Chapter Fifteen

Sasuke Returns

Canon world:

"Hokage-sama."

Honey-colored eyes looked at the ninja that had just arrived in her office without knocking.

"There's a door for a reason, Kakashi."

Kakashi looked over his shoulder at said door. "Hmm. What reason would that be?"

The Hokage's eyes narrowed at his blatant antagonism.

"Tell me why you're here and then get out."

"I have taken Saku back to her original world—and Sakura decided to stay there as well."

"Of course."

Kakashi blinked. "You knew that this was going to happen?"

"I'm the Hokage. I know everything."

Kakashi was glad he wore a mask, because his utter disbelief would have been evident on his face.

"I was aware of the minute you departed with Saku."

"How so, Hokage-sama?"

"The second you left, we began to have violent earthquakes throughout the village."

Kakashi frowned. "Do you think they're directly proportional to my departure?"

"I know they are."

And suddenly, suspicion started to grow in Kakashi's heart. The Hokage knew more about this situation that she was letting on.

"And since I've returned?"

"The earthquakes continue, but not as violently as before. I have no doubt that if a solution to our 'Sakura situation' doesn't present itself, then we're all going to die."

"You say that a little too calmly, Hokage-sama."

"That's because I have complete and utter trust in my student. Don't you?"

"I trust Sakura with my life."

"Good—because you're going to have to."

End canon world.

~~**~~

Morning came and the sun's rays poured onto Sakura's face. She found herself wrapped securely in Itachi's arms and she didn't want to move, but she had to. Sakura began scooting close to the edge of the bed, pulling herself out of his firm grip. Freedom was close to being in her grasp, but suddenly his arm tightened and pulled her back into her original position.

"Where are you going?" he asked, voice rumbling in her ear.

"Itachi, I told you last night. I'm leaving."

"No."

"You can't tell me no."

"I just did."

"Itachi, you can't control me. I am my own person. You can't control me."

"Admit that what you wish is to be where you are."

"You're a pushy bastard."

"…"

"Let me go, Itachi."

"Why?"

"Because I can't do this. I'm not her."

"I'm well aware of who you are."

"Are you? Because you could have fooled me."

"…"

"I'm not her replacement. You don't even know me."

"That can be easily rectified."

"No, it can't. You're engaged to another woman."

"A minute detail that can be rectified as well."

"Minute?! I'd hardly call that a minute detail."

"You're overreacting."

"No. In essence, what you're doing is asking me to be your mistress. I think any woman in my position would feel the same way."

"I have no intention of marrying her."

"Oh? And why should I believe that?"

"Because I said it."

"You do, of course, realize that I hardly know you?"

"You are not lacking in intelligence. You realize that I say what I mean."

"Are you even listening to me? I'm not comfortable with this, Itachi. I can't do this. You only want me because I look like her."

The arm that had been holding her in place suddenly disappeared, leaving Sakura bereft and relieved.

"You're a foolish woman, Haruno Sakura. Leave. If that is what you wish," Itachi said, standing up and leaving the room.

Sakura listened to his steps echoing in the hallway, then released a choked sob.

~~**~~

Sakura had just left Naruto's apartment after her confrontation with Saku. She was…not exactly what she had been expecting. To her eyes, the woman appeared fragile—but perhaps that's what people thought of when they saw her. A small, petite, fragile little thing.

She seemed to be lost and bewildered. But who was Sakura kidding? She was lost, too.

Frankly speaking, romance was just too much work. Was she really overreacting about the whole 'fiancé' issue? Everyone knew that Saku loved Kakashi and vice versa. It was probably only a matter of time before they got together. So maybe she should have just stayed with Itachi…

No.

She couldn't do that, because regardless, what was the basis of their relationship? There was no basis.

She was doing the right thing. Somehow, Sakura found herself outside the Hokage's office. She knocked twice on the door and went inside once she heard 'enter'.

"Sakura, how are you?"

Sakura gave her a small smile. "I've seen better days, Lady Tsunade. I've come to ask to either be put back on the roster for missions or to be allowed to work once more in the hospital."

"We always need help in the hospital, but you know that. You can start tomorrow."

"Yes, shishou. Oh, by the way. I thought I'd tell you that my counterpart has returned."

"Oh?" Tsunade said with a nonchalance that puzzled Sakura.

"Yes."

"Sakura, you do know the consequences if there is no balance in both worlds?"

"Not the exact consequences, but you shouldn't worry. I will find a solution."

"Sakura, you do realize that you're not alone in this. You have plenty of people to help you."

"Like who?"

"Your team, for instance."

"I don't have a team, technically."

"True. However, who here do you trust the most?"

"Kakashi," Sakura answered immediately. "And Naruto."

"Not Sasuke?" Tsunade asked, studying her intensely.

"Your Sasuke is certainly different, however…"

"This Sasuke can be trusted without a doubt, Sakura—I would not steer you wrong on this. He would probably be the most useful to you. I would encourage seeking him out. Actually, I'm not only encouraging you. I'm telling you. That boy has the fascinating ability to solve puzzles, and his skill would be useful to you."

"Yes, shishou."

Tsunade leaned back in her chair and studied the kunoichi closely.

"So. My apprentice is back. Has she taken up residence with her fiancé?"

"As far as I know, she's staying with Naruto."

"Really...and what of you? Where are you staying?"

"Nowhere…yet."

"Perhaps now would be a good time to seek out Sasuke. I'm sure he'd be willing to help you."

~~**~~

She found him on the trainings grounds. She had just missed Naruto, but that wasn't a bad thing, because it meant she had the opportunity to talk to Sasuke privately.

However, that opportunity didn't go exactly as she planned.

Pool of tears ran down the Uchiha's face because he was laughing so hard. Sakura stared at him irritably. How could she have thought she preferred him happy? He was an annoying bastard.

His chest heaved up and down heavily as he tried to compose himself.

"Say it again, Sakura. Say it again."

Sasuke looked at her animatedly, waiting for her to utter her absurd words again.

"I'm not joking, Sasuke."

A chuckle escaped from Sasuke once more. "You have to be joking to think that I would agree to something so stupid."

"Damn it, Sasuke. You're a grown man. You shouldn't still be living at home with your parents."

Sasuke raised his hand and began counting on his fingers the plausible reasons for him to not leave home.

"Free food. Free housing. Free clothing. And being the second son, they don't expect me to do anything. All responsibilities lie on Itachi's shoulders. Poor bastard. All I have to do is just be my normal, adorable self. Life is sweet. Why would I give all this up so that I can move in with you?"

"Sasuke, please, I don't have any money and I don't have anywhere else to go."

"You can go back to Itachi. He'll give you a room."

"Hell, no."

"You can stay with us—"

"Sasuke, I will rip your head off and serve it to the dogs."

Sasuke chuckled.

"What?" he asked innocently.

"Sasuke!"

"Sakura, you're cute and all, but I am not going to give up my sweet life for you. Why don't you do things like normal people do and ask for money?"

"I don't want your money," Sakura grumbled, prideful.

"That's the only thing you have a chance of getting, so you'd better ask for it."

Sakura crossed her arms in an indignant huff and stared at a point just over his left shoulder.

"I'm waiting," Sasuke said, amusement laced in his tone.

Sakura let out an irritated growl.

"SasukecanIborrowsomemoneysoIcanrentmeanapartment?"

"Sorry, I didn't quite catch all that," Sasuke replied, a smirk appearing on his lips.

"You are the spawn of Satan."

"And I dance gleefully in hell because I have you to torment. So, what was that you wanted to ask me?"

Sakura ground her teeth together. "Can I borrow some money so I can rent an apartment?"

"Hmm," Sasuke said, pondering the situation.

Sakura threw her hands up in exasperation. How the heck did people deal with him?

"Sure, why not?"

"Why the heck couldn't you have said that before? You knew you were going to give me the money!"

"Ah, but it wouldn't have entertained me that way."

"I could really learn to hate you."

"Stop lying."

Sakura didn't bother to reply. So Sasuke went ahead and pulled out some money and handed it to her.

Sakura's eyes grew large at the obscene amount of money.

"You carry this much money around with you?!"

"It's not like anyone would be foolish enough to steal from me."

"…"

"So are you going to tell me what's on your mind or what?" Sakura looked at Sasuke sharply. "Don't look at me like that. I know you whether you're the Sakura I grew up with or not."

"We're not the same."

"Essentially you are, but that's not the point. The point is something is on your mind. I grow weary of waiting for you to get to the point."

"The other me has returned."

"Oh?" Sasuke murmured, displaying a small amount of interest. "Where is she? I'd like to hear of her adventures in wonderland."

"I don't know," Sakura replied, rolling her eyes.

"Okay, so if she's returned why are you still here?"

"You want the edited story or the whole gory story?"

"It's not like I have anything else to do," Sasuke said with a shrug.

"The whole gory story it is."

~~**~~

They had walked around the village and oddly enough, ended up on the road that led out of the village near the bench that her Sasuke left her on that cold night many years ago.

Sasuke stared at the bench that Sakura had told her about, frowning.

"How can you even bear to be around me?"

Sakura gave Sasuke a small smile. "Because I can forgive. I forgave Sasuke a long time ago."

"Yeah, well, I sound like a bastard."

"Let me assure whether your disposition is sunny or not, you're still a bastard," she grumbled still disgruntled that he had laughed at her request.

"That was kind of harsh."

"Not really. You're just being overly sensitive." Sakura paused and sighed. "Still, despite his personality flaws, I love my Sasuke."

"Well, if you love him, which I can understand since it's me, then—"

"It's not that kind of love, you arrogant bastard."

Sasuke chuckled.

"Do you think I made the right decision?"

"Coming from one Sasuke about another? Yes."

"Why?"

"Let's just say I can be rather territorial—and your Sasuke sounds worse than I am. I'd say you lucked out. Because if I were him...we'd already be married."

Sakura quietly thought about his words. She wondered briefly if Sasuke had been planning to make a move in that direction.

"There's something you're not telling me."

Sakura looked up at Sasuke surprised. Then she quickly averted her eyes.

"You know, that's starting to become creepy."

"What?" Sasuke asked, gently probing.

"You looking in me and through me like that. I don't like it."

"Well, what's the point of having friends if they don't know you?"

"You consider yourself my friend?"

"Tch. I wouldn't have said so if I didn't."

"Why? You don't even—"

"Sakura, don't tell me you haven't met a person who you just automatically liked within moments of meeting them."

"Well, there was you...but that hardly counts."

"It does. I have a personality that most people just can't resist."

"Are you really this annoying?"

"Yep."

"Why am I talking to you again?"

"Because I'm the logical choice. Now stop trying to distract me. Just tell me the truth. What's going on between you and my brother?"

Sakura turned quickly and looked Sasuke in the eye. His gaze was knowing and certain. It was also warm and inviting. Oddly enough, Sakura felt a calm settle over her heart after looking into his eyes.

"Your brother—" Sakura sighed. "Is one hell of a man."

"Ah. I see."

"See what? I've barely said anything."

"All things don't have to be said with words, Sakura," Sasuke said, reaching over and tugging Sakura's hair slightly. She swatted at his hand.

"Then what did I say?"

"You're falling in love with him."

"…"

"And you're agonizing over it because he's engaged to another you. You know, the typical female reaction."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"That women think too much."

"Sasuke?"

"Hmm?"

"Shut up," Sakura said, effectively closing the subject. "Look, there's something else I wanted to talk to you about."

"I'm listening."

"Shishou encouraged me to talk to you about the consequences of me staying here."

Sasuke raised a brow. "What consequences?"

"Potentially, the destruction of my world—and yours."

Sasuke's brow shot up even higher. "And you need to talk to me because…?"

"She thought you could help me figure out a way to keep this from happening."

"Do we have any evidence that anything will occur?"

"Not as of yet."

"Well, there's a simple solution if push comes to shove."

"What is that?"

"You'll have to go back."

"Sasuke—"

"I know you don't want to go back—probably because of your disgusting fascination with my brother—but if we can't come up with something…well, a solution is better than no solution."

She couldn't help but inwardly agree.

~~**~~

"This has to be the best day of my life," Sasuke declared, laughing hysterically for the second time in one day. "I never thought I'd see the day."

"I have no qualms about killing you, little brother."

Sasuke paid no attention to his brother's threat. Not this time. Because Itachi needed him—which only served to make Sasuke laugh harder

That is, until Itachi pulled out a kunai and looked at Sasuke pointedly.

Sasuke sobered.

"Okay. Okay. No need to be such a jerk. Oh, wait, I forgot. That's just your regular personality." At the expression on Itachi's face, Sasuke changed his tune. "Come on, Itachi. You know I'm joking. How can I pass up such an opportunity? You don't give me many."

Itachi folded his arms across his chest and waited silently. The man had humbled himself. Humbled himself! And asked Sasuke what he was doing wrong in his pursuit of the lovely, new Haruno Sakura. How he wished that he could have recorded the moment, because it surely was a priceless one.

"Fine. You're going about things the wrong way. The two Sakuras—they're different. Take for instance, your fiancé—"

"Ex-fiancé."

"Whatever. Now Saku has always been easily distracted by pretty things."

"I am not some frivolous inanimate object."

"But that was the whole problem with your relationship. You were a frivolous object. You held no real importance to her besides the fact that you're pretty—"

Itachi threw the kunai at Sasuke, who simply caught it and twirled it around his finger.

"And you're an Uchiha, which therefore means you're a wonderful lover. The same thing does not hold true for this new Sakura. She won't be distracted by a—" Sasuke threw the kunai back at his brother in an attempt to catch him off guard, albeit unsuccessfully. "Pretty face. If my deductions lead me to believe that this new Sakura is…not quite as soft as ours. Her life has been harder. Her priorities are different."

"Explain."

"See, that's the problem, aniki. You're aware of Saku's strengths and weaknesses because you got to know her. You have to get to know this Sakura—and you can't go about approaching her like she's Saku."

"Do not lecture me, Sasuke. I am aware of all this."

"You wouldn't have come here if you didn't want my help. My reasoning abilities have helped you too many times for you not to listen to me now. Aniki, I want what's best for you and honestly, I think Sakura would make a fine matriarch. However, leave the seduction out of your pursuit."

Itachi smirked.

"I'm serious. It's going to hinder you more than it's going to help with this one. You're intrigued by her mind and heart, not her body—although it is a fine body." Itachi threw the kunai back and this time, Sasuke narrowly dodged the kunai. It landed in the wall behind him on the bed he had been reclining on with a solid thunk.

"Itachi and Sasuke, I swear if you're throwing weapons in this house, your asses are mine!"

Itachi paid no attention to his mother's enraged statement, but Sasuke's lips quirked upward as he continued speaking.

"So it only makes sense that you should pursue that."

"Hmm. I understand your logic, Sasuke." Sasuke stared at his brother because it seemed like there was something else on his mind, and he was just refusing to say it. And Sasuke knew what it was.

His brother never had problems gaining the attention of women. It was usually keeping them that created the problem. They practically threw themselves at him if he said a few honeyed words. He never had to do much else. Usually, he would grow bored with them and send them on their way. And if that didn't happen, they normally couldn't handle the pressure of just dealing with the Uchiha family on a regular basis. The Uchihas as a whole were a bit overbearing. He had actually expected one or the other to happen with Saku, but it did not.

Surprise of all surprises, his brother had actually fallen in love with her. To top it off, Saku had stuck by Itachi's side.

Their whole relationship baffled him, and that didn't happen often. However, with the recent events and the information that Sakura had supplied him with, he had begun to develop his theory about why things were turning out the way they were.

There were two dimensions. So therefore that meant—at some point—two of everyone. Now in his world, there was Saku who he knew had feelings for his brother. He knew Saku. She loved Itachi.

Now why she loved him was beyond him, but he wasn't one to judge.

But Saku cared for him more than any other woman that his brother showed any type of interest in. He may joke and say that Saku only wanted his body, but he knew it wasn't true. However, Saku's feelings for Kakashi could only be described as true love. The once in a lifetime, if-he-dies-she-dies type of love. Her feelings for Itachi paled in comparison.

Yet, despite the fact that the majority of her belonged to their former sensei, a small part of her heart would always belong to Itachi.

Why was that?

Sasuke had a feeling it had something to do with Sakura. He would never tell Sakura, but he had a feeling that Uchiha Itachi in her world was her soul mate. She just never got the opportunity to find out. Based upon the information given, had the timing been just right, Sakura probably would have defected from the village and become a missing-nin to join his brother.

She had told him of the fight Sasuke had with his brother. He knew all about that other him. Oddly enough, he understood the man. He understood his actions and could very easily see where he could be driven to take the same path. Sakura never had the opportunity to pursue anything with the deceased Uchiha.

He could also see other things. He was a good shinobi. He knew that, and most people depended on him for his ability to connect the dots—to be able to see beyond what is, and also to see what could be.

Sakura told him before that she didn't date. Sasuke suspected it was because the only person she felt any sort of pull towards was her sensei—but only to a small degree, because Kakashi wasn't her soul mate. Not in that world. So there was not enough to make a romantic relationship out of. Yet they had a bond that was probably unbreakable.

Then Sakura came here and had the chance to be face-to-face with his brother. The chemistry was instant and magnetic. It was like an explosion.

He seriously thought that the two Sakuras were born in the wrong world.

The bottom line was that the Sakuras, Kakashis and Itachi were inexplicably tied together. Their roles in each others' lives had somehow become a tangled web. There was some sort of fabric that drew them to each other. It was fate or destiny or something along those lines. Whatever it was, it had to be sorted out in order for a solution to be obtained. At least, that is how it seemed to him in that moment. He still had more thinking to do on the subject.

"Thank you, Sasuke," Itachi said, breaking Sasuke's train of thought. Sasuke's eyes widened in surprise when he realized that his brother wasn't going to question him on how to pursue Sakura.

"But—"

"The rest, I will do on my own. You have done enough. All I needed was confirmation from you."

Sasuke said nothing more. He didn't even mention his theories to his brother, because even to him, they sounded crazy.

And that was the last thing he needed to give his brother ammunition against him.

~~**~~

Kakashi looked up from his book at a pounding on his door. He frowned, because he couldn't tell who was outside the door. It was either a civilian, which was unlikely, or someone who was masking their chakra.

Kunai in hand, he opened the door slowly—only to find an unlikely visitor.

"Kakashi-sensei—"

Kakashi then proceeded to shut the door in her face. He took a step away from it, only to hear more furious pounding.

"Kaka-sensei! Open this door, or I swear I'll tear it off the hinges!" He smiled to himself at the image of surprise on her face when the door slammed suddenly. His smile faded away when he realized she intended to carry out her threat.

He quickly opened the door.

"What do you want?"

Sakura pushed her way in past Kakashi.

"I'm moving in," Sakura said, heading towards Kakashi's refrigerator.

"No."

"I'm not asking you, Kakashi."

"This is my apartment."

"Our apartment."

"Sakura—" Kakashi broke off as Sakura began pulling food out of his refrigerator and began making herself something to eat.

"You know what, Sakura? I'm sure you miss your home and all, but you can always go back."

"No can do. My place is here and I need your help so that I can stay here."

"I'm sure Itachi..." Kakashi trailed off, grasping at straws—but the sheer determination in her eyes left him a little daunted by her whirlwind presence.

"If I wanted Itachi's help, I would have asked for it. I need you."

Kakashi studied her silently. Then he said the words that needed to be said.

"I'm not your Kakashi, Sakura. You can't make me into him."

Sakura paused. "And I'm not your Sakura. So stop being an ass and accept that I'm not going anywhere."

"You—!!"

"Are wonderful? Exceptional? One of a kind?"

The tension that was radiating throughout his body left in a rush. A small chuckle escaped his lips. "Something like that," he said, studying the girl quietly.

He was so tired of being angry all the time. But he didn't want to deal with Sakura—any Sakura.

It seemed that he wasn't going to be given much of a choice, though.

Sakura's eyes lit up. "So, does that mean I can stay?"

"You ask now that you've barged your way in and made yourself at home?"

Sakura shrugged.

Kakashi sighed. "Sure. Why not?"

Sakura beamed. "Thanks, Kaka-sensei."

"And stop calling me that. I'm not your damned sensei!"

To his dismay, Sakura only beamed wider.

A/N: Much love to cutecrazyice for doing that whole beta thing for me.

How many people thought by the title of the chapter that canon Sasuke was going to show up? Show of hands please.

Okay, so I didn't mention what Sakura did with the money Sasuke gave her. No particular reason but I'll tie in an answer for that in future chapters. And Sasuke is shaping up a nice theory, isn't he? But is it accurate? I wonder....

And Sakura was by no means joking when she said she wanted a relationship with Kakashi. She just barged right on in, didn't she?

Until next chapter...