[A/N: I have a research paper due next week, so look what I'm working on instead!]
6.
Seeing the dejected look on Sasuke's face made Sakura feel sick with guilt. "It's not that I don't want to go out with you," she quickly tried to explain. "I have other things I need to do. We can go out some other evening—it's not like we don't see each other every day."
Sasuke made no response other than a despondent shrug, and Sakura sighed. I'll make it up to him later, she told herself.
The rest of the way to Sakura's delivery destination, Sasuke didn't say a word. Sakura tried to engage him in conversation a few times but without success, to her frustration. Before, she had been used to him being quiet and reserved, but he had become more open ever since the love potion so now his silence was worrying.
Finally, the depressing walk was over. Sakura tried the door of the apartment her groceries were bound for, but it was locked so she rang the bell. She had to lean on the bell quite hard before her customer, an elderly female chuunin, now retired, answered the door.
"So sorry about that, dear, I was napping," the woman said. "Just put the bags on the table, I'll put everything away. Oh, if it isn't Sasuke!" she exclaimed as Sakura entered with Sasuke following. "I remember you from the Children's Center…it's such a shame—"
Sasuke was beginning to look horribly uncomfortable and Sakura knew she would have to move fast. A lot of the elderly ninjas liked nothing better than to talk, and if they didn't get out of here soon they would have to listen to things that Sakura was certain Sasuke wouldn't want to be reminded of. Ordinarily, she would have expected Sasuke to do something about it, but he was still standing passively in the entryway.
Snatching the last bags out of Sasuke's hands, Sakura deposited them ungently on the table. "Here's your change got to go" she blurted out, yanking the envelope with what was left of the money out of her pouch and handing it to the woman.
"Oh, do you have to go so—"
"Yes sorry bye!" Sakura babbled, practically yanking Sasuke out the door after her. He made no resistance at all, which Sakura failed to allow for, nearly making the two of them tumble down the stairs in her haste.
Once they were a block away from the apartment, Sakura paused to catch her breath. "Okay," she said, "now that that's over, I think it's time to go home. So…see you tomorrow, I guess…"
Sakura began to turn in the direction she would have to take to return home when Sasuke suddenly grabbed her arm. Sakura was partly relieved at this—Sasuke's blank silence had been disturbing. However, there was still the issue of her having to go home and help her mother. "I'm really sorry, Sasuke, but I have to go home now."
"Please don't make me leave you," Sasuke murmured, pulling her closer so he could whisper in her ear. "Can't I go home with you? I—I'll do anything you want…" he added pleadingly.
Sakura sighed. This would put the problem off a little while longer, but would create the additional issue of Sasuke meeting her mother, who was all too astute and might very well guess that something was wrong.
Still, Sakura couldn't bring herself to deny Sasuke, seeing how dejected he looked. "I guess you can come over," she said, "but I don't think my mother will let you stay the night. You'll have to leave after dinner."
"As long as I can be with you a little while longer," Sasuke agreed, but he still looked disappointed.
…
"There you are, Sakura," her mother called the very instant the door opened. "I've been waiting for you."
"Sorry," Sakura called back. "Our mission went kind of long."
Sasuke followed her inside and Sakura took his arm to lead him into the kitchen after they had both taken their shoes off.
"Hello Mom," she greeted as they entered the kitchen where her mother was sitting at the table behind several piles of cute little jam jars waiting for their labels. "I brought one of my teammates home; he can help." Sakura had a feeling that jar-labeling wasn't what Sasuke had meant by 'anything you want' but it was what she needed right now.
"That's nice. You're the one who went out with Sakura the other night, aren't you?" Mrs. Haruno asked Sasuke.
Sasuke nodded, quietly sitting down in the chair Sakura pulled out for him.
"What's your name?"
"Oh, this is Uchiha Sasuke, mother," Sakura interjected quickly.
"I was asking him, sweetheart," her mother chided gently. "Well, shall we get started? I had all the labels printed, so what we need to do is get them all on the jars. Here, Sasuke, I'll give you these labels, and these go on the grape jam, that's this pile, and Sakura, you take the mint."
The next hour or so was spent putting labels on the jars. Ordinarily, Sakura and her mother would chat as they worked, but with Sasuke there Sakura couldn't think of anything to say, and Sasuke didn't seem at all inclined to start a conversation. He did seem to be a little happier now, as he smiled at Sakura a couple times as their eyes met across the table, and looked delighted when their hands touched by chance as they reached for more labels. Sakura blushed, hoping her mother wouldn't notice even though she was sure she would.
All too soon, the last of the jam jars were labeled. "Well, that's that," Mrs. Haruno said cheerfully. "You've been a great help, Sasuke. Would you like to stay for dinner?"
Sasuke paused, looking hopefully to Sakura for prompting. Sakura, thinking it would be a bad idea to answer for him this time, nodded agreeably, gratified by the smile that quickly spread across Sasuke's face.
"I would like to very much, Haruno-san," Sasuke said as he straightened up his pile of jars.
…
Dinner was a quiet affair, and over much too soon for Sakura's liking. There were no more excuses for Sasuke to stay any longer, and she wasn't sure how she would convince him to leave her.
When her mother turned away to begin washing dishes, Sakura took the opportunity to get Sasuke out of the dining room so they could talk privately. "I'm really sorry, Sasuke-kun, but you've got to go home now."
Sasuke frowned, biting his lip (which Sakura happened to find very attractive) before speaking. "Must I go?" he pleaded, taking her hand. "Nothing seems right when you're not there. It's just—empty. It hurts, Sakura."
Sakura sighed. While she did like Sasuke being so devoted to her and wish she could fulfill his desires, having him as what would basically be a house-pet would really be a bit much, especially with her mother around. "No, I'm afraid you have to go," she said as firmly as she could bring herself to, leading Sasuke in the direction of the front door. While Sasuke didn't actually resist, he certainly didn't make any effort to move faster than absolutely necessary.
Opening the door, Sakura gave Sasuke a gentle push outside. "See you tomorrow," she said.
"Can I come over after training again?" Sasuke asked.
"Well…I'll see about that. Bye!" Sakura closed the door perhaps a little more quickly than was polite in order to make it clear to Sasuke that she would not be cajoled into letting him stay any longer tonight.
Through the window in the door, she watched Sasuke walk slowly down the street, occasionally looking forlornly back at the Haruno house.
I've got to figure out what's going on with this, Sakura resolved.