Take it Like a Man
Chapter 3: New Meetings with Old Friends
By: Vampire Toy
Disclaimer: Me no own (sadness)
"Talking"
(Inner Sakura)
:Sound effect:
A/N: Ok, I got two possibilities unless someone wants to add more, Anko and Orochimaru (I know that was a joke but I thought it'd be funny XD) vote between those two unless you have another option for a love interest :) haha, this will be fun and I do have a plot planned out if you pick one or both.
…
Sakura's experience with Ino gave her both renewed confidence and an overbearing fear.
(If this lasts forever…then I'll be gay no matter who I date!)
Sakura frowned and muttered under her breath, she'd never get Sasuke-kun that way, he already thought 'Seeu' was weird, there was no way he'd ever 'date' him.
Sakura looked down at the flowers Ino had given her, for a moment she wondered if she still thought like a girl, if she didn't then she was literally turning into a man.
(Flowers are pretty……that wasn't hard…..um….I like pink! …….ok….fighting is fun!….wait, no its not…er…I think? Well, it is SOMETIMES….I mean I'm a ninja…..girls are cute…WAIT! No wait, no, no, no…..I'm scared….yes, I can confirm that one…)
She made a face as she deciphered her thoughts but was interrupted by soft sniffling. Sakura looked up and was surprised to see Hinata sitting alone under a tree and crying.
(Oh, what happened? I have to go talk to her…but she doesn't technically know me….)
I have to try…
(Yeah, just go for it!)
"U…:ahem: Uh, excuse me….?" Sakura said trying to level her new voice.
"Huh…? Oh! I…I'm sorry, c-can I help you?" Hinata asked looking up with her tear stained face.
"Umm, no but…maybe I can help you?"
"…Excuse me?"
"Well…why don't you tell me what's wrong?"
"Oh…I-its nothing…"
"No please, tell me, I hate to…" (….don't) "…see such a pretty girl cry.." (ARG)
Hinata immediately blushed and gave a small smile, "T-thank you! But….well, it's nothing big…"
"Any problem can be a big problem if you let it go unsolved!"
"Well…it's actually…I'm kind of embarrassed….its not a BIG problem I just…oh so embarrassing…."
Sakura watched Hinata stutter for a while and found her attention span waning between her and the bark on the tree she was sitting against but finally Hinata was able to put her problem into words.
"See…there's this uh…." She looked over at Sakura curiously, she almost looked afraid to say what she was thinking, "urr…this… boy I like…..a-and well…I tried to…uh…flirt but...well, it didn't work…again…and he went off to find his teammate….a girl…who he likes a lot and…I don't know…I'm not sure what to do!" she said with a big sigh.
Sakura felt a pang of guilt, she was that 'girl' Hinata seemed to dislike so much but she knew that Hinata would never say all this to Sakura, she would be afraid of hurting her feelings and probably thought Sakura liked Naruto.
(I have to get around this somehow…..)
Tell her you don't like Naruto!
(I'm not me…)
Well you're your cousin…. took in a deep breath and smiled at Hinata who looked down shyly, "Hmm, I'm kinda new here but why don't you tell me the names of these people? The boy and the girl?"
"Oh…well…..I-I'm sorry you don't even know MY name! I'm Hyuuga Hinata." She said holding out her hand. Sakura took it and smiled gently shaking it a little too roughly at first but slowly improved.
"And…umm the boy's name is Naruto…he's a blonde and always wear orange….the girl is…Sakura, she has pink hair and wears a red dress."
"Well nice to meet you Hinata, I'm Haruno S-…Seeu, I'm Sakura's cousin!"
"Oh-OH!" Hinata seemed shocked and embarrassed to have revealed the names but Sakura only smiled, "I don't think you have to worry Hinata-chan! Sakura doesn't like Naruto as more than a friend, and I doubt he likes her as more than one either! My cousin has told me actually he might like you."
"W-what? Really? She doesn't like him? He…he likes me?"
"Yeah! He thinks you're cute when you blush!"
Hinata turned bright red and Sakura had to struggle to keep from laughing.
(Aww, she IS cute when she blushes!)
…..
(I mean….Naruto was right…er….I can say a girl is cute can't I?)
Well I guess, it's not like your hitting on her
(Right! Besides, Naruto DID once say she was cute when she blushed)
Yeah, so maybe they'll get together after all?
(Then Naruto can get off my case, arg)
"Well, here you go Hinata." Sakura grinned placing the flowers in her hands; "Have a good day ok?"
"Y-you too! Thank you!"
"No problem!" Sakura waved.
(I feel tingly inside)
Just get home already!
…
It hadn't been more than ten minutes before Sakura ran into yet another person she knew, or rather a few.
"Sakura-chan! Your hair is shorter!" she heard a familiar voice perk. She turned and saw Lee, Tenten, and Neji coming back from what looked like a rough mission.
"Oh!….I'm sorry…I thought you were someone else!" Lee said a little caught off guard by the boy who was staring back at him.
(That's right…you're man-Sakura…)
"Oh, well…you said the name Sakura? Well, I'm her cousin! I'm kinda visiting."
"Oh!" Lee's face brightened again and he held out his hand with more confidence, "Well I am a friend of hers and would like to be a friend of yours! I am Rock Lee!"
Sakura took his hand and shook it smiling; "I'm Haruno Seeu."
"It's nice to meet you!" Lee and Tenten said in unison. Lee and Sakura looked over at the brunette who stood slightly flustered that she had been caught.
"I…I'm Tenten!" she said her face still flushed as she held out her hand nervously. Sakura tried to ignore the fact that her look was VERY similar to the one Ino and Hinata had given her and took her hand with a smile.
"Nice to meet you Tenten! Sakura has told me all about her friends, and if your Tenten and your Lee, then you," she turned to the long-haired Hyuuga, "..must be Hyuuga Neji!" she said holding out her hand.
"What did she say?" he asked hesitantly taking her hand.
(Ooookaaaayyyy)
"Only good things…hehe…er…you're a very good fighter aren't you? An expert at your clan's techniques!"
"Yes, I am." He said a smirk spreading across his face as he shook her hand.
(Ok, this is good, I'm on good terms with anyone who could get suspicious of me, this is nice, a few more days wont be so bad!)
"Where are you from?" Tenten blurt suddenly, blushing again as Sakura turned to her.
"Oh…from…a rural part of the Hidden Leaf." She smiled.
"Are you a ninja?" Neji asked before Tenten could get in another word.
"Uh…yes I am!"
"Do you want to fight?"
"Er…"
"Excuse him!" Tenten said moving in front of Neji, "He's just kidding!"
"No I'm serious, how about right now? I bet I could beat you."
"Neji!" Tenten hissed.
"Oh, haha maybe some other time! I have to get going! But it was nice meeting you all!"
"Well alright, I'd very much like a friendly spar with you too when you have time!" Lee grinned, his teeth sparkling.
"Me too!" Tenten said suddenly.
Neji eyed her and she made a face saying something along the lines of 'well if you can't beat em….'.
"Er…yeah…. Sure…" Sakura said backing away slowly, "I gotta go…er…bye!" she turned and walked away quickly.
(OOOOOOOOOH my gosh……..fight all three of them? I'd never win against Neji! Let alone fight them ALL in the same day! Arg…I better turn back soon!)
Keep positive!
(Positive how?)
You can finally see what the male bathrooms look like!
(An awkward goal, but….I do need the bathroom….)
….
Sakura was disappointed with the lack of difference in the bathrooms save for the strange sinks, which she quickly learned weren't sinks, thankfully, before washing her hands.
She stepped out of the bathroom, more eager than ever to just go home and sleep, but once more she ran into the last person she wanted to face in her 'condition'.
"Hey you!"
Sakura instantly recognized the voice and at first her heart fluttered, but as soon as she turned to face Sasuke and saw the look of annoyance on his face, she remembered the earlier occurrence and wished he would just disappear.
"Sasuke-k….Sasuke…..I…uh…"
"You dropped this when you ran into me dobe, you fluttered off before I could give it back." Sasuke said tossing Sakura her headband.
(ACK! That's where it was!)
"T-thanks." Sakura mumbled turning slightly pink and looking down.
"Hnn…"
For a moment Sakura thought that Sasuke had left but when she glanced back up he was eyeing her intensely and she began feeling awkward just standing still like an idiot.
(Put your headband back on!)
It'd be too girly and obvious if I wear it like I usually do….
(Where it around your leg)
"What's your name idiot?"
"Heh!"
"You know my name its only right you tell me yours."
"Oh! U-uh….my…my name is Seeu! Haruno Seeu! Haha…eh…I-I'm Sakura's cousin!"
"Hmm…."
('Hmm'? What's that supposed to mean? I'm supposed to understand guys better this way right?….right?)
"Are you gonna put that on or not?" Sasuke asked irritably walking over to her.
(Now he's mad at me….what does he want form me?)
"Yes….I will." She bent down and looked at her legs for a few seconds, trying to decide which one to tie it on and how high or low would be the most comfortable. Suddenly a hand grabbed her headband away and she saw Sasuke kneel in front of her tying it on her right leg.
"Your almost as incompetent as Naruto….you know him too don't you? What's your cousin told you?"
Sakura nearly had a heart attack and turned bright red, "I-I-I … o-only g-good things……"
"Hnn…."
(Is this what people do when their teammate's cousin comes to visit? Question the hell outta them?)
Almost like they really care what you think about them
(Haha)
"Well, I heard she was going on a long training trip in your city, and that's why you're here."
"W-what! Who'd you hear that form?" Sakura asked still slightly flustered.
"My teacher told me, he said you ran into him earlier and explained everything to him."
"Oh…right…haha…how long is this training trip?"
"What do you mean? I don't know, you of all people should know."
"I…..just wanted to be sure of what I told him! Hahah, jetlag… eh…"
"Anyway, you're gonna train with our team now since Sakura's probably gonna train with yours…" Sasuke continued standing up and looking Sakura over, "I don't know how long this will be but Kakashi said I had to show you around and crap."
Sakura was half excited, half sick. (Does this mean I'm gonna be 'Seeu' for a long time!)
On the bright side Kakashi seems to be trying to set you and Sasuke up! This could be your chance to get closer to him!
(Well……if I don't get anything else outta this then that will be ok!)
Sakura smiled with a little more confidence; "I look forward to getting to know you."
Sasuke watched her for a moment until his expression relaxed slightly, "Er…you too."
Sakura gave him a big grin and looked down at her leg, "Thanks."
Sasuke muttered something along the lines of 'you were too slow' but nod lightly, "Do you need me to show you back to Sakura's house?"
"You know where I live? I mean…where my cousin lives?" Sakura asked in surprise. Sasuke blinked and turned to her.
"Why wouldn't I?"
(Because you've never visited or cared or….)
Well, you're not Sakura, your Seeu! You can tell him that!
(He 'doesn't' know me though!)
You could speak 'for' Sakura! If anything goes wrong, when your you again you can deny everything!
"Well Sakura just….well…never mind." she said casually walking.
"What? What did she say?" Sasuke asked walking next to her.
"It's not important."
"She is my teammate, I should probably know." Sasuke said in his nonchalant voice.
"Well, she doesn't think you notice her…or know anything about her…" (ok, stop right there! We don't need to reveal EVERYTHING just a little bit), "I didn't think you'd even know where she lived the way she described you!" She replied casually.
"Hmmpf, well I do! Here, Sakura's house." Sasuke muttered stuffing his hands in his pockets when he stopped in front of her home.
"Thank you for walking me Sasuke." She grinned.
"Whatever."
"So….is there a mission tomorrow?"
"Training…I'll come get you."
"Thanks."
"Hmpf." He mumbled walking off.
(Man he can be sour sometimes!)
Sakura shook her head with a smile telling herself not to ever say something like that again as she opened her door.
"It's about time."
"What now!" she whined.
"Sakura come in and shut the door." Kakashi said putting away his book.
"Oh…" she shut the door quickly and rushed to her teacher, "Well? What did you find out!" she asked eagerly.
"Nothing you're going to like."
…
A/N: Hohoho, I'm evil, yay! Ok, yeah, what did ya think? R & R please! Flames welcome.