A/N: Yay chapter 2! I failed to mention some notes in chapter 1 because I was in such a haste to post it. So, Italics are flashbacks. And - - are scene changes or time changes. Umm...also, I'd like to note that I like Shikamaru and Ino. If you don't like them, don't flame about it...I'm forewarning you now so you know...um, and that's pretty much it. Chapter 2 dedicated to Darkhope again, AND my friend Jay :).
Yet again...
Did I create Naruto?
Nooo.
Did I create this fanfiction?
Yesss.
--
Retrogression
By: dark dreamerx
--
Chapter 2
(No titles; they're not needed.)
2:00 A.M.
Sweat tickled her brow.
Blankets thrust onto the floor.
Nightgown drenched.
Disgusting.
She swung her knees over the bed.
Till her hot toes touched the frigid floorboards.
A cooling sensation flowed throughout her body.
She adjusted her eyes.
It was dark.
Inside, outside.
Push.
She was off her bed.
Pull.
Her closet doors opened.
She grabbed her normal attire.
Close.
She changed.
Threw her nightclothes in a basket.
Headed towards her door.
Walked down the stairs.
Approached the front of her house.
Open, step, click, shut, step.
She moved quickly.
Her bare arms folded against her chest.
It was somewhat cold.
The crisp air bit at her exposed legs.
She did not notice.
The trees bristled.
Shadows danced across her features.
Her expression remained impassive.
She turned a corner.
The moon hit her in the face.
Icy wind encircled her uncovered skin.
Not even a flinch.
She arrived at a house.
Knocked on the door loudly.
Louder.
Again.
Again.
"I'm COMING!"
She held her hand back.
Echoing footsteps reached her ears.
She stared blankly at the door as it was forcefully pulled open.
"WHO THE HELL—!"
Blue eyes blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then bemusement etched inside them.
"S-Sakura?"
"I can't sleep."
Softened azure eyes looked her over.
Then, an understanding smile.
"Come inside, it's cold."
And Sakura did just that.
And Ino closed the door.
Step, step, step.
The blonde followed her best friend to her room.
Once inside, Sakura halted.
Ino stopped as well.
"Go ahead Sakura, sit down on my bed."
The aforementioned girl obliged, sitting rather stiffly.
Her friend sat beside her.
"Do you want to talk?"
Silence.
Impatience flooded Ino's mouth and she said a little sternly, "Well, Sakura?"
Silence.
"Sakura!"
Then, a voice devoid of passion.
"I don't know."
Ino blinked like an idiot.
What was she talking about?
And she asked just that:
"What are you talking about?"
But Sakura didn't answer.
Her eyes were glassy.
"Sakura...are you alright?"
Ocean blue depths watched her friend stare off into space.
"Did something happen?"
No reaction.
Ino sighed.
"Have you talked to him yet?"
A slight flicker of life reached her eyes.
But it disappeared in an instant.
Was she really this dead?
"Sakura...look at me."
Empty emerald transfixed themselves on her.
"Talk to me."
"..."
She'd had enough. "SAKURA ANSWER ME DAMNIT!"
"Ino..."
Instantaneously the blonde kunoichi shut up.
She waited patiently for Sakura to talk this time.
"...I just couldn't sleep."
Ino looked at her in scrutiny. "So you didn't talk with him yet?"
"I hate him," she said, without a trace of significance.
Gaping, Ino was stunned.
She knew Sakura was angry with Sasuke.
But to say it with such venom; it was outrageous.
"You don't mean that..." Ino trailed off at her grave face.
Haruno Sakura nodded her head.
She did mean it.
Pause.
"Sakura...no one is here. You can talk to me can't you? Why did you come here if you weren't going to speak?"
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
And another sigh escaped Ino's lips.
"You can stay here for the night. Are you hungry?"
"No."
"Did you eat anything today?"
Sakura nodded.
"What?"
"Ramen."
Ino laughed. "Naruto eh? He always makes you eat that stuff."
Pause.
"How much did you eat?"
Silence.
"Four bites..."
Ino clicked her tongue. "I'm making you some grilled rice balls. You can come in the kitchen if you'd like."
Silence.
She stood up and left.
The team seven member remained on the bed.
--
He groaned.
His clock was mocking him.
He was so sure.
2:32 A.M.
Exactly an hour since he'd last looked at it.
Was it possible for a clock to torment a human?
A seething human.
Smirk.
He could chuck his clock into the wall.
And watch it shatter into millions of little pieces.
Pause.
His hand reached out.
Grip.
Thrust.
A shattering noise reached his sharp hearing.
Silence.
There goes his alarm clock.
He sighed.
He'd have to buy a new one.
"Shit," he muttered.
Now he wouldn't know what time it was.
And he was wide awake.
His head spun around everything he could possibly think of.
In the end, it landed on a not-so-cheerful-anymore-because-he-was-an-idiot pink haired kunoichi
No more sleep for Sasuke.
Silence.
He groaned again.
--
She sat there, idly tapping her impatient fingers against the wooden tabletop.
Waiting.
And waiting.
And some more waiting.
"DAMN IT!"
Bare feet stomped toward the counter.
Her face inched toward the rice cooker.
One hand pulled the cover up.
She stared.
Then, she gritted her teeth.
"...why is it taking SO LONG to cook rice?!"
Pause.
She stared again.
"Oh...it's done."
Ino lugged a sigh.
Long day.
While she added soy sauce and vinegar, she thought.
Sakura hadn't said anything for the half hour she'd been cooking.
Was she better off alone?
And she'd never said why she'd came in the first place.
"Oh that woman," Ino mused aloud with a smirk on her lips.
She picked up a wooden spoon as she mixed the contents.
They had become close after Sasuke had gone.
It was quite funny really; after that happened she was able to comfort Sakura.
Ino hadn't really loved Sasuke.
She had a special someone of her own all along.
She blushed slightly at the thought.
Smile.
And he was amazing.
She used her hands to crush the rice into balls.
Her ministrations paused as her mind flew back to Sakura.
That poor girl had been through too much.
And she isolated herself within her pain.
The ice so incredibly thick it would take forever to melt.
Ino had tried countless times.
But to no avail.
Umeboshi was added to the center and she covered it with rice once more.
Next.
The girl she had known; the shy, caring, happy, thoughtful, impatient yet forgiving, violent yet sweet girl she'd known all her life...
was gone.
For good.
And although they made up, and were best friends again...
she felt as if she befriended a stranger.
Did Sakura even know herself anymore?
The blonde's nimble hands finished as she placed ten rice balls on a pan to fry.
Turn.
Ticking.
Flash.
Warmth.
Blue orbs eyed the fire wordlessly.
It was then she noticed another presence in the room.
She turned her head, expecting Sakura's form.
But it wasn't hers.
And he spoke, "You look troubled."
Ino's eyes glimmered.
"You look lazy."
He grinned.
She looked skeptical. "How'd you get in?"
Shikamaru rolled his eyes.
"You gave me a key, remember?"
"Oh—right, right."
She laughed.
"I missed you boy."
"I missed you girl."
She took a few steps and wrapped her arms around him.
Gasp.
"Shikamaru! You're freezing!"
He embraced her tightly.
"That's why I have you," he stated in a matter-of-fact tone, placing a gentle kiss atop her hair.
Ino smiled against his chest.
"I love you Shik—"
Sizzle.
Sizzle.
"CRAP!"
Ino roughly untangled herself from the brunette.
The rice balls were burning.
And that was not a good thing.
Step.
Stop.
Turn.
The flash went out.
Then, she heaved a great sigh.
"I hate cooking."
Shikamaru watched her amusedly.
"You're easily distracted by me it seems."
She flicked him a cold look. "Just because I missed you doesn't mean you're that important, sweetie."
Step.
He was nearing her, narrowing his eyes with a smirk.
Touch.
His hands were cupping her cheeks.
"You lied to me. Lie to me again."
She whispered, "I hate you."
And pushed her lips to his.
He smiled against them.
Then, a voice from behind them.
"Ino..."
They parted and turned their heads in unison to the lone kunoichi in the doorway.
Ah, there Sakura was.
"Sakura...?"
She was staring at them, a hooded curtain of pink against the tops of her eyes.
Shikamaru looked at Ino, confused.
"I didn't know she was here," he whispered.
Ino hushed him and walked toward the once more silent woman.
"Sakura, are you alright...?"
She moved to place a hand on her friend's shoulder.
But only was met with air.
"Sakura!"
Dash.
Ino caught her arm.
"Where are you going?"
"..."
"Sakura, the rice balls are done. Come eat."
Blue eyes then rested on brown orbs. "Are you hungry?"
"Hn."
"Then sit."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes for the second time.
But he obliged.
And sat down.
Ino ushered Sakura toward the table saying, "Come on, have a seat. Shikamaru won't bite."
He chuckled.
Ino flashed him a look and walked to the stove.
Sakura remained standing.
"Sakura, sit here. Ino's right, I won't bite you. I don't have much of an appetite for human flesh."
She stared at him.
"Sakura, sit."
She turned her head to an approaching Ino.
Her friend placed the tray of food on the table.
Pull.
The chair was in front of Sakura now.
"Sakura, sit."
Ino's voice was forceful.
The folds in Sakura's red dress tucked themselves against her neatly when she finally listened.
"Good girl."
Then, Ino followed suite and took a chair beside Sakura.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
"Go ahead you two, dig in."
"Arigatou Ino-chan!"
A delicate red hue brushed the said woman's face.
Shikamaru grinned.
He was pleased.
"Shikamaru, be quiet and eat!"
He pouted. "Troublesome..."
Grab.
A rice ball was half in his mouth.
"OW."
He burnt himself.
Grab.
The blonde placed a rice ball on Sakura's plate.
"Sakura, eat this."
Pause.
"Please, Sakura."
The girl shook her head.
Silence.
"Sakura! You need to eat. You barely had any ramen today!"
Sakura said nothing.
She took a breath.
"And look at you! You're a twig! You're clothes don't even fit you because you're so thin!"
Sakura merely stared.
At nothing in particular.
Ino scowled, frustrated. "Sakura you're going to eat this. Open your mouth."
Nothing.
Shikamaru watched the pair, bewildered.
The blonde gritted her teeth. "Open your mouth!"
Sakura pressed her lips together tightly.
"Damn it Sakura!! Why are you so difficult!"
Push.
Stand.
Step.
Grab.
Open.
Shove.
"Chew."
Sakura sputtered.
She swallowed.
Her throat burned.
Her eyes grew dark.
She grabbed Ino's wrist tightly.
The girl winced.
"Don't tell me what to do."
Her voice was low, filled with spite.
Ino wasn't scared. "I have to! You don't know how to live anymore!"
"Shut up."
"No Sakura! There's something wrong with you and you need to listen to me!"
Sakura tightened her grip and Ino gritted her teeth in pain.
"I said shut up."
"Sakura! You're being so stupid! Can't you see what you're doing to your—!"
Thrust.
She was thrown into a wall.
"I'm leaving."
Shikamaru looked at his girlfriend in shock.
But she was not phased.
"Sakura!"
Step.
Step.
Clutch.
Pull.
Step.
Step.
Slam.
They were in her room now.
And Ino was angry.
"SAKURA! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!"
She was screaming in her face.
Sakura remained immobile.
Unafraid.
Unaffected.
"ANSWER ME!!"
Sakura glared.
"You're annoying."
Azure eyes widened.
Shock.
"Sa—!"
"Move."
Ino was in front of the door.
Blocking the exit.
So she remained.
"No."
The other kunoichi bristled.
"Move damnit!"
"I said no!"
Cold, green eyes locked with heated, blue ones.
But they were just as cold.
Except there were tears.
Subtle.
Evidence; her friend was pained.
"Sakura...please..."
"..."
"Please just stop!"
She grabbed the fragile girl.
And wrapped her arms around her.
Around the impassive woman.
"Talk to me."
Silence.
"Tell me what's wrong."
Silence.
"W-Why are you acting like this?"
Tears.
They fell against Sakura.
And she felt them.
They were real.
"...Ino..."
Blink.
Swallow.
More tears.
"What...?"
"This is how I am..."
"...?"
"...and I'm not sorry."
She pulled away from Ino.
Open.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Close.
And she was gone.
--
He was walking slowly.
Step.
Pause.
Step.
Pause.
Savoring the moment.
He took everything in.
Everything he knew.
Very different,
but all the same.
Breath.
He was going back.
The oddity of the thought in his mind remained.
But he was ready.
He wanted to go back.
He needed to go back.
Pause.
He was going to see her again.
Step.
Them again.
Step.
Everyone.
Breath.
Everything.
He'd left behind.
And he was excited.
This was where his sanity had slept.
For four years.
Desperation.
He left for that.
Power.
That too.
Love.
He ran from that.
Pause.
Step.
Step.
Step.
He reached the gates.
They were towering.
And he was insignificant.
But over them, was salvation.
Pause.
There were voices.
And then a great rumble.
He watched as the tall gates split.
Sliding, opening, moving.
Until he could see two figures before him.
And his eyes widened.
--
Gasp.
Breath.
"Another dream?"
Sasuke scowled.
Again.
That dream.
The first and last time he saw her since he came back.
She avoided him.
So well.
Another breath.
He picked himself off the bed.
Walked to his closet.
Opened.
Grabbed.
Threw on a shirt.
Shut.
Walked,
till he was outside.
His eyes reflected the darkness.
He needed the cold air.
Sweat.
He was letting it evaporate.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Calming his nerves was all he was doing.
Because he had enough.
With or without her.
He was miserable.
Whether he liked it or not.
Just a few more steps and he'd be at the bridge.
Where he used to see her.
All the time.
But he wouldn't see her again.
She hated him with every ounce of her cold blood.
Pause.
He was alone.
But why was that any different?
It was like most of his life anyway.
Except this time he actually cared.
Step.
Step.
Step.
He stopped abruptly.
Who was approaching the bridge at this time of night?
The time unknown to him.
Then he saw her.
Roseate hair, green eyes, ninja attire.
His eyes weren't fooling him.
He was not dreaming.
This time it was real.
It was she that walked across the bridge,
toward him.
Sakura.
--
His eyes were playing devilish tricks on him.
The pair of shinobi standing in front of him...
were not his former teammates.
He would have laughed at his eyes,
for being so blind.
Breath.
But he could see perfectly.
And after a moment, he took a step.
Another step.
And another.
And they saw him.
One expression changed multiple times.
The other,
nothing.
--
Her eyes were emotionless,
when she stopped.
Stare.
He watched her, trying to read her expression.
But there was nothing to read.
She was different now.
He would never be able to tell...
how she felt, or what she was thinking.
He parted his lips, mouthing but not saying her name.
She remained impassive.
He tried again.
A whisper, "Sakura..."
Did he see her body tense slightly?
No; at least he didn't think so.
"Sakura...what are you doing out here?"
Her eyes narrowed at him, still refraining from her vocals.
Though her eyes were unreadable,
they expressed her hate well.
Step.
Step.
He approached her.
Still, no reaction.
They were near the center.
He could hear the cool sound of water beneath.
The bridge.
So many memories.
"Sakura, why have you been avoiding me?"
He saw her grit her teeth.
Frustration?
Anger?
Maybe annoyance?
She spoke:
"Get away from me."
As expected,
her voice was laced with venom.
The Uchiha shook his head.
He would not move.
And if forced to,
he would undeniably keep her there.
--
"S-Sasuke?"
Naruto;
he was gaping.
"Shit, you teme!"
But,
the prodigy's eyes drawled to her.
He was watching her quietly.
She wasn't speaking to him.
It was awkward; uncomfortable.
Yet he just stood there.
His dark eyes drinking in her appearance.
Her clothes, hair, emotionless expression.
But what frightened him the most...
cold, empty jade eyes.
Staring right through him.
"Sakura...?"
At the sound of her name, Naruto clenched his fists tightly.
"HOW DARE YOU SHOW YOUR FACE! YOU TRAITOR!"
Dark eyes jerked their attention to the blonde.
And behind him, people were staring.
He was making a scene.
Sasuke was beginning to feel timid.
"WHY ARE YOU HERE?! WHY'D YOU COME BACK! ANSWER ME DAMNIT!"
Sasuke's eyes were slightly widened.
He had never expected this reaction.
But then again, why would he expect anything less?
"DID YOU FEEL BAD THAT YOU LEFT US FOUR YEARS AGO? DID YOU FEEL SORRY FOR ALMOST KILLING ME? DID YOU REALIZE OROCHIMARU WANTED TO KILL YOU AFTER ALL THIS TIME?"
Cringe.
"DID YOU REALIZE THAT SAKURA-CHAN LOVED YOU AFTER YOU LEFT HER ON A BENCH AND WENT POWER CRAZY?!"
Sasuke closed his eyes out of shame.
"YOU IDIOT! GO BACK TO HELL! NOBODY WANTS YOU HERE!"
Naruto's face was red.
He was screaming his lungs out.
The traitor deserved it.
"WE'RE ALL DONE WITH YOU! WE GAVE UP ON YOU ALREADY! YOU'RE A DISGRACE TO THIS VILLAGE!"
He took a deep breath.
"I WISH OROCHIMARU COULD HAVE TAKEN YOUR BODY, YOU IMBOSILE!"
Cough.
Naruto lost his breath.
His voice now hoarse.
But he wasn't done.
"YOU KNOW WHAT?! YOU CAN COME BACK TO HELL HERE! AND HAVE THE HOKAGE PUNISH YOU! AND THEN WHEN I BECOME HOKAGE—I'LL MAKE SURE YOU SUFFER LIKE WE DID!"
Sasuke opened his eyes.
He was dragged into the village by seven ANBU.
He hadn't even noticed their prescence.
Word travels fast in Konoha.
Push.
Shove.
He stumbled.
Stop.
He watched Sakura turn away.
Not even sparing him a glance.
Nor a word.
And Naruto followed, breathing heavily.
And Sasuke was pulled toward the Hokage tower.
As The traitor.
--
"Sakura, talk to me."
"Get out of my way, Uchiha."
The name sounded like poison on her lips.
Or ashes in her mouth.
The taste, hideous.
He could see from the way she was glowering.
At him.
"...Sakura."
Grip.
He felt something sharp against his neck.
Her hand was outstretched.
There was a kunai resting in it,
raised at him.
Then her lips turned to ice.
"I'll kill you."
A/N: Review if you want me to continue, (even though I most probably am...) and NOTE! Umeboshi is a soft pickled plum. :) Happy Holidays!!!