Truths
Sakura was legitimately enjoying watching Sasuke be bad at something. Half the ingredients they looked at, he misnamed, and when Sakura finally had the brilliant idea to make Sasuke guess which ingredients go with which meals; his incompetence actually made her laugh.
“It's not that funny.” Sasuke scoffed.
Sakura was laughing loudly. “Please don't put eggplant anywhere near sweet buns.”
As they walked along, neither Sakura nor Sasuke was impervious to the looks or the whispers. Sakura knew that her previous feelings for Sasuke were well known, at least among her peers, but now that he was back and they were out and about together, people were bound to draw conclusions. Neither of them entirely cared as they both battled with unrequited feelings.
They passed Ino’s flower shop and Sasuke stopped and stared. Sakura watched him for a moment. Does he actually think about stuff like this? He really loves him…
Sakura smiled. “I know he likes sunflowers…”
“Really?” Sasuke sounded intrigued. “But that would be weird wouldn’t it?
“I don’t think so.” Sakura found herself trying to force the relationship. “But if it makes you too uncomfortable you don’t have to give them to him, just have them there.”
Sasuke continued to look at the flowers and finally Sakura grabbed his arm and dragged him inside. The bells dangling from the overhang jingled and Ino popped up from between rows of flowers. “Welcome to Yamanaka Fl-oh, hi Sakura; Sasuke!”
“Hi Ino!” Sakura greeted. “How are you?”
Ino’s long blond hair fell near her waist. She smiled slyly. “I’m good. What are you two up to?”
Sakura deferred to Sasuke. He was still pretty uncomfortable around everyone in the village apart from Team 7 members, and Naruto and Sakura agreed to make him interact with others more. Sasuke eyed Sakura and then looked back at Ino. “Sakura’s going to teach me how to cook.”
A bright look rose to Ino’s face. She’d been pressuring Sakura to settle down ever since she did so they could ‘have kids together’ but Sakura, for obvious reasons, hadn’t done so yet. Now, with things even more complicated, she knew it would be a while, if it ever happened. Clearly seeing Sasuke and Sakura together was giving her a false hope.
“Um…” Sasuke started, they both turned and looked at him. “I thought you worked with Sakura at the clinic.”
Ino smiled. “Yeah, I guess that’s my primary job, but when no one else can help my mom here, I come in and help. Sometimes Sai will come, but he’s so awkward, business drops.”
Sakura laughed. She didn’t doubt that fact. “We didn’t have any clients today so we took the day off. Though Ino, you just ended up working anyway.”
“I don’t mind.” Ino put her hands on her hips. “Working with flowers and with my mom can be relaxing. A completely different pace from working with clients.”
“Well, just be sure to get some rest.” Sakura warned.
Ino waved her hand. “I know, I know. Don’t worry about me boss.” Ino giggled and Sakura joined her. Technically the clinic was Sakura’s but she always considered Ino more of a partner than a subordinate.
“Anyway, I know it’s not the best season for them, but do you have any sunflowers?” Sakura asked.
“Oh!” Ino jumped up excitedly. “Kiba, Shino and Hinata went on a mission to the south and they brought us back a bunch!” She fluttered into the bowels of the small shop and reappeared with a bright bouquet of sunflowers.
“Oh they’re beautiful!” Sakura grabbed them and held them over to Sasuke who instinctively smelled them. “Good?”
Sasuke nodded. “Good.”
Sakura looked back at Ino. “We’ll take em!”
Ino waved her hands. “Take them on me.”
“Oh no, let me--” Sasuke started but he was cut off by Ino.
“No, no, no. I haven’t gotten you a ‘welcome home’ gift yet anyway.”
“Is that a thing?” Sasuke questioned.
Ino smiled and held a thumbs up. “Yep!”
“Uh, well… Thanks Ino.” Sasuke did his best to smile back at her and it made her blush. She tossed a concerned gaze at Sakura, but Sakura chuckled back.
“Well we probably should go then.” Sakura said; Sasuke nodded in agreement. “See ya, Ino.” Sakura made her way towards the door, waving as she went.
“Bye.” Sasuke followed.
“Have fun you two!” Ino called after them.
Neither responded to the comment as they left the shop. Sakura stopped and looked in all the bags and at the flowers. “I think we have everything! Should we head to your place?”
Sasuke nodded. “Yeah.”
They made their way to the Uchiha section of the village. It was a bit odd being there. It was wrought with the irony of the fact that there was essentially an entire mini-village dedicated to one man. One man who likely wouldn’t have heirs at that. The thought hadn’t occurred to Sakura before that moment: after Sasuke, the Uchiha clan goes extinct. Sakura considered the pressure he must feel to reproduce. To fall in love with someone who can’t physically help you recreate the clan; what a cruel fate…
“What is it?” Sasuke asked annoyed as they walked through the abandoned area.
“Hm?” Sakura replied nervously.
“You’ve been quiet for a long time now; you’re thinking something about me.”
He couldn’t possibly know that. “I’m not. What makes you think that?”
“Maybe I’m just being arrogant, but you’d tell me anything else right?” Sasuke looked at her confidently.
Sakura sighed. He’s right. “Sorry. It’s kind of sad and I didn’t want to bring it up.”
“It’s better to talk about it.” Sasuke huffed out.
“Are you sad about not being able to restore the Uchiha clan?” Sakura questioned meekly.
“Yeah.” Sasuke replied honestly. “To be honest I feel really bad.”
“Bad?” Sakura replied.
“…yeah. Because sometimes I feel like… If I could have him, none of that would matter to me.” Sakura’s heart shattered. That’s intense. “I know that I owe my clan that one thing at least, but on a scale weighed against Naruto…” Sasuke’s voice was shaking. It’s his greatest internal battle.
Sakura dropped the subject; she could tell Sasuke couldn’t stand to discuss it any longer. Further, something began to distract him and he’d opened his eye, revealing his rinnegan as they unlocked his door and entered his home. He hurried Sakura inside and then crossed to one of his windows and glanced out.
“Sasuke, what is it?” Sakura asked worriedly.
“Kakashi.”
Sakura’s heart dropped. “What?”
“He’s been following us since the flower shop. He doesn’t trust me.”
Sakura blushed. “That’s not true.”
Sasuke stared out the window for a bit longer before walking away from it and past Sakura into the kitchen. “I’m sorry, but it is.” Sakura followed him in. “He doesn’t like me. He hasn’t for a long time.”
Sakura started unpacking the groceries from the bags. “Why…?”
“Even if it’s not the same way as you care for him, Kakashi does care about you. The things I’ve done to you… I think if I were in his position, I’d hate me too.” That entire sentence depresses me.
“If I’m able to get over it, he should too.” Sakura grumbled.
“It’s different.” Sasuke rebutted. “Being able to give someone forgiveness for something they did to you is actually a lot easier than giving it to someone for something they did to someone you care about. I’ve dealt a lot with that.”
Sakura thought about the Uchiha clan and Sasuke’s brother Itachi; he certainly has.
In less than five minutes they’d managed to cover both of their most sensitive topics. They avoided both subjects as Sakura told Sasuke how to make Naruto’s various favorite meals, and they actually cooked his number one favorite, a dish of Sakura’s own invention that Naruto named ‘fancy ramen.’ It was ramen done up with vegetables, egg, steak and chicken, and a little bit of brown sugar. Sasuke was blown away with how good it tasted. He compared it to his favorite dish at Ichiraku Ramen and told Sakura hers beat that. Sakura noted that Naruto had offered her a similar compliment when he first tried it. Sakura showed Sasuke how to set the table, including the best placement for the flowers, and Sasuke broke the candles Sakura tried to set up, arguing that it was too ‘obviously romantic.’ Sakura intended to leave before Naruto arrived but a heavy knock at the door told her she’d failed.
“I’ve trained you well.” She huffed at Sasuke in the kitchen, patting him on the shoulder.
“Thanks again Sakura.” Sasuke sounded the most grateful Sakura had ever heard him.
She nodded quickly and headed for the front door. She opened the door to the twilight outside and Naruto tossed a shocked face back at her.
“What?” Sakura responded.
“What are you doing here?” Naruto nearly barked.
See, you’re totally jealous. “Nothing much. You’re not the only one who wants to catch up you know.”
Naruto’s face calmed a bit. “I guess. Are you staying for dinner?”
“Nope!” Sakura smiled sweetly and bounded past Naruto out the door. She intentionally pulled the door closed particularly slowly so she could hear the greetings.
“Yo, Sasuke.”
“Hi.”
“Huh!? You made fancy ramen!?”
Sasuke chucked. “Yeah…”
Sakura shook a little under the cuteness and finally closed the door, leaving them to themselves. She walked merrily from the Uchiha village and out onto the main road that led from Sasuke’s place to her own. I really hope things work out for them. They deserve that happiness.
“Senpai!!” A familiar voice shouted from behind her.
Sakura turned and Moegi was running towards her in a fit.
“Moegi? What’s wrong?” Sakura was worried; Moegi wasn’t easily rattled.
“Kakashi-Sensei is fighting with some host at a bar in town!”
“What!?”
“Konohamaru tried to go in and help but they won’t let him in because he’s too young.”
“Why is he fighting?” Sakura was anxious to rush to the scene.
“Um… I think he’s really drunk…”
Drunk!? “Drunk? From alcohol?” Kakashi doesn’t drink… “Can you take me to him?”
“Yeah, come on!” Moegi took off and Sakura ran fast after her.
As they neared the bar in question, Sakura could hear Kakashi arguing with the host. She ran past Konohamaru and opened the door and everyone in the bar stopped instantly and looked at her. The table Kakashi was standing closest to was a mess. The pillows were ripped, the table looked broken and several glasses were either cracked or shattered. In an instant Kakashi grabbed two nearby drinks, that Sakura was certain actually belonged to the nearby Gai and Lee, and downed them in a second.
“Are you kidding me!?” The sight made Sakura livid. She stormed through the bar of frozen patrons and up to the table with Kakashi, Gai, Lee, Yamato, and Ebisu. “What the hell is going on?”
“Itssm-y birftghday!” Gai shouted out drunkenly.
“Huh!? Who's birthday is it?” Yamato wasn't as drunk as the others.
“Mine….” Ebisu was facedown on the table.
“Thissss guy ispiss-si ng me off!” Kakashi gurgled out.
Sakura eyed him evilly. She looked back at the men at the table. “How could you let him get this drunk!? He's a former Hokage!”
“He seemed like he was in a-hic-bad mood.” Yamato commented. Why?
“Edgggbuuffyjnjlllugaaccgtklvdsagnklugvhczstbbjiyrdgybnlllnnvvsawefhbmkhhjnklhft!!!!!” Lee shouted.
Sakura shook her head. “Pull yourselves together. Half of Ebisu-Sensei’s team is just outside.”
“GET BACK HERE!” Kakashi shouted suddenly.
Sakura turned and the bar's host was crouched behind an upturned table and Kakashi was hobbling his way through invisible obstacles to get to him. The image sent Sakura over the edge. She quickly crossed the space between she and Kakashi, grabbed him by his collar, bowed an apology to the host, and dragged drunk Kakashi from the bar. He flailed about idiotically under her grip as they passed by Moegi and Konohamaru who were rightfully afraid of Sakura’s level of fury.
Honestly. You go and get drunk with idiots like Gai and Lee and I have to come drag you out. You'll wish you were drunk tomorrow.
“Leggo f’me.” Kakashi slurred but Sakura ignored him. “Leh go!” At the second request Sakura furiously let him go and he fell straight down to the pavement. “Ow…”
Kakashi rubbed his head. “Get up.” Sakura seethed.
Kakashi stood up and began to stumble his way down the road. Sakura followed him in silent rage. It wasn't until they were opening his front door that she said anything to him at all.
“Go to bed. I'll come back in the morning. You're going to apologize to the bar host.” She gritted.
Sakura turned to walk away but Kakashi reached out and grabbed Sakura’s wrist and pulled her inside his house, pushing the door shut.
“Kakash--” Kakashi pulled Sakura tight to him and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He reeked of alcohol but it didn't stop Sakura’s feelings from rushing to the surface in the embrace. Though she knew she should have broken the hold, she reveled in the moment.
“Stay away from Sasuke.” Kakashi said harshly.
“Huh?”
“I hate him. I don't want you to go near him.” Kakashi’s slur was faded but present, yet the resolve in his voice was oddly severe.
“You… Hate him? Why?” Sakura knew Kakashi was drunk but she also knew, drunk words were sober thoughts, so she delved.
“Because he gets you.” Sakura’s heart stopped. “He tried to kill you. He tried to take you away from me, but he still gets you.” Sakura’s heart was racing and breaking at the same time. She grabbed Kakashi’s sides and tried to push her way out of the hold but he held her tighter. “I would kill him. If I didn't think you would hate me, I would kill him.”
Tears started to roll down Sakura’s cheeks as she listened to the words. She didn’t know what else to say; she just wanted to leave. She used the full breadth of her force to release herself, she quickly turned and opened the door.
“Sakura…” Kakashi started again; his voice was heart wrenchingly sad. “I can't watch you with him. I'm sorry.”
“Sleep it off you drunk.” Sakura managed to spit back through tears. She slammed the door as fear settled over her.
Can't watch me with him; what does that mean!?
Sakura started for home but quickly changed course. She was too riled to go home. She needed to talk to someone and as much as she hated to interrupt his night, she selfishly made her way back to Sasuke’s.
He doesn't mean to leave!? He promised! You can't leave me, Kakashi… Sakura’s crying became more hysterical; her movements more rapid. Don't leave me.