Author's Note: Hey everyone! You guys ready for chapter 40! Well, I hope you enjoy it, but first I have a few announcements:
First, I know a lot of you caught the typo about there only being two instead of three Tailed-Beasts NOT caught by the Akatsuki. Don't worry, I fixed and uploaded it, so you don't have to worry about reading that chapter again. Thanks again for the support guys.
Secondly, I just wanted to let everyone know that I started a ! I figured this would be a great and more efficient way to communicate with you guys and give you guys some insight. I have noticed that I cannot speak to you guys unless it's through here or my pm's but I actually don't get them until I go to write another chapter. I don't know why Fanfiction is like this, but I hope it gets fixed soon. So, I don't want any of you guys to think I am ignoring you. Plus, is linked right to my phone, so I can get them faster. I hope you guys like this idea.
Also, as another incentive to become one of my s, you'll get to be a part of discussions, inside information, see posts about your favorite past, present and future stories, and can even ask me for requests. That's right, you heard right! Not only will my be about Dreamers, but I will also be talking about some upcoming One-Shots and requests I am taking on.
Don't get me wrong, I love Dreamers and the other installations to complete this story, but every now and again, I do get overwhelmed with this story, the details, and other factors in life that keep me from completing it. So, to give myself a much-needed break, I have decided that I will be introducing some of my one-shots and other information that I think you guys would like. So, please subscribe and become one of my s! Hope to see you guys on there! To find me on , search Badbut94's Fanfiction Fun and it should come. If you guys have any issues, please let me know.
Reviewer Shout-Outs: inuyasha16451, I-Love-Trunks1, Tauries4597. Keep up the reviews! I love hearing from you guys!
Aleksandr232: I got you message and am excited you like the story. I also can't wait to see how you react to me bringing in those extra characters. I see your messenger is disabled. I hope you might want to become a , so we can talk. Best wishes.
Chapter Credit: I would like to credit this chapter to Aleksandr232 for this chapter. If you would like to make a suggestion or see something in this or any of my stories, just message me and I'll try to work it in.
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Chapter 40: Girl Talk
Normal P.O.V.
The sun was high in the sky when Sakura finishes her rounds at the hospital. With a deep sigh, she releases her hair from its ponytail holder, shrugs off her white coat, and plops down in her office chair. Green eyes fall towards a picture frame on her desk. Slender, fair skinned fingers trace over the wooden frame. The color matches that of a Chery Blossom Tree with pink painted Cherry Blossom petals in the corners. Behind the glass is a picture of two people: one drunk man with black hair in a bowl-shaped cut, and a proud, pretty woman with piercing emerald green eyes hazed over from too much sake. The slender fingers with pastel green gel polish gently tab the picture's glass at the memory.
A couple of nights ago, Lee had asked Sakura to dinner at a new barbeque place that just opened. At first, the pink-haired woman said no, but she couldn't resist the man's charm. Giving in, Sakura had agreed to the evening out, as long as it was understood that they were not on a date. While at the restaurant, both were taken aback by the ambiance and the food served. The conversation was filled with laughter and soon the two realized how much they had in common outside of training; especially their love of competition.
Soon, a wager was set with a drinking game: whoever loses had to pay for dinner. It was on, a bottle of sake was placed in front of them with two small cups. The night dragged on as each had about 5 cups of sake in their system. Each, equally drunk, reached for their sixth cup. Lee's system couldn't hold out and caused him to rush to the bathroom to puke his guts out. Sakura, drunk off her ass, but with a calm demeanor, sipped her last cup and claimed victory. Lee stumbled back to the table before slamming his head down in defeat. One of the restaurant's waitresses took their picture to commemorate the moment. Lee refused to even look at the camera while Sakura raised her fists with pride. The rest of the night ended in a blur with Lee sleeping well into the morning on Sakura's apartment couch. The only bad thing about the night was Sakura having to use her strength to stop Lee from using his Drunken Fist on a unsuspecting pedestrian. Chuckling at the memory, Sakura picks up the frame and holds it leisurely.
"That was a really fun night. We might have to do it again someday,"
With one final chuckle, Sakura puts the frame down. A knock at the door interrupts her thought, "Come in," she calls out. The door opens slowly to revile a smiling blue-haired mouse, "Oh, Hinata, what's up?"
"I came to give you this. Lee stopped me on his way over here and asked me to deliver this instead,"
In her hand is a small bouquet with red roses and sunflowers; a combination that Sakura had never seen before but admired deeply. She rounds her desk to take them, "You didn't have to do this. I'm sorry he's such a pain,"
"Oh, it's no trouble at all. I wasn't really doing anything. Kiba is on a mission, so I was just enjoying the day. Oh, and he wanted me to give this to you," she hands Sakura a folded card.
Sakura shifts the bouquet into her other arm before taking it. With a flick of her thumb, she opens the card and gasps. It reads:
"Thank you for the other night. We'll have to do it again soon when I come back from my mission,
-Lee"
She chuckles before sliding the card into the bouquet, "That boy, I swear,"
"I think it's cute," Hinata smiles.
"Yeah, it is," Sakura says as she continues to look at the bouquet. "So, what are you up to now?"
"Nothing really. My team finished training. Asuma-sensei was released to return to be a Jōnin, so we've been spending a lot of time together. But, Kiba got called by Lady Hokage for a recon mission, so I decided to just enjoy the day,"
"Are you hungry? Would you like to get some sushi with me?" Sakura asks as she gets her medical bag.
Hinata nods and the both of them head out her office door.
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The two arrive at the sushi restaurant and placed their order. The waitress brings out their tea and egg roll appetizers before turning to care for another table. The atmosphere between them is a comfortable silence while both sips their tea.
"So," Hinata starts, "it seems Lee is trying to court you again,"
"Yeah I know. Don't get me started,"
"What's wrong? Not returning his feelings?"
"Yes and no. It's Kind of awkward. Lee confessed his love for me a while ago. I don't know why he did, but I admired his courage. He even asked me out on a date. But, I was a complete bitch and lied about considering it,"
"That's~"
"Terrible? I know. I'm reminded of it every day," Sakura finishes while running her fingers through her growing hair.
"That wasn't the word I was looking for, but close,"
"You don't have to sugarcoat it, I know I was a bitch. Hell, I still am, technically,"
"What do you mean?" Hinata asks.
"Well, after I lied to him, I went to see Sasuke. This was back when I was first assigned to care for Sasuke while he's in prison. I was still in love with him and visited him every day in hopes of getting him to speak to me, acknowledge me. But I just made a fool of myself,"
"You tried confessing to him in hopes of him returning your feelings. But, I take it from the tone in your voice that it didn't work out the way you planned it, huh?"
Sakura chuckles at this, "That Byakugan can see through memories and emotions too?"
"It's not that powerful. But, it's just a familiar feeling," Hinata chuckles too.
"Yeah well, you almost didn't lose some of your friends and you best friend over it, I'm sure,"
"Ino was telling me about it. I hope you two were able to make up,"
"I ran to her that same night and cried like a baby in her arms. But, it was a talk we needed to have. It gave me a new perspective on myself,"
"A good one, I hope?"
"I don't know quite yet. I mean, it's been hard, coming to terms with Sasuke rejecting me. It shouldn't. I mean, hell, he's been rejecting me our whole lives. Why would I think this was going to be any different?"
"The same reason why Lee thought his last time would be different too," Hinata says calmly as she drinks her tea.
Sakura stares at her with curiosity nagging at her brain, "Hinata, you said you've felt this way before, right? With Naruto? Did you confess and her rejected you too?"
Hinata stops mid-sip before putting her cup down and holding it between her slender, pale fingers.
"No, I never confessed to Naruto. I could never be that strong,"
"But, we've all seen the way you look at him. You love him, so why don't you just tell him already?"
"There would be no point. I already knew there would be no room in his heart for me to be more than his friend,"
"But, how do you know that if you've never tried?"
"Sakura, everyone in the village knows that I look at Naruto as if he is the most perfect person on this Earth. Watching him train, work, and succeed has inspired me to be better. Almost every victory he had, made me want to continue to push myself passed my limits. You're right. I loved him dearly. I loved everything about him: his sunshine locks, his tanned skin, his bright smile, his dedication, his kindness and affection towards everyone, everything about him made me love him with the entirety of my heart. However, while I was watching, loving, and admiring him, he was loving and chasing someone else. I knew, from a long time ago, his heart belonged to someone else
You've probably seen it too, with Sasuke-kun. While you were chasing and loving him, he was probably loving someone else. It hurts, at first: knowing that you'll never be their mate. But, over time, it gets easier and soon, you'll start discovering yourself outside of them. Sometimes, we become so focused on loving a certain someone that we lose track of who we are. Honestly, I'm grateful for what happened. Even now, he's still teaching me without realizing it. I'm learning to love myself and seeing others around me. It's been a journey, but a much needed one,"
"Yeah, I guess you're right. But, having Kiba helps too, right?"
"Yes. Kiba has been a wonderful person to me ad I'm grateful everyday for his patience and understanding. The biggest lesson I've learned from all of this too: sometimes when you're chasing the person who isn't meant for you, you miss out on the person who is,"
"But, what if that person who is meant for you, moves on without you?" Sakura asks.
"If it's meant to be, then it will come back around when the time is right,"
"Wow, that's amazing, Hinata. I wish I was as wise as you,"
"You are. You're learning the lesson too. I know you're still in the healing stages of Sasuke's rejection. Give yourself time. Figure yourself out. You know Lee is going to love you with all of him. If you're not ready for that, then tell him that and stick to it. Don't jump in if you're not entirely in it. That's how the best relationships crash and burn. And who knows, you might just find out that the both of you have more in common than you know,"
"Yeah, I've told him that I just wanted to be friends right now. Being rejected by Sasuke was a lot to take in. But, Lee is helping me through it. We talk a lot and I'm learning new things about myself along the way. I know it's not going to be easy right now, but one day it might be,"
"You'll be fine. I'm sure of it," Hinata says with a smile.
"Thanks. You're a great friend. You know, you're like this second person to give me a "I-Didn't-Know-I-Needed-This-Talk" talk. I appreciate it,"
"Anytime,"
"We need to hang out more/. I like talking with you,"
"I'm always around when you need me," Hinata smiles brightly.
The waitress brings their food to the table and sets the plates down. The women give thanks before digging into their food. The rest of their meal is eaten in silence. Both because the food is delicious and because the pink haired bunny has some reflection to do.
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To Be Continued…