Contempt - kuhn-tempt - the feeling with which a person regards anything considered mean, vile, or worthless.

PIONEER

CHAPTER 4

SAKURA'S POV

I closed the door of the room I rented and leaned my back against it. I slowly slid down to my knees and comprehended what just happened. I couldn't figure out what to do with our "meeting" or what I feel about it. It left me more confused and annoyed than ever. For kami's sakes, he took me to a graveyard of all places just to 'talk'. A graveyard is just screaming romantic. He could just come back with me to Konoha. The situation is not complicated, it's him who's complicated. He can't lower down his pride to come back to Konoha after leaving in search for power.

He told me that the dream was real and I believe him because it felt so real to me too. I still don't know where this leaves us. He's just making things complicated. Kami, I'm starting to hate that word already.

I walked over to my bed and laid down. I can't let him get in my way of finishing my mission by distracting me. I have to focus and try not to stray from my actual mission. Damn. I forgot to check up on Mizune and Miruki. I'll just have to visit them in the morning.

A chance for you to forgive me and for things to be not complicated.

Chance? What chance? What does that suppose to mean? Things between us can get uncomplicated? When will I see him again?

I woke up from my sleep. Scratch that. I woke up from a nap. It was still dark when I woke and I couldn't get back to sleep anymore so I took my jacket and took a stroll outside. The sun is barely up and the market place is starting to get busy. The wind is still cold so I snuggled more in my jacket. I headed for the Sokaro house already so I can get started with finishing my anti-virus. As usual, I greeted the guards and maids and headed for Rin's room.

Rin was fast asleep so I closed the door as quietly as I can and proceeded to the laboratory. I reread my notes and went to write down some formulas. I tried out different enzymes and proteins to see if it'll react with the isolated virus I got from Rin's blood. I got some herbs and some chemicals to go with the enzyme and got some good results. The anti-virus is starting to break down the virus but not completely eradicate it. I added another protein which proved to be a big mistake because the virus went berserk and started to multiply instantly. Good thing I wrote down the first formula before the added protein.

"Sakura-san? Would you like some breakfast?" a maid called in.

"No thank you," I answered not looking up from my notes.

"Sakura?" a boy's voice said.

I looked behind me in paranoia even though the voice was not Sasuke's. It was Rin's.

"What are you doing up from bed?" I panicked.

He was dressed in a baggy shirt and some shorts. He looked a little pale but otherwise he looked fine.

"I'm fine. I just needed to take a walk outside, so I stopped by here first," he grinned.

"And who gave you permission to take a walk outside? What if something happens to you? I could think of millions!"

"You need to take a chill pill. I came here to ask you to come with me so I'll be 'safe',"

I sighed, "I guess you could use some sun,"

He grinned widely, "I knew you'd agree!"

I grabbed my medic pouch and went with Rin outside.

Rin brought 2 bodyguards and me in our walk. I walked behind them and appreciated the early morning sun that wasn't so hot on the skin and it actually felt good. Rin turned around and grinned at me and walked beside me.

"Sun feels good yes?" he asked.

"Actually it does,"

"See? You should get out more!"

"Working is more important right now you know,"

"I know but just…live a little. I think you're the kind of person who always works to distract herself from her problems,"

I didn't answer him and continued to walk forward. Don't stop moving. Keep moving forward. It's not about the walk anymore.

Rin and I conversed more about different things like his life here and such. Suddenly I felt a strong spike of chakra from above me and I immediately was on alert and looked for the source. And lo and behold, it's the great Uchiha Sasuke.

He was sitting in one of the houses, eyes closed and relaxed. Who knew he actually got the stick out from his ass to actually relax. I stopped walking to see if he'll notice me.

Rin stopped as well, "What's the matter?"

I continued to look at Sasuke, who wasn't opening his eyes.

Rin looked at the direction I was looking at, "What are you staring at Sakura-chan?"

I looked at him for a moment and back at where Sasuke was. He was gone. Like he wasn't even there in the first place.

"Nothing. Let's continue,"

Rin shrugged it off and grinned at me, "Come on! Let me show you one of my favorite places here in the village!"

He took my hand and walked in the opposite direction, his guards barely noticing that we were already gone. I giggled at their incompetence because we were loud enough and yet they didn't notice. That is such a big mistake in the shinobi world.

He pulled me towards the forest, "Where are we going?"

"Someplace nice,"

"I don't like the looks of this," I said as a familiar clearing came into view, "Are you kidding me?"

"I like going here you know," he smiled shyly.

I was screaming in my head already. He took me to the graveyard. The same graveyard Sasuke and I talked. The same graveyard where I ended up being more confused than ever about my feelings.

"When I was a kid, I always came here to be alone. Oto-san doesn't let me go anywhere without guards so I found this place. No one would think a kid would go alone here," he said sadly as we sat down in a bench. The same bench Sasuke and I sat on. Oh god.

I hid my squirminess about this place and listened to Rin, "I like graveyards you know? You're alone and yet you aren't. There's nobody around but you know…no… you feel that you aren't alone,"

"Death is but the next great adventure right?" I smirked.

"Exactly!" he exclaimed, "I feel comfortable here,"

"I'm glad you found a place like this to just forget about the world and just be alone and relaxed,"

"Don't you have a place like this in Konoha?"

"We do. It's just that graveyards in Konoha just brings sadness to people,"

"Our dead ones never really leave us you know. They stay with us and protect us,"

"Yeah," I answered absentmindedly.

We just sat there in comfortable silence. Completely the opposite of the last time I was here.

"Tell me about your life in Konoha," he asked after a while.

"Well, I'm a jounin medic working in the hospital when I'm not on missions. I have friends at home and I have lots of goals for the future,"

"Like what?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

He smiled, "You want to know a goal of mine? I want to be strong enough to protect this village. Strong like my mother,"

"Your mother. You never mentioned her,"

"Yeah. She's very beautiful and looked like me. She was a kunoichi like you from the Mist village,"

"What's her name? I might have heard of her,"

"Kaya,"

"Kaya. It's a nice name. What does she look like?"

"She had long black hair and the same blue eyes as me. I remembered when I was little, she would sing me songs so I could fall asleep and would chase me here because I kept on hiding here,"

"Where is sh-"

"Rin-sama!" a voice startled us.

"Why were you running off here without telling us? You had us worried!" his companion added.

"Well you two were too busy chatting that you just didn't notice us," Rin answered.

They ignored him and looked at me, "You kunoichi! You think you can protect Rin-sama. What will you do if something bad happens to him?"

"Don't blame your incompetence on me. And for your information, I am a trained shinobi that can kick both of your asses," I said hotly.

The both of them looked at me like they wanted to test that theory but Rin intercepted, "Calm down all of you. Let's just go back to the manor, I'm getting tired anyways, "

Both the guards led the way with Rin following them and me in the rear. Rin glanced back at me and gave me an apologetic smile. I mouthed, 'It's fine'. When we got back to the manor, I big goodbye to Rin and the guards and made my way to the lab. I consulted my notes again and tried to recreate the anti-virus I made earlier. I carefully picked and calculated the right amount of base chemical to neutralize the acidity of the enzymes. When I got the final formula, I carefully added it to the isolated virus I got from Rin's blood.

I did it.

I isolated the virus that was attacking Rin's immune system and was able to formulate an anti-virus. My anti-virus neutralizes everything the virus is doing rendering is incapable of harming the human body then it flushes out the virus from the body. I prepared the pinkish formula in a syringe and tucked my notes in my pack. I took the anti-virus and proceeded to Rin's room.

Rin was lying down in his bed reading a book when I entered. The sun was nearly down giving the room a warm orangey glow. He smiled at me as soon as he saw me.

"I have good news," I said.

"Really?"

I approached his bed and prepped his arm by dabbing anti septic then I took out the syringe.

"What's that?"

"It's your cure,"

I injected the anti-virus in his arm, "The results might take a while okay?"

"I feel a little sleepy," he murmured as his eyes started to flutter shut.

"Rest. You had a long day," I said as I fixed his blanket and tucked him into bed.

I checked his vital signs which appeared normal so I went outside to visit Yama Sokara, the patriarch of the Sokaro house. He was outside having tea while watching the sunset when he sensed me approaching.

"Sakura-san, would you like to join me for tea?" he asked.

I nodded and sat beside him as he poured me a cup of tea.

"I've come up with an anti-virus to Rin's disease. He should be fine in a couple of days,"

He smiled gladly, "Thank you very much,"

"Rin is a very precious person to you yes?"

"He is. I cannot bear to lose him,"

"Then he'd be fine,"

We sat in silence before the nurses came running and panicking, "Sakura-san! Rin-sama!"

"What happened?" I was already running towards his room with the nurses trying to keep up.

"He was just sleeping then he woke up and started vomiting!"

I hastily entered the room. Rin's vomiting lessened when I got there but he was still spewing out green liquid. I relaxed and waited for him to finish vomiting. I approached him and massaged his back with one hand to ease his muscles while he was vomiting. The nurses looked at me like I was crazy before answering.

"The anti-virus is flushing out the toxins in his body that the virus caused. It had to come out one way or the other,"

Finally he stopped and laid down again and lost consciousness again. I took a towel and wiped his face and neck clean before handing it over to the maids. I checked his vital signs again and it was normal. The nurses and maids took their leave and I was left alone in the room with an unconscious Rin.

I took a chair and sat beside Rin. In his bedside table lay his copy of a book called "The art of Shinobi". This book was the one he was reading earlier on. He really does want to be a shinobi but a shinobi doesn't have an easy life. Every day as I walk out of my house wearing my Konoha headband, I am in danger. A shinobi's life is always in danger. Death is just but the next great adventure so they say.

I leaned on Rin's bed and rested my head on my arms. I can finally go home. I can finish my sideline mission with Mizune. I can spend time with my friends again. Without noticing it, I was already asleep. But it wasn't deep, I could still feel my surroundings and hear sounds from outside the room, but I was asleep. It was relaxing. I haven't had decent sleep these past couple of days. It's just been hectic and confusing and my body just refused to have a goodnight sleep.

Suddenly I could hear a phantom music. A piano was playing somewhere. It was melodious and sounded like a lullaby. I was still in my sleeping position beside Rin but I couldn't bring myself to wake from this lulling music. Then an unknown woman's voice started to sing as memories flooded my mind.

"Soshite bouya ha nemuri ni tsuite," My memory of Sasuke in the Forest of Death during the Chuunin Exams so many years ago when he received the Cursed Seal of Heaven. The way the dark aura that was surrounding his being and the way he ruthlessly injured those Sound shinobi. The way I cradled his sleeping unconscious body.

"Ikizuku hai no naka no honou," The bell test Kakashi-sensei gave us during our genin days. Naruto, rashly attacking Kakashi without thinking. Me, forgetting everything I learned at the Academy because I was too caught up with my fan girl crush on Sasuke. And Sasuke, trying to prove that he's better than everybody as he did an elemental jutsu, his Katon, surprising even Kakashi.

"Hitotsu, futatsu to," The first bell test which all of us failed but made us realize the value of camaraderie. The second bell test which we passed because of Naruto's idea of using Icha Icha Paradise to trick Kakashi.

"Ukabu fukurami itoshii yokogao,"

"Daichi ni taruru ikusen no yume, yume," The meteor shower I watched with my closest friends. Wishing that I could get my family, Team Seven, back intact and whole.

"Gin no hitomi ni yuragu yoru ni," The bright full moon I stared at before trying to stop Sasuke from leaving the village.

"Umare ochita kagayaku omae iku oku no toshitsuki ga," During my Academy days wherein I would compete with Ino and other fan girls for Sasuke's attention. To us he was the only boy who shined, the only one that mattered. He was perfect.

"Ikutsu inori wo tsuchi e kaeshitemo," I became part of Team Seven along with Naruto and Sasuke. They became my family. My shallow fan girl crush on Sasuke faded as I got to know him and was replaced by real affection. He wasn't perfect after all.

"Watashi ha inori tsuzukeru," Those countless nights I would pray to Kami-sama

"Douka kono ko ni ai wo," Praying to Kami-sama that I would find happiness one day.

"Tsuinaida te ni kisu wo." Sasuke standing in front of me when I met him on the village a few days ago. He took my hand and held it in his chest as his face is inches from mine. I closed my eyes as I felt his cold breath on my skin. I opened my eyes as he was about to kiss me to find out that it wasn't Sasuke anymore. It was Rin.

The piano continued to play as I slip out of my consciousness completely.

"Sakura-chan! Sakura-chan! Wake up!" I heard a voice.

I slowly opened my eyes and saw Rin grinning at me, "Rin! You're awake!"

I could remember every detail of my dream last night. My memories. That lullaby. Sasuke. Rin! Why did I dream on him kissing me? I don't even like him that way.

"I am," he said.

"How are you feeling?" I asked as I checked his temperature and pulse.

"After my puking business last night, I feel fine now,"

"It was your body's way of purging the virus," I said sheepishly.

"It's just embarrassing,"

I giggled, "Have you seen your father yet?"

"I haven't,"

I stood up, "I'll call him then,"

His hand shot out to grab my arm, "Wait! Don't call him yet. I…I just want to spend some time with you here. You're leaving soon right?"

I slowly sank down to my seat, "It's important that your father see you. How about this? After you talk to your father, you and I can spend the day together,"

He thought about it for a while, "Alright,"

I got up and went out of the room. I passed by a maid and asked her where the patron of the house is, she directed me towards the dining room where he would be having his breakfast. I walked silently towards the designated room when I passed by a corner window and saw a shadow. My steps faltered and I looked back at the corner window.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I hissed.

Sasuke smirked at me, "Visiting,"

"You're trespassing!"

"Is this a family picture?"

"What?"

He pointed towards a big painting beside the corner window. I could make out the faces of Yama and Rin Sokaro and a beautiful woman with black hair and bright blue eyes that Rin resembled.

"I guess so. But don't change the subject! What are you doing here?"

It took a lot from me not to panic my brains out really.

He was still looking at the family portrait, "I met her,"

"She was a kunoichi from Mist,"

"She said she missed him,"

"Missed who?"

"Your boy toy," he said in a monotone voice.

"My what? Are you talking about Rin? Rin is just my patient you jerk!"

"He's a boy and you use him to discover medical cures so yes he is your boy toy,"

"That's stupid!" I exclaimed, "And what do you mean she said she missed him?"

He ignored my statement, "Hn,"

I looked around me, "How did you get in here anyway? There are guards everywhere!"

"Window was open," he said absent-mindedly.

"What kind of excuse is that?" I answered confusedly.

"Your mission here is over right?" he said, still not looking at me.

"Y..yes. So what?"

"Spend the day with me then," he said as he finally looked at me.

"I can't. I already told Rin I'd spend the day with him," I answered looking at him in the eyes.

He looked annoyed and said, "Then cancel on him,"

"Why?" I stubbornly said.

"Cause you're coming with me,"

"And why would I come with you?"

"Who is he to you?" he angrily said.

"Who are you to me?" I countered.

He smirked, "I'm-"

"Sakura-san!" a voice interrupted.

I turned around and saw one of the maids coming towards me. I remembered that Sasuke was still here inside the house and turned back on him. I was met with the view of the village outside the window. He was gone.

"Where did he go?" I muttered as I approached the corner window and tried to look for Sasuke.

"Who are you talking to Sakura-san?"

He was gone. Either he had really fast reflexes or he disappeared into thin air. I tried to ignore my encounter with Sasuke and followed the maid to the dining room.

"Sokaro-sama, Sakura-san got lost," the maid said to his master.

"It's alright. Come sit down Sakura-san,"

I sat down across him with a smile on my face, "I have great news Sokaro-san,"

He looked at me with hope as I told him, "Rin is fine now,"

"Y..you did it?" he stuttered.

I smiled, "Yes,"

He slowly stood up and crouched down to me. He hugged me, "I cannot express my gratitude to you for saving my one and only son,"

"It's alright. I'm glad I got to meet your son. Speaking of which, would you like to talk to him now?"

He nodded and we both proceeded to Rin's room. Rin was sitting on his bed reading the shinobi book when we entered.

"Oto-san! Sakura!"

"I'll leave you too to talk," I said as I left the room. I walked back to the corner window where I met Sasuke earlier. I observed the painting he was looking at a while ago. Rin was still a kid maybe around 7 or 8 years old while his father, Yama, looked younger because of his grayish hair instead of the white hair he has now. What peeked my interest was the woman with them. She looked like Rin but more beautiful.

Kaya

A kunoichi from Mist.

I walked away reminding myself to look up for a Kaya Sokaro from Mist. I was just curious about her because Sasuke mentioned her like he knew her. He said that

The door to Rin's room was open now so I peaked and saw Rin alone again.

"Hey! Ready for our day out?" I smiled as I entered.

He grinned widely, "You bet!"

He put down his book and slowly got up from bed.

"Want me to help you?"

He raised his eyebrow, "Sakura, I was sick not crippled,"

I laughed as I made my way to the door, "Okay okay! I'll wait downstairs,"

I sat in the back porch of their house, the view of the garden in the morning sun lightening up my mood. I refuse to let Sasuke ruin my day. I gathered my notes and other belongings in my pack.

"Ready to go Sakura-chan?" Rin's voice appeared from the doorway.

I stood up and gave him a big smile, "Let's go!"

We walked side by side in silence before Rin piped in, "The weather's so nice today!"

I was just following Rin's lead when I spotted where we were headed.

"Oh no we're not!" I said as I grabbed Rin's arm towards the opposite direction, "we are not graveyard visiting today!"

"We're not?" he pouted.

"The weather's too nice to spend it in a lonely graveyard,"

He sighed, "Okay. Where should we go now?"

"I was always passing by a crowded restaurant west of here. The food must be good,"

"That's a good idea! I'm hungry!" he exclaimed.

When we got to the restaurant, as expected it was full of people and we didn't see a vacant table for us. A waitress approached us and almost told us to leave because they were quite full already before recognizing Rin, the son of the daimyo.

"Rin-sama! You're well!" the blonde waitress exclaimed, "We must celebrate! Come on in please!"

She showed us, scratch that, showed Rin an empty table. She must've forgotten I was there as the waitress continued to eye flirt with Rin. I pulled up a chair across Rin with him giving me an apologetic smile.

"Well isn't she nice?" I sarcastically said.

"At least we got a table ne?" he laughed.

The blonde waitress appeared again and battened her to Rin, "My name is Lee and I'll be your waitress today. What will you be having?"

"I'll be having the soba special please," Rin kindly said to her.

"Right away sir!" Lee said as she motioned to leave.

Rin grabbed her arm before she walked away, "You forgot to take my friend's order miss,"

"Ahh yes. What will you have?" Lee forcibly asked me.

"I'll take a bowl of pork ramen," I smiled fakely at her.

She gave me a small glare before nodding and left.

I rolled my eyes, "Fan girls. She reminded me of my former self,"

Rin laughed, "You were a fan girl? To whom?"

"I was a kid!" I defensively said, "And it was to my classmate who turned to be my teammate,"

"Ah," he smiled, "What was he like?"

"He was quiet and good looking. I thought he was perfect. I was a child,"

"Sounds like you don't like talking about him. Let's talk about something else. Have you gone around the village yet?"

"I haven't. Care to show me around?" I said as the waitress served out food.

We talked about the things that happened in the village before I came like the festivals. The next festival will be in winter which is 3 months away. After eating, we paid and were on our way. We visited some shops and some people recognized Rin and greeted him.

I nudged him in the ribs, "Quite famous around here aren't you?"

"You don't know the half of it," he said as he put an arm around me and dragged me towards a park.

"You like spending time in quiet places," I observed.

The park is located in a center of a clearing and has a small lake in the middle with a small bridge over it. There are small benches scattered around for people to sit in. Rin dragged me over the bridge. The green water below was clear and clean, free from pollution. We sat down on the bridge, out legs dangling from the grills of the bridge. Comfortable silence drenched us before I stood up and reposition myself. I lay down on the bridge with the hands cradling my head. Rin did the same opposite me so his head and mine are touching.

Suddenly I remembered something from my dream. I didn't know how I came to memorize it but it just stuck to me. I started humming and singing in a small voice.

"And then the boy falls asleep.

The flame inside the breathing ashes.

One, then two.

The floating swelling, the dear profile.

Thousands of dreams, dreams, that pour onto the earth.

On the night when the silver eyes swings.

The shining you, who was born.

No matter how many millions of years, return the prayers to Earth.

I continue praying.

Love for the last.

Kiss for the joined hands,"

Rin suddenly stood up and looked at me wildly.

"What?" I asked as I slowly sat up.

"Where in the world did you learn that song?" he asked confusedly.

"I don't know. The song just…came to me,"

He didn't answer me so I asked, "What's the matter?"

"That…that song…my mother used to sing me that song," he said sadly.

"Your mother?"

"Yeah. She's sing it to me before I sleep. She'd sing it when I 'm sad, "

A thought suddenly occurred to me, "She said she missed you,"

"What do you mean she said she missed me?" he said doubtfully.

I'm starting to be unsure of my answers, "A..friend...of mine mentioned to me about meeting her,"

"That's crazy,"

Now I'm confused, "What?"

"That's impossible Sakura," he said in a serious tone.

"Why?"

"My mother has been dead for 10 years."

A/N:

Hello! I'm still alive! Sorry for the slow updates, it's just that i'm really busy and always tired when i get home so i don't always have the time to write updates. But hey! It's Christmas season! and it's vacatioooooon which means i can write more :D I'll probably release the next chapter before Christmas :D

No Sasuke's POV hereeeee. I figured that Sakura's was enough for the moment. The song i used here is called "Tsuinaida te ni kisu wo" or "14th Melody". It's from d. gray-man , listen to it! For some reason, the song really appeals to me :D And i tried to incorporate memories with the meaning of each lines..

If there are some grammatical error, i'm very sorry. Just tell me and i'l fix it. Review please and thank youuuuuuuu! Your reviews inspire me and make me write faster so please review hehehe :D

PS

The words you see in every beginning of the chapters are important to the end. They're not just random words i wanted to write there :D AND I'd love for you guys to talk to me if you want.. :D