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A/N: it's finally here, guys! Part 3 out of 4 haha this one was supposed to be short, but... Tch, I always say this XD I hope you enjoy it! Please leave your Reviews! Not only they help the development of the pic, but they also make me incredibly happy!(yeah... I like to be happy, guys... XD) Get ready for the last part of Her Choice!
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As soon as he stepped out of his apartment, the morning of his departure showed itself to be quite cold for the spring time. The breeze against his exposed face made goose bumps spread all over his body, and for a moment, he even considered returning inside to grab a scarf to protect his neck. He sucked in a breath in annoyance, instead, and started his way towards the main gate of the village hidden in the leaves. The gate he has crossed oh-so-many times, and the village he has once left behind in order to pursue his revenge.
The home he didn't mind leaving behind.
But if there was one thing Uchiha Sasuke didn't want to do at that moment, was walking away from his beloved Konoha.
" Stupid mission…."
Against his own will, the raven haired boy walked around Konoha, exposing his annoyed pout to whoever wanted to see. For it was still too early for any normal soul to be awake, most of the streets he walked through were deserted, not showing any sign of life. The village was still asleep, and after getting used to the low temperature, Sasuke realized he appreciated the deep silence in which he was enveloped.
There was nothing to disturb his thoughts as his feet slowly carried him around that nostalgic universe that was Konoha in the early hours of the morning. His eyes wandered around, paying attention to each detail and to each color that painted that village lost in time. All those houses, those roofs and the outdoors had their own peculiar coloration, mixing or not with the gray, sunless sky that hovered over his head. Some colors were warmer, others were colder, but suddenly, all of them lost their life when a blooming cherry tree came into his sight.
Oh, and what a beautiful way to contrast such a hazy morning.
His body stopped immediately as soon as the tree was standing in front of him. There were some pink petals creating a carpet around his feet, and the floral scent teased his nostrils, embracing all of the Uhciha's other senses and trapping him into a different reality ruled by the cherry tree. He could hear its branches dancing with the wind, feel the softness of the petals that dared to touch his welcoming, stretched hand; taste its sweet flavor and see its bright pink contrasting the ghostly gray that had spread around him.
Sasuke's world was now as pink as a cherry blossom.
And his heart knew exactly what was blinding his eyes to the other colors of the nature.
Sakura
Connecting the girl to the flower that originated her name was pretty much spontaneous for him. It was clear that the whole atmosphere surrounding him was nothing more than a metaphor to his current emotional state, to which he had spent the whole night trying to reach a consensus with his inner thoughts. He learned to accept those new emotions in his life, so he could mold them into something that would help him bring her love back to him. Sasuke would turn that jealousy into a powerful weapon just like he once did with his revengeful impulses.
He would walk around that grayish world and bring back its colors.
He would bring his beloved cherry blossom back.
Still living in his metaphorical reality, the Uchiha let out a deep sigh before stuffing his hand into his warm pocket, and returning to his previous path towards the main gates. For he has lived long inside his own pitch-black darkness, his eyes didn't mind that gray emptiness surrounding him at that moment. Sasuke understood that all that monochromacy was caused by the lack of her love in his life, and he knew that nothing could be done about that. Not until that stupid mission was over, at least.
For the next two days, the raven haired Uchiha would have to cope with that colorless world, and with the hollow left by her departure. He would have to get used to the indifferent flowers that would eventually show up during the mission, and most of all, he would have to get used to the sound of their memories whispering near his ear as he crossed the places where they used to go together in Konoha. Where each place holds a different kind of nostalgia, all of them bringing a different ache to his beating heart. Walking around home had never been so hard, for sure.
It was as if she was going to show up at any minute whenever he crossed a different familiarity of the village. From inside the closed stores, through the invisible hordes of people around the streets, and mainly, by his side; Sasuke found himself wishing for her to be where she was supposed to be from the very start. He wanted her and that silly smile of hers right by his side, but he knew that such thing wouldn't happen.
He knew she wasn't there.
He knew that there was a chance that she would never be there anymore.
And he knew that wishing for her to be waiting for him at the bridge where the team 7 used to meet, would be just another way of fooling his heart.
Sakura wouldn't be there, he thought.
Oh, and how being mistaken felt good at that moment.
His black pearls couldn't believe when they saw that pink aura in the middle of that whole gray. At first, he thought that was just his imagination playing tricks on his mind, but soon he realized he couldn't care less if that girl was real or not. She was there, standing beautifully on their bridge and delicately leaning against the wooden rail. Sakura was beautiful, while her eyes were focused on the running flow of the water and her short hair tickled her shoulders at each new breeze that crossed that valley. The pinkette was there, and that was the only thing that matter at that moment.
"Sakura…"
His voice was deep and she waited until he was just a few meters away from her before turning to face him. Her green orbs were not grey as the rest of the world, and her floral scent was warming up his whole body. The girl shyly offered him a smile, and politely took a step away from the bridge rail. She was trying to say something, he could tell that. And to be honest, he also had some things to tell her. The only thing was deciding who would be the first to start their dialogue.
" Sasuke-kun… Good morning."
" … Morning. What are you doing here, Sakura?"
" I was waiting for you…"
" What?!" His heart skipped a beat, and his eyes widened. Could it be that she had realized the obvious? " Why is that?"
" I-I…" She scratched the back of her neck nervously before finally taking a deep breath. " I heard you were going out on a mission and I just wanted to apologize to you."
" Apologize for what?"
" Ah… You know… The way I pushed you out of my apartment and all… That was not fair and this is not how teammates should interact, right?"
" Teammates?" He raised an eyebrow in confusion, clearly bothered by the said category.
" Yeah… We are teammates and we should always try our best to have a good relationship, right? I don't want things to be awkward between us, so I have decided to meet you before your mission and apologize to you in person."
The expression ruling her face showed the Uchiha more than just what she had told him. It is true that he could see that superficial worry in her pouting lips, but he could also see the fear of regret filling her emeralds. It was clear that she didn't want to give a chance to the destiny to set them apart forever through an accidental death. Sakura didn't want to risk not being able to face him ever again after that mission. That, and she also didn't want him to disappear from her life.
Not again.
But that didn't mean her heart would accept him back with the same love as before. She was still trying to move on, after all.
"Hn."He smirked. "I'm glad you realized that."
" Yeah… Then, does it mean we're cool?"
" Yeah, we're cool."
" Cool, I guess…" She smiled shyly, letting their entire new situation sink in.
Her head tilted to the right, making her locks slide over her shoulder. It was clear that her aura had become lighter after just that simple answer. She could look him in the eyes again and nourish a healthy, strong bond with the boy that has always played an important role in her life.
That was certainly a very mature decision from a very mature girl.
Unfortunately, when it comes to his emotions, there is nothing mature in Uchiha Sasuke's personality.
"Also, I appreciate your effort on waking up early just to come and talk to me. You can go back to bed now, Sakura…"
" Uh? Bed? Are you crazy, Sasuke-kun?" She chuckled, as her feet started to take her away from there, making the Uchiha follow unconsciously. " I'm going with you to the main gate."
"Really? Are you also going?"
" No, but… Kakeru-kun is, and I told him I would be there to set him off."
And so, his body suddenly froze. His feet stopped moving, his throat went dry, his heart skipped a beat and a murderous wish started to take over the Uchiha.
Did he really hear what he thought he did?
Did she really say that name?
Did she really add that suffix?!
You bet she did. And you can also bet he didn't like that at all.
As the pinkette innocently walked in front of him and blabbed about something he just couldn't focus on; a hurricane of anger made a mess inside his head. Of all the things she could have said at that moment, that one little piece of information about the uninvited ANBU was the one thing he just couldn't accept. After that surprise and a sincere apology, how could she still consider that guy as a part of her life? How could she still think of that ANBU? How could she have woken up so early for a man like him!? Sasuke just couldn't understand her anymore. When he finally thought she was getting back to her normal-self, her disturbed personality took over her and started talking about that stranger Kakeru-kun.
Sakura had certainly gone crazy.
Didn't she just say she was going to be by the Uhciha's side again?
Not really… But that didn't mean her return wasn't implicit in her words, right?
Actually…
Well, whether she meant it or not was just a detail, Sasuke thought. It still didn't give her the right to do what she had just done.
Sakura couldn't go to the main gates just to see that ANBU. And Sasuke would make sure to make her change her mind.
Or at least he would try…
"I really can't believe you, Sakura."
" Uh?" She stopped, turning to face him with a blank face. "What are you talking about, Sasuke-kun?"
" I can't believe you're actually going to set that guy off!"
" And what's the big deal about it? Kakeru-kun and I are go-"
" No, you're not!" He glared at her, turning his hand into a fist.
So that was his mature side, she thought.
Uchihas…
" Tch… I can't believe you're still jealous, Sasuke! Didn't you say we were cool?!"
" And didn't you say you broke up with him!?"
"No, I d-"
" It doesn't matter! You're not going to that gate, Sakura. I forbid you!"
" You what?!"
" You heard me! Go home, now, Haruno!"
" As if I would ever follow your orders, Uchiha!"
" Don't make me lose my patience, Sakura! Go back home, or else I-"
" Or else, what?! I'm not afraid of you, Sasuke."
And so, their eyes were set in fire during that challenging connection. His dark pearls were trying their best to intimidate the owner of those burning emeralds, but what really happened was the opposite. The flames emanating from that girl's eyes were just too frightening to be stared at. They were consuming every particle of air in between them, causing the Uchiha to suffocate for a moment as their ocular war went on.
Even if she doesn't hold the same bloody heritage as him, Sasuke had to admit that her own pearls were equally powerful. They're full of courage and confidence, beautifully exposing the rosette's wild and tame-less side. Her eyes are the windows to her soul.
The soul of a warrior.
A warrior that was able to tame his sharingan.
Oh, and how stunning that warrior is.
" Tch… You're annoying." He said, resuming his walk and leaving her some feet behind.
"Tch… You're impossible, Sasuke…"
With her arms crossed over her chest, Sakura watched as the raven haired boy walked in front of her. He had his hand inside his pocket, and the soft breeze was playing with his hair.
That Uchiha…
Even if Sakura was incredibly pissed at his words and at his attitude, her eyes couldn't simply leave him as they continued their way towards the gate. She felt as if burning a hole on the back of his head, while wanting to punch her own face for even allowing her heart to beat faster for him.
That stupid Uchiha…
How could he still have that effect on her? How could she still allow him to play such an important role in her life? He, who has left her behind more than once, he, who has dared to tell her what to do. He, who has always owned her heart. Even if she was decided to move on from her unconditional love, Sakura could clearly understand that it was a lot easier to say it than do it. Forgetting such a strong love was not simple, and even if she had let the ANBU enter her life, finding a space for both of them was basically impossible. The conflict inside her body was driving her insane, and she really couldn't decide what part of her body to follow.
Her mind was saying: Fool, forget him.
Her heart was saying: Don't let go.
And her fists were begging her to punch him after all of those orders he dared to give her.
That stupid Uchiha…
That stupid, charming and beautiful Uchiha.
Why did he have to make things so hard for her?!
Why did he have to hurt her like that?
The pinkette didn't know.
But all of that spacing out was about to cause her a new kind of pain. A perfumed and masculine kind of pain.
The Haruno girl only returned to reality when she felt her face bumping onto something well-defined and with an addictive scent of male cologne. At first she was surprised, but when she looked up and found the Uchiha towering over her, with his back turned to her and his eyes set on something ahead of him, Sakura's surprise was quickly replaced by a sudden anger that only the raven haired boy could ignite on her.
Stopping in front of her just so she could bump onto him.
Really mature, she thought.
But before any of her thoughts could meet the external world, Sasuke began his last, deep speech before he could leave the village in a mission.
" Sasuke-kun, you-"
" Sakura."
His voice was deep, his posture straightened, and soon, a dark veil surrounded them. Her whole world changed after seeing how serious he was, and as a signal of respect, Sakura remained quiet as he finished his line of thought.
" If you had to choose only one of us to come back alive from this mission… Who would it be?"
Sakura did not see that coming. Her throat went dry, her eyes widened and all the air caged in her lungs escaped through her open mouth.
What kind of question was that?
As the Uchiha simply resumed his path towards the gate ahead of them, the rosette was left behind with a mess in her thoughts and in her feelings. How could she choose only one of them to keep living? How could she decide the future of their lives? That decision was not up to her, for as a doctor, her job is to keep them all alive. Both the former avenger and the gentle ANBU deserve to return from that mission.
Both of them deserve to live.
But which one deserves to be loved by the pinkette?
After spending a couple of seconds trying to solve the puzzle, the Haruno girl finally understood the meaning behind Sasuke's question. He was not asking her to choose in between their lives, no. He was asking her to make a choice in her heart that could end up condemning one of them to a loveless life. A loveless life that, according to the Uchiha, would not be worth living. He had certainly been wise with his words, for in no moment he made her responsible for their lives. Sasuke simply put an end to that conflict of what-ifs and extreme jealousy. He set a deadline for his battle against Kakeru.
He marked the day of his possible death with one simple question.
As expected from Uchiha Sasuke, she thought, as she continued watching him from behind. Once again, he was walking away from his village, leaving behind some words that only she could decipher. Once again, he was leaving her behind with nothing but his true feelings.
That bastard.
Once the girl finally snapped out of that trance, she shook her head and ran towards where Sasuke, Kakeru and the rest of the team were. Her eyes connected to Sasuke's dark pearls for a brief moment, and she made herself clear that, no matter the circumstances, she wouldn't accept his question. The Uchiha, then, was the one who broke their eye contact, as he looked away from her burning emeralds. He didn't want to argue at that moment. It was almost time for them to go, after all.
" Sakura-chan!" Kakeru said, smiling brightly as the pinkette approached him. She also offered him a smile, to which he blushed faintly. That blush, of course, did not pass unseen by a pair of curious, dark pearls.
" Good morning, Kakeru-kun. As you've asked me, I came to set you off."
" I-I'm so happy!" He said abruptly, acting like a desperate goofy in love. Amusing, Sasuke thought. " I'm sorry to make you wake up so early, but be sure this will help me a lot during the mission!"
" I hope it does… I want you back safely… All of you."
" hehe Don't worry, Sakura-chan! We will be okay! It's an easy mission, and I'll do my best!"
" I'm counting on you then."
" Also, I'll make sure to get to know Sasuke-san! He's one of your best friends, and I can't wait to know more about him!"
"Eh? Get to know Sasuke? Why?"
" Uh? And why not, Sakura-chan?"
"Yeah, Sakura…" The Uchiha finally gave in to his ego and approached them with a smirk on his lips. Nothing good could come from that, Sakura knew. " Why can't I get to know Kakeru? I need to see if he's suited for you… It's my job as your… best friend."
The Haruno girl glared at him, while the innocent Kakeru simply laughed at Sasuke's words.
That sarcastic bastard…
" I'm sure we will be great friends, Sasuke-san!"
" I'm counting on that. Also, I have many stories about our genin days, right, Sakura? I'm sure you would love to hear how she said she lov-"
" Isn't time for you to get going!?" The pinkette cut him off, shaking her hands in front of the Uchiha's mouth. Kakeru laughed again, thinking that maybe she was a bit embarrassed of her own past.
Barely he knew…
"I think you're right, Sakura-chan." the ANBU captain said, clapping his hands excitedly.
" I'll continue the story later then." Sasuke said, smirking once again.
" Don't you dare…" The girl glared at her teammate, fusillading him with her emeralds.
" Hn."
"I guess I'll see you two in a couple of days then…Be careful, both of you… And don't run away anymore, Sasuke-kun… Naruto wouldn't like it."
" Tch. We'll be back soon."
" Yes! You don't have to worry, Sakura-chan! We'll be going then."
After hearing such words from the ANBU, the Uchiha, unconsciously, took a step away from them, as he waited for the captain to follow him. He was waiting to hear some steps coming towards him, but much to his dislike, he heard nothing.
What could be taking him so long? She had already said her good-byes, then what could be missing?
Something Sasuke would definitely not approve.
It was at the same time the Uchiha turned to see what was happening that a sudden anger took over him.
That ANBU couldn't really be serious about that…
When Sasuke looked at them, not only Kakeru had his eyes closed, but he was also leaning forward to plant another kiss on Sakura's lips. He had certainly lost the fear of death at that moment. Who did he think he was to do such thing with Sakura? And in front of his dark pearls?! No… Certain things couldn't be accepted. And the Uchiha would make sure to preserve her image, and most of all, her lips.
" Let's go, captain!" Sasuke said, literally wrapping his arm around Kakeru's neck and dragging the ANBU away from the girl. Sakura was surprised at the Uchiha's sudden reaction, but for knowing her teammate, her surprise dissipated soon after that. In fact, she even found that amusing as both of them parted towards their mission. She hoped to see them soon, as she waved her hand in the air and thought about Sasuke's question.
Choosing one of them to return home…
Could she really do this?
Probably not, but when his dark pearls turned to face her one last time, her heart almost stopped.
It's always like this in the end, she thought.
He leaves, she stays.
He fights, she loves.
He asks, she chooses.
And this time, the future of those sons of the Leaf would depend on her choice.
