AN: This story starts a few years after the chapter 699 of the manga. (A vague future AR if you must.)
Sorry for the late update.
Discaimer: Pycnopyrex do not own the Naruto series except for this story's plot.
Chapter 4
Sakura decided to have dinner with Ino on her day off. She went to Sai and Ino's house and was playing with the 8 month old baby while Ino was preparing Inojin's baby food. Sai, that day, was on a mission. Sakura was feeling guilty but she was glad Sai was not home. She needed someone to talk to and she wanted to talk to Ino alone.
"What a cute baby you are. Isn't that right, Inojin? The most wonderful baby in the world who will not grow up to be rude like his daddy!" Sakura cooed as she put raspberries on the baby's tummy.
"I don't know about that. Inojin, in some ways, acts like Sai. He might grew up like him, you know." Ino teased from the kitchen.
Sakura frowned and answered, "Don't jinx your baby like that." Ino just laughed.
_?_?_?_?_?
Ino settled the baby on his high chair and set it in the kitchen where she can easily see him, she turned to Sakura who was now busy preparing their meal.
"So, is there something you want to tell me?" Ino started.
"What do you want to hear?" Sakura said. There's no use denying anything. Ino knew her and she was, after all, her best girl friend.
"Hmmmm. Let's see, how about the fact that YOU are staying in the Hokage's house temporarily and not telling ME about it in the first place?" Ino sarcastically answered. She joined Sakura in preparing the meal.
Sakura turned and glared at Ino.
"What? I heard it from Shikamaru." Ino said defensively.
"Hmp. I guess it's my fault for not telling you but Shikamaru should know better to gossip something like that." Sakura sighed.
"Well, its not gossip if it's true. Besides, Shikamaru will not really do that. I kind of threatened it out of him." Ino sheepishly said.
Sakura sighed again and said, "You know why I stayed there. It was near the hospital, comfortable and silent. Besides, he's rarely in his house. That's why it is always silent. And I barely see him. I often saw him when I stayed awake early enough to catch him on breakfast or when I tried waiting until I have to go to work." Sakura said unhappily. She stopped what she was doing and stared ahead.
"That's it? Nothing happens?" Ino asked seriously. She too, stopped and turned to face Sakura.
"What? Whatever you're thinking, it's wrong! Stop it." Sakura yelled while her face turned pink. Ino just giggled.
"I wasn't thinking anything. That was an honest question, unless…" Ino smirked. Sakura turned away from Ino and started setting the table. She's already familiar with the house when she stayed there before.
"I wasn't thinking anything. Seriously, stop it." Sakura said. Ino checked the cooked meal and settled it on the table.
"Alright. I'll stop but why are you upset about your situation?" Ino asked seriously. Sakura sat down and waited for Ino to settle in. She also checked the baby and saw Inojin giggling happily while trying to mess his food.
"Well, I confirmed it. He was avoiding me. He didn't want to talk to me. And he probably don't like me anymore." Sakura answered bitterly. Ino moved the chair with Inojin and settled him beside her.
"Did the two of you talk to each other?" Ino stared at Sakura after she checked Inojin's position on his high chair.
"Talk? Yes. But properly? No." Sakura sighed as she put rice on her and Ino's bowl.
"I bet he even felt relieved when I said I was going home at the end of the week." Sakura continued, getting pissed off. She gripped the ladle very hard.
"Then, are you giving up?" Ino questioned her.
"I don't know. All I know is that I really miss them. I miss Team Seven's antics. I really miss how Sasuke and Naruto always antagonize each other or how Sai criticized me. How Yamato-taichou creeped everyone out... or how Kakashi-sensei told his lame excuses… or.. or.. how Naruto annoyed people all the time." She finished as she started giggling hard and Ino joining in. Inojin also laughed as though he understood. That made Sakura smile. "I just missed my team, you know."
"But you can't blame them. All of you are so busy. YOU don't even have time for yourself. We don't even hang out that often before. We just recently started going out again. But even if I wanted to help you, you're always tired and busy. I really wanted you to stay here but you know…" Ino finished lamely.
Sakura sighed. "I know that and I'm very grateful. But what will I do at that time? You were starting a family with Sai which I was very happy for the both of you. Sasuke was wandering and trying to find himself. While Naruto was concentrating on his work as Hokage and adjusting himself on his job. I tried our other friends but they were all so busy with their chosen path that I feel I'll be a nuisance to them. And I really can't bother my family with this. So all I have is my career and I focused myself on that. I'm the Head Medic after all. At least I don't feel useless in my job." Sakura said sadly.
"Here you are again. Being insecure. Stop that." Ino said while trying to wipe Inojin's face.
"How did the three of you still connects with each other even though you're all married? While we, Team Seven, can barely talk and see each other and only Sai and Sensei were the married ones in our team." Sakura asked Ino seriously. It's true Team Asuma always find time to gather. Their bond was as strong as it was before they settled down and got stronger when they started to have their own family. They also found time to visit Kurenai-sensei and her child. The other teams in their batch were still hanging out with their team members. It seems Team Seven were the only ones too busy in their lives.
"Well, we don't hang out always. It also helped that all of us were in Konohagakure while the rest of your teammates were either busy, on a mission or wandering around the country. You really can't blame anyone if all of you don't gather once in a while. It's not as if it's the same with everyone's situation. Also, my teammates' families were always close since way back. You really can't compare it." Ino shrugged. She made Inojin drink his milk from his cup. Sakura was amused to see how Ino adjusted to being a mother easily. She hoped she can be the same when the time comes.
"I guess I won't do anything about it anymore. With how they act, it's like I'm the only one who missed them." Sakura muttered while eating her dinner.
"How about inviting them on a vaction? Some of you needed to rest too." Ino suggested. She watched Inojin while she eats her dinner.
"That's a good one. But you forgot something important, and that is if they want to come." Sakura sarcastically answered.
"Then convince Naruto to come then. I'm sure they will come if Naruto sends the invitation. I'll help you with Sai." Ino said.
"Nice try, Ino." Sakura said sarcastically. "Why would Naruto invites us if he wanted to avoid us?"
"Fine, Sakura. Be pessimistic. I wonder why Naruto let you stayed in his house if he wants to avoid you completely. Maybe he missed you all as well but just too busy. Hmmm. What do you think? Oh well, just promise me that if and only if you receive a letter, you will give a positive confirmation. After all, you wanted a reunion with your team, right?"
Sakura didn't answered Ino but she thought that if that will happen, she will definitely come.
_?_?_?_
On the next day, Ino came early to Shikamaru's house to tell her plans.
...….
Author's note: Thank you for the reviews, favorites and follows. Pycnopyrex is so thankful. It's so heartwarming. Please tell me your thoughts of the story so far. It will be very much appreciated.
Guest 2: Opo.
ahmadaziz: Thanks ahmadaziz for reviewing and suggesting. Pycnopyrex is not good in english. She will try to apply your suggestions. The chapter 3 became good because a friend of mine (who is better in english and editing) volunteered herself to edit my story. She supports me after seeing the fave and follows. She said that to thank those faves and follows that I received, I could at least give them a good story. Chapter 1 and 2 was not edited and shorter because I just want to upload my story, so that I'll be encourage to end it. Expect shorter chapters because I just like it that way. Hehehe...thank you so much...