Chapter 9

When Sakura woke again, her doctor came and checked her and then sent her home, telling her to get some rest. Sasuke had stayed with her the whole time and was driving her home. They were both quiet but it wasn't uncomfortable. Sakura was in the same clothes as before, with its small cuts and tears and even with some dried blood. Sakura cringed when she saw the blood on her one sleeve.

Sasuke looked at her from the side, before looking at the road again. "We're almost there; Itachi will probably want your clothes as evidence." Sasuke spoke, hoping that did something.

Sakura didn't reply, just nodded her head. She didn't mind giving her clothes away, it was the fact that she would soon be home and that was a place she least wanted to be right now. "Sasuke have you heard from my father?"

Sasuke, looked at her from the side again for a second. Sasuke shook his head. "He wasn't answering and the men at your house say that he hasn't come back yet. Where was he anyway?"

Sakura shrugged. "I, in all truth, don't know. He often does this. I'll come home and find out that he has left for some business thing. Sometimes he'll be gone for days or weeks. Once he was even gone for almost three months. When he comes back he always locks himself away. I asked him once about it, but learnt, the hard way, to never ask." Sakura's hand unconsciously went to her uncut cheek.

Sasuke got the picture and didn't ask about what he did. He also noticed the way that she wasn't talking like her usual 'Miss Perfect' self. "Did he ever act differently when he came back from these trips?"

Sakura nodded again. "He seemed like his usual self but always a bit more harsh and …cold."

They fell into silence after that. After a minute or two they were outside her gates, pulling into her drive way. Sasuke could see that she was scared to be here, but it's not like she could have stayed at the hospital. Sasuke got out of his car and walked around, about to let her out only to see that she was getting out herself. Guess she isn't all that perfect after all, well at least when her father isn't around. They walked up the stars to her door, Sakura had literally opened it an inch when a blur of blond flashed out the door and Sakura was tackled to the ground. Sasuke, thought it was another attacker and was about to react when…

"SAKURA! ARE YOU OKEY?" the loudest shout, from the most idiotic person he knew shouted.

"NARUTO! LET HER GO!" the second loudest shout, from the most annoying girl her he knew shouted.

Naruto was suddenly yanked from Sakura and was being shaken by Ino. Sakura was still on the floor, in a complete daze of confusion, with a confused expression, which he thought was kinda cute. With that he shook his head, and helped her up. Sakura stared at her two blonde friends and then looking behind them and saw the rest of her friends either shaking their heads, sighing or muttering 'troublesome'.

"Hehe… Ino I think yo-" but Sakura just saw another blonde blur and was on the ground again.

"SAKURA! I WAS SO WORRIED!" shouted Ino, right in Sakura's ear.

"HEY!" Shouted Naruto, pointing his finger at the two.

Sasuke just sighed. How he was friends with these idiots was beyond him. He watched as Shikamaru came and pulled Ino off Sakura, while mumbling 'Troublesome'. He then went to help Sakura off the floor, again.

Sakura stared at them, all confused. "Wh-what are you guys doing here?" she asked.

Ino stared at her for a second, before a smile, from ear to ear, come onto her mouth. "Your father isn't here so … sleepover at your house!" she cheered.

Sakura stared at her like she had grown another head. "Ino! Do you want to die! No! I won't allow it! I don't know when my father will be back!" Sakura was trying to think of any excuse not to have a sleep over at HER house. Her father would not only kill them, but he would kill her way worse. Sakura actually shivered. So as she was about to continue her rant of excuses when…

"Miss Haruno. Your father called saying that he will not return for another week or so." One of her maids came and informed them.

Sakura inwardly groaned and actually face palmed. She then looked up at her friends and saw an evil glint in their eyes. Even Sasuke had a weird look. Sakura sighed.

"Fine." She said, tiredly. Before she was dragged inside and their fun evening began.

…

They had eaten all the food she had so that they had to even order a dozen pizzas and some ramen for Naruto, lots of it. They

had watched over three different movies and in their fourth at the moment. It was now around three in the morning. Sakura was still pretty much wide awake, but everyone else seemed to be falling asleep. One by one their eyes started to close, even Sasuke's eyes were closed, but she didn't think he was asleep. When Shino was the last one to fall asleep, Sakura got up and turned everything off. She went and fetched a few extra blankets and pillows for them making sure they were as comfortable as she could get them. She even had to stop herself from laughing at some of them. Naruto was laying all sprawled out and snoring happily with Hinat's head on his chest. Ino and Shikamaru were snuggled together. Tenten and Neji were even past out on top of each other. Sakura stared at her friends for another moment.

"You should get some sleep."

Sakura jumped slightly, she whipped her head around to, barely, see Sasuke staring at her. Sakura made a nervous laugh before moving to her original spot, which was next to Sasuke. They both sat in silence for a while. Sakura started to feel a bit nervous; although she was tired she was too scared to fall asleep. Sasuke was still awake, watching her from the side.

"Hey Sasuke."

"Hm?"

"After we finish school and I get … married" she could feel how tense the air was now. "Can we still… hang out?" she asked a bit timidly.

Sasuke was silent, he didn't know what to say. Sakura sensed this and felt a bit disappointed, but quickly changed the topic.

"You know I never liked staying in this house." She started.

Sasuke was bit taken aback at the subject change, but turned his head. He could just make out her face, from the light from the moon.

"It is always so big. Most people say how they feel free in such a big space, but I … I feel trapped. I feel just like a bird locked in a big cage. Although I can move around, I can never fully spread my wings and fly." She said softly.

Sasuke was still looking at her. He could see such sadness in her eyes, how they looked ready to cry. He still wasn't sure what to say but instead he put his hand on top hers. That was enough for her.

"My mother used to say that one day I 'will meet a man who will spread his wings with me'. Sounds kind of strange don't you think?" Sakura turned her head and forced a smile, her voice strained.

Sasuke shook his head. "No it doesn't. I think that you will and that your mother was very wise." He said.

Sakura nodded her head and squeezed his hand lightly. They sat in silence again and she could feel herself giving in to sleep. Sakura couldn't keep her head up anymore and let it fall onto Sasuke's shoulder.

"You know sometimes I actually think of breaking free and spreading my wings now, but … where would I go?" she mumbled sleepily and closed her eyes falling asleep instantly.

Sasuke stared at her, and thought about this. Where could she go? Something told him that to get married straight after school was not how Sakura wanted her life; he knew that for a fact. He made a silent promise to get Sakura out of this. That was his last thought before closing his eyes and laying his head on top of Sakura's and falling asleep.

.

Everyone was woken up by Ino's scream of surprise of waking up cuddled with Shikamaru. Hinata and Tenten were blushing like tomatoes, Naruto was smiling sheepishly and Neji tried to act cool. Sasuke was awake in minute, but Sakura was still asleep, somehow. He nudged her slightly and she started to stir but buried her head deeper into his shoulder. Sasuke gave her another nudge this time getting her to lift her head. Sakura groaned, while rubbing her eyes.

"What time is it?" she mumbled.

Sasuke looked around finding a clock on the wall. "It's nearly eleven." He stated.

Sakura's head shot up. "What?" she almost shouted and looked completely shocked.

"It's nearly eleven." He repeated not understanding why she was reacting this way.

Sakura was in a state of panic. She had jumped up and was pacing around the room.

"Is she ok?" whispered Tenten.

Ino just laughed, "Oh she's fine. She just never gets to sleep in, like at all. So for her to wake up anything later than six thirty, is a shock to her system." Explained Ino.

Ino then walked to the panicking girl, grabbed her shoulders spun her around so that she was facing Ino and raised her right hand and… slapped Sakura right across the face.

There were gasps and eyes the size of saucepans and jaws on the floor. Sakura was completely still, her own eyes saucepans, before they narrowed and her messed up bangs covered her eyes.

"Ino." She started all too calmly and Ino started to back up towards the door. "Did you just slap me?" she asked still in that strange calm voice, while slowly turning her head.

Ino was laughing nervously, before she screamed and ran out the room.

"INO!" was all that was heard before a pink blur flashed past everyone and the door was wide open. It didn't take the others long to find them. They had managed to find them, due to Ino's screams of 'mercy', outside the kitchen. What they saw made them become even more shocked. Sakura was holding Ino's long hair and was sitting on top of Ino's back. When Sakura noticed them, she smiled, let go of Ino's hair and stood up like nothing was wrong.

"Right! Time for breakfast … I mean brunch!" she exclaimed while walking to the kitchen.

"Damn Sakura! I thought you could control your temper!" hissed Ino, while stuffing her eggs into her mouth.

Sakura smiled. "I guess I let it slip." She said while sipping her water.

A phone's ringing could be heard and Sakura quickly excused herself to go answer it, running out the room.

Ino smiled. "It's good to see the old self Sakura." She stated.

Naruto nodded his head. "Yeah she is more fun."

The group were giving them confused looks. Ino smiled at them again. "That's right you guys didn't Sakura when she first lived here. Well back then, when Sakura's mother was still alive, her father was still strict on her, but her mother still let Sakura have a life. Sakura had this really short temper. If one thing irritated her she went on a destruction rampage!"

"Yeah, which was always because of you!" Naruto pointed out.

"Same for you!" hissed Ino. "So when she came back, you could tell that she was to well mannered and all that stuff. That's because when her mother died, her father decided to move and that's when he went from strict to over, super, ridiculous strict. Why do think she doesn't come out with us? Anyway it was nice to that part of her again." Ino finished off.

Everyone was silent. None of them knew that that was what Sakura's life was like. Now the whole story has changed, now they knew something more than just the good Sakura. They waited for a few more minutes, eating having small conversation. When Sakura walked in, pale as a ghost and eyes downcast.

"That was my father." She stated, but something was wrong. "He called to tell me that he wants me to meet him in America …to live there."