Chapter 3: Truce

He entered his first period class expectantly, glancing around the room for the always distinguishable pink hair of Haruno Sakura. For some reason, the woman wasn't in school yet. As he sat down at his desk, he patiently waited for her to arrive so he could apologize to her. He really didn't want to, but, like he decided last night, he needed to let go of his pride and work together with the sharpshooter. The bell rang, with Naruto running in at the last minute to avoid being marked tardy, and the Uchiha noted with slight concern that Sakura hadn't even come to class. Is she sick? He found himself thinking, surprisingly worried about her. The blond slumped down in the seat next to the Uchiha looking terrible.

Sasuke sighed, feeling guilt sweep over him as he sank down in his seat, not even bothering to listen to Kurenai-sensei. He had a feeling that it was his fault the normally chipper girl wasn't in school, the usually hyperactive blond beside him was depressed, and his injured teammates in the hospital weren't out yet. It seemed he had a knack for making people suffer without even trying. Sighing again, he turned to Naruto worriedly and asked, "How are Hinata and Tenten doing?"

The blond glanced tiredly at Sasuke and rubbed at his azure eyes. "Hinata-chan's made a full recovery, albeit being slightly traumatized, and she'll be in school tomorrow. But Tenten won't be back 'til next week at the very least." He shot a look around the room with a knit brow. "Oi, where's Sakura-chan?"

Suddenly Sasuke was even more anxious than before. "You don't know either?" He shook his head back no, then tilted it in confusion. "Weird. I haven't seen her since she ran out of Tenten and Hinata's hospital room…"

Naruto tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Well, during lunch let's go see Kakashi. He might know."

"Naruto, Sasuke," Kurenai called, snapping them out of their one-on-one conversation. "Pay attention. This is going to be on your quiz." They nodded and began to studiously take notes, the Uchiha still concerned for his partner.

…:oOo:…

"Gomen nasai," Kakashi told them, his nose buried in his favorite book of all time, Icha Icha Paradise. "But Sakura quit the ANBU yesterday."

Sasuke looked heatedly appalled. "What the fuck for!" he demanded, slamming his hands powerfully on the silver haired man's desk. He closed the book with a sigh and cocked an eyebrow at Sasuke.

He told him thoughtfully, "I distinctly remember her saying something like, '…can't stand that arrogant asshole!' And something along the lines of, '… black-haired, egotistical jerk off!' Was she referring to you?" Naruto would have snickered had the situation been a tad less serious. But the Uchiha had such a furious look on his face that he decided to keep his mouth shut for the time being.

"That doesn't explain why she wasn't in school though…" he mumbled distractedly, turning on heel and walking out the door. The blond decided not to follow, seeing how his next class was Chemistry and he wasn't exactly in a good position grade-wise to be skipping. The Uchiha slid into the side of his sleek, red convertible and started the engine. Pulling out of the disguised ANBU headquarters, he turned down the next road over heading for the Haruno residence. All of the Seekers needed to know each others' addresses in case of emergency, so he knew exactly where she lived.

Pulling up into the steep driveway, Sasuke stepped out of his car and glanced around. The house was nice, although enormous, but very pretty nonetheless. He walked up the steps to the glass front door, and knocked on his lightly. It took a few minutes, but an older pink haired woman opened it with a smile. "Yes, can I help you?"

"Um, my name's Sasuke." It sounded like a question. He wasn't sure if she already knew who he was. "Can I see… Sakura please?"

Her mother sighed. "She's rather upset right now, why don't you stop by later?"

He put his hand on the door before she could shut it on him. "It's important ANBU business, Haruno-san; may I please talk to her?" The jade eyed woman blinked in surprised, and then nodded.

"Come in Sasuke. Her room's up the stairs on the left, next to the study." He thanked her and ran up the stairs two at a time. Even without directions, he noted sweat dropping; he would've found it with no trouble. Her door was bright pink, with a large white sign saying in black calligraphy, "Sakura's Room". Rolling his eyes he tapped on the door loudly.

Sakura wiped her eye with a tissue and tossed it into a small trashcan already full with the white paper. "What a jerk," she sulked, scratching his face out if the team photograph with a black Sharpie. Various other pictures of the Uchiha sat on her bed as well as a rainbow of variously colored Sharpies. His face had random doodle all over it, like glasses and pimples, funky moustaches and beards, sideburns, and other silly designs she felt like putting on his admittedly handsome face.

She heard someone thump loudly up the staircase, and assuming it was her little brother she ignored it. Surprisingly, they knocked on her door and coking an eyebrow called, "Come in."

Sasuke opened the door and peeked around the wood. The cherry haired girl stared at him in shock, his black hair contrasting with her pink colored door and walls. "Sakura?" Something flew at his face and knocked into his forehead, causing him to stumble backwards. Regaining his footing he yelled, "What the hell was that for!" Soon various other random objects began bombarding him.

"Get outta my house asshole!" she yelled to him, sending a tray of sewing supplies flying. He squeaked as he ducked below the painful needles and straight pins only to have a large boot bean him in the chest.

He ordered angrily, "Stop it! I'm here to make a truce!" A piece of cloth dangled from his head as Sakura threw the contents of her top drawer at him. She stopped hurling hazardous objects at him, and watched his face, trying to find a catch in his proposal. Like he just said that to make her stop chucking dangerous items at his person.

Sakura growled, "Like what Uchiha?"

Sasuke sighed and ran a hand through his obsidian locks, wishing he didn't have to do this. "Okay, here's the deal. I don't like you, I'll admit it." She gave him an evil glare and he held his hands up to try and quell her anger for the moment. "And, for the sake of our teammates, I'll also admit that I was being an asshole. Sorry for that."

She watched him suspiciously, but he seemed like he was being honest, so she dropped the scissors she planned on throwing at him next. "Are you serious, Uchiha?" He nodded and crossed his arms across his chest, waiting for her reaction. The cherry headed medic stood up, still looking skeptical, and stuck her face right in front of his. "So, you apologize for being an arrogant asshole?" He nodded. "And for calling me an egotistical upstart?" He nodded again, tempted to contradict her on the wording, but decided it would detrimental to his health so he kept his mouth shut. "And you'll consider me an equal worthy of being on the ANBU squad?" Sighing softly he nodded one final time.

"Yes, Sakura, I will."

After a moment of contemplating she shrugged and turned back to her photos. "Too bad, I already quit." He groaned and walked over to her bed and knelt on the ground, feeling extremely foolish, and pressed his hands together in pleading.

"Please Sakura, I really need you back. We all do. You're a great Seeker, and I was stupid to say otherwise." Much to his own disbelief, he was completely serious, and watched her for a reaction. He meant every bit of it, and hoped she realized it.

Sakura's emerald green eyes scanned his black ones and felt a light blush coming to her cheeks. He seemed honest, and he seemed to be telling the truth when he said that they wanted her back. Resting her gaze on the ground, just to avoid looking at him, she asked, "Truly?" He nodded firmly, and she smiled at him, resting her hands on his shoulders. "Thank you, Sasuke." He felt his breath leave him for a moment as his eyes met hers, but it soon passed and she moved away. "Oh," she started, pointing to the clothed dangling from the top of his head. "Please take that off before you leave. I don't want my mother getting the wrong impression."

Confused, he pulled it off and when he got a good look at it dropped the item as if he was burned. "Oh, sorry," he mumbled, stepping back from the blue bra and to the door. "But, you threw it at me remember." She shrugged and tossed it back into her dresser with a smile. Sasuke opened her door and turned back to look at her, an attractive smirk on his face. "See you tonight?"

"Wouldn't miss it." He nodded and waved, and she shot him a pretty smile as he strode down the stairs and out the door. "Sayonara, Sasuke." He glanced back at her as he mother shut the door, and she sighed happily; glad to be out of that quarrel. In fact, she felt a lot lighter inside, and the thought of going to see him that night made her feel capricious instead of sick. Turning back to her mattress, she wished she hadn't crossed him out of all of the pictures, so she could put them in frames. Oh well, she'd get copies from Ino or Shikamaru.

Sasuke sighed, leaning against the side of her house, and watching the grass billow in the wind. He was quite relieved that they had been able to clear that up. Fighting with people, besides that dobe, was not a thing he enjoyed doing on a regular basis. It just took too much energy out of him that he could be using for fighting vampires. With a slight smile on his face he climbed back into his car and drove off, deciding to just go back to the base instead of to school or home, where he knew nobody would be waiting.

"Who was that?" a voice asked at her door. Sakura glanced back and saw her little brother Shiro watching her with large green eyes. "Oooo, does Sakura have a boyfriend?"

She glared at him angrily and shouted, "Shiro get out of my room!" She jumped out and grabbed him bodily by the shoulders, and threw him out the door. As he landed on his stomach she told him sternly, "He's not my boyfriend, just my ANBU partner! Now go screw off!" She slammed the door, but had an odd smile on her face.

…:oOo:…

Hinata exited from the girls' locker room jadedly, a huge headache throbbing in her head. She hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, having to stay up and practice with her father all night. And by the time she did get to sleep, Naruto had woken her up to take her here to fight a few inhumans. So you really couldn't blame her for thinking she was delusional when she saw Sakura chatting animatedly with Sasuke. Neither of them looking in the least bit angry or like they wanted to pick a fight. Naturally, Ino and Shikamaru were standing around as well, watching in confusion. "This is too weird," Ino commented, tossing her long, white-blonde hair over her shoulder and glancing over to Hinata. "I mean, they're not at each other's throats anymore, and it's freaking me out."

Shikamaru replied, giving her a sideways peek, "Well, it's a lot less troublesome when they don't fight. Be appreciative."