You might notice that I edited the whole story and removed all those 'Previously...". I had this realization that I'm too lazy to make a summary of the previous chapter and I'm damn itching to update after writing some rants. :D

I also edited some grammatical errors in the process.

So...I'm going to school in two days (and practice my awesome Senior powers in the campus) so that leaves me with this story still unfinished. Don't worry, I'll still update it (though I may have a hard time fitting it in my schedule). But then again, I will not leave you guys hanging. (Just make sure you review. Nyahaha.)

You might have guessed that this is a little something before school so...

Enjoy!

NOTE: Those enclosed in /?/?/?/ are actually fragments of Sakura's memories. I'm sorry if I only clarified now.

Seeing Double

creepy dreams

"Hello? Is anybody there?"

Sakura called out as she peeked in the creaking door of a small house of three. Inside, she saw the furniture all covered with fabric and picture frames turned down. The windows were open, letting the curtains dance with the intruding cold wind. The atmosphere was forbidding her to come in, but that didn't stop her.

Looks like the place is for sale.

She sneaked into one of the rooms-a girl's room, to be specific. She eyed boxes which were recently piled up in one corner, leaving the room clean from any personal belongings. The only thing that seemed out of place was a stuffed bunny lying on the cold floor. She picked it up, making it release a squeaking sound, and proceeded further in the room.

It didn't take her long enough to find a small girl sitting next to the window, her poker face against the whispering wind with eyes closed. Sakura found herself planted on her spot, surprised at the strange sight in front of her-the little girl in a serene mood had pink hair framing her face.

Without noticing the astonishment on the teen's face, the girl looked up to her with dull green eyes, her face still showed no sign of any feeling. "Hello," she simply said.

Sakura snapped out of her trance and finally opened her mouth. "I believe this is yours?" She gave the stuffed toy to the girl, who accepted it without any say. Sakura opened her mouth again, but immediately closed it. What would she say? It would be awkward to sit next to her and say nothing. She just never saw someone so lonely before.

"What's your name?" she managed to say.

"Sakura."

"What a coincidence. My name is Sakura too."

Sakura's lips formed a small smile, trying to make the mood less creepy and heavy. But the girl blankly stared at her with her big hollow eyes.

"What are you doing here, all alone?"

Little Sakura hugged the bunny tighter to her chest. "They're gone," she whispered.

The teen's spine shivered but she tried to keep it together. "Who's gone?"

"Mommy and daddy." The girl said those words with no emotion at all. How could a little child like her care less of her parents?

Sakura was about to ask where her parents had gone when a teen with short, dark auburn hair came into the room. "Sakura," she called with a sweet voice. She looked at little Sakura with a sad smile. Oh she was talking to her. "Time to go. Have you said goodbye to this place?" The teen came over to the girl, not noticing that Sakura was still there.

The little girl nodded and took the teen's hand. She quickly glanced at the stunned Sakura with her hallow green orbs and left the room with the auburn-haired. As the door knob clicked, the pinkette was left alone, sitting on the cold cement, with a question lingering in her mind:

Where had her own parents gone to?

***_oO0Oo_***

It was 5 o'clock in the morning.

"Up so early?"

Sakura turned from her glass of milk, only to see the yawning Uchiha leaning against the wall.

"Nightmare," she replied. She was surprised when she noticed that she was more open to him now. She gulped on her milk, leaving her a white moustache around her petite lips. Ah, nothing beats a glass of milk in the middle of the night.

"Mind if you tell me 'bout it?" She sensed worry when he asked.

She shook her head, after wiping off the moustache. She would just be more confused than now if she thought more about it. It might be best to keep it to herself for a while. "I'd rather not think about it."

Sasuke shrugged his shoulders and went back to his room. He threw himself to his bed but he didn't sleep. With Sakura still on his mind, he stared at the ceiling with a worried face. She's been walking up all sweaty and panting in the middle of the night for the past few days. Recently, he's been hearing her soft footsteps pass his door then clanging in the kitchen would follow.

What's going on?

***_oO0Oo_***

Sighing in defeat, Ino glanced at the seemingly disturbed pinkette across the table as she continued stirring her tea. She tried to cheer her up, but it's evident that what's bothering her was something difficult to handle. She knew Sakura, unlike Sasuke. Surprisingly, he was the one who put Ino in this awkward situation, asking if she could talk Sakura out of God knows what.

Sakura was staring down her untouched cake. She fidgeted, itching to ask Ino. She bit her lip and forced her still mouth open. "Ino, do you have any idea where my parents are right now?" She felt half of her missing them but the other wanted to stay away from the memory as much as possible.

The blonde stopped for a while, unsure of what to say. So that's what bothered her. Yes, she had known Sakura for the longest time than any other person in their circle of friends. However, there were things they promised to never talk about-whether in a big group or even it's just the two of them.

To be honest, Ino really wasn't sure what had happened to Sakura's parents. The two of them became friends when Sakura moved to Konoha when they were in 4th grade. It was in mother's day in the same year that Sakura told Ino her story.

She just said that her parents died in an accident. After that, Sakura didn't want to talk any further. Ino could only remember the emptiness in her best friend's voice as she whispered. There were no tears, no sorrow. But Sakura's lips were quivering, making her vulnerable. And that was also the day when Ino promised herself that she will never raise the topic, ever.

"I'm sorry," she said. "No." It hurt to lie to her bestfriend. But it's better this way...

"Oh."

"Why the long faces, ladies?" A rather cheerful male voice cast away the heavy atmosphere.

Sakura, who seemed to forget her problems, brought her face up to the owner of the voice. Astonished emerald orbs met soft copper-brown eyes. Crimson strands stood perfectly on the man's forehead who wore a playful smile on his lips. He was dressed as a waiter in the sweet shop where the girls were at that time.

"Oh, Sasori, hey," the blonde managed to say, relieved that his presence somewhat lightened up the mood.

The red-haired placed two glasses of water on their table and started a conversation with the two of them as he took a seat from an unoccupied table.

"You shouldn't be a slacker, Sasori," Ino reprimanded.

But he just shrugged it off. "Nah, no one's gonna fire me. I own this place," he reminded. "I only served today because they asked me if they could take the day off," he explained, referring to his employees.

The blonde rolled her eyes at the reply and took a sip of her tea. Sasori then turned at the quiet Sakura.

"So when will you start working again?" he asked her who looked puzzled at his question.

"Uhm..."

But her bestfriend interrupted her. "Things have been...hard for Sakura lately. Maybe, she'll start again next week."

Sasori's face showed concern. It was the same one when Sakura first met him.

/?/?/?/

She sighed, crossing out another advertisement with her red pen. Sakura was sitting at a table in a random sweet shop just near the park. She buried her face in her hands, grumbling, not knowing what to do next. Prices of commodities and the household bills were nonstop increasing. Though she was a scholar in Konoha High and had been receiving monthly allowance, she can't seem to satisfy all the expenses. She needed another financial source; she must secure a job. Fast.

Her stomach grumbled. Might as well order something cheap. She then ended up with brownies and tea.

She was taking a sip from her cup when a waiter approached her and placed a slice of mouth-watering caramel cake that seemed the most expensive on the menu.

"I'm sorry. I didn't order that," she quickly said, turning her face to a handsome red-haired man.

"Oh no, it's free," he said with a smile. "For a pretty lady like you."

Sakura raised her brows at him, distrusting the man.

"Now don't give me that look. I guarantee you that it's poison-free." He still had his grin stuck on his face. "This is a simple token for my first five costumers. And you happen to be the fifth and lucky one, Miss..."

"Sakura. Please, just call me Sakura."

Upon gaining the pinkette's trust, the waiter's smile grew even wider (and cuter). "The name's Sasori," he said as he sat opposite her. "I see you're finding a job." He pointed at the pile of classified ads beside her.

"Yeah. No luck though." Sakura let out a sigh.

Sasori's expression immediately changed to concern. His eyes soften that nearly melted Sakura if she didn't look away.

Heat traveled to Sakura's cheeks when Sasori's hands caught hers. If someone happened to pass by, they would look like a couple. "Why don't you work here? It's a nice-paying job."

"Is it all right?"

"Of course it is!"

"And why are you so sure?" She raised her brows again.

The caramel cake was heaven. It would really be a hit. But Sakura wasn't able to enjoy it until the end though.

"Because I said so."

She choked when she realize that she was talking to the owner of the shop.

/?/?/?/

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

Sakura snapped back to reality. "Huh? Oh, no. It's all right. I can start tomorrow."

Ino gave her the are-you-sure look. She just smiled at her.

"Great." Sasori prepared to take his leave. "Grandma would be pleased to see you again." He winked at Sakura before attending to the other costumers.

The blushing pinkette pouted when Ino wasn't looking. She wished that her heart would stop pounding so hard.

***_oO0Oo_***

Walking out of the bathroom, Sasuke was drying his raven hair when Sakura came back. He noticed that she was...lively. He'll thank Ino later for making things better. He nonchalantly greeted her and proceeded to his room.

His phone rang.

"Hello."

"Sasuke."

The husky voice on the other line made Sasuke's blood flow with anger.

"Your flight has been scheduled."

He didn't answer for a while.

"Don't mess this up."

Sasuke gritted his teeth and tried to suppress his snarl.

"Of course."

I added Sasori in the story. Yeah. But I just love him too much. So if I were you, expect some SasuSakuSaso. Nyahaha.

Please leave a review so that i can further improve and enhance this story and also my writing skills.

You can also PM me and talk about random things. I like meeting new friends. :D