Author: Cheza-chan
Rating: PG/PG-13
Summary: No one should try to hold onto the past. You cause yourself even more hurt and pain when you do. Look to the future and start anew.
Disclaimer: Alas, I do not own Naruto. I can always dream that I do though.
Chapter Four – Comfort
She had been home for a week and had not once set foot outside of the hospital. Sakura sat in the lobby, her hands folded in her lap. She couldn't leave without properly talking to Tsunade to discuss her new living conditions and the Godaime was busy right now taking care of things upstairs. She sighed softly and tilted her head backwards.
"Oh, my God. Sakura?"
Her green eyes widened at the voice and she straightened herself, staring at the front doors. As one held open the door for the other two, in walked three young women she had never expected to see for the remainder of her life. Ami, Fuki, and Kasumi. Three girls who had teased her endlessly during her childhood. At a flower-picking session, Ino had chased them away. Sakura smiled wearily. They hadn't changed much, not in appearance anyway.
Ami had allowed her hair to grow beyond the rest of the side of her face was wrapped with a black ribbon. Fuki's spiky hair had been transformed into a ponytail and Kasumi still had her orange Afro hairstyle, minus the bow. Fuki stood to the back of them while Ami and Kasumi sat beside the pink-haired woman.
Sakura shifted to better the being growing within her and also for her own comfort. This caused the light to bounce off her new hitai-ate, thus invoking a fierce barrage of questions. Tsunade stood at the hallway entrance, her arms crossed over her chest and a smirk on her face. She knew she should rescue her apprentice but confrontations such as this would help loosen Sakura up for the interrogation she had in store.
Sakura spotted the woman over Kasumi's Afro and raised her hands. "Sorry," she said, quickly standing. She backed away from the trio with an apologetic smile. "If I'm still around, we can catch up. Also… if you happen to see Ino, tell her… stop by to see me." With a bow, she turned and walked away with the Godaime.
Tsunade wrapped an arm around Sakura's shoulder with a deep sigh. "Good, old Konoha, huh? But you seem to root for a different team." She tapped the metal face of the hitai-ate where the Sand emblem lay. "Care to explain?"
"It's a long story," Sakura sighed, closing then slowly opening her eyes.
"It's a long walk to upstairs and with the ANBU hanging around, there are no other ears listening besides mine."
By the time they reached the level with the more classified patients, Tsunade was caught up on Haruno Sakura's current life story. Long story short, after being abandoned by Naruto and having the reborn Gaara take care of her, she took up shelter in the allying Hidden Sand Village; she was unable to return to Konohagakure because of the painful past it held. A year in Sonagakure proved to her that Gaara actually had both heart and soul, even if he tried to repress them all too often, and things slowly progressed from there.
"And you're not worried about bearing a child for Jinchuuriki?" Tsunade asked.
"No. I'll love him or her with all my heart." Sakura brushed her hair back and stared at the brunette bowing before them. Behind Shizune was a bandaged and exhausted Naruto. The medical Jounin slowly rose and Sakura felt herself growing uncomfortable.
"Sasuke's awake," Shizune said joined her Godaime and friend, leaving the two members of Team 7 standing side by side outside of Sasuke's room. "He's perfectly fine but I recommended a few more days' rest, especially where his eyes are concerned."
Tsunade hid the surprise she felt at that statement. 'Does that mean… he…? No, he couldn't have.' She shook her head then grinned at the young adults. "Go on in," she whispered. "I'm sure he won't bite." Her attempt at lightening the mood did nothing and Naruto and Sakura remained stone-faced.
They reached for the handle at the same time and Sakura trembled slightly as the blonde's fingers squeezed hers lightly. They pushed the door open slowly. The sole surviving Uchiha turned his dark gaze on the pair just beyond the door.
Maybe it was the light—Tsunade smile—but she swore Team 7 hadn't changed at all. She stepped closer to the door and gave them a once-over. Thirteen-year-olds again, Naruto was the loudmouth, Sakura was the young girl blinded by childish wishes and unable to see her goals and dreams, and Sasuke was the avenger who only opened himself up to the loudmouth and young girl. Tsunade shook her head and smiled, closing the door on the beginning sobs from an emotional Sakura.
Sasuke blinked several times and slowly realized he was still in the hospital—where else would he be? He turned away from the bright light streaming through the window and stopped the sweep of his gaze on the figure sleeping at the single table pushed against the wall. He didn't need Sharingan to tell the woman was carrying a second life.
Sasuke sat up slowly, draping an arm over his raised knee. He'd never expected Sakura to wait for him—the thought rarely crossed his mind—but he never thought she would have started a life of her own already. And with whom, he wondered.
Raising a hand, he brushed his hair aside and laid the heel of his palm against his right eye. It had happened. He had reached that level: the Mangekyou Sharingan. And with it, he had finally been able to destroy his brother. With his own power, he had defeated Uchiha Itachi, but he still didn't feel free.
The soft raps on the door caused Sakura to stir but not rise. Sasuke couldn't find his voice to order them in but the door slowly slid open anyway. His eyes widened slowly and he looked away. The first Chuunin-led team that had been sent after him over five years ago slowly filed into his room.
The grinning blonde was the culprit. Naruto had gone and gathered them all so they could be the first to officially welcome the Uchiha back home. He backed up until he was at the table where Sakura slept and rest his hip against the hard wood.
"We can't wake her up," Neji sighed, closing his eyes. "It didn't make sense for us to come here at this time."
"Some ninja you are," Naruto snorted. He placed a hand to the pink head and it was slapped away.
Shikamaru chuckled softly, shaking his head. "He got you there. I guess you can't expect anything less from someone trained by the Godaime herself."
Chouji leaned forward and slightly opened his eyes only to squint them again. He paused in the shoveling of chips into his mouth to speak and lowered his hand. "Hey. Doesn't Sakura-san look a little f—" Kiba, laughing loudly, slapped a hand over Chouji's mouth and glanced nervously at the sole woman in the room.
Sakura stood slowly, pulling back on the Kazekage's cloak, and faced the group. She smiled a little too sweetly and even the infamous Hyuuga wished he could make himself scarce at the fierce, "ready to kill" chakra flowing from the woman. "My time here is used up," Sakura stated, straightening her hair and fixing her hitai-ate. Shikamaru had to raised an eyebrow at the latter action.
Paying the stares no mind—Tsunade had already okayed her move—Sakura stepped to Sasuke's bedside. Leaning down, she placed a kiss to his cheek. "Don't run away again," she whispered, rubbing his arm consolingly. He nodded, already positive he would have ANBU watching his every move from this point on out.
Sakura sighed deeply then made her way to the door. She slid it open and turned. For a brief moment, it was as if her form flickered and she was the childish young girl from long ago. Waving, she disappeared behind the closing door. The Sand Jounin resumed his place at her side and, together, they started out of the hospital. The woman had been hoping to catch sight of her team leader while here. On the first floor, her wishes were answered.
The gravity-defying mop of silver hair was bent over the reception desk. Sakura snuck up behind him, knowing he sensed her, and slipped the other side of his hitai-ate over his eye. The figure beside the Jounin turned out to be none other than Iruka. "Sakura-san," the brunet laughed. "We were just trying to convince them to let us see you guys."
"Well, I'm leaving shortly for Sonagakure. Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun will still be here so we should get together now. Can I have a few minutes?" she said to the ninja beside her. He closed his eyes, bowing his head, and disappeared.
Kakashi finally pushed his hitai-ate back up and stared down at the glowing woman. He held out his arm and she took it with a bright smile. Iruka moved to her left side and they walked out.
Now in a quaint little eatery Sakura never remembered being in Konoha, she placed down the mug of warm tea and gaped at the blushing Iruka. "I can't believe you're a Jounin. I thought you loved teaching kids."
He scratched the bridge of his scarred nose then smoothed a hand over the white strip on his cheek. "I do. I was coerced into it but it's not so bad after all. Kakashi and I actually just came back from a mission."
"Amazing. Do you have your own team yet?" Sakura asked, raising her cup to her lips.
"Not yet," Iruka sighed. "I doubt I'll get anyone as good as Kakashi-sensei'a team, though."
The Copy Ninja's eye curved upward. "Yeah. I have a great team. Sakura-chan's the best. By the way, just to change the subject, how many months along are you?"
"Four," the young woman replied with a smile. Sakura placed a hand to her belly. Iruka smiled warmly and reached around the table to cover her hand with his own. They both jumped, the girl's eyes wide.
"Foreign chakra," the young man laughed. "He kicked."
"Hard too," Sakura mumbled.
"Takes after Gaara already." Kakashi smiled at the glares he received and dutifully ignored them.
"Speaking of…" Turning her hand over, she squeezed Iruka's fingers then released them. "I should get back before he throws a fit and comes flying over here." Both men nodded and politely stood as she did. Bowing slightly, Sakura waved as she walked away from the table and out of the shop.
She met her bodyguard at the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village. Three days of traveling. The young woman sighed. 'Maybe I should have Gaara come out here for me.'
§§§
"You're not even waiting for your beloved return?" The doors had been throw open and the scowling Sakura was now flanked by two Jounins.
Baki stood, slamming his hands down atop the round table of their meeting room. "Have you no respect, woman?" he shouted. Sakura glared heatedly at him.
"You're the one who has no respect," Gaara said in a soft voice, slowly standing from his seat directly behind the four statues of the Kazekages that had come before him. He calmly made his way around the table and to the fuming woman. "First of all, you're not my beloved. Second, for almost three weeks, this place was quiet and orderly. For almost three weeks, I didn't have full-grown men crying to me about you."
Sakura subtly bit down on her bottom lip to keep from smiling. She knew that much was true.
The Kazekage raised his head, a smirk on his already smug features. "For almost three weeks… and I couldn't stand you being gone." Under the gazes of many, including the Kazekages gone by before Gaara, former enemies shared a loving kiss.
A/N: (yanks the skin off her face) Guuuunh! I think I made Gaara a little too... sappy/mushy...
Mmmm! I'm going to think of this chapter as a saga closed. With Sakura back in Sonagakure, the chapters are gonna mainly take place in Konoha now. Hopefully… If I can think of what I want to write next. (siiiiiiiigh) And here I thought this was going to be simple and fun. Well, it's fun, but… bah! Here's the chapter...