2 Meeting
Sakura laughed at Kakashi’s telling of the latest Naruto antics. She had sincerely missed all of her friends. She had thought she could go without missing them… needing them, and for a while it worked, but it didn’t last very long. Too soon, she had been missing everyone and wanting to come back, but she knew she couldn’t come back, not if Sasuke was here. Shaking her head she sipped her iced tea.
Sasuke had betrayed her, and she was never going to forgive him for it. He could have gone about leaving her behind. Sure, she should have taken the hint that he didn’t like her, but still. Sakura looked at the experience as a lesson learned. She no longer chased guys, they chased her.
“So, how has the sand village been? Make any interesting friends?” Kakashi asked as he took a drink of his own tea, breaking her train of thoughts. He eyed the woman behind the counter as he waited for a response.
“Oh, ya. It’s been great. I’ve become friends with Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara. And, all the administrators at the school are wonderful. Oh, I guess I didn’t tell you that I am a Jonin and a medic ninja. I’m the school nurse, and I help teach the academy ninjas. It’s great,” Sakura explained. She missed her job, but it was sure nice to relax and know she was getting a paid ‘vacation.’
Kakashi nodded. “So, is your mother sick?” he asked taking another sip of his drink.
“Ya, it’s like a really bad flu that won’t go away. She’s only in her late forties, so I don’t think she’s dieing. But, I’m kind of scared. I’ve never seen anything like this before, and I have seen a lot since I worked at the hospital for a few years before becoming the teacher,” Sakura shook her head; her mother’s sickness baffled even her. It just didn’t make any sense. What if her mother contracted some kind of disease that she or the doctors couldn’t cure?
“I’m sure you’ll make her better,” Kakashi placed his hand on top of Sakura’s in a gesture of endearment. He changed the subject. “So, does anyone else know that you’re here? Have you made contact with anyone?”
“Anyone meaning Sasuke?” Sakura guessed. When Kakashi only shrugged, she continued, “No, I don‘t even know if he is even back, and I didn‘t look. I was hoping to keep it on the DL that I was even here, but seeing as how my mother looks like she will take a while to get better, I’ll be stuck here for a few weeks, so I guess I don’t need to sneak around.” Sakura sighed. Her life was so complicated without needing to involve Sasuke again. Her whole childhood was awful, filled with one rejection after another. Not a great school memory.
“Why don’t we have a little team get together? I could call Team 7 and we could meet at the old training grounds. It would be like old times. We could even try doing the bell drill again and see how well you all do with that. What do you say?” Kakashi suggested. He looked hopeful, though she didn’t know why. Did he know something Sakura didn’t?
Sakura relented, “Fine, but don’t tell him I’m back. I want it to be a surprise.” She stood up then, thinking about surprising Naruto. “Well, I better head back. My mom is expecting me. I’ll see you tomorrow then. Same time?”
Kakashi stood up with her. “As if it would have changed,” Sakura sensed that he was smiling behind his mask.
“See you then,” Sakura waved as she walked off. She turned and looked at her teacher, “Try not to be too late.” With that, she disappeared down the street and headed home, the sun shining in her hair as if it were glitter.
Sasuke sat in his room looking it over. It was the first time he had been home in years. Nothing but the dust that collected on everything had changed. Nothing had been moved, though he saw a few footsteps in the dust as if someone had been in the room at one point. The footprints looked like they could have been years old, too. At a closer glance, he thought they looked to be the right size for Sakura, but that was just wishful thinking.
He needed to get out of there. The dust seemed to suffocate him. He needed to clean the place, but he didn’t feel that determined today. So, taking his weapons pouch and strapping it to his leg, he outside.
Not knowing where to go, he walked aimlessly down the street and headed into the heart of the village. Passing happy couples as he did. It made him sick. He should be one of them, holding the hand of the one he so wanted.
As he stepped passed the ramen shop, he saw a head of pink hair, again. He was about to run after it, but Kakashi stopped him by appearing in front of him. Sasuke was prepared to brush by, but Kakashi obviously had something to say.
“Oh, you’re back. There is a team 7 meeting tomorrow morning. You know the time,” Kakashi told him before heading off again, probably to find Naruto. He didn’t even seem surprised that Sasuke had returned.
Sasuke rushed towards where he thought he saw the pink haired person, but he didn’t see anyone with pink hair. She had eluted him again, but she didn’t live here anymore. She was in the Village hidden in the Sand. Would he ever find her? Would their paths cross again?
Sighing, he continued on his aimless journey, content to just staring at the asphalt beneath his feet.
The next morning, he arrived bright and early at the training grounds. He was the first to arrive, like always. Today, though, he was more depressed than usual since it wouldn’t really be Team 7. The team wasn’t complete without Sakura, no matter how much he told himself otherwise.
He sat himself against the nearest tree and waited. Before he knew it, Naruto showed up and plopped down onto the grass near Sasuke’s feet. They hadn’t had a team meeting in so long, Naruto wasn’t used to getting up this early. Especially since his son Akito hadn’t been able to sleep very well that night, Naruto hadn’t gotten any sleep. Hinata had to pour water over his face to wake him up and get him moving. Naruto wouldn’t have been surprised if he didn’t match.
“Hey, Sasuke, don’t look so cheery eyed,” Naruto teased as he closed his eyes and tried not to fall asleep.
“Doesn’t look like you got too much sleep, you loser,” Sasuke snapped back. It felt like they were kids again, teasing each other and name calling.
“Ya, well, Akito didn’t sleep well last night,” Naruto shrugged as he placed his hands behind his head, knowing Sasuke didn’t have any comebacks.
Sasuke felt a pang in his chest. He so wanted a family of his own. The warmth of his wife, the pitter patter of little feet. But, he would only start a family with the one he loved. He just couldn’t imagine anyone else.
Squinting in the early morning light, he saw a figure approaching the grounds, but figured it was Kakashi. But, as the figure drew nearer, Sasuke noted it was a nicely shaped, curvy woman. Frowning, he could see the pink in her hair and in her outfit. But, it couldn’t be.
Standing up, he took a step forward, only to step on Naruto’s hand. Naruto yelled in annoyance, but turned to see what Sasuke was staring at to find Sakura Haruno approaching them.
“Sakura?” Naruto asked to make sure as he rushed forward to greet her and engulfed her in a hug. Lifting her off her feet, he spun her around. “Oh, it’s so good to see you. It’s been forever, believe it. When did you get back?”
Sakura smiled, as she took Naruto in. He had definitely grown since they were kids. He had filled out more, gained more muscle, grown up, matured. She was so proud of him, and was truly happy that he had found someone as great as Hinata for his wife. She remembered their wedding day. She had been Maid of Honor. She had even come back for the birth of Naruto’s first child, but had been unable to come see the second.
She had returned for all of her friends’ weddings. It always left an ache pain in her heart. She felt like she should be one of them too. She had thought she would have married before Ino and Choji at the vary least. She had always wanted a family, but back at the sand village, none of the guys she dated seemed right. Gaara had been her only serious relationship; it had lasted two years, but needless to say it didn’t work out between them.
“Yesterday. How’s Hiro and Akito?” Sakura asked cheerfully. “Sorry I haven’t been down to see them.”
Sasuke inhaled. Had she been the one he had seen yesterday at the ramen shop and then again last night?
“They are both good, and don’t worry about it, you’re here now. How long are you staying?” Naruto replied.
“Until my mother gets better. She’s sick,” Sakura replied.
“Oh, so sorry to here that.”
Sakura shrugged, “I’m a medical ninja, so I should be able to help her. She’ll be fine.”
Sasuke was tired of being ignored, so he decided to make his presence known to her. Would she hug him? Kiss him? Squeal with delight? He stepped forward and cleared his throat.
She turned, and her smile instantly faded. She was so shocked to see him she was speechless, or so he thought. She frowned and her eyes narrowed. It was like a dark cloud had overshadowed her. What had happened to her?
“Oh, so you’re back,” it was a statement, not a question, each word dripping with obvious distaste.
Sasuke furrowed his brows together. What could he have done to make her hate him so? He hadn’t seen her in so long he couldn’t remember. “Ya, I was back yesterday morning. I’m staying, hoping to lay down some roots.”
“Good luck with that,” Sakura sneered as she turned her attention back to Naruto. “So, how’s Hinata?”
They launched into another conversation, totally ignoring Sasuke’s very presence. Sasuke stepped back and sat back down against the tree. He could take a hint. She was angry, very angry. Was it about their last encounter? Was it that he left her?
Sakura could have killed him on the spot for acting as though nothing had changed between them, like he had never left, like they had been best friends forever. She just wanted to lash out and slash out his eyes.
She was fuming inside, and it took every ounce of her being to talk back to him civilly. Good thing Naruto was there, she didn’t want to lose control in front of him. Her pride wouldn’t let her.
She chose to ignore him, give him the cold shoulder. Just as Naruto was talking about Hiro’s latest accomplishment, Kakashi appeared before them, interrupting their conversation.
“Good morning to all,” he gave half a wave as he crouched on the post before them. “Let’s just get this going, no sense in prolonging it any.” He took out two bells. “Get them from me, complete the task. Pass the test. Two hours. Go.”
The three of us jumped into the bushes and waited for the opportune moment to strike. The point of the task was teamwork, Sakura remembered that much. Now, she just needed to do it. But, easier said than done. She didn’t want to have anything to do with Sasuke.
Naruto threw his kunei at Kakashi, and while Kakashi blocked that attack, Sakura threw one of her own, and Sasuke did the same from his angle. Kakashi easily evaded the attacks, and they were forced to move, to find another hiding spot.
Naruto jumped out and took on Kakashi; it seemed like old times. Sakura remembered Naruto doing the exact same thing when they were the tender young age of twelve.
“You haven’t learned, have you Naruto?” Kakashi shook his head as he fought off Naruto. While Kakashi was distracted, Sakura came in from behind and attempted to grab the bells, but Kakashi grabbed Sasuke out of the air from the other side and threw him into her, as he jumped back away from Naruto.
Sasuke was on top of Sakura, and she could see that he didn’t want to move, but she pushed him off and stood up, refusing to look at him. What was he thinking? He couldn’t have feelings for her. Not now, not after all these years. Not after all the pining she had done, only to be scorned.
Sasuke wanted to curse when he saw the anger in her eyes, when he hesitated getting off of her. He had enjoyed the contact, way too much. He wanted her, boy did he want her. Why, oh why, did she have to hate him? It was sort of ironic really.
He would have to catch her later and explain things. Explain that things were different, that they could have something, something good between them.
