"Agh!" Sakura jumped, having been so deep in thought she hadn't notice anyone else around her. "Kakashi-sensei!"
"Morning."
"You shouldn't sneak up on people like that."
"Perhaps." Frowning, she sighed her morning wasn't going well at all.
"Visiting Sasuke are we?" Kakashi inquired looked behind him. His question instantly made her grow flustered as she quickly denied it.
"N-no, I'm on my way to the hospital."
"Is that so? You picked the long way." Sakura laughed nervously.
"Y-yeah, I felt like walking today."
"Ah, so?"
"Huh?"
"How many days has it been now?" Sakura tilted her head unsure of what he meant at first.
"Oh! Three." She responded quietly, her previous irritation having dissipated. "No one has seen him come out."
"I see. That's nice to know, but I was talking about Naruto." Kakashi replied looking down at the confused girl.
"Huh?"
"He's been out on a mission correct?"
"Oh, y-yeah." Kakashi smiled patting his student on her rosy head.
"He'll be fine.
"I'm sure, knowing Naruto though he's done something stupid." Kakashi merely kept his smile, walking away from her.
"I was referring to Sasuke." Waving, he pulled out his familiar orange book, immersing himself within its pages, leaving a slightly bewildered Sakura behind.
"Sensei."
It had been three days and still the burdened Uchiha had yet to come to any decision. He had thought to leave but something kept him still. He thought back to that day, that of which he unintentionally made a promise to Sakura. He knew she wouldn't have heard him, but somehow it seemed to hold him to the village. Irritated with himself, he went on nightly walks to avoid contact at all costs. The calm of the night eased his troubled mind, at least momentarily. Although his every move was watched, it was something he had to deal with for the time being.
The first night he walked out, he had found the small basket on his doorstep. At first ignoring the bundle, it wasn't until he returned that he brought it inside, placing it besides the first on the table. The next night was the same. Wondering if today would be the same, he decided to just check now rather than discover it that night. Slowly opening the door, he peered outside, the breeze still blowing gently, playing with his bangs. Looking down he grunted, seeing yet another basket placed upon his small porch. About to close the close he paused, still able to see the basket out of the corner of his eye. Lightly arguing with himself mentally he pushed open the door, reaching out and bringing the basket inside, firmly shutting the door behind him.
Sakura stared back at the hokage still processing what she had just been told. "Alright then, that is all. You can go now." Nodding once slowly still unsure of what just had happened; the confused apprentice took a step to the side before stopping. Turning back towards the hokage she looked at her with eyes reflecting utter confusion and perhaps worry.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"What?"
"Did I?"
"No."
"Oh." This set her back. If she hadn't done anything incorrectly then why? "Then..."
"Think of it as a little vacation." Smiling at her apprentice she watched Sakura leave her office still confused. "Hopefully it'll do you some good." She said to herself in the now empty room.
Hauling his pack over his shoulder, he waved bye to Kiba and Shikamaru, before turning away fro the hokage's office towards his favorite ramen shop, his stomach voicing quite loudly just how empty it was. Picking up the pace, he hurried along the path, his hunger motivating him forward. Soon enough he found himself before the small restaurant, a hungry gleam in his eyes as he lifted up the flap greeting the cook cheerfully. Taking a seat it wasn't until he put his pack down that he noticed he was not alone. "Eh? Sakura-chan." Looking up at the mention of her name Sakura smiled.
"Naruto, so you're back already." The boy nodded, grinning broadly.
"It was an easy mission."
"Ah, I see." Naruto nodded as he proceeded to order before turning his attention back to his friend.
"So what brings you here? Aren't you usually working?" Sakura nodded placing her chopsticks down.
"Uhn, usually yes, but I'm on vacation right now."
"Vacation?"
"Yeah." Naruto stared blankly at the girl. It was hard to imagine having a vacation. Usually they just had gaps were there was nothing for them to do really so they waited, but vacations were rare. Then again he figured things worked differently at the hospital.
"Oh, well that's nice I guess." He stated slowly, as his food was placed before him.
"Yeah, Tsunade-sama must have figured I needed one." Sakura commented sounding a little down. Naruto for once picked up the tone in her voice and peered over at her, as he slurped up the rest of the ramen.
"You don't sound too happy about it." Looking down at her plate the girl sighed.
"I can't help but feel I did something wrong." Naruto nodded, crossing his arms.
"Hmmm, true," Naruto began, causing Sakura to twitch slightly in irritation, "but I don't think so. You're really really good at what you do Sakura-chan so I think it's probably just a reward or something." Naruto finished smiling cheerfully at her. Reciprocating the smile she nodded.
"You're right, thanks." Pushing her plate back she paid before jumping to her feet. "I'll see you later then." Lifting the flap she exited leaving Naruto behind. Staring at the tent flap he tilted his head before shrugging it off. Something still felt odd but he figured it was nothing. Turning back to his meal he ordered another bowl of ramen.
Folding the cloth over, she tucked the remaining bit into the sides. Lifting the small basket, Sakura made her way out the door. She was in no hurry this time, considering now she had nothing to do afterwards. Shutting the door behind her, she looked down the streets greeting the people that passed by. Looking down at the basket she smiled to herself before making her way down the busy path. Everyone was happily conversing with each other. A few gossiping about tidbits they had picked up earlier. A few of the rumors made the girl laugh, though she tried to hold back her giggles, not wanting to seem rude by eavesdropping on other's conversation. It wasn't until a particular name popped up that she stopped.
"Did you hear that Uchiha kid is back?"
"No."
"Yeah, he was captured a few days ago. Apparently he's been pardoned."
"Why would they do that?"
"Who knows."
"Sounds like trouble if you ask me."
"I know."
"The hokage should never have allowed the boy back here."
"True, who knows what she was thinking. She must have her reasons."
"He was a prodigy. I suppose she figured it would be a shame to let that talent go to waste."
"Prodigy or not he's bad news. It seems he's falling in his brother's footsteps."
"His brother?"
"Yeah, he was a prodigy as well. Though he was pure trouble. Didn't you know he was the one that wiped his clan out?"
"Really? It makes sense now."
"Yeah. The thought of a traitor being in this village makes me uneasy."
"You're not the only one. Hopefully he'll leave. I won't ever feel safe while he's here."
Sakura turned back to the two women, her eyes wide. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. The way they y were talking about Sasuke, it wasn't right. Her hand loosened slightly, the basket slipping slightly from her fingers, but still held up. Noticing the girl staring at them the two women recognized the pink haired female and smiled nervously at her.
"Oh Sakura dear, you're up early." Sakura stumbled with a reply still surprised by what she had heard. "Well I should go now, I've wasted too much time already." The other woman responded similarly, parting ways they quickly turned from the girl. Her gaze dropping down to her hand, she looked at the tiny basket, closing her fingers around its handle. Sasuke.
Emerging from the shower, the newly cleaned Uchiha stopped, hearing something outside his door. Peering at it with his cold eyes, he frowned.
Making her way up the stairs, Sakura placed the basket down, tugging on the cloth slightly so it straightened a little, clearing the wrinkles. Smiling in satisfaction she turned away to leave.
"Take it back." Sakura stopped at the sound of the voice. Her eyes darted back to meet with his.
"Sasu…"
"Take it back." Sakura stopped the harshness in his voice all too apparent.
"I just figured…you might be…"
"I don't need it."
"Oh." They both stood there silent, Sakura's gaze having fallen down to her feet. The conversation she had overheard earlier still playing in her mind. Beginning to shut the door Sakura spoke up, causing the boy to stop, the door nearly closed. "Take it anyways." Sasuke looked back at her, already irritated by her being there. "Since I already brought it for you and all." She finished looking up at him hopefully.
"No." Her face fell at the quick response. Shutting the door behind him, Sakura was left alone with her rejected gift. Sighing, she reached out for it when a thought occurred to her. This was getting ridiculous. There was no way Sasuke could remain in his house forever. Even she knew he wouldn't last much longer that way, his strife for training would get to him eventually and it wasn't like she had anything to do either. It was time to take a little initiative on her part. Placing the basket back down, she sat down next to it, figuring she'd just wait it out.
"He has to come out eventually." She said to herself.
Sasuke frowning made his way to the kitchen ignoring baskets that decorated his table, unlike what most people thought, the Uchiha had left his house on occasion. Not being one found of confinement, even if by choice. After all there were a few things that were necessary. Food being on of them and although a few villages had refused to sell to him, he managed to get what he needed with little conversation on his part. He didn't care about them nor did he need them. He did things on his own before and he would continue to do so now.
Sakura had been sitting for six hours now, her legs beginning to feel numb. Stretching them out she groaned rubbing them a bit to get the circulation going again. So far she hadn't heard a thing from inside his house but she knew he was still inside. Looking over at the basket she sighed. She was stupid if she thought this was going to get him to come out. After all Sasuke wasn't one to be swayed in such a way. Sighing again, feeling incredibly idiotic for sitting there for as long as she did. She made to get up when she heard the door behind her open. Looking back she saw who she had been waiting for all this time. A little surprised, his features soon fell back into a stoic expression.
"You're still here."
"You're finally out."
"Go home Sakura." Ignoring his order, she rose to her feet, wincing slightly at the pain in her legs she smiled brightly.
"It took you long enough." Picking up the basket, she hobbled over to him. "Here take it. It's no use to me and since I made it for you, you might as well take it." Placing it in his hands, she smiled still, turning to leave. "You should come out more you know." She paused, feeling the bit of confidence she had in her ebbing away. "It would be nice. Naruto would be happy and…and so would a lot of other people." Sasuke said nothing but his famous "Hn" leaving Sakura to fight with her thoughts as she tried to think of a way to bring him out into the village again. "I…would like that too actually. We could hang out like old times." Feeling herself growing flustered Sakura laughed nervously, turning towards the Uchiha quickly. "But that's up to you really. You don't have to if you don't want to and I won't bring you anything else so you don't have to worry about that anymore. So uh…bye." Quickly turning around she tried to keep her composure as she walked away from the raven-haired boy.
"Sakura." She jerked to a stop, not expecting him to say anything to her. She looked back at him timidly, a sort of wonder in her eyes. His expression the same stoic one he had earlier was slightly softer or so it seemed to her. He lifted the basket up a bit, "Arigatou." Going back inside, he shut the door behind him. Sakura stood in a slight daze as she stared at the empty porch. Creeping up, the corners of her mouth slowly formed a smile as she continued down the path, feeling a whole lot better all of a sudden.