Echoes

Chapter Fourteen

Ahoy-Hoy

Sasuke would have liked nothing more than to escape back to the comfort of his own home, but knew there were statements to give before that happened. The evening was growing late, and Sasuke knew Kakashi would have let them return to do it tomorrow – but then again Sasuke would rather have avoided the KPD altogether the next day. So he and Sakura were shown to separate rooms and their statements were taken.

Sakura was waiting for him in the corridor by the time he had finished his statement.

"How did it go?" He asked, letting her loop her hand around his forearm.

"Fine." She shrugged. "I told them what those men said to me and that that was all I could offer."

Sasuke let the subject drop, sensing that Sakura was loathe to talk more about what had happened, and led them through the department complex and out into the evening air.

The summer sun had completely disappeared from the sky and Sasuke knew it must be getting on towards midnight – the streets were empty and silent. He helped Sakura in to the car before sitting in the driver's seat tapping his fingers distractedly.

"Well, the day didn't happen how I'd planned."

Sakura let a wry smile twist her lips at Sasuke's words and the man was relieved that she was loosening up again.

In the panic of the fight, the bag containing their supper had been lost, neither of them having any idea where it had got to – most likely trampled beneath the feet of curious onlookers. "What do you say we pick up some food and then head back to mine? We can have a late dinner."

Sakura nodded and buckled her seatbelt. "Sounds good to me."

Sakura could hear the ticking of Sasuke's kitchen clock quite clearly in the silence of the house. She would have never have believed that Sasuke was sat right next to her if it wasn't for the fact she could feel his body heat through her sleeve.

Their evening had been pleasant, the meal they shared filling and their conversation light. In the harsh light of the day however, reality bit back.

Since they had woken up this morning, there had been a tense feeling over the pair of them as they waited for Naruto to call them with any news about the preliminary hearing. Sasuke knew he'd get a chance to plead his case if they took any action against him, but he was very much hoping that they threw the entire thing out and just gave him a warning.

He had found himself filled with nervous energy the whole morning. He had been for a long run before the sun even came up and Sakura had come downstairs to find him in the middle of making breakfast. He seemed to have exhausted his ideas to keep busy however, and now he was sat next to Sakura, his phone on the kitchen counter between them.

The silence was beginning to send Sakura around the bend and she sighed, the noise seemingly deafening in the quiet room. "Sasuke, why don't you go and have a shower?"

"Hn?"

"It may help you relax a little." She paused, unable to resist ribbing him a little. "Plus you don't smell too fresh after that run of yours." Sakura bit her lip in amusement when the soft sounds of Sasuke sniffing himself reached her ears. "Go on, if Naruto rings I'll be here to pick up the phone."

Sasuke grumbled beneath his breath but got up from his seat regardless. Sakura listened to his footsteps move up the stairs and relaxed as the tension went with him. The anxious feeling had been purged from the kitchen, but that still left the little issue of the room being way too quiet.

Deciding to keep herself busy, Sakura moved away from the counter and towards the sink. She had just taken the kettle and had half filled it with water when Sasuke's phone started to ring. The tone was no-nonsense and generic – what Sakura would have expected of Sasuke had she given it prior thought.

Putting the kettle on the side she brushed her hands against her top to wipe away stray droplets of water and reached for the phone. Fumbling slightly (having picked it up upside down) Sakura finally found the answer button and held the phone against her ear.

"Hello?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line and Sakura frowned. Just when she was going to say Naruto's name, a very non-Naruto voice answered her.

"Oh, hello. Sorry I think I must have dialled the wrong number." The female voice in Sakura's ear was polite and yet confused – Sakura could tell that the woman knew she had the correct number.

"Are you after Sasuke?"

"I am, yes."

"He's just in the shower at the moment... could I take a message?"

The voice was amused. "Yes please. Could you tell him his mother called."

Sakura nearly swallowed her tongue in shock. "Ah Uchiha-san, please forgive me"

"Whatever for?" Sasuke's mother laughed. "I thought you were very polite. Although I am curious as to why my son has a young lady answering his phone at this early hour." She paused for a beat. "Actually, I suppose that is a stupid question."

Sakura could feel her face burning. "It's not like that... I'm a friend of Sasuke's."

"The same friend he took to the market yesterday?"

"How did you..."

"Please, call me Mikoto before we go any further. And you are?"

"Sakura."

"Well, Sakura, it is hard enough for me to get Sasuke to answer my calls, so I was quite surprised when he phoned me yesterday looking for advice on a nice place to spend an evening."

Sakura felt herself turn to mush a little – Sasuke had swallowed his pride and asked his mother for date ideas, wanting to impress Sakura.

"Did you enjoy the market?"

"Oh it was wonderful." Sakura gushed, her mind purposely glossing over what had happened on the way home."

Mikoto sighed happily. "I'm glad you liked it. There is one that is not too far from where Fugaku and I live, I spend a lot of time there."

Sakura was amazed at the warmth this woman exuded. While Sasuke had always tried his best to make her feel happy and safe, Sakura could tell that it was against his usual nature to seek company or engage in any form of social interaction. His mother on the other hand, seemed to thrive on engaging with others.

"The smells were amazing, I could have died then and there and my stomach would have still floated to heaven on a cloud." Sakura sighed.

Mikoto laughed. "I have to agree. I'm quite partial to the artwork they have on display there, those handmade vases are lovely. I'm running out of surfaces to put them on. Did you see them?"

Sakura wrinkled her nose, not sure if it was a good or bad thing that Sasuke had not mentioned that she was blind. "Err, can't say I did."

"Oh that's a shame, but maybe next time? I know you'll fall in love with them as soon as you set eyes on them."

Sakura sighed, half-amused and half-sad. "I don't think that will happen any time soon Mikoto-san."

"Just Mikoto please. And why? Don't tell me Sasuke won't be dragged back there?"

"Oh no, I'm sure Sasuke would love to go back but, well…" She decided to bite the bullet. "I'm blind, so I'm afraid I won't be able to see the vases if we ever do return."

There was a heavy silence from Mikoto's end and Sakura wondered if she had been too blunt

"Oh! I'm sorry, Sasuke never said... well he actually hadn't said it was a date he was going on either... oh that boy. His tongue must be stuck to the roof of his mouth I swear."

Sakura laughed as Mikoto continued her one-sided conversation, almost missing Sasuke's footsteps padding across the kitchen tile.

"Who is it?" His voice was a little wary with just the slightest tinge of nervousness.

"Your mother." Sakura replied, covering the mouthpiece. She fought a smile when a soft groan escaped Sasuke.

"Ah, Mikoto, Sasuke is here now. I'll pass him over but it was nice speaking with you."

"You too Sakura dear, get Sasuke to bring you to Suna some time, I'd love to meet you in person."

Sakura agreed with Mikoto and passed the phone to Sasuke.

"Hello Mother." Sakura listened to the listened to the side of the conversation that she could hear with great interest.

"Yes I- ... no Mother I haven't. I will... I mean it this time."

Sakura's lips twitched in amusement as Sasuke's voice got quiet and – dare she say it – a little whiny.

"Mother! I really don't think that's any of your business." Sasuke sighed and rubbed at his eyes. "Okay. I'll speak to you soon."

Sakura heard the phone tap against the side as Sasuke put it down and she tugged at the ends of her hair lightly. "Sorry about answering your phone. I thought it would be Naruto."

"It's okay." Sasuke said and moved to finish boiling the kettle that Sakura had started. "She can talk for Konoha though, I swear."

Sasuke placed a mug of tea in front of Sakura and she wrapped her hands around it, her mind distracted by her talk with Mikoto.

"Sasuke?"

"Hmm?"

"Why didn't you tell her I was blind?"

Sasuke paused as he stirred his own tea and looked at Sakura from over his shoulder. "What?"

"You didn't mention I was blind... actually you hadn't mentioned me at all."

Sakura bit her lip but didn't speak any more and Sasuke seemed to understand.

"And you think I'm ashamed of you?"

"No?" Sakura's voice was too quiet to be sincere and Sasuke sighed in an odd mixture of exasperation and amusement.

"Sakura, you've spoken to her. If I'd even mentioned the word 'girl' she'd have given me no peace. Believe it or not, when I think of you I don't think of 'blind'."

"Hm?"

"Think of it this way – what's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of me? Is it police officer, or moody, or quiet?"

"Well... no. Nothing in particular springs to my mind... you're just Sasuke."

"You're just Sakura to me. Why should it be any different for me?"

"Because being blind is a pretty big thing."

"But it's just a small part of who you are."

Sakura was silent at that and she smiled softly. "Thank you." She paused and her grin widened. "I won't tell Naruto how soft you can be."

Sasuke groaned and rubbed his hands over his face at the thought.

In the end Naruto did call Sasuke. Things looked promising but the board wanted to speak with Sasuke and get his version of events. Naruto sounded very confident that Sasuke would not be suspended but Sasuke refused to let his hopes rise too high.

The next day dawned glorious and sweltering in Konoha. Sakura was up with the sun and lay on the grass in Sasuke's garden, enjoying the sunshine before the heat became too unbearable. Sasuke found her lay out beneath the blue sky when he woke up.

"I need to go in to the department and speak to the review board. Do you want to come?" Sasuke observed how relaxed Sakura looked lay under the sun and reconsidered his offer. "Or you could always stay here and catch some rays."

Sakura smiled. "Could I? I forgot how nice it is to have a garden."

"It's fine." Sasuke checked the time on his phone and saw that he had to leave. "Help yourself to anything in the house. I shouldn't be too long."

"Good luck!"

Sakura's voice followed him through the house and Sasuke sighed – he hoped he didn't need it.

Sakura heard Sasuke leave and sighed, feeling all tension seep from her body. She loved the weather in Konoha. After living in Ame where it rained what seemed to be all the time, and Suna where the sun was harsh and the heat unchanging Konoha was a lovely in-between.

She could hear Metsuki panting somewhere close by – her furry friend loved the sun too – and made a mental note to fill his water bowl with fresh water. She felt a little bad about using some of Sasuke's dishes for the dog's food and water but he assured her they were old and unwanted.

Sakura felt herself being lulled in to blissful sleep and let her breathing relax. She wasn't sure if she had dozed off or not but she was startled from her blissful haze by Metsuki barking.

She sat up quickly and felt Metsuki brush past her and towards the house. She stood up and listened carefully and could just make out the sounds of someone knocking on Sasuke's door. She bit her lip in contemplation – should she answer the door?

Sasuke's home seemed to be secure - the neighbourhood was quiet and there was little passing traffic. It was probably just somebody selling something and yet... it seemed to be chancing fate to open the door.

Metsuki was still barking, letting Sakura know someone was there and she sighed, surrendering. She trotted through the kitchen and down the hallway and to the front door. Her hands trailed across the seam of the door until her fingers brushed against the cool metal of a security chain. She slid it in to place and opened the door as far as the chain would let it.

"Hello?"

There was a slight pause before the visitor spoke. "I'm looking for Sasuke is he in?"

It was a man, his voice was smooth and strong and, if Sakura had been that type of girl (coughInocough) she may have swooned a little. "No, sorry."

"May I come in and wait for him?"

Alarm bells sounded in her head. "I'd prefer not to let a stranger in to his house."

The voice was patient and very polite... so polite that Sakura thought that she may have been beginning to annoy the man.

"I'm his brother."

So I've had this written for weeks now… not entirely sure why it hasn't gone up before now but I blame my birthday and… nope that's all I've got.

Most people though Sasuke was justified in how he acted, though understandably some people would have loved to see him go chidori on the crooks' asses (figuratively of course).

This chapter was quite a bit longer but looking through it again I thought this was a good place to cut it. The good news is that the next chapter is almost ready for posting so it should be up soon.

Thanks for your reviews everybody, they really make writing this story worth it.

See you next chapter.