AN: Hello, hello! It's been a little while, and I just wanted to run through all my chapters before completing the next installment (yes, it's actually under construction at the moment!). I noticed many things that to my now jaded eye really annoyed me. So some things have been twisted around, and it's not a very big deal, but I just want some things to flow more easily/possibly include more background. No idea what I'm talking about, but BOMBS AWAY!
Disclaimer….do we have to do this?
We Have To What?
Chapter One: In Which We Learn What's Been Happening the Last Seven Years in a Brief Summary
Or
Setting the Stage
Sakura arrived at the red Konoha bridge, a landmark laden with both pleasant and grim memories, relating to the life she used to lead along with the rest of Team 7. She had been asked to meet here with Kakashi at five, which was not an unusual request. He probably had a mission lined up that he was either leaving immediately for, or would in the morning. If it was the latter, they would race to the nearest bar to get plastered. However, as her sandals made the familiar clack over the wooden bridge, she saw with mild surprise that there was someone already waiting there.
Sasuke Uchiha leaned against the railing, arms crossed against his chest, glaring menacingly at the water flowing underneath him. Sakura was struck with nervousness. Not the silly, girlish anxiety she had had around him; that had been long gone. No, this was the stress of waiting for their famously-late ex-sensei with a boy she was a little less than friendly with, especially one with whom she hadn't spoken to or laid eyes on in years. She disliked awkward silences almost as she disliked eggplants, and was simply nervous about entering a situation sure to be fraught with discomfort.
She knew Sasuke could feel her presence—had probably felt it long before she had even approached the bridge—and the fact that he chose to ignore it altogether allowed her the ease of ignoring him as well. She didn't have to greet him, or even acknowledge him; she hadn't since they were twelve years old, anyway. Sasuke was a stranger to her, and her to him. They didn't know each other, and it was fine with Sakura if they never did.
For an hour and then some, both ninja stared at the water from opposite sides of the bride. Neither recognizing that merely steps away there was another being. From her peripheral vision, she could see him, looking almost exactly as he had the last time she'd seen him, seven years ago. Unlike Naruto, who had changed into a heartthrob as he grew, greatly resembling the late Fourth Hokage, Sasuke had always been attractive and just grew older. His hair may have been longer, she couldn't really tell, and he was taller, but besides those two things, there was barely anything different about him. Of course, like everyone who grows, he lost the baby fat in his face, and she assumed his muscles were well defined from a shinobi life. Nothing extraordinary about him. Why was I attracted to him again? Maybe because he had looked like this from a young age and at the time it was appealing. Now…just familiarity. There wasn't anything special about Sasuke anymore.
"Yo," she heard off to her right, and her head snapped up from its reverie. The owner of the voice was none other than Kakashi, her previous sensei and pervert extraordinaire. His silver hair sprung, much like Naruto's, from his headband, which was crooked in order to hide his Sharingan eye. The infamous mask was up, of course, covering his still-mysterious face.
Since the days of Sasuke's departure, she had grown extremely close to Kakashi. Not to say she and Naruto weren't, but after having his head smacked enough times, he soon discovered, to his disbelieving joy, Hinata's feelings for him. They had quickly taken up a relationship, much to Sakura's relief. So it was only presumable that the last two members of Team 7 would spend time together.
Kakashi wasn't bothered by Sakura, and let her tag along with him to various social functions he attended. Not that there were many. A few times, rumors had cropped up of the couple's imaginary, yet apparently quite risque, affair. Sakura had quickly doused the gossip flames with her newly enhanced (courtesy of Tsunade's training) chakra punches and kicks. Kakashi was like an elder brother she'd never had, being an only child. A good-looking, flirtatious, older brother, but one all the same.
They trained together, and occasionally Sakura managed to surprise Kakashi with her inhuman strength. Usually though, and luckily, the fatal blows rained upon his doppelgangers. Still, when she did manage to get a hit in, he was out of it for a few hours. Which made him train harder so he wouldn't get hit, which made her train harder in order to hit. A chain reaction of benefit for both. When they weren't training, Kakashi would typically read his obscene manga while Sakura lay quietly nearby, soaking in the comfortable silence of companionship.
As she got older and increasingly attractive to the male population, Kakashi included, he began bringing her around with his group of friends to popular bars or clubs they attended, usually showing her off as one would show off a new pet. Another man to become attached to her was Genma, Kakashi's sidekick of sorts. The lady's man always had some honeyed words saved especially for Sakura while she tried not to laugh at his outrageous come-ons. Of course, sometimes he got a bit carried away with his hands and Sakura had to remind him that she was capable of punching a hole through his body, heal it, and then do it again. Genma usually cooled down after that. Sometimes Genma joined in with their training, thought it was usually to watch them lazily and make leering remarks at Sakura.
Though Sakura had many friends, most of the ones she'd grown up with were paired off and made her feel like an extra wheel. Sure, she'd had her fair share of dates. But nothing lasted too long, and definitely didn't get too serious; the guys she happened to date usually bored her to tears. Thus, she tended to stick to her close-knit trio of Kakashi and Genma, and the two older, attractive perverts were enough to satisfy her companionship needs. And to boost her ego, of course.
Sakura had been content while Sasuke was gone. Having him out of her life made everything much more simple and easy to enjoy. Even when he returned and made no attempt to speak with her, or even tell her himself that he was back, she found she no longer gave a shit. It was much more fun without him weighing her down.
Hn, Sasuke observed. Usually she would've jumped me by now. Though the Uchiha was immensely relieved, a tiny part that he didn't recognize was a little bit peeved. But almost immediately it was squashed by the larger, smarter part.
He was still a little troubled. He had been brought back by Naruto almost two years ago, barely alive after the last stand against Itachi. The sterile, disgusting hospital smell had filled his nasal cavities for a good month before he was deemed stable. During his entire hospital stay, he had had a slew of visitors. Naruto came every day to check on his favorite rival, who had been on death's door mat when the blonde first brought him in.
Kakashi had stopped in a few times, the first time smacking him on the back of the head. Each visit he brought in his perverted orange books, and every time the offending literature was offered to Sasuke, who rejected them violently. When asked why he offered his favorite reading to Sasuke, the masked man merely shrugged and said, "I just know that if I was in...here," Apparently he deigned the hospital to be unworthy of a name, "I'd wish someone would offer me Icha Icha," He sniffed at the slight snub he received by no one extending to him such a condolence.
Out of all the people that came to celebrate his return and death of Itachi, there was a certain pink haired girl he realized he sorely missed. After five years on his lonesome, no one caring around him, a revelation came to him. He missed Konoha.
He missed the waste of ninja that was Naruto.
He missed his perverted, yet caring sensei.
...And most of all, he missed the annoying girl who had cried for him.
As much as he would never admit it, Sakura had become dear to him. Her mere presence, he was shocked to find, was a craving he could barely ignore. All those silent nights that he was left to be tortured by his memories, he constantly drifted into the night of his departure. Sakura pleading with him, and he, cold bastard that he was, dismissed her. As per usual. Oh, yeah, then he knocked her out. And left her on a bench where god-knows-what could've happened to her. Smooth, Sasuke. Real smooth.
He didn't know what he was expecting. Did he really think she would be ecstatic to see him again? Well...yes. Her constant attentions towards him, though annoying at the time, had become a thing of habit. Having them dissipate would be...quite disappointing.
With dampened spirits, he wasted away the last of his hospital days by thinking about Sakura. And hating his thoughts. Of her soft, pearlescent pink tresses that framed her face, of her wide, shimmering eyes of deep emerald, constantly watching him in a gentle, loving manner. He was incessantly slugging his inner self that was infatuated with the pink kunoichi. Yet, his eyes remained trained on the door, holding his breath for the tell-tale sign of rosy locks passing into the room's entrance.
Really, as he lay in his hospital bed waiting for her and knowing in some part of his mind that she would not come, he couldn't blame her. But yet again, the larger, "smarter" part of his mind was angry. Oh sure, she loved him. His brother had "loved" him too, he realized bitterly. How did the rest of the story go? He killed their family. If that wasn't a sign of brotherly affection, he didn't know what is. In his rejected state, he figured she was no different from Itachi. She had never really loved him, he convinced himself. All she was capable of was hurting him.
When Sasuke was discharged from the hospital, he had recovered from his recent lapse of having emotion, and willed himself to be colder, more emotionless, than before he realized his feelings for Sakura. The undesired emotions were pushed down…far, far down in a deep, dark, dank place that Sasuke did not like to dwell in for long periods of time. In here he kept locked away the memories of his family's massacre, and his time with Orochimaru. Everything relating to Sakura was thrown down there as well.
He never showed it, but every time he went for a drink with Naruto after a mission he would subconsciously search the crowd for a glimpse of a certain ex-teammate. After he realized what he was doing and who he was looking for, he immediately quit. But each time he fell away from the conversation, the hunt would begin anew.
If, by chance, he did catch a snippet of the strawberry color, he would intensely wait for the rest of her to come into his view. But the hair was always leaving by the time he found it. After five years, he had no idea what she looked like. But from the rather obscene descriptions he would receive from the other male nin (it turned out Sakura was now quite a hot topic among the men of Konoha), he deduced she looked nothing like she had when she was twelve to earn so much attention. He managed to assure himself that he was not interested in her. No, no, not interested at all. Just curious to see what his former teammate would look like after so many years apart. It had nothing to do with the fact that the village's boys were captivated with her and it completely frustrated him.
It had nothing to do with the fact that she was a jounin under Tsunade while he was still a mere genin.
It had nothing to do with the fact that it was widely rumored she was more powerful than the Hokage herself.
It had nothing to do with the fact that she seemed unusually close with two older men who were perverts.
It had nothing to do with the fact that he got immensely pissed with whoever was speaking and himself whenever she was mentioned.
It had nothing to do with the men she had apparently dated boasting of their triumphs.
It had nothing to do with those facts at all.
Six months of these bar jaunts did nothing to settle his curiosity or have her finally in his company. So, like the cold-hearted bastard he believed he was, he finally tore down from his mind any thoughts pertaining to the shocking cacophony of color that was Haruno Sakura. He fully threw himself into missions, and after a year and a half of nothing but steady work, he felt nothing for the girl. Sasuke had drilled it into his skull that she was the same annoying wench that she had been seven years ago. And he damn well wanted to believe it.
But there was no denying, he realized, watching her from the corner of his eye slink up to the bridge, she definitely didn't look like that same wench.
"Kakashi, you were supposed to meet us here an hour ago," the strawberry-haired girl emphasized. "What's your sorry excuse this time?"
"Sakura! It's so nice to see you, too," He said in an overly-excited tone, and pulled his former student into a bear hug. She sighed, and patted his back.
"Some things never change, I guess," she said in fake-frustration. "Always avoiding that question,"
Kakashi held her at arm's length and frowned.
"Now, now, Sakura, I do have a good reason this time," He paused, and Sakura looked skeptical. "I was traveling down the road of life, frequented by various wandering souls like myself, and there happened to be a glitch in the space-time continuum and I had to-"
"Alright, alright," Sakura held up her hands. "I yield," she dramatically sighed. Kakashi chuckled, and his gaze settled on the dark-haired boy who rested against the bridge's railing.
"Hey, when did you get taller?" the silver-haired man cocked his head and smiled under his mask. Sasuke made a non-committal noise in his throat and Kakashi smirked.
"Talkative as always, I see," He remarked wryly, his eye creasing into the folds of the well-worn laugh lines surrounding it.
"So Kashi-kun, what's your mission this time?" Sakura queried.
"Ah, yes," the tall jounin cleared his throat. "Well, it's not my mission as it were. This is a job for the two of you!" Kakashi beamed down to them. Sakura raised an eyebrow.
"If it's including a genin, then why would I be his babysitter?" It was clear that Sasuke was being discussed, and Sakura had no qualms letting a hint of smugness creep into her voice during the mention of his rank. Sasuke said nothing.
"Ah, ranks are simply titles. However, the Hokage feels that your combined skills will be essential in completing this mission. It has been noticed that many ninja entering the Water Country haven't come back. Including some Konoha nin. There's reason to believe that Kirigakure is involved in some way, and we needed some higher level ninja acting as spies. However, in regard to ranks, you two were the ones most qualified...at least of those who weren't already on a mission," He teased. "It's an A ranked mission, and possibly may be upgraded or degraded a rank or two depending on reports coming in. And since you're to act as spies, we'll get you into the country on your honeymoon-"
"What?" Sasuke finally spoke, in a low, dangerous monotone that had been well-honed over the years.
Kakashi smirked. "Ah, yes, for this mission, you two will be posing as newlyweds...and we're having you two really tie the knot before you leave. The hidden mist ninjas are known to be thorough when they have suspicions, and it would be safer for your record to announce that you are legally married. Tsunade is going to publicize the wedding two days from now, and in a week, you'll have your wedding and be off on your merry way," He eyed both of them.
"That's another reason why you two were chosen for this mission. No one will think it so strange that you two married. I mean, you're not quite strangers," Kakashi waited, sure to hear Sakura begin to scream and throw things. He could tell Sasuke was thinking the same. When their ear drums were not broken, and the bridge was not split in too, Sasuke had evident surprise on his face, although it was gone within a moment. However, Kakashi berated himself for thinking so poorly of her. Sakura was almost nothing like the girl Sasuke used to be familiar with.
Kakashi remembered the first time he had sparred with Sakura since she'd begun learning under Tsunade...
"Fight me, Kakashi," came a quiet, yet assertive voice heard clearly by the older jounin. Kakashi looked up from behind his infamous book to stare blankly at the young girl confronting him. Noticing her use of just his first name, he wondered what had gotten into her. Shrugging, he carefully folded the page down and set the book down.
"What brought this about, Sakura?" He asked with mild interest. If she wanted to spar, he'd have no reservations. Immediately, Sakura brought herself into a fighting stance.
"Just don't go easy on me," she said in that same tone, ignoring his question. Sighing, Kakashi rolled his head to crack his neck in preparation. Then, settling into his own position, he looked expectantly at her, waiting for the kunoichi to make the first move. Inwardly, Kakashi knew he would have to keep a restraint on himself. If he went all out against Sakura, who knew when she would return to consciousness; or if she would be in enough pieces to do so.
While he was thinking this, he noticed Sakura had disappeared. Momentarily distracted, he raised his awareness to perceive where her chakra was...there! Kakashi blocked the kick that had been sent for his head with his wrist. Twisting his wrist so that her sandaled foot was now in the palm of his hand, he easily threw her away. She managed to hit the ground with her hands and do a make-shift front handspring into a crouched form. Again, she vanished. Warily, Kakashi cast an eye around, searching his surroundings. A moment later, another solid attack to his upper body. The silver-haired ninja managed to lean back while Sakura quickly pulled her punch back from its unsuccessful assault.
In his bent position, Kakashi managed an easy and light kick to her mid-section that earned him a grunt and a pink whirl fly backwards. Sakura let out a harsh laugh from her place in the dirt before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
"Kakashi...I said don't take me lightly," As soon as the words left her mouth, Kakashi realized they had come from the vicinity of his left ear. Turning to his left in surprise, he heard a whoosh on his right. What felt like a sheet of rock solidly connected with his skull. Cursing his stupidity, he was on the ground by the time he blinked. His vision was growing fuzzy and dark, and there must've been water in his ears to clog them so fully. Despite that, he could still make out a form, distinct from the pink mop, standing above him.
"After you get out of the hospital...maybe we can try this again if you will actually fight me full-on. We don't want a rumor to get around that the great Copy-Nin was beat by a mere medic..." And the world around him faded.
"It's actually quite perfect that this happened in the Water Country," Kakashi continued without pause, as the whole memory in his head had only taken a moment to replay. "With its beaches, it's the norm for a couple to honeymoon there. We've rented a couple's cottage, equipped with its own private beach," he winked suggestively. "And the beach has been secured. The path leading to it could be spied upon and listened to, but once you're on the sand itself, there's a sound block," He shook his head, "Amazing that they could soundproof a beach...anyway, every week or so, I'll meet you two in the unisex hot spring just outside of Takagara, the town in which you'll be staying,"
"Unisex?" Sakura repeated with a raised brow.
"Sure," Kakashi shrugged. "I have to get some form of entertainment from this," Sakura rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to sock her silver-haired friend. "Pervert," She muttered.
Then silence reigned and crickets chirped.
"Well, I guess that's about it," Kakashi finished cheerfully. He glanced down at his watch-less wrist, then back at the thoughtful face of Sakura, and the still impassive demeanor of Sasuke. He knew things were less than friendly between the two; they hadn't uttered a word to each other since the fateful night Sasuke left Konoha.
"So..." Kakashi searched for a change of subject. "...what're you doing tonight?" He smoothly brought up, and looked pointedly at Sakura. "All that talking made me hungry. I was meeting up with Genma tonight, but I'm sure he wouldn't deny his favorite cherry blossom a seat at our table,"
Both older men did so enjoy the company of the pretty, young kunoichi on their nights out. It made them feel young...and with their years beginning to add up, it was a feeling they desperately needed. Plus, after getting one of these missions, he knew Sakura needed it too. The pink-haired girl faked a smile.
"Sorry, Kakashi. I have some to take care of some things. But it sure breaks my heart to think of you two geezers drinking on your lonesome," She smirked at Kakashi's mock-horror. "But I'm sure Genma will be able to round up some minors to keep you company," She ended innocently enough. She gave him a quick hug and peck on the cheek, ignored Sasuke, and disappeared in a quick poof! Kakashi watched her leave, and when she was out of sight, turned back to the silent boy.
"Ouch," he said appreciatively, glad to not be on the other end of Sakura's ignorance. Sasuke made his little grunt that had various meanings, such as: Yes, No, Maybe so, I don't know, I'd rather not, Oh, really? And in this case, Fuck off. Then he stalked away, opposite from Sakura's departure. Kakashi sighed. He'd just have to see how they acted at the actual wedding...oh this would be loads of fun...
Pulling Icha Icha from his pants pocket, he made his way slowly to the bar where he would meet Genma. Knowing him, there probably were some minors awaiting him. What they would do to feel young...