"Ready to go, Sasuke?" his mother called down the stairs. Sasuke was standing at the bottom of the staircase in his huge house, tossing his keys impatiently.
"Mom, I've been ready for at least half an hour."
Mikoto came down the stairs, clutching her purse. "Alright, Sasuke-kun, dear, let's go."
Mikoto and her remaining son were headed to Kishimoto Univeristy, Sasuke's college of choice. Or rather, college that had recruited him. Sasuke had been one of the top draft picks for the basketball season, and Kishimoto had offered him a full scholarship for his basketball skills. It was something the Firestone High basketball star couldn't resist. It was almost a one-way ticket to the Fire Ninja: the pro team Sasuke had always dreamed of playing on.
Sasuke's things were all loaded into the car; his room stripped bare from everything he could ever want to take to his dorm in college. As they climbed in, Sasuke's eye caught the uppermost box, which was labeled 'Odds and Ends'. On the top sat an old orange ball with a black scrawl on the front. Sasuke smiled as a memory from the first time he met Sakura came flooding back.
The first rays of sunlight came through the window and fell on Sasuke's dresser. Sakura's eyes lit upon the basketball perched there.
Why not? Inner Sakura said. It's not like he's coming out…
Sakura crept over to his dresser and lifted the basketball. She quickly found the autograph which Sasuke had prevented her from reading last time. No wonder it had been familiar. Sakura's eyes widened as she read the autograph:
Haruno Saki
Sakura nearly dropped the ball. So Sasuke was a fan of her dad's! But then why had he protested when she had pinned up the poster of the '93 Fire Ninja? It was all very strange…
"I thought I told you not to touch my stuff!"
Sakura spun around, eyes wide in horror. Sasuke had emerged from the bathroom, wearing only his pants, his towel around his neck, catching the water from his dripping hair. He dug in his drawer for another shirt and tie.
"Stupid cleaners…forgetting to pick up yesterday's stuff…" he muttered. Sakura inched away, thinking she could leave before he noticed. Sasuke didn't even turn around.
"Don't move."
Sakura froze.
Sasuke finished getting dressed with his back to his roommate. Really, this guy was starting to get on his nerves. He'd said CLEARLY not to touch his stuff, and this dude was just all into it!
"I…I'm sorry," he heard Sakumo stutter in that girlish voice of his. "I was just wondering who signed your ball. I…I didn't mean to…"
"Hnn. Forget it." Sasuke waved a hand over his shoulder. "Go away."
He heard the door open and close as Sakumo left the room.
"Hnn, I'll miss her," Sasuke said, looking back up at his house.
"I'm sure the house will miss you, too," Mikoto said sweetly, climbing into the passenger's seat. "It'll only have me and the servants to keep it company."
Sasuke smiled. His mom was so naïve sometimes. Mikoto had completely missed what he had meant.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As the roads rolled by and Sasuke and Mikoto drove out of the city and a little ways into the country, Sasuke's mind reflected on the situation he was now in. How had he come here so fast? Three years had disappeared like the many raindrops now rolling up his windshield.
Three years ago, Sasuke had arrived at Firestone High for his sophomore year only to find that his new roommate, Sakumo Hayaro, was also an incredible basketball player. The rivalries and tensions between the two had escalated until one fateful night, when Sasuke had discovered that Sakumo was actually a girl. And not just any girl: the daughter of his idol, the famed Saki Haruno of the Fire Ninja!
"So," Sasuke breathed, looking down at the cowering pink-haired girl in front of him. "Sakumo Hayaro, the all-star basketball player, the famed point guard, the excellent shot…is a GIRL."
His left hand came off the wall and headed for his pocket.
"Maybe the guys should know about this…"
Sakura caught his hand. "NO!"
Her jade eyes staring pleadingly into his. "Please, if they find out…I'll be expelled, and disgraced!"
In fury, Sasuke grabbed her arm and flung her away from him. Stumbling with the force of his push, Sakura reeled across the ground and fell over the hood of his car. Quick as a flash, Sasuke had flipped her over. His right hand pinned her left to the hood of the car, while his other hand gripped her right wrist, which was pushed up in an effort to defend herself. He stood over her, blazing fury. Sakura felt tears spring to her eyes.
"Please…no…"
Sasuke's anger had gotten the better of him. Now, as he stared down at the helpless, cowering girl he had pinned, the flames began to die down. Slowly the fervor left his black eyes, quelled by depths of jade.
Sakura gasped as Sasuke pushed himself off, allowing her to get up.
"Get up," he said. Sakura did so warily, feeling something roll down her cheek. She couldn't see Sasuke's face: his black hair obscured the light from reaching it.
"I won't reveal your secret…yet."
"Oh, SASUKE!"
Sasuke blocked her from grabbing him in a hug, his arms on her shoulders, pushing her back. His eyes affixed hers again.
"Whether I like it or not, you have to stay on the team. We've got the City Finals coming up, and we can't afford to lose." He let go of the girl before him again. "So I guess what I'm saying is…you're too good to lose." Sasuke couldn't believe he was saying this. "Whether I like it or not…we, the team, need you."
They had needed Sakura: her talent had gotten them past the City Finals and to the Districts, which they had won against Suna, 100 – 54. That victory came at a harsh price, however: Sakura's ribs had been broken in a foul play and her secret then discovered. Tarnished by their star player's real identity but allowed to keep their place, Firestone High advanced to the State Finals against Iwakagure. That game had been momentous, too: Itachi had tried to murder his own mother.
Itachi – Sasuke's older brother. Currently serving a life sentence in prison for the murder of his father, Fugaku Uchiha, and the attempted murder of his mother, Mikoto Uchiha, and his brother, Sasuke Uchiha. Not to mention that Itachi had very nearly turned his gun on Sakura Haruno. Sasuke grimly gripped the wheel as he braked at a red light. Itachi had gotten everything he deserved. At the State game, Sasuke had run across Itachi preparing to kill Sakura, who was standing guard over his mother, Mikoto. Sasuke had guarded both his teammate and his parent until Sakura sent security a plea for help. Itachi had been apprehended, but Sasuke had been severely wounded by a bullet to his shoulder.
"Ow!" Sasuke suddenly winced.
"What is it, dear?" his mother asked anxiously as Sasuke fought to control the car through the throb of pain.
My shoulder…it just hurt like hell, Sasuke thought. But why? The doctors said it was fully healed…AAGH!
Sasuke bent his head and clenched his teeth in pain as the circular scar throbbed again. It felt like his shoulder had been torn open by Itachi's bullet again…
"I'll say it one more time, brother: get out of my way."
Sasuke clenched his teeth. "No."
BAM!
Sakura screamed. Sasuke gaped at the bloody hole now punched through his shoulder. Behind them both, Mikoto cowered even lower.
"That was a warning shot," Itachi said softly, as Sasuke bent double, coughing up blood and clutching his shoulder. "The next one goes through your heart."
Mikoto screamed as their car swerved off the road. Sasuke was half blinded by pain, but he hit the brake and brought the car to a stop on the shoulder. With a shudder, the car came to a halt.
"Sasuke-kun! What is it?!" Mikoto cried as Sasuke's forehead slumped to the wheel, his left hand covering the place where his perfectly circular scar ached.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How's this for a start to your sequel? More to come soon! Start reviewing...NOW! Come on, guys, this is your sequel, YOU wanted it, so tell me what you think:)
