Revelations
Chapter 3About nine minutes had passed between the group after the awkward situation.
"What are you two doing behind that bush really?" Sakura stared at the couple before them and gazed at them curiously.
It was one thing for Kankuro to spy on them…he was Gaara's older brother after all and he had to protect the Kage of his village. Then there was the fact that Gaara was with her, together, they could easily beat up Kankuro and make him watch Dr. Phil for 24 hours straight. But why was Ino here…standing behind a bush? This was no accident. Yamanaka Ino would never go into the woods with out a reason. So why the hell why was she even there?!
"Yes Ino, what are you two doing behind that bush?" Kankuro said mockingly, giving Ino a look.
Damn. Ino mentally cringed. What was she going to do? If she just stood there trying to think of a plausible excuse, they could take it as lying or stalling. But if she just said 'Oh I was just picking some flowers' because there were flowers conveniently located in that bush, that would cause suspicions too! Her parents DO own a flower shop after all. Sakura wouldn't believe that excuse at all because she being the daughter of the Yamanaka Flower Shop owners would entitle her to get free flowers anytime she'd need it. She wouldn't have to go foraging in the woods to find any, and hey the Yamanaka Flower shop had some kick-ass flowers anyway, so why look? Then there was the whole ordeal about just being IN the actual forest! Come on! Think brain think! What would Shika—Wait…Shika? Shikamaru! That's it!
"Well, for your information mother, Shika-kun invited me. To the free outdoors just to let you know," The blonde headed girl sneered, "And we were having a lovely stroll in the park, when he forcefully grabbed me and shoved me to the ground! That's when he intensely started making out with me while trying to rip my clothes off. And here we are right now."
Shikamaru just stood wide-eyed, as Ino gave the reason why they were in the bush. If she was going to make THAT kind of excuse, he could have just came up something about going to a field and look at the clouds when they stumbled upon a cute rabbit, or something like her tripping and they landed in the bush! But no! Troublesome Woman! What were you thinking!
Everyone blinked.
…
…
…
"HAHAHAHAHHA HAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHHAHHA!!!!!!"
"ARE YOU FOR FUCKING SERIOUS? HAHAHAHHAHAH THAT MUST BE THE DUMBEST EXCUSE EVER IN THE HISTORY OF EXCUSES! Shikamaru ripping your clothes off my ass HAHA!!!!!!!" Kankuro was having a little bit of trouble saying all this because…hell just because, I mean what kind of excuse was that!
Gaara refrained from doing anything and just settled for staring at the scene in front of him. Shikamaru and Ino were behind a bush, one was staring wide-eyed while the other was blushing and smacking her head furiously. Next to him was Sakura on the ground, clutching her stomach with tears in her eyes, laughing hysterically. And finally behind him stood his immature older brother, pointing at the couple before them laughing while clutching his stomach with his free hand. Muttering 'haha forcefully…heatedly…hahaha…haha!' under his breath with tears falling from his eyes.
"Hn." Walking away, he glanced at Sakura from over his shoulder staring at her straight in the eye, "Haruno, we are leaving in three hours. Pack and meet us at the front gates."
Everything stood still, Sakura had completely forgotten about the mission. When she hugged Gaara, everything just seemed to…disappear. Then Kankuro came and ate…some—, then she saw Ino and Shikamaru in the bush. Everything had happened so fast! She cast her eyes downward feeling emotionally torn. What would she tell her friends? Then the fact that she just came back from a mission and the whole group hasn't seen each other for months.
Ino had gasped rather loudly after Gaara finished talking. She couldn't believe what she was hearing! Sakura was leaving on a mission to Suna, and she didn't even tell her?
With one look at Sakura's somewhat crestfallen face, the last part of what he said was very quiet almost a whisper, "Go do whatever it is you do when you leave. Say goodbye. Go Eat. Go to the bathroom. Just be there and I'll be waiting." He picked up his pace and dashed off, and she knew a smirk appeared on his face.
There was a long moment of silence after Gaara left. Everyone turned to look at the Kazekage's retreating form as they started to slowly rise from their feet.
Sakura was still staring into the space where Gaara last was. Did…did he just, make a joke? No one else seemed to hear that Gaara continued on with his speech after he told her to meet him at the front gates. Sakura was at a loss for words. She had barely heard what he had said and a smile was creeping its way slowly onto her face. Had he noticed some body language or something that seemed to give away how she felt somewhat downhearted?
Man Gaara was good. I wonder if he can read my mind…
But she was interrupted with her thoughts on a certain red head and why he did what he did when she heard her best friend say, "Forehead, you're leaving?"
Ino stared incredulously at her best friend. She had returned only a few days before from an incredibly hard A-Class mission. At first she just wanted to relax and hang out with her friends, but lately everyone had been busy with their own lives and missions. No ones spent time with each other, and she was planning a little get together this week so everyone could just get re-acquainted. She was going to tell Sakura today but got sidetracked when she saw Sakura crying, and Sakura hugging Gaara.
Sakura gave a small frown as she saw how deeply this affected Ino. "Why? What's wrong?"
"Oh…it's just that, no ones seen each other for like months now, like you know as a whole group. We were planning on having a little get-together this week." She shrugged.
I also wanted to find out why you were crying.
"Well…I guess we could post-pone it for a week. Knowing you, you'd probably get done in a day anyway, right Captain?" she teased. Poking fun at her best friend and her incredible talents was all fun and games. Everyone knew how strong she was, and her incredible talent to finish even the most difficult missions at the drop of a hat was just simply, amazing.
"I'm sorry Ino…this mission, is going to be lasting a little longer than you think. It's sort of…indefinite as to how long I'm staying. I have to go pack now." Sakura said with sadness dripping from every word.
Sakura walked up to her best friend and gave her a long hug. Everyone got a little touchy when people said they had missions that would last for an 'indefinite' period of time. Who knew when they'd see each other again? Usually missions like these were tough and grueling, even for the best.
"Don't worry Ino-pig, I'll write." Sakura smiled as they broke apart.
Ino slowly nodded, knowing that she would keep her promise.
But as Sakura dashed away she could only wonder. Why did this go from a laughing gathering, to a sad parting?
Shikamaru took Ino into his arms. When Sakura left, she broke down. Everyone's just been busy...that's it. But damn, it doesn't take a genius to figure out why she's crying.
(AN: Hehe…sorry I didn't include Shikamaru as much as I wanted to. Oh read the author's note at the end please! Oh…and continue reading.)
Sakura was packed and ready in under an hour. She brought her picture of the old Team Seven, along with as many clothes that could fit in her enormous backpack. Not to mention her wallet. She stopped at the local bank before, withdrawing almost her whole savings. Last but not least she restocked her whole medic-kit, filling it with everything she'd need to help out with Temari and more. Also she stopped at her teachers office, Tsunade, for extra supplies and scrolls if need be that could possibly save her life. Temari's unknown condition diagnosed by the Suna medics gave Sakura a feeling of doubt, foreboding and curiosity. Who knew what was going on with Temari…she was such an important asset to Suna and Konoha alike and she needed to be saved. She was loyal to her friends and family.
With two hours left to spare, Sakura began to wander around the village.
I wonder when the next time I'll see this village is, and also my friends and family. Suna will sure be different…
Without her knowing, her wandering had led her to the Uchiha district. The only Uchiha she had ever known used to live there, and then he moved to a nearby apartment after the 'accident'. She would always go there to ask him for dates. I wonder if things would have been different if that never happened she thought inwardly.
Flashback
"Sasuke-kun! Please please go on a date with me! We could go to the park and have a picnic! Wouldn't that be fun? Just you and me? Please Sasuke-kun!" A twelve-year-old Sakura was standing in front of THE Uchiha Sasuke, in front of HIS door. Begging her heart out just so he would come with her on a date. She had put on her best outfit after training and had followed him back to his own apartment.
"No." Sasuke said politely, he was staring back at her with indifference as if this happened everyday, which it did.
But Sakura was a persistent girl and kept asking until he got fed-up with her and slammed the door in face. Adding the snide comment about her being annoying before he left her alone.
Just being in front of the Uchiha district made old memories come back to the surface, when the bit of nostalgia passed away, in retrospect, she really was annoying. He had politely declined her offer but she just kept going and going. If someone had asked her constantly everyday, every hour, every minute like she did to her precious Sasuke, hell she'd slam the door in their face too.
And staring before her, were the very doors of her old beloved's home.
"Sasuke…I'm heading off to Suna now, but wherever you are, I hope you're happy." Sakura genuinely meant it and walked away. Reminiscing about the past she thought about what the Uchiha had meant to her. Sure she gave up on him a long time ago, and as the years progressed she sort of trained herself to not love him. He had left her when she proclaimed her love for him. The memories of the past still left marks on her, but just because she didn't love him anymore, it doesn't mean that she wanted him to leave the village. Right? Maybe and if he came back after defeating Itachi, they could become Team Seven again! Yeah…and be reunited.
A light breeze went by as the unaware pink haired kunoichi walked on with her thoughts; she left the Uchiha district to its empty space. Behind a nearby tree a lone figure stood, as a pair of swirling red eyes watched her retreating figure into the distance.
After wandering around Konoha she finally got around to saying goodbye to her friends that weren't on missions. Unfortunately Neji and Hinata were on a mission in Waterfall. But it was probably the hardest to say good-bye to her past. This was where she grew up, where she experienced love and loss, hardship and joy.
As she neared the front gates she stopped and took one look back.
Take a good look Sakura; this will be the last time you'll see Konoha for who knows how long. I promise you I'll return everybody and especially you Naruto. I promise to figure out what's wrong with Temari.
Returning her gaze before her, she saw Gaara standing ahead with his back facing her.
And so the mission starts.
"I'm ready Gaara."
"Hn."
Passing through the gates, they started to summon chakra to their feet, they leaped upwards and began making their way from tree branch to tree branch.
Time went by, and the silence that settled was a comfortable one. Then two days went by, and night had fallen. After locating a campsite, Gaara went out to get food, while Sakura stayed to build a fire. Neither of them had spoken during the entire trip, leaving them to their thoughts. When Gaara came back with a dead rabbit, the fire was lit and Sakura was sitting close by hugging her legs close to her chest. She was staring at the fire with a far-out look in her eye.
Gaara started to clean his catch so he could get started on cooking. After cleaning and gutting the rabbit, he stabbed it with a stick and put it over the fire. Turning it so the meat would get cooked evenly. He started to think about his sister, and her unknown disease. Losing track of time, it seemed like forever when he realized Sakura was talking to him.
"Hey Gaara…Do you think everything happens for a reason?" Sakura said still staring at the fire.
He paused…he never really thought about that. Did things happen for a reason? Was it fate that he was chosen to care the demon? Was it luck that Naruto and everyone found him when the Akatsuki took him and extracted his demon?
Without thinking, he whispered his thoughts, "Is it my destiny to be alive still? That Chiyo-sama would revive me, and give up her life to do so…?"
"I think it is actually." Startled, Gaara just looked at her, he had spoken his thoughts out loud! But still he wondered what she had to say; maybe she actually knew why he was still alive. "I think you're still alive because you still have something to do. Oh and you probably have some luck on your side or someone up there really loves you, or thinks your hot. Haha!"
Sakura was laughing at her own joke to lighten up the mood. Sometimes she was suck a dork, but she knew what to say at the right moments. Then there was her guts…No one would ever try to make him laugh, or better yet call him hot. But Sakura was not like any other woman he had known. She was…different.
Do things happen for a reason? Gaara couldn't shake this thought off now…
TBC
(A/N: Hey everybody! Well...as I told you before I hope you're reading this newly posted author's note. But if you aren't...I guess it's ok. Anyways, I'm just here telling you I know my story has grammar and spelling errors but I'm trying to fix that. I also know I'm kind of slow updating but we already took like 5 vacations to places for weeks on end. Also I guess my stories aren't as long as I hoped them to be, and they don't seem to flow or have as much detail.
If anyone has any suggestions for any other errors or problems you have with this fic, please review and share! But if you're writing that you hate this story...then don't even bother to review at all.
I'll try to get the next chapter in before December hahaha j/p. But I'll to post as soon as I can, schools starting soon and I forgot to do my summer reading! xx
Your's truly, PandaxXxchan)
