It was the same dream again. The one she had been having a lot of times. It was the tent where she was treating the wounded. She had just finished cleaning everything after the last patient came in. When someone spoke her name and opened the entrance. She turned around slowly to face him. His face was slightly flushed while speaking to her. Looking directly into her eyes his words became a whisper and then she could not hear him at all.
Sakura's eyes shot open. She breathed in heavily, while staring at the ceiling of her bedroom:"Why? Why am I having this dream over and over again even after three years have passed?" she thought before swiftly uncovering herself and getting up from the bed.
She made her way into the kitchen starting up the music player and the coffee machine. She didn't like the silence that much when she was alone in her house because it made her think too much and she couldn't relax. So when the sweet sounds of music started pouring out from the stereo she felt calm. Sakura poured herself a cup of coffee when suddenly a knock from the front door came to her ears.
She quickly put on a pair of black short sport pants and a white oversized t-shirt, the left side sliding off her shoulder and opened door only to meet Hinata and Ten Ten at her door. She squeezed her eyes shut from the strong sunlight that was blinding her. But when her eyes got accustomed to light she smiled at her two friends and stepped back so she can let them in.
"Hey Sakura long time no see. How have you been?" greeted the weapon mistress as she took a seat on one of the chair around the kitchen table. Hinata slightly bowed and took a seat herself. Sakura reached into a cupboard taking out two more cups and placing them in front of them while speaking:"I've been good. A little tired but that is because I pulled a double shift in the hospital. But now I have two days off and I can relax. In fact I am having the boys over for dinner last night. Hinata can you tell Naruto if he doesn't know please?"
The shy Hyuga gave a nod while saying yes but the she continued:"Actually Sakura-san we knew it was your day off because we went to the hospital. And we wouldn't bother u if this wasn't important but we need your help." Sakura came to the table coffee jug in one hand:"My help for what?" she asked them while pouring them coffee in the cups she already had placed in front of them.
"Well you know how every year there is a festival in Konoha to honor the ones who died in the war? It's next week." Ten Ten started explaining while she took a sip from her coffee. After receiving a positive response from Sakura she continued:"This year me, Ino and Hinata are on the organizing council and we were wondering if you want to join. The theme we came up with is fire lanterns."
Sakura made questioning face:"Fire lanterns?"
"Yes Sakura-chan."Hinata continued:"The paper lantern that we set in the sky. We thought of making one for each one of the fallen Leaf shinobi." Sakura looked at the cup in her hands."Maybe that is why I had that dream. Because of the time of the year. " she thought then she looked up and stated:"Very well I will join you. I will take Ino's advice and schedule my leave for two week from this Friday. Tsunade-sama will be happy that I will be taking a break it has been almost year since my last leave." she smiled at two girls and took a sip from her drink:"So Hinata tell me how are things between you and Naruto? Do I need to kick his ass so he would behave more?" The three girls started laughing and engaged in a light conversation.
"Sakura wants us over for dinner when did she say that?" Naruto asked Kakashi as he was taking a cool sip of water from his bottle. Sasuke was also paying attention to the conversation and he was patiently awaiting a response from the lazy Copy-nin.
Kakashi raised his eyes to the sky and said:"Well let's see I ran to her on the way to my home last night. I walked her home and she suggested the idea." after his statement he stared down at his book again. Naruto lay down on the grass smiling to what his former sensei had said. Sasuke was smirking. All three of them were thinking how great tomorrow night was going to be. They loved to go over to Sakura's house have one of her amazing meals and just talk and relax. Then Naruto broke the silence:"What about Sai is he invited?" Sasuke shot Naruto a look. For some reason He never liked the former ANBU ROOT. They went on missions a lot of times but still their feelings towards each other never changed. They behaved when they were with either Sakura or Naruto and Kakashi. But still you could feel the unpleasant feelings when they were together.
Kakashi nodded:"He is invited. Naruto if you see him you can tell him. I will do the same. Now…"he closed his book and jumped down from the tree branch:"…let's continue the spar."
When they were kids Kakashi could take both Sasuke and Naruto when they were training. But now he was finding it very difficult to keep up with the. He had realized that when he suddenly felt drained and requested a break. Naruto and Sasuke just shrugged. He was so tired that he even didn't notice two distinct chakras on the other side of the training field.
"Sai! Sakura!" Naruto beamed: "What are you doing here?"
Sasuke and Kakashi looked over the direction that Sakura and Sai were coming from. They were smiling and waving back .Sasuke's eyebrow twitched:"Why is she with him?" he thought. "What are you two doing." He heard himself ask.
Sakura looked at him:"I went to see Sai at his home. Last night I didn't get the chance to catch up with him."Sai smiled at her words. Well at least he tried to. Something woke up in Sasuke at those words. He wasn't sure what it was. But he did not like what he heard.
Kakashi noticed the jealousy on Sasuke's face. He knew that Sakura had turned Sasuke down about a year and half ago but he never knew that he felt something for the girl. It was a surprise to learn that the young Uchiha could feel some emotion in his heart. He looked up at Sakura and Sai from where he was crouched down:"So are you two up for some training?"
Sakura looked down at him; she took a deep breath and directed her gaze towards the sky while putting her hands behind her neck she. She hummed in response:"I finally have two days off and you are going to make me train. How cruel can you be?" Kakashi looked at her seriously guilt in his eyes she was right. He had no right taking away the little freedom she had. But then to his surprise she started laughing:"Just kidding. Got you though. " All of them laughed at Kakashi. It was amazing that she could get out a laugh even from Sasuke.
Sakura was pretty sure that she couldn't be more reckless than now. The whole training field was filled with craters. Broken trees layed around the still untouched pieces of ground, the punches that she had managed to throw at her teammates had resolved in broken bones that now she was tending to.
Naruto sighted in relief once the cooling mint green chakra coming out of her hand made contact with his skin. The pain he felt just moments ago when Sakura had put in place his dislocated shoulder was the most horrible pain he had ever felt but it was worth it when it came to the sensation he was feeling now.
Everyone was breathing heavily. Sakura smirked all of them though that she had lost her form. In the end in turned out that they could barely keep up with her. When it came to her the training was successful. After a few moments she moved to see Sasuke's jaw where her fist had made contact. She shrugged under his cold, and distance gaze on her face. She met his eyes only twice but once she did she just averted them to his jaw line which she was healing now.
After she was done with everyone she spoke:"So who is up to go to the teahouse with me." All of them knew what the teahouse meant. Drinking sake. These days tea houses were rearly used to drink tea in. Instead everyone got piss drunk in them including her and Naruto. One time they had been so drunk that when Sakura woke up in the morning she could not believe that she was sleeping in the same bed with Naruto. None of them had ever mentioned the incident again.
Naruto smiled and gave an approving nod, Sasuke just shrugged. Sai looked up at them:"I am sorry but I can't come. Tomorrow I have a mission. I am leaving at noon." All of them envied Sai that he got a mission even if it was only a B-rank one. They said their farewells to him and made their way down the streets of Konoha.
Sakura and Naruto were walking together laughing at something he had said while Kakashi and Sasuke were following close behind. After a while Sasuke asked Kakashi:"You two talked last night right? Is she mad at me?" Kakashi looked up from his book. The question had caught him off guard. He was thinking that he should toy with Sasuke at first telling him that Sakura was really pissed at him but the he figured that the Uchiha avenger would not get the joke so he just shrugged:"Nope didn't look like it. We almost didn't talk about you."
"Hn."Was the only response that Kakashi got. Once they entered the usual tea house they went to. Naruto squealed:"Hinata? What are you doing here"? Sakura looked at her girlfriends seated on a table all together. To her surprise Ino was also there. The Yamanaka blond wasn't feeling that great last night but Sakura figured that she was okay since she was here. Then the pink haired kunoichi took the liberty of landing a punch on Naruto's head:"You idiot. Go kiss her first then ask why is she here."
The evening passed quite pleasant with a nice atmosphere and a lot of laughs. They had all sat together. After Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke had sat down Kakashi disappeared saying that he is going to Genma's table. Sakura later saw him on a table with Genma, Raidou and Gai talking about something. After some time Neji, Lee, Kiba, Choji and Shikamaru came along and joined the at the table making the atmosphere even better. But Sakura could not relax because she felt Sasuke's glance creeping up her body not once.
Notes: Well a little present for Christmas from me. Two chapters :). I hope you like them and all of you who read this I wish them a merry christmas :)
