By: Charlize Miller
Genre: Romance/Humour
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
Summary: After five years, Haruno Sakura finally returns to Kohona from two long missions. After spending some time back, she falls into dilemmas that affected her heart and her memories. What will she do? KakaSaku.
Author's Notes: SORRY for the long update. I was kinda in the zone with WINTER BREAK that there was a few more days till school. Oh well, boyfriend's gone so I guess, I'll be finishing my story in a couple of days. I can't really think when he's not around. OBVIOUSLY because this is a romantic fic. BUT anyway, on with the story. I lost track of my new reviewers, so I'll just type down all that reviewed last chapter! Thanks littlesapphiregirl, JessyBelle, Yuika, The Squabbit, ShyMoonlight, fluffysnowgirl, Hottie Eden, flame gazer, Kairi, selle18, Noyesgirl, kakashilover13, animeroxz, Faye Leingod, Shika's Soul, Epona Dragonheart and Rhonda21 for REVIEWING! I know it sucks that you have to read this before the story but I'm the author! I'm the BOSS! BWAHAHA!
Reading AID:
--- means a time shift.
italics means somebody's thinking.
bold means nothing really, emphasis? I dunno.
underline means well, I hardly use it but if you see it use your imagination.
"" means somebody's talking.
means somebody's doing an action or sound.
---
Chapter SIXTEEN - Something Wrong?
The next morning, Sakura woke in her apartment. She recalled yesterday's event and distressingly pushed it aside. She hated the way he made her feel so rejected. Thinking on the other hand, today was the day Hatsuharu arrives at the airport. She felt a little floaty about it but he would expect her to be there waiting for him, anyway.
As she walked into her bathroom, she couldn't help but look in the mirror. She leaned on the counter, taking a closer look at what appears to be Kakashi and her up in the tree. She shook her head and blinked a couple of times at her sudden hallucination. Naruto...she thought as she took another look at the mirror. She knocked on it believing that Sasuke or more likely, Naruto must have tampered with it just to piss her off. Much to her surprise, nothing happened. She looked again at the mirror. Nothing was there except her reflection. She saw a streak of tears fell from her eyes.
Ughhh! Why am I crying? She thought, quickly wiping her tears with the bottom of her shirt. Hmph...IT'S NOT LIKE I CARE! Hatsuharu's waiting for me.
She took a quick shower. The warm water numbed her thoughts for a few minutes, almost forgetting about the time.
RINGGGGG!
What the hell? Sakura thought as she clumsily slipped on the bar of soap. "DAMN IT!" Ouch... She held onto the bar in the shower and pulled herself up. "FUCK! STUPID PHONE! STUPID LIFE! DAMN IT, DAMN IT, DAMN IT! KILL ME!" She ran out the shower trying to get to the phone before it stopped ringing. Towel, almost falling off her body she picked up the receiver, "GOD DAMN IT, YOU BETTER HAVE A GOOD EXCUSE WHY I SHOULDN'T BE ANGRY RIGHT NOW!" She heard a click, "HELLO!" Annoyed, she slammed the receiver back on the phone. Taking a deep sigh, she leaned against the doorway. Stupid phone, no caller ID! She took a look at her bruise on her shoulder faintly forming.
Serveral minutes after she showered she dressed up in a ruffled skirt with a pull over sweater. She slipped on her flats since the season allowed it. The leaves' colours were changing but it wasn't cold yet. She leaned against the main door and put on a smile. You should be happy! Hatsuharu's back! You're going to have a wonderful time once he's back. You wouldn't have to worry about Kakashi any longer.
But I...I don't worry about him. He's fine by himself. YEAH, BY HIMSELF. She frowned a little bit but dismissed it and opened the door.
"Sakura..."
Sakura crossed her arms at the raven-haired shinobi, "Yeah? What? Did you come here to apologize about my mirror?"
"Huh? Your mirror? No, why? What's wrong with it?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
She shook her head at her stupid assumption, "oh nothing, nothing...nothing's wrong with it, really. I didn't see anything," she said then looking at him with a funny expression on his face, "GAHHH...NEVERMIND. So why are you here? Make it quick, I have to meet up with Hatsu..."
"Sakura, please. You know, Kakashi's going off to a mission today and..." He said as he cut her off but she interrupted before he could finish.
"YEAH? So what?" She said as she thought, GOD, I didn't think he was actually...I...I thought he said that to...
Sasuke didn't like her cold attitude. Now, he was sure something came up between them. It wasn't like her to act this way. However, he continued on, "...he might die. The odds of surviving this is REALLY, REALLY LOW." He emphasized with crazy hand gestures around the place.
Despite Sasuke's explanation, she felt like a samurai sword pierced her heart. She curled her fingers to a fist. "Good for him. Finally, he's good for something out of all the years he..." she said with her gritted teeth.
"WHY are you acting like this!" he exploded.
She released her fist, and took a step before Sasuke as he took a step back. "BECAUSE, Sasuke!" She started and decided to discontinue, "ARGH! Nevermind. It's difficult to even say. Especially, you! YOU!" Sakura turned her head away, "Please stand aside. I have to go!"
"No, Sakura. During the past few days, I was happy that you were happy. You smiled everyday, you enjoyed his company. Now that he's leaving soon, I can't relax until I fix this. I don't know how this is any of my business but Sakura...I know you're not happy..."
"STOP IT, SASUKE!" She yelled as she clutched her ears.
Sasuke started to smirk, "I guess I was right after all. You do have feelings for him, heh?"
"Hmph, don't act all smug. Like you said," she removed her hands from her ears as she mocked his words, "I don't know how this is my business." She shot a glance at him.
Sasuke looked away. Argh...how bitter.
"I thought so...if you could excuse me," she said as she walked past him.
"Wait Sakura!" He yelled a few metres away now. She looked back feeling discontented with the conversation already. "I'm probably the wrong person to say this but...you've made mistakes before but this could be the biggest mistake you're ever going to make in your life. You're right, that it's none of my business but don't come to me telling me I was right."
Sakura turned away and smirked, "you expect me to listen to that? I bet Ino sent you here."
She knew about Ino's plan? Sasuke thought wide-eyed.
She started walking away, "I kinda had a feeling she was part of this thing..."
"But, I came here under my own will. Ino had nothing to do with my coming here," he interrupted.
Sakura stopped in the middle of the hallway. "Well...it's too late. You can't change my mind anymore," she said as her hair shaded her face to hide her eyes.
Sasuke looked at the pink-haired kunoichi with pity as she continued down the hallway. I never knew love until she showed me. Now, her heart is as cold as ice.
---
When Sakura arrived at the airport, she, once again, was bombarded with single men. They asked for her number, either whistled or hooted and performed geeky pick-up lines. Sakura had about a million sweatdrops all over her face. She tried to reject them but male egos...they can't accept no's.
"Hello, I heard the guys so I knew where to find you," Hatsuharu said as he cut in, taking her hand, "I believe she's with me." He said to the other men but looked at her to make sure he was correct. Sakura blushed and with a smile she nodded.
"Aww...I shoulda known she was captain's girlfriend," one said.
The men disappointedly walked away. "Are you alright? You're not hurt are you?" He asked putting a hand on her shoulder.
She cringed feeling pain as he pressed on her bruise. "It hurts there," she said quietly.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did any of them do it?" He asked quickly realising he was hurting her.
"No, don't be ridiculous! It wouldn't have formed that quick," she said taking his hand off her shoulder while nervously laughing.
"Will that be a problem if I asked you to dinner tonight?" he flashed a charming grin, leaning to give her a kiss.
Quickly, she realised what was about to happen. She turned so that he planted a kiss on her cheek.
"No, this thing here..." she eyed her injury, "it's nothing. I'd be glad to go to dinner with you."
---
Hatsuharu had a feeling something was going on with her. She hadn't been listening to a thing he said. Explanations of his experiences, views, thoughts and questions went in one ear and out the other.
"So...anything interesting you did while I was gone?" He asked with one arm around her neck and kissing her hair.
She snapped back into reality as soon as she felt his kiss, "huh?"
"Are you okay. You seem to be drifting off," he asked concerningly.
"No, I'm okay...I uh...What did I do while you were gone? Well, nothing special. I was just bored without you. I hung out with my friend, Ino...that's all," she lied.
He removed his arm around her and reached for her hand. She realized that when he held her hand, it didn't feel as comforting or securing than Kakashi's or whenever he talked, it didn't seem to catch much of her interest. His voice wasn't as hypnotizing than Kakashi's. She sighed.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"N-nnothing...there's nothing wrong," she stammered, "I-iis there s-ssomething wrong?"
"Uhh, actually...I had a feeling...but you can't really say anything for sure from just a feeling...and maybe this feeling doesn't make sense. Uhh..." he shook his head, "no, you're here right now. It must be a crazy idea, I must have been delirious. So guess, I'll just have to forget it."
"No, no tell me."
"Well, I just thought you might have found somebody else while I was gone. I feel so selfish saying this. BUT, I saw all those men and I couldn't help myself. I guess it's just jealousy. Well, don't worry about it," he confessed taking both her hands and smiled at her.
Sakura smiled back, unable to speak a word. It was sort of true. Guilt paralyzed her all over like she killed an innocent being.
---
Author's Notes: Actually, this chapter should be longer but I hate to spoil all the goods in one chapter. HAHA, okay well review. I know it kinda sucked but just to remind you I pretty much make this up as I go. My rough drafts on paper are like in point form so they don't count. LOL. Oh yeah, I know there might be a little understanding at Sasuke's last thought. BUT too late to fix it, I'm lazy. Spelling mistakes? If you know how to spell it, you can fix it. You're all smart people. Anyway, stop by my forum. It's called KakaSaku and ANBU or something or other. I posted two new topics.