Hello, my name is sammerzjean77...I'm new here...
Just kidding...but wow....can you say forever??? If you still read this story---review!
And if you even read my notes up here...put a :)(: at the end of your review. I just wanna see who reads this.
Hahaha thx!
Chapter Thirteen:
Desires Of A Childish Heart
"I close my eyes and the flashback starts; I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air."
Due to being friends with a numb skull like Naruto, Sasuke was prone to going on completely idiotic trips and whatever else with the blond.
It was the morning after the Ikiru festival and Naruto had barged into Sasuke's home, telling him that it was their 'day off' because working at the festival was 'so bothersome.' Which it really wasn't...but Naruto needed an excuse to be lazy anyway. So, he had woken Sasuke up and explained how he wanted to show him something...and when Sasuke had so clearly said no...Naruto promised he'd like it.
So naturally, Naruto took hold of Sasuke's arm and pulled him along for the ride.
Which was a mistake...
As it always turns out to be when you're with Naruto.
They were now quietly sneaking through some medium size bushes and tree's around a somewhat oasis-like pond just outside the village. Sasuke, who was muttering incoherent swear words, finally decided to ask what the hell they were doing.
They now were crouched down behind a bush in a sandy area...and Naruto's snickering was making Sasuke slightly uncomfortable.
"What are we doing?" He hissed, causing the hyperactive blond to 'shh' him.
"You can't be loud." He whispered back, making Sasuke glare at him in return.
It was then that a faint tune of feminine laughter reached them, along with the noise of splashing water. And instantly Sasuke grabbed Naruto by the hair and shoved his face into the sand, earning a grunt from the poor boy.
"You pulled me out here to spy on girls?" He hissed once again, this time more viciously. Naruto groaned and attempted to shake his head though Sasuke wouldn't allow that. "You really are a total loser!"
"Would you prefer it be guys?!" Naruto brought his hand up and started slapping at Sasuke's arm until he released his grip. Naruto then looked up at Sasuke with a hurt expression.
"We're not spying. And it's not just random girls. You should be more thankful." Naruto whispered in a fake, sad tone.
Sasuke just blinked.
"Thankful?"
"Yep."
"..."
"..."
"I'll kill you."
Naruto sighed and looked forward, now prying his hands into the bush to create a peep hole.
"This was just one of the many things you picked up from Jiriaya, wasn't-"
"It's actually kind of fun when-"
"You're a fucking moron-"
"Shut up, you bastard."
So, while Naruto had created a nice-sized peep hole, Sasuke was sitting on his knee's, glaring at Naruto's back with an anger six times anything he had ever felt before. A couple moments passed and the occasional giggle was heard off in the distance.
And then...for some strange reason...his curiosity got the better of him. When Naruto pulled his head back, ready to say something...Sasuke pushed his face away and decided to just take a quick look for himself.
And then...well...then he felt utterly stupid.
He now knew who the laughter was coming from.
Tenten, Ino, and Hinata were splashing around in the middle of the small body of water.
Now it made sense why the stupid fool wanted to come out here and spy on them.
But still.
Sasuke pulled his head back and glared at Naruto.
"She says she loves you...so you spy on her when she wears little clothing?" His tone made Naruto sound like an idiot...which, he was.
Naruto let out a faint 'che'. "She's cute. Don't act like you're not the slightest bit interested." He nodded his head in the direction of the girls.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "I'm not acting."
Naruto groaned and pointed at the tiny hole in the bush. "Fine. You know what, tilt your head so you can see to the right...by the tree."
Sasuke hesitated.
Naruto nodded his head toward the bush again...and Sasuke rolled his eyes, now bending down to peek once more.
He slowly pushed away the leaves and sighed. "You're such a loser, Naruto. Why did you have to drag me..."
He stopped mid sentence, eyes widening...as he could now see a tree by the oasis with somebody...Kurenai...sitting down underneath it...and somebody else...now removing their shirt and standing in nothing but a pink bikini...standing next to her...
And now Sasuke knew why Naruto and brought him along.
"Sakura, right?" Naruto whispered childishly, chuckling beside him.
Sasuke bit down on his tongue to keep from swearing loudly at Naruto. He watched as Sakura slowly made her way toward the water with the other three, tying her hair up as she slowly entered the oasis.
"Sakura's pretty hot. You're totally thinking the same thing, aren't you?"
"No."
"Don't lie. I don't blame blame you. I totally wish I could have that body, too." Naruto's devilish snicker's released. He just loved annoying Sasuke. But this time, it didn't work.
Sasuke turned to him with a triumphant smirk on his face. "Wish? I've had it."
Naruto's jaw dropped open and his face flushed. "No way, you bastard! How far have you made it with Sakura?!"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, finding this game a bit amusing. "How far have you made it with Kalei?"
Naruto attempted to close his mouth, only to bite his lip and let out little whimpers. After that, he didn't let his eyes meet Sasuke's.
Oh god.
Sasuke put it together by the increasing shade of fuchsia on Naruto's skin. "You...slept with her, didn't you?"
He was hoping for a no, or at least no answer...but that wasn't what he got.
"Well, didn't you and Sakura?"
"N-no." Sasuke cleared his throat and looked at Naruto with an emotionless stare.
Naruto sighed with relief. "I see. I didn't really think so. That's good."
Sasuke perked his eyebrow in interest at those words.
"It was only once, and it wasn't what I expected. And it was so long ago. It meant nothing." Naruto finished, his face slowly returning to its normal pigmentation.
Sasuke frowned and turned his head to look back through the bush. What was he suppose to say to that? Not only was he completely shocked...he was upset. Just a bit, though. Just a bit.
A moment of silence passed and then Naruto realized that Sasuke was still staring out at Sakura.
Muahahahahahahahahahaha!
"Oh! Naruto, you're such a loser! Naruto, you're such a moron! Oh, hey Sasuke! Sasuke! Who's the pervert now?!"
And instantly Sasuke grabbed the back of Naruto's head and drove his face into the sand once more. He glanced out at the oasis once more and then looked back at Naruto, who was angrily squirming.
"How did you know they'd be out here, anyway?" Sasuke asked, acting bored. He released Naruto, who instantly glared up at him and growled.
"I went out for breakfast with Kakashi and he said that he gave Kurenai the okay to take the girls and have a day to relax. He said she mentioned something about this area and I came to check it out. No big deal." Naruto grinned up at Sasuke, who looked away and rolled his eyes.
Naruto peeked through the bushes once more until Sasuke grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him away. Naruto blinked thrice at Sasuke who sighed and stared in the opposite direction of Naruto.
"What?" Naruto asked curiously.
"Let's go."
Naruto's mouth dropped open. "Huuuuhhh?" Perfect seats, you dumbass?!?!
"I won't be caught dead out here with you."
But Naruto could see the small hue of crimson casting across his cheeks.
Sasuke slowly started making his way back through the bushes, leaving Naruto gawking at him, dumbfounded.
But after a moment...Naruto exhaled and trailed after him.
"And as I suspected, they decided to come down for a short visit."
Kurenai laughed gently while Kiako, who was sitting beside her, gently rubbed her stomach. Kakashi was leaning his back against the tree, on the opposite side of where Sasuke and Naruto were previously hiding...thus, they couldn't see him.
Kurenai glanced up at him with cheerful eyes. "I think it's great how close you are with those two. Naruto really looks up to you...and well, Sasuke's also very close to you. They both have a heart of gold."
Kakashi let out a very, very, quiet snort. "Sasuke? Heart of gold? Maybe heart of bronze...if he's lucky."
Kurenai shook her and laughed once more. Kiako got up onto her feet and walked around to Kakashi's right, grabbing onto his pants.
"Well, whatever. Anyways, I'm glad you decided to stop by...and thank you for taking such good care of me lately. But you shouldn't worry so much, and I really wish Shikamaru wouldn't worry either. Soon, I'll be having this baby and I know his protectiveness will only increase. I don't want him to feel so responsible."
"Let him."
Kurenai's eyes widened as she glanced out at the four girls in the water.
Kakashi spoke again. "It was his promise to Asuma. He knows what he wants to be responsible for. Don't take that way from him."
Kurenai's heart wrenched.
But she smiled.
"You're right."
It was a little later in the afternoon now, and Sasuke was slowly walking down the street with Suigetsu. Karin and Juugo were lying around his house...and this slightly upset him...because he didn't like the idea of having to deal with all three of them everyday. But they needed to stay somewhere...and last night, Sakura had so reluctantly offered to consult Shizune about offering them a tiny home to live in for a while. Given that she even allowed them to stay in the village.
But Sakura hadn't done that yet, so basically, Suigetsu was strolling around the village without permission, thinking that he could. But because he was with Sasuke, nobody really dared to tell him otherwise.
"So, where'd you head to this morning? That stupid blond boy snuck in and pulled you out of the house so fast I didn't have time to call him a moron and tell him to knock first." Suigetsu asked, his hands behind his head.
Sasuke rolled his eyes and looked off to his right, opposite of Suigetsu. "Don't ask." He groaned bitterly, remembering how they so pitifully spied on their friends.
Suigetsu growled and starting dragging his feet. "Fine then. So, are you sure it's okay we bunk at your place for the time being?"
Sasuke now rolled his eyes back to scowl at Suigetsu, who avoided his gaze by glowering at the people walking by.
"I never even said it was-"
"'Cause you know, Karin's probably going to sneak into your bed and try to-"
"-Suigetsu."
"Hey, I'm only saying. It's not like it's the first time she's had her hands all over you-"
"Suigetsu!"
Suigetsu grinned and stopped talking while Sasuke twitched angrily and distastefully at the thought of Karin and him sleeping together in a bed. Rawr.
"Yeah, I didn't think you'd like that idea. And neither would Sakura, am I right?"
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through Sasuke's head, causing him to close his eyes tightly and gasp as quietly as possible. He slowly brought his hand up to the side of his head and took deep breathes, waiting for the throbbing to increase. Because he knew it would.
"Who cares. I'm not interested in either of them."
"Oh, you lie."
"Suigetsu, shut up."
"You're a lying liar...who lies!"
"I'm warning you."
"Fine! Fine, then I'll just take Sakura home myself and make sweet, sweet-"
It was only then that Suigetsu stopped talking and looked behind him to see Sasuke standing still, glaring at him with the sharingan. Clearly pissed. Suigetsu shook his head and waved his hands in front of him, all the while unable to suppress the grin on his face.
"That's not even fair. You come here, have the chance to have her all to yourself...and suddenly, you're not interested? Which...it's obvious you are, so why deny it? I mean...you're only real choice at women over the past year was Karin...but ugh. Naturally, that's unacceptable. So come on...I mean, we're at the village because of Sakura...which isn't really on my list of smartest things ever but-"
"-We are here...because...well, you brought me here...but we're staying...because..." Sasuke's voice trailed off as the throbbing slowly increased. He felt his body growing hot and numb, and his ever barren eyes were burning now that the sharingan had disappeared from them.
Suigetsu took a few steps up to Sasuke and rested both his hands on his sinewy shoulders, causing Sasuke to lower his arm to his side and glance at Suigetsu inquiringly.
"I know. We're here because of Madara and the damn Akatsuki."
Sasuke's lips drew into a tight line. Yes, that's exactly why we're here.
"Though Sakura's awesome, that pink haired chick is just a distraction, but that's okay. We'll deal with it. I have people out around this land and the others on constant watch looking for those S-class criminals, and the minute we find them...we'll get to Madara...and completely annihilate him." Suigetsu said confidently.
Sasuke's face now grew stoic, though the pain was still intense. He was a pro at keeping his self-possessed physiognomy.
"And I believe this but you know...I was curious as to why you let Tsunade and that black haired chick go off to find Madara. I mean, you told me that's where they were going." Suigetsu continued, a now thoughtful expression replacing the ever present grin.
Sasuke scowled. "An assumption."
But I'm almost completely positive that's where she went.
"Well whatever. Point is, when we went to find Itachi...all you said was 'leave him to me, he's mine'...and we did. But you were set on taking care of him yourself. Now...you're fine with letting somebody else get rid of your prey? That's unlike you. I agree with using Konoha to take care of the other flea's in the Akatsuki...but don't let some half-rate ninja from this village attempt to take down you're prize, Sasuke."
Sasuke thought back on that. He was right. He was changing back into what he was about a year ago...but it was happening much faster. Somehow, he needed to keep his priorities in mind.
"Hn."
A grin screwed it's way onto Suigetsu's face once more.
"You're destruction at it's finest, Sasuke Uchiha. You need nobody else."
Sasuke blinked a couple times, keeping his calm composure. Suigetsu's face grew mischievous and sneaky.
"Well, except me, of course. Now, Konoha? Those elders ...they are everything we hate...but they have everything we need."
Sasuke smirked to himself. "I'm not concerned with pleasing all those little pricks and all their little schemes."
Suigetsu was completely right.
He brought his arms down and scratched the back of his head. He started to walk off and waved to Sasuke.
"Good. Just keep that in mind, got it? I have no doubts about what we're doing here. I know you haven't lost sight of your true goal. I'm heading out...I'll be back soon." Sasuke watched him pause and look back, that annoying sneer never leaving his aspect. "Oh, by the way...I meant what I said about Sakura."
The corner of Sasuke's lips raised. It was just like Suigetsu to attempt to bring comic relief to the situation. "That she's a distraction?" He asked.
Suigetsu's eyes twinkled. "No, about making sweet, sweet-"
"Leave."
"Alright, alright. Later!"
And he then walked away, leaving Sasuke to groan and deal with his oncoming episode.
Sakura was sitting on the ledge of the pond she had seen Kalei at just days ago. The sun was shining bright overhead, causing a glare to shoot up from the waters ahead of her.
She was enjoying just being able ot relax, but still...with Tsunade not around...Shizune was keeping her busy with work...and that meant no missions. No nothing. Which bored her. But oh well...she'd only be going on missions with Taru and Sai anyway...which was okay but...it wasn't Naruto and Sasuke.
Which wasn't Team 7.
Which wasn't really interesting at all.
And wasn't what she had in mind.
She sighed as she listened to the children laughing and wresting on the other side of the pond. Secretly, she wish she could find some entertainment of her own. Something to keep all the random nothingness out of her mind.
She groaned quietly to herself, quirking her eyebrows and closing her eyes tightly against the rays shooting off the crystal waters. She was in a long white skirt and a pink button up t-shirt...nice casual clothing. Her hair was down, and without her headband tying up her hair, she had strands falling in around her face.
Slowly, she went over everything that had happened over the past few weeks. There was so many things she wanted to know. Like, who Madara Uchiha was exactly...where the Akatsuki were and what they were doing...where Tsunade was...where Kalei was. She hadn't seen Kalei last night at all.
Suddenly her eyes snapped open.
Light bulb on!
No way...they couldn't...both be on a mission together...could they?
"Pretty lady!"
Sakura jumped, sharply inhaling the air. All of thoughts left her mind as she fortunately, or unfortunately, found her piece of entertainment. She looked to her left to see the little girl that tripped in front of her a while back, Kiako...and also Kalei's little sister, sitting down next to her. Her long dark blue hair was sprawled all across her shoulders. She had on a spaghetti strap white dress that reached her knee's and had many ruffles on the bottom. She was barefoot, and this time, had no dirt on her face. And as her dark blue eyes stared lively up at Sakura, she couldn't help but notice she was a very beautiful little girl.
Much like her sister.
"K-Kiako, right?" Sakura stuttered, still a little jumpy from Kiako popping into thin air. "You surprised me."
Kiako giggled strongly, her nasally voice throwing Sakura from her peaceful tranquility.
"W-What are you doing?" Sakura asked curiously as the little girl started kicking her legs against the ledge. She scooted closer to Sakura, trying to be secretive about it...and in turn, Sakura, scooted away again.
"Waiting."
Sakura blinked thrice.
"Waiting for who?"
"A boy."
A light smile galloped onto Sakura's face. "A boy, huh? What does this little boy look like?"
Kiako shook her hair and giggled lightly. "He's not little."
Sakura leaned into her left shoulder a bit and her smile widened. "Oh? Well what does he look like?"
"I dunno." Kiako replied happily.
Sakura's smile twisted into a confused frown.
Strange little girl.
"Do you even know this boy?"
"I know about him."
Sakura laughed to herself. Was she this crazy as a little girl? All those childish dreams and false beliefs in fairy tales. How innocent.
How completely disgusting.
"Pretty lady, you know about him, too!"
That caught Sakura's attention. Her eyes narrowed quizzically at Kiako, who in turn popped a secretive smile. She had wanted to ask what she was talking about but decided against it, considering she didn't care much...and even though she hated to admit it, being around Kiako felt like being around Kalei, considering their appearances were almost creepily identical, putting the age difference aside. And Sakura, for one, didn't like being around Kalei all too much. Not that it wasn't clear enough.
"Oh, do I?" Sakura replied, coming off as a smart aleck.
Kiako nodded. "Yep, and I bet you know him really, really well."
Sakura now just stared at Kiako, curious, and annoyed.
"Sakura?"
She jumped, letting out a tiny, almost inaudible, squeal at the mention of her name from behind her. She glanced around her shoulder, as did Kiako, to see Sasuke standing a good distance away from them, giving Sakura a look that either said he didn't care to see her right now, or she was an idiot for playing with children in her spare time. Either way, a glow of maroon graced her countenance as she quickly stood to face him and waved.
He took a few steps toward them, and it was after she got over her slight embarassment, that she noticed a hint of agitation in his voice. But from what? She didn't do anything.
"What are you doing?" Sakura asked calmly, clearing her throat and smoothing out her skirt.
Sasuke stopped and stretched out his neck, all the while ignoring the burning sensation boiling in the back of his skull.
"Going home. You?" He narrowed his eyes like a smart-ass at Kiako, who quickly jumped behind Sakura, making her sway with a slight loss of balance. Sasuke didn't get a good look at her, but she looked young enough to be classified as an annoying kid.
"I was...um..." Her voice trailed off as she scratched the back of her head. Kiako's fingers dug into the fabric of the skirt, and into her skin. "I don't know what I was doing." She mumbled to herself.
"That's him!"
Sakura let out a 'huh' as she stared down at a beat-red Kiako. Her wide blue eyes were zoomed in on a bored, not-paying-any-attention-what-so-ever, Sasuke...like he was her knight in shining armour.
"Ahh good. We're all here."
Both Sakura and Sasuke shot their gazes to the side to see Kakashi walking up to them, hands in pockets, eye crinkled...clearly a knavish leer upon his lips. Only Kiako did not sway her gaze that rested to strongly on Sasuke.
"K-Kakashi." Sakura stammered, glancing from Kiako to Kakashi. He waved at Sakura, (or did he wave a Kiako?), and then gestured his hand toward Sasuke, who was now scowling at him.
"Kiako," Kakashi bowed his head ever so slightly. "This is Sasuke. Don't be shy."
Sasuke glanced at the little girl with one eyebrow perked as she peeked her head around Sakura's hip. And then, with a burst of courage, Kiako pushed off of Sakura's hip and bolted towards Sasuke, arms outstretched and smile on her face, until she reached him and flung herself fully onto his torso. He swayed only a bit and brought his arms up into the air, staring down at her with a look of shock and anger.
What the hell?!
"Kn-knock it off!" Sasuke said loudly, not quite a shout though. But Sakura heard his voice crack. Clearly, Kiako was popping his personal bubble.
And Kiako only buried her face deeper into his stomach, giggling...and slightly tickling him (though he'd never admit it.)
"Sasuke, Kiako's been wanting to meet you for a while now." Kakashi said, as Sakura walked over to him. She simply watched Sasuke being molested by the tiny child that looked more like an ornament on his muscular body that an anything else.
Sasuke let out a 'che' and proceeded to grab Kiako by the arms as gently as possible to pry her off. And as he did, she managed to grab hold of his black shirt while he held her away from his body. She stared up at him with wide eyes...almost as if she had just seen mommy kissing Santa Claus.
"Why?" Sasuke hissed fiercely, looking at Kakashi, not Kiako. He never really once payed attention to who she was or what she looked like...until Kakashi caught his interest.
"She's heard a lot about you."
With that, Sasuke slowly turned his glower to Kiako, finally taking in her appearance.
And Sakura watched as it must have slowly hit him.
His eyebrows relaxed, his tight grip on her arms loosened, his eye's widened, and his lips parted slightly. And he stared.
"K-Kiako." He muttered softly as the name rang through his throbbing head.
-
Kalei took a deep breath and looked down at the floor. "A week after that, my little sister, Kiako, was born. I've only met her once and that was when I went back to the Sand village for my father's funeral. I haven't seen my mother since then either."
-
His eyes widened even more after that memory came back into his head.
She looked like Kalei. So much like Kalei.
"Big sister talked about you all the time. Lele really likes you, so I want to like you too!"
He felt a weird knotting sensation in his stomach and another sharp pain shot through his skull. He brought his arms to his side and took a step back, only staring at Kiako as if she were the plague.
"Lele..." He took a deep breathe.
Lele must be Kalei.
All the while, Sakura bit her lip...feeling...what, jealous, that Kiako was having such an impact on him. Maybe it was just the fact that seeing Kiako made her think of Kalei herself...so she could just imagine what it was doing to Sasuke.
"You're first mission, again, Sasuke...and Sakura..." Kakashi murmured, bringing his arm around Sakura's shoulders and pulling her into his side. She glanced up at him and then over to Sasuke, who was now staring quizzically at their ex-sensei.
"...is to watch Kiako for tonight and part of tomorrow. I'll pick her up sometime during the day."
Both Sasuke and Sakura let their jaws drop while one felt nervous about it...and the other, disgusted.
"That's not a mission!" Sakura hissed, pushing herself away from Kakashi. She raised her fist in front of her, gritting her teeth at him.
She was the one who felt disgusted.
"She's right." Sasuke growled back, running a hand through his hair. "I refuse."
Kakashi shook his finger at Sasuke. "You can't. Lady Hokage left me the authority to make decisions like this, and Sasuke...you're going to build yourself up....starting with a small mission-"
"So, why am I doing it with him?!" Sakura took a step toward Kakashi, readying her hand in a fighting position, and Kakashi, smart enough to know her strength, took a step back and let out a nervous chuckle.
"Good company?" He tried, as if not knowing the answer to that question. This only caused Sakura to now clench her fist tighter.
I'll be damned if I'm putting up with this brat with him!!!
Kiako watched gleefully, finding the whole scene quite amusing.
"I'm not doing this alone." Sasuke broke into the argument
Now Sakura looked at Sasuke, face completely insulting, almost bearing the words 'Are you a fucking moron? I've met fish I'd rather spend more time with than you.'
"You're the one who needs to start small. You only want to drag me down with you!"
"I'll find complete pleasure in watching you suffer with me."
"You're a sadistic bastard."
"Sakura!" Kakashi groaned, watching Kiako's eyes widen at her colorful vocabulary.
"Not sadistic. Bored. Enlighten me."
"Enlighten this!" She fumed, raising her middle finger to him. He only smirked and let out a 'hn' under his breathe.
"That didn't make any sense." He sang out, and as Sakura was in position to lunge at him and beat him to a bloody pulp, Kakashi held his arm out in front of her, making her stop and glare up at him now.
"This is why you're going to watch her together. No if's, and's, or but's." Kakashi now shouted firmly, earning scowls from the two.
"But I don't want to!" They shouted in unison.
Sakura slowly opened the door and stepped inside Sasuke's home, removing her shoes and coat. With her, she had a small bag that contained some clothes to sleep in.
Kakashi had made it clear that they were both going to watch Kiako tonight...and because Sakura had a point, that she didn't need to be messing around with stupid little missions like this, Kakashi said that Sasuke would be taking Kiako to his house for the night and Sakura would be able to go home, get whatever she needed, and stay the night there. She'd be able to leave in the morning, leaving Kiako in Sasuke capable, or not capable, hands. But still...Sakura couldn't help but find it cruel and unusual that Kakashi do this to her. Did he not know how awkward and painful it was to be with Sasuke? And to be with him overnight? Nonetheless...staying at his house?! It was enough to make Sakura want to punch him a thousand times.
So everything was screwed up, pissing Sasuke off to an unbelievable extent. Juugo, Karin, and Suigestu had to leave...Kakashi's request...and Sasuke had managed to talk Naruto into letting them stay for one night...because god forbid Sakura let them be at her house while she wasn't there. But still...neither of those three were happy about it...especially Karin, who was repulsed at the idea of her Sasuke allowing Sakura to stay the night. Even though he wasn't her Sasuke at all.
She heard something like glass hit a table and shrugged it off, making her way to the kitchen, where the only light was shining.
It was late now. Sakura had taken her sweet time getting her things to avoid having to be alone with Sasuke. And she wasn't sure what she thought about what she seen next.
Irritated or relieved?
She walked into the kitchen only to see Sasuke, sitting in a chair opposite side of the rectangular table of Suigetsu, who was standing, leaning into the table...face red...
Drinking saki.
Both of them.
Drinking saki.
Sasuke drinking....Sasuke drinking....Sasuke...drinking?
Sakura let out a held breathe and shook her head, walking over to the table. She set her bag down on the floor and glanced at Sasuke, who had his head in his hands, watching Sakura from the corner of his eye.
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Oh, Sakura! Have I ever told you that you're beautiful?" Suigetsu chirped, earning a small, entertained smirk from Sakura.
"That's the alcohol talking." Sasuke chimed in, taking another sip from the bottle the two were sharing.
Sharing...
Sakura rolled her eyes and reached for the bottle from Sasuke's hands, only to have him pull away and take another drink just to irritate her.
"Are you okay? I've never seen you drink." She asked, trying to hide her irritation. Suigetsu took the bottle from Sasuke as soon as he set it on the table.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes at her. "Headache. And I'm bored." He tilted his head. "And you're annoying."
"She is not annoying." Suigetsu interrupted, snapping at Sasuke, who only rolled his eyes and cleared his throat.
Sakura groaned. "Where's Kiako?"
"In her room. She's playing by herself, poor kid. But Sasuke's such an ass, that he'd never go play with her." Suigetsu snapped again, this time chuckling to himself right after. And yes, that remark earned a glare of it's own pointed directly at Suigetsu from Sasuke.
Sakura raised her eyebrows at a tipsy Sasuke. "You're not even watching her. Are you completely hopeless?"
Sasuke ran his hand through his hair and turned to the side of the table. "No. But I'm in pain." He nodded his head back, gesturing her to come over and try to heal some the pain that was tearing through his skull.
And despite his ability to hide it so well...really, it was killing him.
Sakura let out a small 'che', and walked over beside Suigetsu, who glanced at her curiously and then wrapped his arm around her waist. Funny how alcohol could make one so bold.
"No. Heal yourself. You know what I went through last time you were having one of your stupid episodes?"
"My apologies."
No shit. You almost killed me, you dumb fuck.
Sakura narrowed her eyes at him dangerously until she heard a snicker from Suigetsu, and she glanced at him suspiciously from the corner of her eye. Sasuke now turned his body back to the table and screwed a nasty look of his own onto his face.
"You two. So hilarious. Sakura, dearest," Suigestu pulled her in a little closer and leaned his head in to whisper in her ear, causing her to blush a bit and feel fidgety. "Please just heal him, before he goes into an uncontrollable fit and takes it out on us."
Sasuke's eye twitched dangerous as Suigetsu slurred into her ear.
"He's had much more than you, hasn't he?" Sakura inquired about Suigetsu, ignoring the shark boy that was too close for comfort. She tried to shift away but he kept his hold firmly in place.
"Mmm." Sasuke groaned, nodding his head and taking another sip. He then slammed the bottle down as he noticed Suigetsu attempt to, bite, Sakura's ear?
"Suigetsu!" He roared, making Suigetsu chuckle slightly and pull away from Sakura, who was now pissed. She marched over to Sasuke's side of the table and snatched the saki away from him, only to direct his irritation at her now. She made her way over to the fridge and placed the saki in there, and then she walked over to Sasuke and slowly raised her hand up to his head. But before she could make contact, he swatted it away.
"What?!" She hissed. He grabbed her wrist tightly as she attempted to reach for his head again.
"I don't need you anymore."
"Oh shut up." She spat, pulling her wrist from his grasp. She then used her other wrist to grab and hold captive his hand that was desperately trying to stop her right hand from healing him. But once she had started pouring the chalkra into his skin, he calmed down and let her continue.
A moment passed and all that could be heard was Suigetsu's almost silent humming and Sasuke's deep breathes.
Silence.
"So-" Suigetsu spoke, halting at that. He didn't like the silence.
Sakura glanced at him while Sasuke seemed to pay no mind. But after a moment of staring at Sakura with twinkling eyes, Suigetsu resumed his thought. "You're so pretty."
"Damn it." Sasuke sighed and tilted his head back up to glare at the moron, causing Sakura's hands to lose their position. But when she tried to put her hands back on his head, he stood up and shrugged her off...all the while Suigetsu was quickly making his way out the door to avoid an angry. dangerous, and tipsy Sasuke.
Sakura exchanged glance between the two before she fixed her gaze on Sasuke, who was making his way upstairs.
"Where are you going?" She asked a bit angrily. Did he not even have the nerve nor decency to thank her?
"To throw up."
Sakura snorted at that. "You had that much? Or can't you handle your alcohol?"
He stopped mid stairway and scowled back down at her. "It's not that. There's a 7 year old kid staying in my house. I can't exactly be walking around with alcohol on my breath, now can I?"
Her eyes shot open wide. Wow...how very responsible of him. But before she could commend him...or more, sarcastically commend him, he turned around and stomped upstairs.
And stomped, he did.
After Sasuke had been unable to thrown up, taken a shower, brushed his teeth, and gotten ready to crash for the night, he and Sakura slowly walked down the hallway to Kiako's room. Sakura led, opening the door and peering inside to see Kiako sitting up in her bed in her light blue pajama's.
"Hey." Sakura whispered quietly, grabbing Sasuke by the hem of his pants and pulling him in behind her. Because she knew damn well he wouldn't have followed otherwise. She could just feel his nasty gaze on her back.
Kiako grinned up at her. "Hi, pretty lady."
Sasuke snorted, causing Sakura to punch him harshly in the stomach. He growled a bit as she sat on the bed.
"Tired?" Sakura asked the little girl, folding her hands in her lap.
"Kinda, a bit."
Sasuke raised his eyebrows.
"Well, we're going to go to bed so-"
"Together?" Kiako's eyes got wide.
Sasuke choked on air while Sakura cleared her throat awkwardly.
"No." They answered in unison.
"Oh." Kiako giggled. "Well, okay. Good night then, Sakura."
"Good-" Her words faded out as Sakura suddenly realized that that was the first time Kiako had called her by name. "Good night." She stood up as Kiako giggled once more.
Sakura shot Sasuke a look that cursed him for being so completely useless when she heard Kiako call out for him.
"Sasuke...will you stay with me for a while?"
Sasuke flinched, giving Sakura a pleading look. He hated this 'mission'...if you could even call it that. But Sakura turned her head and walked out the door, pretending she hadn't heard a thing. She almost shut the door all the way, leaving it cracked open just a bit for the light to shine in.
After a moment, Sasuke sighed and walked over to sit where Sakura was sitting on the side of the bed.
"What is it?" He asked, staring at the floor in front of him. God, he was so bored. He was tired, and annoyed. And he couldn't stand looking at Kiako.
"I was wondering, were you close with my sister?"
He felt his stomach flip and he suddenly felt severely uncomfortable.
"Don't know."
Awkward silence.
"Lele said she really liked you. When she got to the village, she told me all about you. I really wanted to meet you after that."
Sasuke turned his head and looked at Kiako thoughtfully as she laid down and stared up at him with curious eyes. He seen a lot of Kalei in her.
-
Sakura brought her hands up to her mouth, trying to fight the burning sensation in her eyes.
She wanted to cry. But why? So what if Kalei really felt that strongly for Sasuke? That didn't mean he felt the same...did it?
You're so stupid, Sakura! Next time ,don't waste your time spying on him!
Truth was, after she had pretended to leave to go to sleep, she only stood outside the door listening. Her curiosity had gotten the best of her. But now she didn't care too much.
She slowly tiptoed down the hall so they couldn't hear her.
She wasn't interested anymore.
-
"She always got these looks on her face when she talked about you." Kiako's face now grew a bit serious and she grabbed tightly onto the blanket laying over her.
Sasuke nodded. He didn't know what else to do.
"Sakura looks at you the same way."
His eyes shot open and he suddenly felt a heavy feeling spread across his chest.
"What do you mean?" He asked quietly, his tone almost a whisper.
Kiako grinned up at him, making him feel even more weary.
"I think...that Sakura is in love with you."
Sasuke exhaled a deep breath, and a tiny smirk came upon his face. He couldn't help but feel like laughing at that.
You have no idea.
Kiako just stared at him, inducing him to speak.
"You know what?" He whispered in his low, smooth voice.
Kiako's eyes grew mischievous.
"I think that, too."
Kiako's mouth opened to say something, but then she shut it quickly and tried to surpress her childish snickering.
Sasuke just shook his head, smirk still in place.
"But let's keep that our little secret, alright?" He continued, and instantly Kiako nodded her head viciously. Sasuke nodded back. "Alright. Get to bed." He poked her forehead and got to his feet, slowly turning around to walk out the door.
"Sasuke?"
He stopped when he reached the door, not looking back at her. "Yeah?"
"I think you love her, too."
And it killed Kiako not being able to see his face. Was it a stoic expression? A frown? A smile?
"Do you." He stated in a monotone voice, making his emotion even more mysterious.
"Do you?"
He smirked to himself.
"I'll let you sleep on that." He said before walking out the door and shutting it. He heard Kiako 'humph' inside, and that only left him with a small feeling of satisfaction. And from there...he made his way to his room.
But he just couldn't sleep.
He was now standing out on his balcony, staring out at the village as lights slowly turned on one by one. The stars were bright and enticing as the strong breeze blew around him.
He just couldn't help it. Being around Kiako was making him think of Kalei...
What was she doing? How has she been? Did she want to see him? Did she still care for him? And what about her and Naruto having...
Give it a rest, Sasuke. It doesn't even matter.
The twist of questions in his mind grew tiresome and he rested both palms on the wooden ledge. Leaning into his arms, he let the breeze soak up his thoughts and let his heavy eyelids close. Were there really words to describe what was going on in his life right now? Could somebody really imagine how he was feeling at this point?
In the midst of his attempt at clearing his mind, he heard the balcony doors slide open slowly and with a strong gust of wind, caught the scent of mocha shampoo. Followed by that, was a voice that he unconsciously longed to hear.
"Well, that sucked. I feel like a mother."
The corner of his lips rose, and had he been in a slightly better mood, he would have probably laughed at her childish comment. He sensed her on his right, leaning into the balcony the same as him, only a bit steeper. He opened his eyes and watched her in his peripheral vision as she stared up at the night sky clouding the horizon of the village.
"Why are you out here?" He asked calmly, careful not to let her mistake his tone for bitterness.
She shrugged nonchalantly and he found himself tracing the patterns her hair made as it flopped in the wind.
"Don't you ever feel like it was easier when we were twelve?"
Sasuke exhaled a sarcastic and dreary laugh that lasted less than a second. "I don't know. We had a lot going on when we were twelve."
"Well maybe. I guess I did have it a bit hard."
He turned his stern gaze on her. "Do you have the slightest clue of what you just said to me? Hello? Who're talking to?"
Sakura flinched, thinking back on the moment Sasuke had received the curse mark. She remembered so vividly the pain she felt for him, and she could still only imagine the pain he had been in himself. And she thought she had the rough time.
"Well...sometimes now it just feels like too much."
He turned his cold eyes back to the sky. "You're rather depressing. It's tolerable."
Narrowing her eyes, she shot a dirty glare in his direction and added a fierce bite to her incredulous words. "You make it sound so easy."
He shrugged. "You make it sound so hard for you, when in fact, it's not."
She bared her teeth at him. "You don't even know me!" And with that, she turned on her heel quickly and stopped with her hand on the door when she heard his low voice.
"What's going on with us?"
If you've ever experienced that moment where suddenly the world shifts upside down and you could swear you just jumped off a cliff 3,000 feet high only to float with that sick feeling in your stomach, then you've experienced something like what Sakura felt in that split second.
Yet words betrayed her, and she had nothing to say.
"If I'm going to be here, we have to start over. Just as fellow shinobi. We have to stop fighting."
She gripped the handle and pulled it open. "That's impossible. You won't change."
After three steps into the dark room, she felt him come up behind, grab her wrist and spin her around in all his fury, and push her down onto his bed so conveniently located just a foot behind her. He pulled himself over top of her, both knee's on the bed, inches away from her thighs, and he released her wrists and rested his palms on both sides of her head. She quickly drew her arms to her side and watched him the way a child watches a stranger approach with a knife.
"I'd be lying if I said that things between us have never been rough. I could sit all night trying to convince you, but what good would that do?" His words burned with a desire like she had never heard before, and she braced herself tightly, feeling as though her walls were crumbling right in front of her, and the world was fading in a blur right before her eyes.
He fixed his emotional eyes on hers and lowered his voice. "My offer stands...and you must choose."
Unwillingly, her body relaxed underneath him and what seemed like forever passed in silence. A few minutes later, and intense staring, her breath finally became even and her heart felt a bit more stable. After all this time...
"Alright, you win." Her voice was slow, then suddenly picked up, feeling a rush of panic and uncertainty. "But I only give you one night to prove to me this is better than my attempt at giving up on all this." He watched intently as she drew in a shaky breath and now glared at him. She was giving her heart up (what was left of it, anyway) to start all over...at scratch...nothing more than what they were at twelve years old. Partner shinobi. "I swear to god if you hurt me, you're so dead. I can promise you'll never see it coming."
"-Settle, Sakura. I know what you're going though."
Her words cut off at her lips as she could make out his breathtaking and tamed smile in the darkness.
How could you possible understand how hard this is for me to let you in again? There was so much she wanted to say to him...so many accusations...so many accounts of doubts and painful broken promises. But she swallowed them.
"Because five minutes before you got here..." His eyes sparkled. "I was going to give up too."
Her heart plunged into her stomach and she nodded, letting the silence drown them in years of misery and unrequited love. The space between them felt so large, and they both secretly yearned to close that gap. But they only stayed in place for second upon second, painfully gazing into each other's disbelieving eyes. It was only after what felt like true eternity, Sasuke very slowly lowered his head, earning a shaky and shallow breath from Sakura. She tilted her chin up, realizing faintly he was about to kiss her.
"S-Sasuke! Sasuke!"
A shrill cry sounded from outside the door right before it flew open and as that happened, Sasuke pulled himself up off the bed in a flash. Kiako jumped into the room, strangling a white blanket to her chest. Her red cheeks were wet and her livid eyes were red and puffy. Both Sasuke and Sakura stared at her nervously.
"I had a bad dream." She wimpered, pulling the blanket up over her face. Then the cried grew louder and more high pitched.
Sakura sat up on the bed and was ready to walk over there, until Sasuke started moving towards Kiako.
He gently lifted her up into his arms and pulled her tightly onto his chest. With this, she burried her tear-stained face into his neck and clutched onto the blanket for dear life.
Sakura watched, almost mesmerized. Since when was Sasuke one to comfort a crying child? She listened quietly as he whispered, 'it's okay' to Kiako over and over again. His tone wasn't so gentle...it was rough and masculine. But it had an almost instant effect.
The whining stopped. All that was left was hiccups and constant shifting from Kalei.
After a few minutes of silence, after Sasuke was sure Kiako had fallen asleep, he glanced over at Sakura only to find her watching him with soft, praising eyes. She smiled at him gently and he let out an exasperated breath, turning around and kicking the door open.
"I'll put her to bed." He whispered, taking a step out the door. Sakura quickly got to her feet and followed behind him until they were just a few feet into the hallway.
"Get some rest, Sakura." His hoarse voice whispered once more. He turned around to see Sakura staring up at him with tired eyes, and a slightly rejected look on her visage.
"Fine. You too then."
"Alright."
"Good night, Sasuke."
She turned around slowly and dragged her feet down the hallway until she took a turn and was out of sight. Sasuke breathed deeply, smelling his shampoo on Kiako's hair.
"Night." He murmured to the empty hallway.
Next Chapter
Marry Me, Juliet