"Really?" I all but shouted "You and Tamari-"
"Keep it down. Sheesh you're troublesome." Shikamaru was going pink in the cheeks,
"Shika, are you blushing?" I asked a smirk curling my lips as I teased my friend.
"I don't blush. It the glare from your hair."
"Leave the hair alone." I warned "Why didn't you tell me sooner? How long have I been telling you that you two are perfect together?"
"Longer than I can remember. But you can't tell anyone just yet, I don't Garaa finding out and killing me before I'm ready to tell him myself." He said before taking a sip of his tea.
We were sitting in a little café just down the road from the apartment, it was called the 'Dango Stick' and they sold the best sweets and cakes in the village.
"Who have I got to tell?" I asked, "Everyone's playing hide and seek with my team for the past year." I may have said the last part with a bit too much venom because Shika raised a dark eyebrow at me.
"I thought you were over that."
"I am!" I protested, "At least I'm not as upset about it anymore. Pissed off? Yes, but who wouldn't be if your teammates just up and left you?"
"True." He conceded taking spoonful out of the cake we were sharing. We had just finished a plate of Dango, there was a brief moment of feeling guilty about my diet before that replaced by the heavenly taste of strawberry cream cake.
"We both have the day off. Fancy training a little bit?" I asked as I took a large mouthful of cake
"Sure. By the way you look so attractive like that." The laugh in his voice showed that he was joking.
"You meam wif cafe in my mouf?" I asked.
"Yep and on our nose." He scooped some frosting on to his finger and dapped it on to the tip of my nose before I could move.
"No fair!" I said once id swallowed, "I was distracted!"
"Yeah. Okay, keeping telling yourself that Haruno."
"Don't make me put glitter in you shampoo again." I said. Before he could retort a messenger poofed into existence next to our table.
"You have both been summoned to speak with the Hokage." The messenger said before he disappeared,
"I swear they get more annoying by the day." Shika grumbled before putting some money down to pay for the food. I pulled out some coins for a tip and followed my friend out the café.
Shizune met us at the front of the tower, her smile seemed strained. Before I could ask her what was wrong she told us, "Prepare for a shock. Don't do anything rash." And she pushed the wooden doors open.
The first thing I saw was Tsunade-Sama looking very serious behind her desk, not a Sake bottle in sight- that meant she was sober and this was going to be important.
Then I saw my friends, Ino, Hinata and Tenten smiling at me "What are you guys doing here?" I asked in surprise, but I had a feeling I knew why they were home.
"We finished early Forehead." Ino said fondly rushing towards me a wrapping me in a hug. The other girls soon followed and we stood in a group hug for a few minutes before a familiar voice said.
"What about us?"
My shoulders tensed and I lifted my head from Hinata's shoulder. Looking over to the other side of the room I saw my old team. I felt my face go slack as I straightened up and pulled away from the girls.
Naruto was smiling at me, his cerulean blue eyes shone brightly and his skin was tanner than I remembered. He was holding his arms out for a hug. Kakashi-sensie hadn't changed a bit, his silver hair still stood up on end and his visible eye smiled at me from over the top of a familiar orange book. And then my eyes slid over to the last remaining member of team 7.
The dark eyes of Sasuke Uchiha stared back at me, completely void of emotion. No change there then I thought.
It felt like hours had passed yet in reality it was mere minutes.
Someone cleared their throat and I looked over to see Kiba and the other boys standing proudly in the corner. They had done their job, they had brought back team 7.
"Sakura-Chan?" Naruto asked, his voice was unsure. He was probably wondering why I hadn't burst into tears or running to hug them. I was thinking the same thing.
Shika place a hand on my arm to get me to look at him, when my eyes met his he inclined his head slightly, are you okay? He was asking. I nodded slightly and then turned back to the others.
I smiled at Kiba, Neji, Lee, Choji and Shino in a way of thanks before walking up to my team.
The closer I got the more I couldn't separate the emotions running through me. I was relieved and happy that they were safe. But I was pissed beyond belief that they had left me behind.
I pulled Naruto in for a hug "Thank god your safe." I whispered my voice cracking as tears finally welled up in my eyes, the blond hugged me back my feet coming of the ground slightly.
"Sensei." I nodded at Kakashi unsure of whether or not he would want a hug.
"Sakura-Chan." Was all he said before he pulled me close, "You've grown, I don't remember giving you permission to do that." He was trying to lighten the mood but I heard a slight waver in his voice that made me bawl harder into his flak jacket.
I pulled away from him and I felt the change in the room as everyone wondered how I would react to Sasuke. I threw my arms around him and a sigh of relief could be hear around the room. Apparently no one wanted any confrontation. Of course Sasuke didn't return the hug, I hadn't expected him too. And I was glad he had wrapped his arms around me, because it gave me more room to pull back and look him in the eyes.
"Now that were all re-acquainted, we can get down to business." Tsunade said.
THWACK! The sound of my hand hitting Sasuke's cheek interrupted whatever she was about to say next.
"You bastard." I said, I could feel everyone's eyes on me but I didn't care I needed to get this out of my system, "You're a selfish, cold-hearted bastard!"
"Sakura-Chan," Naruto started catching my other hand before it made a matching mark on Sasuke's other cheek.
"Don't get me started on you either Naruto. Or you Kakashi!" I yelled rounding on them all, "Do you know what you've put me through? What happened to 'leaving a team-mate behind makes you worse than trash'? Or does that not apply to me?"
"Sakura, you can yell at them all you want later but right now I have something important I need to get out of the way." Tsunade said, her eyes full of understanding.
"Sorry." I said turning to face her.
The blonde nodded and continued "It has come to light that a Rogues who have been attacking recently are not Ninjas" a mummer rolled through the room, "They are Wizards. Instead of Chakra they use Magic, I know it sounds impossible but it makes sense, they are using techniques we have never seen, they have next to no chakra signature and they are not from any Villages."
"So where are they from?" Tenten asked, her head cocked to the side.
"That's what I'm struggling to understand, I've contacted all the Villages in every single country, yes they have all obliged because they have all been attacked by this group, and none of them know where these wizards are from."
"They're from Earth Land." I said, remember the name of my former home, "It's probably a different world, we must be connected to it though if they're getting over here. That means we can go to their world." My mind was racing, if I could get back to Earth Land and find my way back to Magnolia I might find my Brother!
"How do you know that?" Sasuke's deep voice echoed around the room
"Oh it speaks." Shikamaru whispered obviously meaning for everyone to hear.
"Shikamaru!" Ino hissed not wanting Tsunade to blow a gasket.
"That is for Sakura to tell you when she deems fit." Tsunade said, "Would you explain Sakura?"
"Of course," I said walking over to her desk and leaning against it, I smirked when she rolled her eyes at me. It was crazy what I could get away with because she was as she put it 'fond' of me. "Earth Land is split very much like our own world, with lots of towns and villages. A few of these towns or villages are home to Guilds. Guilds are made up of Wizards who all practice different types of magic, who accept missions and defend their towns. There are good Guilds and Dark Guilds. My guess is these rogues are wither from a Dark Guild or they're trying to start their own."
"I see." Tsunade said cradling her chin in her hands, "Do you think there's a link between our world and theirs?"
"Defiantly, how else will they be here?" There was an implied, how else would I be here?
"Is there a higher power? Someone who looks over the Guilds?" Kiba asked from his spot against the wall.
"Yes actually. Thanks for reminding me." I said smiling sweetly in Kiba's direction, "The Magic Council, they oversee everything."
"So they're powerful?" Neji asked his lilac eyes full of curiosity.
"Yep." I said popping the 'P'
"Do you think any of them could be behind this?" Hinata asked, her stutter long gone (You have no idea how proud I am of her for that).
"I don't think so, they like to keep the peace," I said uncertain, hell I had only just turned five when I was taken away from my home, I can't remember all the details.
"I still don't get how you know all this." Sasuke said deadpanned.
"Yeah Sakura, have you been studying it?" Naruto asked, I knew he meant well but to me it felt like all I could do in their eyes was look things up and spout random facts.
"You could say that."
"Now these Guilds you talked about, there's Dark Guilds and Light Guilds?" Tsunade asked, I could almost see the cogs working in her brain.
"Yeah, why?" and then it clicked, "An Alliance!" We yelled at the same time. It was a habit we picked up when we worked together on patients who need serious patching up.
"We make an alliance with one of the Light Guilds and have them help use defeat these bastards." Shikamaru said cottoning on to the plan.
"And because they know how to fight with magic they would be more effective. But we don't know what Guild to form the alliance with." Tsunade said, slumping down in her seat.
"Yes we do." I said, raising an eyebrow at her, "Or are you forgetting where I'm from?"
"You never did tell us what it was called." Shika said smirking at me, he was exited that we had finally figured out a plan pf action.
"Fairytail. We make an alliance with Fairytail. One of the best Guilds in all of Earth Land." I said proudly, I could picture Natsu puffing his chest out when I said this.
"Right." Tsunade said getting serious, "Your mission is to figure out how to get to Earth Land and form an alliance with Fairytail."
"Hai!" We chorused.
"Hang on. Even the traitor?" Shikamaru asked disbelief in his voice.
Tsunade shot him a look that would make a lesser man tremble, "I'm going to treat this mission as a second chance for him He came back willingly and I've already discussed things with him and the Council. He knows where he stands. Right, Uchiha?"
"Yes, My lady." Was His simple reply.
"Great, now get out, I need a drink." Just as we were about to ask when we start she said "And you start immediately, it might be best for you to get some food and then go to the library and do some research before you go off on a wild goose chase."
"Hai." We chorused again and filed out of the room.
"I think she meant 'wild duck chase'" Shika whispered in my ear making me laugh. We had once compared Sasuke's hair to that of a ducks butt and ever since we have made jokes about it.
"When did you two get so close?" Ino asked raising a blonde eyebrow, this must have piqued everyone's interest including Sasuke's – who turned his head slightly to listen.
Shika and I shared a look. It was going to be fun messing with them, "Ever since we moved in together." Shikamaru said nonchalantly swinging an arm over my shoulder as I smiled sweetly up at him.
"What?" Naruto bellowed his face going red, "You two are living together?"
"Please tell me you're joking?" Kakashi asked he hated the idea of his little Sakura growing up, she was the only one in his team who didn't give him trouble plus she was so innocent! How dare this boy take advantage of the girl he considered a daughter.
"We're completely serious, we were working on a project together and we just clicked. We have our own apartment near the 'Dango Stick'." I was right. Messing with them was fun, their faces were a picture. Even Sasuke (the king of the straight face) had his mouth hanging slightly ajar.
"Why don't you come over for dinner? We'll cook something nice. Pop round at seven?" Shikamaru said a smirk plastered on his handsome face.
"Bye!" I said cheerfully giving the girls and Naruto one last hug before Shika and I disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
XxXxXxXx
The group of ninjas stood outside the Hokage tower with slack jaws.
"I still can't believe she slapped you, Teme." Naruto said, addressing Sasuke.
"She was filled with the fire of youth." Lee said.
"She seems different." Hinata said and the other girls nodded. Ino looked in the direction Sakura said she lived, her best friend certainly seemed different. Whether it was a good different or a bad different she didn't know.
"She seems over you." Neji told Sasuke, giving the Uchiha a once over. The sharigan user may be able to hide most of his emotions but Neji could see that the Uchiha was annoyed that Sakura was had reacted the way she did.
"Hn." Was all Sasuke said looking bored while on the inside his brain was in turmoil. He had pushed her away so why, when she was no longer fan-girling over him like she had when they were younger, was he disappointed that she had shown more affection for the blond and that Nara boy than him?
Sasuke resolved that he would win her affections again, he had realised while working with Orochimaru that he held feelings for his old team, he missed the way Kakashi pushed him when training and praised him when he did something right, he had missed the friendly fights with Naruto and the way the Blond had treated him like a brother. He had even found himself missing the way a certain pink-haired girl would smile at him and shower him with affection.
Was it possible he had fallen in love with Sakura somewhere along the line without even realising it? Was that the reason he felt jealousy rearing its ugly head when he thought about her in someone else's arms?
(A/N I know Sasuke is out of character but I really like them as a couple and I think it would be nice to see him fight for her attention and affection. I also think seeing him earn her affection will be fun so there's going to be quiet a bit of Sasuke being out of character :) I hope your enjoying it)