Tiger- -still has fingers to temples and eyes closed- … I am also sensing jealousy on Sasuke's part… -dodges vase and looks at Sasuke-
Sasuke- -glaring daggers-
Tiger- You know you should be nicer to me… it could cost you… -dodges kunai- Itachi!
Itachi- -walks in-
Tiger- Will you take care of my light work while I finish this? Carry on…
Ch 9: Hot Springs
It was morning and Sasuke was already at the gates waiting for his teammates to arrive. His head lowered as if in thought. 'I don't care.' He started. 'Why should I? That kiss of theirs meant nothing.'
"Sasuke." he looked over to see his blonde best friend walking toward him, his expression troubled. Naruto had stopped beside him and all they did was look at each other and neither exchanged words, which was surprising since Naruto wasn't speaking and that he was there before Sakura. Minutes had passed in silence and Sasuke knew Naruto wasn't one to stay quiet. But since last night they were hushed. What else could they do?
"What're we going to do about Sakura and Aizen?" Naruto finally broke the silence.
Sasuke didn't answer. It was almost a stab to the heart with a kunai. Almost. "Sasuke…?"
"What?" the Uchiha said monotonously, arms crossed.
"Do you like Sakura?"
Sasuke looked at him as if he said something completely stupid, his face still emotionless. "Why would you think that, Idiot?"
"You looked hurt when she accepted Aizen's offer on a date and when she accept-"
"I couldn't care less what she does with him." The boy said a matter-of-factly, avoiding his gaze. "She can marry him for all I care."
"That's not true…" this had made the Sharingan user scowl as he looked at his best friend.
"And what are you thinking?" he scowled.
"I know it's not true." Naruto was now looking at him. "This is between men, Sasuke. I know you are starting to feel something for her. Sai has also seen it. First, when you came back to the hospital after our mission, you stayed there until she woke up and walked her home with me. Second, when she helped Aizen you didn't like him and especially when he asked her out and later you actually went with me to talk to her before her date, when you didn't want to and then you listened to me when we spied on them. Third, you ditched me after he kissed her. There's all the proof I need."
"That's not proof," Sasuke scoffed.
"You are finally showing your human side, Sasuke, and you don't even realize it." Naruto gave a small smile. "That's the Sasuke we've been waiting for to see for a long time now."
"What are you saying Idiot?"
"When you were on your quest for power, you had become lost. You had been left for dead while someone else had taken over your body… and it wasn't Orochimaru. The friendship we had was locked away as was every other one of your human emotions. Now that your brother is dead you are starting to open yourself up, Sai and I have noticed this yesterday, when Sakura accepted Aizen's date."
"So, metaphorically speaking, you have seen emotions that have been carefully hidden which are now starting to resurface?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto nodded, "Exactly." Over the years, Naruto had become a little more observant.
"I still think you're an Idiot. I don't like anyone, even Sakura, nor do I love. That would be weakness."
"You're wrong, Sasuke…" the blonde shook his head at his best friends' defiance.
"How would I be wrong?" Sasuke's tone held irritation.
"Love can be used as both a strength and a weakness. But what you choose to use it for could either give you power or be your downfall."
"And I suppose you know what real power is!"
Naruto growled at this. "What do you know about power, Sasuke?!" he demanded, Sasuke was surprised by his outburst, though again it was hidden and he listened. "You left for power? That's nothing. You left to find it, to seek it. It never came from your heart, Sasuke. You said you needed to avenge your clan, did you fight for yourself, or was it for them?! I think you did it for yourself. That's why you weren't strong enough to beat Itachi and you left those who cared for you the most." The blonde turned away from his best friend, feeling half guilty and relieved. He was surprised when he realized that Sasuke didn't answer, or even attack him for his words. No words were exchanged and complete silence between them arose again, other than the sounds of nature.
Sai then showed up, his fake smile ever present. Time seemed to pause as they waited for their sensei. After an hour or more they were greeted by a, "Yo."
"Finally Kakashi-sensei you show up!" Naruto shouted, but then he, as well as the others realized that there was a teammate missing.
"Where's Ugly?" Sai asked the two.
"Probably with her new boyfriend," Sasuke said unfazed. Kakashi also noticed the boys' attitude.
"So has our Sasuke finally grown up?" Kakashi inquired, making Sasuke glare at him, understanding what it was he was saying.
"He's in denial." Naruto spoke up.
"Hn."
"Sorry I'm late!" all the males turned to see their female comrade running up to them, with none other than Aizen accompanying her.
"Sorry, I was the reason she was late. Please be easy on her." The blonde apologized for her.
"What are you doing here, Aizen?" the Kyuubi boy asked with a hint of detest in his voice.
"I had to see Sakura before she left. I may never see her again, which I hope that is not the case and I thought I'd escort her to make sure she gets here safely."
"Well she's here with her teammates and she's never been safer than when she's with us." Naruto said.
Sasuke inwardly smirked as he watched. 'Good one, Naruto.'
'So this is the guy who has taken interest in our Sakura, huh?' the copy-nin thought, studied the boy. 'I see what the boys mean about trusting him. Something's not right.' He jumped in before the hyperactive ninja would kill this kid. "So you're the one who took our Sakura out, right? Aizen, if I heard correctly."
"That's me, sir." The teen answered.
"Were you a gentleman to her? If anything went on we will castrate you."
The boy sweat dropped and Sakura jumped in front of him protectively, her face turning red. "Kakashi-sensei! You will not!" she turned to him. "I'm really sorry about him. He's really a nice guy when he reads his book."
"Its fine, I should let you go so you and your team can leave and have fun." He waved. "You will be in my dreams tonight." With that, he disappeared, her face was flushed.
She turned back to Kakashi with a questioning look. "What was that?!"
"What was what, Sakura?" he asked innocently.
"Those words?!"
"I was only placing my concern, as a father-figure should."
Sakura was trying to calm down and succeeded after a few moments. "You embarrass me, first with your book and now in front of someone I may like." All attention was on her, though she didn't notice. Sasuke wasn't looking at her, but inside he was fuming. "Well, are we all ready to go?" everyone looked at her and Naruto and Sasuke noticed that she was wearing that cherry blossom pendant around her neck. "Then lets go." She walked forward and out the gate toward the hot springs that awaited for them.
The kunoichi led the way, though Sasuke and Naruto were to her right, Sasuke in the middle. Every so often, he glanced at her. Most of the time it landed on the necklace that was placed around her neck as she walked. He looked a head in thought. 'I did leave for myself. It was never for anyone but me, and always me.' Again he shifted his eyes to study his pink haired teammates face. He noticed a few times she would reach up and twiddle with the pendant that Aizen had given her. Sasuke growled inwardly.
Naruto eventually made a conversation with everyone, but Sakura was spacing out as she thought of Aizen, trying to sort out her feelings. The four males of the group noticed this but remained silent. However, Naruto, Kakashi and Sai glanced at Sasuke from time to time, who had managed to stay close to Sakura though far enough not to arouse suspicion in case she were to notice. The remainder of the trip was quiet other than Naruto who continued to talk until they arrived at their destination. "Finally," Sakura said cheerfully as she rushed into the building. It was small, but homey.
"Hello, can I help you?" an older woman asked. She had aging graying hair and glasses on the bridge of her nose. Wrinkles were forming under her pale blue eyes but a pleasant smile on her face. She wore a light blue kimono and obi around her medium sized waist.
"Yes," Kakashi started, "we're from Konoha. I believe we have some reservations."
"Ah, yes, party of five, four males and one female. It says I have two separate rooms." Kakashi nodded as the woman handed them their keys. "You are next door to each other. If there be anything else someone down here will be able to help you. Enjoy your stay."
"Thank you." Kakashi and Sakura said as they grabbed their keys and headed toward their rooms to get ready for the hot springs.
Once up to their rooms, they entered their rooms. Sakura had her own bed, and both rooms were adjoined, so they never were without each other. The room was big for her being the only one in the room, two beds and a TV, blue bedspreads and carpeting and curtains and a reclining chair. She quickly threw her things down and rummaged through her bag and grabbed what she needed to before dashing out the door to the female hot springs, not telling the boys.
In the boys' room, they looked at the two beds. The room was identical to Sakura's. "I call this bed all to myself!" Naruto ran and jumped on one of the beds and spreading out as if he were a starfish. "All mine…" he closed his blue eyes only open them up after he was hit on the head.
"Idiot," Sasuke said.
"We're going to have to share, Naruto." The copy-nin replied. "Who's partnered with who?"
"I don't want to share." The blonde started complaining. "Maybe I can ask Sakura if I can sleep in the other bed in her room. So two of you have to snuggle and get a little closer." Naruto smiled, pleased that he was the first to have thought of something so clever.
"No, Naruto." Kakashi said.
"Ah, Kakashi-sensei! Why not? It'd be great for three of us, but not for the two unlucky saps who would have to share together."
"No."
"Bu-"
"Forget it, Idiot."
"What was that Sasuke?!" Naruto turned to he best friend who was annoyed with his arms crossed as he sat in the reclining chair.
"Well, I'll be in here if you need me." Kakashi pointed to the bathroom, and disappeared.
"Hey, Sasuke," he looked over at Naruto who had his hand cupped in a whisper.
"What is it?"
"You still want to try to see if we can unmask, Kakashi?" Sasuke raised a brow. He remembered when he, Naruto and Sakura were trying to unmask their sensei and were unsuccessful with all their attempts. And when Naruto asked, Kakashi revealed another mask.
"Why not? It'd give us something to do while we're here."
"So you three have tried to unmask the masked ninja once, huh?" the artist inquired, sitting down beside Naruto.
"We tried so many times. One was when we were here and he showed up in the hot spring with his mask still on. Who in their right mind would wear a mask in the hot spring?"
"Kakashi, obviously." Sasuke answered.
"Hey, we should ask Sakura if she's up for it." Naruto suggested.
"It's not like she'd be able to see anything. We'd be separated."
"Well, we should tell her that we still are gonna try to accomplish this." The blonde jumped and opened the adjoined door on his side and knocked on Sakura's. "Hey, Sakura."
No answer.
He knocked again, "Sakura?"
No answer.
"Sakura? Are you over there?" Finally he grabbed the key to the other room and walked toward his door.
"She's probably doing something." Sasuke told him.
"I just want to check. It worries me when she's alone." He exited and walked over to Sakura's door.
The two dark haired boys waited and Naruto opened Sakura's adjoined door. "I think she already went to the hot spring. Her stuff isn't in here." He started grabbing his things. "I think I'm gonna go too. Are any of you coming?"
"Hn." Sasuke didn't even move.
Naruto knocked on the bathroom door. "Hey, Kakashi-sensei are you gonna come down to the hot springs?"
"Later." Came the reply.
"He's probably reading his book." Sai said, standing up and following Naruto out the door. Sasuke remained as he was, alone in the room other than the other occupant in the other room.
Silence engulfed the room for minutes and Sasuke sat in his place. The copy-nin emerged from the bathroom, "Ah, Sasuke. Haven't left for the hot springs?" the Uchiha didn't answer. "Is there a reason you're not taking part in the activities your friends are in?" still nothing. "If there ever is anything you need to talk about, I or one of the others is here for you. Remember that, Sasuke." The masked shinobi said as he grabbed his things and headed off for the hot spring, leaving Sasuke alone with his thoughts. He would be there for a couple minutes.
--
Sakura lowered herself into the steaming water as she felt a wave of relaxation wash over her body. A deep sigh escaped her lips as she leaned her back against the stone. 'This feels wonderful.' She took a relieved breath. 'I haven't been here in ages. This is a place that can always put me at ease.'
A few minutes later and she heard a slash on the other side. "Calm down, Naruto." Sai told the hyperactive blonde.
Sakura sighed, 'They must have discovered that I came down.'
"Hey Sakura, you over there?"
'Yup, he definitely knew.' She thought, "Yes I'm over here."
"I thought so, you worried me when I knocked on your door and tried to get a hold of you, only for you not to answer. Don't do that to me."
"Sorry…"
"Hey, anyway, Sasuke, Sai and I are going to try to unmask Kakashi again. You want to join?"
"Not right now, Naruto. But I will."
"Ok, oh, here he comes. Talk to you later, Sakura." With that, Naruto left for the other side to talk to their sensei.
She could still hear them talking, she giggled when she heard that someone pushed him in the water. "Idiot." Sasuke had arrived.
"Hey, Sasuke!"
"Can't I just visit the hot springs in peace?" Kakashi sighed. "You two haven't changed, but then, who would want you to?"
"What's that supposed to mean, Kakashi-sensei?!" Naruto exclaimed, Sakura giggled again at Naruto's inattentive.
"He means who would want you and Sasuke to change your relationship, Naruto." She said, getting the boys' attention. Naruto was again at the wall that divided them.
"Were you listening to our conversation Sakura?" the blonde was grinning slyly.
"I was only trying to get you to shut up so I could enjoy myself in peace." Sakura answered simply, Naruto's face fell.
"You want to come over here with us, Sakura?" the boys looked at the Kyuubi boy questioningly, if not disgusted.
"No thanks Naruto. You and Kakashi-sensei scare me."
"Ah, c'mon, Sakura." Kakashi defended, "I'm not that bad."
"The books you read suggest otherwise."
Sasuke and Sai had to smirk at this. "Good one, Ugly."
"You're lucky I'm not going to come over there and beat you senseless, Sai." Venom was heard in her voice.
"Well, I can tell we are not welcome to this side of the hot spring." The silver haired man then left for the other side, followed by the others.
It had been about an hour and Sakura realized she was starting to prune. So she decided to get out before she looked like a raisin, wrapping the white towel around her thin frame as she stepped out and walked to the dressing room. After drying herself off the first article she put on was the gift she was given from Aizen before putting everything back on and headed out to explore.
--
Sasuke had been out of the hot spring for about thirty minutes. He didn't stay long, just enough to see if Kakashi would remove his mask, which he didn't – even after Naruto tried pushing him in face first. Right now he was walking around, on a path he had found. Again he had seen couples walking around hand in hand and some giving kisses as he walked by. True it was early spring, but you can only take so much of this. He walked by a group of three teenage boys who were harassing some girls with sweet words – to bad for them they were too smart for that.
Eventually he found a tree and thought he'd hide from the people as seeing as how he wanted to be alone, never being one for social contact. The branch concealed his presence with the many leaves that sheltered him from other eyes. Resting his back against the bark, he listened as he closed his eyes. "Hey there pretty girl." He instantly turned his head to see the same three teens greeting his pink haired teammate. The one who had spoke was dark brown haired and blue eyes with a medium build. He wore faded blue jeans and sandals with a green short sleeved shirt.
"Haven't seen you around here, and we come here often." The second smiled mischievously. "Would you like to hang out with us?" he was a little bigger than the other two, his belly stuck out underneath his tight white tank top and his tan cargo shorts were hanging loosely around his thick waist and brown boots were on his feet. Spiked black hair and red eyes were smiling down at the girl. The third boy was he quietest, though he had a naughty glint in his brown eyes and brown hair. A white wife beater tank top shown his build and his skin while his sports short reached below his knees. He too was wearing sandals.
"Thank you but no," Sakura answered with a friendly smile on her face.
"Aw, please." The second boy begged. "We'll make sure you have fun."
"I'm sorry, but I have other things I have to take care of first." She continued on her way and walked through them when a hand gripped around her left upper arm – which caused her to stop and look at the boy who had spoke first.
"What do you have to do?" he inquired. "Do you have a boy friend that we have to beat up or something?"
"Hm, maybe I have one but I am quite capable of taking care of myself." Sakura replied, her tone informed anyone who knew her that she was getting angry. The pink haired kunoichi tried yanking her arm away as she started walking again, but the boys' grip was tightened and the other two circled her.
Sasuke was starting to think he would have to intervene and a silent scowl was unknowingly growing on his face.
"Let me go, please." The medic tried to be polite with the situation, but the three were only becoming worse than she would have liked.
"Only if you come with us," the third boy finally spoke.
"And if I refuse?"
"You don't want to," he grinned in response.
"So if I refuse, you'll force me?" there was a soft chuckle, a grin and a smile. "Then, I'm afraid you three will have to try and force me." With that she grabbed the arm that was gripped onto her and she twisted it, the bone could be heard breaking. The brown haired boy was on his knees as he gave a small cry. His friends backed up upon seeing her speed. Sakura twisted it a little bit more before releasing and the boy pulled his arm toward him, trying to recede the pain. He and his friends watched as the girl continued on her way but he nodded to his friends. Both jumped at her and Sakura spun on her heels sending a kick to the bigger teen and a punch to the other one. Both got off of the ground and charged her again. The spiky black haired boy was repeatedly punched in the stomach and finished by giving him a black eye. Her next opponent was given a round house kick to the face and he instantly fell to the ground. The kunoichi looked over the three of them for a moment before going back on her way.
Sasuke smirked as he watched her leave without a scratch before turning to the other three. He noticed the first one, who was given the broken wrist - was starting to stand up and take a few steps toward his teammate who was already a good distance away. "I'll kill her!" he growled. Upon hearing this, Sasuke jumped down between his distanced teammate and the boy who was planning on attacking her again, which was completely stupid seeing how three bigger boys were taken down by a smaller girl, even if she was a shinobi. "Who're you?" he snarled at Sasuke.
"You've got a death wish if you go after her," Sasuke replied, smirking at them.
"So are you her supposed boyfriend we have to beat up to get to her?"
"No," the Uchiha answered before following his pink haired comrade, hands in his pockets and his clan symbol once again proudly on his back.
Sakura was up ahead as if nothing happened. Personally, she didn't care. They asked for it, she gave them a fair warning. Someone was suddenly by her side and she knew instantly who it was. She had sensed him there during her confrontation with three teenage boys, so she just ignored him. "I take it the unmasking of Kakashi was again unsuccessful?" she asked, giving him a glance.
"Hn."
"All attempts have been that way." Sakura informed him, this time he sent a glance at her. Again she was twiddling with that necklace. He growled inwardly and he wanted to tear it off and throw it away. She doesn't need that! They walked the rest of the way in silence to their rooms.
"Ah, it's good to see you two back." Kakashi said as they entered the boys' rooms. "Are you two ready to have dinner?"
Alright, that's what I got for this chapter. Sorry for the long wait, I started another story and I also had a little writers block on how I wanted this chapter to go. But there it is. Please review and thank you all a bunch.