Two months seemed like a long time, but to Sakura?
It passed in the blink of an eye.
No one could blame her really, considering the amount of D-ranks and Chakra Control exercises Aoi dumped on her and her teammates. While amiable and polite, Sakura and her teammates were one hundred percent sure that Aoi was a slave-driver, despite how he tried to hide it.
'But,' Sakura stopped in front of the academy gates with a smile, 'No one can deny that a two week vacation is basically heaven.' she thought to herself, glad to finally have some time for her friends.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto was the first person to notice her when they were let out, an excited grin overtook his features as he ran towards her.
Kiba was hot on his heels, an almost wolfish grin on the Inuzuka's features.
Behind the two excited boys, a lazy Shikamaru trailed after them with an easy-going Choji and a reluctant Ino, Sakura could swear she heard a mumbled 'troublesome' from the Nara.
'Some things never change,' Sakura happily thought as Naruto and Kiba tackled her into a hug.
Akamaru yipped at her too, his tail wagging in excitement.
"What are you doing here?" Kiba finally asked, reluctantly breaking the hug.
Naruto did the same, not before giving her a firm squeeze, as if silently welcoming her back.
"Got a two week break," Sakura casually shrugged, "so I thought I'd make up for some lost time." she explained as if it was a given.
Which it kind of was really.
She frowned in confusion at their relieved looks.
What? Did they think she was gonna replace them or something?
The mere thought almost made her scoff. They, despite the scarce interactions she's had with them lately, were still her dear friends. Her precious nakama. Nothing, not even the current distance between them, would change that.
"So Sakura," Choji casually started as he, Shikamaru and Ino finally caught up, "Anything interesting happen lately?" he conversationally asked, trying to diffuse the awkwardness that aroused in the presence of the two girls.
"I've been practicing this new technique lately, it's just a D-rank, but someone I know basically turned it into this wicked art~!" Sakura mysteriously grinned, slinging arm over Naruto's shoulders, "But that's enough about me. How's my boys been?"
"Naruto sucks at the Clone Jutsu," Kiba quickly started, he ignored Naruto's glare as he puffed out his chest in pride, "I'm a master at it. At this rate, I'll become Hokage before Naruto does."
Naruto loudly scoffed, "Yeah, right, as if I'll let you take the position away from me," he almost sneered, "With or without the Clone Jutsu, I'll still become Hokage!" he declared loudly.
"Maybe I should try becoming Hokage too..." Choji absently mused, earning everyone's attention, "I can get free food everywhere then." he drooled, imagining the copious amount of free food he would get.
While Naruto and Kiba gaped at the prospect of a new rival for their 'who will become the next Hokage' competition, Sakura giggled. She was amused at the whole scene in front of her.
"What about you?"
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at the pinkette.
"Going to join the competition?"
"Troublesome."
'Typical.'
"Oh wait, we planned on going to Naruto's today, for a boys day," Choji suddenly said, a sheepish look on his face before he gave Sakura an apologetic look, "Maybe we can hang out another day?"
Sakura blinked in confusion.
(She didn't notice Shikamaru keeping Naruto and Kibra's mouth shut)
"Or you can have a girls day with Ino?"
"Hey, that's not a bad idea Choji," Shikamaru cheerily said, acting out of character.
"Yeah! We'll see you two tomorrow then!" Kibra grinned.
"Bye Sakura-chan! Bye Ino!"
The four boys ran off, leaving the two girls behind.
Both were deadpanning.
'Do they think we're stupid?'
Left with no choice, and wanting to fix things between herself and Ino, Sakura gave the Yamanaka heiress a half smile, "So, up for some dango?"
0_0
"You're treating, right?" Ino asked in an almost snobbish tone as the food was placed in front of them, "I mean, you are tying to earn my forgiveness here." she attempted to guilt trip Sakura.
Sakura narrowed her eyes at the girl, "I am paying," she confirmed, "Not to win over any forgiveness or anything. As far as I'm concerned, I didn't do anything worth apologizing for."
Ino practically glared at her, "You kept being a ninja from me," Ino spat, "Best friends don't keep secrets."
"I wasn't keeping it a secret," Sakura reasoned, "I was going to tell you and the others."
Munching on a dango, Ino sent Sakura a skeptical look.
Okay, maybe she wasn't really planning on telling them until it was really needed, but still.
"But, that's not the only thing you kept a secret from me...is it?"
Sakura almost flinched.
Trust Ino to be very observant.
Prepared to lie, Sakura opened her mouth and looked Ino in the eye, only to promptly close her mouth. Ino just looked so vulnerable in that moment that Sakura didn't really want to lie to the girl.
Honestly, Sakura sometimes contemplated telling Ino everything that's happened in the past year and a half. About her ability to see ghosts. About why she had to graduate early. About Shisui.
But no.
She couldn't.
She couldn't put Ino at risk like that.
By not telling Ino, she was protecting her.
Maybe one day, when Ino is older and capable on defending herself, Sakura will tell her.
If by then she doesn't get herself accidentally killed by sticking her nose where it doesn't belong.
"I liked Sasuke-kun," Sakura admitted, that was one secret she didn't mind sharing with Ino, "There, that's my great secret." she bit back a sarcastic 'happy' because she felt kinda guilty enough for hiding the truth, even if it was by using another truth.
"Eh? Since when?"
"Around the same time you started to like him, I think. Not sure."
Ino frowned, "But wait, you said 'used' to, as in not anymore," the blonde didn't bother hiding her joy at the prospect, "why not anymore?"
"Because he kinda rejected me before I even had the chance to tell him."
Both Sakura and Inner had to bit back their grimaces at the memory.
Ino's eyes were wide, "What? When did this happen?"
"It happened a few months before I graduated."
"So that's why you decided to graduate early!" Ino exclaimed, as if she had solved a great mystery. "Oh well, one less rival in love for me," neither mentioned how relieved she sound at that, but both Inner and Sakura had to crack a smile at the tsundere-ish behavior, "But I gotta say, I didn't expect you to just give up like that."
"You're just like all those other girls thinking you can come here and give me a pitying gift and think that I'll go out with you! Well guess what? I'll never go out with someone like you nor any of those other girls. You're all annoying, weak, loud and self-serving! If you have time to bother me why don't you go train? Frankly, you'll never make it as a ninja with your attitude."
The harsh words echoed in her head before she shrugged, masking away the lingering hurt.
"Good luck winning him over."
Ino grinned, as if telling her she didn't need any luck, "So any new boys you like?" she asked, almost purring.
Sakura raised an unimpressed eyebrow, "In case you haven't noticed, I'm going through the process of heartbreak," she jokingly said, "One does not simply move on from an Uchiha."
Ino rolled her eyes, "The fact that you're even joking makes it an obvious yes, but you're not off the hook yet Sakura Haruno." she said in a knowing tone, "You see, I think you're hiding something else."
"Well, the truth is," Sakura started, amused at how Ino perked up in interest, "I'm training to become Hokage." it was meant to be a joke really, but Ino's eyes comically widened.
"EH?!"
Sakura couldn't help but laugh at the stupid expression on Ino's face.
She belatedly realized that she and Ino had just reconciled.
Mentally, she thanked her meddlesome boys.
0_0
For the first time in a long time, Sakura slept in.
There wasn't anything that could make her get up. Not missions, not her team, not her friends, not even her mother's loud voice that rang through the house. Though it did serve to remind her to start moving out soon. Not only because her parents were getting a tad bit annoying with their overprotective nature, but also because of convenience. She would be able to freely interact with her ghostly friends in her own apartment and she wouldn't have to worry about waking up her parents in the middle of the night.
It was a win-win situation.
But, back on topic.
Nothing could make Sakura get out of bed.
"Sakura~!"
Nothing at all.
"Sakura~!"
Nope, she was just going to sleep all day.
"Sakura~!"
Maybe hang out with her friends tomorrow.
"Sakura~!"
"What?" Sakura finally snapped, turning to her side to come face to face with an amused Shisui, "I don't know about you, but I enjoy getting the chance to catch up on my beauty sleep sometimes."
"C'mon, don't be a downer."
"Too late," Sakura mumbled closing her eyes, "Wake me up when the sun isn't shining."
"If you get up I'll teach you a new jutsu."
"No thanks."
"I'll tell ya a secret."
"Keep it."
"Wow, you really want to sleep."
Sakura opened her eyes, "And you really don't want me to. Why?" she quirked an eyebrow up, feeling curious despite the sleepiness in her.
"Because, it's been awhile since just the two of us have hung out, I've missed my favorite girl!" Shisui grinned.
Ino grinned, as if telling her she didn't need any luck, "So any new boys you like?" she asked, almost purring.
Suddenly, Sakura was very aware of how close they were. She rolled to her other side, ignoring Shisui's whine and mentally cursing Ino for putting ideas in her head. Really, next time she'll be the one teasing Ino and making Ino suddenly shy around people.
0_0
"Moving is so boring~!" Shisui whined.
Sakura expertly ignored her ghost friend and sent her teammates a grateful smile, "Thank you for helping me move into my new place, I really appreciate it." she thanked as she walked over to her new kitchen.
Might as well make some tea for them before they left.
Idate grinned at her, "What are teammates for?"
"Right, we're here to help each other." Hana agreed with a smile.
It still slightly crept Sakura out how good they were getting along, but she was more or less glad that her and her team were now all on each other's good side. Which basically meant, no more failed missions and more improvement on their performance.
They chatted over what they were planning to do with the rest of their two weeks off.
Apparently, Idate was going to be training with his older brother and Hana was going to train with her mother.
'We shouldn't slack off either.'
'Agreed.'
Smiling, Sakura didn't intervene as the two begun to bicker in a friendly matter, boasting about how one would beat the other in a spar they had decided to have the next day. As long as they weren't seriously trying to hurt each other, they could do whatever they want.
"Bye Saku!" Idate waved.
"See you around," Hana winked and ruffled her hair, laughing as she pouted, "Don't slack off."
"Bye guys."
With that, the door to her new apartment was shut. Sakura relaxed, finally she had the apartment all to herself. It took her a day to convince her parents to give her permission, but ultimately they accepted. With conditions, of course, such as constant visits from them and constantly having to go over to eat at least one meal with her parents. There were of course smile, though annoying, prices to pay.
'Finally alone.'
'Forgetting someone?' Inner sounded amused.
Oh right.
Shisui.
Turning around, Sakura half expected to see Shisui standing there with a patient smile. Instead, she was met with empty space. Blinking in confusion, Sakura looked around her empty living room. "Shisui?" She hesitantly called out, searching for the ghost she had come to call one of her precious people.
After five minutes, she found Shisui resting on her new bed.
She smiled in amusement, it looks like ghosts really did sleep. Who knew?
Walking closer, she couldn't help but evaluate his appearance, something which she hadn't done since the first time she saw him. His unkempt hair was now something which brought her comfort, not annoyance. The dark color of his hair, which at first she thought was the same as Sasuke's, now looked more like a dark hue of the grey scale. She was kind of jealous of his well-defined eyelashes, that were turns upwards at each end. but it made him all the more unique in her eyes.
Seeing him doing something as mundane as sleeping, didn't bore Sakura at all.
No, it only made him more endearing to her.
In that moment, Sakura couldn't help but think: 'I really like you...'
Then her eyes widened.
'Oh crap...' Inner summarized their thoughts perfectly as a blush spread over Sakura's cheeks.
She couldn't like Shisui.
No, no, no...
This wasn't good.
Chapter End.
Author's Note: Du-du-duuuun. Well, this chapter has been kind of a breather mixed with well...the ending realization on Sakura's part. Liked it? Hated it?
Questions:
1. What will Sakura do about her sudden realization?
2. Will Shisui find out?