alright, if that's the case, than I guess I can't cancel you."

Akina and Kenji cheered.

"Akina, take you and your friend home."

"Yes, Obaa-san! Arigatou Sakura-nee-san!"

Sakura gave the two a hug before they hurried home.

"Well Sakura, shall we start?"

A/N: There you have it! A new chapter! Sorry for taking so long to write this chapter, but school work is very demanding. I added the Akina, Leiko, and Kenji scene in because Sakura was starting to doubt herself back at the restaurant. Akina reminds her when she was little, and she also reminds her why she wanted to become a Kunoichi in the first place. Akina means 'spring flower,' another reason why Sakura is attracted to her. Leiko means arrogant, which is self-explanatory. I guess Kenji basically means intelligent, and strong. Hopefully I can post the next chapter up sometime this month. Thank you for those that reviewed: Phoe-chan, cruisegirl86, MommyRogers, Great Saiyaman, joann, and cocoa-latte. Of course, I can't thank my beta-reader cocoa-latte enough. Thanks for reading! Please review.