The Result of an Ipod Mix-Up

Wow it's been awhile since I've updated…sorry that it's been so long guys. But now that schools back in session I really don't have any time =/.

Remember:

Sasuke's lyrics are in bold and italics

Sakura's lyrics are in italics only.

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Tell me where our time went…

Okay, so perhaps the right, just thing to do was give it back.

…and if it was time well spent…

And if he had any dignity or righteousness in his body, he wouldn't have lied about not having it.

…just don't let me fall asleep…

Or avoided the fact that he had it in the first place.

Feeling empty again.

But for some, damned reason Sasuke just couldn't bring himself to give it back. The night he had spent listening to a certain (important), pink headed teammate's "on-shuffle" ipod was one of the best nights he had had lately.

In fact, he had fallen asleep with it blaring through his ipod home-sound system; allowing the wonderful euphoria to come out of his speakers all night long. One among the few benefits of living alone: he could blast his loud music all throughout the Uchiha compound without being scolded.

(Because there was no one else to hear it.)

Cause I feel I might break…

And despite the normal sense of peace and tranquility he normally felt when angry music filled his ears instead of thoughts of revenge, Sasuke seemed to feel even more at peace with himself when the music was not his own.

The music was calming to him; however it was more surprising that he was enjoying it

I fear I can't take it.

It also made him feel as though the pink haired kunoichi were in the room herself, creating a strange light in his normally dark house. But no matter how satisfied he was with his decision to keep her ipod, the raven haired man couldn't help but feel as though he had cheated her a tiny bit…

Flashback

…tear my heart open I sew myself shut…

Suddenly Sasuke's phone began to vibrate loudly on his bedside table, interrupting the song flowing from his speakers and into his ears. Which made him feel instantaneously annoyed.

…my weakness is that I care to much…

Without bothering with the caller ID, the annoyed Uchiha snapped open the phone and held it up to his ear. "What." He demanded icily as he laid back down on his pillow as he turned down the music.

…and my scars remind us, that the past is real…

"G-Gomen na sai, Sasuke-kun. It's Sakura." The pink haired woman replied hesitantly. Almost immediately, Sasuke's flaring temper subsided. He hned in response. "What's wrong." He grunted inwardly surprised that by the phone call. Sakura knew not to call him at night unless there was an emergency.

Unless…she had realized he had taken her Ipod on accident and wanted it back. Cautiously he awaited for her reply. "Everything's fine- Tsunade-shishou wanted me to inform you that you have a solo mission tomorrow."

…tear my heart open just to feel.

"I refuse." Sasuke growled in response. The last thing he wanted to have was a mission. But the kunoichi was persistent. "I'm sorry Sasuke-kun, but it's important; a direct order. You're to deliver a message to the Raikage, then remain in Kumogakure until he sends a message back to us."

The Uchiha growled again, however, it was more in frustration. Sakura added reassuring words to soothe him. "You're the fastest shinobi in Konoha, Sasuke-kun. We need you on this mission. She won't give me any details because it's confidential, but I think the sooner we dispatch you the better."

"What's the duration?" He snapped as he sat upward to run a hand through his spiky locks. "It all depends on the pressure the Raikage puts on you to return his reply back, but it's a week trip one way. Even for you, Sasuke-kun."

"Hn." He grumbled in response. Sakura smiled lightly to herself. "Y'know, Tsunade-shishou recommended you personally for this mission, Sasuke-kun."

The pink haired woman knew she had been chosen to be the one to inform the grumpy Uchiha because he was among the few who actually had his cell phone number. But what she didn't know was she had been chosen because Sasuke would only take this type of news from her at this hour. And mild-temperedly at that.

"Hn." Sasuke answered in annoyance. He could care less of what that cursed blonde woman recommended. Important my ass. It was most likely a message for a bottle of the Raikage's sake.

"Well, that's all for now. I'll let you know if Shishou contacts me again. Be careful, and goodni-"

"Sakura," Sasuke interjected as he gripped the phone a little tighter. Sakura waited for an answer. But when none came, she answered. "Yes, Sasuke-kun?"

Again, she waited for a response. But Sasuke remained silent for a few long seconds before exhaling almost inaudibly. "You talk too much." He replied after awhile. The kunoichi managed to laugh slightly before wishing him goodnight and hanging up.

However as she hung up she couldn't shake the feeling that what he had told her was different from what he had intentionally told her to say.

But she would never realize just how right she really was.

End of Flashback

Of course he should've mentioned that in his hands he held her ipod.

(But he didn't.)

Nor did he mention the way his throat constricted around him. As if his body was telling him to keep the ipod for as long as he could.

(He never would.)

Tonight I'll lie awake…

So now, he was making his way towards the gates of Konoha before the crack of dawn. The fully charged ipod was resting carefully in his pocket while the important scroll had been tossed and buried inside his bag. Sasuke stopped as he reached an intersection; continuing straight would lead him to the path and to the outskirts of Konoha. And turning left would lead to Naruto's.

Feeling empty.

But if he were to turn right…

(The path would lead him straight to Sakura's.)

No. If he didn't leave now, he'd never be able to leave knowing he was taking her precious music player with him. And that would make this mission even more tedious. Which would be unbearable to Sasuke.

So without a word, the raven haired, onyx eyed man left Konoha. But oh, if he had visited Sakura, he would've known that clutched tightly in the kunoichi's hand was his ipod.

I can feel the pressure…

Because she had also neglected to tell him the truth about the ipod mix-up. Instead, she selfishly kept it to herself and instead, fell asleep to the sweet sounds of his music.

It's getting closer now…

They were more alike than they gave themselves credit for.

We're better off without you.

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"But if you leave..it'll be the same as being alone!" Protested a distressed pink haired girl as she called out to her spiky haired teammate.

When my time comes forget the wrong that I've done…

"Sasuke-kun…"

"Today a new path begins for all of us..." He murmured in low tone; refusing to meet the torn expression of his crying comrade and accusing emerald eyes.

"S-Sasuke-kun…!"

…Help me leave behind some reasons to be missed…

"I-! I love you more than anything!!" cried the girl as she balled her fists to her chest. The thought of him leaving her was too much for her heart to bear. It was literally causing her physical pain.

"Don't…"

"I promise if you stay here, I'll make everyday happy for you!" she added hysterically. But still, he didn't turn around. Instead, he remained silent.

Don't resent me and when you're feeling empty…

"Please…don't…"

…Keep me in your memory

"I'd do anything for you- so please stay with me! And if you can't stay…" the haired girl whispered as uncontrollable tears rolled down her cheeks and onto the stone path with soft plops.

"…leave…"

"…take me with you…!" she finished as several sobs left her lips.

…Leave out all the rest…

Finally the boy turned around to sneer at her. To sneer at her pain. Apathy was obvious in his coal-colored eyes as he spoke to her. "After all this time… you're still annoying." And with that, he turned to walk away from her.

Leave out all the rest.

"Don't leave me!!" Sakura screamed as she jerked into a sitting position abruptly. She panted heavily as she looked around her room with tear-filled emerald eyes. As tears trickled down her cheeks Sakura recalled the dream she had just had.

It had been so real. Too real.

Sasuke was leaving her. Leaving Konoha; his home, to pursue Itachi. To pursue revenge.

And she was torn by it. So she attempted to stop him in the only way she knew how. In the only way she possibly could; confessing her love for him and promising him the world. But in the end, it wasn't enough for him.

And that's what scared her.

Because Sakura knew the hatred he held for Itachi. She also knew that if he were tempted enough, pushed by the wrong person, Sasuke would go to any length to fulfill his life goal to avenge his clan.

Because that's who he was. That's what he had made himself out to be: an avenger.

Sakura ran her hand through her silky pink locks as a sigh escaped her lips. Was she having this dream because it was a premonition? Or was it simply her biggest fear had escaping the crevices of her mind and brought out as a nightmare?

Whatever it was, it was enough to bring out more tears. Frustration set in as she angrily wiped them away. Would Sasuke betray Konoha in such a way? Speak such harsh words to her?

(Leave her?)

'Am I really that far from him?' she asked herself as she stared at her reflection in the rainy window pane. 'Sasuke-kun please come back soon…' she pleaded before falling back into an uncomfortable sleep.

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Sasuke really did hate the rain.

Maybe it was because the heavens were punishing him for being such an ass to his loved ones. Or maybe it was because he wouldn't forgive his brother (who could??) for murdering his family.

But whatever it was, he was stuck in the inside of a tree until the rain cleared; he could not risk getting ill before reaching his destination.

Nor could he risk getting Sakura's ipod wet. If he did, Sakura would raise hell. Even on him.

"Hey, Sakura-chan? Can I see your new ipod?" asked Naruto excitedly as he bounced over to her. Sakura pushed him away quickly. "Hell no!"

Stepping back, the blonde looked hurt. "But…why Sakura-chan?" he asked as the kunoichi held it up to her cheek. "Because you might screw it up, Naruto! And if you did I'd never forgive you! Ever, ever!"

Deciding by the heaviness of the rainfall, Sasuke slid down to the dry soil beneath his feet and took the ipod out of his pocket. He was going to be here for awhile.

After turning on the fully charged ipod, Sasuke switched it to shuffle and shoved the headphones into his ears. Immediately his head was filled with an unfamiliar tune.

This may never start, we could fall apart…

Sasuke closed his eyes and began to soak in the music, listening carefully to the lyrics; as if attempting to understand them.

And I'd be your memory.

But as he found himself going deeper into the song, flashbacks began to replay in his mind.

Lost your sense of fear-feelings insincere…

Flashback #1

"Sasuke-kun since we don't have any missions do you want to do something later?"

"No, Sakura."

Can I be your memory?

"O-Oh…I see. Maybe next time…"

Flashback #2

"Sasuke-teme! Wait up!"

"Dobe."

"You know what you should do instead of your normal routine of going home and laying around like the emo bastard you are?"

So get back, back, back to where we lasted…

"Emo…bastard?"

"You should go to Ichiraku's with Sakura, Kakashi-sensei and me!"

Just like I imagined, I could never feel this way.

"No. I have to train."

"C'mon teme you ALWAYS train! What do you got to lose?"

So get back, back, back to the disaster…

"No. Now go away, usuratonkachi."

My heart's beating faster…

"Hmppf…someone's on their period..well see you around then teme."

Holding onto feel the same.

But he had been improving, right? That had been before he had realized that he were stuck with this team unless all participants decided to disband.

(Which was never going to happen.)

It had also been before he had gotten used to working with them and putting their safety before his own.

Right?

TBC…

So this has been rotting away in my computer for a long time, I've been WAY too busy to even think about updating. But this is longer than the others have been, so I hope this makes up for it ^^!

Sasuke's song was Leave Out All the Rest by Linkin Park, and Sakura's song were Pressure by Paramore, Scars by Papa Roach, and Memory by Sugarcult.

Until the last song plays…

xxasukachanxx