Back to Irony

The first thing Sasuke saw when he woke up was pink. It took him a moment to remember all that had passed the night before. The crazy old woman, pouring rain, sleeping in Sakura's tent ... without a shirt on. Which explains why he could feel her hands against his bare chest. If he was anyone other than Sasuke his heart might have skipped a beat. Raising his head ever so slightly, Sasuke tried to view the rest of the entangled mess that was their bodies. Sakura had her faced pressed into his chest and her hands gripping his shoulders. As for him, somehow he had draped his left arm over her side and both he and she were using his right arm as a pillow. This made the proximity of their faces very close, to close for comfort. Just as Sasuke was about to get up, the door of the tent was thrown open. Sasuke raised his hand to cover his eyes from the intruding sunlight. When he could finally see again he found none other than Chuuko sticking her face inside the tent. She had this little gleam in her eyes that was a signal for nothing but trouble and unwelcome things to come. Sasuke could see it, she was going to yell. He raised his index finger to his mouth, as best he could, and attempted to shush her.

"WAKE UP!!!"

Plan failed.

"Are you crazy?"

He would have continued if it weren't for the stirring of the girl in his arms. Sasuke looked down at her. She blinked her eyes and mumbled a few times before she nuzzled her face in Sasuke's shoulder, obviously trying to hide from the brightness of her surrounding area. Sasuke immediately stiffened when he felt the girl intrude on his personal space more than she already was. Somehow, in the back of his mind, he knew it wasn't that unwelcome.

The hell ... where did that come from? Stupid thought. Dobe's rubbing off on me.

Sakura finally opened her eyes and was extremely confused. Since when was her pillow this hard? She poked her "pillow" a couple of times, trying to get a sense of her environment. All she got in response was a grunt. Making her even more confused, her pillow didn't talk. She blamed her lapse of intelligence on the fact that it was early morning because realization hit her like a bullet. Hard and unforgiving. It's wasn't her nice, comfy, pillow she was nuzzling in, it was Sasuke. Embarrassed beyond belief, Sakura jolted backwards, attempting to escape his grasp. She pulled away and sat with her back facing him, observing the side of the tent.

So much for your side and my side.

When she finally had enough courage to look him in the eyes, she was mortified even more. Standing there was not only a shirtless Sasuke...

Yummy.

Shut up. This is bad,

You know you like it.

...

HA! I knew it!

...I'm just not dignifying that with an answer.

Yeah yeah.

But Chuuko as well.

"Furui-san!"

Placing a grin on her face, the woman answered, "Yes, Sakura-chan?"

"Ah ... nothing."

The dreaded red tint crept even more on her face, staining it ruby.

Sasuke just looked at the girl in front of him. For some reason he felt ... drawn to her.

Stupid, stupid, stupid thought. AGAIN. What the hell is wrong with me?

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the...

Finish that line and I WILL kill you.

Whoa there, scout. No need to be so angry.

Hn. Whatever.

Chuuko just stood there, watching the young shinobi in front of her. All she could think was that they were the densest people she had ever met. Sensing they needed a shove in the right direction, she spoke her thoughts aloud.

"I just knew the two of you were in love!"

Making it seem like she was still the semi-senile old woman, she bounded out of the tent and proceeded to flit around the campsite. The two followed after her, both feeling the need to clarify some things with her.

"Furui-san." Sasuke's voice was on the edge of harshness and full of authority.

She turned around to look at him. Gracing her lips with a coy smile she said, "Yes, Sasuke-kun?"

The next words out of his mouth where guttural and almost, growled.

"We are NOT in love."

Sakura stood by his side, nodding her head furiously. She looked like a bobble-head in an earthquake.

"Yeah, we're ... I mean ... it's just that. We're, not." Sakura couldn't bear to make eye contact anymore. This woman was hitting way to close to home.

"Out of all the people, why would you think that me and her ... it will never happen."

Sakura couldn't help but wince. The way he said, no, spat out the word her was full of such malice.

Does he really hate me that much?

She felt the treacherous tears prick the corner of her eyes.Knowing she had to do something, and fast, she echoed his words.

"Yeah, never."

Sasuke, for the first time, looked at the girl by his side. Only to find she was walking away. When she said those two words her voice was so, shattered, broken, hopeless. Maybe he went a little to far with his protest. Still, why would she get so hurt, she was agreeing with him, wasn't she.

(Flashback)

"I hurt you. You're not supposed to hurt the people you love, Sasuke"

(End Flashback)

Sasuke just walked over to the other side of the campsite, sitting down on a log. He started trying to light a fire.

Why the hell is she walking away?

You're right. Isn't that your job?

Has anyone ever told you you're not that funny? Be serious.

Okay, you want serious? Maybe it's because you said you would never love her.

She already know that, she agreed with me.

It's a lie, Sasuke. You know you love her. The crazy hag who has known you two for less than a day knows you love her.

Furui-san is firing shots in the dark.

I don't think so, Sasuke, and neither do you.

Sasuke was interrupted when Chuuko came over to join him. She sat down right next to him on the log. He planned on ignoring her presence.

"So, is this your first lovers spat?"

He didn't answer.

"I'm sure you two will get over it soon. What's meant to be will be."

Nope. He was I-G-N-O-R-I-N-G her.

"I know you didn't mean what you said back there."

Not listening, not listening, not liste ... the hell? What gave her the right to say that?

"What makes you say that?"

Chuuko couldn't help but grin. His voice was still cold and detached, but she had peaked his interest.

"I mean the fact that you love her."

"I don't."

"Oh, but you do."

"I don't."

"Is that all you can say? If it is then you're a terrible liar."

"I'm NOT lying."

"I know you are. Which is how I know that everything you said back there was a lie. However, your Sakura is not so sure. She thinks you were telling the truth."

"Why would that be a problem. And she's not MY Sakura-chan. She's not my anything."

"If you say so, Sasuke-kun. Just remember, I'm a Matchmaker Extraordinaire."

Chuuko got up to leave, Sasuke staying behind. She made it three steps before he asked her something.

"You still didn't answer my question."

Chuuko knew just what question he was talking about. She turned around and grinned back at him. Then, she continued to walk away.

"Hey!"

Still not stopping, Chuuko gave him his answer.

"It's a problem because she was lying too."

(One Hour Later)

The three were on their way to Iwa and all very much engrossed in their own thoughts. Chuuko couldn't help but think how she was going to pull the two of them together. Sakura was trying not to think about Sasuke (and failing). While Sasuke was running the whole morning through his head, over and over again.

That's why neither of them noticed the kunai flying towards them.

It finally made impact, right in front of Sakura's foot. Startled out of her thoughts she looked down. Something about this particular kunai was strikingly close to one she had seen in the past. She grasped the weapon in her fingers. The cold metal dancing against her warm skin. She dropped it when she saw the marked insignia on it.

(Flashback)

"DAD! MOM!"

(End Flashback)

Both Chuuko and Sasuke looked back at the girl. Sasuke saw the shaken look on her face. He felt his heart start to rip at the sight. It was something so familiar, something he saw in the mirror everyday since he was eight years old. He looked to the ground and found the source of her distress. There, right in front of her, was the pale white mask with the blood red scar down the middle. He felt his fists clench. All he wanted to do was protect her from this. Her parent's murder was here, taunting her, playing with her as if she was his to control. Sakura was scanning the tree line, looking for whoever threw it. He knew she wanted to go after them, bring them to justice. That was something he couldn't let her do. He had gone through the whole revenge feeling, it never disappears but it never makes anything better either. He saw the muscles in her legs tense, ready to jump. He acted before it was to late to do anything.

Sakura was suddenly aware of Sasuke's hand gripping her wrist. In that small gesture he had stopped all motion, and thought, within her.

He pulled her close, his mouth against her ear, and whispered, "I thought you said revenge brought no one happiness, Sakura."

His voice sent shivers down her spine. The irony weighing down on her shoulders like a un-liftable burden.

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I think this is the longest it has me to update ... SORRY! Anywho, I hope you guys liked the chapter. You have NO idea how many times I wanted to end this sooner. Especially when Chuuko was walking away from Sasuke and then gave her answer. Well, then, reviews are much loved and thanks to those who have!

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