I'm back. I'm not updating Monday cuz I have orientation to go to. Thank you to my new reviewers. Man, I have a lot of reviews! Thank you for all of them!
Ch.14: Who's This Guy?
Sakura woke up to see Kakashi looking at her. "Feeling any better?"
"A lot, thanks," she smiled.
"Okay, but I want you to stay in bed. If you push yourself too hard today, you might relapse."
"But I feel fine!" Sakura whined. She hated being stuck in bed. She hated it when she was a kid and she hated it now. It was SO boring!
"I don't want to hear it. Besides, would you really be up to it today if your fans attacked you today?"
Sakura put her hands up in defeat. "Fine, but what do I do all day?"
"Well, the four of us can hang out today."
"Better than painting my nails all day."
"You were? Why? I would've been happy lending you a volume of Icha Icha." he smiled as he waved the orange paperback in his hands.
"I'm already sick enough, thank you."
"Just saying. I'll get the others." Kakashi said.
"They're awake?"
"It is 11:30 in the morning."
"I guess I really am still a little sick."
"Now be good and stay in bed or do I have to tie you down?" A perverted image popped into Kakashi's head, Sakura's voice brought him back. "I'm not like you! At least I can actually stay in a hospital for more than four hours."
"But you forget, you work there." Sakura grumbled while Kakashi went next door.
"Sakura's still a little sick, so today, we're all hanging out together," said Kakashi.
"Sakura-chan's still sick?"
Kakashi nodded.
"She'll be better by tomorrow right?" asked Sasuke, a little concern in his voice. Kakashi nodded again. "Good." Sasuke said and they all went out to visit the patient in bed.
The next day………"So who's coming to dinner with us? You guys didn't tell me much." she asked her teammates as the walked to Sapphire Sunrise.
"We invited Ayame and the pharmacist sensei went to for your cure as a thank you and a celebration to your recovery." said Naruto as he walked down the sidewalk with his arms behind his head. Kakashi grunted in agreement.
"Sasuke, what's wrong with him?" He smirked. "He's just mad because the pharmacist is a fan of his," he whispered.
"Oh." She suddenly felt sorry for him. "We're here." Kakashi stated lazily.
They entered the restaurant. Naruto had reserved a table and a waiter told them someone had already arrived. They nodded. Sakura was first, followed by Naruto. Kakashi and Sasuke were last. The waiter waved them to the table when Sakura's eyes widened. "Saita?!"
The man turned his face toward the voice. "Sakura?!" Sakura ran over to him and they hugged each other. The action caused Kakashi and Sasuke to see red.
Saita and Sakura pulled away from each other. "Man, it's been years, Sakura! How've you been?"
"I've been great. How about you, Saita?"
"It's been great. Man, you have no idea how happy I am to see you!"
"Me too!" Sasuke and Kakashi cleared their throats, causing the conversation to stop. Naruto looked curiously at the man. "Sakura-chan? Who's this?"
"Oh, my bad. Everyone, this is Takahashi Saita. We're really close. I haven't seen him in about…16 years?"
"16 ½ but who's counting?"
"Apparently you."
He chuckled. "Right."
They all pulled up a seat. On one side of the table were Kakashi, Sakura, and Sasuke. On the other side were Naruto, Saita, and an empty chair. "Hey, where is she?" asked Naruto.
Saita blinked. "Where's who?"
A voice rang out, "Here I am!"
"Ayame-chan!"
"Sorry I'm late guys. (Pant) I was ringing up a few more customers. Saita-kun?"
"Aya? What're you doing here?"
"They're my friends. They invited me to dinner, what about you?"
"They invited me here as a thank you for curing Sakura, but I didn't know it was Sakura I was curing."
Sakura was wide-eyed. "You cured me?!"
Saita chuckled. "You're surprised?" Sakura giggled and nodded. "Aya, I'm sorry. Please. Sit." Ayame went into the empty chair and grabbed a menu. They ordered their food and waited.
"So what's been up with you, Saki?"
"Well Saita, I've become a medic-nin."
"I know that much. You're famous in the medical world."
"Well, what about you? I never expected you to become a pharmacist." she exclaimed.
"Well, I said I was going to help people like you and I am. So who are these people with us and how do you know Ayame?"
"Well, the blond sitting next to you is Uzumaki Naruto. You already know Kakashi, seeing how he said you freaked out when you met him, and the guy's sitting next to me is Uchiha Sasuke. Sasuke met Ayame when he hid in her bookstore." Sakura explained.
"So you're the Sasuke who she fell in love with and broke her heart." Saita glared at him, mentally trying to kill him.
"Saita, stop."
"Fine, but why'd you hide in Aya's bookstore?"
"I got chased by fan girls."
"So you're the village idol?"
"Idols." corrected Kakashi.
"I don't understand." Saita said.
"Well Saita, apparently sensei, Sakura-chan, teme, and me are the idols in your village. We have fan clubs that attack us. We're lucky we haven't gotten raped yet!"
Saita blinked, then focused on Sakura. "You sure have changed, Saki. You've finally grown into that forehead of yours."
Sakura glared. "Watch it, Saita."
"I'm sorry, but you have. You look more beautiful than last time I saw you."
Sakura smiled and glowed. "Thanks Saita."
Kakashi and Sasuke were pissed off. 'Who is this guy and why is he so close to my Sakura?! Wait, MY Sakura?' they both thought.
Sakura realized something. "Saita? How do you know Ayame?"
"Huh?" Saita blinked. He wrapped his arm around Ayame and they both smiled. Sasuke felt a slight stab to the heart, but ignored it. "We're best friends." Saita said. "Saita-kun and I have been best friends since elementary school." Sasuke felt relief. At what, he didn't know.
A waitress walked by. She had her sandy blonde hair in a bun. Her violet eyes caught Saita's face for a minute and smiled. "Hi Saita. Hi Ayame. I didn't expect you guys here." Her eyes caught Naruto's face. "Hey I remember you! You came in Friday."
Ayame smiled. "That's Naruto. He invited Saita-kun and I to dinner with him and his friends." Saita nodded.
"Hi, I'm Uzumaki Naruto!"
"Hatake Kakashi."
"Haruno Sakura."
"Hn. Uchiha Sasuke."
The waitress smiled. "Hi, I'm Watanabe Keiko. Oh, I better get back to work. Bye Ayame. Bye Saita. Nice meeting you all." Keiko said before she dashed into the kitchen.
Keiko came back a few minutes later. She put down the food and put her head between Saita's and Ayame's. "So how are the two most important people in my life?"
The three of them all giggled when Keiko noticed something on Ayame's arm. "Ayame?"
Ayame looked back at Keiko. "Hm?"
"How'd you get this bruise?" Keiko's face became serious. "It was Yumi, wasn't it?" Everyone at the table tensed.
"Ayame, did Yumi try something?" asked Sakura.
Saita and Keiko blinked. "You know about Yumi?!"
Sasuke, Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura nodded. "She tried to hurt Sakura." said Kakashi.
Saita slammed his fist into the table. "Dammit. She's gone too far. I mean, we get this stuff a lot, but we're her best friends, we knew what would happen. But now she's taking it out on you all? Especially Sakura?! She shouldn't vent her anger at everyone. I'm going to talk to her tomorrow."
"Saita, don't. I tried and almost got hurt. You might not be as lucky. Besides, we'll watch out for Ayame. We're her friends, too. I just don't want anyone but me hurt."
Saita looked at Sakura and sighed. He grabbed her hands and forced her to look at him. "I'll listen to you this time, but I want you to promise me that you'll be careful. Yumi's off her nut and I don't want anyone close to me hurt."
Sakura smiled and nodded. "Okay."
"Thank you. Hey, can you give me your cell number?"
"Sure, why?"
"Check up on you and I want you to come and chat with me tomorrow."
"Sure." Sakura pulled out her white and pink phone and Saita pulled out his black and silver phone and exchanged numbers. "Ok."
"Sakura?"
"Yes, Sasuke?"
"Promise us. Promise me you'll be careful around Yumi. I have a bad feeling about her. Orochimaru bad."
"I will."
Sasuke grabbed her hands, gazing intently at her face. She blushed. "Promise me," he pleaded. She was shocked at his tone. 'He never begs. He really is worried.'
"Hai. I promise." Sasuke smiled, relieved. "Thank you." he whispered.
Kakashi's gaze was locked on Sakura's back. 'Why is Sasuke holding her hand like that?'
'Let me at him!'
'No. No matter what, he's my friend. I have to respect his decisions and…..hers.'
'Tell me, if you had a chance to win her heart, would you?'
'Why?''Just tell me dammit.'
'…yes.'
'That's all I need to know for now.'
Inner Kakashi disappeared leaving Kakashi to wonder, 'For now?'
They all ate and made conversation with each other. Ayame, Keiko, and Sakura in one and Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Saita in another. Before they knew it, 10:00 came and they all decided to call it a night. Keiko told them she'd be out in a few minutes. They waited outside the door. "Man, I'm stuffed." said Naruto.
"Well, dobe, you did eat two plates of food."
"Shut up, teme!"
"I'm just surprised it isn't ramen." interjected Kakashi.
"Well, their stuff is good." said Naruto. Sakura laughed and healed the bruise on Ayame's arm.
Keiko came out. Sakura ran up to Saita. He smiled and hugged her. She hugged him back. "See you tomorrow, Saki?"
"Yes."
She tiptoed on her toes to kiss him on the cheek. She smiled and said, "It really is good to see you again."
"Likewise. I have so much to tell you."
"Okay, call me when you're ready."
"Okay." They parted ways. Ayame, Keiko, and Saita went one way while Sakura, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Naruto went the opposite way. A peaceful silence filling the air as they walked home.
They got back to their rooms at around 10:30. Kakashi and Sasuke were both staring at the ceiling, wondering. 'Who is he to Sakura?' they thought, 'I need to find out. Tomorrow, I'll spy on them.' Their eyes closed and they went to dream about the one girl who managed to turn their life upside-down, Haruno Sakura.