Author's note: gomen for such a long break between the periods of adding new chapters, the reason has already been expalined.
Thank you for R & R'ing this fic, keep doing it!)
Chapter Five
Chapter Five summary: meeting with friends, work, conversations with Sasuke would be of little use. Any attempt to revive her husband's love is futile. Sakura needs something else and the temptation is impossible to resist
Her light steps were following the familiar path, warm and it felt so nice as she pleasurably breathed in the night air. Somehow she felt relieved and cheerful, Sakura seemed almost happy.
She loves Sasuke. Some day he would love her too. Hell yes his psycho brother wants him to love her!
She burst out laughing throwing her head upward to see the star-strewn sky, then she shook her hair.
And then froze for a second.
She has been making her moan about her life to an S-class criminal!
--
'No one's likely to believe it', she hemmed and laughed again, humming she continued her way.
- Like it or lump it, he says, 'you are so troublesome'. He thinks I'm troublesome! And that's after all I've done for him! So I say, 'Says who? What would you do without me, you lazy goat!' and then he says… Do you know what he says?
- No, - Sakura was honest. To contradict the outrageous Temari was usually a bad thing
- So he says, 'I'd live in clover. And now will you speak quieter, quarrels are troublesome'
Sakura did her best to suppress giggling, it looked like Shikamaru, such answers were natural for him, she wasn't going to tell Temari anything though.
- Mongrel! It's beyond me what makes me love him! Why the mischief? I could be living in Suna bringing up my bros. I could find a better one. What the heck I can't get it what was wrong with me then? What's wrong with me now? – the ex-kunoichi's voice sounded sad, at least she has spoken out
Sakura patted her shoulder compassionately,
- That's ok, come on Temari. It's him, it's typical of Shikamaru and you can't help it. You are wise enough to choose the right guy, I mean there's something you love him for, something good
- Something. A little. But he's too lazy to show it, - Temari grouched slowly rotating the straw in her cocktail. – What if I complain to my brother?
Sakura imagined Gaara's reaction to a statement like this and felt sorry for Shikamaru at once. Kazekage, who has recently learnt the true meaning of the word 'family' has gotten a bit too obsessed over protection of his relatives.
- Guess you'd better not, - Sakura replied fostering a hope
- Guess I'd better do, - Temari muttered vindictively finishing up her drink. – Then he would lose his habit of upsetting me all the time, if only he survives after meeting my brother
At last she gave a chuckle and moved aside the empty glass. Temari has never been good at remaining angry for long, from the very get-go she knew all too well who and what Shikamaru was like, she knew him as she knew the back of her hand.
'Unlike me', Sakura thought drinking her porion.
They were sitting in a small summer café where Sakura had invited the blonde-haired kunoichi who seemed very depressed. Listening to ardent monologues of others she forgot her own problems for a while and now when Temari was calm and alive again the annoying thoughts crept their way back to her head.
- So you and Sasuke… how are you? Misunderstanding? Disagreement, if any?
Since Sasuke came back from that very mission during which she had a strange conversation with Itachi Sakura has been been giving her husband all her love, she happily met him at home, she kissed him while making love being both passionate and gentle, also he got him to go to a club to have a couple of dances with her. The deeper it went the more despair it brought. He spoke in that same flat indifferent manner, avoided talks and was as cold to any of her endearment as before. Judjing by his behavior it looked like Sasuke has reconciled with the fact that he had a wife, he took it for granted to kiss, to dine out, to give flowers on a certain occasion, he was doing this orderly, regularly like an excellent pupil only because the rule said he was bound to do it.
And still he would return late at night.
- No, never
- I see. Well of course. He's Mr. Excellence. Lucky you are, Sakura. But suppose I've gotta go now, thanks for listening to my blah blah blah and not hitting me with your legs, - Temari winked friendly. – Oh I know how shitty I get now and then. Still, no matter what angelic patience you possess I have to leave, need to go to Suna tomorrow so my bags are waiting for me
- It's alright, - Sakura smiled and got up. – You are welcome. And say hello to Kankurou and Gaara
- Sure. See you, - and she waved her goodbye
The pink-haired girl stretched her tired limbs before coming off the tent's shade to stand under the hot summer sun. Lunchtime was over and she made her way to the hospital.
'Mr. Excellence you say', she remembered entering the cool hospital hall.
The receptionist Minako appeared glad to see her,
- Sakura, hey Sakura! Sasuke had rung you up, he asked to call him back
- Sasuke? Telephoned me? – she approached the desk, took the receiver from the girl's hand and dialed up
- Yes?
- Sasuke, it's me. You asked to get in touch with you
- Uh-huh. I'll be late. You needn't wait tonight, - voice strained, sentences ragged, as was his custom
- Something happened? – the wife worriedly wondered
- Somebody's got into the jail territory and is still within. Have to comb the area and reinforce the guard
- Umm, well. Good luck then
- Bye, - he hang up
--
Her shift was over, doctors and nurses getting off work leaving only some few men on duty, she was the last to say good night to the colleagues and cross the building threshold. Passing by the main gate she stumbled, logic and watch suggested going home, there, into the huge empty house sipping at the cold tea knowing Sasuke would come only in the small hours being as he is busy at work.
Sasuke won't return soon.
Sasuke won't go visit…
Sakura cautiously changed the direction of her look now gazing at the street, the one leading to the Ichiraku. A weird, nearly painful temptation got hold of her.
'Go there? What's the point? No purpose. I had that single conversation with Itachi – thanks God, I've had enough'.
Has she had enough? Seduction, idea of doing a strictly forbidden yet miraculously magnetic thing lingered all around. Has Itachi told his brother about her visit? Somehow she surmised he hadn't. There within the four walls of the house was an enigma, the mystery serving as bonds between the two brothers, the secret hidden from the rest, the door she wanted to unlock so badly since right behind it were the clues to her questions. That is that very door that separates Sasuke from her. Then how come is she standing there marking time like a little girl who's afraid to ask her crush for a spare pen? She's no way doing something out of the ordinary or blameworthy after all. She is a kunoichi. She is!
Biting up her lip decidedly she forced herself to throw off any doubts stepping firmly along the road, the way right opposite to the one leading to the Uchihas' estate.