I'm back from orientation! It was so boring and lame! So many cheerleaders. It's not that I hate them, they just creep me out. How can they be so damn peppy?! I saw a lot of my friends and I saw the guy I missed most over the summer. He got a haircut like most of my other friends. I'm going to make a fanfic devoted to my sidestory, I'll do it later though. Thank you reviewers!
Neji: Disclaimer: It's not her fate, so she doesn't own Naruto or Kakashi.
Ch.17: A Day with Friends
Three days have passed since the picnic. Sasuke and Naruto were spending the morning in Sakura's room again. "See you later guys!"
Sakura was walking out the door, wearing a black baby-tee and denim capris. "Where are you going, Sakura-chan?"
"Dobe. Don't you remember what she told us yesterday?"
FlashbackThe four of them were sitting in their new place to eat, the Sapphire Sunrise, when Ayame came in. "Hi Keiko. Hi guys."
"Hi Ayame." or "Aa." was the reply. Ayame pulled up a chair next to Sakura. "So Saita tells me something funny happened with Kakashi and Sasuke."
The two guys choked on their drinks. Naruto and Sakura snickered. "Do you really want to know Aya?"
"Please tell me." Kakashi and Sasuke were wishing to die, eyes closed and head thrown back as if praying for deliverance. Sakura smirked at them. "If you really want to know…..come over here."
Sakura and Ayame moved over to a table on the other side of the restaurant. Sakura pulled Ayame's ear close and whispered, "Sasuke and Kakashi were spying on me and Saita. They thought he was my boyfriend."
Ayame looked at her in disbelief. "But he's your cousin."
"I know." They looked at Sasuke and Kakashi, then at each other, then at them again and laughed. "I…can't..believe…they actually…thought that." laughed Ayame.
"I know!" They laughed again until tears came to their eyes.
Keiko walked over to her laughing friends. "What's the matter with you two?"
"Sakura told me what happened with Saita."
"Oh yeah, he told me about that too." Keiko giggled. "That thing never gets old."
"You know what?" asked Sakura. They both looked at her and said "What?"
"I think we should have a girl's day out. I mean, I don't really know much about you two and Keiko, you need to tell me how Saita met you." Keiko blushed.
"How about tomorrow? It's my day off and Ayame, you can close the store that day."
"Sure." agreed Ayame.
"Then it's settled. Tomorrow, we meet in front of Ayame's shop and we start our day!"
"Yeah!" The three of them started to cheer. Ayame and Sakura went back to the table while Keiko went back to work.
Naruto blinked. "What was that all about?" he asked.
"We're going to have a girl's day out tomorrow!" exclaimed Sakura.
"I hope you don't mind." said Ayame.
"We don't." said Sasuke.
"Have a good time tomorrow and don't worry Sakura, I'll make sure Naruto and Sasuke don't burn down the inn."
"Or anything of value." retorted Sakura.
"You mean they can actually do that?!" said Ayame in awe.
"Yeah, we can use a jutsu outside of battle. Sasuke will do it for survival, like a fire or something, or if he doesn't like you. He uses it mainly on Naruto though." said Sakura.
"Hey, I have a great idea!"
"What is it, Sakura-chan?"
"You guys can hang out with Saita while we hang out with each other."
Sasuke and Kakashi shook their heads. "No thanks." they said.
"Awww…come on. please." Sakura begged. Sasuke turned away. Kakashi pulled out his Icha Icha. Naruto nodded. "I'll do it Sakura."
"Yay! Please guys?"
"Hn." they grunted.
"Fine."
They looked towards her and fell for the trap. They were now faced with a lip-quivering, teary-eyed Haruno Sakura and Kami knows you'd never want to be on the receiving end of that. 'She's good.' they thought. The two men put their hands up. "Fine, you win."
Sakura immediately stopped and smiled. "Thank you!" she said as she rushed to hug them both. They both blushed, side effects from the face and the actual hug. Naruto smirked. "Sakura-chan always gets her way. There isn't a man alive who could resist that face. Well, except for me."
"Why is that, Naruto?" Ayame asked.
"Because all Sakura has to do is ask me and I'll probably do it."
"Probably?"
"I'll do anything she asks, especially if it's too dangerous for her. I don't want to see her get hurt, none of us do."
"Oh."
After breakfast was over, Sakura ran off to tell Saita about their plans. Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke were heading towards the inn. Ayame stood there watching them leave. She watched Sasuke leave and sighed. She turned around and began walking to the shop.
End Flashback"Oh yeah…Saita's coming around noon right?" said Naruto.
"Right. Well, see you later guys. Call me if there's any trouble." With that, Sakura left. Sasuke just plopped on the bed, staring at the ceiling. "What now? We have about four hours until Saita comes." stated Sasuke, never taking his eyes off the ceiling.
Kakashi looked at him from the comfort of the chair. "Well, I have some Icha Icha you can borrow."
"NO!" screamed Naruto and Sasuke.
"It was just a suggestion. Why don't you go to the pool or something?"
"Hn."
"Okay, teme, we'll go to the pool!"
"Aa."
"Bye Kakashi-sensei!"
Sasuke and Naruto left the room, leaving Kakashi alone. 'Maybe I'll watch some t.v…'
With the girls……"Hi Sakura!" Ayame and Keiko ran up to meet up with Sakura. They exchanged hugs. "So what do you want to do today guys?" asked Sakura.
"I don't know. Wait! There's a sale at the mall today, wanna go?" asked Keiko.
"Ok!" answered Ayame. Sakura walked between Keiko and Ayame, all smiling while heading towards the mall.
A half-hour later, they were at the mall entrance. 'Sweet Pea Mall. They really are obsessed with nature.' Sakura thought.
"Come on, Sakura!" She nodded to Ayame. 'It's nice to see her care-free and happy.'
"So where are we going?"
"There's a clothes shop that's having a half-off sale. Luckily, almost no one is there." said Keiko.
Sakura blinked. "Why not?"
Ayame smiled. "Because they're out looking for you, Kakashi, and them to take to the festival."
Sakura sweatdropped. "Oh. Great."
"That reminds me. Sakura?"
"Yes Ayame?"
"Did someone ask you yet?"
"No, besides, I don't have anything to wear." Keiko and Ayame gasped. "We have to get you one!"
"No. Kisa-san said she'd take care of it. Come on, let's go shopping!" They all smiled and ran towards the store.
They ran in. "Hi Mayu!"
"Oh, Hi Keiko! Hi Ayame! Who's your new friend?"
"This is Haruno Sakura." explained Keiko.
"Well Hi! I'm Fujioka Mayu. I run this place."
"Hi. Keiko, why does she know you so well?"
"We're her best customers!"
"Also because her mom is friends with her." Ayame whispered.
"So are you going to stand there or what? Go pick up some clothes." Mayu laughed.
"Hai." they chorused.
They ran to all corners of the store picking out clothes and ran into the changing room. They decided to dress up in turns so they had a panel to see what they should buy. First Sakura went in. She came out wearing a white tunic with a pair of jeans. Keiko and Ayame said it was okay. Sakura went back in and came out wearing a black, mid-thigh length halter dress. They said she should buy it. And lastly, she came out in a blood-red flowing halter-top dress. Keiko and Ayame nodded feverishly. "Ok, ok! I get it. I'll get the dress! Just stop shaking your heads, you might pull something." They all laughed and Sakura changed back.
Keiko was next. First was a black T-shirt. Ayame and Sakura laughed because under it said "We know life's unfair, so will you stop bitching already?!" They all agreed she should get it. Second was a small halter dress that reached mid thigh and the last one was a white dress with a black sash at the mid-section.
Ayame was last. She shyly came out of the dressing stall in a orange tank top and white capris. Her friends nodded in approval. Next was a black silk dress. They nodded in approval. Lastly was a red cocktail dress. Sakura and Keiko gasped. "You look beautiful Ayame!" exclaimed Sakura.
"People are gonna drop-dead at seeing you." smirked Keiko.
"I like it too. It looks nice."
"Then let's go pay!" said Sakura. Sakura, Keiko, and Ayame went and paid. They came out the store, each holding two bags full of clothes.
With the guys…….
The door of Kakashi's room opened revealing a wet Naruto, Sasuke, and Saita. Kakashi sweatdropped. "Naruto. You didn't cannonball again, did you?"
"No. He just hugged me." said Saita.
"Then how'd you-"
"The dobe fell backwards dragging them both into the pool."
"Oh. Well Saita, you can shower in his room and I'll get you some clothes. Sasuke and Naruto, you go next door."
"Arigatou." said Saita.
"No problem."
Saita stepped into the bathroom after Kakashi handed him some clothes.
Naruto and Sasuke stepped into the room. Pretty soon afterwards, Saita came out. "Thanks Kakashi."
"No problem. Keep the clothes, I don't need them back."
"If you're sure."
Kakashi nodded.
"Sooooo…. what should we do?" asked Naruto.
"Hn."
"Dunno."
Kakashi just shrugged.
"Hey, tell me about yourselves. Sakura didn't mention much about you guys when we talked."
"Hn. Fine."
"I'll start! My name is Uzumaki Naruto. I'm married to Hyuuga Hinata and I plan on becoming Hokage. I like eating ramen and I'm the Kyuubi container."
"Sakura mention the Kyuubi container part, but why Hokage?"
"It's been his dream since he was a little kid." said Kakashi.
"Yeah! Before it was because everyone respected the Hokage and they'd have to do the same to me, but now….Even if some people still hate me, I want to help them prosper and protect my village."
"Wow Naruto, so how's it coming?"
"He's next in line for the position. We're proud of the dobe."
"Aw, thanks teme."
"Hn."
"So, what about you Kakashi?"
"I better do it, sensei doesn't really talk about himself." explained Naruto.
"He's right." agreed Kakashi, smiling.
"Well, he's a perv, no doubt about that. He was Anbu at 13, right? Anyway, he's a frickin' prodigy like teme or Neji. He was our teacher and now, one of our best friends. That's about it." said Naruto.
Saita smiled. 'He left out some things, but I guess they're painful to bring up, so I won't ask.'
Saita turned to face Sasuke. "What about you?"
"You really wanna know?"
"Would I be asking if I didn't?"
Sasuke sat up on the bed and started. "My name is Uchiha Sasuke. I'm 23 and I like tomatoes. Want me to continue?" Saita nodded. Sasuke sighed and his face became serious. His hands under his chin in that trademark pose.
"My brother killed my clan when I was about eight years old. I made it my goal to kill Itachi and restore my clan. I left with the snake-sannin, Orochimaru, and trained with him. I eventually killed him and went to find Itachi. I killed him and returned to my village a few years ago."
Saita nodded. "I'm sorry."
Sasuke's gaze narrowed. "It's not like you could've done anything to prevent it. No one could've. It's the way my life turned out. Nothing more." The room remained silent. A bird chirped in the distance.
A few seconds later, Naruto's stomach growled. "Sorry guys."
"We've known you long enough to not care enough. Let's order lunch and you can tell us about yourself, Saita."
"Okay," said Saita, "I know a great Thai place, how about there?"
"Aa."
"Teme says okay."
"Sounds like a good idea."
"Okay. Anyone coming with me?"
"I'll go, Saita!" exclaimed Naruto. The door clicked behind them leaving Sasuke and Kakashi in a silent room.
With the girls……..
Sakura, Keiko, and Ayame were sitting at a table in the food court. "So Keiko." started Sakura, " How'd you and Saita meet?"
Keiko blushed slightly. "Well, Ayame had just become friends and we started talking. Then she mentioned Saita and she suggested I meet him. We met the next week and I thought he was the hottest man alive."
Sakura chuckled. "I have to admit, he is handsome. He's so different from the baby face I knew growing up."
"I guess looks run in the family." joked Ayame.
"That and weird hair color. I need to show you our family pictures. You'll see what I mean. Oh! Sorry Keiko, please continue."
"Well, anyway, I found out we had common interests and we became fast friends. After a few weeks, I fell in love with him. Apparently, he thought the same, but it took him months to ask me out."
"I had to help." laughed Ayame. The girls all laughed until tears came.
After calming down, Sakura asked. "So how'd he propose?"
Keiko blushed again, redder now. "Well, he invited me to dinner one night at his place and I went. He sets up the table with candlelight and after dinner, he took me to the larger lake in the village. We watch the stars for a while, then he starts telling me how much he loves me and wouldn't be able to live his life without me and pops the question. It was really romantic."
"She came over the next day screaming that Saita proposed. The neighbors got really annoyed with me that day." stated Ayame, popping a piece of broccoli in her mouth. Keiko sipped her soda. "Hey, they got over it."
Sakura laughed. 'I wonder how the guys are doing?' she thought.
with the guys……
They were all sitting in a circle on the floor eating their food. "So, how is it?" Saita asked.
"This stuff is pretty good!" said Naruto, happily eating a piece of chicken.
Saita chuckled. "I'm glad. Keiko and I go there a lot."
"So Saita, what can you tell us about yourself."
"Well, um. I'm Sakura's cousin as you all know, but I was also sort of her protector when we were younger. Before Ino, it was up to me to protect her. We became close like brother and sister and when we found out I had to move, we cried."
Saita's eyes darkened. "When I moved away, I felt guilty that I had deserted her. It was rough on the both of us. I tried to visit her, but never really could. Then I started to hate myself more. It got so bad, I wouldn't look myself in the eye in the mirror, so my mother arranged a visit for her and me. I left for Konoha a little while after. When I saw how much she had changed, I felt a little disappointed. It made me feel inadequate, but seeing her smile like that and have friends that cared for her made up for that. She smiled at me and she said that she wished that I would find a happiness of my own. She said it was the least she could do in return for how I protected her and gave her a shoulder to cry on. It's the power she has. She can make a person fall in love with her and make them happy in a way that they'll do anything to protect her. I just hope someone will be able to love her in a way more than that."
Naruto smiled. "That's how we feel too. She saved us from sinking into ourselves. When Sasuke left us, Sakura and I helped each other. If she wasn't there, I think I might have become a shell. She accepted Sasuke back with open arms and she even got sensei to brighten up a little and more. I guess, in short, we owe her our lives."
Saita smiled softly. "It's nice to know she's in good hands." Everyone in the room thought of Sakura and smiled to themselves.
with the girls….
It was about 3:30. They were walking back from the mall, bags in tow. "That was fun!" Ayame exclaimed.
"Yeah, we have to do that again sometime!" said Sakura.
"Sure, but maybe we should put these away first?" chuckled Keiko. They all agreed and laughed. They continued walking when Ayame ran into someone. "Oww…..Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going." apologized Ayame.
"You better be."
Ayame looked up. "Oh, Yumi. Oh! I ran into you? I'm so sorry!"
Yumi sneered. Keiko rushed over to Ayame and helped her up. "Are you alright, Ayame? Are you okay mi-Yumi." said Keiko.
"Look, it's Ayame and her slut friend."
Sakura ran over to Keiko and Ayame. "Oh, my bad. Slut friends."
"Hello Yumi." Sakura ground out.
"I still don't know what Kakashi sees in you people. You're ugly and don't have any sense of taste."
'You mean like you?' Sakura thought.
"I wonder why Kakashi-kun even puts up with you."
'I'm just wondering how he puts up with you. He must have the patience of a saint! Of course, he did put up with Naruto and me for 11 years.'
Ayame and Keiko were now standing behind Sakura. "Come on, Ayame, Keiko. Let's leave. It's not our job to entertain her. I think we should get back to the guys. They must be wondering where we are by now."
Ayame and Keiko nodded and turned to leave when Yumi grabbed Ayame. "You need to pay for running into me."
"Leave her alone, Yumi, she already apologized!" exclaimed Keiko.
"So? She still needs to pay."
"Yumi, you're hurting my wrist."
Yumi just smiled and gripped her wrist tighter. "Yumi-chan, please let go." Ayame looked up at her sister. Yumi just gripped tighter "Hmph. Serves you right, little sister." Yumi smiled.
Sakura was pissed. "Hey! Apologize to her!"
"I don't believe I have to, tramp."
"Apologize Yumi! She's your sister for chrissakes!" shouted Keiko. She grabbed Yumi's wrist only to be thrown against a wall. Sakura slapped her.
Yumi was shocked and stared in disbelief at Sakura. Sakura bent down to help Ayame with Keiko. "It looks bad. I need to get her back to the inn. I'll carry her. You get the bags, Ayame."
Ayame nodded at Sakura. Sakura turned to Yumi and nodded farewell. Ayame grabbed the bags and turned to leave. Yumi was mad. 'I will get you for sure now. You won't know what hit you, Haruno Sakura.'
Sakura and Ayame ran all the way to the inn, not knowing someone was tailing them. They rushed through the door into the lobby. "Sakura-san! Hello! What brings you- Oh my! What happened to her?!"
"We had a little run-in with a fan girl. She should be fine after I get her to my room."
"Okay, go right ahead. Call me if you need anything."
"Arigatou!" Ayame and Sakura said as they ran up the stairs. Kisa looked on. "Poor girl, hope she's alright."
Sakura and Ayame burst into the room. Naruto greeted them. "Sakura-chan! Aya! What hap-Keiko!"
"Move Naruto! I need to get her to the bed!"
Naruto moved away and Sakura set her on the bed. Saita paled. "What happened?!"
Sakura glanced at him before kneeling by the bed. "Ayame accidentally ran into Yumi. She grabbed Ayame and Keiko tried to calm Yumi down and make her apologize, but Yumi threw her against a wall."
Saita's eyes widened. "Keiko." he whispered, tears leaking down his face.
Sakura checked her over. "How is she, Sakura?" asked Kakashi over her shoulder.
"Looks like she got the wind knocked out of her. She'll have a bruise, but I'll fix it when she wakes up."
"Thank Kami." said Saita. He sat on the bed and waved a lock of hair from Keiko's face. Sakura patted Saita's hand and whispered to Kakashi, "Where's Ayame? I need to look at her wrist."
He motioned his head behind him to the chairs. "Ayame? I need to see your wrist." Ayame nodded. Sasuke, Kakashi, and Naruto stood around them. She pulled up Ayame's sleeve to show her bruised wrist. Sakura looked at it. "Looks like it's sprained."
Sasuke grew angry. He didn't know why though. 'My friend just got hurt. That's all.' He reasoned with himself. Sakura focused chakra to her hand and healed Aya's wrist. "Thank you Sakura."
"No problem."
"Are you all right, Sakura?" asked Sasuke, worry in his eyes.
"I'm fine. She didn't touch me, although she must be pretty mad that I slapped her. I wonder if she's still standing on that sidewalk?"
Sasuke chuckled. "At least you're not hurt and that's all that matters." Sakura blushed at his words and smiled at him.
Keiko's brows furrowed and her eyes opened. "W-where am I?"
Saita hugged her. "You're safe and that's all that matters." Keiko kissed him and smiled. "That still doesn't explain where I am now, does it?" They all laughed. Saita smiled. "I guess not. Well, you're at the inn Sakura's staying at with her friends."
"Augh, my back hurts like a bitch."
"Makes sense since one threw you against the side of a building." pointed out Sasuke. Keiko, Sakura, and Ayame giggled. "That was mean. Sasuke." Ayame said.
"But he has a point." said Sakura.
"We need to be more careful around Yumi. It seems she's getting more violent." said Kakashi. They all nodded.
After Sakura healed Keiko, Naruto, Ayame, Saita, Keiko, and Sasuke left her room. She went to the shower. Kakashi decided to go out for a little bit. He wrote a note saying he was going out and he'd be back soon.
He was in the lobby when he saw Kisa. "I saw the young lady leave. She's alright now, right?"
"Yes Kisa-san. She's fine."
"Good. Oh, before I forget, would you tell Sakura that the festival has been rescheduled to the end of the month. I hope to see you there." Kakashi smiled at the woman. "Of course." They said their farewells and went back to their own business.
He came back to the room to find Sakura asleep. He looked at the clock. '11:30' I guess I was out later than I thought. He stripped down to his boxers and crawled into bed. He laid down, facing Sakura's sleeping figure. He kissed her forehead before falling asleep beside her.