A/n: maybe it's just me but the font seems a lot bigger...oh well. okay the next chapter is the last one. After that I will upload oneshot sequels to my account. Thank you to everyone who reviewed or who added my story. It was fun, I'm not quite satisfied with my writing but oh well I am trying to get better. -shrug-Hey! Send in questions and stuff for me to use in the funny story! Please! ...On to the story. -shyshi
"Wishing, of all employments, is the worst."-Edward Young
Wind rustled through the trees as Sakura paced by the street, her shortened hair whipping across her face as she stared down the street.
"Sakura!" She gasped and turned to see Naruto running towards her, waving frantically for her attention. Her eyes dropped to the ground before she heard a car rev past her. Something clicked in her mind and she turned, waving and shouting for the driver's attention. Hesitantly the car slowed and she ran to it's side, staring at her reflection in the window before it glided down. The driver didn't look too much older than herself with grey hair and dark eyes shielded by round glasses.
"I'm sorry but can I have a ride?" Sakura stammered, noting the way his eyes traveled over her, making her skin crawl as she stood waiting for his response.
"To where?" He replied, his eyes blank as he regarded her. Feeling hopeful she recited Sasuke's address to him, remembering how she'd memorized it the first time she'd heard it.
"I'm going in that direction, so sure." Her mind's best efforts to force reason were blocked as she hurried around the car.
"Sakura! What are you doing!" Naruto appeared beside her looking horrified at the idea of her taking a ride with a rather creepy stranger.
"He's giving me a ride to Sasuke-kun's house." Sakura opened the door, eager to get the ride over with. Naruto's hand shot out, holding the door in place as he began to shout about the danger of the situation. She closed her eyes, frowning as tears welled.
"Naruto! Shut up!" She yelled angrily, her eyes snapping open to stare at the blonde wavering in shock. "I'm going to go to Sasuke-kun because I love him!" Without a word she stepped in, ignoring the pang of guilt shifting in her stomach as she fastened in. The man nudged the car to life, smirking. Another door snapped and Sakura's eyes widened as she looked into the back seat to see Naruto sitting somberly, arms folded as he looked at them.
"I'm coming too then." Sakura managed a nod, silently comforted by his presence as she turned back to stare out the window.
They drove, watching the scenery fly past them as Sakura stayed silent, listening to the radio as the driver fiddled with the volume. He seemed nice enough, quiet and calm although something continued to fester in her thoughts. Sakura convinced herself it was just nerves, they were after all taking a ride from a stranger.
Relief swept through the pair as Sasuke's house pulled into view, steadily creeping closer like a welcoming beacon of familiarity.
The car slowed, pulling to the side of the road before the engine died and silence ushered in. Sakura's hand had been clutching the door handle throughout the ride and she pulled, her heart beating fervently as she felt the door snap open, fresh air bursting through the crack to welcome them.
"My...friend is nearby so I'll be here if you need a ride anywhere else." Sakura shuddered, ignoring the intuition still plaguing her as she jumped fomr the car, followed by an eager and unsettled Naruto.
"Thank you." Sakura said politely before she shut the door and raced to Sasuke's house, the wind brushing away the unnerved feeling creeping over her skin as she ran. Naruto trailed loyally behind wondering what would happen. It hadn't been until half way through the ride that he'd realized they were missing someone. Emiko. Guilt still riddled his thoughts as he wondered how he could forget her, Sakura seemed focused on only one thing but Naruto. He should've remembered.
Sakura pounded on the door, her eyes shut as she hoped he would respond. Yell for her to shut up, open the door and tell her to go away, maybe invite her in. Anything, any response to show he was somewhere at least. Naruto stepped forward, watching her painfully as her knees weakened and her poundings became more desperate.
"Sasuke-kun! Open up! Where are you!" She yelled as though the door had the answers. Naruto stepped forward, grabbing her wrist and halting her motions as she turned her head, her eyes searching wildly over his face. "Where is he?" Her voice shook, begging like a broken puppy to be rescued To be answered.
"Sakura I'll call your mom and she can come pick you up." Naruto's lips twitched before he grinned widely. "Don't worry I'll find Sasu-jerk." He promised energetically and Sakura nodded quietly, smiling faintly.
Sasuke's house had been unlocked. They'd used his phone to call for a ride. It was now night and Naruto had been forced to retreat to his apartment for the night, another day of searching ahead of him when he woke.
Light flickered throughout the streets, the stars barely visible through the clouds both natural and not. Wind whistled thrugh the unnaturally silent streets but she paid no attention to it, her eyes focused on her hands as she waited. This road, it lead to a bus stop that traveled miles and miles away towards an airport. High creaks cut through the air as she listened to the sounds of the playground not to far away, shrouded in shadows.
Sakura wasn't sure why she was even there, the boy she was waiting for could be back at his house, safe and unbothered as she weathered the night for him. But there was something, pulling her, jerking her towards that road. If he was going to join that man…she prayed she wouldn't wait in vain. She based everything on the gut feeling, her intuition that he would be traveling that road.
A car engine sputtered in the darkness before it died, leaving silence in it's wake as the neighborhood seemed to quell to the atmosphere. Normally it would be roudy, people yelling and driving by screaming. Maybe a group of snobs driving by to point and jeer. But never so silent, Sakura cherished the moment, locking it away in the heart still pulsing with hope in her body.
Her hair broke her view, scattering over her face with the wind before she pushed the strands behind her ear. Her fingers lingered, running the short length of rose colored hair before she sighed. Never regret, she hoped, wondering what her friends would think. Naruto seemed shocked but complimented her as she knew he would. Emiko, she didn't seem to notice although Sakura didn't blame the girl. She had been wounded, unconcious then busy with no time to really notice the dramatic difference.
'I wonder what Sasuke-kun will think,' she mused, a sad smile coming to her face as she thought of the boy. Her chest swelled with a contortion of hope before she sighed, letting out a shuddering breath as she surveyed the streets.
She'd liked boys before but Sasuke…Thinking about him she wondered if what she felt was love. Of course she'd claimed him against Ino and gushed over his existence but she still wondered. Just a simple glance from him brightened her day, a simple acknowledgement spawned the hopes that there could be something in the future. Maybe he felt something for her.
Knowing now about his past, stealing what information she could from conversations she felt the need to be there for him, to help him along and show him happiness. She wanted him. She wanted him to be happy, to see life as a blessing and to look for something new besides revenge. She wanted to be that person that changed him.
"What are you doing here?" Sakura gasped, her attention spinning as she stood instantly, her hand clutching the fabric above her heart as she stared at the boy.
"I was waiting for you." She admitted quietly. Black eyes stared into her stonily, his features perfectly blank in the weak lamp light. "We were all worried about you." The sentiments were lost in a sudden gust of wind as Sasuke's eyes flashed with a sense of scorn.
"Go home." Sasuke ordered, his eyes closing as he coolly strode past her, his hands in his pockets as he brushed her aside. Sakura blinked, fingers curled before her mouth as her lip quivered.
"Are you going to meet that man?" Sakura gasped, turning to face his back. He paused, never faltering as he remained the perfection of statue.
"What man?" Sakura closed her eyes, a crystal tear leaking from her eye to glide down her face.
"I heard him talk to you! He offered to help you kill your brother!" Sakura replied, fellow drops of pain flowing from her eyes as she listened to the silent lullaby of the cold night air. "Sasuke-kun, please don't go to him! You can stay here! I can make you happy! Please! He's dangerous!"
Hush transcended as they stood, the few steps separating them distorting to miles of unfathomable distance as she wept quietly behind him praying for the happy ending she'd seen so many time in stories. She hiccupped, tears freely rushing her cheeks as her thoughts warped. In her mind Sasuke appeared, evil and unhappy. Crimson rivulets glided down his face, his eyes burning a lush red as he became distorted, pulled from his soul as he sold it for his revenge.
"If you leave! Who knows what that man could do! Please Sasuke-kun! Please don't leave me!" She stumbled the few steps and wrapped her arms around him, ignoring his backpack as her fingers curled into his shirt, holding him to her. He stiffened but whether from shock or dislike she didn't know or care. Instead she held on, crying rivers to dampen his backpack.
"Go home and sleep." Sasuke finally spoke, easily prying her fingers from his shirt as though their were thorns to him. Sakura sniffled, rubbing her nose as a harsh gust of wind broke through. Ahead the playground swings creaked eerily through the moment, almost as though screaming in agony.
"Please! I love you!" Sakura begged grasping to his arm for a second before he jerked coldly from her grasp. 'I have to make him…' Sakura thought as he took another step away, another step down the path she feared for him.
"He's a criminal! If you go I'll scream! I'll make Kakashi-san bring you back! I'll scream!" choked Sakura, her green eyes resting on his dark locks of hair. Before her eyes he turned and she felt a small woosh of air before his voice sounded behind her.
"Sakura…" Even with the emotion still devoid in his voice Sakura's eyes widened, partially from surprise as she felt his voice playing so melodically to her ear. Another tear fell, the simple water drop holding her anguish as though a memorable keepsake it alone was allowed to embrace. "Thanks." Sudden pain tingled through her body as she felt her knees weaken, her vision blurring into darkness as she listened to his voice in the deep caverns of her mind.
It all went dark.
Sasuke picked her up, laying her gently on the bench before he shuffled his backpack on his shoulders and turned to continue on. A silhouette broke from the shadows by the playground, prying its form into the street light almost as though against its will.
Sasuke waited silently, his gaze continuing the barrier he'd perfected so long ago as he watched the being raise its head. Rays of artificial light played across the features before the person raised their head fully. Glaze flashed over their eyes, one brown and one blue, both calm and collected as Emiko stood silently in front of him.
