"Sasuke!" Sakura calls out, as she knocks on the front door to his house.
"I know you're in there!"
She pauses and waits for a moment. Predictable silence follows, and the medic sighs heavily, pressing her palm flat against the wood, as she hangs her head.
"You idiot…don't run away." She murmurs, more to herself than anything.
It has been a week since Team 7 returned from their escort mission, and Sasuke has been avoiding her. As a result, they have been unable to work on the sharingan study, and today is the day she must report to Tsunade-sama.
Sure, it has been a couple of months, where Sasuke and herself worked each day to collect quality data. Sakura has a lot of information; truthfully, it's almost enough to form her report…
Still, she feels like there is a piece missing.
Sakura understands Sasuke's abilities and the process of all his ocular techniques, aside from a few. However, she is curious about their origins, and the history of the sharingan. He said that he would tell her, and then the 'incident' happened. She is, of course, interested in the history of the rinnegan, too, but the likelihood of finding real information is low. She has had worse odds before, though, so she might as well give it a go, too.
It's hard to focus on her work right now. She has a meeting to attend, a dress to try on, and a party to prepare for. Sakura isn't in a celebrating mood, but it's for Sasuke's return, and Naruto is extremely excited. She isn't even sure if Sasuke will show up, but if he does, she will be there, ready to corner him and find out what his deal is.
She just isn't sure how to get their relationship back to the way it was before the stupid mission.
"Men…" She mutters, shaking her head as she descends the Main Uchiha House stairs.
She glances back, and frowns at the silent building. Sakura feels like she is at a loss – not to mention alone -, and Sasuke shutting her out isn't helping any.
The Uchiha Compound has been seemingly empty since Team 7 returned. She hasn't come across any one from Sasuke's old team – which is highly suspicious -, and Sasuke himself has requested to be taken off the roster on the grounds of being unwell – Which is complete ninkinshit.
Sakura knows that Sasuke is lying because he doesn't get sick, and if he did, he would never let it interfere with work.
Sasuke is too proud for that.
The woman sighs, and she reaches the compound gates. She exits onto the streets of Konoha, and turns in the direction of the hospital. She tries not to think of that stupid big house, all dark and silent. Sakura knows that Sasuke is inside, and it infuriates her to know that he is ignoring her.
Even if she might know what is bugging him.
Sakura can't be certain, but there was a moment on their mission, where she was completely full -of too many emotions-, and it was all down to Sasuke.
If he felt anywhere near as overwhelmed as she did - when he showed her the Gakido - then she is surprised that he hasn't run away from Konoha in the night; if he doesn't show up for his homecoming celebration, she will assume that is the case.
She has been thinking of that night at the Daimyo's estate, and dreaming it too. Sakura can remember how warm Sasuke was, and how close he came to her. Sasuke's hands had pressed against hers, and when he drew her chakra from her - it felt surreal.
She never expected him to give her back any chakra, let alone his own, and it was intense. Sakura felt his signature throughout her system, and it warmed her completely. A part of Sasuke had been put inside of her that night, to circulate around her body, and she could feel his strength. It was like he had left a mark on her…
When they were finished, and Sasuke's chakra laden hands had pulled away, Sakura's pupils were massive. She was flushed, and completely out of breath. Sasuke looked dazed as well, and she watched his dilated eyes. His breath was short, too, and when he stood, Sakura could see the stiffness in his gait.
She could see the signs of stress on his face, and the way his eyes flitted nervously around the room. Sakura asked him if he was okay, knowing that she wouldn't get a true answer. She wasn't surprised when he left for some air, but she was surprised when he came back afterwards.
Though, it was in true Sasuke fashion, in the dead of night. At almost 2am, the sliding balcony doors opened, and Sasuke slipped inside. Sakura didn't dare move, or breathe, as the rustle of Sasuke's clothes filled the room, and he found residence on the couch. She could feel the heaviness in the room, despite the fact that she was supposedly sleeping, and as Sasuke tossed and turned, Sakura thought that he could feel it as well.
The journey back to Konoha wasn't awkward, but only because Sasuke jumped from tree to tree so fast that Naruto could barely keep up…
Sakura is sick of this. Quite frankly, she isn't sure what to do about it all.
So, she reasons with herself to do nothing; it's what her mother would do.
If Sasuke makes an appearance tonight, she will have her chance then.
"Good morning." Sakura greets, knocking on the wall next to Tsunade's office door. The door is open, and her mentor sits behind her desk with a frown upon her face.
"Sakura." Tsunade says, not looking up from the parchment she is writing on. Her morning snack sits beside her inkpot, and a suspiciously flask like container is at her other side.
"No surgeries today?" Sakura asks, knowing that her mentor does not drink and medic. Though, to be fair, being able to metabolise alcohol on command is one of the perks of being a top med-nin.
"Not today. I've been pulled from the roster to help with tonight." Tsunade frowns. "That Hokage is shifty, Sakura. Avoid the tower if you don't want to be given a job."
Sakura grins, "That's advice I could have used yesterday. I've already been given two." She chuckles, as she imagines Kakashi handing out all of his responsibilities to others.
He managed to convince Sakura, Ino, and Tenten, to help with the visiting diplomats, who are curious to see the last Uchiha's change of heart.
They won't see it, because Sasuke hides anything that can possibly resemble an emotion -Sakura thinks bitterly. Still, she will ensure that the visitors understand that Sasuke is an ally. Sakura is going to be on her best behaviour and get Kakashi, and Sasuke, out of this minor mess.
"How is the report going?" Tsunade asks when Sakura plops down in the chair opposite her.
She stiffens, and her shishou raises a brow.
"It isn't." Sakura admits, sighing. "Sasuke and I had something like a disagreement."
Tsunade's lips draw into a thin line, and although her facial expression reveals nothing, her eyes seem worried.
"I know that I don't have to tell you the dead line." Tsunade says, and Sakura nods.
"I have a lot of information for the report, but I was hoping to delve into the history of the sharingan. I mean, we only have accounts from Konoha's point of view, not the clan's. Wouldn't it be relevant to gather as much info as possible?" Sakura questions, and she hopes that her mentor will agree.
Tsunade bites the end of her pen before dipping it back into the ink.
"You always were my favourite student." She grins, and Sakura replies wryly,
"I was one of your only students."
Her mentor shrugs, "Details, Sakura." She smirks. "That's what I've got you for – to find the details."
"And Shizune-senpai." Sakura reminds.
"Yes, but Shizune is holding down the fort here." She replies. She moves onto her next point quickly,
"I know it can't be easy for you, Sakura, but you need to fix it with Sasuke. We need to get this done." Tsunade explains, in her firm but caring voice; it's a tone that Sakura has grown used to.
"I understand." She inclines her head in respect, and moves to stand.
"Talk to him tonight, Sakura." Tsunade orders, prompting her to nod.
"I will." She replies, walking to the exit. She steps over the threshold, but not before hearing,
"And have some fun, will you?"
Sakura smiles over her shoulder,
"I'll see you tonight, Tsunade-sama."
xxx
"Our guests aren't going to know what hit them." Ino grins wickedly, as she leans forward to 'adjust'. When she stands straight again, her cleavage is sitting perfectly. Honestly, Sakura feels a little lacking.
"Stop it." Her friend says, and the medic looks up from staring at her reflection. "You aren't me, Forehead. You've got something that's all you." Ino soothes, and it works. The once insulting name has become an important piece of their friendship. They made up long ago, but it wasn't until after the war that Sakura and Ino grew close again. Sai was partly to blame, as he found Ino to be the most beautiful woman alive - and he still does, in fact. Sakura thinks that the other factor was their extremely old bond. It had been forgotten, yes, but it wasn't broken; they just had to grow up to see it.
"What do I have?" Sakura asks, turning away from Ino's full-length mirror. The bedroom is a mess of feminine products, and it smells like hair spray.
"You're Sakura." Ino smiles. "Sasuke is going to love it."
Sakura gives her friend a look of doubt, but turns to gaze at herself again, all the same. She has to admit, her outfit isn't anything like she thought Ino would pick.
Actually, she doesn't look bad at all...
Her pink hair has been pinned up, and Sakura admires the intricate hairpin that once belonged to her grandmother. The dress she is wearing stops just above her knees, and is not traditional; the bodice is tight, and ends at her waist, where a tulle like fabric fans outward. Sakura is glad for the tiny, pale, bolero jacket made of satin. Her heels are four inches taller than she is used to, and Sakura is happy that she is a shinobi with excellent balance.
"Sasuke is avoiding me." Sakura sighs, and when her lids flutter shut, the sparkling eye shadow glints in the light. She has never worn smoky makeup like this, but she likes it. Sakura secretly hopes that Sasuke will too.
Though…it is a lot of pink.
Ino smirks, and she shakes her head in knowing.
"Trust me. Sasuke won't be avoiding you after tonight." Her friend assures, holding out a light pink tube. "Put this on." She says, and Sakura accepts the lip-gloss.
"If you say so…" Sakura replies. "Don't forget, we have important guests to entertain first." She reminds, and Ino nods.
Then, her extremely blue eyes light up, and a familiar expression covers her face.
"I have an idea!" The blonde exclaims, and a mischievous grin makes its way onto her magnificently painted face.
"Am I going to like the sound of this?" Sakura asks dubiously.
Ino shrugs. "Probably not, but it's not going to harm anyone." She pauses for effect, and tells Sakura exactly what she wants to hear.
"And we might be able to learn something about Mr. Uchiha and you."
Sakura looks to Ino, who is dressed perfectly in a floor length, sparkling, black dress, and wonders how she found a friend like her. She notes that Ino's silver accessories are just as audacious as her plunging neckline, and she is gorgeous. Sakura is feeling good also.
Her brows draw together, and she finds herself nodding nervious anticipation.
"Okay. I'm in." She concedes. "What's the plan?"
"Well –" Ino begins...
Sasuke's homecoming celebration is sure to be an interesting event.
Sakura hopes that he shows up to see it…
xxxx
Sorry that I had to end it there! I needed to do a bit of setting up for the next two chapters, which are important!
This is essentially what Sakura's dress looks like (url with no spaces and with a . ) – tinyurl dot com /kjvf7us
Next chapter is celebration time, with a grumpy guest of honour, a mistakenly flirty diplomat, a clueless Naruto, and something kind of like a breaking point.
Might be a day or two since it will be a little longer. Thanks for reading :)
Come and have a chat :) - merinxd dot tumblr dot com