Chapter Two
Everything
I'm going to be late, I thought watching the man slowly start putting the cleaning supplies in the bag. I hated coming to this store. It was moms favorite store to come to, though, so I could suck it up and just go to it. It was old and dusty, the shops owner was this sixty year old grey headed man with no teeth who always talked about the weather and took forever to bag your things. It smelled like cotton balls and baby powder, too. For as long as I could remember she had always came to this store. The man, Booku, had the same conversation with her and then would give me candy.
"Thank you for coming, Dr. Haruno. Please come, again."He waved with a big smile.
"Thanks."I told him, turning the corner.
As I walked towards the exit I noticed someone at the back of the store. He was reading the back of a blue bottle intensely with his fierce coal eyes. I stared for a moment until my phone went off causing him to look up at me. Dammit, I thought pulling it out of my pocket and pretending I didn't even see him.
"Hello?" I answered.
"We got a mission together!"Naruto chirped in my ear.
"Really?"I asked in disbelief."What are we doing?"
"We are going to the Land of Winter. I'll tell you more when I see you, but I gotta go. Hinata is here,"He laughed."See ya!"
"Bye."I pressed end on the phone and put it back in my pocket.
I picked my bag up from the counter and turned to go out, but instead bumped into Sasuke.
"Sorry,"I told him.
"Hn,"He replied still staring at me. "Where are you going?"
"Dropping this off at my house and then dinner with Naruto,"I smiled."What about you?"
"Ramen with Naruto,"He replied."I'll walk you home."
"Oh, that's okay,"I said.
"Hn,"He took the bag from my arms. "I'll walk you home."
"Okay,"I nodded, opening the door for him."Thanks."
The walk was quiet and the passing villagers starred at us as when we went by. Some even looked at each other and whispered.
"What's their problem?"I asked, looking around us at the gawkers.
"What do you think their problem is?"He muttered.
"Oh,"I realized, as we turned the corner to my apartment."Well we're here."
I opened the door and walked inside, tossing the keys on the counter as I walked pass.
"You can set the bag there,"I pointed to the table beside of the shoes."And thanks, again."
He set the bag down silently then looked up at my Genin photo. It was weird seeing Sasuke in my house. I never thought that this image would ever exist. He tapped the photo with his long, slender pointer finger.
"Is that your mom?" He asked, studying her face.
"Yes,"I answered, standing next to him."That's my dad. My mom was mad at him when this photo was taken because he had accidentally burnt a pot that morning when he was trying to make tea," I laughed, remembering the old days."I remember she told him he was never allowed in her kitchen again. Now he's in it almost everyday. She would be so mad if she were here."
"Where you close to her?"He asked.
"Yes, very close," I wrapped my hand around my star shaped necklace dad had given me."We did everything together, but we would argue a lot."
"I'm sorry for your loss," He told me with a sadden tone to his voice."I remember what it feels like to have someone close to you taken away. No one should ever have to go through that."
"Yeah,"I agreed, stinging pain creeping up my chest."I didn't sleep or eat for days after she died. I would close my eyes and see her face or hear her voice, but dad was worse. He would just cry, he wouldn't even get up to go to work."
"Why would he?"Sasuke murmured."I wouldn't have."
"But it's not what my mom would've wanted,"I explained."My mom would have wanted him to go to work and to be happy just like how I became happy again and learned to move on. That's what she would of wanted."
Sasuke was quiet, staring at the picture. He lifted his hand and touched the picture, right along my face.
"What?"I asked him.
"Your hair is long, again,"He replied, blankly.
"Okay,"I mumbled."Well, thank you for carrying my bag."
"Hn,"He ran his slender fingers through his thick hair."Are you ready to go meet Naruto?"
"Yeah,"I picked my keys up."Lets go."
We walked in silence, taking the back roads to avoid the strange eyes watching us. It was weird walking with Sasuke. It was something I had always dreamed of doing, yet never thought that I would. It kinda made me nervous, like butterflies in my stomach.
I glanced at him through the corner of my eye. He had changed a lot. He was taller, broad shouldered, still the same skin tone though. His eyes hadn't changed, nothing on his face had really changed at all except his lips, they were fuller now. They looked smooth and soft. I suddenly had the urge to touch them. But not as bad as I wanted to touch his arms which were rippled with muscles.
"Hey, Sakura!"I heard Naruto's loud mouth say."Over here!"
"Hey,"I greeted him, averting my attention."What's up?"
"What can I get for you, Dr. Haruno?" Ichiraku asked with his same, simple smile.
"Ichiraku, you know you don't have to call me that," I scolded him.
"Gome, gome, Sakura," He laughed.
"That's better,"I laughed."And I would like some beef ramen without naruto and shrimp."
"What's wrong with Naruto?"Kakashi asked, laughing.
"I just don't like the way it taste," I laughed."I swear that's it besides don't you think I get enough of Naruto?"
He laughed.
"And for you, Sasuke?"Ichiraku asked.
"Plain chicken ramen," He replied, slipping into the seat next to me.
"So we have a mission,"Naruto started then stopped to slurp up some noodles."We leave tomorrow at 8."
"Tomorrow!?"Sasuke and I both said.
"Yes, to the Land of Winter,"He popped a naruto into his mouth."We are to investigate the disappearance of medic nins as well as protect Sakura who will be helping at the hospital there. With all the disappearances there's only two doctors still around and over two hundred patients."
"Have they had any leads?"I asked, as Ichiraku brought mine and Sasuke's food.
"A few, they've actually recovered a body of one in the bordering Snow Forest,"Kakashi answered."But get this, there were no organs in the body at all. Along with no visible body incisions anywhere."
"They could've just used laser surgery,"I commented."It's a very common precision done when having the gallbladder removed. Although, it would very hard to do on larger organs. Was the stomach cavity removed as well?"
"Everything was,"Naruto answered, starting on another bowl if ramen."Even his, ya know."
"Groin?"I raised an eyebrow."But why?"
"They don't know,"Kakashi explained."They've had gang violence in the land for a long time now, but never like this."
"Is there any other information available?"I asked.
Kakashi and Naruto shook their heads in unison.
"Hm,"I thought."Strange."
"But just meet up at the bridge tomorrow," Kakashi explained."Gotta go."
"Hey!"Naruto yelled, but he was already gone."He didn't pay for his food."
I rolled my eyes and took a scoop full of food into my mouth. Naruto continued to bicker for a few moments then calmed down and turned to Sasuke and I.
"So what were you two doing together?" He waggled his eyebrows."Were you guys out for a romantic stroll?"
"It's more like I was coming home from the store and Sasuke kinda just ran into me type thing,"I laughed.
"Surre,"Naruto winked."Hey, teme, I'll be late getting home tonight so just leave the door unlocked.
"Don't forget we have mission in the morning, dobe,"Sasuke replied.
"I won't, I won't,"He put his hands up."It's just we're going to be gone for who knows how long and I wanted to spend some more time with Hinata."
"Aw, that's sweet,"I smiled."I'm happy for you, guys."
"Thanks," He smiled, sheepishly."When are you going to find someone?"
"I don't know,"I shrugged."Probably never."
"What? Don't say that,"He narrowed his baby blues."You never know, what you might be searching for could be right next to you."
I blushed.
"Hn,"Sasuke mumbled, finishing his bowl."I'm going, I have to pack."
"Okay,"I smiled."See you in the morning."
"See ya later, teme."Naruto said, in between bites.
"God, Naruto, could you eat anymore obnoxiously?"I blurted.
"Yes," and he slurped louder.
"Gross, stop," I smacked his arm."You sound like a hog eating slop."
"Sorry,"He laughed."So, are you excited to go on a mission as team 7, again?"
"Yeah, I guess so,"I answered, pushing my bowl away."What about you?"
"Yes,"He answered, with a goofy grin."It'll be just like old times except with Sai."
"Sai's coming?"I asked, surprised."Where is he?"
"I dunno. Guess he just didn't wanna come,"Naruto pushed his bowl away."Well, what do you think about the new Sasuke? He's change a lot you know."
"Has he changed a lot since he tried to kill us?"I laughed."Because if not then I don't wanna get to find out more."
"Yes, he has,"Naruto laughed."Just give him a chance, he's really changed. He really is sorry for everything he did. Just let him have another try."
"Fine,"I sighed."For you, I will."
"Thank you," He smiled, pulling out his wallet."But I gotta go, promised Hinata we'd hang out for awhile. See ya tomorrow, Sakura-chan."
"See ya."I smiled, sadly.
I pulled out some money and put it down.
"Sakura?"Ichiraku called.
"Yes?"
"Naruto didn't leave the correct amount,"He laughed.
"Of course," I shook my head and pulled out some more money."Not much has changed."
Yeah. Right, I thought. Everything has changed.