This is the edited version of the chapter, enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto or the characters mentioned in the story
Chapter VI - NO MAN
Sakura also tries to make small talks with Sasuke to keep the conversation alive between the three of them. But Sasuke has notice how less pushy she has become, and without the usual push he couldn't act like he has to answer it eventually to stop her from asking. She never asked twice now.
Sasuke doesn't want Sakura or Naruto to lose interest completely of him, so he keep answering to them. Trying to make it seem like how the Team 7 is used to be, even though now he hated talking or making any expression that requires a muscle to move more than before.
"Ne, Sasuke-kun?"
"Hn"
"Teme, is that the only world you know now? It's not even a word, you're even worse than Gamakichi when he's not summoned for six months" Naruto complain
"Hn"
Sakura just giggle at her teammates before she was stopped by a familiar-looking shinobi "Sakura-san" he greets
Both Naruto and Sasuke has stopped to observe the man, in a protective manner of Sakura of course
"Eh, you again? Good morning" Sakura greet him
"M-morning Sakura-san! I... I wanna thank you personally for healing me again at the hospital"
"It's my duty, you really shouldn't mention it"
"Y-yes of course" he say "Here, Sakura-chan, even though you won't accept my feelings, I hope you will accept this" he gives her a package and a bouquet of flowers
"Eh?" Sakura take them with a little uneasiness being in front of Naruto and Sasuke when this happens
"I know I can never compete with Naruto-san, he is a great shinobi and I wish you both the best of luck. Goodbye!" he then walks so fast to the direction of the market and disappear quickly between the slowly crowding street
"Eh? What was that about Sakura-chan?' Naruto ask
"Eh, he was a Shinobi I healed back at the war's camp. He k-kindda give me a love letter but I rejected it"
"Popular huh? Now look who's talking" Naruto teases
"N-no, it's not the same. It's just one guy, you had the whole village worth of girls after you"
"Eh? Don't exaggerate Sakura-chan" Naruto rub the back of his head "Besides, it's not just him, there's also bushy brows"
"Lee doesn't count" Sakura smack him
"Ouch, Sakura-chan what was that for?"
Meanwhile behind them, Sasuke was glaring daggers, if he had activated his sharingan for sure he would be able to locate the bastard and kill him on the spot for proclaiming his love to Sakura twice. But he's on probation. And, he shouldn't care with who Sakura is going out with. He shouldn't care if anyone else likes her, it's not his problem. He used to think if Sakura found someone else, she would stop bothering him, though she's not much of a bother now… but even then, would he really be okay with the thought of someone else being with Sakura?
Jealousy, that is the last thing he should feel. He's here for redemption. Not some cheesy romance with his old teammate
"Teme?" Naruto's voice snaps him out of his thought "Are you coming or what?"
"Sasuke-kun?"
"Aa" he follow suit beside them
When they arrived at the shop Sakura had mentioned, she quickly grabs Sasuke by the wrist and practically drags him with her and offers him everything she liked, while Naruto is occupied by the new crowd of girls forming around him
Eventually there are some items Sasuke approved of, and Sakura lets a breath of relief
"How about these Sasuke-kun? These are the most plain, uninteresting-looking sheets I've seen today, do you want to get them or not?"
"Hm, if they have it in blue"
"Blue?! Everything in these bags are blue, Sasuke-kun! You can't live in a house that only holds two colors (black and blue)"
"The wooden floor is brown" he point out
"I-I see" she has an expression of defeat
"Everything else you offered are either pastel colored, or something flashy like red" he states
"The bathroom sandals I picked was green Sasuke-kun" she defend herself
"Hn"
Sakura sighs
"Sakura-san!" a cheerful new voice above the market noise get both their attention
"Eh, Lee? Tenten, Good afternoon"
"Hey Sakura" Tenten greets "What are you doing here? You're usually so busy at the hospital"
"I had a day off. What about you guys"
"Guy Sensei is stuck on a wheelchair, an unfortunate faith has been brought upon his youth, but he being the hip man he is, encourages me to keep on living mine!" Lee explain
"We're going weapon shopping, it's been a while, and I wanted some renewal in my collection" Tenten explain better
"Sounds great"
"Sakura-san you can come with us and we can talk about things.." Lee's face becomes red "as we was about to die the last time, I want to make sure I don't waste any second of my youth… and y-you my beautiful cherry blossom, we can nurture our burning love to eternal—"
"Can't you see she's busy" Sasuke cuts him
"Sa-sasuke-kun"
"Let's go Lee" Tenten pulls him away, obviously we're interrupting something here "Bye Sakura, Sasuke-san"
"B-But Tenten!" Lee was grabbed away as he protest to his remaining teammate
"Hn" Sasuke voice out with a lingering annoyance
"Sasuke-kun you shouldn't be so rude"
"Tch, he'll come and confess again if you keep being too nice. Like the one before"
"The one before? You mean… n-no I already told him that I have feelings for someone else, and he understood, he was just thanking me for when I healed him at the hospital. That's all Sasuke-kun"
Sasuke knows that it must've been him that she was talking about, but remembering how much distance Sakura is keeping herself from him, he's not as sure as he's supposed to be about that.
"Hn. Let's go"
"Eh?"
"I still need kitchen supplies" he simply state
"R-right"
They keep going through shops, and Sasuke keep choosing boring things to decorate his house with, much to Sakura's disappointment. But she shake the feeling off, since it is his house after all. No matter how often she would be there.
"Sakura" he say
"Yes?"
"Let's go back"
"Eh, we're not even half way through Sasuke-kun, if we don't get this done w—"
"We'll continue tomorrow"
"Eh, you don't mind doing this again tomorrow?"
"No"
"Okay, if you say so" Sakura try to lift all the bags from the ground and manage somehow to carry them all in such an awkward position
Without a word Sasuke takes half of what she's carrying and walk a step ahead but then stop and look back "Are you coming?"
Sakura just walk slowly behind him, keeping her pace just one step behind him.
When they arrive at Sasuke's apartment, Sakura drop the groceries and help him put everything where it belongs, then excuse herself to go home
"You still have to watch me over night"
"But I already watch you all day, I'm sure Shishou wouldn't mind if I switch with Kakashi or Sai"
"Hn" there's a noticeable irritation in his voice, something that almost sound like he's angry
"Mmmm, unless you're fine otherwise, I mean" Sakura decide to continue
"I'd rather have you than them, they're very intrusive and they snores"
Sakura giggles "I know"
"So you'll stay?" he ask after a long pause
Sakura was taken aback by his question, she know what he meant. But the words he used remind her of the time she had begged him to stay. To stay and she would do anything to lift the pain he endures. Anything. Her cheeks flames up at the memory, how embarrassing! She had been so hopelessly in love with him, and being twelve she might have said some intense shit, she had meant all of it of course but…
"I um" she turns around to hide her face from Sasuke
"You should pack up, for a few days here" Sasuke say "It's not like either of us have a choice"
"Y-yes. Right. Uhm, I'll be right back" she rush out the door to the street with a slight pang from the last part Sasuke added. Not stopping until she reach her apartment
She close the door behind her and slide down, cluching her still red face on her hands. No man, no man has ever made her feel like this, ever. Not even Sasuke himself, back then. C-could it be that her love for him is even greater now? How much more can someone love? She really had thought the love she had was too much to bear and too intense that she allows it to break her along with him, but now… it's stronger? Can Sakura still be his friend that she thinks he needs, and most importantly wants?
She sulk for a while before sucking up and stand up to collect her things. It's only Sasuke. The Sasuke that her heart has been aching and yearning for so long.
So god help her.
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.
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