Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, no matter how badly I wished I did...
Due to some problems in my email (including a friend hacking into it), I've changed my email to tsukikonoyuki (it's still gmail, though). So if anybody has Private Messaged me, or emailed me, please do so again!
Chapter IX: Destiny Fulfilled
'Er, um, Uchiha-san… you've a visitor…'
The nurse's voice was quivering and she whimpered pathetically as his cold eyes focused on her, narrowing.
'Who?' he snarled menacingly. The nurse looked like she was resisting the urge to scream and run for her life.
'Uh… I… I don't know his name, U-Uchiha-san…'
Uchiha Sasuke's eyes narrowed even more. 'His?'
'Geez, relax, Uchiha. You're just as tense as ever, aren't you?'
His eyes widened just the slightest, then turned into mere slits of pure anger and hatred. 'You,' he spat. 'What're you doing here?'
His voice was clear as crystal as the milk-skinned boy stared blankly back: 'I'm here to ask you what you're doing with Sakura and her mind.'
'Sakura-saaaaaan!'
Sakura halted on her way through the corridor, turning around in astonishment as she stood face to face with a familiar man with a shiny bowl-shaped haircut and extremely thick eyebrows, his green jumpsuit indiscreetly hinted at underneath the white coat uniform.
'Lee-san,' she greeted back with a trace of a smile. 'Hi, I haven't seen you for quite some time.'
'I didn't expect you to come,' he panted as he stopped abruptly in front of her after his sprinting from the other way of the hall. He then stood up properly after having bowed down in exhaustion, reaching out one arm with the thumbs up. 'But I knew you would!'
She grinned. 'You're as goofy as ever, Lee-san.'
'Goofy?' He looked surprised. 'I'm serious!'
She only laughed softly in response. 'How's it going around here, anyway?'
'Terrific! Neji just managed to break the record, his patient became fully normal after 10,35 minutes!' If it had been a cartoon, Sakura could've sworn Lee would have had flames of fire burning in his eyes. Her grin widened at the thought. 'Yosh! I shall beat his record, and if I can't, I will work non-stop for forty-eight hours!'
'Lee… the clinic isn't open all night,' she reminded him with a chuckle. 'I just came here to collect some papers, but I can't find Tsunade-sama anywhere. Where is she?'
'Tsunade-sama is off treating a patient who has a special phobia that forbids him to leave his home,' Lee responded seriously.
'Another one of the Sound Five?' Sakura heaved a sigh, as Lee's abnormally thick eyebrows shot up.
'You know about them, Sakura-san? But of course! The spring of youth that burns in your soul has made you aware of the situation!' Tears ran down his cheeks dramatically. 'How wonderful, Sakura-san!'
'No… Tenten told me,' she informed him carefully. I Sai not to introduce that weird teacher from the school… they even looked like they were relatives… "The Siamese twin brothers, the girl who swore in every sentence, the ex-sumo-wrestler and…' She paused, thoughtful. 'There was another one…'
'Kimimaro,' Lee told her, now serious. 'I was his psychiatrist.'
'Oh…' Sakura's eyes were filled with sympathy. 'I heard he was…'
'He had a deathly illness, yes.' Lee looked mournful as he stared at some distant point in the air. 'He committed suicide before he could die… wanted to shorten the pain, no doubt.'
'I still don't get it, though…,' Sakura said silently. 'How did the five of them just become psychotic? I heard they were an excellent band, although very touchy and grumpy, they were excellent singers and the crowd loved them. Not entirely healthy with their bitter pasts, but still…'
'It was,' Lee's voice was grave as he pronounced every word clearly and with utmost cautiousness, 'Orochimaru.'
'Oro… chi.. maru…'
Sakura repeated the words as though she was being hypnotized. A strange feeling shot through her body at the speed of light; hatred? But… Sakura had never hated anybody…
Don't come, Don't. He's after you… he wants to kill you… he wants to…
'Ugh!' Sakura clutched her head. 'Ow…'
'Something wrong, Sakura-san?' Lee asked urgently. 'Shall I take you to the nurse? Is there anything I can do for you? Do you want a glass of water?'
'Oh no… don't bother, Lee, it was just a little headache…' She smiled convincingly.
But there was something about that name that made her cringe…
Orochimaru…
Sasuke's eyes darkened completely, before they turned the color of blood. 'What're you talking about?' he snapped. 'Sakura who?'
'Haruno Sakura, you dork.' He went closer to the cell. 'The pink-haired, green-eyed, idiotic, ugly hag who's your psychiatrist.'
'Ha… runo… Sa… Sakura…,' he repeated, his face paling. The man's eyebrow just went farther up.
'Yes. Don't tell me you don't know she's Sakura?' He rolled his eyes. 'C'mon. Who wouldn't recognize that pink hair?'
'She's… Sakura…,' he repeated again, seemingly oblivious to what he said. 'Sa… Sakura…'
'Yes, Ha-ru-no Sa-k-u-ra,' he pronounced slowly. 'Didn't you realize?'
'She's… she's not!' he roared savagely, his eyes bulging threateningly, as though about to pop out of their sockets as his hands clutched the bars of the cell, rattling them violently. 'You're lying! You've always been lying! She's not Sakura… she can't be… Sakura… SHE'S DEAD!'
'Haruno, it's me, Uzumaki Naruto. I wanted to inform you that due to a special meeting concerning Uchiha Sasuke, your appointment is to be delayed until 5 p.m…'
Appointment delayed again, Sakura thought as she stared at her telephone. There's something wrong about this.
She stared out of the window, before sighing. Might as well phone Ino and ask her about what's going on with her and Shikamaru; I bet she's skipping work again.
Switching on the computer, she picked up her wireless phone and dialed a familiar number…
'SAI!'
A voice interfered as Sai opened his mouth to reply. The blue-eyed blonde man rushed towards them, an utterly bewildered look on his face containing… anger… and… fright? Sai couldn't tell. He had never been able to observe emotions, as Sakura, only to copy them into his mind and onto a paper.
'Naruto,' he stated calmly. 'Nice to see you again after all those years.'
'Don't play around,' Naruto snapped very uncharacteristically. 'What're you doing?!'
'SAKURA'S DEAD! YOU'RE… YOU'RE LYING… YOU CAN'T…. SHE'S…' Sasuke now looked wilder than ever; but now there was also terror printed into his face.
'Quick!' Naruto yelled to a group of half-curious, half-frightened nurses in a corner, who now started as he shouted. 'Over here and paralyze him!'
'Y-yes, sir!' they stammered in chorus as they rushed over to the scene. Naruto turned back to Sai, furious.
'What do you think you're playing at, Sai?'
'You don't have to be so mad. I only questioned Sakura's mental health, stating that she was his psychiatrist. Didn't he know?'
'Of course he didn't.' Naruto's eyes were filled with raw anger. 'If you had even bothered to check, you would've known –'
'Why would I?' Sai's eyes flashed dangerously, now also becoming sharper as Naruto's. 'After all… he was the one who caused Sakura's amnesia.'
'- and then he just said it was too troublesome! Can you believe it? The nerve of him!' Ino burst out. Sakura only rolled her eyes. She was pretty sure that Ino was making a bigger deal out of it than it actually was; she usually became overdramatic when retelling an event, getting more excited by retelling it than going through it at first.
Letting Ino to continue to babble on about her date with Shikamaru, she opened Internet Explorer, eyeing the latest news on Konoha Times' webpage. Hyuuga, Possible Hitman Hirer? was written as a big headline in the gossip section. Sakura raised an eyebrow.
Isn't Hyuuga Neji-san's surname?
Clicking on the link, she found herself reading with reluctant interest, only mumbling, 'mm', 'sure' now and then as Ino continued to blabber on, not even noticing Sakura's lack of interest.
Brought to you by Sabaku no Temari
We all know of the Hyuuga Company; it has developed everything, from high-tech computers to handy accessories for expecting mothers. But is its success really based on the quality of the products?
Approximately seven years ago, the Uchiha Company was terminated when it had successfully reached the top and defeated Hyuuga Company in popularity. However, their domination as Japan's number one didn't last long as the family-run company soon collapsed.
Now, history repeats itself as Clearwater, the new rival of Hyuuga Company, starts to fall down due to unidentified threats. 'We feel especially threatened by Hyuuga Company,' the head of Clearwater, John Johnson says, 'last meeting they said something about taking us down…'
Sakura snorted; she knew that journalist well; it was Gaara's older sister Temari. She was known for her ridiculous articles, which still attracted great attention; many admired her writing ability, many others believed her. But just as many as those two, and even more, laughed at her articles.
But…
'Ino,' she suddenly interrupted her friend, who had started ranting on about a new cocktail dress she had seen while on her date, 'Do you know where Neji-san lives?'
'Listen, Sai,' Naruto hissed through gritted teeth. 'You're not going to talk about Sakura in front of Sasuke. Got it?'
Sai frowned. 'Who're you to boss me around? I can say whatever I like –'
'No, you won't. Because I'm head of this asylum, and you're just a plain visitor, so you can't go around breaking our rules.' Naruto paused to let the impact of his words sink into Sai's mind – an effect which clearly didn't work on said man – 'And you shouldn't worry too much. She's surrounded by high-level psychiatrists and nurses in this asylum, we're constantly analyzing her mental and physical condition –'
'And yet,' Sai remarked dryly, 'Six psychiatrists have already become insane by dealing with Uchiha Sasuke.'
Naruto silenced. Then, almost so quietly that Sai could barely make out the words, 'Seven was Sakura-chan's favorite number.'
Then it struck him.
She's the seventh psychiatrist… it was seven years since … the hypnosis –
'- lasts seven months,' he muttered hoarsely. He looked at Naruto, wide-eyed. 'It can't be..?'
'As Neji would have said,' Naruto said gravely, 'Maybe it was destiny.'
Sakura looked about nervously. These are the Hyuuga grounds? But –
Our dear pink-haired heroine stood in the middle of a courtyard surrounded by very traditional-looking houses. But there was one peculiar thing about the large place…
- it looks completely deserted.
'Stop right there in your tracks, missy,' a stern voice barked, making Sakura jump. Stifling a gasp, she twirled around to find a pearl-eyed man stomping towards her angrily. 'If you're here for the news, well, newsflash for you, but they're false. And no, you may not interview Hiashi-sama or Hizashi-sama,' he interfered as Sakura opened her lips to talk. Sakura flushed.
'Well, uh… I'm not a journalist,' she said carefully. 'I wanted to meet Hyuuga Neji-san.'
'Neji?' The man's anger disappeared. 'Oh. Well, wait a mo', will you?' He turned around and shouted towards the house behind him: 'Oi! Neji! Your girlfriend's here!'
'She's not my girlfriend,' a familiar voice muttered. Sakura felt her heart beating faster as a man with long, brown hair stepped out of the house. 'Tenten, what're you doing here anyw – oh, Sakura.'
Sakura frowned. Neji and Tenten are an item? They never said that! But that's not important now… 'Hi, Neji-san. I've a favor to ask you.'
'A favor?' he repeated blankly. 'Depends on what. Go ahead and tell me.'
'I want you,' she pronounced every word clearly, almost painfully clearly, 'to tell me what you know about Uchiha Sasuke.'
Neji felt his body turn to stone.
Waaah! I' m so sorry for the late, late update. But I've made a pact, see - I can't update unless I've finished a chapter (which is always two chapters ahead). So right now, I'm done with the eleventh chapter after two months' brainstorming and lack of inspiration, and I'm finally, if not very much, then at least little, get part of my long lost imagination gone.
Firstly, I just want to say, HAPPY 200 REVIEWS! I think you guys are tired of hearing me rant on about this, but do you even realize how happy I get when reading every review? Even though I've had lack of inspiration for so long, that hasn't kept me from reading your reviews, and I love them! I'm so sorry for my late update, though, again. But I want to do my best when I publish a chapter here - not just some randomly written chapter I forced myself to write, with no feeling and no enthusiasm whatsoever.
It's crazy shit, though. Even though it's the summer holidays, it's like the hectic days for me never end. When it's not hectic at all, when I don't have a place to rush to or some friend to meet, I get so lazy and tired I can hardly stay awake while I'm watching Grey's Anatomy or Prison Break by myself in front of the computer or the TV. And now when the computer I normally use has crashed and everything I've saved in it (with, thankfully, the exception of Fear of the Light and some other newer fanfics) is lost, I'm even less in the mood of writing.
But anyhow, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Hopefully, a new one will come soon... as soon as I can figure out what I should do for Sasuke's and Sakura's past. I'm trying to collect everything I've written in their flashbacks so far and make it whole, but it's kind of difficult to do that without giving you unnecessary details. So what I've been thinking is, is it better if I just skip some unimportant flashbacks that're just unimportant fluff? Or else more than half of the fic will consist of their past, and I think you're more interested in what's going to HAPPEN than what's already HAPPENED, no? I'm not making it rushed, either. I just don't think you'll be pleased to read on and on and on about fluff ALL THE TIME...
Good news, though. If you're interested in other AU fics I'm writing, Bittersweet Facade is going to be published after this, and I'm working on The Day After Tomorrow, a more chicklit-like SasuSaku AU that's kind of reminiscent of my first fic ever, This Is Not My First Time, but somewhat better, at least in my opinion.
Reviews Corner (200 reviews! LOVE YA LOVE YA LOVE YA LOVE YA! x3)
Thanks, everyone:D Reading your reviews always make me happy. So feed the review monster your reviews! Rawr!
HPBabe91: Yes... yes... the angst is killing us, eating us, frying us, boiling us,... errr... ANYWAY! It's eating us from within! Fear the angst! -death from too much angst- :D Sorry, I'm being a bit hyper. That's the result for eating too much apple cake with chocolate sauce XD HOT GUY? WHO WHO WHO WHO? Hmm... well, I guess that's true. But I'm not exactly grieving, either. But... but... GRIVEING GIRLFRIEND IS MUCH LONGER THAN WIDOW... . (The word, I mean.) Ooh, really? So you're dating now:D Thanks for the review:)
Serenity Fey: Thank you:D I'm glad you enjoyed it. No, it's okay, my almost-to-be boyfriend died in a motorbike accident (well, he was riding his bike and then he got hit by a motorbike). But thanks again, here's your update:D
Elizabeth M. Blackfeather: Thank you, I love your reviews! Here's the update you asked for! ;)
bipolar nekko wolf: Thanks, I will. :) And keep reviewing!
yukibozu: Kind of what I'm doing now, haha. :D But yeah, I agree with you, guys can really suck sometimes... but then again, there're lots that don't. You just have to get to know them better, and then you'll realize they were better than I thought. And some others, well, you'll find out they're assholes anyway. Boy troubles, huh? I can help you, if you like... not that it's any of my business anyway, but if you want to :P Why don't you have the nerve to post it? Post it:D I'd like to read it! Well, here's your update... thanks for the review:D
Kunoichi142: No, you aren't wasting my time! Wow... a heart attack. That's huge; I've been through that once (not the actual heart attack, I mean... seeing a precious person having it), that's really horrible. But thanks:D Yes... it's so sad to have a hot person being evil... but at the same time, it makes him hotter in some strange badass evil kinda way ;D Poor, poor Sai. Hated because he was not Sasuke, and he was trying so hard... -sniffles- (Sai: I'm not dead yet! What the heck are you sniffing for?!) Hahaha, well, aren't we all crazy :D Welcome to the club! Thanks for the review!
angel2559: Here the update is: what do you think:D Thanks for the review!
Freedomstar999: Thanks:D
frienz4ever: Naruto's voice? o.O In the anime? Thanks for the review!
Aiyo Rei: I will, and thanks:D
cherry blossom petals: Thank you:D Well, Bittersweet Facade is posted right after this, so there'll be two updates for you to read, haha :D I hope you enjoy them!
Myztical Star: Thanks:D
reader-not-a-reviewer: Wow, I made a not-reviewer review:D Thanks, here's the update, I hope you like it! -munches on the pie-
Poet of the Moon: Thank you:D Bittersweet Facade is posted right after this, if you want to read it. n.n Yay! I'm a widow on a philosophical level:D It's just that using the word 'widow' is so much easier than to say 'a person who has lost their almost-to-be-boyfriend'... that's a very long word, if you can even call it a word o.O
Crazy Gal42: Well, I'm becoming 14 in about three weeks, so well, I'm almost as old as you :P Thanks :D The Swedish dubbing? Yeah, definitely! It's the same voices in every single anime (they don't have many voice actors...), from the first Swedish anime I watched (Sailor Moon, when I was about 3-5 years old) to the last anime I watched (YGO, when I was about 11-12), they've used the same voices!! I don't want to hear Sasuke's voice, or anybody else's voice for that matter, be destroyed after having watched the entire anime with the original dubs (Japanese)... I don't think he's gonna die in the 4th movie though, or else it'd just be... SAD. T.T I hope Sasuke will be included in the 4th movie, after his absence in the 2nd and the 3rd. The trailer, you mean? Already saw it. :D Here's the update! And thanks for the review!
aweqt4: Hmm, we'll see. ;) Hahah. Actually, I've still not decided about the ending yet. I used to have an ending ready in my mind, but after reediting the fic's plot a few hundred times, I'm not really sure anymore. Thanks for the review, anyway:D
Kiwako: Yeah! I hope I don't totally destroy the NaruHina chemistry in my fic, though. It's my first NaruHina ever! It always used to be fluff in my past stories, never the main couple. But thanks:D
summerlover1: Thank you:D
danielie: Thanks! Well... I haven't really decided the ending yet, so I've no idea how it's gonna end :D For all we know, I could kill the characters off, or I could make them happy for the rest of their little lives. You never know, haha XD Thanks, and here's your update:D
CrAzY-SiLLY-Me: Scary, huh? Thanks :D
XXRedWolfXX: I will, and I'm glad you like it:D Thanks!
Mimi the Witch: I agree with you, whole-heartedly. :D Thank you, and here's your update ;)
lasuclien4: Hmm? Events about Naruto:P Anyway, thanks for the review!
jami16: Thanks:D And here's the update, what do you think?
runwithskizzers: Wow... I'm sorry to hear that. But heh, I guess you're right. It's just that, it's so much easier saying widow, than saying 'somebody who lost her almost-to-be-boyfriend'... but anyway, I'm glad you like the story:) And thanks for the review!
seyrarm-chan79: Thanks! And I updated, what do you think? ;)
Shadowsakura321: Glad you do ;)
Purplecherry5: Mwahahaha! I made you ask questions n.n -evil grin- As for your questions, as I guess you were expecting, I won't spoil anything, even though I wish I could. XD I read Damn Omelet and reviewed it! It's good, really funny. :D Poor, poor Sasuke! Thanks for the review!
SakuraDouble: Thank you:D
paintupurple: Yay! It's finally the summer holidays:D Reminiscing makes you sad, that's the bad part of going to visit old friends, old places, reliving old stuff... publish a book before you're 15?! Wow, somebody's really ambitious :P My plan is to publish a book before I hit twenty. Hahaha... I'm sorry to hear about your cat though, but it's good that you like to talk about it, in my opinion, it always feels so much better talking about stuff, whether it's stuff that makes you happy or stuff that makes you sad. In this case, I guess it's both:) But thanks, here's the next chapter:D
missysillivan: Thank you:D
Jester08: Thanks, I will :)
Kakurine IL: Thank you:D
Tac03e11hp: Thanks, here's the update :D
helena-adalia: Thanks:D
SomethinSpecial: Thank you!! n.n
greenishsunset: Wow! I inspired somebody! n.n Nah, I'm very interested in psychology though, hahah. Thanks for the review!
sasukeXsakura25-Aku-Tenshi: Really? Thanks:D
popcornluvr14: Wooow... that was looong :D But I luv your review! Thanks!
Ceritheya: Thank you!
SaphireGloom: Thanks! n.n
young-love: Thanks:D I'm glad you like it!
Mitsuko Nozomi: Thank you! Here's the update:)
I just don't know how to thank you guys enough for your feedback! I mean, there're times when I just want to give it up, I just look at the fanfic, raise an eyebrow and go, 'This will NEVER fucking work, I just can't get any inspiration', and then I just read your reviews and I go like, 'Maybe I shouldn't give it up after all'... it just feels like thanking you all individually, thanking every single reviewer, just isn't enough... and that's why I'm writing this lame thanks speech, heh, never been good at making speeches, but well... I should stop ranting, shouldn't I?
Tsukiko's Ultimate Blah-Blah-Blah
Random Topic of the Chapter: The Rant of a Cali-Wannabe
There're dozens, hundreds, millions of wannabes out there. Celebrity wannabes. Artist wannabes. Insert-a-music-genre wannabes. Wannabe-wannabes. And the list goes and on, and on, and on... most of us have been wannabes too. Whether it's been a secret dream or a complete change of personality and style, most of us have dreamt of being somebody or something we can't entirely be.
Me? Well, I happen to be a Cali-wannabe.
I mean, it's not like I dislike Sweden or anything. I mean, I love the city I live in, even if it's so pathetically small even for being a supposedly big city: but I love it anyway. It's like a miniature, lamer version of big cities like Paris, Hong Kong, Taipei, Amsterdam... but I still love it. I mean, it's really great living here once you get accustomed to it (which I should be, considering how I grew up here). But it's just not... cities I dream of. Like N.Y (yes, I KNOW it's not in Cali) or Los Angeles - two of the most mentioned cities here. A lot of the people I know dream of going to the U.S when they grow up, especially Cali - it's just that Cali shows up everywhere: on the news, in the movies, in the TV-series, in the music, even in the books.
For god's sake, there is a reason why the Red Hot Chili Peppers have a song called Californication. (Blame my English teacher for showing us this song. It got permanently stuck in my head ever since, except for that one time when I thankfully got rid of it, only to have Fall Out Boy's Thanks for the Memories get stuck. Damn my best friend. Why can't they leave a hiphop lover alone without pestering her with other music genres?)
The thing is, I've never been to Cali, or the U.S, at all. I really wanna go there (I'm so jealous of my best friend - she gets to be a transfer student in Cali when we start senior high)... and I know you shouldn't just judge by what you see on TV, it's just stereotypical stuff. But still, wherever you, who's reading this, live, don't you just sometimes you lived somewhere else too? It's not like I'm trying to suggest you're UNHAPPY with the environment - but don't you just sometimes feel like it'd be SO cool living there or there, whether it's for a year or for the rest of your life?
Don't you wanna be a Insert-The-Place-You-Want-To-Go-To wannabe too?