Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applied
Chapter Eighteen: Shattered
Authoress: aznquetzal

"But I know it's a lie what you keep inside, this is not how you want it to be."

He twisted the car key, as the engine starts.
Pretending he heard nothing, Sasuke hits the accelerator.

"You're stressed out, I'm not listening." He spoke coldly as he fastened his seatbelt.

"I'm not taking it back." She hollered promptly with stern tone.
He glared as he stopped the car in an instant.

"Not another word." He spoke.

She knew he was dead serious about it, he never used her that tone before, the way he held the steering wheel shows his anger, his grip was too tight his knuckles grew pale.
Hitting on the accelerator again, she remained silent.

Pushing this harder to him would get a little messy, She knew Sasuke heard her loud and clear, he's in denial-making some excuse as to why she could say such ridiculous thing.

'Sooner or later, you have no choice but take it…Sasuke.'

It's the domino effect, everything falls down...everything that she planned so well from the very beginning is wearing off in a fast pace. It's hurting her…but it will hurt him the most, when she's got only two months left.

-Somewhere is L.A-

"Daddy, Sakura sounded so sad on the phone…don't you think?" Her short dark hair swung as she removed her white lab gown and stethoscope off her shoulder. Haruno Mikeru sighed.

"This has to be done; it's for her own good…" Reo Haruno spoke as he glanced at some x-ray film, then pointed something over it and spoke again.

"See that, that'll get worse if she won't come back." Emphasizing his point as his finger pointed to the portion over the patellar portion of the x-ray film.

"Are you sure it's about her leg that you're worried about?" Mikeru giggled and watched as her husband feigned a serious look.

"Well, it's a factor. Fufu-chan wants to meet her…so yeah!" Reo chuckled as he snatched a lollipop from his pocket.

"Sweet heart, that's not nice. Sakura might not like the idea…."Mikeru mumbled as she pouted

---

"Sakura's going to rip your tongue out of your skull!" Caitlyn almost punched Dustin as she shouted.

"B-b-but!Sakura's mom was holding a scalpel! What's wrong with you woman! I'd rather get my tongue ripped out on my head than get consciously dissected!" Dustin hollered, he could still remember Mikeru holding two sharp scalpels in her hand as she found out about what happened to Sakura a few years ago from the school principal, Dustin could swear the glint in her bright green eyes are ten times more sinister than Sakura's glare, he just had to tell her the story- or Medical Students would feast over body-turned-cadaver.

"She said that?"Caitlyn froze, and thank heavens that she wasn't the one who Mikeru bumped into the grocery store.

"Well, no…but I felt it! God! Now I know why Sakura's such a killer!"

"Wait till she comes back, you won't get killed,"

"Thanks for the lame attempt of comfort, I appreciate it."

"Just murdered." Caitlyn finished while skipping away from Dustin as she held her book in her arms, leaving the pale boy-(who's getting paler) behind.

XOXOXO

That afternoon…

They all sat in the sofa, silently, all their heads were low, bags packed lying beside them, all in their jersey jackets and shorts.

"We trained so hard for this day, whatever the outcome is- remember that we did our best."Ten-Ten started.

"Stop that. We won't loose." Sakura hollered as she smirked, grabbing her hat from the post, she hooked her bag on her shoulders, a couple of smiling faces were all that she could see- just what she needs, but a certain purple head just wasn't acting very well.

Sakura walked beside Ten-Ten as she suddenly gave the brunette a tight hug.

"Whatever happens after today is up to you. Today, I will play my best and I assure you…we will win today, trust me."

"Hey, what's wrong?"Ten-Ten suddenly asked, as she wasn't used to Sakura being so emotional. All she got was a hard tug on the back and a smirking face from the pinkette.

"Nothing, Captain."

"We better go; we need time for warm-ups you know." Sayuri muttered as she glanced at the clock.

XOXOXO

"What's with the scary scrunchy oh-so-ugly face now, Teme-buchuou?"Naruto asked as he fixed his Gakuran, it's been an hour since their training was dismissed. Now heading to the dome to watch the girl's team.

"…"

That's unusual; there should be something along the lines of "Shut up dobe/idiot/moron", or a kick or a punch of the head. There is something, Naruto wasn't a genius- but it wasn't rocket science. The blonde slumped on the bench together with his captain.

"I don't know what's going on, you and Sakura-chan seemed sad today. Did she break-up with you?"

Glare. (translation: Who told you that, you eavesdropping son of a bitch.)

"I guess that's it huh,"

Glare. (Translation: Rub it on my face, I'll kill you.)

"Hey! I'm helping here!"

Snort. (Translation: I'm not asking for help, especially from a dobe like you.)

"Hmph! Maybe that's why she's breaking up with you! Being so secretive arrogant bastard that you are! No surprise!"

And for the first time in Naruto's life, he probably did talk some sense into Sasuke. Even for just a bit.

XOXOXO

Her strawberry blonde head stood out from the crowd, was it just Sakura's hatred that made her stood out-Sakura wasn't really sure. Yukari sure doesn't want to miss this day, to sit over the Patron Seat-

'I won't get distracted.' Sakura scoffed, as she walked back to the locker room.

Ten-Ten husked as she finished tying her hair in a high ponytail, Sayuri grabbed the ball from the floor and grinned at the approaching pinkette.

"You're not wearing that on the game, are you?" Hino chuckled as she pointed at Sakura's hat.

She smirked and took it off, letting it rest inside her locker, passing by Hinata; Sakura knew she's going to tell her something. Watching as the rest of her team went out of the room, Sakura released a big sigh-

"Hey, aren't you coming?"Ten-Ten called.

"A minute." Sakura hollered in an audible voice.

Hearing the door close, Hinata opened her back pack and sat over the bench, Sakura preferred to stand and watch the girl, with curious gaze casted upon her with Sakura's jade glance.

"Here," Hinata took out a flesh colored garterized bandage that's rolled into thick bundle, threw it over Sakura who caught it with a confused scrunch on her brow.

"Wrap it on your leg; you strained it too much yesterday. For safety measures, you'll feel slightly uncomfortable- just try to get used to it though."Hinata explained and forced a gentle smile.

Tilting her pink head side ways, Sakura smiled back. Hinata sure made a fuss over it, though… she really did appreciate it- it kind of eases her fear back to tolerable level, having someone to support you helps a lot.

A thud gave Hinata the notion, Sakura sat on the floor, and started wrapping the bandage around the junction between her knee joint- the location of the major damage. It's a good thing she knew the basics when it comes to wound and other sorts of dressings; it came in handy once in a while.

Now Sakura had to wear that annoying knee pad just to hide the dumb bandage to avoid panic from her team mates. Sighing once more, she stood up and brushed her shirt off and gave Hinata a thumbs up.

"I'll pull you out the game if anything gets serious." Suddenly Kakashi appeared at the door frame.

"You wish." Sakura grinned at him, reassuring her silver haired coach, walking passed him. Kakashi spoke again.

"Does Sasuke know about this?"

"He doesn't need to know."

XXXX

Two teams of that of Red and Green stood in the middle of the court, waiting for the whistle for the jump ball.

Ten-Ten waited eagerly as she stood lowly-waiting for the moment the referee to blow the whistle. Hizaki- Gyokurin's Captain sure is a tall one, her long slender legs is of an advantage-but the brunette didn't come unprepared.

Sakura and Sayuri stood behind the team, eyes fixated on the ball. Hino and Mikai stood just behind their Captain. They knew they're up against the strongest team in the prefecture, and yet again they're just a newly founded team- all those harsh trainings were all they could hold themselves for.

Kakashi sat over the bench together with the rest of the team, looking behind the bleachers- he found a certain blonde haired male holding pom-poms in his hand and a goofy grin, and just beside was Uchiha Sasuke- with that awful look on his face, Kakashi almost pitied the teen.

The whistle blew and two captains jumped for the ball, Hizaki threw the ball over their part of the court, Azumi took it in both hands, looking for the rest of her team mates analyzing the status, a blur of pink obscured her vision.

Sayuri grinned, so Sakura didn't just said those inspiring words- she's determined to make them real. Sayuri would admit, they all came in top shape- and someone here is burning with enthusiasm.

6-4

Yuko started dribbling the ball and started heading towards their basket, not until Sayuri jumped in a flash and stole the ball in a flash- heading for a fastbreak, Sayuri threw the ball to the pinkette who took it easily and ran across the court.

Her jade eyes saw three head towards her, looking down on the floor, she watched their footwork. Sakura would admit that the bandage and knee pad really slows her down-then again, she's got a lot of tricks up in her sleeves.

Weak on the left.

She turned her back and pivoted on her left, getting passed Azumi. There stood Hizaki just inside the three point court waiting for her, she smirked and just as her peripheral vision spotted a certain brunette approach just behind her- Sakura jumped and made a shooting angle, Hizaki jumped to block the upcoming attack and just before the ball leaves her palm-Sakura withdrew her hand and gripped the ball, without breaking eye contact with Hizaki-Sakura threw the ball behind her in which a second later just right after Hizaki's feet hit the ground Ten-Ten threw the ball that earned them three points.

The crowd went wild, Naruto screamed at the top of his lungs, shaking the pom-poms in his hands. Sasuke raised an eye brow and watched as the game started.

6-7

Her pace was tad slower than before, or was it she's just conserving her energy for the second half-Sasuke couldn't quite figure out.

Although he noticed the passive game play she's showing, rather than the boasting and aggressive ones she used to do- Sasuke figured it has something to do with their gameplan.

His dark obsidian orbs darted towards a certain silver haired coach who sat quietly at the bench just five feet away from them.

"This turns out to be a surprise don't you think?" Neji suddenly spoke as he observed the game.

"Hn." Sasuke couldn't agree more, although their plan was a gamble-trying to switch positions during a crucial match like this, Kakashi has something under his sleeves. Could it be he finally discovered the team's potentials this much to have gambled this big?

"She's a very efficient point guard." Shikamaru observed the pinkette as she truly used her previous basketball experiences manipulate the team's next moves against Gyokurin.

Shikamaru could admit, the team up of Sayuri and Sakura was a good plan, though Sakura could play all positions efficiently- perhaps being a point guard would really maximize all her skills; making a good use of her speed, while Sayuri's knack and eye for the ring would be of a very good use. Ten-Ten's solid defense and agility made the formidable defense, Mikai and Hino's rebounds we're as important as well.

Although scoring a point would take a few back-and-forths and Gyokurin always takes a step ahead when Konoha finally catches up. Though their skills were as almost the same caliber- Gyokurin's experience would be far more advanced, their team work is another big factor, and Konoha has yet to prove they're as formidable-

The whistle blew for a substitution.

Hizaki grinned; perhaps she underestimated Konoha a little bit. She smirked slightly as she watched Ten-Ten call for regrouping.

"Fuji-chan, you're up."

Yuko nodded in response as she headed for the bench and gave Fuji a pat on the shoulder, and started to speak.

"Show `em the real defense."

Her ever smiling façade never fade, Fuji just nodded. Her long navy locks tied in a ponytail, as she looked at Hizaki's go signals to sign up over the ref's table.

Sakura saw that familiar face head over the referee, Sayuri then suddenly appeared beside the pinkette and glanced the same direction.

"Fujiyama Mikan." Sakura supplied, as Sayuri tilted her head sideways.

"Hn, so they're finally taking us seriously huh." Sayuri hollered in an amused tone, hands hanging on her hips.

"She'll be marking you, watch it." Sakura warned, after all. They all knew the first half was just a get-to-know-your-opponent stage, and she knew better that Hizaki wouldn't lay her trump cards on the court that easily. From this point forward- Hizaki would take the games into levels ahead little by little.

Ten-Ten glanced at Gyokurin's bench, and saw the rest of Gyokurin's First Five sitting calmly. Analyzing the whole game.

"You know who you're up against now, do you." Kakashi spoke calmly yet loud enough for the five to hear.

"Their rookies are of high caliber, you felt it. Didn't you." He spoke again as he stood up and now he took the clipboard from Hinata and called the girls over.

"What the hell? You're putting me on bench?" Sakura hissed at their coach, which earned Kakashi a few quizzical glares.

"Airi, would take your slot for now." The certain red headed 2nd year stood and lowered her head.

Sakura raised an eyebrow, Airi…this is going to be amusing. Sakura smirked.

"Okay then."

Haruhi Airi, after all is Sayuri's cousin. Who played in Rikkaidai in her first year, and undoubtedly trained under Sakura's tutelage. Perhaps Airi would fit their 'Plan'.

TZUZUKU.

I had to put other characters, so this won't be all Sakura-centric and stereo-typical.

This fic is nearing it's end, a little less than 7 to 5 chapters left.

Please bear with the errors, im in summer class…I felt like I had to update before the midterm exams. ;D don't worry I'll update before the finals too (two weeks after midterms)

Expect fast updates to come, also. The next two chapters would be about Gyokurin vs Konoha. WITH A LOT OS SASUSAKU stuff. ;D