Part 4 – Catching up is easy to do
A little while later, Kamibu came back in with to cups of her famous hot chocolate, and on the tray she was carrying it on was the various accoutrements that she put in the hot chocolate herself when he and Sakura were children: whipped cream, a semi-sweet chocolate bar, M&Ms, and Sasuke's favorite, miniature marshmallows.
"It's so good to see you again, Sasuke," Kamibu said as she placed the tray on the table, and sat with the two of them, "You look so grown up now."
"Thanks, grandma," Sasuke said as he took his cup.
"Thank you for coming," Kamibu said as she took her own, "I haven't seen you for a while."
"I'm sorry I haven't been visiting you often," Sasuke said as Sakura took herself a cup.
"That's ok Sasuke," Kamibu said as Sasuke picked up four marshmallows, and dropped them into the drink, "I bet you were pretty surprised to see Sakura weren't you?"
"Yea, I was," Sasuke said as he picked up his cup, give it a slight 'here's to you' gesture with the cup, "I knew you would send someone, and I was expecting either her or Naruto."
"I thought about him," Kamibu said as Sakura filled the top of her hot chocolate with whipped cream, "But I thought you'd enjoy seeing Sakura a bit better."
"I won't deny that," Sasuke said as he took a sip.
"I'll be you're surprised to see her looking this pretty now aren't you," Kamibu asked.
"Yes, I was," Sasuke said.
"Really," Sakura asked as she halfway dropped the chocolate bar she was grating over her hot chocolate, a familiar blush began spreading on her cheeks.
"Don't make me say it again," Sasuke said as he took another sip, "This is still so good."
"Yea, it is," Sakura said as she began drinking herself, "It's kind of nostalgic being with you, drinking this," she set her mug down, "I honestly thought this would never happen again. You never visit here."
"I just haven't been able to come back here, that's all," Sasuke said, "I would have made my way back here, eventually."
"I just wish it had been sooner," Sakura said, "I thought I'd never see you again. That you'd forgotten me."
"Forget you," Sasuke asked, "Never."
"If it's ok with you two, I'll show myself out," Kamibu said as she stood up and walked into the kitchen, closing the shoji behind her.
"We've been set up haven't we," Sakura whispered as she leaned in close.
"Yea, we have," Sasuke whispered back as he leaned back in, "Guarantee you she's got her ear pressed against the shoji trying to hear if we're doing anything."
"Shame she won't hear anything," Sakura said as she pointed toward the shoji that led to the side-yard.
Sasuke mouthed, "I'll get the cups" as Sakura slowly stood up, and walked over to the side door.
Sasuke grabbed the cups as Sakura slowly slid he door open, and the two of them very slowly slipped through the door. As soon as they passed through, Sakura shut the door as quiet as she could, and they each took a seat on the side-porch.
That's one thing Sasuke was even more surprised that hadn't changed, it was exactly the same as he remembered it: the closed-in side yard was complimented with the simple pond that he lost count of how many times he fell in (probably because Itachi would push him in most of the time, and the other times it was because he got too close and slipped on a rock).
Snow was still coming down outside, but it was more of a gentle fall than anything else, and for some reason, it was absolutely perfect.
"Now here's some nostalgia," Sasuke said as he sat next to Sakura.
"Yea," Sakura said, "Save for that we'll need to go back inside in a second because we're not wearing our jackets."
"We'll be fine for a bit," Sasuke said.
"So, tell me," Sakura said, "How is city life?"
"I think I told you earlier," Sasuke said as he continued sipping his drink, "Dirty air, lots of noise, and not that much room."
"Anything make Osaka worth living in," Sakura asked.
"Mom and dad," Sasuke said, "Itachi and my school."
"What's so nice about the school," Sakura asked, "A girlfriend?"
"What," Sasuke asked as he looked over at Sakura, "No, never," he looked back at the pond.
"Now that's surprising," Sakura said, "A boy like you having trouble getting a city girl?"
"What about you," Sasuke asked, "You finally give in to Naruto's crush?"
"No," Sakura said, "He gave into Hinata's crush."
"Him and Hinata," Sasuke asked, "I never thought I'd see the day."
"Neither did I," Sakura said, "She always pursued him, but he honestly showed no signs."
"Then what changed his mind," Sasuke asked.
"Well, he joined the Academy's Kendo team, and became partners with Neji," Sakura said, "For a tournament at least. Needless to say their competing styles caused some problems."
"Basically Naruto was being very risky, and Neji was being very reserved," Sasuke said.
"Yep," Sakura said as she sat back, using her hands to steady herself, "Naruto and Hinata met after the tournament, bonded over their mutual dislike of Neji's attitude, and started hanging out. Eventually, they began texting, and started dating once they entered the upper levels of the Academy."
"Nice," Sasuke said, "Kakashi still the uptight teacher he always was?"
"You better believe it," Sakura said, "So what's so good about the school?"
"My school's cooking class," Sasuke said.
"Cooking class," Sakura asked.
"Yea," Sasuke said, "I'm pretty good at it as well."
"I'll bet," Sakura said.
"What about you," Sasuke asked, "What's good about being at the Academy?"
"Besides having all my friends there," Sakura asked.
"Yes," Sasuke said, "Besides that."
"There's the fact that I have a lot going on at the Academy," Sakura said, "I started my own club a little while ago."
"What's the name," Sasuke asked as he took another sip.
"The medical club," Sakura said.
"Eternal future doctor," Sasuke said.
"Yep," Sakura said, "Tsunade teaches us basic medical techniques, trains us on how to be better at helping each other."
"Sounds like something we're missing at my school," Sasuke said.
"Really," Sakura asked, "Why is…" she then heard her phone ringing, and when she picked it up, Sasuke could see the image of Sakura's mother on the screen.
"Go ahead," Sasuke said, "It might be important."
Sakura opened the call, "Hi, mom," Sakura said, "What's up?"
Sasuke could hear the call through the phone, "Sakura, your professor just emailed."
"Which one," Sakura asked.
"Mrs. Sarutobi," Mebuki said over the other line, "She says she has a meeting when school starts again. She wants the homework you were assigned by the end of the week. Your father's been trying to find you for the past thirty minutes."
"I'm at Grandma Uchiha's," Sakura said, "Sasuke's back."
"Tell him hello for me," Mebuki said.
Sakura waved at him, and he waved back, "He says hello," Sakura said.
"Sakura, I know you want to stay with your friend, but you know how your father feels about your grades in her class," Mebuki said.
"Yes," Sakura said, "I'll be home in a bit," as she hung up, she looked over at Sasuke, "I have to get back."
"School work," Sasuke asked.
"Yes," Sakura said, "I would love to stay right now, but you know."
"Parents," Sasuke said, "I know, dad grilled me about finishing my homework before I go back to Osaka."
"Then how about I come back over tomorrow," Sakura asked, "We can get something at Ichiraku's."
"Ramen Ichiraku," Sasuke asked.
"It's still open," Sakura said, "A few years ago they began selling instant ramen cups. Most people just go there, grab one to go, and eat it at work."
"That saved the business," Sasuke asked.
"Yep," Sakura said as she stood up, followed by Sasuke who opened the shoji, and allowed her through first, "Thanks."
"No problem," Sasuke said as he followed Sakura to the front door.
"So what do you say, me, you, Ichiraku's," Sakura asked, "Tomorrow, 11:00?"
"Sounds like a plan," Sasuke said as he leaned in the doorway as Sakura slid her snow boots back on.
"Should we meet there, or…" Sakura asked.
"Why don't you come here," Sasuke said, "I haven't been in a while, and it'll be nice to get out and see the city."
"See you then," Sakura said as she put on her coat, gave Sasuke one last smile, and left.
"Bye," Sasuke said.
As she walked out the door, and closed it behind her, Sasuke leaned back against the door frame, and exhaled strongly.
"Is this a situation where you men say, what a woman," Kamibu asked.
"Grandma," Sasuke said.
"Don't think I don't know how a man's mind work," Kamibu said, "You want to drop your things off in your room?"
"My room," Sasuke asked.
"I think you'd be comfortable in your father's room," Kamibu said, "I bought a new futon, just for you."
"Grandma, you shouldn't have," Sasuke said.
"It was more of a necessity, really," Kamibu said, "The old one was getting a little old, and I gave it away. So you'd probably feel a little bit uncomfortable."
"Thanks," Sasuke said.
"I think you'll like it," Kamibu said as she ushered Sasuke to follow her.
Sasuke picked up his bags, and followed his grandmother up the stairs to the door to his father's room, right across the hallway from the bathroom.
He opened the door, and the familiar smell of the room reminded him of all the times he shared the room with Itachi, "Where's the mint on the pillow," he asked as he stepped through the door.
"We'll have the maid take care of that," Kamibu said, "Who don't you put your things away, and get started on your homework?"
"Dad told you about my work," Sasuke asked.
"Right before you got here," Kamibu said, "He told me to make sure you finished it before you went back to Osaka."
"After I finish my math, do you mind if I rest for a bit," Sasuke asked.
"Not at all," Kamibu said, "I'll leave you something to drink in a little bit."
"Thanks, grandma," Sasuke said.
"You're welcome," Kamibu said, "Make yourself at home."
"Thanks," Sasuke said as he closed the door behind him, and after placed his bags down, he pulled out his notebooks and textbooks.
The desk in his father's room was a simple wooden table, nothing special, but perfect for what he had to do.
I know you didn't open this fanfic to read about Sasuke doing homework, and I don't want to describe him doing math (primarily because I hate math with a passion, but also because I can't generate math problems off the top of my head, Microsoft Word has a program that does that, but that's beside the point) so I'll skip to the part where he heard the heard the front door open, and his grandmother's voice spoke, "Hello, dear."
"High mom," a familiar voice said from the entryway, "I heard he was here."
"He's upstairs," Kamibu said as Sasuke walked out of the room, and to the top of the stairs to see two people he was really happy to see.
"Hey, buddy," Teyaki Uchiha said as he looked up the stairs to see Sasuke.
"Hello Uncle," Sasuke said as he walked down stairs to hug his uncle, and then his aunt, Uruchi.
"Hello, Sasuke," Uruchi said as she pulled away from Sasuke, "You've gotten so big," she then petted the side of his face twice, "And so handsome."
"Auntie, please," Sasuke said.
"You know how much she loves to mess with you," Teyaki said as he slapped Sasuke on the shoulder, "Come on," he held up a bag from his bakery, "We brought food."
"Senbei," Sasuke asked.
"Is there anything else we would possibly bring," Uruchi said.
"I was in the process of making tea," Kamibu said, "A little snack would be nice," he looked up at Sasuke, "And I think this one could use a break from his homework."
"If you don't mind," Sasuke said as he walked into the kitchen.
How do you like that…