Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, sigh. I also don't own the original songs 'All The Same' By Sick Puppies and 'All You Wanted' By Michelle Branch. They are altered a bit to fit the story so it makes sense.
A/N: Sorry that it took so long to update. I got sort of distracted with school and other things. My fault. I will try to update more often. I tried to make this one long.
c h a p t e r . t w o
Normal POV
Sakura had just finished recording her 2 songs. She was confident in them as far as the lyrics, and how she sounded. She tucked the 2 tapes into one of her extra pockets. She leapt off to the Hokage's office for training. When she got to the door, she stopped. She thought about the tape that Sasuke had sent her, wondering if she should report it to Tsunade.
Sakura's POV
I stood there thinking about if I should tell Tsunade-shishou. It would be betrayal to the village if I didn't tell her. But he did say that he was coming back in half of a year. So I won't tell her. I'll just train really hard so I'll be ready to help when the time comes. I then walked into Tsunade-shishou's office, acting as if nothing had happened. I trained my hardest all day, exhausting my chakra until I was almost out. I then wearily walked home. I was tired, but first I had to put the tapes in the envelope and put it by the window. I did that and then collapsed on the bed, dreaming for the millionth time of the return of my love.
Sasuke's POV
The night I sent Sakura the tape, I went back into the woods. I stayed there until nightfall, waiting for her to fall asleep. I knew her well enough from watching her to know that she had already written me songs but I had never seen them or heard the full song. Orochimaru had sent me on a mission to get a scroll from some rogue ninja. I was expected to return the next morning at the latest before he sent that pest, Kabuto, after me.
At about midnight, I went to her house and saw an envelope on the window. I wanted to see her though, so I walked over to her bed. She was so peaceful, although her hair was bit messy and she was a bit bruised from training. Her chakra was VERY low though, as if she had went all out. Probably training her butt off to help me. I shook my head. She could be so obsessive sometimes. But hey, I liked that about her too. It made me feel important.
I slowly placed a chaste kiss on her forehead, which was now just the right size. I put the envelope into my pocket and ran off into the woods. If I was going to make it back to the Sound Village in time, I would have to kick it into overdrive. As I leaped through the trees, I thought about my cherry blossom.
I had loved her for so long and finally found the right way to express my feelings. I hadn't expressed it very well when we were genin. I hadn't even known what the feeling was. It's because I wasn't good at expressing my feelings at all. I was used to feeling no emotions but anger and various other things that I tuned out. But the feeling she gave me was so…different. I liked it. But right when I left, I didn't feel what was missing. After a while it was like an even MORE empty space then before.
I clutched the envelope that was in my pocket. I pulled it out and read the tapes. One said, "All The Same" and the other said, "All You Wanted". I could tell that the second one was going to be deep and I flinched at the name. I knew she had always wanted to be the one to be my savior. I smiled slightly, knowing that she already was.
Normal POV
Sakura dodged Tsunade's punch and kicked her in the chin, sending her upwards. Sakura appeared under her and punched her in the side. Tsunade fell the to ground hard, a bit of blood coming out of the side of her mouth.
She smiled and said "You're improving greatly. I see that you're going all out. Any special reason?"
Sakura almost froze on the spot, but she kept her cool. "It's nothing. Just some anger to be let out. Bad morning."
Tsunade grinned and said, "Alright. That's enough for today. Your shift at the hospital today is 8-12 and then 1-9. Don't work yourself too hard, ok?"
Sakura nodded and began to walk towards her home.
Tsunade looked after her.
"Something else is up. She's been working like this for about 2 weeks now. But I know she can handle it whatever it is," she thought.
Sakura's POV
I slowly walked home, making sure I avoided Ichiraku so that I didn't see Naruto. I had a stupid looking smile on my face and I didn't want to be questioned.
I knew that Sasuke had gotten the tapes because in the morning, they were gone. I had also stuck a note in there earlier that morning that I had dreamed about last night. It was the perfect note and it described everything I felt. I thought it was genius, barely believing that I wrote it. Maybe Inner Sakura was still there, just dormant and she left me a little bit of handy work? I smiled even broader at the thought.
I realized I was home and unlocked the door, walking into my comfortably sized house. I immediately walked into my room, picked up the picture of Team 7, and ran my thumb over Sasuke's scowling face. It was cold, irritated and otherwise stoic. I sighed, and then smiled knowing that I would try my hardest to bring him out of the darkness and into the light. To show him all the joys of life he's missed. I hugged the picture to my chest, wishing we were all together again.
I put the picture down and got back in bed to sleep and replenish myself of the loss so I'd be ready to work. My chakra was only at about 50 now because I had gone all out. I slowly closed my eyes and imagined Sasuke walking into the gates of Kohona, seeing me and pulling me into hug. Just the thought lulled me to sleep with a smile on my face.
Sasuke's POV
I got back to the Sound Village at dawn. I gave Orochimaru the scroll and he only asked me what happened because I took longer than usual.
"I found a women I wanted."
He only laughed bitterly and I figured it was because he wanted me but I had just thrown it in his face that I was indeed straight. But whatever, I didn't care.
I walked to my room and locked the door, making sure that no one was around. I emptied the contents of the manila envelope and a note fell out. I hadn't seen that when I looked at the tapes' labels. I read the note and felt horrible. It read:
"Dear Sasuke-kun,
I'll be ready for your return. If you ever need my help I'll be here. I've been training extra hard and so has Naruto. I know that we could help you if you asked us to help because we're strong now. I wanted to let you know that I forgive you for what happened the night you left. All I want to know is why you said thank you. And if you don't want to explain it, then you don't have to. I respect any decision you make and I always will. I only wish I didn't annoy you all those years and make you suffer more. I apologize for all the burdens I put on you and hope that you still will accept me. But I promise you that I am no longer the same annoying, weak and dependent little girl you know. I'm now an independent woman but I still live for you. I know I sound desperate, but it's not what I want it to sound like. This is supposed to sound sincere. Please take it as that. I promise I will forever wait for you.
Aishiteru,
Haruno-san"
The note trembled in my shaky hand. She had humbled herself to signing it to Haruno-san to make it sound formal. She put herself down to what I had said about her when we were genin. I re-folded the letter and stuck it back into the envelope. I got out the tape that said, "All The Same" and stuck it in the tape player. I pushed play and heard the voice of an angel.
"I don't mind
where you come from
As long as you come to me
I don't like
illusions I can't see
Them clearly
I don't care no
I wouldn't dare
To fix the twist in you
You've shown me
eventually
What you'll do
I don't
mind...
I don't care...
As long as you're here
Chorus:
Go ahead tell me
you'll leave again
You'll just come back running
Holding your
scarred heart in hand
It's all the same
And I'll take you for
who you are
If you take me for everything
Do it all over
again
It's all the same
Hours slide and
days go by
Till you decide to come
And in between it always
seems too long
All of a sudden
And I have the
skill, yeah I have the will
To breathe you in while I can
However
long you stay
Is all that I am
I don't mind...
I don't
care...
As long as you're here
Chorus
Wrong or
right
Black or white
If I close my eyes
It's all the same
In my life
The
compromise
I close my eyes
It's all the same
Go ahead say it
you're leaving
You'll just come back running
Holding your
scarred heart in hand
It's all the same
And I'll take you for
who you are
If you take me for everything
Do it all over
again
It's all the same
As long as you
stay
Just this time"
I felt the unfamiliar sting of tears in my eyes. She was so committed to me, so devoted to me that she would take me in spite of everything. I furiously wiped the tears away and they kept coming. It took me about 10 minutes to settle down.
I smiled when they dried because I realized that she brought out the best in me, human. I took that tape out and put in the one that said, "All You Wanted", took a deep breath and pressed play. The sweet, angelic voice I longed to hear came on and it sang to me, and only for me.
"I wanted to
be like you
I wanted everything
So I tried to be like you
And
I got swept away
I didn't know
that it was so cold
And you needed someone
to show you the
way
So I took your hand and we figured out
That when the tide
comes
I'd take you away
Chorus:
If you want to
I
can save you
I can take you away from here
So lonely inside
So
busy out there
And all you wanted
Was somebody who cares
I'm sinking
slowly
So hurry hold me
Your hand is all I have to keep me
hanging on
Please can you tell me
So I can finally see
Where
you go when you're gone
Chorus
All you wanted
was somebody who cares
If you need me you know I'll be there
Oh,
yeah
Chorus
Please can you
tell me
So I can finally see
Where you go when you're gone"
I felt the now-familiar sting of tears in my once dried eyes. I realized that she really wanted to understand me, be by my side. I continued to cry and was determined now more than ever to give her all she ever wanted, me. I knew I didn't deserve her, but the least I could do is please her with the truth because that's what she wanted, what is now the present truth. I love Haruno Sakura. I would prove it to her no matter what, by coming back to her alive and ready to live with her. I let the tears fall as I crawled into bed to take a nap.
I smiled at my need for her to be with me and did what I always did when I missed her the most. I stood and performed shadow clone jutsu, which always reminded me of Naruto, and had the clone transform into her. I could only hold her or it would turn back into me and I'd be kissing myself (I shuddered at the very thought). I got back in bed with my Sakura clone and held her.
She said, "Good night Sasuke-kun" as the real one did in her sleep.
I murmured, "Good night, my Sakura-chan. Aishiteru."
She blushed and snuggled up beside me. I held her protectively and closed my eyes, dreaming of my real cherry blossom with me.