This is the edited version of the chapter, enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto or the characters mentioned in the story
Chapter V - WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
Sakura has come back to find the lights at the living room turned off, expecting that Sasuke has fallen asleep since it is 11 now. She head to the living room and drop her overnight bag near the table before just collapsing on the couch, but she came into contact with something hard instead. She falls to the floor with a thud. The light switch on burning her eyes
"Sa-sasuke-kun! What are you doing?"
"I should be asking you that"
"I-I just came in to watch you overnight like how the hokage instructed, why are you asleep on the couch?"
"I thought we were clear, I take the couch you take the bed"
"I'm not gonna let you sleep for months on your couch in your own house Sasuke-kun"
"I already let you leave, and you're late"
"I'm sorry but you shouldn't wait up"
"I wasn't"
"Good, then go to sleep. I have a morning shift"
None of them move
"Sasuke-kun"
"Sakura"
"I'm taking this couch, if you don't wanna take your own bed, take the kitchen table or something"
"I'm taking the couch" he states coldly "if you insist you'll have to sleep with me on the couch"
Sakura stand up "Fine" she picks up her bag and walk away "uh, I'm starting to understand why Naruto's so irritated by you, Sasuke-kun" she mumbles quietly to herself but Sasuke -having used to dangerous situation- has a sharper hearing than what she anticipated.
Irritating? That's not something Sakura is supposed to say. He clench his fist and try to sleep, not letting his frustation towrds the new Sakura get the better of him.
Sakura feels annoyed at Sasuke's demanding attitude, she guess he always has been like that. She was just too infatuated with him to find it annoying. After four years of training with one of the legendary Sannin, she has become someone strong at body, mind and soul. She doesn't like anyone ordering her around without any necessity.
She's not some submissive fangirl that can only nod or cry like she used to. She's his friend. His equal. She desperately wants him to see her that way.
Sakura toss and turn on Sasuke's bed restlessly in the darkness, couldn't find sleep that she hopelessly need to come soon so she would have enough sleep to restore her chakra for tomorrow. Not to mention that she has to wake up even earlier to go back home, get ready then leave to work.
She sigh
She support her weight on her elbows as she take in whatever she can make out in the room. And just as she expected, lack of decorations. This house she knows for a fact is the house that was given as council's facility, neatly built in a complex of the exact same thing for 3 blocks. And the room is so… mundane, Sasuke has literally done nothing to it since he was put here.
She makes a note to herself to get Sasuke out of the house to at least shop for his house, she bet there's nothing on the cabinet and fridge either. She sighs, this place needs a woman's touch. With the tiring though she has for the place she finally fell asleep.
Sasuke wakes up before the sun as usual, but what he hadn't expect is to see Sakura on the door with a jacket and bag ready to go
"Where are you going?"
"Eh, Sasuke-kun good morning! I told you I had an early shift"
"At five?" he glace at the clock
"Eh, actually it's at seven but I have to go home and get ready, see you later Sasuke–kun, I'll get Naruto or someone, okay?" she run to the empty street leaving Sasuke at the door. The uneasy feeling got a little more intense and he feels his stomach turn, maybe he's hungry he thought.
...
"Eh, what did you say?"
"Sakura, you're not needed today" the nurse try to make it sound as nice as possible
"Ne, Sakura-chan, you've been here every day and night. Now that most of the war's injured shinobi has gone home, and only a fourth of the hospital is left, Tsunade-sama decided to give you some time off" Shizune say
"B-but"
"Lots of newly hired staff are getting training this month and the usual staff are taking care of the rest. You and all the more talented medic-nin had been given time off and we'll get you back here when we need it, until then I want you to train with your team" Tsunade suddenly appears
"Shishou!"
"Tsunade-sama"
"Hokage-sama"
"What are you doing here shishou?" Sakura ask
"What do you think, I have to give them basic training personally" she sighs in annoyance "Anyway, you can go back to your prosthetic project, I know you wanted to do it as soon as possible, right Sakura?"
"Y-yes shishou"
"If you're studying Uchiha's chakra flows, that means you have to be with him when he sleeps, when he's taking walks, when he fight and train Sakura. This sure will give you time to do just that"
"Right" she sighs in defeat and turn on her heels to walk away from the hospital.
And she had woken up so early too!
She has to spend time with Sasuke right? So let's do this! "Yosh!" she claps in once in determination.
She walk past the market and start looking around, she saw some things she thinks would be nice to put in Sasuke's house. But she hasn't taken full view of his house yet, she doesn't even know how many room is there. Also she needs his approval, he might hate what she picks out no matter how emo the item seems to her. She decided to get Sasuke to shop with her instead.
On the way to Sasuke's house she was greeted by the cheerful Naruto "Sakura-chan!"
"Morning Naruto!"
"What are you doing Sakura-chan, you're usually locked up at the hospital by now, it's almost eight dattebayo"
"I know, they give me a day off… well, forced me to take it anyway" she explain "So I decided to shop"
"What are you getting Sakura-chan?"
"Hhh, everything. You've been to Sasuke-kun's house haven't you, the place is practically dead"
"Eh, so why are you walking away from the market?" Naruto point his thum behind his back, to the direction of the market
"I'm getting Sasuke-kun, he might hate what I pick out, you know how he is"
"Eh, you're right" Naruto cross his arms behind his head in a relaxed manner before recovering "Sakura-chan, let me tag along! It's my shift to watch Teme anyway!"
"Eh, sure Naruto" Sakura is actually glad that she'll have someone to neutralize the awkwardness between her and Sasuke
"Naruto-kun!" a girl chase after them "Naruto-kun please accept this" she hold out something to him
"Eh? For me?" Naruto grabs the package before the girl sprints away, blushing furiously as she does so
"Wow, what just happened?" Sakura ask in confusion
"ehh, Sakura-chan, you have been busy for quite long I guess. This has been happening for quite some time actually" Naruto smile sheepishly
"Eh, really Naruto?"
"There's usually more of them"
"Really? More?"
"Eh-heh yes"
"Wow Naruto, you've been quite popular with women haven't you?"
"No-no it's not like that Sakura-chan. It just happened after the whole Pain incident, I'm sure they're just glad the village is saved"
"Hmm… How about Hinata-chan?"
"Eh" Naruto blushes "W-what about Hinata?"
"She's the one who actually fought with you, didn't she?"
"Eh, well yes"
"Haven't you talked to her recently?"
"Eh, i-I actually just met her the other day"
"Really?" Sakura has a mischievous grin on her face, she's rooting for Hinata and Naruto to become a couple "What did you say?"
"We-we ate Ramen, we do it every Tuesday, eh he" Naruto rubs the back of his head
"Really now? Like a date?"
"D-date? I hardly call it a date S-sakura-chan, we're just friends"
"Well, do you like her?"
"I-I do of course, she's a good ninja and a comrade, we both have fought side by side w—"
"That's not what I meant Naruto"
"What do you mean then?" Naruto seem genuinely confused
"You're so dense sometimes" she shakes her head
"W-what was that Sakura-chan?!"
"Nevermind it Naruto"
Without noiticing they've arrived in front of Sasuke's house "Dobe"
"Teme" Naruto and Sasuke greets each other
"Eh don't be like that guys" Sakura smiles
"Sakura"
"Sasuke-kun, good morning… again"
"Eh, again?" Naruto ask
"I'm in charge for the night shift Naruto, remember?"
"Eh? Does that mean, Teme! If you dare touch Sakura-chan I'll kill you myself!" Naruto waves his hand which holds the package that the unknown girl previously gave him
"Eh, It's not like that Naruto" Sakura assure him
Sasuke take notice at what Naruto was holding, looks like a typical gift that he too used to get from his fangirls. And seeing how Sakura is trying to convince that there's nothing going on between them, Sasuke's imagination wonders. Sasuke frowns at the thought.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here on my shift Teme, what else?" Naruto shift his attentuion from Sakura
"I mean you" Sasuke never left his eyes off Sakura
"Eh, me.. I was given a day off and I was thinking to take you shopping, Naruto too"
Naruto too?
"Shopping... ka?"
"I took a brief look at your house and how dull it seems. Though you've been living here for quite some time, i notice that you have no intention to decorate it. And as your -once again- friend, I have a duty to do something about it, so let's go Sasuke-kun! I saw some things at the market I think you might like!"
"Pass"
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura sigh "I swear if we get this done quickly, this is the only time i'd bother you about it. Besides, Naruto will be there too, you're not completely stuck with me" she tries
"Yeah, but also with the dobe, lucky me"
"Hey Teme watch it!"
"I'd rather pass" he turns to get back inside his house when Sakura quickly adds
"Well if you don't go I'll just buy those towels embroidered with colorful kittens on it, so the next time someone— maybe Kakashi sensei, Yamato-taichou or Sai… or maybe, the Konoha council—visit you, they will see them" Sakura smile sweetly
"You?"
"Ehehe, you don't know Sakura-chan Sasuke Teme, she's smarter than that"
Smart? More like manipulative Sasuke thought
"Tch..Fine" He climbs down his front step and join the rest of his original teammates"Lead the way" he tell Sakura that just widen her smile
As they were walking, Sasuke couldn't help the feeling of nostalgia, the three of them walking together to somewhere casual just to spend time, no training, no mission, no nothing. Just three best friends enjoying a day in the company of each other. The though brings Sasuke relief and ease.
But after seeing Sakura laugh at something Naruto said, he becomes alert once again. The Sakura he knew would never be that civil with Naruto, then he remember the package he saw Naruto was holding earlier. What if… Sakura gave it to him?
Maybe her feeling for Sasuke was just in the heat of the moment, because all the girls had a crush on him then, now that they've shifted to Naruto, maybe she has too.
Sasuke shakes the thought and keep thinking of the old goofy stupid Naruto, clearly he hasn't changed much since then, he just showed everyone that he's strong and big hearted. Giving everyone faith and strength. Giving Sakura strength. All he ever do is give her a heart-break and almost killed her numerous times. Maybe she has taken Sasuke's advice to get over him?
But she shouldn't. Not now.
.
.
.